The Opening Day ceremonies were impossibly long and drawn out and Ben Kenobi suppressed the urge to fidget only with great difficulty.  At the rate things were proceeding, he and Trelig would be in the Senate Chambers for a week.

"We acknowledge and welcome the Senator from Melidann,"  Chancellor Valorum intoned and, obedient to his briefing, Ben got to his feet and bowed, first to Valorum, then to his fellow senators, and, finally, to the ambassadorial liaisons flanking Valorum on the right.   Next to him his aid, Trelig, did the same.  Both men sank into their seats with audible sighs of relief.  It couldn't possibly last much longer, these welcoming formalities.  Melidann, as one of the newest members of the Republic, had been recognized after more senior systems and they must be close to the end.  Just two more fledgling systems were recognized after Melidann and Ben began to think he might live through the reception that was sure to follow.

"Before we conclude, I would like to introduce to you all the new diplomatic attache to the Chancellery, Qui-Gon Jinn."  Valorum turned, smiling, to a tall figure standing just behind him on the platform.  Ben sat up straighter and found he was having difficulty breathing. 

"Most of you already know Ambassador Jinn, but his appointment as the Chancellery's own diplomatic attache is new.  His responsibilities will be wide-ranging."

There was more, but Ben was no longer listening.

What, he wondered, was one of the most respected Jedi Masters in the Galaxy doing here, in the Republic Senate, serving as diplomatic attache to Chancellor Valorum?  Dimly, an analytic part of him cataloged the fact that Qui-Gon was not dressed in Jedi robes – his garb was sober enough in hue, but it bore no resemblance to the beige and brown that Ben remembered so well. 

Trel leaned forward and whispered in his ear "That's what I was trying to tell you before we left home."

Ben didn't turn his head.  "Ah.  Cesli was right – I don't listen to other people well enough."

"You didn't know he'd left the Order?"  Trel sounded surprised.

Ben shook his head infinitesimally.  "You know I've not kept up with...those matters.  Too much pressing at home and besides..."  He trailed off and Trel nodded.  His aide knew all too well what went unsaid. 

Before he leaned back once more, Trel murmured "It is rumored he's only retired, that this is a temporary sabbatical of sorts.  Of course, that's only the rumor I heard."

"Indeed."  Ben's breathing and heart rate were getting back under control. 

He chanced another glance in the direction of the Chancellor's platform and found himself staring straight into deep blue eyes.  Familiar blue eyes.  Qui-Gon's eyes.  For a moment energy flared between them, as filmy and insubstantial as a spider's web, then the Chancellor said something to Qui-Gon and eye contact was broken, the connection with it.  Ben wasn't sure if he'd imagined it or not. 

It was absurd really, he hadn't talked to him since he was 15, and hadn't so much as seen a holovid of the other man in the almost 10 years.  Contact had ceased after his marriage to Cesli.  This was absurd.  Totally ridiculous to feel this sort of reaction.  His body was not listening however, and his heart rate had gone to hell again. 
 
 
 

Dasan Kenobi lay on her bed, pretending to be asleep.  On the other side of the room, her sister, Jahni, also pretended to sleep.  Even when they were little -- and they were seven years old now, and therefore not little any longer, in their opinion, they were quite good at it -- good enough to fool their nurse, Anke, time after time.  Or, perhaps, Anke was simply willing to turn a blind eye.  She was quite old now and more than a little desirous of comfort.  The twins were a handful, a fact they knew and relished with pride. 

They were waiting for their father to return from the Senate, determined not to sleep and therefore miss seeing him at all this day. 

//Das, I'm tired.  Do you think he will be much longer?"//

"No, silly,"  Dasan answered the voice in her head aloud. 

//If you talk, Anke will be in here in a snit, and we'll not see Papa.//

"Poodoo, Jahni, she's snoring away.  If you listened more carefully, you'd know that."

"Poodoo yourself, Das and you know Papa doesn't want us using language like that."  Jahan snapped.  "Do you think He was there as well?"

"Trel thought it likely.  I heard him tell Anke so."  Das said it loftily, but neither girl could suppress a shiver, not altogether unpleasant, at the thought of the man they'd long ago simply christened "He" or "Him."  The mystery figure from their father's past, often talked of by their Papa, just as often decried by their Mother, and fought over between their parents, most often late at night when they didn't think the girls would hear.  The twins heard most everything that went on in their home, with or without their parents' knowledge.  "He said it was a good thing Mother wasn't alive to see Papa elected to the Senate, or there would be hell to pay."

"I bet Anke punched him again."

"Yes, but you know Trel is right.  Jahni - I don't miss her, do you?"  Das' voice had gone from confident to soft and sad in an instant.  Her sister slipped out  of bed and pattered over to climb in bed with her.   "Isn't that wrong?"

"I don't either, and I don't think it's wrong.  She was too unhappy to be with us."

"Don't tell Papa, he'd be even sadder."

"Silly,"  Jahni hugged her sister tighter, "as if I would."
 
 
 

Obi-Wan!"

Ben started, then turned slowly, finding himself face to face with a Jedi Knight he felt he should recognize... Memory rescued him by supplying the name.  "Anakin.  How are you?"

The tall blond man grinned.  "Fine - congratulations,
Senator."

Ben managed a laugh.  "Cut the crap, Ani.  When were you knighted?"

"10 years now, Master Mace and I still work together -- I actually got to like the Council and the politics.  Yes, you may well look surprised."

Ben was.  Anakin Skywalker had been a yearmate of his and a good friend...before Melidann.  He remembered a young boy who swore he'd never stay put in the Temple and who couldn't understand how the Jedi on the Council could bear being cooped up on Coruscant.  "What happened?"

Ani's smile faded a bit.  "One or two missions off-world that were one or two missions too many, Obi.  I'll tell you about them sometime.  Mace picked me as his Padawan after Master Teale was killed two years after you left.  By then I was ready to appreciate the Temple a bit more."

"I always thought that Qui...Master Jinn might take you." 

"You haven't kept up, have you?"

Irritated, Ben drained his wine glass in one gulp and shrugged.  "Everyone keeps saying that.  What did I miss?"

"Master Jinn returned from Melidann and I hear he actually tried to leave the Order, Obi.  Only, well, Master Yoda apparently talked him out of that.  But he refused to take on another Padawan.  He was teaching at the Academy and doing the occasional solo mission before this appointment to the Supreme Chancellor's Office came along."

Ben was silent, trying to assimilate the information.  "He never mentioned any of that."

"He stayed in contact with you?  Master Mace said he thought he would."

"Yes.  For a while.  I didn't hear from him after I married.  I just assumed he'd taken on another Padawan."

"No.  Despite the Council's best efforts to persuade him otherwise.  A friend on the Chancellor's staff tells me that Master Jinn used the Chancellor's request for him as a means of levering the Council into accepting his resignation from the Order."

Ben absently snagged another glass of wine off the tray of a passing droid and tossed it back.  He was going to have a bad headache in the morning, but just now he needed the stimulant.  "Left the Order?  And what does the attache do, exactly?"

"Trouble-shoots, acts as a liaison between the Senate and Valorum."  Anakin shrugged.  "He was always a great negotiator and he's trusted by most of the Senators as being a fair and neutral party.  It should work very well.  Of course, Mace keeps saying it’s a damned waste, but..."  He tilted his head a bit to the side, gaze intent.  "The Force has its ways, doesn't it.  Look at you."

"Yes."

"Listen, I've got to circulate, but I wanted to ask you -- will you visit me at the Temple?  There are a lot of us in residence just now -- including Bant.  I know she'll want to see you."

Ben opened his mouth to refuse, pleading senatorial duties, and was horrified but somehow unsurprised to hear himself say "I'd like that."

"Good.  How about tomorrow?  Regular sessions don't start until the day after.  Oh, my sources tell me you've got two children, bring them along."

