Chapter 5

Only Odessa and the plot are mine!

Thank you to everyone that reviewed! Responses at the end!

Odessa woke the next morning, still giddy from the night before. She was actually going to resume her training – it didn't seem real to her. Why would Obi-Wan choose to go against the ruling of the council, of which he was a member, for her? The answer was clear, though she didn't want to fully admit it. He was in love with her. But it had to be more than that. A mere crush simply wasn't enough of a reason to place a deadly weapon in the hands of an amateur. True, she wasn't exactly an amateur, but it was a great risk on both of their livelihoods should anyone on the council discover their little secret. Yet she knew that she would most likely die before revealing it, and that Obi-Wan could be trusted. If there was anything to be said about him, he definitely cared about her, and wouldn't do anything that would put her or her son in danger. She rose from bed and proceeded with her exercises, her muscles surprisingly stiff and sore from the activity the night before. The pain felt good to her – it reminded her that she was still alive.

She made her way to the temple with far more energy than she had had in a long time. She breezed through her work, enjoying it as she had when she first began. As lunchtime neared, she looked up to see Obi-Wan standing by the entrance, watching her. He glanced towards the clock, and she smiled at him. She wrapped up her work, and met him in the hallway. He greeted her formally, but his eyes gave away the joy he felt in seeing her.

"Ms. Sinthea, I was hoping you would join me for lunch, as you did the last time I was here. Our conversations were quite stimulating, and I was hoping to continue them," he said.

"As long as it doesn't interfere with my work, I would be delighted to join you, Master Kenobi," she replied, suppressing a grin at his overly formal mannerisms. They walked side by side in silence towards the cafeteria, and picked a table near the back. As they sat to eat, Obi-Wan looked up at her.

"So how are you today, Ms. Sinthea?" he asked quietly.

"Alright, I suppose. A bit sore after a somewhat unexpected series of exercise I encountered last night, but nothing that I can't handle." She saw one corner of his mouth turn up for a moment, and then his face was blank again.

"Well, one should only expect that perhaps their physical condition may deteriorate, once they've been out of the order of the Jedi for as long has you have been," he replied, though she could tell from the look in his eyes that he was joking with her. She shot him an indignant expression.

"I do what I can, Master. Unfortunately, the job you and your council deemed me worthy of doesn't afford much time for physical activity. Regardless, you did not ask me here to discuss my physical condition," she shot back. His expression of amusement only grew.

"Indeed I didn't." He concentrated on his food for a moment as he tried to wipe the smile off of his face. Odessa's face had remained blank, but she too was thoroughly amused by Obi-Wan's attempt to appear as a strict and somewhat heartless Jedi Master. After a few moments, she brought up one of the more interesting battles she had been analyzing, and the rest of the meal was filled with enjoyable conversation and debate. As the time neared one, they made their way to the hallway.

"Enjoyable as always, Ms. Sinthea," he said to her, grasping her hand in his.

"The same to you, Master Kenobi. Perhaps we can make a habit of our meetings?"

"Perhaps, if my business with the council does not interfere. It's busy work, being a Jedi Master. Good day, Ms. Sinthea." He reluctantly released her hand.

"Good day to you, Master Kenobi." She started past him, but he gently grasped her arm as she walked by.

"I'll provide dinner tonight. Make sure you're wearing something you can move in," he said in a barely perceptible whisper. She nodded slightly, and continued to the library. Feeling another surge of happiness and excitement, she returned to her work, barely able to concentrate. As soon as she could, she hurried to pick up Han and rushed home. She fed him, then left him to play in living room as she went to change. Sorting through her clothes, she found that the only acceptable attire was her old Jedi garb. It still fit well enough, but she worried that it might seem a bit presumptuous to be dressing as a Jedi during her training with Obi-Wan, since they both knew that she would never again be in the order. But none of her other clothes were as comfortable or as easy to move in as her old uniform, so reluctantly she dressed in that. She reentered the living room to find Han playing with the ball she had practiced with last night, and used the force to float it over his head as he squealed with delight. They played together for a few moments until Obi-Wan's knock sounded on her door.

"Good evening, Obi-Wan," she said as she answered the door. He entered and placed a large brown sack on the table, then looked at her as she closed the door. She turned to him, studying his face.

