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: Sorry it took me a couple days to get this chapter done. I had planned to write it out on Saturday, but I had a change of plans and went to the beach instead. I hope this chapter is as enjoyable as the last.

query4 - Thank you for the lovely review. I really apprectiate descriptive reviews. It helps me to know what I need to work on and what I've perfected.

LadyKelina - I hope this was soon enough for you. Thanks for the review!

Katieelessar - No, this story will definitely not go in the garbage. I'm having too much fun writing it!

Jealousy, Love and War

By Kekelina

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Chapter One: Home Again

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A Jedi Starfighter landed gracefully on the landing platform. The R4 unit it held beeped quietly as the ship hummed to a stop and turned off. The cockpit opened and revealed the young pilot, a Jedi Knight in his mid-thirties with sandy blonde hair about shoulder-length and a short beard of the same color.

The pilot, Obi-Wan Kenobi, hopped out of the ship with ease, his traditional Jedi robes flowing behind him elegantly. He stopped to admire the large Jedi Temple for a moment, a soft smile hidden beneath his beard. He was home again.

The red astromech droid beeped at Obi-Wan, causing him to break his gaze. He patted his loyal friend on his dome and nodded to him gratefully. "Well done, Arfour," he praised, wrapping his brown robe around him.

The platform started to retract as Obi-Wan made his way into the hanger. He had much to do and only a little time to do it. This was only his third time back to the Temple in five galactic standard months. He'd been very busy traveling around the galaxy promoting peace and justice in the Republic. His last mission had been to Ansion, trying to resolve a border dispute. It had taken him a week longer than he had expected and he had begun to get frustrated. Time at the Temple, even if only for two days, would be much appreciated on his part.

Of course, there was a reason he was away from the Jedi Temple so much. It was a more personal reason than simply to promote peace and order in the galaxy. As much as he loved the Temple, he stayed away because he wanted to stay away – at least when certain people were there.

These certain people, the reasons he stayed away from the only home he ever knew, included his former Master, Qui-Gon Jinn, and his apprentice, Anakin Skywalker. Even after ten years, when the wounds should have been healed by now, he still held a grudge against them. He knew his grudge went against proper Jedi thinking, but it wasn't every day that he was cast aside by his Master for someone better, someone more powerful – someone that shouldn't have even been allowed to start his Jedi training in the first place.

But, he would remind himself whenever he found his thoughts drifting to that topic, that was in the past and should remain in the past. Concentrate on the moment, on the living Force. Those thoughts did little to help him, though, when he saw Qui-Gon standing next to his "perfect" Padawan.

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Qui-Gon could feel the excitement rolling off his young Padawan in sheets. He glanced at him, a smile forming on his lips. It had been awhile since they had last been on a mission. Their help seemed unneeded at the present time, giving them time to rest and meditate at the Jedi Temple. While Qui-Gon could handle any amount of time given to him at the Temple and enjoy it fully, Anakin had been getting very jittery, and the extra lightsaber spars were doing nothing to help that feeling.

Therefore, when the Council assigned them to protect the Senator from Naboo, Qui-Gon had been extremely grateful. Patience was something he was still working on with Anakin, but, he noted, it had been the same way with Obi-Wan during their long rests at the Temple. It seemed that all his Padawans – past and present – had been seeking some sort of adventure in the life of a Jedi. Patience was becoming harder and harder to teach.

But he noticed as he surveyed Anakin, that his Padawan learner had the same jittery stance he had held in the Temple. This confused Qui-Gon for a moment, for he knew that Anakin was more than happy to be on a mission again. He focused more on his apprentice's emotions and found a hint of nervousness hidden underneath his blazing excitement. Qui-Gon frowned in thought. Anakin had very little fear in him; why it chose to show up now, during an easy and routine mission was beyond Qui-Gon's understanding.

He approached Anakin on the matter. "Something wrong?"

