written by Heather

"It’s time," he said, staring at her back. The sun was melting into the horizon, making her shadow longer than normal. It’s elongated, dark length almost like Ana--Vader’s. Obi-Wan shuddered when he realized what comparison he just made, but also found it appropriate. For wasn’t Vader the reason why he had to do this?

"So soon?" she murmured. "It’s only been three days, Obi-Wan." Grief made her fall in on herself, making her appear smaller than normal.

"Three days longer than we agreed upon, Padmé. I should have taken Luke the moment he was born."

"We are in no danger here, Obi-Wan. There is no one to pursue us." But her voice was flat, like she was reciting something.

Obi-Wan knew Padmé didn’t believe that. There would always be someone to pursue them, for until Luke became old enough, no could stop the new Sith Lord. However, he wasn’t callous enough to remind her, for she was doing that to herself everyday.

He already described the battle once, and her pain and anger were enough to make him wish -- what? That Padmé wasn’t stubborn enough to demand the truth? That she had stopped insisting Obi-Wan tell her exactly what occurred between him and her husband? No.

Yes. He hadn’t missed the rage she projected at him, followed by the anguish. Rage that both him and Anakin: Anakin for succumbing, Obi-Wan for completing the physical transformation. Anguish that Padmé could never have her family whole; that her children were denied their father.

Obi-Wan stepped closer. "Padmé, I must do this."

Her reply was soft. "I know. I only --" she choked, pulling her robe tighter around herself, shaking. Even though the birth had been easy, she still should be resting.

"I wish I could see him," she whispered.

Obi-Wan drew a deep breath. "That would not be wise."

Padmé turned, still clutching at her robe. Tears shimmered in her eyes, catching the fading sunrays. She aged years in the past few months, giving her a haggard appearance. The strong woman who fought the Trade Federation and defied all customs to marry a Jedi no longer looked out from those eyes. Now it was a widow. And a mother.

"Nothing is these days, is it? Even mere words can kill someone." She reached out a trembling hand, grasping Obi-Wan’s robe. "This is my fault, Obi-Wan. I should have seen this. I did see this and I did nothing! I left him because of his growing darkness when I should have helped him fight it."

Obi-Wan enveloped her hand with his, watching as sobs shook the petite frame. A harsh, grating sound that bashed at his soul. "I, too, should have seen this, Padmé. We all missed the signs. You did nothing wrong. How could you have known?"

Her cries broke off into harsh breathing. "Because I am his wife."

"And I was his teacher. And his friend."

She used her hand to pull herself in closer and looked up at him. "I never thought..."

"None of us did, Padmé."

Padmé loosened her grip and stepped away, her hands falling to her sides. She closed her eyes. "I can’t even keep his children to remember him. I must hide them for their safety, from their own father!"

Obi-Wan hugged her, yet she didn’t cry this time. But he could feel the pain pouring off her and he recalled another night much like this one, where he held the Senator as she told him how, after months of separation, Anakin had returned for a night to try and reconcile. Only the next morning, the two of them fought about Palpatine and he stormed off. And how she told him what that night did: left her pregnant. How much she wanted to tell Anakin, but something wouldn’t let her because she was afraid for him. And of the now Emperor.

"I wish I did not have to do this, Padmé," Obi-Wan murmured. "But you will have Leia."

She laughed, sending vibrations through his chest. "But not Luke. Never Luke. You haven’t even let me hold him -- only looked at him through the window."

"I am sorry," he said, wincing as he realized how hollow that apology would be. There was nothing he could say to ease that action.

"He will have no memories of me."

Obi-Wan did not speak, feeling that words would be harsher than silence. Luke could not form any bond with his mother or sister. If that happened, then he might start reaching for them when he was in his new home -- something that could alert their father.

A cry came from the room, and Padmé jerked out of his chest and rushed in, Obi-Wan following her. He watched as she went to the cradle and removed Leia. Crooning, she pressed Leia against her chest and began to sway back and forth. Within moments, the cries faded into hiccups and then to silence. Padmé smiled and Obi-Wan was once again aware that Anakin should be here, watching this. Not him.

"She’s beautiful," Padmé said, stroking Obi-Wan’s cheek. "She has my mother’s eyes."

"And yours."

Padmé looked up, the smile fading as reality asserted itself. "I wonder if Anakin would say so -- if he’ll recognize her eyes when he meets her."

"Padmé --"

"Obi-Wan, the Organas are adopting her. As Princess Leia of Alderaan, she will meet Vader at some point in her life. It is inevitable."

Obi-Wan swallowed his retort. Padmé was correct. Leia would undoubtedly encounter her father several times during her life. The Organas were notorious for getting involved in things, as well as the Skywalkers. Leia would have both going for her.

