Celestial Bonds - ANAKIN SKYWALKER - WTM

CHAPTER NINE: BREAK

Anakin took Eva's advice and ventured to the mess hall to bring food for his mother before walking to the med bay. With a meaty sandwich, a piece of fruit, and bottled water in hand, he enters the large empty room - save for the few medical droids milling about. Once he entered through the doors, he was greeted with the sight of his now-awake mother sitting on the bed in the far right corner, looking out the window to the lively city in wonder.

Anakin pauses for a moment before clearing his throat and slowly walking to the bed. Once he stops at the foot of the bed, he fumbles awkwardly, words clogging his throat yet his tongue remains paralysed in his dry mouth. He swallows before awkwardly speaking, "You're awake..." Internally, he curses at himself in his mind. Ten years he hasn't seen her, ten years he thought of what he could say to her if they were to reunite and all he can muster is 'You're awake...'. If Eva was here she would no doubt make fun of him right now.

Shmi turns her head to face the unfamiliar voice and her brown eyes meet familiar blue. Her mind tugs in recognition but fails to reveal the answer. Her eyes narrow as she scrutinises the boy standing awkwardly at the end of her bed. It only takes a few moments for her mind to fill in the blanks, however. Anakin. Little Ani. Her precious son. Now grown up and becoming a man. "Ani?" She asks, her throat raw and parched causing her to lift her hand to her throat as it faintly stings.

Anakin rushes to hand her the bottled water and Shmi accepts it with a small smile.

After she takes a sip, she closes the bottle and places it on her lap as her eyes return to her son as she stares at him in awe. She missed him. Not a day has gone by that she hasn't missed him. Since that day, a part of her regretted letting him go, it's always just been the two of them but most of all, she's glad that she did. Looking at him now, with full rosy cheeks and happiness oozing from his eyes and that familiar crooked smile of his, he looks happy, at ease. Free. Something Tatooine couldn't give him, something she couldn't give him no matter how much that thought hurt.

"Are you all right? You're not in pain, are you?" Anakin asks hurriedly. "I can ask the Doctors for more pain relievers if you are."

"No, no, I'm fine." Shmi answers hastily before her son drives himself into a frenzy. Her heart warms at the expression of concern on his face. She holds her hand out beckoningly and Anakin steps forward and places his large hand in hers. She wraps her fingers around his hand and her thumb caresses his knuckles as she smiles up at him. "After all these years, it's just so nice to see you. I missed you so very much."

Anakin smiles and tears start to fill his eyes as his heart squeezes painfully. All the days he's spent missing his Mother crashed into him and now he's feeling every ache he's suppressed. "I missed you too, Mom. Everyday." He whispers.

Shmi can feel the tears pooling in her eyes and tugs his arm causing him to fall into her open arms before she wraps him into a tight hug.

"Aww, you've grown up so much. My little boy isn't so little now. You're a man." She sighs forlornly and she presses kisses onto his head.

Anakin chuckles into her shoulder and squeezes her tighter. "I may look like one but some will say I still act like a child." Mainly Obi-Wan... and Eva... now Ahsoka, too. He sighs at the thought of his future Padawan. To even think that he'll even have a Padawan is a strange thought considering that he doesn't like kids that much but now knowing it'll become a reality, it's something else entirely.