Ben smiled, a real smile that reached his eyes.  "My girls could outdo a Sith in terms of wreaking havoc, Ani."

"The Temple survived us, Obi, I doubt your little ones will make too much of a dent.  You'll bring them too?"
 

Nothing surprised him at this point.  "All right.  But don't say I didn't warn you."

"Good.  You can use one of the Senatorial shuttles -- I'll meet you at the landing pad."  He moved off.

"Oh, and Ani,"  Ben called after his friend, feeling foolish but determined. 

Ani turned back to him, smiling, an eyebrow raised in question.  "What?"

"I've been plain Ben Kenobi for 13 years, if you could call me that, please?"

The eyebrow rose a bit higher, but Ani only said, mildly, "I'm sure I can get used to that.  Ben."
 
 

Qui-Gon Jinn sighed as he pulled the tie-back out of his hair and felt the heavy weight of it fall forward, swirling well past his shoulders.  He really should get it cut, he thought absently.  Later.  It could go on his schedule with so many other things he - currently - had no time for.  Vacations, study, meditation.  With efficient speed he discarded the formal robes he'd been wearing for the better part of 17 hours.  Senate Opening Day Ceremonies got longer and more elaborate with each passing year, but this was the first time he'd been forced by circumstances to stay for the whole of the affair.   Just another part of the price of accepting Valorum's job offer, and at least it was only once each standard year. 

Slipping into a worn pair of sleep pants he padded out of the bedroom and headed toward the kitchen of his suite in the Chancellery Tower.  The layout of the rooms was not much different from those he'd occupied for so many years at the Temple; but the rooms themselves were more luxurious than anything the former Jedi Master was used to.  The silvery gray carpeting beneath his bare feet was plush and so thick it was like walking on sponges.  He rather liked it.

In the kitchen, he automatically reached for a canister holding Aldarian sweet tea and studied it absently as he waited for water to boil.  Obi-Wan had always loved the brew and even now, after so many years, he still kept it on hand, had grown to prefer it himself. 

Obi-Wan.  Seeing him today had been more of a shock than Qui-Gon had been expecting.  The last time they'd spoken, Obi-Wan Kenobi, his former apprentice, had been a youth of 15, stiff and uncomfortable as he'd told Qui-Gon of his impending marriage to one of the Young, a girl named Cesli.  He hadn't gone into why he was marrying her and Qui-Gon had been too proud to ask such a question.  It was the last direct contact they had, although the Jedi are everywhere and it had been fairly easy to keep track of Obi-Wan's life.   Marriage, formation of the joint council of Elders and Young, keeping each side from exacting vengeance on the other:  the next 13 years of Obi-Wan's existence had been jam-packed.  He'd acquitted himself well; more than well.  And now, he was here, on Coruscant, the elected Senatorial representative of his adopted homeworld. 

The grave, dignified man who had risen to accept his place in the Senate bore little resemblance to the gangly youth Qui-Gon remembered so well.  The few, rather grainy holovids that Qui-Gon had seen over the years did his former apprentice no justice at all. 

Qui-Gon spooned tea into a small ceramic pot and poured boiling water over the leaves.  While it steeped, he thought about his reaction earlier today, when the Senator from Melidann was introduced.  He had thought all remnants of their training bond severed and buried, but as soon as Senator Kenobi rose to acknowledge his peers in the Senate, the Chancellor, and assorted dignitaries, Qui-Gon felt a faint, but familiar thrum in the Force.  Well-remembered green eyes met his and he'd known Obi-Wan also was feeling the faint snap and tingle along the bond.  Then the Chancellor had asked him a question.  He'd had to fight the urge to go on staring into the Melidannn Senator's eyes, had to force himself to break the contact off before his reluctance to do so to answer Valorum, became embarrassingly obvious to everyone. 

He poured a mug of tea and padded into the living area, curling up on the couch, then snagged a datapad from the end table.  Qui-Gon reviewed his schedule for the next two weeks with rather tired eyes.  Welcoming formalities, receptions and getting the freshman senators' collective feet wet would take up much of the Chancellor's time - and his - since Val had already assigned him to liase between two of the more important Senatorial committees.  Part of getting the new politicians' feet wet involved their appointments to serve on a committee or committees.  Idly, he found himself wondering where Obi-Wan would be assigned.  With his early Jedi training, Force sensitivity and experience negotiating the political storms on Melidann, Senator Kenobi would be a natural choice for the Chancellor's pet committee, the inoffensive, neutral and redundant sounding Senate Oversight Committee for Oversight.  In reality, the Oversight Committee kept an eye on certain ex-officio happenings that currently troubled the serene public face of the Republic.  It was Qui-Gon's chief purpose in joining the Chancellery.   bit of his tiredness receded as he contemplated what it would be like to work with Obi-Wan again...and just as quickly, Qui-Gon stamped it down.  It was far more likely that, as a freshman representative from a relatively minor and very new member of the Republic, Obi-Wan Kenobi would end up on one of those exciting committees that are the bane of freshman politicians anywhere - say "Republic Beautification Policies" or "Parks and Wildlife Reclamation."

In any event, he, Qui-Gon, had better things to do than wonder what kind of assignment his former Padawan would receive.  He bent his head over the datapad, concentrating on the information at hand and found, with some judicious pruning, surprisingly, if he wanted it, he had a free day tomorrow.  There were several receptions and minor meetings, but nothing he couldn't bow out of, should he wish.  This might be a good time to pay his former Master a visit.  Perhaps the quiet surroundings of the Jedi Temple would help him to sort out this strange mass of feelings that seeing Obi-Wan had roused.  He debated only a moment, and then punched in several codes that would cement the free time in his schedule. 
 
 
 

"Papa!"

Ben halted his efforts to tiptoe quietly out of his daughters' room and gave in to the inevitable.  He walked back to the bed both girls had curled up in and turned on the bedside lamp.  "You should be asleep.  Its nearly 3rd hour."

"We couldn't sleep until we heard about your day."  Das explained patiently. 

Ben hid a smile; it was obvious from her tone that he was being the totally clueless father yet again.  "Of course.  Well, it was very long and rather boring."

Jahni frowned.  "Didn't you get to see the Supreme Chancellor?"

"From a great distance."

Das asked, "Did you see Him?"

For a moment Ben was puzzled, then he realized who she was referring to.  "Qui-Gon?  Yes, I did.  Also from a great distance.  He works with the Chancellor now."

Jahni and Das' eyes went round.  "But he's a Jedi!"

"Not any longer, I'm told."

Jahni was clearly very unhappy about this development.  "But, I don't understand." 

Ben smoothed her tousled hair back from her forehead with gentle fingers.  "What don't you understand, Sha'rida?"

"Why isn't he a Jedi any longer?"

"Because he works for the Chancellor now.  It just happened some months ago.  I also,"  Ben hastily went on to add before they could ask him more questions he was unprepared to handle about Qui-Gon, "met an old friend of mine who is still a Jedi, Anakin Skywalker.  He invited us all to visit him at the Temple tomorrow - or rather, since it's so late, today."

"YES."  There was no doubting their enthusiastic approval of this development.

Ah, that had them.  They'd always wanted to see where he grew up.  Their pestering him for stories about "when you were little" had been one more bone of contention between he and Cesli.  "But we can't go if we don't all get some sleep."

"All right.  Can we meet Master Yoda?"

"I'm not sure if he's going to be free, but perhaps.  Don't count on that, though, Sha'ridas.  Master Yoda has many important duties that keep him well occupied." 

And I doubt he'd make time to come see one failed ex-Padawan who left under less than ideal circumstances.  But he didn't voice that opinion to the girls.  They were finally settling down, letting him tuck them in. 

