A/N: I went a long while before updating. Sorry! Serious writer's block. Anywayzzz. Oh and I know I promised readers some action in this chappie, but I guess I lied? LOL. Next chapter. I just needed to set things up in this chapter. Thanks to froovygirl, Lunarballet, and "Guest" for reviewing. Time for an update!

Chapter Five

Meant to Be

It was a disturbing sight. So soon after they had disembarked. And out in broad daylight.

But there it was.

It was something Anakin's mother often shielded him from. He had seen it happen to her a few times. The memories were burned in his mind like they had happened just yesterday.

He stopped walking and stared as a slave owner beat a young boy. He was reminded of himself.

The boy was no more than 12 and slender. His slight frame didn't offer him any kindnesses against the blows of the burly older man.

They were supposed to meet a battalion of clone troopers on the outskirts of the city. They were planning a surprise attack. But Anakin couldn't go. Not yet. He couldn't walk away as the boy was beaten within an inch of his life.

The boy was cowered in fear and the slave owner's whip was raised. It didn't meet the boy's skin as intended.

Instead Anakin used the force to pull it from the man's grasp.

He stared at Anakin first in shock. Then in anger.

"What do you think you're doing?" He spat.

"He's been punished enough. He won't be much use to you dead."

"That is none of your business!"

"When you strike him in front of me, it is."

"He is my property. I can do whatever I like with him."

Anakin had done enough killing in his lifetime. Even if those he struck down deserved it. But he wasn't opposed to seriously hurting the slave owner.

"Well then. I guess you wouldn't mind if I do whatever I like with you."

Anakin punched the man in the face. Blood gushed out of his newly broken nose.

He clutched at his face, hands covered in shiny red. Then he roared in anger and went for Anakin.

Anakin raised his hand and used the force to push the man back twenty feet. He crashed into a fruit stand.

The slave owner got up awkwardly and then ran towards Anakin.

The young Jedi picked up a piece of stray wood and swung. It hit the slave owner's head with such force that he was unconscious immediately. He fell lifelessly onto the ground.

The boy looked up at Anakin in awe.

Anakin kneeled and smiled at him.

"Hello."

The young slave was speechless.

"What is your name?"

"Jacen."

"Nice to meet you, Jacen. My name is Anakin."

The boy looked at him with hesitation.

"You should come with me."

"But my chip will…"

"I know about that. I'll de-activate it."

"How?"

"I'll tell you later. But for now I want to take you somewhere safe."

"How do I know I can trust you?"

"You've got nothing left to lose."

The boy looked at him with confusion and the slightest fear.

"Just trust me. I want to help you. And I promise I will."

"You don't even know me." The boy replied.

"I know more about you than you know."

The boy furrowed his brows. It appeared by the twisting of his features that he was thinking about an answer. He just couldn't find the words.

Anakin's palm rested on the boy's shoulders paternally. He looked into the boy's eyes. He didn't use a mind trick. He could have. But a slave couldn't really be fooled.

Slaves saw too much death and pain and suffering to be foolish. There was no such thing as ignorance. And this meant they were wise. Young or old. Man or boy.

They saw too much and this meant they knew. They knew everything.

Anakin looked into the boy's hazel eyes and let the young slave see his soul. That there were no lies behind his words. That his promises were real.

"Trust me." He said gently.

There were a few moments where words were not spoken. And then the two disappeared into the busy Tatooine marketplace.

After exhausting their mother, Luke and Leia finally fell asleep.

Padmé walked out of their bedroom carefully.

Sola was seated in the living room.

Padmé walked over to her older sister and sat beside her.

"I've been having my dreams again."

Sola sighed. She had run out of witty replies. That well had gone dry after their father had been killed.

"Tell me."

Padmé almost smiled.

"The usual."

Sola looked at her curiously.

"Anakin."

Sola didn't appear surprised.

"He's on a mission to Tatooine. I dreamt of him there."

Sola didn't reply with anything. Her look was only more imploring.

"They were beating him."

"Who?"

"The slave owners." Padmé paused.

"Sola, I'm afraid for him. I'm afraid he's taken on more trouble than he can handle."

"The hero with no fear?" Sola replied light-heartedly.

"The Republic has crossed a line with the Hutts, Sola. With the criminals on Tatooine. They're going to retaliate. And I know Anakin will be caught in the crossfire."

"Then why did you tell him go?" Sola asked seriously.

"How could I not tell him? He wanted to go."

"You knew how dangerous it would be."

"He's a skilled warrior. He has a gift. To stop him from using that gift…"

"Padmé…" Sola began.

"Anakin is a fierce creature. And he knows suffering very well. He will always go where the pain leads him. And that means he will hurt. Whether it's in a battlefield or with you. He's going to hurt. Everyone does. You have to accept that, Padmé. I know that when you were a little girl you wanted to stop the hurt. The hurt in those around you. But you can't. You can't stop the hurt in yourself. You can't stop the hurt in any one else. You just can't."

Padme blinked away the tears.

"I don't want him to feel pain."

"The only way that would happen would be if the sun stopped setting and the moons stopped spinning. You know that's not possible."

Padmé breathed. A calming, steadying breath. "I want to go to Tatooine."

Sola almost shook her head. "You have to take care of your children."

"I have to help Anakin."

"You're not going to help him by going there. You'll distract him. And if you get hurt or you die on that planet your children will lose a mother. And Anakin will lose one of the few people he has left."

Padmé buried her fingers in her curls with frustration.

"I don't know what to do! What if something happens to him!?"

"You can't stop anything from happening. If something is meant to be it will be."

"So our father's death…that was meant to be?"

Sola was quiet for a moment.

"In some sick, twisted way."

Padmé looked up at the heavens as if looking for an answer. A sliver of hope.

She closed her eyes.

Sola drew her little sister in her arms.

"Whatever happens, the Gods will be with him. He is loved, Padmé. By more beings than you or Obi-wan. He'll be okay. Whatever happens."

And how could Anakin not be loved.

How could that be?

He was love itself.