It turned out Sherlock had had a wrywolf of his own when he was little.

John was rolling on the ground, buried under the hoard of six puppies that turned out to be Redbeard's own broad. Two of the puppies sat proudly on his shoulders, keeping him held down as the mother watched from above. At least she seemed more relaxed around them after Redbeard had revealed Sherlock as his human. The red furred puppy was licking his face happily and pulled at his ear with sharp little teeth.

Sherlock was slammed to the ground repeatedly as his wrywolf pounced on him aggressively. They snarled at each other fiercely, each one trying to establish who was alpha. The knight immobilized the wolf down by his throat and bit at the velvety ear. Redbeard howled with joy and flipped the knight on his back, watching the young man struggle.

Apparently the wrywolf had run towards its mate upon hearing the whimpers of his pups, but had recognized Sherlock as his boy. The smell that Sherlock had worn as a toddler was long gone, however the man's aura was unmistakable. Especially to a childhood friend. John watched his master practically get mauled by the huge wolf for fun, the wolf had the knight pinned on his back.

And the knight had never looked happier.

John picked his red furred companion up by the under arms and held him around the stomach. He ran to his master and knelt down at his side. The pup was gathered under his chin and licking him joyfully. John looked down on Sherlock, who was beaming in such a way that John had never seen. Sherlock reached up to gently scratch behind the boy's ear, pacifying his overactive mind into relaxation. Sherlock gave a small smirk.

"You coo when you're happy," the knight observed.

John blushed and pulled his new friend closer. Maybe he did make some noises when he was happy. So what? "I'm gonna call him Toby."

"Idiotic name," Sherlock said, lying under his wolf's lean body. A warm tongue swiped across his face in one swoop. He smiled up at the red furred monster.

"Yes, Master Sherlock."

"Brat."

John grinned at the knight before lying next to him, his own wrywolf pup sitting on his chest. Both men lay at each other's side, basking in the warmth of the twin suns. John's puppy let out a sneeze on top of him, causing the boy to giggle in twist into Sherlock's chest. The elder Jedi continued to scratch at Redbeard's chin enthusiastically, his fingers twisting the oddly colored fur happily.

"I thought they would have had him put down," Sherlock mumbled softly. "He was loyal to no one, but me. He'd often bite my father, and my mother barely could stand him."

"Who took care of him then?" John asked curiously.

"Mycroft said he was guarding the Gorian Temple, most likely the priestesses cared for him." Sherlock leaned fully into his padawan and sniffed at his ear.

"They must have taken good care him, Master," John smiled at the pup that curled between himself and his master.

"So it would seem."

Redbeard turned his head to John, sniffing eagerly at his human's cub. The boy held perfectly still as Redbeard nuzzled his neck and pawed at his arm. John reached up carefully and stroked the huge beast's neck.

"Master Mycroft's gonna be mad as bantha dung when he finds out we didn't go to the meetings and ended up playing with puppies," John giggled.

"Would you think it unjustified, Padawan Watson?" a cold sneer spoke above them. John froze in fear, his arms tightened around his puppy instinctively. Mycroft was glaring intently at Sherlock. The knight shrugged in response.

"You were correct, Mycroft, a red furred wolf did guard the temple. Were you able to sneak in after John distracted it for you?" Sherlock said, clearly amused. Redbeard was snarling above him, disturbed by the new stranger near his cubs. Also his human had little care in his heart for the new man.

John frowned as his puppy began to growl angrily at the new smelling human. The older Jedi looked as if he were down to his final nerve. John sat up slowly, his pup held close as the master cast him a look of scorn. John set Toby next to his father and lent a hand to his unmoved master. Sherlock continued playing with the wolf's ears, his mind seemed far off. "Did you find what you needed, Mycroft?"

"How could I, Sherlock? I wasn't allowed in," Mycroft said sorely.

"There was hardly a guard team," Sherlock smirked, hiding his face in the wolf's fur.

