Ben sits on the edge of the couch, watching the news reports from Coruscant. Even though the transmission has a decidedly pro-Separatist spin to it, Ben can understand what is happening. The Confederacy has staged an attack against Coruscant, intent on capturing Palpatine.
Ben grins, and finds himself hoping ever so slightly that the Separatists will take the time to kill Palpatine here and now. He knows it is not a very Jedi-like thought, but he harbors it anyways, even if he could never bring himself to assassinate Palpatine himself.
Hearing laughter, he looks over to see his wife and sister-in-law talking animatedly to one another. He smiles, happy and content in what his life has become. He no longer even harbors any resentment to the Force for allowing him to be dumped here in the past.
He wonders to himself, just when that feeling will collapse, when the Force will bring something else to hurt him with. Pushing those dark thoughts away he turns his attention back to the holonet, as reports on Anakin Skywalker entering Coruscanti space have begun trickling through the newsnets.
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Two weeks later.
Hal Horn is watching the news reports, his wife animatedly talking baby things with her sister, as a report concerning the death of General Grevious is aired. Then the broadcast is interrupted by a message from the Chancellor. Hal stares in disgust and fear at the dark cowled thing which speaks from behind the Chancellor's podium. His heart falling even further as Palpatine begins his speech singaling the end of an era, and the rise of an empire.
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Three months after the Rise of the Empire
Hal grounds his teeth slight, it has been a months since the Clone Wars ended, since the Jedi were labeled traitors. Even though he believed Ben's story, he still held out hope for the Republic, for the Jedi. He glances towards his wife, his heart heavy and near to breaking. If all of Ben's prophecies all come true, she will bear him a son, at the cost of his father.
When a knock at the door startles him out of his thoughts and fears. He answers it and there before him stands a Camassi. "Valin Horn?"
"Yes."
"I am Ylenic It'kla I knew your father. He was a great Jedi, and a wonderful man. It is my great misfortune to tell you that he fell in battle against the forces of darkness. He did so, saving the life of myself and our comrade."
Hal cries out, and collapses against the frame. Ylenic pushes a package towards Hal, and then turns away into the night, his errand over, his intention to get away from the proof that his friend betrayed the code and the Order.
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One year after the rise of the Empire
Ben glances over at his wife and sister-in-law, smiling at the two of them as they discuss their pregnancies. He lets the smile drop from his face, as he considers and wonders just how his presence, how his choices here will affect the future. Then he decides that it does not matter. He made the choice to live a life here in the past, and right or wrong, that is the reality that he has to live with now.
He focuses his attention once more on the sisters sitting next to each other on the other couch. He smiles at the thought of the children they both are bearing, and reaches out with the Force to once more probe the child in Syal's womb. He can feel the feminine presence within her, and it makes him ecstatic.
Just the thought of being a father increases the smile on his face to galactic proportions. As the front door to his home opens, he turns that way and watches Hal enter. The younger man sits down beside Ben and sighs wearily, causing Ben to laugh. "What's the matter Hal?"
Hal looks towards Ben, and begins speaking in a low whisper which Ben has to strain to hear. "I don't get to sleep anymore. Nyche tosses and turns all night long, and she's up and down to the 'fresher throughout the night as well."
Ben grins at him, a sparkle of mischief in his eyes. "It's just practice for after the baby's born."
Hal's groan attracts the attention of the women, who come over to them. The roundness of Syal's stomach as she nears her fortieth week of pregnancy delights Ben, and he spares a glance from her to her sister's form, who is due a mere month after her.
A sharp pain from Syal pulls his attention back to his wife, and he notices the grimace that crosses her face and then disappears. He raises an eyebrow in question, and she shakes her head.
Then he once more pays attention to what Nyche came over to request and laughs as he realizes that they are once more going to go out for dinner; that the girls are both craving Chad food this evening.
As he stands, Ben glances at the holocom once more, noting the fact that Darth Vader has found and killed yet another of the Jedi. Sighing as he shakes his head, Ben turns off the machine, and goes to take his pregnant wife out to dinner. On their way to the restaurant, Ben feels yet another sharp pain from his wife, and turns towards her, her smile is strained and filled with pain. "Syal are you okay?"
She meekly nods her head, and then when another sharp pain hits, groans aloud. Ben's eyes flutter shut as he probes her and the baby with the Force. His eyes pop open, just as her water breaks in the back of Hal's speeder. Ben looks to Hal, an expression of horror on his face. "Hal, get us to the med center, Syal is in labor."
Hours pass, with the steady rising and falling of Syal's pain to keep Ben company, as he sits by her side in the delivery room. His attention is focused on her and the pressure she exerts on his hand as she pushes. Finally, the cries of new life drag his attention to the tiny bundle the medic is holding out to Syal. The medic's eyes go from Syal to Ben then back as he says, "Congratulations. It's a girl."
Ben is transfixed by the sight, speechless. A nurse walks over, holding a datapad. "What shall her name be?"
Ben glances to his wife who nods her head slowly. "Tamar." The nurse makes an entry and attaches a small anklet and then leaves the room, allowing the new family a moment of privacy. The newborn opens her eyes to stare up at her mother, and Ben is mesmerized by the intense green of her eyes.