Note: In this story, the Tusken Raider attack occurred earlier than in canon.
Another Note: The title of this story will change eventually.
2.
Anakin was surprised when he discovered the settlement was Mos Espa, the same settlement on Tatooine in which he had spent nine years of his life as a slave. "This is Mos Espa. We aren't likely to find a transport here. The only place that has a spaceport is Mos Eisley. There are a few speeder dealers here though but most of them charge ridiculously high prices," he said to his master.
"Yes, I remember how expensive the replacement hyperdrive Qui-Gon bought when we first came here was," Obi-Wan said. "We wouldn't have been able to get it had it not been for you."
Anakin grinned at the memory of the Bonta Eve Podrace he won. "Can we find Watto so I can ask about my mother?"
Obi-Wan nodded.
The two tired Jedi made their way toward the dealership that Anakin worked in for the first nine years of his life. Anakin spotted Watto with his blue wings fluttering behind him speaking with a Dug. The Dug said something in Huttese in response to Watto's words before he walked off.
Watto turned his attention to Anakin and Obi-Wan as the two of them came to a stop in front of them. "Hello Watto," Anakin greeted the Toydarian in Huttese.
"Do I know you?" Watto asked in the same language.
"It's been ten years. I'm looking for Shmi Skywalker."
Watto blinked. "Ani, little Ani? It is you! You sure have sprouted and a Jedi at that," he said switching to Basic. "Listen, I have a couple of dead beats. Owe me a lot of money."
"My mother," Anakin said also switching back to Basic.
"Oh right. Shmi. I sold her."
"You sold her?"
"Years ago. To someone named Lars. Least I think it was Lars. I hear he freed her and married her," Watto said sounding as if the news was still a surprise to him.
"Where is she?" Anakin asked.
"Oh a long ways from here. All the way on the other side of Mos Eisley I think," Watto replied.
"I would like to know where she is."
"Ah sure, I'll show you." Watto turned around before flying into the shop and Anakin followed him in with Obi-Wan, whose eyes were narrowed, just behind him. Anakin winced; he was positive his master had heard the faint threatening note in his tone of voice when he asked Watto to tell him where his mother was.
"Anakin, I am sure he would have cooperated. You did not have to threaten him," Obi-Wan said further proving Anakin's suspicions.
"Watto's stubborn, Master," was all Anakin said in reply.
After they got the coordinates for the location of the Lars homestead, Anakin and Obi-Wan made their way to the nearest speeder dealership and borrowed a speeder they would take to the Lars homestead. Anakin just shook his head at the mind trick Obi-Wan had used on the human from whom they borrowed the speeder.
"And you say not to use the mind trick for your own gain, master," he said.
"It was not for my own gain, Anakin," Obi-Wan said. "We needed a speeder to get to Mos Eisley anyway to return to Coruscant." He guided the speeder over the sand in the direction of the coordinates Watto had given Anakin.
They reached the homestead sometime after they passed Anchorhead. During that time, Anakin's arm had healed enough to where he no longer needed the sling and his and Obi-Wan's other major injuries were no longer an issue.
As Anakin climbed out of the speeder and walked toward the hut with Obi-Wan at his side, he spotted a very familiar protocol droid talking to a vaporator nearby. The droid glanced up. "Hello, how may I help you? I am See…"
"Threepio?" Anakin said brow furrowing in surprise.
"Oh the Maker, Master Ani, it's good to see you again," See Threepio said surprise in his voice.
Obi-Wan glanced at Anakin with a raised eyebrow.
"Long story, Master," Anakin said glancing briefly at his master before looking at Threepio. "I came to see my mother."
"Of course, of course. Mistress Shmi will be very delighted to see you, Master Anakin. Come, follow me." Threepio turned around before walking toward the hut and Anakin and Obi-Wan walked after the golden protocol droid. The droid led them into the hut before calling out, "Mistress Shmi! Mistress Shmi!"
"She went out," a young man about as young as Anakin with auburn hair said walking over to join them.
"Oh," Threepio sounded disappointed. "But I bring a very important guest."
"I am Anakin Skywalker," Anakin introduced himself.
The auburn haired man examined him. "Owen Lars," he said before he inclined his head to the blonde woman who stood at his side as he shook Anakin's hand. "This is my girlfriend Beru."
