Title: There is the Force
Author: Jedikma
A/N: I don't know if anyone is reading this, but I can at least post this chapter since it is already written. Please read and review.
Chapter 6: Birth
"Have you thought of names for the babies, Master?" Anakin asked excitedly.
"No, Anakin. I don't even know if the Council will let us name them. I'm sure they will be given different last names as well. The children can't know that Siri and I are their parents."
"It doesn't seem right, Master."
Obi-Wan let out a heavy sigh. "We've been over this many times, Anakin. The Jedi have codes we must abide by for the good of everyone. I know that because of your background, you may sometimes see them as harsh, but Master Siri and I grew up this way and we understand the rules."
In truth, Obi-Wan was somewhat hurt by it and it surprised him. He was always so careful about the Code and following the ways of the Jedi and the Force. He believed strongly in the rules and though he had formed a bond with Siri and the children, he still felt the rules had merit and he had no desire to change them. Even if he wanted to selfishly have his family, he knew it would be wrong to keep his children. It was confirmed already that both the babies were strong in the Force and the Jedi should most certainly raise them; it was where the children belonged.
Obi-Wan reasoned that it wouldn't be so bad. He and Siri, of course, would always know which children were theirs and they would be able to peek in on them now and again. The children couldn't know Obi-Wan and Siri were their parents; they could not be allowed to form the familial bonds and they couldn't be singled out as different from the other children in the Order. Though many of the Jedi would know who the children were, it would be something that would simply never be mentioned.
There were other Jedi in the Temple that were related and they were aware of their blood ties. Usually such knowledge came to them at a later age and it made no difference to their relationships to the larger Jedi family. The children might eventually become aware of their relationship to each other and even their relationship to Obi-Wan and Siri ultimately, but by then their loyalty to the larger family would be in place.
Obi-Wan decided that the best thing he and Siri could do for their children would be to provide them with a good example.
Obi-Wan's feelings for Siri continued to deepen. As he watched Siri's figure expand with the children, he felt a bond with her that only got stronger. When he put his hands on Siri's rounded abdomen to feel the babies move for the first time, he felt in awe and a happiness that he never knew existed. He would often touch his children through the Force and feel the life of the little ones pulsating. The biggest shock he received was the day one of the children touched him back through the Force.
"I didn't know they could do that!" Obi-Wan gasped as he had his hand on Siri's belly feeling the movements of the children.
"You'd be surprised what goes on with these two, Obi-Wan. During the last fetal hologram she kicked him." Siri gave him a sheepish grin. "Perhaps they're going to be just like us, won't the Council be thrilled!"
"I don't think so, Siri! They're offspring, not clones. There is bound to be improvements on the originals...Hopefully," Obi-Wan replied, though he couldn't hide the fact that he did think it was humorous.
There were days it amazed Obi-Wan that he and Siri actually found themselves in this situation; that the two of them would actually have children together. It was something he never considered even dreaming of since he was a Jedi. Even more interesting was that he had such deep feelings for her. He knew he had always been attracted to Siri, even when they were initiates she had made a strong impression on him. He always thought she was beautiful and often felt drawn to her eyes whether they were just looking at him or whether they sparked fire at him. It seemed the latter happened more often than the former. When they were padawans they would try each other's patience to the limit and each quickly figured out which buttons to push to annoy the other. They finally grew up and out of that phase, but their friendship still revolved around a healthy dose of bickering and bantering with each other.
Spending time with Siri could be a challenge and perhaps that was why he liked it. As a Jedi she was brilliant and very skilled, but maybe what Obi- Wan loved most about Siri was her sense of humor. It matched his and very few people could match his dry wit. Siri could do it without batting one of her pretty blue eyes. Obi-Wan enjoyed sharing a good laugh with Siri and always looked forward to it.
It appeared to Obi-Wan that he was the last one to actually know of his true feelings for Siri. His close friends seemed to have figured it out already. Bant claimed she knew years ago and Anakin asked the first time he saw Siri and Obi-Wan together if she was his girlfriend, after which Obi- Wan launched into a series of explanations about the Code. Obi-Wan realized now that he never really answered Anakin's question with a 'no', but rather 'she can't be'. Even Adi had said that Qui-Gon picked up on their attraction when they were still Padawans.
Garen also claimed to have known.
