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1
"One more time ." Master Dralling called out.
Ahsoka tiredly moved back into position with everyone else and raised her saber. Dralling called out a start and proceeded to circle them as they went through the katas.
It was with a relieved sigh that they were finally dismissed. She was half way down the hall when she felt a faint tug at the small bond that had developed between her and-
Obi-Wan!
She turned around and searched for him in the crowded hall.
"Over here,Ahsoka." He called out with his arm raised. She hurried over, careful not to run into anyone else. She hesitated for a moment before wrapping her arms around him. She felt him return it tightly after a brief pause.
He pulled back shortly."It's good to see you too. I was hoping I'd catch you before you headed to your next class. I was wondering if you would be interested in grabbing dinner with me tonight? My treat."
"Yes!" She hurriedly agreed. Anything is better than food from the refractory.
"Great. About six, then? I'll meet you in the speeder hangar." He glanced around, noticing the emptying hall."I'll let you get back to your classes, young one."
"See you then." She smiled in goodbye before heading off excitedly to her next class. She barely remembered how tired she had been before now and certainly not going to be able to focus for the rest of the day.
It had been a few weeks since she had returned back to the Temple and almost as long since she had seen Obi-Wan for he had been sent off almost immediately again. She had reluctantly considered that would be the end of contact between them even if Obi-Wan had stated otherwise. He was a general in the war and he was busy, he wouldn't have time for her. Or so she had thought. Each week he had been gone he'd comm at least once or sent a message if not and it helped that he had made no move to sever their small bond. She had let herself hope that maybe just maybe she would be his padawan one day soon.
She nearly jumped when a loud voice called out "Kenobi!" as soon as they entered the dinner. She did however make sure to take a small step back to avoid the large arms that swept Obi-Wan up in a crushing hug. She might have been concerned if it wasn't for the large smile he was wearing.
"It's been too long, Dex." He said once more back on the ground.
"Indeed my old friend." The Besalisk's eyes turned towards her. "And who might this be?"
"Initiate Ahsoka Tano. Nice to meet you." Giving him a small wave. She felt Obi-Wan lay a hand on her shoulder.
"Ahsoka, this is Dex. Owner of this dinner and an old friend." He made the final introduction.
"An Initiate, huh?" He gave Obi-Wan a knowing look."Take the booth in the back. FLO will take your order in a minute. On the house."
Her brow markings shot up. "Oh we couldn't-" she began just to be cut off by a wave of one of his hands.
"Nonsense. It's not everyday Obi-Wan brings someone new to meet."
"Come Ahsoka. There will be no deterring him. Thank you Dex." He gently nudged her forward to the both in question. "You can catch me up on what I've missed at the Temple lately."
Ahsoka had filled their dinner with various stories of Temple life that reminded him of times before the war. He joined in with tells of his latest missions. Time passed quickly and before he knew it he was waving goodbye to Dex. He had almost forgotten why he had been nervous.
Almost.
They were making their way back to the speeder when he took advantage of a pause in her story. "Ahsoka, there was something I had hoped to discuss with you." He stopped in front of their speeder. "I've spent a great deal of time meditating on it and I feel that it is the will of the Force that we had met. I do hope that you feel the same."
He watched as her eyes had gotten wider and she nodded eagerly along in agreement. "I was hoping that you would consider being my-"
He never got to finish his sentence as the Force erupted in a warning. He grabbed Ahsoka and pulled her to the ground as he heard the sound of a blaster bolt zip by above them. They were on their feet and sabers drawn in the next breath.
"Over there Obi-Wan!" Ahsoka called, pointing towards a figure rushing away.
The universe couldn't have just given him this could it? He sighed and released the disappointment into the Force. Next time then. "Let's go."
2
The next time he decided to ask was a week and a half later. He had considered his options and figured a more traditional approach would be the route to take. Simplicity.
Ahsoka had taken to joining him in his early morning meditations in the Room of a Thousand Fountains. He could clearly see that early morning hours were not something she enjoyed and had once in the beginning suggested that she use the time to rest instead. That had been resoundingly rejected. He couldn't help but be touched by her determination to keep him company, not many would.
Together they sat facing one another and allowed themselves to sink into the Force. He reached automatically across their still small bond to help her along the way. Sending her nudges in the direction he was going and waves of calm when she struggled.
He knew that officially he shouldn't be encouraging the bond to strengthen with each use until she accepted padawanship but he couldn't see any real harm in it. He had the approval of the Council to take her as a padawan. It had been given frighteningly fast. He had announced his request and had expected them to debate it or consider it more but they had wasted no time. One by one approval was given. Yoda had looked ridiculously pleased with both himself and the results.
All that was needed was her own acceptance. He brought himself back to the surface slowly making sure to keep an eye on Ahsoka's own progress back.
"Thank you for joining me once more, Ahsoka." He gave her a smile that he hoped expressed his gratefulness. "Not many would continue to wake this early for meditation."
"No problem." She dismisses with ease, getting up to stretch. "Want to get breakfast?"
He followed suit and nodded in acceptance to her idea. Though he did not follow immediately as she moved towards the exit. Noticing she turned back to face him with a quizzical look.
