I'm SO sorry it's taken me so long to update! But with Thanksgiving and work craziness, I've lost track of time! Just to make up for it, here are two new chapters. Thank you ALL so much for your reviews!

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Yoda looked up from his perch on the sofa as Obi-Wan walked into the apartment. "Go well, did it?"

"Very well, Master. The Separatist fleet has been destroyed and some high-ranking officers have been captured. Our fleet of reinforcements will be there soon."

Yoda smiled up at him. "Very good plan it was, Obi-Wan."

"Thank you, Master. And thank you for watching the children again."

Yoda moved off the sofa with a grunt. "My pleasure, it is. Wonderful young ones, they are."

The children came up to Obi-Wan after Yoda left. "We hardly ever see you or Padme anymore," pouted Devin.

Obi-Wan knelt down, smiling softly at the exaggeration. "I'm sorry that we have both been away so much these last few days. Our schedules have not exactly meshed well. Padme will probably be gone more now that the senate is no longer in recess. But we'll try to be with you as much as we can."

"Now," Obi-Wan said as he got up, "there just happens to be a padawan lightsaber tournament going on today. Would you like to go?" He grinned over at James, whom he knew would be ecstatic at the prospect.

And sure enough, James spoke up for the group. "Yes, yes, yes!"

Obi-Wan grabbed a couple datapads off his desk as he escorted the kids out the door. He could get some more work done while he 'watched' the tournament. As they walked into the big training room, Obi-Wan wondered how long it would take for news of the destroyed Separatist fleet to reach the ears of the Chancellor. He had no doubt that tomorrow he would be receiving a summons to the senate building.

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Chancellor Palpatine sat fuming in his office. He had just received word from Darth Tyranus about the unexpected Separatist defeat. Blast that Obi-Wan! This was a huge blow to the Separatists. And it wasn't just the loss of ships, but the loss of soldiers, droids and weaponry. Obi-Wan would undoubtedly take advantage of the losses and multiply the victory for the Republic.

Palpatine knew that he had better get Obi-Wan back in the field soon. If he stays the full-time strategist, he'll have this war won before I'm ready! It irked the Chancellor that he didn't see this coming. It seemed that every time something happened that was not according to his plans, Obi-Wan was at the center of it. He hadn't expected by-the-book Kenobi to be so blasted sneaky! The man had done an end-run around him!

Palpatine jabbed at the intercom button on his desk. "Call the senators from Naylon. Tell them that I will be EXPECTING them here in my office at 8:00 tomorrow morning."

"Yes, Chancellor."

Palpatine sat back in his chair. He knew about Obi-Wan trying to find the parents of the two boys. He would make it absolutely clear that he expected the senators from Naylon to do whatever they had to do to find the parents of those little brats!

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Obi-Wan looked up from his datapad at the nudge he received through the Force. "I'll be back in a minute," he told the children. He went out into the hallway and met up with Mace.

Mace had an evil looking grin on his face. "The Chancellor has requested your presence at his office immediately."

"I knew this was coming, but I wasn't expecting it so soon." Obi-Wan folded his arms over his chest. "How did he hear about it so quickly?"

"I don't know, but he has his ways. He probably has paid informants throughout the galaxy."

Obi-Wan snorted. "That would be typical of a politician with his power."

"What are you going to tell him?"

Obi-Wan shrugged. "The truth."

Mace smirked at his friend. "What? That you don't trust him as far as you can throw him?"

"Okay, the partial truth." Obi-Wan chuckled. "Mace, would you mind staying with the kids while I'm gone?"

"No, I don't mind." Mace followed Obi-Wan back into the training room to where the children sat watching in rapt attention.

Obi-Wan leaned down towards the kids. "I've been called to the Chancellor's office." He felt guilty at the disappointed looks on their faces. "I won't let it take too long. Mace will stay with you until I get back."

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The Chancellor turned his chair towards the door as he sensed Obi-Wan's approach. He'd had time to reign in his anger. His respect for Obi-Wan as an opponent had risen with this display of cunning stealth. But he didn't want Obi-Wan to think he was going to just let it pass without a protest. He sat with his fingers steepled as his secretary escorted Obi-Wan into the office. He was struck yet again by how young the man looked without his beard. He noted that the Jedi Master didn't look the least bit apprehensive about this summons. In fact, those light blue eyes held peace and a hint of amusement. Kenobi, you are wasted by the Light Side of the Force!

"Chancellor," Obi-Wan said as he bowed.

"Master Kenobi, please have a seat. It seems you've been rather busy of late."

"Yes, you can say that."

"Is there a particular reason I wasn't informed about your activities?"

"I decided to keep this one close to the vest. It's success depended on complete secrecy – along with the use of the media."

"Ah, yes. You who dislike and distrust the media do not hesitate to use them to serve your own purposes."

