Obi-Wan takes Iyla our for a lifeday dinner to a very special diner to meet a very special friend of his. It's Iyla's first time at a restaurant and Dex makes sure she has a wonderful meal.

Chapter 20: Burgers and the Besalisk

Iyla's lifeday party was coming together nicely. At least that's what Cody and Rex had told Obi-Wan when he called to ask about it. With a little less than two weeks before the big day, he wanted to see if there was anything he could do to help. Of course, he was told, "No, thank you, General, we've got it covered," and that was that. Obi-Wan had frowned at the abrupt end to the comm call, then shrugged and went to pick up Iyla from the crèche for a very special outing he had planned for dinner.

Ever since he introduced Iyla to nerfburgers on their first trip to the market, he'd been wanting to take her to Dex's. He had the best burgers after all and it was only right that she get to experience them. But the last month and a half had been pretty hectic and he hadn't found time to visit his Besalisk friend. Today though, the Council meeting had ended early and he'd been able to get ahead on his paperwork. It was the perfect opportunity for an evening out and a trip to his favorite diner. He hadn't called ahead to tell Dex of his plan, instead opting for a surprise for the friend he hadn't seen in nearly six months. It would be a great reunion for them both, and made even sweeter with his special little dinner date.

He arrived at the crèche to find Iyla and her friends working together to build a block tower, sometimes using the Force to stack the blocks. He smiled as he watched the group from his place against the wall. The little Rodian girl looked increasingly frustrated that her blocks kept being forced just a bit off from where she intended to put them, always wavering to the side at the last second. Obi-Wan saw the blonde haired boy, Flynn if he remembered correctly, smirking and snickering from beside her, clearly the cause of the wavering blocks. A taller dark skinned girl, Shona, Obi-Wan recalled, elbowed the boy and gave him a stern look. He looked apologetic and instead started helping the Rodian guide her block to the right spot.

"You did it, Nawi!" Iyla exclaimed excitedly. "It worked!"

The Rodian, Nari, opened her eyes to see her block perfectly balanced on top of the tower and smiled widely. Shona nodded at Flynn in approval.

"Yeah, good job, Nari," Flynn praised.

Nari's block had been the last one and all four children were looking at their tower satisfied. Then they exchanged playful and mischievous looks and immediately stood up.

"This tower is nice, but…wouldn't it be too bad if somefing were to…knock it down?" Shona asked, smirking and side-eyeing her friends.

"Like…a lotta of cwazy banfas?" Iyla asked also smirking.

"Or…some battle dwoids!" Nari suggested.

"Or a super fast out-a- control speeder!" exclaimed Flynn.

"Or a Jedi Master with a powerful lightsaber!" Shona added.

There was a few seconds pause before each crècheling launched into their preferred method of attack upon the tower. Iyla was crawling on her hands and knees, knocking over blocks and trampling on them while Nari used her fingers as blasters and walked stiffly through the walls. Shona was wielding a pretend lightsaber and striking down the remaining blocks and Flynn came barreling through, making speeder sounds, and crashing to the ground, scattering blocks everywhere. The four friends all laughed and cheered at their demolished tower. Obi-Wan chuckled from against the wall and let their feelings of happiness fill his Force signature. He pushed off from the wall and approached the small group.

"Hi, Master Nobi!" Shona greeted him when she saw him. "Are you here to take Iyla?" she asked, looking a bit sad.

"Hello, Shona. That was some impressive lightsaber work you did on that tower," he praised playfully.

The 5-year-old ducked her head shyly. "Fank you, sir! I been praksing the katas I learned from Master Alann. I had my first class yesserday."

"Well, I can see that you're going to do very well in that class," Obi-Wan answered. Shona smiled.

"Did'ya see me bein' a banfa, Papa?" Iyla asked excitedly tugging on his arm.

"Yes, darling. You were quite the crazy little bantha. Look at all the destruction you caused," he smiled.

Iyla laughed as she looked down at the scattered blocks around them.

