Hello all! Here is the next chapter. I'm quite excited about the developments in this chapter... You'll see... *grins* Thank you to everyone who has reviewed and read so far.

A Jedi's Love

Chapter 9

"Master?" Ahsoka spoke into her comlink. "What's going on?"

"We're going to have company. Senator Merrik is a traitor and he has taken Satine hostage! Obi-Wan is pursuing them!" replied Anakin quickly.

"What type of company?" she swallowed.

"Either droids or Death Watch. Get up here. We're going to need you."

"Yes Master," she acknowledged.

She looked at the clone troopers. "You heard Master Skywalker! Let's go!"

Anakin was running along the corridor when he was thrown into the wall. The Coronet was being boarded, something had slammed into the ship, knocking him off balance in the process. He scrambled to his feet and sped around the corner only to skid to a halt and activate his lightsaber as a plume of blaster fire came right at him.

"Blast!"

Droid carriers had crashed into the hull of the ship, digging through the hull and depositing Super Battle Droids onto the ship.

Anakin cursed. "Well that proves Dooku is involved. But how has he got an army of droids so quickly?" Obi-Wan! Ahsoka! He yelled down the bonds he shared with them. Super Battle Droids are here!

And then he felt a darker presence converge upon him, and it didn't belong to Dooku.

"Hold your fire! Skywalker is mine!" a voice from behind him said, as the droids lowered their arms and backed away towards the walls, as others continued their march out into the ship.

"Ventress," he whispered as he saw her emerge from the one of the droid carriers.

He Force-leapt over the droids, sweeping his blade through a few before he landed in front of her. "Hello, Ventress. Decided to return to the hospitality of the Jedi Order?"

"Anakin Skywalker," she laughed. "How is your dear mummy? I could have easily have killed her when we escaped your Temple."

"If you think that is going to provoke me into acting rash, think again," he replied. "I'm a Master now."

"We will see whether your abilities match that of a Master, shall we?" crowed Ventress, activating her two lightsabers. And then she attacked.

He was running as fast as he could towards the bridge. Merrik would want to escape the Coronet and the only way he would be able to do that was to take control of the bridge and signal for help. Judging by the crashing sounds echoing throughout the ship and Anakin's frantic mental message to him, it seemed Merrik had called for aid. His reinforcements would be easily defeated. Super Battle Droids were no match for Anakin or Ahsoka or the clone troopers, however he could feel an ominous dark presence lurking on the ship…

Obi-Wan gripped his lightsaber hilt, pushing forward, activating the blue blade as he made it to the door of the bridge. He used the Force to pull the door open.

"Merrik! Let the Duchess go!" he shouted, stepping onto the bridge, seeing the Senator there with a blaster to Satine's head as he turned to face him.

"I think not, Master Kenobi…"

Obi-Wan levelled his lightsaber at Merrik's face. "I will be arresting you."

"No you won't," smirked Merrik. He held up a little hand-held device which looked suspiciously like a remote. "I took the precaution of wiring the ships engines to explode." He was slowly moving towards the door. "I can easily detonate them now. My benefactors would prefer the Duchess alive… but if not, I will kill everyone on this ship."

The Jedi sighed. He couldn't risk Merrik going through with his threat, not while Satine was in harm's way. Reluctantly, Obi-Wan stepped aside as Merrik pushed Satine through the door. All he could do was follow, keeping to a distance, as the Senator led Satine away,

Anakin blocked Ventress' blade as it descended onto his own. He had to leap away as she brought her second lightsaber around in an arc at Anakin's midsection. With a swift reversal of his wrist, Anakin succeeded in counteracting her strike. "Why are you here, Ventress?" growled Anakin.

"Now why should I tell you that, Skywalker?" she answered slyly.

"Oh, I just thought you might make it easy for me," shrugged Anakin. He moved forward, thrusting forwards, already aware that Ventress would block his move. He had no intention on killing her or harming her if he could get away with it.

