Chapter Three: A Dinner and a Debate


"Okay okay okay." Quinlan took a sip of his beer before setting it back down. His weight creaked under the arm of the sofa he was straddling, though he didn't notice. "But think about it. That linguistic pattern hasn't existed for hundreds of years. He cannot have possibly not evolved with the times."

"Master Yaddle spoke like that," Master Tholme reminded him, his arm around T'ra Saa. She nodded in agreement.

"But she would slip into different linguistics patterns," Kit Fisto reminded them, then leaned his head back when Aayla groaned. His tentacles swayed, as he was leaning his head on her legs. "What?"

Adi Gallia snickered, accepting the glass of wine Anakin passed her. "She doesn't like reminders how old you are."

"Well you do have an old fart for a partner Aayla," Quinlan snickered before she reached over and yanked on one of his dreads. "Ow! Be nice to your master!"

Anakin had to laugh, glancing at his wife seated beside him. She looked a little paler than usual, but amused. Nights like this - with everyone he was close to at the Temple - was always wonderful.

The doorbell rang, and he hopped upwards, moving through the mass of limbs and to the door. C-3PO had tottered to the door before he could get to it, and in came Bant and Garen dragging a flustered Obi-Wan Kenobi.

"We have our tribute!" Garen yelled, laughing at the exasperated look he was sent.

"Bant! Obi-Wan!" Adi rose, swatting her friends' legs away and moving forward. She gathered each in her arms respectively, then held Obi-Wan at arms length.

"Luminara and Depa couldn't come - they're both being deployed with their padawans," Bant was saying.

"Ahsoka's doing her duties as crèche observer," Anakin snickered.

Adi Gallia scrutinized him for a long while before smiling softly, voice low despite the loudness behind them. "I'm so sorry you've gone through so much pain Obi-Wan - you and your Duchess. I hope you can forgive my lack of involvement in your life these past two years... it's been difficult, since Siri died."

Obi-Wan swallowed hard. He'd put up with too many well-wishers since he's opened his damn mouth yesterday. A large part of him thought the pain was over - but it wasn't exactly over, even if they had been trying so hard to move on and well, too try.

"All apologiszes accepted Adi - though I haven't really noticed, to be honest. I've been kind of distracted - "

Quinlan heard the last bit and snorted. "I'm still shocked that she took you back - you cheated on her so many times."

"Didn't he cheat on her with you?" Bant asked, looking between them.

Adi's sympathetic stare became hard. She dropped her hands and stepped back, raising her eyebrows. "Obi-Wan! I taught you better than that!"

"Tholme's cheated on me." T'ra offered, gaining a scandalized look from Quinlan.

"Master!"

"Don't start!"

Obi-Wan scratched his neck, shrugging at one of the many whom had helped raise him. With a shake of her head she left him back to the couch, where an argument was beginning about the ethics of cheating during a relationship. He shook his head when a beer was offered, watching everyone. It was very, very strange to think that such a large group knew about - well - knew each other so intimately.

That these people Anakin in particular was comfortable around - clearly, as they were run his home and his wife was tucked against his side.

It made him a little sad as well, that Anakin hadn't trusted him enough to confide in the biggest secret of his life for such a long time.

But now things are different, he pondered while watching everyone.

There was a second knock at the door. The room silenced, glancing towards it.

Anakin thought through the people that usually came to these things - Mace had only come a few times, and Depa and Luminara were being deployed, and the padawans of everyone never showed up - then remembered the conversation he had had on the bus a few weeks back. He stood carefully, knowing everyone was staring between him and the door curiously.

"Hey," Anakin muttered when he opened the door. "You're a little late."

Ferus Olin scowled at him. "When you said the 500 Republica I thought you were joking." He scanned the crowd on the couch and blinked. "You weren't kidding when you said everyone was here."

Anakin snorted, sweeping aside. "Dinner will be in a few - and don't worry, I didn't let anyone but myself and Quinlan near the food."


"Bo? You okay?"

Bo-Katan glanced at her aunt, whom was holding the latest of the Kryze clan in her arms. She shrugged, pressing her lips together while being joined. "I'm okay Aunt Maria."

Maria raised her eyebrows, carefully sitting down on the pallet and shifting her son so he was sitting on her lap. He cooed, arms stretched out for Bo-Katan.

"He looks like Jared," Bo-Katan murmured, thinking of her youngest brother. They both had brown eyes and blonde hair, with a rakish grin.

"And we all said that Jared looked like Richard." Maria relinquished her hold on her son, letting her niece take him. She smiled, watching the woman Death Watch feared hold him close. "Hence why Leo and I named him Richard."

