Here's the final conclusion of this story.
A smile grew on Yoda's face as he watched the scene before him, a scene he thought never to see. A chuckle escaped his reserve as Obi-Wan splashed Qui-Gon in the face with fountain water. To Yoda's surprise and to Obi-Wan's astonishment, Qui-Gon retaliated, delivering a wave of water to the boy's face. Obi-Wan's laughter echoed through the room.
"I can't believe the change in Qui-Gon ...well, in both of them," a voice spoke from behind Yoda. Seconds later, Mace claimed a seat beside the little green master. Both watched as Qui-Gon ruffled Obi-Wan's hair affectionately before he began drying off the boy's face with a towel.
"I thought Obi-Wan wanted to go swimming," Mace questioned. "All that is wet is his feet and now his face."
A happy snort came from Yoda, " Qui-Gon won't allow him to get his wound wet."
Mace focused on Yoda, "Did the healers give him that instruction?"
Yoda shook his head with a gleam in his eye. "No, Obi-Wan's master's rule it is." A smile pulled onto Mace's face at that news.
The Jedi masters fell silent and watched the harmonious scene before them. Then Mace broke the silence, speaking softly so his words would not carry any further than Yoda's ears. "This is not the way your vision ended, is it?"
"No," Yoda sharply replied. "Death of Obi-Wan my vision held."
"He died back on the planet," Mace supplied, not as a question but as a statement.
But Yoda met his eyes piercingly, "No, die on the planet he did not."
Mace's eye brows rose in alarm, "Is he still in danger?"
"Safe he is," and Yoda focused his look back on Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, "safe in his master's love." He offered no further explanation as he watched Qui-Gon stand and gently aid Obi-Wan to his feet. With an arm around the boy's shoulders, Qui-Gon led his son from the room.
Facing Mace again, Yoda continued. "Died at the temple Obi-Wan did in my vision."
"I don't understand. What changed Kenobi's fate?"
A soft smile pulled onto the green face, "Easy it was for Qui-Gon to speak from his heart when he thought Obi-Wan was dying on the planet. Not so easy the words come when no visible threats exist."
Dawning grew on Mace's features, "Unlike your vision of the future, Qui-Gon stayed by Obi-Wan's side and told the boy how he felt, even after the perceived threat had passed."
Nodding, Yoda replied, "Yes. Accepted vulnerability Qui-Gon did. Opened his heart he did."
"And if he had not, Obi-Wan would have died as you saw in your vision," Mace concluded.
Yoda nodded again, "Even when fear disappears, dismiss it's lessons we should not."
Entering their quarters, Qui-Gon announced, "I think it's time for you to go to bed." And he steered Obi-Wan toward his room.
"But master..." Obi-Wan began but Qui-Gon broke in with a laugh.
"No, buts, Obi-Wan. You are going to bed." But at the boy's crestfallen look, Qui-Gon relented. "Ok, you can sit up with me for a little while."
This earned him a warm smile from Obi-Wan and they both claimed a seat on the couch. A moment later a quiet question broke the silence, "How'd you find me in the hanger deck?"
Qui-Gon turned to face Obi-Wan, brushing a strand of hair from the boy's brow. "I sensed your pain and I let our connection lead me to you."
Obi-Wan nodded in understanding, dropping his eyes.
Qui-Gon put his fingers under his apprentice's chin and eased the boy's head up so he could meet his eyes. "You weren't alone, my padawan and you never will be. I may not have been standing at your side, but I was with you, Obi-Wan, here," and he tapped Obi-Wan's heart.
Impulsively Obi-Wan threw his arms around Qui-Gon and without hesitation the embrace was returned. "Good night, father," Obi-Wan bid. Qui-Gon placed a kiss on top of Obi-Wan's head before releasing the boy with a "Night, kiddo."
Settling into his own bed for the first time in a month, Obi-Wan stared into the darkness that permeated the room. No fear came, no memories tore into his mind, no void clutched at his soul. Instead, peace blanketed his soul. He had traveled an unmercifully harsh path but it had lead him to a home filled with hope, peace and love. Truly, some destinations were worth any journey.
The End
Well, good or bad, that's the ending. I'm truly sorry this took me so long to finish. I really thought I had the ending down and then, well, life happened and my mood changed and suddenly everything I wrote seemed like junk.
Thanks again to everyone who reviewed this story and asked for more chapters. I appreciated every kind word!!!
