Dooku quickly gathered Qui-Gon's things; he figured the children might like something to remember their father by, assuming they knew he was their dad. Now, he had to find the children so he could protect them.

Finding Kara was easy, since she was in the Temple. Fourteen years of age, she was now, and the eldest child. Revealing her parentage and that she had two little brothers was another story.

"Why did he never tell me?" was the first thing Kara said when she found her voice.

"I only know Qui-Gon wouldn't have kept this secret without good reason." Dooku said, holding the girl's shoulder. "And I know your father loved you very much, and wished only to keep you safe. When Anakin returns from Naboo, I shall be taking both of you and your other brother somewhere safe."

Meanwhile, in an apartment in the lower levels of Coruscant, Qui-Gon's mother, Miranda Jinn, held her grandson Carmine in her arms as he was crying. Once he learned of his father's death earlier that same day, he just couldn't stop. Not even his plush rabbit could cheer him up. There were tear stains even all over his glasses and his face.

Miranda refused to let go of the little boy in her arms until she knew he was going to be okay.

"Shh. There, there, Carmine." Miranda soothed, gently patting Carmine on the back. "Just let it all out."

Just then, there came a knock at the front door.

"Who could that be?" Miranda wondered out loud.

Miranda wiped her tears away and had Carmine hold her hand as she went to answer the door. And when she did, she saw a strange man with a teenage girl.

"Can I help you, Sir?" Miranda asked.

"Greetings, Madame." Dooku said. "Are you Miranda Jinn?"

"Yes. What of it?"

"I am Master Dooku. Your son Qui-Gon was my student. And this is Kara... your granddaughter."

Miranda looked at the girl standing next to Dooku. She definitely had Qui-Gon's eyes. Aside from the gold stripes in her eyes, Miranda just knew she had to be his. Carmine, however, hid behind his grandmother as he became shy around the two strangers.

Kara looked at the little boy and couldn't believe that was her little brother. Despite his tear-stained face, he was more adorable than Kara imagined.

"Carmine, come meet your big sister." Miranda said, getting Carmine to come out.

"Hello," said Kara, only for Carmine to hide behind Miranda again.

Dooku had never met Qui-Gon's children, but he didn't expect any of them to be this scared or jumpy. Even as a child, Qui-Gon wasn't quite as jittery. But, when he also saw the conditions of which Carmine and Miranda were living, he knew he had to get them out of there. Miranda and Carmine often struggled to make ends meet, and Carmine hardly had any toys. And from as far as Dooku could tell, there weren't a lot of other children in this neighborhood, which couldn't have been good for the boy's social life.

"Don't be afraid, little one." Dooku said as gently as he could, kneeling down to Carmine's level. "Your father was a dear friend of mine. I am sad he is gone as you are feeling."

Carmine seemed to come out a little as this strange man spoke, but he stayed securely behind his grandmother.

"Your father left a letter for each of his loved ones before he died. And he wrote in one that he wished for me to take care of you." Dooku said. "Mrs. Jinn...come with me, and we shall protect your grandchildren together."

Dooku told Miranda he knew a safe place where he and the rest of the Jinns could live where the kids would be kept safe, and they could ensure their future as well. He showed her the letter Qui-Gon left, and Miranda recognized her son's handwriting. It was true. She knew that Qui-Gon only wanted what was best for his children, as she had wanted for him. She couldn't change things for her and Qui-Gon, but she was being given a chance to do for her grandchildren what she couldn't for her father. They deserved to live a life where they didn't have to worry about money, the chance to go to schools that would give them opportunities, and to be able to master their powers so they could protect themselves and someday revive her parents' kingdom.

So, Miranda and Carmine packed their bags while Dooku went back to the Temple as Anakin finally arrived back from Naboo with Qui-Gon's former student Obi-Wan.

Anakin was initially surprised to meet Qui-Gon's old teacher, but he was even more surprised when Dooku told him Qui-Gon was his father.

"He was my dad?!" Anakin exclaimed, which caught many other Jedi's attention, including Obi-Wan as he'd just been arriving.

"What?!" Obi-Wan gasped. "My master was a father? When did this...?"

Dooku looked at the young man who stood before him.

"That must make you Obi-Wan Kenobi." Dooku said.

"Yes. And you must be Master Dooku." Obi-Wan said. "Formalities set aside, what has led you to believe Qui-Gon was a father?"

"He told me in a message he left behind."

"Well, Master Qui-Gon asked that I train Anakin." Obi-Wan said.

"But Qui-Gon asked that I take care of him and his siblings." Dooku said.

"Siblings?" Anakin said, confused.

"I must fulfill my master's dying wish." Obi-Wan interrupted before Dooku could say anything.

"His dying wish was for his children to be protected." Dooku said sternly. He picked Anakin up. "And I intend to protect Anakin, as well as his brother and sister."

"You can't just take him." Obi-Wan said.

"I can and I will." Dooku said. "If rumors are to be believed, the Council did not want this boy to be trained. They shall have their wish not to train him, and I shall do it myself... out of the Jedi Order."

