Chapter 5 Decisions and Back to Theed City

That night, as Anakin lay in bed, he thought about Obi-Wan's last words. Padme lay cradled in his arms and he caressed her shoulder as she stroked his chest.

"What is it, Annie?" She asked.

"Obi-Wan." He answered simply.

"Are you still worried about him?" She asked.

"Yes, he seems so…vulnerable." He replied.

"Well, he's been through a lot, my love; he just needs to get his strength back." She told him.

"It's more than that, Padme. He's always seemed strong to me, even when he was injured. He never complains and he just keeps everything to himself." He answered.

"When did you ever see him this badly hurt, Anakin? He just needs time." She assured him.

"I could believe that if I didn't see what's in his head. It's awful, he feels responsible for so many things…I don't know how he copes with it. I know I couldn't." Anakin said.

"What else is bothering you?" She asked.

"Nothing." Anakin answered.

"Not that again; no secrets, remember?" Padme said.

Anakin sighed; how did she always know he was holding something back from her? "Tonight, after dinner; when I went out on the balcony, we talked. I made him talk about Qui-Gon's death…and he…he wanted me to talk about something." He replied.

"Did he tell you what?"

"No, he didn't have to because I read his thoughts…my nightmare; he wants me to show it to him." Anakin explained.

"But, Annie; wouldn't that be a good thing?" Padme asked.

"No, if he actually saw it, he'd hate me." Anakin answered.

"Anakin! How could you even think that!" Padme exclaimed.

"You don't know the terrible things I did in that dream." Anakin replied. "I can't let him see that."

"Oh, Anakin, you didn't do any of that; what you did do was defend Master Windu by killing Chancellor Palpatine. Obi-Wan knows that." Padme said.

"I can't take that chance." Anakin replied.

"I think you're making a mistake; if Obi-Wan wants to see it, it's because he thinks it might help you." Padme insisted.

Anakin thought about; maybe she was right…but was Obi-Wan strong enough to handle it yet? "Maybe you're right; but I think I'll wait for a while before I show him. He's not ready yet even if he thinks he is." Anakin said after a few minutes.

"He's not ready, or you're not?" She asked.

"Both." He answered.

"Well, I think it would be a good idea if you shared it with him. Then you wouldn't feel so alone." She told him.

"I'm not alone; Zak knows." Anakin replied.

"Zak? Why did you show him and not Obi-Wan; he's so young?" Padme was shocked.

"It wasn't intentional; I was trying to help him after Obi-Wan was taken and he was afraid of losing him. I wanted him to know that Obi-Wan was still alive and I guess I opened up too much. I didn't even know I'd done it until he came to me about it." Anakin explained. "The funny thing was he was more worried about me than he was himself. He wanted me to know that he didn't hold it against me."

"He is extraordinary, isn't he? I don't know why I was so angry with him. I don't think there's a mean bone in his body." Padme said.

Anakin had to smile at that, "He can be mean when he has to be. You should have seen him when the JK Clones tried to take his lightsaber from him; I think he would have taken all of them on if I hadn't stopped him." Anakin told her.

"But never with us; and he certainly had a reason to be with me, I wasn't very nice to him in the beginning." Padme replied; then she changed back to their original conversation. "Show it to Obi-Wan; he'll understand, he wants to understand and he wants to help you."

"I know." Anakin answered.

"Then are you going to show him?" She asked.

"Yes, but not yet; not till he's stronger." He replied as he rolled over on top of her and smiled. "Right now, I want to do something else."

"What?" She asked innocently.

"You know 'what'." He whispered in her ear and then moved to kiss her neck….

The next morning they spent packing to return to Theed City. As much as Anakin wished to stay, he and Padme knew that they had jobs waiting for them at home. Anakin had hoped that Obi-Wan and Zak would stay on at their Lake House for an additional week, but Obi-Wan did not wish to take advantage of the hospitality that he and Padme had offered. He said when they returned to Theed City, he and Zak would catch a transport back to Coruscant. Anakin did not press the issue, but he had no intention of letting Obi-Wan leave Naboo so soon; he decided to let the matter drop until they got there. There was not much to pack, Zak and Obi-Wan, being Jedi had very little. Likewise, Anakin, still a habitual Jedi had next to nothing. However, for Padme and, of course, the twins, there was a bit more. Even so, by mid morning, they were ready to go.

