AN: My apologies for falling off the face of the planet. I am still around, I am still writing (albeit slowly) and I am still intending up up dating all my WIP eventually. Life has just been tough lately... sorry.

All Previous Disclaimers apply.


Grief

Obi-Wan's shoulder's dropped under the farmer's anger and he closed his eyes. To anyone else he would seem to be wilting, retreating, but Beru thought she could see something else in the Jedi. She had seen it before.

A yawning sadness, a profound grief that knocked the breath from him, that only seemed to abate when he looked at Luke.

Luke was Obi-Wan's hope.

His salvation.

And Owen was denying him.

Owen was keeping Luke away from him.

She placed a hand on her husband's shoulder.

"Obi-Wan... please... how do we protect Luke? These dreams he's having, are they dangerous?"

Change

Obi-Wan opened his eyes, his shoulders straightened as he considered Beru's question, all the while aware of the apprehension that the couple felt now they knew the truth about Luke's father.

The boy's dreams had started with his tenth birthday, at about the same age that Qui-Gon had found his father. It seemed that Luke had inherited Anakin's gift - or curse - of precognition.

Despite his previous assertions, Obi-Wan knew that if he did not help, if he did not intervene these ripples through the Force may just lead a curious Vader right to them.

And everything would change.

Loss

He knew they were at a crossroads; a point in time when a destiny's path was chosen.

He could simply take Luke, remove him from his guardians – for how could they stop him? - take him to Yoda so that he could be trained, prepared to face his father.

Or, he could remain here.

Shield the boy, mute his connection to the Force, and dull his senses so that his powers remained quiet and hidden.

He looked to the watching couple and in their eyes he saw his decision.

He only hoped they were prepared for the losses to come.