WARNING: This chapter will include some slash! If you are interested only in the friendship version, SKIP THIS!
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PART TWO
Tatooine, 19 years later
Obi-Wan critically studied his image in the mirror, turning his head left and right to have a better view.
He had never been a vain man, but he had to admit he did not like to look so much older than his real age. He was only 57, but it looked like he was already 75.
His beard and hair were thin and snow white, and his face was lined with a web of wrinkles put there by Tatooine's unforgiving suns and the pain caused by the galaxy's suffering.
Only his eyes seemed to be the same as he was younger: kind, gentle, lively and, hopefully, wise.
"You look very distinguished, Master," Anakin commented from behind his back.
Obi-Wan turned to see his friend's translucent form leaning casually against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, lips bent in an ironic grin.
Obi-Wan scoffed. "Yes, very distinguished indeed. I look exactly like the old hermit everybody thinks I am."
"You forgot to add "crazy" to your description. The people believe you have some loose wires here," Anakin tapped his temple.
"And pray, tell me, who is responsible for this?" Obi-Wan replied sarcastically as he left the small fresher.
"I don't know…" Anakin answered nonchalantly as he followed him, "even if, I suppose your talking to yourself when in town contributes a lot to spread the idea you are a bit crazy…"
"That would not happen if you just refrained from asking me questions or making comments when we are around other people!" Obi-Wan answered, a bit irritated.
"Don't be so cranky, Master, I know you like my company when in town. I keep you entertained."
Obi-Wan nodded and smiled fondly at his friend. "Yes, you do. Sometimes I wonder what I would have done all these years without you and Qui-Gon."
"You would have endured, Master. You are a survivor," Anakin moved closer and posed his hand on the Jedi's shoulder.
Obi-Wan closed his eyes, as the tingle he always felt when Anakin touched him spread in his flesh.
He loved it. Loved the feeling of those confident, caring hands moving over him. Loved when he and Anakin joined their minds and merged their souls. Obi-Wan had never imagined he could love so much or that love and its manifestations could feel so right, but he now knew better. He longed for the day he too would be one with the Force, and he and Anakin would be able to stay together for eternity. And if he was not mistaken that moment might arrive soon.
"What is it?" Anakin asked softly in the silence that followed. "You are worried."
"Something is going to happen. I can feel it." Obi-Wan walked to the hovel door and opened it. He looked at the desert stretching around him, in the direction of the Lars homestead.
"Do you want to go to check Luke?" Anakin inquired, stepping at his side.
"No. I've the feeling he will soon come to me." Obi-Wan looked straight at his friend. "The moment we have been waiting for has arrived."
Anakin considered his words, then murmured, "You are ready, Master, whatever happens, you are ready. And you won't be alone—I will be at your side. Always. Don't ever doubt it."
"I don't, my friend. I don't." Obi-Wan smiled and returned to look at the desert, opening himself to the Living Force.
He sensed a bright, powerful presence coming closer. He frowned. He had expected to meet Luke soon, but he had not expected it to happen that very day.
"He is coming this way," he said to Anakin, "and he is not alone. A group of Sandpeople is moving in the area."
Obi-Wan sensed Anakin's Force signature flare with fear and a glimmer of anger at the mention of the Tusken Raiders.
"Don't worry, I am going to see that nothing happens to Luke."
"And what if something happens to you?" Anakin muttered.
"Really Anakin, I thought you have learned I can mind myself after all these years spent on this dust ball," Obi-Wan smirked. Anakin was always so protective…
"Yes, I know. Forgive me. It's just the Tuskens always make me uneasy."
Obi-Wan just smiled, then pulled up the hood of his battered robe to protect his head from the glaring suns and walked in the direction Luke was coming from.
By the time Obi-Wan reached the canyon where he had sensed Luke, the Sandpeople had already attacked the young man.
Obi-Wan saw him lying in the sand, but he sighed in relief when he sensed the boy was unconscious but not seriously harmed.
