A/N: Again if any of you are confused about the dates and time, I have the link to the wookieepedia page that explains the star wars standard calender in my profile. Just copy and paste it.
Telona fifteen, 8 BBY
Coruscant: Holonet News Headquarters: Elksa Aiirekasin's Late Night Special.
Elksa Aiirekasin was a pretty human female. She was more than pretty, she was a knockout. She was tall, red hair, violet eyes, perfectly shaped pouty mouth, perfectly shaped angular jaw, thin hourglass figure, and great cleavage. It was said that she could have any male that she wanted. Even if he was devoted to someone else, she could get him eating out of her hands. Tonight she was hosting her late night special with the galaxies most interesting and delicious human male there was. Elksa smiled to herself, pleased that she had been able to convince him to come on her show. She would have the elusive Anakin Skywalker eating out of her hands tonight.
Elksa puffed her hair and checked herself in the reflective glass before walking to her seat on the set and relaxing, crossing her legs. She heard the holocam technician clear her to speak and she offered the galaxy her trademark radiant smile.
"Hello all, I hope that you are in for a treat tonight. Not only do we have the Drilliion Sisters performing but we have a very special guest tonight. Here to speak about the Anti-Slavery Campaign and the Slave Relief Program first organized in a joint effort between Naboo and Alderaan, our own War Hero, Anakin Skywalker!" Elska announced standing up. She smiled when Anakin walked onto the set.
After being greeted Anakin sat down in the chair provided while Elksa resumed her pose. "It is so great to have you here, Anakin," she said.
"Thank you for having me," Anakin replied offering a polite smile.
Elksa smiled. "So tell us, Anakin, how are you?" she asked leaning forward and resting her chin on her hand and resting her elbow on the arm of her chair.
"I'm as well as can be expected," Anakin told her.
Elksa smiled. "We can see that," she told him and sat up, smoothing down her miniskirt and re-crossing her legs, letting some leg show through a slit in the skirt. "Tell us, how did you get involved with the Anti-Slavery Campaign," she implored.
Anakin smiled. "It was brought to my attention by Senator Organa of Alderaan. I signed my name to it because it is the right thing to do," he answered.
"Some would disagree," Elksa told him.
Anakin frowned. "Those who disagree are either in denial or are in support of slavery. Those in support are criminals," he told her.
"Some claim that they make an honest credit with their line of work," Elksa told him.
"By some do you mean slavers and owners of slaves?" Anakin asked stiffly.
"I am only going by what is posted on the discussion board," Elksa told him.
"Then you are misinformed," Anakin told her.
Elksa smiled and leaned forward. "Enlighten me," she told him huskily.
"What do you know of slavery?" Anakin asked. Before Elksa could reply he continued. "The life conditions of those trapped in slavery are harsher than you can imagine. For starters each enslaved being is injected with a transmitter chip and any attempt to escape, the chip blows them up. Sometimes, depending on the cruelty of their master, they are denied food or drink for months on end. Often times for no reason at all, they are inhumanly beaten into unconsciousness and often times to death. The female slaves are treated worse than the males, often forced to dance provocatively and raped repeatedly. Does that sound honest? Does it sound civilly right? Those are crimes," he informed her.
Elksa blinked. "Harsh conditions indeed," she said leaning back. "I'm afraid that not much is known about slavery," she told him.
"Expect that to change," Anakin told her. "I've made it my personal mission to change it," Anakin said.
"What makes you feel so strongly about this subject, Anakin? Is it your views from being a Jedi?" Elksa asked.
"I know the hardship of slavery," Anakin answered.
"But how do you know?" Elksa asked.
Anakin took his time answering. "That is a little personal," he told her.
Elksa gave him a charming smile. "Come now, Anakin, you can't remain a man of mystery forever, why not share something with us," she requested running her perfectly manicured fingers in a dance over his hand.
Anakin pulled his hand away from her reach and clasped both hands over his lap. "I'm a very private person," he told her strictly.
