Anakin slides the key into the lock on their door and pushes his way into the house with Ahsoka in his arms. The young girl squirms in his grip and Cody smiles at the two. Ben sighs at the sight and Cody thinks that maybe he rolls his eyes.

"Thank you for helping my dad," Anakin says after putting Ahsoka down and letting her roam around the house. Ben sputters at Anakin's words. Cody just chuckles and nods his head.

"It's not a problem." Cody makes his way into the house, making sure not to knock Ben's knee against the doorframe.

"I'm sorry about him," Ben mumbles after Anakin is out of hearing range. Cody shakes his head and makes his way over to the couch. He deposits Ben on the cushions and turns to him.

"It really isn't a big deal. I don't mind it." The promise in his eyes seems to register with Ben as the man inclines his head and relaxes.

"Then, I thank you for the help. It was very kind of you." The tired-looking man tells Cody with such sincerity that Cody almost wants to cry. "Anakin!" Cody flinches at the sudden volume from the man. "Will you get my brace?" Cody shakes his head and yells as well.

"Don't get the brace!"

"K!" Ben looks at Cody with surprise.

"You're not supposed to walk around on that right now," Cody tells him, looking at him with a slight sternness in his eye. "Remember what Anakin said?" Ben laughs.

"He's not going to be able to do much without me. I need to make the kids lunch and then put Ahsoka down for a nap. After that I've got to-" Cody holds up a hand and Ben stops.

"That's why I'm here. I'll help Anakin and you can run interference. I know how kids can get with food." Ben hums at the idea.

"Anakin will try to persuade you to let him eat things he's not allowed." A finger rests on his bearded chin and Cody's gone.

How can this man get any more beautiful? Even his thinking face is perfect!

"Alright, you can help. I get to pay you back though." Ben demands but Cody shakes his head as he rises from his crouched position. He goes to the freezer and pulls out a bag of frozen corn. He wraps it in a dish towel (he searched through more drawers than he cares to count and the sound of Ben laughing didn't help either) and brings it back to the red-head.

"You don't need to pay me back," Cody says, lifting Ben's leg and straightening it out. Ben's pained gasps strike Cody's heart. He rests his foot on a pillow that sits on top of a coffee table (though he's made sure to take Ben's shoes off first), then rests the bag of corn on his aching knee. The relieved groan that slips through Ben's clenched teeth brings a smile to Cody's face. Cody brings his attention back to the man and watches as pained lines leave his face and his blue eyes blink open.

"Thank you." He whispers with a small smile. Cody smiles back and the moment of silence is broken as thumping steps race down a flight of stairs and Ben laughs at the sound.

His children come racing in and Anakin seems to be holding a container for contacts and a pair of glasses.

Cody's mouth dries at the thought.

Of course he wears glasses. Ben sends a thankful smile to his son and takes the contacts out before slipping his glasses on. He's adorable.

"Anakin, Cody's going to stay for a bit to help with lunch and afternoon naps, alright?" Anakin casts a calculating gaze at Cody and the man stays still as those eyes rake over him. He nods and huffs after seemingly coming to a decision.

"You can help." Ben huffs a quiet laugh that his son seems to miss.

"I'm honored I have your blessing in this matter." Anakin's face screws up and he looks at his father. Ben's eyes are closed but he's got a father's intuition.

"I'll explain later." Ben mumbles. He blinks his eyes open and looks his son dead in the eyes. "Cody's going to help with lunch. I will be listening to the entire time. That means you can't badger him about letting you eat pure sugar for lunch. Am I understood?" Anakin nods and swallows, though his eyes are bright.

"Absolutely!" Ben relaxes against the couch once more. Ahsoka climbs up with him and rests against him. She takes his trembling hand and holds it carefully. Cody watches with interest as she carefully puffs warm air against the scarred appendage.

"She thinks he's cold," Anakin whispers to Cody as the young boy drags him to the kitchen. "She's still really young so she doesn't understand what happened to dad. She knows his hand shakes but she thinks it's because he's cold." Anakin explains as he rifles through cupboards for items to make sandwiches with. Cody watches the child move about.

"You're a good kid. Did you know that?" Anakin's bright smile calms Cody's nerves.

"Dad tells me I'm a lot of help. He's always talking about how good I'm doing with everything that's happened. He says he's really proud of me." Cody ruffles Anakin's hair and chuckles at the child's attempt to pat the locks back into place.

"Your dad needs you."

"I know." The sandwiches come together quickly and Anakin only tries to get Cody to let him drink Soda once before Ben is quietly reprimanding Anakin from the other room. "He gets sad sometimes. He'll look at pictures of papa and his eyes get all watery. I think he really misses him."

"It's hard to lose someone you love," Cody tells him. "But he's got you." Anakin rushes off to grab Ahsoka. Cody sits in the kitchen for a while after they come back and eat. Ben hasn't said anything and there's another sandwich waiting just for him. Cody grabs the plate and makes his way back to the living room.

Ben's out like a light.

He's slouched against the couch and his glasses are skewed. His mouth is open just a little as air puffs out. He doesn't snore, but he does make snuffling sounds in his sleep.

Cody doesn't want to wake him. Instead, he places the plate on the coffee table and returns to the kids.

He's patient as they finish their food, then he hurries them up to their rooms so they sleep for a few hours.

He makes his way back down to find Ben still asleep. It takes some maneuvering, but Cody manages to get Ben lying flat on his back with his leg propped against the other arm of the couch. Cody takes the glasses off his face and places them next to the sandwich. It takes all his strength to resist brushing the red hair from Ben's forehead.

Instead, he sits on the chair not far from the couch and waits for the family to wake.