Adrina rolled her shoulders and reached her hands up to the sky. In anticipation of manipulating Obi-Wan into sparring with her, she opted for the loose trousers and modest shirt she usually wore when training with Anakin and Rex. She went through her stretches while she waited for Obi-Wan.

The training room door slid open. Obi-Wan shook his head with a huff of laughter as he entered. "We've been back on Coruscant for a few hours now. I thought surely I would find you in the Halls of Healing."

Adrina shrugged. "Master Che kicked me out. Apparently, I need rest." Adrina rolled her eyes, but smiled. "Besides, Anakin and Rex have been rather pushy about me practicing more." Too pushy, in Adrina's opinion. She wondered if Anakin was having nightmares again. But it had also made her curious about how different sparring with Obi-Wan would be. Adrina bounced on the soles of her feet. "Come on, Obi-Wan," she goaded with a broad grin. "Afraid of getting your hands dirty?"

Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow and folded his arms. "You know I have no love of fisticuffs."

Adrina shrugged. "I don't know why. It's fun to get your hands dirty." She held up a finger. "Just one round. Please?"

"Addy…"

Adrina tilted her head. "Alright, how about a duel? Is that sophisticated enough?"

Obi-Wan sighed. He shrugged off his cloak, dropping it in the corner of the training room, and unclipped his lightsaber. "For you, one round. Then we eat lunch, which is what I thought we were doing."

Adrina held up one finger with a grin. "One round. Then lunch." She drew her own lightsaber. She twirled the blade once in her hand, a move stolen from Anakin. Green light illuminated Obi-Wan's face as he took his opening stance.

They circled each other on the mat, each waiting for the other to strike first. Remembering Anakin's advice, Adrina struck hard and fast. Obi-Wan blocked with ease.

And then it was on.

Dueling with Obi-Wan was nothing like sparring with Anakin. Obi-Wan moved with fluidity and grace, but without the aggression she had come to associate with Anakin's style. Obi-Wan was, without a doubt, the superior swordsman. She grinned when she saw the first bead of sweat on his brow, but she was losing and she knew it; he had her entirely on the defensive and struggling.

Time to give herself the advantage.

Obi-Wan brought his blade down. With a mischievous smirk, Adrina blocked the blow with one hand, while the other darted for his wrist and twisted. His lightsaber clattered to the floor. Obi-Wan, without hesitation, retaliated by grabbing her wrists, spinning her and holding her back flush against him. Her lightsaber deactivated as it fell from her hands.

The energy between them shifted to something different - something heady and intoxicating.

"That, dearest, was a dirty trick," Obi-Wan murmured, his breath whispering over her ear and lighting her on fire.

All rational thought fled Adrina's mind. Every nerve in her body was alive. She shivered. It didn't matter that she had also been disarmed. All that mattered was that she was in his arms, his breath warm on her ear.

And he wasn't letting go.

Adrina tried to pull free, but he merely twisted and pushed her against the wall, wrists pinned above her head. His forehead rested against hers, chests nearly touching. They both panted for breath. If she lifted her chin ever so slightly, her lips would touch his, and oh did she ache to lift her chin.

"I think it's time for me to take over your training," Obi-Wan whispered. "This was too easy."

A sparkle lit her eyes at the challenge. "Oh, is that so?"

Giving into the strange, electrifying energy sparking between them, Adrina wrapped her legs tightly around his middle. Caught off guard, they both tumbled to the floor.

Adrina intertwined her fingers in his and pinned his hands on either side of his face. She leaned over him and grinned. "Too easy? Take it back and I might let you up."

Suddenly she was on her back. Her breath wooshed out with the impact.

Part of her wanted to give up, run away from the moment before their relationship could be irrevocably altered. But the other part - no, the stronger part wanted to savor this moment.

So she began wriggling free, pretending she didn't notice how his eyes darkened. She freed a leg, but any further thought of action fled when Obi-Wan's lips descended upon hers, caressing and nibbling in turn.

A startled squeak escaped her lips and that was all the opportunity he needed to deepen the kiss. Surprise forgotten and good sense nowhere to be found, Adrina responded with equal fervor. She poured every ounce of love and longing into the kiss.

