New Power

Ch 16

Cain took a deep breath as he stepped into his new quarters that he was to share with Ulari. The quarters looked identical to Anakin's. Cain put the pack on his shoulder onto the couch along with his helmet and walked into the rear room. He wasn't sure what Ahsoka's layout was as he had never been inside her room, but it looked the exact same as Anakin's. He decided that Ulari will have the back room and he'd have the front. That way she was further away from the entrance and possible intruders. Cain could easily take care of himself.

Having full responsibility of Ulari gave Cain some comfort. It was most likely because she reminded him of his sister, Alyssa. They both possess a firey but gentle spirit. It made him smile.

The small kitchen was the same, everything that was in Anakin's was in the exact same places, even the pitiful looking fridge. At least it was bigger than his old apartment. And best yet, Cain didn't need to pay rent or any bills. They should have gotten him to stay in the temple ages ago.

"Is it really that amazing?" Anakin's voice came from the entrance to the quarters. Cain almost jumped.

"I was thinking about Alyssa," Cain simply replied. "Ulari reminds me of her."

Anakin put a hand on Cain's shoulder. "I don't know what it's like to have blood related siblings, but Alyssa sounds like an amazing sister. Ahsoka and Obi-Wan are like siblings to me though."

"I'm glad you like Obi-Wan."

"CAIN!" Ulari screamed running up to him with Ahsoka and Padmé trailing close behind her, holding many bags. "Look what I got!" She shoved a bag at Cain. He took it from her small hand and peered inside. It was a palette of watercolour paints, along with a few packets of various sized brushes. "I can paint again!"

"You like to paint?" Cain asked her, already knowing the answer but wanting to let her excitement last.

"Yeah! I used to paint all of the time. One of the bags that Ahsoka has is full of other things that I need for painting. By the way, watercolours are my favourite."

"Oh I didn't doubt it. Wanna show me how you paint?"

Ulari practically threw the bag she held onto the counter and layed everything out. Ahsoka put another bag on the counter, presumably the one with the other painting supplies. She and Padmé placed the rest of the bags onto the couch, out of the way. Ulari grabbed a small plastic pot-like object and filled it up with water. She then sat down at the counter and opened one of the packets of brushes and chose one of the thinnest in the pack. She dropped it into the pot and opened the watercolour palette. Ulari grabbed the brushed and swirled it around in a purple watercolour, then swiped it onto a piece of paper.

"Look how pretty it is! This is why I love watercolours. It's also easy to shade."

"You know all thise fancy terms already?"

Ulari gave Cain a funny look. "Of course I do."

"I was teasing ya."

Ulari giggled and rinsed off her brush to use another colour. "I'm going to paint Ahsoka because Ahsoka's really pretty."

Padmé playfully scoffed and Ahsoka stifled a laugh. Ulari got another peice of paper out and reached into the bag of supplies again. She pulled out a packet of grey-lead pencils. Ulari glanced up to Ahsoka every now and again as she sketched her. Cain watched as her hand flicked the pencil across the paper. She was very talented for someone her age. He didn't expect her to sketch Ahsoka so realistically.

"This is amazing," Cain complimented with amazement lacing his voice.

"Thank you," Ulari whispered, shy at the compliment. She set down the pencil and grabbed an eraser and started erasing some lines and making others lighter. "I would always paint when I felt upset. Also when I felt happy, but painting makes me feel happy. I've gotten really good at it since I paint a lot." Ulari looked up at Ahsoka with a squint and her paintbrush at the edge of her vision.

"Ahsoka, you can stay there. I will help Padmé unpack Ulari's things." Cain then lowered his voice to Ulari. "Happy painting, little one." Ulari smiled.

Cain picked up as many bags as he could hold and Padmé held the rest.

~~~~<+>~~~~

Ahsoka stood next to Ulari, not sure what to do. Ulari looked up to her a few times, but hid the painting from her.

"Having fun, Snips?" Anakin teased his Padawan. She rolled her eyes.

"I'm really looking forward to the finished product," Ahsoka replied. Ulari grabbed her arm when she attempted to move.

"Stay," Ulari instructed. "I'm nearly finished."

Ahsoka smiled at the nearly demanding tone Ulari used. Ulari dropped her brush into the pot and picked up her painting.

"Close your eyes," Ulari said with a smile. Ahsoka did and was tempted to peek. "Open your eyes!" Ahsoka was amazed at the talent Ulari possessed. The colours of the painting matched her montrals, lekku and skin tone almost perfectly. The shape of them was also almost perfect. Anakin peered over Ahsoka's shoulder to see.

"This is amazing, Ulari," Ahsoka praised and hugged the small girl.

"Cain! Padmé! Come look!" They came rushing out at the sound of Ulari's voice.

"What's up? Did you finish the painting?" Cain asked Ulari.

"Close your eyes!" Ulari said with excitement. Cain and Padmé smiled and did so. "Open!"

"Wow. We need to hang this up somewhere it's that amazing."
Padmé grabbed out some colourful magnets. "I thought you may need these," she told Cain and handed them to him. "They'll stick to the fridge."

"We'll put this on the fridge hey?" Cain offered to Ulari and opened the packet of magnets. Ulari nodded and ran over to the fridge. Cain stuck a magnet at the top, being careful not to cover any of the painting. "Looks good."

"Thanks Cain," Ulari said. Cain looked at her quizzically. "I know you aren't a replacement for my dads, but you're a good dad."

Cain felt a huge grin spread across his face, along with his face heating up in embarrassment. He attempted to hide it, but it didn't work. "Thanks, Ulari."