...Disclaimer: We don't own Star Wars.

...Acknowledgements: Co-written with Seylin, inspired by George Lucas' film, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.

...Summary: (I think you know the summery by now...)

...Aubrey's Crap: -Gasp- Only two chapters and the epilogue left, after this one! I'm going to be sad to see this story end...it's one of the very few that I'm honestly proud of. But, I truly enjoyed writing it, and I'm assuming my co-author did too. Er...warning, Ani starts to go all angstastic starting at the end of the last chapter, and continuing through the end. Finally, this story starts to earn its genre, eh? -Waggles eyebrows- Anywho, please enjoy chapter nine. Scheduling conflicts have messed up my every-other-day thing, but I figured you'd like to have it sooner, rather than later. Chapter ten will probably be due out on the twelth, I'd say...but, we'll just have to see, hmm?

Monochrome Shatter
Chapter 9: The Chosen's Choice

Anakin woke up a couple of days later, but he still didn't have any desire to move from the feathery softness of the bed. He didn't see any reason to, either. None of his clients could reach him here, so he didn't have work, and he couldn't sense anyone in the room, so he didn't need to move for them either. He was free to just lay there, staring at the wall, and waiting for something to happen.

The door slid open revealing Master Yoda. He came in and sat in the chair that had been brought close to the bed.

"Please I am to see you awake, young Skywalker," he stated.

"Hello, Master," Anakin greeted him, his tone still strained and hoarse from his meltdown the other day. He did bother to summon up the energy to roll over, and face the old master.

"Feeling better you are?"

"Not really," he admitted flatly. "But, you don't need to worry."

"Worried Obi-Wan has been for you," Master Yoda told him. Anakin blinked rather hollowed eyes at him, before asking,

"Where is he? And, Luke?"

"Sent him to eat I did. Left your side he has not. In meditation Luke is," Yoda answered. Anakin nodded slowly, processing that.

"He shouldn't worry so much about me," he murmured, now focusing his eyes on the new wall in front of him. "He always has...but, I've never really been worth it."

"Worth it to him, you are."

"Obviously," he snorted darkly. "But, that doesn't change the fact that I shouldn't be."

"Change it you cannot. New arrangements for you I have made," Yoda said.

"Oh?" He forced up what energy he did have and finally sat up. "What're those?"

"Live here you will. Protected you and others shall be," Yoda answered. The door slid open revealing Obi-Wan, his eyes showed his relief when he saw Anakin awake and sitting up.

'Anakin,' he whispered with a smile coming over and sitting by him. Anakin leaned back against him, with admitted relief, squeezing his hand reassuringly, a slight note of hope in his tone, as he replied to what Yoda was saying.

"I don't...have to protect anyone, anymore?"

"Unless you want no protect you do not," Yoda told him smiling.

"Thank you, Master." He actually smiled very thinly at him. "Thank you very much." He was sick of playing Anakin Skywalker 'The Hero With No Fear.' Being the Hero was hurting Anakin, and honestly, he just couldn't take it anymore. Yoda nodded standing.

"Talk more later we shall," he said before leaving. Anakin just turned to look at Obi-Wan, over his shoulder.

"I heard you were worried about me."

'Aren't I always?'

"Yes," he confirmed flatly. "You shouldn't, but yes." Obi-Wan smiled and kissed him gently.

'We should go see our new apartment. It's on the 9th floor,' Obi-Wan told him after he pulled back.

"Obi-Wan, sweetie..." Anakin blushed a little. "I'm not sure I can get up." The part of his legs that wasn't metal felt rather weak...he really hadn't slept enough, while he'd been gone. Or, at all, really...he hadn't been kidding, when he'd said he'd only be on the planet for a day, and it was a bad plan to fall asleep in a star fighter. Obi-Wan smiled and lifted him up into his arms.

'You've gotten light,' he commented as he carried Anakin from the room. He knew this would have embarrassed the hell out of Anakin so he had sent the medical staff away, everyone else was away doing their normal duties.

"Really?" He blinked idly, resting his head against Obi-Wan's chest. "Huh. Weird..."

Obi-Wan took him up to their new apartment, it looked a lot like the old only it was bigger. He didn't ask Anakin where he wanted to go before taking him to the bedroom and laying him on the bed.

"Yoda's letting Luke still stay with us, right?" Anakin wanted to make sure. "Since you're his Master, and everything." All padawans lived with their Master. He saw no reason that Luke wouldn't too.

"For now... but soon I will not be able to show favor towards him over the others. We cannot have 15 other padawans living here with us," Obi-Wan answered.

"But, he's your lover's son!" Anakin pouted a little. "A little nepotism's allowed sometimes, right?"

"He will be turning thirteen in eight months, Anakin. At that point he will want to be getting away from us. Master Yoda and I are checking into some connections, we may have some new teachers who may also be Masters join us soon." Anakin nodded slowly to that.

"I can teach too...a little..." He mumbled, volunteering. "I told Yoda I would, when you guys started rebuilding the Order, and I think this might have been a sign to...stop killing people."

"If that is what you want. Sleep now, you are going to need your rest." Anakin nodded in agreement. He'd sleep for now...then meditate later, and try to remember if he'd done anything lately, to make himself more tried than usual...besides not sleeping for two weeks. That might have done it on it's own, but he was sure there was something else...he'd figure it out later, he decided, lying down, and falling asleep again.

Obi-Wan watched him sleep, stroking the side of his face with his thumb before standing.

'Watch over him for me, Padmé.' A warm presence entered the room and he smiled slightly knowing she was there.