"I would never make anything easy for you, Skywalker!" she hissed. A horrible smile crossed her face. "I didn't make it easy for you to find Kenobi when he was in my tender care!"

Anakin glared at her. The memory of finding Obi-Wan in Ventress' lair during the Clone Wars had been one that had haunted him… especially when he had nearly been consumed by his anger. But he had conquered that, meditating with Obi-Wan afterwards and coming to terms with how he had nearly used his anger. Together they had healed each other. "If you believe you can make me angry, you are wrong. You may have tortured Obi-Wan but I did find him. You were lucky the Council decided to let you and Dooku live after the war ended, especially after what you did to him."

Anakin blocked again as Ventress swiftly attacked, but he brought his blade around in arc yet Ventress moved back, avoiding the sweep, battling his blade away from her.

"How pathetic!" she sneered. "You can't even kill me! You, the Jedi that took down a Sith Lord!"

"I don't want to kill you, Ventress," remarked Anakin. "Besides, I know you are here to distract me. Stopping me from reaching the Duchess. It doesn't matter if I'm delayed. I'm not the only Jedi here." He felt that there was no point in hiding that from Ventress. She would know anyway.

"Oh Skywalker, how wrong you truly are… You are merely an annoying little obstacle in my path of victory…" laughed Ventress cruelly.

Anakin poised himself. If she was not here to distract Satine's protectors then why was she? And that was when it hit him. If Merrik failed to escape with Satine, then Ventress was to take the Duchess, or worse yet kill her if escape with her was unachievable. He had to delay her.

He raised his blade, pointing the tip at Ventress' face. "I won't let you reach the Duchess."

Ventress' face turned stony. "We will see." She took a sweep at his kneecap with her lightsabers.

Anakin jumped over the scarlet blades.

But Ventress was moving as she had swept her blades, running past Anakin, putting on a burst of Force speed. Anakin cursed and started to pursue.

"Droids! Shoot him!" Ventress instructed the droids that had remained still at Ventress' earlier command.

They all turned on Anakin, firing in the same instant.

Ventress laughed and ran off, as Anakin was surrounded by Super Battle Droids, forced to defend himself against the sudden onslaught of blaster bolts. He ducked, and rolled, deflecting the bolts back and making sweeping cuts with his blade in arcs when he could, cleaving the droids in two, fighting his way out as quickly as he possibly could.

Ahsoka! Where are you?

His apprentice's presence blazed brightly in the Force. I'm coming Master!

Anakin gritted his teeth. You need to delay the droids! Obi-Wan is chasing Merrik and Ventress is here! I need to get to her!

Ventress! I can take her down, Master!

Don't you dare, Ahsoka! We need to capture her! Anakin knew why Ahsoka felt confident. She was mostly responsible for Ventress' capture two years ago. Yet now, these were different circumstances.

But – Ahsoka started.

No, Ahsoka! We need to take her together! Anakin swept his blade at chest height, Force-leaping on top of a Super Battle Droid, piercing his blade through the primary motor area function. The droid crumpled. Anakin leapt onto the shoulders of the next one in line, removing the head of it with one sideways sweep of his blade, before continuing to leap onto the shoulders of other droids, digging his blade into its head or mutilating it by reducing its metallic limbs, destroying the threat most of them posed within minutes of Ventress fleeing.

And then he was out of their way, landing on the hallway floor, rolling forward, gaining his feet and Force-speeding away from them, latching onto Ventress' dark aura and following it, intention in every step he made.

But she was heading straight for Obi-Wan's position.

Merrik continued to drag Satine with him, the blaster pointed at the side of the Duchess' head. Obi-Wan continued to follow, his lightsaber ablaze, his gaze focused on Satine's scared face. He didn't dare attack either. He couldn't put her life in danger.

