Title: Rebuilding the Bond
Author: SilverDragon
Author's Note: Bah, I know I ought to leave, but it's too much fun poking fun at Ami's Obi and Ani! :P

"I can't believe this!" Obi-Wan ground out. "Mace Windu, I respect Supreme Chancellor Palpatine very much, but he always takes up my apprentice's time! Do you know what Anakin told me that Palpatine and he discuss during those 'lessons?'"

"Supreme Chancellor Palpatine informed me that he needs Anakin for a very important meeting," Mace said. "Oh, and congratulations on your cooking license, Obi-Wan. But the dinner you served to the Council last night – "

"Sith blast that cooking license for a moment!" Obi-Wan said. Mace raised an eyebrow at his swearing. "Sorry," Obi-Wan muttered. "The point is: I'm Anakin's Master."

"Well observed."

"And I should have the damn right to decide if Anakin goes to the Supreme Chancellor every Sith-blasted day of his training period."

"Obi-Wan, stop," Mace said. "First off, stop swearing for Sith's sake. Secondly, Anakin is learning much from the Chancellor. You should be honored that the Chancellor has taken such great interest in him. He isn't your average Jedi Padawan – "

"And that's what he doesn't want," Obi-Wan protested. He drew himself up. "Master Windu, I demand as Anakin's Master that he gets to spend the entire weekend with me at least, with no meetings with the meddling politicians."

Mace gave him a calculating stare. "You know I've been against your Padawan ever since he arrived."

"I wasn't aware of that, Master."

Mace frowned. "Well . . . now you know. I'm against Anakin Skywalker in all respects, and these meetings with the Chancellor are getting him out of our way."

"Out of your way of doing what?" Obi-Wan asked incredulously.

Mace appeared speechless for a moment. "Out of our way of doing – um – top secret Council stuff," he said lamely. "It's beneficial."

"To you, perhaps," Obi-Wan said. "If the Council won't do anything, I'm going to go down there and tell the Supreme Chancellor himself. Anakin and I started to bond, Master, and I feel that these meetings are cracking the bond slowly, but surely. I request he gets 6 days of the week with me."

"1."

"5." Obi-Wan said quickly.

"3."

"2!"

"Done!" Mace said triumphantly.

Obi-Wan glared at Mace. "Unfair."

"Fair."

"Unfair!"

"Unfair," Mace agreed.

"Fair," Obi-Wan protested.

"Aha!" Mace cried out again. "Obi-Wan, you need to get better at these games."

Obi-Wan glared. "Totally unfair."

Mace started up again, but Obi-Wan glared balefully at him. "At least I get two days of relative quiet with my padawan," he said.

"Um, Obi-Wan?" Mace asked.

"Yes, Master?"

"Before that deal, you had four days with your padawan, but I guess I'll call up the Chancellor and tell him of the new – "

"No!" Obi-Wan cried out. "You are very skilled in the diplomatic arena, Master Windu," he acknowledged. "So being an obvious novice, you should grant me some reprieve."

Mace sighed. "All right, Obi-Wan. I will inform the Chancellor that you are insisting that Anakin stay with you at least five days of the week."

"Thank you, Master," Obi-Wan said, grinning and bowing. "Oh, and one last question?"

Mace looked weary, "Yes?"

"How was my cooking last night?"

Anakin stretched the muscles in his chin and glanced again at Palpatine. "Supreme Chancellor, if I may ask, can I go back to the Temple now?"

Palpatine stared at him. "You're fiercely loyal to your Master, aren't you?"

"Of course!" Anakin burst out. "He's my Master."

The Supreme Chancellor smiled distantly. "Yes, Obi-Wan Kenobi is your Master."

Anakin fidgeted impatiently. He knew the Supreme Chancellor was of great importance, and he had been with the man for almost four years now. He had attended diplomatic meetings at Palpatine's side, made decisions with him for the good of the Republic, and had listened to all of Palpatine's lectures. But over the past three months, the man had insisted that Anakin call him, "Master."

"After all, you are my apprentice in diplomacy and an apprentice always has a Master."

"But Palpatine – "

"Obi-Wan is still your Jedi Master. But I am your Master in a very different way, Anakin."

"Anakin," Palpatine repeated, and with an effort Anakin dragged his mind back to the present.

"Yes, sir?" Anakin asked. "I mean, yes, M – master?" It seemed strange to use that word to describe someone besides Obi-Wan.

"I think that we should meet more often, my dear boy," Palpatine said. Anakin flushed at the word 'boy.' He was thirteen for Force sakes!

"Why?" Anakin asked curiously.

Palpatine paused, leaning backwards in his chair. "I must be honest with you, young Anakin. Over the years, I've taken a keen interest in you. Your piloting skills are rapidly being matched with your skill at diplomacy. You've made very wise decisions indeed over these years and I've come to trust you as an advisor."