Anakin shook his head, his gaze not leaving the turbolift doors. "No, Master." Qui-Gon raised an eyebrow at him, and Anakin hung his head. "I – " he stuttered, trying to find the right words. "It's just…" He motioned to the Senatorial apartment building in front of them, and Qui-Gon nodded in understanding.

Since he had first met her on Tatooine ten years ago, Anakin had been infatuated with Senator Padme Amidala, the Senator they were now supposed to protect. Qui-Gon had called Anakin on his infatuation many times over the years, and the boy had been getting better at controlling it. This was a good thing, for a Jedi was supposed to have no attachments. The Council and the Jedi Code forbade it. A Jedi was not supposed to love. Love was a distraction that cost lives. Of course, Qui-Gon hadn't always followed the Code strictly, but he would make sure his Padawan did.

"Be mindful, Anakin," he chastised softly. "Your feelings betray you. Do not let your infatuation for Senator Amidala obscure your judgement."

Anakin nodded, ashamed. "I'm sorry, Master," he apologized humbly. "I will try harder to control my emotions."

Qui-Gon smiled at his apprentice and put a large hand on his shoulder in a comforting manner. "You are a good Padawan, Anakin. But you still have much to learn."

"Yes, Master."

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Qui-Gon's security check of the building with Captain Typho took up most of what little time there was left in the day. By the time he returned, it was dark outside and Coruscant's buildings were lit up in beautiful hues of white, pink and blue. Padme had retired and Anakin was standing on the balcony alone in a meditative stance.

Good, Qui-Gon thought. He was always getting after Anakin to practice meditation more. It would help him become in-tune with the Force, and would also help him overcome his feelings for Senator Amidala. Qui-Gon was sure that with a little extra guidance, Anakin would become a great Jedi Knight. He was, after all, the Chosen One. He alone would bring balance to the Force.

"She covered the cameras, Master," Anakin informed him from the balcony when Qui-Gon had reached inside his tunic to check on the Senator. Once again, he marveled at Anakin's skill. He hadn't even needed to turn around to know what Qui-Gon had been about to do. It was only through his increasing strength in the Force, along with their strong Master-Padawan bond that he had been able to do that.

"Did you tell her that doing so would hinder our ability to protect her?"

Anakin turned around to face Qui-Gon and nodded. "Yes, Master, I did. But I don't think she trusts me. I don't think she liked the thought of me watching her."

Qui-Gon nodded, removing his robe and laying it neatly on the couch next to him. "Perhaps it was the way you looked at her this afternoon that caused her to have such suspicions." He looked his apprentice straight in his eyes in a reprimanding way. He had seen the wistful looks Anakin had given the Senator when they had met her this afternoon. It had only been five minutes after their talk in the elevator, yet Anakin had already disobeyed him. Qui-Gon had been disappointed in him, but had waited until this moment to say anything.

Anakin dropped his gaze from Qui-Gon's. "I'm truly sorry, Master. I've disappointed you."

Qui-Gon nodded. "Yes," he replied simply. He would not lie to his Padawan to make him feel better. Anakin had to learn that what he had done was wrong and that he could not do it again. Obedience was crucial for a Padawan learner. "You must continually be mindful of your emotions. If you aren't, they will betray you. They did this afternoon, and I can guarantee they will do it again. Learn from this, Anakin. Let the Force help you overcome this."

"Yes, Master," Anakin replied, his eyes still showing shame and regret.

Qui-Gon smiled kindly at Anakin, showing that he was not angry with him, and walked onto the balcony, joining his Padawan. The breeze ruffled his tunic and his hair, giving him a brief sense of freedom. Qui-Gon enjoyed Coruscant at night more than at any other time. Coruscant was a bright jewel whose glimmer extended far up into the heavens until it melted into the soft light given off by the stars. He was not surprised that he had found his Padawan meditating out here instead of inside, although it was noisier. He was pondering doing the same thing when Anakin yawned.

"You should rest," he advised, not taking his gaze off the beautiful city in front of him. He felt Anakin shake his head beside him and turned to look at him in concern. "You're still having nightmares?"