"It was all I had, really, that I could move in. If it offends you, I can change into something else…" her voice trailed off, and his eyes snapped to her.

"No – you're fine. I just never noticed how you looked in the traditional Jedi outfit. It seems fitting on you. Just don't make a habit of wearing it in public, unless you want to attract the attention of the council," he said to her, smiling. She relaxed, and took out some plates for their dinner.

"Odessa, I wanted to apologize for my attitude today at lunch. I wanted to appear as though I had as much disdain for your situation as other members of the council do. I don't want them to suspect that there's any possible way that I could be training you…I hope I didn't offend you." His eyes were full of concern. She turned to him and smiled.

"Trust me, Obi-Wan, if I thought that there was a speck of truth in what you were saying to me, you probably would have ended up covered in my meal – or at least, you would have spent the rest of the lunch hour alone. And I certainly wouldn't have let you waltz into my apartment if I felt offended by your comments." He let out a sigh of relief, and returned the smile.

"I thought as much, but I wanted to be sure." He turned his attention to Han, who was sitting on the floor, throwing the ball into the air and getting extremely frustrated when it immediately fell back to the ground.

"Well, that's an interesting game you're playing there," he said to the small boy as he sat beside him.

"He likes it when the ball stays in the air," Odessa commented from the kitchen.

"And how would it do that?" Obi-Wan asked, eyeing her.

"Magic, I suppose. Why, I saw it doing that just before you arrived. But surely that's not why we're gifted with the power of the Force, right?" She smiled at him.

"Certainly not. Such abuse of the Force is to be severely punished." Obi-Wan held out his hand, and the red ball floated just inches above Han's tiny outstretched fingers. He let out pearls of laughter as he struggled to reach it. Obi-Wan floated the ball around the small boy's head, then gently dropped it into his hands. Rising, he entered the kitchen.

"Is there anything I can help you with?" he asked kindly. She handed him a stack of plates and silverware.

"Set the table while I make a salad. Feel free to dish out some of the food and begin eating – I'll be there shortly." He nodded and left. She chopped up the rest of the vegetables and brought the bowl to the table. Obi-Wan was carefully emptying the take-out containers into serving dishes as she placed the salad on the table. They sat opposite each other and began to take their food. Han half-walked, half crawled over to Obi-Wan, and held the ball out to him. Obi-Wan smiled at the boy.

"He likes you," Odessa said to him. "Either that, or he's figured out that you can make the ball float, and he's enlisting you to do so." She picked Han up and placed him in his high chair next to the table, where he began to throw the ball into the air. In an effort to ensure that dinner wasn't once again interrupted by the boy, Obi-Wan halted the ball in midair, and held it there as they ate. Han let out little cries of frustration as he tried to reach the ball, but they didn't interrupt the conversation between the two adults.

They spoke about Odessa's training. She explained the kind of technique that Master Gheros has used with her, and gave him a rough estimate of how often they practiced. Obi-Wan seemed to be planning out something in his head, but didn't reveal it. They finished their meal and Odessa put Han to bed. Once she returned to the living room, she saw that Obi-Wan had once again cleared the center of the room. He looked up at her, and held out his lightsaber. She took it from him and he secured a helmet over her head, covering her eyes.

"It wasn't terribly easy to come across a training helmet for adults, but I was able to dig one up. Maybe it'll be useful in the future," he told her. "Last night I went easy on you – now, straighten up your posture. You're too hunched over, too unsure of yourself. If your posture makes it seem as though you're easy to defeat, you will be. You are training as a Jedi, now live up to that title. Spread your feet more – it'll keep you more solid. Now, attack the ball." His voice had become that of a true Jedi Master, instructing their apprentice. It was clear to Odessa that while Anakin had much skill on his own, he wouldn't be anything close to what he was today if he hadn't had Obi-Wan as a mentor. Odessa sensed the ball in front of her, and lunged for it. It scooted the opposite way than she expected, and she spun quickly to avoid it. "Too hasty!" Obi-Wan scolded. "You need to think one step ahead of your opponent! Use the force as more than just a guide, let it tell you where to hit. Make direct, precise movements, not sloppy stabs into nothingness. You're better than that. Now, try again."

