Summary: Knight Kenobi returns home to his bondmate, his
bondmate's Padawan and his child from a long mission. Chaos
ensues. Note, you should have read "Death and the Force" to
really understand what's happening here.
Disclaimers: The boys belong to George, not to us, more's the
pity.
Feedback: is bad coming from an amplifier, but good coming from
an audience.
Notes: From Terri: This arose from my telling Fox how much I
enjoyed the howls of anguish over the last paragraph of "Death
and the Force." She said, well, tell the story of how the baby
saved their lives. I said, how'm 'I gonna do that? Her answer
is before you. Enjoy... I certainly did! Thanks, Fox!
From Fox: "Much" meaning "little?" Well, whatever. I called on
years of babysitting experience to write this one. And this
little pipsqueak has a special place in my heart, for better or
for worse. If I get my way, we'll be seeing more of her.
Thanks, T - it was a blast.
Obi-Wan Kenobi stood straight before the Council, calmly giving
his mission report. A mission that was to have taken just three
days - witnessing the treaty signing on Duvos - but had
unexpectedly lengthened into ten days after an assassination
attempt. With the Knight's help, the Duvosians had managed to
apprehend the would-be assassin as well as those who had
subsidized and encouraged her, and with the crisis averted, the
treaty had been signed and sealed.
Explaining to the Council his reasoning behind his actions took
only a few moments. Having already read his report, his verbal
briefing was not much more than a formality, but one the
Council insisted upon even before he could go home and unpack.
His hands tucked serenely into his sleeves, Obi-Wan gave his
succinct report, then bowed again, as he had done after
entering. Glancing among themselves with approval, each
Councilor smiled.
As was normal, Master Yoda spoke for the Council. "Done well
you have, Knight Kenobi," he said, his ears up and his eyes
sparkling. "Unexpected this was, yet handled well. Into your
records a commendation will go."
Blinking in shock, an emotion he quickly released to the Force,
Obi-Wan bowed again. "Thank, you Master. But it was merely my
duty..."
Mace Windu waved one hand in negation. "Duty, yes. Done well,
also yes." He paused. "Good heavens, Yoda, I'm beginning to
sound like you." The Council laughed at that and Yoda whacked
the big Councilor with his stick. "Excellent work, Kenobi,"
Mace continued, rubbing his knee. "You've earned a bit of a
rest for it. Unfortunate that we must simply send you back to
your apartment. May the Force be with you."
Not really used to or understanding this sudden levity on the
part of the Council, Obi-Wan merely bowed his way out of the
chamber, shouldered the pack he had left in the anteroom, and
turned to go. He was nearly through the outer door when Adi
Gallia called to him. "Knight Kenobi. A word?"
Obi-Wan stopped, stifling a sigh as he turned. "Something more
you need of me, Master Gallia?" he asked, bowing to the
dark-haired woman who approached him.
She waved away the deference. "Just a moment of your time,
Obi-Wan, but I know you're anxious to be home. We can walk and
talk."
"Thank you." Together they headed in the direction of the
Jinn/Kenobi quarters. "It seems like forever, for all I've only
been gone just over a week."
Adi smiled. "I'm sure it was a long time for Qui-Gon as well."
"Ah." Obi-Wan said, "but he had Anakin and Sionnach to keep him
company, while I had only myself."
"Careful, Kenobi," the master grinned. "He might say the same.
You might indeed have been lonely, but you didn't have a
Padawan and a Force-adept toddler on your hands. I
assure you, to Qui-Gon these past ten days very probably seemed
endless." Obi-Wan smiled and conceded the point. "Speaking of
which," Master Gallia began again.
"Master?" Obi-Wan prompted when she paused.
"How old is Sionnach now? Past a year, surely."
"Well past," Obi-Wan nodded as they turned a corner. "Nineteen
months, and pretty as a picture."
"She is that. And smart, too, I've noticed."
"Very. My mas -- Qui-Gon and I have our hands quite full with
containing and guiding her talent. It's difficult to train a
child who's so bright but doesn't quite understand the words
yet for what she can do."
Master Gallia nodded appreciatively. "You've both been doing an
excellent job. In fact, from where I stand it looks like she'll
be ready to go into the creche right on schedule."
Obi-Wan stopped walking, knit his brow, then resumed, catching
up to the woman in two long strides. "It -- it does -- does
it?" he finally said. "One doesn't want to be too hasty, not
with an Adept."
"I know it will be hard, Obi-Wan," Adi said sympathetically.
