Title: A New Order
Author: Jedikma
Chapter 14
"I'm sorry to interrupt," the Dresselian woman offered as she stepped into the room. In her arms she held her daughter. She drew the attention of everyone present.
"You're not interrupting. Come in, Rella," Siri replied warmly.
"I wanted to thank all of you for what you did for Dru, today, and for contacting me so quickly."
Upon seeing his friend, Reeft broke away from his mother's side and scrambled off the bed. "Dru!" he squealed.
Dru, pulled away from her own mother to stand down next to her age mate.
"Of course, there is no need to thank us. We're all just so grateful that everything has turned out so well." Obi-Wan smiled.
"One more guest, you can accommodate, ummm?" Master Yoda may have been diminutive, but he immediately commanded the presence of the entire room as his voice cut into the conversation.
As he leaned on his gimer stick and looked around the room he frowned. "Suddenly everyone becomes serious, they do. Prefer the laughter, I do. Here to see the youngest Jedi, I am."
"Of course, Master Yoda." Padme answered as she leaned down and gave Yoda the bundle she held.
The little green Master took the baby in his arms and chuckled. "A happy day, this is. The Jedi family continues to grow, it does."
The other younglings in the room naturally gravitated towards Master Yoda and gathered around him. "News I have, for all of you. More caretakers we will hire because we are so short. Found one already I have. Dru's mother agreed to work for us, she has."
Padme was the first to grab Rella's hand. "I know you will be a perfect addition," she said, as the others in the room offered their delighted welcomes.
As Yoda returned the baby to Padme, he sighed. "Needed to happen sooner, this did. Keep our younglings well cared for, we must." As he said these words the aging Master's eyes met Garen's and immediately he sensed the distress in the boy.
Yoda gently touched the boy's tear stained face. "Need to talk to Master Yoda, you do? Go have dessert, we should."
"But, Master," the boy answered. "I've had my dessert."
"I want dessert," Reeft spoke up.
Yoda chuckled as he turned to address Reeft. "Special day this is, take the younglings for dessert, I will. Help an old Master, Caretaker Rella will."
"Yes, of course, Master," Rella answered. She took the hands of the younger children and Garen walked beside Yoda as they exited the room.
"Bring them back, when we are done, we will." Yoda commented over his shoulder when he left.
Once the children were gone, Obi-Wan turned to Siri, a look of relief on his face. "Yoda will know exactly what to say to Garen to ease that boy's burden."
The fire in Siri's eyes began to surface all over again and both Padme and Anakin were quick to notice and inquire about what had happened. Siri immediately related the story and appealed to Padme for help in review of the offending caretaker's status.
"I'm so sorry, Siri. I've wondered about her before and Leia has also complained about her, but the complaints were minor in nature. I wish now I had paid more attention." Padme's regret was evident in her heavy sigh. "I'll see that she's gone in the morning. At least we have Rella to take her place immediately, I just wish we had more staff already."
"Padme, you have done so much for the Jedi, please don't blame yourself," Obi-Wan replied. "We all need to pay more attention to the things going on around us. It's the only way we're going to make all the changes work."
"Yes," Siri shook her head in response. "Obi-Wan was reminding me, too, that we're all responsible for guiding the children in the right directions. It seems my stubbornness over making this relationship an official one isn't going to help matters when the children start looking to us for answers. I suppose it's time we set the example." She looked up to Obi-Wan and smiled.
"Ha ha! Does this mean what I think it does?" Anakin asked excitedly. "Finally you two will get married and we can have one big celebration!" Anakin moved next to Obi-Wan and gave him a pat on the back. "I'm glad to see you finally talked to her Obi-Wan and told her everything. I told you it was the best approach, didn't I?"
Obi-Wan shifted uneasily and cleared his throat. "Yes, my friend, you did indeed."
Siri looked at Obi-Wan and her eyes narrowed. For a moment she said nothing as she eyed him suspiciously. "Why do I get the feeling there is something you haven't briefed me on, Obi-Wan?"
The smile on Anakin's face suddenly faded and he let out a low groan. "Oh, Obi-Wan, you didn't pull the Master technique in which you give the information pieces at a time so as to allow the Padawan to come up with the answers on his or her own?"
The color drained from Obi-Wan's face. " I did need for you to come up with the answer on your own, Siri."
Siri's eyes sparked. "First of all, Obi-Wan, I'm not your apprentice and secondly, I think there is still something you're not telling me. Now is a good time to give me everything I need to know about this mission."
Still holding the baby in her arms, Padme cleared her throat to get Anakin's attention. Taking her cue Anakin walked over and stood next to her. "Would you two like for us to leave you alone?" he asked.
Looking directly at Anakin, Obi-Wan said, "No. I want you to stay right there and make sure I do this right this time. Take note that I don't leave anything out. Okay?"
Anakin shook his head. "Sure." He glanced at his wife, who looked uncomfortable with the idea of staying, but he would follow his former mentor's request.
"Siri. What Anakin is referring to is a request by the Council that you and I set the precedence. They want us to help define what it means to be a Jedi and to be in a committed relationship. Guidelines need to be set for our young Jedi that want to enter into a bonded union, but those guidelines can't be reasonably drawn out without someone who has some experience in charge."
Siri only stared at Obi-Wan incredulously and silence dominated the room. Obi-Wan became confused by Siri's continued silence, he expected her to let him know exactly what she thought, despite the fact they had an audience, but still she didn't react.
