John was playing in the dirt at Sherlock's feet.

The little boy was still getting over his sickness, but was well enough to insist upon staying with his master. Every now and then allowing himself the pleasure of leaning back into his teacher's leg, the boy sighed contently. The child gave a small giggle as Sherlock nudged him resolutely.

They were to be officially dismissed from the planet Stewjon in a matter of two days. The council had agreed to rethink their approach to the Sith's control of the planet, seeing as Moran now had diplomatic immunity and could not be brought into custody. Truthfully John was a bit upset to be leaving his home planet. People were just starting to grow used to them, Sarah's father had even gotten some villagers to be kinder to Sherlock.

Sarah was teasing him about his horizontal…problem. He leaned into Sherlock's leg, but took the abuse with a diplomatic nod. Sherlock was talking with Sarah's father about supplies for the next two days. The elder man was telling him about a shop not too far out of the village. John tugged on Sherlock's pant leg, he was too tired for a walk out of town.

Sarah's father lifted the little boy into the air with a grin.

John didn't like it.

He didn't mind Sherlock holding him. In fact it was secretly encouraged.

But nobody else should have been allowed to pick him up. They were too rough, too possessive. Sherlock was light and careful, he never held on too tightly or pressed John into his chest until the child couldn't breathe. Sarah's father clung to him too snugly.

He didn't squirm because unlike Sherlock he wasn't rude, but he did throw his mentor a pleading look. Sherlock took his padawan from the old man.

"He is just getting over an illness." Sherlock said easily as he pulled the child close. John settled in the familiar embrace, he nestled into the nape of his master's neck. Sherlock stroked his back lightly as the old man turned to his daughter. He gave John's head a quick sniff.

"Sherlock…" The little one whined. Every now and then, especially after someone different held him, Sherlock would sniff him fiercely. The child couldn't understand what possessed the knight to snuffle him. Sherlock wiggled his nose over the boy's head.

"You haven't done your research as you said, little one." The master accused as he held John in the air by his armpits. He sniffed the child's stomach and gave a low growl. John giggled as the breath tickled him.

"Enlighten me." The child giggled again as Sherlock sniffed his neck.

"It is a Gorian trait." He murmured, allowing John to rest back in his mentor's arms. "It is a way of showing possession." When his padawan gave him a confused look the knight sighed heavily. "I am claiming you, John."

"Why?"

"You smell like me, you are mine." His voice was low. "My nature does not like it when you smell of others." He tickled the child with his nose one last time. John smiled into his master's chest.

"Maybe you smell like me, Sherlock." He said softly.

"Your smell has not developed yet, brat." Sherlock growled into his ear. "You smell like me."

John nipped his ear lightly and began sniffing his master's neck. Sherlock growled approvingly.

John couldn't scent, he couldn't put his smell on others, he probably didn't even know what Sherlock truly smelt like. But the action appealed to his animalistic nature, in his own way, John was claiming Sherlock.

It gave him an odd feeling of warmth.

oOo

They didn't notice Sarah's father smiling in their direction as John tried tickling Sherlock with his nose. The dark haired off worlder held the pup an arm's length away and seemed trying to desperately hold in a laugh. That sort of love between a father and son was uncommon on their planet.

The king's own child had never taken to him. The toddler had always been attached to his mother's hip, while their daughter tried in vain for their father's attention.

That poor family.

Fathers on their planet were taught to be cruel.

They were to make soldiers, not friends with their sons.

But the child that was laughing so happily in the off worlder's arms had defended a girl he had never met. Had taken on an opponent twice his size. The child was a proper solider, but had been raised clearly with love.

The Gorian nipped his pup's ear.

The pup growled at him, which gave his father reason to chuckle. He flipped his pup over, so the child hung upside down. The father avoided kicking feet as his pup demanded to be righted, the Gorian tossed him into the air and caught him around the middle. The child giggled so fiercely it sent him into a strong fit of coughs, the Gorian immediately soothed the pup with his melodic voice. The pup leaned into the calming arms and sighed.

"They really call you Sherlock then?" Sarah's father asked kindly.

"Yes." The Gorian rocked his pup pacifyingly.