Obi-Wan couldn't believe this. First he just lost his master, and now his Grand Master was leaving the order just as he was finally meeting him for the first time.

"Come, Anakin. Your grandmother is very eager to meet you."

"My grandmother?"

"You father's mother has lived here on Coruscant since before he was born." Dooku explained. "And she has been raising your brother alone. But now, you and your family shall be reunited."

"Except for Mom." Anakin said. "Dad couldn't free her. Watto wouldn't let him."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. I miss her."

Dooku decided he had yet another task to add to his To-Do list.

Miranda and the other two kids arrived at a port where they met Dooku, and Anakin was shocked when he saw the rest of his family for the very first time, especially his twin brother.

Anakin and Carmine looked at each other with shock in their eyes. Aside from Carmine wearing glasses, it was like looking into a mirror.

"You look just like me!" they exclaimed in unison.

"That is to be expected among identical twins." Dooku said.

That explained a lot. At least, it explained to Anakin why he never met Carmine, like one of those stories he'd heard about twins being separated at birth. As happy as Anakin was to meet his brother and sister for the very first time, all of them were equally saddened by their father's death. Miranda was sad too, but she was also happy that her grandchildren were at least all together.

Dooku brought the Jinns to Serenno where they took another transport to... a palace! This palace had been left to Dooku by his late family long ago. Being a Jedi, well former Jedi, however, he could not enjoy it. But now that he was taking in Qui-Gon's family, he could move back in, and he wouldn't be alone either.

"This is our new house?" Carmine gasped.

"Indeed, it is, children." Miranda said. "Master Dooku, this is too generous."

"I insist. The little ones deserve nothing but the best, especially seeing as they are destined to be royals."

With three Force sensitive children, he could train them to fight the Sith someday. But first, he had a little something else to take care of.

"I must tend to another matter. In the meantime, the servants will tend to you and the children."

The kids couldn't believe their eyes when they entered the palace. Some serving droids arrived to give the children and their grandmother a tour before guiding them to their new bedrooms, and they were happily surprised to see they each got a canopy bed, and there were already a lot of nice clothes for the kids set up in the closet. It seemed Dooku also intended to spoil these kids like they were his own. Seeing the conditions Miranda and Carmine lived in before, he believed they needed a taste of the luxurious life.

But, Carmine was more interested in laying in his bed and hugging Fluffy, when Anakin came into his room.

"Hi, Carmine." Anakin said.

"Hi, Anakin." Carmine said flatly.

"Are you okay?"

"Daddy is gone, and you're asking me if I'm okay?"

"Okay, probably not the best question. I'm upset too." Anakin said. "Dad didn't even tell me he was my dad when he found me and Mom again."

"My mom's alive?" Carmine said. "Where is she?"

Anakin was hesitant to tell Carmine. But, he explained to Carmine that their father had tried to free her too, and that he and their mother lived in slavery, which had them moved when they were sold to a new master.

"People can be sold?" Carmine said.

"In the Outer Rim, we're all on our own. The Republic's anti-slave laws don't exist out there. The only way was for Dad to win my freedom in a pod race. Watto, my old master, wouldn't let him free me and Mom. I guess Mom told him that if he could only free one of us, better it be me. Mom always said one of the biggest problems was that no one helped each other. So, I guess that was her way of helping me have a fighting chance."

"What's Mom like?"

Anakin sat with Carmine and told him all about their mom, about how loving and sweet she was. Even though they were slaves, that didn't stop her from being a loving mother that her little boy needed and that every child deserved. She only wished she could do more.

"I can't believe I was almost a slave." Carmine said. "Why wouldn't Daddy have freed you too when we were babies?"

"Maybe he had to leave in a hurry and only had enough time to grab one of us, and you were closest." Anakin thought.

"I wish I could've known Mommy." Carmine said, crying with Fluffy in his arms.

Anakin hugged his newfound twin for a while, and Carmine started to feel better.

"I see you boys are getting along fine," said a female voice.

"Grandma!" Carmine got up and went to hug his grandmother.

Miranda gave her youngest grandson a kiss, and then she looked at Anakin and caressed his little face.

"You have no idea how long I've waited to meet you." Miranda said.

"You knew about me?" Anakin said, surprised.

"You knew about Anakin?" Carmine said, equally surprised. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I wanted to, Carmine." Miranda said. "When your father brought you home for the first time, he told me he had another son to retrieve. But, he came back empty-handed."

Miranda remembered that day all too well. Qui-Gon had tears in his eyes as he'd been unable to find his other son and the mother, the woman for whom he intended to leave the Jedi Order so he could marry her. He was heartbroken that it seemed his true love was gone forever, and even more sad that he'd lost a child and Carmine may never know his mother or brother.

"I was devastated as well. I'd dreamed of someday meeting his future wife, and you should've seen the sparkle in his eyes when he spoke of your mother. He was head over heels for her. It wasn't until just before he died that I was met with the good news that Anakin was alive and Qui-Gon was bringing him home."