Finally, Obi-Wan was prompted to sit on the bed next to her and pick up her hand in his. "Siri," he began. "We've been asked to take up this mission to help the future of the Jedi Order. For thousands of years, Jedi have been living with a Code that denied its members any form of attachment and it's long past time for that to change. But without examples to follow, what can we expect of our Jedi? Do you remember when you realized you loved, but had to sacrifice that or sacrifice being a Jedi? Do you remember how painful that was? If we don't meet with success in allowing attachments, would there be a decision to revert back to the old code?"
Obi-Wan took a deep breath. "I've loved you for a long time and, now, I no longer have to be without you. I'm not willing to give you up, either. We don't have to do this, but I think we can make valuable contributions. So, I'm asking you to be my partner on this mission, for us and our children and all the Jedi that will follow us."
Captivated by his blue-gray eyes, Siri did not divert her gaze, but directed her question to Anakin. "Has he left anything out this time?"
Watching the scene, as though he were watching a holodrama, Anakin responded, "I think he covered everything, that I'm aware of anyway. And I sense nothing but sincerity in this matter."
Padme elbowed Anakin in the ribs and he flinched.
A smile spread across Siri's face. "Then, yes, Obi-Wan Kenobi, I will join you on this mission."
Obi-Wan let out a sigh and moved in to give his betrothed a kiss. "But," Siri interrupted. "You can't ever again approach me as though I was your Padawan. That is not going to make this a successful mission."
"Agreed," he said as he tried again to kiss her.
"And you must give me all the information, before I can make any important decisions."
"Yes."
"And don't assume you know what I'm thinking, even if you may be right."
Obi-Wan let go of her hand and it appeared as though he would simply stand up in frustration and leave her side, but instead he moved closer, put his arms about her in a strong embrace and kissed her deeply, cutting off any thought she was about to express next.
"And just sometimes, Siri, resist the urge to say something, even though you may have a valid point."
She giggled and slipped her arms around his neck and returned the kiss.
With tears brimming in her eyes, Padme gazed up at Anakin and sighed. "Why don't you talk to me like that?"
Anakin looked dumbfounded. "What?" he stuttered. "I'm far more romantic than that!"
"Are you sure you will be all right Master Kenobi?" Asked one of the assistants in a low voice. She had rolled a bassinette into the room with the baby sound asleep in it.
"We'll be fine," Obi-Wan returned. "Thank you."
The lights in the room had been turned down low so that only a soft glow of night lighting made everything visible. Once the assistant left, Obi-Wan set about removing his clothing, boots, outer tunic, inner tunic, to get comfortable.
Siri shifted onto her side in the bed. She pulled back the blankets to make room for Obi-Wan to move in next to her. Across from her, a cot had been placed in the room and on one end slept her two-year-old and on the other end was her four-year-old. Master Yoda had returned them, as promised, and instead of taking them back to the nursery, Siri appealed to Obi-Wan to let them stay.
Obi-Wan squeezed in next to her, his chest against her back. "This sleep couch isn't exactly meant for two, you sure you're all right?"
"I'll be fine. I just need you here for now. You can move if it starts to get uncomfortable."
He brushed her hair back gently with one hand as he gently placed his bearded cheek next to hers and put his arm around her waist. From this angle they both could easily look upon their boys.
"I think Master Yoda did manage to help Garen with his dilemma. I sense peace in him now." Siri commented, relief in her voice.
"That's why Yoda has always been the teacher of the younglings, he instinctively knows what to do. And they always relate to him."
"I've never known Yoda to play favorites, but I've always gotten a strange feeling that Garen is very special to him."
"Special, he is." Obi-Wan smiled. "Master Yoda confessed to me the day he was born that Garen was special to him for many reasons. He was the first child born to two Knights, who were once told they couldn't entertain thoughts of commitment because attachment was forbidden. Garen was the first mark of true change in the Order."
"I always thought Yoda would be the least likely to welcome the change. Far to old to want to change the ways so long ingrained in the Order."
"Yoda had to tell too many couples over hundreds of years they couldn't commit and he said he was tired of handing out such heartache, especially since so many he had known, he was sure would have made their attachments work with the Jedi lifestyle they loved."
Garen stirred in his sleep. His body flopped from his side to his back and a bare foot fell down the side of the cot, making itself visible below the edge of the blanket.
Using the Force, Obi-Wan lifted the blanket and moved Garen's foot back under it and onto the cot. The boy let out an audible sigh.
"Ummm, that reminds me Obi-Wan. I forgot to ask if you counted Bant's fingers and toes."
It was something Obi-Wan had started with Garen and had done with each of their children. It somehow confirmed to him that the children were real and that they were theirs. He knew it tickled Siri, to no end. "I did. Twice. And they were all there. No extras."
Siri giggled. A sound that endeared her to him. He gave her a little squeeze and nuzzled her neck.
They watched Reeft move to his stomach and tuck his legs up underneath him. A small gurgling sound emitted from him.
"So when do we start this new mission, Obi-Wan?"
"We can keep everything very simple, if you like. As soon as we can put something together, we can do it."
Sleep was finally beginning to claim Siri as she answered him. "That sounds fine." She yawned. "You know, I think this has been the worst best day of my life, Obi-Wan." Her eyes fluttered closed. "Can we skip tomorrow?"
Obi-Wan chuckled softly as he felt her drift into blessed sleep. "I'll see what I can do about that," he whispered and he softly kissed the side of her blonde head.