Okay, so I'm a big tease. Enjoy the end of this epic - I never thought it would go this long - or that I would actually be able to complete it! - but everyone's support has been so helpful in pulling and pushing me through this. Next up, the sequel: From a Different Point of View - what really happened during the Revenge of the Sith!

Epilogue

endings and beginnings

The next time Obi-Wan saw Anakin was when they were on the transport, being brought back to the Temple. Anakin said nothing, acknowledged the other's presence with the barest of greetings as they disembarked. They sat on opposite sides of the transport, a chasm of silence between them. Every time Obi-Wan tried to catch Anakin's eyes or start a conversation, Anakin would turn the conversation back into silence or stare out the port window. He didn't even try to connect through their bond, certain that he would get a mental cold shoulder, and afraid it might be worse than that. The younger man had things to work out, he could easily see that. So Obi-Wan had to be patient. They had waited this long. Obi-Wan could wait a little longer.

The meeting with the Council was, well, thorough. Obi-Wan and Anakin described their own experiences on Xaantiis, respectfully leaving out any discussion of how Eyuria broke Obi-Wan or what transpired between them after Anakin's rescue. Master Ki-Adi-Mundi made his usual dry remarks on the job of Anakin as the rescuer, and Master Windu was very interested in hearing about Dree'la. Master Yoda remained quiet for most of the meeting, only stating his relief that they had arrived out of the situation unscathed. But it was something in the way the wizened warrior said that, that made Obi-Wan pause. Did Yoda know more about what had happened then he let on? Obi-Wan wanted to press Yoda further because Yoda would have been on the Council back when Dree'la said everything had happened with Xaantiis. The answers he sought were in that green head.

During the whole meeting Anakin was terse, which was normal for his dealings with the Council, but bit into Obi-Wan's heart little by little. He hoped they'd have time to talk now that they were back on Coruscant. But he knew where Anakin would be headed after the meeting. And he felt jealous that it would be in Padme's arms and not his that Anakin would find his solace.

But not for long, he reminded himself. The Council would send them on another mission to another far away corner of the galaxy, and then he'd have Anakin all for himself. There would be no way for Anakin to escape him then. When the Force willed it, they would confront what had happened, for better or worse.

When the meeting concluded and the Jedi Knights had been thoroughly debriefed, the Council disbanded. Well, almost.

"Master Kenobi, a word please with you and young Skywalker," Yoda said.

Obi-Wan and Anakin shared a quick glance before turning to the Jedi Master.

"Truth do I see in your eyes, that has not yet been spoken, or asked."

Obi-Wan nodded. "There is one thing --"

Don't tell him! Anakin shot to him, his eyes wide in terror as he stared at Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan glanced at him. I would never betray your trust, Ani. Never.

If Yoda had sensed any of what just transpired between them, he let it pass, with Obi-Wan's full gratitude.

"Master, when we fought with Dree'la, she was acting under the belief that the Jedi Council sanctioned what happened on Xaantiis, which lead to Master Greystil's death. I'm certain that her meeting with Count Dooku must have distorted her feelings, but I need to know, for myself. Is there any truth to her delusions?"

Yoda closed his eyes, his ears drooping ever so slightly, his small frame sinking deeper into his chair. When next he spoke, his voice was softer, sadder, older.

"First to explore Xaantiis Master Greystil was, with his Padawan, Dree'la and another Master and Padawan. Paid little attention to the planet did the Council, until traders told stories of the inhabitants."

"That they are Force-users, isn't that right?" Anakin asked, his voice even, but just barely.

Yoda turned his all-seeing eyes on the young man, who squared his shoulders reflexively.

"Force-users they appeared to be, and dangerous ones at that. With no regard for others, it would appear."

Obi-Wan's hand found his beard and began to stroke it thoughtfully, which he knew was just a well-trained disguise to not let show that hearing Yoda recall what the Xaantiins were capable of tore into his guts like shrapnel.

"Yes, we experienced their abilities, far beyond anything I've heard a Jedi Master be able to do with a mind trick," Obi-Wan observed, his calm Negotiator persona set on automatic pilot to control his reactions. "Did the scouting party experience the same interference?"

Yoda nodded, his ear tips translucent as the sun set behind him.

"Lost contact with them for a long time we did. In my meditations, what was happening I could not see clearly. When at last we heard from Master Greystil, he reported his and Dree'la's successful escape."

