Stepping In (Star Wars AU)

Chapter 23

Obi Wan's P.O.V

Obi-Wan took a step back.

"Shmi?"

Shmi stayed silent.

"Is that really you?" Obi-Wan asks.

"Yes, Obi Wan. It's me."

"H-how? I thought you had died!"

Shmi looked away.

"Sidious faked my death. He imprisoned me. Tortured me."

"Do you know?"

"About Anakin? Yes. Sidious' favorite way of torture was by telling me what he had become and the atrocious things he does."

"Shmi, I am so sorry."

Obi-Wan comes down from his perch and hugs her.

"I haven't lost hope. I still believe he can be redeemed."

Obi-Wan pulled away, frowning. He decided to entertain her foolish belief.

"As do I." He lied. "I should tell you something. Anakin was married."

"Married? To who?" Shmi asked.

"To Padme Amidala. She was pregnant."

"Pregnant!? I have a grandchild?"

"Grandchildren. A boy and a girl. Twins. The Jedi decided it was best if we split them up. They were too powerful together. Sidious would easily find them. Luke, the boy, is on here with his Aunt and Uncle. Leia, the girl, lives with the Organa's."

"Leia is my grandchild!? I-I actually met one of my grandchildren..."

"You met Leia?"

"The Naberrie's took me to Bail Organa, who sent me here. He was talking to her."

"I see. C'mon. Let's head back to my hut."

------

Obi-Wan and Shmi talked for a while. Mostly about what had happened to him all these years. They talked about the old times. The Clone Wars. The Jedi. What the Jedi did wrong.

"He was too old to let go of his attachments. That was one of the risks of accepting him into the Jedi. The Council should have made exceptions for him. He was the Chosen One. We were fools to think he would let go of his attachments. We were fools to think he wouldn't form new ones."

"Don't blame yourself, Obi-Wan. You did what you thought was best for him. You cared for him."

"I can't help it, Shmi. He was my padawan and I failed him."

"You forget that he was a Jedi Knight when he turned and he was under the influence of Palpatine."

"I should've stopped him from seeing Palpatine! I was his master! I should've protected him!"

An awkward silence filled the room.

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay, Obi-Wan. He was like a son to you."

Obi-Wan stands up.

"I think it's time for you to meet Luke."

"R-really?"

"Yes." Obi-Wan goes into a room and comes back with a robe. "Here. Wear this. You know how Tatooine is like."

Shmi takes the robe and puts it on.

"Thank you, Obi-Wan."

"I should tell you, though. Owen doesn't like me. He thinks the Jedi polluted Anakin and made him go to the Dark Side. He doesn't want me anywhere near Luke in fear of me training him in the ways of the Jedi. Beru is much more....accepting and open-minded."

"I see. I hope he sees that it wasn't your fault. It's much more dangerous for him not to be trained than him being trained in the ways of the Jedi." 

"As do I."