(( A/N: ...Yeah. I'm not sure what it is with Obi and flowers. You'll have to ask him.))

7. Growth

"Oyah," Dod Nobrin intoned with his customary head-bob. "Yous could do that."

"Interesting." Qui-Gon rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he considered Dod's affirmation.

The two men were leaning against the fence that ran around the Nobrin's property, which sat between the town and the Jedi's farm.

Obi-Wan walked up to them, heading in the direction of home. He was pulling a small, laden wagon behind him, with Quacks perched on the very top. The duck quacked in greeting. Obi-Wan asked, "Do what?"

Qui-Gon shook his head. "Oh, nothing. Just a little project I wanted to start on. No need to concern yourself, Obi-Wan."

Obi-Wan looked sceptical. "Anyway, I've got everything I need here, Qui-Gon."

"Excellent, my friend!"

"Whatchu up to, little man?"Dod asked, eyeing Obi-Wan's wagon.

"Oh, Obi-Wan's wanting to grow a flower for the Summer Festival." Qui-Gon beamed. Obi-Wan had to fight the urge to roll his eyes. His Master had been on him since they had met about the youth's tendency to shy away from the Living Force, so when Obi-Wan had announced that he wanted to grow a flower for the festival Qui-Gon yipped for joy.

The thought of Qui-Gon's little dance of glee killed Obi-Wan's exasperation and made him smile. "Yes. I thought it would be fun to enter. I bought all the things I needed to get started."

"Well, make sure yous take real good care of dat flower, now, y'hear? Ain't no slackin' gonna win yous d'prize."

Qui-Gon nodded. "I'm sure Obi-Wan will take very good care of his flower. Why don't you go on back to the farm and get started, Obi-Wan, and I'll be along soon. I need to finish talking with Dod."

Obi-Wan nodded. "Okay. Remember that you're making dinner tonight, so don't be late!"

"QUACK!"

Qui-Gon laughed. "Go, my voracious friends. I'll be back in time to prepare you both a feast!"

With an exasperated smile for Qui-Gon and a shake of his head, Obi-Wan walked up the small hill that led to the farm. He grinned when he saw Atariel, gazing at the field of crops. The knee-high shoots of a few weeks ago had nearly matured for many of them, with the others not far behind. They had done a lot of work since they had arrived, and their animals had provided them with a tidy little income at the market.

"Hey, Atariel!"

"Hey Obi-Wan! Hiya Quacks!"

"QUACK!"

Atariel bounced as she met Obi-Wan along the path and fell into step with him. "Qui-Gon is doing a great job with those crops! I can tell the corn is going to be the best this town has ever seen!"

"Yeah, he's definitely taken a shine to farming."

"So have you,"Atariel said, grinning. "And if you take care of this flower half as well as you look after the animals, the rest of us won't stand a chance at this year's festival!"

Obi-Wan blushed. He guided the wagon to the unused shed near the crop-field and began unloading. Atariel helped while Quacks directed the process. They were nearly half-way done when a loud, "Oh, no. No, no, no. Out of the shed. Out, out, out!" came from behind them. All three turned to watch Qui-Gon as his long strides brought him to stand over the group, hands on his hips.

"I'm sorry, but I'm going to be needing that shed," he said with a shake of his head. "You need to get all this stuff out of here."

"Is everything okay, Qui-Gon?" Obi-Wan asked tentatively.

"Oh, everything's fine, Obi-Wan. I just need you out of the shed."

Atariel shared a look with Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan shrugged, then started to reload the wagon. "Any particular reason why, Mr. Jinn?" Atariel gave the older man a side-long glance.

"Oh, I'm afraid I can't tell you that." His voice was grave, but his eyes were full of mirth. "Top secret, and all."

"Oh," she said quietly. Atariel placed the last item on top of the stack and help Obi-Wan wheel it away. "Alright then. We'll just go around the side of the barn, then."

Quacks followed the youths, pausing only long enough to give the older man a piece of his mind. He was still quacking as he caught up with his friends. Obi-Wan chuckled, looking over at his Master. The man was staring at the small building thoughtfully and the young Apprentice could tell his Master was working out calculations.

He sighed. "I swear, I've known Qui-Gon for about half my life now, and he still throws me sometimes. I wonder if I'll ever understand him."

"Oh, you will." Atariel lined up the gardening tools on the ground, along the base of the barn. "Grown-ups are allowed to be strange every now and again. It's a privilege that comes with age."

"Yeah, I suppose. Now, let's get this flower started." He eyed the items from the wagon. He had four pots of different sizes, each one a little bigger than the last; he had a spade and small watering can. He had packs of soil and a pack of fertilizer. And, wrapped in a moist piece of tissue, he had the most precious thing of all: a single, tiny seed.

Atariel picked out the smallest pot as Obi-Wan opened a pack of soil. Quacks held onto the wrapped seed as he watched the human and the Agamarian filled the pot carefully, getting dirt everywhere. People! They never did anything neatly. Not like ducks. He opened his bill to say as much, and the seed fell to the ground.

"Quacks!" Atariel admonished gently. She picked up the tissue. Quacks bleated an apology before taking it from her. He watched as Obi-Wan used the spade to dig a hole.

"Alright, Quacks," he said. "Time for the seed."

The waterfowl gently placed the tissue on the ground, and with more finesse than once could imagine a duck as possessing, he unwrapped the seed and picked it up delicately. Quacks waddled to the pot, aimed, and let it fall into the hole.

Obi-Wan smiled and quickly covered it up. "Well done, Quacks."

Atariel went to fill the watering can, and then returned to give the seed a good shower. "Now, make sure you use the fertilizer sparingly, or you'll hurt the poor thing. And water it every other day, or so. You don't want the soil too dry, nor do you want it too wet..."

"Atariel, I think I can grow a simple flower." Obi-Wan gave her a playful poke.

She grinned at him. "Just making sure. Now, let's go see if we can't find out what Qui-Gon's up to."

Obi-Wan laughed. "Oh, believe me when I say we can't. There is no way in the galaxy that Qui-Gon will tell us what's going on."