AN: This isn't really a new chapter nor is part nine. I've re-written the whole fic and I have replaced the chapters here in with where the fic has been betaed up to. The whole story is longer (twice as longI think)which is why there is now nine chapters, but the actual story isn't any further along, in fact it's further back. I know I promised the end, but I'm so close to finishing. Thank you for your patience.

Chapter 8

Qui-Gon took the long way back to his quarters, knowing they would be empty. He could no longer feel Obi-Wan in his mind; the bond was silent. He would know if Obi-Wan died, for the bond would shudder with the transition of one half going into the Force, but he could not sense his soulmate; he could have stood right next to him and not been able to sense him within the waves of the Force. Qui-Gon had felt the loneliness Obi-Wan had endured in his exile, but now he fully comprehended his isolation; to be aware of the bond, but unable to communicate with his beloved was a strange kind of torture.

Qui-Gon wandered the Temple, almost mindlessly, until he found himself outside the Garden of Blossoms. He felt drawn in and walked under the flowering trees, making his way to the far corner, wanting to see the tree his love had planted so many years ago. He strolled and wondered why he had hardly ever visited the garden in the past; it was positively alive with the Living Force. The garden was in bloom all year round; as one species rested another sprung forth with its blooms. When he reached the distant corner he did not find what he had expected.

The tree was dead, withered and black, but still somehow beautiful in it haunting image. Fruit, leaves and petals littered the ground in an array of summer colours. The tree was bare and its bark blacker than charcoal. He was stunned.

"Frightening, isn't it?"

Qui-Gon turned to see Mace approaching.

"I don't understand."

"The tree's connection with Obi-Wan has been broken; its path is complete."

Qui-Gon reached out with the Living Force and sensed the tree's history and its purpose. There was no sense of Obi-Wan, his presence erased as though he had never set foot in the garden.

"He is the Shadow, he has finally come to understand this."

"Yes," Mace answered, even though Qui-Gon had not asked him a question. "His relationship with you was the last factor in his identity."

Mace stood at Qui-Gon's side and as he spoke he studied his old friend.

"You look pleased."

"Obi-Wan has found his path, I am prouder of him than I thought possible. He is a far greater Jedi than I."

"Than any of us," Mace acknowledged. "Or at least, different."

The two masters turned and left the garden together, Qui-Gon no longer needing the connection to Obi-Wan that he hoped the tree would offer.

"I admit, I felt fear for Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon confessed as they walked. "He will die a violent death."

"Maybe."

"It does not matter, it's how he'd wish to die; fighting for us. I had not realised that it was not just Obi-Wan that needed to accept his fate, but me also. I love a shadow, Mace; a man not of the Dark side, but not entirely of the Light, either. I've prided myself on following the will of the Force and despaired when I lost my first apprentice to the Dark side, but it would seem my second apprentice will not tread the path of the Light, either."

Mace studied his friend closely, seeing the other Jedi was not grieved by his revelation, but strangely comforted by it.

"The Council has asked me to inform you of a position on the Council, if you so wish."

Qui-Gon looked surprised and stopped in the middle of the corridor, forcing the other Jedi master to stop also.

"Why?"

"Two reasons, really; one, you are master to the Chosen One and two, you are bonded to the Warrior." Mace saw Qui-Gon's expression, which was not one of pleasure. "Wait, before you get angry and start shouting at me for interfering."

"Again."

Mace chose to ignore Qui-Gon's interruption; at least he was listening.

"There are advantages for you also; on the Council you'd have added influence concerning Anakin and you would be able to hear of Obi-Wan's movements without breaking security, or the rules."

"I will consider it," was all Qui-Gon said to the explanation.

"Good." Mace knew when not to push.

They left it at that, Mace going back to his office and Qui-Gon back to his quarters. He expected his home to be empty, but when he got there he found that it was not.

"Anakin, I thought you had a class?" Sensing the boy's agitation he asked in concern and not as an accusation.

"I do, but I felt Obi-Wan go, I felt it when he disappeared."

"What did you feel?"

"It was a sudden lack, as though he wasn't ever really there. He has gone, hasn't he?"

Qui-Gon smiled a little, knowing the two had become friends despite some fears that remained in the boy's heart. Qui-Gon reached out through the bond to his apprentice and opened his arms to give him some comfort.

"Yes, he has gone."

"He didn't even say goodbye."

"No, he didn't, and that's how it will be more often than not. He has his duty and we have our own. Sometimes our paths will cross. He will return, Anakin."