'Obi-Wan...he's hurt.' Padmé stated, her tone slightly concerned, as she reached into his mind. She could feel it. 'Physically.'

Obi-Wan's eyes widened and he quickly kneeled on the bed, he quickly ran his hands over Anakin's body searching with the Force the wound he couldn't see with his eyes.

'I can't tell where...' She continued, and he could practically hear the frown evident in her tone. 'Or what. It feels like some sort of...poison, though. Be sure to ask him about it, when he wakes up?'

Obi-Wan found a small wound that was covered with a scab just under Anakin's hair line. He used the Force to search Anakin's blood for any sign of what the poison could be. As it turned out, it was why Anakin's limbs felt so weak and heavy. His exhaustion really was just that, but this was the reason he could barely move, even after a good four days of solid slumber.

Over those four days Obi-Wan had been sending waves of healing energy into Anakin, he hoped that once he woke this energy would make him feel better. The energy did not help as much as he had hoped, but it did allow Anakin to sit up without much effort.

"This is annoying..." Anakin groaned into the pillow, a few days after waking up from his second long spurt of slumber. Obi-Wan chuckled as he brought him some soup.

"You're getting better. Be glad the poison was not deadly," he told him.

"Still annoying," he muttered, rolling back over, and sitting up, to accept the soup. "I should have known that thing was poisoned..." And yet, he hadn't. Which irritated him to no end.

"I've got to go, the one's Master Yoda and I will be testing for the position of Master will be here soon. Is there anything I can get you before I go?"

"No," Anakin shook his head a little, smiling gently at him. "No, I'm fine."

"Alright, I'll be back soon," he answered and leaned over giving him a heated kiss.

"Have fun." He rolled his eyes teasingly, before getting started on that soup. It was still annoying. He was shaking like a damn leaf in a sandstorm...

Obi-Wan went to the council chamber, he took his seat and waited for Yoda to arrive bringing the potential Masters with him.

Anakin finished up his soup, and set the tray on the floor, before laying back down, and staring up at the ceiling.

"I can feel you spying on me, Padmé." He informed his wife good naturedly.

'Just making sure you are okay,' she answered sitting on the bed. Her figure was seeable but just barely.

"I'm not," he admitted, sitting up so that he could meet her eyes. "But, I will be." She smiled.

'Luke is growing up.'

"Yes," he agreed with a smile. "He is. Leia too. She looks like you."

'I'm pleased to hear that. They will be thirteen soon yes?'

"Yeah." His expression fell. "Obi-Wan wants Luke to move into the dorms."

'He doesn't want him to, he feels it is best. We have already talked about this, Master Jinn believes it is for the best as well,' she told him.

"So, I'm the only one who wants to be a dotting parent, and keep him at home, to be babied?" He smiled sadly. "I never imagined myself as being so...over protective..."

'I did,' she smiled.

"You're faith in me is astounding."

'You had the same in me. I am only returning it.' She looked up. 'Someone comes.' With that she faded although her presence was still there.

"Hey, Dad," Luke called coming in. He jumped on the bed sitting cross legged. "Papa and Master Yoda canceled classes for the rest of the day so they could interview the new people." Anakin quickly wiped the disappointment, at seeing Padmé leave, and smirked at his son.

"So, you're free for the day, and you're bored," he translated. Luke sighed his shoulders slumping.

"Bored, yes, but with plenty of work to do. Both Papa and Master Yoda piled it on to make up for what classes we wouldn't have today," he answered and then looked around. "She's here, isn't she?"

"Yes." He nodded, smiling. "She likes to watch you."

"Hey, Mom." Warmth enveloped them both.

"She loves you," Anakin murmured to him, pulling him against his chest in a hug. "And, she's very proud of you."

"Daaaddd..." he complained but was also smiling.

"You know, kiddo, I'm proud of you too," Anakin informed him, with a teasing grin, and tightening his hug, as though to spite his son. It wasn't really because of that, though. Luke looked up at him.

"Oh yeah? Well sue me, but I'm proud of you to. Not every kid can say his father is Anakin Skywalker... even if you are retired," Luke replied.

"You're proud of me?" Anakin raised an eyebrow at him. "You...really shouldn't be...There a very important reason that I'm not a Jedi anymore."

"Of course I am, and I don't care. You're my dad and that's reason enough, now... I really need to go and start on this work. If I'm lucky I can get it done before Papa comes back," he told him.

"Do you know why the Order needs to be rebuilt, Luke?" Anakin wondered, ignoring his excuses about his homework. "Why it was destroyed in the first place?" He didn't deserve his son's pride. It made him feel horribly guilty. Luke looked down.

"The Chancellor Palpatine was part of the Sith, but no one knew it. You were good friends with him and he tricked you into believing some things that weren't true. You fell from being a good Jedi and destroyed the Order... Mom went to see if she could save you, and Papa went with her, but she didn't know it. That was when you guys had you're big fight... when you lost you're arms and legs. But Papa saved you and brought you back here," he explained.

"Oh." Anakin blinked. Well, there went his big dramatic story. "So, yes, you do. And, you're still proud of me, even knowing that?" Luke looked up at him smiling.

"Of course. You're my dad," he said as if that should clear everything up.

"Yeah..." He agreed, not quite sure if that was a legitimate reply or not. "Well, go do your homework," he added, with a slight shooing motion. Luke hopped off the bed.

"Call me if you need me," he told him before leaving to go to his own room.

"Will do," Anakin agreed, even though he knew he wouldn't.

