Forever and For Always Chapter 4- A New Day
It wasn't until later that night, when all the women and Cliegg were sleeping soundly, that Owen and Anakin finally returned home, arms loaded with sacks full of gifts for the family.
"I think they're all asleep," Owen whispered, motioning to Anakin to remain quietly by the door until it was safe to sneak into the room. He surveyed the house, noticing Murash sleeping in the parlor on the airbed. It didn't take more than a second to realize that she most likely didn't come alone.
"Hey, I'm going to check on Beru, why don't you bring the stuff in my room and hide it in my floor compartment. Make sure you lock it up again; the girls like to snoop around." He said, making Anakin let out a chuckle. He crept silently to the spare room, holding in the urge to laugh when he heard the two girls giggling to themselves. Their voices quickly fell silent when they heard him begin to slide the door aside. Owen stepped into the room, deciding to go along with their little act.
It took all he could do to keep himself from laughing at the sight of Myjera's eye twitching- a sure sign she was awake. His eyes wandered from her to his girlfriend, her "sleeping" form making him fall all over again. He couldn't resist the urge to walk over to the bunk where she lay. He began to lay a gentle kiss in her lips. He was quite surprised to have the act of love returned.
He finally broke off after a minute, and released a breath he didn't realize he was holding. Beru opened her eyes and smiled at him.
"You're in big trouble if Dad catches you…"
"But you're quite worth it…"
"Owen, I think I heard Mr. Cliegg…" Myjera added. Owen, too heard the door at the other end of the house slide open, and took this as a cue to say goodnight. He gave Beru one last kiss, and said goodnight to the girls. He couldn't help but smile all the way back to Anakin's side.
Anakin was just climbing into the bottom bunk, exhausted from the long day. Owen's broad smile was contagious.
"I know that smile. That young lady in there has you wrapped around her finger."
Owen laughed. "She has since the day I met her."
"I figured it was only a matter of time until I would be sharing a room with you. Mom says Cliegg is strict on the 'no sharing a bed until you're married' rule."
"I'd wait forever for her. Hopefully forever isn't too far away…"
"She's the one for you, isn't she?"
"I have no doubt in my mind. Actually… I think I'm going to get that ring I showed you at Mawky's place. This season feels right to ask her."
Anakin smiled ear to ear. "I couldn't be happier for you two. I could sense the way you felt about her from the moment I walked into this home." Anakin's face grew sullen.
"You really loved her didn't you?" Owen asked, secretly grateful that he wasn't going through the same thing.
"I never stopped thinking about her. Jedi training and all, I never stopped caring for her. You would all like her so much. I wish she were here." Anakin felt the lump rise to his throat, and quickly moved to suppress it.
"You'll find the one you were meant to be with. Everything happens for a reason. She's probably closer than you would ever imagine." He paused to give Anakin a playful punch on the arm. "You'll love again, no one's meant to be alone. A man isn't whole without a woman."
"I'll agree with you there. I don't understand the Code's 'no-attachment' rule. I believe a mate could make a Jedi at least ten times stronger."
"I see your point. That's one of the reasons why you left, am I right?"
"One of them, yes."
Wanting to change the mood of the conversation, Owen decided to confide in his newfound brother.
"Do you think she'll say yes?"
Anakin laughed. "No doubt about it. She's crazy over you."
"Would you mind going with me to pick up the ring- you've been around more than me… You probably know more about jewelry than I do…"
"Haha, no problem," Anakin replied, suddenly lost in thought. "Do you think I should get something for Myjera?"
"She's as much a part of this family as Beru. She's an amazing person; we all love her dearly. She's been my little sister since we met."
Anakin smiled, "She always was." A small laugh escaped his lips as he recalled a long-suppressed memory.
"I remember when we were small. I was only about 7 or 8. I found Myjera crying in an old alleyway, and I asked her what was wrong. She said that she didn't want me to be a slave anymore."
Owen smiled. That was Myjera, all right.
Anakin continued. "Well we sat there and talked for hours on how to get my mom and I out of slavery." He paused to let out a happy laugh. "She finally came up with an idea. She said that she had read somewhere that if you marry a free person, you yourself become free. So she grabbed my hand and dragged me around town looking for someone who would perform the ceremony."
Owen couldn't help but laugh at the recount of past events.
"Oh! But that's not all," Anakin continued, "She found Jira and asked her if she would marry us so I could be free. Well the lady found the whole thing cute, I guess, and decided to play along. She dressed Myjera up in an old white dress and put a hat on my head and we got married."
Owen was hysterical. "Really, haha…"
"Yep…" Anakin chuckled. "We held hands and walked around all day like we were important. She was quite upset when Watto ignored my rights as a 'married man'."
Owen wiped the tears of laughter from his eyes as he looked over the side of the bunk at his new roommate. "She do anything for someone she cared about. There isn't a one in our family who doesn't owe her their lives. It's kinda scary actually, but she would never expect us to repay her." He looked at Anakin, who was listening intently. "She's pretty much responsible for leading Mom to Dad."
Anakin was shocked. "Then I really am indebted to her…" He was deeply moved.
"I can't wait for you to see her again." Owen smiled, as he realized exactly how tired he was.
"She may be the only true friend I have left. You all are the only ones that matter to me now." Anakin felt the wave of tiredness wash over himself, as well, and pulled the sheets up to his chin.
