Chapter Nine: Family and Preparations

Damien rolled over in bed with a groan as Tamsin whimpered once before breaking out into a full fledged howl. He then buried his head under the pillow as he sensed Harry wake up and see what was wrong. It turned out that Tamsin was hungry, which Damien could understand, but not at 4 in the morning.

In their bedroom, Harry gently picked up his daughter and cradled her in his arms before gently waking Ginny up. Both of them hadn't been quite prepared for the demands of a new baby, although it helped that Tamsin took to eating on a schedule fairly easily.

Harry shook his head as he sensed that Damien had been woken up once again and sighed, his Padawan was being very good about the interrupted sleep but it was taking its toll on him. Hopefully in a few months, Ginny would consent to having Tamsin placed in the crèche with the other Jedi infants. It would be hard on both of them but the creche masters had already told them that they would be allowed to visit as much as they wanted. Harry wasn't all that thrilled with the idea of giving his daughter over to the care of others, even though he knew that Tamsin would be well looked after but he needed to consider Damien as well. His now almost 14 year old apprentice had complained to one of his friends the other day that his "sister" was keeping him awake so much during the night that he couldn't concentrate in classes. This was a worry.

Ginny woke up and accepted Tamsin from Harry, feeding her easily, now that she'd got used to the process. It wasn't long before Tamsin had had enough and settled back to sleep, whereupon Harry put her back in her crib. All of them knew that she would be awake in another few hours for more food. Sighing, Harry got back into bed and went back to sleep.

Later that morning, Damien was eating breakfast when he looked up to see Harry sitting opposite him. Raising an eyebrow the Padawan asked, "Where's Tamsin, she's been glued to you or Ginny almost all the time since she came home."

Harry frowned at his tone of voice; if he didn't know better he would think that Damien was jealous. In an even tone he replied, "Ginny and I are going to have a trial run at leaving Tamsin in the crèche with the other infants. It hasn't escaped us that you're being woken up at night along with us and it's having a detrimental effect on your studies. I won't allow that, no matter how much I love Tamsin."

Damien shrugged. "Fine. It was getting annoying really." Now Harry scowled, he'd thought that Damien was alright with Tamsin but apparently he'd been wrong. "Padawan, I did ask you whether you'd be alright with Tamsin living with us. You said yes you would be. I know it's been stressful and I'm sorry but I won't allow you to take that tone of voice with me. Understand?"

Damien lowered his eyes. He hadn't meant to sound whiny, nor had he meant to make his master annoyed, but he was getting tired of being woken up all the time.

"Yes Master I understand. It's just that I've been feeling somewhat, well, neglected since Tamsin arrived. You've been taking care of her and being with Ginny and I just don't feel that we have the same closeness that we used to."

Harry sat back, his annoyance disappearing as the real reason for his apprentice's distance over the past couple of weeks became clear. Reaching across the table he snagged Damien's braid and gave it a gentle tug.

"Are you finished with breakfast?" he enquired. Seeing Damien nod he pulled Damien up with him and steered him into the common area. Sitting down he pulled Damien down with him, and wrapped an arm round his shoulders.

"I'm sorry Damien; I never meant to make you feel that way. I swore when Tamsin arrived that I wouldn't let her come between you and me but apparently she's managed to do that anyway. I should have made sure that you knew you could talk to me at any time, no matter what I was doing and I'm sorry that I didn't."

Damien nodded. He hadn't expected the apology but appreciated it all the same. "Thanks Master. I could have told you how I was feeling earlier and didn't so it's partially my fault as well. I didn't mean to sound whiny and jealous, I'm not, but it's difficult to see you so preoccupied. I just sort of felt that since she's your daughter and that you and I aren't biologically related that she would come first."

Damien then winced as Harry's hand caught the back of his head firmly before he was forced to look directly into his master's eyes, eyes which held a flicker of true anger before it was replaced by determination.

