I struggled with this chapter a lot. I had a clear idea in my head about what I wanted it to be about and the main focus, but getting it down on paper and working out details was difficult. That being said, I hope it's not too confusing or terrible. It's not my favorite and I reworked it many times before I just decided to say 'whatever' and stick with it. I hope you all enjoy it despite the mess that it is.
Summary: An assignment in the creche leads Iyla to reflect upon her family and what exactly they mean to her.
Also, I'm fully aware that they probably don't use paper and crayons in the SW universe, and that the drawing is advanced for a 4-year-old. But, the question is, do I really care? The answer: No. No, I don't.
Chapter 33: Portrait of a Family
The assignment was pretty straightforward. Draw something that makes you feel safe. Master Alann told them that when they become Jedi Knights and Masters, they will sometimes need to use something called an 'anchor' in the Force to help them with their emotions during especially stressful times. This lesson was a way for them to understand and recognize their 'anchors' so they can use them to focus on as they develop more in the Force. Of course for very young children their anchors were simple and naïve but it was more about the exercise of being able to identify and acknowledge those anchors than it was about establishing ones that were set in stone.
Iyla sat with Shona, Flynn, and Nari as they all separately worked on their drawings. Nari's consisted of a small pond and some grass and flowers surrounded by blue sky. Shona drew a slightly lopsided Jedi Temple with long spires and fluffy clouds surrounding it. Flynn drew his room and his bed with Masters Alann and Terrol standing off to the side in what looked like the play room. These all made sense for the young Jedi. Their safety was found within the walls of the temple and among their fellow Jedi. In fact, all of the children drew variations of the temple, the gardens, their dorm rooms, and the Crèche Masters. Except for Iyla. She didn't draw a place or her teachers. She drew her family.
Shona, Flynn, and Nari finished quickly and showed their pictures to each other and Master Alann then returned to the table. They expected to see Iyla finished with a similar drawing to theirs, but were surprised that she was still working on her picture and didn't seem likely to finish anytime soon. The three younglings sat back down and watched their friend who was working hard and concentrating deeply.
"What're you makin' Iyla?" Flynn asked curiously, not being able to take the silence for more than ten seconds.
"My fam'ly," was her short reply.
"Can we see?" Shona asked, scooting closer to her side.
Flynn and Nari moved closer as well and leaned in slightly.
"I'm not done yet. I gots a lotta fam'ly so it's takin' a long time," Iyla said.
She picked up her head and looked around the room. Most of the other children were finished and playing now. She began to feel self-conscious that she was still working and that everyone else had drawn the some of the same pictures. No one else had drawn a family. But, that's because no one else had a family. Which is ok. Her Papa told her it is. She's special and different, but that's not bad. She turned back to her unfinished picture and refocused, trying not to compare herself to the other children.
"You can go play if you wanna. I'm prolly gonna be here for a long time," she said as she turned to her friends.
All three of them looked at each other and then back at Iyla.
"That's ok, Iyla. We got lots of time to play later. We don't mind sittin' with you," Shona said.
Flynn looked longingly at the blocks and bit his lip in indecision. Then he sighed and slumped his shoulders a bit. "Yeah, it's ok. Plus makin' the tower isn't as fun wifout you. You're a good builder," he said with a nod.
Iyla ducked her head shyly and blushed.
"Maybe we can help you wif your pishure," Nari offered. "What did you drawed so far?"
"So far I gots me and my Papa," Iyla replied, pointing to her drawing.
The whole length of the bottom of the page was green with little spikes clearly meant to be grass. On top of the grass stood two figures. The first was a man with a beard, moustache, and slightly messy hair. He stood stiffly on stick legs with a long robe and baggy tunics. In one hand he held a long lightsaber while the other held on the the hand of a small figure next to him. This figure had shoulder length curly hair and what looked like a crown of flowers on top of it. She wore smaller Jedi tunics without a robe. The other hand not holding the man's was wrapped around a small toy that looked like a bear.
"Is that Barney too?" asked Shona.
"Oh, yeah, I forgotten I drawed him too."
"Do you want me to help you color?" Nari asked, reaching for the crayons across the table.
"Ok, sure. You too, Shona and Flynn?"
"Ok!" they both replied enthusiastically.
"I wanna color Master Nobi's lightsaber!" Flynn exclaimed. "Wait…what color is it?"
"It's blue," Iyla answered. "Papa showed me it one time. It's vewy cool!"
"Wow, I wish I coulda sawed it," Flynn said, using the blue crayon to color the length of the saber in the man's hand.
"Your Papa gots orange hair, right?" Shona asked reaching for the orange.
"He gots some bown too," Nari said.
"Yeah, he gots owange and bown. So maybe do both," Iyla suggested.
Shona and Nari nodded and began to color Obi-Wan's hair orange and brown mixed together. Nari then moved on to color his robe brown and Shona swapped her orange crayon for a tan one then started coloring his tunics.
