Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars or any of its associated characters; they all belong to their respective owners. I only own any characters or plotlines that you do not recognize.

Music Note: I love music. I love film soundtracks. A lot of what I write is inspired by music (I'll make a playlist for people interested, actually). I found a phenomenal rendition of the Imperial March that is soft, delicate, and gorgeous, and I listened to it while writing a lot of the soft bits between Obi-Wan and Elara. If you'd like to give it a look, search up Anakin's Symphony on YouTube, posted by Lucas King. The whole arrangement is gorgeous, but if I had to set a theme for Elara, at least for a couple moments… that might be it.

15. Reunited

Elara stood by the lift, hands folded patiently. Anticipation buzzed in her veins, unignorably so. It left her fingers twitching, had them pulling at the hem of her robe sleeves. It was a near impossible feeling to fight, and rightfully so, she supposed. Even Jedi were allowed to be excited to see a colleague again, see family again. They were not meant to be emotionless; just careful with how emotion affected them. Such was why she found no harm in the way her heartbeat quickened upon realizing the lift had arrived. Why there was no issue in the grin that split across her face, welcome and warm, when the doors slid open. They revealed none other than Anakin and Obi-Wan, who stood in the warm glow of daylight cast in through the lift's glass walls. Both men, who had been smiling at one another, started a little upon seeing her. Elara composed her face as best she could and bowed her head.

"Master Kenobi, Anakin; a pleasure to see you again," she said, tone playfully business-like. There was a moment of pause before her smile returned, a laugh bubbling up in her throat.

Reuniting with Anakin was always joyous. Elara could always expect a boyish grin to split across his face, one that was bright and happy. There was something so wondrously pure in that smile, in the way that he would hug her. It was always heartwarming, because it showed that their bond had stood the test of time. That no matter how long they were apart, what hell they were put through, the Skywalker siblings still loved one another dearly. Time and distance did nothing to hamper their connection; if anything, it only made it stronger.

A laugh blew past Anakin's lips, crinkling the corners of his sparkling blue eyes. He practically launched himself out of the lift with arms outspread. Elara happily opened hers in invitation, laughing happily as her brother's arms were thrown around her middle. She folded her arms around his shoulders, which now required her to stretch up onto her toes just slightly. And that only made it easier for him to lift her off her feet and spin her in a circle, his laughter muffled against her neck. When Elara's feet touched the ground again, she took a step away. Her hands slipped to Anakin's elbows, which she held with loving tightness.

"Will you ever stop growing?" she teased. "This past year has seen you grow even taller, Ani; any taller and you'll have to start ducking when you enter rooms."

It never failed to amaze Elara just how much a year could change someone's appearance. The last time she and Anakin had seen one another, the child-like roundness of his face had started to disappear. Now it was even more apparent, the softness around his jaw having hardened and defined. His height, of course, still amazed her, and probably always would. It was remarkable to think she had once cradled this young-man in her arms, carried him on her hip, hoisted him in the air to make him laugh. Now he was doing that to her.

Anakin beamed, flashing a smile that his sister could see had also grown––into something wide and brilliant and charming. "I think this is as tall as I'll get, Lari, you have nothing to worry about."

"Good. I would hate to have to jump in order to hug my brother properly."

"Now I can get you back for all those times you threw me over your shoulder."

Elara attempted to fight off a peel of laughter, failed, and angled a warning, albeit mirthful, finger up at him. "You wouldn't dare."

"I might," he laughed, still beaming.

With a grin still pulled across her lips, Elara shifted her attention to the man stood just outside the lift doors. That grin softened, as did the remaining hold she had on Anakin. He shifted aside upon feeling her fingers slacken, but a brotherly hand rose and remained at her elbow. Obi-Wan stood with his arms folded into his robe sleeves, having watched the reunion with a soft gaze. But when Elara caught his gaze––with familiar ease––a gentle smile bloomed on his face. It was that look alone that sent her heart tripping over itself, almost made her breath catch so suddenly it would have been physically apparent.

"Hello there," Obi-Wan greeted.

In an instant, every thought and feeling Elara harbored for the man flooded forth. The warm cadence of his voice caused her heart to swell. The tender gleam of his blue eyes was entrancing. The slight quirk of his lips was inviting. It had been years since their time on Gleann. Years. But the realization she had made after that mission, the realization of how much she cared for him… it hit her like the weight of a Bantha every time she stood in front of him, now. It was all Elara could do to make sure those emotions beat up against the barriers she, as a Jedi, had built to keep her inner life safe and private. For those were feelings that would get her in trouble. They were feelings that no amount of meditation could dismiss; they were the reason that just the mention of Obi-Wan's name sent the softest exhale tumbling from her lips.

That exhale came and went upon hearing his voice again, and the following exhale bred a wider smile. "Hello," she replied.