"Biology has NOTHING to do with it Damien" Harry said firmly. "Just because we aren't related by blood doesn't make us any less a family. The three of us, and Anakin, and my parents, and even Obi-Wan and Mace, are a family, Damien, and nothing can break that up. Yes Tamsin is my biological daughter but you and Anakin are my sons as well, and she will grow up knowing you as her big brother and Anakin as a mixture of brother and perhaps uncle. Blood isn't the only thing which determines family."

Damien nodded and settled down on the couch, content to be close to Harry at the moment, a closeness which he had admittedly missed ever since Tamsin had arrived. Ginny came back into the apartment, having left it to settle Tamsin in the crèche. She looked at Damien and Harry and smiled.

"How are you two feeling?" she questioned softly. Harry smiled at her while Damien wouldn't quite meet her eyes. Frowning slightly, Ginny sat down on his other side and put a hand on his shoulder.

"What's wrong Damien?" she asked. The Padawan shrugged. "Harry and I just had a talk about family and stuff, and we sorted out why I was feeling so out of sorts."

Ginny nodded. "Neither of us meant to make you feel like you were an outsider Damien. Tamsin seems to be happy in the creche and the creche masters are thrilled to have her so we'll get used to having her living in a different part of the Temple to us. That way we're still a family and you still get the attention from Harry that you're entitled to."

Damien nodded. "Is Tamsin OK?" he asked. Despite the interrupted nights he did care about the little girl, so he was rather upset that he might have forced Harry and Ginny into giving up their baby because of him.

"She'll be fine Damien, and we were going to put her in the crèche at some point anyway, if she's going to be a Jedi then she needs to be treated like the rest of the initiates. It hurts a bit, yes but we'll get used to it in time and so will Tamsin. She will know us as her parents and her family, but the Jedi will also be a huge sort of extended family for her as well. Understand?"

Damien nodded, feeling happier than he had in days. Harry and Ginny exchanged a glance over top of his head and then Harry rose from the couch.

"Get changed and meet me in the training salle in 10 minutes" he said briskly, before heading off for said room himself. Damien brightened; he always enjoyed training with Harry, and wanted to show him what he'd learnt over the past two weeks in classes. Within 8 minutes he was facing Harry in the large room, and they started with a few katas, to warm up and get ready for a spar.

Once they were fully warmed up the match began. Harry lightly went on the offensive, and was surprised and pleased to find that Damien blocked his attacks before driving through a split second gap in his defences and putting Harry on the defensive for a minute or two. It didn't last very long, as Harry was too good a duelist to be beaten by an apprentice but he grinned widely and complimented Damien on finding the gap in the first place.

Damien for his part loved the reconnection that seemed to be happening between him and his master as the duel progressed. The bond between them practically sang with pleasure as they enjoyed the challenge of the fight. Ginny sat and watched, not noticing when Obi-Wan sat down beside her.

"What's going on and where is Tamsin?" the Jedi Master asked softly. Ginny started for a moment and then recovered enough to reply, "Tamsin is in the crèche and Harry and Damien are busy reconnecting with each other."

"Reconnecting?" Obi-Wan asked with a raised eyebrow. Ginny shrugged. "Living with Tamsin has caused Damien to feel like an outsider which we didn't want at all. Therefore, Harry is spending more time with him and both of us have assured him that we never meant for Tamsin to come between them."

Obi-Wan nodded. "I understand. When I was a Padawan I went with Qui-Gon to visit his family on his homeworld and I ended up feeling like an outsider too, even though Qui-Gon did everything possible to include me. Is Damien going to be OK?"

Ginny shrugged. "I think so. I believe that he was feeling neglected due to Harry spending time getting to know Tamsin. Harry's just reaffirming that Damien is his highest priority." Turning to look at Obi-Wan Ginny asked, "Is there something you wanted or were you just here to watch."

Obi-Wan smirked. "You're too quick for me" he remarked before continuing, "I did need to speak with Harry about those evacuation plans he mentioned a few weeks ago."

