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: I hope this update is soon enough for everybody. I started panicking last night when I realized that all my days from now until Sunday were busy, but I managed to find time to write this chapter. Don't worry; updates will keep coming regularly. And if you have time, be sure to check out my one-shot piece called Battle of the Heroes.

The Dancing Cavalier - Who says he's going to find him?

Katieelessar - You're absolutely right, Obi-Wan will get much more than he bargained for. I'm glad you liked it, because that was exactly what I was trying to convey in their relationship. I wanted to show that they were distant, but could still speak to each other (kind of) and from the sound of your review, I did just that. Thanks.

Laura-chan - He's a bit dark, but I don't think too dark. Jealousy is not easy to handle at times, and I guess it can seem like he's brooding quite a bit. Here's a bit of A/P action for you, but not too much. I'm sorry there's not more.

Great Story - I'm glad you like it! Thanks for the review.

Also, thanks to Glinda and Jez for reading this story and giving me their honest opinions. You guys are great friends!

Jealousy, Love and War

By Kekelina

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Chapter Three: A Conversation Between Friends

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The Room of a Thousand Fountains was one of the most serene and beautiful places in the entire Jedi Temple. It was a favorite spot of meditation with its large waterfalls and calm ponds. Vegetation grew on almost any structure if given the chance. Benches were placed sporadically along dirt paths for the many Jedi the Temple housed to come enjoy the extravagant, yet simple room.

Obi-Wan loved the Room of a Thousand Fountains. But there was one spot, along one of the calmest ponds, that he didn't like. It was the spot where, many years ago, his best friend had almost died. Yet he was sitting there, levitating his Force-sensitive river stone that Qui-Gon had given him on his thirteenth birthday in the air with great ease. Somehow, the spot was comforting, at least for the day. He couldn't explain why, but sitting there, watching the stone flip in mid-air, made him feel more relaxed and in-tune with the Force than he had been in a long time. It was an unconventional approach to meditation, but he liked it.

"I thought I might find you here."

Obi-Wan smiled softly and gazed at his best friend, Bant Eerin. She was a Mon Calamari with soft, salmon-colored skin and large silver eyes. He had known her for many years now, and while she was several cycles younger than he was, she spoke with wisdom beyond her age. If anyone should be made a Council member, it was Bant.

"Shouldn't you be gone by now?" she asked, taking a seat next to him.

He quirked a lone eyebrow at her. "How'd you know I had another mission?" He hadn't had the assignment for very long and he hadn't told anyone about it.

She shrugged, kicking at the pond water with her feet. Coming from a warm, moist planet, Bant loved to be in the water as much as possible. Back in their younger days, they had challenged each other to swimming races. She always won.

"Word travels fast around here," she replied softly. "Especially between hopeful Padawans nearing their thirteenth birthday." She looked at him expectantly with her silver eyes and Obi-Wan, in turn, rolled his blue ones at her.

"Not more of that Padawan business," he grumbled, finally letting the river stone fall into his hand. It was bad enough that he had to be confronted with it as soon as he returned from a long mission, but being forced to listen to it right before he left…it was too much.

Bant sighed and grabbed the river stone from his hand, twirling it around in her own. Obi-Wan usually didn't let others handle his prized possession, but Bant was different. He watched her play with it for a moment then turned his gaze back to the rippling pond, stroking his beard out of habit.

After a moment of awkward silence, Obi-Wan groaned in frustration. "I don't want a Padawan, Bant. I'm perfectly happy being on my own." Instead of the argument he expected from her, she simply nodded her head and looked at him, putting a slender arm around his shoulder.

"What's wrong, Obi-Wan?" she asked quietly.

Obi-Wan opened his mouth and then closed it again. Over the years, he and Bant had shared many things with each other. They held each other's complete trust, or at least he thought they had. But now, when he had so much on his mind that he just wanted to let go of, to tell someone exactly how he felt, he couldn't. He couldn't make the words come out in the right way and he feared that if he said anything, Bant would misinterpret them and then tell the Council. He would get through these emotions; he would learn to make them disappear and never come back.

When it became clear that Obi-Wan wasn't going to say anything, Bant sighed and stood up. "Good luck on your mission," she said sincerely, handing him back his river stone. With one last glance at Obi-Wan, she headed down the path.

Obi-Wan caressed the stone gently in his hand. "Investigation," he corrected to her retreating back.

The doors opened and shut again, signaling her absence, and all became quiet once more. For the first time in a long time, Obi-Wan wished his Master were there.

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"That's it."

Padme's melodic voice broke Anakin's concentration, bringing him back to the present. She had been giving them the official tour of her lakeside retreat, which they had chosen as their hiding place, but Anakin had been paying no attention to it. He had been staring wistfully at Padme, taking in her every movement. She was so beautiful; she was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen.

