Hi! Thanks all of the feedback I got from you guys, it means a lot! I'm really unsure about the start and the ending of this chapter, so fingers crossed it isn't too fluffy/OOC.

Guest: Yeah, Padme's reaction... it's gonna be an interesting chapter... Thanks for reviewing!

Morana: Thank you so much, I'm so glad you enjoyed my story! I agree, there is often a lot of sad story's about Obi-Wan and Anakin, but their stories are quite sad, to be fair. Thank you again :)

Disclaimers: Still not George Lucas

His bones moved; he could feel them grate against one another, a feeling which brought a horrible, nauseating pain that bled through every inch of his body. Anakin screamed again, unable to hold it back, unable to keep strong any longer. He wanted to fight, but that could only make everything worse. His leg wasn't the only thing that was broken, his collarbone on his left side had snapped in two and there was a familiar, painful tightness in his chest that made it nearly impossible to breathe properly which meant at least one of his ribs were broken.

They moved again and Anakin could feel his stomach churn; he was terrified of vomiting, of choking on his own sick which would undoubtedly happen, being strapped down to a table and every head movement sending a shooting pain through his collar bone. The hands that would have otherwise made a gentle, massaging motion, pressed down on his fractured leg, the splintered bone grinding under his fingers.

The young man screamed but then his mouth was suddenly filled with hard plastic and there were wires, wires everywhere, in him, on him, growing from his skin, his veins turning into plastic. They filled him with acid; his body was burning and he could feel him, feel the darkness burning from him, oozing from his presence, trying to leak into him through the wires, the wires that covered him, Anakin was drowning in such tempting darkness and choking plastic-

Anakin woke up with a jolt. He lay under the covers, arms wrapped tightly around Markyle, his eyes wide and staring though there wasn't anything to see. Slowly, he wriggled up, poking his head out from under the sheets only to instantly duck back down again. His room was full of dark disfigured shapes. Maybe they didn't know he was there? Maybe if he was quiet enough he could sneak out? He peered out again and quailed. Anything and everything in his room looked threatening. The youngling decided he couldn't take the risk. Not only might those creatures get him, but they were looking for him too. It was far too dangerous for him and Markyle to attempt an escape, yet he was too exposed here on the bed.

Slowly, painfully slowly, he squirmed and slid his way the edge of the bed. Adrenaline was rushing through him, making the arm clutching his toy shake along with the rest of him. Now was the tricky part; getting out of the covers and under the bed. Anakin lay there, trying to figure out just how he was going to do this. Though the sheets didn't protect him fully, they did still help; so he simply dragged them along with him, crawling under the bed with the bedclothes dragged over the edge of a mattress like a curtain.

Anakin sat there, hugging Markyle tightly to his chest, staring out into the darkness. He felt tears fill his eyes, but he refused to let them fall. They'd hear him cry and then it'd be all over. He sat there, just waiting for something reach under and grab him. His eyes grew round as he heard soft footfalls across his carpet. He squeezed the bantha as tight as possible, hiding his face against his soft fur, his tears making him wet. He managed not to make a sound, but his shoulders still shook with silent sobs. The youngling heard a click of the light switch and he tensed, ready to make a run for it when-

"Anakin?"

There was sharp intake of breath and he looked up to see Obi-Wan crouching down near him, his brow furrowed with concern.

"Master!"

He stared at him, impossible relief flooding his senses. Then, his face broke and all the fear he had kept such a strong control over broke loose. He began to cry as his master carefully pulled him out from under the bed, but it was okay to cry now; Obi-Wan would never let them or the monsters get him. He was pulled into the safety of his arms, Markyle squished between the Jedi and Anakin as the youngling hid his face against the man's broad chest.

Obi-Wan rose to his feet and sat on the bed, cradling the distraught child to his chest. Gently, he rocked him back and forth, a hand running through his blonde locks as the boy on his lap shook and sobbed. "It's all right, Anakin," he murmured, "It's okay, you're safe. Did you have a nightmare?"

Anakin nodded, "You made 'em go 'way," he hiccuped, pressing his face against his master's robes.

"Who, padawan?"

"Monsters," the boy mumbled, looking around the now brightly lit room from whence the nightly terrors had seemed to have scattered. Suddenly, his eyes widened and he pulled at his master's front, "Mas'er what 'bout the others!?"

"What others? More monsters?"