They went on like that for almost four hours before Obi-Wan removed her helmet. Both were drenched in sweat as they collapsed on the couch. Odessa couldn't think of a part of her body that wasn't aching, but the adrenaline pumping through her veins made her feel as if she were in the middle of battle once again.

"Very impressive, Odessa. You're not as rusty as you probably think you are. With a little bit of practice, you'll be at the top of your game again. I know I'd be frightened to come across you in a dark alley and accidentally startle you," he said with a grin. He stood and stretched, then made his way to the door. Odessa followed him.

"Lunchtime, tomorrow? I promise I won't make any snide comments that could result in me being covered with food," Obi-Wan said, smiling at her. She grinned, and nodded.

"Of course I'll meet you for lunch. Get some good rest tonight, Obi-Wan. I have a feeling we'll both need it," she said. He placed a hand on her shoulder.

"You do the same. I feel it's been entirely too long since I've trained anyone – these aging bones of mine are a bit stiff, but I think you'll loosen them up. Until tomorrow," he said to her. He turned, and was gone in the blink of an eye. Odessa made her way to bed, and was asleep in seconds.

They went on like that for a week, and soon they both realized that there wasn't much more Odessa could improve with the ball. She was able to counter everything Obi-Wan threw at her, even when he introduced more object into the fray. They still enjoyed their time together and the workout, but she wasn't being challenged to grow anymore. Obi-Wan wasn't quite sure how to rectify the situation. He knew that the next logical step in her training was to spar with her, but there was no easy way to do that. Finally he came up with a solution, and met Odessa one evening with a peculiar glint in his eye, as if two sides of him were torn.

"Odessa, I have something for you," he said as they readied for their daily practice. He reached into his robe and pulled out a lightsaber with a slim handle and a rounded end. Tentatively Odessa took it from him, feeling a slight thrill go through her body as she noticed how well it seemed to fit in her hands. Igniting it, a bright purple blade shot out of the weapon. Hastily she turned it off.

"Obi-Wan, where did you get this?" she asked, astonished. He smiled.

"It wasn't terribly difficult. I went to the supply shop in the Temple and asked for a spare, saying mine was malfunctioning. When they offered to fix it, I told them that I wanted to see what I could do first. They're so busy down there that they probably won't even notice that it's gone."

"Couldn't we both get into serious trouble for this? If the council were to find out that you gave a lightsaber to a common person, they'd be furious! Why, I have half a mind to go return this right now!" Odessa exclaimed.

"Fortunately for both of us, your other half is the sensible one. Besides, I know that I can trust you. You won't use it in public unless you absolutely need to," Obi-Wan said, smirking. Odessa bristled.

"I might not even then; I'd be so concerned about the consequences. But what I want to know is, where did the rule-abiding Jedi Master I met so long ago go? He certainly wouldn't have condoned something like this."

Obi-Wan paused, that same strange glint in his eye, though his smile never faded. "Indeed not. However, he seems to have turned a blind eye towards you," he said, gazing at her. "Besides, there are far less qualified people out there waving around lightsabers recklessly, so we'll need some good people like you to keep the peace."

Odessa smiled, though she was still torn. It was a great risk for both her and Obi-Wan if anyone found out about what they were doing, but she couldn't deny that she had missed sparring perhaps most of all. Sighing, she looked up at Obi-Wan.

"I promise to keep it a secret as long as you will," she told him. His smile widened, and he removed his cloak.

"Very well then. Assume your position," he said to her, igniting his lightsaber. She lit hers, and they began to spar. Their fighting was fierce, and while Obi-Wan seemed to be holding back a bit, he was relentless. He was quick to point out her weak spots, and she took every bit of advice he gave to heart. They went on for four excruciating hours, and collapsed onto the couch.

"Well, Odessa, you certainly haven't lost your skill," he said to her, panting. "Your form needs a bit of work, but we can work on that, and I'm sure you'll have that down in no time. Now, I don't suppose you have a towel I could borrow?" he asked her, using a drenched sleeve to wipe his dripping brow.

