Chapter 4
In Mace's quarters things were going very smoothly. Ewan, Sam, Oblesh and Emily hadn't dared say a thing until he spoke. He had managed to calm them somewhat when he said they wouldn't be punished and they'd began to talk to him.
They'd all even managed to crack a few jokes. The main one was what a bad godfather he was and Oblesh had to back that one up.
"Okay, time to go," he told them and led them out of his quarters and back to the auditorium with the 'bad godfather' joke still going on.
As they approached the auditorium he decided to change the subject. "If you were going to be punished what do you think a suitable punishment would be?" he asked them.
"Whatever you saw fit, Master," Oblesh answered as he opened the door.
"Will you knock it off with the 'Master' thing!" Sam exclaimed.
They entered the room and saw Qui-Gon's group already there.
"Uncle Mace sounds too weird!" Oblesh complained.
"I wonder were I've heard that one," Harley commented dryly shooting a look at Obi-Wan while standing up. She paired up with Sam and they went off towards the stage, talking.
The others walked over to where Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Ryan and Joli were sitting. Mace and Qui-Gon began to talk, Obi-Wan and Ewan were practising their German as they had decided to do a homework together.
"Meine Ferien," they recited together and Mace stopped Qui-Gon and made him listen.
"Freitag den 17. August 2000 Klasse! Ein woche in Spanien! Ich bin selten ungeduldig aber ich bin heute. Vater ist guter Laune, Mutter ist launish und Owen ist doof! Wir sind mit dem flugzeug gefahren." Obi-Wan began.
"Samstag den 18. August 2000 Ja! Heute um neun Uhr wir sind am Teesside International Airport gefahren. Wir sind mit dem Flugzeug und dann mit dem Bus gefahren. Die reise war nicht gut. Um sieben Uhr fünfundzwanzig sind wir an Playa den Bosa gekommen. Ich habe in einer Wohnung übernacht. Sie war ziemlich nett." Ewan took over.
"Sonntag den 19. August 2000 Der Strand ist klasse! Klar blau Wasser. Bruck und ich sind Schwimmen gegangen. Heute Abend wir sind ins restaurant gegangen." Obi-Wan continued.
"Montag den 20. August 2000 Heute habe ich gefaulenzt. Es war sehr sonnig und sehr sehr heiß. Ollie und ich habe Eis gegessen. Es war sehr nett! Kalt! " Ewan tried to ignore the fact that Mace and Qui-Gon were listening in.
"Dienstag den 21. August 2000 Es war ziemlich nebelig Heute. Wir sind einkaufen und dann schwimmen in die Wohnung gegangen." Obi-Wan too tried to ignore his elders, but it wasn't easy. He hoped his god father wouldn't find too many mistakes with the dialogue.
"Donnerstag den 23. August 2000 Heute habe ich Fußball gespielt. Heute Abend sind wir ins Restaurant gegangen. Ich habe Pizza gegessen." Ewan said.
"Freitag den 24. August 2000 Unser ferien ist über. Es war ausgezeichnet." They finished together.
Xanatos' group came in and joined them in time for Bruck to hear Obi-Wan and Ewan finishing. He groaned aloud. "Please don't remind me about the German project!"
"Why what's wrong? Who are you working with?" Obi-Wan asked concerned.
"Jamie."
"Oh."
"Yeah, Owen bagged Ollie when Auntie Kayleigh said we had to change partners. And since you two had already paired up I didn't have a choice."
"Sorry."
"So am I. I didn't mean to make it sound like I was blaming you. It's not your fault."
"That's ok." Obi-Wan grinned at Bruck. "And speaking of Jamie, here he comes."
"What about me?" Jamie asked joining them.
"Oh, nothing much," Ewan replied.
"Yeah, we were just talking about our German projects," Obi-Wan told him.
"Oh, the German projects. I'm no good at that language!" Jamie moaned.
"Jamie, if you just apply yourself, you'd be fine," Mace told him going into his stern mode much to the disappointment of the others. "If you work properly with Bruck, your project will be just as good as Obi-Wan's and Ewan's which sounds very good!"
"Thanks, Uncle Mace," Ewan said.
"Anytime, Ewan, anytime." Mace returned to his conversation with Qui-Gon.
Jamie walked over to Sam and Harley and Obi-Wan, Ewan and Bruck stayed where they were. Owen and Ollie walked over to Obi-Wan, Ewan and Bruck and Jamie came back over.
"Owen, Ollie, how's your German project coming along?" Mace asked them.
"Not too bad thanks, Uncle Mace" Owen told him.
"Can we have a preview?" Mace asked.
"Err.if you want I suppose we could.right Ollie?" Owen didn't sound very eager. "Als ich elf war, bin ich mit dem flugzeug und dann mit dem Bus nach Amerika gefahren. Es war sehr gut weil es sonnig war. Ich habe in einem Hotel übernachtet." Owen began.
