Disclaimer and summary found with prologue.

AN: Well, it took me two days to get this up instead of the one I promised. I'll try to do better.

Special thanks to those who reviewed the last chapter. I just love hearing from you guys, you know that, right? Also, thank you to my lovely and talented beta, Charlotte. Thank you again, hon.

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Chapter Six:

Coming and Going

After lunch, Buffy was bored.

Qui-Gon had told them before he left that Watto had given her and Anakin the day off, so they were free to as they pleased. Ani had stayed long enough to put 3PO in his room and deactivate him, eat, then went off into the city to find some of his friends.

Since nearly everyone in Mos Espa was either afraid of Buffy, thought she was beneath them, or wanted to sleep with her, she didn't have any friends besides Anakin and Shmi for her to hang out with. So, she found herself sitting at the kitchen table, bored out of her skull while Shmi worked on something for Watto. It was one of those 'No Buffy touchy' things, so she couldn't even help her.

God, did she wish these people knew what a TV was.

A tingle in the back of her mind told Buffy that two powerful and familiar people were coming back. "Shmi, Anakin's home," she said. "And he's brought Qui-Gon with him."

Stopping what she was doing, Shmi came out of the little work area just as Anakin ran through the front door with Qui-Gon close behind.

"Mom! Mom!"

"I'm right here, Anakin. There's no need to yell," Shmi said, walking towards her son.

"We sold the Pod!" he said, holding out a handful of money. "Look at all the money we have!"

"My goodness," Shmi said, taking some the credits from him. "Ani, that's wonderful."

"I have more good news," Qui-Gon said. Shmi and Anakin both turned to him with a curious look on their faces while Buffy raised an eyebrow. "Anakin and Buffy have been freed."

Buffy grabbed the side of the table to keep from falling out of her chair. "What?"

Qui-Gon turned to her. "You are no longer a slave," he said. "Neither one of you are."

Shmi stared at Qui-Gon with a mixture of shock and disbelief. For a moment, Ani just stood there, then shock wore off and he began to cheer and jumped in glee.

"Freed," Buffy said, lifting her arms. The correctional cuffs peeked out from underneath the end of her sleeves. "I'm free?"

With a kind smile, Qui-Gon nodded. "Yes. You are."

Buffy blinked once more, then launched herself at the Jedi, wrapping her arms around his neck. It was obvious that Qui-Gon was not used to such displays of affection, and awkwardly held her by the waist as she hugged him.

"Buffy," he said hoarsely. "I understand you are grateful, but I'm having a rather difficult time breathing."

"Oh, sorry," she said, letting go. "I sometimes forget Buffy shouldn't squeeze the puppy to hard or it'll go to heaven."

He tilted his head but laughed. "You are a strange one," he said.

"Us being freed, that was part of the bet, wasn't it?" Anakin asked, bouncing up to Qui-Gon and Buffy.

Nodding, Qui-Gon said, "Yes. It was."

Anakin laughed and jumped some more until Shmi took him by the shoulders and drew him towards her. The usual worry was gone from her face and was replaced by a look Buffy had never seen before. It was like Shmi suddenly understood something - something huge - and had made peace with a very painful decision.

"Now you can make all your dreams come true," she said, touching Ani's cheek. "You're free." She turned to Buffy. "You both are."

With bright eyes, she released Anakin and turned to Qui-Gon.

"Will you take them with you?" Shmi asked. "Is Anakin to become a Jedi?"

Buffy blinked. Okay, that had just come out of left field...sort of. Well, Qui-Gon had been watching Anakin pretty closely, but he had her too. But, then, now that she thought about it, she had heard him use the words 'Jedi' and 'Anakin' a lot in the same sentence. God, did she need to start paying attention or what?

Qui-Gon hesitated for a moment. "Our meeting was not a coincidence. Nothing happens by accident. You are strong with the Force, Ani, but you may not be accepted by the Council."

Buffy drew in a deep breath. Anakin trained as a Jedi? She really didn't like the sound of that. From what she had seen and heard from Qui-Gon, they were a lot like her. They were guardians, protectors...warriors. She didn't want that for Ani.

