Another Disclaimer:Disclaimed.

Chapter 6: Therapy and a Funeral

When the weary group returned, Padme was waiting. Rae looked at her group, and the boys nodded. Padme was going for a lunch time stress relief session with them the next day, Queenly duties or no. "Feeling better?" the strong Queen asked. Rae smiled.

"Oh, Padme... I wish you could have come with us. It was an enlightening trip. Perhaps you could come with us when we go again tomorrow? Your Handmaidens and Captain could come with us," she said sweetly. Padme sighed, weariness plain in the lines of her young face.

"I'd love to but..." she began, then stopped as Rae's expression hardened.

"No buts! I'll inform the relevant people, prepare the necessary foodstuffs, and then you, my political friend, are going to get de-stressed and work through some of your grief. Goodness knows you have some," Rae said, blithely overruling the younger woman with a careless wave of her hand. Anakin couldn't hold back his snickers and Rae felt happy that she had lightened at least one person's load. And that it was Anakin, and at such an early stage in his development, spoke well of her self-imposed mission. It was unlikely he would turn to Palpatine for comfort now. Not after all that. Padme sighed again, though this time more in resignation than fatigue, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

"I see there will be no stopping you. Alright, I'll join you for your little therapy session," she said. Rae beamed and then turned to head back to the ship. "Where are you going?" Padme asked. Rae blinked at her, confused.

"Well, I figured I'd just go back to the room you let me use on the ship, Your Highness. I'd rather like a shower and a warm bed," she said.

"I thought you would, so I had the staff prepare a room, along with rooms for Anakin and Jedi Kenobi, while you were out. Sabe? Would you take them to their rooms?" she said, turning to her double and missing the gobsmacked look on Rae's face. Obi-Wan and Anakin didn't and separately decided they weren't going to let her live it down for quite some time. Sabe curtsied, then lead them off into the Palace. She stopped before one door and said,

"Jedi Kenobi, these will be your rooms. The first is a sitting room that connects to the sitting room to the left through that door there. The bed room is straight ahead and the Refresher is to the right once you enter the bedchamber." Obi-Wan nodded and Sabe took Anakin and Rae down one before opening that door and saying, "Anakin, this is your suite. It connects to the right and left. The rest is the same as Jedi Kenobi's. Have a nice night." Rae was a little surprised but brushed it off. It was probably that way so that Anakin could find Obi-Wan quickly if needed. Sabe then showed her to the room to the left of Anakin's. She stopped, perplexed.

"Sabe? Why are we all in connecting rooms?" she asked. The Handmaiden smiled at the confused woman.

"Her Majesty felt it would be good for Anakin to have people he trusts on both sides of him, so he wouldn't have to go looking for comfort if it was needed in the night," she said. Rae nodded.

"Please, give her my thanks. It was very kind of her to put us up, much less all in a row," she said. Sabe smiled and nodded.

"She will feel such thanks is unnecessary, as she sees all three of you as good friends, but I will convey your sentiment nonetheless," she said. Rae bowed her out of the room and went to seek out the Refresher. She felt like she really needed a good long shower or maybe a warm bubble bath. She found all she would need for such a bath, or shower, inside the large bathroom. She smiled.

"Royalty sure makes a good friend," she said softly in a moment of material enjoyment. While not exactly selfish, Rae could appreciate the fine things in life. And that bathroom was fine. Once clean, Rae found a soft, warm nightgown laid out in her room and quickly dressed. Once clean and warm, she crawled under the covers of the soft bed she had been provided with and quickly fell asleep.

/*/

Even untrained, Anakin could sense Rae and Obi-Wan in the rooms on either side of him. He smiled as he lay curled up on the bed provided, clean and warm and safe. He let out a happy sigh. He had a new family, an amazing family, and soon he would begin learning how to control his abilities along with Obi-Wan. Maybe even... from Obi-Wan. He hoped the auburn haired Jedi was made his master. He didn't think he could bear someone else. Maybe Rae, but she wasn't Jedi, so she couldn't train him. With thoughts of his impeding trained floating through his mind, Anakin fell into a deep, peaceful sleep.

