Yes, I know it's been so long, and I have no excuse.

Shmi, a slave for most of her life, knew very little of freedom. She had some memories of going to a school, walking with her older sister, and going to a park with her father. If these memories were freedom, then she wished them for her son.

It has been three years since he was born, and it was the best three years of Shmi's life. No memory of freedom could compare to the treasure that was Anakin, her little Ani. To say that her son was advanced for his age would be understatement. At three years old he could build machines, pilot speeders (though he has trouble since he is so small) and do math equations that Shmi was sure he shouldn't be able to do for at least another ten years. He was particularly articulate from a young age. Saying his first word, Mama, at six month, speaking full sentences by seventeen months, and using vocabulary by his third birthday that was years beyond him. He proved to be a prodigy.

He was a small boy, barely the size of a two year old at the age of three, and with blond hair that Shmi can tell would be darker when he is grown. His eyes turned into the bluest eyes she has ever seen, which shined with intelligence and mischief. Ani was also a loving child to her, constantly presenting her with small gifts and kisses. He seemed to always find trouble and adventures, but always made it through alright. And when Ani was not finding troubling he was asking for it, whether through bedtime stories or entertaining himself in those few moments he had to play. If Shmi ever wished for a son or a daughter, this would have been the child that she would have wanted

But the thing that Shmi is most proud of is his selfless and giving nature. From being a slave, he knows how hard a life is, how hungry and tired a slave is at the end of the day. But, as a boy barely out of his toddling stages, he would stay awake to help other slaves finish their work so they don't get punished and even share his food with slaves who didn't get to eat that night. Even though Shmi worried for her son's health, she did not want to discourage his kindnesses in a world where there are very few kind people and many bad examples to follow.

Though, while all of these things amazed Shmi, it isn't his intelligence or his giving nature that puts her on edge. It is his instincts. Anakin seems to instinctively know how the universe works. He can see things before they happen, and know just what buttons to push on people to take what he wants from them. He once told her that he can just feel what is happening around him and is able to "do what needs to be done." And while her Ani seemed to be able to do this, he is never able to explain how. He just assumes that everyone around him is able to do the same things, born with a power that could save them from their slave bonds.

When Anakin was about to turn four he and Shmi were both lost in a bet from the gang lord Gardulla the Hutt to the junk dealer Watto, who was more bark than bite. He gave them a little hut that they could live in and was nice enough to allow Shmi to create a business out of her household. But why Watto wanted them quickly became obvious. He told Shmi that he observed her Ani fixing a machine one day and recognized him for the genius that he was. This scared Shmi more than anything. What would happen to him if his true potential was seen? Would Gardulla take him back and warp him into something greedy and cruel?

So Shmi strove to protect her beloved son from Watto. Telling Ani to keep his head down and not to do anything rash or anything to advanced for his age. Though Anakin pouted at the fact that he could not be his best, show his best, he noticed his mother's urgency and for the most part obeyed.

Okay not that long but there is only so much you can say about a three year old. Next chapter will be about when Qui Gon comes. Please do me a favor and tell me what you think, and if you think I missed something tell me, I love constructive critism, and I will forever be in your debt.