Trigger Warning: Bullying, but don't worry. It all ends well.

Chapter 16 - Brothers

Even Piell walked up to the Lars Homestead.

"Hello, Master Jedi." Shmi called out to him before he even got to the door.

Even waved at her. "I'm just coming around to see Cliegg. And I have news for the both of you."

Shmi waved him inside, and called her husband away from whatever project he was working on. They both sat down and looked at Even expectantly.

"Well, the council was pleased with how Cliegg's introduction to Anakin went yesterday," Even started.

"Really, that's good news. Cliegg said that you were interrupted, and he was worried you wouldn't want to continue," Shmi said.

"Yes, well I think that it was all going pretty well, until the blaster fire started," Even said.

Shmi's eyes went wide with shock. "Blaster fire!" She eyed back and forth between Even and Cliegg.

Cliegg's eyes became worried. He eyed Even and shook his head.

"Oh, Uh…" Even wasn't sure, but he got the feeling he'd made a mistake. "Everyone is safe. We captured the Hitman, and…"

"And there is no more danger," Cliegg finished.

"Oh, good for that," Shmi sighed.

"Yes, well we've decided to increase Anakin's entourage slightly too. So I doubt there'll be any repeat occurrences. Anyways, we've decided to bring Anakin along tonight, when we do the community meeting. The thought is, if you bring young Owen, the two boys can meet while we are talking to your neighbors."

"We'll bring him along then." Cliegg said. He and Shmi smiled at each other.

"Good, then. I was just about to go visit the Tusken peoples again, to share an update, and I wanted to invite you to come along," said Even.

"Oh." Cliegg looked back and forth with serious eyes. "Is it safe? I understand they don't like outsiders."

"I was invited, and you're my guest." Even reassured. "They are not all as mean and scary as the stories you tell your children. I only thought you'd like to meet them and learn for real who you're giving your land to."

Cliegg nodded. "Okay, I'd like that. We'll see what we can agree to if we learn to just talk things through. What I teach my boy."

Shmi grabbed his hand before he left. "Be careful."

"I will look out for him." Even promised.

Cliegg drove his family's speeder to Anchorhead, where they would be holding a community meeting. Owen bounced in the back seat, excited to meet his brother. Cliegg parked and took a deep breath. In his mind he was preparing all of the things he would say to his neighbors. Even though he was outspoken before, it did not escape him that he was asking his friends and neighbors to put their faith in strangers. Shmi reached out and squeezed his hand, sensing somehow that he needed the supportive nudge.

Cliegg nodded. Things needed to change to improve all of their lives. After all, time doesn't happen without the wind blowing the sand.

"Come on. Let's go meet everyone." Cliegg opened the door and stepped out of the speeder. His wife and son soon followed.

"Here Owen. Let me help you with that." Shmi offered.

Owen gripped harder onto the bag he carried. "No!"

"Owen." Cliegg gave his son a reproachful eye.

Owen sighed. "No thank you, Mom. I want to carry it myself."

"There. Was that so hard?" Cliegg asked.

Owen rolled his eyes.

Shmi laughed, and walked up beside her husband. "Oh, he's just expressing himself."

Together they walked up to the doors of the building. They were meeting in the school where Owen usually attended his classes. His wife even came here to take an evening class twice a week. A Jedi opened the door and greeted them with their unusual bow.

"Hello Obi-Wan." Shmi said, and then Cliegg recognized him.

"Obi-Wan, Hello. Owen is looking forward to this meeting."

"Greetings. I'm to take Owen to the classroom where we are taking all the younglings. Master Piell is in the auditorium, where you'll start your meeting." Obi-Wan pointed. "Come Owen."

Cliegg and Shmi both stood there a moment and watched Owen follow Obi-Wan down the hallway. Then they smiled at each other. This was more fulfilling than their wedding, the simple ceremony they had on his homestead. This was their families finally coming together as one.

Young Owen followed the Jedi down a hall and to the door of one of the first year youngling's classrooms. Inside the desks were all moved to the side, and several younglings were gathered in the center, playing with some of the toys they could find in the room. He recognized many of them by name, having attended classes with them.

"Anakin," Obi-Wan summoned, and a boy Owen did not recognize looked up and set down the book he had been looking through. It was a first year's book. Way under what should be their reading level. But then, Owen supposed, here there weren't many other options.

Owen recognized the name and he smiled at the boy his own age who came over and looked back and forth between him and the Jedi nervously.

"Hi," Anakin said, barely above a whisper.

