AN: This chapter was fun. Han and Shmi interacting brought some liveliness and fun to the story, similar to how Leia's scheming did in the first one. I stretch a bit of the canon truth in this in regards to where they go as it's not entirely accurate, but hey, I have the creative leeway. Enjoy this one. It's light, a break from some of the drama with a little scene with Vader and Ahsoka.

Read, enjoy, and review!

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Chapter Eight

This was not normal and Han Solo knew it. Shmi Tano… Skywalker… Vader… whatever her last name was, was not a quiet child. He had barely heard a peep out the child since they left, and it was worrying him.

"Hey kid," he said to the girl who was sitting on a chair staring out into hyperspace.

She only turned her head slightly to acknowledge that she heard him and then looked back out the window.

"So where do you want to go kid? We can go anywhere you want… well, except the core worlds, but you get the point," Han brushed off.

Shmi didn't say a word.

"Oh come on kid. There must be somewhere you want to go," Han said. "How about someplace warm? I'm sure we've both had our share of the cold."

Shmi sighed and then said, "Leia and Luke promised that one day we wouldn't have to hide and they would take me to see the galaxy. Luke said he would show me all the planets he had been on and Leia said we'd go see the planet she grew up on. It's called Rummiya."

Han didn't like how depressed she sounded. It was a stark contrast from her usual vibrant and playful nature.

"Then we don't have to go to any of those planets. I know kid. You ever been to an aquarium or a zoo? Bet you'd like that," Han said.

Shmi's head turned ever so slightly at the words and Han continued.

"There's an aquarium on Dubrillion. It's an imperial planet, but no one's going to look for us there. Too many tourist and people to notice us," Han said.

"What about the zoo?" Shmi asked, her curiosity getting the best of her.

"That's on Cularin. Even better, it's a sovereign empire. They won't rat us out there, that's for sure," Han muttered.

Shmi finally turned around, her eyes alight with excitement.

"Will they have tusk cats?" she asked.

Han shrugged. "I guess. They have about every exotic animal you can find there," he said.

Shmi jumped up and down. "I want to see them. I told mama I wanted one as a pet and asked if I could get one."

Han gaped at her. "Do you know how big those things get?"

"Not one of the giant ones. The smaller kind," Shmi said.

Han dryly replied, "You call two meters long and four feet tall small kid?"

Shmi ignored his response and continued, "Of course we'd still have to dull its claws and Luke says there's a special implant that makes the jaw weaker so to can bite so hard. Will you let me get one?"

Han cleared his throat. "How about we just get to the zoo first and then we'll see about that one kid?"

Shmi crossed her arms and pouted, obviously forgetting her sadness.

"I'm going to have a tusk cat before we leave the zoo," she declared.

"I know they sell pets there to people sometimes kid, but I doubt they'll give you a tusk cat even if you ask," Han said or at least that's what he hoped.

"Well then I'll ask," Shmi determined.

Han looked at her and resolved she was definitely back to normal, but he didn't know if that was a good thing or not. He probably just have left her all sad and depressed staring out the window. Shmi was more demanding and troublesome than her older sister and that was saying something. Nonetheless, he set the coordinates for Cularin.

"Alright kid," Han said as they were admitted to the zoo along with Threepio and Chewie. "If anyone asks, I'm taking my favorite niece on an outing because she wants to become a veterinarian and your mother thought it would be an educational experience."

"What's a niece? It sounds like some kind of rat or something," Shmi said and Han rolled his eyes.

"I'm your uncle kid. Got that?"

"My uncle!" Shmi said excitedly. "That's cool. I don't have any real uncles or aunts either. Mama said she might still have some family on Shili, but I don't know if I have any aunts or uncles there."

"That's nice kid," Han said as he felt the urge to leave already. The place was full of tourists, mostly families with brats for kids and screaming toddlers that were afraid of the animals. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea…

He started to tell Shmi that they were going to leave until she snatched her hand away from him and started to jump up and down.

"Look! It's a mama nexu and her cubs," Shmi ran to go see the predator and Han sighed.

There was no backing out of this one. He admitted he wasn't innocent and had broken quite a few hearts, but even he wasn't heartless. He wouldn't disappoint the kid.

Chewie growled something at him sensing Han's reluctance and Han scoffed.

