#and anakin is soaking it up because I AM THE COOLEST

[nevertheless-moving]

Lost Luke Part Two

Continued from here

Star Wars Time Travel AU #19

“Master Owen, may I present two most important visitors?“ C3PO said self-importantly (C3PO! His Mom kept him! His Mom finished Threepio!).

“I'm Anakin Skywalker.”

Anakin was practically vibrating with frustrated uncertainty. He could sense his mother inside- weak, but not so much as his visions had led him to fear. And something else... a powerful but diffuse presence of light somewhere nearby. The man in front of him didn’t feel like a threat but he could practically hear his mother’s screams...

“Oh. Oh! It’s good to meet you. I’m Owen Lars. This is my girlfriend, Beru.”

“Hello.” Beru smiled welcomingly at them both.

“I’m Padme.” This...wasn’t quite what she had expecting. Anakin had been so tense, but the couple in front of them seemed honestly glad to see them, and at the moment Anakin seemed to be more confused than angry or scared.

“Well... I guess I'm your stepbrother. We thought you might show up someday. Luke was convinced you would show up soon but the more time passed, the less sure-”

"My mother is here. I’d like to see her,” Anakin said, mostly managing to make it sound like a request, and not a threat. 

Owen nodded. “Of course, come inside. She’s still taking it easy after her ordeal.”

“What ordeal?” Anakin demanded. But before Owen could answer, they had reached the resting alcove and a woman was raising herself from the sofa, eyes lighting up.

“Mom,” Anakin choked out. “You’re- you’re really here. I thought- Are you ok?”

“Oh Ani. I knew I would see you again,” Shmi whispered, eyes brimming with tears.

In their rush to embrace each other, Anakin almost missed a young man slip away from the room, but something caught his eye; he tracked the blonde head as it disappeared around a corner.

“Now that your here, I’m more than ok.” She tried to pull him to take a seat but he stood rigidly, face growing hard.

“So I have a step brother now, huh?” he asked tightly, a million questions passing silently between them.

“Lars is a good man, and a good husband,” she said, cutting to the heart of the matter. He freed me because he loved me, but he did so without any expectations or promises from me. I moved in with him because I cared about him, and because I wanted to. I married him because I loved him. It would mean a lot to me if you would give him a chance. You have... more family here than you were expecting, but they are all your family, not just mine.”

Anakin nodded, swallowing something hard that had caught in his throat. 

He pulled back to nod at Padme, who had been quietly waiting in the corner. “You remember the...Queen’s handmaiden, of course.”

“Padme!” Shmi cried, delighted. “How wonderful to see you again. Oh, you look even more radiant than I remember. “They embraced, and Padme smiled, blinking back tears. 

“Shmi...it’s so good to see you again. I’ve never forgotten your kindness. I’m sorry, I should have returned earlier-”

“Nevermind that right now, I didn’t let you into my home because I expected something in return. And I’m sure you’ve been busy the last few years-"

She shepherded them both into a seat, and retrieved a pitcher of water to share. “I admit, I assumed when Anakin left to join the Jedi he would be forbidden from maintaining contact with anyone outside the order...” She threw Anakin a questioning look, and he blushed in reply.

“Padme’s a senator. As a Jedi, I was assigned to protect her against some recent threats.”

“I consider Obi-Wan and Anakin to be friends of mine. The Jedi might be forbidden attachment, but the people of Naboo owe both of them a great debt of gratitude.” She laid a hand a hand on Anakin’s arm and smiled.

“Obi-Wan?” Shmi asked.

Anakin and Padme exchanged a startled glance. “Oh right, you wouldn’t have met him...” Anakin trailed off, looking confused by the idea that his Mother didn’t know Obi-Wan. “He’s my Ma- my teacher. And my friend. He’s looked out for me ever since Qui-Gon passed.”

“Qui-Gon died!” Shmi cried, alarmed. “How? When?”

Anakin shuffled awkwardly. “Um...two days after we left Tatooine. I’ve been with Obi-Wan ever since.”

Shmi looked distraught and Anakin rushed to reassure her. “Obi-Wan’s great, I promise! He’s done a great job of taking care of me! He was Qui-Gon’s apprentice, you never met him because he was guarding the ship when they landed on Tatooine.”

“I- I see. So he’s someone you trust, then.”

“With my life. He’s- the Jedi aren’t supposed to admit to attachments, but he’s, well, he’s my family, just as much as your are,” He said, leaning forward earnestly. 

“I’m sure he feels the same way about you,” Shmi agreed faintly.

“Well, I wouldn’t go that far,” Anakin responded with a wry grin.

She shot him a knowing look. “I would.” Before Anakin could reply, she moved the conversation smoothly forward. 

“Love- I’m so glad to see you, but I must ask, what brings you to Tatooine now? Was it simply hiding the lady or...or did you see something that drew you here.”

Anakin bowed his head. “I saw you- crying out for help. You were in pain, in danger and- it kept getting worse. But now that I’m here” He hesitated, shrinking in on himself, ashamed, “I feel like- the danger’s passed. Owen mentioned you had an ordeal. Did- did someone else already rescue you?”