He could hear the distinct sound of blaster bolts in the distance. Droids were attacking and Ventress was here too. He recognised her Force signature. Merrik was moving towards the escape pods. No doubt he intended on taking one and would be picked up by his allies.

Merrik rounded a corner and Obi-Wan followed. There, Merrik stopped, standing in front of the escape pods, his thumb inches away from causing a mass detonation of the ships engines.

"Try to stop me, Kenobi, and this happens," warned Merrik, his eyes glinting maliciously. Even if Obi-Wan allowed him to escape, he would still press the button. He would still kill everyone on board the ship to ensure his escape.

"Obi-Wan… please don't take such a risk with so many people's lives at stake," pleaded Satine, her eyes beseeching his.

He knew he wouldn't act. He couldn't. It was against his principles.

"Satine…" He started to move forward.

"Don't, Master Kenobi!" growled Merrik. He activated his comlink on his wrist. "This is Merrik. Stand by to disengage." The Senator pulled the Duchess back further. "Say farewell, Duchess. You won't be seeing him again."

Satine looked sadly at Obi-Wan. "I don't know how to say this…" she started, "but if it's the only chance I have, I need to tell you this." She swallowed, ignoring the fear that had risen in her stomach over what her fate would be. "But… I've loved you, from the moment you came to my aid all those years ago."

Merrik pulled a disgusted face. "I don't believe this."

Obi-Wan stared at Satine, his mind trying to process the words she had just said. She loved him. Shock seemed to radiate through him. Why was it such a surprise to him? He didn't know what to say. "Satine… If things in the Order hadn't changed… and if we had the chance to… I would…" He couldn't finish what he was trying to say. He would have done… he would have stayed with her… and now if he had the chance to now, he would too, but that chance was rapidly passing him by.

"How touching," pouted Merrik sarcastically.

Obi-Wan saw Satine's face colour in anger, something she rarely did. Her foot lifted up and slammed down upon Merrik's booted foot. He yelped in pain as Satine pulled away from him, grabbing the blaster from his hand, dancing herself out of his reach. "You have the romantic soul of a slug, Merrik! And slugs are so often trod upon!" She pointed the blaster at him, but her hand was shaking with fear at holding that deadly weapon.

Quickly, Obi-Wan acted, moving his blade up and across. "As I said, Senator, you are under arrest!" He cleaved the detonator in half, narrowly missing Merrik's fingers. He grabbed Merrik with the Force and pushed him into the wall beside the escape pod. The resounding force caused Merrik's head to snap back into the wall and his eyes rolled back as unconsciousness claimed him, his body sliding to the floor slowly as Obi-Wan gently guided him down so he was slumping forwards.

He switched off his lightsaber, clipping the hilt to his belt. He heard a clatter beside him and saw Satine had thrown the stolen blaster to the floor. She did not like weapons.

"Satine…" he started.

"Obi…" She had run into his arms.

He had nearly lost her…

Before he knew what he was doing, without any thought to it at all, he was kissing her, his lips pressed gently against hers. It was soft and loving. His eyes were closed as he moved his lips slowly over Satine's, relishing the new emotion he was feeling as he held her close to him. He didn't want to stop kissing her, both of their lips moving slowly over one another, exploring… tasting… responding to one another with ease.

"Aww, how touching. The Duchess and the Jedi!"

Obi-Wan's eyes snapped open and he whirled away from Satine, pushing her back behind him. He activated his lightsaber, his eyes focused upon the figure that had walked in one them. "Ventress!"

Escaping from Skywalker had been easy.

Finding the Duchess had been even easier, especially after Merrik had ordered a withdrawal.

What she hadn't expected to find was Kenobi kissing the Duchess.

Even she could sense the contentment radiating from those two.

Ventress smiled. Now she knew a weakness for Kenobi: she could use his attachment to the Duchess to exploit his dark side. He was still breakable. Her failure on Rattatak to break Kenobi was one of her greatest losses…

Witnessing his lips upon the Duchess' gave her ammunition. She had a mission to fullfill – either ensure the Duchess' capture or kill her. The completion of either of those goals would still destabilise the Duchess' pacifist fraction on Mandalore. The preference was capture but if that was not a option, Ventress had the permission to kill the Duchess.

