Season of Change

Eight years later…

Obi Wan sighed heavily as he lowered the stone onto Maul's cairn. He sent the boy, Ezra, and his droid back into town on his dewback before his duel with Maul.

Events are beginning to spiral faster, he thought as he balanced the last stone on top of the cairn. Events that would bring the Empire closer to Tatooine. Closer to Luke. Closer to Lydia… Closer to Mara Jade...

He frowned as he thought of the decision that weighed heavily on his mind lately. The thought of sending them into hiding. Maul showing up unexpectedly solidified that need. Lydia will not like it, he mused as he began the long walk back to the small hut he shared with his small family. She's likely to refuse, stubborn as she is. He slid his hands into the bell-like sleeves of his robe.

She must do this, for Mara's sake.

The girl was exceptionally strong in the Force. He began training her as soon as her abilities began manifesting, working with her the way he had wanted to work with Luke but had been denied. He taught her how to shield her force abilities, how to hide them away from others so that they would remain secret until she would need to use them. At seven years old, the girl was already beginning to work with the training sabers he had carved out of wood for her. When she was of age, Obi Wan expected she would make a great Jedi.

With a heavy heart, Obi Wan pulled out the communicator unit Bail Organa sent with him so long ago. As he neared the small hut, he gazed up at the stars in the night sky above him. Bail would help him, he was sure of it. His mind made up, he activated the comlink and waited.

#

Mara Jade swung the training saber as she listened to her parents argue, something they rarely did. She dropped the saber into the sand as she edged closer to the hut to listen.

"Why must we go? Ben, I don't understand. The Empire is far from here. They have little influence on Tatooine." Lydia said heatedly. It sounded as if her mother had been crying.

Mara could hear her father sigh sadly. "But, they will, Lydia. It's only a matter of time. When that happens, neither of you will be safe."

Mara's eyes widened. Leave Tatooine?

"Where will we go? What about Luke?" Lydia asked.

Mara was confused. Why would Mom ask about Luke?

"Lydia, you will have to go on without me. I must stay here to watch over Luke. Mara will have to go with you, so you can keep her safe."

What?! Mara's eyes filled with tears. She rose from her crouched position under the window. She kicked at the sand with her feet. Turning quickly, she didn't see her father standing behind her until she ran into him. "Da, I…"

Obi Wan looked down into his daughter's tear filled emerald green eyes, with love shining in his own. The girl was proving to be headstrong, just like her mother. "Mara, have you been listening in on our private conversation?"

"I'm sorry, da." Mara said as tears streamed down her face and she flung her arms around her father.

Lydia stood in the doorway, fighting back tears. She had known this day might come, but had hoped it never would.

Obi Wan patted her on the back. "Mara, dear. Everything will be fine. You'll see."

Lydia's eyes closed as sorrow washed over her. "Mara Jade, I need you to begin packing. We'll be going on an adventure soon."

Mara nodded as she pulled away from her father's embrace. "Are you sure, da?"

Obi Wan tucked a long auburn strand behind her ear. "I'm afraid so, my little darling. I've contacted an old friend. He'll help hide you away to keep you safe. Until we can be together again."

Mara wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand as she entered the small hut and began packing her clothes in a pack her Da had set on her cot.

Lydia stepped outside and let the door close behind her with a quiet swish. "Ben... Obi Wan. We don't have to do this…"

Obi Wan started at the sound of his name, a name he hasn't used since that fateful day when he went into hiding. Into exile. He thought of the vision he had had after his battle with Maul. The vision of him dying at the hands of Vader. Visions were hard to interpret, and oftentimes were misread or did not come to pass, but Obi Wan felt strongly that this one was right.

Luke was nearly old enough to decide for himself whether or not he wanted to learn the ways of the Force and become a Jedi. Soon, Owen wouldn't be able to stop the change from coming and Obi Wan would need to be there to help Luke pick up the pieces.

If what he saw in his visions were truly coming, he wanted Lydia and Mara Jade far from here. Far away from the Lars homestead and Tatooine.

"I'm afraid we do, my darling Lydia. You won't be safe here. I'm not sure I will be able to stay here much longer, with the Empire growing stronger… with Vader growing stronger. Soon, I might be called back into the fray. I need to know that you and Mara will be safe. Bail has promised to help us with that." Obi Wan pulled her close to him, wrapping his arms around her. He whispered into her ear. "You know, you told me once you loved me enough to let me go. Remember?"

Lydia nodded mutely against his chest.

Obi Wan smiled down into her blonde hair that was beginning to gray slightly. "I love you enough to let you go too." He tucked a finger under her chin, raising her face to his as he lowered his lips to hers, kissing her gently. He rested his forehead against hers, their lips still slightly touching. "We will see each other again. I know we will."

