Due to the success of my Christmas Carol AU for this fandom, I have decided to write a Codywan centric one, in a Hunchback of Notre Dame AU :)

Enjoy and please read and review :)

…..

The morning sun rose over the horizon as Darth Vader waited patiently with a group of specialised clone officers. As Chancellor Palpatine's speeder arrived around the corner, Anakin called his men to attention.

Anakin bowed as Palpatine exited the speeder, "Morning, sir." Only to frown as Palpatine groaned, "Are you feeling all right?"

Palpatine shook his head weakly, "I had a little trouble with the fireplace."

Anakin frowned at this, but chose not to comment any further, "I see. Your orders, sir?"

"Find Master Kenobi!"

….

The remainder of the week was spent knocking in doors and dragging entire families out for interrogation….and bribery.

"One hundred credits for Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi." Offered Palpatine.

No takers

Palatine snarled, "Lock them up!" he ordered.

A speeder was shot down and the passengers dragged out;

"Two hundred credits Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi!"

Again, no takers.

Palpatine growled, "Take them away!"

As the day faded away and evening appeared, Palpatine and his guards ended up interrogating a Besalisk outside of his diner.

Palpatine sneered at the alien, "There have been reports of Jedi's entering this diner. Tell me, have you been harbouring those Jedi's who would stand against me?"

The Besalisk rubbed his hands together nervously, "This diner is always open to anyone who may need it. Have mercy Chancellor!"

"I am placing you under house arrest until I get to the bottom of this. If what you say is true, you are innocent and you have nothing to fear."

As guards backed the alien back into his diner, the Besalisk tried to protest, "But I am innocent, I assure you!"

Once inside, Palpatine pulled the doors shut and placed chains around the handles, locking them shut. He turned to Vader, "Burn it."

"What!?"

Palpatine smirked, "Until it smoulders. He is a traitor and must be made an example of."

"With all due respect, sir, I was never trained to murder the innocent."

"But you were trained to follow orders."

Staring at the Chancellor, Anakin shook his head and took a step back.

Palpatine sneered, "Insolent coward."

Palpatine took the chance to light the building on fire. Eyes wide, Anakin crashed through the windows of the diner, quickly helping the alien out into the streets. As the building continued to burn, clone officers grabbed Anakin and pushed him to his knees.

Palpatine stood over the ex-Sith Lord, "The sentence for insubordination is death. Such a pity-you threw away a promising career.

Anakin grinned up at the man, "Consider it my highest honour, sir."

Before he could be killed, Anakin threw the men away from him with the use of the Force, his eyes catching sight of a cloaked figure in the distance. Smirking at this, Anakin hopped into the Chancellor's private speeder and sped away.

"Get him!" Palpatine screamed, "And don't hit my speeder!"

As Anakin sped off, blaster shots flew past his ear….until one of them struck him in his shoulder, causing him to lose control of the speeder. As the vehicle flew towards a building, Anakin flung himself from it, falling down into the lower streets. Clone officers leant over the pathway railings and fired into the streets below, closely watched by the cloaked figure.

Palpatine sneered, "Don't waste your ammo. The scum of the city will finish him off. Find Kenobi! If you have to burn the city to the ground, so be it!"

As the guards disappeared around the corner, Obi-Wan leapt down to the lower levels, keeping under cover. He rummaged through the rubbish bags that Anakin had fallen into, before dragging him out and pulling him away. They needed to find somewhere safe.

…..

Outside of the clone barracks, Palpatine paced…they were getting nowhere.

"Sir!"

Palpatine turned to stare at the guard,

"We've looked everywhere, and still no sign of Master Kenobi."

Palpatine shook his head in dismay, "I had the entire barracks surrounded, guards at every door. There was no way he could have escaped, unless..." he stared up at the windows of the barracks.

…..

Rex shook his head as he stared out of the window. Smoke rose into the air and the dim flicker of flames cast shadows against the buildings, "Oh, it doesn't look good…." He sighed

Echo nodded in agreement, "It's hopeless. Absolutely hopeless. I'm beginning to fear the worst for Master Kenobi."

Rex sighed, "I know, but don't say anything to Cody. He's upset enough as it is…"

Fives, who still had a smirk on his face from winning a poker game earlier, nodded. "Yeah, you're right. You guys need to lighten up."

Hearing the footsteps of his older brother behind him, Echo patted Rex and Fives on the back, "Shh, shh, shh! Here he comes!"

