A/N: Y'all don't know how happy I was reading the reviews on what Hogwarts house the characters and you guys were, I'm still so giddy about it. Everyone's house gets ten points. I haven't decided if next chapter will cover the rest of the weekend trip or if I'll get back into the main drama. Both are being edited, so it could go either way. I hope you guys are staying safe and doing well wherever you are in the world!

Also fun little fact if you're interested. This chapter is high key based on family trips from when I was little and I definitely based the house off the one from my memory. So you kind of get a glimpse into my childhood family trip home :)

Summary: Padme Amidala built bridges with people, especially with her 4th grade students. When new student Ahsoka joins her class, she is ready to start building a bridge to the young girl. Anakin Skywalker doesn't trust easily, especially when his little sister is involved. But he's drawn to the 4th grade teacher and willing to trust Padme with the darker battles his family is facing.

Chapter Seventeen

Anakin pulled into a small neighborhood about an hour later, though small might not have been the best word to describe it. The houses here were spread incredibly far apart from one another, it reminded Padme of how sometimes lake houses were kept very far apart. After some minutes, he pulled up in front of a single story house where two children were playing on the driveway on the left of the house. A single story home, she noticed there wasn't a garage, just an awning where she could make out two other cars. In the driveway, on their knees she immediately recognized it was Satine's nephew and Ahsoka wearing her signature hat.

Anakin blew his horn at the two children, who both jumped in surprise. Padme hit his shoulder for that, he could have just called to them instead of that, but he only grinned her way, that same teasing glint in his eyes. In all her life, she had never met someone quite like Anakin. The passion he had inside him, how deeply he felt things, how much he cared for those around him. He was, he was perfect. Anakin drove the car up the driveway, giving her a better look at the house.

The walls outside were yellow and white, with some green around the windows. She also took note of how the house was raised a foot off the ground, resting on cement. It reminded her of the houses she had seen when her family went to southern Louisiana many years ago, maybe this area was prone to flooding. Padme glanced to the side at the open yard, her fell on a shed that resembled a child's house with toys scattered around it.

"Obi Wan and my dad built that," Anakin said following her eyesight, "I repaint it every so often and make sure it's still nice. Rex and Cody loved it as kids."

"It's nice," Padme told him honestly. "I bet Ahsoka and Korkie enjoy it too."

Anakin nodded, "Your nieces would probably like it too."

Padme sent him a small smile, not wanting to think too much into his comment, but if he was thinking of her nieces coming here, that meant he thought of her coming back. Of her family coming here. The idea sounded so nice in her mind. That her family and Anakin would come to this house in the summer, getting away from the chaos of life, the children running around and spreading their laughter everywhere they went. The thought left her quickly as her attention was brought to the two smiling children. Holding several objects in their arms, Ahsoka and Korkie had stepped onto the grass with big smiles as Anakin pulled in behind Obi Wan's car. The two children came up to the car as Padme climbed out to greet.

"Hey Ms Amidala," Ahsoka said smiling as if there was nothing wrong in the world. "Obi Wan said you were coming, I'm glad you're here."

"Hello ma'am," Korkie said with a nod.

Padme offered them a grin, "It's nice to see you two. What do you have there?"

Ahsoka extended her arms to show the items she had, "Some jump rope, a box of chalk, rackets for badMinton later and Jax."

"I have some rocks we used for hopscotch, remote controllers for the cars, the birdies for badminton and some more chalk," Korkie added.

Anakin came to Padme's side, "Looks like you two have plenty of stuff to keep you occupied."

Korkie nodded, he said plainly, "It didn't start out that way. Soka and I spent an hour searching for all of this stuff in the bins. We haven't cleaned it all up yet, but we will soon."

"You would not believe how much junk is in there," Ahsoka said nodding to the where the cars were.

Anakin agreed with the comment, "Too much stuff I'm sure. Where is everyone else?"

"Rex and Cody are in a meeting with their professor about the stuff they missed, Obi Wan's on a phone call and Satine has been with us, but went to the restroom a minute ago," Ahsoka answered.

Anakin raised an eyebrow, "Is Dooku not here yet?"

Ahsoka shook her head, her expression shifted to sad despite her chipper tone, "No he was here this morning and we watched a movie together, but he saw that there weren't enough healthy food options and left to get some."

"Of course he did," Anakin said with a roll of his eyes, he looked to Padme, "Dooku has always been a bit of a health nut, which is where Obi Wan gets it from."

Before Padme could reply, the front door that was raised about a foot off the ground with step in front of it opened to reveal Satine. The young woman was dressed in a business casual teal shirt and white pants, with her hair done in a loose French braid over her shoulder. Her smile was warm.

