Attack of the Clones- LOTJP Version

Return to Tatooine

Anakin heard something in his sleep. A voice. One he hadn't heard in thirteen years, but recognized nonetheless. The voice of Shmi Skywalker.

Anakin could hear his mother's voice screaming, moaning in pain, and the sound of what must have been a monster of some sort.

"Anakin! Help me!" screamed Shmi's voice.

"Mom, no." Anakin cried in his sleep.

"Anakin!"

"Don't!"

Suddenly, the screaming stopped and Anakin woke up with a gasp. He found himself sweating from all the stress he experienced.

Anakin breathed heavily and quickly sat up with a gasp when he felt someone pulling on his blanket. And then he looked up to see Gabby in her Tigger footie pajamas, crawling toward him.

"How did you get out your crib, little one?" Anakin asked, picking the child up.

"Daddy scared?" Gabby said.

Anakin was surprised by that question, although he recalled his daughter being as Force-sensitive as he was. It probably shouldn't have come as a shock to him that she would sense his fear.

"Uh... well, yes. A little, Princess. Daddy just had a scary dream is all. I had a dream about my mother. Your grandmother."

"Your mommy?"

"Yes. Something bad happened to her in my dream, and it was really scary."

"Dream just a story. Mommy says that."

Anakin was proud to know his daughter took many of the great lessons he and Padme tried to pass on to her to heart. Generally, yes, most dreams good or bad were just stories in one's head while they were sleeping, but there were those who believed the good dreams were a wish from the heart and bad dreams were a subconscious collection of one's worst fears brought to vision. And in this case, Anakin's nightmare felt more real than any ordinary nightmare.

This was not like the nightmare Anakin had about falling from a roof or being naked in the city square. This dream felt more real than both of those nightmares combined.

Anakin said nothing and just sighed. Gabby held up her teddy bear, offering it to Anakin. Teddy always helped Gabby when she was scared.

Anakin took the bear in his hands so he wouldn't hurt his daughter's feelings, and he cuddled it a little. He had to admit, it did feel pretty good to have a stuffed animal to cuddle. No wonder Gabby was so calm whenever she had her teddy. Something about its soft fur and looking into those cute black button eyes on its adorable little face was just so comforting.

Gabby also crawled under the blankets by her father's side and hugged him.

Sighing, Anakin started to lay back down as Gabby cuddled him like she did with her teddy bear. Little by little, Anakin started to feel better, and he held the girl and the teddy bear close to him the rest of the night.

Despite Gabby keeping him calm for the remainder of the night, Anakin still couldn't banish the thought of the horrible nightmare he'd had about his mother.

The next morning, he stood, looking out into the morning sky. And Gabby, being the little imitator she was, copied her father's position of standing up straight and holding his hands behind his back.

Padme walked out to see her baby daddy and their baby both standing in matching positions. She was quiet, and although she was not Force sensitive, she did get the sense that something was on Anakin's mind. She was too concerned to even note how adorable it was that their daughter was imitating Anakin. And she was about to leave, when Anakin spoke up.