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.

AN: Hey everyone! We're back with another update! We are so pleased that everyone is enjoying the story and the developing relationship between Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon and don't worry, it won't take another twenty years for them to make amends! As for the flashbacks, we felt it was imperative to see how Obi-Wan's memories and how he ended up how he did, to the course of the story. Anyway, we hope you enjoy this chapter! And there is no cliff hanger too! LOL...enjoy and have a blessed day!

Chapter 4: Talking it Out

Diedre's point of view

I awoke the following morning hearing Seth's cries through the baby monitor. I carefully pulled out of Obi-Wan's arms, not wanting to wake him. What little sleep he got wasn't that restful.

"Mmm..." He mumbled as I got out of bed.

I leaned down, pushing a few strands of ginger colored hair away from his face. "Go back to sleep my love. I'll get the kids."

In response, Obi-Wan turned, pulling the covers over his head. Smiling slightly, I went and got the kids feed and dressed and then bundled all of us up, taking Kalei to school. They only had a couple days till the holiday break, but after what happened yesterday, one less little one underfoot would make things a bit easier.

When I returned, and after making Seth more comfortable, I found Obi-Wan sleeping peacefully. Leaving the bedroom I went on with my day, cleaning up breakfast, playing with Seth, then putting him down for a nap, starting laundry and that sort.

"Good morning." A deep voice spoke from behind me as I threw the wet clothes into the dryer.

I turned and found Obi-Wan, dressed, but still looking a little sleepy eyed. "Good morning, honey. Feel any better?"

He nodded as I shut the dryer and started it. "Where are the kids?"

"Kalei's at school and Seth just went down for his morning nap." I told him as he pulled me into his arms. "Do you want something to eat?"

He nodded. "Thank you love, for everything."

"Your quite welcome." I pulled away then lead him into the kitchen.

As he ate, I went and cleaned up the living room, glad for the quiet, wondering how things were going to work out. Especially with the snow storms and Qui-Gon Jinn in town.

I went back to doings things around the house, letting Obi-Wan rest and mediate on his own. And then the doorbell rang.

Not wanting to disturb either my son or husband, I went quickly to the front entry way and palmed open the door.

"Hello ma'am." He was tall and lean with long hair. His robes easily gave him away as a Jedi, the same one that had been in my thoughts all morning. "Is Obi-Wan home?"

I crossed my arms against my chest, trying to ward off the colder air. "You're Qui-Gon aren't you?"

"Yes ma'am." He spoke in a thick cultured accent, not unlike my husband's.

I shivered as a cold chill swept by us and I knew the man was trying to keep warm. "Please come in and get out of the cold." I stepped aside, motioning him into the entry way.

He shed his outer cloak and followed me into the living area. "Please make yourself at home while I go find Obi-Wan. Would you like some tea or coffee?"

He smiled, glancing over the pictures on the mantel before turning his gaze back to me. "A cup of tea sounds wonderful."

"I'll put a kettle on then." I told him, still unsure of this Jedi standing before me. He seemed to be a nice man, but I couldn't stand the thought of Obi-Wan getting hurt again. "However, I must know what your intentions are concerning my husband."

He gazed at me seriously for a moment before stating. "I'm assuming he told you what happened." At my nod he continued. "I think we both need to heal from the past and clear the air between us so we can both let it go."

That did make me feel better, but I took a step toward him, looking into his eyes. "Good, but if he gets hurt again, I will hurt you. Do we understand each other?"

A smile twitched on his lips. "Yes ma'am I do."

"Good, I'll be back soon." With that I left, going into the kitchen, putting the kettle on the stove. I stood there for a moment before I went to find Obi-Wan.

"Sweetheart." I started out tentatively as I entered our bedroom to find Obi-Wan, mediating in the corner. I hated to disturb him, but didn't have a choice in the matter.

"Diedre what is it?" He asked, but didn't move from his position or open his eyes.

"He's here, waiting in the living room."

Now his eyes opened, trouble showing in the gray depths. "Guess I'll go talk to him."

He sounded a bit unsure of himself, like he wasn't quite ready to face Qui-Gon again. "I can say you're tied up with something..."

Obi-Wan shook his head, standing up and stretching his muscles a little. "I'll be alright."

"Do you want me to go with you?" I asked as he started for the door.

He turned, pulling me close to him. "No, this is between Qui-Gon and I."

I sighed, then reached up to kiss him gently. "I'll be bringing in some tea when it's ready. Do you want a cup too?"

He smiled as he pulled away. "That would be nice. Thank you."

I nodded to him as he turned, heading for the living room. I watched him for a moment before Seth's crying startled me. And after changing a diaper, I headed into the kitchen to fix the tea.

Qui-Gon's point of view

I watched the young woman leave the room, her dark hair nearly identical to those of her daughter. She was concerned about Obi-Wan, that much I was sure of. However, as a wife and mother I wasn't about to cross her when those protecting instincts came forward. I could sense that she well understood the importance of our meeting, but her threat to me was real. If something did happen, she would come after me. And one thing I learned was that while I could defeat nearly any bounty hunter in the galaxy, but when facing a woman protecting those she loved, I found myself quaking in my boots.

Sighing, I turned and looked around the room, feeling the love, peace, joy, and laughter the family shared. The pictures that lined the mantel expressed those same feelings I was feeling through the Force. It was obvious that Obi-Wan was happy here and that eased my mind greatly.

Though, as I centered on what seemed to be the most recent of two children, I started to become most anxious to see him again, to learn what had happened to him and how he came here. And for myself to make amends for the mistakes I made.

