Chapter 7
Disclaimer – only Odessa and the plot are mine!
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A note about the timeline – As I'm sure you've all figured out, we're getting to the part of the story that takes place at the same time as the movie. Just a reminder – there are Revenge of the Sith spoilers in here, so if you haven't seen the movie and don't want anything ruined, you might want to stop reading this now. Anyway, when I saw the movie, it seemed to me that it took place in the span of about four days. Now, this didn't really make sense to me when covering Padmé's pregnancy, because it means she gave birth when she was only five months pregnant, but I'm assuming that there's some sort of technology out there that was able to deliver them safely. Or maybe the gestation period is shorter for Padmé's particular breed of human :-). Either way, that's what I've based this story on – that the movie took place in the span of approximately four days on Coruscant. Now, on to the next chapter!
"Does Anakin know?" Odessa asked immediately, the words popping out of her mouth automatically. Padmé buried her face in her hands.
"I…I just found out today. We didn't really get a chance to talk about it, even though I kept meaning to discuss it with him. It just sort of…happened." Odessa hugged her friend sympathetically, but internally, her mind was reeling. How would Anakin take the news? And how exactly would he respond? Would he leave the Jedi in order to care for his child, or would he let Padmé take the full responsibility on herself so that he could continue with his chosen path? Or, perhaps the worst possibility, would he try to be both the caring father and the model Jedi? He would certainly drive himself mad if he tried to take on both roles.
"'Dessa, what am I going to do?" Padmé asked tearfully. Odessa thought for a few moments before answering.
"Well, I think it'll be best if you don't tell him yet. I know they're under a lot of pressure looking for Count Dooku, and you don't want to add to that. Really, there's nothing you can do about it now, so don't fret. We'll get you ready for his return, and when he's back, you can tell him. This is a happy time for you – don't be so upset."
Padmé gave her friend a watery smile and hugged her. Odessa fixed her a hot cup of tea to calm her down and they began discussing how they could rearrange Padmé's apartment for the baby.
"I might go back to Naboo to have my baby. I've always imagined being in the lake country, surrounded by my family when I have my first child. I know Anakin loved it there, too, so he probably wouldn't have a problem with that. I'd come back here, of course, after the baby is old enough to travel. This is my home now, even though I still love it back there. I hope Anakin can be with me when the baby is born – I know that would be important to him. Do you think they'll be back before the baby is born?" Padmé asked, a bit wistfully.
"I think so. Obi-Wan says that they have a pretty good idea of where Dooku is, and hopefully they'll be home soon. They're the best, so they'll be able to capture Dooku in no time. I'm sure Anakin will be able to be with you when your child is born," Odessa said, hoping she was right. She had been through a birth without her child's father, and even with Obi-Wan's help it had been painful to know that her husband should have been with her.
The next two months were difficult. Padmé was often moody and irritable, and while Odessa tried her best to support her friend, sometimes she was just impossible to get along with. Of course, Odessa would always receive a tearful apology shortly after any of their spats, and Odessa welcomed her friend back with open arms. She understood the pressure that Padmé felt.
On top of Padmé's troubles, it was soon clear that Obi-Wan and Anakin were in quite a bit of danger with their current mission. Obi-Wan's messages were typically quick and sporadic – while he was usually able to contact Odessa at least once a week, the timing always changed and he could never speak to her for more than ten minutes. Yet she treasured the time she had to speak with him and tried to keep her spirits up, even when she didn't hear from him. The bond she had with him was very strong, and she felt that she would know if the worst happened. Luckily for Odessa, she was able to put all of her troubles aside when she worked, throwing herself into the battles she was analyzing for the archives. But one morning she noticed that the temple was more active than usual, and then she received a panicked message from Padmé.
"Chancellor Palpatine has been kidnapped by Count Dooku!" her friend told her breathlessly. Odessa's eyes grew wide.
"Kidnapped? But why?" she asked.
"We don't know. Probably to force him to settle with the separatists or something like that. All we know is that it was Dooku, and no one knows where he's taken him," Padmé said.
"Well, I'm sure the Jedi will make finding him their highest priority. I'll see what I can find out here, and hopefully Obi-Wan will contact me soon and let me know what's going on from his point of view. This could be a good thing for both the Jedi and the Senate – with the extra efforts to find Palpatine, we'll probably capture Dooku, too," Odessa said. Merina walked by, shooting Odessa one of her fiercest glares. Odessa swallowed.
"I need to get back to work, but tonight I'll tell you everything I can find out," she said hurriedly. Padmé nodded and disappeared. Odessa returned to her work, then slipped into the hallway at lunchtime. Instead of heading straight for the cafeteria, she lingered in the hallway waiting for some of the masters to pass by. Once they did, she made her way behind them, trying to listen while at the same time appearing uninterested.
