Beautiful Chapter 4, a star wars fanfic

jdp - Yes, I understand what you're saying. And that is why I wish my story was more plausible. Lol. I've been doing my hardest to possibly make it kind of seem like something that could've happened, but there's so much in the world I don't really understand. Human emotions, decisions. I have a lot to learn. I'm only 17, got a ways to go. And though sometimes I wish Lucas hadn't made things happen the way they did, I say, hey, that's how a story is formed. I'm glad you think my story is nice anyway. That's good. I guess this is a little corny something for all the sad people like me. ;.; Poor Ani.

And darn it, you're probably right about that Jedi Temple thing...at least I made it look kind of cruddy...Rofl. And well, I don't think I'm always keeping Anakin and Obi-Wan in character, I get swept away with "my" thoughts and don't focus on theirs. Hehe. Hopefully time will improve my writing skillz.

For now I focus on soap opera drama. xD

And that was one random answer to one review. :P

For everyone else who reviewed, I would probably just being saying the same thing. "Thank you so, so, so much for the kind words! Kudos for you! With love!"

"Beautiful"

Chapter 4

Obi-Wan slowly became aware of his surroundings as he woke, the soft hum of vibrating metal filling his ears. Spaceship...he was on a spaceship...his spaceship.

Groaning softly, he let his eyes remained closed. There was no sense in getting up if you didn't have anything to do. / I was visiting Yoda, wasn't I?. / He asked himself, as he brought a hand up to rub at his forehead. / Yes...I convened with Yoda to discuss some important matters...I left...and I'm on my way back to Tatooine..right?. / He continued inside of his head with puzzlement. He couldn't help but feel like he was forgetting something along the way.

He let his hand drop with a tired exhale. / I must be getting on in years... /

...wait a minute...

Obi-Wan's eyes flew open, his head turning to gaze down at his hand which rested on a warm belly. A warm belly that belonged to a certain someone. Raising his eyes, Obi-Wan blinked in utter confusion as he gazed upon a sleeping Anakin.

His mouth fell open, words trying to form themselves, but nothing came out; instead he just gaped like a fish out of water. That is until memories of the previous events flooded back to him. He was returning to Tatooine, and Coruscant was glaring at him through space. He felt homesick, and he knew the only way he would ever shake this feeling was to go on down and take a quick look through the Jedi Temple. Just to see what it had become...just to have one moment of fleeting happiness in an otherwise miserable year.

And then there was Anakin. How foolish he had been to go down to Coruscant...he almost got himself killed.

/ But I'm not dead...and I'm not miserable anymore. / Obi-Wan thought, smiling gently at Anakin's sleeping face. This had to be the first time in a long time that he'd seen his old padawan look so content. Usually he slept with furrowed brows, an unhappy scowl tugging on his lips.

He felt his heart swell almost painfully with happiness. He could remember when Anakin was a little boy...when he'd slept just like this. His face purely angelic. He never thought he'd see that face again.

But he also felt mildly forlorn as the scar that cut across his right brow tainted those saintly features.

"Anakin..." Obi-Wan whispered, his voice barely audible to himself as he lifted his hand to brush away Anakin's unruly bangs. His hair had certainly grown over the last year, but it seemed to be cut..if not sloppily. He let his eyes wander his old padawan's face, living in the moment, praying to the Force that this wasn't a trick...that this would last long...would last forever. He felt the sureness inside himself that Anakin was truly sincere...and he knew that this was no dream. He only worried that the Sith Lord was the one playing with Anakin, using him...

He hoped nothing would go wrong...and that Anakin would not fall to the Dark Side once again. He would not deny that he had his doubts...and with good reason.

Obi-Wan startled as a hand suddenly took his, fingers wrapping around his palm before Anakin's eyelids lifted, blue orbs staring at him with sleep laden warmth, a sluggish smirk tugging at his lips. Obi-Wan couldn't help but smile back, his hand gripping Anakin's softly. "And how does his stubbornness feel?"

Anakin let out a humored groan, bringing his free hand up to rub at his eyes. "...better than I have in a long time." He responded quietly, his hand dropping and laying limply at his left side.

Obi-Wan smiled warmly, gazing at Anakin, words forgotten to him.

