Luke was sitting on the Millennium Falcon. There were some circuits that needed repairing, and R2-D2 needed help. Anakin quickly climbed aboard, taking the opportunity to talk to him.
"Hello," Anakin greeted, picking up a tool to help his son. "How long has it been since this ship was repaired?" he asked, frowning.
"It's not in the same condition Han kept it," Luke chuckled.
"Are you ready to go see Owen and Beru before interrogating Jabba?" Anakin asked, and Luke smiled wistfully.
"Is this what you call 'do you want to go see Owen and Beru before you interrogate Jabba?" "It'll be hard to pretend I don't know them. They raised me from childhood," Luke said, and Anakin looked at him sadly.
"I'm sorry for what happened," he said, referring to the way the Empire murdered Owen and Beru.
"If we prevent all of this, it will never happen," Luke smiled hopefully.
"You're right. Speaking of which, I don't want to be repetitive, but what about the girl?" Anakin asked, and Luke sat down in the ship. He had wanted to avoid the subject, but perhaps it was time to talk about it.
"I have feelings for her. I know there's good in her. I want to protect her, but she'll always see the Emperor as her father," Luke began to explain. "Our relationship has always been fraught. I met her while I was on some missions. Once, we had to work together to save each other. That's when we started to feel something for one another, but everything else is different."
"Different?"
"I don't mean to be repetitive." "She tried to kill me, to end the rebellion. She's an Imperial, and I simply belong to the rebellion. We're on two different sides, and we always will be."
"Luke, I understand that you feel something for her. I truly know what it's like to feel love," Anakin said gently. "But this woman is here to kill us, to kill the senators who oppose the Empire. This woman was sent to save the Empire."
"I can't help how I feel," Luke commented, gazing at the horizon.
"I know there's no way to stop you from loving her," Anakin said. What he was about to say was perhaps the hardest thing he would ever have to say. "But she won't cooperate, and we'll have to hand her over to the council."
"Can't you do anything?" Luke asked, feeling afraid for Mara. "Can't you stop it?"
"Luke, we've already done too much by bringing her here," Anakin said. "If the council finds out what happened, they'll blame you. You defended her. You fought against us to save an Imperial assassin."
"I can't help how I feel." "Will they send her to the Citadel?" Luke asked, feeling his heart sink.
"I wish I could say no, but it's very likely," Anakin said, regretting causing his son's sadness.
"There's good in her," Luke repeated, trying to convince him.
"I believe you, Luke," Anakin said, looking him in the eyes. "But I can't let her put all our plans at risk." Luke just lowered his gaze, thinking about what to do to prevent Mara's fate. They finished repairing the ship almost at nightfall.
The next day, everyone was ready to go visit Beru.
"Luke, whatever you're thinking to free your girlfriend and run away with her, you won't do it," Leia warned, looking seriously at her brother.
"Why do you think I would do that?" Luke asked, looking away.
"Because I would do it with Han," Leia said, walking toward her mother.
"Why do you distrust me?" Luke asked, and seeing Obi-Wan and Ahsoka's glares—Ahsoka was still annoyed with him—he realized it was a stupid question. "Okay, I get it."
"Honestly, Luke? What on earth were you thinking?" Ahsoka asked, seizing the opportunity.
"About Mara," Luke said with a sigh, and Obi-Wan placed a hand on his shoulder.
Mara had overheard the trip they were taking. When she pretended to be asleep on the Millennium Falcon, it was her chance. They would leave her tied up, and she could easily escape. But all her hopes were dashed when Anakin, with a smug smile, entered the room.
"What the hell do you want, Vader?" Mara asked irritably.
"Listen," Anakin said seriously, "My name is Anakin Skywalker. I am not Darth Vader, and I never will be."
"Whatever you say," Mara said, avoiding the man's piercing gaze. Vader had always been intimidating, but she was sure Anakin was worse.
"Very well, we're leaving," Anakin said, roughly helping her to her feet.
"What?" Mara asked, and Anakin smiled arrogantly again when he saw her disappointed face.
"Did you think we'd leave you here? Alone and tied up, guarding the ship?" Anakin asked, getting close to her face. "So you could free yourself with this?" he asked, taking a tiny wire from her hands—the kind that would allow an expert to undo handcuffs.
