The next few weeks went along smoothly. It seemed so easy to just let the days slide by, slipping into a routine. Although Obi-Wan was still a little wary around me, he seemed to have come to his peace. Together we helped comb through potential Rebals. It was surprising that I had found the numbers so high when I first started. Now it seemed as if we didn't have enough. The ones that we knew were strong in the Force were sent to Yoda. He trained them without complaint, but I could see the tiredness in his eyes, the weariness that was braided into his Force signature. The only time Yoda seemed to have any solace at all was with the twins.

Leia and Luke had taken to Yoda just as much as he'd taken to them. The kids were constantly showing Padmé and I little tricks that they learned. I thought it quite amusing to have them practice meditating when I was tired. Padmé always scolded me, but she didn't stop me. Suddenly having two four- year-olds around was overwhelming, and I knew she was feeling it too. We weren't complaining -- not at all! We loved Luke and Leia, and our family had begun to grow together. It was a strange feeling that had me glowing most of the time.

Sabé often came to visit. Leia had been instructed by Sabé to call her 'Aunt', and, being a four-year-old, Leia had slipped the word in and was groing used to it. Sabé's eyes were less sad than I'd seen before. She and Obi-Wan talked occasionally, and I knew that Yoda was training her along with everything else. She had changed so much since we first arrived on Alderaan. Gone was the slowly dying woman, forced to live a life she didn't want, her only joy in her adopted daughter and sister. Every once in awhile I caught glimpses of the woman I once knew, back before the Emperor. She had been vibrant, loving, full of energy and life.

She was bringing Padmé back into the swing of things as well. Everything seemed the way it had been five years before. They spent a lot of time having 'girl-talk', pretending that we weren't about to go attack the remants of the Empire. Padmé seemed happier and more content than I'd ever seen her, even back when we'd been just married. She was made to be a mother, I saw it in her eyes, and I felt terrible thinking that I might have taken that from her.

Bail was . . . well, Bail was his usual self. He had fun glaring at me every chance he got. But, in some ways, he seemed to have gotten worse. As Sabé became more like her old self, it seemed that Bail withdrew more and more inside. I was confused as to what to feel. I knew from various moments that Bail loved Sabé. She had no idea, and, granted, he wasn't that great at showing it, but I felt bad for Bail and therefore didn't respond when he jibed at me. He had too many problems himself. Especially since I suspected Sabé might ask for a divorce. I was starting to wonder why she hadn't already. But nobody talked about Obi-Wan and Sabé, especially not to their faces. I only got tidbits from Padmé when we were in bed together.

I think that even I had begun to become content and happy. I had no complaints. And, with each passing day filled with joy and laughter, Vader seemed to grow quieter. It wasn't a big change, just a slight one, but I could enjoy myself and my family without him brooding over my shoulder, whispering evilness into my soul. He would always be on the outskirts of my mind, but it seemed that I had gotten the better of him. All because of the one thing that I had and he couldn't have, couldn't even understand: love.

"You're early."

I jumped, startled out of the reflecting I'd been doing. Obi-Wan was leaning casually in the doorway of the small gym we'd taken over for Jedi purposes. Yoda had it during the day, but I came in the early morning to do simple exercises. "You are too," I replied.

Obi-Wan walked into the gym, tsking. "Day dreaming again, Anakin? That's what always got you into trouble, you know."

"I wasn't day dreaming," I said defensively. Obi-Wan arched an eyebrow. "I was . . . thinking."

"Uh-huh," Obi-Wan said absently. "That's not why I'm here though."

"And why are you here?" I asked, a smile slowly crossing my face as I saw the energy in his eyes. I could always tell when Obi-Wan had something fun in mind.

With a small movement of his arm, he had his lightsaber in hand. He looked at me questioningly. "Want to see who can kick who's ass first?"

"I don't know," I said doubtfully, standing up slowly. "I wouldn't want to stomp all over your male pride. Not when we have to work together the rest of the day."

Obi-Wan smirked. "You always were damned cocky."

I flashed him my best smile. "If the shoe fits . . ."

