Chapter 16- Confession

Obi-Wan jumped, thinking he'd heard something. He could have sworn he saw something move across the room, he was paranoid. Hiding things from Qui-Gon always did this to him, made him paranoid and jumpy about everything.

"Obi-Wan, calm down, there is nothing there." Adali said, pouring him a glass of water to help calm his nerves.

He sighed, "I don't see why I do this to myself. I know that i'll end up a nervous wreck and yet I let Azah talk me into to it, every time."

"So why do you listen to her? You don't have to..." Adali said, handing him the water. "Here, drink this. It'll help calm your nerves."

"I enjoy spending time with her, It's fun while we're out, it's just once we return...I get like this." He said, taking the glass into shaking hands, nearly spilling it on himself.

"Do you need some help" She teased.

"No, I am perfectly capable of spilling this on myself without your added assitance." Obi-Wan shot back with a smile, taking a sip.

Adali just smiled, she couldn't help but think about how things hadn't worked out between them because they were so young - she wished she could tell him she still had feelings for him, but alas, she could sense that he had feelings for Azah. She just couldn't hurt her friends. "So do you think Qui-Gon will act on your beliefs?"

"If he knows anything, he'll wait, let me stew over things until I can't take it anymore and confess." Obi-Wan sighed.

"Aenanya tends to act in the same manner. I think they spent to much time together as Younglings." She smiled again.

"I think it is just a normal trait for a Master..." He replied, "But it's a awful hard time on us." Smiling, he sat his glass down, motioning for her to sit with him and talk.

"Maybe it is, but they sure know how to make us suffer." Adali said, walking over with Obi-Wan to sit on the couch and talk.

---

That night when Qui-Gon returned he saw Obi-Wan sitting on the sofa. The poor padawan looked as if he'd been through the war and was still jumping at every little noise.

"Something bothering you, Padawan?" He asked, looking down at the boy as he walked by.

"No! No, nothings wrong." Obi-Wan squeaked, jumping slightly.

"You're awfully jumpy, did I miss something today? How were your classes?" Qui-Gon took a loaf of bread out of the cupboard.

"Classes? Oh, fine. Fine. And no, you didn't miss anything." The padawan replied, eyes darting around him. 'Today...' He finished in his mind.

"Good, good. I'm glad to hear it." The tall Master smiled, sitting across from his Padwan, a cup of something in his hand. "You've become very astute, of late." He mused, sipping from the cup.

"Thank you Master." Obi-Wan said, hanging his head, sighing. He stared at his feet for a few minutes before looking up.

When Obi-Wan's glance met his Masters, Qui-Gon raised an inquisitive eyebrow. "Is something wrong Obi-Wan? Are you ill?" He asked.

The breath caught in Obi-Wan's throat on Qui-Gon's words. He began to choke, coughing. Qui-Gon sat forward, a tad worried. "Obi-Wan, breathe, in and out."

Obi-Wan began to breathe again, if not a little ragedly. "Padawan, are you sure you're not ill? I think I'll call the..." Qui-Gon started, reaching for his commlink.

"No, Master...I have something to tell you." The boy said softly. Qui-Gon was suddenly all ears. "We were not meditating yesterday morning."

"No, really?" His Master replied, unsurprised, leaning forward.

"You knew? I knew it! I knew you knew!" Obi-Wan burst.

"I think we should talk about what you were doing Obi-Wan Kenobi." Qui-Gon said, his tone switching to the chastising one Obi-Wan knew all too well.

Obi-Wan swallowed hard, pleading eyes looking up at his Master. "We went out..."