"Maybe you're not Vader, but you're still smart," Mara said with disdain.
"For your own good, I hope you don't cause any trouble," Anakin said, and Mara didn't reply.
"Walk," he said, roughly pushing her out of the room.
"I can do it myself," she said, annoyed that Anakin didn't seem to want to let go.
"Suit yourself," Anakin said, releasing her, but as soon as he let go, Mara kneed him in the stomach and ran as far as she could. Anakin gasped in pain and ran after her.
He had to admit, the woman was good at running and fighting, but she was acting desperately. He quickly caught up to her, pointing his lightsaber at her neck.
"Give me just one more reason, and I won't care what Luke thinks if I kill you," Anakin said darkly.
"You won't kill me, because you need to know what my mission is," Mara replied, turning away.
"Try me," Anakin threatened, pushing her to make her walk again.
Padmé, Leia, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka were already on the ship, a smaller one that wouldn't attract so much attention. Luke, meanwhile, was waiting for his father to arrive with Mara. Luke had offered to go get her, but they had glared at him.
"Mara," Luke said, worried, seeing the faces of the two newcomers.
"I see you inherited your lack of kindness from your stupid father," Mara said as she was pushed inside the ship.
"Father," Luke pleaded, begging him to be a little more human and not a Clone Wars general. Anakin simply ignored him and entered the ship.
Luke watched Mara sadly. The woman just sat apart from everyone, sinking into her misery. She had to get out of there somehow, time was running out. She had thought about spying, finding out what they were plotting, but they would never be stupid enough to talk in front of her.
Ahsoka and Anakin piloted the ship, while Han just complained about why he wasn't allowed to pilot his own. Leia tried to calm Han and occasionally glanced sullenly at Mara to make sure she hadn't broken free and was trying to kill them. Padmé, meanwhile, was lost in thought, remembering how on this desert planet she had met that blue-eyed boy who would later become her husband. She knew Anakin hated Tatooine, hated it because of the memory of his mother's death and the days he lived as a slave. Padmé didn't hate Tatooine, but she definitely didn't want to return to Cliegg Lars's house, not when she knew the man knew her secret. He had warned her that she had to tell Anakin, but she hadn't. She just hoped he didn't even remember anymore, because she would have to go back. She had promised Luke they would return there.
They arrived at the place, and Luke got out, completely excited.
"Relax," Anakin said, placing a hand on Luke's back. "Remember what I told you? They don't know who you are."
"I know," Luke sighed nervously.
Obi-Wan and Ahsoka said they would stay on the ship to look after Mara; it would be a short visit anyway. Han and Leia followed Padmé, Anakin, and Luke.
When they arrived at the house, they were greeted by Owen and then by Cliegg. Luke wanted to cry, but thanks to his father's encouragement, he was able to control himself. When Beru, always so kind, greeted him, a single, almost imperceptible tear fell from his eye.
"You've grown since we last saw you, kid," Cliegg said, looking at Anakin.
"You've recovered quite well," Anakin said, watching his mother's ex-husband walk with a robotic leg.
"Certainly," Cliegg said, fixing his gaze on Padmé, who avoided his eyes. "Senator Amidala, it's a pleasure to have you back here again," Cliegg said, looking at Anakin and Padmé, who blushed.
"Tell me, Luke," Owen said. "Do we know each other from somewhere?" he asked, and everyone looked at him.
"I don't think so," Luke smiled wistfully.
"Are you sure?" Beru asked, and Luke nodded.
Afterward, Han and Leia were introduced, but Beru noticed that there were still people on the ship.
"Aren't they coming?" he asked with a smile.
"We'll only be here a short time. We have an important mission on Tatooine," Anakin replied.
"What mission do the Jedi have in Outlander?" Cliegg asked, intrigued.
"It's a mission that involves Jabba," Anakin said suspiciously.
"I regret to inform you that you won't be able to leave anytime soon," Cliegg said, seeing Padmé tense up. "A sandstorm is approaching."
"We'll have to leave immediately," Anakin said, looking at Luke, almost apologetically.