"Hello," the woman, Beru, said.
"Master Cliegg, are you here?" Threepio called.
A gray-brown haired man walked over to join them. "Who might you be?" he said glancing at Anakin.
"This is Master Anakin Skywalker," Threepio said before Anakin could reply.
Anakin resisted the urge to roll his eyes at the golden protocol droid's words.
"I am Cliegg Lars, Shmi is my wife," Cliegg said stretching out a hand and Anakin took it before shaking it in greeting. "Why don't we take a seat and rest for a bit? Shmi should be back soon."
Anakin and Obi-Wan sat down at the table in the kitchen area of the homestead while Beru went to get some drinks and Anakin asked how Cliegg met his mother.
"I was in Mos Espa one time," Cliegg explained. "I was actually speaking to Watto when Shmi came out. I suppose I fell in love at first sight and asked if she was for sale, since I knew she was a slave."
Anakin bristled at the word. Obi-Wan glanced at him before sending a reassuring nudge through the Force.
"Watto was reluctant. He kept saying that since he lost his best slave five years earlier, he didn't want to give up his second best one. I assume he was referring to you since Shmi said the two of you were his only recent slaves. Anyway, I offered him a price he couldn't refuse and he, reluctantly, agreed. However, after Shmi was released to me, I freed her and asked her to marry me. She agreed."
Anakin was glad; he had wanted his mother to be free and now she was. "Thank you," he said, "for freeing my mother."
"I do not approve of slavery," Cliegg said.
"Dear, are you in here?" A very familiar female voice sounded and Anakin glanced up sharply at the sound of his mother's voice.
"Yes, Shmi," Cliegg called back. "I've got a surprise for you."
Shmi Skywalker, looking a bit older than when Anakin had last seen her, walked into the kitchen before coming to a dead stop when she caught sight of Anakin, her brown eyes going wide with shock. "Ani?" she whispered.
"Mom," Anakin replied feeling tears well up in his eyes before he got to his feet and walked over to stand in front of his mother torn between hugging her and just looking at her.
"Oh my Ani," Shmi said hugging Anakin. "You sure have grown up since I last saw you."
Anakin hugged his mother back feeling a few tears slide down his face. "I've missed you so much, mom."
"I've missed you too." Shmi stepped back before gazing at her son with tears shining in her eyes. "You've grown so handsome and a Jedi just like Qui-Gon promised."
"Well, I'm still technically an apprentice," Anakin admitted. He turned his gaze to Obi-Wan. "Mom, this is Obi-Wan Kenobi, my Jedi Master. Obi-Wan, this is my mother, Shmi Skywalker."
Obi-Wan walked to Anakin's side. "It is very nice to meet you, Mrs. Skywalker," he greeted her politely.
"Call me Shmi," Shmi replied. "I'm glad Qui-Gon kept his promise to train you to be a Jedi, son, but I thought he was the one that was going to train you. I don't really understand the Jedi though so maybe I'm mistaken."
"No you're not mom," Anakin said. "Master Qui-Gon was supposed to train me but...he died. Master Obi-Wan was his apprentice but he became a knight and took me on as his apprentice after he became one."
"Oh." Shmi turned his gaze to Obi-Wan. "I am very sorry for your loss."
"Thank you," Obi-Wan replied though there was a brief gleam of sadness in his eyes that disappeared almost as swiftly as it appeared.
"Come, why don't we eat dinner and talk? We've got ten years to catch up on," Shmi said smiling. "I know you can't stay forever though, Ani."
"We need to get back to Coruscant soon," Obi-Wan said. "I gave Anakin permission to come and see you, Shmi, but I'm afraid we can't stay too long."
"Can you at least stay for dinner?"
Anakin glanced at his master pleadingly.
"It would be unwise to travel to Mos Eisley in the dark," Obi-Wan decided. "If you would not mind us staying here for the night then we can leave in the morning."
"I don't mind. What do you say, dear?" Shmi turned to gaze at Cliegg.
"He's your son, Shmi," Cliegg said. "I, for one, don't mind."
Shmi looked grateful.
Obi-Wan could see the happiness that was shining on Anakin's face as he spoke with his mother for the first time since they parted ten years earlier. He spoke to her about his life as a Jedi just as she talked to him about everything that happened after he was freed. "Cliegg and I fell in love at first sight," Shmi said.
