A/N: Please forgive the lateness and sorry if it's not as good as the last two chapters but please enjoy the last chapter if you can anyway. Please think of it as an early Christmas present to all of you! :) Merry Christmas!

Warning: This story contains spanking of a child by a father figure. If you don't enjoy stories like this then please read one that is more suited to you. There are plenty of stories out there folks just waiting to be read, if you don't care for mine.

Artwork: The cover image belongs to SparkleWolf7000 on DeviantArt. I don't own the image and I do have her permission to use it.

Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars or it's characters; I am simply borrowing them and will return them when I'm finished.

"But I do care little padawan." Qui-Gon said quietly, as he made himself visible to the child.

Qui-Gon watched as a thousand emotions flashed across his little apprentices facial features. Disbelief and fear being the most prominent of them all.

"Master Qui-Gon!" Obi-Wan squeaked in terror, as he leaped off of Owen's lap and backed away. "M-Master! I-I-I-"

"Easy, little one, you do not need to be afraid of me." said Qui-Gon said, holding up his hands in a placating manner.

"Please!" Obi-Wan gasped, as he tried to escape into the house. "I'm s-s-sorry! S-sorry!"

"Ben...you can at least have the courtesy to hear your master out." said Owen firmly as he grabbed a hold of the boy's shoulder and held him in place. But Obi-Wan was beyond reason and he fought fiercely against the hold that Owen had on him. He kicked Owen in the shins and bolted into the house. "Ben! Ben!" yelled Owen, as he nursed his bruised leg.

"I'll handle him from here, Sir. I thank you for finding him Mr-?"

"Owen, Owen Kenobi."

The two men shook hands briefly before Qui-Gon turned his eyes to the front door that his padawan had just burst through. He heaved a sigh and strode over to the door, but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder.

"Be gentle, Ben believes that you don't love him and he will require a lot of convincing." said Owen sadly.

"I understand. I am sorry, I will not fail your brother again." said Qui-Gon humbly.

"I do not believe that you have failed my brother at all, Master Qui-Gon."

Qui-Gon bowed his head at the man's words before walking into the house in search of Obi-Wan. It didn't take Qui-Gon long to locate his wayward padawan. He found the boy hiding in an upstairs bedroom, curled up in the corner, crying into his knees. It broke Qui-Gon's heart to see his little apprentice so hurt, so lost, so scared, scared of him. He reached out a hand to touch the boy, but Obi-Wan jerked away and cried.

"Please! Please don't beat me! I'm sorry! I'll never run away again, I promise! Just please don't beat me!"

Qui-Gon pulled his hand back as though he had been burned and a pained look crossed his face. He crouched down so that he was near eye level with the boy and asked little confusedly.

"Beat you? Why do you think that I would beat you Obi-Wan?"

"B-b-bec-cause all t-the older Pad-dawan's said that y-you would if I d-did something wrong!" howled Obi-Wan.

"What exactly did they say?"

"Just that! That you would beat me if I did something wrong! Please Master! I'll be good! I'm sorry! I'll never ever run off again!"

"Oh my little one, my scared lost little one..." Qui-Gon sighed, blinking back tears, "Listen to me Obi-Wan. I will never beat you, I love you too much to ever do that to you. Do you hear me?"

Obi-Wan drew his face up slowly from his damp knees and blinked at his Master in surprise.

"You...You l-love me?"

"Have you any doubts?" asked Qui-Gon, a little hurt.

"But t-t-th-then why? Why did you yell at me? You-you wouldn't let me explain!" shouted Obi-Wan, before he clamped his hands over his mouth and looked up at his Master apprehensively, wondering if he was going to punished for his disrespect.

"A failing on my part, Obi-Wan, and I am sorry for it. I was frustrated and irritated, but that was no excuse to have taken it on you. I am sorry, forgive me..."

Again Obi-Wan simply blinked at Qui-Gon. His Master...loved him? Did that mean that Qui-Gon hadn't flown half-way across the galaxy just to punish him?

"You love me?" Obi-Wan whispered again.

"Of course I do, my little one. I am sorry that I don't always show it, but I truely do." said Qui-Gon, as he opened his arms in invitation.

