You didn't believe in love at first sight, but if you did, you'd be married to a tree.

As soon as you arrived at the Arboretum, Ben had practically dragged you to his favorite spot, which was a bench near a waterfall and some willows. But your eye had been caught by a Japanese maple on the edge of the asiatic garden section. You wandered away from Ben, captivated by the way the roots wound over each other and twisted into the trunk.

Unfortunately, Ben didn't see you go, since he was staring at the waterfall with his back to you and explaining all about the architecture of the fountain. You didn't mean to walk away from him while he was still talking, but the maple tree was calling to you and your feet started moving almost of their own accord.

You reached up to touch one of the maple's deep red leaves, and the warm smell of Earth and sunshine overwhelmed you in the best of ways.

"Flower?" Ben had noticed your absence, but the dense foliage was blocking you from immediate view.

"Over here, Ben." You called softly, not wanting to worry him any further.

"There you are." Ben joined you, one hand gently touching the small of your back. "You pulled an Anakin on me while I was explaining the design of the space, that is to say, you wandered off while I behaved in a very nerdy manner."

"Sorry," You said, "this tree just pulled me over here."

"Is that so? I'll have to meet the competition for your affection then."

He stepped closer and read the information plaque aloud.

"Acer palmatum," he said, "sounds like the genus of my laptop."

You both laughed heartily at this, and Ben gently took your elbow to lead you deeper into the asiatic garden.

"This one is my particular favorite, I think." Ben pointed at an orange jessamin in the tropical section. You nodded appreciatively, liking the floral scent. Your other hand was still comfortably pinned to his arm, and his pointing hand returned to settle on top of yours. It was like a fantasy you didn't even know you had, being led delicately through the trees by a beautiful man.

Before you knew it, you'd circled back to the start, and Ben was settling you both on the waterfall bench.

"Do you like it, Flower?" Ben asked, his eyes sparkling with joy.

"Of course I do. I love plants, and I love y-trees. I do love trees." You awkwardly said in a rush, internally kicking yourself for nearly speaking out of turn about Ben, to Ben. You loved him as a friend, and didn't want to give him the wrong idea.

"I also love trees." Ben's blue eyes fixed on the fountain, his expression unreadable.

Two kids burst out of the path entrance, running and shrieking the roof down. Their harried-looking parents walked behind, flashing you two apologetic glances.

"You want kids." Ben was watching you watch the littles running around.

"Of course." You sighed. "I've always wanted to be a parent."

You could feel his curiosity prickling, but his good manners kept him from asking further. You decided to volunteer the information yourself.

"Haven't found the right time, or the right sperm donor yet."

Which was technically true. You'd only made some preliminary inquiries at your local fertility center, but the price tag had kept you from going further with it.

Ben reached up and tucked a stray piece of hair behind your ear, his fingertip ghosting the curl of your jaw as he pulled away. You shivered involuntarily. He smiled, noticing, and leaned in, his breath wafting over your face.

The almost-kiss was interrupted by the shrilling of his phone.

"I'm sorry, Flower. I must take this. I put my phone on do not disturb, which means only Ahsoka and my parents can reach me in the event of an emergency, I-" He trailed off, seeing a slurry of notifications across the screen. He clicked the phone on.

"Ahsoka, what's happened?" He asked, brow creasing. A frantic voice poured out of the line, and Ben's face paled.

"His arm?" He asked. Your stomach dropped.

"Of course, I'm on my way. You did fine, Ahsoka. Don't worry. I'll call them, yes."

Ben took your hand and began leading you out of the arboretum, punching buttons on his phone.

"Qui-Gon Jinn, please." He said, his voice taking on a more formal tone. He flashed a worried look back at you, but was cut off from saying anything by a voice on the line.

"Qui-Gon, I'm afraid Anakin's had another accident." He said. You realized he was probably talking to his father.

"No, I was out on my day off. He was with Ahsoka, and apparently he got pushed around at the trampoline park. He took a spill and broke his arm."

You gasped in spite of yourself.

"No, no. No surgery. They're putting him in a cast now, I'm going to go pick him up from Naboo General."

The voice on the line grew louder, and Ben frowned. He stopped and dropped your hand so he could gesture wildly with it.

"No, that's not the point. I told you that he's been having trouble with these children."

He clenched his free hand into a hard fist. You could see his knuckles going white.

"So, it's my fault?" He said into the phone, his voice gone sharp.

You had no idea how to help, so you kept your distance and watched quietly as he argued with his father. Finally, frustration boiled over.

"I'm sorry, Qui-Gon, but I have to go and pick your son up from the hospital. I'll see you when you return from your trip." He said venomously. He hung up without waiting for an answer, and you tentatively approached as he tried to calm his breathing.

