Qui-Gon sat with his friend, Didi Oddo, and his daughter, Astri, watching the newborn kittens nurse for the first time.
Astri's cat, Star, had just given birth to five kittens, and Qui-Gon, having been there visiting, agreed to stay and help.
It didn't take the big man long to notice the smallest kitten, a black one with white paws, wasn't nursing. She was crying, trying to find her mother, and to Qui-Gon's surprise and disgust, Star ignored her.
Beside him, Didi sighed a little sadly.
"She won't take the runt."
Qui-Gon felt his heart sink and tear at this. He couldn't believe that Star would just reject the kitten.
"Then I'll take her."
He was just as surprised as Didi, for he hadn't been planning on saying anything like that, but now he knew it was the right thing to do. He wanted to do it.
"You sure, Qui?" he friend asked.
The tall Jedi nodded.
"Well, okay."
The kitten cried a little louder, alarmed and frightened, as Qui-Gon's large, callous hands gently picked her up and brought her to his chest.
Qui-Gon didn't move after that. He simply sat there, holding the tiny kitten to his chest.
After a few minutes, the kitten calmed down then began nuzzling Qui-Gon's tunic.
"She's hungry," Did said.
Astri quickly got a small baby bottle, warmed up some milk, and handed it to Qui-Gon.
The Master held the bottle out to the kitten, letting her feel and smell it. Once she finally started to eat, she relaxed completely in Qui-Gon's arm.
"You know that she thinks you're her mother, right?" Didi asked with a grin.
Qui-Gon smiled, his crystal blue eyes laughing for him.
"You should call her Mittens because it looks like she's wearing mittens," Astri said after the kitten had finished eating and was now sound asleep.
"Well then Mittens it is."
When Qui-Gon returned to the Temple, Mace Windu was waiting for him.
"Finally back, eh, Qui-Gon?" his friend teased.
Qui-Gon chuckled slightly, even as he felt Mittens tense up a bit more that before at Mace's new scent and voice.
Mace then saw the kitten. He gave an exasperated sigh.
"Qui-Gon, not again."
"Mace, her mother rejected her. I had to do something, and keeping her was the best thing I could think of."
Mace took Mittens from her place in Qui-Gon's arms.
The kitten cried when she felt Mace's hands touch her, and she cried even louder when she was taken from what she considered to be her mother.
"Mace!" Qui-Gon snapped as he quickly but carefully took the kitten back.
Instantly recognizing her 'mother', Mittens calmed down and became quiet.
Mace looked confused.
"What was that about?"
Qui-Gon looked at the Council Member.
"She thinks I'm her mother."