Obi-Wan and Ahsoka spent the next two days hovering outside of Anakin's bacta tank, sending whatever reassuring pulses they could through the Force to the unconscious Jedi. Obi-Wan's time-honed skills of persuading hospital orderlies to allow to him to stay beyond the typically accepted boundaries for visitors proved as useful as ever as he and Ahsoka kept their careful vigil beside the tank. Thankfully, Zeria Qitt was a gracious host. She quickly accepted the fact that her charges were unlikely to stray from the young Knight's side for the time being and faithfully brought them food, toiletries, and news from the Duchess.

"Duchess Satine has asked me to inform you that Knight Skywalker will be receiving the most advanced prosthetic available in our medical facilities once he has recovered enough for the surgery," Zeria updated them during one of her food delivieries.

"Please pass on our thanks to the Duchess," said Obi-Wan nodding his head. "Her generosity is tremendously welcomed." He half-hoped that Satine would send a message arranging to meet in person, but she had not yet done so. Perhaps it was for the best- one ordeal at a time for now.

After two days, Anakin was finally released from the tank and settled into a room in the medcenter. Though he remained asleep, color was beginning to return to his face, and his features were no longer scrunched in pain. Ahsoka and Obi-Wan each took a side of the bed, silently watching over their friend for another three days as Anakin was wheeled in and out of surgery and other treatments. Ahsoka stayed with her masters faithfully until Obi-Wan encouraged her to take a break and say hello to her former pupil when she received word that Korkie Kryze had returned to Mandalore.

That left Obi-Wan sitting silently by Anakin's hospital bed, one hand clasping Anakin's fingers gently. Despite the many reassurances from Dr. Brobuu, he still had slight difficulty accepting that Anakin, half-dead only a few days ago, would really, truly be alright after the litany of injuries he'd sustained over the past week. The fear and panic that had enveloped him since Anakin's capture had slowly abated as he watched the bruises fade from his apprentice's face and the tremors from the electrocution halt. Obi-Wan shifted his thumb so that it was resting on Anakin's wrist, feeling the soft throbbing of the pulse beneath. While the Force told him that Anakin was stable and recovering well, it sent a wave of calm through Obi-Wan to feel the proof beneath his fingers.

Attachment, whispered a reproof in his mind. Obi-Wan sighed, closing his eyes to meditate yet again. How could he have failed so miserably? How many years had he spent berating Anakin for his inability to let go when he himself could not release his attachment to those he loved? Force, he had Fallen. He'd been prepared to kill Maul in anger, even once he'd disarmed the Sith. It was not the Jedi way. Obi-Wan's attachment had driven him to the rim of light until he teetered on threshold of infinite darkness, ready to throw himself off the edge.

And yet it was attachment that saved him.

All because his thickheaded, foolish, cocky, reckless beloved apprentice loved him too much to allow Obi-Wan to Fall. In that moment that Anakin yanked him back from the darkness, Obi-Wan had felt the Light shining through him as he felt nothing but Anakin's love and affection enveloping him. It wasn't dark, it wasn't dangerous. Though his love for Anakin, and even Qui-Gon, had sent him tumbling towards the dark, his attachment itself wasn't tainted. When he and Anakin connected, allowing their care for each other flow unfettered through the bond it was…freeing.

Obi-Wan had never felt closer to the Force than he had in his whole life.

And that new connection thrummed silently between him and Anakin, their bond melded more firmly and brightly than ever before. It was far more muted, of course, than it had been on Ithor, though Obi-Wan suspected that it may change once Anakin was more fully recovered. But even with Anakin unconscious, Obi-Wan could sense a difference. He sank into the Force more fluidly, could pick up the emotions of the stressed hospital orderly without reaching out, could sense the heartbeat of the palace cat floating through the hallways. When Zeria had nearly dropped a bowl of soup the previous day, he'd instantly caught it with reflexes, while already heightened by the Force, that surprised even himself.

Perhaps before he'd have looked upon the change as new power, threatening and untamed like that of dark side. But now? Obi-Wan wasn't quite sure.

So lost was Obi-Wan in his thoughts, he nearly missed the small moan that escaped Anakin's lips. Head jerking towards his former apprentice, Obi-Wan squeezed Anakin's hand. "Anakin? Anakin, can you hear me?"

