I've had this story up before, but I'm reposting a chapter a day so more people get to read it

A Mother Lives

A Shmi Lives Story

By Rose-Arwen-Padme

A Jedi Shall Now Know...

Anakin found Padme asleep on the blankets in the garage She looked angelic to him once more, and he found himself smiling But now he didn't have her to talk to, and his mother was talking to Cliegg, so he went up to the top bluff overlooking the homestead for something to do

As he stood in the spot where he had positioned himself before he had left to find his mother, Anakin thought about many things His mother, the Tusken Raiders, Padme, his master Obi-Wan, the Jedi Order, Padme, his mother, Padme, and the Jedi temple He also thought about Padme, his training, Padme, and his lightsaber skills

It was on a moment where he was thinking about one of Obi-Wan's lectures when he sensed Padme coming up the steps behind him He turned to greet her, and smiled when he saw her looking adorable as she stretched her arms wide and yawned

"Ah… afternoon, Ani"

"Did you sleep well, Padme?" he asked

She came and stood next to him, and watched the two suns in the sky "Mmmmmm… yes, thank you"

Anakin laughed "Don't lie! I know how uncomfortable and hard that garage floor is I was sleeping on it too, if you remember"

Padme smiled back at him "My mistake You're right, it's an awful place to take a nap" She paused "I'm so happy you found your mother, Anakin I'm even happier that she's going to be alright"

Anakin sighed He had to look off across the horizon to say find the strength to say the difficult words. Slowly, he said, "Thank you, but I know the truth My mother will never make a full recovery She will live, and talk and eat and walk, but she will always feel some pain And it's also possible her right arm will never heal completely How do I know? Two reasons: I could sense it through the Force when I reached out to her, and I also heard you muttering to yourself when I brought her back and you checked her"

Padme comfortingly walked behind Anakin and wrapped her arms around his waist, as if trying to absorb his pain She rested her head on his back, and gave him a hug "I'm sorry"

Anakin tried to lighten the conversation "Hey, wait a minute," he said teasingly "A moment ago you said you were happy for me, and now you're saying your sorry? Make up your mind, Padme" To show he was joking, he tightened his arms, lightly squeezing Padme's arms around his middle

"Humph!" was all Padme said in reply, but Anakin knew she had picked up his hint of only teasing

Anakin smiled, but his tone was somber when he said softly, "I am glad you're here, Padme I know I'd go crazy if you weren't" He picked up one of her hands by his stomach and lifted it up He kissed it briefly but firmly, then set it back down around him

Padme blushed behind his back, and was happy he couldn't see her face "A friend in need," she said quietly, quoting "Is a friend indeed"

Anakin only muttered, "Yeah"

They stood there together for almost half an hour, feeling content and peaceful in each other's presence

Eventually, Padme sighed and asked quietly, "Anakin?"

"Yes?"

"I have this thought in my head, and it's torturing me I just can't get it out"

"Tell me, I'm listening" Anakin said kindheartedly, eager to help her

Padme shut her eyes and took a breath

"Did I make the right decision when I said we shouldn't fall in love with each other?"

Anakin's heart skipped a beat, and his jaw dropped

Silence "Anakin? Did you hear me?" Padme's own heart was beating so loudly she worried Anakin would be able to notice it

"…Yes," he replied meekly "I heard you" He thought he now heard Padme's heart beating behind him, but also suspected it was his own

"Well? Did I make the right choice?"

Anakin bowed his head and said in a low voice, "Were you following your conscious, or your heart?"

Padme closed her eyes and shook her head, lifting it off his back "I don't know It's like I can't tell the difference between the two anymore" After a moment of silence, she continued, "But I made the correct conclusion, right?"

Anakin broke out of her hug and turned to face her He gripped her hands, and gazed down at her "Do you really want me to tell you what I think, or do you want me to say what you want to hear?" She bowed her head, and so he gently took her chin in between his finger and thumb He raised it up, and looked intensely into her eyes "Padme?"

She swallowed hard and answered, "Tell me what I want to hear"

Anakin shook his head "Alright, but be more specific, now, Padme What your conscious wants to hear…" He took a step closer to her "…Or what your heart wants to hear?" Unable to gain any control of his emotions, he closed his eyes and lean in.

"What my heart wants to…" Padme tilted her head up and closed her eyes, surrendering to the emotion, to the inevitable But just as Anakin was leaning in to kiss her, her eyes snapped open She meant for her voice to sound firm and final, but the words only came out said and tired

"Do you know what all of me hears, Anakin? Over and over and over again?"

Anakin paused his face from moving forward, but didn't move away "What?"

"A Jedi…" Padme said, some firmness entering her voice "…shall not no anger Nor hatred Nor… love"

Anakin got the message, and pulled back slowly "You're right," he muttered "Three basic rules of the Jedi Code" Inside however, he was fighting not to say something he thought needed to be said No, he knew needed to be said "But—"

"No, Anakin," Padme interrupted urgently She had caught his eye, and knew what he was going to state "Don't say it"

Before she could stop him, Anakin said anyways, "But I've already broken two of those rules with those Tusken Raiders monsters I hate them! And I'm more than angry with them!"

Padme but a finger to his lips, silencing him "Which is all the more reason," she said, he voice shaking "For you not to break the last rule, Anakin"

"But Padme, I do lo—"

"End of discussion!" Padme exclaimed Padme desperately wanted to change the subject, and found a new one immediately "Anakin," she said "I want you to go get some food You've listened to me before and slept, now I want you to eat No arguing!"

Anakin sighed, and stepped away He forced a smile and said, "Padme, I don't need a woman who's a second mother, I need a woman who…. oh, never mind." He passed her and walked dejectedly down the stairs into the homestead

When he was gone, Padme stood staring at the two suns To nobody she said quietly, "I know, Anakin A woman who loves you like you love her…like you love me" She turned gradually, and followed the stairs down

After Padme had fixed Anakin a good, filling meal, she went to Shmi's room Cliegg was in there, fawning over his wife, but left to get his own food when Padme entered at the request of Shmi

Padme sat down at her usual spot beside Shmi's bed, and checked her once again

Shmi smiled hugely as Padme thoroughly made sure she was improving. "I must say I've never been pampered by a former queen before. Or a Galactic Senator, for that matter."

Padme laughed. "It's my pleasure, and I don't want Anakin mad at me because I didn't pay enough attention to you."

Shmi smiled again and quietly replied, "Ani would never be mad at you."

Padme blushed at the statement, a little surprised at the confidence and sureness Shmi had in her voice "Thank you," was all she muttered, not knowing what else to say

"So," Shmi said with a warm, friendly smile "Padme, let's get to know each other" Shmi was intent, like any other parent would be, on getting to knowing everything about the woman their son was in love with Now, this Padme fell under that category

Padme nodded her head, preparing herself for Anakin's mother's hidden examination She knew that if her own mother had noticed the connection between her and Anakin, so had his mother Plus, now their feelings were deeper than they had been at her house, despite their agreement to banish them She readied herself for Shmi Skywalker's questions and tests, set to impress beyond her expectations. This wasn't going to be like any speech or questioning she had gone through in her career of politics. This was a real heart-to-heart conversation were probably even her best masks wouldn't be able to work, yet she had no desire now to bring out any masks.

"So…"