"I was also impressed with your battle droid impression, Nari," he said, addressing the Rodian.

Nari looked at him in shock. "You know who I am, Masser Nobi?"

"Yes, of course, little one. And I must say, having faced many battle droids myself, I found your performance both accurate and terrifying," he smiled.

Nari giggled and clapped in delight.

"Master Nobi, did ya see my speeder crash? It made a lotta 'struction!" Flynn said.

"I most certainly did, Flynn. The destruction was quite terrible. I think you could give Master Skywalker a run for his money in speeder crashes," Obi-Wan teased.

The little boy's eyes lit up at being compared to a famously skilled and talented Jedi like Anakin, even if it was about crashing speeders. Flynn breathed out an awed "cool."

"I do wish I could stay and talk more with you all, but Iyla and I must be going now," Obi-Wan said.

A small chorus of "awwws" rose up from the four children but they began straightening up the blocks anyways. They left the pile on the floor and Obi-Wan could tell that Iyla was itching to put them all in one of the baskets by the wall. He watched her curiously as she seemed to be debating with herself about cleaning the toys or leaving them. Shona spoke up and took the choice away from her.

"We're gonna play wif the blocks again, Iyla. You don't need to clean them up," she told her, giving her a soft smile.

"Yeah, go wif your Papa and we see you tamorrow," Flynn said, already building a base for the tower.

Iyla seemed satisfied that the blocks were still going to be used and not just sitting on the floor and she nodded at them then took Obi-Wan's hand.

"Kay. Bye Shona, bye Flynn, bye Nawi! See you 'morrow!" she waved to each of them.

"Bye, Iyla! Bye Master Nobi!" they all answered then returned to their tower.

Obi-Wan gave them a wave then led Iyla to her small cubby to retrieve her things and head out of the crèche.

After freshening up a bit in their quarters, Obi-Wan and Iyla were ready for their dinner.

"Why we not eat in the tepol, Papa?" Iyla asked as her father was buckling her shoes.

"I thought you might like to meet a friend of mine. He owns a restaurant a few miles away," Obi-Wan replied.

"A retront? I never goed to a retront afore," Iyla said.

"Would you like to go tonight?"

"Yes, pease! I always wanted to go to a retront!" Iyla exclaimed excitedly.

Obi-Wan laughed and pulled on his robe. "Alright, good. Let's go then."

Iyla excitedly grabbed her small coat and followed him out of the room. They took an airtaxi to the district where Dex's Diner was and Obi-Wan paid the driver as they got out. It was only about a block down the street so he figured Iyla would be fine walking the rest of the way. Since it was still a bit early for dinner, Dex's wasn't too terribly crowded. There were certainly a good amount of empty booths to sit in.

Obi-Wan was just starting to seek out one of the empty booths when he heard a deep and friendly, "Obi-Wan!" from off to his right. He barely had time to prepare himself before the big Besalisk had him tight in a bone-crushing hug.

"Hello, Dex," he greeted, face slightly muffled as it was smashed against a shoulder. Obi-Wan felt Iyla hiding in his robe and gripping his leg tightly through his pants.

"It's been too long, my friend," Dex said, pulling back and releasing the Jedi.

"I know. I meant to come by earlier, but, well, things have been a bit…busy lately," Obi-Wan replied.

"Oh, I'd imagine, what with the war ending and the Sith destroyed, plus your involvement with the clones citizenship bill. You've ben a very busy man, Obi-Wan," Dex said.

"Yes…among other things," Obi-Wan answered, reaching to open his robe and show the little girl cowering behind him.

Dex stared curiously at the small form then smiled kindly at the blue eyes peeking out from the robe.

"And who is this little one, eh? Another one of your students? She looks a bit young, even for a Padawan, my friend," he said.

Obi-Wan chuckled and bent down to coax Iyla out of his robe and into the open. She obeyed but still stared wide-eyed at the big humanoid before her. She grabbed for Obi-Wan's hand and held it tight.

