The knock that greets the Kenobi family at 3 in the afternoon surprises them all. They're not expecting visitors and Ben hopes he didn't forget anything important in terms of events.
"I'll get it!" Anakin rushes from the kitchen to answer the door and Ben stands in the kitchen, leaning against the counter as his 9-year-old bolts to the door. "Satine!"
Satine? Why is she here?
"Hello, Anakin." Her soft voice enters the home. "Where's your father?"
"In the kitchen." Anakin supplies the answer and Ben can imagine the boy tugging Satine to the kitchen. The blonde-haired woman enters Ben's line of sight and he gives her a soft smile.
"Hello, Satine." Ben greets and he tries not to shrink as her eyes trail over his body. Her eyes narrow and he sighs. "Yes?"
"You're not supposed to be standing."
Ben rolls his eyes and pushes off the counter.
"I'm allowed to stand," He reminds her. "I'm not allowed to run, jump, climb up a flight of stairs-"
"Walk through a park with potholes and tree branches lying around." Anakin helpfully adds and Satine's eyes widen. Ben can feel his face heat up at her stern gaze.
"You didn't."
"He did."
Ben's mouth drops open as he turns to his traitor son. Anakin just shrugs.
"I'm not about to lie to her." Anakin leans in and speaks in a conspiratorial whisper. "Besides, she gives us cookies."
Ben narrows his eyes playfully at his son. The false tenseness between the two quickly dissolves and Ben straightens up. His limp is slightly less pronounced when he wears his brace, but it does nothing for the pain and it does nothing to hide the obvious injury or pain from Satine.
"Sit down." She practically growls the words as she comes around and assists Ben to the couch. She fusses about for a while after he's seated. Tea is set down on the coffee table and his leg is lifted onto the ever-present pillow that resides on the same table. "What's this about a park?" She looks around the room, curiosity, and slight concern on her face. "Where's Ahsoka?"
Ben sighs and adjusts his position into something a little more comfortable. He takes off the brace and tosses it to the ground. Satine tsks at the action and Ben just sends her a tired smile.
"Upstairs." 2 pills are placed on the table next to the tea and Ben sends a grateful smile to Satine.
"Is she asleep?"
Ben shakes his head and replies with a slightly garbled "no," as he drinks down tea and painkillers.
"Do I need to go and get her?" She asks, her head titled slightly and Ben's fascinated with the way her large earrings hit her shoulder and cheek with the action.
"If you'd like. She's just reading, I believe."
Ahsoka was 3 years old, so "reading" wasn't really the word that Ben would use. She looked at the pictures, pointed to them, smiled at whoever was watching, said something about the picture, then repeated the whole process again.
"I'll go check on her." Satine pats Ben's leg and hops up the stairs, leaving Anakin and Ben alone for a few minutes.
"When are you gonna see Cody again?" The muffled question that escapes his child's mouth causes Ben to narrow his eyes once more.
"I sincerely hope you weren't talking with food in your mouth." Ben's mouth quirks into a small smile when he hears rushed chewing and swallowing from his son. Anakin rushes to the living room and plops down on the floor next to the couch. Ben raises an eyebrow at the boy. "Yes?"
"I asked when you were gonna see Cody again?"
Ben blinks at the innocent question posed by his child. It was a good question. Ben shakes his head and stops himself.
"Why would you ask that?" It's genuine curiosity and Ben wants to know the answer to that. "I'm not upset, I just want to know."
"You seemed happy with him." Anakin's blunt honesty takes Ben by surprise.
"I did?"
Anakin nods his head and bounces a little on the floor.
It's too soon. Ben's mind speaks the truth, but his heart-
His heart speaks differently and Ben doesn't like that one bit.
"Did what?" Satine's question causes Ben to jump. The action sends pain through his leg and the recovering man groans. "Oh, dear!" Satine exclaims, rushing over to Ben after putting Ahsoka down.
"'m alright." He mumbles and gives her a tight smile.
Satine huffs and sits on the floor. She doesn't touch his leg. She's a babysitter, not a Doctor or Nurse. She doesn't know how to help in these situations. She does know how to distract though. Ben needs a distraction.
"What were you two talking about?"
Ben's breathing through the pain and he blinks at her question. His mind goes back and he groans at the memory.
"Nothing." He mumbles as his knee spasms once more. His eyes slip closed as he continues to just breathe.
"Dad met someone at the park." Anakin's soft voice informs his babysitter.
"Oh?"
"He was really nice. He helped get us home and he stayed to help with lunch and naps!"
Ben opens his eyes to the sight of Anakin beaming at Satine. Satine's face has gained a look of curiosity.
"Who was he?" She doesn't ask the question to Ben. She knows she won't get an answer if she does. She asks the children.
"Cody!" Ahsoka's bubbly voice enters the conversation. Ben groans but it's mixed with a laugh as he hides his face between in his hands.
"Tell me more about this Cody."
"He's taller than Dad!"
"That's not hard to do dear." Satine reminds Anakin and Ben can hear the smug smile that's lining her face. He knows it's there. He just doesn't want to see it.
"Um," Anakin thinks about what he wants to say next, but it's his father that speaks up.
"His hair is black." Ben's eyes are open and he's got a soft smile on his face. His eyes are full of love and wonder. "He's got a scar that lines his left eye." He wants to know the story behind it. He wants to know Cody's story. "He's good with kids."
Satine smiles softly at him.
"That's all?" Her voice is soft and knowing.
Ben's face heats up and he does everything he can to not cover his face up again. His glasses slide down his nose as he ducks his head.
"You know it's alright to feel this way, right?"
"It's too soon."
Satine's hand rests on Ben's shin and she squeezes it softly.
"What would Quin want?"
The tears that flood Ben's eyes at the sound of his husband's name blur his vision. He sniffs and reaches up to rub his eyes under his glasses. He doesn't have an answer for her. He can't.
"I think," Satine continues with her soft words. "I think he would want you to be happy."
A sob escapes Ben's throat and he feels tiny hands grab his trembling left hand. He blinks at Ahsoka's hand, then smiles at the little girl.
"I think so too." The strength of Anakin's words shocks Ben. "I think Papa would want you to be happy."
"What about you?" Ben asks his oldest child. "Would you be happy?"
Anakin bites his lip as he thinks and Bens heart thunders in his chest.
The boy nods and says, "Yeah. I would be."
"It's settled then." Satine breaks the teary moment with her own sniffle and decision. "We'll need to set up a date."
"I don't have his number," Ben admits, watching as she rises from the floor.
She raises an almost regal eyebrow at him and pulls out her phone.
"It's as if you've forgotten who you're speaking to, dear Ben."
Ben scoffs and shakes his head.
"How could I forget? You know everyone."
"I'll find your Prince Charming," Satine tells him, already fiercely typing away at her phone. "You'll go on a date." She looks up from the screen and smiles at him. "You'll be happy."
Ben looks at Satine and knows instantly that what she says is a promise.