Ollie took over. "Donnerstag den 28 Oktober 1998. Das wetter ist sehr heiß und Ewan ist Sonnenbräune! Das Freizeitpark ist prima. Magic Kingdom ist die beste. Die Achterbann ist spaß. Danach zu Mittag, haben wir Pommes gegessen weil wir hunger gehabt. Heute Abend sind wir ins café gegangen. Danach haben wir die Feuerwerk gesehen."
"Fritag den 29 Oktober 1998. Heute sind wir in ein Wasserfall gegangen, weil es sonnig war. Jamie und ich sind wir fast gefallen! Um zehn uhr sind wir zuhause gegangen weil es überfullt war." Owen said and the joke got a couple of laughs from his audience.
"Sontag den 31st Oktober 1998. Heute habe ich fußball gespielt. Um elf uhr habe ich ein Eis gegessen weil es sonnig und sehr heiß war. Es war sehr nett! Kalt! " Ollie said.
"Montag den 1st November 1998. Heute bin ich ein Wasserpark gegangen, es war total super! Um drei uhr sind wir zuhause gegangen, weil es überfullt war. Heute abend sind wir ins Restaurant gegangen. Ich habe Pizza gegessen." Owen's confidence was now soaring.
"Dienstag den 2nd November 1998. Der Strand ist klasse! Klar blau Wasser. Ewan und ich sind schwimmen gegangen. Heute Abend sind wir ins Restaurant gegangen. Ich habe Fisch gegessen." Ollie's confidence was also sky high.
"Mittwoch den 3rd November 1998. Heute sind wir nach Sea World gegangen. Die Delfins waren prima! Und die Robbe und der Seelöwe! Heute abend sind wir ins Hotel café gegessen. Es war sehr gut weil wir müde waren." Owen finished off.
"That's sounding good," Mace boosted Owen and Ollie's confidence even higher.
"What are you talking about?" Jessie asked coming over with Natasha, Rubie, Emily, Jade and Joli.
"We're just practising our German projects," Obi-Wan told them.
"We had our first German lesson yesterday!" Emily piped up.
"That's good," Mace told them. "What can you say?"
"We can count up to twenty," they announced proudly.
"Let's hear it then," Ollie told them.
"Ein, zwei, drei, vier, fünf, sechs, sieben, acht, neun, zehn, elf, zwolf, dreizehn, vierzehn, fünfzehn, sechszehn, siebzehn, achtzehn, neunzehn, zwanzig," they chanted together.
"Oh, German," David groaned joining the group.
"Why, what are you up to?" Siri asked him.
"Verbs!"
"Oh, that's what we're doing in French,"
"Verbs are horrible!" Arabella put in.
"French verbs are easier then German ones," Obi-Wan said.
"Really? Then lets hear you recite the 'Etre' verb," Sam challenged.
Obi-Wan rose to the task. "Je suis, tu es, il est, elle est, nous sommes, vous êtes, ils sont, elles sont," Obi-Wan finished and looked over to his godfather to see if he was right. Judging by the look on Sam's face she thought he had got it wrong and he was worried.
"Correct," Mace announced. "Well done."
"Thanks."
"What are you lads up to in French anyway?" Mace asked.
"Food," Jamie informed him.
"Has anyone done that menu homework yet?" Owen asked.
"Yeah," Obi-Wan told him. "It's easy."
"German's easier then French," Ewan announced.
"Let's hear this French homework, Obi-Wan," Mace told him.
"Yeah, come on, Obi-Wan," the younger ones, who hadn't started French, encouraged him.
"Ok, then," Obi-Wan said. "Je prends le petit déjeuner à huit heures. Pour le petit déjeuner je mange du pain, avec du beurre et de la confiture. Je bois du lait. Je prends le petit déjeuner le weekend à huit heures. Pour le petit déjeuner je mange un sandwich au bacon. Je bois du jus de pomme. Je prends le déjeuner à midi. Pour le déjeuner je mange un sandwich au fromage, des chips et une pomme. Je bois du coca. Je prends le goûter à quatre heures. Pour le goûter je mange une orange. Je bois de la limonade. Je prends le dîner à six heures. Pour le dîner je mange du poulet, des pommes de terre, des petits pois et un créme caramel. Je bois du coca." Obi- Wan wasn't sure if it was all correct.
"Excellent," his godfather praised him. "I don't think there was a single mistake in that. Well done."
Obi-Wan couldn't help but grin.
"Help me!" Owen whispered in his ear.
"I'll never be able to speak French that fluently," Harley moaned.
"Yes you will, Harley. It's not that hard once you put your mind to it," Obi-Wan told her kindly.
"My mind doesn't want to be put to it!"
"Don't give it a choice then!"
"Ok, you're free to do what you want now," Mace told them all. All the kids rushed for the exits and the grown ups also left apart from Qui-Gon and Mace. Since Qui-Gon stayed, Obi-Wan also had to.
"What else are you doing in German apart from holidays?" Mace asked the lad.
