Author's Notes: I was actually planning to focus on the confrontation between Jango and Tayn in this chapter. So much for plans. As usual. And honestly, I have no idea if this is even possible with the Force, but, as is mentioned here, Anakin has a habit of making the impossible look merely difficult (hence, the title of the chapter). As to the confrontation between Tayn and Jango, I actually have that started, but Anakin, as usual, had other ideas. I'm actually also leading up to the chapter where Obi-Wan and Merit find their way to Kamino and meet the clones. Maybe I'll have that written and posted by the end of the year (facepalm). For now, we have a meeting between Force-ghost Anakin and his VERY pregnant great-granddaughter … as well as a meeting between a future master-padawan pair. Like I said, I don't even know if this is possible with the Force, but this is Anakin Skywalker we're talking about.

Chapter Thirteen

Making the Impossible Look Difficult

Anakin Skywalker was bored. And a bored Anakin Skywalker always, always, always equaled trouble. At the moment, his former Master was working with the clones who were the most traumatized by the unleashing of Order 66. While Cody was starting to forgive himself for what he was made to do by that evil little chip, that wasn't the case for everyone, and it was quickly discovered that the Jedi who didn't fall during that obscenity could get further with the clones than the ones who did. And, not surprisingly, Cody was at his general's side during these sessions.

Rex and Luke were working together with Thane and Ral to deal with the transitional people who no longer existed because of the actions of the other three Time Travelers. There were not that many of them, maybe twenty-five … the rest of Darth Cadeus' troops made other life choices (wiser in some cases, and not so wise in others). Still, that was twenty-five people who did exist at one point in time, and now they didn't, and since it was due to events set into motion by Thane and Luke, they figured it was their responsibility to take care of those individuals. Rex was assisting because he was still furious with Anakin after all these years, and Ral just needed something to do because he really wasn't sure how to feel about Merit's relationship with past Obi-Wan, much less her pregnancy. Anakin could relate, on both counts (he really wasn't sure how he would feel when it was his turn to see the past as it related to Padme).

Merit was eight months pregnant now, and growing more and more uncomfortable. If there was a way to waddle gracefully, she found a way to do it, but that didn't stop Obi-Wan, Windu, and Yoda from being overly-protective of her. She ate more, needed the 'fresher more, couldn't see her feet, and found it difficult to find a comfortable sleeping position. Not a word of complaint crossed her lips, though she was more inclined to tears than she normally was. And odd things set her off. She was also worried that Obi-Wan wouldn't find her attractive any more (which was patently ridiculous, as he actually considered her even more beautiful now).

He missed this time of Padme's pregnancy with the twins, and Leia was uncomfortable at best with him during her own pregnancy with Jacen and Jaina. Around him, Anakin felt the fierce approval of the Force with this course of action (which was good, but not really necessary). With just a thought, Anakin found himself in the Kenobi-Solo apartment. He smiled to himself as Merit guided her young son into his room, the little boy protesting all the way, still cranky that his favorite playmate, Master Tayn Sione, wasn't in the Temple. Anakin, of course, knew where he was … whether he would succeed or not was still up in the air. Even so. Things were changing. Yes, he Fell … but already, fewer people were being taken with him. As Darth Vader, he'd used the man whom Bran grew into in that timeline. Bran's life would already be different this time around.

After a few moments, Merit emerged from the room, a soft smile on her lips as the door swished quietly closed behind her. He watched in amusement as she checked the various plants in their quarters, one hand resting in the small of her back, the other hand alternating between the plants and her rounded abdomen. She was murmuring under her breath, and Anakin wasn't sure if she was talking to the plants or to her unborn daughter. It could go either way, and it was something that amused his Master greatly whenever he heard her (Obi-Wan, not Qui-Gon). After ensuring that all of the plants were properly watered and were growing as they should, she turned her attention to her work with the initiates who weren't chosen as padawans.

