In light of the semi "Cliffhanger" of last chapter I will try to keep it short.
Disclaimer: See Chapter One
Summary: See Chapter One
Reviewer Replies: (You guys took the time to say something, so I feel I've got to at least thank you for your time - if not bow to you and answer your questions )
Okanabe: Thank you! I haven't read your story yet, but as soon as I get the chance I will head on over. Hehe… I will also leave a review n.n You now hold the record for longest review left.
Stocktonwood: Aw! I also think little Luke is very huggable n.n Thank you so much for your suportive words - this review meant a lot to me!
Gatermage: Hehe! Right you are! Wilkes is Mara's grandfather! Thank you for your review!
Huggles everyone! Thanks for the reviews guys!
Oh: As I said before, if parts of it become AU, then parts of it become AU, I'm not trying to write an exact history as George Lucas would see it, but life, as the people of Tatooine, would see it.
The speeder would not start.
Beru jammed the ignition button with her thumb rapidly until she forgot to breathe and began jamming it again.
"No, no, no, no, no, no…" Owen was sitting in the passenger seat with Luke pulled into his lap. The boy was clutching Owen so hard it was amazing he could speak at all.
Another scream of a Tusken Raider brought all three of their heads shooting upwards, this time to the left.
Beru drew in a shaky breath before rushing out of the speeder, her blue skirts in a tangle, and opening up the rusted side panel. "Owen," She shouted in a panicked voice, "try the ignition when I tell you to!"
The farm woman's fingers flew quickly through the mess of wires that existed in the interior of the speeder, carefully but efficiently choosing several she pulled them out and reconnected them with others. "Owen!"
Owen, Luke still a ball in his lap, shoved his thumb into the button and gave out a cry of happiness when the red speeder gave a sign of life. "Its working, Beru, its working!"
And then all happiness left Owen in a flash.
Seven, bandaged heads popped over the edge of the canyon, soon followed by seven, wrapped up bodies, each holding onto a deadly, blunt force weapon.
"Beru!"
"Owen!"
Their cries were nothing against those of the Tusken Raiders.
The desert monsters lifted their weapons above their heads and screamed in unison for all of Tatooine to hear.
And then Owen froze. He turned to Beru, who was still positioned outside the speeder, and their eyes met.
"The water, the moisture… Beru, they want the moisture!"
And then they ran, the speeder abandoned and Luke slung about Owen's neck.
The Lars were not stupid people, they new more about the desert than the desert knew about them, and the tricks of the land were a familiarity. It was mid-day, the two suns were both over head and the worst heat could be felt, was felt. Fear wormed through their veins and all they knew was the air that funneled through their mouths and the Tusken Raiders behind them.
They continued running, throats raw from the grainy, wet air, until there were no more shapes dancing in their peripheral vision. Until they were sure that the only screams they could hear was the wind between their teeth and the blood pumping over their ears.
And when they finally stopped, collapsing into the dust, Luke slid off of Owen and crawled into Beru's lap. All was quiet.
Luke looked up at Beru, his normally clear blue eyes a puffed red and with a watery shine. "Auntie Beru," he said, his voice cracking, "I don't want to do that ever again!"
Beru looked at him for a moment before smiling and letting out a laugh of pure exhaustion. "I'll tell you a secret, Luke. Neither do I."
Owen looked down at his hands. They were sweaty, dampened by the strange air. "We were fools," he said his voice thick, "Such fools. We weren't even looking for them!" He slammed his fist against the hard packed sand and little tufts of wet sand sprayed up.
Luke looked up at his uncle and as their eyes met Luke let out a horse, sobbing cry and once again buried his hands against his ears and tucked himself into Beru.
The air resonated with his sobs. Large, gulping pants and attempted consoling of both surrogate parents were the only interruptions.
"Come, Luke, I didn't mean to be angry, I'm very sorry."
"See, Uncle Owen didn't try to be mad. Please stop crying, Luke."
"Shush.. Luke, Shush everything is fine now. The Raiders are gone now!"
"Yes, we can go home. Do you want to go home?"
And with a ragged breath, the sobs ended. Luke pealed himself off of Beru and nodded solemnly. "Yes, I want to go home now."
"Go to sleep, Luke, we'll carry you," Owen said, and Luke, exhausted, complied and was picked up by his Uncle. The two waited until the child's breathing had evened out before sharing a worried expression.
