Jedi Padawan Skywalker: Whelp, this is it. End of a rough journey for our heroes, eh? I'm horribly regretful to say that the sequel has yet to be started, but as soon as priority and schedules permit, that'll be written. Please enjoy the 'grand finale' (of sorts) for Dust!

Disclaimer: Star Wars is copy right 1977, 1980, 1983, 1999, 2002, and 2005 to George Lucas. You'll notice that none of the aforementioned copyright dates are made out to me.

Dust

Chapter Two:

As the day of the wedding approached, Anakin found himself becoming increasingly nervous. Getting married seemed to seal his child's existence, as though there were some doubt of it at the moment. Obi-Wan leaned against the doorway, watching him change into his dress robes. He could see Anakin's finger shaking slightly, and his breath seemed slightly shallow.

"Nervous, my Anakin?" He teased playfully, walking over to his fiancé to help him.

"Terrified." The poor boy confirmed; his gaze locked down on his trembling hands and already swelling abdomen.

"It'll be all right, young one. A few more hours and it will be official." Obi-Wan smiled and finished the buttons for his apprentice, before letting his hand rest briefly on the growing bulge that signified their developing child. The girl seemed as excited about the occasion as her parents, for she kicked against his hand. Obi-Wan chuckled softly at the wince his lover allowed, due to the kick.

It wasn't long before the door buzzed, interrupting their moment. Obi-Wan looked toward it in bewilderment.

"Who could that be…?" He gave Anakin a brief kiss on his lips, and then went to the door to see who it was. Anakin peered around the door way shyly, also curious. But, seeing their guest was only Bant, he relaxed a little and simply returned to his preparations. He still had to dig his nice boots out from under the bed, after all…

Bant Erin threw her arms around Obi-Wan's neck in a tight hug, when he let her in. He smiled and returned the embrace affectionately.

"Obi-Wan, you rascal!" She laughed. "Taking after Master Jinn, even after all this time!"

"They do say 'like father like son'…and he was the closest thing to a true father that I've ever had…" Obi-Wan trailed off, not needing to continue. He and Bant both knew where it was going.

"So, where is he?" Bant wanted to know. "Where's Anakin?"

"He's in the other room, getting ready." Obi-Wan directed, with a nod in the direction of the bedroom that he and Anakin were sharing. (It was the room that had originally been Qui-Gon's, but Obi-Wan had since gotten over the idea that he was 'defiling his Master's private space'.

When Bant entered, Anakin had rescued his boots and was currently sitting on the edge of the bed to pull them on. Occasionally, he'd pause to brush a small bit of dust off of his tunic.

"Well, well, well, don't you look nice?" The Mon Calamari commented, smiling at him. Her words earned her a sheepish grin from the banished Jedi.

"Thank you, Knight Bant," he mumbled embarrassedly. "I feel like a total girl…no offense, or anything."

"None taken," Bant assured him. "But, now you're going to have to sit through a little speech." She crossed the room to sit down next to him, taking his flesh hand in one of her own clammy fish ones. "Obi-Wan Kenobi is my best friend. As you are going to be his husband, after today, I want you to know that I do expect you to take care of him. The two of you are the best team that I've ever seen come out of this place, that still needs to stand."

Anakin simply stared at her for a moment, his gaze trailing down to his clasped hand and then back up. He'd been under the impression that he was the wife, and Obi-Wan was to take care of him…oh well.

"Of course," he agreed finally, as though it had been obvious to begin with that he'd still be Obi-Wan's partner, Jedi status or no. Bant smiled, seeming satisfied with his answer.

"Good. Now, for the reason this is actually happening… I can feel a tiny amount of energy coming from you…would you like to explain that?"

"We're going to be fathers," Obi-Wan spoke up from the doorway.

"Fathers!" Bant gaped between them both. "But…but…fathers? I think this is something I just shouldn't ask about…"

"We couldn't answer any questions anyway, honestly," the former Padawan blushed faintly; half wishing she'd let go of his hand. He really wasn't the touchy-feeliest type of person. "Because I have no idea how it happened. Neither does Obi-Wan, unless he's been lying to me."

"That I would never believe." Bant told him adamantly. "Obi-Wan does not lie…at least, to my knowledge." She offered her friend and odd look.

"No, I do not. I can't explain it any more than Anakin can." He glanced at the chrono, to check the time. "We're due to begin in thirty standard minutes. We should probably get going, Anakin." The boy nodded in agreement and extracted himself from Bant's grip to head for the door.

