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Hi! My name is Anakin Jinn Kenobi. I’m nine and I live with my dad Qui-Gon and my mum Obi-Wan on planet Naboo in a house by a big lake. I like fixing things, flying speeders (but don’t tell mum!) and eating dad’s jogan fruit muffins (they’re so yummy and just THE BEST EVER!). I’ve got a friend, too. It’s an astromech called R2–D2, but I simply call him Artoo. He’s so fun! I’m learning binary now because I want to understand what he’s saying.

(Umm… I don’t really know what else I’m supposed to write here. It was aunt Padmé’s idea to start keeping a diary… Oh, wait! I’ve got it!)

I’m also an only child but guess what – NOT FOR MUCH LONGER! My mum’s gonna have a tiny little BABY very, very soon and I CAN’T WAIT because it’s gonna be SOOO WIZARD and I–

“Anakin! Dinner is ready,” a deep male voice – strong, yet kind – carries all the way from the kitchen to the open terrace overlooking a crystal blue lake where Anakin has been sitting hunched over his datapad for the past half an hour or so.

“I’m coming, dad!” Anakin calls back, only now realising what time it is and that he is actually quite hungry. He taps ‘Save’ on the datapad screen to close the diary file, then sprints inside the house.

A wide smile blooms on his face as soon as he enters the cosy dining room and takes in the scene in front of him. Obi-Wan – heavily pregnant with Anakin’s sibling – is finishing setting a large rectangular table, one hand casually resting on top of his round belly, while Qui-Gon is busy putting what smells like a roast onto large dinner plates in the adjacent kitchen area. The two make such a perfect picture of domestic bliss. They look so content, so peaceful and happy together. It makes Anakin feel like the luckiest boy in the Galaxy. Something beautiful grows bigger and warmer in his chest every time he manages to catch a glimpse of his parents like this.

“Ah, here you are, darling,” Obi-Wan says sweetly when he notices Anakin’s arrival. “Have you washed your hands?” he adds as the boy takes his usual seat at the family table.

Anakin bites his lower lip. “Not yet. Sorry, mum,” he mutters, then promptly slides off his chair and runs to the bathroom to remedy his forgetfulness.

When he comes back, a steaming plate is already waiting for him. Enthusiastically, Anakin climbs onto his seat and inspects it. It smells absolutely delicious, as all of Qui-Gon’s food always does. Tonight, there is nuna meat roasted with a mix of herbs and spices, and paired with sautéed spinach. Anakin practically vibrates with excitement. He adores spinach. Even though he generally does not like vegetables very much.

“Mhmmm, it looks very yummy,” the boy exclaims with delight when Qui-Gon approaches the table with two more plates in his hands – one for himself and one for Obi-Wan.

“I’m glad to hear that, Annie,” the tall, long-haired man sends his son a pleased smile, then takes the place at the head of the table – with Obi-Wan on one side and Anakin on the other. “Enjoy the meal.”

“Thank you, dear. Enjoy yours,” Obi-Wan coos back and gives his baby bump another caress before delving into the nuna like the others.

The dinner is a pleasant affair, filled with light-hearted family banter, warm smiles and genuine laughter. Time passes incredibly fast when one spends it in the company of those they love, and so, before Anakin realises, it is late enough for him to get ready for bed.

Just like most days, he tries bargaining to be allowed to stay up for a while longer – “just this once, mummy, please” – but then, as he remembers going to bed means storytime as well, all of his pleas dissolve like a drop of cambylictus honey in the lemon balm tea Obi-Wan likes so much to drink in the evenings.

In a flash, Anakin rushes to the bathroom and starts performing his evening routine – all by himself, like the grown-ups do. He is eager to do away with everything as quickly as possible. And indeed, less than twenty minutes later, all bathed and dressed in his favourite starfighter-themed pyjamas, he snuggles down in bed under a soft summer duvet and tries very hard to exude Jedi-like calm and patience through his Force signature.

That is how Obi-Wan later finds him when he walks – or rather, waddles – into the dimly-lit bedroom with a holobook in his hand. “Aww. Are you tired, sweetheart?” he asks in a soft tone and carefully sits down on the edge of his son’s bed. “Should I let you sleep instead?”

Albeit resolutely shaking his head, Anakin only just manages to suppress the yawn that is threatening to break from his mouth at the mere mention of sleep. “No, no. I’m not tired at all. Tell me a story, mum. Please.”

Obi-Wan smiles fondly at the little boy’s antics and switches on the holocollection of bedtime stories he brought with him. “Of course, I will. Which one would you like to hear tonight? What about–”

“The one about us! How we became a family!” Anakin replies without hesitation. Of all stories he has ever heard, their own is by far his absolute favourite.

“Ahh, but you must already know that one by heart, Ani,” Obi-Wan tries to reason with him. “Do you really want to hear it again?”

“Yes, yes! I do! Pleeeease, mummy,” Anakin insists, then adds a sad pout for good measure. “Pretty please…”

Obi-Wan lets out a short sigh, giving in to Anakin’s pleading once again. “Fine. Our story it is then…”

“Yippee!” Anakin claps in glee a few times, then scoots over to make more room for Obi-Wan to sit next to him. As soon as the two get into a comfortable storytelling position – Obi-Wan reclining on the bed with his upper back and head supported by a large, fluffy pillow, and Anakin cuddled up close to his side – the story can begin.

“Some time ago in a galaxy not at all far away, there were two human Jedi who lived in the Jedi Temple on planet Coruscant – Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi. They were both committed to their calling – the studies of the Force, and their duty of being the peacekeepers that preserve law and order, help beings in need, and prevent small conflicts and full-scale wars alike all over the Galaxy. They were known to be honest and loyal men who abided by the Code that binds the entire Jedi Order together like an invisible ribbon.

For several years Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan worked together in perfect harmony as a Master-Padawan team – travelling near and far, and serving the Republic just like other members of their Order had been doing for many, many decades. They were good friends and inseparable companions.

Until one day.

Everything changed on an important and very dangerous mission to the Mid-Rim planet of Malastare. Following a violent skirmish during which Qui-Gon had been gravely injured and almost lost his life, Obi-Wan came to discover the true nature of the feelings he held for his Master. He realised how deeply and devotedly he loved him and how very dear the man was to his heart.