The boy shook his head, "No, the others! They're looking for me!"

Obi-Wan frowned, "You mean, those looking for you when I found you?" he asked quietly, gently stroking a tear ridden cheek.

"M-might still be here!" Anakin cried, panicked, tiny hands clinging to his master.

"Anakin. It was nightmare," he soothed, running a hand up and down his back, "no one is here other than you and me."

"What if they are?!" tears spilled onto the youngling's flushed cheeks. He looked round and tentatively whispered, "wh-what if he's here?"

"Who?"

Th-the Sith."

Obi-Wan smiled, "Padawan, if there was a Sith in the Temple, the Jedi would know about it," he pulled him back against his chest, "no one is here but us."

"You sure?" Anakin asked, wrapping his arms around his master's chest as far as they could go, which wasn't very far.

Obi-Wan nodded, "Yes, I'm sure."

"C-can we check? Please?"

And that was how Obi-Wan found himself at half two in the morning wandering around their flat turning on every light and checking anywhere where someone could hide. All the while his padawan was cradled to his chest, the boy hiding his face every time a door was opened. Every cupboard, closet, blind spot and spaces under furniture was examined and slowly, bit by bit, Anakin's fears began to dissipate and his cries turned to sniffles. By the time they were done, the youngling was sunk against his master, head lolling on his shoulder.

"Do you want to go back to bed?" Obi-Wan asked, his reply a small tired whine and a shake of the head.

"They'll come back," he mumbled.

"Not if I'm here they won't," the Jedi smiled, "maybe it will help if you tell me what your nightmare was about?"

Anakin nodded, thinking as his master sat down at the kitchen table, "It was real," he mumbled, "what they did," he rested his head against the man's chest, hugging Markyle tightly, "they hurt me," he whispered, "my leg was broken and they broke it more," the boy looked up at his master with round eyes, "then he was there."

"The Sith?" Obi-wan asked, finding it hard to keep his voice steady.

Anakin nodded, curling up on the man's lap, "Dark Side's scary, Master."

"Yes, it is, padawan," Obi-Wan murmured, "it's very scary indeed."

"He wanted me to be part of it," Anakin mumbled, "I didn't want it though."

Obi-Wan nodded, running a hand through the boy's hair, then frowning, "He? I thought you said you didn't see the Sith?" Anakin paused, "How did you know that the Sith's a man?" the youngling stared and shook his head. The Jedi frowned, silent for a moment, "Padawan, I want you to close your eyes." He started to pull Markyle from his arms.

"Markyle-"

"You can have him back in a moment," he soothed, placing the bantha on the table, "I need you to close your eyes for me," Anakin gave his toy one last look, before taking a breath and closing his eyes, "now, I know it's scary, but I want you to think back to when you were with the Sith. Search your feelings and look past the fear. What else did he make you feel?"

Anakin's face contorted into a frown, his pyjama top twisting in his small hands. He didn't speak for a few minutes, silent. Then, he opened his eyes, "Similar."

Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow, "Similar? Padawan-"

"I knew him," the boy whispered, reaching for the bantha and cradling him to his chest, "I know him."

"He felt familiar?" Obi-Wan asked, eyes widening, "Anakin, are you sure?"

The youngling nodded.

"And he wasn't Dooku?"

"Was scarier than Dooku," Anakin whispered, "he was evil," he looked up at his master, his eyes round, "wants me, doesn't he?"

Obi-Wan sighed and looking at the small boy on his lap. He cupped his cheek, wishing that he could forever keep him safe from all the evils of the world. But children can't and never will be kept safe from the darkness within the galaxy, no matter how hard they're held onto. With great reluctance, he nodded his head.

"Wh-why?" Anakin asked, grabbing his master's front, "why me?"

"Because, little one, you are very powerful," Obi-Wan murmured sadly, stroking his hair, "and there are those out there who would see it fit to take advantage of that power."

"Don't wanna be a Sith!" Anakin cried, burying his face against his master's stomach, "wanna be a Jedi. Wanna stay with you!"

Obi-Wan smiled, "Then that's what will happen," he said gently, rubbing his back. Anakin looked up, sniffling, "padawan, no matter what, you will always have a choice. Not I, nor the Jedi Council, nor any Sith is able to control your fate. Only you are. You can chose the light or the dark. Only you can do that. No one else can do it for you."

"I-I choose the light," Anakin murmured, wiping his cheeks.

