Hello everyone, welcome to my second Star Wars fic! This is something that came to my mind, when I tought about how Obi-Wan and Anakin were such a good team, had such a strong bond. So I wondered how a bond could have made a difference in the beginning of their relationship. I'm exploring this possibility here, coming in a package with lots of fluff, Obi-Wan/Qui-Gon bonding and general Obi-Wan awesomeness :D

It can be the starting point to several other stories, a whole AU arc so to say, therefore I'm looking forward to the feedback I'll receive hopefully.

Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars ... seriously, if I did it would be completely Obi-centric ;)

Now go enjoy the first chapter, with the ridiculously clichéd title.

Chapter 1

32 BBY – Tattooine

A Fateful Meeting

"Anakin, drop!" Anakin obeyed as he had seen the Zabrak approaching as well. Qui-Gon had exploded into action, his lightsaber hissed to life and a green blade clashed against the red one.

"Ani, go to the ship! Tell them to get out of here."

Fear and adrenaline made the boy run the meters to the ship, racing up the ramp. He barreled straight into Padmé.

"Padmé, Qui-Gon's in trouble! He told us to take off!" The dark skinned man next to her looked at him with suspicion, but the handmaiden had already pulled him to the cockpit.

Inside were two men. One of them wore uniform and an emblem that marked him as the pilot. The other was younger. He looked at them as they entered, taking in their appearance and the situation with a brief glance. He wore a cloak and beneath that clothes like Qui-Gon. A look at his haircut with the little ponytail and braid behind his right ear confirmed Anakin's suspicion. This man was a Jedi as well.

Anakin retold his story hastily again and found to his relief that the young man seemed to take him seriously immediately.

The pilot scanned the sensors.

"The sand is disturbing the instruments, I can't see him." The Jedi gestured for him to let him into the pilots seat and then, to everyone's surprise, closed his eyes.

"I found them." His voice was calm and with his eyes still shut, his fingers began flying over the consoles. The engines flared to life and the ship rose from he desert ground. Anakin watched in awe as the young Jedi turned the ship in the air and lowered it again slightly.

"Open the ramp." The pilot complied. The Jedi's eyes opened once again.

"Keep the ship in exactly this position. As soon as I close the ramp manually, you take off.", he instructed curtly and then rushed out of the cockpit. Anakin saw the opening of the ramp on one of the screens. He watched as Qui-Gon jumped onto the ledge and the scary adversary followed. They engaged in a duel again, but suddenly the other Jedi was there and pushed in front of a visibly tired Qui-Gon. A blue blade rushed into action and then the younger Jedi made a hand motion and an invisible force pushed the Zabrak off the ledge.

The young Jedi hit a button and the ramp closed. They were safe.

Anakin exhaled and then ran back to Qui-Gon. The man had sat down on the floor, sweat running down his face and breath heaving. As Anakin approached, he could hear snippets of a conversation.

"Thank you, Obi-Wan. That really surprised me." He put his hand on the younger man's shoulder.

"What do you think that was?"

"I am not sure, but I feel you already have an idea."

The Jedi called Obi-Wan looked to the ground.

"I had to look quite deep in the Force to pilot the ship and pick you up. I have never encountered something this dark. He had a pitch black Force-presence. I know it should be impossible, but it matches the description of a Sith."

Whatever a Sith was, the explanation seemed to surprise Qui-Gon.

"Obi-Wan, you know what you imply with this?", he ask unconvinced. Obi-Wan's face became pained and Anakin felt slight annoyance at Qui-Gon that he did not believe the younger Jedi.

His flare in emotions suddenly made both men pause and turn to him.

"Ah, Ani, come here.", Qui-Gon invited. "I want you to meet someone."

"Hello, my name is Anakin Skywalker." Anakin headed straight to Obi-Wan, not waiting for Qui-Gon's introduction. He thrust his hand out. The Jedi smiled.

"Obi-Wan Kenobi. Good to finally meet you." Then he took the hand and both felt the warmth that suddenly shot through their bodies.

Yes, Anakin thought, finally.

Qui-Gon had felt the slight tremble in Ani's emotions. He suddenly sensed annoyance directed at himself and wondered what had upset the boy.

He tried to ease the slight tension as he made to introduce his padawan to their new charge and was once again surprised that the two seemed to disappear into their private world as soon as they shook hands.

After a minute it was over though and Qui-Gon wondered if might only be reading too much into it. Anakin however seemed completely normal again.

"Mister Qui-Gon!", he exclaimed suddenly. "Obi-Wan did some real cool stuff in the cockpit to rescue you earlier. That was so wizard!" He chattered on how Obi-Wan had flown the ship with closed eyes. All the while, and this unsettled Qui-Gon slightly, Obi-Wan looked at Anakin with a fond smile, nothing like the exasperation he had expected. The padawan did not appear upset by their newest asset at all, instead he seemed to welcome Anakin warmly.

"Ani, how about we look for a place to get you settled, while Qui-Gon gets cleaned up?"