"A couple of brownie points… This better be worth at least a thousand brownie points," Han said keeping his eye on Shmi. "Let's catch up with the kid before she causes trouble."

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Ahsoka stared at the ceiling in depression more so than boredom a few days later. She had been bedridden by Vader the first few days and he had sent a droid to attend to her until she could move around on her own. Now she was perfectly fine, the only thing remaining of her wound a scar that would fade in time. But now the reality of the mess she was in had settled and more than anything she wanted her little girl with her. Her depression didn't escape Vader's notice though he allowed her to wallow in it. That is until that day.

Vader came into the room done in his suit using the force to bring a trunk in the room with him

"Get up," he said turning on the light.

"I don't feel like it," she muttered.

"Tough," Vader said setting trunk down. "I found this in storage. I think it belonged to some spies that I disposed of. See if there's anything to your liking in it that fits you until I am able to make other arrangements. Let me know when you are done."

"What if I don't get up?" Ahsoka shot.

"Then I will help you get ready. It's up to you," Vader said leaving the room.

Ahsoka dragged herself out of bed and made her way to the fresher to shower. When she came out, towel wrapped around her, she opened the trunk to see what was inside. She raised an eyebrow at some of the outfits, the likes of which she hadn't wore since she was a padawan. Now that she thought about her choice of attire back then, the outfits might have been a little scandalous by human standards.

She picked her outfit out, a black corset type dress, similar to what she wore as a teen, but with off shoulder straps and fishnet leggings. She clasped a black belt with a silver clasp around her waist, but because she was smaller than the person that owned it before, it settled more on her hips. Ahsoka then searched the box for a pair of gloves or something to put on her arms but found none and instead settled on silver bracelets that fitted on her wrist and upper arms with intricate designs and a matching choker.

Ahsoka grabbed her boots, slipped them on and then made a mental note to make another lightsaber later.

"You have a blaster I can use somewhere. It feels weird not carrying a weapon," she said to Vader as she stepped out the room.

Vader turned around to look at her and visibly reared his head back.

"What?" Ahsoka asked leaning in the doorway.

"You're just asking for people to leer at you, aren't you?" he asked.

Ahsoka frowned before asking, "Is that a compliment?"

Vader only turned away and started towards the door. If Ahsoka didn't know any better, she'd say he was embarrassed.

She smirked as she followed him and said, "Uncomfortable or something?"

"Since when have you been a flirt?" he asked dryly.

"I'm just teasing," Ahsoka said sighing.

"Depends on what your definition of tease is," Vader said as they found their way to one of his private training rooms where a few different lightsabers lined a wall. He summoned one and tossed it to her head.

Ahsoka lit the red blade and said, "This is nice. But won't this give away that I'm a Jedi?"

"Many assassins carry a lightsaber with them," Vader pointed out.

Ahsoka extinguished the blade. "You can keep this. I'll pass."

Vader sighed and then led Ahsoka to a room attached to the sparing room where an assortment of blasters was kept. He briefly scanned them and then tossed her one to attach to her belt before leading her out.

"I would have been fine without a weapon."

"I'd prefer not to feed the rumor going around," he replied.

"What rumor?"

"It's not every day I carry a woman on board and threaten everyone not to mention her. They think you're a mistress or something equally or more degrading."

"So that's why you didn't like the outfit," Ahsoka concluded.

Vader paused before saying, "I never said I didn't like it."

"What's that mean?" Ahsoka said stopping in her tracks but Vader ignored her and kept walking.

She sighed and followed him to one of the hangers where a group of shady looking men were lined up. Ahsoka recognized a few of them. They were bounty hunters.

"What's going on?" she asked confused.

Vader only approached the men to give them instructions. He raised a datapad and to Ahsoka's surprise a holo of the Millennium Falcon came up.

"You are to search the entire galaxy for this ship, the Millennium Falcon, and its passengers, Captain Solo, his wookiee co-pilot, a protocol droid and a little girl, approximately five standard years. I want you to follow any leads you may come across. When you find them you are to contact me immediately and track them. I want them alive. No harm is to come to the girl or I'll do things to you that will make you beg me to kill you. You will be substantially compensated after we confirm you have found them," Vader said pacing back and forth.

"Their last known destination was the Hoth system and they left five or six standard hours before it was evacuated. Do what you will with that information. You have your instructions. Now go," Vader said.

