DISCLIAMER: see chapter one

A/N: Hi, I am SO SO sorry for the delay in updates, I had some family things I had to go out of town for, which were unexpected, but finally here is the next chapter.

I am so excited, Aiska Kenobi has archived my story (thank you so much :-) and has posted my fanart for this story, so if anyone is interested, take a look over there (a great Obidala site) for it.

I am very pleased to say that I have finished writing both parts one and two of this series and am starting on three! Yeah! Just a little tid bit, I finished writing one and two before ever seeing Revenge of the Sith, so if there be obvious strays, or plot similarities (can't think of any off hand) it is completely accidental, I am in the middle of plotting three now, and have drawn some inspiration from ROTS though the plot was pretty much in place before I saw the movie… :-)

Thanks so much to the faithful and new reviewers! RaeAnne

Morning finds us once again in our roles, though a slightly shallow shell of what we once were. I wake early, she rises late. I will use this empty time to reconnect to the Force; I will immerse myself into the raw energy of the galaxy. I will try and forget love, I will try to dehumanize myself and once again claim Jedi.

Dew lings on the fragrant multi colored roses, the first sun barely on the rise. I stand in the middle of the courtyard drawing my breath evenly.

"Silence…breathe…calm…" I say the words in my mind, each one taking me a layer deeper. It draws me further from the outside distractions and closer to the heartbeat of the galaxy.

"Open…feel…touch…see…" I feel the gate between the Force and I open wide. The pulse of the galaxy now pulses through me.

"Truth…hope…goodness…light…" yes this is my life…the Force.

"Beauty…laughter…hope… truth…light…love" I open my eyes breaking my mediation in an instant. I lose control of my breathing and I hit my knees. Love not this kind of love…no I'm not supposed to feel this kind of love…I squeeze my eyes shut, my knees spreading with the weight that seems to have just settled on me like an iron clouds, I ball my fists, pounding them into my thighs.

I'm not supposed to love like this.

"Let go Obi-Wan, find your path, trust, and follow it!"

Qui-Gon, his words as if he had been right next to me, resound.

"But what if my path is not what a Jedi's path should be?" I reach out with the Force, trying to reach him.

"You are strong with the Force my padawan, you always have been. You are a Jedi Knight now, you are now the teacher. I am proud of you…I'm sorry that you felt I did not believe in you, that I didn't care, I did, I do. I just wanted you to be true to yourself, not try and do what I wanted; I didn't want you to be anything but what you were meant to be. Obi-Wan, you are like a son to me, I see so much of myself in you. I gave you a great task when I asked you train Anakin and I asked it of you at a time when your path was still being cultivated. Trials are coming, prepare yourself, and trust in your heart, you will know your path."

"But Master…" I say aloud heart pounding.

"You have always been almost too perfect a Jedi…You follow the rules and while that is good life does not follow rules. I know the question you wrestle with, this time don't think as a Jedi, but as a man, listen to your heart and it will not lead you astray."

"But I…Master…" I call to him but he is gone.

I don't know what to make of this…I am shaking from head to toe, a cold sweat drenching me. Trials ahead…too perfect a Jedi? He thought of me as a son…my path?

I can't process this all! I ache, I am restless, I need to move. My tunic is soaked with sweat so I tear it off, casting it aside. The cool air chills my skin, but I still feel the burning just under the surface.

Pulling my lightsaber from my belt, I for a moment just hold it, feeling the weight. I close my eyes engaging the power cell, it hums to life, I feel the vibration cell tingle. I breathe deeply bringing my feet together, standing straighter then a board. Slowly I bring the lightsaber vertically straight in front of me, feeling my every deep breath enter and exit, the soft warmth of the blue energy bouncing against my face.

Feeling the weapon, I focus, with precision and speed I step with my right foot thrusting the energy blade.