Nine hours later, Obi-Wan dragged his tired body into the apartment, it was dark showing everyone was already asleep. Not sure if he could make it to the bedroom he collapsed on the couch and pulled the cover that hung over the back over himself. He was asleep in minutes.

The Next Morning

Anakin could sense him before he fully woke up, and a small smile playing across his still mostly asleep lips.

'Welcome home. Did it go well?'

Obi-Wan yawned stretching. '9 hours of interviews, but worth it. We've got three new Masters,' he answered.

'Good,' Anakin commented, barely shifting in bed. 'Hey...Obi-Wan, when did you tell Luke about the whole Mustafar incident? And, why wasn't I informed about that little lesson?' Obi-Wan sent him a confused wave, not wanting to get up just yet.

'I didn't...'

'He knew. Would Yoda?'

'Not unless we asked him to,' Obi-Wan replied.

'Well then, how'd he know, if no one told him?'

'I don't know. That archive is locked away with the other most dangerous ones, at your request. Only myself and Yoda know the code to get into the room or where the room is for that matter.'

'Do you think...he remembers? From when he was little?'

'It's possible, but I highly doubt it. Why don't we just ask him when he wakes up? He should be waking soon,' Obi-Wan answered finally standing. His back popped as he stretched.

'Yeah...' Anakin agreed slowly. His mind was awake enough, he shifted a bit more in bed, and forced his eyes to open up. 'We'll have to do that.'

Obi-Wan went to make sure Luke was indeed awake. The blonde boy was just sitting up blinking sleep out of his eyes when he knocked.

"Get ready and come to our room, we need to talk," Obi-Wan told him. Luke was fully awake now.

"I haven't done something bad have I?" He asked. Obi-Wan fixed him with an imploring stare.

"Have you done anything that could be considered bad?" Luke quickly shook his head. "Alright, well get ready you don't want to be late."

"Luke," Anakin spoke to him, once he arrived in the room. "That story you told me yesterday...where did you hear it?" Luke shifted from one foot to the other.

"I'm not gonna get in trouble for this right?"

"Possibly," Anakin eyed him dryly. "It depends on what you did."

"I didn't do anything! I saw it!" Luke exclaimed. Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow and looked back from him to Anakin.

"Saw it?" Had he remembered that dream, all this time? "When?"

"I've had the same dream for a long time now. It was always in pieces, I just put them together. Anybody I didn't know I looked up," Luke replied. Anakin watched him carefully, in silence for several minutes.

"Do you ever hear anything in them?" He wondered finally. "Like, dialogue, or just see things?"

"Sometimes," Luke confirmed.

"Hnnn..." He thought about that for a moment, before turning to Obi-Wan. "Have you ever heard of anyone having visions of someone else's past? Forget reoccurring, I mean at all."

"Other than the Scarath race no, but they are hundreds of light years away. Neither you nor Padmé would have had connections with them at any point in your life times," Obi-Wan replied shaking his head.

"Thought so." He nodded, slowly. "Could he be drawing the information, through our link?" Anakin was his father, and Obi-Wan his Master. Luke would have very strong mental links with both of them.

"I haven't, I swear!" Luke insisted.

"We both have very strong mental shields, he wouldn't be able to do anything of the sort without us knowing," Obi-Wan told him.

"You're not in trouble, calm down," Anakin informed his son testily, trying to figure out what might have possibly been happening. Luke became quiet although he still wanted to protest.

"He is your son Anakin. He could just have stronger visions than you do," Obi-Wan suggested.

"Maybe," he agreed with a small nod. "Have you had any others like that, or just the one?" He wanted to know next.

"Just that one... mainly..." Luke answered.

"Yes or no, no maybes allowed."

"No."

"Maybe he picked up on it, in the womb..." Anakin mused softly. "It was a painful time for Padmé, too. His senses might have been heightened."

"Anything's possible," Obi-Wan agreed.

"What do you think?" He wondered to the empty air. He could feel Padmé, but only faintly. He could feel Qui-Gon too, but no more than her.

'I don't know Ani... he's telling the truth. Like Obi-Wan said. Anything's possible,' she answered.

'He could be a visioner, but there hasn't been one of those in the Jedi Order since before... well I don't even remember,' Qui-Gon told Obi-Wan.

"We should have Master Yoda test him," Obi-Wan said.

"It wouldn't hurt anything..." Anakin nodded, his resolve hardening. He wanted to know why his son could relate, in detail, the literally darkest hour of his life.

"What else have you seen Luke?" Obi-Wan questioned.

"Places I don't know, and people. Master Qui-Gon was in one, accepting a baby from a lady... she was dying," Luke answered. Anakin shook his head in mild confusion. Luke wasn't taking them from him, he didn't remember that. Obi-Wan sighed.

"Go grab something to eat. You're going to be late," he said. Luke nodded and quickly ran off, glad to get away from the interrogation.

"Maybe he is just stronger in the Force than I am." Anakin shrugged a little. He was happy when he didn't get visions. He still remembered both the ones about Padmé, and his mother as clear as if they'd just smacked him.

Obi-Wan lay down staring into his side.

"It was me..." he whispered.

"What was you?" His lover blinked at him in confusion. "You just said you didn't tell him--"

"No, not that. The baby... in his vision. It was me."

For a moment, Anakin felt amazingly unsympathetic. He didn't let that feeling travel through their mind link, though, and just stroked Obi-Wan's hair for a moment.

"Not to sound cruel," he spoke up softly again, after a moment of silence. "But, you should feel privileged. You didn't have to watch."