Obi-Wan didn't need to be told twice and he threw himself into his masters arms and buried his face in the man's tunic, sobs ripping themselves from the little boys mouth. Qui-Gon wrapped his arms around the child and allowed him to cry and soak up the soft nonsense words that he kept whispering the child's ear. They stayed that way for several minutes before Qui-Gon pulled away and said in a sterner voice than before.

"Now I will be the first to admit that I too was in the wrong in the situation, your behavior, my young padawan, has been acceptable. And as such your punishment-"

"P-p-punishment?" Obi-Wan spluttered. B-b-but! Y-you said that you l-loved me!" cried Obi-Wan.

"And I do, Obi-Wan. I love you too much to allow you get away with such behavior. Therefore I am going to spank you." said Qui-Gon.

"You don't love me then! My brother wouldn't do that! My brother loves me!" sobbed Obi-Wan, pushing Qui-Gon away as he ran out of the room.

Qui-Gon sighed and followed Obi-Wan into the living room, where he found the boy curled up in Owen's lap, sobbing. He leaned against the doorframe and listened as Owen tried to calm the little boy down.

"You were wrong! He doesn't love me at all! H-he said he w-w-was going to-to..."

"Punish you? Spank you?" said Owen "I hope he does because if he doesn't then I will."

"W-what?" Obi-Wan gulped as he raised his face from Owen's damp shirt.

"Listen to me Ben. Just because Master Qui-Gon is going to spank you doesn't mean that he doesn't love you, it doesn't mean I don't love you. The contrary in fact. It means that he cares enough to correct you." seeing Obi-Wan looking at him confusedly, Owen sighed and asked, "Do you know what punishment means?"

"Being hit by someone else." answered Obi-Wan tearfully.

"No Ben, no. That's not what it means. Punishment is the consequence of wrong-doing. That is what a spanking is, punishment. Punishment doesn't necessarily mean a spanking, Ben, it can be anything that will teach you not to do bad things, to help make you into a better person and a better Jedi. It means that somebody cares about you and loves you enough to make sure that you grow up to be the good person that everyone knows is there. Don't you want that Ben?"

"...Y-yes..."

"And you think that Qui-Gon wouldn't know that?"

"...Yes..."

"So do you think that Master Qui-Gon deserved the worry and fright of you leaving?"

"...No." Obi-Wan's voice was no louder than a whisper.

"Then would you not say that it is just that you be held accountable for your wrong-doing?"

Obi-Wan nodded silently and felt fresh tears sting his eyes. He was beyond remorseful and his sense of justice had been pricked so he bravely slid from the safety of his brother's lap and stood before Qui-Gon, albeit a little teary-eyed, and said clearly,

"I'm sorry Master...I'm ready to face my punishment."

Qui-Gon gave his padawan a small nod and offered his hand to the boy.

"My bedroom is just down the hall, Master Qui-Gon. Feel free to use it as long as necessary."

"My thanks. Truely." said Qui-Gon sincerely as he left the room with his padawan in tow.

Obi-Wan stood nervously by the door as his Master seated himself on Owen's large bed. He felt a jolt of fright when Qui-Gon motioned him over, but bravely swallowed as much of the fear as he could and tried to act like the brave Jedi he wanted to be, crossing the room to stand before his Master. Qui-Gon, not wanting to drag this out any longer for his little one, quickly drew Obi-Wan over his knee. He heard Obi-Wan's frightened gasp as the boy's stomach connected with his knees. Qui-Gon sighed and gently laid a hand on the little boy's back and began to rub it. Wanting to make sure that the child did indeed know exactly why he was in this position Qui-Gon asked sternly.

"Tell me Obi-Wan, why are you getting this spanking?"

"Because I was being frustrating with my training, I ran away, I scared you, and I disappointed you." Obi-Wan whispered.

"Not exactly, little one. You are only being spanked because you were reckless and ran away from the Temple and put yourself at risk. You were not being frustrating with your training at all, just because I was frustrated that doesn't mean it was because of you. And I am not disappointed in you either Obi-Wan, I will never be disappointed in you, I may wish you had made better choices, and I may have have to teach you to make better choices, but I will never be disappointed in you. And while yes you did scare me that's not really something that you need to be punished for. Do you understand me Obi-Wan?"

