"Defining Us"

Epilogue

by obi's girl

Obi-Wan fidgeted as he waited patiently with Sabé's sisters in the field not far from the house. Sabé was still inside with her mother. The Holy Man talked quietly with Devin as Ben stood there in silence. He wished Qui-Gon were there with him, he'd always been the closest thing he had to a real father. Ben looked up when he heard panicked footsteps leave the house, but it was only Arya. She smiled at everyone as she quietly took her seat beside Mia.

A moment later, Bassim left the house and was joined by his daughter. Obi-Wan froze as he stared at Sabé; Arya had done a good job with her hair, curling her bangs and tucking the rest into a braided bun. He'd always known she was beautiful, but she had the aura of an angel. And she was his angel, he now knew. Sabé seemed to glide down the aisle as little Regina and Elyssa followed her, throwing rose petals.

Once Regina and Elyssa reached the front, they stopped dropping petals and sat down with their mother as Sabé grasped Obi-Wan's hands and they both turned to the Holy Man. "Marriage is sacred, the bond between the two of you is sacred. It will always be there, in this life and the next. True love is the greatest gift," the Holy Man turned to Sabé, "You have vows prepared?"

"I have loved you forever, beyond this life and before. I'd been waiting for you to wake me up, for your soft kisses to touch my skin. I've always known I'd meet you and if we ever parted, I'd see you again… because fate doesn't play around with two souls that are meant to be," Sabé paused and smiled, "I always knew Ben our lives were intertwined, our destiny's were same. Fated to be destiny, fated by the Force, we belong to each other. I stand before you today, giving myself to you, to be with you always."

Obi-Wan smiled, kissed her hands and smile at her as he raised his head, "We were both young when we entered each other's lives, Sabé. We had our responsibilities, you to the Queen and me to my Master and the Order. But through all the chaos and darkness, you reached your hand out to me and held me when I needed someone. You were there for me when I needed you. But today, I promise you, I'll always be there for you."

The Holy Man smiled, "Repeat these words after me… As your beloved, I promise to love, honor and be true to you always."

"As your beloved, I, Sabé Maberrie, promise to love, honor..."

Ben smiled, "And be true to you always," he finished. Sabé smiled at him, squeezing his hand as she leaned up, kissing him. She wrapped her arms around his neck as Ben dipped Sabé, causing an uproar of applause from her family. Sabé blushed as they broke their first kiss as husband and wife, and turned around.

9 Months Later

Obi-Wan Kenobi tried not to seem nervous as he waited with Anakin for the Temple healer to give him an update of Sabé's condition. He was overjoyed when she told him he was going to a father -- they made a pact with each other that even though babies born in the Temple, were supposed to be tested for midichlorian count, Obi-Wan and Sabé were going to wait about a year or two. As new parents, they didn't want to be stranger to their child. It wouldn't be fair to them or the baby.

Anakin nudged his Master's shoulder as Healer Aiska greeted them, the Temple's youngest Master Healer. "Sorry, for keeping you waiting, Master Kenobi. Your wife is sleeping now but we expect the delivery to begin in a couple of hours,"

"Can I see her?" Ben ventured.

Coryn frowned, "Sorry, Master Kenobi, but she needs her sleep... but you are allowed to be present during the delivery,"

Obi-Wan nodded thanks to the healer as Master Yoda walked slowly into the ward. Anakin bowed slightly but Obi-Wan was too distracted to see the little Master. Finally, Yoda tapped his gimmer stick on Obi-Wan's knee and he looked down. "Sorry Master, I didn't realize you were here,"

"M'lady, how is she?"

Ben shrugged, "Sleeping… Um Master Yoda, I -- Sabé and I were wondering about something. We realize many babies are tested for midichlorian counts at birth, but Sabé and I, we'd like to wait a year or so. Is that possible?"

The Master's ears drooped and he nodded solemnly, "Possible, it is Obi-Wan, but better to know earlier if the youngling has the potential,"

"I understand Master, but Sabé and I want to enjoy being parents before we hand her over to another Master to train,"

Master Yoda laughed, "Acceptable, your reason is, Obi-Wan," he paused, "Alert me, you will when the youngling is here."

Sabé moaned and panted as she pushed harder and harder. She had been in labor for five hours now and Obi-Wan was still outside with Anakin, not allowed to come in yet. Master Healer Aiska smiled as she noticed the babies head and shoulders. "Just a few more pushes, m'lady!" she cried.

