Little Boy, Little Girl

Written by Jody and Cariel

After much struggle and nearly losing their small apartment because of a lack of credits Shmi was finally blessed with a simple job that allowed her to both care for their child and earn her wage. Serving in the home of a local noble woman her duty was to house keep and watch over her newly born daughter.

It was a turning point for Shmi, a greater one for little Anakin. The moment the toddler set his big blue eyes on baby Dormé, the young mother knew something had changed.

Shmi loved Dormé as though she were her own; the little girl's mother loved no one. Shmi often cared for the little girl outside of her usual hours of work. Always when her mother was gone lost in her own world of selfish desires. Shmi never asked for money, nor was it ever given. The little boy's Ama knew if she didn't care for the little girl, no one would. Dormé deserved to be loved and deserved to experience childhood memories, so she gave her just that.

Anakin loved the Dormé even before his mind was capable of understanding the whispers of his heart. He was young, she even younger but they were the closest of friends, so much so that marvelled the little boy's Ama and disgusted the little girl's mother.

As babies they could not be separated. When it was time for the little girl to nap in her cot the little boy would climb in after her so he too could rest. Tiny, chubby arms intertwined and wrapped tightly around tiny, chubby bellies. When the little boy had to bathe he could scream and cry without pause until the little girl was placed in the warm soapy water with him. Dormé was no different.

When Dormé learnt to speak it was Anakin's name that was her first word. Anakin was so happy he squeezed her so tightly that she cried and scratched his cheek with her little nails so he would stop. He wept, but apologized and was rewarded with a kiss on the cheek. Once more they were friends and all was forgiven.

The tiny scar would remain with him for the rest of his life.

Anakin taught the Dormé how braid her hair, Dormé taught him how to punch. Together they learnt how to make forts, ride toy speeders, and make music with the pots and pans in his Ama's kitchen. They were insufferable, finding mischief and joy in everything around them. A greater passion for life Shmi had never seen. Dormé's mother had passions of her own in time she was consumed by it leaving the child in the care of Shmi.

Four years passed since that fateful day and not once did Anakin ever think of Dormé's mother who had disappeared from their life. In fact he was just relieved that she was gone as in his mind she was a mean woman who didn't deserve to be Dormé's ama.

But on this day such dark thoughts were the furthest from the eight-year-old's mind as he stared into the small mirror in the fresher. His brow was tightly knitted as he peered at his reflection a small drawing marker resting firmly in hand. Anakin knew he should be using the device to practise his writing skills but right now he had far more important things in mind for it.

Closing his eyes shut he held the marker poised over his cheeks and drew in a soft breath as he cleared his thoughts. In his mind he could see his dearest friend's features, her big amber eyes and her impish smile. It wasn't this that he was focusing on rather the spatter of freckles that decorated her cheeks.

With a fierce sense of determination he began to poke the drawing marker against his brow, cheeks and nose until his face was covered with small black marks in the almost exact locations of Dormé's beauty marks. Once he was certain he had covered his face with the improved freckles he re-opened his eyes and examined his image in joy. Giggling to himself he began to cover his chest and arms with the marks until his entire body was covered with black dots.

Once he was certain he had completed what he had started Anakin wandered back to where Dormé was with the intent of proudly showing her that he too could look as impish as she did. After all as best friends it was only fair that they shared everything wasn't it?

'Dormee! Guess what!' he cheered as he raced off to where she was located. Even though Dormé was two years younger than him she never had a problem saying his full name. Anakin on the other hand still struggled to wrap her name around his tongue.

Dormé never knew what life was like without her best friend, Anakin. When they were babies, they had their own special language that even his ama didn't understand. When Dormé's own mother died, all Dormé knew was that she got to sleep over with Anakin forever and never had to go home. Wherever Anakin was, Dormé was too. They never spent a moment apart and Dormé was incredibly happy. Six-year-old Dormé heard her friend's eager cheer and ran straight over to see what he had. 'What?'