"Of course," she said, also exhausted. "Let me change into something a bit…drier, and I'll bring one right out for you." He nodded, and she went to her bedroom, muscles complaining with every step. Han was still blissfully asleep – luckily for the two Jedi, he had not been alarmed by the sounds of their battle. She quickly changed into a simple dress that she typically wore around the apartment, then grabbed a clean towel for Obi-Wan. When she reentered the living room, she found the Jedi master asleep, still propped up on the couch. For a moment she considered waking him, but analyzed her own physical state and knew that there was no way she could force Obi-Wan to leave. Gently wiping his brow with the towel, she dimmed the lights and went to bed.

She woke early the next morning and performed her exercises in the solace of her room. She wasn't sure if Obi-Wan was still there, but didn't want to interrupt him if he was in the middle of his own morning ritual. She showered and dressed, but before waking Han she made her way into the living room to check on Obi-Wan. He was sitting up, stretching. It appeared that he hadn't woke up too long beforehand.

"Well good morning, Master Kenobi," she said to him with a wry smile. He smirked back.

"I'm dreadfully sorry that I fell asleep here, Odessa. Though I am thankful that you didn't wake me; I can't imagine making my way back to the temple as if I had just endured one of the most challenging Jedi battles of my lifetime. While I'm not much better now, I think I can pass it off as simple overexercise," he told her. He stood and made his way to the door.

"Obi-Wan, you really musn't let that happen again. It's not that I mind you staying the night, but people may talk if they see you here," she said to him as she followed him to the door. He grasped her hands in his.

"Oh, let them talk. It wouldn't bother me. I can't see you being the type that would care about what others think, either, but I will be as cautious as possible when leaving your apartment at early hours of the morning. I will see you at lunchtime." He raised her hand to his lips and gently kissed the back of her hand, yet his eyes never left her own. A shock went through her body as his lips made contact with her skin, and it felt as if her heart had jumped to her throat and plummeted to her stomach all at once. He released her hand a moment later and was out of sight, yet she still stood in the doorway, speechless. It wasn't until after she had woken Han and was feeding him that she realized that Obi-Wan had every intention of staying at her place, should their exercises require it.

She made her way to the temple, her muscles aching more than they had after she gave birth to Han. She fidgeted in her seat, unable to find a comfortable position. As a result, she barely got any work done in the first two hours of the morning, and Merina pulled her aside.

"Ms. Sinthea, you haven't done a single thing productive this morning. And don't think I haven't noticed that Master Kenobi has been in here twice, pretending to be browsing the aisles. I don't know what's going on, but if your work continues to deteriorate, I will report you to the Jedi council, and let them deal with you. Your job here is to be the archivist, not to attract the attentions of Jedi Masters. In your time here, you have been an excellent worker, as long as Master Kenobi is somewhere out of this star system. When he is around, you seem to forget your place. You are an archivist, and nothing more. There are many people on this planet that would be honored to hold your position, and while they may not be as good at analyzing battles as you are, they would certainly understand the distinction between archivist and Jedi Master. You are no longer a Jedi. Whatever it is that's keeping you up at night, unless your child has a severe illness that I should know about, it is not as important as your livelihood. Keep that in mind," the woman said irately, then walked away. Fuming, Odessa sat at her desk and furiously typed in the data she had for the battle she was analyzing. She kept up a lightning pace until noon, then hurried out of the library, almost colliding with Obi-Wan as he entered.

"Well good morning, Ms. Sinthea," he said cheerily. She scowled at him, and pulled him aside. The hallways were busy, so no one noticed as they stepped behind a column for privacy.

"You, Master Kenobi, are going to get me in trouble. I won't go into the details now, but you, sir, are going to get it tonight." He gave her a confused look, but she had already turned and was making her way to the cafeteria. He rushed to catch up with her.

"I had worried that she saw me as I came in to check on you, and I'm terribly sorry if I caused you any trouble," he said to her, concerned. She sighed, then smiled at him.

