A Mother's Love (AU, angst, Vader, Luke, Leia, Padme. Completed 12/22!)

Padme kissed her son's cheek softly. He smelled of baby powder, and the sweet scent that 6 month-old babies tend to have. In another month, she would give him up, and go to Alderaan to live with Leia. But for now, she would savor the few moments she had with him here on Tatooine, and try to make the best of the next thirty days.

He glanced up at her with his crystal-blue eyes and smiled a toothless grin. He seemed so innocent, so beautiful. Padme would have a lot of trouble leaving him here with Owen and Beru. But then again, what mother wouldn't?

Unless she didn't have to leave him.

She had a choice. She could stay with Luke, or she could go to Alderaan and live with Leia.

"What should I do, Luke?" she whispered.

He glanced up again. His face seemed so calm, so thoughtful, that she would've sworn he understood her if she didn't know any better.

"Beru!" she called.

Beru ran into the room. "Is everything alright?"

Padme glanced at her. "I've made up my mind. I want to stay here with Luke."

Beru gasped. "But Padme---"

"Please, Beru. If I go to Alderaan, I could potentially put Leia in danger. Vader will often visit planets with much political power, and Alderaan is one of them."

Beru sighed, then nodded thoughtfully. "I hate to say it, but I think you're right. Shall I inform Bail and Sache?"

Padme nodded. "Please. Tell them I am very sorry, but it's for the best."

Beru left, and Padme wiped a tear from her cheek. Luke cooed softly at a toy on the floor, and she smiled sadly. Leia would have a parental connection. Luke deserved it, too.
And she would be here for him, expressing love only as any mother could.
**********************************************

Shall I continue? Does it stink terribly? Should I REALLY begin another story??? ACK! Too many questions, not enough answers!!!
Feedback is appreciated

 

i LIKE where this is going...please continue!! and DON'T kill Padme, pleez...
;j

 

Yes, continue. You won't get any readers at first (I should know) but if your story is good, they trickle in a little at a time later on.

 

11 years later:
_______________

Luke Skywalker sighed. How the heck was he going to explain this to his mother? How in the galaxy??
The bruises and cuts on his face hurt, and the instant he walked in the door, his mother would worry.
She was always worrying about everything, from the farm to the food supply to the budget and right down to Luke himself. Especially Luke.
With a sigh, he opened the door and walked inside.

"Mom, I'm home."

His mother came intio view. At 38 years of age, Padme Naberrie-Skywalker was still stunningly beautiful, if you ignored her sunburnt face, her short hair high in a messy ponytail, and the dusty clothes she was wearing. There was still a certain sparkle in her eyes; the fire of a young woman with love, ambitions, and expections was still there.
It was just weighed down by sadness and worry.
And anger.

"Luke Skywalker, what in the name of the galaxy happened to you?" Padme stepped foward and took his chin between her thumb and forefinger, examining his face carefully. She frowned suddenly. "Were you fighting with Fixer again?"

Luke sighed. "Yes, Mom, I was."

She straightened up and put a hand to her forehead. "Luke, why do you do this to me? I have enough on my mind already without having to worry if you'll come home in one piece."

Luke hung his head. "Sorry, Mom."

She sighed. "Not an angry, frusterated sigh; but a quiet, sad, thoughtful sigh. "Give me a hug."

He stepped foward and did so. "I won't fight again."

"Lemme hear the 'P' word on that."

"I promise."

She kissed his forehead. "Bantha stew tonight. Wanna set the table?"

Luke smiled. "Sure."

 

yeah, she's a mom...

 

_Amazing,_ Padme thought. _He looks just like Ani when he eats._

Luke shoveled another bite of bantha stew into his mouth and chewed thoughtfully. Padme had cleaned the cuts on his face, and he looked almost healed if you ignored the angry red scabs that were forming.

"So," she said, "aside from your fight, how was your day at school?"

Luke nodded and swallowed. "Not bad. I got an A on my astronomy quiz."

Padme smiled. "That's good. Your father would have been proud. He loved the stars..."

Her words brought back painful memories. After Obi-Wan fought Anakin, he came to her on Naboo and announced her husband dead. Padme was devestated, but she moved on. She had to.
Until Obi-Wan told her he was alive. And more dangerous than ever.
Thus, the seperation of the twins, and the simple, quiet life she now lived on Tatooine.

"Did he ever fly?" Luke asked, bringing her back to reality.

He had asked the question a million times, but Padme didn't mind telling her son the numerous stories. She just kept the Dark Side part out of it.

"Yes, Luke, he did," she replied, smiling sadly. "Many times, during the Clone Wars. He was the very best. And he loved me."

Which was the truth. Anakin did love her once, in a lifetime that didn't exist anymore.