"Obi-Wan and Anakin have volunteered to search for the Chancellor, since they're searching for Dooku anyway. They said that they won't need any backup, but you know both of them, especially Anakin. They can both be a bit reckless," Master Windu was saying to Master Yoda.
"Trust them both, I do. But reckless they can be. However, they are capable of this mission," Master Yoda replied. They turned the corner, and as tempted as Odessa was to follow them, she continued to the cafeteria. She was filled with worry for Obi-Wan and Anakin, knowing that they were facing Dooku without any additional Jedi to back them up. She ate her meal quickly, then returned to work. The day went by quickly as she pondered on what to tell Padmé and what she would talk about with Obi-Wan, should he contact her. She picked up Han from daycare and met Padmé at her apartment. Her friend appeared very concerned. She let her in, and Padmé sat on the couch, playing with Han as Odessa prepared dinner.
"Did you find out anything?" Padmé asked.
"Yes, though I don't think you'll like it. Apparently in their testosterone driven urge to prove themselves, Obi-Wan and Anakin have volunteered to return the Chancellor, since they're looking for Dooku anyway. What's worse, they claimed that they don't need any backup. While I don't doubt their capability, they should ask for help if it's offered. Why, if I was there, I'd smack them both around," said Odessa, annoyed. As upset as Padmé was by the situation, she couldn't help smiling at her friend's statement. Odessa prepared a light meal for the two of them as Padmé scrutinized the slight bump in her stomach. Han was sitting beside her, trying to tell her about his day. Padmé feigned interest, but it was obvious to Odessa that she was concerned for her husband. She brought dinner to the table and ushered them both over to eat. Han rushed over, but Padmé lingered on the couch.
"How am I supposed to eat with this on my mind? The senate will be in shambles if Chancellor Palpatine is killed, since they rely on him so much. And Anakin's in so much danger! I think I'm going to be sick," she moaned, pulling herself up.
"Padmé, you know you have to eat. Don't you want your baby to be nice and healthy? You know you need to take care of yourself," Odessa chastised. Padmé shot her a glare, but softened after a moment. She made her way to the table and began eating. They ate in silence, both thinking about the Jedi chasing after Dooku.
"I hope I hear from Obi-Wan soon. I don't like not knowing what's going on there," Odessa said after a few minutes. "I know they're perfectly capable of handling this mission, but I know I'll feel a lot better once I hear his voice. Have you heard from Anakin?" Padmé shook her head, saying nothing as she stared down at her plate. Odessa felt a surge of sympathy for her friend. The stress she felt for the senate, for her child and for her husband had to be absolutely devastating. She didn't stay long after the meal was over, and Odessa felt helpless since she couldn't ease her friend's pain.
The next few weeks did not bring any comfort. Odessa hadn't heard from Obi-Wan at all, and there were rumors going around among the younglings that he and Anakin had been killed. However, she hadn't heard any of these rumors verified by the masters, so she didn't think they were true. And she could still feel Obi-Wan, couldn't she? She had thought that she would know if he were truly gone, but she wasn't quite sure anymore. She knew she had to tell Padmé about the rumors, but she hated to upset her anymore. They met for dinner, and as much as Odessa tried to soften the blow, the news that Anakin might be dead did not go over well.
"Do…do you think they're true?" Padmé asked her tearfully.
"No. I…I think I would know if it were. At least, I know I would have heard something from the Masters, and their conversations have been frightfully boring recently. I'm sure if something had happened, I would have heard it from someone of merit," Odessa said comfortingly. Padmé's tears slowed, but she was still visibly upset. They spent the evening trying to keep their minds off of the situation with Anakin and Obi-Wan, but they weren't entirely successful.
Two more months passed without any news from the Jedi. Padmé's moodiness had morphed into a sullen depression, and while she still saw Odessa every day, Odessa could tell that her friend was not doing well. The light had disappeared from her eyes, and it had been a very long time since she had heard her friend laugh or seen her smile. She seemed to be going through the motions of life, but she was really just a shell of the person she had been. Odessa was worried about how much Padmé relied on Anakin for her purpose in life, but she didn't mention anything. It seemed as if Padmé had enough to deal with.