"Flynn, color Papa's eyes blue too," Iyla instructed.
"And your eyes? You got blue ones too," he pointed out.
Iyla nodded and started to color her flower crown pink. Her hand hovered over the orange and yellow crayons as she thought about how to color her own hair. She took a strand in her hand and tried to bring it in front of her face to see it, her eyes crossing as she focused.
Shona giggled and grabbed a strand as well. "It looks like yellow and orange together," she observed.
Iyla agreed and started to color her own hair a mix of yellow and orange. Once Barney, Obi-Wan, and Iyla were done it was time to label them, in case anyone wondered, Iyla reasoned. She was still learning her letters though and had to ask Shona for help.
"You good at writing and spelling, Shona. Can you help me? I wanna write Papa and Bawney."
Shona agreed to help and soon an untidy Papa with a backwards 'p' was written over the bearded figure and Barnee was written by the small bear in Iyla's hand. Iyla insisted on writing her own name, having learned to spell it recently.
"Ok, I gots to do Unka A'kin and Atie Pamay now. Atie Pamay gots a big tummy acause she gots two babies in it," Iyla said.
Flynn looked startled and confused. "How she get babies in her tummy? Did she eat them?"
They all paused and took a moment to contemplate the idea of eating babies, their eyes going wide at the thought.
"No, I don't fink so," Iyla answered. "No one telled me how they got there, but I'm pwetty sure she not eated them."
"Yeah, 'sides, people can't eat babies, Flynn," Shona said with an eye roll.
"It was just a keschin," Flynn mumbled.
The three friends watched as Iyla drew a figure with a large bump over her middle.
"That's a big tummy," Nari observed.
"Uh-huh. They gonna come out soon. Papa says."
"How they gonna come out?" Nari asked.
"I dunno. No one telled me when I asked. They all just looked away and not say nofing."
"Maybe she frows them up," Flynn said looking excited.
"Ewww!" the three girls replied.
Flynn laughed hysterically at the thought of someone throwing up babies. Shona rolled her eyes and muttered something like 'gross boys' before turning her attention back to Iyla's drawing.
"Atie Pamay gots nice dwesses and cool hair too," Iyla commented as she drew a long flowy dress over the big tummy and a metal band on the head of wavy hair.
Next to the big-bellied figure, Iyla drew a tall Jedi with slightly long hair and a long robe. She colored his tunics a mix of dark brown and blacks. She gave him a gloved hand that held on to Padme's. Shona and Nari got to coloring Padme's dress, neither able to agree on the color. It ended up being a mix of bright colors and some silly designs and patterns added by Iyla. Over both figures Shona helped Iyla write Unka Akin then Atie Pamay then watched as Iyla drew a line to Padme's tummy and wrote out a messy baybees next to it.
Next up was Ahsoka and all four younglings had fun drawing her long lekku and leather clothing. Iyla made the white markings on her tan face and put her next to Anakin on the grass with a hand out and entwined with his.
"Soka is Unka A'kin's Pawana, that's why she's next to him," Iyla explained.
"I can't wait til I'm a Panawan!" Flynn spoke up as he colored the blue stripes on the Togrutan's lekku. "Then I can get a lightsaber!"
"Soka gots two sabers," Iyla commented.
Flynn nearly dropped the blue crayon in shock. "Two sabers? Wow!" he said in awe. "Soka sounds super cool!"
"Soka is vewy cool!" Iyla agreed. Once the Togrutan was finished and her label of Soka was written over her head, Iyla paused to think.
"Is that everyone?" asked Nari.
"No, I still gots Ganpa Qwi, and Atie Bo and Kowkie, and the vod'e."
"Wow, that's a lotta people," Nari said.
Iyla nodded and moved on to the other side of the paper. She drew a young man with slicked back blonde hair standing next to a woman with a headband and short orange hair. Both of them held a small circle with stick and a leaf on it. Iyla colored the circles red and orange. Then Shona was instructed to put some dots over the woman's nose and to make sure there wasn't too big of a smile on her face. The blonde man was wearing a blue and green tunic with tan pants, colored beautifully by Nari. Shona was busy coloring the woman's black and blue clothing so Flynn helped Iyla with the labels. Atie Bo and Kowkee were written over the two of them.
"Can we draw the vod'e now?" Flynn asked. "I like them!"
"Yeah, they were fun at your party!" Shona agreed.
"Ok, they all gots the same face so I draw that then we can make the hair," Iyla said as she set to work on the clones. Each clone wore black clothing with blue or yellow patches on their sleeves and they all stood in a line.
The first clone was given a thin layer of yellow hair and a blue patch on his shirt. He held a circular dish and what looked like a towel in his hands. Wex was written above his head. Next to Rex stood a clone with short cropped black hair and a scar on his face. Iyla gave him a nice smile and a yellow patch on his sleeve then wrote Codee next to him.