"Ahsoka I have been wondering if you would-"
"Obi-Wan!"
His name rang out above the sound of falling water. There by the exit stood a scowling Anakin Skywalker.
"I don't suppose we could pretend we don't see him, could we?" Obi-Wan murmured towards Ahsoka as he watched Anakin make his way to them.
"He'd just up his antics if you did." She replied with laughter clear in her voice.
Blast if she wasn't right.
"Your comm broken or are you purposely ignoring me and the Council?" Anakin said in a way of greeting towards him. Ahsoka on the other hand. "Force. Did he drag you into his morning meditation?" Sympathy and horror battling for dominance in his voice. Clearly remembering the very rare times Qui Gon had been able to trap Obi-Wan into watching him and having to do the same in his own padawan years.
"Just because you never could sit still long enough to appreciate it doesn't mean others can't." Obi-Wan defended himself. Quickly followed by Ahsoka's own reassurance that she had done so completely voluntarily. Indirectly it also reassured him that she didn't feel pressured to do it just because he had the habit of it.
"What was that about my comm?" Belatedly registering what Anakin had first said. He reached for his silenced comm in his belt and pulled it out to check. Several missed comms from Anakin. Two from the Council. "Oh." He said inelegantly.
"Yes,'oh'. I've been trying to reach you for the last half an hour. We're being assigned a new mission."
"Very, well." He said a bit tiredly. Couldn't the Council have assigned him a different partner for once though? He turned towards Ahsoka. "My apologies about breakfast. Looks like you'll have to go without me. I'll come make my goodbyes once everything is sorted."
"I understand." She easily accepted. Though he could feel her disappointment through the bond. He sent his own to her as well. Letting her know he had been looking forward to more time spent together. "Good luck Obi-Wan. Anakin." She said before turning away. She made a few steps before telling them, "Be careful please."
Anakin grinned in response. "Have a little bit more faith in us 'Soka. No droid can land a hit."
She grinned just as wide as he had back at him but her eyes held each of theirs for a significant moment each. "It's not the droids that I worry about."
They watched her go with burning cheeks each. It was one thing for them to know that they were this close to arranging an accident to happen to one another but a completely different thing for others to know.
"So….when are you gonna make her your padawan?" Anakin broke the tense silence.
Obi-Wan began to walk towards the same exit Ahaoka had gone through. Tossing a narrowed eye look at Anakin as he passed. "If you'd just waited a few more minutes-", he broke off. Now wasn't the time for this. "Nevermind. Let's not keep the Council waiting any longer."
3
Qui Gon was on a mission and if he was the only one to think of it in those terms then so be it. So what if he had only come up with it this morning. He needed answers. Ones that Anakin refused to give.
The day had started out quite pleasant. He was having breakfast with Anakin, fresh from the front. Catching up with one another after so much time away. That is until Anakin asked, "Did Obi-Wan ask Ahsoka yet?"
His silence must have been answer enough for Anakin for he had tried to change the subject once he realized that Qui Gon had no idea what he was referring to. Qui Gon however wasn't ready to let it drop. He searched his memory for anyone named Ahsoka and could only come up with Plo's Foundling from so many years ago.
"Plo's Foundling?", he asked. "What does Obi-Wan have to do with her?"
Anakin squirmed in his seat a bit and lowered his eyes to his plate. "I think you should ask Obi-Wan that, Master."
His tone was even and gave nothing away. It was what he always used when discussing anything that may be too personal for Obi-Wan or Qui Gon. It's the tone that said if you want to know more you'll have to find out yourself cause I'm not telling. So Qui Gon let it go. For now.
He waited until Anakin had left before setting out himself. He must have walked the majority of the Temple before he caught sight of his intended target sitting in a hover chair moving down the hall. He quickened his strides to catch up.
"Grandmaster. A word please?" He called out once he was close enough. Yoda's chair stopped and turned towards him.
"Hmmmm wondered when you would seek me out, I have." Yoda said. "Take it I do that it is information you seek."
Qui Gon knew better than to let his surprise show. "Yes, Grandmaster. About Obi-Wan and Plo's Foundling Ahsoka."
Yoda considered him for a moment before asking. "And this is not something you could ask Obi-Wan himself?"
Qui Gon felt a pang of sadness work its way deep into his heart. Yoda knew the answer to that already. "No, Master." There was no guarantee that Obi-Wan would tell him.
Yoda's own ears dropped a bit. "Hoped I have that closer you two would have become with time. To both of your wayward padawans."
Qui Gon felt another pang. He had hoped so too. He had made progress with building his relationship back up with Feemor but it was nowhere close as it had been before Qui Gon had made that disastrous comm all those years ago. And his relationship with Obi-Wan was in the same place. They were both friendly with him and cared but it was kept at a distance. One he couldn't blame them for having.
Yoda must have sensed his mood turning for the worst. "A padawan Obi-Wan wishes to take."
That certainly diverted his attention. Obi-Wan had never shown signs before of being interested in taking on a padawan. It was then he also noticed Yoda's pleased look.
