Author's Note:Thank you to all who review this story, some of your ideas have helped break my writer's block. Your generous reviews have really surprised me. Once again thank you.

Padmé, Mara, and Pooja returned from shopping with several bags and parcels, Anakin sighed heavily, he was happy that it wasn't his money that was being spent, but then come to think of it, he didn't have much money to begin with, he enjoyed being able to purchase tools and parts, but his life never revolved around money from having almost none at all and then living in the temple where most things were handmade or donated, it wasn't something that he focused on, if he had a full stomach, clothes on his back, and a roof over his head he was happy.

"Anakin, dearest, can you help us?" Padmé sweetly called.

Anakin winked at Mara and held out his hand and the packages and parcels came floating over to him.

"Hey! You said we couldn't do any tricks in front of your nieces!"

"Correction, I said you couldn't do any tricks in front of my nieces."

Mara crossed her arms and sulked but then decided to also do the same.

"Good grief, Padmé did you buy out all the shops in Theed?"

"No."

"She just took us all over the market. I saw Ryoo's friends, Uncle Anakin." Pooja sighed.

"Speaking of which, how is Ryoo?"

"She's in her room."

Ryoo hated her Uncle Anakin how dare he keep her from her friends! She was so desperate to get out of this prison cell. But her window wouldn't open and her door was sealed shut, she couldn't even pick the lock. Her stew had long since gone cold; she had several blankets surrounding her she was freezing. He would come by every couple of hours to check on her but remained silent and aloof. She hoped he was mad at her; she wasn't scared of him anyway. But a little voice in her subconscious was scared and also wanted him to love her regardless. She heard heavy steps towards her door she had setup a chair and a heavy vase, she picked it up stood on the chair and would swing it when Anakin would step into the room. He of course knew what was coming and was able to hold the vase in the mid-air and instead of it coming crashing down on his head she fell into his arms.

"Let me go!" Ryoo screamed.

Anakin opened his arms as Ryoo floated in mid-air. "This vase is precious to your Aunt Padmé; she would surely hate to see it broken, particularly over someone's head."

"Please let me go; you don't want me here, I'm nothing but trouble."

"I don't recall ever saying that, Ryoo."

"I know you hate me."

"Wrong again." Anakin took her to bed and covered her up, he felt her temperature. It was high.

"Ryoo, you need to relax."

"Nobody loves me, just let me go."

"If I let you leave, then your hypothesis would be correct. Ryoo you are a member of my family we all love you and care for you, it's this damn drug that's got you thinking otherwise. Where's the cheerful, optimistic girl I know? She's in there somewhere, underneath all this pain and misery. Don't worry, we will find her again, but you have to want it too, Ryoo. I can't do this alone; it has to be your choice."

Ryoo started to cry, she hated feeling this way, she loved her parents and her little sister, she used to always look up to her and she used to protect her. This drug had taken over her life and turned her into something she wasn't.

"Okay, Uncle Anakin, please help me." Ryoo cried.

"I'm not as great a healer as Obi-Wan is, but this should help take some of the edge away. Close your eyes, imagine that you are at the lake, the crisp clear waters lapping your feet, the sun warming your skin, the cool breezes blowing through your beautiful brown hair. . ." Ryoo didn't hear the rest of the soft gentle words but felt warm soothing therapeutic massage permeate through her body; she fell into a deep restful sleep.

Anakin soothed her hair back and gently kissed her on the cheek as she rested.

"Master? Are you okay?"

"Yes, Mara, meet me in the meditation chamber."

"Sorry Pooja, I have to meet Master Skywalker, I'm sure its nothing serious."

"Okay."

Mara ran to the house, leaving Pooja by the shaded tree reading her book. Anakin was exhausted he needed to regenerate; healing was not one of his fortes, because it did take a lot for him to recover. He wanted Mara to learn the healing arts better than he, she was learning but it was a slow progression. He would eventually have her meet with Jedi Barriss Offee; she was an expert healer and fighter. Mara sat on the cushion, using the calming technique and felt Anakin enter the room, he sat and bonded with Mara.

"You are much better at calming and mediating than I was at your age, Mara. As Obi-Wan often reminded me I was always on the move. He never gave me chocolate or caffeine after three o'clock in the afternoon, I would have so much energy that I wouldn't be able to sleep until well after midnight."