"The only reason I know it was me was because Qui-Gon told me about it once, so he couldn't have gotten it from my memories either," Obi-Wan told him.

"Odd..." He noted, with a frown. "Besides, he wouldn't have known about my conversations with Palpatine, from you." He pointed out. "I'm sure Yoda will know." Obi-Wan nodded and scooted closer to his side.

"Glad I have today off, it's about time," he said quietly.

"You have the whole day?" Anakin's face lit up with a smile, as he leaned down to place a kiss on his lover's temple. "Good. You don't get enough time off."

"Don't I know it." Obi-Wan turned his head and kissed him back. "I still owe you from doing that demonstration."

"Oh, yes," he agreed, his smile now slightly devious. "I'd almost forgotten." The main door slid closed signaling Luke had left. Obi-Wan smiled back at him.

"Perhaps...we should take advantage of this rare opportunity to repay that debt..." Anakin suggested slowly.

"I conquer," Obi-Wan agreed pushing him back down.

-insert porn here-

"Mu...much better..." Anakin panted, letting his sweat damp head sink further into the pillow, as he tried to regulate his breathing again.

"Are we...even now?" Obi-Wan questioned smirking as he tried to catch his own breath.

"Think so," his lover confirmed with a nod, rolling over slightly, to press his nose into Obi-Wan's shoulder. In bed with this man, was the only place he could let himself be dominated, without feeling weak, or foolish. It was kind of nice, honestly...

Obi-Wan wrapped his arms about Anakin's waist holding him close. He felt sleep coming upon him so he leaned down and pulled the blanket over both their bodies.

"You have my heart," he whispered before sleep claimed him.

"Good," Anakin mumbled weakly, allowing his own eyes to close. "Cause, I'd feel like a real idiot for loving you, if I didn't."

Luke studied the new Master teaching his geography class. Master Advan was his name, and for some reason he just didn't like him.

Anakin and Obi-Wan were both awake, and dressed, again by the time Luke got back from his classes.

"How'd your new teachers shape up?" Anakin wondered curiously, calling to him, sensing more than hearing his arrival.

"Masters Maeth and Baom are really cool and know their stuff but I don't like Master Advan," Luke replied.

"How come?" His father raised an eyebrow, at the open doorway, leaning over so that he could actually see Luke.

"I don't know. He's good at geography but I just don't like him," Luke answered with a shrug. "Sometimes there are just people that rub you the wrong way."

"Yeah..." He agreed, then turned a curious eye on Obi-Wan. Had he sensed anything off with him? Obi-Wan returned the look.

"He was a padawan once but was kicked out, when he couldn't keep up in the trials. The three Yoda and I chose are the best out of the eight that were there," he replied.

"Hmmm..." Anakin nodded, and tried to calm down. He was probably just being paranoid anyway...

"But you said the other two were good?" Obi-Wan asked. Luke nodded.

"Master Maeth totally rocks at teaching with a lightsaber and Master Baom is really into teaching history. We were all laughing so hard today but I remember everything she said," Luke explained. Obi-Wan smiled.

"I'm glad then. If you continue to feel off about Master Advan, let me know, alright?" Luke nodded.

"I want to meet him," Anakin informed Obi-Wan, his tone leaving no room for argument. "When I'm back on my feet." Literally.

"Alright, but try not to scare him off unless you feel something really off, we need all the help we can get," Obi-Wan told him.

"I'll be good," he agreed with a shrug. "But, if he is corrupt, he doesn't need to be here." Obi-Wan nodded.

"If he is... he must be powerful to get past both Yoda and myself." With that he left the room to start on their supper. "Come on Luke, I'm going to give you a cooking lesson." Luke grumbled but did as told.

"Pay attention to him," Anakin advised, his worry momentarily fleeting, in lieu of amusement. "Someday, you'll be grown up and home alone, and happy if you know how to cook."

"Yes, Dad," Luke replied.

The poison in his system kept Anakin completely out of commission for another two weeks. At that point, he probably should have still been in bed, but he was growing so bored, that he demanded Obi-Wan take him to the Healers, to see how it was progressing towards complete recovery.

"Okay! Okay! If I take you, will you stop complaining? But first you have to prove to me that you can get up and walk to the living room first," Obi-Wan sighed.

"No fair," Anakin grumbled, with a distinct pout. He did start inching off the bed, toward the floor, though.

And, he did it...sort of. He had a heavy limp, obviously favoring one of his legs, and it seemed to take a great deal more effort than it really should, but he made it. It might have been one hundred percent willpower, but he did eventually make it. Obi-Wan nodded.

"Alright, come on I'll take you," Obi-Wan agreed, putting one of Anakin's arms over his shoulders to help.

"Thank you," Anakin murmured, panting slightly from the work it had been to get as far as he had. He let Obi-Wan support most of his weight, on this trip, though, so even though it was longer, it wasn't quite as hard.

Obi-Wan took him to the Healersm and helped him sit on the bed, before stepping back.

"I need to go see Master Yoda for a bit. I'll come back by to see how it went after alright?"

"Alright." He nodded, eyes closed, as he struggled to regulate his breathing and heart beat, before the medical droids came in. "I'll see you later." Obi-Wan gave him a soft kiss on the forehead before he left. The medical droid entered a few moments later.

"Good day, Master Anakin. I hear you haven't been feeling well," it said.

"Correct." He nodded, opening his eyes again, to face it. He hadn't done a bad job with that whole breathing thing, if he did say so yourself. "I had an...incident, with some poison, and I was wondering how it's coming as far as actually getting rid of it."

