Welcome Home, Obi-Wan

Disclaimer: We are making no profit off this work. George Lucas owns the characters and universe, except for a few original characters.

Description of Story: This story is an AU where Obi-Wan has left the Jedi Order and never returned. (After Melinda/Daan) He stayed on planet for a while before eventually leaving. He traveled around the galaxy for some years, taking jobs here and there before finally settling down. Obi-Wan is about 27 in this story.

Meanwhile Qui-Gon had returned to the Temple, not really caring what happened to Obi-Wan, still stinging from the betrayal. However, over time he realized he had made a mistake. Qui-Gon searched for Obi-Wan for some time, but only found traces of his former Padawan. He finally resumed to his life as a Jedi, giving up on finding Obi-Wan.

Of course, as you can guess, the two will see each other again after more than ten years...

As a side note the holiday I'm using in here is called Winter Fete, but it's probably closer to our Christmas than anything else.

AN: Meagan originally wrote this short story as a holiday challenge on another fan fiction page and she's just now to getting around to publish it here. I know it's not Christmas but when re reading it, it made me feel much colder as it's over a 100 here! Anyway, we hope you enjoy it!

Chapter One: Coming Home

Obi-Wan's point of view

I sighed as I pulled my cloak closer around me, trying to starve off the winter chill. As I walked through the neighborhood where we lived, I glanced through the falling snow to see all the houses, dressed and ready for the coming holiday.

I sighed, glad to be going home. As a detective for the Lycon's Security Forces, I was sometimes away from home, working on a case. This time was no exception and finally about a week and a half later, with the case completed, I started for home.

Sighing, I quickened my pace, anxious to see my family. I could almost picture the scene in my mind. My wife, Diedre, would be trying to cook something for dinner, while keeping an eye out for our now crawling seven month old son, Seth. Of course, Kalei, our four year old daughter would be dancing around in circles or somehow getting rid of her endless amount of energy.

Sighing again, I couldn't wait to see them, couldn't wait to walk into the front door to be greeted with plenty of warm hugs and kisses. And to hear everything that happened while I was away.

"Daddy." Kalei's voice broke my thoughts as I walked up our front walk as she ran through the snow towards me. I bent down and swept her into my arms. Instantly she was chattering away. "Mommy said I couldn't wait outside, so I stood by the front window to wait for you."

I chuckled as I opened the door and stepped into the front hall. "And what did you do in school while I was gone?"

Kalei grinned and began to tell me about the kid that picked on her friend, the cookies during the snack break, making snow angles during recess and so forth.

As my daughter continued her narrative, I couldn't help, but laugh. "Sweetheart, did you learn anything?"

Kalei just laughed and clapped her hands together. "Miss Hodges told us all about Winter Fete. We got to make ornaments for our tree too. That was fun."

I set Kalei down as Diedre came down the hallway. "Why don't you show them to me?"

"Oh, you're home." My wife said, but turned to our daughter. "Go wash up for dinner, you can show Daddy your ornaments later."

Kalei looked disappointed but scampered off as I stood back up. "Hello Diedre."

She smiled, but nodded to my cloak and boots. "You're dripping all over the floor. Take your wet things out back."

Typical wife I thought as I stepped towards her, reaching out and pulled her close to me. "First things first." And with that, I leaned down, kissing her long and sweet. Force, how I missed her.

She responded warmly, wrapping her arms around me, pressing her warm soft body closer to me. Not being able to resist, I titled her chin up slightly, deepening the kiss. A slight moan escaped her throat.

Long moments later, we pulled our lips away from each other. "I missed you."

She smiled, her cheeks flushed, accenting her dark hair and eyes. "I missed you too."

I planted kisses along her jaw line. "Why don't we put the kids to bed, skip dinner and go straight to bed?"

I could feel her long thin fingers winding through the curls on my neck. "Isn't that how we got those two in the first place?" I laughed as she pulled away, going back to the kitchen. "Get out of those wet clothes Kenobi and maybe we'll finish this later."

Smiling at her, I did as I was told and went to find my son.

Qui-Gon's point of view

"Now when is the next transport leaving?" I asked the worker behind the desk. I had completed my mission and was trying to get back to the Temple, but the changing weather in some systems had some flights delayed or even cancelled.

She sighed before answering. "There's another major snow system coming through. We can't get out of the area long enough to go into hyper space. It will probably be several days before we have another one even leaving this sector. I can put you on a waiting list for the next available flight."

I nodded, feeling frustrated. "I guess that will do. Is there a place I can stay till then?"

"Let's see if I can find something for you." The young lady turned to her terminal and a few minutes later she turned back to me. "There's a nice hotel about a mile from here that has some rooms. We will contact you when the flights are running again."

After she gave me further directions I left the hanger, tightening my robes around me to starve off the chill in the air. As I walked down the streets, I noticed, even with the cold weather, people were out and about, getting ready for the holiday season.

Though something felt familiar about this place. Though Lycon was a pretty peaceful planet and a member of the Republic, I'd never been on it before. So, I was quite puzzled why I was feeling this way.

Throwing off the odd feeling I found my room and then something for dinner. Deciding to explore my new surroundings later, I went to bed early that night, though in my dreams a young boy's face haunted me.