Part 12

Qui-Gon had spent all the next morning meditating, trying to decide what to do about Shmi. He knew what Master Yoda had said he should do, and by virtue of association, the rest of the Council. They'd given their blessing to a marriage between himself and the former slave. But for some reason, Qui-Gon still felt uncertain, and so he throw himself into his meditations, hoping the Force would lead him to an answer.

::What answer are you looking for?:: a voice asked, startling him because he thought he was alone. Qui-Gon opened his eyes, looking around, and found himself staring at the transparent image of his old friend--Branon Dol.

"Bran--" he choked out. "How?" He reached as if to touch Branon and the image before him shimmered slightly. Oddly, enough, however, Qui-Gon felt his alarm lessening.

::You asked me to be here when you finally wed; did you think I would forsake my pledge?:: the ghostly image asked him.

"No," Qui-Gon answered. "But you... you're dead."

::Not dead, Qui. I'm one with the Force now, a part of the fabric of every living thing. Even you, old friend.::

His words calmed Qui-Gon even more. He felt as if Branon had been the answer to his silent prayers. "You think I should wed her, too, then?" he asked his friend.

::I know you should; it's been fated to happen. What I think is that you need to quit acting like a scared padawan and *ask* her.::

"Is it that simple? I've already asked so much of Shmi. I took her son; I've changed her life. How can I ask more of her now?"

::You want to wait and let the good Councilor Dené move in on her, then?::

Qui-Gon sighed heavily. The councilor had been all over Shmi last night, hovering around her and watching her every move. No doubt he'd be more than willing to supplant Qui-Gon in her heart, should the Jedi wait too long to ask her.

::So you know why you need to ask her now?:: Branon said, interrupting his thought process. ::Don't wait on it, Qui. Follow your heart; it leads to the right path.:: With that, Branon's image faded away, leaving Qui-Gon alone with the knowledge of what he should do.

Shaking his head ruefully, Qui-Gon exited the chamber and went in search of his beloved.

******

Qui-Gon found Shmi in her own suite of chambers surrounded by servants and several of Amidala's handmaidens. They were fussing over her but when he entered, they rose and left swiftly.

"Qui-Gon!" Shmi exclaimed, jump up and running to him. He took her in his arms, holding her tightly. "You'll never guess the news! They say Ani is coming here!"

Qui-Gon chuckled at her enthusiasm. "Yes, I know," he told her, kissing her forehead gently as he led her out to the terrace. "This will be a pleasant surprise for him," he added, tenderly stroking her small hand.

"Yes, it will," she murmured softly. "Qui-Gon, I..." her voice was choked with emotion. "For the first time in my entire life, I feel like I'm free to be truly happy. It's a dream come true."

"I know," he whispered again, pulling her closer to him, so that her body was mostly hid in the deep fold of his robes. "For me, as well," he admitted, then paused before plunging on. "There's... there's only one thing that can make make this even more special."

Shmi looked up at him with a questioning gaze. "What is it, my love?"

Qui-Gon' heart leapt at the words on her lips, and any doubt he'd still had was swept away. He took one step away from her, clasping her hands in his own. "For a year now, I have dreamt of you as my wife. I would be honored if you would make that dream a reality."

Shmi's mouth opened in a small "o" of surprise, which her small hands quickly fluttered upwards to hide. "Oh, Qui..." she breathed at last, but her next words words were cut short by the sound of a gong being rung throughout the palace...

...announcing the arrival of the Coruscant transport.

******

Qui-Gon was nervous as he stood between Amidala and Shmi as they awaited the Jedi to descend from their ship. Shimi had not answered him, and now he worried that Anakin's arrival would cause her to forget his proposal altogether. As the ship's hatch began to open, he glanced at her, and saw her face light up with anticaption. He heard her breathe her son's name, as if making a wish for him, and instinctively reached for her hand. At the same time, he used the Force to send her reassurance.

Finally the door opened and the gangplank descended. Shmi clutched his hand tightly.

"It'll be alright," he whispered hoarsely as two robed figured came into view. Both women beside him gasped then--Shmi's coming loud and strong, Amidala's stifled by propriety. He turned his eyes towards the ship in time to see Obi-Wan begin his descent from the ship, Anakin Skywalker just one step beside them. Through the Force, he could feel Anakin's uncertainty, and then felt it melt into tumultuous joy and wonder as his eyes fell upon his mother.

The boy suddenly became very animated, pushing past his Jedi master and rushing down the narrow walkway towards the crowd below.

Qui-Gon chuckled softly. "So much for making a dignified speech," he intoned to Amidala just as Anakin reached their greeting party.

