1 Not What It Seems—Epilogue

Obi-Wan Kenobi stood ramrod straight at the bottom of the ramp in his usual Jedi pose, his brow furrowed in a frown of the utmost concentration. A million thoughts and memories were flooding his mind, and it was taking all his mastery of the Force to keep himself calm and block his raging emotions from his companion. He chanced a sideways glance under his hood at his young padawan, trying to sense if Anakin had any idea of how unsettled his master was.

The boy--- well, he was no longer a boy anymore for he stood at least half a foot taller than Obi-Wan himself--- was also hooded, but made no move to look at Obi-Wan. Instead, he looked straight ahead at the city that awaited them in its entire opulent splendor. Never had he seen such a sight in all of his eighteen years.

"Master, Shreeana is beautiful!" the young Jedi exclaimed softly.

"Yes, Anakin, it is," Obi-Wan replied flatly, willing the nerves in his stomach to flee. The thought of seeing her again after all of this time was quite unnerving to his usually calm demeanor. It wouldn't take much for Anakin to sense it and use it to his advantage. The boy was always trying to find out about his master's past and use it against him when it benefited the padawan.

The young man turned to face his master. "Why didn't you tell me about how wonderful it is? You have been here before, right? Master Yoda said as much at our briefing."

"It was a long time ago. I'm afraid I don't remember much about it." Obi- Wan quickly shifted his gaze away from Anakin. Skywalker's left eyebrow rose in suspicion. There was more to this, he was certain.

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The time for action had come after several days of intense planning by the rebel forces striving to take over the government and ensure freedom for all citizens. Arella was going to be the main player in this political game. She was the key to getting to her father, and she was taking her responsibility very seriously.

Obi-Wan watched her as they waited behind the corner of the main government complex. She had a determined look on her face, and he almost felt sorry for her father. The man had no idea what was in store for him. She was amazing. And it wasn't just her appearance. Arella had changed over the past weeks from a spoiled immature girl into an admirable woman of action. He had no doubts that she would succeed in whatever she set her mind to do.

"What are you looking at?" she asked playfully once she finally realized he was staring at her.

He blushed at having been found out and turned even redder when she grinned that sly little grin and sidled up close to him. He swallowed hard. Somehow, even though they had grown closer, he still got tongue tied around her and always stumbled over his words. Arella knew this and took full advantage of the situation to plant a soft, sensuous kiss on his lips. Pulling back, she let out a contented little moan, which only served to unnerve him more.

"I've been thinking," Arella began.

"Uh-oh!" Obi-Wan interjected. She punched him in the shoulder and gave him a cold glare before continuing.

"I'll ignore that this time, Kenobi." He smiled. He loved their playful banter. "Anyway, like I said, I've been thinking… seriously… and if everything goes according to plan, and we succeed in gaining control of the government…" she looked up at him with her big brown eyes and his heart did a flip-flop, "… I want you to stay here… with me." Arella waited and watched him for just a few seconds before adding to her speech. "I mean, you're the reason I'm here doing this anyway… and I've gotten really… attached to you. I… I love having you with me. You've made me a better person. I need you, Obi-Wan. Will you stay?"

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"Oh, look. That must be the welcoming committee," Anakin announced. Obi- Wan lowered his hood and looked in the direction his padawan pointed, and then felt his heart plummet to the soles of his feet. Anakin sensed the tension in his friend, too, and determined to find out the story behind Shreeana.

Leading the small group was an elegant looking woman with long, blonde hair pulled back into a braid, huge, brown eyes—almost as deep as Padme's, Anakin remarked to himself—and a large smile that hinted at a touch of mischievousness. Anakin noted the change in color on his master's cheeks and knew at once that he liked this woman, whoever she was.

"Obi-Wan Kenobi!" she gushed, grabbing hold of the older Jedi's hand and capturing his eyes with hers. "It's been too long!"

"Arella," Obi nodded shyly. Anakin pushed his hood back and cleared his throat trying to draw the unwanted attention from his friend. The beautiful woman, still holding onto Obi-Wan's hand, turned to look at the young man. "Forgive me," he said, pulling his hand gently away from Arella's. "May I introduce to you my padawan, Anakin Skywalker."

