Hello, All! Thank you all again for your wonderful reviews! I'm sorry there is such a lag in between chapters, but I promise the story will get finished! I can't tell you how much I appreciate your patience!

ooooo

Luke was walking with his father after their vigorous sparring session. He thought back on the match with a smile. He was holding his own much better against his dad than he ever used to. He had finally learned how to block out all the distractions caused by the crowds who always seemed to enjoy watching their sparring sessions. It had been quite a change from the sessions they'd had back home.

The question Luke had been meaning to ask his father since earlier in the day came back into his mind. "Dad, do you actually speak and understand Wookie?"

Obi-Wan chuckled at that. "Just enough to get by…barely."

"It seemed like you knew Chewbacca personally."

"I knew OF him. He was one of the Wookies who helped Master Yoda escape Kashyyyk. I just wanted to thank him for that."

"Oh. Do you think you got the general meaning across?" Luke smirked at his dad.

"Unless I accidentally told him he could have you for dinner."

Luke laughed out loud at that. "Nah. Not enough meat on my bones to make a decent meal."

"Snack, then?"

Luke just rolled his eyes as they continued down the hall.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Sitting in a chair looking over some reports, Obi-Wan could sense Leia approaching her quarters, which were right next door to his. And he could also sense who was with her. He grinned evilly as he got up and headed for his door with a determined step. As he crossed the threshold, his face was schooled into a look of studied nonchalance.

Out in the hallway, Obi-Wan caught Leia and Han Solo just as they reached Leia's doorstep. He paused in his stride. "Oh, hello, Princess." He nodded his head at her companion. "Han. I was just heading to the command center."

Leia shot him a look that said, Yeah, right. I know darn well what you are doing. "Hi, Daddy. Han was nice enough to ask me to dinner."

Raising an eyebrow, Obi-Wan turned to Han. "Indeed?"

Han suddenly looked quite uncomfortable. "Um, yeah. Er, I figured she might like to, ah, continue our conversation from this afternoon."

"Really?" Obi-Wan was laughing inside, but kept his face decidedly neutral.

Han coughed lightly. "Um, well, I have some things I need to do before calling it a night. I had a nice time, Leia." He glanced quickly at Obi-Wan before taking her hand and giving it a light kiss. "I guess I'll see you around." He tipped his head as he looked back at Obi-Wan. "General." He then made a quick exit.

Leia planted her hands on her hips and glared at her father. "What's with the intimidation routine?"

"Me?" Obi-Wan's eyes were wide and innocent looking. "Intimidating?"

"Yes, you!" Leia tried very hard to maintain her irritation. She engaged in a stare-down with her guileless-looking father. One side of her mouth quirked up a bit. Finally, she burst out laughing. "Geez, Daddy!" She hugged him as he joined in her laugher. "Did you have to put the fear of the Force into him?"

"It's every father's right and privilege to scare the living daylights out of his daughter's suitors."

Leia rolled her eyes. "He's not a suitor, Daddy; he just asked me to join him for dinner."

"Trust me, Princess." Obi-Wan pressed a kiss to his daughter's forehead. "He's a suitor."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Padmė was right where she most wanted to be, wrapped up her husband's arms. Obi-Wan and the children had arrived home for a visit just the previous day. It had been several months away from each other this time, and it never seemed to get any easier. She knew that it was necessary, but she didn't have to like it.

The homecoming had been joyous for all concerned. Out of the six children who had remained at home, Obi-Wan's absence had been hardest on the three youngest – Rafe, Ben, and Aaron. They had been three guided missiles launching themselves at their father when he finally descended the ramp of the ship. Ben and Aaron were now seven years old, and quite the little mischief-makers. Their hair was a shade darker than Obi-Wan's now, their skin tone a shade darker, and their light blue eyes didn't have the changeable quality of their father's. But other than that, their resemblance to their father was remarkable.

