((A/N: I think that the chapters will be updated more frequently from now on, not after a month. And sorry I have not edited the other chapters to include thank yous to everyone. Thanks for the reviews and this chapter will be lighthearted…kinda…

Whew, sorry I haven't updated. Right now I am in no state toedit this after reading the 6th HP book, so sorry if there're some mistakes. Not gonna cry, not gonna cry... But on a lighter note, I got the Episode 3 soundtrack!

Disclaimer: I swear nothing except the plot and my characters belong to me. So don't sue!

Chapter 7:

Anakin and Obi-Wan headed towards the coordinates of Tatooine. Suddenly, Anakin had an idea.

"I'll meet up with you later," he said into the speaker, taking over the controls manually.

"What-Where are you- what are you doing?"

"I just want to take a look at something on Courescant. I'll be at Tatooine within a few hours."

((A/N: I do not know exactly how time works in space, but let's say it'll be a few hours.))

He steered the ship towards the system that contained the capital, Artoo beeping in a confused tone. There was one thing he wanted to see. He jumped into hyperspace after setting the coordinates. Finally they came out to the familiar planet. The starfighter entered the atmosphere, descending slowly towards the location of the apartment. Seeing the familiar building, he parked and jumped out, softly walking forward since he saw no lights on in the apartment.

He pressed his ear against the side of the doors of the veranda. To his alarm, there were rustling noises coming from inside. Using the Force, he focused on the lock and guided the locking gears, unlocking the door. Silently, he slipped inside.

No one was in the living room, but furniture was overturned. Pots and pans leaked out from the kitchen. From the noise, the intruders were upstairs. Was it more of the Separatists? He drew out the lightsaber from his belt, tip-toeing further inside. No one heard him, for there was still the sounds of the burglars rummaging around upstairs.

Suddenly, there was a crash from the kitchen. Anakin jumped and ignited his lightsaber. There was a noise coming from a cupboard. Moving forward stealthily, he went to the rattling cabinet. Quickly, he threw it open, pointing his lightsaber inside. A disgruntled and alarmed Threepio looked back underneath an awkwardly placed leg. Something jammed him inside. As quietly as he could, Anakin wedged him out. Immediately, Threepio rushed into a tirade of words.

"Oh Master, thank goodness! Those wretched things forced me-"

Alarmed, Anakin jumped forward, almost tackling the protocol droid. He placed a hand over the slot that was his mouth, silencing him. But it was too late.

The intruders stopped tearing through the upstairs. Anakin glanced up and saw five clonetroopers. He was stupefied for a moment. Weren't the Separatists after Padme? Maybe these were after something else…

He released Threepio and came solidly forward, igniting his blue lightsaber. The clonetoopers each lifted a blaster gun from their belts, pointing him at Anakin.

"Why are you here?" he asked of the Clones. They made no reply. Anakin decided not to press it any farther and leapt forward.

Immediately they began to open fire upon him. He flourished his lightsaber, shielding the blows raining upon him from the lasers. He dodged around the mess that was once their living room, leaping over chairs as he tried to get closer. They continued to fire at him.

Anakin jumped up, using the Force to carry him up and forward in a forward flip on the balcony. As soon as his feet touched the ground, he slashed out at the nearest trooper, cutting him down. In one movement, he leaped closer to the others and deflected the bolts. They ricocheted around the landing, causing bits of the wall to fall down. Ducking low, he reached forward with his lightsaber and disarmed one, cutting him down as well. In one sweeping movement, he cut down two more, until finally there was one left. Seeing his position, the clonetrooper stepped back, gun raised. He fired once more at Anakin, but then turned around and retreated.

Anakin leapt up and in front of him, blocking his path. The other fired at his head, then the next second at his right hand. Anakin cried out, even though he felt no pain, but his lightsaber was snuffed and flew from his hand, the handle sizzling on the ground. He could not move his mechanical arm.

"Again?" he groaned, but then attentions were turned back to the Clone, who's position had been changed now that Anakin had no weapon, fired. Anakin used the Force and the lightsaber flew back into his left hand. It would not ignite.

Uttering a curse, he swerved around the next bolt fired at him. Contacting the Force, he placed a hold around the neck, thinking of the Clone inside the helmet. At once it began to sputter and gasp behind it. Picking him up, Anakin Force-threw him against the wall. The clonetrooper slid to the ground, unconscious.

