Old Mistakes, New Beginnings

OLD MISTAKES, NEW BEGINNINGS=

GENRE: general, AU
PAIRING: Obi-Wan/Anakin, mostly friendship with a bit of slash
RATING: R
SUMMARY: Obi-Wan takes Anakin away from Mustafar and things develop in a different way...
WARNINGS: Characters' death but remember, "There is no death, there is= the Force".

<= o:p>

<= /p>

PART ONE

Must= afar

Obi-Wan deflected another of Anakin’s blows = and realized with dismay that his former apprentice’s attack had had him = back away so much he was now on the edge of the platform.

A step more, and he would fall in the river of lava that ran beneath them.

He looked around, searching for a way out and found it. He jumped toward the safety of a low cliff, just above the soft black s= and of the riverbank.

“It's over, Anakin!” he exclaimed spreading his arms. “I have the high ground.” Yes, Anakin, please stop here…Don’t make me kill you= 230;

Anakin piloted the platform to the shore and growl= ed, “You underestimate my power!”

“Don't try it,” Obi-Wan said again, his voice full of desperation, but it was too late.

Anakin leapt off the platform, aiming to land behi= nd Obi-Wan's back— but the Jedi master was quicker. His lightsabre whirl= ed and slashed, cutting off both Anakin’s legs and his left arm.

Anakin tumbled down the embankment and rolled to a stop near the edge of the lava river, clawing at the black sand with his mechanical arm in an attempt to escape the scorching heat.

Obi-Wan looked down, at his fallen friend, and let= the pain in his heart burst free.

“You were the Chosen One! It was said that y= ou would, destroy the Sith, not join them. It was you who would bring balance = to the Force, not leave it in Darkness!” he cried, as tears streaked his face. Why Anakin, why?

Then he bent and picked up Anakin's lightsabre and began to walk away. He stopped,

looked back a last time and added, “You were= my brother, Anakin, I loved you!”

Below his feet, Anakin burst into flame. Obi-Wan lowered his eyes, not wanting to see as the red-yellow tongues devoured the flesh and the skin of the man who had been his closest friend.

He was about to take his first step to climb back = toward the landing platform, when a wheezing sound stopped him.<= /p>

“Help me… Obi-Wan…don’t leave… me…here…please…”

Obi-Wan stopped as his heart, the heart he had tho= ught broken beyond repair by Anakin’s betrayal, started beating faster with renewed hope. There had been something in that plea… a softness that = had been missing from Anakin’s tone since he had become an adolescent.

Slowly, cautiously, almost afraid it would be a tr= ick, Obi-Wan turned around. His heart constricted at the sight welcoming him. The flames had left Anakin’s body and face almost unrecognizable, the cha= rred torso and head of what once had been a man.

Obi-Wan felt like throwing up at the sight, not because he was disgusted, but at the mere thought of how much Anakin must be suffering.

“Please…Master…” Anakin wheezed, raising his head and looking straight at Obi-Wan. His eyes were bl= ue, with no hint of the yellow he had seen during their fight. They were clear despite the pain, and shining with tears.

“Help me… Obi-Wan…” Anakin whispered again and the Jedi Master made his decision.

He could not, would not leave a pleading man there= . He would take Anakin with him, and help him in every way he could.<= /span>

Obi-Wan stepped down the slope and knelt at Anakin’s side. The damage inflicted by the flames was even more terri= ble at close inspection and the smell of burned flesh caused his stomach to chu= rn.

He reached out to take Anakin into his arms, but t= he poor man cried out in pain at the barest of contacts. Obi-Wan looked toward= the landing platform and the sleek Nubian cruiser parked there. Maybe there was something he could use as a stretcher on board…

A glimpse of metal flashed through the sky, and Obi-Wan felt the darkness closing in around them both. He knew that ship: t= he Chancellor's shuttle. Now, he supposed, the Emperor's shuttle. Yoda had failed. He might have died. He might have left Obi-Wan alone: the last Jedi= .

Obi-Wan frowned. His time was running short. He ha= d to act quickly. He focused deeply into the Force and held his hands out toward Anakin. He levitated the charred torso and head off the sand and up, toward= the rocky path that led to the landing platform.

Palpatine’s shuttle had disappeared on the o= ther side of the planet, and Obi-Wan hoped it would allow him enough time to rea= ch the cruiser, board it and fly away.

Anakin was conscious as Obi-Wan levitated him, and= his grateful eyes never left his master, helping the Jedi to maintain his concentration despite the exhaustion caused by their fight.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Obi-W= an reached the landing platform. Padmé’s unconscious form was no longer s= prawled on the pavement, and he hoped it was because Threepio had carried her inside the ship, and not because she had regained her senses.

He was totally exhausted; physically, emotionally,= and mentally, and he had not the strength to face her, and her reaction upon se= eing what had happened to Anakin, just now.

Threepio appeared on the ramp of the ship, gesturi= ng with his arms. “Master Kenobi! We have Miss Padmé on board. Please, hurry. We should leave this dreadful place. Oh dear…but this = is Master Anakin. He seems to be hurt pretty badly.”

Obi-Wan just nodded as he took his precious cargo inside the ship and gently deposited it on a couch.

“I will be back soon,” he whispered, a= nd Anakin tried to nod with his head.

Obi-Wan left the room and went to check Padm&eacut= e;, who was lying on a nearby sleep cot.

“Obi-Wan?” she murmured weakly. “= ;Is Anakin all right?”

He could not answer her, not just then, so he simp= ly looked at her sadly. He brushed her hair back as Padmé blessedly dro= pped back into unconsciousness.

Obi-Wan walked to the cockpit and lowered himself = onto the co-pilot's seat, rubbing his face with his hand, trying to brush away s= ome of his tiredness, as Threepio piloted the cruiser away from Mustafar.<= /o:p>

“Where should we go, Master Kenobi?” t= he droid asked after a few moments.

“Both Anakin and Padmé need immediate medical assistance. Scan frequencies for one used by Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan. His ship is the Tantive IV. Tell him of our situation, he will te= ll you where to go.”

“Yes, Sir. I will do so.”

“Good. I will be with Anakin or Padmé, call me only when we reach our destination or if some kind of problem arise= s.”

"Yes, Sir.”

Obi-Wan returned to Anakin’s side. The young man’s breath was more laboured than before, and the Jedi used the For= ce to turn him on his back, and put a pillow beneath his head in the hope of making it easier for Anakin.

Obi-Wan had enough medical knowledge to know his former Padawan’s condition was desperate. The scorching heat had dama= ged his lungs and the raw skin he could see here and there was already infected= by the sands that had stuck to it.

Anakin had lost his senses and Obi-Wan was grateful for it. Nobody deserved to suffer so much—not even Darth Vader.<= /o:p>

&sec= t;§§§§

Obi-Wan was pacing back and forth along an observa= tion room of the Polis Massa Medic= al Centre, from which he, Bail Organa and Yoda were watching what was going on= in two adjoining surgery rooms.

In the one on the left, Anakin was fighting for his life, as a team of medical droids tried to repair to the damage the flames = and the heat had done to his body. It was a desperate attempt, they all knew it, but it had to be done.

In the one on the right, Padmé was being examined to check her condition and that of her child. The woman had not regained consciousness since Mustafar and it was worrying the three men.

A medical droid left her side and hovered to where three onlookers were waiting.

“Medically, she is completely healthy,”= ; it reported, “but for reasons we can't explain, we are losing her.”<= o:p>

“She's dying?” Obi-Wan asked, shocked.=

“We don't know why. She has lost the will to live. We need to operate quickly if we are to save the babies.”<= /o:p>

“Babies?” interjected Senator Organa.<= o:p>

“She's carrying twins.”

“Save them, we must,” Yoda commented, hitting the pavement with his stick.

“Yes, Sir. We will do our best,” the d= roid answered, before returning to the operating room.

Obi-Wan rubbed his beard and closed his eyes, releasing his anguish into the Force. He had not expected this. He had been= sure Padmé would recover and hoped that her presence would be helpful dur= ing Anakin’s recovery… if he could be saved.

“Master Kenobi?” Bail Organa murmured, touching his upper arm. Obi-Wan opened his eyes and looked at the senator w= ith questioning eyes. “The chief medical droid attending Skywalker is gesturing to you. I think it wants you to go there.”

Obi-Wan nodded and forced his stiff legs to carry = him inside the surgery room.

He could sense in the Force why his presence had b= een requested.

Anakin was dying.

His life force was fading rapidly and the anguish Obi-Wan had felt returned tenfold. He tried to release it to the Force, but= he failed.

He stepped near the operation table, and Anakin sl= owly turned his head to face him. The Jedi leant forward, bringing his ear close= to the oxygen mask covering the dying man’s mouth.

“Master…” Anakin croaked as he t= ried to raise his mechanical arm to touch him.

Obi-Wan reached out with his own arm and took the durasteel hand in his own.

Anakin weakly squeezed his fingers. “Forgive= … me… Master…” he whispered, as the light began to fade from his blue eyes.

Obi-Wan took a harsh breath and nodded. Then, forc= ing the words past the lump in his throat, he voiced his forgiveness.

“Yes, Anakin, I forgive you. I- be at peace = my friend… I will guard over your family.”

Anakin attempted a smile, then his eyes glazed, as= his life force was extinguished.

Obi-Wan reached up with his free hand and closed h= is friend’s unseeing eyes.

He bowed his head in sadness, and did not let go of Anakin’s hand until Master Yoda came by his side and gently pried his fingers open.

“Returned to the Light, young Anakin did in = the end. As a Jedi, he died. Peace in the Force he will find.”=

Obi-Wan nodded slowly. “I know,” he whispered, watching as the droids covered Anakin’s body with a sheet.=

“Come, Master Kenobi, many things to discuss= we have. Senator Amidala died, but her children alive are. Strong in the Force, they are. Decide what their future will be, we must.

&sec= t;

Bail Organa, Obi-Wan and Yoda sat around a confere= nce table on the Tantive IV.

"To Naboo, send the Senator’s body...&q= uot; Yoda said. "Pregnant, she must still appear. Hidden, safe, the children must be kept.”

“We must take them somewhere so that the Sith will not sense their presence,” replied Obi-Wan.

“Split up, they should be.”=

Bail Organa smiled gently and interjected, “= My wife and I will take the girl. We've always talked of adopting a baby girl.= She will be loved by us.”

Both Obi-Wan and Yoda nodded in approval. It was a good choice.=

“And what of the boy?”

“To Tatooine. To his family, send him.”= ;

“I will take the child and watch over him. I will protect him from the worst of the planet's dangers, until he can learn= to protect himself,” Obi-Wan said, his voice gaining more purpose with e= ach word.

“Like a father you wish to be, young Obi-Wan?”

“More an... eccentric old uncle, I think. It’s a part I can play very well. To keep watch over Anakin's son—“ Obi-Wan sighed, finally allowing his face to register a suggestion of his old gentle smile. “I can't imagine a better way to spend the rest of my life.”

Than= k you, Master.

Obi-Wan’s eyes widened and he sat straighter= on the chair. He could have sworn he had just heard Anakin’s voice…= ;

“Something wrong, Master Kenobi?” Yoda questioned.

Obi-Wan shook his head. “No, Master, just a passing thought. Nothing really important.” Evidently his exhaustion = was catching up with him, causing him to imagine things.

They all stood up as Yoda said, “Until the t= ime is right, disappear we will.”

Bail Organa then bowed and left the room, eager to contact his wife and tell her of baby Leia.

Obi-Wan was about to leave too, when Yoda stopped = him.

“Master Kenobi, wait a moment. In your solit= ude on Tatooine, training I have for you.”

“Training??” Obi-Wan repeated, puzzled= .

The older master almost smiled. “An old frie= nd has learned the path to immortality.”

“Who?”

“One who has returned from the netherworld of the Force to train me . . . your old Master, Qui-Gon Jinn.”

Obi-Wan’s eyes widened in stunned surprise. “Qui-Gon?” he exclaimed. “But, how could he accomplish th= is?”

“The secret of the Ancient Order of the Whil= ls, he studied. How to commune with him, I will teach you.”

“I will be able to talk with him?”

“How to join the Force, he will train you. Y= our consciousness you will retain, when one with the Force you become. Even your physical self, perhaps.”

For the first time in ages Obi-Wan smiled broadly,= as he settled back on his chair, waiting for Yoda’s first lesson, his exhaustion forgotten.

§§§§§

Obi-Wan looked around himself, pleased with the results of his handwork.

When he had discovered it, the hovel was in a terr= ible condition. Abandoned for years, it had been left at the mercy of the weather and the sand storms, but now Obi-Wan had breathed new life into it.

He had repaired the door and t= he roof, cleaned the floor, repainted the walls and bought some furniture to m= ake it habitable.

It was just a small and humble place set in the Jungland Wastes, but it was perfect for him. It was within walking distance from the Lars homestead and the settlement of Anchorhead, = but isolated enough to ensure he would be left alone.

