Qui-Gon waited impatiently for the door to open. The Jedi Master stood outside the apartment of Mace Windu and he was not a happy man. It took all of his years of Jedi training to keep him from shifting in place and beating on the door with his fist.

When the door slid open, the disheveled form of the other man stood with a slightly irritated look on his dark features. "Do you have any idea what time it is, Qui-Gon?" He asked, his voice cracked from sleep.

"We need to talk." Qui-Gon told him as he brushed past the other man and walked into his apartment.

"Qui-Gon, can't this wait until the morning?" He paused. "Well, more of the morning than it is right now?" He followed Qui-Gon into his common room and stood staring at him.

"No, I think this needs to be done right now." Qui-Gon took a deep breath and released his anger to the Force as best he could. "I do not appreciate you speaking with Demeron about the bond I have developed with the boy. It is none of your concern and I do not appreciate my personal business being spread across the Temple by one of my friends." He kept his tone as even as he could, but he could hear the edge of anger in his own voice.

Mace looked at him in confusion for a moment. He shook his head, sleep slowly fading from his eyes. "Qui-Gon, I never meant, we were just talking and the subject came up. I honestly didn't think I was saying anything that I shouldn't have."

"You knew about my connection with the boy and you knew that Demeron had been working with him as a possible Padawan. I wanted to explain the situation on my own terms, but you took that away from me. He would never admit to it, but I have never seen Demeron so upset." Qui-Gon sighed and collapsed onto the low couch in the common room, rubbing his eyes wearily.

After settling Obi-Wan back to sleep, he had come directly to Mace. Working with the boy had been more of a strain than he wanted to admit. He knew he would never sleep with the issue laying so heavily in his thoughts, and had no qualms about sharing his waking state with the other man.

It had broken his heart when Obi-Wan had run from him and erected shields to keep him out of their bond. He had never wanted to hurt the boy, and yet he had done so unintentionally not once but twice. Not only had he hurt Obi-Wan, but the boy had been afraid of him and that single thought wore on his conscience.

Mace dropped next to him on the couch and leaned his head against the back. "I'm sorry Qui-Gon, I honestly didn't mean to say anything I shouldn't have. I thought you'd spoken with him already."

Qui-Gon waved his hand. "I know, I know, it isn't you I am really angry with." He paused. "Well, you're not the one I'm the most angry with. I ran into Guod yesterday with Obi-Wan and he made some offhand comment about Xanatos. I had to explain it to him and," He stopped and took a breath. "I made him afraid of me, Mace."

"Guod thinks very highly of himself and doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut. Why do you think the Council refuses to send him off planet? And I am sure Obi- Wan isn't afraid of you, Qui-Gon, but that is quite a bit to take at one time. He'll come around and if he doesn't then maybe it is for the best." Mace said tentatively, his eyes watching the wall carefully.

Qui-Gon sat up quickly. "And what exactly do you mean by that?" He asked, the defensive edge in his voice was apparent.

Mace took a breath and began slowly. "It's just that, while Obi-Wan has been very good for you, and you have had some positive influence on the boy, it might be best if you let this relationship go. You yourself said you had no intention of taking another Padawan, and when he is chosen you will not be able to have the same relationship with him. It might be easier for you both if you begin to pull away now."

"I may have spoken hastily." Qui-Gon said quietly, watching the other man's face intently for his reaction.

"Are you sure that's for the best? I know you care for him, Qui-Gon, that much is evident, but do you think that taking him as a Padawan is the best thing you can do for him?" The other man's voice had taken on a tentative tone again.

"Why? Because of Xanatos? Because I can't possibly train another padawan without him turning? Don't you think I have thought of that, agonized over it? I'm not saying that I am going to take the boy as my padawan when his time comes, but I am not going to stop seeing him because he might be taken by another." Qui-Gon pulled his emotions under control and let his anger flow from him.

"Yes, I understand that Qui-Gon, but are you taking this stance for you or for him? Don't mistake affection for the boy with a call from the Force to teach." Mace's face reflected his concern.

Qui-Gon stood. "I'm sorry to have disturbed you at such a late hour. May the Force be with you." He nodded to his friend in the best farewell he could and walked from the apartment without another word.

* * *

Qui-Gon touched the pad at the side of the door to signal a request for entry and waited patently. He had barely slept after his confrontation with Mace and he was more than a little tired. His frustration over the situation had led him to the apartment of his former Master at the early hour. When the door slid open, Qui-Gon bowed to the small Jedi and gave him a tired smile.

"My Master." He said simply as he walked into the familiar chambers. "Troubled you are." Yoda said definitively as he followed his former apprentice into the common room. "Tea I have for you, sit and talk with me."