Her free leg hooked around his middle, tugging him closer. His grip on her hands loosened, leaving them free to tangle in his thick hair and roam his torso. A warm hand caressed her side, teasing. Adrina arched her back, hoping that her shirt would rise ever so slightly and those calloused fingers would brush bare skin. She reveled in the weight of his body on her own, the languid stroke of his fingers on her bare waist.

A com link beeped. The heavy haze vanished in an instant. They broke apart, gasping for breath. For a long moment, they continued to lay on the ground, staring at each other in shocked silence.

Adrina's com link beeped again.

They scrambled to their feet, unable to meet the other's eyes.

Her wombat was well and truly cooked.

"I have to go." Adrina ran from the room, leaving her lightsaber - and her heart - behind.

0

Adrina spent a restless night in her quarters. Finally, in the wee hours of the morning, Adrina reached the only decision she felt was reasonable and fair. She sent a message to Master Windu before she could second-guess her decision.

By the time she reached the Halls of Healing for the start of her shift, a message request from Master Windu sat in her inbox.

With more calm than she felt since her disastrous spar with Obi-Wan, Adrina stepped into an empty exam room and answered Master Windu's transmission request. Mace Windu's hologram shimmered before her. Adrina lowered her eyes, unable to meet his piercing gaze. "I have received your transfer request."

Adrina clasped her hands behind her back.

"It is a surprising request, I must say."

Adrina took a deep breath and proceeded cautiously. "I have been on the frontlines since this war began, Master. I fear the strain is becoming untenable."

"You are indeed entitled to a brief respite."

Adrina chanced a glance at him. "So my request has been granted?"

Windu inclined his head. Adrina marveled that the hologram projection couldn't soften his probing eyes. "It has been granted," he said, "But I caution you, Healer Skywalker. Running away from your emotions will not resolve them."

Adrina swallowed hard. She should have known the Council knew of her feelings. Master Yoda seemed to know everything; she could only hope Obi-Wan would spare her the embarrassment of sharing the depth of her indiscretion.

"No," Adrina agreed softly. "But distance allows perspective. And healing. I am not running." She lifted her chin. "I will continue to honor my vow, Master Windu."

Windu raised an eyebrow. "I will inform Master Vokara Che. May the Force be with you."

The hologram flickered and faded.

Adrina waited for relief that never came. This was what she wanted - what she needed. Why didn't she feel better?

There was a brief knock on the door before it slid open. Maelle stepped inside. "What happened?" She asked quietly. "I can sense something is wrong."

Adrina smiled. "What? Nothing is wrong."

Hurt shone in Maelle's eyes. "I know that is a lie."

"It's really nothing," Adrina insisted, adopting the same smile she wore to reassure critical patients nothing was wrong when everything was wrong. "Just exhaustion."

Maelle nodded, but was obviously far from convinced. She glanced around. "Why are you hiding in here?"

Adrina bristled. "I'm not hiding. I was taking a message from Master Windu."

It was the wrong thing to say. Maelle tilted her head. "Master Windu? About what?"

Well, Maelle would find out sooner or later. Adrina took a deep breath. "I have been reassigned to the Temple."

Maelle gasped. "What? Why? Why would the Council reassign us? We can't leave them!"

Adrina held up a hand. "Not us," Adrina said gently. "Only me."

Maelle frowned. "I don't understand."

Adrina selected her words carefully. "I fear the stress of the frontlines is affecting my ability to carry out my duties. I requested this transfer. I leave the RMSU in your capable hands."

"I….see." Maelle pressed her lips together as if she sensed the half-truth. She likely did, perceptive as she was. "Do the generals know?" Maelle threw the question out casually, but Adrina sensed an underlying motive.

"I will tell Anakin soon," Adrina said.

"And General Kenobi?"

No. She couldn't face him yet, with her heart too exposed and raw. She needed time to fortify its defenses once more. And she certainly didn't want to discuss her relationship with Obi-Wan. Adrina glanced at the chrono. "Oh, I'm going to be late starting my shift. We can talk more later." She breezed past Maelle towards the door.

"I know you love him."

