Anakin's Angel:

D64/32 BBY, Tatooine

"Are you an angel?"

Those are the first words nine year old Anakin Skywalker ever says to the girl who had haunted his dreams for as long as he could remember. What else was he to think when he's seen her in so many beautiful dresses? When he's seen her always fight for what was right? Always have the needs of the people first and foremost above her own? And then show up in Watto's shop like his own personal saviour? She must be an angel.

His first sight of her in real life is sooo much better than the dreams. She was beautiful, which he already knew, but what really stood out was how she glowed with an inner light that he just knew was her innate goodness. Most people barely shone at all, and some were just empty. Watto had no inner light, for example. Anakin's mother, on the other hand, glowed almost as fiercely as this girl did. They were his angels.

He was never sure how old she'd be when they'd first meet, because he'd seen her at a variety of ages, from about ten years old to some sort of adult age. He does know that they'll be together someday when he's all grown up too. He's seen it. He's not thrilled that she's already a teenager, but he figures that's not too far off his own age and she obviously doesn't hold his younger age against him. At least not when they're older. For now, he was just happy to see that his dream girl was real.

"What?" Padme Naberrie, aka Queen Amidala, recently elected at just fourteen years of age, startles as she turns to look at the adorable blond haired boy that just ran in after being summoned by the toydarian shop owner and is now sitting on the counter and cleaning some unknown metal part with a rag.

"An angel," he explains patiently. "I heard the deep space pilots talk about them. They're the most beautiful creatures in the universe. They live on the moons of Iego, I think."

Padme is startled and a little bit flattered. As the Queen, she'd received multitudes of compliments that felt like empty words. In the guise of one of her own handmaidens, people rarely ever paid her attention. She liked it that way, to be honest. But from this boy, the compliment felt truly sincere and she found that she didn't mind. "You're a funny little boy. How do you know so much?"

Anakin wasn't sure if he liked being called 'funny', but the rest seemed like a compliment, so his opinion of his dream angel remained the same. "I listen to all the traders and star pilots that come through. I'm a pilot you know. And some day, I'm going to fly away from this place."

Padme was amused that such a small child could claim the title of pilot, but she decided to indulge in his fantasy. "You're a pilot?"

"Umm hmmm. All my life," Anakin said proudly. The reality was more like the last three years, ever since Watto had found him playing with his podracer and thought it would be fun to put the kid in a race, just for laughs. No one was laughing when Anakin actually walked away from the race in one piece, even if the pod sputtered to a halt right before the finish line. That was still better than three quarters of the field who never even finished the first or second lap. Needless to say that Watto had put Anakin in every race since. (Mostly so he could bet against him, but Anakin didn't care; he just loved flying and how his blood sang at the extreme speed and sheer danger of it.)

Padme smiled at the boy's wishful thinking. There was once a time when she'd dreamed that she was a dancer and had pirouetted all over her home. Now she led her people and her childish fantasies were long behind her. "How long have you been here?"

"Since I was very little. Three, I think. My mom and I were sold to Gardulla the Hutt, but she lost us betting on the pod races."

Padme's breath caught at what she thought the child just said. "You're a slave?" she asked, just to clarify. She'd never seen a slave before, believing slavery to be abolished from the galaxy long ago.

She'd found the one subject Anakin was incredibly touchy about. "I'm a person!" he said loudly. "And my name is Anakin!" He hated that he and his mother were owned by other people just like livestock. He hated that they had no choice in where they lived or what they did. He hated being a slave.

Padme was taken aback by his vehemence and was quick to apologize. "I'm sorry. I don't fully understand. This is a strange place to me," she glanced around at the old junk shop as an example. But in reality, absolutely everything on Tatooine was strange to her. The heat. The sand. The animals. The monotonous beige colour that coated everything. The vague air of hopelessness in the people. None of it felt even remotely like her beautiful home of fresh green grass, clear blue water, gleaming white buildings, and healthy, happy people.

At least, they were healthy and happy until the invasion of Naboo yesterday. She couldn't bear to think about how many had already been injured or even killed by the Federation's ruthless droid army. But as the Queen, she had to, which is why she was here, trying to get to Coruscant, so she could plead her case to the Senate and save her people.

Anakin calmed down almost immediately at her apology and realized she meant no offense. He smiled back at her in his own apology for being too loud. "That's okay. Tatooine takes some getting used to, I guess. But I still hate the sand, even though I've been here for six years. It gets in everything!"

Padme giggled at his annoyed expression. "I noticed." She had found the sand was quite annoying on the walk from the ship to the spaceport city of Mos Espa, finding its way into her shoes, causing her to have to hop on one foot while she dumped the sand out and tried to keep up with Master Jinn and Jar Jar, who both seemed oblivious to the discomfort.

