…Disclaimer: We don't own Star Wars. We are not George Lucas…

…Acknowledgments: Co-written with Seylin. Inspired by George Lucas' film, Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith…

…Warnings: Slash (Obi-WanxAnakin, implied Qui-GonxObi-Wan), Alcohol…

…Rating: R/NC-17 (Please view Seylin's page for a link to the full version.)…

…Summary: Anakin's black and white world of the Jedi way has been stripped away by Palpatine's corruption. After the battle on Mustafar, Obi-Wan and Yoda are determined to get it back for him. But, with Padmé gone, will Anakin be willing to hear them out at all? The Jedi will need help, if they plan to save their Chosen One, and Senator Amidala has left them with exactly the help they need…

...Archive: Go for it, just ask first...

...Aubrey's Crap: -sighs- This is a few hours early, but I could care less. I'm a push over. So sue me. I just wanna see what you guys think of this newest chapter. I love it so much. Anywho, please enjoy…

Monochrome Shatter
Chapter 7: Hate To Be In Love

When Anakin came back...there was something decidedly different about him than when he'd left. The way he carried himself...the slightly glazed look to his eyes...the slur to his tone, when he was forced to speak...that kind of stuff, which probably gave Obi-Wan a pretty good idea where he'd been...

"I put up the curtain to your room, you should go sleep it off," he said helping the swaying boy take off his cloak.

"Nnn..." Anakin shook him off, with a frown. "No." Obi-Wan gave him a frown of his own.

"Why, Anakin?"

"Why what?" He raised an eyebrow, blinking lazily at him. "Why I won't go to bed? Because I don't feel like it. Why I went drinking to begin with? Because you are infuriating, my Master."

"What have I done to infuriate you so, please tell me," Obi-Wan sighed.

"I don't want to feel this way about you!" He stated his hands fisting at his side, then unfisting, as he crossed his arms over his chest and stated pacing around. "You're not Padmé! You're not supposed to do this to me!" Obi-Wan watched him a bit confused. He had never thought Anakin would admit anything about his feelings for others, drunk or not.

"It's driving me crazy..." He grumbled with irritation, mostly to himself. "I don't want this! I never asked for this! All I wanted my entire childhood was to grow up to be a good Jedi! So that I could go back home and free all the slaves! But, no! I had to go and fall in love and ruin everything! Now it's happening again, and I don't want to deal with it!"

"Things are different now Anakin. If you still want to free the slaves I will do everything in my power to help you. I don't want you to hurt anymore than you already have."

"Mom's dead." He shook his head, still pacing in agitation. "There's no point now. I wanted to free her."

"What about the others? You could do it in memory of her, I'm sure she would like that," Obi-Wan suggested, wishing he would at least sit down. At this rate he was going to pass out in the middle of the floor.

"Should go kill Watto, for not freeing her, that's what I should do..."

"He sold her to a good family."

"Oh, give me a break." He rolled his eyes, biting back the urge to punch something really hard. "You never met him, you don't know what it was like."

Obi-Wan was quiet for a few moments, he couldn't think of anything to say to dissuade him from that.

"Please... please don't..." he finally whispered.

"Don't what?" He turned angry eyes onto him, pausing in his pacing for only a moment, as he waited for a reply.

"Don't kill him."

"I wasn't really going to..." He shook his head a little. "It'd take too long to get back to Tatooine, for something that trivial."

Obi-Wan sighed in relief, he was getting tired of all this blood shed.

"It's still not fair though," he added, once again raging to himself. He really needed a punching bag...or something to that effect...

"There rarely are things that are," Obi-Wan replied.

"Yeah, but falling in love supposed to be good," he scowled, his brows furrowed. "This time it's just irritating..."

'It was for me. Both times,' Obi-Wan thought smiling a little. Anakin continued like that for several minutes, before he turned to Obi-Wan and, still frowning, barked out a single order.

"Kiss me." Obi-Wan blinked at the sudden command.

"Anakin. You're drunk. I will not take advantage of you that way," he stated.

"Just do it." He growled, and odd little glow lighting up his eyes. It wasn't the dark side, though...they weren't actually glowing. Just bright. "Do it now."

"No, Anakin. You do not know what you are saying," Obi-Wan told him and turned away.

"Yes, I do." He insisted, his tone taking on a new level of shaking too. "You're not the first person I've kissed. Just do it."

"I will not, Anakin. It wouldn't be fair... to you or to myself."

"Do it, or I'll kiss you."

"I will not repeat myself again, Anakin."

"Don't think I won't do it, old man," Anakin warned him, already striding forward toward him. "Because I will."

Obi-Wan kept his back turned doing his best to ignore him.

"Coward," Anakin accused dryly, walking around him, so that he was actually facing him, and grabbing his shoulders so that he couldn't turn away again. Then...he did it. Oh, he really did it. A long deep kiss.

Obi-Wan's eyes were wide and he tried to push away for a moment before the feeling went to his head. His eyes closed and he allowed himself to kiss back, a

soft moan escaping him. Anakin let the kiss run itself dry, before pulling back. When he did, he looked more annoyed than ever, and let loose a curse that would make even the foulest sailor blush like a little girl.

