Master and Apprentice

"Ani," Padme said gently shaking him awake. He had slept sitting up flittering in and out of restless dreams. Padme was glad that she wasn't a Jedi. She treasured her peaceful nights all the more sensing that this was Anakin's gift, and his curse. She cared for him deeply, and wasn't exactly how to identify with the kiss. It had stirred feelings in her she had never felt before. She shook him awake again. "Anakin."

Anakin sat up and rubbed his face. "Padme," he said with a yawn before bolting straight up. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, Anakin. I'm quite alright. It's your mother."

"Is she okay?" he said trying to fill in his memory of everything that had happened yesterday. How long had he been awake? He remembered his mother almost dying in his arms. Obi-Wan, Obi-Wan had stopped what would have certainly been a massacre on his part. "Mom?"

"She's asking for you, Anakin."

"Well, let's go."

"Maybe I should give you time alone with your mother."

"Nonsense, Padme. She likes you."

"How do you know?"

"Because I like you," he said taking her hand in his and looking into her eyes as he headed to his mother's side. Despite everything he had made the simple comment hold volumes of meaning. He let go of Padme's hand and approached his mother, where his master was watching carefully. "Keeping watch, eh, Master?" he teased. Obi-Wan had his back propped against a wall and his arms were folded, his eyes closed. He realized that Master Obi-Wan was sleeping. His mother looked better, she was still battered but she seemed greatly healed and Anakin suspected that Obi-Wan had used Jedi healing on her. How curious, he thought. He noticed that his mother was awake, but she had a soft smile on her face as she gazed at the nearly unconscious form of his master. Anakin pushed such thoughts from his mind. Master Obi-Wan was the perfect Jedi. "You wanted to see me, Mom."

"Oh, Ani," she said and her smile bloomed, it was the same smile Anakin remembered from his childhood. The same smile that soothed all his troubles away. "I love you."

"I love you too, Mom. I won't let anything happen to you."

"I know that, Ani. You are so handsome."

"Only because I'm your son," he teased her.

"Go on you. You are handsome on your own accord. It has nothing to do with me. You flatter an old woman."

"You aren't old, Mom."

"Maybe not to you. It's been a long time since I could turn a head of someone as handsome as my son, though there aren't many who can compete," she said. "It seems I'm going to survive... Obi-Wan wants me to accompany him to Kamino. I've never been anywhere but Tattooine," she said, her eyes shining with an inner light. "You aren't the only one who wanted to see the galaxy."

"Will you be safe?" Anakin asked, and Obi-Wan blinked a few times and grinned.

"Don't you trust your master, my padawan," he said with a grin.

"Of course, Master. I meant no disrespect," Anakin said, stuttering, and turning pink. "I know you are far wiser than I am. I didn't mean to imply..."

Obi-Wan laughed merrily, "I know what you meant. I promise on my life your mother will be safe with me. Besides I fly much safer than my padawan."

"A droid could fly faster," Anakin argued. He beamed at Obi-Wan and became serious. "Mom, Master Obi-Wan will take good care of you. I promise you. "

"I know," she said and her eyes fluttered as she tried to keep them open. "I love...you."

"Master, promise me that no harm will come to her."

"I will take good care of her. On my life, I promise you, Anakin. On my life."

"I know, Master. It's time we split up. I'm going to take the Senator back to Naboo."

"Anakin, don't do anything without first informing either the Council or myself."

Anakin bowed his head. "Yes. Master."

"May the Force be with you, Anakin,"

"And may the Force be with you, Master." Anakin bent down and kissed his mother's forehead, as he went to collect his baggage.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Anakin and Padme traveled as refugees to the former Queen's home world of Naboo. They along with Artoo decided to get some lunch. "No droids," said a mean-looking voice. "We don't serve your kind here." Artoo beeped and went to look for a place for his human friends to sit. Anakin and Padme collected there food a sat down.

Padme couldn't help but notice the young Jedi's intense looks. She moved to conversation to distract herself. "It must be difficult swearing your life to the Jedi. Not being able to go to the places you like.

"Or be with the people I love?" he asked her and she blushed. This was exactly the topic she had wanted to avoid. How did Anakin turn every subject into his feeling for her?

"Are you allowed to love? I thought it was forbidden for a Jedi," she said and held her breathe as he took her hand in his looking at her hand intently.

Anakin's voice had turned deep. "Possessions are forbidden. Attachments are forbidden. But-compassion- as I would term unconditional love is essential to a Jedi's life. So," Anakin looked into her eyes, and she found herself mesmerized by his words and his voice, "you might say we are encouraged to love."

"Oh, Ani, you haven't changed a bit."

"Don't call me that."

"What?" Padme asked, unsure as to what mistake she had made.

"Ani. It makes me seem like a little boy. I'm not," he stated.

"No your not, Anakin. Don't try to grow up to fast."

"But I am grown, you said it yourself," he said giving his words another meaning.

