Title: There is the Force

Author: Jedikma

Rated: PG 13

A/N: Once again a big Thank you to Obaona and ewan's girl for all their help and support. :) Please read and review!

Chapter 5: The Second Trimester

The loss of their unborn child did hurt Siri and Obi-Wan more than they ever thought it could. Strange, when they considered that the child was still so very tiny and they were never going to be able to keep the child as their own, anyway. Stranger still that the loss affected Siri since she really didn't want to go through with the pregnancy in the first place.

Word spread quickly through the Temple that Siri had lost one of the babies and it was surprising how many fellow Jedi offered their condolences. Siri hadn't realized that so many already knew about her condition and she was surprised at how many were excited about the prospect of the birth of the children. Those closest to Obi-Wan and Siri were always interested in the latest development and they wanted to be in on it in some small way. What Siri initially thought would be an embarrassment became a source of joy and excitement among her peers. Siri and Obi-Wan were doing something that so few Jedi ever got the chance to do, bring life into the galaxy, and no one wanted to miss out on this rare opportunity.

Ferus and Anakin decided to do something for their Masters in the wake of the miscarriage and they planted a flowering bush in the Jedi Gardens. The blooms of the flower were a soft white and had a gentle fragrance. They brought their Masters to the gardens and surprised them with the memorial. Siri and Obi-Wan were moved by their Padawans' thoughtfulness.

They were also encouraged by their sense of cooperation.

"At least we know they can put aside their differences and work together," observed Siri as she leaned down to smell the flowers.

Obi-Wan grinned with a hint of pride. "I don't want to scare you, Siri, but Anakin has been saying that maybe one day, one of these babies will be his Padawan."

Siri returned the smile and patted Obi-Wan's arm. "We'll make sure he gets the one most like you, Obi-Wan. Ferus, I believe, has secretly staked a claim on the other one."

Obi-Wan laughed mischievously. "Let's just hope their Padawans are as hard on them as they have been on us."

Siri had gotten through the first trimester of her pregnancy without much difficulty. For the most part, she wanted to sleep all the time, but despite the growing changes in her body, the Council still sent her on missions with her Padawan.

As time passed, Siri sensed her Padawan was growing more protective of her, and at one point she had to talk to Ferus about it; afraid it would interfere with their Master/Padawan bond. She had to impress upon him that if his primary goal was to protect her then their focus could be lost and so could they.

"I'm sorry, Master."

"I'm flattered, Ferus, but I know you understand what I'm talking about. I'm still capable of doing my job. However, if you find that you can let me sleep a little longer in any given situation, I'd really appreciate that." She gave him a smile and a wink.

"I will be happy to do what I can, Master." Ferus replied and Siri sensed he felt a little happier being able to help with even a small request.

Finally, Siri moved beyond the first three months and into the second three. She also moved beyond the loss of the one child and, in general, began to feel better and more energetic.

Siri saw to it that she and Ferus practiced saber techniques regularly. She knew she would have to learn to compensate for her shifting center of gravity as the pregnancy progressed. She also knew she would eventually have to abstain from sparring when she grew to a size that it would be too uncomfortable for her to indulge in. By then, she was sure she would be staying at the Temple anyway.

It was hard for Siri not to think about Obi-Wan often, after all, she was carrying his children. It frustrated her and thrilled her at the same time. She never planned to fall in love; it was so inconvenient. Love relationships just didn't fit in with the Jedi way of life, even without the Code. That the object of her affections was Obi-Wan wasn't altogether a surprise, if she was honest with herself. She considered Obi-Wan to be her closest friend for years and, as far as men went, he was safe to be around. There was no way Obi-Wan Kenobi would entertain any romantic notions; he was too dedicated to being a Jedi. Then again, Siri was also dedicated and that is probably why it was perfect that it happened to the two of them.

The Council kept her busy with missions and to her surprise, and she was sure to Obi-Wan's surprise too, the Council sent them on a couple of missions together. Siri suspected that her former Master, Adi, had not told the Council about the deeper bond she and Obi-Wan had formed. Knowing her former Master, Siri guessed that Adi figured it was information that was not important unless or until Siri and Obi-Wan proved they couldn't behave like Jedi in spite of their feelings.

Sometimes it wasn't easy, but they both agreed they would rather have the opportunity to work and be together then to be kept apart for years to come. Besides, the two padawans were built in chaperones.

Occasionally, though, they were able to steal a quiet moment or two. It was then they could talk about the change in their relationship.

"Do you wish the Code could be different, Obi-Wan?" Siri asked.

"I'm too practical, Siri, to sit around wishing, you know that. And I'm too much of a Jedi to dwell on something I know I can't have. Besides, you really wouldn't want to live with me," Obi-Wan responded.

Siri snuggled into his side as they talked. "I know, I know. You're too methodical, too set in your ways. You would, and do, drive me crazy."

"I only get worse as I get older. I just know I am going to be an eccentric old man." He gave her a little squeeze as he put his arm about her.

Perhaps Obi-Wan was right, Siri thought. He was extremely methodical and meticulous. During one mission years before, Anakin had told Siri that it was almost painful how thorough his Master could be.

"You're exaggerating, Anakin. I'm sure it isn't that bad," Siri had said.