Now, hours after the ceremony was over, they sat, much as they did every night now, on the couch. Anakin was reclining against Obi-Wan's chest, with his new husband's arms cradling him gently. The HoloNet transceiver quietly droned in the background, adding a picturesque element to the peaceful scene.

"They were there," Obi-Wan broke the quiet eventually, murmuring into Ani's hair.

"Who?" Anakin blinked at him. He'd been far too focused on not vomiting to be paying much attention to anything.

"Master Qui-Gon and your mother," the older man answered softly. "I felt him for the first time in so long… So, if he was there, I'm sure she was too."

A bright smile spread across his "bride's" face. His tone matched his expression as he said, "I'm happy," nuzzling against him.

"So am I, my Anakin," Obi-Wan promised him serenely. "So am I…"

Months passed in peace. Blessedly calm peace…it was a level of calm so…entirely consuming that Anakin was almost paranoid about it last. It seemed almost wrong to be so happy, when the galaxy was in such turmoil. So many people were dying… Anakin knew it couldn't last, and it didn't.

About six months into his pregnancy, they came and took him. Snatched him right out of the Temple's gardens…the garden that the younglings trained it. It was so secure, usually, that the Council was at a loss as to how it had happened. (It had never happened before, after all.) But, the situation still remained. Dooku had Anakin Captive, and the only clue he'd left was the boy's absence.

Needless to say, Obi-Wan was not happy.

"What do you mean you 'have no idea where he is'?" The Jedi Knight demanded, as soon as he found out. He'd been gone on the first mission that he had been assigned since the Council had put him on probation. His punishment had finally been lifted a month ago. He had been gone since then. He hadn't wanted to leave Anakin behind, but his lover had assured him that he would be fine… Obviously, his apprentice had been mistaken…wherever he was.

"Exactly that, Obi-Wan," Mace Windu told him. The Korun Master at least looked uncomfortable under his cohort's fury. "We don't know. We haven't seen him for over a week."

"I knew I shouldn't have gone!" Obi-Wan raged. "Look what happens! Has Master Yoda tried to find him through the Force?" He questioned, already trying to feel for Anakin through their training bond. The boy was too far away.

"Yes…" Mace confirmed slowly. "We think he might be on Serenno, somewhere, but we haven't had the resources to send a Jedi Team to look for him."

"I'll go. I'll go now." Poor Obi-Wan announced flatly, already turning to leave.

"Master Kenobi," Windu called after him. "May the Force be with you both."

The water felt cold when it hit him, tearing Anakin inconsiderately back to consciousness. Ani yelped, shaking his head quickly, to jostle some of the water from his hair. Looking up, he moodily sought out the source of said water. He saw Dooku watching him, as the nefarious Count tossed a now empty bucket aside.

"No sleep for you, Skywalker," the Sith informed him, stalking forward. Anakin wisely held his tongue on the matter that Dooku had been the one to knock him out to begin with. He simply hung, limp in the chains that suspended his arms over his head. (The flesh counterpart of those very same arms was now numb, from the back of blood circulation.) "We're going to try something new today."

Still, Anakin said nothing. He continued to remain infuriatingly silent, until the Count pulled out a needle and approached him. The needle held a drug in it, he knew. That he wouldn't stand for.

"H-hey!" He protested, twisting fruitlessly in his bindings. What else could he do? Beg? "Keep that thing away from me!" He was fairly certain he liked demanding more.

"I think the fact that you asked is reason enough not to obey," Dooku informed him. Holding him still, he stuck the needle into Anakin's arm without warning. The banished Jedi hissed in protest. Only after the syringe was empty did Dooku explain to him what was now flowing through his veins. "I have just given you a drug that will enhance your sense of pain. It's to make beating you more fun. I have no idea what adverse effects, if any, it will have on that monster child of yours."

Widening, Anakin's frantic blue eyes trailed form where the needle had pierced his arm, down to his bulging stomach. Anakin squirmed some more, as though that would magically clear his system before the drug could reach the baby in his womb. In response to his wriggling, Dooku merely punched him. Apparently, the drug was fast acting. Small white specks danced in front of his eyes, and his head searched with the blow.

"Force!" The blonde gasped in protest, his head snapping reflexively to the side. Obi-Wan had better hurry up and save him!

The first thing Obi-Wan did was send a message to Bant, requesting her help. She quickly agreed, and he met her halfway to Serenno.

"Obi-Wan, you have to calm down." The Mon Calamari tried to convince him. "You will be no use to him, or anyone, if you are too worked up to nice things, and get yourself killed!" She yelled, shaking him gently. Obi-Wan blinked at her, alarmed, and took a deep breath to calm down before nodding.