"I know." Anakin snuggled deeper into Qui-Gon's cloak and smothered his senses in the comfort of his master's presence. "Will you miss him?"

With his apprentice's question, Qui-Gon felt his bitterness rise and his loneliness wash over him. With some difficulty he was able to answer Anakin without allowing his negative emotions from affecting his voice.

"I already do, Padawan."

"Me too."

They stayed together, comforting each other from the departure of a loved one, growing used to the empty space where up until only hours before, Obi-Wan's presence had been. However, the longer Qui-Gon was immersed in the bond, the more he became aware of another bond leading to Anakin's mind. It was another training bond, a training bond to Obi-Wan. He did not show his surprise or tell the boy, who seemed unaware of its presence.

'I wonder if Obi-Wan knows…'

He took a moment to think on their times together.

'Yes,' he reluctantly admitted to himself. 'He knows, but what does it mean?'

Qui-Gon tactfully explored the bond, finding it unlike any other bond.

'It is almost like a ghost of a bond.'

Qui-Gon thought he was being gentle and careful, but he realised he had not been when a quite voice sounded in his head.

'Please stop.' The voice was beset with grief.

'Obi-Wan?'

'It is a bond from another time and a painful reminder.' Obi-Wan sounded as if he spoke from a great distance and the master realised that reaching out to talk to him was costing the younger man a great deal of strength.

'Go, Obi-Wan, we will talk later.'

'I love you,' Qui-Gon heard in his mind as he, too, said the words to his lover. Obi-Wan withdrew, but the comfort Qui-Gon had found was broken. The grief in Obi-Wan's mind lingered. Qui-Gon looked down at the boy cradled in his arms and despaired, wondering if any of them would ever find peace.

Life and training continued for the newly forged master-apprentice team. Qui-Gon found Anakin to be a keen and apt pupil; he excelled in many areas of his training and where he lacked he persevered until that too was perfect. It was not long before Qui-Gon told Anakin that it was time he begin work on his first lightsabre.

"Really?" the boy asked, not daring to believe his master's words.

"Yes, Anakin," Qui-Gon said with a smile, remembering when he had begun building his first 'sabre and how excited he had been.

"Can I have a green one like yours, Master?"

"I'm afraid it doesn't work like that, Ani," the Jedi master told the apprentice. "You must choose as guided by the Force, not because you like the colour."

"Oh," the boy sounded a little disappointed.

Through the bond, Qui-Gon could see a faint dream the boy had of one day being a great Jedi like his master, the dream dimmed slightly.

"It still may be green, Anakin," he added, not wanting his apprentice to lose his youthful fantasy so soon. "But remember, you need not be like your old master to be a great Jedi."

Anakin grinned and the vision of the dream once again became sharper.

"Come, my young apprentice, let us go and view some specs on the computer and plan your very own weapon."

At this the boy's eyes went as round as saucers, his love of mechanics and building anything he could think of had not diminished when he left Tatooine, and the news that he could not only build his 'sabre, but design it also left the apprentice speechless.

He leapt up from the dining room table and went to the apartment's computer; Qui-Gon followed a little slower, not spurred on by youthful enthusiasm.

"You ought to be more careful," said a voice by Qui-Gon's ear. "I could have been anyone."

Up until moments before, Qui-Gon Jinn had been alone in Senator Toora's anteroom. He had not heard anyone enter, nor anyone approach him. He did not turn to the owner of the voice, who stood but a whispered breath away; instead he spoke as he looked out at the busy airways of Coruscant.

"If you had been anyone else," he answered neutrally, "it would be you that ought to be more careful."

"True," was the answer followed by a faint breath of laugher.

In an instant, between one heartbeat and the next, Qui-Gon's senses were full of Obi-Wan Kenobi, both through the bond they shared and the Force. As he once again stood safely by his lover's side, Obi-Wan let go of the grip he held on the Force that he had used to weave around himself and cloak his presence, so seamlessly that not even his bondmate could sense him within the Force.

"Master Jinn?"

Both Jedi turned as one to look at the Senator's aide, who had come to escort Qui-Gon into Toora's main office. The two men shared a quick smile, neither had noticed the aide's arrival, both so wrapped up in their own senses of each other. Obi-Wan stepped away from his bondmate without even the smallest hint of embarrassment that he would have felt as a padawan. He gave the older Jedi a slight bow and said,

"I shall wait for you here, Master."

