Chapter Twenty-Nine


We were headed back to Coruscant, the ship was on auto-pilot, and I had been standing in the doorway of the sleep cabin watching Padmé with increasing interest.

Before leaving Tatooine, we had managed to obtain some bantha milk from a trader as well as some clean cloths. She had already fed the child and was currently wrapping him up tightly while singing him a rather enchanting tune I had never heard before.

"What's that song? I don't recognize it." I asked her quietly.

She smiled up at me and I was amazed at the transformation I was witnessing. She had a renewed purpose and I thanked the Force silently for the gift it had given us.

"Something Jobal used to sing to me when I was young," she explained.

I stepped inside the cabin and stood over them. Anakin was wrapped up like a happy little sausage and seemed quite pleased about it. His eyes were bright blue and he gazed up at me curiously.

"May I hold him?" I wasn't sure why I had asked permission, but it seemed like the proper thing to do.

"Of course," Padmé told me before carefully lifting up the tiny bundle and placing him into my arms. "After all, you are his father."

We hadn't discussed it and worry had once again settled onto her features. She was waiting for a response. I had trusted the Force to bring me to Tatooine, unsure of what I would discover there, but if this is what it wanted from me, and if this is what made Padmé happy, then so be it.

"Of course," I told her smiling, "although I shall leave the cleaning up part to you. I'm not sure I'm prepared for that."

Her soft chuckle was like music to my ears.

I had more practice with holding infants than she could imagine. Too many tragic situations on far too many distant planets resulted in the disruption of family units and the orphaning of younglings. The Galactic Relief Society Padmé mentioned to Shmi was one of the organizations set up to help in situations such as that, but as a Jedi, I had often found myself on the front lines and one of the first to aid those too small to help themselves.

That didn't stop me from being sympathetic to this young one's plight, nor the fact that as I held him, his mind began reaching out toward me. As his tiny heart began to beat in sync with mine, his awareness in the Force wound itself around my own.

I recognized what was happening immediately. Even before Qui-Gon had accepted me as his padawan learner, the Force had created a training bond between us. Apparently, I was meant to train this young one as well. I had wondered if that was the Force's intention all along, although being a father to the child was most likely going to complicate our relationship.

I wasn't experiencing an instantaneous bond with the child as Padmé was, although I trusted I would in time. I would, however, protect and teach him to the best of my ability, and I made a silent vow to the infant and sent it forth into his mind. As soon as he had understood and accepted the message, Anakin relaxed into my arms and fell asleep.

"I knew you'd be good with him. Thank you, Obi-Wan."

There was more to her statement than the fact I'd put him to sleep, and I gazed at Padmé hoping for further explanation.

"Thank you for your kindness and patience," she began.

"Babies tend to bring that out in some people," I replied while handing Anakin back to her.

"That's not exactly what I meant, although I do appreciate that as well," she told me, while carefully placing the infant down onto the bed. She then stood and stepped up close, her dark eyes studying me. One hand gently smoothed down a beard that probably needed to be trimmed, and the gentleness of her touch caused a tremor to race down my spine.

"I was talking about me. You've been so generous and loving toward me, even when I didn't deserve it."

I was about to dispute that point, but my attempt was thwarted by a well-placed finger pressed against my mouth.

"Just listen. I was in a dark place and you led me back into the light. Anakin is the reward, but you were the one who kept me going. I think you must really love me."

That was an understatement.

"I would give my life for you without hesitation," I informed her with conviction.

And then she kissed me in a way she hadn't in a long while. I realized at that moment that everything had changed. Just as she had told little Anakin earlier: We were going to be all right.

/End


A/N: Thanks for the reviews for those who left one! I appreciate it so much! I've been working on the outline to a new story. Something completely different and unique. I'll most likely post chapter one of it soon. Hope to see you there!