At first, the young apprentice was scared to confess this, convinced that the older Jedi could never feel the same way about him. But over time, as he nursed his Master back to full health, Obi-Wan learned that there was no need to worry at all – that Qui-Gon loved him back just as profoundly and sincerely as Obi-Wan loved him. There was a special bond of pure love between them which connected their hearts and souls more closely and securely than any training Force bond ever could.

The knowledge of their requited love brought the two Jedi a lot of joy and relief. Everything seemed brighter and more beautiful to them all of a sudden. It was like opening a pair of thick, dark curtains and seeing the sun in its full splendour for the first time in their lives.

Alas, the Jedi Code strongly discouraged all members from forming strong emotional attachments like the one Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan shared. Such relationships were said to be dangerous and easily exploitable by the powers of the Dark Side. And even though not all of them were destined to end in tragedy, the Jedi preferred to avoid any unnecessary risk. The rule of ‘no attachments’ had been a fundamental one to live by ever since the Order’s establishment long centuries ago. And every member was expected to respect and obey it.

By the time they returned to Coruscant from their lengthy mission, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan knew they were facing a crucial decision – either they would have to sever their bonds to continue their journey within the Jedi Order, or they would stay together and start a new life outside the Order as ordinary citizens of the Republic.

It was very hard for them to make the choice. Neither of the men could imagine not walking the Jedi path – the only one they had ever known. The Order was like their family – incredibly large and diverse yet caring as well. On the other hand however, the mere thought of having to spend the rest of their lives apart – most likely on  opposite ends of the vast Galaxy – was utterly unbearable. It hurt them deep in their souls and made their hearts constrict in terrible agony.

And so, listening to the voice of their hearts, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan decided to leave the Jedi, and continue to help those who needed it in other, equally meaningful ways. They got married in a simple ceremony, surrounded by only a handful of their closest friends and soon after, they left the Core and settled on planet Naboo – a verdant Mid-Rim world ruled by good Queen Amidala, who offered them both positions among her most trusted advisors. Since then, the two have been together – loving each other dearly and writing their own little story.”

As soon as Obi-Wan finishes speaking, Anakin looks up to him with shining eyes and a playful grin plastered on his face. “But that’s not how the story ends, mum!”

“Ah. Is it not?” Obi-Wan feigns surprise, like he always does.

“Uh-uh. You left out a whole big chunk of it,” Anakin continues to complain good-naturedly.

“Oh, I see. Well, would you like to help me tell it to the end?”

These are the very words Anakin has been waiting for. It has become a kind of a private ritual at this point. Every time his parents tell him their family story, Anakin gets to actively participate in it and tells the final part himself – because without him, neither the story nor their family could ever be truly complete.

He revels so much in the comforting feelings of safety and belonging these peaceful moments bring him. It is one of his favourite things in the whole wide universe and the main reason why he requests to hear this particular story again and again so often, even though he does almost know it all by heart by now.

And so, Anakin nods eagerly and flashes his mum a big smile when he is asked the familiar question, then lays his golden-haired head on Obi-Wan’s belly – soft and round and very large these days – and picks up right where they left off earlier. “Okay, so… It was supposed to continue like this…

After they married and moved to Naboo, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan thought they could have a baby together. They really wanted to have one. Or more of them. They loved each other very, very much and that’s the most important thing when someone wants to have a baby. So they were looking forward to having it soon.

When long weeks and months passed but there still wasn’t any baby on the way, they were both sad about it. They even asked the best healers on Naboo for help, but no one was able to help them. Not even the Force and the Force can help with a great many things. As time flew by, months slowly turned into years and nothing changed still, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan began to think they might never be able to have a baby. It was all terribly sad.

Luckily, they got a super wizard idea! All over the Galaxy, there are many children and younglings who are all alone and don’t have anyone – no mum or dad. So, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan decided to give one of these children a new home and become their new parents. And that’s how they found me – I mean – how they found a little human boy called Anakin.

He was barely three years old when they met him during one of their missions for the Queen. It was in a spaceport of Mos Espa on a planet called Tatooine in the Outer Rim where it’s always hot and there are no trees or grass at all, only white sand that’s coarse and rough and it gets everywhere – bleh. The boy was an orphan and no one knew anything about him apart from his name but Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan didn’t mind. When their mission ended, they took Anakin with them to Naboo. And since then, they have all lived together as a family in their house by the prettiest blue lake…

Oh, and one more thing. After years, Obi-Wan’s gonna have a little baby after all! No one expected… that… to happen… anymore… But it did.”

The last few words get almost lost among the series of yawns Anakin can no longer fight. He can feel his eyelids drooping and even though he would like his mummy to stay with him all night, he does not have enough energy to protest when Obi-Wan slowly untangles himself from their hug.

“Good night, my little one. Sweet dreams,” Anakin hears his mum say, then feels the soft touch of warm lips on his forehead. He smiles drowsily and hums back what he hopes sounds like ‘night-night’.

When the bedside table lamp is turned off and the entire room plunges into comforting almost-darkness, Anakin reflexively opens his eyes again for a moment. To his surprise, he not only makes out the silhouette of Obi-Wan – who is trying to draw the curtains properly closed as quietly as possible – but also one of another person, a much taller one who is soundlessly approaching Obi-Wan from behind.

“I see the holobook ended up unread once again,” Qui-Gon whispers when he gets close enough to wrap his arms lovingly around his husband’s widened waist.

Obi-Wan’s voice is so soft and hushed that Anakin can barely make out his reply. “Uh-huh. Anakin insisted on hearing the story about two Jedi in love instead.” 

“I can see why. It is a very beautiful story indeed.”

“It is,” Obi-Wan leans back against Qui-Gon’s chest and gives out a contented sigh. “Even if some things are no longer true.”

“Oh?” Qui-Gon inquires. “Which ones would that be?”

“I am not the skinny young Padawan you married ten years ago, for example.”

“That you are not,” the older man willingly admits. “You look even more stunning now that you are twenty-nine and expecting a child.”

Obi-Wan lets out an amused snort and tilts his head back to look at Qui-Gon – as well as he is able to in the dark, that is. “Are you flattering me, Master Jedi?”