"What 'bout the guy wif the lightning head? Can we do him next?" Flynn asked.
"That's Kiss, he's a healer. He helped my arm get bettew when I falled," Iyla said.
"I can make him have a healer bag," Shona offered.
Iyla nodded and set about drawing the lightning bolts on Kix's head as Flynn helped. Shona drew the bag and Nari gave him a blue patch then Iyla write Kiss next to him.
Next was Waxer. Iyla corrected Nari before she could draw hair on the clone and told her to draw a small square of hair under his chin instead. Waxer was given a wide smile and sparkling eyes as well as a small square that looked like a book in his hand. Wasser was written above his bald head. Iyla drew a straight mouth on the next clone and gave him short black hair and a long moustache that extended down to his chin.
"Why's he not smiling?" Nari asked. "Is he mean?"
"No, Boil not mean. He just looks mean. He's vewy nice though. He kissed my owie and letted me seep in his bed. He just not like to smile a lot, but he's still nice. Kinda like Masser Window," Iyla answered. "They always look mad but they really not. Papa says they just not like people to know they are nice. Somefing 'bout a repertashun."
Nari seemed satisfied with this explanation, clearly having seen Master Windu and his unsmiling face around the temple. Shona helped Iyla with the moustached clone's name and soon Boyul was written next to him. Iyla added yellow patches to both Waxer and Boil's clothes then moved on to the next clone where she wrote Eko and gave him short black hair, a misshapen lamp, and a blue patch.
Fives was last. Flynn gave him a beard and Nari colored his black cropped hair. Iyla drew the 5 on the side of his head although it came out backwards. Shona finished it off with a Five label in the space next to him and a blue patch on his clothes. Before moving on Iyla wrote Vodd in large letters above the group of clones.
"What does vodd mean?" Flynn asked.
"It means brudder in Manlowan. Acause they all my brudders and I'm the vodeekuh. That means little sisser."
"I never knowed anybody who gots a brudder or sisser afore," Nari said. "And you got lots!"
"Yeah, I'm pwetty lucky," Iyla smiled. The three friends nodded.
"Ok, now I gots to do Ganpa Qwi," she said aloud as she looked for the blue crayon.
"What's he look like?" Shona asked.
"He's blue," Iyla said.
"Like Masser Tewwol? He gots leggu too?" Nari asked.
"No, he's not like Masser Tewwul. He's blue acause he's in the Fowce. He went away a long time ago but we still see him, he just gots to be blue. He was Papa's Masser."
"Master Nobi's Master is a Force Ghost?" Shona asked with wide eyes.
"Yeah, that's what Soka called him too. How you know?" Iyla asked.
"I heard Moreck and Odwin talkin' bout Force Ghosts. They was trying to scare some of the little kids. I didn't think they was real! Is he a nice ghost?"
"He's the nicest ghost evew! He tells me bedtime stowies and kisses my head and has a nice laugh and funny jokes," Iyla answered.
"Sounds cool. I want a Force Ghost," Flynn replied.
Iyla drew the very tall figure in the sky above the other figures on the page. She gave him long hair and a beard and moustache similar to her Papa's. He wore the normal robe and tunics that all Jedi wore and had a happy smile on his face. All four younglings had fun coloring him blue from head to toe and Iyla scrawled out Ganpa Kwi over his head.
"Is that everyone?" Shona asked.
"No," Iyla replied, a small furrow in her brow and a sad look on her face. "I still gots to draw Mama. But…but I wanna do it by myself. I not want help."
"Can we still watch? I wanna see what your Mama looks like," Shona said.
"Uh-huh! She's vewy bootiful," Iyla replied.
A look of deep concentration and intense focus came over Iyla's face as she carefully drew her Mama in the sky next to her Grandpa Qui. Iyla drew her signature long and flowy dark blue and turquoise dress like she'd seen in the picture Korkie had given her Papa. She added some lily flowers to her blonde hair and gave her a happy smile and sparkling light blue eyes. She finished it off with a light yellow shine around the figure and a childish scrawl of Mama over her head.
"I like your Mama's hair," Nari said.
"She gots bootiful hair and she put fowers in it a lot. That's what my Atie Bo said," Iyla replied.
"Why is your Mama in the sky?" Flynn asked curiously.
"Acause Mama is wif the Fowce. Like Ganpa Qwi. But she's not blue. And I not see her like I see Ganpa Qwi. I wish I could," Iyla answered and lowered her head.
Shona put a hand on her arm and gave her a small side hug. "Sorry you can't see your Mama. But I think she can see you and she's happy."
Iyla looked at Shona with watery eyes and smiled. "Papa says she loves me lots and she's pwoud of me."
Shona smiled back and turned to look at the picture they'd all helped make. "Is it done, now?" she asked.