It didn't seem real to Odessa when she heard that Anakin and Obi-Wan were finally returning home. All time had seemed to stop as she turned to the group of younglings crowded around Master Yoda as he hobbled into the library, telling them how the two Jedi had recovered Chancellor Palpatine and were returning to Coruscant. As the words finally sunk in, a rush of emotions flooded her body. Hurriedly she sent Padmé a message telling her that they were returning, and kept her ears open for any news whatsoever. Nothing had occurred by lunchtime, and she spent the meal picking at her food and staring at the door, hoping to see some sign of Obi-Wan or Anakin. There was no sign of them, and she dejectedly returned to her work. She tried to concentrate on the battles, but found herself watching the entrance for most of the afternoon. Finally she felt the familiar tingle of Obi-Wan's presence, and looked up. He was walking into the library, looking directly at her. He shot a look over to the tall shelves in the back of the library, and she rose, pushing a cart of books over in that direction. Once she met him there, she threw her arms around him.
"We were so worried about you," she said to him as he wrapped his arms around her tightly. Reluctantly he pulled away before anyone noticed.
"I wanted to contact you, believe me. This last bit of fighting actually took place right around Coruscant. We were just so swamped with the droids that I had to forget about everything else but the battles – we couldn't risk any distractions. We had many close shaves, and I know that if I hadn't had Anakin with me, I wouldn't have made it," he told her seriously. He had the look of a battle-weary soldier, but the glimmer of happiness was beginning to shine through his eyes as he looked at her.
"I understand. There were rumors that you'd been killed, but I didn't believe them. I…I figured I'd know if you were really dead," she said, looking away.
"It'll take more than a few droids to kill me," he joked with her. She smiled.
"Well, you were also facing a Sith Lord, which isn't something to sneeze at. What happened to Count Dooku? Were you able to capture him?"
"Not exactly. I'll tell you all about it tonight – I've got to check in with the council. But I wanted to see you and let you know that I'm alright," he said to her. She smiled at him as he squeezed her arm, then left. She started walking to her desk, but was cut off by an irritated Merina.
"Ms. Sinthea. What did I say to you about neglecting your work for the company of Jedi Masters?" she said, fuming.
"Merina, let me ask you something. Has my work ever not met your expectations? Have I not shown myself to be a dedicated and loyal worker in the time I've been here? Master Kenobi is my friend, and it was common knowledge that his last mission was particularly dangerous. I was understandably concerned about him, so of course I would try to speak with him. That does not mean I am not dedicated to my work, nor does it mean I do not know my place," Odessa said matter-of-factly. The woman blanched.
"I sometimes suspect that as much as you're reminded of your place, you forget it once the words grace your ears. Take care to not forget, and bear in mind that it is not your job to befriend the members of this temple. You are no longer one of them, you work for them. Should this come up once more, I will bring it to the attentions of the Jedi Council," Merina said in a very cold voice. Odessa looked at her calmly, determined to not show the frustration she felt towards the woman. She nodded wordlessly and returned to her desk. She started working again, elated that Obi-Wan was alright, but furious at Merina for chastising her. It seemed to her that the librarian was the one who needed to learn her place.
Odessa's thoughts wandered to Padmé. She hadn't received a message from her friend, so she imagined that Padmé had tried to see Anakin when he returned. She wondered how Anakin would react to the news that he was going to be a father, if Padmé even told him. She knew Padmé would, since she wasn't the type of person to keep things from Anakin. She went through her work as quickly as possible, but was eager to leave by the end of the day approached. She hurried out of the library, aware of Merina's eyes on her as she left. She picked up Han then made her way to the apartment. She was surprised to find Obi-Wan waiting outside. Han hurried over to him shouting "Oben! Oben!" as Odessa opened the door and let him in. He scooped Han up in his arms and entered the apartment. The little boy giggled and starting telling Obi-Wan about his day as the Jedi Master settled on the couch. Odessa sat beside him and they played with Han for a bit before turning their attentions to each other. Obi-Wan gently pulled Odessa into his arms and held her for a few moments in silence.
"I'm glad to be back here," he finally said. "At least this last mission was an eventful one – a bit too eventful, I think. The last standoff was particularly grueling – we were able to track down the chancellor because of his homing signal, but it wasn't east to get to Dooku's ship. Once we finally got within firing range, we were covered with vulture and buzz droids, and the buzz droids nearly did me in. If it wasn't for Anakin, they would have – he was able to brush them off me. The silly boy first tried firing at them, but that certainly wasn't helpful. We got into the ship and located Palpatine, but of course Dooku had made him the bait for a trap to catch us. Both Anakin and I faced Dooku, but unfortunately he, er, dispatched of me rather quickly – I've still got the bump on the back of the head to prove it. The next think I knew, I was slung over Anakin's back, hanging in an upturned elevator shaft. I knew then that Dooku was dead, but at least the chancellor was safe. We headed for an exit, but got caught and were eventually escorted to General Grievous, the new leader of the droid army, now that Dooku is dead. After Anakin made some cocky comments we had to fight our way to the controls, but by that time Grievous was gone and we came crashing down here. I must say, I'm very proud of Anakin. We were in some tight situations there, and he was able to pull us through spectacularly. He's becoming quite a wonderful Jedi."
