I was going to update this sooner, but my dad forgot to pay the internet bill and it was down for about a week; we only got it back today.

Anywho, here's the new part!

~*~

The group exited the ship and walked across the platform to where Senator Palpatine and Chancellor Valorum were waiting. Rae bowed to the Senator and Chancellor along with Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan and Ani, though, because of the presence of the former, she felt more like vomiting. She was determined to keep Ani away from that man, if you could really call him that.

When the Queen, her entourage and Ani walked off with Senator Palpatine, she restrained herself from following them and stayed with Qui-Gon and Obi- Wan. She stood quietly as they spoke with the Chancellor.

~*~

Obi-Wan stood in his customary position on Qui-Gon's left and Rae on his right.

Qui-Gon gave his report to the council and the council responded that they would look into it. Then they turned to Rae.

"Decided your fate, we have not, young Hennel," Yoda told her.

"We will try to reach a decision as soon as possible," Windu assured her.

Rae felt a little exasperated that they were taking so long, but she bowed and said, "Thank you Masters." as her mother in the SW universe had taught her.

"May the Force be with you," Yoda said.

Most Jedi would have been relieved at those words, but all Rae could think was, 'Here we go...' She didn't know whether to scream or to burst out laughing so she did neither. Instead she entertained herself with imagining what the Jedi would do if she did one or the other.

~*~

Rae excused herself after they left the Council chambers and went for a walk. She wandered around the Temple trying to learn her way around. It was a peaceful, calm place with a lot of open light filled spaces. There was a tranquil quiet that was broken only by the sounds of water, quiet voices, children's laughter and occasionally the sounds of practice combat.

It was a peace that was foreign to both parts of Rae, but not really unwelcome. She decided to look around for places that her mother had described for her in this universe.

She eventually found herself in a corridor with balconies all along one side of it. She heard voices which she followed. The led her to a balcony where Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were talking. She stood silently and watched them just out of sight. When Qui-Gon placed a hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder she felt and ache, one of missing her mother and of longing for the father- figure she had never had. She pushed those feelings away, turned around and headed back down the corridor.

~*~

They all stood before the Council, Rae and Obi-Wan on either side of Qui- Gon and Anakin standing in front of Qui-Gon.

When Qui-Gon asked to take Anakin on as his Padawan Rae looked over at Obi- Wan, she felt his shock, hurt and frustration, even, if not more so, when Qui-Gon said that he was ready for the trials.

The Council dismissed them. Obi-Wan immediately broke off and headed down the hall, Rae was hot on his tail.

"Obi-Wan!" she called.

He ignored her.

Rae became annoyed at that.

"Obi-Wan Kenobi, I am talking to you!"

He still ignored her.

She pressed her lips together, ran up quickly, caught up to him then drop kicked him.

Obi-Wan fell hard on the floor.

"What was *that* for?!" He scowled.

Rae placed her fists on her hips and scowled right back at him. "For ignoring me. It is very rude you know!"

Obi-Wan opened his mouth to say something, but Rae cut him off. "I don't give a damn that you are my senior and as such I should respect you, which, for your information, I do, but I deserve to be respected as well! And by ignoring me, you are disrespecting me!"

Obi-Wan snapped his mouth closed, but continued to scowl at her.

"Now are you going to listen to me or not?" She looked at him expectantly.

He looked at her a moment. "Can I at least get up?"

Rae nodded briskly; she extended her hand and helped him up, it was more for politeness than anything else since he was so much bigger than her, but she still surprised him with her strength that she did employ.

When he was on his feet she turned back down the hall. "Walk with me," she said simply.

Obi-Wan felt slightly amused at being told what to do by someone so much younger than him and *so* much smaller than him.

"What do you feel you need to say so badly that you had to drop kick me."

A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, but quickly disappeared. "Don't hold a grudge against Anakin or Qui-Gon." Her voice was soft.

He scowled. "I already know this lesson. I know that it is un-Jedi-like to hold grudges."

"That is not what I was going to say," she said quietly.

He looked at her surprised and intrigued. "And what *were* you going to say?"

She smiled at him teasingly. "Well if you could be quiet for ten minutes you might find out."

Obi-Wan nodded as if to say "Touché."

"What I was going to say was that, Qui-Gon loves you like a son, he did not mean to hurt you-"

"Well he did!" He scowled again.

Rae gave him a shut-up-and-listen-or-else-you-are-going-to-end-up-on-your- back-again look. "He said that you were ready for the Trials didn't he?"

"He just wanted me out of the way," he said stubbornly.

Rae stopped, placed her fists on her hips and scowled at him. "That is bantha poo-doo and you know it!"