Obi-Wan slowly opened his eyes and looked at him, he flinched when Anakin shifted again, an action he couldn't control. An annoyed Anakin usually meant something was going to get hit... and right now the closest thing was him

Anakin managed to settle for kicking a chair, though. He'd been afraid of that...it sucked! He didn't want to be in love again!

"I'm sorry, Anakin," Obi-Wan said quietly and retreated to Luke's room where he felt the boy waking up.

"Should have drunk more..." Anakin grumbled under his breath, as he headed for his own room. "Maybe then I would have passed out before I could do something so stupid, as to try and see if I was right or not..."

Obi-Wan gave Luke his medicine and did his best to clear his congested little nose and chest using the Force.

"I'm an idiot Luke... how could I allow myself to fall for him?" He whispered.

For the next few days, Anakin put out a rather distinct effort to avoid Obi-Wan. They didn't run into each other for almost a week. He left early, and came home late. And, when they did happy to meet, it was only because Anakin happened to be taking a call from a client, and couldn't really leave the room.

Obi-Wan caught him one day at one of those moments. He waited until Anakin finished the call before speaking.

"Luke's finally getting over his cold, he still has a bit of a fever. I have to go to the Temple. I'll probably be back late," he said and left the room so they wouldn't have to say more.

Anakin made a frustrated noise, but just grabbed his lightsaber, cloak, and baby, to drop him off at his baby sitter. That way, they could both do their job. This client had made it perfectly clear that it had to be completely right away.

Obi-Wan grabbed the pad he had been working on the rules in and his cloak leaving right after him.

Luke's 2nd Birthday

Obi-Wan set everything up and then went to Anakin's room, he knocked as always even though right now the curtain was open. He waited to speak until

Anakin looked at him.

"Today is your son's second birthday, so can we please put aside everything of these last few months and just have a good day for him?" He asked. Anakin thought about that for a moment, before nodding simply.

"You haven't talked to me either." He pointed out softly, rolling off the bed, to go find Luke, and do that.

"You haven't wanted me to," Obi-Wan replied, he didn't need to read Anakin's thoughts to know that.

"Hush," Anakin muttered, with a shrug, as he continued to search the apartment for his now two year old.

Luke was quiet the walker now, no part of the apartment was safe. He was also talking, not just baby chatter anymore. His first real word had been 'Two' for R2-D2, he and the little droid seemed to have a great connection.

"He was in the living room," Obi-Wan said as the doorbell rang and he went to answer it.

"Thanks," Anakin murmured, and headed in there, keeping half an ear out to see if he could hear who was at the door.

"Wan!" The little girl's voice exclaimed and Obi-Wan had to smile.

"Hello, Leia," he said and took her from the senator's arms. They had agreed after the first birthday to make it a tradition to get together on the children's birthday. "Welcome, Bail, where is your wife?"

"Feeling a bit under the weather, I'm afraid. She sends her best wishes to you, Anakin, and Luke," Bail answered.

"Sounds like your sister's here." Anakin murmured to Luke, upon finding him. "Are you excited to see her again?" He certainly was.

"Sister!" Luke smiled and got up going for the voices he heard. Anakin shook his head in amusement, before following him.

"Hello, Senator Organa." He greeted, nodding his head politely at him.

"Greetings, Anakin. You are looking well. Ah! And hello, Luke, my but you've grown!" Bail smiled down at the little boy.

"Brother!" Leia cried reaching down for him.

"She's grown a lot too," Anakin commented softly, watching his children interact.

"Almost to fast," Bail replied as they went to the living room.

"Dad!" Leia smiled walking over to Anakin.

"Hi," Anakin grinned at her, kneeling down to her height. "Missed you."

"Miss you," she repeated and gave him a kiss on his forehead. Anakin blushed a little, but his smile softened a little, and he just ruffled her hair.

"We might have to get together more often, when you get older then, hm?"

"Together," she smiled.

"What do you think, Luke?" He turned to his son. "Want to see her more often?"

"Together!" Luke agreed. Obi-Wan smiled and stood going to the kitchen, Bail followed to see if he could help.

"You seem distracted, my friend," he commented as they got the food ready.

"I've been tested very heavily these last few months," Obi-Wan said brushing it off.

"Anything I can help with?" Bail asked concerned. Obi-Wan chuckled.

"No. This I must find the answer myself," Obi-Wan answered. Anakin kept his promise, and made sure the day was pleasant for Luke. However, when Leia, and Senator Organa left, he headed toward his room, murmuring something about trying to find Padmé. Obi-Wan put the tired little boy in his bed and stayed until he was asleep before retreating to his own room.

A presence greeted Anakin. Although it was not Padmé, it was not one he could ignore either.

'Good evening, Master,' Anakin greeted Qui-Gon pleasantly, when he figured out who it was. 'I trust you've been fairing well? Or, as well as can be expected…'

'I would be fairing better if it were not for the warring emotions that are raging in these spaces,' Qui-Gon replied.

'It's not all my fault, Master.' Anakin felt the need to point out. 'I didn't ask for any of this.'

'And so you are putting all the blame on my padawan?' Qui-Gon questioned.

