Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars. I just created my own little AU sandbox to play in.

AN: Here's chapter 20! Thanks for all the great reviews. Enjoy this next installment and let me know what you think!

Note: The grammar errors in Blake's dialogue are intentional, because he's four.

Force Jumper

Chapter 21: Survival

The Naberrie family waited impatiently, as Padme's speeder arrived. Anakin helped her out, as Typho parked and Sola's girls ran toward their Aunt.

"Aunt Padme!" they called. She smiled and knelt down to hug them both. Anakin wore a smile, as she watched her interact with them.

"Look at you two…you've gotten so big," Padme told them.

"Padme…it's so good to see you!" Sola cried, as the two sisters hugged.

"I've missed you Sola," Padme whispered.

"Welcome home pixie," Ruwee said warmly, as he hugged her. Jobal was next and hugged her as well.

"Sweetheart, are you going to introduce us to your guest?" Jobal asked, though her smile was quickly becoming a frown.

"Mom, Dad, Sola, this is my bodyguard and the man that saved my life on more than one occasion. For his and my safety, I can't tell you his real name at this point in time, but he has become my family," Padme said warmly, as she joined hands with her masked lover.

"Padme…you're not serious…" Jobal said, very nearly horrified. But Ruwee extended his hand.

"Any man that has put his life on the line for my little girl is instantly welcome in my home," the former Senator stated. Anakin graciously shook his hand.

"Ruwee…" Jobal hissed.

"Don't start Jo," he hissed back. And Padme felt a little sad but not surprised that underneath the gloss of the picture perfect family they tried to present, that their disagreements were as strong as ever.

"What exactly can we call you?" Jobal asked simply.

"Someday, I hope a disguise won't be necessary, but for Padme's safety, my identity must remain known only to her and a few others. However, the Holonet has taken to calling me Knightblade," Anakin explained.

"In uncertain times, people often need a symbol that gives them hope and someone to put their faith in when it seems like their rulers do not care what becomes of them. I know you can't reveal much, but I would certainly like to hear more about the work you do," Ruwee said. Anakin gave him a gentle smile and nodded. Padme hugged her father again. How she had missed his infinite wisdom.

"Well, we should go inside or lunch will be cold," Jobal said shortly. They nodded and followed her.

Scout took a deep breath, as she finished her spar. Since both Whie and Ahsoka were gone now, she had no one that would even bother with her, so she worked out alone. But she didn't mind, though she missed her only two friends terribly. She remembered yesterday's events after sparring very clearly. Had that really happened? Had she really moved across the room without walking there? She remembered Whie's advice.

"Practice while I'm gone, but don't tell anyone," she remembered him saying. She took a deep breath and focused on her quarters, seeing the image in her head. She felt tingly all over again and she gasped, as she was suddenly in her room. She had done it again and it was getting easier.

"Please Sir, I promise I'll work really hard if you just give me a chance," Hunter pleaded with the shop owner. This was the third one today, as he had already been turned away by two already.

"I'm sorry, but you're too young to work here. Where are your parents?" the middle aged man asked. Hunter lowered his head.

"We don't have any. It's just me and my little brother and he means everything to me. I want to take care of him, so I will work really hard for you and I'll do anything," Hunter pleaded. The man sighed.

"Listen, you seem like a nice kid, but I just can't hire anyone under sixteen. There are child labor laws here on Naboo that prohibit that. But there are places for orphans where they'll take care of you and your brother," the man told him. Hunter nodded sadly.

"Thank you for your time, Sir," he said, as he left the shop and found Blake waiting outside. The four year old was sitting on a bench, swinging his legs back and forth.

"Come on B, let's get going. We need to find shelter for the night," Hunter said, as he took his little brother's hand and they started on through the merchant district of Theed.

Hunter knew that if they went to an orphanage that there was a good chance that they'd eventually be separated. Blake was still very young and adoptable, but the likelihood of the same couple wanting to adopt them both was highly unlikely. He loved Blake so much and that's why he knew he had to do what was in his best interest…even if it meant losing him forever. Hunter knelt down to eye level with his baby brother.

