A/N: This chapter was a pain in the butt to write and even harder to edit! I really wanted you guys to get a feel of what things have been like for the Skywalker family these past five years. In truth, I probably could have broken this up into a couple chapters. I think this is the longest chapter I've uploaded to date! I hope you guys enjoy this because I really put a lot of effort into making this detailed and inclusive.
A reminder of their assumed names: Anakin-Boaz; Padmé-Ruth; R2D2-R7B4; C3PO-TC8108
Chapter 9 Skywalker Farm
Nevah
Once they finally made it out to the Nevah system, they were pleasantly surprised. It was as remote as promised. Settling on the planet, they found it mostly uninhabited with very few sentient beings present and none of which were highly intelligent. The planet was a lush green temperate climate with rolling hills and vibrant forests dotted with tall grassy clearings. Unaffected by the rest of the universe, it stood with its own peaceful energy rejuvenating the young family seeking solace in its embrace. Rarely has it been visited by outsiders and the planet continued on with its soothing calmness paying no attention to the small craft settling on its surface. It was perfect and just what they were looking for.
It was heaven.
For the first order of business, they fortuitously staked their claim on the ideal terrain. Enchanting and fertile, the extended plot of emerald green was barely kissed with a line of trees in the far distance. Nearby was a seemingly languid lake on the surface but teeming with life as the local fish frolicked just below the surface. A sheltering mountain range was far in the distance, strategically allowed them to keep an easy vigil for any unexpected visitors. Excited by the prospects, it was a blank canvas that they could do whatever they wanted. An unclaimed potential to create a distinctive, intimate masterpiece. Not to be underestimated, the land would not yield willingly as it would take knowledgeable hands to mold and create the perfect home. Anakin's abilities put to the test as he stretched what little previous knowledge he had making camps and shelters on foreign planets. Even then, those minuscule tasks could not compare to the challenges he faced here and he enjoyed the prospect. Stretching his imagination, he built their home from scratch using items from the stripped cruiser and lumber from the nearby trees. Occasionally, when his hand was forced, he made a couple visits to nearby systems for building supplies and equipment.
As always, Padmé nervously waited on Nevah with the children whenever he left the planet. Looking back, her level of anxiety reached peak levels when he was out in the Outer Rim fighting where communications between them were scarce. In contrast to now, if something happened or he was captured, she wouldn't be able to reach him since they only had one ship on a technologically disadvantaged planet.
One of the first things Anakin created was a communication array if an emergency arose. To prevent being traced, communications were kept brief and only used in dire circumstances. In addition to this, he spent time on other safety measures. Taking well over a year, he assembled an emergency pod in case they needed to leave the planet quickly, or their main ship was compromised. These things were not meant to be utilized regularly, so Padmé's concerns remained each time she watched in anguish as her husband's ship lifted up and disappeared from the planet's atmosphere.
Fighting an unpopular war left Anakin very little time to tinker around with pretty much anything important or not. His room at the Jedi temple and even Padmé's apartment were littered with never finished or just barely started projects. Frustratingly, he hardly found the time to even modify something as essential as his starfighter. Now time was on their side and he could create whatever he wanted. They lived simply at first but slowly over the years and with Anakin's endless energy and commitment to continually better his family's lives, they've established themselves an expansive yet cozy home littered with droid helpers. When what he wanted and could actually accomplish conflicted, he improvised, always innovating, breaking barriers that shouldn't be possible. As frustrating as having limited resources could be, he didn't really complain. It was an unimaginable joy to create something for their family's amelioration instead of modifying equipment meant for death and destruction.
This would amaze Padmé to no end as she was reminded of that incredibly intelligent child on Tatooine that build his own podracer and protocol droid. A part of her sadden greatly that this gifted side of him had laid dormant, ignored, and tossed aside for his skills as a general and a Jedi that took precedent. She wondered how Anakin's life could have been different if he could have explored this talent and, perhaps, how much more fulfilled he could have been.