"Does healing someone always take a lot out of a person?"

"For me it does, Obi-Wan, Barriss Offee, no. I was more into aggressive negotiations."

"Yes, Master Obi-Wan told me, negotiations with a lightsaber." Mara giggled.

After dinner that evening, Mara and Anakin went outside to admire the stars, it was a routine for them.

The next morning, Ryoo awoke to find her door could open, she felt a lot better, but still incredibly weak, she had to hold on to the wall to walk down the hall to the refresher. Pooja smiled at her and went to hug her.

"Pooja, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to treat you so badly. Can you forgive me?"

"Yes, Ryoo. You're my sister and I love you."

"I love you too, Poo." Ryoo cried as she held onto her sister. After breaking free, Pooja helped Ryoo to steady herself while she walked. Anakin was pleasantly surprised when Ryoo appeared in the dining room, she sat in her chair and he patted her shoulder.

"Good morning, Ryoo. How did you sleep and are you feeling better?"

"Yes, I'm feeling better. I can't remember the last time I slept so deeply."

Padmé entered the dining room; she hugged her niece and told her that she was glad she was feeling better. Ryoo's appetite returned, ten-fold. She ate three large helpings of breakfast. Mara brought her some roses from her garden.

"I'm sorry I was so mean to you, Mara."

"It's okay."

"No, it isn't okay. I really have no excuse." Ryoo hugged Mara, who was somewhat surprised, especially since she had treated her with such disdain when she first arrived.

"Where's Uncle Anakin?"

"He's in the garage, finishing up his latest project. I think he misses Luke."

"You don't help him?"

"No. He gets all sweaty, grimy and oily. Sometimes I think I hear him cussing in Huttense. That part is actually pretty funny."

"Do you know what he's saying?"

"Sometimes I can figure it out. He has a slight outer rim accent, despite growing up on Coruscant and when he gets frustrated it comes out even more."

"Do you think he's getting mad now?"

Mara felt his frustration rise and smiled. "Do you want to go hear him?"

"Yea!"

Mara and Ryoo carefully sneaked by the garage door and found him underneath a speeder attempting to put a module in place. Anakin started cussing in Huttense and when he heard the titter of two girls behind him, he banged his head. He cursed even more and pulled himself out from underneath the speeder.

"What's so damn funny?" He sternly asked.

"Sorry, Uncle Anakin; I've never heard Huttense before or that particular kind of accent." Ryoo laughed.

"You know what they say? You can take the man off of Tatooine but you can't Tatooine out of the man." Anakin laughed and went to go hug them while still covered in grease and general filth.

They shrieked and ran out of the garage.

"Good riddance!" Anakin returned to his speeder.

"So what was he saying?"

"I couldn't figure it out; something about Jabba's behind and loads of slime."

"Ew, that's gross."

"Yea."

Ryoo went upstairs to lay down she was still recovering from her withdrawals, Anakin had said that it would be several weeks before the drug was completely out of her system. At least her appetite had returned, including her energy level.

After Anakin finished working on the speeder he showered and found Mara, Ryoo, and Pooja playing in the yard. They were kicking a ball around, enjoying themselves. He knew that his nieces would help Mara come out of her shell.

He went to his study and called his client about his speeder letting him know that it was ready for delivery.

"Is it possible to bring it to Corellia?"

"I don't see why not. Where would you like to meet?"

"How about Coronet, say at Treasure Ship Row?"

"Sounds great, I'll notify you when I'm near the planet."

"Looking forward to it Mr. Skywalker."

"Please call me Anakin, Mr. Calrissian."

"Since we are on first name basis, Anakin, call me Lando."

"Thanks again, Lando. You won't be displeased with the speeder."

"Your reputation of building and remaking ships precedes you. See you in a few weeks."

Anakin switched off the holo and left his office. He would setup transportation with the speeder; he didn't want to attract any attention by bringing the Nubian cruiser.

"Master?"

"Yes, Mara?"

"Are you taking another trip?"

"Yes, this time I'm going to Corellia, you are coming with me, and so in the next few weeks I want you to study their customs, cities, and traditions."

"Is it just you and me?"

"Yes, you will dress as a civilian, and you will refrain from calling me master in front of our clients, did you want to be niece or a daughter?"

"Daughter."

"Excellent, go ahead and study about Corellia before dinner."