"Hi, you're Anakin, right. I'm Owen." Owen reached out a hand and the boy returned the gesture after a nod from the Jedi.

"Yes. So-..." Anakin's voice trailed off, as if he really wasn't sure what to say next.

Owen would've helped, but he didn't have any other ideas.

"Hi Owen," Beru waved at him as she walked through the door. She went to the back of the room and placed her bag in one of the cubby holes designed for it.

That was when Owen remembered his own bag, and what he carried in it. "Come over here. You want to see something cool?" he asked Anakin.

Anakin followed him to one of the desks and watched Owen as he set down and opened his backpack. "This was a gift from my Dad. It's a model…"

"YG-Series Light Freighter." Both boys finished at once.

Owen smiled. He was so happy that he impressed his new brother. "It came in a kit, but I built it myself."

"That's so cool! Can it fly?" Anakin asked.

"Yeah, wanna see it?" Owen offered.

"Not in here." The Jedi, Obi-Wan, interrupted.

"Awe, can we go outside?" Anakin begged. "For just a minute?"

Obi-Wan's expression was firm, but Owen could tell the way his eyes crinkled as he glared at them that he was close to cracking. So Owen looked up at him with big pleading eyes and added, "Please sir," for good measure.

"Alright, but you don't leave the school yard." Obi-Wan raised a pointer finger for added emphasis. "And only for five minutes, or I'll come looking for you."

"Yes!" Both boys cheered as they ran for the door to the play yard outside.

"Hello Everyone," Cliegg stood in the room of his neighbors. He remembered a time they had all gathered to help the Brunk's rebuild a barn for their Bantha after a sandstorm ruined it. If he thinks about it, he's doing much the same thing tonight. "I know what we're asking of you. This land has been in our families for generations. But so have the Hutts been stealing our produce and trespassing on our land. If our parents had this option, I believe they would have taken it. That leaves it up to us."

"But… How are we to pick up and move? Most of our connections are in Anchorhead." a man named Balor Whitesun protested.

"Do you remember a few years ago, when Gardulla was replaced by Jabba. He sent his Thugs out to collect a tax on all our land. I remember how you came crying to me because those thugs were threatening your daughters. How for most of us they took more than the required ten percent. If we do this, then no more will the Hutts get to bully us out of our Druggats. If we hold an election, our word will count as more than sand under our toes."

"So what about the Tusken Raiders. They've terrorized us just as long," said one of their neighbors.

"I met with them today." Cliegg took a deep breath. "I've always taught my son to talk through his problems with people. This is an example of one of those times we were saying and not doing. I had to live up to my word. I learned that there are a number of similarities between us. We both hate slavery. There are actually a number of escaped slaves who've made their homes among the Tuskens. Look, it's simple. We need their numbers to count for Republic Status. So do they. There are many ways we can both benefit from Improved communication. The same is not true of the Hutts."

Several voices in the room cheered. They were agreeing with him. This was going to work out after all.

Anakin followed his brother out and watched him put the model ship down in the sand, then step back with it's controller in hand. With a flick of his wrist, Owen made the toy fly above their heads and around them.

"Hold on." Anakin spoke up. "I think you're having a problem with lift. See how it turns so wide. If you turn the drugarts around it'll fix that."

Owen stared at him like he'd just suggested breaking the code to a Jedi. "No, a real YG Series has them pointed that way."

"But if it flies better." Anakin didn't know what the big deal was. He was only trying to help.

"Who cares how it flies, if it doesn't look like a real YG series?" Owen bit back.

"Who cares what it looks like if it doesn't fly right." Anakin whined. He knew it wasn't smart to be making a big deal of this, but it hurt his feelings that his brother wasn't listening to his advice.

Both boys stood glaring at each other while the ship came to a landing near them.

That was when two other boys came walking up. "What's this?" The older one picked up the Light Freighter.

"It's mine!" Owen protested. Anakin could feel both anger and fear coming off his brother. "Huff, you wouldn't dare!"

"I think I'll keep it. Jula," Huff summoned the other boy, and handed him the toy.

"He's right. That's his. You're stealing," Anakin protested.

Huff glared back at them both. "My dad says we're going to lose the shop in town, and it's all your dad's fault." He picked up a finger and pressed it against Owen in a threatening manner.

Owen growled, clearly not sure what to make of the accusation.

"He insists on bringing all the moisture farmers away with him, into crazy town."

"Yeah, crazy town." Jula parrotted beside him.

"So I think you owe me this." Huff glowered.