"Dex Jettster, I'd like to introduce you to someone very special," Obi-Wan began. "This is Iyla Kenobi. My daughter."

The Besalisk's eyes lit up in happiness and a wide smile broke out on his face. "Well, now, this is quite a treat," he said. "I'm very pleased to meet you, Miss Iyla."

Iyla stood still and couldn't seem to take her eyes off the large belly and four arms. She'd never seen anything quite like Mister Dex before. Obi-Wan nudged her a bit. "Darling," he prompted.

"P-peased to meet you, Misser Dex," she squeaked out. "You gots fouw arms," she stated.

Dex laughed. "I do, little Kenobi. You are very observant," he winked and smiled at her.

Iyla wasn't sure what 'observant' meant but she shyly returned the smile all the same.

"Now, how about I get you both set up and bring you something to drink? Jawa juice for you, my Jedi friend, correct? And what about the little darling?" Dex asked, leading them over to a booth in the corner.

"Yes, thank you, and a muja juice, please," Obi-Wan replied, helping Iyla up on to the bench.

"Coming right up," Dex said then went to go get the drinks.

A serving droid came over and gave them both menus and Iyla stared at the droid in wonder. Her Papa had told her about droids and machines but she had yet to actually see one herself. She silently received the menu from the droid and continued to watch it as it disappeared into the back kitchen. She then focused her attention on the menu that she couldn't read. She watched her Papa hold it in his hands and prop it up on the table as he studied it carefully. Iyla copied his movements and studied it carefully as well, her little eyebrows furrowed in concentration. Obi-Wan looked up at her from his menu and couldn't suppress a smile at her actions. She really was too cute.

"See anything you like, dear?" he asked playfully.

"No, Papa," she answered.

"No?" he asked with a smirk. "Why not?"

"Acasuse I not know how to read," she answered as if that should have been obvious to her father.

Obi-Wan laughed and took both menus to set them aside. He knew what they were ordering anyways.

Dex returned with the drinks, Iyla's in a small child-size cup with a handle for easier drinking and a twisty straw.

"Fank you, Miss Dex," she said, looking excited to drink from the colorful and silly shaped straw.

"You're very welcome, Iyla," he said then turned to look at Obi-Wan. "Have you decided what you want already?"

"Yes, actually, we'll have two nerfburgers, please. Iyla tasted one for the first time a month or so ago and while it was good, it wasn't nearly as good as yours. I want her to taste the best nerfburgers on Coruscant of course," Obi-Wan answered.

"Flattery will get you nowhere, Master Jedi," Dex joked.

"Well, it was worth a try," Obi-Wan bantered back.

Dex smiled in amusement and called over the droid waitress to put in the order. He then pulled up a vacant chair and sat down across from them both. "So, my friend, catch me up on everything," he said, giving a discreet nod to the toddler happily sipping her drink, eyes crossed so she could see the liquid flow through the twisty straw.

Dex and Obi-Wan talked for a few minutes, discreetly of course, about Iyla and how he came to find her, before their food was brought to them. Dex sat back silently and watched as Obi-Wan cut the nerfburger into smaller bites and added some condiments for Iyla to try. He took napkins from the holder and set one up on her lap and tucked the other into the collar of her tunic.

"This a nerdburdger, Papa?" she asked. At Obi-Wan's nod she dug in enthusiastically.

"You're good with her, Obi-Wan," Dex smiled.

Obi-Wan's face colored at the praise and he looked away awkwardly.

"So, what brings you here tonight, huh? Family night out? Special occasion?" he asked.

"A visit to an old friend," Obi-Wan countered. "Also, Iyla's never been to a restaurant before, so I thought it would be fun to bring her over. A fun outing before her lifeday."

"Lifeday?" Dex asked, excitedly. "Is it your lifeday soon, little Kenobi?" he looked at the sauce covered face and big blue eyes now watching him.

"Yes, Misser Dex! In two weeks. I'm gonna be fouw!" Iyla said holding up four fingers proudly.

"Four-years-old? Well, that is very exciting," Dex replied.

