Epilogue

“You seem nervous,” Jade noted. “Is it because we left Luke back there with no protection, or because we’re traveling as refugees?”

They were sitting in a cramped area on empty crates. There were several other, silent creatures with them, presumably traveling undercover as well. Obi-Wan and Jade’s faces were shielded from them with their cloak hoods.

“Neither,” Obi-Wan answered. “We’ve not seen Lana since her wedding, and I’m a tad nervous at seeing her again. Each visit is one in which I become less like the hero she remembers.”

Jade reached past the security of his hood and tugged at his white beard. “You know she will always see you as a hero, so stop worrying.” She sat back again, smiling distantly. “That ceremony was so sweet. You and Bail walking on either side of her to give her away. Oh, my heart just swelled. And that husband of hers is quite the looker.” She raised an eyebrow at him. “You ever notice the resemblance?”

“What?” Obi-Wan asked.

Jade shook her head. “Seleman could have been your twin,” she laughed.

“You’re seeing things,” Obi-Wan grunted.

“If you say so.”

The Kenobis felt the ship jar as it landed and stood to file out with the other passengers. A speeder piloted by one of Bail Organa’s guards was waiting for them, and they climbed in gratefully, taking off toward his home.

* * * * *

Lana and Seleman were waiting outside of their home. As a wedding present, Bail had given them a beautiful cottage on his estate, nestled gently into the mountains. Lana fidgeted slightly, rocking the small bundle in her arms. Seleman put an arm around her as the speeder pulled into the gate and two familiar figures stepped out.

"Uncle Obi, Jade!" Lana called out. Even though she had grown and married, her nickname for Obi-Wan had never changed. She made her way to them as quickly as she could with the baby in her arms.

“Lana,” Obi-Wan said, smiling broadly and pushing his hood back.

Jade followed his example and laughed at her swift approach. “You look radiant, hun. We heard about the baby, and we just had to come see for ourselves. Boy or girl?”

The Jedi peered expectantly at the bundle, Jade reaching a finger into the blanket to stroke the child’s soft cheek. Obi-Wan had already slipped an arm around Lana’s shoulders, giving her a quick hug as he watched the baby blink up at them questioningly.

"It's a girl," Lana said, adjusting the child and placing it Obi-Wan's arms. "Her name is Obina."

Lana slid sideways into Seleman’s arms as she watched Obi-Wan with the baby.

“Obina,” Obi-Wan said, then bit his lip as he studied her. “She’s gorgeous. Just like her mother.”

“She has your hair, Lana,” Jade smiled, toying with one of the baby’s short curls.

“Oh,” Obi-Wan said. “Jade, get the…”

“Yes, of course,” she said, rushing back to the speeder. She bent over it and grabbed something up quickly, bringing it back with her. Whatever it was, it was awkwardly wrapped in brown paper. “We brought something for her.”

"You didn't have to do that," Seleman said as he watched his wife unwrap the gift.

Lana pulled the brown paper off, and she felt a lump form in her throat. In her hands was the small, stuffed Wookiee that she had left Obi-Wan all those years ago. It's brown fur had faded some, and it looked as though it had been through a lot, but its googly eyes still stared up at whoever was holding it.

"I can hardly believe you still have this," Lana said softly, looking up at Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan bowed his head and smiled a little self-consciously. “It was a gift given selflessly and with love. I don’t take such things lightly.” He looked back up at her. “I cherished it just as I cherish the giver.”

Lana bit back a tear as she gave him a lopsided grin. "It looks like it's been slept with a good many times."

“A few,” Jade said. “Who ever thought I’d be competing with a Wookiee for snuggle time?” The blank look Obi-Wan gave her stilled her. “Well… It’s true.”

Lana laughed and took Obina from Obi-Wan’s arms. "Would you like to hold her, Jade?"

“I’d be honored,” she said. Lana placed the child in her arms, and Jade cooed warmly at her.

"What do you think of my charming granddaughter?" Bail's voice came from behind them, and the group turned towards him. It hadn't taken too long for Lana grow to love Bail very much and start calling him father. Bail had taken good care of Lana and had provided anything and everything she had ever needed.

Obi-Wan let a grin spread across his face and strode toward the other man. Each enveloped the other in a hug, then stepped back, gripping each others arms.

“Obina is a wonder to behold, indeed,” Obi-Wan said. “You look well, Bail.”

“Things are well,” he confirmed. “With Lana, Leia, and Obina… I have a full household. I couldn’t be happier.”

"Don't let father fool you. He thought he got out of diaper duty when Leia was potty trained, now he's got Obina." Lana smirked.

“Speaking of diaper duty,” Jade commented. “I think this one needs someone just for that.”

"Oh..." Lana gave Jade an apologetic smile and took the child from her. "I'll be right back..."

"I'll take her, sweetheart. It's time for her nap anyway. You stay and visit," Seleman said, taking Obina and moving into the house before Lana could protest.

"How is Luke?" Lana asked, turning back to the two Jedi.

“He’s growing like a weed,” Jade said. “Owen and Beru are great with him.”

“Even if they don’t approve of us lurking around him,” Obi-Wan said.

“They fear an uncertain future,” Jade said.

“Don’t we all,” Bail put in.