To kill her would also destroy Kenobi.

She smiled again, clutching the hilts of her two lightsabers in the palms of her hands, carefully placing a small device she had been holding, aimed at the two lovers, into her pocket. She couldn't lose what she had just gained.

She stepped forward. "Aww, how touching! The Duchess and the Jedi!"

Kenobi whirled, pushing the Duchess back behind him, activating his lightsaber. "Ventress!"

She moved forward, the red glow of her lightsabers bouncing off of the wall. "Turn the Duchess over to me!"

"No." Kenobi's response was to be expected. He had no idea.

"Then she'll be forced to watch you die upon my blades," she smirked. No matter how much she wanted to see Kenobi crumpled at her feet a broken man, killing him would still remove him from the picture, which is what she needed to do at this point to achieve her goal.

Kenobi glared at her. "That is not going to happen." He took a defensive stance.

"Foolish Jedi," grinned Ventress with satisfaction. Swinging her blades, Ventress struck first, forcing Kenobi to block her attack, then she swiftly changed direction, sweeping down for his legs with one blade and for his chest with the other.

Kenobi was fast and he swept Ventress' blade aiming for his chest away whilst jumping over the other blade cascading towards his knees. "Back down, Ventress!" He was slowly edging away, nudging the Duchess back towards the corridor.

Ventress couldn't have that. No, she couldn't not at all. The escape pods were her ticket out of here. If she failed, she could be captured… No, she would ensure Kenobi and the Duchess couldn't escape this section of the corridor.

Spying the controller to the door in that section of the corridor, close to where the Duchess stood, Ventress flung her blade, using the Force to direct the blade right into the control panel. Sparks flew and zapped close to the Duchess and Kenobi, and the blast door separating the two sections of corridor slammed down with a loud slam.

Ventress smirked.

If Kenobi wanted to leave with his Duchess, he would have to get past her. She had effectively blocked his only possible exit. Now he would have to duel her.

A sly but satisfied smile crossed her face.

Twirling her lightsabers, she moved forwards, attacking swiftly.

Anakin!

Obi-Wan?

I need you at the escape pods! Obi-Wan sounded desperate.

I'm already on my way! Is Ventress with you? Anakin could detect a dark presence surrounding the area where his friend was located. Ventress was attempting to cloud Obi-Wan's signature so that she wouldn't be found easily. She was underestimating the strength of his and Obi-Wan's bond. They were too closely linked for a simple clouding Force technique to have any effect on them.

Obi-Wan's answer was in the affirmative. She is. She's blocked Satine and I in at one end of the corridor. The left one by the way. You need to turn back and come around to the other side. She wants me to try to fight my –

He suddenly stopped.

Obi-Wan?

That was close. His friend's Force presence was vibrating with the power he was using to maintain his concentration in his duel with Ventress and communicating with Anakin at the same time. Though they were jointly connected in ways a Jedi had never been before, being distracted was a weakness they both shared. Neither of them had learnt of a way to prevent that from happening.

Just get here as quickly as you can! reiterated Obi-Wan, anxiously. And if you can, bring Ahsoka and some of Rex's men. If we can recapture Ventress, we may not need to search the Mandalore system for Dooku especially if she can be convinced to aid us rather than hinder us.

Anakin couldn't help but laugh. The day that Ventress ever willingly helped them he would voluntarily spend a week in the crèche at the Jedi Temple with the youngest recruits to the Jedi Order. If Ventress ever aided them, he would do exactly that. I'll be there as soon as I can.

He withdraw from the bond, swiftly turning in the previous direction, shouting into his comlink for the troops and Ahsoka to meet him in the intersection close to the escape pods.

