And a new chap has come, thanks to Virgo Galadis. Thanks to my fellow FF member, I was reminded to update. Half a year, shame on me! I hope this chap can make up for it, if only a little. Btw, I had to change rating-no, no torture. Yet. Something else, you'd probably seen coming from the moment I described Miriam. Anyway, enjoy!
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The moon shines silver
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It was time. They'd made everything ready for what was going to happen now.
Miriam had to give birth.
First, the sense in the Force become stronger, and it alerted both Master and Padawan
Stephen of course, couldn't sense it. But he could sense his wife's agitation, and most definitely hear her moans.
They had made it as much comfortable as possible for her. But the cave was only limited in space, and they hadn't much medical stuff, as Obi-Wan had remarked, slightly in distress. But Qui-Gon had reassured him everything would be fine.
"Don't worry, Padawan. Everything will be fine."
"And, " Qui-Gon started with a slight smile, " I've done this before, you know."
Obi-Wan's eyes widened in utter bewilderment, and his mouth was agape.
"Y-you? Done this-this before? Your arm? What-but you're not a healer! We're no healers!"
Qui-Gon raised his eyebrow at the comment, but one could clearly see the mirth in his eyes.
"Well Obi-Wan thank you for having faith in me. Thank you for your concern, but my arm is fine. And might be not a healer, but I have experience, yes. In a much more uncomfortable place, mind you. " he added for the extra effect.
Obi-Wan had recovered, and was now desperately trying to correct his misgivings in his Master.
"No-no Master, that's not what I mean- I trust you, I have faith, but this is just so…
He couldn't find the right word, so Qui-Gon finished him.
"Abnormal. It is. And thank you, Obi-Wan. I trust you too- even though this will be your first time experiencing something like this."
Obi-Wan nodded and beamed, glad for his Master's approval.
Stephen laughed, a warm sound which filled the cave. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon looked at him, both eyebrows raised in question.
The dark haired man only laughed harder.
When he was finished, he answered.
"Really, you two make quite a pair, did you know that? It's wonderfully amusing to hear you squabble, and mimic each other's expressions. Yes you're really doing that. Right now, again "he added, when they both looked at him unbelieving.
Qui-Gon shook his head but smiled, and Obi-Wan muttered something along the way of "Not right in his mind… Mimic…no way… Hmpf." But it was still loud enough to be heard, and Stephen wanted to answer but his wife interrupted him with another groan.
The relaxed tone disappeared as suddenly as it had come.
Qui-Gon gave orders, and Obi-Wan tried to help the best he could. Stephen helped where necessary, but were he was really needed was with his wife. She was awake, and whispered to her husband, and glanced at the two Jedi.
Whatever she'd said, Stephen smiled, and lovingly stroked her hair.
"We'll make it through this, I know we will."
"So do I" she answered.
QUI-Gon then required their attention.
"Miriam, "he started, and she looked at him, eyes clear.
"You know that, under normal circumstances you'd be given anesthetics, but, since we are not in a hospital and we don't have that, I could ease your pain with the Force, if you want too."
Miriam smiled at him, and nodded
"I know that many people doubt the Force, but I don't. That's the exact reason why I came to this planet, to research the incredible amount of live force on this planet, and the seemingly connection between Flora and Fauna here."
Stephen smiled and shook his head. Even when she was about to give birth she's speak over the job she loved so much- researching nature. Miriam herself was Force Sensitive, but not enough to be a Jedi. But she could sense nature, and it's connections.
Qui-Gon nodded approvingly.
"Then I shall aid you with the Force"
She nodded, but halfway stopped, eyes wide, and a gasp escaped her.
They looked at her, and then at the cloth she lay on. It was wet.
"Her membranes have ruptured " Qui-Gon stated, and with that, The beginning of a very heavy day started.
When Miriam went into labour, Qui-Gon noted something was wrong. His strong connection to the living Force told him something wasn't going as planned during the labour. However, then he didn't know what it was yet.
But that made him more sharp to her pain and other things that normally went unnoticed.
Qui-Gon eased her pain with the Force, and let it go. Stephen hold her hand, and said encouraging words to her. Obi-Wan watched from a short distance, not knowing what to do.
After hours, the labour reached its top. Then, Qui-Gon figured out what was wrong by a warning from the Force. He let himself being guided my it, and he laid his hand on Miriam's swollen stomach. He closed his eyes, drew upon the Force, and let it seep through him and Miriam, forming a timely connection between them.
At first, he only saw swirls. But, as the Force kept flowing through them , he saw what it wanted to show him.
The baby laid wrong.
It couldn't possibly go through the normal way of birth- mother and child would die from complications.
Qui-Gon broke the connection, and opened his eyes. A concerned Stephen and Obi-Wan watched him.
"The baby lays in a breech presentation. This can't go on like this."
Stephen paled, and Obi-Wan's eyes widened, although he concealed his feelings.
Qui-Gon watched husband and wife, then said;
"I need perform a Cesarean section. That is the only possible way."
Stephen looked morbid, and managed to stammer out;
"What? How? But how are you going to heal her? Or rather, how are you going to do it? There's nothing here. "
"The Force will guide me, and heal her" Qui-Gon stated, and looked at Miriam, wondering if she'd heard him.
She had.
"Just-just do it. I trust the Force. I trust you" she said.
It was time for action.
"Obi-Wan, medpack, water, cloth, bowls, now." Qui-Gon said sharply, while preparing himself for the sudden operation.