"I'll take a blood sample, and come back in about 15 minutes with the results," it said pulling out a needle. Anakin nodded, and pulled one of his gloves off, shoving his sleeve up high enough that the droid could get to actual flesh again, and not just metal. The droid took a sample of blood and then left him to his thoughts.

That could have been more fun. But, most Anakin reverted to his favorite activity: laying on his back, staring at the ceiling. Even that grew dull after a bit, though. Luckily, by then the droid was back with his results.

The droid returned. "Your blood test indicates that very little of the poison remains. About 2 in fact. But it should not be enough to still affect you," the droid told him.

"Well...good...except..." He frowned. If it wasn't still affecting him, why was it still so hard to move? He turned to the droid, and explained that little problem.

"Hmm... I will give you a full examination, Master Anakin, we will determine why you are still affected this way." Anakin nodded in agreement to that, and shifted slightly, to make his muscles relax. He didn't want to do anything that might make the results more negative than they needed to be, after all.

After a thirty minute examination the droid told him his findings.

"It seems that this poison has effected the mechonisims where your left leg is connected. We could repair them but there would be no guarantees that you would be any better," it explained.

"Oh." Well...great. "Anything that you can guarantee will help?"

"I'm sorry, Master Anakin. There is not," the droid answered.

"Oh," he repeated in a flatter tone. He couldn't even think of a word foul enough to suit this situation, in any language he'd ever heard. And, he'd heard some pretty foul words, during his time in slavery, on Tatooine.

"I can still try to repair the problems and give you a cane, but I am afraid that is all we can offer." The first image that came to his mind was Yoda. He bit back a shiver, and just offered the droid a thin, grateful smile, and nodded.

"If that's all you can do, that's all I can ask for."

The droid nodded and left to make arrangements. Obi-Wan returned a few moments after it had left.

"So? What's the verdict?" He questioned.

"I broke myself," Anakin stated, in that same, flat tone. "And, in effect, am getting a new toy." Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow not understanding.

"Oh...you'll see." He made an impatient brushing movement in the air. He was feeling annoyed about this, and didn't particularly want to explain, when Obi-Wan would see for himself in just a few hours.

The droid returned before he could asked anymore questions.

"Master Kenobi, I'm sorry but we need to take Master Anakin into surgery." Obi-Wan's eyes widened.

"Sur-surgery!"

"I told you I broke myself." Anakin reminded him. "Don't worry, it's nothing too major. I'll be back soon." Obi-Wan could only nod and watch as Anakin was taken away.

Anakin did come back, after a little over an hour, and he was walking on his own...for the most part. The droid had given him that cane he'd mentioned, when he'd woken up, so he was leaning on that, but he didn't need any more support. He assumed Obi-Wan had sat still, and would be waiting for him in the hall...or lobby.

Obi-Wan had been sitting for a bit before he had gotten up and started pacing.

"But, you're not impatient." Anakin smirked at him, teasingly, and limping toward him. Obi-Wan let out a sigh of relief.

"Only when it comes to you," he replied and glanced down at the cane before smiling at him. 'It's hot.'

"Told you I have a new toy." Anakin stated, he looked a bit more irritated, when he looked down at the wooden stick. Obi-Wan chuckled.

"I got put in charge of negotiations class. Master Advan is supposed to be sitting in on it today. Would you like to come as well?" He questioned as they walked out of the healing wards.

"Yes..." He replied slowly. "I think I would." Obi-Wan nodded as they walked together down to his class. He checked the time.

"The initiates should be arriving soon," he commented getting things together.

"Alright," he agreed, sitting down in a chair near the desk. This was good. Advan would be distracted by the class, he'd have ample opportunity to see if he could sense any of the dark side in the man.

Excited voices soon came into the room from the hallway before the owners of the voices came into the room.

"Greetings, Padawans," Obi-Wan greeted them.

"Greetings, Master Kenobi," the padawans chorused as they took their seats.

"Master Kenobi," Master Advan greeted.

"Master Advan, please take a seat off to the side," he requested. Advan nodded and found a seat in the corner. Anakin spent most of the class staring at him. But, he had only come to one conclusion by the time it ended: if Advan was evil, he was doing a fine old job of concealing it.

The Padawans stood to leave but Obi-Wan stopped them.

"I have an announcement to make: tomorrow, the issue we will be looking at are the requirements for a Padawan to become a Knight. There is a reason behind this, so I hope you all put a good deal of research into it. You may go," he told them. Each Padawan gave each other a weird look before shrugging and leaving each whispering what Master Obi-Wan could be talking about.

"You haven't lost your touch," Anakin commented, getting back to his feet, and going over to him. "Congratulations."

"What, to confuse everyone? I believe that is Yoda's job," Obi-Wan replied with a chuckle. Advan stood and came over to them.

"I can now understand why these students enjoy this class. This was most fun, probably the highlight of my day," he stated holding out his hand for Obi-Wan.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it," Obi-Wan replied shaking his hand.

"You must be Master Advan." Anakin nodded politely to him. "My son's in one of your classes." Advan stared at him for a moment before smiling.

"Ah. Anakin Skywalker, of course. Yes, Luke shows great promise as I hear from most of his Masters," Advan commented.

"As it should be." Anakin nodded, feeling a twinge of pride. "I've been looking forward to meeting you. To meeting all the new Masters."

"It is a pleasure, but if I don't hurry I will be late and we can't have that now can we? Good day to you both," he said before turning and was gone. Obi-Wan waited until Advan's energy had faded before he turned to Anakin. "Well?"

