A.N.: this is my second fanfic. Please R&R and hope you enjoy!


Qui-Gon strode into the Council Room impassively. Obi-wan followed him, walking quietly behind him.

Qui-Gon bowed and Obi-wan followed. The council member acknowledged them with a dip of their head. Everything seemed familiar to Obi-wan even after a month of absent from the Jedi Temple. He couldn't say if he was glad of it or not. Cerasi…He felt his eyes stinging and forced himself to not cry in front of the council. Oh Force, if he had just run faster to Cerasi, he could have been able to save Cerasi. The body of Cerasi still lingered in his memory. Her eyes were glaze with pain. The moment when her eyes no longer held any light.

"…listening, Obi-wan?" Qui-Gon asked with irritation clear in his voice.

"I am sorry, Master Jinn?" Obi-wan hurriedly jerked out of his thoughts.

The sour taste of not addressing his former master as master was left in his mouth. He wetted his lips nervously as he tuned in to what the Masters have to say.

"As I was saying," Master Windu looked at him distastefully, "what do you have to say about your action of what happened in Melinda/Dann?"

Obi-wan stood straight, "I am sorry for my action, but if I have to do it again, I will still choose the same path."

That got Master Windu angry, "So you are saying you will abandon your Jedi training for strangers that you don't even know?"

"I wouldn't put it that way but yes," Obi-wan replied, "I will."

"You-" Master Windu rose from his seat but sat down as Master Yoda began to speak.

"Rash, the action you took is." Master Yoda said slowly, "Unfit for a Jedi the council thinks."

Obi-wan opened his mouth but a glare from Master Jinn shut him up, "Yes, Master Yoda."

"Go meditate on this, you will." Master Yoda, "Leave us now, you will."

Obi-wan bowed stiffly and exited the room.

Qui-Gon watched his former apprentice before turning back to the council, "You wish to speak to me?"
"Decided, we have." Master Yoda nodded, "On the punishment for Obi-wan."

Qui-Gon didn't speak and Master Windu continued, "He will be put on probation for six months."

Qui-Gon nodded.

Master Yoda turned toward him, "Meditate on this he will. Taking him back however, your choice it is."

Qui-Gon was at a loss for words. Yes, he had forgiven his former padawan but he hadn't considered taking him back. The betrayal still stung, like salt against the wound Xanatos had opened. Of course, Obi-Wan's betrayal is small compare to Xanatos's. But a betrayal is still a betrayal and nothing can change that.

Master Yoda dismissed him soon after and he exited the council room. His head was still swarming with thoughts of the decision he will have to make.

Obi-Wan strode down the hallway, ignoring the stares and the mutterings he received from the initiates. He caught occasionally words like traitor and scum. He stiffed then turned around and walked toward the Room of Thousand Fountains. It always calmed himself down. The sound of the soothing water and of course, the cheerful memories he had with his friends when he was an initiate himself. He walked into the misty room, oblivious to his surroundings.

"Obi-Wan!" A cheerful female voice interrupted his thoughts.

He turned and smiled, "Bant!"

"Sit down!" Bant patted the stone next to her and Obi-Wan happily obliged.

Bant was his best friend ever since forever. She is the one who understood him the most and the one who gave him the most support. Obi-Wan eyed his friend with a grin.

"You have grown." Obi-Wan commented.

Bant flushed with pleasure, "Yes, I did! And Master Tahl took me as her apprentice!"

Master Tahl was his former master's best friend. A beautiful but blind woman with honey tanned skin.

"Congratulation Bant!" Obi-Wan laughed, "Can't believe it!"

Bant pouted mockingly, "Are you saying that you can't believe that I got apprenticed?"

"No, I just can't believe that you got picked so late." Obi-Wan grinned.

Bant laughed and playfully splashed him, "Thanks. Wanna go swimming?"

"Sure." Obi-Wan replied enthusiastically.

They jumped off the rock and leaped into the water. His Mon Calamari friend swam gracefully through the water. Her body sliced through the water like air while Obi-Wan desperately tried to keep up. He hadn't felt such pleasure for a long time. How he had missed the temple. Looking at Bant reminded him painfully of Cerasi. Cerasi, the girl he had fallen in love with as they spent time together. He faltered for a moment and Bant playfully tugged at his hand and pointed upward. They burst through the calm surface of the water, sending ripples in their wake. Bant laughed, it was music to his ears.

"You look so deep in thought. What are you thinking about?" Bant asked as they treaded water.

Obi-Wan looked away, "Melinda/Dann."

He could see Bant trying to keep a bright face on, "Oh, do you want to talk about it?"
"No." Obi-Wan bit his lips, "Maybe. I don't know."

Finally, "Yeah, I do."

So he told him of Cerasi, Nield, and the Young. Bant watched him with a sympathetic smile and clasped him slightly on the head, sending water dripping onto his face. Bant laughed.

"You must love her, right?" Bant said after a while of silence.

"I guess I did." Obi-Wan admitted.

"I am not jealous, if that is what you are thinking." Bant said with a grin as she observed Obi-Wan, "As long as I have a place in your heart, I am happy."

Obi-Wan rolled his eyes and sighed, "And this is the part where the prince gets so cheery and tearful that they cried enough tears to fill a pond."

"Oh please," Bant laughed, "you read too many of other planet's fairytales."

Obi-Wan only smiled and Bant took this opportunity and splashed him in the face, "Race you back!"

Obi-Wan spluttered and Bant raced ahead of him, "Not fair!"

Bant laughed joyfully and Obi-Wan swam back, striking through the water as fast as he can. But of course, no one can beat a Mon Calamari in swimming. That is just impossible.


A.N.: Yay, there goes my first chapter! Promise to update within the next 4 days!