But, Buffy noted, there were a lot of 'if's' being said. Maybe she was worrying herself for nothing. They might not even take Anakin to train. Qui-Gon didn't sound as if he was convinced they would even take him on.

However, Anakin didn't seem to consider that. "A Jedi!" he gasped. "You mean I get to go with you in your starship and everything."

Wait. Starship?

Kneeling in front of Anakin, Qui-Gon took Anakin by the shoulders. "Anakin, training to be a Jedi will not be easy. It will be a challenge. And if you succeed, it will be a hard life."

Anakin shook his head, trying to dispel Qui-Gon's warning. "But it's what I want!" he said.

No, it's not, Ani, Buffy thought.

"It's what I've always dreamed about!" he said. "Can I go, Mom?"

"This path was placed before you, Anakin," Qui-Gon said. "No one else can decide for you."

Like hell, though Buffy. He's nine and a former slave. Everything was decided for him; when to eat, sleep, work. And now this was just thrust at him to decide? How could he? He had never made a decision his whole life. Not really.

"You're just asking him if he wants off this rock, not making him agree to become a Jedi. Right?" Buffy asked, crossing her arms.

Qui-Gon blinked at her. "The two don't have to be mutually exclusive, Buffy."

"They should be," she said.

A tense silence fell upon the room as Qui-Gon and Buffy stared at one another. He didn't appear to understand why she should be objective to Anakin being trained, but Buffy had her resolve face on. Anakin, too, didn't seem to understand why she was acting the way she was.

"It's what I want, Buffy," he said.

"You don't know that, Ani," she said.

"How would you know that?" he asked.

As Buffy opened her mouth to answer, Qui-Gon stepped between the two in attempt to stop the fight. "This is nothing that has to be decided now. Anakin will need the Council's approval to begin his training anyway. Right now, all I am asking is if Anakin wishes to try." Calmly, he added, "And it is his decision, Buffy."

If looks could kill, Qui-Gon would be a big pile of dust on the floor. "That doesn't mean I have to like it." Buffy drew in a deep breath to control her anger, then said, "And if he doesn't want to? Are you going to leave us here?"

"Of course not," Qui-Gon said. "If you wish to leave this world, but do not wish to continue on with us, I will do my best to find you some place suitable."

Buffy pressed her lips for a moment. "Fine," she said. "Ani, you want to go?"

He was nodding his head before she finished asking the question. "Yes!"

With a small laugh, Qui-Gon said, "Then go pack your things."

Jumping again, Ani hurried to his room. He got to his door when he suddenly stopped and turned back to the adults. "What about Mom?" he asked. "She's coming too. Right?"

Heavy silence hung in the room as Qui-Gon and Shmi looked to one another. Though she knew it was childish, Buffy felt a certain amount of satisfaction knowing that Qui-Gon was going to have to be the one to tell Anakin no.

"Have fun explaining that," she said, pushing past Qui-Gon and heading into her room to pack what few things she had.

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Buffy pulled the strap of her bag a little higher on her shoulder as she and Anakin followed Qui-Gon into the hot afternoon streets of Mos Espa. Anakin was clearly upset, though he was doing everything in his power to be brave. Placing a hand on his shoulder, Buffy pushed him on, but looked back at Shmi. She was still standing in the doorway of their home, watching as both Buffy and Anakin walked out of her life and into another that she could never provide.

Buffy had promised her that she would watch out for Anakin and do her best to keep him out of trouble. That was going to prove to be a difficult enough task without Ani becoming a Jedi. She didn't know what she would do if he was excepted to train.

They followed Qui-Gon in silence all the way to Watto's store. The Toydarian grumbled the entire time they were there about how unfair it was that he should have to loose his slaves, but did sign the papers to free them and had their chips deactivated.

Watto hesitated when he handed over the controller to Buffy's cuffs and collar to Qui-Gon. "Eh, you won't let her go before your off planet. Will you, outlander?" he asked.

"What? Scared I'm going to hurt you?" Buffy asked coolly, crossing her arms.

Watto fluttered there, clutching onto the controller as if it were his only means of protection from her.

"Good to know you're not as stupid as you look," Buffy said.