Anakin's blue eyes moved to look at Obi-Wan, his head turning to face him. He felt his heart squeeze in his chest as his breath was stolen away. Obi-Wan's eyes...he never used to think they were that great...only recently...now that he was close enough to look, to really pay attention, did he notice how truly amazing they were. "Please...don't look at me like that." Anakin spoke, surprised at how shaky his voice had become.

Obi-Wan snapped out of his reminiscent stupor, a frown replacing his smile at Anakin's tone. "...I'm sorry..."

Anakin exhaled deeply. "I just...you look at me like I died...and...I know...I know..." He stopped, trying to control his voice. "..I left everyone...I let myself be brainwashed...let myself kill innocents.." His voice cracked, and he squeezed his eyes shut, sucking in his bottom lip, willing himself not to cry.

"Anakin-" Obi-Wan began only to be interrupted.

"I know I let you down.." He choked out, the burning sorrow seeping through his whole body. How many times would he look back only to relive the pain of his foolishness? His mistake? ...He didn't think he had the power to overcome all that he'd done... "I'm so sorry.." He sobbed, and Obi-Wan pulled Anakin to him, wrapping him in a loving embrace as the first tear fell. "I'm so sorry...all of those people.." He cried, burying his face into Obi-Wan's shoulder, his fingers gripping the wooly robe that covered his back. "I shouldn't even be alive...not after all that I have done! I've destroyed my life...and I can't live with what I've created..I can't! I deserve to burn in a fiery hell for eternity-"

"Stop it!" Obi-Wan commanded, hugging Anakin tighter.

Anakin took deep, wracking breaths, his eyes wide with bewilderment as he felt cool drops slide across his neck. / ...He's crying... /

He shut his eyes, pulling his old master closer. "You'll help me, right?" Anakin said, his voice high with emotion.

"Of course, I will." Obi-Wan managed to say through his own catching breaths.

Anakin felt tears overcome him once more as his shoulders shook. He could feel his master's pain just as he could feel his padawan's pain, and they both shared it willingly. "I love you, Obi-Wan." Anakin wept.

"And I love you, Anakin...so much." Obi-Wan whispered as they swayed to and fro gently, taking great comfort in each other's presence.

After they pulled themselves together, Obi-Wan sat in the nagivation seat at the front of the ship, while Anakin was washing his face in the back room.

Obi-Wan stared out at the far away stars of the galaxy, thinking about a strategy...well...some form of one. He wasn't sure about the future, so he wasn't sure about the outcomes. For now, he resolved to speed back to Dagobah and talk to Master Yoda. This was the best chance that they had...but then again...he didn't want to end up revealing Yoda's hiding place.

What if the Sith Lord found them somehow? Obi-Wan felt his heart sink in indecision. He knew he shouldn't feel guilty, but he did. He felt horrible for doubting Anakin like he was now. But...what if he was playing a game? What if he was heading right into a trap? What if he got to Dagobah and Anakin suddenly killed both him and Yoda? Of course, he hadn't told Anakin about Yoda yet...

He let out a deep breath, settling his head in his hands.

"...You think I'm lying, don't you?" A voice said quietly.

Obi-Wan lifted his head, blue-green eyes gazing over at Anakin. / Do I think you're lying?. / He asked himself. "...maybe."

Momentary hurt flickered across his face before his head drooped, eyes watching the cool metal of the floor. "..Oh."

"Anakin, please-"

"No. I understand. I've let you down so many times...I can understand why you would have problems trusting me...I guess I'm just not very trustworthy, huh?" Anakin said, his head lifting to show a weak grin that crumbled into the look of a lost little boy.

Obi-Wan's brows creased as he pursed his lips. "Anakin...it's not that I don't trust you..."

"Then what is it?" Anakin snapped, expression pained.

Obi-Wan cursed the suffocation that seemed to be engulfing his heart.

Anakin scowled when he said nothing. "..Fine. I should leave then...just drop me off somewhere...I refuse to cause anymore trouble..." He grumbled, pacing a moment before fisting his hair with one hand, a frustrated huff leaving his lips. "..Damn it...I only see one complete way...one way to make sure I never hurt anyone again..." He murmured, his hand going to the lightsaber at his side.

Obi-Wan rose instantly. "Don't you think you've been selfish enough for one lifetime?" He asked in a demanding tone.