"Agh!" I cry releasing my anger, my frustration. Thrust, jab, block, step right, step left, pivot, back, rotate. Over and over, forum following function, I push myself harder faster. I then slow myself, drawing out my movements to perfection.

From an extended downward thrust, I pull back, the lightsaber in my right hand, drawing up my right knee with deliberate slowness. Once drawn I hold, left arm stretched to keep my balance. I exhale, closing my eyes for only a second; I let my body hold till it nearly screams in agony. With a breathes' time I change speeds, I release stepping forward thrusting the blade, the move immediate and lethal.

Two hours I go, till I collapse to my knees facing the towering estate as the sun glints off the ivory bricks, the ivy giving up its morning to dew to the warmth of the rays. My chest clenches, feeling like it could explode, my every muscle is snapped in attention, strained with pent up energy. I throw back my head feeling the sun pound on me, sweat trickles into my eyes and I squeeze them shut as the salty liquid stings.

"Choose your path and follow it…" I replay the words. My mind is clear, the confusion gone, I see my choices, my paths spread before me and I know my choice. It's almost as if there was never a question, I know where I am headed, I know…I finally know.

Slowly I bring my head up and as if in confirmation, my destination stands in front of me. There is my path; there is where it is leading me.

Padme

She stands at the railing of her balcony hands stretched on either side of her, pressing her palms into it. She stares down at me as I am on my knees in her courtyard, her roses surrounding me.

I catch her eyes passing over my bare chest and I can't miss her smile. She is looking sultry this morning, her white nightgown hugs and doesn't leave much to the imagination, even with the blue robe. Her long hair hangs loose in soft waves.

No, I can't give her up, I won't, I refuse. I choose the path with her. I choose Jedi, I choose to be a Jedi that loves, I choose to have it all…even if this path has obstacles.

Still holding her gaze, I seek the Force and to my surprise find it. I find it in abundance. It seems, it was my conflict, not my love for Padme that kept me closed from the Force, how amazing.

I stand and start up the left stair case that spirals down from her balcony, her eyes follow me, but she doesn't move, just stands perfectly still.

After nearly running up the stone steps, I walk with slow purpose across the balcony to her. She doesn't turn even as I am close enough to feel the velvet of her robe rub against my chest…I can almost feel her heart beat pulse, I can see her chest move at rapid pace, I hear her sharp intake of air.

"I'm not giving you up; I am going to fight to keep you!" I declare taking her by the shoulders, turning her to face me.

Her eyes are dazed, love dazed I think, I recognize the reaction as my own.

"I refuse to walk away, I refuse to let the best thing in my life go away…I want to love you for the rest of my life, will you marry me?" I put a hand on her neck where it curves to her shoulder, the other hand on the side of face, letting my fingers spread to encompass her cheek, chin and her jaw. Yes, the question of marriage is rash, but I know I will love her for eternity, there isn't a shadow of doubt, I also know that time to ourselves like is, is limited, I don't want to waste a second, too much as already passed.

She looks at me wide eyed; her mouth is still lush from sleep.

"Yes…yes I'll marry you," she stutters and laughs.

I resist giving a whoop of joy; instead, I capture her lips, passionately. She kisses me back hungrily.

"I thought I had lost you…" she cries as I feast on her neck, her chin…that perfect, stubborn chin.

"And I thought I had given you up forever…"

My beeping communicator breaks us apart. I resist swearing under my breath and turning it off, but I manage to pull away and answer it.

"Obi-Wan," I answer curtly.

"Master," it's Anakin, oh what timing he has!

"Yes, Anakin?" I adopt my formal 'Master' voice, as I do I see Padme smirk; she has her 'Queen' voice I have my 'Master' voice…so?

"I am here with planet security on Coruscant, they have caught Pad…I mean Queen Amidala's would be assassins."

"What? Anakin are you sure?" I demand, relief, yet realization of what that means dawns.

"Yes, they were planting explosives in the Queen's…well soon to be Senator Amidala's chambers in the Senate Housing Tower. They have admitted to the attempts on Naboo."