Qui-Gon poured tea for himself and his Master to keep himself busy and avoid the conversation as long as he could. When he had delayed as long as possible, he settled into a chair across from his former Master and sipped at his tea. He quickly outlined the encounter with Guod, though he did leave out his own feelings regarding the matter as well as his desire to inflict bodily harm to the other Jedi. Some things he did not think his former Master needed to know. "I, I had to tell Obi-Wan about Xanatos. He did not take the information well. We will have much work to do when he arrives; he raised his shields and cannot bring them down."

"More than that troubles you, I think." Yoda said, looking at him over his cup. "I realized my feeling in the matter of both Xanatos and Obi-Wan are much deeper and more complicated than I had thought." He said shortly, finding that although he wanted to speak of the matter, he was reluctant to begin the conversation.

"Guilt you still feel over the turning of your apprentice, and wary of taking a new Padawan, yet thinking of entering your name for young Obi-Wan." Yoda said with a nod of his head. His former Master had always been able to see to the heart of matters.

"Xanatos had such promise, he did not begin his time with the Jedi as he ended it. He was such a good boy. I look at Obi-Wan, and as much as I would like to continue to have him in my life, I could not bare it if he were to turn as well. He is so good, and he shines so brightly with the Force." Qui-Gon closed his eyes and rubbed at his temples.

When he looked at his former Master, the small Jedi sighed. "Told you many times I have, and tell you many more I will: made his own decisions Xanatos did. Risk we all take when we chose a Padawan, risk I took with you. Often worth the risk they are. Consider Alla, fine Knight she is, but end well all do not."

A thought occurred to Qui-Gon as he sat across from the small Jedi. "Have you ever had an apprentice turn?" He asked slowly, the idea had never occurred to him. Yoda regarded him for a long moment. Slowly, the small green head nodded and the Jedi spoke sadly. "Many years have I trained Jedi, and apprentice I have lost in the past. Strong in the Force am I, but not that strong."

Qui-Gon didn't know what to say, he had never even considered the thought that the Jedi who had trained him may have had a fallen apprentice in the past. With Yoda's long life however, he shouldn't have been surprised. Yoda had always projected such a confident demeanor when Qui-Gon was a Padawan, he had never questioned Yoda's ability.

The two sat in silence for several moments as Qui-Gon processed the new information. He was still deep in thought when the chime for the door sounded.

"Arrived our third party has, I think." Yoda said as he hopped down from his chair and walked slowly to the door. Qui-Gon stood and followed the small Jedi hesitantly, uncertain of the reaction he was likely to receive from the small boy.

Yoda opened the door and Obi-Wan stood at the side of Heri looking nearly as concerned and uncertain as Qui-Gon felt. He also appeared tired and Qui-Gon thought he might not have been the only one who had not slept well.

"Master Yoda." Heri nodded in deference. "Obi-Wan is very tired today, but he insisted that he come. I would appreciate it if you did not work him too hard." She said, and Qui-Gon could not help but smile at the command evident in her tone. A member of the Council Yoda may be, but Obi-Wan was under her care and she would see no harm come to him.

Yoda nodded seriously. "Of course, careful with him we will be Master Heri. Come inside young Obi-Wan." Yoda directed the child with an extended hand.

Heri brushed a hand over the boy's golden hair. "Be good, Obi-Wan." She warned him with a smile. "I will see you later this afternoon." She gave him a final smile and turned back in the direction of the Creche.

Obi-Wan walked into the apartment and glanced briefly at Qui-Gon, giving him a shy smile though he said nothing. When Yoda had the boy seated comfortably on the couch, Qui-Gon poured the boy tea and contained a flinch from the memory of the last conversation they had had over tea.

"Troubled you are, young one." Yoda began without any attempt at light conversation.

Obi-Wan nodded, and avoided Qui-Gon's eyes.

"Told you of Xanatos he did, frightened you are of what you learned."

Again the boy nodded.

"Wary of Xanatos I was from the beginning, too prideful was the boy. Thought the boy could be trained we did, no one better to train him then Qui-Gon there was. Flawed was Xanatos," Yoda paused, and while he was speaking to Obi-Wan he looked directly at his former apprentice. "Done better, none could have. The reason for his turning Qui- Gon was not, blind to what the boy was we all were. The darkness and the fault came not from Qui-Gon but from Xanatos himself."

Obi-Wan nodded slowly and his eyes flickered to Qui-Gon. He gave the Jedi a small smile before turning his attention back to Yoda. "Can you help me fix my shields? I broke them and now I can't feel Master Qui-Gon anymore. I miss him."

Qui-Gon let out a slow breath he had not known he was holding. While he had thought he and Obi-Wan had managed to gain some sort of understanding after the boy's nightmare, he had still been worried Obi-Wan would want nothing further to do with him. It surprised him how deeply that thought hurt him.

Yoda nodded. "Work with the bond you should, helpful it can be to you both, but careful you must be." Yoda waved a hand at them both. "Closer you should be, physical contact at this stage will help."

Qui-Gon stood from his seat and moved across the room to sit beside Obi-Wan on the low couch, with the boy tucked against his side. He gently ran his hand across Obi- Wan's head before resting his hand on the boy's shoulder.

