Strange Smells

"Child, don't throw your food on the floor." Qui-Gon scolded as he bent to pick up yet another chunk of fruit off the floor. Obi-Wan giggled and tossed another piece down. "Hey! If you're going to do that, you won't get any at all." Qui-Gon sat back up and swiped the rest of the fruit off of Obi-Wan's high chair tray.

"Qui, he's just a baby." Tahl defended, handing Obi-Wan another piece of fruit.

"Yeah, but he's throwing it on purpose." Qui-Gon retorted, keeping a wary eye on Obi-Wan and the fruit. He put it in his mouth this time. "He needs to learn manners." Qui-Gon said. Tahl rolled her eyes and offered another piece to the youngling. "Now he's eating it. What was his problem?"

Tahl smirked. "He doesn't like you."

"He does too!" Qui protested. "Here, give me that." He tugged the bowl of fruit chunks out of her grasp and handed one to Obi-Wan, who promptly threw it on the floor. "He's only taking it from you!" Qui-Gon said in realization. He tried to force-feed a piece to the eleven-month-old, but Obi-Wan covered his mouth with his tiny palms. "Really, child?"

Tahl laughed. "Qui, knock it off. He won't eat it from you, for some reason. Wait, let me see your hands."

"Why?"

"Just a hunch. Now, let me see them."

Qui-Gon sighed and held out his large hands over the table, palms facing down.

"Flip 'em over." Tahl ordered sternly. Qui-Gon complied. Obi-Wan watched the whole scene with interest.

"What in the heavens are you looking for?" Qui-Gon asked, sighing again.

"No idea."

"Oh, that's helpful." Qui-Gon rolled his eyes. "What are you, the official hand inspector now?" he asked sarcastically as Tahl leaned in closer and squinted at his palms.

"Oh, shut up." she ordered. She sniffed his hands.

"Tahl-" Qui-Gon started to protest before she cut him off.

"What did you wash your hands with before you came here?" she asked.

"Uh, that mint soap I always have in my quarters." he replied. Tahl took hold of his hands and guided them to Obi-Wan's face. "Honestly, Tahl," Qui-Gon complained. Tahl ignored him and put one of Qui-Gon's large hands under Obi-Wan's nose. The youngling scrunched up his face and turned away when he smelled the mint.

"Ha! That's it! He doesn't like the scent of that soap!" Tahl exclaimed joyfully, dropping Qui-Gon's hands as she raised her own in triumph. They landed palms up down on the table.

"Ow!" Qui-Gon protested as his knuckles bashed into the wood.

"Oh, don't be a baby." Tahl teased as Qui-Gon rubbed his bruised knuckles. Qui-Gon scowled. Obi-Wan laughed at the sullen look on the Master's face. "Obi's telling you to buck up."

"Is he now?" Qui-Gon forget his anger at Tahl and turned towards the youngling. "C'mere, you!" he shouted joyfully, pulling him out of his chair and setting him on his lap. He began to tickle him, and piercing laughs sliced into the air around them. Qui-Gon continued to tickle, and Obi-Wan's laughs grew louder and tears began to roll down his cheeks from happiness.

"Qui! He's going to wet himself! Chill out!" Tahl scolded, but she failed to keep her stern expression when she saw Obi-Wan's tear-streaked face and huge smile. Little giggles kept escaping even though Qui-Gon had ceased the tickling when Tahl had spoken. Qui-Gon's hair was tousled and wild, and his cobalt eyes were bright and sharp.

"No, he's not. Look at 'im. He loves it!" Qui-Gon gestured to Obi-Wan's luminous face. Tahl rolled her eyes as Qui-Gon began to tickle again.

"You're going to regret that." Tahl said as Obi-Wan's piercing laughter filled the room again. Qui-Gon ignored her. Several minutes passed before he felt something warm and wet spread over his thighs.

Yeah, I regret it now. Curse the crèche and their kriffing cloth diapers! Qui-Gon thought angrily to himself. To Tahl, he said, "It seems Obi-Wan's diaper is thinner than usual today."

A smug look came over Tahl's face as she crossed her arms over her chest. "I told you he was gonna wet himself," she scolded, inwardly congratulating herself on not adding 'you ignorant idiot.'

"I had better get young Kenobi here back to the crèche." Qui-Gon said, pushing his chair back. As he stood, Tahl's eyes sparkled with mischief as she covered her hand with her mouth to stifle a laugh. Qui-Gon had a dark, wet stain on his general lap area. Qui-Gon shifted Obi-Wan to his hip as he narrowed his eyes.

"What?"

"You look like you're the one who wet himself, not Obi." Tahl laughed, and the sparkle in her eyes grew brighter, if that were even possible. "And Qui, your arm is now wet." Tahl pointed to the crook of his elbow, which Obi-Wan's wet bottom was partially resting on. Qui-Gon looked down, and a look of mortification marred his features. Another stain spanned his hip as well, where the rest of the baby's rear made contact with his body. Qui-Gon rolled his eyes.

"Wonderful. Do you have a towel I can wrap him in until I get back to the crèche?"

Tahl nodded. "Sure, just give it back. . . on second thought, don't." Tahl rose from her chair and trotted towards the 'fresher. She returned momentarily, towel in hand. She took Obi-Wan from her friend and wrapped his bottom half in the towel. Qui-Gon tugged his robe on and attempted to cover the stains on his tunic and trousers as best he could. Tahl handed the youngling back to Qui-Gon, who took him and opened the door.

"Don't forget, you owe me a towel!" Tahl called after him as he departed.

"Right." Qui-Gon said over his shoulder before he disappeared around the corner.