Miss Mustang: My email went crazy overnight with sequel requests so I had too! I'm glad you enjoy it and only time will tell for Obi-Wan and if he finally notices about Anakin and Padme.
Lyn79: It has crossed my mind because of how Anakin is and I don't believe Padme is going to want to be out of Obi-Wans life.
Annie Walker: Again thank you for reading! It will be for them both as Anakin hasn't had to deal with a kid before even if that kid has the mind (for the most part) of an adult.
Guest: Well Ahsoka is in this chapter and on Obi-Wans side! Obi-Wan can't continue his duties so in essence he has been demoted! So Anakin is a Master (now) before Obi-Wan. With Sidious gone and Dooku in jail there isn't much of a war but they are still hunting for General Grievous. thanks again for reading (also wonders are you my guest who posted 2 reviews at a time on Padawan Again.
The following morning Obi-Wan wakes to find himself in his own bed. He doesn't remember Anakin trying to wake him the night before nor does he remember Anakin picking him up and carrying him back to the Temple and putting him to bed.
He has a hazy memory of Anakin and Padme kissing but he's certain he must have been dreaming. Possibly because the pair acted like husband and wife while they were on the run as a family. He smiles at the memory. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes he can smell breakfast and his stomach growls. He hopes Ahsoka has made it and not Anakin.
Thankfully Ahsoka had made breakfast, fruit and pancakes. Getting up to the table Obi-Wan used the Force to bring the teapot over to him but Anakin snatched it just before it reached him. "Anakin!" Anakin shakes his head putting the pot down away from Obi-Wan. "Everything I've read about your age advises against tea or caff."
"A cup of tea is not going to poison me and I highly doubt it will have any effect on me as I have been drinking it for years." Obi-Wan reaches out and the pot starts to move again. Anakin grabs a hold of the pot stopping it. "Obi-Wan, I said no." Ahsoka can't help but smirk watching the two of them.
"I will not go through another day of classes without having some tea." Obi-Wan frowns at him crossing his arms. "Don't you cross your arms at me. I said no." Anakin keeps a hold of the pot. Ahsoka steps over to the table. "Why don't we compromise? Surely a small cup won't do any harm and only one in the morning and one with lunch."
Obi-Wan smiles his thanks to Ahsoka for her attempting to set a compromise. Anakin frowns as his Padawan and his…what does he call Obi-Wan now? His ward? Look at him expectantly although he is certain he can see a glint in Obi-Wans eye. "Alright, half a cup and just one. But if it starts to have any effect on you then it stops. Agreed?"
Obi-Wan smirks, "Of course." Ahsoka winks at Obi-Wan as she pours him half a cup handing it to him. "thank you Ahsoka." He nods his thanks smelling what is his first cup of tea in…he can't think how long. "Anytime." She smiles and without thinking ruffles his hair before she stops herself. "Oh Sorry Obi-Wan. He laughs lightly smiling at her. "It's alright."
His first class today was with Master Yoda meditation followed by his first lightsaber lessons. He was disappointed when Yoda had him run through more "age appropriate" exercises. However as always Yoda was right and by the time Anakin arrived to collect him he was exhausted. Anakin took him back to their apartment.
"I think you might need to have a nap." Obi-Wan shakes his head slightly. "I'm alright…" Anakin looks at him not believing him. "Alright." He heads over to the sofa sitting down and putting on the Holovid, some history programme was on he leaves it as Obi-Wan comes over sitting beside him.
It wasn't five minutes before Anakin felt Obi-Wans head on his arm. Looking down he can see Obi-Wans fast asleep. Smiling he lifts his arm and gently moves Obi-Wan closer putting his arm over him. Using the Force he puts a holovid of podracing.
In the afternoon after history class with Master Lo'rat, Obi-Wan keeps to the shadows creeping through the halls to make sure no one spots him. Drawing on the Force to shield his presence he heads down towards the cells. He had found a way to get into the cells without the guards noticing him.
"I must commend you for managing to keep sneaking in here and not getting caught." Dooku is lying down on the bench that doubles for a bed. He doesn't even open his eyes. Obi-Wan smirks, "I might look 4 years old but I must admit the size does come in handy. It would be a lot more difficult if I was…well how I was."
Opening his eyes Dooku sits up with a slight smile on his face. "Well I do appreciate the visits. Only you and Master Yoda deem to visit with me. Although Mace Windu has popped down to scowl at me from time to time when he is looking for information."
"I would come and visit more often but I'm only able to escape from Anakin now and then." Dooku waves a hand dismissively. "You shouldn't be down here at all but I am grateful for your visits. However I do wish the council had placed you with someone other than Skywalker."
Obi-Wan frowns a little. "Anakin's not a bad person. I'm pretty certain if I was to act up, he would let me. He is protective of me even before all this happened. Besides if not for Anakin I may have ended up with another Master who wouldn't have understood my situation." He pauses for a moment. "Any word on what is to happen to you?"
Dooku shakes his head, "the last I heard the senate council and the Jedi are still discussing it. There are some Jedi, namely Master Yoda who believe that I can be reformed because of what I did for you in the end. The senate council however believes I should stand trial publicly. We shall but wait and see."
Obi-Wan sighs as he makes his way out of the cells. He knows what Dooku did was wrong but he did make the right decision in the end. He risked his life for Obi-Wan, stood up against the Sith Lord. In some way Dookus kidnapping of him lead to the discovery of the Sith Lord. Having to grow up again might be a hefty price to pay but with the war coming to an end, once they find General Grievous who has managed to keep going, and an end to the Sith. It's a price he is glad to pay and would pay again if he had to do it all over again.