"And the other two Jedi?" Anakin asked, tensing besides Obi-Wan, who wanted nothing more than to reassuringly take the man's hand. But he wrapped his arm around himself, focusing instead on twirling the gray and blonde hairs in his beard.

"Never found were they."

"Why didn't Greystil try to save them?" Anakin again, anger beginning to creep into his voice.

"Not everyone has your chivalrous mindset, Anakin," Obi-Wan mused, hoping to bring a smile to that stern face. But Anakin only glanced at him, swiftly, hidden by his lashes and bangs.

it could have been you...

Obi-Wan froze, momentarily pinching himself through his beard. Nope, not dreaming. But Yoda was continuing, and despite his desperate need to know what Anakin meant by thinking that so he could hear it, Obi-Wan the consummate Jedi focused on matters at hand.

"By his report, the other Jedi separated from Master Greystil and his Padawan by the Xaantins they were." Yoda folded his hands over his lap. "By his report, capable they were not of the chivalry you showed saving Master Kenobi."

That was that. He knew. Yoda knew what happened to Greystil and Dree'la, and he knew, had to, what they did to Obi-Wan.

Yoda looked at Obi-Wan and nodded.

"No doubt do I have that Dree'la spoke the truth of how they were treated."

"Master, Dree'la said she had been impregnated..."

"A child she had, but died during childbirth it did."

His throat caught. The sincerity in Yoda's voice - why would he admit to such a horrible thing, to refute Dree'la's claims, if it wasn't true?

"No chance of life did the child have," Yoda continued, sighing. "Enraged, warped Dree'la's mind had become. Attacked her own son she did. Tried we did to save it. But the child returned to the Force all too soon."

Obi-Wan felt the room spinning and did his best reaching out through the Force to steady himself. Dree'la killed her own son. And I? Did I kill my child before it even had a chance to breathe the air? Before I even had a chance to hold it in my arms? Would I have done the same if it had been born?

"Master Kenobi, many lies did Dree'la also tell," Yoda added sternly, closely watching Obi-Wan as he struggled with himself. "The Order created not the Xaantiins, only fell prey to their illusions. Decided the Council did to not permit any further contact with the planet, after what happened with Dree'la."

"And Master Greystil?"

"Greystil was there, but unable to stop Dree'la's rage was he. Plagued by nightmares he was. Even in meditating together, unable was I to soothe the pain, the guilt, he felt. Watched the Council did as he faded away, helpless to intervene."

"And then he killed himself," Anakin stated.

"By the tradition of his people, ended his suffering he did."

Anakin clenched and unclenched his metal hand. "And you knew all this when you sent Obi-Wan and me to that wretched planet?"

Yoda closed his eyes. Was he actually ashamed of what he'd done?

"Adamant was Palpatine that Dooku had been seen. Outweighed the risk was by the chance of ending this war."

"I would have done the same thing."

Anakin turned to Obi-Wan, gaping.

"How can you say that! With everything that happened to you!"

Obi-Wan bowed his head, focusing on the swirling patterns in the floor that were set afire by the setting sun. It wasn't just something he said to placate Anakin's anger, Yoda's shame or even his own pain. It was the truth. From deep down in his soul, it was the one thing he was certain of.

"As would you, Anakin. As would any Jedi who's sole desire is to save innocent lives by ending this needless bloodshed. We serve to protect. We sacrifice ourselves so that others know peace."

He looked back up, to the interlacing colors of the sunset and the lights of Coruscant as they blinked on to meet the night. At all the life that existed in the twisting metal and transparisteel of the city planet. To the twinkling stars of the Core that began to shimmer against the deep purple at the fringes of the setting sun. To all the planets scattered across the galaxy that were now losing sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, in this combat. Innocent or military, it didn't matter to the Force. All that mattered was stopping the millions of lives crying out before being silenced, forever.

He turned to Anakin, but didn't have to say any more. Anakin was staring at him, but no longer in abject horror at the thought of losing the man he claimed to love. No, this time it was more with the look of respect, of awe, of wistfulness at what had been, what was, and perhaps what could be.

"Understand well do you, Master Kenobi," Yoda said, his soft voice slicing gently through the silence in the Council Chambers. "Sorry I am for what you endured, and glad are we that returned safe you did."

"As Qui-Gon loved to say whenever he beat me in lightsaber practice," Obi-Wan said, smiling softly at Anakin before turning to face Yoda. "Whatever doesn't eviscerate or disintegrate you can only make you stronger."

