Author's Note: Aughh! I'm late with the update – please forgive me! This week has been insane! I'm so sorry I don't have time for author replies - I'll try to make up for it next time! In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this chapter - because, we're nearing the grand finale! Can you believe it? Thanks to you all for reading and reviewing – you totally make my day!

TWO DAYS LATER - EVENING

Siri yawned as she pulled the covers back, easing her tired body between the sheets. Settling into the plush bedding, she gazed at the ceiling, as her mind swirled with thoughts.

It had been an interesting week thus far. They were making great progress in the routine, but she couldn't help but think that something was still missing. The enthusiasm, the spark she thought the music would create just wasn't there. Sure, there were times were all four of them were laughing and having a great time, but then someone's expression would turn pensive and the gloominess would return.

She grumbled and threw her arm over her head. There had to be a way to get everything back to the way things had been. They had all been getting along so well, but now - when they most needed their connection - things were breaking apart.

No, I cannot afford to be pessimistic, she chided herself. After all, perhaps tomorrow will be different.

She was joining Padme for a visit with the costume designers to outline the look they wanted for their attire. While they were doing that, Obi-wan was going to meditate, and Anakin was going to...

She frowned. Actually, she didn't know what Anakin was going to do. He had managed to avoid answering the question when asked.

I hope he's all right, she thought, giving into another yawn. Obi-wan always said he tends to react impulsively. We'd better keep an eye on him.

Finally, she drifted off to sleep.

NEXT MORNING - COSTUME DEPARTMENT

Siri watched in amusement as Padme took over the costume planning discussion. She had to admit, it made sense to let the Senator have the spotlight. After all, Padme was wildly popular with the fashion tabloids – the young woman must be doing something right.

"We want you to let your imaginations run wild," Padme bubbled. "We'd like something cheerful. Plenty of bright colors, fun designs... You get the idea."

The artist nodded, typing the comments into her datapad. "I think we can accommodate this."

"Don't forget to mention the 'no sparkles for the men' rule," Siri prompted quietly.

Padme opened her mouth to do just that, but suddenly her face lost all of its color. "Excuse me," she whimpered, sprinting for the nearest 'fresher.

"What's gotten into her?" the woman asked, her datapad momentarily forgotten.

"Bad dinner," Siri lied. "I guess we shouldn't have let the guys anywhere near the kitchen."

"Isn't that the way it always is?" she moaned. "My husband is a dear, yet his skills lay outside of the kitchen if you know what I mean." She winked suggestively. "I suppose your Dake is the same way. "

Siri looked uncomfortable and muttered, "I really can't say." She cleared her throat and tried to regain her composure. "Well, thank you for your time. Please contact us if you have any questions."

"I'm sure I'll be fine. We'll have the costumes ready for you in time, don't you worry. And I think you'll be very impressed! I know just the look your team is going for!"

"I look forward to seeing the results. Thank you!" Siri took the opportunity to make a hasty escape and went in search of Padme.

She found her moments later, rinsing her mouth out in the hydro-sink and looking disgruntled.

"Are you feeling better?" Siri asked.

"A little bit," Padme admitted. "Sorry about running out on you like that. I was afraid if I threw up on the costume lady, she would make us look even weirder than usual. Did you finish the meeting?"

"I did."

Padme nodded, looking relieved.

Siri squeezed her arm supportively. "Do you want to go back to the suite?" she asked. "We still have an hour before we have to be on the ice. It might be good for you to get some rest."

"I think that would be a good idea. We can spend the time going over the next segment of the routine."

"It's a deal."

PRACTICE RINK B - FOUR HOURS LATER

"Okay, so this is the first section where this lyric is played," Padme noted, remembering their earlier conversation.

"Exactly," Siri responded.

"So what does that mean?" Anakin wondered, looking nervous. "Are we going to do something special or something?" Then, he became a bit more enthusiastic. "Does this mean I finally get to skate with Padme again?"

Siri looked slightly offended as she replied, "Not yet."

Anakin scowled at that reply, so Siri generously added, "But soon."

Obi-wan sighed and said, "Well then, what would you have us do?"

Padme smirked, knowing what was coming.

"I'm glad you asked," Siri chirped. She cued the music and the energetic beat filled the air. "We know what we're doing through this part. Dancing, skating, blah, blah..." She waited a moment and let the segment play, finally pausing it. "Did you hear that?"

"Yes," Anakin acknowledged, confused. The beat had chimed in rapid succession rather cheerfully. "So?"

"So that's the part where we need to insert our next move. Now, when the singers yell "rum, bum, bum, bum" - we're going to shake our hips in time to the music."