"So Cliegg said," replied Anakin. "I'm glad you two are happy together."
Shmi smiled. "I'm glad to see you're happy as well," she said. "Do you like being a Jedi?"
Anakin smiled. "It's harder than I thought it would be," he admitted, "but I like being a Jedi. Master Obi-Wan is a wonderful master even if his lectures can be a bit irritating."
"I can hear you, Anakin," Obi-Wan said dryly.
"I know. That's why I said it."
"Will you ever change?"
"Probably not."
Obi-Wan rolled his eyes skyward. "It's not my fault you keep doing something that warrants a lecture," he said.
"Hey, when I did something that warranted a lecture in your eyes, I ended saving your life…six times now actually."
Obi-Wan raised his eyebrows. "Six? I believe it has only been five times."
"Sure it has, master."
Shmi was watching the two of them curiously. "Ani," she said, "why are you arguing with your master?"
Anakin let a lopsided grin cross his face. "Because I can," he said.
"Real mature, Anakin," Obi-Wan said.
Anakin laughed. "No, it's because…well…Obi-Wan's become like a brother to me in the last ten years. We've been through so much together. I suppose I see him like the father I never had."
Shmi smiled. "I'm glad you're happy, Ani," she said. She stood before adding, "Now I think you should get some sleep."
Anakin nodded before getting to his feet. "I am getting tired."
"Have you been getting enough sleep?"
Anakin shook his head. "No, not really but I know I'll sleep soundly knowing you're all right, mom." He made his way out of the kitchen area toward the room Cliegg had given him and Obi-Wan to share.
Obi-Wan stood up before inclining his head to Shmi. "Thank you for letting us stay here tonight, Shmi."
"You are welcome," Shmi said.
Obi-Wan walked out of the kitchen area before stepping into the room he would share would Anakin for the night to find his apprentice sitting on the cot that rested next to the wall. "Anakin?" he said sitting on the other cot.
"Yes master?"
"Are you all right?"
Anakin nodded slowly. "I'm just happy to see my mom again," he said. "Like you said, I know I'll probably never see her again but I'm glad I was able to see her one more time like she said. I'm still afraid for her though."
"You still think your dream will come true?"
"Tusken Raiders were in the dream, Master. I know them well enough to know they cannot be underestimated. Tusken Raiders kidnapped my mother, Master. They can grab her at any time she isn't within the perimeter of this place."
"Perhaps if you warned her about the threat then she will be prepared should they try to attack; she could even ask Owen or Cliegg to go with her if she ever leaves. That's the best that you can do, Anakin, but you must understand that you cannot save everyone."
Anakin bristled. "She's my mother, master. I will make sure she does not die," he declared firmly.
"Anakin," Obi-Wan said softly, "I know you don't want your mother to die but you must understand that death is the only thing that is certain in life. Everyone will die eventually. No one is immortal no matter how many people believe they are. I understand you want to keep your mother alive for as long as possible but Fate may have other plans, plans that even the Force cannot stop."
"I can't let her die, Master," Anakin protested.
Obi-Wan sighed; his apprentice was too stubborn for his own good. "Anakin," he said finally, "I know you love your mother very much but you need to know that there isn't much you can do. She's an adult; she knows how to take care of herself."
Anakin opened his mouth to protest but apparently seemed to be thinking about Obi-Wan's words. "I don't know if it'll be enough and I wish there was something else I could do."
"Trust in the Force, Anakin. Feel it. What are you feeling is the right course of action?"
Anakin was silent for a long moment. "I feel…that I should go ahead with your suggestion."
Obi-Wan nodded in agreement. "Now get some sleep, Anakin," he said gently. "You look like you could use the rest."
Anakin yawned before nodding and lying down on the cot. It wasn't long before the young Padawan fell asleep. Obi-Wan smiled gently at his Padawan's sleeping body. "You still have much to learn, Padawan," he said softly before he also lied down and closed his eyes before drifting off to sleep.
Shmi gazed at the twin suns as they rose up beyond the horizon before she sighed and glanced at her husband and Obi-Wan. "Where's Ani?" she asked.