Ben kissed them both and flipped the lamp off.  He was almost at the door when two sleepy voices floated to him "Love you, Papa."

"I love you both."  He swallowed the lump in his throat and closed the door quietly behind him. 
 
 
 
 

"Ben!"  Anakin met them at the landing pad, beaming, blond hair blowing about in the strong crosswinds.  "And these must be the two daughters I heard about."

Laughing, Ben nodded, enjoying his daughters' wide-eyed appraisal of Knight Skywalker.  "Whatever you heard, I'm sure its true.  This is Das and this is Jahni."

Anakin greeted the girls with the same courtesy he would've extended to the most important of visiting dignitaries.  "How do I know which is which?"  The girls giggled, but did not enlighten him.  Chuckling, he turned back to Ben.  "These young ladies can't be the force of chaos you claim, Ben.  Mace said something about reprogramming your planetary council's in-house computer system, but I didn't believe it."

"Believe it.  They really thought it would be easier to run the personnel programs if they were alphabetized by first names and corresponding color codes."

Anakin was still laughing as he ushered them off the platform and into the quiet of one of the Towers.  "Mace is going to join us for lunch and I have strict orders to take you directly to Master Yoda before you set foot anywhere else."

Surprised and showing it, Ben was temporarily drowned out by the happy shouts of "YAY," from the girls. 

Anakin responded to that with another grin.  "He especially wanted to meet you both."

"See, we told you we'd see Master Yoda, Papa."  Jahni informed him. 

The twins danced along in front of them.  Anakin responded to Ben's unspoken question.  "He always liked you, Obi -- sorry, Ben.  As soon as he heard of your election, Yoda was planning on seeing you when you got to Coruscant.  You know how he always knows everything before anyone tells him?  Well, when I got in last night, there was a message on my comm unit saying "Before anywhere else they visit, bring them to see me."

"He'll probably hit me in the shins with his gimmer stick."

"Maybe.  Your children certainly seem excited."

"They like to hear about when I was growing up.  They've always had this interest in Master Yoda and in...and in Qui-Gon.  I suppose because I talked about them both so much."

"Ah.  That explains it."  Ani seemed about to say more; then rather obviously changed his mind.  "Well, they can explore a bit while they're here."

Ben shook his head.  "Not if you still want a standing Temple."

"Come on, Ben, they're sweet, little girls."

"With minds like steel traps and IQ's that go off the scale.  The problem isn't what they think up though, Ani, it's that having thought it up they have the capacity to act on it.  I didn't get these gray hairs from the political infighting on Melidann, you know."

"Right.  Tell me another one."   They'd reached one of the elevators and waited while several senior Padawans exited it before shepherding the twins on board.

Qui-Gon was contemplating a flowering Jada Tree when he heard faint rustling coming from a Sesheri bush that was part of a hedge planted just behind the Jada tree.  All was silent for several minutes, and then, just as he resumed his peaceful contemplation of the flowers' perfection, the Sesheri bush began to talk.

Since talking wasn't an attribute of Sesheri bushes, he was, naturally, intrigued.  Especially as the bush in question appeared to be discussing him. 

"Don't be silly, Papa said he isn't a Jedi anymore."   The bush's voice was high, female, and was immediately ordered to "HUSH" by a very similar, but slightly lower pitched voice, also female, which then went on to add, "It can't be anybody else, he's so tall."

"Well, but then what is he doing here if he's working for the Chancellor?"  The first voice demanded, evidently under the impression that either it was being sufficiently quiet that he couldn't hear what was said, or that he was deaf.

"Maybe he's visiting, like we are."

"Excuse me, but I could answer your questions far better if I could see you."  Qui-Gon told the bush gravely.  There were shocked sounding gasps and then quite a bit of rustling later, two small, red-haired girls, identical except in dress, appeared from beneath the Sesheri bush.  He judged them to be about 7 years old.  Not initiates, they were wearing the kind of clothes ordinary children wore, not Jedi beige and brown. 

"See, it IS him, I told you Das."

"Who do you think I am?"  Qui-Gon asked curiously.

"Why, you're Master Qui-Gon Jinn, aren't you?"  The little girl answered him, having to look way way up to do so. 

Surprised, but not showing it, he smiled, "Yes.  And you have the advantage of me, for I don't know either of your names."

"I'm Jahni Kenobi and this is my sister Dasan.  We're visiting."

Kenobi, then these were... "You're Obi-Wan's children?"

Puzzled, they looked at each other, almost as though they were consulting about something, and then the puzzled looks cleared.  "Oh, you  mean Papa.  We forgot he was called Obi-Wan when he was little."

"Was called?"  Qui-Gon asked.

"Everyone calls him Ben.  Except us, of course.  He told us all about you," the one with the slightly lower voice said.  Her Force signature was calmer, more serene than that of her sister. 

"Ah.  I didn't know that.  And where is your Papa now?"  Qui-Gon looked around as though expecting Obi-Wan to fall out of a tree or appear from under another hedge.  This amused the girls greatly.

"We ditched him."  The twin with the more frenetic aura said cheerfully.  "Sorta."

"You...ditched your father?  May I ask where?"

"He was talking to Master Mace, and Anakin.  And we were with Master Yoda - we really like Master Yoda -- Anyway, then Master Yoda suggested that we -- that is Jahni and I -- well, Papa was so involved talking to Master Mace and Anakin that, well..."  She trailed off, looking at her sister for assistance.

So the more frenetic twin was Dasan.  "Go on."

It was Jahni who continued.  "Master Yoda took us all around the Temple and told us lots of stories about Papa.  Then he brought us here and said we could play 

for a while.  I asked him what about when Papa realizes we're not in the room, but he just laughed and said "Worry not, young one, tell him where you are I will."

I bet he did, thought Qui-Gon, absolutely certain that, for whatever reason, the old troll, er, his esteemed former Master, had wanted him to meet the Kenobi Twins.  Nothing Yoda did was ever accidental.  "That doesn't explain why you were hiding in the Sesheri bush."

All wide-eyed innocence, Das asked "Is that what its called?  We thought it was pretty."

"This is prettier,"  Jahni indicated the Jada Tree.

"Why were you hiding in the bush?"  Qui-Gon refused to let the little witches manipulate him off the subject.

"Well, we thought that you were you..."  Jahni explained.

"But we weren't sure it was you..."  Das continued.

"And in case it wasn't you, we decided to scope you out first."  Jahni concluded.

"Very wise.  However, may I suggest that next time you, er, scope someone out, you not talk quite so loudly while doing it?  It did rather give you away."

Das turned to her sister accusingly.  "I told you we should've just talked in our heads."

"Das!  Papa said never tell anybody about that."

"Don't be stupid, Jahni, this isn't any old body, this is Master Jinn."

Qui-Gon found himself laughing.  "I promise I won't tell anyone that you can talk in your heads.  Have you always been able to do so?" 

Again, they seemed to be consulting each other, and he now had no doubt that they were.  Not an altogether unusual attribute in twins of any species, to be sure, but the girls' Force signatures were extremely strong.  Why hadn't Obi-Wan let them come to the Temple to be trained?   And then he answered his own question, why should he, when he had left the Order without so much as a backward glance?  The bitterness behind that last thought took Qui-Gon unawares.  But there was no time to ponder it now, the twins were talking to him, obviously absolutely delighted to make his acquaintance. 

So, whatever he may have felt about the Jedi, Obi-Wan obviously retained some fondness for his former master.  At least enough to speak well of him to his daughters.

"Did Papa really almost blow himself up in a mine?"

"Did you rescue him off a mining platform?  He said that was something."

Almost without realizing it, Qui-Gon found himself seated on the ground, his back resting against the broad trunk of the Jada Tree, two small Kenobi Twins draped comfortably over his lap, while he told them stories about their Papa when he was Qui-Gon's apprentice.
 
