Shift: Chapter Two

The cutest set of dark brown eyes were staring up at me, accompanied by an expectant smile. What did this child want from me? I had no idea and I, therefore, was inclined to peel her off my leg. After I'd done so, I became aware of Padmé glaring at me from the other side of the room. She was gathering up the clutter and barking commands toward the miniature herd.

"Ben, pick up all these bits and pieces. I'm not going to accidentally step on one of these parts again."

The oldest immediately obeyed and began cleaning up what appeared to be mechanical parts of some sort. I had recognized a small servo as well as a manipulator. Was the boy building a droid of some type?

"Lucas, help your brother, and Leia, you can come help mommy with dinner."

They were related. That much was clear. They looked alike, and the youngest Padmé had called Leia was the spitting image of her. She looked…just…like…Padmé.

I wasn't known for being a slow thinker, so I was blaming it on my recent out-of-body experience. These were Padmé's children! When had that happened? How had I not been aware she had three children? One of them close to ten years of age!

"Obi-Wan! Are you just going to stand there gawking, or are you going to get washed up for dinner?"

She had that frustrated-mother tone going on, so I wasn't about to refuse her or ask questions. Not just yet. I had plenty of them beginning to form in my mind, but perhaps I should wait until after dinner.

I wandered back down the hallway which led to the bedrooms and crossed through one that was accommodating as well as less messy. This must be the master suite, I surmised before I found the 'fresher and cleaned up as I'd been so kindly requested to. When I turned around, the youngest was once again staring me down. In her hands, she held a brown, fuzzy Wookie doll that had seen much better days. It was worn in several places almost as if it had been chewed… Hold on.

"I like your Wookie," I told her using my most pleasant voice. "May I see it a minute?"

Leia hesitated, staring at me with her big, expressive eyes almost as if she didn't trust me. Slowly, she offered what must've been her prized possession.

Unless I was going absolutely crazy, on the back of one ear should be my initials stitched with black thread. It was common in the crèche to mark a favorite toy. I spun the plushie around and searched through its matted fur. When I made the discovery of what indeed were the letters of OWK, I almost dropped the thing. Once recovered, I quickly handed the toy back to its current owner and collapsed onto the toilet. Leia continued to stare at me and bravely took a few steps forward until she stood right in front of me.

"You're not my dad," she said in her tiny, sweet voice.

"No, honey, I'm sure not," I admitted with a nervous chuckle. If I'd learned one thing about younglings in the temple, they could see right through a lie. It was best to be honest.

I wasn't sure how she'd take the news. Would she burst out in tears? If she did, then what would I do? How would her mother respond?

Indeed, her eyes did moisten and her bottom lip began to tremble. I thought I was about to be in real trouble, but courage quickly took over and she swallowed hard. Obviously, she was her mother's daughter: Courageous and straightforward.

"Where is he?"

"Who?" I asked. I really didn't want to answer her questions. Wasn't there a way to distract her instead?

"My daddy," Leia replied sincerely. "Do you know where he is?"

I smiled kindly at the little girl. "I sure don't, but I'll do everything I can to find him. All right?"

She seemed to be thinking over my offer before deciding it was probably her best option. "All wight."Apparently satisfied, she skipped away, hugging her Wookie tight.

I wished I had her ability to accept the bizarre and her courage to face the unexpected. My stomach was rolling and there was no way I was going to be able to eat. What I really needed to do was get out of here, go to the Temple and find some answers. Surely, Master Yoda would be able to explain what was happening to me. Or at least wake me up from this nightmare.

After splashing some cold water onto my face, I took a deep breath and walked out to face the woman of the house.

"I was wondering where you were," Padmé stated flatly as she finished setting the table. "I was hoping you could help me out a little. By the way, I'll need you to watch the kids tonight. It's girls' night out."

Absolutely not! She wasn't about to leave me alone with these pint-sized strangers! "I'm afraid that's not possible."

Padmé glanced up from serving what looked to be a delicious casserole - if only I had an appetite. Her smile was tight and her eyes were shooting flaming balls of magma aimed at my head.

"May I see you in the kitchen, please?"

Even the children knew I was in trouble. They immediately sat down and didn't say a word. I winked at the oldest and followed Padmé, who quickly turned on me and hissed using a tone of voice I'd never heard coming from her before. It was low pitched like a tusk-cat growl.

"I told you about this two weeks ago! What do you mean 'that's not possible?"

"You see," I began. I frantically gathered my thoughts, desperately trying to come up with an excuse to leave. "I have to address the Council and deliver my mission report."

"I thought you already did that! At least that's what you told me. Have you been lying to me, Obi-Wan? What's going on with you! You finally get home after being gone for over a month and you act like a total stranger! Your children love you and miss you and you completely brushed them off! What are you thinking?"

I don't know! I wanted to scream the words out and tell her what was going on, but how could I when I didn't understand myself! First, I needed to figure it out, then I could explain. To do that, I needed to go speak with Master Yoda. If that upset her – well, I'd simply have to make it up to her later.

"I have responsibilities, Padmé," I firmly told her. "I'll be back in an hour." I meant what I said and strode confidently out of the kitchen, past the dining area where the children stared at me in confused wonder, and then out the front door. I could hear her voice calling out to me.

"One hour, Obi-Wan Kenobi! Don't make me come find you!"

I allowed the lift door to shut before I turned around. I couldn't face her. Would she really come to look for me? Damn right, she would! I knew her well enough to know that.

While I rode the city transport, I took note that the buildings looked the same, as did the Temple. I had no doubt everything was the same except for me, of course. For some reason, my entire life had been turned inside out.

"Where can I find Master Yoda?" I asked the young padawan on reception duty.

"Welcome back, Master Kenobi," the apprentice kindly said. After he checked the datapad, he smiled at me, the tentacles around his mouth twitching along with the expression. "He's in his private quarters, sir."

The hallways were the same, as were the lighting and the carpet. Even the door to Master Yoda's room had the same emblem on it, depicting his rank within the Jedi. And just as every time I had ever come to visit him, he opened the door before I'd even had a chance to knock.

"Wish to speak to me, you do?"

"Yes," I admitted, releasing a heavy sigh. It was good to see the Grand Master's kind face.

"Come inside. Sit, you will."

The cushions inside his rooms were low to the floor to accommodate Yoda's short stature, and I knelt down on one while he sat opposite me.

Immediately his brow furrowed and I felt a tingle run along my Force senses.

"Know you, I do not," he admitted with keen interest.

"Exactly!" I nearly shouted with exuberance. I told him my story and he listened intently to every word while leaning on his walking stick. At one point, he'd closed his eyes and I thought he'd fallen asleep. Maybe I should wrap this up.

"And when I walked in, there she was, with three children who looked remarkably like a combination of her genetics and mine! How is that possible? I've never… you know…haven't…not with her. It's not possible! What am I supposed to do with three kids? How am I ever going to find time to take care of a wife and family? How can I manage to train my own Padawan if I have a family that requires so much of my attention?"

Yoda had been silently listening the entire time, giving me the chance to pour my heart out. Finally, once I felt a little better, I shut up and Yoda began to speak. Sometimes, his advice was a challenge to understand. It was often cryptic or a complex riddle that had to be worked out. What he was saying this time wasn't difficult to understand at all. However, it was impossible to comprehend.

"A padawan you don't have. A padawan never have you had."

It was like a punch in the gut and made absolutely no sense. Of course, I had a padawan. I had made a vow to my own Master to train Anakin!

"What about Anakin?" I stammered. "He was nearing his trials."

"Indeed he is, but Anakin, your padawan he is not. Train him myself, I have."