Obi-Wan watched the ship touch down from the cockpit. He kept his face expressionless, like a good Jedi, but his heart was pounding violently in his chest. He hid his hands under the sleeve of his robes to hide the shaking from everyone. He couldn't believe he was doing this. He couldn't believe Master Yoda gave him permission to do this.

"A Jedi Knight, you are now. Allowed it is." That was what Master Yoda told him when he asked to go, for Qui-Gon's sake more than his. At least, that was what he told himself.

It has only been three months since Qui-Gon died at the hands of the Sith. Anakin was still adjusting to his life at the Temple, but he did make a friend or two that was willing to help him out. The two of them haven't gone on a mission yet. The Council wanted to get Anakin familiar with Temple life before throwing him into missions. So it was the perfect time to go someplace by himself.

"Knight Jedi," the pilot said, turning in his seat. "They're ready to receive you now."

"Thank you, pilot." It took a few days to get the point across that he wasn't a Jedi Master yet. Only newly Knighted. Apparently the pilot thought all adult Jedi were Masters.

Obi-Wan turned and left the cockpit, meeting the palace guards at the ramp where they escorted him to some big study.

"The mistress will be with you in a moment."

Obi-Wan nodded his understanding to the guard, his tongue suddenly feeling too thick and dry in his mouth as his apprehension skyrocketed.

The door closed behind the guard and Obi-Wan took stock of the study.

There was a desk with two red armchairs in front of a big glass-less window where he could feel the breeze and hear the chirping birds and the sound of a waterfall. Next to the window were the glass doors leading to a balcony. On one wall was a giant bookshelf with antique books behind a glass case. Rare.

Obi-Wan gravitated towards the books, trying to read the spines as he waited anxiously. There were a few spines he couldn't read either because of the unfamiliar language or because the letters were too faded. But trying to read them was actually helping his anxiety.

At least until he heard the door open behind him. He froze. He heard the door close and knew he was alone with her, alone with the mistress of the palace.

"Obi-Wan?"

He turned slowly. Qui-Gon was right. He really did look alot like her. His mother. The same color hair, though hers had a few light streaks of gray in it, showing her age and the stress of leadership. The same slight build, though he still seemed to be slightly taller than her.

He bowed. "Lady Ser'Fay," he greeted. It was in his nature to act formal, especially in a stressful social setting.

Lady Ser'Fay walked slowly over to him, her eyes wide and fixed on him. Her hands were clenched together by her chest and her eyes shined with tears. She smiled tearfully. "Oh, my boy. You're all grown up."

He wasn't sure what to say to that, so he didn't say anything.

She reached out to touch him but paused and brought her hands back to her chest as if she wasn't sure that was allowed.

"You're Knighted. No longer a student. I'm proud to hear that. Oh, I'm so proud of you."

"Three months," he finally managed to speak. He cleared his throat. "I was Knighted three months ago."

"Oh, your father must be so proud of you too." She paused and looked uncertain. "Do you know…?" She paused, unsure how to ask in the chance he didn't know.

Obi-Wan nodded. "I know who he is." He opened his mouth to transition into his purpose in coming, but she unintentionally interrupted.

"Did he take you as a student then? I hadn't heard anything since the last time I saw him. I assumed he did."

Obi-Wan nodded. "He did. He raised me and taught me all he knew. He…" He had to stop as he was feeling his emotions rise up again. Once he felt back in control he continued. "He was the best I could've asked for."

"Oh I am so glad. Giving you up was made easier knowing you will be with him. You must be wondering why I did. But, first, come sit." She indicated to the armchairs.

He followed her to them and they each sat in one. She turned her chair to face him. She leaned forward.

She stared until he shifted uncomfortably in his chair. She chuckled embarrassedly. "I'm sorry. I'm still amazed you're here. When I heard a Jedi came to see me, I thought you were Qui-Gon, but when I was given your name, Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi, I just couldn't believe it."

She shook her head. "As for why I left you on the doorsteps of the Jedi Temple. You must understand that I didn't want to. If it was up to me, I would've kept you. My father, your grandfather, was traditional though. He was very…displeased to find his daughter pregnant out of wedlock. If I didn't take you to the Jedi, he would've delivered you to some orphanage. He didn't know who your father was. He never did, never cared to find out once you were gone. But knowing your father is a Jedi and my hope you two would find each other made my decision to take you there much easier. I'm so glad you two have each other. So very glad." She was getting teary again.

Obi-Wan caught the present tense she used. She wasn't aware of his death. He didn't think she would be. That was why he came - to tell her.

He nodded and let out a sigh. "I never felt like I lacked," he reassured her. "I'm glad to be raised as a Jedi. I'm grateful to know Qui-Gon. I'm grateful you took me to them. It's where my destiny lies."

"Good. I know the Jedi life isn't easy, and I never felt like I made the wrong decision. But I like being reassured you don't regret it. So tell me, how is Qui-Gon? I'm a little surprised he didn't come with you. I noticed you don't call him father." There was a hint of a question.