/*/

Obi-Wan could feel the positive emotions coming off of Rae and Anakin. He let out a sigh and settled deeper into the bed, thinking about the report he'd have to give to the council. He was not looking forward to that. No, not at all. He sighed and thought of all the good times he'd had in his life, the most recent being with Rae. Including her little therapy session by the lake. Maybe she was right. Maybe, sometimes, you just have to let the emotion run its course and be done with it. Oh some still remained, and probably would for a good long time, maybe forever, but it was muted, easier to control. Perhaps, such strong emotions as that, needed to be expressed, but only in a controlled environment... and without a live lightsaber. He smiled and drifted off to sleep with bittersweet memories playing in his mind.

/*/

The next morning, Anakin woke first. He went into Obi-Wan's room and found the Jedi moaning in his sleep. Not wanting to see his friend in distress, Anakin crawled up into his bed and cuddled up to him. Obi-Wan's breathing evened out and his arms came up around Anakin, holding him tight. Then it seemed the young man realized what he was doing and released the boy, blinking as he slid away slightly. Anakin felt as though he should be offended, but the bleary confusion on his friend's face pushed that thought away. Obi-Wan had needed comfort and he had accepted him, at least unconsciously. It was enough for Anakin. "You were moaning," the boy said simply. Obi-Wan gave him a small smile and closed his eyes with a sigh.

"I was dreaming Anakin. Of Qui-Gon," the Jedi said.

"But... if it was happy, why were you moaning?" Anakin asked. Obi-Wan gave him a small, sad smile.

"Because, Anakin, that was the morning before we left for Naboo the first time before we went to Tatooine and things began to unravel. Of course, Rae has helped reweave my life, but it just... isn't the same," Obi-Wan told the boy, getting up and dressing in his Jedi Robes. Anakin frowned, humming softly to himself.

"So it's like... when I think of the morning before I found out I had to leave my mom?" he asked. Obi-Wan smiled.

"Yeah, something like that. It's happy, but it's sad because... because it was the last happy memory you have of them," he said. There was a choked sound from the doorway, where Rae stood. Somehow, while they were talking, they had made their way to the sitting room.

"I dreamed of the evening before I got... taken," Rae said brokenly. Obi-Wan gave her a sympathetic look.

"Good thing we have a 'therapy session' scheduled for lunch, huh?" he said softly. Rae smiled a slightly watery smile and nodded. Good thing indeed! She took a deep breath.

"Qui-Gon's funeral... it's tonight. Sabe just told me, thought I should be the one to tell you," she said softly. Obi-Wan froze slightly, then let out a big gust of breath.

"Yeah... thanks," he said, a slight smile tugging at his lips, despite the sorrow in his eyes. Rae smiled back and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Hey, I don't care if I have to ream out the Jedi masters, I'm going to that funeral with you," she said. Obi-Wan couldn't help but chuckle softly.

"If you have to ream them out... can I watch?" he asked. Rae smirked.

"Front row seats," she promised, a wicked gleam in her eye that practically screamed 'I'd love to see them try and stop me.' Anakin laughed with them, happy that the two second most important people in his life were at least okay again, if not happy.

/*/

Rae sighed lightly as she packed the picnic lunch for her second 'therapy session' with her new friends. Would they really open up for her? Would they release whatever was eating them up given a gentle prod? Would this even work? But then she remembered what she'd done, what she'd become. A Self-Insert with Mary Sue tendencies. She had the horrible power to make things happen... or her writer did. A thought crossed her mind and she looked up, not because she thought the Writer would be there, the Writer was everywhere, but because it suited her purpose. "Hey! Writer person! Could you make this therapy session work out? Please?" she said. She received no answer, not that she expected it, and sighed. Well, what happened would happen, and she was just going to have to deal with it, whatever it was.