"But once her skills are under some control, she needs to join
the other children. It's the best thing for her, and for them
-- and for you and Qui-Gon, frankly." Obi-Wan nodded. "He has a
remarkably strong Padawan, who's going to require more and more
of his attention, and we need you in the field."
"I've been in the field."
"You know we've been shuffling the roster, Knight Kenobi,
giving you the shorter and safer missions. Nobody has begrudged
you that for the past year and a half; everyone knows that baby
is a time-consuming responsibility. And everyone's been helping
to shoulder the burden, for her sake and for Liskat and Dor's."
Both were silent for a moment, remembering their slain friends.
"Yes, Master."
Again she waved a hand, dismissing the formality. "But the
understanding has always been that she belongs in the creche.
The matrons couldn't handle her when she was smaller, but by
the end of her second year she should certainly be manageable."
"I know you're right, Master Gallia," Obi-Wan said. He felt his
face form a crooked smile. "If nothing else, Anakin will be
able to move into my old room and you can put an actual knight
in that apartment across from us." The knight took a deep
breath. "The end of her second year, you said? So we still have
some time left."
"Several months, I should think." They rounded the last corner
into the corridor where Obi-Wan had always lived. "I just
thought you might like to begin preparing her for the change."
"Probably a good plan. We might like to begin preparing
ourselves for the change." Obi-Wan smiled ruefully as they
reached his door. Suddenly, from within the apartment, came a
commotion that cause Adi to take a step back. A small child's
happy shriek and the combined shouts of man and boy were
followed by hurried footsteps, a sort of thump-thud-crash,
Qui-Gon's voice muttering oaths and more delighted laughter
from the baby. "On the other hand," Obi-Wan said, raising an
eyebrow at Master Gallia, "the creche isn't so far that we'll
never be able to see her..."
Adi grinned. "Thank you for your time, Obi-Wan."
"You're not going to join us for a cup of tea?" The knight
feigned surprise.
"And get some rest," the master said, not missing a beat.
"You're beginning to sound delirious."
Both laughed as Obi-Wan reached for the door panel. "Good
night, Master Gallia."
"Good night, Kenobi. And good luck."
Adi Gallia retreated hastily in the direction of her own
quarters; Obi-Wan took a deep breath and stepped through his
front door, just as happy giggles turned into shrieks of "NO NO
NO!"
Anakin, his face grim, had a squirming Sionnach tucked under
one arm while Qui-Gon mopped at a large spill on the floor.
Various foodstuffs met and merged in an intriguing, if not
altogether appetizing, design: bread and bread crumbs, some
stalks of a green vegetable, and a tuber mash, it seemed, all
soaking up the juice that had evidently been in the carafe
whose remains glinted among the wreckage. The noise level was
deafening; Sionnach was screaming "NO Ah-nee! Want DOWN!",
Anakin was babbling angrily at her, trying to quiet her, and
Qui-Gon was still muttering curses under his breath.
As the door whooshed open, Obi-Wan went unnoticed for a moment
in the cacophony until Sionnach felt his presence and shrieked,
"OH-OH!" Anakin jerked his attention away from Sionnach to grin
in relief at the man in the doorway, which was all his charge
needed to make her getaway.
Obi-Wan barely had time to drop his pack and brace himself
before he was hit in the knees by a guided missile, a redhead
two and a half feet tall. "Oh-Oh home! Oh-Oh home!" she chanted
at the top of her voice, as she held tightly to his legs,
cutting off the circulation to his feet.
Before gangrene could set in, Obi-Wan bent and disentangled
himself from her, then lifted the little girl to his arms where
she promptly shifted her strangle hold to his neck, still
chanting and giggling. "Enough of that, little firetop," he
growled, kissing and tickling her into loosening her arms, then
turning his attention to the room.
Qui-Gon was still on the floor, but by this time Anakin was
with him. They had removed the last of the broken glass and
solid food, and were finishing with the juice and glop that
remained. Qui-Gon smiled at his bondmate. "Oh-Oh's home," he
said softly, smiling in an interesting mixture of relief,
happiness and exhaustion. Through the bond they shared, Obi-Wan
felt a surge of love and joy pass, and happily returned it.
"And what a homecoming!" Obi-Wan laughed, agreeing. "I'd offer
to help but something tells me I already am," he continued,
maintaining his grip on the toddler, who was still softly
chanting, her head resting against his cheek.
