Pulling
of his shoes, Obi-Wan smiled warmly at Dolan. “I brought a few
volunteers with me to help with the babies and younger creche
members, I
know there’s always some shorthand when it comes to feeding time.”
He said warmly as the troopers followed suit and removed their boots.

It was a good thing they had one
civvies outfit because Obi-Wan was rather certain that they couldn’t
cuddle babies in armor.

Dolan chuckled, bowing to
Obi-Wan and the group with the troopers quickly bowing a bit
awkwardly in return as they weren’t used to it. “Indeed but
considering we just had a few arrivals, they are well welcome.” The
long haired man with kind brown eyes stated.

“New arrivals?” Obi-Wan
questioned in interest as he, Cody, Boil, Waxer, Wooley, Chopper and
Longshot followed quickly behind the creche master. “Oh
and by the way this is Cody, Boil, Waxer, Wooley, Chopper and
Longshot.” He quickly introduced his men-

Dolan sent each of them a warm
smile. “Indeed,
Master Plo and the Wolfpack intercepted a slavery
smuggling ring
wandering
around as ‘Jedi’, taking
Force sensitive children to sell,” The man gave a tight grimace.
“Some of them are unfortunately rather traumatized by the treatment
they were put under but we are trying our best to help them.” He
lifted the rail guard for the youngest members, ushering his
volunteers into the rooms that were reserved for only the youngest
that could not fend and wander for themselves.

There were a few muffled curses
in mando’a behind Obi-Wan and he could understand that.

There were always someone taking
advantage of in a time of vulnerability.

“So um, master Dolan,
we’ve never really been around babies…” Cody started, frowning
in worry as he glanced around. “I mean we look out for our young
vode but all of them are usually in the range of what is a human five
year old when we meet them.”

Obi-Wan’s heart throbbed at
that, wondering not for the first time just how bad everything was.
How compromised their ethics and morality had become…

It was a harsh blow to realize
and know what they were doing.

“Ah don’t worry about that,
we can show you what to do,” Dolan chuckled warmly, moving over to
one of the cribs. “Pay attention.” He reached down to show them
how to pick up a baby, the young togruta in a soft green onesie
gurgling at them all while grabbing at her caretakers tunic, a
guileless smile crossing her face as tiny lekkus twitched.

Each of them watched in
fascination and awe before Waxer eagerly moved to another crib and
carefully picked up a small bothan.

“Ah! A natural,” Dolan’s
words got a giant beam out of Waxer. “Now, everyone pick up a child
and check if their diapers need changing.
We shall feed them
afterward.”

Spreading out, each trooper
picked up a young baby, some sporting more obviously nervous
expression than others.

Obi-Wan, used to the creche as
Qui-Gon often took him to it for the little ones, easily picked up a
soft little human that he cuddled to his body, smiling at the dark
curls that covered the yawning babies head. ‘I’m going to have
one of these in a few months, a he or a she with maybe Cody’s dark
hair and golden eyes… they’d be so pretty with his eyes and
skin.’ He snuggled the baby then chuckled while wrinkling his nose.

This one certainly needed a new
diaper, he could smell that.

()()()

Tapping his comm, Anakin frowned
at the window of the bridge.

Around him his troopers milled
about, Rex barking out commands to ensure they were on the right path
since the Jedi was distracted.

But Anakin was thinking.

Ahsoka had called him.

Obi-Wan had apparently gone to
the creche, something that wasn’t all that uncommon before the war
broke out though Anakin knew he did not go as often after. He always
suspected that Obi-Wan found peace among the babies because he knew
exactly what the babies wanted from him, food, love, something clean
and warmth.

But his former master had also
brought with him his own troopers.

Several of them.

‘One of them is the dad… but
maybe Obi-Wan doesn’t know which one? Has he been spreading his
legs for his men?’ He bit his lower lip.

That was a cruel thought really,
Obi-Wan wasn’t…

But maybe he had?

Or had someone taken advantage?

Maybe Obi-Wan had during a
drunken revelry?

Or the troopers?

But Obi-Wan promised that
nothing bad was connected to the baby’s conception.

‘Maybe he and they just had
some fun together… and now he doesn’t know?’

Frowning deeply, Anakin decided
he would need to speak to Obi-Wan next time he saw him and this time
he would get answers without Obi-Wan sidestepping and distracting.