Anakin groaned again, eyes fluttering to reveal sky blue slits. "Anakin," called Obi-Wan gently, "You can wake up now, dear one."

Slowly, Anakin's eyes blinked into focused, and returned Obi-Wan gesture, squeezing his master's hand weakly. "Obi-Obi-Wan?"

"Yes, Padawan," said Obi-Wan smiling. "I'm here."

Anakin blinked again, frowning. "Where is here?" he asked groggily.

"We are in the Sundari Palace on Mandalore," said Obi-Wan. "The Duchess Satine is hosting us as her guests, remember?"

"Oh yeah," said Anakin becoming more focused as he tenderly stretched. "Your excellent friend."

"Indeed," said Obi-Wan raising an eyebrow and carefully pushing Anakin back towards his pillows. "Where I'm sure we'll do nothing to disrespect that hospitality, like say, oh, escaping the medical ward or tampering with any droid in the vicinity when we're bored."

"Good thing we don't know anyone like that," said Anakin grinning lazily up at Obi-Wan. "Well, actually, you have been known to escape the medical ward. I'll keep an eye on that."

"Your vigilance is inspiring," said Obi-Wan dryly as he adjusted Anakin's blankets. "Now tell me," said softly, "How are you feeling?"

Anakin shrugged lightly, doing his best not to agitate his bandages. "Ok, I guess. Sore. Tired. Though not nearly as bad it was. What's the damage report?"

"Recovering well," said Obi-Wan, "The effects of the electorcuion have been fading, though you still may feel some tremors for the next few days. Your bones are healing nicely, and the infection from your burns has cleared, though the scars will likely remain," he said looking away guiltily.

"Obi-Wan," said Anakin sternly, tugging on his hand, "You're not thinking of blaming yourself for this are you?"

"It's my fault Maul targeted you-"

"Look, Obi-Wan, unless you sent Maul a personalized invitation saying 'Please RSVP to capture and torture my wonderful apprentice with dashing piloting skills to keep him out of my hair for a few days,'" I'm pretty sure it's not your fault," said Anakin rolling his eyes.

"I would hardly call your piloting skills 'dashing.' 'Outlandish,' perhaps. 'Ill-advised,' more likely."

"Whatever. It's not your fault, so drop it," said Anakin settling into his pillows, closing his eyes. "Where's Snips?"

"She went to greet Korkie. The poor girl deserved a break. She hasn't left your side in days, you know."

Anakin's eyes snapped open. "Days? How long have I been out?"

"Oh, just under a week," said Obi-Wan non-chalantly.

"A week?"

"And you will stay in bed, until you are cleared by a medical professional to do anything other than sit here and twiddle your thumbs. Or, erm, thumb I suppose," he added sheepishly. "You will be getting a replacement soon. For Force sake, Anakin, you were half-dead."

"But I feel so much better, " said Anakin frowning. "Actually," he said, looking around uncertainly, "Everything feels- kind of different? I don't know. It's like the Force is clearer. Stronger."

"I feel it too," sighed Obi-Wan, "It's our bond. It changed after- well after I Fell," he finished eyes downcast as shame rushed over him.

"You dipped a foot in, " said Anakin yawning, "You didn't Fall."

"Anakin Skywalker, are really going to be so- so- so cavalier about this?" sputtered Obi-Wan. He'd failed Anakin. His own apprentice had had to come grab him from the abyss. "We are speaking of the dark side. How can you just brush it off?"

Obi-Wan waited for some cocky remark, some joke about how uptight he was, the stick he needed to pull out of the mud. But to his surprise, Anakin suddenly drew his presence into himself, falling into a thoughtful silence as he seemed to twist and turn a thought over in his mind. He could feel his friend's anxiety steadily rise and concern rapidly started to build within him again.

"Anakin?" he prompted worriedly. "What is it?"

Anakin met his gaze, and Obi-Wan was stunned to see the first glints of tears beginning to prick his eyes. He felt a resolution in the Force as Anakin took a breath and carefully pushed himself into a sitting position.

"Obi-Wan. I-I have some things I need to tell you."

Anakin was sure that he'd never felt his heart race as fast as it did now. He'd felt far more calm facing an army of ten thousand battle droids than he did in this moment. What if Obi-Wan hates me?

Not trustworthy, whispered Palpatine's voice. He didn't actually kill anyone. He's in the clear. But you? My dear boy, he'd turn you into the Council at the first opportunity.