'No.' He shook his head. 'Not all of it. Just...some.'

'Well, what you are putting on him must be very trying. I can sense his exhaustion of your expectations of him. It hurts him deeply that you will not speak with him,' Qui-Gon stated.

'He hasn't tried, Master,' Anakin reminded him. 'He's supposed to be my superior. Whether I feel comfortable or not about it shouldn't make any difference. If he wants to talk to me, why hasn't he?'

'Unlike many other Masters would, Anakin, Obi-Wan respects you. He allows you to sort through things yourself. The people of Obi-Wan's race are

very keen to emotions, these senses make it very difficult for them to express themselves to those with raging emotions,' Qui-Gon explained.

'He's not human?' Anakin raised an eyebrow through his meditation. 'I was always under the impression that he was.'

'There is much you do not know about Obi-Wan, Anakin. You've never taken the time to learn.'

'He was my teacher. He never let himself be much more'. It was true, he'd considered Obi-Wan his best friend for a while, but...obviously that was incorrect. 'He's not Padmé, Master. I don't want to be in love with anyone except her, and the fact that I am is killing me.'

'She would want you to be happy, Anakin. If this is not what you want, then tell him so that he can lock it away and you won't have to keep dealing with this,' Qui-Gon advised.

'I don't know how to be happy, anymore…' He physically let out a frustrated noise. 'I used to...I think...but so much has happened since then...I'm not sure I would be able to recognize 'happy', if it smacked me with a lightsaber hand grip.'

'I can't believe that because there have been times when you have been happy. I can feel it,' the other told him.

'You are happy when you don't let your guilt rule your judgment, Ani.'

'Padmé...' Well, there was that guilt she was talking about. He felt like he was drowning in it... 'How can I let myself love him, when I still love you?'

'I love you too, Ani, but right now we cannot be together. You should try to listen to your emotions at times when you have nothing on your mind,' she said.

'Oh, I know what my emotions are telling me,' he snorted slightly. 'I just don't like it.'

'But you should. He loves you almost as strongly as I did, if not the same.'

'I feel like I'm...betraying you...And, after all we went through to be together...it doesn't seem fair…'

'You can't betray me if I approve,' she stated.

'Up until now, I didn't know you did,' He reminded her dryly. 'It's what happens when I only hear from you once a year.'

'I'm sorry, Ani. These passages don't open often enough,' she replied, sounding sad.

'I miss you…' He met her sadness tenfold... If he weren't Anakin Skywalker, he would have been bawling his eyes out by now. He felt a warm embrace come over him from behind.

'I miss you too, Ani.'

'If I do this...will you come see me more often?'

'I will try.'

'Thank you...And you, Master.' He sighed. He really didn't want to leave them... 'Padmé, Luke and Leia are doing well.' He could feel her smile.

'Of course. They both have good people taking care of them,' she replied.

'I'll try to find you both again,' he promised slowly. 'But...I should probably take care of this now.'

'That would be a good idea,' both agreed.

Anakin opened his eyes, and let out a frustrated sigh. This was going to be a pain, he realized, as he crawled off the bed, to go find Obi-Wan. Maybe he'd still be up...

The apartment was dark, no lights came from any room, showing all occupants had gone to bed. Or...he might have to wake him up. That might be better anyway...it might make it easier, if he was half asleep...

The curtain closing off his room was halfway open in case Luke started to cry and he needed to get up. Obi-Wan had gotten in a fight with the curtain before. Obi-Wan's form was turned away from him as he slept.

"Master," Anakin called to him through the dark. "I need to talk with you, Obi-Wan." Obi-Wan blinked slowly as his mind woke up. He turned sitting up, the sheet pooling at his waist. He rubbed his eyes tiredly.

"Well come in, unless you want to talk to the curtain," he replied. Anakin obeyed slowly.

"I just spoke with Master Qui-Gon...and Padmé..." He informed his groggy Master slowly. "And, they're both very concerned about our current...situation."

"Doesn't surprise me," Obi-Wan said quietly.

"Padmé told me...that she doesn't mind...how I feel about you..." He continued, running his fingers through his hair. It was remarkably less effective with durasteel hands...

"Really? That's...interesting."

"She actually approved," he confirmed with a small nod, that Obi-Wan certainly couldn't see through the dark. "Qui-Gon did too."

"But do you? That is all that matters to me," Obi-Wan told him.

"I suppose so." He nodded thoughtfully. "She really was the only reason I wouldn't."

"I'm glad then, Anakin."

Anakin murmured something to himself in Tatooine, something he obviously didn't want Obi-Wan to understand. Then...he just went forward, and crawled into the older man's bed, feeling through the dark until he could kiss him. It was just as deep, and lengthy as the last time, but this time he didn't break into curses when he pulled away. Had it not been dark, he would have seen Obi-Wan's deep blush.

"Thank you, Anakin. Would... would you like to sleep here?"

"Mmhmm," he confirmed, settling down next to him. Obi-Wan smiled and lay down, facing Anakin. His eyes soon became heavy and it wasn't long before he was asleep again.

