The week progressed normally for Anakin as no classmate except Obi-wan knew that Anakin would meet his father next Monday so he didn't get any questions about it. He went to school and did his utmost best at the tests he had. His grades were back to normal after the drop they suffered after Shmi died. Anakin was really motivated to get good grades as he wanted to prove that he wouldn't be a burden for his father. He was glad that he would get his grades and his report the same day as he would meet his father so he could show it to his father.
After school Anakin went to his extracurricular activities. Tuesday he went to fencing and Wednesday and Friday he went to basketball training. Both activities he enjoyed a lot as these were the ones he liked the best and his mother hadn't allowed him to have more than two extracurricular activities. He likes fencing because both he and Obi-wan played it. They helped each other and it helped calm them down after an exciting day or week. During fencing Anakin relaxed greatly as he was focusing more on the training and matches than at the meeting he would have with his father or any situation that stressed him. Anakin plays basketball because he could get his energy out and because he likes the way he is working with his team. The coach had told him that he would be a great player in the future if he kept up his training. He knew that this would give him opportunities in the future which he was planning on using.
Friday after basketball Anakin walks out of the gym and saw that Obi-wan sat at the bank in front of the gym. Apparently he was waiting for Anakin.
"Obi, what are you doing he here?" Anakin asks.
"Anakin, I had a meeting with Miss Secura and when we were done I saw that your training would be almost finished. So I thought we could walk back home together" Obi-wan explains and Anakin agrees instantly to the idea if walking home together. As they walk home they come upon Bruck and his friends and they quickly turn a sidewalk in to avoid being seen by them.
"Pfff that was a close call" Anakin says while Obi-wan nods in agreement.
"That's right, I don't want to hear anything more about us being a charity case because we don't have rich parents. Luckily they left us in peace the past week" Obi-wan says about their bullies.
"Your right, that was lucky and that made the past week a good week" Anakin says.
"Yesterday you had a meeting with Miss Secura. What did she talk to you about? Was it about you father and Monday? Obi-wan asks as he wants to know if miss Secura gave any information about Anakin's father to see if the mystery the man is can be solved before the meeting.
"Sort of, we did talk about Monday but not really about my father. She said that I would have to put nice clothes on and to behave really well. She said she would pick me up and when I asked if I could finish my school year she said yes. She did want to know how much I would want to take with me" Anakin summaries the meeting with Miss Secura as they had talked for over an hour. He knew that he would most likely have to give his uniform back to his school as he was almost sure that he would go to a different school after spring break from considering miss Secura had said. He was sad that he would have to leave his friends but hoped that he would make new friends and be able to stay in contact with Obi-wan.
"Anakin! Obi-wan! Diner is ready!" They suddenly hear Barris shout and only then notice that they are already home. They smile at each other before hurrying inside.
After putting their school bags in their room and Anakin putting his Basketball clothes in the laundry basket they run into the kitchen before sitting down at the kitchen table.
"What have I told you boys about running in the house?" Luminara asks sternly while looking at Anakin and Obi-wan. Both boys murmur a apology before diving into diner.
Sunday afternoon Anakin is sorting through his things together with Obi-wan so that they can pack it.
"Where will we go through first" Obi-wan asks while looking around the room.
"I think my clothes first, right?" Anakin says and then turns to his closet to sort his clothes.
"I should leave some clothes behind for tomorrow, right? If I don't do that I will have to go through suitcase and then it would have to be packed again" Anakin says while looking through his clothes for some nice clothes to wear when he would meet his father.
"Yes, that would be smart" Obi-wan says and sees Anakin staring in his closet. He can tell that Anakin does not know what he should wear tomorrow. Obi-wan decides to also take a look in the closet to see if he can help his friend.
"Do you think a jeans with a shirt and jacket will be good a good choice?" Anakin asks looking nervously at Obi-wan.