"Dismiss your wolf, I need your attention," Mycroft commanded gruffly.

"You want me to dismiss an old friend so soon? It's been years, brother mine," at last Sherlock rolled from beneath his wolf and took John's hand. The small hand fit neatly in Sherlock's palm, John grinned as he heaved the older man up. "Having the wolf on our side will make it easier to get the priestess' attention, will it not? They have an unnatural love for animals." Sherlock spoke the word "love" as though it left a bitter taste in his mouth. John grimaced.

"It does not solve the issue of getting them to speak to us. The boy-"

"I will not allow it," Sherlock said firmly. At once he took John's shoulders and pulled him back against his legs. "He is too young for such a mission."

"Sherlock, this is not up for debate. The Gorian council is turning their backs on the Republic, we need the priestesses. We cannot meet with the Highest priestess because we are adult males!" Mycroft's composure was fading.

"It is too dangerous for a child! I will not put him under such stress without me! And you know as well as I, child or no he is in danger at that place for being male."

"And how does he feel about this?" Mycroft snapped, hoping to play on John's young pride.

"All due respect, Master Mycroft, last time Master forbade a mission that I ignored….it did not end well." John rubbed his shoulder uneasily. Sherlock's psyche flinched over their bond, John soothed his master quickly. "If Sherlock says no, Master, it is no."

"Such obedience for a boy whose file of insubordination is meters long."

Redbeard sensed his boy's rage and howled angrily. Sherlock squeezed the child's shoulders almost painfully, but John did not still his miffed master. Slowly he reached for Sherlock's fingers and clutched them in his small hand. He smiled brightly at the elder master. "Yes, Master. Sherlock is an exceptional teacher for bringing such a padawan to heel. Wouldn't you say?" John was rewarded with a tender tug on his braid. Redbeard trotted up behind the boy and nuzzled at him proudly, a long tongue swiped at the back of his head, sending blond hair in every direction. John giggled whole heartedly as the large wolf hoisted him backwards onto its strong shoulders.

From this height he was even taller than Master Mycroft!

"He is my padawan, Mycroft. Respect my wishes for his safety, or we will be on the next transport home," Sherlock said coldly. The knight gave a gentle nudge to his wolf and led his padawan away from the snarling master.

John blinked back at Mycroft.

Master was treating him like a baby. Granted he fully intended to obey Sherlock, but his master didn't have to shout at Mycroft for him. He sighed down at the wolf.

This time, even if Master made him feel like a kid, he would comply.

oOo

They said goodbye to their wolves near the entrance to the temple.

John clung to his cub, crying and all but begging to keep him. In the end Sherlock picked his sobbing padawan up and carried him away, with John babbling his goodbyes behind him. Fault was not placed with the boy, Sherlock understood the want to stay with his cub. But honestly did the boy need to wiggle so much!

"Little one," Sherlock finally snapped as the boy tried to jump over his shoulder. John turned against his neck and tried to curl into a ball, a hiccup emerged from the child. The knight stroked his back evenly. Sometimes raising a boy was….overly tedious.

"How come? How come, Master? Can't the pups stay with us while we're on this planet? Please, please? I'll be good!"

"Little one, is not the state of your behavior that would matter. Mycroft would have my head if I allowed you a cub," Sherlock said boredly. "We will visit them again, John."

John tightened his grip on his master's tunics and nodded tearfully. "Yes, Master."

Sherlock kissed his temple lightly. "Will you survive, my little one?"

John scowled. "I noticed you actually hugged Redbeard, Master mine. That is a courtesy I don't often see from you."

"Shut up, John."

The wretched creature giggled.

"Master, can I ask what Mycroft wants-?"

"No," the knight cut off his child. "You will be less tempted with it this way."

"I'm not tempted," John huffed indignantly. "I learned my lesson."

Sherlock felt a strong shiver through the Force and knew it wasn't only John's trepidation shining through. Again his lips found the smooth skin of his padawan's temple, regret bubbled in his chest. It was a lesson Sherlock never wanted his child to have learned, at least not in that way.