Gritting his teeth, Anakin ran at full pelt, using the Force to push himself further and quicker.

Ahsoka very quickly found her way to Anakin blocked by thirty Super Battle Droids. Cursing under her breath, she held her two lightsabers in front of her as a barrage of blaster fire splattered out towards her and Captain Rex's company.

"Rex! Take the left flank! I'll take the right!" Ahsoka leapt forward landing on the head of Super Battle Droid, digging one blade into its head, short-circuiting it. Its knees crumpled and Ahsoka tolled off the droid, slashing her blade left and right, taking down a second droid in the fifteen she was attacking on her own. Captain Rex and the few troops she had managed to gather at short notice had already tallied at four Super Battle Droids.

Deflecting a barrage of bolts towards two other droids, Ahsoka brought her total up to four. She grinned, sweeping her blade, leaping high, slashing quickly, and removing the arms of the droid. A stab back impaled the droid through the chest and then her other blade was pushed into the chest cavity of the droid in front of her.

Five down, ten still to go.

She moved forward, bringing her blade upwards, slicing a sixth in half. She stabbed forward, twirling, and then Force leaping, rolling and deflecting as she moved effortlessly down the line of droids. A last slash downwards with her left blade dispatched the last Super Battle Droid. Glancing to the left, Ahsoka thrust her blade back through the chest cavity of a droid, just as the clones pummelled blaster fire into him.

"That was easy," grinned Ahsoka, wiping her brow with the back of her hand. She clipped her deactivated lightsabers back onto her belt. "Come on." Inwardly she focused upon the bond she shared with her Master and sent: I'm nearly there!

They were running out of time.

"You won't win, Ventress."

Ventress glared hatefully at him. "You will see, Kenobi! I will take the Duchess, even if I have to see you dead at my feet to achieve that!" she hissed vehemently.

A slight smile tipped at Obi-Wan's lips. "I thought you wanted me begging for mercy at your feet, a broken man?" For that was what Ventress had wanted years ago, however she had ultimately failed despite very nearly succeeding. "Or has your desire to see me like that become moot now that I am an obstacle in your path?" He held his lightsaber in a guard position across his chest.

Ventress smiled. "I do not need you dead to take the Duchess." She leapt forward, yet Obi-Wan defended her strike downwards, pushing her away with his strength. She swept right, and he blocked. She kicked out yet he leapt back. "You have nowhere to run, Kenobi!"

Obi-Wan backed up. He didn't have much room left. If he was on his own he would have risked a Force-leap over his opponent but doing that would leave Satine open and he couldn't abandon his duty to protect her to escape from Ventress, could he?

He did have one chance, however.

As Ventress moved to attack, Obi-Wan gathered the Force and sent her flying back. The assassin flew back past the escape pods and Obi-Wan grabbed Satine by the wrist and started to move forward. Ventress reacted quickly to the tactic designed to throw her off, and she stabbed her blades into the desk to stop Obi-Wan pushing her back further.

Regaining her momentum, Ventress leapt forward again, but Obi-Wan performed the same tactic on her again.

"Coward!" she screeched. "You dare not fight me!"

"No," Obi-Wan shook his head, "I want to capture you. Fighting isn't the way to do that. Besides, you didn't capture me by duelling me."

Ventress' lips curled in anger. "I saved you from death, Kenobi! You should be grateful for that!" she snarled.

Obi-Wan smiled sardonically. "What? Grateful that you tortured me for two months? That's not going to happen." He felt his bond with Anakin spring to life. His brother was close to him. He knew he was just around the corner, waiting for the right moment to pounce in.

Ventress spun forward, using the Force to twirl through the air. Obi-Wan caught her blades throwing her back.

"Surrender, Ventress." Anakin! Now!

"Never!"

"You are surrounded, Ventress!"

The Sith apprentice whirled, her eyes flashing in abject anger at the two Jedi and clone troopers that had come up behind her. "Skywalker!"