"I can't tell." Anakin shook his head, frowning. "Whatever he failed, on his trials, it wasn't mental defense."

"Highest in his class there," Obi-Wan confirmed.

"It's going to be tricky, to find out what he's really thinking, without letting him know..." He continued slowly. "It can be done, I'm sure, but it'll be difficult." Obi-Wan nodded.

"Well I spoke Master Yoda, he agreed to test Luke tonight after his classes. I think he has one last class... with Master Maeth if I'm not mistaken," he told him.

"Does he have any theories?" Anakin wondered hopefully.

"Not without testing him," he replied.

"Alright..." He nodded thoughtfully. Well, if they had to test him, they'd test him. The tests wouldn't hurt, he'd gone through them too, when he'd first come to the Jedi Temple. Worse things had happened than getting these tests.

"Well should we go on up or do you want to do something else?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Nah," He shook his head. "I think I've done about all the damage I can do for one day. We can go home now." Obi-Wan nodded.

"Once Luke gets in we'll go on to Yoda."

"That's fine," he agreed with a shrug. "Maybe I should come to class with you more often." He added with a teasing grin. "I miss you, when you're gone during the day." Obi-Wan laughed as they walked.

"I don't know, you might prove to be a distraction."

"To the students, or you?"

"Both," Obi-Wan answered.

"They didn't seem particularly distracted today." He pointed out, letting his fingers intertwine with Obi-Wan's.

"Alright maybe it is just me." Obi-Wan shrugged, with a smile.

"Of course, if my Master wishes me to stay at home, like a good little boy, I can hardly refuse," he continued, with a small sigh.

"You'll get too bored. Maybe we should ask Yoda about giving you a teaching position," he suggested.

"That works too," he agreed with another shrug. "Being bored is part of the problem now."

"What would you like to teach?"

"Hmmm..." He thought about that for a minute. "I don't know. You already have teachers for the things I'm good at...Flying, maybe? Do you have a Master for that, yet?"

"No we do not," Obi-Wan answered.

"It's an important skill to know." He felt an excited grin tugging at his lips. "Never know when good piloting skills will come in handy."

"There's some of the old Anakin showing through," Obi-Wan commented with a smile. "But you cannot start off with those incredible stunts you usually pull. These students won't have flown before."

"You mean the ones that you hate so much?" He laughed softly. "Like the one with the power company?"

"Yes those... uh... my stomach turns at just the thought of them." He shook his head.

"Oh, come on." He stuck his tongue out at him. "You know you love the rush."

"Once my stomach stops turning yes," Obi-Wan agreed as they came to their apartment.

"It's not that bad..." Anakin pouted at him. "Besides, when was the least time you let me fly for you? When I was nineteen, and we were chasing that assassin, who was after Padmé?"

"Actually you saved me from those little droids when we were going to rescue... anyway, you're right, if I were younger it probably wouldn't be that bad."

"Oh, yes." He rolled his eyes slightly. "You're sooo old."

Obi-Wan laughed sitting on the couch. "You're right. I am sooo old."

"Liar," Anakin accused dryly, limping over and collapsing next to him. "I don't sleep with old men. My sex life is a testament to your youth." Obi-Wan started to run his fingers through Anakin's hair.

"You make me feel young. Of course also thanks to you, I am getting grey hair as well."

"Well, so am I." Anakin pointed out, moving a couple curls on his head, to reveal some silvering strands. "And you, sir, have been getting grey hair for years. I highly doubt it has that much to do with your age."

"No. It's only you who I have known for years," Obi-Wan replied.

"Ha ha." He kissed his check, right above his beard. "Very cute." Obi-Wan smiled and looked back as the door opened. Luke walked in, R2-D2 rolling along behind beeping and whistling. Luke laughed at whatever the little droid had been telling him.

"Did you two behave?" Anakin teased them both, wrapping his arms around Obi-Wan's waist, and resting his head on the older's shoulder. He felt like he was married again...it was a little odd, considering this was Obi-Wan, and not Padmé. R2 whistled and Luke smiled nodding.

"Do you have much work for the weekend?" Obi-Wan questioned.

"Nope and that's the great thing! No work all weekend... except for your class tomorrow which is also the only one," Luke replied. "I should have known you wouldn't grow soft with new Masters." Obi-Wan laughed.

"Goodness, Anakin! Your boy is smart!"

"You doubted it?" Anakin raised an eyebrow at his lover. "Really. Intelligence is in his genes."

"I never doubted it, just surprised that he thought I would go soft," Obi-Wan replied.

"You can't go soft." Anakin smirked at him. "That's why I'm here. To keep you on your toes."

"There you have it, Luke. You can blame your father for not letting me go soft," Obi-Wan told him. Luke gave Anakin a mock glare although his eyes were laughing.

"Sorry, kiddo," Anakin snickered at him. "I never got out of my rebellious teenager phase."

"Well we better get ready," Obi-Wan said slipping out of Anakin's arms to stand. Luke gave him a questioning look.

"Where are we going?" He asked.

"Your father and I are taking you to Master Yoda to be tested," Obi-Wan explained.

"Tested? But haven't I already been tested?"

"Not that kind of test." Anakin yawned, stretching slightly, and standing back up. "It's a test to find out why you're getting those visions."

"They have tests like that?" Luke questioned.

"Of course... and if not we could always invent one," Obi-Wan replied.

"Master Qui-Gon had a theory we thought was worthy looking into, though," his father explained, with a shrug. "So, we're going to."