 

"But Mace, you have no idea of the havoc they can cause - they never mean it maliciously, they just think of things and then do them."  Ben would've wrung his hands, but he was too well-trained to do so.

"I'm sure Yoda knows where they are.  Ani says he thinks they slipped out with him."  Mace placed a soothing hand on Ben's shoulder.  "And if anyone can locate them, Ani will be able to."

"Force only knows what they've done with Master Yoda.  Probably talked him into letting them climb the high tower or run amok in the meditation gardens."

"Talk me into that, they did not.  Try they did, about climbing the Tower."  Yoda made his way slowly into the room.  "Like your girls, I do.  Strong in the Force - they should have come to the Temple long ago, Obi-Wan."

"Master Yoda."  Ben turned, relief at seeing the diminutive senior Council member in one piece momentarily depriving him of further speech.

"In the meditation gardens are they, but not running amok.  With Qui-Gon they are, hearing stories about you, Padawan." 

"With Qui...I thought he had left the Order?"  Ben shook his head, feeling dazed.

"Visit his old Master he does, frequently."  Master Yoda punctuated this with a gentle swat of his gimmer stick to Ben's shins.  "Which I would recommend you do from now on, Padawan."

"Yes, Master Yoda.  But the girls..."

"Fine they are.  Go and see.  By the old Jada Tree.  Presume I do that you still know the way, Padawan?"

"Well, yes.  If you'll excuse me?" 

Mace and Yoda nodded and he escaped.

Mace turned to Yoda, eyebrow raised.  "You did that on purpose."

"And what makes you think that, my former Padawan?"

"A dozen years as your Padawan and 40 more on the Council.  Why?"

Yoda smiled.  "Strange are the ways of the Force.  Hard to discern.  Wise is the man who rides the currents and questions not too much."

"Ah."  Mace said, not understanding completely, but able to hazard a shrewd guess.  "I see."   I think.

In the end, it was not difficult to find Dasan and Jahni.  He felt their Force signatures as soon as he reached the entrance to the meditation gardens.  He recognized Qui-Gon's as well; it felt almost as familiar as the girls'.  And, after a few minutes walk, he heard voices.

"So, do you ever talk to Sri Tremba anymore, Qui-Gon?"  That was Jahni.

"Yes, and you'll probably meet him at some point.   He's a delegate to the Senate from his homeworld."

"Good.  Papa will like that."

"Yes,"  Das chimed in, "he might stop being sad if he sees more people he used to love."

"Why do you say that?"  Qui-Gon's tone, to the girls, conveyed only mild curiosity; Ben thought he detected more interest beneath that, however.

Das, his little information outlet, was happily supplying details.  "Well, first he was sad because he missed you, and then he was sad everyone was fighting all the time, and he missed you, and then no one would agree on anything for a long time.  Once, I heard him tell Trel that most of the other council members could not find their behinds if they had maps."  There was a short pause and then, indignant, "Well, that's what he said, Jahni, Trel told me, so stop making faces at me.  Anyway, we came along and he was happier, but he was also mostly sad again when he thought we weren't paying attention, because Mother was so...well..." 

She appeared to have run out of words, and to Ben's relief, Qui-Gon said, "I think you've told me enough, little one.  And your Papa, if I'm not mistaken, is just behind us."

Ben stepped into the clearing and couldn't help smiling at the sight which greeted him.  Qui-Gon was sitting, relaxed, under a flowering Jada Tree with Jahni sprawled across his lap and Das more or less squished up against his side; Qui-Gon had a protective arm around her. 

"I see you've met my daughters."

"Yes."  Qui-Gon smiled up at him, and Ben felt oddly as though everything, the Temple, the sky traffic far overhead, the climate controlled breezes, even the girls, stopped and faded into the background, and there was only Qui-Gon and him and the past stretching between them like a cord.

"Papa!" 

He blinked, disoriented for a moment, and then looked down to see Das tugging at his hand.  "What?"

She was the picture of sincerity.  "We have discussed it and we feel he is definitely a blue."

Qui-Gon's eyebrow went up, but Ben answered gravely.  "I am glad you have concurred with me on the subject.  Which shade?"

"We haven't decided."

Jahna spoke up,  "Come and sit with us.

He hesitated.  "Well, I don't..."

"By all means, join us.  You can correct me when my memory lapses."  Qui-Gon's voice was gentle, teasing, normal.  Ben relaxed muscles he hadn't realized he was tensing.  He sat down, facing the trio.  He felt the oddest sense of rightness settle about him, of peace, something he hadn't felt in years.

"All right."  And then as the girls began to vocalize their approval, he added "But we can't outstay our welcome."

"You could never do that, Obi-Wan."  Qui-Gon's voice was still gentle, teasing, normal, with the warmth of seeing an old friend once again after long absence underlying the rich tones.   He put out his hand.  "It is good to see you again."

Ben found himself reaching out and clasping Qui-Gon's hand; then found his fingers encased in tingling warmth as Qui-Gon settled his other hand on top of Ben's.  How long they would have stayed like that, Ben wasn't able to say; contact was forcibly broken when Das scrambled across to settle herself in her father's lap. 

Ben dropped a kiss on her head and said, softly, to Qui-Gon, "I have missed you."

"Papa," Das was unimpressed by the undercurrents fluctuating about her.  "About those draigons..."

Dexant Vril, undersecretary to the Assistant Secretary to the Administrative Secretary to the Attache to the Supreme Vice Chancellor, was the unfortunate humanoid in charge of handing out committee assignments to freshman senators from systems admitted to the Republic within the last two standard years. 

Unfortunate, because, as she was beginning to realize wearily, though their numbers were very small in comparison to the Senate as a whole, none of them wanted to serve on any committees if they could help it, and by whatever deities they'd brought with them from their respective homeworlds, they were going to protest to her about it.  She had been warned of this unfortunate trait by the outgoing undersecretary, who was even now enjoying a rest cure at one of the finest spas in the Galaxy.  Dexant, fortunately, was made of sterner stuff.  She was a native of Vrillani Prime a world categorized by everyone who did not live on it as, literally, being Hell.  So a bunch of fledgling senators fluffing their political egos at her impressed her not one bit. 

"The assignments stand, good representatives.  For your first cycle in the Senate committees are assigned.  After that, you may maneuver yourselves on or off any Committee you please.  But for now, these," she indicated the data display on the wall opposite her desk, "are where you will serve.  Kindly make note of your assignments and then good day to you all."  She sat back down and the expression on her dark face clearly stated to all "I will not be moved." 

Senator Kenobi wasn't one of the ones complaining; he was just trying to get close enough to the display to find his name.  Using a little of the Force to aid him, he wriggled past two wildly gesticulating Samrians and a Perandian who seemed to be about to expire from apoplexy.  It was hard to tell for certain, Perandians sported three heads and five times that many appendages, but Ben didn't think it seemed too pleased to find itself on...ah, yes, if his ears served him right, it was outraged to be on the Buildings and Public Monuments Committee.

Finally reaching a good position in the front, he scanned down the columns quickly, finding his own name without difficulty.  "Melidann/Senator Kenobi -- Committee on Oversight for Oversight."  Whatever the hell THAT was.  Probably he would be spending his time overseeing how many datapads were allowed in Senate offices or how many desks their staff were assigned.  Oh well, he reflected, it could've been worse.  He could be stuck with that Perandian on Buildings and Public Monuments.

"Well?"  Trel asked as soon as Ben returned to the office space assigned to the Melidannns. 

"Oversight for Oversight.  I guess it could be worse."

Trel whistled.  "Man, somebody loves you."

Ben glanced up from trying to sort through the messages on his compad.  "What?"

"I said, somebody sure loves you."

"I heard you.  Why did you say that?"