"Anakin, Padme, great to see you made it safely," said Satine as she made her way over to them. "Korkie why don't you and Ahsoka help get their bags outs?"

Ahsoka nudged Korkie with her elbow and a smirk, "Let's do it future nephew."

"I refuse to call you aunt," Korkie replied nudging her right back.

"Respect your elders," Ahsoka said as she put her stuff down in the grass.

"Elders," Korkie questioned, "In that case, you should respect me. I'm two months older than you."

The two children went to the back of the car bickering with Anakin shaking his head at them. Padme found its amusing, it also made her realize how unique the situation was. Satine was going to marry Obi Wan someday soon, so technically Ahsoka would become his aunt despite the pair being the same age. Or well close enough in age, two months difference and all that considered.

"Ahsoka will hang it over his head forever, I just know it," Satine commented with a chuckle as she made her way to the trunk, "If he wouldn't have hung his age and height over her so much, she likely wouldn't pester him as often."

Padme let out a small laugh of her own, "I have a feeling she probably would still hold it over him, just to tease him though."

Once each person had a bag to carry, they all made their way inside the house with Ahsoka and Korkie leading the way, talking animatedly about what they'd done today and what they planned to do later. Padme listened intently to all the games they played, the two movies they watched, how Korkie had spent half an hour doing homework until Ahsoka demanded he stop.

The front door was opened by Korkie which lead to a small hallway, the left door of the hall lead to the cars while the right side had an open area leading to the kitchen which was connected to a large living room. Once in the living room, there was another large open area that was connected by a white double door. Padme caught a glimpse of the inside, it was spacious and had some beds inside. She even noticed Rex, it was definitely Rex because of the blond hair, sitting there on his computer with a serious expression. Straight ahead was a hallway that lead to the bed rooms. On the outside the house didn't look too big, so Padme wondered how they would all fit. Some guilt reached her, she didn't want to cause them trouble by making them move where they were staying.

"So here in Temple house there are only actual three rooms," Ahsoka said as they walked down the hall, stopping at the first room, "This one is where you'll stay Ms Amidala."

Padme frowned, "Where is everyone else?"

Anakin answered as the kids entered the room, "The master bedroom goes to the head of house, Dooku and likely grandmother will be here with him if she decides to come tonight. The next room goes to Obi Wan and Satine. And that huge room you saw next to the living room? It is dubbed the kids or cousin room, all younger generations sleep there. While this third room is yours." Quietly, he said to her, "And I might sneak into your room."

Padmé grinned, that didn't sound so bad. "Still, I'd hate to be taking up room. I could just stay on the couch-"

"No way," Ahsoka said appearing in front of her, "The couch may look soft, but it's really not fun to sleep on. Take this room, Anakin stays in there sometimes or he'll join the youngling room. Korkie tried to steal it for himself earlier."

"Not true," said Korkie coming to her side, "Auntie had said we would be sharing a room, but if I went in there, we should be able to share a room with uncle. I wasn't trying to steal it."

Ahsoka made a face, "You've been here before and know that all kids go in the main room and were trying to get out of it. Tough luck future nephew, you're stuck and not sneaky."

Korkie sighed heavily, then he smirked with his head held high, "I guess you'll be in that room forever since you're the baby of the house in both height and age."

Ahsoka looked scandalized, then her face was set in a determined and mischievous grin, "You're going to pay for that comment."

"You'll have to catch me first," Korkie remarked confidently.

In the blink of an eye, the two children took off out of the hall, their feet pounding on the floor followed by a thud from Ahsoka as she jumped over the couch. While Satine and Padme were ready to scold Ahsoka for jumping over the couch, Anakin was ready to encourage her for it because she did flawlessly. But before either of the three of them could speak on it, a new voice entered their ears.

"No running in the house," Obi Wan called from the other room he was in.

That brought out some laughs from the three adults standing in the hallway. Satine retired to her room to finish up some work of her own, leaving Padme and Anakin more or less in charge of the kids. Though for the time being, Padme unpacked her items in the guest room near the window where she could watch the three kids, yes she was referring to Anakin as a kid since he was currently rolling around with them in the grass.

With a fond smile, she watched as Anakin stood straight up with Ahsoka holding onto his back and Korkie holding onto his legs, each of them screaming battle cries of some kind. The sight was… so domestic for Anakin. While she wouldn't say it was out of place or anything, she found she actually loved the sight, it was the fact that she liked the scene before her so much that she was curious. There was nothing truly special about a young man playing with his sister and his future nephew, but she found that it was special.