"Come on now. We don't want to keep Master Yoda waiting." Obi-Wan ushered Luke out the door. Anakin fully intended to come along, and did so. He wanted to know too! It wasn't fair making him wait at home! Besides, he was sure Yoda wouldn't mind, if he tagged along. Luke was his son, after all. Obi-Wan could hear his thoughts and smiled.

'Jealous I didn't usher you?' He thought.

'Not jealous,' Anakin corrected, limping as quickly as he could to catch up to them. He did hope he'd get faster about this... 'Slow, but not jealous. I would have snuck in, if you hadn't wanted me to come anyway.' He wasn't completely serious about that.

Master Yoda was waiting for them in the Council chambers. He looked up as Luke, Obi-Wan and Anakin walked in.

"Welcome you are," he greeted. Obi-Wan bowed in his greeting.

"Thank you, Master." Anakin nodded his head. He would have bowed, like Obi-Wan, but he feared he might fall over, if he did. That was one humiliation he wasn't ready to face yet.

"Testing, to see if you are a visioner, they want for you," Yoda commented.

"If that is what they want Master," Luke replied. Yoda nodded and looked at Obi-Wan and Anakin.

"Ask you both to leave I do," he requested. Well...it seemed coming along had been absolutely useless.

"Yes, Master," Anakin agreed anyway, turning around to go back out of the room. Obi-Wan followed him, closing the door after himself.

"Well I guess now we just wait," he sighed.

"Looks like it," Anakin confirmed, leaning against the wall and sinking down to the floor, with an already bored sigh.

Three hours later, the door slid open and Luke walked out with a tired yawn but he smiled at them both. Yoda exited behind him.

"Well?" Anakin glanced at them, raising an eyebrow.

"Powerful visioner, Luke Skywalker is," Yoda confirmed. Obi-Wan smiled and put a reassuring hand on Luke's shoulder. Luke looked up at him before collapsing into his arms. Obi-Wan quickly caught him and shifted so that he was cradling him like he had when he was little.

"Thank you, Master Yoda." Anakin nodded at him, forcing himself back to his feet. "That's what we needed to know."

"He's exhausted, we should get him to bed," Obi-Wan said, and bowed his head to Master Yoda.

Anakin followed his example, and patted his son's head, before starting toward the elevator. He was hoping to average the speeds out, and keep up with Obi-Wan, by starting first. Shaking his head with a smile, Obi-Wan matched his steps.

"Well, that answers that," Anakin noted. "Absolutely nothing's wrong."

"He'll need special training, probably from Yoda himself."

"Yes, but it's nothing that can't be handled."

"True," Obi-Wan agreed as they got back to the apartment. He took Luke to his room and covered him up. "I hope he got all his research done before all this." Anakin snickered a little, waiting in the doorway, with an amused smile plastered on his face.

"I'm sure he did. And, if he didn't, he will have before time for his class."

Obi-Wan came back out closing the door. "And so that leaves us," he whispered. Anakin's smile softened slightly, and he leaned in, giving Obi-Wan a gentle kiss, before he spoke again.

"To bed," he suggested, pointing toward the door, and starting off for it. Obi-Wan smiled and followed him.

"Are the Organas still coming?" Anakin wondered, the morning of Luke and Leia's thirteenth birthday. He hoped they were. He could feel Padmé strong in the Force again, and he knew she wanted to see her son and daughter at the same time.

"As far as I know," Obi-Wan confirmed.

"Good..." He nodded thoughtfully, taking a sip from his coffee cup. "Padmé wants to see her." There was a knock at the door.

"That should be them now," Obi-Wan said with a smile.

"See? I told you, she'd be coming," Anakin informed Padmé, or the empty room, as he did that, before grabbing his cane, and starting after Obi-Wan, to also greet their guests.

Obi-Wan pushed the button that would allow the door to open, and his breath caught. This couldn't be Leia! Not the little girl he had seen last year. She had grown at least two feet, her hair braided on the sides joined into one at the back. Her brown eyes sparkled, her hands folded elegantly in front of her.

"L-Leia?" He questioned finally.

"Master Kenobi," she greeted curtseying a little. It was all Anakin could do to not start laughing at his lover's bemusement.

"Happy birthday, squirt," he greeted, holding his free hand to his face, to hide the slightly helpless grin. Leia smiled and entered hugging him.

"Hi, Dad. What happened?" She asked, a worried look coming over her face when she noticed his cane.

"Hardware malfunction." He brushed it off. Really, that was what it was. Leia didn't need to know that he'd been poisoned. "This was the best they could do, without replacing the whole thing. It's good enough."

"Oh well, that's okay then. Where's Luke?" She questioned.

"Right here, Sis," Luke called waving from the living room. Her smile lit up the entire room as she ran to him, he picked her up and spun her around laughing. "Great to see you too." Obi-Wan looked out into the hallway searching for the Senator and his wife but he didn't see them.

"Leia? Where are your parents?" He questioned.

"Oh, Papa had some business to take care of, and Momma didn't come," she answered.

'So,' Anakin reflected, feeling a small smile tug at his lips. For the first time in thirteen years, he was going to see his daughter without Senator Organa breathing down his throat. That seemed like a nice idea. Well, Bail Organa was a nice enough man, but it was the principle of the matter, mostly.

"I see you're taking after your mother's hairstyles. How long did this take?" Obi-Wan questioned taking a closer look at her hair. Leia giggled.

"Not long. Only three hours," she answered.

