A/N: I own none of the characters, they belong to the great George Lucas. Lucky him! But, I do own Zankou, Ghanima/Chani and Alia (just three names which I'm borrowing from Frank Herbert's Children of Dune) so no stealing! I've decided this will become an Obi-Wan/OC.

Chapter 28

That evening within the Senate Building, intheir apartment, Padmé was in conference with Ghanima, Typho and Dormé. They were going over what was discussed at the Senate and with the Jedi in private earlier. It was still hard to believe that the Senate was so dumb as not to see their actions would lead to a full out war. Padmé was about to suggest a plan of action when Jar Jar entered the room, followed by two Jedi: Obi-Wan and Anakin.

"Mesa here. Lookie lookie, Senator. Desa Jedi arriven." The Gungan stated. Jar Jar was no longer clumsy, but a respectable representative of the Gungans--he even wore the official robes at all times!

As he stated the arrival, Padmé, Dormé and Typho left the window to join them as Obi-Wan and Anakin stopped before the young Senator. Ghanima, on the other hand, stayed at the window with her back to them. No one really seemed to notice or force her to great them since she knew them already. Typho was a little worried though; it was unnatural, in his opinion, for her to just stand there and not greet them. But, he pushed his thoughts aside when Obi-Wan stepped forward. The Jedi Master was completely oblivious to Anakin staring at Padmé, who had only glanced at him briefly.

"It's a pleasure to see you again, Milady." Padmé walked over to Obi-Wan, who bowed respectably, and took his hand in hers.

"It has been far too long, Master Kenobi. I'm so glad our paths have crossed again...but I must warn you that I think your presence here is unnecessary." He just replied that he was sure the Jedi Council had their reasons. "Ani?" She asked, staring at him in shock but a smile gracing her features nonetheless. "My goodness, you've grown!" They looked at each other for a long moment.

"So have you...grown more beautiful, I mean." Anakin stated, trying to be smooth. "And much shorter...for a Senator, I mean." Obi-Wan looked disapprovingly at his Apprentice, while Ghanima forced away her smile. Boys can be so fickle. Padmé just laughed and shook her head.

"Oh, Ani, you'll always be that little boy I knew on Tatooine." She said shaking her head and laughing. Anakin, rather embarrassed, looked down finding the floor much more interesting. Obi-Wan looked at Captain Typho and both smiled ruefully.

"Our presence will be invisible, Milady, I can assure you." Obi-Wan stated, still smiling.

"I'm very grateful you're here, Master Kenobi. I'm Captain Typho, head of Her Majesty's security service." He stated as they moved to sit on the couch, he and Padmé across from the Jedi as Dormé stood behind him. "Queen Jamillia has informed you of your assignment. The situation is more dangerous than the Senator will admit."

"I don't need more security, I need answers." She countered him stubbornly. "I want to know who is trying to kill me."

"We're here to protect you Senator, not to start an investigation." Obi-Wan informed her with a frown. He really did want to help find her would-be assassin, but that wasn't listed in the orders he was given.

"We will find out who's trying to kill you Padmé, I promise you." Anakin stated. He's done it again. Ghanima turned slightly to watch as her brother bit his lip in frustration and shame, realzing what he'd done only too late to fix it.

"We will not exceed our mandate, my young Padawan Learner!" Obi-Wan said with a dirty look at Anakin. But the young man said that he only meant in the interest of protecting her. "We will not go through this exercise again, Anakin. And you will pay attention to my lead."

"Why?" He asked defiantly with a stone glare, which earned him the furious questioning of Obi-Wan and Ghanima to whip around and gawked at him. "Why else do you think we were assigned to protect her, if not to find the killer? Protection is a job for local security--not Jedi. It's overkill, Master. Investigation is implied in our mandate."

Anakin! What's gotten into you? And what do mean 'protection is a job for local security'? What have I been doing for ten years!

Anakin looked at Ghanima, who marched over to stand beside Dormé, in shock, before looking back at his Master. She was just as shocked as he had been that the bond had occurred. All those years apart should have completely destroyed the bond but, no, it was still there. How that was even possible, especially after he blocked her out purposely for a short time long ago? It was very puzzling to both.

"We will do exactly as the Council has instructed, and you will learn your place, young one."

