Custos

Author: immortal_jedi aka jedipati

Disclaimer: I own neither the characters nor the universe. But I do thank George Lucas for creating this sandbox to play in!

Characters: Obi-wan, Anakin/Vader, Padmé, Leia, and Luke

Summary: The Revenge of the Sith went very differently. Now, six years later, Obi-Wan Kenobi guards the Imperial Prince and Princess from hiding, hoping that he will never have to reveal himself. Because if he did- well, he tried never to think about it.

Warning: Mentions of torture, general Sith victories.

Author's Notes: Obi-Wan is very, though subtly, messed up in this story. He's likely got PTSD, at least a bit, and some strange version of Stockholm Syndrome. I only touch lightly on the whole issue, but it is there.

The last true Jedi watched as the six-year-old children he considered to be his niece and nephew played. They were already surrounded by their guards.

The guards didn't seem to notice him, but the Jedi wasn't sure if that was because he was too good at hiding or because they were under orders to ignore him.

Obi-Wan Kenobi hoped that it was because they were deliberately ignoring him, because otherwise the there were holes in the security screens that a determined Jedi could use to get to the palace and possibly harm the twins.

It was partially that idea that kept him here, day after day. He didn't want any of the "Jedi" who survived in the galaxy to come after these children.

The twins were all he had left and he'd watch them as long as he could. He'd guard them from any threats that their other guards might not see or be able to handle.

Obi-Wan shifted as Luke and Leia Skywalker chased each other around the courtyard. He was too old to be sitting here day after day while the twins played.

But he wouldn't leave. He'd watched over them since they were six months old and he'd managed to escape. And he would guard them until he died.

Obi-Wan forced himself to watch as the twin's father came out.

Obi-Wan was far enough away that he couldn't hear them, but Luke and Leia were clearly glad to see Anakin. Like always.

Obi-Wan shook his head. It wasn't Anakin they were greeting, it was Vader. Even now, six years after the fact, every time he saw Vader, Obi-Wan had to remind himself that Anakin was gone. Even if Vader was pretending to be Anakin to the galaxy, Obi-Wan knew better.

He had to know better.

Every time he saw Vader, Obi-Wan was reminded of Anakin, of how he'd failed Anakin, and then failed the galaxy because he'd refused to even confront the Sith his former Padawan had become.

Obi-Wan blinked he felt something, something he'd been dreading for six years. Someone was after the twins. Below him, Anakin also looked up- not at the area Obi-Wan was, but off to the side.

Obi-Wan looked over. There didn't appear to be anything there, but with Ana-with Vader below him, he didn't dare reach out through the Force.

But something was about to happen.

Vader began herding his children toward the door, trying to get them inside before it happened- whatever it was.

Obi-Wan tensed. Vader wasn't going to get the twins inside in time. Just then, Obi-Wan sensed something about to attack. Vader sensed it too, and he spun around, his lightsaber coming up just in time to block another saber.

Vader's red saber met the green of the attacker's. He pushed back, and disabled the attacker easily. Unfortunately, he was forced to move away from the twins as he did so.

And there were nine more attackers, and those nine had taken out the guards.

There was no way Vader could handle them all. Obi-Wan recognized several as the ones who had…

Obi-Wan took a bare moment to force his anger at them down. He would not allow these "Jedi" to take the children. And he couldn't afford to loose his temper right now.

Obi-Wan removed the cloak he'd been using as a disguise and pulled out his lightsaber. He jumped and ignited his saber on the way down. He took out one of the attackers- an Aqualish- before he even landed, before anyone realized he was there.

Everything froze.

"Obi-Wan?"

"Kenobi."

Vader's shocked and pleased question mingled with the angry growl from the leader of the attackers.

Obi-Wan answered by settling into his favorite Soresu ready stance, a reckless grin on his face.

"Ten to one is hardly fair," Obi-Wan observed cheerfully. "Really, you should have brought more. I'm almost insulted on his behalf."

He was rewarded by several sneers and Vader's pleased grin.

Obi-Wan jumped forward as the attackers leapt at them.

It was, he knew, nearly impossible for Vader to actually do so. Still, the man had to try.

The fight was furious and Obi-Wan wondered what the security tapes would show- eight dark "Jedi", one Jedi, and one Sith would make for an impressive fight. Dimly, Obi-Wan heard Vader give the order that Obi-Wan was a friend. Then the air around them was thick with blaster bolts, though none of them came close to hitting Obi-Wan.

None of them even came close enough for Obi-Wan to need to deflect them away. Obi-Wan grinned and made a point to stay away from the "Jedi" who were batting away the bolts.

