A/N: I thought about writing this very carefully. And then I had an idea: along with writing a prequel to Debts unpaid (which it is, by the way, you can read it after, or before, whatever) with Anakin x OC, I can also write about Obi and Eirtaé's relationship. And I really liked the idea.

;)

Italic speech: mind-bound speech

Bold speech: visions

Underlined speech: foreign languages (Wookie, Geonosian...)

1. Irri

Irri was nine when she was given the opportunity to visit her home once again.

She had been taken as a Jedi apprentice when she was four, and had never again seen any member of her family.

She had known, however, that sometime during her sixth year, her older brother had died fighting the Cato Nemodians threatening Naboo.

Her Master, Aayla Secura, the blue Twi-lek, had thought it a great opportunity to go visit, before hell got loose.

Irri was tall for her age, with long blonde hair tucked into a braid, with her padawan's braid bouncing on her shoulder with each step she took.

She hadn't been introduced to the light-sabre yet. Her Master, being an expert on Ataru's form, the form of aggression, had decided to wait before teaching her its moves.

Instead, Irri had been heavily trained onto meditating, provoking vivid visions of the future, as well as using the Force on many occasions.

"You never know when your light-sabre might be taken away from you, young one" her Master used to tell her when she rebelled.

She was strong willed, the young one.

As well as extremely reckless.

But wiser Masters said it to be normal at such a young age.

!-!-!-!-!

When their ship docked in Theed, Irri got out first, breathing in the air of her home-planet for the first time in five years.

Memories of the place came flooding her mind, and she smiled into thin air.

"You like it here, young Padawan. And the sun suits you."

Irri whirled around to see her Master, glorious in her blue skin, descend the stairs and walk towards her. "Thank you Master."

"Come now, child. I have to report to the newly chosen Queen before we go in search for your parents."

Irri nodded and trotted beside her Master, and into Theed's great halls.

Ivy was climbing all around them, twirling around columns, covering the ceiling, running along corridors.

She loved the place.

!-!-!-!-!

"Your Majesty, Queen Amidala, I am Aayla Secura, Master of the Jedi Order, and this is my Padawan, Irri Nabié."

Irri watched as the young woman before her smiled kindly behind her white make-up. She smiled back.

"Are you from Naboo, Irri?"

She nodded and smiled wider. "I am, your Majesty."

Amidala smiled back. "Then welcome home. Master Secura, should you need anything, all you need is ask."

Aayla bowed her head a little, and gestured Irri to do the same. "Thank you, my lady. We will leave now, Irri longs to see her parents."

"I will send two of my handmaidens with you. Naboo isn't safe anymore for Jedis, I'm afraid."

Aayla smiled again and began retreating into the halls. "Thanks once again." Then she watched as Irri fidgeted with her cloak. "Behave, child."

!-!-!-!-!

The handmaidens the Queen assigned to guide them into the city were named Sabé and Eirtaé. While the first was easily mistaken for the queen, the second...

While Amidala and Sabé were both brown-haired and brown-eyed, Eirtaé was blonde and blue-eyed.

But kind.

Very very kind.

She took a fancy to Irri almost as soon as they exchanged their names.

Which annoyed Aayla to no end.

"Irri, child... Please behave."

Irri's eyes settled onto her Master. "I'm sorry. It's just... Do you think they'll remember me?"

But it was Eirtaé who answered. "No parent could ever forget a child like you Irri. You make them proud, I am certain of it. Every family in Theed would be proud to have a Jedi as a child."

But Aayla's eyes were not saying the same. "Irri, please. Promise me you will behave. And by that I mean no crying. On any circumstances."

Irri nodded. "I promise, Master."

"Good."

!-!-!-!-!

By the time they reached the part of town where most of the poor population lived, Irri's blood was boiling in her veins. She so wished to leave her Master behind and run, run, run in those streets she became to recognize, enter the small shop of her father, cry her parents' name, and throw herself in their arms once they'd appear, proud and happy to see her again.

None of this happened.

When Sabé and Eirtaé stopped them in front of the shop, Irri realised something that hadn't crossed her mind even once: maybe her parents didn't want to see her.

Her father's shop, which used to be one of the finest if you were in search for spices, was condemned by planks. Graffiti scarred the little white house, which seemed abandoned.

Irri felt tears threaten to fall, but she had sworn not to cry, she wouldn't cry.

And then, a painful figure escaped the house's door.

Irri's mother used to have flowing blonde hair that fell to her waist beautifully. It had turned grey somewhere during those five years of separation, and her once twinkling green eyes had now faded into darkness.

Master Secura put a hand on Irri's shoulder, who had started to shake. "Careful, little one." Then she started walking towards the woman, Irri high on her heels.

She was starting to believe those memories she had of her mother had never been real at all.

!-!-!-!-!

"Mrs Nabié?"

The woman lifted her head from her work – she was scratching empty a kitchen pot – and openly glared at the Jedi. "I know you, don't I?"

Aayla wasn't known to be harsh with anyone, so she didn't take offence. Yet. "Yes, you do. I am Aayla Secura, Master in the Jedi Order."

"Ah yes, I knew this blue skin could only be a Jedi's. You are not welcome here, freak."

Irri, behind her Master, couldn't take it anymore. She stepped before the protective stance of her master and friend, and planted her eyes in her mother's. "Mother, it is me, Irri. Do you not recognize me?"

At that the woman stood.

But instead of going to hug the only child she had left, she raised her hand...and slapped her across the face. "You are no more a child of mine. Now go before I call for help."

Irri was not crying. But she was shaking so hard with pain, sadness and even rage that Eirtaé had to scoop her in her arms to exit the scene.

!-!-!-!-!

Master Secura's mind reached her padawan's in no time.

"Everything is fine, child."

Irri shook her inner head. "I don't have a family anymore."

"Yes you do." And her hand touched hers. Then she switched back to open speech. "Let's get back to the palace. I fear something grave is going to happen, and my padawan needs rest."

Sabé nodded and hurried through the maze of streets, while Eirtaé sighed deeply. "Poor little thing." Her lips touched Irri's forehead, and the child fell into a dreamless sleep – courtesy of her master.