"I'm sure you were spectacular, too," Odessa replied.
"Well, I managed to keep myself alive, but just barely. Anakin has far more power with the force than I do, I just hope he can reach his full potential. He's still a bit headstrong and emotional at times, but I think he'll be able to control that as he grows. I know I was the same way when I was his age."
Odessa doubted that. She knew, from what Padmé had told her, about Anakin's emotional fits and knew that Obi-Wan wasn't capable of such anger or jealousy. While he had admitted his feelings to her, she could see that deep down his first commitment was to the Jedi, and no matter what happened with their relationship, his status of a Jedi would always be first. For Anakin, Padmé was first. It was wonderful for Padmé, but terrible for Anakin as a Jedi.
"With Dooku gone and Grievous in hiding, will the war end?" she asked.
"I wish it would, believe me. But unfortunately Palpatine won't let go of his power over the senate until Grievous is found and the droid army crippled. I'd love to just have some time to relax here, though." He smiled at her affectionately.
"I suppose Grievous wouldn't just stay in hiding anyway. Ah well, life's more exciting with a war on, that's for sure," Odessa said lightheartedly, standing.
"Let me prepare a quick meal, and then we can eat," she said. Obi-Wan nodded and turned to Han, using the force to float a ball over the boy's head. As usual, Han was delighted. They ate dinner while Obi-Wan told Odessa about the mission. After the meal was over Odessa put Han to bed, and she and Obi-Wan sat together on the couch. He gingerly wrapped his arms around her and she settled against his body.
"I hope you don't think I was too forward the last time I was here," he said softly.
"Not at all. It was…wonderful," she said to him, smiling.
"After the battles were over, all I could think of was you. I couldn't help wondering what you were doing, picturing you working in the library with that intense look of concentration on your face. It was definitely a nice way to cool down after the rough battles we had," he said to her.
"They sound like they were certainly memorable battles. I sometimes wish I could actually be there, instead of just analyzing them."
"Sometimes, I think it would be nice to just be sitting around and letting someone else take care of things. I wouldn't have to worry about some strange cyborg trying to electrocute me or any Sith Lords holding me hostage. And then I could concentrate on other things in my life," he said, pulling her a bit closer.
"You'd get bored of it after a while. I imagine that if I didn't have Han in my life, I'd be going crazy with boredom. A Jedi is trained to spend their time jumping from place to place, saving the galaxy. It's not in our nature to be happy staying in one spot, no matter how wonderful it sounds."
"I can't imagine time with you would ever be boring," he replied.
"Oh, it would be. After a while, the thought of sitting at home with me and Han would pale in comparison to flying around droid ships with Anakin. Besides, I wouldn't let you do that anyway. Just because I lost my place within the Jedi because of love doesn't mean you have to. I know how important it is to you; I remember how important it was to me. I was devastated when I had to stop. I'll be here for you whenever you need me, but I won't let you put me above your status as a Jedi," she told him seriously, looking him in the eye.
"You're more important to me -" he started, but she cut him off.
"No I'm not. You care for me, quite a bit. But you've known me for two years, whereas you've been a Jedi for most of your life. I don't need to be first in your life, I just want to be part of it. I loved my husband, but he wasn't first – being a Jedi was."
Obi-Wan sighed, knowing he couldn't contradict her.
"I want you to be part of my life. Someday, we will be together," he told her firmly. She smiled.
"I hope so," she said. He squeezed her a bit, then let go of her.
"Did you want to get some training in? I'm still a bit sore, but I think I'll be alright for some light sparring," he asked.
"Of course, though I think your definition of 'light sparring' is more like 'complete and total workout' for me, but that should be fine. Let me get ready." She went to her bedroom and changed, fastening her hair up and grabbing her lightsaber. She met him in the living room and they began sparring. For three hours Obi-Wan tested her style and reflexes until she was about to collapse.
"You're still leaving your chest wide open at times. Tomorrow we're going to work on that, and hopefully we can lessen it. It seems to be somewhat ingrained in you, though," he said seriously.
"I try, but like you said before, when I lose my focus, the transitions just seem to do that. What I really need to do is work on keeping my focus," she said with a slight frown. He placed a finger under her chin.
"You're doing wonderfully. Hopefully you'll never need to use this, anyway. I just think it's good to keep your mind and body in shape, in case you do need it. But you're safe here," he told her sweetly. She smiled.