"Mother!" the ten-year-old boy exclaimed, throwing himself in to his mother's waiting arms. Qui-Gon felt the tension surrounding the two former slaves shatter as love flowed between them. He heaved a sigh of relief, feeling certain Anakin would be all right now. He was certain of it.

"Yes, Padawan," Obi-Wan said as he came to stand before them. "You can go and greet your mother now." He smiled down at his padawan and then at Qui-Gon.

"I'm sorry, Master," Anakin countered, starting to pull away from his mother. "I... I forgot myself."

"No, Ani," Obi-Wan chuckled. "Don't apologize. It is well and good that you greeted your mother thus; I expected no less. In fact, I'd like you to consider the rest of this mission a holiday."

Qui-Gon watched the meaningful glances that passed between his former student and the boy. He could feel their silent communication through the Force and could tell that Obi-Wan was reassuring his young padawan before granting him freedom for a while. Inwardly, Qui-Gon beamed like a proud father. The two of them had grown closer to each other since he'd last seen them.

"Master Kenobi," Amidala said suddenly, her clear, regal voice reminding Qui-Gon of the moment at hand. "It is an honor to see you and your padawan again." She extended a smile to them both, her eyes lingering on Ani warmly.

"The honor is ours, Highness," Obi-wan countered, giving her a courtly bow, which Anakin promptly imitated.

Amidala indicated to Anakin's mother. "I should like to present you the newest member of my court, Lady Skywalker."

******

Introductions out of the way, Obi-Wan and Anakin were given chambers near Qui-Gon's and time to rest before the formal reception the Queen's council had arranged in their honor. While they rested, Qui-Gon sought out Shmi, and found her in one of the private gardens in their section of the palace.

"May I join you?" he asked, approaching quietly and sitting beside her on the low stone bench as she smiled up at him in welcome.

"I was hoping you would come," she whispered. Leaning into him, she rested her head on his strong shoulders. "Ani has... grown so much in the last year. I barely recognized him as my own." Qui-Gon nodded silently, allowing her to merely feel his love for her as he held her. "He... doesn't need me anymore."

"No, Shmi... don't talk like that," Qui whispered, pressing his lips against her hair. "He needs you still. We *both* need you still."

She looked up at him, and he could see the love shining in her eyes. "I need you, too... but..."

"You want to do what's right for Anakin," he said, finishing her sentence. "So do I." He sighed deeply. "From the moment I met him, I've wanted him as my own. My padawan... my son."

A gasp from behind them broke the tableau. Qui-Gon and Shmi sprang apart, turning in the direction of the noise. Anakin stood behind them, his face a mask of confusion.

"Do you mean it?" he asked. "Do you really want to be my father?"

"Yes, Ani," the older Jedi answered. "More than anything."

"Why?" The question was tinged with confusion and doubt. "No one else has ever wanted me, except as a slave."

Shmi gasped softly at the words.

"Ani, I... " he sighed deeply. "I feel this is what was meant to be... what the Force has led me to do. From the moment I met you and your mother, I have loved you both with every fiber of my being. It is the only thing I wish for in the world--to be your father and her husband. And to love you both for the rest of my life."

Anakin's eyes darked and his face clouded over momentarily. For that brief instance, Qui-Gon felt the turmoil of doubt, confusion, and hesitation. The boy looked from Qui-Gon to his mother, and seemed to reaching out with the Force, trying to see through it into their hearts.

"Ani," Qui-Gon said, kneeling before the child. "Do you believe me when I say love your mother?"

"No one has ever loved her except me," he said finally, honestly.

Qui-Gon nodded, understanding. "I know, and I know you've always taken care of her. Can you trust me, Ani? Can you trust me to care for her as you trusted me to come with me a year ago?"

Anakin looked past him again to where Shmi sat on the bench, watching them. Then he met Qui-Gon's eyes. The clouds were clearing from his expression. "Can... can I call you 'father'?" he asked hesitantly.

"Yes," Qui-Gon said with a soft chuckle. "You may call me whatever you wish."

******

The marriage ceremony was held the next day, with Amidala officiating and Obi-Wan and Anakin as the witnesses. As Qui-Gon exchanged vows with his bride, he felt the Force wash over him, and with it came a sense of comfort and serenity... and something else. As Amidala led them in a closing prayer, he looked up, opening his eyes. Off to the side, near where Anakin and Obi-Wan stood with bowed heads, stood the luminescent image of Branon Dol.

His old friend was smiling, and in Qui-Gon's mind a message formed. "May you find happiness on this path, my friend, as Rhianne and I did years ago."

Qui-Gon knew he would.

(The End)