Anakin glared at them both. He had met bullies like this in his time in Mos Espa, but somehow he didn't think the Jedi would approve of him handling this the way he would have then. He closed his eyes and took several deep breaths. When his mind returned to a stable place he reached out to touch the bond with his Master. 'Master. Help,' was all he said. All he knew he'd have to say.

Obi-Wan was handling his duty of minding the children with ease. 'Whatever does Qui-Gon complain about. This is easy.'

Sure, none of the younglings were Jedi trained, but he found them quite agreeable afterall. Especially a cute little girl named Beru Whitesun, who was drawing pictures of the desert landscape for him, while he drew pictures of coruscant for her. The younglings here were very curious, he found, and few had ever left Tatooine before.

"Knight Kenobi. Come to check on them, we have. Where is Skywalker and the Lars boy?" Yoda questioned.

"Master Yoda, Master Windu" Obi-Wan dropped his paint brush and stood to greet them. "Anakin and Owen went outside just a few minutes ago. Owen wanted to show him a flying toy."

"I thought we agreed on supervised visits." Mace said.

"Yeah, just. You didn't see their eyes as they were begging. And I thought that since Saesee is out there, a few minutes would be completely saf…" Obi-Wan's voice dropped as he felt something along his and Anakin's bond. He hadn't been monitoring it too closely, because he wanted to give the boys space, but the feeling he was getting now was anger, and Anakin trying to control himself. Something was wrong.

Then he heard it. 'Master. Help,'

'I'm coming,' he replied, and he turned to run out, leaving behind two stunned Masters.

Yoda and Mace exchanged a glance, then they both turned to run after Obi-Wan.

'I'm coming.' Anakin heard his Master's reply, and it filled him with confidence.

Beside him, however, Owen started to cry.

Huff stepped forwards, as if the younger boy's tears were offensive. He threw his arms together, and Anakin knew what that body language meant. He was preparing to throw a punch.

With the Jedi, Anakin had several lessons, including one on the body's weak points. This lesson in basic hand to hand self defense was taught by Master Gallia, and was how Anakin knew where to throw his fist.

"Owwww!" Huff yelled.

Before Anakin could celebrate, he heard the crunch from Jula as he crushed the model under his foot.

"What's wrong boys?" Anakin turned to see Obi-Wan, Mace, and Yoda approaching them.

"He hit me." Huff pointed his finger at Anakin.

"He was about to hit Owen," Anakin defended himself.

All eyes immediately went to Owen. Anakin watched him waiting for his brother to confirm his words. As time stretched and Owen didn't say anything, Anakin became more and more nervous.

Owen looked into the eyes of the adults and his bullies. Then he looked down at his broken model spacecraft.

"I'm telling the truth. He stole the ship and he stomped on it," Anakin cried. His imagination was not helping, bringing up fears of his Master rejecting him.

"Anakin, don't worry. Believe you, we do," Yoda said, and Anakin could feel Obi-Wan confirm it in their bond.

"Huff Darklighter, and Jula Darklighter, come this way. We're going to have a talk with your father." Mace led Huff and his brother inside.

"Anakin…" Owen started.

Anakin turned away. He couldn't look him in the eye.

Owen picked up his toy and walked back to the school. Tears were in his eyes.

Obi-Wan sat down next to Anakin. "You wanna talk about it?"

"No." Anakin put on a stubborn pout. A few minutes later he spoke again, "I thought brothers were supposed to have your back."

Obi-Wan nodded. "That's right. You know what else? Brothers forgive each other for being weak and afraid, sometimes."

Anakin turned to look at his Master in shock.

"Just think about that." Obi-Wan hopped up on two legs again, and put his arm on Anakin's back to lead him inside.

They were in the hallway when Anakin heard raised voices from one of the rooms.

"My son did WHAT!" A man Anakin assumed was Mr. Darklighter shouted.

Obi-Wan turned to Anakin and said, "Wait right here. I'm going to check on things." He moved towards the shouting.

As Anakin stood there, he thought about what just happened. Owen completely deserted him when he needed him the most. But then… What if he had. Huff was mad today. After he gets in trouble, he's probably gonna be even more mad.

Anakin remembered times, back when they were slaves, when his Mom ordered him to stay quiet. Even if you could help another slave with your testimony, sometimes it wasn't worth the risk of you getting in trouble too. Those were hard lessons to learn. He subconsciously rubbed an old scar just thinking about it.

It was then that Anakin noticed, lying at the bottom of the rubbish bin was Owen's broken model. He reached in and pulled it out before he knew what he was doing.