Obi-wan's eyes nearly bugged out of his head. "What?"

"You heard me, Kenobi," she said evenly. "The Force gave you hips for a reason and you're going to use them."

"What do you mean by that?" he sputtered. "Are you saying I have big hips?"

"No, of course not," Siri ground out, rolling her eyes.

"Well, thank you for that compliment, as begrudging as it was," Obi-wan sniffed. "But still - Jedi do not rum, bum, bum, bum - as you so eloquently put it."

"Maybe not, but for this routine, you are going to rum, bum, bum, bum."

"I am not going to rum, bum, bum, bum."

"Yes, you will ru-"

"If you either of you say that one more time, I am going to drill a hole in this ice and bury myself," Anakin warned.

His former Master ignored him and indeed, opened his mouth once again to argue. But Padme brought him to silence with a simple, "Obi-wan."

Blast. There was no way he could resist a pregnant woman.

"Fine."

Siri nodded at him, grateful for his agreement. "As I was saying..."

LATE EVENING – SUITE OF LIRI AND KAIDE

Anakin fiddled with TX-306's controls, but his concentration was drifting. In truth, he was just killing time until Padme fell into a deep sleep and he could resume his training. He had made significant progress in the past few days, finally able to bring his anger to the surface in an instant. The strength that flooded his body was unlike anything he had felt before. Unfortunately, he was finding it was a bit difficult to return to his normal Jedi calm each time, but he was managing. After all, it was worth it.

He was not going to be defeated.

The doors to the adjoining suite slid open and he looked up, expecting to see Obi-wan. Instead, Siri appeared in the doorframe and he squashed the look of surprise that wanted to spring to his face.

"Good evening, Master Tachi," he greeted.

"Hello, Anakin," she replied warmly. "I hope you don't mind me coming over for a visit. I saw the light was on and well, I just can't sleep…"

"It's no bother," he insisted, tamping down the frustration that wanted to flare up. He really wanted to get back to his training…

"Are you having any luck?" she wondered, tilting her head towards the inactive droid.

"I'm not really trying to do anything," he admitted. "Just passing time and hoping I might stumble across something.

"Life seems so much simpler when you're fixing things," she mused.

His head swiveled towards her in amazement. "I-" He paused as a look of understanding passed between them. "Yes, sometimes things get a little too complicated for my taste."

"I hope you don't mind being my partner during this week's routine," she continued. "Of course, I know you would rather be paired with Padme, but I thought it might give us a chance to get to know each other a little better. After all, we are on the same side."

"It is a smart plan, Master Tachi," he agreed.

"Ugh, don't keep on with that Master stuff," she groaned. "It makes me feel old."

He grinned. "Sorry, Siri."

"That's better."

"Mas- I mean, Siri," he corrected himself. "I hope you won't think I'm too forward, but I promise I am only asking for strategic reasons."

She nodded, encouraging him to go on.

"Well, how are things between you and Master Kenobi?"

Siri glanced up sharply, but had to acknowledge the wisdom behind his question. She knew she needed to confront that issue once and for all, but she just wasn't ready.

She wondered if she ever would be.

"To tell you the truth, Anakin, I don't really know. There are many things to consider."

"Yes, but how do you feel?"

Siri gulped and straightened her shoulders. "Well, he drives me crazy. No other person in this Galaxy can drive me as insane as your former Master."

Anakin laughed uproariously and was surprised by how good it felt. "I can identify with that, Siri, rest assured."

"He's also incredibly finicky. Have you ever tried to go to dinner with him? What an ordeal!" She clapped her hands over her eyes in mock horror.

"I know! Where did he get that from?"

"I have no idea. He was raised in the Temple – not exactly the finest cuisine around! He's also obsessively neat and unfailingly polite. Even in the middle of a battle, he goes around - Pardon me! Excuse me! I mean, who does that?"

Anakin was now doubled over, choking with laughter.

"But he has a way of making me see the good things about myself, and the way the world ought to be. He's handsome and sweet and I know he would lay his life on the line for anyone who needed him. So to tell you the truth, Anakin - I love that man, every single bit of him."

Anakin straightened up, watching the Jedi Master through eyes of compassion and understanding. Tears hung on her lashes and she flushed scarlet, embarrassed by her forthright admission.

"Come on," he said, beckoning her to follow. "A declaration like that deserves something. How about some vanilla freeze? I think Padme has a large carton stashed in the cooler."

"That sounds wonderful. Thank you."

Nodding to each other respectfully, the two Jedi headed for the kitchen.