PART 44

"Hello Luke" the stranger said to him. He had never seen the man before, but he showed a kindness in his smile, he could tell the man meant no harm.

"Hello" he said back.

"This man was just leaving" his uncle said sternly.

"Who are you?" Luke asked sounding very interested.

"My name is Ben Kenobi, I guess you could say, I'm you're new neighbor, I live not far from here, I just came to introduce myself to your aunt and uncle."

"I'm Luke Skywalker" the young boy said sticking out his hand for Obi-Wan to shake.

"I know" Obi-Wan said shaking Luke's hand.

"Well I must go, it was very nice meeting you Luke, Owen, Beru" Obi-Wan said as he turned and walked up the stairs.

"It was nice meeting you too" Luke called out while the man walked out the door.

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"So how did it go?" Padme said as she greeted Obi-Wan while he walked through the door.

"It went as I expected it to."

"What did Owen say?"

"That he doesn't think it's a good idea for Luke to see you, he's afraid Padme, he fears the Empire, and he sees you and I as a threat."

"I only wanted to see him, touch him, see how he's grown."

"I know" he said as he came closer to embrace her in a protective hug, "I will visit them again, I'm not giving up that easily."

"Did you see him?"

"Yes, he looks very much like his father, much of his father I sense in him."

She pulled back from his embrace and looked at him with concern in her eyes.

"His passion, his desire to see other worlds and star systems, his goodness, I sense Anakin's goodness in Luke."

She sighed in relief as she sat down in a nearby chair.

"I want to go with you the next time you go to the farm."

"Patience Padme, we will go together when the time is right."

"You don't think the time is right now?"

"No, Owen and Beru are very threatened by us being here, they think you will take Luke away from them."

"Would it be terrible of me to say I would do that very thing if I could?"

"You're his mother; it's not terrible to want to be with your child."

"I just wish I could be with all of them, Luke, Leia, Sola, and Mara, I've always wanted a big family, the funny this is, I have that, but they are separated from each other, from us."

"It won't be forever, I have great faith in the rebellion, a rebellion you helped create; Palaptine will be destroyed."

She nodded as she leaned forward for a soft kiss, the kiss deepened and when it ended she whispered, "Have I ever told you what a great kisser you are?"

"Once or twice" Obi-Wan said playfully.

"Well, I'll have to remind myself to tell you more often."

"You better" he said as he picked her up and walked to the bedroom.