"Past participles," Obi-Wan informed him.
"Like what?" Mace asked him.
"Ich bin mit dem Rad gefahren. Er hat ein Buch gekauft. Wir haben ein tolles Bild gemalt. Was hat er gesagt? Was hat sie gestern gemacht? And things like that." Obi-Wan gave a few examples.
"Ok then, how do you say I sung a song?"
"Ich habe ein Lied gesugen."
"Ok a harder one. How do you say I played tennis because it was sunny?"
"Err.ich habe tennis gespielt.err.weil es sonnig war," Obi-Wan answered hesitantly.
"Good, how about when I was 3 I went to Spain?"
"Als ich drei war, bin ich nach Spanien gefahren."
"Ok, I've got to get going. I said I'd meet up with Dan and Vox," Mace told them and left the room.
"Let's go back to our quarters, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon instructed him. Qui-Gon stood up and heading for the exit. Obi-Wan followed him out into the corridor and they proceeded down it. Obi-Wan followed behind Qui-Gon but he allowed his steps to drag and his mind to wander about what the others were doing.
On seeing Obi-Wan falling behind Qui-Gon instantly slowed his pace so the lad could catch up. He then remembered his promise to the lad. Once Obi-Wan had got within an arms length away from him Qui-Gon reached out his hand and pulled Obi-Wan to him by his ear. Once he had the lad next to him he pulled Obi-Wan's head back, again by his ear, so the lad had to look at him.
Qui-Gon expected to see the slight pain in Obi-Wan's eyes, but not the fear. Realising that his own apprentice was scared of him, Qui-Gon left go of his ear and put his arm round Obi-Wan's shoulders. He then guided the lad to their quarters as he could sense the tears blurring Obi-Wan's vision.
Once at their quarters Qui-Gon sat Obi-Wan down on one of the beds and went into the kitchen to try to find something to soothe him with. Obi-Wan couldn't help it - after one tear slid down his cheek he couldn't stop the next one's from following.
Qui-Gon came back into the room to see Obi-Wan crying quietly. Without thinking, he crossed the room and put his arms round the boy. Obi-Wan stiffened slightly when he realised Qui-Gon knew he was crying but Qui-Gon managed to relax him by keeping him in his arms and stroking the back of his hair.
Obi-Wan buried his face on Qui-Gon's shoulder and desperately tried to stop crying, but he couldn't. He jumped when Qui-Gon suddenly put some ice on his ear. "I'm sorry, Obi-Wan," he whispered.
"It's ok, Master," Obi-Wan managed to croak out. "I deserved it."
Qui-Gon leaned back from Obi-Wan, shocked. It was the last thing he had expected the lad to say. Instead of answering Qui-Gon gently wiped Obi- Wan's tears away with his thumb.
"Hey," Qui-Gon teased the lad. "Give me a chance here! I only have one hand and you have two eyes! I can't go that quickly!"
Obi-Wan couldn't help it, he began to laugh and his eyes started to dry.
Qui-Gon took the ice off Obi-Wan's ear. "How does your ear feel now?" he asked.
"Cold and numb!" Obi-Wan just had to give the cocky reply but Qui-Gon only laughed and fiddled with the Padawan braid behind Obi-Wan's right ear, tugging at it playfully.
Obi-Wan reclaimed his braid and looked his Master straight in the eyes. "I apologise for lying to you earlier, Master."
Qui-Gon stood pulling Obi-Wan up with him. Keeping both hands on the lad's shoulders, Qui-Gon's eyes searched the lad's face. "Apology accepted, Padawan, just don't do it again."
"I won't, Master." Qui-Gon was making him uncomfortable searching his face like that but he willed his feet not to move and his eyes to remain steady with Qui-Gon's.
"You're learning confidence and acceptance, good," Qui-Gon commented.
Obi-Wan looked up at his Master, slightly puzzled.
"You are gaining confidence to accept that you are wrong and you accepted the decisions I made. Both of these facts show you trust me and accept be to be your guide," Qui-Gon explained.
"Oh," Obi-Wan couldn't help but to smile from the praise his Master had just given him. "I didn't see that at all."
"Not to worry, Padawan. I didn't expect you to. Do you have any homework?"
"I've got some Spanish verbs to learn and a history essay to write. As well as a sheet of maths problems."
"Sounds like you're in for a busy afternoon then, Padawan," Qui-Gon said looking at Obi-Wan sternly. "Go get your homework and join me at the kitchen table."
"Yes, Master." Obi-Wan ran off and returned with his bag of school things. Qui-Gon noticed that he also had his travel pack with him.
Reaching out, Qui-Gon picked up Obi-Wan's current journal. He couldn't understand the language that Obi-Wan had written in but he was determined to find out.
Without looking up, Obi-Wan answered the question before his Master asked it. "It's written in Latin, and no, no one has read that volume."
"This volume?" Qui-Gon asked.
