Okay, midway through this chapter we will be jumping ahead in time & heading into the ROTS timeframe. Things will be mostly like they are in the novel, but with my own AU tweaking. You'll probably recognize the description of Anakin's anger in this chapter from the novel. I don't do any direct pilfering, referring to his fear as a serpent, not a dragon. But his anger being instantly quelled by Obi is captured well in the ROTS novel in the scene in the Council room when Anakin is denied Mastership. And don't worry, I will not be killing off Obi! I could never do that - not before he's old and gray anyway! I'm truly overwhelmed by the response to this story & am extremely grateful!

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As Obi-Wan approached his apartment, he could sense Anakin inside. Here it comes. He was not looking forward to this. Obi-Wan walked into his apartment to find Anakin at the door to greet him – though 'greet' might be too polite a term.

Anakin had been waiting anxiously in Obi-Wan's apartment for a couple of hours. Palpatine's words were still ringing in his head, fueling his suspicions. "You're sure back late."

Obi-Wan removed his robe. "It's 8:20, Anakin. I'd hardly call that late."

"You were gone the whole day!"

"I told the children that Padme and I would spend the WHOLE day with them. That's exactly what we did."

"Are you saying that you JUST left the kids?"

Obi-Wan suddenly felt extremely tired. "We got back maybe a couple of hours ago. Padme and I were both hungry, so we had dinner." He turned to head towards the kitchen.

Jealousy flared through Anakin like a blaster shot. He wasn't going to let Obi-Wan turn away from him like that! "At her place?"

Obi-Wan winced as Anakin's mechanical hand latched onto his wrist in a bruising grip and swung him back around. He was then held again by Anakin's wild gaze. Obi-Wan refused to respond in kind. He simply looked down at his trapped wrist and back up again – speaking without words.

The angry serpent coiling around Anakin's heart was instantly quelled by Obi-Wan's calm and authoritative look. He blinked as though returning from a dream. He released Obi-Wan's wrist and backed away. "I…I'm sorry, Master. I don't know what got into me."

"I won't even bother to give you another lecture about your possessive and obsessive feelings for Padme. You just gave a blatant demonstration as to why those emotions are so dangerous." Obi-Wan rubbed at his eyes. "I'm going to bed. Kindly turn off the lights before you leave."

Anakin watched as Obi-Wan went to his bedroom and closed the door. He had done it again! He'd acted like a complete ass and hurt his master again – literally this time. He debated whether or not to follow Obi-Wan and set things right, but decided against it. He would spend this night in meditation and visit Obi-Wan again in the morning. He didn't want to see Padme until he had worked through his jealousy. He didn't want to do anything to hurt his relationship with his wife.

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Obi-Wan stepped aside to let Anakin into his apartment. "I just made some coffee. Would you like some?"

"Um, yes. Thank you." Anakin sat down at the dining table and tried not to fidget. He took the offered cup and waited as Obi-Wan sat down beside him. "I meditated all night."

Obi-Wan raised his brow in surprise. All night? It was hard enough to try and get Anakin to meditate for an hour!

"I was able to work through my feelings and let them go. But I know they will return!" Anakin looked pleadingly at Obi-Wan. "How do I keep them from coming back?"

"Anakin, I can't tell you anything I haven't told you before. You know what you have to do, and it's up to you to do it." Obi-Wan reached for the sugar, but stopped at Anakin's sharp intake of breath.

Anakin looked at Obi-Wan's wrist in horror. There was a nasty, hand-shaped bruise marring his pale skin. Anakin felt sick. HE had done that!

"I was going to heal that later. It's not as bad as it looks."

Sometimes, Anakin wondered why Obi-Wan didn't haul off and slug him. If he had ever earned it, he certainly had last night! And here his master was trying to reassure him. Anakin gently took hold of Obi-Wan's wrist with his real hand, careful not to use any pressure. "I'll heal it."

"You don't have to…"

"Yes!" Determination shone in Anakin's eyes. "I did this and I'll heal it." He closed his eyes and focused healing energy into the injury.

Obi-Wan closed his eyes and added his own energy to the healing process.

Anakin sensed his master's Force energy mingling with his own. It had been a long time since they had joined minds, though they had never formally severed their training bond. That bond now flared back to life. Anakin clung to Obi-Wan's strong and calming presence. He could feel Obi-Wan's affection and faith that Anakin would ultimately make the right decisions and become a great Jedi Knight.