Padmé wasn't surprised that Anakin would be going to deliver his newest speeder to a wealthy client. The following weeks Mara studied about the planet she was going to visit with Anakin. He even tested her knowledge!

Ryoo continued to progress well with her withdrawals, she had experienced a few nightmares, but even those were gone. Her parents would be returning on the day that Anakin and Mara would be leaving for Corellia.

"Master, why are we taking a transport?"

"Because I don't want to flaunt our resources, it's good for an apprentice to see how other people live. Don't forget to call me father when we are speaking aloud to each other okay?"

"Okay."

Lando Calrissian was anxiously awaiting his speeder, he even had an old ship that needed to be reconditioned, and he would pay Anakin Skywalker a large sum of money if he took it and repaired it. He knew that it would take him awhile to get it in good running order. It would break Solo's heart; he loved that ship, and even named it the Millennium Falcon. The transport landed and Anakin walked out with Mara Jade.

"Mr. Skywalker, who is this vision of loveliness?"

"My daughter, Mara Jade, Calrissian, she's much too young for you." Anakin smiled with a slightly veiled threat.

"Nice too meet you, Miss Jade." Lando kissed her hand.

"Likewise." Mara coolly stated she didn't like this guy; he seemed too roguish for her tastes.

Anakin put his arm around her shoulders and when the speeder was pulled out of storage, they loaded it up in Calrissian's ship and took it to his hanger bay, while Anakin and Lando discussed business, Mara Jade looked around. When the arrived at the hanger, she saw a young man about fifteen running up the ramp and he shut the door.

"Solo! Come out meet our guests."

"No! I'm busy."

"He's not very sociable, I'm sorry Anakin."

"Don't be. Let's finish this transaction; you say you have another ship for me?"

"Possibly, she needs a lot of work; it will probably take years to get her up in running. The only thing she has going for her, is the fact that she's incredibly fast and her hyperdrive is still working, she's definitely not pretty."

"Sounds intriguing."

Han Solo lowered the ramp and saw a pretty redhead sitting by the speeder.

"Hello." Han Solo greeted.

"Hey."

"Bored?"

"Yea, I hate waiting while my father conducts his business, it takes forever."

"You want to see my ship?"

"Sure, why not?" Mara walked up the ramp after Han Solo, he was kind of cute he had that same mischievous glint that her master often had, especially when he was about to pull a prank on someone.

"Is your father strict?"

"He can be."

"I wouldn't want to get on his bad side; he looks like he could freeze somebody with his look."

Mara laughed and Han smiled.

"You are very pretty."

"Thanks you aren't so bad yourself."

Han Solo explained each part of the ship, Mara was really surprised by his technological knowledge, and she received a full tour. Afterwards they sat in the cockpit talking.

"Do you want to go for a ride?"

"I'll have to ask first."

"Do ya always do as you are told? Do ya always ask first? Sometimes it's easier to do something and ask for forgiveness later, do ya know what I mean?" Han Solo shut all the doors and started the engine. It whined and then it kicked right up. "Sit tight, kid. Don't be afraid I've done this lots of times."

"What the hell was that?" Lando yelled.

"Mara!" Anakin yelled and ran to the hanger, it was too late, and the ship was off.

"Mara Jade! Where do you think you are going?" Anakin yelled

"Just for a little ride, we will be right back!"

"Solo is with you? You better tell him to turn that ship around."

"Its going to be okay, master. Solo told me he is an experienced pilot, no worries."

Lando watched Anakin he seemed to be carrying on a conversation but he didn't hear anything, he once heard that Jedi could communicate telepathically. He did look angry and worried.

"I do hope you are prepared for some serious consequences, padawan." Anakin sternly replied.

Mara Jade gulped, "We need to go back, Han."

"We just got up here! What are you afraid of?"

"My father!" Mara Jade yelled.

"What's he going to do? He might yell but you worry too much!"

"Yelling is the least of my concerns. I demand that you take us back, now!"

"Jeez, you really are scared of him aren't you? You act like he's an all powerful Jedi or something. What's he going to do, ground you?"

"That will be the least of my concerns, Solo. You better be lucky that you don't have any guardians to look out for you."