Clashing with his style, Anakin wasn't one for manual labor and had engineered farming droids to work their agricultural fields as well as surveillance droids to monitor their home. C3PO put his vast language directory to good use negotiating the various droid languages around their farm and home. This was in stark contrast to the disrespect he received from the servant droids at Padmé's old apartment. Here, he was the head droid. Ears still ringing from 3PO relentless barrage of factoids, his new role came as a much needed relief to Anakin and Padmé; it kept him busy and entertained instead of boring Anakin and Padmé with useless trivia.
From the beginning, the children enjoyed 3PO's stories from when they were infants and delighted at his incomprehensible stories and flailing arm gestures, to when his trivia became understandable and more memorable in their older years. They never seemed to tire of his random facts about distant alien races and their social and dining etiquettes, and even courtship rituals. Unfortunately, this translated to the parents hearing the retelling of these stories, especially the latter. Mortified, the concerned parents forbid the confused protocol droid from further story time with the children.
Meanwhile, R2 helped Anakin with his various projects: forming the blueprints of the communication system, developing security protocols, programing the agricultural droids to cultivate the different needs of each fruit, vegetable, and grain they grew, and, a welcomed surprise, lovingly and eagerly playing the babysitter to Luke and Leia. R2 had a fantastic connection with the children and an ability to get them to sleep when neither parents could and the children adored him.
The wild boars that roamed the area provided much appreciated occasional meat and protein source. But this wasn't enough for Anakin, who came home giddy after one of his trips off world. Padmé laughed heartily at the twinkle in his eye when he came home with a couple of endorian chickens and a rooster. He loved eggs, as long as they weren't from Lanteeb, and now they would have plenty of eggs to go around. Powered by some unknown energy source, he quickly built a hen coop and fence for the new avian household members that same day. As the children grew older, they also enjoyed playing with the chickens, much to the chickens' displeasure, as R2 would often have to police the children when the hens' indignant cries could be heard from the house.
Right after Padmé's delivery, Anakin had mysteriously acquired a medical droid during their short stay on Lothal. Still exhausted after leaving the hospital, Padmé hands were full, busy taking care of the newborns. Overwhelmed with feelings of excitement and terror, realizing she was a mother, she barely registered when Anakin appeared on the ship with a medical droid in tow. Not really wanting an answer, she wearily inquired about the procurement. Naturally, he charmingly shrugged off her concerns with a simple yet implausible explanation that he found it. A weary smile crossed her face, fatigue taking its toll on her fleeting patience as she willingly accepted his answer at face value. In truth, she was grateful that they would have the much needed guidance they both needed to raise the children.
So here they were, on the planet of Nevah, far away from civilization where they have lived peacefully for the last five years. It was a simple life but filled with much joy, laughter, and peace. It didn't matter that the galaxy around them was falling apart. It was no longer their concern.
Outer Rim
Lah'mu
Out on the planet Lah'mu laid the unassuming, humble, and petite repair shop owned by a scarlet red mimbanese. To the untrained eye, it was deceptively simple and almost skeptically poorly equipped compared to the surrounding lavish workshops that impressed the casual observer with their state of the art technology. However, its poor aesthetics didn't deter its popularity. They were never short of clientele. The coyly famous shop's reputation grew in the Outer Rim as the only place to fix the unfixable. New customers were always shocked as the waitlist never seemed to thin down. Returning customers simultaneously praised their abilities and poignantly deterred new customers from flooding their precious secret.
Currently, deep inside the belly of the pocket sized shop, underneath a rusted, well worn agrirobot laid the man known with the magic hands. His ash brown hair, streaked golden by the sun, clung to the sweat on his face and beaded over his upper lip curled in concentration. Parted down the middle, his long bangs skimmed past his temples on both sides. Unkempt, it looked like someone had haphazardly hacked at his hair; wild and shaggy, it reached down past his shoulder blades with a slight curl from the sweat giving the man an air of mystery. Every so often, he'll unconsciously flick his hair out of his eyes as he worked, unbothered by the process as he had long become accustomed to it. His chiseled facial features were hard to notice under the thick beard he wore, which thankfully was better trimmed than his hair. Squinting hard upwards into a dark, blackened area, he scrutinized it with his deep blue eyes, having an understanding only he could see. With a click of his tongue, the sides of his thick beard lifted upwards on his tanned face covered with blackish grim and beads of sweat. Satisfied with what he saw, he pushed himself away from the aging agrirobot as he lifted up to his towering height of over six feet tall. He wiped his greased, gloved hands over his mechanic overalls in the same condition as his face, covered with random patterns of different aging areas of brown, black stains.