Cheryl
A smile grew on Yoda's face as he watched the scene before him, a scene he thought never to see. A chuckle escaped his reserve as Obi-Wan splashed Qui-Gon in the face with fountain water. To Yoda's surprise and to Obi-Wan's astonishment, Qui-Gon retaliated, delivering a wave of water to the boy's face. Obi-Wan's laughter echoed through the room.
"I can't believe the change in Qui-Gon ...well, in both of them," a voice spoke from behind Yoda. Seconds later, Mace claimed a seat beside the little green master. Both watched as Qui-Gon ruffled Obi-Wan's hair affectionately before he began drying off the boy's face with a towel.
"I thought Obi-Wan wanted to go swimming," Mace questioned. "All that is wet is his feet and now his face."
A happy snort came from Yoda, " Qui-Gon won't allow him to get his wound wet."
Mace focused on Yoda, "Did the healers give him that instruction?"
Yoda shook his head with a gleam in his eye. "No, Obi-Wan's master's rule it is." A smile pulled onto Mace's face at that news.
The Jedi masters fell silent and watched the harmonious scene before them. Then Mace broke the silence, speaking softly so his words would not carry any further than Yoda's ears. "This is not the way your vision ended, is it?"
"No," Yoda sharply replied. "Death of Obi-Wan my vision held."
"He died back on the planet," Mace supplied, not as a question but as a statement.
But Yoda met his eyes piercingly, "No, die on the planet he did not."
Mace's eye brows rose in alarm, "Is he still in danger?"
"Safe he is," and Yoda focused his look back on Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, "safe in his master's love." He offered no further explanation as he watched Qui-Gon stand and gently aid Obi-Wan to his feet. With an arm around the boy's shoulders, Qui-Gon led his son from the room.
Facing Mace again, Yoda continued. "Died at the temple Obi-Wan did in my vision."
"I don't understand. What changed Kenobi's fate?"
A soft smile pulled onto the green face, "Easy it was for Qui-Gon to speak from his heart when he thought Obi-Wan was dying on the planet. Not so easy the words come when no visible threats exist."
Dawning grew on Mace's features, "Unlike your vision of the future, Qui-Gon stayed by Obi-Wan's side and told the boy how he felt, even after the perceived threat had passed."
Nodding, Yoda replied, "Yes. Accepted vulnerability Qui-Gon did. Opened his heart he did."
"And if he had not, Obi-Wan would have died as you saw in your vision," Mace concluded.
Yoda nodded again, "Even when fear disappears, dismiss it's lessons we should not."
Entering their quarters, Qui-Gon announced, "I think it's time for you to go to bed." And he steered Obi-Wan toward his room.
"But master..." Obi-Wan began but Qui-Gon broke in with a laugh.
"No, buts, Obi-Wan. You are going to bed." But at the boy's crestfallen look, Qui-Gon relented. "Ok, you can sit up with me for a little while."
This earned him a warm smile from Obi-Wan and they both claimed a seat on the couch. A moment later a quiet question broke the silence, "How'd you find me in the hanger deck?"
Qui-Gon turned to face Obi-Wan, brushing a strand of hair from the boy's brow. "I sensed your pain and I let our connection lead me to you."
Obi-Wan nodded in understanding, dropping his eyes.
Qui-Gon put his fingers under his apprentice's chin and eased the boy's head up so he could meet his eyes. "You weren't alone, my padawan and you never will be. I may not have been standing at your side, but I was with you, Obi-Wan, here," and he tapped Obi-Wan's heart.
Impulsively Obi-Wan threw his arms around Qui-Gon and without hesitation the embrace was returned. "Good night, father," Obi-Wan bid. Qui-Gon placed a kiss on top of Obi-Wan's head before releasing the boy with a "Night, kiddo."
Settling into his own bed for the first time in a month, Obi-Wan stared into the darkness that permeated the room. No fear came, no memories tore into his mind, no void clutched at his soul. Instead, peace blanketed his soul. He had traveled an unmercifully harsh path but it had lead him to a home filled with hope, peace and love. Truly, some destinations were worth any journey.
The End
Well, good or bad, that's the ending. I'm truly sorry this took me so long to finish. I really thought I had the ending down and then, well, life happened and my mood changed and suddenly everything I wrote seemed like junk.
Thanks again to everyone who reviewed this story and asked for more chapters. I appreciated every kind word!!!
Cheryl
