"Watto--hey, Watto! Are you here?"

Not much about the dirty junked parts shop had changed. The clutter of his former place of servitude was like seeing an old friend again. Curious how a lot of the metallic cast-offs as well as the odds and ends were the same things that had been there when he'd been. Watto, though, was missing in action.

The former slave kept calling, but nobody came. Finally, Anakin told C-3P0 to wait within the shop. He went out back to the junkyard. As he stood in the burning light of the twin suns, he thought about how great it had been seeing Kitster again. His mother was right about the new baby sister; she was quite pretty for a baby. He hadn't been able to stay as long as his friend had wanted him to.

He had something of the utmost importance to handle.

"Watto?"

The proprietor was still nowhere on hand, so Anakin went back inside the oil-scented shop.

"Master, might we have come at a wrong time?" Threepio asked, trying to recall if he had ever been here before.

"It isn't like him to go away leaving the place so wide open like this." Shrugging, Anakin decided they'd come back later. He'd pay a visit to Jira's stalls. "Oh..." He forced his lower lip over to one side, remembering that the pleasant old woman, whom he had always viewed as somewhat of a grandmother, didn't live here anymore. His mother's voice echoed within his mind. When she'd told him this earlier, he had been so preoccupied with her coming back to Coruscant with him, that the news about Jira hadn't registered. He nipped his looking forward to some free pallies in the bud.

"C'mon, Threepio, let's go see what Bactma's got in." The Hutt ran a hologames concession. The business wasn't gambling-connected, and it had the best gaming in town. "Very good, sir..."

Anakin, with head down, set off for the doorway. Before he realized, he nearly smacked full on into Watto who had come flapping in at precisely that moment. The little pouch hooked through the Toydarian's belt on his right side was bulging with freshly-won gambling winnings. Said winnings were what one of the less fortunate Hutts had lost.

Former master and slave gawked at each other until Watto broke the silence. "Well, well, what do you know? Look who's come back." He flapped nearer to Anakin. "Pining for your old repairing grounds, eh? Life off-world not to your liking, Anni?"

"Life off this world suits me just fine, Watto," Anakin told him with scornful eyes. "I'm here to do some business. I've got a proposition for you."

"A proposition?" Watto pulled on his chin while the boy hopped up the counter the way he used to. The last time he'd done so was when he'd met the erstwhile Queen of Naboo for the first time.

Anakin trained his eyes upon C-3P0. "Yeah. A fair trade."

"I'll be the judge of what's fair, my boy."

Anakin scuffed his left heel against the dusty base of the counter. "Okay," he said, sounding cooperative. With his arms behind his back, one wrist over the other, he crossed his fingers. "I trade my 'droid for Mom's freedom."

"What?" C-3P0 exclaimed, coming to stand alongside his creator. His audioreceptors must have glitched.

Watto hovered near Anakin's shoulder, the subtle flapping of his wings feathered across the hopeful lad's face. "You call that fair?" he humored. "Fair, when I already own him?"

Anakin looked devastated. "You?" He spun towards the 'droid, denial embedded in his face. "What makes you think you--"

The Toydarian waved off the incompleted protest. "I owned him from the moment you created him."

"That's not *true*!" Anakin railed, scorching Watto with a blistering glare.

"Master Anni, I had no idea..."

Watto's watchful eyes fell upon C-3P0 "I let you keep him because of your talent. You had worked so hard making him the wonder he is."

C-3P0 stood more erect, the commendation having gone straight to his CPU.

"But--but I'm not your slave anymore!" Anakin knew when he was being swindled. "Threepio's mine!"

Watto didn't agree. "Only *your* freedom was won that fateful day. Not your mother's, and not the 'droid's."

Demoralized, the young apprentice leaned in towards his creation, who kept silent. "But if he's yours, why is he with Mom?" Anakin's stubborn streak was still in full bloom.

Watto alighted upon the counter. For some reason, he seemed bluer today. His flapping all but ceased. "I like Shmi, Anni. You know that. She's a wonderful woman. I let the 'droid stay with her as a reward for all her hard work. She misses you a lot. Having him with her reminds her of you. I did it to make her happy. A small price to pay to keep her profitable, eh?"

