Chapter Title: Three Months, Twenty Days

Series Title: Unlikely Brothers

Ages in this chapter: Tanner (7)

Chapter Summary: Takes place while Tannerlin is still a Jedi apprentice before Order 66. Master Ayden and his apprentice, Tannerlin, take in the Quiet Gardens, Yoda and the dining hall.

"Master Ayden?"

Tannerlin Vai tugged lightly on the taller man's robe. He was small, the boy was. And young. So very young for a Jedi apprentice. Just past the age of seven. Practically unheard of in the Jedi Order for one to be taken as a Padawan at such an age. An exception had been made for this pairing. The Force having pulled them together with such fierce determination, that it would not be ignored.

Master Ayden Yen looked down, hushing the boy with a finger to his lips. They were entering the Quiet Gardens. The area of the Temple gardens where Jedi sought peace and calm. Tannerlin had never been to the Quiet Gardens. He was unfamiliar to their calling. But he needed his master's attention. There was an urgent question to be had.

"But, Master…"

"Hush, young one. One cannot speak here."

The boy silenced himself but Ayden felt the building anxiety through their bond. The bond, though only months old was quite strong. And Tannerlin's attempts to quiet his emotions was failing.

Ayden turned the boy at the shoulder and directed him out of the Gardens. Once outside, he knelt to his student's eye line.

"M'sorry, Master." Tannerlin's brown eyes fell when contact was made. "I didn't mean to be so loud. But I was nervous. It felt really weird in there."

"It is complete silence from all sound within that area. It does take a moment to adjust. It's all right. Master Yoda wished us to meet him, remember?"

Tannerlin nodded nervously. "Yes, Master. M'okay now. I won't talk, I promise."

"Breathe, young one, breathe." Ayden set a large hand on the boy's chest, tapping it gently. "Inside of yourself, you are very loud. Our bond is powerful, you remember, I can feel every one of those nerves."

"I know, I tried to calm it down, but it just made me more nervous. I didn't do it right."

That same hand moved from Tannerlin's chest to lift the boy's chin as their eyes met again.

"It's not a matter of right or wrong, but we can postpone our meeting. Or perhaps Master Yoda will see us elsewhere." Ayden stood. "Stay here for a moment, Tannerlin." He walked back through the Garden doors.

Ayden found Yoda a short distance away. Closing his eyes, he relayed what emotion he could to the ancient Jedi. Yoda's head lowered slowly before he hobbled a step, took hold of his gimmer stick and followed Ayden Yen from the Gardens.

Outside, Tannerlin Vai waited as the small green Jedi approached.

"Scared you are, hmm? Nervous too?" Yoda addressed the boy directly. Of similar height, it was easy for Tannerlin to feel slightly less intimated without the other towering over him in size. There was enough intimidation created by the age and wisdom of the ancient Jedi as it was.

Tannerlin nodded, unsure what to say, knowing Yoda would feel anything he might try and hide.

"Young one," Ayden directed, "Be truthful."

"Yes, Master. Master Yoda," Tannerlin offered a slight bow, "I was… I am very nervous. It's so quiet in there, my thoughts went all over everywhere. M'sorry I did it wrong. I will do better next time."

"Better you will be, but very young you are. Expect too much of yourself you should not. Your reaction was, as expected. Your emotions, understood them you did."

Ayden closed his eyes in knowledge. This had been a test. A simple one. One that the boy had been expected to fail in one aspect, but pass in another - acknowledgement of fear. Seven year olds, Jedi or not, had no true ability to control or suppress their emotions. But they had the ability to lie about it. Such was the test.

With a tap of his gimmer stick, Yoda grunted and hobbled away. Tannerlin followed the tiny Jedi with his eyes, then looked up at his teacher. Confused.

"Master?"

Ayden was smiling. "Everything is all right, Tannerlin. I understand what this was and I will explain it to you."

They walked away from the Garden doors, Tannerlin's direction guided by Ayden's hand on his shoulder.

"Master, I don't understand. I did something else wrong, didn't I?"

"You did no such thing."

"But…" The boy stopped, worried, confused. He trusted that Ayden was not lying to him, yet that did nothing to curtail the continued anxiety.

