Author's Note: Hey everyone! I'm back – I missed you guys! Hope you're ready for an update! It's a pretty even balance of serious and fun. Please let me know what you think! Padme's Sister – Welcome! I'm so glad you're here and even happier that you are enjoying the story! Please continue to let me know what you think whenever you have a moment! Hellish Red Devil – I'm glad you're continuing to enjoy the Obi-wan / Siri interaction. I am having a great time writing them and although this is primarily an Anakin/Padme story, I wanted to give them some 'screen time' as well. Oh - and you thought Mace was annoyed before…? Meandmysharpie – Thanks for the good wishes for my trip. My time away was nice, but it's always good to come home! Glad you liked the pink cap thing – I actually smiled while I was writing that part, so I'm happy to hear others thought it was funny too! And there's a bit of butt kicking by Obi-wan in this chappie, just for you. Hopeless4Life – Sorry I couldn't update sooner – real life is really busy this time of year. Thanks for being so patient – hope you enjoy this chapter as well!

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BASEMENT - SAME TIME

"I know you're in here, Master," Anakin announced, entering the dark room.

"Blast," Obi-wan muttered quietly.

Anakin ignored him and moved further into the cavernous space, finally spotting the elder Jedi in the far corner. He moved towards him as he confessed, "I was getting worried."

"Worried?" Obi-wan echoed faintly, refusing to meet his gaze.

"Of course," Anakin replied, coming to stand in front of his mentor. "It's not like you to just disappear like that, Master."

"I uh, just needed some fresh air," Obi-wan insisted absently.

Anakin frowned as he noted the uncomfortably damp surroundings. This was certainly not the best place to come for that, he thought. However, he was a bit more tactful as he asked, "Then why did you choose to go to the lower level storage room?"

"I don't know," Obi-wan snapped, dragging a hand through his hair. "I just did."

Anakin's eyes grew wide, unaccustomed to seeing his Master so agitated. It was usually the other way around, with Obi-wan being the one to do the calming.

Finally, he suggested, "Perhaps we should get back to the waiting area. The end of the show is drawing near and we have to be there for the final bow. Master Windu will be even angrier than he already is if we're not accounted for."

"I suppose," Obi-wan admitted, but his tone indicated he would rather do anything else.

Sudden understanding dawned in Anakin's brain and he began to smile knowingly. "Let me guess," he announced. "Your foul mood has something to do with a certain female Jedi."

"You could say that," Obi-wan replied, his accompanying laugh dry and bitter.

"What's wrong, Master?" Anakin wondered. "Siri truly cares about you, surely you aren't concerned about that?"

"You think so?" A look of hopefulness spread across the Jedi Master's face at the possibility.

"I do," Anakin assured him. Wisely, he failed to add: At least that's what Padme tells me.

Obi-wan looked pleased for a moment, but then he started to pace. "But we are Jedi!" he exploded. "I can't just turn my back on the Code like that. It wouldn't be right. It wasn't right all those years ago and it isn't right now."

"But, sometimes we must trust in the Force-" Anakin began.

"No. I'm not like you, Anakin," Obi-wan interrupted. His voice was harsh with restrained anguish. "I can't just give up what I've devoted my whole life to without a second thought."

Stung, Anakin averted his eyes. "I didn't marry Padme on a whim, Master. She's everything to me."

Obi-wan turned away for a moment, marshalling his thoughts. Through the Force, he could feel Anakin's deep affection and concern mingled with a searing sense of hurt and the sensation brought him back to his senses. Letting out a deep breath, Obi-wan acknowledged, "I know, my friend. I know. Forgive me."

Anakin nodded, hearing the sincerity in his Master's words.

"I just wonder sometimes what it might have been like," he whispered.

"What do you mean?" Anakin forced the words through a throat that was suddenly tight with emotion.

"If I'd had a different life. One with Siri," he explained. He clenched his fists and Anakin could feel him working up his nerve to tell the entire story.

Finally, he did.

"I was supposed to leave with her - we had it all planned out. Finally, we were going to be together - no rules, no Code. It would be just the two of us, living the life we never realized we wanted – at least, until we met each other. I was actually on my way to her quarters when Master Qui-gon stopped me. He said we were leaving on a vital mission, one that would change the face of the Galaxy forever. I'd never seen him so serious, so deeply reliant on my full participation."

Obi-wan faced the small, dirty window, lost in memories.

"At first I made excuses, each one more drastic than the last. But my perceptive Master saw through each and every one of them. Getting desperate, I was just about to blurt out the truth when he said something that stopped me in my tracks. 'It is your destiny, Padawan. If you do not accompany me, you turn your back on the Force and I do not believe the Galaxy will survive it.' What do you say to that?"

Mute, Anakin just shook his head, at a complete loss.

"My blasted sense of duty was just as ingrained back then as it is now and so I went. I didn't even have a chance to say good-bye to Siri or to explain why I was leaving. I simply headed straight for the ship and sat in the co-pilot's chair, watching the Temple fade away. When I finally returned, she was gone, of course. I didn't see her again until that day in the Council chambers, when she agreed to join us on this assignment."

