Hello, All! Thank you so much for your faithful reviews! I think Padme would more readily be willing to acknowledge her feelings, while Obi-Wan would be more apt to deny their depth. For Anakin, the ROTS novel made it clear that Obi is his anchor to the Light Side. Without him he was lost. I hope I'm doing the characters justice!

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Padme could tell that Obi-Wan was starting to wake up. She lifted her head up again to greet him. A slowly enlarging circle of blue started to appear beneath his long lashes. "Good morning."

"Good morning to you." Obi-Wan rubbed the sleep out of his eyes with his free hand. "How did you sleep?"

"Better than I have in a long time, thanks to you." Padme snuggled herself onto his chest again.

"I'm glad I could help."

Padme smiled wickedly as a thought struck. "I watched a gossip show last night."

"Why would you waste your time on that drivel?"

"I couldn't sleep, remember? I figured I would see what she had to say about you."

Obi-Wan groaned. "I don't even want to know."

"You've become THE distraction from the war."

"That's it! I'm growing my beard back!"

Padme's head popped up. "You can't! If you grow your beard back right away, the media will think they've intimidated you!"

"They have! I admit it!"

"Well, you can't let them know that! They'll know that they have some power over you and they'll try to exploit it." She watched as he ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. "You know I'm right."

Obi-Wan scowled. "Yeah, well, that doesn't mean I have to like it."

Padme giggled and put her head back down. "It'll get better. Just give it time."

"Hmph." Obi-Wan self-consciously stroked his chin. "Oh, I forgot to tell you that I received a call from the head of the adoption network yesterday."

Padme raised up onto her elbow. "What did she say?"

"She's already had quite a few people express interest in adopting Kira. It'll probably take a while to narrow down the choices, run background checks and all that. But she's sure that Kira will have new parents relatively soon."

"That's wonderful! Have you heard anything more on the boys' parents?"

"Just that they still haven't been found. Naylon is in chaos right now. Cities that are still standing are now crowded with refugees. Communications are still at a minimum, except for official business. It may take longer to find them than I initially thought." Obi-Wan looked at Padme pensively. "Padme, I don't want you to feel obligated to stay here the entire time it may take to help these kids."

Padme moved her hand to rest over his heart. "I don't feel obligated at all. The time I've spent here has been a joy and a blessing. I'd be glad to stay as long as it takes."

Obi-Wan covered her hand with his. "Thank you." He suddenly felt like he was getting lost in her big, brown eyes. He felt a strong connection to her and he was enjoying her company WAY too much. A picture of a very angry and hurt Anakin popped into his mind. "I do believe you owe me some french toast." They needed to get out of this intimate position soon!

Padme disagreed. She rested her head again on his chest. "I know." She wasn't willing to let this moment end just yet. She wanted to wake up like this every morning!

Considering Padme's obvious reluctance to move, Obi-Wan decided to open himself to the warmth of the Force. He relaxed as it flowed through his body, taking with it his confusing and unwanted emotions. He couldn't allow himself to get caught up in these newly developing feelings! He could not, would not betray Anakin like that. He would not break his vows to the Order. He was a member of the Council and needed to set a good example. There were too many reasons why an emotional attachment to Padme was out of the question. I'm a disciplined Jedi Master. I can do this. I can remain detached.

Padme felt Obi-Wan relax underneath her. The hand over his heart felt its beating slow to a steadier pace. His warm hand was still covering hers. She had the urge to lace her fingers with his, but decided against it. It might seem too intimate. She didn't want to push too far and risk their relationship becoming uncomfortable. She would just have to accept that her feelings were one-sided.

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Obi-Wan went to answer the beeping holocom. He clicked it on to see Anakin's face looking at him.

"Good morning, Master."

Obi-Wan kept his face and his voice neutral. "Good morning."

Anakin took a deep breath. He hated seeing the wariness in Obi-Wan's eyes, rather than the usual warmth. "I apologize for the way I spoke to you last night. I do know you, Master, better than anyone. I know none of this is your doing." Anakin bit his lip anxiously. "I'm sorry I haven't been a good friend lately. Do you forgive me?"

"Yes, Anakin, I forgive you." Obi-Wan studied him for a moment. "When was the last time you meditated?"

Anakin's face turned instantly sheepish. Blast! He knows ME too well! "Not since the day we arrived back at the Temple."

Obi-Wan stifled the exasperated sigh that so desperately wanted to escape. "And why is that?"

"Master, you know I don't like meditating!"

"It's a necessary discipline for any Jedi."

"I know that, but…" Anakin didn't know if he wanted to continue his thought.

Obi-Wan cocked an eyebrow. "But?"

"I just…I'd rather meditate with you. Meditating doesn't seem like such a chore when you're doing it with me."

"That may be so, but it doesn't change the fact that you need to do it, whether I'm with you or not. I want you to promise me that you'll meditate at least an hour every day."

Anakin almost felt like a young padawan again. "All right, Master. I promise."

"Good." Obi-Wan flashed him a grin. "Now maybe you'll stop biting everyone's head off!"

Anakin returned the grin. "Possibly." At least Obi-Wan was joking with him again. "Master, do you have any idea how much longer it will be before you join me here?"