"Let me get you a pillow, and then we can both get a good night's rest. I'm sure you'll be busy tomorrow, trying to find General Grievous. I just hope they don't ship you out again too soon," she said. She got the extra pillow and blanket she had put aside for him and brought them out to the couch. As she went to leave, Obi-Wan pulled her into his arms.
"Sometimes I wish that we could just forget that the war was going on, and that I needed to fight in it," he whispered into her hair. She held him tightly.
"I do, too," she said. He kissed her lightly on the forehead, and they went to sleep. The next morning they woke and went through their exercises together.
"I'll need to meet with the council today and explain what's going on with the droid army. With their leader gone, they'll be in disarray until Grievous takes firm control over things. I'll try to meet you for lunch, though, since it shouldn't last long. However, we do have a meeting with Chancellor Palpatine in the morning, and if that takes long, I might get delayed. I'll try and let you know if I'm going to be late," he said to her as they parted ways. He hugged her goodbye and she went to wake Han. After a quick breakfast, she dropped Han off at daycare and arrived at the temple early. She got to work, trying to appear unconcerned as Merina repeatedly glared at her and walked by to ensure that she was working. At lunchtime, she met Obi-Wan right outside the entrance. His face was creased with concern.
"What's wrong?" she asked as they sat down to eat.
"Anakin. He was late to the meeting today, and now he's speaking with Chancellor Palpatine. All of us on the council feel that there's something strange about Palpatine, and as it is the council doesn't trust Anakin. I worry that he's getting too cozy with the chancellor, and further away from the council," Obi-Wan said. Odessa thought for a moment, concerned.
"Well, perhaps if he can bridge the gap between the Chancellor and the council, we'll be able to figure out what's behind the dark presence around the senate," she said hopefully. He cast her a sad smile.
"If you're right about Palpatine, then it may only cause the source to be hidden further. Anakin can be very loyal, and he'll fight tooth and nail if someone speaks out against someone he cares about. It's one of his biggest failings – he cares about the people around him too much. It's not that he can't care for them, but it shouldn't come before his role as a Jedi. He doesn't quite understand that. We're meeting with the council this afternoon to discuss what Palpatine had to say…as it is I know Anakin won't take well to that. He knows that the council doesn't trust him or the Chancellor."
"He has great power. Perhaps if the council put a bit more trust in him, he would rise to the occasion," she replied.
"I agree. However, I am not the only voice on the council, and I must side with them, whatever they choose," Obi-Wan said. Odessa cast him a sympathetic smile. They finished their meal and parted ways formally, and Odessa returned to the library. Once again, Merina was glaring at her, but she pretended not to notice. She kept a steady pace, but left as soon as possible. She picked up Han and rushed home, picking up dinner on the way. When she arrived, she had just enough time to set the table before Obi-Wan arrived. If possible, he looked worse than he had at lunchtime.
"I take it you don't come bearing good news?" she asked as he entered and dropped onto a chair.
"Not at all. Anakin was appointed to be Palpatine's personal representative on the council," he started.
"Well, that's wonderful for Anakin, isn't it? He's a Master now," she said hesitantly. Obi-Wan sighed.
"It would be good for him, if that had been the outcome. However, the council doesn't approve of the Chancellor interfering with the council's business. They put him on the council, but they did not grant him the rank of Master. As you can probably imagine, Anakin was very insulted. True, he's not ready to be a Master, especially with the blatant display of anger and jealousy he showed this afternoon, but he's like a brother to me. I hate to see him hurt." Obi-Wan toyed with the food Odessa had placed in front of him, but didn't eat any.
"Well, he'll get the rank soon enough. He just needs a little patience, and as soon as he's gained the trust of the council, they'll give him the rank," Odessa replied.
"It gets worse. Ever since Qui-Gon was killed by the Sith, Palpatine has watched over Anakin practically as a son. The council doesn't trust Palpatine, but they see that Palpatine trusts Anakin. The council basically asked Anakin to spy on the Chancellor and report everything back to them as a way of proving his trust to the council. As you can imagine, that went over even worse. I felt terrible, especially since the council asked me to talk to Anakin about it. It isn't really an 'official' mission, so I had to ask him right as he was in an emotional state over the fact that he hadn't been granted the title of Master. I'm not sure how much help he'll be to the council – he's quite fond of Palpatine, and I don't think he'll willingly turn over information about him, regardless of what he finds out."
Odessa gave him a sympathetic look as they ate in silence. Han had fallen asleep in his high chair as Obi-Wan had talked, so Odessa gently carried him to his crib. When she returned, Obi-Wan had placed the dishes in the sink and was sitting on the couch. She joined him.