"I wish he knew I was born before he died," Luke said wistfully.

_No, you don't._

"He would have loved you."

That wasn't a lie, either. He would have loved his son. If you left out the "turning to the Dark Side" part.

Luke sighed. "Yeah."

Padme glanced down. The stew didn't look so appetizing anymore. "Why don't you go get washed up for bed. I'll read to you."

Luke frowned. "Fixer says I'm a nerd if I let my mom read to me."

Padme's eyes flashed angrily. "That boy," she said icily, "apparently has not been brought up right. You need not listen to what he says."

"Okay, Mom," said Luke with a smile. "Who needs him, anyways?"
________________________________________________________

"......And the starpilot married his true love, and they lived forever and ever in eternal bliss on Naboo."

Padme closed the book and gazed at her son's sleeping face. He seemed so peaceful, so content. So.... unknowing.

_It's for the best,_ she thought. _The more knowledge he has, the more chance he has of getting hurt._

Padme pondered this for a while, then stood up and walked into her bedroom. She didn't bother to change her clothes or even take off her boots as she climbed into bed. A lone tear fell down the side of her face.

_Why, Ani?_

 

This is really nice Fruitcake.

 

::a single tear slides down MY face::
;j

 

"Hey, Mom, Bigg's mother can't come and pick me up for school this morning. Can I have a ride?"

Padme smiled. "Of course. If he asks if he can come over after school, tell him we'd love to have him. That is, of course, if he helps clean up the kitchen." She winked.

"Thanks Mom."
____________________________________
In the speeder on the way to Anchorhead, Luke said, "Hey, did you know that Darth Vader's coming down today?"
Padme nearly crashed the speeder.
"Mom?"

"What city?" she asked quietly.

"Oh, a long way from here. Mos Eisley."

Padme nodded, and inwardly kicked herself for being so paranoid. There was no reason for Vader to come to Anchorhead.

"If you come into contact with him," Padme said, "do not speak with him. Don't do anything to draw attention to yourself. Don't even look at him, if you can help it. If you absolutely MUST stare, make sure it matches the stares of others around you. And whatever you do, do NOT look him in the eye."

Luke frowned. "Why all the precautions? I mean, I know he's dangerous, but he doesn't just strangle people for looking at him."

Padme twitched. "Do as I say," she said quietly. "Don't ask any more questions."

Her son nodded. "Yes, ma'am."
________________________________________________

Luke slammed his locker, and turned to his friend Biggs. They both began to walk quickly down the hallway.

"I don't understand it," Luke said. "Vader's, like, a PILOT. He's flown TIE fighters. If anyone can fly as well as he can, I would sure like to meet them!!!"

Biggs sighed. "Look, listen to your mom. She's really cool, and she's smart to boot. If I were in your postion, I'd sure as blaster bolts pay attention to what she says."

The bell rang, and Luke grimaced. "See ya later, Biggs. You ARE coming to my house, right?"

"Wouldn't miss it."
_____________________________________________

Padme pulled her hood further around her face and leaned in closer, pretending to examine the fruit lined up on the stands.
HE was here. Only 50 feet from where she stood, Vader was exiting from his personal speeder, flanked by 6 stormtroopers.

_This shouldn't be happening. He shouldn't be here, in Anchorhead. What possible purpose could he have in THIS sleepy little town?_

A hand touched her shoulder, and a mechanically altered voice said, "Miss?"

Padme turned around sharply, making sure the hood still covered most of her face. She was relieved to find a stormtrooper standing there, his head cocked to one side.

"Miss, are the fruit satisfactory?"

Padme nodded. "Yes, they are," she said, keeping her voice low. She didn't dare glance in Vader's direction.

The stormtrooper nodded and walked off. Padme sighed and turned back to the fruit stand.

_A polite stomtrooper,_ she thought. _Now there's something you don't see every day. How ironic._

She noted with relief that Vader and his troops were moving away. Perfect---

"Mom, are we ready to go home now?"

Padme glanced down nervously at Luke. Biggs stood next to him, shifting uncomfortably.

"Hi, Mrs--"

Padme clamped a hand over his mouth, then moved the two boys over to the speeder. She shoved them in quickly, jumped in the driver's seat, and drove off.
________________________________________

In the Skywalkers' garage, Biggs leaned against the landspeeder and sighed. "What in the name of blaster bolts was THAT all about?"

Luke scratched his head with a greasy hand and grimaced. "I have no idea."

"Hey," Biggs said, "ya know about that T-16 race tomorrow, out by Beggar's Canyon?"

"Yeah, I know. I'd enter, but I don't have a T-16."

"My dad got me one for my birthday."

