Cody learns to love

The one chapter where things seem a little brighter until they don't

  In the next few days, things calmed down a little.

  Wolffe started sleeping at home again but he spent most of the afternoons away. He was also avoiding any kind of family gatherings, such as breakfasts or dinners, opting to stay in his room. He brought Tanya over often but the two of them always closed themselves in Wolffe's room so Cody had no idea what they were doing. He should probably start being suspicious but he didn't really think Wolffe and Tanya were anything more than friends and even if they were, they were, it was their business.

  Fox still wasn't ready to return home but he came in the afternoons, just for a few hours and the dinner. The kids were thrilled to have him back and he was even slowly starting to bond with Emerie. Their relationship still wasn't good but they were making progress. Cody was keeping an eye on it from afar and it looked great. If they continued this way, they were going to be on good terms soon.

  Cody was also working on bonding with Emerie. He liked her and he had a feeling that she liked him too but their bond was obviously not as strong as the one Cody had with the rest of their siblings. He didn't know Emerie the way he did the others, having raised them since they were babies, and Emerie didn't trust him the way the other kids did. Cody was slowly gaining her trust, though. It was surprisingly touching when Emerie confessed to him that she had headaches. It might seem like a small thing but Cody could see how much trust it took her to entrust him with this. He wouldn't be surprised if headaches were against Nala Se's twisted regulations or something like that.

  Emerie's mind healer seemed to agree that bonding was important because she asked Cody to come with Emerie to the next appointment and that she was going to help them bond. Cody didn't really know what to expect but Emerie seemed excited about it.

  Cody also talked to Fox's mind healer and he found out he hated the man. Palpatine started with simply telling him that Fox was autistic. Then he explained why Cody was a bad caretaker in about fifty different ways with a smile on his face. He also informed Cody that Fox's 'seizures' were actually called episodes. Then he called Cody dumb a few times and threw him out of his office. The only reason Cody was willing to tolerate the man was because it was the only mind healer that Fox talked to.

  And because he could hardly tell Fox his honest opinion on doctor Sheev Palpatine, he complained to Obi-Wan instead. Yes, Cody found time to go for a quick coffee with the man. And he spent a part of that time complaining about doctor Palpatine.

  Obi-Wan seemed pretty surprised when Cody told him just what Palpatine told him. Apparently, Obi-Wan's own brother, Anakin, also went to mind healer Palpatine and he seemed content with the therapy so far. Obi-Wan didn't forget to add that while working in the same building, he never really talked to Palpatine, though. 

  Talking with Obi-Wan was easy. The other man asked about things that Cody could talk about or did the talking himself. Ideal, really. Cody would probably be silent for the entire time had Obi-Wan not asked about his work, his siblings, his favorite brand of coffee...

  "Cody, if you don't mind me asking... what was the last time you had a day off?"

  Now that was a weird question. Cody's work hours were pretty good, actually. He got all the weekends off. He told Obi-Wan as much.

  "Oh, I didn't mean it like that. I meant what was the last time you had a day for yourself. Without work, without children... Just doing the things that you want, not the things that you have to do."

  Okay, that was a good question. Cody didn't know. He didn't think he ever allowed himself to leave his siblings for an entire day. And if he ever had, he probably spent the day doing things around the house. "I don't think I ever did that," Cody admitted.

  "Never?" Obi-Wan looked like he couldn't quite believe it.

  Cody shook his head.

  "Well, maybe you should. I can see you are tired."

  "Is it that obvious?"

  His companion chuckled. "To anyone with eyes, yes. I really think you should take a break from everything, just rest, make time for some of your neglected hobbies, get some good sleep..."

  "I will take a break once the last of the kids turns eighteen. Not a minute sooner."

  "You don't have to watch them for every single day of their life, Cody. You can let someone else do the work for you for a day or two."

  "Who would be willing to put up with this shit? Definitely no one in their right mind."

  "Some of your siblings are adults already. They can take care of the younger ones and do some chores. Or you could even hire a babysitter. Ahsoka is quite fond of your twins. And Rex, of course, but I guess Rex isn't the one you worry about. I could also be persuaded to babysit."

  "You don't know what of a terror they can be."

  "I'm a teacher, Cody. I know how to deal with children."

  "I can't just leave you with all the eight kids that are incapable of taking care of themselves and disappear to take a long nap!" Cody protested

  "You totally can," Obi-Wan assured him. "Or if you don't want to let someone else take care of everything, at least let others help. Let me help. I could come over tomorrow and bring dinner for everyone. I know it's not much but it would still save you some time."

  "No," Cody refused. There was no way he would let Obi-Wan cook dinner for all of his siblings. Picky siblings at that. Cody didn't know much about how to treat friends - or more than friends as his treacherous heart would add if he took too long to think about it - who weren't brothers but even he could piece together that making them cook wasn't it. "It's fine, this is- it's my problem, not yours."

  "I don't mind helping you out, Cody. That's what friends do."

  So they were friends. Cody didn't really know whether he was glad or disappointed. "As far as I know, friends don't enslave each other."

  Obi-Wan laughed at that. He thought Cody was joking. He didn't know it was a trap. That if he ever started taking care of things, he could never stop. Because there were always more things to do, more hungry kids with puppy eyes, more clothes to wash so the kids had something to wear, more bored children that wanted to play, more tricky homework that needed to be helped with... If one started caring for children, he could never stop. Cody would know. He had so many wonderful children, so many little lights that were slowly sucking the life out of him.

  "I'm serious, Obi-Wan. This isn't your problem."

  "It's not that big of a deal, Cody. It's just dinner." Obi-Wan waved it off. Why did Cody have to fall in love, uhh, he meant, befriend, someone so stubborn? "Besides, your little siblings are adorable as far as I know."

  "Yes, they are." And it's a fucking weapon, those wide, adorable eyes. 

  "It's a deal, then." Wait, what? "I will bring dinner tomorrow and see those little terrors for myself."

  Cody was sure about one thing. This was definitely not a good idea.