Where greeting Anakin had been a joyous rush of squeezing arms and laughter, greeting Obi-Wan was more languidly calm. As though there were no rush to embrace one another again, a quiet agreement that such a sentiment would, indeed, come. It felt more adult, more professional, to greet one another from a distance. But with that came a kind of tension; one that made it feel as though both of them were tied to either end of a piece of rope. It felt like there was a pull attempting to draw them closer. And Elara almost gave in to it, to the tugging in the pit of her stomach, but the universe intervened in the form of Jar-Jar Binks.

"Obi? Obi!" Jar-Jar practically squealed. Everyone's attention shifted to the Gungan, save for a brief smirk Obi-Wan shot Elara's way. She pursed her lips, an attempt to fight off a snorted laugh. "Mesa so smilen to seein yousa!" Jar-Jar had brushed past the Skywalkers in order to seize Obi-Wan's hand with a smile. His handshake was wobbly and wild, jolting the Jedi's arm around like a wet piece of string.

"Good to see you again, Jar-Jar," Obi-Wan greeted, tone even but pleasant.

"Senator Padmé!" Jar-Jar waved the three to follow, eagerly leading them into Padmé's apartment. "Mesa palos here! Lookie, lookie, Senator––desa Jedi arriven."

Obi-Wan ducked into a bow as Padmé, who had been out on the balcony with Panaka and her remaining handmaiden Dormé, approached the group. Elara inclined her head, having had just left the room a few moments prior––and realized that Anakin had done nothing but stare.

"It's a great pleasure to see you again, my lady," Obi-Wan greeted. He then offered a hand, which was taken and shaken.

"It has been far too long, Master Kenobi," Padmé informed with a smile. It was then, as her hand dropped from Obi-Wan's, that her attention shifted. Her eyes widened. "Ani?" It was hard to miss the quick once-over she did of Anakin as he stepped forward. "My goodness, you've grown!"

"So have you––grown more beautiful, I mean," Anakin very nearly murmured. Elara's brows jumped into a curious arch, her attention sliding towards her brother. He looked enchanted, just as he had the day he'd first seen her. He sounded enchanted. Obi-Wan's gaze flitted from Anakin, to Elara, a quietly distressed look in his eyes. Everyone in the room, in fact, had taken note of the compliment, and Anakin seemed to have realized he might have made a mis-step. "Well, f-for a senator, I mean."

Elara watched as Obi-Wan shifted, rolling his eyes skyward, and crossed his arms. It was the look of a teacher making note to reprimand their student at a later time. Anakin was still young, he still had things to learn; such as flattery having a time and a place––and that it was time for neither. It seemed that while most others in the room quietly balked at the padawan's compliment––including he who said it––Padmé had found it amusing. For she smiled and giggled quietly.

"Ani, you'll always be that little boy I knew on Tatooine," she teased lightly. She turned to move towards the seating area, the amassed group following her lead.

When they all started to migrate, Obi-Wan stepped ahead of Anakin and shot him a pointed but quiet look. Anakin cast his eyes towards the floor, and Elara patted his back with a comforting hand.

"Our presence here will be invisible, milady, I assure you," Obi-Wan promised. He took a seat on the sofa opposite the one Padmé had chosen, and Anakin took the seat beside him. Elara remained stood beside Typho, both appearing like guardians over the seated group.

"I'm Captain Typho of Her Majesty's security service," he introduced. "Queen Jamilla has been informed of your assignment. I am grateful you are here, Master Kenobi. The situation is more dangerous than the Senator will admit."

"I don't need more security, I need answers," contested Padmé. "I want to know who's trying to kill me."

"We are here to protect you, Senator, not to start an investigation," said Obi-Wan.

"We will find out who's trying to kill you, Padmé, I promise you," Anakin said, intent whole hearted. Despite his age and stature, he appeared child-like with the way he'd wrapped his robe around himself, concealing his arms and most of his legs. The statement drew a mildly disgruntled expression to Obi-Wan's face.

"We will not exceed our mandate, my young padawan learner," he admonished.

"I meant that in the interest of protecting her, Master. Of course," Anakin corrected, voice carefully composed.

"We will not go through this exercise again, Anakin, and you will pay attention to my lead." Just as Obi-Wan turned his head, shifted his attention back to Padmé, Anakin questioned,

"Why?"

That caused the Jedi Knight's head to snap back around, expression bordering incredulous. Elara shifted her weight a little, eyes darting between the two. The bickering was familiar; she'd done it with her brother hundreds of times on hundreds of occasions. Once he got stuck on an idea, he would not let it go. It didn't matter if it was with her, their mother, a pallies salesman, or a rough and tumble bounty hunter, Anakin loved to bicker. And in every situation where it wasn't him quibbling with Elara, she was used to stepping in. To de-escalating the situation, which she instinctively itched to do. But Obi-Wan was Anakin's teacher; and it was clear by the look on his face that he was going to have this sorted.

"What?"

