I feel a headache coming on. Padmé is in a small meeting with Captain Typho, Senator Organa, and a woman whose name I still don't have. I politely excused myself so I could try and nurse the headache.

Nothing's worked.

I feel it, the light prickle in the Force. It's friendly. But instead of one, I sense two. Must be Obi-Wan's apprentice.

When the elevator opens, the presence grows stronger. I hear two sets of feet, and instantly I'm met with one new face, and one old—okay, not age-wise, in terms of my relationship to them.

Obi-Wan. He doesn't even look like the same person I last saw ten years ago. His hair has grown out, and he's got facial hair, which slightly ages him. I'm kind of grateful for that Padawan braid to have disappeared from him; it was always a distraction, and I would pull on it to annoy him sometimes.

The young man beside him has the Padawan braid. His robes are darker and not the normal tan that most Jedi robes are. His hair is short, but I can tell its color. His eyes are a deep blue.

And they're staring at me, this young Padawan's eyes. Like he's trying to figure out where he's seen me before or something. I've never met him.

The silence is deafening, and awkward. It's making my headache stick around longer than I'd like.

Obi-Wan notices what's going on too, but he doesn't say a word. I wish he did, because I sure didn't know what to say in this situation. Is an insult appropriate here?

The Padawan finally talks, but what comes out of his mouth is surprising: "Thea?"

I stare at the Padawan questioningly. As far as I could recall, he and I have never met before. There is no reason why he should have my name in his mind or coming out of his mouth. Maybe Obi-Wan told him who I was beforehand? Surely they know that Padmé has me as her bodyguard.

"Do I know you?" I don't mean the tone to come out as harsh, but it does. It comes out as defensive.

He looks taken aback by my response. "You don't...recognize me? Remember me?"

"I would think I would have."

"Thea, it's me." His eyes hold hurt in them. "Don't tell me you forgot about your little brother."

This is getting weirder. Borderline creepy territory. "My brother lives in Tatooine, with my mother." Who probably isn't even aware that I'm alive.

I know coincidences are possible, but not this. This Padawan can't be my little brother, Anakin Skywalker. There's no way he or our mother could've left Tatooine.

I left, but not by my own choice.

I look to Obi-Wan for some help, but he remains a spectator in this situation. I'm slightly annoyed, and I most certainly let him know through the Force.

"You know how I know you?" the Padawan speaks. "That scar on your left forearm? We were roughhousing and we broke a vase, and the glass got stuck in you. Mom nearly beat us to the next galaxy because of the mess."

Nobody can know about that incident unless they were truly there. The only reason I remember it is because Mom was so mad, and it was the only time I ever saw her so livid. She had been so mad that Anakin and I had started crying. Of course, our mom being the softie she was, consoled us afterwards and apologized. And then she'd grounded us, rightfully so.

I have to look this Padawan up and down, take a second look. This man before me looks nothing like how I imagined my little brother to grow up.

"Annie?"

A smile touches his lips.

"Wow. You've certainly...sprouted." I laugh breathlessly. "You got off our dust ball of a planet! How's Mom doing?"

I've said the wrong thing, because a sadness falls over Anakin. "She's doing well."

He misses her, just like I do. I miss our mother, I miss her every planet rotation. "So, you followed in your big sister's footsteps and became a Jedi, huh?"

"Wait, you became a Jedi?"

"Don't let my clothes fool you. Just between you and me." I show my lightsaber. "What I am is a little hard to explain. Jedi, bodyguard to the senator..." I try to get things back on track. "I must say, you've got yourself a good Master." I throw a glance at Obi-Wan. "It's been far too long since I've seen you, old friend."

"I agree," says Obi-Wan. A calm settles over me.

"You two know each other?" asks Anakin.

"We do," I confirm.

"But then how did you end up here?"

"A story for another time," I tell my little brother. It's still hard to think it. Anakin Skywalker, a Padawan. I have no idea when that idea got into his head, we never discussed it when we were on Tatooine. "She's been expecting you both."

I lead Obi-Wan and Anakin through into the sitting room, where it's just Captain Typho and Padmé. They both rise.