"Vizsla loved that." Bo-Katan shifted Richard to the side, spreading out her palm and smiling when her cousin slapped it and giggled. "He already suspects we're working for Sati'ika - or we're sympathizers, at the very least."

Maria sighed, leaning back on her palms. She glanced around at the small bit of the tent - her niece had always refused to have a tent of her own among command, preferring to stay with her family in their large but cramped tent. The 'bedrooms' were really just small areas separated by curtains.

"You gonna tell me why you're hiding here instead of out drilling or in a meeting?"

Bo-Katan sighed, worrying her lip a moment before looking at her aunt. "I guess... it's been ten years we've been doing this Auntie."

"Well...you were nineteen when you left with us." Maria tried to smile, then laughed when her son wiggled onto the pallet and plopped onto his back. She leaned over, tickling his stomach. The contrast between their skins was stark - Richard bore the Kryze complexion, while Maria had her dark Vlaz skin and eyes. "You, Lee, and Lin - all of you came because you wanted to help Sati'ika. You didn't realize how hard this was gonna be."

Outside, wind screeched. Another storm was coming in. People were shouting, trying to bolt things down and make sure they had enough food before the storm hit in earnest.

Bo-Katan glanced away, looking at her armor piled in the corner. The colors of her clan shone, even with the light of her dim lantern. She hated how the House Vizsla symbol was above her own clan mark. "Everyone back home hates me - they think I really want to kill everyone that supports Sati'ika."

"I do not agree with your sister's ideals fully…" Maria laid her hand on her son's stomach when his eyes began to droop, then looked her in the eye. "But she's doing everything she can. She's trying...maybe not the way we want her too, but I do honestly believe we're helping her by giving her information on Death Watch."

"What if we're found out? What about Richard?" Bo-Katan gestured to her cousin. "Everyone in this camp will kill us if they find out - "

"Don't be so certain about that," Maria warned. She tucked her brown hair behind an ear, tan face flickering in amusement. "You'd be surprised how few are actually willing to keep going. We're not the only clan that wants to head home."

"Kalelava is pacifism to the extreme - Concordia is tradition to the extreme." Bo-Katan stood, pacing around her small space before dragging her hair through her short auburn hair and heaving a sigh. "I wish Satine was able to work harder at making everything more moderate throughout the system. It would make everything so much easier."

Maria pressed her lips together, remembering the coded message she had received from the Duchess. It was heartbreaking, that she couldn't be with her niece during her time of grief and struggle. Glancing at her son, she rose to face Bo-Katan and grasped her elbows. "Sati'ika is trying as hard as she can - we Mandalorians don't like change. She's just one woman - no Manda'lor to protect the traditions of the people. That's part of the reason Death Watch became a faction after the civil war ended."

"She refuses to marry because of that damn Jedi - we warred against them for years and then - "

"Perhaps - but the Manda'lor and the Duchy don't need to be married. They can just work together." Maria squeezed her niece's elbows before grinning. "Besides - that Jedi was smart enough to realize that Mandalorians are superior to the Jedi - he left them for us, after all."


"Taking a breather?"

Padmé glanced upwards, smiling while she shrugged. She had a wrap around her shoulders, with a cup of tea in her hands and leaning against the counter. "That's one word for it."

Obi-Wan laughed, sitting down in the kitchen on one of the chairs. He could still hear his friends laughing and joking around, trying to play some board game but too giggly to do much. "Drunk Jedi are something else entirely."

"Oh I'm aware - Anakin's a lightweight."

"He's my padawan somehow," he muttered ruefully.

Padmé gave a small laugh, setting her own tea down before busying herself pouring a second. She pushed it towards him before settling across from him. Steam was still coming from hers, and she breathed in it before taking a sip.

He took a sip before pulling a face. "Butter tea?"

"Anakin bought me a few boxes - I've been trying to use it up."

"Just dump it in the sink."

"Oh - I'm not entirely against that."

"And here I thought the Senator of Naboo was all roses and kindness."

Padmé raised her eyebrows. "I did rule Naboo - it's politics are, hmm, quiet."

Obi-Wan snorted, shaking his head and pushing the tea aside. He heard Quinlan shout something in aggravation, followed by the delighted laughter of Adi. "I would drink but…"

"Enjoy the life of being designated driver." Padmé smiled at his roll of the eyes, sipping at her tea before giving up and setting it aside. "I usually like whatever Anakin buys from the market - but I have to put my foot down on that. Goddess."

A silence descended upon them. He realized that he rarely spoke to Padmé one on one - he could probably count how many times he did. Even on Naboo a few weeks ago he hadn't spoken to her much...too concerned about Satine.

There was a part of him that was debating asking how Anakin was doing, and then -

A chime echoed in the kitchen. He frowned, glancing at the clock.

