Wow! Your responses just keep getting better and better (and that's saying a lot!)! Thank you so much! To LEvi: In answer to your question, I don't think Padme would confess her feelings or the truth of her marriage to Obi - at least not yet. She doesn't want to put Obi in that difficult position. As far as her marriage to Anakin is concerned, she doesn't want Obi to have to choose between his position on Council and his friendship to Anakin (i.e. either revealing the truth to the Council and losing his friendship with Anakin, or hiding the truth from the Council and breaking his vows). As far as her feelings for Obi are concerned, she doesn't know if he shares her feelings. Thus, she doesn't want to risk making their friendship uncomfortable. And if he does share her feelings, she doesn't want him to be put in the position of having to choose between her and the Jedi Order, not to mention both of them facing Anakin's wrath!

oooooooo

Padme and Obi-Wan sat on the sofa that night, enjoying some tea. They and the children had spent a fun-filled evening of playing board games together. The kids had thanked them for the 'best day ever' before going to bed. Padme had enjoyed every minute of it! It had been wonderful to see Obi-Wan allowed to be himself – not a Master, not a Council member and not a General. He had allowed himself to relax and have a good time. Padme studied his face closely. He was obviously tired, but he looked relaxed. The worries and burdens of the last few days were temporarily gone. She turned herself to face him. "Today was a really nice day."

"Yes, it was."

"You should do this more often for yourself."

"Given current circumstances, I highly doubt that will be possible."

Padme didn't like it, but she knew his words to be true. "I'm sure the children will always remember this day and treasure it." She hesitated before adding, "As will I." Was she being too obvious about her feelings?

Obi-Wan had enjoyed the day immensely. For once, he'd been able to let go of all his responsibilities and worries and just enjoy himself. He had allowed himself to live in the moment. Qui-Gon would be proud. "Yoda always counsels us to let go of the past, and I certainly understand the wisdom of that. Nonetheless, I will never forget this day."

There was so much that Padme wanted to say to him in this moment, but she dutifully held her tongue. She watched as he settled further down on the cushion, resting his head on the back of the sofa. "You should go to sleep. You're tired."

Obi-Wan smiled up at her. "I know." He fought a determined yawn. "But I almost hate for this day to end."

"Do you want anymore tea?"

"No, thank you."

Padme took his empty mug along with hers to the kitchen. She reheated some tea for herself and returned to the living area. Obi-Wan was now sound asleep, a contented smile still gracing his face. Padme carefully sat down next to him and sipped at her tea. She gently ran the length of her finger down the side of his face and along his jaw, stopping at the cleft she loved so much. She was still amazed at how quickly her love for Obi-Wan had developed. But then again, her feelings had probably started to develop long before coming to the Temple. Her relationship with Anakin had allowed her to get to know Obi-Wan a lot better. Whenever she had spent time with him, he had always managed to brighten her day. She had even found herself looking forward to seeing him.

Padme finished her tea and went to the fresher to brush her teeth. She came back to the sofa with a big, fluffy blanket. Since you're sleeping in my spot, I guess I have no choice but to sleep cuddled up to you again. She turned off the light and sat down – pulling up her legs and settling against Obi-Wan's side. Padme spread the blanket over both of them, tucking it around his other side. She smiled as he unconsciously put his arm around her shoulder and drew her closer. Padme sighed contentedly as she settled her head in the crook of his shoulder. Oh yes, I could definitely get used to this!

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

A few days later, Obi-Wan stood in the Ops room gazing at the glowing map. Several pinpoints of light were approaching Fembrak. "Anakin, now is the time."

"Master, I still don't understand what difference one starfighter is going to make against a Separatist force this size – even if I am the pilot!"

Obi-Wan smiled slightly at Anakin's typical confidence. "Just trust me, Anakin."

Anakin sighed. "I trust you, Master. I'm heading through the atmosphere now."

"Good. You'll know what to do in a moment." With that cryptic response, Obi-Wan ended the communication.

Another voice crackled over the com. "We've received the signal and are on our way, General."

"Very good, Oddball. You know what to do."

"Aye, Sir."

Obi-Wan watched the big map carefully. Many tiny pinpoints of light suddenly appeared out of the asteroid field near Fembrak. He flipped a switch to activate the probe cams.

Anakin's jubilant voice returned. "Master, you sneaky son of a Hutt!"

Obi-Wan grinned. "Does that mean you approve?"

"Of course! But why didn't you tell me?"

"Even though our comlinks are supposedly secure…Let's just say that I preferred to be safe rather than sorry."

"Story of your life," Anakin teased.

Obi-Wan rolled his eyes. "If that were true, this particular chapter would never have been written."

"Whatever you say, Master."

"As much as I'm enjoying this verbal sparring match, don't you have a squadron to lead and some ships to destroy?"

"Oh, yeah! It's time for some fun!"

