Chapter 1 and 2 happen in the same universe. Chapter 3 doesn't.
Abril: This takes place after the Obi-wan Kenobi series finale but before he goes out into the desert to learn more from Qui-gon.
For the second time in their lives, Obi-wan Kenobi brings Luke in his arms to their home. It is absolute terror for a moment, and the next it is the greatest relief. The Jedi brings their babe home and safe in his arms. It makes all the difference.
Tentatively they welcome him into their home, or at least, Owen does. Beru welcomes him with open arms as she would a lost brother, something she tells Owen in secret they should've done the first time around. He's not shy around them by any means, but there is something timid about the way he behaves, something careful and contained.
The first time Beru finally manages to convince Obi-wan to stay the night instead of traversing the dunes to his lonely cave she gets the three of them drunk. They cross the borders of tipsy into struggling to stand with a swiftness that is surely dangerous, but they're all smiling easily when the night sets in.
Owen stands up pretending they're stupid and wrong when they tell him he can't walk straight, of course he can, he's just going to check up on Luke. Their boy hasn't been sleeping very well since the Inquisitor and he just needs to make sure he's okay. The event has given all of the Lars nightmares to spare, that's for sure.
The minutes pass and Owen doesn't return, his wife gets up long-suffering and gives their guest a conspiratorial wink. When Beru returns, her drink still in hand and a goofy smile on her lips, she stumbles back to her sit beside Obi-wan. He catches her by the arm, as she almost misses her spot.
"Woh there," he chuckles and says gently, "careful Beru."
"Owen fell asleep on Luke's bed," she tells him secretively, ignoring his words. "They look like such a dream." They laugh, Obi-wan would deny it but he is not all that far behind his host in drunkenness. "Just like you did all those years ago," she mumbles almost as an afterthought.
But Obi-wan was once a general, and the sound of new information makes him straighten up a little.
"How do you mean?" When Kenobi looks at her she sobers up if just slightly, her goofy look turns more contemplative as she returns his gaze. Her smile is sweet.
"I never told you, of course not, it's quite... silly, and you always were more of a stranger than anything else to us, but... But all those years ago, when you showed up across the dune sea with Luke in your arms, and you... You walked straight to me as if come out from a vision. You placed my baby in my arms and I thought you some sort of desert sprite, Obi-wan. All wretched up as you were and sad beyond measure, but so bright."
He's taken aback by her words, too drunk to have anything of worth to reply with. He listens attentive to her though, feeling deep down what she's telling him is important.
"I must've been drunk with happiness, I can think of no other explanation. Later I imagined myself a girl from a fairy tale, a child from the sand spirits trust upon my care! A special child... Magic." Her eyes are dreamy as she tells him this and she says again. "I never told you but... I am so grateful. I'm grateful every day that you brought him to me. To Owen and me." She places a hand upon his weathered one.
It may be the alcohol, or perhaps his emotional management has been shot out through the years, but his eyes mist at her earnestness.
"It was the best thing I could've done; you both are wonderful parents," he clears his throat to say, offering Beru a wobbly smile.
"It's so silly." She laughs at herself, "the fancies of a farm girl, no?"
"I don't think it's silly at all." He replays, his words so full of honesty it brings tears to Beru's own eyes, a drop falling down her sun-kissed cheek.
They're quiet for a while, until she says quite softly, as if sharing a secret.
"When I am restless I dream what might've been if you've kept him, if you'd never come into our lives... Sometimes those dreams are sweet, others they are not. But when I wake up I am always crying."
"He's yours Beru, no one can ever change that, not me, and not some shell of a man already dead out there." He gestures up with his head to the galaxy beyond the roof.
"We almost lost him-"
"But you didn't," he shuts her down pointedly. "And I will never let that happen, ever... If you'll have me." He adds a moment later looking down, almost chastised.
"Thank you," Beru accepts, voice wet. "Next time Owen looks at you funny, you come and tell me, okay? I'll put him in his place and remind him just who was that saved our baby."
Obi-wan's eyes crinkle at the corners, it makes them a little less sad than usual. Beru promises herself she'll do whatever is in her power to unburden him of his sorrow, in whatever small ways she might. It's the least she can do for all that Obi-wan has given them.
"And… I'll remind him too who it is we owe our world to," she adds.
"You do not owe me anything, Beru," he insists with feeling.
"We do though. We do," she says simply and quizzes his hand one more time.
Abril: I originally conceived this story (and two other more) back when the Obi-wan series was still fresh because the idea of there 3 interacting just has me frothing at the mouth vdhodwahfow XD But like, I need to keep mean Owen to a minimum, it hurts too much.
Let me know if you liked this!