The Heart of Destiny
Author: Laura Kenobi
Disclaimer: Unfortunately for me, I don't own Star Wars. I do, however, own any original characters, planets, etcetera that I created for this story.
Archive: Please contact me first!
Comments/Reviews: You can email me through my profile, and you can always leave a review!
Author's Notes: ((italics)) represents thoughts and / italics / represents communication through the Force.
This story was first published in its original version beginning on June 21, 2001. In July 2005, I decided that since four years had passed and my skills as a writer had undoubtedly improved since this story was first written and posted, it might be refreshing to return to this story and give it a fresh look and an update. For the most part the overall story remains the same - my goal has been to improve on and expand on the original, so I hope the result will prove enjoyable to all of you who are wonderful enough to read and review. The version of this story below is the updated version. Call it the "Special Edition" version of this story.
Summary: Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn start out on a mission, and a lifetime of memories follow.
Chapter Twelve
--------------------
--- Six Months Later ---
Obi-Wan Kenobi did not often have visions of the future, but this day was different.
The day started off quite normally. It had been six months since his battle with the female Sith on Naboo, and his wife was just two months away from giving birth to their child.
((If all goes as planned.)) He was extremely nervous.
The battle with the female Sith was long over, but Obi-Wan knew they must always be prepared. Chancellor Palpatine had just recently declared himself Emperor, and the galaxy was changing rapidly.
Despite everything, Obi-Wan had never started a more normal day. He woke and showered quickly, then left a note for Gwen and hurried to the sparing chamber to meet his Padawan. As Anakin's training had advanced Obi-Wan had been astounded, as he always was, at his Padawan's ability to learn the most difficult of things in mere minutes. Today they were sparring – testing Anakin's newly learned skills.
Obi-Wan blocked a blow that would have taken off his head. Anakin was momentarily distracted, and Obi-Wan used the Force to push him over. Anakin leapt to his feet and straightened his shoulders. As he charged back into the fight, Obi-Wan blinked.
Suddenly Anakin changed. Leaping into the fight was a... what? Obi-Wan couldn't tell if it was machine or man. It towered over him, black and terrifying. Obi-Wan felt a chill run up his spine. He felt frozen in place, completely unable to move. A jolt of pain in his neck broke the vision apart. He yelped in alarm more than pain, and fell over with Anakin on top of him.
Anakin was on his feet again in a second. "Master? I'm sorry. I thought you would move to block..."
"It's okay, Padawan. I was... distracted."
"Is Master Kenobi okay?" Anakin was suddenly worried, and Obi-Wan reached out to her before answering. "She's fine."
"It's a good thing my lightsaber was on training mode - I would have beheaded you!" Anakin grinned as he helped Obi-Wan up.
Obi-Wan inclined his head. "You learn well, Padawan. Most Jedi have to go through weeks of training to learn what you learned today. You fought well."
"Thank you, Master."
"Why don't you take the rest of the day off? I'm sure you could use some fun. We've had enough lessons for the day. I need to get this burn treated."
In truth, Obi-Wan needed time to think. The Force felt restless, as it often did lately, as if it knew something that it could not share. A secret.
"I really didn't mean to..."
"Don't dwell on it, Anakin. It was my fault; I dropped my guard. I'll see you tonight."
"Yes, Master."
Obi-Wan shook his head as Anakin walked away. Anakin's midi-chlorian count was the highest of any known life form. His talents were amazing. But that vision... what had that been about? He would have to meditate on it later. First he wanted to check on Gwen and get his burn treated...
--------------------
As he walked into his quarters, Obi-Wan Kenobi reached out to find his wife. She was in the kitchen area. He walked into the room behind her, and moved around to stand beside her.
"Hey, love."
She jumped. "Obi-Wan! Force, you scared me to death!" She caught sight of the burn on his neck. "What happened?"
"Our sparring session went a little wild. Anakin beheaded me."
"Here, I'll clean it for you. So Anakin got a little too aggressive?"
"Yes and no. I was distracted, and he lunged at me, first beheading me and then knocking me to the floor. I worry sometimes..." He stopped.
"What do you worry about?" There was a curious edge to her voice.
"Anakin. He didn't today, but he gets angry much easier than he used to. Sometimes he isn't home at curfew, and no matter how much I punish him, he won't tell me where he's been. I feel like I'm losing any control I ever had over him." Obi-Wan winced slightly as Gwen pressed a wet cloth to his neck.