"I'm sorry, Bant…I'm just so worried about him…" He murmured, returning to the controls.

"I know, Obi-Wan…but, we will find him. I promise you that," she put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

By the time Obi-Wan and Bant found him, Anakin was broken, bloodied, and barely responsive. The drug was doing its job well. Dooku had built up so much in his system that Anakin was unsure if it would ever wear off. Granted, the healing arts weren't exactly his forte, but what he really was worried about was his baby… Dooku hadn't known if the drug would affect her or not…he prayed it wouldn't. The Count had him chained up again, at that moment, and he was walking around him like a vulture and its prey, when Anakin's rescuers burst in.

"Get away from him!" Obi-Wan ordered, immediately brandishing his lightsaber. Bant did the same, glaring at Dooku. The Count laughed at them and brought out his own lightsaber. The synthetic red glow cast an eerie lavender shade over the room, mixing with the cornflower blue of Obi-Wan and Bant's.

"So angry, Master Kenobi," Dooku taunted. "Anger leads to the dark side, you know."

"You've done enough to him, Dooku. Fight me, now." Obi-Wan growled forcefully. Dooku just chuckled in amusement, but he agreed to the demand with a nod. He certainly had not minded fighting Kenobi before and he didn't mind it now. Their battle was a flurry of crimson and azure as Obi-Wan carefully led them away from Anakin. He had to save him…somehow! "Bant!" He called back to his Healer friend. "Free Anakin!"

The Mon Calamari nodded and hurried over to undo the boy's chains. Anakin fell on her, once the bindings holding him suspended were released, sending Bant to her knees under his weight.

"Anakin…please…can you hear me?" She inquired hopefully, wiping a bit of the blood off of his face, before it could run into his eyes any more than it had already, with the sleeve of her cloak.

The blonde whimpered as the soft cloth passed over his numerous cuts and bruises, but he didn't seem inclined to respond to her words. He just tensed against her touch, curling around himself, around his baby, protectively. Bant tightened her hold around him, murmuring comfortingly. Her eyes strayed to where Obi-Wan was still dueling Dooku, her heart pounding as she saw how many close calls he received.

"Obi-Wan…" She whispered; her eyes widening as she saw Dooku cut down at his leg. The move met its mark. Fortunately, Obi-Wan managed to move enough that it didn't take his leg off completely, but the burn was still severe. Worst than the one he'd received in his previous fight with Dooku, just months before hand. The Jedi Knight fell to the floor and Dooku did not give him enough time to get back to his feet. He had to defend himself from his back on the floor.

"It seems this will be the end of you, Obi-Wan." Dooku told him silkily. "You may join your Master sooner than you think."

"I will not," Obi-Wan protested adamantly. "Leave Anakin!" He waited until Dooku was close enough, and then shoved his lightsaber through the Count's stomach, effectively impaling him. Dooku choked, and spluttered, then collapsed, dead, on top of the poor Knight.

His Padawan was trembling helplessly in Bant's arms, meanwhile, his breathing shallow and rapid. Bant merely continued to stroke his hair, knowing he was frightened by his position, in agony from the pain, and that it was all Anakin could do to just stay conscious, as it was. Obi-Wan winced as he pushed off Dooku's corpse, and struggled to drag himself to his feet. Then he limped over to Bant and Anakin.

"How is he?" He wanted – no, he needed to know.

"I don't know," Bant admitted, blinking her large, wet eyes at him worriedly. "He's not responding. We need to get his wounds treated, first." Obi-Wan just grit his teeth and bent down to take Anakin into his arms. Gently, he placed a kiss to his injured husband's forehead.

"We'll go to Naboo," he decided after a moment. "It's the closest, and Senator Amidala will be willing to help. We will need to contact her, once we're on the ship." Bant nodded, before addressing another problem she was seeing.

"Obi-Wan, you shouldn't carry him on that leg."

"Well, he can't very well walk himself, and you certainly can't carry him. What else do you suggest we do?" He asked tightly. The Healer just shook her head. She knew there was no other way.

Anakin couldn't even bring himself to open his eyes and look at Obi-Wan, until he'd been laid out on a bed. Finally able to relax, his eyes sprang instantly to his husband.

"M…Master…" He mumbled, his voice thick with pain. He had to tell Obi-Wan about that drug! The older man gave him a smile and brushed his dirty hair back from his eyes. The poor kid must have sweat and bled enough to fill a bucket of each, while on Serenno.

