Mace Windu couldn't remember the last time he had cried, just that he had been a small child. He couldn't remember why any more, it had been so long ago. It didn't matter anymore, because that day he cried for hours in his large room in Theed Palace and no one, not even another Council Master, could have blamed him.
His best friend had died that day.
He had headed to Naboo with Master Yoda with a strange urgency. Suddenly, they had sensed a horrible disturbance in the Force, and it said they were too late. The pain had dropped him to his knees, and he'd had to protect himself with one of the strongest shields he'd ever thrown up. It had worked, until he found Obi-Wan, disconsolate, with Qui-Gon's body in his arms. It had been difficult to separate them, and Mace had felt his heart break when his friend's imposing figure remained where Obi-Wan had carefully left him, and it had hurt even worse to be unable to feel Qui-Gon's strong presence in the Force.
Mace closed his eyes in pain at the memory. Qui-Gon had been his best friend since their time in the crèche. The different tales of how long they had known each other never coincided. Truth is, they had been in adjacent cribs and then they had shared rooms until they were initiates.
Actually, they rarely agreed completely about anything. The only thing they had in common had been their devotion to the Force and to the Jedi family. They had always said it was unbelievable that they were such good friends when they were complete opposites.
After he had meditated for a few hours, Mace was able to get rid of the piercing pain, though his sadness had stubbornly stayed. But, his time to grieve was over. Now he had duty to attend to.
When they had been young, still dreaming about their Knighthood, they had vowed to one another. They had promised that if one of them was unable to continue the training of their current Padawan, the other would finish it. Mace had never thought it would come to that.
A few years later, Obi-Wan had been practicing his katas under his Master's watchful eye, and Mace had been stood next to Qui-Gon, also observing the child. They had both been impressed and proud of the perfection in the Padawan's movements. Mace, slowly, had grown fond of the young Jedi. He had considered Obi-Wan a nephew, since Qui-Gon was his brother. The kid had gained his heart as easily as he had Qui-Gon's.
When Obi-Wan had gone to take a shower, Qui-Gon had looked at him seriously and said, "Mace, if someday I'm no longer here, please assure me Obi-Wan's Mastery. Support him, please. Promise me you will be there for him."
And he had accepted. Both used to tease about it. They would be Obi-Wan's guardians until he achieved Mastery. There was no way the boy would remain a Knight. They would not allow it.
Mace adjusted his robe. "I'll fulfill my promise, Qui." He would take care of his best friend's Padawan. Calmly, he headed to Obi-Wan's room, and when the now young man opened the door, they hugged each other tightly and together, they cried over the death of a father and a brother. But then, they knew the sun would rise for them. They were family, they would overcome the pain together.