Two Weeks Later…

Obi-Wan glanced from his datapad to the caf table, where two sixteen-ounce water bottles had been placed. Frowning, his gaze flicked to Satine.

"What are those for?" he murmured, shifting while she sat and curled into his side, face tucked into his shoulder.

"Ultrasound tomorrow morning," Satine mumbled dejectedly. "Making sure I don't have an infection...that there aren't any remains left."

"Oh…" He grimaced, dropping the datapad beside him and wrapping an arm around her. Pressing a kiss to her hair, he murmured: "Do you want me there?"

Satine crawled into his lap, thank goodness not wincing as she did so. Nuzzling into his neck, she shrugged. "Mandalorians don't really follow their wives around the gynecologist."

"I'm not Mandalorian - and you're not my wife." Obi-Wan tried to smile at the huff, kissing between her eyebrows.

"Is the Order really that important to you?" Satine murmured while he packed.

Obi-Wan hadn't realized they were standing close together until he grasped her wrist, breathing heavily, feeling tears fall down his cheeks, watching her glance down and not attempt to move.

He loosened his grip, trying to ignore how much his hands were shaking. "The Order...I chose them over you - over our family - too many times. I'm not doing it again, not - "

"You always make promises you can't keep." Satine sniffed while rubbing at her nose. "You're a walking contradiction, Ben - saying one thing, doing - "

"Not now." Obi-Wan tested his luck, grasping her forearms gently, ducking to meet her gaze. "I will not walk away from you again, not willingly. That's one promise I can make to you."

"You knew - how?"

"A...a vision. When...when the conception happened...a little girl - blue eyes, blonde hair. Wearing Kryze colors. Sassing up a storm."

She let out a rough laugh, rubbing at her eyes. "That day on Mandalore...you described a little girl like that...you were talking about our daughter?"

Obi-Wan nodded. "The only thing that kept me sane during the Hardeen stint was the fact that you were safe and alive…I never knew she was...dying...I'm nearly glad I didn't know. It would have hurt too much."

"I...Obi…"

"I knew you'd be angry...I just...it was like my heart had been ripped out when I found out."

"Our daughter... what's she like?"

"Beautiful," he confirmed, squeezing her arms gently. "I love you. Don't ever forget that."

Satine just stood there, staring at the floor before glancing upwards, letting out a shaky breath. With a sigh he squeezed her hand, and went back to finish packing. The silence filled the room, sick and heavy.

Quietly, he moved a few piles of belongings out of the duffel bag -

and glanced over when she stood by his side and extracted an item. It took a moment for him to focus on what it was - the little Bantha plush he had bought on in the hospital gift shop all those days ago. He had forgotten to take it out when they came home.

She studied it for a long time, then sat with it in her lap. Her fingers traced the eyes, the horns, the careful stitching.

"So that's where it went," Obi-Wan whispered while he abandoned his task and sat beside her.

"I still love it - and you."

He covered her wrist. "What do you want me to do?"

"I - I want you to decide." Satine swallowed hard, sounding like she was about to cry again. She held the bantha plush close for a moment. "I - I don't want to be second to the Order - but - but if that's the only way we can stay together then - then I can learn to live - "

"We tried that once," he said wryly. "Didn't quite work out."

"Does that mean you'll stay? For good?"

"I want to be here - marry you...raise a family."

Satine tried to smile. They hadn't even attempted sex, not even close. At the moment they were both too afraid.

Obi-Wan sighed, tracing shapes on her wrist. "I - I idealized your pregnancy in my mind, my dear. I...it was strange but...We're in the middle of a galactic war Tina and it...it was a coping mechanism, being able to imagine this life without - I will separate myself as much as I can - be based here - as - as a watchman, a dignitary - me leaving completely would upset the balance of the war, turn it to the Separatist favor."

"I know...keep a foot in the door - my father used to say that."

"He would have been so proud of you."

Satine stared at the bantha again, then snorted. "God, our relationship is fucked up."

"At least we're not Anakin and Padmé."

"Ah yes - nineteen and twenty-four upon marrying. In-laws, life-threatening disease, Anakin always seeking the Chancellor's advice, a padawan you technically forced on him - fabulous marriage. They're horrible at communicating...it's ruining them."

"No…but we're talking now, aren't we?"

Satine leaned into him, sighing heavily. "Anakin learned it from somewhere...you did too."

"Blaming Qui-Gon again?"

"Pointing out his legacy - looking at you to improve." She kissed his shoulder. "I love you?"

Obi-Wan wrapped an arm around her and pulled her into his lap.

Grandmaster Yoda and the Jedi High Council

Palace of the Jedi

Federal District, Temple Zone

Core World: Coruscant

Level: 5127

Grandmaster Yoda and all those on the esteemed Jedi High Council

It is with a heavy heart I write this letter. What you are receiving is not the first draft, nor the most eloquent combination of words. Strange, you must think, considering it was this very council who dubbed me 'the Negotiator.'

Should this letter now be in your hands, you must have concluded through context - whether written or visual - what this is. I have decided, after much deliberation and thought, to resign not only from my position on the Jedi High Council, but the Jedi Order as a whole.

Rest assured, this decision is not rash. I have deliberated on numerous occasions over the years whether to make this choice, as I'm sure you know well enough. This war is only one of the many factors that has propelled me to make this decision.

I apologize for such an inconvenience, truly I do. But I cannot reconcile our actions as a society with my own personal morals any longer.

I will allow myself two weeks to have my affairs in order before departing from Coruscant. I am quite sure you have guessed where I have chosen to reside now that my tenure from the Order is over.

I do suggest that Anakin Skywalker (though perhaps this is my biased opinion) be allowed to command the Third Systems Army in my stead. Naturally, this means I believe he is ready to have my seat on the Council. He may be young, but he is willing and eager to please.

I am willing, as is Duchess Kryze, to allow myself to be a advocate for the Jedi Order throughout the Mandalorian system and to attempt to keep relations between our two societies relatively stable as they are now. The Republic, more so the Chancellor, has no place in negotiating our respective relations.

May the Force be with you masters

-Obi-Wan Kenobi of Stew-Jon

Author's note: AND we end this story on the new year! Whoo!

Do not worry - I will do a sequel. It's in the works. But for now, enjoy this and it's companion stories while you wait ;)

ii Digestive Reader ii