"Just seems like an insult, is all."

The off worlder scowled. "Clearly.

"Well it means "fair-haired."

The off worlder gave him a glare. "I am aware of what my name means, thanks. My brother and I were born out of wedlock, his name means "island". The elders abandoned him an island when he was born to deem if he was worthy to live or not. He was, unfortunately. Mine means fair-hair, my father's hair was black. It was an insult to him, claiming I was not his."

The pup peeked at his father curiously. It was obvious the boy had never heard the story before. The dark haired man gazed down at the boy thoughtfully, they exchanged a look. The pup frowned, but father smiled. The pup punched him in the chest.

"Who taught you such deplorable manners, little one?" The beautiful voce chuckled.

"You wouldn't know him, Sherlock. He's a proper git." The pup grinned at him cheekily.

The Gorian tugged on the pup's ear. "Brat."

"Yes, Father." The child giggled.

Why couldn't every pup have a father like that man?

oOo

Trumpets blasted through their peaceful evening.

John had been eating a cold sandwich and sitting Sherlock's lap. The child managed to convince his elder to eat something after practically attacking him with a sandwich. Sherlock munched noisily above him. John giggled.

Sherlock's ear immediately pricked in response to the blaring instruments. Frowning he carried John into the Sarah's apartment, her father came running down the stairs. "Into the street! Into the street." He ushered the Jedi into the open plaza. "Kneel, don't look up. Sherlock put John down, he'll have to do without you for a bit. When they say rise you two stay down, got it? Your off worlders, you have to wait for the princess to give you the say so."

Sherlock set John down, but eyed the sick child carefully. John rolled his eyes in a very Sherlock way. "I'm fine."

"John, it is the princess…" Sherlock's padawan looked confused. "Your sister."

The child froze, Sherlock nipped his ear comfortingly.

The Jedi knelt as a royal carriage approached, Sherlock made sure to keep his knee pressed against John's. The little boy held perfectly still, his sky blue eyes trained on the ground as heeled boots jumped from the carriage.

Boots?

John panicked as the Force came back to him with no data about the person in the boots. He couldn't sense anything to do with the person. He turned to Sherlock who remained perfectly calm. John poked his master's mind gently.

Can you…?

No. Relax, little one. Focus on the others.

Yes, Master.

"Rise." A female voice said amused. John watched his master wince slightly at the voice, John wanted to lean into his master leg. The female voice chuckled. "I am half tempted to leave you down there, Gorian."

Sherlock smirked slightly. "How dull."

John tried to peek at his would be sister when a coughing fit erupted from his chest. The child doubled over in pain as coughs racked through his body. He could sense Sherlock's desire to reach for him, but the knight stayed still. The female voice chuckled. "Off worlders may rise."

Sherlock immediately scooped John into his arms and stroked the child's back gently. John finished his violent hacking over Sherlock's shoulder. John whimpered into Sherlock's chest. "Ow."

"You're fine." Sherlock said roughly.

John stuck his tongue at the older man.

"You were fine enough to force me to drag you into town this morning." Sherlock was rocking his apprentice slowly.

"A Sith Lord couldn't force you to do anything, Father. There is too much stubbornness in you. Clearly you wanted me." John snorted.

"I hope I'm not interrupting." The cold female voice said. John peeked at his sister curiously.

She had the same nose.

John wiggled until Sherlock glanced at him. John slid his eyes towards his sister carefully, the young woman was staring at him intently. John buried his face into Sherlock's chest, the princess narrowed her eyes.

"Has your pup ever been on this planet before?"

"No." Sherlock said easily. He glanced down at the boy. "At least I don't believe so. His mother told me had been raised on Coruscant for most of his life." His padawan nodded his confirmation.

The princess blinked at both men fiercely as John fiddled with his master's outer tunic.

Leave me alone. He begged quietly. He couldn't remember much from his childhood, but he knew if anyone were to recognize him it would be Harriet.

"Daddy, I wanna go home." John whined quietly. Sherlock cast him a dark look as his padawan stooped to childish behavior. "Please, Father?" John faked a cough for good measure.

"John…"

"I have not dismissed you yet, off worlder. You will stay." She hissed.

