"Leaving hyperspace in three… two… one… now," a trooper nearby said professionally.

Anakin watched as the stars settled into place around the, no longer streaking by at hyperspeed. He eyed the planet in front of them, feeling slightly apprehensive. He was happy to be back, to be away from the front, but couldn't seem to settle his nerves. He didn't know what was going to happen when he and Obi-Wan went to see the council, and the thought that he'd have to give Obi-Wan over to the creche, or over to another Jedi, made him feel ill.

Even as a small boy he'd always felt that his master, his Obi-Wan, was his responsibility. On Tatooine he and his mother had taken care of each other, and when Obi-Wan had taken him on as an apprentice immediately after Master Qui-Gon's death, he'd transferred that care to the young man.

Obi-Wan had become his world, and seemingly his only support. The other children had been jealous of him, and jealous children (even Jedi) were cruel. The council had softened to him once he'd become a Padawan, but Anakin hadn't been able to shake his first impression of them, and always felt that he was being judged as unworthy. There had been many times in those first months where he'd come back to the rooms he shared with Obi-Wan fighting back tears, on the edge of wanting to quit, wanting to leave.

But Obi-Wan had always been there. Had always offered a soft smile and a cup of sweet tea (Anakin still didn't know how the other man could drink the bitter stuff without copious amounts of sugar). The older Jedi always seemed to shy away from physical affection, a trait Anakin had noticed and been bewildered by as an affectionate child, but would give Anakin a hug or hold his hand. Anakin bit his lip painfully, now able to infer from Obi-Wan's files that his Master's aversion to touch stemmed from his own tumultuous apprenticeship. How Obi-Wan had managed to be so warm and kind to Anakin, who'd not exactly been easy to deal with, he had no idea.

"Master?"

"Yes Snips?" He hummed, one hand absently caressing Obi-Wan's back through the sling. His was asleep again, having managed to stay awake for nearly two hours.

"Do you want me to set up a line to the council?" She asked, looking nervous about the idea. Anakin knew she was just as leary about what the council was going to say as he was.

They all were.

The 212th and 501st were both walking around on eggshells, watching both him and Obi-Wan constantly.

Only Obi-Wan seemed immune, eating begrudgingly when food was offered and happily being passed around into willing arms.

Anakin sighed harshly. "I'll do it," he finally said. "You take control of the bridge."

"Sure thing Skyguy," she said, glancing once more at Obi-Wan's sleep flushed face pressed up against Anakin's chest. One of his small hands was gripping the side of the wrap, the other was resting on Anakin's broad chest.

Anakin spun on his heel, walking through the halls of the Negotiator to the communications hub. By this point he was sure the council (and probably the rabid reporters on Coruscant) new that the Negotiator had returned, and would see his own Resolute drop out of hyperspace within the next several hours.

He entered the room in a foul mood, not bothering to release his volatile emotions into the Force. Obi-Wan was deeply asleep, it wasn't as though he was picking up on them.

He started to thumb in the codes for the High Council room, but stopped when the system beeped, indicating an incoming call.

He blinked, not recognizing the identification number, before pressing the button that could accept the call. "Skywalker here," he said.

A humanoid female appeared before him. "Knight Skywalker," she said in a calm voice. "And Master Kenobi as well, what a treat." She seemingly peered into the bundle for a long moment. "He'd looking well," she finally said. "Better than he was when he was actually this age," she finished.

Anakin blinked in surprise.

"I am Creche Master Jeila Erzu," the woman smiled. "I, along with a Healer Taln were in charge of Master Kenobi's care when he was first brought to the temple."

Anakin blinked again, before smiling at the woman in recognition. She was the one who had so painstakingly recorded Obi-Wan records when he was an infant and toddler, before he was released from her care to the Master Vant as an initiate.

"Master Erzu," he smiled, bowing as much as he could while holding a sleeping baby. "I'm pleased to meet you."

The woman snorted. "I'd hoped to have contacted you sooner," she said wryly. "Obi-Wan was a good baby, but certainly caused me a great deal of worry. I'm sure he's done the same for you."

Anakin flushed slightly. "Well…"

Erzu waved her hand. "Don't bother arguing," she scolded. "I work with toddlers, I always win."

Anakin snorted softly. He wasn't used to this much blunt honesty from Jedi Masters. He supposed one would develop a bit of a different personality after working with small, force sensitive, children for so long. And according to the records, Master Erzu had been doing so for nearly 70 years.

"Now Anakin," she continued with familiarity. "You are to report directly to the healers ward with Obi-Wan once you land," she ordered. "I, along with Masters Yoda and Master Che will meet you and discuss the best course of action, as well as give Obi-Wan a once over. Master Taln would love to be involved as well, but is stuck at the front."

