Learning
Obi-Wan's tiny fingers clutched at Qui-Gon's large hands as he took a tentative step forward. Chubby knees quavered as a tiny booted foot landed on the light grey carpet of the playroom in the crèche.
"There you go. Can you take another step?" Qui-Gon encouraged, gripping Obi-Wan's hands tighter. Obi-Wan's next cautious step landed on one of the toys littering the floor, and his hands slipped from Qui-Gon's grasp as his feet flew out from under him. He fell backwards and landed hard on his rear. The eight-month-old burst into tears, and loud cries filled the room. "No, no. Don't cry." Qui-Gon soothed as he leaned down to pick the wailing youngling up. One hand went under his bottom to support his weight, and the other went to rest on his auburn hair as Obi-Wan leaned into his chest. Obi-Wan twisted his hands into the fabric of Qui-Gon's tunic and just bawled. "Shh, shh." Qui-Gon hushed while stroking his hair.
Obi-Wan's cries subsided into whimpering hiccups. He leaned outwards to look Qui-Gon in the eyes. Qui-Gon stared back into teary blue-grey, while Obi-Wan gazed at striking cobalt. Qui-Gon ran a thumb under each of his charge's eyes, wiping away stray tears.
"That's better, hmm?" he asked the child, even though he knew he couldn't answer. "Let's try again." He placed Obi-Wan back on the floor and once again took his small hands in his own. At first, Obi-Wan refused to move, but after a firm nudge to his diapered bottom delivered by Qui-Gon's knee, he took an experimental step forward. And another. And another. After ten steps, Qui-Gon loosened his grip to see if Obi-Wan could stand on his own. Obi-Wan's hands slipped again, and he fell backwards once more. The Jedi Master pulled him up and stood him on his feet; he wasn't going to coddle him this time. Obi-Wan didn't cry, but pulled his hands out of Qui-Gon's light grasp and plunked down to the floor. A pout shaped on his face.
Qui-Gon rolled his eyes. "Really?" he asked. He crouched down and tilted Obi-Wan's chin up to meet his stern gaze with his forefinger. Obi-Wan turned away. "Oh, honestly, child." Qui-Gon gripped the nine-month-old's chin between his thumb and forefinger. Obi-Wan scowled harder. Qui-Gon hauled Obi-Wan up by the armpits and held him there. He nudged him forward again, and Obi-Wan complied by taking a step forward, though somewhat sulkily. Qui-Gon sighed and leaned down to pick him up. "You want to be done, don't you? Well, it's almost nap time. I guess that's why you're being fussy." Qui-Gon went down the hallway to the nursery and laid Obi-Wan in his crib. Ali Alann was already putting the others to sleep. Obi-Wan went down really easily. He was obviously tired.
"He's out cold." Ali noted as he passed.
"Yeah, he was tired. He's been playing hard all day."