Disclaimer: I don't own star wars.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 1

Torture.

Pain.

Anger.

Hate.

Images of his mother, injured and laying on the floor, floated through his mind.

"No," he muttered, "No, mum, no!"

"Anakin," his mother whispered and although Anakin knew it wasn't directly pointed at him, he said: "I'm here, mum. Don't give up!"

But the image changed again and pain once more rushed through his body. Not his own pain. His mothers. She was dying.

"Mum!" Anakin screamed. "Mum, NO!"

With a jolt he sat right up in bed, breathing heavily. His mother, he had to save his mother! His feet touched the cold floor. Only then he came aware of his surroundings. He was on Naboo. Protecting Padmé from whatever may harm her. Padmé…

Anakin Skywalker looked at the other side of the bed and saw to his relief that she was still asleep. He hadn't woke her. He stood up, ignored the cold and walked outside. It was early in the morning, the sun was just rising above the mountaintops.

Outside Anakinclosed his eyes and tried to relax his body. He had had nightmares about his mother since he left her ten years ago, but they never had become so intense, so realistic. Anakin shuddered. He knew they weren't ordinary nightmares anymore. They were visions. Anakin tried to let his fear go in the Force, like his master Obi-Wan had taught him. It didn't work. Was she alright? Was this the future? The past? Was it happening now? He should be there, he should do something, he should…

"What's bothering you, Ani?"

Anakin spun around, hand reaching for his lightsaber. When touching only air he cursed and took a defending stance. With both his eyes and the Force he inspected his surroundings. He found nothing. It was utterly silent. Where was that guy? Who was he? It couldn't have been Padmé, the voice had been too low. Then why did it sound familiar?

"Who's there?" he asked. Obi-Wan maybe? No, he was tracking a bounty hunter down, he couldn't be on Naboo. And by the way, he wouldn't have asked if he was alright. Dreams pass in time…Anakin could almost hear his masters voice, telling him to ignore his nightmares. And: Your lightsaberis your life. Don't lose it again! His master was right in that though. Anakin cursed himself mentally all over again for not taking the weapon with him.

"Who are you?" he called again, when the man didn't answer. Strange. He couldn't feel anything trough the Force… Anger began to rise.

"Where are you?" he almost yelled.

"Calm yourself Anakin. Let go of your anger. I won't hurt you." The voice. So much like his master's, but yet different. Where had he heard it before?

"Show yourself!" He wouldn't be fooled. Anakinthought he heard a soft chuckle, before the man stepped in the light. Anakin's mouth fell open. This couldn't be. This just couldn't be. His mind screamed in denial. The Force however did not. Where he had just felt nothing, now a presence filled the Force. A presence Anakin hadn't felt in ten years. Before him, just as strong as he remembered, stood Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan's old master, who was killed by Darth Maul. Or so Anakin had thought.

A small smile touch Qui-Gon's lips.

"No, Ani, you're not hallucinating, although I am not alive. Not at the usual standards, that means." Only then Anakin saw that indeed blue glow surrounded the Jedi-master. He frowned. "How did you do that?" he asked in wonder. Qui-gon's smile widened.

"I learned this in those ten years I was one with the Force," Qui-gon answered. "Maybe I will tell you the details later. First I want to know where you were so upset about." Anakin looked to the ground, slightly embarrassed. "It was just a dream, Qui-gon sir." Old habitudes don't fade away quickly. "Nothing to worry about."

"No, it is not," Qiu-Gon said. His voice was calm and relaxed. Anakin couldn't help but relax too. The Jedi-master walked closer and put a hand on his shoulder. It was a strange feeling, both warm and cold. Actually Anakin almost expected the hand to go through him. The Jedi looked like a ghost. A nice one, though.

"Tell me where you dream was about, Ani." The voice didn't sound commanding in any way, but Anakin couldn't stop himself from telling the whole story. Not only the vision he had had tonight, but his earlier dreams also. When he was finished, Qui-Gon looked worried.

"Are you sure it was a vision?"

Anakin nodded.

"You want to go and safe her." It wasn't a question. Anakin closed his eyes and nodded again.

"But you do not know how to tell Padmé." Again a statement. Anakin looked up, surprised. Wasn't Qui-Gon going to stop him? He nodded for a third time.

"I suggest you ask her to come with you. So you won't be abandoning your mission and you can save Miss Skywalker."