"Come with me, let's sit at the overlook and see the city, watch the traffic. Hurry, young one."

Short legs hustled keep pace with longer ones. The balcony overlook was at the end of the corridor. The Coruscant sky was bright with the dimmer colors of the dwindling sun. Oranges and purples crossed with yellows and pinks. Despite the hustle of the galaxy's most populated planet, it still had a beauty to it that some considered unparalleled.

The pair sat on the cushioned bench. Tannerlin's gaze drawn to the colors and ship traffic just beyond.

Ayden began, "You were supposed to be nervous in the Quiet Gardens. Yoda was expecting it. You are much too young to have any type of firm control over those emotions. Yoda knows that."

"Yeah, he knows everything," the boy nodded.

Ayden laughed gently. "Indeed he does. What Yoda was seeking was your post-reaction. You felt scared. How did you handle that?"

"I got scared and had to leave."

"You did, but after that. Once we were outside, when Yoda came to speak to you. What did you do?"

"I told him I was scared."

"You did. And that was it. Yoda wanted you to acknowledge those negative feelings."

"But why?"

"Instead of burying them. If you hid those emotions, they can eat you up or worse. They can mutate into even more negative emotions."

"Like anger." Tannerlin understood now. The Dark Side. Anger meant the Dark Side and he wanted no part of that.

"Exactly. Like anger. That was the test. You are very young, Tannerlin Vai. It wouldn't be fair to submit you to the type of testing that a normal aged new apprentice would receive. You have neither the ability or knowledge to understand some of what would take place. Therefore, Yoda modified a testing specifically for you."

"So, I did good? Well, kinda."

"You did. No kinda about it."

Ayden felt the boy release a sigh of relief into the Force. Physically, the tension in his body lessened and he even smiled a bit.

Tannerlin scooted closer to Ayden. "I was worried I messed up and disappointed you, Master. I never want to disappoint you. Not ever. I won't either. I promise, I won't ever let you down."

"Okay, okay, let's relax a bit more. You didn't disappoint me and I know how hard you will try to keep that promise."

The young student sighed, his eyes following a slow-moving freighter passing by the Temple. "Master, being a Jedi is hard."

"It's very hard." Ayden agreed, "It does get easier however."

"If I wasn't a Jedi, it would be easier now?"

"Well, not necessarily. Life is hard. You'll see in time. If you weren't a Jedi, what do you think you would be?"

It was a question out of the blue from the older Jedi, but Tannerlin was quick to learn and smart as well. Out-of-the-blue conversation was necessary for any future as a negotiator.

"If I wasn't a Jedi? Hmmm, I think I would be a teacher. Yeah. That's it. A teacher. I would be the best teacher!" Tannerlin's eyes lit up at his thought.

"A teacher, huh? Why is that?"

"Because I wanna be like you, Master. A great teacher. I would be a teacher who was patient and friendly and tried really hard to help all the students."

Huh, Ayden thought. There was something. And it was at that moment, where he absolutely knew for certain that taking Tannerlin as his apprentice so early in the boy's life was the right thing. This child had a future - one of importance and meaning. Jedi or not.

With his right arm, Ayden invited Tannerlin to lean against him. Then he wrapped that arm around small shoulders. "That is a most noble of futures, my Padawan. I am privileged to start you on your journey."

"You think I'll be a teacher, Master Ayden?"

"In some form or another, I do. You have passion."

"That means excitement, right?"

"It can. You be you, young one. That's what I want."

"Yes, Master, I can do that."

Ayden ruffled the boy's short hair and then tugged lightly on the padawan braid. "I've no doubt."

They stood together and walked the few feet to the end of the balcony.

"It's so big out there, Master. And with the wars happening all around. Sometimes it scares me, I'm very little and it's all so much larger than me."

"Let me tell you a secret, Tannerlin. I get scared too." Ayden admitted. "The Clone Wars are being fought bravely by so many of our Order. Have faith that they stay strong."

"You get scared? But you're a Jedi Master!"

"Everyone gets scared sometimes. Even Master Yoda can get scared."

"Are you sure? He seems grumpy sometimes, but never scared."