"Hold on," Ahsoka said with her arms crossed and all eyes went to the torgruta woman whose arms were crossed.

"You hired bounty hunters?" Ahsoka asked Vader.

"What better way to track them down? It's not as if we can be everywhere at once. We need the extra hands," Vader said to her and feeling her apprehension added, "Don't worry I assure you if they hurt her, they'll be effectively dealt with."

Ahsoka scowled and stepped forward to stare down all the bounty hunters before shrugging her shoulders in indifference and letting Vader dismiss them. When they were gone, she turned to him.

"Bounty hunters?" she said.

"Well what did you think?" Vader asked. "That I was going to go about my business while my daughter is out and about by herself in the galaxy?"

"She's not by herself. She's with Han,"

"Like I said, by herself," Vader replied and continued. "Besides, you act surprised that I'm expending resources to look for her."

"Well yeah," Ahsoka admitted. "I didn't think you'd care that much."

"I wouldn't have been so angry about it if I didn't," Vader pointed out.

Ahsoka winced in remembrance of their very violent… disagreement a few days before. But instead of bringing it up said, "Wouldn't it be easier if we went after her ourselves."

"Believe me, I would. But some unexpected dynamics have been added to the situation," Vader said.

"Like?"

"Your presence on this ship for one. No doubt one of the emperor's many spies is on their way to report about you to him," Vader said. "Next, I must make it my first priority to crush the rebellion while they are scattered, before they can find a new base."

"Oh. So your master has you otherwise occupied. He takes precedence over your daughter?" Ahsoka sniped.

"You know that's not true," Vader shot trying to control his temper. "And I'll pretend it didn't come out your mouth. However, if you must know I rather not lead the emperor right to her. There's no telling what he'll do if he becomes aware of her existence."

"The same thing he's planning with Luke I assume," Ahsoka said shrugging.

"Worse," Vader said. "It's like you said, child of the Chosen One with a force strong mother. He won't let such potential slip through his fingers, the perfect age for him to mold and corrupt into his ideal apprentice."

Ahsoka imagined that her heart would have stopped beating if it were possible. Anakin turning to the dark side was one thing, but Palpatine turning Shmi against them would tear her in two.

"So what are you going to do about him?" Ahsoka asked.

"You mean what are we going to do about him?" Vader corrected.

"What do you mean?"

Vader was silent until they were in the lift. "We have to take over the empire."

"Take over the empire," Ahsoka repeated and then shook her head. "No way. I'm not helping you in your endless quest for power. You take over the empire. I want nothing to do with it."

Vader looked at her and Ahsoka imagined he was raising an eyebrow at her.

"You can't tell me that somewhere inside you it's not an appealing thought," he commented.

"It isn't," Ahsoka replied.

"Yes it is. You're only denying it."

"You're one to talk about denial," she responded dryly and Vader abruptly stopped the lift to turn to her. She took a step back as a feeling of déjà-vu swept over her. The last time he had cornered her like this, Shmi end up being conceived.

"You're tired of hiding Ahsoka…And so am I," Vader admitted. "You don't want to keep running and having to dodge and fight the Jedi, run from the empire and now you just sent your daughter away and you have no idea where she is for her own protection. You can't tell me you want to keep living like that."

"Well… no," Ahsoka said in discomfort. "But I told you a long time ago. I'm not going to be a Sith."

"I'm not asking you to be one. Think of it as partnering up because we both have invested interest in this, a common goal," Vader said.

"And if I said I'd help you where would we start?" Ahsoka asked.

Vader started the lift again. It was a yes to him.

"You never did finish your training."

Ahsoka scoffed. "And you're telling me you're going to finish it after twenty years?"

"I started it didn't I?" he asked as the door to the lift opened and Ahsoka froze.

"This is the bridge," she said to him.

"I'm aware of that," he said stepping out and then noticing she wasn't following added, "Are you coming?"

"But I thought you were trying to keep my arrival secret."

"It's not a matter of keeping it secret. They already know you're here. It's a matter of making them keep their mouth shut."

Ahsoka was still uncomfortable with the idea and sensing this, Vader smugly said, "Wish you had worn something less… enticing now?"