Anakin froze, his gaze glued to the floor.

"..Ever since you left...the days are dull...and though I know so many things are worth living for...I can only help but worry about the things I felt were worth living for. I felt like a huge piece of myself had died...you helped fill the void Qui-Gon's death created...helped fill so much...and then you disappeared." Obi-Wan sat back down, going silent for a long moment. "...Don't leave again..." / Never leave again... /

Obi-Wan sat almost rigidly in the nagivation seat, feeling incredibly naked. He almost wished he was a Wookie...you could barely see a thing amidst all that hair.

He felt his heart jump a bit as Anakin appeared in front of him, dropping to his knees so that their faces were level. His old padawan stared at him for a few seconds before reaching to his waist and unclipping his light saber. Obi-Wan eyed the weapon wearily.

Anakin held the saber out to his old master. "Take it."

"What?" Obi-Wan asked, looking up at those determined blue eyes.

"Take it." Anakin persisted.

Obi-Wan looked back down at the saber before slowly taking it from Anakin's hand. When he held it tightly in his own grasp, Anakin spoke.

"I promise you I will never let him control me again...I...I will do my best to keep that promise, too. But...if I somehow...fail...please...kill me right away."

Obi-Wan watched Anakin with a solemn expression, before looking out at the stars. "We'll be heading to Dagobah...Master Yoda is there."

Anakin felt some form of fear inside himself, but he ignored it and sat down in the seat next to Obi-Wan. Master Yoda was understanding...and he prayed the great Jedi master would pardon his disasterous deeds.

"He lives here?" Anakin's disbelieving voice echoed from outside of their ship.

Obi-Wan came down the ramp, a small smirk on his lips as he guaged the baffled expression on his dear apprentice's face. "Unfortunately, yes. But with good reason...I assume." He said as he looked around for a minute before heading off into the marsh.

Anakin wrinkled his nose in discomfort as he cautiously followed after Obi-Wan. After a few minutes of traveling through gooey wetness, Anakin couldn't keep up the silence. "Are we there yet?"

Obi-Wan rose a brow, tossing a glance over his shoulder. "We'll be there when we're there."

Anakin crossed his arms, glowering at his master's back. He stomped for a few steps in an attempt to otherwise vent his irritation, but just realized that that got his pants wet...so he stopped. He let blue eyes wonder around. Soppy trees...soppy bushes...soppy greenness...soppy soppiness...how interesting. He managed to keep himself busy for a minute before targeting Obi-Wan's back once more. "Are we there yet?"

Obi-Wan tried to stiffle his laugh. "Yes, Anakin. We're here." He said before stopping and waving to a brown oval in the ground. It reminded Anakin much of a giant acorn that got shoved into the ground...and some equally giant giant had come along and poked some holes in it.

"Anakin...if you're quite done with your strange thoughts, I'd like to get this over with..."

Anakin jumped at Obi-Wan's words, before blinking at the other man in surprise. Obi-Wan had seen what he was thinking? He felt some new hope swell inside of him. They'd managed to repair their bond so quickly?

Leaving those thoughts for later, he stepped forward, only to hear a strange, feral holler as something whacked him painfully in the leg. "Yow!" He cried out, hands clamping over his raised knee as he hopped around on his other foot.

"Hah! So easily you will not take me!" A trollish voice exclaimed before Anakin was whacked again with that sturdy gimmer stick, only this time he was smacked on the hand.

"Obi-Wan! Call him off!" Anakin howled.

"Hmmm..." Yoda muttered, stopping mid-swing at Anakin's other leg. "Obi-Wan?"

Obi-Wan regarded the minimally injured Anakin before setting his sights on the short, but dangerous master. "Yes...Master Yoda...I know you're probably wondering what the meaning of this is..."

"Indeed...why have you brought Lord Vader into my planet of exile? Trying to kill me, are you?"

Anakin winced.

Obi-Wan sighed. "...Master-"

"Skywalker has chosen to walk in the Light once more, has he not?" Yoda interrupted.

"...Well, yes..." Obi-Wan fumbled.

Yoda nodded slowly, looking over at Anakin who watched him cautiously. "Strange time for you to return to us, young Skywalker."

