This is a what-if AU, with pre-parental panic Obi-Wan. (You might need to check for cavities after reading this cotton-candy sugar-coated fluffy fluff.)

—

Logically, Obi-Wan knew he was going to be a father.

Nine month of medical visits, well-wishers, supply shopping, and planning for how their lives would change would do that.

Emotionally, though, as he sat in the waiting room, he realized that he had no actual idea of what he was getting into.

Anakin had been nine when he came to the temple, halfway grown already. While he had needed some help in classes and training, he hadn't required the kind of care a newborn would need. Ahsoka was even older, needing even less. And while they'd watched the twins a few times, that was hardly the same as actual parenting.

He wasn't ready for this!

No, no, it was fine. He took a deep breath and let his anxiety go. Even if he wasn't ready, he had Satine, and Bo Katan, and Korkie, and Anakin and Padme, and all the other people who wanted to be a part of the new Kenobi-Kryze baby's life (there were a lot—Jedi loved babies).

His emotions had been all over the place since the end of the war. Part of him couldn't believe it was over, or that so much had changed. The council had listened (after several intense meetings) when he put forth his reasons for changing the way they viewed the Jedi code, citing the increased disconnect from the people of the galaxy and the possibility that Jedi were viewed as warmongers; Palpatine's plan to turn the Republic against the Jedi had never come to fruition, but it wouldn't have been difficult. Marriage was officially allowed, with special considerations for spouses and parents when it came to missions, which meant more meetings (he didn't begrudge the other Jedi their happiness, though). The Jedi were pulling back from the policing force they had been and were now focused on humanitarian efforts to help people recover from a pointless war, which of course required many more meetings. He was tired pretty much all the time, now.

He and Satine had talked once the stance on matrimony had been finalized, tentatively planning a future together. It was good timing, really, that Satine's current term as Duchess had only a few months left, and they were able to marry just a week after the newly elected Duke was instated.

The pregnancy had been a bit of a surprise.

But, here they were, at the best hospital on Kalevala, with Obi-Wan trying very hard not to worry as his wife worked on bringing their child into the world. He wished he had something to distract himself with.

Anakin burst through the waiting room door as if on cue, one of the twins strapped to his chest. "Obi-Wan!" he whisper-shouted, trying not to wake the baby currently in his care. "We just got here—how are you doing?"

Obi-Wan smiled and walked over to clasp arms with him. "Well enough, Anakin. It's not as though I'm doing any of the hard work right now. How are you? Is Padme with you?"

Anakin smiled and looked down at the baby sleeping against his chest, bringing up a hand to cradle the tiny head. Dark hair—Leia, then. "We're all here. Luke needed a change and Padme said I could go ahead. Ahsoka's on her way back from a mission, so she'll be here soon, too." He looked up. "Seriously, Obi-Wan, how are you? And don't say fine! I know that's a load of—um—well, it'd be a lie."

Obi-Wan couldn't help but smile at his friend censoring himself for a baby that couldn't understand him. "I'm trying to stay calm." He added with a smirk, "I admit, watching you and Padme go through this has been a help to me. I think you were nervous enough then that I don't have to be now." Anakin scowled.

"Glad to be of use, Obi-Wan," a soft voice said. Anakin looked up at his wife with a grin, and then he bounced a bit as Leia started to fuss. Obi-Wan nodded at Padme and smiled at Luke's curious blue eyes watching him from his mother's arms. Something to focus on—he felt his heart rate slowing marginally as he relaxed.

A med droid floated in. "Mr. Kenobi?" And all those pre-parental nerves came rushing back. Droids didn't have emotions or intentions that could be felt with the Force—what if something had gone wrong? It hadn't been long enough for the birth, had it? Padme's labor had gone on for hours, long enough that Obi-Wan had seriously considered tranquilizers for the increasingly-frantic father.

"You have a daughter, Mr. Kenobi," the droid continued, unaware of his momentary panic.

It felt like the floor was gone, like his stomach had tied itself in knots, like his heart was flying out of his throat. A daughter!

"Mrs. Kryze said you could come in—"

Obi-Wan skirted quickly around the droid down the hall and into the room he knew Satine was in. He stopped at the door.

She looked tired, but she had a smile on her face. She held a tiny little bundle of blankets to her chest, cooing softly to it. When she saw him, tears sparkled in her eyes and her smile grew.

It was hard to breathe. Obi-Wan slowly moved towards the bed, almost not believing his eyes.

But no, there was a new little human, pink and a bit wrinkly and the most beautiful thing Obi-Wan had ever seen.

He fell into a chair by the bed. Satine laughed softly. "Ben, my dear, are you alright?"

Words escaped him. A daughter! Healthy—both his girls—his family.

"Would you like to hold her?"

He nodded, and they managed to transfer the baby with relative ease (they had practiced when babysitting the twins).

So small. So full of potential. He held a bright, wonderful future in his arms, and he was overwhelmed. He didn't even try to stop the tears that came.

"My dear?"

He looked up into lovely, worried blue eyes and managed what he hoped was a smile. "I love you, Satine."

She smiled back and reached out to brush a few of his tears away. "I love you as well."

Teeny little fussing noises came from his arms and he smiled at the little face that was scrunching itself awake. He carefully lifted the baby so he could kiss the miniature nose. "And I love you, my tiny darling." He handed her back to Satine, who cuddled her close and adjusted the blanket around her.

After a moment of appreciating where life had brought them, she asked, "Have you thought of any names?" They had wanted to wait until they met their child before they picked names out, hoping that a name would just "fit" their new family member.

As Obi-Wan took in the picture—his rumpled wife, his wiggly daughter—his heart felt full to bursting. This was his life. This was where he was meant to be. "Would you mind terribly if we called her Hope?"

"Hm. Hope, for a brave new future. Yes, I think it will do nicely." Satine brushed a finger against a soft little cheek. "Welcome to the galaxy, our darling new Hope."