"Yes, my Anakin. I'm here. You'll be just fine." He promised. The first thing to do was calm Anakin down. He could sense his young lover's panic rising already.

"N-no!" The blonde shook his head. (He immediately regretted it. The movement caused his head throb painfully.) "Drugs! P-pain enhancing neurotoxins… The-the baby…!"

Obi-Wan frowned, his hand going directly to Anakin's swollen stomach. Their girl didn't kick back, as she usually would have when he touched over her, and that worried him.

"She'll be okay… We can't treat you here, but we're going to Naboo. Padmé will help us, Anakin…rest now." Obi-Wan whispered, now understanding the boy's concern.

Anakin merely hissed as the sheet hit an injured area in an uncomfortable way, before nodding slightly. Obi-Wan waited until his eyes had closed, and his breathing had evened out, before he stood, wincing as he put too much weight onto his injured leg. Slowly, he walked to the control room where Bant was already piloting them toward Naboo.

"Have you called Padmé Amidala yet?" He asked, sinking painedly into a chair.

"No. We'll need to get your leg treated, after we get there, as well." Bant informed him quietly. Obi-Wan just picked up his comlink, to contact Padmé.

"After Anakin has been taken care of," he conditioned, tuning in the frequency that would allow him to contact Theed's palace. He paid no attention to Bant's frown as he succeeded in making contact. Padmé said she would be waiting for them with a medical team, when they arrived.

The medical examination did little more than confirm what Anakin had already told him. They did manage to get the boy patched up, but they didn't have an antidote on hand. They also didn't know how the unknown drug would affect their unborn child.

"He's sleeping now, Master Kenobi," Padmé said softly, once Anakin had been left alone.

"What about the child?" Obi-Wan asked her, stroking his beard worriedly.

"We don't know… But there is still a heart beat."

"I need to see him…to be with him…" He started moving to go into the room. Padmé rested a hand on his shoulder, making him pause.

"Master Kenobi, he's resting now." She repeated. "There is nothing you can do for him, and your leg still needs to be treated."

"But, I—"

"No, Master Kenobi," her tone was firmer. It was the tone of a politician. "You may come back once you have been taken care of, no sooner. You will be of no use to Ani if your wound gets infected, and you get sick. He would want you to take care of yourself." Under her wisdom, he finally caved and nodded, allowing her to lead him into another room, where they cleaned and wrapped his wound.

When Anakin woke up, Obi-Wan was right by his side. It drew a small smile from the blonde, to see his husband so soon. Seeing him awake, Obi-Wan took his hand tenderly.

"How are you feeling, love?"

"I've been better," Anakin flushed a little, grinning sheepishly at him. "But, I'll live."

"Good…" Obi-Wan stroked his lover's hair, with his free hand. "The baby's heartbeat has gotten stronger." The assurance brightened Anakin's face a little, and his flesh hand rushed to his stomach.

"Do you know if she'll be alright?" Obi-Wan shook his head, one hand going from Anakin's hair to cover his hand.

"They have not been able to concoct an antidote, for the drug Dooku gave you." He warned. "But she has been responding to the small Force waves that I've been sending to her."

"That's something…" At least she wasn't dead yet.

Obi-Wan nodded in agreement.

"We'll be going back to the Temple soon, love. As soon as we're sure you're going to be all right." Anakin nodded in agreement. That sounded like a good plan…

They made their way back to Coruscant in one piece. With Dooku gone, things seemed calmer again. They were still unable to find an antidote to the Sith's mysterious drug; though, sitting at home, it was more of an inconvenience than any true problem. Now that Anakin wasn't being constantly beaten, the only time his 'condition' was anything more was when he attempted to cook and things went awry. (Cuts and burns were a high annoyance for him now.) However…there was one small glitch in that peace. (Other than Obi-Wan frequently being whisked away by the war, which was happening much more than Anakin appreciated in the least.)

Six months turned into nine, and the Council made sure Obi-Wan was actually at the Temple, with Anakin, as the birth date drew nearer. One night, before dawn, they were both woken up by an absolutely agonized groan. Obi-Wan blinked for a moment, before becoming fully awake with Anakin's second groan.

"Anakin?" He mumbled, sitting up to get a better look at him.

"Get it out or make it stop." The subject of the command was fairly obvious. "Because what's going on now isn't working well!"

Obi-Wan fed him some peaceful Force waves, to numb some of the inevitable pain, while he picked him up to carry him down to the Healer's ward.

The receptionist took one look at Anakin's miserable expression and stood quickly.

