Shmi stared at the man sitting opposite her. His name was Bron, owner of a local McMandos. Despite the initial misunderstandings, She had agreed to meet him for dinner. At Hyperfusion, which she regarded as safe.
"You really don't know how to cook!" she said.
The man shrugged. "Not particularly well, that is surprising? It's not what we are traditionally famous for." Bron said.
"But you own a restaurant!" exclaimed Shmi.
"Some more wine perhaps?" interrupted Palpatine.
"Yes please." said both Shmi and the man before Palpatine topped up their glasses.
"I think there may be some confusion. I manage a restaurant. The cooking, such as it is done by the staff." said Bron.
"So..."
"So there is no elaborate plan, beyond my seeing a beautiful woman recently arrived in the capital and asking her out, hopefully before she is swarmed by admirers." said Bron smiling.
"I hardly think that will happen Mr Katarn." said Shmi.
'You just wait, and please, call me Bron." said Bron.
"Who's that with mom?" said Anakin as he picked up the next order.
"That is Mr Bron Katarn. Owns the McMandos on 376th and Tolvega." said Palpatine.
"What's he doing here?" said Anakin.
"He is here to see your mother. They are on a date, maybe, your mother is having trouble adjusting to the idea that she is quite the catch, as it were." said Palpatine.
Anakin looked from Palpatine to the couple in the booth and back again. "But."
"Deliver this and I promise I will keep an eye on them. They are unlikely to post baans anytime this evening." said Palpatine.
Anakin picked up the order and departed. Sheev went back to running the restaurant.
Later that evening as he was finishing up the Deliverator walked in to Hyperfusion, removed his helmet and sat at the bar. Palpatine paused in cleaning and made the lad a cream soda.
"Still worried about you mother?" he said.
"Yeah, nah. I don't know." said Anakin.
Palpatine sighed, made himself a soda and looked over at Anakin.
"I'm guessing it was just you and your mother on Tatooine." he said.
"Yeah."
"And now it's all uncertain?"
"Yeah."
"Well, my boy. I would urge you not to worry. Use some of those Jedi skills you're learning. Your mother will find her own life here too. You should celebrate that when she does find someone."
"But..."
"She will always love you Anakin, I have no doubt of that, even when she finds a partner. Consider it from your end. Will you still love her if you find that special someone?" said Palpatine.
"Jedi don't marry."
"Marriage is not the be-all and end-all of relationships. I know Jedi are asked to remain apart but they still love. Perhaps when you're older you will see it differently."
"Hmm." said Anakin as he sipped his drink.
"Just think about it. No rush at your age." said Palpatine.
Anakin finished the soda, he then looked left and right, then back at Palpatine.
"Um." he said.
"Yes."
"What if there was someone?" said Anakin in a whisper.
"Who are they?" said Palpatine, anticipating a crush on some other apprentice.
"One of the Naboo Queen's handmaidens. I met them on Tatooine. She was the most beautiful person I ever saw." said Anakin with a sigh.
"Hmm, an older woman then? That's often a good choice. Her name?" inquired Palpatine.
Anakin told him. It took every measure of self control for Palpatine not to spray soda everywhere.
"You okay, Mr Palpatine?" Anakin said as Sheev choked, some of the soda having gone the wrong way.
Palpatine recovered and attempted some form of composure, "Just breathed in some soda. Nothing to worry about."
"Oh alright. You think I'm being dumb."
"Not at all my boy. Not at all. Still, this is all early days yet."
"Nah, I am being dumb. By the time I'm old enough, she'll be even older. She'll have forgotten me by then." groused Anakin.
"Well, then, maybe this too, will pass." said Palpatine.
"It's not."
"Give it some more time. Besides, it's high time you get back."
"Yeah, okay. Thanks Palpatine."
"Anytime Anakin."
Later, at his house Palpatine moved the infuser removed the false panel and opened the safe. From inside it he retrieved the ruby trapezoid. It glowed and pulsed with anticipation. Palpatine held it in his hand and concentrated.
'More recipies?' inquired the voice in his mind.
'No, not this time. Something more up your alley. Tell me about The Chosen One and the prophecy."
The voice began and Palpatine listened, and learned.
Palpatine lay awake the rest of the night. The boy seemed to meet most of the prerequisites. Under two suns, check. No father, check. Strong in the Force, maybe? Palpatine was not sure about that, but let's go with check for the moment. The entire 'two moons upon the waves' thing must have had the cultists guessing but knowing the coat of arms of a certain noble family revealed much. As had Anakin's confession. Well, well, well. He had first heard the prophecy from Hugo, but there were differences between what the mad banker had told him and what the voice knew. How close was Hugo? Did he know that the one foretold to complete the cultist's plans now walked amongst them. How could he find that out? Additionally, how could he prevent the destruction of his best customers, the Jedi?