Prompt from Thrushpaw (Guest): AU with a living Qui-Gon during Anakin's Life Day. He and Obi-Wan, along with possibly an OC Padawan for Knight!Obi, are gonna throw Anakin the best damn party the Temple's ever seen (forget the Jedi way.) Also, hats off to whoever came up with 'Bratakin" that's awesome
…
Life Days were a fairly muted affair in the Temple.
The initiate or padawan (as they were usually the only ones who still cared about their Life Days) would receive practical gifts from their Masters, Grandmasters and any previous padawans' they may have had.
They might receive a slightly nicer pudding from the cafeteria, but that was it.
Every Master followed this tradition… well, almost every Master…. Master Qui-Gon Jinn disliked the Jedi way, and often showered his padawan in treats.
And this year was going to be no different.
Early on the morning of Anakin's Life-Day, there was a knock on the door. It opened up to reveal Obi-Wan and his brand new padawan, Chirrut Imwe.
"Is he up yet?" Obi-Wan asked, gently pushing his padawan inside, watching as the young man slowly made his way over to the sofa, placing several boxes on the living room table, "I remember getting up as early as I could on my Life-Day."
"Only once you knew what you were getting into." Qui-Gon chuckled, "That first year, you were very difficult to get up."
"Really Master? In front of my padawan?"
Qui-Gon glanced over at Chirrut, who was clearly trying not to giggle, "I find it's good for padawan's to know that their Masters' were human once upon a time. Builds a bond."
"Hmmm…. I'll remember that for the meal we're having with Anakin later."
Chuckling, Qui-Gon made his way over to the kitchen. "Tea Obi-Wan?"
"If you wouldn't mind."
"And Padawan Imwe? What will you have?"
When there was silence, Qui-Gon turned around… and smiled at the sight of the padawan focused on one of his many plants. "Ah, in tune with the Living Force is he?"
"Very…" Obi-Wan gently tapped his padawan on the shoulder, clearly trying not to chuckle as the padawan flinched and then flushed in embarrassment, "…Would you like a cup of tea Chirrut?"
"O-Oh, yes Master."
"Coming right up."
…
A little over an our later, with their tea almost finished and Chirrut giggling at the stories that were being told, Anakin finally stumbled into the room, eyes weary and hair sticking up in all directions. As soon as he saw Obi-Wan and Chirrut, he stopped in his tracks and frowned.
"W-what's going on?" he yawned.
"Happy Life-Day padawan."
Anakin was silent, frowning in confusion.
"You did remember that it was your Life-Day, right?"
A couple of seconds passed, before Anakin shook his head, a light flush on his face. "It wasn't really something we celebrated back home…" he muttered, "… we had to work after all. There wasn't any time."
The other three resisted the urge to frown at this, with Qui-Gon inviting Anakin to sit next to him. "Well, consider this a pleasant change then." He announced, pulling the presents closer and picking the top one up, "Happy Life-Day Anakin."
Anakin seemed stunned for a few moments, glancing at everyone nervously, before grinning and tearing into the wrapping eagerly, whooping in glee at the model vehicle set. "Thank you Master Qui-Gon!" he beamed, wrapping his arms around his Master.
"You can hang them up around your room if you wish…" Qui-Gon smiled, "… I can't count how many Obi-Wan had hanging up."
"Over twenty I think…" Obi-Wan chuckled, handing his and Chirrut's present over to Anakin, "… Master was always worried they were going to drop on his head."
"Actually, I was more afraid that I was going to hit them with my head… you always did hang them slightly too low."
"They weren't too low, you're just too tall."
Anakin couldn't help but chuckle at the banter between the pair, pulling the paper away from his second present…. Only to gasp in shock.
It was a holo-picture… more specifically, it was a holo-picture of his Mother, who was beaming at the camera happily, the stress line almost completely gone at the joy on her face.
"How did you- " He stopped, a lump building in his throat at the sight of his mother, after almost 10 months without seeing her.
"… We went on a mission to Tatooine not too long ago" Obi-Wan gently explained, "I remembered where your mother lived and that it was your Life-Day soon… I thought you would appreciate a picture."
Anakin nodded tearily, eyes still focused on the smiling picture of his mother. "Thank you…" he eventually managed to blurt out, "…. Thank you, thank you, thank you."
Much to Qui-Gon's surprise, Anakin gently placed the picture on the table and suddenly leapt at Obi-Wan, pulling him into a spine-breaking hug as he repeated his gratitude over and over again into the older man's tunic.
Obi-Wan was shocked as well, glancing at Qui-Gon briefly, before cautiously returning the hug. "It's… it's okay Anakin."
When Anakin finally calmed down enough, he sat back in his original seat, sending one last thankful smile at Obi-Wan, before turning his attention back to Qui-Gon. "This is… amazing!" he exclaimed, "I can't believe this is- "
"- it's not over yet." Qui-Gon interrupted, "We've got other things planned."
"But… I thought that…" Anakin trailed off, shaking his head slightly before plastering a smile on his face, "… never mind. What else are we going to do?"
…..
Anakin could honestly say that he'd never had a Life-Day like this.
After the presents, they travelled to Dex's, Qui-Gon's favourite diner, where Anakin had one of the best meals of his life, including a chocolate desert that he didn't even think he could pronounce (To be fair, Dex had troubles pronouncing it as well).
Then, they took him to a fair that was being held on Coruscant.
Master Qui-Gon explained that it was very lucky that the fair happened to be on the planet…. And then he muttered something about the 'Force working in mysterious ways'.
Obi-Wan sighed wearily at this but nodded along anyway.
After dragging his Master, Obi-Wan and Chirrut on some of the scariest rides that they had (Obi-Wan was the only one who really didn't like them… which is why Anakin dragged him on a load), they headed back to the Jedi Temple, where several padawans who were in Anakin's class were waiting, gifting him with a simple, but very nice-looking cake, politely wishing him 'Happy Birthday'.
Anakin knew they weren't really that fond of him, but he accepted the well-wishes, knowing that this was just how they'd been raised.
"So…" Qui-Gon began as they made their way back to the rooms, having parted ways with Obi-Wan and Chirrut halfway there, "… I hope you had a good day?"
Nodding eagerly, Anakin beamed up at him, "The best… but- "he stopped, eyes growing wide as he turned away.
"But?"
"… But, I don't think I've seen the others have Life-Days like this?"
Qui-Gon was silent for a moment, before sighing wearily. "The Jedi Order would prefer all children to be like Master, to act like adults long before their time. A Life-Day is a joyous occasion for all other children outside of the Order, and I am determined to make it so for all of my padawans."
"…. Will Obi-Wan still get a special Life-Day."
"I would like to see him try and stop me."
