1st chap = disclaimers
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! And yes, I have based Binks in part on my own dog, although he only thinks he's a big dog. Whatever possessed an eight pound lap dog to think he's a Siberian Husky is beyond me.
FireSenshi: Next installment is here.
Cammy: Well, I managed to snatch Jacen back. But I might have to send you a bill. Hair replacement is very expensive you know.
ShortySC22: You'll just have to wait and see won't you (insert grin)
Phoenix Wolf: Merry Christmas to you to! I decided to get this out today for a special Christmas present to all my readers! Anyway, You can call me ES it's a bit easier to write than escapistone.
Greatjedi: well here's your continuation.
HeidiM.: Three clones walked into a training academy…
Jedi jaina-fel: I might just skip a few years here, but I have to set up some story lines first (Yes there is a plot ;) A little bit of Tahiri in this chapter for you.
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Obi-Wan walked into the kitchen, passing his mentor and first apprentice in a sleep filled haze towards the teapot. Absently, he tossed a piece of meat down for Binks. His constant companion since Anakin had left. Apparently, Binks had decided that Obi-Wan needed Anakin to protect him from household chores. Without Anakin around, Binks had multiple times "saved" Obi-Wan from cooking disasters by whining the instant he left the kitchen.
Ani smiled. "Rough night?"
"Don't be crass about your own granddaughter, Ani."
"Hey, I remember how Padme was. It runs in the genes."
"Yes, well you chased Padme before she gave into you."
"Hey, Padme had feelings before then. I just had to encourage her. Besides, the taste for older partners runs in her too. Me and Padme, Leia and Han, need I go on?"
"Ani, don't make me come over there and hurt you."
"Hey, umm could I bother you guys for a glass of water?"
Qui-Gon smiled, and let the other two regain their speech. They tended to block out the universe when they bickered. Gently he handed the glass to Jaina. Binks automatically came over to search for food.
"Hi there boy." She said as she scratched his ear. "He really is a nice dog where did you get him?"
"In a back alley somewhere."
Jaina shook her head. In the course of one night she had grown incredible fond of them Now that she was fully rested, she could observe them more. 'Jim' was the tallest of the three and apparently the most beloved. Incredibly insulting digs at 'Ben' or 'Andir" were allowed, but the other two always got a bit protective and careful when teasing 'Jim'. 'Andir" seemed to be the clown of the group and constantly talked about machines.
'Ben' seemed to be the steady force in the group. Steady, but sarcastic none the less. In the well lit kitchen, Jaina had the strangest sense of déjà vu. It was like she'd seen his hair before. Now that was strange. Kyp must have put something in her drink last night.
Ani piped up. "I suppose we'd better head over to the academy before all the good parking spots are taken." With that, he skipped off to the cockpit, throwing a wink at Obi-Wan.
Forcing away a million thoughts about what he should have done to Ani when he was younger, Obi-Wan turned back to Jaina. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yes. Thank You." Privately, Jaina wondered where the owner of the room was. It was too lived in and oddly decorated to be a guest room, but she really didn't have the right to ask whose it was.
"We would like to thank you for your generosity…" Jaina cut Qui-Gon off.
"Don't bother. It's been my pleasure. In fact, if you don't mind, I was wondering if you'd let me show you around. I've got the day off, and I can give you a much better tour than the standard one."
"Oh, I'm sure that's not necessary. We wouldn't want you to give up your free time to show us around." Qui-Gon stated.
"But it is necessary, to me. I want to do this for you guys."
"I'm sure it will be lovely then." Qui-Gon glanced over at Obi-Wan as Jaina left the kitchen to head to the cockpit.
"What?"
"I'm beginning to think Ani was correct in his observations about young Solo."
"You're being paranoid. She's just a very nice young lady."
"I'm not disputing her niceness just her reason. Nice young ladies, in my experience, do not normally volunteer their days off to guiding around absolute strangers."
"She's a Jedi."
"That doesn't mean the same thing it used to."
"If you are suggesting that she has
some sort of diabolical plot in her head, I'm not speaking to you."
"SITH!! Obi-Wan Kenobi. Are you totally clueless about the other sex? Just because I believe she's got an ulterior motive doesn't mean I think she's going to drag you off and chain you somewhere. Although at the moment, I dare say you might like that."
"That's not nice."
"Obi-Wan, all I'm saying is that you have a tendency to underestimate your appeal to the opposite sex sometimes. You flirted with that poor girl so much last night; it would not surprise me if she had a crush on you."
"She has a boyfriend."
"He's a jerk, and you rescued her from him. Just don't play with her emotions."
"I don't intend to play with her at all. I am still a Jedi. I still uphold my vows. At the moment, that means upholding my old vows until I know where I stand with the new order."
Qui-Gon smiled fondly at him. "I never doubted your intentions, Obi-Wan. I just needed to point out that your point of view might be a bit skewed."
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Luke peeked into the meditation room. Inside there was a member of the Solo family, but not the one he was looking for.
"Master Luke." Anakin's respectful voice came from his position on the floor.
"I'm sorry I disturbed you, Anakin. I was looking for you brother."