Anakin blinked, trying to digest all that his Master was telling him. With a sinking feeling, he asked, "Where did you go on your mission?"

"To Naboo... and then to Tatooine where I met a rather rambunctious young boy," he teased.

"Oh, Master," Anakin began. "I'm so sor-"

"Don't you say it," Obi-wan interrupted. Once again, his eyes were fierce and troubled. "I will never regret being your Master. It has been one of the greatest honors of my life and as Qui-gon said, it was what I was meant to do."

"Yes, but if you hadn't come-"

"Then I wouldn't have met the best friend and greatest Jedi I have ever known," Obi-wan finished quietly.

Anakin hung his head, deeply humbled by the faith his Master had in him. I only hope I live up to it.

Obi-wan frowned, hearing the young Jedi's thoughts echo through their Bond.

"Every time you doubt yourself, you insult those of us that believe in you," he said sternly. Then, smiling a bit, he teased, "And in my opinion, we have pretty good taste. If we think you are The Chosen One, then that should be good enough for you."

Anakin accepted the hand Obi-wan extended and clasped it firmly. "I won't let you down, Master. Any of you. I promise."

"I know, my former Padawan. I know."

"Now, Master... about Siri," Anakin wheedled.

"Not now, Anakin."

WAITING AREA - TEN MINUTES LATER

As he stepped through the doorway to the waiting area, Obi-wan wasn't quite sure what he was walking into. He knew he had not handled the evening well thus far, leaving Siri hurt and disappointed, feeling as if he had rejected her once more.

And so, as his eyes scanned the room for his Jedi partner, he didn't know what he'd find. But for all the scenarios he had considered, he certainly didn't expect this.

Siri was laughing. Full fledged, doubled over, gasping-for-breath laughing.

At first, the sight was enough to bring a smile to his face. But his expression quickly turned into a grimace as she turned her bright eyes on him.

"You fell into a nest of gundarks? And they ripped a giant hole in the back of your pants before Anakin could rescue you?" she squealed. "Oh, why do I always miss all the good stuff?"

He turned his glare on Padme, who was suddenly very interested in tightening the laces on her iceblades.

"You told her about that?" he mumbled to Anakin who was trying to make himself invisible.

"What?" he asked, pretending like he didn't hear. Obi-wan intensified his gaze and Anakin wilted. "Well, um... There is a chance I may have mentioned it at supper one night."

Despite the mortification that was making itself known though his reddened cheeks, Obi-wan found himself chuckling and the deep tones merged with Siri's.

The sound was beautiful.

SUITE OF LIRI AND KAIDE - 1100 HOURS

"You're sure this is Master Windu's favorite?" Padme asked, fussing with the tray of cheeses and gourmet desserts.

"Yes, I checked Artoo's records thoroughly," Anakin promised. "This will take the fight right out of him."

"I don't think anything could take the fight out of Master Windu," Siri commented morosely. "I might as well accept it. My next costume is going to be so bright, it's actually going to blind the audience, just you watch."

"Maybe it could have little lights that blink on and off," Padme added mischievously.

Siri used the Force and threw a pillow at her. "Don't you dare even make the suggestion!" she warned.

"You used the Force! Everyone knows that's cheating!" Padme said, grasping the offending pillow in her fist. With lightening-quick speed, she hurled it across the room, knocking the water goblet right out of Siri's hand.

"Hey!" the Jedi cried indignantly, even as she used the Force to bring more pillows to her side. "You've asked for it now!"

"Oooh, pillow fight," Anakin enthused, nudging Obi-wan with his elbow. He noticed that even the normally stoic Jedi seemed very intrigued by the idea.

Exchanging a knowing glance, the two women eyed each other, communicating silently. Nodding imperceptibly, they leapt into the air and brought the pillows down, bonking the two unsuspecting men on the head. Feathers flew everywhere, covering the elegant sofa and plush carpet with their whispery softness.

Padme laughed uproariously as the small battle turned into a full fledged war. Furniture was shoved aside, plants were tipped over, and Threepio was nearly decapitated... much to Artoo's delight.

Catching sight of Anakin bearing down on her with a fistful of ice, Padme reached behind her and felt something soft and squishy. Grabbing as much as she could, she flung it in Anakin's direction, watching as it splattered across his face. He growled playfully and continued to advance, so she launched another handful of the substance in desperation.

It didn't stop him.

"Anakin! No!" she shrieked as he wrapped his arms around her, forcing the chilly ice down the back of her tunic.

She twisted and turned, trying to get to it and managed to bump into Obi-wan, who tumbled face first into a damp pile of potting soil. Siri laughed triumphantly and then went back to trying to pull off the pair of sparkly leggings Obi-wan had knotted around her forehead.

HALLWAY OUTSIDE SUITE OF LIRI AND KAIDE

Mace Windu paused as he heard the sounds of a struggle going on inside the spacious suite.

"Anakin! No!" Padme's voice sounded strained and distressed.

He pulled out his light saber, activating it with a simple flick of his thumb. He relaxed slightly as the familiar hum of the weapon filled his ears, illuminating the narrow corridor.

His steps silent, he strode towards the door controls and quickly keyed in the security code. As it slid open with a hiss, he burst inside, ready to do battle.