Please read and review! Hope you're enjoying my story.

Jounouchi Sama- I understand where you're coming from. As a fan of the Apprentice book series I've thought about it, and I may write a story later on with her as a love interest for Obi-Wan. But I'm also a big fan of Satine. No worries, she will not be written as Padme 2.0. I'm planning for a different dynamic for them than Anakin and Padme.

Chapter 3

Obi-Wan had ended up staying to help Satine move. Orders of the Council apparently. What he'd never learn was that Anakin has called back and mentioned he thought it a good idea for someone to stay with the Senator while she moved, and he volunteered Obi-Wan for the job. He'd gotten an odd look from Yoda before the old Grandmaster had agreed. Stating he thought it a good idea for Master Obi-Wan to stay with her. Then told Anakin he would be in charge of ensuring her prefab home she'd sent them for herself to be put up near his and Padme's shelter by the Temple. The green Jedi chuckling as Anakin grumbled out a 'Yes Master Yoda' before turning of his holo call to them.

But Anakin did have to admit, seeing the way Obi-Wan's face had lit up at this news made the extra work he'd have to do once on Yavin IV worth it.

/-/-/

She led him through her home with purpose. They hadn't spent as much time together as he knew they'd wished they could have due to her teaching her final lessons to Korkie and going over his campaign. But they just kept moving forward. This helped them to take I slow, as they both knew once they were in a ship headed towards Yavin that from then on things would move fast. They'd waited years to finally be together. He had an inkling that she would move much faster than he would, but he was fine with that.

He tried to take his time as she guided him along, admiring her home and all the holo-pics that were still up and hadn't been packed yet. Though one caught his eye. It was Satine, and a strap of a young man who was just barely her height. His young ideals written on his face, just a prominent as the admiration and… dare he think love of the person next to him. Certainly not the rugged and weary man he felt like now. With a full beard and a heart of painful memories.

"Yes."

Her voice knocked him from his reverie of the holo-pic as he turned to find Satine right next to him, her arm going around his waist as she too admired the holo-pic. "I beg your forgiveness I was in my own world, but what?"

"Yes. I like the beard. Yes, I'm sure I want you, and all this. Yes, I wanted you even then, and yes, my love of you hasn't changed since that day. Finally. Yes, I know we've both changed. In good ways and bad and I still want to try a life with you. Does that answer all the questions and melancholy thoughts flitting about that wonderous head of yours my Jedi?"

He smiled, she certainly knew him far better than she deserved to, especially after all these years. "Yes, I suppose that does. You seem to know me just as good as you did back then."

"Well my dear, one of us tended to find ourselves in lots of big events around the galaxy, in the news, and on holo-recordings across the galaxy. It made it easy to keep up with them. And no matter what changes about you, these never do." Here she gazed into his eyes, both her hands coming up to rest two fingers on either side of them. Awe and love filling her eyes as she gazed into his. "Even after all these years and all this time, these haven't changed at all. Still as beautiful and expressive as I remember."

They shared a sweet kiss before she began pulling him along towards their destination. Her room.

/-/-/

He had requested a talk with her, especially before they got in too deep. He wanted to tell her about Luke, the holocron and what he'd told him in private.

She seated herself on the bed expectantly looking at him. She knew from the moment he approached her that this would be a serious talk. Something he had to tell her. Perhaps a request, something they had to get through for this relationship to work. She was prepared for the challenge.

"Satine, we announced that the reason for our changes to our rules, and to our moving from Coruscant was due to us looking at ourselves and making decisions, as well as Anakin's relationship with Padme and Ki Adi Mundi's with his wives. But that's not the truth. That's just what we told the people." He expected a question here, but she just continued to look at him expectantly waiting for him to continue. With a shake of his head he did so, "The truth of it is, we found a Holocron. I know it was a long time ago, but do you remember me telling you about them? The history of Jedi, some more complex and whole then others?"

"I remember."

"Well, we found one. Well, one of our Jedi Knights did while on a mission. A mission he started 50 years ago and just now returned close to a month ago…"

"That's a long time to be away, he must be tired. Was he human? That must be hard if he is."

"Oh, he is human, but it wasn't to hard on him…. You see, only three days had passed for him since he left for this mission."

He watched her processing this, the lights going on her brain. "How old was that thing?"

"It seemed to be thousands of years old, hidden for an unknown time in that cave. The Jedi knight had attempted to open it himself, but it refused to tell him anything unless a certain group of people were gathered. He then, by name. Several of these people not existing or even in the order when the Jedi originally went missing. Myself, Anakin, Yoda, Mace Windu, Padme, Bail Organa, Mon Mothma, and the current Jedi Council."