'Now I have freckles too!' he crowed unaware that in reality he already did have freckles but most were on his back. He beamed as Dormé approached and motioned to his face and his bare chest for he had stripped down into his boxers. 'Look! Isn't it great?' he announced proudly before looking at her in confusion as she began to ask if he was all right.

But then she noticed the freckles on his cheeks and asked with concern, 'Are you ill? Are you OK? Should I tell Ama?'

'Ill? Of course not! I have freckles just like you!' he clarified proudly as he motioned to the careful marks that covered his cheeks, belly and arms. 'Now we both have super powers!' Anakin explained having decided then and there that their freckles were magical.

'Like me?' Dormé said, frowning. 'But—'

'Now lets go find some bad guy to use our new powers on!' he continued happily as he reached for Dormé's hand already having the perfect game in mind.

She didn't think this was so good. She shook her head. 'Anakin, wait! Why do you put that on? You should just be you and not be like me...' Dormé tried to argue.

Anakin beamed and nodded at her words not understanding why she was troubled by this prospect. 'Because I want freckles like you have!' Anakin argued in confusion. He frowned at her words not liking the sound of this at all. 'Why? I like being like you better!' he pressed on feeling sad now at his friend's disappointment.

'But I like you as Anakin better,' she said, frowning. 'And you do too have freckles, but you just didn't know it!' She tugged on his hand and led him to his bedroom, puling him in front of a mirror.

Anakin sighed to his friend's words not understanding the importance of them. He was tired of being himself and wanted to try something new instead. His friend in reality was everything he wanted to be and it was for this reason he had tried to mimic her in this way.

'Look!' she said, pointing to his back. She poked at all of his natural freckles.

When she spoke of freckles his shook his head not understanding till he found himself following her to the mirror. 'But I don't have any Dormee! I know I don't I was searching for them all morning,' he groused until she began to poke at his freckles. He peered over his shoulder trying to see the marks she spoke of and beamed upon seeing a few she had pointed out. 'You're right!' he cheered in glee.

'One there, and there—and there... Let's wash off these fake ones, OK?'

'Aww but I like these freckles too!' he admitted thinking he had done a fine job of them indeed.

Dormé giggled at her friend who was grousing about not having any freckles. 'I like yours too.' She gave him a hug when he found them, laughing.'But I don't think Ama will like seeing her makeup all over you and then we might not get dessert tonight!'

Dormé however was adamant about Anakin removing his freckles despite his reluctance to part with them. He made faces as she tried to wipe them off arguing all the while over the fact that they were just fine and that they wouldn't get into trouble over them. 'But its not Ama's make-up! Its my practice pen!' he said certain that he would be spared because it wasn't his mother's make-up he used.

She grabbed a cloth and started wiping off his freckles, however, it was no easy going. 'Erm...I think—I think it might be forever—' She bit her lip, not knowing how to say permanent.

'Are you sure? Oh no! Dormee what am I going to do? Ama is going to be so angry with me when she finds out!' Anakin began to panic.

'It is?' she gasped. 'Oh no!'

Anakin became panicked and soon was desperately scrubbing at the black dots that decorated his cheeks. Fortunately Ama knew just what to do and soon Anakin looked like his old self again. Though disappointed over his lack of freckles he was most pleased to learn he had quite a few on his back and this put him back in a good mood again.

But Shmi was not angry with them and actually had some cream that helped remove the pen marks. She did not yell at them or even stop them from having dessert which pleased Dormé. She was glad Anakin didn't get in trouble for wanting to be like her.

Their next adventure involved Anakin's starship boxers. They placed them on their heads instead of around their waists. 'Just like Twi-leks!' Dormé laughed, racing after her friend.

'Twi-leks?' Anakin snickered at Dormé's suggestion before deciding that they were indeed Twi-leks. It then occurred to him that perhaps they were twi-leks that could fly because they had star ships on their tentacles.

'If we run really fast we'll be able to fly!' Anakin cheered as he raced off to make his point.

