Hello, All. I'm VERY sorry it's taken me so long to update! With school and some other big things going on, it's been tough finding time to write. My updates will be coming less frequently than they used to, and for that I apologize. But I do thank you for your continued interest and your wonderful reviews!
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Bail Organa took a deep breath before entering the code to contact Obi-Wan. He didn't have good news and he didn't want to argue with the Jedi Master anymore. He was also worried about this other thing Obi-Wan wanted to do. He put on his politician face and hit the button.
"Master Kenobi."
The image of Obi-Wan popped up. "Senator Organa." He paused. "I take it you don't have good news for me."
So much for his politician face! "No, I'm sorry to say that I don't. There's no concrete information to be found."
Obi-Wan nodded his head. He had readied himself for this. He had known the chances were slim, at best. "Understood, Senator. I do thank you for looking." Obi-Wan sat back in his chair. "I guess that just leaves one more thing before heading back."
"Speaking of that, Master Kenobi, suppose you tell me what you have in mind."
Obi-Wan told Organa of his plans in detail. The look on the senator's face was less than encouraging.
"Padme doesn't know about this, either, does she?"
"No, she doesn't. Only because I want it to be a surprise. Plus, there was no reason to get her hopes up if things don't pan out." Obi-Wan's eyes were resolute. "She's had enough disappointments."
"Fine. I will handle everything in your stead."
"Senator,…"
"I will brook no argument. Going to a core world is like asking for the emperor to find you!" Organa could see the frustration in the younger man's eyes. "Master Kenobi, I know that being in a position where you are unable to help and unable to act is hard for you. I understand that. But your safety has to be paramount! You may not be able to act now, but I feel in my bones that you will be the key to the fall of the empire in the future."
Obi-Wan didn't know what to say to that. First R2, now Organa! Why did they seem to think he was so important to the future?
"I will take care of everything, Master Kenobi, down to the last detail. I still think that where you are right now is the safest place to be. When the time comes, I will contact you and meet you there."
"Very well, Senator. Please be careful."
"I will."
"And Senator…thank you."
"You are most welcome."
Obi-Wan gazed out the viewport, lost in thought. Sidious had completely tied his hands. He could not do anything without running the risk of being captured. Of course, that was not a happy prospect – especially considering that the last time he was in the Sith's hands, the experience was horrible enough to warrant Yoda and Mace locking up the memory.
Most of all, Obi-Wan missed Padme and the children. He missed them more than he ever would have thought possible. They had become such an important part of his life. Hopefully, all would go well and they would be heading back in just a few days.
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Padme lay down on the bed, exhausted. Luke and Leia were finally napping. She didn't realize just how big a help Obi-Wan had been with the children until he left. Yoda and C3PO were helping her as much as they could, but it wasn't the same. They just couldn't take Obi-Wan's place. Luke and Leia missed their father. But then again, so did she! She missed his calming presence, his beautiful smiles, lying in his arms…
Padme sighed heavily. Every day she tried to talk herself out of worrying about Obi-Wan, and every day she failed. If the emperor ever got his claws into Obi-Wan, he would never let him go. She had NO doubt about that. She tried to keep busy enough so that she wouldn't spend all of her time thinking about that prospect. With two babies, keeping busy wasn't really difficult. But she worried nonetheless.
"Please come back to me, Obi-Wan."
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Sidious wanted to kill somebody – anybody! He just wanted to put his hands around someone's throat and squeeze the life out them. Using the Force would make it too quick and too easy. Physically strangling someone would give him an outlet for his growing frustration.
There had been no other sign of Obi-Wan anywhere! It almost felt like the Force was working against him on this. There hadn't been so much as a glimmer in the Force since his encounter with Obi-Wan. Obviously, the man was shielding himself. Sidious sat down at his desk with a growl. He would not rest until he had his destined apprentice.
Since there was no one handy to strangle, the emperor released his frustrations into the Force. Not nearly as gratifying, he thought grumpily. Sidious delved into the currents of the Force, determined to use all of his strength to try and locate Obi-Wan – shields or no.
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Obi-Wan's eyes flew open and he quickly sat up. He had been sound asleep on the sofa in the common area. He felt something lightly touching his mind. Realizing who it was, he reinforced his already-heavy mental shielding. Obi-Wan hoped that he hadn't accidentally let his shielding slip while asleep.
How could Sidious possibly find him clear across the galaxy with his shields up? The emperor's power was truly frightening. Obi-Wan leaned against the back of the sofa and waited. The touch against his mind was gone. Reinforced shielding expended a lot of energy and needed incredible focus. He wouldn't be able to do it for very long. Obi-Wan ran his hand through his hair. Senator Organa had been right to insist he stay where he is. If he had gone, he more than likely would have ended up in the emperor's hands.