"How could he have known that then? Some sort of Force cognition?"

"His identity will explain this best, he was Jedi Grandmaster Luke Skywalker, son of Padme and Anakin Skywalker."

/-/-/

It took another hour for him to explain everything and get her to believe him. Though he had to admit she took it very well once explained and the proof that Luke provided.

"Is that what you needed to tell me then? So, I knew why we were given this chance?"

"Not entirely. Before his holocron crumbled and we lost our access to him, he pulled many of those he asked for by name to him alone for a message. I wanted to share his to me with you. And hope you can abide by a decision I need to make and allow me to leave you briefly for a few days."

She stiffened at that but nodded. More than ready to hear him out.

"You will be the first person I tell this too. Not even Anakin has heard what I was told yet, nor I what he was told. These were words from me of the future. After I'd died and become one with the force, his words to me. Then a small request from Luke." He thought back to that day, to Luke's words to him.

"Find love. Whoever that is, find it and hold on to it. It was one of your biggest regrets. I don't know what happens to her but… It carved a deep scar in you. Far deeper than you'd ever thought it would. He asked me to tell you that. And from me… Well there's this young orphan. She's going to be born to a lovely family on Vandor-3. She will be very strong in the Force and in my time, she was taken by Sidious and twisted and manipulated into his hand. Her name is Mara Jade, my wife. She never told me more than the planet she was born on. She couldn't remember or find our more than that. Darth Sidious did his best to erase her past and anything that would have led her to anyone she could love more than him. She's going to need a home, someone to care for her. Can you find her for me? Get her to a good family, someone who can raise her. And when she's old enough, someone to train her as a Jedi. Or at least to control the Force, and if she desires some of what she knew before. She was the greatest Jedi, assassin, spy I ever knew. She deserves to be whoever and whatever she wants. I know her and I will end up together, the Force has assured me that her and I ending up together is written in stone. Our Force bond was strong, stronger I think than many before me from what I was able to find and read of Force bonds. But still, call it the loving husband in me. I'd like her well cared for this time around."

He finished with a sigh, interested to see her thoughts and make sure she was fine with him leaving her to track down this child and then return to her. As well as her thoughts on the fact that the old future him forever regretted not taking a chance with her and being with her.

She was quiet for several minutes. Letting time tick by as she thought, till finally a small smile played upon her lips. A very self-satisfied smile. "Well, it's definitely sad that your older self-took so long to realize what he'd lost. I'm glad you seem to have come to your senses. Now, lay down. Ah! No buts, lay down. Perfect." She forced him to lay on her bed, his head on her lap as she stroked his hair. "Good. Let me have this quiet moment before you go. I will, of course grant you leave to do this if now is the time. You hardly need to ask. But since you have, I will ask that you return here with her and we can take her together to Yavin and find a family for her."

He gave her an odd look, she seemed to be planning something, but he could only trust her for now. "Very well. I'll leave tomorrow then and be back as soon as I find her. This hopefully won't take long."

"Then we have tonight for ourselves."

/-/-/

The ship slowly took off, Obi-Wan watching out the view port as Satine, surrounded by Cody and several clones along with her Mandalorian guards, waved goodbye to him. Blowing a kiss at the end before he turned about and started leaving the atmosphere of Mandalore.

He thought about stopping by the temple in Coruscant on his way to Vandor-3. Who knows what he might need for a baby, especially a baby girl? He'd never had to deal with a babe when he started training Anakin. He was Knighted, then had a padawan almost the same day. Then he was in a war. He never took another apprentice and he hadn't spent a lot of time with the younglings. Just enough to know several of them.

/-/-/

His stop by the Coruscant temple didn't take long. Messaging the Temple that he would need a kit for a force sensitive baby girl. They'd had it ready when he'd landed, the current Jedi Master in charge of the temple meeting him at the landing pad so he wouldn't have to spend too much time planet side. For which he was grateful. He wanted to find the child, especially when the Force seemed to be telling him the child was still on Vandor-3.

He didn't enter Hyperspace on his way to Vandor-3, being it was part of the Coruscant system and right next Coruscant.

Once close enough he started scanning the planet through the force, trying to find a strong force signature on the planet. He got a few places on the planet that felt like there might be someone there with a strong force. As he got closer some felt a bit older, and he felt two reach out to see who was searching for them. He was fairly certain that these may be Jedi upon the planet, others reacting with natural curiosity in the force.

But there was on, towards the right of the planet from where he was that seemed to just be freely flowing, a strong force signature here. This was more than likely a child, someone young and untrained in the Force. This would be where he started.

