Author's Notes: Obi-Wan ever so kindly reminded me that we hadn't yet heard the story behind Merit's adopted son Bran (mentioned in the first part of this story). And this isn't the full story, but gives you the basic outline. I'm also thinking about replacing Anakin as a main character with Cody, since Anakin's only been mentioned thus far, while Cody has been an actual character in two segments (we'll see, there are a lot of segments yet). He also reminded me that the other part of his theory as to why he remembers more of the past is because Obi-Wan is too close to everything. That's as good a reason as any. I'm hoping to have at least one more segment posted before I leave for Florida on Monday, because I'm betting that I'll be too exhausted after visiting Kennedy Space Center and the various parks to write. On the other hand … you just never know what will provoke an idea. Oh, and with regards to Bran's name ... it's a Celtic name, and it does mean 'raven,' just you can assume that Lisseth Warda Solo was from a psuedo-Celtic world.
Part Four
Baby Mine
Apartment of Obi-Wan Kenobi & Merit Solo
Jedi Temple, Coruscant
Something horrific happened during Mace Windu's most recent mission … something that left him with haunted eyes and an infant boy with black hair and brown eyes in his arms. Only hours after his return to the Temple, his arms were empty of that child. But the shadows remained in his eyes. Obi-Wan Kenobi knew it wasn't his place to comfort the councilor … but he couldn't help the desire to reach out to his honorary 'uncle.' In the year since the events on Naboo, he found himself growing closer to the other man. In the beginning, it was their shared wariness over what the changes would bring to the Order … much as he did like Merit, he was still wary of what was to come.
And it hadn't been easy … there were the deaths of those Jedi assigned to guard Neeti Anjul until it was time to figure out what to do about her (and the fallout that resulted). There was the adjustment Anakin had to make, going from a slave boy on Tatooine to a Jedi padawan: an adjustment that, Obi-Wan conceded, would have been far easier if Thane Solo was his Master. He couldn't bring himself to think much about the late Jedi. His death meant the survival of Obi-Wan's own former Master … and Thane Solo's younger sister continued to grieve.
She wasn't grieving right now, however … her delighted laughter as the baby snuggled in her lap grabbed for the long braid hanging over one shoulder brought a smile to Obi-Wan's lips, and lightened the countenance of Mace Windu. The older Jedi murmured, "That's one good thing that came out of this mess. She'll make a good mother, I think. In some ways, she's teaching us all and doesn't realize it." Obi-Wan thought back to the day he and Merit helped to deliver a baby in downtown Coruscant, thought of the smile that lit her face as she cradled the newborn Togruta in her arms … and remembered how he felt. As a diplomat for the Order, he saw more than his fair share of death and destruction, but how often did he see something as life-affirming as a baby coming into the world? Not enough. Not nearly enough.
He would have answered, but was distracted by the baby making very distressed noises and equally distressed faces, as well as Merit gently chastising, "I did say that it wouldn't taste good. Here … let's get that nasty hair out of your mouth. Too bad I don't have a necklace for you to play with." Much to Obi-Wan's astonishment, Mace actually snickered at that and Merit looked up, adjusting the baby in her arms. She made a face at them both, but she looked too happy to really be even annoyed with them, even as she asked, "Are you sure about this, Master?"
"He's not Force-sensitive, so the crèche is out of the question. But … he's meant to be yours. I'm sure of that. You mean you never thought about being a mother while running around the galaxy, saving those who needed to be saved?" Mace asked, a hint of teasing in his voice for those who knew what to listen for, and Merit rolled her eyes at him. Obi-Wan knew his partner well enough to realize that she would have stuck her tongue out at him if she wasn't feeling so off-kilter. Her eyes kept returning to the child in her arms, who kept reaching for the thick braid he'd just tried to put in his mouth.
"Uhm … no. And Aidan was never a hundred percent sure that he'd healed the injuries I'd sustained while Thane and I were being held prisoner by Andriu, so I wasn't even sure if I could conceive. And I'm not convinced that I should be a mother. I mean, I have my responsibilities to the Order as a whole, as well as my responsibilities to my students in the Home Guard. And yet …" Merit answered, her voice trailing off as the baby settled against her chest, a yawn escaping his mouth. Merit's hand smoothed down his tiny back, cradling him protectively against her body.
"He belongs with you, Merit. I suppose I could have turned home over to the Child Services Agency here on Coruscant when I returned. But I felt a tugging to return to the Temple, and that was because he belongs with you. What will you name him?" Mace asked and for the first time since the baby was placed in her arms, Merit's smile slipped as she looked at the Councilor. Her brown eyes were filled with sadness as she gazed up at him.
"His parents won't be coming for him?" she asked and Mace slowly shook his head. In his mind, Obi-Wan filled in, 'because they're dead.' But whether Mace was responsible for the deaths of the baby's parents or was simply unable to save them … well, he had a sense that he would never know the answer to that. Merit looked again at the sleeping child in her arms and murmured, "Bran … his name is 'Bran.' In my mother's birth-tongue, it means 'raven.' Fitting for a little boy with black hair, hmm?" The little boy newly-named (or perhaps re-named) 'Bran' cooed up at Merit, as if sensing that by naming him, she was also claiming him … even if she yet didn't realize it herself.
