Chapter Text
“But, Buir, why can’t I stay with Soka or Buir Kara and Buir Shaak.” Little Obi-Wan pouts as Plo takes him into the speeder to drop him off at Anakin’s.
“What’s so wrong with staying with Anakin and Padme?” Plo inquires and Obi-Wan pouts.
“Because he’s always looking at me weirdly whenever I do anything. Padme is fine though, she’s really nice!” Obi-Wan smiles and Plo chuckles. “Why can’t I go with you, Buir, I’m going to be eight soon!”
“I know, my little Obi, but you’re still too little to be able to accompany me on missions.” Plo gently says, and Obi-Wan sighs. “It will be alright, little one, I will be back inside the Temple before you know it.”
“You’ll be back for Thanksgiving too, right?” Obi-Wan says, hopeful eyes looking back at Plo.
“Of course, little one, that will be one of my main priorities. Finishing the mission in time for our first Thanksgiving together.” Plo states and Obi-Wan smiles at him happily.
“We’re here, little one,” Plo says as they arrive at Padme’s place on Coruscant. Padme and Anakin come out to greet them. Plo exits the speeder and gently takes Obi-Wan out as he is still the same size as a five-year-old.
“Be good while I am gone and be careful, young one.” Plo gently commands Obi-Wan nods, his eyes watering. “I know that this will be my first mission away from you since the Sith, but you will be okay, you have Padme and Anakin here with you.”
“I know, Buir. I promise I’ll be good.” Obi-Wan says and Plo nods.
“Enjoy your time with them. I love you, dear one, and may the Force be with you.” Plo says and hugs him as Obi-Wan squeezes back.
“I love you too, Buir, and may the Force be with you!” Obi-Wan states and Plo hugs him a little tighter and then releases him. He looks at little Obi-Wan one more time and then he walks towards Padme and Anakin, Obi-Wan following behind him.
“Thank you again, for volunteering to watch him over the weekend.” Plo thanks them and Padme smiles.
“Of course, and there is no need to thank us. Obi is always a delight to have over.” Padme gently says and Plo nods gratefully. “We’ll take good care of him, Master Koon. Now you best be going, you need to prepare for your mission.”
“Yes, I guess I must leave now,” Plo says and then turns to where Obi-Wan is, beside him.
“I’ll miss you, Obi, but I’ll be back to celebrate Thanksgiving with you,” Plo says, and Obi-Wan nods.
“I’ll miss you too, Buir,” Obi-Wan says and gives him one more hug. Plo ruffles his hair and then leaves to enter his speeder.
Plo looks at Obi-Wan one more time and waves goodbye as Obi-Wan does the same. He drives his speeder back to the Temple and then boards a transport to the underworld of Coruscant to investigate mysterious bombings. The sooner he gets this mission done, the sooner he can see his ad again.
“Let’s go inside, Obi.” Padme gently takes Obi’s hand and walks inside the large apartment.
“Wow! You have a palace on Naboo and a really big apartment on Coruscant! That’s cool!” Obi-Wan looks around in awe.
“Yes, well it’s one of the perks of being a Senator.” Padme chuckles and Anakin smiles beside her. “Let me show you to your bedroom.”
“My bedroom?” Obi-Wan raises his brow curiously.
“Yes, your bedroom,” Padme confirms. “Master Koon told me that he might be going on missions again, every once in a while. And when he does, I and Anakin would be happy to have you stay with us.”
“Thank you, Padme!” Obi-Wan smiles and Padme can’t help but smile at his adorable expression.
“Of course, Obi,” Padme says, smiling, and leads him to the bedroom.
Padme leads Obi-Wan to a bedroom close to her and Anakin’s and opens the door for him. Obi-Wan’s eyes go wide as he looks around the big bedroom. The walls are a navy color, and the floor has nice, polished wood boards. The ceiling is covered in stars, galaxies, and planets, and it’s as if it was there since the beginning. There’s a neat little wooden desk in the corner of the room with a map of the galaxy and a little spaceship figure next to it.
In the middle of the room, by the wall, there is a full-size bed with space-themed sheets and a stuffed Varactyl. Obi-Wan smiles and his eyes light up.
“Thank you so much, Padme! This is amazing!” Obi-Wan exclaims.