'Thank you, Padmé, Master…' Anakin sent out into the Force, and trusted them to catch it, before falling asleep himself. He could feel warmth buzzing from his sleeping bed partner. It wasn't too long, before he was asleep himself.

The next morning

"Daddy!" Luke called after waking. Obi-Wan chuckled softly without opening his eyes.

"Yes?" Anakin called back, rolling out of bed, and tugging his shirt on, that he'd dropped by the bed side before falling asleep the night before. "What is it?"

"Bad dream..." Luke replied.

"Oh?" He leaned against the wall to his son's room. "What about?"

"Bad tings... lots of fire."

"Fire?" Anakin echoed, with a frown. "I'm sure it was just a dream. But...just out of curiosity, what other things?" Luke shook his head.

"Saw Daddy and Papa...fighting."

"Oh..." He frowned, and wondered how to explain that. Mustafar... "That was real...but it was a long time ago. You don't need to worry about it."

"Okay. Daddy?" Luke asked.

"Yes?" He raised an eyebrow at him, speaking around a yawn.

"Me hungry," Luke told him. Anakin snorted helplessly at him. That was quite a change of mood.

"Let's see what we can do about that," He suggested, going over to help Luke out of bed. "Did you enjoy seeing Leia, yesterday?"

"Yes. Sister friend," he answered as they walked to the kitchen, hand in hand. Obi-Wan smiled as they came into the kitchen. He held a cup of coffee in his hand, a pan of oatmeal was already cooking on the stove.

"Coffee Anakin?" He asked. Anakin said a silent prayer of thanks, before nodding quickly.

"Yes..." He murmured, happily accepting the cup. He'd have to tell Obi-Wan about Luke's little 'dream', once the boy was out of the room. Obi-Wan finished the oatmeal and then put some in a bowl with some favoured cream in it.

"Be careful it's hot," he told Luke, who nodded and picked up his spoon blowing on the steaming goo. "Would you like some too? There's plenty?" He looked at Anakin as he asked.

"No food." Anakin shook his head a little. "Too early." Obi-Wan should have remembered that...his former padawan was honestly a little surprised he hadn't.

"Just offering, you didn't eat much yesterday. Well I must get to the Temple and see what things Master Yoda has planned for me today," he told them both. He ruffled Luke's hair and was tempted to kiss Anakin, the boy had amazing lips, but he wasn't sure if he should in front of Luke.

"Obi-Wan." Anakin glanced up at him. "Before you go, I need to talk with you alone." Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow but nodded.

"Eat your breakfast Luke, Daddy will be back in a few minutes," Obi-Wan told him and they walked out of the room. Once they were in the hallway, Anakin leaned against the wall tiredly.

"He had a vision," he stated into his palm. "About Mustafar." He had been hoping that visions wouldn't be one of the 'gifts' Luke had inherited from him. Evidently, any gods out there hated him. Maybe this was the Force's punishment for him, for being bad. "A very detailed one."

"Really? That's amazing for one so young. But of all the things... I wonder why he saw that," Obi-Wan mused.

"I was having Force visions, at his age." Anakin shrugged. "I'd say, it's because he's constantly around us."

"Possibly. What do you think we should do?"

"I don't know," he admitted. "He wanted an explanation, I think. I didn't give him a real one yet, though."

"Do you really think he needs to know about that just yet? Personally I would prefer to see if he had another vision about it, if he did then we could tell him... if not then he goes on thinking it was just a nightmare until we tell him different, right?"

"He already knows it's real." Anakin nixed that. "But, I told him not to worry about it."

"Then how do you want to handle it?" Obi-Wan questioned.

"I don't know!" He repeated in frustration. "If I knew, I wouldn't be asking."

"I can't tell you what to do Anakin, if you want to explain everything in great detail to a two year old, then be my guest," Obi-Wan retorted.

"I wasn't planning on using great detail..." He muttered defensively. "I was wondering if you thought I should explain at all."

"I don't, personally. I don't think in years to come he would remember. You might as well just wait and tell him when he is old enough to understand," Obi-Wan told him.

"Works for me." He shrugged, and nodded. Then, a devious little grin appeared on his face, and he pulled Obi-Wan close, giving him a kiss. "Have fun at work, Papa," he teased, upon pulling back.

Obi-Wan chuckled and leaned forward again giving him a heated kiss of his own before pulling away and walking for the elevator.

"I'm back," Anakin announced, upon returning into the apartment. Luke looked up at him, his face covered in oatmeal. He smiled brightly, as some oatmeal dripped from a long strand of hair.

"Did you throw your head in the bowl?" Anakin questioned him in bemusement. Apparently, Luke was getting a bath.

"Yummy!" He announced.

"Well, glad you enjoyed it," his father informed him. "Because, now you get a bath. Here's hint, use the spoon next time," he advised, shooing Luke off toward the bath.

"Awwww! No bath!" Luke complained.

"Little boys who dirty their hair must get cleaned up," Anakin informed him. "You want to be a Jedi, when you get older, right? Jedi always have clean hair." This was a lie. Most Jedi, who kept their hair, kept it in a sweaty mess. He certainly had, most of the time. Obi-Wan was the only one he knew who managed to avoid that, without shaving it off, as Mace Windu had.

