Chapter Text
It had been three years.
Three years in hiding, three years in the desert, three years with no contact from anyone.
Anakin still hated sand.
Obi Wan hated sand now too.
Emperor Palpatine had established his Galactic Empire, he spread fear and tyranny across the galaxy. None of that affected Tatooine though, too far out for anyone to care, too hot and dry to be worth anything.
The nightmares weren't as bad anymore, the Force had adapted, had given Anakin some reprieve. He had learned to meditate in the time they had gone into their self-inflicted exile. Obi Wan helped, it was easier to concentrate on him and his strength then it was on the world around them. Anakin had asked him once what he focused on, Obi Wan had called him an idiot.
The answer was Anakin, it was always Anakin.
There had been no word on surviving Jedi, though they knew they were still considered criminals. They tried to keep their heads down, but enough rumors circled in the city for them to get some information. There were bounties out on any rumored survivors. All Jedi had gone to ground, but almost no kills had been made since the Great Purge. That was what they called it now.
There had been no secret messages, no coded transmissions, no call to arms. There was nothing but silence, Anakin and Obi Wan didn't intend to change that. It wasn't the time, not yet, not for a while. Anakin hated the idea on being on Tatooine for the rest of his life, living out his days in hiding. But then Obi Wan would hand him a cup of caf that he had bought secretly, and it wasn't all bad.
There was news on the new Imperial Senate sometimes. Anakin knew that Padme had lived, that she still did what she loved, what she believed in. He would be worried for her, except he knew she knew how to survive. They said she had married, Anakin was even more relieved then he thought he would be.
He hoped she was happy, he hoped it wasn't just for show.
There was no word on a child, and Anakin didn't ask, didn't try to find out. It was better not to know, it wouldn't make a difference if he did. Tatooine was his home now, Obi Wan was his home now (always had been). They had bounties on their heads, and Anakin's would be the highest of all. His child, whether it be a son or a daughter (he didn't even know) was safer without him. It was better if everyone thought them dead, it was better they pretended they were.
At least, for now.
Maybe there would come a time when the world needed them again, when the world needed Jedi and the Jedi were strong enough to respond.
But not now.
The Empire was too strong.
The Jedi were too weak.
It wasn't the time, but- maybe one day. Maybe one day the time would come. And if it did, they would be ready. Anakin Skywalker and Obi Wan Kenobi would rise again, would fight.
But not yet.
For now, those men were dead.