Everything would be okay. Obi-Wan was here and always would be – at least if Anakin had anything to say about it. Anakin reluctantly let go of Obi-Wan's mind and opened his eyes. The wrist was now completely healed. He met Obi-Wan's warm gaze. "That felt like old times, didn't it?"

"Yes, it did."

Fear started to coil around Anakin's heart again. Where would he be without Obi-Wan's steady, supporting presence? What would he ever do if Obi-Wan died? 'Everything dies, Padawan, even the stars.'

"Anakin, stop. You have to let these emotions go as soon as they come. Don't let them build up. That's why you explode!"

"I can never seem to do that, Master!"

"It's a discipline. You have to work your way to that end. It takes time, effort and patience. It's not something you can do once and from then on it's effortless."

Discipline. Effort. Patience. Not Anakin's greatest areas of strength! He had to try, though. "I will work on it. I promise." Anakin realized that he was still holding Obi-Wan's arm and released it. He looked down in guilt. "I'm so sorry I hurt you, Master."

"I know that, Anakin. You understand what your problem is, and you've promised to work to resolve it. That is enough for me." Obi-Wan again reached for the sugar. "Your coffee is getting cold."

Anakin returned Obi-Wan's smile. Yes, everything would be okay. He now needed to talk with Padme. He would stop being ruled by jealousy and try to trust the two most important people in his life.

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Padme peeked around one of the great columns in front of the senate building. Obi-Wan and Anakin had just returned from rescuing the Chancellor from General Grievous' clutches. Her heart pounded as they emerged from their transport. It was so good to see them alive and well! She watched as Obi-Wan paused in the doorway and Anakin turned around to talk with him. Bitter disappointment then swept through Padme as Obi-Wan went back inside the transport and left. She wouldn't even have the chance to say hello. She hadn't seen him in almost seven months!

Padme unconsciously rubbed her round belly. Then again, maybe it was good that she wouldn't have to face Obi-Wan just yet. Padme wanted to see him alone. The time had come to tell Obi-Wan everything. She was getting too big to hide her pregnancy now.

Nervously biting at her lip, Padme wondered how Anakin would take the news of becoming a father. He wasn't a big fan of kids. Would he feel differently about his own? Would becoming a father calm him down and bring him some much-needed joy? Would it make being trapped in her marriage to Anakin more bearable, as she hoped?

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Padme followed Anakin into the living area of her apartment. He'd obviously had a disturbing nightmare. Nothing was going as she had hoped it would. Anakin's response to her big news had been tepid at best. On top of that, he seemed even more on edge than ever. Anakin had even suggested that he leave the Jedi Order! What was he thinking? Why would he be willing to give up the life he had dreamt of since he was a child? Padme stepped up beside her husband and placed her hand on his arm. "What did you dream about?"

"Nothing." Anakin turned away so Padme wouldn't see the agony on his face.

"That's not true. You're obviously upset. What is it?"

"I…" Anakin turned to face his beautiful wife. The nasty serpent that was coiled around his heart strengthened its grip. "I had a vision. Like the ones I had about my mother before she died."

Please tell me it's not about Obi-Wan! "About who?"

Anakin took a deep, anguished breath. "About you! I saw you die in childbirth!"

Stunned, Padme backed away. "Me?" Could it really be true? "But, dying in childbirth is unheard of anymore!"

"I saw it Padme. I won't let this come true!"

"I don't believe it. I'm NOT going to die in childbirth!"

"I'm telling you, if I don't find a way to stop it, you will."

Anakin's desperate look made Padme shudder. "Anakin, I don't want you to do ANYTHING! If it's my time to go, there's nothing you can do to stop it!"

"I let my mother die, but I won't let you die! I'm the Chosen One! Surely I have the power to stop death!"

"Anakin, listen to yourself! No one has the power to stop death and no one should! That is for the Force alone."

"I will find a way to keep you alive, Padme, I promise you!"

Padme did not like the sound of that at all. "Please don't do anything you'll later regret! Maybe you should talk to Obi-Wan about this."

"I thought we agreed to keep him out of this."

"These are extenuating circumstances. Tell him, Anakin, and LISTEN to what he has to say." Padme pleaded with her eyes.

"I'll think about it."

Padme was not encouraged by his words. She had a really bad feeling about this.