"Now just stay calm." ordered Rex

"Not a word." agreed Echo

"Easy does it." Sighed Fives

"Stone faced."

Cody peered out of the window as he stood next to his brothers. "Any sign of him?" he asked.

Echo tried….oh god did he try….but it was too much. "Oh, it's a lost cause! He could be anywhere! In the stocks, in the dungeon, on the rack!" He wiped a few tears away as he tried to get himself under control.

Rex shook his head in dismay and frowned at his younger brother, "Nice work, Echo.

Cody was quick to come to the defence of the younger clone, "No, he's right. What are we going to do?"

Fives smirked, "What are you guys talking about? If I know Master Kenobi, especially from the tales of war, he's three steps ahead of Palpatine, and well out of harm's way!"

"Do you really think so?" asked Cody

"Hey, when things cool off, he'll be back. You'll see."

"What makes you so sure?"

Rex grinned, "Because he likes you. We always said you were the cute one."

"I thought I was the cute one!" protested Fives, shoving a biscuit into his mouth.

"No, you're the fat, stupid one with the big mouth!"

"What are you saying, exactly?"

Choosing to ignore his brother, Rex just sighed. "Take it from us, Cody. You've got nothing to worry about."

Fives nodded in agreement, "Yeah, you're irresistible."

"Knights in shining armour certainly aren't his type." Chuckled Echo

"And those guys are a dime a dozen. But you? He liked you…yeah, I know there are a lot of us, but Master Kenobi took a liking to you….making you unique!"

Cody grinned as his brothers began to tease him

"Cody? Cody!"

They all turned to see Obi-Wan in the shadows, an unknown figure slumped against him. Cody grinned, "Obi-Wan! You're all right! I knew you'd come back."

Obi-Wan smiled wearily at the clone, "You've done so much for me already, my friend, but I must ask your help one more time."

"Yes, anything."

Stepping into the light, it was soon revealed that Obi-Wan was carrying the partially unconscious form of Darth Vader. Palpatine's right hand man.

This is Anakin Skywalker. He's wounded, and a fugitive like me. He can't go on much longer. I knew he'd be safe here. Please, can you hide him?"

Cody stared at the unconscious form before nodding shakily and gesturing towards the rooms, "This way."

Fives, Rex and Echo quickly set up a spare cot/mattress on the ground, which Anakin was placed onto. The ex-Sith stirred, "Obi-Wan?"

"Sshh, Sshh, Sshh…." Hushed Obi-Wan, gesturing for Fives to pass him a bacta pad, "…You'll hide here until you're strong enough to move."

He placed the bacta pad on Anakin's wound, placing a hand over his mouth as the younger man yelped in pain. Once the wound was bandaged, Obi-Wan allowed Anakin to rest. "Dex owes you his life. You're either the single bravest Sith I've ever seen, or the craziest Jedi."

"Ex-Jedi, remember? Ex-Sith as well now probably…." Anakin hissed in pain, "….You know, you're bedside manner hasn't got any better!"

Obi-Wan smirked, "You're lucky. That blaster shot almost hit over your heart."

"It didn't? Why am I in so much pain then?!"

In the background, Cody watched in silence. The two Force users seemed so familiar with each other….teasing each other and talking about memories long past. How could he ever hope to compete with that…?

Suddenly, there was an announcement over the speaker.

'All clones make their way to the main hall. All clones make their way to the main hall.'

Obi-Wan frowned, "What's-"

Cody shook his head, "Palpatine's coming. We only ever get called into the main hall when he wants to speak to the troops. You must leave. Quick, follow me!" He tugged on Obi-Wan's sleeve and pulled him down the corridor, "Go down the south tower steps…there'll be hardly anyone there!"

Before leaving, Obi-Wan pulled him into a hug, "Be careful, my friend. Promise you won't let anything happen to him."

There was silence for a few moments, before Cody sighed, "I promise."

"Thank you." Obi-Wan quickly rushed towards the exit, leaving Cody standing in the middle of the corridor…until Rex came rushing up

"Quick, we gotta stash the stiff!"

The four of them quickly dragged the mattress with Anakin's, now unconscious, body towards the table with Cody's guns on, being sure to use a sheet to shield the ex-Sith from view.

Echo winced, "I hope they don't decide to do a random room search today. This will not look good on our records."

"Shut up Echo…" scolded Fives, "…you'll jinx us!"

Once they were sure he would remain hidden, the group slipped into the large crowd that was now heading down towards the main hall.