An angel, that's what he had called her when they had first met on Tatooine ten years ago. And he still believed it, even to this very day. She was extraordinary and he wished…

The clearing of Qui-Gon's throat made him resurface from his momentary lapse. He glanced at his Master, hesitant to take his eyes off the angel in front of him, and saw a disapproving look on his face. Anakin grew nervous. Had his Master noticed his obvious lack-of-interest in the tour and his total interest in their tour guide? And if so, how long had he been watching Anakin's display of complete disobedience. From the look on Qui-Gon's face, he would have to guess from the very beginning.

Anakin averted his gaze from his Master's displeased face and instead chose to stare at the intricate floor. Sithspit, he was in trouble now… Qui-Gon had told him to keep his infatuation for the young Senator in check, yet Anakin had willingly disobeyed his command. And more than once, too. Obedience was demanded of a Padawan learner, but Anakin hadn't given it. He half-wondered why Qui-Gon hadn't taken him aside when he first noticed it, but he was also grateful that he hadn't. It would've been quite embarrassing to be scolded in front of Padme, and her opinion of him meant everything to Anakin.

No, Anakin! he mentally chided himself. Don't think such things; you're already in enough trouble as it is. But he couldn't help it. Padme was so wonderful, kind and caring. She was perfect; she was –

He shook his head. He would never become a Jedi at this rate. He had realized his mistake; he knew he had to learn from it, but now he was doing it again. He knew better than this. He was better than this. Stars and planets, he was the Chosen One! He above all people should be able to conquer this one little emotion! But then why was it so hard?

"Anakin," Qui-Gon's soft voice called for him to remain behind as Padme walked into another room.

Anakin obediently turned around and walked back towards his Master, bowing with respect. He wasn't exactly sure what Qui-Gon wanted to discuss, but he had a funny feeling that it had to do with his behavior towards Padme. Sure enough, he was right.

"We've gone over this many times, Padawan," he began sternly.

Anakin nodded compliantly, a sincere expression of regret on his face. "Yes, Master."

"I had hoped – " Qui-Gon stopped mid-sentence and shook his head, making Anakin wonder why he hadn't finished that particular train of thought. "This shouldn't be a problem for you anymore, Anakin."

Shame coursed through Anakin, creating a red tinge on his face. He didn't want to disappoint his Master. Qui-Gon had been so good to him. He alone believed that Anakin should be trained in the ways of the Jedi. The Council went along with it because they knew they would not be able to stop him, but Qui-Gon had believed in him since the very beginning. He was the best Master any Padawan could ask for. Then why did Anakin find it so easy to disobey him?

Qui-Gon sighed and Anakin noted the stress on his face. Was it from the mission or was it from him? "If this infatuation of yours continues to interfere with our mission," he began, looking very grim. "I'm sorry, Anakin, but I'll be forced to send you back to Coruscant."

Anakin stared up at his Master, shock and horror all over his face. There were only two reasons a Master would send his or her Padawan learner back to the Temple during the middle of a mission. Either the Padawan had become ill or injured during their mission, or… Anakin didn't want to think about the last effect of Qui-Gon's threat, but it hammered in the front of his mind, not letting him think about anything else.

Or the Master didn't want the Padawan anymore.

Anakin let this statement sink in for a moment. Would Qui-Gon really want to get rid of him? Wasn't his Master saying everyday how grateful he was that Anakin was his apprentice? Was Anakin's lust for Padme really so strong that Qui-Gon thought he couldn't become a Jedi anymore or was Qui-Gon just sick of having to deal with him? Anakin found no answers to these questions as he searched his Master's passive face, which only made him feel more unsure.

"Anakin?" Regret.

Anakin nodded numbly, his voice lost somewhere in the huge lump in his throat. He felt sick to his stomach as his Master's words repeated in his mind. He couldn't let Qui-Gon send him back to Coruscant. He had to become a Jedi. It was his destiny. He'd been dreaming about the day since he was a small slave boy on Tatooine. He would show Qui-Gon that he was meant to become a Jedi. He would show him that he deserved to be his Padawan learner.

Even if it meant losing Padme.

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The Other Author's Notes: That was probably the hardest chapter to write yet. At least, the second part was. I hope everyone enjoyed it and to answer everyone's unasked question, no, there will be no romance in this story… Wait, let me rephrase that. There will be no obvious romance in this story, but that doesn't mean I don't add a little bit here and there. Don't worry, Anakin's not going to get over Padme that easily, no matter what he thinks.

As always, keep the reviews coming! Your opinions mean so much to me.