Anakin felt his heart sink. While he got along relatively well with Yoda, he wasn't sure the old Jedi fully approved of him, and most likely would object to his caring for his old Master. Doing so spoke of attachment after all.

Erzu gave him a pitying look. "Don't look so worried," she scolded with a small smile, before glancing over to something out of Anakin's field of view. "I've got to go," she said. "See you shortly Knight Skywalker. Erzu out."

Anakin watched as her form flicked before disappearing entirely, body sagging in exhaustion. He closed his eyes, calming himself with the feeling of Obi-Wan's soft breaths against his collarbone.

He could do this.

###

Master Yoda climbed out of his hoverchair, summoning his gimmer stick with the force. The force leading to a private room in the healers ward was peaceful, with the barest hint of anxiety. So different than the normal feelings in the halls.

He took his time, basking in the feeling, walking slowly to be kind to his old joints.

This war was dragging on him. He'd seem more death and destruction in the past several years than he had in the previous 900 combined. He was tired - all the Jedi were. They were not meant for war, for constantly witnessing the death of their fellow Jedi and their men. He couldn't recall ever feeling so much darkness in the temple. So much sorrow and death.

Maybe this Force presence Skywalker had met had the right idea. Obi-Wan in particular seemed to be shouldering the burdens of the war, as he was wont to do. Even as a small child he'd been so serious, prone to overworking himself and taking on too much responsibility.

Yoda just wished he'd seen it sooner.

He shook himself, releasing the negative emotions into the force. There was nothing that could be done about the past. And didn't he always teach his students to focus on the present?

He paused outside the closed door to the private healers room, basking in the feeling of warmth and love that only a small child could cause. With a smile on his face he palmed open the door, letting himself into the room.

Mace was already there, though Yoda was sure he'd escaped from his own bed from the way he was listing to the side, holding a small baby in his arms. Skywalker, looking for all the world like an anxious parent, was staring at the two in rapt attention, for once not glaring at Mace.

Yoda raised an eyebrow. Getting those two in a room together without arguing was a minor miracle.

"Master Yoda," Creche Master Erzu said, a small smile on her unlined face. She glanced down at him, before resuming her observations of the small form in Mace's arms. "How are you?"

Yoda snorted, climbing onto one of the chairs in the room. "Fine, I am youngling," he replied in a teasing manner. At nearly 500 years old, there weren't many who could call Jeila Erzu youngling. It had become somewhat of a joke between them.

"Old man," she replied with a smirk.

From her position perched on the arm of the rooms other chair Master Che rolled her eyes. "Give Obi-Wan to someone else Windu," she ordered instead of commenting on the two ancient Jedi's antics. "Before you fall over. Or drop him."

Yoda watched as his friend shot a dark glare at the head healer, before sighing in annoyance, passing the infant back to Skywalker's waiting arms. Skywalker looked relieved. And also more at peace then Yoda had seen in a long time. Apparently being able to take care of his old master was helping him get a handle on his more volatile emotions. Interesting.

"Hello Obi-Wan," he said softly instead of commenting on the strange peace in the room. He hobbled over to Skywalker, who obligingly knelt down in front of him, his small Master still cradled expertly in strong arms.

Yoda allowed a soppy smile to cross his face as he took in the tiny human. Obi-Wan was apparently just waking up, his force signature saturated with contentedness, warmth, and no small amount of curiosity. He passed the two Jedi, hoisting himself onto the bed beside Mace with some help from the force. "Give him to me, you will," he ordered.

Skywalker blinked, biting his lip, before standing carefully. A thread of mental communication passed between the two, before Obi-Wan was being carefully lowered into his arms.

Looking down at the bright blue eyes and soft pink cheeks, Yoda let out a chuckle. "Looking well you are Obi-Wan," he said.

Obi-Wan huffed out a small snort, amusement saturating his Force signature. You're just pleased someone's smaller than you, came the sarcastic thought.

Yoda laughed aloud. "Perhaps," he admitted, glad to see the young one's snark hadn't left him. He inspected his friend with the force, pleased to feel that he was considerable more healthy than he'd been when he was actually an infant, but less pleased to sense his shattered shielding. He sighed internally. This poor child…

"Asked for you, the chancellor has," Yoda directed to Anakin, not taking his eyes off of the small human in his lap, letting his own force signature encircle him and keep him safe and content. After nearly a millenia of caring for children, he knew how to keep them calm and happy.

Skywalker immediately scowled, drawing a look of surprise from Mace. "Now?" he asked, sounding displeased.

Mace raised an eyebrow, and Yoda fought the urge to sigh. He'd given up hope for the two to ever get along. They were too much alike.