In that little teasing remark, spoken so freely and so fondly, Anakin recognises the very core of his parents’ relationship – the undercurrent of genuine love and care that is ever-present in each of their daily interactions. He lets his eyes fall close – content in the knowledge that their bond is as strong as ever – and listens on with the last remains of his consciousness before the heavy veil of sleep can fully wrap itself around him.

“I am telling nothing but the plain truth here,” Anakin hears Qui-Gon say earnestly. “I love you very much, Obi-Wan. All three of you.”

“And I love you.”

As his parents cautiously tiptoe out of the room so as not to disturb their slumbering son, Anakin is thinking of the sweet and intimate exchange he has just witnessed. A smile finds its way onto his lips.

The last thought that crosses his tired mind before he finally falls asleep that night is one of his little sibling and all the love that awaits them when they are finally born.

Anakin hopes it will be soon. Very, very soon.

The next morning the golden summer sun rises early over the Lake Country and, surprisingly, Anakin rises with it. He is abruptly awoken by a myriad of unfamiliar sensations stirring in his mind – confusing and highly ambivalent.

Anticipation. Fear. Joy. Tension. Relief. Anger. Amusement. Pain. So much pain. Sharp, weird, and getting more intense with every passing moment.

All of these emotions somehow keep flowing into Anakin’s mind through the Force, which could only mean–

“MUMMY!!!” Anakin cries out when the realisation hits him and panic begins to rise in his little heart. He jumps off the bed and dashes out of his room, faster than the podrace that won the last Boonta Eve Classic.

Familiar voices carry down the hallway to him from the direction of the kitchen – Qui-Gon’s calm, velvety baritone mixed with Obi-Wan’s higher-pitched whimpering that gives away the extent of his discomfort – and Anakin anxiously follows them.

What he sees when he finally reaches the kitchen makes him gasp in shock. Obi-Wan is bent over the counter, shallowly breathing, his shoulder-length auburn hair sweaty and hanging limply around his flushed face, while Qui-Gon holds him, gently caresses his back and showers him with words of comfort. Both are still in their nightclothes and look as if they did not sleep a wink at night.

“Mum!” Anakin comes running and clutches onto Obi-Wan’s middle.

“Oh, hello, sweetie,” Obi-Wan greets him almost casually and starts petting his blonde head. “Why are you not sleeping? It is still earl– AAAAHHHH!”

A loud cry tears from Obi-Wan’s throat and makes the man grip the edge of the kitchen counter until his knuckles turn white. Still, he attempts to breathe as evenly as he can through the obvious pain.

Meanwhile, Anakin’s panic reaches a new high. “Mummy, what’s happening?! Are you hurt?!”

It is Qui-Gon, paler than Anakin has ever seen him, who answers him eventually. “Mum is going to be all right, Annie. This is how the baby makes it known to us that it wants to be born already. It is perfectly normal, you do not need to worry at all.”

When Obi-Wan lets out another loud pained whine right after, Anakin has a hard time believing everything is as ‘normal’ as his dad says, but he tries to. In fact, he clings to the thought like a limpet onto a slippery rock.

“Shhh, just breathe, my love,” Qui-Gon takes Obi-Wan – and therefore Anakin, too, because he refuses to be parted from his mum for even a second – in his arms and buries his face into the mess of Obi-Wan’s auburn tresses. “The midwife is on her way. It will all be over soon.”

With a kiss to the top of his husband’s head, Qui-Gon closes his eyes in deep concentration. The very next moment, a stream of well-known words of wisdom floods the Force bond connecting the minds of all three of them and begins to fill it with soothing warmth.

There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. There is no passion, there is–

“Qui-Gon? I know you mean well, dear, but could you please stop reciting the Jedi mantra to me?” Obi-Wan mumbles weakly. “The mental image of the High Council is the last thing I want to be thinking of right now.”

“Oh. Of course. Sorry,” Qui-Gon stops immediately, a little at a loss about what else to do. “I just thought… Fine. Sure. Yes.”

DING DONG DING DONG

The doorbell rings at long last, making everyone jump a little.

Qui-Gon waves his arm impatiently, unlocking the front entrance with the Force. “The door is open!” he calls, then reluctantly breaks the family embrace and makes his way to the hallway.

At the thought of any stranger entering their house at this time of all times, Anakin squeezes his arms tighter around Obi-Wan’s body, ready to protect him from any and all possible harm. He does not release his grip until his mum starts moaning and whimpering in pain again like he did only a few minutes ago.

Nervous and afraid, Anakin glances to the door, just in time to see a young female Gungan in a fluorescent yellow medic uniform gracefully walk into the room with a large bag hanging over her shoulder.

“Heyday-ho! Yousa Obbie-Wan Kenobi?” the Gungan greets the expectant mother with a wide, unthreatening smile on her billed face. “Mesa Ithid Weppi, a midwife.”

The sweet, yet confident manner with which she starts checking on Obi-Wan right away temporarily convinces Anakin to stop frowning at her in distrust and even step aside a little. He allows himself to relax the slightest bit, hoping Miss Ithid will be able to help his mum feel better.

“Okeeday. How often do yousa have contractions?” Ithid inquires and starts to lead Obi-Wan out of the kitchen and towards the master bedroom. All the way, Qui-Gon is there as well, supporting his husband from the other side.

“Often,” Obi-Wan manages to breathe out with some difficulty. “Every two standard minutes… for about eighty seconds each.”

“Ahh? Only duey minutes?” Ithid’s stalk-like eyes widen comically in surprise. “But disa bombad! Da baby be hair in nosa timen!”

The latest news equally excite and unnerve Anakin. His thoughts must be showing on his face, because the next moment Ithid puts one of her four-fingered hands on Anakin’s tiny shoulder and gives it a comforting squeeze.

“No worryen litta una. Everytten be fine,” she grins at him good-naturedly, then steps over the threshold into the bedroom and helps Obi-Wan do the same.

When Qui-Gon tries to follow, too, Obi-Wan turns around and puts a hand onto his chest – right over his heart – to stop him. “No, wait. Stay with Anakin, please.”

“But–”

“I will be fine, love. I promise,” Obi-Wan gazes lovingly at the taller man and moves the hand up from his chest to caress his bearded face.