Anakin scrunched up his nose. "That's not a very pleasant thought."

"Really? I always found it rather reassuring."

"That's only because you have a very odd sense of humor, my Master."

"Agree with young Skywalker, I do."

"Now, now, I feel insulted. Perhaps it means I should take my leave."

Obi-Wan bowed to Yoda, and Anakin followed his lead.

"Master Kenobi, if wish you to discuss this further, willing am I to do so."

"Thank you, Master Yoda. For now, I would really like a nice night's rest in my quarter. Perhaps we can meditate together in the morning?"

"Delighted, I would be."

They bid each other good night, and Obi-Wan and Anakin left the Chambers. They walked down the Temple's cavernous halls in silence as the lights flickered on for the night, casting long shadows into the corners as they passed. Obi-Wan didn't know what to say or what to do. Right now, just walking besides Anakin, feeling his presence so close was oddly comforting. Even if he could sense the confusing swirl of emotions in the young man's head and heart. And he knew there was only one way to end that confusion.

"Go see her, Anakin," he said quietly, keeping his eyes ahead of him. "I'm here for you when you want to talk."

He knew Anakin had stopped walking besides him but he did not. He continued on into the Temple, to his quarter. Anakin still had many things to learn, but Obi-Wan knew deep down that this little love triangle Anakin found himself in wasn't something Obi-Wan could give him instruction on. This was a lesson Anakin would have to learn on his own.

Anakin watched Obi-Wan continue down the hallway, stunned into motionless by how easily he had just said those things. Anakin felt obligated, of course, to go visit his wife. Surely she knew he was planetside by now, thanks to the constant communique his little R2 kept with 3PO. But after what just happened in the chambers, with the strength of will he'd just witnessed in Obi-Wan as his man struggled to accept - not challenge but actually accept! - what had happened to him - how could he just abandon Obi-Wan to struggle with this alone?

He had been chastising himself already for how he handled the revelation of his marriage to Padme. It just wasn't something he was ready to handle, especially when it was compounded by the revelation of Obi-Wan's. It was such a blinding jealously that took hold of him - but he wasn't even sure who he was jealous of. Sith, he still didn't know. It just didn't make sense. And everything had made sense before that planet. There was Padme, who he loved and cherished and had. There was Obi-Wan, who he loved and respected but didn't have. It had made sense, be with Padme. Then everything went to Corellian hells - and to the highest heavens he ever imagined. It just wasn't fair. He just wanted things to make sense again. Like it had when he was battling Dree'la.

He ran his real hand through his hair, sighing in frustration. If this is what if felt like to be adult and mature, he'd rather go back to being a kid.

He saw a comm-station just down the hall. Padme was waiting. Obi-Wan, he didn't appear to want to be disturbed. And again it appeared he had the one but not the other. Anakin entered the privacy area of the comm-station and keyed in Padme's private line. And he'd be a fool if he let the one thing he knew for certain he had slip through his fingers.

Padme's beautiful face, fresh from the 'fresher, shimmered onto the screen, and Anakin's heart skipped the beat it always did, without fail.

"Hello beautiful."

Padme beamed, dark brown ringlets of hair cascading around her face, glistening with water from the 'fresher. It looked like she had a halo around her head. He grinned, recalling how he first called her an angel when they met all those years ago in Watto's shop. How young he'd been, but it had been true. Padme had saved his soul numerous times.

"Ani, where are you?"

"I'm at the Temple. Our meeting with the Council just ended."

"That's where R2 said you would be. I'm glad to hear you're here. I missed you."

"So am I, my love, you have no idea how much I've missed you."

"Oh, Ani, it's been too long since I last saw you. Are you free to come over?" Her eyes were twinkling as her smile incredibly got bigger. "I have something important to talk to you about."

A part of him wished he could reach through the screen and be with her right then and there. To feel her soft skin against his as she held him, telling him everything would be all right as long as they had each other. That the matters of the Council, the Senate, the war, the galaxy didn't amount to a hill of gnaric seeds as long as they were together.

The other part of him needed to make sure that old bearded man would be able to sleep without nightmares plaguing him.

He saw the hopeful smile on his beloved's face, and felt his heart being torn in two.