Obi-Wan finished what he was writing and looked up. "Us oldest six, Me, Bruck, Owen, Ollie, Jamie and Ewan, have a kind of tradition, so to speak." Obi-Wan explained. "Every now and again, we get together with our best friend from the group -"
"In your case, Bruck?" Qui-Gon asked, interrupting.
"Yes, in my case Bruck," Obi-Wan continued "And we'd spend the afternoon reading each other's journals. Coming to think of it, me and Bruck are due a session."
"And you won't translate for your Master?" Qui-Gon asked mildly.
"Ah.err.well.it depends on which passage Master," Obi-Wan stuttered.
"And yet you will let Bruck read everything you write in here?"
"Bruck's my best friend!" Obi-Wan burst out. "I don't keep anything from him and him from me. He's like a part of me and he wouldn't care about what I wrote about him. He'd understand my feelings like I do with him!"
"And yet you feel that I will not understand. Very well." Qui-Gon was stung and Obi-Wan suddenly realised that he had hurt his Master.
"Oh, Master! I don't mean that I don't trust you! I just don't know."
"You don't know what, Padawan?" Qui-Gon asked gently.
"How you'll react to what I've written," Obi-Wan whispered, his eyes on the floor.
"Well, there's only one way to find out," Qui-Gon handed him the journal. "Will you translate the entry which it is open on please."
Obi-Wan looked at the page and stifled a groan - of all the entries Qui-Gon could of chosen! But he obediently picked up his pen and a fresh sheet of paper and began to write.
'29th September, Age 13 years I don't know what's happening to me. I feel I should hate Qui-Gon Jinn yet I can't bring myself to do that. He should have given me a chance to explain! It's not my fault! What do I do? Bruck is currently hiding in a water tunnel with Uncle Xanatos so I can't go to him. Speaking to Siri and Kellie would be too weird - I want my father! Or maybe I just want my Master back. I didn't want to throw my life away - I had to - and it's no where near being repaired. I suppose I could just own up to Qui-Gon but that won't give Bruck, Jamie and Ewan a fair, clear stab at the tests. If I do that because I'm AFRAID, they won't get the chance they so rightly deserve. Well, that rules out talking to Qui-Gon, but how can I get back roughly what I had before with him if I'm hiding all this and my emotions are welling up inside of me like this? I don't know what to do, confusion is engulfing me like a storm I can't get out of. I've written a poem/song to roughly describe what I'm feeling.'
Obi-Wan sighed and handed the paper over to Qui-Gon to read.he hoped his Master wouldn't flip! How do you explain something like this to an elder? It's practically impossible.
A pause, then "Obi-Wan."
"Yes, Master?" Obi-Wan answered nervously.
"You couldn't bring yourself to hate me, though you felt you should?" Qui- Gon asked.
"No, Master."
"And you're right, I should have given you a chance to explain. Come here, Obi-Wan."
Obi-Wan slowly stood up from where he was sitting and reluctantly stood in front of Qui-Gon. He was almost certain that his Master was going to kill him.
Qui-Gon reached out his hand and stroked Obi-Wan's cheek, tilting the teens head back so he had to look at him. Seeing the reluctance, fear and relief in Obi-Wan's eyes, Qui-Gon reached out, caught Obi-Wan in a hug and pulled the apprentice on to his lap.
Obi-Wan sighed in relief. Qui-Gon looked at him, puzzled. "I thought you were going to kill me!" Obi-Wan burst out. Qui-Gon merely laughed.
A knock at the door. "Come in!" Qui-Gon called.
Mace Windu walked in holding Obi-Wan's guitar. "I believe this belongs to you," Mace said looking at Obi-Wan.
"Thanks, Mast.err.Uncle Mace!" Obi-Wan corrected himself while both Qui-Gon and Mace laughed. Obi-Wan left Qui-Gon's lap and picked up his guitar.
Another knock at the door. Obi-Wan answered it and found Siri and Adi stood there. Siri also had her guitar with her. Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow at her.
"Dad's idea," she groaned.
"What?" Obi-Wan asked, not really sure that he wanted to hear the answer.
"We've got to take our guitars and ourselves to the common room."
"I don't like this idea."
"Me neither," Siri agreed.
Adi, Qui-Gon and Mace shared an amused glance. "Why not?" Mace asked.
"You know, Dad! Do you really need to ask?" Siri moaned, which made Obi-Wan stifle laughter.
"Come on!" Qui-Gon instructed opening the door and pushing Obi-Wan gently out into the corridor.
"Dad better just want us to play, I'm NOT singing!" Obi-Wan announced to Siri in a whisper.
"Same here!" Siri agreed.
They entered the common room and found that only Dan was there. Obi-Wan and Siri were relieved.
"Hi, you two," their dad greeted them.
"Hi, Dad," came the innocent chorus back.
"Mace, Adi, Qui-Gon," Dan said in greeting to the other grown-ups.
Life was ok for now.
Should I continue with this or not?? Please review, please!!!