"Listen Blake, no one is going to hire me here, which means that we're not going to have any money to get food. I don't think we have any choice but to go to one of the orphanages," Hunter said sadly. Blake's eyes widened in horror.

"No…I hate those places!" Blake whined. Hunter sighed. He did too. In the orphanages, it was every kid for himself. The strong ones dominated the weaker ones. Little ones like Blake were often bullied, even in the best facilities. And in the worst, like the one they used to be in, they were usually abused. Blake would have been no different if not for Hunter, who had always taken out any other kid that tried to hurt him.

"I do too Blake, but you know I just want what's best for you. You need a nice family to adopt you and take care of you," Hunter said.

"No! Please don't leave me," Blake pleaded. Hunter hugged him tightly.

"I don't want to Blake, it's the last thing I want to do. But I just want you to be taken care of," Hunter replied.

"We be okay if we together, I know it," the little boy pleaded. Hunter smiled at his innocence. He never wanted Blake to lose that.

"All right, we'll keep trying. Who knows, maybe you're right and we'll catch a break," Hunter said, though he knew it was unlikely. But he would have faith for Blake's sake at least.

"Come on, we need to find a place to crash for the night and scrounge up some dinner," Hunter said, as he took his little brother's hand, as the two trotted off down the street.

"Lunch was wonderful, as usual Mom," Padme said, as she hugged Jobal. They had enjoyed a surprisingly wonderful afternoon with her family and now it was nearing evening. Padme had showed Anakin all around the homestead where she had grown up and Ruwee and Sola had been especially welcoming to him, despite not even knowing his real name. Padme wasn't surprised though. Her father believed strongly in serving the people and there were far too many people in the Senate only serving themselves. He had great respect for what Knightblade did for the people that had no voices, despite the danger to himself.

"Won't you stay the night?" Jobal asked. Padme shook her head.

"I'm afraid not. The last ferry leaves for Varykino soon and the seclusion makes it a lot safer for us," Padme explained.

"Oh when will you leave this life?" Jobal exclaimed. Padme was taken aback, though she knew she shouldn't have been surprised.

"I'm not doing this with you, mother," Padme refuted.

"Padme…please just consider staying for dinner too. I…I invited a few people from the village," Jobal stated. Padme looked suspiciously at her.

"Who exactly did you invite?" Padme questioned.

"The Valdin family. You remember them, don't you? Mr. and Mrs. Valdin are coming with their sons. They're both around your age and have grown up to be very handsome…" Jobal rattled on, but Padme cut her off.

"I don't believe you, mother! You did this last time I came home and that's why it's been almost two years! Will you stop trying to get me to settle down with some man that you've deemed suitable?!" Padme shouted.

"Now Padme, I'm only trying to look out for you. Would it be so terrible if you settled down with someone safe that can take care of you and leave that awful life on the capital world behind?" Jobal asked.

"Since they probably both have the personality equivalent of a stump and a rock, it would! But it makes even worse since I'm already in love with someone else!" Padme confessed. Jobal drew back and Sola smiled at her sister.

"I knew it!" Sola exclaimed excitedly. Padme rolled her eyes playfully at her sister's antics.

"Padme…you can't be serious, you don't even know who he is!" Jobal exclaimed.

"Yes I do. When we're alone, there are no secrets between us, least of all his true identity," Padme replied.

"Mr. and Mrs. Naberrie, I assure you that my feelings for your daughter are as real and deep as hers are for me. No harm will come to her as long as she's with me," Knightblade promised.

"Oh please…you can't protect her," Jobal spat.

"He already has Jo and our daughter loves him. That's enough for me," Ruwee refuted. She scoffed.

"Enough for you? This is our daughter we're talking about and you're okay with this? You're okay with her gallivanting off to Force knows where with a man we don't even know?" Jobal asked accusingly.

"She's happy Jo…can't you see that? Or are you just mad because she's not living the way you want her to?" Ruwee shot back.

