Falling from Grace 3/16

by Christina, kenobijedione@yahoo.com

Rating: this chapter PG-13

Warnings, disclaimer, etc. in part 1

Chapter 3: Jedi Padawan Anakin Skywalker

Back at the Jedi temple, Obi-Wan and Anakin hurriedly packed their travel bags. Much to Obi-Wan's pleasure, Anakin carefully packed his books to study for the Trials. He commented on them, and Anakin smiled, pleased that he'd made his Master happy. Obi-Wan felt the link open between them again, and spoke to his Padawan in his mind.

It is nice to see you've come back to me, Padawan.

Anakin blushed and concentrated on packing his books. He did not speak or return a message for a while, then spoke finally, aloud.

"Master, I am sorry for my behavior at the party."

Obi-Wan looked over at Anakin, then nodded grimly. "I am sorry for mine as well, Padawan," he said.

Anakin looked up, surprised at his Master's apology. He hadn't done anything that he should be apologizing for, had he? "Master? You need not apologize. You were merely following duties."

Obi-Wan shook his head and sighed sitting on the end of the bed. He sometimes felt silly being this grown man's Master. Qui-Gon had been so much older than he, it was easy to think of the Jedi as his father. Obi-Wan and Anakin were much closer in age, and therefore developed a bond more like brothers, making it hard for Obi-Wan to always be the aggressor. At 17, his Padawan was almost as much a man as Obi-Wan was at 25. The age difference was much less pronounced now than it had been when Qui-Gon died, Anakin being 12 and Obi-Wan 20.

"I was not completely candid with you about my relationship with the Princess," Obi-Wan revealed, unwilling to look his Padawan in the eye as he did so. "At the time I surmised it was none of your business as it was part of the past. But since we are on a mission to protect the royal family now, I feel you must know all of the history I have with them."

Anakin sat down on the floor cross-legged near his suitcase and waited patiently for his Master to continue.

"I first met the Princess when I was eighteen. Qui-Gon and I were on a mission much like the one you and I are about to embark on. We were companions to the Queen and her daughter for a time. Protectors of sort, and merely friends as well. It's difficult to explain but a bond of sorts exists between myself and Princess Kalyia. Not a bond that we forged, but a bond that simply is there."

Anakin nodded. "The will of the Force."

Obi-Wan looked up at his Padawan with pride. "Yes. The will of the Force," he agreed, glad that he didn't have to explain. "Kalyia rejected it, at first," Obi-Wan laughed. "I think part of her still rejects it now. She can be a bit of a pain about destiny. If it seems meant to be, she's most likely going to fight against it." He looked at his Padawan. "She's kind of like you in that sense."

Anakin gave a crooked smile to his Master but said nothing.

"We didn't get along for most of the mission, but began to form an--understanding--toward the end. I left her on good terms and didn't see her again until Qui-Gon was killed."

There was a silence in the room as both men paid their respects to their fallen Master. Qui-Gon would have taken Skywalker on as his Padawan had he not been murdered. Anakin had felt strongly about Obi-Wan's former Master, that was certain. He had been devastated as Obi-Wan had when his life was taken.

"That long vacation you took?" Anakin asked softly, picking at the edge of his suitcase, reminding Obi-Wan of the way he used to pick at the sleeve of his Jedi robe when he was nervous. Qui-Gon had broken him of that habit.

"Yes," Obi-Wan answered. "The Queen summoned me for one night and I ended up staying a week with the Princess. It wasn't proper, I suppose, but it was what I needed to get through Master Qui-Gon's death."

Anakin nodded. "I understand," he said softly.

Obi-Wan smiled at his Padawan. "Somehow I knew you would," he revealed. Force-users were often expected to be perfect, and when they were not, they were known to be much harder on themselves than average people. The expectation of perfection comes not only from others, but from themselves as well.

"So you and the Princess are lovers then?" Anakin said suddenly, staring up at his Master.

Obi-Wan was surprised at the directness of the question. He blushed slightly then shook his head. "I don't suppose you would call us that now, as tonight was the first time I've seen her since then," he said honestly. "But we have been intimate, yes."

Anakin laughed. "You mean you haven't been sneaking over to the palace every once in a while to see her?" he asked, sincerity written all over his face. "Master, forgive me but I would have."

Obi-Wan laughed as well. "I won't lie and tell you it didn't cross my mind, Padawan," he revealed, suddenly feeling more comfortable with his Padawan, as though they were speaking as friends or brothers. He relished the closeness. "But it would not have been proper. The Princess can no more engage in secret rendezvous such as that than I can."

Anakin snorted. "If you were so worried about properness, you wouldn't have gone there after Master Qui-Gon's death in the first place," he pointed out. "You like her, a lot. I can tell. You might even love her." He paused. "What were you doing on the balcony before the attackers came? Reminiscing about old times?"

Obi-Wan raised his eyebrows at his Padawan's teasing tone and let a small chuckle bubble from his throat. He shook his head and stood, resuming his packing. Anakin waited for a while, and when it seemed unlikely that his Master was going to respond, he pressed on.

"Come on, Master. It's not like I'm going to tell anyone."

Turning to his apprentice, Obi-Wan tilted his head. "I am ashamed that I was not alert and ready for danger as any protector should be when in the presence of the Princess or Queen," he said flatly.

Anakin snorted again and shook his head. "Master, you are too hard on yourself," he berated. "Nothing happened to the good Princess, so what's the big deal about what you were doing?"

"She was injured, Anakin," Obi-Wan reminded.

"She got a little cut on her arm. I'm sure she'd be the first to tell you that it's nothing to be worried about. Come on, Master. Were you talking? Kissing? Hugging? Fighting? What?"

Obi-Wan sniffed. He raised his eyebrows at his Padawan and laughed. "I shall not reveal my personal conquests to you, Anakin," he reprimanded.

Anakin was not deterred. "It's not like you haven't before. Remember that girl--Felicia? You told me every last detail about her."

The older man stopped packing and turned to his apprentice with a warning look. "If I recall, you had our good friend Felicia in your bed the very next night. Now that's not proper, Anakin."

Anakin laughed. "She was easy! She would have done the entire Council if they'd agree. At once! While everyone watched!"

Obi-Wan chuckled and nodded. "I suppose you're right. Although you shouldn't talk about women that way. And I didn't care about Felicia. Not on any personal level anyway. I care about Kalyia and would never betray her confidence. Things that happen between Kalyia and I are personal, between Kalyia and I."

Anakin rolled his eyes and pushed his suitcase shut, sitting on it until he heard the clicks of the latches. "Okay, okay, don't get all defensive," he muttered. "And don't get all sappy on me either, Master," he added. "I can see how wonderful she is. I don't need to hear it too."

Obi-Wan stared at his apprentice for a long while, then laughed. They hadn't had a candid conversation like this in a long time. He loved to relax and be open with his friend. He appreciated the moment.

"Okay, Padawan," he finally said, picking his suitcase up and heading for the door. "But you'll understand some day when you fall in--"

Anakin dropped his suitcase and put his hands over his ears. "Don't say it!" he warned, laughing. "Don't say it Master, please. I long for the days I envied your night time conquests. You were a hero to young men everywhere. Don't say those days are over."

Obi-Wan simply laughed and shook his head at his Padawan. "Someday, when you are older, Padawan, you may not find yourself as proud of such conquests," he muttered, sliding the door to their quarters open and stepping into the hall.