Liana-chan: I'm a sucker for unrequited love, obviously! But the best part is that it isn't! Read on!

alchemy dream: Thanks for the compliment! As a fan of your work, it really means a lot!

vee017: I'm so glad you like it! I think you'll like this next chapter, too!

crazyundeadfairy: I'm so flabbergasted that you've read AND reviewed my little story. Fallen and Division of Forces are two of my all-time favorites. I'm honored to have your opinion. Thanks!

XtinethePirate: You know how I feel about you! Thanks again for all of your support and for being my beta. I will try to not let you down when I get to the Hot Jedi Lovin'!

Sorry that it took a little longer for me to get this one posted! Please continue to read and leave me your thoughts. It helps more than you know (well maybe you do!) to read that others love Obi-Wan and Anakin as much as I do. Chapter 4 is well on it's way, so perhaps not as long of a wait next time. Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy!

Chapter 3: Meditation

Obi-Wan's heart skipped a beat when he felt his former Padawan arrive, when he realized Anakin was watching, waiting. For him. But Anakin was troubled. Not good. He could feel the younger Jedi's anger and frustration, barely controlled, swirling like a dark storm in the normally tranquil pool of the Force. It was still early; what could be so troubling to Anakin already?

Obi-Wan continued more ardently with his exercise, nearly completed. If he told himself the truth, he continued because he wanted Anakin to see him. He wanted the younger Jedi to see that his old Master wasn't…well…so old. Obi-Wan felt his skin flush and his stomach tighten. This would never do.

Just as he kicked his leg up, and twisted around to land softly in exactly the spot where he began, he suddenly felt all of Anakin's anger fade peacefully into the Force. To look at Anakin through the Force was intensely blinding; to feel Anakin in the Force was nothing less than breathtaking. In all of their time together, Obi-Wan had never opened himself fully to Anakin's light, lest he completely lose himself in it. Getting lost in Anakin was a temptation that called to him day and night these days. He let out a controlled breath, shaking the thought from his mind, and slowly opened his eyes, only to see his former Padawan, his love, turning to leave.

Anakin, please don't go. The words formed instantly and unconsciously, traveling along their intimate bond, the bond that should have been severed with Anakin's knighthood. In an act that Obi-Wan deemed utterly selfish on his part, he had been unable, unwilling to make that cut, not that Anakin had seemed to mind, either.

I've got to get out of here, Anakin thought, and quickly turned leave. Startled by Obi-Wan's plea, though, he stopped abruptly, nearly tumbling over from the momentum of his turn and the spin of his long black cloak around his ankles. Too late, Anakin told himself, squeezing his eyes shut, checking to see if all his shields were in place. He was mortified that he had been caught staring like some lovelorn boy, his aroused feelings raging uncontrolled through his body. How can I face him? He must know. I have to learn more control! Slowly, he turned back to face his Master, his love.

Obi-Wan stood there, gleaming in the morning sun, hair tousled by both the exercise and the breeze in the Gardens—a roguishly handsome look for the usually unruffled Jedi, Anakin thought. He greeted Anakin with a disarming smile that rivaled the warmth of the rising sun. "Hello, Anakin. It is unusual to see you at this time of day."

Anakin continued to struggle for control of his emotions, barely able to focus on the seemingly normal conversation coming from the man in front of him, when all he could think about were those long, lean muscles moving slowly, deliberately, in a sensuous dance through the air….He opened his mouth, closed it, and opened it again. Fumbling for words after the intoxicating physical display he had just witnessed, Anakin finally found his voice. "Umm, I-I'm sorry to bother you, Master. I had trouble sleeping, and when I woke, you weren't there." He cringed inward, loathing himself for sounding so childish, so pathetic, like a 9 year-old Padawan. For the thousandth time since his Knighthood, he was comforted by the fact that Obi-Wan had never gotten around to severing their bond. Despite what he told himself, he still needed that connection to Obi-Wan, his comforting presence.

"I am sorry, Anakin." A lock of hair fell into his eyes as he tilted his head, eyes narrowing slightly as he regarded Anakin. He reached up to brush the errant hair away, when a worry furrowed his brow. "I can sense something is troubling you. I've finished my exercise-- we could meditate?"

Anakin wanted to do nothing of the sort; he was jumpy, on edge, and quiet meditation had never been his thing. However, this unquenchable need of his to be near Obi-Wan was overpowering. He simply wanted to continue to drown in the bliss he had felt just moments ago.

As much as Obi-Wan wanted to be near Anakin, the offer of meditation was one that he knew would be refused, and Obi-Wan would be able to just breathe again. While the picture of serenity and composure and on the outside, inside he was a jumble of thoughts and emotions. He needed the soothing comfort of meditation, to send all of his confusing feelings about Anakin into the Force.