"Evacuation plans?" Ginny said sharply. Obi-Wan looked surprised. "He didn't tell you?" he asked, wondering why Harry hadn't shared that bit of information with his wife. Ginny shook her head. "No he didn't. Do you know what they are?"

"Harry gave a rough outline and the Council has spent the last week refining his idea and we wanted the opportunity to discuss the revised plan with him."

"Why are you planning an evacuation anyway?" Ginny asked keeping her attention partially focused on Harry and Damien, who were getting near the end of their match. Obi-Wan sighed. "You'd have to ask Harry for more information but suffice it to say that he's had certain suspicions about Chancellor Palpatine, ever since he was a Padawan himself and a week ago those suspicions were strengthened when he had a dream visit from Voldemort who apparently told him he was right."

"Right about what?" Ginny asked, her heart beginning to beat faster. Obi-Wan looked at her sympathetically and said, "Right about the fact that Palpatine is in fact Darth Sidious, the Sith Lord we've been searching for for years."

It only took Ginny a few minutes to think through the ramifications of what was happening to the galaxy and what might happen to the Jedi Order if Palpatine was a Sith. She looked at Harry and then at Damien.

"So that's why he doesn't like being around Palpatine and complains that his scar hurts whenever he has to be around him. Is there a chance that the Temple could be attacked?"

Obi-Wan shrugged. "Harry seems to think so and the Council is taking his suggestions seriously. Anakin is still trying to gather concrete evidence of this while keeping himself safe. If the Chancellor is a Sith then he'll try to convert Anakin using any means necessary."

Ginny nodded and then shivered slightly. This was serious. She looked up as a towel landed on top of her. Glaring in the direction of the person who threw it she found her glare directed at Harry. He smirked before levitating the towel onto the bench beside her. Damien had disappeared into the changing room and came out quarter of an hour later to find Ginny and Harry locked in a mock battle where Harry was doing his best to defend himself from the hexes and curses his wife was throwing at him. Ginny wasn't angry with Harry, she just wanted to know why Harry had kept the evacuation plans secret from her. Harry was ducking and dodging, and occasionally absorbing the curses as he tried to explain his reasons. Damien merely sat on the bench and watched the show. It wasn't often that he got to see Harry and Ginny playing around like this. All too soon the mock battle ended and the two combatants separated, Ginny to go to the infirmary for her shift, and Harry disappeared into the changing room for a quick shower.

When he came out he tugged Damien up off the bench and then walked along the corridors of the Temple, with no specific destination in mind until Damien asked, "Master, can we visit the old Temple?"

Harry was surprised at the request but he'd been meaning to check it out himself so he changed direction and took Damien to see it. While Damien had fun exploring the old Temple, Harry was checking its suitability as a safe house of sorts for the Jedi if the worst came to pass and the Temple was attacked.

"What are you thinking of Master?" Damien asked when he noticed Harry frowning over something near the door they'd entered by. Harry looked over at him and then smiled. "Just thinking about something."

"What?" Damien questioned. Harry looked at his Padawan, before deciding that he could tell him the basics. "Sit down Damien; we might as well be comfortable." They sat on the floor, getting as comfortable as possible before Harry began.

"You need to keep this absolutely secret Damien." Receiving a nod from his apprentice Harry continued, "The Council and I believe that Chancellor Palpatine is a Sith Lord. If that is true then the Jedi could very well be in grave danger."

"Why are you telling me this Master, I mean, not that I mind but I don't think they'd be happy with you telling me" Damien said, confused. Harry smiled slightly. "I'm telling you because if the Temple is attacked, I want you to come here. I'm planning on spelling the door through which we entered in a way that will make it impenetrable to any hostile force and so it will only be able to be opened from the inside after its shut. It will be spelled so sound cannot be heard outside the room."

"So this is an escape route" Damien said. Harry made a "sort of" gesture with his hand and answered, "Well, technically it's a safe place to wait until the all clear is given. At the moment the Council is debating on whether to create a mass series of Portkeys to take the Order to a safe planet until the danger is over. I was considering Yavin 4 actually."