Anakin felt like punching Watto in his greedy-looking face. "It's not fair," he puled.

Looking at his former slave with detachment, Watto said, "In what ledger is it written that anything has to be?"

Unable to find his voice, Anakin remained silent. There went his plan for his mother's liberation. He looked away from Watto, wishing to throw something heavy that would make a big racket as it broke on impact.

"Anni..." Watto said, but Anakin, wallowing in his dour thoughts, persisted in targetting the far wall with his scowl. "There is a way to gain Shmi's freedom..." The persuasive lilt of the deal broker had crept into his voice. "It's what you want, isn't it?"

"How?" Anakin swung his face back around to Watto's.

"You take her place. She goes free." He rubbed his little claw-like hands together. "You become my slave again. The way you should have continued without that interfering Jedi Jinn swindling me!"

Indignant, Anakin defended, "He didn't swindle you!" Jumping off the counter, he looked all set to clip Watto's jaw. "He won fair and square! I won the race and you lost because you--you." In desperation, he flung his hands up at the ceiling. "'Cause you just did, that's all."

Watto rode out Anakin's tirade patiently. Then, as though the returnee hadn't lost his temper, he said, "So? What do you say? Shmi's freedom for yours? Now *that's* fair."

Fair? The old conniver had some nerve using that word, Anakin groused, thinking the sacrificial offer over. He loved his freedom, but he loved his mother having hers more. He'd gone off, leaving her all alone here, only thinking of himself. Here was his chance to right that. If her freedom was going to cost him his, then so be it. Her freedom was more important. She'd be free at last!

"Okay, Watto." The dealer was moving off of the counter. Anakin thrust out his hand towards one of the trader's grappling hands. "You've got yourself a deal."

"We shake on it, it's done," Watto merrily stipulated, meeting Anakin's hand halfway.

"Uh...Master Anni, might I--"

"Not now, Threepio," Anakin overrode, preparing to place his hand in Watto's.

"Bu-but, Master," the meddlesome 'droid persisted, "what would your mother say to your--"

"Come on, Anni, let's shake."

Anakin restrained his hand from taking Watto's, which was poised to cement the agreement.

The 'droid sensed that he had his creator's ear. "I think it would be wiser for you to consul--"

"There is nothing to discuss," Watto interposed, aiming for Anakin's hand. "My terms are my terms."

Over his 'droid's incessant chatter, Anakin rammed his hand into Watto's and began pumping it vigorously.

"You won't be sorry, Anni," the Toydarian congratulated, summarily pleased. "Trust me. This is the smartest decision you've ever made!"

The aspiring Jedi cast stormy eyes at his gawking handiwork. It wasn't hard to see how much Anakin doubted his reinstated owner's grandiose statement.

=\\==\\=

It was getting quite late, and Anakin had not returned. Seeing old friends was one thing, but this was ridiculous. Shmi stood in her humble abode's doorway with arms akimbo. She cast anxious eyes up and down the well-traveled pathways leading to her home. Muttering in halftones, she said, "Where can he be?"

Obi-Wan, still poring over some star charts relative to a very remote system he and Qui-Gon had once traveled to together, glanced up. "I'll look for him if you like." He began thinking that he should have followed his tardy apprentice.

Shmi shook her head, although wanting to take him up on his suggestion. "No, Master Kenobi, it's all right. I'm sure he'll be along any moment now. He hasn't seen his old friends for such a long time." Sighing, she upheld, "When he's with them, he knows neither the day nor the hour."

Outside, the breeze was turning stiff. "Sounds as though a storm's brewing," Kenobi observed. "Really, I don't mind hunting him up. In fact, I'd better. There's something in these holocharts I'd like him to see." He switched off the flickering projection. There was a pronounced tremor in the Force. His apprentice may have been born here, but his true origins, Obi-Wan felt, lay elsewhere. "I'm off then," the Jedi told her definitively.

