When Anakin returned from escorting Padme back to Naboo, Jupiter sensed several things at once as she stood at the grand entrance of the temple awaiting him. Firstly, she sensed that there was something different about him, something that he was trying to conceal from her and she suspected it concerned Padme but she elected not to ask him for fear it would only cause trouble. Secondly, she sensed a deep wallowing that was consuming him and the closer he approached her, the more twisted and pain filled his expression became.
"Jupe…I need to talk to you." He murmured softly and Jupiter frowned, not understanding what could be so wrong, however as Anakin slowly lifted the clenched hand at his side, his new robotic hand attached in place of the one he had lost during his battle against Dooku, he pulled her hand forwards and slowly dropped a thin black string into the palm of her hand, a very simple metal emblem landing coldly onto her scarred skin.
"Why…why do you have this?" Jupiter questioned slowly, her breathing becoming heavy as she stared down at her old necklace. "I gifted this to Shmi, to our mother. Why do you have it, Anakin?" Hardly able to meet his gaze, Jupiter forced herself to look up but the moment their eyes met, Jupiter knew. That cold pain she had felt before the battle of Geonosis had belonged to Anakin, to them both as they felt their mother pass away. "What happened? Tell me!" She grasped his arm tightly, fingers digging into his skin and several eyes turned to them as Jupiter felt herself begin to tremble.
"Watto sold her to a moisture farmer." Anakin began to explain, prying Jupiter's hand off his arm and stepped closer to place a hand around her neck and pull her against him, trying to comfort her. "They married but then she was taken by sand people. I tried to save her, Jupe, but I didn't make it there in time. I knew she was suffering but I didn't act fast enough."
"Oh Annie…" Jupiter whispered, finally understanding the full intensity of his grief. He had held her in his arms as she died, Jupiter knew exactly how he felt but did not try to speak. Words were not necessary. Closing her eyes Jupiter gripped onto Anakin tightly and shared in his heartache, wishing she could take it all away from him to clear his mind and leave him without fear. "I'm here Annie, I'm always here…" She murmured, forcing herself to be strong for him. "I promise, I'll always be there for you whenever you need me."
Bowing his head against her neck Anakin's grip tightened into her robes, not wanting to relent his grip. Several whispers surrounded them but neither cared, ignoring everyone that offered disapproving and suspicious looks even as Jupiter shed a few tears in secret, berating herself for not freeing her mother sooner, for not sensing that she was in danger like Anakin had. Her fingers gripped her necklace slightly and she almost felt like throwing it away, but a small voice at the back of her mind stayed her actions as she finally released Anakin, reaching up to cup his face with both hands. "Her suffering is ended, Anakin, do not suffer on her behalf." He started in surprise, taken aback by the wisdom of her words as she offered an encouraging smile. "It is our duty as her children to live on with our lives and make her proud. Be strong, Anakin, we have much to live for still." Rising up Jupiter pulled Anakin's head down to her, softly pressing a kiss to his forehead and once more several observers gasped at her action, but the sisterly love that Anakin saw in her eyes brought a warm light to his previous darkness, allowing him to let go of his pain for the briefest of moments.
"I'll do my best." He assured her, squeezing his sister's shoulder before he moved off past her. Jupiter watched him go with flickering concern but did not follow or allow her emotions to be read by others, turning and walking in the opposite direction. Deciding that she needed a drink, Jupiter spun around on her heel and left the Temple. Technically she was not supposed to leave without permission however the news of her mother's death distressed her.
So much death, Jupiter was sick of it already. Gripping her arm tightly with the necklace wrapped around her palm, Jupiter headed to the nearest bar and ordered the strongest drink they had. It came in a small shot glass so she downed it in one, hood pulled up to hide her features as she quickly ordered another. The alcohol gave her a pleasant buzz and the music helped her to relax, swaying her head from side to side a little unsteadily. It dulled her senses and she found it easy to forget her worries, comprehension eluding her until she heard a familiar and all too welcome voice behind her.
"Drinking is not the answer to your problems, my dear." Obi-Wan informed her, placing his hand over her sixth or seventh shot and pushed it away forcefully. "I thought you might be here, Anakin mentioned that you might be attempting to hide your distress away from sight." Giving her a stern look Obi-Wan noticed the rather doe like expression and relaxed slant of her jaw. She was very, very drunk. "Come on, let's get you back."
"Obi…just a little longer." She pleaded however Obi-Wan was already pulling an arm over his neck, helping her stand from the stool however her knees buckled and she swayed violently, making it a rather difficult struggle for the Jedi Master to keep her balanced. He covered the tab with a couple of credits then slowly brought Jupiter outside as she groaned. "Let me walk awhile…I don't want to go back like this…"
"Alright, but stay close to me. You can barely stand upright." Obi-Wan conceded, agreeing that returning to the Temple drunk and unstable was hardly a good idea. "Come on, that's it, there we go." He encouraged gently, anchoring one arm around her waist whilst his other hand gripped her wrist, pinning it around his neck as he began to lead Jupiter down the street to get her some fresh air. She sucked in a deep breath, forcing herself to walk until eventually, she was stable enough to support her own weight. "How do you feel?" Jupiter wanted to say that she felt like throwing up, however she doubted Obi-Wan would be too enamoured with such a response so she gave a small shrug instead. "Come now Jupiter, you know better than to hide things from me." He teased.
