~Anakin's POV~

Sometimes the shop brought back memories that Anakin considered should never have been brought back into existence. It was beautiful, of course, his mechanics shop. Mostly importantly, thought, it was his. All his, and no one else's to own and conquer.

He had refused to let Padme help him with the decorating and had earned the money for the tools and little improvements himself. It was all his and he had earned it; nothing like that to make you feel like a man.

Despite this, though, the shop did so look Like Watto's.

The front entrance was practically the same, though there were no stairs to step down into and the droids guarding the doorway were not broken, cheap pieces half leaking out fluids, but polished and impressive looking magna guards that he had enhanced himself.

The desk was smaller, and used for nothing besides credit exchange. A few small droids and spider looking machines rested on the metal desk, resting there placidly. The rest of the room was show-and-tell, for Anakin had always loved the flamboyant.

Butler droids, small speeders, holo-visions, holo-pads, and other toy droids. It was a whole inventory of his skills, and looking at them all now, Anakin felt very impressed with himself.

Nevertheless, the burn of childhood stuck to him here, staring at the polished and professional landscape before one came to his workshop, where all chaos was thenceforth erupted and the neat and orderly atmosphere vanished into scruffiness. Obi-wan would have been appalled.

The thought made him chuckle aloud. He had not seen nor heard any word from Mr. Aethra in almost a month. Anakin half expected to hear him walk up any moment now, wrinkle his nose at the amount of technology and tomfoolery in the room, well polished as it may have been, and then proceed to the back, where he would have an all out lecture prepared for Anakin's tendency towards mess.

I really should not know him this well, he reflected with humor. I need some new friends, not that he actually wanted any new friends. In fact, he wanted his friends here with him now.

What he wouldn't give to have Ahsoka kneeling beside the speeder he was working on, watching his hands work intently and ready to catch a mistake.

Lux would watch them work sometimes, silently. He was quite good with mechanics, though he never helped them openly. Anakin knew the reason, though Lux had never said it out-loud.

His father had taught him about mechanics.

He hadn't needed it to be said, they just knew.

He wanted Captain Rex to barge in with Luke and Leia on his shoulders and Cody on his heels. Then exclaim loudly that Leia had beaten all of the clones in a debate over foot smells, and Luke had invented a new sort of metal for their armor, and did all little kids know these types of things or was it just the twins?

He wanted to hear the sound of Nava and Padme in a hot argument over the ethical reasons why something or another did this to something or another. What would perfect the picture was Intrepid trying out new tea recipes in the kitchen with Obi-wan. Yep, that was the life he wanted to live…

The bell above the door rang, promptly disintegrating Anakin's fantasy. He sighed and rolled out from under the small vehicle as a female voice called from the front: "hello?"

Anakin cocked an eyebrow; he had not heard that voice yet, must be someone new. Putting his charming smile on, he bounded into the front to see a young woman about the same age as him.

She was Pantoran, with dark blue skin and golden diamond shaped freckles on her forehead and cheeks. Light lavender hair rolled down her back in undulating waves. She gave him a friendly grin, though her large purple eyes shone with wariness. There was a pan of sweet-smelling substance in her hands.

"You're Ace Abner?" She asked. Anakin crossed his arms. She didn't look dangerous, but years of war had taught him not to trust his eyes alone. "Who wants to know?" He replied, guardedly.

She chuckled. "Only me. I heard you and your family just moved in. My name is Shantra, I live eight houses down," she explained. Anakin was mildly confused. He had heard about neighborly welcome, of course, but never expected it. Not in the neighborhood he dwelled in.

"Here," she extended the pan, covered by tin foil. "I made you some Jubbleberry cake, to welcome you," she said. Anakin was dumbstruck. He took the pan hazardously. "Oh," he stuttered. "Thank you. Its…Um…Nice to meet you, Shantra," he offered her his hand, and after a moment she grabbed it and shook it strongly. Anakin decided he liked her.

"I admit, you caught me off guard," he admitted, setting the pan down. "None of our other neighbors have been necessarily…Amiable towards us, you see. It is good to see a kind face," he eyed her face curiously.

"We've been in nearly a month, why didn't you come before?" the second it came from his mouth, he realized this probably had not been the most polite thing he could have said to her. She was the only one who had extended out a friendly hand, after all.

Shantra did not seem to notice. She grinned and answered him cheerily. "I'm a food critic, you see?" She explained happily. "I don't travel much, but when I do, I stay for a while. I only just got back the other day from downtown," oh, that covered it.

Anakin nodded, reassured in his like for this woman. "Thank you again. I'm sure my wife would love to meet you, she was so excited about getting to know our neighbors," he confessed.

Shantra sighed. "I know how she feels. I moved out here five years ago, and not a single soul said a word to me. They will, though, when they get used to having you around," she assured him. Anakin nodded, though he highly doubted it.