"Then that is the path you will follow," he replied simply.

"And I-I'll stay with you?" he asked plaintively.

Obi-Wan nodded, smiling, "For as long as you want, padawan."

A smile broke Anakin's face, "Forever!" he yelled, squeezing his master tight.

The Jedi laughed, "Won't you get tired of me?"

Anakin shook his head in earnest, "Never!"

"Well, that's good to hear," Obi-Wan stroked his beard and sighed, "though, it is nearly three o'clock. You may not be tired of me yet, but you must be exhausted."

Anakin nodded, "Can I sleep with you? Case they come back?"

The Jedi smiled as he rose to his feet, "Yes, Anakin, you can."

"Can Markyle sleep with us too?"

Obi-Wan chuckled a little, "Yes, he can. I doubt either of you will take up much room."

He reached his bedroom, pulling back the covers and lying back on the mattress, still holding Anakin to him. With a sigh of relief, he turned of the light and closed his eyes. Anakin now lay sprawled on his chest, one arm wrapped around Markyle, the round his master's neck. Obi-Wan didn't mind; the boy wasn't much of a weight on him and he held him with one arm, the rest of his limbs spread across the mattress, both padawan and master as undignified as each other. It wasn't long before both of them fell into a sleep free of plastic and Siths.

...

Obi-Wan frowned. Ever since Anakin's change, he never seemed to wake up in a pleasant way and this morning was no exception. There was a distant bell was ringing and there was a small hand prodding at his cheek, "Anakin, what is it?" he asked sleepily, his eyes still closed.

"Doorbell," another prod, "want me to answer?" Obi-Wan mumbled something incoherent and nodded, "Okay!" the man grunted as his padawan rudely dug his feet into his stomach to clamber off him and get to the door. The door. "Wait," the man mumbled, pushing himself up onto his arms, "did you say the doorbell?"

"Uh huh!" Anakin chirruped, reaching up to push the door open. Obi-Wan had put half his cloak on when he heard a cheerful, "Hi Bail!"

Cloak half hanging off him, Obi-Wan nearly fell out of bed and practically scattered to the door. He skidded to a halt, finding Anakin smiling up at Bail. The man stared at the youngling in front of him, silent for a moment before saying slowly, "Hello... Anakin."

Anakin beamed up at Bail, "Come for Obi-Wan?"

Bail looked up to see Obi-Wan hastily putting on his cloak and giving Bail a partly apologetic, partly reassuring smile, "Anakin," the boy turned and looked up at his master who was giving him a well known smile.

Anakin sighed and rolled his eyes, "Wanna talk?"

Obi-Wan smiled and nodded, "Yes, Anakin."

"Grown up stuff?" Anakin asked, raising an eyebrow, looking unimpressed.

Obi-Wan nodded again, "And most likely very boring. Oh, and you left Markyle in bed."

"Oh, okay," he turned to Bail, smiled and bowed, "see you, Bail!"

The man watched as Anakin made his way past Obi-Wan and into his bedroom. Then he looked up at Obi-Wan, his eyes wide, "Who's Markyle?"

Obi-Wan ran a hand through his messy hair, "He's a bantha."

"Anakin's... a child... And you have a bantha?"

Obi-Wan couldn't help but grin at the utterly lost look on his friend's face. Yes, it was a bit cruel to be amused by his more than understandable shock, but even he had to admit, the look on his face was rather funny, "Markyle is Anakin's stuffed toy," he explaining, "Come," he took the stunned man by his arm, "I think I owe you an explanation."

...

"A Sith?" Bail asked, before taking a sip of his tea, "and Anakin knows him?"

Obi-Wan nodded, "That's what he told me. And Anakin would neither lie nor would he be confused on the matter. If he says he knows this Sith than I believe him."

"But who could it be?" Bail asked, shaking his head, "how can he know him, yet still be unsure of his identity?"

"Anakin said he never spoke, that he was trying to hide his presence from him. It was lucky he could tell who he was even a little."

Bail nodded, watching Anakin play with some of the scrap metal, his precious bantha sitting on his lap, "And now he's..."

"Three years old," Obi-Wan murmured, "yes."

Bail looked to him, "And how have you been?"

Obi-Wan remained quiet for a moment, then nodded slowly, "I have taken it surprisingly well, all things considering. He's been keeping me so busy I haven't really had time to actually think about what's happened. I just... went along with it, like he did," he sighed, taking a drink, "I'm sorry, if I had known it was you I wouldn't have let him answer the door. I thought you would have heard about it by now."

