Warning: This chapter contains a brief reference to a medical procedure performed on farm animals, when you don't want more farm animals. It's in the paragraph that starts: "Look. I understand you have a difference of opinion over things." if you are sensitive to such things. It's not graphic though.
Chapter 22 - Jedi Parenting Lessons
Anakin had just plotted their course and set them in hyperdrive, but he couldn't get his mind to leave the planet below. He set his elbow on the console and sighed as he considered comming Obi-Wan and the kids one last time.
"You still thinking about them?" said the voice of an angel behind him.
Anakin turned around to glance at Padme and sighed again. "Yeah, I'm worried. It's his first time watching the kids by himself, what if something goes wrong?"
"I'm sure they'll be fine. The worst that could happen would be if he forgets their naptime and the twins throw a big fit. But you did warn him not to skip their nap time, didn't you?"
"Of course," Anakin lied.
"Did you know your mom hasn't ever left Tatooine before?" As Padme changed the subject she looked away. Anakin let his eyes go wide with worry.
"Yeah I'm not surprised. You do know it was my first time leaving the planet with you and Qui-Gon," Anakin added, getting back on topic.
"Well yeah, but you were nine! Anyways, neither has Beru. And Owen says he was really young when he last traveled in space. I could use your help getting them all settled for the trip."
"Yes, alright." Anakin gave one last worried glance at the ship's comm before getting up and following his wife.
"It's just landing Mom, there isn't much to see," Anakin protested.
"But you'll be flying this whole ship by yourself. I want to see it," Shmi eagerly replied.
Anakin gave in and led his mom into the cockpit. "You can sit here." Anakin indicated the seat behind his own.
"Okay. Who sits there?" Shmi asked.
"Normally the copilot, but I don't need one, R2 is my copilot." he indicated where the droid was plugged into the ship.
"Are you sure that's a good idea. I could go run and get Padme." Shmi suggested.
R2-D2 beeped in protest.
"That's right R2. You're an excellent co-pilot and I don't need anyone else." Anakin answered his droid. "Alright, we're about to come out of hyperspace. Now." he moved controls as he spoke. "You see that right there. That's Ilum, and in front of us that's Cala. Now, do you see that station in orbit? That's where we're headed."
Shmi listened with wide eyes. Anakin pushed controls to pilot the ship. As they were entering the hanger bay Shmi grabbed onto him from behind and screeched. "Careful don't scratch it."
Anakin couldn't help but laugh at her reaction as he landed. "There we go. A happy landing," Anakin said, more to get his mom to let go and open her eyes again.
"Good job, Ani." Shmi patted his arm.
Owen wasn't sure what to expect the Jedi's home to look like, but he pictured something like what they'd built on Tatooine. Either a formal building where everyone was stiff and serious, or warm homes where the Jedi were only just beginning to learn to let their emotions show. Most still preferred warm, sweet emotions and their homes reflected that in decoration. They filled their homes with holographs of their many attachments to remind themselves that they had them.
This place, as far as he could see, was the former. The halls were empty and not a single colored image decorated the space.
Anakin ran over right away and greeted a pair of Jedi with a polite bow. The human Jedi seemed to be quite stiff, but then the Zabrak Jedi elbowed him and he bowed politely in return.
"Everyone, this is Tel-Mac and Maris," Anakin introduced when their party approached. "Guys, this is my wife, Padme. And this is Sh-Shmi and Cliegg." Everyone had agreed not to let Anakin use the word mother on this trip, as that would lead them to suspect Tatooine. Anakin was reluctant to agree to it, and judging by the way he gulped at her name, he was still struggling with it. "And this is Owen and Beru."
Owen smiled politely as he was being introduced. He found the two unusual, even for Jedi. Anakin had once told him the story about what it was like when he first was presented to the Jedi council. A room full of people who all seemed to look right through you, but who shared no readable reactions to what they saw. It seemed to Owen that these two were a mini version of that. Owen gave a nervous laugh and bowed to mimic Anakin's greeting.
"Oh Maris, you're looking well for four months. How has the morning sickness been?" Shmi asked the girl.
Beside him his wife blushed. Owen could tell it wasn't a question she'd of opened with, but his mother, (or stepmother, honest Owen had ceased to recognize the difference a long time ago,) Shmi was always more to the point.
Shmi and Padme continued to discuss very openly the difficulties of pregnancy with Maris as they were led through the colorless and mostly soundless halls to an interior room.
"This will work well. Let us get set up, then we can begin classes shortly," said Shmi. She and Cliegg began to issue orders. A table was moved to create space and belongings from their ship were brought out to use for teaching.
The soon to be mother and father stood off to the side of the room observing them set up. Anakin walked over to them at one point and tried again to engage them in conversation. Owen only heard a part of the conversation when he stepped closer to them while setting up a diaper changing station.
"So where is everyone else?" Anakin asked.
