"Anakin, you need to report to Kix to make sure it's nothing more serious."

Anakin glared at Obi-Wan, ready to tell him exactly where he could shove his "concern" when Ahsoka interrupted. "Come on, Master. Even if it's nothing serious, at least you'll stop dropping blood everywhere. You'll ruin my new carpets."

Anakin rolled his eyes, but his Padawan's words did ease his anger. "Yeah, yeah alright Snips. Wouldn't want to ruin your décor after all." He turned and began walking toward the medical tents with his apprentice, mulling over the conversation. How was it that Ahsoka's snippy, flippant remarks sounded more caring than Obi-Wan's concerned inquiries? When did that happen?

They quickly reached the tents, where Kix was examining some of the other troopers. "Hey Kix," called Ahsoka, "Got another package for you."

Kix turned and nodded at his general and commander. "Alright. Who needs patching up this time?" Anakin found himself rolling his eyes again as Ahsoka firmly informed their medic that it was Anakin, of course, as she would never be so reckless as to get hurt in battle, before turning and leaving Kix to his sulky patient.

Kix chuckled as he moved to examine the deep cut across Anakin's ribs. "Got to say, sir," he said as he gently dabbed the wound, "Kind of surprised to see you here voluntarily. We usually have to drag you kickin' and screamin' or unconscious to medical."

Anakin shrugged as much as he could without interfering with Kix's examination. "You know. Gotta start setting a responsible example and all that for the kids." Kix laughed as he pressed a bandage to Anakin's ribs.

"What we lack in years we make up for in experience, sir. And enthusiasm," he said grinning up at Anakin as he finished his work. "The cut was pretty deep, but nothing too serious- it was more important to get something on there to prevent infection. Just try to avoid upsetting it as much as you can and it should be fine soon."

Anakin nodded as he stood and began to walk through the medical tent, checking in on the injured and thinking about Kix's words. It was true that he normally avoided the medics like sand. With so many of his men injured, he always hated taking any attention away from those who really needed it. After all, he could last much longer than most without medical attention. A cut like this? To a man who had lost limb, it seemed more like a splinter than an injury worthy of medical attention. If it'd just been him on the field, he would have popped a few pain relievers and slept it off after clean-up was over.

But Ahsoka was with him.

It wasn't like Ahsoka had never been concerned about him before. She checked him over after battles the same way he did her and pushed him to the medics if he was on the verge of collapsing. She knew full well how fussy he was about getting medical attention and only insisted in the most urgent of cases. But lately, she'd seemed far more overprotective than usual. Not that Anakin could blame her. She'd already watched one master die in her arms. He imagined she wasn't too keen on thought of losing another one.

And that brought him back to the bearded man in deep conversations with Cody some yards away. Force, Anakin still didn't know what to make of his master, back from the dead. The anger, he expected, the disgust, the rage, the hurt. But even more than that? He felt happy. Euphoric. Obi-Wan was back from the dead. His beloved master had come back, back even after he had felt his pulseless wrist, back even after watching the flames of his funeral pyre consume the man's body. Obi-Wan was back. The disbelief, the sheer joy he had felt, knowing that his brother wasn't lost to him forever…

It was the same feeling he would have had watching Shmi Skywalker come back from the dead.

Anakin sighed suddenly feeling far older than he was. He was happy, so happy that Obi-Wan was back, as happy as he would have been seeing his mother rise from the grave. But Mom would have never lied to him.

She wouldn't have betrayed him that way.

13 Hours Later: Coruscant

Padme Amidala stopped and grinned as she stepped out of her kitchen with a bowl of popcorn in her hands.

Anakin was sprawled on her couch, lazily flicking through the selection of romance movies on the Holoflix. He had taken off all but one of his tunics as well as his boots and seemed nearly fused to Padme's cushions, a picture of inelegance and comfort. She loved her husband in these moments. Though she admittedly had a bit of weakness for seeing her strong Jedi protector, the Hero With No Fear, in all his glory, this is who she really fell in love with. The kind, quiet man that was her Ani.

She kicked off her shoes and nestled beside Anakin, offering him a handful of popcorn which he distractedly took. "Anything good?" she asked munching on her popcorn.

Anakin nodded. "How does Love by the Lake sound? It has romance and pirates," he said grinning.

"Hmm, sounds like the best of both worlds," teased Padme, "Romance for you and pirates for me."

Anakin stuck his tongue out at her before quickly stealing a piece of popcorn that had just reached her lips. Padme swatted at him playfully before reaching for the controller and starting the movie. Though she had been teasing, she suspected that Anakin loved the romance as much as the pirates. He was a sappy romantic himself, always telling her about the grand romantic gestures of love he would want to make after the war was over and they could reveal their love. She bet he got half of his ideas from the holodramas he and the clones watched in between battles.

A quarter of the way into the film, Padme shifted slightly against Anakin's chest and asked the question she'd been dying to ask since he got home. "So Ani," she said casually, "How was the mission?"

Without taking his eyes from the screen Anakin shrugged and answered. "It was fine. Normal mission."

