What's Apparent?

by Nightsister (sop2nd@yahoo.com)

Archive: M/A, all others please ask first

Category: AU, Non Q/O, Preslash

Rating: G

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters are the property of Lucasfilm or Scholastic Paperbacks. The author makes no money from this.

Summary: A prequel to The Returning Chamber - Lord and Lady Kenobi come for a visit

Feedback: sop2nd@yahoo.com

Notes: Fluff!fic. Title has nothing to do with Kurt Vonnegut.

Thanks to: Editors/Betas Knight Typo Killer and majilique

Qui-Gon ran out of the transport, toward home.

No -- not home, technically, not anymore, but the one place where he always felt safe; where any of Yoda and Yaddle's padawans would have felt safe.

And where one seven year-old little Jedi was currently emanating his profound fear and anguish through the Force. Qui-Gon wondered why no one else felt it, why all the other Jedi around him were so calm.

"Xani, hold on," he muttered. For some reason he thought Xanatos would hear him. "I'm coming."

He made it to his former suite in record time, and palmed the door open without thought. Master Yoda and Master Yaddle always kept the palm signatures of their padawans keyed into the door -- all of their padawans. Hundreds of Jedi across the galaxy could get into this particular suite if they wanted to.

But the other members of the Order weren't the problem -- Xanatos wouldn't be afraid of his extended padras. This was something else.

Qui-Gon burst into the suite and ran to the main room, his little padrin's fear and fury creating a sick knot in his own stomach. He screeched to a halt.

"Master?" he croaked. "Xani, NO!"

Master Yoda was sitting calmly on his low couch, with a tiny, mysterious smile on his face, while a man and woman in elaborate, expensive clothing sat in the straight back chairs, staring, horrified, at an enraged Xanatos. The little boy, his training lightsaber out and lit, was waving his little weapon menacingly at the strangers.

"I'm not going anywhere!" he shouted. He saw his padrin enter and immediately dropped his 'saber, rushing to the young knight and hugging him fiercely about the legs, burying his face into Qui-Gon's leggings just above his leather boots.

"I don't want to go," Xanatos sobbed. "Please, help me-"

"That is quite enough, young man." The woman stood up and made her way to the boy. "These little displays of yours may be tolerated here, but on Telos, you are the Crown Prince and my son. I will not- Oh!"

She jumped back in shock. She had reached out to take Xanatos by his arm, and he had bitten her. "You little demon!" She whirled to face the man, who hadn't said a word so far. "Crion! Make this little monster- "

"His name is Xanatos, Your Highness," Qui-Gon said through clenched teeth, seeking to maintain his center. He'd recognized the two when the woman had spoken; Jocassa Kenobi hadn't changed much in the seven years since he had last seen her. He picked up the little boy and squeezed him tightly, to reassure him.

Xanatos immediately relaxed. His Qui-Gon would save him. "Xani, apologize to Lady Kenobi," Qui-Gon admonished his padrin gently. Inwardly though, he was laughing and silently applauding his padrin's audacity and courage. Demon, indeed! Jedi was more like it!

"I- I'm sorry," Xanatos said, sniffing. "I didn't mean to bite you... your Highness."

Jocassa let out a huff of air. "I- Do not do things you do not 'mean' to do, Xanatos," she said archly. She sat back down next to her husband, and Qui-Gon attempted to release his padrin.

But Xanatos had other ideas. "Please don't leave me," he whispered tearfully.

That did it. "With your permission, Lord and Lady Kenobi, I request that I be allowed to stay. Xani, er, Xanatos, needs me." The little boy punctuated this declaration by burrowing his head into his padrin's shoulder. Qui-Gon felt the wet warmth of tears, -- or, oh no, snot -- through his tunic, but only held the little body tighter. "It's all right, Xan," he soothed softly, into his ear. "I'm not going anywhere."

Master Yoda smiled enigmatically. "Give progress report, I shall," he said. "Questions, you must have." This was the first sentence he'd uttered since Qui-Gon had entered the suite, and the young knight wondered what his crafty old master was up to this time.