He commed forward to get landing clearance. Landing on the lush forested planet of Vandor-3. The next leg of his journey would be on foot and speeder. Till he found what he was searching for.

/-/-/

It took him two days to find the small little town that held the small Force signature he'd noticed from space.

After an hour of walking through town and stopping and speaking with several townspeople he finally arrived outside the two story building. Inside was a burning and intense Force signature, but a very young one. Very young. He knocked on the door and was greeted by a confused, but beautiful and smiling young woman with Red-gold hair. "Hello? Can I help you?"

"Um yes. I'm sorry, my name is Obi-Wan Kenobi. I'm a—"

"Jedi Master. We've heard of your exploits even here in our tiny town." She said dryly, though there was a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.

"I didn't mean to imply that—"

"Who's at the door babe?!"

"Someone who isn't picked on enough it seems." Behind the smirking woman arrived an equally handsome man with striking Emerald eyes. "Allow me to introduce Master Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi, the most famous man who thinks we small town folk haven't heard of."

"Ah… I was merely wondering if there was a child here? I've sensed a strong presence in the Force."

The husband, Kenobi assumed, stood in front of the door more. "Yes, we do happen to have our young child Mara inside. How could you sense her Force, or whatever you're talking about?"

"I'm sure you know that we Jedi used to take children early when they were Force sensitive. We try not to separate them from family now, and instead get the family to come with us so we might train their child. At least to control their burgeoning powers. If your child is Force sensitive, then I'd like to offer you a place with us?" He was surprised to find her parents alive. According to Luke they had died in his timeline. But perhaps he'd arrived earlier than Sidious' finding of the child and taking her from her parents. This worked best though, now little Mara could have a childhood.

"Um. We appreciate the thought but for now we'd like to pass. I will say our child has done a few weird things, we've noticed her blanket and binky ending up with her whenever we've taken them or placed them away from her. But we've been handling it fine. And I don't think, especially out of the blue like that. That we would want to move across the galaxy at the words of, an admittidely trustworthy figure we just met today. But we thank you for the honor."

He was silent, though there were certainly people who declined sending their child to the Jedi. It was still surprising. Especially one that Luke was so sure he would end up with. It would be much harder for them to meet and find each other if she wasn't around him, or Darth Sidious wasn't around to make things end up the way they had before. But he knew this wasn't his decision and if they chose to keep their child away from the Jedi then he could do nothing about. "Very well. Would you mind if I saw her? I can even perhaps help some to calm her abilities somewhat till she's a bit older where it will hopefully be more manageable?"

They shared a look before the wife sort of shrugged. "That would be fine. We could probably use the help, especially if she's strong enough to garner a Jedi's attention from space." The father answered. "By the way, we know your name. I go by Vex, and my wife goes by Madeline. Vex and Madeline Jade. Right this was Master Jedi, to meet the illustrious Mara Jade." The husband joked as his wife rolled her eyes at his antics but kissed his cheek sweetly.

"Come here baby. Someone has come to say hello." The mother began cooing the moment she saw her baby girl standing in her crib and giggling happily at the appearance of her parents. She lifted her out of the crib, Obi-Wan smiling at the sight as well as the swell of love and light that flowed in the Force from the young child as her mother picked her up and kissed her on both cheeks. Blowing a raspberry on each on as she finished.

A few steps later and the young baby was in front of him, her mother holding her proudly on her hip. She was close to a year old, if not a year. Tiny curls of red-gold hair on her head and bright emerald green eyes staring at him with awe and wonder. Her Force sense reaching out at the stranger in her home who also had a strong light Force signature. She didn't understand it, but her natural inclination to the Force and instincts took the young babe a long way as her Force reached out for him.

He smiled in wonder, carefully pushing her Force sense away and back towards her. Admonishing her lightly, as if saying 'that's not polite at first greeting.' One of his eyebrow's quirked up as she seemed to give him a glare for a moment before she fell into giggles as her mother tickled her sides a bit. He gave her the equivalent of a love pat through the Force, beginning to weave a small bind on her powers. It would easily break when she was older but would help to keep her powers somewhat contained for now. Barring some emotional turmoil, also it had the added plus of making her trackable for him through the Force.

Vex and Madeline watched with curious, but careful expressions as Mara and Master Kenobi seemed to zero in on each other. Their focus only on the other. Something was going on that they were not privy too. But soon, their sweet child gave a big yawn and a small smile as she lay her head down on her mother before quickly falling asleep.

"Well I'll be…. I've never seen her fall asleep that fast." Vex commented.

"A simple trick through the Force we often use on restless younglings."