"There, that should do it! It'll work now. That was a good one." He laughed lightly, "really tricky but I figured it out." Confidently, Anakin chuckled as he waggled a proud, victorious finger at Caasi, the shopkeeper.
Biting back his rising elation, the mimbanese slowly made his way over, his hand twitching with anticipation as it lifted to turn on the droid, hovering over the control for a second, knowing full well that it will work as promised. But, he also wasn't about to completely indulge in the human's evident pride. Finally flicking on the switch, with a roaring hum, the previously dormant machine purred itself to life as Caasi couldn't help the smile that lit his face.
"Boaz, my boy! You never cease to amaze me! I can't believe it! Do you know how long my people have been working on this hunk of junk?" His arms failing around dramatically as he couldn't contain his excitement any longer. "Months! No one. I mean, no one could get this thing to even power up, much less work. You spend two days on it and-boom!" He displayed his arms wide in front of the fully functioning machinery in blatant awe. "It works! Unbelievable!"
Anakin nonchalantly wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his glove, pretending he's immune to all the appraisal lavished on him, but he lovingly drinks it up.
"Oh, you know. Just got to speak the right language. Listen to what she likes and knows what she needs."
"You talking about women or machines now?"
Anakin took only the briefest moment to think before flashing a self assured grin, "Both?"
The shopkeeper huffs lightly, completely used to his antics, "Why do you not do this all the time again? What is it you do when you aren't here?"
"I'm a farmer," Anakin states cooly as he takes a swig of the cold drink next to him, closing his eyes briefly, enjoying the refreshing liquid as a balm to his warm, parched throat.
"Farming? Really? A man of your talents? Look, I've told you this before. I'll even offer you a job as my partner. There's no one on this side of the galaxy that can work magic like you do!" Caasi offered again. The regular conversation they had that felt platonic and weathered, but he would try every time, hoping in vain the young man's answer would change.
Anakin laughed heartily, enjoying every moment of the conversation yet throwing an indifferent countenance as he reclined against the counter behind him, "What can I say? I'm a simple man and I don't need much. I'll see you next time!" He put the empty bottle down, swipes up his payment shoving it into his pockets, and heaved the heavy box of burnt, broken mechanical scraps usually meant for the dumpster that Caasi left for him under one arm.
The shopkeeper called out exasperatedly as Anakin walked off, "And when will that be? A month from now? Two? Six?"
Anakin twisted around on his heel and lazily sauntered backward, throwing him a carefree shrug, "Something like that." Saluting him with two fingers, he swung back around his hair, seemingly waved goodbye to the old friend as he continued on his way to his ship, heading back home to his farm.
Nevah
Skywalker farm
As the ship settled with a soft landing, cushioned by the billowing grassy ground in front of him, Anakin could hear a repeating clicking noise. Frowning, disgruntled by the implication, as he thought he fixed that. He'll have to take a look at that again, but that can wait as other things took a higher priority at the moment. Hearing the ship approach, his beautiful blond hair, light blue eyed son and his twin sister with gorgeous, large chocolate brown eyes and lovely delicately curled brunette hair came bounding towards him with all the exuberance of any five year old child.
They impatiently awaited, bouncing up and down, as the gears in the ramp crept slowly, lowering the ramp at a shuffling pace. The faces of the twin Skywalker children brightening instantly at the sight of their father.
Fatefully, Anakin always brought them sweets when he made an off world run. Like their father, they had an insatiable affliction towards sweets and he would be hard pressed to not indulge them. Unfortunately, this didn't please Padmé when the children started bouncing off the walls after such indulgence. At that thought, Anakin noticed that their mother's presence was amiss as he scolded himself for the fleeting disappointment that passed through him. She was probably inside, taking care of something, he reminded himself even though a part of him longed to always be greeted with a hero's welcome when he came home.
Occasionally, Padmé would be the one to go off world to replenish supplies, especially when it came to female related products Anakin would rather not have anything to deal with. A rule they made early on, one parent would always stay behind to watch the children as a safety precaution. At first, Anakin was against Padmé ever leaving the world, especially without him, but as time went on, he learned the truth of the old adage.