/*/

Panaka, Captain of the Royal Guard, was not too sure why he had allowed this. Maybe it was the way Rae had looked at him, or how much calmer the young Jedi had seemed when he came back from Rae's little picnic the first time. Whatever it was, he'd allowed it... but that didn't stop him from wondering why. "Good afternoon, Captain. Are you ready to vent some emotions? I'm actually a bit worried that this 'session,' for lack of a better term, won't be as successful as last time," Rae said from behind him,drawing him from his musings. Panaka let out a harsh breath as he turned to see the young woman standing in the doorway with a basket in hand and a blanket over her shoulder. He grunted and she smiled in return. "No need to be grumpy, Captain. Though, I'll admit, I'm a bit surprised you aren't having a mild panic attack yet."

"I saw the results of your last session, the one with Skywalker and Kenobi. I don't think you should be so hard on yourself," he said. Rae chuckled, her eyes sparkling.

"Ah, but they knew me a bit better than you... and they were so lost and so hurt... they didn't need too much prodding to vent their emotions. Did you know, emotions are the most volatile and dangerous thing I've come across? Oh sure there are unstable chemicals and such that are volatile and deadly, but emotions... they can scab over and hide for goodness alone knows how long and if you don't act just so they can fester and putrefy, poisoning the heart, soul, and mind. Poke them just right and you can, for lack of a better analogy, lance the boil. Poke them another way, and you can drive the poison into the bloodstream, slowly killing the person until a monster remains. Truly, the mind is the most fascinating thing in the world, and the human heart, the emotional center, is just as mystifying. Don't you think?" she asked, a soft smile on her face even as she babbled.

"Has anyone ever told you it's adorable when you ramble on like that?" a deep, velvety voice said from behind Rae. She squeaked, a slight blush stealing across her cheeks. Then a puckish smirk wormed its way onto her face.

"Has anyone ever told you that your accent is dreamy?" she asked, turning to face the auburn haired Jedi behind her. She tilted her head slightly, her grin fading a bit when she realized Obi-Wan was staring at her. "Obi-Wan?" she asked.

"No. No, they haven't," he said quickly as he turned away, a faint blush appearing on his cheeks. Rae's smirk came back full force.

"Well," she drawled, sashaying up to him, "I think it is," she breathed, capturing him in a hug. That was when Panaka decided he had had enough of a sappy teenaged love story and cleared his throat. Seemingly realizing what she was doing, Rae jumped back with a pink face of her own before clearing her own throat and checking the basket. Anakin and Padme, along with her three handmaidens, came around the corner and then, they were off.

/*/

Obi-Wan was once again amazed at the power Rae had over him and his emotions. She had made him feel like an insecure teenager... and had made his insides squirm in a slightly uncomfortable manner. And what disturbed him the most was... he had actually liked it. He watched her as she lead the group, her shoulder length hair pulled back into a pony-tail that bounced and swung as she walked. She was wearing clothes that Padme had provided: tan pants and dark brown boots with a pale green tunic that was synched at the waist with a white utility belt. Why a utility belt, Obi-Wan didn't think he'd ever know, but there is was. And she made it look good. He mentally sighed, knowing he was growing attached but somehow unable to keep from becoming so. Anakin seemed in a similar quagmire as he watched Padme. Obi-Wan was mildly disturbed by this. She was five years older than him! But then Rae looked back at him with a knowing smirk. "It's meant to be, Obi. Let it go." Only his extensive training kept the young Jedi from stumbling at the sound. Rae gave him a curious look, then stiffened. "What... the... heck?!" she suddenly said, stuttering and clearly shocked. Obi-Wan looked at her in confusion, a question clear in his eyes. "I... I somehow... knew... you heard me," she said in shock and awe. He quirked an eyebrow.

"But you know things, Rae. Why is this..."

"Different? Because my knowledge comes from my... previous home. This? Oh no, this wasn't like that. I wanted to know, and then I did like I had always known. Or like the Force told me. But I also know I'm not Force sensitive. So the question is... how did I know?" she said, cutting him off. He could tell she was growing agitated, scared, and confused. He couldn't blame her. He would be too.