"You might be worth keeping around then Jedi if you can keep doing that for us. She fights going to sleep every moment of the day. She doesn't want to miss a moment of life. She gets that from her father." Madeline looked lovingly at her husband who had the decency to blush. "Not that it's a bad thing. She's the perfect mix of her father and I. Well, we thank you anyway for visiting Master Jedi. And whatever you did for our little Mara. But it's time to lay her down."

Obi-Wan stopped at the door with the husband who had followed him towards the front. "I hope you don't mind but I'll be staying in town at the inn. I'd like to stop by tomorrow, perhaps make my offer one more time and see her before I leave. She's adorable, and I'd like to ensure what I've done will hold after I leave."

Vex sighed. "I suppose that would be fine. But don't expect our answer to change between now and then. We're quite happy were we are."

"You certainly seem so. You seem like a wonderful family. Till tomorrow then." Obi-Wan waved before heading off. He meant what he said, he could feel their contentment through the Force. They were very happy where they were. He'd have even left right away had he not felt like the Force was telling him to wait a day. That and he truly did want to ensure his little weave would hold on her.

With that he went towards the inn he'd been told of on his way into the town to rent a room for the night.

/-/-/

He was awake in an instant. His danger sense flaring. The Force seeming to yell at him to get up. He quickly ascertained that there was no one in his room or even around him, but he could feel fear and unrest from little Mara all the way in the inn. Something was wrong there.

He was up quickly, leaping out his window dressed only in pajama bottoms, calling his saber to him as he leapt out the window towards the Jade's home. Taking the quickest route, he could, across the rooftops of the nearby building. Force jump, to Force jump getting him quickly there.

He arrived in time to see someone running out the front of the house, a wrapped bundle of struggling fear in the Force cradled in his arms.

Without thought he gave chase, the Force bursting out from him and launching him towards the man attempting kidnapping. No… If the weak presences in the force were an indication. Kidnapping and murder. "Set the girl down. Now." His voice was commanding as he suddenly landed in front of the man, his saber drawn and lighting his face up with righteous fury.

"How about you place that little blade down before I slip with my own blade." The Devaronian mercenary's voice was deep and his threat a real one as Obi-Wan noticed the vibroblade in the merc's off hand now edging close to Mara's face. Her fear spiking as the weapon, that still appeared to have blood upon it so near her.

Obi-Wan's anger spiked for a moment before he took a deep breath. 'Control. Don't lose your cool now.' He thought, "I'll say it one more time," He reached out with the Force, ripping the blade up into the air form his hands and bringing it to himself. Slicing it in half once it arrived.

The man's eyes widened as he found himself without his blade and the Jedi moving closer to him. "I can still use my hands Jedi. Back up, my job was to take her alive. I'd prefer to follow through with that." He glared at Obi-Wan moving to wrap his hand around the babe's head. Unfortunately, he found his hand stopped from reaching her, the Jedi's own hand outstretched towards his.

"If you'd like to keep that arm then you have one chance to let. Her. Go. Before I take her from you and leave you short a few limbs. Not a good life choice for one in your line of work."

The Devaronian weighed his options before making a decision. Tossing the baby into the air he ran to the side, sacrificing the baby so he could escape.

Feeling the warning in the Force, Obi-Wan was already in the air when he threw Mara up, his arms quickly encircling her protectively as he landed. Turning quickly his hand outstretched, blasted the man into a nearby building, knocking him unconscious. Once the man was disabled, neighbors who'd been hiding and watching from their homes finally exited. "Call for the local force. This man needs arrested, we also need a doctor. Now!" Obi-Wan demanded before turning towards the Jade's house and running inside. Hoping they were alive.

/-/-/

He sat in the medical center. Mara held securely in his arms as she slept. He'd put her in a sleeping trance after they'd left her parents house with the medical droid that was taking them to the center. They'd been lying in a puddle of their own blood. It looked like both had put up a struggle to fight the man before they were downed. Madeline by two quick stabs to her chest, and Vex by a long slash across his throat, and many slices up and down his arms.

He'd just been told that both had died on the table. The blade the man had used was poisoned. One quite deadly to humans. This small town med center was unprepared to deal with such a problem.

"Oh, little one. I wanted you to come with me to be a Jedi. But this was not the way I wanted you to come." He held little Mara all the closer as he felt tears forming in his eyes.

"Master Jedi?"

Quickly wiping at his eyes as if he were tired he looked up to find the captain of a small clone squad that had been patrolling in the forest while training at the large clone training barracks near Vandor-3's capital. "Yes captain?"

"The prisoner is secured, awake, and ready for questioning."

"Thank you, captain. Allow me a moment to set Mara down to sleep and then I'll be right with you."

