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"Of course you do, but you don't get to determine whether I'm happy with the kind of friend I'm being and I'm not. I'll let it go to avoid irritating you further, though?"

Olive branch in the strangest argument ever? Yes.

“Ben,” Anakin said, smiling at this strange man. “I think you are a good friend.”

But fine, if Ben wanted to continue thinking he was a terrible friend, Anakin supposed he couldn’t stop him.

He raised his hands to show he'd stop trying to force Ben to see what he saw.

"I'm glad. Let's drink tea, talk some more about memories and see what we can work out about making this emotion thing a little easier for you to live with. ...While I'm blind. Based on memories that may or may not be real." There's a quick flash of a grin there, though, because believe it or not? He feels better after all that stupidity.

Anakin slouched against the counter, a despondent look on his face.

"I wish the memories would stop." He knew wishing didn't do anything, but he felt he needed to say that, to someone, who was a friend. Because... Ben was the one person who came the closest to fully understanding.

He sighed and then nodded. "What do you got?"

That expression and simple statement broke his heart - or at least made it ache like it was. "I know. I wish I had a way of making them stop for you."

For everyone really, but mostly for Anakin. He remembered their meeting and more of Anakin's history now and he knew that those memories must be truly, truly, bad. The urge to hug Anakin came back, stronger.

"What I have is mostly meditation and some basic shielding concepts to keep other people out with focus. You might be better equipped now than the first time I tried to teach you."

"I'm not very good at meditation," Anakin said. "Would you believe if I told you I don't like sitting still for long?" He smiled.

"But I'll give it a shot."

"I would, because I vividly remember trying to teach a nine year old version of you to do the same. Though maybe we can modify with what I know? Moving meditation is a thing. I'll need a bit of research but I don't see why it couldn't work."

He just wants to help. So badly.

And Ben didn't think he was a good friend? But Anakin had agreed to peace on that topic, so refrained from pointing out how much Ben was helping.

"Nine?" Anakin asked. "That's when I'll meet you?"

He smiles, just a little. "Nine. That memory of us is meeting is nearly smack in the middle of what I remember, now."

Anakin was thoughtful for a moment, chewing on his bottom lip, like he wanted to ask something but maybe he shouldn't ask it.

"If... we remember same events... Do you know-" Anakin decided to go for it. "Maybe you know- will these memories get better?"

That was enough to get him out of his chair and going to stand near Anakin, in a place he could look him in the eye. "I can't promise you any information about what might happen after my memories stop, but yes. It gets better. They will get better. You get off Tatooine and out of slavery."

Anakin sighed, appreciating that Obi-Wan was willing to tell him.

"Thanks. I needed to hear that... What is your life like in your memories?"

"Decent." So many things he could say - about Qui-Gon, about The Chosen One, about feelings of rejection and fear. About seeing Qui-Gon die and about the feel of that 'laser sword' cutting through a body. He doesn't, though. "Space warrior monk, little green men and you becoming my apprentice. Big cushy temple and bad hair."

"Do you want to explain the 'space warrior monk' part?" Anakin asked.

"I really, really do not." Which did not mean he would not and he sounded amused, but it was confusing and a lot.

Anakin took Obi-Wan at his word and nodded, letting it go.

"I guess... When do you want to go over those mental exercises?"

"Let's go in the living room and do it now. Elsa can get in the way and keep us from taking ourselves too seriously." He didn't even think when he put his mug down and - held his hand out for Anakin's.

Anakin eyed the hand, because... well it was unusual.

"Is holding hands part of learning the techniques?" he asked with an amused look on his face.

He flushed deep red and dropped the hand. "Probably not necessary. If nothing else you won't fall, here?"

Anakin didn't try to hide his smile. He had just a handful of memories of Ben - Obi-Wan in his memories - which was odd, wasn't it, that Ben should have a different name in a past life, and Anakin didn't... But from what he did have in his mind about 'Obi-Wan' was that he very much looked up to the man. Anakin wasn't trying to make it weird, it was just interesting to see some mannerism from the memories come up.

"I'm pretty good at sitting, I think I'll be fine tonight. Lead the way."