Obi-Wan shook his head. He was rather glad he was not out there with Anakin right now. Flying in a fire fight was NOT his idea of a good time. In fact, flying at any time wasn't high on his list of favorite things to do. Obi-Wan checked all of his screens, making sure he could watch the activities from all vantage points.

Obi-Wan had known that the Separatists would try to reinforce their embattled and ever-shrinking troops on Fembrak. Fembrak was located in a centralized position in the Outer Rim. It had a mild climate and topography perfect for long-term occupation. For a while now, Obi-Wan had been hinting to the media that the Republic's fighter squadrons were a bit over-extended and under-supplied. He had also 'leaked' to the media, via the politicians, that he had decided against sending any more battle ships to the Outer Rim for the foreseeable future.

The Separatists took the bait and sent this large armada, including many supply ships and troop reinforcements, to Fembrak. Obi-Wan calmly watched the activity on the screens. He glanced at the chrono and smiled. Heavy gunships and Star Destroyers, which had been hiding behind a nearby moon, would be there to reinforce the fighters any minute now. Something on one of the screens caught his eye. "Oddball, the starboard engine of the supply ship in sector 4 is going hot. Have your fighters focus their fire on that engine."

"Will do, Sir."

Obi-Wan watched as a couple of fighters did exactly that. The engine glowed and then exploded, eventually engulfing the entire ship.

Anakin's voice came back to life. "Good call, Master! They…Wait. Ships entering the system." Pause. "Master, you're not just sneaky, you're down right devious!"

"Coming from you, I know that's a compliment."

"Of course it is!"

"Anakin…"

"I know, I know. Less talking and more flying."

"Exactly." Obi-Wan kept his attention on the screens. Things were going exactly as planned. This was a plan that he had told no one about, save Yoda and Mace. He hadn't even told the Chancellor. The success of this plan had depended on total secrecy and the unwilling compliance of the media. It appeared that he had succeeded on both counts. The reinforcements were making short work of the Separatist fleet. "Anakin, focus on the command ship. See if you can get some high ranking prisoners."

"Yes, Master."

Once the fight was over, all Separatist ships but the command ship had been destroyed. And it was rendered a useless, floating hulk. All the survivors were being loaded onto a detention ship. Obi-Wan and Anakin were now talking via the hololink. "You did a good job, Anakin."

Anakin grinned at Obi-Wan's glowing image. "Thanks, Master, but I think the glory goes to you on this one. Although, I never thought that YOU of all people would resort to lying!"

Obi-Wan's eyes sparkled, though he tried to look offended. "I did not lie. I bluffed."

"That kind of word play never worked with you when I tried it!"

"That's because you weren't any good at it, Anakin."

Anakin's smile turned ironic. "Well, you were always better with words than me."

"I have to be better than you at SOMETHING."

Anakin rolled his eyes. "When it comes to anything that requires strategy or wisdom or patience, you kick me in the rear every time. But that's okay. Everyone knows that I'm the brawn of The Team and you're the brains."

Obi-Wan looked indignant. "I am not completely without brawn, you know!"

Anakin looked at him expectantly. "You could finish that thought. You're not completely without brawn and…" He paused dramatically. "…I'm not completely without brains."

Obi-Wan just stared at Anakin with a poker face.

"Master, all of those people out there who think you're a really nice guy…They're clueless! They haven't seen your sadistic side, nor have they been the target of your biting sarcasm!"

Obi-Wan looked at Anakin innocently. "Who, me?"

Anakin shook his head in exasperation. "Never you, Master. I better get back to the surface and see about a safe place to store our fighters."

"All right. More troops, weapons and supplies are on their way. From now on, Fembrak is our headquarters in the Outer Rim. An you're in charge."

Anakin straightened a bit. "We'll hold the planet, Master."

"I have no doubts. Take care, Anakin."

"Be well, Master."

"Will you PLEASE stop calling me Master! Try on Obi-Wan for size!"

"It just feels weird calling you Obi-Wan."

"It is my name, Anakin."

"I know, but…" Anakin's brow furrowed. "Okay,…Obi-Wan." It sounded foreign coming from his lips. He would always see Obi-Wan as his master – HIS master. It was a claim he was not willing to relinquish.

"See, now was that so hard?"

Yes, as a matter of fact! "I suppose not. Um, may the Force be with you." He kept himself from saying 'Master.'

"May the Force be with you, Anakin." Obi-Wan chuckled as he shut off the holocom. It had been a while since they had teased each other like that. He didn't even realize how much he had missed it – how much he missed the presence of his almost-constant companion for the last twelve years.

Anakin's thoughts were wistful as he fired up the thrusters on his starfighter and headed back into Fembrak's atmosphere. Bantering like that with Obi-Wan again felt wonderful! It was just like things were before all of the tension. As usual, Obi-Wan had been right about the daily meditation. Anakin had kept his word to his master and he was doing much better for it. The one thing meditation wasn't helping was the painful void Obi-Wan's absence was causing. He had taken his master's companionship for granted in the past. He vowed to never allow that to happen again.