Chapter 14

I awoke that morning to the sensations of: 1. something warm (Bolt, I realized groggily) buried against my side 2. My whole body aching 3. The itchy feeling of something similar to a healing wound, but in my heart 4. The sound of snoring 5. A feeling of mild bafflement coming from the doorway of- my old room? I shot up and my head swiveled around to see Obi-Wan and my master lying on the floor and Anakin in the doorway struggling to keep his shields up against the bafflement and amusement he obviously felt.

I couldn't help but see the humor, and bent my head, shoulders shaking. I felt Anakin crawling into my lap and hugged him, trying and failing miserably to keep back a grin. He buried his head into my chest as we both laughed silently.

Who but Anakin could testify to two Padawans and a master lying on the floor snoring?

My grin suddenly faded as I remembered last night, but I just sighed and tried to keep a normal facade for Anakin's sake. I smiled a little weakly and sighed again.

"Better not wake them, Ani, or else you'll find yourself in a predicament."

He snickered. "I heed your words, master." I glared and sent a mental swat.

/Cheeky thing./ Out loud: "Time to meditate, Padawan." He sighed but then nodded dutifully, scrambling into the right position and his knees touching mine.

After meditation was over, both of us slipped out of the living room when we sensed both snoring forms on the floor coming back to consciousness. Hurrying to have breakfast ready.

Anakin had told me that he had been learning to cook from his mom, and he showed me what he knew: it wasn't much, but it was a little better than one would have imagined.

His voice broke upon my thoughts. "Kiya, do you think I'll be able to see her again?" The wistful tone in his voice made me pause from where I was cutting vegetables and look at him, a new revelation dawning in my mind. Of course! Bless the Force for the banishment of the no-attachment rule! Anakin wouldn't have to see his mother die again! I smiled happily as I responded.

"Of course, Ani, you can. We should visit her soon." He smiled sunnily at me, while I swallowed past the lump in my throat at the look. Anakin had never given me that look before- not that I'd given him any reason to anyway.

A grin returned to my features to the sight of Obi-Wan stumbling back into the kitchen, even though I tried to hide it. I suddenly noted the dark patches under his eyes and frowned inwardly. "Anakin, can you please go see if Master Qui-Gon needs any help?"

"Yes master." He dutifully trotted out to help in any way possible.

I turned to Obi-Wan. "I'm sorry." I whispered, hugging him gently. "If only you would have listened to me and not tried-" he shook his head and sighed into my shoulder.

"It's not your visions that trouble me" he whispered back. "It's the thought of what you went through. Besides, since when have I not been tired anyway?" He gave me a half-hearted grin and sank into a chair. I rolled my eyes and shoved towards him my half-full cup of caf, shaking my head, just as both Anakin and father walked into the kitchen.

Master had a scowl on his face while Anakin was grinning from ear to ear. I raised my eyebrow. "Padawan? What have you done now?"

"Master, isn't it right that master Qui-Gon is my grandfather? He's your father and Padawans are like children, so..." I shook my head again, exasperated.

"Anakin, you can call him grandpa if you like... But don't count on me to bail you out of trouble."

"Brat." I heard my master mutter under his breath before he yanked on my braid and sat down at the table. I opened my mouth to protest when a ring came from the doorbell. I set down the plates and studied the force-presence. My mouth suddenly went dry, and I racked my brains for information on- oh yes, Freemor. I was relieved to find that we had a brother-sister relationship and smiled gently as I went to palm the door open.

"Fee!" I exclaimed, hugging him. He laughed and his fingers trailed down my back as he hugged me back. "You never change, Ki." I turned pale for a moment before managing to smile again.

"Well, is it a comfort if I say the same to you?" He chuckled, though he gave me a puzzled look, obviously noting my reaction. "Well," he drawled, "I'll tell you one thing, Ki, you are the only one who can get away with a comment like that."

I giggled and gave him a childish look. He smiled.

The story behind that look was quite special; I remembered it well. When both Obi and I had become Padawans, he had visited us for the first time. He had been rather wary of both of us at first, but both Obi and I were rather expecting it: After all, there had been Xanatos. He had seemed a little satisfied after a while, and had a shaky but existent relationship with us. Until the day came when I was shoved off of an air-bus by a drunken passenger while in the care of Freemor. I managed to use the Force and catch myself before I hit the ground, but I had still broken one bone. He had absolutely beat himself up over the incident, despite my pleas that it wasn't his fault, but my own. I should have listened to the Force. He was forgiven, of course, by master and Obi, but I think it was the will of the said Force that the whole incident happened; from that day on, all of us had a brotherly-sisterly relationship that was very strong when we finally got to see each other. He always insisted it was the same childish look that I had just given him that made him break. Oh, and I always hugged him first thing when I saw him.

"Come on, Fee, I'll make you breakfast; surely you haven't had it yet?" He smiled again. "Yes, Ki, thanks. What's all this news about you having a Padawan?"

I whisked into the dining room and looked back at him over my shoulder. "Oh yes. I should have known you would have heard that. Fee, this is Anakin, my Padawan and brother; Anakin, this is Freemor, my fathers first Padawan and my brother in all but blood. Oh, and Fee, ask father about it all... And tell him that I want you in on the secret too." I disappeared without another word into the kitchen, and listened absently to the chatter that arose soon after.

When I finally came back out with breakfast, Fee was listening to the story with an interested face and head propped up in his hands. I smiled softly and set the plates down. Everyone thanked me and resumed the chatter to the backdrop sound of forks clanking against plates.

