The return to the fleet brought plenty of questions. Padḿe waited for them eagerly. Bail Organa was waiting as well. His worried brown eyes met Leia and he wrapped her in a hug.

"Everything all right?"

"Yes. It was … educational."

Anakin was striding down the ramp right behind Obi-Wan. Kenobi smiled at Bail and clasped hands with him.

"I take it you got what you were after?"

"And more. We rescued a few prisoners."

Padmé ran up to Anakin and gave him a swift kiss on the cheek. He returned with an equally swift hug. His bright eyes met her with relief.

That night, Anakin slept without a twitch, let alone any room shaking. Obi-Wan left the door open and rose to check on him early the next morning. He smiled slightly. Anakin didn't stir. Making a decision, he rose and hurried out to the ship's mess. He spotted Luke quietly talking to Leia. Padmé was looking at the food choices rather doubtfully.

"Padmé."

"Good morning, Obi-Wan." Padmé smiled hopefully. "How did Anakin fare last night?"

Obi-Wan smiled back. "He's still sleeping like a fallen log. Nary a twitch all night." He sobered, eyes dropping to Padmé's empty plate. "Not fixing your own breakfast?"

She grimaced. "It hardly seemed worth it for one."

"Then perhaps you should make it for two." Obi-Wan suggested, eyes meeting hers. "I'm sure Anakin would love to see you when he wakes."

"Two? You wouldn't want any?"

Obi-Wan's lips curled up in a humorous smile. "I'm sure I would enjoy your cooking. But not as much as Anakin would enjoy time alone with you."

Her eyes lit up. "Alone? Really?"

Obi-Wan smiled slightly. "He did very well on Vjun. And given he finally had a decent night's sleep, I think he's doing a fine job getting control of himself."

Padme dropped the plate on the counter and flung her arms around Obi-Wan, unexpectedly kissing his cheek. Then she whirled, darting into the kitchen. She wouldn't take time to make anything fancy. But the fact that Anakin would wake up to just her, suggested food wouldn't be the first thing on his mind.

Somewhat embarrassed, Obi-Wan suddenly noticed Luke and Leia looking over at him. Luke's brows rose with interest.

Obi-Wan filled his plate and went over to sit with them. Luke smiled. "What was that?"

"I told her I think it's okay for them to be alone." He paused. "I have a feeling I should knock before I go in next time."

Luke's eyes went wide. Leia looked taken aback. She glanced up to see her adoptive father, Bail Organa, show up. He nodded to them as he sat down with his food.

"Excuse me, please. I've got a patrol coming up." Luke said.

"Be careful." Leia said.

Luke grinned. "Always am."

"No you aren't." Leia called after him.

Bail glanced around. "What happened to Padḿe? She's usually here around this time."

Leia stared at Obi-Wan, as if expecting him to answer. "Obi-Wan told her something and she got all excited and ran out." She was waiting to see if he gave Bail the details.

Obi-Wan speared a vegetable and continued eating, silently.

"You didn't." Bail breathed.

"I did."

"You really think that's a good idea?"

"Keeping them apart won't make him love her less. Knowing his actions hurt her is the cruelest punishment he will ever get. And he is not one to repeat his mistakes once he finally acknowledges them."

"Finally." Bail grunted, implying the twenty plus years was far too long.

Obi-Wan waited until everyone else was deep into their food. Finally he paused long enough to say calmly. "Have you given any thought to what I said on Vjun? On what happened in the caves? He asked Leia.

She flushed. Poking at the plate, she glanced at Obi-Wan and then at Bail.

"What happened on Vjun? Obviously nothing he did." Bail referred to Anakin.

Leia ran her hand over the table. "I...heard the voices. Those whispers, telling me...well, just stirring up my fears, I guess. And I almost..." She fell silent, then looked up at Obi-Wan, troubled.

"I killed plenty of times in battle. But that was different."

Bail was looking at her, puzzled.

"I shot at him, and he wasn't threatening me or anyone. He wasn't even looking. And he didn't move at all. He didn't try and defend himself." She looked down. "I almost didn't realize I was doing it. The voices I heard said it was the safe thing, the right thing to protect Luke and the Alliance..." She fiddled with her fork. "But it was...it would've been just a straight up execution." She shivered. "That would've made me just like him. No matter how much I hate what he did, it wouldn't have been like shooting him in battle, or even if he was tried and sentenced to death..."

Bail nodded slowly. He gently reached over and turned her chin to face him. "Leia, I feel the same way about him. But, well...I'm glad you didn't. For your sake, not his." He paused. "He really didn't react? Then how did you miss? You are a good shot."

Leia sighed. "Everyone else did. Obi-Wan deflected it and Luke wrestled me for the gun. Chewbacca assumed the worst and tried to grab and throttle him. And Ahsoka slapped me to snap me out of it and told me it was the dark side, everyone of the them heard the voices. Everyone of the Jedi, anyway. That's what brought me to my senses..." She stared into space for a moment.

Bail looked at Leia, then at Obi-Wan. "So she was feeling the Force, definitely? The dark side of the Force?"
"As Ahsoka said, we all felt it. It whispers our darkest fears in our ears. It's a side effect of things that happened there long before the Clone Wars. The difference with Leia is that we all were trained to recognize it."

"Anakin handled it?"

"Anakin would rather have her shoot him than give in to it." Obi-Wan said dryly. "When we were forced to split up, Luke and Anakin went together. I trusted him with my lightsaber, Bail. You know what that means to a Jedi. And I kept close watch through our bond, even when we were apart. He handled it very well."

"But Leia was vulnerable?" Bail's expression was disturbed.

Obi-Wan nodded. "It doesn't matter if the anger or fear is justified. Do you think Anakin's wasn't, when Palpatine used it against him? It can be used to blind someone, especially someone Force sensitive."

"Isn't there anything we can do about it?"

"Certainly. I suggested she learn some of the meditations."

"Are you suggesting she be trained as a Jedi?"

"Only if she wants too. But even if she only learns some of the meditations, they would help. There are other dark places in the galaxy. And there are other fallen jedi. One never knows when they may turn up."

Leia's eyes dropped, then rose to look at Bail. "What do you think?"

He laid is hand on hers. "If it protects you Leia, then do it. And for the record, you would make a fine Jedi, I'm sure. But only, only if it's what you want."

"For now, I think I'll settle for feeling out those meditations. If that's all right."

Obi-Wan smiled and nodded. "That is a good place to start."

Anakin woke up to a hand on his cheek. He blinked.

"Hey, sleepy. Are you hungry?"

He sat up in surprise. "Padmé? What are you..." It registered they were alone then. Her face was lit with a beautiful smile.

"Come and eat."

He rose and went to the table. "Where's Obi-Wan?"

"He thought we could use some alone time."

Anakin's eyes widened and a slow, genuine smile crossed his face. "I should thank him."

"I gave him a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. For both of us, so don't be jealous."

Anakin grinned and gripped her hand. "As long as I get a bigger one."

Thanks for reading and all the helpful comments

New Sequel coming: The Jedi's Blood Bonds
Anakin Skywalker will do everything in his power to stop the Emperor's legacy from being continued. But the Emperor had other dark servants and when one rises that threatens all he loves, it will be the test none of them can afford to fail.