Bail shook his head, "No, not even a mention of Anakin. I had thought he was still missing, that's partly why I came here."

Obi-Wan smiled, "I'm sorry, my friend, I should have informed you-"

Bail waved his apology off with a hand, smiling, "Don't worry about it, it looks like you've had your hands more than full."

Obi-Wan nodded, the smile wiped from his face when his gaze fell on Anakin, "Anakin, I told you to get dressed fifteen minutes ago!"

Anakin looked up and scowled, "Don't want to!"

Obi-Wan sighed in exasperation, "Anakin, we have a guest."

"Bail's not a guest," Anakin replied, frowning, "he's your friend. And I don't want to!"

Obi-Wan shook his head, "I would still like you to get dressed."

"Don't want to," Anakin repeated and he began to spread the pile of metal on the carpet.

"Anakin," Obi-Wan said, "you are not making another metal angel."

The Jedi turned sharply at Bail's poorly hidden snort, "Metal angel?"

"Why not?" Anakin asked, tilting his head.

"Because then I'm going to have to give you a bath."

"Good!" Anakin smiled, "I like baths."

Obi-Wan rolled his eyes and gestured at Bail, "The guest?"

"He's not a guest, he's Bail!" Anakin protested, "You're not dressed!"

"He has a point you know," Bail said, clearly very amused by the exchange between Master and Padawan. No one could quite unravel his friends' dignified exterior like Anakin could.

"Do not encourage him," Obi-Wan said, pointing a finger at the man, unimpressed by the smirk on his face.

"Can I have a pyjama day?" Anakin asked, pouting.

"Jedi don't have pyjama days, Anakin," Obi-Wan replied wearily, turning once again to his tiresome padawan.

"'m not a Jedi!" Anakin chirruped, grinning, "'m a padawan!"

"I'm afraid padawans don't have pyjama days either," Obi-Wan shrugged, "but do you know what padawans do have?"

"What?" Anakin asked, brightening.

"The sense to listen to their masters and do as they're told," the Jedi said firmly.

"You don't do what you say!" Anakin argued, "you're in your pyjamas!"

Obi-Wan sighed, "If I get dressed, will you do the same after me?"

The youngling nodded, "Uh-huh!"

Obi-Wan looked at him, before turning his attention to his friend, who was trying, rather poorly, to hide his grin. "I fail to see what you find so amusing, Bail."

Bail chuckled, "You would, Obi-Wan. Would you like me to stay with him whilst you get dressed?"

Obi-Wan ran a hand across his face and nodded, "Yes, please," he rose to his feet before pausing, "and if he looks like he's about to fling himself into the pile of scrap metal, try to stop him."

"I shall do my best," Bail chuckled. He watched Obi-Wan walk past Anakin, his smile growing when he saw the youngling latch onto the man's legs, grinning up at him.

Obi-Wan tried his best to give his padawan a disapproving look, but the sternness was broken by a smile, "Try to be good," he said, "Please?"

"Won't be gone for long," Anakin pointed out, releasing the man's shins.

"Padawan, time does not matter when it comes to your powers in mischief," Obi-Wan muttered.

"Don't have powers in mischief!" Anakin protested, frowning.

"Padawan, I and every Jedi Master who has ever met you, beg to differ," the Jedi smirked a little, before closing his bedroom door. Anakin scowled the stuck his tongue out at the door.

Bail chuckled. It was odd, yet enjoyable to watch the to interact with each other so openly. He didn't know Anakin as well as Obi-Wan, but he knew exactly how Obi-Wan felt about him. Anakin was his youngling, but he tried so hard not to show it. Now it seemed the Jedi was incapable of doing anything else. He rose to his feet, moving over to the sofa where he watched the young boy fiddle with his make shift playthings. It was so strange that this was Anakin Skywalker, army general extraordinaire, the Hero with No Fear. Yet it was so painfully obvious that it was him, there could be no alternative explanation. It was odd and baffling, but it was Anakin and the boy certainly didn't seem to mind being so young.

"Are these all the toys your Master gave you?" Bail asked gently, teasing him a little.