Happy wife. Happy life.
Tired of the same argument, he finally relented and confronted his attachment issues by allowing her to go. Each time, he was a terrible mess until she returned, but that she did, faithfully, every time. Safe and sound. Taking turns had humbled Anakin with what Padmé went through whenever he left and caused him to be much more sympathetic with her plight when he was gone. It turns out, though, once Padmé had the freedom to make off world trips, she wasn't really inclined to go very often. It reminded her of the world she left behind and brought her great sorrow. Appreciating that Anakin would compromise, knowing full well how difficult the task was for him, was enough to feel respected as an equal in their relationship. Knowing she had the option gave her a sense of freedom, but she preferred to stay home with their children. The presence of their healthy, happy twin children seemed to calm any woes that burdened Padmé's heart and the same could be said about Anakin.
When the ramp finally settled on the ground, Anakin strode down the ramp with a huge grin plastered on his face at the sight of his bubbling children. "There are my little monsters!" Bending down, he flung open his arms wide as the kids giggled and barreled into their father's awaiting arms. The sound of their laughter was intoxicating and addicting. He swooped them up effortlessly, one in each arm and quickly planted a ticklish, wet kiss on each of their chubby, warm cheeks.
Unabated by her father's loving gesture, Leia pouted her pink, plump lips dissatisfied with her title, "I thought I was your princess, daddy?"
A chuckle erupted from Anakin's chest. His daughter, just like her mother, had a sharp wit and headstrong personality. And just like her mother, he would charm away his daughter's discontent.
"You are my princess monster. How about that? Your royal highness."
Still with both children in his arms, he dipped down, leaning Leia over in a modified bow as her soft, brown curls barely grazed the ground. Against her wishes, a small smile cracked on her face as she quickly attempted to replicate her earlier pout. With a winning smile, Anakin knew he broke through her facade and he simply pressed a bigger kiss on her cheek as she broke into loving laughter and clung innocently to her father.
Luke didn't share his twin's concerns and fully embraced his monster title, "I'm the biggest, scariest monster ever! Rawr!" He tugged on Anakin's long locks as his father winched painfully at the action.
Freeing his hair from his impish son's grip, he shifted his weight as he bounced them on his waist, keeping his son's hands away from his hair.
"I'm being attacked by monsters! Heavy monsters," he proclaimed as he shifted his weight. "What is Ruth feeding you two? You're as heavy as a bantha!"
As if to prove his point, he fiend losing his balance and carefully let his children tumble to the ground with him. Enjoying the game, the farm echoed with the kid's high pitched laughter as their small backs came into contact with the soft grass below. The chickens, safely in their coop, bristled slightly at the sound as their senses went on high alert. Coming up to his knees, Anakin gazed upon his children endearingly, which morphed wily as he brought his fingers up in a threatening fashion. The laughter stopped instantly as they recognized the motion.
"The only way to defeat monsters is to tickle them!"
Instantaneously, he attacked the helpless children soft bellies mercilessly with his fingers as they helplessly illicit tortured laughter. A form of lighthearted torment, their father's fingers always knew just were to jab their delicate bodies that left them defensiveness against his onslaught.
"S..stop, daddy!" Luke pleaded between bouts of laughter bring his hands in a feeble attempt to stop the barrage. Poor Leia didn't fare any better, unable to form words as she could barely breathe between bouts of laughter. Her small hands desperately gripping her father's as her tiny body curled around him.
A moment later, their ordeal came to an end as the children breathlessly laid still, enjoying the moment of peace.
As Anakin watched the twins' tiny chests rise and fall rhythmically, he couldn't help the intruding thought of how lucky he was to have such beautiful children. And his great fortune to have raised and watch them grow up these short five years. Each day a miracle onto itself. They were an extension of his heart and soul and he would die for them in an instant. As he lost himself with these reflections, he noticed the children regaining use of their limbs as he helped them up, brushing the grass off their backs.
Luke chimed up with expectant eyes, "Did you bring us anything?"