"Why else do you think we were assigned to her if not to find her killer?" posed Anakin. His tone had started off almost imperiously, though it softened upon his gaze turning to Padmé. "Protection is a job for local security, not Jedi. It's overkill, Master. Investigation is implied in our mandate."

Obi-Wan had turned his eyes away from his student, his jaw had tensed. "We will do exactly as the council has instructed." His gaze slowly rounded back to Anakin, the room quiet and tense for a moment. "And you will learn your place, young one." The reprimand was gentle, with no bite or sting. A simple reminder that there was a way things were done.

In reply, Anakin lowered his head and said nothing.

"Perhaps with merely your presence the mystery surrounding this threat will be revealed," Padmé suggested. She sounded tired. The events of the day finally seemed to have settled over her, her eyes weary despite how hard she tried to keep up appearances. "Now if you'll excuse me," she rose to her feet, and all followed suit in respect, "I will retire."

With that, Padmé and Dormé retreated to the bedroom, moving with a regal grace; it did not go unmissed to Elara that Anakin watched her departure the whole time.

"I know I'll feel better having you here," Typho admitted to Obi-Wan. He gestured to Elara, a broad smile splitting his face. She raised a brow inquiringly. "This one put my mind at ease on our journey here; a testament of the security the Jedi can bring."

"Captain Typho is a flatterer," Elara informed Obi-Wan. The Jedi Knight hummed questioningly, and darted his eyes between the two. Typho laughed at the statement, head tilting back. "I did as my job required me to do, nothing of particular note."

"Your humility is becoming of you, as I'm sure you've been told before," Typho chuckled. He then gestured toward the lift. "I'll have an officer stationed on every floor, and I'll be in the control center downstairs." Typho then made his exit, and Obi-Wan excused himself to make a preliminary security sweep of the room.

"Mesa bustin with happiness seein yous again, Ani," Jar-Jar suddenly chimed.

"She hardly even recognized me, Jar-Jar," lamented Anakin. Elara turned towards her brother, who looked to be the epitome of downtrodden. "I've thought about her every day since we parted, and… she's forgotten me completely."

Elara reached out and scooped Anakin's hand into her own. His head whipped around, towards her, and his expression shifted. It became sadder, if possible, under his sister's familiar gaze. His lips pulled into an unguarded frown. His shining blue eyes drooped. She took up his other hand and squeezed his fingers. That comfort was juxtaposed by the pointed arch her brows, which warned of something more serious.

"You must keep in mind that an attempt on her life was made today. That sort of thing drains you," she reminded. She watched Anakin drop his head, shoulders sagging. But, then, Elara swung his hands a little, something she used to do to get him to smile. "But, I can assure you that she did not forget you, Ani. She asked after you most every time we met."

With that, his head snapped up, his eyes were alight, and tension started to slip from his face. It warmed Elara's heart to see the threatenings of a smile twinge at the corners of his mouth. In response, she returned the small smile, and giggled gently when Anakin squeezed her hands excitedly. Jar-Jar then shuffled towards the siblings and poked his head into their little moment.

"Shesa happy––happier than mesa seein her in a longo time," he added. Elara gestured towards him to agree, the corner of her mouth quirking.

Obi-Wan approached the small group, far more serious than the rest of them.

"You're focusing on the negative, Anakin. Be mindful of your thoughts," he advised. He paused then, before he spoke quietly, cheekily almost. "She was pleased to see us." It was then that he gestured towards the opposite side of the room. "Anakin, check the security, please." Anakin nodded and released Elara's hands, sweeping away to do as told. The Jedi Knight turned to the older Skywalker expectantly. "Elara, I was told you have information for me?"

Elara hummed and gestured to the balcony, a silent question. When Obi-Wan inclined his head to agree, the two proceeded to walk side-by-side to their destination. No doors separated the interior apartment from the balcony, which was drenched in the golden light of the nearing sunset. Upon setting foot outside, they were enveloped in a pleasant breeze. It was a pleasant location to discuss something the complete opposite. Elara placed her hands atop the balustrade, which had been warmed by the sun, and took in the soft pink the sky was turning.

"The situation is as Typho said––it's more serious than Padmé would like to admit," she started. Obi-Wan leaned back against the balustrade, arms folded over his chest. His brows crinkled over curious blue eyes.

"How do you mean?"

Elara quietly held his gaze for a moment before she cast it over her shoulder and back inside. Anakin was nowhere in sight, still making his security sweep. She turned her eyes back to Obi-Wan's and let out a quiet sigh.

"Master Windu suggests that this was orchestrated by displeased spice miners, working folk who believe their complaints are being ignored by their government. I don't think that they'd go so far as to make an attempt on their senator's life to garner attention," she admitted quietly. Elara's expression tensed into something more serious, lips pursed, eyes wary. "Padmé is, perhaps, the most outspoken defender of the republic; there are many who would want a voice like that silenced. We have seen a similar attempt made before."