Sherlock crossed the threshold to their temporary home. Satisfied his padawan had calmed himself enough to walk on his own, Sherlock released John to the ground. The boy gave him a pained look, clearly wanting to remain in his master's arms. The knight knelt in front of his child and stroked a calming hand through his hair. "You sulk more than I, little one," Sherlock said fondly.

"I know pets aren't allowed, Master…but still it'd be nice to have something. You know…cause you're gone so often," John mumbled. "Or he could sit with me at your meetings."

Sherlock stiffened. Hurt flashed across their bond so harshly that John recoiled. The older Jedi turned his face from his padawan. "I told you, John. You did not have to come with us, nor did you have to kneel if you did. If you were that bothered by it, you should have informed me."

"That's not…It's not the kneeling thing. I get lonely sometimes, even when we're in the same room. A pup would be nice for when you're busy, so I don't bother you."

Only his child would think himself a burden when he was perfectly behaved. Sherlock drew him close, relishing how easily the small child came to him. John leaned his full weight against Sherlock's shoulder, nestling closely. "I meant you no offense," John said with childish politeness.

"It takes more than your antics to offend me, little one. But you will tell me if something bothers you from now on," Sherlock commanded.

"I am very bothered that you won't allow me to keep the pup, Master," John piped up.

"Shush," Sherlock scoffed with pride.

The pair walked gracefully through the open door of their home. Sherlock became rigid before the child could register what was going on. John froze as Mycroft knelt before the holograms of the entire Jedi council, Sherlock grasped John's shoulders.

"Go to your room, little one," Sherlock's voice had a deadly quiet to it.

"Yes, sir," John said swiftly. He took several steps to his room.

"Wait, youngling," Master Windu said shortly.

"He's-" Sherlock was a silenced by a raised hand.

"You are excused from this meeting, Master Holmes."

They were already cutting him out before he had a chance to defend his reasons. A chance to defend his child from a dangerous mission.

Damn Mycroft.

Damn him!

oOo

The boy knelt at Mycroft's side trembling in fear.

Mycroft did not reach to comfort the child, however John did scoot as close to him as the master allowed. Mycroft readdressed the grandmaster for the silent padawan. It seemed Sherlock had neglected to teach the boy proper edict when dealing with council. John flinched when at last a master addressed him.

"We are sorry to put you through this, my young friend," Master Plo said softly.

John shook his head. "Can't…can't a female master come? She can-"

"Outsiders will be welcome even less," Master Windu said patiently.

"But I'm not-"

Mycroft sighed, "You're scent is that of a Gorian, young one. You will be well disguised."

John stared intently on at his hands.

On his knees again.

"Master says no," John said quietly. "He does not want me to go into a dangerous situation without him."

Mycroft cast the rebelling child a dark look, John clenched his hands into fists. Dark rage bloomed in the master's chest. It was pacified immediately, but it did not stop the dark look he cast the boy. How dare a child, not even a true padawan's age, defy a whole council? He was truly Sherlock's boy. John flexed his hands thoughtfully.

"I don't want to cause offense to the council, truly. But this mission, dismissing him, is an insult undeserved to my master. I will do as the council commands, naturally, but please don't cut him out. He is slightly over protective, and I am slightly disobedient. It is a balance."

Master Yoda struck his chin thoughtfully, no doubt mulling over an appropriate punishment for-

"Take this mission, you will. Close to your master, stay you must," the elder said swiftly. "Treacherous this will be."

"I can do it with Sherlock's help," the boy promised. His jaw set defiantly, ready to take on any accusations of over attachment. Reckless the child may be, his actions were somewhat admirable. How the boy could have learned at Mycroft's feet instead of his little brother's. John fidgeted uncomfortably.

"Then the support of Goria rest on your shoulders, John Watson. You will negotiate for the Republic with the Highest Priestess. May the Force be with you."

And with that, the council cut out.