Obi-Wan sat in the co-pilot's seat, gazing at the stars streaming past them as they settled into their journey back to Coruscant. Normally, Obi-Wan used the time between missions to catch up on his endless pile of reports or examine proposed battle strategies while occasionally pausing in his work to try and convince his wayward companion to sleep. Yet here he sat, hands empty and mind racing as he considered all that had transpired.

How much of his life had he devoted to becoming the perfect Jedi? First as a student, striving endlessly to impress his enigmatic master. Then as a teacher, torn between joy and desperation as he attempted to drag his untraditional padawan onto the Jedi path. But surely, no other Jedi had tiptoed to the threshold of leaving the Order as often as he. Perhaps his initial placement in the Agricorps, away from the Temple, had been prophetic, he mused. He'd nearly left the Order after the disaster on Melida/Daan, and had prepared himself for leaving again with Anakin if his padawan had chosen a life outside of the Jedi. And now, once more, he stood ready to leave the Order that had raised him for the second time in his life for Satine.

They'd had precious little time to speak after her marriage proposal. The hard details of such an arrangement felt trivial against the pure happiness they'd felt in choosing each other so completely. But now as Obi-Wan faced the very real possibility of leaving the Order for good, he felt lost. For a man with so much practice nearly abandoning the Order, he found himself quite unsure of how to go about it.

"-Wan? Hello?"

Obi-Wan blinked himself out of his reverie as he turned to Anakin frowning at him, hands on his hips.

"What are you doing up here, Master? We've been calling you for like an hour!"

Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow at his former padawan. "That seems unlikely, considering we've only been airborne for about 20 minutes."

Anakin rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah details. Anyway, me and Ahsoka wanted to know if you wanted to join us for a game of sabacc." He looked at his master with pleading eyes. "We would really enjoy your company."

Obi-Wan's lips twitched as he fought to hide his smile. "You mean, I suppose, that you have lost to Ahsoka so badly that you want me to join so that at least one person at the table will be able to defeat her?" He smirked as Anakin's expression fell.

"I didn't lose that badly," he grumbled as he sank into the pilot's seat, propping his feet against the console. "Anyway, what've you been doing up here this whole time?"

Obi-Wan hesitated. Anakin watched him curiously as he reached out in the Force. He worried that Obi-Wan would try to hide his true feelings and concerns from him as he often had in the past. But as he tentatively reached for their new bond, he felt only uncertainty, not reluctance, from his master. Heart swelling at the trust he felt along the bond, Anakin sat patiently, sure that his master would share with him when he had found the correct words.

"I wondered," Obi-Wan started at last, "What you and Padme planned to do after the war?" He looked cautiously at Anakin. "Were you planning on leaving the Order?"

Anakin sighed, taking his own pause before speaking. Obi-Wan couldn't help but feel a small spark of pride as he remembered the brash young boy he had taken under his wing. Though he had a ways to go, Anakin had slowly developed more and more toward the mature and thoughtful Knight Obi-Wan had always known he would become.

"Well," Anakin said finally, "We've had some… complicated conversations about it. Padme doesn't feel completely comfortable with me leaving the Order. She feels that I can do a lot of good as a Jedi, and she doesn't want me to give up my dream for her. But," he said looking seriously at Obi-Wan, "I know that's not fair to her either. All the hiding and lies, you know? Padme's not a Jedi. She has family, people she should be able to celebrate with. She tries to hide it, but I know it bothers her. Plus," he added jokingly, "How are we supposed to be Coruscant's hottest couple if she can't show off her trophy husband?"

Obi-Wan chuckled. "Yes, you are indeed depriving the Holonet of at least a decade worth of gossip. Whatever will the galaxy do..."

Anakin smiled, staring thoughtfully out of the window. "You know," he continued slowly, "I'm not sure anymore. About the Jedi being my dream, I mean. My dream was always helping people." He looked down at his hands, unsure of how Obi-Wan would react. "I don't think I need to stay with the Jedi to help people." He got up then, pacing around the cockpit. "I don't want to leave you, Master. Or Ahsoka either. My place is with you, but it's also with Padme. That's why you're asking right?" he said looking anxiously at Obi-Wan. "You're worried I'll leave the Order?"

Obi-Wan sighed, reaching over to lay a hand on his friends shoulder. "Peace, Anakin," he said, a gentle smile on his face. "I'm asking because I find myself in a similar situation. Torn between the Order and... my wife. Or future wife, should I say," he said looking closely for Anakin's reaction.

Anakin froze, jaw dropping as he looked at Obi-Wan. "You?- Satine- when-? She actually said yes?!" he sputtered.

Obi-Wan huffed. "Actually, I was the one who said yes to her. Right before we left."

