Chapter 5

It must have been another long day at the shop.

That was good news since Vader's payments go into assisting them, especially Anakin. Not so long ago, Vader brought other baby supplies along with a small toy starfighter for Anakin to play with. It only poked at her heart to see her little pilot giggling as he made fake air sounds, happier than ever.

Adding onto his gesture of giving Anakin the necessities he needed at that age, Vader had purchased better clothing for them, at least better in Tatooine's standings. She wore a long, light-colored dress that covered her from the neck to ankle, with long sleeves and a loose, flowing fit to accommodate the hot climate. She also wore a head covering or scarf to protect her hair and face from the sun and sand.

Anakin wore a simple white tunic and pants, but compared to those slave garments, he was at least treated more like how a child should be - like all children should be. Vader had been adamant that they spoil themselves and shouldn't feel obligated to repay him with anything, something that truly touched Shmi. The man was simply a dream come true.

Gone were the days of depending on the attire that Gardulla was "kind enough" to gift them. Gone were the days when she had to give every little meal to her son so he could survive. Now, they can eat a full meal, have good clothes, and spend the days doing whatever they want.

Accepting Vader into her home at first was out of common courtesy and attempting to be selfless, yet from the beginning, something about him made her feel so painstakingly... safe.

She smiled as she looked down at her son burying himself in the sand. The little boy had grown a liking to it. Anakin's innocence was refreshing to the extreme. She only felt bad for other slaves who had to continue their own duties for the ruthless slavers like Gardulla.

Only when the sun began to set, Shmi took her precious baby boy inside and set him down. Anakin looked up at her with those adorable blue eyes, and Shmi slowly began to wave his starfighter around, earning small laughs from him as he clawed for it.

As expected, in another hour or so, Shmi heard the sound of a speeder which announced one thing: Vader's back.

Setting him to the side, Shmi walked to the porch and saw the ever muscular and agile form of Vader, but he was not alone.

Behind him, a slightly older man was flanking him. He must be a decade or two older than her. But Shmi couldn't help the feeling of her heart stopping...

Shmi couldn't help but the intense feeling of her cheeks reddening. What was this? She had never felt like this before. He was simply... wonderful.

After they get closer, Shmi walked up, wrapping her arms around Vader. Once it became obvious that he wouldn't hurt her, the two often hugged one another, and he'd made it clear that he didn't mind when she touched him, despite how often he would stiffen up at the same time.

Even now as a free slave, she still had to proceed with caution on Tatooine. Messing with the wrong crowds could get one killed no matter of status. Hopefully, Vader understood that no matter what he could do.

"Shmi, this is Cliegg Lars," Vader greeted, motioning to the man, "he has been dropping by my shop for the past few weeks." He offered a slight scowl to the man. "He also took it upon himself to hunt with me today, so we came to mutual terms of a family's meeting. We'll be dropping by for dinner in his Homestead if you wouldn't mind."

Family? Shmi grew slightly disappointed for a reason unknown. Given the age difference between them, the man must be happily married. Damn it, the feelings within her were way too confusing. Why should she care so much? After all, this was just a random stranger on Tatooine, someone who she just met.

Managing to keep her voice steady, the woman nodded slightly and quirked an eyebrow, "Of course, we would be honored to join your family tonight."

Cliegg smiled.

Damn, she couldn't stop looking into those eyes...

Seeing that she's looking for far too long, the woman walked back in and grabbed her son as well as his toy starfighter. She approached the speeder, keeping firm hands-on Anakin and keeping her stare on the ground, away from Cliegg.

She could see him also eyeing her and she offered him a small hopefully friendly smile before getting on board the back of the speeder. She didn't like speeders personally, even though Vader had convinced her that they are an effective way to navigate.

Vader was driving now, all the while continuing the conversation while Shmi tried to distract herself. His voice was simply... perfect. She hadn't seen many men that she was interested in.

'Pull yourself together, woman, you are a mother!'Her mind told her, and Shmi wholeheartedly agreed, even though the feeling in her chest wouldn't go away. This was just wonderful, feeling inappropriate feelings for a man who must be double her age.

