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eplaying those tales； seeing them in context now that the yard was in view。
〃What？〃 Padme asked him from some distance ahead； when she noticed that he was not following。 〃Don't tell me you're shy！〃
〃No； but I…〃 the distracted Anakin started to answer； but he was interrupted by the squeals of two little girls； running out from the yard toward his panion。
〃Aunt Padme！ Aunt Padme！〃
Padme's smile went as wide as Anakin had ever seen it and she rushed ahead； bending low to scoop the pair； who looked to be no more than a few years old； one a bit taller than the other； into her arms。 One had hair short and blond and curly； the other； the older of the two； had hair that resembled Padme's。
〃Ryoo！ Pooja！〃 Padme cried； hugging them and twirling them about。 〃I'm so happy to see you！〃 She kissed them both and set them down； then took them by the hand and led them toward Anakin。
〃This is Anakin。 Anakin； this is Ryoo and Pooja！〃
The blush on the pair as they shyly said hello brought a burst of laughter from Padme and a smile to Anakin's face； though he was equally ill at ease as the two children。
The girls' shyness lasted only as long as it took for them to notice the little droid rolling behind Anakin； trying to catch up。
〃Artoo！〃 they shouted in unison。 Breaking away from Padme； they rushed to the droid； leaping upon him； hugging him cheek to dome。
And R2…D2 seemed equally thrilled； beeping and whistling as happily as Anakin had ever heard。
Anakin couldn't help but be touched by the scene； a view of innocence that he had never known。
Well； not never； he had to admit。 There were times when Shmi had found some way to produce such moments of joy amid the drudgery that was life as a slave on Tatooine。 In their own way； in that dusty； dirty； hot； and smelly place； Anakin and his mother had carved out a few instants of innocent beauty。 Here； though； such moments seemed so much more the norm than the memorable exception。
Anakin turned back to Padme； to see that she was no longer looking his way； but had turned toward the house； where another woman； who looked very much like Padme； was approaching。
Not exactly like Padme； Anakin noted。 She was a little older； a little heavier； and a little more 。 。 。 worn； was the only word he could think of。 But not in a bad way。 Yes； he could see it now； he thought； watching as she and Padme hugged tightly。 This was whom Padme could bee…more settled； more content； perhaps。 Considering the amazing resemblance； Anakin was hardly surprised when Padme introduced the woman as her sister； Sola。
〃Mom and Dad will be so happy to see you；〃 Sola said to Padme。 〃It's been a difficult few weeks。〃
Padme frowned。 She knew that word of the attempts on her life would have reached her parents' ears； and that was possibly the most disturbing thing of all to her。
Anakin saw it all on her face； and he understood it well； and he loved her all the more for that generosity。 Padme wasn't really afraid of anything… she could handle the reality of her current situation； the reality of the fact that someone was trying to kill her； with determination and courage。 But the one thing about it all that troubled her； aside from the political ramifications of such distractions； the ways they might weaken her position in the Senate； was the effect of such danger upon those she loved。 He knew that she didn't want to bring pain to her family。
Anakin； who had left his mother as a slave on Tatooine； could appreciate that。
〃Mom's making dinner；〃 Sola explained； noting Padme's disfort and generously changing the subject。 〃As usual； your timing is perfect。〃 She started toward the house。 Padme waited for Anakin to move beside her； then took his hand； looked up； smiled at him； and led him toward the door。 R2…D2 rolled along right behind； with Ryoo and Pooja bouncing all about him。 The interior of the house was just as simply wonderful and just as full of life and soft color as was the yard。 There were no glaring lights； no beeping consoles or flickering puter screens。 The furniture was plush and fortable； the floors were made of cool stone or covered in soft carpeting。
This was not a building as Anakin had known on Coruscant； and not a hovel； as he had known all too well on Tatooine。 No； seeing this place； this street； this yard； this home； made the young Padawan even more convinced of what he had declared to Padme not so long before： that if he had grown up on Naboo； he would never leave。
The next introductions were a bit more unfortable； but only for a moment； as Padme showed Anakin to Ruwee； her father； a strong…shouldered man with a face that was plain and strong and passionate all at once。 He wore his brown hair short； but still it was a bit out of place； a bit 。。。 fortable。 Padme introduced Jobal next； and Anakin knew that the woman was her mother without being told。 The moment he met her； he understood where Padme had gotten her innocent and sincere smile； a look that could disarm a mob of bloodthirsty Gamorrean raiders。 Jobal's face had that same forting quality； that same obvious generosity。
Soon after； Anakin； Padme； and Ruwee were sitting at the dinner table； fortably quiet and listening to the bustle in the next room； which included the clanking of stoneware plates and mugs； and Sola repeatedly saying； 〃Too much； Mom。〃 And every time she said that； Ruwee and Padm smiled knowingly。
〃I doubt they've been starving all the way from Coruscant；〃 an exasperated Sola said as she exited the kitchen； glancing back over her shoulder as she spoke。 She returned carrying a bowl full of food。
〃Enough to feed the town？〃 Padme asked Sola quietly as her older sister put the bowl on the table。
〃You know Mom；〃 came the answer； and the tone told Anakin that this was not an isolated incident； that Jobal was quite the hostess。 Despite the fact that he had eaten recently； the bowl of food looked and smelled temptingly good。
〃No one has ever left this house hungry；〃 Sola explained。
〃Well； one person did once；〃 Padme corrected。 〃But Mom chased him down and dragged him back in。〃
〃To feed him or cook him？〃 the quick…witted Padawan retorted； and the other three stared at him for just a moment before catching on and bursting out in laughter。
They were still chuckling when Jobal entered the room； holding an even larger bowl of steaming food； which of course only made them laugh all the louder。 But then Jobal fixed an imposing stare over her family and the chuckling quieted。
〃They arrived just in time for dinner；〃 Jobal said。 〃I know what that means。〃 She set the plate down near Anakin and put her hand on his shoulder。 〃I hope you're hungry； Anakin。〃
〃A little。〃 He looked up and gave her a warm smile。
The look of gratitude was not lost on Padme。 She tossed a little wink his way when he looked back at her。 〃He's being polite； Mom；〃 she said。 〃We're starving。〃
Jobal grinned widely and nodded； offering superior glances at Sola and Ruwee； who just laughed again。 It was all so fortable to Anakin； so natural and so 。。。 so much like what he had always been wanting in his life； though perhaps he had not known it。 This would be perfect； absolutely perfect； except that his mother wasn't there。
A brief cloud passed over his face as he thought of his mother on Tatooine； and considered the disturbing dreams that had been finding their way into his sleep of late。 He pushed the thoughts away quickly and glanced around； glad that no one seemed to have noticed。
〃 If you're starving； then you came to the right place at the right time；〃 Ruwee said； looking at Anakin as he finished。 〃Eat up； son！〃
Jobal and Sola took their seats and began passing the food bowls all around。 Anakin took a good helping of several different dishes。 The food was all unfamiliar； but the smells told him that he wouldn't be disappointed。 He sat quietly as he ate； listening with half an ear to the chatter all about him。 He was thinking of his mom again； of how he wished he could bring her here； a free woman； to live the life she so deserved。 Some time passed before Anakin tuned back in； cued by the sudden seriousness in Jobal's voice as she said t