"Of course not," Cliegg said, placing a hand on Anakin's back. "Shmi wouldn't want you to risk yourself in a sandstorm. I know you face more danger every day, Anakin, but let me do this for her," Cliegg pleaded, and Anakin's heart sank. The memory of his mother still hurt.
"Thank you so much, but there's a woman, an enemy of the Republic, on the ship. She's our prisoner," Anakin explained.
"She'll be welcome too," Beru said, smiling. Luke smiled broadly; it was the same kind woman he remembered.
After thinking for a moment, Anakin agreed. It took him a while to convince Obi-Wan to go, but finally, it was Cliegg Lars himself who persuaded them. Mara was certainly astonished. How could they be kind to a prisoner?
"I'm Beru," the woman introduced herself, smiling at him.
"Mara Jade," she said somewhat awkwardly when everyone else greeted her.
Ahsoka was excited, and Obi-Wan warned her to control her emotions, but for the trogut, learning about Anakin's past was incredible. He had always refused to talk about them, except to tell her not to ask.
Mara chose to stay in one of the rooms after Anakin assured her there was no way she could escape. Owen and Beru quickly warmed up to Luke and Leia; the boy was undoubtedly doing his best not to cry, and Leia simply comforted him. Padmé was curiously silent. One thing she realized as soon as they arrived was that Cliegg Lars hadn't forgotten her secret. Anakin and Obi-Wan were talking with Cliegg Lars and helping him repair some domestic droids. Han and Ahsoka were playing Sabacc, watching as everyone seemed calmer than they had been in a long time. As evening approached, the storm reached its peak; they wouldn't be able to leave until the next day. They all ate dinner together, and Luke begged Mara to eat, but she proudly refused.
When dinner ended, Anakin walked out of the room, gazing at the exact spot where his mother had been buried, his heart still burning with nostalgia. That had been his worst brush with the dark side; he had killed all the Tuzken. He couldn't allow that to happen again. It was only now that he realized that it was there that his descent to the dark side had begun. But thanks to Padmé, his children, Obi-Wan and Ahsoka, that was becoming increasingly unlikely. It would never happen, Anakin promised himself, watching Luke's radiant smile and feeling Leia's sudden embrace.
"Is my grandmother there?" Leia whispered.
"Yes," Anakin whispered back, hugging his daughter.
Leia smiled and hugged her father. Padmé had told her about her grandmother's death, and Anakin seemed sad.
Padmé watched the scene with a wistful smile until she felt Owen Lars's hand on her shoulder. She looked behind her, and he said...
"We need to talk, Senator," said Cliegg Lars.
"I know," Padmé replied nervously.
"When everyone's asleep, in the workshop," said Cliegg, and Padmé was grateful he didn't want to talk to her right now.
Ahsoka, Luke, and Leia would share a room. Obi-Wan and Han would stay with Mara, who just rolled her eyes, realizing she wouldn't even be alone to sleep. Padmé and Anakin would occupy the room next to Owen and Beru's. It was quite a large place; Anakin hadn't remembered it being so big.
As night fell, the day's exhaustion took its toll, and everyone was asleep, even Mara. Padmé smiled, watching her sleeping husband. It had been a long time since the nightmares had started. She kissed his forehead and took her hand from his waist to slip out of bed. She took Anakin's robes and tied them around her waist. It was cold. She walked out of the room to where Cliegg Lars was waiting for her, unaware of Anakin's gaze fixed on her.
"I'll be direct," Cliegg said, looking at her with a smile. "Why haven't you told him yet?"
"It's not really necessary," Padmé said nervously. "It's been so long."
"You're together," Cliegg said, and Padmé nodded. "That's obvious," he said thoughtfully.
"We got married after Shmi died," Padmé said, and Cliegg smiled. "We're expecting twins," Padmé smiled, caressing her belly.
"I still remember when I met Shmi," Cliegg Lars smiled, sitting down on the workshop floor. Padmé followed him. "She told me a lot about Anakin, and we certainly talked a lot about you," Cliegg said sadly.
"She was one of the most wonderful women I've ever known," Padmé smiled sadly. "When I became a senator, the time between Coruscant and Naboo was barely enough to come and see her, and the trips to Coruscant where I could take her with me became less and less frequent."
"Shmi would have wanted him to know," Cliegg said, taking Padmé's hands. "Why don't you want him to know how good you were for us?"