“You will… Of course, you will,” Qui-Gon repeats to himself a few times. He leans in and plants a long kiss onto Obi-Wan’s lips. “I love you.”

“I know,” Obi-Wan smiles almost serenely before turning to Anakin. “I will be right back, Ani, okay? Just wait here with daddy,” he instructs his son, then enters the improvised birthing chamber where Ithid has meanwhile started unpacking her medical equipment.

“Okeeday, Master Obbie,” the squeaky voice of the ever-positive Gungan echoes from the inside of the room. “My thinken yousa should lien neb now. Tryen no exhausten yourself too mui and saven yous strength per da delivery itself. Yousa will needen it…”

As the door closes behind Obi-Wan and all sounds suddenly become subdued and indistinct, Anakin lets out a loud sob he has been holding back ever since he woke up. He is so scared for his mummy, like he has never been scared for anyone before.

Through the haze of yet unshed tears, he sees Qui-Gon kneel down before him and wrap his long, strong arms protectively around his shaking form.

“Shhh. I am here, my Annie. Do not cry, son,” the man whispers and Anakin melts into their hug, drinking in the comfort and warmth that radiates form it.

“Nothing bad will happen to mummy, or the baby,” Qui-Gon goes on, his voice so deep and quiet and calm and reassuring. “The Force is with them. And with all of us.”

Clinging to that hopeful thought as if it was a lifeline, Anakin decides to believe him.

THE BABY IS FINALLY HERE AND IT’S A BOY! YIPPEE! I’VE GOT A LITTLE BROTHER!

HIS NAME IS CAL, HE’S SO TINY AND PRECIOUS AND I LOVE HIM SO MUCH!

SO FAR, HE ONLY SLEEPS AND DRINKS MILK AND CRIES BUT WHEN HE’S OLDER WE’LL PLAY ALL THE BEST GAMES AND RACE SPEEDERS TOGETHER WHEN MUM ISN’T LOOKING AND DO SOOOO MANY ABSOLUTELY AWESOME THINGS!

FORCE, I CAN’T WAAAAAIT!!!!!

Anakin’s nimble fingers excitedly dance over the datapad screen as he types a short, but eloquent diary entry about his younger brother’s much-awaited arrival to the world. A broad grin has not left his face ever since little Cal’s birth a standard week ago. He just cannot get enough of looking at the newborn baby.

Cal is so small, fragile and cute, as babies usually are. He has got big blue eyes like Qui-Gon and on the top of his head there is a patch of auburn hair the exact same shade Obi-Wan’s are. His skin is very pink and kinda crinkly which makes him look a tiny bit ugly as well, but Anakin does not mind that at all. He is beyond excited to finally have a little sibling he was looking forward to for so long, and glad for his mum and dad to feel so elated these days.

Just like now – as they both stand by Cal’s cradle in the living room and simply stare at their infant son for long minutes while he is peacefully sleeping, sucking onto his tiny thumb.

“He is perfect,” Qui-Gon murmurs dreamily before leaning closer to Obi-Wan and pressing a kiss to his temple. 

Obi-Wan’s face turns the lightest shade of pink at the tender gesture. He reaches out a hand and strokes Cal’s soft cheek with his forefinger. “He is. Our little sunshine,” he coos.

Anakin observes them from the sofa with indescribable fondness in his heart. He cannot imagine being any happier than he is at that precise moment.

That is, until the doorbell rings, announcing a very special visitor – Naboo’s former queen and the family’s beloved friend Padmé Amidala Naberrie.

“Ani! Hello, dear. My goodness, you have grown,” the beautiful, dark-haired woman in her mid-twenties exclaims upon entering the Jinn Kenobi house and wraps Anakin in a tight hug. As always, she is impeccably dressed – this time in a long gown the colour of sunset – and smiling brightly.

Anakin has been wanting to see his godmother for weeks and he does not hesitate to let her know so by readily returning the hug and adding a heartfelt ‘I missed you so much, aunt Padmé,’ to which the woman replies with an equally fond ‘And I you, darling.’

“Pads!” Obi-Wan greets his friend with a kiss to both cheeks as soon as Anakin lets him get to her. “You are so sweet to stop by. I know how terribly busy you are right now with the senatorial elections.”

“But of course, I had to come! I could not wait to meet my new godson,” she giggles, apparently pleased to be given the honour of becoming a godmother to yet another of her friends’ children. Her smile fades only a little bit as she gives out a tired sigh and continues, “You are right, though. I am very busy these days. It turns out running a campaign while also taking care of twin toddlers was not my wisest decision. Thankfully, the vote is only two standard months away and after that, the most stressful time will finally be over. Whether I get elected or not.”

“There is no need to be so humble, my friend,” an agreeable voice of an older man speaks from somewhere behind Padmé. “I have no doubt that your campaign will be a striking success.”

“Senator Palpatine,” Obi-Wan blinks in astonishment at the man that has so unexpectedly appeared in the doorway of their home. “What a surprise. Please, do come in.”

“You are very kind, Mister Kenobi, but I will sadly have to refuse your invitation this time. There are certain urgent matters to deal with at Convergence that require my immediate attention. I merely accompanied Padmé from Theed on a speeder boat and thought I would come greet you and wish you well,” Palpatine politely excuses himself with the usual vagueness of a lifelong career politician, only to elaborate – unprompted – on the same topic right after.

“As you have probably heard already, just like my esteemed colleague here aspires to the position of the Galactic Senator for the Chommell Sector, I am one of the three candidates hoping to succeed Finis Valorum in the position of Supreme Chancellor of the Republic by the end of this year.”

“Wooow,” Anakin breathes out, wide-eyed and thoroughly amazed. “That’s wizard.” He had no idea the Senator was interested in assuming such a high position. The highest and most prestigious in the Galaxy, actually, from what he can remember from the lessons his dad is giving him.

Anakin’s honest, direct reaction brings amused smiles to the faces of all three adults standing with him in the entrance hallway and lightens up the overall mood that has managed to grow somewhat stilted.

“Well, if that is the case, do not let us keep you, Senator.” Obi-Wan concludes amicably and shakes Palpatine’s hand goodbye. “We wish you success in the upcoming elections. It was nice seeing you again.”