A low hum pulled from Obi-Wan's chest. He began to draw his fingers along his jaw, stroking his beard as he did so. "Proc Noth on Gleann, yes," he murmured thoughtfully.

"Precisely."

It was quiet for a moment, the potential weight of the situation bearing down on them. They individually, but simultaneously, recalled the rain slicked streets of Gleann, the wiley bounty hunters that put them through hell, and the attempted murder they had stopped. The whole situation had seemed like an extreme at the time. But the galaxy had changed much in the several years that had passed, become more hostile and strange. An attempt on a senator's life no longer seemed like an extreme; it, unfortunately, felt like an eventuality.

"Have you informed Master Windu of your concerns?" Obi-Wan asked.

"I have, yes. He said they will be taken into account as they look further into the matter," Elara confirmed. "Aside from these concerns, there's little to report that you don't already know. The attack was unexpected, it wasn't telegraphed. The only disturbance in the Force that I felt was moments before the blast, it left little to be done. Whoever planned the attempt is well versed in what they do, so I must caution you to expect trouble at any time. These are trying times, Master Kenobi, with trying adversaries." She offered him a faint smile, one that bordered on cheeky. "But I have every confidence you will be up for the job."

A smile slowly pulled across Obi-Wan's face; a visible shift happened in his posturing. The professional tension in his limbs ebbed away, which allowed a more relaxed air to weave around him. His smile became vaguely crooked, harkening back to that cocky look that used to live on his face as a padawan.

"I'm glad to find that your confidence in me has not weakened in our time apart," he teased.

"There is little you could do, I think, to weaken my trust in you," Elara informed. It was a truthful statement, though that was hidden under the guise of a friendly ribbing.

"I might say the same," Obi-Wan admitted gently.

They lapsed into a comfortable silence, their eyes once more locked with one another. It was there, in the increasingly golden sunlight, that Elara finally allowed herself to fully take in the man beside her. Obi-Wan had finally grown out of his padawan looks, the rich blonde of his hair just barely kissing his shoulders. The beard he had been working on had come in quite nicely, having graced his jaw with more than just stubble. He looked more like a Jedi Knight than he ever had. She had not believed it would have been possible for the man to become more handsome––but she had been very much proved wrong.

With a quiet chuckle, Obi-Wan reached out and placed a hand atop hers; that sandwiched it between the natural warmth of his palm and sun-warmed balustrade. The moment his skin brushed against hers, there was a surge of warmth. That heat flooded her system quickly, like a strike of lightning––just like the day they'd met. Elara's eyes shot to Obi-Wan's; there was a slight crinkle to the corners of his eyes, a slight part to his lips. It was a quiet confirmation that yes, he felt that too. His fingers curled around hers, squeezed them; and Elara could not help but softly return the gesture.

And then he smiled, though the look in his eyes remained contemplative. "I'm pleased to see you again," Obi-Wan said.

"And I am pleased to see you." A cheeky look crawled across her face, sparking an almost mischievous look in her eyes. "I'm also pleased to see that your beard has finally come in."

The Jedi Knight scoffed lightly and retracted his hand; in its absence, Elara's hand felt uncomfortably cold. Obi-Wan reached up to rub at his facial hair.

"Did it displease you before?" he inquired, amusement hidden behind the words.

Elara shook her head and shrugged, unable to help the smile that grew on her lips. It was broad and bright and just slightly mischievous. It was a smile, an expression that she and Anakin shared, a staple in Skywalkers' personalities; and it was one that people had come to grow vaguely wary of. Sometimes it meant a playful ribbing was ahead, sometimes it forewarned of a hairbrained idea––particularly in Anakin's case.

"No, not a bit! It's simply a pleasure to see it fully realized; no more scruff in sight," she teased.

At that, Obi-Wan's brows rocketted towards his hairline. His hand fell away and found a place on his hip. "Scruff?" He scoffed and turned his head, as though offended. But the twinkle in his eye gave away that he knew this was playful banter, that Elara meant nothing by it. He cut his eyes back towards her, allowing his gaze to wander her from from head-to-toe. "And I see that you have changed your hair since last we met."

Elara slid a hand over the crown of her head, fingers ghosting down to the tail she'd tied that morning. It had taken quite a bit of time, and a lot of awkward hair-cutting and growing periods, but most of her hair had hit mid-neck length. The padawan tail was longer, tied off closer to the crown of her head, and her braid was close to brushing her ribcage. She had found the length more suited to her taste, yet still appropriate for her station as padawan.

"And does it please you?" she laughed gently as she curled her fingers through the bottom of her hair.

Obi-Wan quirked his head to the side and grinned a near dazzling, toothy grin.

"A little less… scruffy than before," he jibed. Elara mock gaped, laughed breathily, and leveled an accusatory finger at him. His grin only widened, and a warm chuckle reverberated in his chest.