“Of course, Obi, I’m so glad you like it.” Padme smiles. “Now before we start our wonderful weekend, I need to go down to the shops real quick, Anakin will watch you while I’m gone.”
“Are sure that’s a good idea? Do you have any guards going with you?”
“I’ll be fine, Ani, I have my handmaidens with me, plus, you think I can’t take care of myself?” Padme raises her brow at Anakin,
“No, of course, you can take care of yourself,” Anakin says, defeated.
“Okay, well, I’ll be back in an hour. Try not to burn the place down while I’m gone.” Padme states.
“Don’t worry, Padme, I’ll make sure Obi-Wan doesn’t do anything like that.”
“Oh, Ani, I wasn’t talking about him,” Padme says and Obi laughs, Anakin looks at them betrayed.
“Don’t worry, Padme, I’ll watch him!”
“Thank you, Obi. Now be good boys.” Padme says and leaves.
“So, what should we do while we wait for dear Padme?” Anakin asks as he cleans up the dishes from lunch.
“I don’t know, whatever is fine.”
“I have a perfect idea!” Anakin takes Obi’s hand and leads him outside to his speeder.
“Where are we going?”
“We’re going to go watch a pod race!” Anakin says, and they take off.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Anakin,” Obi-Wan says and Anakin stiffens.
“Well, I’m the one in charge so we’re doing it.” Anakin lands at an underground stadium. Obi and Anakin get out of the speeder and Anakin walks in front of Obi leading him into the stadium. Obi looks around and gulps. There are bounty hunters, criminals, and gangs everywhere, people selling death sticks, and it smells horrible.
“I have a bad feeling about this,” Obi mutters and Anakin spins around.
“What did you say?” Anakin stares him in the eyes.
“I have a bad feeling about this. I don’t think we should be down here. It’s scary.” Obi says, pleadingly.
“It’s fine, I can protect us,” Anakin says and they move to the front of the stairs and where they are able to see the pod racers. Anakin smiles as he looks at the pods getting ready.
Obi tries to relax but the Force makes him edgy as all he can sense is danger! danger! danger!
“I really think we need to go, I don’t feel safe here!” Obi says, and Anakin shakes his head.
“Just calm down, Obi-Wan. Have a little bit of fun.” Anakin insists, and Obi looks around, worried. He uses the Force and senses something dangerous attached to one of the pod racers and his eyes go wide.
“Anakin, we need to go now and try to get as many people out! I think something bad is going to happen.” Obi declares, and Anakin looks at him angrily.
“Will you be quiet for one second and just stop acting like him!” Anakin shouts and Obi furrows his brow.
“But I have a bad feeling! I think somethings wrong!” Obi protests but it just makes Anakin angrier.
“See, everything you’re doing right now is just what he would do! Just be quiet and enjoy the darn race!”
“Fine, if you won’t help me then I’ll do it myself,” Obi says and rushes off to the speakers. “Attention! Attention! There is a bomb! Run!” Once he finishes, he hears shouting and looks at all the people quickly exiting and shouting.
Anakin looks up at him confused and then he too senses the ticking in the Force. Anakin and Obi quickly run out of the building as the bomb sets off and explodes in the stadium.
“That… could have been bad,” Anakin mutters but Obi turns to him, angry.
“I told you I had a bad feeling and you didn’t listen! I sensed the bomb and I’m seven! You should have too!”
“No, you stop, stop it right there! You do NOT get to lecture me as if you are my Master. I can’t believe you’re still lecturing me, even as a child!” Anakin spits out.
“Stop comparing me to him! I’m not him!” Obi protests, his eyes burning and Anakin stares at him for a second.
“You’re right, you’re not him; you’re just some whimpering child that took his place. The Force took my Master, my brother, and replaced him with a sorry excuse of a child.” Anakin lets out a cold laugh. “And you know what I don’t get? Why everyone still treats you like him? Padme adores you, Plo treats you like his son and so do Shaak and Che. You’re not their son or brother, you’re just a replacement.”
Obi looks at him, tears running down his face. “I wish I had my Master back instead of you, but no, the Force wants you to have a “perfect” childhood. Well, I hope you enjoy it, just try not to think about how the Force stole and killed another man’s life just to grant you a fairytale childhood.” Anakin whispers, coldly, and then leaves.
Obi looks at him as he leaves and slumps to the ground, finally letting the tears flow down as he cries.