DISCLAIMER: Star Wars, Star Wars characters, and anything else from the Lucas archives are NOT mine…nor am I claiming they are

Disclaimer: Star Wars, Star Wars characters, and anything else from the Lucas archives are NOT mine…nor am I claiming they are. I'm simply having funJ

Consequences without Meaning…

Part I.

Obi-Wan stole a glance down the darkened corridor before closing the door quietly behind him. Adjusting his robes one final time, he made his way down the hallway toward his own room. Alone with his thoughts in the black of the night, he began to muse on the events of the last few weeks.

He and his master…well, his former master, had been sent on a mission to the very isolated T'agara cluster, where a dispute between neighboring planets was greatly worrying the Council. The factions involved were on the brink of a major war, in which case the highly technically advanced sides would bring unspeakable demolition to most of that solar system. Five other planets were inhabitant in that quadrant; countless innocent lives would be lost if the unrest was not quelled soon.

Anakin had come along, of course. Jar-Jar had stayed mercifully at home. Obi-Wan had received more than one reprimanding look from Qui-Gon when he suggested that Jar-Jar look into a job that called for walking off of very high buildings. As for Queen Amidala, well, Anakin can't go anywhere without inviting her now. He's so entirely smitten with the girl, even at his older age; I've discussed with his Master how the boy should not have such attachments so early in his Jedi-training, but Qui-Gon seems to think it healthier to run its course. Who am I to be listened to?—anyways, I need to think about my own affairs.

Affair #1: Amidala—a case study. Obi-Wan sighed as he swept down the dimly lit stairwell. She had crept into his senses so quietly and so fluidly that when he finally found himself in her chamber tonight locked into a kiss with her, he reacted as he would to a smack in the face. What had happened exactly? One week she's flirting with young Anakin, the next she's giving me that enchanting smile and putting her hand on my shoulder whenever she can. Thank the Force it's only one-sided.

No, I can't lie to myself. It's not one sided anymore. Maybe in the beginning it had been…now it's undeniable affection I have for her—and as much as I want to resist it, attraction as well. Whenever I'm near her I have an urge to pull her close to me, but I can't. The things it would do to Anakin... to our relationship. I won't do that. The boy must not know.

Obi-Wan slipped his key into the lock on his door and pushed the weathered door open. After stepping inside and locking the door, he strode across the room to his sink. Splashing cold water on his face, he peered up at his reflection in the mirror. How was he going to make it through this mission?

Part II.

Qui-Gon looked up from his breakfast as his former padawan entered the kitchen. Obi-Wan looked ragged and worn, as if he had not rested well. I'll have to talk to him later, he mused.

Obi-Wan took a plate and began to lower himself to a chair when a bright voice broke the silence from the opposite end of the table.

"Orange Juice …Obi-Wan?"

The young man looked up from his end of the table into eyes so beautiful that he almost missed his chair upon sitting down.

"No, Amidala, thank you." He took a piece of toast from the platter and then rubbed his temples.

Qui-Gon looked over at Obi-Wan and then returned his gaze to the reports he was reading on the situation they were there to resolve. His former padawan would learn soon enough today that diplomatic missions require a lot of rest—it would be a long day of arguing with bull-headed people and it would be exhausting for both of them.

"Well, this just won't work. I feel too removed from the rest of the table," Amidala picked up her plate and moved down the table to a seat next to Obi-Wan's. "There. Much better." She smiled warmly at him.

He groaned inwardly when she affectionately patted his thigh. He took a mouthful of toast and looked up when Anakin bounced into the room.

"Good morning!" The younger man heaped his plate up with the steaming food that was available and took the seat on the other side of Qui-Gon. "So, I hope you don't miss us when we're away today, Amidala. I'm thinking it's going to take all day, aren't you, Master?"

"Yes, Anakin, it will take most of the day, and will drain much of our energy." He watched Obi-Wan's face disappear behind his coffee mug. "Caffeine will not make up for lost wits due to lack of sleep." Obi-Wan's mug stilled at his mouth.

Oblivious to the object of the last remark, Anakin smiled warmly at Amidala. "So where were you last night? I couldn't sense you at all."