Anakin stayed still for just a second before the cogs in his brain resumed their work and he pounced on Obi-Wan, nearly knocking the man flat on his back, his elation ripping its way through the Force. "Congratulations, Master!" he said hugging his friend so tightly, Obi-Wan worried he might break a rib. Nevertheless, he returned Anakin's embrace just as warmly, unable to stop a broad grin from splitting his face.

Anakin broke apart from Obi-Wan eventually, eyes glistening with unshed tears as he considered his master. "I'm so happy for you Obi-Wan," he said softly, gripping his friend's shoulders. "You deserve this. You finally deserve so much happiness after all you've gone through."

"Never forget that you have brought me more joy than I can ever hope to describe, dear Padwan," said Obi-Wan gently cupping Anakin's cheek. "And no matter what happens, I sincerely hope that you and Padme will be part of our new family, brother."

Anakin laughed, tears falling in earnest as he embraced Obi-Wan again. "You're never getting rid of us."

"Don't I know it," grinned Obi-Wan, feeling his own tears slide into his beard as he held Anakin.

They fell back into their chairs, joy and wonder over the future washing over them. The turmoil Obi-Wan had felt earlier gently ebbed away as the Force sang in brightness between, and the small curls of a new idea, a radical idea inched their way through his mind. The Force gently encouraged him, encouraged the path such an idea could carve.

"Anakin," he said, heart racing as his mind explored the possibilities. "What if we could have both? The Order and our families?"

Anakin frowned. "How? The Order hates love."

"No, Anakin," sighed Obi-Wan, the age-old argument resurfacing between them. "The Jedi do not deny love, nor do they deny emotion. They teach against the obsession, possession, and hatred that distortions of love and healthy emotion that have led Jedi to the Dark Side. Compassion is a form of love, after all, and it is central to Jedi teaching."

Anakin looked warily at Obi-Wan. "Where are you going with this?"

Obi-Wan rubbed his beard, mind moving lightyears a minute. "The Jedi frown upon attachment, yes, but that teaching was born from fear of unhealthy attachment, not attachment itself. Such has been the teaching for a long time, but it has not always been so strict. These last weeks," he said, warming to his topic, "We have shown how healthy attachment can be a powerful weapon against the Dark Side. You yourself pulled me away from Falling when I rescued you, and our bond, because it's so deep, has been instrumental in saving not only Mandalore, but so many places before. You and Padme even were able to put aside your fear for each other and save the Sundari Palace."

Anakin stood, pacing again. "But even healthy attachment is discouraged if it becomes anything deeper than compassion. The Council would never accept anything like a marriage!"

Obi-Wan sighed, looking out the viewport again. "The Jedi have been failing against the Dark in our galaxy for some time. Our ways, our Order, it simply has not been able to fight against the evil that grows. Perhaps a greater change is needed, a return to the old ways or a forging of new ones."

Anakin sat, knee bouncing as he considered Obi-Wan words. "My mom," he said softly. "She taught me how to love deeply. But also how to love selflessly. We always talked about emotions and relationships very openly. We had to. The potential for abuse and harm was so great on Tatooine." He looked down at his hands. "That's why being in the Temple was always so confusing for me. I always felt love was forbidden, especially the type of love my mom showed me. But her love is what helped me survive all those years. It was nothing but pure."

Obi-WAn nodded, sensing the direction Anakin was going. "If we could explicitly teach about deeper relationships, deeper attachments, starting from when Jedi are younglings, we could remove some of the stigma. Teach them how to be far more open about their emotions while giving them more ways to deal with them. I would wager that this would make the Jedi stronger, even less susceptible to the Dark Side."

Anakin whistled, leaning back into his chair. "That's a tall order, Obi-Wan. You really think the Council will go for it?"

"I don't know," said Obi-Wan truthfully, rubbing his beard again. "I can think of many who would be adamantly against it. Yet, I think this war has shown many of us that we need change if we are to survive."

Anakin nodded, determination set in his features. "Well, I'm behind you, Master. Always." He smiled. "To stay with Ahsoka…and to be with Padme freely. Now that would be a dream come true."

Obi-Wan allowed his own hopeful smile to grace his features. "I admit that keeping my place in the Order alongside a life with Satine would be wonderful."

"Sure would," said Anakin thoughtfully. "Although I gotta be honest, I don't think I like that you and Satine will be our competition for hottest couple on Coruscant."

"Anakin."

The rest of the day in hyperspace passed quickly, Ahsoka eagerly giving Obi-Wan her own congratulations on his upcoming nuptials. However, even Obi-Wan's legendary patience soon frayed under the bombardment of his young companion's questions and energy, and he eventually banned them from the cockpit, claiming he needed to mediate and strongly recommending they do the same.

"I can't believe Obi-Wan grounded us," Anakin grumbled as he and Ahsoka slouched in the hold, tinkering with R2.

"I can't believe you're a General of the Galactic Republic and you still got grounded," said Ahsoka polishing her goggles.