"I can't tell you that, Rae. Perhaps we should ask the Masters when they come for... when they come," he said. Rae sighed, then raced ahead to the little lake where they had vented the day before. She picked up a fist-sized rock, rubbed smooth by the water, bounced it in her hand a few times, then chucked it across the lake with a roar.

"What's happening to me?! What is this?! Why is this happening?! I don't want this! I didn't ask for this! For any of it! So why me?!" she screamed, rage, fear, and anguish pouring out of her in such strong waves even the non-Force sensitives could feel it. Obi-Wan swallowed heavily while Anakin fell to his knees, trembling. Obi-Wan kicked himself in the privacy of his heavily, as heavily as he could make it anyway, guarded mind and took the boy in his arms. Of course he'd be more affected then the others. His connection to the Force was unheard of. Anakin snuggled into Obi-Wan's embrace, taking all the comfort he could from the contact. Panaka watched in surprise and a bit of awe as the young woman screamed and cried and roared to the heavens just wanting to know why. As the young woman who had fought with such ferocity it had startled the gungans just... broke down. He had seen her as such a calm, composed, and knowing person that seeing her break down and ask shook his perception of her, made him see her as a human. Padme was similarly affected, but had already known there were things that Rae didn't know, had known that she had fears and doubts. It was the strength of them that moved her. Making a decision, she stepped up next to her new friend, picked up a stone, and threw it as hard as she could. It was satisfying to feel the muscles in her arm work, to hear the splash of the stone striking the water.

"Why did they have to die? Why did the Trade Federation have to blockade my home? Why did we have to fight? Why did it have to be us? Why is my whole world becoming undone? Am I not a good Queen? Is that it? Am I so easily lead that I have let the Queenship become little more than a figure head? I'm trying! I'm trying so hard! Isn't that enough?! I don't want to fight. I don't want people to die. I just want peace! Why can't we just live in peace?" she said, her voice slowly becoming softer even as Rae stopped throwing rocks and picked up the same stick she had given Anakin and started hacking at the trees, yelling wordless cries. Panaka looked at the handmaidens beside him, then followed the example set out before him. He screamed and cried and asked why and the handmaidens followed suit. Obi-Wan and Anakin just watched, though Obi-Wan never let the boy go. Together, they weathered the release of negative emotions that was ripping through the little lake side picnic site. Finally, the others exhausted their emotions and wearily made their way over. The Jedi and future Padawan quickly and wordlessly distributed the sandwiches and juice to the others and they all sat down to lunch. Then cookies and cocoa were handed out.

"Last time, Rae told us, me and Obi-Wan, that those we lost wouldn't want us to dwell on the bad, on how they died, but on the good and how they lived. We shared a few stories about our families over cookies and cocoa. Maybe, we need to remember the others that way now. Maybe... it'll help with the pain," Anakin said softly, gazing into his cocoa. Rae smiled.

"I think it's a good idea, but perhaps they want to reminisce together. I for one would feel an intruder in this. I didn't even meet any of the ones who died in the battle, aside from Qui-Gon, and him I didn't know well. What say you, Padme?" she said. Padme thought for a moment, then nodded.

"You're right, Rae. It... wouldn't feel quite right. Would you mind?" she asked, her wish not to hurt Rae clear. The traveler smiled at her and shook her head.

