Return of the Royals Chapter 18: Big Brother Anakin, a star wars: the clone wars fanfic

Anakin and Carmine sat at the table with their family for dinner.

It still felt strange, but in a good way, to Anakin that he could sit at the table for family dinners now. As children, both Carmine and Anakin only ever had one other person at dinner. Except, every year on his birthday, Carmine had his grandmother and his father around for dinner, and the one time anyone else was at dinner with Anakin and Shmi was when Qui-Gon found them again while he was protecting Padme on Tatooine.

Now, they had each other, their father, and some others too. Anakin had a wife, a son, and a daughter, and Carmine had a wife and daughter too.

The first time Anakin ever had dinner with both of his parents, he didn't even know Qui-Gon was his father, but it was a special moment for him because it was just before he finally got his wish to be free. The only sad part was that his mother couldn't be freed too.

Anakin still wished that he could free the other slaves. Knowing that children were no exception to enslavement broke Anakin's heart. He couldn't bear the thought if his own children had been forced to grow up in slavery. Or worse, if one of his children had been sold, potentially separating them forever and giving them to new, worse masters.

Some nights, Anakin still had nightmares about his days in slavery. But the worst weren't when he was forced to do heavy labor. They were of his mother being tortured and verbally abused when she didn't work fast enough back when they were Gardulla the Hutt's slaves.

Anakin looked at the children as they were enjoying their spaghetti and meatballs. Three beautiful children, all of whom Anakin knew in his heart his mother would've loved.

"You have both grown up so fast." Qui-Gon said. "It seems only yesterday you were as small as the children are now. Now look at you."

"We might not have grown up together," said Anakin. "But we did grow into fine people."

"That we did." Carmine said, fist-bumping with his twin.

"You both must be so excited for your coronation." said Caroline.

"Very much. Yeah." Anakin said. "It's only the biggest event since my Jedi knighting ceremony. Other than my wedding day, of course."

"And this time, we're having a big celebration together on our birthday." said Carmine.

Anakin, however, felt a bit down as he wished his mother could've seen this now. It didn't seem fair to him that he'd gotten to start living the royal life, but his mother was left as a slave and then died after living what should've been a simple life on a moisture farm.

As Anakin went to bed that night, he found a small envelope on his nightstand. So did Carmine when he went to bed. It was from their father.

Each of the twins picked up his envelope and opened it, and inside the twins found something wonderful. Though it looked small, it had a huge impact on the twins' hearts.

Inside the envelope was a copy of a picture from the day the twins were born. A picture of Shmi holding her newborn sons in her arms, and she held no other expression but love as she looked at them.

Anakin felt tears fill his eyes as he looked at that picture. He looked at the picture and saw the blankets he and Carmine were each wrapped in. Anakin's was white with a letter 'A' sewn into it, whereas Carmine's was a sandier color and had a 'C' sewn into it.

Anakin picked up the blanket he'd kept since before he could remember. It was the one material possession he kept from his mother. Occasionally, he rubbed the blanket against his cheek when he felt upset or insecure, and he could feel his mother's love rub off on him every time he did. And, tonight was no exception.

But then, Anakin sensed a great deal of sadness nearby.

Anakin got out of bed and walked by his twin's room. He wasn't in bed with Caroline. Concerned, Anakin looked around for his brother. It was a big palace, but Anakin knew his twin well enough to figure out where he liked going.

He wasn't sneaking lemon cookies from the kitchen, and he didn't hear a shower running or singing around the bathroom. And everyone else was in bed, asleep. But then, as Anakin came by the garden, he heard someone playing the guitar and singing a song.

Carmine:

There' a time in your life
When the world is on your side
You might not feel it
You might not see it
But it surrounds you like a light
Makes you stronger for the fight

Anakin followed the singing until he spotted Carmine sitting underneath a tree, playing his special guitar that their father and grandmother made for him when he was younger, and playing a song.

Never letting go
Gotta learn to grow
Watch me as I touch the sky
Still I fly
Now I know it's what I gotta do
Find a dream that's new
Give it all I got this time
Still I fly
Still I fly

Carmine's song sounded like it was about rising again, but Anakin could tell from the look on Carmine's face and the emotion in his voice that he was sad.

Anakin knew his brother long enough to know that he only played music alone and, in that manner, when he was upset about something. But what could it be about?

Feel the wind all around
All the courage to be found
Who knows what's out there
I know I'll get there
Oh off into the sun
I know I'm not the only one that's

As far as Anakin knew, Carmine and Caroline hadn't gotten into any fights, Carmine wasn't having daddy-daughter issues with Lamenta, nor did he seem upset with anyone lately. So, why was he sad?

