Obi-Wan finds himself of two minds now, having been with the twins and their mother since their birth, having helped shoulder even part of the responsibility of taking care of them. He understands why the younglings were taken from their families as infants to be raised by the Order, has seen - is living - the consequences of trying to train someone who's already formed emotional attachments to caregivers, friends and places.
And it's not as if the younglings aren't cared for, aren't nurtured until they're old enough to start the Force games that are the foundation for learning to be a Jedi. But it's true, no one caregiver puts a single child above the others; he'd never felt the unconditional love from any of them that he sees in Padmé, even now when they're away from the babies.
Even as a trained Jedi Master, he would find it extremely difficult to give the twins up to the creche, and they aren't even his children.
... if the creche were still there. If Anakin hadn't--
"Uncle Obi-Wan," he murmurs, chuckling softly at the idea. But that gets him thinking about when they're older, but not old enough yet to understand how to keep things secret. "No. Perhaps it should be 'Uncle Ben.' Obi-Wan... I think Obi-Wan should be laid to rest. With the other ghosts of the past. When the younglings were learning to talk, they often called me Ben as a nickname. I wouldn't mind becoming Ben full-time."
It's not exactly a new start, but he feels good about the idea. A small weight, but a weight nonetheless, lifted off his shoulders. He's not a Jedi Master anymore; the Jedi are dead. Now he's just the honorary uncle to two small children who need him, and companion to their mother, whom he needs as much as she might need him.
Unconditionally love is such a small phrase. Anakin had used it once, to describe how he saw compassion. Had used it to describe his love for her. It was too small a phrase for burning passion of the man. It was too small a phrase to describe the deep well overflowing with emotions Padmè felt for the two tiny babies.
"Uncle Ben." It's so simply settled for Padmè, the change in name. Tsabin to Sabè. Obi-Wan to Ben. "Amidala must vanish too. And the Naberrie Clan is small but not unknown. I don't believe Anakin's stepfather would mind my use of his last name. When they are old enough to understand, we can explain." She can't save her beloved Republic ( but the Rebellion against Palpatine bears her Goddess' crest and Mon Montha and Bail Organa live). She can't save Anakin ( not yet her heart insists ). She can't protect her people by being on Naboo ( Sachè and Eritè and Rabè and Montè well lead in her stead and in her name ). She can't save three of the things she loves the most. But she can two of the others.
Padmè Lars and Ben Kenobi, Coruscanti refugees. Luke and Leia Lars, born in hyperspace and without a home system. This is the face they will wear. She can get travel papers from people. Sabè will be her shadow, she knows. She won't need to ask. They are tiny and isolated right now but they are not alone. The thought isn't comforting, it's fortifying and she grips Ben's upper arm in her hand, looks him level in the eyes. Her face may still be putty and speckled with red from pregnancy and childbirth. She might still be splotchy and eyes rimmed red with exhaustion and tears. But there is strength to her jaw and will in her countenance.
It's the face she's written in public for over a decade now. "It's going to be difficult, possibly the worse ordeal we've faced. We met under invasion and peril, and now find ourselves in worse. But this is not the end of our lives nor all we've worked for. These children are a blessing in a time in darkness. Life will always reign triumphant over chaos. We just have to work together."
She needs a break from newborn care. But Padmè will never truly stop working - and they both need a goal she thinks.
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And it's not as if the younglings aren't cared for, aren't nurtured until they're old enough to start the Force games that are the foundation for learning to be a Jedi. But it's true, no one caregiver puts a single child above the others; he'd never felt the unconditional love from any of them that he sees in Padmé, even now when they're away from the babies.
Even as a trained Jedi Master, he would find it extremely difficult to give the twins up to the creche, and they aren't even his children.
... if the creche were still there. If Anakin hadn't--
"Uncle Obi-Wan," he murmurs, chuckling softly at the idea. But that gets him thinking about when they're older, but not old enough yet to understand how to keep things secret. "No. Perhaps it should be 'Uncle Ben.' Obi-Wan... I think Obi-Wan should be laid to rest. With the other ghosts of the past. When the younglings were learning to talk, they often called me Ben as a nickname. I wouldn't mind becoming Ben full-time."
It's not exactly a new start, but he feels good about the idea. A small weight, but a weight nonetheless, lifted off his shoulders. He's not a Jedi Master anymore; the Jedi are dead. Now he's just the honorary uncle to two small children who need him, and companion to their mother, whom he needs as much as she might need him.
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"Uncle Ben." It's so simply settled for Padmè, the change in name. Tsabin to Sabè. Obi-Wan to Ben. "Amidala must vanish too. And the Naberrie Clan is small but not unknown. I don't believe Anakin's stepfather would mind my use of his last name. When they are old enough to understand, we can explain." She can't save her beloved Republic ( but the Rebellion against Palpatine bears her Goddess' crest and Mon Montha and Bail Organa live). She can't save Anakin ( not yet her heart insists ). She can't protect her people by being on Naboo ( Sachè and Eritè and Rabè and Montè well lead in her stead and in her name ). She can't save three of the things she loves the most. But she can two of the others.
Padmè Lars and Ben Kenobi, Coruscanti refugees. Luke and Leia Lars, born in hyperspace and without a home system. This is the face they will wear. She can get travel papers from people. Sabè will be her shadow, she knows. She won't need to ask. They are tiny and isolated right now but they are not alone. The thought isn't comforting, it's fortifying and she grips Ben's upper arm in her hand, looks him level in the eyes. Her face may still be putty and speckled with red from pregnancy and childbirth. She might still be splotchy and eyes rimmed red with exhaustion and tears. But there is strength to her jaw and will in her countenance.
It's the face she's written in public for over a decade now. "It's going to be difficult, possibly the worse ordeal we've faced. We met under invasion and peril, and now find ourselves in worse. But this is not the end of our lives nor all we've worked for. These children are a blessing in a time in darkness. Life will always reign triumphant over chaos. We just have to work together."
She needs a break from newborn care. But Padmè will never truly stop working - and they both need a goal she thinks.