Author's Notes: This is something I've been mulling over for quite some time … how Yoda reacts to what happened in the made-up universe. When I first watched TPM, I kept thinking during the scene where Obi-Wan tells Yoda that he will train Anakin, as Qui-Gon asked him to, 'Yoda is fussing and fretting because he's worried about Obi-Wan.' I still think that. Yoda had a big ol' soft spot for Obi-Wan. I see that being true in any universe. And in this universe, where an engine of changes was started when a young padawan took an infant boy to his badly injured father … well. So, in this chapter, we start to see more of how Obi-Wan's life really went … and Palpatine threw me a curve ball. Damn him. Especially since we won't see the actual meeting between him and Obi-Wan until the next chapter. Yeah, it's a little shorter than usual (a lot), but Obi-Wan insisted on leaving it here.

Chapter Nine

Unexpected Meetings

"Speak with you, I must. With their mother, your children are?"

Obi-Wan was in the midst of reading over reports he'd received from Commander Cody (prefaced with a 'thank the Force you're all right, sir, we were beyond worried') when the door chime sounded. Knowing full well it wasn't Anakin (the boy would have likely rewired the circuits if he'd left his apartment key behind), much less Asajj, Obi-Wan answered to find the Grandmaster of the Order (and his own grandmaster) standing before him. And Yoda, while 'agitated' was the wrong word to use, clearly was bothered by something.

"Of course, Grandmaster, please come in … the tea isn't ready yet. The twins are actually with the crèche masters at the moment. Something was said about wanting the younglings to have more to do with infants? Asajj is meeting with Queen Breha again, and Anakin was heading to the training salles. So, I've been catching up with the reports from the war," Obi-Wan answered, leading his grandmaster into the apartment. Yoda hummed, and taking a chance from ghostly memories (that didn't quite feel like his, although Asajj's delight when he mentioned them assured him that they were real), Obi-Wan asked, "What troubles you, Master?"

"Many things, yes … many things. Wary of this war, I am … wary and weary. Angry, I am … yes, angry I am, about your dreams. How you became a padawan, of this I wish to hear again," Yoda answered. Obi-Wan flinched, ever so slightly … that time of his (false) life was proving to be more and more painful as memories of his real life began awakening. However, he relayed to Yoda about his childhood, and how close he came to never being taken as a padawan … and even the early years as Qui-Gon's padawan.

And just as he had when he first heard about that time, his grandmaster shook his head, his ears flattening along the curve of his head. This time, however, he muttered under his breath, "Like to whack that other Yoda with my cane, I would! A child, you were! Understand, I do … damaged, Qui-Gon was. But a therapy animal, you are not!" Much to his chagrin, a laugh was surprised out of Obi-Wan with that observation. Unexpectedly, Yoda smiled and patted his knee, adding, "Better, you are. Missed our Obi-Wan, we have."

"I'm sorry," Obi-Wan began, but Yoda leveled a Look at him that he vaguely remembered from his first years as a Knight (usually when he was trying to run interference for Asajj getting into mischief). He ducked his head, murmuring, "Those other memories … they're growing more distant. I remember so much more now … the day I married Asajj. Luke and Leia being placed in my arms. Master's hands on my shoulders as he took me as his padawan. His expression when he told me that he was my father. It's becoming real to me now."

"Know this, I do … see it in your smile, hear it in your laughter. Did wrong, that other Council did. Much wrong done, to many. Not just to you, not just to Anakin. Intended, it was not … but happened, it did. Much pain here, there is. Needed a mindhealer, Qui-Gon did … not a padawan. As did Xanatos. Realize he was hurting, too, we did not … lost them both as a result, we did. But caught in the crossfire, you were not. Permit that, Yan would not," Yoda told him. Yes, he was starting to realize that. His father was extremely protective of him, protecting him even from his contentious relationship with Uncle Cliegg. And wasn't that strange … Cliegg Lars was his uncle. Owen Lars was his cousin … which made Anakin his cousin as well, by virtue of his mother's marriage to Cliegg.

Equally strange … Owen actually liked Obi-Wan. Then again, there was none of the baggage this time around. And while Beru clearly didn't like traveling, she just as clearly did expect to be there for her family, just as she would be there for them. The first time Obi-Wan actually saw his uncle Cliegg laugh, he'd been watching the twins play with Vashti. Luke and Leia were fascinated by their little cousin, and she was utterly enthralled with them. Uncle Cliegg murmured that was one thing he regretted most … he never had the opportunity to see Obi-Wan and Owen playing like that as children.

That brought him to Shmi. He hesitantly asked her if he was to call her 'Aunt Shmi,' since she was married to his uncle. She cupped his face in her hands and said softly, 'You, my dear boy, are to call me whatever you like. Just understand this … you are just as much one of my boys as Owen and Anakin are. You have been from the moment I watched you shielding my Ani with your own body.' All right then.

One of the things he hated most about awakening in this new reality (true reality) was how his emotions often seemed to careen out of control over utterly foolish things. That was the case now, as he found himself fighting back tears at that memory, and he wasn't even sure what they were for. Yoda hummed and said, "Much pain, you experienced. Painfully real, those false memories are. Blame yourself, you should not … hard to tell the difference, it is."

Obi-Wan offered his grandmaster a tired smile, asking, "Even for you?" Along the latent bond that never quite died between himself and his first teacher, he heard, 'especially for me.' Obi-Wan nodded, murmuring, "I still feel as if I'm failing someone."

"Failing only yourself, you are … expect too much of yourself, you do. False memories these were, yes … but left a mark on your soul, they have. Particularly unforgivable, I find that," Yoda grumped and Obi-Wan smiled in spite of himself. The two Jedi were silent for some time, before Yoda murmured, "Taken for a reason, you were." Obi-Wan looked at his grandmaster, who continued, "Random, it was not." And that was what was troubling Obi-Wan as well, now that he had a chance to think about his time in captivity. Obviously, Sidious set a trap. Just as obviously, he wanted Obi-Wan out of the way. The question was, what was the end game?

He said softly, "Sidious managed to gain control of Anakin in the dreamworld when I went to Utapah to confront General Grievous. He played on Anakin's fears for his wife, had been grooming him all along. But … he had six months to strike, and Anakin is nowhere near falling. So … what is he up to?" Yoda shook his head, and the two Jedi once more lapsed into a contemplative silence. At least, it was contemplative for Obi-Wan. However, it was something else entirely for Yoda.

The Grandmaster of the Order answered, "A chance to find out, we have. Asked to see you, the Supreme Chancellor has." Obi-Wan swallowed hard and nodded, maintaining contact with Yoda. This wasn't being asked lightly of him, he knew that. And really, it was more of a surprise that this summons hadn't come sooner. Very well. He would do his duty. And somehow, he would find the strength within himself not to give himself away. If Sheev Palpatine was Darth Sidious in this reality, Obi-Wan would not give him an excuse to destroy the Jedi. And somehow, he would find a way to save the Clones as well.

TBC