'YES!' Dormé cheered happily as she ran after him. She stuck her hands out, trying to mimic the birds she had seen the other day. If she pretended hard enough, she could almost feel herself being lifted high off of the ground. She giggled and laughed as they raced through their home, not even hearing Ama telling them to slow down.

Anakin laughed and cheered in contentment as he raced down the hallways of their small home pretending that they were both flying around. Though Ama warned them to slow down Anakin didn't register it as he was too caught up in their flying Twi-lik game. That was until he rounded the corner a little too fast and ran straight into the wall causing him to tumble backwards onto his bottom in a stunned heap. 'Ow?...Ouch!' he whimpered before feelign something sticky and warm on his mouth. Gingerly he touched lips and discovered that it was covered in blood from his nose. Only then did he register the pain and began to wail loudly.

Dormé stopped short of running into her friend. 'Anakin! Anakin, are you OK? AMA!'

'Ama! Dormee! My nose!' he sobbed. Anakin cried and whimpered more shocked and frightened by the blood than anything else. 'Dormee I need Ama! I broke my nose!' he whimpered though this was hardly the case.

Shmi ran over to them, lifting the boy into her arms and taking him to the sink. She had him sit on the counter, which they weren't allowed to do unless it was a special circumstance. 'What did I tell you about running in the house?' she said in concerned tones as she tended his nose. 'And you, young lady,' Shmi continued, 'no running!'

'Yes, Ama. I'm sorry,' Dormé replied, feeling guilty for it. 'Are you OK, Anakin?'

'Hold this on your nose until I say so,' she told Anakin, putting a coldpack on his nose.

Sniffling he sat on the counter and struggled to hold back his tears so as to be a big boy. He bowed his head when Ama spoke up about running around. 'I forgot Ama,' he admitted sadly wishing now he had remembered. 'It's my fault it was my idea to pretend that we could fly,' Anakin admitted not wanting Dormé to get into trouble.

'So Code!' he murmured before biting his lip.

After Anakin was situated with his ice pack, Dormé couldn't help wondering about her own ama, her real ama. There were times when she really missed her and other times when she didn't think of her at all, but seeing how Ama reacted to Anakin's mishap, she wondered if her real ama would have reacted like that too.

'What's the matter, sweetheart?' Shmi asked, putting an arm around Dormé. SHe could see that something was on her mind.

'I was just thinking...'

Shmi gave her time to follow through on her train of thought.

'...do you think my ama will come back sometime...to see me... I know I'm staying here now, but I just...wondered.'

Anakin grew serious feeling his friend's mood shift but not aware of the fact only he could feel it on such a deep level. As she spoke of her Ama Anakin furrowed his brow. Truthfully until now he hadn't once thought of Dormé's mean ama whom he was glad had finally let her stay with them forever. Now he felt bad because he knew he would be sad if he never saw his Ama ever again.

Shmi fell silent at Dormé's words uncertain how to explain what she knew to be true. The little girl was far too young to understand the concepts of death and the last thing she wanted was to introduce her t it. At the same time she knew it wasn't her place to deny Dormé the truth so she chose her words carefully and hoped the goddess woudl forgive her for it.

'Even though your Ama isn't here Dormé it doesn't mean she isn't watching over you,' she carefully began.

'But the goddess needed your Ama and so she returned to Harmony so she could help her and keep watch over you,' Shmi answered gently as she ran her hand over Dormé's hair.

Dormé listened but didn't want to believe it. 'But what about my birthday gifts?' she asked as her eyes widened to the truth. 'Those were from you too,' she stated flatly.

Tears came to her eyes as she thought that she wouldn't ever see her real mother ever again. 'I didn't even have a chance to say 'bye',' she sniffled.

Shmi didn't speak a word as Dormé reflected the truth she had stumbled upon. Instead she tightened her embrace around the little one and kissed her brow.

Anakin didn't understand this and was inwardly relieved to know that Dormé's ama wouldn't ever return to take her away. But Dormé's sadness could not be ignored and Anakin bit his lip as he reached out to take her hand. 'If Ama says your Ama is here then if you say good-bye now to her she'd hear it wouldn't she?' Anakin offered hoping this would help his friend a little.