Over the past few weeks, Anakin had been complaining about a persistent nightmare about his mother. In it, he said, his mother was in terrible pain – as if she was being tortured. When he awoke from his dreams, Anakin's resolve to go find her was strong, and took Qui-Gon quite a bit of time to calm Anakin down long enough to make him see that it wasn't wise to make decisions based on dreams alone. Though, because it was so persistent, Qui-Gon was beginning to wonder if it was perhaps a vision instead of a dream. That difference, however, meant nothing as Jedi tended to base their actions off visions very little. Anything could be misinterpreted as something else, causing them to go off on some wild goose chase. It was a dangerous business, and Qui-Gon was wondering if he should take Anakin to Yoda for his opinion. Master Yoda was the wisest being on the Jedi Council, and if anyone could help his Padawan with his dreams, it would be Yoda.

"Yes," Anakin replied in a sullen voice. He sighed. "I don't know what to do, Master. My mother is in pain; I can feel it! I need to go to her."

Qui-Gon rested his hand on Anakin's shoulder. "Patience, my young Padawan. We will see Master Yoda before we make any decisions." Anakin said nothing, but nothing was sometimes better than something. Anakin was complying with his wishes, instead of arguing with him.

He returned his gaze to Coruscant with a soft sigh. His eyes wandered over its beauty, but he felt none of it as he had earlier. Something was eating at the edge of his mind, causing him to lose his focus. He tried to grab onto it and find out exactly what it was, but it was too slippery for him. It weaved in and out of his mind, growing stronger by the second. He opened his mind up to the Force and let the feeling fill him until he knew exactly what it was. A warning: danger. Senator Amidala was in danger.

Anakin rushed off the balcony, apparently having felt it as well and Qui-Gon quickly followed, lightsaber ablaze. They ran into Padme's room not a moment too soon, and Anakin swiftly got rid of the threat with one smooth swoop of his lightsaber. As he did, Qui-Gon noticed a small droid buzzing in front of the window. Realizing the threat, it quickly reversed and sped away from the window. Anakin made for the window, as if intending to follow the droid, but Qui-Gon grabbed his arm and held him back. The last thing he needed right now was for his Padawan to go flying out of the building and falling to his doom.

"No, Padawan," he said strictly. "Patience."

"But Master - !" Anakin argued as Captain Typho and Padme's handmaiden, Dorme, rushed into the room. Qui-Gon silenced Anakin with a look and then turned to Padme with a sigh.

She looked quite shaken, having woken up with Anakin's lightsaber blazing over her head. She glanced back and forth between the two Jedi rapidly. Anakin let out a sigh and extinguished his blue lightsaber while Qui-Gon walked over to the wall where Padme's would-be murderers now lay in two pieces each.

"What were those?" she asked, ignoring Dorme's question of her well being.

Qui-Gon nudged the pieces with his boot, examining them. "Poisonous kouhuns," he told her, glancing once more out the window. Whoever was trying to assassinate her was obviously a professional. Thekouhuns were small enough to sneak in without the notice of R2-D2 or the floor sensors.

"I don't like this," Captain Typho said to Senator Amidala. "Even with the Jedi here, you're still not safe."

"Nonse – " she started to reply, by Qui-Gon interrupted her, a very rare thing for him to do.

"Captain Typho is right, I'm afraid, milady. You're not safe here, even under our protection. There is no guarantee that there won't be more assassination attempts on your life. Anakin and I will report to the Council tomorrow and tell them of this latest development."

Padme sighed, yet her determination still shown on her face. "And what will the Council say?"

Qui-Gon looked her squarely in the eye. Padme, he knew, was not a person that liked the sugarcoated version. If she asked a question, she wanted a straight answer – no beating around the bush. Qui-Gon understood that, so he gave her what she was looking for. "It is possible you will have to go into hiding."

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The Other Author's Notes: Hopefully this was just as good as the last chapter. Just a warning, from this point on, the story will start to get very AU. I won't say anything further, but I'm looking forward to writing this story. It should be a very entertaining read. Keep the reviews coming! I love to hear what you guys have to say.