Love In A Faraway Galaxy-AnakinxOC

Chapter 51-Astral

Dorme was gone. The only sign of her visit last evening, a trace of stale perfume in the air. Obi-Wan cradled her empty teacup in his palms. Her pregnancy was just beginning to show, a slight curve to her stomach.

He should have known better than to invite her over for after-dinner tea. Dorme was reserved, her brown eyes cold. Obi-Wan didn't blame her for raising her guard around him. He was the one who put the distance between them.

Obi-Wan could not afford distractions or for his emotions to get the better of him. The galaxy was at war, and he was a Jedi Master. From now on, he vowed to keep his distance from the Senator. For her own good and the...child's.

A decanter of whiskey had been upended on the sideboard. Goose lapped at a puddle of alcohol on the marble top and belched.

"Blast!" Obi-Wan hurried over just as the Flerken hopped down from the sideboard and landed in an ungainly heap on the rug.

Shaking her head, Goose weaved unsteadily on her paws and slumped on her belly, ears twitching. The Flerken was drunk!

Obi-Wan groaned in dismay at the empty decanter. All that expensive Corellian whiskey wasted. "You need to sleep it off." He placed Goose in his favorite armchair.

Stroking her back, he winced in sympathy. The Flerken mewed pitifully and closed her eyes. Poor thing. She'd have quite a hangover later.

Obi-Wan wiped up the mess and locked the surviving liquor away in the cabinet below out of Goose's reach.

His stomach rumbled as he made his way downstairs to the refectory.

A communal dining hall, Jedi came and went from the refectory at all hours. A few of the long tables were still occupied by younglings carefully watched by their creche masters from a distance. He smiled at the nearest group.

"Good morning, Master." A young besalisk called cheerfully, waving all four arms.

Obi-Wan stopped at the head of their table. "Good morning, I trust your studies have been going well?"

"We've been preparing for our quest to obtain our kyber crystals." A human girl said politely.

"An important milestone for every young Jedi." He ruffled the girl's blonde hair. "Mind if I join you lot for breakfast?"

Murmurs of assent went around the group. One child bounced excitedly in her seat, thrilled to have the attention of a Council Member.

"Master, what's that?"

Obi-Wan glanced at the front of his robes which were marred by a blaster burn. He grimaced. 'That's what I get for dressing in a hurry.' A ruined robe had somehow ended up in his closet. 'I really must send down my laundry if I'm down to rags. As a member of the council, I cannot go around dressed like a vagabond.'

He took the seat at the head of the table and pointed at the spot on his robe. "This is a burn from a blaster."

"Master, aren't we supposed to be tidy about our appearance?" The little girl asked innocently.

"Yeah, Master Vex always says we gotta wear clean clothes!" The besalisk gave Obi-Wan a betrayed look like he'd been lied to.

Obi-Wan held up his hands for silence. "Calm yourselves, younglings. I shall answer your questions. I have been busy. Take this as a lesson to always be mindful of one's duty, even so small a one as dressing well."

The younglings giggled, thrilled even a Master Jedi could still err. Smiling, he accepted their ribbing good-naturedly. It was good for them to learn that Jedi were not perfect beings. "No matter how wise we become, there is always more to learn."