"We havin' a pawty! The vod'e are making it for me. And I went to buy a pwetty dwess wif Soka and Atie Pamay and pwetty shoes too! And I gets cake and pwesents and my whole tire fam'ly be there!" she was practically vibrating with excitement now. "I wish it was 'morrow," she said.

Obi-Wan chuckled and took a napkin to wipe her face. "Patience, little one. You'll have the party soon enough."

Iyla scowled at his wiping and squirmed away.

"Hmm, now that I know we're celebrating a lifeday, I think we might need to bring you some dessert, on the house of course," Dex said.

Iyla looked confused. "You gonna put bezert on your house?"

Dex cracked up and howled loudly. "Oh, you are precious, little Kenobi. What free dessert would you like for your lifeday dinner?"

"Free bezert! Really, Misser Dex?"

"Of course! I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it."

Iyla looked to Obi-Wan in question.

"Go on, darling, it's alright. Dex is offering you a wonderful treat. Tell him what you want."

"Umm...do ya gots any bownies, Misser Dex. I like chokit bownies," she said shyly.

"One chocolate brownie, coming right up for the lifeday girl. Be right back," he said, standing from his chair. His large belly flopped down over his pants and wobbled a bit as he stood.

Iyla looked at the belly curiously. "You gots a big tummy, Misser Dex. Like Atie Pamay. Do you gots babies in there too?" she asked.

Obi-Wan stared red-faced and open-mouthed at her. "Iyla...it's not polite to ask those kinds of questions, darling."

Iyla looked at her shocked Papa and the puzzled Besalisk standing next to her. Immediately she lowered her eyes and head to look at her lap and started wringing the napkin between her hands.

"Sowwy, Misser Dex. I not mean to be wude. I unnderstad if you no wanna bing me a bownie now," she said looking ashamed.

Dex gently took the twisted napkin from her hand as he started clearing the table. "Nonsense, little one. Of course I'm still going to bring you that brownie. It's a very special person's lifeday treat after all. And there's no need to apologize for asking a question. You're just a curious little one, aren't you? Nothing wrong with that," he answered kindly.

Iyla looked up from her lap at Dex. "S'not good manners to ask about uver people's tummies. Papa tolded me that afore."

"Well, sometimes being curious and manners don't always match up, kiddo. Don't you worry your pretty little head, ok? Now, to answer your question, no, my belly doesn't have any babies in it. Just a lot of nerfburgers and milkshakes," he said with a wink then took their dishes and went to the kitchen.

"Sowwy, Papa. I not have good manners," Iyla said once the Besalisk was gone.

"It's alright, dear. You're still learning about what's polite to ask and what isn't. I'm not angry, just a bit, shocked I guess, but not angry, love," he said, reaching for her hand and brushing her knuckles with his thumb.

"Ok, Papa," she replied.

Dex returned a few minutes later with a large chocolate brownie on a plate and some frozen cream on the top. Iyla's mouth opened in shock at the dessert.

"One Dex's Diner Lifeday Brownie Special for the lifeday girl," he said, setting it down in front of the wide-eyed 3-year-old.

"You just made that name up, didn't you?" Obi-Wan teased.

"Yes, but I'm thinking of making it a real thing now anyway," Dex smirked.

Both of them watched as the girl tucked in excitedly, her face lighting up with each bite she took. She offered some to Obi-Wan when it was clear she couldn't finish the whole thing then offered some to Dex as well.

"Thank you, little Kenobi. Now, who do you know who has babies in their tummy?" he asked. "Did I hear Padme? Why does that name ring a bell?" Dex asked.

"Atie Pamay gots two babies in her tummy and Unka A'kin said that means twins," Iyla answered.

"Uncle Anakin? Little Ani? That gundark is gonna be a father of twins soon? He never told me. He was here just three weeks ago and didn't bother to mention it."

"Well, it was a secret until about a week ago. Jedi aren't exactly supposed to have families, you know, Dex," Obi-Wan replied.

