TITLE: Never Too Old To Love

AUTHOR: GeneraleKenobi

GENRE: romance, angst, AU

PAIRING: Obi-Wan/Leia (yep, you have read it right!)

RATING: PG-13, perhaps less.

SUMMARY: Obi-Wan survives his duel with Darth Vader on the Death Star and from then on things go in quite a different way…

NEVER TOO OLD TO LOVE

This story assumes that you have seen "A New Hope", "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return Of The Jedi" and that all scenes not specifically altered herein, occurred as they were depicted in those movies. Also, once it is clear the romance is between Obi-Wan and Leia, all the scenes in the movies involving the Han/Leia romance are to be considered as not happened in this AU.

A/N: Just to let you know, I adore the Leia/Han pairing, but this rabid plot bunny bit me, and once I started mulling over the idea, I couldn't stop until the story was completed.

Please check my profile for a link to the image of how Obi-Wan looks in this story.

Prologue

"I've been waiting for you, Obi-Wan. We meet again, at last. The circle is now complete," Darth Vader's mechanical voice echoed in the Death Star corridor, as his massive black shape filled the space. His red lightsabre came to life, casting sinister glares on his mask.

Obi-Wan Kenobi looked at the half-man, half-machine in front of him and, contrary to his habits, moved into an offensive position.

Vader imitated him, raising his weapon in a defensive stance, as his voice echoed again.

"When I left you, I was but the learner; now I am the Master."

"Only a Master of evil, Darth," answered Obi-Wan calmly, fully knowing that there was nothing else the other despised more than a condescending tone.

The two men stood perfectly still for a few moments, sizing each other up and waiting for the right time. Obi-Wan sensed the Dark Side gather around Vader and put pressure over him, trying to break his shields.

Gritting his teeth and blinking his eyes, he knew he could not wait anymore. Obi-Wan gave a sudden lunge at the Sith Lord, but it was easily parried.

Vader then attacked, slashing at Obi-Wan, but the Jedi Master blocked the blade and put pressure over it, causing Vader to back up.

They continued to duel for several moments, and Obi-Wan felt tiredness crept over him. He was old, and had not trained in several years, while Vader, although hindered by his mechanical limbs and huge armour was still sixteen years younger and in peak form.

"Your powers are weak, old man," Vader taunted him, and Obi-Wan could very well imagine the smirk on his face.

"You can't win, Darth. If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine," Obi-Wan answered quietly, his voice full of confidence. He could sense Qui-Gon's presence near him, soothing him and helping him to prepare for the moment he would become one with the Force.

However, Obi-Wan was not ready to go down without a fight or before having tried everything. He began to move toward the Millennium Falcon, as his and Vader's blades clashed again.

Obi-Wan saw a squad of Stormtroopers block his path and realized he was trapped between them and Vader.

The Sith Lord took advantage of Obi-Wan's momentary distraction and brought his lightsabre down on his former Master.

Obi-Wan managed to deflect the blow and swiftly turned around, as a familiar Force signature brushed against his shields.

Luke was there, and his sister was with him. Good. Obi-Wan smiled upon seeing the twins reunited and knew he had to distract Vader and the troops a little longer, to give them and Captain Solo the time to reach the Millennium Falcon's lowered ramp.

Obi-Wan turned around and engaged Vader again, before he decided he could be more helpful to Luke if he got rid of this slowed-down body. So he smiled, took a step back and raised his lightsabre straight in front of his face, in salute.

He closed his eyes, ready for Vader's killing blow, when suddenly a voice spoke with urgency.

It's not your moment, Padawan! Fight!

Obi-Wan reacted without even thinking at Qui-Gon's command. He sidestepped quickly and Vader's blade, instead of cutting him in half, slashed his upper arm.

He hissed in pain, but willed himself to ignore it as the Sith Lord attacked him and worked hard to block his blows.

He is favouring his right leg, Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon spoke again. Something is not working properly in his prosthetic knee. Press him, quicken the speed of your attacks. Don't give him a moment of rest. Come on Padawan, I know you can do it!

Obi-Wan set his jaw and did as he was told. As he doubled the speed of his attacks, he berated himself for not having kept himself in a better physical form.

He had always known one day he would have to face Vader again, but he had thought it was the will of the Force for him to lose that duel, for it would really make him more powerful than the Sith could ever imagine. Thus he had not bothered to keep his lightsabre skills very honed.

However, now the Force, through Qui-Gon, had showed him its will had changed, and the Jedi Master had to search inside himself for every scrap of strength he could muster.

"You are old, Obi-Wan," Vader said again, "why do you insist on fighting? Would not death be less painful than struggling with a burning and bleeding arm? You cannot win, and you know it."

"I agree with you, Darth. I am old—but not that old!"

In that very moment, Obi-Wan saw the opening he had been waiting for. Vader's mechanical knee buckled under his weight and the Jedi Master took full advantage of it, by bending quickly and slashing his opponent's leg, severing the limb.

Vader stood immobile for a moment, and then he lost his balance and fell to the ground with a loud thud.

Obi-Wan hovered over him, the tip of his 'sabre close to his neck, but as it had been on Mustafar nineteen years before, he was not able to bring himself to finish the job. No matter how much he despised Vader, he still loved Anakin too much to kill him.

"Ben!"

Luke's worried voice echoed in the hangar, recalling him to the present. The path to the Millennium Falcon was free, for his companions had stunned all the guards.

Obi-Wan threw a final glance to his fallen apprentice, and then ran away, boarding the ship along with Luke.