Smiling to himself, Obi-Wan walked outside to check that the vaporator he had traded with his eopie was working well, then returned inside and knelt down near his sleep cot.<= /o:p>

He closed his and relaxed. He = had not been in deep meditation since he had left for Utapau… how many da= ys before? He could not even remember, so off-centred he was.

It was now the time to open himself to the Force and meditate on what had happened, no matter how diffi= cult it would be.

So far Obi-Wan had kept his pa= in, his grief, his sense of guilt bottled inside. He had released his emotions = only when they threatened to engulf him—but he had not let go of them.

Now…now it was the momen= t to try doing it, because only when he would find his peace again would he be a= ble to commune with Qui-Gon.

There is no try, Master. To do or not to do, remember?

Obi-Wan gritted his teeth and squeezed his eyelids, as he cursed himself.

He was hearing Anakin’s voice again. As he had on the Tanti= ve IV and during his journey to Tatooine.

He truly needed to meditate, because these hallucinations were beginning to worry him.=

You aren’t hallucinating, Master. I am really talking to you. Reach out w= ith your senses, and you will discover I am very close to you.

Obi-Wan was now sure he had he= ard a voice. Anakin was talking to him from the netherworld of the Force, as Qu= i-Gon had done with Yoda.

He stretched his perceptions a= nd gasped in surprise. It felt like… Anakin was very near.

Because I am. I am kneeling in front of you. Open your eyes, Master,= and you will see me.

Obi-Wan opened his eyes and st= ared in amazement. Anakin was indeed kneeling in front of him. His image was translucent, glowing and bluish around the edges, similar to a hologram projection. His body was whole again and he looked exactly how he had the day Obi-Wan had left for Utapau, the o= nly difference being his right hand, which was flesh again.

“Anakin,” <= /span>Obi-Wan murmured stunned, raising a trembling hand= to touch a bluish shoulder. His fingers met only air and he retracted his arm sharply.

“How are you Anakin?R= 21; he then inquired, not the most brilliant of questions, but what do you ask a ghost?

“I am well, Master. The Force has given me the gift of retaining my consciousness after my death,&#= 8221; Anakin smiled gently.

“Like Qui-Gon?”

“Yes. I have met him her= e, along with other Jedi. But he cannot appear to you as I do. He can only tal= k to you.”

“Because he is not the Chosen One?” Obi-Wan asked, as a part of his mind wondered at how normal his voice sounded. It was l= ike he was used to have conversations with dead people…

“No. Because he is not powerful enough in the Unifying Force. Also, his training in the Ways of the Whills was not completed when he died. He is sure you and Master Yoda will = be able to appear like me when your time comes.”

Obi-Wan nodded. It made sense. “I would like that. It would allow me to keep on training and help Lu= ke even after my death.”

Anakin smiled. “ThatR= 17;s it, Master. But I hope that moment will come as late as possible.”

“You don’t want me there?” Obi-Wan tried to joke, although it sounded lame in his ears. “Are you enjoying your freedom?”

Anakin turned totally serious. “I am enjoying my freedom, Master, but not from you. From greed. From ambition. From need. From my constant desire of having more. From most of t= he things that prevented me from becoming a good Jedi and led to my downfall.”

“Anakin…” Obi-Wan uttered, reaching out again to touch the translucent shoulder. “I-I…”

“Shhh, Master. I know you want to talk—and I know we must talk. But not now. You must meditate,= and start unburdening your soul. Only then you will be able to commune with Qui= -Gon and start your training.”

Obi-Wan nodded, “You are right.”

“Nice to hear you say so, Master. I will go away now and leave you to your meditation.” Anakin smiled and started fading away.

“When you will be back?” Obi-Wan hurried to ask.

“When the time is right.” And speaking so Anakin vanished, leaving him alone.

Obi-Wan took a deep breath and released it slowly as he tried to cope with what had just happened. He had never expected it.

Anakin had returned from the n= etherworld of the Force. They had seen each other. They had talked. The Force had gran= ted them the chance to make amends for past mistakes, and Obi-Wan was resolute = to do that. He needed to know where he had failed with Anakin in order to not commit the same mistakes with Luke.

Nodding to himself, Obi-Wan cl= osed his eyes and began his meditation.

§§§§§

Anakin did not appear in the following weeks, but Obi-Wan did not worry about it. Anakin had said he wou= ld be there when the time was right for them to talk, and he was aware that ti= me had not yet come.

Obi-Wan’s emotions about what had happened to the Jedi and the role Anakin had played in it were sti= ll too confused, and he suspected they would be for a long time.

In the meantime the Jedi master dedicated himself to other tasks, as he tried to get settled in his new lif= e.

Tatooine was harsh, unforgivin= g, a difficult place to live. During the days the heat was scorching, while the nights were chilly. The water his vaporator produced was murky and tasted of dirt, and the sand infiltrated everywhere.

Bail Organa had given him enou= gh credits to live comfortably for at least twenty years, but Obi-Wan did not = want to risk being noticed by the Hutts or some other criminals.

Going around with a fat pocket= was the best away to attract unwanted attention, especially because nobody in h= is right mind and with all that money would chose to live on Tatooine unless forced to do so for other reasons.

So Obi-Wan had decided to save= his credits as much as possible, and give the impression he was living on the planet because he could not afford anything better.

He did not need much, thus it = was easy to save money. He was a Jedi, used not to having many possessions, and= his travels across the galaxy had made him able to eat everything—well, excluding the bugs he had seen Anakin eat during the wars.

He made his trips to Anchorhead as scarce as possi= ble, and gave his name as Ben. When his surname was asked for-- which was not ve= ry often because on Tatooine people learned soon to mind their own business-- = he gave his true one, because Kenob= i was a common name in many areas of the Republic… of the Empire.

He became soon aware that most of the people he co= me in contact with considered him crazy, because only a mad man would try to l= ive in the Jungland Wastes, where the Sand People would likely kill him in a few months at most.

Obi-Wan just smiled when he heard those comme= nts. He had repelled the Tuskens enough times that the tribes had started avoiding the area where his hovel was located.

Once he had taken care of his most material needs,= Obi-Wan dedicated to appease his more spiritu= al ones.

He spent several hours every d= ay in deep meditation, opening himself completely to the Force, letting it act= as a balm on his weary soul—but the first time he had attempted it, he h= ad almost recoiled from how strong the dark side had become.=

Obi-Wan had seen the holonet a= nd knew that without the Jedi there was no one left able to stop the advance of the Empire. Oh, he was aware Bail Organa and other leaders faithful to the Republic planned to organize a rebel alliance against Palpatine, but they c= ould do nothing against a Sith Lord.

Even without having an apprent= ice to help him, Palpatine had lost no time in establishing a tyrannical rule. = Those few planets that had openly rebelled against the creation of the Empire had been crushed by the Imperial army. The beautiful Kashyyyk had been one of t= he first to fall, and its inhabitants had been killed or enslaved.<= /span>

Fear, violence, greed, and sus= picion were spreading like wildfire across the Galaxy, feeding the dark side and making hard for Obi-Wan to find the light he craved. However he was stubbor= n, and after spending a day fighting against the darkness that threatened to engulf him, offering a false reprieve for all his pains, he finally found a sparkle of light.

Obi-Wan opened fully to it, and let the light side of the Force wash over him and soothe his soul—at least as much as it was possible for the moment.

Letting go was still impossible for him. How could he let go of the fact that his best friend, the man he h= ad trained since he was a child had betrayed everything Obi-Wan had believed in and became the very thing he had sworn to destroy? How could he let go of t= he fact that, as consequence of this event, the galaxy Obi-Wan had served for = his whole life was now in the hands of a Sith Lord? And more importantly, how c= ould he let go of the awareness that, ultimately, he was the one responsible for= all of this?

That’s not true, Obi-Wan, and you know it.

Qui-Gon’s voice echoed in his ears and Obi-Wan opened his eyes, searching for his old master’s form, before he remembered what Anakin had told him about Qui-Gon’s impossibility to appear.

“Master?” Obi-Wan called softly, his eyes darting here and there in his hovel, as his senses stretched to search the never forgotten Force signature of the man he had l= oved as a father.

I am here, Obi-Wan, the incorporeal voice answered.

“I am happy to be able to talk with you again, Master. I missed you.”

I missed you too, although I have watched over you all these years.<= o:p>

“Then you know how badly= I failed you,” Obi-Wan lowered his head.

Failed me? How?

“With Anakin. You truste= d me with his training, but I was not a good master for him.”

That= ’s not true, Obi-Wan. You were a wonderful teacher, and you are a great Jedi Master. What happened with Anakin is not = your fault—or at least is not only your fault. We all have our fair share = of blame, Qui-Gon said, his voice filled with sadness.

“We?”

Yes. Me, Anakin, you, the Council and, of course, Palpatine.

Obi-Wan sat straighter. He was surprised to hear Qui-Gon admit he was responsible for something going wron= g. He had always loved his master dearly, but he had learned along the years t= hat Qui-Gon could be very stubborn and set in his ways when he decided something was right. He often held on to his convictions even when proved wrong.=

“How were you responsible?”

I committed several mistakes, the first of which was to claim Anakin= was the Chosen One in front of him. That news should have stayed a secret for t= he boy, because it was that knowledge—and the use Palpatine made of it – that led Anakin to be arrogant. My second mistake was to try forcing the Council to accept Anakin as a trainee while they were all concerned abo= ut other matters. I should have waited for a more appropriate time or handled things differently. Instead I tried to force their hand with the result tha= t Anakin ended up listening to their rejection and their opinion he was dangerous. T= his was one of the reasons he never really trusted the Council. My behaviour th= at day caused you pain and gave Anakin the impression I didn’t trust or respect the Council. And then came my greatest mistake-

“You mean trusting me wi= th Anakin’s training?” Obi-Wan asked, his voice full of bitter iro= ny.

Yes, but not for the reason you believe, Qui-Gon explained. As I said before you were a great master, but the point is I had no right to make you promise to train Anakin.

“You were dying, Qui-Gon. You did what you thought right.”

For Anakin, yes, but not for you, Obi-Wan. I forced you. I obliged y= ou to take a padawan you didn’t choose. You know as well as me that the Force leads a master to his or her padawan and vice versa. I, instead, took= the decision in my hands and demanded from you a promise I had no right to ask, because it involved your life, not mine. For this, I humbly beg your forgiveness, Master Kenobi.

Obi-Wan was taken aback by Qui-Gon’s last words. He had not expected it. He had sensed from the = tone of the incorporeal voice, that had Qui-Gon still had a body, he would now be kneeling in front of him, waiting for his forgiveness.

Obi-Wan swallowed hard and rea= ched out with his hands, imagining to pose them on Qui-Gon’s bowed head.

“You are forgiven, Master Jinn…Qui-Gon…my friend.”

When Qui-Gon spoke again, here= was a hint of a smile in his voice. Goo= d. Now that this is settled, I suggest we begin with your first lesson. The way of= the Order Of The Whills is long and difficult, even for a great Jedi master like you. A pause, then Qui-Gon added, softly, Have I ever told you how very proud I am of you, Obi-Wan?<= /o:p>

“You did now, Master,= 221; Obi-Wan answered with a smile. “Now let’s start this lesson…”

§§§§§

Time passed, and Anakin did not return.

Under Qui-Gon’s tutelage, Obi-Wan took his first steps to learn the Way of The Whills. He progressed well, although hampered by his constant worry for Anakin.=

Qui-Gon suggested Obi-Wan had = to meditate more about the causes of his worry, and meditate he did. It was du= ring these moments of self analysis and deep communion with the Force that Obi-W= an came to see he had not failed Anakin as he had first thought.

Yes, he still had his part of responsibility for what had happened, but the really guilty party was Anaki= n. This realization caused him to feel anger. Toward Anakin. Toward Palpatine.=

Up to that time, Obi-Wan had f= elt guilty because he had caused Anakin’s death—and it was a miracle the weight of his grief had not destroyed him. However, he now saw the larg= er picture.

He had fought his friend becau= se said friend had become a Sith and destroyed the Jedi. Because he had seen h= im kill younglings and attempt to murder his own wife.

Obi-Wan had gone to Mustafar harbouring the hope he could bring Anakin back to light, but the young man’s reaction had killed that hope. And even if, in the end, Anakin = had returned to the light, it did not erase from Obi-Wan’s memory and hea= rt what he had done during his time as Vader.

He had murdered the Jedi, betr= ayed the Republic, become a Sith, destroyed the only home Obi-Wan had ever know—and for what?

“Why Anakin?” Obi-= Wan asked aloud one day, his words echoing in his empty hovel, his voice loaded with a mixture of anger and a desperate need to understand.