Trel stared at him, open mouthed.  "You have got to start paying attention to me when I brief you, Kenobi.  One of these days you're going to zone out and end up voting the wrong way because of it."

Ben sighed.  It was an old argument of theirs, and frankly, he knew Trel was right.  "Ok, Ok. At least it can't get me killed these days. Just explain about this Committee.  Again."

Trel eyed him, then relented.  "Right.  Oversight for Oversight is the Supreme Chancellor's pet committee.  Even I couldn't find out exactly what it is they do, but it is something to do with intelligence gathering, monitoring and shall we say, ex officio interfering, when necessary.  Membership is small and no one really seems to know who is actually serving at any given time, though of course, now there is you."

Ben dropped into his chair and exhaled loudly.  "Force."

"Yes.  Not a stomping ground for rookies, either.  You are the only new boy appointed."

"Why me?"  He ran his hands through his hair, sending it into complete disarray and  annoyed, he yanked the tie out of it, letting it fall around his shoulders. 

Trel's glanced was measuring.  "Offhand, I would say that your Force sensitivity and your Jedi training have something to do with the appointment.  That, and the fact that a friend of mine in the diplomatic attaché's office says he and the Chancellor both look on you favorably."

"Trel, just how is it that you have so many friends in so many interesting places?"

"Looks, charm, brains.  And I can brown-nose with the best."

"Right."  Ben turned back to the pile-up of messages for the Melidann Senator. "That reminds me, Trel?"

"Yes?"

"Thanks.  Again."

"I made saving your ass my personal mission in life a long time ago, Kenobi.  Just keep being worth it."

The Oversight Committee Room was not particularly special - just a small conference chamber, with a big table at one end and fairly comfortable chairs.  There were only four people in the room when Ben entered;  three were other Senators, though he was uncertain of their exact identities. 

The fourth person was Qui-Gon. 

"Obi-Wan."  Qui-Gon came over to him, smile welcoming.

Ben opened his mouth to correct him, to say, as he had to Ani, "Please call me Ben", but somehow all that came out was "Hello. You made quite an impression on my daughters. It was all I could do to persuade them not to come along today when they heard you'd be here.  They don't accord everyone a blue on a first meeting."

"What does that mean?  A blue?"

"Ever since they could talk they've described everything in terms of colors.  Over the years they've come up with a system that grades things and people by assigning them a color."

"And blue?  I take it that is good?"

"Very.  They haven't decided which shade, though."

Qui-Gon laughed.  "Is that important?"

"Oh, yes.  For example, I'm Midnight Royal Blue, a singular honor, I assure you.  They are now pestering me to ask you to visit us at home." 

"I would be honored to visit you any time you choose to extend an invitation, Obi Wan."

"I...we, would like that very much."  Again, Ben had that sensation of everything receding into complete unimportance except Qui-Gon and himself.  The hum of the bond he had supposed severed grew stronger and he watched, fascinated, as Qui-Gon seemed to be having some difficulty breathing.  Ben had to fight down a compelling desire to reach out and smooth the worry line between Qui-Gon's eyes. 

Then one of the others coughed harshly and Ben jumped, snapping abruptly back to the here and now.  Aware that the other occupants of the room were all regarding them curiously, Ben hurried to bring the subject back to business.  "Am I early?  There don't seem to be many of us here."

"What?"  Qui-Gon had to visibly refocus his attention on the room.  "Oh, this is an extremely small committee."  He tucked hands that might have been trembling a little into the sleeves of the dark green cloak he wore.  "In fact, there's only one other member and Mace is going to be absent today.  Do you know any of the others?"

Mace Windu was on this committee...now that was interesting, Ben thought.  No committee with Master Windu and Qui-Gon involved was going to waste its time overseeing who got the best selection of office supplies.  Ben shook his head.  "I am still using the map from the information packet to get around the Senate Building.  I couldn't begin to tell who my fellow politicians are, beyond a handful of names."

"The tall Belandrian is Pari a'Bryn - she trained to be a Jedi - oh, before your time, but actually turned down an apprenticeship to return to her homeworld and eventually entered the Senate.  She's quite well versed in languages and is an expert on synthetic and biomechanical life forms.  Since her world is so close to the Rim, she has a good knowledge of the politics out there.  Next to her is Jason Manwaring - he's from Gariden Prime - an expert on covert operations and intelligence gathering.  And finally, there is Jadreth Tel - Senator Tel is ..."

"A Samrian.  I do remember basic non-humanoid exobiology, Qui-Gon."

"Oh, very good.  Tel is an expert on the interstellar black market, with a particular emphasis on intelligence for sale and outlawed technology." 

Ben's eyebrows both went up.  He knew the reputations of the Senators Qui-Gon had just sketched for him and none of them were rookies, not by a long shot.  "And why am I here?"

Qui-Gon was at his blandest, expression most innocent.  "Because Supreme Chancellor Valorum appointed you.  What else?"

"Indeed."  He didn't push the question further – it might have been a long time, but he remembered quite well when Qui-Gon got that particular expression on his face, no amount of asking was going to get a more informative reply.

With swift efficiency, Qui-Gon formally introduced Ben to his colleagues, handed out data disks with the agenda and backing documents needed for this initial meeting, and got matters rolling.
 
 

Ben's comlink bleeped towards the end of a long discussion on which trade routes smugglers were using out on the Rim, moving outlawed weapons and technology from planet to planet, seller to buyer.  He glanced at the message, then again, and abruptly got to his feet.  Senator a'Bryn paused in what she was saying and all eyes turned to him inquiringly. 

"A small emergency involving my children, if you'll excuse me?"

"Of course,"  Pari a'Bryn answered graciously. 

"We may as well adjourn for today,"  Qui-Gon interposed, "same time in two days?"

Everyone agreed.  Ben pocketed his comlink and took off at a fast clip.  He was intent on reaching his destination and it was actually a couple of minutes before he realized that Qui-Gon was with him, long legs easily keeping pace.

"What's happened to the girls?"

"How did you?  Oh," he said, feeling foolish.  "Of course.  The message was from Trel.  They decided to pay me a visit."

"Here?"

"Yes,"  Ben was grim, thinking of all the trouble that could have befallen two small girls travelling alone from the residential quarter where they were living.  It was a 100 kilometers away. "Apparently, they 'liberated' some credit chips from Anke's housekeeping kitty and took the air cars here.  How could they be so stupid!"  The fact that Trel's message had scared the wits out of him broke through his reserve, "Before we left home there were three separate kidnapping attempts, stretching out over the past two years.  When I think what could have happened this time..." 

"But they are safe?"  Qui-Gon assumed that much, otherwise they wouldn't be having this conversation.

"Oh, yes.  They're in the lobby.  Apparently they walked in, asked for me, and the droid notified the office.  Then Trel bleeped me in the meeting."

"But, why did they come all the way to the Senate without an escort?"  Qui-Gon sounded genuinely puzzled.

They'd reached the huge lobby of the Senate building, and Ben easily spotted his two redheads waiting, with more and less patience, watched over by one of the security droids.

"Let's find out." 

"Papa!"  Jahni had seen him now, and she and Das came running over, followed by the security droid.  Ben was engulfed in twins and Qui-Gon quietly stood back, watching, moving only to order the droid back to its duty station.  The twins were babbling happily; Qui-Gon heard one of them explaining "We missed you and so we thought we'd visit."

"May I ask what you were thinking when you decided to come here by yourselves?"  Ben asked sternly as he put the girls down.

To Qui-Gon's amusement, the twins stood a little straighter, both studying the floor tiles with great interest, a stance he vividly remembered a young Obi-Wan affecting when confronted with some bit of wrong-doing.

"Ah, well, we didn't think it looked that far on the map, Papa."  Jahni began.

"And, Anke had already promised us some money for helping her peel vegetables, Papa."  Das put in virtuously.  "So we just went ahead and helped ourselves."