"Is that what Daddy was talking to you about?" Carmine asked. "I overheard him chatting with you about coming to stay, but I hid because I didn't wanna get in trouble for eavesdropping."

"It was what he was talking about," said Miranda. "And, I should've guessed you would hear. You always did have great ears even before your magical powers emerged."

"Magical powers?" Anakin was confused.

"We have a lot to catch you and your sister up on, don't we?" Miranda said. "Why don't we whip up some snacks, and I'll explain everything?"

The kids liked the sound of that, especially when Carmine told Anakin how great a baker their grandmother was.

So, as they were enjoying some delicious cookies and cocoa their grandma made, Miranda told the children all about Solaris and how each of them inherited powers as she did from their great grandparents.

"Most Enchanteds get their powers when they turn five." Miranda said. "As Carmine did."

"I got musical magic." Carmine said. "I can make music out of anything too."

Carmine grabbed a couple of spoons and drummed on the table, it actually sounding like a drumset for a bit.

"That explains why none of the Jedi Masters could explain my super speed not being sensed through the Force." Kara said.

"Your father had amazing super strength, though he had to hide it from the Jedi."

"It's true." Carmine said. "Dad once shared a funny story with me how he accidentally left a human-shaped hole in the wall when he first got his powers, and once accidentally pulled a door right off its hinges."

Anakin nearly snorted cocoa put of his nose as he pictured the sight of that.

"I wish I could've seen Dad's power before." Anakin said. "But wait... how come I don't have powers? I'm nine now."

"Well, most Enchanteds do get it at age five, Ani." Miranda said. "But, it depends on when gold blood cells develop. Sometimes, you get them before your fifth birthday, others get them later. Your father didn't get his until he was six. My own father, from what I know, didn't get his until he was twelve. The occasional late bloomer runs in the family, and oddly enough has a tendency to hit the first born sons of the family."

"When did you get your powers, Grandmother?" Kara asked.

"When I was seven, I believe." Miranda said. "Mine involves fashion. A Cinderella transformation that lasts forever, if you will."

"I might understand that better if I knew who Cinderella was."

"You never heard the story of Cinderella?" Carmine gasped.

"Slaves don't exactly have a lot of books, much less time to read."

"Then perhaps we can have a little story time." Miranda said.

So, they did. Miranda sat in a comfy chair and read a story to all three of her grandchildren, then tucked all three of them into bed and sang them Qui-Gon's lullaby to put them to sleep. Of course, while the children were getting into their pajamas, Miranda had a couple of nice little gifts for her two other grandchildren. She made each of them their own special plushies, as she'd done for Carmine. A cheetah for Kara, and a cute little bear for Anakin.

Anakin couldn't believe how soft and cuddly his new teddy was; it definitely helped a little with falling asleep. His grandmother's kisses when she tucked him in reminded him a little of his mother tucking him into bed.

"Goodnight, my other little prince." Miranda said as Anakin fell asleep.

"Goodnight, my little princess." She said to Kara as she tucked her in, though she was a teenager now.

Almost two days after the Jinns moved in, Dooku soon returned to the palace, and he wasn't alone.

"I've returned, everyone." Dooku called.

"Welcome home, Dear Dooku." Miranda said, and when she learned who Dooku was with... she called the children over.

Anakin and Carmine were the first to arrive, and Anakin was the first to recognize who Dooku brought back.

"Mom!" Anakin exclaimed, running right into her arms, receiving a big hug and lots of kisses.

Carmine couldn't believe it! This was his mother?

"Mommy?" Carmine said, coming closer.

Shmi looked with surprise, as well as happy tears when she looked at this other little boy who looked identical to Anakin.

"Carmine?" Shmi gasped.

Carmine got closer and let his mother caress his little face. She hugged him tightly and gave him lots of kisses too.

"My baby!"

Shmi was overjoyed to be with both her sons again at last, however she was also devastated when Dooku came to Tatooine and told her that her babies' father was killed in battle.

"How are you here?" Anakin asked his mother. "I thought Watto said he wouldn't free you."

"Don't worry about your former master." Dooku said. "I took care of him."

The kids weren't sure how they should feel if what Dooku meant by that was what they were imagining. But, Miranda was so happy to finally meet her daughter-in-law (even though they'd only made it to the proposal and never a wedding, Miranda wouldn't refer to her any other way), and welcome her into the family. And Kara figured that technically Shmi would be her stepmother now, which probably wouldn't be too bad. Her father would've wanted her and Shmi to get along.

The kids started to catch up with Shmi and show her all the neat things they'd found in the palace, and of course share the stories Miranda shared with them about their family history. As you can imagine, Shmi was unable to believe her husband was actually a prince, much less had magical powers. Now that she was free, she could be here to raise her children, and maybe find a new career of her own.

Dooku was determined to see it through that the children were raised properly. With their mother and grandmother by his side, he would be able to ensure both sides of the children's heritage would be taught, and most importantly, he wouldn't be alone through the true scariest part of this entire journey, and it wasn't the revelation of the royal family once he found a way to get in touch with the Enchantra High Commission. The real scariest part of his new mission? Parenthood.