Thank you so much for continuing to R and R! You're all awesome!

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Padme crawled out of her bedding, careful not to disturb Obi-Wan, who was sleeping soundly next to her. She had noticed that Yoda was still awake. She desperately wanted to talk with him privately.

Yoda watched as Padme crawled towards him. He had known that she wanted to talk with him alone. He had stayed awake for this purpose. He waited for her on the far side of the hut.

Padme hoped Yoda wouldn't think she was prying. "Master Yoda, will you please tell me…What did Qui-Gon do to Obi-Wan to hurt him so badly?" She spoke in a low tone, fervently hoping that Obi-Wan wouldn't wake up.

A bit of sadness entered Yoda's eyes. "Long story this is. But all of it you will need to hear to truly understand."

"I want to know. All of it." Padme made herself comfortable as Yoda began to tell his tale.

"Will of the Force it was for Qui-Gon to train Obi-Wan. Sensed this I did. Fight the Force's will Qui-Gon did."

"Why?"

"An apprentice Qui-Gon had before. Xanatos was his name. Turned to the Dark Side he did. Loved him like a son Qui-Gon had. Blind to his faults he had been. Showed him much affection he had, but enough discipline he had not. Took the betrayal hard Qui-Gon did. Vowed never to take another apprentice."

Padme nodded her head in understanding. "He blamed himself. He didn't want to make the same mistakes with another apprentice."

"Yes. Made it clear the Force eventually did that Obi-Wan his apprentice should be. Agreed he finally did, but determined he was to not let Obi-Wan into his heart."

"Boy, that's an impossible task," Padme said wryly.

Yoda's eyes glowed with affection. "Indeed. Find it hard Qui-Gon did. But kept Obi-Wan at an emotional distance he did nonetheless. Tested their fragile relationship was soon after. Know you that Obi-Wan left the Jedi Order for a time?"

Padme's eyes went wide with shock. "No!"

"Leave he did. Thirteen he was. On a planet engulfed in a civil war he and Qui-Gon were. Gathered together the young ones of this planet did to try and stop it. Friends Obi-Wan made. Got caught up in their cause he did."

Padme released her breath. "Wow. That just seems to go so against the Obi-Wan I know."

"Deep compassion for others Obi-Wan has always had. Wanted to help end the war he did – wanted to help his friends. Unwilling to stay Qui-Gon was. Torn loyalties Obi-Wan faced. Won out the strong bond of friendship did over the weak bond with Qui-Gon." Yoda sighed. "Very angry and hurt Qui-Gon was. But knew I did that Obi-Wan would be back. And come back to the Temple he did. A long time it took to heal their relationship. But learn his lesson well Obi-Wan did."

Padme leaned in to Yoda. "So that's why he grew to be so loyal to the Jedi Code. But, again, it seems out of character for him to be willing to defy the Council in order to train Anakin."

"Hmmph. Won out his loyalty to Qui-Gon did over the Council at times. Extremely loyal to Qui-Gon Obi-Wan became, once accept Obi-Wan back as his apprentice Qui-Gon did. Stronger than ever their bond became. Grow to love Obi-Wan very much Qui-Gon did, but comfortable in showing it he was not. Greatly needed affection and words of encouragement Obi-Wan did." Yoda smiled slightly. "Tried to provide some of that I did."

Padme smiled warmly at him. "I'm so glad you did."

"Insecure in his relationship with Qui-Gon Obi-Wan was. Admit it he would not. Buried it deep he did. Proud Qui-Gon was of Obi-Wan, but hard for Obi-Wan to see it was. As older Obi-Wan got, butt heads he and Qui-Gon did more often. A tendency Qui-Gon had to…bend the rules. Approve Obi-Wan did not."

Padme nodded her head in understanding. "His loyalty to Qui-Gon warred with his loyalty to the Jedi Code. That probably made him even more insecure in his relationship with Qui-Gon."

"Yes. When come before the Council about Anakin Qui-Gon did, saw I did his certainty about Anakin's path. Knew that steely determination I did, as did Obi-Wan. Warn Qui-Gon Obi-Wan did, that authorize training of Anakin the Council would not. Believe him Qui-Gon did not. Right Obi-Wan was."

Padme was surprised. "The Council had decided that Anakin shouldn't be trained?"

Yoda nodded. "Too old and too full of fear he was. Disagreed Qui-Gon did. Hastily requested he did to take Anakin as his padawan."

Padme paled. "Was Obi-Wan present when he did this?"

Sadness was evident in Yoda's eyes. "Present he was." He watched as Padme put her hand over her mouth, unable to speak. "Felt Obi-Wan's sharp pain I did. Know I do that Qui-Gon felt it also."