Anakin smiled up at him and shook his head, "No, he gave me Markyle!" he held up the bantha he seemed to love so much. Bail had thought Jedi weren't allowed possessions and he smiled back at the youngling, thinking how it struck him as something normal rather than strange that Obi-Wan would do that for his padawan, "got these myself."

"Wouldn't you rather play with something else?" Bail asked, his glancing over the metal pieces.

Anakin frowned. He'd never thought of having anything else, "Don't have anything else," he said, pausing before smiling again, "I don't mind."

Bail thought for a moment, before reaching into his pocket. The youngling watched with curiosity, his eyes growing round as the man drew out a notepad and a pencil, "I'm a bit old fashioned," he admitted, passing the notepad to the boy, "I prefer it to datapads."

Anakin held the object carefully in his hands, staring at it with wide eyes. The man chuckled, opening it for him, "I like to draw. Do you?"

The boy nodded slowly, turning over the pages with gentle care. Some of them had notes scrawled in Basic, the handwriting too messy for him to make out, but others were filled with sketches. Anakin gazed at them tilting his head, "Who's that?" he asked, pointing to a sketch of a woman.

"That's my wife," Bail said with a gentle smile.

"She's beautiful," Anakin murmured, gazing at her for a little bit, before turning over the pages, "That's Padme!" Anakin grinned.

Bail nodded, "Yes, that was during one very long meeting with the senate."

Anakin's eyes grew round, "Grown ups get bored?"

Bail laughed, "Yes, Anakin, even grown ups get bored. I would doubt even a Jedi's patience would hold under a three hour long debate over something so trivial I can't even remember it."

Anakin continued to scour through the notebook, looking at each picture with equal fascination. Then, he felt a tap on his head and he looked up to see a pencil being offered to him, "You said you liked to draw?"

Anakin looked from the pencil to the notepad and his eyes widened, "No," he said, trying to push back the notepad, "this is important-"

"I think I can survive a meeting with a datapad, Anakin," Bail smiled, placing the notepad on the boy's lap, "besides, it means it won't give me an opportunity to get distracted."

"You sure?" Anakin asked, frowning, "what about your pictures?"

"How about I lend them to you for now. Then when I come back, I'll take my pictures and leave you with my notebook. Does that sound like a fair deal?"

Anakin thought hard, frowning down at the note pad, before nodding solemnly, "I'll be really, really careful," he vowed.

Bail grinned, "I'm sure you will, Anakin. Why don't you draw something?"

"Won't be as good as yours," Anakin pointed out.

"Yes, but I've had lots of practise," the man flipped over to a blank page, "why don't you start practising now?"

When Obi-Wan emerged from his room, fully dressed, he found Anakin hunched over something, a scratching noise coming from him, Bail watching him with a smile.

"Anakin," the boy looked up at his master, "we had a deal."

"Oh," Anakin looked from the notepad to his master, then smiled, "Okay!" he scrambled to his feet, dashing off to his room.

Obi-Wan gave his friend a quizzical look, moving to sit next to him, "What did you just give him?"

Bail picked up the notebook and passed it to him. Obi-Wan stared at it; it was a child's drawing of two people, underneath written badly was "Obi-Wan and Anakin". "I thought you loved this notepad?" he murmured absently, his eyes still fixed on the drawing.

"Do you think I've been carrying around the same one since we met?" Bail snorted, "I must have a hundred spare ones at home."

"Why did you give it to him?"

Bail sighed, "I know Anakin is still him. I know that there is some grown up in him, but... it didn't feel right, watching a child play with all of this," he gestured to the scrap heap, "I thought he'd prefer something else to do so I gave him this."

"I didn't think-"

"You've had enough to think about as it is," Bail cut in firmly, "don't worry yourself over it, Obi-Wan. Besides, you got him that bantha and that toy alone would probably be enough to keep him happy."

Obi-Wan chuckled, "yes, he does love it. I wonder what he'll do with him once it's been reversed."

Bail paused, "Have you thought about what you'll do if you can't reverse it?"

Obi-Wan stopped. He stared at the floor, his cheeks growing a little pale, "I hadn't... it hadn't even crossed my mind," he murmured, "I had just assumed that we would be able to..." he looked up at his friend, "of course, I'd bring him up again," his thumb abesntly stroked the picture, "I'd bring him up a hundred times if I had to."

"I'm sorry-"

"No, it's fine," the Jedi waved off the apology, "really, I should have thought about it before. I haven't really had time to think."

