Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

He peeks into the bed and catches onto the two sleeping figures on the bed, his wife and her son, his padawan. Mother and child sleep peacefully. Despite not wanting to wake them with the hall light, he keeps staring.

Shmi looks like an angel, long dark hair draped acrossed her pillow, beautiful brown eyes hidden by sleepy lids, one arm tucked under her head, the other laid over her rounded stomach and resting over her son protectively. She looks like guardian angel watching over a young godling. Anakin, sleeping besides his mother looks to be a god in boyhood. His short sunlight blond hair, long enough to be in a padawan cut, fanned around his head. He lays tucked to his mother's chest and is curled over the baby bump carrying his younger sibling.

Both look so happy, even in sleep. He can't imagine why he ever wanted to split up the mother and son. Perhaps it's best the Jedi refused to train his padawan. Even if Anakin would have been a great Jedi. Though time has passed since then, he still believes that. But again, maybe it's for the best. Shmi and Anakin are incredibly happy together, joyously prepping for the arrive of the new baby.

It doesn't feel like it's been almost a year since they met. So much in his life has changed. A year ago he was a Jedi master, training a padawan, and had an offered seat on the Jedi council. Now he's a husband and father, a retired Jedi, and an honored lord of Naboo. But not a bit of him would trade this life away. A year ago he was on the sandy planet of Tatooine with a young Queen and a dire situation. Now he lived on the beautiful plan of Naboo preparing for the arrival of his child and the life after. A year ago he was offered a place of shelter from a rough storm by a slave mother and her son. Now that same mother and son were free and were now his wife and padawan.

A year ago a chain for events led him here and he was so thankful. He was sent to solve a trade dispute, was almost killed, met an annoying gungan, evacuated a queen, almost blown to pieces, was forced to land on a random planet, met a kind young boy who gave them shelter from a rough sand storm, met the boy's mother, fell in love, brought to complete strangers home, set of to train Anakin and was denied, nearly died, woke up, feel in love again, married his lover, adopted her son, and now he was here. He couldn't be luckier.

He wonders what could have happen if the Jedi wished to train Anakin and he didn't leave. Though he is curious about the thought he does not dwell on it. It's better to not travel down that path. He's happier here. But he still wonders if he didn't leave what would have happened. Little Anakin wouldn't have any place to go being denied acceptance into the order. Shmi and Anakin would be left to fend for themselves in a completely different place than they knew. And he wouldn't have his family, his wife and their two children. He didn't want to think about that alternative reality. The one where he didn't have his family. He made his choice and he's so happy he did.

Even of he did stay, what would be there for him? Is own Master left the Order years before, Obi-Wan had left shortly before himself, he had few friends left in the Order but they had drifted apart over time. Here while much slower than his life as a Jedi, it was better. Tomorrow was guaranteed. And he had family, his family. He had his wife and their son and despite there bring physical distance between them he had his former padawan there. Even though they know longer lived side by side.

Despite not wanting to wake the sleeping family he did just that. Both Shmi and Anakin looked at him sleepily, though Anakin just for a second before realising it was only him and tucking himself back into his mom. Shmi on the other hand gave him a small hum and gently patted the bed beside her in invitation to join them. Quietly he walks to her side and stands there. After a moment she pulls his hand to force into bed. He drops his outer robe and crawls in next to her. Shmi tucks her head into his chest and curls back around Anakin and drifts back to sleep. Softly he places an arm over mother and son and settles back to sleep, protecting his wife and children in sleep. He's so glad he made his choice.

Chapter Text

He was really sleepy. Calming the beast Dada was fighting was really hard but he did it and now Dada was holding him again. Dada was hurt and he wanted help but he was too tired. Maybe after a nap or two he could but not now.

He fell asleep. They were not outside now in the hot but in a cool room and he was on a soft bed. Dada was out of his armor minus the helmet and talking to a clone. The clone seemed friendly but he was scared. He didn't want Dada to be shot too. He whimpered and Dada turned to him. Then the clone was gone and he was in Dada's arms.

"Hey buddy, did you have a nice nap?" Dada asks.

He nods and nuzzles into Dada's chest. It's soft and warm flesh and not cold and hard armor. Dada laughs, "Sounds like a yes to me."

He moves in Dada's arm to reach for his helmet. Dada laughs again and gently moves his hands. Then the helmet is gone. Dada's face is as kind as he remembers. This time seeing his face means they are staying together not like last time. Not like last time when Dada left. They stay together this time.

Dada's voice break through, "Tired buddy? You're zoning out. You can sleep soon. We just need to eat, shower and patch ourselves up first, kay?"

He smiles and babbles. Dada smiles down at him. Then he's placed on the bed. He doesn't like that. He whines and Dada laughs, "It's only for a minute bud. I just need to place these patches and they I'll carry you again, kay?"

He knew he needed to help Dada. He waddled forward and raised is hand but Dada stopped him, "No no buddy. You did a lot today. You don't need to heal me on top of that. The bacta with do the work."

He didn't like that. He pouted but Dada just laughed. Then Dada sat down with his back to him. He could sneak up on him like he and his friends would do to Papa Yoda back at the temple.

Dada turned to him. "I think we should wash up first. What do you think Ad'ika?" Dada asked. He nods. He loves bath time. Dada scoops him up and walk to the refresher. It's so much bigger than the one in their ship. Dada sets him on the counter and go to fiddle with some knobs on the wall. Soon steam is covering the room. Which means the water is hot. He loves hot baths. Dada grabs him and they climb into the shower. Dada puts some soap on his head. The bubbles tickle. Dada places him on the floor with a little rubber froggy. Too soon Dada turns off the water. Dada grabs him and wraps him in a big fluffy towel. Dada rubs him dry and puts him in new pajamas. They're green like him.

"Hey buddy look what Boba bought you!" Dada says and gives him something. It's a green froggy with blue pokadots as big as him. It's the best gift ever! "I'm glad you like it Ad'ika. I'll have to tell Boba." Dada says smiling. Dada puts him on the soft bed. It's so cozy he could fall asleep right there but he's hungry. It's tummy is growling. It used to always be like that but not with Dada. Dada always made sure he was never hungry. Dada loved him. He whines for Dada. "I know your hungry bud, just give me a second. Okay? Then we can eat. Boba got frog legs specially made just got you." Dada say patting his tummy. He nods. He doesn't know this Boba guy but he's starting to like him.

Dada goes back to placing patches and bandages. Dada's distracted. Perfect! He slowly creeps up to him and places his hand on Dada's arm. He focuses like Master Luke said. He thinks about Daddy being healed. Drawing on the Force he feels it begin to work. He does all he can the opens his eyes, Dada's looking at him proudly. Dada picks him up and hold him in the air. "Someone as gotten strong haven't they? I can't believe my little jetii is all grown up!" Dada says. He did it!! He healed Dada!! Now they can eat.

"Okay you little womprat. Food time." Dada says. Dada walks over to the table and in the middle is a huge pile of frog legs. He squirms to be let down. Dada puts him down on the table. "You go eat you menace." Dada is teasing him. He's never actually mad at Grogu. Never. He munches away well Dada eats. He eats every last bite.

"Okay kid, brush teeth then bed. That sounds good." Dada asks. It does. Dada takes him back to the refresher and cleans his face then teeth. Dada puts him on the bed while he pulls a curtain to cover the door and turns off the big light, leaving a tiny light on at the table for them to see in the dark. Dada crawls in to bed and he cuddles Grogu to his chest. He loves the warmth of Dada's skin against his cheek. "Go to sleep Grogu. Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum cyar'ika." Dada says. Grogu curls up to Dada's heart and does just that.