Shmi's entire demeanor changed. Gratefully, she replied, "Well, if you wouldn't mind, I would appreciate it. I am beginning to worry."

Grinning at her by the door, he said, "You're not to. I'll track him down," and he left.

=\\==\\=

Anakin stumbled upon his master little more than four footpaths from his mother's. He paused in a busy intersection where getting lost in the crowd was child's play. Kenobi was on the hunt, Anakin surmised, judging from the intent look on his master's face. Not wanting to be found just yet, Anakin ducked around another corner. Taking it at a run, he slipped down an old shortcut; a by-pass less traveled.

He wished to speak to his mother without Obi-Wan being present. His reason was obvious. He'd sold himself into slavery. He'd thrown his future away. He didn't need his master glaring him in the face, telling him what an incredibly stupid thing he'd done.

He skidded to a loping walk as he neared home. He spied Shmi framing the doorway. The look in her eyes snatched his breath away. He'd had bad feelings before whenever his mother's bearing could stop a charging Bantha in its tracks.

"WHERE have you been?" In the same breath, she grilled, "Where is Threepio?"

Despite his strong resolve, he couldn't meet her eyes, starting off. "V-visiting, Mom." Trying to sound glib, he continued, "Threepio stayed behind at uh...Watto's." He heard his voice trail.

"At Watto's? Why?"

Sighing, Anakin shrugged, hoping his mother would let the subject of the 'droid drop. He saw her visually dismiss C-3Po's absence; at least for the moment. "Can I tell you later?" he prompted, his voice drawn.

"Do you realize how late it is?" Shmi harped.

"I'm sorry..." That sounded sincere.

"Where is your kindly instructor?"

"Master Obi-Wan?" Round-eyed, Anakin thought his mentor certainly had his mother fooled.

"No. Jabba the Hutt's obnoxious uncle...Lyyloxi." Shmi stood aside to let Anakin pass into the house. She swept the darkening surroundings visually before closing the door. "Such a mannered young man. If you are giving him a hard time, Anakin..."

"I'm not, Mom, I promise."

Not altogether convinced, Shmi went on, "He set out to look for you. You didn't see him?"

Anakin had never lied to his mother a day in his life. He didn't intend starting now. Omission was an entirely different thing. "I saw him, but he didn't see me."

"Anni, how--"

"Honest. He didn't look as if he needed me," Anakin glossed, his round eyes rounding even more. "He looked very busy examining some novelty goods on one of the stalls."

"He was looking for *you*." Shmi's sigh filtered through the air. Neither of them spoke for several moments, wondering what was going through the other's mind.

"Want me to get him?" he helpfully offered, hoping his mother would tell him 'no.'

Sitting down at the table, giving Kenobi's holocubes more than a passing glance, Shmi said, "Now that you're here, I want you to stay put. You can begin helping me with dinner." She got up from the table, glad to be fixing another of her son's favorite meals.

Anakin nodded as he began removing his dusty outer robe. Tatooine had to be one of the grittiest planets in the galaxy. While laying his outer garment over a pile of bound parchments, he said, "Mom...there's something I have to tell you." Now was the time. After dinner, with his master ready to pounce on his every word, would work against his purpose. At long last, the person he loved most in the galaxy was free--finally free--at long last.

Shmi stopped rinsing the fresh greens strewn over the grooved prep board. Fully attentive, she asked, "Yes, Anni?"

He took a deep breath, held it for a moment, and began, "I made an important decision today." He caught the look of inquiry lodged in his mother's eyes, and jutted out his chin. "It had to be made, Mom." A hardness couched itself in his voice. "Had to be...because I..." Swallowing was difficult but he managed to swallow down what felt to be a huge lump. "I..."

Shmi came away from her preparations, sensing her son's sudden fixation. She hugged him, and when she sat down at the table again, she encouraged him to sit in her lap the way he used to, before he'd begun to feel that he was too old for that sort of babyish thing. "What decision did you make?" she feathered over his soft hair. "Was it hard to make?"