"Not at all. Anakin? Obi-Wan? Would you come with me? We could talk more about what we did last time?" she said. The boys nodded and they took a box of cookies and a thermos of cocoa and moved to another spot. There, they shared stories about the loved ones in their lives, deepening the bonds between them and healing the wounds left by the passing of those they loved. Rae's experience was a bit different, seeing as her family wasn't dead, just lost to her, or rather, her to them. She cried into Obi-Wan's shoulder as she thought of how they must feel about her disappearance. "I wonder when they'll call off the search?" she wondered, then wondered if the Notasulga police department would even start a search for her. How many people just vanished out there? How many ran away? She didn't know and frankly, she didn't want to know. With Padme, they talked of those who were killed in the fighting and what they remembered of them. Padme grew closer to her Captain and all three of her handmaidens. It was a liberating afternoon and all involved were quite glad they had done it. The pain was still there, but it was tempered by all the good times they shared with the lost, and by the loving support of the others. However, when they returned to the Palace, the Jedi Masters were already there, and Rae did not like what they had to say.

/*/

When news of Qui-Gon's death reached the Council, and they were told he had not faded into the Force like so many others, it was decided that a funeral would be held. Of course, as most Jedi did fade into the Force, body and soul, a pyre was required to dispose of the body as a substitute. And as this was a Jedi funeral, they didn't expect or encourage non-Jedi or Force-sensitives to attend. They hadn't counted on Rae Donna Mayar. "What are you doing?" Mace Windu asked, stopping her from entering the courtyard where Qui-Gon's pyre was.

"Attending the funeral of my best friend's father," Rae answered. Obi-Wan shot her a look, but her eyes remained firmly on the dark skinned Jedi Master.

"Jedi do not have fathers," Master Windu said. Rae quirked an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at her lips.

"Everyone has a father, Mater Windu... unless they were cloned from a woman... and I very much doubt every Jedi was cloned from a woman, seeing as you are, in fact, a man... unless there's something you'd like to tell us?" she parried. Obi-Wan had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing at the reaction that got out of the Council.

"This is a Jedi matter," Windu said, trying a new tactic. Unfortunately, Rae was ready for that as well.

"And my best friend is a Jedi. The former Padawan of the deceased. That makes it my business as much as yours," Rae said, waving Obi-Wan and Anakin forward. No reason for them to stand here listening to a boring argument. Fortunately for them, it was about to become a lot less boring. "Wait, I just thought of something," Rae said, watching as the elder Jedi let Anakin through no problem. "Why is Anakin allowed in but I am denied entrance?" she asked.

"Anakin is Force-sensitive," Windu said. Rae slowly turned her most diabolical glare to date on the man. The Jedi Council began to question if she wasn't Force-sensitive as even those not in tune with the Force could have sworn the air chilled around the young woman. Her fists shivered, her jaw muscles twitched as she grit her teeth tightly, no doubt physically holding back unpleasant words. Yoda subtly moved over next to Obi-Wan and Anakin.

/*/

As the young woman began to audibly seethe, Padme was glad Rae was on her side. Anakin was glad Obi-Wan was there for him to hide behind. Master Windu was gobsmacked. And Obi-Wan? He was enjoying the show. With popcorn. And Yoda. Though the whole thing would have been better if the little green troll would stop stealing his popcorn with the Force. Then again, Yoda wouldn't be able to get it otherwise. "You are an idiot! Why allow Anakin but not me?! And Obi is going to need support! Can you give it to him? NO! I DON'T THINK SO! I've heard him scream. I've watched him vent. I've held him as he cried! I've feed him cookies and cocoa when he was at his lowest after the death of his master. His father figure! I know it was a long time ago for you, but please, at least try to remember what your master meant to you at his age! And not only that, but he was there for me as I dealt with the same pain. The only differences are that my family is still alive, I just can't get to them or see them ever again, probably not even after death! And it was my whole family. Brother, sister, mother, father, two grandmothers, a grandfather, three aunts, two uncles, and a whole load of family members I'm not even close to! That is what I lost, Malt Ball! I know what he's feeling, what he's going through, only multiplied a hundred fold! He won't make it by himself, I know I wouldn't. And Anakin! Already he felt a connection to Master Jinn. Are you really so emotionally detached that you would leave an impressionable nine year old alone is a sea of grieving stoics? Do you know what that looks like to an emotional being like me and Anakin? It looks like a bunch of stern faced statues! He'd think you don't care about those left behind! Heck, I feel that way! And I know your policies about attachment! You stubborn, stoic, jerk faced, boneheaded, blind eyed, emotionally stunted, socially inept, willful... bigots! Oh yes, some honorable defenders of peace and justice you lot are! You cannot even see the poison curling and boiling and festering in your OWN ORDER! In the SENATE! But I digress. You bigoted, jerk faced, Jedi," Rae took a moment to take a deep, calming breath. Obi-Wan was a bit amazed at the venom she had poured into the word 'Jedi' just then. Whenever she called him a Jedi, it was laced with respect and admiration and... love? But now... he finally realized exactly what Qui-Gon had meant when he said that words were the most important tools in negotiation. It wasn't really the words, per say. It was the way you said them, the emotion you put into it. A title could be a sign of respect... or a vile insult. It was all in the way you presented it. When Rae continued, her voice was calm, level, and icy. Icier than Obi-Wan had ever heard it before. It was terrifying, making Padme very glad the woman was on the same side as herself. "I cannot even find the words to convey my extreme displeasure and disgust with you and your justifications at this very moment in time. Are you truly this thick, or is there something else at work? But again, I digress. The point is, I am going to that funeral with Anakin and Obi-Wan and nothing you say or do is going to stop me, Malt Ball, so please, do yourself a favor, and drop it!" Rae hissed, her eyes drilling into the Jedi Master.