“The pleasure was all mine, I assure you. Please, accept my most cordial congratulations on your son’s birth, Mister Kenobi, and give my warmest regards to your husband as well.”

“Thank you, Senator.”

“Goodbye, Sheev,” Padmé chimes in and briefly squeezes Palpatine’s hand as well. “I am looking forward to our dinner next Centaxday.”

“Ah, of course. That shall be delightful… Have a pleasant afternoon, everyone.” With one last nod towards Obi-Wan, Anakin and Padmé, Palpatine walks out into the sunshine and begins to slowly descend the long, winding stone staircase leading to the lake shore where a luxury vessel is docked at a small pier.

Anakin gazes at the water craft below with enormous interest for quite a while, not even realising Obi-Wan and Padmé have moved from the hallway to the living room in the meantime. Once he notices, he quickly catches up with them. “Mummy, can I please go take a look at Mister Palpatine’s speeder boat real quick?”

Obi-Wan – in the middle of exchanging healthy recipes for small children with Padmé – purses his lips in thought, then reluctantly agrees. “All right. But come straight back, when the Senator leaves, yes?”

“I will! Thanks, mum!” Anakin promises and rushes outside, hoping the man in question will still be there.

“Senator Palpatine! Sir!” The boy calls out to him and even uses the Force to run down the stairs more quickly and smoothly. “Wait!”

When at last the man turns around, it is to give his young pursuer a concerned look. “Anakin, my dear boy. Is something the matter?”

“No, not at all,” Anakin assures him. Then suddenly, he becomes uncertain about what the Senator might think of his request. Even though the man has always been very kind and accommodating towards him, the two of them could not in any way be considered close friends. After all, they have met but a handful of times before and always during official events only.

Anakin bites his lower lip nervously. “It’s just… Ummm… May I look at your beautiful speeder boat more closely, please?”

The neutral half-smile that seems to be permanently glued to the Senator’s face widens and becomes brighter and more genuine. “But of course you can! You are free to inspect Red Empress as thoroughly as you wish, my boy. I promise to try and answer any questions you might have to the best of my knowledge.”

Anakin does not need any other incentive than that. He eagerly walks up close to the craft painted in a rich, deep shade of red, and takes his time to admire its sleek design and state-of-the-art technical equipment. Soon, he finds out that the gorgeous two-seater is in fact a brand new and very exclusive D-11 water speeder manufactured by the Theed Palace Space Vessel Engineering Corps, its maximum speed is one hundred and twenty kilometres per standard hour, the ship’s hull is seven metres long and other tremendously exciting facts that make him secretly long to own a speeder boat like Red Empress one day or at least have a ride in it.

Just as he promised, the Senator provides commentary as much as he can and manages to answer some of Anakin’s most burning questions. They are almost done with their impromptu inspection, when their casual conversation inevitably turns back to the birth of Cal Jinn Kenobi.

“You seem to be very excited to have a little brother, Anakin,” Senator Palpatine observes as he takes the driver’s seat and starts preparing the speeder boat for departure.

“I am! He’s so small and adorable,” the boy beams at him from the pier. He could talk about Cal – or really anyone in his family – for days on end. “We’re all so happy he’s finally here with us. Mum and dad are able to spend hours just watching him lie in his cradle and sleep.”

Palpatine’s face softens. “That is understandable. The arrival of the first child is always very special and emotive for the new parents. Especially when they longed for it for so many years as yours did.”

Anakin knits his brow, taken aback by the peculiar remark. “But… I am their first child…”

Palpatine grimaces as if he realised he has made some kind of mistake. “Oh, I am very sorry, Anakin,” the man frantically apologises. “Of course, you are. I was– Please, forget that I said anything. I am just a foolish old man.”

Anakin tilts his head to one side and studies him for a moment. Sheev Palpatine is a human male in his early fifties – only a few years older than Qui-Gon – and a renowned Galactic Senator. He is most definitely neither old, nor foolish. Which has to mean he was hinting at something earlier. But… what?

“You seem agitated, my young friend.”

Anakin looks up quizzically at Palpatine's amiable face. “I just don’t understand what you said, sir. What did you mean by it?”

“Oh, nothing. Nothing at all,” Palpatine awkwardly assures him. There is something sad in his pale blue eyes – a look that is almost sympathetic. As if he knew something crucial but was not quite sure he should impart on it in front of Anakin. “I merely meant to note that important events like births, weddings or passings often tend to change certain things rather significantly for a family,” he adds with caution, like the skilled diplomat he is.

The frown on Anakin’s confused face deepens even more. “What things?”

“Ah, well... There might be new tasks and responsibilities to focus on, for example. Or, the family has to find a more suitable daily routine to stick to. Or, the overall relationship dynamic might transform into a different one – some bonds form, others dissolve, older siblings recede and make room for younger ones in a way… Quite a few things, actually.”

New responsibilities, new routines, new relationships…

Could the Senator be insinuating that Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan will treat Anakin differently now that they finally have their own biological child they wanted so much? Surely not. Even though Anakin is adopted, both of his parents have always treated him as nothing else but their own son. Cal’s birth does not mean at all that something important will irreversibly change about it – that his parents will only care for the new baby from now on.

Because they would never! Of that Anakin is absolutely sure.  

“Why are you telling me all this, sir?” Anakin asks, because no matter how hard he tries, he still cannot comprehend it.

“Oh, call me Sheev, please,” Palpatine insists cordially before a candid, thoughtful expression settles in his face. “Well… I guess I simply wanted you to be prepared for whatever might come in the future. And let you know that… if you ever feel in need of a friend, Anakin, I am here – right on the other side of this beautiful lake.”

“But I–”

“Anakin. There you are,” Qui-Gon Jinn appears at the foot of the garden stairs out of the blue.

It makes Anakin realise he must have spent more time talking to the Senator than he thought when his parents are already looking for him. He quickly crosses the distance that separates him from his dad and mutters a soft ‘Sorry’ to him.

“Ah, Master Jinn. We seem to have missed each other earlier,” Palpatine makes an attempt at small talk.

“Indeed,” Qui-Gon admits, but does not elaborate any further. Instead, he casually puts a hand on Anakin’s shoulder.