Obi-Wan wrapped his night robe around his body as he stepped out of the 'fresher. He retrieved the datapad with the journal of the late Jedi Master Rasterphan he had been reading. Rasterphan was said to be very skilled in sensing deception in any sentient lifeform. Obi-Wan thought it might help him strengthen his negotiating skill. Besides, he liked Rasterphan's sense of humor when he wrote. It was both educational and very entertaining.

He settled into his recliner, a mug of hot chocolate cupped in his hand as he prepared to read about Rasterphan's adventures negotiating the brothel dispute on the resort planet of Erosian. He had just gotten to the description of the brothel when his door chimed. Setting aside his refreshment and entertainment, he went to answer it, his brow furrowed when he couldn't sense who it was behind the door.

And so he was beyond dumbstruck to see Anakin standing before him.

Dumbstruck, left weak in the knees, and completely overcome with excitation.

"Ani, you're ready to talk already?" he mustered enough composure to murmur that very eloquent question.

Anakin placed his metal hand on Obi-Wan's chest. Cold metal fingers slipped past the robe and brushed his chest, sending the most exquisite shivers through his hot body - he had no idea he was that hot until the metal made contact. Anakin then placed his other hand alongside and softly pushed Obi-Wan backwards. Unable to do anything but comply, Obi-Wan soon found himself standing in the middle of his quarters, with nothing but a robe separating his hot body from Anakin.

And all Anakin did was look at him, so intensely Obi-Wan thought he should feel embarrassed or worried. But it was that same look as before in the Council Chambers. Awe, respect, love, desire...

He wanted to pinch his beard again, but feared moving would remove Anakin's hands from his chest. So he tried to talk again as any good negotiator would do in a situation like this.

"How is Padme doing?"

"Just shut up for once, will you?"

Anakin's fists closed on Obi-Wan's robed and jerked them together, crushing their bodies and arms and lips with passion that could start a whole new universe of possibilities.

They didn't stumble or break contact as they quickly moved further into Obi-Wan's quarters, to finally fall unto the bed Obi-Wan had never in his wildest dreams imagine he'd be sharing with his Anakin.

But there they were. For a while they didn't move, barely breathed, as they looked at each other, at where they were and how far they had come.

And nothing about it seemed wrong in any way.

Obi-Wan smiled, brushing stray locks of hair from his lover's face.

"I think we should end every mission this way."

Anakin grinned, that wonderful mischievous glint Obi-Wan had been missing that lit up his blue eyes.

"How about starting every mission, too."

Obi-Wan laughed, deep throated. "As long as we don't forget we have a mission to do."

Anakin bent down and began nibbling on Obi-Wan's earlobe, moving slowly, circling between tender bites and kisses down his neck, to his chest, and oh so lower. Obi-Wan's moans came from a place he didn't even knew he had, and he just kept laughing.

"Well, perhaps we can miss one mission."

Anakin's mouth brushed his growing erection and Obi-Wan gasped.

"Or maybe two or three!"

And then there was no longer any coherent thought. There was just Anakin, teaching his master a new trick, or two, or three. Once again, Obi-Wan found himself the apt pupil. And a very fast one, at that.

Hours later they lay in each others arms with the kind of contentment you only get after having happily jumped over the brink of exhaustion. Anakin draped a light covering over them as Obi-Wan curled into his side, his hand tracing small circles on the taut, smooth skin of Anakin's chest. Anakin caught the busy hand and rubbed the palm with his thumb.

"Ani, how come you didn't go to be with Padme tonight?" Obi-Wan murmured, half asleep as a yawn tugged at his lips. "I wouldn't have been offended if you had."

"I know, Obi, I just - I couldn't let you sleep alone tonight."

He kissed the top of Obi-Wan's head and drew the man into a tighter embrace.

"I didn't want you to have nightmares like Greystil did. I - " He choked back the tears, but the raw feelings caught his voice. "I don't want to lose you like that."

Obi-Wan looked up at him through heavy eyelids.

"Well, we're lucky. I don't know of any tradition my people have for honorable suicide," he deadpanned, nestling himself against Anakin's chest.

"There's that sense of humor again!" Anakin rebuked, lightly slapping Obi-Wan's bare rump under the covers.

"Hey, watch it, young one. You're not too old for me to take you across my knee."

Anakin wiggled his eyebrows. "Promise?"

Obi-Wan sighed. "Young people today. Go to sleep, Ani."

Anakin wrapped his arms around his man and closed his eyes.

"I love you, Obi."

"Yeah, yeah, just go to sleep already."

And so it ends...

...and also begins.