"That's all the people. But maybe we can put some fowers and other stuff on it," Iyla replied.
"I can make some twees!" Nari spoke up excitedly.
"Can I make a speeder?" Flynn asked.
"Ok, make a speeder by Unka A'kin. He likes musheens."
"I'll draw a rainbow by your Mama and Ganpa Qwi," Shona said gathering the colors together.
"I'm gonna make some fowers on the gwass," Iyla said.
Each youngling set about their task happily. They talked and laughed as they drew and colored. Eventually Master Alann came by and told them it was time to clean up for snack. The four friends gathered up all the crayons and put them back in the basket on the table.
Iyla presented her finished drawing to Master Alann then pulled it back at the last second and ran to dig a crayon out from the box. Across the very top of the drawing she wrote My Famlee then held it up and smiled at her creation. She brought it back to Master Alann with a wide grin.
"I feel safe wif my fam'ly," she told him.
"Very very good, Iyla," Master Alann praised. "This is a beautiful drawing."
"Fanks Masser. Shona, Flynn, and Nawi helped me. We did our vewy bestest."
"I can tell. Well done all of you. Now, go wash up for snack," Alann instructed.
He watched the four younglings run off happily to the meal room giggling and talking loudly. He looked back at the drawing and smiled. Rather than tuck the picture in with the rest of the assignments, he put it to the side to give to Obi-Wan when he came to pick up Iyla later on.
Obi-Wan ran a hand over the picture and had to fight back the tears that welled in his eyes. The childish figures, misspellings, and backwards letters made the scene all the more endearing and beautiful to him. He swallowed thickly as he ran a finger over Satine's floating figure and Iyla's shaky ill-formed letters spelling out Mama above her head.
He took a moment to compose himself before looking up at Master Alann with a bittersweet smile. "Thank you, Ali. This is…this is very special," he said.
"I thought you'd like to see it. It is very advanced and detailed for a child her age. The assignment was to draw what make you feel safe," Ali replied.
Obi-Wan cleared his throat and sniffled. "I see."
"Most of the other children drew the temple or the crèche or even myself and Master Terrol. But Iyla's was different. Because her circumstances are different. I was very impressed with her ability to not follow the rest of the children in their drawings. She took it seriously and involved her friends as well. I heard some of their conversations and I think it did Shona, Flynn, and Nari well to learn a different perspective than their own. You'll have to have Iyla tell you about her drawing. I think you'll enjoy it."
"I will. Thank you. May I keep this?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Of course, Obi-Wan. It is not mine to keep. Plus it is a very special drawing. One I'm sure you'd like to have in your quarters," Ali said.
"Most definitely. After I make some copies of course," Obi-Wan grinned. "I have a feeling certain people would like to have one as well."
Ali smiled and led him out to the playroom. Immediately Obi-Wan was attacked by an enthusiastic Iyla who ran and launched herself into his arms.
"Hello, my darling," Obi-Wan greeted with a laugh.
"Papa! Did'ya see my pishure? I drawed my whole fam'ly! It was lotsa work but I not give up and I did my bestest! Shona and Flynn and Nawi helped me too. Specially wif the writing and words. D'ya like it?" she asked.
"It's the most wonderful drawing I've ever seen, my dear," Obi-Wan replied.
"Really?" Iyla asked with wide eyes.
"Yes, truly and completely. In fact, I think it needs to be put up on the wall in our room. So everyone who comes in can see it too. What do you think?" he asked.
Iyla's face lit up in a blinding smile. "Yes, pease, Papa!"
"Excellent. Maybe you can tell me about it too. I'd love to hear what you have to say."
"Ok, Papa. I tell you. But after dinner. I'm so hungwy I could eat a banfa!"
"Alright. Dinner first. Come on," he chuckled. Both Kenobis bid goodbye to Master Alann and walked out of the crèche hand in hand.
Later that evening in their quarters, Obi-Wan sat on the couch with Iyla and laid the drawing on the table in front of them.
"Master Alann told me that you drew something that makes you feel safe," Obi-Wan said.
"Yes, Papa. My fam'ly makes me feel safe," Iyla answered.
"What about them makes you feel safe, darling?" he asked.
"Lotsa fings. Do you want me to tell you 'bout them?" Iyla asked.
"I'd very much like to hear. Why don't we go through and you can tell me about each picture on the page," Obi-Wan suggested.
"Ok, Papa!" Iyla responded excitedly.
When Iyla wasn't looking, Obi-Wan set up a holocamera to record her as she talked. He figured it would go nicely with the copies of the drawing he was planning to send to everyone.
"Ok, dear one, where would you like to start?"
"Wif you, Papa!" she said.
Obi-Wan nodded at her and smiled.
"I feel most safest wif you, Papa."
"Why, love?"