Anakin cannot not notice how Palpatine’s polite smile does not quite reach his eyes when he repeats his congratulations on Cal’s birth to Qui-Gon, nor when he bids them both farewell. It comes as a surprise to the boy. As far as he knows, there is not any feud between his dad and the Senator. Quite the opposite, actually. In a way, they could be considered colleagues, since both of them – and Obi-Wan, too – serve the monarch of Naboo as advisors.

“Goodbye, Senator.” Qui-Gon gives the man a curt nod, thus putting an end to both their tense conversation and Palpatine’s visit.

The next moment, the distinctive sound of a starting engine reverberates around as the Red Empress sets off across the lake. It moves so quickly and gracefully among the waves it reminds Anakin of a starship entering hyperspace.

“Come, Annie,” Qui-Gon gently nudges the boy’s shoulder and together they start climbing up the first flight of stairs.

“Have I mentioned we are having jogan fruit muffins with the tea today?” the tall man winks cheekily before racing a thrilled, giggling Anakin back to the house.

In spite of his strong conviction that they are not – and cannot be – true, Anakin finds himself unable to stop thinking about Sheev Palpatine’s nebulous words of caution in the coming days and weeks. They slowly worm themselves deep into his guileless mind and plant tiny seeds of doubt that grow bigger and bigger the more Anakin mulls over them.

At first, the boy manages to ignore the strange, unpleasant, ugly feelings that begin to rise in his chest every time one of his parents – or worse, both – stop whatever they are doing at the moment to attend to a wailing Cal. It takes one look at his sweet little brother, his big blue eyes and angelic face, and these feelings are all gone and forgotten. Sometimes, Anakin even helps his mum and dad take care of the baby afterwards – he fills Cal’s drinking bottle with warm milk, diligently picks up the dummies the infant keeps throwing out of his cradle for some reason, fetches fresh rompers and nappies from the linen cupboard, or assists during the baby’s bathing.

As days pass, however, it gets increasingly harder for Anakin to resist the fire of jealousy and anger that has been ignited in his heart. All because little by little, it is becoming quite clear that Sheev was right.

Things have undeniably changed.

The evenings and nights are the worst, Anakin quickly comes to realise. The familiar routine he knew and loved has transformed so radically that after mere seven standard weeks, the boy can no longer recognise it. It saddens him greatly, for it always used to be his favourite time of day – time spent cuddling, talking or simply being with his parents and enjoying their undivided attention and unconditional love.

None of these things seems remotely possible to him now. Not when Cal needs to be fed, bathed, changed, fed, changed again and put to bed first each evening. Anakin cannot even remember the last time he heard a proper bedtime story. Three nights out of five his parents are both so exhausted they fall asleep mid-telling him one, and the other two Anakin is already slumbering when they finally find the time to come to his room.

The days are still somehow bearable, though mainly thanks to Artoo with whom Anakin starts to spend a lot more time than he used to. Him and the cheeky droid can chat for hours while working on projects together in the small garden shed Qui-Gon transformed into a workshop about two years ago, so that Anakin could have somewhere safe to fix and fiddle with his various gadgets and contraptions. It eventually becomes the only place for Anakin where he can still pretend everything is the same as it always was.

“Hold this, Artoo,” Anakin instructs the astromech one sunny day and points to a mess of frayed wires sticking out of some sort of transmitter.

Artoo does what Anakin asks, though not without emitting a series of sceptical beeps first.

“Yes, I’m sure it’s going to work. Trust me,” Anakin defends his newest invention – a monitoring device he hopes would ensure mum and dad will have time for other things besides constantly watching over Cal all day and night.

A spark of electricity cracks loudly through the air as soon as Anakin’s screwdriver makes contact with the metal of the transmitter. A yellow control light on top of the device blinks weakly a few times before dying out altogether.

“Oh-uh,” Anakin aptly sums up the situation and scratches the top of his head in thought, while Artoo only gives out a few beeps in binary that sound suspiciously close to ‘I told you so’.

Before Anakin can begin to investigate what the problem is, the door of the shed opens and Obi-Wan unexpectedly appears in them.

“Mum?”

“Knock, knock,” Obi-Wan says with a lovely smile, then comes inside to sit down beside Anakin at his work desk cluttered with a myriad of tools, old and new spare parts, connecting material, wires and packets of chocolate chip cookies. “What are you working on here, sweetheart?” He inquires with what seems to be genuine interest and wraps one arm around Anakin’s body to be closer to him.

At first, Anakin thinks he must be dreaming. It has been so long since either of his parents came to the shed to see what he was doing, or at least asked him about it. Before Cal’s birth, they had a complete overview of everything. Now, Anakin is not even sure they have noticed how much time he spends in here.

“Do you really wanna know?” the boy asks timidly, a little wary of the answer.

Obi-Wan lets out a fond chuckle and tightens the one-armed hold around Anakin’s waist. “Of course, I do, Ani,” he assures his son. “Now, tell me. What is this latest, mysterious project of yours?”

Anakin grins gleefully back at his mum and proceeds to tell him everything about the device he is constructing with Artoo at the moment – about all the individual parts, his plans on how to put them together, and the many functions the finished product is going to have. All this time, Obi-Wan listens to him intently, nodding occasionally to let Anakin know he has his full attention.

For the first time in entire weeks, Anakin feels heard. He is happy. Everything seems to him just like it once was.

“I know me and daddy do not have as much time as we did before,” Obi-Wan confesses after Anakin finishes his short demonstration. He looks so tired and remorseful all of a sudden. “But Cal is–”

Although Obi-Wan obviously meant to tell Anakin something important, his next words get lost in an anguished wail that can be heard from somewhere nearby – most likely the outdoor baby swing bed placed in the shade of the giant zaela tree in their garden.

Anakin’s face visibly falls. He knows all too well what will come next.

“I am so sorry, darling, I need to check on Cal. I will be right back…” Obi-Wan apologises, then rushes out of the shed to soothe the crying baby.

When he does not return for the rest of the day, Anakin does not even feel surprised or disappointed anymore. Just very, very sad.

I don’t know what to do. Cal keeps crying all the time – day and night. It’s getting pretty unbearable. I know he’s still very small, but does he really have to scream SO MUCH?!

Yesterday, I asked dad why he keeps doing that and he told me it’s because Cal doesn’t know how to communicate with us with words yet. So he cries to get our attention.