"Fitting indeed. And no. No, his father died during the course of my mission, and I have no idea what happened to his mother. And don't try to tell me that the Force isn't vehemently insisting that you're to raise Bran … I hear it, quite clearly," Mace answered. Obi-Wan could tell from Merit's expression that she heard it just as clearly. And, even more interesting, she still didn't seem entirely convinced … but whether that was because she clearly wanted the child or because she truly feared she couldn't be the mother Bran deserved, only time would tell.
What he did know was that little Bran was falling asleep, the end of Merit's braid clutched in one tiny hand, and the baby's Force-presence said simply, 'home.' (Obi-Wan bit back a smile at Bran's confusion over Merit's chest, as she was apparently far softer than what he knew in the past … that smile died slowly when he realized that meant the boy's birth mother had likely been dead for quite some time). Merit offered one last smile before reclining backward on the floor. Bran gave a tiny whimper, but the small amount of distress vanished as Merit stroked his back lightly. Obi-Wan watched in fascination as both infant and woman dozed off.
Obi-Wan led Mace out of the quarters he and Merit shared, and the Councilor observed, "She may yet have the opportunity to be a mother to a child born of her body. But she is meant to be that child's mother. I know you'll help her with the Home Guard and with Bran." Obi-Wan nodded … yes. His Knighthood was full of surprises, but he was learning that he enjoyed every second he spent with the Home Guard. Given how close he came to going to AgriCorps, he had a special affinity to those children. Helping Merit to raise a child from infancy, on the other hand … that would prove to be more challenging. Mace added, more to himself than anything else, "When I returned here, I truly intended to take that child to Child Services. There were so many shatterpoints around him … but he needed a diaper change."
Obi-Wan snickered, because yes, he'd noticed that … along with the smell, and the baby's crying as he and Merit passed Mace in the hall. Merit had offered to assist Mace, admitting that she'd changed very few diapers but at the very least, she could provide an extra set of hands. Obi-Wan knew that he would forever cherish the Look the Councilor gave Merit in response to her cheeky offer. It was his intention to get the little boy to the professionals, but instead, he gave the baby to Merit to change. And while Merit changed very few diapers (Ami, the only child she had a great deal of contact with, was four or five years old when they met), she still did better than Mace or Obi-Wan, who both nearly sick from both the smell and the contents of the diaper (which wasn't to say that she didn't grimace, to be fair. She did, muttering, 'ew' under her breath). And since talking about shatterpoints was far more pleasant than talking about dirty diapers, Obi-Wan asked, "What do you see around him now?"
Mace merely smiled, glanced over their shoulder toward the closed door where Merit and Bran Solo now rested, and replied, "Always in motion, the future is." Riiiiiight. And on that note, Obi-Wan would return to his partner and to her new son. Mace went on, "I need to meet with your former Master. I know I arranged the first meeting between Anakin and Chancellor Palpatine here in the Temple, but the boy's teachers are noticing that he's more prideful, particularly right after a meeting with the Chancellor." Obi-Wan grimaced, because he'd noticed the same thing and tried to call it to his former Master's attention on more than one occasion. Maybe Mace would have more luck than Obi-Wan did. The Councilor squeezed his shoulder (something that Obi-Wan was slowly becoming comfortable with) and gave him a gentle shove toward the door. Message received and acknowledged.
He slipped back inside the apartment, to find Merit sound asleep on the floor, still cradling Bran close. He murmured, "Oh, this will not do at all." Remembering what Merit showed him after they delivered the Togrutan baby, Obi-Wan very carefully scooped Bran up into his arms, supporting his head and neck. Bran woke up briefly, brown eyes peering up at him, before deciding to accept this strange set of arms and returning to sleep. They had no place for him to sleep, so it was Merit's bed for now. Later, after both the new mother and new son were rested, they would find suitable items for the baby (what sort of things? Obi-Wan had very little experience with this, and wasn't even sure he was doing what little he could properly). He started to leave the room, and stopped, wondering if the baby was secure enough. Was he old enough to crawl? Hmm … Obi-Wan plucked the child up from the bed and placed him on the floor beside it, before he returned to the living room of their quarters to retrieve Merit.
Very carefully, he scooped her into his arms and Merit mumbled something under her breath, curving her arms and her body around him. Obi-Wan closed his eyes, counted to ten in Standard and in Mando'a, before releasing his desires into the Force. It was becoming quite bothersome, the way his desire for Merit increased on a daily basis, and meditation was helping very little. However, once his head was more or less clear, he carried Merit into her room and placed her on the bed, and then picked up Bran to place him beside her. As an afterthought, he covered them both up, before slipping from the room. Now, more than ever, he needed to submerge his desire. He wasn't ready yet to be anything more than friends. Neither was Merit, especially not now that she was a mother.
TBC