He was not expecting an answer= and thus he was almost shocked when Anakin appeared in front of him.=

“I did it out of love,” the Force ghost replied, as he sat down near Obi-Wan. “O= r at least I thought it was love. In reality, it was only a twisted version of i= t. You would call it morbid attachment or obsession, and you would be right.”= ;

Obi-Wan did not let himself be moved by the pain he heard in Anakin’s voice. He narrowed his eyes and questioned, “You did it for love? For Padmé, the woman you tried to choke and who then di= ed because you broke her heart?= 221;

Anakin turned his head away, unable to sustain Obi-Wan’s gaze. “No… I now realize I di= d it for myself. Padmé… Padmé would have never wanted me to = do it.”

Obi-Wan felt part of his anger dissipate. He was not the kind of man that held grudges. Life, experience, = his training as a Jedi and his disposition had taught him it was useless and dangerous, especially when there was no way to turn back the time.

“What happened, Anakin?” he asked more gently after a while, when it was clear Anakin would not speak without a prompting.

Anakin returned to face him, h= is gaze filled with pain. “I was scared, Master. Terrified. I had been having visions of Padmé dying in childbirth. I-I thought I could not live without her. So I searched for a way to save her and…Palpatine offered me one.” Anakin looked at Obi-Wan, as if to gauge his reactio= n, but the Jedi master kept his face impassable, although he was everything but that in his heart. “He told me I could save her if I got powerful in = the dark side, that I would be able to prevent her from dying.”

“And you believed him.”

“Yes, I did. I believed = him and like an idiot I fell for his lies. I murdered the Jedi, betrayed everything= I believed in and everyone I loved…and for what? For nothing!” An= akin almost screamed as tears streaked down his ethereal cheeks. “Padm&eac= ute; died in childbirth, exactly like in my vision, because I broke her heart. She is here in the Force, but she doesn̵= 7;t want to even come near me. Nobody here wants to. There are thousands of Jedi that for one reason or the other have retained their consciousness, and non= e of them want to have anything to do with me. The only exception is Qui-Gon, an= d I think he does it out of pity, not because he really wants to be near me.= 221; Anakin swallowed hard, trying to calm down, but when he talked again, his v= oice was shaky. ”I did what I did because I was afraid to lose what I loved and I ended up losing it because of my own actions.” He smiled bitter= ly, “Is it not a fitting punishment, Master?”

And speaking so, Anakin disappeared, leaving Obi-Wan alone with his conflicting emotions and though= ts.

&sec= t;§§§§

A few days elapsed before Anakin returned to visit= Obi-Wan. The Jedi master knew their talk was = far from over, but he did not try to commune with Anakin as he did with Qui-Gon= .

He thought Anakin needed time = to think-- Obi-Wan certainly did. He spent hours pondering what Anakin had sai= d to him.

Obi-Wan had not been surprised when Anakin had admitted his love for Padmé. He had known their feel= ings were stronger than friendship, but he had turned a blind eye on them. The w= ar was raging, and Obi-Wan had thought Padmé had a positive influence on Anakin. She helped him to relax, to forget the brutality of the battlefront= s, to stay calm and focused.

He had not predicted that Anakin’s feelings would turn into an obsession, that the vision of Padmé’s death would cause the young man to completely lose his perspective.

Had not Obi-Wan told Anakin ma= ny a time that the future was always in motion? Had not he advised to be careful when he saw the future?

And why, if he was really so scared, had not Anakin asked help from Obi-Wan? Why had he turned to Palpat= ine?

Was not Obi-Wan his friend too= ?

Why had Anakin not trusted him= ?

These were the questions that tormented Obi-Wan as he waited for Anakin’s return. Life on Tatooine = was slow and simple, especially if compared to his hectic schedule during the w= ars, leaving him plenty of time to think.

Obi-Wan commented on Anakin’s words with Qui-Gon, but his old master had not been able to = give him any answers to his questions. He just told Obi-Wan that he would have to ask Anakin.

So the day the Force ghost fin= ally reappeared, Obi-Wan did not lose time in asking the questions that had been eating him alive in the previous days.

“Why did you not trust m= e, Anakin?” inquired Obi-Wan as he sat down on his sleep couch, arms cro= ssed on his chest.

Anakin’s did not answer immediately, but walked around the room, until he sat on a low stool. He le= ant forward, elbows resting on his tights, hand loosely joined together.

“I don’t really kn= ow, Obi-Wan.”

“You don’t know?” Obi-Wan shook his head, unbelieving. “You don’t kn= ow why you went looking for help from Palpatine because of your vision, instea= d of coming to me? I thought we were friends.”

“We were!!” Anakin exclaimed.

“I don’t think so.= How could we be friends if you didn’t trust me? I trusted you, Anakin. Wh= y didn’t you trust me?”

“But I did, Obi-Wan! I trusted you in battle. You know it.”

“Yes, that’s right= , we trusted each other on the battlefield,” Obi-Wan nodded. “We tru= sted the other with each other’s life-- but apparently, not with what was = in our minds and hearts.”

Anakin ran a hand through his hair. “You are right, Master. I trusted you in certain things… = but not in others. When it came to certain matters, I trusted Palpatine more.”

“What matters?” Obi-Wan pressed.

“My feelings. My emotion= s. My… attachment to my mother and Padmé.” Anakin sighed and looked earnestly at Obi-Wan. “You know, Master, I have had some thoug= hts on this on my own, and I would like to explain them to you. Will you listen= to me?”

“Of course I will,” Obi-Wan answered, leaning forward, his eyes never leaving Anakin’s.

“I think everything star= ted when I was still a child, after our arrival to Coruscant after the events of Naboo, when I started my training. As you know I had troubles getting settled in to= the Temple because of my different upbringing.”

Obi-Wan nodded. He remembered those days well, and how out-of-place Anakin had been.

“I had no friends back t= hen and I acutely missed my mother. I missed her and the love and affection she= had always bestowed on me.” Anakin swallowed hard, staring at his former master. “I looked to you to get that affection, Master—but you = would not give it to me.”

Obi-Wan felt blood leave his cheeks. “Padawan…I...” he uttered, his voice weak.

“No, Master, you donR= 17;t have to apologize. Along the years I have understood why you could not beha= ve with me as my mother did. I have understood that it was not because you were uncaring, but because your upbringing had been so different from mine. You = had no idea of what I needed because you never knew your mother’s love.”

“But I loved you Anakin… I still do.”

“I know, Master,” Anakin smiled, “and I love you too. But back then I needed you to demonstrate it to me in ways you probably would never consider appropriate = for a Jedi.”

Obi-Wan frowned, trying to understand what Anakin meant. His heart constricted at the idea he had not = been able to give to his Padawan what he had evidently needed so badly.

The Jedi master lowered his he= ad as he murmured, “I failed you, Anakin. I am deeply sorry.”=

Anakin shook his head. “= Yes, you failed me, but is not your fault. Qui-Gon has told me he never was the = most affectionate of masters. He told me he seldom praised or smiled at you when= you were a boy. How could have you behaved differently with me if this was everything you knew?”

“I should have,” Obi-Wan furrowed his brow wishing, not for the first time, he could turn ba= ck time and do things in a different way.

Anakin sighed. “You are always the same, Master. Give you an inch and you will find a way to take on yourself all the blame.”

“Of course I blame mysel= f. Who else should I blame?” Obi-Wan replied, sarcastic.

“Qui-Gon had his share of guilt, if it is so important to assign blame to someone. And so had the Cou= ncil.” Anakin smiled sadly. “I can now see I was too old to be trained. My former life had filled me with needs the Jedi could not fulfil, because they could not understand them. Qui-Gon was wrong to insist I be trained and to = make you promise to do so—and the Council was wrong to allow it. I was powerful, yes, but already too set in my ways to become a Jedi. I should ha= ve never been trained.”

“No!” Obi-Wan shook his head. “It was right to train you, but it was wrong to trust me wi= th the task. I thought I could train you as well as Yoda and Qui-Gon did with = me, but I was wrong. I failed to see your needs and I failed to instil in you t= he Jedi’s way regarding attachments.”

“No,” Anakin repli= ed adamant, “it’s not you fault. It’s mine. I refused to lis= ten and to let go as you told me, and Palpatine supported my actions. He gave me the affection I craved and encouraged me to hold on to my love for my mothe= r and Padmé. He told me he saw nothing wrong in breaking the rules a little bit, and I believed him. He was a wise man, the respected leader of the Republic, and I thought it was all right to follow his advice. How could I imagine he had other motives. I was only a child.”<= /p>

“And so Palpatine started corrupting you from the start…” right under my nose, he thought but did not say.

Anakin nodded. “Yes. He undermined the Jedi’s teaching, and since I trusted him I never thoug= ht it was such a bad thing.”

Obi-Wan rubbed his beard. R= 20;I see,” he murmured, continuing to stroke his chin. He really did. Palpatine had always showed interesting Anakin’s “well-being”. The man used to say he was looking after the boy’s progresses because Queen Amidala had asked him to do so, and the Council had decided there was no problem with it. Until the last phase of t= he wars no one had a reason to suspect there was something amiss with Palpatin= e, thus the Jedi had not seen any reason to prevent him from visiting Anakin n= ow and then.

Thus they had given to a Sith = the free access to the Chosen One, and the man had used it well, fulfilling the needs the Jedi could not fill. Obi-Wan wondered briefly if Qui-Gon would ha= ve been able to give Anakin what he needed, but given the way he had raised Obi-Wan, he was not sure he would have behaved differently.

Silence reigned on the room fo= r a while, then Obi-Wan returned to his original question.

“So this is why you didn’t come to me when you had the vision about Padmé? Because= you didn’t trust me enough?”

Anakin seemed to take a deep breath. “There are other reasons… I was afraid you would have a= sked questions I could not or did not want to answer—and that you would re= port me to the Council.”

“What questions?” Obi-Wan arched an eyebrow.

“About my relationship w= ith Padmé… and about the visions I had in the past about my mother.”

Obi-Wan smiled bitterly. ̶= 0;I knew you and Padmé were much more than friends, but I kept it to mys= elf. I even covered for you a couples of times with Master Windu. Or did you thi= nk I was totally blind and deaf?”

“No, Master. I knew you suspected something, but even so I was sure you would be shocked if you knew Padmé and I were married.”

“What!?!” Obi-Wan almost sputtered.

Anakin looked at him, sadly. “We married just after Geonosis.”

“Geonosis? But you were still a padawan back then! It means- it means that when you took your vows = as a knight, you were already breaking them!” Obi-Wan was outraged. He sto= od up and started pacing, running a hand in his hair. “How could you do = it, Anakin?”

“I was wrong, I now know= it. But I loved Padmé and I thought I could have both her and the Jedi.”

Obi-Wan did not reply. What el= se there was to say? He returned to sit on his bed, rubbing his beard. “= What about your mother?”

“Do you remember that I dreamt of her before Geonosis?”

“Yes, I remember it, but= you never told me what those dreams were about.”

“I saw her die, Master. That’s why I was on Tatooine when you asked help from Geonosis.”= ;

Obi-Wan could feel Anakin was hiding something, but he could not allow it. Not now when everything else w= as laid in the open.

“What exactly happened there? I am aware your mother died, but nothing more. I had wanted to ask y= ou, but the outbreak of the war pushed it out of my mind.”

“When Padmé and I arrived at the Lars homestead, I was informed that my mother had been kidna= pped by the Tusken raiders. I tracked them down and found her. She had been beat= en and tortured, and she died in my arms. So I…” Anakin’s vo= ice died, and he lowered his eyes, unable to hold Obi-Wan’s gaze.

The Jedi master felt a shiver = run along his spine. He had a bad feeling about this. Suddenly, he did not want= to hear it any more. But he had to.

“What did you Anakin?= 221; he asked in a firm, yet gentle voice.

“I killed them. All of t= hem: men, women and children. I left no one alive,” Anakin answered, his t= one dull and emotionless.

Obi-Wan took a harsh breath and closed his eyes. This was even worse then he had imagined. Not only had Ana= kin touched the dark side while he was still his padawan, but Obi-Wan had been oblivious to it. Some Jedi master he was! How could have he missed it? It w= as all his fault… "I should have let them shoot me..." he said.

&= quot;What?"

"No. That was already too late—it was already too late at Geonosis. The Zabrak, on Naboo—I should have died there, in Qui-Gon’s place —"

“Stop this, Obi-Wan!” Anakin all but screamed, using his name for the first time since Mustafar. “It’s not your fault, it’s mine! I did listen to what you taught me. I knew I was doing s= omething terribly wrong when I raised my ‘sabre with hate and anger against the Tuskens. I could hear your voice, your teachings as I struck them down, but= I ignored them. My fury overwhelmed me and I relished in its power. Afterward…,” Anakin continued more quietly, “I felt asham= ed of my actions. I was terrified you would discover what I had done, thus I t= ried badly to make amends. I tried to be a better padawan, to listen more to your advice, to be calmer, less impulsive, to meditate more. I wanted you to be proud of me, not repulsed. And after a while I thought I had become the Jedi you wanted me to be. I-I was so happy the day you told me I was wise and strong, and that you were proud of me—but deep inside I knew how hurt= you would be if you knew what I had done. If you knew about the Tuskens and Padmé, and how I had killed Dooku in cold blood when he was already harmless…” Anakin fell on his knees in front of Obi-Wan. “Will you ever be able to forgive me, Master? I know I have no right = to ask you this, but, of all the people I loved, you are the only who remains = and I don’t want to lose you too…”

Obi-Wan watched as Anakin prostrated in front of him and the heart he had thought already broken beyo= nd repair seemed to shatter again.