Obi-Wan burst into tears and just nodded his head.

"I'm sorry Obi-Wan, I didn't hear you."

"Y-y-yes Master! I understand!"

"Good then let's not belabor this any longer." said Qui-Gon as he raised his hand above the little unturned backside before him.

Obi-Wan squeezed his eyes shut as he felt his master's hand rise in the air. But it never came down. Qbi-Wan opened his eyes and turned a little to see his master. He was met with a stern but somewhat questioning glare. The little boy, unsure of what he had done that had angered his Master, started spewing apologies in the hopes that it would appease Qui-Gon.

"Obi-Wan that is enough." said Qui-Gon quietly. "I am not angry with you. Just a little curious as to why you think that you need to mentally shield yourself from me."

Qui-Gon was surprised when his young padawan suddenly started fighting and bucking to try and get off of his lap. Pressing down a little more firmly, Qui-Gon brought his hand down sharply across Obi-Wan's small backside.

"That is enough, Obi-Wan. Stop struggling and remove your shields." said Qui-Gon sternly. He was surprised and impressed that his little padawan actually knew how to put up a mental shield, but foresaw how that little skill of Obi-Wan's could become troublesome in the future. Bringing his hand down for the second time with a little more force, he said, "Obi-Wan there is nothing you need to hide from me. Not now, not ever, my young apprentice now remove your shields."

"B-Bu-u-t, you-you'll be up-upset at m-m-me!" the child cried.

"I sincerely doubt that, though if your shields remain up, then I will most certainly be upset with you."

"I-I always p-put up a shield when I'm being punished. I know I'm n-n-no-not supposed to..."

"Then why do you? Is it because you are afraid?"

Obi-Wan gasped and then went resolutely silent and Qui-Gon just shrugged and began the child's punishment in earnest, falling into a steady rhythm of swats. After a moment had passed he had to admit that Obi-Wan was doing an excellent job with the silent treatment, until he caught sight of What Obi-Wan was doing. He sighed and stopped and bent down, pulling Obi-Wan's bloody lip from his teeth before saying firmly as he continued with his onslaught on Obi-Wan's backside.

"There will be none of that Obi-Wan. I will not have you hurting yourself."

"As if you cared about that! You're the one who's h-hitting me!" spat Obi-wan as he began to squirm around.

"Enough of your insolence, my young padawan! Stop fighting me. Now, am I hitting you?"

"Yes!" snapped Obi-Wan, trying to sound angry through his tears.

"Am I?"

"Yes..."Obi-Wan persisted, though in a defeated tone.

"Am I?" Qui-Gon repeated.

Obi-Wan burst into fresh tears and whispered quietly.

"N-No..."

"Then what am I doing?"

"P-p-punishing me...Because I-I'm b-bad...I'm a bad Jedi..." Obi-Wan sobbed, going limp over his masters lap.

Qui-Gon was surprised just how quickly Obi-Wan's defiance turned to self deprecation. It was one of the many traits that he was just now learning his padawan possessed. Well on that score at least he could settle Obi-Wan's mind.

"No Obi-Wan, you are not a bad Jedi. You are a good little Jedi who has made a mistake and is being corrected for making that mistake. Do you understand?"

"Yes Mast-Ahhh!"

It was the first honest cry so far that had come from the boy and he now began to cry. Tears began to run down his face. Qui-Gon knew that they were almost finished and had to admit, he was glad for it. He hated having to punish any of his padawans.

"Good, and do you understand that there is nothing that you need to hide from me?" asked Qui-Gon, laying down another solid spank. Obi-Wan cried out and just nodded. Qui-Gon sighed and gave the boy another hard spank. "Verbal response, please, my padawan."

"Y-yes M-M-Master."

"Then answer me, why do you put up a shield when you are being punished at the Temple? Are you afraid?" Obi-Wan nodded again, but this time Qui-Gon let it slide. "Why?"