Luke sat up and grinned widely. "YES! Are you going to enter? I know you'll do great."

Biggs glanced at him slyly. "Actually, that's what I wanted to talk to you about. You're a WAY better pilot than me, and if you're interested...."

"Am I interested? AM I INTERESTED?! What kind of question is THAT?! Of course I'm interested! Who do I have to assasinate?!"

Biggs laughed heartily. "No one, Luke.

 

LOL. Biggs has a crush on Padme. Nice tension with Vader. I sense that this race is going to cause trouble.

 

I just found this story, and I love it!! Padme is perfect as a mother, (I love that she's still alive) and Luke is so much like his dad at that age. I'm wondering if and when Luke will find out about his dear daddy...and will he ever get to meet Leia? Anyway, great story!!

 

Padme seemed distant and flighty as Luke entered the room. Her face seemed more haggard than usual, and her clothes were a rumpled mess.

"I'm going to bed, Mom," he said. "Don't want to be too tired for the race tomorrow."

"Hmm? Goodnight, Luke," his mother said, without turning around.

He trudged into his bedroom, then closed the door and locked it. He glanced around furtively, and pulled out a small data disk from his pocket.

"Well, Darth Vader," he said. "Let's see who you really are."

_For once,_ he thought as he slid the disk into his computer, _I am quite grateful for Fixer's slyness._

A small, blurry photo filled the screen; a picture of Darth Vader exiting his shuttle on Coruscant.

The information on him was scarce: his name, Darth Vader; his profession, pilot and Emperor's right hand; his age, around 33. But then things got very interesting as he scrolled down.
He was married at one point.

It didn't give his wife's name, and she was supposedly deceased. It also said that Vader brutally murdered whoever brought her up in his presence.

_Touchy,_ Luke thought.

He yawned and pulled the disk out of his computer, discarding it amongst the numerous data cards stacked up in his closet. His mother rarely ever cleaned out his closet; so no chance of her finding it.
He crawled into bed and turned out the light.

His last thought before finally submitting to the unconcious was, _Really touchy._

 

Oh dear... poor Pad! You're doing great so far DF!!!! I like this!! I'll be watching for more!

AQ

 

Great Story! Update soon...

 

I just found this...your going great so far! Please Update Soon!

Am

 

Nice story.

Keep up the good work.

 

hehehe!
I love it!
CAn't wait until more!!
Keep going!!!

 

Tatooine mornings were actually quite cool, and Luke reveled in them. It was the only time of day that was actually considered "moderate".

"Hey, Luke! Over here."

Luke ran over to Biggs, who was standing next to his T-16.

"Ready to go?" Biggs asked.

"Big crowd," Luke murmured.

"Yes, it's big. Show off! Make good use of it. You're lucky your mom let you race at all."

Luke grimaced. "See anyone we know?"

"Yeah, Fixer and his old man are over there," Biggs said, pointing. "Camie's with him."

Luke glared at his friend. "Gee, thanks for pointing that out."

"Sorry, Luke," said Biggs, putting up his hands. "If you win the race, you get the girl. That's how life is."

"Hmmm..." Luke said, pretending to ponder. "So that means if you win a race, you get to kiss my mom?"

Biggs slapped Luke---HARD---on the arm. "Shut up, man!" he hissed. "No one is supposed to know that!"

"Especially not HER," Luke whispered. "C'mon, Biggs, she's my MOM. That's disgusting. She'd have a bantha. And she misses my dad."

"What, is his ghost gonna come back from the dead and spank me? If you keep your big mouth shut, then she won't find out, and then the bad stuff won't happen. So button your lip."

Luke grinned. "Alright, okay, buddy."

"Would all competetors please board your T-16s?" the announcer called. "I repeat, please board your T-16s."

Luke climbed into his seat, then, glancing around furtively, tossed his helmet in the back seat. "Winners don't wear helmets," he whispered.

"Please line up at the starting point," the announcer said.

"Wish me luck, Biggs," Luke said.

"Good luck, Luke." Biggs sighed and shook his head. "Not that you need it," he added under his breath.

 

I just found this & love it so far! Can't wait to see where you take it!

 

Up!

 

How did I miss this? This is great! More!

 

up.


and asking for more.

 

Not that he needs it! LoL! Cute DF! Lovely post!! Can't wait for more!!!! This is a great story! Lemmie guess, Vader happens to come and watch the race and see's a 12-year-old version of himself.

Or am I completely off my rocker?

AQ

 

Great posts!! Can't wait to see what happens...I feel so badly for Padme. She's got a tough life. She's gone from queen of Naboo to hiding on Tatooine.

 

I am really liking this story. You are doing Biggs and Luke great. Now that he tossed it he'll probably need the helmut.