Disclaimer: We don't own Star Wars.

Full summary: Sequel to The Heir. QuiGon Jinn and Anakin Skywalker are once more being united with ObiWan. Much has changed over the past five years. Will they be able to work together with each of them harboring dark secrets? QuiAni

Warnings: Slash, JA reference, drug use, language

Pairing(s): Qui-GonxAnakin (subdued GarenxObi)

Fic type: AU, romance

Bizarre speaks: Ready for something to actually, happen? I know I am. I love Aurelia, I have a picture of her, and yes, she is rather a blatant rip off of Aurelia from Love Actually.

Jayne2- I completely agree with you. QuiAni is disgusting. Really. That was Aubreys idiotic idea. And Qui-Gon has not forgotten Obi-Wan at all. But in TMP he was very caught up with Ani, and Obi-Wan didn't like it. It's all playing straight off of that.

Chosen
Volume Three
Reunion
Chapter I: Reign In

Anakin Skywalker was the wedge that drove Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn apart. When they'd found the child on Tatooine, Obi-Wan had protested. He agreed with the Council, Anakin was too old. But, Master Qui-Gon would not listen. He took the boy in and gave up Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan had been more shocked than pleased to learn that Qui-Gon was finally letting him go for the Trials. The older man had resisted for so long, unwilling to give up his Padawan. Now he wasn't thinking of Obi-Wan at all. The 'Chosen One' was the only thing that mattered.

So Obi-Wan hid his pain. Jedi were not supposed to feel attachment, anyway. He would be fine. He took and passed the Trials, then left the rooms he'd shared with his Master. Anakin quickly took his place. Obi-Wan stayed at the Jedi Temple and helped to train young Anakin for a time.

When Anakin was twelve, his relationship with Master Qui-Gon changed. It grew into something Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan never had. Though for a time Obi-Wan yearned for such.

Obi-Wan disapproved and he wasn't going to stand by Qui-Gon this time. Master Jinn had broken the bond of loyalty and trust. Now Obi-Wan had no reason to stay. Truthfully, he hadn't in years. He'd only remained because of his strong emotions.

Only Anakin noticed when the young Knight left. The boy was afraid it was forever. But, when he asked Master Yoda, he learned that Obi-Wan was just gone on a mission. Then another. And another and another…

Eventually he spoke to Qui-Gon about it. "Master," Ani said shyly, "I haven't seen Obi-Wan in a long time."

"He is finally taking his responsibilities as a Knight seriously, Padawan," Qui-Gon nodded thoughtfully.

The twelve year old frowned. "I would like to see him."

"We shall," the old man replied.

But they didn't see Obi-Wan. Master Qui-Gon seemed not to think on it. Anakin did, though. He agonized over it. Over his three years at the Temple, Ani had made friends with Obi-Wan. Why had Obi-Wan left? Why didn't the Knight try to contact him, ever?

At a Jedi event Anakin spotted another friend of Obi-Wan's, Bant Erin. He broke away from his Master to speak with the Mon Calamari.

"Mistress Bant!" he called.

"Why if it isn't little Ani," she smiled, gazing down at him with her huge silvery eyes. "How have you been?"

"Oh, I've been fine."

"And what can I do for you, Padawan?"

"When was the last time you saw Obi-Wan?" he tentatively asked.

Bant's expression fell. Her fishy jowls sliding lower. "Almost a year now." Thick lips quivering, she looked like she might cry.

Anakin felt like crying, too. "He won't see you either?"

"No, little one. He will not," the Mon Calamari Jedi sighed. " I do not know what he runs from, but he rarely comes to the Temple. And when he does, talks only to Master Yoda and Garen."

"Oh," Anakin's head drooped and he shuffled back to Qui-Gon's side.

"What were you up to?" the Master asked.

"I asked Mistress Bant about Obi-Wan."

"Ah," Qui-Gon did not pursue the matter. Obi-Wan didn't even seem to register on his mind. Someone he'd known for years! The boy he'd trained, who he'd comforted at bad times. The boy who'd stood by him after Tahl, his wife, died.