Elksa smiled again, not put off in the least. "Tell us a little something," she implored. "There must be a deeper reason for your feelings on the subject," she said silkily.
"I'm involved in this because it is the right thing to do. Any being with a conscious would do the same thing. The inhuman treatment of beings is an abomination that should have been taken care of a long time ago," Anakin told her strictly.
"Is there a chance that you are only doing this because you know that it would please Lady Amidala?" Elksa asked.
"No," Anakin answered. "I do this because I care about what happens to every single enslaved being across the galaxy," he told her.
"You sound a little rehearsed and elusive, Anakin. What are you so afraid of sharing?" Elksa asked.
"I fear nothing," Anakin automatically replied.
Elksa placed her hand over his clasped hands and looked him in the eyes. "Tell me," she implored throwing on all her charm.
"I think that this interview is over," Anakin told her getting tired of her slinky attractions. He stood up. "Thank you for your time," he said politely walking off of the set.
Elksa quickly gave the holocam technician an eye signal before hurrying off of the set next to him. She reached him when Anakin stopped to converse with his sister who handed him a datapad. Elksa grabbed his arm. "I am sorry if I sounded like I was attacking you there, but I am sure that we can work something out, I would certainly love to hear more about your campaign," she hurriedly told him.
Anakin turned back to her. "You ask a lot of personal questions Miss Aiirekasin. Unfortunately, I'm not into playing games," he told her.
"I'm not playing any games, I can assure you!" Elksa told him.
Anakin raised an eyebrow. "What makes you so desperate? Is it because you wish to put my name in your personal databook of males who turned into putty in your hand? I am well informed of your reputation but you seem to be misinformed of mine. I am not interested in your game. I am quite devoted to my wife. Good day Miss Aiirekasin," he told her walking away.
Elksa gaped at his retreating back not entirely sure what had just happened. Getting over her shock, she turned around to note the holocam aimed directly at her with the record light blinking.
--
Telona sixteen, 8 BBY
Naboo: Theed: Shopping Market.
Archi picked out specific ingredients for the meal he would be preparing and especially the surprise. Luke and Leia were each picking out specific foods for the week. Archi took special note of what the twins were putting in the basket, extra cautious of what they picked out, Luke especially. Archi didn't want a repeat of the episode that happened between himself and his nephew when he let the twins pick out their own snacks. Anakin had the twins on a specific diet, a healthy diet and rarely okayed sweats. Archi often times felt that Anakin was a little too strict and when he pointed this out to his nephew, Anakin went on a rant about how the twins were his children and therefore his responsibility and he made the rules. Archi quickly learned not to upset Anakin, finding his change in moods unsettling.
"Have you two decided on what to get your father?" Archi asked referring to the surprise.
"We're building something," Luke informed him.
"Daddy will be so surprised," Leia told him.
"Yes, he will," Archi agreed.
"What about you?" Luke asked.
"I've already got something for him," Archi told him. "Are you sure he has no clue?" he asked his niece and nephew finding the idea of keeping something from Anakin nearly impossible.
"He has no clue," Luke assured him.
"Daddy never mentioned his birthday before so he'll never figure it out," Leia explained.
Archi chuckled. "Good," he said. "Now what do the two of you have planned?" he asked.
Both twins grinned.
--
Telona seventeen, 8 BBY
Deep Space: Padme Amidala's Personal Cruiser. En Route to Naboo.
Anakin looked up around him unable to mask his fear. The room he was in was sterile and clean. It had bright lights and bleached clean and plain walls. Electrical equipment littered the room monitoring something or other. He searched for his master finding Obi-Wan standing next to him.
"They're ready for you, Anakin," Obi-Wan told him.
"I'm scared," Anakin confessed softly. "I know I shouldn't be but I am," he said shamefully.
"This is just routine, Anakin. You don't want that chip inside of you forever now do you?" Obi-Wan told him gently.
"No," Anakin told him.