"And who's to blame for my scruffiness? I do recall it was you who gave me that first haircut," she reminded.

"Yet it was you who continued to cut your own hair; perhaps you should have called for my help."

"Ah, yes; I'm quite sure the Council would have found it perfectly acceptable for me to call away one of their best Jedi Knights in order to cut my hair," Elara deadpanned wryly. She folded her arms over her chest and turned to lean back against the balustrade just like Obi-Wan.

"I think they would have," he joked loftily. "It would have inspired comradery in such a difficult time."

Elara couldn't stop the laugh that bubbled out of her throat at the hilarity of the conversation. "And has giving Anakin haircuts inspired much comradery between the two of you?"

A low chuckle resonated in the pit of Obi-Wan's chest. His brows quirked upwards quickly, before falling just as fast. A breath was slowly sucked in between his teeth and lips, eyes cast skyward.

"It almost proved to be a detriment, actually. There came a point where he claimed to no longer be a child, and could do things for himself. Therefore he has taken it upon himself to cut his own hair, now. Your brother is fiercely independent, to a fault at times," he admitted.

Elara hummed in contemplation, her eyes alighting on Anakin's figure. He had just re-entered the room with Jar-Jar, the two of them chatting quietly. "He's always been that way," she agreed. Her tone lingered on the edge of reminiscent, threatening to draw her back to memories of sand-swept streets. "Even as a child he would insist he could… fight his own fights, build his own droids. It got him into quite a bit of trouble, as I'm sure you already know."

Elara arched an eyebrow and shot him a side-glance. Obi-Wan returned it with a slow raise of his own brows.

"Oh, yes, I am quite aware," he informed.

Both fell into a friendly bout of laughter, wordlessly sharing their shared grievances in dealing with Anakin's headstrong ways. It was enough to snatch said padawan's attention, his forehead wrinkling suspiciously.

"What is it?" he asked.

Elara swept a hand through the hair, forcing her laughter down, subduing it into giggles. Through that bubbly sound, she managed to speak. "We're simply sharing stories of how stubborn you are."

Anakin's expression crumpled like a piece of ancient parchment. His brows crunched together, his nose crinkled, and his lips pulled into a grimace. There was an almost petulant slump to his shoulders, which dropped his head in forced resignation. When he looked up, he leveled his sister and master with an unamused stare.

"The both of you being so friendly will only prove to be troublesome," he drawled.

"For you, perhaps," Obi-Wan smirked. The only response to that was a hefty roll of Anakin's eyes, which then naturally landed on his sister. His expression softened, then, annoyance melting away.

"Will you stay with us?" he asked. The hope in his voice was unfiltered and heartwarming. While it inspired a smile on Elara's face, it earned something a little more stern from Obi-Wan, a pointed glance from under raised brows. Anakin cleared his throat and fought to compose his expression a bit. "To help protect Padmé, I mean."

"It is not her mandate to do so, Anakin," Obi-Wan reminded. He pushed away from the balustrade and folded his arms, once more becoming the perfect picture of a Jedi Knight.

Again, Anakin's shoulders slouched and a heavy exhale flooded past his lips. "I know, but…" He trailed off in frustration, clutching his fingers tightly around the hem of his sleeves. His expression had pinched in a look familiar to his sister––it was one that marred his face when he didn't know how to properly express how he felt.

Elara approached her brother, hands outstretched. She lovingly clasped his shoulders, which sagged as though his robes were too heavy for his broadening shoulders.

"Obi-Wan is right, I cannot stay with you tonight. This is your mission, and I would only impede your progress if I remained here. I have missed you dearly, Anakin; but we will have the chance to sit with one another again, to talk again. But for now, you must do your duty," Elara reasoned.

It was easy to see the war that battled in Anakin's eyes. The want to remain true to his duty against the need to be beside his sister, even if only for a little while. But then he closed them, and steeled himself with a breath. When they opened, Elara saw resolve. He nodded, but then he reached out and wrapped his arms around her. With a fond hum, she returned the embrace.

"Love you, Lari," he mumbled into the bunched up fabric of her hood.

Love was a strong word. It was a dangerous one, to the Jedi at least. Even the love between siblings was considered dangerous, for it harbored strong attachment. But it was impossible not to say. Not to feel. They just had to be careful how and when they said it.

Elara turned her head and pressed a kiss against Anakin's temple, her lips tickled by his soft, short hair. "Love you too, Ani," she whispered. Then she stepped back, held him at arm's length; and she smiled at him, all the love in the world in her eyes. Then Elara turned so she could regard both her brother and Obi-Wan. "I should take my leave, allow you both to return to your duties."

Obi-Wan inclined his head and swept a graceful arm towards the lift. "I'll see you out."

In a parting gesture, Elara curled her hand around Anakin's and gave it a squeeze.