"No, it wasn't!" Anakin wrapped his mother's hand up with both of his. Her hand trembled witin his grasp. "Not by a long shot!"

"What did you decide?" With a gentle smile, Shmi squeezed his hands.

"I decided that I don't want to be free, and you're not. I made a deal with Watto, Mom. I traded my freedom for yours. I'm his slave again. You're free, Mom--you're free! You don't have to do what he or anybody else says for as long as you live!"

Stunned, Shmi sat speechless, and several moments of deafening silence ensued. Words tangled in her mind. Her son had gone mad.

"Mom, say something," Anakin begged, his eyes sparking a brighter blue. Sensing her displeasure, he defended, "I did it for you! I can't stand your being a slave anymore. That's why I came back. If we both can't be free, I'd rather be one instead of you!"

"Oh, Anakin," Shmi wheezed.

"I mean it, Mom--I'll be a slave again so you can be free. It's what I want!"

Heaving another sigh, the touched woman said, "But, it's not what *I* want for you, my dear." She kissed the crown of his perspired head. "I want so much more for you. You, here, being a slave is far from what I want for my gifted son." She burrowed her eyes into Anakin's intense gaze. This time, she kissed the tip of his nose. "Your freedom meant mine. Freedom from the pain of knowing that you could never have a future as long as you remained here." She held him away. "Forgive me, precious son, but I don't accept your sacrifice." She searched his perplexed-looking face. "Did he refit you?"

Anakin shook his head. Watto had gotten sidetracked, having grumbled about some familial concern. Anakin had finished up repairing a hydrogenerator that had been barely salvageable. Before Anakin left the shop, Watto had told him he'd see about fitting him with another restrainer tomorrow. He was holding the boy to his promise about not sneaking away.

"Good." Shmi seized the sides of his arms. "Listen to me, Anakin. When your Jedi master returns, you must return to Coruscant immediately."

"But Mom--"

"No, Anakin. I won't have you being a slave again, never again!" Shmi rarely raised her voice, and when she did, she meant all that she spoke. "Watto had no right making you that offer!" His eyes fell away from her face. Jiggling him gently, she implored, "*Promise me*, Anakin. If my happiness means anything at all to you...promise you'll leave tonight!"

Overcome by the intensity of his mother's emotion, Anakin wreathed his arms about her neck and squeezed with all his might. He nodded, and began sobbing as he vowed, "I promise, Mom. I promise." Then, sounding quelled, he said, "I'll do what you want, Mom. I'll do whatever you want me to." Shuddering against her, he expelled, "I wish we could both be free..."

Through unshed tears, Shmi replied scarsely above a whisper, "One day...dearest. Perhaps we will...both of us. One day..."

"When I'm a real Jedi, I'm coming back to free you, Mom--promise! I'll end slavery forever here!"

Kissing his furrowed brow, she acknowledged, "I know you will, Anni. The greatness of your future is my happiness." Before Anakin had the chance to say anything more, they heard a light rapping upon the front door. "That sounds like your teacher." Anakin nodded and hugged her again. He obeyed when she told him to go let him in. Just before he unlatched it, she uttered one simple word. "Tonight."

The handsome Jedi ferreter entered, not at all surprised to see his initiate letting him in. Following a wry twist of his lips, Obi-Wan offered, "I had a positive feeling you were here ahead of me, my young apprentice." Anakin noted the twinkling of his master's eyes. "Tell me, what have you been up to since last I saw you?"

Mother's and son's eyes flitted to the other's face. Silently, she conveyed to her child that she would speak for him. "Master Kenobi, I'd like to discuss a delicate matter with you while Anakin bathes before dinner. Could we?"

"Why of course." He watched his apprentice leave the room, then focused his attention once again on her. "Now, what's on your mind?"

"May we sit?" Kenobi waited for her to seat herself. Shmi folded her hands and stared at them.

"I sense you have a great deal on your mind, dear lady," Obi-Wan advanced, patiently entertaining her sudden reticence, knowing she'd speak when she was truly ready.