"We have it on good authority. The Youngling who reported this was honest. We'd be able to sense otherwise," Mace said to the father.

Mr Darklighter stepped towards his eldest. "You were gonna hit that boy?"

Jula, the youngest, looked down to avoid his father's gaze.

Huff froze, his muscles tense. "It was the Lars boy. With what his father's doing, he deserves…"

"What his father's doing is providing you a better future!" Mr Darklighter interrupted his son.

"But you said…"

"Our customers are moving. That's why we are moving the shop, and why I came to this meeting today." Huff hung his head in shame at his father's words. "Now. You're gonna apologize to these people."

Mace stepped around them to approach Obi-Wan, who had stuck his head in through the door. "How is Skywalker?"

"He'll be okay, just needs time to process this. As does Owen too, I'd imagine."

"Yes, where is the youngling?" Mace wondered.

"I think he went back to the room with the other younglings," Obi-Wan answered.

"I should see to him now." Mace bowed. "Knight Kenobi."

Mace found the youngling where Obi-Wan suggested. He was still visibly upset. Another youngling girl named Beru was trying to comfort him, but the youngling could only do so much. "Come Owen. Your father should be finished with his presentation by now. Let us go find him."

When they got to the presentation hall, Mace stood back as Owen ran up to his parents in tears.

"Owen, did you meet your brother? What's wrong?"

"It appears our introduction did not go as planned." Mace walked up and diplomatically explained. "Owen will likely tell you more. There were a couple of bullies in the yard. We're talking to their parents now. As for the introductions, we're going to give them some time. They are Younglings. They will adapt."

"Thank you, Master Windu." Shmi nodded.

Cliegg knelt by his son. Mace stepped back to give them space.

It was a couple of days later that the Jedi approached the Lars homestead again. Shmi was preparing a meal while Cliegg and Owen were setting the table.

"Mom!" Anakin ran up and hugged his mother. "Hello Mr. Lars," he greeted Cliegg next.

Owen stood back, half watching their interaction with eyes that kept looking down.

"It's nice to see you kid," Cliegg greeted Anakin by ruffling his hair.

"Hi Owen." Anakin said in a shy voice.

"I'm sorry. I should've told them what really happened, but I was scared to. And my model just got destroyed, I felt like… like it was your fault, kinda. But it wasn't. Huff and Jula apologized. They're gonna pay for it to be replaced."

"It's alright. I forgive you. Hey, I have a surprise to show you." Anakin turned around and yelled over his shoulder. "Master where is... Oh there it is." Both boys ran to retrieve the bag the Jedi brought in.

"Anakin worked hard on that. I'm sure you'll be impressed." Obi-Wan gave him a wink.

Anakin opened the bag to reveal the model YG-Series Light Freighter, all repaired and good as new again.

"Wow!" Owen awed.

"You should see it fly too. I fixed the issue. It was the drugarts, only I didn't turn them. They were too long, you see. It wasn't to scale. I filed them down, and now it flies perfectly."

"It looks even better than before. Thanks Anakin." Owen smiled.

"That was actually Master Tiin's idea. He had the old specs on his computer and we looked it up," Anakin explained.

"Well, thank Master Tiin for me." Owen said.

"I will."

"Boys, come in now. Time to eat," Cliegg said.

Outside, an Iktotchi Master stopped when he heard his name telepathically mentioned. He smiled as he listened to the younglings' minds wow over the toy spaceship.

Then inside he heard Mace explain to their parents. "We're going to be flying back to Coruscant soon. Master Piell will give you his comms device, and instruct you how to use it. He'll give you codes to reach the High Council and you will be able to continue having contact with Anakin, perhaps biweekly calls for now.

Shmi's inner smile was almost as blinding as her son's. Saesee had to look away. But he was glad they did this. It was his idea as well.

Hello,

I hope you like this chapter.

I decided to make Biggs' father Huff the bully because that's the impression I got when I read his wiki page. Huff's father isn't named in the Wiki, so I left him just Mr. Darklighter. Huff was described as a Land Baron, and it was said he owned dozens of farms. He bought water from other farmers at cut-rate prices and sold them for a big profit. I'm going to assume Huff had expanded his dad's business and his Dad started out only owning one store. But it also describes Huff as Anti-imperial, so I'm suggesting that was something he inherited from his Papa. He's still a kid now. He will learn better as he grows up.

I enjoyed adding the Whitesuns, especially Luke's Aunt Beru. At this time, she and Owen do know each other, though they are a little young for anything romantic… yet.