Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars or anything that has to do with it, George Lucas does (Darn it! Oh well but if he ever wants to sell it...)
Summary: AU One year after Attack of the Clones Anakin and his family are on the run from the Empire. As they try to hide on Naboo, problems begin from within as Qui-Gon's health begins to fail.
Warnings: Nothing for this chapter.
Author's Note: This was my first attempt at fanfiction that I started in 1999 and I have rewritten it several times in order for it to tie into the movies a bit better. I just tried to fix some of the spelling, grammar and typing mistakes but bear with me. My CP and dyslexia makes it hard to catch everything.
Chapter 11: Food Processors, Jedi Masters and Yet another blowRuwee gave his son-in-law a worried look when he saw him carrying his daughter into the house, "Is she all right?" He asked.
"I'm fine papa." Padme told him as Anakin put her down. "Ani was just keeping me and the twins warm."
The older man smiled, "Ani do you know anything about Food Processors?"
"Like how to use them or how to fix them?"
"Your mother-in-law said that our food processor has been acting up for the last few days and was wondering if you could have a look at it."
"Sure." Anakin said with a smile as he followed his father-in-law into the kitchen. His smile turned into a grin when he passed the dining room saw Qui-Gon playing a board game with Ryoo and Pooja. "Father have you been trying to cook again?" The young man asked.
"Hello to you too." Jinn said not looking up. "No I have not tried cooking again and for your information I am a great cook."
The Padawan laughed as he went in to look at the offending machine, "Whatever you say father."
Four hours and a few curses in assorted languages later Anakin came out of the kitchen drying his wet hands with an old dishtowel, "Your Food Processor is fixed Mrs. Naberrie." He said sitting down on the couch with a tired sigh.
"Thank you so much Ani." Joble said with a smile as she stood. "I'll go tell Master Jinn, he offered to do the cooking this afternoon."
Skywalker's eyes went wide, "WHAT!"
"And you're helping Braid Boy." Qui-Gon said as he came in smiling.
The young man groaned, stood and followed his father into the kitchen. Well maybe I can keep him from burning lunch too badly. He thought. The truth was Anakin had never had any of Qui-Gon's cooking, it was always either his or Obi-Wan's job to do the cooking. Does Qui-Gon even know how to cook?
Lunch was an easygoing affair, as it had been since Anakin regained consciousness. Jinn turned out to be a better cook then everyone thought, even though all he made was a simple soup everyone (except Obi-Wan) had asked for seconds and Joble asked for the recipe (to that the Jedi shrugged and said that he made it out of his head). Qui-Gon was really starting to worry about his son; the young man was pale and hadn't been eating much of anything. Obi-Wan was even avoiding him and the others, most likely to keep anyone from knowing that he's ill. Jinn thought.
The older Jedi was unable to corner Kenobi before the young man volunteered to get the fire wood that they would need during the night, "We'll go with you Obi-Wan." Anakin said as he got his cloak and Darred got his winter coat. "You shouldn't be lifting anything heavy."
Obi-Wan nodded, "Thank you Ani, Darred." He said as the three walked towards the back door. "We'll be back in a few minutes."
As the three men trekked back towards the house, each carrying arm loads of wood. Anakin lagged behind his brother, asking his brother-in-law questions about fatherhood and how best to help Padme during labor, "Padme will most likely want to kill you towards the end but that's normal. Darred said, adjusting his load. "The best thing you can say at that point is 'Yes dear.'"
"That won't be too hard. I've been saying 'Yes dear' since I got married." Skywalker said smiling. A harsh sound in front of him made Anakin think Kenobi was laughing at him. "Well I have Obi-Wan." The young man jogged up to the other Jedi and gasped at the sight of his brother. "Obi-Wan! You're as pale as the snow on the ground."
Kenobi offered his little brother a weak smile, "I'll be fine Ani." He said before dropping the wood and falling to his knees coughing and gasping for breath.
"Obi-Wan!" Skywalker yelled dropping to the ground, "Oh Force, you're burning up." He said as he placed a hand on his older brother's forehead. "Darred go get Master Jinn!" Janren nodded and took off at top speed towards the house. "And tell Padme to boil some water but have a bowl of cold water ready too!" He shouted before turning back to Kenobi. "Obi-Wan we need to get you inside, can you walk?"
Kenobi nodded and tried to get to his feet but just couldn't find the strength, "I can't." He gasped before he started coughing again. "I'm too tired."
"It's okay Obi-Wan. Father's on his way." Anakin said seeing the tall Jedi running towards them.
Qui-Gon paled when he saw one of his twins huddled in Anakin's arms. "Obi-Wan, what happened?"
