Chapter Six

Obi-Wan stood at the banks of the swamp, a feeling of black humor settling over him as he realized he'd replaced watching the sun set over the crystal blue lake outside the Jedi temple to watching the gray mist crawl over the murky green water of this swamp. Still, it was preferable to sitting in the pretense of meditating but ending up searching the Force for another Jedi, another friend. It was desperate but what else could he do on this planet. After years of fighting a war, only to lose, and lose greatly. Unlike his fellow warriors, he was alive. The only one left and he was stuck on a backwater planet. The Republic had fallen and the Empire had taken its place, thanks to him. Thanks to his failure. Thanks to Darth Vader.

Heart heavy, Obi-Wan closed his eyes and drew on the Force to dull the pain in his head. He drew on a strength deep within himself to lock his thoughts away. Then, he realized that Padmé was nowhere to be seen. A concerned frown on his face, he turned to the hut and reached out to her through the Force only to find her fast asleep. Smiling softly, he also found that the twins were sleeping within her.

At least the morning sickness has passed, he reflected. Although, it was something we could do. Now what?

He chuckled to himself, rubbing his cheeks as had become habit and again found them cleanly shaven. It was convenient and more comfortable to not have a beard, but he did miss it.

You're losing your mind, he thought with a sorry shake of his head. Despair one moment, mindless ponderings the next. Dagobah is getting to you.

Stirrings behind him made him turn and he smiled at Sabé. She smiled back as she gathered some dry wood for the morning's fire.

"Good morning," he said.

"Good morning, Master Kenobi," she said formally.

He had given up telling her to call him Obi-Wan. Despite what Padmé or even Sabé thought, he was aware of her feelings for him, but could not return them. He knew that she used his title to put a wall between them and he agreed that they needed it. A woman's unwanted affections were the last thing he needed now.

Padmé emerged from the hut then, beaming at him.

"I feel good," she cried, then her smile faltered. "Everything else notwithstanding."

"I'm glad," he said, looking at her rounding belly. "They're waking up as well."

She put her hands on her stomach as if already cradling her babies, a soft expression crossing her face.

"They're all I think about now, Obi-Wan. I can't wait to meet them."

"Nor can I."

She sat down on a rock and blew out a breath between her lips. "It is getting harder to move around. They're rather heavy."

"Well, there are two of them," Obi-Wan said matter-of-factly.

She snorted and shifted in her seat, trying to get more comfortable. Obi-Wan used to Force to settle her protesting muscles and she smiled gratefully at him.

"Dagobah isn't so bad, after all," she said quietly.

"No..."

Obi-Wan stopped abruptly, his expression tightening. Padmé had seen that look come on his face countless times during the war, and during their escape.

Something was wrong.

"What is it?"

"Someone's coming. Go to the shelter," Obi-Wan said calmly, hand at his lightsaber. He turned his head and pinned Padmé with icy blue eyes. "Go, Padmé."

She lifted herself up and with Sabé, disappeared into the brush. Obi-Wan cleared his mind and focused on his foe. There was hardly a presence in the Force for this one, but there was enough for Obi-Wan to know where he was. Feet quiet and swift, he crept up on a landed shuttle and with a hiss, ignited his lightsaber.

"Always quick to act you were," a painfully familiar voice observed.

Obi-Wan gasped and dropped to his knees, his lightsaber falling from numb fingers. Yoda emerged from behind a knarled tree and he reached out to the other Jedi, the touch of his mind warm and comforting.

And Obi-Wan began to weep.

Weary and pained, Obi-Wan sipped his tea in silence as Padmé questioned Yoda. She'd been shocked to see him, but overjoyed all the same until her questioning gave her answers she was hoping she would not hear. The situation was worse than she or Obi-Wan imagined. One by one, the Jedi were falling. They were no match against Darth Vader's powers or his master's. Without the Jedi Council, the Jedi had no leadership and were too scattered to coordinate their movements. Yoda had barely escaped the massacre at Coruscant and since then had been trying to track down Obi-Wan, knowing he was not dead. He did suspect that the younger Jedi would be with Padmé.

"About the twins, Anakin does not know. This I am sure," Yoda said.

"Good and this is how it shall remain," Obi-Wan said hoarsely.

Padmé looked at him, worried. Ever since his surprise discovery of Yoda, Obi-Wan had been withdrawn and pale. She was afraid all the burdens he had been carrying had finally proved too heavy when he set his eyes on the diminutive Jedi Master. Obi-Wan had been holding on to his sanity by a thread and she was afraid that the thread had finally snapped.

"Here you cannot stay for much longer, Obi-Wan," Yoda said gently. "In you there is much darkness."

"We've nowhere else to go," Obi-Wan said.

"To Alderaan."

"It's not exactly a backwater planet. We'll never be able to hide there."

"From Bail Organa you will get help."

"Bail," Padmé breathed. "He's putting himself in danger by doing this."

"Brave he is. Much respect he has for you and Obi-Wan. Protection you will need. From him you will get it." Yoda studied Obi-Wan. "Not safe is Dagobah for you or for Anakin's children. Warp their senses growing in the Darkside will. Here you must leave."

"What about you, Master Yoda?" Padmé asked when Obi-Wan remained silent.

Yoda sighed and he seemed to shrink where he sat. His countenance was identical to Obi-Wan's now.

"Here I must stay," he said tiredly.

"But the galaxy needs you," Padmé protested, her eyes burning into him. "You can't give up now!"

"Leave him, Padmé," Obi-Wan said. "There is much darkness in Master Yoda as well. We do not need another powerful Sith wandering around the galaxy. I hope you find peace, Master."

"For you I wish the same, Obi-Wan. Young you are, but old is your soul. Now leave here and do not return."

Obi-Wan looked at the hut they had built, their home for nearly four months, and he turned to Padmé. He rose and offered her his hand, helping her stand. They exchanged a look filled with resignation.

"Here we go again," she said with a wane smile.

"I'm sorry," he said.

"You have nothing to be sorry for," she said, putting a hand on his cheek. "Nothing, Obi-Wan. If you think you do, you've more than paid for it through the suffering you endured."

His electric blue eyes glimmered with tears and closed them. They were dry again when he looked at her.

"You are not alone in this universe," she said, putting her arms around him.

Obi-Wan held her to him and for a brief moment, a raw, powerful emotion crossed his face, its effects causing ripples in his presence in the Force. Yoda caught his eye, his face sad. Obi-Wan merely let go of his Padawan's wife and went to the hut to begin packing.