Part Five: Catalie Purrman

"Where are the kids?" Anakin murmured quietly while he walked into the living room. He held a small crate in his hands, one that was wriggling a little. Dormé was behind him, carrying several bags of supplies. She set down one of the bags - containing treats and a toy - and walked the rest to the kitchen to sort.

"Sleeping - well, Luke's sleeping. I gave up with Leia - she's probably reading a book." Padmé set down her datapad on the caf table, unable to keep from smiling giddily.

Anakin shook his head, walking to the couch she was sitting on. Carefully, he set the crate down and opened the container. Almost immediately, a bluish kitten poked its head out and gave a small, scared squeak.

Padmé stretched out her fingers to it, letting the kitten sniff her fingers. It's wide gray eyes stared back at her catiously. "It doesn't look like a Tooka or a Lothcat."

"Shelter said she is a mutt - mostly feline, could be a few other things." Anakin grinned when the kitten decided Padmé wasn't a threat and gave a chirp, head butting into the palm. "They said her DNA resembles that of a Nubian guard cat."

"Those creatures are endangered." Padmé scratched the kitten on its head. It's loud raspy purr filled the room.

"Mmm hmm."

Padmé leaned forward, carefully scooping the kitten into her hands. It squeaked again, unused to so much human contact. "How old - "

"Nine weeks - she's on the small side." Anakin leaned onto his wife's shoulder, tickling the kitten's chin. "Wanna wake the kids?"

"Not yet," Padmé murmured, letting the kitten loose to wander the couch. She had to laugh at the tail sticking straight into the air, the wobbly steps and twitching noise. "Let's wait awhile."

Mace could not help it: he kept staring, not paying attention to Quinlan speak - well, he never really paid attention to Quinlan speaking -

But it was so...odd, watching the normally serious Obi-Wan Kenobi amuse his little daughter during the meeting. It was strange to look at everyone, including Master Yoda, keep sneaking glances at the bubbly kid.

Freya. That was her name. A little girl of just over a year, happily gumming at a Bantha plush and smiling at anyone who waved at her.

He shook his head, leaning back in his seat. "Obi-Wan."

Vos was still talking. "Whatever laws I broke were necessary for the mission - "

"Vos." Mace looked at the grinning Stewjonian, whom was still holding his daughter close. "Any reason you have your daughter here?"

"Is she bothering you Master Windu?" Obi-Wan drawled, raising his eyebrows in what some might say was seductive. "I apologise that my daughter is an inconvenience to your Order."

There were chuckles around the chamber - Ki-Adi loudest of all. Freya giggled at the laughter, clapping her hands together.

Anyone daring to suggest that the children of the dynamic duo were an inconvenience subjected themselves to at least an hour lecture on the benefits of attachments.

Mace rolled his eyes - he hadn't had to deal with this when the Skywalker twins were young - there had always been someone to care for them. Then Kenobi's last mongrel had been on Mandalore most of her infancy -

"Can I ask why she is here then?"

Obi-Wan gave a mischievous grin. "Satine didn't feel good - so I got Freya today."

"There's the creche."

"There is indeed," Obi-Wan chuckled at the sigh he received.

"Might I ask why Senator Kryze doesn't feel good?" Mace asked, feeling a horrible shiver crawl up his spine at the wicked grin he received.

"You're not gonna tell him, are you?"

Obi-Wan smirked while they walked out of the Council Chamber room, keeping Freya carefully in his arms, well aware she was fighting sleep. "I'll let him figure it out."

Quinlan chuckled, keeping his voice low while they walked. "You're horrible."

"Mmm hmm - we wanted to keep this one - "

"Uncle Vos!"

They - well Obi-Wan - had just enough time to sidestep before three mini tornadoes slammed into his friend. Vos stumbled, sighing loudly and dramatically at the giggling toddlers that were clinging to his legs.

"Luke. Girls," Obi-Wan chided gently.

Freya sleepily squinted at the scene, then tucked her head back Obi-Wan's shoulder, clutching her Bantha plush tightly.

Obi-Wan scanned the pillars before them, raising his eyebrows at the pair cackling against a pillar. "Ahsoka - I thought I raised you better than to encourage Anakin's scheme's."

"When did you get back Uncle?" Leia asked, peering upwards.

"This morning," Quinlan murmured, reaching down to ruffle Jinn's hair, who made a face and tried to seat his hand away. "Had to report straight to the Council."

"Speaking of which Anakin - why weren't you there? You are a council member now." Obi-Wan rolled his eyes when his grandpadawan came forward, and grudgingly gave his youngest daughter over to her.

"'Sock," Freya slurred a little, tugging on Ahsoka's montrals and grinning a sleepy grin.

"Close enough," Ahsoka murmured, propping Freya on her hip.

"It was optional remember - I saw Secura and and Fisto eating lunch with Bant, and Tii escorting the last batch of clones around."

"That was - "

"Dad!"

Obi-Wan glanced down at Jinn, whom was tugging on his pant leg. He knelt, aware that Anakin had begun to look a tad sheepish. "What cupcake?"

"Dad promised ice cream!" Leia chirped, watching her brother climb onto Quinlan and attempt to swing from his arm.

"Did he now?" Obi-Wan drawled, looking at his former padawan. He sighed loudly, then tapped his daughter on her nose. "He can take you out for ice cream - as long as you don't mind, Anakin, taking Freya and Jinn for this weekend?"

Jinn dropped her mouth open in surprise, while Luke let out a whoop and Leia clapped her hands together. Freya, still tired but sensing the excitement, hugged her Bantha plush tighter and gave a giggle.

"Ice cream!" Luke yelled, dropping from Quinlan's arm and charging down the hall. "Oohh, Dad - hot cocoa?"

"We'll see buddy," Anakin called back, dodging the two other young kids running down the hall, then dodging Quinlan running after them, probably making sure they didn't do anything stupid. He turned his eyes to Obi-Wan, the briefest scowl on his face. "How did you manage to convince me to watch your kids this weekend again?"

"Because you remember how hard it is for privacy with a newborn - and I kind of want to have sex with my partner with doors unlocked and loud - "

Ahsoka made a gagging noise, which caused Freya to palm her face frantically in concern. "Master Kenobi."

"Ben." Satine rolled her eyes when her partner hummed, not stopping from kissing her throat. The heat of his body warmed the chill she had been feeling since their sweat had cooled from their last bout of lovemaking. "Do you feel bad that we left Padmé and Anakin alone?"

Obi-Wan leaned his head against her shoulder, smiling softly. "They think Jinn and Freya are angels."

"Oh poor them."

"I'll pay him back somehow."

"Just buy that cat something - Catalie Purrman right?"

Snorting, he rubbed at her stomach. "Think it's another girl?"

"Probably - but I do think it'll be funny if Korkie finally gets the little brother he always wanted."

"Twenty-one years old and finally gets a brother." Obi-Wan snickered, then glanced upwards when he felt a hand on his jaw. "Hmm?"

"Do you like me better when I'm pregnant?"

"Better? Is this a trap?"

"Obi."

Obi-Wan shrugged, groping for the blankets and pulling it around them. "I'm not sure if better is the right word - I do find it incredibly sexy that you - "

"Your entire vocabulary and you use the word 'sexy?'"

He peered at her, a grin working over his face. "It is really sexy - honestly, I do love your body. You've survived a year on the run, birthed three children, carrying one, and survived being stabbed by Maul - nothing could be sexier than that."

"You're dramatic."

"Maybe so," he nosed against her throat again. "But I do love you."

Author's note: hello there ;) enjoy this little chapter . It's not much, but it's cute.

ii Digestive Reader ii