Anakin couldn't help that a grin split his face. The Jedi-master didn't only didn't stop him, he also told him how to not abandon his mission! "Thanks!" he said, but suddenly he realized Qui-gon was gone. Anakin frowned and looked around. Where did he go? Had he imagined it all? No. He could still feel his faltering presence in the Force. Then why…?

"Anakin?" For a second time he spun around, caught off guard by a voice. This time he knew exactly who it was, though. Padmé.

"You're up early," she said, suspicion in her voice. Anakin closed his eyes for a brief moment. It was now or never.

"Padmé, there's something I have to tell you."

--

Anakin and Padmé walked on the hot sand of Tatooine. The suns were just rising, but the heat had already started to grow. One of the things Anakin hated about the planet. Damned heat. After telling Padmé about his dream and his mother, he had asked her to come with him. He hadn't told her about Qui-Gon. The Jedi would tell her if he found it necessary. And by the way, Anakin wasn't sure anymore if he had been there at all. Padmé had immediately agreed with going for his mother and they had left Naboo. After arriving on Tatooine they had sought out Watto and found him. The old shopkeeper had told Anakin he had sold his mother and that her new owner apparently had set her free and married her. And so Anakin found himself standing for his mothers new house. With a know in his stomach he drew a deep breath.

"It's gonna be okay," Padmé whispered. She gave him an encouraging look. Anakin walked down the stairs, which let to a small courtyard. A droid spotted them a came forward. He seemed quit familiar.

"Welcome, I am C-3PO, human-"

"3PO?" Anakin asked in surprise. He had build the droid when he was eight and left it with his mother. "Is that really you?"

"O my…" 3PO said. "It's the maker! Master Ani! And Miss Padmé. How wonderful!"

"3PO, is my mother here?" Anakin asked.

Despite the lack of movable parts in his face, C-3PO seemed to look sad.

"We'd better go inside, master Ani."

Anakin stood outside the farm. It had all come true. His nightmares. His vision. His mother had been captured by the sandpeople. After following C-3PO into the house he had met his half-brother and stepfather. They had told him about her. How she had disappeared a month ago. How they had tried to rescue her. And failed. There wasn't even the slightest possibility she was still alive. Or so they said. Anakin didn't believe it. Couldn't believe it. He would go after her. She had to be alive.

A soft sound behind him made him turn around. It wasn't Padmé, as he expected, but the blue ghost-presence of Qui-gon. His eyes stood sad. He surely knew about his mother. He walked closer and put his hands on Anakin's shoulder, like he had on Naboo.

"I have to go and find her," Anakin said hoarsely, looking up to the older Jedi. It was strange. Obi-wan had always been shorter than him. It was quite comforting actually. Qui-gon nodded. "I know," he said. "But promise me one thing, Ani." The Jedi let him go. He would promise him everything.

"Do not let in to your anger and hatred." Not hate the ones who had captured his mother? It would be hard, but he would try. Anakin nodded.

"I won't," he said soft. Qui-gon smiled. "I know you won't," he said.

Anakin turned around, ready to walk to his speeder.

"Oh, and Anakin?" Qui-gon called him back. "Remember what Yoda always says."

"Which one?"

"There is no try, there's only do or do not. Don't try to save your mother. Just do it."

Anakin grinned. "Yes, Master."

And with that he took off, ready to bring his mother back home.

--

The sandpeople's camp was easy to be found. Anakin had just followed his nose. The smell was awful and you could notice it a mile away from the camp. Well, camp wasn't exactly the right word. It was more a bunch of tents, with lack of structure thrown together. There were no guards, or any other form of defense. They probably thought they didn't need it, Anakin thought. Well, he didn't care. He just wondered how Lars had managed to lose thirty men and his leg to this guys. They had to be stronger than they looked. Although his mother had married Lars, he knew he would never see him as a father. No real one, anyway. The closest one who had been like a father to him was Obi-wan, and even he was more like a big brother. Maybe Qui-gon , Anakin mused. He more then liked the Jedi. That would make him and his master real brothers, because Qui-gon had been a father for Obi-wan, too. Anakin liked that thought. Focus. He put the thoughts back in his mind. He needed to save his mother first. He didn't knew what he would do if he lost her.