"I could be Jedi?" Luke asked looking up at him in wonder.

"Mmmhmm." He nodded. "Papa and Master Yoda are working on rebuilding the Order. I'll let you train to be one, if you want." Luke clapped happily and ran to the bathroom then. He wanted to be just like his Papa and Daddy. Something occurred to him then and he turned to Anakin pulling his shirt over his head.

"How come Daddy isn't a Jedi?"

"I used to be..." He admitted slowly. "But, your mother was more important to me. So, I left the Order." This was true. Just not the whole truth.

"Were you good Jedi? You still have saber," Luke questioned.

"Arguably, the best," he admitted, blushing lightly. His ego was stroked, but he didn't particularly enjoy bragging. "I think I might have a couple of the HoloNet reports recorded, if you'd like to watch them, later?"

"Yay!" Luke then climbed into his bath and let Anakin wash out his hair.

Anakin showed them to him, and time continued to pass. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, months into years. Luke eventually forgot about his dream about Mustafar, but Anakin didn't. He never did bring it up, though. When he was old enough, Luke did join the Order, as a Padawan. A rather skilful one, too. Which is where we rejoin them. Luke was about twelve, by this point, and Anakin was annoyed.

It was late, Luke was late, and he definitely wasn't supposed to be tonight.

"Luke!" He called, as he approached the room in the Temple where he had a high suspicion that his son would be, with his Master no less. And, he was correct. What he was wrong about was that Luke was in a group class, not alone this time. Well...he hadn't meant to interrupt...

Master Obi-Wan Kenobi gave him a half annoyed glance, well there went his students concentration for the day.

"All right, everyone, you're dismissed but remember you have practice at nine in the morning," he told them. Each student stood and bowed to him, he bowed in return and watched as they left talking excitedly. Anakin ignored Obi-Wan's irritation, however, in favour of his own.

"You didn't tell him you were grounded?" He raised an eyebrow at the blonde child remaining in the room. "And, thus having a set time to be home by--which you broke by a good two hours?" Luke bowed his head, trying to hide a mischievous smile.

"Luke, you're grounded? What did you do this time?" Obi-Wan questioned. This was the sixth time in three months.

"Tried to steal my lightsaber to play with," Anakin supplied dryly. "Again." Now, normally, this wouldn't have been such a big deal. But his light saber was a custom job, that he'd done himself, and was significantly more powerful than Luke's padawan saber was. Thus, this was rather dangerous.

"Luke, we've talked about this. You know you're not to take Anakin's light saber without his permission or without his or my supervision. You're already grounded, but because you didn't tell me I'm going to have to ground you from practice tomorrow morning," Obi-Wan told him.

"But!" Luke protested in horror.

"No buts," Obi-Wan replied firmly.

"Yes Papa," he sighed.

"And what do you say to Anakin?"

"I'm sorry and I won't do it again."

"Uh huh." He nodded, crossing his arms over his chest, and smiling slightly. He didn't believe him--it was the same thing he'd said for the last five times. "Sorry for interrupting your class." Anakin turned his full attention to Obi-Wan. "But, I felt seeking him out was a worthy cause."

"I understand but next time be a little more quiet, it's hard enough to keep these kids' attention. Say, would you like to come in and help me give a demonstration with the lightsabers tomorrow?" Obi-Wan asked as they headed home.

"That's no fair! Daddy would get to teach everyone else but not me!" Luke exclaimed.

"I can teach you at home." Anakin brushed that off. "When you're not grounded for breaking one of the few rules I've set for you." Then he turned back to his friend, and freely admitted lover. (For several years now.) "Sure, I'll do it." He nodded. "I never had a padawan. Training them might be fun." Luke crossed his arms over his chest, pouting. Sure, Anakin could train him at home but then he couldn't show off to his friends.

"Alright. The Padawans have heard the 'Skywalker' stories, the good things for now. You'd be surprised that you are some of their idols," Obi-Wan laughed.

"You told them the Skywalker stories?" Anakin offered him a rather horrified look. He hated playing poster boy...And, these children would be far too young to care about his betrayal. "What possessed you to do that?"

"I didn't say a word. Other people have though, and of course when asked I must tell the truth," Obi-Wan answered.

"I take it you kept the Jedi Don't Lie, rule," Anakin noted idly, before turning to Luke. "Head home, kiddo," he ordered. "We'll be there before long."

"It sets good morals," Obi-Wan said as he watched Luke walk back toward the apartment, his head down kicking invisible rocks. "He needs a haircut." Anakin snorted helplessly.

"Yes," he agreed. It was getting long...soon, the Padawan braid would be quite meaningless, as the rest of it was catching up with it. "You always kept mine short."

"And we will have to his once we cut it this time," he agreed.

"Isn't that what you said last time?"

Obi-Wan smiled. "You're supposed to make me do these things."

"Hey." Anakin shrugged with amusement. "You're the adult." Well...technically, he was an adult too. But, he'd never admit it. It made him feel old. Obi-Wan leaned over and kissed him.

"You're so cute when you're amused," he stated laying his forehead against Anakin's. Anakin moved his arms, to wrap around Obi-Wan's neck. He was such a flirt.

