Twenty minutes later, Anakin and Kennor skidded to a halt outside the med bay doors. Sentara walked up at a more leveled pace. She had a few bruises on her arms, but otherwise was grinning from ear to ear. Padme stood when she saw Anakin coming and gasped as he swept her into his arms, laughing riotously.
"You're pregnant!?" He asked, giddily. Padme smiled, nodding.
"I found out this morning," she admitted. "I was going to tell you tonight, but I guess Obi-wan just couldn't wait!" Anakin's eyes were alight with joy and love. He pressed his forehead to hers, stroking her cheek.
"Good on him! Congratulations, angel," he whispered, overjoyed. "We're going to be parents," Padme grinned and accepted the jubilatory kiss. Sentara clasped her shoulder happily.
"Where is he?" Kennor wheezed, hands on his knees as he gasped for breath. Keeping up with Anakin was not easy, Padme knew. "Where's Obi-wan?" Padme's joy faded as she looked back at the medical bay. The doors were still closed.
"He…" Her voice cracked.
"Anakin," Qui-gon said, his eyes gentle. "He used all his strength to send you that message. Afterwards, he… His heart stopped," Anakin paled. It was at that moment that the med bay doors opened and Bant stepped out.
Anakin stepped up quickly. "How is he?" Bant shook her head. A tear dribbled down her cheek, but she gave Anakin a watery smile.
"It's his choice now. I'm not forcing him to spend another second hooked up to those infernal machines!" she told him firmly. Anakin's face crumpled.
"But… But he woke up!"
"He's too weak, Ani. The only thing tethering him here is… You," Bant reached up and cupped Anakin's face with webbed fingers. "Let him choose for himself. If it's the Will of The Force, let him be with Siri. Let him go," she commanded. Anakin's shoulders slumped.
"I… I can't," he whispered brokenly. "He's my master."
"And he loves you," Padme agreed, stepping up to grip his hand in her own. "So much, Anakin. But this must end eventually. Come on," she tugged him toward Obi-wan's room gently. "Let's tell him we love him, and if he decides to go, say goodbye." Anakin looked up, a tear dribbling down his cheek. Finally, he exhaled a shuddering breath and nodded.
Slowly the family filed into the room and around Obi-wan's bedside. The line on the heart monitor stumbled over itself weakly. Bant knelt by the switch at the bottom of his monitor, eyes twinkling with pride… And sadness. Anakin was the last to walk in, eyes downcast.
Qui-gon was at Obi-wan's right side, gazing into his latest son's face with immeasurable love. He gently swiped a lock of hair away, his own long strands of hair falling loosely around his face. "I remember when there was a braid behind this ear," he muttered, gently pushing the bangs back.
"You asked me once, long ago, if I regretted taking you as an apprentice when there were others you thought would have worked with me better," Qui-gon chuckled softly and exhaled a quivering breath. "Oh, my Obi-wan," he sighed, merely.
Then, Xanatos stepped into his spot, awkwardly. "Alright, little brother," he addressed him. "This is it. The moment we've all been waiting for. You can admit it now. You always liked me better than Kennor," Bant snorted. Padme wondered if Xanatos comprehended the fact that Obi-wan was unconscious.
"Are you serious, 'Natos?" Kennor cried, scandalized.
"I just want the truth!"
"Move aside, you fool! If there was ever a moment Obi-wan liked you more- and I doubt it- it's gone now. You've ruined it!" Padme could not help but giggle at their silly antics as the two older Jedi in Obi-wan's line took up post next to their last brother. Kennor sighed, stuffing his hands into opposite sleeves to retain some semblance of control.
"It goes against nature for an older brother to bury his youngest," he murmured sadly.
"We aren't going to bury him. We're going to set him on fire," Anakin cringed. Sentara smacked Xanatos behind his head.
"Xanatos DuCrion! Shut up and speak to your brother right now!" She scolded him sternly. Xanatos opened his mouth, no doubt prepared to make an unwise but witty comment, when he glanced over at the heart monitor. The line dipped in and out like a bee zipping through the air, landing and taking off in equal measure. Always fulfilling its duty to the hive. Until the day when it couldn't fly anymore.
Xanatos blinked rapidly. "I'll be good," he promised Obi-wan in a tender voice. He reached down and placed a hand on Obi-wan's that was joined by Kennor. "I'll train younglings, save damsels, do brave things. I'll be good, Obi-wan. I swear," Xanatos repeated, voice trembling. Kennor laid a hand on his shoulder as a tear trickled down his cheek.
"You've always been my favorite," Kennor whispered. "I just want you to know that. Even when you were a conceited, code-spouting ass, you were my favorite," he dipped his head and moved Xanatos away. It occurred to Padme that they were all saying their permanent goodbyes. This was not a what if scenario. Obi-wan was going to die. Not if. When. Padme's heart contracted in her chest.