Ben's expression grew very stern.  His voice was cold. "Without telling her?"

"Yes."  Jahni was subdued.

"Why didn't you tell her what you were going to do?"

Das looked up then, mouth round.  "Because she wouldn't have let us do it?"

"No, she wouldn't have.  And do you think that gives you the right to scare her out of her wits?  Or that you have the right to take credit chips that were not actually yours without asking?  That is stealing, Sha'ridas.  Poor Anke thought you'd been kidnapped.  She's beside herself with worry.  The only reason the Republic Guard isn't searching for you right now is that Trel was able to notify her of your arrival here.  All because neither of you stopped to think for one second how your actions would affect anyone else.  Am I right?"

Very downcast, they mumbled.  "Yes, Papa."

"We're sorry we scared her, Papa, we didn't do it on purpose."  Das added.

Ben shook his head.  "I know you didn't, but I'm still very disappointed in you.  Both of you know quite well it is wrong to take what is not yours.  And I know you meant no harm, but does that make what you did all right?  A great many bad things could've happened to you today.  How do you think I would feel if you just disappeared?"

"You'd be very sad."  Das replied firmly.

"Yes, I would.  Do you think what you did today was right, even though you didn't mean to worry anyone?"

"No.  I guess we will have to apologize to Anke too, won't we?"  Jahni asked.

"Yes. And? What else do you think I should do about this behavior?"  Ben continued.

Qui-Gon had to turn away for a minute; it wouldn't do for the Twins to see him grinning, but Ben's voice, demeanor and gentle, but inexorable questioning sounded so much like Qui-Gon to a young Obi-Wan, that the older man couldn't hide his amusement. 

There was silence, then Jahni said "I guess we should be grounded."

"For a day?"  Das, ever the optimist, suggested.

Ben was not relenting.  "Try again."

Das sighed.  Loudly.  "Ok, how about a week?"

"And?"  Ben asked, more gently.

"An essay on thinking of others?"  Das suggested, still optimistic.

"Not a bad idea.  I think a 1000 words will do.   Each of you separately, by the way, no collaborating."

"And" Das said, gloomier now, "we have to pay back the credit chips."

"How will you do that?"

"Help Anke do stuff around the house?"  Das hazarded.

"Peel more vegetables for her?"  Jahni suggested.  "And I could dust your real books for her, she doesn't like reaching up high on the shelves."

Ben's lips twitched slightly, voice warmer now, he approved "That will do nicely."

"Are you gonna' make us go back home now?"  Jahni
asked.

To his surprise, Qui-Gon found Ben turning to him, one eyebrow raised questioningly, tone serious.  "What do you think, Qui-Gon, should I have Trel take them straight home?"

"As long as they are here," Qui-Gon replied with equal gravity, "I don't suppose it would hurt for you to show them where you work.  And I imagine that Trel is very busy.  It would be discourteous to interrupt his day."

Ben nodded.  "I agree.  Very well, Sha'ridas.  You can stay and travel home with me this evening. BUT.."  he held up a hand to still their shrill cries of "all right!"  "But, you will do exactly as you are told, no taking off on your own either of you, and if I say "NO" to something, no arguments.  One infraction and I will have Trel take you back home immediately and neither of you will step into this building again for a very long time.  Is that understood?"

"Yes, sir!"

Das looked pointedly at Qui-Gon  "Can he come along too?"

Ben shook his head.  "Master Jinn has many duties to keep him busy, Sha'rida."

"But..." She saw the look her father was giving her, correctly interpreted it and did not pursue her objections.  "Yes, sir."

Qui-Gon debated with himself for a moment, then made a decision.  "Obi-Wan, if I might have a word with you, privately."  He bowed to the girls, who were favorably impressed by this show of good manners, asking "and with your permission, young ladies?"

"Sure."  Das and Jahni smiled sweetly at him.

They moved a few paces from the girls.  Voice pitched low, Qui-Gon said "I was going to spend the rest of the day on paperwork, reports.  However, if you don't mind, I would like to accompany you and the girls on your tour.  I do know the building a bit better than you, Obi-Wan."

"I..I don't...that would be fine, Qui-Gon.  Thank you."  To his annoyance, Ben felt himself flushing like the shy 13-year-old he'd been when he first met Qui-Gon.  Well, there was no point in being ungracious, after all.  And he appreciated Qui-Gon's diplomacy in asking him first to accompany the tour, instead of making such an offer directly to the girls.

Ben turned back to the girls.  "Master Jinn is going to accompany us."

Jahni and Das both looked very pleased.  Jahni said, "Good.  We need to observe him, Papa."

"Might I ask why?"  Qui-Gon's question was directed at the twins.

"Why, so we can decide which shade of blue, naturally."  Das made it sound the most reasonable thing in the world and why hadn't that occurred to him as well?

"I see.  Your papa tells me that's very important."

They nodded seriously.  "It's difficult to do without observing people, you see.  We wouldn't want to get the wrong shade."  Jahni explained.

"Right," Das put in, "though of course, the initial color isn't difficult - it just leaps out at us."

"I hope I turn out to be a nice shade of blue." 

The girls exchanged one of the glances Qui-Gon had already come to define as "discussion looks" then Das assured him.  "Don't worry.  You'll be fine."

"Thank you.  Shall your Papa and I show you this place?"

"The reports you requested are here, Senator."  The boy carrying the datapads in question found himself standing at attention, as he always did when in the Senator for Naboo's presence.  Was it the man himself  or the quietly opulent office that intimidated him so?  Probably both.

>From his seat behind the formidable desk, Enlil Palpatine looked up at the Senate Page and smiled.  It wasn't a particularly bad smile, as such things went.  Icy fingers curled along the boy's spine anyway.

"Both of them, James?"

"Yes, Senator - the briefing paper on Senator Kenobi and the report on the hijacking of a cargo freighter out of Tatooine, the Arantine V."

"My, my, both bits of information I asked for and in only a week.  Will marvels never cease?"

James swallowed hard and set the datapads on the desk.  Carefully. "The SIS has been more than usually busy, sir."

"Of course."  He waved the boy away, forgetting his existence even as he took the datapads in hand and began to read.  He hadn't gotten very far before he stopped, punched a button on the comm panel on the right side of his desk and barked "Calin, get in here.  Now."

Barely 30 seconds later, Calin Trent, the Senior Aide to the Senator for Naboo, entered the room at a contained trot. He was a tall, slender man, with short dark hair, large expressive eyes, who might have been 30 or 130. 

Palpatine glared at him.  "What took you so long?"

"I was studying our dispatches from the Arantine V, Senator."

"And?"

"Two Jedi dead, cargo taken by pirates, crew...sold, sir."  He could have been reciting the menu in the Senator's Dining Hall for all the emotion the words held.  An acquired trait, this ability to appear neutral, acquired by Calin Trent in a tough school. 

"Hmm...quite dreadful, Cal.  Only two Jedi.  Official condolences to the Jedi Council have been sent?"  When his aide nodded, he went on, "Excellent. And the cargo?"

"In hand, sir."

"Electronic trails?"

Calin was at his most deadpan.  "None, sir.  As usual. Mercenaries for hire to the highest bidder. Official expressions of outrage have been made." 

"Good."  Palpatine waved his aide to the visitor's chair.  It was slightly lower than the desk and angled so that anyone sitting in it had to keep their legs tightly braced to keep from slithering onto the floor. 
 

Cal mentally grimaced and sat down. Being waved into the chair meant that new plans were being formulated and while he was happy to keep busy, he hated trying to concentrate, take notes and not flop onto the floor.  It was even more annoying because Palpatine knew and enjoyed his discomfiture.  "You have something for me, Sir?"

"I just received, at long last, the reports requested from the Senate Intelligence Service.  Senate and Intelligence, Cal - that's an oxymoron if there ever was one."