"This good, very good. Excellent work Anakin," I catch Padme's eye, she too is relieved but she also knows what this means, I'll be leaving.

"Thank you Master…how is the Queen?" I hear his voice fluster.

I lift an eyebrow towards Padme and she nods. I hand her the communicator.

"I am well Ani! How are you?" her voice is bright and warm.

"Padme? Oh, I haven't heard your voice in so long! I miss you." I can't mistake the longing in his voice.

"I miss you too; I shall see you when I come to Coruscant, all right?"

"I'd like that…if I am not on a mission that is," he grumbles and I smile.

"I think, young padawan we'll be able to find a few minutes before we rush to save the galaxy," I laugh taking the communicator.

"Thank you for contacting me about the capture; I'll be contacting the council right away."

"Yes Master, may the Force be with you."

"And with you Anakin."

A/N:

mrs. skywalker: I too loved Obi-Wan's hair, he is so yummy! The new movie was great, though I thought they moved the plot along a bit rapidly, other then that it was heart breaking but stunning. There was so something between Obi and Padme, maybe I was just looking so hard for it…but I chose to believe that there was something. And no the end is still a bit away…:-)

sir-writes-a lot: Thank you so much for the reviews! I have been waiting for them to kiss too…I couldn't believe it when I drug it out so long, believe me it wasn't at first what I intended, but sometimes these stories take on a mind of there own and I just write it down.

Thank you so much for recommending this to your friend, I hope they enjoy it! When I first decided to tackle Obi-Wan and Padme I was a bit nervous, the potential for a beautiful romance was so obvious but attempting to make a dedicated Jedi break rules was a bit overwhelming. I just love a knight in shinning armor, and even more so a Jedi Knight with a lightsaber :-), so I may have romanticized him a bit…but well I can't help it he's wonderful (I certainly couldn't refuse him)! Thank you again so much for the wonderful reviews!

TheAmazingTecnocolorRingWraith: Kissing, good, Obi-Wan good….see Obi-Wan fight inward battle, see Padme comfort Obi-Wan, see Obi-Wan kiss Padme…see Padme swoon…good Obi-Wan good. See RaeAnne grin wide at TheAmazingTecnocolorRingWraith review, thank you, thank you ;-)

SuP3R G1R: Thank you! I hope is chapter doesn't disappoint :-)

starnat: Thank you!

ScrewtheJediCode786: Thanks for the review; I was mostly teasing about what I said about swaying you (mostly ;-) I have to admit, that while I don't normally stray from my couple loyalties, I have been known to glimpse on the other side, and Anakin is so down right sexy in ROTS (expect for the whole Darth Vader, evil thing…that wasn't so sexy…) that I couldn't fault Padme for over looking the age difference and that fact she knew him as a little kid…but don't tell anyone I said that lol ;-)

anon: You too? That line about killed me writing it! I get kind of strange when I write, I am too emotionally attached it's rather disturbing… lol I however can't stand suffering, so I try and alleviate it as soon as possible, as by this chapter you can tell ;-)

I know what you mean, they need each other, they have the same deep loyalty to their duty, and the same desire for diplomacy and what's right that it just makes me smile…they need each other to balance out.

I love rain and because of that, I find it works its way into many of my romantic scenes, each one a tad different…but the rain; I just can't get away from it! I am so glad that you like it.

Thank you for the review!

sassy-satine: I can always count on your review being on the first, thank you! I know, my heart ached so bad when I wrote that whole silly thing I about erased it all lol, but instead I just moved quickly to this part, I couldn't help myself :-) I am the kind that cries at old movies but will re-watch Gone With the Wind and Casablanca again and again just so I can hear Humphrey say "here's looking at you kid," and Clark say "Frankly Scarlett, I don't give a damn" then pretend that everything works out in the end… LoL Thank you so much for reviewing!