A part of him wanted to shout = to Anakin that he should have not done what he did if their friendship really meant so much to him. However, Obi-Wan was a Jedi and was all too aware of = the part he had played – knowingly or not – in Anakin’s fall.=

He loved Anakin. He had loved = him even when they had tried to kill each other, and he would always love him. Anakin had returned to the light before dying and had now found the resolve to con= fess all his crimes to him. There was no way Obi-Wan could not bestow on him the forgiveness he sought and needed.

So Obi-Wan knelt too and reach= ed out with his hand, letting it hover over Anakin’s shoulder.

“I hope you will forgive= me too.”

Anakin raised his startled eyes and Obi-Wan added softly, “I ask your forgiveness for not giving you = what you needed as a child and, of course, for causing your death on Mustafar. Y= ou must know fighting you was the hardest thing I had to do in my life.”=

“You didn’t cause = my death on Mustafar. You killed Darth Vader and freed me from the trap I put myself into. You have nothing to ask my forgiveness for—but you have = it if you need it. I forgive you, my Master. My friend.”

“I forgive you my Padawa= n, my friend,” Obi-Wan said softly, with all the sincerity he could inst= il in his voice and the Force and his heart, his poor battered heart, leapt wi= th gentle joy when he saw Anakin smile.

No more words were exchanged afterward. The two friends kept on kneeling in front of each other, until Obi-Wan closed his eyes and sank into deep meditation.

He opened himself to the Force= and felt a sense of peace he had not sensed since before the beginning of the w= ars. Obi-Wan let himself float in the Force currents, distractedly yet acutely a= ware of Anakin’s presence near him.

And then, finally, he opened himself fully and let go of his pain, his anguish, his guilt.

When he resurfaced to his consciousness, hours later, Obi-Wan felt like a new man.<= /p>

Young and free, ready once aga= in to do his duty to the galaxy = at the best of his capacity.

§§§§§

That night Obi-Wan slept better than he had in years. When he woke up he felt well rested and more hopeful toward the future. =

He now knew the mistakes he had committed with Anakin and was adamant not to repeat them with Luke when the time to train him would come.

Luke. Obi-Wan smiled as he thought of the child, and he decided to take a trip to the Lars homestead h= im.

It took Obi-Wan two hours to r= each the moisture farm, but he was lucky because Owen was not home and Beru felt free to invite the Jedi inside the house.

When Obi-Wan had contacted Owen Lars to inform him of Anakin’s and Padmé’s death and of = the need to find a home for their son, the young man had first refused to take = care of Luke. It turned out that he was fearful of the Jedi and that the newborn= had inherited his father’s powers, and he did not want to have anything t= o do with them.

Luckily, Beru Lars had been ab= le to change her husband’s mind—up to a certain point. He made cle= ar to Obi-Wan what he would not allow the Jedi to have contacts with the child= .

Obi-Wan had accepted the man’s terms, confident that when the time was right, the Force would bring Luke to him. He had agreed to check the child from afar, so it had be= en a pleasurable surprise when, one day, Beru had spotted him looking at her and Luke from the border of their property and had approached him.

She had offered to Obi-Wan to = hold Luke and when he had asked, “Why?” she had simply smiled and commented he too had the right to stay near the child since he obviously lo= ved him so much.

So that morning Obi-Wan could spend a couple of hours with Luke, and he filled them telling the child and Beru some of the pranks Anakin had pulled as a boy.

He stayed at the farm, basking= in Luke’s strong Force signature until he sensed Owen’s presence c= ome closer.

Not wanting to cause troubles = to Beru, Obi-Wan thanked her and took his leave. He set a good pace for his tr= ip home, but he soon slowed down, when he felt he was not alone.

“Anakin?” he calle= d to the empty air.

“I am here, Master,̶= 1; came the answer as Anakin appeared at his side.

“Good afternoon,” Obi-Wan greeted him with smile.

“Good afternoon to you, Master. You look well today.”

“I feel well. Yesterday&= #8217;s talk helped me a lot.”

“Me too,” Anakin replied with a smile.

“Good.”

They walked in silence for a while, then Anakin as= ked, “How is Luke?”

Obi-Wan smiled, and it reached= his eyes, making him look younger than his thirty-nine years. “He is well= . He is growing up fast, and well-cared for. He looks a lot like you.”

“Let’s hope he inherited only my looks and not my faults too,” Anakin murmured.=

Obi-Wan did not reply, but he reached out with his hand, and tried to squeeze Anakin’s forearm in support. He met only air, but his friend flashed him a grateful smile.=

“You know, Master, I don’t understand why you didn’t decide to keep Luke with you. W= hy are you leaving him with the Lars, to be raised as a normal child, instead = of bringing him up as a Jedi?”

“It’s a good quest= ion. The main reason is that I didn’t want to put him in danger. I am a searched-for man, Anakin. I have no doubt there is money over my head and keeping Luke with me would be too risky. Also,” Obi-Wan took a deep breath, “also Master Yoda believes that one of the causes of the Jedi’s downfall, was that we were not able to adapt to the new times = as the Sith did. So we decided to have Luke raised in a different way. When the time will come – and it will – the Force will bring Luke to me,= and I will train him to be a Jedi.

Anakin nodded. “Do you t= hink he will be strong enough to kill Palpatine?”

Obi-Wan stopped and looked at = his friend with earnest eyes, “He is our only hope, Anakin. I have to believe he will be.”=

Anakin stared seriously at Obi= -Wan and raised a hand, letting hover over the Jedi’s shoulder. “I am sure you will train him well, Master—and I can feel he will not let y= ou down as I did.”

Silence fell on the two friend= s, as Obi-Wan continued his trip home, but it was not a heavy one.<= /span>

They had both spoken the truth= and they were now strong enough to accept it.

§§§§§

Time passed and Obi-Wan adjusted reasonably well to the harsh life on Tatooine. The heat did not way wear him down as much as it used to.

His days were filled with task= s that kept his body honed, his mind sharp and his soul at peace.

He trained daily under Qui-Gon’s guidance, slowly but surely progressing his mastering of the Way of the Whills.

He executed katas every sunrise and sunset, aware it was important to keep his body in good shape, not only= to be able to protect Luke should the need arise, but also because he had the feeling his exile would be very long. He could not allow himself to get slo= w, or lazy.

He tended to his place and the small kitchen garden he managed to grow thanks to some judicious use of the Force, and went in town only when absolutely necessary to buy supplies.

He took weekly trips to the La= rs homestead, sometimes alone, sometime with Anakin, and he spent hours watchi= ng the boy grow up, rejoicing as a proud father when he saw Luke walk for the first time or utter his first words.

Anakin came to visit him almost every day and they spent a lot of time talking or simply basking in each other’s presence, meditating together. Free from the misunderstandings and the deceptions of the past, their friendship strengthened and deepened.=

They sometimes listened togeth= er to the holonews, both of them equally haunted by the news of the atrocities= the Empire committed in order to bring “peace” in the galaxy.<= /o:p>

The two men, one flesh and blo= od, the other pure spirit and emotions, listened, mourned and drew strength from each other and the hope they both harboured in Luke.

And then one evening something happened to bring Obi-Wan and Anakin even closer—as close as either of them had ever imagined becoming.

---

Obi-Wan had felt uncharacteris= tically restless for the whole day, so much so that he had found it difficult to sit still during his meditation with Qui-Gon.

His old master had noticed it,= but Obi-Wan had brushed away his concerns, thinking he would deal with his rest= less by working out for a longer time when the heat decreased.=

As soon as the sunset began, Obi-Wan had gone into the almost circular clearing he had found between the rocks, the only place he felt was safe enough to use his lightsabre, without risking being seen. He had switched on the training droid he had brought wi= th him and started his training session.

However, at the end of the long workout, the only thing he had obtained were sore arms.
The restlessness had not disappeared and it was while eating his dinner that Obi-Wan realized –= ; or finally decided to admit it to himself—the cause of it.

More than three years had elap= sed since he had found sexual release at the Temple of Xaiar uhr’ Ar. Now his body was making him aware that he had other, not so spiritual needs that he needed to appease.

Obi-Wan sighed and knelt on the floor, resolute to purge such feelings and needs, as he had done for most of his adult life.

He closed his eyes and opened himself to the Living Force, but he soon realized it was not a good idea. It was spring on Tatooine, and the wild life mating season was reaching its pe= ak. He could sense banthas, kryat dragons and other animals mate all around him. The lust of the males, the instinct to procreate of the females—and it did everything but quell Obi-Wan’s needs.

He stood up and started pacing= . He knew himself well enough to be aware this was not one of those occasions he could care for with some manual stimulation. He needed more. A partner, a woman. Where he could find her? Going to Anchorhead and paying a prostitute= was out of question. He had never condoned that sordid commerce of flesh, and he would not start now. But where did it leave him?

“I can try to help you, Master,” a familiar voice said softly, startling him.

Obi-Wan had been so taken by h= is problem he had not even sensed Anakin’s arrival. He smiled weakly to = his friend, who was now sitting on his bed, before his mouth opened in stunned surprise when he thought back to Anakin’s words.

He had not said, “Can I = try to help you?”. He had said, “I can try to help you.” Affirmation, not a question.

Obi-Wan stared speechless at A= nakin as his friend murmured, “I can sense your frustration, Master. I know what is bothering you and I think I can help you to find the release you crave.”

Obi-Wan blushed to the root of= his hair. “You…you are suggesting that I…you…We...̶= 1; he all but croaked.

Anakin looked away, clearly embarrassed, before he returned to face him. “Yes,” was his qui= et, firm answer.

“But you… you like women, Anakin… and so do I…” Obi-Wan almost stammered, not even considering how ridiculous it was that this was his major concern, when instead he should wonder about what Anakin was planning since one was of th= em was alive and the other dead.

“I know. But I love you, Master. Obi-Wan. You are my best friend and the centre of my world. I wish = to help you, and given my actual existence as a pure spirit… I don’= ;t think my sex or yours matters that much…”

“I don’t want you = to feel like you are obliged to do it,” Obi-Wan replied. “Will you…will you enjoy this—whatever it is what you plan to try?= 221;

Anakin’s eyes shone, as = he stood up and moved closer to him. “I don’t want to do this out = of obligation. I want to do it for you, but also for me. Please, let me show y= ou my love for you…”

Obi-Wan listened in silence, as his shock disappeared. What Anakin had said made a lot of sense.

He loved his friend and cheris= hed him and his company. He trusted Anakin with his mind, his heart and his sou= l. Would it be so strange to trust him with his body too?

Making up his mind, Obi-Wan to= ok a deep, steadying breath and nodded. “What- what do you want me to do?” he asked, pleased that his voice sounded calm.=

“I don’t want you to do anything, Obi-Wan. = But it would be probably more comfortable for you if you removed your clothes and reclined on the bed.”

Obi-Wan nodded and slowly took= off his clothes, his trembling fingers fumbling with his belt and the fastening= s of his trousers.

He then wrapped a towel around= his waist, moved to lie on his sleep couch and waited, eyes closed and arms cro= ssed over his chest.

“This will never work if= you don’t relax,” Anakin scolded him gently, his voice sounding very close.

Obi-Wan opened his eyes and discovered his friend was now sitting on the edge of the mattress. He could= see Anakin looked as nervous as Obi-Wan felt—but there was also eagerness= .

Somehow it made Obi-Wan relax,= and he smiled, uncrossing his arms and lowering them at his sides.

Anakin smiled back and then gently, almost hesitatingly he raised a hand and posed it on Obi-Wan’s bare shoulder.

The translucent fingers passed= through Obi-Wan’s body, making his skin a= nd flesh tingle warmly, a strange but pleasurable sensation.=

“Did you feel something?” Anakin whispered, looking anxiously at him as he retracted his hand.

“Yes. It was nice.”= ;

“Do you want me to continue?”

“Yes, please.”

Anakin smiled and put both his hands over Obi-Wan’s chest, caressing him and filling his being with = that pleasurable tingling.

Obi-Wan writhed slightly as the hand moved down his body and his movements loosened his towel. The sensatio= ns Anakin’s touch was causing spread along his nerves, to his spine, to = his lower belly and finally his manhood.

Obi-Wan moaned, in pleasure but also in embarrassment, as he felt his sex stir and harden.