"You didn't scheme did you?" Half dreading the answer.
"No need. Did it for me, the Force." Yoda's voice was elated.
Well that was better than any of Yoda's very rarely thought out plans at matching Masters with padawans. "Tell me of her?" He requested.
Yoda motioned for him to follow and Qui Gon took great care not to out-stride him. "Much like your padawans she is. Qualities of them all I see in her." He began.
The more Yoda spoke of her the more he could see how Obi-Wan and her would fit together. She seemed like an excellent choice. Which is why he was confused that at her age she hasn't been picked. When this was voiced he watched Yoda contemplate his answer.
"There's more to this isn't there?" He asked. Yoda's own silence was answer enough for him.
"Come. Think it is time you met your soon to be grandpadawan." He pointed towards the training room doors. "Go now."
Clearly dismissed, Qui Gon bid his goodbyes and went through the doors. He kept to the shadows as he searched for the girl Yoda had described. He didn't have to look much as he found Obi-Wan beside her.
He settled back against the wall and watched as Obi-Wan demonstrated a kata from his preferred form. He watched Ahsoka take in every detail of it and when it was her turn nearly replicated it perfectly. This went on for a while. Obi-Wan correctly her stance or saber placement here or there. It was impressive. Yoda was not exaggerating the young one's skill in saber work.
Eventually they came to a halt. "Well done Ahsoka." He could hear Obi-Wan praise her. If the smile on the girl's face hadn't clued him in then the happiness that she leaked in the Force did at Obi-Wan's praise. Qui Gon was sure that when Obi-Wan decided to ask, Ahsoka would say yes.
"Next time, why don't I show you some Djem So katas ? I think you'd enjoy it and if it is something you wish to continue in your padawan years I'd be-" Obi-Wan stopped and turned to face him.
Ah, he had been sensed. He made his way towards them. "Hello there Obi-Wan." He called out softly.
"Hello, Master. What brings you here?" Obi-Wan asked though he probably could guess ,with the way Qui Gon looked towards the Togruta curiously.
"I was talking with Master Yoda and thought I'd stop in to see who was here today. Never know when a good sparring partner will be in. And who might this be?"
Obi-Wan shot him a slightly disbelieving look. He knew very well that if Qui Gon had been talking to Yoda that he already knew. "Qui Gon met Initiate Ahsoka Tano. Ahsoka, this is my former Master Qui Gon Jinn."
The girl smiled brightly up at him. "Nice to meet you."
"And you, young one." He returned.
It wasn't until later, after a day spent with Obi-Wan and Ahsoka, that he realized that he might have interrupted something important.
+1
Ahsoka returned back to Obi-Wan's room in the Healer Halls as soon as she could after grabbing something to eat. She knew that he was making great recovery from all of his injuries and mostly needed rest now but she couldn't bring herself to be too long from his bedside.
Stepping through the door as quietly as she could she saw she wasn't the only one. Anakin sat there holding his hand, snatching his own back once he noticed someone else was in the room.
"It's just me." She reassured him. He hesitated for a moment before putting his hand back.
He looked tired. More so than ever. "You should go get something to eat, Anakin.", she said. When he made a move to protest she quickly cut him off. "He's still asleep now. I'll be here the whole time. Go. Get some food in you. You know that's what he would want."
She knew it was a bit low but she was right. And he knew it by the slight slump in his shoulders as he got up. "I'll be back in a half an hour."
"An hour." She countered. "Go get freshened up too."
He gave her a small but genuine smile as he passed her before exiting. "Maybe."
She took his spot and the hand he had been holding.
At some point she must have zoned out for the hand she had been holding suddenly squeezed hers. Startling a bit her eyes found Obi-Wan's open, looking wide awake.
"Didn't want you to doze in such an uncomfortable position." He gave her an apologetic look. "Maybe you should return to your dorms. You'll find that they are much more comfortable than here."
She shook her head no."Much rather be here with you."
She felt him give her hand a tight squeeze. "I appreciate that."
They sat in silence for a little while longer before Obi-Wan cleared his throat drawing her attention back to him.
"You know this is not the way I had imagined asking you? I had several plans but each one kept getting interrupted." She couldn't help the widening of her eyes. Surely he wasn't…"I know this ranks low on the list of memorable moments especially today of all days and I do plan on making it up to you but what better time than now?"
She held her breath as he paused not wanting to even blink in case this was just a dream and she woke up.
"Ahsoka Tano, will you accept me as your Jedi Master? To guide and teach you on your way to becoming a Knight?" His voice was completely serious and reserved as the occasion called for.
She could help herself from flinging her arms around him, being careful to avoid his injuries as best she could. "Yes! A thousand times yes!"
His own arms circled around her and held her there. She felt him prodding at her mental shields around their bond and dropped them to let him in. Happiness flooded in from his end.
She didn't know how long she stayed in that position but it was long enough that Anakin returned looking refreshed and slightly less pale. He raised his brows in question.She pulled back but didn't let go of Obi-Wan's hand.
"Anakin." Obi-Wan's voice was warm. "Come congratulate Padawan Ahsoka Tano."
Best life day ever.