"I'd say," Anakin almost growled, carefully depositing some
glass in the disposal. "Hullo, Master Obi-Wan."
Grinning crookedly, Obi-Wan said, "Hullo, Ani. Been catching
the worst of it, huh?"
The boy shrugged, then grinned wryly. "She likes me. Sometimes
I can get her to do stuff that Master Qui-Gon can't. But she's
been driving me crazy!"
Chuckling softly, Qui-Gon finished the clean up job, stood, and
squeezed his Padawan's shoulder. "Ani, you're a treasure with
her. There's not many twelve year olds who would have the
patience you have with a toddler."
Shrugging again, the boy blushed a bit under the praise then
smiled. "She's my little sister. Or near enough. What am I
supposed to do?" He reached for Sionnach, still clinging
tightly to Obi-Wan. "C'mere, Sithspawn. You need to get
changed."
"NO!" she shouted. Obi-Wan winced, both at the volume and the
tightening of the little arms around his neck. "Stay wif
Oh-Oh."
All three men rolled their eyes, then Obi-Wan made for the
sofa. "Don't worry about it, Ani. We can cuddle for a while
until she gets bored with me."
"Then I'll unpack for you," Ani said, decisively shouldering
Obi-Wan's pack, then waving off his weak protestations. "It's
okay, Master Obi-Wan. It's my job!"
Qui-Gon watched with pride his as his Padawan left the room,
then with a sigh sat on the sofa with his former Padawan,
leaning in for a kiss. What should have been a lingering
welcome back kiss turned into a very short one instead, as
Sionnach giggled. "Ki kiss Sha too," she demanded, then
puckered her lips.
"I kiss you all the time, little hellion," Qui-Gon said mildly,
nonetheless kissing his small charge. "And I'd rather kiss
Obi-Wan. He's not so sticky."
// That can be remedied, Qui, // Obi-Wan thought to him
wickedly. Aloud, he said, "Speaking of sticky, exactly what
happened here tonight?"
"What didn't happen here tonight?" Qui-Gon answered with a
tired snort. "What you came in at the end of was our little
girl -" he paused, pretending to tickle her, and Sionnach
giggled - "our demon angel -" he pretended to come at her
again, yanking his hand back at the last second - "our
firebrand - discovering the wonders of telekinesis." At that,
he did finally swoop in and tickle the child's ribs, causing
her to squirm in Obi-Wan's arms and shriek with delight. "She
didn't like her vegetables," Qui-Gon explained through the din,
"and she let this be known decisively. She caught most of what
was on the table when she flung them. I don't think it helped
that she didn't have a nap today and is probably wound beyond
belief."
"Aha. I knew there was a reason the first levitation lessons
are held in a large room with only one object to practice on."
"Precisely."
"Well," Obi-Wan said when Sionnach had settled down, "I know
what happens to little girls who don't take naps and who make a
muck-up of the dinner table." He adopted a stern expression as
the toddler looked up at him. She inhaled to yell again, but he
raised a finger. "Not to mention little girls who yell in
people's ears and give them headaches. Do you know what happens
to little girls like that, my firefly?" Wide-eyed, Sionnach
shook her head. "They get so worn out that they go to bed
early... and quietly. Come along," he said, standing with
Qui-Gon and carrying the child back to the 'fresher. "A bath
for you, I think, young apVessNorill, and then bed. Wouldn't
you say, Ki?"
"I agree completely, Oh-Oh," Qui-Gon smiled. // And as quickly
as possible, // he suggested mentally.
// Definitely. // "Right. Bath time for small people," Obi-Wan
announced as he stepped into the 'fresher and started the water
running in the tub.
"Don't wanna baf," Sionnach whimpered, her lower lip quivering.
"Ah, you wouldn't need a bath if you weren't so sticky, my
lovely," Qui-Gon said, tapping her nose. "Lesson number one:
accountability for our actions." Obi-Wan shot him a glance and
swallowed a chuckle.
Of course, by the time they got the child undressed and in the
tub, she had remembered how much she liked baths. Obi-Wan
belatedly began removing his tunics after the first splash, and
turned to discover Qui-Gon already had removed his. They shared
a grin and bent to the task of keeping Sionnach from drowning
while removing the worst of the miscellaneous food stuffs from
her body and hair.
"Master," Anakin said, poking his head in the door as Obi-Wan
was prying Sionnach from the tub and Qui-Gon was removing tub
toys, "everything's put away. What do you need me to do now?"