"Acause you taked me from Missus Huber and binged me to Crosant to be a Jedi and have a good home and a nice fam'ly. You not huwt me when I'm noddy or when I make a mess or have a assident. You not make me do work or make me not eat. You give me lots a hugs, and tickles, and scwatchy kisses and you cuddle wif me and make me feel happy when I cwy or when I'm scawed. You say you love me fowever and evew and you never evew leave me. You the bestest Papa in the whole tire world!" Iyla replied.
Obi-Wan couldn't find his voice to comment or reply as a large lump had formed in his throat. He smiled instead and quickly blinked away his tears.
"See, I drawed your saber, Papa. Flynn colored it blue, acause that's what it is, and I maked you have cwazy hair and Shona and Nawi colored it owange and bown acause it gots both colors in it. And I drawed you holding my hand acause you keep me safe and you never let me go."
"I see you have Barney in your hand," Obi-Wan said, finally more composed.
"Yep. Bawney makes me feel safe acause he's vewy soft and fluffy and he's vewy bwave when I'm not. He always keeped me safe from Missus Huber too!"
"This is Anakin, right?" Obi-Wan asked, moving on to the next set of figures.
A few days later, in an apartment several blocks away, Anakin and Padme sat next to each other on the couch, each holding a side of a child's drawing sent to them by Obi-Wan. Ahsoka was invited since her name appeared on the package too. The teenage Togrutan stood behind the couch and peered at the picture over their shoulder. Anakin took out the holofilm that was included in the package and fast forwarded it to the time stamp Obi-Wan included in a note attached to the film.
Iyla's blue holographic form appeared in front of them with a wide smile and an excited voice.
"This is Anakin, right?" Obi-Wan's voice asked from off camera.
"Uh-huh. That's Unka A'kin and he's holding Atie Pamay's hand and she gots a big tummy wif the babies inside. Flynn said she eated the babies but Shona said people not eat babies. Then Flynn said she gonna frow them up when they come out and Shona called him a gwoss boy," Iyla giggled. A slightly concerned look came over her face though. "Did Atie Pamay eat the babies, Papa?"
Anakin, Padme, and Ahsoka laughed heartily along with the off-screen Obi-Wan.
"No, darling. Padme did not eat the babies. And she isn't going to throw them up either. I know Flynn will probably be disappointed to hear that."
"But no one will tell me how they got there and how they gonna get out," Iyla pouted. "You all just look away and not say nofing."
Ahsoka snorted and giggled while Anakin and Padme's faces went red.
"It's not important, little one. You'll find out some other time," Obi-Wan said. "Now, why don't you tell me why Uncle Anakin and Auntie Padme make you feel safe."
"That's easy. Unka A'kin taked me from Missus Huber too. And he was nice when I had assident and not get mad at me. He's supew bwave and a good pateckder like when the Massers was being mean. And he letted me help him wif his dwoids and gived me hugs when I had a bad dweam. And Atie Pamay has a nice pwetty smile and she readed me stowies and telled me about Mama. She letted me seep wif her after my bad dweam and gived me cuddles. I wuv her lots and lots. Unka A'kin too," Iyla said pointing to the two figures on the page as she talked.
Padme brought a hand to cover her mouth and put the other over her heart. Anakin pulled her close when she started to sniffle at the sweet words.
"Are you alright, my angel?" Anakin asked softly.
"Yes. It's just…it's very precious," she hiccupped.
Anakin smiled and held back a laugh as he started playing with her long hair and running a hand over her swollen belly.
"I know they love you a lot too, darling," Obi-Wan replied.
"So so much, sweet little Iyla," Padme echoed his words.
They watched as Obi-Wan came into the frame to point to the figure on Anakin's other side. "Is this Ahsoka?" he asked.
Ahsoka perked up and leaned in closer to the see the holofim.
"Yes, that's Soka! We maked her long leggu and her two sabers. Flynn wants two sabers when he gets to be a pawana too. And I drawed her holding Unka A'kin's hand acause he loves her lots and teached her lots and it's ok for kids to hold a teacher's hand. Sometimes I hold Masser Al-an or Masser Tewwul's hand."
Ahsoka groaned and brought a hand to her face to hide her blush.
"What's wrong, Snips? Need me to hold your hand?" Anakin teased.
"Don't you dare, Skyguy!" Ahsoka replied.
"I'm only asking because I love you," he smirked.
"Please stop talking; we're missing Iyla explain why I'm so great."
"That is very true. Teachers and kids can hold hands sometimes," Obi-Wan's voice agreed. He turned his face to the camera and gave a cheeky smile and wink that Ahsoka knew was directed at her. She huffed and rolled her eyes.
Iyla answered enthusiastically. "Yeah! Soka is fun and nice and plays wif me lots. She helped me not be scawed on the slide and the swings and she goed into my bwain wif Masser Koom to make me not sad and help me bweathe good when you was in the healers. Soka's the bestest Soka evew!"