"You're worried he may turn." It was not a question. She quickly finished bandaging his burn, and then led him into the living area.
"Yes." His voice was soft and thick with worry.
Gwen smiled sympathetically at him, and placed his hand on her bulging abdomen.
"It'll be fine, Obi-Wan. Soon we'll have a little one, and Anakin is probably just going through a mood swing stage. You remember being that age..."
"I hope it's just that. And I can't wait to be a father." He added, his eyes twinkled. A father. It was still a strange thought. That time was not so far away. He wondered what Qui-Gon would say.
"I can't wait to be a mother," Gwen breathed, "I still have a hard time sometimes remembering this is really going to happen."
"I do too. I'm sure sometime soon it will just hit me. 'Hey, you're going to be a father.'" He laughed.
"Yeah, I can just see you falling over from the shock during a Council meeting or something," Gwen smirkedm "Master Yoda would have to beat you with his cane."
The pair dissolved into laugher. Obi-Wan laughed until tears ran down his face. Gwen always had a way of lightening his mood. He couldn't imagine life without her.
--------------------
"Ahhhhhh..." Gwen groaned in pain. She had heard childbirth was painful, but this was ridiculous.
"You're doing great, darling. I love you so much."
She couldn't help but smile through the pain. Obi-Wan had been beside her since this whole ordeal had started. He kept whispering encouraging words in her ear, and – to tell the truth - it actually helped.
"Thank you," she murmured as the contraction passed.
"It shouldn't bee too much longer, Master A'mour. You and the baby are both doing wonderfully." The medi-droid turned to the wall momentarily, and Gwen rolled her eyes.
((I bet that stupid droid has never been in any pain.)) She glanced up at Obi-Wan, and could tell he had heard her thought. He smiled. / I bet not. /
/ Am I really doing okay, or is everyone just saying that to make me feel better? / She felt like the whole thing was rather out of her control.
/ Well, I've never given birth to a child, / he winked at her/// but as far as I can tell you are doing wonderfully. /
/ Blast it, Obi-Wan, I can't even see the head yet! /
/ It will come soon, love. All of this will be over before you know it. /
/ I hope... /
"Whoa! Here it comes!" Gwen cried out as another – and much stronger - contraction ripped through her body.
"Oh, Gwen... look." Obi-Wan was breathless. Gwen glanced down, and there was her baby's head. She wanted to cry in relief. Soon this would be over...
As the contraction died away, she looked up at her husband. Obi-Wan looked just as nervous – if not more so – than she felt. He leaned over and kissed her on her forehead.
"Soon, darling," he whispered, "Soon we'll be parents" A nervous smile crossed his face.
"Don't count on it. I think I'm getting to the most painful part..."
Without warning, a light seemed to explode in her head. She heard someone screaming, and realized with a start that she was screaming. She could hear Obi-Wan's encouraging voice and the stupid droid telling her to push... ((It's not like I have much of a choice!)) Pain ripped through her in waves...
And suddenly it was all over. A baby's cry split into her mind, and her eyes flew open.
The medi-droid lifted a small baby up onto her stomach. "You have a baby girl, Master A'mour. Congratulations." The droid quickly cleaned up their new daughter, then exited, saying that it would be back in a couple of minutes, but it would give the parents some time alone with their new child.
((A baby girl...)) Gwen beamed. Her daughter. Obi-Wan leaned over and kissed her warmly.
"Mara," he breathed out the word as if it were sacred, "Mara Jade Kenobi. Perfect."
They had decided on her name earlier. Ben if the baby was a boy, and Mara if the baby was a girl. Gwen began to laugh softly as her newborn daughter let out a tiny cry. She was very small, and had a head full of fiery red hair. Gwen cradled her in her arms, delighted. She was a mother! It didn't feel real.
Obi-Wan reached out and stroked his daughter's cheek gently with his thumb. Tears of joy shone in his eyes.
"Force, Gwen. I've never been so happy. I..." he wasn't sure what to say. He didn't know how to say what he felt.
"This is the most wonderful thing I could ever wish for."
Both adults began to laugh quietly with relief and elation. From where they sat, the evil of the galaxy mattered little. They had a child – a daughter – and that was the greatest gift the galaxy could offer them.
--------------------
End Chapter 12.
Well, that was an eventful chapter, wasn't it? And I even managed to bring my favorite expanded universe character into the story! There is more to come... - Laura