In Mace's quarters things were going very smoothly. Ewan, Sam, Oblesh and Emily hadn't dared say a thing until he spoke. He had managed to calm them somewhat when he said they wouldn't be punished and they'd began to talk to him.
They'd all even managed to crack a few jokes. The main one was what a bad godfather he was and Oblesh had to back that one up.
"Okay, time to go," he told them and led them out of his quarters and back to the auditorium with the 'bad godfather' joke still going on.
As they approached the auditorium he decided to change the subject. "If you were going to be punished what do you think a suitable punishment would be?" he asked them.
"Whatever you saw fit, Master," Oblesh answered as he opened the door.
"Will you knock it off with the 'Master' thing!" Sam exclaimed.
They entered the room and saw Qui-Gon's group already there.
"Uncle Mace sounds too weird!" Oblesh complained.
"I wonder were I've heard that one," Harley commented dryly shooting a look at Obi-Wan while standing up. She paired up with Sam and they went off towards the stage, talking.
The others walked over to where Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Ryan and Joli were sitting. Mace and Qui-Gon began to talk, Obi-Wan and Ewan were practising their German as they had decided to do a homework together.
"Meine Ferien," they recited together and Mace stopped Qui-Gon and made him listen.
"Freitag den 17. August 2000 Klasse! Ein woche in Spanien! Ich bin selten ungeduldig aber ich bin heute. Vater ist guter Laune, Mutter ist launish und Owen ist doof! Wir sind mit dem flugzeug gefahren." Obi-Wan began.
"Samstag den 18. August 2000 Ja! Heute um neun Uhr wir sind am Teesside International Airport gefahren. Wir sind mit dem Flugzeug und dann mit dem Bus gefahren. Die reise war nicht gut. Um sieben Uhr fünfundzwanzig sind wir an Playa den Bosa gekommen. Ich habe in einer Wohnung übernacht. Sie war ziemlich nett." Ewan took over.
"Sonntag den 19. August 2000 Der Strand ist klasse! Klar blau Wasser. Bruck und ich sind Schwimmen gegangen. Heute Abend wir sind ins restaurant gegangen." Obi-Wan continued.
"Montag den 20. August 2000 Heute habe ich gefaulenzt. Es war sehr sonnig und sehr sehr heiß. Ollie und ich habe Eis gegessen. Es war sehr nett! Kalt! " Ewan tried to ignore the fact that Mace and Qui-Gon were listening in.
"Dienstag den 21. August 2000 Es war ziemlich nebelig Heute. Wir sind einkaufen und dann schwimmen in die Wohnung gegangen." Obi-Wan too tried to ignore his elders, but it wasn't easy. He hoped his god father wouldn't find too many mistakes with the dialogue.
"Donnerstag den 23. August 2000 Heute habe ich Fußball gespielt. Heute Abend sind wir ins Restaurant gegangen. Ich habe Pizza gegessen." Ewan said.
"Freitag den 24. August 2000 Unser ferien ist über. Es war ausgezeichnet." They finished together.
Xanatos' group came in and joined them in time for Bruck to hear Obi-Wan and Ewan finishing. He groaned aloud. "Please don't remind me about the German project!"
"Why what's wrong? Who are you working with?" Obi-Wan asked concerned.
"Jamie."
"Oh."
"Yeah, Owen bagged Ollie when Auntie Kayleigh said we had to change partners. And since you two had already paired up I didn't have a choice."
"Sorry."
"So am I. I didn't mean to make it sound like I was blaming you. It's not your fault."
"That's ok." Obi-Wan grinned at Bruck. "And speaking of Jamie, here he comes."
"What about me?" Jamie asked joining them.
"Oh, nothing much," Ewan replied.
"Yeah, we were just talking about our German projects," Obi-Wan told him.
"Oh, the German projects. I'm no good at that language!" Jamie moaned.
"Jamie, if you just apply yourself, you'd be fine," Mace told him going into his stern mode much to the disappointment of the others. "If you work properly with Bruck, your project will be just as good as Obi-Wan's and Ewan's which sounds very good!"
"Thanks, Uncle Mace," Ewan said.
"Anytime, Ewan, anytime." Mace returned to his conversation with Qui-Gon.
Jamie walked over to Sam and Harley and Obi-Wan, Ewan and Bruck stayed where they were. Owen and Ollie walked over to Obi-Wan, Ewan and Bruck and Jamie came back over.
"Owen, Ollie, how's your German project coming along?" Mace asked them.
"Not too bad thanks, Uncle Mace" Owen told him.
"Can we have a preview?" Mace asked.
"Err.if you want I suppose we could.right Ollie?" Owen didn't sound very eager. "Als ich elf war, bin ich mit dem flugzeug und dann mit dem Bus nach Amerika gefahren. Es war sehr gut weil es sonnig war. Ich habe in einem Hotel übernachtet." Owen began.