Ahsoka glared at him and made to take the lift back to where his quarters were, but Vader only used the force to hold the lift doors open and pulled her out. Holding on to her arm, he quite literally dragged her out into the bridge as her feet were firmly rooted in place, but by the time they got into the view of anyone, she pulled herself together and reluctantly followed him. She was going to kill him later.

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"So do you think they'll sell us one of the miniature tusk cats?" Shmi asked.

Han started to remind Shmi that no matter how small, tusk cats were never miniature. But he figured she wouldn't hear it.

"Can't you just settle for a regular cat?" he asked as the woman in the store saw Shmi and came over to them.

"Your daughter's so cute," she said to him and Han blushed.

"Aw well, she's my niece," he muttered.

"Oh. Well, can I help you with anything?"

"We're looking for a cat," Han said hoping if Shmi saw some of the other cats, he could persuade her against her more dangerous taste.

To his surprise, Shmi patiently humored the woman as she showed her the different type of cats. Shmi shook her head at each one, her frown getting increasingly deeper and by the end of the tour her arms were crossed and she was beyond impatient.

"I don't want any of these," she snapped finally.

"Then what do you want sweetheart?" the woman asked patiently apparently used to such children as Shmi.

But Shmi was being completely unresponsive now and looked like she wanted to cry.

"She wants something a little more exotic," Han said putting stress on his last word.

"Oh," the woman said her eyes darting to a door in the back. "Well we do have some more exotic pets but she's so young. I don't know."

"Please!" Shmi said jumping up and down.

The woman sighed and led them into a room in the back that looked something like a miniature version of the habitats in the zoo parts. Shmi immediately ran over to the cage with the baby tusks cats in them, the smallest being the size of some of the full grown domestic cats the woman had showed them.

"I want him," Shmi said immediately pointing to one of the cats in the cage.

"Are you sure she can handle that?" the woman asked.

"I'm kind of trying to compromise with her. Her mother's not here right now and her sister asked me to take care of her while she gets some things settled. I trying to distract her a little," Han admitted.

"With a tusk cat?"

"It wasn't my idea. I was only intending to take her to the zoo," Han said defensively.

Shmi came over holding the cat one of the attendants had handed to her. She was barely able to carry it, but Han noticed she looked happier than he had seen her in the last few days.

"I want this one!" she said to him.

"Hold on princess. We're just looking. We don't even know how much this thing costs," Han pointed out.

"You're right. I doubt you could afford it," the woman said to him.

Han sighed. "Let's go you. Put that cat back."

"But Han!"

"It costs too much sweetheart," he said to her.

"But-."

"Can it Threepio," Han said grabbing Shmi's hand and leading her out the shop.

"I want that cat!" she said stomping her foot when they were outside.

"Now you listen here little girl," Han said to her, sensing one of her infamous temper tantrums. "We don't have the money for it and even if I did I don't know if I would want to have that thing around…"

"But Han! It's harmless. It's not going to hurt me. I can feel it."

"You Skywalkers and your feelings," he muttered. "Even if that was the case kid, I told you. We don't have it."

"Actually sir," Threepio began. "Miss Leia wired a substantial amount of credits into a private account for you to use for the upkeep of Miss Shmi."

"How much we talking goldenrod?" Han asked.

Threepio wasn't sure but handed him the account information on a datapad he conveniently forgot to give to Han. So Han looked for somewhere they could access the holonet to see. His jaw dropped and he let out a few curses that made Shmi gasp.

"You said a bad word!" she said.

"You'd say some bad words too if you saw how much money your sister gave us," Han said. Vader had certainly seen to it that they were taken care of…

"How much is it?" Shmi asked jumping up and down to see.

"A lot," Han said logging off the holonet and sitting down at one of the tables.

"So I can get the cat?" she asked excitedly.

"Kid," Han said sighing.

"Oh come on! Please Uncle Han?" Shmi asked hugging him. "Help me Chewie."

Chewie growled a plea to Han and did the same as Shmi making for a comical scene to onlookers.

Han sighed and grumbled, "Leia really owes me for this one."

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AN: Lol. I could imagine Shmi conning Han into letting her keep an exotic pet. Actually, a tusk cat, according to Wookieepedia, is native to Naboo, grow up to three meters in length, and six feet tall. Shmi wanted a 'miniature' one and seeing as in EU Leia gets her granddaughter a pet Nexu, I didn't find this to be unreasonable.

Anyway, Hope you enjoyed. Review Please!