Author Note: So here we go guys, the next chapter. And don't worry. Anakin won't be as much of a wimp as Paris, although I have nothing against Paris (he's a darm sight braver than any boy I know!)
Later on that night, a group of Nubian soldiers were lying on goatskins and furs around a bonfire built in the middle of the courtyard. Some were sleeping; some continued to drink and sing old Nubian songs.
Obi-Wan stood by the fire, conferring with Dexter, a bull-necked and big built captain of the elite Theed Guard.
"Make the proper offerings to the sea god before we sail. We don't need any more widows in Naboo."
"Goat or pig?" Dexter asked.
"Which does the Sea God prefer?" came the reply and Dexter smiled.
"I'll wake the priest and ask him."
Dexter bowed and exited the courtyard. Obi-Wan saw Anakin slinking past the bonfire, sneaking toward his quarters.
"Anakin!" he called out and Anakin turned, smiled and waved, acting as if he hadn't seen Obi-Wan before. He ambled over to join his brother.
"You should get to bed. We won't sleep on land again for weeks."
"I have no trouble sleeping in space. The stars sing lullabies to me."
"And who sang lullabies to you tonight?" Obi-Wan asked suspiciously.
Anakin froze for a moment but quickly regained his poise.
"Tonight? Tonight was the fisherman's wife. A lovely creature,"he replied. rather convincingly, Obi-Wan thought.
"I hope you didn't let the fisherman catch you."
"He's more concerned with the fish," Anakin smiled and started to walk away, but Obi-Wan took his arm and held him back.
"You do understand why we're in Endor, don't you?" he asked seriously.
"For peace," Anakin replied, a little confused at his brother's behaviour.
"And you do understand that Grievous, Leader of Endor, is a powerful man? And that his father, Sidious, Lord of Coruscant, commands all the Imperial forces?" Obi-Wan continued.
"What does this have to do with the fisherman's wife?" Anakin asked. Obi-Wan replied by seizing Anakin's face between the palms of his hands. Not a violent gesture, exactly, but not gentle, either.
"Anakin. You're my brother, and I love you. But if you do anything to endanger Naboo I'll rip your pretty face from your pretty skull." And with that he kissed Anakin on the forehead.
"Get some sleep, we leave in the morning." He gave Anakin a little push towards his quarters and Anakin, a little shocked by the encounter, stumbled away.
Just after the Nubian yacht had made the jump to hyperspace, Anakin joined Obi-Wan in the living area. Obi-Wan was sitting whittling a spaceship out of wood.
"The Gods have blessed our voyage," Anakin commented as he sat beside Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan looked up for a moment.
Sometimes the gods bless you in the morning and curse you in the afternoon," he replied, before returning to his little carving.
Anakin watched his brother work the wood. When Anakin spoke again his tone was more sober than Obi-Wan had heard for a long time.
"Do you love me, brother?" Anakin asked, avoiding eye contact. Obi-Wan rested the knife on the table and smiled.
"What have you done now?" he asked knowingly.
"I need to show you something," Anakin replied, walking towards a staircase that led below into the sleeping quarters of the ship. Obi-Wan watched him for a moment before following.
Anakin paused in front of his cabin door.
"Before you get angry with me --" Anakin started.
"Open the door," Obi-Wan interupted, so Anakin obediently opened the door. Padme's wearing Anakin's hooded robe, sat on the edge of a hammock, swinging slightly. She stood when she saw Obi-Wan, who could only stare at her in disbelief. He turned and glared at Anakin.
"If you weren't my brother, I'd kill you where you stand," he growled before turning and storming back up to the living area.
"Obi-Wan --" Anakin called, but Obi-Wan was already gone. Padme just looked at Anakin.
"We'll never have peace," she sighed.
"I don't want peace. I want you." There was so much determination in his voice that Padme wondered just what lengths Anakin would go to, to make sure he got her.
He kissed her, a deep loving kiss - the two of them against the galaxy - then he turned to catch up with his brother.