Qui-Gon nodded his assent and then followed the aide into see Toora. He only just managed to resist the temptation of glancing back over his shoulder to catch a last glimpse of his returned lover. He had not noticed any injury on the other Jedi, he seemed unscathed after his most recent mission and appeared relaxed and beautiful in his traditional Jedi robes and tunics, but the bondmate that existed under the Jedi master exterior was anxious to thoroughly check his lover.

Obi-Wan spent an hour in quiet meditation as he waited for Qui-Gon to return. He entered a light trance to seek his calm centre and the balance he required to live his dual-life. He found it easily now, having finally become accustomed to the most recent changes in his life and he spent the remainder of his time enjoying the presence of Qui-Gon in his mind again.

"Shall we go?"

"Have you and the Senator finished?" Obi-Wan asked, without opening his eyes, prolonging the anticipation of seeing Qui-Gon.

"For now."

Obi-Wan opened his eyes and found that Qui-Gon was standing directly in front of him. He had to tilt his head up to look the taller Jedi in the eye. What he saw was the prefect persona of a Jedi master. What he sensed through the bond was entirely different. Desire and concern warred with each other. Obi-Wan stood gracefully and walked with Qui-Gon as they made their way out of the Senate building and onto the busy walkways that surrounded the heart of the Republic.

"Are you here for long?"

"I leave in the morning," Obi-Wan said as he led them away from the Senate and, to Qui-Gon's surprise, they did not head towards the Temple. Obi-Wan could feel Qui-Gon's curiosity through the bond so he explained, "I do not wish to go to the Temple, too many eyes watching. I have somewhere else in mind, if you don't object."

"As you wish."

Qui-Gon followed Obi-Wan through the crowds of people which gradually thinned as they made their way to the lower levels of Coruscant where the sun's light barely reached and where those who did not want to be noticed dwelled. The two Jedi entered a non-descript building and climbed three flights of grubby, dingy stairs. Obi-Wan led his lover down a narrow corridor and finally stopped outside the fifth door on the left. There was nothing about it that made it stand apart from any of the others.

"This is where I stayed," Obi-Wan told Qui-Gon. "When I was away from you."

He keyed the lock and the door swept open and Obi-Wan allowed Qui-Gon to enter first. The master looked around the tiny, one room apartment with interest. It was neat and clean; a small kitchenette was to his left and to his right was a large double bed. In between was an open space with enough room to perhaps perform some simple, open-handed katas. There was a single door that Qui-Gon assumed led to the fresher. The wall directly in front of him was dominated by a large picture window with a view of a wall.

"Not very homely," he commented sadly.

"It was somewhere to sleep," Obi-Wan answered, shrugging. "I did not need it often and honestly in those years I don't think anywhere would have felt like home."

Obi-Wan closed the door and, as he had done in the Senate building, stood behind Qui-Gon. This time, however, he snaked his arms around Qui-Gon's waist and rested his forehead on the nape of his bondmate's neck.

"I missed you," he whispered, a trace of his despair at their parting seeping into his voice. "This time more so than before."

"This time you had more to miss… as did I."

Obi-Wan stepped back a little, but did not break contact with Qui-Gon. His hands stroked up his lover's back and then across his broad shoulders before pulling at the material of the cloak so that it slid off the Jedi master.

"And what else did you miss, my dear Master?"

Qui-Gon turned with a growl.

"Let me demonstrate."

He reached out to Obi-Wan and dragged his lover in close to his body, devouring his mouth in a hungry kiss. His aggression was met and returned full force. He felt the smaller man push him back and back until the backs of his legs hit the bed and he tumbled down onto the mattress.

"Get those clothes off, Qui-Gon. Now!" Qui-Gon moved to obey the command, but his hands stopped half way to his belt as he watched, transfixed, as Obi-Wan removed his clothing. Boots were discarded and layers of tunics and leggings were pulled away to reveal hard, toned muscles. Once naked, Obi-Wan turned back to his lover, who lay motionless on the bed.

"I thought I told you to get undressed," a predatory smiled crossed Obi-Wan's face. "Do you need some assistance, my Master?"

He did not wait for an answer. The Shadow crawled onto the bed and sat, straddling Qui-Gon's hips. He lent forward. Before Qui-Gon's mouth was claimed, the Jedi master saw another flash of his lover's mischievous smile. Obi-Wan claimed Qui-Gon; he buried his hands in thick, silver hair and was only dimly aware of the hands stroking his sides and cupping the cheeks of his arse.

Obi-Wan kissed down Qui-Gon's neck and growled as he encountered his soulmate's tunics. He wrenched the tunics free of the belt Qui-Gon still wore and then bit down on the now exposed collarbone.