Sentara reached out and gripped Ahsoka's fingers. "We can do this," she said. Ahsoka bit her bottom lip, looking to Anakin for guidance. He was staring at Obi-wan, though, eyes far away. So Ahsoka nodded and moved forward, the two of them standing so close that Padme saw they breathed as one.
Sentara reached out and straightened Obi-wan's collar in a sisterly fashion. "Now," she began, firmly, but stopped there, as if realizing this was the last time she would ever begin authorizing Obi-wan Kenobi. Her voice wavered but Sentara went on.
"Now," she repeated, softer. "Don't worry. The children will be fine, they'll continue their training and probably stay close to home. I know you… I know you worried about them. I'll keep the delinquent out of trouble, by that I mean Xanatos," said delinquent smiled, tremulously.
"I'll help Padme and Ani with the baby. I'll convince Anakin to eventually Knight his apprentice and make sure Kennor and Qui-gon keep their heads out of their asses," Sentara choked on her own brittle laugh, still fidgeting with Obi-wan's collar. Another few tears dribbled down her nose. "We'll stay true. We'll stay strong. We'll stay Jedi," she whispered.
Ahsoka knelt by Obi-wan's side, head cocked and hand pressed to his. "I can't remember how many nights you stayed up late with me, helping me study or practice my lightsaber forms," she said. She closed her eyes, fighting back tears. "I thought Master Skywalker was supposed to train me, but I was lucky enough to get two teachers," Ahsoka smiled, opening her eyes. "Thank you, my master," she whispered, pressing a kiss to his forehead. She and Sentara stepped away, shoulders quivering with silent tears.
Padme looked at Anakin. "Ani?" He shook his head. So Padme went first, sitting at Obi-wan's side. "You were so kind to me when I got here," she reflected, twisting Siri's necklace in one hand.
"I was scared and young and uncertain… And you made me feel like I could belong, if I wanted too," Padme choked on a giggle. "You also made me a lot of tea," she remembered. "I can't… I can't repay you, but this baby?" She gently pressed a hand to her stomach, and though her heart was heavy with grief, her soul was alight with a joy no one could conquer. She knew Obi-wan would have been happy for her too.
"This baby will grow up hearing every story I can think of or make up about a Jedi named Obi-wan Kenobi," and that was wall she could give him. A Legacy in the next generation. A spot in their hearts if he could not be present in the home. "I'll look after Ani for you," she added. "Always."
She turned around as her throat closed with sorrow. Anakin was staring at her with tears running down both cheeks, his large azure eyes drowning in a dread so complete he looked like a little boy again. "Anakin?" Qui-gon asked, compassionately. Anakin pressed his mechanical fist to his mouth.
"I… I don't think I can…" Confessed the proudest Jedi in the Order.
"It's alright," Kennor assuaged him. "Obi-wan knows how much you care about him," he said.
"But…" Anakin exhaled slowly. "I'm the reason he won't let go!" he said, and the words were wrenching in their sincerity. "I have to let him go."
Padme vacated her seat and Anakin carefully maneuvered himself into it, fingers twiddling in his lap. "Hi Master," he greeted, instinctively. "Listen… T-This is hard for me. I've never been good with words like you, and you know I have attachment issues but… I can do this," Anakin drew himself up, swiped at his tears resolutely.
"I'll be ok. Promise." Anakin leaned forward, grasped Obi-wan's hand in both of his and burrowed against Obi-wan's side like a nine-year-old, frightened and heartbroken after leaving his mother behind.
"Thank you," he whispered. "For never giving up on me, even when it would have served me right. Thank you for…" Anakin licked his lips. "Dammit, for the adventure of a lifetime! I'm a Jedi because of you!" The Chosen One laughed aloud, his joy a brief distress flare in the middle of space.
Help wasn't coming.
Anakin looked up, titling his face to the ceiling as if in prayer for a moment before he gritted his teeth. "But I have one more favor to ask: if this place hurts you, then kriff it all, you leave!" he commanded. "Go, Obi-wan! I'll be ok. I just… I want you to be happy, ya know? I just want…" Anakin sobbed aloud, pressing his forehead to Obi-wan's hand beseechingly. "You're such a good friend," he whimpered. "But you can go now, if you want," Anakin looked up, and gestured to Bant that she could do it if she was ready. Bant closed her large eyes for a moment.
"Until we meet again, my friend," and pressed the button. The machines whirred a last long hum as they powered down. Obi-wan chest rose laboriously once, twice, then fell flat and did not rise again. Anakin's hands fisted in the blankets around him as he bit out a sob. The lights flickered as his grief tore through The Force.
Padme closed her eyes. Then, startling them all, a small voice croaked out in the darkness of their loss.
"Well, this looks… Dreadful. What'd I miss?"