AN: Thank you very much to all who reviewed! So I know this is probably not very classy, but I redid this chapter. Sorry guys. I was rereading it, (I always read my previous chapter before starting to write the next) and noticed that it didn't flow right. I had a really stressful week and I think I just posted it a little too soon. I'll be more careful about posting before I'm ready from now on, promise! And again, sorry.

ejm12: Don't worry; it won't end on too low a note.

ObiFan: Thanks! I always thought "Ben" sounded like Luke's attempt to say 'Obi Wan', so I just went with that. I was most excited to write Anakin's chapters so I hope you like this one.

Corni378: Thank you for reviewing...'lurking', good word!

GirlFromNorth: Thanks! And yes, there ARE a lot of Anakin and Obi Wan flashbacks; so many that I had to separate them into two different chapters...

Hmmm: First things first, thanks for reviewing! I really appreciated it! Second things second, I tip my hat to you for suggesting a really interesting flashback to incorporate. I hope you like how I put it in.

His Padawans

Anakin never saw Aurra Sing. She'd been lurking behind the ship they'd flown in, and as soon as he saw his injured padawan in the arms of his son, any forewarning he'd been experiencing had been forgotten. She'd had just enough Force capabilities to shield from him.

Obi Wan had seen Aurra Sing, had even seen the weapon she raised against Anakin's exposed back. A warning from Luke would come too late. One Force leap would land him between his brother and danger, but there wouldn't be time for defense.

There wasn't really a choice, not even contemplation. A split second later, Aurra Sing's shaft of poison had imbedded itself deep into the Jedi Master's forearm. The shock of missing her intended target was enough time for the Master to render all vengeance impossible before her blaster could come up for the kill.

The Temple Floor Plans had been stolen, and when the Team had located the plans via a secret tracking device, they'd found a league of anti-Jedi assassins. An attack on the Temple was foiled by Anakin and Obi Wan and the plans were re-stolen by Mara and Luke. However, in the process of getting back to the rendezvous point near their ship, Mara had taken a blaster shot to the leg.

Mara had needed immediate medical attention, but the injury wouldn't be serious if treated. The padawans and a worried Anakin were ushered into the space craft lest there be more attackers hiding somewhere.

The padawans and a worried Anakin were ushered into the space craft lest there be more attackers hiding somewhere.

Of course there were. The moment they entered the ship they felt the presences. Assassins, human and droid hid in the corners of the ship. Mara and the plans were secured in the smugglers hold and Obi Wan, Anakin, and Luke sought, fought, and destroyed all remaining threats. No one else was struck with a poison shaft.

Moments after the threat was neutralized Obi Wan collapsed onto the floor

"Master? MASTER!"

"…I can't move my legs."

His stomach churned painfully as he jogged down yet another hallway in the Healers ward. He needed to find Luke. The boy had disappeared once the diagnosis had come back. They didn't have much time. It wouldn't be long before Obi Wan was...was...

Anakin ground his teeth and blinked back tears. It was his entire fault, his mind hadn't been attentive to anything but his wounded padawan. If he'd just been a little more cautious the poison wouldn't be killing his…

He wanted to scream and cry his apologies out to the Force, to his Master, his children, anyone who would listen. More than anything he wished he could undo that moment, when Obi Wan had been guarding his back. Over and over again in his mind he saw Obi Wan collapse onto the ground. He wished he could've been the one to kill Aurra Sing, to draw out her death nice and slow like she deserved. Obi Wan had probably used his last strengths to ensure that Anakin could not seek any revenge.

But he wasn't the only one in pain though; Padme, Luke and Leia, even Master Windu, all would mourn the loss. He was a part of the Skywalker family, a part of their lives.

"This weird flirty thing they have going on has to stop! I won't allow it!"

Anakin was pacing back and forth in a rage. His Master was ignoring him.

"Oh I don't know, watching them flirt is a lot less disgusting then watching you and Padme, wouldn't you agree, Padawan?"

Luke, aged nineteen, grinned up at his mentor in shared mirth.

"Oh yes, definitely."

"DISGUSTING! We are NOT disgusting! And Leia should stay away from him! He even started using MY nickname for her!"