Obi-Wan let out great laugh as he turned on his lightsaber. "You also always knew how to make me laugh." He got into the typical defense stance, and I followed suit quickly.

Out lightsabers hit with a hissing sizzle, sending my blood pumping with adrenaline. We danced across the gym, always hitting blade against blade, never too hard to injure the other. My shoulders felt light, my head clear. I didn't want to be cooped up in a room, doing the same thing over and over again with a different man each time, searching for Jedi. I wanted to be in action. I wanted to use my lightsaber. I wanted the old days again.

I don't know who hit the ground first, or if we both just collapsed at the same time, but suddenly we were both on the ground, panting, flushed, full of energy. "You're getting old," I told Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan responded easily, "You're the one who gave up, Padawan."

My mood only seemed to get better at the old title. "I believe it was you, *Master*, who gave up."

Obi-Wan didn't bother to reply. He smiled at me, chest still heaving. I smiled back, the thrill lighting up my face. "Maybe we both gave up," I admitted.

"Match for match," Obi-Wan said. He sighed. "You know, to be honest, I was always afraid of the next time I went against you. A premonition, I guess. I figured if I went up against Darth Vader, I'd be flattened to the ground. You know, I just barely got the better of you the last time. And I had a planet of volcanoes on my side."

"Not in the mood for insights now. Just spit it out," I said, knowing he was trying to get at something.

Obi-Wan looked at his hands. "I'm just glad you're back, you know? I'm glad that we're like we used to be. Not a day passed by where I didn't miss you, miss the old brawls we used to get into. We always had fun together."

"Yeah, I missed you too. Even when Vader was dominant, I missed you," I said. I reached over and gave Obi-Wan a sharp rap on his back. The moment turned awkward, but it was still a moment. I spent the rest of the day in a glow. Obi-Wan didn't seem too bad himself.

* * * * *

"Did you do anything interesting?" Padmé asked absently as I walked into our room later that day. I thought for the millionth time that we really needed to get a bigger apartment. Once Coruscant was Replubic again, we'd probably set up base there. Padmé would want to be near the Senate.

"Of course not," I scoffed. "When do I ever?"

Padmé looked up from sitting at our small table looking over paperwork to return a short kiss. "Luke and Leia want you to talk them to 'Uncle Yoda'."

I smiled slowly. "Get them out of the apartment for awhile, huh? I might change my answer about doing something interesting."

"Don't hold your breath," Padmé said. She looked at me under lowered lashes. "As much as I'd like to entertain both you and I, I've been feeling really worn out and tired lately. You stay with the kids. It'll be a good bonding experience for you."

I groaned, but secretly I didn't think it was so bad. I think Padmé knew that.

"Do you think Sabé is going to ask Bail for a divorce?" I asked casually.

Padmé shook her head, her eyes turning dark. "I know she's not going to do that. Bail wouldn't give her one anyway. For one thing he doesn't believe in divorce. For another--"

"He's in love with her and won't let her go," I finished for her, nodding shortly. "I know."

Padmé smiled weakly. "I don't think Sabé knows. Force knows he's not one for showing it."

"Even if he did show it, do you think it would make a difference?" I said gently.

Padmé shook her head, sighed. "I know it wouldn't. Sabé has been Obi-Wan's since they met. A ring and a husband isn't going to change that. I just wish . . . not that Bail and Sabé could work it out, because I wouldn't want her to be with someone she doesn't love, but I wish that Bail would find somebody. He's like my brother, and I love him dearly. I see what it does to him, being in love with someone who doesn't and hasn't ever loved him back."

"If he keeps up his disposition, I don't think that's going to happen anytime soon," I grumbled, rolling my eyes.

Padmé smiled slightly. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

I leaned down and gave her another kiss. "Love you."

"I love you too," Padmé replied. "But I'll love you even more if you get the kids out of here."

"I'm here to oblige," I said gentlemanly.

Padmé winked. "I'll keep that in mind."

"You'd better," I informed her gravely as I went to the room where Leia and Luke were probably playing. I opened the door, and just as I suspected they were playing what looked to be house. "You kids ready to go see Master Yoda?"