"...Some pirates are borderline on the gray area," Vader declared. "Still, if you ever confront one and they so happen to be persistent to help you, keep a weapon armed at all times."

Hmm, what a weird topic to discuss.

"Oh, I think I saw a few of them in the cantina once," Cliegg replied, shrugging slightly.

"That is worrisome," Vader replied. Oh, did he seriously consider pirates as cause of worry? He'd stood in front of Gardulla the Hutt and managed to negotiate with her without losing his head. "Pirates typically use others for their own benefits. Mostly, their choices were influenced by ways to gain more profit. Yet, when the price is satisfying enough, they quickly become more reasonable."

"Sounds like you are speaking from experience," the man huffed.

"They have no allegiances aside from profit. Traveling in the Outer Rim opens your eyes to many things. To be frank - the aspect of slavery evaporated - Tatooine can be a place of happiness. Remove the slavers and you would have a decent system."

It was true. Despite the harsh deserts and lack of water, the last many weeks of freedom had been nothing if not fulfilling for Shmi and her son.

The conversation ended there, and Vader drove for another five minutes, before they finally arrived at the other Homestead, each of them slowly getting off of their speeder.

Shmi watched as a little boy ran out of the Homestead.

"Daddy! You're back!"

None of them noticed how a certain man was looking at him from the corner of his eyes...

It had been a long time since Vader had seen Owen Lars in person. He was... different. He was a boy just like his younger self, having small white robes fitting his size similar to Anakin.

The painful reminder of what would happen to him before Luke started off his journey brought about yet another shell of guilt down the man's heart. He may have not commanded the Larses death at least not directly, but his actions led to their demise.

Admittedly, there was a time where Anakin blamed the Larses for not protecting his mother, but that had been quickly quelled when he had time to realize that they made sure her last years among the living was some of her best and seeing his and Beru's relationship were something that inspired Anakin at the time to marry Padmé.

Vader clenched his eyes shut as father and son stopped hugging one another, though he didn't have it within him to interrupt the scene. This could have been him with both of his children if not for his ambition getting in the way, especially on Mustafar...

Cliegg turned away from his son and indicated to the individuals behind him softly. "Owen, this is Vader, Shmi, and Anakin."

Owen's eyes went wide as he slowly approached and looked at the little bundle in her arms who cooed at seeing him. Vader raised an eyebrow at this. He felt a connection forming around the two already. The Force pulsated silently.

"Can I hold him?" Owen asked enthusiastically, not even giving his father a chance to respond. "Can I?! Can I, daddy?!"

"Owen," Cliegg said softly, taking on a parental tone. "You're quite young and holding Anakin incorrectly can lead to him getting hurt."

The boy pouted slightly and crossed his arms across his chest, grumbling about the unfair galaxy.

Behind him, two individuals exit the Homestead. An aged woman who is tanned, black hair with blue eyes. Standing alongside her was a light-skinned male, having brown hair as well.

"Don't fret, sweetie," the aged woman chided softly, "I'm sure as Anakin get older, he would need a friend around him to watch him. Think about that."

Owen smiled at that before turning to regard Vader, borderline fear in his eyes.

Cliegg gave his son a sheepish smile while rubbing the boy's shoulder in reassurance. "Vader here may seem scary, but he is just a big softy once you begin to know him."

"I assure you, I'm friendly," Vader replied softly, refraining from giving the other man a pointed glare. After a few seconds, the child smiled at him, letting him know that there was no reason for worry.

"Oh, I do hope that he hasn't been bothering you in the past few weeks," the woman said softly, coming closer to stare at Vader.

Before Vader could respond, Cliegg came forward and wrapped one arm nonchalantly around him. And his mother called him insane? "Mom! I'm his favorite customer," he offered, a grin across his lips.

"So he tells himself," Vader declared, earning chuckles.

The older man grinned. "Ha, Cliegg here still knows how to embarrass himself even at this age."

Owen laughed while Cliegg gave his father a pointed stare.