"Nothing, I think, thank you, Ani," Qui-Gon said. "Looks like
you have some free time. Do you have plans?"
"Well, a few of us were going to meet in Padawans' hall for
sabacc..." Anakin said slowly.
"Feel free, Padawan. Just be in by curfew. And thanks for your
help."
"No problem," the boy said cheerfully. "Thanks, Master! I'll be
in my room long before curfew, I've got a quiz tomorrow. Good
night, Master. Good night, Sithspawn. Good night, Master
Obi-Wan. I'm glad you're back."
Obi-Wan sighed a long-suffering sigh. "Obi-Wan, Anakin. Just
Obi-Wan. Remember?"
Grinning impudently, Anakin said, "Sure, Master Obi-Wan!" and
left.
Rolling his eyes at the retreating form, Obi-Wan turned his
attention back to the squirming bundle in his arms. "Right,
then," he said, lifting her towel-wrapped form. "We'll get you
a new diaper, and then to bed with you."
"No di-per. Sha a BIG girl," Sionnach said decisively.
Shooting a glance at his bondmate, Obi-Wan thought, // This is
new, yes? //
// She wants to use the potty but isn't quite ready for it, //
Qui-Gon explained, shrugging slightly. Aloud, he said, "Diaper,
firefly. You can wear big girl panties tomorrow."
Her pout was deflected by Obi-Wan's fetching her stuffed
Wookiee, for some reason unaccountably named Yoda. The tag team
Jedi had her powdered, diapered and ready for bed with smooth
efficiency, but Sionnach had other ideas.
"Story," Sionnach added, tugging on Obi-Wan's ear. "Tell
story."
Obi-Wan made a show of heaving a sigh over this, but it was all
show and she knew it. "It's time to sleep, firetop," he
protested, just as he always did.
"Story story story," the little girl pleaded, screwing up her
face to wail if her demands were not met.
"What story shall I tell you, then?" Obi-Wan by now had
Sionnach in her bed and was seated by the bedside in the rocker
leftover from the days of midnight feedings. Qui-Gon perched on
the edge of the bed, smoothing still-damp flame-red hair back
from the little girl's forehead.
"Tell Ki an' Oh-Oh an' da Sif an' Sha," she said happily,
settling on pillows and snuggling in blankets with her comfy
Wookiee.
Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon shared a smiling glance. It was her
favorite story, of course, since it featured herself
prominently as the heroine.
"Ooohhhh..." Obi-Wan said, as if only remembering. "You mean
the one that happened on Naboo..."
"NAA-boo! NAA-boo!" Sionnach yelled happily. "Naa- boo-boo
boo!! Like Naa-boo-boo!"
"Yes, firefly, we know," Qui-Gon said softly, putting one
finger to her lips. "We know how much you like that word. Now
you must hush and listen to Obi-Wan."
"'k, Ki," she said, pulling him down so he sprawled next to her
on the bed. Then she turned expectant golden eyes on Obi-Wan.
"Let's see," he began. "Once upon a time, there was a Queen."
"BOO-ti-fullest queen!" she agreed seriously.
"You've been talking to Anakin," Obi-Wan laughed. "All right,
beautiful-est queen. And she lived on Naboo."
As Sionnach drew a breath and opened her mouth, Qui-Gon put one
large finger over her mouth again and shook his head. Subsiding
with a pout, she remained silent.
Keeping back his grin with difficulty, Obi-Wan continued. "And
the Queen was in trouble. She had bad guys after her, people
who wanted to hurt her and make her stop being queen. So the
Council..."
Holding up her stuffed Wookiee, Sionnach said, "Yo'a."
// WHY she continues to consider Yoda a Wookiee...// Obi-Wan
sent to his bondmate in exasperation.
Qui-Gon laughed, then tried to turn it into a cough to hide it,
unsuccessfully. "All right, Sion, Yoda," Obi-Wan conceded. "So
Yoda sent Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan to Naboo to help the queen."
Fairly vibrating in place, Sionnach clapped her hands around
her wookiee. "Ki an' Oh-Oh! Dey save Queen!"
"Well, yes. We took her away from the bad people. And we all
went to Tatooine and saved Ani."
"Ah-nee!" She cheerfully agreed. "I gots a see-crit," she said,
her voice a whisper that could be heard in the next room.
"You do, firefly?" Qui-Gon asked mildly. "And what is this
secret?"
"No tellin'," she said, primly. "Not see-crit den."
Rolling his eyes, Obi-Wan said, "May I continue?"