Padme smiled wider as Anakin beamed at her for agreeing with him. The boy was incredibly likable, which she found refreshing, not feeling like she had much in common with younger kids any more. Her duties as Queen had forced her to grow up faster than most.

And then there was Jar Jar Binks, her new acquaintance / friend? The gungan seemed to be permanently stuck in an awkward teenager stage, even though he was a male in his prime. She'd never seen a more naturally clumsy being in her life. At least he was entertaining.

He was demonstrating that right now, in fact, as he fell all over everything in the shop trying to catch the little droid that he'd accidently activated. For the sake of politeness, she was holding in her laughter, but a snort almost escaped as he caught it by the neck and the little droid kicked him in the knee.

Anakin was appalled by the gungan as he destroyed his carefully organized chaos of a shop. "Hey!" The gungan looked over at him, carelessly holding the little droid that Anakin had spent days putting together. "Hit the nose."

"Ohhh," the gungan said and did as ordered. The little droid went back to sleep mode, curling in on itself as it settled on the floor at his feet.

"Jar Jar," Padme gently admonished. "Didn't Master Jinn just tell you not to touch anything?"

Jar Jar hung his head for a moment, long ears drooping. "Yesa. But mesa so curious. Thersa so much fun tings."

"Just... Be more careful," Anakin said on a sigh. "I'm the one who fixes all this stuff so Watto can sell it to some poor nerfherder for more than it's worth."

"Okiday," Jar Jar says, happy again. He wonders off and picks up three power couplings. "Yousa wanna see mesa juggle? Isa good, Isa swear."

"Sure, Jar Jar," Padme said, to appease the gungan. She rolled her eyes slightly at Anakin and they shared a grin. "Did you really put all this stuff together?"

Anakin nodded enthusiastically. "I like fixing stuff. My mom makes decorations from the parts I can't use. You should see it. It's pretty. At least I think so. Between my mom's art and my repair work, we keep Watto pretty well supplied with credits."

Padme frowned at the thought that the boy and his mother didn't work for themselves like they should be. With their skills, they should be fairly well off, but judging by the boy's clothes, which were of a very rough material, they were only kept well enough so that they survived. From what he'd said, it sounded like the boy was nine years old, but he was as small as most six year olds. He obviously wasn't getting as much nutrition as he should have to grow properly. It made her heart hurt to think of it. "From what I've seen, it looks like you're very good at what you do. Your mas... umm, Watto, is lucky to have you." She was impressed that a boy so young was capable of putting that much of his attention into something useful. Most children only knew how to focus on games.

Anakin beamed at her again, his vivid blue eyes lighting up in gratitude for her not saying 'master' and at the compliment, as they both kept half an eye on Jar Jar, who was actually doing not that bad with his attempts at juggling. If he practiced, he might actually get good at it, which would be astonishing considering how clutzy he was.

"He wouldn't have lasted long anyways if I wasn't so good at building things," Anakin said, stating a fact without too much boasting in his voice.

Anakin turned slightly as the long haired man his angel had arrived with came back into the shop, trailed by his silver and blue astromech droid and Watto. Anakin wondered about him. He glowed with an inner light too, but it was different than any he'd seen before; stronger somehow. But not brighter than his angel's. No one would ever be brighter than his angel. There was a sense of contained power about him that made Anakin VERY curious.

"We're leaving," Master Jinn said as he strode through the shop, looking fairly displeased, with Artoo (the name she'd given R2-D2 after he'd become her favourite droid after he saved their lives while running the Federation blockade around Naboo) following him. He only glanced at Jar Jar, who fumbled the power couplings at his look. "Jar Jar, you too."

Padme reluctantly followed after her protector, finding it strange that she didn't actually want to leave the boy's company. Maybe he was reminding her that life wasn't all about politics and that there could still be some fun and dreams in it. "I'm glad to have met you, Anakin," she said as she walked backwards towards the door of the shop.

"I was glad to meet you too," he called after her, and she smiled to herself, quickly catching up to Master Jinn.

"That was a waste of time," the astromech droid beeps at his people as he left, making Anakin smirk to himself. He'd always liked when droids had a less than perfect sense of obedience to their masters. It made him wish he could rebel just as easily, but most didn't understand binary, so they could get away with it. He could not, and he had the whip scars on his back to prove it and many days of no food to teach him to keep his mouth shut. His mom had always despaired that he'd never learn to keep his sarcasm to himself, but Anakin finally had, mostly just to keep his mother from crying over him anymore.

The last one out the door was Jar Jar and he somehow managed to turn the wrong way, which Anakin had to snort at. How could a relatively intelligent being be so incredibly incompetent?

Watto hovered beside him. "Outlanders. They think they know everything," he complained in Huttese.

"They seemed nice to me," Anakin replied in kind, having learned the native language of the planet years ago.