The young man on the opposite side of Amidala coughed.

"Oh, that's peculiar, isn't it? I was in my room all night reading." Amidala smiled at Anakin and sipped her orange juice. She turned her attentions to Qui-Gon. "Perhaps your padawan needs more training in using his third eye...hmmm?"

Qui-Gon raised his eyebrows. "Blaming me? Well, then perhaps I will have to push our young man here a little harder." He smiled at Anakin.

The younger man groaned. He stood up and brought his now clean plate to the sink. "I'm going to go get ready now." Leaning in, he kissed Amidala on the forehead and glancing briefly at Obi-Wan's reaction, stepped out of the room.

"Perhaps we should all follow his example." Qui-Gon put his dishes in the sink with a meaningful look at Obi-Wan, and followed the young padawan out of the kitchen.

Amidala leaned in and took Obi-Wan's face in her hands. "I will miss someone today." The two lovers lightly kissed one another's lips before Obi-Wan gently pulled her hands off his face.

"I'd better go…" He got up and, with a lingering look, quit the room.

Part III.

"Those talks were exhausting today…" Anakin entered their suite of rooms and collapsed on the couch in front of him. "What I wouldn't give for a backrub right now…" he glanced over Amidala sitting on the opposite couch who was absorbed in a form of needlework.

Obi-Wan ignored the younger man's remarks and sat down on Amidala's couch. "What are you working on?" he reached out and lightly fingered the design.

"Oh, I'm trying to recreate this famous artwork from my homeworld. It's two lovers in front of the Great Hall watching the sunset. It's a difficult project, but it's good to have something like that to work on during this trip." She smiled at Obi-Wan.

Anakin caught the look that she gave Obi-Wan and felt severe anger welling up within him. Calm down. Calm down…I'm reading into the look too much. She could never have those feelings for him.

Qui-Gon sensed something very unbalanced in the room at that moment and frowned.

Obi-Wan chose that moment to stand up and head up the stairs. "Well, I for one, am not going to sit on my rear expecting a backrub that won't come…it's time for a hot bath." He grinned to no one in particular and disappeared up the stairs.

"That sounds good right about now actually…" Amidala put her needlework down and followed Obi-Wan up the stairs. She paused a moment and looked down at the two remaining men. "…In my own tub of course."

Anakin stared at Qui-Gon. Qui-Gon frowned and stood up. "Assumptions are not good, but a blind eye is sometimes worse." He disappeared into the kitchen.

Anakin immediately stood up and strode up the steps purposefully.

Part IV.

"Come in!" Obi-Wan called when a knock sounded on his door. He was clad in only his loose-fitting khaki pants and had a white towel draped over his shoulder.

Amidala stepped in.

"Wait…before you say anything Obi-Wan…I've been thinking about our conversation the other night. And you know what I've decided? I don't care. I want Anakin to know I have feelings for you…I'm sick of hiding it."

Obi-Wan groaned. Before he could say anything, another knock broke the silence.

The two shared a meaningful look. He strode over to the door and opened it. A very infuriated Anakin met his gaze.

The younger man looked over Obi-Wan's shoulder and saw the proof he was looking for. "I knew it. I just knew it. You two cowards."

Obi-Wan reached out to… he didn't know, but his hand was shoved rudely aside. "You two make me sick. I knew that you were jealous of me, Obi-Wan, but I didn't know how far it went," he drawled with a disgusted tone.

Obi-Wan was shocked. "Jealous?!! Are you insane?" Amidala stepped forward.

"Please, please, …don't let it come to this, you two. I'm to blame Anakin, me! We haven't even done anything serious…but I must admit that I have deep feelings for Obi-Wan. I'm so, so sorry if it hurts you."

Anakin's eyes were darker than Obi-Wan had ever seen them. It began a very cold knot in his stomach.

"Forget it. Just forget it…" the young padawan looked between the two of them with a sickened expression and strode down the hallway.

Obi-Wan felt more pain that day than he had most of his life previously. Something very irreparable had just occurred and there was nothing he could do now to stop what he had just caused.