Chapter 12 Conference

Kimmy sat near Jesse, wishing she could comfort him. As Kitch's death had been the final blow for her, so Padme's was for Jesse. He was like a zombie, not seeing anything, just sitting. Obi-Wan came over to them.

"We'll be approaching Naboo soon." He said.

Kimmy nodded, but Jesse didn't respond.

"We're having a conference in the main cabin. I thought you should be there."

Jesse didn't twitch. Kimmy suddenly had the horrifying thought that this might have been too much mentally.

"Jesse." Obi-Wan touched his shoulder, but his voice was firm. "She's gone; you can't change that. But there are still three others you can help. Are you coming or not?"

As Jesse shook himself out of his reverie, Kimmy was reminded of the time she had spoken to him that way. Only then he had shouted for her to mind her own business. Now he seemed to wake up.

"I know." He said quietly.

"Do you remember what I told you on Tatooine?" Obi-Wan asked gently.

Jesse nodded.

"It's still true."

> > > >

As they approached Theed, the five sat around a conference table in somber silence.

"Pregnant, she must still appear." Yoda said. "Hidden, safe, the children must be kept. The youngling rescued from the Temple, included."

"We must take them somewhere the Sith will not sense their presence." Obi-Wan added.

"Split up, the twins should be. Look after them, we must."

"My wife and I will take the girl. We've always talked of adopting a baby girl. She will be loved with us." Organa said.

"And we'll stay on Alderaan to watch over her." Jesse added, squeezing Kimmy's hand. Obi-Wan had already consented to marry them once this meeting was out of the way.

"And what of the boy?" Obi-Wan asked.

"To Tatooine. To his family, send him."

"I will take the child and watch over him. Master Yoda, do you think Anakin's twins will be able to defeat Darth Sidious?"

"Strong the Force runs, in the Skywalker line. Hope, we can . . . Done, it is. Until the time is right, disappear we will. Away, the other boy must go as well."

"My brother Shey could probably watch him." Jesse said reflectively. "He's a deep space pilot, but I could find him."

Yoda nodded and they left to get ready for the ceremony. It was hardly the happy day Jesse would have hoped for, but he wanted it to be done. Today had been a perfect example of the fact that you never knew what tomorrow would bring. And whatever the future brought, Jesse wanted to spend it with Kimmy.

> > > >

Jesse and Kimmy held hands and listened to Obi-Wan say the words they'd never thought would be possible. More than anything, Jesse wished Anakin and Kitch could be there, but if he focused on the what-if's and wishes, it would spoil everything that remained to spoil. So instead he focused on Kimmy's beautiful vibrant eyes, bright with unshed tears. It had been her eyes that he'd first noticed about her. That and her smile that made you feel like the sun had come out just for you. She was smiling at him that way now as Obi-Wan announced them husband and wife. Jesse leaned forward to kiss her. He didn't want to let go, but this was a ceremony after all. There'd be plenty of time for more later. Hopefully. But even if there wasn't, they were together now, that was all that mattered.

Oh, yay, a happy moment! I'm really looking forward to when I can say, 'and they lived happily ever after' at the end of this series. Three more to go, and one more chapter in this story.