"We'll always be here. I doubt many of us have a reason to leave this place." He yawned. "I think I'll sack out now. We have all of tomorrow to chat like a bunch of girls."
Anakin laughed. "Alright. 'Night Owen."
" 'Night, Ani."
"Does either know the other one is here?" Shmi asked, partially whispering to Beru and Murash.
"Nope, they're both clueless." Owen responded from across the kitchen, a big smile adorning his face.
"Alright then, we'll proceed as planned!" Shmi said, almost too excitedly.
"Haha. The poor things don't know what they're in for with you behind the scenes." Cliegg chuckled, placing a gentle kiss on his wife's forehead.
"They're going to be so shocked…" Murash mused, happy to finally reunite the childhood friends.
"I have a distinctly special feeling about this…" Shmi smiled slyly, flashing a pearly grin at the others in the room.
"You always have been a complete romantic…" Beru smiled.
"Well it's inevitable! Can you see either of them paired up with anyone else but one another?" Shmi said, putting the final touches on the beautiful Saturday breakfast.
"She's got a point there," Beru agreed, as she squeezed the juice out of some fruits.
"Well then, what are we waiting for?" Murash laughed excitedly. "They've both slept for long enough anyways!"
Beru and Owen laughed, and took the cue to retrieve the sleeping family members. Cliegg tossed them each a blindfold, and winked at the couple. Beru couldn't help but laugh.
"Good luck!" Beru kissed Owen lightly on the lips, and then proceeded to her room.
"Haha, you too." He said as he watched her walk into the room opposite of his destination.
"Myjera… Wake up…" Beru lightly shook her best friend, and smiled broadly when she opened her vivid eyes.
"C'mon, get washed and dressed. We have a surprise for you!"
"A surprise?" Myjera raised an eyebrow.
"AAAAAAAAANAAKIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIN!!"
"OOF!" Anakin let out a groan as he felt a human frame land on top of him.
Owen fell on the floor laughing. "Haha…" he said between laughs, "Get up! Get dressed! Today is gonna change your life!"
Where'd the kid get the deathsticks…
"Geez, Owen! Calm the heck down! Let me get dressed…phew…" Wonder what in the seven pits got into him!
Anakin emerged form the fresher a few minutes later, only to be greeted by his stepbrother holding a blindfold in his hands.
"Oh for Force's Sake!"
"C'mon, be a sport…"
Anakin grumbled as he let the piece of opaque cloth be tied across his eyes.
"Okay, now just keep your mouth shut until I tell you."
"What did I do to deserve this?"
Owen laughed.
Shmi's eyes were brimming with tears as the two teenagers were placed facing one another. Beru nodded to Owen, as they both began to untie the blindfolds.
Anakin stood in shock as his eyes adjusted to the sight in front of him. He tried to catch his breath, but relief was slow to come. The young woman in front of him seemed to be facing the same problem.
She's so beautiful. She really has grown up. So tiny…Just like always.
His eyes wandered to the familiar writing on her arms and forehead, then searched her body, finally coming to rest on the only place that his deep blue eyes had ever needed to be.
He finally managed to choke out a phrase.
"Myjera?" He gasped.
Her eyes stared back at his, filled with shock and disbelief. They were colored a beautiful, soft, lavender, and the silver flecks sparkled as water brimmed her eyes.
"It can't be…" she whispered.
He's so tall! And…handsome. He's become a man! Surely it can't be little…
"Ani?"
His lips pulled into a beautiful smile as he nodded. He didn't even realize that his arms were open until she jumped into them.
"Oh my maker!" She choked out, allowing herself to be spun around as she let the tears fall. It was a quite a few minutes before her feet ever reached the floor.
"You came back!" she exclaimed, holding his face in front of hers. "You've finally come back!"
He smiled wider than he had in years, and refused to put her down in fear of waking up from this brilliant dream.
"Of course I came back. I belong here!" He laughed, as he felt her hot tears on his broad shoulder. "Shh, It's ok. I'm not leaving again… I'm not going anywhere."
He felt her cheeks form a smile. "You had better not."
Anakin let his head fall back in a laugh as he finally released his hold on her. He placed her gently on the floor, and allowed Myjera to compose herself. Only then did he notice that everyone was staring in awe at the two of them. Not a single eye was dry. Minutes passed before someone finally spoke up.
"I suppose we should eat breakfast while it's still warm…" Shmi smiled warmly.
"Oh yeah…"
"Definitely!"
"I'll pour the juice…"
"Can I help in any way?"
"Can you stand?"
"Not really, no…"
Laughter burst out from the group at the latter conversation between Myjera and Cliegg. Anakin took Myjera by the arm and helped her into a seat at the expanded table.
The breakfast lasted for hours, the whole time spent reminiscing on past events and catching up between members. Afterwards, Anakin followed Owen to the canyon to have target practice on some womprats, while Cliegg headed to the garage. The women chatted amongst themselves while cleaning up after breakfast. It was only noontime, but it felt as if the morning had lasted a week.
"So, Lily, what do you think of little Ani?" Murash asked, as the three women turned to face her. Myjera couldn't help the heat that rose to her cheeks.
"He's no very little anymore, now, is he?" She bit her lip. Beru gave her a stern 'I-know-you' look, placing her hands gently on her hips. Myjera knew she couldn't keep anything from her best friend.
"Okay… Okay…" She smiled. The two older women chuckled. "He's the most beautiful thing in the universe…"
The girls were hysterical, and continued to chat like a bunch of cackling hens.