"May the Force be with you, Ani." She then darted her eyes over to the Gungan who'd been curiously poking at a decorative vase. "Have a good evening, Jar-Jar."

The acknowledgement sent Jar-Jar jumping in surprise, his gangly hands knocking into the vase. All in the room flinched as it teetered, then let out a sigh of relief as it was caught and hugged to the Gungan's chest. With a broad, though sheepish, smile, he waved at the departing padawan. "Itsa always gooden to seea yousa, Lari!"

With that, both Obi-Wan and Elara moved towards the lift in companionable silence. They stopped before the lift doors, though neither one reached out in order to call it. Both simultaneously turned to face the other square-on. She offered a smile, darting her eyes back the way they had come.

"I wish you luck with your mission, Obi-Wan. And with taming my brother's growing temper," she told him, a bit of wry humor leaking into her voice. He chuckled and inclined his head, brows jumping a little.

"I know who to call if I find myself stumped," he retorted.

"You're doing wonderful, I can assure you."

"I received good advice from a reliable source."

They lapsed into a brief stint of silence, both simply smiling at the other. Elara had forgotten how easy it was to get lost in the blue of Obi-Wan's eyes. They were as crystalline as the placid lakes on Naboo, but as deep as the first ocean that she had ever seen. When it suddenly became apparent that she would happily drown in those eyes, Elara laughed gently. And then, with a smile, Obi-Wan opened his arms in invitation for an embrace. She smiled softly and raised her own arms, the sleeves of her robes falling back.

When they embraced, a strange sense of relief washed over Elara. It felt right to have her arms around his neck, and to have his around her waist. It was easy to give into his warmth, to melt into him as much as was acceptable. She couldn't help the way one of her hands clasped the back of his neck. How her fingers gently wove into his hair. What almost took Elara's breath away, however, was feeling how Obi-Wan had embraced her. His face had turned into her neck slightly, his beard scratching against her skin. One of his hands coasted up the middle of her back, and rested between her shoulder blades. He was holding her close. There was something different about the way they held one another, far different to any time they had hugged in the past.

When the two broke away, hands lingered for just a hair too long, brushing along shoulders and glancing along waists. The embrace had been innocent enough, but it had left Elara with a pounding heart, and a warmth to her cheeks. And upon glancing up at Obi-Wan, she found a slight pinkness to his own cheeks, and an impossible softness in his eyes. When the lift doors slid open, Elara dropped her hands from his shoulders and bowed slightly.

"May the Force be with you, Obi-Wan."

Obi-Wan, in an almost teasing way, returned the bow and the nod. "May the Force be with you, Elara."

Elara gave a humored, good-natured roll of her eyes and stepped into the lift. She lifted her hand in means of farewell, and Obi-Wan mirrored the gesture. Their hands remained raised till the doors obscured the other from view––and that was when Elara felt as though she could breathe again. Her hand slapped down against her leg, and a breath tumbled out of her mouth. With a thrumming heart, an airy head, and irregular bleeding, it felt like she had just run a training course three times over. And it was all because of Obi-Wan Kenobi.

For the whole year where they'd not seen each other, Elara had done her best to counsel herself against what budding affection she had discovered. She meditated on the issue, as she would any other, in hopes that it would resolve. But any meditation time spent on it proved to make it worse. It always left her lingering on memories of Obi-Wan––everything from waking up on Gleann in his warm embrace, to watching him sip his tea, eyes closed, steam wafting over his face. It felt like a losing battle, especially when the waves of affection came stronger and stronger. Strong affection was frowned upon much like love was in the Jedi order; it encouraged attachment. It did not allow one to be impartial when they had to in partiular situations. It was dangerous.

But attachment had always felt inevitable for Elara, especially as a Jedi. The Order encouraged comradery, which was impossible without becoming attached to one another. That was why it hurt when a Jedi brother or sister fell. Why they were willing to lay their lives on the line for one another. Such a perspective was not common, and Elara understood that. It felt like a view one only had when they entered the Jedi Order as late as she and Anakin had. For it was clear both Skywalkers had issues with forming attachments; and it was becoming even clearer that both were struggling because of it.

OOOO

The story passing through the Temple the next morning was that another attempt had been made on Padmé's life. That, as a result, Obi-Wan had leapt from a window in the senatorial apartments. That Anakin had pursued the assailant in a reckless speeder chase. It all ended with the death of the perpetrator––a bounty hunter––likely by the hand of whoever had hired them. Obi-Wan was set on the trail of discovering where the bounty hunter had come from; and Anakin was given his first assignment. He was charged with protecting Padmé as she took a leave of absence and returned to Naboo.

It was with Anakin that Elara walked with, the siblings descending the Temple steps side-by-side. It was the first time they'd had a chance to speak with one another in a year, and the last chance they'd get to do so for the forseeable future.

"I wish you could come with me," Anakin murmured. He had started to pick at the poncho he was wearing, a disguise to make him appear as a refugee. It would help him and Padmé blend in as they traveled back to Naboo.

