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Leave us alone.
How many times had he wanted to say it? Life in the desert was hard enough, without Ben Kenobi always hovering around the edges.
Owen knew Ben was there to watch over Luke, and in his more broadminded moments he knew Ben deserved his gratitude. It was only a matter of time before the Empire came calling, after all, and when the day finally came Owen knew deep down he would rather have Ben there than not.
But he was never sure how the old man saw Luke. As a tool? A weapon? A threat?
Luke was none of those things, not to Owen and Beru. He was their son, not in name or blood or law, but in all the ways that mattered.
Leave us alone.
It cut Ben deep when he finally said the words. Owen didn’t relish it. He had never liked Ben, but he had no desire to cause him pain just for the sake of it. He just wanted him to stop sniffing around them.
Only a few long minutes later Owen thought it was too late, as the Inquisitor’s stare bore into him and her lightsaber burned at his throat. Is that enough for you? he wanted to say to Ben when it was over, Now do you see?
Leave us alone.
Not for a second did Owen ever think he would.
But the days went by, and there was no Kenobi. No far-off glimpses on the edge of the Wastes, no brief words exchanged at the market, no small gifts of money or supplies surreptitiously accepted or angrily refused depending on which Lars Ben offered them to.
Finally, Beru made the too-short (for Owen’s liking) trip to the cave they knew Ben had made his home. She returned to report it deserted, all possessions of any value taken either by Ben or scavengers.
So he really had left, then.
Owen was not a naturally sociable man, but he had never felt lonely. His wife, and his child, and the occasional companionship of other drinkers at the saloon were enough for him.
And he didn’t feel lonely now. But that night, he stood with Beru in the doorway to Luke’s tiny bedroom and watched his narrow chest rise and fall in slumber.
And he felt for the first time that the three of them truly were alone.