He was grateful for that question. It was easier to answer than her first question. "I grew up calling him Master for that was what he was, my Jedi Master. It was either that or his name. That was just the way things were." He didn't get into the whole "no attachment" thing or the fact he wasn't supposed to know Qui-Gon was his father.

"I see. Qui-Gon tried to explain it to me before, when I was a lot younger. Something about letting go of attachments?"

Obi-Wan nodded. "Easier to speak of then it is to do."

"I'm sure. So how is Qui-Gon?"

That question again. He knew he couldn't avoid it. It was why he was there.

"That's… that's why I came," he said softly, not looking her in the eye. He heard her gasp as she caught on.

"Oh, no. What happened?"

"Three months ago, he….we were on a mission together and there was this…" He sighed trying to keep it in. "He's gone." The words were almost caught in his throat.

"Obi-Wan, oh my boy, I'm so sorry."

Obi-Wan closed his eyes tightly. He heard her rise and her soft footsteps walking across the short distance between them. Arms wrapped around his shoulders and he was gently pulled into a warm embrace.

"Let it go, Obi-Wan," she said softly as her hand ran through his hair comfortingly. "I know you're a Jedi, but you're human first, you were my son and his son before you were a Jedi. It's alright to cry. Let it out."

A sound escaped him and it was the start of the floodgates. The arms around him tightened as he let out a sob. He buried his head into the soft stomach of his mother, who was still a stranger to him, but one that gave no judgment in his grief. One that actually allowed him to grieve without anything in return. He clinched the light fabric of her dress in his hands.

"He's…he's gone," he cried, shaking his head in disbelief. "He's really gone..." Three months and he was still having trouble believing it, until now.

"Shh, shh, it's alright. Let it out, my little light," she said quietly as she continued to run a hand through his hair.

"It's my fault."

She backed away and knelt down, grasping his face so he had to look at her. "Never believe that. Qui-Gon would never blame you. It's not your fault." She wiped some of his tears away with her thumb. "It's. Not. Your. Fault." She said each word forcefully in hopes it will get her point across.

"I got knocked out of the fight. He was forced to fight him alone. He shouldn't've fought him alone. I should've been there!" Tears continued to spill, but she was still there to wipe them away with her thumb. She refused to let go of his face.

"It could have been you, Obi-Wan, and that isn't something Qui-Gon would allow."

He tried shaking his head but her grip on his face stopped him. "You don't know that."

"You're right, I don't. What I do know is this. Qui-Gon wouldn't want you to put all that blame on your shoulders. You are not at fault. The one who killed him is to blame. Not you. It's not your fault, okay? You are blameless. But, if it helps, you are forgiven."

He nodded and sniffed. She finally let go of his face and stood up. "I'll order some water to be brought up." She turned her back to press a button on her desk.

He took the opportunity to wipe his eyes and his cheeks with his sleeves, trying to get his composer back. Though it felt good to finally cry, it was so embarrassing that he lost control in front of his mother, who he only just met.

Once she asked for water to be brought up, she returned to her seat. "Tell me something funny about your time with your father."

He blinked in surprise. "What?"

"I want to hear all about your life with him. But first tell me something we can laugh about."

"Oh, um," he paused as he thought. "Qui-Gon had no fear when he came to his stomach. He would eat any cuisine you put in front of him. Each mission we had, each culture we visited, he was adamant we should eat their foods, that it was the best way to make friends and keep the peace.

"When I was around 15 or 16 years old, Master Tahl and I were talking about his strong stomach…"

"Master Tahl?"

"She was a very close friend of Qui-Gon. She's one with the Force now, too. She died not long after this happened."

"I'm sorry."

He nodded in recognition of her sympathy, but continued with the story.

"I wanted to test it, and to find a meal he couldn't stomach. So I researched for the worst cuisine I could find. I discovered this very rare and disgusting cuisine from Ojom. It was this soup-like cuisine with chunks of living insects in it. The small insects are in this shell. They live in this tiny shell. When you cook it the shell acts like some sort of barrier that keeps the insect safe. You don't know the bug in aive in there until you take a bite out of it. It's gross."

She made a face and laughed. "It certainly sounds…Yeah, that's gross."

Obi-Wan laughed and nodded. "Yeah. I can't even get into what was in the soup without gagging. The insect wasn't even the worst of it. But I was determined to make it and give it to Qui-Gon without telling him what it was."

He was interrupted by the arrival of water.

"Thank you, Flari," Lady Ser'Fay said to the girl who brought the tray of water in. "You can set it on the desk and go."

Once the servant girl left, she poured water into two cups and handed one to him. He thanked her and took a few sips. The water really was refreshing and it smoothed his throat.

"So did you make it?" she asked.

Obi-Wan nodded. "I did. Worst twenty minutes of my life was making that soup." They both knew that was a lie, but it kept things light.

"I then made an appetizing soup that only looked like the disgusting concoction for myself. I substituted the insects with chocolate and things like that. It was an interesting combination of things but still better than insects. I was proud of myself though. Everything was turning out just the way I hoped."

