A/N: This story is no longer being updated on this site. You can find it on Archive of Our Own. My account there is peachybitters.

I've got to get off this planet, Obi-Wan thought, walking into the familiar stillness of the Jedi Temple. He quickly took a sharp right turn to avoid running into a small group of Jedi coming his way. They might not have stopped him, or they might not have given him more than a passing nod, but you never knew.

After the day he'd had, all he wanted to do was get back to his own quarters and not have to think about anything for a blessed few minutes. He'd just returned from the Senate and his day had been nothing but listening to accusations of treaty violations, accusations of bribery, accusations of inciting violence. And then there were the politicians practically hanging on his robe and begging him to visit one system or another and sort out all their problems- as soon as possible, please- as if solving interplanetary crises were as simple as waving his hands. All of this was nothing particularly out of the ordinary, but things had just begun to get under his skin more and more lately. Even a Jedi could get worn down, eventually.

"Obi-Wan."

He turned, coming face to face with Mace Windu, who had seemingly materialized out of nowhere. He had a habit of doing that. Come to think of it, most of the senior Council members did.

"Master Windu."

"How was the Senate? Do you think there's any weight to Senator Neeleet's claims?"

"It's probable. I'd recommend sending a task force to be sure."

Mace nodded, walking with Obi-Wan toward the lifts. "Can I put you in charge of getting that together?"

Obi-Wan hesitated. One did not generally turn down Master Windu when he asked a favor, and he wasn't accustomed to doing so. Just the same, he couldn't make himself sound cheerful about it. "I won't say no if you insist…"

"What's on your mind?" Windu asked, always a man to get to the point.

"Well, to be frank, I have been thinking about asking the Council for a sabbatical. I'm not sure how long it's been since I've had one. At least five years. Before I took on Anakin."

To his surprise, Mace smiled widely - a rare sight indeed. "Now that's something I thought I'd never hear. Master Obi-Wan asking for a vacation. Well, if anyone's earned one, it's you."

"Not a vacation exactly, Master. Well, I do hope to relax. But I need some time to reconnect with my padawan. He's been a little unruly lately, to be honest, and I'm concerned for him."

Mace looked grave. "I've heard he's made a habit of taking our speeders out for some late night joyrides."

"You've found out about that, have you?" Obi-Wan sighed.

Mace nodded. "He does need more than the Temple can offer him now, but I fear he's not yet mature enough for many official duties. Yes, you should go. You have the Council's blessing."

Obi-Wan bowed his head slightly. "Thank you, Master Windu. I will send you my notes on -"

The turbolift doors opened then and Anakin Skywalker flew out, nearly tripping but catching himself and continuing at a frantic pace.

"Hi, Master. Gotta go, sorry," he said as he passed, sprinting down the corridor.

Mace Windu pursed his lips in mild disapproval and gave Obi-Wan a hard look. "Take that boy somewhere and keep him busy for a while. Very busy."

"I think I know just the place," Obi-Wan said.

3 days later

Obi-Wan entered his quarters to find Anakin already there, sitting in the middle of the room with what looked to be a half empty box of cookies on his lap.

"Hello, Master." Anakin followed Obi-Wan's gaze to the box. "Oh...these were by the door when I came in. I thought you wouldn't mind if I had them. They're namana cookies from the Bakuran senator. You hate namana, right?"

"That's fine, you can have them," Obi-Wan said, taking a seat across from Anakin and looking distastefully at the box. The boy was right; namana was among one of his least favorite foods. He found it sickly sweet, and the way it coated one's mouth was disgusting. The Bakurans were fiercely proud of their number one export, considered a fine delicacy - even slightly addictive- by many. Obi-Wan had once, on a long ago mission to Bakura with his master, been made to endure an obscene amount of namana in all its accursed forms - candy, cakes, and drinks. Raw and cooked. He'd nearly been sick a few times. As far as he'd been concerned, the namana had been a worse part of that mission than the insurgents trying to blast him.

Anakin beamed at him. "ThanksI I was starving! In sparring class we-"

Obi-Wan cut him off before his padawan could launch into a play-by-play account of his lightsaber class. "Later Anakin. I called you in here because we're going to be going offworld tomorrow -"

"A mission!" Anakin exclaimed.

"Please do not spray crumbs at me," Obi-Wan sighed. The smell of namana was already turning his stomach slightly.

Anakin swallowed and wiped his mouth with his sleeve. "Sorry. A mission," he said more quietly.

"Not exactly. But I thought a change of scenery and routine would do us both some good. You're familiar with the AgriCorps aren't you?"

Anakin frowned. "AgriCorps? Where they send the kids no one wants?"

"That is an uncharitable interpretation," Obi-Wan admonished. "Not every youngling trained in the Temple is meant for knighthood. But they are still members of the Order, and valuable ones."

"Okay, well still..they get sent to be farmers," Anakin said, nodding.

"Yes, anyway," Obi-Wan continued. "There's an AgriCorps training and resource facility on Helia. It's also used by Jedi as a retreat center. Qui-Gon and I made several visits when I was a padawan. It's a beautiful place."

Anakin looked less than enthused. "How long are we going to stay for?"

"Two months or so," Obi-Wan said. "Summer just began there, so we'll stay through the end of the season, at least."

"What are we going to do there?" Anakin stuffed another cookie in his mouth.

"You'll be keeping up with your studies," Obi-Wan said. "We'll also be assisting on the farm, and I expect there will be time for recreation also."

"Great," Anakin said flatly. "Like what, tipping banthas?"

Obi-Wan smiled. "I think you'll enjoy it more than you think."

"If you say so, Master." Anakin thought for a moment. "They don't have pod racing there, do they?"

"They don't, and thank heavens for that." Obi-Wan reached over and took the box of cookies out of Anakin's hands. "You've had enough of these, I think. Now, tell me about your lightsaber class."