Ollie took over. "Donnerstag den 28 Oktober 1998. Das wetter ist sehr heiß und Ewan ist Sonnenbräune! Das Freizeitpark ist prima. Magic Kingdom ist die beste. Die Achterbann ist spaß. Danach zu Mittag, haben wir Pommes gegessen weil wir hunger gehabt. Heute Abend sind wir ins café gegangen. Danach haben wir die Feuerwerk gesehen."
"Fritag den 29 Oktober 1998. Heute sind wir in ein Wasserfall gegangen, weil es sonnig war. Jamie und ich sind wir fast gefallen! Um zehn uhr sind wir zuhause gegangen weil es überfullt war." Owen said and the joke got a couple of laughs from his audience.
"Sontag den 31st Oktober 1998. Heute habe ich fußball gespielt. Um elf uhr habe ich ein Eis gegessen weil es sonnig und sehr heiß war. Es war sehr nett! Kalt! " Ollie said.
"Montag den 1st November 1998. Heute bin ich ein Wasserpark gegangen, es war total super! Um drei uhr sind wir zuhause gegangen, weil es überfullt war. Heute abend sind wir ins Restaurant gegangen. Ich habe Pizza gegessen." Owen's confidence was now soaring.
"Dienstag den 2nd November 1998. Der Strand ist klasse! Klar blau Wasser. Ewan und ich sind schwimmen gegangen. Heute Abend sind wir ins Restaurant gegangen. Ich habe Fisch gegessen." Ollie's confidence was also sky high.
"Mittwoch den 3rd November 1998. Heute sind wir nach Sea World gegangen. Die Delfins waren prima! Und die Robbe und der Seelöwe! Heute abend sind wir ins Hotel café gegessen. Es war sehr gut weil wir müde waren." Owen finished off.
"That's sounding good," Mace boosted Owen and Ollie's confidence even higher.
"What are you talking about?" Jessie asked coming over with Natasha, Rubie, Emily, Jade and Joli.
"We're just practising our German projects," Obi-Wan told them.
"We had our first German lesson yesterday!" Emily piped up.
"That's good," Mace told them. "What can you say?"
"We can count up to twenty," they announced proudly.
"Let's hear it then," Ollie told them.
"Ein, zwei, drei, vier, fünf, sechs, sieben, acht, neun, zehn, elf, zwolf, dreizehn, vierzehn, fünfzehn, sechszehn, siebzehn, achtzehn, neunzehn, zwanzig," they chanted together.
"Oh, German," David groaned joining the group.
"Why, what are you up to?" Siri asked him.
"Verbs!"
"Oh, that's what we're doing in French,"
"Verbs are horrible!" Arabella put in.
"French verbs are easier then German ones," Obi-Wan said.
"Really? Then lets hear you recite the 'Etre' verb," Sam challenged.
Obi-Wan rose to the task. "Je suis, tu es, il est, elle est, nous sommes, vous êtes, ils sont, elles sont," Obi-Wan finished and looked over to his godfather to see if he was right. Judging by the look on Sam's face she thought he had got it wrong and he was worried.
"Correct," Mace announced. "Well done."
"Thanks."
"What are you lads up to in French anyway?" Mace asked.
"Food," Jamie informed him.
"Has anyone done that menu homework yet?" Owen asked.
"Yeah," Obi-Wan told him. "It's easy."
"German's easier then French," Ewan announced.
"Let's hear this French homework, Obi-Wan," Mace told him.
"Yeah, come on, Obi-Wan," the younger ones, who hadn't started French, encouraged him.
"Ok, then," Obi-Wan said. "Je prends le petit déjeuner à huit heures. Pour le petit déjeuner je mange du pain, avec du beurre et de la confiture. Je bois du lait. Je prends le petit déjeuner le weekend à huit heures. Pour le petit déjeuner je mange un sandwich au bacon. Je bois du jus de pomme. Je prends le déjeuner à midi. Pour le déjeuner je mange un sandwich au fromage, des chips et une pomme. Je bois du coca. Je prends le goûter à quatre heures. Pour le goûter je mange une orange. Je bois de la limonade. Je prends le dîner à six heures. Pour le dîner je mange du poulet, des pommes de terre, des petits pois et un créme caramel. Je bois du coca." Obi- Wan wasn't sure if it was all correct.
"Excellent," his godfather praised him. "I don't think there was a single mistake in that. Well done."
Obi-Wan couldn't help but grin.
"Help me!" Owen whispered in his ear.
"I'll never be able to speak French that fluently," Harley moaned.
"Yes you will, Harley. It's not that hard once you put your mind to it," Obi-Wan told her kindly.
"My mind doesn't want to be put to it!"
"Don't give it a choice then!"
"Ok, you're free to do what you want now," Mace told them all. All the kids rushed for the exits and the grown ups also left apart from Qui-Gon and Mace. Since Qui-Gon stayed, Obi-Wan also had to.
"What else are you doing in German apart from holidays?" Mace asked the lad.