"Sir!" He saluted and fell into step with Obi-Wan. The doctor provided him with a floating bassinette for the babe and they were off towards the small in town jail where his captured prisoner waited.

He left Mara just outside the room, two of the troopers and the captain watching her as he went inside the small room to question the man.

"Who sent you?"

"It was a job I was given several months ago. Man called Sidious."

Obi-Wan let his head fall back for a moment in tired exasperation. Even after his death he was causing problems for them. Taking lives still.

"Sidious is dead. Why did you continue to carry out the job?"

"I was already paid for the job, and I was to take the job to a specific man. That man's still alive." The week minded Devaronian was easily persuaded to give up his secrets through the Force.

"Who were you to meet. And where?"

"Man named Tarkin near the base of the Republic Senate building." The horned man shook his head fiercely, trying to fight whatever they'd fed him.

"Were you given any other jobs?"

"I will get my new job upon delivery of the child to Tarkin."

Frustrated, Obi-Wan turned towards the door, motioning towards the Clone he knew was watching the room through a window that he was finished.

He exited, Mara still sleeping in the floating bassinette, albeit fitfully now. He soothed her through the force, one hand subconsciously falling to rest upon her head as he gently pat her head soothingly.

"Captain, I want him escorted to the Barracks and from there taken to court and tried for murder and attempted kidnapping. The greatest sentence we can give."

"Aye Sir! Should we have the doctor treat his broken ribs sir?"

"Have they punctured anything vital?"

"From the doctor's scans sir, no just painful."

"Good. Then he can stay the way he is." Obi-Wan left after that, taking Mara from the floating bassinette for the Clones to return to the Doctor as he left for the inn to gather the rest of his gear and head back towards Satine.

/-/-/

She was waiting for him when he'd landed. He'd commed ahead, giving her a bit of the story of what had happened. Also having the Yoda and Mace Windu on the call so they were all updated at the same time. Suggesting the send someone to pick up Tarkin for questioning on Coruscant. If Sidious still had plans in the work they didn't know about they needed to learn and put them to a stop as quickly as possible. They already had several teams working to check all the planets Luke had warned them Sidious had created for cloning himself. Some places had come up empty, to early in his plans for them to be there. But they'd also found several bases, some with plans and people, others just buildings with stored equipment ready for use.

They'd agreed with him, stating they would send Kit Fisto to take care of it and that he should return to the Duchess to finish her packing. They also told him for now to keep Mara with him. She was at least somewhat comfortable with him, her sleep still restless. Fear still lurking in her Force signature.

Satine waited till the two Jedi had disconnected before she turned to look at him. "Are you all right my love?"

"Hm? Oh, yes. Yes, I'm fine."

Her look told him she didn't believe it but would drop it for now till she could get her hands on him. "Very well. Travel safely my love." She blew him a kiss before disconnecting.

/-/-/

Satine turned from the holoprojector with a grim smile. Apparently, this mission had cost a little more than they'd thought it would. Was a bit tougher on her strong Jedi.

She motioned for one of her guards to come forward. "Have someone prepare one of the rooms we've emptied for a baby. We don't need a lot for her. A crib, changing table, some toys for a little girl and some blankets and clothes. We'll have company soon."

"As the Duchess commands." She saluted before turning and leaving Satine to her thoughts as she turned again towards the holoprojector.

"Thinking of having a child Aunty?" Korkie teased as he passed the guard on her way out.

"You'd enjoy that wouldn't you? A little niece to spoil? But not, no children yet. Don't you have some work to be doing instead of bothering your poor aunt?"

"Just wanted to make sure and prepare if I needed too. All your children must be spoiled by me. It's my job." He smiled at her as he came to stand next to her. "Should I get a nanny droid to help with the child?"

She turned; one brow quirked at his audacity. "I'll have you know that I raised you from a baby myself with no droids helping me raise you. Every stinky diaper, every bath. Was all me young man." She scolded, laughing as she saw his own mirth at her recounting of his life as her surrogate child after the passing of his parents. Her brother.

"You have always been an exceptional woman. I'm glad that you're finally getting something that you've wanted for yourself Aunty." He held out a hand to stop return comment. "I mean for you personally. I know you've wanted Mandalore to rebuild, and all that. But this is something just for you. I'm glad you're getting this opportunity."

"Well I'm glad you don't think I'm abandoning you and my sister for a handsome lover."

"Oh, we think that too Aunty. We just know that's not the main reason." He laughed as he ran from the room, a pillow flying into the door archway as he disappeared through it. His echoing laughs bringing a smile to her face. Yes, things were indeed going quite well for her personally. How well would depend on the eyes of her love when he finally arrived tomorrow.

/-/-/