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 I haven't updated in almost a week. Things have been hectic here as school draws closer. I meant to update Thursday, but I had to go to work and then on Friday and Saturday I was hanging out with my friends. Unfortunately, this will be my last update before school starts (boo-hiss). I'll try to keep a regular schedule for updating, but there may be a longer wait in between updates. School and work are my top priorities, but this fic is definitely in the top three.

The Dancing Cavalier - Thanks for the review!

Darth Vengeance - Haha...my lips are sealed.

Larken27 - Thanks for the review!

Twinkie - Thanks. I hoped people would like the nightmare.

Miz Perfect - Hope this was soon enough for you. Thanks for reviewing.

Jealousy, Love and War

By Kekelina

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Chapter Six: Another Attempt

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Padme's laughter was beautiful. That was the conclusion Anakin had come to five minutes into their meal. Padme had invited both Jedi to a quiet lunch on the terrace overlooking the lake, but Qui-Gon had declined. Anakin had noticed his Master acting very peculiar after receiving a private message almost a week ago.

Qui-Gon hadn't told him who it was from or what were its contents, a decision Anakin hadn't been happy about. But as his Padawan, Anakin was forced to respect that decision. His Master always had a way of revealing everything in due time. Anakin assumed that it simply wasn't the right time at the moment.

While Qui-Gon had gone off on a long walk, Anakin and Padme sat on the terrace eating a fine mid-day meal. Anakin was trying to obey Master Qui-Gon and not let his infatuation for the Senator flourish, but many times he had caught himself staring at her beauty. It was just so hard not to do it.

"There must have been a meter of snow on the ground," Anakin said, telling her of a mission he and Qui-Gon had gone on many years ago. "It was up to my waist and even up to Master Qui-Gon's knees!" Padme laughed again and Anakin paused to soak up the melodic sound. "It was starting to snow harder and we had no idea where our broken down ship was – "

"I thought Jedi didn't get lost," Padme interrupted with a teasing smile.

Anakin shook his head. "Oh no," he replied. "Jedi get lost."

Another laugh.

"So what happened next?"

"Some of the natives found us and let us stay in their shelter for the night," he finished, a bit embarrassed. It definitely wasn't his most heroic tale, but Padme had asked for a funny story and that one had popped into his mind. He would do anything for her.

Anakin hoped that Qui-Gon couldn't feel his emotions through their bond at the moment. He knew that not only would his Master be disappointed, he would be upset as well. He was disobeying Qui-Gon's direct orders again, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't stop. His mind wouldn't let him stop.

That's a pathetic excuse, Anakin, he scolded himself. You'll be on the first ship back to Coruscant for sure if you tell Qui-Gon that.

That thought sobered Anakin up a bit. He threw Padme a small but sincere smile and munched on a piece of fruit. "So what about you," he asked. "Surely you must have a funny tale."

Padme tried to protest, using her job as a cover, but Anakin shot her a look that clearly said she wasn't getting off so easily. She sighed in defeat and looked thoughtful for a moment.

Anakin used the silence and her preoccupation as a time to study her soft features. Her brown curls framed her face in an elegant manner; her sparkling brown eyes were lost in times of the past. Anakin's eyes were drawn to her scarlet lips, slightly parted in thought. There were so many times in his life that he had wanted to kiss those lips, to feel them against his own, to –

"Anakin." Padme's voice was stern, her face hardened.

She had caught him staring.

Anakin looked down at the table, ashamed. He wasn't only ashamed of the fact that he had been caught, he was also ashamed of where his thoughts had been taking him. They had been taking him to a dark place, a place forbidden to Jedi. If Qui-Gon ever found out…

"Don't do that again," she commanded him in a rough voice.

Anakin nodded his head humbly, his eyes still focused on the table. "Yes, milady."

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Anakin sat on a couch in the room he was sharing with Qui-Gon, reading a data pad yet taking in none of its contents. Qui-Gon had returned about an hour ago, still acting just as unusual as he had been acting that morning. Anakin had greeted him forlornly, his slightly depressed attitude a product of the earlier meal with Padme. If Qui-Gon had noticed his apprentice's change in attitude, he hadn't said anything.