“Shhh…” Anak= in murmured. “Don’t fight it, let it happen. Enjoy the feeling.= 221;

Obi-Wan closed his eyes and let himself be lulled by that soft, persuasive voice, and gave himself to the moment. He threw away the towel, fully baring himself to Anakin’s eye= s, and opened to the Living Force, resolute to enjoy the experience without worrying about what would happen next.

He panted softly as the sensat= ions coursed along his spine, setting his nerves and skin afire and then moaned loudly when he felt the distinct sensation of fingers tips circling his nipples, just as he liked.

Obi-Wan’s eyes snapped o= pen. How was it possible? Anakin’s hands were now posed on his temples so how…

Shhh, Anakin repeated, speaking straight into his mind and Obi-Wan understood. Anakin was inside h= im, and was stimulating the pleasure centres in his brain.

All of Obi-Wan’s desire = to know fled him when he sensed phantom hands – hands that knew exactly = where he liked to be caressed and where he enjoyed firmer touches – slide o= ver his body.

Neck, shoulders, chest, flanks, belly, legs, the hands were everywhere, making pleasure sparkle wherever th= ey touched.

Obi-Wan writhed and moaned und= er that sensual assault, as Anakin’s touches in his mind filled him with almost unbearable bliss.

He raised his arms, wanting to embrace Anakin and pull him close, but his hands met only air. He lowered t= hem back to the mattress and gripped the bed covers, as his hips started thrusting in the empty air.

“Anakin,” he pante= d, eyes squeezed shut, head thrown back and then he cried out when he felt a confident hand wrap around his member and stroke him.

“Anakin!” Obi-Wan cried again as his orgasm exploded, and in that moment of ecstasy he felt Anakin’s soul intertwine with his own, merge with his own, and, if on= ly for a few moments, it felt like they were the same being, two halves of the same person come together.

Then the sensations faded. Obi= -Wan recovered from his daze to find himself lying on his bed, his sweaty skin growing cold, his belly covered by his seed.

In any other occasion he would= rush to wash himself and to slip into some clothes, but not this time. He felt t= oo boneless and sated to even think of cleaning up.

His joining with Anakin had be= en amazing and so incredibly meaningful there were no words to describe it.

Forcing his eyes open, he look= ed up at Anakin, who was still sitting at his side, his hands now folded in his lap, his head lowered.

“How do you feel?”= he whispered.

Anakin raised his head, his fa= ce full of wonder. “That…that was incredible, Master. Obi-Wan. I’ve never felt anything like this…I didn’t even imagine something like this could exist.” He smiled broadly and added, “Wow!”

Obi-Wan smiled back, feeling as happy as…well, he could not remember the last time he had felt so hap= py. “I know what you mean, Anakin, I know….” He reached out w= ith his hand and Anakin took it between his own, the now familiar tingling spreading along Obi-Wan’s arm.

They looked deeply into each other’s eyes and Obi-Wan murmured, “I love you, Anakin.”<= o:p>

“I love you too, Master.= Now sleep, my friend. It’s getting cold and late.”

Obi-Wan nodded. He stood up, brushed his belly with his discarded towel, and slid beneath the covers, smiling when he saw Anakin lying by his side.

“Good night,” he whispered as his eyelids grew heavy.

“Good night, Obi-Wan. Re= st well.”

Obi-Wan closed his eyes and relaxed against the pillow, totally at peace with himself and what had happened.

The last thing he felt before sleep claimed him was the now familiar tingle on his cheek, where Anakin’s ethereal lips posed a gentle kiss.

PART TWO=

Tatooine, 19 years later

Obi-Wan critically studied his image in the mirror, turning his head left and right to have a better view.=

He had never been a vain man, = but he had to admit he did not like to look so much older than his real age. He= was only 57, but it looked like he was already 75.

His beard and hair were thin a= nd snow white, and his face was lined with a web of wrinkles put there by Tatooine’s unforgiving suns and the pain caused by the galaxy’s suffering.

Only his eyes seemed to be the same as he was younger: kind, gentle, lively and, hopefully, wise.

“You look very distinguished, Master,” Anakin commented from behind his back.

Obi-Wan turned to see his friend’s translucent form leaning casually against the wall, arms cro= ssed over his chest, lips bent in an ironic grin.

Obi-Wan scoffed. “Yes, v= ery distinguished indeed. I look exactly like the old hermit everybody thinks I am.”

“You forgot to add “crazy” to your description. The people believe you have some l= oose wires here,” Anakin tapped his temple.

“And pray, tell me, who = is responsible for this?” Obi-Wan replied sarcastically as he left the s= mall fresher.

“I don’t know…” Anakin answered nonchalantly as he followed him, “= even if, I suppose your talking to yourself when in town contributes a lot to sp= read the idea you are a bit crazy…”

“That would not happen if you just refrained from asking me questions or making comments when we are around other people!” Obi-Wan answered, a bit irritated.

“Don’t be so crank= y, Master, I know you like my company when in town. I keep you entertained.= 221;

Obi-Wan nodded and smiled fond= ly at his friend. “Yes, you do. Sometimes I wonder what I would have done all these years without you and Qui-Gon.”

“You would have endured, Master. You are a survivor,” Anakin moved closer and posed his hand on the Jedi’s shoulder.

Obi-Wan closed his eyes, as the tingle he always felt when Anakin touched him spread in his flesh.

He loved it. Loved the feeling= of those confident, caring hands moving over him. Loved when he and Anakin joi= ned their minds and merged their souls. Obi-Wan had never imagined he could lov= e so much or that love and its manifestations could feel so right, but he now kn= ew better. He longed for the day he too would be one with the Force, and he and Anakin would be able to stay together for eternity. And if he was not mista= ken that moment might arrive soon.

“What is it?” Anak= in asked softly in the silence that followed. “You are worried.”

“Something is going to happen. I can feel it.” Obi-Wan walked to the hovel door and opened i= t. He looked at the desert stretching around him, in the direction of the Lars homestead.

“Do you want to go to ch= eck Luke?” Anakin inquired, stepping at his side.

“No. I’ve the feel= ing he will soon come to me.” Obi-Wan looked straight at his friend. “The moment we have been waiting for has arrived.” <= /span>

Anakin considered his words, t= hen murmured, “You are ready, Master, whatever happens, you are ready. And you won’t be alone—I will be at your side. Always. Don’t = ever doubt it.”

“I don’t, my frien= d. I don’t.” Obi-Wan smiled and returned to look at the desert, open= ing himself to the Living Force.

He sensed a bright, powerful presence coming closer. He frowned. He had expected to meet Luke soon, but = he had not expected it to happen that very day.

“He is coming this way,” he said to Anakin, “and he is not alone. A group of Sandpeople is moving in the area.”

Obi-Wan sensed Anakin’s Force signature flare with fear and a glimmer of anger at the mention of the Tusken Raiders.

“Don’t worry, I am going to see that nothing happens to Luke.”

“And what if something happens to you?” Anakin muttered.

“Really Anakin, I though= t you have learned I can mind myself after all these years spent on this dust ball,” Obi-Wan smirked. Anakin was always so protective…

“Yes, I know. Forgive me. It’s just the Tuskens always make me uneasy.”=

Obi-Wan just smiled, then pull= ed up the hood of his battered robe to protect his head from the glaring suns = and walked in the direction Luke was coming from.

---

By the time Obi-Wan reached the canyon where he had sensed Luke, the Sandpeople had already attacked the yo= ung man.

Obi-Wan saw him lying in the s= and, but he sighed in relief when he sensed the boy was unconscious but not seriously harmed.

Bringing his hands to his mout= h, Obi-Wan created a small cone with them and emitted a loud howling moan, a s= ound similar to the krayt dragons’ roar. Anakin had teased him mercilessly when he had first tried to imitate the cry, but in the end Obi-Wan had laug= hed last, because that bloodcurdling roar had helped him to get rid of the Tusk= ens more than once.

This time it was not different. The Sandpeople were cowards, and they lost no time in mounting their banthas and running away.

Obi-Wan stepped down the rocky cliff and knelt near Luke, touching his bones as he looked for fractures.

“Is he all right?” Anakin asked concerned, appearing by his side.

“Yes, there is nothing broken. He will regain his senses soon.”

A soft whistle attracted their attention. They raised their eyes to see a small astromech droid that was hiding behind a nearby rock.

“Look!” Anakin exclaimed, excited. “It’s Artoo!”

“Are you sure it is him?”

“Of course,” Anakin replied, almost outraged he had dared to doubt him.

Obi-Wan smiled and pushing back his hood, talked to the droid.

“Hello there! Come here = my little friend. Don't be afraid.”

Artoo left his hiding place and waddled over to were Obi-Wan, Anakin and Luke were, whistling and beeping in concern.

“Don't worry, he’l= l be all right,” Obi-Wan commented as Luke started to come around, moaning softly and opening his eyes.

“What happened?” he asked, his voice a little slurred.

“Rest easy, son, you've = had a busy day. You're fortunate you're still in one piece,” Obi-Wan repl= ied, helping Luke to sit up.

At his side, Anakin was studyi= ng his son, searching for traces of himself and Padmé on his face.=

“Ben? Ben Kenobi! Boy, a= m I glad to see you!”

“The Jundland Wastes are= not to be travelled lightly. Tell me young Luke, what brings you out this far?&= #8221;

“Oh, this little droid,” Luke answered, indicating Artoo. “I think he's searching for his former master.”

Anakin turned to look sharply = at Obi-Wan. How could Artoo possibly be searching for him? Didn’t he kno= w he was dead?

“I've never seen such de= votion in a droid before...there seems to be no stopping him,” Luke continue= d. “He claims to be the property of an Obi-Wan Kenobi. Is he a relative of yours? = Do you know who he's talking about?”

Obi-Wan frowned and stroked his beard as he pondered the situation. Excluding Owen and Beru Lars, there were only two people who knew he lived on Tatooine: Yoda and Bail Organa. Which meant that Artoo had to have a very good reason to search for him.

“I think my uncle knew t= his Obi-Wan,” Luke went on. “He said he was dead.”

Obi-Wan arched an eyebrow in outrage as Anakin snickered, “Oh, he's not dead, not...not yet.”= ;

“You know him?”

“Yes, well of course, of course I know him. He's me! I haven't given around my real name since oh, y= ou were just a newborn.”

“Then the droid does bel= ong to you,” Luke replied.

“Don't seem to remember = ever owning a droid. Very interesting...,” Obi-Wan mused, still stroking h= is beard, biting his tongue not to reply to Anakin’s comments.

“You don’t seem to remember? Is something wro= ng with your memory, Master? Is your old age catching up with you?”=

Obi-Wan ignored him and looked= up at the overhanging cliffs. “I think we better get indoors. The Sandpeople are easily startled but they will soon be back and in greater numbers.̶= 1;

Obi-Wan and Luke stood up as A= rtoo let out a pathetic beep.

“Threepio!” the yo= ung man suddenly called, as the astromech droid waddled toward the opposite wal= l of the canyon. Luke ran behind him, while Obi-Wan and Anakin followed at a more sedate pace.

“That’s going on?” Anakin asked.

“I don’t know,R= 21; Obi-Wan whispered. “The last time I saw the droids, it was when we ha= nded them to Bail Organa. Something very serious must have happened if he sent t= hem here to search for me.”

“Do you think it may con= cern Leia?”

“I don’t know. Now= let’s shut up before Luke hears me and starts reputing me crazy as the others.= 221;

“As you wish, my Master.”

When Obi-Wan reached Luke and Artoo, the young man had already recovered the protocol droid, who was currently lacking an arm.

“Quick Luke...they're on= the move,” Obi-Wan urged as he scanned the area and Luke rushed to retrie= ved Threepio’s missing arm.

A few minutes later the four of them boarded Luke’s speeder and directed toward Obi-Wan’s hovel= .

---

Half an hour later Obi-Wan entered the living room carrying a tray with two glasses of tea.

Luke refused the offer, busy as he was repairing t= he arm Threepio had lost in the fight with the Tusken Raiders, so Obi-Wan took his own and slowly sipped it as = he sat on his favourite chair.

“No, my father didn’t fight in the war= s. He was a navigator on a spice freighter,” Luke said, in answer to a question Obi-Wan had asked befor= e. He had wanted to know what Owen Lars had told the boy about Anakin.=

“That’s what your uncle told you. He d= id not hold with your father’s ideals. Thought he should have stayed here and not gotten involved.” Obi-Wan commented, still trying to decide h= ow much he should or could tell to Luke. Now and then, he threw a glance at Anakin, but his friend was totally focused on his son.

Obi-Wan was confused. He had been waiting for this moment for years, but he and Anakin had never had discussed what he should = tell Luke.

“You fought in the Clone Wars?”

“Yes, I was once a Jedi Knight the same as y= our father,” Obi-Wan said, finally deciding to go for the truth—or = at least how much truth he thought Luke would be able to handle.