And while it was entertaining to watch her work, that wasn't why Anakin was here. He was here because his mother pointed out to him that while her words hurt, Merit had an excellent reason to assume that he wasn't interested in her … because he never bothered with her, not even after his angel princess told him that her granddaughter needed him. Why had he stayed away? He saw too much of Leia in her, too much of Padme, and it reminded him too much of what his choices cost him. And his great-granddaughter suffered for it. Plus, his younger self was currently being a little shit (and not in the fun way), stressing out Merit and Obi-Wan both. And, she still needed him, just as much as she needed Obi-Wan or Bant or Windu.

"Baby angel."

She'd been turned away from him, her long dark hair braided into a single plait that hung over one shoulder. At his voice, she started and turned to face him, dark eyes widening ever so slightly. Anakin smiled at his great-granddaughter, quietly thrilled because this beautiful woman, who looked like her great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother, was part of his family. Merit tilted her head, ever so slightly, and asked, "Anakin? How are you here?" He smirked at her, thinking of all the ways he could answer that, and Merit rolled her eyes, adding, "How is it possible for you to be here, when you're still a young boy?"

"Child of the Force here," Anakin reminded her, "nothing is impossible. Or, how was it said during the Clone Wars? Oh, right … I make the impossible look merely difficult." Merit rolled her eyes at that, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. Anakin allowed his eyes to drift over his great-granddaughter's gravid body, adding, "That seems to be something I've passed on. You look beautiful, baby angel. I know you can't wait to meet her." Merit ducked her head, but not before something flickered in her eyes.

"I wake up some mornings and sometimes still can't believe it, even though I can't see my feet any more. After Thane and I were rescued and we recovered, Ral told me that the chances of ever becoming pregnant and carrying a child to term were … miniscule. I didn't let it bother me, didn't allow myself to even think about it, because there were too many other things to worry about that were much closer. And then I was helping to raise Ami, so it was like I had a child anyhow. And then, Bran came into my life. But I still didn't allow myself … and … I … I never expected to fall in love with Obi-Wan, or for him to return any of my feelings. I mean, this is Obi-Wan Kenobi, one of the legends of the old Jedi Order! But … he was also a young man, who was all too human. Sometimes I think we were both a little lost after Naboo," she answered. That had been part of it, Anakin knew. They became each other's anchors.

But right now, he needed to pay attention, because his baby angel needed him. Her brother, who had been her anchor, was lost to her for the moment. And that was why her next question wasn't entirely unexpected. She asked softly, shaking her braid back over her shoulder, "Thane … how is he? Is … I mean, is he there with you?" She interlaced her fingers together nervously in front of her midsection. Anakin nodded, trying to figure out the best way to explain his great-grandson's current existence in a way his younger sister would understand.

"He is. He needs a little more training and practice in manifesting himself, but he's watching over you," he finally replied and Merit bobbed her head in understanding, pale cheeks reddening as it obviously occurred to her that he probably saw things he wished he hadn't. Anakin debated for a moment, before adding, "He's very proud of you, for carrying on with the mission I gave him." Merit frowned at that, and Anakin explained, "It's true that you four were sent back to give the galaxy a fighting chance against Palpatine, and that your personal mission was to save the younglings. However, I gave Thane another mission … he was to save Obi-Wan. In the original timeline, when I asked him what he was destined for, he told me infinite sadness. I didn't want that for him, not then and not now. I wanted, and want, for him to be happy. You've done that, in spades. You make him happy, and you take care of him." And whether she realized it or not, she'd chosen him, not because anyone asked her to, but because she wanted to.

The corners of her mouth quirked again and Merit answered softly, "Not too sure about either one of those. I know he seems to be happy when he's with Bran and me, and he's beyond thrilled about the baby. But take care of him? I seriously think he takes care of me more than I take care of him. And with regards to everything else, Anakin, I'm not even sure that I'm making a difference. I think a thousand times a day of all the ways I could be making things worse." And now they were reaching the heart of why Anakin came today, of all days.