She pulled out her phone and snapped a quick picture of them, enjoying the sight of such carefree smiles on their faces, the laughter ringing in her ears. If she didn't know any better, she would have never known that Anakin was in the fight for the right to keep his sister at his side. That her biological father had been released from prison and was coming for her.

"It's nice to see them so carefree," said Obi Wan from the doorway.

Padme glanced behind her, she nodded once, "It is."

Obi Wan nodded as he came to her side, a fond look on his face, "Ahsoka has grown up far too quickly for my liking, already she has made it to double digits and I loathe to see her as a teenager. Especially considering how much she takes after Anakin."

Padme let out a laugh, "Yeah, I can't imagine him as an easy teenager."

"He certainly wasn't, though Ahsoka did temper him as she was so little and needed him," Obi Wan said crossing his arms over his chest, taking a heavy breath. "Frankly we all needed him."

Padme's expression shifted slightly, curious almost, though there was something more. In the short amount she had known Anakin, she had come to see him as this ever growing and ever changing fire, this pit of passion. He felt everything so deeply, he could change at the drop of a hat. There was nothing halfway about him. For many, people would see him as unstable, but Padme could see that even if he wasn't perfectly balanced, he was a beacon. Something you could be drawn towards, someone you knew you were safe with. Based on those words from Obi Wan, Padme understood that Anakin had been a flame for his family. Looking at Anakin out there now, she could see why that was. Despite his own demons he was willing and capable of fighting, of being there for the people he loved.

"I struggle, a lot," Anakin had admitted to her, "But I won't let my family suffer for that. Even if I'm not okay, they will be and that's what matters."

"You all need each other," Padme said softly.

Obi Wan let out a very small laugh, "Yes, well, we all were strong together than apart. I do not pretend to know the nature of you and Anakin's relationship, but I do know that you make him better, make him happy. Not to mention all you've done for Ahsoka. I truly cannot thank you enough."

Padme took a moment before she could find what she hoped were the right words, "He makes me happy to. They both do. I just, I want them to be okay, more than that. To no longer have these battles."

"As do I," Obi Wan said in agreement, "But Maul… Malachai is not going to leave this be. It's already having an impact on Ahsoka, there's no telling how much worse it will become."

Padme gave him a small smile, "It's a good thing they have you to look to."

"Perhaps," Obi Wan said, his tone softer than before.

"How are you handling everything that's going on," Padme asked, her concern clear.

Obi Wan looked at her, surprise coloring his expression as though he hadn't expected her to ask. He recovered a moment later, "As well as can be expected. Maul appearing at the school was always a possibility, but I know his timing could not have been a coincidence. Why he waited so long, I don't know, but it must have been for the-"

Padme frowned at his abrupt pause, "What is it?"

Obi Wan shook his head, "I, I shouldn't discuss it with you now. Anakin needs to know first."

"I understand," Padme assured him, she did understand.

She wasn't apart of the family, not that way and it truly wasn't her business to know all the details, even if she was curious and wanted to know. Regardless of how much she did know, she still intended to help at any and all possible turns. Not having anything else to say, Obi Wan excused himself from the room and made his way to the living room when he stopped at the shrieks of laughter coming from outside. A genuine smile grew on his face, how he wished that kind of happiness could remain all the time. Yet even as he thought of clinging to that laughter, he could only remember the darkness of this morning.

"I knew it was coming," Obi Wan had said, his voice weary, cracked, broken, "But I- I'm still not prepared."

This morning Obi Wan had received the summons, which meant that it was time for the legal battle over Ahsoka to begin. A summons was different than a file for custody, at least this one was. It would be a meeting to determine whether custody would be seen without a trial. Scheduled right after the New Year. They'd been preparing for this since Maui's release, but even still he felt caught off guard by the matter. It also brought up something more than painful to Obi Wan. What he had told Maul before was true, he and Anakin are her legal guardians, but he had omitted one detail, a single word actually.

Temporary.

Obi Wan and Anakin were her temporary legal guardians. Over the past few years they had been working to make it permanent, switching it completely over to Anakin for similar reasons. So that it could not be so easily challenged. However that temporary was very important and would be touched on soon as they were in the court room. The system was designed to bring children back to their parents, to keep families together. In plenty of other situations, temporary guardianship could have fallen to a stranger in the system.

Letting Ahsoka slip into foster care had been something Obi Wan fought against with everything he had. He remembered the panic when Anakin had been placed in a foster home, just before Maul had come into their lives. When they had been separated from their mother, from each other. It had been less than a week, but Obi Wan remembered his brother screaming for him and their mother, he remembered his mother begging and pleading not to take her boys away. The thought of that happening to Ahsoka had propelled Anakin and Obi Wan to ensure she stayed with them.