"Dad!" Cliegg pouted as if he was still a child and not a middle-aged man, "visitors!"

The sound of a growling stomach caused each of them to turn around, and Shmi stared down at her son with some sheepishness before stating.

"I think that's his way of telling us that he's hungry," Shmi declared with awkward finality, obviously unsure how she could fit in with this family.

"Of course, sweetie, follow me," the woman said.

Vader took the boy from her hands and gave her a reassured nod, causing her to abandon his side and follow behind. The Larses and Skywalkers enter the Homestead. The women hooked slowly but surely, all the while chatting about topics that even Vader cared little about getting involved with.

They got situated, deciding to wait for the woman to return to the table, before starting any real conversation. While Cliegg and Lef exchanged some words, Owen played with his datapad, and Anakin with his toy, Vader simply sat there, meditating as always.

Around an hour later, the two women returned, having food on six different plates. On each of the plates, there were tubers, haroun bread, and cream of womprat soup. Gredda walked to the back before returning with the jawa juice to pour into each cup before securing it onto the table.

The others conversated, and Vader tilted his head to Shmi who looked for a second before nodding. Walking up to the boy and sitting down next to him, Vader offered a mini-Force suggestion to him, sternly yet gently telling him to calm down. The boy did, complying as Vader brought his food to his mouth with the utensil.

The woman smirked at her husband. "You know, Lef, he kind of reminds me of Cliegg when he was a boy. Somehow, he was quieter during those days."

"Hopefully he wouldn't grow up the same, Gredda," Lef quipped to his wife with a smirk, staring at his son pointedly. "Always annoying his parents!"

Shmi stifled a giggle at Cliegg's face turning red.

"Hey!" Cliegg exclaimed. "I happen to be less troublesome now than I was as a child!"

"Whatever helps you sleep at night, my dear boy," Gredda snipped. "You are still a pain in the ass even after all these decades."

Cliegg rolled his eyes, saying in an equally humorous way. "You are just saying that when you know I was a miracle that ever happened to you and dad."

"Assumptions, son," Lef stated, a twinkle in the older man's eyes.

Shmi commented with a slight smile. "You three seem to have a good relationship."

"Of course, even though he annoys us, we wouldn't trade him off for anything in the galaxy," Lef replied.

Cliegg gave him a playful scowl. "You two are nagging old hags, you know that."

Vader continued to fed Anakin, choosing to remain out of the conversation.

However, his presence was still not forgotten, despite how Vader's focus is on one thing at this point.

"So, Vader, how is your marriage?"

Vader looked up to him and frowned, causing the boy to continue to eat the soup with his hands, dirtying his face. "Marriage?"

"Yes, you and Shmi are married, are you not? You're the boy's father?" Cliegg replied in utter confusion, quirking an eyebrow at him.

Shmi looked up at both men, surprised.

Vader's eyes widened. He didn't even want to think about the implications that Cliegg must be thinking.

"No, Shmi has only taken me in," Vader immediately dismissed, maintaining his calmness despite how... disgusting such a thought of marrying his own mother was, "and in return I'd guaranteed their freedom sometime after. I had taken the role of father figure for the boy, but we are not connected in that way."

Besides, how could the man know of their mysterious relationship, let alone everyone at the table? Not even Shmi knew yet of the uniqueness of their relationship, despite audibly feeling something special around him...

"Where have you come from then?" Lef queried, eyes arched in curiosity.

"...The Unknown Regions," Vader replied simply, stealing down a quick glance to his boots to ensure his lightsabers were safely concealed. "I was a mercenary who have served a powerful crime boss until I chose to leave and came to Tatooine."

Deciding to deal with the mess Anakin made, Vader grabbed a portion of the small cloths on the side of the table serving as napkins and began to wipe at his face, cleaning him up. The boy scowled and pulled away slightly at this but didn't resist further.

"Since then, he freed me and my son from slavery," Shmi continued. "There is no romantic entanglement between us and never will be. Just him watching over both of us and keeping us protected."

"Ah, I see..." Cliegg smiled.

