Author's Note: Hello again fellow readers and writers. Here is my much anticipated next chapter (ok so I made the "anticipated" part up). Once again I would like to remind you that NO I don't own any of these characters, settings etc, George Lucas does. Man I can hardly wait for Eppy three now that Hyperspace has started, seeing all those sets, Ewan, Hayden etc is just pure torture cos we all know its another two years yet!

Chapter 7 – A revelation

One week later…

 A brief knock echoed at Anakin's door.

 Anakin nearly leapt out of his skin.

Obi-Wan isn't expected for another 2 hours!

Padme giggled from beside him. Her unruly brown hair shadowed her delicate features as she tried to curb her laughter. Anakin rushed in from the balcony trying to get to the door before Obi-Wan let himself in.

"Shhh! He'll hear you! Get in the refresher!" he whispered to Padme, who was straightening her dress and trying, but failing, to get her shoes on.        

"Obi-Wan… you're early."

 Anakin smiled uneasily, gesturing for his Master to come in.

Obi-Wan eyed his apprentice with a certain amount of suspicion. Something was up. Anakin was hiding something from him – he could tell.

"How are you feeling?" he enquired, banishing this thought to the back of his mind. Anakin always protested that he wasn't trusted enough; he did not want to prove him right.

"A lot better thanks. Now I really want to get back to work; watching the Holo-film channel is rather mind-numbing after an while – especially with all those repeats of "Honey I Blew up the Planet 1000 and something". I have been bored to tears!" he joked, laughing tentatively. He strode into the kitchen area and began preparing a drink for his Master.

Obi-Wan lowered his eyes so as not to maintain eye contact with his padawan.

Should I tell him what they said or not? It feels wrong hiding information from him. If a Jedi partnership is supposed to be based on trust then I'm being a complete hypocrite.

"Is there something you want to tell me Anakin… you seem a bit on edge?"

Anakin's hand jolted suddenly and the pitcher slipped from his grasp. The glass smashed with an almighty crash. His cheeks flushed as he bent down to sweep up chunks of glass from the tiles. Without looking up he replied.

"No- should there be? I'm fine… never felt better", he stuttered, looking up finally and giving his Master the best fake smile he could conjure up.

Obi-Wan narrowed his eyes sceptically at Anakin. His apprentice again refused to make eye contact with him, and continued to stare at the now spotless floor.

He's lying I'm sure of it.

Just then his probing eyes spotted something. An elegant silk scarf lay on the floor just behind a kitchen unit.

 A scarf not often seen in the wardrobe of a Jedi Knight. A male Jedi Knight at that.

He leant over and grasped it, holding it up in the air in full view of his apprentice.

"What is this?"

Anakin shifted slightly on his feet, diverting his eyes from the persistent glower set on Obi-Wan's face.

Boy am I in for it.

"Master-

"I hope this is not what I think it is"

"Master, listen, I can explain-

"You will be expelled from the Jedi Order Anakin! How could you be so foolish?!"

 Obi-Wan had trouble maintaining his calm composure. He took several steps back from his padawan sucking in deep breaths of humid air. Anakin had clearly set the apartment's temperature to be similar to that of his blisteringly hot home planet. The air was stifling to a normally adaptable Obi-Wan.

"I love her!" Anakin blurted.

Obi-Wan sighed heavily, exasperated at the sheer naivety of his padawan.

"When you began your training you understood that there were several sacrifices that had to be made in order for it to be a success, am I right? Well this is one of them. You cannot have everything Anakin. It is either one or the other. Don't throw away all you have worked for – end this fling now for your sake!"

Anakin drew himself up to his full height with clenched fists pressing into his thighs.

"How dare you! Fling! What kind of person do you think I am? I'm not like the rest the Jedi; you never knew or loved a mother or a family of any sort. I can't just switch my emotions off when I feel like it, you cannot expect me to live my life like some mindless machine!"

 A dishevelled Padme emerged from the refresher. She marched purposely to Anakin, wrapping her arms around his waist from behind. Hurt shone from her eyes, and it was directed at him. Obi-Wan closed his eyes in utter disbelief.

This just gets better and better.

"Master Kenobi", she stated bluntly.

          "Padme, you realise that Anakin will be expelled from the Order if this is discovered?" he said, deliberately keeping his voice down to a quiet but urgent tone.

          "And I will be disciplined by the Naboo Senate. It is common knowledge that politics and relationships do not mix. We had already decided it would be kept a secret. The only person who knows is you."

          Obi-Wan's gaze diverted to Anakin, who was fidgeting uncomfortably behind his wife. There was something else behind those strong Force barriers that Anakin wasn't telling him. Something important.

          "What are you going to do Obi-Wan?" questioned Padme, her icy brown eyes settling on the Jedi Master.

          Obi-Wan paused for several seconds, seemingly deep in thought before replying. His eyes appeared to bore right through Anakin, who shuddered impulsively as he realised what his Master was thinking.

          "You're married."