Adrina froze at the open door. She palmed it shut. Her throat constricted, but she kept her voice level and calm. "I'm not sure what you mean."

"Is that why you are leaving? Staying?" Maelle frowned, not judgmental - curious and hurt.

"I really should get to work," she whispered. She was a coward and hypocrite for not confiding in her friend and though it rankled her, she couldn't muster the energy to shatter her own defensives.

Maelle's eyes rested heavily on Adrina's back as she fled the uncomfortable conversation.

0

Obi-Wan spent the night in meditation. Try as he might - and he had certainly tried - he could no longer deny the truth: he loved Adrina, truly and irrevocably. He loved and desired her with a fierceness that almost frightened him. The truth of Adrina's own feelings were abundantly clear. He had sensed her love and longing during their embrace as equally as he had felt his own. They had been fuel on an already blazing fire.

The taste of her, the feel of her, lingered still as a permanent brand upon his body and soul. He had tried to forget their first kiss, for her sake, but there would be no forgetting or pretending after this.

Obi-Wan sensed her the moment before his door chimed. He frowned, but opened the door with a wave of his hand. "Assistant Amon, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

Assistant Amon wrung her hands and glanced nervously about. "She'll kill me when she finds out," she whispered. "But you deserved to be told in person."

Alarm coursed through him. "Adrina? What is going on?"

"Transfer. She-" Maelle cut herself off and sighed before starting again. "She requested a transfer and it was granted. She's staying here on Coruscant. She isn't returning with us."

"What?" Obi-Wan exclaimed.

"Adrina requested to be reassigned to the Temple, and Master Windu granted her request."

His thoughts raced. "Why?"

Assistant Amon shook her head. "That is for Adrina to answer."

"Why come to me, if Master Windu already granted her the transfer?"

Assistant Amon licked her lips. She hesitated, but finally said, "I thought you needed to know." He heard the unspoken addition: that Adrina did not plan to tell him.

Obi-Wan ran a hand through his hair. This was his fault. "Where is she now?"

"Her quarters. Master Che insisted she take two days leave before resuming her duties in the Halls."

Obi-Wan bet Adrina loved that order. "Thank you, Assistant Amon."

Assistant Amon bowed and silently exited. Obi-Wan took a brief moment to gather his thoughts before storming towards the woman he loved but could never have.

Adrina's door opened before he could press the door chime. She stared at him from the doorway, cloak in hand. No doubt she was on her way to the Room of a Thousand Fountains. Her eyes shuttered. "Obi-Wan," she whispered.

"We need to talk," Obi-Wan said quietly. He extended her lightsaber to her.

Adrina sighed, but stepped back into her quarters. She clipped her lightsaber onto her belt, dropped her cloak on her bed, and turned. She folded her arms. Once again, she would not meet his eyes.

"You requested reassignment to the Temple. You won't be rejoining me - the RMSU - in two days. Why?"

"Maelle told you, didn't she?" Adrina sighed.

"Assistant Amon is concerned about you," Obi-Wan said quietly. "Don't be upset with her. I'm glad you have a friend like her. And I'm glad she told me."

Adrina stared out of the window in her quarters, standing in the sliver of natural light it provided.

Obi-Wan allowed her a moment to gather her thoughts before asking again, "Why?"

"You know why." She sounded as weary as he felt. "What I did… What we did…" She licked her lips and swallowed the lump in her throat. "Being with you... I need distance."

Obi-Wan's heart constricted. "I understand. You will be missed. It….. it will not be the same without you."

Adrina held up a hand. "Don't. Don't say such things if you will never allow anything to come of….this. My feelings are not playthings. Don't dangle what can never be in front of my eyes."

"I didn't mean-"

"I know." Adrina shook her head. Her shoulders drooped. "I know you didn't. You are far too honorable for that." She smiled sadly. She looked at him with such longing that Obi-Wan felt his resolve shake.

Obi-Wan spoke what he needed to say before he lost his courage. "I feel I should apologize for my actions…the other day. I took liberties I had no right to take and I am sorry for it."

Adrina closed her eyes. She murmured, "We both played a part." She opened her eyes. "Neither of us care to discuss our own emotions, but we must be honest with each other, Obi-Wan, if we have any hope of remaining….friends."