Elara laughed and shook her head, a good natured smile lighting her face. "No, you don't," she denied. Anakin laughed under his breath and shot a smile her way.

"Yes, I do."

"This is your first assignment, Anakin; I don't believe you would want your sister hovering over you." The only response she garnered was a huffed half-laugh. Elara nudged him with her elbow, trying to get him to smile wider. "You must be excited; I certainly was when I was given my first solo mission."

He nodded and ceased his fussing with the poncho hem. "I am." Anakin dropped his head to stare down at his feet and the Temple steps. When that quiet lingered for a little too long, became a little too concerning, Elara cast a glance over at him. A crease had formed between his brows, his lips had pulled into a frown. With her light-hearted expression falling, she reached out to tentatively touch his elbow. A silent question. Anakin huffed a breath through his nose. "Obi-Wan doesn't think I'm ready," he gave up. And with that, the floodgates seemed to have opened. Anakin lifted his head sharply and gestured widely with one of his hands. "He doesn't trust me!"

"Now that's not true, Anakin," Elara assured. She continued down the steps, but her brother stalled adamantly. When she stopped and turned to look back at him, a look of near exasperation had overwhelmed his face.

"No, it is!" Anakin insisted heatedly. "Obi-Wan can be overbearing. Overly critical. I am grateful he is my mentor, I am. But he thinks I am… unpredictable, that I don't think before I act. But I do, I always have; I am not as impulsive as he thinks that I am."

Elara stared up at her brother, her lips gently parted. It was clear in the way he spoke, how his fingers curled, that what he spoke of was a long standing issue for him. It was not something that he openly discussed, or if he did, he did not do so often. She quirked an eyebrow and squinted her eyes into the glaring sunlight.

"Have you talked to him about this?"

A snort rattled in his nose. "No. He wouldn't listen."

"You don't know that unless you try." Elara retook one of the steps so she was only one stair below him. She had to tilt her head back almost comically in order to look up at him. "Obi-Wan trusts you. He believes in you. He is your teacher, Anakin; he wants nothing but the best for you, to see you succeed. This isn't just a big step for you, it is for him as well. For a Master to allow their Padawan out on an unaccompanied mission? That's a big decision, and he didn't get much say in it. But don't let this issue cloud your thoughts. You must keep your head clear, Anakin, this is an important moment for you."

Anakin pursed his lips, eyes intently focused on his sister's. Simultaneously he nodded and reached out to take Elara's hand. Unprompted, both siblings took a deep breath with one another; a sense of calm seemed to wash over him, then, the crinkled aspect of his forehead smoothing. Anakin then smirked at his sister, eyes glittering.

"You sound like a Jedi," he said. Elara beamed, suddenly, and a peal of laughter pulled from her mouth.

"I certainly hope so! I didn't train this long to sound like a Hutt," she joked.

Anakin shook his head, smirk evening into a toothy grin. "No," he chuckled, "you couldn't ever sound like a Hutt."

"And for that, I will be forever thankful."

The two started back down the steps, hands clasped fondly. It was reminiscent of days spent walking down the dusty streets of Tatooine, walking to and from Watto's shop––except Anakin was significantly taller than he had been then. The memories turned Elara's lips up at the corners; and as though he was struck with the same reminiscence, Anakin started to swing their hands a little.

"I've missed you," he admitted. He offered an earnest look, something that she wasn't quite sure she'd yet to see on his face. It was becoming on him. "I truly have, Elara."

The nostalgic smile on Elara's lips grew into something a little more melancholic. "And I have missed you, Anakin."

"It feels as though every time we reunite, we're made to separate again. I can't wait till we're Jedi Knights; we can attend missions together, then." The hope in his voice was uplifting. It was how he spoke of his dreams and aspirations as a child, and it was heartwarming to realize that part of him was still alive and well.

"If the Council elects to pair us together. They may not; they may say our bond as brother and sister may prove to be detrimental," Elara warned. For as much as she enjoyed the idea, she knew there was cause to be wary. The Council had been tentative when they'd agreed to train the both of them, and more often than not, they seemed to keep both Skywalkers a safe distance from one another. Perhaps it was to ensure independence––on both of their ends––or perhaps it was born out of wariness. Elara could never tell.

Anakin nodded, but then lifted his chin. "Then we'll prove that we can work side-by-side, despite our relation. We'll prove that we're the best pair of Jedi to send out there," he decided adamantly. His hand curled around Elara's fingers tightly, and the siblings shared a look. "'Cause I love you, Lari. I don't want to do any of this without you."

Elara squeezed her brother's fingers and leaned into him, like she was about to share a secret. "You won't ever have to find that out, I swear."