"Perhaps Anakin will think things over tonight, and realize that he was overreacting this afternoon. Being on the council is a high honor as it is, so he should be grateful for that. Surely he realizes that he's very lucky to be there, at his age?" she asked.
"I wish he would. Sometimes he seems consumed with the fact that he's so powerful. But raw power won't get him anywhere – he needs to learn how to harness it and use it for good. He's strong, but reckless." Obi-Wan took her hand in his.
"Perhaps…now I'm not saying that he deserves it, because he certainly doesn't, but perhaps if the council had made him a master, he would realize how essential he is to the Jedi, and work harder to be better at being a Jedi. He certainly would have trusted them more if they had done that," she said tentatively.
"It is not the council's job to gain the trust of the Jedi – all Jedi should trust the council! If anything, Anakin should be happy that he's even allowed to sit in on the meetings!" Obi-Wan exclaimed. Odessa placed a soothing hand on his cheek.
"You're right. It just seems that if he doesn't trust the council and if the council doesn't trust him, we won't be able to get anything done. Someone needs to make the first move to build that trust," she said softly. Obi-Wan calmed instantly and pulled her into his arms.
"I hope he will. Despite my fierce arguments to the council that he can be trusted, I don't think they'll believe it until they see that he's trustworthy with their own eyes. I just hate to see him upset like this – it always brings out the worst in him, and that's not the first impression he wants to make on the council."
They sat together for a few moments, neither saying anything, until Obi-Wan finally suggested that they get some sparring in. He was a bit stricter that evening than he had been in the past, but Odessa understood his frustration. If his apprentice was misbehaving, it would reflect badly on him. He wanted to prove to himself that he was a capable teacher. They went to bed later than normal, but both were satisfied by how the workout went.
The next morning Odessa could tell that Obi-Wan was still wary about Anakin's behavior. Anakin had contacted him early, claiming that Palpatine had told him where General Grievous was. The council was meeting to discuss how to use this information, but Obi-Wan promised to let her know what was going on as soon as he knew. They sat down to a quick breakfast before he had to leave.
"Well, I hope they don't send you out today. It's Han's birthday today, and I was hoping that we could possibly throw him a little bit of a party. I can't really remember any birthday parties from my youth, but since Han has a family here, I think it'd be fun. Nothing big or anything, but I'd like to do something," she said to Obi-Wan, a bit shyly. Obi-Wan grinned broadly at her.
"Of course we can do something for the birthday boy! I doubt the council will have anyone leaving right away – they'll want to verify Palpatine's information and come up with a plan. That will take at least a day. What did you have in mind?" he asked.
"Nothing very big. Perhaps a small cake and a few presents – I was going to pick up some on my way home from work. Mostly I just wanted to spend some time where he was the center of attention, because I know he enjoys that," she said.
"It's a date. I'll be here tonight, ready to celebrate with the little man. I'll see you at lunchtime." He brushed a quick kiss to her cheek and left.
The day went by quickly. She received a brief message from Obi-Wan saying that he couldn't meet her for lunch due to meetings with the council, but she kept herself busy regardless. Working through her lunch hour allowed her to leave early, so she stopped by some shops and picked up a birthday cake along with a toy spaceship, knowing Han would enjoy it. She picked up her son, who was decorated in multicolored ribbons from his celebrations at daycare, and took him home. She gave him a quick bath then freshened up herself, waiting for Obi-Wan. He came bearing two large sacks and a third, smaller sack.
"I wasn't sure what you wanted me to bring, so I stopped by a restaurant and picked up some dinner. I also got something for the birthday boy," he said, placing the bags down and going over to Han. The boy held up his arms, and Obi-Wan picked him up and held him over his head. The boy squealed with delight, and started laughing loudly as Obi-Wan swung him back into his arms and began ticking him. They kept at it for a few moments as Odessa watched on, amused. Finally all three sat at the table for dinner.
"This really is wonderful, Obi-Wan. It must have cost you a fortune," Odessa told him as they ate.
"It wasn't as bad as you're thinking, most likely. But really, how often does a little boy turn two? He's definitely out of his baby years, now," Obi-Wan replied.
"Yes, and I'm sure he'll live up to the 'terrible twos;' he's already a handful," she said, smiling. Obi-Wan laughed. Then his expression turned serious.
"Odessa, they're sending me to Utapau to find Grievous. Palpatine has it on good authority that he's there, but they can't afford to send anyone else – Anakin wanted to be the one to go, but the council wants him to stay behind and keep tabs on Palpatine. The Chancellor was right on Dooku's location, so I'd say he's probably right with Grievous, too. I just wish Anakin was going with me – his support has gotten me through many difficult situations." He gave Odessa an apologetic look.