"Past participles," Obi-Wan informed him.
"Like what?" Mace asked him.
"Ich bin mit dem Rad gefahren. Er hat ein Buch gekauft. Wir haben ein tolles Bild gemalt. Was hat er gesagt? Was hat sie gestern gemacht? And things like that." Obi-Wan gave a few examples.
"Ok then, how do you say I sung a song?"
"Ich habe ein Lied gesugen."
"Ok a harder one. How do you say I played tennis because it was sunny?"
"Err.ich habe tennis gespielt.err.weil es sonnig war," Obi-Wan answered hesitantly.
"Good, how about when I was 3 I went to Spain?"
"Als ich drei war, bin ich nach Spanien gefahren."
"Ok, I've got to get going. I said I'd meet up with Dan and Vox," Mace told them and left the room.
"Let's go back to our quarters, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon instructed him. Qui-Gon stood up and heading for the exit. Obi-Wan followed him out into the corridor and they proceeded down it. Obi-Wan followed behind Qui-Gon but he allowed his steps to drag and his mind to wander about what the others were doing.
On seeing Obi-Wan falling behind Qui-Gon instantly slowed his pace so the lad could catch up. He then remembered his promise to the lad. Once Obi-Wan had got within an arms length away from him Qui-Gon reached out his hand and pulled Obi-Wan to him by his ear. Once he had the lad next to him he pulled Obi-Wan's head back, again by his ear, so the lad had to look at him.
Qui-Gon expected to see the slight pain in Obi-Wan's eyes, but not the fear. Realising that his own apprentice was scared of him, Qui-Gon left go of his ear and put his arm round Obi-Wan's shoulders. He then guided the lad to their quarters as he could sense the tears blurring Obi-Wan's vision.
Once at their quarters Qui-Gon sat Obi-Wan down on one of the beds and went into the kitchen to try to find something to soothe him with. Obi-Wan couldn't help it - after one tear slid down his cheek he couldn't stop the next one's from following.
Qui-Gon came back into the room to see Obi-Wan crying quietly. Without thinking, he crossed the room and put his arms round the boy. Obi-Wan stiffened slightly when he realised Qui-Gon knew he was crying but Qui-Gon managed to relax him by keeping him in his arms and stroking the back of his hair.
Obi-Wan buried his face on Qui-Gon's shoulder and desperately tried to stop crying, but he couldn't. He jumped when Qui-Gon suddenly put some ice on his ear. "I'm sorry, Obi-Wan," he whispered.
"It's ok, Master," Obi-Wan managed to croak out. "I deserved it."
Qui-Gon leaned back from Obi-Wan, shocked. It was the last thing he had expected the lad to say. Instead of answering Qui-Gon gently wiped Obi- Wan's tears away with his thumb.
"Hey," Qui-Gon teased the lad. "Give me a chance here! I only have one hand and you have two eyes! I can't go that quickly!"
Obi-Wan couldn't help it, he began to laugh and his eyes started to dry.
Qui-Gon took the ice off Obi-Wan's ear. "How does your ear feel now?" he asked.
"Cold and numb!" Obi-Wan just had to give the cocky reply but Qui-Gon only laughed and fiddled with the Padawan braid behind Obi-Wan's right ear, tugging at it playfully.
Obi-Wan reclaimed his braid and looked his Master straight in the eyes. "I apologise for lying to you earlier, Master."
Qui-Gon stood pulling Obi-Wan up with him. Keeping both hands on the lad's shoulders, Qui-Gon's eyes searched the lad's face. "Apology accepted, Padawan, just don't do it again."
"I won't, Master." Qui-Gon was making him uncomfortable searching his face like that but he willed his feet not to move and his eyes to remain steady with Qui-Gon's.
"You're learning confidence and acceptance, good," Qui-Gon commented.
Obi-Wan looked up at his Master, slightly puzzled.
"You are gaining confidence to accept that you are wrong and you accepted the decisions I made. Both of these facts show you trust me and accept be to be your guide," Qui-Gon explained.
"Oh," Obi-Wan couldn't help but to smile from the praise his Master had just given him. "I didn't see that at all."
"Not to worry, Padawan. I didn't expect you to. Do you have any homework?"
"I've got some Spanish verbs to learn and a history essay to write. As well as a sheet of maths problems."
"Sounds like you're in for a busy afternoon then, Padawan," Qui-Gon said looking at Obi-Wan sternly. "Go get your homework and join me at the kitchen table."
"Yes, Master." Obi-Wan ran off and returned with his bag of school things. Qui-Gon noticed that he also had his travel pack with him.
Reaching out, Qui-Gon picked up Obi-Wan's current journal. He couldn't understand the language that Obi-Wan had written in but he was determined to find out.
Without looking up, Obi-Wan answered the question before his Master asked it. "It's written in Latin, and no, no one has read that volume."
"This volume?" Qui-Gon asked.