Bringing his hands to his mouth, Obi-Wan created a small cone with them and emitted a loud howling moan, a sound similar to the krayt dragons' roar. Anakin had teased him mercilessly when he had first tried to imitate the cry, but in the end Obi-Wan had laughed last, because that bloodcurdling roar had helped him to get rid of the Tuskens more than once.
This time it was not different. The Sandpeople were cowards, and they lost no time in mounting their banthas and running away.
Obi-Wan stepped down the rocky cliff and knelt near Luke, touching his bones as he looked for fractures.
"Is he all right?" Anakin asked concerned, appearing by his side.
"Yes, there is nothing broken. He will regain his senses soon."
A soft whistle attracted their attention. They raised their eyes to see a small astromech droid that was hiding behind a nearby rock.
"Look!" Anakin exclaimed, excited. "It's Artoo!"
"Are you sure it is him?"
"Of course," Anakin replied, almost outraged he had dared to doubt him.
Obi-Wan smiled and pushing back his hood, talked to the droid.
"Hello there! Come here my little friend. Don't be afraid."
Artoo left his hiding place and waddled over to were Obi-Wan, Anakin and Luke were, whistling and beeping in concern.
"Don't worry, he'll be all right," Obi-Wan commented as Luke started to come around, moaning softly and opening his eyes.
"What happened?" he asked, his voice a little slurred.
"Rest easy, son, you've had a busy day. You're fortunate you're still in one piece," Obi-Wan replied, helping Luke to sit up.
At his side, Anakin was studying his son, searching for traces of himself and Padmé on his face.
"Ben? Ben Kenobi! Boy, am I glad to see you!"
"The Jundland Wastes are not to be travelled lightly. Tell me young Luke, what brings you out this far?"
"Oh, this little droid," Luke answered, indicating Artoo. "I think he's searching for his former master."
Anakin turned to look sharply at Obi-Wan. How could Artoo possibly be searching for him? Didn't he know he was dead?
"I've never seen such devotion in a droid before...there seems to be no stopping him," Luke continued. "He claims to be the property of an Obi-Wan Kenobi. Is he a relative of yours? Do you know who he's talking about?"
Obi-Wan frowned and stroked his beard as he pondered the situation. Excluding Owen and Beru Lars, there were only two people who knew he lived on Tatooine: Yoda and Bail Organa. Which meant that Artoo had to have a very good reason to search for him.
"I think my uncle knew this Obi-Wan," Luke went on. "He said he was dead."
Obi-Wan arched an eyebrow in outrage as Anakin snickered, "Oh, he's not dead, not...not yet."
"You know him?"
"Yes, well of course, of course I know him. He's me! I haven't given around my real name since oh, you were just a newborn."
"Then the droid does belong to you," Luke replied.
"Don't seem to remember ever owning a droid. Very interesting...," Obi-Wan mused, still stroking his beard, biting his tongue not to reply to Anakin's comments.
"You don't seem to remember? Is something wrong with your memory, Master? Is your old age catching up with you?"
Obi-Wan ignored him and looked up at the overhanging cliffs. "I think we better get indoors. The Sandpeople are easily startled but they will soon be back and in greater numbers."
Obi-Wan and Luke stood up as Artoo let out a pathetic beep.
"Threepio!" the young man suddenly called, as the astromech droid waddled toward the opposite wall of the canyon. Luke ran behind him, while Obi-Wan and Anakin followed at a more sedate pace.
"That's going on?" Anakin asked.
"I don't know," Obi-Wan whispered. "The last time I saw the droids, it was when we handed them to Bail Organa. Something very serious must have happened if he sent them here to search for me."
"Do you think it may concern Leia?"
"I don't know. Now let's shut up before Luke hears me and starts reputing me crazy as the others."
"As you wish, my Master."
When Obi-Wan reached Luke and Artoo, the young man had already recovered the protocol droid, who was currently lacking an arm.
"Quick Luke...they're on the move," Obi-Wan urged as he scanned the area and Luke rushed to retrieved Threepio's missing arm.
A few minutes later the four of them boarded Luke's speeder and directed toward Obi-Wan's hovel.