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CHAPTER THIRTEEN

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ARTEMIS didn't move as she stopped the speeder in front of the home she had shared with Obi-Wan for almost nineteen years. She just sat onto it and looked at it, collecting the courage she needed to enter it.

Din shuffled behind her, his hands on her waist. He didn't say anything, though, knowing she needed a moment to herself.

Artemis took a deep breath before sliding off the speeder and making her way towards the front door. Her hand hovered over the handle and after a small hesitating she opened the door.

It was dark inside but she quickly found the light switch. Everything was just as they left it nine years ago.

Artemis' eyes darted through the small room. Seeing it again gave her a sense of deja vu.

Din's hand touched her lower back, indicating that he was there if she needed him.

Artemis came back to her senses and strode over towards the first door — Obi-Wan's bedroom. She opened it and walked in. She sat down on his bed and noticed a small hologram standing onto his nightstand. She picked it up and turned it on.

Artemis' stared right into her own face and that of Obi-Wan. It was taken a couple of months after she had arrived on Tatooine and she actually didn't know he had it.

A tear escaped her eye and Artemis rubbed it off her cheek before turning the hologram off and putting it in her pocket.

He was gone now, she reminded herself. And he was not coming back.

Shaking her head, she stood up and walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.

Din had made his way to the room next to her and Artemis leaned against the doorway as she watched him look around.

"I see you already found the way to my bedroom," she said, making him jump up and turn around.

"I — er —" he stammered, but Artemis only smiled.

"It's okay, you didn't know." She then walked in and opened her closet, took the bag that laid onto the bottom and threw it over to her bed. She then proceeded to take some tunics and pants before putting them in the bag.

"You can sit down if you want," Artemis told Din, who was watching her. "I'll be done in a bit."

"That's all right," Din said, sitting down. "Take your time."

Artemis took her spare cloak from out of her closet and put it in her bag before taking the hologram out of her pocket and putting it besides the cloak in her bag.

"What's that?" Din asked curiously.

"An hologram," Artemis replied, handing it to him.

He turned it on and Artemis watched her and Obi-Wan's faces appear once more. She turned her head away, not wanting to tear up again, and focused herself on closing her bag.

"Artie," Din said softly, taking her hand and gently pulling her towards him. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine," Artemis said. "It's just weird being back here without him." She nodded at Obi-Wan in the hologram.

"What's your best memory here?" Din questioned her as he pulled her down to sit next to him.

"Probably the day I arrived, although it's all in the small moments," Artemis said before glancing at him. "You want to see it?"

"You know I like it when you're in my head," Din replied and Artemis could hear the amusement in it. This was his way of distracting her.

"All right," she said, standing up. "Let me find a blindfold.

"You don't have to," Din said.

Artemis raised her eyebrows.

"I want you to take my helmet off."

Artemis didn't move, letting his words sink in, then, she kneeled down in front of him, taking his hands in hers.

"Din, I can tell you want it, but I can also tell you're hesitating. I'm not taking the helmet off. I don't want to do something that you might regret later. I respect your duty to the Creed, as you respected my duty to the Jedi Order."

"But you formed an attachment right? You broke the Order for me," Din told her quietly.

"I did," Artemis said, nodding. "I thought about it for a time. A long time and I'm afraid you haven't. So that's why I'm not taking it off, Din."

Din nodded and Artemis could tell he was both sad and relieved she had denied his request.

"Din, it's not that I don't want to see your face," Artemis said, placing a hand on the side of his helmet. "Because I do, I really do."

"But you want to give me some time to think things over," Din continued, leaning forward so their foreheads touched each other.

"Yes," Artemis breathed, closing her eyes.

"And that's exactly why I love you," he murmured.

Artemis smiled. "I love you, too." Then she stood up again. "Let's go find something to cover my eyes with."

⋆⋆⋆

ARTEMIS stopped the speeder as she eyed the man in the distance. Even with her eyes closed, she knew who it was and she started to tear up. After everything she had been through from figuring out if he was still alive to finding him, she was glad she had finally found him.

She jumped off the speeder and started running, not bothering to hold back the tears that were falling over her cheeks.

Artemis collided with Obi-Wan and let out a sob as she hugged him tightly.

"Artemis," Obi-Wan murmured in disbelief. "Oh, Artie."

He hugged her back just as tightly and Artemis could tell by the way his shoulder shook, that he, too, was crying.

"You're a hard man to find, Master," she said, burying her head into his neck.

Obi-Wan just laughed and Artemis felt his tears fall onto her neck. She didn't care, though. After months apart, she was finally reunited with her master once more.

He pulled back, observing her carefully. "How?"

Artemis knew he was referring to how she escaped Order 66 and found him.

"That's a long story," she sighed, casting her eyes down.

Obi-Wan saw her face fall and pulled her in for another hug.

"I'm glad you're back, Red," he told her. "I've missed you."

Artemis smiled. "I've missed you, too, Master."

Artemis pulled her hand back, still smiling and crying it a bit although Din couldn't see this since her eyes were covered with a blindfold.

"I can't still get over the fact that you can show me your memories," Din said. "And that I can actually feel what you're feeling. It's crazy."

"It's called the Force," Artemis corrected him with a smile.

Din leaned forwards so his nose was touching hers.

"Will you ever show me your memories of me?" he asked.

"No way," Artemis grinned. "Now you're just taking advantage of it."

Din's lips brushed against her, giving her goosebumps.

"I'd show my memories of you if I had the chance," he murmured, half serious, half playful.

"That can be arranged," Artemis replied, a smile playing on her lips.