The camp was quite big, but it was utterly silent. Only a few dogs were fighting for a bone. With guidance of the Force Anakin sneaked inside. Finding his mother would turn out to be a little more difficult. But only a little. Anakin closed his eyes and reached out with the Force. He ignored the dark presence of the sandpeople, it made him feel sick, and concentrated on the light that presented his mum. There. It was weak, but definitely his mother. Anakin let out a short sigh of relief. She was alive! He sneaked trough the camp to the tent where his mother was in. Not bothering to use the door, he ignited his lightsaber and cut a hole in the tent-cloth and went inside. What he saw made him gasp for breath. His mother wasn't laying on the floor, like in his visions, but was clung to a wooden frame. Blood was covering her face and wrists. Anakin rushed to her side and cut the bonds with his lightsaber Tears welled up in his eyes.

"Mum," he whispered, "I'm here, mum!"

The eyelids of his mother fluttered.

"Ani?" her voice was hoarse. She spoke! A small smile set across Anakin's face.

"It's me, mum," he said, "I'm gonna rescue you!"

She rose her hand and gently stroke his cheek.

"Ani. Oh, my young boy has grown up," his mother muttered, "You're so handsome!"

"Come with me, mum," Anakin said. He tried to stand, but she grabbed his arm.

"Ani," she said, "I… love…" Her voice trembled. She was dying.

"Mum, come with me!" Anakin said again, more desperately. Tears were streaming across his face. As response his mother tightened her grip.

"I… love…" she said again. Whispered again.

"No, mum!" She wasn't dying. She couldn't be! Anakin thought. "Don't give up, mum, don't go!"

A shiver run through her body.

"I…"

"NO!"

Anakin reached to the Force. Let the power run through him, almost consuming on his way. He had never used so much. Not even thought of using an amount like this. Instead of seeing his mother, he felt her now, a weak but steady presence. He could see the Force swirling around them. He placed his hand on her head, let the Force float in her, around her, through her. He would heal her. Not try to, but do. He sent healing-waves until he almost collapsed and even more after that. He was the Force and the Force was him, willingly to do whatever he asked. It almost hurted.

And then it was over. The Force left him, empty and exhausted and he collapsed. With his last bit of strength he lifted his head and looked at his mother. She had her eyes closed and seemed to be asleep. Did it work? He reached out with his hand and placed it on her heart. Her body was warm, but that wasn't the only thing Anakin felt. Soft, but steady, he felt her heartbeat under his fingers. Dum-dum, dum-dum. It was the most beautiful thing he had ever felt. She was alive! He cried. Tears of joy were welling up from his eyes, and he could and did not bother to stop them. His visions had not been right. Always in motion the future is, he heard Master Yoda tell him. And as always the old green troll had been right. His joy giving him strength, he lifted his mother in his arms and left the sandpeople"s camp. No one had seen him. Anakin couldn't help but grin on that thought.

SWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSW

Jedi-Knight Obi-wan Kenobi had tried to figure out who was behind the attack on Padmé Amidala since he and his Padawan Anakin Skywalker had been assigned to the mission. After finding a clone-army on Kamino and tracking a bounty-hunter named Jango Fett and his "son" he finally found the answer. The bounty-hunter had lead him to a planet called Geonosis and so had Obi-Wan found the headquarters of the Separatists. After parking his ship he had sneaked in the building.

The sound of a large machine could be heard everywhere in the hallway Obi-Wan was in. No need to be silent, the Jedi walked further. The small hallway he was in emerged in a large cave. The noise was deafening, overwhelming any other sound. If someone came up here, Obi-Wan wouldn't hear him. But that someone wouldn't hear him either and he had the Force to rely on. A railing prevented you from falling into the depths of the cave. Obi-Wan walked slowly forward and looked down. He never had been in for heights, but what he saw did him gasp for breath. It wasn't just a machine. It was a factory. And it was making droids. Thousand battledroids, all made for one thing: war. The Separatist were preparing a war. Suddenly Obi-Wan was very glad to have found the clones on Kamino. He grimaced. War was the last thing he and the council had been hoping for. But maybe they could prevent it. Maybe.

He continued down the path, until he heard something else then the machines. Voices. He sneaked further in and hid in the dark. The voices were closing in. Obi-Wan recognized some of them: the leader of the Trade federation, Nute Gunray, Dooku of course, and further ones he had once heard. They walked pass him and Obi-Wan held his breath and masked his Force-presence. Dooku would be able to sense him, since he had been a Jedi himself. A good one. He had been Qui-Gon's master, that had to mean something.

Luckily that didn't happened and Obi-Wan could now clearly hear where they were talking about.

