I am SO very sorry it has taken me SO very long to update this story!!! Life has been extremely busy, as I've upped my class load so that I will have my degree in another year. Thank you so much to all of you who have kept track of this story and have asked me to continue it. I promise that I will finish it, I just can't say when. But I wanted to at least give you one chapter while on my Chistmas break. I hope you all have a wonderful New Year!
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Obi-Wan stretched languidly after getting out of bed. He had decided to indulge in a nap while his children did the same. Padme had asked him to stay with them for the afternoon, saying that she had something she needed to do.
Obi-Wan really didn't know what that could be. He supposed she just wanted some time alone to visit with her family. He had been back a couple of weeks now, and Padme's family had readily settled into their new home. Obi-Wan turned at the sound of the door opening. "You're back already?"
Padme's eyebrow went up at that. "Disappointed?"
Grinning, Obi-Wan walked over to Padme and put his arms around her waist. "You know better than that. I just thought you would want to take more time for yourself."
Padme leaned into Obi-Wan's chest. "That isn't exactly why I wanted you to watch the children. There was something in particular that I needed to do."
Obi-Wan looked down expectantly at his wife. "Do I get to find out what this particular thing was?"
"Oh, most definitely." Padme looked up at her husband, joy shining in her brown eyes. "I'm pregnant."
Eyes widening with surprise, Obi-Wan managed to stammer a response. "Pr…pregnant?"
"Yes." Padme searched Obi-Wan's face, trying to gauge his reaction.
Obi-Wan gazed thoughtfully at his wife before allowing a huge grin to appear. "That's wonderful!" He pulled her into his arms and swung her around jubilantly. "When? I mean, how long? I mean…"
Giggling, Padme pressed a finger to her husband's lips. "The medical droid estimates that I'm eight weeks along. So, in about seven months, Luke and Leia will have a brother or sister." Padme studied Obi-Wan's awed expression. "You're…really, truly happy about this?" She couldn't help but flash back to the lack of enthusiasm Anakin had expressed at finding out he was going to be a father.
Confusion entered Obi-Wan's eyes. "Of course I am! It's fantastic! But it's also a little surreal. I mean, I never imagined that I would be a father. Not that I don't feel like Luke and Leia are my children, it's just that…"
"I know what you mean. Every conception is a little miracle and is awe-inspiring." Padme placed her hand on her belly. "This child is part me and part you. But most importantly, this child is a product of our love for one another."
Obi-Wan placed his hand over Padme's. "As thrilled as I am to have a child who is my own flesh and blood, I want you to know that I could never love any child more than I love Luke and Leia. I will never treat them any differently than this child or any others we may have in the coming years."
"I know that, my Obi." Padme deposited a sweet kiss on his lips. A mischievous light entered her eyes. "Just how many more children are you thinking of having?"
"I leave that entirely up to you, my dear. I will be happy with whatever you decide."
Padme pulled back and read the sincerity in Obi-Wan's eyes. "Then I say we let the Force decide." At his cocked eyebrow, she continued. "I want the Force to bless us with as many children as It deems right."
Warmth filled Obi-Wan's eyes and lit his smile. "Have I told you lately that I love you?"
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Obi-Wan wiped the sweat from Padme's brow as she was wracked with another contraction. "Can't you give her something for the pain?"
The medical droid continued to gather supplies around the room. "No, Sir. The contractions are coming too frequently. It might be dangerous for both her and the baby."
Padme looked up at her husband with gratitude in her eyes as she felt him use the Force to dampen the pain. She glanced at her mom, who was standing on the other side of the examining table. "I don't think you'll hear me complain that this is going too fast." She grimaced as another full-blown contraction hit.
"The time has come to push," the droid said in its monotone voice.
Grabbing Obi-Wan's and her mother's hands, Padme began to push with all her might. In just a little while, she would get to see her and Obi-Wan's first child together. She could hardly wait!
"Push," came the mechanical voice. "Push hard."
"I AM pushing," Padme growled. You annoying tin can!
Obi-Wan fought the smile that threatened to appear. He doubted his wife would appreciate his amusement.
Padme pushed and pushed, for what felt like hours, continually reminding herself that it would all be worth it once she saw her child's face. She and Obi-Wan had agreed to wait until birth to find out whether it was a boy or a girl.
Obi-Wan watched his child being born with abject awe. The baby's first wail was music to his ears. He gleefully rained kisses on Padme's face as he waited for the droid to announce the sex.
"It is a boy."
Padme looked first at Obi-Wan, then her mother, joy etched on her features. "Garen Kenobi." She watched as Obi-Wan took the now-clean infant into his arms and brought him over to her. She fingered the dark, almost ebony, down on top of his head. She smiled as her thumb grazed over the little cleft chin. Her son opened his eyes sleepily and gazed at his parents. "He has blue eyes."
"Most babies have blue eyes when they're born. That could change," Obi-Wan observed as he gently stroked his son's face.
