THE NEW CHAPTER IS FINALLY HERE!.

I have watched the movies (thanks to a certain mouse app), and am feeling more inspired now. There should be less of a wait between chapters, however there is one thing that I have been thinking about lately that I want to ask you guys about.

This Fic is currently rated teen. Would you prefer this rating to remain in place and any future 'intimate times' fade to black ... or would you like me to inject a bit of Lemon and bump the rating to a M+?. Once I know what you guys would prefer then I can write future chapters with this in mind.

Lastly, I would like to extend a big thanks to all the lovely readers and reviewers of this fic. You continue to be wonderful people and I love you lots!

Mandochk.

The Jedi Temple was supposed to be home, the one place in the galaxy that she might have called home, but Sam had never allowed herself to get attached to the Jedi Temple in such a way. A home was supposed to feel warm and comforting. A place that you could spend with your family. The Jedi Temple was none of those things. The whole building felt cold and aloof, as if it cared little for the troubles of the humanoids that lived within it's walls - nor the humanoids outside them.

A shiver that had nothing to do with the cold made it's way down her spine, and for a brief moment she wondered if she actually preferred the continual bickering of the Senate Chambers to the all too quiet halls of the temple?. Maybe both things where just as bad? Her brows furrowed as an expression of concern spread over her normally serene face. When had she started thinking that the Jedi Temple was just as bad as the Senate? The Fae couldn't place a particular date, but linked that feeling to when the Jedi had started working more for the Senate - embroiling themselves far too deeply into politics.

She'd fought about this with Yoda too many times. Tried to see the Grand Master that the whole order was becoming something it was never meant to be, but he'd never listened. Yoda was oblivious, either blinded by the darkness or his own ego - convinced there was nothing that could be done and the Jedi would worry about it when the time came. Sam watched Obi-Wan bowed a greeting to his master, catching the movement right at the very edges of her vision and pulling her focus towards the pair.

The graying knight lowered himself into a respectful bow, both arms gripped behind his back, and then moved into step besides his padawan. The unspoken tension between the pair was almost palatable. There where others in the temple that issues, others that had fears and concerns for what was going on. Her muscles shuddered, an electric burst of energy that started in her toes and flowed up toward her skull as Obi-Wan's displeasure made itself known through the force. Sam closed her eyes, one deep breath and then another taken as she let the wave wash over her. It would do her no good to be influenced by the Padawan's energy right now.

"The boy will not pass the council's tests master, he's too old"

It was the same argument, the same festering point that that they had been focused on for the last couple of nights now. Even in the midst of this battle the voices of the pair never rose above the level of normal convesation. Obi-Wan and his master disagreed on a lot of things, but respected the other enough to keep their arguments civil and never allowed the matter to escalate to a physical fight. This was a lively disagreement. Both as always wanting to argue their point of view and both knowing the other would be too stubborn to accept that the other's case might have some merit.

"Anakin will become a Jedi, I promise you that"

Obi-Wan let out the briefest sound, a sound that was equal parts frustration and equal parts acceptance. He'd dealt with his maverik master all his life, had watched the man take in a dozen 'stray' lifeforms and help them in whatever way he could despite what the council wished of him. This wasn't the first time they had disagreed on something and it would not be the last time it would happen either.

"Please don't defy the council, not again"

The master lifted his brows at the Padawan's plea. The older human knew that he would never stop defying the council. The force guided him, pulled him to where he was needed, and if that meant he had to defy the council to obey the will of the force then he would do it. His weather aged face was settled into that familiar mask of calm as he twisted the top half of his body toward Obi-Wan, right eye brow quirked upward as let the barest hint of his defiance show on this features.

"I will do as I must"

The master swept away from the pair, robe billowing around him as he walking to the low wall that lined the balcony. Arms dropped down to rest of the gleaming metal barrier as Qui-Gon relaxed his whole weight into it, hands gripped in front of his body as if in silent prayer that someone in the order would listen to him just this once. The buildings of the capital basked in the amber glow of a glorious sunset, small dark specks zipping past as a dozen skylanes filled with speeders and space craft. Th trio of Jedi where too deep in thought to bask in the urban beauty of the world in front of them, far too wrapped up in the conundrum that was Anakin Skywalker, and concern for the mission which had become far more complicated then expected.