"I thought he was your apprentice." Anakin was confused. Even with their Force powers running at a tenth of their normal power, Obi-Wan had no problem distinguishing his essence. Luke had a stronger alliance with the Force than his master did. Why wasn't he able to tell the difference between him and his brother?
Anakin wasn't the only one confused. What did Jacen being his apprentice have to do with anything? Luke wondered. He decided to push it off. "Do you know where your brother is?"
"No. Why?"
"I need to talk with him about his behavior."
"Really?" Anakin's voice chippered up as he stood to walk alongside his Uncle.
Luke hid his amusement. It was the first normal sibling reaction he'd seen out of Anakin.
"Apparently, he had an altercation with Kyp Durron this morning. Something about Jaina, a bar, and a stranger, Kyp's getting his teeth replaced at the moment."
Anakin grinned. "Its about time Jacen pulled his head out of his Ass."
Luke fought the double take that threatened to overwhelm him. Did Anakin just say that? Mara had just said that morning that she thought Anakin was warming up to them. Maybe this was a sign.
Anakin closed his eyes for a second. "He's over there."
Luke raised a questioning eyebrow at him.
"You know, you're starting to pick up your wife's facial expressions, Master Luke. Picking out Force signatures is something you have to be good at to stay alive when you're being hunted by cloned Jedi."
Luke sighed and started walking in the direction Anakin had pointed out. It was unnerving to have Anakin walk half a step behind him all the time. How did the old Jedi put up with it? The formalities seemed stifling.
"Anakin!" Tahiri's voice floated down the corridor.
Anakin's face tugged up in a stupid (aka slightly lovesick) grin that he'd inherited from his grandfather. "Don't say anything important to him before I catch up with you, Master Luke." With that Anakin bounded off to have his morning ritual "chat" with his latest "friend."
Luke shook his head. More often than not he'd forgotten Anakin was eighteen and not fifty in the short time he'd been back. It made his crush on Tahiri all the more surreal.
Turning around the corner, he walked into a small outdoor garden. There Jacen was trying to coax a dog into eating. That was odd. Jacen could usually get animals to do whatever he wanted.
"Hi, Uncle Luke."
"Jacen, what are you doing?"
"Jaina caught a ride with some, ahem, people this morning. This is their dog. She felt bad about leaving it in their ship, so she asked me to take care of it. It is the coldest and most stubborn animal I have ever met."
"Where is Jaina now?"
"Giving them a guided tour."
"Oh. Jacen, I need to talk to you about…"
"BINKS!" Anakin's voice cut in behind Luke. The lackadaisical dog sprung to life and ran over to Anakin. He wagged his tail and attempted to lick Anakin's face.
"Down, boy." Anakin laughed. Then his initial reaction caught up with his brain. He reached out at a specific corner of his mind and tugged. Shielded! Leave it to his Master to use their reunion as a lesson in Force awareness. No matter, he knew exactly where his Master was even with their bond shielded. Without another word, Anakin dashed off leaving a much bewildered uncle and brother.
Jacen watched his brother go, the dog trailing behind him. He looked at Luke.
"Shall we talk about this later?" Luke asked.
Jacen nodded, and they followed after Anakin's lead.
Jaina turned around and smiled at the small group of men following her. She didn't see Ani roll his eyes, because her focus was distracted by her youngest brother leaping over a railing and dropping four feet before running at breakneck speed towards them. He skidded to a stop right behind the group.
"Anakin, how many times must I tell you not to run in temples, schools, public buildings or otherwise civilized places."
"Sorry Master." Suddenly Anakin had his Master lifted an inch off the ground hugging him.
'Master?!?!' Jaina's lips mouthed the words, but her voice wouldn't cooperate.
"Anakin, put me down before you cause a scene." Obi-Wan's words lost their sting as he tugged at Anakin's braid. "I have missed you also Padawan."
As Anakin greeted the other two men, Jaina saw her brother and uncle arriving followed by a now panting Binks. Jacen jogged right up, but Luke stopped mid-stride. His face was as pale as a sheet.
"Ben?" Luke's voice cracked.
'Ben?!?!' Jaina felt like she was getting good at impersonating a fish. Master. Ben. Master Ben. Sith, no. She looked at her drinking companion. He didn't seem like a venerable Jedi Master last night.
"Hello Luke." Obi-Wan frowned. He expected Jaina not to take the news well. After all, he couldn't exactly tell her last night. She probably would have called for back up and genetic verification. But Luke should have been surprised. Unless, Anakin hadn't told him everything.
Anakin?
Yes, Master?
What exactly did you tell your family?
It's kind of a long story.
I thought so.
"Why don't we go somewhere quiet where we can discuss this calmly, and without eavesdroppers?"
Luke nodded. Ben had been easy to pick out. He glanced over at the other new comers and thanked the Force he had a good heart.
"Father?"
"Luke."
"I think I should call the rest of the family." Luke's shaking voice barely wormed it's way out in a whisper.
"You trained him well, Obi-Wan. He can think even when his brain has gone into a state of shock." Qui-Gon smiled. This was going to be extremely interesting.