Shmi drew back some of Dormé's loose curls and drew it behind her ear as she gave the young girl a gentle caring smile. 'I think Ani is right.'

Dormé gripped Anakin's hand tightly and nodded despite the tears that were streaming down her cheeks. 'OK,' she said.

Taking a deep breath, she said, 'Goodbye, Ama.'

She wiped her tears and gave Anakin a big hug. 'Don't ever leave me, OK?' she said. 'If you go, then I go too.' She did not realise just how close to the truth this would become.

Shmi watched Dormé closely feeling bad for the little one's plight and wishing there was more she could do.

Anakin held her hand as Dormé said good-bye to her Ama and was soon being drawn into a tight hug. At her words the youngling gave her a squeeze and shyly kissed her cheek. 'I won't ever leave you,' he murmured in sincere tones unaware of the true weight of these words.

As he drew back his expression grew a little nervous but hopeful. The sound of rain pattering on the roof of their home could be heard and Anakin knew what that meant.

Dormé was filled with relief at Anakin's words and then he was drawing back. She too heard the rain and this put a smile on her face.

'I guess its time to dance in the rain?' he offered sheepishly. As much as he feared the rain Dormé's happiness meant more to him than anythng else.

'Yes!' she cheered and the two of them ran outside. Dormé didn't even bother with shoes, even though Ama chided her. She had to go back to put her shoes on and grumbled all the way about it, but soon enough, she was back outside. Taking Anakin's hands in hers, she spun around, leaning backwards, laughing.

Anakin wasn't so fond of the rain, in reality he was deathly afraid of them. But he couldn't resist his friend's smile and was soon following her outside. He knew as long as Dormé was near he never needed to fear the rain. However unlike her Anakin wasn't so fond of getting his feet wet and soon paused to put on his boots. He could hear Ama warning Dormé to put on some shoes and soon his friend was joining him despite clearly being grumpy for it. Feeling her hands calloused from climbing trees and scaling rocks in his own hardened palms Anakin promptly ventured outside with her. He loved to see her dance because she looked and felt so happy which made him happy too.

But as the rain fell down and Dormé spun around in joy something within him shifted and Anakin found himself no longer dancing rather watching in awe. He never noticed how pretty she was until then and this made him feel funny. Anakin smiled as his hands slipped to the ends of his shirt where he twisted it nervously. Biting his lip he approached as it suddenly became clear to him just what it was he was feeling. 'I want to marry you!' he proudly announced without warning to the dancing Dormé who laughed in the rain.

Dormé was having so much fun, she had forgotten about the sorrow felt do to the realisation that her mother died a long time ago. It was just the rain and her best friend. Nothing in the galaxy compared to that. She didn't notice that Anakin stopped spinning until he spoke. She paused in front of him. It sounded funny to her, but knew that they would always be together no matter what. 'I will always be your friend,' she said, placing her hand on his shoulders.

Anakin smiled as Dormé paused in midstep watching her through innocent eyes that had yet to comprehend the true weight of what his heart already understood. He smiled at her words finding that this was even better than marriage and he nodded. 'Promise?' he asked in shy tones before her impish grin distracted him as well as the kiss that followed.

'I promise, if you promise too!' Dormé replied. She grinned impishly before leaning in and giving him a kiss, for the first time on the lips.

He blushed a bright red to her kiss but soon his courage returned and soon he was stealing a kiss from her lips in return. 'Best friends for always!' he said gently before snickering as he then poked her shoulder. 'And now its your turn to find me!' Anakin cheered before taking off to find the perfect hiding place.

They played and chased around outdoors until Ama ordered them back inside.

That night, they built a tent to sleep in and Dormé knew Anakin was sleepy before he even yawned. But she didn't think anything of it as she too was very sleepy. It wasn't long before she fell asleep too, clutching her best friend tightly.