"If you would just follow the code you would be on the council. They will not go along with you this time"

The harsh words where not directed at her, logically she knew that Obi-Wan was just angry at his master, but Sam couldn't help but feel the pain his words caused. The rank of master was something long offered to her, long held just out of her reach, and used as a bargaining chip to try and pull her back into line.

Every new Jedi Master she befriended would promise the same thing, would promise to bring a voice of reason to the council and would promise that they would right this horrible wrong by appealing for her to be a master. They where promises never kept. The fae had long given up for any kind of change whilst Yoda was still Grand Master, and had settled into her life as a Jedi Knight.

Sam knew logically that she could do more good as a Knight, had more freedom to do as she wished then any Master might have had, but the words still stung. She looked up just as Obi-Wan turned to her and she could see the guilt in his eyes that he had caused discomfort without intending to do so. Qui-Gon wryly smiled at the young man, and rested a calming hand on his shoulder.

"You have much to learn my young apprentice"

Sam watched as he shifted his gaze back to the setting sun, carefully turning the sandy haired padawan away from the sights of the cityscape and towards her. Qui-Gon seemed weary, as if he knew that maybe there was little more he could actually teach Obi-Wan and that it was time for the young man to learn from others. Or maybe it was just that he'd done too much over the last few days, pushing himself to do more things then his aging body would allow for? Whatever the case she got the feeling that he would be retiring to his chambers for the evening.

"The council won't be done testing the boy for another hour or so. I suggest you both take the time to meditate and eat."

Qui-Gon bowed, his movements stiff with age and tiredness as he took his leave. Sam fought down an urge to ask if Qui-Gon was okay despite knowing the answer that he would give her. He wasn't okay. None of them where. They where all tired, all constantly bickering about Anakin's purpose, and all fighting inner demons that had been nipping at their heels the very moment they had set foot on the capital. The sensation of her fingers rubbing the bridge of her nose did little to ease the tension that rested beneath the surface, a lingering ache that constantly reminded her of the darkness that seemed so prevalent these days. Coroscant had always attracted darker elements to the criminal underworld which lingered in the lower levels, but that darkness felt as if it had grown over the years, and she didn't think any light could penetrate it now despite how much the Jedi tried.

"Qui-Gon is right, we do have some time to burn. If you don't mind I will visit the 'freshers"

Obi-Wan took a step to leave but found his progress halted as Sam wrapped his hand around his wrist. When they had first met she would have forced herself to ignore the way contact with him made her feel, but she didn't deny herself that any more. A tingling started where his hand rested in her own, a sensation that turned into a shiver of delight as it reached her spine and a warm feeling of comfort filled her whole body. She knew that she should have let him go, let him see to his personal needs now he had some time to himself, but she couldn't. For the first time in a long time Sam feared being left alone with her own spiralling thoughts - feared that Coroscant would drag her down into it's darkness and ear her alive.

The Fae watched as a look of understanding crossed Obi-Wan's face, his head nodding as he took note of the female's changing mood. He'd known since Tattoine that she hadn't been looking forward to returning to the capital, but he hadn't expected that it would hit her this hard. What confidence had once filled her had evaporated the moment she had stepped into the Jedi Temple. She reminded him of a young padawan, trying to find a calm place within themselves but unable to stop the anxieties spiralling within. He could feel her desire to protect her people, the lingering concern that the Jedi where stepping into roles they should not be taking, and her fear of the growing darkness that now called the capital it's own.

Her eyes caught his, begging him to not leave her alone, and so he wouldn't.

Sam felt the pressure in her hand grow as he pulled her away from where they stood on the balcony and back into the temple proper. A dozen memories rushed her at once as he took her down a familiar corridor that she hadn't been down in a few years. The corner of the temple that he was taking her too was set aside as quarters for Padawans. Sam couldn't remember when she had last walked these hallways, but she did remember the many nights staring at the same four walls and wondering what the next day would hold and when she might be assigned the rank of Jedi Knight and earn herself some better quarters. If only she could have told her younger self that the quarters of a Knight where no better then a Padawan, that the bed was just as uncomfortable and the meals just as unpalatable.

As terrible as the food and room had been she did have some good memories of this place. She had spent her younger years sneaking to her best friend's room for sleepovers and running down the hallways laughing when an elder caught her sneaking around after curfew. Those had been the best days, when you didn't have to worry about what your next mission would be and when you might next get to sleep on something more comfortable then the ground.