He had gone down to the kitchen to grab a late bite, leaving Anakin alone in the room. He had mentioned something about Anakin practicing meditation, but he had been so caught up replaying that day's earlier events and wondering how he could've changed them, that he hadn't been paying very much attention to his Master. All in all, it hadn't been a good day for either of the Jedi.

After another few minutes of staring at the data pad, he tossed it aside and stared at the wall instead. It wasn't a big change of scenery, but it was a change. He knew he shouldn't be wallowing in self-pity; it was not something a Jedi was supposed to do, but he'd found that he'd been acting unlike a Jedi all day. That only made him feel worse.

He probably should practice meditation, he realized. How many times had Qui-Gon said that only through the Force could they know the answers to the questions that haunted them? It would help him, he knew. It would show him the right path and clear his head of much confusion. But with all the confusion and despair he was feeling, would he be able to properly tap into the Force? All he could do was try.

Sighing, he got into the meditative pose on the floor and called the Force to him. As soon as he felt it, he latched onto it and allowed him to fill him. He felt peace within himself almost immediately and didn't move for a long time, letting the Force show him the right path through all his problems.

Late into his meditation, he felt a dark ripple in the Force. It shocked him so much that he opened his eyes. He felt another burst from the Force. It was trying to warn him of something. He was on his feet in a second, his hand moving toward his lightsaber. As he grasped the hilt, prepared to defend himself from the unknown evil approaching, he heard three blaster shots…but they weren't coming from his room.

Now knowing exactly what the Force was trying to tell him and fearing the worst, he rushed out of his room and into the one across the hall. Instead of seeing what he expected, however, he found Qui-Gon standing in front of a frightened Padme, green lightsaber ablaze. He was peering out an open window and when he noticed Anakin enter the room, he turned and deactivated his lightsaber, sighing.

"What happened, Master," Anakin asked even though he already knew the answer.

"There was another attempt on the Senator's life," Qui-Gon replied wearily. Anakin briefly realized that while Qui-Gon looked worn, he did not look the least bit surprised. Was this what had been bothering him? Had he been expecting another attack, yet not knowing when it would come?

Anakin walked over to Padme, who looked a bit shaken. "Are you all right?"

She nodded and gazed out the window. "I didn't expect this to happen again."

A thought popped into his head and he turned back towards his Master. "Did you see the culprit, Master?"

Qui-Gon nodded and Anakin couldn't help but feel a small amount of victory. They had evidence beyond the attacks. They knew what the assassin looked like. "I glimpsed him briefly." His large shoulders heaved as he gave a heavy sigh. "Tomorrow I will contact the Council with this news. I'm sorry, Senator, but it is most likely that they will want to relocate you again."

Padme didn't protest, but nodded. "The situation has become much more serious than I thought," she said in a diplomatic tone. "This is the second time you two have saved my life; I realize now that I am not safe anywhere. I will go where the Council instructs and pray that we do not suffer the same misfortune there as we have here and on Coruscant." Qui-Gon acknowledged her words with a small nod. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm tired and wish to retire."

Anakin followed Qui-Gon out of the room after bidding her goodnight. Once they were back in their own quarters, Anakin flooded his Master with a stream of questions.

"Do you think she will be safe the rest of the night? Don't you think the assassin might come back?"

Qui-Gon sighed, lowering himself onto the couch in a manner that showed his age. "I doubt he will return, Padawan."

"What did he look like, Master?"

Qui-Gon appeared to be pondering this question for a moment. "An enemy not to be trifled with."

More questions burned in his throat, but he took that answer as an end to their discussion. Quietly, he made his way to his room and toppled onto the bed, only realizing then just how tired he truly was. It wasn't long before Anakin was sound asleep, though his dreams were haunted by the same nightmare that they were haunted by every night.

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The Other Author's Notes: Yay! Another chapter done! The title of this chapter has a double meaning and I'll give free brownies and a Ewan plushie to the first one that can correctly tell me what both meanings are.