Beru sighed and pressed her own sweaty hands to her blue skirt. She kept here eyes lowered. "We are in the Wastes, Owen. The Wastes." Her voice shook.
"Yes." His own voice quivered in a fashion that was very unbecoming to the two hard people.
"That's at least sixteen Clicks, at least sixteen, to the farm. With no water."
"Yes."
"Luke…!"
"I know, Beru, I know."
They were silent. Only Luke's steady, child - like, puffs of air and their own unsteady ones interrupted it.
"There is another option…" Own said hesitantly, "One that makes me cringe."
Beru looked from him to Luke before sighing loudly. "We have no choice, Owen. Its that or his life, and that isn't a choice at all."
"I know… but I had hoped…," the man said heavily," that the boy wouldn't have to know him."
Beru reached a wet palm and touched her husbands wet face. "There is no choice, Owen. We must go to your brother."
The twin Tatooine suns climbed over them, slinking steadily upwards and then falling just as carefully. Both moved simultaneously, gracefully, through the sky, providing death to the dumb and life to those who were savvy to their ways. Hours had past since Luke had fallen asleep and the suns were past them, glaring ominously into the dunes of the Wastes.
They had stopped once, and Luke was carefully removed from Owen's sweaty back and situated on Beru's equally damp one. With tiny legs through her elbows, they moved again - walking painfully - slowly - to the corner of the Wastes where a certain 'Kenobi' took up residence.
"Why that name? OD all the names they could give him, why did the bastards give him something so foreign, so far from his own?" Owen asked suddenly, the blistering heat and overly wet air fraying his fear ridden nerves.
Beru looked at him calmly. She had no answer for him, but she spoke anyway, giving him at least the comfort of human voice. "He is still your brother, Owen, by blood if nothing else." It was a subtle hint, a prod at his sense of justice.
Owen exhaled quickly. "Only by blood, Beru, only by blood! I have seen him no more than five times and all he asks of us are favors!"
Beru looked sharply at him, quicken her pace, and stepped forcefully on his foot making the man stumble. "Don't be stupid, Owen, he gave us a gift like none other!"
"Yes! But only to save himself the hassle! What would he have done if we weren't here? Raised the child on his own, I tell you."
"Yes, raised Luke to his death!"
They both fell silent.
They walked until the suns had ceased touching the tips of the dunes and had plunged beneath them before stopping again and switching Luke.
"Are you tired, Beru?"
"Yes, but we can't stop now, you know that." She touched his face and smiled. "But thank you."
"I love you, Beru."
"And I love you too, Owen. That hasn't changed for ten years and its not likely to change now, so stop that senseless worrying!"
Owen smirked at her. "Why?"
"Don't make me step on your foot again, Owen, if I knew why I loved you I'd have quite a few less lines across my face!"
"No, Beru, why didn't we have a child?"
The air around them froze.
"We can't, Owen," Beru said to him softly, "We've tried. Many, many times."
Owen leaned in and kissed her gently on the forehead. "I know that, my sweat, but why didn't we adopt? If I had known this was what children were like I would have begged you to get us at least five!"
And the air melted. Double laughs rang out and the walking - the painfully slow walking - continued.
By the time even the faintest glow of the second sun had disappeared, their destination had arrived, and by the time the speckled, star lit sky was in its glory, they were knocking softly against an old, rusty, metal door.
"Obi Wan?" Beru called softly, "Let us in!"
Owen tapped his fingers lightly against the surface again. His heart was in his throat, but this time for very different reasons. Part fear, part pride, and part hope quelled up inside him and as he touched his knuckles to the rust again he nearly let out a cry as Obi Wan Kenobi opened the door - a wary smile on his now weathered face.
"Obi Wan," Beru said, proving herself once again to be the diplomat of the two, "How good to see you!"
Obi Wan stared at them a moment, looking between the soundly asleep Luke and the two dirty and exhausted moisture farmers. He blinked. "Come in, come in!" he told them, "No point standing out in the cold.
Well, that's it for this little chappie. Sorry if it wasn't quite as good of a quality as the others…
I know it was short - but I sort of figured at this point - anything was better than me banging my head against my desk in attempt to ward off writers block…
It didn't work.
So - Once again - tell me what you thought of it - Any spelling mistakes you feel you need to point out - even flames are welcome because, hey, at least someone took the time to share their feelings.
TBC in the Next chapter.