"Perhaps it would be wise to wait until we leave," Qui-Gon said. Buffy glared at him, but he didn't seem to notice. After a few more seconds, Watto handed over the controller. Buffy sneered at him, causing the Toydarian to jump back slightly.

As the group left, Ani insisted they stop by to see Jira. He gave her some of the money he had gotten from the Pod and told her to by a new cooling unit.

"You're the nicest boy in the universe, Ani," she said as they left.

Buffy drew in a deep breath as they walked towards the outskirts of town. So, this was the last time she was going to be here for awhile. Maybe ever. She had never liked Mos Espa or Tatooine, but it was the only place she had known since coming here. Leaving it was a bit scary. It was like when she left LA with her mother to move to Sunnydale. Only, she wasn't moving a few hours away. She was moving to a completely different planet!

Buffy was so lost in her own thoughts that when Qui-Gon drew his lightsaber and sliced through a droid she pulled Ani behind her and just stopped herself from attacking the Jedi. The droid laid in two pieces on the ground. The sun reflected off its shiny black exterior, as sparks flew from the now exposed wires.

Relaxing, Buffy released the death grip she had on Ani's shoulder. He winced and began to rub the spot she had been holding him.

"What was that?" she asked, kicking at one of the broken pieces.

"Probe droid," Qui-Gon said, switching off his lightsaber. "Very unusual. Unlike any I've ever seen."

He looked around, as if trying to see if there were anymore, then touched Buffy's back.

"Come on," he said. "We better hurry."

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Qui-Gon took them out of the city as quickly as possible. Something was coming. He could feel it.

A short distance outside the city, a silver ship waited. Unlike most of the ships that landed in Mos Espa that were old and tattered, this one looked new. It was almost like looking at a mirage of water shimmering just above the desert sand.

Qui-Gon and Buffy ran towards it. Both seem to know that something was coming and they needed to get on that ship before it caught them. Anakin, however, was having a hard time keeping up with their pace.

"Wait!" Anakin called from behind them. "I can't keep up with you!"

Both Buffy and Qui-Gon slowed only a few meters from the ship.

"Ani," Buffy said, turning back towards Anakin. She gasped when she saw a black-cloaked figure flying at him on a speeder bike. "Hit the deck!"

Anakin dove the ground seconds before the bike past over him. Qui-Gon turned towards Buffy as she growled like a Wookie mother seeing her youngling in trouble, then charged at the figure on the bike.

"Buffy! No!" Qui-Gon yelled.

The speeder hadn't stopped when the figure leapt into the air. Buffy slid to a stop less than a meter away as the attacker flew over her head, igniting a lightsaber. Drawing his lightsaber, Qui-Gon prepared for duel he knew was about to come. Flipping, the figure landed between himself and Buffy. Lifting his hand at Buffy, he threw a blast of the Force at her, knocking her to the ground, before turning towards Qui-Gon.

The red lightsaber beam came at him fast and furious, cutting through the air with expert precision of someone trying to land a fatal blow. The attack was so quick, so angry, that Qui-Gon could do nothing but defend himself. A counter attack was just not possible, the attacker wouldn't allow it.

Buffy pushed herself up on her elbows as Ani reached her. He helped her to her feet.

"Get to the ship!" Qui-Gon yelled to the children. "Tell them to take off!"

His duel with the creature raged on.

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Anakin grabbed Buffy's hand to pull her to the ship, but she didn't move.

"Go," she said, pushing him. "Do what Qui-Gon says."

"What about you?"

"I'll be fine. Now go!"

Ani hesitated for a moment longer, then ran towards the ship.

Pressing her lips, Buffy turned towards the pair that were fighting savagely. The green and red lights hissed with each strike and moved so quickly Buffy could hardly keep up.

Okay, so what was her brilliant plan? Besides getting sliced, diced, and turned into curly fries.

Okay, what's the first thing Giles taught her about finding herself in a fight without any weapons? Well, never be caught without any weapons was the first thing he taught her. But the second thing was if for some reason she were, improvise.

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Qui-Gon ducked as the red lightsaber swung over his head. The attacker was gaining ground on him. If Qui-Gon were ten years younger, than perhaps he would have been able to keep up with the frenzy the attacker was unleashing against him. But it wasn't ten years ago and Qui-Gon could feel himself slowing.