"Correction – I used them to serve the Republic, not myself." Obi-Wan gazed steadily at the Chancellor. "I figured they owed us after Kataan."

Palpatine folded his hands on his desk as he studied Obi-Wan. "As for the need for secrecy, are you saying that I can't be trusted to be discreet?"

"Not at all. But there are many ways of finding out information. The fewer people who knew about the operation, the less chance there would be of failure."

"May I take it that this will not become a habit?"

"You may."

"Then that is settled." Palpatine got up and casually sat on the edge of his desk near Obi-Wan. "Congratulations on this enormous success. It was a brilliant plan." One worthy of the Sith.

Obi-Wan looked up at the Chancellor with mild curiosity. It was unlike Palpatine to strike such a casual pose. "Thank you. The Force was definitely with us."

"What are your plans now that the Separatists are licking their wounds?"

"Imbed ourselves in the Outer Rim. Keep hitting their supply reinforcements across the galaxy."

Palpatine nodded his head. "Hit them where they're hurt."

"Exactly."

"I will leave the details in your very capable hands. Although, I would appreciate being kept in the loop."

Obi-Wan smiled graciously. "Of course, Chancellor."

Palpatine's eyes narrowed. He knew passive defiance when he saw it. There was a part of him that really wanted to try and break Obi-Wan. Even though he could probably never turn him to the Dark Side, the process of breaking him would be an enjoyable challenge. Anakin was rather easy to manipulate – not much of a challenge at all. In fact, the biggest challenge where Anakin was concerned was Obi-Wan! But alas, as much as Palpatine wanted to dominate the tenacious Jedi before him, he didn't have the time to dedicate to it right now. "And what of Fembrak?"

"Our supply and troop reinforcements should be there by now. Anakin is in command of our new headquarters in the Outer Rim."

A smile crossed the Chancellor's face. "Very good. Will you be joining him there when your business here is concluded?"

"That hasn't been decided yet."

"I'm sure that the Council would not want to separate the greatest team their Order has ever seen."

Obi-Wan's eyebrows went up at that. "We will do what is best for the Republic, as always."

Palpatine read the challenge in Obi-Wan's eyes. I would gladly take you up on that if I could, Kenobi. "Of course you will."

Obi-Wan stood up, fervently hoping that the conversation was at an end. "Was there anything else, Chancellor?"

Palpatine was not blind to Obi-Wan's eagerness to get away from all politicians as quickly as possible. It was actually rather amusing. "No, Master Kenobi, that is all."

"Good evening, Chancellor." Obi-Wan bowed and quickly left the office. He breathed a sigh of relief as he made his way down the hall. He always felt relieved when he left that man's presence. Obi-Wan looked around at all the bustling people in the rotunda. It was the end of the workday and the place was quite crowded. He could sense that Padme was nearby, but he couldn't see her amongst all the watchful gazes around him. I REALLY don't like coming here!

"Obi-Wan!"

Obi-Wan turned and saw Padme threading her way through the crowd towards his position. He was also quite aware that all those around him had heard her and were now watching both of them intently. How in the world can Anakin enjoy this kind of attention?

Padme had heard that Obi-Wan was in the building through the secretary grapevine. All it took was one woman spotting him. Pretty soon every woman in the building knew to be on the lookout for General Kenobi. Padme was done for the day and figured that they might as well go home together. She smiled as she finally reached him. "Hi. I heard that you were here."

"Yes. I had an impromptu meeting with the Chancellor." Obi-Wan started walking with Padme towards the exit, keeping his face neutrally polite. He didn't want to give wagging tongues anything to talk about.

The not-so-friendly looks from the other women in the crowd were not lost on Padme. A part of her wanted to take hold of Obi-Wan's hand, just to see the jealousy in their eyes. But she knew that Obi-Wan would not exactly appreciate the idea. She kept quiet until they were outside and could speak in relative privacy. "Impromptu meeting?"

"Yes. I, ah, conducted an operation against the Separatists without his knowledge."

"Oh." Padme eyed him with a knowing smile. "Somehow, you don't seem sorry."

Obi-Wan returned her smile. "I'm not."

"Was he furious?"

"Surprisingly, no. I can't figure that man out. I don't sense anything duplicitous in him. But then again, he's almost impossible to read. I don't trust him. And frankly, I don't like the way he looks at me – it's like I'm being dissected."

"He's met his match and he's trying to size you up."

"You make it sound like he thinks of me as his opponent."

"Maybe he does. You're Anakin's mentor, teacher and best friend…I think he's trying to occupy those positions in Anakin's life himself."

Obi-Wan helped Padme into his speeder. "Hmm. That makes sense. But it certainly isn't encouraging." Was that it? Did the Chancellor see him as the person on the other side of a tug-of-war match over Anakin? Obi-Wan couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to it than that.