Ahsoka grinned at the words and looked away shyly. Anakin looked back at her from his spot on the couch with Padme and gave her a kind smile. "You are a pretty great Soka," he said.
Ahsoka chuckled. "I'm an amazing Soka," she replied.
Padme went to shut off the holofilm but Anakin and Ashoka stopped her.
"Let's keep watching," Anakin said.
Hologram Obi-Wan pointed to two people holding what looked like fruit in their hands. "Can you tell me about these people, little one?"
Bo-Katan walked through the door of the estate and found her nephew looking at a piece of paper and holding a holodisc in his hands.
"What's that?" she asked.
Korkie jumped at her voice and turned around. "Uncle Obi-Wan sent us a package. He says it's a gift for us from Iyla."
"Hmm, let's take a look then," she answered as she sat on the chair next to him.
Korkie laid out the picture on the table and looked it over with a fond smile. He spotted himself and Bo on the page and pointed them out to his aunt. Bo chuckled at the specks on her face that represented freckles.
"What's the holodisc for?" Bo asked taking it in her hands. She saw the note with the time-stamp and set the film up to the right moment. She set the disk on the table in front of them and pushed play.
"This is Kowkie and Atie Bo," the holographic Iyla said as she pointed to the drawing. "Kowkie gots his nice hair and cool clothes. And Atie Bo gots her red hair and dots on her face too."
"They're called freckles, love," Obi-Wan's voice chuckled.
"Feckuls," Iyla nodded.
"Oh, that could be problematic. Just go ahead and call them dots, dear."
Korkie and Bo laughed.
"Ok, so Atie Bo gots her dots and her and Kowkie holding peaches acause renember when we picked peaches on Manlowe, Papa?"
Holographic Obi-Wan nodded. "Yes, I do. And why do Korkie and Bo make you feel safe, Iyla?"
"Acause they Mama's fam'ly. Kowkie is nice and stwong and fun to play wif and he gived me the locklet from Mama too. And I maked sure Atie Bo not smile too much acause I know she not like to smile. But she just looks mean and sad. She's really not mean, she's just petending. She buyed me a cake and helped me pick the peaches. She telled me stowies about Mama too! She's a good ba'vodu," Iyla smiled.
"Thank you, ad'ika," Bo said aloud.
"Nice to know that not everyone is fooled by your gruff exterior, Auntie Bo," Korkie teased.
"Yes, well, you've clearly fooled her into thinking you're nice when you're actually a little brat. I'm sure it's only a matter of time before she figures it out," Bo teased back.
Korkie rolled his eyes and stuck out his tongue.
"Actually, she did pretty well with your scowl, Auntie Bo. Looks just like you."
"Shut up, Korkie," Bo replied with a scowl similar to her drawn figure.
Korkie laughed and dodged Bo's swipe at his head as the holovid continued on behind them.
"This is the all the vod'e right here!"
"Hurry up, vod'e, it's starting!" Waxer yelled from his place on the blue sofa.
The colorful drawing was laid out and the troopers quickly filed in to surround it and have a look. Each one pointing out their figure on the page as the holofilm played.
"Can you tell me about them, darling and why they make you feel safe?" Obi-Wan asked.
"First I maked Wex. See he gots his lellow hair and a blue badge on his arm. He also gots a dish and a rag in his hand acause I cleaned the dishes wif him when we was on Unka A'kin's ship. Wex letted me help him and he was nice to Bawney and he helped clean my clothes when I had a assident. So did Cody," Iyla said moving her finger to the figure next to Rex.
"Cody gots his line on his face and I maked him a nice smile acause I like his smile."
Rex gave Cody a teasing shove and Cody ducked his head to hide his blush.
"Cody is vewy supew nice acause he cleaned my wet clothes wif Wex and he helped me not be sad or scawed when I was cwying acause I missed you when you was on a mishin."
"Rex and Cody are very nice, you're right," Obi-Wan replied.
"Next I maked Kiss. Flynn likes his lightning head so I letted him help me wif it. Shona gived him a healer bag acause he's a good healer. He helped my arm feel bettew when I falled and told me I'm vewy bwave. Kotep, he said. That's bwave in Manlowan. He also gived my owies kisses and they was really good healer kisses so they helped lots!"
"Maybe you should include 'owie kissing' to your set of skills, vod," Echo teased. "Clearly your lips have healing powers."
The rest of the troopers laughed at the embarrassed Kix who was avoiding everyone's eyes but whose face was lit up in a goofy grin.
"This is Wasser," Iyla said as she pointed to the bald clone next to Kix. Waxer sat up in his seat and leaned closer.
"Wasser gots no hair on his head, but he gots some on his mouf. See, Nawi putted some there. Wasser gots a book acause he readed stowies to us at my pawty. After we gots seepy from all the cake and playing. Wasser also gives nice hugs, specially when I gots huwt from the bars. He gots stwong arms but he not hug too hard. He hugs just right," Iyla said with a wide grin.
