CHAPTER TEN.

Elly left the Meditation Gardens and went straight to the training room where she was meeting Obi-Wan that morning. She walked quietly, deep in thought. The past few days had been an odd fever-dream, it felt like. She still felt calm. It lingered and for the first time in years, she felt ready to be a Jedi but it was odd. It all felt odd.

But she tried not to question it. Especially considering that she was breaking into Anakin's room in an hour. It was not something she had expected herself to do. She had never broken into anyone's room, even in her childish youth and yet, she found herself doing that now. It made her wonder if any of this was even real.

"You have seemed dazed all morning, is something wrong?" Obi-Wan's words brought her out of her spiralling thoughts as she finished the last round of circuits. Her baby hairs sticking to her forehead as she took deep intakes of breath. Her face was a little red but nowhere near as bad as it used to be. Her chest rising and falling steadily.

"It's just been a strange few days," Elly responded as she paced the length of the room. Even when they were taking breaks between circuits, she had to keep her heart rate up. Standing still had never satisfied her.

"Are you having doubts?" He asked. Elly shook her head. They both knew what they were referring to. As odd and as childish as it would be, she needed the software driver. The fact that Anakin had even taken it was annoying and cruel. It was important and now, she needed it back. Obi-Wan was more than happy to facilitate the return. Especially if it meant he could spend more time with the blonde in front of him.

"What time is Anakin leaving?" Elly asked. Obi-Wan glanced at the viewport in the room and then gestured back to the equipment. She had used up her rest-time so she was back to the circuits.

"He should leave in twenty minutes. He has to arrive at the landing bay for half past but he will, no doubt, be late," Obi-Wan explained. Elly nodded and began the training again. It was exhausting. Her muscles ached and screamed at her but it was all worth it in the end. Her strength had come back so quickly and easily. She felt good.

Once they were finished with circuits for the day, they both drank a cantina of water before Elly picked up a training lightsaber. She then went to the centre of the room. Her movements were automatic. Her mind somewhere else as she worked on muscle memory alone.

She didn't even notice as Obi-Wan walked over. He grabbed the training lightsaber from her hand and the warmth of his hand snapped her back to reality. Her gaze refocused on his face and he was inches away from her. His blue eyes looking into hers. His hand still lay over the top of hers, urging her to let go of the lightsaber.

It was disguised as something ordinary, normal, allowed but the contact made Elly's heart soar. Butterflies flapped in her stomach and it made her realise just how much she still adored the man in front of her. He was perfect and she had no idea what to do.

"It's time to go," He said. Elly let go of the lightsaber and Obi-Wan quickly crossed the room. He placed it back in its place and Elly pushed her fingers through her hair. She took a breath, watching him move. She had always known that those familiar feelings would creep back but it was still a surprise. It was unexpected.

"If anyone catches us..." Elly trailed off, leaving it as an empty threat. Obi-Wan glanced at her and gave her a half-smile before they left the training room. The Temple was quiet as they walked through the corridors. It was a quick walk to the rooms and Obi-Wan guided them to Anakin's easily and they listened out for him. He should have already left to head to the landing bay.

The whole corridor seemed quiet and neither of them could sense Anakin. So, Obi-Wan reached out and pressed the code into the door. Anakin had never explicitly told Obi-Wan the code but he had observed the younger man go into his room enough times that it had imprinted into his mind by complete accident.

"I know where he left it," Elly mumbled as the door whooshed open. Obi-Wan glanced at her and nodded. They then silently walked in. Obi-Wan lingered by the door as it closed behind them and Elly went straight for the desk. She knew that he kept most of his spare parts in the drawer so she went there first. She pulled it open and began to rifle through the parts.

But there was nothing. Her eyebrows pulled together and the confusion seemed to leak into the Force because Obi-Wan joined her side a second later. He leant over her shoulder, his body precariously close to hers.

