Chapter Five
Summary: The day of Qui Gon's funeral arrives, and Obi Wan has to bury his difficult relationship with his father to help his siblings through it.
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Excerpt:
The day of the funeral came too soon. Obi Wan had settled things with Anakin, at least to show a united front to the guests.
They had spent the day before shopping for clothes. It was sad that Anakin’s first suit was for his father’s funeral, but Obi Wan couldn’t do anything to change that now.
He stood in the bathroom mirror, tying his tie over the sink. There was a mirror in his father’s room, one that would make it easier, but Obi Wan had no intention of venturing in there. At some point he knew they would have to clear out the house. But that was a problem for another day.
The weather was mild, but for the first time since he’d arrived, there was no rain. They sat in silence in the car, Ahsoka in between Anakin and Obi Wan while Padme and the children rode with Shmi behind. Anakin clung to his mother at the gravesite with his left hand while his right was clasped in Padme’s grip. The babies were asleep in a stroller, snoring soundly.
Cody had been right; the whole town had turned out for their father. Obi Wan spotted Mace in the crowd along with some other old-timers his father used to play poker with when he was small.
He caught Cody in the crowd; he nodded subtly and Obi Wan gave him a half smile. Quinlan and Luminara flanked him on his left and right sides respectively. They had no forgiveness available for Qui Gon and had been very vocal about that up to the day of the funeral itself. Now they stood by his side, his two most steadfast friends. Family, really.
The service was pretty standard. The coffin was long in front of them, the brass handles glinting in the sun in a way Obi Wan knew his father would find ostentatious. When the time came for others to speak, Obi Wan was regaled with the life story of a man he never knew. Shmi detailed how they fell in love, the qualities she saw in Qui Gon at his best, and the gift he had given her in the shape of their two children. Padme spoke of Qui Gon as a grandfather. The care he put into every interaction with Luke and Leia, and how she and Anakin would make sure they knew him as they grew up. Ahsoka attempted to speak but became overwhelmed with tears and fell into Obi Wan’s arms instead.
All eyes fell to him as he patted his sister on the back. He had no intention of speaking. There was nothing to say as far as he was concerned. But funerals aren’t for the dead, they’re for the living, and perhaps after all these years he owed his siblings that.
He gently moved Ahsoka to Quinlan, who wrapped his arm around her and rested his chin on the top of her head. Obi Wan walked to the front, by the priest, and felt a collected held breath go through the crowd as they waited.
“Qui Gon Jin was many things. An avid gardener, an amateur guitarist, and friend to many in a town that accepted him with open arms when he arrived over two decades ago.” A ruffle of approval went through the crowd.
“For those who don’t know, I’m Obi Wan, Qui Gon’s oldest son. He was blessed with two other children, Anakin and Ahsoka, both whom I’m sure you know well of by now.” A little chuckle went through the group as all eyes fell on his siblings and now Obi Wan knew it was time to lie, for the greater good.
“My father loved his children dearly. His every interaction proof of his devotion to the potential he saw in them and who they could grow up to be. He took pride in Anakin’s every win in robotics, or Ahsoka’s awards in music. His life revolved around the children he loved, and as such, he has gifted them to this community as well.”
Obi Wan’s eyes met Cody’s in the crowd. He sighed and smiled. “Qui Gon was a man of peace, taken too soon in a moment of violence. Nothing I say or do will take that away.” He said, brushing at his eyebrow. “But the legacy he leaves behind is in his children and grandchildren. And for that I think we should all be very grateful.”
He stepped back into line with his siblings and lowered his head once more as the priest started speaking again. The casket sank into the ground as soft music played, and the town’s people started moving back to their cars.
Obi Wan lingered at the grave.
“You coming, Obes?” Quinlan asked, unable to hide the concern in his voice as he squeezed his arm around Ahsoka.
“Yes, I’ll just be a moment.”
Quin nodded and led his sister away, plodding slowly over the still wet grass. He felt Cody appear next to him before seeing him.
“I’m really sorry, Obi Wan.” He said softly.
Obi Wan let out a heavy breath and looked over at him. He wore a black suit, the tie slightly wonky as though he’d put it on in a hurry.
“Thank you.” Obi Wan replied, looking back at the mound of dirt.
“Do you need a ride?”
“They’re waiting for me.”
Cody nodded. “Okay. I just wanted to say…I’m here…if you need anything.”
It would have sounded disingenuous a few weeks ago, something that would have likely kept him up at night. Now Obi Wan found himself wanting to dive into Cody’s arm and have him brush his hair and hold him up so he didn’t have to bear the weight of everything anymore.
“Thanks. I’m okay.” He said, turning away from the grave and brushing his pinky against Cody’s.
They made their way across the lawn in silence before splitting off to their respective cars.
“What did he want?” Quin asked as he helped Ahsoka in the backseat.
“He was just offing his condolences, Quin.” Obi Wan replied, perhaps a little too sharply.
Quinlan took a step back, “Oh, okay.”
Obi Wan closed his eyes and shook his head. “Sorry,” he said, reaching up and brushing Quinlan’s stubbly chin. “I didn’t mean to snap.”
“Hey,” Quin said softly, brushing Obi Wan’s hair out of his face as he hung on the car door and leaning forward to kiss him on the forehead. “You’re okay. I’m not going anywhere.”
Obi Wan smiled up at him and nodded. “Thanks, Quin.”