A laugh. Ayden couldn't help it. The boy had Yoda pegged quite well, though he made a note to keep the 'grumpy' comment just between them.

Tannerlin shied away briefly, realizing his mistake. "I shouldn't have said that about a Jedi Council Master."

"No, young one, it's all right. I'm sure it's not the first time someone has accused Yoda of being grumpy. Or worse. Just keep the conversation here with us. You can tell me anything, Tannerlin. I will always consider our talks private and I will always protect you should other's comment."

"I can tell you anything?" The boy seemed surprised, the tone of his voice having reached a higher octave with the end of the question. His brow raised too over his light brown eyes.

"Anything." Ayden swore with a affirming nod.

"And you can tell me anything too, Master! Maybe we can share secrets!"

"I'd like that."

Tannerlin hmmm'd as another large freighter ship broke from the traffic lanes and signaled for landing near the Jedi Temple to their distant left. "Is that a supply ship, Master?"

"Seems to be," Ayden inspected with his eyes. "Perhaps gear for our generals."

"I don't want to be a general in the war. That sounds dangerous and complicated."

"It's both. And no, I cannot foresee you being a general, or engaging in combat at all."

Not a slight on the boy, they both understood where his strengths lay and it was not in a war-time leadership roll or even as part of an army or active field Jedi. No, Tannerlin was destined for the opposite. Probably, Ayden thought, the boy came around much too late. The Jedi seemed more about action than negotiation these days. Tannerlin's strengths were in his want to help and not hurt. At the height of the Order's power, he'd have made a fine ambassador for discussion and peace.

"I'd rather not fight." Tannerlin said bluntly, though his voice was tinged with a ring of sadness. Almost as if he knew that fighting was the only future there was as the galaxy stood now.

"I'd rather none of us fight. The future is in flux, but I will protect you. You are destined for great things, my Padawan. I just have a feeling."

Another freighter signaled it's intent to descend as the first offloaded. Military supplies. Ayden saw familiar boxes being hauled by clones and droids. A sign that the wars were far from over. A sign that Tannerlin's wish to stay away from the fight would be a struggle; a struggle that Ayden would fight long and hard for. The boy had age going for him in that regard. There wasn't much a seven year old could do for war purposes. It would keep him out the fire for a time.

"Master, I have my afternoon studies. I don't want to be late."

Tannerlin pulled his gaze from the freighters and back to his teacher. The boy did love his studies.

"That's right. I almost forgot. Can't have you missing class, can we?"

"No way. I love my studies, but especially my afternoon ones. I have the best teachers! Well…" he paused, head tilted up to see Ayden's face. "Almost the best teachers."

Ayden jumped on that one. "So, I'm the best, huh?" They began the walk back down the corridor toward the lift that would take them to Temple level nine.

"Oh yeah, by a long ways too."

"Hmm, you're not by any chance trying to butter me up?"

"No, Master, I swear it! I don't even know what that means!"

More laughs. The boy was so genuine. He was good for Ayden's old soul. They made such a team even after these first few months. What a future they could have together.

"Tannerlin, you are a funny one. Thank you. I needed the smile."

The lift doors opened to reveal several intimidatingly tall non-human Jedi. Dark and brooding, dressed for battle and not for peace. Ayden kept the boy pinned to him, hands on his shoulders as Tannerlin stood at his waist.

Then something happened. Ayden felt the boy's anxieties creeping up, but it was followed by an odd feeling of confidence. Tannerlin's shoulder rose and fell in a cycle of three steadying breaths. Then he turned toward the other Jedi. Their armor new. They carried a lightsaber on one belt-click and a blaster on the other. Armed to the teeth as the saying goes.

Tannerlin pulled his shoulders back and raised his gaze.

"Masters?" He said suddenly, calmly. "Thank you for helping to keep everyone safe. You have to fight and that is very hard and maybe scary too. But you are strong and brave. Please be safe."

The Jedi stood in silence, taken aback by the youngest of them speaking out so confidently. The tallest of the masters was the Nautolan. Not unlike Council Member Kit Fisto in size and intimidation factor - the massive head tentacles and large oval-hollow seeming eyes. As unexpected as the boy's words, was his reaction on behalf of the group of four, heading out into the unknown reaches of space and war.