“I wish I had known him.” Luke murmure= d, bowing his head, and Obi-Wan fel= t a tug on his heart.

“He was the best star-pilot in the galaxy, a= nd a cunning warrior. I understand you have become quite a good pilot yourself. = And he was a good friend.” And he= still is, the best friend a man could= have, he added in his mind, his eyes meeting Anakin’s across the room. “Which reminds me...” Obi-Wan stood up and opened a chest, rummaging into it until he found what he was looking for.=

Anakin’s lightsabre. Obi-Wan studied the graceful design and the shiny metal. He had kept = it in perfect order, as it awaited for its new owner.=

Obi-Wan nodded slightly in Anakin’s directio= n, and returned to where Luke was still sitting.

“I have something here for you. It is your father’s lightsabre. I am sure he would have wanted you to have it. I wished to give it to you before, but your uncle wouldn't allow it. He feared you might follow me on some damned-fool idealistic adventure like your fath= er did.”

Luke turned the metallic handle in his hands. R= 20;A lightsabre? What is it?”

Obi-Wan briefly closed his eyes, remembering the t= ime everyone in the galaxy knew what a lightsabre was and what it stood for. How was it possible that in less than twenty years the Empire had erased all the memories of the Jedi?

He looked at Anakin, and saw him lower his eyes, a= s it often happened when the destruction of the Jedi Order or its consequence we= re mentioned or considered. Obi-Wan had forgiven Anakin long ago for his actio= ns, but he was aware his friend had never forgiven himself.

“This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight,” Obi-Wan answered to Luke’s question. “Not as clumsy or as rando= m as a blaster, but an elegant weapon for a more civilized time. For over a thou= sand generations the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Republic. Before the dark times, before the Empire.”

Obi-Wan’s tone was bitter, and Anakin walked behind him, touching his shoulder in support, as Luke ignited the sabre and watched the blue blade with rapt fascination.

“How did my father die?” He finally as= ked, switching off the weapon.

Obi-Wan and Anakin exchanged a glance, and the Force spirit nodded, encouraging his friend to say the truth—or at least as much as he could.

“A young Jedi named Darth Vader, who was a p= upil of mine until he turned to evil, helped the Empire hunt down and destroy the Jedi Knights. He betrayed your father. But Anakin was stronger than Vader, = and he managed to kill him, but not before being mortally wounded. Anakin died = in my arms, just after your birth, and he became one with the Force.” Ob= i-Wan said slowly, choosing every word with care. It was not the complete truth, = but it was not a lie either.

“The Force?” Luke asked, clearly puzzl= ed.

“Well, the Force is what gives a Jedi his po= wer. It is an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together.” Obi-Wan’s voice became soft, gentle, persuasive, full of reverence and Anakin threw an anno= yed glance to Artoo when he interrupted that special moment with his beeping sounds.

Obi-Wan turned his attention to the droid, trying = to remember how the hologram unit housed inside it worked.

“Now, let’s see how you ended up here,= my little friend. The last time I saw you were on a ship headed for Alderaan…”

“I saw part of the message he was...” Luke’s voice was cut short as the recorded image of a beautiful young woman was projec= ted from Artoo’s face.

“I seem to have found it,” said Obi-Wa= n, as his eyes studied the hologram. He recognized her at once. She was so much like her mother! The same eyes, the same hair, the same impassioned speech.=

Leia Organa.

Leia Skywalker.

He heard Anakin gasp at his side and turning to fa= ce his friend, he noticed his eyes seemed brighter than usual, as if filled wi= th tears.

“Gen= eral Kenobi, years ago you served along my father in the Clone Wars. Now he begs= you to help him in his struggle against the Empire. I regret that I am unable to present my father’s request to you in person, but my ship has fallen under attack and I am afraid my mission to bring you to Alderaan has failed= . I have placed information vital to the survival of the Rebellion into the mem= ory systems of this R2 unit. My father will know how to retrieve it. You must s= ee this droid safely delivered to him on Alderaan. This is our most desperate hour. Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you are my only hope.”<= /span>

There was a little static and the transmission was= cut short, but they had seen enough. Obi-Wan leant back against the divan, as L= uke watched at him expectantly.

So the moment he had been waiting for had finally arrived. It was his duty as a Jedi and as Anakin’s best friend to do everything he could to help his daughter and the Rebellion.

“You must learn the ways of the Force if you= are to come with me to Alderaan,” Obi= -Wan said to Luke, as he stroked his beard.

The young man let out a brief laugh. “Aldera= an? I'm not going to Alderaan. I have got to go home. It’s late, I am in = for it as it is.”

“I need your help, Luke. She needs your help= . I cannot do everything alone,” Obi-= Wan urged. He was still in good form, but he was slower and heavier, and he rea= lly needed back up. Anakin would certainly go with him, but there was only so m= uch he could do to help him. Not to mention the fact he had the feeling he would never return on Tatooine, and that he had to teach everything he could to L= uke before it was too late.

Luke paced the living room and shook his head. “I can’t get involved! I have work to do. It is not that I like= the Empire. I hate it! But there is nothing I can do about it right now. ItR= 17;s such a long way from here.”

“That is your uncle talking,” Anakin growled and Obi-Wan repeated the comme= nt aloud.

Luke sighed, “Oh, my uncle. How am I ever go= ing to explain this?” he used his hand to encompass the house, the two dr= oids and the lightsabre he still held.

“Learn about the Force, Luke,” Obi-Wan insisted. It’s your destiny, son…can’t you sense the Force course in your veins?<= /i>

“Look, I can take you as far as Anchorhead. = You can get a transport there to Mos Eisley or wherever you are going,” t= he boy insisted, as Anakin threw him irritated glances and paced back and fort= h as a caged animal.

“You must do what you feel is right, of cour= se,” Obi-Wan finally said, leaving the choice to Luke.

As much as he wished to train the young man, he kn= ew he could not force him to leave his house and the only life he had known.

---

Luke’s choice was made for him when, later t= hat same day, he returned home to find it destroyed, his uncle and aunt killed.=

The imperial troops had been directed to the farm = by the Jawas that had sold the two droids to the Lars. By the time Obi-Wan, An= akin, Luke, Threepio and Artoo arrived there, everything was ended and they could= not do anything else but bury the dead, digging two tombs near those of Shmi and Cliegg Lars.

§§§§§

The streets of Mos Eisley were crowded as usual as Luke’s speeder crossed them. Obi-= Wan noticed immediately that the town was full of Storm Troopers, no doubly searching for Threepio and Artoo. He had just enough time to wonder how much they knew about the droids they were looking for before two soldiers stopped their speeder.

Obi-Wan stood calm as the Storm Troopers approache= d, while Luke tensed.

“How long have you had t= hese droids?” one of the soldiers asked.

“About three or four seasons,” Luke answered, his voice firm despite his anxiety.

“They're for sale if you want them,” Obi-Wan interjected.

“Let me see your identification.”

As Luke became very nervous and fumbled in his pockets to find his documents, Obi-= Wan concentrated on the Storm Troopers. He briefly thought back to the day when= his clones had revolted against him on Utapau…a lifetime before. Then he returned to the present and waved his hand in front of the soldiers’ = face

“You don't need to see h= is identification,” he said, infusing his words with a strong Force suggestion.

“We don't need to see his identification,” one of the soldiers repeated dully.

“These are not the droids your looking for.”

“These are not the droids we're looking for.”

“He can go about his business,” Obi-Wan waved his hand again.

“You can go about your business.”

“Move along,” Obi-Wan said to Luke, as the soldier repeated his words, motioning them to proceed using his blaster.

Obi-Wan directed Luke to a rundown blockhouse cantina in the outskirts of Mos Eisley. He knew fr= om past researches it was the best place to find a ship off the planet.

Luke parked the speeder and tu= rned toward Obi-Wan. ̶= 0;I can't understand how we got by those troopers. I thought we were dead,̶= 1; he commented, his face full of curiosity.

“The Force can have a st= rong influence on the weak-minded. You will find it a powerful ally,” Obi-Wan explained as he moved toward the cantina’s entry.

“Do you really think we'= re going to find a pilot here that'll take us to Alderaan?”

“Well, most of the best freighter pilots can be found here. Only watch your step. This place can be= a little rough.”

“I'm ready for anything,= ” Luke replied, but Obi-Wan wondered if it was really so. The Lars had done a very good job with the boy. He was gentle, caring and dutiful. But he was also very naïve and a dreamer, because, in his desire to protect h= im, Owen and Beru had him lead a very sheltered life. The old Jedi just hoped Luke’s first experience outside the safe confines of the farm would n= ot prove too hard for him.

---

The cantina was smoke-filled and crowded with beings of many races. Obi-Wan directed toward the counter, led by the Force toward a tall Wookiee. There was something famili= ar in the hairy alien, although Obi-Wan needed a little while to realize what = it was. But when he did, his lips bent in a sad smile.

He had already met the Wookiee, the day he and Mace Windu had escorted Yoda to the ship that would take him to Kashyyyk. Obi-Wan racked his memory until he found a name: Chewbacca.

The Wookie too seemed to recog= nize Obi-Wan and the two of them started talking in quiet tones.

Suddenly the Force screamed in alert, just a second before Anakin appeared at Obi-= Wan’s side.

“Luke is in danger!” he exclaimed, but Obi-Wan was already moving toward the other side of the counter, where the = boy was surrounded by two dangerous creatures.

Obi-Wan could perceive Luke’s fear and his desire to avoid trouble, but so could his two tormenters. They were professional trouble-makers, always in search of a brawl, and had probably picked up Luke’s naïveté from the first moment he had ste= pped inside the cantina.

Obi-Wan moved = in behind Luke, who sighed in relief. “This little one isn't worth the effort. Come let me buy you something-” he began, but was interrupted when a blow from one of the brawlers sent Luke sailing across the room, crashing through tables.

The attackers then drew a blas= ter from his belt and levelled it at Obi-Wan, as the bartender shouted, “No blasters! No bl= asters!”

Obi-Wan lost no time. There was a snap, a hiss and= a whirling motion. His blue lightsabre sprang to life and disposed of the two creatures, quickly and efficiently. Then he looked around the place, making sure everybody knew he was not a man to mess with, before powering off his ‘sabre.

“You have not lost your touch, Master,” Anakin commented with a smile. “And I think that from now on Luke will look at you with different eyes.”

Obi-Wan turned to see the young man staring at him, wonder and amazement on his face.<= /o:p>

The cantina went back to norma= l, people returned to their drinks and chats and Obi-= Wan was given a good amount of room as he moved b= ack to the bar.

“This is Chewbacca. He's first-mate on a ship that might suit our needs,” Obi-= Wan said to Luke when the youth returned to his side.

Anakin’s son gave a strange look to the tall alien, then followed Obi-Wan as the little group moved to a booth were a hu= man male with a roughish look was sitting.

They took places around the table as the man spoke= . “Han Solo. I'm captain of the Millenni= um Falcon. Chewie here tells me you're looking for passage to the Alderaan sys= tem.”

“Yes, indeed. If it's a = fast ship,” Obi-Wan answered.

“Fast ship? You've never heard of the Millennium Falcon?” Solo seemed almost outraged.

“Should I have?” <= o:p>

“It's the ship that made= the Kessel run in less than twelve parsecs!” Obi-= Wan looked at Solo with a don’t-fool-me look, while Anakin, who had appea= red again burst in laugh at the pilot’= ;s stupid attempt to impress them with obvious misinformation.

“I've outrun Imperial starships, not the local bulk-cruisers, mind you,” Solo tried again. “She's fast enough for you, old man. What's the cargo?”

“Only passengers. Myself, the boy, two droids, and no questions asked,” Obi-= Wan filled his voice with a Force command. He liked Solo, he made him think of Anakin when he was a cocky teenager, but the less he knew, the better it wa= s.

“What is it? Some kind of local trouble?” Solo replied with a knowing tone.

“Let's just say we'd lik= e to avoid any Imperial entanglements.”

“Well, that's the trick,= isn't it? And it's going to cost you something extra. Ten thousand in advance.= 221;

“Ten thousand? We could almost buy our own ship for that!” Luke sputtered.<= /p>

“But who's going to fly = it, kid! You?” Solo commented with a smirk.

“You bet I could. I'm not such a bad pilot myself! We don't have to sit here and listen...” Luke made to stand up, but Obi-Wan blocked him, as he thr= ew a look to Anakin. The boy was indeed his father’s son!

“We haven't that much wi= th us. But we could pay you two thousand now, plus fifteen when we reach Alder= aan.”

Han pondered the offer for a f= ew moments, then nodded. “All right. You guys got yourself a ship. We'll leave as soon as you're ready. Docking bay Ninety-four.”

“Ninety-four,” Obi-Wan repeated.

There was a moment of silence = before Anakin whispered, “It’s best if you leave, Master. Some Storm T= roopers have just entered. They are enquiring about those dead men.”

