Summary: Obi Wan clashes with the Chief of police as he's welcomed back to town.
Obi Wan pulled into the crumbling parking lot of Anakin’s garage on the edge of town. Of course, he’d never been here, but he’d known it when it was owned by the previous owner, Mr. Watto, who had been forced to foreclose after some shady dealings with out-of-towners.
Anakin, well, Obi Wan’s father actually, had been able to scoop it up for a bargain and had been running it for a couple of years. It wasn’t surprising, Anakin had always been a wonder with his hands, more interested in making a more efficient pencil sharper in second grade than listening to his teachers.
He had used his mother’s surname for the business, ‘Skywalker Racing’ was a little elaborate for the musty shop with a single lift, but Obi Wan would never say anything about it. Anakin was happy and really what more could he ask for than that.
The sound of metal on metal travelled as he got out of the car, along with the increasingly frustrated mutterings of his brother. “Mother fucking stupid piece of…” he dropped the obscenities as Obi Wan approached before finally looking behind him, his face falling into a half smile. “Where the fuck have you been?” he asked, pulling Obi Wan into a hug and being kind enough to share some of his oil stains.
“I was at the police station as it happens.”
Anakin rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Fucking Chief Fett. Couldn’t find a clue if it was under his nose.” He grumbled.
“Hmm.” Obi Wan hummed, “I met you friend, Rex.”
Anakin grinned and smiled. “Yeah, Rex is alright. He races with me on the weekend sometimes. When Padme lets me off the leash of course. So, how does it feel to be back?”
Obi Wan shrugged, “not much has changed by the looks of it.”
“Yeah, the mayor's gunna see to that.” Anakin muttered under his breath.
There was a quiet wrap on the window. Obi Wan’s eyes wandered up to the apartment above the shop where Padme was waving from the window, bouncing one of the babies on her hip. Obi Wan waved back and she responded with a wide smile. He’d only met her a couple of times, when Anakin had brought her to the city for a weekend away after graduation.
“Should I say hello?” Obi Wan asked.
Anakin waved him off and walked back into the shop. “Plenty of time for that. We need to talk about dad.”
“You know, the inheritance. Who’s getting the house...”
Obi Wan sighed and buried his hands in his pockets. “We don’t even have a body to bury yet, Anakin. And from my conversation today I’m not entirely sure when we’ll get him back.”
Anakin shrugged, “We need Soka to come home so we can all talk about it.”
Obi Wan felt a tension headache pulse behind his eyes. “Perhaps we just have a nice visit. I have still yet to meet my niece and nephew.”
“And who’s fault is that?” Anakin replied tartly.
Obi Wan scratched at his beard, “you know why I couldn’t come back, Anakin. I told you.”
Anakin rolled his eyes. “Yeah, well you’re back now. Do you actually plan to be a part of their lives, or will you send for them once a year when they’re old enough?”
Obi Wan felt like he had been stabbed in the chest. “That’s not fair.” Anakin chewed on his cheek but didn’t respond.
“We can talk about this later. Let’s go see your family. If you can tear yourself away…” he asked, looking at the almost empty shop.
“Yeah, whatever.” Anakin muttered as he chucked down a tool with a metallic clang and walked Obi Wan to the back of the shop and up to the apartment.
Like their father’s house, Anakin and Padme had pictures lining the wall up the stairs. The first was from their hurried wedding at the courthouse, Padme and her burgeoning bump clad in a simple yet elegant white lace dress, Anakin in a suit that was likely borrowed from their father and hung off his tall, lanky frame.
They had numerous pictures of the twins, most when they were too tiny to open their eyes but a few from the last few months. Obi Wan found himself lingering to look at them. Anakin gave him a slight shove to get him to move faster.
The apartment was small and cramped. Most of the furniture looked like it had been handed down. He recognized a few sofas that had lived in his father’s basement and a lamp that used to belong to his bedroom. Padme still lingered by the window, whispering sweet nothings to her dozing baby.
“Hey babe, look who finally showed up, after a trip to see the Chief.” Anakin said, shoving past Obi Wan and kissing his wife on the cheek. She smiled warmly and crossed to Obi Wan.
“So lovely to see you.” She said, kissing him on both cheeks, “I’m so sorry about the circumstances.” He said softly, hanging her head sadly.
It occurred to Obi Wan that Padme likely had more of a relationship than he did with his own father. He patted her on the shoulder. “Are you alright?” he asked. Such a strange thing to say and yet, it seemed so right.
Padme looked up at him, her brown eyes brimming with tears. “We miss him, is all.” She said softly, hugging her baby closer.
There was a squawk from the other room and Padme turned in the direction of the noise. “Anakin, can you get Luke? I’ll get his bottle. Would you mind, Obi Wan?” she asked, pouring the little bundle of blankets into his arms and walking away.
Obi Wan couldn’t remember the last time he’d held a baby. Leia snuffled during the transfer but showed no real acknowledgement in her mother’s departure. She weighed more than Obi Wan had expected, but then she was no longer a newborn. His father would have called her bonnie, and she was, all pink squidgy cheeks and glorious fat folds. Obi Wan had never had much interest in children but decided then and there that his niece must be the most beautiful baby to ever exist.
He sank down into a nearby chair, letting the little girl wrap her fist around his pinky finger and talking to her in soothing tones. He honestly wouldn’t be able to recall what he said, but she seemed to respond to his voice well and he was thankful for that.
Anakin came out with another bundle in his arms. If Leia was dark, Luke was as bright as the sun, a mop of blonde hair already falling in his eyes at six months old. He wasn’t as pudgy as his sister but seemed more fidgety and vocal. Obi Wan looked at him fondly before taking in Leia once more, his eyes finally landing on his brother who looked down at him with an unreadable expression.
“They’re beautiful, Anakin. I’m sure dad was very proud of you.”
Anakin stared at him for a moment, then nodded. “He was. He told me so.”
Obi Wan smiled down at Leia, brushing a piece of hair off her face. “And so he should.” He muttered, gently kissing the top of the little girl’s head and breathing in the scent of baby powder.
They sat in silence for a while, listening to the grunts and groans of the children as Padme came back with a bottle. She handed it to Anakin who smiled and gave it to his son.
