Chapter 5

Just as Obi-Wan had predicted, as soon as the credits for the last shipment of blasters changed hands all hell broke loose. Jabba's weasel-like dealers scurried away with the money, and 10 hulking brutes appeared out of the shadows and surrounded them. They tried to take back the crates, but Obi-Wan and Ashoka pulled out their lightsabers and held them at a distance. Lots of yelling followed, and suddenly, one of the more nervous looking goons pulled out a blaster and fired. Several more did as well, but the two former Jedi deflected the shots with ease.

Rob, who had run for cover when the shooting started, took advantage of their distraction and took out two of the attackers by knocking them unconscious with a length of pipe he found on the floor. He started after a third, but cried out as a blaster shot hit him in the shoulder and he went down. Ashoka Force pushed four more into the wall and they collapsed in a heap. The last group of four found cover behind a box and kept popping off shots every few moments until Obi-Wan, who was beyond ready for this to be over, reached out with the Force and brought a large pile of crates crashing down on top of the remaining thugs.

Ashoka ran over to Rob who was trying to sit up.

"Rob, are you alright? You're hit!" She was very upset. "Here, let me look at it."

"I'm alright. It's nothing." He said. "Just a graze." His eyes softened as he looked at Ashoka. "You were amazing out there."

She blushed deeply. "Thank you. So were you!"

Obi-Wan watched in amusement as the two danced around each other with obvious romantic interest. Unfortunately this really wasn't the time or place for such things. "Come on, you two. We need to get out of here before anything else happens."

He helped load the blasters onto Rob's ship and bid a fond farewell to them both. Ashoka hugged him tightly. "Take care of yourself Master Obi-Wan. I hope I see you again someday."

He returned her embrace. He was sad to see her go, but glad to know the Rebellion had a powerhouse like Ashoka to help them. "I'm sure we will, my dear. Be safe. May the Force be with you."

…

The stars were shining bright by the time Obi-Wan finally arrived home. It was very late, or very early depending on your point of view, he thought to himself. Usually he would have stopped along the way to avoid the dangers that lurked in the desert at night, but he was too anxious to wait until morning.

When he entered the house, all was peaceful and still. He could tell from Luna's steady breathing that she was asleep. Knowing that she needed her rest, he quietly removed his clothes and slipped into bed beside her. She stirred briefly, and instinctively reached out for him and he was more than happy to hold her as she slept. It was so good to be home!

He woke the next morning with a start. Luna struggled out of his grasp and ran to the refresher, slamming the door behind her. After a considerable amount of time, she came out and stumbled back to bed. He held up the covers and she climbed back in.

"Welcome home." She said, looking pale and sick. "How did it go? Did you get the blasters for the Rebellion?" A light sheen of sweat coated her forehead. Then he noticed something he hadn't the night before. Her Force signature was different. It seemed more intense, yet somehow jumbled. His heart constricted with fear. Something was terribly wrong.

"It turned out fine. I'll tell you more about it later." He took her hands in his. "Luna, I've been so very worried about you. I know that you're not well, but you wouldn't answer me before. Whatever it is darling, please tell me what's wrong."

Luna looked at the sheet, and picked at a piece of fuzz. "I knew I wouldn't be able to keep this from you for long. I didn't mean for it to happen, but now that it has…" She met his gaze, her eyes pleading with him for understanding. "I hope you will feel the same way I do. Obi-Wan, we're going to have a baby. You're going to be a father."

His mouth hung open. This was the one thing he hadn't been expecting. He had steeled himself for a million other possiblities, but not this. Him? A father? How could he be a father when he'd never even had one himself? What if he did something wrong? What if…. Thoughts of all the innumerable ways he could ruin everything began occurring to him all at once and he was terrified. He had never even owned a pet for Force sake, what kind of a father would he be?!

Calm down, he told himself. Panicking wouldn't do any good. Emotion, yet peace he repeated several times until he had control of himself once more. He tried to imagine what life with a child would be like and was so overwhelmed that he had to stop. Instead, he tried focusing on the more immediate future. He pictured Luna over the next few months her belly growing heavy with his child, then the two of them watching the suns set with an adorable infant resting between them. A vision passed through his mind of a small hand in his and two trusting eyes so very like Luna's gazing up at him. "Papa?" they seemed to say. His heart swelled with love and pride for his new family and even though he'd never really considered it very seriously, he suddenly realized that this was what he wanted more than anything.

A muffled sob snapped him out of his thoughts. Luna had turned away and was starting to climb out of bed. He put a hand on her shoulder to stop her and she turned back to him, tears streaming down her cheeks. This would never do. He pulled her to him kissing away her tears.

"Oh, Luna, don't cry. This is wonderful news, it's just such a surprise. Are you sure?" She nodded. "My darling!" They clung to each other, two halves of one whole. When they finally broke apart, Obi-Wan put a hand on her abdomen and reached out through the Force. There it was, this new spark of life gleaming bright with promise and shimmering like a new star. A perfect blend of the two of them. Joyful tears sprang to his eyes and Luna held him as he quietly went to pieces in her arms.

….

"We'll have to put an addition on, of course. And maybe another refresher. This hut is far too small for three people. And training! Our child will almost certainly be strong in the Force. We must start planning for that right away." They were on the front steps relaxing after a very long day. Luna sat on Obi-Wan's lap, his arms around her waist and her head on his shoulder. He had been talking almost nonstop since finding out about the baby. His plans and excitement about the future bubbled over and he seemed unable to stop them. Luna smiled. What an amazing father he was going to be!

"Slow down, take a breath. We still have 8 more months before baby Kenobi is even born. I think we can hold off on that at least until the child is old enough to hold a lightsaber." She laughed, but he stopped short. For the first time in hours he was quiet.

"Baby Kenobi." He repeated to himself. "Kenobi."

Something was bothering him, Luna could tell. "What is it Ben?"

"It's…I never knew my real family. I was taken to the Jedi temple when I was still just a baby and the only connection I have to them is my name. When I was a child I used to wonder what they were like, and if they missed me. Later I realized what a tremendous sacrifice it must have been for them to send me away. I have always tried to live a life that they would be proud of. I want this child to be a Kenobi."

She looked at him with confusion. "Of course it will be a Kenobi. It already is. Who else would it be?"

He smiled. "I don't know. I suppose I'm just being sentimental. Never mind." He kissed her gently on the lips and then stood, cradling her in his arms. "Come on, let's go to bed. You've no idea how much I missed you."

She laughed and snuggled closer, loving how safe she felt in his arms. "You'd better enjoy doing this while you still can, Kenobi. Pretty soon I"ll be too big for you to lift."