Anakin opened his eyes to look out into deep space. He remembered when he was implanted with the slave chip. The slavers were less than cold, they were brutal. Being implanted with a slave chip was the stuff of nightmares and he was never able to get that memory out of his head. He never told anyone of it. Only his mother knew how terrified he was of that chip. She had held him for hours after until he had stopped shaking in fear.
Anakin took his feet off of the dashboard of the ship and sat up in his seat. He had fallen asleep in the cockpit one too many times, by now he should know better. Rubbing the creak in his neck, he stood up and stretched. He checked the chronometer, knowing that it was now morning on Naboo. Checking the Navi-computer, he noted that they were only five hours away from Naboo. After making sure that everything was in order, Anakin left the cockpit and walked in the direction of the galley. Once he entered the galley, he found Arica sitting with a steaming cup of caf in her hands.
Arica raised an eyebrow. "I thought that you would never come out of that cockpit," she told him.
"I fell asleep," Anakin told her pouring himself a cup of caf.
"How many times does that make?" Arica asked.
"Four-hundred-thousand-twenty-five," Anakin told her.
Arica looked at him worried. "You wouldn't fall asleep in the cockpit if you slept like a normal human being," she pointed out.
Anakin sat down across from her. "I don't sleep very well anymore," he told her.
"Why is that?" Arica asked calmly taking a sip of caf.
"I can't control what filters through my mind when I'm asleep," Anakin told her honestly.
Arica set down her cup of caf. "I thought that you were making progress with your demons," she told him concerned.
Anakin shook his head. "I stopped going to therapy," he told her.
"Why?" Arica asked.
"It got to the point that everything sounded the same...the Jedi may understand the Force but they don't understand me, they never have," He told her.
Arica took one of his hands in hers. "We both have demons, Ani. But you're not helping yourself," she told him concerned.
"What about you?" Anakin asked looking her in the eye.
"I was in therapy for years before I was able to function normally again," Arica told him.
"I function fine," Anakin insisted.
Arica looked at him knowingly. "Ani..."
"I'm fine, Arica," Anakin told her shortly. Before she could speak, he continued. "I'll be even better when Padme wakes up," he told her.
Arica looked at him sadly. "It's been eleven years, Ani...the chances that she'll wake up are very slim," she told him gently.
"Nothing is impossible with the Force, when you have the Force on your side," Anakin told her adamantly.
"Anakin..."
Anakin stood up. "Don't start!" he snapped interrupting her in mid speech. "I know what your doubts are but that doesn't change what I know!" he told her before turning from her and going back to the cockpit, not even touching his cup of caf.
--
Telona seventeen, 8 BBY
Naboo: Theed: Skywalker home.
Archi checked on everything, finding it all ready for Anakin's arrival. Arica had communicated earlier to tell them that she and Anakin would be arriving shortly. Which meant that everything needed to be ready...especially the meal. Archi had fought that Naberrie woman, Jobal, viciously over the food. Not to mention had to put the other one in her place real fast. Archi didn't have much patience for Sola Naberrie and he noted that sometimes, Anakin didn't either. But Anakin was the most patient person he had ever known. Well aside from Shmi. No tonight was a family affair and Archi had ordered that the Naberrie's were just guests... for once this was Archi's turn to take care of his nephew like he was supposed to. And Archi was preparing Anakin's childhood favorites even if Anakin didn't remember them.
Archi took out a pan of malla stuffed mushrooms and set it on the counter. He turned back to the pot where he was mulling Alderaanian Ruge. After stirring the ruge, he turned back to the mushrooms to put them on a platter only to swat Luke's hand which was reaching for one of the mushrooms.
"I'm the taste tester!" Luke told him.
"Says who?" Archi demanded gruffly.
"Dad...he said to make sure that you weren't trying to poison us," Luke told him.
Archi frowned. "When was that?" he demanded.
Luke shrugged. "A while ago," he said.
