a.n. I know it's been a while since I've updated this story and I am very sorry it has taken me this long to do it. Real life has kept me very busy with school and work, so I haven't had time to update even when I'm on vacation. I am hoping to keep a regular update schedule (but I probably say that a lot) so I can finish this story and work on my others. So please, read, review, and enjoy!

Disclaimer: Any recognizable names, places, dialogue, etc. is owned by George Lucas and Lucasfilm. I'm just playing with his creations.

Chapter 20: Preparations

Luca watched as Senator Amidala moved around her apartment finalizing things for her departure. She conferred with Dormé for a brief moment before dismissing her and turning towards Jar-Jar. Luca looked towards Anakin standing silently next to the sofa, eyes following Padmé's every move. Sighing, Luca walked towards him.

"Is this your first solo mission, Padawan Skywalker?" Luca asked, trying to make conversation. Anakin forced himself to look away from Padmé and Luca could still sense the lingering anger Anakin was feeling towards him.

"It is not a solo mission, Mister Redenov," Anakin said somewhat bitterly, "or did you forget that you are coming too?"

"I am only coming along as additional security, Padawan Skywalker. You will hardly even notice my presence."

"But the Council still sent you along. They don't trust me to do this on my own."

"I don't believe that's true."

"They never believe in me. Never have, never will." Luca could hear the anger Anakin was trying to keep in check.

"I think that they just want to make sure that the Senator stays as safe as possible. Surely you agree that an extra pair of eyes will be beneficial on this mission."

Anakin sighed. Luca knew that he couldn't argue with that reasoning. He also knew that Anakin was only fine with the situation because it involved keeping Padmé safe. Luca placed his hand on Anakin's shoulders and watched as the young man looked at him.

"Trust me, Anakin. I will only be here as an extra precaution, nothing more. I may not report to the Jedi, but this is still a Council assignment. As the lone Jedi on this assignment, you are still in charge. It is your mission, your assignment and I do not want you to think any different." Luca could feel Anakin's anger dissipate somewhat at his reassuring words. Believe me Anakin, I know how you feel. I don't want you to feel alone. I want you to know that you can trust me. If you can do that, I know I can save you.

Both men turned to watch as Padmé made her way to her bedroom to finish the last of her packing. Anakin followed her while Luca remained where he was, making sure to keep his hearing trained in their direction to step in if things got too heated.

Padmé threw things in her travel case, frustrated. She heard footsteps by her bedroom door and looked up to see Anakin standing there.

"I do not like this idea of hiding."

Anakin had to suppress a smile at her frustrated and annoyed tone. "Don't worry. Now that the Council has ordered an investigation, it won't take Master Obi-Wan long to find that bounty hunter."

"I haven't worked for a year to defeat the Military Creation Act not to be here when its fate is decided."

"Sometimes we have to let go of our pride and do what is requested of us." Padmé looked at him in near disbelief.

"You've grown up," Padmé stated, giving Anakin a soft smile. She glanced over his shoulder as Luca approached. "Mister Redenov, I was just telling Padawan Skywalker that I really do not like hiding when something so important is going to be decided."

"I know you are, Senator," Luca stated sympathetically, "but your safety is a top priority. You are very important to the Republic and we can't jeopardize your safety by having you remain here, no matter what you want to do. I know it is hard for you to be leaving now, but think of it this way: if you stayed here and something happened to you before that proposition was decided, you wouldn't have been able to make much of a difference with it anyway. And you wouldn't be around to decide on other important acts in the future."

"I suppose you're right," Padmé sighed. "But I still don't like it either way."

"I know you do Senator, and for that I'm sorry." Luca looked towards Anakin and smiled. "But I believe Padawan Skywalker is right. Sometimes you must put your pride aside and do what you are told, no matter how much it might frustrate." Luca saw Anakin's face light up slightly with his comment.

"I know, Mister Redenov. I told Anakin that he really has grown up and matured since he was that little boy I knew on Tatooine." She smiled at Anakin again.

"Master Obi-Wan manages not to see it," Anakin stated, a slight pout to his words.

"Mentors have a way of seeing more of our faults than we would like. It's the only way we grow."

"The Senator is right, Anakin. We only grow by strengthening ourselves and overcoming our faults and our weaknesses. It is often impossible to find these on our own, so it is up to others to help us find them so we can mature and become better people for it."

"I suppose you're right. But I still don't think he sees me that way. Don't get me wrong," Anakin started, using the Force to play with one of the decorative objects in the room. "Obi-Wan is a great mentor. As wise as Master Yoda and as powerful as Master Windu. I am truly thankful to be his apprentice. In someways, a lot of ways, I'm ahead of him. I'm ready for the trials. He knows it too."

"That must be frustrating."

"It's worse... he's overly critical. He never listens! He just doesn't understand! It's not fair!" Luca could see that Anakin was losing control of his emotions very quickly and he knew he had to try to calm him down.

"Anakin." Luca watched as Anakin turned towards him, his face still lined with anger and frustration. "I know how you feel." Anakin looked at Luca sarcastically, not believing him. "I have been in situations just like the one you are in now. I had a mentor who, I believed, was holding me back. I felt, no, I knew, that I was better than him and I tried to prove it to him, and everyone else, time and again. And I grew more and more frustrated each time I felt like he wasn't letting me become more. It wasn't until later, much later, that I realized that it wasn't him that was holding me back. It was my pride and my frustration. I was letting those two things get in the way of my progress. If I had learned to let go of them, I wouldn't have believed him to be holding me back and I would have been ready to move on a lot sooner. Trust me Anakin, it may look like Obi-Wan isn't listening, but he is. He wants you to succeed, to become more than you are. That is why he criticizes you. He doesn't do it to be cruel; he does it because he wants you to know where you can improve so you can become the best Jedi you can possibly be."

Luca was relieved to see Anakin's face soften as he released his frustrations. He smiled to himself. "It may not be easy or fair, Anakin, but it's all a part of growing up." Anakin nodded slightly and managed to smile a small, almost imperceptible smile in the process.

"Don't try to grow up too fast."

Anakin stared, almost longingly, at Padmé. "I am grown up. You said it yourself."

"Please don't look at me like that."

"Why not?"

"It makes me feel uncomfortable." Padmé turned around and headed out of her room.

"Sorry, M'lady," Anakin smirked following after her. Luca watched the two of them depart and sighed. I forgot how quick to anger I was at this point. This may prove to be more difficult than I thought. It seems like I'm getting through to Anakin, though. I just hope that I'll be able to get him to listen to me when I really need him. Dark times are ahead for him and I need to make sure that he stays anchored in the light. The future depends on it.