Han Solo sighed actually he was kind of envious of Mara, his parents died, he had been on his own for several years, Lando looked out for him, but for the most part he pretty much came and went on his own. He sometimes did wish he had parents and someone to answer too. Mara felt his loneliness and even though he did have a lot of freedom, he felt restricted too by his age. He did seem to wish that he could have parents that set boundaries. "Hmm, be careful what you wish for, my friend." Mara whispered.

The ship landed and the ramp lowered, Anakin stood at the end of the ramp with his hands on his hips, he was absolutely infuriated.

"You go first, Mara."

"No, it was your idea, Han."

"No, really I insist, ladies first."

"So much for my knight in shining armor, nerfherder."

"I never said I was brave enough to face an angry father."

"Mara Jade Skywalker, get down here right now! Do not make me come up there and get you!"

"Wow he used your full name! You really are in trouble aren't you?" Han Solo snickered.

Mara decked him and he picked himself up and yelled, "What did you hit me for?"

"Because it's your entire fault!"

"You wanted to come, sister!"

"I wanted to ask first too! You damn nerfherder!"

"It's a good thing I make it a rule to never hit a girl, or you would be flat out." With that Han Solo pushed Mara down the ramp she grabbed his shirt and it ripped as they both tumbled down the ramp and at Anakin's feet. Anakin looked down still extremely infuriated, the scowl on his face was priceless as the two stood to their feet.

"I'm sorry, father." Mara whispered.

Anakin grabbed her arm and warned Solo to remain where he was. When they left for the office, Han sat on the deck. When Lando was certain they were out of earshot, he started laughing.

"Solo, you should know better than to mess with Jedi Master's daughter."

"Huh? You're kidding right?"

"No, someone is in some serious bantha poodoo; I don't envy your position at all my friend."

Han Solo grabbed a notepad and a pencil, The Last Will and Testament of Han Solo:

The Millennium Falcon goes to Mara Jade

My tools go to Mr. Skywalker

My models to Lando Calrissian

"What are you doing my friend?"

"Writing my will, I didn't think I'd go this way or that I would be this young. I was hoping that one day I'd meet a short brunette and have a couple of kids, but I guess it's too late now."

Mara Jade came out of the office trying so hard not to cry; she was grounded for three solid months and would be working on ships.

"Send Solo up here."

Han handed the paper to Lando and saw Mara walking slowly towards him.

"My father will see you now." Mara cut loose and started to sob she was walking rather stiffly Lando noted with some wry amusement. Han Solo walked so slowly until he heard an angry voice boom, "Solo, do not keep me waiting. I'm not a patient man!"

Mara gently sat and Lando offered her something to drink.

"No, thank you, Mr. Calrissian."

"What happened?"

"I've been grounded for three months and I have to work on the next ship that Father purchases."

Han Solo knocked on the door.

"Enter!"

"Sir, I'm sorry. It was my fault, Mara tried to get me to stop, but I wanted to show off, she's so pretty. Please, please don't kill me, nothing happened."

Anakin crossed his arms and glared at the young man, waves of fear intensified it reminded him of the storms he heard called Tsunamis.

"Have a seat, Solo." Anakin ordered.

Han Solo sat but was biting his nails, "Where are your parents?"

"They're dead sir. Mom died giving birth to me and my father drank himself into a stupor and killed himself. I've been living with Lando, he looks out for me."

"Who disciplines you when you take innocent children aboard a vessel without a pilot's license and proper code clearance?"

Han didn't know how to answer that, except to tell the truth, "Nobody, sir."

"Hm, I see." Anakin leaned back and looked thoughtful for a moment. The tension in the room increased, Anakin stood up. Han did the same.

"Who do you work for?"

"Lando gives me food and a place to lay my head at night in exchange for working on his ships."

"You will come and work for me, I need a mechanical assistant, your service will be completed by the age of twenty-one, you will earn a weekly salary, food, shelter and clothing will be provided. Do you accept?"

"You aren't going to like you know punish me for this incident are you?"

"No, if you accept; if you do not then yes."

"Just how do you plan on doing that?"

Anakin leaned forward and looked the Corellian in the eye, "Excruciating physical pain significant enough that you will always think twice before taking a child on a whirlwind adventure in a dilapidated ship."

Han Solo swallowed and believed instantly what Anakin was saying.

"Okay, I'm in, its not like I have a dozen offers on the table."

"Wise decision, my friend." Anakin sneered.