Work Text:
Obi-Wan walked into the Jedi Temple towards his quarters, unaware that he had a little shadow following behind him.
“Hello, Master Qui-Gon.” Obi-Wan greeted as he passed. The twenty four year old had previously been promoted to jedi knight status, and Qui-Gon was very proud of him.
“Oh, hello Obi-Wan. Who is your little friend there?” Qui-Gon gave a fond smile to the small blonde boy behind Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan lifted an eyebrow. “Excuse me?” He asked, confused. He turned his head to see what Qui-Gon was looking at, and let out an audible gasp. “Oh my stars…” His jaw dropped, staring down at the boy.
The little one smiled, proudly showing off his missing bottom tooth. “Hello!” The boy brightly greeted with a wave.
Obi-Wan wanted to faint. He genuinely wondered if he was hallucinating for a moment…but alas, this was in fact real, as Qui-Gon could see him too.
Obi-Wan knelt down in front of him, his eyes widened to the size of saucers. “Where did you come from, little one?” He asked, confused beyond all reason. How did this boy get here?!
“I went onto this big spaceship thingy, and then it flew off into the sky, then I was eating snacks because I was hungry, and then…now, we’re here!” He exclaimed gleefully. “This place is soooo huge!” He looked around the room with big eyes.
Obi-Wan’s heart dropped, now fully realizing what had happened. After he had gone to Tatooine, the boy must have wandered onto his spaceship! Then, not knowing that he was on board, Obi-Wan took off!
“Oh my stars…ohhh my stars…” Obi-Wan stood to his feet, pacing back and forth. This was not good! Not at all! Qui-Gon watched with amusement as the boy ran over to him, smiling up at the man.
“Hi!” He exclaimed. Qui-Gon gently grinned down at him. “Hello, little one. What is your name?” He asked, his demeanor patient and kind.
Poor Obi-Wan was losing his mind in the background, a million and one things running through his mind.
‘How could he just sneak on like that without me even noticing?!? How am I going to explain myself when I return him?!?! How is this going to look to the council?!?! I was just promoted to knighthood; they are going to think I'm unfit for this position!’ He thought frantically as he paced back and forth.
“My name is Anakin! Anakin Skywalker!” Anakin exclaimed proudly. “I’m from Tatooine.” Anakin said. Qui-Gon nodded. “Ah, I see.” He said.
Suddenly, Anakin’s stomach grumbled. “I can see that someone is hungry, hm?” Qui-Gon asked, reaching down and scooping the little one up to sit on his hip.
Anakin instinctively wrapped his legs around the tall man’s waist, resting his head on his shoulder. “I get to eat your food?!” He gasped, his blue eyes widening.
Qui-Gon chuckled, nodding. “Indeed, you do. Though, it will technically be your food once I put it on your plate.” He playfully touched the boy’s chin, earning him a giggle.
Obi-Wan was still trying to recover from his blown mind, standing in the middle of the room as he watched in shock as Qui-Gon carried the boy away into the dining area. ‘How is he being so calm about this?!?! I’m dead meat!’ He thought.
Obi-Wan eventually joined them, seeing Qui-Gon cut up Anakin’s food for him. He stabbed a piece of meat with his fork, holding it to the boy’s lips.
“Here comes the space ship!~” Qui-Gon exclaimed, smiling as the boy giggled while he slowly moved it towards his open mouth.
Anakin chewed the food, visibly melting at how delicious it was. “Mmmm!~ That’s so good!” He exclaimed. Qui-Gon handed the boy the fork, nodding.
“Why, thank you. Obi-Wan here loves my recipe, too.” Qui-Gon said, looking over at the visibly distraught young man standing a few feet away from them.
“Yes, it’s very good. Qui-Gon, may I speak to you for a moment?” Obi-Wan asked. Qui-Gon gently pet Anakin on the head. “You enjoy your meal, little one. We will be right back.” He said calmly.
Anakin nodded, continuing to eat the yummy food on his plate. He was convinced it was the best food he ever had!
Out in the hallway, Obi-Wan was a nervous wreck. “I am going to be in so much trouble! How could I be so blind?! His family is probably worried sick! Had he been someone who had intended to actually do harm, I could have been compromised! How can I call myself a jedi knight when I can’t notice a little boy sneaking onto my ship?!” Obi-Wan exclaimed, finishing with a stressed sigh as he ran a hand through his hair.
“I am so sorry, Master.” He said. Qui-Gon lifted an eyebrow. “Why are you apologizing to me, Obi-Wan?” He asked softly.
