2 standard years after arrival

"And who can tell me the correct answer?" Obi-Wan scanned his small classroom as the students avoided eye contact. One plucky Bakuran human girl at the back ventured a guess.

"Sir, it's answer two."

"Almost, try again. Remember the method I taught you. Have another think."

A Kutzen put up his pale hand. "Is it number four Sir?"

"Correct! 5 points!"

The class continued on throughout the morning, with Obi-Wan teaching various methods of division to the students of Namusa village school. It provided a simple primary education to the sons and daughters of local farmers and shop owners, who would most likely go on to work in the same roles. At present, the school had seventeen students of various ages from five up until twelve. After twelve the students had to either attend the larger state school far away in the main continent of Prytis, or drop out of education and begin working. Almost all chose the latter due to financial restrictions.

There were two other teachers here, one taught science and agriculture, she was a Utai named Mrs. Kloisark who was married to the pharmacist in town. The other teacher was a human male called Mr. Darnak who taught history and geography. He was in charge of the school on paper. He would organise its finances, hire new staff, and correspond with the teaching board for the global curriculum in Salis D'aar.

For this lesson, it was the youngest of the seventeen children who were learning their mathematics. Obi-Wan found it incredible that in three years, Luke and Leia would be old enough to be in the youngest class group with other children their age. They were already two years old and time was moving faster than he'd thought it would. The children in his class were bright and friendly; he very much hoped that they'd fit in and not cause any incidences with their force abilities. There'd already been a few close calls when they were exposed to the other children in town.

When the lesson was over, the children were dismissed for their lunch and Obi-Wan gathered their papers for marking. Padmé had packed him the usual lunch of Bantha meat with salad, grains, and instant granules for making a delicious hot drink.

He started eating his lunch and looking through the children's papers, but his mind wandered to Padmé and the twins, as it usually did at this time of day. The empty classroom was achingly quiet compared to the ruckus he was so used to at home.

The twins were lively, emotional, loud, hilarious and utterly endearing in every way. He had never been exposed to babies and toddlers on a daily basis, and it had been utterly life-changing for both him and Padmé to have these two small people around. He'd tried in vain not to be their father, to detach and act as a sort of benevolent mentor of sorts, like a Jedi Master. But somehow along the way he had fallen into the role of a father, and it was one of the best things that had happened to him in his life.

The joy he felt with his children was like nothing he could have predicted or known possible. He loved them both with a fierce protectiveness, the depth of which was unfathomable. He would do anything for them. He knew now what it felt like to truly love with no restraint, and it was terrifying as well as liberating.

Though nightmares of Mustafar and his old life followed him, he was content with his life here. He felt a comfortable kind of peace with the routine they had established, their small house, the fireplace in winter, the fruit in summer, the vegetables in the garden, the wide-open meadows, the binary moons at night and his new family safe and sound. There had been no threat of stormtroopers in the area, no hint of Vader or Sidious's influence this far out. Everything was going well and to plan.

The only problem was… Padmé. He looked at his lunch, lovingly prepared by her every day that he had to work. It was the small things that showed that she cared about him, that made him feel looked after. He sipped on the milky drink produced by the instant granules, it had hints of fruit and honey. The taste was warm and comforting, reminding him of her own warmth and sweetness.

They had become the best of friends through their ordeal. Grieving, adjusting to a new life and raising children had been an incredibly difficult time period for both of them. But they had done it together. They had seen each other at their lowest, in the clutches of sorrow and immeasurable pain, but they had also enjoyed many joyful moments in their new life.

The children's first steps, their first words, their first time in the snow, the first vegetable harvest in the garden, the first day at his new job, where Padmé tried to cook a celebratory meal and it caught fire, the time they tasted the moonshine alcohol from the basement hiding place, the time they caught Luke streaking naked out of the house and down the road, when Leia found a toad and left it as a present in Padmé's bed. These were the memories he would keep forever and brought such a smile to his face that all the pain was almost worth it. It was the silver lining of the tragedy that he shared with her.

It had brought them closer than he ever thought he could be to anyone. Never in his life had he felt such an emotional connection to another person. Sometimes they felt like one entity, not two separate beings.

He had no doubt that Padmé saw him as her best friend. But he wanted more, and he knew he shouldn't. No matter how he tried to be wary of his feelings, he was drawn to her in every way. The old Obi-Wan would have never allowed such strong feelings to develop. But here he was, falling slowly in love with his best friend come fake wife come ex Padawan's ex-wife. It sounded like a HoloNet soap opera.

He hoped that with time his affection for her would go away, or at least lose its intensity, but it didn't help that recently the twins had moved from sharing a bed with Padmé to having their own as they grew bigger by the day. After sleeping on the sofa, Padmé had demanded that he sleep next to her to avoid getting a bad back.

It was a platonic arrangement, just two good friends sharing a bed, she had said to him. But even with her nonchalance, he could sense that part of her was nervous about it. He had tried to decline her offer but she wasn't having it, saying that if he hurt his back, they couldn't afford the hospital bills. He had retorted that he was a Jedi Master, and she had replied that he was still human and in his late thirties. And so, with great reluctance to begin his new torture, he had begun sleeping beside Padmé.