Shantra looked around inquisitively. "My father was a mechanic," she told him. "Nice place," Anakin grinned proudly. "Thank you. So you know something about mechanics, huh?" He questioned, cocking an eyebrow.

"Something?" Shantra snorted. "I know every detail of mechanics, wires and droids. It's a gift, really," cocky thing, was not she? "Oh, really?" Anakin asked, feeling a bit of bigheaded pride sink into his bones. "Would you care to help me with this speeder I have back here, then?" he asked. "I bet you I'll fix it in half the time you would," oh, heck no, was that a challenge?

Anakin crossed his arms, studying the bold face of the woman a mere few inches shorter than him. She met his eyes without fear. Anakin narrowed his lips. "Do you watch pod-racing, by any chance?" He wondered slowly.

It was not a widely known sport, since on most planets it was…Well…Illegal, but maybe…. Her eyes grew wide. "You, too? I won the pod-racing championship on Pantora when I was twelve!" She burst out.

Anakin felt his heart leap. "What? You're Shantra Pallas? I heard about that race! It was epic! The twist-dive you did with that three-twenty-four racer was incredible," he burst out, flatly amazed and deliciously delighted.

"You saw that? Blast, that move took me forever to complete! Have you heard of the Jerald's nose dive for mountain ranges?" she asked. Anakin couldn't believe his luck. Courascant was awesome!

"I love that move. But it's hard to do," he consented. "You can do it?" Shantra gasped. Anakin nodded eagerly. "No way, dude! You have to show me how to pull that off! I can't get the gears right," she cried, completely frazzled with excitement. Anakin decided that he had just found his new best friend.

"You have to keep them in a stable three-hundred and seventy-two angle or it won't work," he agreed. "I'll show you if you tell me how to pull off that twist dive you did," he offered. "Sure," Shantra put her hands on her hips, eyeing with new respect. "And I'll fix that speeder with twenty minutes to spare!" Oh, if she could do that, she was his new icon.

He wouldn't give her the chance, of course. He was going to do it.

"You're on!" Courascant was awesome!

~Padme's POV~

The Rebel Officials meeting that Anakin had told her about consisted of seven people. None of these people had ever had any high ranks or any stunning privileges; they had not been raised in a respected, serene temple nor in a beautiful, regal lake country but in various slums and farms.

Padme, though, had never had more fun than she was having with them.

They had formed a small arrangements of chairs around a tiny, rotting wood table with a single light bulb above them, but Padme felt as if she were on a grand top floor of some expensive meeting house.

These people listened to each other.

And by the time it was over, they had all agreed to meet one time each week. Now, Padme stood in the meeting room, alone, with one person she had especially gotten along with. "The situation with the Gungans is still stable," Jiro assured her, a fellow person of Naboo. Her countryman.

"No misunderstandings? No quarrels?" Padme asked, eager for news of her beloved Naboo. She had not been back o her home planet in over four years. Her hope had once been that Luke and Leia grow up there, in the riverside cottages where she had spent her young life.

"None at all," Jiro smiled, his slick reddish-gold hair shining in the vivid light. Stunning grey eyes burrowed into hers with benevolence. "Have you heard of the People's relief rebel effort?" Padme nodded.

"Yes. It started on Naboo, correct?" She asked. He crossed his arms. "Our planet has helped the rebels much. Tell me Padme, is your husband on planet?" her eyebrows scrunched… Anakin! He was talking about Anakin!

"Force," she gasped, turning. The streets were beginning to fade into inky darkness. "I have to get home," she realized. Jiro nodded.

"Allow me to accompany you. I don't want you getting mugged and not even a month into your stay," he teased. Padme rolled her eyes, offended by his assumption that she was helpless. "I have a blaster," she snorted; and then wondered what had possessed her to say such a thing to this man who she hardly knew.

Jiro laughed. "Don't we all? A blaster does nothing in there's a knife to your neck. Allow me," he insisted. Padme huffed, he did have a good point, and besides, she wanted to continue this conversation.

She had to know what the Rebels were doing. "Very well. Yes, he's here. Why?" She asked, pondering why they were suddenly talking about the love of her life.

Jiro shook his head. "I only wished for you to tell him that many members of the Rebellion know he would never betray us," he said earnestly. Padme's likeness of her new friend escalated.

"So you've heard about Darth Vader," she stated bitterly. What sort of sick fiend cloned somebody and turned that clone into a monster?

"Who has not? He's quite the fearsome creature, but the Jedi will stop him. They always do. Meanwhile us measly politicians will be building our new nation back up again, birthed from peace and understanding," Padme laughed without mirth.

"Easier said than done," she reflected, half bitterly. She had seen nations rise and fall through dreams such as those. She had entered the office of Queen on Naboo with those same naïve dreams, understanding only what her limited wisdom would allow, which was of course that but would be hard, but she could do it.