Waxer puffed up in pride at the girl's words.
Boil snorted and punched his arm. "Don't feel very strong to me," he muttered and smirked.
Waxer reached over and cuffed him on the head. "Looks like you're next vod," he said. "Can't wait to see what vod'ika says about you."
"This is going to be good," Rex commented and grinned impishly.
Boil glared and crossed his arms.
"And this is Boil. He's not smiling acause Boil not like to smile. But he's not mean. He just not want uver people to know he smiles. Like you said, Papa. He gots a repertashun, right?"
"Yes, dear. Boil has a reputation that he takes very seriously," Obi-Wan answered.
"Yeah, kinda like Masser Window," Iyla added.
Rex choked on his caff and coughed out a laugh. "Hear that, Boil? You and General 'Window' are two peas in a pod. You two should practice your frowning together."
Boil scowled at him.
"Yeah, just like that," Rex teased.
Boil dove for his blonde brother but Waxer held him back and hushed them both.
"Vod'ika isn't finished talking about Boil yet," he said.
"Boil not want people to know that he's nice. But he is nice. He letted me seep in his bed and kissed my owies and he even gived me a hug and a tickle when no one was looking. I got sad acause I missed you, Papa and Boil said he not want me to be sad. He's a nice vod even if he not smile a lot."
"Thanks for ratting me out, vod'ika," Boil grumbled with a red flushed face. There was warmth in his eyes though as he said it and his lips tugged up in a half smile.
The rest of the vod'e chose not to tease or comment any further. Boil was a softie deep down but he was self-conscious about it and would take his denial to the grave.
"Oh, look, I think I'm next," Echo spoke up.
"I drawed Ek-o wif a light, see?" Iyla asked.
"I do, dear. Why does Echo have a light?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Acause he telled me it's ok if I'm scawed of the dawk. He and Wex said I'm still bwave even if I gots to have a light when I seep. Ek-o always turned on the light for me at bedtime when I was wif the vod'e."
"That's very kind of him," Obi-Wan agreed.
Cody looked over at his younger brother and chuckled to himself when he saw the brightness of his eyes and the giant grin on his face. Echo was often overlooked among his other vod'e with big personalities. It was nice to see him being appreciated and recognized for his kind heart.
"Ah, this must be Fives," Obi-Wan said leaning into the frame to point to a figure with a backwards 5 on its head.
"Yeah, that's Five. I maked the 5 on his head. I dunno if I did it right, but I did my bestest."
"It's perfect, vod'ika," Fives told the hologram.
"Five is vewy fun and silly. I like to play wif him and I like it when he makes up silly stowies and makes me laugh. Five also gives me nice hugs and kisses on my head," Iyla giggled.
Fives laughed too, completely unperturbed that his brothers just heard about him giving hugs and kisses to a 4-year-old.
"I love my vod'e so much, Papa! Specially when we seep in a big pile of brudders. I feel most safest wif them when we cuddle. They the bestest vod'e evew!"
"Back at you, vod'ika," Waxer spoke up.
This was met with affirmative grunts and nods of agreement. Fives sniffled and cleared his throat awkwardly, trying to hide his emotions. Echo and Boil poked him playfully and gave him a teasing grin. Fives rolled his eyes and shoved them away then shot them a challenging look and took off down the hallway. Echo and Boil took a second to look at each other then ran off after him. Rex and Cody exchanged long-suffering sighs as Waxer egged Fives on and Kix followed to make sure they didn't kill each other. The holofilm, now forgotten, droned on from its place on the table.
Back in the Kenobi quarters, Iyla moved on to the big blue figure floating above the other figures' heads.
"That's Ganpa Qwi, Papa," Iyla commented. "I maked him blue acause he's a Fowce Ghost. That's what Shona said he is. But he's a good ghost, not a scawy one. I gived him his long hair and his scwatchy face like you gots. I also maked him big acause he's really really big and tall."
Obi-Wan suppressed a laugh. "He is indeed, little one. Why don't you tell me about Grandpa Qui."
"Ok, Papa. Ganpa Qwi telled me a bedtime stowy when I was sick. Renember when I frowed up lots and lots?"
Obi-Wan shuddered at the memory. "Yes, darling. How could I forget that?"
"When you was cleaning my mess Ganpa Qwi letted me sit on his chair and he telled me a stowy. He also gived me a kiss and rubbed my head. It feeled nice. Kinda like the wind when we sit in the Fowsan Fownans. He's silly too and he gots a nice smile. Flynn said he wants a Fowce Ghost too and I'm lucky I gots one. Maybe I can share Ganpa Qwi wif Flynn some time and Shona and Nawi. You fink Ganpa Qwi would like that, Papa?"