Within the last few weeks since they started, he had already woken up several times with her curled up beside him, her head on his chest and her arms around him, deeply asleep. No doubt her subconscious was still reaching out for that comforting male presence at night, a presence that had been gone for two years. It was driving him slowly insane to be so close to her, yet unable to say anything. He knew she was still healing from the pain that Anakin had caused her, and she probably never would be free of it. There was still a melancholy that shrouded her whenever there wasn't a distraction to be had. Though she was happier than she was two years ago, she still was far from being back to her regular self. She wasn't ready to love romantically again, that much he was sure.

He didn't want to put any pressure on her or make things awkward between them, so he had decided that no matter what, he would not act upon these feelings. He would look after his new family and be a father to the twins, but not a husband for Padmé. And he would buy or make a new bed as soon as he could.

ooooo

Padmé held Luke's hand as they walked down the long garden path to the road. Leia ran in front, collecting stones and pebbles as she went in the pocket of her dress. The sun was low, casting long shadows from the trees that lined the path. It was their third spring here. Since arriving they'd learnt a lot about growing fruit and vegetables and their once unruly garden was now full of produce growing fast in the warm spring weather. As was their routine, every evening, come rain or shine, they would walk down to where the path met the road and where they kept the speeder parked. They were waiting for Obi-Wan to return from work. He was usually always on time to the dot.

The twins spent most of their time outside now that they could walk and run with confidence. Padmé, freed from the crying and feeding of young infants, now had to be constantly vigilant that they didn't stray too far during the day, for the forests and fields went on for miles. Though there were no predators, there were still ditches, poisonous plants, bogs and other dangers. Leia collected a few more stones, showed them to her for approval, then pocketed them.

"Where daddy?"

"Any minute now Leia."

"I wan... show him house!" Luke jumped with excitement, tugging on her arm, referring to the pile of rocks and sticks the twins had made to house the many insects in their garden.

Padmé smiled. "I'm sure he'll be very impressed."

The distant sound of a speeder had the two children jumping up and down and stamping their feet. Padmé had to hold the two of them back for fear of being run over when Obi-Wan arrived. With a beaming grin he leaped off the speeder and bent down, his arms open wide as Luke and Leia ran to him and demanded to be picked up. Speaking faster than their brains could formulate sentences, the twins babbled about their day and everything they needed to show him. Obi-Wan easily picked them both up and started walking back towards the house as he listened intently to their tales.

Padmé followed behind, watching the scene with a great fondness. The sky was pinkish-orange, casting the three of them ahead of her in a beautiful warm light. Smoke rose from their chimney up ahead, and the trees had grown in vibrant new leaves that shimmered. There was a lot to be thankful for.

Padmé was so happy that the twins saw Obi-Wan as their father, he really was wonderful as a parent and deserving of the title. But of course, the heaviness she carried in her heart hadn't left her. It was so bittersweet hearing the children call him daddy and her mommy. It felt right, her and Obi-Wan here together. They were a great team and she loved him dearly as her best friend. But it was still heart breaking all the same that the twins would never know their true father.

Not a day went by that she did not miss and long for Anakin, but then she remembered Vader, and bitterness filled her heart. The HoloNews in town played propaganda filled programmes about Darth Vader bringing order and peace, but she knew what was really happening out there. She'd heard the rumours of planets being taken over, corruption, terror, slavery, evil…

"Mommy, can we...we Namana fruit?" Luke asked, bringing her attention back to the present. Luke was peering over Obi-Wan's shoulder, a hopeful expression on his face that looked so much like the little boy she had met on Tatooine.

"Of course."

"Can I have some too?" asked Obi-Wan as they reached the house.

Padmé handed the twins some fruit before turning to her friend. "I think you've earned some," she smiled, happy to see him home.

"How was your day?" he asked as he sat down at their small kitchen table.

"The usual," she sighed and put the kettle on to boil. She turned back to face him, leaning against the countertop. "I'm feeling increasingly useless staying home every day. It's like I'm doing nothing whilst you're out there earning money to keep us all clothed and fed. I feel like I'm not helping you enough Obi-Wan."

"Not helping enough?" he raised his eyebrows. "Quite the contrary. You keep everything shipshape, raise two toddlers, keep them fed, and maintain the garden, which we use for food. You are helping this family far more than me."

"But I haven't brought home a single penny since we arrived."

"I know you were used to a shining career as a Queen and a senator. It must be hard for you to be at home all day Padmé, but the twins need you here."

"I just hate how…old-fashioned it feels," Padmé said whilst grabbing some bowls for the Namana fruit. She quickly washed them and popped them on the table.

Obi-Wan smiled at her. "I bet you didn't imagine yourself becoming a housewife."

"I certainly did not."

"Well, it won't be forever. See it as an opportunity to spend as much time with Luke and Leia as possible whilst they're still small."

Padmé hummed in agreement as the kettle finished boiling. She set down two cups at the table, added tea infusers and poured over the hot water. "You're right. One day they'll be grown and I'll miss this time I had at home, even if it is mundane."