"Oh my… This way, Master Kenobi," she beckoned, leading them quickly into an examination room.

Briefly during the birthing process, Anakin wondered if maybe this was why Dooku had drugged him to begin with. Because, this was far worse than the torture he'd endured on Serenno. This was worse than getting his hand cut off, on Geonosis. This was more agony than he'd been able to imagine, prior to it. He didn't know how women managed it! Even after passing out, his hyper sensitive nerves were informing his brain exactly how much it hurt.

"Master Kenobi, I'm going to have to ask you to leave." A Head Healer told him, once he'd been summoned to the room.

"I am not leaving him." The Jedi Knight replied adamantly. The Healer sighed.

"Then at least put on a mask. We're going to perform a C-Section." Obi-Wan did as he was told, and then went to Anakin's side. He took his hand gently, even though he was unconscious.

The baby was born unaffected by the drugs. Anakin and Obi-Wan were the proud parents of a perfectly healthy baby girl, to be named at a later date. The only problem seemed to be when Anakin simply refused to wake up, to celebrate the occasion. Or…when he refused to wake up at all, really.

Obi-Wan stayed by his side, not sleeping, the whole time, just holding their daughter…for three days. By the time Bant came to see him, his head was tipped down from exhaustion.

"Obi-Wan, you need to get some sleep." He looked up at her and shook his head, looking back to Anakin.

"I want to be here, when he wakes…awake…" He told her, shaking his head.

"Well, you're doing a poor job of it." She brought him a pillow, and placed it behind his head, covering him with a blanket. "Get some sleep. I will stay with him, and wake you up as soon as he does." She promised him, smiling grimly. Obi-Wan studied her for a moment, but then gave into the sleep that beckoned him.

It was almost another two days before Anakin woke again. Then, it was a slow and painful process. Bant was humming to herself, reading a datapad, when she felt the Force shift with his consciousness. She leaned forward and smiled at him.

"Welcome to the world of the waking," she greeting him quietly. Obi-Wan was lounging sideways in his chair, on the other side of the bed, asleep. Their daughter was cradled peacefully in his arms. Anakin merely stared at her for a moment, before rubbing his eyes thoughtfully.

"That really hurt." He declared, frowning a little. Bant laughed softly.

"It was probably enhanced because of that horrid drug, but I have heard that it is a very painful process. How are you feeling now?"

"Like I just slept for a week."

"That's good." The Mon Calamari laughed a little. "Because you did."

"Seriously?" The blonde blinked tiredly, before forcing himself to sit up. His eyebrows rose slightly, when he caught sight of his husband and daughter. "Are they alright?"

"Obi-Wan is exhausted, from trying to stay awake, to see if you were okay. You are the proud father of a beautiful, healthy, eight pound, six ounce, baby girl…to be named later. Obi-Wan wanted to wait for you, to help decide that." The Healer explained cheerfully.

Smiling, the boy leaned forward and carefully plucked his daughter from Obi-Wan's grasp. She seemed to be sleeping too… The baby yawned and blinked, before looking up at him with big, blue-gray eyes. Obi-Wan's eyes, the blonde noted with a small smile. Obi-Wan shifted slightly, but he continued to sleep.

"She has Obi-Wan's eyes," Bant confirmed what Anakin had noticed himself. "The Healers say that she almost sleep through the entire night. Usually, she wakes around four in the morning, for a feeding."

"She'll be pretty," Anakin murmured, running his good hand over his daughter's soft head. The barest fuzz, which would later grow into her hair, met his touch. "Strong too. I can feel it." Bant nodded in agreement, and stood to go over to Obi-Wan. She'd promised to wake him, after all.

"Obi-Wan…wake up. Anakin is awake." She said quietly, but loudly enough to wake him, nudging his shoulder.

"Anakin?" The man sat up abruptly, and looked at Anakin. A smile broke out over his face. Anakin could practically smell his relief. "You finally woke up!"

"Didn't mean to pass out to begin with."

Obi-Wan just shook his head and stood, pressing a kiss to the blonde's forehead.

"I'll leave you two alone, congratulations once again." Bant rose and left.

"Isn't she cute?" Obi-Wan asked, looking down at their daughter, who had already fallen back asleep.

"Yeah," Anakin confirmed, before glancing up at him, smiling sheepishly. "I didn't mean to worry you… I'm sorry."

"It's all right," Obi-Wan assured him. "I'm just glad you're okay. I love you, my Anakin."

Leaning forward, Anakin pecked his fuzzy cheek contentedly.

"I love you too."

End