"I will not sign anything till she's dead," said a slightly panicked voice of Gunray.

"She will die, Viceroy," Dooku's calm voice answered. So it was Dooku, then, Obi-Wan thought. Mace and Yoda wouldn't like this. He had heard enough. He waited till the voices had died away, before he left his hiding, but walked away quickly, the noise of the machines hiding his footsteps.

SWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWsWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSWSW

When Anakin returned, Padmé stood outside, waiting for him. Her expression stood worried, but changed to relief when she saw them both alive. They quickly brought his mother inside and placed her in bed. When Lars saw see was still alive, he erupted in tears and hugged Anakin. Anakin couldn't help, but hug him back. An uncle. Maybe he would be able to see Lars as an uncle. His half-brother Owen gave him a big smile, the first one, and kissed Anakin's mother on her forehead. Beru was in tears, too, and hugged both him and Padmé. The two girls had become friend in the short time they had stayed here.

Anakin spent the rest of the day and night watching over his mother who still was in the healing-trance he had placed her. Padmé said he needed sleep, but he didn't listen. At last she left him alone, after bringing him some food. He gave her a small smile, but didn't took his eyes away from his mother. Somehow, however, he abruptly woke when someone placed a hand on his. He had fallen asleep? When? How? He opened his eyes and looked in his mothers face. She was awake. They looked in each others eyes for a long moment. Anakin could see happiness, love, pride. It made him glow. How he had missed her! He smiled.

"Good morning, mum," he said softly after a while.

"Good morning, Ani," she said, just a soft.

Anakin hugged her. Her arms tightened around him and she pressed a kiss on his forehead.

"I missed you, mum," he muttered.

"I missed you too, my boy, I missed you, too."

It felt so warm, so save in his mothers arms. Everything would be alright now. Nothing could hurt them here. He was home again.

The door slowly opened and Anakin looked up. Padmé stood in the doorway, her lips curled up in the most beautiful smile he had ever seen.

"Time for some breakfast?" she asked.

They all gathered in the small room, eating and laughing. Anakin's mother wanted to know everything about what had happened to them after he left. He told about the first meeting with the council, how they first didn't want to train him. Told about the days he spent with Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, how first the young Jedi seemed a little bit cold, but if you knew him better he was a really nice guy. Told them about how they had left to Naboo to save the people. His mother said she had always known that Padmé was more than a handmaiden. Padmé's cheeks flushed by that. When he told about Qui-Gon's death, however, her eyes stood sad and Anakin thought he even saw tears. They were silent for a while, letting Anakin's mother accept the news. After a while she said: "How did Obi-Wan took it?" Even though she had never met Obi-Wan, she knew how it was to lose someone.

"Well…" Anakin started. He could still see the grief, the pain, the guilt in his master's eyes during Qui-Gon's funeral. "Like a Jedi, I think," he continued. "He still thinks it is his fault, though." Yoda had told him how it had happened. Obi-Wan never had. He couldn't. "It's a long time ago, so he has overcome it." Not completely true. Anakin had heard his master woke up from a nightmare more then once. Some dreams fade away, Obi-Wan had said when he told him about his nightmares. Anakin had added silently: and some don't. His master had nodded. And some don't, he had repeated softly, his eyes clouding over for a second. The pain was still there, buried, but coming to the surface once a time. Anakin wondered if Qui-Gon had already shown to Obi-Wan that he could come back. Probably not. He would ask the 'dead' Jedi when he saw him again.

They changed the subject and Anakin told them how he had become a Padawan. His mother was a little surprised that they had given Obi-Wan permission to train him. Anakin couldn't really answer that. Maybe he would ask Obi-Wan someday. Being trained at al was good enough for him, but if his mother wanted to know… He continued telling them about his missions, including how he and his master felt in a nest of Gungarks. He was just telling them how he had saved both of them, when C-3PO came in, followed by a bleeping R2-D2.

"I'm deeply sorry, masters. I couldn't stop him. You know how headstrong he can be, he things to much and… "

"It's alright, 3-PO," Anakin cut him off. He turned his attention to R2.

"What's wrong, R2?" he asked. What could upset the little droid like this?

R2 let out a series of bleeps. Anakin turned his gaze to 3-PO again.

"He says you got a message from a certain Obi-Wan Kenobi, sir. Do you know him? " But Anakin was already on his way, leaving Padmé to deal with the confused droid.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: Changed some mistakes 4-13-2009