Sherlock stood in the back of the crowd once more with John at his side.

The knight's vision was still unclear. He died fighting Moran, but he didn't know where nor how. All he knew was he wanted as much time with his padawan as was allowed before he passed. John was holding his hand.

It felt odd.

Wrong.

Unnatural.

But it was for John.

As was everything.

Sherlock shifted uneasily as the boy chattered to him about Sarah and how pretty she looked in a sundress. Sherlock gave him a small nudge.

"Love is very much forbidden, my little one." Said the most feared Jedi at temple holding a little boy's hand.

John scowled. "That isn't fair. I love y…" He stopped and peeked at Sherlock. "Yaks. I love them, Father. Truly."

Sherlock tightened his palm around the small hand, John looked up at him shyly. Sherlock didn't hesitate to pick the boy up and set him on his hip. John lay his head on the elder's shoulder. "Did you love Grandpa?"

Sherlock nipped John's ear silently.

"Did you?"

"John…."

"Did you?" A more firm question.

Sherlock glared at his padawan. "We are not discussing this here."

The child huffed. "I may be silent if I were to get a chocolate pastry, Master mine." John said the last half of the quietly. Sherlock put his forehead against John's with a mischievous grin.

"I am not foolish enough to give you sugar before a four hour trip, padawan mine." Sherlock chuckled. John scowled into Sherlock's shoulder, his saber was pressing uncomfortably into his hip. He wiggled to be put down. His master set the boy gently onto the ground only to have his padawan retake his hand. Sherlock bit down a scowl.

If he wasn't dying the boy would be told off.

John leaned into his master's leg with a small sigh. They were missing his nap for this, and the boy was still sick. John pursed his lips as head ached, Sherlock sensed his padawan's discomfort across their bond. His long fingers made small, soothing circles at the base of his padawan neck, John gave a small mew at the sensation and buried his face in Sherlock's leg.

Sherlock's lips twitched up, but refused to give way to a smile.

John's biological family was smiling hugely, even John's biological father was smiling broadly. Sherlock frowned, the man looked far more excited than the last time Moran had been mentioned. Worry lines etched themselves deep in Sherlock's features.

Why would a king be happy to have his bastard sitting on his throne?

Sherlock glared at the royal family, his former tormentor took a stand in front of the crowd. The cheer "Watson!" rang out, and his padawan cringed.

Moran gave a small, shy wave. The people went berserk as it reminded them of their lost prince, Sherlock scowled at the imbeciles. John pressed deeper into his master's leg.

"My people, it gives me great pleasure to announce to you that on this day, a great justice shall be done!" The crowd roared at Moran's response. Sherlock heaved John into the air worriedly. "It is on this day that we bring to justice one of the Jedi who stole our prince!" Another loud jeer.

Sherlock backed away slowly, his movements practiced and calm so as not to draw attention. John buried his face in Sherlock's strong shoulder. Moran sought out the dark haired Gorian with an evil grin, Sherlock returned his glare fully. "Sherlock Holmes, you really ought to consider changing your name on these missions."

Sherlock pressed his mind into John's, the boy jumped in surprise as the overwhelming presence as his master invaded.

Act surprised.

Yes, Master.

Sherlock gave a shocked look as the crowd turned to him. He gave a shakey, almost frightened breath in. "My lord you mistake me for another." He called out with a petrified voice. "I am a refugee, a father. I am no Jedi."

Moran snarled from the balcony and leapt over the side gracefully. He landed with the balance of one practiced with the Force. The crowd parted before him with new found fear, Sherlock cradled John's head as the Acolyte took a menacing step forward. Sherlock swallowed in terror and retreated back until he bumped clumsily into a wall. The crowd seemed completely fooled with his charade. Slowly they began to recircle the Gorian and the pup.

"Please, Lord, I am a father. I t-thought Jedi could not b-breed." Sherlock looked down at John helplessly. John cast the knight a frightened look and managed to shoot a pleading one towards the crowd. The people began to sway in favor of the Jedi.

"He loves his pup!" One, it sounded like Sarah's father, called out.

"The pup's terrified! Leave him alone!"

Sherlock set John behind him, a protective hand was placed on the child's stomach. John gave a small whine of protest and tried to get back into his master's arms. "Father!"

"Ah. A padawan. So unlike you, Sherlock."

The knight released a low hiss as his name was said. He pressed John into his leg, small hands curled in his pants leg. "What are you talking about?" Sherlock cried indignantly.

Moran cracked a smooth across Sherlock's jaw line, the young knight stumbled to the ground. John gave a cry of anguish and threw himself over his master. His tiny body would protect little, but the crowd was moved by it.

Master, are you…

Fine. Why wouldn't I be fine?

Old.

Brat.

Sherlock yanked John against his chest as Moran executed a poorly aimed kick at the tiny figure. The crowd roared in defiance. Sherlock rose with John pressed deep into his upper body. He brought himself up on the balls of his feet, battle ready. Defense position seven.

"Stop!" A female cry rose from the balcony. "You cheer for the Gorian, but he is the slaver of our prince!" The princess leapt from the building in a graceful dive. John swallowed hard. "That boy in his arms calls his so called father "master" when no one can hear. He is not the son of the Gorian! He is the son of my father. That boy is Hamish."

Sherlock and John looked at each other in mirroring fright.

"Unheard of!" Sarah's father was yelling. "They love each other! Jedi can't love!"

Sherlock grimaced, John grinned.

Told you.

Shut up.

Yes, Master.