"It's a pleasure to see you again, m'lady," Obi-Wan tells Padmé warmly.

"It's been far too long, Master Kenobi," she says, walking to him. He takes her hand in his in greeting. "I'm so glad our paths have crossed again...but I must warn you that I think your presence here is unnecessary."

"I'm sure the Jedi Council has their reasons."

Padmé glances at Anakin. "Annie?" I notice how much time she's taking staring at my little brother. "My goodness, you've grown."

"So have you," says Anakin, "grown more beautiful, I mean...and much shorter...for a senator, I mean."

I pull my lips in to hide my laughter at the look on Obi-Wan's face. My brother is being a blunder right now. How did those two meet? Someone likes a senator, big time.

Padmé laughs at Anakin, shaking her head. "Oh, Annie, you'll always be that little boy I knew on Tatooine."

Anakin is clearly embarrassed, which only makes it that much harder for me to not laugh.

"Our presence will be invisible, m'lady," Obi-Wan assures Padmé as we all move to the sitting area.

"I'm very grateful you're here, Master Kenobi," says Captain Typho. "The situation is more dangerous than the senator will admit."

"I don't need more security," Padmé insists, "I need answers. I want to know who is trying to kill me."

Obi-Wan frowns. "We're here to protect you, senator," he says, "not to start an investigation."

"Which is a good thing for me," I cut in. "Since you'll protect her, I figure I can start my own investigation." Padmé looks at me in surprise. "You'll be in good hands."

"And you think I will let you try and hunt the killer?" she asks me.

"Senator, my priority is your safety. It's not an outlandish thing to do considering my job description."

"We will find out who's trying to kill you, Padmé," says Anakin. "I promise you."

"I've already volunteered myself for that," I tell him quietly. "And it's a solo project."

"We are not going to exceed our mandate, my young Padawan learner," Obi-Wan interrupts us.

"I meant in the interest of protecting her, Master, of course!" Anakin tries to protest.

"We are not going through this exercise again, Anakin. You will pay attention to my lead."

"Why?"

"What?" Obi-Wan, like myself, is taken aback by Anakin's question. If there's one thing I know, you respect your Master. That's a lesson you learn fairly quickly.

"Why else do you think we were assigned to her, if not to find the killer? Protection is a job for local security...not Jedi. It's overkill, Master. Investigation is implied in our mandate."

"We will do as the Council has instructed, and you will learn your place, young one."

"Perhaps with merely your presence, the mysteries surrounding this threat will be revealed," Padmé says quietly, trying to shoo the awkward silence off before it can settle over us. "Now, if you will excuse me, I will retire."

We all rise, give our respected bows as she disappears to her room, with her handmaiden, I now realize who that is.

"Well, I know I feel a lot better having you here," Captain Typho tells Obi-Wan and Anakin. "I'll have an officer on every floor and I'll be at the command center downstairs."

I walk towards the window, watching the Coruscant traffic.

"Your brother has a lot to learn," Obi-Wan says as he stands at my side.

"So I see. I see him all grown up, and the first thing he does is insult my job." I sniff. "He's grown so much." I look back to find Anakin talking to Jar Jar. "I'm sure he's wondered where I've been all this time."

"I'm sure he's thinking about it now."

I exhale deeply. "How can I begin to explain what happened, Obi-Wan?"

"You'll find the right time to, Thea. I'll make sure he talks to you about it, not me. It isn't my story to tell."

"Thank you for that. So, the, uh, new look, how long has that been going on?" I tease him. "Couldn't look as fresh-faced as my brother, so you had to grow out some things?"

"Someone has to look the responsible one. You grew your hair out."

"I never liked it short." I wrinkle my nose. "I'm glad you're here, though, the both of you. Gives me more wiggle room in case things go bad."

"You think they will?"

"No, because you and Anakin will be here as my backup." I smile. "I just didn't think our next meeting would be under these circumstances."

**Don't worry, we'll delve much deeper into these relationships as the story goes on. But damn, Anakin, would it kill you to just behave??**