The following morning Zett awoke to find himself laying in a bed in the healers' quarters, he couldn't understand what was wrong with him. Why was he here? The last thing he remembered was the duel with Mara Jade.

"Good morning, Zett. How are you feeling?" Barriss asked as she entered the room with his breakfast.

"Master Offee? What happened why am I here?" Zett sat up and a wave of dizziness overcame him suddenly as he leaned back into the pillows.

"Shh, relax. Eat something."

Zett was ravenous and ate everything on the tray. As he leaned back a remnant of his memory of what had happened came back.

"Master Offee! Is Mara alright! Did I hurt her?"

"No, she's just fine. She has very quick reflexes."

Overcome with despair, Zett put his face into his hands and sobbed uncontrollably.

Barriss sat beside him and held him as he continued to cry.

"Shh, its okay, Zett."

"How can it be? I almost killed her!"

"But you didn't."

"I hated her gloating and teasing me, it made me angry, particularly when she stung me with her lightsaber on my butt."

"Mara was only trying to make it a fun contest; she meant no harm."

Zett knew this to be true, but why did it anger him to such an extent that he would want to harm a fellow Jedi? He had been told by most of his peers that he was too serious, even his master had stated the same. Zett was driven for perfection and every mistake he made it made him feel inadequate. When he wasn't in classes or sparring he was in the library studying, he didn't form relationships with people or other Jedi.

Anakin was concerned about Zett and after his mock duel with Obi-Wan and Yoda; he decided to check on him. Mara followed Anakin towards the healers' ward, trying to hide herself in the Force. She was actually pretty good at it, but she rarely could get away with it with her master. "Come out Mara, I know you want to see how Zett is doing as well."

Mara sighed heavily and pulled the hood from her head. "I don't think I'll ever get as good as you, master."

"With time and training you will, trust me." Anakin smiled.

Zett eyes widened as Anakin entered the room; this was the last person he expected to see, he thought for sure that Yoda would be in there to lecture him.

"Surprised?" Anakin asked, gauging the young padawan's feelings.

"Yes, master." Zett whispered.

Anakin pulled up a chair next to Zett's bedside. He was silent as he felt the overwhelming grief and sadness pour over Zett he watched as the tears started to pour out of the padawan's blue eyes. Anakin sent reassurance over to the young boy and even reiterated to him that he understood more than he could ever know.

"How do you mean, Master?"

"Fear, anger, aggression the dark side are they, Zett. The more powerful one becomes the more the dark side taunts you and if you allow it, to overwhelm you so you become a slave to it. Trust me on this. As matter of fact this week Obi-Wan and I are going to be assigned to the crèche, would you like to work with the younglings?"

"No, I'm not good enough."

"That's not true, Zett. Do you know the difference between perfection and excellence?"

"No master."

"To be perfect is a goal that is impossible to attain, because it doesn't allow for any mistakes. To pursue excellence however, means that mistakes are allowed and you can learn from them. Do you see this?" Anakin held up his right hand with the black gauntlet glove.

"Yes, master."

"This was taken from me because I thought I was a perfect swordsman and that I felt that I could defeat anyone in particular a Sith Lord. I was wrong, I was arrogant, and now I have this hand to remind me that I should only pursue excellence in my training. There is only one Jedi that I have yet to beat in one on one sparring and do you know who that is?"

"Master Yoda."

"Yes, and do you know why?"

Zett replied, "Because he has been a Jedi for over 800 years, he is the best swordsman in our order."

Anakin agreed saying, "Strange thing is that he may know this, but he doesn't allow himself to become arrogant. Obi-Wan and I tried to double team him and he managed to best us in less than 15 seconds. That is why he and I have to stay with the crèche for an entire week."

Zett seemed amused by this and agreed to stay with Anakin and Obi-Wan in the crèche during the day, if his master approved it of course.

Meanwhile on Naboo, Han Solo was going through some growing pains of his own, he missed Anakin desperately. But he also knew that Anakin expected him to complete his work on the speeders before he returned. Padmé also missed Anakin and Mara Jade. Han Solo was underneath a speeder cursing when Padmé came out into the garage with a plate of chocolate chip cookies and a glass of milk.

"Han, are you about finished?"

"Not quite, milady, Master Anakin will choke me if I don't finish this."

"You've been working far too hard, Han. You need time to rest."

"Milady, please forgive me for being blunt, but do you know what its like to work for a tyrant?"

"No. You are pushing yourself too hard, tomorrow we are going to my parents' house for dinner and you are coming with me."

"No, milady I will not." Han replied rather curtly.

"Do you really want me to make it an order, Han?"

"You can, but I do not obey your orders, milady."

Padmé walked over to him and pulled him out from underneath the speeder. Han looked at her she had her hands on her hips and was glaring at him.