But the eyes were the least of his worries. Leia and Luke had equal receptiveness in the Force. But Luke was more blunt than Leia. He was more direct. He pulled it towards him, making himself a beacon. Whereas Leia diffused it, was subtler in her approach. Unless someone knew what to look for, they wouldn’t notice that she was in tune with the Force. They would just say she was strong-willed. And, hopefully, Vader would never suspect, for the Organas were about as Force-sensitive as lightsabers.

Leia could remain in the Republic’s sectors. Luke could not. Which is why Obi-Wan had a ship ready and was prepared to take Luke to the Lars on Tatooine. A place that would understand why Luke must be hidden and protected, yet also a place that Vader would never go to. Vader was done with the Outer Rims. His business was everywhere else.

"I suppose it is," Obi-Wan said. He looked at the other doorway, and at the hallway that lead to Luke’s room and then back at Padmé, who was still gazing at Leia. For the first time, he felt intrusive. But there was nothing he could do about that.

"Padmé, I really must go. The longer I delay, the more dangerous it becomes."

"I know," she said. "I know."

Obi-Wan took that as permission and went to Luke’s room. He entered, smiling at the Nanny droid and walked to Luke’s crib. He was awake, staring at the ceiling. Obi-Wan peered over the side and caught his breath. He was looking at Anakin’s eyes and wondered if this was how Anakin looked when he was born.

Luke grinned and waved his hands at Obi-Wan, babbling. Obi-Wan smiled back and leaned down to pick Luke up. Luke giggled and Obi-Wan balanced Luke between his arms as Luke used his tiny fists to bat at Obi-Wan, still talking. Obi-Wan could feel Luke recognizing Obi-Wan’s force sense, and reaching out. Obi-Wan gently negated that and before Luke could protest, he starting to bounce Luke. Luke enjoyed this and continued his speech, for that’s what Obi-Wan figured he was doing.

He walked back to the room. Padmé was putting Leia back in her crib. She straightened and froze as she caught sight Obi-Wan and the child in his arms. He could see the longing in her eyes and how much she wanted to reach her arms out and take Luke.

Instead, she just continued to stare. In a shaky voice, she asked, "He will be safe?"

Obi-Wan could hear the unvoiced words following that question. Without me? Without the protection of his mother? Without his real family, his father?

"Vader will never take him, Padmé. I promise you."

"How can you be sure?"

Obi-Wan hadn’t told her this part of the plan yet, for he knew it would only cause more pain. "Because I will live on Tatooine and watch over him."

Padmé’s head shot up and her pain-struck eyes met his. He watched her mouth form into the word "Why you" but she did not say it. She nodded instead. "I know you will look after him, Obi-Wan. And the Lars understand the danger in raising him." She looked back at the bundle, where Luke was quiet. "Please tell them how grateful I am," she whispered.

Obi-Wan jiggled Luke, making sure that Padmé would not see the baby’s face. If she saw they were Anakin’s eyes, she might not keep her distance.

"You should go, Obi-Wan. Now." Padmé turned away and closed her eyes.

"He will be cared for, and raised as their own son," Obi-Wan said, trying to reassure her.

"But he is not their son. He is Luke Skywalker."

"Soon to be Luke Lars."

She whirled her head, eyes opening. "The Lars are adopting him? You never informed me –"

"They are not adopting him, Padmé. But they are giving him their name."

"But he has a name!"

"The name of Skywalker is still popular on that planet, Padmé. It is unwise –"

"Obi-Wan, he will have neither a father nor mother. At least let him keep his name!"

"Padmé, it’s too dangerous! If Anakin should ever search --"

"He won’t. Not until it’s too late." She spoke with a certainty that Obi-Wan hadn’t seen for a long time.

"Padmé--"

"I know my husband, Obi-Wan. And I know that he believed he knew me. If I even suspected I was pregnant, I would have informed him immediately."

"Even though you were estranged?"

A bitter smile flashed across her visage. "Yes. For that should have brought us back together." The smile crumpled. "Perhaps it would have, but we will never know, will we?" A pause, and she continued. "Obi-Wan, please. Don’t let them adopt him. Let him keep his name. In the memory of who Anakin Skywalker was, let his son carry that name proudly."

Obi-Wan couldn’t speak. Allowing Luke to keep his birth name was inviting trouble and placed the boy in danger.

Padmé moved closer. "Obi-Wan, I know that one day Luke will have to confront his father. When this happens, let Vader see the young man that he should have raised, the young man that bears the name Skywalker. That alone could help Luke win the battle. It could make Anakin remember who he used to be and bring him back!"

"Padmé, Anakin is gone. Any goodness was seared out of him once he fell. Now, there’s just Darth Vader," Obi-Wan’s voice was gentle, but unyielding. Too much rested on this child. "I once believed, as you do. But I witnessed the transformation."

Padmé searched Obi-Wan’s eyes, looking for something that wasn’t there, because she turned away to stare at Leia’s crib. "There is still something in him, Obi-Wan. But go."