Obi-Wan stared at her, eyebrows raised.

"Oh don't look so shocked! I have lived on the less savory sides of planets all of my life!" She gave him an annoyed look. "Besides that is not the point. The point is that he meant it! I know he meant it and so do you! Qui- Gon would not say something like that unless he meant it!"

Obi-Wan looked down sheepishly.

They began to walk again. "Now Anakin..." Obi-Wan scowled once more. "Anakin did not know that would happen! Hell, he didn't really even know what was really going on!"

Obi-Wan's scowl dropped and he began to look unsure. Rae stopped and turned to him, her demeanor suddenly passionate. "Obi-Wan! Don't you see it?!"

"See what?"

"Obi-Wan, Anakin practically worships the ground you walk on!"

Obi-Wan looked at her shocked. "What?! Why?!"

Rae gave him a smile. "You are everything he aspires to be! You are a Padawan-soon-to-be-Jedi-Knight! That's why!"

Obi-Wan looked at her with dawning realization.

Rae gave him a knowing nod; then turned. They continued to walk down the corridor, Obi-Wan turning all of the new thoughts over in his mind.

~*~

Rae and Obi-Wan walked onto the platform together. They both nodded to Qui- Gon, Obi-Wan a little more unsurely than, Rae, he was still turning things over in his mind. They continued to the ship, Rae smiled at Anakin as they passed him. Obi-Wan looked at him thoughtfully then looked away again. Rae prayed that this was a good sign, that if her being her didn't change the fact that Anakin becomes apprenticed to Obi-Wan that this would mean that their relationship wouldn't be as strained as it was as she knew it. And that if Qui-Gon were to die, which she hoped to prevent, that Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon would part on good terms.

~*~

Qui-Gon watched his Padawan head onto the ship with Rae. He had noticed that his Padawan was becoming friendly to the young girl. 'It seems that even though she can be sassy and sarcastic, one can't seem to not like her,' he thought to himself amusedly. He had noticed that the tension between himself and his Padawan was still there when Obi-Wan had nodded to him, but not quite as bad as before. He also had noticed the way that Obi- Wan had looked at the boy when he had passed him. Obi-Wan seemed to be preoccupied with many thoughts at that moment, but his reaction to Anakin gave Qui-Gon hope.

Anakin walked up to Qui-Gon.

"Master Qui-Gon Sir, I don't want to be a problem."

'He must have sensed the tension between Obi-Wan and I,' Qui-Gon realised. He knelt down to Anakin's hight. "You won't be Ani." He knew the boy needed reasuance right then. "I am not alowed to train you, so I want you to watch me and be mindful."

Anakin nodded. Qui-Gon could tell he wanted to ask him something so he stayed crouched down, waiting patiently.

"Master Sir, I heard Master Yoda saying something about midichlorians and I was wondering, what are midichlorians?"

Qui-Gon smiled.

~*~

They had taken off a couple of hours ago and the queen had since revealed her intentions of asking the Gungans for their help.

Rae now sat in the lounge on the couch, her knees drawn up, her sketch book propped up against her thighs, working on some sketches. The one she was currently working on was one of a son cradling his father's limp form in his lap, but it was hazy, indistinct. She took her pencil away from the paper and looked at the sketch, frowning and her eyebrows furrowed. Finally she snapped the book closed in her left hand, she draped her arms on top of her knees then rested her chin on top of her arms. She stared out into the room broodingly.

~*~

Rae sat in the lounge sketching.

They would be arriving on Naboo soon and she wanted to get some sketches done ASAP.

She sensed Anakin enter the room.

"Hey Ani," she said, without looking up.

"You know, it's kinda creepy how you can do that." He scrunched up his nose.

She looked up. "Sorry. I am just trying to finish this up." She gestured to the book in her lap.

"Can I see?" he asked eagerly.

"Sure." She shrugged nonchalantly.

He scooted over next to her and looked at the drawing. It was of the queen standing in front of a huge window, light showering over her.

"That's amazing!" His voice was awe filled.

"Thank you," she said simply.

Anakin looked down at his hands nervously. "Are you scared?" He looked up at her.

Rae set her pencil down and stared off thoughtfully. "No. I am worried, but not scared." She looked at him. "Jedi do not know fear," she told him simply.

Anakin looked down again. "I don't know if I can live by that."

Rae placed a hand on his arm. "You can, and will. It truly isn't that hard, and it isn't that bad."

Anakin looked up and smiled at her.

"Thank you, by the way, for getting mom to let me go with you guys."

"No problem, it's nice having you around. Who else can I devise elaborate plans with?"

The shared a devious grin.

~*~

On to Naboo!