Thanks Lothloriel! Oy, sorry about the spelling of Tusken, I thought I fixed it. Oops.

LOL Elizabeth, I'm glad I'm not the only that still calls mommy for help :P. Thanks!

*Looks at Jaina and Jag's Hopeful face* ....well *read below* I hope you like it.

*Ducks away from the wrath of Liver Beazard* Sorry it wasn't up sooner...you're right, anger is not good

Thanks Hidden Lurker!

'Shut your hole" to Watto, Someone?

Thanks J.E.A.R.K. !

I don't have any plans of letting this die Falcon. Thanks for the review :)

LOL Princess, Thanks

Thanks Shina! It's not easy sometimes trying to keep with the script when I know what I *want* to happen ;) Thanks again.

Thanks Deonna! *goes into trance* I must update soon ;)

Thanks Namonaki

Thanks Smenzer. Wow, you read it from ch. 1. *bows to smenzer* geeze.

Here's the next bit .Sodesne. Sorry it took so long. Oh, and the reason I used to update every other day a long, long time ago was because I had it all typed up already till ch. 15.

Thanks, once again to all of you who reviewed in all the other chapter! I really appreciate feedback and from now on I'll actually answer your questions, with a review back to you. :). Any other Lurkers *cough* Lurkers?


Thanks again and I hope you like it.

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"There they are!" Leia called out with a hint of excitement and then she fell back into the copilots seat when a blast hit the ship.

"Yeah, well I think they've spotted us!" Han commented sarcastically and yelled for Obi-Wan. He hadn't ever returned to the cockpit after leaving in a huff earlier and now they had already caught up to Fett and had been following him 'stealth-like' that is until Han had followed too closely. Another blast hit the Falcon and Han let out a few curses while Leia once again climbed into her seat.

"What in the blazes was that?" Obi-Wan asked as he entered the cockpit.

"We found them," Leia explained as the ship shook with another blast.

"I can see that!"

"Then why did you ask?" Leia shouted back a little irritated then muttered something about Jedi that would have made Mara proud.

Mara.

Luke had called earlier but when he started to talk about Mara, a mysterious hand whacked the back of his head. Something was up with them and Leia vowed to find out. Even if it meant black mailing her big-mouthed daughter. Then Padmè came on full of smiles and asking lots of questions. Leia didn't mind the questions, but a part of her, a rather big part of her, wished that she could be with them–her parents and observe them how they were before the war. Before it all fell apart.

Han maneuvered the falcon, so they where once again following Jango's ship, and Leia was almost knocked from her seat again, her thoughts disrupted.

"Aww man! Incoming guys, hold on!" Han called out just as laser bolts where hitting parts of the asteroid in their direction. Some pieces hit the ship causing it to rock violently to the side again.

"Honey– I thought you where supposed to avoid the rocks... not run into them!" Leia said sarcastically getting up from where she had fallen...again.

"I warned you"– was his come back along with grumbling about she wouldn't fall if she were strapped in. Obi-Wan stumbled slightly over to Han, but didn't fall once.

"Blast! This is why I hate flying," he muttered noticing the missel coming in their direction.

"I got an idea!" Han called out and Leia groaned an "oh no!" Han shot her a small glare and then looked at Obi-Wan to explain. "Go to the guns when we go through this asteroid up ahead I want you to fire at the missile–I'll take care of the rest..." Comprehension dawned on Obi's face and he smirked and made a run for the guns.

"Ok, ready to go."

"Right lets hope this works," Leia said catching on and strapping in. She could deal with being shot at and falling out of her chair, but shooting at a missile? She wasn't going to take any chances. She rolled her eyes and sent a silent help out to the force knowing they would need all the help they could get. Han gave her his famous grin.

"It'll work."

Sure enough it did. Moments later they where flying out of the asteroid as it blew up behind them. Obi-Wan came into the cockpit with a smile. Jango continued away from them to Geonosis' planet side leaving them to trail 'stealth-like' again.

"Good plan Han," Leia told him with a kiss on the cheek then gave his head a little slap. "But how about we follow without giving ourselves away this time?" With that said she left the cockpit and Obi-Wan looked at Han with raised eyebrows.