"Oh, it's not your fault. She's just putting extra pressure on me. I'll explain it all later," she said as they entered the cafeteria and got their meals. They sat in their usual spot and discussed the goings-on of the Council and their involvement in the war, as Odessa didn't have much in the way of battles to discuss. With apologies to Obi-Wan she returned to work early, resuming her lightning fast pace. She could sense Merina watching her as she worked, but Odessa adamantly kept to her work. As soon as it was time for her to leave, Odessa was gone in the blink of an eye, picking up Han and some dinner for her meeting with Obi-Wan. She returned home and changed into a clean Jedi uniform, then waited for Obi-Want to arrive.

He came at exactly the same time, and they sat down at the table. Before he began to eat, he gave her a very concerned and apologetic look.

"So, what happened that I got you in trouble earlier?" he asked. Odessa sighed.

"Well, Merina noticed that I wasn't getting much work done – it's difficult to concentrate when my muscles are on fire. Also, she's noticed that my work seems to worsen whenever you're around, and threatened to report me to the Jedi Council if my work didn't improve. I know this is my problem, not yours, and I'm sorry to have alarmed you," she said to him. He reached over and placed his hand over hers.

"I'm sorry if my presence is causing you trouble – if you would like, we don't have to continue your training," he said, his eyes full of concern.

"No! That's not what I want at all. I'll be fine; don't worry about Merina. I can handle her. I really enjoy the time we spend together," she said to him, looking down at her food. He gently squeezed her hand and began to eat. After they finished their meal she put Han to bed and joined Obi-Wan in the living room. He had taken off his robe and was standing in the middle, watching her. She picked up the lightsaber he had gotten for her, and they fought until the early hours of the morning. Once they stopped, Odessa got a pillow and light blanket for Obi-Wan as he settled onto the couch.

In the morning she woke and met Obi-Wan in the living room. He was meditating, but paused and asked her to join him. They went through their morning exercises together, and then Obi-Wan prepared to leave. After he finished getting his things together, he turned to her.

"How are you feeling today? I don't want you getting into any more trouble with Merina," he said. She stretched, and winced a bit.

"My muscles are sore, but I think I'll be able to handle it."

"Come here," he said, and she did. He walked around behind her and began to gently massage the kinks out of her shoulders. The feel of his hands on the sensitive skin of her neck and shoulders sent shivers down her spine. He kept at it for a few moments, then reluctantly lifted his hands away. "That should help a bit. I don't want to hear of any more threats of you being reported to the Jedi Council, or I'll speak with Merina personally," he said as they walked to the door.

"Everything should be fine. I'm used to working in uncomfortable positions, and I do feel quite a bit better than I did yesterday. I'll see you at lunch?" He smiled, and once again took her hand in his.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," he said as he pressed his lips to her hand.

They continued with the same schedule for three weeks. Odessa's style improved greatly, and she was soon back at top form. Once her muscles had readjusted to the activity of Jedi sparring she was able to concentrate on her work once more, and Merina seemed to calm down. Her friendship with Obi-Wan continued to grow with every day they spent together. They could soon tell what the other was feeling based solely on the slight expressions they wore, and their connection on a personal level as well as the bond between teacher and student grew stronger. As much as Odessa had tried to deny it earlier, she could no longer say that she was not in love with Obi-Wan.

One evening as they sat down for dinner, Odessa noticed that Obi-Wan was being overly quiet, as if he was keeping something from her. She looked at him curiously.

"Obi-Wan, what's troubling you?" she asked him. He looked up at her, his turquoise eyes seeming conflicted.

"Odessa, soon I will be returning to the battles. I'm not sure exactly when, as I haven't been given specific orders, but there have been whispers that the council wants Anakin and I to seek out Count Dooku and take him into custody for questioning. I want you to know, though, as soon as this awful war is over, I am going to speak to the council on your behalf so that you may become a Jedi Knight. You're more than capable, and you deserve it," he said to her.

"Obi-Wan, I couldn't ask you to do that. And what then? Suppose they do grant me knighthood – who will take care of Han? I couldn't just abandon him for my own personal desires, nor would I want to. Besides, there's no way the council would allow it," she argued.

"They might, if I present the arguments for you," Obi-Wan countered.

"No, Obi-Wan. I won't let you put your own position at risk for me. I'm happy with the way things are, and I wouldn't leave Han."

"Han may be in training at the Jedi temple by then. I understand your attachment to him, but he would be well cared for there."