She moved to grab Anakin's hand then and offered another dazzling smile. "It's so wonderful to meet you, Anakin. So, how is it being apprenticed to Obi-Wan, here? Is he as stuffy as he used to be?" she asked with a wink.

Anakin immediately felt at ease with her. "You mean he's always been this way?" He knew he'd pay for that remark later, but couldn't help himself. She laughed then, a heartfelt, feminine yet full-bodied laugh, and Anakin was quite proud of himself for the being the cause.

"Oh, there are stories I could—" but she was cut off.

"Ahem," Obi-Wan interrupted and the two snapped to face him. "I'm sorry Senator, but we are short on time. Maybe we should get right to our business?"

Arella looked at him then and all of the memories flooded back. She could see the hurt in his eyes and could feel it in her own heart all over again. There was no going back. The smile suddenly faded from her face.

"Yes… yes, you're right… as usual," she added with a forced, polite smile. "Please, follow me. We'll go back to my office and take care of these urgent matters." She turned on her heel, and the whole group began to follow her, the two Jedi staying in the rear.

"Who is she?" Anakin whispered as they walked.

"She is Arella Tenot, senator of Shreeana," came his unhelpful reply.

Anakin rolled his eyes. "I know that! I mean who is she to you? She seems to know you quite well." He nudged his master with his elbow and noticed Obi-Wan's nostrils flare. Maybe he had gone too far.

"We knew each other once… a long time ago. That's all you need to know, padawan."

Anakin hated those answers, and he seemed to get them far too often for his liking. He glanced forward at the back of the senator. The mystery was almost more than he could bear.

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Obi-Wan sat in the senatorial offices waiting impatiently while Arella completed the needed paperwork for him to return to Coruscant. The Supreme Chancellor was eagerly awaiting her response to this most confidential of matters. Even the Jedi weren't exactly aware of all the aspects to the issue.

He hadn't expected seeing her again to be so difficult for him. It had been years ago. He had only been little older than Anakin when he had met her… and fell for her. Yet their lives had gone in completely separate directions keeping them from ever being anything more than what they had been during that brief encounter of years past. He had long ago exhausted all of the 'what if' scenarios that would have allowed them to be together, but it had not been their destiny.

His fate was to be a Jedi, wholly devoted to his creed and its causes. Hers had been to become a galactic senator and right the many wrongs done to the people of her home world. She had even overthrown her own father's longtime position to do so. Somehow, Arella had become even more amazing than since they last met.

// I would have only held her back,// he thought to himself.

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Arella held onto Obi-Wan's hand tightly with a huge smile on her face as she surveyed the room. A mixture of races and genders filled the reception hall, and she beamed with satisfaction at having been a part of it all.

Obi-Wan Kenobi loved the feel of her small hand in his. Never would he have imagined that his life would change so completely in such a short time. With a grin he recalled how he had so utterly dreaded spending time with Arella at the start of this mission. Now it was no longer a mission but a life choice. He had developed deep feelings for her that he couldn't deny, despite his Jedi vows. She wanted him to stay with an unspoken promise of a future together, and the man in him cried out to throw his oath to the wind and love her with all his being. The few stolen moments they had shared had merely given him a taste of what could be, and it only left him hungry for more.

"Miss Tenot," interrupted a delegate of some kind, Obi couldn't recall his name or position. "There's someone I'd like you to meet." He held out his arm for Arella, and she glanced up at Obi-Wan.

"I'll be right back," she promised with a smile that sent a tingle all over his body. She was the star of the evening's celebration, and it was well deserved. He found himself unable to take his eyes off of her even though she was on the other side of the room now.

"She's quite a woman."

The voice startled the Jedi, and he turned to see Jex standing at his side. Although they had worked together over the past weeks, Obi-Wan could not seem to warm up to Jex and his arrogant attitude, so the two had only spoken when necessary.

"Yes… yes, she is," Obi-Wan replied wondering why this man was even talking to him.

"So, what are your plans now? Back to the temple? Off to fight more evil in the galaxy?" The young Jedi had to bite his tongue. He refused to get into any kind of 'discussion' with Jex about his future.

Jex searched Obi-Wan's face and a wicked grin spread across his own. "Oh, don't tell me you're thinking of hanging around here! What would you do, Jedi? Arella has things pretty well under control along with her advisers. Perhaps you could be her consort. How's that sound? You know, 'available' whenever she had the time for you… kind of like a pet."