“I have disgraced you. You taught me to be more aware of my surroundings, you helped me on my journey to becoming a knight, you trained me to be so much better. I’ve brought great shame to you.” Obi-Wan said, taking a seat on a nearby bench and covering his face with his hands.
Qui-Gon frowned, walking over and sitting next to him. He placed a comforting hand on Obi-Wan’s shoulder.
“You have not disgraced me, Obi-Wan. In fact, something tells me that this is one of the best things you have ever done.” Qui-Gon said, much to the surprise of Obi-Wan.
“W-what? One of the-Master, I unintentionally smuggled a young boy into the Jedi Temple! I’m probably going to be kicked out and severely punished for being so unmindful and foolish. They’ll never look at me the same again…” Obi-Wan lamented.
“I don’t believe that to be true, young one. Believe me.” Qui-Gon said. After a long pause of silence, he continued. “You should go speak to him. Get to know him, ask him questions. You may be surprised at what you find out.” Qui-Gon said wisely.
Obi-Wan wanted nothing more than for this day to just completely restart so he could stop himself from making this mistake again, but he knew that was impossible.
So, he stood to his feet and got a handle on his emotions. He was sure the boy was terrified now, being so young on a completely different planet and around strangers must have been scary.
Qui-Gon followed Obi-Wan into the room, taking a seat next to him as Obi-Wan sat by Anakin. “So, your name is Anakin?” Obi-Wan asked, starting up the conversation.
Anakin nodded, taking a big sip of the juice in his cup. “Mmhm! Anakin Skywalker!” He exclaimed proudly.
Obi-Wan smiled. The boy was adorable, Obi-Wan could admit the obvious.
“I am Obi-Wan Kenobi. This is Master Qui-Gon.” Obi-Wan gently took Anakin’s hand and shook it before nodding next to him at Qui-Gon, who gave the boy a nod.
Anakin waved at him gleefully. “So, you guys are like…superheros?” He asked curiously.
Obi-Wan chuckled. “Well, I wouldn’t particularly use those words, but we do go on exciting missions.” He said, keeping it simple. “My official title is ‘jedi knight’.”
“Is that why you were on Tatooine?” Anakin asked. Obi-Wan nodded. “Indeed. I apologize for taking you from your home planet. I’m sure you miss your family very much, and I have no doubt that they are looking for you at this very moment.” Obi-Wan said, the guilt eating him up inside. Anakin blinked before shaking his head.
“Oh, no they aren’t!” The boy exclaimed matter of factly, taking another bite of his food. Obi-Wan lifted a confused eyebrow. “What do you mean?” He asked. “I don’t have any parents.” Anakin replied.
Obi-Wan’s eyes widened momentarily before he continued to speak. “You don’t?” He asked.
Anakin shook his head, confirming this. “No, they died when I was really little.” He said.
Obi-Wan frowned, his heartbreaking for the boy. “I am so sorry to hear that.” He said softly.
Anakin shrugged. “It’s okay, I don’t really remember them.” He said. As far as he was concerned, he had been on his own for his whole life.
“How old are you?” Obi-Wan asked. Anakin held up five fingers with a proud grin. “I’m five!” He said.
Obi-Wan wasn’t sure if this made his revelation worse or better. Better because he still had a long life ahead of him, or worse because he had been alone for practically his entire five years of existing. “So, you were just…by yourself?” Obi-Wan asked.
Anakin pondered for a moment. “Hmm…well, I was around other slaves.” He said. “But they had parents of their own, so…” Anakin shrugged.
Obi-Wan’s heart shattered into a million tiny pieces. Oh, now he wanted nothing more than to keep the boy safe and happy for the rest of his life, and he had only just met him!
Obi-Wan stared at Anakin, the wheels in his brain spinning. Qui-Gon knew exactly what he was thinking, and not just because of their comm link.
“I am going to go prepare your room for the night. Obi-Wan will lead you to it when you are finished with your dinner.” Qui-Gon gracefully nodded, giving Obi-Wan a knowing look and Anakin a peaceful smile before turning and leaving them alone.
Anakin’s eyes lit up yet again. “Oooh, I get my own room?! Yay! I’ve never had my own room before!” Anakin exclaimed.
Obi-Wan gently placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder, looking him in the eye. “Anakin, would you like to stay with me?” He asked.
Obi-Wan knew he’d have to talk to the council about this, but he had a feeling that after he explained the situation, they’d allow it.
Anakin gasped, his jaw dropping as he stared at the man in awe. He looked Obi-Wan over, as if he were checking to see if he was telling the truth or just messing with him. “R-Really?” He asked.
Obi-Wan nodded. “Indeed.” He confirmed with a soft smile. “I’d love to teach you the way of the force; and more than that, I’d be honored to be your guardian.” Obi-Wan said.