"I'm sure you'll be fine. At least you're here tonight, and I'm sure it won't be a long mission. Grievous isn't a challenge for you – you've beaten some very powerful Sith. Just let me know what you're up to when you can," she said to him. He smiled.
"I'll do what I can. So what do you think, Han? Is it time for cake and presents?"
"Yesh!" the little boy exclaimed, clapping. Odessa brought the cake over from the kitchen and lit two small candles on it. Han blew them out spectacularly, and Obi-Wan cut each of them a piece. Once they were finished, a very-hyper Han bounced around in his chair as Obi-Wan and Odessa brought gifts to him. He was very entertained by the small spaceship his mother had gotten for him, just as she'd hoped he'd be. Obi-Wan's package contained four things – three brightly colored rubber balls and one orb made of metallic wires. The wires could be folded into and out of the center of the orb, creating many different shapes. Han was intrigued by it right away, and spent five minutes playing with it before holding it up to Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan laughed, and held out his hand. The orb floated just out of Han's reach, slowly shifting shapes as it rotated around his head. Han was ecstatic at the antics of his new toy, and watched it until he dropped off to sleep almost ten minutes later. Odessa brought him to bed, then sat beside Obi-Wan.
"I never really pictured what it would be like to have a family," he said to her wistfully. "But if every day was as fulfilling as this evening was, it'd be well worth giving up everything I have."
"Han is amazing. He's made my life so wonderful; so full of love and life that I couldn't picture it any other way. But it's hard to make that decision, and I wouldn't ask that of you," she said to him. "You couldn't leave the Jedi, regardless of what you think right now. It's too much of who you are. I was forced to change, but you're not. Part of why I care for you so much is that you're so dedicated to the Jedi, and I wouldn't want to take that away from you," she replied, giving him a hard look. He sighed somewhat contentedly and held her in his arms.
"I think it'd be nice to be a father. It'd be similar to training an apprentice, but you don't have to teach them how to fight and kill things," he said.
"Oh, it's much more difficult. They come to you already able to bathe themselves, clothe themselves and able to use a bathroom. Your own children require your complete concentration at all times, yet they'll rarely listen to you. Believe me, having an apprentice is a piece of cake compared to raising your own child," she said, smiling.
"I have no doubt, though my own apprentice certainly has been a handful as of late. But it must be very fulfilling to watch your child grow and turn out alright."
"It's the best thing I've ever done," she replied simply. They talked late into the night about the few memories they had of their families, as well as the relationships they had with their masters. They drifted off to sleep in each other's arms.
Odessa woke the next morning in her own bed, confused. She finally pieced together that Obi-Wan must have carried her in, but he was nowhere to be found. Sleepily she rose and walked into the hallway, noticing Han's door was ajar. Peeking in, she saw Obi-Wan watching her son sleep.
"You would have made a wonderful father," she said to him. He turned to her and smiled.
"Well, I don't know about that. But perhaps one day I'll have the honor of being someone's father, or at least, their stepfather," he said to her. Odessa blushed, but it wasn't noticeable in the early light. Obi-Wan pulled her to his chest and held her gently as they watched the sun slowly lighten the nursery. Once it was light enough, they made their way to the kitchen for breakfast.
"I'll be leaving shortly before noon today. It's a solo mission, so I may not be able to contact you, but I'll do what I can. I'll have a large group of clones with me, so that will help quite a bit, but we wont really have our own base, so to speak. I'll definitely contact you once I'm on my way back safely," he said after they finished their breakfast. They lingered at the door, not quite ready to say goodbye.
"I know everything will be fine," Odessa told him, but there was a lingering fear in her stomach that she wouldn't see him again. He placed his hands on her shoulders.
"Don't you worry about me. Take care of yourself, and I'll be back before you know it. I just hope Anakin will be able to prove his faithfulness to the Jedi while I'm gone. I'm going to stop by Padmé's apartment before I return to the temple – I know he cares for her, or at least will listen to her. Maybe she can knock some sense into him while I'm gone. I'll see you soon." He kissed her softly on the forehead and left. The feeling of uneasiness only grew. She showered and dressed, then brought Han to daycare before returning to the temple. She started on her work, but the lingering dread in the pit of her stomach kept growing, and by midmorning it was so distracting that she couldn't concentrate on her work. Against her better judgment and knowing that Merina would be furious with her, Odessa slipped out of the library and made her way to the main hangar. She could see that Obi-Wan was still there, talking with Anakin right outside his fighter. Rushing towards them, she slipped behind a wall until Anakin left.