"And just what do you think you are doing in the cells?" Obi-Wan freezes as he hears Master Windus voice behind him. "Master Windu, I was just looking for Anakin." Obi-Wan turns to face the leader of the Jedi council. "And you expected to find him in the cells?" Obi-Wan knows he's been caught.
"Come with me Kenobi." Mace walks out ahead of Obi-Wan. Sighing Obi-Wan follows the Jedi Master out. Only as he suddenly realizes where Mace is taking him does he stop. "Mace, I am not a child. You can't send me to the crèche!" Mace stops and turns his hands on his hips towering over Obi-Wan. "Then do you care to tell me what you were doing in the cells?"
Obi-Wans shoulders slump. "I was visiting Dooku." Just mentioning the counts name causes Mace to frown. "And why in the Force would you want to see him Obi-Wan?" Obi-Wan thinks before he speaks, yes the healers haven't been able to remove all that Dooku did to his mind but he believes Dooku has changed. There is light in him again. He closes his eyes, "I know what he did to me," he looks at Mace, "put me in danger in the first place but he risked his life to save me when Palpatine was going to kill me. He refused to kill me. I just come down to talk with him. Nothing else."
Mace sighs, "Obi-Wan, it is not wise for you to have contact with him. It's for your own protection." Obi-Wan frowns, "I wish everyone would stop that. I don't need protecting like some fragile child!" Mace is not amused by the snippy tone. "I wish you would all just back off!"
Anakin gets a call when he is putting Ahsoka through some katas. Obi-Wan is being kept in the crèche overnight by request of Mace Windu as punishment for disrespect. Anakin rolls his eyes before flicking his gaze to Ahsoka. "Again."
Obi-Wan sits in the corner of the room. They had just had dinner and given some free time before bed. The crèche master had sat him with some of the older children for the meal which didn't go down well with them. None of them would speak to him and he kept getting odd looks from them.
A young Chiss girl, who looks to be a couple of years older than Obi-Wan approaches him, her red eyes filled with concern. "Hello little boy." Obi-Wan looks up to her, "Hello." She sits down next to him and hands him a toy speeder. "Just ignore them. They don't like people who are smarter than them and you must be smart if Master Rae sat you with us."
He smiles a little, "Depends on your point of view. I was sent here for punishment." She raises an eyebrow. "Punishment? But you're new I haven't seen you here before." He shakes his head. "It's a long story." She smiles, "I can listen. My names Thera." She offers her hand. "Obi-Wan." She grins, "Nice to meet you Obi-Wan."
Obi-Wan told her what happened to him. "So you're really a Jedi Master?" Her voice is hushed like it's a secret. He snorts, "I was but as the machine is destroyed beyond repair I have no choice but to…grow up again." He sighs looking forlorn. Thera takes his hand, "Well Master Obi-Wan…" he laughs, "Just call me Obi-Wan." She smiles at him, "Obi-Wan, if you need a friend, you know where I am." He smiles warmly at her, "Thank you Thera."
The next morning Anakin arrives to collect Obi-Wan. "What did you do to Mace to get him to shove you in here over night?" Obi-Wan shrugs, "I may have told him to back off…I may have shouted at him and told him to mind his own business…" Anakin laughs. "I bet he loved that. Was he just asking how you were?" Obi-Wan swallows knowing Anakin is not going to like it when he says where he was. "He was asking what I was doing in the cells."
Anakin is many things but stupid is not one of them, "You were what?!" Some of the younglings nearby jump startled by the raised voice. "Anakin…" Anakin shakes his head in disbelief. "After all that he did to you and you go and see him? Why in the nine Corellian hells would you go and see that jumped up..."he was about to curse when he stops himself looking at the younglings.
A young blue girl comes running over to Obi-Wan taking his hand and standing slightly in front of him. "Don't shout at him." She frowns at Anakin. "Thera it's alright." She shakes her head. "No it's not ok Obi-Wan." Thera turns back to Anakin, "He's being mean. You did nothing wrong…well you did but you been punished for that. You can't be punished more than once for the same thing."
Anakin can't help but smirk at the girl. "What's your name youngling?" Thera straightens up. "I'm Thera and I'm 7 and a half. Obi-Wans my friend and you won't shout at him." Anakin lifts his mechanical hand to his face trying to hide a smile. He coughs, "Forgive me Thera. I was unaware of what Obi-Wan did and it shocked me to learn of it." Theras blinks surprised he didn't shout at her. "Uh…ok but say sorry to Obi-Wan."
"Thera that's not really…" Obi-Wan starts before Thera shushes him. "Say sorry to him." Anakins eyes sparkle in amusement. "I'm sorry Obi-Wan." Obi-Wans face flushes red and he can only guess what's going to come. "Now I have to take Obi-Wan back home." Thera nods and turns to Obi-Wan. "You have to promise to come and see me." Obi-Wan nods, "I promise." Satisfied Thera nods and heads back into the crèche.
As they start walking towards the turbolift, Anakin smirks sniggering slightly. "Got yourself a girlfriend there Obi-Wan." Obi-Wan rolls his eyes. "Not now Anakin." Anakin laughs but since his return to the Temple, Thera is the first being who has just listened to him and not judged him when one of his triggers kicked in. They talked and then played together until the crèche Master called time for bed. He could relax around her, no pity she accepted Obi-Wan the Jedi Master and Obi-Wan the child.