Redemption

CHAPTER SEVEN:

You are nothing but the whispers of the past, my love. A ghost lingering in my mind to remind me of what I've lost.

Nearly a week later, Opal was staring at the door that led into her parents apartment high above Coruscant, Anakin trailing aimlessly along the balcony as he stared in awe at the pits below. She had put off doing this for years because of the memories that lurked inside, and of all people, she'd brought herPadawan because Obi Wan was busy at the Temple. "I should've just waited for Obi Wan." She muttered, inhaling deeply as she turned to Anakin. "Are you coming, Skywalker?"

He nodded and stuck close to her, his hand lingering on his saber as she entered the vacant apartment. "How long has it been since you've been in here, Opal?" He asked, his blue eyes flickering around the large living room to take in his surroundings.

"I was 11." She replied. "Master Yoda had brought me back to collect some of my things. It's been far too long." Opal ran her fingers over the sofa she had curled up on with her parents, how she had cherished the sound of their voices and the warmth their bodies radiated as she fell into sleep at such a young age. "I can feel all the ghosts that lurk here. That's why I've been so afraid to come back."

"I'm not going to let anything hurt you." He whispered. Her heart pounded anxiously as Anakin followed her throughout each room until they reached a silver door in the back hallway marked Confidential. "What's that?"

Opal froze in her place, hands trembling as she unfastened the chain around her neck that held two keys. One for the front door, and one for the closet in front of her. "That's the closet I wasn't allowed to enter as a child."

"Are you sure you want to see what's inside?"

Opal nodded and fit the key into the lock, her heart pounding so hard she was sure it was going to crack her sternum. The closet door creaked open until all she saw was a small chest. As for what was in it.. she didn't want to know. "Anakin," She faltered. "I-"

Anakin lifted his saber and slashed through the middle of the box, giving her the ability to pull out whatever was inside. Opal peered inside the hugest and nearly vomited when she saw the paper and the lightsaber it was attached to.

Dear God, please no.

She tried not to cry in front of her Padawan, but it was impossible to halt the tears that ran down her cheeks as she activated the lightsaber and the room lit up in a mirage of red. She dropped it almost as quickly as she picked it up, backing away from the weapon. "My entire life is a lie." She cried, collapsing on the floor as her fingers struggled to pick up the note in front of her. "I-I can't do this-"

Anakin knelt in front of her, kneeling as he opened the note and began to read what was written.

"My dearest Opal, my precious gift.

If you're reading this, then we've been discovered and are most likely dead. The reason why we never wanted you to enter this closet was because that was where your father stored his lightsabers, both his green and his red one. He turned to darkness. How, I do not know. Why, I do not know. But he continued the facade of being on the Council to keep you safe. We love you, Opal, and we only want what is best for you. Despite your anguish, despite your grief.. do not allow this to make you stumble. You are stronger then the ghosts that run inside your head. Always fight for who you love."

Anakin swallowed and tucked the note into his robes, sheathing the red lightsaber and studying the hilt closely. The weapon intrigued more then he cared to admit.

Opal gripped his robes for stability as she stood to her feet. She drew her hands across the back of her cheeks. "I need to go back to the Temple and tell the Council what happened. Then I'm going to have Obi Wan come back with me to clean this place out." She looked around the room, her eyes darker then he'd ever seen them. "Time to unveil the lie once and for all."

"But why would you care, Opal!? They weren't good people! Your entire childhood was based on a lie!"

Anakin stumbled backwards as she whipped around and smacked him so hard in the mouth that his head flew to one side. "My parents made me who I am, Anakin Skywalker." She snarled. "And I'll be damned if my padawan tells me they weren't good people because they were deceived. I'm going back to the Temple. You can stay here and unearth my past, or you can come back with me and train. Your choice."

He had never been more afraid of her then in that moment, where the broken woman behind the mask was revealed and finally came undone.

****

Opal was more and more afraid to continue training Anakin with the days that followed after that. She couldn't bring herself to apologize for what she did because what he'd said was cruel, but every time she saw that sadness lurking in his blue orbs when he looked at her, it only made her heart ache.

The only thing keeping her sane was Obi Wan, who was proving to be a godsend the longer they were together. The next day when she returned to their quarters inside the Temple, she took to the shadows when she realized Obi Wan was talking to Anakin. "And she just.. hit you?"

Anakin rubbed the back of his head awkwardly and nodded. His expression read embarrassment. "I felt awful when I left, Master, but I had never seen her so angry before and I was truly afraid." He said. Obi Wan inhaled deeply and ran a hand through his hair, his head slowly turning to where she was hiding behind the pillar. "You look distressed. What's wrong?"