"I don't sense the force around him. He's over a year old, surely I would have noticed that he'd be able to send his own balls flying across the room, instead of crying for me to do it. If he isn't a Jedi, then there's no way I would leave him."

"Regardless, when the war is over, I will speak to the council. Someone with your skill deserves some sort of recognition."

"I won't let you risk your position for me," Odessa said adamantly.

"Oh really? And how exactly will you stop me?" he asked her, his eyes glittering with amusement.

"I'm sure I could figure out a way of silencing you," she retorted.

"Well, we shall see how you feel once the time is right. Are you ready?" He rose from the table and held out his hand to her. She took it and he pulled her out of the chair. They readied themselves for their typical battles and began yet another exhausting evening.

A week later, Obi-Wan's suspicions were confirmed when the Jedi Council ordered the two Jedi to track down Count Dooku based on a few leads they had obtained. The evening before their departure found Odessa sitting with Obi-Wan on the couch, reluctant to spend their last evening together for an undetermined amount of time sparring. Instead, Obi-Wan showed her a few exercises that would help her stay in shape without having a sparring partner, and they talked about his upcoming journey. Despite their lack of physical activity, they stayed up late into the night, simply talking. Odessa finally went to bed, allowing Obi-Wan to stay once more. In the morning she woke early and prepared a light meal for the two of them after their exercises. As the time drew close for him to leave, they both lingered on the couch, reluctant to say goodbye. Finally Obi-Wan made his way to the door, Odessa following closely.

"Odessa, I will contact you as soon as I can to let you know of my status. With any luck this mission shouldn't be overly long or dangerous, but with Count Dooku, who knows. I know Anakin is eager to face him again; a little too eager, perhaps. But the information we have may not be reliable, so we may be back sooner than we think if we're chasing a lie. It may be harder for me to contact you, but I will do my best." His eyes were full of sadness.

"I'm sure everything will be fine. Good luck, though I know you don't need it. May the force be with you, Obi-Wan," she told him, unable to directly meet his eyes. He placed a hand under her chin and raised her head so that he could look at her. Odessa wasn't sure if he was going to kiss her or not.

"And you, Odessa," he said, pulling her into a tight hug. She wrapped her arms around his neck, reluctant to let him go. Finally he pulled away, and was gone all too soon. The cold empty feeling of loss creeped into her stomach as she woke Han and brought him to daycare. She went through her work on autopilot, unable to concentrate too intensely on anything. Luckily for her, Merina didn't notice. In the late morning, she felt the familiar feeling of Obi-Wan watching her, and she looked up to see him standing at the entrance. He waved slightly at her, and she smiled. Then he disappeared. The raw feeling returned, and she couldn't have been more grateful when the day ended. She made her way to Padmé's after picking up Han, and wasn't surprised to see her friend in tears. She hugged her, and they sat together on Padmé's couch, neither talking. Finally Odessa spoke up.

"Oh Padmé, what am I going to do? I'm in love with him."

I know this chapter is a little short, but hey, it's earlier than expected, and very important to the story. Hopefully I'll have the next chapter out by the end of this week, but I can't guarantee anything, as I just found out that my great-aunt has cancer that's spread, so I may be making some unexpected trips.

Mirielle – Basically, I'm having Padmé keep her friendship with Odessa quiet around Anakin. I can't imagine him really being too happy with her having friends, either. I haven't read the Revenge of the Sith book, though I want too. It's too bad that they took out most of Padmé's political stuff for the movie – I would have liked to see that. I got my info on Siri from this website: www. starwars. Com /databank /character /siritachi/ - knowing that there's more to that makes me want to read "Secrets of the Jedi" even more :-). I hope it's not terribly angsty for you – like I said in my email, Padmé will be getting pregnant soon.

Rachel Sparrow – Sorry to say, they're not going to be sleeping together in this story. I know this chapter kinda does ask for it, but really, even though they're in the same apartment, they're both too exhausted to do anything but sleep. As for kissing…well….we shall see :-). You're right, though, it really didn't warrant the T rating, so I put it down to K+. I mainly had it at T for some violence that will happen near the end, but I think K+ should still be right. And now they both know that they're in love, but if they actually confess their feelings? Again, we'll see :-).