Favoring him with a brilliant smile, she returned to her
pillow, putting her thumb in her mouth. Gently but firmly,
hardly even thinking about it, Qui-Gon pulled it back out
again.
"Well. Then, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan and Ani and the Queen all went
back to Naboo," Obi-Wan continued. "That's where they met..."
Sionnach shivered melodramatically. "Big, bad SIF."
"Um, yes. The Sith," Obi-Wan said, enunciating carefully.
"An' he was back and red," she went on, oblivious to the
correction.
"Yes. He was all black and red. He was nasty and ugly -"
// And unnecessarily violent, // Qui-Gon put in.
"- and mean," Obi-Wan amended. "And he fought with Qui-Gon and
Obi-Wan." He cleared his throat. This was the part that Obi-Wan
really didn't like. Still.
// After all this time, love? // Qui-Gon sent to him, smiling
up at his bondmate gently.
// You almost died, Qui, // Obi-Wan sent softly.
// But I didn't. And the reasons I didn't are sitting right
before me. // Aloud he said, "The Sith fought very hard too."
"NO, Ki," Sionnach said, sitting up and putting one little hand
to his mouth. "Oh-Oh tell story. Tell story, Oh-Oh," she said,
turning back to Obi-Wan, who almost chuckled at her imperious
tone.
"We can let Ki tell this part, sweeting," Obi-Wan said. "He
tells it better than Oh-Oh anyway."
After securing Sionnach's permission, Qui-Gon continued. "The
Sith fought very hard too, and Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan got
separated. And before Obi-Wan could get back to Qui-Gon, the
Sith hurt Qui-Gon with his lightsaber."
Sionnach's eyes always widened at this point; her voice always
grew hushed. "Owie lots?"
"Yes, dear heart, it hurt very, very much. It hurt so much
Qui-Gon couldn't fight any more." Qui-Gon glanced at Obi-Wan.
He had leaned forward and raised his eyebrows, to seem
interested in the story, but Qui-Gon could see unshed tears in
his eyes and tension in his neck and shoulders. //Almost
through it, love,// he projected. "Obi-Wan ran as fast as he
could, and he killed the Sith all by himself, but he couldn't
make Qui-Gon stop hurting." Unconsciously, one hand drifted to
rub the scar over his breastbone.
"But luckily," Obi-Wan interrupted, the discomfort almost gone
from his voice, "There was help. Far, far away from Naboo -"
Sionnach didn't even begin her routine this time - "there was a
baby girl sleeping on Coruscant. And she loved Qui-Gon and
Obi-Wan, and they loved her."
"Sha!"
"Yes. And that little girl was so clever, she could tell the
minute Qui-Gon was hurt by the Sith. He was hurt very badly,
and the little girl -"
"Sha!"
"Yes - and Sionnach didn't like that one bit. And she was such
a clever girl, she reached her mind over all those light-years
and helped Obi-Wan heal Qui-Gon. And her mother and father, who
were with the Force, were so proud to see their clever little
girl heal Qui-Gon." Qui-Gon looked up, puzzled. The
bedtime-story version of this account didn't usually mention
Dorim and Liskat; Sion had never known them, and the story was
to please her.
"Why din't Sha see mufer 'n fafer?" The words didn't come
easily to her; she never used them. Qui-Gon was sure she had no
idea what they meant. What confused her was that someone, it
didn't matter who, had seen her though she could not see them.
"They're with the Force, my little firefly," Qui-Gon murmured,
"but they are always watching you and they are always with
you."
Apparently satisfied with this answer, Sionnach turned back to
Obi-Wan. "Story," she said.
"And Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were also very proud and very
grateful. And they came back to Coruscant and Sionnach was a
hero." // Except to the Matrons in the creche, // Obi-Wan added
silently.
Suppressing a smile, Qui-Gon replied, // For good reason... can
you imagine a three-week-old baby putting out that kind of
Force energy? Not to mention the backlash... and the tantrum.
//
Grinning at each other, both men then said aloud, "And they all
lived happily ever after. The end."
Happy that all was right with the worlds, Sionnach lay back on
her pillows. Obi-Wan stood and turned out the lights, leaving
the small nightlight glowing on the bedstand, then bent to kiss
her. "Good night, my little firetop."
"No go, Oh-Oh," she said, rubbing her eyes hard. "Stay?"
Chuckling, he kissed her again then rubbed his nose against
hers. "I'm not going anywhere for a while, dear heart. Yoda
said I could stay with my Sha for a while. Will that do you,
princess?"
