Thank you all so much for your incredible reviews! You are so thoughtful! And yes, this story will probably turn Obidala...eventually. But I'll be keeping to the ROTS timeline.

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Obi-Wan soon joined Padme out on the balcony. He looked at the wet towel and glanced back inside with a smile. "Thank you for cleaning up my little lake." He ran his fingers through his still damp hair.

Padme chuckled. "You're welcome." She liked the way he wore his hair now. It had some length on the top, but was much shorter than it used to be.

"I still have an hour before the Council meeting. Are you hungry?"

Padme felt her stomach rumbling, as if in answer to his question. "As a matter of fact, I am."

Obi-Wan started to head back inside. "How do pancakes sound?"

Padme cocked her brow in mild surprise. "Wonderful."

Obi-Wan caught her look. With mock-indignation he said, "Yes, I do actually know how to cook."

Padme struggled not to laugh. "I just find it hard to picture you, General Kenobi, in an apron, working over a hot stove!"

"Well, Force knows, I wasn't going to let Anakin cook! And Qui-Gon wasn't much better! Cooking was one chore I gladly took upon myself as a teen."

Padme laughed at the mention of Anakin's infamous lack of culinary skill. He had once tried to make dinner for her and had failed miserably. He had left the kitchen a disaster area and the cook had barred him from ever entering her territory again. "So, Qui-Gon was no chef, eh?"

Obi-Wan glanced at her with his dancing eyes as he rifled through his cabinets. "HE thought he was quite good. Unfortunately, he was the ONLY one who thought so. Master Yoda started coming up with excuses as to why he couldn't join us for meals. He started accepting the invitations again when I usurped Qui-Gon's position as cook."

"What can I do to help?"

Now it was Obi-Wan's turn to cock his brow in question. "Do YOU know how to cook, Miss Senator and former Queen?"

"Well, um…"

"Uh, huh. Thought so." Obi-Wan couldn't suppress his grin. "Maybe I can get the kids to cook…"

"Obi-Wan!" Padme smacked him on the shoulder. "Surely you have a cook book? I would like to think that I can follow a recipe."

Obi-Wan pulled a thick book out of a cabinet and handed it to her. "Don't try anything too extravagant at first." He knew he should probably lay off, but he was having way too much fun.

Padme sent him a withering look before retreating to the dining area. She sat down at the table and started paging through the book. She would show Obi-Wan that she could cook! As a heavenly odor wafted over from the kitchen, her stomach started loudly protesting its hunger.

Obi-Wan poked his head out of the kitchen. "There are a few ready if you want to go ahead and eat."

"No, I'll wait for you."

Before long, they were sitting down to their breakfast. Padme took a bite of her pancakes. "Considering your merciless teasing, I don't know why I'm about to say this…But these pancakes are wonderful!"

"Thank you. And I apologize for being merciless." His smirk belied his apology.

"So, what have you got planned for today?"

"Well, the Chancellor heard I was back and wants to meet with me after the Council meeting." Obi-Wan sounded less than enthusiastic. He knew he could be open with her, as she didn't exactly think highly of the Chancellor herself.

Padme smiled at him. "I'm sure that will be the highlight of your day." The smile suddenly fell off her face. "Anakin is meeting with him right now."

Obi-Wan frowned. "I should have expected that. I don't trust that man's influence on Anakin."

"I don't either. But if I question Anakin about it he gets angry and defensive."

"Tell me about it!" Obi-Wan glanced at the chrono. "Oh, I better get going." He got up from the table and put on his cloak. "The rest of the pancakes are in the warmer. Please tell the children that I said goodbye."

"I will."

"I probably won't be able to join you guys for lunch, so I guess I'll see you this evening." Obi-Wan started to head for the door but turned back. "And Padme, thanks again for doing this."

"You're welcome." Padme watched him as he left. She was thoughtful as she cleared away the dishes. There was so much about Obi-Wan that was a mystery to her. She hoped that this would provide the opportunity to understand who he truly was and what made him tick.

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Chancellor Palpatine studied Anakin across the breakfast table. Slowly but surely, he could see the young man changing and questioning his life as a Jedi. The manipulation was working beyond expectations. Anakin was quite…malleable. "I've heard that Senator Amidala will be staying at the Temple for a while."

Anakin was only mildly surprised that the Chancellor knew about it. The man seemed to know everything. "Yes, that's right." He tried to sound nonchalant.

Palpatine knew very well the young Knight was anything but happy at the prospect of his wife staying with his former master. Oh, yes, he knew about the supposedly secret marriage. He had many informants across the galaxy, especially on his home planet of Naboo. "You can't exactly be happy that she's staying with Master Kenobi."