"I'm sensing a but."

"But, that very night, after I made the soups and set the table, Qui-Gon came in with Master Windu."

"Master Windu?"

"He's a close friend of Qui-Gon, but he's on the Jedi Council and comes across as a stern, grim man. He's the Master of the Order, the second highest ranking member of the Jedi Order. I saw more of his humor than most because of his friendship with Qui-Gon, but he was still an intimidating man, one I don't ever want to cross."

"Oh no, this can't well." She covered her mouth with a hand in an attempt to hold back her laughter.

Obi-Wan couldn't help but laugh and he shook his head. "I wanted to abort the mission but it was too late. I had the soup made, the table set, my bowl at my spot, Qui-Gon's bowl at his. If I start removing it and cleaning it up, that would be too suspicious and they would know something was up. So I had no choice but to go through with it. I was panicking though. I couldn't believe my bad luck."

She laughed along with him.

"I got another bowl for Master Windu. His portion was noticeably smaller because it's not like I made a lot of the soup. I certainly didn't want leftovers. I admit I was fidgety because my attempt at a prank was not turning out well. Not with Master Windu there. He was not supposed to get caught up in the prank. Then, I took a bite of my soup."

He sighed and shook his head. "I was not able to control my actions the moment I took a bite. It was the nastiest thing in the galaxy. I swear I was able to taste it on my mouth for months afterwards. I ran to the sink and spat it out, I turned on the water and drank right from the tap, spitting it out, I was gagging. It was so gross, so nasty. It was the worst thing I ever had!"

She laughed and shook her head. "Oh no."

"I turn around and there's Master Windu, a spoon half way to his mouth just staring at me in that disapproving way. Though he may have just been a little shocked at my sudden rush to the sink. And, then, there's Qui-Gon, acting like nothing happened, chowing down on his soup. Finally, he glanced at me and says, 'Is your soup not to your liking, padawan? I found mine very delicious.' And there was that gleam in his eye, that amused look. Somehow he knew what I was trying to do and, when my back was turned to get a bowl for Master Windu, he switched our bowls."

They both laughed.

"That was what I had to live with," he said with a laugh. "I tried to trick him and he always knew and turned it around on me. Every time I tried. That's what I had to deal with."

"But you wouldn't have it any other way," Lady Ser'Fay said with a soft look.

Obi-Wan's smile faded slowly and he shook his head. "No, no I wouldn't." He sighed. "I miss him. I miss him so much."

"Of course you do. You always will, but you're strong and will get through it. You'll take it one day at a time until it becomes easier to bear. Live your life and be happy and you'll always make him proud."

"Study hard, do your best, remain positive and happy, remain good and light," he paraphrased.

"Pardon?"

"It's, ah, ah promise I made to Qui-Gon many years ago before we really knew each other. He asked that of me and I promised I would follow all those things. I've been doing my best to do so."

"I think you've been doing a good job in keeping those promises."

"Thank you." He stood up and Lady Ser'Fay followed his example. "I really should go. This was supposed to be a short trip."

"I don't mind if you stay longer. I want to hear all about your life."

Obi-Wan smiled kindly at her. "Thank you for the offer, but I have my own padawan to get back to now."

"Training someone already?"

Obi-Wan nodded. "It was a…well, special circumstances, a unique situation, however one wants to phrase it."

They walked together to the door.

"I hope I'll see you again someday."

"I can't make any promises but I'll like that too."

Before either of them could open the door, it opened from the other side. A young man with blond-ish copper hair stepped back when he saw how close to the door they were. He was a young man in his mid- to upper teens.

The younger boy eyed him before turning to his mother. "Mom, I heard we had a Jedi visitor and just wanted to make sure everything was okay."

"Everything is fine, Owen, this is…"

She trailed off and Obi-Wan had a sense that she never told Owen about his Jedi half brother. So, he quickly took control of the situation.

"Hello." He bowed in respect. "I'm Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi. I just came by to tell your mother about the passing of a mutual friend. Sorry if my arrival was met with any distress."

Owen blinked and shook his head. "No, that's okay." He turned to his mother. "Mom, I didn't know you knew any Jedi."

She smiled and placed a calming hand on his shoulders. "Your grandfather called the Jedi for aid many years ago, years before you were born, and the Jedi stayed with us for several months trying to help us with the Bimms. I got to know him well. I'm sorry to hear of his passing." She turned a meaningful eye to Obi-Wan. "Truely."

"If that is all, I really should be on my way," Obi-Wan said. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Lady Ser'Fay. I'm glad I was able to."

She smiled. "So am I. Don't be a stranger. If you ever need anything, let me know. I mean it, Obi-Wan, anything at all."

He nodded. "I'll keep that in mind. Goodbye, Lady Ser'Fay, Mister Owen."

"Goodbye, Obi-Wan."

He bowed again before leaving back the way he came. His mother and his half brother stayed by the door of the study watching him go.

He wasn't sure if he would ever be able to come back for a visit, but he would really like to. Some day.