Moran's eyes glittered dangerously, Sherlock instinctively tightened his grip. John glared at his sister, with a small frown he rolled his eyes. "I think I'd know if I was a prince, poodoo brains." He snapped.

"John." Sherlock scowled.

"Forgive me, Father." The boy said quietly.

"Let me go after the boy, Harry. I'll prove this Gorian a Jedi."

Harriet growled low at him. "Don't you dare touch him."

John gave a squeak and clung tightly to Sherlock's tunics. The knight snarled viscously at his former torturer. "Not the boy." Sherlock said quietly. "Leave him be." His voice as deadly as it had been when they were children. Sherlock hoped Moran remembered those days when the Sith's apprentice voice grew deep.

"You won't use it. You hated it." Moran sneered. "You don't want your beloved padawan to see you as the demon you are."

Sherlock smirked and brought his voice to a snarling whisper. "If you touch him, I will."

"Harriet, trust me. The Jedi won't let me hurt him."

"But you will try." Harriet snapped back. "That is my brother you threaten."

Moran's patience was breaking. He glanced to the padawan in his former opponents arms, red eyes meet ocean blue. Sherlock sighed heavily.

"Ready to die?" Moran hissed.

"Bored." Sherlock drawled.

A red light saber ignited, but was parried with a lightning blue. Sherlock tossed John out of the way with an order to run to the ship. He kicked Moran violently in the groin, the Acolyte grunted and barely managed to block an attack to his head. Sherlock growled as he applied pressure to his saber, Moran grimaced.

The Acolyte made a low kick to Sherlock's legs, but the knight anticipated and flipped backwards. He landed gracefully next to John. "Your promise, John." Sherlock said evenly.

"Master…" John activated his own light saber and caught a blow from an impending guard. "Let me help. Please?"

"Little one, your promise. Go."

John looked up at him painfully. "I can't…" He muttered, he caught another blow off his light saber. "Master, I can't leave you."

"John!" Sherlock had anticipated this. He knew the boy would sooner die than leave him, but John had to go. Sherlock deflected a blow from Moran and knelt before the child quickly. "Please. You know I deplore begging. Please John, run away. Think of your nightmare."

"Master, are you proud of me?" John demanded as he kicked aside a guard. Sherlock caught another blow from Moran and sent him spinning away.

"Little one, not here."

"Tell me." John said shortly.

Moran's arm closed around Sherlock's windpipe and pulled him back. Sherlock buried his elbow deep into the dark one's belly. "Yes!" Sherlock shouted unwillingly. "Yes, little one!" He threw Moran into Harriet as she ran to collect John.

John beamed. "Then my nightmare can't come true."

"John, please." Sherlock said, knowing his own nightmare would. "They will use you against me."

"Only if we get caught." John grinned evilly, taking a swing at Moran.

John.

Are you planning on getting caught?

Yes.

Master!

Run. Now. You promised me.

Master, I…please, don't make me-

Moran snatched John a bone crushing grip, Sherlock gave a low snarl and immediately Force shoved the Acolyte away from his padawan. He swept John into his arms and growled as more guards approached them. Harriet led the charge as Moran managed to pick himself off the ground. Sherlock pressed his forehead against John's.

"Please."

"I won't leave you." John pounded his little fist against the strong chest for emphases. "I can't." He gave Sherlock a small pout. Sherlock backed into a wall with his light saber held firmly in front of him. His off the record orders from Mycroft were to surrender and find out everything about the lost padawans possible.

"John you have to run." Sherlock said coldly. "If you don't, if we make it out alive, I will transfer your apprenticeship." Sherlock parried away a glancing blow from Moran. He glared down at the tiny body in his arms.

John buried his face in the side of Sherlock's neck. "I refuse to leave you, Master. I am sorry that is your consideration."

"Then we abandon the mission and go home." Sherlock snarled as he threw his shoulder into a guard, his feet danced in and out of the guards trying to take him. John's tears were warm on his master's neck. Sherlock did not comfort the child. Of course he wouldn't transfer the apprenticeship, John was his. Sherlock danced on the shoulders of Stewjon's natives with John pressed firmly against his chest.

John looked down over the passing crowd with a small gasp of awe. John blinked back tears and stuck his face back in Sherlock's neck. "I'm so sorry, Master."

"Shut up." Sherlock hissed. He nipped the small ear. "You are forgiven, I should have known you wouldn't abandon me." Sherlock felt sky blue eyes on him and grinned. "You are mine. Mine."

"Yes, Master." John swallowed his tears. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me for facts, little one." Sherlock said curtly as he propelled himself off the shoulder of an attacking guard and flipped. He held John firmly against his chest. Sherlock looked back at the defeated group of guards with a small smirk.

Until a strong pressure on his windpipe stilled his breathing.

He shoved John away from him as Harriet pulled her belt around the knight's neck. Sherlock mentally kicked himself. Of course it had been the belt, it was formed from the same materials as Sith's collars. Clearly that was the reason the princess couldn't be sensed. Sherlock gave John a small Force shove.

"John, run!" He choked as she pulled tighter. Sherlock reached for his fallen saber.

"Master!" John slid under his teacher's legs and made a jab at his sister calf. Moran caught the child's blow easily and hoisted the small figure into the air by the back of his shirt. Sherlock struggled against the belt around his wind pipe as Harriet kick his saber away.

John squirmed in the Acolyte's grip, his feet swung wildly. He desperately tried to kick the red eyed man. Harriet was bringing Sherlock to his knees.

"John!" He croaked.

"Master!"

"John!" The knight's world went black.