As the conversation droned on, Qui-Gon could feel Xanatos gradually relaxing, going boneless, and knew his little padrin was falling asleep, exhausted by all the excitement. He shifted the boy slightly, wrapping his right arm around him, and as soon as Xanatos saw the proffered right thumb, he pulled it toward him and stuck half of it in his mouth. He snuggled closer to Qui-Gon, sucking contentedly, and soon fell fast asleep.

"What is he doing?" Lord Kenobi broke in suddenly, peering at Qui-Gon. "Blue gods, is he sucking on your thumb?"

"It soothes him," Qui-Gon replied defensively, speaking quietly so as not to awaken the child. "He only does it when he's upset." He looked to his master for help, but Master Yoda sat silently, smiling his irritatingly benevolent smile.

"It is also quite disgusting," Lady Kenobi stated imperiously. She turned to Yoda. "This is exactly what I was talking about," she said. "Xanatos musthave a Telosian tutor to teach him about our ways- his ways. I do not understand your reluctance- "

Xanatos fidgeted, murmuring softly to himself around his padrin's large thumb. Qui-Gon kissed the little head tenderly and looked up at his master, who was telling Lord and Lady Kenobi in no uncertain terms that a separate tutor for Xanatos would be impossible.

"To stop sucking his thumb, a tutor cannot teach him, Your Highness," said Yoda blandly. He turned to his former padawan. "Lay Xanatos down for a nap, would you please, Padawan?"

Qui-Gon almost grinned in relief. "Yes, Master." He got himself and his little padrin out of that room, fast.

Thankfully, Yaddle had recently requisitioned a larger bed for the growing padawan. Qui-Gon gently laid Xanatos down on his bed and crawled in behind him, carefully putting his right arm around the small body, in case his thumb was needed again.

But Xanatos stirred, waking, and wanted to talk. "Qui-Gon?"

"Hmmm?"

"What's a parent?"

"You have two parents, Xani. They brought you into the galaxy. Your mother gave birth to you. You've taken your Basic Reproduction class, haven't you?"

Xanatos thought. "Oh. Yeah, but that's a mother and a father." He frowned, confused.

Qui-Gon chuckled softly. "It's the same thing, Xani. Your mother and your father are also your parents."

"Oh. Do I have to go away with my... parents?"

Qui-Gon hesitated, surprised at the question. "No -- whatever gave you that idea?"

"Because Lord Kenobi -- my father... parent -- said I was getting bigger, and I would be back on Telos in no time." Then, "Qui-Gon?"

"Yes, Xani?"

"Will I rule Telos?"

Qui-Gon thought quickly. Master Yoda had always said to hold nothing back from Xanatos, and indeed had been telling the little boy about his birthright ever since he was deemed old enough to understand. But this was different, somehow. Qui-Gon had the feeling that whatever he told his padrin would be looked at as the sacred truth, and that was a heavy responsibility to bear. He would have to be careful. "That's entirely up to you, Xan," he said slowly. "Your time here is sort of like training, for when you decide to step in as the ruler. Then you would have to go back to your planet."

Xanatos sniffed. "Will you go with me? Will Master Yoda? Or Master Yaddle?"

"No, Xani. You'll be an adult by then. You won't need us."

The little boy squirmed around to face his padrin, his midnight-blue eyes bright with emotion. "I'll always need you, Qui-Gon," he said, his voice hushed and intense. "I don't want to rule Telos. I don't want to leave the Temple, I want to be a Knight, like you. Please don't let them make me go!" He turned again, his back firmly pressed up against Qui-Gon's broad chest, and groped for the man's thumb. He placed it in his mouth and began lightly sucking on it.

Qui-Gon sighed. There was no way in this big, cold galaxy that Lord and Lady Kenobi would get their son back. Ever. Not if he had anything to say about it. He couldn't bear the thought of losing this bright presence, couldn't remember what it was like before he came into his life. "You're not going anywhere," he whispered fiercely, holding the boy close. "I promise."

END