He knelt before the child. "I am Kef Mesten. You are the youngest of the apprentice, Tannerlin Vai."

Tannerlin's eyes went big at the recognition. "You know who I am?"

"Indeed I do. Of course, I do not know you well, mostly by what I have heard."

That made the young student nervous. Ayden kept a hand on his shoulder.

"Do not fret, young man. I judge by what I see and feel, not by the gossip of others. You are but a child, yet you have the worth to be concerned for others unknown to you. Such as myself and the other Jedi here. We are indeed heading into the field. The unknown. It can be frightening, yes. But it must be done. You however, have given this mission face and meaning with a simple few words of well being. You care for others that you do not know. That is compassion and compassion will suit you well as you mature." The broad shouldered green-skinned Jedi stood from his kneeling position and exchanged a brief nod with Ayden before addressing the boy once more. The lift doors opened "We will be safe. Thank you, young Tannerlin Vai."

"Yes, Master Mesten." Tannerlin said, then added quickly, "May the Force be with you!"

"And with you and your master."

With that, Kef Mesten strode with his party from the lift and in the direction of the landing bay to ready their fighters.

A tug on Ayden's arm. "Master?"

"Tannerlin. That was very unselfish of you. Most your age would shy from strangers in a lift, even within the Jedi Temple. You… well, you did the complete opposite of many others. I believe you might might be much wiser than your seven years." Ayden reached a hand to his apprentice. The hand was covered in scars from previous trauma. The scars were memories, as was this current moment. This small boy and the four Off-To-War-Jedi in a lift. Had he not been present, Ayden would have said this never happened.

Tannerlin took the man's hand, running his thumb over the scars, wondering if one day he would have scars of his own. Maybe. That scared him too. He gripped Ayden's hand tight.

"You'll still protect me though, right, Master, even if I might be wise?" The ask was shy, but he didn't want Master Ayden to not protect him as much if he saw him as such a wise young apprentice.

"With my life, my Padawan. With my life."

Three months, twenty days, but who was counting? That was the amount of time they'd been given together as master and apprentice so far. For Ayden, it felt like an eternity. Already, he felt connected to this child in a way that indeed he would give up his life if it meant to save him. Ayden realized… he'd not even hesitate to do so if the moment came.

But for now…

"Let's get you to classes. Just down the hall. Come on, I'll race you."

Ayden jogged the hall, Tannerlin's child-sized legs ran hard to keep up. "M'coming, Master! I'm too short!"

With a sudden stop, Ayden slammed on the breaks. Tanner landed with an "oooof!" against his backside. "Master Ayden?"

"Sorry. Master Yoda is passing that way. Can't have him seeing us racing in the hallway, right?"

The sparkle in Ayden's eyes told Tannerlin this was one of those things just between them, like they'd talked about. Their own secrets to share. The boy smiled big. Huge really, when he realized the joke. Then for the next minute they acted cool and causal until Yoda crossed past their destination.

"Master, m'gonna be late to studies." Tannerlin suddenly realized seeing the chrono on the wall.

Ayden took his hand again. "No, we are right on time. This is the back way to your study room. You are in fact, ah, three minutes early." Leaning down to hold the boy's face in his hands, Ayden said, "Have a good afternoon, young one. Be you, okay? Always be you. Make me proud."

"I will, Master. I will always make you proud."

There was no untruths in his words. No deception. No anxieties. Just pure trust. Confidence.

"I love you, Master. I know we shouldn't be emotional humans, right? But you are my master and my teacher and my friend and my father. You will protect me and love me and help me be strong and brave. Help me to be the best Jedi I can. I will do good in my studies today, I know I will."

Such a warmth in his words. Ayden couldn't help but to love this child back. Jedi Code be damned. Humans were emotional creatures. As long as the boy channeled those emotions into positives, there was no reason for concern.

"Master, I have to go. Three hours I'll be home, okay?"

"I will see you then. Do well, my Padawan."

"I will. I promise. Bye, Master!"

The boy scurried through the classroom doors. Ayden watched from outside, as he found his seat, took out his data-pad, organized his desk. His hands set in his lap, full attention on the teaching Jedi at the head of the class, awaiting instruction. Live to learn, learn to live. A solid motto if you were a sponge for information as was this boy.