"On your shields you should concentrate Obi-Wan. Release your fears, nothing to be frightened of here there is. Hurt you Qui-Gon will not, safe you will be with him." Yoda instructed in a soothing tone.

Qui-Gon watched as the boy concentrated and could feel the tension in his shoulders as he tried to do as the Jedi Master instructed. He could feel the fear leave the small boy slowly and Qui-Gon waited patiently, hoping that Obi-Wan would be able to trust him again. When Obi-Wan's shields finally came down, Qui-Gon was shocked momentarily at the sudden flood of the boy's presence in his mind.

"I did it!" Obi-Wan exclaimed with excitement. He turned his small face to look up at Qui-Gon a smile stretching across his elfin features.

Yoda nodded in approval. "Well you have done. Best I think it would be if the two of you spent the day in each other's company. Regain familiarity with your presence and work further on the bond we will when settled you have become. Trust in the Force you should, lead you wrong it will not."

"Thank you, my Master." Qui-Gon said as he stood. Obi-Wan hopped up and immediately held his hand.

"Thank you, Master Yoda." Obi-Wan said brightly as he tugged Qui-Gon in the direction of the door.

Qui-Gon nodded once more to his Master then followed Obi-Wan out into the hall. "So what do you think we should do?" He asked, willing to do nearly anything the boy suggested.

Obi-Wan shrugged. "Don't know. What do you want to do?"

"I can't think of a thing." Qui-Gon said after a pause. "There must be something you would like to do." He said, hoping the boy would say something.

Obi-Wan looked up at Qui-Gon his eyes lit with amusement. "We could rent holovids." He suggested.

"That's a wonderful idea, Obi-Wan."

* * *

"We really need to make a decision, Obi-Wan." Qui-Gon said. The two had been walking around the holovid store for better than an hour trying to pick out something they would both enjoy. He was a galaxy renowned diplomat who managed to bring warring factions to the table to successfully discuss the end of conflict, who made split second decisions under enemy fire, and he could not find anything to watch with a five-year-old. "I don't know." Obi-Wan said, the impatience evident in his voice.

"Okay Obi-Wan, just pick something. We've looked through everything they have, twice. Qui-Gon said trying not to let his frustration leak into his voice or across their bond. Yoda had been right. It was good for them to spend time together, it allowed him to practice shielding himself from the boy. He knew that given enough time he would be able to do it without conscious thought which could be imperative on a dangerous mission.

"Just one?" Obi-Wan asked his blue eyes went wide and innocent.

Qui-Gon nearly laughed at the blatant attempt to wheedle more out of him. "Yes. Just one." The simple suggestion of watching holovids had turned out to much more of an ordeal than he had thought possible.

Obi-Wan heaved a sigh. "Okay."

The Jedi followed the small boy through the aisles of the store until he stopped and pulled one of the holovids from the shelf. "This one." He handed it to Qui-Gon and waited for approval.

"The Adventures of Ancu Darmon." Qui-Gon read off the title.

"He's a pilot, he flies and fights pirates and stuff." The small boy bounced on his toes as he looked up at the older Jedi.

"All right, we'll get this one." He turned and walked to the main desk to check out the holovid.

* * *

As the credits for the holovid began to run, Qui-Gon stirred slightly. Obi-Wan's head was resting on his leg and the boy had not moved for the better part of half an hour. The massive quantities of chocolate and sweets the two had consumed at the start of the program seemed to have burned off in both of them and Qui-Gon found the events of the past day catching up with him. He turned the screen off and rubbed his hand over Obi- Wan's shoulder.

"Obi-Wan? Obi-Wan? Master Heri said she wanted you back before five, Little One, you have to wake up." He said softly trying to rouse the boy.

"I wasn't sleeping." Obi-Wan said as he sat up and rubbed his eyes with his hands.

"If you say so." Qui-Gon said indulgently. "Did you like the holovid?"

Obi-Wan nodded, his eyes bright. "It was great, the fight on the um, ship near the end was the best part."

"I'm glad you enjoyed yourself." Qui-Gon paused, he had no wish to disturb the boy's mood, but he wanted to know if Obi-Wan still had any misgivings about their relationship. "Obi-Wan," He began carefully, but the boy seemed to pick up the change of subject. He was suddenly serious and devoted all of his attention to the Jedi.

"I'm sorry, I just got scared, I didn't mean to make you sad." He said his small face filled with concern.

"You know you didn't do or say anything wrong, Obi-Wan. I'm sorry if I frightened you, I don't think I handled the situation very well at all." He admitted.

Obi-Wan nodded. "I'm sorry about Xanatos, Master Qui-Gon. I wish he hadn't hurt you."

Qui-Gon smiled at the child's attempt to comfort him. He drew Obi-Wan close to him and hugged the small boy. "Thank you, but it's all right, Obi-Wan." He said and was surprised to find that for the first time in several years he believed it.