Damien nodded eyes wide. "Will you be in danger?" he asked. Harry smiled again this time somewhat sadly. "It is quite likely that I will be asked to be on the team that goes to arrest the Chancellor if our suspicions are proven correct. I've handled Dark Lords before but this is the ultimate one so I'm not certain how things would turn out. What you need to know is this though, I will do my absolute best to survive, and you know what my best is like."

Damien chuckled and then responded with "Yeah, that Sith won't know what hit him. Can I talk about it with Anakin?"

Harry shook his head. "Best not to. He knows about the general plans but he's in close contact with Palpatine so it's best not to give too many specific details. Don't talk about it with anyone except me or Obi-Wan alright."

"OK Master. Can we have a bit more of a look around or should we head back up to the main section of the Temple?"

Harry shrugged. "Whatever you want Damien."

The Padawan looked surprised. "What about Tamsin?" Harry looked at his apprentice before replying, "I can't spend every moment with her, and besides, I don't want to leave you out again. If you want to wander up to the crèche to see her then that's fine, I was planning on going later on today while you were at that test."

Damien shrugged before getting off the floor and walking towards the door. "I do want to see her Master and I think that you need to learn to balance me with her. I'm not going to break if you spend some time with her, just as long as you don't forget that I'm around."

Damien then stopped and sucked in a breath as what he'd said registered in his brain. He began to stammer apologies only to have Harry hold up a hand, as he was laughing too hard to stop. "Don't, don't apologise Damien, I like it that you're feel comfortable enough to be so blunt with me. Don't do it round others but in private, if you need to vent like that then don't stop on my account."

Damien stared at his master in shock. He knew that he should by all rights have been punished for essentially telling his master off like that but Harry seemed to not mind too much. With a happier expression on his face, and accompanied by a still chuckling Harry, he made his way up to the crèche.

They stepped into the creche and were immediately assaulted by lots of tiny younglings who seemed determined to crush the Master and Padawan. Damien was highly uncomfortable but Harry immediately crouched down and seemed not to mind that he had younglings hanging off every arm and leg, and a couple wrapped round his waist. One had managed to scramble up his body and was hanging from his neck.

Harry finally managed to detach his little hanger ons and turned to see Damien on the floor, covered with little bodies. All that was visible was his face.

"Help!" Damien pleaded, not liking the sparkle of amusement in his master's eyes. Harry merely laughed and looked round for a camera. "Darn, no camera" he said with a chuckle. Damien was now struggling to free himself from the mass of toddlers and was nearing panic as when he made one let go another 3 took their place.

Finally Harry stopped being amused and helped pluck toddlers off his apprentice. Damien brushed himself off and muttered, "Now do you see why I don't like it here?" Harry nodded, he supposed it would be rather frightening to be buried alive in a sea of little bodies that were no respecters of dignity. He pulled Damien through into the baby section of the crèche and stopped at Tamsin's crib.

The little girl was awake and gurgled happily when she caught sight of her father and her "brother." Damien looked at Harry, before reaching into the cot and gingerly lifting her out of it. He held her for a few minutes, before handing her to Harry, watching the smile that lit up Harry's eyes whenever he held her. For a moment he was jealous again but then remembered what Harry had told him of his childhood. It made sense that Harry would want to show as much love and affection towards his child as possible. He then remembered that Harry showed him just as much affection as he showed Tamsin, just in a different way.

Harry looked at Damien; his expression wasn't hard to read. He saw the slight narrowing of the eyes, and felt the flash of jealousy before he sensed that the Padawan had come to a realization, one that allowed the jealousy to fade completely. He locked eyes with his apprentice and finally saw acceptance of the situation. A small smile crossed Harry's face, which drew an answering smile from Damien, before Harry shifted Tamsin so Damien could touch her as well, and then together, they put her back in the crib and left, both happy that they knew where they stood with each other. They were almost back at their apartment when Anakin came running up.

"The Chancellor's discovered the location of General Grievous."