WHY?! He already has ALL OF THE ATTENTION ANYWAY! ALL OF IT! ALL THE TIME! And not just mum’s and dad’s! Whenever someone visits, the very first thing they want to do is to see the baby and croon to him.

IT’S NOT FAIR!

I’m here, too :-(  But, no one notices me anymore. Not since Cal was born…

A stray tear hits the datapad screen where Anakin stares blankly at the angry, desperate words he has just written in his diary. Since the incident in the garden shed a week ago, things somehow seem to only have got worse.

Among other things, Anakin has found out he can no longer feel his parents in the Force at all. Before, their bond was always open and the three of them could communicate feelings through it to share some warmth, love and comfort whenever any of them needed it. Now, the connection is eerily silent and feels almost cold. It makes Anakin’s mind buzz with steadily more catastrophic reasons why it happened, and his little heart starts to ache with profound loneliness.

Wearily, the boy turns off the datapad when he is done writing the newest diary entry, then lays his head onto one of the pillows lying around him on the sofa. Even though dinnertime is still several hours away, he feels strangely tired of… well, everything. Hoping sleep will take him to a happier place, he lets his eyes fall closed.

Not even a full minute later, a dull thud wakes him up before he can properly fall asleep. He opens his eyes again, searching for the possible source of the noise.

And of course. It was Cal who threw his dummy out of the cradle yet again.

With the reluctance of someone who has had to do the same thing at least a hundred times already, Anakin picks up the pastel green dummy from the floor and places it onto the tea table. It will need to be washed before it could be given back to the infant.

Thoughtfully, Anakin stops by the cradle to gaze at his little brother for a moment. Dummy throwing notwithstanding, Cal is being a real sweetheart for once, lying calmly and quietly on his back under an embroidered blanket – a gift from aunt Padmé – and curiously watching Anakin with his wide blue eyes. Much to his parents’ delight, he learned to smile a few days ago, and so he is giving his big brother the cutest toothless grin as well.

Anakin smiles sadly back at him and lets out a deep sigh. No wonder everyone loves Cal so much. Anakin himself does, too. The child is truly adorable – such a perfect image of both Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. He even appears to have inherited their Force-sensitivity, though it is still too early to be completely sure of it.

Jealousy and fear grip on Anakin’s heart in the hardest and most painful way yet and do not let go. The words of Sheev Palpatine resurface in the boy’s anxious mind and he wonders…

How long have the hints of his parents no longer loving him been there? Would he have noticed them at all if it had not been for Sheev’s friendly warning?

Anakin does not know. What he does know, however, is that in less than three standard months, Cal has managed to thoroughly replace him in almost every aspect of the family life he has ever been part of.

How long will it take before Anakin’s chapter in their family’s story gets completely rewritten by his little brother? And what will happen with Anakin when it does?

This particular line of thought is a downward spiral leading Anakin deeper and deeper into his sadness and so, he decides to retreat into his room for the rest of the day – or at least until dinner.

Just as he is passing by the master bedroom with its door slightly ajar, he hears his own name being said. He stops abruptly, the palpable shakiness in Obi-Wan’s voice immediately attracting his attention and heightening his worries at least tenfold. Although he knows it is rude to eavesdrop, Anakin tiptoes a little closer, listening in on a fragment of his parents’ conversation.

“...cannot go on like this,” Obi-Wan says dejectedly. He is sitting beside his husband on the edge of the bed with his back to the door and his head resting on Qui-Gon’s shoulder.

“I know,” the older man concedes with a sigh. “But we will think of something, love. You will see.”

“I am a terrible mother.”

“Do not say that!” Qui-Gon protests and plants a soft kiss on top of Obi-Wan’s head. “It is not true.”

“But I am! What we do is not right, Qui-Gon. It is unfair to Anakin. We should just tell him and explain everything.” Obi-Wan insists. He makes a quick move to get up. “I am going to–”

“No. Not now,” Qui-Gon stops him by taking him by the hand – gently, but firmly. “You need to rest now, most of all. I will talk to Annie myself. After dinner.” When Obi-Wan sits down next to him on the bed again, he adds reassuringly, “Do not worry, my dear. He will understand. He is a clever boy…”

Leaning away from the door, convinced that he has heard more than enough, Anakin does not try to fight the sob that has risen in his throat. Instead, he sprints the rest of the way to his bedroom and collapses onto the bed in tears.

So what Sheev tried to warn him about has all come true in the end! His mum and dad have had enough of him. They will undoubtedly want him to leave – that must be what they were talking about just now. And they plan to tell him today, after dinner.

But– What will he do? Where will he go? Back to where he came from?

Maybe Sheev would help him…

As Anakin’s panic overwhelms him, entirely overshadowing his reason, tears begin to run down his reddened cheeks so fast they form wide, abundant rivers. The boy lets them fall as they please, lets the heart-wrenching pain and sorrow fill him whole – his heart, his mind, even the bleak and empty remnant of a Force bond.

He feels so alone in the world. Just like he did before Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan found him on the Force-forsaken Tatooine.

Then, all of a sudden, the door flies open and his parents stumble into his room, frantic with worry.

“Ani! What is it, my darling?” Obi-Wan practically jumps to him and pulls him into the safety of his arms. “Shhh, do not cry, sweetie. Mummy is here now.”

“What is the matter?” Qui-Gon asks with just as much concern after he sits down beside Anakin on the other side and puts a hand on his shoulder. “Do you think you could tell us, Annie?”

Anakin lifts his head a little from where he has buried it in the rich folds of Obi-Wan’s maternity tunic and stammers out an answer. “I d-don’t w-want to go b-back to Tat-tooine. P-Please, don’t send m-me there. I don’t w-wanna leave y-you...”

“Oh, Ani. Of course, we are not going to send you anywhere,” Obi-Wan promises. “Why would we do that, honey?”

“B-Because…” Anakin lets out an uncontrollable hiccup, then decides to tell it how it is. There really is no point in delaying the inevitable. “Because you d-don’t want me h-here.”

His words make both adults glance towards each other in utter confusion.

“Why are you saying this, little one?” Qui-Gon inquires in a soothing voice and starts stroking his son’s back comfortingly. Anakin breathes out a deep sigh of relief when he feels the Force-enhanced warmth slowly seep into his shivering body. Even his mind feels a lot calmer now.