Obi-Wan looked around for the children. He finally found them huddled together beneath one of their toys, too far from the doors. One of the attackers- a Duros male- was making his way toward them despite the blaster fire.

Obi-Wan fought his way through the other attackers, in the vain hope that he would reach the children in time to intercept him. A Twi'lek woman intercepted him, and Obi-Wan knew he wouldn't make it unless he took a quick action, one that, ironically, Anakin had taught him.

His hand flew out, and he called on the Force. The Twi'lek went flying backward. It would only take a moment for the woman to recover, so Obi-Wan hurried. He made it to the twins just as the Duros reached them, and planted himself between the twins and the Duros.

The Duros sneered at him. "Move Kenobi. We have to get those children away from the Sith."

Obi-Wan snorted. "So you can do what you wish to them? I think not."

The Duros charged him. Obi-Wan forced him back and held him in a saber lock until a blaster bolt caught the Duros in the side. Obi-Wan saluted the shooter and glanced down at the twins. "Luke, Leia, I think I can get you inside if we hurry."

"Who are you?" Leia asked suspiciously.

Obi-Wan smiled. "I am Obi-Wan Kenobi. I don't know if your father has told you about me, but I knew him when he was younger."

Luke looked up at him. "You're Uncle Obi-Wan? Dad told us all about you!"

Obi-Wan blinked. "He did?"

Leia nodded. "You're the only Jedi we can trust!"

Obi-Wan blinked. Why did that make him want to smile? "Very well then, shall we make our way to the door?" Obi-Wan decided he'd worry about it later.

"Can we hide behind you?" Leia asked.

"Of course," Obi-Wan said. "Stay close," he ordered as be turned around to face the fighting again.

He waited until he felt that both of them were protected before starting the slow walk to the door. Luckily, the majority of the attackers were still pinned down by blaster fire, though several members of Vader's security teams were down. The rest of the attackers were trying to deal with Vader. None of them were paying Obi-Wan and the twins any attention.

Finally, after what felt like far too long, they reached the sheltered patio, where several members of Vader's security team were waiting.

"You three- get the children inside and to a safe room if you have it!" Obi-Wan ordered, pointing at three of the men. "I'll cover you until you get inside."

The attackers were reflecting the blaster bolts back to the security men, and they concentrated on that even more, trying to prevent the children from escaping. Obi-Wan began an old dance of protection, his lightsaber flashing before him as he strove to cover the men. He felt several stings that meant bolts had gotten through his guard, but none of the injuries were enough to make him stop fighting.

Though Obi-Wan longed to simply abandon himself to the moment, he couldn't until the children were safe. Once they were finally indoors, Obi-Wan lost himself in the fight.

The twins were safe. These "Jedi" couldn't harm them. Obi-Wan launched himself forward to attack.

Obi-Wan found himself dealing with two of the attackers while Vader handed the remaining three- the security team and Vader had killed out three of them while Obi-Wan was taking care of the twins. The attackers were good, and they drew heavily on the Dark Side, but Obi-Wan was a master at defense, and they couldn't touch him.

The fight was fast and furious, and Obi-Wan knew that it was only through his strong use of the Force that he didn't collapse when one of the attackers managed to strike his left leg.

Finally, one of the house security men managed to get a shot in to take out one of Vader's opponents, and Obi-Wan took out one of his.

Obi-Wan back flipped and landed behind the second of Vader's opponents. Before the man could turn, Obi-Wan burned through his spine.

Several of the security men- no, Obi-Wan saw that it was actually some of Padmé's handmaidens now- took advantage of the fact that Obi-Wan wasn't in their sights and began firing on the last of Obi-Wan's opponents. The woman spun, easily deflecting all the blaster fire, but it was a distraction and Vader took advantage of it. Trusting that Obi-Wan would handle the other one, Vader threw his saber at the woman.

Obi-Wan planted himself between the last of the attackers and Vader.

"Traitor," the man said.

"You've called me that before," Obi-Wan said.

"How can you betray the Jedi Order?" he shouted.

Obi-Wan snorted. "If it's a choice between the Sith Lord I once considered a brother, and the dark Jedi who tortured me because I trained him, there's no choice at all."

Vader froze. "They tortured you?" he growled. He started moving again just in time to block his opponent's strike.

"Not really important right now," Obi-Wan replied. "And it was a long time ago."

His opponent sneered at him. "Too timid to talk about it, Kenobi? Too afraid of what your Sith friend will think? About how you cried out…"

"You talk too much," Obi-Wan said as he stabbed the man through the heart. "And it interferes with your fighting ability."