"Are you sure it's here?" He asked. Elly nodded and pushed a few wires to the side. Hoping beyond hope that it would suddenly appear out of nowhere but it didn't and the panic was setting in. Knowing Anakin he may have taken it with him just to spite her. He would be stubborn enough. Elly took a step back and ran her fingers through her hair, "Let's look everywhere else." Obi-Wan then glanced around, locating the piles of drivers and wires. Anakin would be gone for at least a few days so they had time but Elly needed it.

But before she could search anymore, Elly felt it. Anakin's Force presence, followed closely by Ahsoka's. They were getting closer and if anyone saw them in here, there would be questions. Anakin would be unhappy, temperamental. Elly ran her fingers through her hair as she looked around. They had to hide and there was only one place they could. The wardrobe.

Such an enclosed space would do nothing to help the feelings that sat heavy in her stomach but she had to. So, without any explanation, she grabbed Obi-Wan's arm and dragged him to the wardrobe. She pushed him in first. His back collided with the back of it awkwardly before she stepped in. She pulled the door closed behind them. Her front pressed against his. Her back precariously against the wardrobe door. If she moved wrong, it would swing open.

Obi-Wan moved his hands from his side to Elly's waist, pulling her closer against him. It only took him a second to realise what was happening. The question dying on his tongue as he felt the familiar presence of his Padawan.

Elly tried to make her breathing shallower as she rested her head against Obi-Wan's chest. She could feel how his heart thrummed against his ribcage. The anxious energy emanating down their precarious bond. She could feel her face getting warm from such a close proximity.

But any thought of how close they were and the intimacy of it vanished when the door to the room whooshed open and Anakin began to speak, "Snips, I will be fine. They cannot leave without me and I need to get my cloak." The man sounded exasperated.

Elly squeezed her eyes shut, forcing her Force presence to be as small as possible. Obi-Wan followed suit but they both knew making it disappear completely would be impossible. Anakin could probably sense them. Ahsoka could definitely sense Elly but they tried to hide it. They couldn't know. If someone found them like this, the questions would be endless.

"You're already late, Master. Stop wasting time," Ahsoka snapped in response. Elly couldn't help the way the corners of her lips turned up in amusement. Her chin rested against Obi-Wan's chest as she looked up at his face. He did not look so amused by her words.

There was silence for a few beats and they could hear Anakin shuffling. Obi-Wan turned his gaze down to Elly's face, meeting her gaze in the gloom of the wardrobe. It was practically pitch black but there was still enough light to make out her features. The corners of her lips tipped up into a half-smile and her hands resting awkwardly against the back of the wardrobe, caging Obi-Wan in. He couldn't help the way his mind wandered.

She tilted her head to the side slightly and silently asked what he was looking at. The words reaching him through the Force quietly. They were trying to be inconspicuous but it was hard. The two people just outside the wardrobe door knew them well. They knew their Force presences inside and out. It was only a matter of time before one of them noticed.

"I have it. Let's go." The footsteps travelled across the room and the door whooshed open again. Elly felt the relief flood through her system. They hadn't been caught. So, she waited to hear the door close. Obi-Wan's face was inches away from hers. Their eyes boring into each other as they waited for the pair to leave. But they weren't going anywhere. Elly could still sense their presence close and the door hadn't closed.

Why weren't they leaving? Her eyes screwed shut, turning her head away from Obi-Wan's scrutinising gaze. The pit in her stomach only seemed to grow as they waited to hear the door close. There was nothing. It was silent and she could feel them lingering. Then she felt Obi-Wan's hand on her cheek. A grounding presence but it also made everything worse. It made her realise how warm he was, how soothing it was and all those un-Jedi feelings bubbled away at the surface again.

"Did you leave my drawer open?" Anakin asked. Elly's eyes widened slightly and she pushed herself further against Obi-Wan. She could feel Anakin searching in the Force, seeking her out. He knew. Her eyes squeezed shut as she buried her face in Obi-Wan's neck. He knew that it was her in the room, she just prayed he hadn't realised it was Obi-Wan there as well.