Still infuriated about them intruding into his home, probably to cause harm, he stormed down the stairs, where Threepio was chattering behind him. A twinge of guilt was felt deep inside, but was squashed. He was defending, for that was what the Jedi were supposed to do, wasn't it? Defend the galaxy against harm? He was more alarmed at the malfunctioning of his lightsaber. It must have been the shocking of his mechanical arm that made it go haywire. He lifted his limp hand up, which was still having electricity spark from it now and then.

Anakin got into the cockpit, still thinking about what at happened, when Artoo gave an alarmed bleep. He had just started the engine when Threepio shuffled up awkwardly. Obviously Threepio had been in that cupboard for quite some time.

"Please, Master Anakin, take me!" he called out, "I don't want to be left with those horrid clones! More are bound to come…"

Sighing, Anakin got out and helped C-3P0 get in, getting in beside him. It was very uncomfortable in the one-man cockpit, for both were pressed against the side. Rolling his eyes at Threepio's complaint at this not being much better than the cupboard, he lifted off and into the starry sky.

Finally, he came to the planet he never wanted to see again. It would bring back too many memories. Tatooine…

He lowered the ship into the hot atmosphere, figuring it must be night where his stepbrother lived, since the double suns were out of sight. Finally, the round buildings and other equipment of the moisture farms came to sight. He lowered the ship next to Padme's and Obi-Wan's, leaping out. With amusement, he realized that the farmhouse would be very crowded tonight with nine people in it, plus two droids.

He stretched, back cracking from the hour-long ride on which he had to be jammed beside Threepio. The protocol droid obviously disliked the ride as well- he wouldn't shut up the whole way. Anakin had to shut him down for the remainder. He reached up and switched him back on.

"Oh my, did I dose off?" he said. Anakin helped him down, "Oh, my old residence!" As Threepio jerked forward towards his old home, Anakin made a mental note to repair him and give him an oil bath later. Artoo made twittering noises and followed them to the door. A glance was given in the distance. Just about sixty yards to his right, Anakin could see the headstone of his mother's grave. Grief and rage boiled within, but he quelled it, telling himself to not succumb to the Dark Side, as he was so close to doing before.

He walked to the round house. Before he could reach out to knock on the door, it was opened. Obi-Wan looked outside.

"Thought I heard your ship land," he said, "And where in the galaxy did you go?"

"Remember, I told you, our home on Courescant," said Anakin, "Luckily we didn't decide to send them back there. There were clonetroopers waiting there for us. The already raided the house."

"But I thought that the Separatists were after Padme."

"Investigate into this further, we must," said Yoda, shuffling up, "But for now, rest and recovery are needed."

Anakin stepped inside. Immediately, the man he recognized as Owen stepped forward. He reached out and shook Anakin's hand.

"Glad to see you again," he said, "You can stay here as long as you like, hopefully we'll be able to talk more than-…than last time…" He trailed off. Anakin understood. Beru also stepped forward, greeting him. She looked behind him and smiled as Threepio came forward, babbling on how he was so glad to see Owen and Beru again.

Anakin walked to the place where the tools were kept, hoping to fix his useless mechanical arm. He searched and found some tools. The last time he had been in the tool shed was when- no; Anakin reminded himself that he mustn't think of that now. He got out the necessary tools and set to work. Many of the circuits were singed from the blaster bolt. After about fifteen minutes, his arm was fully functional again. He would set to work on his lightsaber in the morning. He took it out and placed it beside the tools so he'd remember.

"Wondered where you wandered off to, we did," said the familiar tone of Yoda behind him.

"Fixing my arm and lightsaber, Master," he informed.

"The events at your home have cause for great alarm. Close your mind when with Sidious you must. In grave danger are we." With that he left as soon as he appeared.

Obi-Wan approached a few moments later as Anakin went towards where everyone else was. Carmana and Bail were clearing up where they had eaten; Owen was outside shutting down the evaporators. There was the trace of a grin upon his lips.

"Fourteenth time, if I'm not mistaken." He jerked his head in the direction of the lightsaber.

"I try," said Anakin. Wasn't that his reply every time?

"We'll need to stay here a few days. Once again it seems Padme's ship has malfunctioned in one way or another. There's a part we need to get soon, but it'll come in three days at the least."

"All I need, more time on this planet."

Obi-Wan shook his head. "By the way, there's still some food if you're hungry." With that he turned around, heading to talk with Organa.

Anakin was hungry, but at the moment he wanted to see his family. As if sensing this, Beru came forward and tapped him on the shoulder.