"Worried you are for his future, hmm?"

A slight jump in surprise as Yoda's snuck up from behind.

"Master Yoda." Ayden said. "I didn't sense you approaching. Didn't you just pass in the hall?"

"And saw your running, I did."

"Right. Well, just a bit of fun." A clenched expression, then Ayden responded to Yoda's actual question.

"I am worried for his future. For us all, yes, but this boy. He's not the type for war and battle or leading troops into the unknown. None of that. This one… he is kind and compassionate and only wishes to help and to see the good."

"Need all kinds, the galaxy does. Correct is your assessment. Before approved he was as your apprentice, all of that, considered it was. The best for him, you are, Ayden Yen."

"Still, I worry. And I know, there is no emotion, etc, etc. But there is and this boy has it in droves."

"Agree, I do."

"Perhaps he's not designed to be a Jedi."

It hadn't been the first time Ayden's thoughts had wandered in that direction. Something nagged at him about Tannerlin's abilities being much more useful outside of the Order than within. He'd not tell the boy that, no. They had grown too close, almost four months in; their bond too strong.

Still, it didn't stop him from thinking it.

Yoda's large eyes closed and the ancient creature hmmm'd for a moment, trying to feel into the future.

"Difficult to see, the future is, Master Ayden. Unknown the boy's future is. However…" there was a pause. Yoda's gimmer stick tapped the floor several times and his eyes - now open - saw the young Jedi through the glass door of the study room. He saw the eagerness, the attentiveness to learn. To digest information. There was happiness and joy in Tannerlin's innocent brown eyes. He laughed with his classmates. He obeyed the teacher. He loved to live life. There was room for his kind in the galaxy. Truth be told there needed to be more of his kind in the galaxy.

Yoda's eyes didn't leave the boy as he said, "His destiny, important it is. For reasons why, I cannot see, yet matter he does. Protect him, you must, Ayden."

A firm nod. "I plan to." That reply, only three words, but as certain as Ayden had ever uttered.

Yoda hobbled off, Ayden stayed to watch his charge another moment. A smile grazed his face at the eager child just beyond the door. Tannerlin probably knew the Jedi was close by, they shared such a tight bond, but there was no loss of focus on the task at hand. Class. Learning. Digesting information. The boy was a sponge for knowledge.

A distraction, Ayden feared he'd be, standing visibly outside the room. So, he wandered off to quarters to figure out a dinner plan. Tannerlin loved the dining hall, but he mostly enjoyed the hall's quietest corner. His favorite thing while eating was watching the various beings that made up the Jedi Order. He could spout out information about each species, and at least one main fact about their home planet. Ayden found it more fascinating that the boy was so fascinated by such things than anything else. Definitely, a unique soul.

Yes. The dining hall would be the evening plan.

—-

"Master, he's a Chiss. Chiss look a lot like Pantorans, but their eyes are red. Force sensitive Chiss are very rare and they call it the Sight. Those eyes though, they are a little creepy. And that Jedi there is a Mirialan, sometimes they have pink skin and they always have geometric face tattoos. They come from a planet that's really cold and really dry. They have a lizard species that lives there too that can heat it's skin by shaking it's tail."

"Really?" Ayden raised an eyebrow with a mouth full of food, ignoring the odd side glance from an older Jedi at a nearby table. Yes, word of their pairing had spread through the Temple. Some didn't agree with the taking of a child so young as an apprentice, and apparently the Jedi nearby didn't agree with the boy's master humoring the curiosity of naming the species of passing Jedi.

Ayden's thoughts on that were kept to himself, Tannerlin didn't need to worry that another Jedi thought less of him for vocalizing his intense curiosity. A dull mind is a sign of advancing age and limitations in the willingness to learn and change, he thought toward the other Master. Then, my boy is light and strength and curiosity, all things good.

"Master?"

Tannerlin's voice, higher than normal, trying for Ayden's wandering attention.

"Huh? Oh, yes?" Attention reverted back to their own table. "I'm sorry, Padawan, what were you saying?"