"Goodbye, old friend. May the force be with you," she heard Obi-Wan say to Anakin. Anakin walked past her, not even noticing she was there. Once he was gone, she walked over to Obi-Wan. When he saw her he pulled her behind the wing of his fighter.
"Odessa, what are you doing here? You know Merina will have your head if she sees you here," he said, concerned.
"I…I just wanted to wish you luck before you left. For some reason I just have an uneasy feeling about this mission. It's something I've never felt before."
"Don't worry – everything will be fine. I'll contact you once I've returned," he said sternly, but his eyes betrayed the emotion he felt for her. He pulled her into a brief hug.
"I hope you're right. The force be with you, Obi-Wan," she said to him as he jumped into his starfighter. He flashed her a smile, and she hurried back to the library, unconvinced that everything would be alright. As expected, Merina greeted her at the entrance, furious.
"And where, Ms. Sinthea, have you been?" she asked.
"I was wishing Master Kenobi good luck on his mission. If he is successful, it will be the end of this wretched war. Shouldn't we all want that?" Odessa said defiantly.
"You are not to mingle with the Jedi of this temple. I have told you time and time again, but you refuse to recognize your place. Were the council not busy with other matters at the moment, I would bring you to them right away. However, that will have to wait until tomorrow, when I assure you they will hear of your exploits with a certain Master Kenobi," the older woman said, furious.
"I will have a chance to plead my case fairly, then. They will agree with me that I have done nothing wrong. Now, Madam Orven, you are keeping me from my work." Odessa brushed past the woman and returned to her desk, the anger temporarily silencing the unease she felt at Obi-Wan's departure. Merina stormed through the multiple bookcases in the library, but Odessa didn't even notice the woman's antics.
The day passed, and Odessa's unease only grew. When it was finally time to return home, she rushed back to the apartment with Han and called the only person she knew she could count on – Padmé.
"Padmé, I know you probably have Anakin over, but if you get a chance, I could really use some support right now," she told her friend.
"Please…Please come over. I…I could really use some support, too," her friend told her. Odessa could see that she was crying.
"I'll be right there." Odessa grabbed her things and packed a small bag for Han, then made her way to Padmé's apartment. Her friend greeted her with a tight hug.
"'Dessa, you have no idea how glad I am to see you. I have a lot to tell you."
Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed! It means so much to me!
Rachel Sparrow: I figured you'd like it when they kissed :-). Initially I was going to put it later in the story, but it just fit so nicely there. Don't you agree?
Chibi Chingo: I hope this chapter wasn't too angsty for you! Thanks for reading, and I'm glad you like the story!
Mistress Haruka: Thank you for reviewing! I'm so glad you like the story – I'm trying to keep them in character as much as possible, so I'm glad you approve!
PhoenixFyre: I'm glad you liked that scene! It gave me chills when I was writing it – I know, I'm such a nerd :-).
Mirielle: As always, your reviews are much appreciated :-). Constructive criticism is always a good thing.
- time with Obi-Wan – I'm a dork and left out the "with." I fixed it, thanks for pointing it out!
- Obi-Wan being earnest – I'd like to think that he's learned from his relationship with Siri, if it could be called that. He feels something for Odessa, and he doesn't want to waste that.
- Obi-Wan taking action – he wasn't going to do anything until his feelings were reciprocated. He wanted her to know how he felt, though.
- Palpatine – I think, regardless of however foolproof Palpatine's plans are, the council is still going to be suspicious of him. Like you said, Mace suspected him beforehand, and Odessa mentioning that she noticed it too would only fuel that fire.
- Sounding like Anakin – yes, I know he sounds like Anakin. I wrote him specifically that way, because he's in a similar situation that Anakin is in. As you can see, he knows that he can't be both a Jedi and in a relationship with Odessa, but I imagine that anyone in his situation would want to have it both ways, regardless of their teachings. I think if Siri had lived, they would have wanted to be together, too. But I'm sure neither of them would give up their Jedi lifestyle, simply because it'd go against everything they are. Obi-Wan's relationship with Odessa isn't like Anakin's and Padmé's, though. Obi-Wan doesn't feel any possessiveness towards her, he just enjoys being with her.
- Friends with Padmé – Obi-Wan knows that they're friends. Padmé was at the hospital right after Han was born, and she told him earlier that she would talk to her about the Senate meeting.
- The story being successful: I think it's successful simply because I love writing it, and it appears that a number of people here enjoy reading it. I think I've been pretty good keeping the story with the movies, which was my main goal when writing it. Like I said, I'd like it to work with the books, but if it doesn't, that's okay with me.