Author's Notes: I've often said in the past that I'm a producer's worst nightmare … I never do what I'm supposed to do. I'm supposed to like one character, according to them … I want nothing to do with that character and prefer someone else. (See: Poltergeist: The Legacy, Torchwood, Arrow). Now, that's spilling over into my writing. Remember when I said that there would be an encounter between Jango and Dooku, regarding Galidraan and other things? Well, it's gonna happen in the next chapter … but the more they told me about it, the more I realized I needed to get this chapter out first. There are some revelations that I didn't want to be second-hand. Some revelations are okay second-hand or off-the-cuff. These aren't among them. So. In this chapter, another course change comes to the Jedi, and certain ... adjustments must be made as a result.

Chapter Eleven

A Joyous Occasion

Jedi Temple

Coruscant

Three and a half years after the Battle of Naboo

By now, Mace Windu was becoming accustomed to the headaches provided by one Knight Merit Leia Solo. They weren't the same type of headaches he received from prolonged exposure to Master Qui-Gon Jinn … those were migraines. These were more like 'oh sweet Force, how is this girl going to shake up the universe as a whole and the Jedi Order in particular this time?' headaches. And most of the time, she didn't mean to create his headaches … they tended to happen just because of who she was. He received his answer a few months after Qui-Gon, to borrow a phrase from Quinlan Vos, 'showed his ass.' Mace didn't bother pointing out that technically (and literally) speaking, Merit and Obi-Wan did that when they left the pool to confront Qui-Gon. Knowing Vos, the younger Jedi would have observed that was his favorite part of the entire situation … or something along those lines. Vos didn't actually know what to make of Obi-Wan's partner (as was the case with most of the Jedi, even the ones who met the time-displaced woman) … but he certainly appreciated the sight of her nude, wet body, however brief it was. And in true Quinlan Vos fashion, he made absolutely no secret of that.

And as he promised himself, Mace did make Merit pay for that particular headache once she returned from the mission that took her, Obi-Wan and Bran to the Mid Rim. Yes, it was a few months later, but Mace was of the opinion that there were times when revenge really was a dish best served cold (and true, revenge wasn't the way of the Jedi … but there was revenge, and then there was payback). Besides, it was more fun to spar with her after she returned from a mission. She learned so many interesting moves while she was away. Over the last few years, as she and Obi-Wan took missions both together and apart, her sparring ability grew by leaps and bounds. Mace suspected that it had as much to do with being in a somewhat stable environment as it did with the opportunity to practice. Being one of the last four Jedi in the known galaxy somewhat limited one's ability to learn and practice the various forms, especially on the run.

She wasn't good enough to beat him, and perhaps never would be, but each time they sparred, she lasted longer and learned from each encounter. He was anticipating a sparring session of at least ten to fifteen minutes (since that was all he had time for today) … but that wasn't what he received. Instead, as they made their way back and forth across the training salles, he noticed when she faltered. That was unusual enough and Mace opened his mouth to tease her, intending to ask if they should reschedule … but it was then that two things happened: one, the Force screamed a warning at him, and two, Merit's face drained of color and her legs gave way. Mace, reacting with Jedi reflexes, used the Force to turn off her 'saber and call it to her as she collapsed to the ground. He stowed both lightsabers in his robes and strode over to the crumpled figure, gently turning the young woman over.

Obi-Wan was investigating new leads regarding the former Chancellor's death (he believed it was murder. So did Mace). Bran was with his second favorite babysitter, Master Tayn Sione, who was taking Bran and other Temple younglings on a field trip around the upper level of Coruscant. Bant was teaching a class. That left Mace. The Master of the Order scooped Bran's mother into his arms, and as he did, he noticed something was … different about Merit's Force signature. Like Anakin Skywalker, she had a staggeringly bright presence in the Force (understandable, since she was his great-granddaughter) … but unlike Anakin, she kept her Force signature muted most of the time.