Lifting an eyebrow, Anakin replied flabbergasted, "Of course I did! What kind of father would I be?!" He paused a moment for the effect as their's eyes widened expectedly. "Now, you know what your mom would say. You have to wait until after dinner before you can have it."
"What about a tiny piece?" Leia peered up at him with her mother's eyes, large pools of chocolate brown, as she negotiated. If things were different, she might have ended up a senator like her mother. His resolve faltered as his heart protested in his daughter's defense. His little princess captivated his heart, just like her mother did.
Mustering up his conviction, he replied, "Now, Leia. You know how your mother gets when she's angry. Let's not make her angry today. Hrm?"
"Ok, daddy," Leia conceded and Anakin tousled the bouncy curls in her hair as a consolation.
Luke tugged at his shirt, "Did you bring me any more parts for Pateesa?"
Just like his father, he had a penchant for tinkering. As a father and son project, Anakin thought it would be fun to help Luke build his own droid. A couple of years ago, he found a partially intact SP-4 ICS droid. Having the most essential part intact, the head unit with its two round glass eyes, was a great find. Many of the internal circuits were fried but fixable; most of the body was still intact, although it had a chard hole through it, probably from a blaster that caused its demise. It only had one arm, its right one, and was missing the rest of its limbs. When he presented the battered and broken droid, Luke instantly fell in love with it as he quickly named it, Patessa.
"I found a processor for Patessa. With any luck, we might get him powered up," his father announced cheerfully.
Luke smiled, overjoyed, "Then we can talk to him? I want to teach him how to play dejarik. Leia cheats all the time."
"No, I don't! I'm just better at the game than you!" Leia protested.
Luke stuck his tongue out at her as Anakin quickly intervened before a fight broke out.
"First things first. Go tell TeeSee to unload the ship."
The twins, in sync, grumbled their complaints at the menial task.
"Do as I say if you want to have some of the zoochberries sweetmallow squares, I brought you," Anakin promised.
Their frowns dissolving into sweet smiles as the sound of their favorite treat drew excitement out of them. Fueled with new determination, they speed off to find C3PO. Anakin could only shake his head as he watched the kids turn the corner in hunt of the elusive protocol droid. With the children preoccupied, he made his way to the house.
Skywalker farm
The kitchen
Stopping at the front door, Anakin drew in a deep salivating breath as his stomach rumbled with elation, as he smiled. Padmé must be in the kitchen, judging by the wonderful aroma of baking bread that wafted by and flooded his senses. Sure enough, as he made his way into the kitchen, his beautiful wife, who took his breath away, by the mere sight of her, still after all these years, was leaned over folding some bread. Not exactly the same, she found a way to make a similar dish to the five blossom bread she used to make on Naboo, during her childhood, using the ingredients they could obtain out here. Padmé would huff how it wasn't exactly the same, but Anakin didn't mind. He loved it just because Padmé had made it.
Five years ago, he made a choice to give up everything for her, and he didn't regret it for a second. If he had to do it all over again, he would have made the same decision, without a doubt. She was his life, the very meaning to his whole being and they were connected mind, body, and soul. The life he had with her was simple.
So incredibly simple that anyone who knew him would be astonished by how he could be so happy.
But he was.
To this day, he was surprised how such an amazing person would ever fall in love and agree to marry him. Even more unbelievable, how she willingly stayed with him after the terrible things he did.
There are still nights where he'll startle awake suddenly, cold sweat running down his spine, as the faces of the people he murdered crossed his nightmares, vivid as the very day it happened.
She never asks about the dreams and he's grateful for that. It's his punishment, his burden for the poor choices he made in his idealistic youth. She paid a high price for his mistakes and gave up everything for him and their family. He understood the sacrifices she made and he did his very best every day to honor that sacrifice. She really was a merciful, forgiving, redemptive angel, and Padmé would laugh whenever he pointed this out.
How could someone be so loving, understanding, and gracious when faced with the monster he was? His sins were too great to be forgiven. It shouldn't be humanly possible. Is this the ability of love?
With a gentle rap on the door frame, Anakin entered the kitchen, heart fluttering with anticipation to eagerly greet his wife. At the sound of the knock, she acknowledged him with a brief wisp of her head and indulged with a quick tender peck on his lips before returning to her work. Smiling broadly and without a word, Anakin slid behind her and enveloped his arms around her tiny waist before planting a kiss on her temple, while taking in the sweet scent of his wife, relishing having her back in his arms again.