"You're a Commander!"

"And a padawan," she said, sticking her tongue out at her Master. "It's not as totally humiliating for apprentices to be grounded."

"Whatever," said Anakin as he finally finished one last fix on R2. "The real question is, what are we gonna do for the rest of this kriffing trip?"

Ahsoka paused. "I mean, we could actually do what Obi-Wan told us to do and meditate."

"Seriously?"

"Or you could take a nap for once-"

"I already got plenty of beauty sleep, thank you-"

"Really? 'Cause you're looking pretty ugly to me-"

Ahsoka yelped as Anakin tackled her to the ground, expertly rolling and throwing her Master off-balance before he could pin her down. She grinned as she immediately went onto the offensive, nearly sweeping Anakin's legs out from under him before he flipped over her and continued his attack. R2 cheered from the sidelines as the two Jedi threw each other against the hold, laughing and grunting loud enough to echo through the ship.

"Padawans!"

Anakin and Ahsoka froze mid-wrestle, before quickly disentangling themselves. "Sorry, Obi-Wan," they called out sheepishly to the cockpit from which the exasperated shout had come.

Anakin groaned as he flopped against the wall. "Fine," he muttered, "I guess we should meditate before Obi-Wan grows more gray hairs."

"Probably," agreed Ahsoka, settling down cross-legged across from her Master. The duo rarely meditated together in the traditional way, often preferring the moving mediation of mechanics or katas. Yet, Ahsoka enjoyed the traditional way as well, bringing her back to her days in the creche as she learned how to drown out the flurry of noise and energy around her.

They slipped easily into meditation, reaching out to each other instinctually in the Force. Ahsoka relaxed, feeling the bright and secure presence of her Master envelop her. It had taken her completely by surprise when she first became Anakin's padawan, the sheer strength he projected in the Force. Their first meditation session together had barely lasted a minute, Ahsoka too dazed and Anakin too embarrassed to go any longer. Yet countless battles had forged their bond, and Ahsoka now found endless comfort in her master's unique Force presence, a presence that meant security and affection.

A few minutes into their mediation Ahsoka frowned, poking curiously at their bond. She'd almost missed it, Anakin's presence usually strong enough to drown out anything else, but something felt different this time. As she explored more deeply, she wondered what the difference was, pushing ever so slightly until she realized.

Anakin was holding back.

She pushed him harder, hurt that he would hide himself from her. What are you doing? She asked impatiently through their bond, prodding him less gently than she normally might have.

Anakin shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Something changed with me and Obi-Wan's bond, he whispered back honestly. I'm worried… it might be too much for you.

You're my Master, Ahsoka reminded him forcefully. You said I was part of your family now. Please don't cut yourself off from me.

Anakin hesitated, doubt clouding the space between them. I need you to tell me if it becomes too much, he said at last. Promise me, Snips.

I promise, said Ahsoka, bracing herself as she felt Anakin widen the bond. She'd expected the overwhelming power she'd felt the first time they meditated together ready to face the onslaught. But instead, as Anakin slowly pried open the bond between them, she felt, not overwhelmed, but joyful. Ahsoka had always been able to feel the Force, feel the warmth and energy as it pulsed through her, but as she focused on her bond with Anakin, she realized she was the feeling the Force as Anakin felt it, the way he must feel it all the time.

You okay, Snips?

This is incredible, responded Ahsoka, in awe as she felt color and life swirling around her, even here in the dark reaches of spaces. She could feel her emotions too, her own admiration and excitement heightened, but Anakin's as well, dots of concern mixing with the shy pride he felt in showing his world to her. She pushed deeper, exploring her emotions and state of mind, feeling as though she was flying through the Force with the added power of Anakin's connection.

The galaxy unfolded before her, thrumming with the gentle radiance of the Force and tempered with Anakin's love for her.

When they finally slipped out of meditation, Ahsoka grinned at her master, unable to quite describe what she was feeling. The depth of the Force faded around them, but their bond hummed stronger than ever.

Anakin rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, a lopsided grin on his face as he faced Ahsoka. "Well, that was interesting, huh?" He reached out gently in the Force. "Our bond feels different."

"It feels stronger," said Ahsoka, leaning back on her hands. "Not more powerful, necessarily, but clearer."

"Yeah," said Anakin thoughtfully, pushing a hand through his hair as he regarded his padawan. "Is that ok with you?" he asked, looking worriedly at her.

Ahsoka playfully punched him on the shoulder, shifting so that they were both leaning against the wall together. "What'd I tell you when I met you? You're stuck with me, Skyguy."

Anakin laughed, wrapping his sister in a one-armed hug. "I guess I am."

thanks so much to all of you who read this! your comments mean everything to me 3 sorry for the late updates but I'm trying to get back on track! let me know what you think!