And right now, it was far brighter … not as bright as it was when she was comfortable enough to let it blaze forth, but much brighter than usual. The Force nudged him forward as he swept through the halls with the unconscious knight in his arms … and the discovery of why her signature was so much brighter nearly brought him to his knees. The Force chided him, and he rallied himself, pushing forward once more to the Halls of Healing. Once he reached the Halls, he would contact Obi-Wan. The young Knight needed to know about this as well. In truth, he should have been the very first to know about this, but things rarely happened as they should. He murmured to the unconscious woman, "I should expect this from you by now."

Much to his relief, he found Bant in the Halls of Healing. Her silver eyes narrowed with concern when she saw Merit's limp body in his arms, and Mace explained, "She collapsed while we were sparring." He eased Merit onto the table indicated by the young Healer, and Bant immediately began checking her friend over. He saw the moment Bant made the same discovery he had on his way here. She stopped, stared down at Merit, and then looked up at Mace. He inclined his head, ever so slightly, and observed, "I need to comm Obi-Wan."

"Yes, Master … he needs to be here for this," Bant agreed. With a tenderness rarely seen by outsiders, Bant stroked her friend's dark hair, eyes shining with joy and trepidation. Once more, the Jedi were being led into unknown waters … and while Mace Windu wasn't one to believe in omens and harbingers, he couldn't help but think this was a sign of good things to come. He wondered if this would make her an even more tempting target for the Sith, and resolved to arrange discreet protection for her.

SWSWSWSWSW

The message was short, but no less concerning for all that. Just seven words: 'Merit in Halls of Healing. Come immediately.' It would have concerned him regardless of who sent it, but since it was the Master of the Order himself, Obi-Wan was even more concerned. However, he was in the middle of a meeting, and since Master Windu didn't tell him that Merit was dying, Obi-Wan needed to conclude his business. He did his best to focus on what his contact was telling him, rather than his anxiety over his partner's condition. And once he had a place to start his investigation the following morning, Obi-Wan returned to the Temple, pausing long enough to check to see if Bran was still out (he was) before heading to the Halls of Healing.

He found Merit sitting up in bed, her long dark hair loose about her shoulders. She looked tired and there was evidence of tears on her face, but her smile was radiant as he approached her. The other thing he noticed was Bant holding her hand. And like his partner, his beloved friend was smiling. It was Obi-Wan's experience that being in the Halls of Healing was no reason to smile, so he was having a hard time figuring out what was happening. Merit's smile brightened and she held her free hand out to him, saying softly, "I hope Mace's message didn't force you to cut your investigation short." He took the proffered hand, shaking his head, and Merit's smile brightened still further. She murmured, "Good … that's good. I didn't want to give the Order more reason to question whether our relationship is a good thing. The show we gave to the Room of a Thousand Fountains still has people talking."

"Although, to be fair, they talk less about seeing more of you and Obi-Wan than they were prepared to see, and more about your reflexes in catching Bran, to say nothing of your confrontation with Master Jinn and Anakin. And you, my dear, are stalling!" Bant scolded gently. To Obi-Wan's astonishment, Merit blushed and she ducked her head. That was … unexpected. While he'd seen his partner blush before (the aforementioned confrontation with his former master, for one, after she realized just how many of her brother and sister Jedi saw far too much of her), he'd never seen her react quite like this.

"You're right. I'm just not sure how to say this. They're words I never thought I would have the chance to say. Obi-Wan … I had a sparring session with Master Windu today, and I fainted," Merit explained. She … fainted? In the years he'd known Merit, Obi-Wan didn't think she'd ever fainted. Merit's grip on his hand tightened, and she went on, "I really don't know how to say it. Like I told Bant, I wasn't sure if it would ever be possible, especially after the beatings I got from Andriu. I'm going to have a baby, Obi-Wan. We're going to have a baby."