"Don't ask me! Ever since that brother of hers called she's been snipity. She thinks he's hiding something from her and doesn't like to be left out. Plus I think she would like to get to know Anakin and Padmè better."

Obi-Wan nodded, still not quite believing that his padawan had children, not really wanting to believe it. What did it mean? That he disobeyed him... again.

"Story of my life," Obi-Wan muttered and Han looked over with a smirk and raised brows.

"You don't want to know."

Han looked like he wanted to disagree but didn't when he realized they where getting a little to close to Jango's ship. Why they couldn't just blast the thing and get this over with he didn't know.

"We want to know where he's headed, and who he's working for," Obi-Wan answered Han's thoughts earning a glare from the ex-smuggler.

"Don't do that alright?!"

"What?" Obi-Wan asked curiously.

"Read his mind," Leia commented coming back inside the cockpit.

"Exactly!" Han agreed than turned his glare onto his wife. She held up defensive hands.

"I didn't read your mind, I was just eavesdropping," she explained and Han nodded accepting that answer. He didn't mind if Leia was nosey, he just didn't like anyone reading his mind. Period. End of discussion. But Obi-Wan was still curious and looked from Han to Leia, question in his eyes. Leia sighed and answered the Jedi's silent question.

"We've had a problem before – of me accidently..."

Han snorted in disagreement but Leia ignored it, "reading his mind."

Obi-Wan smiled desperately wanting to know what the sith she was talking about but not really knowing how to ask. What could she have been so anxious she couldn't wait for and had to 'accidently' read his mind. Leia caught on and filled him in.

"Ok, so I wanted to know what he got me for Life-day. Is that such a crime?!" Obi-Wan nodded yes but answered no and Leia smiled apologetically.

"I know, I know... I shouldn't have done it."

Han nodded as he flew the falcon over Geonosis.

"An unusual amount of federation ships," Obi-wan commented a little confused. Leia and Han both looked at him in askance but he shrugged and his brow creased not really having the answer. "Just land over there," He muttered not seeing Jango's ship anywhere on the surface.

Han did as Obi-Wan asked and a few moments later they were walking down the ramp of the ship looking around the rocky terrain.


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Luke stayed close to Anakin and his speeder bike as they traveled through the multicolored sands of Tatooine. They had just come across Jawas, that had pointed them east to find the Tuskens but Luke new that Anakin was following, focusing on the sense of his mother's pain. He could feel it as well but what seemed to outshine the pain was the anger coming from Anakin, coming from his father.

Anger is of the Dark side, Luke whispered through the force.

He couldn't help but notice Anakin's grip on his speeder bike relax, his knuckles no longer white and his shoulders slumped with a defeated sigh. He slowed his speeder to a stop and looked at Luke.

"I know but I..."

"We'll find her, I can feel her strength," Luke said softly and Anakin's eyes seemed to gain some hope.

"You can too if you don't let your anger get to you," He commented and Anakin nodded and complied.

Luke was surprised that the anger seemed to drift away completely. Anakin closed his eyes tightly for a few seconds then opened them looking far off in the distance. Luke stretched out his force presence with his father's, trying to find a woman he had never met before–his grandmother. He wasn't surprised when Mara joined with him to help. He wasn't even sure if she was aware of what she was doing but he sent a silent thank you to her and continued pushing past all beings on Tatooine before finally coming to rest on one, brighter than the others, in pain but her determination to survive stronger.

"You're right. I can feel her– more so now then before. Her strength is stronger than her pain..." he trailed off and kicked his speeder bike away. Luke followed, heart a little lighter. He had gotten through the anger.


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"I can't believe you stayed," Padmè commented with a slight smile.

"I can't either," Mara muttered with a glare towards the horizon. Then she felt warmth envelope her and she knew it was from Luke, but that didn't stop her from glaring in his direction. She sent him her aggravation. Padmè laughed when she noticed the glare and moved to stand up.

"Where are you going?" Mara asked suspiciously. Suspicious of what, really she didn't know but she thought she had been way too trusting lately so she had to be suspicious of someone.

"I have no idea," Padmè said with a laugh and Mara looked at her like she was crazy. Padmè just shrugged silently and turned to look in the direction Anakin and Luke left in.

"I have this funny feeling that everything is going to be ok Mara."

"Oh no," Mara muttered dramatically with sarcasm evident.