"Sure, Master," came the surprising reply, and Anakin approached Obi-Wan, shrugging off his cloak, neither of them really looking each other in the eye. Only, he didn't sit next to Obi-Wan, rather he sat with his back to his Master. Obi-Wan had to smile. They hadn't meditated like this together since before Anakin was knighted. Anakin did not like to feel he was being watched while meditating, and claimed this position helped him to focus inward.

Obi-Wan pulled on a tunic, exposed skin now chilled in the cool morning air. He turned his body so that it was in alignment with Anakin, but hesitated at the next step. When Anakin pressed his tall, lean frame against Obi-Wan's damp back, it sent a thrill of heat and comfort coursing through Obi-Wan's veins. He missed the contact he used to have with Anakin; he missed the intimacy of their Master/Padawan relationship. Although they had spent the early months of the war together, Obi-Wan's assumed death at Jabiim had separated them and had forced Anakin into an early maturity. Knighthood soon followed, and more and more often they were being sent on separate missions. Most of all, though, he missed his Anakin: the lighthearted peal of his laughter, the intensity of his gaze, the pout of his lips, the softness of his touch.

Anakin had to use all of his control not to jump when his body came in contact with Obi-Wan's. To be here, doing this, was like coming home. He closed his eyes, reveling in the security of being with his Master. He inhaled deeply, taking in the spicy, sweaty scent that was Obi-Wan. It took him back to a time when all he wanted to do was please his Master and be a great Jedi Knight. Things hadn't changed so much, after all.

They sat like this, backs pressed together, eyes closed, as the sun continued its rise to greet the day.

For Obi-Wan, mediation let him become one with the Force, and allowed him to swim in the pure, languid current that enveloped his spirit, washing him clean, refreshed, anew. Today was different. As much as he tried to focus on the Force, he was constantly aware of the firm body pressed against his, and his mind continued to wander, thinking back to last night, to watching Anakin. He breathed softly, deliberately, trying to refocus and listen to the will of the Force.

Anakin let his thoughts flow out into the Force, and in turn, the Force helped him to focus. He worked to let go of the frustrations that he feared were slowly crippling him. Frustrations with the Council, for not granting him Mastership….with Padme, for demanding more from him than he could give…to the last time they made love…to his decision to end it…

He realized with a start that the last time he had been with Padme, he really hadn't been with her at all. His mind had been on Obi-Wan, wondering…what if I kissed him like this…what if I put my mouth here…and he put his hands on…

Anakin's calm visage twisted suddenly into a scowl. It didn't matter how much ached for the lover he would never have. Obi-Wan was immune to the whims of emotion, while at times Anakin felt like he was a slave to his own. So why did it feel like the Force was trying to tell him something? He let out a slow breath, trying to will away this last frustration, his unrequited love for Obi-Wan Kenobi. There is no passion, there is serenity…His thoughts returned, rebelliously, to last evening, and he felt his anger slowly begin to rise.

"Master, I need to know something," he said, breaking the peaceful silence of the Gardens.

"Yes, my young Padawan?" Obi-Wan answered reflexively, caught in the memories this meditation stance revived. When they last sat like this, they were roughly the same height, with Anakin's Padawan braid gently tickling his Master's neck. Now, gone was the braid, replaced by the oft-unruly blonde curls that stood nearly half a head above Obi-Wan.

Anger growled in Anakin and his body stiffened. "I'm no longer a Padawan!"

Obi-Wan answered quietly, "And I am no longer your Master, Anakin."

Palpable tension started to creep into their joint meditation, and Anakin could stand it no longer. He wasn't a Padawan, he didn't deserve this kind of scrutiny, especially from someone who claimed to be his friend.

Whirling around, he faced Obi-Wan, whose eyes flew open in surprise, feeling the churning tide of emotions from the young Jedi before him.

"You were there last night, watching me practice! Why? Why, Mast—Obi-Wan?"

Obi-Wan blanched inward. He had been found out. Anakin saw me! He knows! Obi-Wan's head spun looking for answers to a question he hadn't been prepared to answer—ever. Even to himself.

"Did the Council send you to spy on me? Are they doubting my competency as a Knight? Are you? You don't think I'm good enough to be a Master, do you? How am I supposed to be the Chosen One if no one believes in my abilities?" Anakin's voice broke as the accusations tumbled out in a torrent of insecurity, anxious eyes searching for answers.

Obi-Wan's heart ached hearing Anakin's self-doubt, so much like his own. Was that a lesson he'd unwittingly passed on to his Padawan?