"You don't frighten me, milady. Your husband on the other hand is a completely different story. I swear he is part sith or something."

"Where do you think he learned it from?" Padmé replied.

Han Solo started to laugh and so did Padmé, "Milady, I don't think he learned it from you."

"I suppose you're right."

The week with the younglings was more difficult than anytime Anakin spent on an off-world colony fighting in the Clone Wars. The first day they questioned him about his hand and then they asked nosy questions. Obi-Wan was truly amazed at the level of patience his old padawan had, apparently having children was good for him. Working with the younglings though in a lot of ways was very therapeutic and fun. Luke, Mara, and Zett worked with the four and five year olds. Obi-Wan loved the infants and Anakin enjoyed the older children who hadn't been chosen to have a master yet. One afternoon Anakin took the older younglings to the fountain rooms to explore and play games. Obi-Wan stayed behind with the infants and younger padawans. "Mara?" the cute nine-year-old asked.

"Yes?"

"What's it like to have Master Skywalker as your master?"

"He's normally pretty patient and very kind; but he can be incredibly strict too."

The question answered the little girl ran off to play with Luke. The younglings for some strange reason adored Luke, he didn't even care that they pulled on his padawan braid.

Zett sat with Mara it was obvious that the boy wanted to say something, but was scared too.

"Its okay, Zett; I've already forgiven you." Mara whispered.

Zett perked up and looked into her dark green eyes and asked, "You have? I could have seriously hurt you."

"Yes, but you didn't. You forget who my master is; he has taught me how to move quickly, even with that heavy hand of his." Mara laughed.

Zett had a questioning look on his face, "I don't understand, Mara."
"Pray you never have too, Zett."

"So are we still friends?"

"Yes, of course. I wouldn't have it any other way."

"My master Cin Drallig said it would be a good idea for us to spar again, with both of our masters supervising."

"Sounds like fun." Mara replied excitedly.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I love to spar especially with someone my own age. Master Skywalker is too damn good; he has me flat out on my back in less than fifteen seconds."

Zett laughed at that. "Yes, so does Master Drallig."

The duel was setup in the training courtyard, two benches were placed opposite of each other and both Mara and Zett were given training sabers.

"It doesn't seem so long ago that I was training you, Anakin."

"Yes, sometimes just being around you makes me feel like a padawan again."

Cin smiled at that, "I remember a time where it seemed you nothing but elbows and knees; it was funny to watch you grow out of that awkward stage."

"It didn't happen fast enough; let me tell you, I often thought that even Jar Jar had more grace than I did."

Cin laughed he had heard about the clumsy Gungan.

Zett and Mara bowed before each other, Anakin and Cin took their seats to observe. They said very little. Mara was faster than Zett, though he was a bit more powerful. The good thing was that both of them were controlling their emotions, no anger or hatred was felt or seen through the Force, just merely competitiveness. Soon it ended with Mara being the victor. Zett hung his head in defeat.

"Come on Zett winning isn't everything, you made me fight hard. Your technique is improving."

"She's right, Zett. You did an excellent job out there."

Anakin sent a telepathic message to Cin, "Let me take them to Dex's for dinner."

"I don't mind."

"Come on you two, Dex's Diner, my treat." Anakin offered.

Mara put her arm around Zett and said, "Come on."

Zett smiled and bowed to his master and they skipped out of the room.

"Maybe I'll show you my disappearing act one day." Mara whispered.

"Really?" Zett excitedly replied.

"Shh, you'll get me into trouble." Mara whispered.

Mara concentrated and proceeded to wrap herself with Force and when Zett touched her he also disappeared. That is until Master Skywalker turned around and lifted them both off the ground and flipped them around in circles, rapidly

"Oh, stop. I'm going to be sick." Mara stated as she felt herself lose the power of the Force to hide.

"Do not try that again, Mara." Anakin warned but she saw a twinkle in his eyes, he was amused.

"Yes, master." Mara and Zett went on talking until the reached the diner. Dex came from the kitchen to embrace Anakin. "Haven't seen you in forever, my old friend and little Mara, you grow more beautiful every day."

"Thanks Dex. This is padawan-learner Zett Jukassa." Anakin introduced.

"Good to meet ya. Take a seat."

The three of them picked out a booth and had a seat. Zett and Mara listened intently between bites to of their food to Anakin tell them stories of his training and talked about the other Masters in particular the pranks he used to play on Mace Windu.

"Master, why did you pick on that man so much?" Mara asked.

"He was too damn serious! Plus he was an easy target." Anakin laughed.

"Did you ever pull a prank on Master Yoda?" Zett asked.

"Only once; never again." Anakin winced at the memory.

"What happened?"

"Oh, no you will never get it out of me." Anakin laughed.

Zett and Mara smiled at each other and decided that they would have to go directly to the source.

After eating dinner, Anakin took them back to the temple.