“If you’ll have me, of course.” Obi-Wan added, letting him know that he didn’t have to say yes if he didn’t want to. “If not, I completely understand. There’s no pressure to-oof!” Obi-Wan grunted as Anakin threw himself into his lap, wrapping his arms around him as he buried his little face into his shoulder.
“YES!!!” Anakin shouted, clinging to Ob-Wan for dear life as if he were afraid that this was a dream and he’d disappear the moment he let go. Obi-Wan smiled, gently rubbing Anakin's back and stroking his hair.
They stayed like that for a while; Anakin soaking up the warm affection he didn’t normally receive, and Obi-Wan enjoying the sweet moment as well.
He didn’t know the first thing about raising children, but this boy was worth learning for. So, he would do his absolute best.
“So, you’re my daddy now, right?” Anakin asked, looking up at Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan’s heart melted, holding in a coo as he cupped Anakin’s cheek. “Yes, that’s right. You may formally refer to me as Master, but fatherly terms are certainly acceptable as well.” He said.
Anakin beamed, swinging his legs. “Okay, daddy!” He exclaimed. Obi-Wan ended up fixing himself a plate as well so he could eat dinner with the boy. They chatted as they ate, both of them chuckling and getting to know each other better.
After they were finished eating, Obi-Wan led Anakin to his bedroom. Anakin immediately flopped down onto his bed, smiling up at the ceiling.
“I can’t believe I get my own comfy bed!” He exclaimed. Obi-Wan smiled, going to his dresser and picking out some clean clothes for the boy.
Master Qui-Gon had clearly prepared the boy’s room with whatever he needed. He knew exactly what he’d need of course, having been Obi-Wan’s master for many years.
“Let’s go run you a bath so you can get ready to sleep in that bed.” He said, taking Anakin’s hand and leading him into the bathroom area.
After starting the warm bath, Anakin ran over and grabbed a bottle of bubblebath. “Ooooh, look look look!” He exclaimed, carrying it over to the man. Obi-Wan knelt down and turned the bottle upside down, helping Anakin squeeze it out as well.
“There we go.” Obi-Wan said, setting the bottle aside after the bubbles began to form. Anakin had heard of bubble baths before, and he had always wanted to try one! Obi-Wan made a mental note to find the boy some bath toys.
After helping the boy undress and scooping him up from under his arms, he set him down in the bubbly bathtub and grabbed a clean wash cloth.
Grabbing the bottle of vanilla scented bathwash, he squirted some onto the cloth before lathering it up.
As he was cleaned, Anakin hummed to himself, clearly in his own little world. He had no idea that he was going to get a father that day, but he was certainly glad he had wandered onto that spaceship!
After he was finished bathing the boy, Obi-Wan used a clean, fluffy towel to dry him off before helping him get dressed.
“Arms up, little one.” He said, holding Anakin’s night shirt. After the boy was properly dressed in his pajamas, Obi-Wan carried him back into his bedroom.
He gently tucked the boy in, smiling as the boy relaxed against his pillow and looked up at him. “Comfy?” Obi-Wan asked. Anakin nodded. “Mmhm! Very comfy!” He exclaimed.
“Daddy, can you read me a story? I see there are books over there!” Anakin pointed to the bookshelf that had some of Obi-Wan’s favorite childhood stories that Qui-Gon used to read him before bed.
Obi-Wan walked over and grabbed one, sitting on the boy’s bed. “Alright, one story couldn’t hurt.” He smiled.
Anakin moved to sit in the man’s lap, his curious blue eyes looking at the pictures. “Oooh…” He said in awe, his little hand touching the page. Obi-Wan chuckled softly, beginning to read.
“Once upon a time…”
Qui-Gon looked at the clock as he finished up his cup of tea. Setting aside his reading glasses after putting a bookmark in the book he was reading, he walked down the hallway towards Anakin’s new room.
It had been a while since he had seen either Obi-Wan or Anakin, so he went to go check on them.
Quietly opening the door, he smiled at the sight he saw. His former padawan and his new grandson were fast asleep.
Anakin was snuggled against Obi-Wan’s chest, while the book Obi-Wan must’ve been reading before had fallen to the floor. Qui-Gon silently chuckled, shaking his head fondly at the two.
He grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around them, placing a soft kiss on top of both of their foreheads before turning the lamp off and closing the door behind him.
That day, Obi-Wan’s lifelong mission to protect and care for Anakin Skywalker began.
Oh, and Qui-Gon’s equally important mission to become the best grandfather in the galaxy began as well.