He took Anakin's hands into his own. "No, Anakin, of course not! You were knighted because you earned it; you saved me more times than I care to remember and proved yourself on more battlegrounds than most generals twice your age. Someday, you will be a great Jedi Master, Anakin." What else could he possibly say, without revealing his heart? "I was just looking for you to see if you had seen the, um, report from my last mission. That is all, Anakin."

Obi-Wan winced, knowing that was an utterly horrible excuse for gaping at his former apprentice with love, admiration, and blatant passion while Anakin thought he had practiced alone. The Jedi Master looked away, unable to stare into those brilliant blue eyes a moment longer, lest they see the unabashed love he had for Anakin.

Anakin's eyes widened, and he laughed loudly. "Master, you are a terrible liar!"

This was hardly the response he was expecting, and not altogether unwelcome, either. Obi-Wan tried his best affronted-Jedi look to hide his increasing discomfort. "Well, young one, you certainly would know a liar! However, I am a Jedi Master, and we most certainly do not tell lies."

Poking his finger into Obi-Wan's chest, Anakin exclaimed, "Ha! I always know when you're fibbing."

Obi-Wan's heart was pounding at the thrill of this verbal banter with Anakin, so like old times, coupled with the fact that he was still holding one of Anakin's hands tightly. "Preposterous! And precisely how would you know that, Anakin?"

Quietly, Anakin studied his Master's face. Softly, he said, "I know you better than anyone, Master, even yourself, sometimes. Your lips, they do this, this …funny thing…"

"What thing? I-I assure you, my negotiation skills would be for naught if I g-gave myself away so easily, Anakin." Obi-Wan's words faltered, with Anakin being so near, unable to look away.

Gazing intently at Obi-Wan's red lips, Anakin slowly reached up, hand grazing the soft beard, the corner of his mouth.

"Right here," he whispered, tracing the spot, committing it to memory.

Obi-Wan closed his eyes as Anakin caressed his face, afraid to move. It had been so long since they had touched like this. He marveled, again, at how for all of his power, Anakin had the softest, gentlest touch. This touch flooded him with memories of Anakin's dedicated care of Obi-Wan's hideous wounds at the hands of Ventress. How Anakin had shared every hurt, treated every scar, eased every pain. A sigh quietly escaped his lips.

He is so beautiful, Anakin thought, and he doesn't even realize it. He knew he needed to stop—he couldn't stand the reprimand that was sure to flow from of those soft, succulent lips. Fuller than Padme's, he thought curiously. Anakin's fingers stopped their movement, but his hand slid down to cup his Master's bearded chin. What would it feel like to kiss them?

Slowly, Obi-Wan opened his eyes, not knowing what to expect. In that moment, he was able to see parts of Anakin more clearly than he ever had; through the Force, he could feel that Anakin's shields were coming down. He felt a stirring from Anakin, and a few stray thoughts floated his way. Beautiful…Padme…Kiss.

And there it was. Anakin loved Padme. Obi-Wan had known this for sometime, and yet he had refused to truly acknowledge it. And it hurt, Sith did it hurt, more than he thought possible. Anakin may as well taken his lightsabre and carved out his heart—it would have hurt less. Of course he would love her. She's young, she's beautiful, she's everything I could never be to him. He stiffened, and pulled back from Anakin.

Anakin's hand stayed in midair momentarily, then dropped to his lap. He could see the turbulence in Obi-Wan's blue-green eyes, and knew he had gone too far. Ashamed at his lack of control, he looked away.

Obi-Wan stood quickly, backing away, not meeting the younger Jedi's eyes. "Anakin, I think we are done here. I would like to get cleaned up for the day—the katas took a lot out of me. If you'll excuse me…," he finished rather formally, and hurried out of the garden, forgetting his shoes and his cloak in his haste. Anakin's shoulders slumped, knowing that again he had disappointed his Master, and worse, he wasn't exactly sure what had just happened. No wonder the Council and Obi-Wan had their doubts about his abilities…he still couldn't meditate properly without upsetting his Master. Bloody Sith Hell…

Obi-Wan was nearly overcome by his emotions as he hurried back to his quarters. Pain, grief, jealousy, passion, love—all unbecoming and unallowed to a Jedi Master. Tears pricked the corners of his eyes, blurring his vision, breath catching in his chest. Great. What a model Master Jedi I've become. Running through the Temple barefoot. Overrun by useless emotions for his Padawan! Qui-Gon would be appalled. The Perfect Jedi, that's Obi-Wan Kenobi. In an unusual and flagrant disregard for the Force, he called upon it to both open the door and slam it closed behind him, as he stalked to his room. Muttering to himself, he yanked off his clothes, flung them to the floor, and stepped into the 'fresher. Bloody Sith Hell…