Title: Screams In The Night

Author: Layren

Characters: Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Anakin

Timeframe: Post TPM

Summary: Anakin has an encounter with a ghost

Notes: This was an odd idea I had based on a discussion with Athena Leigh :D I hope everyone enjoys!

Special thanks to Neon Star for looking over this for me and making me post it and suggesting the title!

Sheets of water cascaded downward in a never-ending torrent of blackness and despair. The rumblings of the clouds above and flashes of light indicated the distress of the air around him. Sighing, the figure turned over trying hard to fall asleep even as he listened to that ghastly vale outside, keeping him awake. Every time his eyes would start to drift shut, another blur of light from the sky and a resounding rumble would startle him awake again.

Eighteen-year-old Anakin Skywalker turned over once again as he shifted position attempting to get comfortable. Today was the anniversary that Qui-Gon had died almost eight years ago. A tear silently slid down his cheek and was unnoticed by the owner as he turned over. He shivered slightly, feeling cold all over. How he missed Qui-Gon. Even in the short time he had known the man, he had become a father to Anakin and the violent manner of his passing had surprised all of them, none more so than Anakin and Obi-Wan.

A cool draft caressed his cheeks and hair and he sat bolt upright. He eyed his book on the shelf as it stealthily began to creep across the floor. His eyes widened. He knew he had not done that – and wondered who was there with him. He wondered if possibly Master Obi-Wan was playing a trick on his apprentice, but then dismissed the thought. His master was far too rule-bound to even consider such a thing.

Even as he thought this a pair of scissors, hitherto unnoticed before, floated as if by it's own accord over to him coming to rest underneath his padawan braid. With a yell of shock Anakin scrambled out of bed.

Qui-Gon's blue image appeared holding the scissors. "Anakin," he admonished, "don't scream so loudly. You'll wake up your Master."

"Good! Get away from me with those scissors!"

Qui-Gon sighed. "I know you hate haircuts Anakin, but you know it's time for yours."

"Your one to talk," Anakin scoffed.

"Oh yes," Qui-Gon said glancing at his hair. "Well young one, mine unfortunately is permanently this length. You should have warned the Sith to trim my hair before he stabbed me. Yours, however, has no such difficulties."

"Stay away from my hair!"

"What's all this yelling?" Obi-Wan yawned as he stumbled into his padawan's bedroom and blinked in surprise at finding his old Master's image holding a pair of scissors and Anakin standing at the opposite end of the room.

"He's trying to cut my hair! Get him away from me!" Anakin screeched.

Obi-Wan gave his apprentice a thoughtful look and then shrugged. "Actually Anakin, I was intending to have the barber cut your hair tomorrow but as Qui-Gon is better at it than the barber, I suggest you let him do it."

Anakin scowled. The last time he'd gotten his haircut, the barber had cut it in unequal lengths and the memory still haunted him. "You fight dirty, Master."

"From a certain point of view."

"Alright alright. I can't fight both of you," he said sullenly sitting down in a chair close to Qui-Gon.

Qui-Gon beamed and began snipping off Anakin's hair bit by bit. When he was done he handed Anakin a mirror. "Here you are Anakin."

"That's HALF OF MY BRAID!!!!!" He shouted. "That's the LAST time I let you cut my hair. Next time I'm just going to see the barber," he complained, grumpily.

"Sorry Ani, but George said your hair had to be this length for the next film," Qui-Gon replied. "It sucks being a plot device, doesn't it?"

THE END