"I no pinsess, I queen," she answered, then yawned. "'K,
Oh-Oh." Qui-Gon leaned over and tucked her in snugly, kissing
her forehead.
"Good night, firefly. Sleep well and long and have good
dreams." Responding to the very subtle, very slight Force
suggestion in his gentle words, Sionnach slipped just over the
edge of sleep.
// Well done, 'Ki', // Obi-Wan sent, as they slipped from the
nursery, closing the Force shielded door behind them.
// I need my Oh-Oh too, // he answered, pulling the younger man
into his arms for a tight, full-body hug. Bending his head, he
devoured Obi-Wan's mouth in a hungry kiss, his big hands
roaming over soft skin. // I missed you. //
Squeezing back tightly, Obi-Wan molded himself to his former
Master and gave as good as he got, moaning as the other's hot
mouth and tongue explored his own. // I missed you too. I'm
sorry the mission got extended. //
// Not your fault, love, // Qui-Gon replied, finally breaking
for air. // Gods how I need you. How do parents with more than
one baby manage? //
// Let's just be glad we won't find out, // Obi-Wan replied,
grinning. He broke the embrace and tugged Qui-Gon towards the
bedroom. // You. Bedroom. Now. //
Shooting a guilty look at the kitchenette, Qui-Gon said, // I
really should put a couple of pots to soak... //
Sighing, Obi-Wan realized his bondmate was right and first
things should come first. // Oh, all right... I guess I need a
shower. But you had better be on the bed naked when I'm done.
//
// Yes, sir! // With a quick grope and a kiss, the bondmates
separated to their tasks.
One of the nicer things about telepathy was that you could talk
to someone else even while separated and doing different
things. So as Obi-Wan shed his trousers and climbed into a
stingingly hot shower, he sent to Qui-Gon, // Master Gallia
walked me back home from my Council briefing. //
// Oh? //
// Yes. She - she was asking about Sionnach. //
Through their bond, Obi-Wan could feel Qui-Gon tense. // About
her placement in the creche, then. She is almost two. //
// Yes. Master Gallia feels she's about ready. Thing is, // and
he snorted in amusement at his feelings, // she probably is.
But are we? //
// It will be - difficult. //
A wealth of understatement and unspoken thoughts lay in those
words, and Obi-Wan felt every one. From the first moment the
little bundle of fire-topped squirminess was put into his
hands, he had felt a connection to Sionnach, and he knew that
Qui-Gon felt it too. Was this how it felt to families, to give
up their precious ones to a Temple so far away? At least he
knew that he and Qui-Gon would still see her, could still see
her and be with her. How hard must it be for those living on
far planets, knowing they could never see their children again?
How hard must it have been for Shmi Skywalker?
Wrapping a towel around his hips and using another on his
rapidly growing hair, Obi-Wan emerged clean from the 'fresher
to find a pensive Qui-Gon sitting on their bed. Smiling gently,
he sat down beside the big man and kissed his shoulder. // I
thought I told you to get naked, // he sent teasingly.
// Much as her presence has been a burden sometimes, // Qui-Gon
thought, remembering times where they both had been up all
night with a colicky baby, late night feedings, disgustingly
messy diapers, fevers, rashes, spit and vomit, // It will be
hard to adjust to her absence. Won't it? // And his thoughts
changed to baby smiles, gurgles and giggles, first words, first
steps, hugs, kisses and play times.
"Yes," Obi-Wan answered aloud, quietly. "It will. But you know,
we're lucky; she'll be just on the other side of the Temple
where we can visit her almost any time. Most parents don't have
that benefit."
Turning, Qui-Gon was suddenly captivated by his bondmate's eyes
and skin. A drop of water from his still-wet hair meandered its
way down the smaller man's chest, and Qui-Gon followed the
trail it left behind with one finger. "Let's think about this
tomorrow, shall we?"
"Qui-Gon Jinn," said Obi-Wan in mock-surprise. "Am I hearing
you advocate inattention to a pressing issue?"
"Quite the contrary," Qui-Gon replied, his voice rumbling in
his chest. "I seem to recall several issues that are of far
more immediate concern than this creche business." He shifted
to his hands and knees, approaching his lover like a jungle cat
cornering a deer.
"Name one," Obi-Wan challenged breathlessly, tense with
anticipation as he felt Qui-Gon circle behind him.
"It's on the tip of my tongue," Qui-Gon murmured, leaning in to
lick the next drop of water away before it could slide further
than the younger man's neck.