"You've grown up, Anakin. But you still remind me of that little boy on Tattooine."

Anakin grew quite thinking of the slave boy she had met. "I told you I would marry you," he said at last.

"You were just a boy."

"When I first arrived at Coruscant, I was terribly homesick. I had left my home planet and my mother, Qui-Gon had died, because of me."

"It wasn't your fault, Ani...Anakin," she said correcting herself.

"I promised myself that I would protect you and Qui-Gon. But I enjoyed flying so much, I got distracted."

"You saved my home planet from the Separatists, Anakin. You have nothing to feel guilty about," she aid returning his squeeze of the hand. He shrugged as if saving a planet didn't matter against the death of a great Jedi Master.

"I hated Tattooine. All the sand. Many of the great Jedi Masters didn't want me to become a Jedi but after what I had done, and with Qui-Gon's dying wish and the support of Obi-Wan they allowed me to be trained. Whenever I was homesick, I would think of Naboo, and of you."

"Please don't look at me like that. It makes me feel uncomfortable," Padme said truly feeling it.

"I'm sorry, milady, "Anakin said, and bowed, stepping back into the role of Jedi protector.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Hello, I am Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi. This is my representive Shmni Skywalker and our protocol droid Three-pio."

"A pleasure, Master Jedi. You've been expected. I trust you are here to check on your army."

"The army? Of course that's why I'm here."

"Tell me how is Master Sifa-Dias."

"Master Sifo-Dias was killed nearly ten years ago."

"I'm sorry for your loss. But I'm sure he'd be pleased with the clone army we've built for him."

"Did my master say who the army was for?"

"Yes. This army is for the Republic. Aside from his pay which was considerable the original host wanted only one thing. An unaltered clone for himself."

"Who was the original host?"

"A bounty hunter named Jango Fett. Curious isn't it?"

"Unaltered?"

"Yes, no genetic altering and no growth acceleration. We can have one fully grown in half the time it would normally take. We have them altered to make them less independent."

"We would very much like to meet this Jango Fett."

"I would be happy to arrange that, Master Jedi. I do hope you enjoy your stay."

"I'm sure I will," Obi-Wan said as the Kamino left leaving Obi-Wan alone with Shmni as Three-pio followed after him trying to make himself useful.

"You are very kind, Obi-Wan," Shmni said softly, placing her hand on Obi-Wan's arm. Obi-Wan immediately stiffened. Like son, like mother, he thought. He remembered how Anakin had tried to offer him comfort after the death of Qui-Gon.

"I'm just doing my job, Shmni."

"No, Obi-Wan. It's more than that. Anakin's grown into a fine man and it's because of you. Because of your guidance. He needs discipline; you and I both know that. But he doesn't need his spirit broken. I would hate to see that ever happen to him. If I could have chosen a father for my son, he would have been a lot like you."

"I told you, Shmni," Obi-Wan said in a quite voice, his voice deep. "Jedi cannot marry. It's the way things have always been.

"Maybe they shouldn't. They don't have to be." Shmni touched his face and slightly held onto his face so that he was looking into her eyes. "One day he's going to save you as he did me. He's going to save all the Jedi."

"From what?" Obi-Wan asked almost breathless.

"From themselves," she said removing her hand and lowering her eyes. Obi-Wan turned and grasped her shoulders. He stared into her eyes, and what lovely hazel eyes they were. Full of life and they stirred something within him. Not on his own accord he found his lips crushing hers and yet, she didn't push him away she slipped her arms around his neck and Obi-Wan was aware of the warmth and heat of her kiss and the next thing he knew a Kamino was clearing his throat and Obi-Wan's face flamed brighter than a Sith lightsaber.

"I apologize. I wasn't myself."

"It's alright. I don't mind."

"If you will excuse me, Shmni," he said following the Kamino. A Jedi shall not know passion, Obi-Wan repeated. What was that he had felt if not passion? He wanted to feel it again. A Jedi shall not know anger, nor love. Love. He wondered what that felt like. He had felt anger when he had killed the Sith that killed Qui-Gon. Was he breaking the Code? Obi-Wan ran a hand through his hair and scratched his beard.

"Always a pleasure to meet a Jedi," Jango Fett stated.

"Have you been to Coruscant?"

"Not in a while. Mostly I'm on the Outer Rim. Just trying to make my way in the universe."

"Have you met Sifo Dias?"

"I was recruited by a man named Tyrannous."

"Curious."

"Do you like your army?"

"I look forward to seeing them in action."

"They will do their job well. I guarantee it."

"Thank you for your time," Obi-Wan said leaving. He stopped outside the door and listened.

"Get your things, son. We are leaving."

Obi-Wan had to move fast. He went to gather his companions. "Three-pio, take Shmni on board immediately."

"Yes, sir."

"Stay there until I join you."

Luckily Shmni wasn't around and Obi-Wan followed in the shadows making sure Anakin's mother listened. He had a feeling she was as determined as he was.