I'll Always Think of You.....

Part Five

Written by Lady Serenity Moon



Why wasn't she allowed to come, for force's sake, I'll free her from that life of slavery she has been living for the last twenty - five
years. "Why?" I asked angerily. Amidala clutched my arm trying to settle my frustration. "Because I know work for Jabba the
Hutt. I was traded with a few other slaves about a year back." Jabba the Hutt was notoriously known to work his slaves hard
and sometime even killed them for sport.

This was not going to be pretty. "Maybe we could make a deal with him," Freddy suggested. "It is common knowledge that Jabba
doesn't make deals. He buys people off bounty hunters and slave dealers and uses them whichever way he wants. I was about five
when I saw him publicly execute a women and two children because they refused to work for him."

Amidala looked horrified. "But, he wouldn't do that to you would he?" Amidala asked. I nodded and she jumped into my arms scared to death.
I gently stroked her hair and whispered words of affection to her quietly. Mother sighed. "I still have that transmitter inside of me and
when he knows that I'm gone he will make it explode, killing me."

Freddy stepped forward and cleared his voice, "Your highnesses, it is clearly not safe here. You should return to Naboo immediately."
Mother nodded, agreeing with the commander. "NO!" Amidala yelled, "I shall not leave this place unless Shmi is with us." I smiled
at my little angel as she pulled herself from my embrace and faced Freddy. "I want you to contact the ship and ask them to contact
one of my handmaidens on Naboo we may need miltary support."



"Don't you think we're jumping the gun a bit, Amidala," Obi-Wan asked. "It's just a precaution," She answered. Suddenly as if a
lightbulb appeared on top of my head; I had an idea to get my mother back. It was all coming together. Come on Anakin this
is Tatooine and what do the population like to do best..gamble in other words gambling is their favourite sport well that and
podracing.

Of course, why didn't it come to me sooner. I can free my mother and be back on Naboo in less than a week. Well that's if I win..
I was too busy caught up in my thoughts to notice that Mother had asked me a question. Amidala looked at me strangely trying
to sense what I was thinking. I carefully blocked her probe quickly. "Anakin, what crazy thing are you thinking of doing now?" Obi-Wan
asked.

That man knew me too well. "What do people of this planet love doing the most?" I asked them trying to explain to them my new
plan which was still forming in my head. "Gambling," Mother answered. I nodded, "Ani, what are you getting at, nothing dangerous
I hope," Ami asked. "Other than that?" I stated. We all fell silent until Sache suddenly spoke up, "Podracing!"



"Exactly. I'll go to Jabba and offer him a deal that he cannot refuse. His best pilot against me in a podracer battle --." "NO! Ani no,
you know the risks," Amidala yelled. "It'll be worth it in the end. As I was saying if I win I get Mother if I lose he gets me and the
Royal Starship. I can't lose." Amidala marched up to me and stood right in front of me, staring into my eyes.

"Anakin Skywalker, I said no and I mean it," She turned to Shmi, "I'm sorry but I've got something or someone else to think about
and Anakin is not losing his life or becoming a slave. NEVER! You hear me, Anakin" I sighed and gently tried to pull Amidala into a hug.

She pulled away as tears started flowing down her cheeks. She started to sob uncontrolably and ran out of the room towards my
room locking the door as she went. Obi-Wan grumbled. Sabe on the other hand walked right up to me and pointed her finger
right in front of my face. "How could you ever even suggest that? Now look what you've done. She doesn't need this added
stress and you know it."

I felt guilty. Mother looked me straight in the eye. She was confused as ever; I'd have to explain the situation to her later. Sabe and
Sache tapped on my door and it opened slowly to let them in. I rushed towards the door and tried to stop it from closely. But Amidala
forcefully slammed it in my face.



I sighed and began to walk out of the small house leaving Freddy without any orders and Mother without an explaination. I went to
my favourite spot on the roof of a old abandoned building which amazily was still standing. I put my head between my hands and
kicked myself on how stupid I had been!

There were other ways to save mother and I had to jump in and go for the most stupidest option possible. "Ani," my mother's voice
said from behind me. "Mum, I don't know what to do? I want to free you and then I want not to cause Ami pain." Mother put her hand on
my shoulder, "What does your heart tell you to do?" I sighed.

"It's confused, I'm confused. Mum, I have something to tell you about Amidala. Something that will explain everything that you
have heard." She nodded and gently put her hand on mine. Say it Ani, Say it damn you..damn myself. "Mum I don't know how
this will come out but Amidala's pregnant!"


I hope Amidala's reaction to Anakin getting in a podracer again was alright? I really didn't know how it would come out. Please
Review and make sure you read my other Star Wars fics. - LSM