"Baby angel, I won't lie to you. There are some people who you won't be able to save, for a variety of reasons, and I know those situations will break your heart. And there are some things that you won't be able to change, because things were set in motion long before you arrived. Chief among those things is the Clone Wars. But you are changing things, and you are changing things for the better. You've already made it much, much harder for Palpatine to turn the general populace against the Jedi … and believe me, he's aware of it," Anakin answered darkly. Even now, his false master was working through ways to ensure that Merit and her daughter didn't survive childbirth. His baby angel's brown eyes flashed and she cradled her swollen belly protectively, as if her hands alone could shield her daughter.

Anakin had a few ideas of his own about protecting his great-granddaughter and great-great-granddaughter, and as much as he wanted to pay Palpatine a visit, he couldn't. Not shouldn't, as that was a phrase that never held much meaning for him, but could not, physically could not. Instead, it was long past time he paid a visit to his younger self. Anakin watched (and remembered) the past with tightly gritted teeth. Since Qui-Gon Jinn wasn't going to clip Anakin's arrogance, he would do it himself. But that could wait.

Instead, he went on, "I won't tell you not to worry, but if Palpatine does try to harm you, there'll be hell to pay … starting with Obi-Wan and going all the way up to Yoda. And speaking of Obi-Wan, I want you to put the idea that you don't take care of him out of your mind. That is kriffing osik! How many times have I watched you actually put food in his mouth while you two are working? How many times have I seen you maneuver him into sleeping by asking him to put Bran down for his nap? Baby angel, you take care of Obi-Wan in a thousand ways, and even if you don't see it, he does. There are times when he wakes up and sees you curled up beside him or finds you curled around him, and he can't believe that it's real. He can't say the words, not yet, but he loves you. And, he's going to love this precious little girl."

"I … would you be horribly offended if I didn't name her after your mother or Grandma Leia?" Merit asked shyly. Anakin blinked. It honestly never occurred to him that she would name the baby after his mother. She met her great-great-grandmother once in her dreams, not long after she and Thane were rescued. She hadn't realized who she was, but Anakin's mother had wanted to meet her, so Anakin took her with him while he visited with Thane. Merit went on, "I … I'd like to name her after my mother, and Obi-Wan's. He doesn't remember his mother, his birth mother … but I've been told that the late master of one of his friends, one of our friends, was like a surrogate mother to him."

Anakin found it very hard to swallow, in the face of those words. She wanted to name her daughter not just after the mother who fought for her and Thane to her dying breath, and beyond, but also for the woman who was like a surrogate mother to her mate. He finally said, "Baby angel, I think that's a brilliant idea. But … wait until she's born to tell Obi-Wan, so he learns at the same time as Bant." She frowned at first … and then her eyes lit up, the way they did the first time she felt the baby kick, and this child became real to her.

Not for the first time, he wished he could feel the baby's kicks as well. You only had to ask, my son, the Force whispered to him. The Force around him changed, solidified, and Merit gasped. Anakin whispered, because this moment deserved whispers and reverence, "May I touch?" He wasn't even sure if his great-great-granddaughter would even move, much less kick, but … he wanted to try. Slowly, cautiously, Merit took his now solid wrist and guided his flesh and blood hand to a spot just above the waist band of her leggings. Anakin closed his eyes … and a half second later, fell to his knees when a tiny hand pressed against his.

Merit whispered, "She's saying hello … she doesn't do that all the time. She must recognize you." How that was possible, Anakin had no idea, but the 'how' and the 'why' didn't matter. The only thing that mattered was this most amazing of gifts. He received a moment later … the image of a tiny, red-haired girl-child with a Padawan braid trailing over one shoulder, smiling up at him shyly. There was a second rush of affection. His Padawan. This was his padawan. After Ahsoka, or in place of her? Time would tell. But now, Anakin was even more determined to tell his younger self to stop being such a little brat, so he didn't set into motion events that would rob him of his padawan.

For now, though, he had an equally important message to impart. Gazing up into the warm brown eyes of his great-granddaughter, Anakin breathed, "Thank you." She smiled gently and covered his hand with her own, until Anakin faded into the blue light once more, leaving only Merit's hand against her daughter's. After he regained his strength, he would see to his younger self, and find a way to end Palpatine before the old Sith bastard could end Anakin's family. This, he swore.

TBC