Padme paused. "That's good," she said. "It was three of you this time right?"

"Mmhmm."

Padme paused again. "And how was that?"

Anakin sighed before reaching over and pausing the movie. "What exactly are trying to ask, Padme?"

Padme reluctantly lifted her head from Anakin's shoulder and turned to face her husband. "You know what I'm trying to ask Ani. It's important that you talk about this."

Anakin frowned, avoiding his wife's eyes. "Talk about what? Obi-Wan lied to me, now he's back, and I refuse to talk to him. Happy?"

Padme crossed her arms and fixed her husband with a glare. "No, Anakin, not happy. You mean you two really haven't talked about this?"

"What there's to talk about? It's just the same thing over again. The kriffing Council and Obi-Wan don't trust me enough except to be horrible Jedi and get attached which, hey look at that, finally came in handy!" Anakin launched himself off the couch and started pacing. "Skywalker's a screw up anyway so it's ok to lie to him. We can just use his feelings and, hey, maybe that'll even teach him not to get attached! Genius!"

"Anakin-"

"Especially Obi-Wan! Good for him! His disappointment of a student is good for something other than chopping off droid heads." Anakin huffed. "It's not just that they don't trust me, Padme. It's… humiliating. Skywalker's such a horrible Jedi that we can completely count on his ridiculous sadness and attachment for this super important plan." He sighed. "How could Obi-Wan lie to me?"

He looked at her straight in the eye. "How could he betray me like that? I can't forgive him after this, Padme," he whispered.

Padme gently took his hands and lowered him back onto the couch. She took a breath. "Ani. You know I understand. You know I'm on your side. You know that I'm completely appalled by the way the Council and Obi-Wan acted." She took another breath. He wasn't going to like what she was about to say.

"But Anakin. You know that Obi-Wan's not the only one who's lied in your relationship."

Anakin stared at her in disbelief. He opened his mouth to lash back before closing it again. Well. Yeah, ok. Just the fact that he was sitting in his secret wife's apartment was reminder enough of the years of lies since their marriage. Not to mention Tatooine…

Sensing that perhaps her thick-headed husband might actually be seeing some reason, Padme pressed on. "You need to forgive him, Ani."

Anakin closed his eyes and let himself fall back into his wife's arms. "Padme… it's different. I'm not saying that the stuff I've lied about is okay, but, I mean, I never used anybody, you know?" He held her a little tighter. "I was a slave for nine years, Padme," he whispered. "I know what it feels like to be used. For someone to just look at you like a tool or a step to get something else. To not be looked at like a person. And there's so many horrible things that happen in slavery. Everyone pictures the beatings, and the abuse and the danger and the sickness." He opened his eyes. "But it's also that feeling. Of just being someone's object, someone's tool. And when I found out that I had been used, again, just this time by the Council…it kind of felt the same way. Even worse in some ways because I was used just for who I am. I can't help my feelings, Padme. It's just how I'm wired. And I honestly don't even care." He sighed." I expected that from my old masters. And honestly, I'm not even surprised by the Council. But I thought Obi-Wan was my friend. For him to use me like that…I just don't know how to move past it."

Padme hugged her husband a little tighter, slowly brushing his blonde curls with her fingers. "I know Ani. And I'm sorry that I don't have better answers for you. But Anakin, you and Obi-Wan need each other to survive this war. And not only on the battlefield." She kissed Anakin gently on the forehead. "You two need to talk about this," she said quietly before turning the film back on and allowing Anakin to snuggle closer.

Many blocks away, Obi-Wan Kenobi sat alone in his quarters drinking tea. Although he technically lived alone, his apartment was often occupied by another young blonde Jedi and a sarcastic Togruta between missions. Though he bemoaned his lack of privacy to his companions dramatically, both they and he knew he secretly enjoyed having the two young people for company. It was refreshing to be able to sit and make his padawans tea, all three of them nearly forgetting that they all had a war to get back to.

He sighed as looked into his cup, wishing there was a little something stronger in it. The last mission- well it hadn't been a disaster. There were no dramatic scenes, no broken bones. But he hated the coldness that had settled between Anakin. They'd barely spoken, apart from discussing mission details, and 'Why do you care' he caught from Anakin when he'd worried about his injury made his heart clench. He hated when Anakin was mad at him, hated that he wouldn't talk to him. But he couldn't stand the thought of Anakin believing he didn't care about him.

Obi-Wan buried his face in his hands, frustrated at the Council and at himself. Frustrated at Anakin's blindness for not understanding why Obi-Wan had no choice but to do what he did. The mission was a success, thanks in part to Anakin. Force, it was because of that deception that Obi-Wan had managed to rescue one of Anakin's closest friends, the Chancellor.

So why won't he understand?

Obi-Wan sighed again, mulling over the idea of heading to the cantina when his commlink beeped. Obi-Wan answered. "Kenobi here."

"Obi-Wan it's Mace. We need you and Skywalker in the Council chambers immediately. There's an emergency."

Obi-Wan frowned already searching for his robe. "What kind of emergency?"

"Maul has sent us a message."