He turned around, suddenly realizing that there was no other sound beside his lightsaber.

Apparently, while Obi-Wan was dealing with his last opponent, Vader had captured his. The woman was unconscious and one of the handmaidens was locking binders around her wrists.

Obi-Wan shuddered as he recognized the type. They were Force proof and would cut the woman off from the Force.

Vader looked over at Obi-wan and simply stared. Obi-Wan watched the Sith Lord warily. Vader had killed a good number of Jedi, both turned Jedi and regular Jedi, after all.

Vader didn't seem interested in fighting Obi-Wan. His lightsaber was back on his belt and he was smiling unabashedly.

"Thank you, Obi-Wan," Vader said.

Obi-Wan turned off his saber. Strange as it seemed, he might not need it right now. "I couldn't let them take the twins," he replied, looking away. "They would have… I couldn't let it happen."

"Thank you." Vader touched his arm gently. "I thought you were dead," he said. "Intelligence reported that the remnants of the Jedi Order proclaimed that you were just as much a traitor to them as I was. Is that when they…"

Obi-Wan nodded. "It was. They decided that…" He shook his head and looked down at the last man he'd been fighting. "They weren't Jedi by that point. They were consumed by hatred. They… they couldn't understand why I wasn't… why I didn't…"

"I've seen recordings from when a group of you made it back to the Temple," Vader said. "You refused to come after me, so they knocked you out and carried you away."

Obi-Wan took a deep breath and stepped away from Vader. It was far too easy to fall back into the easy camaraderie he used to share with Anakin. He needed to distance himself slightly.

Vader followed him. "You vanished. Sidious and I thought you were dead."

Obi-Wan winced and looked out at the garden. "I thought I was going to die," he said. "They were very… thorough."

"I wish I'd known they hadn't killed you. I would have come after you."

Obi-Wan closed his eyes. "I know you would have."

Vader placed his hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder. "I missed you, Obi-Wan. And then I learned that you didn't betray me."

Obi-Wan turned to him. He had to make something very clear. "I won't turn, Lord Vader," he said.

Vader snorted. "As if I expect you to," he said. His gaze softened. "You didn't betray me, Obi-Wan," he repeated. "And perhaps you are foolish not to take the power the Dark Side offers, but I know you've never desired power. I don't care if you turn or not."

Obi-Wan swayed as Vader's words registered. He'd expected Vader to demand that he turn. The shock of the reply he'd gotten instead caused him to lose his grip on the Force and the control it gave him. Sudden pain flared in his leg.

"Obi-Wan?" Vader asked, alarmed. He swore as he caught Obi-Wan before he could fall. "You're hurt."

Obi-Wan shook his head. "It's not bad," he said.

Vader snorted. "You'd say it's not bad if you'd had both your legs cut off."

Obi-Wan's legs gave out just as Vader finished the statement. Now that his control was gone, he found it hard to regain it. Vader's proximity didn't help.

"Get the medics out here," Vader yelled. He knelt down, gently setting Obi-Wan on the ground. "Just relax, Obi-Wan. We'll get the doctor here as soon as possible."

"No," Obi-Wan said. "I have to…"

"Rest," Vader interrupted. "You're in no shape for anything right now." He frowned. "You've not had a chance to rest in a long time, have you?"

"I'm fine," Obi-Wan said as he tried to sit up.

Vader held him down. "No you're not."

Someone else arrived. "Milord?"

Vader moved so that the medic could take a look at Obi-Wan. "Where are you hurt, sir?" The medic asked Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan scowled. "I'm fine, I need to…"

"His left leg," Vader interrupted. "He has a lightsaber burn there. And possibly elsewhere." He looked down at Obi-Wan. "You have nothing to worry about, you should know that."

Obi-Wan felt something cool against his skin. "No!" he cried out, but it was too late. The medic injected something into his arm.

"Don't worry, it's just a painkiller," the medic said. "Non-narcotic. I need you to relax a bit, sir."

Obi-Wan gave up. There was nothing he could do about it. Vader was stronger then he was.

This was something he had worried about since the end of the Clone Wars. What if Vader found him and claimed him? Obi-Wan wasn't strong enough to fight Vader off and escape. And Vader was not going to let him leave. Obi-Wan wasn't sure that he wanted to leave, now that he was here, either.

*Grin* I'm so glad to be back writing Star Wars! I hope you are enjoying this offering.

No, the story is not complete. The second part will be out sometime within the next week or week and a half.

Oh- "Custos" is Latin for "Guardian" if I'm using the dictionary correctly. If anyone knows Latin better, tell me if I mistranslated, please.