“Well,” the boy hesitates.

Is it not obvious?

“It’s just… You’ve got Cal now. Your real child. So you don’t need me anymore.”

Obi-Wan gasps, outraged by Anakin’s reasoning. “Darling, how could you say that?! We would never even think of that!”

“You are our son, Annie, just as much as Cal is. And you will always be. We love both of you very, very much,” Qui-Gon follows up on Obi-Wan’s affirmations.

Anakin smiles faintly into his mum’s soft tunic. The words sound so lovely and sweet to him. He wishes so much for them to be true.

“But…” he frowns. “You don’t pay any attention to me at all. Only to Cal. And Sheev said–”

“Sheev?” Obi-Wan asks, apparently astonished at the name being mentioned at all in this context. “You mean Sheev Palpatine?”

“Uh-huh.”

Qui-Gon’s face instantly turns more serious – the same way it did when the Senator paid them an unexpected visit after Cal’s birth. “What exactly did Palpatine say to you, Annie?”

And Anakin tells them – he recounts everything that was said between him and the kind and generous older man without any exaggerations or omissions. The longer he speaks, the paler and more appalled both of his parents’ faces look. And the closer Obi-Wan holds Anakin to his chest.

“Anakin, son…” Qui-Gon begins. Something seems to be glistening in his eyes faintly. “Do not ever believe anything a stranger tells you about us. They do not know what is in our minds and hearts. And please… Never again doubt that we love you dearly.”

A sincere, happy smile blooms on Anakin’s lips as all jealousy, anger and fear are banished from his heart for good and replaced by a new, unshakeable belief in his parents’ love.

Still, there is one thing the boy does not quite understand.

“Mum? What were you and daddy talking about earlier? You said that something ‘couldn’t go on like this’. I thought you were talking about me…”

Obi-Wan’s face transforms into a guilty grimace. He glances briefly at his husband, then turns back to face Anakin. “We were talking about you in a way, Ani. You see… The last few weeks have been very challenging for me and daddy. To take care of a newborn baby is not easy at all, more so than we ever expected. We did not want to put more pressure on you unnecessarily, so we decided to close the Force bond a little more than usual. We did not want you to be overwhelmed by our own intense emotions – tiredness, irritation and all others. It was a terrible mistake and I am so, so sorry for it. Especially now that I know how scared and sad you became because of it.”

“Yes. Mum is right, Annie,” Qui-Gon finishes the short explanation. “We are both truly sorry for what we put you through. Can you forgive us?”

Instead of answering, Anakin pulls both Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan into a big hug and sends a loving thought into their reopened Force bond.

Of course, I will.

After a long family breakfast the following morning, Qui-Gon brings a holoprojector into the dining room and calls Padmé to congratulate her on her landslide election victory and becoming the new Senator for the Chommell Sector. The rest of the family excitedly joins him and together they all chat amicably for a good while before Padmé excuses herself for she has got an audience with the Queen of Naboo. Right before she disconnects the call, Qui-Gon casually asks her for the private frequency to contact Sheev Palpatine – her predecessor in office and coincidentally, the new Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic.

It takes some time for the connection between Naboo and faraway Coruscant to be established. Anakin feels a little nervous as he sits with Obi-Wan – who is holding a softly cooing Cal in his arms – on the sofa and waits. He had a long talk with his mum and dad about false friends the previous evening. He still cannot believe he let himself be tricked so easily into thinking his parents no longer loved him. And by a virtual stranger even! Albeit kind and respectable looking. He will really have to be more careful about who he puts his trust in in the future.

When at last, the holosecurity protocols allow both callers to see and hear each other, Qui-Gon takes a few steps away from the sofa and comes to sit at a nearby desk by the bookshelves. The blue projection of the Chancellor seems so small and funny-looking to Anakin from the distance, though he refrains from saying so and lets his dad handle the situation as they agreed instead.

“Master Jinn!” the Chancellor gives Qui-Gon a look of perfectly feigned joy. “I did not expect you of all beings to call me on this frequency. That said, I am immensely honoured and pleased to see you. Good morning. How is your lovely family doing?”

“Let us put an end to the pleasantries and get straight to the point, shall we?” Qui-Gon suggests with unusual severity.

The smile on the Chancellor’s face freezes, almost as if he knew exactly what the former Jedi Master is going to tell him. “Er… Of course,” he attempts to maintain some decorum. “Whatever do you wish to speak to me about, Master?”

“Listen to me, Palpatine,” Qui-Gon begins, his voice measured and laced with cold determination – so different from how Anakin is used to hearing it. “I do not know what your plans are. I do not know what you hope to accomplish by all this. But what I do know is that I have a very particular set of skills. Skills I have acquired over my previous career. Skills that would make me a nightmare for a person like you if I chose. So let me put it to you like this: Leave my family alone and this will be the end of it. I will not pursue you in any way. If you do not, I will pursue you and I will make you pay for everything you have ever done to them. Have a pleasant day, Chancellor.”

Before Palpatine has a chance to reply, Qui-Gon switches the holoprojector off.

Anakin gasps, amazed, “Wow. That was really scary, dad!”

Despite the corners of Qui-Gon’s mouth rising up the slightest bit, the man’s face remains thoughtful and serious for another moment. “It is not a good sign for the Galaxy to have a man like Sheev Palpatine in the position of the Supreme Chancellor. Still…” he walks back to the sofa to sit with the others. “I hope this will teach him a lesson. Let him know that the oceans of Mon Cala will sooner dry up than I let anyone harm you, my darlings.”

Obi-Wan looks up at his husband adoringly. “This is why I love you so much.”

“Oh, is it? I thought you loved me for my pretty blue eyes…” Qui-Gon asks, gentle humour dancing in said eyes and making them glow with warmth and affection.

“That too,” Obi-Wan admits before giving Qui-Gon a lingering, close-mouthed kiss.

Anakin, sitting between them, lets a wide grin appear on his content face. He feels so thankful and happy for everything he has got – his mum, his dad, little Cal and the life the four of them have built together. And he knows, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the grounding sense of belonging and the endless love they feel for each other will always be right there to protect them.

Against the entire Galaxy, if needed.