Anakin stood there, lightsaber raised with Ahsoka next to him with a few clones flanking them, their blasters focused upon Ventress.

"I said I didn't need to fight you to capture you," remarked Obi-Wan.

"You may have won this round but you haven't won the war!" spat Ventress. She turned, using the Force to push the escape pod button open. The door swung open.

"Stop her!" Obi-Wan rushed forward, as did Anakin, but a powerful Force shove sent them flying back into the wall.

The pod door closed and Ventress activated the pod contents, ejecting the pod from the ship.

"Ahsoka," started Obi-Wan, "get to the bridge and track that pod! The remaining droids will be retreating to their landing pods – if any launch away, track them too and seal off that section of the ship. Anyone going into that section will be sucked out into space. I'd rather not deal with the messy legalities which would occur if anyone went into that section of the ship and died because did not take safety precautions."

Ahsoka nodded. "Yes, Master Kenobi."

Obi-Wan took in a deep breath. He turned to Satine who was slowly moving forward. "Are you okay, Duchess?"

"I think so…" she replied, sounding unsure of herself. "Thank you… I think… I think we need to talk."

Obi-Wan swallowed. After their kiss they had to. They couldn't ignore that. She had responded, continuing the kiss when he could have easily have broken away from it. "Yes we do." He felt Anakin's enquiring touch through their bond. Leave it, Anakin. He had kissed Satine and had liked it, enjoyed it… Was that normal? He didn't know what to think.

Satine pattered him on the shoulder. "Later, on Coruscant. I think that would be better for the both of us."

He had to agree with that. They both needed to think first before talking: work out how they were going to go about it considering the awkward situation they had probably put themselves in by a mere kiss. A kiss that told me she loves me. Something could happen between them if they only dared to proceed. Obi-Wan watched Satine leave the corridor, his thoughts more confused than they had been for a long time.

Anakin's hand gripped him by the shoulder. "You okay?"

"Of course," Obi-Wan replied though he realised it sounded unconvincing. He watched Rex co-ordinating the movement of Merrik's unconscious body. He would be questioned by the Jedi on Coruscant before being transferred to Mandalorian custody to await his trial. At least they had a lead on Dooku's whereabouts. With Ventress involved in the attack on the Coronet it only made it more legitimate that the Count was aiding a group that was aiming to destabilise the Duchess' rule and revert the system to the old Mandalorian ways.

"You kissed her, didn't you?" Anakin's voice broke through his mental thought.

"What?" Obi-Wan was shocked. How had Anakin known? He had not projected his thoughts loudly. Their unique bond kept on surprising them – they could block one another, to an extent, but not by much. Yet surely they couldn't know what each other had been doing… romantically?

A niggling doubt entered his brain and realisation struck.

I have been such a fool… he cursed himself.

He had spent so long shielding against Anakin's own feelings for Padmé that it had become second nature for him to keep those shields in place. It seemed to be the only part of their bond that they could block, or at least numb down so it was not noticeable… more like a tickly feeling rather than being overwhelmed by the other ones emotions. Obi-Wan had sensed Anakin kissing and loving Padmé…

As Obi-Wan had not experienced romantic feelings in person with anyone before Anakin was unaware that he could reduce those feelings. It was a constant learning curve for the two of them.

"Obi-Wan… I know you kissed her. Your whole presence changed in the bond. You felt… alive."

Obi-Wan's eyebrows quirked upwards. "Are you insinuating that I have never lived before I kissed a woman?"

"No! Of course not!" denied Anakin, feeling embarrassed that he had effectively implied that. "You were experiencing something new… You felt excited, happy, overwhelmed… All the emotions I felt when Padmé and I got together after the war." He smiled gently at his friend. "Kissing is not something to be ashamed of."

"I'm not."

"Good."

"Just…."

"What?" Anakin enquired.

