Chapter 18 – Preschool with Yoda

The next morning Anakin wanted to check in with the new father. Obi-Wan's apartment was only a quick walk away. "Good morning," Anakin greeted Yoda at the door.

"A good morning, it is," Yoda replied.

A very tired Obi-Wan let out a muttered sigh as he made his way into his own kitchen.

"And a good morning to you. How did the little one sleep?" Anakin smiled, quite amused by the sight.

"I'm beginning to understand why you looked like you'd crawled out of a coffin so many times after the purge. How you can walk around now, with little Leo, I don't know."

Anakin laughed. "Practice. And one's a lot easier than two. Plus Leo doesn't have Colic, like Luke had. So, she's been keeping you awake, I see."

"Um-hm," Obi-Wan sleepily replied. "I've been following all of your advice about when to feed her and how to rock her to sleep, but sometimes she just doesn't go. She isn't hungry, she doesn't need a change, nothing is bothering her, but she won't quiet down. Is this Colic? Like you say Luke had." His eyebrow creased with worry.

"Crying all night, she has been," said Yoda. "But Colic, it is not."

"You're still new to her," Anakin added. "She hasn't learned to trust you yet. The bond will form, you've just got to give it a little time."

"Well, I have to thank Padme and Beru for designing the nursery while we were gone. Their design really is efficient, though I don't think I'd of chosen so much pink."

"Well, she is a little girl." Anakin pointed out.

"And how are you able to be so alert this morning?" Obi-Wan and Anakin looked at Yoda.

"A lot in nine hundred years, you learn. More practice than young Anakin, I have," Yoda answered. "To the Academy, I must go. Lessons to teach, I have. Bring the Twins this afternoon, Anakin, you will."

"Yes I will," Anakin agreed. "They are excited for their first group class with the other younglings. Though, I don't know how you'll teach a whole bunch of two-year-old's at the same time."

"Much practice, I have," Yoda repeated.

"Still, If you need any help, don't hesitate to call," said Anakin. Yoda shrugged him off before heading out the door. Anakin turned to Obi-Wan. "Tell you what, I'll help with Ella-Reese and you can catch up on some sleep."

"No, Anakin. I couldn't ask you to," Obi-Wan tried to say.

Anakin looked down on his former Master, the way Obi-Wan had been prone to while giving a lecture when their situations were reversed. "You're only good for her if you can take care of yourself. Just a couple hours."

Obi-Wan started to nod in agreement.

"Waaaa-Waaaa" Ella-Reese started to cry again.

"After this one." Obi-Wan got up and walked towards the nursery. Anakin shook his head, then got up to follow him. "I'm already up." Obi-Wan shrugged.


"Do they really have to go?" Anakin again questioned their plans.

"Yes, Ani. Look," Padme placed a hand on Anakin's chin to demand his full attention. "I'm going to be spending more time at the community center, now that Leo's getting bigger. This way I can let the twins stay with Yoda while I'm there."

"But they're two. How much do they have to learn anyways?" Anakin crossed his arms and stood tall. He knew the intimidating posture never worked on his wife, so he shrunk his shoulders next and pouted.

"They're almost three, and they can learn all kinds of things. Especially social skills, how to play with kids their age, and how to be away from us." Padme spoke clearly, using a tone she'd perfected in the senate.

"But they're away from us often. Whenever Owen and Beru babysit," Anakin tried to rationalize.

"Aunt Beru and Uncle Owen don't count. They're family. The kids are already so familiar with them. Being on their own will raise their self-esteem. And we'll be there at the end of the day to pick them up again." Padme touched Anakin's left hand and looked up into his eyes. "Plus it gives us time to spend alone together."

Anakin smirked at her suggestion. "Well, when you put it that way." Padme returned his smile and gave him a quick peck on his lips.

"Ee-eew!" Luke screeched from the hall outside.

Anakin gave a light chuckle and rolled his eyes. "That settles it."


Later that afternoon Anakin walked into the Community Center holding Luke and Leia's hands. They signed in at the reception desk and then he walked them down the hall to the classroom. Inside the room there were several younglings already. Two of them were playing with Master Yoda's hover-chair parked in the corner. Master Yoda looked up and walked over to Anakin with his cane, leaving behind another youngling who sat crying by the table.

Anakin gulped. He bent down to talk to the twins. "Listen to me, Luke, Leia. I want you to have fun today, but most important, I want you to listen to Master Yoda." Luke became distracted watching the younglings play. "Luke, Luke." Anakin reached out to touch his face, bringing his attention back. "Listen to Master Yoda and follow all of his rules. Mommy and I will be back when the class is finished. You don't need to miss us."

"With the others, you will play." Yoda said, dismissing the twins to run off.

Anakin watched them a touch disappointed that they weren't more sad to leave him. This is for the best, he reminded himself, as he turned to Yoda. "Master Yoda."

"Go, you will."

"But. Do you need my help. That youngling's crying." Anakin pointed desperately to the little one sitting at the table.

"Nervous being separated, he is. Adapt, he will. Go." Yoda pointed with his stick to the door. With a last look back over his shoulder, Anakin walked out the door.


Leia looked around the room, her tummy was starting to feel funny. Luke had run off right away to join some of the more active kids, and Leia felt scared without her brother. Then she looked ahead of her and saw another little boy crying by a table. She felt sorry for the boy and walked over to sit beside him.

"What's wrong," she asked him.

"I miss Master Ka-Moon," The boy replied.

Leia laid a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay. He'll be back with my Daddy later. We're gonna have fun with Mustard Yoda now." The little boy smiled at her. "What's your name?"

"Renny," said the little boy.

"Renny, It's good to meet you. I'm Leia." Leia mimicked her mother and gave a polite curtsy, which made Renny laugh. The two were becoming friends already.


Yoda walked over to the younglings at the table. Once he got there he intended to get the other kids to gather round and start his lesson.

"Mustard Yoda, Mustard Yoda!" Leia called out to him with a pleading voice.

"Leia, spoke about this we did. It's Ma-aster Yoda. With me, say it. Mmmm," Yoda instructed.

"Mmmm," Leia went.

"Aaaa," Yoda continued.

"Aaaa," she followed.

"Stir," said Yoda.

"Stir," Leia obeyed.

"Good, now together, Mmm-aaa-stir"

"Mm-aa-stir," said Leia with some effort. "But Mustard Yoda!"

Yoda sighed, "What is it?"

"Are they allowed to do that?" She pointed to the other end of the room.

Yoda looked and his eyes became very big. Luke was now standing on Yoda's hover-chair which was hovering in the air. Yoda reached out and slowly the chair lowered to the floor again with the force.

Luke jumped off and threw his hands up in a grand show. "Ta-dah!" The rest of the younglings cheered.

"Your father's youngling, you are!" Yoda said, shaking his head.


Hello Everyone, For this chapter I wanted to keep it soft and avoid the major plot points. We'll get to them later.

I also wanted to try to give a little bit of Leia's POV, because as they get older I'll need to do it some. Though it is very hard giving a two year old's POV, so it's only a few lines.

And Renny is the same little Boy Anakin carries out of that hospital in Chapter Seven. He'd be about nine months less than the Twins, so I figured he could easily be in their class now.