"I shouldn't have said on it," Bail braced his arm with a hand, "try not to dwell on it, Obi-Wan," Obi-Wan nodded, staring at the picture before closing the book, "though there is one more thing that you need to think about."

"What?" the Jedi asked warily.

Bail sighed, "Padme."

Obi-Wan shut his eyes and groaned, "She's here, isn't she?"

Bail nodded, "I'm afraid so. She's thinking of coming by tomorrow. Should I tell her no?"

Obi-Wan, had, by now, his face in his hands, "No, she has every right to know," he mumbled, "Palpatine does, it's only right the rest of his friends should know too."

"You're going to tell all of his friends? Even those who fight with you?"

Bail winced as the man weaved a weary sigh, "Do you think they should? What would it do for morale?"

"Children do wonders for morale."

"Not when the said children are meant to be the ones leading them into battle," Obi-Wan pointed out.

"You don't have to show him to the whole battalion," Bail eased, "just a few of his close friends. And if you tell them to not to say to anyone, they will listen to you."

"Master?" Obi-Wan turned sharply at his padawan's voice, "is Bail staying for lunch?"

Bail checked his watch and smiled at the youngling, who had his tunic on back to front, "I'm afraid I can't Anakin, but I will drop by later for my notebook."

"Okay!"

Both Obi-Wan and Anakin saw Bail to the door, Bail giving Obi-Wan a reassuring smile and chuckling as Anakin nearly fell over bowing to him. After he left, the Jedi turned to the youngling, smiling when he saw his top was on back to front. He lifted him up and carrying him to the kitchen, where he placed him on the table, "arms up."

"Master?" Anakin asked as his master pulled off his tunic, "are we gonna see Rex and Cody today?"

Obi-Wan frowned, "Just how much of that conversation did you hear?"

"Only the end part," Anakin promised, tugging down his top.

"Well, I don't know whether we will have time, Anakin," he said truthfully, "we need to have lunch and then we'll need to talk to the council."

"More important than the council!" Anakin declared.

Obi-Wan smiled, "I know that is your opinion, but they need to know about the Sith. It is very important that they know, Anakin."

"But I wanna see Rex and Cody!" Anakin whined, "please, Master," he pouted, "can't we see them after? Please?"

"Do you want them to see you?" the Jedi asked gently.

Anakin shot him a hurt look, "Yes," he mumbled, "I miss them."

"I suppose it has just been us two for a while now, hasn't it?" Obi-Wan murmured, stroking the boy's hair. Maybe it was because when Anakin was nearer this age, he hadn't really had any friends to miss. He hadn't thought about the youngling wanting to see his friends.

"I like that," Anakin reassured him, smiling, "like being with you. Just wanna see them too!"

...

Obi-Wan had never seen clones actually interact with any children before. War, fortunately, hadn't brought them much chance to see children and of course, they grew up so quickly that they had never really associate with them. Yet it was clear, once the shock had faded from seeing their general as he was, that they adored him.

Obi-Wan stayed silent, watching with a gentle smile as they argued over who would have Anakin on his lap next. They'd been like that for almost half an hour now, each of them taking it in turns to dote on their youngling. Obi-Wan was sure if they could, they'd have him stay with them till he grew up all over again. Currently, the youngling was sat on Fives's lap, watching the exchange with a huge grin on his face. Always the attention seeker. Still, the Jedi knew it was a bit more than that. He was with his friends and they were all so ecstatic to see him. It was a pity that it was only later in life that Anakin got the feeling of being wanted by someone other than Obi-Wan.

"Fives, can I try your helmet?" he piped up. The conversation stopped as soon as he spoke, all of them focused on him. The Jedi found it hard not to laugh when Rex, Alpha and Cody rushed to give it to him. The youngling examined the helmet carefully, before putting it on, the weight of it nearly making him fall off Fives's lap. He pushed it up to peer at the men, his eyes shining as he grinned up at them.

"Personally, Sir, I think it's a bit too big," Cody chuckled.

Anakin wrinkled his nose, "I'm not Sir, I'm Anakin!"

"Technically speaking, Anakin, you are still their general," Obi-Wan pointed out.

"Still, I'm just Anakin," Anakin insisted, "Hey, can I play with your blaster?"

He let the helmet fall back over his face as the room was filled with a unified, "No!"

Even Anakin didn't bother arguing with that.

...