For a minute, Obi-Wan's world went gray as it spun around him. Merit's worlds echoed in his head. I'm going to have a baby. We're going to have a baby. And then the fingers gripping his own brought him back to himself, and he found himself staring into Merit's brown eyes … eyes that were filled with worry. Worry? He … oh. He hadn't said anything yet. And what did he say? He honestly wasn't sure what to say, he wasn't sure what he was feeling even. But he needed to reassure Merit, needed to show her that he wasn't angry or upset with her (why would he be angry with her?). In later years, he would become known as The Negotiator, and words would become a weapon for him (they were already becoming weapons). But right now, words only got in the way. He leaned forward and kissed her quite firmly.

(He ordered himself not to think about what she said about the beatings. He already heard about the times Andriu hurt her, and after meeting her, Dex swore to tear the Sith Lord from the future apart if he ever came back to the past. That was a time when words failed him as well. He was a Jedi, and revenge wasn't the way of the Jedi, but he wouldn't stop Dex, either). Bant said softly as he pulled back, "I've already done a complete examination, and whatever scar tissue might have prevented conception or natural childbirth is gone now. I see nothing that will prevent this baby from coming to term."

"Can … can I touch?" Obi-Wan asked hoarsely, and inwardly groaned at the smirk that lit up Merit's face. He couldn't be too upset, though, not when it took the place of the worry. She'd been worried about his reaction to the news that she was pregnant. What had he done to make her worried about this news? He would worry about that later (maybe it wasn't him, she'd been worried about the Jedi thinking their relationship was a bad idea).

"You've never had to ask before," she pointed out with a mischievous grin. Obi-Wan rolled his eyes at her. She'd never been pregnant before, either. Merit's smile brightened and she tugged him forward before drawing his hand to rest on her lower abdomen. Obi-Wan's breath caught in his throat when a tiny (but bright, so very bright) Force presence nudged against his mind. Merit murmured, that radiant smile back, "She's saying 'hello.' According to Bant, I've been subconsciously blanketing her presence in the Force."

Out of all the things Merit just said, Obi-Wan found himself focusing on one thing. He asked as his Force signature embraced that of his child's, "She?" But … Merit was right. He didn't know how he knew, but he knew that in less than a year, he and Merit would be welcoming their daughter. And that was when it hit him. The understanding nearly drove him to his knees, but he managed to ask hoarsely, "Bant … when was the last time a child was born to a Jedi inside the Temple." It had been thousands of years, he was sure.

"That is a very good question, Obi … and I would say it doesn't matter, but you and Merit are changing the Order, often without meaning to. There are things that will need to be discussed … while Force-sensitivity isn't necessarily passed from parent to child, we already know that your little girl is Force-sensitive. And I'm not entirely sure that Merit was subconsciously blanketing your daughter's Force signature, now that I think about it. The baby could have been doing that herself. It's hard to be sure," Bant explained. Obi-Wan bobbed his head. She was right … a lot of things had to be discussed in the months before the baby was born. A whole new universe was opening up in front of them, and not everyone would be pleased about this new baby.

But for once, just for once, Obi-Wan Kenobi truly would live in the moment, as he was exhorted to do so many times while growing up. Those who might see this child as a threat (or worse) didn't matter right now. Qui-Gon Jinn didn't matter. Not even Mace Windu and Yoda mattered, not right now. The only ones that mattered was the beautiful woman smiling at him, tears once more sparkling in her eyes, and the infant she carried in her womb. Could a Jedi be a parent and still eschew attachment? He wasn't sure about that answer to that, when he already knew that there was very little he wouldn't do to protect his child. But … he was startled to realize, he and Merit wouldn't be doing it alone. They would have Bant and Master Yoda and Mace, and so many others. They would make another lurch forward into this ever-changing galaxy and they would do it together.

TBC

Additional Author's Notes: I actually planned to have Bran's reaction in this chapter, along with reaction from others, but Obi-Wan insisted I leave it here. Polite, but insistent.