Obi-Wan hurried to the back of the cave, fishing out all they required, and gave it to Qui-Gon. When he wanted to retreat, Qui-Gon stopped him.
"I need your help, Obi-Wan"
Obi-Wan seemed to aghast to answer.
"But-
-No buts. There's no time for that. Just do as I say" Qui-Gon answered.
Obi-Wan's sense of duty came back, and he nodded, still unsure.
But his Master had no time to reassure him. Qui-Gon ordered Obi-Wan to set up a cloth between them and Miriam, and took out a small knife of the pack, and heated it in the fire.
He cleaned her stomach from eventual dirt with water and something else Obi-Wan couldn't see.
With careful precision, and being guided by the Force, the Master cut a horizontal, slightly curved line just above the pubic symphysis. All the while easing Miriam's pain. But this time with the help of Obi-Wan.
When he cut through the different layers of tissue he staunched the blood with the Force.
After 20 long minutes they got the baby out without further problems. Qui-Gon gave the baby to Obi-Wan. Then the young Jedi motioned Stephen to come, while picking something up from the pack.
Stephen watched the boy who was holding his child carefully. When Obi-Wan raised, he showed Stephen a pair of scissors.
"You may cut the umbilical cord, if you want" he said.
Stephen smiled, and took the pair of scissors. Obi-Wan held the baby a bit lower, and Stephen cut the cord. Obi-Wan mended it with the Force, strengthened by the new life he held.
Stephen went back to his wife, while Obi-Wan washed the baby and wrapped the tiny being in a yellow blanket.
Miriam, who was separated from the sight and half numbed, still felt something was different, and looked at Stephen, who still held her hand. He had tears in his eyes while he took his child for the first time in his arms.
"Hello, little one" was all he could say, before showing the newborn child to its mother. Miriam beamed and suddenly, all the hard hours were forgotten for both of them. Obi-Wan watched the new parents with their child smiling. However, both Jedi weren't finished yet.
While Qui-Gon also removed the placenta and then cleaned the wound and mended it, both with needle and the Force, he told Obi-Wan to dispose of the 'garbage'. Obi-Wan obediently did so.
When finished, Qui-Gon covered the mother, and went over to see the child. Obi-Wan came back also.
Then, a question struck the boy.
"What gender is it actually?" he asked, not noticing before in all the excitement of the birth.
"You haven't told them?" Qui-Gon asked incredulously.
Obi-Wan shook his head, and went red.
Stephen however, defended the blushing boy.
"Well, we all seem to have forgotten to take a peek. Other things were a bit more important, you know" he said, while looking at Miriam, who nodded in agreement.
The large Jedi sighed, and bowed over Marian, taking over the small baby. After a moment, the gender was no longer a secret.
"It's a healthy boy!"
Stephen hugged his wife tenderly, and then asked another forgotten question;
"What shall we name him?"
"I don't know" she answered honestly, looking at the small bundle securely placed in her arms. Since their miraculous escape from the city Eras, they hadn't had much time to think about it.
"Look at them" Obi-Wan said softly to his Master. "They already revere him, and he's only minutes old."
Stephen however, heard it. A large smile slowly spread over his face.
"That is it! In our language, revered means-
-Sebastian" finished his wife, who looked approvingly at the small boy in her arms
"Then Sebastian it shall it be" they both said.
Stephen turned to the red haired boy and his long Master.
"Thank you. Both of you. We are forever in your dept."
Qui-Gon dipped his head, but said;
"It's what we do. We're glad to help you"
Obi-Wan smiled, but said nothing.
While the new parents and their baby shared a loving family moment, Qui-Gon sat down against a wall, and Obi-Wan came down next to him.
Qui-Gon then draped his good arm around Obi-Wan, who looked up in surprise. Physical approval was rare, he knew. His Master opted to show his emotions through their bond.
But the young Padawan recovered quickly from the surprise, and leaned gratefully against his mentor, exhausted. Qui-Gon drew him closer as response .
"Well done, Padawan" he said softly, while squeezing him for a moment.
Obi-Wan looked at Miriam, Stephen and Sebastian. The three of them were a family through blood.
Then he looked at his own Master, who had closed his eyes, tired but content
But they were a family through bond, he knew.
The fire burned, casting shadows over the cave's walls. The warm feeling was very nice, he decided.
The young Padawan closed his eyes, and let sleep carry him away to another world.
Qui-Gon opened his eyes, and looked at his fast asleep apprentice. He smiled at the head full tousled hair. It had been a long, though day, he thought while tracing the braid with one finger. He stopped at the last, bead, a blue one. It had been added only a month ago, when Obi-Wan had won a sparring contest.
In two weeks, Obi-Wan would have his sixteenth birthday. It was only prove for what he already knew, though.
His Padawan was aging, growing in strength as well. But not so much luck in length, he though fondly, looking at the small form of the boy who was more like a son to him than an apprentice.
Outside, the moon shone a beautiful silver between the dark of the night and the starts. It was the perfect display of this special day, he thought before he closed his eyes as well, following Obi-Wan to the world of dreams.
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~D'aww, cozy little ending, I know. But I like it. I hope you do as well. But believe me, young Sebastian will land in a whole new adventure, young as he is. Just wait for next chap. Unlike before, I now know what I want to do with this story. It will be original, I promise.
Please review and let me know what you liked. :)