"What?"

"Don't you know you're not supposed to say something like that. Now something has to go wrong.

Padmè stared at Mara open mouthed then started laughing. She couldn't help it. Never had she heard something like that before...well maybe on a holovid but never in real life. "That's the silliest thing I've heard in a long time," she said when her laughter finally ended.

Mara grumbled something Padmè didn't think she would want to hear and she started walking away.

"Mara where are you going?"

"I also have a feeling that, that something that's going wrong is going wrong right now– Jaina, alone on a spaceship with a nosey astromech droid– come on grandma get with the program!"

"Sith!" Padmè cursed causing Mara to turn and look back at the usually well composed Senator that was jogging slightly to catch up. Padmè noticed the raised brow and quizzical look Mara gave her and sighed.

"What do you expect? I've been around you too long," She said explaining her curses to the ex-assassin. Mara shrugged and they both headed towards the spaceship.

"Oh, and don't call me grandma!" the Senator gave her a pointed glare and headed inside.

"Grandma!" Jaina exclaimed as they walked in and Mara couldn't, even if she tried to, wipe the smug expression off her face. Padmè shoulders slumped in defeat as she gave the girl a smile and a hug. Then Jaina noticed Mara and tackled her as well.

"Auntie Mara! Where were you? See I had this idea and when I woked up I was going to tell you but R2 said that you'd gone to see Lars Homest.. the home and I was worried so I wanted to make food but all I could find..." Jaina kept on rambling and Mara gave a silent thanks to the force that there where only ration bars on board.

"You had a dream?" Mara asked softly, and grabbed Jaina's flailing arm before she knocked herself out.

"Uh huh– That's what I said! I had an idea."

"What was it?" Padmè asked smiling and Jaina nodded as if to say she was getting to it while climbing from Mara's lap to Padmè's but her smile disappeared as soon as she noticed Jaina looking worried.

"There was a bad man in it," Jaina whispered softly clinging to Padmè's neck in an embrace.

"A vision," Mara explained to Padmè and Jaina looked over at her. It could have been a vision but it could have also been a nightmare–like the monster under her bed that Mara had chased away.

"He was a bad man Auntie Mara, all dressed in black with a hood– and I was afraid. I'm not supposed to be scared but I was," she explained and Mara reached out to gently to wipe a tear off the little girls cheek. It was obvious now, to Mara, that Jaina was talking about Palpatine and she had to grip her blaster with one hand in order to keep her anger at bay.

"It's ok Jaina, what happened?"

"Sparks came out of his hands, blue ones. Like the sparks in the sky when it rains at home– He was trying to hurt Lukie but you sabed him Auntie Mara and instead he hurt you."

Mara bit her lip to keep from cursing. What Jaina was saying was a vision, she knew it! She knew that if the situation ever did occur she wouldn't think twice about sacrificing herself for Luke. She knew that if anything ever happened to him she would die as well. But was this really what it was going to come down to? Palpatine will die first! Before he even got the chance to hurt Skywalker, she would make sure of that. Maybe it was her anger getting to her, the Darkside shining through but it didn't worry her. She knew it would never take over, never make her a slave like it had Anakin. All she really knew was that, that man would pay.

Padmè's worried eyes met Mara's strong ones over the little girls head. When she opened her mouth to say something Mara shook her head slightly and kneeled in-front of Jaina.

"Look at me Jaina," Mara said firmly earning the little girl's full attention.

"It's ok to be afraid. But don't let it consume you."

"Consume?"

"Eat you up inside honey," Padmè supplied and Mara nodded and continued. "You just have to be afraid and then get over it. I won't ley anything happen to you. Never." Mara finished with firm resolve. Jaina nodded slowly understanding and reached out to touch her Auntie Mara's face– for she would always be her Auntie Mara.

"But..." She started her lip trembling, "who will protect you?"

Mara stared at Jaina with disbelief. She couldn't really answer the question, never before had she actually thought about it. That she, Mara Jade ex-emperor's hand, ex-assassin, smuggler would need protection. Obviously Jaina thought differently, but why? Was her nightmare–vision, she hastily corrected trying to think like a Jedi, that bad? Mara had been the emperor's had for force sakes! She knew about most, if not all of his tricks seeing most come about first hand. He uses manipulation to get what he wants, weaves lies to his purpose to gain what he wants and she will never fall prey to those lies again. Ok, so this kid probably doesn't understand all of this but what did Jaina see to make her voice her concerns?