"Qui!" Obi-Wan called a pillow to his hands with the Force and
swatted his lover over the head with it. "That was terrible! On
the tip of my tongue?! Where do you come up with this
stuff?"
"Ah, don't complain to me." Laughing, Qui-Gon swung back with
his own pillow. "You set it up, I just took it."
"Oh yes?" Abandoning his towels, Obi-Wan crawled into the
middle of the bed, where a blow from a pillow couldn't topple
him to the floor. On his knees in an abbreviated form of a
defensive posture, he held his pillow in both hands, as a
shield rather than as a weapon. "Sometimes an inadvertent
set-up like that is best left alone. I've seen performers in
Rim cantinas deliver better lines than that."
"A cantina performer's goal is to amuse, not seduce," the
larger man said, still stalking like a predator.
"You'd be surprised."
"A cantina performer, whether his aim is to amuse or seduce,
has an audience of more than one."
"Sometimes."
"A cantina performer, even if his purpose is seduction, does
not work by creating a diversion and then moving in for the
kill," Qui-Gon said, feinting to the left, swinging his pillow
at Obi-Wan from the right, then pouncing on the smaller man,
who gave a muted shout but offered only half-hearted
resistance. Flat on his back, Qui-Gon's hands pinning his
wrists to the bed, Qui-Gon's legs -- still clothed, he noted,
thinking to reach for the drawstring but remembering he
couldn't move his hands -- straddling his hips, Obi-Wan arched
his back and kicked his legs, writhing under the assault from
his lover's teeth and tongue. Qui-Gon nibbled and sucked,
tasting his fill of the man he had not laid eyes, much less
hands or lips, on for over a week.
"Qui-Gon -" Obi-Wan gasped. For reply he got a muffled grunt
from around his ribs. "Qui! Please -- gods, I ... need ... ah!
... to touch you too." He struggled against his captor, but
Qui-Gon had advantages in size and leverage. "You'll kill me,
gods!, Qui," Obi-Wan cried out. "Ngrhg, need to feel you in my
arms -" At that, Qui-Gon shoved one knee between Obi-Wan's,
knocking his legs apart roughly. Obi-Wan instantly wrapped his
free leg around Qui-Gon's waist, pulling the older man down to
him, finally winning when his lover's elbows unlocked and
Qui-Gon's weight was pressed to his chest.
Both men groaned as their arms wound around each other,
Qui-Gon's free leg hooking around Obi-Wan's hips, completing
the circle. They clung together, biting, moaning, kissing
feverishly, unwilling for the moment to part long enough to get
Qui-Gon's leggings off, rolling from one side to the other,
certainly not willing to separate for the length of time it
would take to -
They froze.
Obi-Wan 'spoke' first. // You're sensing what I'm -- //
A heartfelt mental groan, then, // Not now! Here. // Qui-Gon
had reached out a hand and fairly flown Obi-Wan's leggings to
the bed. They pulled apart, biting their tongues to keep from
moaning at the loss of contact, as Obi-Wan struggled to get
into his leggings without hurting himself.
"Oh-Oh?"
// Force, but this isn't fair. //
// Next time we chain her. //
"Can't seep Oh-Oh, wanna seep wif you an' Ki," Sionnach said
drowsily, rubbing her eyes with her knuckles as she toddled
into the room, her stuffed Wookiee clasped tightly in one arm.
// Deep breath, love, // Qui-Gon sent, his chest swelling as he
took his own advice. // Get control of yourself. //
// Next time, // Obi-Wan repeated, concentrating on calming his
body and cooling his blood, // we will chain her. //
"Can't sleep, firetop," he said, forcing his voice to sound
soothing. "Right, up you get, but just this once, now,
understand? Big girls sleep in their own beds, don't they?"
"Sha's a big girl," the child murmured as she climbed onto the
bed, assisted by Qui-Gon.
"That's right, so Sha doesn't need Ki and Oh-Oh to help her
sleep, does she?" Sionnach nodded, putting her thumb in her
mouth, only to have it removed by a still-silent Qui-Gon.
"Well. Get comfortable, then, Sion-love, and we'll all try to
sleep."