"Don't make me out to be the bad person in this again!" Jobal spat back at him.

"Stop fighting!" Padme pleaded. Jobal turned away from her husband and faced her daughter.

I suppose you'll do as you please, Padme, you always do. Just be careful and remember that I do love you," Jobal said, as she walked back toward the house.

"I know you do mom and I love you too," Padme called to her, as Ruwee hugged her tightly.

"Cheer up pixie, she'll be fine. Just don't wait to come visit me for so long again," Ruwee told her. She nodded and smiled at her father.

"I won't. I'd really like if you'd come to Coruscant and stay with me soon too," Padme mentioned. He smiled.

"I just might have to do that," Ruwee replied, as he kissed her forehead. Padme hugged her sister.

"Take care baby sis and you have really good taste in men," Sola whispered, enjoying Padme's blush.

"Thanks, I love you Sola," she said, as she approached Sabe and Typho.

"We'll see you back in Theed in a few days then," Sabe stated. Padme nodded.

"Take care of her," Sabe said to Knightblade.

"Always," he promised, as they joined hands.

"Have you been to the marina?" she asked. He nodded.

"I can get us there in a flash," he replied, with a smile. She waved to her family and friends. Then to their complete amazement, the two disappeared.

Cox stormed into the control room in the home base on Haruun Kal.

"What was so urgent that you called me away from training?" Cox asked, referring to his training of future Xal'Kaar agents.

"We have sporadic activity on Naboo again, in several different places," Fitch reported.

"Knightblade…" Cox hissed.

"Very likely, but there could be more than just him. The concentration is much higher this time," Fitch informed.

"Cara and Brenden, you're with me. Let's mobilize," Cox ordered.

"But Sir, we don't have orders from Master Windu yet," Fitch warned.

"I think Master Windu will understand my vigilance. If we wait, we lose him," Cox said, as his subordinates followed him out.

Padme relished the feeling of his arms around her, as the ferry slowly lapped at the water. The ferry pilot was a little taken aback by her masked escort, but Anakin promised her a simple mind trick when they arrived would cause him to forget he had seen him. Once he saw the place they were going, there would no longer be a need to ever use the ferry again, after all.

"I can't wait to show you Varykino. It's special to me and I've always known that I'd only ever share it with someone very special and now that I have you, it will be our place," she told him, as she rested her head on his chest. He smiled down at her.

"As long as I'm with you angel, I'm home," he assured. She returned his smile.

"Once we get there, I'm going to dismiss all the servants, make you dinner, and then we can lose ourselves in each other by the fire," she whispered sensually.

"Then I can't wait for tonight," he replied, as he kissed her tenderly. As the ferry slowly came around the bend, Varykino was in sight and Padme pointed it out.

"That's it," she said.

"That's…like a castle…" he said in awe, though he shouldn't have been surprised that such a beautiful place belonged to his beloved.

"It's amazing," he said, as the ferry soon docked. A quick mind trick saw the ferry driver on his way, remembering on the Senator, as Anakin and Padme strolled up the pathway.

As Scout ate her evening meal, she saw Master Windu strode into the mess hall and head straight for her. That in of itself made her nervous, but the look in his cold eyes terrified her.

"Scout, I'd like to speak with you after you are finished. Please come to the Council room in thirty minutes," Mace stated evenly. Scout swallowed and managed a simple nod, as she watched the intimidating Master leave as quickly as he came. She had an idea about what he wanted to discuss with her and she felt her heart drop into her stomach. This was it for her. She probably hadn't been chosen by any of the Masters to be a padawan and they were going to tell her that she would be on the shuttle with the next batch of kids headed for Agri-Corps. And the worst part was that she would probably be gone before Whie and Ahsoka returned. She wouldn't get to say goodbye.

The next morning

Anakin cuddled closer to her and kissed her bare shoulder, as the sun peeked through the blinds slowly roused him. The previous evening had been full of romance, as they made love by the fireplace, before retiring to their bedroom where they continued to feed their insatiable desire for each other. Quietly, he slipped out of bed and headed to the shower. Once he was finished and dressed, he returned, just in time to see her waking.