"I'll protect you!" Jaina stated with conviction, so firmly that Mara dared not to laugh at her.

"Me too," Padmè said softly with a smirk and Mara smiled slightly glancing back and forth between the two. Jaina tilted her chin up daring Mara to argue with them. Mara didn't even want to try.

"I guess I'll be safe then," she added standing up and moving about the ship a little uncomfortable. Never before had she had so many friends that cared so much for her. Ok, so it's a seven year old little girl and her soon to be mother-in-law but she wasn't going to complain. As long as they didn't decide to get all huggy like Skywalker has, she thought with a mental groan. Not that she minds with him anymore, just doesn't think she could take anymore.

"Come on Jay, lets go and try to find you some real food," Mara commented after picking up a ration bar and dropping it. She could usually stand the things. Luke had laughed at her more than once for admitting that she actually liked them, but when there was a chance of getting real food...well, she didn't like to pass it up.

As she exited the ship Jaina fell instep behind her, and Padmè behind her. When Mara stopped, they stopped. Grimacing she tested her theory by taking two steps forward, then one back. The mimicked her.

"Sith!" Mara cursed and Padmè hold back a little giggle that escaped. Jaina was calm and focused, taking her job as bodyguard very seriously.

"I don't need protection yet Jay!" Mara exclaimed wheeling around to glare at them both, but the little girl wouldn't have it. She was on a mission and wouldn't quit. Giving up she focused her glare entirely on the senator.

"Padmè, come on! I don't need both of you following me like lost Ewoks!"

Padmè thought about making her suffer–especially after that Grandma remark. She seriously contemplated it, almost went for it actually but realized that it would mean she would have to go everywhere she did, and right now Mara had an evil smirk on her face that said 'you'll regret it.' She wouldn't put it past Mara to sit and stare at the sand for hours so she relented.

Mara was considering just staring at the sand for hours when Padmè finally spoke up. "Ok Jaina how about we take turns–work shifts," She offered, actually quite proud of herself for thinking it up ever the diplomat. Even though Jaina's face scrunched up with consideration Padmè could tell she wasn't sold yet.

"You can have the first shift," She offered and Mara muttered something about Luke getting his butt back here and quick as Jaina nodded in acceptance.

"Great! Lets go get some food, " Mara said sarcasm evident in her too cheerful tone. Padmè just smiled and waved them off deciding she was going to see how Leia was doing. That's what she gets for calling me Grandma, she thought with a laugh and headed back for the ship.

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"Will you two be quiet!?" Obi-Wan whispered fiercely to the bickering Han and Leia. Both mouths snapped shut as they looked at him in surprise and nodded.

"Or do you want to be discovered?" He asked as if reprimanding a child. Both shook their heads no and he sighed and cautiously walked forward looking out over the balcony-like overview. What he saw made him frown in surprise. Many new questions forming in his mind. What were all these battle droids being made for, and who? It was almost as if the Kaminoans and the Geonosians new something the republic did not. Preparing for a war that neither side new about yet. His thoughts were interrupted as Han and Leia pushed each other out of the way, each trying to be the first one to see.

"Well I'll be..." Han, the victor, said looking down at all the machines being made. All the battle droids that were being made and looked at Obi-Wan confused as Leia pushed between the two to see as well. Obi-Wan rolled his eyes knowing full well he should have left the pair, or at least one of them on the ship.

When Leia asked what was going on he just shrugged and motioned for them to follow down a corner of stairs. When reaching the bottom they could hear a conversation taking place not to far away. Obi-Wan pushed them back into the shadows and listened more intently shielding their presence.

"Now we must persuade the Commerce Guild and the Corporate Alliance to sign the treaty." Obi-Wan frowned as he recognized the man talking as former Jedi Master Count Dooku. Leia tried to look cautiously over his shoulder but Han held her back realizing that this wasn't a time for her to be nosey.

