I rewrote the first part over and over and over and over and over. I'm not really all that satisfied with it, but the Sabé/Obi-wan scene really makes up for all of the little mistakes. ;)
Continuation of Chapter Two:
The Rebel Standoff
Two months after Rebirth of the Light...
All things considered, the Council was very accepting of the incident concerning Jan Sollik.
After she had seen to it that neither of the twins had been hurt, Padme, accompanied by Sabé, went straight to the Council and explained what had happened. The handmaiden had explained how Sollik had requested to join her in taking care of the children, and Lord Skywalker had returned after a meeting and considered her a threat.
His actions, she stressed, were merely those of a father protecting his children. And no, there was no physical proof of the threat she had posed. But she had known Lord Vader...er...again, Skywalker, for some time now and trusted him to have done the right thing.
Anakin was not present during any of this discussion. When questioned about his location, Obi-wan simply replied he was in the infirmary with Sollik, keeping an eye on her.
He also requested that the Council keep an open mind about the events that had so recently unfolded.
"Understand," Obi-wan addressed the rebels, "that the reason Jan Sollik is with the medics is that in his fear for the threat she posed, Anakin struck her with the Force and tried to cut off her breath. This was typical behavior for him when he was a Sith. Anakin is extremely grieved over his actions towards her."
"As he should be!" one of the council members reprimanded. "Master Kenobi, you assured this council that you would be present at all times when Skywalker used the Force. We placed him in your care. And then this happens! Can you explain this to me, General?"
Padme sighed. This was why she had gotten out of politics.
"If I may," she started to say.
"No, you may not." The same member, one of the humanoids with a scaly face and rather cold demeanor, replied. "You, Padme Amidala Skywalker, are no longer a leader of this Alliance, nor a member of this council. Your emotional attachment to the Sith prohibits you from any further allegation."
Padme looked startled at his outburst, but otherwise didn't comment. She did not want to stir up any further trouble. As it was, the former senator rose to her defense.
"I believe that is uncalled for." Mothma stated simply. She turned her calm gaze on the council member. He raised an eyebrow at her, but otherwise bowed to her judgment and remained silent the rest of the meeting.
Mon turned back to the former queen. "You are, of course, aware that we are not knowledgeable about the Force, or its followers. But I would think it only natural that a Sith, struggling to redeem himself, would question both his conscience and his actions. And," she looked pointedly at the other members of the council, "we should be aware that mistakes will be made." She sighed then, looking
many years older than her early twenties. Padme had great empathy for the woman. "Let us just be relieved no one, either the Jedi twins, pilot Sollik, or Skywalker himself, were harmed."
After that, the meeting quickly wound down. The decision was made they would talk further when Anakin had the chance to speak with Kenobi, and Sollik's condition, as well as her intentions, had been assessed.
Relieved, Obi-wan took Sabé, the babes wrapped protectively in her arms, retreated out into the corridor while Padme remained behind to thank Mon Mothma for her support. It was obvious to the Jedi that both the women were still very shaken up over the near loss of the children.
He decided it was best for them to return to the safety and familiarity of the Star Rider. Neither of them complained about his escort, but Padme did request he go back to their former quarters afterwards. That was where Anakin would be, when he returned from the infirmary.
Agreeing, knowing though not quite willing to admit he was as worried about Skywalker as she was, Obi-wan returned and waited.
When an hour had passed, he went looking for his friend.
Obi-wan shouldn't have been surprised to find the Sith in the hanger. It was where Anakin had always retreated to when he was a padawan, seeking sanctuary. He would spend hours there tinkering with the ships, fixing this, improving that. After a mission, Obi-wan would mediate to order his thoughts. Anakin would head for the hanger.
But no matter how much things stay the same, some change.
Anakin probably didn't find any smiling, welcoming faces when he entered the rebel hanger. In fact, Obi-wan's first clue that his guess about his friend's location was correct was the anguished looks of the mechanics.
A few glanced his way, and sighed with relief when they saw the Jedi Master.
Yep, Darth was here alright.