Obi-Wan finished what he was writing and looked up. "Us oldest six, Me, Bruck, Owen, Ollie, Jamie and Ewan, have a kind of tradition, so to speak." Obi-Wan explained. "Every now and again, we get together with our best friend from the group -"
"In your case, Bruck?" Qui-Gon asked, interrupting.
"Yes, in my case Bruck," Obi-Wan continued "And we'd spend the afternoon reading each other's journals. Coming to think of it, me and Bruck are due a session."
"And you won't translate for your Master?" Qui-Gon asked mildly.
"Ah.err.well.it depends on which passage Master," Obi-Wan stuttered.
"And yet you will let Bruck read everything you write in here?"
"Bruck's my best friend!" Obi-Wan burst out. "I don't keep anything from him and him from me. He's like a part of me and he wouldn't care about what I wrote about him. He'd understand my feelings like I do with him!"
"And yet you feel that I will not understand. Very well." Qui-Gon was stung and Obi-Wan suddenly realised that he had hurt his Master.
"Oh, Master! I don't mean that I don't trust you! I just don't know."
"You don't know what, Padawan?" Qui-Gon asked gently.
"How you'll react to what I've written," Obi-Wan whispered, his eyes on the floor.
"Well, there's only one way to find out," Qui-Gon handed him the journal. "Will you translate the entry which it is open on please."
Obi-Wan looked at the page and stifled a groan - of all the entries Qui-Gon could of chosen! But he obediently picked up his pen and a fresh sheet of paper and began to write.
'29th September, Age 13 years I don't know what's happening to me. I feel I should hate Qui-Gon Jinn yet I can't bring myself to do that. He should have given me a chance to explain! It's not my fault! What do I do? Bruck is currently hiding in a water tunnel with Uncle Xanatos so I can't go to him. Speaking to Siri and Kellie would be too weird - I want my father! Or maybe I just want my Master back. I didn't want to throw my life away - I had to - and it's no where near being repaired. I suppose I could just own up to Qui-Gon but that won't give Bruck, Jamie and Ewan a fair, clear stab at the tests. If I do that because I'm AFRAID, they won't get the chance they so rightly deserve. Well, that rules out talking to Qui-Gon, but how can I get back roughly what I had before with him if I'm hiding all this and my emotions are welling up inside of me like this? I don't know what to do, confusion is engulfing me like a storm I can't get out of. I've written a poem/song to roughly describe what I'm feeling.'
Obi-Wan sighed and handed the paper over to Qui-Gon to read.he hoped his Master wouldn't flip! How do you explain something like this to an elder? It's practically impossible.
A pause, then "Obi-Wan."
"Yes, Master?" Obi-Wan answered nervously.
"You couldn't bring yourself to hate me, though you felt you should?" Qui- Gon asked.
"No, Master."
"And you're right, I should have given you a chance to explain. Come here, Obi-Wan."
Obi-Wan slowly stood up from where he was sitting and reluctantly stood in front of Qui-Gon. He was almost certain that his Master was going to kill him.
Qui-Gon reached out his hand and stroked Obi-Wan's cheek, tilting the teens head back so he had to look at him. Seeing the reluctance, fear and relief in Obi-Wan's eyes, Qui-Gon reached out, caught Obi-Wan in a hug and pulled the apprentice on to his lap.
Obi-Wan sighed in relief. Qui-Gon looked at him, puzzled. "I thought you were going to kill me!" Obi-Wan burst out. Qui-Gon merely laughed.
A knock at the door. "Come in!" Qui-Gon called.
Mace Windu walked in holding Obi-Wan's guitar. "I believe this belongs to you," Mace said looking at Obi-Wan.
"Thanks, Mast.err.Uncle Mace!" Obi-Wan corrected himself while both Qui-Gon and Mace laughed. Obi-Wan left Qui-Gon's lap and picked up his guitar.
Another knock at the door. Obi-Wan answered it and found Siri and Adi stood there. Siri also had her guitar with her. Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow at her.
"Dad's idea," she groaned.
"What?" Obi-Wan asked, not really sure that he wanted to hear the answer.
"We've got to take our guitars and ourselves to the common room."
"I don't like this idea."
"Me neither," Siri agreed.
Adi, Qui-Gon and Mace shared an amused glance. "Why not?" Mace asked.
"You know, Dad! Do you really need to ask?" Siri moaned, which made Obi-Wan stifle laughter.
"Come on!" Qui-Gon instructed opening the door and pushing Obi-Wan gently out into the corridor.
"Dad better just want us to play, I'm NOT singing!" Obi-Wan announced to Siri in a whisper.
"Same here!" Siri agreed.
They entered the common room and found that only Dan was there. Obi-Wan and Siri were relieved.
"Hi, you two," their dad greeted them.
"Hi, Dad," came the innocent chorus back.
"Mace, Adi, Qui-Gon," Dan said in greeting to the other grown-ups.
Life was ok for now.
Should I continue with this or not?? Please review, please!!!