"Yeah, yeah, the Code. That outdated bantha fodder still keeping you Jedi from being human?" Dex asked.

"Well…actually, now that you mention it…" Obi-Wan then launched into an explanation about how he changed the Code and what the Councilors said to him.

The two then continued their talk about Anakin and Padme, as well as Ahsoka and the end of the war. At sometime during their talking, the service droid had come and given Iyla a few crayons and a paper menu for her to color on. This thankfully kept her pretty occupied so they could talk and catch up. They laughed and shared stories and Obi-Wan felt his spirit warm in the presence of his longtime friend.

A small tug at his sleeve drew his attention away from the conversation. "Papa?" Iyla asked.

"Yes, darling?" he asked, turning his eyes to her.

"I gotta go potty," she told him with a bounce.

"Oh, alright. Well the 'freshers are just…" he trailed off as he saw the diner's public 'freshers and realized that he had no idea what to do. Did he bring her in with him to the male ones, or let her go alone to the female ones? He didn't want to leave her alone and he wasn't sure if she'd even want to go in alone. He could bring her to the male 'freshers but Dex's was usually full of unseemly characters that could be doing all sorts of things in the 'fresher that a 3-year-old should never see. He frantically looked back and forth between the two doors, at a loss. Was this how all single fathers with young daughters felt? What did they do in these situations?

"Papaaaa," Iyla whined. "I gotta go vewy bad!"

"Yes, I know, dear, just hold on a little longer, ok?"

Iyla didn't answer but didn't argue either. She just continued to bounce and look nervous.

"I'm not sure which 'fresher you should use, little one. You can go into the female 'fresher but I can't come in with you, or I can bring you into the male 'freshers but I'm not too keen on that option either," he said.

Iyla didn't seem to have heard him though as she was biting her lip hard and whimpering.

"Looks like there's not much time to decide, my friend," Dex spoke up. "There's a private 'fresher back in the kitchens, I don't mind letting the little one use it."

"Oh, that would be wonderful, Dex. Are you sure though?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Wouldn't have offered otherwise," Dex replied. "But, we best be getting there soon," he said nodding at the little girl who was now tearing up.

Obi-Wan immediately jumped up from the bench and scooped Iyla into his arms quickly following Dex to the 'fresher in the back.

"Papa, I gotta go potty right now!" Iyla said frantically as he carried her.

Thankfully they were at the 'fresher already and Obi-Wan quickly ran in and shut the door behind them. He breathed a sigh of relief that they'd made it just in time. Thank the Force for Dex's quick thinking and hospitality.

Crisis now averted and clothing spared, Obi-Wan helped Iyla wash her hands then led her back out to the dining room. Dex spotted them and smiled widely as they approached.

"All good?" he asked.

Iyla nodded happily and Obi-Wan smiled. "Yes, thank you, Dex. You helped me avoid a disaster," he said.

Dex laughed and clapped an arm over Obi-Wan's shoulder. "Any time, my friend. All I ask is that you don't let six more months pass before we see each other again, alright?" he looked down at the curly-haired toddler. "You have a good lifeday, little Kenobi. Maybe I'll send over some nerfburgers for the party. And some brownies too," he offered.

Iyla smiled widely and gave him a hug, her head barely reaching his flabby stomach. Dex hugged her back with a surprising amount of gentleness, then pulled Obi-Wan in as well.

"Always a pleasure to have you, Obi-Wan. Bring back your little one and your gundark of a Padawan soon," he said as he pulled away.

"I will, Dex. Thank you," Obi-Wan replied.

"Fank you for my nerdburdgers and bownie, Misser Dex! They was yummy!" Iyla exclaimed happily. "Bye-bye!" she waved

"Goodbye, Iyla," Dex answered and waved back at her. He watched with a satisfied smile as the father and daughter left his diner hand in hand.

Next up: Iyla's long awaited and much anticipated Lifeday! Lots of fluffy fun mixed with angsty Papa Obi and his conflicting emotions.