Watto didn't seem impressed with his assessment. "Clean the racks, then you can go home."

Sweet! That meant he had a chance of catching up to the angel and her party before they left the city. And failing that, he might actually make it home in time for lunch today, which would make his mom happy.

Anakin jumped off the counter with his rag and rushed to the side room to clean up the mess Jar Jar had made, swiping off any dust that had settled on flat surfaces. He moved like a whirlwind and was done in half an hour flat.

Padme followed Master Jinn around the dusty 'city' as he talked to other junk dealers, but no one had a hyperdrive for a Naboo ship, and no one would take Republic credits for them to buy something else to barter with the toydarian for his hyperdrive.

It was a weird feeling, being rich and yet penniless.

"Mesa hungry," Jar Jar whined.

"We'll get lunch soon enough, Jar Jar," Master Jinn said in a relatively patient voice. "It looks like there's only one more shop to check anyway."

"Okiday, Massa Qui-Gonsa," he said dejectedly.

"But first..." Master Jinn pulled out his comm and called Master Kenobi. "Obi-Wan, can you check the ship and see if there's anything of value on board that we could use to barter with? No one here will take Republic credits and we need at least the equivalent of twenty thousand."

"Yes, Master. I'll comm you back shortly," came back the amused sounding reply.

Padme raised an incredulous brow at Master Jinn as he tucked his comm unit away. "You know, you could have just asked me. I know exactly what's on that ship, and I can tell you right now, it's not worth a hyperdrive."

Master Jinn raised a sardonic eyebrow in return. "Forgive me for assuming, but in this case, it never hurts to double check."

Padme hummphed and just barely stopped herself from crossing her arms over her chest and stomping her foot like a little girl. This man was determined to frustrate her with his inability to see her as something other than a child and she refused to add to his mistaken impression of her. (Not that her training would let her do anything so childish anyway.) But stars, why couldn't he see that she was smarter than her age made her look? There was more than one reason she embraced the tradition of wearing heavy makeup and wore elevated shoes to make herself look older when she was being a Queen. (The other was to hide the fact that her double wasn't exactly her lookalike and was somewhat taller than her.) "Next time, ask," she said imperiously.

He bowed his head slightly, mockingly. "Yes, Your Highness."

Padme narrowed her eyes at him. She was sorely tempted to tell him just how accurate that statement was.

While they waited for Master Kenobi to call them back, they went into the last shop for a whole minute. Master Jinn talked to the blue rodian behind the counter, got laughed at, and had a spare part hucked at his head, which he ducked handily.

The part hit Jar Jar in the foot and he spent a minute hopping and cursing while the rodian laughed some more. Padme came to the conclusion that she definitely didn't like this planet and she felt more sorry than ever for little Anakin.

"Right. Let's hope Obi-Wan finds something," Master Jinn said as they returned to the too bright light of outside.

Padme rolled her eyes at his back, refusing to actually say anything more on the matter.

Master Jinn led them to a shady alcove, perhaps feeling the heat just as much as she was. (No one needed to know she was a pool of sweat under her clothes.) She was grateful for the respite from the pounding suns.

"Now what?" Jar Jar said plaintively. "Mesa no liken this place."

Master Jinn's comm chose that moment to chime and he answered it. "Tell me some good news, Obi-Wan."

"I'm afraid there's no good news to share, Master. Unless we start tearing the ship itself apart, which would be counterproductive, there's not much of value here."

Padme shot Master Jinn an 'I told you so' look, which he chose not to see.

Master Jinn was pretty good at keeping his emotions to himself, but his face fell slightly, showing just how disappointed he was. "Are you sure there's nothing left on board?"

"A few containers of supplies. The Queen's wardrobe maybe, but not enough for you to barter with. Not in the amount you're talking about."

Padme growled under her breath, disgusted Master Kenobi would even think of trading her dresses. (She wondered what kind of hullabaloo that had caused when he tried to look at them.) If only he knew how much the spare wardrobe she kept on her ship was worth, he wouldn't be so quick to dismiss it. But she was glad he did as she needed those dresses for her time on Coruscant and there would never be enough time to have another wardrobe made for her before she had to be seen in public again. Besides, she doubted very much that anyone on this stars forsaken planet would want her gowns or pay a fraction of what they were worth.

"Alright," Master Jinn said resignedly. "I'm sure another solution will present itself. I'll check back later." He moved to go back out into the market place, but Jar Jar stopped him.

"No again. No again. The beings hereabouts are cwazy! Wesa be robbed and crunched."

"Not likely," Master Jinn reassured him patiently. "We have nothing of value. That's our problem."

Padme smirked as she followed them. Men were such idiots sometimes.

"Hey! I'm worth something!" Artoo beeped indignantly.

