Authors Notes: Hi y'all! Wow! I never expected so many reviews on the first chapter! Thanks everybody. First, a few replies, then Chapter 2. (FYI, I'll continue to put double lines at the start of the actual story so that the lurkers who didn't review can skip right to it.) This one's kinda short, I think. The next one will be longer.

REV042175: You are far too kind. And you know the rest of what I have to say. :)

deathstarcakewalk: As you wish... ;)

SSG Micheal B Jackson: I fully understand. Thanks for letting me know you liked what I had, though. :) Oh, and congrats on getting home, finally.

Shanobi: Blushing Well- really- I... Oh, just read my e-mail message. :D

Kazzy: You shouldn't have to wait too long to find out what happens. Assuming, of course, that I eventually end up writing more. Stupid DRL... As to your rhetorical questions, well, we'll have to see. I'm not entirely sure where some of this will lead. Fred has not decided to tell me yet.

Strawberry-ksc: :) I'm glad you liked it. I'm hoping to get more sweetness in between Obi-Wan and Ani. Everyone just kind of skips over their early relationship, that's one of the reasons I wanted to write this.

Cassy: Thanks for the review, it's nice to know who's reading. Here's more!

Burden of Choice

Chapter 2

As per Obi-Wan's prediction, the Jedi Master did not wake that night nor the next morning, and he was informed that several members of the Council would arrive near evening. The Apprentice heard the news as soon as the Council contacted the Queen. Amidala had refused to call him to the comm -- thinking him still asleep -- but left a message in his room that he received immediately, having woken when his subconscious noticed the dawn.

The apprentice was startled to realize he was not nervous about the Council members' arrival. His bedroom featured a balcony and he wandered out to stretch while he considered the message.

The young Jedi mused that he might still be in shock from the events of the day before. That seemed unlikely since his past exploits had been as severe on occasion and had never left him in such a state. Well, that wasn't quite true. Never, in the past, had he come quite so close to losing Qui-Gon. The older man had been seriously injured on several occasions, but never quite this critically.

Obi-Wan had never faced a Sith warrior before. That was also different. The beast had radiated hate in a way that was unlike anyone else he'd ever encountered. The young Jedi had never come quite so close to the Darkside himself.

That was what might have left him in a state of shock. When Qui-Gon had fallen, apparently mortally wounded, Obi-Wan had barely stopped himself from trying to run right through the barrier. Fear had turned into anger exactly as Master Yoda so frequently taught. He'd been afraid for his Master and had hated the Sith for hurting the older man.

He was very lucky, he knew that. If the touch of the Darkside -- the direct contact -- had been a little less foreign to him he could have pulled on it harder. He might not have been struck by the monster or had the chance to consider his actions.

So many alternatives, too many to consider properly. His Master was always telling him to "seize the moment" and that usually meant letting go the past. Still, he would have to think about his actions at some point, if only to ensure he never repeated them. In his mind's eye, he saw the lasers close about him, locking him into the small space. He saw red and green blades flash wildly as the opponents spun across the room. The single hit to the jaw that stunned the older Jedi just long enough for the Sith to...

Skipping past that part, Obi-Wan saw the energy barriers open, his own sabre flashed in the dim lights. Faster than he'd ever moved before; he drove the Sith back, rage and grief drove his motions as he felt his Master slipping away from him...

When he'd begun to fall into the pit, he reached out instinctively for any salvation, and managed to find the small protrusion with his fingers. Just then, he'd felt a tendril of concern from his Master that had brought him back to ground. The man was still dying, but with that touch, all the lessons he'd been taught rushed back to him.

Irrelevantly, Obi-Wan wondered why so many of the places he ended up contained large, dangerous, and seemingly bottomless pits.

He had time for this thought because, despite his precarious situation, he was safe for the moment. The Sith-beast could not reach him and the monster thought his Master dead. He would have just enough time to gather his thoughts, make a plan.

Then he had leapt out of the pit, grabbed his Master's sabre, and defeated the Sith. After the mess he'd nearly made of things, it had almost been easy.

Standing alone on the balcony, it was easier to consider his actions, easier to see where he'd first gone wrong.

The Jedi's thoughts were interrupted by a soft scratching at the door. Opening the heavy panel he found little Anakin, half asleep and tousle-haired, rubbing one eye with his right hand.

"Good Morning, Anakin."

"'Morning, Jedi Kenobi." The boy yawned, then blushed, standing straighter. "I'm supposed to see if you are awake and tell you breakfast is waiting."

Managing a small smile, Obi-Wan thanked the boy and grabbed his cloak, which someone had placed in his room the day before. He'd found his and his Master's folded neatly on the table when he'd arrived the night before.

He followed Anakin down the hallway to a large dining room where "Padmé" and several other handmaidens were already seated and food was being brought out.

The girl grinned when they approached. "Good Morning, Anakin, Jedi Kenobi!" She gestured toward the empty seats beside her. "Please, join us. Jedi Kenobi, did you receive your message this morning?"

"Yes, thank you, Milady."

She nodded. "The Medicenter also contacted me just moments ago, they say there is no change, but that is apparently a very good sign. If the situation was going to deteriorate, it would have during the night." She paused, trying to read his blank face. "As of this morning the doctors think Master Jinn will make a full recovery..."

Obi-Wan caught her eye and nodded, realizing that she was continuing for his benefit. "Thank you, Milady. That is good news indeed."

Padmé accepted this token and turned to the boy sitting between them. "So, Anakin, what would you like to do today?"

"What do you mean?" Obi-Wan heard his tone of voice and realized the boy had probably never had a day to himself before in his life. He'd never been allowed to choose his own activities.

"Well, I'm afraid today will be a very busy one for me, this is probably all the free time I will have," she paused and glanced ruefully at her own uneaten breakfast. "But I see no reason why you should have to spend the day moping around the Palace... or the Medicenter." She glanced at Obi-Wan and the young Jedi was not sure it was out of respect or as a reprimand, lest he do the same thing.

At his puzzled expression, she continued. "You're a Hero, Ani. We owe our lives to you, anything you want to do can be arranged."

"Anything?" The concept was within his grasp, but just barely. "But, what should I do?"

Padmé laughed lightly, making Anakin smile. Unsure why, Obi-Wan added an offer of his own before his mind could stop him. "If you would like, Anakin, I would be glad to accompany you on a tour of the city."

The boy's eyes lit. "Yeah, that would be so wizard. Can we do that, Padmé"

The Queen looked up at the Jedi. "But you don't know your way around, either."

"I could accompany them, Majesty." The voice was soft and shy. Obi-Wan recognized the Handmaiden who had stood in for the Queen as a decoy. Looking back, the deception was obvious and he could recognize each time he'd seen the girl. Her name escaped the Jedi, however.

"That is, Your Highness, if you did not have anything that required my attention." The girl, who looked just a bit older than the Queen, was looking down at the table and the tops of her ears were turning red. He wondered what had gotten into her. Obviously, she was not nervous about speaking to the Queen, she'd been the Queen the day before. And why would she want to spend the day with an over excited nine-year old and a moody Jedi Padawan?

The Queen looked at her friend in amusement, then solemnly said, "I think that is a marvelous idea, Sabé."

Both girls locked eyes and giggled. It required every ounce of self control for Obi-Wan to keep himself from groaning. He finally understood why she would want to spend the day with a moody Jedi Padawan and his excitable nine year-old friend. He instantly regretted his suggestion, but realized it was too late to take it back.

"Does that sound good to you, Ani?" The Queen asked her young friend.

"Sure." The boy had an odd expression on his face and Obi-Wan wondered what he was thinking.