"He started coughing and when I got to him he collapsed." His youngest explained as Jinn wrapped his cloak around Kenobi's now shivering body. "He's too weak to walk any farther."
Jinn nodded and gathered Kenobi into his arms, amazed at how much weight he had lost. The Jedi Master flinched when his former Padawan cried out in pain when Qui-Gon had to move him, "Father please!" Obi-Wan pleaded in Nir'duinain. "It hurts!"
"I know Obi-Wan." Jinn replied in the same language, as he started for the house with Anakin and Darred following. "Shhh, we'll be home soon. Just rest now, I'm here."
Qui-Gon ignored the fact that he was shaking almost as bad as the young man in his arms as he carried the Jedi back to the house. He too was in no condition to be lifting anything heavy; he was just getting too weak. Jinn looked down into Obi-Wan's fever glazed eyes and took a deep breath to keep from crying. This was the second time in three weeks that one of his son's was on the brink of death and as much as he tried not to, he hated it. Obi-Wan, Christian and Anakin where his sons, his babies and meant more to him then life its self. You didn't need blood to love someone as your child, your father, your mother, your sister or your brother and he firmly believed that.
Jinn's thoughts wandered, as he held tight to the young man in his arms, protecting him from the wind and snow. The older man chuckled a little at the memory of Obi-Wan and Christian's first encounter with snow...
"Daddy, daddy. Come quick!" A terrified sounding voice called out, as a Jedi Master stepped out of the shower. Qui-Gon pulled on a pair of clean pants as he ran down the hall towards the living room.
"What is it Obi-Wan?" Jinn asked breathless, afraid that something had happened.
The young man knelt down to catch the two bundles of fast moving five year olds, "Obi said that the clouds are falling apart." Obi-Wan's twin brother Christian said looking towards the window with his sightless eyes.
Qui-Gon looked out the window a burst into laughter, "Oh my little Jedi." He said, hugging them both. "You have nothing to fear. The clouds aren't falling apart, it's snowing."
"Snowing?" Obi-Wan said, cocking his head.
Jinn nodded and started back to the bathroom, "Do you remember the story of the Snowmaiden?"
"Aye, Papa Jinn said that the Snowmaiden has to make the earth cold so that her sister the Springmaiden can create new life in the spring. It's like starting over, that's why so many animals go to sleep during the winter."
"Very good Christian." Qui-Gon told the boy as he sat them on the edge of the bathtub. "Now it's bath time you two, we have a busy day ahead all of us."
Both boys smiled and helped their father strip them of their pajamas as the tub filled with warm water. Both his boys loved the water, even if it was bath water. Just like their biological father, although Christian never liked being near or in water when he was alone. Which was very understandable but would have to be something to overcome if he ever wanted to become a Jedi.
The Kenobi twins were so much like Danonte and Arandia it had many times brought tears to Jinn's eyes when no one was looking. Even after five years he still missed them, "Thank you Danonte, Arandia for this wonderful gift you gave me." He said under his breath.
"Daddy?" Obi-Wan asked, drawing the Jedi back to the task at hand.
"Yes Obi?"
Christian looked at him with pure joy all over his face, "Can you take us out later, so Obi can see and I can feel the snow up close."
The Jedi Master laughed, "Of course."
Qui-Gon smiled softly before frowning when Obi-Wan started violently coughing. Jinn allowed Anakin to get the door for him as his son continued gasping for breath, "I'm really cold father." The young man said tightening his hold on the older man's tunic.
"I know Obi-Wan, we'll get you warmed up in no time." Jinn said carrying him into the room he was sharing with his brother.
"Is he all right?" Christian asked as the two came in.
"He's very sick Christian." Qui-Gon said as he sat Obi-Wan on the bed and started taking off the young man's wet clothes. "I think he has pneumonia."
"Oh Obi-Wan, why didn't you tell us?" Christian asked as he and Jinn covered him in thick warm blankets.
Later that night Anakin and Christian tried for the fifteenth time to get Qui-Gon to go to bed and rest, "Father, we're doing all we can. You need to go lie down, Christian and I can do this." Anakin said replacing the bowl of ice water by Obi-Wan's bedside.
"Father please, Ani's right." Christian said as he gently tugged on Jinn's tunic.
"I need to be here." The Jedi Master said as he continued to try and cool Obi-Wan down using a damp cold cloth. "I love you three so much." Qui-Gon let himself cry for the first time in months. "I don't know what I would do if I lost any of you."
"We know father." Anakin said softly, his tone laced with love and respect.
Jinn sighed, and made up his mind, "Come get me if he wakes up." He said, allowing Christian to help him to his feet.
Both of the young men smiled nodded before he left the room.