Now she was more secure in their care and had never been taken out of it, but the problem now was Maul. That he could take her into his care, away from them. Obi Wan swallowed, he didn't want to think about it, he wanted to pretend it wasn't true, but just because he ignored it didn't mean it would go away. He glanced at the time. Their retreat officially started in the next few minutes, Dooku would just have to catch up. Obi Wan did consider that his grandfather was only here to spy on them, but it was better to keep your enemies close. This way you could watch their every move and that was what Obi Wan intended to do. He made his way to the doorway to the front lawn.

"Anakin, Ahsoka," Obi Wan called out to them from the doorway, "Time for the first round of meditation."

Playful groans left the pair as they raced over to him, Korkie just behind them. All of them smiling brightly, having too much fun clearly and then tackling him in a hug. Obi Wan barely managed to keep himself up before they all became a tumbling mess in the hallway, laughter ringing out everywhere from the three bodies on him now, from the two women watching on the side, from the twins behind him and even from himself. If only things could be this blissful all the time.

And for a moment, Obi Wan could see it. Could see himself and his wife welcoming his brothers and their families, he could see Ahsoka, a young woman without the baggage holding her down, he could see Korkie as a young man with the world at his fingertips, he saw Padme with Anakin, he saw the twins thriving in crisp uniforms and bright eyes. It was perfect. As the laughter died down, Obi Wan vowed with every piece of him that he would keep this family together. That they would have that future where things were better, they were happy. He would make that future a reality, no matter the costs.

Obi Wan took Anakin and Ahsoka into a different room, past the cousins room, so that they could do their mediation without distraction along with some other activities they needed to partake in. That left Korkie by himself as he made his way inside, he would spend this time doing some homework or maybe even help his aunt with some work. He made his way to the living room, pulled some work out of his backpack and looked back to his science assignment. He was brilliant in every other subject, but fourth grade science was harder for him.

"That face doesn't look to happy," said Padme from her spot in the doorway.

Korkie lifted his head and sighed, "It's not. I'm really bad at science and we have this sheet where I have to draw and label a life cycle."

Padme took a seat beside him, "Well I happen to be excellent at fourth grade science, why don't I help you with it?"

"I don't want to bother you," Korkie told her.

Padme shook her head, "No bother at all. Please, I'd love to help."

"Think you could help me with biology," a voice called, Padme turned to see Rex's head peaking out of the double doors.

Padme chuckled, "Come and join us Rex, tell Cody he's welcome to. We can have a study session."

Rex glanced to Korkie, "What do you say cadet?"

"Permission granted, join our study session," Korkie said with a wide grin.

Rex, backpack over his shoulder followed by Cody who was had his face pressed against a history book, walked out of the cousins room and over to floor. While Padme and Korkie sat on the couch going over the life cycle, Rex and Cody sat on the floor. Rex didn't sit there long, after a few minutes he got up and turned the tv on low, letting some study music play in the background to help. And that was what they did for the next hour, just doing some school work. When Padme finished helping Korkie with his assignment, she brought out some of her own work to grade.

By the time said little girl and her brothers returned, it was time to make dinner which had been a more than exciting affair. Anakin decided that they would have hamburgers and hot dogs tonight, so he fired up the grill with Obi Wan. He set the first batch of hamburgers on fire, causing him to be banned from grill duty. Apparently he was wonderful in the kitchen, but a grill seemed to give him trouble. Padme helped Satine make salad with the ingredients that Dooku brought home. Meeting him had been brief and interesting, but Padme was glad it wasn't an unpleasant meeting. Sitting around the table that was placed between the couch in the living room and the 'half wall' of the kitchen had been the most fun Padme had, had in a long time.

Ahsoka and Korkie insisted they place a storytelling game while they ate, where each person said a sentence around the table and a full story would be made by the end of the meal. Some highlights included Obi Wan saying, "And then Anakin crashed the starship because he's not a great pilot." Followed by Anakin looking downright offended, "It's not my fault, it's the ships fault actually." And even though it wasn't Ahsoka's turn, she interjected, "He always blames the ship!" Which earned several laughs around the table.

It had been nearly midnight when everyone retired to bed, well Dooku, Satine, Obi Wan and the fourth graders retired to bed. Rex and Cody had set up the tv to play a Battle Stars game that Padme didn't understand while she and Anakin went to the room they were now sharing. If asked why they were sharing, then he would told her he would announce their relationship in his, as he said, most casual voice which Padme found hilarious. But if he was certain, she opened her bedroom door and he followed in with his own overnight bag.