They both leaped up and ran to me. "Do we get a light saber yet, Dad?" Luke demanded, as he did everytime.

I laughed, ruffled his hair. "Maybe. We'll see."

"Cuz I already know how to use one, you know," Luke continued. "I got that man that tried to kill you and Mommy."

"Yes, you did," I said, letting a tone of awe enter my voice. I took his small hand in my own, smothering it in my adult-size palms. "You're obviously my son."

Luke grinned, taking it as a compliment. He didn't realize that I was also complimenting myself sarcastically. I smiled slightly and held out my other palm for Leia. Hers went cooly into mine.

Leia was frowning as we left our apartment.

"What's wrong?" I asked her.

"Daddy -- I mean, my old daddy -- is upset," Leia murmured.

"Do you know what's wrong?"

"No. He's upset though."

I groaned inwardly. He better not have run into Obi-Wan. I could sense the two were avoiding each other like the plague, and I was starting to fear what they would do to each other when the moment came where they met again.

"Daddy, when you go away, will you take me with you?" Luke asked suddenly, his question dropping out of nowhere.

I was confused, but nodded. "Of course. You go wherever I go."

"What about me?" Leia demanded.

"You too," I assured her. "I don't go anywhere without my family. That means you two and your mommy."

"You went before," Luke pointed out.

"And I'm not leaving again," I said firmly. "You can trust me on this thing, Luke, if you can't trust me on any other."

Luke seemed satisfied with that and continued to skip along next to me, trying to keep up with my long legs. I tried not to laugh at the picture he made.

"Will you tell me how you fell in love with Mommy?" Leia asked. "Mommy told me how you fell in love with her today."

"Did she now?" I asked, amused.

"Yup. She said that you were . . . persistant."

"That I was. I'll tell you before you go to bed, all right?"

"Thank you." Leia's eyes darted daringly up to mine as she added lovingly, "Daddy."

I squeezed her hand lightly, and she returned the gesture.

A few seconds later we used Yoda's Gym, as I had fondly nicknamed it. Yoda seemed to know we'd arrive, and he was ready, waiting for us. His eyes were grave, not even lighting up at the sight of children, and his hands were folded carefully over his walking stick. I bowed to him with the twins, and he nodded his head in acknowledgement.

"Grim, it is," Yoda muttered.

"What is?" I asked conversationally.

Yoda looked up at me. "The air. You feel it not? Grim, such grimness. Very bad things to come, I feel." Yoda finished, nodding his head to add to the gravity of his voice.

I felt dread growing. Yoda's predictions always came true. "What do you mean exactly, Yoda?"

Yoda didn't want to talk about it anymore though, I could tell. He began to talk to the children, asking them simple things such as how their mother was. Knowing that I wasn't needed, I left the gym, planning on walking around and maybe casually running into Obi-Wan. I wasn't sure what I'd say to him if I did, but I knew I wanted to talk to him. Maybe he knew what Yoda was talking about.

I wandered the now-familiar halls with my hands in crossed across my chest. I didn't come across more than a few guards. Then I heard shouting, and I quickly followed the sound.

". . .Deserve her!" Bail was yelling at someone, his voice full of desperation. "You don't even care anything about her, never did."

My sensitive ears picked up Obi-Wan's quiet reply. "That's not true."

"It is!" Bail insisted. "You left her with a baby, with only me to provide for her. Now you want to take her away from me! You're a selfish bastard, Kenobi. Are you going to let her drop again?"

"I can give you my word, I won't," Obi-Wan, his voice edged with anger. "And I can also give you my word that I am not trying to 'steal' Sabé from you."

"Why should I believe you?" Bail paused. "I put in the effort. I take care of her and the child and Padmé. I do everything for her, set her future in stone. And she wants *you*."

Obi-Wan kept quiet.

"Well, I'll tell you something, Kenobi. She won't get you. No, you don't deserve her. *I* deserve her, *I* do. I put in time, I put in effort--"

"Do you even love her?" Obi-Wan demanded, his voice suddenly full of passion. "Do you care about her? Is she anything more than a trophy to you -- a beautiful woman to put on your arm, to show off? Someone to make miserable day-in and day-out. What did you do to her? She has changed so completely in only four years that I don't even recognize her."