Anakin smiled at Dormé's statement and nodded before stealing a quick kiss in turn. He was so certain they would be best friends forever that he soon forgot about his impromptu proposal.

That night as they clambered into their tent Anakin couldn't help but pull Dormé into another tight embrace. Despite the her sorrow of before and his wounds Anakin thought this had to have been the perfect day. He could feel her sleepiness and realized it mirrored his own exhaustion but didn't find it unusual as in his mind everyone could feel such things.

Holding her tightly as he always did he closed his eyes about to drift to sleep when he realised he hadn't said good-night to Dormé. Not realizing his actions he murmured into her thoughts believing in his sleepy state that he was speaking the words outloud.

Good-night bestest friend Dormé! I see you in the morning!

Although Dormé heard him in her head, she was too sleepy to register that this was not a normal thing. However, Shmi was quick to pick up on this new connection between her son and adopted daughter. She knew her son's growing abilities were special, just like his father's, and that they must not tell anyone about it.

And you can hear me too so we can have lots of secrets! Dormé was saying cheerfully at breakfast.

Dormé found that she could also feel what he was feeling when she tickled him and this made her laugh joyously.

Anakin beamed and was most pleased to learn that his best friend could thought speak as he could. He smiled to her words as they ate breakfast feeling her joy and relishing it as it mirrored his own.

We can talk all the time now, whenever we want too! Even the teacher won't know! he announced happily remembering that they would soon have to be beginning their basic studies. Anakin hated classes but didn't mind them so much when Dormé was near. She always helped him even though he was older than her and in truth he learnt more from her than he ever did with his teachers.

You mean so you can get all the answers from me! she said, poking out her tongue.

Anakin poked his tongue out back in reply and snickered. He hadn't considered that idea before but now that she mentioned it Anakin decided he would certainly have to give it a try.

'Ani, Dormé,' Shmi began carefully. 'I know about your new gifts and I want to make sure that you keep it a secret. You mustn't let anyone know about it!'

'It's OK, Ama, we won't tell. It's our special secret!' Dormé replied cheerfully, slinging an arm around Anakin's shoulders.

Ama spoke to them of their secret and Anakin nodded in agreement with Dormé as he gave her a proud smile. 'Don't worry, Ama, no one will eve know! Me and Dormee are good with secrets right Dormee?' he asked proudly as he pulled her into a tight embrace.

Dormé had never been so happy in her life, but she was young and didn't appreciate this happiness as she ought to have. She had no idea that she would not be this happy for a very long time.

In less than a year, Jedi came to take Anakin to Coruscant with them. Dormé didn't know who these people were or why they would want to take her best friend. 'Can't I go too? Please?' Dormé begged, but all she got were stern shakes of the head.

Ama argued and cursed at the Jedi, but it was to no avail. 'You murdered my husband! You took my eldest son now my little Ani! You are monsters!'

Through her own tears, Dormé's heart was breaking two-fold, for their ama who had suffered this fate once already, and for Anakin because she hated seeing him upset. She remembered back when they were only babies, when he was ill and she caught his illness too and they just held each other and cried until Ama made it better. She mimicked this now in the desperation of her embrace.

The argument did not last long as the taller Jedi used a mindtrick on Shmi and the others pried the younglings from each other, as difficult as the task was.

There was a small earthquake under their home at the moment they were successfully wrenched apart.

Dormé tried to go after them, but the Jedi were too fast and she couldn't keep up. 'NO! NO! ANAKIN! COME BACK! COME BACK!' Dormé wailed, her whole body wrenched with sobs.

She didn't speak a word outside of his name for days.

But time moved on and with the support of Ama, Dormé too was able to learn how to move on. She wouldn't, however, forget her best friend, nor lose hope that she would find him again someday.

A/N: Coming up - 'Why are you here Anakin? What is it that motivates you onwards?'

'Vengeance.'

'Good. Hold onto it and keep it close to you. It will stop you from faltering when the time comes for you to do what you must do,' Palpatine replied smoothly.