I know, I know, it has been ages since I've updated. My bad. I've just been really focused on my other story. Hopefully to become a book. But check it out on fictionpress if you're interested. .com/~mseatsalot Shattered is what it's called. BUt anyway, I bet you guys want to read the next chapter so enjoy!

I got school in a few days so yah...but I'll try to update more often now.

Chapter Four

Both Qui-Gon and Watto snapped their attention towards Anakin and the woman. Dread and worry spread in Qui-Gon's chest, was this going to turn out like his mission with Xanatos? Would Anakin turn on him? Immediately, Qui-Gon banished those thoughts from his mind. Anakin was different. For a while, no one spoke, to Qui-Gon's surprise, it was Watto who spoke next. "Ani? Little Ani?" He turned his gaze on Anakin. "You two, you're…Jedi."

Qui-Gon nodded, "Yes, but please, we don't want anyone to know." He then turned towards the woman and smiled at her. "You're his mother."

"Yes, I'm Shmi Skywalker." She dazedly walked over to her son and placed a hand on his cheek.

Anakin, startled by the touch, glanced at his master uncertainly. /It's OK, Padawan. She missed you/

/Oh, OK/

"Oh, my son," She smiled with tears glistening in her eyes, "you're so handsome. I never ever thought that this day would come. I never thought that I would ever see you again. How I missed you so." She pulled him into a loving embrace which Anakin awkwardly returned.

He had never felt so much love before. He knew that Qui-Gon loved him like a son, but, this was different. Shmi's love pulsed around him, warming him, protecting him, and engulfing him. It was unconditional. "My life is complete," She whispered, "now that I have seen you."

Watto beat his wings and flew over to the two. "Get back to work, Shmi, I'll take these two Jedi to pick up their hyperdrive."

She nodded, but before she turned away, she hugged Anakin once more and kissed his cheek. "I love you my son, even if you don't know me. Know that I love you, oh so very much." She whispered and then pulled away.

Anakin dazedly followed his master and Watto. /Are you OK, Anakin?/

/Yah, it's just—this is a lot to take in…that's all. Master?/

/Yes?/

/Why does Watto act like he owns her?/

Qui-Gon paused before answering, /Because he does/

/What!? What do you mean?/

/She's a slave, Anakin/

Qui-Gon moved around the junk shop and then said, "This is the hyperdrive we need. We'll pay 30 republican credits for it."

"Haha, you're funny. We don't take credits, the republic has no power here. Why do you think we still have slaves?" Watto cackled.

"Credits will do." Qui-Gon murmured as he attempted to convince him to accept the credits.

"Haha, your Jedi mind tricks don't work on me. No money, no hyperdrive!"

Anakin groaned, "Would it be OK if we helped clean up your junk shop today and that would be our pay?"

"A week!" Watto smirked.

"Deal."

Qui-Gon shot his apprentice a glare before nodding to the agreement. /Please, Padawan, next time don't just shout out suggestions and make deals before you confirm them with me/

/Sorry, Master/

Qui-Gon turned to Watto, "I'll com my friends to let them know, and then we'll help you with the shop. One week."

"Yes, you two can stay with Shmi." Watto said. "Some bonding time for her and her son."

"OK, what do you need us to do?" Anakin asked.

"Fix those droids," Watto pointed towards a large pile of droids that piled higher than Qui-Gon.

"Fun…" Anakin sighed as he grabbed a screw driver.

Meanwhile, on the starship, Xanatos jogged towards Obi-Wan, "Hey, Obi-Wan, we have a slight problem."

"What."
"We're stuck here for another week, so could you do me the honor of telling the queen that?" Xanatos grinned. "Thanks, Padawan, you're the best. I'll be in the dining room if you need me."

Obi-Wan opened his mouth to protest, but his master had already darted out of the room, leaving his grumbling seventeen year old apprentice to trudge half heartedly to the Queen's chambers. Obi-Wan paused outside the queen's chambers. How could he approach her? She had been frustrated that they had landed on this dreaded planet to begin with. How would she react when she heard that she was going to be trapped here for another week or so, while her people were dying? They had received a hologram from one of the senators that were left behind on Theed. Of course, Xanatos had forbidden them from sending any transmissions and fortunately, they had agreed without much protest.

Hesitating for a little longer, Obi-Wan was about to knock when the handmaiden, Padme, approached him. "Obi-Wan?"

"Oh, hey, Padme." He spun from the door and faced her with a slight smile.

"What are you doing here?"

"Well…I was just going to let Queen Amidala know that we're going to be stuck here for a few weeks."

"What!?" Padme exclaimed. "In a few weeks my people could die!"