Anakin shrugged. "Padme is helping Obi-Wan as a friend."

"Are you sure that's all it is?"

Anakin's head popped up. "What do you mean?" He felt his insides twist up.

"They just seem very comfortable with each other – for a Jedi Master and a Senator."

Anakin tried to squelch his own fears in that regard. "They're just friends. They've gotten closer since Geonosis."

"Ah." Palpatine smiled inwardly. He had planted the seed and that would be enough. "I also heard that you are being sent on a mission tomorrow. So, you will finally get to be a field commander. At last you will get to prove your prowess to the Council."

Anakin hadn't thought about it that way. He'd seen it almost as a punishment. "You're right. I WILL be a field commander."

"You will finally be out from under Master Kenobi's thumb."

Irritation showed on Anakin's face. "Obi-Wan does not hold me under his thumb! He's not like that."

"Forgive me, my boy, I don't mean to offend. Let me rephrase that. You'll finally be out of Master Kenobi's shadow."

Anakin slumped in his seat. "I don't think that'll ever happen."

"Nonsense! You're twice the Jedi he is! Soon everyone will see it." Oh, this was so much fun! Palpatine just loved playing on Anakin's abundant arrogance. "Use this mission as an opportunity to showcase your skills! The media will broadcast your accomplishments throughout the galaxy!"

Anakin sat up straight. "You're right, Chancellor. I will. I'll show the galaxy just what the Chosen One means!" He was glad for the Chancellor's wise words. He'd make the most of this upcoming mission!

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Obi-Wan walked into Chancellor's office later that morning. He really hated coming here to the Senate building. With all the media buzz about 'Kenobi & Skywalker,' he couldn't go anywhere without garnering attention. But here at the Senate building it seemed worse.

"Ah, Master Kenobi." Chancellor Palpatine got up from behind his desk. "It's good to have you back."

"Thank you, Chancellor." Obi-Wan always felt a bit of discomfort around this man.

"How were things on Kataan?" The Chancellor indicated for Obi-Wan to sit as he reclaimed his place behind his enormous desk.

"They went well. But there was a real possibility there for a while of things going horribly wrong."

"You speak of the leak in the media."

"I do. One loose-lipped reporter very nearly lost us that battle. Many lives could have been lost needlessly."

"It was an unfortunate situation. But you managed to save the day with some of your renowned quick thinking."

Obi-Wan frowned. "Chancellor, I am not going to allow anyone from the media to be present at any more strategy sessions."

Palpatine's eyes narrowed. "You will not ALLOW?"

"I understand that you feel part of this war is a PR war, but giving the media detailed information on what we are planning is dangerous. I will not be a party to it anymore. If you want the media to continue to be intimately involved, then you can find another strategist."

The Chancellor leaned forward. "Are you threatening me, Master Kenobi?"

Obi-Wan stared at Palpatine impassively. "I do not threaten, Chancellor. I am merely informing you of my decision."

Palpatine stared back at the younger man. Obi-Wan's face was calm but his eyes were filled with steely determination. He had the feeling he was being introduced to the young Master's tenacious side. In order for things to go as planned, Palpatine knew he needed Obi-Wan – at least for now. He sat back in his chair with a resigned sigh. "You're right, of course. We cannot risk losing battles over this."

"The media can still be given access to very general information on our operations."

The Chancellor nodded. "Agreed. I hear you will be staying on Coruscant for a while. That is good. The Republic will benefit from having you as its full-time strategist."

"Thank you, Chancellor." Obi-Wan went into detail about the events that took place on Kataan. He also offered his opinion on a few reports that the Chancellor had recently received. But now, he was eager to get going. "Will there be anything else, Chancellor?"

"No, that is all for now. But I must say it again, I am impressed with the job you are doing for the Republic."

Obi-Wan got up and bowed. "Thank you, Chancellor. I'm afraid that I must take my leave. I have much to do today."

"Of course." Palpatine watched as Obi-Wan left. Unlike Anakin, Obi-Wan was not one who could be manipulated. Palpatine had tried. There was a time when he had wanted the young man to take the place of the apprentice he had killed. Manipulation hadn't worked, so he had then tried a more forceful approach to luring Obi-Wan to the Dark Side. That didn't work either.

The Chancellor had to admit that Obi-Wan was as firmly embedded in the Light Side as he was in the Dark. It was a pity, really. As much as he coveted Anakin's power as the Chosen One, a part of him wished he could have someone with Obi-Wan's keen insight, wisdom and steady resolve. Oh, well. I will continue to be the brains and Anakin can be the brawn.