Qui-Gon let out a surprised cry and felt his arousal build as his lover kissed and sucked at the bite.

"Obi-Wan," he said, but could say no more.

There was a brief pause and Obi-Wan was gone. Qui-Gon tried to sit up, but a returned Obi-Wan pushed him back flat on the bed. Nimble fingers removed the master's belt and slid his leggings down, over his erection, and around his knees. His boots he still wore, preventing the removal of his leggings, but Obi-Wan seemed not to care. Using the lubricant he had retrieved from the bedside table, Obi-Wan generously coated his lover's erection, enticing another groan from the prone man.

"Are you ready, Qui-Gon?"

"Obi-Wan."

Obi-Wan smiled as the near helpless arousal that pulsed through Qui-Gon's mind through the bond. He once again straddled Qui-Gon and very slowly lowered himself onto his beloved's member.

When the head of Qui-Gon's penis first breached Obi-Wan's entrance, Qui-Gon fought his need to push upwards, desperately seeking the closeness that was moments away. They had not been together for some time and Qui-Gon, even in his lust-induced delirium, recognised the need for patience.

Obi-Wan slowly lowered himself until Qui-Gon filled him completely. He rested there for a moment, catching his breath. He looked down at his bedmate and smiled in satisfaction to see the Jedi master's head tilted back in a silent groan, his eyes shut, hair in disarray. With exaggerated slowness, Obi-Wan lifted up. Qui-Gon's hands stroked up his thighs and came to rest on his hipbones.

Together they set a gentle rhythm that soon faltered in the heat of their desire. Qui-Gon plunged into Obi-Wan deeply. He held onto one hip while his other hand stroked Obi-Wan's erection.

They came together, happy and sated.

Later, cuddled together on the large bed, the two men lay facing each other, legs entangled and arms wrapped around each other.

"What is wrong, my own?" Qui-Gon asked finally, seeing that the concern he had felt for Obi-Wan when he had first seen him was not due to a physical injury, but an internal pain.

"Nothing, beloved."

"You could never lie to me, Obi-Wan." Qui-Gon stroked a piece of hair that had fallen across Obi-Wan's forehead. "How did the mission go?"

"Fine." Obi-Wan took hold of Qui-Gon's hand, preventing him from playing with his hair further. "How is Anakin and his training?"

"He's fine and his training is progressing, he is beginning to work on his lightsabre."

"I hear you have been offered a place on the Council."

"Yes."

"But you hesitate?"

"Yes. I am not sure if I want it or not or if it's the best course of action," Qui-Gon said, relenting to Obi-Wan's blatant attempt to change the subject, even if it was only momentary. "You're avoiding the question, Obi-Wan."

Qui-Gon did not want to pressure Obi-Wan, nevertheless, he knew that they could not avoid the conversation indefinitely.

"No, I'm not."

"Obi-Wan." Qui-Gon did not need to say anything else. The tone he used was one the master had often used when Obi-Wan had been his apprentice. Years of training compelled Obi-Wan answer.

"I am afraid, Qui-Gon," Obi-Wan began reluctantly. "I am afraid that I am failing in my duty."

Obi-Wan rose from the bed and moved to stand before the viewless window. His vision instead was turned inwards, consumed by something only he could see; his memories.

"Something is wrong; I am not as I was before."

The sound of despair in his whisper twisted something deep within Qui-Gon's heart. The Jedi master rose also, donning his cloak before going to his bondmate, placing Obi-Wan's cloak around his shoulders.

"Before the bond?"

His only answer was the tensing of shoulders beneath his hands and a small nod of Obi-Wan's head. Qui-Gon stood behind his lover and wrapped his arms around him. Qui-Gon was relieved when Obi-Wan leaned back into his touch.

"Do you fear that it is the bond?" he asked, half whispering his own fear into the tawny hair.

"Yes."

Qui-Gon's fear had been spoken and he desperately wished he could turn from the conversation, a conversation he had insisted upon.

"Do you regret it?"

Obi-Wan quickly turned in his arms so that they stood facing each other, fearful blue eyes met stormy grey.

"Never."

Qui-Gon let out a relieved breath and Obi-Wan laid his head on his bondmate's chest. They were silent, only for a moment, allowing each other to gather their thoughts.

"I will never regret my love for you, Master. You are what keeps me safe."

"Then trust me now, beloved, to keep you safe from your memories. Tell me what happened that has given you this fear."

And so Obi-Wan told Qui-Gon what had happened while he was gone from his side.