“Oh Ani- I’m so sorry you had to see that. I’m perfectly fine, now.”

“But you weren’t fine before- and I wasn’t here” he responded, upset.

“I was captured by Tusken raiders.” Shmi said bluntly, and Anakin let out a horrified moan. “Anakin Skywalker, listen to me, this is going to sound strange, but in a way you did rescue me. It’s- it’s going to hard to explain- but- I literally wouldn’t have survived if not for you.”

“What do you mean?” Anakin asked desperately.

She sighed, then called out. “Luke? Luke can you come in please?”

The blonde teen from earlier stumbled in to the room. “Sorry! I wasn’t eavesdropping! I mean- I could barely hear what you were saying anyway.”

Luke glanced around, torn between staring at the three seated at the table. Anakin couldn’t tear his eyes away. He was practically shining with light. Anakin didn’t know why but, for all that the boy before him couldn’t be much younger than Anakin himself, he felt like the force was telling him to protect the person standing before him.

“Hello,” Luke said, shyly ducking his head. “It’s...very nice to meet you.”

“It’s nice to meet you, too,” Anakin said, smiling. “Are you...also my step-brother?” he guessed.

Luke rubbed a hand on the back of his neck nervously. “No- I’m not...I’m not your brother, exactly, though if its easier to think of me that way, I totally understand.”

“Luke rescued me from the Tuskens,” Shmi said with a fond smile.

“You rescued me,” he corrected. “You came up with the escape plan! If it been just been me at that tent- well, I definitely wouldn’t have made it on my own.”

“We rescued each other,” Shmi agreed, making it sound like an old argument.

Anakin rose from the table, bowing deeply. “Then I owe you a debt of gratitude I can never repay.”

“Oh! You don’t- you really don’t have to do that! Please. If anything its the other way around! But anyway, we’re family, there’s no debts with family.”

Anakin grinned. “I would be honored to consider you my family.”

Luke flushed. “That’s- that’s really nice to hear. But you don’t even know me yet.”

“I know enough.” Anakin declared. “I could sense it in the force before I even saw you, but I didn’t recognize it right away. We are family, I know it.”

“Oh,” Luke said, looking starry eyed.

Shmi laughed. “Come on, Luke, both of you sit down before you pass out. I told you he’d be crazy about you. You’re a Skywalker, it’s obvious to anyone with eyes.”

“Maybe I should give you some privacy...” Padme said, inclining her head diplomatically. “I can see this is a family affair...” 

“No, Padme stay,” Anakin said softly. ‘You came all this way with me- I’m glad to share something good with you.”

Padme smiled tentatively and they all squeezed together around the low table.

“A Skywalker!” Anakin said, sounding amazed. “You mean- you said I wasn’t your brother but...”

Luke shifted in his seat anxiously. “Ok, this is going to sound crazy-”

“I believe you,” Anakin interrupted. Luke’s joy was leaking out into the force, lighting up the road to an almost visible extent. Between that and the revelation that his mother was safe, Anakin felt practically giddy. 

Luke grinned and a flash of relief leaked off of him into the force. He took a deep breath before blurting out “I’m a time traveler!”

Padme froze and Anakin’s jaw dropped. “You’re- how?”

“I have no idea! I didn’t even realize at first, I was so confused why Owen and Beru looked young, I thought I was suffering from Sand Madness at first! But- it’s the only thing that makes sense” The explanation came tumbling out of Luke’s mouth. “I still kind-of think I’m sand mad sometimes, but I’ve been here for weeks now and...I um, know stuff that proved it to everyone. I’m from about 23 years in the future, I think. The calender’s kind-of changed...”

He trailed off, looking hopefully at Anakin.

“You are- not my brother” Anakin said, thinking out loud. “I- I am your Father” he gasped.

Padme startled, “That’s impossible.”

 It sounded insane, but when Anakin searched his feelings he knew it to be true.

“That’s what you meant when you said that I did rescue you!” he said, excitedly turning to his Mother. “My son time traveled to save you!”

“I-I really don’t know how it happened,” Luke stammered out. “I didn’t do it on-purpose, exactly.”

“It was the will of the force!” Anakin declared, actually meaning it.

“I was so worried you wouldn’t believe me!” Luke confessed. “But I- I really wanted to meet you.”

“Meet me?” Anakin asked, heart sinking. “I didn’t raise you?”

Luke looked down. “You died- when I was little. I don’t know all the details, but I’ll tell you what I do know.” He raised his head, looking fiercely determined. “We can stop it- I’m sure of it. I already helped save my Grandma, and I didn’t even know what was going on then!”

“You- you did, didn’t you?” Anakin said, choked up with pride. “I- Can I hug you? Son?”

They leaped up from their seats to embrace each other. Every Skywalkers’ eye grew damp while Padme watched dumbfounded at the extremely unlikely turn of events.

Time Travel. Well, if anyone could pull it off, it would be Anakin’s son.

Part One - - - Part Two - - - Part Three - - - Part Four