John woke up in the healer's bay.

A steady ache in his mind told him that Sherlock had kept him under the entire trip home. He groaned as the light filtered through his lashes. Rica was grinning at him.

"Welcome back." She said smoothly.

"Sherlock?" He murmured.

"Wrestling with Qui Gon about his feet, they were frostbitten to the core, but he didn't want to leave you."

John blushed. "He gave me his boots." He said quietly.

Rica ruffled his hair gently, she set a bowl of his soup in his lap. He accepted it gratefully, knowing it had been days since he had last eaten. He frowned. "How long…?"

"Three days." She said gently.

"Sherlock over did it." He grumbled.

"John, your body kept you asleep to heal." She explained lightly. "It was your gift."

"Oh." John helped himself to the soup. He slurped it noisily even after Rica gave him a dirty look. He grinned. "Can I see my master?"

She opened her mouth to reply as Sherlock burst through the door. He was waving his hands over his head in a dramatic fashion, worthy of an opera. "Ridiculous! They sent me to Tatooine and now they want me to up root to another planet like that." He clicked his fingers. "Stewjon is not exactly on good terms with me."

Mycroft followed him in with raised eyebrows. "It is an order, Sherlock. A direct…"

"Dull." Sherlock shoved John over to the side and sat next to him. The boy blinked at the elder master.

Mycroft pinched his nose. "Brother, please. You wished to follow Moran…"

"It is John's home world, there are laws about taking missions there." Sherlock snapped.

"Yes, we are aware of the laws, but they are being overlooked because you are best suited to follow…"

"Kissing my arse will do nothing for you. That thing I showed you three days ago is in effect on that planet, Mycroft." Sherlock said shortly.

"Then do not take your pants off, dear brother." Mycroft turned on his heel and stalked out. Sherlock pulled John against him, sloshing soup out of his bowl. John curled against his side thankfully. Rica smirked.

"Shut up." The knight hissed.

John continued to sip soup silently from the bowl, his stomach growled. Rica excused herself with a small nod, Sherlock stroked John's blond hair. John wrinkled his nose. "You could have been more polite, Master."

"Little one, spare me your lectures." Sherlock grumbled.

"Master, you were quite rude."

Sherlock pulled John against his chest as the boy finished his soup. John nestled the nape of his master's neck. The thought of moving to another planet was frightening and exciting to the young boy, especially since it was his home world. Sherlock tugged his ear. "Perhaps he deserved it."

"No one deserves rudeness, Master."

"You do, my little one." Sherlock tickled him under the armpits until the boy was near to wetting himself from laughter. The sound lit the room, Sherlock grinned at the tiny boy. John gripped onto his master's tunic. They both settled back into their relaxed positions, Sherlock rubbed his padawan's back gently.

"I thought I'd never see you again." The child mumbled. "I thought I was going to die, and I wouldn't get to say goodbye."

Sherlock pulled on the boy's padawan braid. He said nothing, there was nothing he could say. John was safe now and that was all that mattered. The knight sent soothing waves over their bond, John yawned.

"How do you…feel about going to your home world, little one?" Sherlock asked quietly.

"It's okay, Master. I mean there's nothing wrong with it." John snuggled him. "Could be interesting." He used Sherlock's favorite word. "When will we leave?"

"Soon as you're healed." Sherlock said lightly.

"I can go whenever, Master." The boy piped up.

"Go easy on yourself, John. You were just kidnaped."

"You'd have found me." John murmured and closed his eyes. "I was just childish."

"You are a child." Sherlock reminded him shortly. A snort came from John's nose as he glared up at his master. Sherlock adjusted their positions so John was once again being held like an infant. The padawan didn't struggle, only went limp in the hold.

"I'm alright now." He insisted. "I feel safe."

"You will never have to go through that again, little one." Sherlock ran his fingers through the blond hair and clutched a handful gently. John was starting to breathe deeper.

"You'll save me. I'm not scared of anyone anymore." John muttered into Sherlock's shirt. "On day I'll big enough to save myself, but 'til then I got you."