Opal knew he could feel her presence through the Force. Despite knowing that, she was surprised Obi didn't tell Anakin about it. "She is breaking, Anakin." He admitted, resting his hands against his hips as he looked Anakin in the eye. "And it is my job to put her back together before darkness overcomes her. She holds much anger towards the Council for her parents murders, and she must let go of the past before it consumes her."

Opal pressed her hand against her mouth, her back sliding down the pillar as she listened to Anakins retreating footsteps. She nearly screamed when she felt Obi Wan kneel in front of her and remove her hands from her mouth. "I-I am a monster.'' She sobbed, thrashing as he tried to pull her into his arms. "How do I go back in there and face him after I hit him? He's the only family I have beside you, and he deserves so much better than me..."

"Opal, you are far from a monster." He said firmly. "A monster is what people become when they are overcome with hate." Her eyes widened as Obi Wan ran his thumb over her lips, her eyes never leaving his own. "Anakin told me what happened. None of that is on you. He feels awful for saying what he did."

"Obi Wan, I slapped that poor boy-"

He shook his head and helped her to her feet, pressing a finger to his lips as he drew her to a secluded alley behind the Temple where no Jedi ever went. Opal sighed as they squeezed into the narrow space, close enough that their chests were pressed together. "And you had every reason to do so. You have got to stop acting like you're okay when you aren't, Opal. Let me help you get through this." Her heart fluttered as he cupped her face in his hands and brushed the gentlest of kisses against her lips. "Together, or not at all."

And that was exactly what he did that night.

Opal drew her dressing gown from her dresser, slipping it over her body and pulling her Jedi robe overtop of it. Pulling her blonde hair into a ponytail, she entered the living room and found Obi Wan in front of the fire place, two candles lit on the table accompanied by two glasses of wine. "Now this is what I call a first date." She mused, resting her body against his chest as he enveloped her in his arms. "I've always wanted to do this."

He rested a hand on her thigh as she sipped her wine, the firelight flickering in her eyes. "I've been waiting months to be able to do this with no distractions." He murmured. "Opal, I want you to tell me what's running through your head. Why you can't seem to sleep through the night, why guilt plagues you every waking moment that your eyes are open. Tell me how to rid you of your demons."

She froze, remembering having slapped Anakin after finding out her father had been drawn to the Dark Side. Opal turned to the man who held her close, setting her glass on the stone that surrounded the fire place. She then started talking. Words of nights filled with guilt and remorse left her lips as she told the story of her induction into the Jedi Order, her parents mission, and how Obi Wan had made her feel having been her first friend when they began training together.

"You were and still are the most selfless person I ever met." She confessed, tracing circles against the weathering skin of his hand which fit so perfectly in hers. "You have a heart for children unlike any man I've ever met, and no matter how much people betray or hurt you, you never give up on them. I wish I was like that."

She spoke of her life after the two of them had parted, being trained by Master Windu inside the Jedi Temple. How her mind never faltered on thinking about what was inside that closet in her parents apartment. How reuniting with Qui Gon had made her have a purpose again, and seeing Obi Wan, so innocent and gorgeous, had filled her heart to the brim with a happiness she hadn't received since the days her parents were alive.

They spoke until early dawn, the hues of orange and pink swirling against the walls as she curled up in his arms, her head resting against his chest since they had moved to the couch. After speaking to each other about their pasts for so long, she felt a sense of peace. "Why did you take Anakin to the apartment?" He said softly, his voice laced with sleep.

Her heart pounded against her chest as Opal rested her hand overtop of his own heart. "I was looking for closure." She replied. "I found out a dangerous family secret that I don't know if I should tell the Council about or not. My father played out a facade as a Jedi on the Council to cover up the work he was doing with the Sith."

That seemed to draw him out of his dozed off sleep. "Your father was a Sith? You're joking right? How on Earth would The Council not sense that?"

"Evidently he played off as a Jedi to keep me safe. Parker knew where my loyalties would lie as I got older and he didn't want me to not do what I loved. Dedicate my life to the people who need protecting." She lifted her head and lightly ran a finger over his stubble that was growing to be thick, blondish red hair that occupied the curve of his jaw. She absolutely loved running her fingers through the hair on his face. "Should I tell the Council?"

"We'll tell them together. I think it's vital that they know, because if what I was told is correct, there is a good possibility that your father could still be alive, given the circumstances of the mission." Obi Wan smiled that adorable lopsided smile before yawning. "Goodnight, Opal Stone."

She yawned in unison with him, resting her head on his chest as his arms circled her. "Sleep well, Obi Wan Kenobi."