"From what I'd heard, Chancellor Palpatine is your best friend," Mace said, barely keeping the sarcasm from his tone.

Skywalker shot him a glare, but didn't reply.

Yoda nodded. "Now, yes, yes," he replied. "Commed the council he did, when get in contact with you he could not."

Skywalker blushed. "Obi-Wan was asleep, and I couldn't grab my comm without waking him," he explained.

Mace snorted, and even Master Che cracked a smile.

Erzu laughed out loud from where she was scanning Obi-Wan's records. "Speaking from personal experience," she chucked. "You made the right call. Never wake a sleeping baby."

Yoda chuckled, looking back down at Obi-Wan, who was ignoring the conversation in favour of trying to grab Yoda's ears. "Stay with us, Obi-Wan will." Yoda declared.

Skywalker looking over at him with a strange look on his face. "Well, yes," he said, as though that was obvious. Yoda exchanged a look with Mace. "I don't exactly want him at the senate."

Master Che shook her head. "That I can agree with," she said.

Master Erzu nodded, not bothering to look up from her data pad. "I'll stay with Obi-Wan," she said, "at least until my clan comes back from their day trip. I don't think exposing him to a group of toddlers is the best idea at the moment."

Anakin frowned, a confused look in his eyes. Mace mirrored the expression.

"His immune system won't be up to it," Master Che explained, noticing the confused looks. Skywalker's eyes widened in panic.

"Also," Erzu cut in. "Thirty toddlers can be terrifying to an adult. I wouldn't want to subject a baby to that. Or anyone, really."

Yoda chortled. "Correct, you are." He moved Obi-Wan to a more comfortable position in his lap. "Take him to my quarters, I will," he declared. Skywalker looked like he was going to object, and Yoda held up a hand. "Report to the senate, and meet with Master Erzu and Che. Then take him back you will."

Skywalker visibly relaxed, as did the force around him. Mace watched him carefully, a studious look on his dark face.

"Thank you, Masters," he said, bowing. He came over to Yoda then, caressing one hand over the downy hair on Obi-Wan's scalp. Obi-Wan gave him a content look, and Yoda felt the force flare between the two men again.

The tall knight straightened. "Masters," he said bowing formally, before sweeping out of the room, his cloak flaring behind him dramatically.

Once the door closed Mace finally allowed himself to let out a snort. "He missed his calling as a holo vid actor," he drawled, before paling dramatically when Che turned to stare at him. "What?"

She raised an elegant eyebrow. Despite himself, Yoda felt a small amount of pity for his friend.

"Back to bed with you," she scolded. "You can go to your quarters is you want, but I fully expect you to check in with me tomorrow morning," she finished, the threat clear in her voice.

Mace nodded, unwilling to argue with the healer. In the corner, Erzu laughed unashamedly, shaking her head in amusement.

Mace stood unsteadily, though his steps grew more sure as he approached Yoda and Obi-Wan. "We'll figure this out my friend," he rumbled, stroking a broad hand over Obi-Wan's head as Skywalker had done. Obi-Wan stared up at him with expressive eyes, the colour shifting from blue to green and back again. Not for the first time Yoda wondered if he had some other species of humanoid mixed in. His eyes were far to unique to be full human. He shook the thought from his mind. It wasn't important.

He nodded to Mace, who left the room far less dramatically than Skywalker had. Che muttered something under her breath, before settling herself on the free chair. Jeila put her data pad down, and leaned forwards with her elbows on her knees, fingers steepled under his chin. Yoda wondered if Mace learned the motion from her during his time in the creche.

"Obi-Wan," she started, addressing the baby directly. Yoda shifted him in his lap so he could see the two women. "You are, overall, healthier right now then you were as an actual infant."

"Not that that's hard," Che interrupted, still scanning his files.

"And we want to keep it that way," Jeila continued as though Master Che had not spoken. "However, we will face some difficulties."

A sense of curiosity came from Obi-Wan. Yoda echoed the sentiment.

"You currently have the immune system of an infant of approximately five weeks old," Che explained, staring intently at the baby. "For all that you are actually three months old in body." She grimaced. "Your status as a premature baby is not on your side."

Jeila jabbed a long finger on the arm of her chair. "We will need to limit your exposure to pathogens," she explained. "And you need to tell someone the moment you feel different in anyway."

Obi-Wan stared at her.

"Yes," she snapped, her glare showing how she kept control over thirty toddlers at a time. "In any way. If you're more tired than normal, hungrier, less hungry, colder, warmer, anything. You could very well end up back in the halls if you get even the slightest bit ill," she finished. "Your body will not be able to handle it right now Obi-Wan.