"Master Kenobi..."

"Obi-Wan," the Jedi seamlessly insisted.

Fidgety then, Shmi caught her lower lip, which was quivering, between her teeth.

"What is it?" It was as though the moment was suspended.

Shmi's eyes filled with tears that stung. Covering her face with her hands, she began sobbing. Intuitively, Obi-Wan settled a hand upon her shoulder and waited for her glut of tears to exhaust themselves. "I-it's...it's Anakin." Her voice sounded tiny. "He...he is Watto's slave again. He traded his freedom to gain mine."

The weight of his hand upon her shoulder increased as he hoped to lessen her trembling. "There, there now. Take a deep breath." Soothingly, he advised, "Ah, much better." Through the Force, he tried to allay the brunt of her pain.

"Please, please, Master Obi-Wan you must take him from here this very night. I won't have him being a slave ever again." Wistfully, she implored, "You must take him back to Coruscant where his true future is; my dreams of him becoming someone great will be realized."

Obi-Wan absorbed all of what he'd been told. This was a surprise. Interesting how he had had no inkling of Anakin's furtive intentions way before this. The boy's shields were improving to an impressive degree.

"I know that it is wrong for him to run away, after giving his word, and after my telling him that Skywalkers don't behave like worthless criminals doing just that." She targeted Obi-Wan's eyes with her riveting ones. "It was scathing of Watto to barter with Anni like that in the first place." She had talked herself raw. "He is still so young. He was only thinking of me."

Nodding, Obi-Wan tempered, "Yes, always."

"He must be free, free to have the life I never had. He deserves so much more than slavery."

Adopting her forthright tone, he said, "Without question, and he shall have it." He stood, bringing her up with him. "I give you my word." As Shmi exhaled, its issuance sounding of relief, Kenobi promised, "We'll leave tonight, as you wish."

"Thank you, Master Obi-Wan. I am forever in your debt." Looking at him shyly then, she said, "Anakin is indeed fortunate to have you for his mentor."

Obi-Wan felt a warmth bathe his face as he blushed in the ardor of her admiration. Submissively, he lifted her hand to his lips and placed a kiss upon her gnarled knuckles. It was she who blushed then. Stuttering a little, Shmi informed, "I'll fix him his second favorite meal, and you'll leave."

Thoughtfully, Obi-Wan offered, "Technically, you're free, dear lady. If I can somehow locate the device that threatens your existence, might you consider leaving with us?" He blinked, chastising himself for voicing such a critical error in judgment. He could hear the Jedi Council members demanding to know the meaning of his bringing along the chosen one's mother to nuture their bond instead of neutralizing it. S

hmi shook her head, leaving no room for doubt. "I will remain here. I refuse to sink to the seedy chisler's level. That's just something I won't do. I'll tell him that Anakin changed his mind about being a slave again after *I* convinced him that he should."

"I am assuming that they shook on the deal." No matter where one hailed from in the galaxy, a gentlemen's agreement was universal.

Standing away from the table, she went to attend to her preparations. "Once Anakin is gone, there is nothing he can do about it," Shmi said, her tone flat. She began humming a tune that sounded vaguely familiar to Kenobi.

Obi-Wan regarded her with expediency. He was glad he had had the chance to meet such a substantial woman. It was lamentable indeed that such a great lady was forced to live her life enslaved. If only she...

The Force pervaded his thoughts, and it occurred to him then that one day she would be free, forever. When he opened his eyes, he saw Anakin and Shmi embracing. The boy's skin glistened, looking well- scrubbed. His hair was damp, and Shmi kissed his sweet-smelling crown. With a smile she murmured into his scalp, "Peel the 'tubisches' for me, Anni?"

Anakin nodded against her waist, with his eyes still tightly shut. "Sure thing, Mom."

=\\==\\=

The twin moons lounged at their zeniths in the obsidian sky whose stars seemed to glitter rhythmically. The storm that Obi-Wan had casually predicted had never materialized. The air was languid and balmy in its stillness. Few sounds carried this night.