"Perhaps with merely your presence, the mysteries surrounding this threat will be revealed. Now, if you will excuse me, I will retire." Everyone gave Padmé a slight bow as she and Dormé left the room.

"Well, I know I feel a lot better having another two more of you here." Typho stated with a relieved sigh. "I'll have an officer situated on every floor, and I'll be at the Control Center downstairs." With that, Typho nodded to Ghanima and Jar Jar and took his leave. He had a lot to do if he was going to watching the backs of more Jedi.

"Mesa busten wit happiness seein yousa again, Ani. Deesa bad times, bombad times." Jar Jar said with a shake of his head as Anakin and Obi-Wan walked over to the Gungan.

"She hardly recognized me, Jar Jar. I've thought about her every day since we parted...and she's forgotten me completely."

"Shesa happy. Happier den mesa seein her in longo time." Jar Jar stated as optimistic as ever.

He's right, Ani. It's been ten years. You have no idea what's happened to her. She's changed--we all have.

"Anakin, you're focusing on the negative again. Be mindful of your thoughts." Obi-Wan chided with a barely noticeable smile. "She was pleased to see us. Now, lets check the security here."

"Yes, my Master." He replied, void of emotion.

"If you'll set the Master/Padawan bonding session aside, I'll show you where the first assassination attempt occurred." Ghanima stated, finally speaking for the first time since they arrived.

"And you are?" Obi-Wan asked, crossing his arms and turning to her as she stopped next to Jar Jar. She raised her eyebrows, and Anakin chuckled at his Master's confusion. Jar Jar was about to speak up when realization dawned on him. "Ghanima?"

"Hate the beard...Master Kenobi." She stated coldly, but a rue smile was on her face. "You want to go and report back to Boss Nass, Jar Jar." She said with a wave of her hand, then changed her mind. "Strike that. You want go join Typho in the Control Center." She said with a small smile and another small wave.

"Isa wantin to goso and joino Capi-tan Typho in thesin Control Center." He echoed dumbly, hugging her and left. Ghanima shook her head slightly as Jar Jar left. Obi-Wan looked at her disapprovingly, but Anakin was in shock. He thought it was so funny but was still surprised that she'd done it.

"Ch...Ghanima, you look so different." Anakin stated, stumbling over her name, moving closer to embrace her. She noticed his problem and smiled, telling him that he could call her Ghani instead as a way to combine both. He smiled and agreed to do so.

"Look at you though! Last time I saw you, you were barely to my waist. Now look at you! You're taller than me!" She exclaimed, holding him out at arms length as her right hand went over his short hair. "It's really not fair." She conceded with a mock hurt tone.

Taking him in, she saw that they wore basically the same robes. He had a brick red tunic that was covered by a black leather vest. His pants and boots were the same, yet his robe was dark brown. Anakin's sunny hair was still cut short and his braid was long, making him look like Obi-Wan when he had been a Padawan. Ghanima noticed more than anything that his eyes held more joy than sadness than she when she last saw them. But, he definitely had a lot more to be happy about now. She also noted on how handsome he was now; definitely not the nine-year-old boy she left behind.

"I don't think I was that small." He protested, but she insisted he was. She played with his traditional braid, and smiled proudly before hugging him again. "It's been too long, sister."

"Indeed it has." They separated and she turned her gaze to Obi-Wan.

They just stood there, observing one another with contempt. His fair red hair was longer, resting on his shoulders, and he grew a full beard and mustache. He still wore the same light sand colored clothes and brown robe he had as a Padawan. The silence remained as they looked one another up and down. Anakin noted on this and cleared his throat, drawing them back to reality.

"I have something for you." She looked at him curious, brow knitted. Anakin reached inside his robes and pulled out the necklace, placing it in her palm and making her smile wistfully. "You said you'd be back to get it. I guess now is as good a time as any." She thanked him and kissed his cheek which, as a boy, he wiped off in embarrassment.

It was then that Obi-Wan took in her changes; she looked so different. Older, that was obvious. She was twenty-eight now and he was thirty-four. He had to admit, he felt really old compared to Anakin and Padmé. The main difference he noticed was that her hair was so much shorter than las time. It used to be at her waist and braided, now it was in a ponytail and that reached to her shoulders. She even looked a little taller, and wore less constricting clothing compared to her robes from Tatooine, matching Anakin's.

But, more than that, he thought she'd grown more beautiful.