"I have no idea how long I'll have to remain here. And I don't know what the Council's plans will be for me once I'm ready again for active duty."

Anakin's face fell. "But surely they wouldn't permanently separate us! As a team, we're a huge asset to the Republic!" He hadn't even considered the possibility of Obi-Wan being given a different assignment.

Anakin's distress was a confirmation to Obi-Wan of Padme's words the night before. He needed to handle this delicately. "As I said, I don't know what the plans are yet. It will probably be a while before it's even an issue. Don't worry about it just yet."

Anakin's mouth was set in a hard line. "We're a team. We should be together." His face suddenly brightened. "Master, you could request that we be assigned together! They'll listen to you!"

Oh, boy. Obi-Wan thought that maybe it would do them both good to be separated for a while. Maybe that would help to wean Anakin from his dependence. But then again, if he told Anakin that he didn't want to make that request of the Council, their current truce would be extremely short-lived. He didn't really have a choice. Obi-Wan pasted on a smile. "Of course I'll request that The Team be kept together."

Anakin was palpably relieved. "Thank you, Master!" Once Obi-Wan was back where he belonged, his life could get back to normal.

"I better go, Anakin."

"Okay. Is Padme up yet?"

"She is, but she's busy cooking breakfast."

"Padme is cooking?" Anakin looked stunned.

"Yes. And I haven't come down with food poisoning yet!" Obi-Wan ducked just in time to avoid the wet sponge that had been aimed directly for his head. He laughed as he turned to look at the irate senator standing in the doorway of the kitchen.

"Whoa, Master! I'd be careful if I were you. Padme has a temper!"

"So, I'm discovering. I better end this call, Anakin. I have a feeling I'll have some groveling to do before I'm allowed to eat."

"Okay. Um, Master? Please keep in touch. I, uh, miss your company."

"I miss your company, as well." When you're not acting like a jackass. "And I will keep in touch." After he ended the call, Obi-Wan sought out the offending sponge. He picked it up and cautiously moved over to the kitchen. He peeked around the door frame to be greeted by a glare that could melt durasteel.

"Food poisoning, eh?" Padme's hands were on her hips and her foot was tapping impatiently. "I'm of a mind to make you go hungry."

"You wouldn't do that to me, would you?" Obi-Wan slowly walked towards her. He put on his most high-wattage smile. "I'm sorry for the wisecrack. Despite my jokes, I really do like your cooking."

Padme found her resolve to remain angry slipping as he moved closer with that devastating smile. She folded her arms across her chest and pursed her lips to keep from returning the smile. It's blasted impossible to stay angry with this man!

Obi-Wan stopped right in front of Padme, charm oozing out of every pore. "Do you forgive me?"

Padme really wanted to say, 'No,' but knew it wasn't going to happen. That smile of his should be classified as a dangerous weapon! "I suppose."

If possible, Obi-Wan's smile got even bigger. "Thank you! I knew you couldn't send a poor Jedi Master to his Council meeting on an empty stomach!"

Padme poked her finger into his chest. "One more crack about my cooking and I'm going on strike!"

"Yes, Ma'am!"

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A few days later, Obi-Wan approached the doors to the Council room for the morning meeting. There were several stacks of full mail crates lined up against the wall. What in the world? As he walked into the circular chamber, he stopped short at the sight that greeted him. Yoda, Mace, Adi Gallia and Ki-Adi-Mundi were in their seats opening up the mail! Each Councilor's seat was surrounded by full mail crates. Mail crates were also stacked in the unoccupied seats around the circle. "What is all this? Why are YOU opening up the mail?"

Mace's look was filled with irony. "It would seem that your fans have started an all-out mail campaign."

Obi-Wan's heart sunk. "What?"

Adi Gallia smirked at Obi-Wan. "It seems they want us to free you from the burden of the 'no attachment' rule."

Obi-Wan's throat was suddenly dry. "Why don't they just use the net-mail?"

Ki-Adi-Mundi gave him a pointed look. "They did. The inbox became so overloaded that it froze up the entire system. This is obviously Plan B."

Yoda looked quite amused. "Determined, they are."

Obi-Wan wanted to sink into the floor. "If they all say the same thing, why don't you just throw them away?"

Mace snorted. "Because there might actually be some important mail mixed in with all of this. If nothing else, this is certainly providing some entertainment." He dug through a stack of durasheets on the arm of his chair. "Now, where is that one letter? Ah, yes." Mace cleared his throat dramatically. "Here's just a snippet. 'For the sake of the Republic, please remove the tired old rule forbidding attachments and families. Looks like General Kenobi's absolutely demand procreation!'"

To Obi-Wan's great dismay, snickers could be heard coming from his fellow Councilors. He wanted to hide his beet-red face. He had actually thought that the worst of the media infatuation was over! "But surely you have better things to do than open a bunch of mail!"

Yoda focused his dancing eyes on the young, crimson Master. "Assign this to a bunch of padawans, we could."

Young padawans reading fan mail…about HIM? "No! Never mind. I appreciate your willingness to do this yourselves."

Mace eyed his friend with a barely concealed smile. "The Council meeting has been canceled. So, grab a crate and get to work!"

Obi-Wan slunk over to seat. He really had to wonder what he did to deserve this torture…