She realized now what a foolish thing to think that had been, responsible, hopeful and confident, yes, but rather… Immature.

However, Jiro's mouth was set into a hard and stubborn line, as if he knew exactly what the childish determination in his face meant, and would rather be knocked dead, raised back to life, and knocked dead again, this time more violently, before he gave up his aspirations. Padme had to respect that; she grinned.

"With people like us, my friend," Jiro opened the door, about to lead her back into the throng of Courascant, eyes hard yet glowing, strong as any Jedi. "Things most think are impossible are merely implausible."

~Obi-wan's POV~

"Hello, darling," Obi-wan smiled wanly as Nava walked up, he heard rather than saw her, considering the fact that she was hiding her force signature, but he knew it was she when slender arms wrapped themselves around his exposed middle from behind and squeezed.

"My love," he greeted. "I was just getting ready for bed. I'm sorry we've not had time to sit down and talk today," he apologized. Nava laid her head against his back, resting her chin on his shoulder.

"You've been busy," she reflected, with a grin. "I'm used to it. And besides, I had the most wonderful time today with Mr. Alwari's wife. He married a virtuous woman," she told him. "I can't wait to meet her then, and introduce you two. You'll adore Tyrion and his charm," he rolled his sightless eyes amusedly.

Nava nodded and released him. Obi-wan missed her touch. "What else did you do today?" he asked as she started towards their walk-in closet to get her night gown. It was almost midnight. "Well, I went down to the kitchen and learned how to make bread!" Nava volunteered.

Obi-wan chuckled at her vibrancy. "You didn't know already?" he asked. "Of course not. The temple teachers never covered that. Anyway, I'm glad you added Dex to our team of Chef's, he has everything working to peak efficiency in there, and he's happy as a clam flirting and flattering all the women in there," she joked.

Obi-wan chuckled and slipped on his thin sleep shirt. "I don't put it past Dex," he agreed, glad that his friend had gotten to know everyone so quickly. He knew Dex would. He was really a softie under all that fat and gruffness.

"Then I went down to the children's orphanage," Obi-wan grinned. He had already been there. "How much money did you give them?" He requested.

He was aware Nava was blushing by pure knowing. "Um…Only a few thousand credits," she stuttered. "How much exactly?" he specified calmly.

"Well, they were so sad, and the little girl wanted a doll…." Nava began. Obi-wan laughed. "Nava, just tell me. I already gave them two-thousand credits, how much did you add to it?" he asked again.

Nava went silent, dumbstruck, before bursting into laughter. "Three thousand," she answered cheerily. Obi-wan scowled. She beat him.

"As long as we don't go bankrupt, I suppose it doesn't matter. It will help with our reputations, as well," he thought aloud, slipping under heavy and soft pillows. The bed sunk beneath him with softness.

Obi-wan let out a sigh of relief. "And the little girl got the best doll money can buy," Nava added, as he heard the creak of closet doors opening. Nava walked up and slipped into bed beside him.

He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Then I went out to lunch with Mrs. Alwari. She knows the best restaurants. I also went to the universal bird museum to collect some facts for my next mission. Alderran has the cutest sparrows. Then I balanced out all the budget cuts we have to make, arranged all your meetings for the next three months and called in to make sure Intrepid was okay," force knew how she had gotten all that done in twelve standard hours.

"Is she?" He inquired, suddenly remembering that he had meant to call in and make sure Padme and Anakin were alright. He was sure they were, of course. Force knew the both of them could survive on their own, but maternal worry compelled him.

"Quite. She's going to be out of reach for awhile. Something about stopping child kidnappings and enslavement. She was so excited she barely got the words out, silly girl," Nava chuckled. Obi-wan squeezed her shoulder.

He knew what it was to worry and miss your child.

"She'll be fine," he assured Nava, reaching over to flick off the lights. "I know," Nava put a hand on his chest, curling up beside him. They stayed that way a moment, silent and wondering about the new life they had, and how…How different it was from the old one.

How things had changed.

"Obi-wan?" He glanced down at her, unseeing in permanent darkness. The only indication that she was there was her touch on him and his grip on her. "I'm happy," she whispered.

Obi-wan felt his heart skip a beat and contract. He grinned, filled with happiness himself now, and kissed her forehead. "That's all I want," he agreed. "Here," Nava contemplated.

"We don't have to be anything more. We can be…Us. That's what makes me happy, not the lavish lifestyle and expensive mansion," they did live in a mansion now, didn't they? Thiers was slightly larger than other mansions, but a mansion it still was. Force, he, in a mansion?

How things had changed.

"I know," he said, simply. Nava nodded, assured, and laid her head on his chest. "I love you, Obi-wan," she whispered. Obi-wan smiled, and despite his blindness, despite his role as a Jedi master and everything else that hindered him in every way, decided that he was happy too.

"I love you more."