Obi-Wan felt the anger building in him but fought it back down. A quick urge to Force-punch Jex across the room flashed through his mind, but he fought that, too. Instead he looked straight ahead and kept silent.

But Jex didn't.

"You know I'm right. There's no place for you here. You've served your purpose… completed your mission. Now it's time to go back where you came from… with our gratitude, of course." Obi-Wan cringed inwardly when he heard Jex chuckle and then walk away. The damage was done.

Arella caught his eye across the hall by giving him a little wave. He snapped out of his inner turmoil and offered a nod and a smile. She was amazing… but she didn't need him.

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"Here you are, Master Kenobi."

The sweet voice brought him out of his self-pity party, and he jumped up to face her. She smiled politely again and handed him the official envelope. He took it and was surprised to feel a single, loose data card underneath the package. He glanced at her and caught her unspoken message.

"It's for you," she willed him to understand, and he did. Hidden from view, their hands touched tenderly under the documents.

"Thank you, Senator Tenot. The Supreme Chancellor thanks you for your hasty response, and we thank you for your hospitality."

Anakin marveled at how bland and official his master sounded when he was certain these two had shared an important experience together.

"You're very welcome," she replied softly without taking her eyes from the Jedi. Slowly, as if against her will, she pulled her hand back to her side. "My aide will see you to your ship. I'm sure you're in a hurry to report back to the chancellor."

"Yes," Obi-Wan answered, and then he turned to leave.

Anakin lingered for a moment. "It was nice to meet you," he said shaking her hand.

Arella smiled brightly at the boy. "And you, Jedi Skywalker." Then she turned to watch Obi-Wan retreating down the hall. "Take care of him," she added quietly leaning in close so only Anakin could hear.

"I will," he promised with a knowing smile, and then he followed his master and friend back to the ship.

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There it sat--- the data card Arella had given him--- on the desk in his small quarters on board their Jedi starship. Obi-Wan just sat there staring at it, debating within himself whether to play it or not. He glanced nervously at the door. Anakin was up in the cockpit, so it was just him… and the card.

Finally, no longer able to fight the curiosity, he plugged it into the data pad and took a deep breath. Within seconds, a small holographic image of Arella popped into view. He braced himself for whatever he might hear.

She began with a smile.

"Ben… remember that name?"

He chuckled softly.

"You don't know how many times I've started a message just like this one over the years… too many for me to remember. However, seeing you again today has given me the will power to see this one through to the finish.

"I could not ignore the hurt I saw in your eyes today for I felt it in my own heart just as deeply. The years have not caused my warm feelings for you to fade in the least. I have so often wondered what it might have been like if we had been able to be together. I'm certain I would have been happy with you. You have become a fine Jedi and an admirable man, Obi-Wan. I have followed your career and know of all your accomplishments. You have done well… without me.

"I have lived in your absence and strove to become a woman that you would be proud of. It is because of you that I am where I am today. If you had not saved me from myself and shown me the importance of serving others, I might still be that spoiled little brat you first met all those years ago. Do you remember the first thing I ever said to you?"

Again he chuckled. How could he forget?

"It was something about Jedi being baby-sitters. Oh, how you hated that!"

She laughed then, and it seemed as if she were right there in the room with him. He almost reached out to touch her face, and then stopped himself. She paused too, as if seeing him in front of her.

"I do regret our parting, but I have no regrets about having known you, Obi- Wan Kenobi. You opened a whole new world to me, and for that I will always love you."

That was it. The message was over. He pushed a button or two just to make sure there wasn't anymore on the card, and there wasn't. He thought about playing it back again, but decided against it. He would remember every word for the rest of his life… every smile, every gleam in her eyes… all of it.

Perhaps in another time things might have worked out differently between them, but it wasn't another time and never would be. He would have to get by on the memories … for they were all he had.



Well, that's the end. Review if you like. I had all kinds of ideas that I had been batting around for some time now, not really knowing where to go next. Then the idea for this epilogue hit and I knew it was time to bring it all to a close. I hope you've enjoyed the story. I know I have. Thanks for reading!

Val solo (