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“Do you have to go on a mission during Winter’s Eve, Buir?” Obi asks Plo as Plo readies his traveling bag.
“I am afraid so, little one. Bad guys don’t stop doing bad things just because it’s Winter’s Eve.” Plo shakes his head and Obi sighs.
“Who will I be staying with?” Obi curiously asks.
“Buir Shaak is not on the planet currently, so you will be residing with Buir Vokara.”
“Yes, Mom!” Obi exclaims excitedly. “I mean, Buir Vokara.” Obi corrects himself, his face turning red.
“It’s alright, young one. Buir Shaak has already accepted it.” Plo lies. Shaak had definitely not accepted it, as whenever the Jedi Master sees the Head Healer, she curses her for stealing her precious child, and then leaves for her dorms to watch sad holo-dramas.
“When am I going to stay with Buir Vokara?”
“I have to get everything in order first, and then I will drop you off at her quarters,” Plo informs and Obi nods.
Obi is happy he gets to spend time with his mother; however, he is quite sad that he won’t get to spend his first Christmas as a padawan with his Buir. At least they spent Thanksgiving together. Plus, Mom is always nice when he gets to see her and he is always happy when visiting or staying with her.
“Are you ready to go?” Plo asks, and Obi nods. He had already packed his travel bag with everything he would need while at his mom’s place. “Well then, let’s go.”
Plo and Obi walk through the hallways till they finally stop at the apartment closest to the Halls of Healing. As a healer, especially as Head Healer, Master Che lived the closest to the Halls of Healing in case of an emergency.
Plo knocks on her door and within a second, it opens quickly, revealing a smiling Vokara, as she picks up little Obi and motions for Plo to come in.
“How are you, my little Obi?” Vokara asks as she snuggles Obi close to her.
“I’m good, Mom,” Obi says, his voice muffled but happy, nonetheless.
“That’s good.” Vokara smiles. She then turns to Plo. “When will you be leaving?”
“Right now, actually. I just came to drop little Obi off.” Plo responds as Vokara sets Obi down. Obi turns to Plo and Plo gets on his knees, opening his arms wide. Obi goes over to him and hugs him tightly.
“Be safe, Buir.” Obi whispers and Plo smiles underneath his mask.
“The Force will guard me, little one. Now be good for your Buir. And I hope you have a great Winter’s Day.”
“I’ll be good. And I wish you a merry Winter’s Day as well, Buir. I love you!” Obi hugs him tighter.
“And I love you, my child,” Plo whispers and ruffles his hair gently. Obi pulls away and Plo stands up, then turns to Vokara.
“And you have everything you need for him?” Plo questions, anxiously.
“Of course, Plo. This is not my first time watching my son.” Vokara protectively says and Plo nods, Vokara’s words killing his further questioning. Force, could she be feisty.
“Well, I should be going then. I have a ship to Ryloth to catch. Merry Winter’s Eve to you both.” Plo states. He gives Obi one more hug and then leaves.
“Let me go put your bag in your room and then I’ll figure out something for us to do.” Vokara states as she takes Obi’s bag from him. She had recently turned her guest bedroom to Obi’s bedroom, so now it had all some of his belongings and his stuff. She takes Obi’s precious stuffed Varactyl from his bag and lays it neatly on his galaxy-themed bed. Vokara then returns to her living room where Obi is patiently sitting on the sofa.
“You could have turned on a holo, Obi.” Vokara smiles and Obi timidly smiles back.
“It’s fine. Thank you for taking my bag, Mom.” Obi says, gratefully and Vokara once again smiles. Little Obi does that to her.
“My polite child,” Vokara mutters. “I was thinking that we could make some cookies for Winter’s Day,” Vokara suggests and Obi lights up.
“We need to make some cookies for Santa too! And leave some carrots for the Reindeer.” Obi exclaims and Vokara laughs.
“Of course. How could I have forgotten.” Vokara kindly smiles and Obi runs over to the kitchen, his patient appearance vanishing.
“What color frosting should we make for the cookies, Obi?”
