Edit: 5/17/2020 Dialogue tags being fixed

The heat and weariness that overwhelm him do nothing to cover the cries of anguish coming from in front of him. His heart aches as he eyes the downed man in front of him.

"I HATE YOU!"

Oh, how his heart breaks a little more. He does all he can to keep the tears at bay.

"You were my brother Anakin!" It comes out stronger than he thought it would. "I loved you." It's softer this time, his heart breaking for the final time and he's left wondering how it's still beating. He turns his back on his fallen brother and forces his weary body to climb the hill. Cries of pain follow him up the hill. He wants to turn, to see him one last time. He stops himself and finishes his climb. His legs barely hold him up as he reaches the top.

"Kenobi!"

Ben Kenobi (not Obi-Wan, he can't be him anymore) bolts into a sitting position, chest heaving and sweat clinging to his body. It takes a moment for reality to reach him. His eyes track around the place he finds himself in and it all comes back to him. Tatooine.

"Kenobi!" The yell comes again and he can't stop himself from jumping at the force of the yell or the banging that joins it. "Ben!"

He blinks and shakes himself, breathing slowly and muttering the Code to himself. He stands and finds himself already dressed.

Right, he had fallen asleep in his clothes, completely drained from the news that-

"I'm coming in!" Beru Whitsun bursts into his new home in all her glory. Her eyes frantically race around the room until they land on him. Her body stills and he can only imagine how he must look. He plasters a smile on his face in the hopes that she'll not worry.

It doesn't work.

She bolts to him and it's all he can do to keep from flinching. His mind is still raw from the nightmare (though, nightmares aren't usually so vivid and real for him) and he knows she can see the way he tenses slightly.

"Owen told me he saw you yesterday."

He blinks at her, confused at the concern that traces her words.

"I was just doing some shopping. " He presses out, a smile still plastered across his face. "I'm sorry I caused such a commotion in your home." He knows what this is about. Owen must have ranted and raved to his wife about seeing the Jedi out in the open.

"No,"

Ben raises an eyebrow and his smile slips a little.

"You didn't cause a commotion." He finds that hard to believe. "He was worried."

Ben takes a step back and his forehead creases.

"Worried?"

Beru bites her lip and steps towards him, once again invading his personal space.

"It seems he had every reason to be worried."

"What?" Anything else he wants to say is blurred from his mind as the slightly shorter body of the woman barrels into him. Arms lock around his body and he flinches from the contact.

"I'm sorry." She whispers, not letting go of the confused Jedi.

"There's no need-"

"There's every need." She bites out. He clamps his mouth shut and slumps a little in her hold. "I heard what happened. He's alive."

His body seems to shut down and he collapses as though strings were cut from his being. Beru falls with him and he thinks he utters out an apology. She brushes it aside and lifts her head to gaze into his eyes. Her eyes soften as she brings her arms from around his body. She clasps his face in her hands and forces eye contact.

There's a tightness in Ben's throat that he can't seem to get rid of.

"I'm sorry." The dam breaks and the first tears fall. "I can't imagine what you must be feeling."

His cries grow and her face is blurred by tears. She gathers him into a hug. His face is pressed into her neck. If she's uncomfortable, she doesn't say anything. She just rocks him gently as sobs wrack his body.

He doesn't know how much time has passed before his tears finally slow. He's exhausted and he knows he's putting weight on the woman, but she still says nothing about it.

"I think this settles it."

He makes a questioning noise into her neck.

"You're staying with us tonight."

He shakes his head, trying to deter the woman. But she, like all the other women Ben's known throughout his life, is stubborn. "I'm not letting you stay here alone tonight. In fact, I won't let you stay alone for a good while."

"Owen-"

"Can sleep outside if he says anything against my plan."

Ben lets out a chuckle. "So?"

He lifts his head and she tsks and dries his face with her hands.

"I don't think you're giving me much choice." The mumble is met with a chuckle from both of them.

"Get what you need. We're leaving."