"I think you're just cute." But, Anakin could flirt too. Obi-Wan smirked and pressed him up against the wall of the building kissing him again, but harder this time. He let the Force brush through Anakin's hair before moving lower and pressing against the rather sensitive area.

"Obi-Wan," Anakin hissed in agitation. "Not here. I know you changed those rules, but I don't think Yoda will appreciate us...soiling the Temple floor." Obi-Wan chuckled and stepped back.

"Home then?"

"Mmhmm." He nodded, looking a bit relieved. "Need to make sure Luke made it anyway."

"You're right," Obi-Wan agreed. Together they walked out of the temple heading home. Luke had made it, but he suffered through several subtle, not-quite berating from his father, before shooed off to bed.

(Smut)

"They really all know about the Clone War stories?" Anakin wondered, once the sex had been taken care of, that night, running a cool, durasteel finger up and down Obi-Wan's chest.

"I think so," Obi-Wan sighed holding him close.

"Well, great," he sighed. "Nothing like a demand for story time, to set off a good demonstration." Obi-Wan chuckled and kissed his forehead.

"Don't worry about it, love. We should get some sleep. Morning will come soon," he sighed.

"I know," he agreed with a small sigh, resting his cheek on the older man's chest, closing his eyes. They never had completely regained their natural colour, but they were as close as he was sure they were going to get, at this point. Obi-Wan watched him sleep for a few moments before joining him.

Anakin was awake early, the next morning. By the time Obi-Wan got up, he'd already showered, dressed (all his mechanical parts covered, per usual), and was rinsing out his coffee cup.

"Morning." He waved over his shoulder idly, upon sensing his lover coming into the room.

"Morning," Obi-Wan greeted pouring himself some coffee. "Luke up yet?"

"Nope." He shook his head. "He's apparently taking advantage of the opportunity to sleep in. I should make him get up and clean...his room's filthy..." Anakin mused, that last part mostly to himself.

"He still has to attend the class. I'll go wake him," Obi-Wan said and left the kitchen.

Anakin shrugged, and left the room also, but not to go wake his son up. He went into the third bedroom, that had originally been his own, but was now more of a place for him to keep his...'toys'. (And, not the dirty kind.) He got his lightsaber quickly off of the dresser, and clipped it onto his belt. He should just keep it with him all the time, he noted dully. It would keep Luke from trying to commandeer it.

"Luke... get up," Obi-Wan ordered opening the curtains that covered the windows to the boy's room. He glanced around and shook his head. Anakin was right, Luke did need to clean his room. "Luke, up!"

"Nmmm... don't wanna!" Luke replied from under his pillow.

"You still have to attend class and if you are late you will be punished more," he warned. Luke groaned and slowly got up. Anakin, glanced at the clock, while he was doing that, and frowned.

"Obi-Wan," he called mildly. "Eight thirty. Get to it, it's bad form for the teacher to be late." Obi-Wan cursed and went to get ready.

"Make sure your son stays awake and gets ready!"

"Yes, Master," Anakin agreed, tossing a wry grin in his direction, before going to go stare at Luke while he woke up and got dressed. It always seemed to be the most effective way of making sure everything got done in a timely manner. Luke seemed to move faster when he was being watched.

"Stop staring at me! I'm getting ready!" Luke complained.

"I'm your father." Anakin shrugged. "It's my job to annoy you." He wasn't sure if this was quite true, but Obi-Wan had certainly annoyed him when he was twelve. And, as odd as it was to say it, considering their current situation, Obi-Wan was the closest thing to a father he'd ever had. So, that was who he was basing his techniques after. "Trust me, it's better than the cold bucket of water I woke up to, at your age, when I over slept."

Luke paused, like any other little boy his age he hated baths, cold water seemed even worse.

"Cold water? Who would do that?" He asked pulling his tunic on.

"Obi-Wan." Anakin grinned at him. "He trained me, you know. It was his favourite method. He said it was effect and punishment rolled into one." Luke gulped.

"He wouldn't do that to me though... right?" Obi-Wan walked by the door.

"If you don't hurry up I just might," he replied. That got Luke moving at light speed.

"Very good," Anakin commented, leaving the doorway to hug his former teacher from behind. "You haven't lost your touch." Obi-Wan smiled and patted his hands.

"That's a good thing with your son. If I didn't know any better I would say he's your clone." He cursed then. 15 minutes. "Luke come on! You can finish getting ready at the Temple!" Anakin released him, and went back to go shoo Luke toward the door.

"If you'd clean your room," he said as he prodded him along. "You'd know where everything is, and it wouldn't take so long."

"Yeah, yeah," Luke sighed grabbing some toast Obi-Wan offered him. He hopped on one foot as he pulled his boot on, the piece of toast in his mouth. Obi-Wan smiled shaking his head as they left the apartment.

He'd been right, Anakin noted with vague misery as he was bombarded by younglings several minutes later. They did want to know about the war. In detail. Lots of detail. He felt like shrinking against Obi-Wan--hiding behind him in hopes that they would all just go away. He hadn't dealt well with the war the first time, he certainly didn't want to relive it.