The air around them warmed and their Force signatures were enveloped with love and affection. An airy breeze picked up their hair and danced across their skin.
Obi-Wan smiled softly. "I think Qui-Gon would love that, sweetheart."
"Me too," Iyla replied. She went to set the drawing down but Obi-Wan stopped her.
"Wait a moment, darling. There's one more person in your picture," he said.
Iyla bit her lip and looked down. Obi-Wan saw her chin start to tremble and a pain shot through his heart at the sight. Of course he knew who the last figure was but he wanted Iyla to talk about her Mama on her own. Iyla looked at him with tear-filled eyes. Obi-Wan reached out to pull her towards him and sat her on his lap. He took the drawing from her tight grasp and smoothed out the edges that had been crumpled.
"Do you want to tell me about who you drew here?" he asked, running a finger over the floating figure next to Qui-Gon.
Iyla shook her head and sniffled. "It makes me sad," she said softly.
Obi-Wan blinked back his own tears and brought his hand up to rub circles on her back. "I know it does. But I've found that talking about things that make us sad can often help us feel better. Do you want to try?" he asked.
He felt Iyla take a deep breath and sniffle once more before she nodded lightly against his chest and sat up.
"I drawed Mama. I maked her all by myself acause I wanted her to look perfik. I not have any help. See, she gots her pwetty dwess and her pwetty hair wif the fowers in it. Like the fowers we sawed when we went to Manlowe. And I gived her a bootiful smile like from the pishure Kowkie gived us. You 'member that pishure?"
"Yes, love," Obi-Wan whispered.
"I…I drawed her in the sky acause she's wif the Fowce, like Ganpa Qwi. But I not make her blue acause she's not a ghost," she said.
"You made her yellow though. Why?" Obi-Wan asked.
Iyla looked away shyly and ducked her head. "Acause…acause I fink she's a angel. I learned about angels in a book Atie Pamay readed to me. Angels are shiny and lellow and they live in the sky acause they watch over us and keep us safe. But…but we not see them and…and we not see Mama and she's in the sky so…so I just fought that maybe…m-maybe…" she hiccupped and started to cry.
"Oh, my little light," Obi-Wan said. He pulled her close and kissed her curls. "Shhh, love. It's ok. I like to think your Mama is an angel too. And I know she's watching over us both even though we can't see her."
"B-but I wanna s-see her!" Iyla sobbed. "I w-want Mama!"
"I know, my darling. I know. I want to see her too. I…I miss her so much and I know it hurts and it's sad, but you know what I do when I get sad about your Mama?"
"Wh-what?" Iyla asked from against his shoulder.
"I think about you and how lucky I am that the Force gave me you, my precious little light. I think about the family that we have and the wonderful people that are in our lives. About your Mama and how much she loves us and will always be with us. And the fact that we are still connected with her in the Force even though she's not here," Obi-Wan said.
"Mama's always w-wif us?" Iyla asked shakily.
"Yes, my love. Always."
"And she always wuv us too?"
"Forever and ever, dear one," Obi-Wan said as he rubbed her back.
"Fowever and evew," Iyla replied. She tightened her hold around his middle and rubbed her cheek against his beard. "I wuv you, Papa," she whispered in his ear.
"I love you too," Obi-Wan replied, peppering her cheek with scratchy kisses and tickling her neck.
Iyla giggled and twisted in his arms. Obi-Wan chuckled and released his hold.
"You really like my pishure, Papa?" Iyla asked timidly, playing with the hem of his tunic.
"I love your picture, Iyla. It's perfect. In fact," he said, picking up the drawing from the table, "I love it so much that I think it needs to go on the wall right now. What do you think?"
"Yes, Papa! Then when we sad we can look at it and it make us not sad no more. Acause we gots the bestest fam'ly!"
"The very best," Obi-Wan agreed.
Iyla yawned widely and knuckled her eyes. Obi-Wan smiled fondly and ruffled her hair.
"How about you go get your night clothes on, brush your teeth, and use the 'fresher and I'll be in to tuck you in after I hang this up."
"Ok, Papa. But I gots to say night night first," she replied.
Obi-Wan watched as she took the time to kiss her finger and press it to every person in the drawing. She lingered over Satine for a few seconds before deciding to bring her lips to the figure instead. "Night night fam'ly!" she said with a bright smile. "Wuv you!" With a last parting hug to Obi-Wan she was off to get ready for bed.
Obi-Wan stood up from the couch and turned towards the kitchen when something caught his eye. The blinking red light of the holocamera indicated that he was still recording. He flashed a smile at the camera and gave a 'good night, my family' before shutting it off.
Next up: A certain set of twins finally make their debut into the world. Lots and lots of family feels and fluffiness!
As always, thanks for reading, reviewing, following, and favoriting!
Mando'a translations:
vod/vod'e-brother/brothers
ad'ika-little one
vod'ika-little sister