"I don't know Aiska…"

"You must," she said and Sabé bore down again, pushing the child a little further to the point that half of the child's body could be seen. Sabé pushed a little more, then Aiska was able to pull out the legs.

"You can relax now, m'lady," Aiska whispered and Sabé dropped her head onto the pillow, sweat on her brow and in her hair.

Sabé smiled and laughed lightly as Aiska asked one of the apprentice healers to clean the girl off. Once she was clean and swaddled in a pink blanket, the apprentice gave the baby back to the healer. Aiska smiled at the child as she walked slowly back to Sabé and carefully handed her to her mother. A moment later, Obi-Wan and Anakin entered the room.

"A girl?" he asked.

Sabé nodded as Obi-Wan settled beside her, staring into the blue eyes of his daughter. Anakin smiled, watching his Master and his wife welcome their daughter. "Oh darling, she's so beautiful," Ben whispered and laid his hand on her small head, "She has reddish-brown hair, she's definitely a Kenobi,"

"A little Kenobi," Aiska added, "I have to say this to make it more official, but you, Master Kenobi and m'lady are the proud parents of a baby girl,"

Sabé looked up and beckoned Anakin closer, "Come here, Ani. Don't be afraid, come closer,"

Anakin smiled and as he walked closer to the baby, she started crying uncontrollably. Anakin froze and backed away again. "Did I frighten her? Why is she crying?"

Obi-Wan shrugged, "I wouldn't worry about, Anakin. Baby's cry all the time, it's what they do,"

Anakin started to walk closer again to the baby but she started crying again. "Okay, that kid definitely does not like me!"

Sabé laughed and smiled, holding her daughter closer to her, "Ani, why don't you come back later after she's calmed down and is more familiar with her surroundings?" Anakin looked at his Master and Obi-Wan nodded in agreement. He smiled goodbye at the little girl before walking quietly out of the ward.

Ben Kenobi smiled, watching the 5-year old Luke as he played with some of his friends. This had become his life, away from the chaos of the galaxy and the turmoil. He smiled, closing his eyes as images of his beloved wife flashed through his mind. Always in his dreams, Ben had seen her face countless times. Her soft brown eyes, her long brown hair haunted him.

Besides hiding Anakin's children and his estranged wife, Ben had to hide his own wife and child. In the beginning, it was decided that little Mara would stay with her mother, but that soon changed after Sabé died sudennly. She didn't really die, though -- she had been murdered by Palpatine's henchman. After Ben learned about what happened to her, he had to fight with himself not to give into the darkside. The only thing that kept him from crossing over was his baby girl, who now was forced to grow up without her mother.

Mara was very young when her mother died, but she knew something had changed. The girl was very perceptive, an angelic face like her mother's, her same gentleness and grace. Earlier on, Ben discovered that raising a little girl was very different than raising a boy. Matters were even more complicated since he realized the child was force-sensitive. To have a former Jedi Master raise a daughter, who herself was powerful in the Force, terrified Ben.

Ben had nightmares that the Empire would find him, take away his little girl and mold her into a ruthless monster. Thankfully, that never happened, but the fear still lingered. It would always be there. He'd lost his wife and who he was as a person to the Empire. But no matter what, he couldn't stand to be separated from his daughter. Everyday, he'd look into her blue eyes or watch her from afar, and he'd see her mother.

At the time of Sabé's death, she was a powerful force in the formation of the Rebellion against the Empire, a role Padmé took over later. She helped Bail Organa rally systems against the Empire and a small portion of Senators from the Senate. Unfortunately, Palpatine found out she was involved in the Rebellion, tracked her and his agents killed her. Sabé had been brave to the end, fighting for what she believed in, and although it pained Ben, Palpatine was the one responsible for her death, he was very proud of her.

Ben lowered his hood as he walked back inside the hut and out of the hot sun. Once inside, he walked over to a chest sitting by the wall, opened it and removed a brown leather book. The brown leather was faded, but that didn't matter. The diary belonged to her, she'd often used it to write poems or collect her thoughts when she didn't want to give voice to them. Ben had only looked at it once during their little boat ride on Alderaan.

She never allowed him to read anything from it unless she felt there was something she really needed to share with him. Funny, at the heart of a great politician, there was a writer there. Ben frowned as he turned the page and found himself staring at their poem. She claimed she'd written it not too long after he left Naboo to train Anakin. She'd recited the poem as a part of her wedding vows to him.

It was just a poem but it held so many memories for him, memories that should have been painful, but they weren't. Ben needed the memories to pass onto his little girl and hope, one day, he'd reunite with Sabé and they'd be together, eternally.

The End