Afterword: I'm loving getting back into this story. I've got new ideas that have helped clarify some plot issues I came across, and that's been a huge help to me. The events of this movie, as I write them, might feel a little sporadic. Because as Anakin and Obi-Wan have their own separate stories, Elara's got her own through-line to follow for a short bit. So bear with me if things end up feeling a wee bit choppy!

Review Replies!

ZabusasGirl: Attack of the Clones may go by fairly quick, but I think that's sort of the nature of this particular film; it happens over the span of, what, a week at most? A couple of days? At least, that's what I've always thought. But I'm excited to get to some of the stuff I've had planned for literal years. Five almost at this point. I hope you enjoyed the chapter; thanks again!

DarkLordofMemes: I am back! Huzzah! I hope you enjoyed the chapter; thanks again!

LyannaSaphiraTorchwood: I can't believe it either! I finally refound my creative drive, and writing this story again has felt so, so, so good. 'Cause I can't watch or listen or see anything Star Wars related without going 'I gotta get back to that story.' So I've got lots of fresh ideas bouncing around! I hope you enjoyed the chapter; thanks again!

breezzylife12: So, The Rise of Skywalker doesn't change much of anything for this story; it's, maybe, given me a couple of ideas with some new concepts they introduced. But I've got two other stories planned for the Original Trilogy and the Force Awakens Trilogy, which TRoS has changed some stuff for (in a good way). I hope that you enjoyed the chapter; thanks again!

Dally'sTUFF: This story is saving me from quarantine boredom. Genuinely. It's giving me a great creative outlet, so I'm really happy with getting back into this story. I hope you're doing alright in this crazy, crazy world! Hope you enjoyed the chapter; thanks again!

eyper: Writing the Obi-Lara reunion was far too much fun. Because, originally, it was just supposed to be a 'oh, hi again' and a hug. And then I went 'no, we need tension.' We'll get some good Elara/Yoda chats in the next few chapters, which will be nice and important. We love a sneaky Palpatine… who knows, maybe I'll even write a bit following him for funsies. I hope you enjoyed the chapter; thanks again!

Panda Bitz: I'm glad that you recently found the story, especially since I'm back into writing it again! I hope you enjoyed the chapter; thanks again!

MsRosePetal: This story is saving me during quarantine; it's giving me the chance to really focus in on my writing again, since I have so much down time. Which is why I had so much fun getting the Obi-Lara reunion just right in this chapter. I have so much planned for them that I've just gotta finish telling their story. And then move on to the next Star Wars installment I've got planned… which will connect with this one. I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Thanks again!

weasleylover10: I've actually come real late to the game on the Clone Wars series, so I've been watching that this week. Which is good, 'cause we're approaching the Clone Wars period in this story, so now I've got a better idea of what to write for that three year span between AotC and RotS. It also has sparked inspiration seeing how… goddamn sassy and flirty Obi-Wan Kenobi is in the series, that sly bastard. I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Thanks again!

Vanafindiel: I'm glad the last chapter read better! And I hope that you enjoyed this new one. Hope you're staying safe as well! Thanks again!

PrettyRecklessLaura: Here's some more! Hope you enjoyed it; thanks again!

bigfootsmall: If I abandoned this story, I think it would haunt me for years to come. I'm happy to hear that my writing style is alright to read! I worry, sometimes, I go overboard. And as someone who's studied acting, I delve a lot into character shit, which I know can be overwhelming. But I'm happy to hear that it's all fitting together well. I hope you enjoyed the chapter; thanks again!

highwayblues1: I missed this story, too! I'm happy to be writing it again, and I'm happy that you're excited to be reading more of it! Thanks again; I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

LoveFiction2020: Thank you! I hope you enjoyed the new chapter!

Disneysidegirl: The one thing quarantine has been good for, for me, is getting back into this story. I forgot how much I loved it. I hope you enjoyed the new chapter; thanks again!

bambam411: Thank you so much; I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

ItsJustABook: I find Palpatine as a character very interesting; because he really did manage to hide his true intentions for so long. People were suspicious along the way, but they didn't really know what to be suspicious of. And that's what I've wanted to play with in Elara's case. Because she is older than Anakin––old enough to see that the flattery is strange, and that the way he goes about things are odd. It's enough to turn her away from really liking him, and enough to put her on edge… but not so much so (at the moment) to push her over the edge of preemptively being like 'he's a bad man.' And we'll see her bring that up to a couple of people… including Anakin. I hope you enjoyed the chapter; thanks again!

And thank you to those that have added this story to their favorites/follows; it means a lot!

I am… so incredibly psyched to be this into this particular story again. I've been watching Clone Wars (I'm way late to the party by a LOT of years), so I'm excited to get to that era in this story––I've got ideas.

That being said––––if any of you have episodes of the Clone Wars you might want to see me include in this story, hit me up with them, and I'll take note of them as possibilities! I won't linger too terribly long in the Clone Wars era, but I'll spend enough time there.

I hope life is treating y'all well! You rock!

~Mary