"He mustn't know," Padmé pleaded, her eyes trembling.
"Padmé, you've led the movement to free slaves for years, you freed Shmi. Do you think he'll never find out?" Cliegg asked, incredulous that no one had found out yet.
"Not even the Republic has found out," Padmé said, biting her lip. Cliegg was right, actually; it was just luck that the Jedi hadn't discovered it.
"I've managed to pay for the liberation of slaves for a long time without even the Hutts finding out," Padmé said, and Cliegg looked at her almost sarcastically.
"Padmé," Cliegg said, approaching her, "Do you think he didn't notice the house? Do you think he didn't notice we have twice as many rooms as before?"
"He didn't seem to notice," Padmé said nervously.
"Padmé, you were only 15 when you helped me free Shmi," Cliegg smiled, remembering.
"I wanted to return as soon as the situation on Naboo stabilized, but running away as queen was honestly difficult. I regretted every day of that year knowing she was still a slave," Padmé said, remembering.
"Yet you came back a year later and discovered we were in love," Cliegg smiled. "Even working twice as hard, I couldn't raise what Watto was asking for her, and then you came along to help me."
"I remember it wasn't that simple," Padmé smiled.
"No, and I'd never seen a queen threaten a Toydarian with a blaster."
"It was only because he demanded you leave your son as a slave. I couldn't allow it."
"You remembered Anakin, didn't you?" Cliegg asked.
"I could never get his beautiful blue eyes out of my mind," Padmé said, blushing.
" "Padme, you always loved him," Cliegg smiled. "Shmi and I always found it amusing how you tried to hide it every time you visited."
"Don't make fun of me," Padme said, smiling back. "It was awful. When I came back here with Anakin and found out what had happened, I'm sorry, Cliegg," Padme said, looking at him sadly. "I had to pretend I didn't know you. When I lost contact with Shmi, I should have known something was wrong."
"You had your own problems, Padme. You need to stop blaming yourself," Cliegg said.
"I feel like it's my fault, I know he would think it's my fault too," Padmé said, now on the verge of tears.
"He would only think that if you didn't tell him the truth, Padmé," Cliegg insisted.
"How do I tell him?" Padmé asked again, biting her lip.
"Just tell him the truth, child," Cliegg said.
"He'll hate me as soon as he finds out his mother was closer to him than ever before and I kept it from him. I can't live without him anymore," Padmé said, stifling a sob.
"That was Shmi's decision," Cliegg said, stroking a lock of Padmé's hair. "When you freed her and we came here, all Shmi wanted was to see Anakin. You allowed it, Padmé."
"And yet I didn't tell him," the woman sobbed again. "Do you think I didn't know how much Anakin missed Shmi? Do you think a hug from his mother wouldn't have comforted him when he was just a baby?"
"Because Shmi didn't want to interfere with her Jedi training, it was her decision. She was content with what you gave her. You took her to Coruscant, you let her see her son, you put yourself in danger for her. What would have happened if some bounty hunter had found out that the Queen of Naboo was completely unprotected on Coruscant?"
"But it didn't happen," Padmé said, remembering.
"But if it had, you would have risked your life just for Shmi."
"How could I deny a mother the chance to see her son, even from a distance? Even though I could have taken her to see him, it hurt me to see that she couldn't get close. I always told her to go, to just be happy and hug him, but she never wanted to interrupt his training," Padmé sobbed, remembering Shmi. "I never had the chance to cry for her death, you know?"
"I never had the chance to mourn her death, you know?" "Padme, you made her happy all those years. Just knowing her son was alright made her smile for weeks. She eagerly awaited each time you came to take her."
"I know you see it that way," Padme said, weeping again. "But Ani will hate me if she finds out. I could have done more. I could have told that beautiful blue-eyed boy, 'Ani, I haven't forgotten you. Your mother is here with me.'" Padme sobbed, the pregnancy making her more sensitive.
"Padme," the man called gently, but she didn't hear him.
"I could have spared her the uncertainty. I could have told her that her mother was always near him, that she was always proud of him."
"You did everything within your power, and you broke many rules to do so. Padme, you only had to worry about Naboo. Yet you freed slaves and contributed financially to all of us."