His Master finally deigned to look at him, "If you recall, I first started calling Leia 'Princess' and as the creator of the nickname, I give Han full license to use it."

"You…YOU LIKE IT! YOU LIKE THAT THEY'RE FLIRTING…I—I" such a realization left Anakin stuttering.

"Aw, Master! Who knew you had a romantic side." Luke laughed, eyes dancing.

"I do NOT have a romantic side. That is absurd. I merely pointed out that such a development was rather unavoidable. I give them about a year before they finally cave and admit it to themselves."

"A year? Please, Master! Leia is much more stubborn than that! Two years at least!"

"How much are you willing to bet on that?" Shockingly, that came from neither Luke, nor Obi Wan, but Mace Windu who was observing from the doorway. Such a pronouncement shocked most of the occupants of the room.

Obi Wan recovered first, having seen this more relaxed side of the stern Jedi Master more often than the others.

"Fifteen credits?"

"Oh please, Master. At least make it interesting. I say twenty!"

"Oh yeah? Thirty!"

Anakin gaped at them. "Are you actually betting that…that MY DAUGHTER and that….that…scruffy looking NERFHERDER will…UGH!" Anakin left the room in a huff and a year later, Obi Wan was rather wealthy for a Jedi.

LINE BREAK

"Master! Why do you always knock? It's just me, you can come right in."

Obi Wan looked a little tense, so Anakin went and got his Master a cup of tea, himself a cup of caf and plopped down on the Life Day couch. He expected Obi Wan to sit down beside him and commence with the verbal sparring, but he didn't. In fact, he fidgeted, for probably the first time in his life. At least, Anakin himself never saw Obi Wan fidget nervously before. A rather awkward silence fell between the two before Anakin's infamous impatience got the better of him.

"Okay, what is it?"

"What's what?"

"You've got something on your mind. I could tell from the minute I saw you," he motioned to the seat next to him and gave his serious former Master a smirk, "Tell Dr. Ani all about it."

"Anakin, the day you're made a shrink is the day I retreat to an outer rim planet and become a hermit!" They both chuckled for a bit and Obi Wan sat down.

"It's...I didn't just come over like I usually do. I have something to ask you."

Anakin set down his caf cup and gave his former Master his full attention.

"Is it...do I have...Would you mind if..."

Obi Wan looked far too somber, but Anakin could easily remedy that.

"This from 'The Negotiator'?" Anakin let out another snicker and expected Obi Wan to join in or at least rejoin with a witty retort but, in typical unpredictable Obi Wan fashion, he did neither.

"I want to train your son," very bluntly. Anakin was amused.

"Well it's about time! I was beginning to wonder if I had to ask you to train him."

Anakin watched in satisfaction as the slow, joyful smile grew on his Master's face.

LINE BREAK

"Luke! Padawan, get in here!"

Anakin couldn't remember ever seeing Obi Wan so ecstatic, not even when Luke snuck them the 'padawans only' chocolate cake from the cafeteria. (1) He was practically glowing; an enormous grin lighting up his entire face. Even his body was quivering slightly with joy and anticipation.

Luke came stumbling into the meditation room, still munching on his dessert, when Obi Wan grasped his young student by the shoulder and all but shoved him forward.

Anakin couldn't help but chuckle slightly at Luke's perplexed look.

"Why are you making me meditate now? I wasn't done eating!"

"Not now, padawan! There's someone I would love for you to meet."

Luke looked around and spotted his father, he grinned mischievously, "Hello Father, I'm Luke, your son. Pity we haven't met before now isn't it?"

"You're a cheeky one."

Anakin grinned as the ghost of Qui Gon Jinn appeared just behind Luke. The long-dead and long-missed Jedi Master had learned a while ago how to appear as a Force ghost, but both Obi Wan and Anakin had thought it a onetime thing. However, Master Qui Gon was now able to stay longer than a few minutes, and had learned how to properly communicate with the living. The previous time had been a blessing from the Force.

He watched in amusement as his little son spun around at the unfamiliar voice. Luke gaped as Obi Wan stepped forward to introduce his Master.

"Luke, this is my Master, Master Qui Gon Jinn."

