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 :)

…..

As the clones entered the main hall, they could see Lama Su talking to Chancellor Palpatine, a frown on his face. As they stood to attention, Palpatine's throaty laughter echoed throughout the hall as he stepped up to the microphone.

"Nonsense, I'm never too busy to speak to our fine soldiers!" he chuckled, seemingly answering a question of Lama Su's

Silence fell across the hall as Palpatine cleared his throat. "As you all know…" he began, his eyes scanning the crowd, "…there is a dangerous fugitive on the loose."

Cody fought the urge to glance at his brothers at this, keeping his eyes firmly focused in front of him as Palpatine continued.

"The last time Master Kenobi was seen….was when he was here. In this very building, seeking sanctuary from prosecution. Some of my most trusted guards were placed at every exit…and yet, not even twenty four hours later, Master Kenobi was gone."

Silence filled the room once again, and Palpatine snarled. "I know one of you helped the Jedi to escape, and now Coruscant is burning because of you!"

He pointed angrily at the clones, thankfully not focusing on any particular one as his glare swept over everybody. "What?! Was he kind to one of you?! That wasn't kindness, it was cunning! He's a Jedi, and Jedi are not capable of real love!"

Palpatine took a moment to recompose himself, taking a deep breath before continuing. "But what chance could you have against his treachery? Well, never you boys mind. He will be out of our lives soon….I know where the…more outspoken of the Jedi's hideout is, and tomorrow, at dawn, I attack with a thousand men!"

As the speech was over, the clones were ordered back to their rooms. Once in his, Cody found Anakin lying on his bed, clutching his injured shoulder, "I heard over the speakers….We have to find this hideout, before daybreak. If Palpatine gets there first...are you coming with me?"

Cody shook his head, "I can't."

"I thought you were Obi-Wan's friend!"

"I can't disobey Palpatine again…"

Anakin scowled, "Obi-Wan stood up for you. You've got a funny way of showing gratitude!"

Cody remained silent, turning away from the ex-Sith.

"Well, I'm not going to sit by and watch Palpatine massacre innocent people…" sighed Anakin, "…You do what you think is right."

Still clutching his shoulder, Anakin slipped into the shadows and headed towards the south tower steps. Cody remained with his back turned to him, eyes tightly closed.

After a few minutes, he opened his eyes…only to be met with the disappointed glares of his brothers. He groaned, "Look. What am I supposed to do? Go out there and rescue the boy from the jaws of death, and the whole city will cheer like I'm some sort of hero?"

His brothers didn't answer, remaining silent as Cody continued in frustration. "He already has his knight in shining armour, and it's not me. Palpatine was right. Everyone outside these walls were right about everything. I'm tired of trying to be something I'm not."

He stared out of the window, his eyes focused on flickering flames in the distance. Suddenly, someone tapped him on the arm. Spinning around, Cody came face to face with Rex…who smirked and handed him his cap.

Cody hesitated for but a moment, before grabbing the cap and rolling his eyes, "I must be out of my mind!"

…

Anakin crept into an alleyway just outside the walls of the barracks, desperately reaching out with the Force to try and find his ex-Master….but to no avail. Suddenly a figure appeared in front of him, causing him to stop in his tracks and yell out in shock.

"I'm coming with you…"

Anakin glared at the clone, clutching his chest over his heart as he willed it to calm down. "I'm glad you changed your mind."

Cody shrugged, "I'm not doing it for you. I'm doing it for him."

"You know where he is?!"

"No…" Cody sighed, pulling out the polished stone that Obi-Wan gave him, "…but he said this would help us find him."

He handed it to Anakin who frowned, "This is a river stone….Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan's Master, used to give these to him…apparently they're Force sensitive, but I've never felt anything. How is this meant to help?"

"I'm not sure."

Anakin began to mutter under his breath, rolling the stone in his palms as he focused on it. Cody simply watched in silence…until he remembered what Obi-Wan said the night he gave him the stone

"Just close your eyes and think of me…you'll know the way." He whispered.

"What?"

Cody held out his hand, "Quick, give me the stone! I think I can find him!"

Anakin took a step away, "You?! A clone?!"

"Just give it to me!"

"You're a clone! There's no way you can magically sense where Obi-Wan is!"

Loudly, the pair began to talk over one another, the voices raising as they tried to make themselves heard.

"…I can do it!" "…You can't do it!"

Glaring at each other, they both took deep breaths.

Anakin rolled his eyes and handed the stone over. Closing his eyes, Cody thought about Obi-Wan…his smile….the kiss on his cheek…those beautiful eyes…a door with a small Jedi insignia on it-WAIT!

Cody grinned, "There's a secret entrance…that leads underneath the temple! It's in the Temple Gardens, that's why Palpatine's guards have never found it…no-one but Jedi can enter!"