Anakin bowed his head. "I cannot ask for your forgiveness, Master...but know that I am tormented by what I have done...if there is anything I can do-"

"To forgive yourself is the first step in true healing of the Dark Side." Yoda commented calmly. "Now. Come inside and I will make us some tea." The little troll said before hobbling toward his hut.

Anakin stared after Yoda, his mouth hanging open a bit.

Obi-Wan looked from Yoda to his former apprentice. "Well...shall we?" He said with a deep breath.

Anakin nodded, still in a bit of a confused daze as he joined his old master's side, following after Yoda.

Anakin sat rigidly in a tiny chair, watching nervously as Yoda circled him, those green orbs gazing at him deeply. Every now and then, the little troll would hum gravely to himself. Anakin meanwhile, was doing his best to relax and let Yoda freely sort through his mind. It was an arduous task seeing as his subconscious kept twitching, wanting to close off on instinct to the probing of his mind.

Obi-Wan looked on without much of an expression, though his thoughts were racing about worriedly. His hands, shoved in his robe's folds, would ball occasionally before relaxing once more.

"Hmmm..." Yoda nodded. "Already severed your bond with Sidious, have you not?"

Anakin nodded.

"Hmmm.." Yoda mumbled again, his clawed hand softly scratching at his chin. With the help of his gimmer stick, he moved away, standing before the small hearth where a fire was lit. "Know what to think of this, I do not."

Obi-Wan's blue-green eyes shifted over to Anakin who looked back at him with troubled brows. / Stand up for yourself, Anakin. / He chided.

Anakin sat straighter in his small chair, licking his dry lips. "I really have changed, Master Yoda." He stated off-handedly, hesitating as he tried to search for something better to say.

"Changed? A conspiracy this could be." Yoda said, turning to face them, only this time, his round orbs bore into Obi-Wan who looked mildly shocked.

"Surely you don't mean that, Master Yoda."

"And what if I do?" Yoda asked, squinting at him. Obi-Wan didn't know what to think. What was he trying to get at?

Anakin stood up with an indignant expression. "Leave Obi-Wan out of this! You and I both know that he would never join with the Dark Side."

"Disagree with my judgement, do you?" Yoda questioned firmly.

Anakin's expression slipped in a moment of uncertainty before it hardened with resolve. "Yes, I do. Obi-Wan is the most didicated Jedi the Order has ever seen. To say he has anything to do with the Dark Side is an injustice."

"And yet he has brought you to me." Yoda countered.

Obi-Wan bowed his head, remaining silent.

Anakin felt something strange boil inside of him, something that felt like anger, but wasn't. He felt more focused on the bare fact that Obi-Wan was being judged unfairly. He wanted Yoda to understand the mistake in his words on his own, rather than beat it into him like he would've done previously. "Please, you must reconsider. Think of all that Obi-Wan has done for the Jedi..."

"Anakin-" Obi-Wan spoke up solemnly, leaning forward in his chair.

"Hmm...Thought of this, I have." Yoda interrupted. "Still unconvinced I am."

Anakin scowled, staring down at the small master who looked up at him placidly. "..Fine. Then I will leave. You will see in time that I did not come here to harm you, and that Obi-Wan was doing his part as a Jedi. He was saving me from the Dark Side...like he's always strived to do...he never gave up on me...I will not let him be misjudged." And with that said, Anakin marched to the door, ready to leave for good.

"Anakin, wait, come back." Obi-Wan called, standing up.

"Hm, hm, hm!" Yoda's strange laughter filled the small hut, stopping Anakin in his tracks. "Changed, you have. Why would this be?" The green troll asked, head tilting to the side curiously.

Anakin turned, but only a little bit, his blue eyes reflecting the fire in the hearth. "He said she was dead...said they were dead. When I learned it was a lie...it was like all the life came rushing back to me. And I feel stupid, that for this entire year I have wasted it drowning in anger and resentment...all for nothing, when I have two children...children both me and Padmé created with our love. He made me believe that all I lived for was gone...made me believe it was all the Jedi's fault." He looked away, hands fisted. "How could he do that to me...? I thought I knew him...I was a fool..."

"Set you free, the truth has." Yoda said simply while nodding a few times.