To that Anakin issued her a challenge. To make minor changes in Obi-Wan's data pad and see how long it would take Obi-Wan to notice the change. Anakin told her it would be noticed in five minutes.

"You're wrong! It will take him more than ten, at least," Siri claimed. She made the changes.

Obi-Wan discovered the alterations in two minutes, twenty-seven seconds.

However, Siri refused to believe that Obi-Wan was that bad, so Anakin dared her to move things around in his quarters, perhaps only inches and watch him arrange them back. Siri once again took Anakin up on his suggestion and at first smugly thought Obi-Wan hadn't noticed any change until she returned to her own quarters one evening to find her music discs arranged alphabetically.

At least Obi-Wan could laugh at himself and it became a running joke between them over the years. Siri would occasionally sneak in and rearrange objects in his room, calling it more artistic and Obi-Wan would respond by sneaking into her room, rearrange items and claim it was more efficient. Once, knowing Obi-Wan would come, Siri left him a note to straighten her wardrobe.

There were times, however, when Obi-Wan's attention to detail could actually be endearing. When Siri's body began to swell with the babies, she knew it was time to get clothes for her expanding figure. Obi-Wan had thought ahead and one evening he showed up to Siri's quarters with some new clothes for her.

All the clothes were lovely and Siri squealed with delight over them, but there was one piece in particular that Siri especially took to. It was a soft brown leather outer jacket with a scooped neckline and capped sleeves. The jacket hooked across her bust, then fell in wide pleats just under the bust line and the pleats ended in a slightly rounded scallop. At the end of each pleat in the scallop was embossed in the leather a design of either a moon or a star and around the neckline was a curved design meticulously pressed into the leather. The jacket came with a number of different colored gauzy blouses that could be worn underneath.

Clearly, Obi-Wan had had the jacket specially made for her and Siri was touched. Best of all, inside one pleat on the left side was sewn a strap so that Siri could strap her lightsaber to the jacket and always carry it with her.

"That weapon is you life, I had to make sure you wouldn't be without it." Obi-Wan explained as he showed her the garment.

"It's perfect, but I didn't get you anything," Siri joked as she gave him a warm hug.

"Just don't tell me I shouldn't have. I should be able to do some little something since you're doing all the other work."

Siri was still not convinced that Obi-Wan would be so bad to live with, despite how often he reminded her of the idea. "You know, Obi-Wan, there might be other benefits that might make putting up with you worthwhile."

Obi-wan laughed and his eyes twinkled at the idea. "Siri, I would probably be meticulous and methodical about that, too."

"Only when you wanted to drive me crazy."

"Which is often, because I just can't help myself around you."

Siri let out a frustrated breath and grinned. "In truth, it is probably exactly what you could use in life to loosen you up a little. I'm certain we could come up with a 'method' both to our liking."

Obi-Wan let out a sigh and lowered his gaze as if in apology. "I'm not a passionate man, Siri. I know you would quickly tire of me."

"Well, as Jedi, I guess passion is somewhat conditioned out of us. You know, 'there is no passion, there is serenity'. Why are you so sure I would get tired of you? Perhaps it is you that would get tired of me. I hope you're only trying to justify everything the way it is, rather than believing that I don't love you enough to be with you as you are." Siri let out an exasperated sigh as she continued, "Anyway, Obi-Wan, love isn't about some all consuming passion. It's about respect, trust and contentment. I think that would describe us very well."

"If that is true, Siri, then we will always have that whether we can be together or not and it will still be there ten and twenty years from now."

Obi-Wan was right. Sometimes Siri hated it when Obi-Wan was right. It drove her crazy!

Siri understood that a large part of Obi-Wan's negativity was an effort to push aside the growing longing they were developing for each other. There may have been some truth to it, but if their love was true then they would be able to adjust to each other's idiosyncrasies.

Obi-Wan claimed he wasn't a passionate man. Obi-Wan was not a man who would sit around and whisper syrupy nothings into a woman's ear, nor was he openly affectionate. Instead, Obi-Wan expressed his affection behind a sense of humor. This didn't really bother Siri because she was the same way.

When Obi-Wan could have a moment alone with Siri and there were no prying eyes he would ask her in a quiet voice, "May I kiss you, Siri?" At first Siri was annoyed by his lack of spontaneity, but Obi-Wan reasoned that he couldn't just boldly kiss her if he could never even think to promise her some kind of commitment even in the far future. He couldn't just take, so he asked her to give.

What Obi-Wan lacked in spontaneity he made up for in technique, which only improved with every kiss. He would close his eyes and place his cheek close to hers and hold it there for a moment as if breathing her in. Then he lowered his shields and brushed her mind through the Force inviting her to lower her shields. Once Siri let her feelings free and embraced him through the Force, he would then brush his lips across hers in such a soft touch that it tickled slightly. Blanketing her in happy feelings he then deepened the kiss and gently parted her lips with his. By the time the kiss ended, Siri felt he had taken her breath away. When the babies got to a size that Siri could feel their movements from within, a kiss from Obi- Wan sent them into a flurry of activity every time.

Perhaps, from a certain point of view, Obi-Wan was not passionate, but from any point of view he was a man.

Tbc