Obi-Wan nodded. He whispered a few words to Luke as they stood up and moved toward the rear door.

§§§§§

Obi-Wan watched intently as Luke practiced with his lightsabre inside the large interior of= the Millenium Falcon. Anakin had appeared at his side, and was watching too, cr= inging every time Luke was hit by the small training droid’s beam.

Obi-Wan was aware that he was rushing things with = the boy. Ideally, Luke should have had to learn first meditation and to feel the Force before even switching on the lightsabre, but circumstances where far = from ideal.

Their narrow escape from Tatooine had made it impe= rative that Luke learned quickly how to use the ‘sabre to defend himself, an= d-

Suddenly Obi-Wan was shaken to the core by a rippl= e in the Force. He staggered and backed to a nearby chair, trying to clear his m= ind.

“Are you all right? What= 's wrong?” Anakin and Luke asked in unison.

“I felt a great disturba= nce in the Force...as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and we= re suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened,” Obi-Wan rubbed his forehead. He was aware both Anakin and Luke were watching him wi= th worried eyes, so he tried to direct their attention elsewhere.

“You'd better get on with your exercises,” he said to Luke as Han Solo entered the room.

“Well, you can forget yo= ur troubles with those Imperial slugs. I told you I'd outrun 'em,” the p= ilot commented smugly, dropping to sit on a nearby couch.

Both Obi-= Wan and Luke did not mind him, as the boy began again to train.

“Remember, a Jedi can fe= el the Force flowing through him,” Obi-Wan instructed.

“You mean it controls yo= ur actions?” Luke asked, as he moved his body and lightsabre to continue= to face the floating droid.

“Partially. But it also obeys your commands.”

Suddenly the droid made a quick lunge, firing its red laser beam, and hitting Luke in the leg, causing him = to tumble over.

Han Solo burst in laughter, as Anakin threw him a murdering glance.

“Hokey religions and anc= ient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid,” the pilot commented smugly.

“Why don’t you show him what you can do with his blaster, Master? You know, something like calling it to you and bend it using the Force?” Anakin whispered to Obi-Wan.<= /o:p>

“You don't believe in the Force, do you?” Luke asked, switching off his lightsabre.<= /span>

“Kid, I've flown from one side of this galaxy to the other. I've seen a lot of strange stuff, but I've never seen anything to make me believe there's one all-powerful force controlling everything. There's no mystical energy field that controls my destiny,” Solo explained as Obi-Wan smiled quietly, untouched by his comments, and actually a bit sorry the younger man would never be able to feel the beauty that was the Force “It's all a lot of simple tricks and nonsense.R= 21;

“Oh please, Master, put = him in his place! Don’t allow him to mock you and your beliefs! Show him = what you can do,” Anakin exclaimed, but Obi-= Wan ignored him.

He had never liked to show off his powers – well, maybe he had when he was a padawan -- but he had a more pressing matter = to address.

“I suggest you try it ag= ain, Luke,” he said as he stood up and put a helmet on the boy’s hea= d, effectively covering his eyes. “This time, let go your conscious self= and act on instinct.”

Luke laughed softly, “Wi= th the blast shield down, I can't even see. How am I supposed to fight?”=

“Your eyes can deceive y= ou. Don't trust them.”

Solo sceptically shook his hea= d as Obi-Wan switched on the training droid. There were a few moments dur= ing which Luke blindly swung his lightsabre around, and was once again hit by the droid.

“Stretch out with your feelings,” Obi-Wan instructed.

“It’s too soon, Master. How can he do = it without proper training?” Anakin commented.

You = could do it when you were a child, Obi-Wan thought, then smiled when with a blazing fast move Luke mana= ged to deflect a new bolt.

“You see, you can do it,” the Jedi praised his young student.

“I call it luck,” = Solo comment, looking bored.

Obi-Wan narrowed his eyes. Luke needed praises now, not sceptical observations. “In my experience, there's no such thing as luck.”<= /p>

“Look, going good against remotes is one thing. Going good against the living? That's something else,” the pilot commented, but before Obi-= Wan could answer he added, “Looks like we're coming up on Alderaan.”

He and Chewbacca headed back to the cockpit, as Obi-Wan steeped closer to the smiling Luke= . At his side, Anakin was beaming with pride, and the Jedi master thought how sa= d it was the young man could not see him.

“You know, I did feel something. I could almost see the remote,” Luke commented, excited.

“That's good. You have t= aken your first step into a larger world,” Obi-= Wan patted his shoulder and was about to say something else when the ship start= ed shaking, as if hit by something.

Using a hand on the wall to keep him steady, he we= nt to the cockpit followed by the younger man.

“What's going on?” Luke asked once they arrived, as Obi-Wan looked at the space in front of them.=

“Our position is correct, except...no, Alderaan!” Solo exclaimed.

“What do you mean? Where= is it?”

“That’s what I'm trying to tell you, kid. It ain't there. It's been totally blown away,̶= 1; the pilot answered, as he piloted the ship through the field of rock they h= ad jumped into.

“What? How?” murmu= red Luke, clearly stunned.

Obi-Wan swallowed hard as he realized what had cau= sed the disturbance in the Force he had felt earlier. “Destroyed...by the Empire.” He closed his eyes, thinking about Bail Organa and all the poor souls that had perished that day.

“The entire star fleet couldn't destroy the whole planet. It'd take a thousand ships with more fire power than I've…. Hey, there's another ship coming in,” Solo commented, watching his navigation monitor.

“Maybe they know what happened,” Luke said, but Obi-Wan shook his head, as the Force shrieked in alarm.

“It's an Imperial fighte= r.”

Chewbacca barked his concern. A huge explosion burst outside the cockpit window, shaking the ship violently= . A few second later, an Imperial TIE fighter raced past the cockpit window.

“It followed us!” = Luke exclaimed.

“No. It's a short range fighter,” Obi-Wan answered, as he scanned the space surrounding them. There was something out of place, but he could pinpoint w= hat it was…<= /p>

“There aren't any bases around here. Where did it come from?” wondered Solo, as he piloted his ship away from the rocks that were all that remained of Alderaan.

“It sure is leaving in a= big hurry. If they identify us, we're in big trouble,” Luke commented, watching as the TIE fighter put a good distance between itself and the Falcon.

“Not if I can help it. C= hewie...jam its transmissions.”

“It'd be as well to let = it go. It's too far out of range,” Obi-Wan said.

“Not for long...” = Solo replied, as his ship accelerated and quickly gained on fighter.<= /span>

“A fighter that size couldn't get this deep into space on its own,” Obi-= Wan murmured, speaking more to Anakin, who had once again appeared at his side, than to the others.

“It must have gotten los= t, been part of a convoy or something,” Luke guessed, his eyes glued to = the escaping fighter.

“Well, he ain't going to= be around long enough to tell anyone about us,” Solo answered, as the Falcon gained again of the fighter= .

“Look at him. He's headed for that small moon.”

“I think I can get him before he gets there...he's almost in range.”

The small moon began to take on the appearance of an enormous spherical space station, just as Obi-Wan shouted, “That's no moon! It's a = space station.”

“It's too big to be a sp= ace station,” Solo replied, but his voice was less smug than usual.<= /o:p>

“I have a very bad feeli= ng about this,” Luke said.

“Yeah, I think your righ= t. Full reverse! Chewie, lock in the auxiliary power!” Solo and his co-p= ilot busied themselves pulling levers and pushing buttons, but to no avail. The = ship continued to move forward.

“Why are we still moving towards it?” Luke asked.

“We're caught in a tract= or beam! It's pulling us in.”

“But there's gotta be something you can do!” Luke exclaimed, fear in his voice and <= span lang=3DEN-GB style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana;mso-ansi-languag= e:EN-GB'>Obi-Wan shook his head.

“There's nothin' I can do about it, kid. I'm in full power. I'm going to have to shut down. But they'= re not going to get me without a fight!” Solo answered, belligerent.

“You can't win,” <= /span>Obi-Wan said quietly, posing a hand on his shoulder, “But there are alternatives to fighting.”

The two men looked at each oth= er for a moment, then Solo nodded once.

“I have an idea…”

§§§§§

Obi-Wan exited from one of the Millennium Falcon’s secret compartments and rubbed his sore back. Blast, he was really getting too old for this kind of things.

A few feet away, Luke was grinning from ear to ear= at Han Solo.

“Boy, it's lucky you had these compartments. The guards that inspected the ship had not the slightest idea we were hiding under their feet,” he commented.

“I use them for smugglin= g. I never thought I'd be smuggling myself in them,” Solo replied to Luke, then turned to face Obi-Wan. “This is ridiculous. Even if I could take off, I'd never get past the tractor beam.”

“Leave that to me,”= ; Obi-Wan commented quietly.

“Damn fool. I knew that = you were going to say that!”

“Who's the more foolish...the fool or the fool who follows him?” Obi-= Wan replied calmly, with a hint of irony.

Han shook his head and walked away, muttering to himself. Chewbacca followed him, while Luke lingered by = Obi-Wan, wanting to do something, but not knowing what.

Obi-Wan stretched his feelings, asking to the Force for an indication of how best to proceed, when he was assaulted by a wave of pure darkness. He blinked his eyes and took a deep breath when he realized what it was.

Palpatine was on board of the space station.

The Emperor had left his fortr= ess on Coruscant to visit his new weapon.

Obi-Wan wondered if the rebels knew about this event, if that was the reason they so desperately wanted the information stored inside Artoo.

Whatever the reason, Obi-Wan k= new that now more than ever he needed to free Solo’s ship from the tractor beam. Luke’s safety was at risk with the Sith so close. The boy’= ;s Force signature was very strong and he had no idea of how to shield himself. Obi-Wan needed to take him away as soon as possible.

---

A few minutes later the small party managed to take control of an office near the hangar. Luke and Han pa= ssed the security controls wearing Storm Troopers’ uniforms taken from two soldiers they had attracted inside the Falcon with a trick, and then subdue= d.

Once inside, they connected Ar= too to a computer outlet. Obi-Wan asked for some specific data and a blueprint = of the battle station appeared on the monitor.

He began studying it, searching for where the tractor beam’s control were located.<= /p>

A few moments later Artoo beep= ed excitedly.

“He says he's found the = main computer to power the tractor beam that's holding the ship here,” Threepio translated. “He'll try to make the precise location appear on the monitor.”

Artoo beeped again.=

“The tractor beam is cou= pled to the main reactor in seven locations. A power loss at one of the terminals will allow the ship to leave.”

Obi-Wan nodded. It was a good plan. One of the terminals was quite close to his actual location.

“I don't think you boys = can help. I must go alone,” he said to the others.

Han nodded crossing his arms a= nd slumping on a chair, “Whatever you say. I've done more that I bargain= ed for on this trip already.”

Luke instead frowned in displeasure. “I want to come with you, Ben.”

“No, it is too dangerous. Using the Force, I= can convince the guards they are not seeing me, but only if I am alone.”<= o:p>

“But I wish to learn from you!” Luke protested.

“Not this time.” Obi-Wan swallowed hard as he watched the boy he loved as a son. The F= orce had just whispered to him that there would not be another time for him to t= each to Luke. He smiled and continued, “The droids are very important. They must be delivered safely or other star systems will suffer the same fate as Alderaan. Your destiny lies along a different path than mine. The Force wil= l be with you...always.”

Obi-Wan adjusted the lightsabr= e on his belt and with a last glance to Luke, he silently stepped out of office.=

---

Sabotaging the tractor beam pr= oved easier than predicted. Obi-Wan used the Force to move faster or influenced = the minds of the soldiers he met along the way, and nobody tried to stop him.

He was about to return toward = the hangar when the alarm klaxons echoed in the corridors.

Obi-Wan reached out with his perceptions to understand what was going on, just as Anakin appeared at his side.

“Master! Leia is prisone= r on this station too! Luke and Solo have freed her, but they are now pursued. T= hey are trying to reach the hangar, but I am not sure they will be able to make it.”

Obi-Wan nodded, and started walking faster toward the hangar, searching for a way to help Luke and the others.

He was about to turn the last corner and enter the hangar when he froze on the spot.

Darth Sidious was very close. = He was in the hangar too.

Obi-Wan gasped in horror: Luke= and Leia were running straight into his arms!&= nbsp;

The Sith would certainly sense= the power in Luke and maybe even recognize him as Anakin’s son. This was something Obi-Wan could not allow.

Palpatine must not capture Luk= e. Never.

Obi-Wan took a deep, calming breath, centring himself. Then, instead of taking the direct route toward t= he hangar, he took a side one, which would lead him exactly where he sensed the Sith.

“What are you doing?R= 21; Anakin hissed into his ear. “Are you mad or what?”

“Anakin, I must protect Luke. If I keep Palpatine distracted enough, he might not sense how powerful your son is. The tractor beam is down and I am confident enough that Luke a= nd Solo can open a way to the Falcon if the Storm Troopers’ attention is focused elsewhere.”