"Is it true about you and Siri Tachi?" Garen asked when he showed up to Obi-Wan's quarters one afternoon after being gone from the Temple for nearly half a year.
"Garen! Hello to you, too! If you are referring to the fact that I got her into the condition she's in, yes it's true. However, if you know that then you know about the mission, I hope." Obi-Wan replied surprised to see Garen and feeling as though Garen's question sounded a bit like an interrogation.
"What mission?" Garen asked, to which Obi-Wan, to his embarrassment, had to explain.
Garen listened intently. "At least, that explains why the both of you haven't been expelled from the Order. However, that was a dangerous mission for you, my friend."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Come on, Obi-Wan. The way you feel about Siri Tachi. There is no way you came out of that mission without some sort of 'attachment' to her."
"My feelings for Siri are deep, I admit. As for attachment, any formal attachment, it is forbidden by the Code and Siri and I are determined to remain Jedi." Obi-Wan was beginning to feel insulted by Garen's attitude.
"Well, that is a relief to hear, old friend. I was afraid that you might do something rash once you realized how you really felt about her."
"I don't think I like what you're insinuating, Garen, but I can assure you that both Siri and I are well beyond the age to fall into some idealistic trap about love. We do have a bond and having children together deepens the bond, but we both understand that the galaxy is a hard place in which to live and neither of us has any desire to leave here." Obi-Wan continued as his voice became harder. "Indeed, we are Jedi, we love being Jedi and we are good at it, too."
"Obi-Wan, there is no need to get so upset. I am just worried about you. That's all."
Obi-Wan eyed his old friend. "You've known me for a long time, Garen. I don't understand why you are concerned that I might leave the Jedi."
"I have known you for a long time, Obi-Wan, and I know being a Jedi is your life. Something like this would make any man think twice, but I know you would never be happy if you left here. As for Tachi, I don't know her as well and I suppose I'm concerned she would talk you into making a big mistake."
"Well, Garen, you obviously don't know Siri very well. She has not even brought up the topic, nor do I expect her to. She has no desire to leave the Jedi, either, and she would never ask me to, even if she did."
"I'm sorry, Obi-Wan. Tachi has a bit of a rebellious streak; everyone knows that. I know you've been attracted to her for years. I just don't want to see you compromise your life as a Jedi because of her." Garen shifted a bit nervously as the words left his mouth.
Obi-Wan crossed his arms over his chest and glared at Garen for a moment, not sure how to interpret what he just heard. "I hope you are saying these things out of genuine concern, Garen. You're talking about the mother of my children and I would appreciate it if you would call her by her first name, Siri. Furthermore, Siri, despite her 'rebellious streak', is one of the most dedicated Knights in the Order. Like myself, she knows what it means to be cut off from the Jedi family and she doesn't want to be cut off again. We both intend to stay in the Order and abide by its Code."
Garen gave Obi-Wan a look that indicated that he had been duly chastised. "Perhaps it's time I get to know Siri better," he said humbly.
"That would be an excellent idea, Garen!"
Obi-Wan was surprised he found himself so upset by Garen's attitude. Love was indeed a complicated emotion and it obviously led to other problems. Obi-Wan couldn't change how he felt about Siri and, as a Jedi, he couldn't do anything about it either. He would just have to learn to live with it and living with it could be very difficult at times.
As Siri neared the end of her pregnancy, Obi-Wan found himself staying at the Temple. The Council was compassionate enough not to send him on any mission that would have him away from her during the delivery. He wondered if Master Adi had anything to do with that, especially after the comment she made to him one afternoon. "Obi-Wan, it is only right you should be in the birthing room with Siri. You were there to get this whole mess started and you should see it to its conclusion. Besides, I don't want to have to fill in for you. I love that girl, but Siri in labor is not something I desire to experience."
"I'm sure she won't be that bad, Master," Obi-Wan replied, to which Adi just gave him an odd look.
Obi-Wan felt Siri had actually taken to the pregnancy quite well. She very rarely complained and didn't seem any more irritated by things than usual. Of course, with Siri that was hard to really tell. The one side effect of the pregnancy that Siri did seem to like was that, as she took on a more matronly appearance, other men ogled her less and took her more seriously. Siri always had to fight for credibility from the time she was a padawan. As a child she was always looked upon as a 'little girl' and as a woman she was considered by many to be too beautiful to be credible, especially by men, and she hated it. Obi-Wan didn't like to admit it, but he found himself happy that other men were looking at her less, as well.