Anything from pre-Empire ships to a handful of spacer, pieced-together ships filled the hanger, numbering some fifty ships. All in all, a sorry sight, considering the fleet the rebel pilots would be up against in battle.
Obi-wan sought out his quarry by the string of curses he could hear behind one of the ships. He ducked under the nose of a strange, alien looking ship, the voice getting closer. He might have missed Anakin completely had he not tripped over a pair of black boots sticking out from underneath the hull.
Bending down, the Jedi looked under the ship to find Darth down on his back, tools in hand and an open panel before him.
"Anakin."
The Sith didn't look over at his friend, just continued to fight with cables as black oil dripped down on him. "Can you believe this? They don't make 'em like they used to. These new ships! They've got all their wires crossed! No wonder the engine leaks, they've somehow got it attached to the fuel pump, rather than having a conductor run between them. It's a surprise these babies don't blow up just taking off."
"Anakin." The Jedi Master's voice clearly invoked no argument.
"I don't want to talk about it, Obi-wan. I...I know I need to. It would be best if I did. I never talked about it before. Maybe if I had, this wouldn't have happened. But I didn't think I needed to. I didn't want to. I don't want to now. But I will. I need to, I know that. Just not right now. Later, maybe when I feel more like it."
"Anakin...you're rambling."
Sighing, Skywalker stared blankly up at the panel for another moment, tools still in his hands, then he pushed against the hull and slid out from under the ship and sat up.
They rested there a moment, Anakin sitting placidly on the durasteel, Obi- wan standing and smiling sadly down at him, nearly hidden behind his beard.
Finally, the Sith shook himself from his thoughts, gathered up his tools and rose.
He stretched and looked to his friend. "What are you smiling about?" The Jedi Master shrugged.
"I was just wondering how you talked the mechanics into letting you tinker with their ship?"
"You'd be surprised how far you can get when you ask politely."
"You actually asked?" When Obi-wan felt Darth's withering glare directed his way, he laughed and threw an arm around the other's shoulder. "Come on, Anakin. I'm not saying it was a first or anything."
The tools were soon returned to one of the mechanics, who smiled gratefully at Kenobi for coming to their rescue. After that, they just let their feet guide them and headed down the corridors.
"Where are we going?"
"Well," Obi-wan grinned sheepishly. "I was kind of hoping that since I hadn't had anything to eat since noon yesterday, we could just sort of head over to the cafeteria..."
"Sure. Fine. We'll get your complaining stomach something and I can sit there and be envious."
"Force, Anakin-"
Skywalker chuckled. "I was only joking with you, Obi-wan. Come on. There's this delicious looking sandwich I saw one of the mechanics eating..."
It was delicious, as it turned out. And Anakin did sit there and try to stifle his jealous as Obi-wan bit into it with relish. Afterwards, when Kenobi finally pushed his plate aside and smiled with satisfaction, Skywalker had gotten his thoughts in order and felt more like talking.
"I can't explain it." He said, longing to sigh deeply and run his hands through his hair. "Somehow, I sensed something was wrong. That there was trouble. And I guess, when I realized it was Luke and Leia, I just snapped. I let go of all my control. And there was the Darkness. Ready, willing...And so was I."
"Anakin..."
"What am I going to do, Obi-wan? I was so sure I was strong enough, that I could overcome the Darkness within me. And yet, every time I turn around, or look in the mirror, it's still there. And the only thing that's changed is I've hurt more people; made things worse."
Obi-wan listened, but wasn't quite sure what to say. He wanted to tell Anakin that is was alright, that even though he had made a mistake, it could have been a lot worse. That he...that they were both still learning, overcoming the past, each in their own way.
Yes, Anakin could have very easily killed the woman, and, if he had been so out of control he lost all sense of self, he might even had killed the twins in his attempt to protect them.
What was important was that he hadn't done these things.
But Yoda's words continued to come back to him, reminding them all that there was still Darkness within Skywalker, that his destiny was shaped by it, as was his soul. And as much as Obi-wan longed to prove his old master wrong, nagging doubts refused to leave him alone.