"Nope, they will remain blue," Padme spoke with determination.
Jobal smiled at her new grandson. "Well, blue eyes or not, I have the feeling this one's going to grow up to be a looker."
"You know," Obi-Wan spoke in a subdued tone, "he even looks like Garen." Garen had been his best friend from the time they were young initiates in the Temple. He had been killed in the Clone Wars, long before the purge.
Padme looked at her husband with empathy in her eyes. "Then we chose his name well." It was truly staggering if one stopped to think about the sheer amount of loss Obi-Wan had endured in his life. He had lost almost everyone who had ever mattered to him. But he had a chance now to have a life full of love, happiness, and family. If she had anything to say about, he would never know loss or sorrow again.
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Everyone sat together in the large living area, fire going in the fireplace and contentment in the air. Obi-Wan watched as Pooja, Ryoo, Padme, and Sola played with Luke and Leia on the floor. They were able to stand with help. Leia was even trying to take her fist tentative steps. She was strong-willed and tenacious – more so than her brother. They had only celebrated their first birthday a couple weeks before.
Obi-Wan sat in a recliner, gently rocking his sleeping infant son in his arms. He had never thought he would know the simple satisfaction of being a husband and a father, gathered together with his extended family. He allowed himself to fully feel in the moment and cherish it. Smiling softly, Obi-Wan thought of Qui-Gon. 'Live in the moment, my young padawan.' Padme looked up at him and offered him a loving smile. Yes, Master.
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A few months later, Obi-Wan and Ruwee were eating a late breakfast together. Obi-Wan was trying to eat with his left hand, while feeding Garen, who was in a carrier beside his chair, his bottle with his right hand. He gave up his attempt at eating when little Leia crawled into his lap.
The glare she shot down at her younger brother did not go unnoticed by her father or her grandfather. She obviously saw Garen as a usurper trying to take 'her daddy' away from her. Leia looked up at Obi-Wan with her big, brown eyes. "Daddy play."
"When daddy's done eating, we can play."
"Daddy play!" Leia crossed her little arms and gave her father a determined look.
Ruwee chuckled at his head-strong granddaughter. He scooted his chair closer to Garen's carrier so he could take over the bottle-feeding. "I don't think she's going to take 'no' for an answer."
Picking up his daughter and situating her in his lap so she was facing forward, he moved to finish his breakfast. "You can stay here in Daddy's lap while he finishes eating, then he will play with his little princess."
Leia smiled as she snuggled against her daddy's chest. He was paying attention to HER now, so she was willing to wait while he finished eating. She threw a smug little look down at her baby brother, who had taken way too much of her daddy's attention since his birth. It just wasn't fair! Why did HE have to come along, anyway? It was better when it was just her, Luke, Mommy, and Daddy.
Obi-Wan finished eating, and with a squeeze to Ruwee's shoulder to thank him for watching Garen, headed towards the play room with Leia in his arms. She had snaked her arms around his neck, and held onto him like she was afraid he would disappear. Well, one thing's for sure, she got Anakin's possessive streak. He shook himself from that thought. She was just a toddler, and was reacting as a normal toddler would to having to share her father's time. She would grow out of it.
Playing with his children was a relaxing activity of which he never truly grew tired. His daughter's delighted shrieks filled him with a happiness that he'd only recently discovered was possible. Obi-Wan was lying on the ground, his head propped up on his bent arm. Suddenly, a toy from the other side of the room moved off the ground and started heading shakily towards the little girl.
"Leia!" Obi-Wan shot upright in surprise. The toy dropped to the floor and Leia looked startled, then repentant. Obi-Wan moved over to her quickly. "Oh, no, my princess, you didn't do anything wrong." He picked her up and showered her face with kisses. "You just surprised me. You're becoming such a big girl!"
Setting Leia down, Obi-Wan picked up the toy and set it further away. "Can you do it again, Princess? Can you move the toy for Daddy?" Neither Leia nor Luke had shown any outward display of their Force abilities before. He was so excited at the prospect of teaching again! Obi-Wan paused. He was surprised by his feelings. He had thought for a long while that he would never want to teach anyone else after his failure with Anakin. He shook himself from his ruminations and watched his daughter.
Leia's face scrunched up in concentration, as if daring the toy not to move. The toy slowly lifted up and jerkily began to float her direction. Halfway through its journey, the toy jerked some more and then fell to the floor. Tears of frustration gathered in her eyes.
Obi-Wan gathered the toddler in his arms and soothed her with the Force. "Don't cry, my precious Leia. You did wonderful!" He took her little chin in hand so he could look her in the eye, wiping away her tears with his other hand. "You learn so fast, you'll have toys flying around this room in no time."
Leia, of course, couldn't understand everything her father was saying, but she could feel his joy and his pride in her through their bond. That was enough to make her day. She would practice and make her daddy really proud!