But Obi-Wan was here, sitting anxiously at his bedside with guilt gnawing at him for Anakin's ordeal. He'd done everything in his power to save his apprentice. He said he loved Anakin.

He's a liar. He lied about his death. He's lying now. He's the perfect Jedi.

But even if Obi-Wan hadn't said it, Anakin had felt it, had felt his pure, unconditional love in that shining moment their souls melded together on Ithor. Even now, the Force sang around them, guarding master and apprentice in its warm embrace. Obi-Wan wasn't who he thought he was. He was even better.

And so Anakin decided to talk.

He told Obi-Wan everything. He told him about his dreams in those weeks before Geonosis, his anger at being brushed off, his decision to run off with Padme to Tatooine. He told him about the way his heart shattered when he found his mother in the hut, about the brief glimpse of hope he gripped with all his might as he comforted her, about the white, blinding rage that erupted from his soul as she fell limp in his arms. He told him about the massacre that followed.

He told him about the twisted delight he'd felt in cutting down the Tuskens, the way he ignored the screams of all of them, even the women and children. He told him about the deep, deep self-loathing he'd felt since that day, the consuming remorse that he'd carried and the singular desire to take everything, everything back. He told him about his grief, and the gaping, bleeding hole in his heart that had not healed since he'd bid his mother's gravestone farewell.

He told him about Padme. He told him about the wild happiness that she inspired in him, about their secret wedding in Varykino, and his regular visits to her apartment when they finally landed on Coruscant after weeks on the battlefield. He told him how his heart leapt when he saw her speeches, and how the horrible residue of the war, the violence, the loneliness washed away in her arms.

Anakin didn't know how long he talked, nor when he had collapsed into sobs, though he hoped Obi-Wan understood what he had said anyway. When he finished he squeezed his eyes shut, his one hand gripping the sheets as he awaited Obi-Wan's judgment. Oh Force he hates me. He hates me, he hates me, he hates me-

"Anakin," said a gentle voice above him as a calloused hand gripped his own. "I hope you know by now that I could never hate you, dear one."

Dear one? Anakin slowly brought his gaze up to meet his master's, disbelief and fervent hope swelling inside him.

"But- but everything I did-"

"Anakin," said Obi-Wan sighing heavily. "I-I cannot condone what you did on Tatooine. And once this war is over, I think we will need to address it more directly."

Anakin nodded, looking down again, crestfallen.

"But listen to me, Anakin. I- I understand. This encounter with Maul, it wasn't the first time I've felt the pull of the dark side, though it was certainly the most forceful. I know what it's like to lose a loved one," said Obi-Wan softly, "And the thought of losing you too- it almost pushed me over."

"But you didn't-"

"Because you pulled me back, Anakin," said Obi-Wan. "And you don't know how much I wish I was there with you that day to return the favor. Though I suspect I had plenty of opportunity before that to help you. I should have been more understanding of your attachments Anakin. I should have protected you better." He closed his eyes. "I'm sorry I wasn't a better Master."

"You were the best Master," said Anakin firmly, gripping Obi-Wan's hand. "And I'm sorry that I never saw that earlier. I'm so sorry for letting you down, Master" he said, tears leaking from his eyes again.

Obi-Wan smiled at him, his gratitude shining through the Force. "I want what's best for you, Anakin. You are a good man, and we'll put you back on the right path. Both of us. Whatever happens after the war, I will stand by you."

Anakin's heart swelled and he released Obi-Wan's hand, pulling his master into the tightest one-armed hug he could manage. Obi-Wan gently returned the embrace, holding his dear friend as tightly as he could without causing him pain. They stayed like that, soaking in the others' presence until Anakin drifted off to sleep on Obi-Wan's shoulder. The galaxy breathed anew.

Lightyears away, a chancellor was startled awake. He sat up in bed, eyes narrowing as he took in the Force around him. He hissed. The balance had shifted.

They're nowhere near done talking, but not a bad first step, yeah? i luv them So Much

So when I originally conceived this story, I kind of intended to leave it here. however, i'm having a pretty lovely time writing this, so i'm visualizing this more as the end of an arc for now. who knows where we'll go from here :) (hopefully i do since i guess i'm the author but whatever)

thank you all again so much for your patience and support! you have no idea how much i appreciate it 3