Obi-Wan reached his destination after turning one last corner. The door was a slightly darker steel then the walls around it, but Sam didn't get much chance to take in the details for the door was already sliding open to reveal the room beyond. Sam couldn't help but snort in amusement at the fact that Obi-Wans quarters where not much different to what she had once had. The rectangular room beyond the doorway might be considered small if someone from the more affluent higher levels was to find themselves in it. But for a Padawan who only wanted a place to sleep and clean themselves it was perfect.

The area closer to the door was what she recognised to be a study and meditation area. She could almost smell the leatherette meditation stool from where she stood in the entryway as the door closed behind her. Obi-Wan slipped past her, shrugging out of his heavy outer robes and throwing them over the meditation stool with a slight sound of satisfaction as the weight was relieved from his shoulders. He looked down at the robe for what seemed like an age, as if he had just realised he'd snuck a female into his quarters and could get into a lot of trouble.

"Sam, you know I meant no offense by my words, right?"

The Fae closed the gap between them, wrapping her hand around his own, and then entertwining their fingers. His emotions like her own where in flux. Guilt, Worry, Contentment, Fatigue, and Serenity all made themselves known to her as they brushed themselves up against her conscious thoughts. A bird like laugh escaped from her lips, head shaking to show that she wasn't upset in the slightest and gripped his hand firmly in a way she hoped would calm the young human.

"I know. I am not offended. Upset that they get a little close to the truth, yes. But I am not upset at you. Your just speaking aloud your thoughts. It must be hard dealing with a master like Qui-Gon when your a more conservative Jedi"

Obi-Wan jerked his head to one side, braid bouncing off his neck as his brows raised toward his hairline.

"I am not conservative"

Sam laughed, her free hand rising to cup his jawline in her palm and trail a thumb over his lower cheek. His eyes fluttered as he relaxed, wanting to close them and relax, but at the same time wanting nothing more then to close them and drift in the moment.

"For now, you are. You are young, you like the stability that the Jedi provide, but you have to learn that you won't always be able to bring others to feel the same way you do. It is a lesson that I also need to learn. I have spent too many years verbally arguing with Yoda when I could have used that time better"

So many lost hours, making the same old argument to someone that was too set in their ways. Qui-Gon had made better use of his time, had a deep connection to the force, and could see things that where still beyond her own abilities. Obi-Wan leaned in to rest his forehead against her own, the weight and warmth grounding her in the moment. Reminding her that while she might have failed, she was still young, and had many years ahead of her - ahead of them.

The padawan wrapped a strong arm around her, pulling her in against his body and sending another wave of warmth to tumble over her body leaving her feeling like she where the sea lapping against the shores of a sandy beach. The core of her mind was the open sea, clearly defined as it's own separate entity. But the further out she extended her awareness toward Obi-Wan the harder it was tell to where the sea started and the sand began.

He flashed the fae a mischievous smile, and then captured her lips in a searing kiss. If it wasn't for his arm wrapped around her waist Sam was quite sure that she'd fall to the floor. Her legs had given up being a part of her person, and all she could do was snake one arm around his neck for support. The fae was barely aware of the sensation of his tongue brushing over her lips, lost in a heady mix of desire, and thus offered no resistance.

She felt more then heard the purring sounds of delight leave her own lips, a sound that only shifted to a moan as the male pressed her in against the wall. This wasn't quite what she had expected to happen when she'd requested to stay near the Padawan, but who was she to complain? Every touch of his hand on her body as it slipped down toward her thigh sent another wave of desire through her body, a feeling that only grew as he pulled her leg up around his waist. The sound of her own heart hammered in her chest as her body arched towards him, wanting nothing more then to sate the growing sensation in the pit of her stomach.

Then he was gone just like that, leaving her breathless and aching to be close to him once more.

"Still think I'm a conservative Jedi?"

Sam blinked a few times as she watched Obi-Wan flash her a boyish smile, looking most pleased with what he'd achieved and then he wandered off towards the 'fresher. She opened her mouth in an attempt to say something, but she couldn't stop her thoughts from wandering long enough to form a sentence. All she could think of was the way his lips felt against her own and the way that her body reacted to his. Her body slipped down against the wall so that she could sit on the cool ground, which pulled the world back into just enough focus that one thought slipped into her head.

So Obi Wan wanted to play with her did he? Well two could play at that game.