"Still sleeping," replied Obi-Wan. "He hasn't been getting much sleep recently so I decided to let him sleep in."
"He did look pretty tired," Shmi said softly. "I'm glad he's getting some well-needed rest." She brushed her hands clean on her apron before pulling it off and draping it over the back of the chair. "I think I'm going to go out and pick some mushrooms."
"I have to go meet up with some of my friends. We're heading out to Anchorhead," Cliegg said before he glanced at Owen. "Do you want to come with?"
"All right, father," said Owen getting to his feet and the two of them walked out of the homestead.
Shmi walked toward the door and Obi-Wan stood up. "Would you mind if I accompanied you?" he asked.
Shmi glanced at him. "I will be fine on my own, Obi-Wan," she said.
"I insist." The way Obi-Wan said those words made Shmi wonder if the Jedi Knight had another reason as to why he wished to accompany her. When she voiced her thoughts out loud to the Jedi, Obi-Wan fell silent.
"Anakin's worried about you," was all he said.
Why is Ani worried about me? Shmi thought as she nodded to the Jedi Knight. "All right, you can come," she said before she and Obi-Wan walked out of the homestead. They walked across the sandy landscape and Shmi found herself concentrated on finding mushrooms. Obi-Wan walked silently and his eyes were guarded as he scanned the horizon.
Shmi finished picking the mushrooms before glancing at Obi-Wan who was watching the horizon with narrowed eyes. "Are you all right, Obi-Wan?" she asked breaking Obi-Wan out of his thoughts.
"Something's not right," Obi-Wan murmured eyes narrowed as he gazed at the landscape, his hand resting on the hilt of his lightsaber, which hung on his belt.
A loud guttural yell sounded and Shmi glanced up sharply. "Tusken Raiders," she gasped.
Obi-Wan's lightsaber was in his hand but unlit as he quickly scanned the landscape looking for the Tusken Raiders. "Let's move, Shmi," he murmured. "Walk behind me, keep your back to me and let me know if they're coming up behind us. Walk slowly and keep a lookout."
Shmi nodded slowly before moving to stand behind Obi-Wan with her back to him. The two of them began moving backwards slowly toward the Lars homestead. The Tusken Raiders attacked and Shmi found herself and Obi-Wan surrounded by the Raiders as they attacked. Obi-Wan was quick to protect Shmi, however, and his lightsaber blazed to life. He sliced through the Tusken Raiders' weapons before pointing a palm toward the Tusken Raiders behind Shmi and the Raiders were sent flying backwards and to the side, clearing a path.
"Go, run!" Obi-Wan shouted.
Shmi ran past the unconscious Tusken Raiders toward the Lars Hoomestead. Obi-Wan ran after her, lightsaber slicing through the weapons of a Tusken Raiders as he ran past them. They moved rapidly with the Tusken Raiders, yowling in fury, chased after them in a single file line. A blaster bolt nearly caught Shmi but she managed to duck behind Obi-Wan, who blocked the bolt, in time.
However, the Raiders had the advantage of numbers and one of the blaster bolts got past Obi-Wan's defenses, slamming into his shoulder and nearly knocking him down. Shmi saw the Jedi Knight stagger back but he still kept fighting to block the blaster bolts. Shmi wished she could help him but she didn't have a weapon with her and it wasn't likely she would be able to handle one if she did have one.
Obi-Wan stopped for a moment and Shmi watched as the Tusken Raider that were closest to him were suddenly sent flying backwards straight into the Raiders who were walking directly behind them. As they always walked in a single line, that one Tusken Raider knocked the Raiders behind them down, one at a time.
"That'll buy us some time," Obi-Wan said. His voice was devoid of the pain Shmi was positive he was feeling but his eyes betrayed him. Shmi has always been very good at reading someone by looking into their eyes, it was how she knew she could trust Qui-Gon even though she never told him that.
The two of them moved quickly until they were coming to a stop near the vaporators near the homestead. Shmi stopped gasping and struggling to catch her breath. "We'll be all right now," she said once she got her breath back. "Tusken Raiders hardly ever come this close to a homestead so we should be fine."
Obi-Wan nodded too breathless to speak. It only lasted for a moment before he straightened up and glanced at her. "Are you all right?" he asked.