"Enough! Go find your seats so that we may begin. Master Yoda and Anakin have agreed to give you a demonstration, each of you will then practice with them for 15 minutes before you write about what you learned," Obi-Wan instructed. There were a few groans of disappointment but each padawan did what he said.

"Thank you," Anakin murmured softly to him, before drawing out his light saber, and facing Yoda as the aged warrior did the same. Then, blue met green it a frenzy of colour, and the demonstration began.

The demonstration lasted for almost an hour, each of the Padawans staring in awe but Obi-Wan called for them to stop.

"Thank you. Now let's see... Padawan Mickel you'll face Master Yoda and Padawan Airel you'll face Anakin. Each of you make sure to set your saber on the lowest setting. I don't want to escort anyone to the medical rooms today." The two Padawans selected jumped up and ran over to Master Yoda and Anakin smiling excitedly.

"Not bad." Anakin ruffled the youngling's hair, once the practice was done. And, in truth, for such a young age, on average, it hadn't been. As the student's returned to their seat Obi-Wan gave them paper to write down what they had learned and then sent two others out.

Luke stared at the battle's longingly but Obi-Wan just gave him paper to write down what he learned from observing.

Anakin was out of the room, and down the hall a little before he noticed he was trembling, even a little. (Actually, it was more than a little.) Yoda politely ignored him, and just continued on his way, as the blonde sunk down to the floor, to calm down for a moment. He hadn't dealt well with the interrogation by the children. Half of him hoped Obi-Wan would come out for a moment, the other half prayed he wouldn't. Either way, the Jedi Master owed him some major apology sex later, to make up

for this.

"Anakin?" Obi-Wan's worried voice came from behind him.

"Yeah?" He looked up from where he'd been staring at the floor, brushing his slightly damp bangs out of his eyes. An hour-long spar with Yoda and then the

shorter sessions with the younglings wasn't the easiest thing to do.

"Are you alright? I know I asked a lot of you to do this today, but I didn't think it would affect you this way," Obi-Wan said, helping him stand.

"I'm fine." He brushed it off, even though it was a blatant lie. "I just don't like thinking about the war. Too much happened during it."

"I see. I'm sorry then. I should have told them not to speak of such things. Would you like to have lunch or go home and get some sleep? You look a bit tired," Obi-Wan told him.

"I'm fine," he repeated, smiling slightly for him. "Lunch sounds kind of good, actually." Food would help him quit shaking. He felt ridiculous, doing so. Obi-Wan smiled and together they walked to the mess hall and then took their lunch to the gardens. Obi-Wan lay down staring up at the sky.

"I could eat a whole dragonmount," Anakin mumbled, as he dug into his food. "How many more classes do you have today?" He wondered, glancing over at his lover.

"Two," Obi-Wan answered.

"Good. You'll be home early then." He nodded thoughtfully. "Just so you know, I intend to make you make that up to me." Obi-Wan smirked glancing over at him.

"Oh really? And just what did you have in mind?"

"Sex," he stated between bites. "You owe me lots of sex, old man."

"My dear Anakin, I believe you have gotten addicted," Obi-Wan chuckled.

"That is not my fault," he sniffed slightly. "And, I want liquor too." He wasn't entirely serious about that.

"Maybe a glass, but not until later. How much longer is Luke grounded for?"

"Well, originally, it was only for the one day," he admitted, offering him a dry look. "I haven't decided what his punishment for breaking his punishment should be, yet."

"A week? And he does need to clean his room," Obi-Wan suggested.

"Told you so," Anakin laughed mildly, shaking his head a little. "You know...sometimes I wonder if we discipline him enough. Or, if I do, anyway."

"Do you want me to pour cold water over him next time he over sleeps?"

"That wasn't what I meant," he admitted, frowning at the empty container, but then just shrugging, and laying down next to Obi-Wan. "I just meant...most children, especially Padawans, grow up with a stricter environment, right?"

"Most live here at the Temple, not with their parents," Obi-Wan answered.

"He's still living with his Master, though." Anakin shrugged. "Most children also aren't the child of Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi." Even though...Luke wasn't technically Obi-Wan's son. But, the man had more than helped raise him, and a conversation a few months ago with Padmé had brought Anakin to the conclusion that Obi-Wan might as well have been Luke's father...or mother, in the event that Anakin was angry with him.

"That's true... but it might be a good idea letting him move to the Temple... we should at least consider it," Obi-Wan mused.

"No." He shook his head a little. "I don't think that's a good idea."

"How come?" Obi-Wan gave him a questioning look.

"He's not ready to leave home yet." He shrugged, then sighed before continuing. "I'm not ready for him to leave home yet."

"Alright Anakin, but within the next three years we are going to have to seriously consider it." Obi-Wan checked the time. "Lunch is almost over, I need to be heading back." Anakin made a displeased noise to both of those facts, and rolled over, pinning him to the ground, and giving him a kiss.

"Remember," he murmured when he pulled back. "You owe me sex and booze. Maybe we should just go to a strip bar..."