"That would be a good choice, Anakin" Luminara says as she wanted to check how far the boys were with sorting through Anakin's things and she stumbled upon their conversation. Anakin looks to Luminara and thanks her for the advice before taking the mentioned clothes out of the closet and putting them on the end of his bed next to his school uniform. Anakin then takes his other clothes out of the closet, including his uniforms as he will need them next week, to put them in a suitcase. With Luminara and Obi-wans help they have his clothes packed within thirty minutes. Barris packed his school supplies in a moving box while putting everything he will need on Monday in his backpack. His toys are put carefully in a box while his other things are put in open spaces in the boxes and the suitcase.
The boxes and suitcase are put in the living room before the dresser. Obi-wan an see Anakin looking sadly at his almost empty room.
"It will be strange living with my father after tomorrow" Anakin says sadly. Obi-wan Higgs his friend as tears stream down their faces. That night the children sleep good as they are exhausted from packing.
Sunday evening in Theed royal palace
Qui-gon was sitting in his private sitting room with Ashoka in his arms and Tahl next to him enjoying the evening before he was to leave for Tatooine to pick up Anakin and bring him home.
"How are the preparations for Anakin arrival?" Qui-gon asks Tahl as she leans against him and he put an arm around her.
"His room is almost finished though it could use a bit of decorating. I intent to wait for Anakin to arrive before decorating so that he is happy with the decoration. Also I put a list of schools in your briefcase so you can go over it when you have time" Tahl says.
They look down at their daughter when she makes a noise as if she wants to have their undivided attention. She was waiving her hands and when she gets close enough with her hands she grabbed her father's hair and yanks.
"Agh, Ashoka. Don't yank my hair, dear one, it hurts" Qui-gon says while gently removing her tiny hands from her hair.
"She just wants to say goodbye to you as we both will miss you" Tahl says
"Are you sure you don't want to come with me?" Qui-gon asks Tahl
"Yes, you need time to build a relationship with him no matter how small it will be. Also I don't want Ashoka to travel such a distance on a plane just yet" Tahl says and Qui-gon reluctantly agrees to go alone. They turn the TV on to watch the news.
When it is time, they stand up to put Ashoka in her cradle. They enter her nursery and see the cradle with mobile over it, standing next to a wall with a beautiful forest landscape on it. Ashoka loves it to fall asleep with the mobile activated. On the other side stands a changing table with a dresser next to it. Before the cradle stands a rocking chair which Tahl often uses when she feeds her.
Qui-gon walks to the changing table to put Ashoka in her pajama so she can sleep in her cradle. Tahl insisted that Ashoka would learn that when she has her pajamas on she is supposed to sleep in her cradle or later her bed and that her clothes are for when she is up. In the beginning he had his doubts about this approach but he has to admit that it is a good approach and one that will give assurance to everyone.
When he has Ashoka dressed in a pink pajama, after some struggling as she didn't want to cooperate with him, he walks to her cradle and puts her down after giving her a kiss on her head. He pulls her blanker over her and stands aside so that Tahl can say her good night. He then activates the mobile and sees that Ashoka is already dozing.
When they return to the living room Qui-gon sits down he stares ahead of him with a sad look in his eyes.
"What is troubling you, love" Tahl asks after she sits down next to him and sees his look.
"Now that we have Ashoka I realize how much I missed of Anakin's live. I didn't get to see him grow up, except through the photos I got. I should have insisted that I be involved in his life when Shmi and I divorced and not that I just pay for him. I know my father would have my hide for it, but I should have held my ground and not cave in" Qui-gon says sadly while the tears run down his face. Tahl hugs him tightly while stroking his head.
"It has no use to think about what could have been. Focus on the present, as you are so fond of saying. Now I want you to remember not to spoil him out of regret but to treat him normally. Alright, for as far as it is possible to be treated normally for a prince" Tahl says as she sees Qui-gon raise his eyebrow.
"You are much wiser than I am. I wouldn't know what to do if I didn't have you to talk to" Qui-gon says before he quiets down. Later the evening they retire to bed early as Qui-gon has to wake up at five in the morning to leave for the plane to Tatooine.