"Sir."  Please don't let him start on that old rant again, Cal thought.

"The one on Senator Kenobi is particularly un-interesting - the usual drivel.  Except for one salient fact:  why, I wonder, is a fledgling Senator from a nothing system appointed to the Oversight on Oversight Committee?"

Cal suppressed the urge to groan.  That he was not a member of this Committee was another sore point with his employer.  "I don't know, Sir."

"Exactly.  No one does.  Very annoying.  That will have to change.  In the meantime, the amount of information it contains on Kenobi wouldn't fill a hiccough.  I want to know who he is, what he wears, who he sleeps with, everything.  Find out."

The Senator didn't say "or else".  He did not have to.

Cal's body stiffened.  "Yes, Sir.  Usual unofficial channels, Sir?"

"Naturally, pray don't be stupid Calin."

"No, Sir.  I do know, Sir, that he has children."

Palpatine sat up straighter.  "Now we are getting somewhere.  I knew there was a reason I keep you on the payroll, Calin.  How many, ages, sex?"

Cal's mouth had gone very dry.  "Er, two, twins, female, age 7."

"Does he have much contact with them?"

"Extensive, sir.  He and Ambassador Jinn took them on a tour of the Senate Building this afternoon.  I happened to stop and exchange the time of day.  The girls are obviously quite close to their father."

Palpatine leaned back in his chair, studying his steepled fingertips thoughtfully.  "I like that, Calin.  Family values are so dreadfully important.  Especially in uncertain and troubled times like these.  Strong ties are such as you describe are so...helpful, don't you think?"

Cal tried to swallow.  The waves of power emanating from the man in front of him were oppressive.  "So very true, sir."

More sharply, as another thought struck him, "Ambassador Jinn?  Chancellor's Pet Jinn?  With Kenobi on a tour, you say?"

"Yes.  They seemed to know each other fairly well."

"Hmm...find out if Kenobi was an initiate at the Jedi Temple.  There may be a connection there we can utilize to an...advantage."

"I will do my best, sir."

"Yes, you will.  In the meantime, about the poor, poor Arantine...the SIS report is the soul of brevity once again.  Good work."

"Thank you, Senator." 

"How much did we acquire from the disposal of that regrettably ex-officio cargo?"

"Quite a lot, Senator."

Palpatine smiled.  It was a rather bad smile, as smiles go.  "Oh, perfectly marvelous."
 
 

On the whole, Qui-Gon reflected much later in the evening, their Senate tour went very well.  The twins were suitably well-behaved, at least at first.  They contained themselves in unusual silence for an entire half an hour, before natural ebullience bubbled up and they returned to noisy normal.

They also asked endless questions, which he and Obi-Wan answered or at least, attempted to answer.  Obi-Wan frequently made them laugh and while they obviously respected their father, for their part the twins had no fear in teasing him right back. 

Qui-Gon enjoyed watching the interplay between Obi-Wan and his daughters.  As a young boy, his former Apprentice had possessed a great deal of empathy and compassion for others.  It should not have surprised him to see how good he was with his children, but the endless patience he showed them was unexpected.  The boy Qui-Gon remembered had been impatient to the point of being foolhardy. 

The man he was just becoming acquainted with seemed to have brought patience to an art form.

"Master Jinn,"  Dasan had asked, her voice sounding unnaturally hollow in the large hearing chamber they were exiting, "why aren't you a Jedi anymore?"

And he had hesitated, not sure how or whether to answer that, for he disliked dissembling, even though it was first nature by now.

Ben said "Dasan - what did I tell you about asking people very personal questions?"

"You said don't do it."

"Well?"

Sheepishly, she smiled up at Qui-Gon.  "Sorry."

"Accepted.  Let's just say that other things call my attention now."

Unabashed, Das asked, fascinated, "Other things?"

"Dasan Kenobi that will be enough."  She subsided.  Ben’s voice held a definite warning note.  Evidently, when her Papa used that tone of voice, the "FATHER VOICE”, it meant back up now, or else.

"Yes, sir."  She glanced at her sister, then said, "I'm hungry."

"When in doubt, eat."  Ben said, trying not to laugh.

Tongue firmly in cheek, Qui-Gon said, "I seem to recall an apprentice of mine who liked to use the same tactic to change the subject." 

"And I recall it didn't work for him very often.  He had a Master it was quite difficult to circumvent."

"I have a feeling these two get around you rather more easily, Obi-Wan."

"Yes, well, I try not to let them get away with too much."  Ben seemed to hesitate and then, voice lower, pitched so the girls could not overhear, he went on, "For years its been a...balancing act for me – even harder than levitating those objects you used to have me practice twirling about."

There was so much weariness in his former Padawan's voice it shocked Qui-Gon.  Then, as if realizing he'd opened himself up too far, the smooth, friendly, politician's façade snapped in place and Qui-Gon found himself talking to Senator Kenobi once more.  “No need to feel sorry for us, I’ve had quite a lot of help – Trel is invaluable and their nurse, Anke, is very good with them.”

And where, Qui-Gon wondered, up until a year ago, had been the girls' mother?  He’d read Val’s copy of the SIS background paper on Senator Kenobi, but the usually thorough Senate Intelligence Service had turned up little else on the Obi-Wan’s deceased wife, other than the fact she'd died in some kind of aircar accident.

"You've done an excellent job, Obi-Wan.  Even if they do occasionally reprogram your interplanetary council's computer system."

Ben’s sigh was exaggerated.  "Does everyone know about that?"

"Papa!  It was much prettier the way we did it."  Jahni insisted.

"But not easier for us to get the proper information into the personnel records, Sha'rida.  Come on," He began shepherding the girls out of the hearing chamber and into a corridor.  "If Master Jinn will tell me how to get back to my office from here, I'll check in with Trel and take you two home.  Anke will be wanting to make sure you're all right and have dinner waiting."

"Master Jinn can come with us, can't he, Papa?  And have dinner?"  Dasan demanded.

Ben looked at Master Jinn.  "That would be fine, if Master Jinn hasn't had enough of us all by now."

"It would take rather longer than one afternoon for that to happen."  Qui-Gon's voice was low; it resonated along Ben's spine, sending darts of fire to nerve centers long quiet. "It is rather, whether you've had enough of me for one day?"

"Of course not."  Jahni sounded as though that was perfectly obvious.  Dasan nodded and echoed her sister's statement.

Ben had tilted his head to one side in a fashion Qui-Gon found himself powerless to resist.  "Its unanimous."
 

He brought himself back to the present with a firm mental shake.  Dinner was over, the girls had been - very reluctantly - packed off to bath and bed; Qui-Gon and Ben were sitting, relaxed in the library.  Qui-Gon couldn't recall the last time he'd spent an evening with someone and been so at ease. 

The house Ben was leasing was in an exclusive, climate controlled residential district 100 kilometers from Senate headquarters.  It wasn't large in terms of size, but there was a real terraformed garden for the girls to play in with a real apple tree to climb.  Ben's library boasted a working fireplace.  The numerous packing containers scattered about bore silent witness to the fact it was still a household settling in.

As much as he was enjoying the relaxed silence, there was something that had been niggling at him since the day he'd first seen a news printout on Ben Kenobi.  And now he simply had to ask:  "Why Ben?"

"Why, Ben, what?"  Ben asked, stalling. 

Qui-Gon shook his head, "I meant, why are you called Ben, not Obi-Wan."

"Oh."  Relieved, but not allowing it to show, Ben shrugged and sat down on the couch next to Qui-Gon, stretching his legs out towards the fireplace.  Pollution-free "wood" crackled and burned on the hearth in soothing patterns.

Answering the question of why he now used only his birth-given name was easier than trying to come up with a short explanation of why he'd stayed on Melidann in the first place.  "Obi-Wan was a Jedi, you see."