Soon after breakfast was finished, I activated the droid Ani had built and named dish, for its function of kitchen duty, and sent Anakin off to classes. And began to tell my story to Freemor. By the time I was finished, he sat back and stared at me.

"I-I believe you but-"

"I know." I sighed wearily. "But, still, let's not ruin a perfectly good day with melancholy." I smiled brightly. "Why don't we take a trip to Dex's this afternoon? I'm sure Ani would like it..."

He smiled back. "Whatever you like, little sis- or should I call you Master now?"

I frowned. "No, Fee, I'm still your little sis. No matter what." He smiled, understanding my need to keep the mood light, and played along. He reached out and yanked on my braid "well, then, sis, I think I'll borrow Anakin's bed for awhile.

"I swatted his arm as he made his way towards said destination. "Fee! Stop yanking on my braid! I'm telling you, everyone wants to rip it off!" All I heard was a snicker from my master and Obi along with Fee.

Sigh. Sithspit. Why is it always me? I shook my head and walked towards me and Obi's room, thinking, when I feel my Fathers force presence behind me. I smile weakly and the sit on the edge of the sleep couch. He wraps his arm around me, and I relax there. Feeling safe.

"Will you be okay?" He murmurs.

"Thanks to you and Obi and the Force, yes." Comes my muffled reply.

He rubs my arm comfortingly. At least, for now, I can feel comforted.

Anakin bounced on the balls of his feet as I instructed him in the second form of lightsaber combat, making me smile as I remembered the same reaction from Obs when he was younger too. I corrected his forms and finally announced class dismissed. He grinned at me happily and I tucked my hands into the wide sleeves of my robe and gave him am approving smile.

"You did well, Padawan." He bowed.

"Thank you master."

/Now, go and get washed up. We have to go somewhere soon with Obi and Fee./

Master had declined, saying that he had an appointment with Master Windu, to which I just smiled and asked him to give him a greeting from "his favorite girl." He had smiled amusedly in return as I gave a shy, almost childish laugh and went to go meet Anakin in the training salle.

I arrived back in our quarters to find Anakin sitting on the floor playing with Bolt, showered and dressed to go out. Fee and Obi were also there, each reading his own respectable datapads, looking up at me when I walked in. I smiled softly and patted Bolt's head, aiming a smile to Ani too, who smiled back. Walking over to Fee, I kissed his cheek and then deposited one one Obi too, shrugging off my cloak to go get ready to go out.

"Do you always hand those out so freely?" Fee's voice was amused and hopeful.

I grinned. "Nope. Sorry Fee. Only special people get those."

There was a giggle from Ani as I walked back to the living room.

I had put on my regular Jedi robes, cream colored with a black belt and a pouch with a few credit chips and odds and ends clipped to it, not to mention my lightsaber. I put on a brown cloak and black boots, while everyone else also got ready and donned their own cloak and boots.

When we finally made it onto the air-bus, I smiled at Fee while he shook his head.

Anakin couldn't take it any longer. "Master, where are we going?" I smiled mysteriously. "Patience, Padawan. You'll enjoy where we are headed." He squirmed before standing still in response to my raised eyebrow.

We arrived at Dex's and walked in. Teechee, the droid, yelled to the giant Besalik behind the counter, "There's someone to see you, honey!"

He peered out of the kitchen window and grinned happily. "I'll be there in a moment!"

He walked out and lumbered towards us. "Well! Look who we have here! If it isn't my favorite customers, eh? Kiya, Obi-Wan, and Freemor. How are you?"

He hugged us all with three out of four arms while we laughed.

"Good to see you, Dex."

"And who might this be?" He had caught sight of Ani. I smiled.

"Dex, this is Anakin Skywalker, my Padawan, and Anakin, this is Dex, the owner of this restaurant and best cook this side of Coruscant."

Anakin looked at Dex, wide-eyed, but smiled shyly. "Hello."

"Well hello to you too, young'un. Well, you are growing up, aren't you, sweetness?"

I shook my head while Ani stifled a giggle at my nickname. "Dex, I've been growing up for the past few years, haven't I?" He chuckled while we all sat down.

"In both wisdom and curves, sweetness." Obi-Wan and Freemor snickered while I blushed furiously.

"Well, gee, Dex, say that in front of everyone and rile up Obi-Wan." I mumbled.

We had a conversation about our recent missions and Anakin regaled Dex and Freemor with his own version of the pod race while I fingered my cup of muja juice and looked out the window, recalling the whole mission and what would come next.

What would I do next? What would the next step be? I was brought out of my thought train at the exclamation of Anakin at his delight in his burger. I smiled and began on my own meal, noting that everyone had ordered a milkshake as well. I shook my head at the memory of Obi-Wan and I bouncing off the walls the first time we had drank such a sugary drink as I sipped the shake.

We left after a while and headed back to the Jedi temple, all of us in a good mood. Until we got back. Master Qui-Gon met us in the doorway with a grim look.

"The council has called us on another mission to protect the Queen again. We must be ready." Obi-Wan, Anakin and I nodded grimly as we went to prepare to pack. I had made my decision. Yes, the duel would take place again. Yes, Maul would die again. But this time, I was sticking as close to my master as possible. As I changed into my combat suit, a black tank top and spandex shorts, I could tell that Obi-Wan had made the same decision. Darth Maul was doomed.

I'm sorry, but I just can't think of what can come next. Sigh. I have vague idea, but I've kinda fizzled out at the moment... My brain is sorta dead. I might update tomorrow and I might not. Any ideas would be appreciated! Forgive me please... I'll try!