"Obi-wan?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry."
The Jedi looked up, watched the light play shadow games across the black mask, and shook his head sadly. "For what, Anakin? You made a mistake. But it could have been so much worse. I think we should count our blessings and learn from the mistakes made, rather than dwell on what can't be undone."
"I could have-"
"I know, Anakin. I know. But you didn't."
"And if I did? If I hadn't regained control? Imagine what might have happened, Obi-wan. I don't know whether I could turn back to the Darkside or not, but imagine, knowing what I know now, what might happen."
The implications of such a notion where terrifying, but Obi-wan pushed them aside. They were too much to think about now, would cause too much pain.
"Do you really think that after everything, you'd turn back again? Cause if you do, Anakin, if you really think you might turn your back on Padme and the twins to go serve Palpatine again...I think you need to go spend some serious time in meditation."
It was a pathetic attempt at a joke, but it did make Anakin smile, and that was really all Obi-wan had been hoping for. Later they would have to sit and talk seriously about the matter of Jan Sollik and the brush with Darkness. The Jedi Master knew it would weigh heavily upon his friend for sometime, as it would on all of them, now knowing that thin line between love and hate.
But at least for now, there was a little sun shining through the clouds.
It was probably a miracle Obi-wan had gotten him to smile that one time, because for what was left of that day and all through the next week, Anakin lost all his light. He didn't exactly mope about feeling sorry and disgusted with himself. It was more like he avoided everyone at all costs, going only to the requested meetings with council members and back to the ship to sleep at night.
Obi-wan was forced to corner his friend to talk to him, and even then Anakin seemed disinclined. The only ones he ever really talked to any more were the twins, and the medics on the few occasions he visited Sollik.
Between the three of them, Sabé was the most calm about what had happened. Probably because she had been there. True, she hadn't really understood what was going on at the time, but the fact that Skywalker had protected her from his wrath seemed to the handmaiden to be enough of a sigh that he was still on their side. She constantly told Obi-wan to leave their friend alone, that he simply needed time to work things out on his own and realize that though he had made a mistake, it didn't mean he had failed at redemption.
Padme was, understandably, the most worried.
She never spoke about it, but one could see it in the way she cast glances after her husband when he left the room, or how she winced when he pulled away from her touch.
Kenobi would have liked to tell his friend that his behavior and his constant need for solitude was too much like when he had been falling to the Darkside, and that it was scaring Padme. But Sabé warned him that that might not be the best thing to say at the moment.
So Obi-wan pulled away from Anakin, as did the others, and forced himself to accept that when Anakin wanted to talk, his friend could be comforted in the knowledge that Kenobi would be there waiting.
Anakin had a way of picking the most inconvenient times...
There was a knock at the door of his quarters late on evening.
It had become his quarters since Anakin chose to sleep on board the Star Rider now. Having been swamped with people all day, Kenobi was grateful for the solitude of a few hours sleep. So he wasn't all too keen on having to open his door and deal with someone else at this late an hour.
But when he palmed the door, he found it wasn't one of the council members.
Rather, it was Sabé.
"Obi-wan."
"Sabé. What's wrong? Is Padme all right?"
"She's fine. She's been asleep for a while now. Luke and Leia nodded off not too long after. Their Force powers have gotten stronger and they're always exhausted at the end of the day."
"Oh." So something wasn't wrong. Why was she here then?
Only then did he realize she was dressed only in a thin nightgown and a soft, white robe. Her beautiful chestnut brown hair had been released and flowed down her back in waves. All the make-up had been washed off, and the handmaiden stood there on the cold durasteel floor, barefoot.
"Force, you're going to catch a cold, Sabé!" Obi-wan glanced quickly around the hall before pulling her inside his room. "Or worse yet, someone's going to see you."
"Should I be flattered, Jedi Master? Or would it only be right to take offense to that rather rude remark."
Sighing, Obi-wan ran a hand through his hair as he looked her up and down. "You know that's not what I meant. But...what are you doing here? This late? Dressed like that?!"