"Master Erzu is correct," Master Che cut in, giving Obi-Wan her best healer's glare. One that she seemed to reserve for him and Skywalker, and occasionally Mace. "Your lungs will not be able to handle even a small virus, as they were not fully developed at birth. From your files, they were not at full strength until you were over a year. And that's ignoring your immune system and size. You're approximately thirteen weeks old, but the size of a child much younger. You have to tell people when something's wrong."

"A suggestion, I have," Yoda cut in, unwilling to let the two women continue. He could sense Obi-Wan's emotional state becoming more fragile, and felt the need to protect him. "Beneficial it will be to both you and your former Padawan it will be, Master Kenobi."

###

Anakin forced himself to take a deep breath, forcing the scowl from his face. Normally he would love to meet with his friend, but right now it was physically painful to be away from Obi-Wan. He was so vulnerable right now, and who knows what Mace and Yoda were telling him.

He bit his lip.

The Chancellor didn't know, and he didn't deserve Anakin's anger.

He pushed open the door after nodding to Mas Amedda, forcing a smile onto his face. "Chancellor!"

"Anakin, my boy!" Palpatine stood up at his desk, walking around it to grasp Anakin's hand in both of his own. "I was beginning to think you hadn't got my message."

Anakin smiled at the older man. "I wasn't in a position to check my comm," he replied diplomatically, settling into the comfortable chair in front to the chancellor's dest as the other man released him and sat back down.

"Ah, not to worry," Palpatine said with a wave of his lined hand. "I know you're busy."

"Not as busy as you I'd imagine," Anakin replied with a smile. He still felt anxious to be away from Obi-Wan, but was glad to see his friend. Palpatine had mentioned offhand before that he didn't have many friends, as most people wanted something from him and weren't sincere. Anakin felt sorry for the old man. For all their faults, Anakin had many friends in the Jedi and now with his troopers as well.

"Oh, I don't know about that!" Palpatine chucked. "Now, how have you been?"

Anakin forced himself to grin. "I've been good," he replied, mostly honest. "Glad to be back from the front."

Palpatine made a sound of agreement. "I admit, I'm a little surprised you're back," he said. "And Master Kenobi too! You haven't both been back at the same time in, well, months," he continued, his face taking on a look of worry. "Is everything alright Anakin?"

Anakin fought the urge to frown. He knew the older man was simply curious and concerned on his behalf, but for some reason he didn't feel like he should share what happened to Obi-Wan with him. Palpatine liked Obi-Wan, he knew that, but also didn't think the other man was open enough with Anakin, and was too cold.

At one time Anakin would have agreed with him, but now he knew better. Obi-Wan felt just as strongly as he did.

"The council just felt we both needed a break," Anakin said instead, telling himself he wasn't technically lying. They were going to be on a break while on Coruscant. "We've both been at the front for a long time."

Palpatine stared at him for a moment, a strange expression briefly passing over his face. Anakin fought to place it, before dismissing it from his mind when he started speaking again.

"And," the Chancellor said with a mischievous lilt to his voice, "you'll be able to see your wife in person."

Anakin blushed. In all honestly, seeing Padme wasn't the highest thing on his list of priorities for a change. Obi-Wan came first right now, and she knew it, even encouraged it. He'd taken to sending photos of the baby on their secured channel, much to her joy. She was, Anakin knew, desperate to see the both of them, but wanted Obi-Wan's fragile physical and mental health to come first.

Anakin (and Obi-Wan) really didn't deserve her.

"That I'm definitely looking forwards to," he answered warmly and honestly.

Palpatine laughed, a warm delighted sound, and opened his mouth to speak again, only to be cut off by Anakin's comm.

"Kark, sorry," Anakin apologised, taking out the device to see who was calling him. His heart sunk in his chest. Master Yoda.

Was something the matter with Obi-Wan? He'd not felt anything through their bond, but it was mostly dormant with the distance between them.

"...akin?"

Anakin shook himself. "I'm so sorry," he said again. "But I have to go."

Palpatine gave him a sad, but understanding look. "Of course, my boy," he said immediately. "Duty calls. With how much they rely on you, one would think a council seat is in your future."

Anakin hummed as he stood, not really listening to the man as they both stood. He knew he was being rude, but didn't care. "I'll speak to you soon," Anakin promised, clasping his friend on the shoulder.

"Take care my boy," Palpatine said, leading him over to the door. Anakin stepped through, walking as quickly as he could without seeming rude through the senate building.

Back in his chambers Darth Sidious threw a glass figurine, not feeling any satisfaction when it shattered when it impacted the wall. Skywalker hadn't been this distant from him in years! Not since he'd started to drive a wedge in his mental bond with that damn Kenobi.

Even thinking his name made his lip curl in disgust.

Obi-Wan Kenobi needed to be taken care of. And soon.

Thanks for reading, please let me know what you think :)