Title: Two of a Kind
Author: Layren
Summary: When Dooku is punished for his disobedience he meets a child who will forever change his life.
Disclaimer: I don't own star wars. Please don't sue me.
Rating: G
Notes: Thought of this while at work today. Thanks for Kynstar for the inspiration of how Dooku would respond to a child

The walls of the crèche were brightly decorated. Vivid reds, oranges, blues and purples adorned the walls. Pictures of the children's work were tastefully displayed around the room. The sounds of happy children playing reached Yan Dooku's ears as he pushed open the door to the crèche and stood in the entryway with a scowl.

He did not want to be here.

His Master had thought it was a good idea for punishment for his actions earlier that morning. One did not insult Master Yoda or his apprentice and get away with it. Dooku had seen to that. He knew what people said did not bother his Master, but Dooku could not stand it when taunts were flung out about him and his teacher and how he would someday be a disgrace to the Order he served. It made his ears burn and his anger flare.

It had given him distinct pleasure to beat the other boy's face in who had insulted him. He would never dare insult him again. Yoda however, had not been pleased at all. "Controlled you should be," His mentor had said, his ears dropping more with sorrow than anger. "Controlled you were not. Help in the crèche to learn control you will. Good test it is." Twenty words and a whack on his knees with Yoda's stick and he was sent immediately to the crèche, his shins still stinging.

A small boy, no older than four caught his eye. He was a serious looking boy with brown hair and he was tall for his age, but it was his eyes that caught Dooku's attention. They were a deep, crystal clear blue and the Living Force seemed to radiate from him. Dooku walked over to the youngster and sat down next to him. He sensed something from the boy.. he felt.. sad about something.

The boy turned away shyly as Dooku approached him and didn't say anything.

"Hello little one. What is the matter?" Dooku pressed the lad, wondering with some since of shock why he was showing any interest at all.

The boy shrugged and his eyes strayed to where two bigger boys, one a green skinned Rodian and the other a human, were playing with a toy spaceship.

"They took that from you didn't they?" Dooku said guessing by what he sensed from the boy.

The young one nodded and his eyes filled with tears but they didn't fall. "They don't like me. They said I couldn't play with them. I'm not big enough and I'm not like them."

Dooku was outraged that they would treat such a young one that way. "What's your name?"

"Qui-Gon Jinn," the boy replied. "I'm three and one half," he added.

Dooku chuckled a little. "I'm seventeen myself."

Qui-Gon's jaw dropped. "You're old!"

Dooku laughed even more at that. His eyes twinkled and he patted the boy on the shoulder. "Do you want to know a secret Qui-Gon?"

Qui-Gon looked back at him with wide eyes. "What?" He asked in a whisper.

"I'm not like them either," He said jerking his thumb back to the other boy. "We're different you and I. We feel things that other Jedi don't feel. That's just how we are."

"Why?" Qui-Gon asked looking down.

"The Living Force.. you are strong in it Qui-Gon. They don't feel that part of the Force like we do. It's their loss," he added with a scowl.

"But you're like them a little aren't you? You're big too. Big people always fit, don't they?" Qui-Gon asked seriously.

Dooku sighed. "No, not always," he said thinking of what the other boy had said about him that morning. But you know," he said focusing on the child again, "one day you'll be big too," he said giving the boy a critical glance.

Yes he could see that in Qui-Gon. The child would grow and fill out his shoulders. His hands would wield a lightsaber crafted with his own hands and be a great Jedi saving thousands of lives and doing good for the galaxy.

"I will?" He asked sounding awed. "Why is it taking so long then?" He asked impatiently.

Dooku laughed at Qui-Gon's innocence. The child was bright, but true understanding would come later. "That's the way it works Qui-Gon. It will take a few years, but you will know soon."

"Years! That's a long time!" Qui-Gon protested.

Dooku smiled indulgently. "It may seem like that now, but it will go by faster than you think."

Qui-Gon pouted and Dooku's eyes sparkled with mirth. "While you wait I will try to make things easier for you."

Qui-Gon looked mystified. "How are you going to do that?"

Dooku walked over to the troublemakers that had stolen the toy ship from the young one. He leveled a glare at them and jerked the ship out of the other boy's hands. "It is not nice to take things from the little ones. You are old enough to know that. The crèche Master will be hearing about this," he added to the seven-year-old green skinned boy named N'hirik, who looked both annoyed and upset at the same time.

Dooku headed back over to Qui-Gon and handed him the little toy ship.

Qui-Gon shrieked with delight as the ship returned to his hands. "What is your name?" he asked the older boy realizing he had not asked yet.

"Yan Dooku," Dooku replied with a smile.

"Dook," Qui-Gon repeated. "Dook."

Dooku grinned a little at the butchery of his name and the child's attempts to pronounce it properly. "Dooku," he corrected.

"Dooku," Qui-Gon finally said. He looked up at Dooku and smiled. "Thank you, Dook."