"Me?"Anakin asked, astounded. He was only thirteen for Force sakes!

"Don't underestimate your value, my apprentice," Palpatine said. "And I have heard from the Jedi that you have surpassed all others your age in lightsaber skills and Force usage. You have the makings of a great leader, Anakin."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm offering you something, my boy. Come and study with me – "

The door flew open with a loud bang. A moment later, a comforting touch in his mind told Anakin that Obi-Wan was behind him. Palpatine spoke immediately, "Knight Kenobi! This is a - pleasure."

"Likewise, Supreme Chancellor," Obi-Wan said lightly. "Anakin, I believe we have some business to do at the Temple."

"He is studying with me right now!" Palpatine said forcefully.

"Yes, that isimportant." Obi-Wan's tone indicated that he thought anything but.

Palpatine's mouth tightened before he visibly calmed. "I understand how important Skywalker's Jedi training is – "

"It's wonderful then, Supreme Chancellor, that we see eye to eye," Obi-Wan said softly. "Padawan, let's get going."

"My boy," Palpatine started. "Surely you can stay for a few minutes longer."

"Don't brainwash my apprentice, Chancellor," Obi-Wan said tightly, his diplomatic polite mood melting away rapidly. "I heard those last few words exchanged between you and Anakin. He is not your apprentice, someone to manipulate to become a diplomat. He is a Jedi."

"And Jedi are diplomats, are they not?"

Anakin glanced at Obi-Wan and saw that his Master's eyes were cold as ice as they gazed upon Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. He frowned. Something exchanged between the two men as Obi-Wan nodded brusquely. "Padawan – come."

"No," Palpatine said coldly. "He will choose. And you will not use your powers as a Jedi over him, Knight Kenobi. He is not your subordinate and he does not need to bow down to your wishes."

"My wishes are wishes of the Republic!" Obi-Wan said hotly. "Then, choose, Anakin."

Anakin looked at both Obi-Wan and Palpatine. He knew where he should go. The Force told him. "Chancellor," he said softly. "I'll see you next week. But for now, my place belongs with my Master."

"A Padawan is too much influenced by his Master to make a wise decision," Palpatine said icily. "I'll see you later, my apprentice."

Obi-Wan looked up, his jaw clenching furiously, but Anakin tugged gently on his Master's tunic. He didn't know why Obi-Wan was so angry at Palpatine, but he trusted Obi-Wan. "Master, I want to go back to the Temple now."

Obi-Wan smiled at him. "Let's go, then. I made dinner."

"Yes, go with him for now," Palpatine said chillingly. "In time, we see what you choose." The last sentence was said so softly that nobody heard him.

"Master, explain something to me," Anakin said.

"Mm?" Obi-Wan asked, placing his datapad on the table.

"Why were you so angry at Palpatine? He wanted to help my diplomatic skills."

Obi-Wan straightened. "Anakin, do you remember that fight we had about a year ago? The one where you were practicing with your training 'I for the first time?"

How could I forget, Master? "Yes, I remember," Anakin murmured.

Obi-Wan's eyes shadowed. "We argued and then you left and went to Palpatine's office. Why, Palpatine, Padawan?"

Anakin took a deep breath. He remembered that fight so vividly. There's a difference between wanting to be a Jedi and killing myself to be one! Did I really once say that to Obi-Wan? He recalled clearly how when he had left, he had thought about disposing Obi-Wan, of only using his Master as a tool . . . Sith! I can't believe I once thought that way. No wonder Obi-Wan thought I was such a lousy apprentice.

"He – he had offered to help my training," Anakin said.

"When did he offer that?" There was a grimness to Obi-Wan's voice.

"When I was eleven, Master. We were on a negotiation mission – "

Obi-Wan closed his eyes. "Was it the one about the spice?" he asked faintly.

"Yes. You said that the Jedi ruled to allow the Keriousions to continue production of the spice because its effects were actually beneficial, helping people control their fear, anger, stress, and the other dark feelings. But Supreme Chancellor Palpatine had wanted to halt production. After the meeting, he drew me aside and offered me help."

"What did he say to you?"

Anakin swallowed hard. "He said that you were weak, not experienced enough to train someone with my talents, and that you were merely a tool to be used before I could – get rid of you. I don't believe that anymore, Obi-Wan! Honestly I don't!" His voice was pleading for forgiveness.

"Relax, Anakin," Obi-Wan said gently. "I believe you."

The fear in Anakin's eyes diminished and the familiar brightness took its place. "I'm sorry I ever believed that about you, Master," he said. He was surprised when Obi-Wan gathered him in his arms. Sighing softly, he relaxed. "What does all that mean, Obi-Wan?"

"I think," Obi-Wan said thoughtfully. "That Palpatine is a man who is not as he appears."

"In a good way?"

Anakin twisted around in Obi-Wan's arms to see an odd emotion play across Obi-Wan's face. "That, I am not sure about, my Padawan."

The End