"Try to learn to numb yourself against those emotions. It's a form of shielding. I'd rather you didn't know everything. It took me by surprise with you and Padmé." Obi-Wan hoped Anakin would get the hint he was trying to get across. He didn't want Anakin to experience what he had when Anakin and Padme had spent their first night together. That was, of course, presuming he and Satine progressed to that part of the relationship. He didn't even know yet if she was interested in pursuing one. A declaration of love did not necessarily mean they should be together romantically.

"Sure," responded Anakin. "I didn't know you could sense that. Why didn't you tell me before?"

"I didn't want to embarrass you," answered Obi-Wan. "The only reason we can is because you brought me back. We are the only Jedi who have this incredible deep link. Our bond has advantages and disadvantages to it."

"Seems like you've known of the disadvantages for a while now," pointed out Anakin.

Obi-Wan grimaced. "I'd rather not have the ability to sense you and Padmé canoodling, but at least we can supress that."

"True," admitted Anakin.

Obi-Wan sighed. "Come on. We need to secure the ship and get to Coruscant safely."

"Look..." began Anakin, his voice soft. "Why don't you go and ensure Satine's safety. Ahsoka and I will deal with the rest. I may talk to Merrik if he wakes up… see if I can glean anything from him."

A small smile crossed Obi-Wan's face. "That would be appreciated."

And tell her you love her. I know you do. I can sense it so don't deny it.

Obi-Wan pulled an exasperated face. He was going to have to find a way – any way – to stop his former Padawan digging into his mind and discovering his thoughts and feelings. Anakin…

What? Anakin sounded smug.

I'll do it when I'm ready. Not because you want me to.

Anakin visibly pouted. Awww….

And one other thing.

What?

Shut up. Or I'll inform both your wife and mother you are prying into my personal life again. Obi-Wan knew exactly how to make his friend back off.

And he was right.

Anakin didn't respond.

Obi-Wan grinned. He really should have thought of blackmailing Anakin with his wife and mother years ago.

You haven't won, Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan smirked. This time I have. I will hold that threat over you continuously.

Anakin scowled.

Satine sat in the room designated to her on the Coronet. Guards stood out her room, ready to defend her if need be. Yet her mind was not focused upon the attack but rather on what had happened earlier between herself and Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan Kenobi.

The man who had kissed her.

Her fingers touched her lips. Had it really happened? Had they really kissed?

Yes, we did, she thought.

It was new… different… but good different.

She remembered his soft lips on hers… gently kissing… Remembered herself responding to it, hardly daring to believe that he was kissing her…

Until that kiss she hadn't known the truth. Hadn't known he loved her… but he did.

Satine wanted someone in her life who loved her for who she was rather then the ideals she stood for. She had always turned down suitors.

But with Obi-Wan she could see a future.

And she hoped he wanted that too and they could build a future together. More than anything she wanted to be happy with the man she loved.

Taking a deep breath, Satine composed herself, rose from her chair she had sat on and got ready for debarking on Coruscant. The ship had docked not that long ago. Right now she needed to focus on the problems at hand – only after a satisfying conclusion had been reached within the Senate could Satine and Obi-Wan talk.

With one last look at her room, Satine made her way down the corridors, escorted by her personal guards, descending the ramp and walking out into the bright Coruscant sunshine.

Breathing slowly in and out again, Satine knew she was ready.

It was time to fight for her cause.

She intended to win, and she wouldn't stop until she had come for what she had come for.

To be continued...

Please let me know what you think!

So... Obi-Wan kissed Satine... It was going to happen sometime and he is no longer constrained by the old Jedi Code, so he is more open to acting on his feelings in the moment though he will still struggle, especially when it comes to having that vital conversation with Satine... And we are beginning to learn more about Anakin and Obi-Wan's bond and how deeply they are twinned together... all because Anakin bought Obi-Wan back from the netherworld.

The next chapter will be posted next Tuesday.

Until next time,

the-writer1988