"Ah.  And Ben is not a Jedi?  So Ben Kenobi is - what?"

"A very overworked and frequently exhausted quite minor politician and, most importantly, a full-time single father."

"You wouldn't trade either of the girls for anything."

"No, not that there aren't times I'd like to take a vacation from them.  As much as I adore them, they are a handful."

Obviously choosing his words with care, Qui-Gon ventured, "You must miss your wife's help."

If you only knew, Ben thought bitterly.  Aloud, he said, voice carefully neutral, "Cesli...wasn't very well a lot of the time.  I've always had the primary responsibility for the twins."

"I see." 

Qui-Gon clearly didn't, but Ben wasn't going to enlighten him and he was extremely grateful when Qui-Gon let the matter drop.  But then his former Master wasn't a diplomat for nothing. 

Qui-Gon went on to another subject, "I was surprised when you decided to run for election to the Senate.  You seemed to have your hands full at...home." 

A slight hesitation before the word "home" was all that showed Qui-Gon was less than comfortable with the topic. 

Ben made a wry face.  "That's a polite way of putting it.  Melidann was a full-time headache - until the past two years.  Finally, the Council is a good blend of Young and Elders; they have finally got the hang of listening instead of shouting at each other.  I was all set to retire for a bit, leave things to Cerasi and Nield, and spend more time with the twins.  Then our application for Republic membership was approved."

"I take it you were 'asked' to run for the Senate?  As in informed by your Council that you were going to represent Melidann?"

Ben laughed outright.  "I went in to work one morning thinking I would be wrapping up my term as Head of the Council and found out instead that I was running for the Senate."  His expression grew serious, "There were other interested parties; we were all more or less qualified. The media people did a lot of nonsense about "the former Jedi savior or Melida/Daan..." and it seems that the next thing I was packing to come here."

"It is not nonsense, Obi-Wan." 

"Yes, it is."  Unable to sit still, Ben jumped to his feet and began pacing back and forth.  "I spent nearly a decade stumbling from one crisis to the next, getting shot at more often than not, and never knowing if the whole mess was going to blow up in my face.  Stumbling - mark you, not crusading.  Savior - that is just. . .complete...nonsense!" 

"Now, that is more like the Obi-Wan I remember."

Ben stopped pacing.  "What is?"

Qui-Gon gestured towards him.  "Pacing, restless, occasionally angry.  I hardly recognized the grave, self-contained man I've been talking to up to this moment."

"It has been a long time, Qui-Gon.  I grew up."  His gravity and self-containment had been acquired the hard way, and Ben wasn't going to apologize for those traits.  "I learned to keep a neutral face and my tongue in my head.  Anything else would've got me dead and buried a long time ago."

He thought the other man winced slightly at that; when he looked again, Qui-Gon's face was smooth and serene, so it might have been a trick of the firelight. 

"And now you're 28, you have two daughters and can look forward to spending the next six years in the Republic Senate."

Ben sat down again and pushed his ever wayward hair out of his face.  "Not exactly the outcome I would have predicted for myself when I was 13."

"No.  The Force has its ways, though.  Who would have thought I would leave the Order?  Or work for the Chancellor?"  Qui-Gon's tone was mild enough, as though he were discussing the weather.

"That's what Ani - Anakin Skywalker said when I met him again.  The ‘Force has its ways, Obi.’"

"He's right.  Ani was a yearmate of yours, was he not?  He works with Mace now."

"Yes, so I discovered.  That's how we came to be visiting the Temple - I ran into him at the reception on Opening Day."

Qui-Gon was watching the fire on the grate intently.  "I wondered...you never visited before."

"No.  How could I?"

"Quite easily.  Get on a starship and come to Coruscant."

"As easy as that?"  Ben snapped his fingers, "Just hop a transport?  I don't think so.  Show up at the Temple out of the blue and say "Hello, just thought I'd pop by and see you all?"  I hardly think that would've gone down well."

"Leaving the Order is a choice every Jedi has the right to make, Obi-Wan.  Paying at least one visit would have been better than..." Qui-Gon bit off the last of what he'd been about to say.

"Than what?"  Ben prodded, couldn’t resist prodding.  His polite mask dropped. "Go on, tell me.  Better than what?"

"Than nothing." Qui-Gon was at his most austere.  "It would have been better than nothing.  Satisfied?"

"I wanted to come ho...to visit the Temple."

Qui-Gon nodded, the movement wasn't smooth or graceful. "But you didn't.  Some members of the Council thought your decision to remain on Melidann had more to do with me than anything else."

Such a preposterous suggestion stopped Ben cold.  He knew his mouth was open in surprise, but he couldn't help it.  Such a thought had simply never occurred to him.  He was the Padawan who failed, who could not stay the course, never mind some pretty compelling reasons. 

Qui-Gon saw the expression on his face, and visibly relaxed.  "I take it they were incorrect?"

"You had nothing to do with my reasons for  staying, Qui-Gon.  How could they...how could you even think such a thing?  I thought I made that clear when we talked afterward."

Expression wry, Qui-Gon answered mildly, "Well, I do not possess a very good track record with apprentices, Obi-Wan."

"The failings were in the apprentices, Qui-Gon, not the Master."

Qui-Gon could have argued that one, but let it go.  "Well, that's all past now.  I've done what I must and so have you."

"May I ask you a question?"

"If I can promise I won't necessarily answer it."

Ben smiled.  "Who is the career politician here?  Very well – just what are you doing at the Senate?"

"That's easy.  Working with Chancellor Valorum."

"No?  Really?  I would not have guessed."  Ben shifted slightly on the couch; the move inadvertently brought his hip and upper thigh into contact with Qui-Gon's hip.  The resulting feeling that shot through was as exquisite as it was unexpected.  Until recently, Ben Kenobi hadn’t reacted to anyone’s physical proximity in a remotely sensual way in years. 

"If there is more to it than that, Obi-Wan, I can't say."  Was the familiar voice just a trifle breathless? 

"Can't or won't?" Ben found himself unable and, more disturbing to his equilibrium, absolutely unwilling to relinquish even this partial close contact. 

Qui-Gon turned and faced Ben.  The pressure of Qui-Gon's hip against Ben's increased, and he fought the urge to lean in even closer to his former apprentice.  "Either one, take your pick.  I don't. . "

Ruefully, Ben finished the sentence for him, "owe me a damn thing.  You're right, I'm sorry."

"I wouldn't have put it quite that way, but yes.  And apology accepted."

"Right."

The old fashioned mechanical clock on the mantle chimed 1st hour.  The sound was loud and intrusive and both men jumped, abruptly breaking the body contact they'd been maintaining.

Qui-Gon seemed to gather himself, to focus.  "I'd better go.  I have a meeting with the Chancellor first thing in the morning."  Back in full diplomatic character again, he rose gracefully to his feet, "I've enjoyed our visit, Obi-Wan.  I hope you and the girls will return the favor?"

Standing up quickly and feeling less than dignified doing it, Ben nodded "Oh, yes.  Of course - I know they'll be delighted to visit you."  Demanding to go, sooner not later, was more like it, he thought.

"Good.  I'll see you at the next Committee meeting, then?"

Ben accompanied Qui-Gon to the front door.  "Yes.  Ah, that would be tomorrow?" He was embarrassed to hear his voice rise in pitch on the last word, like a teenager's.  And what a lame question, but the part of him that wanted to keep Qui-Gon close, talking, was foremost.  Where was smooth, polished, Senator Kenobi when he needed him? 

Fortunately, Qui-Gon seemed not to notice his embarrassment.  "Mid-morning, same conference room.  Your aide will have the datapad with the details.  Until then."

Ben closed the door behind Qui-Gon, then lent his forehead against the cool plastisteel.

tbc
 

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