"Padmé--"

"Please, Obi-Wan. Take Luke and go."

He did so. His footsteps echoed as he walked to his ship. He looked down and Luke and the baby gazed back at him with a solemn expression.

Only half the ships that went to Tatooine ever landed in the spaceports. No one would think it suspicious if his ship landed in the desert. No one would probably even notice, and if they did, just assume it was a shipment.

Tatooine was a haven for many smugglers for that was how Jabba the Hutt made most of his money. Spaceports knew better than to challenge any ships that did land in the desert, or even keep a record of those that landed there. His presence would not be detected, except by those he came to meet.

He flew through the thin atmosphere, heading for the dark side of the planet. The two suns had set and there was no moon tonight, which meant no light would reflect off his ship. Plus, his ship had a darker sheen to it, so the night enveloped it.

He couldn’t help remember the last time he had been here and how the ship landed away from the spaceports so no one would detect them. That time, he had taken something away from Tatooine, something powerful and now something evil. Now, it was like he was giving Tatooine a chance to redeem itself by bringing something back that was innocent. If this planet could hide Luke long enough, then Obi-Wan’s mistake would be rectified.

And despite what he told Padmé, Obi-Wan did blame himself. Anakin had been his apprentice and thus, his responsibility. He should have seen how Anakin used his anger, how Anakin aggressive Anakin had become over the past few years. But he simply attributed it to his former apprentice’s nature. To his arrogance.

Now, Anakin still had that arrogance. He was also cruel, angry, vengeful, and had a new identity. He helped plunge the galaxy into chaos and Palpatine secure his throne. Vader hunted down many of Obi-Wan’s colleagues and murdered them, ensuring that no one would be able to challenge either Vader or the Emperor.

Only Yoda and Obi-Wan remained. And Anakin’s offspring, but they wouldn’t be able to fight until their twenties. Nor could they be trained until their twenties, something that disturbed Yoda. Years of Jedi knowledge and wisdom would have to be crammed into a few months, because as soon as the children did begin their training, Vader would sense them.

Yoda and Obi-Wan agreed that only Luke and Leia could prevail. If Obi-Wan wasn’t able to dissuade Anakin from the Dark Side, Yoda wouldn’t be able to either. And neither even considered Palpatine – he would have to be killed. But Vader … Vader might be persuaded. But that was a doubtful ‘might’. Anakin had been evil before the lava pit, and Obi-Wan was certain the boiling fire didn’t help matters much.

Padmé’s words flashed through his mind. Let him see the young man he should have raised, the young man that bears the name Skywalker! Pretty words, but her suggestion could cost Luke his life. Now, if he told the Lars to adopt Luke, then Vader would never stumble across his name. It was for the best …

An image of a young man coalesces in his mind. A sandy-haired, blued eyed boy in his early teens. Obi-Wan should recognize those eyes, but he’s too caught up in the boy’s emotions.

That was it. That was the key. The vision pertained to Luke and to the father he so desperately wanted to see. And in that love lay the answer. Obi-Wan knew the Organas would adopt Leia, only keep it a secret so the galaxy at large would assume Leia was their natural child. Perhaps the Organas wouldn’t even inform Leia.

Leia would have no need to know her birth father because she would have a father. But Luke … Luke was the one he was going to train first. The orphan Luke raised by his aunt and uncle. Luke, who want to know about his father with a burning intensity.

And Obi-Wan would tell him the truth: how Anakin was betrayed and murdered by the Dark Side, to be replaced by Darth Vader. And Luke would want to save that father because somewhere beneath Darth Vader would be the man that Luke dreamed of.

Luke would have an investment in this battle that Obi-Wan could never have. And, perhaps, Anakin might feel that. The love the father would have for the son. That could be the one thing that saved the galaxy. But it was still a huge risk for Luke. It Obi-Wan chose do this, the next twenty years would not be easy.

He started the landing procedures and looked out the front window. He squinted. No, his eyes didn’t deceive him. He could make out two figures waiting for him and his cargo.

He felt the ship hum as he went through the final stages and the landing was easy. He got the sleeping Luke, went to the exit, and lowered the platform.

Owen and Beru met him at the end of the ramp. He could feel the fear and distrust radiating from both, but there was yearning also. The two had been unable to conceive children of their own and were looking forward to raising Luke, despite the danger. He placed Luke in Beru’s hands, gentle enough so he didn’t rattle Luke.

"What do we call him?" Beru asked, peering beneath the blanket to coo at the now-awake baby.

"Luke --" Obi-Wan stopped, the words rushing through his mind. He will have neither a father nor mother. He couldn’t let Padmé see her son, hold her son, or tell her son how much she loved him. But if Vader ever did search …then maybe it would make a dent in his anger. Make him see what he could have been like, whose life he should have been a part of. Make him feel something other than anger.

Obi-Wan spoke. "Luke Skywalker."