"You're making your specialty? What's the occasion?" He murmured into her hair.
"Oh, nothing. Just hoping it would lure my husband back to me." She purred as she leaned against his strong chest, welcoming the embrace.
"It seems to have worked. Here I am, but I didn't come for the bread." Tilting his head, he left a trail of light, soft kisses down her neck, his hands wandering her slim frame as she leaned in further into his ministrations. Her feminine scent intoxicating his mind and drowning out the aroma of sweet bread that couldn't compare to how his wife affected him.
As her mind drifted off under his devoted, loving, firm hands, she quickly caught herself, resisting despite her body's protests. As much as she loved what he did to her, how he knew her body so intimately, and even after all these years craved it insatiably, she couldn't help the worry that had kept her up for several nights. Even before he arrived, she had committed herself to bring this up.
It was something she needed to address
Padmé leaned forward slightly away from her husband's attentive hands, indicating she needed his attention, and slightly tilted her delicate neck towards him as she spoke, "I worry about you every time you leave. I never know if this is the time you won't come back."
Anakin's hands stopped at the reoccurring issue. Slightly frustrated, he had just returned and wasn't in the mood to discuss it at the moment. Biting back his frustration, he nuzzled his face into the back of Padmé's head, burring his head in her soft, curls expelling a heavy sigh.
"Relax. It's been five years and no one is looking for us anymore. They most likely think we're dead. Plus, the Empire has other things on their mind." He concluded as he exhaled into her hair, unable to hold back the irritation as well as he had hoped.
"Leia did it again." She stated cooly, as she casually watched her husband's reaction.
This was actually what she wanted to talk about.
As expected, when he did nothing, she continued. "Leia keeps levitating items and it's only a matter of time before Luke will too."
Anakin abruptly released his wife, twisting his back against her; with his expression somber, he reasoned, "They're just being kids and they'll grow out of it." His shoulders ridged as they betrayed the calm tone in his voice as he repressed the torrent of emotions raging inside of him.
"Anakin."
Padmé rarely calls him by his true name anymore as she released the bread she was kneading in favor of a washcloth as she faced her husband, giving him her full attention. In front of the children, they went by their current identities of Boaz and Ruth.
She did this to emphasize her point.
"You're going to have to teach them how to control the Force. They'll only get stronger over time."
Anakin grimaced at her words, unwilling to accept the obvious truth. "No. We talked about this already. I made it to nine years old, and even then, no one would have noticed my abilities if Qui Gon didn't show up. No one is going to detect them here; they're safe."
Padmé pushed away from the kitchen counter and walked up to her husband, pulling his arm to face her, as her eyes found her husband's expressive blue eyes which betrayed his true feelings.
"I'm not going to pretend I understand all of this, but I keep hearing whispers of Force sensitive hunters out there."
Anakin had blocked himself off from the Force five years ago to prevent being detected for this reason. In his mind, this should be enough to deter them.
"If I train them, it'll put them at a bigger risk. Just don't encourage them and it won't draw any attention," he reasoned.
Padmé wasn't convinced.
When he told her he blocked his Force connection, with her fragmented knowledge of the finer points of the Force, she didn't think that was possible, but she understood enough that he was very powerful in the Force. It's only natural that his children would also exhibit those strong traits.
"It's a part of who they are just as it's a part of who YOU are," Padmé replied softly, her eyes kind and understanding.
"No, Padmé. I'm not going to change my mind about this." Anakin clenched his jaw as he stated with a finality in his voice.
Padmé clamped her mouth shut. She knew when he was in this mood that arguing further wouldn't help. Disappointed etched on her face, she returned to her work, placing the second bread into a pan and sliding it into the oven as she pulled out the finished one. The delicious aroma filled the air and caused her to salivate, taking away her sour mood.
