A/N: Hey everyone, sorry its taken so long to get this up, i've been really busy. Only one more chapter to post now and then this is done. I am going from here to Finish the bond that binds us, and also I have a Dukes of Hazzard Fic coming soon and then another Star Wars one which I am currently working on.

Just to explain, this chapter kind of has a reminissing bit by Obi-Wan at the end that is set in the third year of the clone wars before Anakin turns. It kinda fits in with my story so thats why the sudden change in time frame. Hope it works!
Anyways, enjoy this chapter and remember to reveiw:-)

Disclamer: Any movie quotes in this chapter are entirly George Lucas' property.

"Do you believe what Count Dooku said about Sidious controlling the Senate? It doesn't feel right."

I lean gently on the window frame of one of the huge windows of the Jedi Temple and gaze out over the sunset lit city at the swarms of clones that are being loaded onto many transport ships, each unit ready to fight the battles the separatists have already started.

What Dooku had said to me on Geneosis had eaten at my mind since being held in his clutches. Could it be possible that Sidious really is controlling the senate, that everything that was and is happening is under a sith's direction, that Qui-Gon died in vain because we still allowed the sith to come to such power? Dooku had said that Qui-Gon would have helped him…if Qui-Gon knew what Dooku apparently did, would he have? At the time I had denied it, but now I have the time to think, it makes me wonder.

I look up as the soft, wise voice of Master Yoda fills the chamber, eerily empty except for him, myself and Mace Windu.

"Become unreliable, Dooku has. Joined the Dark Side. Lies, deceit, creating mistrust are his ways now."

I nod, accepting Master Yoda's words, yet still feeling something was not right about what Dooku had said. I look back to Mace as he speaks, and nod grimly as he voices my uncertainty as his own.

"Never the less, I feel we should keep a closer eye on the Senate."

"I agree."

A gentle, uncomfortable silence descends among us and what we were really going to do hits home. We were going to have to spy on the senate, watch and monitor al their activities and decisions. One word springs instantly to my mind, and stays imprinted there as I look down at my feet. Treason.

"Obi-Wan, where is your apprentice?"

I look back to hazel eyes, suddenly remembering the whole reason I was there in the first place. Anakin had already left, and I had decided to only inform the council after he had gone, mainly because I know he needs a break to sort out his own head, but also because I want him to rest before we get sent to all ends of the galaxy again.

"On his way to Naboo, escorting Senator Amidala home."

I turn and look out the window again as I hear the clatter of thousands of armored boots start to move again, and I remember back to Geneosis. I desperately want to move the conversation away from Anakin; therefore I carry on my report.

"I have to admit, without the clones it would not have been a victory."

"Victory? Victory you say?"

Master Yoda's voice hums sorrowfully grave in the air, and as I turn back to look at him, I see the signs of grief behind wise eyes. Grief for the death of any hope that negotiations would help this struggle with the separatists, and suddenly, I already know what he is going to say before he even says it.

"Master Obi-Wan, not victory. The shroud of the dark side has fallen…begun, the clone wars have."

Sighing I nod, looking down to the floor, the uncomfortable, grieving silence broken only by the roar of departing ships and clacking of boots outside. Eventually I see Mace sigh and bow respectfully to Master Yoda, an action that I am quick to follow.

As I walk down the corridor of the temple, I realize how little I actually have to do now that my report on the mission had been done. Usually, I would be running around with Anakin, trying to get him to spar or meditate, most of the time trying to keep him out of trouble.

I head wearily up to the apartment, looking forward to a nice week long break myself, having greatly deserved it. My wounds from the battle with Dooku have nicely healed thanks to Bant's careful instruction and care, all that remained now was to rest up to gain my strength back.

However, as I get nearer to the apartment, I realize that something isn't quite right, that someone is already in there. I quickly pull my lightsaber to my hand, and step cautiously into the room, keeping my guard up….until I catch a glimpse of long black hair, and the soft humming of her voice.

"Bant…"

"Oh hi Obi-Wan. I just came by to get the rest of the med equipment I left here."

"Of course sorry. You startled me a little. I wasn't expecting anyone to be here, with Anakin being away."

She stands up, smiling wistfully at me before swiftly continuing her work, although I still manage to catch her whisper of "I know you didn't…you never do anymore.", and sigh as I recognize the underlying tone of hurt and disappointment.

"Bant, we've been over this…"

I watch shocked as she suddenly slams everything she was carrying down onto Anakin's bed and turns sharply to me, trying to control the tears in her eyes that I can see re threatening to fall.

"It doesn't stop it hurting though Obi-Wan! I have never forgotten how you used to hold me, to whisper to me, to kiss me. You were always there when I needed you and when I didn't. You made me feel special Obi-Wan; you're the only one I ever dared to fall in love with."

"That's gone now…Bant, we've moved on."

"No Obi-Wan! You moved on, you were forced to! What happened to you? What did those people do to you that made you forget about us so quickly? What could they possibly have done that made you forget what we had was so special, that would make you throw away the thing you swore to me meant more to you than life itself?"

"I don't want to talk about this Bant…"

"You need to, I need you to! What if it happens again but this time its Anakin who you wind up forgetting!"

"I could never forget him."

"That's what you said about us once too."

She's in front of me now, her hand placed tenderly on my cheek, gazing sadly at me with soft green eyes. I want to say something to her, to remind her that I can't go down that path again…that losing her and suffering the consequences of my actions back then is a pain that I can not deal with again. But her finger finds my lips as they open and silences me instantly, the place that she touched tingling.

"I love you Kenobi, I always have done, and I always will do. I don't know what they did to the Obi-Wan I knew, all I know is when you came back, he had gone. Is he just hiding, or is he as dead as he appears to be?"

I have to look way, down to the floor as memories come flooding back, the memories of the old Obi-Wan I can still see shining in Anakin's own personality. And that's when I realize what I am…who I have become and how I am destined to live the rest of my life. I look back up to her, my voice just a whisper.

"He's a memory Bant; he was never real to me. This is how I am meant to be, how I am meant to live my life. I am a father now, a role model that Anakin needs to look up to so he doesn't end up like I did. That means I have sacrifices that I need to make, and I made them 15 years ago."

"Then our love is just a memory….a memory or a dream that was never real…"

"A dream that never can be…I'm sorry."

I watch sadly as she sobs and turns away, gathering her things and heading towards the door, stopping and turning back to me to whisper one thing to me before she leaves.

"To you, he's just a memory, but to me he was my life, my soul, my heart. I guess that means my life is now and has always been….just a memory….a dream that was never real."

I can't look at her as she walks away, and I never did again.

Just one standard year into the battles that created the farce of the Clone Wars, Bant was killed in action when her troop's med centre was blown to pieces by the separatists on the planet of Bogdon. Her death, and the way we parted still haunts me, the fact that I never said a proper goodbye still reminds me what I threw away.

But when I look at Anakin, all that disappears, I think of what I had to sacrifice to get to where I am today, and feel proud that I did so. I have a son, a brother and a best friend all rolled into one person who I couldn't care more about. We all make choices that we see at the time as bad or inexcusable, but in the end it defines us, makes us who we are, and molds us into what we are in later life. And right now, I couldn't be happier to be Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi Master, friend, father and brother to Anakin Skywalker.