"Breathe, Siri." Obi-Wan was trying to coach her as she entered her sixth hour of hard labor.
"Would you like to get up here on this med couch and take over Obi-Wan? I would sure love to trade places with you at this point!" Siri's voice was clearly dripping with irritation.
"No, Siri, you're doing such a great job of it, I don't think we should change the plans at this point in the mission," Obi-Wan countered.
"I have a better idea, Obi-Wan. I'm going home for today. Maybe we could pick up from here tomorrow." With that Siri attempted to pick herself up from the med couch, but Obi-Wan quickly stopped her.
"I know this isn't easy, Siri, but you can't leave now."
Obi-Wan had been warned that she would get to this point in the laboring process. Both he and Siri had gone through some coaching weeks before to be prepared for labor and delivery.
A new healer had come to help them through the end of her pregnancy. Chancellor Palpatine had insisted on providing them with the best human gynecological healer on Coruscant, Healer Quan. Palpatine knew of the mission to Nohar and when he found out that the children conceived were Obi- Wan Kenobi's, the hero of Naboo, he wouldn't take 'no' for an answer. He argued that it was unusual for children to be born at the Temple and they must have a specialist. Siri was uneasy about the idea and she felt that Healer Trin had been slighted. The Council thought it was a good idea and Obi-Wan felt he couldn't offend Palpatine by saying 'no'. As time passed, Siri became more comfortable with Healer Quan.
"How is everything going in here?" Quan asked as he came in to check out Siri's progress.
Siri only gave him a nasty glance.
"It seems we've reached the stage where irrationality is starting to take over," Obi-Wan said as he took Siri's hand. At that moment she was seized by a contraction and she squeezed Obi-Wan's hand so hard that even he almost yelled out in pain.
When the contraction stopped, Siri spoke up, "No! I've reached the stage where, even as a Jedi, I can't take the pain any more and I'm ready for any medication you have!"
"We'll see what we can do for you, Master Tachi," said the healer as he once again left the room.
"You have to be more assertive, Obi-Wan. All these guys do is walk in and out and ask how you're doing. What do they do in the other room for six hours, anyway? They're probably playing Sabaac while I am in here dying!"
"You are being overly dramatic, Siri."
At that comment Siri shot him an intense look. Obi-Wan wondered if she could possibly cross over to the dark side in the middle of labor and delivery. "Kenobi, you're lucky you can never come near me again. It will save you the pain of rejection!"
Obi-Wan cleared his throat. "Right."
The hours dragged on, but finally the time came for the babies to be born. Obi-Wan was exhausted and he knew Siri had to be even worse, but she finally pushed the first baby out.
"And we have a beautiful baby girl!" Healer Quan announced as he cut the cord and handed the child to Healer Trin, who was in to assist.
Siri only let out a heavy sigh and looked at Obi-Wan with tears in her eyes. Obi-Wan couldn't tell if she was happy or so tired she was crying and she still had another baby to give birth to.
"I know it isn't much, Siri, but I'm still here with you," he said sympathetically as he combed back her hair with his fingers.
"I know, Obi-Wan. I love you," she said in a whisper. Then, without warning, Siri's eyes rolled to the back of her head and she lost consciousness.
Suddenly, a machine that Siri was being monitored by started to buzz and the healers in the room began to move about in a panic. "You're going to have to leave, Master Kenobi," Quan announced.
"What's happening? I can't leave her. I won't leave her!" Obi-Wan protested.
"Get him out of here!" Quan yelled to Trin.
"Master Obi-Wan, we have to operate and we have to move fast. You must leave for Master Siri's sake." Trin tried to be as gentle as he could with Obi-Wan, who was in a state of shock.
Obi-Wan felt himself being escorted to the door and then he found himself outside the room. His mind was in chaos and he didn't know what to think or feel at that moment. His exhaustion made it difficult for him to even focus. When he tried to sense what was going on in the operating room through the Force, he only met with confusion.
Obi-Wan was vaguely aware of an infant's mournful cry coming from another room. A heavy distraught sigh escaped his lungs. "I love you, too, Siri," he uttered.
Tbc