The attacker brought his lightsaber blade around for another attack, when suddenly he used a burst of the Force to knock Qui-Gon back a few meters while he slashed his blade behind him. A rather large rock laid in two halves on the ground and another one was hurtling at the attacker's head. It too was sliced in half.

"Hasn't anyone told you its not nice to pick on the elderly?" Buffy asked, throwing another rock.

"Buffy, stop!" Qui-Gon yelled, running at the figure, ready to continue their duel.

The attacker merely raised his hand at Qui-Gon again and threw him once more. He landed hard on his back, his lightsaber knocked from his grasp.

Pushing himself up, Qui-Gon grabbed for his lightsaber then turned back to the attacker and Buffy. With a twisted smile on his face, the attacker raised his lightsaber up and charged at Buffy with Force enhanced speed.

"NO!"

The red lightsaber blade swung at Buffy's head as she dropped to her knees. As she did so, she grabbed a hand full of sand and, before the blade could come back, threw it in the attackers face. By instinct, his hand went to his face to try and get some of the sand out of his eyes. As he did so, Buffy kicked him in the chest, knocking him several meters away.

The ship was nearly on top of them by the time Qui-Gon saw it. "Buffy, jump!" he yelled as he did so.

As the ramp passed over her, she leapt into the air. She almost fell, her left foot slipping off the back of the ramp. Qui-Gon grabbed her by the arms and pulled inside. They stumbled up the ramp, then both fell onto the floor at the top before the hatch sealed.

Buffy pushed herself up onto her knees as Qui-Gon sat up.

"'Not nice to pick on the elderly'?" Qui-Gon asked.

Buffy shrugged. "It got his attention. Didn't it?"

The door sliding open drew their attention away from each other. Standing at the end of the hall were Anakin and Obi-Wan. It was hard to tell which one was more worried.

"Buffy!" Anakin yelled, running and hugging his sister.

"I'm alright," she said, running her hand through his hair before standing.

"Are you alright, Master," Obi-Wan asked.

Qui-Gon nodded and allowed his Padawan to help him to his feet. "I think so. That won't be a surprise I'll soon forget."

"What kind of circus reject was that thing?" Buffy asked, pulling Anakin close against her.

Qui-Gon shook his head. "I'm not sure. Whoever or whatever he was, he was trained in the Jedi arts. My guess is that he was after the Queen."

Buffy tilted her head. "Queen?"

"Do you think he'll follow us?" Anakin asked quickly.

"We'll be safe enough once we're in hyperspace," Qui-Gon said. "Though, I have no doubts that he knows our destination. If he found us once, he will be able to find us again."

"You're really one of those 'the glass is half full' kind of guys, aren't you?" Buffy said.

Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow at her while Qui-Gon laughed softly. "I'm just realistic," Qui-Gon said. Both Anakin and Buffy were looking curiously at his Padawan, who was doing the same at them. "I suppose introduction are in order. Buffy Summers, Anakin Skywalker, meet Obi-Wan Kenobi."

"Please to meet you," Anakin said, holding his hand out. Somewhat reluctantly, Obi-Wan took it.

Buffy, however, just blinked. "You know what, that's it. I'm sick of everyone having such weird names around here! Shmi. Qui-Gon. Padmé. Whatever happened to - I don't know - David or Luke or something normal! Obi-Wan. That's not a name. That's-that's...a profession!" She pointed at Obi-Wan. "From now on, you're...Ben. Ben Kenobi."

Obi-Wan drew back as if he been struck. "What? You can't change my name because you don't like the one I have."

"Can. Did," Buffy said. "Come on, Ani. Lets find something to eat. I'm starved."

She turned herself and the boy towards the hall he and Obi-Wan had just come from. Anakin gave Obi-Wan a half shrug/half apologetic smile as Buffy pushed him aside.

Flabbergasted, his Padawan watched them go, then turned to Qui-Gon. The Jedi Master never thought he'd see the day, but someone had finally left Obi-Wan Kenobi speechless.

Qui-Gon couldn't hide the amusement on his face and just kept himself from laughing.

With a chuckle, Qui-Gon said, "I think it's a good name."