Padme's eyes were watery. Her voice was husky with emotion. "Obi saw it as a confirmation of all his doubts." She worked hard to keep her voice low. "How could Qui-Gon do that to him? Toss him aside like that?"

"Know this I do not. Confront Qui-Gon I wished, when settled down things became. That chance I never received. Found out later I did the rest. Soon after, warn Qui-Gon about Anakin's danger Obi-Wan did. Dismissed him Qui-Gon did. Later, apologize to Qui-Gon Obi-Wan did for their disagreement."

Padme's eyes narrowed in anger. "Let me guess, Qui-Gon didn't return the favor?"

"Apologize Qui-Gon did not. But say he did that wiser Obi-Wan was and a great Jedi Knight he would be."

Padme crossed her arms. "Well, at least he acknowledged that much! But that doesn't take the place of an apology. He owed Obi that!"

"Right before the battle with the Sith this was."

A thought hit Padme like a speeder. "Qui-Gon's last words were about Anakin! He asked Obi-Wan to train Anakin, knowing full-well that Obi-Wan would never turn down his dying request; and also knowing full-well Obi-Wan's misgivings about Anakin. He laid a huge burden on Obi's shoulders!" Padme wanted to get up and pace, but the size of the hut wouldn't allow that. Her agitation was quite evident. "I used to respect Qui-Gon, but not anymore! It's a good thing he's already joined the Force, because I'd have some choice words for him!"

Yoda couldn't help but smile at Padme. "Like a Regalian Tiger protecting her cub you are with Obi-Wan."

Padme smiled sheepishly. "Yes, I guess I am." She looked over at Obi-Wan's sleeping form. "I wish that I could take away his pain."

"Ah, take away his pain you cannot. But help him heal you can. Why I told you all of this, that is." Yoda shook his head. "Much pain, much guilt Obi-Wan carries. Help him heal you can. Gift to Obi-Wan from the Force you are."

"Thank you, Master Yoda! That means everything to me." Padme looked down and played with one of the ties to her sleep robe. "There's something else I need to ask, Master Yoda." She looked up to find Yoda looking at her expectantly. "Is…Who…Which one of us," she glanced at Obi-Wan meaningfully, "will join the Force first? If you know, please tell me! I NEED to know!" Padme watched as Yoda closed his eyes in concentration. As much as she needed to know, she dreaded the answer. She tried not to fidget as she waited.

Yoda's eyes opened again. "Join the Force first, you will."

Relief swept through Padme as she let out the breath she'd been holding.

Yoda studied her. "Relieved you are."

Padme nodded her head, now starting to feel guilty. "I know I'm being selfish. I'm relieved that I don't have to endure his death, while knowing that he will have to endure mine. It's just that I know that I wouldn't be able to live without him. His death would destroy me."

Yoda looked at her with understanding in his eyes. "Know this the Force does. But a permanent separation death does not have to be. Teach you I can to maintain your identity in the Force."

"But I thought that only Force-sensitives could do that."

"Be visible or heard by the living you will not. For the Jedi alone that is – and much skill it requires. Contact and communication you will have with the Force-sensitives who have joined the Force."

Joy filled Padme and beamed out of her eyes. "That means that I will get to be with Obi-Wan forever!"

Yoda was warmed by her joy. "It does."

"Luke and Leia! I'll get to be with them as well!" Padme grabbed Yoda in a hug and kissed his cheek. "Oh, thank you, Master Yoda!" She noticed Obi-Wan stirring. Her buzzing excitement had woken him from a sound sleep.

Obi-Wan rubbed his eyes. "What's going on?" He smiled at the joy emanating from Padme.

Padme crawled over to Obi-Wan and kissed him on the cheek. "I promise I'll tell you in the morning. Why don't you go back to sleep? You need your rest."

Obi-Wan was about to protest when he heard Yoda say, "Sleep, Obi-Wan." Obi-Wan felt instantly groggy. The little troll had used a sleep suggestion! "Master, that's not…(yawn)…fair!" He fell back into his pillow, sound asleep.

Yoda chuckled. "Work well on him that always did. Sleep he needs, as do I. Time for bed it is." Yoda knew that Obi-Wan would have words for him in the morning. He didn't care. Obi-Wan's body had been put through so much. He wasn't going to let the stubborn young master forgo the rest he needed.

Padme, however, was too excited to sleep. She grabbed her journal and a small lamp and went outside into the dark mist. She was eager to record her conversation with Yoda while it was still fresh in her mind. She sat down, got as comfortable as she could and started tapping away into her datapad.