It hadn't taken Leia long to focus her time and attention on her adored youngest siblings – siblings who knew very well they had their oldest sister wrapped around their little fingers. Padmė had just shaken her head at the scene, guiltily glad the rambunctious boys had someone else to occupy their time for a while. One of them was a handful; the two of them together, on the other hand…

"Yoda tells me that Ben and Aaron have your predilection for getting into trouble."

Obi-Wan tried to look offended. "I'll have you know I was a perfect angel at their age."

Laughing, Padmė propped herself up on her elbow. "That's not how Yoda described you."

"Don't you two have anything better to do than gossip about me?"

"Nope. He said that your keen little mind was constantly looking for ways to engage your curiosity and expend your vast amounts of energy – often in rather naughty ways. He said you became notorious amongst the Creche masters and the teachers."

Obi-Wan sniffed. "I think they were quite fond of me, actually."

Padmė grinned. "Oh, I've no doubt of that! But I'm also sure you probably exasperated them no end."

"I was just a child who needed a constructive outlet."

"Well, let me just say that Ben and Aaron don't just look like you, they act the way Yoda described you at their age. BUT, there are TWO of them, and they conspire with each other!"

"Oh, dear."

"Oh, dear, is right!"

Obi-Wan suddenly turned serious. "I'm sorry I'm not here more to help you with them. I'm sorry I have to miss so much in the lives of our younger children."

Padmė took his hand in hers. "I know that. It isn't easy, but at least I have help. They do miss you, but that just makes the time they do have with you that much more precious."

Obi-Wan smiled softly as he cupped his wife's face. "I love you."

"I love you." Padmė happily snuggled back against her husband.

"You don't know how much I missed this – missed just lying here with you."

Padmė smiled up at Obi-Wan. "Same here. It feels like a vital part of me is missing when you're not here."

Kissing his wife's forehead, Obi-Wan released a sigh. "I feel the same way. We can only hope that Sidious' reign of terror won't last too much longer."

Padmė shivered at the mention of the emperor's name. "I can tell you're exhausted. How much longer will you be able to shield yourself from him without completely depleting your energy reserves?"

"Well, these trips back here give me some time to recharge my batteries." Obi-Wan shrugged his shoulders. "I can't really say, Love."

Sitting up quickly, Padmė speared her husband with a knowing gaze. "What are you not telling me?"

Obi-Wan sighed again. His wife knew him too well. "I have a feeling that a face-to-face encounter with Sidious is inevitable, no matter what precautions I take to keep him from sensing me." He refused to add that he thought it would happen sooner rather than later.

A vise of fear suddenly gripped Padmė's heart. "Then you shouldn't go back!"

Obi-Wan threw her a startled look. "Padmė, you know I have to go back."

"No, you don't! You're no good to the Rebellion in Sidious' clutches, or worse yet, dead!"

Obi-Wan turned away from his wife's devastated expression. "He won't kill me," he said softly. Obi-Wan knew this as surely as he knew anything. Sidious would never allow him the escape that death would provide.

"No, you'll only wish you were dead!" Padmė knew she needed to get a reign on her emotions. She took several deep breaths. Tears pricked her eyes, and she also looked away. "Why does the Force have it in for you?"

Obi-Wan pulled his wife into his arms. "Oh, Love, It doesn't have it in for me. There are just things that need to be done, and very few of us left to answer It's call."

Sighing, Padmė held tighter to Obi-Wan. "My head understands that. My heart is another issue." She found herself wishing this month together would last forever.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Opening his eyes after emerging from his meditation, the first thing Obi-Wan saw was the wise eyes of Master Yoda studying him. He cocked his head in question, knowing the aged Master had something to say.

"An encounter with destiny I sense for you in the near future."

"I've sensed it, as well, Master."

"Strong you will need to be." The old creature hobbled closer to his younger companion. "But strong you are – here," Yoda pointed a claw at Obi-Wan's heart, "and here." He pointed at Obi-Wan's head.

And then the Master did something he had never done before. He took Obi-Wan's face in his clawed hands and pressed their foreheads together. "Be with you through all things, the Force will."