"What about the senator from Naboo?" Nute Gunray of the Trade Federation asked and Obi-Wan was finally beginning to fit the pieces of the puzzle together. "I'm not signing your treaty until I have her head on my desk." Han once again had to hold Leia back as she took an advancing step in his direction as if she wanted to attack the slime ball. Sith, Han wanted to attack him as well but he was sure that this was definitely not the place. Even if this was the man responsible for the threats against Leia's mother.

"I am a man of my word," he replied and Han had to hold back a snort in disbelief. This time Leia held him back.

"With these new battle droids we've built for you you'll have the finest army in the galaxy," another commented as they continued on almost out of sight. Obi-wan motioned for them to follow once again. They did...quietly even thank the force, and he led them to a break in the wall over looking a conference table they were all now seated at.

"As I explained to you earlier, I'm quite convinced that ten thousand more systems will rally to our cause with your support," the Count said.

One of the senators exclaimed that it could be looked upon as treason but no one else seemed inclined to support that statement and agreed to sign the treaty. Count Dooku looked at Nute Gunray who nodded.

"Our friends in the Trade Federation have already pledged their support," Count Dooku went on. "When their battle droids are combined with yours, we shall have aa army greater than anything in the galaxy. The Jedi will be overwhelmed."

Obi-Wan looked at Han and Leia with a frown then back at the meeting. They would have a lot to discuss later, but it was all starting to come together.

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Under the three moons of Tatooine Luke and Anakin crouched low on a steep cliff over looking the Tusken encampment. Anakin knew at once that his mother was down there, he could feel it. Her determination shined like a beacon in the night through her pain.

Luke placed a calming hand on his shoulder and Anakin nodded. He knew what they had to do, knew not to let his emotions take over completely but he was also reluctant to go down there. He didn't know if he could hold it together if his mother was dying. He did not want his vision to come true.

They both jumped off the cliff's edge at the same time using the Force to slow their descent. Anakin crept closer, as if studying the encampment and Luke followed. Only one hut was guarded and Luke knew, just as Anakin did that Shmi was held captive inside.

"Mom," Anakin whispered and Luke approached the back of the hut to keep guard as Anakin cut the material away with his lightsaber. They both crawled through.

"Mom," Anakin breathed again as he saw her tied facing against a rack to the side of the tent. Her arms were spread wide, bound at bloodied wrists and her face was bruised and cut. Luke couldn't help but wonder why she was still alive. If the Tuskens are so brutal then why wasn't she dead yet? He had a sinking suspicion that there was more to this than he first believed.

Anakin was at her side in seconds cutting her free, thankful that she was still alive. He cradled her weak body against his tracing her swollen cheek with his finger in a light healing touch. "Mom," he whispered softly, tears in his clouded blue eyes and her eyes fluttered open.

"Ani?" She whispered back and Luke moved closer to take a seat by his side. "Ani? Is it you?"

"I'm here mom," he told her. "You're safe now. Hang on. We're going to get you out of here."

"Ani?" She asked again her eyes finally focusing as she brought up a hand wipe away a tear that had fallen. She seemed to study his every feature, a soft smile forming on her blood caked lips. "You look so handsome."

"Save your strength Mom," he told her and looked at Luke worried. Luke nodded and moved closer so she could see him as well as he brought his hands to her temple. She looked at him in confusion and awe before looking once again at her son.

"You have to help me," Luke told him firmly. "Help me father, but first clear your mind of all your anger. We can put her in a healing trance but you must help me. Use the force..." Luke trailed off softly not really noticing that he had called Anakin father but that was what pulled him out of his torment.

Anakin nodded placing his hands over Luke's, over his son's hands and closed his eyes. He thought of his mother, so full of life and determination. He envisioned her meeting with Padmè and the rest of his recently acquired crazy family. Leia and Han, their wonderful children and Luke and Mara. How would she react knowing that he had children older than himself? Or that she was a grandmother, not only a grandmother but a great grandmother?

He laughed slightly at the thought of the joyous occasion and opened his eyes allowing a few tears to roll silently down his cheeks when Luke nodded in confirmation. They had done it. His mother was still alive. Yoda was always saying that the future was always in motion but for the first time Anakin actually believed in him. He gently picked up his mother, cradling her close to him and motioned for Luke to follow. They left the way they came, no encounters and never once looking back.


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Next bit should be up soon. I hope you liked it!