Disclaimer: I wish I could take credit for creating Star Wars, but alas, I am not George Lucas, and I have no intention of getting sued.

Summary: As Qui-Gon, Anakin, and Bant protect the Republic from Darth Sidious, another Sith Lord emerges – Qui-Gon's presumably dead, former apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi. Can the Jedi save the Republic, or is it already too late? The third story in the Jedi Trials series.

Author's Notes: First of all, Happy New Year! I can't believe it's almost 2007 (or already 2007 for those lucky people on the other side of the globe). It seemed like this year would never arrive, seeing as it's a very important year in my life what with graduation and finally becoming and adult and moving out and college...and well, the list could go on forever, but I must keep my mind in the here and now where it belongs.

(But Master Yoda said I should be mindful of the future...)

But not at the expense of the moment. Be mindful of the Living Force, young Padawan.

(Yes, Master.)

Haha, moving on...

This is the quickest I think I've ever gotten chapters up. I'm so proud of myself, and I should be keeping this pace up for at least another week, as I still have another whole week off from school. But, like always, no promises, just in case something comes up... Enjoy!

Revenge and Regret

By Kekelina

-----

Chapter Six: An Unwanted Seduction

-----

"Oh, hello, Anakin." Surprise.

"Chancellor Amidala, pleasure to see you. Congratulations on your election." Friendship.

"Thank you. What are you doing here?" Curiosity.

"I live here, Chancellor." Dry humor.

"Oh, yes, of course…" Embarrassment.

"What are you doing here?" Intrigue.

"The Senate has no Jedi liaison, so I came to speak with the Council. I wanted them to know they have the Republic's full cooperation as they hunt down Chance – Darth Sidious." Sincerity.

"That was kind of you." Hidden sarcasm.

"I…also came to see you." Desire.

"Me?" Disbelief.

"Yes… I never properly thanked you for protecting me on Naboo and Tatooine." Seduction.

"I – I…" Shock.

"Ani?" Concern.

"I – I have to go. Practice. Things. Stuff. Bye." Panic.

Anakin's feet pounded on the heavy carpet of the halls in rhythm with his pounding heart as he tried desperately to be anywhere but here. Had she really – ? Yes, she had.

He ran hard and fast with no destination, as if running could make recent events disappear. Of course, it was foolish, but for a panicking Padawan, it was sensible logic.

How could she? All those times back on Naboo, when Anakin had wanted to – wanted her…he had been refused – by Qui-Gon, by her…yet now, when he had finally gotten sense…when he didn't want her, she had the – the nerve to waltz into the Jedi-kriffing-Temple…his home…and try to…seduce him.

"Sith," he swore. Was she insane? She must be, for only a complete lunatic would try something so stupid. In the name of the Force…

Why him? Why was he always the one tempted and tested? Why not his friends, his Master, Qui-Gon, or better still, why not Yoda?

You're the Chosen One.

Yes, and a lousy Chosen One he made. He wasn't as skilled with a lightsaber as Qui-Gon, or as strong in the Force as Yoda. He was average. Arrogant, average Anakin. Whose former crush had just tried to seduce him…

He shuddered, coming to a halt in the middle of the hall near the sparring rooms. He needed to talk to someone about this; Qui-Gon was the most likely candidate, but he had been preoccupied with grieving over Kenobi since his return to the Jedi. In fact, Anakin and Qui-Gon had not spoken for a few days. It was strange to not see his former Master every day, the man who had rescued him from Tatooine and promised to make him a Jedi even when the Council hadn't allowed it. There was a void in him, a void that should've been filled with Qui-Gon's presence and wisdom. A part of him felt…empty…when he didn't see him every day.

His next obvious choice was Bant, but she didn't know the history on his Padme…situation. He didn't want her to be disappointed in him as Qui-Gon had been. She might not understand.

Why, a voice challenged. You don't have feelings for Padme now, do you? Then she won't have a problem with it. A Jedi only looks to the future.

He scowled, upset that an imaginary voice had a better understanding of the Jedi and the world around him than he, the Chosen One, did. Nevertheless, the voice was right. Besides, wasn't his Master here to guide him?