"About the beetle bugs on Hamus III. They get so big!" Hands out to the side, Tannerlin demonstrated the size. Seemed a bit excessive for a beetle to be the size of a dining hall table…

"Are you certain they are that big?"

"Well," Tannerlin shrunk his hands and giggled. "Maybe a little smaller. Like the size of my plate. That's still pretty big though."

"It's massive. Are they aggressive?"

"Not really, I don't think. I mean they've never eaten anyone that I've heard."

"That's comforting. You know your animals, don't you?"

"I love learning about all the animals everywhere."

Ayden noticed another glance from the Jedi nearby. Don't rebel in jealousy simply because my boy appreciates all forms of life rather than only those that can speak. Another thought he was keeping to himself. Already a sign that he was being wired to protect this boy from any and all. Focus, Ayden. He said to himself, as Tannerlin called for him once more.

"Master Ayden?"

He shook his head. "Tannerlin. I apologize. My mind is wandering."

"Am I talking too much, Master?" The hazel eyes, so full of hope.

Finally Ayden refocused completely. It helped that the nosy Jedi nearby had taken his leave. "No, it's not you. I let my mind stray into other thoughts. Part of getting older, I guess." Ayden grinned.

"Nah, you're not old. You only have a few gray hairs so far."

"I expect I'll have a few more once I've finished training you!"

Tannerlin giggled again. The most innocent and pure of sounds. His young face crinkled, smiling from ear to ear. So content.

And Ayden realized it was the same feeling he had at this moment. Contentment. He may have worries for the future, but right how, in this moment? Yes, contentment was the perfect word.

"Thank you, Tannerlin." The Jedi said in an out of the blue fashion.

The boy sliced into a piece of his favorite pala sweet cake, having eaten his entire meal first. "For what, Master?"

Ayden shrugged and snatched a forkful of the same cake. "For being you. Don't let anyone change that, all right? Be you. Always, just be you. Promise me?"

"I promise." Sincere and direct. That was Tannerlin Vai. He pushed the sweet cake to the middle of the table. Always willing to share. "It's really good, isn't it, Master?"

A bigger forkful this time, Ayden had sugary goodness dribbling down his chin. "It's delicious. We should eat this one and then get another one."

Big eyes. Joyful eyes. "Oh, yes. I can eat another whole one myself too!"

"Well, let's not go too crazy. Too much sugar and we'll never be able to sleep."

"That's true."

The grumpy Jedi happened by again. Apparently grabbing a take-out meal before leaving the dining hall. His eyes caught the teacher-student pair laughing and carrying on with dessert on their chins and stickiness on their fingers. A life's moment of enjoyment. Ayden swore that he saw the slightest hint of a smile on the man's lips.

Maybe Tannerlin's love for life had finally gotten through.

The man then grunted and walked off.

Or… maybe not. Ayden shrugged. Back to his apprentice. Back to their moment.

Three months, twenty days in.

But who was counting?

Ayden Yen was. Counting every second, every moment with this boy. Tannerlin had changed his life just that quickly. In every positive way imaginable.

Yes, he would protect this one with his entire soul.

"Master, it's almost been four months, right?"

Perhaps Ayden wasn't the only one counting.

"Almost. Three months, twenty days."

"And then a year and then two years, and then fifteen years!"

The future he wondered about. The future he worried about.

No, Ayden. Focus yourself. Not on the future, but on the now. Enjoy each moment. Enjoy each memory. Enjoy this wonderful child that has been brought into your life. Help him work toward and achieve whatever he wishes; wherever his capabilities take him. Help him become the amazing person that you know he will is where you set your focus.

Ayden snagged one last piece of cake, smiling warmly at the joyful face before him.

Right there. That face. That enthusiasm. That light. That is your focus. That is your future. Raise him. Help him grow and learn. Care for him. And in the end, you'll know you've done right by him. Always.

A serving droid rolled by with their second order of pala cakes. This time with extra icing. Tanner practically drooled. Ayden laughed.

For a few moments, here in the dining hall, there was no war, there were no armies. There was no uncertainty, no confusion. There was just the two of them. Teacher and student. Master and apprentice. Guardian and ward. Father and son.

Three months, twenty days.

…and counting.

END