Din pulled back. "Really?"

"Yeah," Artemis said, shrugging. "But it involves me digging into your mind and I don't do that."

"You're a true Jedi, Artie."

"You don't know anything of the Jedi."

Din chuckled. "Maybe not, but in my imagination, you are the perfect example."

Artemis smiled and raised her hand to caress his cheek. Then she went through his hair and pulled him closer, kissing him.

Din hands went around her waist and lifted her up, pulling her onto his lap. Artemis pulled back and placed her forehead against his while placing her hands on his shoulders, feeling the cold beskar under her palms.

"Din —"

"It's all right," he said quietly, caressing her cheek. "We don't have to if you don't want to."

"Er — thanks, but I just wanted to tell you that I can't get you out of your armor."

"Oh."

They laughed and Artemis placed another kiss on his lips. "I might be able to do a lot while blindfolded, but untying the straps is not one of my skills."

Din went with his hand through her hair while chuckling.

"Don't worry, I'm on it," he then said and Artemis moved from his lap to sit onto her bed. She could hear him remove his armor and place it on the ground. She herself pulled off her boots and took her lightsabers from her belt. She could feel Din watching her.

"You want to hold it?" Artemis questioned him, holding out one of her sabers.

"Is that okay?"

"Sure," Artemis said, standing up to give it to him. "Just don't cut off an arm or something."

"That's very reassuring."

Artemis laughed. "You'll be fine."

Din took her saber and, after a few moments, ignited it. Artemis could hear it buzzing and smiled.

"See? Not bad, huh?"

"No, not bad at all," Din said.

"You can act a bit impressed," Artemis smiled. "I made it myself, you know."

"You made this?" Din exclaimed and Artemis could feel his surprise.

"And this," she added, holding up her other saber.

Din turned her lightsaber back off. "I'm officially impressed," he told her, handing the saber back.

"Thanks," Artemis said, beaming up at him, before placing her lightsabers on the nightstand.

"So . . . where were we?" Din asked, slipping his arms around her waist and pulling her closer to him.

Artemis smiled as she recognized the nervousness in his voice.

"I'm nervous, too," she admitted quietly.

"Sometimes I forget you what I'm feeling," Din said, lowering his head so his forehead touched hers.

"I won't push you into something you don't want to do, Din," Artemis breathed

"I want to," he quickly said. "It's just . . . my first time and, well, I'm nervous."

"It's my first time, too," Artemis reminded him, her fingers playing with the end of his hair. "And, as I told you, you're not the only one who's nervous."

"I love you, Artie," Din breathed and Artemis could feel his gratitude towards her.

"I love you, too, Din."

And with that, she kissed him.

⋆⋆⋆

ARTEMIS woke up in Din's arms. Her head and her hand were resting on his bare chest and she smiled, knowing that in this moment, she felt perfectly happy.

"Artie?" Din's voice came from somewhere above her, making her look up. She couldn't see him, though, she was still blindfolded.

"Yeah?"

His warm hand rubbed her back gently. "How are you feeling?"

Artemis smiled. "Better than I have in days. No, months. Maybe even years. How about you?"

Din kissed her forehead. "As if I'm in heaven."

"That's a lot better than pleasant," Artemis said amused.

Din grinned and pulled her closer to him. "I wish we could stay here forever."

"On this sand ball? No thanks."

They laughed and Artemis leaned forwards to kiss him once more.

"We should head back to the kid," she told him, making him groan slightly.

"You're right."

"Of course I am," Artemis said, grinning. "Now, get dressed so I can get this blindfold off."

Din gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before rolling out of bed. Artemis listened to him getting dressed as she laid on her back.

"I put your clothes on the bed," Din said. "I don't think I can get a glass of water, or something?"

"You'll have to check the kitchen," Artemis said, as she tried to find her clothes.

Suddenly, the blindfold was pulled off of her and she kept her eyes shut.

"It's all right, Artie, I've got my helmet on."

Artemis opened her eyes, blinking a couple of times to let them get used to the light before darting to her clothes that laid neatly folded on the bed.

"I'll go and see if I can find some water," Din said. "I'll see you in a bit."

He walked out of the room and Artemis threw the covers back before standing up and getting dressed. She secured her lightsabers on her belt and her blaster on her leg before putting her cloak on. She then took her bag and swung it over her head so it laid on her back between her shoulderblades. Then she made her way over to the kitchen where Din had somehow managed to find some water.

"Here," he said, handing her a cup of water.

"Thanks," Artemis said, leaning against the counter top and drinking it all while still smiling like a fool.

"You know, I'm starting to like Tatooine," Din spoke up, making Artemis chuckle.

"Trust me, it will be over soon," she said, grinning. "Little to nothing ever happens on this planet."

"I met you here, didn't I?" Din pointed out. "And I consider that as one of the best moments of my life."

Artemis felt as if her heart would melt and she smiled so broadly she knew he cheeks would start hurting.

"Who thought you could be so romantic," she teased him.

Din huffed, but Artemis could tell he was amused. "I didn't try to be romantic, I only told you the truth."

"Somehow that's even more romantic."

"Shut up."

"I know you love me."

Din glanced up and Artemis could feel him smile. "I do."

Artemis put her drink down. "Let's head back, I'm sure the kid is missing us."

"Right behind you."

Word count: 2215

This was one of my favorite chapters to write. I just live for Din and Artemis :) but also for Obi-Wan and Artemis so I am seriously considering writing a book of the show "Kenobi" when it comes out.

Also, thank you for 1k reads! :)

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it and tell me what you think of it!

Published: 04.03.2021