"Why do you have to go?" Anakin asked mournfully. The boy was still clinging to the helmet, as though hoping he could somehow keep it hostage.

"We have to do some training," Rex said gently, who was knelt down before him, "but you can visit us soon, Si- Anakin."

Anakin looked up at the others, "Do you have to?"

Alpha nodded, giving the boy a small smile, "I'm afraid so."

Reluctantly, he handed back the helmet. Then he flung his arms around Rex's neck. Obi-Wan could tell the move had taken the man by surprise, but still, Rex wrapped his arms round him all the same, "Promise me you'll be safe," Anakin half ordered, half pleaded. Obi-Wan could hear the commanding general somewhere in there, but mostly what he heard was a youngling scared for his friends. The boy looked up at the other clones, not quite picking up on the pained expressions on their countenances, "promise."

Without thought, all three gave him a salute, "We promise, Anakin."

...

Obi-Wan was glad Anakin didn't cry, but he could tell that the boy was close to doing so when he finally waved goodbye to his friends. They walked down the corridor, hand in hand, when the Jedi heard a small sniffle. He looked down and saw Anakin rubbing at his cheeks, "Oh, Anakin, it's all right," he soothed, leaning down to pull the boy into a hug, "they won't be going on another mission for a while, they're only training right now."

"Might still get hurt," Anakin whimpered, wrapping his arms around the man's neck.

"Yes, they might. But everything we do carries a risk of us getting hurt," Obi-Wan murmured, rising to his feet with the boy still in his arms, "I'm afraid that's just the chance we all have to take. Everyone does it, every time we step out of our doors, but we still do it because it's worth it."

"Don't wanna lose them," Anakin mumbled, a few tears dripping on his cloak.

"I know you don't, but you wouldn't be able to protect them no matter how badly you want to," he rubbed the boy's back, "it's their decision to make, little one, not yours."

Anakin nodded, sniffling, "I understand, Master," his lower lip trembled, "but they're my friends."

"Yes, they are and they're very lucky to have you," Obi-Wan soothed, "but would it be fair for them to stop you from going to war when you're older just to keep you safe?"

"No," Anakin mumbled, shaking his head.

"Then, as hard as it is, you must do the same for them. We all have to let people who matter to us go into danger sometimes padawan. I've had to let you go, a great many times. But I always do it, because it wouldn't be fair to hold you back."

"Was it hard?" the youngling asked, looking up at his master.

Obi-Wan nodded, "Yes, it was very hard at first. It is still difficult, but it's easier now, or it was when you were a bit older. There have been far too many times I let you go and was terrified you wouldn't come back."

"You get scared?" Anakin asked, his eyes turning round.

The Jedi nodded, "Yes," he murmured, "I shouldn't, but I do."

"Thought you weren't scared of anything."

Obi-Wan chuckled a little, "I am, padawan, trust me."

"Scared of flying?"

"I told you, I'm not scared of it, I just don't like it," Obi-Wan said firmly, raising an eyebrow at his padawan's poorly hidden giggles, "and what, pray what is my padawan scared of?"

"Nothing!" Anakin declared, grinning.

"Oh really?" Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow, smirking, "not even this?" the hallway erupted with the sound of giggles as Obi-Wan's clever fingers worked away at Anakin's neck. He cradled him in one arm, the youngling's small hands scrabbling at his master's own in the attempt to get it off his neck.

"N-no, Master- t-tickles!"

"I thought you weren't scared of being tickled," Obi-Wan said casually.

"'m no-" Anakin couldn't finish his sentence as he burst into another gale of laughter, "S-stop!"

"Do you get scared of a few things, padawan?" Obi-Wan asked, his fingers still mercilessly tickling the small boy.

"Y-yes!" Anakin yelled, eyes shut as he roared with laughter, "Yes!"

Obi-Wan finally brought the torture to a halt, holding the still laughing boy to his chest. On the walk back to their apartment, he had to stoutly ignore all the looks the Jedi were giving him as he carried a limp youngling in his arms, whose face still buried against the man's neck; though it muffled them, it didn't stop the weak stream of giggles being heard from everyone walking past.

"You're doing this to get back at me, aren't you?" Obi-Wan muttered, heat creeping up his neck.

He felt the boy nod and let out a particularly loud laugh. The Jedi sighed and shook his head, "Irksome padawan."

"Deserve it," Anakin shot him a grin, before carrying on giggling. He didn't stop till they reached home.