Hot under her touch, she quickly set the freshly baked bread by the window to cool off. Out of curiosity, she braved a glance to see where her husband had ended up. His anger seemed to have passed as she found her husband busy cleaning some dishes at the sink. Her eyes soften lovingly at the sight and she couldn't stay angry at him for long. Their life out here was hard but the care they have shown each other made it worth it. Even though he was probably exhausted from his trip, he always made it a point to help Padmé with any chores when he got home.
He was always thinking of her.
Placing a careful hand on his shoulder from behind, she quietly asked, "Dinner's almost ready. Can you set the table and grab the children?" Anakin gave her a quick smile over his shoulder and she squeezed his shoulder in a silent thank you as she made her way back to the stove.
Skywalker farm
Dining room
Not completely a novice, Padmé cooked on occasion before but not to the extend she did now. With C3PO's help, she learned how to make a variety of dishes based on what they grew on the farm or could hunt. While it was a kind gesture for Anakin to bring back items on his travels, she didn't want to rely on them.
Anakin, ever the encouraging husband, devoured whatever she made, and she knew for a fact during her first year of cooking, her cuisine wasn't that good; she could hardly eat what she made herself. Her husband never complained and always finished what she gave him. In the past, C3PO would be in charge of cooking or helping her when she lived on Coruscant, and in her most frustrating moments when she burnt something, she thought of relinquishing the task to him.
Something was different about her now. This humble farming life. She took pride in being able to prepare their meals and do it well. Stubbornly, she kept trying new recipes and altering dishes until she could finally admit to herself that they tasted as good as Anakin always proclaimed they were. She took the same determination and resiliency she had in the Senate to her task as a chief. At this point in time, she had to admit her food was pretty damn good.
The table was set as the delectable spread laid before them. A steamy pot of soup mixed with assorted vegetables and last season's dried fish. As a tradition, Anakin took the children fishing every year in the summer, when the fish were plentiful, while Padmé taught the children how to dry and cure the fish in preparation for the winter. Next to the soup was a fluffy, round thick omelet mixed in with some local seasonings reminiscent of Naboo's spicy peppers. They rarely ate the chickens; only when one was too old would they cook one, but the children had trouble eating them, distraught with the memories they made with the particular hen. Leia even once threatened to give up all meat, so they just ate the eggs for the most part. Roasted purple potatoes, they grew here on their farm, laid piled in a bowl next to the omelet. Occasionally, when Anakin hunted the local wild boar, they would be treated to some ribs and maybe a roast. Most of the time, they supplemented the protein in their diet with eggs and dried fish.
Wrangling the children in, cleaning them up, and getting them situated at the dining room table was enough of a task to build up one's appetite. Once there, thankfully, the children sat obediently for dinner. Mealtimes were precious at the Skywalker's home, a chance for everyone to be in one place, and the children understood and appreciated this.
With everyone happily stuffing their faces with the delicious food, Anakin decided to chime up.
"I think we should get a bantha."
Padmé rolled her eyes, "Boaz, not this again." She stated exasperatedly.
Anakin chuckled amusingly as he continued, "We have plenty of land for them! Just one or two would be enough. I miss having blue milk in the morning." He pouted.
Not necessarily the largest land animals, Banthas are a sizable creature and to attempt to get one on his ship, much less bring it home, would be nearly impossible. Anakin knew how ridiculous his proposal was. Still, he enjoyed toying with the idea.
"What about the synthetic blue milk Arseevan created it. I thought it wasn't half bad?" Padmé added thoughtfully.
Anakin's lip curled up as he stuck his tongue out, "Yuck, that was disgusting!"
Leia turned to her father and imitated him. "Yuck! Disgusting!"
Which caused Luke to join in. "Yuck! Disgusting!" He added a more dramatic flair to the end, competing with his sister.
Anakin chuckled sweetly at their antics, "Right kids. Yuck!"
He scrunched his face up to emphasize his point.
They joined him in unison, smiling with a mouthful of food. "YUCK!"
Proudly, Anakin leaned over to his wife, pointing his fork at his well groomed kids. He replied in jest, "see, even the twins know that stuff was horrible!"
Padmé rolled her eyes again but couldn't contain her amusement as she proclaimed, "you're teaching them bad habits!"
The children laughed heartily at that comment and Padmé couldn't help but lovely sigh at them.
"Daddy, where would you get a bantha?" Luke asked as he chewed a mouthful of the omelet.