The travel-worn streets, somber with deep shadows, were deserted at this sleepy hour. The three elusive figures moved swiftly. They too made no sounds, bound as they were for one of many nondescript bays where Obi-Wan had permitted Anakin to land the sleek Jedi vessel.

Before advancing closer to the ship, Anakin tugged on his mother's dress. "Mom...I don't like having you travel these dark streets alone once we're gone."

"I'll be fine, Anni." With a reassuring hand, she coaxed him onward. "Home's not far."

Unconvinced, Anakin, voiced his disapproval over her having to fend for herself. Obi-Wan anchored his hands on each of their shoulders, and assured Shmi, "You have my word, no harm shall come to you."

She smiled first at her son, then Obi-Wan. "I thank you, Master Obi-Wan." She jiggled her son's jutting chin. "You should trust your instructor more." Anakin thought that over before nodding; trust wasn't the issue. The issue was that of reasonability. "Now, no more dawdling," she persuaded. "The sooner you're aboard your ship, putting as much distance between yourselves and here, the better I'll feel."

The trio moved closer to the silhouetted Jedi spacecraft. Kenobi was glad they'd be heading back. Although he had enjoyed the brief stay, he was anxious to resume his Padawan's training in surroundings more suitable. He sensed Anakin's and his mother's strong overflow of emotions, and turned away from them. With his handheld controls, he activated the ramp, and the spheroid gangway settled down as it plumed out.

He turned back again to Shmi. He gripped both of her arms. "I won't fail your son, m'lady. You have my solemn pledge. He will complete his training, pass the Trials and become a Jedi Knight, or I'll die in the attempt."

The tears that swam in her eyes looked eager to fall. She nodded fiercely, and some fell despite her effort to contain them. She repeated over and over how grateful she was, which succeeded in turning Obi-Wan's face a bright crimson.

"I consider training him a priviledge." He released her and hurried off to the ship, feeling tears in his eyes collecting. He heard Anakin protest. "I don't want to leave you, Mom! Can't you just come?" he urged, his whine plaintive. "*Please*?" As the moments passed, he gripped her waist tighter. "I can't leave without you!"

"I know that, Anni, but you must." Sighing, she squatted, leveling her beneficent gaze even with his eyes. "You're my hope for the future. Only by going away can you make that happen." Anakin sniffled against her. Softly, she broached, "Anni...dearest, you must promise me something."

"Anything, Mom. Anything at all," he promptly responded, sounding muffled.

Slowly, she said, "You must not return here until you are fully a Jedi." Her insistence was veiled by tender caresses and kisses to the sides of his head. "Promise me, Anakin."

Stubbornly, he vowed that he would return as one of the most powerful Jedi ever, to free her. The vehemence in his vow startled her. She hugged him as fiercely as he hugged her. "You'll never be a slave again, Mom, *never*! I swear it!"

The firing up of the ship's engines caught both of them off guard. A little harried, Shmi said, "Off with you then." She rose from her squat and took several steps back. She smiled though her heart was breaking.

Anakin literally felt his heart heave within his chest. This second time saying good-bye was even harder than when he'd said it that first time. He rushed into her arms one more time, and then sprinted to the pre-flight craft that was primed for immediate lift-off.

"'Bye, Mom--I love you!" he yelled at the top of his lungs, over the piercing pule of straining thrusters that champed for flight.

"I love you so much too, Anni." She cupped her hands around her mouth. "You mean everything to me!"

"I'm coming back as soon as I can! I won't fail you!" Waving frantically, he had one last look of her before racing up the ramp, erasing himself from view.

With a heavy heart, Shmi watched the ship lift to begin its sharp climb. Once it had gained escape altitude and velocity, it was gone faster than forked lightning. She felt sad, but Anakin's words comforted her. They would repeat within her, over and over, until her pride and joy made them reality...one day.

He would return. He would be powerful, noble, valiant and true. He was her son; her dawn of a better day. One day the pain of separation would be a forgotten thing of the past.

Sighing, she thought, some day...

=\\==\\=

End

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