"It doesn't go unappreciated," Obi-Wan said as he took his cup and a piece of the fruit.

"I know."

"Daddy see our house!" an excited little voice called from the children's bedroom, followed by the patter of two pairs of feet as they ran back into the kitchen.

ooooo

Padmé's eyes were drooping as she lay in bed, snugly tucked under the blankets. Obi-Wan was beside her in bed, reading with the small lamp on. She always enjoyed this moment in the day, when there was nothing to do, the twins were asleep, and she had time to enjoy being blissfully sleepy and comforted by Obi-Wan's presence. He didn't have to do anything, just him being beside her made her feel safe and warm.

She noticed that he was reading a hefty book about the history of planetary trade routes and their economic value. She smirked. Once a Jedi always a Jedi. There was no 'light' reading before bed for him.

"Why are you reading about trade route economics at this time of night?" she teased, unable to keep a smile off her face.

"Knowledge for knowledge's sake."

"Have you thought about a romantic comedy or action thriller novel?"

"Do I look like the type of man who reads romantic comedy novels?" he raised an eyebrow and she laughed.

"Everybody has a guilty pleasure," she grinned.

"And what's yours?" he asked, putting the book on the bedside table and switching off the light. Obi-Wan shuffled down and made himself comfortable.

Suddenly it was dark and his face was close to hers, though her eyes hadn't adjusted to the dark, she could feel it. She couldn't tell him the truth, that her guilty pleasure was his presence alone, that she relied on it like a warm comforting blanket around her. The playful mood from before felt more intimate now, and it both excited and scared her. "Porridge with honey and strawberries in summer. I could eat it forever."

"Not long until summer now. We'll make all the porridge you can eat." He moved in his sleep so that his face was away from her. "Goodnight Padmé."

"Goodnight Obi-Wan."

She lay awake for some time, staring at his back, processing her thoughts. Her need to be near Obi-Wan was growing stronger every day. She relied on him so much that it terrified her. The old Padmé was so strong, so capable, that she didn't need anyone to keep her standing tall. But things had changed. She wasn't a queen or a senator anymore. She was a mother and a widower who had gone through hell and back. Recently, Padmé found herself longing for Obi-Wan's presence in a way she didn't fully understand.

She'd missed Anakin when he was away fighting in the Clone Wars, but this felt so different. It was more intense. When Obi-Wan was away, even for work, she missed him terribly. She felt at her brightest, happiest and most alive when he was with her. She loved who she was when she was with him. She felt the flickering of her old self coming back to life and it gave her hope.

Branches from one of their fruit trees tapped against the window in the breeze and Padmé was brought out of her thoughts. The moons were crescents, so there wasn't as much light to see from, but she could make out the shape of his broad shoulders and could hear his soft breathing. She knew what it felt like to be close to him, to have her head on his chest. To her embarrassment, she had woken up several times cuddling him recently. She'd had to carefully remove herself from him before he woke up to realise, though part of her knew that with his senses, he had been aware of it on every occasion. Mercifully he hadn't spoken about it.

Padmé tried to convince herself that she missed Luke and Leia cuddled up next to her. Her body hadn't gotten used to the fact they had moved beds. But deep down she knew that wasn't the whole truth. When he'd tried to sleep on the sofa, his back was only part of the reason she had asked him to sleep beside her. Secretly, she wanted him close. Her heart was reaching out for him. Padmé knew she had a deep platonic love for her best friend, so that's what it must be. Surely, she couldn't have romantic feelings for Obi-Wan, when the pain of Anakin's death and betrayal was still so heavy in her heart?

She reasoned that wanting to be close to him must be because of their friendship. You can love someone in a way that's not romantic, after all, she told herself. There was a comfort in his presence and it was only natural. He was the one constant in her life. She'd known him since she was fourteen and now, he was the last tie to her old life.

But there was something else too, she knew it. She rolled onto her back and stared up at the ceiling, her hair fanning out on the pillow behind her. The more she had gotten to know Obi-Wan, the more she'd come to realise just how wonderful he really was. Not just as her best friend, but as a father, a confidant, a partner. He was the embodiment of the light side of the Force. It emanated from him.

Padmé knew what Obi-Wan had lost in his life. Almost everyone he had ever loved and cared about was dead and she knew that he still blamed himself for Anakin's fall and Order 66. The scope of his pain was immense. It was enough to crush anybody's spirit. And yet…he remained firmly in the light, even when he had so much reason to be angry, to hate, to let the pain fuel him to new heights of power.

His steadfast opposition to the Dark Side, his gentleness, his patience, his humility, his stability… all of these traits were so lacking in Anakin. When Padmé reflected on it, she could acknowledge that his love had been immense, but it'd been possessive, jealous, fearful and wildly turbulent. It was too powerful, and like a supernova, it had torn them both apart. His 'love' for her had driven him to do terrible things… she squeezed her eyes shut, trying not to imagine Darth Vader. Instead, she pictured Obi-Wan, Luke and Leia outside in the summertime, playing in the fields. She smiled in her sleep as she drifted off.