/*/

Yoda was highly amused by all of this. He stole a few more pieces of Padawan Kenobi's popcorn and chuckled at the sight before him. Rae Mayar, a five foot one brunette that couldn't have weighed more than a hundred and twenty pounds, was glaring down Mace Windu, renowned Jedi Master, who was at least a head taller than her and had several years of battle experience. Not only that, but he looked as cowed as any Jedi could. Rae turned from the chastised Windu and turned her burning gaze on Yoda. "Don't think you're going to escape, Master Yoda. I predict we'll be having words when we return to Courasant. And I promise you, I'll have more creative insults for you than Malt Ball. You provide quite a bit of ammunition for my tirade, Master Yoda," she hissed. Yoda felt a premonition of dread wash over him at those words, and the way she said 'words' didn't help.

"In trouble, I am," he muttered to himself. Obi-Wan, however, chuckled faintly. It was more a ripple of amusement in the Force, but Yoda caught it. He refrained from huffing, knowing that would only make the uppity Padawan laugh more. Yoda paused then and looked at the young man, really looked. He was both heartened and saddened by what he saw. Obi-Wan Kenobi was no longer a child, and he wasn't a Padawan either. He was well on his way to being a magnificent Knight. Idly, Yoda wondered if this had any bearing on the 'words' Rae promised they'd share? He put the thought from his mind. Time would tell. It always did. Rae turned back to Windu and, for the first time many present could remember, Jedi Master Mace Windu bowed to the wishes of another. As she strode forward, the Jedi Council moved for the slight, non-Force sensitive woman who had cowed them all with nothing but the power of her words. Yoda decided, she was not someone he wanted for an enemy. He also decided to formally test her for Force-sensitivity. "Great Jedi, she would make," the diminutive Jedi muttered to himself. Obi-Wan bit back a snort.

"Don't let her hear you say that," he remarked. "She'd give you a list of reasons why you're wrong." Of course, this just made Yoda more curious of the young woman and resolved to keep an eye on her.

/*/

Obi-Wan didn't know if he could ever feel more grateful to Rae than he did then, as she stood beside him and held his hand, squeezing it in reassurance. Her presence was like a soothing balm to his fraying emotions, his bleeding heart. "I know it hurts now, Obi, but it will fade in time. I don't think it will ever leave completely, and his memory will always be a chink in your armor, but it will fade. And I will always be here for you. As long as I still have breath in my body, you can come to me," Rae's voice said in the Force. He felt his heavy heart lift a little, and he squeezed her hand a little to let her know he heard... and appreciated it. As the fire consumed Qui-Gon's body, Obi-Wan felt as if his master placed his hands on his shoulders one last time and whispered in his ear,

"I will never leave you, Obi-Wan. I am at peace. Live well, Knight Kenobi, I love you... son." Tears slipped out of his eyes and he pulled Rae a little closer. She obliged and leaned on him, lending him strength and support. He looked down at her and wondered, was he really worthy of such a wonder? She looked up at him with a smile, however sad it was.