Sherlock carefully kissed the soft brow. "Don't be in a hurry to grow, little one."

"Yes, Master." A pause. "We have been together two months now, Master."

Sherlock was surprised by how much longer it had felt. "So we have, John. So we have."

The knight leaned forward and gently nipped the child's ear.

John smiled.

oOo

John's back pack was twice his size.

Sherlock glared at him until the little boy cocked his head. "What?"

"Did you feel the need to pack your entire bedroom, little one?" Sherlock asked rudely.

"I was making up for you lack of packing, my master." John said sweetly. "I noticed you only packed one thing of socks."

Sherlock gently wacked the boy upside the head. John growled at him, but curled his hand in the elder's pants leg all the same. Sherlock rolled his eyes, but carded his hand through the soft hair slowly. "What am I to do with you, John?"

The child's stomach growled. "Feed me?" The hopeful response.

"Brat." Sherlock pulled the hair and ran through their check list. Everything was in order, John was clinging tightly to his bear's arm and dragging it unconsciously behind him. Sherlock suppressed a smile as the boy bent over his pack and inspected all his things as his master was doing.

Two weeks had passed before Rica even consider letting them leave Coruscant.

And it was now John was officially half through to his next life day. Eight and a half.

It should be illegal for children to grow so quickly.

I highly doubt he will want you this much when he is in his teens.

Sherlock highly doubted it as well, but for now, even at eight and a half, John acted as though he were starved for Sherlock's attention. The knight resisted the urge to pick the child up, John was so easy to hold and it wouldn't last forever. The boy raised his eyebrows at his master and squirmed uncomfortably.

"You're analyzing me again" The learner said stoutly.

The accused shrugged. "Perhaps. You snuck out to see Qui Gon last night." The Knight noticed scuffs on the boots, not previously there. John blushed.

"Kind of." He tugged on his sleeve. He stared at Sherlock challengingly. "You went to see Rica last night, anyway."

Sherlock rolled his eyes. "Medical supplies for you."

"For three hours?" John put his tiny boot on Sherlock's. "Were the medical supplies hiding from you, Master?"

"Was Qui Gon able to help you with your schooling grades?" Sherlock asked daringly.

John grinned up at him. "It was merely refreshing to talk of school and not how stupid the teachers were." John leaned against his leg softly, he didn't want a fight.

"And it was merely refreshing to have a conversation that didn't involve sass, little one." The urge to hold the boy was promptly ignored, he didn't comfort.

"With Rica talking? Surely you are mistaken, Master. She is almost as mastered as you in the art of sassing."

But he didn't push away.

Sherlock lifted his leg with his insufferable padawan attached, the child held on to his master as the elder walked towards his own pack. He knelt to pick it up, John detached himself from the knight, and Sherlock growled as a small nipping sensation appeared at his ear. His Gorian nature called upon, he looked down to see who was showing affection. John blushed.

"We are supposed to be father and son on this mission…so I thought I better start acting like a Gorian." The boy looked at his boots. "And you always bite my ear so…"

Sherlock carefully nipped the child's ear back and rose without a backward glance. John positively beamed and followed him towards the door. His back pack jingled nosily behind as caught up to the knight.

Sherlock hesitated. "Little one, there is one more thing."

John cast Sherlock a curious look.

"Your padawan braid." Sherlock knelt in front of him and gave it a small tug. "We need to cut it until after the mission."

John looked at him with pure terror. "Master, how will people know…? You can't! It's mine, it's the only way people know I'm not a youngling anymore!"

Sherlock pressed his forehead against John's. "Stop it. If you are not a youngling anymore do not act like it. On this mission we are not Jedi, John. Understand?"

John whimpered. "But…"

"Little one."

John buried his face in his shoulder. "But it shows I'm your padawan."

That hurt.

"And on this planet your papers will show you are my son." Sherlock gave his padawan's shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Stop sulking, child. I have raised you better."

"Yes, Master." John whispered.

Sherlock at last let his craving rule him, and he hoisted the child into his arms. He would never understand why of all people he needed John the most. No one else came close to the little boy who buried his face deeper into his shoulder.

