Disclaimer: Alas, I cannot be the lucky person named George Lucas to go around the universe proclaiming that I own Star Wars. But if he would ever like to give me Obi-Wan, I'd be more than grateful.

Summary: In an alternate universe where Qui-Gon lives, what else could change…? Obi-Wan tries to deal with feelings of jealousy, Anakin struggles with love, and Qui-Gon begins to doubt the Republic. A look at how the series could've turned out, starting with AotC.

Author's Notes: After realizing just how few good Qui-Gon lives stories there were, I decided to share my view of how things could've turned out. If there are any mistakes, I beg forgiveness, and I hope you enjoy.

Jealousy, Love and War

By Kekelina

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Prologue: Two Steps

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Thrust. Parry. Swing. A trickle of sweat rolled down young Kenobi's red face and into his eye, causing brief irritation. Focused so intently on the battle at hand, he barely noticed the stinging sensation it created. He called on the Force to help him, to give him energy, to strengthen his reflexes. He had had few battles with a double-ended lightsaber, but he was not afraid. He knew what had to be done.

The Sith fought very well and was well trained in the Jedi Arts. Obi-Wan was constantly alert to his every movement. Every flick of the wrist could signal an attack; every fleeting glance in another direction could suggest his want to escape the deadly attack of the two Jedi before him.

Obi-Wan could feel Qui-Gon tiring beside him, but saw only determination in his face. He adopted the look. They had to destroy the red and black tattooed Sith. They couldn't let him escape and give the Sith Order the chance to rise again. The Sith hadn't existed for over a thousand years; he wasn't about to let them return now.

He parried another attempt made by their challenger, bringing the lightsaber down quickly in front of him from behind. Both eyes kept trained on the glowing red lightsaber of his enemy, he didn't notice the black-booted foot swing out at him until it was too late. His head exploded in pain and he tumbled off the walkway.

Bits of his tunic caught the air as he fell, briefly cursing his stupidity. He hit a lower walkway with a sickening thud, losing his lightsaber in the process. The force of the impact sent him tumbling off the edge again, but he managed to grasp the gray metal edge before he plunged to his doom.

He hung there for a quick moment as he regained his senses. The sounds of the fight above echoed off the cold durasteel walls, increasing the effect of the sound tenfold. There was a grunt, then a thud, followed by what Obi-Wan could only assume were his Master's boots hitting the walkway from a jump to a lower level. Lightsabers clashed once more, and an eerie light was cast over the large generator room every time the sabers met.

Obi-Wan took a deep breath then pulled himself back onto the walkway. He grabbed his lightsaber in one fluid motion and tilted his head to observe the struggle between Qui-Gon and the Sith. They were dueling up a couple levels higher than his own, but height was no issue for Obi-Wan. He gathered the Force around him as he began to jump and let it lift him up to incredible heights, landing safely from a jump that none but a Force-user could succeed.

Qui-Gon was advancing the tattooed Sith rapidly. They had moved quickly along the walkway, far from where Obi-Wan had landed. From such a long distance away, Obi-Wan could appreciate just how finely the Sith had been trained. He had marvelous skill – skill that Obi-Wan would love to have – and he had to wonder again where he had become so experienced with a lightsaber.

The battling duo continued fighting heavily as Qui-Gon pressed back and back into the red, electric power shields. Obi-Wan chased after the pair quickly, his lightsaber ignited and ready for battle. His breath was labored as he put on a burst of speed to reach his Master, but his efforts were in vain as he was forced to skid to a stop when the shields came back on.

Breathe in. Breathe out. He stood silently, the hum of the shields making up for the silence as he peered through the red, watching his Master. The large man that Obi-Wan was proud to call his Master was watching the Sith with a passive face, trademark of Qui-Gon. The Sith tested the shields with one of the ends of his lightsaber, only to find out what Obi-Wan already knew. The shields were impenetrable, even with a lightsaber. They would have to wait.

Qui-Gon, the mascot of patience and inner calm, knelt and began to mediate, drawing in the Force around him until it surged through him, giving him peace. The Sith began to pace, showing his impatience and want to finish the duel. Obi-Wan turned off his lightsaber and tried to collect the Force around him as Qui-Gon was doing. His eyes remained trained on the red and black Sith, however, and caused him to lose focus as he watched his footsteps – heavy, dark, unwilling to wait.

He was tired, much too tired. Every bone in his body screamed for rest. The longer he stood unmoving, the more he felt like he would never be able to start again, once the shields were down. He had never fought an adversary of such skill before, and he found it particularly draining to his body. But the Force was still with him. It gave him strength to continue, even when his body screamed for rest. He could feel Qui-Gon on the other end of their bond and knew he was feeling the same things he was. But Qui-Gon wasn't going to give up. He would see this Sith destroyed. And if Qui-Gon was going to continue, no matter how much he wanted to give up, Obi-Wan would continue as well. He had vowed never to leave his Master again after the events on Melida/Daan all those years ago. He wasn't about to break that vow now.

The Force surged around him. His lightsaber hummed to life and the shields opened. Qui-Gon was on his feet in a millisecond, fighting with the Sith again as though there had never been a pause. Obi-Wan was forced to wait five seconds longer than the two, the shields in front of him being the last to open. As soon as he was able, he ran towards the fight, lightsaber ready and waiting. The blue light illuminated his way as his footsteps thudded on the ground rapidly as he ran, his Padawan braid flowing freely in the air behind him.

All too soon, he felt the shields begin to close around him. He screamed out in his mind, though his step never faltered even for a moment. He would make it past the shields. He wouldn't be stuck behind the barrier again, left to watch his Master fight the Sith alone. He would stand proudly next to him, their lightsabers blazing as they defeated their foe. Just two more steps…

Force, help me!

Time seemed to slow as Obi-Wan gathered the Force around him and took a daring leap as the shield closed. It missed him by no more than a millimeter, and Obi-Wan had no one to thank but the Force. He somersaulted and landed near the edge of the large shaft, lightsaber blazing a second later.

The Sith cast a very surprised look in the direction of Obi-Wan, sure he would've been trapped behind the shields again. In that moment of confusion, Qui-Gon struck down the Sith with a firm blow, cutting him in half. He pushed him down the shaft with a light tap of the Force, and the clinging of boots hitting metal echoed around the room as he fell.

Obi-Wan glanced down the shaft as he caught his breath. They'd done it. The Sith was destroyed. He extinguished his lightsaber and turned to his Master, who had made his way over to him as he had watched the black-cloaked Sith fall.

Qui-Gon clapped Obi-Wan on the back with a large hand and smiled thankfully at him. "Well done, my Padawan."

Obi-Wan nodded in reply, too tired for words, his gaze returning to the shaft. What would've happened had he not made it past the shield?

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The Other Author's Notes: Was it good? Should I have it thrown out with the garbage? Any feedback would be very appreciated.

Also, on a side note, I do realize that the Sith's name is Darth Maul, but as Obi-Wan didn't, I decided to write Maul as "the Sith".