Part 3

It was mid-day when Qui-Gon found Obi-Wan and his padawan in one of the Jedi Temple's many libraries. Obi-wan was telling Anakin the history of the Jedi Order.

"Has he asked all of the ridiculous questions you asked when I told you that story?" he inquired from an archway behind them. The two others turned to find him leaning into the stone, a bemused expression on his face.

"Not yet," Obi-Wan retorted with a mock-pout as his padawan ignored propriety and rushed to Qui-Gon's side, throwing his arms around him in a joyous hug.

The hug surprised the Jedi Master, and this surprise must have shown on his face, as Anakin pulled away from him suddenly, worry clouding his young face.

"Have I hurt you, Master Qui-Gon?" he asked innocently.

Qui-Gon reached out, ruffling the boy's short-cut hair. Anakin had grow in the past year, and Qui-Gon thought he could already see a glimmer of the man he would become. "No, Anakin," he said with a warm smile. "You have not hurt me." Anakin beamed up at him, his child's smiling warming Qui-Gon's heart.

The smile was short-lived however, as the boy suddenly frowned. "They told me I couldn't see you because it might make you sicker," he said.

By "they" he meant the Jedi Council, of course. Qui-Gon sighed, placing his hand on the boy's shoulder. "The Council did what they thought was best, Ani," he told the boy. "We should not fault them for meaning well."

Obi-Wan cleared his throat, hoping to dispel the awkward silence which no hung in the air between them. "Anakin and I were about to take our lunch, Master,' he said. "Would you see fit to join us?" when Qui-Gon nodded, Obi-Wan smiled. "Anakin, will you go now and see to it that food is brought for Master Qui-Gon as well?"

"Yes, Master." Anakin scurried off, stopping only to look back at the older Jedi before leaving the library.

When the boy left, Obi-Wan turned to his former master. "You know," he began. "I half expected to see you around dinner time yesterday... but you never came."

"After I left Master Yoda, I had a lot of thinking to do," the master said.

"So where'd you go?"

"To visit some old friends of ours... mine and yours," Qui-Gon answered with a smile. "Kalara asked about you."

At the mention of the young woman, Obi-Wan smiled, looking much like a love-sick school boy. "And how was... Mistress Rhianne?" he asked.

Inwardly, Qui-Gon chuckled at Obi-Wan's evasion. Would the boy ever admit his feelings for Rhianne's daughter, even to himself? "Doing well," he replied. "We talked for a while... about old times... about things to come." Qui-Gon's voice was far away as he spoke.

Obi-Wan nodded, but did not speak. Master Qui-Gon missed his friend. It was rumored among the padawans that Qui-Gon Jinn and Branon Dol were the greatest rascals, tormenting their masters and creating mischief wherever they went. Obi-wan knew his master had taken it hard when Branon died some three years ago.

After a moment of silence, Qui-Gon turned on his heel, indicating that they should hasten to meet up with Anakin. Obi-Wan followed him, walking slightly behind his former master out of habit. As they walked, they passed many others on their way to take their noon meal.

"Tell me," Qui-Gon asked, "how is it that you are not taking your meals in the dining hall?"

Obi-Wan sighed. "It's Anakin," he admitted. "He doesn't like the dining hall much. He says he feels as if people are staring at him."

Qui-Gon nodded slowly. "I imagine that they are. Anakin is very special, Obi-Wan. Surely, everyone who sees him can feel that, just as I do. "

"I know, I feel it too. Sometimes... " Obi-Wan looked uneasy. "Sometimes I feel as if I cannot possible be the one to train him."

"Who then?"

"You... you were the one who discovered him and believed in him. He trusts you, Master Qui-Gon."

"No, Obi-Wan, I think you are wrong... or perhaps just speaking from
your own self-doubt. You will make a fine a master for Anakin. And besides, the Council gave him to you, not to me," said Qui-Gon.

"Only because you were so ill. Now--"

Qui-Gon cut him of with a wave of his hand. "My wounds have healed, but Obi-Wan there are still things I must face... things I cannot face with a padawan in tow. No... the Council was wise to give Anakin to you rather than waiting for me to be ready for him." Shaking his head, he turned his gaze towards the door where they both knew Anakin was waiting for them. "Shall we?" he asked. Obi-Wan
followed him into his quarters.

*********

Qui-Gon chuckled heartily, as did Obi-Wan. They had been regaling Anakin with tales of their more memorable adventures. Anakin listened eagerly, but with never more than a shy smile on his face. Qui-Gon wondered at this, and when Anakin left to clear away the dirty dishes, he inquired about the boy's reticence.

"He been this way since the Council gave him to me," Obi-Wan in formed him. "He's a fine boy and an apt pupil, but he is very withdrawn. As I said, I am unsure of how I can help him."

"Has he no friends to confide in, Obi-Wan?" Qui-Gon asked, wondering what had happened to the vibrant boy he'd met on Tatooine over a year ago.

Again, Obi-Wan sighed sadly. "None. Anakin is intimidated by the padawans his own age, because they are more advanced in their training."

Again, Qui-Gon could not believe what he was hearing. The boy he knew as Anakin Skywalker had never been shy around anyone. He'd had plenty of friends on Tatooine and was hardly one to be intimidated. There he'd been a confident boy, despite even his position as a lowly slave. This change in Anakin scared him. He
wondered if perhaps Anakin would open up to him where he might not with Obi-Wan.

"Have you plans for Anakin this afternoon Obi-Wan?" he asked.

"Well, I had planned to work with him on--" Obi-Wan stopped short. "It matters not, Master. Did you have something in mind?"

Nodding, Qui-Gon asked if Anakin might spend the rest of the day with him. Before Obi-Wan could answer, Anakin returned. Obi-Wan instead turned to his padawan. "Anakin, how you would feel if we did not train this afternoon?"

"Is something wrong, Master?" the boy asked, looking from his master to Qui-Gon in confusion.

It was Qui-Gon who answered him. "Nothing is wrong, Anakin. I was merely hoping that you and I might spend the day together. It would please me if you would."

"Can I, Master Obi-Wan?" the boy asked, his face lighting up in hope.

"I see no reason why not," came Obi-Wan's reply.