Anakin nodded in understanding and grinned, "I think I might know where….good thing you've got an ex-Jedi on your side! Truce?" He slapped Cody on the back….the clone didn't even flinch.

Cody thought to himself for a few moments and shrugged, "Well...okay…."

He slapped Anakin on the back….unfortunately it was the back of his bad shoulder causing the ex-Sith to wince in pain

"Sorry." Apologised Cody as they made their way towards the Jedi Temple.

"…No you're not."

…

After almost half an hour of sneaking through the alleyways of Coruscant, the pair made it to the Temple and, with a lot of help from Anakin, snuck into the Temple gardens. They strode past fountains and trees…until coming to a door that was hidden behind some vines, a Jedi insignia carved onto it.

Anakin smirked, "I think we've got the right place."

"…So how do we open it?" asked Cody, "There's no sensors or handles."

Anakin frowned at this, his eyes scanning the symbol, "Hmm. I'm not sure. I can try and use the Force I suppose…."

As Anakin was talking, Cody spotted a small gap between the door and its frame. Using all of his strength, he managed to pry the heavy door open, leaving just enough room for the pair to slip down the stairs that could now be seen by the light of a flashlight.

Anakin sighed, "Yes well, or we could just go down those stairs…."

Making their way down, they ended up, up to their knees in murky water, surrounded by skeletons.

Cody frowned, "Is this really the secret meeting place Palpatine has been trying to find?"

"These must be the old catacombs that run underneath the city…" muttered Anakin, shining his flashlight ahead of them.

As they continued on, the pair failed to notice three of the skeletons move slightly, their heads turning as the two walked past.

Anakin smirked, "Cheerful place…." He chuckled and glanced at Cody, "Kinda makes you wish you got out more often, eh?"

Cody kept his eyes focused in front of him, "Not me. I just want to warn Obi-Wan and get back to the barracks. I don't want to get in any more trouble."

"Speaking of trouble, we should have run in to some by now…."

"What do you mean?"

"You know, a guard, a booby trap..." Suddenly their flashlights flickered off, leaving them in complete darkness, "….or an ambush."

Suddenly the tunnels filled with light and they found themselves surrounded by skeletons. They were forced to their knees in front of Master Qui-Gon Jinn.

"Anakin…." Sighed the Jedi Master, "….You really should have called first."

"They're trespassing!" "Spies sent by Palpatine!" Called out the skeletons, who were pulling off their masks to reveal other members of the Jedi Order

Anakin shook his head frantically, "We are not spies!"

Cody nodded in agreement, "Can't you listen—"

Before he could finish, Qui-Gon held up a commanding hand as a silent order for them to stop. "Don't interrupt me!" he ordered, "You're very clever to have found our hideaway. But you are both under Palpatine's command, and therefore cannot be trusted."

He glanced up at the surrounding Jedi and gestured for them to follow him, "Restrain them, we'll take them to the council."

Cody and Anakin, whilst not gagged, remained completely silent as they were marched through the tunnels and into a brightly lit, underground, courtyard. Seated on a large stage, were several elder Jedi.

They were brought to a halt just outside the circle, as Master Qui-Gon stepped forwards. "We've caught a couple of Palpatine's spies in the tunnels and-"

"Stop!" interrupted one of the council members, drawing back his hood to reveal Master Obi-Wan Kenobi

"Obi-Wan!" "Obi-Wan!"

Obi-Wan strode up to Master Qui-Gon, a frown set on his face. "These men aren't spies-they're our friends!"

Slightly shaken, Qui-Gon shrugged. "Why didn't they say so!?"

"We tried!" "We tried!"

Obi-Wan gestured at Anakin, "Anakin saved Dex from Palpatine's anger…he turned against the ways of the Sith…." He then placed a gentle hand on Cody's shoulder, "….And Cody helped me escape the barracks."

Anakin stepped forwards and raised his voice above the mutters and whispering of the crowd, "We came to warn you! Palpatine's coming! He says he knows where you're hiding, and he's attacking at dawn with a thousand men!"

The crowd erupted into frantic panic and gasps of shock.

Raising his hands into the air, Obi-Wan attempted to calm the crowd down. "Then let's waste no time! We must leave immediately!"

Padawans and Master's alike began to run around the underground courtyard frantically, as Obi-Wan smiled gently at his ex-padawan, "You took a terrible risk coming here. It may not exactly show, but we're grateful….."

Out of the corner of his eye, Anakin spotted Cody moving away from the pair, a depressed look on his face. "Don't thank me…." Smirked Anakin, quickly grabbing Cody's arm and pulling him closer to him and Obi-Wan, "Thank Cody. Without his help, I would never have thought to look here."

Obi-Wan beamed at Cody, his blue eyes twinkling as Cody shyly smiled back….but only for a brief moment.

"Nor would I!"