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The siblings walked either side of Qui-Gon as they made their way back. "These are yours." Qui-Gon said, handing Anakin a bag full of coins.
"Yes!' Anakin cheered, rushing through the door to show Shmi the contents of the bag. "Mom, we sold the Pod. Look at all the money!"
"Oh my goodness! That's wonderful Ani." Shmi said softly, gently squeezing his hands. Mae leaned on the counter by her mother and ruffled the boy's hair.
"They have both been freed as well."
Mae mouth snapped shut and he head shot up to face the Jedi. "What?!"
Qui-Gon crossed his arms and sent a kind smile to her, "You and your brother are no longer slaves."
Mae stared at the man, he was telling the truth. His gentle energy hummed with only simple happiness. She lifted her hand to her mouth with a gasp and let her mother lead her onto a stool. Tears welled in her eyes, she felt her brother tug at her wrap and found his hand without taking her eyes off the Jedi. Anakin's hesitance swarmed through her the moment the Jedi spoke.
"Mae?"
The girl sniffed and nodded with barely contained glee as she wiped her tears away with one hand and gripped the boy's smaller one in the other. "It's okay, Ani."
Anakin nodded and looked around at Shmi, "Did you hear that?"
"Now you can make your dreams come true, Ani. You're free!" Shmi cupped her son's cheek, kissing his forehead. She reached for Mae and did the same, "Mae, you can leave! You can be anything you want! My beautiful girl, you can flourish."
Mae sniffed and hugged into Shmi's side, she let out a choked giggle. She was free.
Shmi held her children close as she looked to the Jedi, "Will you take them with you? Are they to become Jedi?"
"Yes," Qui-Gon nodded, "Our meeting was not not a coincidence. Nothing happens by accident."
"You mean we get to come with you in your starship?" Ani asked, almost vibrating on the spot. His excitement was contagious as Mae shuffled on her feet, ready to get off the sand covered planet and see new things.
Qui-Gon kneeled in front of the boy, glancing up at Mae. "Anakin, Mae. Training to become a Jedi is not going to be easy. And if you succeed, its a hard life."
