The Guardian's Path

Chapter 9 - Bonding

Ahsoka is a light-sleeper, at least she has been ever since the war started, and even if she is currently far more comfortable than she has been in what feels like forever, she still wakes up as the first tendrils of distress echo into the Force. She pushes herself up onto one elbow, careful not to disturb Padme, who is lying next to her. Maybe this is a bit weird – well, maybe it is for Anakin and Padme; she doesn't think it's that strange for herself – but Ani had wanted to stay with all three of them, because he missed his father too much to sleep.

Padme had finally suggested that all four of them squeeze into her bed, and so, they did. Ani is lying between Anakin and Padme – like he's their son or something, Ahsoka notes with amusement, which is a strange thought, because they're all only friends – and she is on Padme's other side. It's a bit crowded, but it's still very comfortable.

And it's Ani. Of course, it's Ani. His expression is discontented, and he is the source of the distress which she feels. Padme is sound asleep, so Ahsoka carefully leans over her, touching Ani's shoulder lightly. "Ani," she whispers, sending comfort to him through the Force. "Ani."

A quiet whimper escapes from him, but he reacts to her presence and touch, eyes opening. Their eyes meet for a moment before Ahsoka checks to ensure that Anakin is still sleeping. He is. Ahsoka thinks she should try to ensure that Ani is alright, but she doesn't know how to do that without awakening the others. "Do you want to come with me?" she whispers, slipping out from under the blanket and standing on the carpet with hardly a sound.

Ani looks at Anakin for a moment, gaze shifting to Padme before he sits up. His escape proves to be far more difficult, especially since he's between them. Anakin stirs as Ani is almost off the bed, and Ahsoka winces. She hadn't meant to wake him. "We're okay, Master," she assures him quietly. "Go back to sleep."

She isn't even sure how awake or alert he really was because he makes a sleepy noise of agreement before rolling over and going back to sleep. Once Ani is out of bed, Ahsoka picks him up without having to be asked – though he is rather heavy to be carrying around, but she's a Jedi, and she knows that it will be easier for Ani if she does this – and carries him to the kitchen. In the past, if she can't sleep or if she has a nightmare, Anakin often makes her something to drink which helps. He's told her it only needs to be something warm and soothing.

So, she pokes around through the cabinets, using the Force to levitate two mugs down to the counter, before turning her attention to Ani. "Nightmare?" she guesses.

Ani nods, expression distant. It's eerie how much it resembles the look Anakin sometimes gets after a major battle or after a particularly difficult night. "Do you want to talk about it?" Anakin never does, but it doesn't hurt to ask.

"No," he murmurs, turning his head to watch as Ahsoka uses the Force – far more than is truly necessary – to withdraw a bottle of some type of milk, though she doesn't remember what kind it was anymore, from the conservator, pouring it into the mugs before heating them in the nanowave stove.

After it's warm, she floats the mugs over to the counter, putting Ani down on a stool and hopping onto the one next to him. "Anakin usually does this for me if I have nightmares," she explains, wrapping her fingers around the mug and taking a sip. "I thought it might help."

Ani hums quietly, taking a swallow from his own mug. "This is nice," he admits, sounding almost shy. "Thank you."

"Anytime," Ahsoka grins back.

She tries not to let her mind wander to the child's father, tries not to wonder what's happening to him. She understands Anakin's pain and anger – and Ani's as well – but she thinks that they should try talking to Obi-Wan again. Surely, he would try to help Anakin if he knew how much he was being affected? In the heat of the moment, she would have been willing to fight him but... he wasn't trying to hurt them. He wouldn't do that, she knows – or at least she hopes. He thinks he's helping even if he's not. If nothing else, she can try talking to him. What harm could that do?