"Master." It was now Ahsoka's turn to sound exasperated. Anakin let out a mumbled response before he left the room. The door whooshed shut and Elly felt like she could breathe again. She waited a few more seconds before she pushed the wardrobe door open and stepped out.

Her touch with Obi-Wan ended abruptly and she was thankful. It was burning her alive. Her cheeks flushed red and her whole body felt electric. She hated that Obi-Wan could do that to her so easily. It made her feel weak. The feelings that flooded back made her feel like a teenager again and she hated that she just wanted him. It was all her mind could repeat over and over.

"He knew we were here," Elly said quickly. She pushed her fingers through her hair, trying to distract herself. She glanced around the room but knew that it was pointless. She couldn't think straight, let alone search for the driver. She ran her hands over her face and felt Obi-Wan come closer again.

"He was searching the Force, there is no guarantee that he could sense us," Obi-Wan responded. He was always so logical and he was right but Elly knew that Anakin sought her out. It's unlikely that he couldn't sense her. It didn't make any sense for him to miss her presence.

"We need to leave in case Ahsoka comes snooping." Obi-Wan opened his mouth to ask about the driver but Elly was already at the door. She ran her fingers through her hair, feeling her chest tighten as she began to walk down the corridor. She could not feel like this towards Obi-Wan. If Anakin had sensed both of them, there would be questions. So many questions. Questions she couldn't answer and didn't want to answer.

"Elly!" Obi-Wan called after her and she paused in the corridor. She then turned to face him and forced a smile onto her face. A questioning look on her features, "Let's go to your room." She nodded and the two headed down the corridor. Obi-Wan could feel her panic so stuck close as they entered her bedroom.

The room was deadly silent as Elly removed her cloak. She then sat on the bed, pulling her blanket around her shoulders. She hated that she still got panic attacks. She hated that they made her feel like she was a child again and she hated that this set her off. It was nothing. They weren't caught and everything was fine and yet, it set her off.

Obi-Wan took his shoes off and sat across from her on the bed. He closed the space between them. Knees knocking against each other as he adjusted the blanket around her shoulders. He hoped that his presence was comforting but he found himself at a loss.

"I will handle any questions Anakin has," He said and Elly nodded her head. She could feel her whole body caving in on itself. Her emotions clawing at her chest and she squeezed her eyes shut. Obi-Wan moved his hand to her face and tucked some of her hair behind her ear, "Is there anything I can do?" He asked. Elly shook her head, keeping control of her breathing. His hand stayed on her face and she leant into it. The warmth was a nice change. It made her feel safe, secure.

"They already ask so many questions," Elly mumbled. Her breaths were short, a little ragged but she had avoided the panic attack. She took a deep breath and sat up straight again.

"And we have given them nothing but honest answers. They will get bored of this game eventually," He responded. Elly hummed but she didn't believe that. She knew Anakin and she knew Ahsoka. They were stubborn and they were right. At least on her end, she talked about him so much because she adored him so completely.

"I'm exhausted," She mumbled. Obi-Wan nodded and let go of her face. They both knew what she wanted to do so Elly lay down and curled up in his lap. Her head rested in between his legs as she pulled the blankets over herself. They were quiet as Obi-Wan let her rest. She never really fell asleep when they did this. It almost always ended in meditation so Obi-Wan let himself relax. His hands rested in her hair as he connected himself with the Force.

Elly did the same. Letting the quiet take over as she felt the Force pulling her in. It flowed easily through her despite the emotional turmoil she felt. Despite the feelings that were so un-Jedi like, it welcomed her with open arms. There was no sense in the Force that what she felt was wrong. Sometimes when she was angry or worried, she could feel that it was wrong. But not this, it felt so calm here.

And it gave Elly some semblance of comfort. Lying in Obi-Wan's lap with the Force silently telling her that it's okay, everything she is feeling is okay. Like a mother comforting a child, the Force was stroking her hair. Or maybe that was just Obi-Wan. She couldn't tell but she didn't really care. It was the most calm she'd felt in years.

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