AN: Thank you to all who reviewed! A quick reminder, in this AU, Obi Wan is Luke's Master. Anakin is training Mara. Even without the attachment rule (and there's going to be a little more about that when I write Anakin's chapters) I feel the Jedi would still frown upon a father training his son.
GirlFromNorth: Thank you very much! I always liked watching Obi Wan and Padme interact. They're alot alike. If I were Padme, I would've chosen Obi Wan, but to each her own.
ObiFan: Thanks! Obi Wan defending Anakin and Padme's relationship in front of the council, although the shortest flashback, had to be my favorite and I plan on fleshing that one out a little more because although it means alot to Padme, it's going to mean even more to Anakin.
AwRiter: Thank you. The AU was very difficult to set up (blasted Palpatine!) and so I'm very glad you liked it. And I loved your review. You're name's AwRiter...and you're in awe! haha! Did you mean to do that? :P
Lady Ashla: I decided to save all the details on Obi Wan's current circumstance until the next chapter. Sorry it just didn't really fit in this one, so the one where Luke and Anakin talk together, (the next one) will deal with that. :)
Guilt
Guilt was threatening to eat Luke Skywalker alive.
He was in an isolated section of the Healers Ward, curled up in a ball. Mara had been here a little while ago, to offer what comfort she could, but she had had to get back to her own room before the healers caught her up and about. Given the shot she'd taken to the leg, her escapade could have set back her healing process a good week. But she'd be fine, unlike Ben.
He wished fervently that her presence had helped. But it didn't. Nothing would. Ben was dying, and his padawan was cowardly hiding from the deathbed, as if to selfishly shield himself from the inevitable. And it wasn't fair. Ben had stayed by his side when Luke had been sick.
He awoke to the feel of a cool hand on his forehead and a world of pain. Everything hurt, his stomach, his head, his limbs, the eleven-year-old subconciously let out a whimper.
"Wake up, young one." Bleary eyes struggled to focus on Obi Wan's concerned face.
"You're still a little feverish. Do you need anything? Water? Another blanket?"
Luke didn't respond and the worried look etched into his Master's face intensified, though he still tried to lighten up the situation.
"Perhaps you're just a little out of it right now. Fevers do that to you. It's alright, I'm here to help. I'm Obi Wan, you're Jedi Master and that ugly hunk of mass sleeping in the corner is your father. Don't worry though, you managed to inherit all good traits, and unlike him, you're a handsome young man." Luke did chuckle a little at that.
"I'm not THAT out of it, Master!" He croaked.
"Ah, still articulate I see. Good. Master Yoda was worried that his classes would be quiet, with you unable to speak, and he'd actually have to teach!"
Luke snorted but it turned into a burning coughing fit and Ben's face turned instantly sympathetic as he handed his padawan a glass of water from the bedstand.
"What've I got?"
"Just a touch of Alderaanian flu. Bail Organa, remember he came to visit your parents last week, is sick with it too. You'll feel awful for a few weeks but I'm sure you'll survive, my tough little padawan."
"Where's Leia?"
"She's staying with Master Windu."
"Ah, poor girl."
Ben rolled his eyes. "Please, Leia might as well be Windu's daughter, the way he dotes on her. It's a little less obvious to you because you haven't known Mace as long as I have, but let me tell you, in his own emotionless-Jedi-Master way, he's terribly fond of your sister. She's fine."
"Why is Dad asleep?"
"Oh, you know your father. He worries too much, gets all frantic, wears himself out, then falls asleep. And he was BEYOND worried about you. You've been out for at least two days, barely waking up." There was a brief pause and a slightly hurt expression twisted Ben's features. "Next time you're not feeling well, tell me. I'm here to help you, padawan."
Luke looked away, "Sorry, Ben."
Obi Wan mocked deliberation for a minute before grinning.
"I'll forgive you now, but only because your mother will be giving you a hard time for me, which reminds me..." Ben took out his comlink meaningfully.
"Aw, Master! I'm weak! I just woke up! Surely we don't need to go there." Luke gave Ben an impressive pout for good measure.
"Sorry Luke, your mother's wrath has scared me into submission."
Before Luke could prepare, his mother's voice flooded the room.
"Baby! Oh Lukie. Why didn't you TELL us you weren't feeling well? Are you alright? Do you need me? I can come right over, the Senate will certainly understand..." It took quite a long time for Padme to be reassured.
Despite the cries of his mother, his father managed to sleep on and even Ben was surprised at that. And it is always very hard to surprise Ben.
"By the Force, he's completely out. This is just like the mission to..."