"That was your doing, Kenobi," Bail said coldly. "You left her."

"I left her not by personal choice! Obi-Wan defended. "Do you think I wanted to leave her? Do you think I *wanted* to live as a hermit in the desert for four long years? I'll give you one big hint, so big that even you can't miss the answer: No! My life has been hell since the Empire rose. But I could not be selfish and stay with Sabé. One selfish act could have lead to the destruction of the galaxy."

I heard stomping, and a minute later Obi-Wan passed right by me. He must have seen me, but he didn't acknowledge me. The hallway was quiet for a moment, then I heard crying. I knew it was Bail, and despite my contempt for him I felt compassion.

I walked into the little off hallway where the two had been arguing. Bail straightened immediately, started rubbing his cheeks furiously. I pretended not to notice.

"Do you want something?" Bail said gruffly.

"Yes. No." I stood there awkwardly for a moment.

"I'm a busy man," Bail said, brushing past me. "Until you have something intelligent to say, leave me alone, Skywalker."

I stood there for a while after he left, wincing at my stupidness. For some reason I wanted to help Bail, even though he'd been nothing but horrible to me. I understood now that that was just protectiveness of the women in his life. But Bail didn't seem close to forgiving me. Especially not with Obi- Wan around.

* * * * *

The following day I met Obi-Wan in our little "office". Obi-Wan didn't say anything for awhile, obviously wanting to keep to himself, but I couldn't contain the same restraint.

"Has that happened before?" I asked suddenly, interrupting the tense quiet in the room.

Obi-Wan didn't even pretend not to know what I was talking about. "Yes, only a few times. It's nothing I can't handle, Ani."

"I believe it," I murmured. "Does Sabé know?"

Obi-Wan's shoulders stiffened at the mention of her name. "Why would she need to know?"

"Well, I think any woman should like to know two men are fighting over her."

Obi-Wan shot me an annoyed look. "I'm not in the mood for your attempts at humor, Skywalker."

"Oooh, back to surnames, are we?" I taunted.

Obi-Wan sighed, rested his head in his hands. "I just can't take it, Anakin. If I try to, I might break. Everything is hitting me at once, and I've realized that I'm neither strong nor brave. Bravery is not about what you do out in battle. Bravery is about facing up to your problems, being a man about them, and creating your life the way you want it. Bravery is about *living*." He looked away suddenly. I'd known him for too long to think that was the end of his speech.

"And you aren't really living when you're not with Sabé," I finished for him.

Obi-Wan shrugged uncomfortably. "Don't turn this into some melodramatic holosoap, Anakin."

"Oh, you know those stupid things are nothing compared to the way our love lives have always been," I said lightly.

Obi-Wan managed to crack a smile. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Maybe we should give a studio a little idea. Forbidden Love, we could call it. That would get people watching."

"We could make millions," I added.

Obi-Wan truly smiled. "Thanks, Ani. I don't understand how you do it, but you always manage to put me in a better mood."

"That's what good friends are for."

"Yup. Guess so," Obi-Wan said awkwardly.

The doors flew open suddenly, via Darth Vader syle. Bail marched into the room, shoulders straight, head high.

"Did you want something?" I asked nonchalantly.

"Yes, I wanted something," Bail snapped. "Why else would I bother spending voluntary time with either of you?"

"Because you're a bitter man secretly yearning for friendship?" I suggested.

Bail glared at me, and that shut me up. "I came to inform you that the Empire has not been crushed by just the destruction of their Emperor and Darth Vader." Bail paused dramatically. "They've already chosen a new leader, and they're starting to regroup."

My heart stopped cold. "Well, I guess we knew this was going to happen."

Bail's smile grew malicious. "Oh, but that's just the beginning. There are so few rebals, as you know. So I let Koen know that you two would be glad to help in any way you can. You're leaving with the rest of them next week. Until then, you'll finish this project that you started."