Qui-Gon expected the former slave boy to be reluctant to leave the presence of someone he knew in this strange place, but neither did he look at him questionably, nor did his eyes dart around in search for Padmé. Instead he jumped up eagerly and took Obi-Wan's offered hand. The two wandered down the hallway.

"They seem to hit off very well. I do have to admit, I had my doubts." Padmé stepped up to Qui-Gon and helped him off the floor. "I had the feeling your padawan is more reserved."

"He usually is. Obi-Wan is very private and does not share much emotion with strangers. I do not quite understand myself."

"Maybe it's the fact that Ani is a child?" The handmaiden offered. She followed Qui-Gon to one of the freshers. "I will be back with fresh clothing soon." She then left as well.

Qui-Gon entered the room, but his thoughts did not come to rest. Was Ani's childish innocence the reason for this friendly Obi-Wan? Or was he reading too much into this? It was not like Obi-Wan was a rude person, not at all. But he had expected his behavior to be similar to how he had treated Jar Jar. Standoffish and cool, maybe even bemused.

To initiate physical contact, even if it was only taking Anakin's hand to lead him away, was a special step for his padawan.

Qui-Gon undressed and turned the sonic on. He was tired and exhausted from the fight and remembered thankfully how Obi-Wan had not hesitated a second to act. His piloting stunt had been admirable. For a padawan to immerse himself into a meditation while in such a stress situation, was outstanding. Especially considering that flying did not come to Obi-Wan like it did to Anakin.

With a brief stab of regret he realized that his time with Obi-Wan as his padawan might come to an end soon. For years he had told himself he still had time and suddenly the boy, no, man was almost ready. And he was still so young. Qui-Gon himself had been 28 when he took his trials and this was not that uncommon. Obi-Wan was simply such a promising student.

And to think he had not wanted to take him in. Until today he knew that his rejection almost thirteen years ago hurt his padawan and made him sometimes insecure. He had never said anything, had not wanted to be a burden to his master, but the hurt must have remained.

When he had returned from his leave of the Jedi Order for The Young, he had apologized for the damage he had done for weeks. Qui-Gon now wondered if he himself had ever said sorry for the harsh words in the beginning of their relationship. The thought made him uneasy.

Anyway, had he told Obi-Wan what an outstanding and talented Jedi he was? Maybe he should praise him more often...

"I am sure you could stay with Jar Jar in the maintenance bay. There would also be some droids to tinker with. How about that, Ani?" Padmé had knelt down to eye level as she made the offer. The boy looked unsure and then shot a glance to Obi-Wan.

"I think Ani might feel a bit lonely there. Is it possible to transfer another mattress to Qui-Gon's and my room?" Obi-Wan had understood what was wrong immediately. The grateful look the boy flashed him, gave him the confirmation that he had been right.

"Of course, I will speak with the crew." Padmé smiled and headed off. She always seemed to be moving around, looking after everyone.

"Obi-Wan?", Anakin asked, when she was gone.

"Yes." They were walking down the hall.

"What happened earlier? When we shook hands?"

"So you felt it as well?" The boy nodded. "You see, I am not quite sure myself. I will research this once we've arrived on Coruscant. But I have some ideas." They entered Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon's empty quarters.

"Care to share?" Obi-Wan flopped down on one of the sleep-couches and Anakin climbed into his lap.

"Sure. I am certain it is some sort of Force-bond."

"Force-bond?", Anakin asked in a confused manner.

"Yes, did Qui-Gon tell you about the Force?" The boy nodded eagerly.

"Yeah, he said it is an energy around us, but we can't see it. Oh, and the Jedi can use it to do cool stuff." Obi-Wan laughed slightly at the last sentence.

"That's pretty accurate. You're right it surrounds everything, connects the things. And sometimes two people who have a strong connection to the Force, like the Jedi, they can form a bond between them."

"A bond?" Anakin looked slightly confused again.

"A bond. You know what a relationship is, right? The bond is what ties you and this person together."

"So I have a bond with my mom?" Obi-Wan nodded.

"Yes, very good. That will be a very strong bond indeed. Then there are bonds of friendship."

"I have Kitster!" Obi-Wan simply assumed he was Anakin's friend on Tattooine and nodded.

"Yes, these are bonds. And then there are Force-bonds. Bonds that can only be established by two Force-sensitives. For example, Qui-Gon, as my Jedi master, has a bond with me."

"Master?" Anakin's voice turned slightly panicky.

"It means more like teacher, don't worry. It has nothing to do with ownership." The boy calmed again.

"So, you and I have a Force-bond. What does it do?", he asked.

"This I don't know yet. I do think I receive a slight understanding of your emotions. This why it feels to you that I can understand you without words."

"Can we talk through it?" The idea exhilarated Anakin.

"I don't think so, at least not yet. It is still new and you are untrained, so it will be difficult."

"But you can teach me, right?" Obi-Wan hesitated. Was this the right thing to do? He had no permission to teach the boy anything. But he also did not have rules against it.

And after all, could it hurt to be able to converse through the bond? It would give them something to do on the long travel.

"We can try.", he admitted. Anakin cheered.

AN: I will update this story quickly, I think, as it is already finished.

If you have the time, please leave a review.

See you soon, Cold Moon