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Sidious immersed himself deep into the Force. He had brushed against Obi-Wan's shields. He hadn't been able to lock onto him, but he HAD sensed him! Blast it! Obi-Wan must have felt him, because he had reinforced his shielding. He couldn't sense Obi-Wan at all now.
The emperor sat back with a smile. He had found Obi-Wan, even with his shields up! The younger man would not be able to keep up his current level of shielding for long. It would only be a matter of time before he found him again. After all, Sidious was nothing, if not patient.
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Padme was sitting with Yoda, C3PO and her children in the living area. She noticed Yoda's ears perk up and his eyes close. "Master Yoda?"
Opening his sleepy eyes, Yoda smiled at Padme. "Returned, Obi-Wan has."
Padme was off the sofa like a shot and running down the hall before she remembered Luke and Leia. She skidded to a halt and turned to look at Yoda.
"Watch them, I will."
"Thank you!" Padme took off down the hall at a full run. Obi-Wan was back, safe and sound! She entered the hangar just as Obi-Wan was coming down the ramp of the ship.
Obi-Wan had barely stepped off the ramp when Padme flew into his arms. If it hadn't been for his Jedi reflexes, they might have both ended up on the floor. The thought quickly faded as Padme pulled him into a desperate, passionate kiss. When they finally parted, Obi-Wan graced her with a brilliant smile. "I missed you, too."
Oh, how she had missed that beautiful smile! Padme cupped Obi-Wan's face in her hands. "I was worried sick about you. I couldn't help it!" She hugged him tight, almost afraid this wasn't real.
Obi-Wan leaned down to whisper in Padme's ear. "You're not dreaming, my love. I'm really back. I hated being away from you and the children." He rained soft kisses all over her face.
"Would you two prefer to be alone?" A very familiar voice said from the top of the ramp.
As Padme peeked around Obi-Wan, her jaw practically hit the floor. "MOM?" Another familiar face came into view. "DAD!" Tears started down Padme's face as her parents came down the ramp to engulf her their arms.
Ruwee Naberrie kissed his daughter's forehead. "When we heard you'd been killed…" He choked on the last word.
"I know Dad, I'm sorry." Padme took her parents hands in hers.
Jobal Naberrie shook her head. "No, Dear. You have nothing to be sorry for. You're alive and that's all that matters."
"May we join you? Because I don't think I can restrain your nieces any longer."
"Sola!" Padme gleefully watched as her two young nieces scrambled past their mother to race toward their beloved aunt. She knelt down and captured them in her arms. "Oh, Ryoo, Pooja, I've missed you so much!"
"We've missed you, too, Aunt Padme."
Padme stood back up as her sister and her brother-in-law came down the ramp. She embraced them both. She scanned the faces of her family. "I can't believe you're all here." She wiped a stray tear from her face. "It's just so…"
Padme's eyes came to rest on Obi-Wan, who had been standing off to the side, enjoying the reunion he was witnessing. He had done this – for her. She walked over to him. "Did you have this in mind before you left?"
"Yes. I wanted it to be a surprise. And if things didn't work out, I didn't want you to be disappointed."
Padme knew Obi-Wan's motivation for doing this was his love for her, and she was deeply moved by it. But the thought of what could have happened to him made irritation the paramount emotion. "I can't even express how much it means to me to have my family here with us, but you risked too much."
"I actually didn't risk anything. Bail Organa was rather insistent that he be the one to handle this for me."
"But your original intention was to handle this yourself, correct?"
"Yes."
Padme took a deep breath. "You were planning on going to a core world with the emperor out there looking for you?" She could have lost him! Doesn't he understand what that would do to her?
Obi-Wan repressed the sigh that wanted to escape. Telling her about the other thing I wanted to do is definitely out. "Yes, I was." He was keenly aware that all eyes were on the two them. He lowered his voice. "Can we talk about this later?"
Padme lowered her voice to match his. "Fine. But this conversation is not over." She struggled to get her emotions back under control before turning back to her family. "Come, let me introduce you to Luke and Leia."
Obi-Wan watched as everybody left the hangar. He didn't really know what initial reaction he was expecting from Padme, but this wasn't it. All he had wanted was to make her happy and to give her the companionship of her family. He certainly hadn't done it with the expectation of getting anything in return. But still, it would have been nice to at least hear, 'Thank you.'
Obi-Wan closed his eyes and tried to release his hurt feelings into the Force. R2D2 chose that moment to make his appearance. R2 knew that his master was hurt, and he didn't like it at all. He came alongside Obi-Wan and let out a soft sound.
Obi-Wan opened his eyes and gave the droid a wan smile. "Well, R2, shall we unload the supplies?" He was eager to see his children, but needed more time to find his calm center before facing everyone again.