He recoiled at the thought of merely being friends, even as he knew it was all they could ever be. This was the path he had freely chosen. "I agree."

Adrina took a deep breath. "I love you. I've known for some time now. I love you. I always will, until the day I die."

Swallowing his terror, Obi-Wan allowed his heart to speak the words he never thought he would ever utter. "As I love you."

It was done, the words irrevocably uttered.

For the briefest moment, a glimpse of what could have been flashed in his mind, the two of them lying naked, sweaty, and sated in bed, utterly entangled and whispering sweet nothings as they drifted to sleep. His heart longed for that reality. But it could never be. He could not allow his heart to dictate his actions.

Adrina blinked. "But…." Adrina fumbled for coherent thoughts. He sensed her pain and confusion. "You love Duchess Satine."

Obi-Wan's brow drew together. Not thinking, he stepped closer. "She is a friend, yes. But any romantic feeling for her has long fled. Did you not sense it when we kissed? When my hands were in your hair, on your skin?" His fingers, feather light, caressed her cheek. His thumb swept over her lips and he found himself leaning closer, caught in an invisible trap.

Adrina stepped away when his lips came perilously close. She wrapped her arms around herself. Obi-Wan kicked himself. "I'm sorry," he murmured. He moved to the far side of the room. Perhaps there was wisdom in her absence for a time.

Adrina cleared her throat. "I couldn't… allow myself to admit you might…" She shook herself. "But it changes nothing. I won't ask you to leave the Order. I would never ask you to break your vow. And I know you would never leave the Order, anyway."

He stroked his beard. "Could you?" Obi-Wan asked. He knew she had her own struggles with the state of the Jedi Order. "Could you break it?"

Adrina hesitated.

Obi-Wan frowned slightly. "Are you reconsidering your oath?"

Again, she hesitated. "No." He sensed it was only the partial truth.

"We agreed to be honest."

Adrina's eyes narrowed. She huffed a breath. "If I knew you would leave the Order with no regrets and a clear conscience, I would renounce my own oath, yes. But that will not happen, and so I will continue as I have been."

He blinked. "You would leave the Order for me, when you would not for your father?"

Adrina was silent for a long moment. She folded herself onto the meditation cushion. "The circumstances are not the same," she said finally. "I had hoped to continue my work with the Jedi and maintain a relationship with Buir, something I felt I could do within the bounds of my oath."

"And now?" Obi-Wan's heart longed for and feared the words she would utter.

"And now…." Adrina stared into the distance. "And now I find that I cannot serve the Order and pursue the relationship with you I desire." She gave a rueful smile. "I'm afraid I'm not nearly as selfless as you are. I will not allow my relationships to be dictated to me."

"Yet you remain."

Adrina raised an eyebrow. "I have no relationship for which to leave." The words cut deep when they had no right to; she spoke truth. "So we will continue to do our duties."

Obi-Wan sighed, not altogether sure they were making the right decision - that he was making the right decision. With Satine, the decision had been simple. There had been pain, but nothing like the agony he felt putting his love for Adrina aside. He didn't care to dwell on why that might be. "Yes."

Adrina stood. She brushed invisible dirt from her skirt. "Then it is decided." Adrina's eyes closed briefly. "I wish you well." She swept past him without another word.

0

The roar of the waterfall drowned out Adrina's sobs. Somehow she had kept them from escaping during her confession to Obi-Wan minutes before. But it was done. Now they knew where they stood.

They had been honest, but how did they proceed? How could they resume their friendship as it had been before they kissed?

Before I had his tongue in my mouth and his hands on my bare skin.

They couldn't. They couldn't resume as they had been. They had destroyed their easy friendship. So how could they proceed? Adrina hadn't the foggiest idea. Perhaps with time it would work itself out.

Adrina wiped the tears from her puffy eyes. She exhaled slowly. She allowed the serenity of her surroundings to ease the tension in her body as she eased down onto the cliff edge. Hiking her skirt up and removing her boots, the waterfall's spray tickled her bare feet. The artificial breeze whipped a stray strand of hair out of her face. She settled in to meditate, but she struggled to find her center.