Qui-Gon awoke on Anakin's thirteenth birthday to find the apprentice gone.

'Padawan?' he reached through their training bond for Ani.

'Yes, Master?'

'Where are you?'

'I'll be back soon.'

'That is not what I asked.'

Silence.

Qui-Gon sighed and got up. He was a bit excited about his Padawan's birthday. Ani was another year older. Each birthday made Qui-Gon feel less like a pedophile. He was waiting on the couch when Anakin returned. The kid was holding something in his cupped hands, looking solemn.

"What is that?" Qui-Gon inquired, patting the couch next to him.

Anakin sat so Qui-Gon could see what he held. It was the river stone Qui-Gon had given Obi-Wan on his thirteenth birthday.

"Obi-Wan gave it to me," Anakin said softly.

Qui-Gon's throat constricted emotionally, against his will. "Did he?"

"Yes," Ani replied. "It feels strange, Master."

"What do you mean?"

"It's cold…sad."

"The stone?"

"Yes, Master."

Qui-Gon took a slow breath. "Is Obi-Wan still here?"

"No, Master," Anakin hung his head. "I met him in the hangar. He just gave this to me, saying happy birthday. Then he got on a ship and left."

Qui-Goon silently cursed Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan, on the other hand, was having a silent jubilee. That blasted rock was the last thing holding him back. Now it was gone. He was free! He smiled widely and called Bant from the ship. They talked for hours until he had to sign off. He promised to come visit her when he returned.

Obi-Wan actually spent short periods of time at the Temple now. He even showed up to a gathering of the Jedi. Both Qui-Gon and Anakin saw him. But, when they tried to reach him, he dodged into the crowd. Anakin was very hurt and Qui-Gon frustrated that Obi-Wan wouldn't give him a chance to apologize. At one point he even tried reaching down their long severed training bond. He was met by a snarl and a fizz of disconnection.

In time they forgot about him. Neither really knew Obi-Wan Kenobi and if they met up with him they wouldn't have recognized the Knight. He'd become a loner. Similar to how Qui-Gon had been before taking Obi-Wan as his Padawan. Reclusive, no desire for company outside of Bant. Though he still spent the night with Garen from time to time.

Finally Master Yoda, in his infinite wisdom, ordered Kenobi be assigned a mission with Qui-Gon and Anakin.

Now eighteen, Anakin didn't seem to care at all. He remembered Obi-Wan, but his fragile feelings had recovered from the pain. Qui-Gon, on the other hand, had serious reservations, but kept them to himself. Both were a little shocked when they finally saw Obi-Wan. Kenobi had grown a full beard. He wore his hair long, pulled back in a ponytail. Some of the strands had beads braided into them. He didn't look like Obi-Wan.

"Yo," the long lost Jedi Knight called mildly. He was watching cargo being loaded onto the ship.

"Hello, Knight Kenobi," Qui-Gon replied cautiously.

Anakin just bowed.

"Yeeeah," Obi-Wan drawled. "Master Jinn, Skywalker," he replied stiffly.

Anakin eyed him in silence, unsure if he should smile. After a moment he did, though. "Good to see again, Obi-Wan," Ani murmured. "It's been a long time."

"Yeah," Obi-Wan nodded. "What, like five years, or so?"

Qui-Gon started to say something, but Obi-Wan cut him off. "Time to get onboard. Hope this mission goes smoothly. In the mean time I am going to see if this tub has a lounge." With that he disappeared into the ship.

The Jedi Master frowned. Obi-Wan had just walked off…

"He's changed," Anakin commented, then followed Obi-Wan up the boarding ramp. The kid was more excited about seeing his old friend than he was admitting.

Qui-Gon could see very well that Obi-Wan had changed. That knowledge made him even more uncomfortable. Taking a moment to reign in his emotions, he followed the two younger Jedi onto the ship.

To Be Continued...