Anakin put his fork down as he playfully stroked his beard. "Well, probably from another planet where they live."
"Can I come with you if you go?" Luke asked innocently.
Anakin glanced at Padmé quickly for help and saw none given as she put her spoon down and crossed her arms expectedly at Anakin, seeing how he would answer this question, which he should have seen coming.
Anakin rolled his tongue on the inside of his mouth, seeing how his beloved wife wouldn't offer any help. "They're really big and scary. It's better if I just brought one home."
"But I could help you? Make sure you come home safely?"
Luke's response was unexpected, as Anakin and Padmé shared a sad look.
Eagerly, Luke continued, "Mom gets really worried whenever you leave. I can help watch your back?"
Anakin's heart sunk in his chest as he replied, "Luke. I'm always going to come home to you guys. I promise." He reached over and squeezed Luke's shoulder as his eyes shone with sincerity.
Luke wasn't satisfied with the answer, "How come you get to leave the planet, and we don't? I wana see what's out there. It gets boring here!"
And that was the rub as Anakin cursed to himself.
His son longed for adventure just like he did when he was younger. It didn't matter how exciting he tried to make their home: building a droid together, a makeshift speeder he took Luke around the planet at speeds Padmé would disapprove of, and programming the various droid protocols. It wasn't enough for his son. It was a hunger that would only grow with time.
Thin lipped, Anakin gritted through his teeth, "I don't think that's a good idea."
Luke kept pushing as he questioned, "why not? Maybe…maybe when I'm older?" The hopefulness shone in his eyes.
Anakin cringed inwardly. He didn't want to lie to him or give him false hopes. At some point, he'll have to explain to the kids why they can never leave the planet, but that wasn't today.
The twins shared a look. There was a special connection that only the twins had. Even without the Force, they could feel each other's thoughts. Leia silently pleaded to Luke to drop the subject. Even at five years old, they knew when their dad was getting angry. They weren't afraid of what he would do when he was angry. He wouldn't and never did hurt them but they didn't like seeing their father upset.
Luke ignored his sister's silent pleas as he continued, "I promise I'll get stronger then you can take me?"
"No!" Anakin blurted out as he erupted into instantaneous anger and the kids jumped in their seat. Today, everyone was punching his buttons when he wanted to come home and relax. He pinched the bridge of his nose and took a calming breath before he answered, taming down the swirling emotions inside of him. Looking at his children with their eyes wet with sadness from him, at his raised voice, grinded at him knowing he caused this.
He had to fix this. What Luke brought up disturbed him greatly and surfaced feelings of inadequacy he had as a Jedi. Turning his chair, he faced Luke, as he placed his flesh hand on Luke's shoulder while his son looked down in shame.
This time, he spoke to him, tenderly, "You don't need to be stronger." He moved his hand to under his son's chin and tilted him to look into his eyes. He wanted to make his son understand how important this is. "I don't want you to think you're not strong enough. Am I clear? This has nothing to do with that."
"Yes, daddy," Luke muttered under his breath.
Conflicted, Anakin decided to confess, adding in a deep tone. "The galaxy is a dangerous place, my son." He admitted, honestly, with the whole weight of his heart in his words, "I can't bear to lose you, any of you, to it."
The dinner continued silently after that.
A/N: So think of Anakin's long dreads and beard as a dirty blonde version of Keanu Reeves. (With his hair flicking habit too!) Unlike Keanu, Anakin is able to grow out a full, thick beard like Obi Wan.
Luke's SP-4 ISC droid is a homage to TCW Russo-ISC as well as the modified droid ZED-6-7 that followed Darth Vader in the comics. Pateesa is the huttese word for friend. I was looking for the huttese word for hope but couldn't find a reliable source.
I envision Leia as being determined and diplomatic like her mother but she can let her emotions rule her like her father. Luke, on the other hand, has Padmé giant loving, forgiving heart (That saved Darth Vader) and fierce loyalty that he inherited from his father.
Now that I took all this effort to establish their peaceful lives these past fives years I'm going to go put it in a blender and stir things up!
"Dread it. Run from it. Destiny arrives all the same." - Thanos, Avengers: Infinity Wars