Surprised by her sudden outburst, Obi-Wan said nothing while Padme immediately cover her mouth with clasped hands. "Your people?" Obi-Wan quirked a brow in her direction with an amused smile.

"…Yah…" She said defiantly, "we are of the same people you know. We're the same. So they're my people!" She stuttered.

"Mm hm…you can drop the act, you know." Obi-Wan grinned. "I already suspected that you were the queen. So, Milady, I'll take it that you don't like the fact that we're going to be stuck here." He was surprising himself with the way he was speaking to 'The Queen' of Naboo.

"No, I don't, and please. This is a secret, don't tell anybody, it's for safety reasons." She pleaded and then added. "Not even your master."

Obi-Wan nodded, "If he doesn't ask…then I won't tell, but I won't lie to him."

"Fair enough," Padme agreed, "now, I think I could use some food, you?"

"Since I already informed the queen of our situation," He winked, "I think I could use some too."

"Good, escort me to the dining room?"

"My pleasure," He grinned before allowing her to slip her hand into the crook of his elbow.

The two entered the dining room laughing about some joke Padme had made. Obi-Wan could catch the half amused and half worried look Xanatos was giving him. "Let's sit with my master," Obi-Wan suggested.

"OK."

Approaching the young master, Obi-Wan greeted him before pulling a chair out for Padme. "Good afternoon, Master Du Crion." Padme smiled.

Xanatos grunted in reply before turning to Obi-Wan, "Did you inform the queen?"

"Sure did," Obi-Wan couldn't help but share an amused glance with Padme.

"OK then, I'll leave you two to enjoy your lunch, I think I'll go…check on the pilot." Xanatos said as he stood up. /Obi-Wan?/

/Yes, Master/

/Have fun, but do not let your feelings go too far/

/Yes, Master/ Obi-Wan replied while remembering the time he had let his feelings go too far. It had led to him and Siri falling for each other, and then calling it off with her before he was expelled from the order.

Even under a roof with shade, Anakin could not escape the sweltering heat of Tatooine. He'd finished fixing a pile of droids and now his master and him were working on the engine of a speeder. The sun was beginning to set and Anakin was searching around the small junk shop for his mother. "She left already, Anakin, to prepare dinner. You'll see her again tonight." Qui-Gon murmured reassuringly.

"Oh, OK." Anakin said. "Master?"

"Yah?"

"How can she be a slave? She doesn't deserve this life!" Anakin exclaimed. "She just doesn't!"

Smiling grimly at his apprentice's passion for justice, Qui-Gon replied, "No one deserves this life, Padawan, but sometimes you don't get to choose the life you lead. You cope with it and make the best of it."

"I know but…she shouldn't be a slave. That means…I'd have been a slave too had the jedi not found me."

"Anakin, we do not dwell on the 'what could have been'. We must focus on the now. The jedi found you, and Shmi had given you up willingly so that you could have a better life. She loved you, Padawan and she made the right choice. Be thankful for that."

"But…I just don't understand! It's not fair." Anakin growled.

Qui-Gon sighed as he attempted to reason with his hard headed apprentice. This was just as he had feared; this was why jedi never stayed in touch with their birth family. Some families suffered and the jedi would feel the need to get involved, to do anything in their family to help their family. Sometimes blood ties were just too strong. "Life isn't fair, Ani." Qui-Gon murmured. "It really isn't. But what can we do but make the best of it?"

"How is this making the best of it? She's a damned slave! No human should be owned!"

"No, they shouldn't. But what do you expect to do, Anakin? Think, for once. You can't do anything right now. She's content with her life now that she's seen you. Make the best of it for her, Ani, don't do anything brash. Yes, slavery is an evil thing, but it's a part of life. The republic has no influence here. The only way to end slavery is to kill the slave owners and we are not killers. We are jedi and we will not get involved with a government who has not asked for our involvement." Qui-Gon stared sternly at his apprentice. "Now come on, wipe off that frown of yours and let's head back for dinner. I'm sure she'll want to hear of her son's adventures as a jedi."

"Yes, Master."

"I'm proud of you Anakin, you know that, right?" Qui-Gon said as he placed a gentle hand on Anakin's shoulder.

The boy grinned at his master before nodding, "I know." He sighed, wishing that Qui-Gon would just admit that he not only was proud of his apprentice, but cared about him too. It was true that jedi never openly admitted their feelings, but when Shmi had told Anakin that she loved him. He felt so happy. He felt warm and only desired to hear those words from the man he saw as a father.

What do you guys think? Love it? Hate it? I know, not much happened. BUt it will soon, I believe.