Padme paused and put a hand on his dome. "I know," she whispered. "But let's not tell them that, shall we?"

Artoo trilled out a confused sounding, "All right?"

"Trust me. It's for the best. You do not want to get stuck on this sand ball."

"Okay," he beeped.

Spotting a slimy looking man eyeballing her hungrily, Padme shuddered and quickly caught up to Master Jinn, walking as close to him as propriety allowed. Master Jinn did have his uses.

Two minutes later, Padme was not surprised to find that Jar Jar wasn't following them anymore.

"Where'd he go, Artoo?" she asked the droid, since he was better at keeping track of their easily distracted companion than she was.

He turned his dome back the way they came. "J.J. Bumblehead stopped back there."

Padme giggled at the nickname Artoo had given Jar Jar. "Master Jinn... Jar Jar's..."

Master Jinn sighed and they headed back. "I don't know why I brought him with me when we left Gunga City."

"Because you're just a big softy on the inside?" Padme teased him.

Master Jinn smiled. "I suppose I am, but don't tell that to my Padawan. Obi-Wan is bad enough at listening to me."

Padme laughed softly, having observed their friendship on the flight to Tatooine and knew he was just joking. Mostly.

While making his way through the city to where his apartment was on the opposite side from Watto's shop, keeping an eye out for his angel and her companions, Anakin saw the gungan on the ground with a male dug standing over him. Worried for the friend of his angel, Anakin quickened his pace and parked himself in his rival's face. "Careful, Sebulba," he said in Huttese. "He's a big time Outsider. I'd hate to see you diced before we race again."

Sebulba, of course, wasn't even remotely intimidated. He snarled back, "Next time we race, boy, it will be the end of you. If you weren't a slave, I'd squash you now."

Anakin smirked at him, grateful for the only advantage to being a slave. "Yah. It'd be a pity if you had to pay for me."

Sebulba snarled again and spat out a foul curse before returning to his table. Anakin watched him carefully, since the dug was known for pulling dirty tricks. He was a being with absolutely no light of goodness in him.

Anakin turned his focus to the tall man his angel had called Master Jinn as he helped Jar Jar off the ground. "Hi."

"Hi, there," Master Jinn replied, paying attention to Anakin for the first time that day and giving him a slight smile.

Anakin grinned back up at him. "Your buddy here was about to be turned into orange goo. He picked a fight with a dug, an especially dangerous dug, called Sebulba."

"Mesa hate me crunchin'. That's the last ting mesa want." Anakin thought the gungan was going to have to get a whole lot wiser if he was going to avoid getting himself killed if they planned on staying on Tatooine much longer. Jar Jar was like a walking sign that said, 'Bantha Fodder' in big letters.

Apparently Master Jinn agreed, because he said, "Nevertheless, the boy is right, and you're heading into trouble." He turned his attention back to Anakin. "Thanks, my young friend."

Anakin shrugged it off, but he couldn't help but notice that his angel was smiling at him as well, and that made him feel special. He liked that feeling. A lot. It made him want to do whatever was necessary to keep her smiling at him.

"But. But. But mesa doin' nothin'!" Jar Jar sputtered as Master Jinn turned and walked away.

Anakin watched the strangely mismatched group for a moment before he jolted into action and ran after them. "What are you looking for?" he asked once he was in front of Master Jinn and jogging backwards. "Maybe I can help. I know everything and everyone in this city."

Master Jinn paused and looked at him assessingly. "At the moment, we need spare parts for a J-type 327 Nubian ship. Aside from that, where's a good place to get some lunch?"

Anakin shook his head sadly. "Watto is the only one that has parts for that class of ship right now. And if he won't deal with you..." Anakin shrugged but brightened. "As far as lunch goes, I have a friend who makes the best flatbread sandwiches."

"That sounds lovely," Padme said, thankful he hadn't suggested something that sounded like a stomach churning fried rodent. (She'd seen enough of those displayed for sale.) "Thank you, Anakin."

"Ani," he said with a big smile. "My friends call me Ani."

"Ani it is then." Padme said, returning the smile. "And my name is..."

"Padme," Anakin cut her off quickly with a beamed smile.

Padme was shocked, to say the least, since she was positive no one had said her name in his hearing. "How did you know?"

"I heard it in a dream," Anakin explained as if that was a perfectly normal thing.

Everyone gawked at him and Anakin just smiled wider then turned and led the way towards Jila's shop. He could feel Master Jinn's eyes on him as if he were trying to look right through him, which was somewhat disconcerting, but Anakin figured it was just because he knew something he shouldn't have again.

His mom had told him to be careful about that, since it made people nervous, so he tried to pay attention to what he should know and only say that. But sometimes, like now, Anakin didn't care if someone like Master Jinn thought him strange. He just wanted to impress his angel.