Why?

Sherlock pulled a small steel knife from his belt, a precious instrument he had be given from Lestrade on their first mission and swiftly cut the braid from behind the ear. John sobbed so hard it was more like Sherlock cut off one of his fingers instead of the braid. He could feel John's distress reaching across their bond.

It took so long to grow.

John.

My friends will think Sherlock didn't want me.

John, don't.

Now people won't know I'm a padawan, and they'll want me to be theirs, but I have Sherlock, I want to be Sherlock's.

"Little one." Sherlock felt the boy cling to him tighter. "You are fine. Enough."

A small whimper.

"You are mine." Sherlock said possessively. "My padawan, my flatmate. Nothing will change that."

John refused to look at him, but wrapped his limbs around the elder tighter. Sherlock rubbed soothing circles at the base of his padawans neck until the boy calmed himself. He refused to let Sherlock put him down, the knight let out an irritated sigh. John managed to ignore him as he was rocked slowly.

After a while the breathing slowed to a tranquil pace, John squirmed in the strong grip. "'M okay." He muttered. Sherlock temporally tightened his arms, he placed the boy back on the ground carefully. John looked at the fallen braid. "Stupid." He grumbled.

Sherlock gave his shoulders a small squeeze and handed him his papers. John studied them closely, his eyes flickered to his name. The small child grinned slightly. "John Holmes?"

"Watson is a royal name on your planet." Sherlock said dispassionately. "Holmes is a peasant name, less likely to draw attention." He was secretly pleased the boy had smiled.

"Was I royal, Master?" John asked with awe.

"It would not be unreasonable to awesome you are the son of a duke." Sherlock carded his hand lightly through the blond hair. His fingers spiking the strands as they passed. John leaned into his touch.

"Will they recognize me?"

"Do you look the same as four years ago?" Sherlock asked snidely. John scowled as the older man stopped caressing his hair.

"I was only asking." He huffed.

"Asking stupid questions." Sherlock heaved his pack across his shoulders, John mimicked him. The boy gave him a crooked grin, which caused Sherlock to press the child into his leg. John nuzzled him affectionately.

They parted unhurriedly after exiting their quarters, John stayed closely to his master's side. The absences of his padawan's braid made him cling more desperately to Sherlock. His master gave him a small shove away, too much cling made the older man irritated. His padawan nodded understandingly and backed away from him.

They entered the hangar bay without saying anything. The loading door lowered gradually, allowing the two Jedi to enter. Sherlock stopped the padawan shortly as they stood in the doorway. He knelt before the boy and took his shoulder gently. "Little one, listen to me closely. This is a mission that is even more dangerous than Tatooine." He stared deep into the sky blue eyes. "These people care for law and order more than anything. Even the life of a child." His padawan flinched at the word "child". "You must swear to me that if I say run, you will do so."

John stared into the ocean blue eyes of his master and frowned. "I can't, Master."

"Then you cannot go with me." Sherlock said simply. "This world does not take well to off worlders, and I will not take you if I cannot trust you to obey me. You saw what they did last time, little one."

"Master, you have my loyalty and obedience, always." The boy swore. "But I find it difficult to promise you I will run away, I…"

"Little one, I do not care." Sherlock gave him a small shake. "Either you swear to this, or you don't come." He cupped the child's cheek. "You are still young, too young for this mission in my opinion."

John didn't hide the hurt in his eyes.

"However, you continue to surprise me, so I feel you deserve a chance."

John turned his head from his master's eyes. "Why? I don't want to leave you. What if you need me?"

"Little one." Sherlock said firmly. "Either swear to me or go find Mycroft."

Please John, please just swear.

John chewed his lip. "I swear, Master." He said quietly, the urge to refuse was great. John looked into his master's mind eye and let him feel the distress. His master pressed his forehead against his, the boy's frown lines deepened. "Master, please don't make leave you."

Sherlock nipped his padawan's ear softly, but said nothing as he boarded the ship.

He would not share his latest nightmare with his padawan. He would assure the boy was safe, no matter the cost.

Even if his death became a reality.