"Fine, if you must know I feel awful and rather foolish. Also, I think I need to regurgitate all the alcohol I just consumed." She snapped, not interested in his teasing at the moment however when she stumbled, his hands very quickly jumped to catch her.
"Steady, how about we sit down for a while? That might be better." He suggested kindly and Jupiter instantly felt guilty for snapping at him. Obi-Wan was too benevolent to her sometimes, in fact all the time and mostly, she did not deserve it. "This way, hold onto me if you need to, I'm right here." Jupiter was instinctively drawn to his voice, leaning dependently against him as he held onto her hand securely and led her over to a bench in a synthetic park to rest. "Much better."
"Thank you Obi. I apologise for my behaviour." Jupiter murmured, blushing slightly both because of the drink and her embarrassment. Reaching up she pushed back her hair, tucking it behind her ear then ran it through her fingers. It had grown a few inches since she had cut it as a padawan. The moment her braid had been ceremoniously cut from her head Jupiter had stopped trimming it, allowing it to grow once more. It now touched just below her shoulders and she resumed tying it back with the crown section pulled back from her face.
"No need to apologise, I understand completely." He responded charmingly, one arm still positioned around her as a means to keep her from falling to the side. "Just please do not fall asleep on me, as light as you are, I doubt I would be able to explain your condition should I have to return with you over my shoulder." At his gently mischievous tone Jupiter cracked a smile, giving him a sidelong glance before looking towards the artificial park of exotic flowers, trees and grass.
"I cannot believe she is gone." Jupiter murmured after a while, lips parted as she tasted the mechanical air but it only made her feel worse inwardly. "Shmi Skywalker was the first person in my entire life to show me kindness. I was destined to die on that planet but she saved my life by allowing me into her home, sharing her bread and water even though she had so little for herself and Anakin." Obi-Wan listened quietly, sensing the deep reminiscent emotions that were surrounding her mind so he reached out and took her hand in his, pulling her attention towards him.
"I know very little about your mother, however Master Qui-Gon did tell me once a long time ago that she was a compassionate woman of quiet courage. Anakin also told me a little about her also when he was younger. He used to tell me that she was the most tender and understanding woman he knew. In my small knowledge of her, I am sad that I never got the chance to meet her myself." A smile crept up onto Jupiter's lips as she nodded her head in agreement.
"She would have liked you very much." Jupiter admitted, not moving her hand from underneath Obi-Wan's as he had completely forgotten that he was still holding it. "I dreamed of giving her a peaceful life here away from her old life. I wanted to give her everything she had once given me, return the debt that I owed her." Lowering her head in shame Jupiter grit her teeth, feeling her anger spike. "Why must evil prey on the innocent? It is not right!"
"Calm yourself." Obi-Wan chided softly, leaning a little closer and lowering his voice so that Jupiter was forced to listen. "It is for that very reason, my dear, why we as Jedi exist. It is our sacred duty to protect the innocent from evil, whatever shape it may take form. Your mother's death is a tragedy and I wish it could have been different, but the past is unchangeable, no matter how much we wish we could change it." Jupiter knew he was right and she hated to admit defeat but for once, she accepted his wisdom without debate or argument.
"Obi-Wan, may I ask a favour of you?" She questioned quietly as her eyes remained fixated on her lap.
"Of course." He instantly agreed, shifting around to show his full attention. "Ask anything of me, my dear, and I'll do all that I can to help you." He vowed. Jupiter was touched by his sincerity and it brought a smile back to her pained features. Lifting her hand from underneath his she turned it over, facing the palm up then delivered him the necklace that she held, closing his fingers over it.
"Please take this for me, I cannot bear to have it back, it carries too many painful memories. Both my mothers wore it and both are now gone. Anakin would only carry it like a burden if I asked him, but you…you are much stronger than both of us. Will you keep it? Please?" She requested and Obi-Wan blinked, startled as he stared down at the necklace. He knew exactly what it was, his master had told him about it before he died. Qui-Gon had gifted it to Jupiter's mother before he left her for the last time and she in turn had placed it around Jupiter's neck before she left her in Mos Espa to lead the bounty hunters away. He understood the pain that this small trinket carried for Jupiter so he secured his grip around it and reached out, cupping her neck with a firm nod.
"It will remain safe with me until ever you want it returned to you." He swore reverently and Jupiter chuckled at his seriousness, reaching out to smooth out his brow where frown lines were beginning to form.
"Obi my sweeting, you frown too much. Allow yourself to be a little lighter, you are not Master Windu." She teased him gently as her thumb eased away the lines of his face until he was relaxed underneath her delicate and healing touch. "I think I am fit to return now, we should go back before we are missed." Obi-Wan nodded his head in agreement, standing first and offered his hand to assist Jupiter as she got slowly to her feet, testing the waters before she was certain that she was stable. "Thank you Obi-Wan, you are indeed an invaluable friend."
"I do my best." He answered with an amiable and rather dashing smile which caused Jupiter to weaken slightly, struck by his handsomeness but she quickly covered up her emotions and reactions by flicking his arm with a stern but mischievous look which earned a laugh from her close companion as he pulled her arm through his and escorted her like a gentleman back to the temple, ensuring that there was no chance that she might fall.
Jupiter loved him all the more for even the smallest of gestures.