The handmaiden glared and, to Kenobi's chagrin, wrapped the robe tighter around herself and belted it shut. "Oh, I'm sorry. Am I embarrassing your sentimental Jedi senses?" Sabé plopped down on the bed, plopped because there's no better word to describe it, and tucked her feet underneath her. "I couldn't sleep, and I thought since I knew you'd still be up meditating, we could be together."
"Oh," feeling like the perfect idiot, the Jedi Master shifted his weight, considered Sabé sitting on his bed, looking ever so expectantly at him, and nodded. "I'm sorry. Of course we can. I didn't mean anything by what I said. In fact...you look very cute."
Cute was completely the wrong word for how Sabé looked, but she smiled and Obi-wan took that to be a sign that she'd forgiven him.
Keep in mind Obi-wan doesn't really know all that much about women.
He moved to resume his meditating position on the floor, but Sabé reached for his hand and pulled him down unto the bed beside her. She smiled and snuggled up to him, but otherwise didn't say a word.
Touched, Obi-wan wrapped an arm around her and the two leaned back against the pillows. Sabé sighed deeply, content, and closed her eyes. Her breathing slowed; evened out as she glided in and out of sleep. Her hand closest to him wrapped around his own and gave it a gentle squeeze that he lovingly returned.
The Jedi spent a moment or two watching her, drinking in her beauty, before closing his own eyes and drifting into the most peaceful meditation he had ever had.
Sabé slept for a time, probably no longer than a few minutes, because when she awoke, their hands were still entangled and they had shifted closer to one another for warmth.
Beside her, Obi-wan snored softly.
She smiled, love shining deep in her eyes. Here was her beloved, asleep beside her. Sabé longed to wake him, so he'd be with her. But he looked so peaceful. His blond-red hair was slightly mused, falling gently against the pillow. And his beard brushed her shoulder softly. All the worry lines had vanished from his face.
Her Kenobi mumbled something in his sleep, and Sabé smiled down as she watched his lips. Leaning over ever so slowly, the handmaiden ran a hand through his hair, then placed her lips against his own and gave her gallant knight a gentle kiss.
It had been an innocent enough kiss, but she felt Obi-wan stir beneath her. Worried that he might wake up, she began to pull back. But when she did, two gray blue eyes were locked upon hers.
She almost gasped, but the look in them, the surprise and the love and, even more unexpected, the passion there, held her captive.
Taking a tentative breath, Sabé lowered herself back down and waited. Those eyes continued to consider her for a moment, seeming to not quite know what to do.
Then Obi-wan leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers.
His own hand came up to run through her hair, another one wrapped around her. The Jedi pulled her closer to him, possessively, as though he would never let go.
Sabé wasn't quite sure this was happening. She had dreamed of something like this. But she had known it was only a fantasy. Obi-wan wasn't really the romantic type. If he chose to give in, to admit he loved her, he would do so as a conscious, calculated thought. This was far from the sort of rational person Obi-wan was.
Or was it?
Realizing she was seeing a new side to the man she loved, a side she had longed for but had never thought would ever be, Sabé responded to Obi-wan and wrapped her own arms around him. Her hands mused his hair, pulling him closer. Loving the smell, the feel of him...
"Obi-wan?" There was a loud knock at the door.
"What the– ?" Obi-wan jumped a meter into the air, bringing Sabé along with him. Then he pulled away from her, the taste of her lingering in his mouth, as he promptly fell off the bed.
Sabé gasped, realized who it was, and nearly screeched.
"That's...that's Anakin." Obi-wan panted. He looked to Sabé, clear misunderstanding in his eyes, then jumped to his feet. "What...what's Anakin doing here? I...he...he's supposed to be on board the ship. I mean the...ummm...he..."
"Obi-wan?" Anakin's voice called from outside the door. "Is everything alright?"
"No, everything is not alright." Sabé sighed, laying back on the bed. Oh, it had been glorious. Wonderful. True heaven, if there was such a thing. And now, it was gone. And if Obi-wan regained his sense, like he no doubt would, he'd never trust her again after this.