"Ilum. We're working to enlarge the old temple down there." Tel-Mac stated flatly. "We needed more space once we had to take on the prisoner from the resistance."
"Prisoner… Oh yeah, that suspected inquisitor that Satine caught going after Ella-Reese." Tel-Mac scowled at the name, but Anakin took his reaction as confirmation. "How has it gone? Have you learned anything from him?"
"He definitely is an inquisitor. And he's force-sensitive, though he's very poorly trained. From what I've been able to learn, I believe they all are, all these inquisitors. It's probably why Palpatine hasn't promoted one as his next apprentice. From what we know his last apprentice, Dooku, was a trained Jedi, and before him, Maul was taken and trained from his early childhood in the dark side. It's probably what he's got planned now, since he's killed so many Jedi, there's practically no one left to turn."
"Yes, Bail did say he suspected the children Sidious had taken were a ticking time bomb for the universe. I'll tell Yoda what you said. He'll probably approve of helping the rebellion more." Anakin said, nodding. "Hey, I didn't get the chance to say it before. Congratulations on the baby." He offered a hand to both of them.
Maris shook his hand, but Tel-Mac scowled suspiciously at Anakin. He looked like he was about to say something, but Cliegg interrupted him.
"Alright Kids. Come over here and we'll begin with a birthing lesson."
Shmi had taken the lead on teaching the lesson. After she explained several things, she shifted gears. "Now I want you to lay here, and we'll practice those breathing exercises." Shmi said to Maris.
Maris complied by sitting on the mat on the floor and she began to practice.
Beru looked up at Tel-Mac and said in her gentle voice, "Come, you can sit here with her and practice helping her."
Tel-Mac scooted closer to Maris on the floor. He held his hands out like he wasn't sure where to put them. Then he breathed in a gasp of air and stood up rapidly. "I don't see the point. We're taught numerous methods to reduce pain and none of them require my assistance. Such things promote attachment and that is forbidden."
Shmi and Padme glared at the man. Beru's face puckered the way it only did when she got really mad. Owen had to act in everyone's best interest, and he had to do it fast. He got up and pulled Tel-Mac with him out to the hallway.
"Look. I understand you have a difference of opinion over things, but there's a time for arguing about it and there's a time to keep things to yourself. You might not give much credit to what three non-force-sensitive women can do, but you were this close to seeing it. My wife may look small and sweet, but she was raised on a bantha farm, and she can flip and castrate a bull calf faster than you'd like to know."
Tel-Mac sighed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset anyone, it's just I didn't ask you guys to come out here. This was all Yoda's idea." He leaned against the wall and breathed deeply for a moment. "I'm not used to it. I'm trying to do the best I can for the order. Normally there are lines we just don't cross as Jedi. I already crossed one to get to this point. I thought it was for the best. When I think of how many more I'll have to cross to get through this, I-I'm afraid."
Owen just stood there and listened. He was starting to feel helpless and didn't know what to say.
Tel-Mac slid down the wall and clutched his knees. "Fear leads to…" he began to whisper. Owen didn't catch it all. "... The dark side." Tel-Mac's breath caught. The dark side, a phrase that means the absolute worst to most Jedi, or so Owen had learned. Though he was still not clear exactly what that was, or how fear and attachments could lead to it, of all things.
"Your fear is normal kid," Cliegg spoke up from where he was listening silently. Behind him stood Anakin with his arms crossed. "The journey you're about to go on is one no one is prepared for until they get there. But we've been through it before, and we will help guide you. Now, childbirth is like nothing else. I don't know about the methods you've been taught before, but chances are, that girl is going to need you. It may make you anxious. That's why we're practicing today. But trust me, when the day comes, you'll appreciate it. Now, come on. Let's go back."
Owen offered his hand and Tel-Mac took it pulling himself up and walked back to the classroom with the men.
"Don't blame him. He's really anxious about this whole thing." Maris said. She could sense the anger in the room.
"Don't apologize for him sweetheart," Shmi said.
"So, have you thought about names yet?" Beru asked. She hoped to change the subject, until the men returned.
Maris's cheeks turned a slight pink as she blushed. "No. Oh my! We will have to name the little one won't we." Beru smiled. "Gee you think I'm silly, don't you? I wouldn't think to come up with a name for the kid."
"No, you're new to this. I understand."
"It's just that most new Jedi initiates already have names. The whole parenting thing was never a part of my upbringing. As a little girl, when we'd play with dolls, we'd play creche master, not mommy and daddy." Maris explained. "So, how do you go about naming a little one?"
"Are there any names you like the sound of? Or Anyone who you'd like to honor?" Beru suggested.
Maris's face lit up. "Ti. My old master was Shaak Ti. She-she became one with the force a while back. I'd like to honor her, if I can."
"It sounds beautiful," Beru agreed. "You should come up with multiple names. You don't know yet if you're having a boy or a girl, and technically you don't have to settle on a name until he or she is born."