Obi-Wan's point of view

I watched from the doorway as Qui-Gon stared at the pictures on the mantel, centering on the most recent of Seth and Kalei. "That picture is only about two months old."

He turned at the sound of my voice and smiled slightly. "It's a nice picture of both of them."

I stepped into the room, my stomach still turning in knots. "It should be. It only took nearly half an hour to get them to sit still."

He chuckled slightly. "Is Kalei here?"

I slowly walked across the room and sat down on the couch. "Actually she's in school right now."

Qui-Gon sat down in the recliner by the window. "She enjoy it?"

I nodded, smiling slightly thinking of my daughter. "She does, but it's hard for her to sit still for very long."

"I can imagine. I could sense how much energy she has."

"That's an understatement." I paused as I decided to change the subject. "I must say that shock wouldn't begin to describe what I felt yesterday when we ran into each other."

Qui-Gon nodded. "I felt the same way though I had an inclination that something was going to happen."

I nodded. "So did Diedre, my wife."

"You have a beautiful family." He paused as we heard Diedre coming down the stairs, carrying a fussy Seth in her arms. "How old is the baby?"

"Seth's a little over seven months old. He's been crawling for several weeks and gets into everything."

Qui-Gon chuckled as we heard Diedre working in the kitchen. "I can imagine."

We grew quiet for a moment as Diedre brought in a tray of tea.

"I brought milk and sugar in case you use it." She set the tray down on the coffee table, and proceeded to pour two cups. She glanced from one of us to the other before leaving the room.

I took a small sip of the warm tea as Qui-Gon mixed some sugar in his. "How's everyone in the Temple?"

"It hasn't change too much over the years. Though your classmates have all been knighted and doing very well for themselves." And it was good to hear the details that he knew, and of how my old friends were doing.

"Though I owe you an apology, even after all these years." Qui-Gon abruptly changed the subject, causing me nearly to spill my tea. "It took me quite a while to realize it, still stinging from the hurt and betrayal from what happened and how I allowed my experience to color my thinking and reactions."

"After I realized I'd left a thirteen year old boy on a war torn planet, I contacted them only to discover that you already left. I tried to find you, but it was like you vanished. So, several months later I returned to the Temple, giving up on ever finding you."

He had tried to find me? How ironic considering at one point in time I tried to save enough money to afford passage to Coruscant or at least get a transmission to the Temple through. But I'd never had enough.

I sighed. "There were so many times I regretted that decision, what I said to you that day, that we parted on bad terms. There were times that I tried to save enough money to contact you somehow, but something always came up, draining my funds."

Qui-Gon poured himself another cup of tea, paying close attention as I continued.

"I went from job to job, never sure where I was going to end up. Sometimes I worked on transports or in hangers. I thought my existence was a punishment to the mistakes I made, that I would be paying for it with the rest of my life. I had no idea of what to do or where to go. I laid awake most nights, knowing there was nothing I could do to fix it. I was so lost, so alone."

"How did you end up here?"

I glanced out the window, at the falling snow. "I was working in a hanger one night and met Diedre." I could still feel the anger at the man for wanting to take advantage of her. "She was stranded and it wasn't in a nice part of town either."

Qui-Gon winced, well knowing what could be coming next.

"Luckily I was close by and knocked the guy out cold before he could hurt her. Anyway, I took her home and made sure she was okay. I was planning to find another job, but her parents offered me a place to stay and a job. And I was already falling in love with Diedre." I paused, remembering those early days on Lycon. "It felt like home and her family took me in, loving me like I was one of their own. And suddenly I no longer wanted to go back to the Temple. It was like I found myself again, found something to live for. And as I settled down, Diedre and I growing closer, I found myself healing from my past."

"And now it's hard to imagine my life without Diedre and our kids. I belong here with them and the rest of the family, but sometimes I wish things had gone differently between us."

"Maybe now will be a good starting place. Now that we are both ready." He spoke several minutes after I finished telling my story.

I nodded, agreeing with him, the past seemingly settling between us, and both of us beginning to finally let the last little bit go.

He was about to speak again when Diedre peaked her head into the room. "I don't want to interrupt, but that storm is getting worse."

"And Kalei needs to be picked up from school?" I stood and came towards her.

"And I need some things from the story in case we are snowed in for a few days. Seth's playing in the crib in the kitchen, but should be put down for his afternoon nap within the next hour." She turned to go, but I grabbed her arm.

"If Qui-Gon doesn't mind, I'll go. You don't need to get out in that storm again."

She glanced from one of us to the other as Qui-Gon spoke. "That's fine and some fresh cold air will do us both good."

Diedre smiled at him, very briefly before handing me the list. "Don't leave one item out."

"Yes ma'am." I kissed her cheek, as Qui-Gon started for the hallway, putting his outer clothing on.

I followed suit and together we went to pick up Kalei and went to the store. We didn't talk too much as my daughter did most of that, playing in snow as we went along. We were just about home when I heard her ask me.

"Daddy can we play outside?"

"Absolutely not. It's entirely too cold." I palmed open the front door, ushering her inside. "Maybe after the storm's over."

She nearly pouted but when Qui-Gon asked to see her hand-made ornaments she brightened right up.

As we settled back into the house, I helped Diedre put up the groceries, hearing Qui-Gon's gentle deep voice and Kalei's giggling.

"Everything okay?" Diedre asked me, gazing at me with interest and concern.

I pulled her close, enjoying the feel of her in my arms. "Sure is, honey, sure is."