Skyalker knocked again at the door.
"Ummm...just a second, Anakin. I'll be right there." Obi-wan looked around, dazed. He quickly straightened out his robes, which had somehow gotten messed up while he slept. Glancing toward Sabé, who laid upon his bed, her beautiful legs showing where her nightgown had been shoved up; her hair spread out behind her in a fan, Obi-wan nearly told Anakin to get the hell lost.
But reason prevailed, and Obi-wan grabbed the blankets off the end of the bed and threw them over the handmaiden. Sabé looked utterly puzzled by his actions, but nonetheless helped the frazzled Jedi cover her till she was completely hidden.
She considered mentioning that Anakin would have already felt her presence in the room, but decided Obi-wan wasn't really in the frame of mind to completely appreciate such an observation.
Sabé giggled as she watched her staggering Jedi back away from the bed.
Obi-wan took a deep breath, let it out in one big 'whoosh', and palmed the door.
When the door slid open, Anakin stood waiting outside. He gave Obi-wan a quick once-over, then stepped within. The door slid shut with no one saying anything.
Kenobi moved between his friend and the bed, hoping he wasn't being too obvious.
"Anakin..." he got out. "You...wanted to talk?"
"Did I interrupt your mediating, Master?"
Kenobi shifted uncomfortably. "No, not really. I had dozed off. And I've told you not to call me 'master', Anakin. It's giving me the creeps." Okay, so that wasn't what he had meant. Kenobi wondered if his brains had somehow been fried.
"Sorry. Listen, Obi-wan. I'm sorry I've been acting the way I have. I realize it's been making both you and Padme uncomfortable. I apologize. It's just...I needed to think things out, about what I did and almost did, and the consequences of both."
Oh, Force, why couldn't he concentrate? Anakin was here for his help, to talk about the incident with Sollik. This was what he had been waiting nearly a whole week for!
Gulping, Obi-wan nodded. "Go on, Anakin."
"No, it's late. I have a lot I need to talk about. With someone. Anyone. Could we discuss it, Obi-wan? In the morning. I need your help. Again."
There was the need to sigh in relief, but realizing that might give him away, Kenobi squashed it and tried to smile encouragingly. "Of course, Anakin. In the morning."
Anakin thanked him, then let himself out.
Chuckling to himself after the door had shut, Skywalker turned down the corridor and headed for his wife's quarters to see the twins.
Seems he hadn't been the only one reconciling with himself...
After Anakin was gone, and the door was firmly locked, Obi-wan let out the breath he had been holding and leaned back against the door. The only thing running through his mind was what if Anakin had found out.
Then he looked down at the bed.
Sabé's beautiful head came out from underneath the covers, a wicked smile on her face. Then one of her gorgeous legs slide out, and all thoughts of Anakin thankfully vanished from Kenobi's mind.
He silently moved to lie back down on the bed beside her, but Sabé sat up, straightened out her gown before Obi-wan could protest, and stood.
"What...were are you going?!"
She tightened the robe's sash, not looking at him. "Back to my quarters."
"But...Sabé, I..."
"I didn't come here with the intention to seduce you, Obi-wan. I'm sorry things got so out of control. And I'm leaving now, so you won't have anything to regret in the morning."
"Wha? No, Sabé, please! Really, I– !"
Smiling, the handmaiden leaned down and passionately kissed him, silencing all protests. Her lips were so soft, her smell so intoxicating. Obi-wan moaned, but when he reached for her, Sabé pulled back. He looked up at her through half closed lids.
"You have to sleep now, Kenobi. Your friend will want to see you first thing in the morning and you need to be at your best, Jedi Master." Having said that, she turned out the light and palmed the door. Sabé smiled at him once over her shoulder, then was gone.
Obi-wan remained sitting on his bed, frozen in place. Her presence still lingered in the room, and when he stiffly collapsed onto his sheets, her smell surrounded him.
Into the darkness he growled, "I am going to kill Skywalker."
Chapter Two The Rebel Standoff To Be Continued
:) Oh, that was so much fun. ;) Caslia