The Child

Lydia pushed the supply crate into the Lars homestead as Beru came out, with Luke trailing behind her. "Beru! It's good to see you!"

She smiled as she saw Luke peer around his Aunt's skirt at her curiously. "Hello to you too, Luke."

Beru smiled warmly. "It's good to see you too, Lydia. Do you have time for some tea before you have to head back into town?"

Lydia nodded. "Yes, as a matter of a fact, I do. You were my last stop before I headed back home for the day. Lou is closing up the shop for me."

"Oh, good! It's been so long since I've had company! Come on in." Beru said as she scooped up the small boy in her arms and headed toward the kitchen.

Lydia left the supply crate in the inner courtyard for Owen to inspect later and followed the younger woman.

"Do you need some help?" Lydia asked as she entered the kitchen behind Beru, who was still holding Luke while pouring tea into two cups, plus a small cup of blue milk for Luke.

Beru nodded gratefully at her as she handed her the small child. Lydia smiled down at Luke as she balanced the boy on her hip. "My, you have grown, youngling."

Beru laughed. "I swear, all that child wants to do is eat!" She smiled at the small boy as she handed him his cup, then loaded a plate down with sweet biscuits. She motioned for Lydia to follow her as she headed toward the dining area.

"Oooobbee…" Luke petted Lydia on the shoulder. "Ooobbbee…"

She laughed at the youngster. "No, my name is Lydia." She tickled the boy on his back, causing the small boy to erupt into giggles.

Beru smiled as she took Luke from her arms and helped him into his chair at the table. He grabbed a biscuit and shoved the whole thing in his mouth.

"He says that all the time. Ooo-bee." Beru shook her head.

Lydia took a sip of the hot tea while she nibbled on a biscuit. "Lots of babbling then?"

"Nonstop. If he's not babbling, then he's running off on me. I swear, it's all I do now, run after this little boy." Beru smiled. Lydia could tell that while the other woman might be exhausted, she was happy. "So, how's business?"

"Busy, which is good, but tiring." Lydia sipped her tea.

"I heard a rumor going around…" Beru hesitated.

Lydia's eyebrows rose. "About?"

Beru handed Luke another biscuit. "Well, about you… and Ben."

"Oh." Lydia blushed.

"So, it's true, then? You've been seeing him?" Beru asked.

Lydia saw a flash of worry cross the younger woman's features. "Yes, it's true."

"Lydia," Beru shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "I should tell you…"

"Oooo bbbeee," Luke said loudly as he reached out one of his hands, toward Beru.

"Shush, Luke." Beru said as Owen walked in the dining area.

Lydia looked in confusion at Beru, who glanced away quickly. She could tell that whatever Beru had been wanting to tell her, she was uncomfortable talking about it in front of Owen. "Hello, Owen."

Owen waved as he stopped to ruffle the top of Luke's head, then headed off towards the garage.

"Lydia, I'm sorry. I probably shouldn't say anything but you need to be careful around Ben." She glanced towards the garage to make sure that Owen had gone inside. "He has a dangerous past."

Lydia's eyebrows rose quizzically. "What do you mean, Beru?"

Beru leaned closer. "He's on the run. From the Empire."

Lydia sighed heavily. "Beru. He's a good man."

"I know he is, Lydia. Just… be careful." Beru picked up her tea cup and took a sip. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Luke reaching for another biscuit. "Oh, no, little one. I think you've had enough." She said as she moved the plate out of the toddler's reach.

Lydia watched as the toddler frowned, then reached out his hand toward the plate. She almost giggled as she saw the deep look of concentration cross his face as he focused on the plate of biscuits. Her smile faltered as she watched in fascination as one biscuit rose in the air and drifted toward him.

"Beru?"

Beru's face blanched as she reached out to grab the biscuit, but Luke was faster. He crammed the biscuit in his mouth before his aunt could take it away.

"Lydia. Please, don't tell anyone what you just saw. Please." Beru's eyes filled with tears.

Lydia swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. She had read stories about Jedi in the books in her father's collection. She knew that Ben was a Jedi, although she had promised him she would never tell anyone else. Now, this small little boy just performed, what should have been impossible, before her very eyes. The haunted look on Ben's face flashed in her mind as she recalled his words about Lord Vader hunting the Jedi. This precious boy was in danger.

"Beru. I won't tell anyone what I saw." Lydia said. Although her instincts screamed at her that she should tell Ben.