"Daddy said that when he was sick and he ordered us not to eat whatever you cooked," Leia put in from her spot by the window, polishing the finery that was a gift to Padme from the royal family of Alderaan.
"Well you can be assured that I'm not going to poison any of you," Archi told them gruffly. He turned back to the food, checking on the roasted nerf butt, muttering about Anakin's severe trust issues. At that moment, Jobal Naberrie came into the kitchen and instantly walked over to the mushrooms inspecting them. Archi turned to her. "You Naberrie women are impossible!" Archi snapped.
"I just wanted to make sure that everything was in order," Jobal told him patiently.
"I know how to cook!" Archi snapped.
"The kitchen is no place for a man when a woman is in the house to take care of things," Jobal told him.
"That may be how you were raised, but not in my family!" Archi told her gruffly.
"It is the proper order of things," Jobal insisted.
"Proper order of things!" Archi yelled. "Woman! You were a nuisance before but now you're insulting!" he snapped.
"Don't speak to her like that!" Luke and Leia snapped in defense of their grandmother.
Archi paid the twins no mind. "Listen, Lady, my mother was a prize winning chef, she taught myself and my sister well insisting that cooking was an art to be shared by everybody not to be gender specific!" he told her.
Jobal frowned. "When you are done being an insufferable boar, perhaps you should consider the fact that Darred saw Anakin landing in the south port on his way here," she told him.
Archi turned to the twins. "You know the drill!" he told them.
Luke rammed his back strait a saluted him. "Yes Sir!" he said and hurried out of the kitchen.
Leia put the polished finery down and followed her brother. Jobal took over for Leia before taking the finery to set the dining room table with. She didn't speak a word to Archi. Archi muttered furiously about his nephews in-laws before pulling out his mother's prized onyx crystal pitcher which was a gift from his father. The last gift that Ani Skywalker gave his wife. This type of crystal was extremely rare which made the pitcher very costly. Archi carefully poured the mulled Alderaanian ruge into the pitcher.
--
Anakin hadn't spoken a word since his little argument with Arica while in space. He just carried the bags as they walked through the streets on their way to his home. Finally when they were a couple houses away, Arica couldn't take it anymore.
"When will you stop being so childish!" Arica snapped.
"I'm not being childish," Anakin told her calmly.
"I call the silent treatment to be a child's game," Arica told him flatly.
"Who said that I was giving you the silent treatment?" Anakin asked raising an eyebrow.
"You haven't said a word in the past five hours, I'd call that the silent treatment," Arica pointed out.
"Perhaps I haven't had anything to say," Anakin suggested.
"You do this all the time! Every time someone has a different opinion than you, you get mad!" Arica pointed out.
"I am not mad," Anakin told her calmly.
"You could have fooled me," Arica said pointedly.
"I don't get mad anymore. I've gotten past my anger," Anakin told her. He turned to look at her. "Perhaps it is time that you do the same," he said.
"I am not angry!" Arica told him.
Anakin smiled. "You could have fooled me," he said calmly.
"Now you are goading me into getting mad," Arica told him.
"I would never dream of doing such a thing," Anakin told her.
"Liar," Arica ground out when they reached Anakin's house.
Luke and Leia exited the front of the house and blocked the door before either sibling could get inside the house.
"What are you hiding?" Anakin demanded noting how neither twin moved from where they stood with their backs plastered against the door.
"Nothing!" both twins answered in unison.
"Nothing huh?" Anakin replied setting the bags down and making a slight hand motion, forcing Luke and Leia to part away from the door.
Both twins nodding to their aunt making Anakin very suspicious. "What are you up to?" Anakin demanded from all three of them.
"Just go inside," Arica told him.
"I better not have to replace or repair anything," Anakin said pointedly to the twins, grabbing the bags again and walking inside the house. He was instantly hit with very familiar scents and the sight of the Naberrie's. "What is going on?" he asked suspiciously.
"Archi invited us all over," Darred explained taking the bags from Anakin.