Luke fell asleep to the gentle cadence of Obi Wan's voice.
Ben was always a comfort, always there to lean on, always...but no more. Soon he'll be dead. Soon he'll be gone and Luke's not even there to say goodbye. He couldn't bring himself to stay and wait out the precious numbered seconds. He'd seen his Master slump into unconsciousness and just ran, a useless attempt to escape it all.
"Luke! I've got a surprise for you!" His father's voice jarred him awake. He'd leapt out of bed. His father was the BEST at surprises. Maybe it was a new droid, or a flying lesson, or a starship of his very own. He was only nine, but that didn't mean anything! His father could podrace at his age! He raced into the kitchen where he found Dad scrambling eggs and...
"BEN!" Luke bounded forward to give the ginger-haired Master a tight, enthusiastic embrace.
"Do you know what the surprise is Ben?" Two inquisitive blue eyes stared up conjolingly. Ben knelt down and placed his hands on the boy's slender shoulders.
"Actually, I have something to do with the surprise. I have a question for you." Ben's expression was very serious, but his clear blue eyes were shining with anticipation and joy.
"Luke Skywalker, will you do me the honor of becoming my padawan?" Luke gazed, stunned, at Ben for a moment and then grinned.
"ME!" he squeaked, "you want ME as your padawan? You want to train ME!"
Ben's eyes twinkled with bemusement.
"Yes Luke, I very much want to. You have absolutely no idea how hard I had to fight for you. EVERYONE wanted to be your master. Kit, Ki-Adi Mundi, Yoda..." Luke wasn't even paying attention.
"DAD! DID YOU HEAR? BEN WANTS TO TRAIN ME!"
"Yes, Luke. He came by special yesterday just to make sure it was okay with me." Anakin shot his old master a look of fond exasperation.
Ben pointedly cleared his throat, "Luke, you haven't really answered my question..."
"YES! YES! OH, I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! BEN'S MY MASTER! DADDY! I'VE GOT THE SAME MASTER AS YOU!" Luke ran back and forth from Ben to his father in his excitement.
Obi Wan just tipped his head back and laughed for sheer joy.
Luke's tears poared down his cheeks, hot and fast now, as memory after happy memory rushed through his brain. He'd been so worried he wouldn't be chosen. Little did he know that many Masters were vying for him, arguing over who got to train him. But Ben could be very persuasive when he needed to be, and after all he'd been bonded to Luke ever since he was a baby.
"Come on, Luke! 'Obi Wan'. It's not that hard...I'll even settle for Obi." One-year-old Luke was making himself very comfortable on the Jedi's lap and was preoccupied with a colorful toy top. Mr. and Mrs. Skywalker had needed a little bit of a break, a date night, so the twins were dropped off at Obi Wan's apartment for the evening. Leia sat about a foot away cradling a doll in her small arms. Unbeknownst to the relaxed Jedi Master, the proud father was watching from the doorway. But Obi Wan didn't really sense him, or else didn't pay him any mind. He was too busy trying to coax the twins into saying his name.
"Leia, you're the eloquent one! Prove once and for all that girls are smarter then boys. Say Obi! Come on, Princess! I know you can do it." Baby Leia giggled up at Obi Wan, but remained inarticulate.
"Don't worry, Master. I'm sure someday you'll be wishing they'd STOP saying your name." Anakin, finally deigning to make his presence known, scooped up Leia and cuddled her to his chest.
"How was my little girl huh? How was my Leia?" his babyish voice doubled to make both the baby and the Jedi Master laugh. Obi Wan quickly pouted though.
"This isn't fair. They can say 'mama' and 'da' but they can't say 'Obi'? It's not that much harder."
Anakin grinned, "Master, both my children will be able to speak given time. I'm sure they'll master your name eventually." He rolled his eyes, "This from the man that always advised patience!"
"You are not allowed to critisize people about impatience. Your lifetime license was revoked before I even met you. Now out, my cheeky former padawan. I'm tired."
"Beaten by mere infants, Master?" Obi Wan cocked an eyebrow.
"They're SKYWALKER infants."
"Okay okay, I see your point. Say 'bye-bye' Leia." Leia waved one little hand. Anakin situated her in the stroller before picking up Luke.
"Come on, Luke. Time to go. Say 'bye-bye' to Obi Wan."
Luke frowned, as thoughtfully as a one-year-old could, before waving and saying, "bye-bye...Bwen."
"Ben? Who's Ben?" The Jedi Master looked around at the numerous toys scattered on the ground as if expecting one to be labeled 'Ben'.
"Honestly Master? I think he meant you."