A look of relief shook Beru's small frame. "Thank you, Lydia. This is why we've had so many of our orders delivered. The boy's power seemed to start over night. None of the baby proofing is working. He just waves his hand, and the gate opens. I haven't been sleeping very well because I'm so worried something bad will happen to him. What if he gets away from me at night? The Sand People…" her voice trailed off as a tear slid down her cheek.

"Oh, Beru." Lydia reached out and grabbed the younger woman's hand. "I wish I knew how to help." She didn't know what to tell the woman. She had no words of advice for her, having never had children herself and knew next to nothing about the Force. 'But, Ben does…' she thought. 'I have to tell Ben. He'll know what to do.'

Beru shook her head. "It's enough having someone else to talk to about it. Well, other than Owen, that is."

Luke reached for another biscuit. Beru grabbed the toddlers hands and said firmly, "no, Luke. You've had enough."

The boy pouted but set his hands down on the table in front of him. "Oh, no."

Lydia suppressed a giggle. "Beru, I should be going soon. I need to get back to the homestead before it gets late. Thank you for the tea." She tickled Luke under his chin, causing the boy to laugh. She rose to stand, as Beru did.

Beru walked with her towards the exit of the homestead, leaving Luke buckled in his chair. Luke watched as his aunt walked off. He looked back at the plate of biscuits. He cut his eyes back over to his aunt. He noticed she was paying attention to the other lady. He reached out his hand towards the plate. Another biscuit floated towards him in the air.

#

Obi Wan waited at Lydia's for her to come home from work. She wasn't home yet when he arrived, which wasn't unusual with her hours at the shop. Plus, he knew she was on delivery duty today, with Lou closing up. He set the kettle on to heat up to make tea while he meditated.

He felt her anxiety as she approached. He wondered what had happened to cause such alarm. He rose to pour her a cup of tea as she entered the homestead. "Lydia, darling, whatever is the matter?"

Lydia set her bag on the table as she accepted the tea. "How do you do that?" She asked in wonder, as she sipped the hot tea.

Obi Wan chuckled. "Jedi secret."

She laughed lightly, the warmhearted joke helping to put her at ease.

"Seriously. Lydia, what happened? I could feel your worry before you even stopped the speeder. Did you have trouble with it again?" He took the cup from her hands and set it on the table before pulling her in his arms. He rubbed her back in a soothing manner.

"Ben. I promised I wouldn't say anything, but," she mumbled into his chest.

He pulled away so that he could look down at her. "What is it, my darling?"

She rubbed her fingers along her temple as she pulled away from him. "I was out at the Lars place this afternoon."

Obi Wan felt a spike of alarm rise suddenly. "Are they alright?" He didn't sense anything out of the ordinary today while he was meditating.

"Yes, yes. They're fine." Lydia said as she sat at the table. She picked up the mug and took a sip of tea.

"Then, whatever is the matter?" Obi Wan sat down next to her, and watched her closely.

"Luke." Lydia tapped her fingers on the table in indecision. "Do you know that Luke's father was Anakin Skywalker?"

Obi Wan paled at the name of his former student and brother. "Yes, I did know that."

Lydia looked up at him in surprise. "I didn't know you were already aware of that. I know Owen and Beru weren't exactly keeping it a secret, but they also haven't been telling many people either."

Obi Wan closed his eyes as he sighed. He had wanted to wait just a bit longer before he revealed his association with the Lars family, but it seemed the Force had other ideas. "Lydia, I should tell you something. I know that I have not told you much about my past, but that has been in an effort to keep you safe."

Lydia nodded. "I know that, Ben. I have tried to respect that, as well."

"What happened at the Lars place, Lydia?" Obi Wan asked.

"The child, Luke. I saw him use the Force." She whispered, afraid that even here in the sanctuary of her home she might be overheard. "I promised I wouldn't say anything but, Ben, I know you could help them. Beru is scared that Luke will get away from the homestead. From how she talked, the baby proofing is not working. Honestly, if he was able to make a biscuit float to him, I can see how easy it would be for the child to open the gates and locks. That's why they haven't been coming into town often anymore."

Obi Wan set back in his chair. The boy would be about two years old by now, old enough for the Force to start manifesting in him. He would have to have a discussion with Owen regarding the child's training sooner than he expected.

Lydia finished her tea. "The boy kept saying 'Obee,' too. He's beginning to talk a lot."

"Obee?" Obi Wan asked as he ran his hand over his bearded chin.

"Yes. I wonder what he meant. He kept repeating it." Lydia smiled warmly at him.

Obi Wan knew what the boy had been saying.

Not 'Oo-bee,' but rather 'Obi.'