"They're resting in the extra bedroom, just down the hall," she whispered pointing. Anakin smiled his thanks and went down the passage.

He quietly opened the door and peeked inside the dark room. Padme was lying upon the bed fast asleep. Grinning, Anakin stepped inside. The babies too were on the bed, since there was no cradle for them here. He crossed the room and slowly sat beside her, lifting a hand and stroking the hair out of her beautiful face. She squinted her eyes and stirred.

"Ani?" she whispered, a soft smile coming to her lips, "I thought that you were-"

"Shhh…" he said, placing a finger over her mouth, "Go back to sleep, I'll come back in a minute after I've had some food."

She nodded and drifted back off. He rose off the bed, giving one last glance behind him and shutting the door behind him. Beru was coming down the hallway, carrying something bulky. As she got closer he saw that it was a small cradle.

"I found this in an old storage closet," she said as he took it from her, "I don't know why Father kept it, but seems to have come into use now."

"Thanks," he said, turning back around.

"They're so precious," she said, and for a fleeting moment, Anakin saw her features fall into a saddened expression. "I wish I could have that joy."

"What do you mean?" he asked, concerned.

She did not answer for a moment, then took a deep breath and glanced up at him for a moment. "I'll never be able to have children."

Anakin could think of no words of comfort as she gave him one last smile and turned around, going back to the kitchen. Turning back to the door, he juggled the cradle in one hand and opened the door once again with the other. His eyes scanned the room. Finding an empty corner, he placed the cradle in it. He saw that it had been already cleaned, and a small mattress and blanket were ready on the inside. Saying a silent thanks to Beru, he stepped to the bedroom.

Padme was on her side, Luke and Leia both asleep next to her, her hand across both. Tenderly moving her hand aside, he picked up Luke, who did not stir, and placed him in the cradle. Next came Leia. Obviously she was a very light sleeper.

Immediately she began to cry. Oh no… thought Anakin. She did not like her sleep interrupted and being moved from one place to another. Quickly he strode across the room, placing her beside Luke. She did not stop crying. It was going to take more than that to get her to sleep. Luke began to move about too, and Anakin heard Padme stir.

"What's wrong?" she asked tiredly. "Wait-" her voice became more alarmed, "Where's-"

"Don't worry, I've got it, just go back to bed," reassured Anakin. He bent over and picked her up again. The sudden movement made her volume become louder. Slightly panicked on what to do, he held her close, stepping out of the room so as not to wake up the rest of his family. He walked around, pacing back and forth, cooing things to her. As he glanced out into the living area, he saw that the lights were off and everyone was already off to bed. Maybe I can get something to eat later…

Meanwhile, he walked up and down the hallway, saying in hushed tones that everything was alright, until he was finally begging her to go to sleep.

"Please? Please go to sleep."

Leia had different ideas.

This was harder than Jedi duties. Yep, much harder…

Finally, exhausted, Anakin sank into the chair at the end of the hall, rocking her back and forth in his arms. It had been at least thirty minutes. Something from long ago came back to his mind. An image of Shmi sitting down on his bed after he had awoken one night, screaming from a nightmare he had materialized in his memories. She had comforted him, and hummed a little tune.

Desperate, Anakin began to softly hum, remembering how it went. Her insistent tone began to diminish somewhat. Relieved and feeling triumph approaching, he continued humming. The words began to form in his mind from when his mother used to sing it. So, he opened his mouth and softly began to sing the last portion of the popular lullaby:

"Home again, home again,

to go to rest,

By hearth and heart,

By house and nest…"

How ironic are those words… he thought as he finished. A smile came to his lips as Leia closed her eyes, her tiny chest rising and falling with the rhythmic breathing of sleep. He kissed her forehead and stood, bringing her back to the room. Just as he was about to enter, a form came from the refresher across the corridor.

"I didn't mean to disturb you," said Obi-Wan, smiling. Just as Anakin turned away, cracking open the door, he thought he heard Obi-Wan say as he passed:

"I didn't know you could sing."

Carefully, he lowered Leia into the cradle beside her brother. Relieved, and not even bothering to fully change, Anakin took off the robe, shirt and boots, climbing into bed beside Padme in his pants. She did not wake. Just as he pulled the coverings over him and Padme, there was the softest of cries from the cradle in the corner. He sighed.

These are going to be some long nights…

Hmm… trying to proofread as much as I can. By the way, what's a Beta? I may need one…

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