"And, she's defiantly female," Anakin concluded, joining them in the living room, and looking amused. He wasn't sure how long Padmé spent on her hair, although she definitely brushed it enough. He'd always arrived after it was done, and had to leave before she could change it again. Obi-Wan sat in a chair while Luke and Leia took the couch.

"So how is your training going, Luke?" Leia asked.

"Top of my class in history and negotiations, thanks to Papa," Luke answered.

"He's being modest," Anakin informed Leia, with a smirk. "He's going to be a very strong Jedi, when he gets old enough."

"Aww! I'm so proud of you!" She exclaimed and hugged him tightly.

"Leia... please... it's not a big deal. Really," he insisted.

"And, how have you been doing, squirt?" Anakin questioned his daughter. He hadn't seen her for a year either...It was a big deal to him, to be able to talk to her.

"I've been fine, Dad. Papa says I have mother's negotiation skills," she answered with a smile. Obi-Wan stood and went to the kitchen feeling a little out of place. He decided to get their food ready, also giving the family some alone time.

"You must be very good then," Anakin smiled at her, as he sat down. "Your mother was a fabulous politician." He'd actually meant that as a compliment...really he had.

"Papa let me watch some of the HoloNet reports, with her in them. I was very impressed," she answered.

"She was very impressive," he confirmed with a nod. "When I met her, she was already the reigning Queen of Naboo."

"Do you think I could do that?" Leia asked her eyes shining.

"Well, being elected Queen of Naboo would be easier if you actually lived there," he smiled teasingly at her. "I'm sure you have the talent, though. But, if you want my advice, avoid politics." She pouted.

"But I might be able to change things... no I know I could change things," she told him, her voice determined.

"I don't doubt that you could," he assured her, his expression softening again. The Republic was just now regaining political balance, from Palpatine's Empire, and then death. "But, the life of a politician is a hard one. You're actually in the public eye, whether you want to be or not." He snorted, and smiled again. "You probably already know that, though, don't you? Living with Senator Organa, and all."

"Of course, I love it." She smiled.

"Hmm..." He studied her carefully. "Maybe you will make a good politician..." Luke closed his eyes for a moment before opening them and looking at his sister.

"Mom thinks you would make a great Queen," he told her.

"Does she?" Anakin glanced around the room, for the centre of Padmé's energy.

'You're sure you should be encouraging her?' Anakin wondered dryly.

'Our children are going to change things, Ani. I know it,' she answered.

'They probably will,' he agreed, looking back to them. 'They're strong enough to change the galaxy, hopefully for the better.'

"Hey, Anakin, are you ready?" Obi-Wan questioned from the doorway. It was time for the cake.

"Yeah," he confirmed with a nod, breaking his connection with Padmé reluctantly. "Yeah, now's fine." Obi-Wan lit the candles and then brought out the cake. Luke smiled slightly and Leia giggled.

"Well, you guys are officially teenagers," he said, setting the cake down.

"That," Anakin decided, obviously teasing them. "Is an absolutely terrifying thought."

"Dad!" Both complained at the same time and Obi-Wan chuckled.

"What?" He smirked at them. "You two growing up makes me feel like an adult. Which, frankly, is just as scary as you being teenagers."

"I'll say," Obi-Wan agreed.

"See?" He looked up, and smirked at him. "Master agrees."

"You're not helping, Master Kenobi," Leia scolded.

"I knew I should have stayed in the kitchen," he mumbled but was smiling.

"Actually," he coughed discretely, to get Obi-Wan out of trouble with the children. "I was referring to his agreement on my level of immaturity."

"You're much more mature than you give yourself credit for," Leia told him.

"Really?" He blinked, slightly touched, and glanced at the other two in the room.

"When you want to be," Obi-Wan agreed.

"Being childish is fun," he retorted, sticking his tongue out, to prove his point. They all laughed. It was almost midnight when Leia stood.

"Well, I really should be going," she said. Obi-Wan also stood.

"I'll escort you, as safe as the Temple is, you're still to young to walk on you're own," he told her.

"Squirt," Anakin gave her a stern look. "You're not getting off that easy," he informed her, but then just held his arms out to her. "I want my annual hug."

"Of course, Daddy," she replied and came over hugging him tightly as well as giving him a kiss on both cheeks.

"Alright." He let go of her after a couple minutes. "Fee paid. I'll see you."

"I'll be at the ceremo..." she started but Obi-Wan pulled her away smiling.

"Yes, yes we'll see you tomorrow Leia. Come on let's go," he told her quickly, and just like that they were gone.

"What's tomorrow?" Anakin wondered, turning to Luke. Luke also stared at the door in curiosity.

"I have no idea," he said, shrugging.

'Do you know?' He questioned Padmé.

'Obi-Wan has said nothing to me or Master Jinn,' she replied.

"I'll bribe it out of him, later," he decided finally, with a shrug. Luke yawned.

"Well I'm gonna go to bed. Night, Dad," he said standing.

"Sweet dreams." He nodded, before getting up himself. He'd go wait for Obi-Wan in their room.

To be continued...

Next: When All I Have Is You

After Note: Hmmm...yes. Messing with his leg was absolutely necessary. Why? I'm not entirely certain. But, let's say it was anyway, hmm? Anywho, drawing so close to the end of this story, feedback is appreciate more than ever. (Not that I'm asking for reviews, or that I'm going to just not upload the last three chapters or whatever, but getting some tips and opinions would be nice.) I sincerely hope you've enjoyed reading the first nine chapters, as much as I enjoyed writing them. Once again, my life's a little spastic right now. I'll put chapter ten up as soon as I finish editing it. (Or, tomorrow. Whichever comes second.)