Carmine stopped playing his song and hugged Fluffy, his old childhood toy and started crying. But the rabbit wasn't the only thing he held. Anakin noticed Carmine was holding a sandy colored blanket with a letter 'C' embroidered into it. The same blanket he'd been wrapped in as a newborn, the last time he'd ever seen their mother.

Anakin hypothesized that Carmine must have been sad because he never knew their mother like Anakin did, and he would never get that chance again. There was only one thing Anakin could do in a time like this.

"Carmine?" Anakin said, approaching his brother.

Carmine froze for a moment and looked at Anakin with tears in his eyes.

"What are you doing here?" Carmine asked, sniffling.

"I couldn't help noticing," said Anakin kneeling down to his younger brother. "You seem down. Care to tell me why?"

Carmine said nothing and looked like he would start crying again.

Anakin sat by his brother and got him to look at him. Carmine once came by Anakin's side and comforted him when he was crying. He wouldn't be able to call himself a good brother if he weren't willing to do the same. And now that they knew which twin was oldest, though they were only apart by three minutes, Anakin knew his job as Carmine's big brother was to be there for him and guide him in a time of need.

Crescent was a good big brother to Carousella from the day she was born, Boba was a great big brother to Gabby even before they were siblings, and Obi-Wan had been both a big brother and fatherly figure to him since he was a little boy. So, why couldn't he be a good big brother?

"Carmine..." said Anakin, caressing Carmine's cheek. He took his brother's glasses off, wiped his tears away and said, "It's okay. You can talk to me. I'm your big brother."

Carmine put his glasses back on and said, "It's just... when I found that picture of our mother... I felt something in me snap. Even though Dad told me that's what she looked like... I didn't recognize her. I can't remember her. No matter how hard I try, I can't remember anything about her."

Anakin started to think about how he could help Carmine, and then he had an idea.

Lamenta was fast asleep in her bed, cuddling her white lamb, when she was gently shaken by her shoulder.

"Lamenta, wake up." Anakin whispered.

"Hmm?" Lamenta opened her eyes and saw her uncle standing above her. "Uncle Anakin? Is it morning already?"

"No. But I think your father needs help. Do you remember that spell Memoria taught you?"

Anakin got Carmine to come back inside and they sat on a couch together. They set Carmine's glasses aside and got into position.

Anakin held Carmine in a hug similar to how his mother used to hold him in her arms when he was little, and Lamenta came behind her father and placed one hand on his head and the other near his heart.

After Memoria helped with Lamenta uncovering the source of her fear of crowds, the princess from Lefintiscia taught Lamenta a few spells that helped access memories. Since Lamenta specialized in dreams and truth, memories fell into her category of spells. And one of those spells was one that could help uncover distant memories.

Anakin knew Carmine had seen their mother once, but it was during a time his brain didn't make and keep memories clear for long periods of time yet, but his heart held that memory deep inside regardless of his age.

"How is this supposed to-?" Carmine said.

"Shh. Just relax, Carmine." Anakin said. "Just close your eyes and listen to the sound of my voice."

Anakin looked at his niece and nodded the okay.

Lamenta concentrated as she began the spell. And Anakin began singing a familiar lullaby to Carmine.

Come stop your crying
It will be alright
Just take my hand
Hold it tight
I will protect you
From all around you
I will be here
Don't you cry

Carmine listened to the song. His father had been the first to sing it to him when he was younger. And then he sang it to his twin when he was sad and crying after getting into a terrible fight with Padme. At first, he wasn't sure what Anakin was doing, but before he could try to open his eyes again, he found himself drifting off in his head.

For one so small
You seem so strong
My arms will hold you

And that was when Carmine didn't hear Anakin's voice anymore, but for the next verses of the song, he heard a woman's voice singing.

Shmi:

Keep you safe and warm
This bond between us
Can't be broken
I will be here don't you cry

'Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more

Carmine started to see a memory, one that he hadn't seen in so long. He could feel himself back in the time when he was a baby, and he was being held by a woman. And now he was starting to see her face more clearly.

In his dream, Carmine saw the same woman from the picture. Only this time, he recognized her as she sang to him, looking at him with so much love in her eyes.

You'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be here in my heart
Always
Always

As a baby, Carmine would coo at his mother whenever she showed him her love. And in part of that memory, Shmi kissed her youngest son's head and said, "I love you my song of joy. My little Carmine."

And that was when Lamenta stopped casting the spell. Carmine, however, remained asleep. But this time, he was smiling a bit as the memory continued in his head. He was remembering their mother now.

"Never forget, Carmine." Anakin whispered. "Never forget the ones you love."

Anakin carefully moved Carmine from the couch and to his bed.

Carmine lay on his side and slept peacefully. That was another thing that was different between the twins. Carmine slept on his side, but Anakin slept laying on his back.

And tonight, Anakin would sleep well knowing his twin would as well.

Featured song: "Still I Fly" by Spencer Lee