The little girl crawled quite un-self-consciously up onto
Qui-Gon's chest and lay down, her head over his heart. Sighing,
Obi-Wan laid his head on the larger man's right shoulder and
pulled Sionnach's thumb from her mouth again. // Change of
plan, Obi-Wan, // Qui-Gon thought to him. // We'll think about
that tomorrow, and about sending Sion to the creche the
day after that. //
Qui-Gon awoke abruptly, aware of the pain of a tiny foot his in
groin. Shifting carefully, he moved a limp Sionnach from his
chest to the bed next to him. She was deeply asleep, as was the
warm form of Obi-Wan behind him.
With a judicious use of the Force, Qui-Gon shifted so that he
was able to climb over the tiny girl, then carefully lifted her
into his arms. A touch to her mind assured him she would not
wake, but he added just a bit more of a suggestion to ensure
she would not. Padding his way across their apartment in the
dark, he nudged the nursery door open wide enough to get
through, then carefully laid her down on the small bed, pulling
the covers up to her chin and kissing her sweet forehead
tenderly.
// Don't forget Yoda, // a half-asleep voice sounded in his
mind. He turned to see the stuffed Wookiee floating into the
bedroom. He caught it with a smile and tucked it firmly in bed
with her. One last peek into her mind to ensure she was out for
the count, and he returned to his bedroom, closing her door
firmly behind him.
Hurrying back to his own bedroom, he crawled in next to his
bondmate after first removing his sleep pants. Obi-Wan was a
warm satiny form under the blankets, and as he cuddled up to
the younger man's back Qui-Gon realized they were truly skin to
skin, and his already half-hard penis leapt in interest.
// Let us not to the marriage of true minds.. // a sleepy,
humorous voice said in his head.
// Shut up and spread your legs, // Qui-Gon growled, chuckling.
A sweep of a broad palm down a soft chest revealed an equally
firm erection, one that Qui-Gon palmed gently. Obi-Wan hissed
in pleasure and ground his buttocks back against Qui-Gon. //
Lube... need the lube... // the older man thought frantically,
trying to remember which side of the bed it was on.
// Fuck the lube just get inside me before I hurt you, //
Obi-Wan sent, shifting one leg backwards over Qui-Gon and
pulling the bigger man's body half on top of him.
Releasing the erection in his hand, Qui-Gon took his own organ
and spread the copious pre-come around the head, moaning softly
as he did so, then gently introduced it to the puckered opening
Obi-Wan made available to him. Obi-Wan was still relaxed from
sleep and it wasn't difficult to breach his anus, so shortly
Qui-Gon found himself buried to the hilt in tight heat and
gasping.
// Oh yeah, // Obi-Wan moaned, // just like that, yeah... gods,
Qui-Gon I need you... //
Qui-Gon arranged himself so that he was holding Obi-Wan tightly
from behind, one hand on the younger man's erection, his legs
bent as though he was sitting, one of Obi-Wan's legs thrown
over the top of his. Deep thrusting was out, but not necessary;
he set up a slow rhythm of little movements, each one brushing
Obi-Wan's prostate, while he alternately squeezed and massaged
the man's erection. Kissing and nipping at the earlobe and neck
in front of him, Qui-Gon could hear Obi-Wan's harsh breathing
as they spiraled up in slow, languorous passion.
They fed their desire back and forth along their bond until
their bodies fairly vibrated with it. Bending his head, Qui-Gon
bit Obi-Wan's shoulder, while at the same time squeezing his
penis, and that pushed the other man over the edge. Obi-Wan
began to keen softly, then hot pulses bathed Qui-Gon 's hand.
The resultant spasms in Obi-Wan's rectum pulled Qui-Gon over
the edge and he gasped, his hips jerking in reaction to his
intense climax. Obi-Wan's pleasure heightened further at the
abrupt massage against his prostate, and he moaned and clutched
at the sheets, nearly bending double in fierce aftershocks.
Slowly they came back down. Obi-Wan's head was resting on
Qui-Gon's arm while Qui-Gon's face nestled into his hair. After
a moment, Qui-Gon started to move, but Obi-Wan forestalled him.
// Don't, unless you have to... // he sent, sleepily, running
one hand down the big man's flank.
// Are you sure? // Qui-Gon said, subsiding. He actually felt
as though he could stay like that all night, even though
eventually his penis would soften enough to leave the other's
body. He captured Obi-Wan's hand in his and squeezed their
fingers together. // You're laying on the wet spot, aren 't
you? //
// Don't care, // was the reply, already half asleep. // Just
want you in me. //
// Hmmm... I can do that... // With a last nuzzle, the two men
settled down to sleep, knowing the morning would bring work,
joy and laughter, and knowing that now, they would be ready for
it.
end
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