"Yes..." Anakin said, his back still turned to both of them. "...sometimes I think things might've been different...if Obi-Wan had been there...I didn't know what to do when Palpatine told me that he was the Sith Lord...but then I think that maybe it was for the best. If he had been there, and I had told him, he probably would've left to arrest Palpatine himself...would I have struck him down? Would it have made any difference..?"

"To dwell on remedies of the past will do you no good."

"No...I suppose not...I guess that's why I'm rushing to fix things now...if only I had known my child had survived...known that their were two..."

"Unfortunate, this is. Do you plan on facing Darth Sidious?" Yoda asked, brows raised in interest.

Anakin nodded gently. "Yes...I will end what I have allowed to continue."

"And I will help him." Obi-Wan spoke up dispite his recent silence. He stood, walking over to stand next to Anakin, his right hand squeezing his old padawan's left shoulder.

Anakin stared at Obi-Wan in surprise, his eyes darting over to Yoda who watched them both with a small smile, a light twinkling in his eyes though he did not face the fire.

"Go then, young Skywalker. Free the galaxy of Darth Sidious and let the healing begin. If you suceed, pardoned of your previous actions, you will be."

Anakin perked up a bit, the barest of smiles on his lips. "I promise you, the Sith Lord's reign will end..."

"Will you be staying here, Master Yoda?" Obi-Wan asked with a small frown.

Yoda sat down in the chair Anakin had sat in before. "Afraid I would do you no good..." He turned his head, gazing at Anakin with peircing intensity. "Enough, the Chosen One should be."

Obi-Wan nodded. "Then we'll be going. All of this must be stopped as soon as possible."

Anakin turned away, letting Obi-Wan herd him from the hut.

"May the Force be with you." Yoda called after them.

Anakin set the coordinates from his co-pilot chair as Obi-Wan readied the ship for launch. "Darth Sidious is on a large Imperial cruiser about fourteen parsecs to the east of Alderaan...the ship isn't too heavily guarded...just star cruisers on the perimeter. I know their rounds, and there is a weakness in the patrol at a certain point. We'll enter there, and then we'll board the ship at a special port. I know a code that will shield us from the perimeter ID checks as we come in..." He took a deep breath, leaning back in his chair. His head turned after a moment to regard Obi-Wan. "You don't have to come with me..."

Obi-Wan smirked. "You may be the Chosen One, Anakin, but I highly doubt even you could get past a ship full of clone troopers."

Anakin crossed his arms, looking smug. "Ah, I don't know about that. I mean, I am pretty good."

Obi-Wan rolled his eyes. "Good enough to beat off a ship full of clone troopers, then fight a Sith Lord that is much like a ship full of clone troopers in himself?"

Anakin's haughty manner was taken down a notch. "...Well..I guess you could take half of the load..I mean, just because I don't want you to miss out on any action." Anakin said, trying to hide his grin.

Obi-Wan chuckled. "Oh, you're too thoughtful, Anakin."

Anakin laughed for a few moments before he suddenly stopped, going completely silent. After a long minute, he spoke, but much more quietly. "I'm afraid, Obi-Wan..."

Now in hyperspace, Obi-Wan was free to get up and move around. He stood, leaning over Anakin where he placed a soft kiss on his old padawan's forehead. "Do not fear, Anakin...I will be here beside you like I have always been...and together we will right the wrongs we created."

"We-" Anakin began, but Obi-Wan placed a finger on his lips, shaking his head.

"I suggest we meditate for a while, and then we'll go over the plans for when we board the Sith Lord's Imperial cruiser."

Anakin remained silent, nodding gently. Obi-Wan smiled warmly before heading off toward the back of the ship, Anakin trailing behind.

In that moment, he felt completely content and his previous fears were banished.

TBC...

Yes, I know that I sometimes just say apprentice or master in my words for Anakin and Obi-Wan. It just gets tiring putting the "old" or "former" word before it. You all know they're not master and padawan anymore, so yeah, whatever, lol.

Also, if I've gotten anything timeline wise wrong, or location, or event, just give me a break. I only know Star Wars through about all the movies and some of the books.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I actually think it was my favorite to write. Thanks a lot for reading! I'll get the next chapter out soon: Anakin and Obi-Wan meet with Darth Sidious, bum bum bum!

-Aryll