“Red, obviously! That’s Santa’s favorite color!” Obi exclaims, and Vokara chuckles.
“I don’t even know why I asked,” Vokara mutters.
After Vokara and Obi had made batches of cookies and a plate of red and green cookies with carrots on it, they settled down in the living room, watching a documentary about the Black Hole.
“Is Santa Claus real, Mom?” Obi suddenly asks and Vokara is surprised.
“Of course, darling, we just made cookies for him, didn’t we? Why do doubt he is real?” Vokara inquires and Obi shrugs.
“Some of the older children said he wasn’t real, just a made-up children’s tale.” Obi answers and Vokara nods in understanding, forgetting that he takes classes with older kids because he is ahead in his studies.
“Well, they must be on the naughty list then, Obi.”
“Can we do something tonight?” Obi asks, shyly.
“What would you like to do?” Vokara asks curiously.
“I want to stay up for Santa. I want to see him and see if he’s real.” Obi states and Vokara softly laughs.
“Yes, we can. But remember, believing is seeing to.” Vokara says and Obi looks at her thoughtfully.
Thank you, Mom!” Obi excitedly says, forgetting her latter words.
“What do we do?” Obi asks as it hits his bedtime.
“Well, we have to stay awake in order to be able to see him. How about I put on a holo?” Vokara suggests, and Obi agrees. “When it gets too late though and I see you falling asleep, I am sending you to bed though, understand?”
“Yes, Mom. Thank you!” Obi gratefully says as she puts on a documentary about stars. Oh, Force does her child love learning about space.
After a while, Obi snuggles closer to his Mom and they both fall asleep on the couch peacefully. However, Obi is suddenly awoken by a thump and sees a fireplace behind the holo-screen. His mouth drops open and he quietly sneaks out of his Mom’s embrace while snuggling his Varactyl to his chest. He tippy toes to their Winter’s day tree and gasp. There, putting presents under their tree is Santa.
“You’re real,” Obi whispers, his eyes wide. Santa turns around startled and recovers quickly; he smiles.
“Of course, I’m real, Obi-Wan. And I think deep down, you already knew that.” Santa responds and Obi shrugs.
“But the other kids said you’re not real because no one has ever seen you before,” Obi responds, and Santa lets out a small laugh.
“As your mother said earlier, Obi-Wan, believing is seeing. Can you see the Force?”
“No.”
“Yet you still believe in it, and you count on it. It’s the same with me. You can’t see me, yet you still believe and count on me to come to every Winter’s Eve night and drop off presents. And to eat the cookies, which by the way, are delicious.” Santa explains and Obi nods, understanding. “I knew you would understand, after all, you are a True Believer.” Obi gasps.
“Really?” Obi asks, amazed.
“Yes, and you are one of my best True Believers.” Santa declares and Obi smiles.
“Awesome.” Obi whispers and Santa smiles.
“I’m afraid I have to go now; I have a lot more rounds to make.” Santa declares and Obi nods. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Obi-Wan.”
“You too, Santa! Thank you for all the presents you give me and my family each year!” Obi thanks him and Santa smiles at the polite child.
“Of course. Now, remember, be good. I want to see you on the nice list next year, okay?”
“I promise I’ll be good!” Obi exclaims as quietly as possible, being mindful of his sleeping mom.
“Good. Now go back to sleep, the sooner you sleep, the sooner you can open your presents.” Santa states. Obi walks back to the couch and snuggles into his mom’s embrace as Santa walks into the fireplace he had made in their apartment. “Merry Winter’s Day, Obi-Wan, and a goodnight.” Santa states and suddenly he disappears into golden dust, the made-up fireplace vanishing as well.
“Wow,” Obi mutters, his eyes drooping tiredly. Vokara smiles beside him, having witnessed the whole thing. She cradles her Obi closer to her side and smiles at the memory of a young Twi’lek who once had stayed up for Santa and who had successfully met him. She falls asleep a while later, thinking of how blessed she is to have had such a great first Winter’s Eve with her child, her Obi.