#

Obi Wan accepted the credits for the speeder from Lou gratefully. "Lydia will contact you when she's settled safely."

Lou nodded gravely. "I gave you extra, Ben. You know, she wouldn't take the full amount for the homestead and the shop when she sold them to me. She never would accept the credits so, I've tacked it on with the amount for the speeder. It should help get her and Mara get set up with a new place. I never asked any questions, Ben. But, I've always known that she was helping you hide something. I've kept my mouth shut all these years because I know you love her. I'm not going to pretend I'm not angry that she's having to go away because of you…"

Obi Wan was surprised to hear the anger in Lou's usually calm and steady voice. "Lou, I understand. She's your sister. But I'm doing this to help keep her safe. Please, trust me on this."

Lou looked into Obi Wan's gray-blue eyes and could see the worry that lined his eyes. He nodded slowly. "Alright, Ben." He pushed past Obi Wan to hug his sister and niece one last time.

Lydia put on a brave face for her younger brother as he pulled her to him for a hug. "I'll be fine. I was taking care of myself for years before this old fool came along." She motioned towards Obi Wan, who chuckled.

Lou ruffled Mara's dark auburn hair, which was shining like copper in the Tatooine suns. "Take care of your mom, kiddo. I'll see you soon."

"I will, Uncle Lou. Promise." Mara's emerald green eyes twinkled at him.

Obi Wan coughed lightly to get their attention. "It's time to go."

As they waited at the transport, Obi Wan pulled Mara aside. He knelt down so that he could look her in the eyes. "Mara, don't be afraid. We will see each other again. I promise."

Mara glanced up at her mother, who was brushing away a tear that slid down her cheeks. She turned her green eyes back to her father, who was kneeling before her. "It's okay, da. I know we will. Qui Gon told me he would help watch over Mama. He told me to tell you to not worry, that he would help take care of us. I'll practice every day. I promise."

Hearing the name of his master uttered from his seven year old daughter's lips was startling, but it gave Obi Wan a reason to smile. "That he will. Qui Gon is very good at keeping his word. Train, but remember, keep it secret." He raised his eyebrows at her until she nodded. He kissed her on the forehead. "I love you, little Mara Jade."

Mara held the tears at bay while throwing her arms around her father's neck. "I love you too, da!"

Obi Wan stood to see tears streaming down Lydia's face. "Oh, my darling." He pulled her to him tightly. "Don't cry. We'll be together as soon as all this is over."

Lydia stared intently at him, trying to memorize the lines of his face… the way his hair brushed against his forehead, once a rich shade of auburn, now almost fully gray. She knew, with the direction his path was taking him, that the likelihood of them seeing each again was slim, if not impossible. She ran her fingertips lightly against his cheeks as she nodded, then kissed him gently. "May the force be with you, Obi Wan." She whispered against his lips. "I will keep her safe, I promise you. I will love you, always."

Obi Wan watched as his heart soared away up into the expanse of blue sky over Tatooine. He lowered his face as he inhaled sharply. He gave one last look at the suns overhead before silently turning towards the dewback that awaited to carry him back over the sands towards the now empty hut.

#

The Death Star

Obi Wan faced his apprentice yet again. Vader was toying with him, baiting him into striking out in anger. He could feel Luke and his twin sister, Leia, approaching the ship that waited for them in the hangar bay. It was almost time.

Inhaling a deep calming breath, his eyes widened as Qui Gon stepped behind Vader, smiling down at him.

Obi Wan… It's time. You can let go now.

"You can't win, Vader. If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine." Obi Wan said as he raised his blue blade in front of him.

His eyes closed as Vader's blood red blade cut through the air towards him.

He let go. In that one moment, he could feel the universe swell around him.

He vaguely heard Luke screaming his name.

Run, Luke! Run!

Across the galaxy, he sensed Lydia and Mara Jade, his beautiful Lydia and little Mara Jade, stopping to look at one another. Mara's eyes suddenly filled with tears as she rushed into her mother's arms.

It's alright, Obi Wan projected a sense of calm to them.

The simmering outline of Obi Wan smiled down at her as she held her sobbing daughter. Tears ran silently down her face as he brushed his lips gently on her forehead and wrapped his arms around them both.

No one is ever truly gone. I will be with you always.

***A/N***

I have one more chapter written for this story, an epilogue, that I will post next week.

As always, thank you for reading! It means so much to me that you took time to read my little story about one of my favorite characters, whom I hope I have done justice!

May the force be with you all.

Cheers, Nia