Memories Ch. 5--2

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Anakin lay awake in his bed once more. He stared at the ceiling and the odd shaped shadows cast there by the moon. In his mind's eye all he could see was Tenel Ka as she stared at him and calmly told him, "Because I am the one who hunts demons."

He shook his head, tossing it from side to side in an attempt to drive the thoughts from his mind. No, he thought. I won't get it, even if I think about it.

He closed his eyes, ready to force himself to sleep, when he heard a noise: a soft, gentle footstep. His eyes snapped open and he strained to hear. A few seconds later, the sound came again, closer this time.

Then it was followed by a small, nearly silent sneeze.

Anakin closed his eyes and sighed.

He heard another small, silent sneeze, this time coming from the other side of his door. As quietly as possible, Anakin slipped out of bed and pressed himself against the wall by the door. The door slid opened and he was greeted by another small sneeze.

Sannah snuck into his room, creeping stealthily, holding two large clips in her hand. A mischievous smile was painted on her face. As soon as she was fully past Anakin, he stepped out from his hiding place and stood behind her. Then he wrapped his arms around her, causing her to scream. He picked her up and tucked her under one of his arms and walked out of his room and down the hall to hers.

As he entered, he slapped the lights on, and then walked over to her bed. He held her out over it for a moment, and then let her go, dropping her into her bed.

"That's as far as it goes," he said.

She flipped over onto her back fast, anger painted on her face. "What are you doing?"

Anakin closed his eyes and sighed. Opening them again, he said, "You caught a cold. Lie down and get some sleep."

She frowned at him. "That hurt you know. I was thinking of beating you up just now."

"What are you going to do if your cold gets worse?" He said, kneeling down by her beside. He then pulled the covers up on top of her. "I'll play with you once your better. Are you cold?"

Embarrassment flushed her face red. "No, I'm fine."

She settled back against her pillows, watching Anakin as he stood up and walked towards the door.

"Anakin!"

He turned around to look at her. "What?"

"About today, I'll thank you, but..." She paused, her eyes sliding away from his face. "Well....thankhcoo."

Anakin smirked. "Making up words again?"

Anger flashed in her eyes. "'Thank you' and my sneezed just got mixed!"

"Don't sleep with your shoulders uncovered." Anakin replied. He snapped off the light and stepped out of the room. As he closed the door, he glanced in one last time, to find her yellow eyes staring at him, seeming to glow slightly in the dim moonlight coming in through her windows. He finished closing the door and then returned to his room, finally ready to sleep.

The next morning, he quickly dressed and walked down the hall to find Mara and Tahiri sitting across from one another at the kitchen table eating breakfast.

"Good morning," they both chimed as he walked in.

He grunted in response and slid into the seat next to Mara. She calmly stuck a plate in front of him, and he looked down at the plate of eggs, vegetables and nerf sausage. He inhaled deeply, savoring the smell of the food.

"Thanks, Aunt Mara." he mumbled sleepily.

He started eating mechanically, trying to focus his thoughts on what was bothering him. On what seemed out of place.

"More eggs please," Tahiri chimed, holding out her plate. Mara Jade happily served more food to the young, blonde girl.

Anakin looked around. "Where's Jaina?"

"She was up late last night," Mara Jade replied. "Said something about an assignment due for class, and someone keeping her notes from her. I was thinking I'd be nice and let her sleep in a little this morning."

"Ah, and Sannah?"

"She caught a little cold, so I let her sleep in."

Anakin grunted once again, and ate some more of the nerf sausage.

"These vegetables are great." Tahiri said between bites.

"Eat as much as you'd like then, Tahiri." Mara Jade replied happily, spooning another helping onto the girl's plate.

Wait a second, Anakin thought. Then he blurted out in Tahiri's direction, "Why are you here?"

She looked at him, and blinked twice, confusion evident on her face. "Breakfast?"

Anakin shook his head. "No! What are you doing here?"

The confusion was still on her face. "Eating breakfast?"

"Why aren't you eating breakfast at your own house?"

Before she could respond, Mara answered. "I had to run an errand early this morning, and ran into her on the way back. So I invited her in for breakfast."

Anakin sighed, and shook his head as Mara gathered up her dishes and took them into the kitchen.

Tahiri grinned at Anakin. "Mrs. Mara is a really good cook."

Anakin grinned back, and replied, "If you want something really good, you should try her special jam. These foods are tame in comparison."

Her grin turned into a full fledged smile. "Oh, I can't wait!"

A half hour later, breakfast was completed, and Tahiri stood up from the table, glancing around. "I've got to go now—school is probably starting soon. Thank you for breakfast."

Mara smiled at her. "Come again anytime."

"Sure," she replied.

"Bye, Tahiri," Anakin said around a mouth full of sausage.

"Bye Anakin," she said as she waved at him. Then she bounded out of the apartment.

Mara settled back into her seat, sipping at her cup of caf. She looked up at Anakin, and said, "She sure is energetic."

A shuffling sound came from behind them, and they both looked to find Jaina leaning against the door jamb, her eyes only half-open. "Good morning," she mumbled.

"Good morning," Anakin replied.

"Morning," Mara said. "Are you going to eat breakfast soon?"

"Uh-huh." Then her eyes closed the rest of the way, and a soft snore came from her.

"Hey! Don't sleep!" Anakin exclaimed.

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Anakin poked Jaina on the nose, causing her to stir slightly. Once she settled down again, he poked her harder.

"Jaina," he said. "Hey, Jaina!"

Her eyes cracked open, and she peered up at him. "Wha?"

"Class is over. Everyone's already left."

Her body snapped upright in her seat as she glanced around the empty room. She winced and said, "I slept through class again?"

"Yup," Anakin replied cheerfully.

Sighing, Jaina gathered her belongings and stood up, to slowly walk from the room. Anakin fell into step beside her. After a bit, he said, "You have practice today?"

She nodded her head. "Yeah, the tournament is coming up soon, so we're kind of busy with that."

They stopped at one of the stairwells, and Anakin glanced off down one of the hallways. "Well, do you best out there."

Jaina gave him a small grin. "I always do little brother."

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