"Morning angel," he said, as he leaned over her and pressed his lips to hers in a soft kiss.

"Morning handsome," she cooed, as she sat up, covering her unclothed body with the bedclothes.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

"You mentioned last night that we needed to go to the marketplace today so I thought I'd go in early. Then we have the whole day when I get back," he replied. She smiled.

"That's sweet of you, but aren't you going to wear your mask?" she asked. He shrugged.

"I've got it with me just in case, but no one's going to remember seeing me in the small marketplace in the town near here that you told me about," he replied. She gave him a sly look.

"Would Master Sifo approve of you mind tricking so many people?" she asked coyly.

"Who do you think taught me?" he replied slyly.

"Well, as long as you're going, make sure you get more shurra since we ate it all last night," she said. He smirked.

"We're out of whipped cream too, thanks to you. You do know that it's meant to go on the shurra and not on me, right?" he teased. Her mouth dropped open in mock outrage, as she tossed a pillow at him. He laughed and used the Force to deflect it.

"I'll be back," he called, as he left the bedroom.

"You better and don't forget more whipped cream," she added with a giggle, before she headed to the fresher to clean up too.

Hunter panted air into his starved lungs, as he clutched a crying Blake to his body and ran as fast as he could. Jumping through the alleyway periodically was only helping minimally, as the three people followed him through his jump scars. He was forced to a stop, as he was cornered in a dirty, abandoned alleyway. Blake sobbed against him and Hunter pried him away, stuffing him behind a stack of cargo crates.

"Hunter…" he whimpered.

"Stay here Blakie, you'll be safe," he whispered, as he faced the three assailants.

"What do you want from me?" Hunter asked. Cox smirked.

"I think you know the answer to that, kid," Cox replied.

"You're gonna kill me," Hunter stated.

"Smart kid," Cara hissed.

"What about Blake? He hasn't done anything wrong," Hunter said, as he prepared to plead for his brother's life.

"He's young, but he's still seen too much. His fate will be the same as yours," Cox stated coldly. Hunter swallowed the bile in his throat, as he came to the realization that this was the end for them. Anger swelled inside him. It wasn't fair! Blake was in this situation because of him and they were going kill him anyway!

The young sandy blonde made a dodge for his little brother again and tried to jump again to get away. But Cox was ready and fired his grabbling cable, catching the boy's leg. Hunter cried out in agony, as electricity surged through his body. He retracted his arms from Blake and called out to him.

"Run Blake!" he pleaded. The four-year-old sobbed and his fear kept his feet planted where they were. He felt someone grab his arm and he looked up into the cold eyes of the man who he had heard the other one call Brenden. The little boy screamed, as the man raised his blaster and pointed it at him.

"No…NO BLAKE!" Hunter cried, as the man prepared to kill his little brother. But before he could pull the trigger, Hunter's scream of rage drew his attention and the man's eyes widened, as blue electricity trembled from his fingertips and struck the man, stunning them all. When the attack stopped, Hunter looked at his hand in horror, completely baffled at what had just happened. Cara knelt beside Brenden and found no pulse.

"He's dead," she announced.

"You little bastard…" Cox hissed, as he grabbed the boy's blonde hair.

"Run Blake!" he pleaded.

"The little brat isn't going anywhere," Cara snapped, as she reached out to grab the small child, but she suddenly felt herself lifted off the ground and she went sailing into the wall. The impact knocked her unconscious and Blake screamed, as someone grabbed him.

"It's okay…I'm not going to hurt you," the masked man promised. The little boy looked up at him in awe.

"Wow…I seen you on the Holo…" he said in wonder. Anakin smiled at his innocence and set him down on one of the crates.

"You help my big brother?" Blake asked. Anakin smiled.