"Slavery is just wrong," Lef retorted, shaking his head as he looked at her. "I'm sorry that you have been through that, my dear."

Rubbing the scar on the back of her neck, Shmi responded with a faint smile. "It's nothing."

Those many years would always be on her mind, but she would push through for her son and stay strong. Vader wished that he could have been as strong.

Cliegg looked at him, smirking behind bearded lips. "Well, you didn't give me a mercenary type of vibe, Vader, how come you didn't tell me, buddy?"

Vader raised his eyebrows and responded. "Why should I? It was nothing of importance."

Cliegg grunted. "Must you always be so blunt?"

Vader retorted sarcastically. "Must you always complain about everything, Lars?"

Of course, the man didn't take him seriously.

"Vader, you may seem to be distant at first, but if there is anything to go by in the last few weeks that I have learned from our time together, you are just trying to make your way through this galaxy. Given you have freed two slaves, you obviously care more than you like to admit."

Vader knew he was right. Multiple times he could have severed the friendship between them, but he continued to allow the man to come, staying after shop to listen to Cliegg's quips, allowing him to accompany him halfway home, and even going half-price a few times for the man for whatever he purchased.

And no matter how infuriated Vader tried to act around the man about his presence, he loved to spend his time with him. For now, in some sort of twist of fate, Cliegg Lars was practically his best friend...

Friend...

Damn...

Unwanted thoughts flood him yet again. Obi-Wan attacking and cutting him down on Mustafar after he'd attacked the older Jedi Master... Erv Lekauf after jumping in front of him from the rogue Emperor Hand's Sheyvan and six Force-sensitive clones of Sa Cuis... Ahsoka's refusal to join him on Malachor after seeing the monster he has become...

Everyone who Vader had been friends with had either been caused to suffer more or die due to his actions. The thought of what he could do again to anyone who attempted to befriend him was not something he'd wanted to think about.

"Do you ever fear about seeing him again?" Cliegg asked.

"He was many things, including manipulative and charismatic." Vader gritted his teeth, the muscle in his jaw throbbing. "If I see him again, I don't know what I'll do."

That was far from the truth. When the opportunity arisen to kill Sidious, Vader would put that rapid animal down before his Empire rise. Some Jedi may counsel holding him in a cell and keeping him locked away, but he knew the truth. Holding him behind a dungeon wasn't enough, no matter how heavily guarded it may or may not be. Only a fool would risk that. He could do an untold amount of damage even locked away. Cutting him down was the only option. He was too dangerous to be left alive. Master Windu was right about that much by the end of the Clone Wars.

Not wanting his anger to rise to uncontrollable lengths again to where he may harm everyone in the room by momentarily loss of control including the two children if he would go that low again, Vader finished in a tone that cut into ice itself.

"My past is an extremely touchy matter and I rather not discuss it."

Cliegg nodded slightly, seeming to respect that. As did everyone.

Seeing Anakin was finished eating his food, Vader took his plate to the kitchen, walked to the vacant seat, and began eating his own components on his plate.

Owen walked over to Anakin, and Cliegg stated firmly. "Son, he is just a baby and you holding him too tightly can hurt him."

"I will be careful, dad," Owen replied, beginning to make funny faces to his younger self, causing giggles from the boy.

Anakin held out his toy starfighter to him and Owen grabbed it, before waving it around, making some flying noises while Anakin laughed, obviously enjoying the older boy's company.

Vader's eyes narrowed.

What would happen between them as they grow up in this altered timeline?

Arthur's note: Yes, Shmi definitely has a crush on Cliegg. She is still a young woman after all, and now that she has met him earlier, what will this mean? ;) On top of this, Anakin loves sand this time around. How would this impact him in his adult years?

Next chapter, we will see some new characters who I'm pretty sure y'all don't even know exist as it is a big galaxy, but they did appear in the Phantom Menace, but I'm not going to spoil who they are, even though they are not well-known. Have any predictions? Here's a hint, they were on Tatooine throughout the movie. Lol

May the Force be with you all always.