"He's in a better place now, Obi-Wan. A place of peace. And I won't leave you, not for a good long time," she said softly, trailing her fingers down his cheek. He gave her a wobbly smile and she kissed his cheek. "It hurts me to see you so sad," she breathed in his ear. He shook his head slightly.

"You know just what to say," he said, pulling away. Rae shook her head.

"I won't pretend to understand this, Obi-Wan, but I will say this. Since when did my life become a sit-com and how did a funeral turn into a romance scene?" Obi-wan couldn't help but chuckle. However, he knew it was true, and it baffled him just as much. The funeral proceeded as usual after that. Rae stepped forward to the fading flames and said a few soft words before giving Obi-Wan a pointed look and leaving. Anakin looked to the older man with a confused expression, but Obi-Wan just shook his head. He knew what Rae meant. He lead Anakin to the dying pyre and said softly,

"I will train Anakin, Master. I will make you proud to have been my teacher, my father. Good-bye, Qui-Gon, Jedi Master and beloved father." He stepped back a ways, leaving Anakin facing the ashes of Qui-Gon alone. Anakin bowed, said a few quite words that Obi-Wan couldn't make out, then came back to him. Obi-Wan gave him a soft look. "You will be a Jedi, Anakin. I promise you. If I pass my Trials, I'll train you myself," he said. The look on Anakin's face made it clear to Obi-Wan that the boy wished very much to have him as his master. Obi-Wan couldn't help but agree. He wasn't sure any other Jedi would be able to give the boy what he needed.

/*/

The day had come. The day when Obi-Wan and Anakin left for the Capital of the Republic. Rae wasn't sure if the Cloners had already received their orders or not, and felt it would not be a good idea to ask for a ship and a pilot to take her to the phantom planet. Not yet at least. And then she wondered, was the Clone War needed? Did it shake the Council out of its complacency? She wasn't sure. She also didn't know what she was going to do, now that the Naboo Crisis was over and she had ten years at her finger tips with no skills to speak of... "I know a guy who could give you a job. It's not exactly high class, but he's a good friend," Obi-Wan said. Rae gave him a curious look, wondering if he was talking about who she thought he might be. "His name is Dex. He owns and runs a small restaurant on Courasant. Qui-Gon used to take me there when we just needed to get out... or get some slightly shady intel," the Jedi elaborated. Rae's eyes lit.

"Perfect! But... would he really hire me?" she asked. Obi-Wan nodded.

"I'm fairly sure he would. He knows a lot about the criminal underworld and has a few shady connections, but he's a good guy. Just... don't let his exterior put you off, okay?" he said. Rae chuckled.

"Alright. But you have to introduce us! I'm not going to some shady diner with some intimidating man all alone," she said. Obi-Wan smiled.

"I wouldn't dream of sending you on your own to a place you'd never gone on a planet you know next to nothing about," he said. Rae bowed to him.

"Oh, how noble of you, Jedi Kenobi. Truly, you are a shining example of what a Jedi should be. No doubt your peers find it hard to match you," she said. Anakin giggled.

"You two are silly," he said before scampering onto the ship. Rae laughed and followed, glad that the boy had broken the moment. Obi-Wan just shook his head and followed.

/?/

A/N: So... I feel like I should apologize. For this chapter, the chapter before... and all the... Mary Sue-ishness they contain. I don't usually write like that but... I don't know how to make it better. I've gotten better in the year it's been since I first wrote this, but even still... ugh. It'll get better, I promise but... it'll take quite some time. So, yeah. Sorry for the not-so-great beginning to this series.