AN: Ahsoka is so cute when she's this little, and I might add a new chapter to the beginning about when Aron left, and about when Mai first started having trouble with attempts on her life and explain that. Also, I might add when Mai started finding Ahsoka a little bit more intuitive than most children her age.

Also, her childhood (at least ages 1 to 3) stretch a bit. The idea I had is kind of...big, I guess, but it would help for when Plo Koon rescues her and makes it more of a rescue and a slightly more dramatic ending for the Ahsoka's childhood. Besides, Plo rescues her when she's three so I have to fill something in. Ideas might help me :):)

Enjoy!

Mai was stunned, shocked really, that her little girl was Force-Sensitive. Her own eyes, not as bright as Ahsoka's, but still blue, widened with shock. "Tali, so you're sister went to be a Jedi?" She asked slowly. Mai could barely believe that early wishes about better futures could come true-but she couldn't just get rid of Ahsoka. Ahsoka was her only connection to her husband, her only family left alive. The others, much like Mai herself, isolated themselves. Mai liked to believe it made her stronger, despite the fact that Togruta lived in groups. They fought Akul in groups, not as loners. Mai wondered briefly if Ahsoka might ever suffer from her selfish isolation.

Besides that, what mother would willingly give up their own child? Yes, Ahsoka was actively into everything, often breaking thinks and spilling things and making messes, but Mai did love the child. Mai realized with a start that without Ahsoka, her life would be empty.

"Mai, did become a Jedi. It doesn't mean you have to give Ahsoka up. You never would have to send your daughter away." Tali said gently, noticing Mai's shock at her daughter's alternative. Tali carefully placed her hands on Mai's shoulders and drew her into a small embrace, "I know it's hard for you, Mai. I see it all of the time."

Mai nodded, all words fleeing her mind. She managed to assure her friend, "It's all right, Tali. I'll be okay. It's just...I want a better future for Ahsoka. I didn't know how to offer it for her, but now that I can, I don't know if I could bear giving her up."

Tali smiled for a brief second. Her eyes narrowed on the fruit stand, where Ahsoka had been happily playing. Ahsoka wasn't there, "Um, Mai, you know how Ahsoka gets into things. Does she wander away, too?" Tali tried to put some humor into her tone, she didn't truly believe the child to be in danger, but when Mai's eyes widened, Tali knew that there was more to merely wandering off. Ahsoka could easily put herself in jeopardy, and with the stressed, panicky mother Mai was, Ahsoka could just as easily put her in danger, too.

"I'm sure Ahsoka's fine." Mai murmured to herself, "She normally goes to Alia's stand for awhile, or Tam's, but never to..." Mai trailed off and sighed. Mai shook her head, her long striped lekku becoming a slightly duller shade of blue, "I guess I'd better go look." Mai's voice was limp; this was the norm with Ahsoka. Go get into trouble...go play...go find danger.

Mai and Tali began a brisk walk to Tam's stall. Tam was a short man, shorter than Mai, with odd facial markings that were barely symmetrical. He smiled benignly at Mai and Tali, "How can I help you, Miss Tano and Misses, uh, whatever." He laughed as though what he said was truly amusing and Mai wondered why Ahsoka would wander over to this man. Oh, well, Mai thought with a small sigh.

"Hello, Tam." Mai said politely, "Have you seen Ahsoka?"

"Ah, the little girl of yours? She got away again?" Tam mused. "She's a good girl, quite mischievous, though. Got your hands full, haven't you?" Mai had been expecting this. If you so much as mentioned a name to Tam, he would go on about the person as if you had asked what they were like. Tam used to make Mai suspicious, the way he ducked questions, but she soon came to realize that he always did that.

"Have you see her?" Mai asked impatiently.

"Who? Ahsoka?" Well, duh. Mai thought, That's who we're talking about. "Yeah." Tam muttered, "Crawled past here some time ago." With that said, Tam returned to his work as if nothing had happened, or Ahsoka was no longer important. Mai rolled her eyes and motioned for Tali to follow. Tali's hand hovered near her mouth, smothering her laugh.

"Alia might know." Mai lowered her voice and flashed her friend a wry smile, "And she'll be a lot easier to talk to."

Alia was an elder woman who had the last stand in the market, also nearest to the speeder races and unruly boys who bought from her. Despite Mai's dreary opinions of the location, Alia had an easier life than any other fruit sellers. The boys always would buy from her because she was closest. Besides, unlike some of the other sellers, she was gentle and kind. Mai briskly walked up to her and smiled genuinely as she fished out two coins from her pouch. She pressed them into Alia's hand and pointed to the fruit, "Alia, have you seen Ahsoka?"

Alia frowned as she handed Mai the fruit, "Of course. The girl was into the boxes down here. Made a mess, too." Alia held up two smashed muja fruits for Mai to see. Mai blushed and too out to other coins for Alia to take as payment, but the older Togruta waved them away. "Find your girl, Mai."

"Mai." Tali whispered, tugging on Mai's arm, "Mai, Ahsoka's in the middle of the track for the speeder races." Mai let a small gasp and turned to see her small daughter crawling across the packed down dirt.

Ahsoka could feel the ground shake, could practically taste the danger. She heard her mother's cry and looked up, only vaguely interested. Ahsoka glanced down the path and she gurgled, not really seeming to care about her fate. The fact was, she knew she couldn't get out of the way fast enough.

The speeders came closer. Ahsoka looked at them calmly, with interest, especially at the one right in front of her. The boy slammed on the brakes and flew forward, cursing at her. Ahsoka watched the other speeders whip by and the boy said, "Okay, girl. I stopped for you." When Ahsoka only blinked, he yelled, "Move!" Ahsoka felt her mother coming and then she was seized away from the boy's anger and his friends'-already at the could feel Mai's trembling fear, but her only thoughts were on how she might be a speeder racer one day. Ahsoka snuggled closer to her mother and closed her eyes sleepily.

Mai and Tali walked sluggishly to Mai's small home, Mai's eyes never leaving her child. Only once Mai firmly shut the door and bade her friend farewell did she relax. Mai glanced over at Ahsoka's bed. It wasn't really a crib, certainly not fit for a child Ahsoka's age. Mai glanced in distaste at the bedding and Ahsoka's blanket in the wash. She promised to do it. With a sigh, Mai bent over and scrubbed the blanket clean. Ahsoka's blue eyes opened and landed on Mai.

Mai knew that Ahsoka wouldn't understand, but inside, she was still shaky. She had to say something. "That was bad, Ahsoka." She said, handing the girl a bottle and her blanket. Ahsoka stuck the bottle in her mouth and clutched her blanket tightly, but she blue eyes were focused intently on her mother. Mai shook hand and knelt beside the girl, thinking of Jedi and the small spaces Ahsoka was confined to. When Ahsoka took the bottle out of her mouth, Mai waited for her to throw it and squeal delightedly. Instead, she handed it to her mother and smiled charmingly. That about proved Mai's suspicions of Ahsoka's understanding of the word 'no'. Rolling her eyes, she held out her arms to the girl so Ahsoka could crawl into them. Ahsoka rested her head against Mai's shoulder and stuck her fingers in her mouth, sucking noisily. Mai rocked the girl and took her upstairs. She laid Ahsoka on her bed and crawled next to her, hand resting on Ahsoka's back. With Mai there, Ahsoka was safe. She wouldn't crawl away, and Mai could see her there, all night, neither Jedi nor boisterous girl, but her calm, sleeping baby.

Now things are going to pick up...the first three chapters were just kind of for the whole character build.