"I'd rather not share you," Obi-Wan replied kissing him back. He leaned up and attacked Anakin's earlobe. Something between a snicker and a moan tore itself from his throat, and he had half a mind to just jump him right there. And...he just might have, if he hadn't sensed a very familiar energy behind him.

"Daddy's busy, Luke," he muttered, half teasingly. "What do you need?"

"I came to get Papa, class can't go on without him," Luke answered grudgingly. Obi-Wan sighed and let go of Anakin's ear.

"Anakin, I need to go." He really didn't want to go but he needed to teach the class, and that couldn't be done with Anakin laying on top of him... it would be to distracting.

"Yes, Master," Anakin sighed tragically, rolling off of him finally. "We'll just have to finish this at home."

"Of course," he replied getting up. "Let's go, Luke."

"Yes, Pa..." he started but Obi-Wan cut him off.

"From this point forward you'll call me Master while we're at the Temple not just in class," Obi-Wan told him. Luke gave him a weird look but nodded.

"Yes, Master." Together they walked from the gardens. Anakin shook his head in amusement, grabbing his garbage, and scrambling to his feet. Maybe he'd have a job waiting for him, when he got back...something to keep him busy for the afternoon. Or, he might just take Obi-Wan's suggestion and take a nap. He honestly was tired...he was always tired, Apparently, it was a less than pleasant effect of his accidental misadventures in Seeking, all that time ago.

When he returned the holo-communicator was beeping with a missed message. Well, so much for his nap. He sighed, and just went over and pressed the play button. Money was money was money, he figured with a shrug. A hooded blue image appeared.

"Anakin Sssskywalker. My people have need for your ssservicesss. Pleassse contact usss sssoon," the figure said and then disappeared. Well, that wasn't cryptic at all...He stared dryly at the device, before returning the call.

"Yesss?" The figure asked, although the voice seemed pleasant enough.

"My name's Anakin Skywalker," he started slowly. "I was contacted by someone from this holo-com." The figure, who still wore the hooded cloak, folded its scaly fingers. Anakin couldn't be sure but he thought he saw a tongue flick out.

"Ah, yesss. You are the mercccenary. Firssst, are you able to complete a rather sssimple asssasssination?"

"Easy," he confirmed. "What's the deal?"

"50,000 creditsss for the asssasssination of the leader of Cornath," the other replied.

"Negative, my lord." Anakin shook his head a bit. "I work for cash only. Credits only work on Republican run planets."

"Our ssstandard money isss very limited. That in mind, we can offer you 10,000," the hooded figure replied.

"That's forty thousand less." Anakin frowned at him. "Tell you what, I'll cut you a break. Ten thousand in cash, and the other forty in credits."

"Thisss we can do. When can we expect the job completed?"

"Where is the target?" Anakin countered with, smirking smugly. "Timing all depends on distance."

"The planet Cornath, beyond the southern Outer Rim," the figure answered. "When cccan we expeccct the job done?" Anakin thought about that.

"If I can get to my ship," he started to answer slowly. "Between three days and a month."

"Accccceptiable thisss isss. You will reccccieve half of your payment within two days, the other half after the misssssion isss cccompleted."

"Thank you, my lord." Anakin nodded to him, bowing slightly at the waist, in true Jedi fashion. "I'll see what I can do about getting there."

"Cccontaccct usss with an update before you depart," the hooded figure requested.

"I can do that." He nodded in agreement. "You'll here from me soon," he promised, before cutting the connection off.

The hooded figure lowered its hood revealing a lizard head, it's body hidden under the heavy cloak. A smile came to the scaly lips.

"Sssoon revenge will be gotten our departed Lord Sssidiusss," it hissed.

Well, Anakin reflected idly, glancing around the room. It looked like he'd be away for a while. He had no doubt that Obi-Wan would be able to take care of Luke, on his own, though. He shrugged, and went into their room, to start getting some clothes together, just in case he had the opportunity to stay in a real hotel, and change. He'd talk to Obi-Wan about getting his Star fighter later. His com-link beeped with an incoming call.

With a small sigh, Anakin rolled his eyes, and pressed the activation button, watching the small ghost image flicker to life. Obi-Wan smirked at his look of irritation.

"I'm guessing you didn't get your sleep," he stated.

"No." He shook his head a little. "I didn't. Look, I got a job. It's beyond the Outer Rim. Do you think I can get to my Starfighter?"

"I think so. I'll see about it while Luke and I are out. After my last class I'm taking him to get that hair cut," he replied.

"Do it tomorrow." Anakin begged him, with a pitiful look. "I'm leaving then, if I can, and I'd like to spend tonight with you. I'm not sure how long this'll take."

"It won't take long, Anakin. Maybe an hour, I'll give you a special goodbye as soon as we're home," Obi-Wan promised.

"Alright..." He agreed with a sigh. "I'm gonna finish packing, then maybe try to grab that nap...again." Obi-Wan laughed.

"Good luck, love. We'll see you soon." And with that the call ended. Anakin snorted, but then just shrugged, and finished shoving clothes into a bag, before collapsing tiredly onto the bed. He knew Obi-Wan would wake him, when he and Luke got back...whether he meant to or not.

To be continued…

Next: Broken Hero