“So you plan to face Pal= patine?”

“Yes. Among the other things, this is one of the rare times he has left Coruscant. It’s an occasion we cannot lose.”

“We cannot?! Master, may= I remind you I am dead? I cannot help you, no matter how much I would like to kill t= hat slime worm with my bare hands.”

“Be mindful of you thoug= hts, Anakin. Let go of your anger,” Obi-Wan instructed.<= /p>

Anakin rolled his eyes, “Will you ever stop giving me lectures?”

“No—because I know= you like when I do it.”

Anakin smiled slightly. “= ;You are right—but I still think this is pure madness. Master, Obi-Wan, you are old. How can you stand in front of Palpatine?”<= /p>

“The years must have pas= sed for him too,” Obi-Wan replied, stepping in yet another corridor.=

“You know what I mean. E= ven Master Yoda was not able to defeat him. Please, my friend, go back. Train L= uke… I thought it was your plan,” Anakin pleaded.

“It was indeed, but I had not planned to find Palpatine here. The Force is now telling me this is the right thing to do—and I will do it.” Obi-Wan said with a tone t= hat did not admit replies.

Anakin disappeared from Obi-Wan’s side, showing his disapproval and he felt a pang to his hea= rt. He was always sorry when he and Anakin disagreed on something important, bu= t he had a duty to do, and he was sure that in due time his friend would underst= and his reasons.

A bout of fear reached him com= ing from the hangar. Obi-Wan’s eyes widened as he realized its cause: Palpatine had captured Luke and the others.

Moving with Force-enhanced spe= ed, the quickly reached the hangar, only to skid to a halt as he took the scene= in front of his eyes.

A squadron of Storm Troopers h= ad surrounded Luke, Han, Chewbacca and a young woman he recognized as Leia. The quartet still had their weapons, but they could do nothing with all those b= lasters pointed against them.

Palpatine was standing nearby,= and was contemplating the scene with a malicious grin.

The Sith turned his head when = he sensed Obi-Wan and his grotesque face grimaced evilly.

“Well, well, well, look = who we have here. Master Kenobi. A long time has elapsed since we last saw each other.”

Obi-Wan did not answer, and his hand moved away his robe to pose on his lightsabre hilt.<= /p>

Palpatine smirked, baring his rotten teeth and hissed, “Now you will pay for ruining my plans years= ago. You have killed two of my apprentices—but now the young man here will take his father’s place at my side.”

Obi-Wan could not prevent his shocked gasp at the fact the Sith had indeed sensed Anakin’s power in Luke’s Force signature.

Palpatine chalked, “Are = you surprised Master Kenobi? I don’t think so. You know who the boy ̵= 1; and the girl – are. I will make them my new apprentices...as soon as = I am done with you, meddlesome Jedi.” The Emperor waved with his hand and a door slid shut behind Obi-Wan, blocking his only escape route. <= /span>

Then the Sith turned toward on= e of the soldiers and ordered, “Kill him!”

Several of the Storm Troopers = in the hangar turned their blasters against Obi-Wan and opened fire.

Obi-Wan ignited his lightsabre= to deflect the blows, whirling his blue blade with the quickness of the past. = He knew, however, that he would not last long. The soldiers were too many, and= his strength was waning.

However, Obi-Wan also knew his sacrifice would not be in vain. Han Solo and Leia Organa had taken advantag= e of the situation, of how most of the guards’ attention was focused on the Jedi, to escape and board the Falcon.

Luke instead seemed frozen on = his spot, eyes locked desperately on Obi-Wan, as if he could support the older = man just with the strength of his will and generous heart.

A blaster hit Obi-Wan on his l= eft arm and he grimaced in pain, as the burning spread along his aching muscles. The end was near, he could sense it. So he looked straight at Luke and shou= ted with as much urgency he could, “Run, Luke, run!”

Blessedly, the boy listened to= him and followed his companions inside the Falcon.

Obi-Wan had the time to smile = in relief, before a blaster bolt caught him in his middle.

A burning pain exploded inside him, setting all his nerves afire. He collapsed on his knees, just as, many years before, he had watched Qui-Gon do on Naboo.

Obi-Wan slumped to the floor, = his hand still gripping his lightsabre, and waited for the killing blow.

It did not come.

Palpatine ordered the soldiers= to concentrate on stopping the Falcon, but it was too late. The roar of the sh= ip engines filled the hangar as it flew away.

Despite his agonizing pain, Obi-Wan found the strength to smile. Once again he had ruined PalpatineR= 17;s plans.

“You will suffer for thi= s, Kenobi,” the Sith snarled, raising his hands. Blue lightening sprang = from his fingertips, but they never reached Obi-Wan because Palpatine suddenly interrupted his attack.

The Sith’s mouth was ope= n in surprise and Obi-Wan realized why when he sensed Anakin’s presence by= his side. It was clear Palpatine was seeing Anakin too.

“Master…” An= akin murmured, his voice chocked by tears. He put his hands on Obi-Wan’s b= ody, desperately wanting to do something to help him, but knowing there was noth= ing he could do.

Obi-Wan weakly smiled at him. “Don’t mourn, my friend…this is not the end…this is= the beginning. Remember…there is no death, there is the Force…We wi= ll soon be together…”

Anakin nodded, but Obi-Wan saw= his face darken as he threw a glance at Palpatine.

“No, Anakin…no…” he murmured, his breathing becoming more laboured, “let go…of your anger…”=

“I don’t know if I can. He has hurt you and now wants my children…I cannot allow him to = harm them.”

Obi-Wan watched as Anakin̵= 7;s eyes turned yellow and his presence darkened with fury.

“No…” he moa= ned, “No…Anakin…please my friend… don’t do this…”

Anakin seemed to take a deep breath and closed his eyes. There was a shift in the Force, and the darkness inside him disappeared.

“Good Anakin…̶= 1; Obi-Wan murmured.

“I did it for you, Maste= r. But this won’t prevent me from killing him,” Anakin replied.

“And how do you plan to accomplish it, my apprentice?” Palpatine chalked. <= /p>

“I am not your apprentice!” Anakin snarled, clenching his fists.

Obi-Wan sensed the impotence h= is friend was feeling at his inability to save him or stop the Sith.

Then, suddenly, Anakin’s expression brightened. He looked down at Obi-Wan and murmured, “I have just got an idea, Master. I am not sure it will work, but I have to try it.= I hope to meet you again on the other side… but if I won’t be abl= e to do so, if this plan of mine fails, please remember I will be always your friend.” I love you and I always will.

Obi-Wan listened in silence, h= is mind too numbed with pain and confusion to even been able to ask what he was planning to do.

Anakin stood up and resolutely= strode toward Palpatine, his steps long, his head down, like a reek ready to charg= e.

Something in his posture alarm= ed the Sith, and he raised his hands, investing Anakin with his blue lightenin= g. However, they passed through the Force ghost, without even slowing his adva= nce.

Obi-Wan watched as Anakin impa= cted with Palpatine and disappeared inside him. The old man’s body trembled and doubled over, then straightened again, his movements stiff, uncoordinat= ed. An arm flashed out and was sharply retracted as the Sith spoke.<= /span>

“You will pay for everyt= hing you did,” it was Palpatine’s voice, the inflection sounded like Anakin’s.

“No! Get away from me!” Palpatine replied, this time speaking with the Emperor’s malicious tone.

“Not before I complete my duty. I was supposed to be the Chosen One, remember?”

Palpatine’s body took a = few staggering steps forward, his legs lacking coordination, as the Emperor ask= ed, “What duty?”

“I have yet to destroy t= he Sith.”

“I am your friend, Anakin… I have always been,” the Sith answered, as he and Anakin struggled to control the body that hosted both of them.

“You were never my frien= d. You used me for your gain and I was so blind not to see it. But no more. No more. It ends here.”

Through his haze of pain, Obi-= Wan watched as the staggering, trembling form of Palpatine reached him and knel= t by his side.

“Obi-Wan… Master…” he murmured, and it felt so strange to hear that hated voice say his name so gently. “I love you…”

“Me…too…Anak= in…never…forget it…my…friend…”

Palpatine’s head nodded = and his trembling hand reached out to take hold of Obi-Wan’s discarded lightsabre.

“What do you want to do!?” the Sith Lord screamed as his body slowly stood up.<= /span>

“I told you. I am ending this.”

Palpatine’s hand turned = the lightsabre around, pointing the emitter against his chest, just over his he= art.

“Noo!” cried Darth Sidious when he realized what Anakin wanted to do. He struggled to regain control of his own body, but Anakin was stronger.

There was a moment of stillnes= s, then Obi-Wan’s blue blade sprang to life, piercing Palpatine’s body, passing him from chest to back.

Obi-Wan watched as the dead bo= dy collapsed near him and then, finally, he released his hold on this life.

He closed his eyes and abandon= ed himself to the Force’s encompassing embrace, his last thought focused= on Anakin and his hope to see him again soon.

EPILOGUE=

The first thing Obi-Wan saw wh= en he opened his eyes was a star filled sky. He studied it for a moment, watch= ing the unfamiliar constellations as he became aware of other things: the breeze ruffling his hair, the scent of the flowers, the strong tights actually ser= ving as his pillow.

Tights?

Obi-Wan turned his head and saw Anakin’s face smile down at him.

“Anakin,” he murmu= red, his voice filled with joy, as he used his arms to push himself up to sitting position.

“Obi-Wan… Master,” the younger man answered in the same tone.=

They both adjusted their legs = so that they were kneeling in front of each other, looking at the other’s face, unable to express what they felt with words.

Obi-Wan turned his head to obs= erve the lush vegetation around them.

“Where are we?”

“In the gardens of the temple the Force has recreated for the Jedi that live here. Qui-Gon and the others are waiting outside. They thought I was most suited to be near you w= hen you woke up.”

“They thought? Even those who don’t want to be near you? Does it mean…?”=

Anakin smiled brightly as his = eyes shone with his happiness. “Yes, Master. They forgave me. They said th= at my willingness to sacrifice my eternal life to bring Palpatine down – there was the possibility my essence would be irreparable tangled with his-- redeemed me.”

“This is wonderful, Anakin!” Obi-Wan could not resist the impulse. He threw his arms arou= nd his friend’s back and pulled him into an embrace, feeling thrilled wh= en he felt solid flesh under his hands and against his chest, as Anakin hugged= him back.

They separated after a while a= nd they searched each other’s eyes. Then they slowly bent their heads and their lips met in a kiss. It was awkward and tentative, but full of tendern= ess and emotion.

“I love you,” Anak= in murmured. “I wish to spend my eternity with you. If you want me, of course.” he added softly, suddenly unsure.

“You know I want you nea= r me Anakin, but are you sure? Would not you prefer to be with Padmé, now that you have been forgiven? You loved her dearly, and she is young and beautiful, while I am a cranky old man.”

Anakin smiled impishly. “= ;You may be cranky, but you are not old. We are pure spirit, Obi-Wan, no matter = how solid we look and feel. We perceive each other and ourselves as we remember= us. To me you look exactly like the night we joined our souls for the first tim= e. Your hair is thick, auburn, with just the right amount of grey on your temp= les. Your bearded face is smooth, and the only wrinkles I can see, are near your laughing eyes.” He took a deep breath. “You are beautiful, Master.”

Obi-Wan blushed—or at le= ast he felt like he was blushing.

“So are you, my friend. = So are you.”

They kissed again, and Obi-Wan could not help but be slightly surprised by how natural such new intimacy w= as. It seemed like they had always kissed. But then he shook the thought away. = He and Anakin had shared much more intimate moments in the past… they had seen in each other’s soul, and no kiss could ever come to compare with it.

They stayed in silence, loosely embracing, for several moments more, simply basking in their new found closeness, then Anakin commented, “I think it is best if we go to meet the others. They are getting impatient.”

“The Jedi? Impatient?= 221; Obi-Wan arched an eyebrow.

“You will discover things are not exactly the same here… Qui-Gon cannot wait to tug your braid again – for I am sure he will see you as you were as a Padawan – while Master Windu wants to ask your opinion about what will happen now that the Emperor is dead and the Death Star has been destroyed.”

“Really? It has been destroyed?”

“Yes. The Rebel Alliance used the plan stored in Artoo to discover the station weak points and Luke = shot the missile that blew that damn thing up,” Anakin explained as rose to his feet and reached out with a hand to help Obi-Wan to stand up.

He took the offered hand not because he needed help – his body really felt as if he was twenty yea= rs younger – but because he enjoyed touching Anakin.

“We will do more touching when we are alone, Master,” Anakin murmured throatily.

“I look forward to it,” Obi-Wan replied, his heart speeding up at the idea.

Then, without Obi-Wan letting = go of Anakin’s hand, they walked together, side by side, to meet the friend= s who were waiting for them.

THE END

<= /span>