"Yeah, don't worry, I'm going to take care of this," Anakin promised. Anakin ignited his light saber and cut the grabbling cable, freeing the older boy, as he strode toward Cox.

"You're pathetic. It's one thing to come after me, but they're children," Anakin hissed. Cox sneered.

"No, they're filthy Force Jumpers, just like you," Cox spat back. Anakin disarmed him of his blaster and leveled his light saber at Cox's throat.

"If you grab your cohort and leave Naboo now, we'll call this one a draw. Otherwise, I'll be happy to end you, though I'd rather not do it in front of children," Anakin said. Cox smirked.

"We'll meet again another day, you and me, no brats, and only one of us will come out alive," Cox promised. Anakin smirked.

"Looking forward to it," Anakin said, as he turned to the boys.

"You'll be safe with me and away from him," Anakin told them, as Blake let him pick him up.

"Come on Hunter!" Blake called. The older boy was more suspicious and Anakin used his powers to gain his trust.

"I'm like you and you can trust me," he assured. Deciding that this man was better than the other by far, Hunter took his other hand and they disappeared.

Ahsoka sighed, as she returned to her quarters on the ship. They had just rescued Jabba the Hutt's son and prevented the Separatists taking control of several outer rim territories. The whole experience had been scary, but exciting as well. She couldn't wait to tell Scout all about it and sat down to compose another letter to her best friend.

Anakin appeared with the two boys in the meadow behind the massive lake house.

"Wow…is that a castle?" Blake asked in awe. Anakin chuckled.

"No, it's just a really big house, but I thought it was a castle too the first time I saw it," Anakin said.

"Who lives here?" Hunter asked.

"It belongs to my girlfriend," Anakin said, as he put the little one down and knelt in front of them.

"You has powers like my big brother?" Blake asked. Anakin nodded.

"We call it Force jumping," Anakin told them.

"We?" the older one asked.

"There are more of us and the people that were chasing you are people that hunt Force jumpers. But you're safe now," Anakin assured them.

"How do we know we can trust you?" Hunter asked suspiciously.

"He had a laser sword! That means he's good!" Blake said excitedly, making Anakin chuckle.

"You're a Jedi?" Hunter asked. Anakin shook his head.

"I've been trained in the Jedi arts, but not in the traditional sense. My masters, though they're more like my father and older brother, taught me. We have no association with the Jedi. My name is Anakin," he told them.

"I'm Blake," the little one said.

"Hunter…" the older one said.

"Has the blue lightning thing happened before?" Anakin asked. The other blonde shook his head.

"No…that was the first time. I don't know what happened," Hunter replied.

"It's okay, you'll learn about your powers in time, that is if you'll let me train you," Anakin stated.

"Train me?" Hunter asked.

"You need to learn more about your Force jumping powers, but I'm guessing that you're also capable of learning to use the Force in other ways, including light saber training, if you're willing," Anakin stated.

"What about Blake? He doesn't have the same powers," Hunter said.

"But he's your brother, so he'll stay with us," Anakin promised.

"Why are you helping us?" Hunter questioned. Anakin smiled and knelt down at eye level with him.

"Because when I was your age, I was running from the same people that you were today. A man named Quinlan Vos saved me and took me in, along with his Master Sifo-Dyas. They became my family and raised me to help others like myself," Anakin told him, before standing up again and lifting Blake into his arms.

"Come on, let's go meet Padme," Anakin urged.

"What if she doesn't want us?" Hunter asked. Anakin smiled.

"I don't foresee that happening, boys. She's a wonderful woman and she loves children. She has nieces around your ages," Anakin said.

"Is she pretty?" Blake asked. Anakin chuckled.

"She's beautiful and you'll love her as much as I know she's going to love you," he promised, as they walked toward the house.

In the next chapter, Scout finds herself en route to Bandomeer, but she soon finds herself being hunted by a mysterious pair. Meanwhile, Hunter and Blake meet Padme and Hunter begins to trust them. Anakin explains how he sensed Hunter's power nearby when he was in the marketplace and Padme takes an instant liking to them.