LINE BREAK
Padme's big, comfortable couch was affectionately called 'The Life Day Couch'. That was because every Life Day's Eve, Ben spent the night and slept on it. One such Life Day woke him with Anakin bouncing on said couch...at 5 in the morning.
"Wake up Master! It's Life Day!"
Obi Wan rolled over and groaned. He meant to say "Go away Anakin" but the Jedi Master had just got back from a mission, he was exhausted, so it came out "G'way nakin".
"Come on, Master! It's time to open presents!" The bleary-eyed Jedi glared, as best he could, at his exuberant former apprentice.
"Anakin, we're Jedi. We aren't allowed to own material goods."
"Aw, we've always found our way around that one, Master. I know you got me something! I want to see what it is!"
It was true. Every Life Day Obi Wan and Anakin had managed to give each other something either perishable (like cake) or necessary (like new boots). This year Obi Wan put together a holo album of Anakin's twins.
"Yes I know, but were you so impatient that you had to wake me up at," he glanced at his chrono, "Force, Anakin, is that really the time? 0500? Really?"
Anakin didn't answer him though, a weary Padme, balancing her half asleep daughter on her hip, did.
"Yes, really. And you're not the only one." She sat down on the couch by his feet.
"Ben"
Obi Wan looked to Anakin's right to see little Luke rubbing his sleepy eyes and holding his father's organic hand, "'M tired Ben. Daddy woke me up!"
"Daddy woke me up too."
He looked over to see that Padme and Leia had fallen asleep by his feet in each other's embrace. He patted the cushion next to him and Luke lost no time in climbing onto the couch and closing his eyes.
"You're all going back to sleep! What about the presents? It's Life Day! What am I supposed to do with all this energy I have."
One blue eye opened in responce,
"Make breakfast."
Line Break
Luke couldn't really understand how daddy got hurt, just that he did. He didn't respond when Luke grabbed his hand, or when he called to him, and he wasn't moving.
According to Ben, Dad's solo mission didn't turn out to be a peaceful negotionation of the two feuding tribes on Dantooine. The Mokk tribe leader was being controled by a group of bad guys and, although he stopped the fighting, Dad still got hurt. One leg was broken, a few ribs, and he had something wrong with his head. A bad c-word. A really bad one because Dad still hadn't woken up.
"Padme, the Jedi Healers are very skilled. Anakin will be just fine. If there's any damage, Jedi therapy can usually work miracles." Ben placed a gentle hand on Mom's shoulder but she still didn't look away from Dad's pale face. He tried again.
"Padme, you have twins. They need you. I'll look after Anakin and let you know the minute he wakes up, alright?" Mommy slowly slid her gaze up to Ben's.
"The minute he wakes up? I have your word?"
"I won't even talk to him. I'll just get you on my comlink. Why don't you take Luke and Leia home. They should rest, they had a busy day." Mom nodded and grabbed Leia's hand. She held out a hand to Luke, but he rushed forward to grab Ben's leg.
"He'll be alright Ben? You'll make it better? Please?"
Ben detached Luke from his leg and knelt down to look his little padawan full in the face.
"The healers are doing everything they can for him, Luke. He should be fine."
"You promise?"
Ben closed his eyes for a long moment and Luke thought he might be using the Force to look into the future. Master Yoda said that was possible. Eventually he nodded and that was enough for Luke. He leaned forward to wrap his arms around his Master's neck in a quick hug before running over to take his mother's outstretched hand.
Luke was the only one who looked back and saw Ben tenderly brush back Dad's hair. He could just hear Ben whisper, "Did you hear that, brother? I promised your son you'd be alright. Please...don't make a liar out of me."
Ben called them the next morning to say that Anakin was awake and asking after his family.
Line Break
Luke couldn't bring himself to stop crying and walk back into Ben's room. He already tried, several times, to find the courage. He needed to be there, at any moment Ben could forever slip away. But Luke couldn't. He wasn't sure if he could handle the looks the others are sure to give him, the sympathy, the devastation. And he still didn't want to face the fact that it was all real, and not some horrible dream that he's bound to wake up from soon. He didn't want to face life without his Master. Ben just can't leave.
"Please...please don't go. Please Ben."
But there wasn't an answer. Only dead silence.
AN: So the next chapter is going to deal with Anakin talking to Luke, and then Anakin trying to deal with saying goodbye to Obi Wan. Since the next few chapters are going to be a turning point and a climax, I really want them to be everyone's favorite chapters. So if you have an idea for a flashback or something you'd like to see happen. Please, please let me know! I will greatly appreciate it and try to incorperate it! Please review this chapter and have a marvelous day!