-----

Bant wasn't in their joint residence quarters when he arrived, so he decided to take a walk to clear his thoughts. Naturally, meditation would've been the better choice, but Anakin had never been particularly fond of meditation, though that distaste for one of the most necessary parts of a Jedi's life had lessened enough over the years to where he could sit through his mandatory hour of meditation (and sometimes more) without fidgeting.

Perhaps he would become a Jedi Knight someday after all…

It was during his meandering around the quiet, comfortable halls that he met Master Yoda. He bowed to the venerable Master and made to continue onward, but Yoda stopped him with a wave of his hand.

"Troubled, you are, Padawan Skywalker."

He blinked. "How – ?"

"Projecting quite loudly, you are. Your shields, need work they do."

Anakin had the decency to blush. Who knew how many Jedi had been hearing his thoughts over the last – he checked his chrono – half-hour? Was that what those two Initiates had been giggling about? He groaned. Sithspit, that was embarrassing. As was blushing in front of the oldest and wisest member of the Jedi High Council…

"Humph, think me old, do you?" he accused, hitting him hard on the shin with his gimer stick.

"Ow!" For star's sake! He slammed his shields into place and groaned. He was making a complete fool out of himself. And now, to top it all off, his shin hurt like a Sith.

"No, Master Yoda, I – "

"No need for excuses. Serious, I am not," he interrupted, tapping the floor with his walking stick, a slight twinkle in his eyes.

Some joke.

"Now," he said, serious again. "Upset you are. What help can I be?"

Anakin fidgeted, toying with a loose thread on his robes. Master Bant may understand, but would Yoda? The wise Jedi had made clear his opinion on attachments; he would only repeat what he said to all Jedi.

But it wasn't as if he had an attachment to Padme…

Not now; but I used to.

He didn't want to admit his failing to the small, green Master before him.

"Confused, you are," Yoda said, interrupting his thoughts. "Come; sit." He led the way out onto a balcony overseeing the majestic skyline of the city-planet and hopped up on a bench, waiting expectantly for Anakin to join him.

Anakin could not refuse and stiffly sat down beside him.

"Now, tell me your troubles."

"Master Yoda," he hesitated, now unsure where to begin. "Since Master Qui-Gon found me on Tatooine, I've had a – an attachment to Chancellor Amidala."

Yoda "hmmed" as his left ear twitched.

"My Master – well, former Master – pointed my infatuation out to me while we were protecting the former Senator from the bounty hunter. Eventually, I managed to overcome it, realizing its danger and the fact that she had no such affections for me.

"But something happened today, Master Yoda. I met Padme – I mean, the Chancellor, in the halls and she…she…" He trailed off and stared at his hands in shame.

"Tempted you, she did," Yoda stated wisely.

Though it was not a question, he answered it as such. "Yes, Master, she did. I – I refused her, of course," he added quickly, an appropriate amount of blush creeping to his cheeks. Stars and planets, would he ever stop doing that? "But I'm so confused, Master, and scared." Fear was not an appropriate emotion for the Jedi, but he had sneaking suspicion that Yoda already knew and was simply letting him talk. "What if I haven't gotten rid of my feelings for her? What if they're hidden, and this – this…event…reveals them? What if I can't stop them?"

The wisest and most experienced Master in the Temple sighed, his ears drooping. "Know you do the rule of attachments. Wise you are, to guard yourself from the Chancellor's affections. Control her feelings, you cannot, but yours you can. Release your fear into the Force. Ask it, you must, to guide you. In it you must trust to lead you down the right path."

With that, he hopped down from the bench, his gimer stick tapping on the duracrete floor. "Glad, I am, that you have confided in me. Close to becoming a true Jedi Knight, you are."

He left Anakin gaping at his retreating back.

-----

The Other Author's Notes: If any of you find Padme's behavior to be a bit OOC, it's not. Remember, while Anakin made his advances quite known in AotC, it was Padme who officially began their relationship when she realized she actually did want him.