Padmé rose stiffly, moving to the counter and pulling out a pill organizer. She dumped the necessary pills in her hand and took the water bottle near it, swallowing the large amount of pills in two gulps.

"A bad liver sounds pretty good now hmm?" Padmé asked when she caught him staring.

"Uhhh - it's getting better. Satine's pretty adamant about that."

"Because you're trying?"

Obi-Wan screwed his eyebrows together. He hadn't told anyone that. It took a moment, and then he remembered that the two were good friends. A soft smile came across his face and he nodded. "I don't know what we're thinking, trying to have a baby during a war."

"Tradegy tends to make us realize what we truly want in life," Padmé murmured while she slid back into her seat. A wince crossed her face briefly, though she waved away his concern. "By that logic - imagine the population boom that will happen after the war."

He gave a snort, scratching at his chin. "It's odd...Satine, when we first got back together - was so adamant to not discuss the future, to ponder hypotheticals. She...we were both so afraid when she fell pregnant…" Pressing his lips together, he pondered what Padmé had said. "... you're right. Tragedy makes us realize what we want in life."

Padmé nodded, giving a small sigh and tugging her shawl closer. "We as women spend so much time arguing that we are not simply mothers and wives, but sometimes those are some of our greatest desires. I wished society understand that."

"Yeah... Padmé?"

Footsteps sounded behind him. Turning, they found Anakin looking into the kitchen, his face flushed with wine and mirth. He looked between them, then held up his hands in a placating gesture.

"You okay Mé?"

Padmé nodded, giving a smile when her husband came forward and kissed her cheek. "Go back to your friends - we're gossiping."

"Without me?" Anakin put a hand on his chest in mock hurt, then laughed when she reached out and shoved his side.

"Go."

"Yes Angel." Anakin squeezed Obi-Wan's shoulder while he passed, then went back into the living room.

Padmé looked after him fondly, then glanced back at her longtime friend. A soft smile crossed her face. "You want to ask what exactly is wrong with me don't you?"

Obi-Wan ducked his head, then nodded.

"... don't be offended." Padmé pulled a rue smile at the confused look she recieved. She shrugged, reaching over and clasping his hand briefly. "I explain myself enough to others Obi-Wan. Just know my diseases are complex, and sometimes they cause me to be bed-ridden. In the end, I ask only for your friendship - and to keep caring for Anakin and Satine."

Obi-Wan blinked, not knowing what to say. He pulled the velvet box from his pocket to avoid such a depressing conversation and flicked it open, pushing it across the table. The band was simple - and cost a pretty penny. Silver with lilies carved into it, with small opals circling the top and bottom of the band. "Do you think she'll like it?"

Padmé laughed, rubbing at her neck before pulling the ring forward and examining it. She gave a nod of approval after a moment. "She'll love it."


Author's note: Hellooooo. Enjoy some Jedi being goofy with some Bo-Katan pondering her role in life.

Below I'm gonna put a few lineage lines and how everyone knows each other, as I'm not sure everyone knows who some of the characters are. If you have any questions - look on Wookie-pedia at any of these characters pages, grab some comic books, or just message me :)

Yoda - Dooku - Qui-Gon Jinn (deceased) - Feemor (deceased?), Xanatos (deceased), Obi-Wan Kenobi - Anakin Skywalker - Ahsoka Tano

Tholme - Quinlan Vos - Aayla Secura

T'ra Saa - Mace Windu - Depa - Caleb Dume/Kanan Jarrus

Ki-Adi-Mundi - Kit Fisto - Bant Eerin (she has an unnamed Padawan) and Nahdar Vebb (deceased)

-note: Bant's first master is Tahl, whom was Qui-Gon's love interest and who died before the events of TPM

Adi Gallia - Siri Tachi (deceased) - Ferus Olin

Luminara Unduli - Barriss Offee

Clee Rhara (unmentioned) - Garen Muln - unnamed padawan


T'ra is a Neti Jedi. She is several centuries old. Partner: Tholme

Qui-Gon, Tholme, Mace, Adi, and Ki-Adi-Mundi are roughly the same age. (As are Tahl and Clee.)

Kit Fisto is somewhat younger than above group. Love interest (partner): Aayla Secura

Obi-Wan, Bant, Garen, Quinlan, and Siri (deceased) were best friends growing up and are all about the same age.

Luminara and Depa were very close to the above group, in age as well as in friendship.

Aayla is a few years older than Anakin, a sort of mentor and good friend.

Anakin, Ferus, and Nahdar grew up together.

Barriss Offee is between Anakin and Ahsoka's ages

Ahsoka and Caleb/Kanan grew up together but weren't close

ii Digestive Reader ii