Shmi nodded. "You're injured though," she said. "Come, let's get you inside and I'll do what I can for it."
Obi-Wan nodded before the two of them walked into the homestead.
"Master!" Anakin gasped when he saw the wound in Obi-Wan's shoulder that his mother was currently cleaning using the water Beru had given her. "What happened?"
Obi-Wan winced as Shmi's fingers probed the wound as she bandaged it. "I went with Shmi when she left this morning while you were sleeping," he explained. "We got attacked by Tusken Raiders. I managed to distract them long enough for us to get away but one of their blaster bolts caught my shoulder."
Anakin felt a flash of anger at the Tusken Raiders but the gratitude he felt for his master easily overrode it. "Will he be all right, mom?" he asked turning his gaze to Shmi.
"He'll be fine but it'll take time for it to heal, especially with the limited amount of medical supplies we have," said Shmi.
"It'll heal faster once I get it seen to by the Jedi Healers back at the Temple," Obi-Wan assured Shmi. "Thank you, Shmi."
"No, thank you, Obi-Wan. You saved my life today," Shmi said. She put the bowl of water back on the counter before glancing at Anakin. "You're going to be leaving soon, aren't you?"
Anakin nodded slowly feeling reluctant to leave, especially so soon after the attack he was sure was the one he had seen in his dream but slightly different. Obi-Wan must have sensed his hesitation for he gazed at Shmi. "To give Anakin peace of mind, Shmi, would you mind if someone went with you whenever you leave the homestead? Like Owen or Cliegg? He will likely be less worried about you if he knows you have someone to protect you should something happen."
Anakin tossed his master a grateful look.
Shmi was silent for a long moment. "I think that'd be best," she said before she gently drew Anakin into a hug. Anakin wrapped his arms around his mother before holding her for a long moment. "I guess this is goodbye, Ani."
Anakin swallowed suddenly very reluctant to leave his mother behind. He didn't want to give his life as a Jedi up but he also was reluctant to leave his mother behind. He closed his eyes before stretching out with the Force, slowly letting it guide him to the right solution. The answer came to him and Anakin sighed as he realized he had to leave his mother behind. He would miss her because he would never see her again but he would never forget.
Never.
"Yes, it is. Goodbye mom. I love you," Anakin said softly not afraid to reveal the love he had for his mother.
"I love you too, Ani," Shmi replied before she released Anakin.
"I'll miss you," Anakin whispered feeling his throat clog up with emotion.
"Ani," Shmi said gently, "I know you will but your path is much different from mine. You must follow your own path just as I must follow mine. I will never forget you, Ani."
"I'll never forget you either, mom."
"Now go, son, and don't look back."
Anakin remembered those were the words his mother had told him ten years earlier. He hugged his mother one last time before closing his eyes as he felt tears well up in them. He wiped away the traitorous tears that leaked out from behind his eyelids and felt Obi-Wan's hand on his shoulder.
"Come, Anakin, we must get going," Obi-Wan said. His voice was calm but also gentle as if he understood the kind of sorrow Anakin was feeling.
"I'm ready, Master," Anakin said turning around and walking out of the house with his master at his side. He closed his eyes briefly as he recalled his mother's last words to him and he did as his mother told him.
He did not look back.
A/n what do you think?
Blaze: and that was chapter 3
Anakin: I'm gonna miss my mom
Palpypie: oh boohoo!
Anakin: (scowls, stabs Palpypie with stick and stalks off)
Luke: (kicks Palpypie in the gut and joins his father)
Mace: (drives over Palpypie in Mustang) when did you get here?
Luke: just now
Mace: oh
Obi-Wan: (glances at Palpypie who's still conscious and hits him on the head with a sledgehammer) By the way, Anakin, where is your lightsaber?
Anakin: er…can we talk about this later?
Obi-Wan: without your light…
Anakin: LECTURE! (Takes off in random speeder that appears out of nowhere)
Luke: (steals Obi-Wan's speeder and flies away rapidly)
Mace: (drives away quickly in Mustang)
Obi-Wan: that was uncalled for!
Blaze: (laughs) please review and I will post chapter 3 as soon as I possibly can and I would greatly appreciate it if I can get over ten reviews before I post the next chapter and thank you to the four reviewers who reviewed the first chapter. You guys are the best.