"Anakin, before we leave, I want you to…" Obi-Wan began as they helped 3PO load the last of their things into the water transport; it was a little slower than the speeder, but much roomier.

"No, I know what you want, and the answer is no." Anakin interrupted.

"It would help you to share it with someone; I want to help you." Obi-Wan insisted. "You've done so much for me lately; please, let me do this."

"Don't make me do that, Obi-Wan; you won't like what you see." Anakin replied with a slight edge.

"I don't expect to like it; you don't. But it will help." Obi-Wan said.

Anakin remained stubbornly silent.

"Please, Anakin." Obi-Wan said.

Finally, after a few more moments of silence, Anakin compromised, "Not yet; soon, but just not yet." He promised.

"Soon; alright the next time you come to Coruscant then." Obi-Wan replied, still thinking that he and Zak were leaving later that day. "Then I have one other question for you; how long have you been speaking with Qui-Gon?"

Anakin paused; he had no idea how his friend was going to take the answer to that. Oh, well, he thought, I must as well just come right out with it, "Since I was 10." He said frankly.

"Ten? That long?" Obi-Wan replied in surprise. "He only just started speaking to me."

"No, he didn't, Obi-Wan; it's only that you just started to believe it was him. He's been trying to reach you for a long time." Anakin answered.

"Did he tell you that?" Obi-Wan wondered.

"Yes, but he said you were stubborn and you thought it was only your imagination." Anakin told him. "It has been him, all along."

"Oh dear; I did think that." Obi-Wan admitted. "What a waste."

"Well, you know better now." Anakin replied.

"If you've been listening to him that long, he must have told you about Palpatine." Obi-Wan said.

Anakin sighed very deeply and closed his eyes for just a moment before turning to look Obi-Wan right in the face, "Yes, and that was one of the things I didn't listen to him about." He confessed. "It seems we have this in common, my brother; when he spoke to me, I didn't listen and when he spoke to you, you didn't believe it was him."

"Poor Qui-Gon." Obi-Wan sighed.

Once everything was stowed and the droids were onboard, they all climbed in for the ride back to the city. Zak sat in the larger seat with the twins on either side of him. They had fallen asleep, as they were accustomed to do at that time of the morning, and had their heads resting on his shoulders. Obi-Wan eyed him for a moment, sitting there, studying the ever-present data pad, unmoving so as not to wake them. Sensing that he was being watched, he looked up from his studies and smiled at his master. Obi-Wan smiled back and closed his eyes to meditate. Padme sat next to Anakin as he piloted the craft swiftly across the lake.

"Have you told him yet?" She asked.

"I tried; but you know him, he wants to leave for Coruscant this afternoon." Anakin answered.

"You're not going to let them leave, are you?" She asked.

"No; but I won't tell Obi-Wan that until we get to Theed City." He told her.

"Good, because he's not ready yet." Padme said.

Anakin smiled as he looked over at her, "I love you, you know." He said in response.

She smiled back at him, "Yes, I know." She answered.

When they arrived at the city harbor, a short slightly heated 'discussion' ensued between Anakin and Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan, of course, was adamant about leaving that afternoon while Anakin was just as stubborn to make them stay. Zak and Padme listened in amusement as these two close friends exchanged words. In the end, Obi-Wan relented knowing that he would have no peace until he agreed to stay at Anakin and Padme's home outside the city. Privately, Obi-Wan was concerned about Zak's prolonged absence from Coruscant and felt that the longer he stayed away, the harder it would be for him to face what had happened to Grel and Amedda in the courtroom that fateful afternoon.

"He'll be fine, brother; he's very strong and I think he's working it out." Anakin assured him. "I can read his thoughts, you know."

"Can you read everyone's thoughts?" Obi-Wan asked.

"No, only those I am close to…those that I know." He answered.

"And you're sure about Zak?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Very sure." Anakin replied.

"Alright, you win…again; I guess we'll stay." Obi-Wan said as he finally gave in.

"For the week." Anakin stated.

"For the week." Obi-Wan agreed.

"Great! Zak, I have a special surprise for you." Anakin told the young Padawan. "How would you like a flying lesson in one of our fighters? That is, if your master agrees."

Zak turned to look at Obi-Wan, hoping for a positive response…

"Why not? You'll have to learn eventually, it might as well be with the best pilot in the galaxy." He replied without hesitation.

"Yes!" Zak exclaimed as he back flipped out of sheer exuberance.

Alright, the fun begins at the end of the next chapter; hope you enjoy the ride...