"Or what? I get another ten lashes? Bored." He swept as much of a grand bow as he could and started to carry John away.

John looked pain. "She's the one that lashed you?"

"Mind on the present moment, little one." Sherlock scowled.

Loud boot steps approached the bickering pair of Jedi. Harriet stopped the knight with a cold look that John had only seen on his mother's face when she was angry. Sherlock sighed heavily. "What?"

"You are treading on my patience."

"Forgive me I still have the marks from your patience. I am eager not to duplicate the incident."

"Then you will do as I say." The young woman said forcefully.

Sherlock shrugged lazily. "My child is sick, I wish to take him home."

"Then you will hear what I have to say and be gone." The princess said coolly. Sherlock shifted John in his arms, the child shook his head as Harriet stared at him as though he were a priceless painting. John clutched at Sherlock's neck, the knight gently placed the boy back down onto the ground. John was forced to stand on his own two feet. He glared up at Sherlock.

Master, please. She'll recognize me. Please, I just want…

Little one, she wants to see you because you like her brother. Not because you are. Don't be dull. You are fine.

Master, you know as much of feelings as a mental handicapped-

Little one.

Forgive me.

Sherlock carded his hand through the soft hair as Harriet glowered at the little boy. John jutted his chin out as his master's would have. Harriet frowned at the similarities between the Jedi, she nodded her dismissal. John gave a small sigh of relief and was immediately picked up by his master. He leaned his head on the strong shoulder.

"There is a mandatory meeting in the plaza tomorrow. I expect you to be there."

Sherlock gave a stiff bow. "Yes, my lady."

John bowed awkwardly in his master's arms.

They walked back to the flat in silence except for John's occasional cough. Instead of going in doors Sherlock pulled John into the open yard, they sat looking over the cliff. John breathed tiredly against the strong body of the knight.

"Master, will we participate in the event tomorrow?"

"I will." He nipped the boy's ear. "You will wait in the ship."

"I want to stay with you." John dangled his legs over the cliff. Sherlock began scenting the child, his nose ran behind the little boy's ears. John giggled.

"Master!" He gave Sherlock a gentle shove.

Sherlock growled and made John hold still as he sniffed the boy. John lifted his arm helpfully as the elder prodded him.

"The Great Knight Sherlock Holmes is just like an akk puppy!" John giggled happily.

Sherlock gave him a small shake. "And the most promising knight in the temple has been clinging to said puppy all day."

John grinned and snuggled into the warm embrace of the young knight.

"Yes, Master."

oOo

Harriet had followed them.

The boy, the little child with the careful eyes and the shy smile was so Hamish. He even had the nose! But he was so attached to the Gorian. He had so much love in his eyes whenever his father was present.

But it couldn't have been his father.

The little boy even had the small scar on the ear. Hamish's scar.

She watched them from her perch, thankfully they hadn't gone inside. The child was nestling deep into his father's embrace.

"Master, will we participate in the event tomorrow?"

Master?

Master?

The child was not the Gorian's son!

The boy was being told he would not attend the event in the plaza. Moran's crowning day. Harriet felt rage at the child being ordered. Her precious little brother must have been kidnapped by the Jedi and enslaved. The child threw his legs over the cliff as he was scented by the Gorian.

How dare the Gorian claim her brother as his own.

Hamish giggled as the scenting continued, he lifted his arms above his head and was immediately snatched into the air. He gave a great and true belly laugh, the Gorian swung him around swiftly. Hamish was thrown into the air and caught an inch above the ground. He gave a delighted squeal. "Master!"

"Padawan!" The elder chuckled. "Are feeling less useless?"

The child scowled. "I will forgive that comment, Master mine. I don't wish to hold a grudge against an old man such as you. Especially since your age may prevent you from being around much longer."

She thought the Gorian flinched. He pulled the child closer to him, Hamish settled easily back into his slaver's arms.

Clearly he was brainwashed and under the influence of the powerful Jedi.

She ignored the look of adoration in her little brother's eyes, she ignored the happy smile that lit his face, and she ignored the fact that Hamish looked healthy and safe.

Because she planned on stealing her brother back.

Tomorrow.