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APOLLA SAT IN Her room with Anakin as she waited for Helios and Padmé. Anakin sat in front of Apolla and sighed.

She rested her legs in his lap and tilted her head"What's up, buttercup?"

He sighed and rubbed his eyes "I can't stop dreaming about my mother."

Apolla kissed his cheek and stroked his hand softly "Ani, when I lost my father, I thought the world had just ended. I couldn't stop him from death and there's no way around it."

Anakin looked at her "Would you stop it if you could?"

She shrugged "I mean I would, but my father's death was probably for a reason."

He nodded and sighed "Apolla, I don't know how you do it."

She chuckled "Darling, I go through losing people everyday, you can't save them all."

He nodded as they saw Padmé and Helios come back. After they came back the four of them decided to eat.

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"AND WHEN I Got to them we went into aggressive negotiations." Anakin said then thanked Teckla Minnau.

Apolla and her brother also thanked the lady.

"Aggressive negotiations, what's that?" Padmé questioned.

"It's when you negotiate with your weapons." Apolla and Helios replied in unison.

"Oh." She giggled in response.

Anakin used the force on Apolla's fruit to bring it towards him.

"Don't let Obi-Wan see you doing that." Apolla teased.

"Hush." Anakin said, blushing.

"Why would he be upset?" Padmé asked.

Apolla looked over at her best friend "It's like when your parent is pointing out your mistakes, Anakin thinks he's offended him in anyway, but Anakin is doing what he thinks is right, where as Obi-Wan does things by the book, which is not Anakin's fault. That's why it's being pushed that Anakin and I are forcebound soulmates and why he's supposed to bring balance to the force."

Anakin smiled softly and used the force to place Apolla's fruit back on her plate. She smiled and said a soft thank you. After they ate Anakin and Apolla were now sitting by the fire. Padmé and Helios were asleep upstairs.

Anakin bit his lip "Do you ever think of us being together?"

"I thought we were?" Apolla asked.

"Well, not officially, remember?" He laughed softly.

She giggled "Oh, yeah."

He kissed her head and stroked her knuckles softly.

Apolla yawned and leaned her head back into his chest.

"Go to sleep." Anakin said, kissing her head.

She laughed softly "Then you should go to sleep."

He nodded and closed his eyes.

They both fell asleep.

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IN THE MIDDLE Of the night, Anakin kept tossing and turning. Apolla woke up and stroked his hair.

He panted and woke up "Apolla?"

She hugged him and kissed his head "You're okay, it's okay."

He held her and sighed "We need to go to her."

She nodded and kissed his cheek. He cuddled into her and they fell asleep again. Padmé, Helios, Anakin, and Apolla all went to Tatooine for Anakin. They were taken to a familiar place. Watto's.

"Wait right there." Anakin told the droid.

Apolla wrapped her arm around his. Helios kept Padmé close.

"Thank you." She smiled up at Apolla's brother.

He winked at her "Welcome."

Apolla chuckled "You're such a dork."

"I'm your brother." He chuckled.

Anakin walked over to Watto "Chut Chut, Watto." (Excuse me, Watto)

Apolla blushed as Anakin spoke Huttese.

"Let me help you with that." Anakin said in Huttese, picking up a piece of machinery.

"What? What do you want? Wait you guys are Jedi! Whatever it is, I didn't do it!" Watto said in his native dialect.

Apolla looked over at Watto then Anakin, helping him out telling him in Huttese "We're looking for Shmi Skywalker."

"Nice." Anakin whispered at her.

She smirked.

Watto took one look at the Padawan and the realization hit "Ani? Little Ani? Nah. You are Ani! It is you and little Apolla Jinn! My, you have grown so much, young lady! You sure sprouted, Ani! Wee-hoo! A Jedi whaddaya know! Hey, maybe you could help with some deadbeats who owe me a lot of money." 

"My mother." Anakin reminded him to try to get him back on track.

"Oh yeah. Shmi. She's not-a mine-a no more-a, I sold her." Watto said, bluntly.

"You sold her?" Anakin snapped.

"Years ago. Sorry, Ani, but you know, business is business, huh?" Watto said, chuckling.

Apolla and Helios looked at each other then the Toydarian.

"Yeah, I sold her to a moisture farmer named, uh, Lars. At least I think it was Lars. Believe it or not, I heard he freed her and married her! Can ya beat that, eh? Yeah." Watto told the four.

"Do you know where they are now?" Anakin asked.

"Ooh, long way from here. Someplace off the other side of Mos Eisley, I think, mmm." Watto said, stroking his chin.

"I'd like to know." Anakin said, with a stern tone.

"Eh, sure. Absolutely! Let's go look at my records, huh?" Watto responded.

They all followed Watto inside. After finding out where Shmi and her husband lived, the four went there.

"Stay with the ship, R2." Padmé and Apolla told the little droid.

Apolla and Padmé had their hoods over their heads. They walked over to a droid.

"Oh, um, hello. How might I be of service? I am C.." The droid started but was cut off by Anakin.

"3PO?" Anakin asked, confused.

"Oh, um, the maker! Oh, Master Ani! I knew you would return. I knew it! And Miss Apolla and Miss Padmé! Oh my. And who's this young man?" 3PO asked.

"Helios." Helios smirked.

"Nice to meet you, Mister Helios." 3PO beamed.

"Hello, 3PO." Padmé and Apolla smiled.

"Bless my circuits! I'm so pleased to see you all." 3PO beamed.

"I've come to see my mother." Anakin told the droid.

"Oh, um, I think perhaps we'd better go indoors." 3PO said, walking to the house.

The four followed the droid.

"Master Owen, might I present four important visitors." 3PO told Owen as the five of them walked down the stairs.

"I'm Anakin Skywalker." Anakin introduced.

"Owen Lars. Uh, this is my girlfriend, Beru." Owen introduced.

"Hello." Beru said, softly.

"I'm Padmé." Padmé introduced.

"I'm Apolla and this is my baby brother, Helios." Apolla also introduced, side hugging her much taller younger brother.

Helios chuckled at the height difference between him and his older sister.

"I guess I'm your step-brother. I had a feeling you might show up someday." Owen told Anakin.

"Is my mother here?" Anakin inquired.

"No, she's not. I'm Cliegg Lars, Shmi is my wife. We should go inside, we have a lot to talk about." Cliegg said, stretching his hand out to his step-son.

Anakin shook his hand. They all followed Cliegg inside. Apolla sat next to Anakin and held his hand as Cliegg told them what happened to Shmi. Anakin stood up.

"Where are you going?" Cliegg asked his step-son.

"To find my mother." Anakin told him.

"Your mother's dead, son. Accept it." Cliegg told him.

Anakin shook his head then left. Apolla apologized then followed after Anakin who just stood there staring into the area.

Anakin turned to her and cupped her face "I have to go save her, Apolla. Please protect Padmé."

Apolla nodded and pecked his lips "You know I will, I did it before."

He nodded then pulled away from his friend "Thank you, Apolla."

Anakin got on a speeder then kissed Apolla's forehead after he started the speeder he was off. Apolla touched her lips then went back inside to wait for Anakin.