"Good night, padawan Zett."

"Thanks Master Skywalker, for everything." Zett briefly hugged him and ran to his quarters.

Mara sighed she saw Luke and Obi-Wan covered in paint. She burst out laughing.

"Younglings?"

"Yes. Luke is in serious trouble." Obi-Wan chuckled.

"What did you do, Luke?"

"They started it master."

"Yes, but did you have to finish it? Now you are going to have to explain all of this to the council and in particular Master Yoda."

"Not Yoda! I'll have to eat his cooking for a week!"

The horror on Luke's face was priceless, Anakin doubled over in laughter.

"Son, what did you do?"

Luke was afraid to say anything so he just sheepishly smiled and shrugged his shoulders.

"Tell him Luke."

"We were doing paper-mache in the art class; I did a bust of Yoda. It actually came out quite good. But it went down hill from there."

"Go on." Anakin was curious now.

"Well after I finished painting it and it dried I took it to the archive."

"Why?"

"I wanted to compare to the bronze bust that was sitting on the pedestal. It looked very close. So I switched it out and I wasn't aware that the other younglings had followed me. They started to lift the busts from the pedestals and I begged them to put them back and they laughed and started painting the other busts including Yoda's."

"Willful destruction of Jedi property is not something that the council will take lightly son."

"Yea, I know. But the paint isn't permanent, but Obi-Wan wouldn't let me clean them up before our meeting tomorrow."

"Yikes, well son, the only thing I can tell you is that to be completely honest and maybe they will go light on you, but probably not."

Luke was terrified that they would throw him out of the Order. Anakin and Obi-Wan sensed this, but if Anakin's antics hadn't gotten him thrown out then he wasn't sure what would.

"Good night son, I'll see you in the morning."

"Sometimes it just doesn't pay to have you father on the council." Luke muttered, knowing that his father would probably be the strictest member on the council, beside Masters Windu and Yoda.

For Luke morning came too soon, he definitely wasn't looking forward to the early morning meeting. Most of the council was relieved the paint was water-based; however, it would take plenty of scrubbing to get all the paint removed from the deep crevices. Most of the council was already used to the infamous Skywalker pranks and even though they didn't condone them, they couldn't really be incensed about them either. Luke saw his father with what Han had dubbed his "Sith" stare. Luke felt as small as a particle of dust on his father's black boot. "You are in serious trouble my boy, but you aren't going to be kicked out of the Order okay?" Anakin sent telepathically.

Luke felt a little better but not much. "Padawan Skywalker, how feel you?"

"Worried, Master Yoda; I also feel badly about what happened to the bronze statues. I will clean them up, Master."

"Yes, Padawan Skywalker you will." Mace Windu crossly replied.

"I'm sorry Masters. I didn't know that the younglings had followed me."

"What other lessons should be taught to young Skywalker, so that he will learn not to do this again?" Kit Fitso questioned.

"Hmm, maybe spending every afternoon with the janitorial staff for a week would help him." Anakin suggested.

"Too strict you are Master Skywalker. No, he will work with me in my garden." Yoda replied.

"All those in favor of Yoda's proposal?"

"Aye." 12 members replied.

"Father?" Luke asked.

"Yes?"

"Why would you suggest such a thing?"

"They made me do it! It actually wasn't so bad."

"Hmm, some kind of father you are! Jeez, Mara's right you are too strict."

Anakin held Luke in place while he carried him out of the council chamber.

"I'm the best father you will ever have, Luke Skywalker."

"It's not like I had a choice in the matter."

"You're right, you didn't." Anakin hoisted his son over his shoulder and carried him to an empty chamber where all the busts were sitting side by side waiting to be cleaned and polished.

"Here you are my boy."

"Thanks." Luke sighed heavily as he was handed an apron, toothbrush, and cleaner.

Mara knew that she and Anakin would be leaving for home soon, so she went to find Luke to say goodbye.

Luke was scrubbing the lines in Master Yoda's bust and was sighing heavily.

"Hey, how's it going?"

"Fine." Luke stated.

"Master Skywalker and I will probably be leaving soon, I wanted to say goodbye."

"Yea, I've got get cleaned up anyway." Luke wiped his hands and removed the apron and followed Mara to the apartments.

Luke took a hot shower and came out of the refresher, he quickly changed to follow Obi-Wan out of the apartment. Anakin patted his son's head and hugged him before boarding.

"See you soon, son. I love you." Anakin sending the last part telepathically along with a strong feeling of warmth across their bond. Mara hugged Luke too, "Don't do anything that I wouldn't do." Mara laughed.

Leia and her Master had already said their goodbyes earlier in the week; they were off for another negotiation.

Author's Note:Sorry it took so long to update, too many family problems and I've been too stressed out to write. Thank you my dear steady readers, I appreciate all your reviews. Have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving.—Darth Gladiator45