" "I'm a damn liar, and Anakin hates lies," Padmé said, leaning on Cliegg's shoulder.
"It can't be as bad as you say, Padmé. He'll understand," Cliegg said, comforting her.
"Padmé, you're married. He's your husband. He deserves to know the truth. Tell him that you cared for him since you were both children, that you looked after his mother, that you even took care of my family when I married your mother."
"I was at his mother's wedding, Cliegg," Padmé said, looking at him with tears in her eyes. "I was at his mother's wedding, and he wasn't. He's going to hate me. He'll never speak to me again."
"I was at his mother's wedding, and he wasn't. He's going to hate me. He'll never speak to me again." "You were at his mother's wedding because he was away on a mission. You fought with the Jedi Council to let you surprise Anakin."
"And they rejected me rather unkindly. Mace Windu doesn't exactly encourage attachment among Jedi," Padmé smiled.
"Not only that, but you've been supporting us financially ever since," Cliegg said. "I didn't even know Anakin, and I already knew you loved him."
"Please," Padmé joked. "I was five years older than him."
"You were just a girl in love. Besides, I still remember how Shmi kept insisting you should be together."
"I think she always knew," Padmé smiled.
"Padmé, even after Shmi's death, you continued to help me. Do you think he, with all his battle experience, is going to believe that a simple plains farmer can afford this robotic leg and buy droids?" Cliegg asked, and Padmé buried her face deeper in his shoulder.
"I shouldn't have come. He'll realize it. I'll go back to Coruscant divorced," Padmé said, and Cliegg hugged her.
"I don't know Anakin very well. I only know that I spent all my years with Shmi listening to stories about him, from both you and Shmi. But I'm sure he's a good boy, and if he loves you, he'll understand why you've kept this secret for so long."
"Cliegg," Padmé said, sitting up straight, "He thought I hadn't seen him for ten years. He thought I'd forgotten him when we met again on that mission when he was sent to protect me. He was sad because he thought I didn't even remember him."
"Why didn't you tell him the truth then?"
" "I found out about his nightmares involving his mother when we were back on Naboo. Fear gripped me. I had lost contact with Shmi two months ago and hadn't had time to come see her. I had no idea what had happened to her, and Ani's nightmares only made me fear the worst. And I wasn't wrong. I wanted to die when I learned what had happened and when I saw him leave for his mother, and then come back to her like that," Padmé said, giving in to tears again.
"That's a bit more complicated," Cliegg admitted. "Anakin might be upset."
"Please, if you're right and he finds out about the house, the leg, the droids, the freed slaves, please just lie," Padmé begged, unable to bring herself to tell the truth. "You can't imagine the problems the Republic is facing now, on this mission we're on. I couldn't bear it if he left my side," Padmé sobbed.
"You're putting me in a very difficult position, Padmé," Cliegg said. "I even lied after Shmi's death, but I know she always would have wanted Anakin to know the truth."
"I know, but I don't know how to do it. I lied to him for ten years until we got married, and then I kept lying to him during our marriage, the few times he spoke to me about his mother."
"I know, but I don't know how to do it. I lied to him for ten years until we got married, and then I kept lying to him during our marriage, the few times he mentioned his mother."
"I can't tell him." "I'm beginning to understand," Cliegg said. "This could really be a problem. You spent so much time with us. Shmi considered you a daughter, and believe me, she longed for the day you told her that you and Anakin were engaged, even though she knew it went against the Jedi Order."
"I could have prevented her mother's last memory from being her face when she died. I could have given her so many happy moments with her mother," Padmé said, weeping bitterly. "If I had lost contact with Shmi the moment I lost touch, I would have flown here."
"You couldn't do anything. Many men went to look for her and never returned."
"I would have brought an army if necessary," Padmé said, cupping her face in her hands.
"Promise me you won't tell him anything, promise me you can keep this secret," Padmé pleaded, taking Cliegg's hands.
"Padmé," Cliegg said, looking worriedly toward the door.
"Promise me," Padmé begged, sobbing.
"Child, I think it's too late for that," Cliegg said, and Padmé, horrified, turned around only to see Anakin standing in the doorway.
She only caught a glimpse of his angry expression before fainting.