Maris smiled at Beru. The two discussed names for several more minutes. Beru was starting to suspect she'd have to take Tel-Mac's place if they wanted to continue, when the door opened and the men walked in.
Anakin walked right over to Padme. "Sit here, dear. We're going to demonstrate." And Anakin showed Tel-Mac step by step how to help Maris through the process. "Now, It'll help if she can squeeze your hand during the birth, too. And she'll squeeze it pretty hard. This isn't attachment, it's displaced aggression, if nothing else." Padme gave him a dirty look. Anakin placated by stroking her back affectionately.
When they were through with that lesson, they began to teach lessons on parenting. Padme gave them several books and charts detailing a typical youngling's growth, and Beru talked about the essentials of caring for an infant youngling.
"Now, I know what you think about attachment, but when your baby is a newborn, you will want him or her to attach to you. A baby is small and helpless. It cannot do anything except cry out for help." Beru started her lesson. She paused nervously to glance at her students, but they seemed to both be listening well. "As an infant bonds with its caretaker, he or she learns to trust them."
At this point Anakin raised his hand. "Do you remember what I reported the Sith baby nurseries were like? Those cribs were designed to prevent the infants from learning this lesson, while still keeping them alive. Disgusting things." Anakin's face was grimaced in anger. He took several deep breaths to calm down. "I'm sorry. But if we Jedi want to be different from the Sith, we need to make sure the younglings in our care learn this." Tel-Mac nodded.
"An infant will cry a lot. It's your job as guardians and caretakers," Beru decided not to use familial terms here to avoid the whole attachment argument, though the meaning she felt was the same. "To provide whatever the youngling needs. Now, it would be easy if there were a control panel on an infant that you could read what they need." Several of the existing parents in the room laughed at this. "But that is not the case. You'll have to investigate and find out what they need, often by a process of elimination. And often this will be in the wee hours of the morning, as infants need care throughout the night."
"Yes, and I brought you this." Padme handed Maris a bag of Caf beans. "They're genetically engineered and specially grown on Umbara. This Caf is safe to drink when you're nursing, and I found it indispensable."
Shmi laughed. "Of course in my time we didn't get special caf beans. You younglings are so lucky." She shook her head. "If you come this way, we'll show you how to change a diaper, as that will usually be the first thing you check. The nose always knows."
The rest of their lessons went well, Anakin felt. When it came time to leave, Tel-Mac and Maris escorted them to the hanger, seemingly in a much better mood than they started. Beru smiled at Maris before whispering something in her ear. The girls laughed together at something. Beru gave Maris a warm hug before she boarded their ship.
Owen successfully patted Tel-Mac's back and said to him, "You can do this." He got a faint smile from Tel-Mac and a polite bow for goodbye.
Anakin hoped this experience would help his relationship with the often disapproving Jedi and perhaps make them more accepting of his clan.
Their ride back was just as long and fortunately uneventful as their ride out had been. After seeing everyone home, Anakin and Padme flew their ship into their garage, and walked into their home. The sight that met him almost had Anakin laughing in hysterics. His hand went up to clutch his mouth so he wouldn't wake the twins.
Obi-Wan lay on one couch, his left arm hanging over the edge. Laying against his belly was young Luke, midway through his afternoon nap. Seeming to sense their arrival Obi-Wan woke suddenly, blinking as he looked up.
"Oh Obi-Wan, the kids didn't tire you out too bad, we hope." Padme whispered.
"No, no, they were well behaved, just a lot of energy. How do you do it, Anakin?" Obi-Wan shifted carefully to get up without waking Luke.
Anakin was distracted and didn't really hear what was said. "Is he wearing blush?"
On the other couch Yoda sat leaning back, fast asleep. His fingernails were painted pink and he wore a blond hair piece threaded with flowers and ribbons. His face was indeed painted with makeup. Leia lay sleeping with her head in his lap.
"Oh, yeah. Knight Amika came by this morning with her padawan and they showed Leia some things to do with makeup. He fell asleep and…" Obi-Wan shrugged innocently. "I didn't want to wake him."
"Good call, I'm gonna go grab my holocam before he wakes." Anakin said. Padme rolled her eyes.
"Don't bother. I've already taken several." Obi-Wan smiled a troublesome smirk.
Hello,
I recently changed to using google docs. I don't know if you'll notice any changes to the format on here, but if you do, that's why.
I know according to wookieepedia Beru's family were moisture farmers, but I like the idea of her growing up on a dairy farm more. First she's known for her cooking dishes involving blue milk and cheeses. And second, Wookieepedia lists Banthas as being from Tatooine, at least in part, and there are farms that do different things. So they could've farmed both moisture and Banthas.
And knight Amika is entirely my imagination. Mainly because I'm too lazy to research one of the knights that survived order 66 for what is essentially just a name drop.
Next up is a mystery to me. I'll probably find something cute and fluffy, because I don't want to jump straight to my next major plot point.