Surprisingly, the first words out of Luke's mouth weren't 'How did you get here so fast?' or even, 'Why are you blue?' they were, 'Ben had a Master!' (2)

Anakin and Qui Gon laughed rather hardily at that one while said Ben looked a little uncomfortable.

"Yes that old man you call 'Master' had a master too once." The mirth danced in Qui Gon's eyes as he laughed.

Obi Wan rolled his eyes but the joyful smile didn't leave his lips.

"If I'm an old man, what does that make you, Master?"

"A ghost," then upon seeing Luke begin to back away he added, "Don't worry; I'm not here to suck out your soul. I just wanted to meet you."

Luke smiled and soon, ancient Jedi Master and newly made padawan were busy making friends.

LINE BREAK

Anakin was sure Padme and Obi Wan were watching (and laughing at) him through some secret cameras hooked up somewhere. Really, how was it that Obi Wan had a "mission" right when Padme had scheduled a much-needed vacation with her sister. Surprisingly enough, Master Windu had offered to help with the children, but he couldn't make it until tomorrow night. Which meant that tonight, it was Anakin verses his five-year-old progeny.

He didn't really know how Force-blind parents did it. How did they keep all their children together AND in one piece? Anakin only had two of them and already he was relying heavily on the Force. In fact he was dangling Luke in the air with it as he searched around for Leia.

"Leia, it's time for bed! Running around will not help. Eventually, I will find you and when I do I will TIE you to the bed if you try to get up again!" To most, his anger was intimidating but for some reason, his twins were not at all scared of him. He could throw a temper tantrum complete with cuss words and the only result he'd get would be giggles, just like the ones he was hearing now.

"Aha! Found you!" Little Leia was suddenly levitating in the air in front of her father, and together with her twin, she was brought into the joint bedroom.

"In bed!" Anakin shouted letting the twins go once they were floating above their respective beds. That was a bad idea however, because they bounced and with a mutual look of pure mischief, both twins began jumping on their beds. It looked like fun, and if it hadn't been three hours past the twin's bedtime, he might have joined in.

This was ridiculous! Did letting your children have six cookies each really amount to this much energy? No wonder Obi Wan had limited his sweet intake so much!

Anakin himself was starting to feel a little tired, and he didn't want to imagine what would happen if he fell asleep while his little twins were this hyped up. It was time for drastic measures. He sat down heavily and put his face in his hands.

"Daddy, are you CRYING!" Leia immediately stopped bouncing and Luke jumped down from his bed and ran over to his father.

"We're sorry, Daddy. Really! We won't do it again." Ah, guilt. It worked every time.

"Daddy's not CRYING," after all he had to keep SOME dignity intact, and if this ever got back to Obi Wan…

"But he's very close. I'm very frustrated with you two. How can I get you to calm down and go to sleep?"

"Well, mommy usually tells us a story," Luke declared, trying to climb up onto his father's lap. Anakin helped him up and cuddled the little demon to his chest.

"Well, why didn't you say so? I'm a fantastic storyteller, galaxy renowned!"

"Prove it!" Leia looked very challenging, and Anakin could never back down from a challenge, even if it came from a toddler.

"What should the story be about?"

"Daddy!" Luke, apparently, still hadn't gotten over his guilt and was sucking up.

"Alright, how about a story where I save Ben?" Luke looked pleased but Leia still had an unimpressed look on her face. Maybe her friendship with Master Windu wasn't such a good thing after all.

"We ALWAYS hear about that, Daddy, how about one where Ben saves you?"

It stopped Anakin immediately, because no matter how many times he'd saved his Master's life in the past, it would never amount to the time where Obi Wan had saved him. His Master hadn't just saved his life; he'd saved his soul and made all of this possible.

"You want to hear a story about Ben saving me?"

"Yes, Daddy!"

He took a deep breath. "Alright, I'll tell you the most important one okay?"

Both twins nodded, earlier fun forgotten as the gravity of this story registered, even to their young minds.

"See, Daddy had this…'friend' that he used to talk to a lot and whom he trusted very much."

"Kinda like Ben?" Luke questioned.

