Title: Shift

Author: Ticklesivory

Summary: Obi-Wan is given the opportunity to see what his life would've been like had he taken a different path.

Warnings: None

Disclaimer: I don't own Mickey Mouse or Star Wars for that matter. This is all for fun and for free!

Rating: PG/T

Genre: Drama, Comedy

Shift: Chapter One

"Wait."

It was the second time Padme had voiced her request. I complied less readily this time. She was stalling and it only made our parting more difficult. I released her hand and spun round to face her, only then noticing that her eyes were moist and the makeup she had worn to disguise the dark circles beneath them had been partly washed away. The fatigue revealed on her face simply mirrored my own. We had stayed awake the night before going over any possibilities and options we could think of, spending as much time with one another as we could before the inevitable sunrise forced us to face reality.

I had no choice but to leave Naboo with Anakin the following day and present ourselves before the Jedi High Council on Coruscant.

And here we were once again, forced to swallow the bitter pill of our destinies separating us despite our efforts to keep that from happening.

"Promise me. One more time," she sniffled, grabbing hold of the sleeve of my robe. "Promise me you'll stay in touch. No matter what."

I had already made that promise two different times the night before and saying it again wouldn't make any difference. She obviously hadn't believed me the first two times.

I decided not to judge her based on her stubbornness. She was young; only eighteen, and even though she was the queen of a planet, she was particularly naïve when it came to matters of the heart. However, I respected her too much to refuse her request and once again made my vow.

"I promise, Padme. I'll send you a holovid, a message, a comm – whatever I have to in order to keep in contact. I won't let time and space rob us of what we have."

"I love you, Obi-Wan," she whispered as transportation staff entered the docking bay and walked past us. "I know you worry that I'm too young to know my heart and that this came upon us too quickly, but I'm old enough to recognize my feelings. This is real. I know it is."

Sweet Padme. I had every intention of keeping my promise. I didn't deserve her but was going to do everything within my power to keep her.

"Anni's waiting," she informed me, her sight moving past me and toward my waiting ship.

I turned to cast the young boy a smile. "I'll be right there!" I told him before returning my attention to the Queen.

We weren't about to display our affection for one another in front of a growing crowd or the boy. We'd had plenty of opportunity for that the night before in the privacy of her suite. Our shared gaze would have to be enough for now; enough to speak the words we could not say, to shorten the distance and make up for the lost time we were about to endure.

I squeezed her hand before leaving her side, motioning for Anakin to enter the ship as I ascended the ramp. Once at the top, I turned to see if she was waiting to see me off, but she'd already left. My last glimpse of her was of the back of her gown and the elaborate headdress she was wearing as her handmaidens escorted her back to the palace.

Ten Years Later…

Our mission specs were clear. We were to protect Senator Amidala from harm until the Military Creation Act vote had taken place. There had already been one attempt on her life and the Jedi Council worried more would follow. Protecting one of our youngest and brightest political leaders wasn't difficult, but there were complications.

Would she remember? It had been ten years since I'd seen her. Ten years since I'd broken my vow to her. I hadn't kept in touch liked I'd promised. I couldn't! She'd just have to understand. I had a Padawan to train! Anakin had been thrust upon me and I'd made those promises before I realized what that meant. I had recalled my own training and had based my beliefs on that. Boy, was I wrong. Anakin had his own set of problems, which included homesickness and abandonment issues; things I nor my Master ever had to deal with. Anakin required all of my attention and as a result, the Council sent us on mission after mission. 'For the good of our Master/Padawan relationship,' they had told me.

For once, the Jedi Council had made a wise decision. We were indeed a valuable team and had had many successful missions. I was proud of all we had accomplished so far. However, this particular mission worried me.

What will she say when she sees me? What could I possibly tell her? Would I be given the chance to explain? Is she even aware I'm the one assigned for her protection?

Anakin was in the dark about everything that had transpired between us. For all he knew, Senator Amidala and I were old friends and that was all. I planned to keep it that way. He didn't need to know about my personal relationships. I was his Jedi Master, sworn to train him to become a Master himself someday. I would do whatever I felt was right in order to make that happen.

I couldn't help the fact that we had spent so much time together he could read me like a datapad. Before he recognized my growing anxiety, I schooled my thoughts, my heart rate, and my breathing. His excitement, however, was glaringly obvious.

"You need to calm yourself," I suggested.

"I haven't seen her in ten years, Master!"

"Neither have I, but we're here to perform a duty, not participate in a happy reunion. Do keep that in mind."

"Yes, Master."

We entered the lift that would carry us up to her penthouse apartment and stood side by side. I was grateful we would be riding alone. It would give me another chance to teach the boy how to disguise his emotions better.

"Select the floor, please," I asked him. It was a simple request for a simple action that resulted in a fantastic event.

As soon as the young man's finger touched that button, he disappeared. There wasn't a stitch of his clothing, the aroma of his scent, or a lingering shadow of his figure in that lift. It was almost as if he had never existed.

I quickly spun around to view my own reflection in the glass behind me. I was still here, but Anakin was not.

The boy had a sense of humor and loved playing tricks on me. This had better not be one of them!

"Anakin! If you're anywhere close by, get back here this instant! We have an important mission!"

I waited a few seconds, but there was no reply. Angrily, I pressed the button to raise the lift to the Senator's apartment and stepped out. Once in the hallway, I looked up and down it. Still, no Anakin.

My aggravation had to be filtering along our training bond. Surely, he would sense it and return to my side. After a few minutes, there was still no sign of him. Vowing I'd teach him a lesson later for deserting his duty, I rang the chime to Senator Amidala's apartment.

The door was opened by one of her security officers who had a curious look on his face. I'd been informed of his presence during the Council briefing. His name was Typho.

"Master Obi-Wan Kenobi sent by the Jedi Council to meet with Senator Amidala," I announced formally.

The response wasn't exactly what I'd expected. The man's lip slowly curled to reveal a cynical grin.

"Oh, ok. I get it," Typho chuckled. "You two and your little games!"

What did he mean by that?

I heard the Senator ask who was at the door and I was announced by Captain Typho, who was still giggling when he walked out into the hallway.

"Obi-Wan!"

For all that was holy in the universe, she was more beautiful now than ever. Despite the seriousness of the situation and my worry over meeting her again after so long, I couldn't help but smile and stare at her. She smiled back, which was surprising, although not as astonishing as when she rushed into my arms and kissed me. It wasn't a long kiss, just one of those 'nice to see you again' pecks you'd give to an old friend. Well, she certainly didn't hold grudges, did she?

After such an unexpected greeting, she immediately entered the living area, which was again to my surprise…cluttered. Everywhere I looked were a variety of novelty items. Brightly colored ones mostly. Things that younglings would play with.

Were her nieces here as well? That seemed odd. If her life were in danger, why would she have family here?

Within a few seconds, indeed two…no three children rushed into the room. One was a boy about age seven or eight, which confused me even more. I could've sworn Padme told me her sister had two girls.

Nothing about this scenario made sense. My Padawan had disappeared, the head of security was a buffoon, and Padme thought it was safe to have children in her home after an attempt had been made on her life. Who was making the security decisions around here anyway?

I was just about to question her when one of the three young ones rushed to me, grabbed onto my leg, and called out a name that silenced all my thoughts and sent my world spinning.

"Daddy!"

What the hell was going on!