Ushni Fisto's son is a powerful child.
She knows this before anyone else.
Of course she does.
Her brother was the same way after all.
Her little one has power.
Kit, her happy little baby who loves to swim and explore and get into everything.
Kit, her cheerful little son who moves things without touching them and climbs far too high to possibly be safe.
She watches as he proudly shows her the treat she knows she placed far out of reach and throws his toys much harder than he should be able to and she knows.
She knows she has a decision to make.
She has longer to make it than some but it is a choice she must make.
There is nothing to stop her from keeping him, her precious little baby but… is it right? To keep her little one for no reason other than her own comfort?
The stars call to him, she can see it.
He is meant for something else.
She could send him to his uncle but… something tells her not to.
The Jedi will make their inquiries, as they did with her parents when she was but a child herself, and she will ask them many questions.
In the meantime, she will do her best to convince Kit to stop denting the walls.
-
Miz Gallia’s daughter is a blessing.
Adi is nothing short of amazing.
She smiles and it feels as if his entire world lights up for a moment.
She is different and no less loved for it.
Miz has not met many Jedi, though not for lack of ability.
He is not familiar with the Force, as they call it, but he is not an unobservant parent.
Adi is a smart child but she is not that smart.
Intelligence does not leave a child crying out from a parent's stress.
Cleverness does not give a child nightmares so vivid and strange they seem to tell the future.
The Jedi will come knocking soon enough.
He could say no, send them away but… Adi deserves so much more than he could ever give her.
Miz has money, he has power, access to so much.
Adi is so kind, so warm. She could do things he can only imagine if given the opportunity.
Perhaps he is nothing but a foolish parent, believing her capable of anything.
Miz doesn’t think so and truly, even if she isn’t, she deserves the joy of people who understand.
Miz loves her more than anything. He loves her enough that when she beams at the Jedi who comes to the door, pure joy and awe in her expression, he knows he will let her go.
-
Shmi Skywalker’s son is a gift.
She does not know why or how he came to be.
It doesn’t matter.
He exists and that is all that matters to her.
She wishes he did not have to exist here, on Tatooine, knowing not a moment of freedom, but it is a waste to dwell on such things.
Shmi does not understand the mysteries of the universe, but she understands enough. She understands the danger that comes with power.
Anakin is not a strange child.
He is nothing but ordinary.
There is no power hidden under his skin.
There cannot be, for if it is known that there is, she cannot keep him safe from those who would covet it. She cannot keep him safe as it is.
She does her best for him.
She learns which tug on her skirts tells of a storm.
She learns which tug on her skirts tells of his boredom.
She learns and stumbles and tries as best she can.
She has no guide, only love and hope.
She can only teach him to be kind, to never harden his heart to those around him, to help people.
She can only do her best to hide the fact her child is more powerful than the people of this backwater planet could ever imagine.
-
Mira Bridger’s son deserves better than the struggles he is certain to face.
She takes Ezra to explore and toddle outside one morning and watches him stare mesmerized at a mangy Loth-cat. The Loth-cat does not run, does not hiss when he reaches out to pet it. It is as if they are both in a trance, staring into each other’s eyes. She doesn’t dare move and risk breaking whatever spell has come over them.
He lays a small hand on its head and whatever trance there was shatters in a thousand pieces.
The Loth-cat hisses and quick as a flash Mira grabs her baby before it can start attacking him.
Ezra cries, upset and confused.
Mira can only rock him back and forth.
The Jedi are gone.
Lothal is too far out to get many details but… Mira is not a stupid woman.
Her baby could have been one of them.
If he had been born just a few years earlier she would have had options, she could have sought help, even given him up.
She is viciously glad he was not.
There have been no rumors of small Jedi, no talk of what the Empire has done with them.
It is as if they never existed in the first place.
Mira can read between the lines.
Her baby will never be safe, not as long as the Empire reigns.
None of them will be.
She hugs her little one tighter and he pats her cheek and coos in comfort, his own fear long forgotten.
-
Bail Organa's daughter is the light to come out of the darkest times.
He walks into the Senate building, the same as he always has.
He smiles at the various Aides and Senators as he passes by, cordial if not friendly.
A few vague and non-incriminating anecdotes about his trip home at the ready.
His daughter’s been really interested in art lately, she’s very talented for her age! Would you like to see?
His wife, of course, just as beautiful as the day they met. Has Bail ever told you the story?
He does not look in the direction of the Imperial Palace.
He does not think he can stand it.
Leia is getting older.
She is asking questions she should not understand, remarking on things no one has told her about, identifying emotions well hidden with barely a thought.
She is a treasure.
A little spitfire with insight in spades.
He loves her.
He can’t wait to see her grow up.
He will never regret being her father.
He cannot help but mourn all that she has lost before she was even born, the things she doesn’t even know to miss, the people just like her he can never introduce her to.
The Imperial Palace mocks him.
He resolves to keep Leia as far from it as possible.
As far from the ancient home of those wonderful people now exterminated and forgotten as possible.
As far from the grief of lost choices and cruel betrayal as he can manage.