"No, Lukie. Not at all like Ben. Ben was and always will be, good and kind and honest. This friend, his name was Palpatine, just pretended to be those things. And your Daddy didn't know that."

"Why not?"

"Because Palpatine was very, very sneaky and he wanted to use my Force powers for evi—bad guy things. But Ben came in just in the nick of time and told me something very important that stopped me from going along with Palpatine."

"What was that?"

Anakin smiled gently, "He told me that he knew everything I had been up to, and that he loved me."

Luke had a big grin on his face, "Of course he does! Ben loves everyone! You and me, and Mom, and me, and Leia, and me…"

Anakin laughed at his son's antics, "Yes Luke, Ben loves you too, very much."

Leia still looked a little doubtful, "But didn't you already know that?"

"No Leia, not really, he'd never said so before" he sighed.

"But couldn't you just…tell?" Force, his daughter was astute. She already had Padme's ability to read people, even at five.

"I should've been able to…It was very obvious now that I think about it. But anyway, Ben started fighting Palpatine."

"With light sticks?"

"Lightsabers, Leia. And yes, Palpatine had one too."

"What color was it?" Anakin mused that this was the type of question only a girl would think to ask.

"Red. Anyway, your mommy showed up and told me to help Ben so I did, but I was very distracted and Palpatine was a very good fighter. He tried to stab me in the stomach, but Ben was in between and he got hurt."

"DID HE DIE!" Both Luke and Leia looked at him horrified, it prompted a little laughter amidst the tears that had escaped at the memory.

"Guys, you just saw Ben, last week remember?" Both twins calmed a little at that.

"He didn't die, but the lightsaber had got him in the hip. I had an opening then and killed Palpatine right then and there. I didn't even have time to get angry at him. In fact, I didn't even see Ben get hurt until he fell over." Anakin paused; making sure his kids weren't traumatized. They didn't look scared though, the brave little tykes, just entranced.

"I picked him up then just like I do to you two sometimes, and do you know what he said then?"

Both twins waited with baited breath.

"He told me he was very proud of me and that he forgave me for everything. And that's why I'm here today, that's why your Mother and I are still married, and that's why I'm here to be a father to you two."

Anakin bowed his head and let a few more tears fall. Two little hands reached up and wiped them away. Leia had climbed up on his other knee and was assisting Luke in his administrations.

"Did Ben really do that for you, Daddy?" Leia looked her father in the eyes.

"Yes, yes Leia, he really did."

"Did you say 'thank you'?" Anakin snorted a little at that one. Padme was trying very hard to get both twins to remember to say 'please' and 'thank you', apparently it was paying off.

"Yes I did, many times."

"I'm going to give him a great big hug when he gets back!"

"Me too!"

Obi Wan was very confused when he came to visit next and found his arms full of very grateful Skywalker children

LINE BREAK

"Please... please don't go. Please, Ben." Every paternal instinct Anakin had responded to his son's heart wrenching plea and suddenly he was right beside Luke, cradling the nineteen-year-old in his arms.

"I know, I know, son. I'm going to miss him too..." A single tear escaped Anakin's eyes.

"I'm-I'm so sorry, Dad. I'm...I can't...I can't watch him die..." Luke pulled closer to his father, sobbing onto his shoulder.

To be honest, neither could he. He felt like he was nine-years-old again, having the people he loved and relied on most slip away from him one by one.

But he was a father now, not a nine-year-old; a Master, not a padawan. He had to comfort his family. He could take comfort for himself and rely on someone else for a time, but not when his family needed him most. Obi Wan had taught him that.

"What will we do without him?" Luke sobbed.

Anakin took a deep breath, "We need to…we need to let him go."

It went against every instinct he had, to say something like that. He'd be more than willing to trade places with Obi Wan, or to keep fighting against the hopelessness and inevitability of his death.

But nineteen years ago, he'd come face to face with his inability to let go, and if not for Obi Wan, it would have pulled him down into the dark.

A slight warning sounded in the Force, not a feeling over the bond, but a sense of the passing of time, like the numbers of a chrono. They couldn't stay here.

"Come on, he needs us." Anakin pulled Luke up off the ground.

Father and son walked back toward their mutual mentor's deathbed with their arms wrapped around each other's shoulders.