She sensed Anakin approaching and sighed.

"Spill it."

Adrina did not open her eyes. "Hello, Anakin. Good to see you, too."

"Just out with it, Rina," Anakin said.

"I have no intention of vomiting."

"You're as infuriating as Obi-Wan," Anakin muttered. Adrina pressed her lips together. "Fine. We'll do it this way. What is going on between you and Obi-Wan?" He held up a hand before she could protest. "And don't bother denying it. I know something is going on."

Adrina swallowed the lump in her throat. "There isn't anything. We agreed," she said stiffly.

Anakin's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

"I love him. He loves me. He is committed to the Order." She opened her eyes. "Therefore there is nothing."

Anakin's face fell. "Rina…"

"I'm fine," she said, though fresh tears burned her eyes. She drew herself up. "It's nothing I didn't expect."

"You actually talked to him about this?"

Adrina nodded.

"And that is why you requested the transfer."

Adrina hesitated too long.

Anakin pinched the bridge of his nose. "What idiotic thing did Obi-Wan do?"

Adrina glared at him. "I really don't think you want to know, little brother."

Confusion flooded Anakin's face before understanding dawned. He shuddered. "Gross," he muttered. "Forget I asked."

Adrina rolled her eyes. "Planned on it."

Anakin sighed. "I get it. I don't blame you for wanting space."

Adrina quirked a half smile. "What do you blame me for, then?"

"Nothing." Anakin nudged her. "So how long have you been in love with my former master?"

Adrina shrugged. "I don't know how long. But I realized it when he arrived with Duchess Satine. That's when I knew for certain."

Anakin whistled low. "Wow. That must have been….difficult to witness. I'm sorry. I would have been out of my mind."

"I don't really want to talk about it," Adrina said softly.

Anakin winced. "Right. Sorry. Padmé tells me I can be insensitive at times."

"She's right about that." But Adrina smiled. "It's alright. I know you care. About both of us. And even though this is…painful, I appreciate it."

"I just want you to be happy."

Adrina's heart broke at his crestfallen sincerity. "I will be, Ani," she murmured. "I will be."

0

Adrina stared at the doors of the Halls of Healing, balking at the entrance. Just an hour prior, Obi-Wan and her men, accompanied still by Maelle, departed for the frontlines. Anakin would follow soon with reinforcements and supplies. Yet she remained.

It felt wrong.

Once these hallowed halls had felt vibrant and alive - like home. Now, everything seemed bleak and empty. Time heals all wounds, but how long would that take? How long before she felt whole again? How long until it didn't feel as if half of her soul had died?

"You have returned."

"Master Che," Adrina opened her eyes. The Togruta stood a few feet away, observing her. Adrina glanced at her chrono; fifteen minutes still remained before she was scheduled to report for her first shift.

Master Che joined her at the entrance. They stood in silence for several minutes, bowing slightly to those arriving and leaving. "I was pleased when Master Windu informed me of your desire to return," Che said finally. "You have been away too long."

Adrina exhaled. "Far too long," Adrina agreed softly. "Though I hardly needed the two days' reprieve you ordered." She craved the work to keep her mind occupied. She had nearly gone stir crazy without the bustle of work to dominate her mind.

"You needed to meditate after the turmoil of the last few days."

Adrina clenched her fists in her skirt. She ducked her head. "You know."

Che chuckled. "Child, your feelings have been plain to anyone who took the time to look. Master Kenobi's, as well."

Adrina grimaced.

"There's no shame in them, no matter what some in the Order might try to tell you," Che added more gently.

"I know," she whispered. "I just wish…" She trailed off with a sigh.

Che allowed silence to reign for a few moments. Finally she said, "It was the will of the Force that you were here, now. The end of your path is yet far before you."

Adrina smiled sadly. "Some paths will always be closed."

"Perhaps. Perhaps not. Which of us knows the will of the Force?" Master Che smiled. "Even if you one day shed the Jedi robes, never doubt that you were ever anything but a credit to the Jedi Order."

Adrina refrained from voicing the truth she felt to her core: hoping was an exercise in futility.