Jade stepped to him and slipped an arm around his waist, too short to reach his shoulders. “With people like you in the galaxy, the future promises to be bright, Bail.”

“And the same goes for those he’s raised,” Obi-Wan said, nodding toward Lana. “I’m so glad to see you as a wife and mother. I cannot suppress my pride.”

Lana beamed at him. "I wouldn't be here today without you, though. Both of you. You saved my life more than once."

Obi-Wan smiled wordlessly, pondering that mission all those years ago and the risk the Council took with her mind. Seeing her now, he knew he’d done the right thing.

"How long will you be staying? Your visits seem to be growing shorter and shorter every time you come," Lana said, crossing her arms across her chest as a cool mountain breeze hit her.

“Traveling is perilous,” Obi-Wan said regretfully. “Guarding Luke is imperative and leaves room for little else. I wish we could stay longer, Lana, but this will most likely be another short visit. Perhaps… our last.”

Lana's face fell. "Last? But Obina... she'll grow, and you'll miss it. She'll never know you if you don't visit."

“Believe me when I say this is not an easy thing we do,” Obi-Wan said, taking her hands in his. He looked down and noticed how wrinkled and cracked his once strong hands had become. They looked even more out of place holding her delicate fingers and smooth palms. “Obina…” He paused, absorbing the name. “I know she will grow well and be beautiful. I know because even now I can see your spirit in her eyes.”

Lana pulled gently on Obi-Wan’s hands and lead him away from Jade and Bail into the small garden that surrounded her home.

"Uncle Obi," Lana started off softly. "If this is to be our last visit, I want to be sure you know how much you mean to me." She stopped and turned towards him. "When my parents died, you were there. You were the only bright spot in my life for a very long time, and I knew that I could always count on you." She glanced away as tears fell down her cheeks. "You're as much a father to me as Bail, and you will always be my hero, the one I can turn to when the path before me looks dark."

Obi-Wan reached out with his sleeves, wiping her tears away just as he had when she was a youngling. “Lana… The Rules.” He placed his fingers on her chin and tilted her face toward him. “I know you remember the last and most important of them. I will always be in your heart, and you will always be in mine. I will always see you as my daughter in the Force, and no distance or passage of time will change that.”

"And this isn't the first time I wish I could feel the Force so I could sense you, feel you," Lana said, her tears falling freely.

Obi-Wan pulled her into his arms, closing his eyes. He shushed her tenderly, his cheek pressed into her brunette curls. With a gentle nudge, he let the Force within him brush her.

It was like a slow warmth entering Lana's being. She closed her eyes, and for once in her life she felt Obi-Wan. Not in a physical form, but his spirit. His love for her poured into her. She could feel the Force leave her, but she could still seem to feel Obi-Wan’s spirit within her.

Lana let out a low sob and clutched Obi-Wan, burying her face in his shoulder. Obi-Wan found himself weeping as well, gripping her for dear life.

“I should have done that long ago,” he said in a voice that cracked. “I’m sorry.”

"Don't ever be sorry," Lana said in-between her sobs. "I love you, Uncle Obi... My father in the Force," she said softly.

Obi-Wan pulled back enough to kiss her cheek, then broke away and cupped the same cheek he’d kissed in his palm. “I love you. And I’ve finally shed my fear of saying it.”

Lana smiled at him through her tears and placed her hand over his. "You never had to say it; I could always tell."

“Should we return to the others?” Obi-Wan asked.

"Probably... I'm sure they're wondering what we're doing," Lana said. She slipped her arm around him and laid her head on his shoulder as they walked back over to the group.

Jade turned with Bail, both of them greeting the two with smiles.

“Are you all right, Lana?” Jade asked, her face fading into concern. “You look as though you’ve been crying.”

"I'll be okay," Lana said, and she stepped forward and hugged Jade.

Jade smiled and hugged her back, furrowing her brow when she pulled away. “You feel different. New and yet familiar…” She laughed slightly. “I can’t put my finger on it.”

Obi-Wan slipped up beside Jade and kissed her cheek. “I’ll tell you later.”

“Hmm?” She looked at him distrustfully, then at Lana who was only beaming silently. “You’re two of a kind, you know that?”

"If I'm like Uncle Obi, then I am truly blessed." Her voice cracked again, and she felt Bail slip his arm around her waist to comfort her.

“I’d have to agree,” Jade said softly, pressing into Obi-Wan’s side. “Are we ready?” she asked him.

“We are,” he said. “It was wonderful seeing you and your family, Bail. And, Lana…” He gave her a long, meaningful look. “May the Force be with you.”

"And with you, Uncle Obi." Then she focused on him and thought, thank you... for everything.

Obi-Wan sighed deeply at the welcome whisper of her in his mind. No, thank you.

With that, they climbed back in their speeder and were flown back toward the docked ship where they would sneak back to Tatooine. After they had put their hoods in place and boarded, Jade leaned into Obi-Wan’s chest and made a thoughtful noise.

“You melded spirits with her, didn’t you?” she asked.

“I did,” he answered. “It was long overdue.”

Jade smiled softly. “I agree.”

They stayed this way for the duration of the trip, the warmth of love holding them in a universe grown cold.

The End

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