"Just..." Ben said, "come here."

Ben enfolded you into his arms, pressing his face into your shoulder. You tentatively settled your arms around him, and he relaxed into your touch.

"It's going to be okay." You soothed.

"Sometimes I really admire that man, and sometimes I think I hate him." Ben said into your neck, his breath making your hair tickle your neck.

"I think that's the way everyone feels about their parents." You replied. You decided to gently pet his blonde hair, and he relaxed into you further.

"I just worry that Anakin will grow up to feel the same way, and they'll lose him like they lost me." Ben said unhappily.

You stayed in your embrace for a few minutes more, and then Ben reluctantly pulled away.

"I can take you home first, or..."

"No, I'll go with." You said firmly, reassuring him. Ben sighed and took up your arm, leading you out to the car.


"Yook, I got bonk." Anakin said woozily from the hospital bed, holding up his cast.

"I can see that, Little One." Ben said, coming to sit on Anakin's bedside. You hovered awkwardly, a teenaged girl with bright orange hair who had been introduced to you as Ahsoka the babysitter standing beside you.

"It was a clean break, he'll need the cast for a while but he'll be fine. You can pack him up and take him home now." The nurse said, bringing in a clipboard for Ben to look over.

"Thank you, Beru. I wish we didn't have to keep meeting like this." Ben said glumly, looking the paperwork over.

"Oh, Ben. I'd worry about any other kid that comes in here this often, but I've seen his personality and know you're not to blame." The nurse patted Ben's shoulder.

"Thank you." Ben said genuinely. Beru smiled and bustled out.

"I seepy." Anakin said to Ben, eyelids sagging. Ben set the clipboard aside and gently smoothed Anakin's curls away from his face. Your ovaries did that flippy thing.

"Let's get him home." Ben said, leaning over Anakin and picking him up as if he were made of glass. You picked up the discharge paperwork, and Ahsoka got their coats from the chair next to the bed.

"Hey, it's going to be okay." You said to the glum teenager.

"Yeah, I know. I just wish he wasn't so clumsy. And I wish I had stepped in sooner, those kids were being really mean. But I went to grab us sodas, and I was talking to my friend at the counter, next thing I know..."

"Ahsoka." Ben hissed, overhearing their conversation. Ahsoka cowered behind you.

"Ben..." You said, straightening up.

"If I hear one more time that you were talking to your friends instead of watching him..." Ben threatened.

"Let's go, not here." You said, giving him a gentle push. Ahsoka trailed you into the emergency lobby and out to the Prius like a kicked puppy.

"Ahsoka, Maker help me." Ben said, rolling his eyes skyward. You opened the door so he could gently tuck Anakin into his car seat.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Kenobi, I really am. I would never want Sky Guy to get hurt." Ahsoka looked like she was about to cry.

"Ahsoka, you have to be more careful. You know he needs a lot of guidance, and you have to be the adult when you're with him."

Ahsoka looked at the ground, orange bangs drooping.

"Go home, get some rest. We'll talk about this more later." Ben said, sighing guiltily.

Ahsoka trudged off toward her car, and you silently got into the passenger seat.

"I shouldn't have been cross with her." Ben sighed. He sat studying the steering wheel.

"She's just a kid." You said. "She didn't do it on purpose."

"I know. I know. I just wish everyone would treat Anakin the same way that I do."

You reached out and covered one of his hands with yours, and Ben's blue eyes flicked to meet yours.

Suddenly, your lips met.

Ben's mouth was like a sip of water in the desert, and you were ready to drown in it. He was kissing you like he hadn't tasted food in a week, one hand on the back of your head pulling you close, the other cupping your cheek and then disappearing to tangle in your hair.

"Maker..." He breathed as you gasped for air, and then dove back in.

You didn't know how long you worshipped each others' mouths, but when you pulled apart, it was like you couldn't regain any of the oxygen you'd lost. Ben was looking at you in wonder, lips red and slightly parted, his hair mussed from where you'd found it and held on to the silky strands for dear life.

You pulled away slightly and searched his blue eyes for a moment, and then you were kissing again.

"I'd like to think that this is the best kiss I've ever given or received." Ben whispered between kisses. You giggled. Yes, actually giggled.

"I could listen to that sound every day and never get tired of it." Ben leaned back, smiling shyly at you and running his fingers through his hair. His smile went straight to your core and you clenched your thighs together.

Ben pushed the button to start the car, and you fastened your seatbelt, sure you were still flushed.

"One of these days, so help me, I am going to successfully take you on a date." Ben said as he pulled out of the parking lot.