Ryoo, Pooja and Janren were instantly upon him. "Why didn't you ever mention any of this before?" they asked.
"Mention what?" Anakin asked.
"Supper is served!" Archi called.
"Good, I'm starving," Ruwee said standing up.
"Will somebody tell me what is going on?!" Anakin demanded.
Arica linked her arm through her brother's. "Don't tell us that you haven't a clue, brother dear," she said smiling.
"I wouldn't be asking if I knew!" Anakin reasoned.
Arica laughed. "That's a good one, Ani!" she said leading him to the dining room.
Anakin frowned. "I'm not joking!" he said. Upon entering the dining room, he noted Padme's finery lay out on the table laden with food that he didn't recognize. "What is this?" he questioned.
"It's a special occasion... we should have the special dishes and flatwear," Leia told him.
"Special occasion?" Anakin questioned.
"Surely you know what today is, Anakin," Sola said taking a seat next to her husband.
"Of course I know what today is, it's Telona seventeen," Anakin answered.
"It's also your birthday, Anakin," Archi stated patiently.
Anakin frowned. "I hadn't thought about that," he said.
"That's a shocker," Arica stated. "For a man who remembers every single detail, you couldn't have forgotten your own birthday," she said.
"I haven't thought about it in years," Anakin stated calmly.
"It was all Uncle Archi's idea," Luke said.
Anakin turned to his uncle. "Was it?" he asked.
"It was a long time coming," Archi told him. "Shmi would be doing the same thing," he added.
Anakin smiled. "Thank you," he told his uncle.
"Uncle Archi said that these were your favorites," Leia said indicating the food.
Anakin frowned. "I don't remember," he said.
Archi chuckled. "You couldn't get enough of this when Mom made it...in fact you dug into this before anyone else could eat while with everything else you were a saint," he told his nephew. Before another word was said he said, "Dig in!"
--
Anakin laid down on the couch after everyone had left and the twins were in bed and covered his eyes with his arm. He was tired, very tired. The long weeks of not sleeping was catching up with him.
"Tired?"
Anakin didn't move after hearing Archi's voice. "Very," Anakin answered.
Archi sat down on the opposite couch. "I saw you on the holonet," he said.
"I'm not doing that again," Anakin grumbled.
"The media is like that I guess. By now the entire galaxy knows that Elksa Aiirekasin is a skank, thanks to you," Archi said.
"I didn't mean for that to broadcast live," Anakin told him.
"Yes you did," Archi told him.
Anakin grunted in response.
"I have something for you," Archi told him.
"What?" Anakin asked. "The presents were nice gestures but I really don't need anything," he told him.
"Trust me, you'll want what I'm giving you," Archi told him.
Anakin sat up. "What is it?" he asked.
Archi held up a disc. "Just watch," he said standing up and feeding the disc into a projector. Instantly the view of the old Skywalker house came in. Outside a fifteen year old girl worked on something mechanical while a boy of nine begged to help her.
"Go away, Archi, you'll just mess things up again!" the girl snapped.
"But Shmi...I want to help!" Archi whined.
"Let your brother help you, Shmi!" a female voice called.
"But Mom! He'll mess things up like he always does!" Shmi cried.
A man closely resembling Anakin came into the picture carrying a box on his shoulder before setting it down. "It can't hurt to let him learn, Princess," he said.
"But we can't allow room for screw ups, Daddy!" Shmi admonished.
"It's just a pit droid," the man, Ani Skywalker, stated calmly.
"But this pit droid will be working on your racers!" Shmi snapped.
"And if your brother makes a mistake you can show him how to fix it," the woman's voice stated sternly.
Archi paused the disc. "There's more where this came from. I know that you had questions...I hope these discs gives you the answers that you are looking for," he told him. He patted Anakin's shoulder before leaving the room.
Anakin momentarily forgot about how tired he was and continued the disc, wanting to watch the entire thing before getting some sleep.