It was a simple enough question. And Obi-Wan wanted to tell his master but he was afraid that Qui-Gon would see him as weak and be disappointed, and Force knew that he had already disappointed the man enough. Still the child obeyed and lowered his mental shields, though remained silent. Qui-Gon sensed his padawan's hesitation, so he slowed his swats and repeated gently,

"There is nothing you need to hide from me."

"B-because, the Masters are so cold and harsh a-a-and I'm so small...I didn't think that I could handle it...And I'm a Jedi I should handle everything and I'm not supposed to cry! And then when I do they call me weak and that my behavior is unbecoming of a Jedi and that they were disappointed and now you'll be disappointed b-b-be-be-cause I'm weak and unjedi like!" Obi-Wan bawled.

Qui-Gon ceased Obi-Wan's spanking immediately and pulled the boy into his arms. Obi-wan buried his face in his tunic and started to sob. Qui-Gon let the boy cry for a minute before pulling away so that he could see the child's face. Obi-Wan was a sorry sight. Tears still ran down his cheeks from his red puffy eyes.

"Listen to me, Obi-Wan, you are just about anything but disappointing, weak, and as you put it, 'unjedi like'. I foresee you becoming an even better Jedi than myself. You are a young padawan who still needs time to adjust to being a Jedi, and that's fine, I'm here to help you with that. All I ask you talk to me instead of running off like you did, understood?"

"Yes, Master."

"Good, because I don't want to hear any more self-deprecation coming out of your mouth."

"Master, what does self deprecation mean?" asked Obi-Wan.

"It means, selling yourself short, thinking that you are less worthy than you really are. Or that you are not good enough, or disappointing."

"Oh...That does come out of my mouth a lot doesn't it...?"

Qui-Gon laughed .

"Yes little one it does, so lets try to keep it to a minimum shall we?"

Obi-Wan nodded his head before whispering,

"Master?"

"Yes?"

"May I go? I have something I want to say to Owen."

Qui-Gon smiled at the boy.

"Of course you can."

Qui-Gon wanted to laugh at the stiff way that Obi-Wan was walking. He was taking small ginger, steps forward as if he was trying to keep his backside from moving but so much. He stifled his laughter however though Obi-Wan's serious little face was enough to make him want to laugh even more. He followed Obi-Wan into the living room and watched as the boy walked up to Owen and said quietly.

"I'm sorry, brother...I'm sorry that I caused you trouble and that I disappointed our family and-"

"Obi-Wan what did I just say about self deprecation?" Qui-Gon sighed.

"I-I mean I'm sorry that my actions disappointed the family and that I'm sorry I'm bad and-"

"Obi-Wan."

"I-I mean...I just...I'm sorry Brother..."

"It's alright Ben." said Owen scooping the boy and settling him down on his lap. "Everything's forgiven now." Owen smiled and whispered in Obi-Wan's ear. "I've missed you so much little brother."

Obi-Wan burst into tears and clung to the man's neck, crying himself out, until the sobs subsided and the child fell into quiet hiccuping. Both men laughed as one of Obi-Wan's hiccups turned into a yawn, that was soon followed by another. His eyes dropped and he was vaguely aware that someone had picked him up from his brother's lap and was carrying him to another room. He was lowered down and his head touched a pillow. Obi-Wan half heard his master saying something about getting some rest and he felt Qui-Gon turn away. The little boy shot a hand out and latched ahold of the man's tunic.

"Please don't go Master..."

Qui-Gon smiled and sat down on the bed beside the boy and gently stroked his hair.

"I'll stay as long as you like."

"Can w'stay here, for few days?" slurred Obi-Wan sleepily.

"Well since we are here, I suppose that we could. It could be time to 'train' you." Qui-Gon laughed.

"Thank you Master, thanks...I love you..." Obi-Wan sighed before drifting off to sleep.

Qui-Gon bent down and kissed Obi-Wan's head relishing the peace and trust that he felt through their weak Force bond.

"Sleep well my little lost padawan...I love you too."

A/N: I hope that you enjoyed it and thank you all for waiting and for all the reviews, follows, and favorites! Thank you all and I hope that all of you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!