Work Text:
C-3PO sighed when his knee got stuck once more. It had been acting up since he had been on Tatooine and their stay in Hoth had not helped it at all. He would have glared at Artoo when he laughed at his current state if he wasn’t locked in place.
“It is not funny, Artoo. You know how sand affects my joints!” He said, earning another amused beep in response. “Why don’t you make yourself useful and alert Master Luke of my predicament?”
Artoo laughed again before rolling away, hopefully to go search for Master Luke. C-3PO cursed his luck, of all the places he could have gotten stuck in, it had to be the emptiest hall in the base. He was glad that he hadn’t been walking alone or Maker knew how along he would have been waiting for someone to notice his absence, in his experience, it could take a very long time. He was aware some people found his personality program… unpleasant and quite frankly, he didn’t really care. He was a protocol droid and therefore had been programmed to be like he was now. He didn’t remember his maker but he was sure there had been a good reason for their choice. And he was grateful his maker had put some protection over his main circuits to keep the sand off or else it wouldn’t have been just his knee that stopped functioning. Although better servos would have been appreciated, he knew better than to complain about his maker.
He was relieved when he heard Artoo rolling back to him, footsteps following.
“Oh, thanks the Maker, Artoo! What took you so long?” He said, still unable to turn around. Artois beeped an answer. “Oh, sure. Make excuses, it’s not like I’m stuck here until Master Luke-“
“Hey, Goldenrod.” Captain Solo said. “How about you stop complaining for like two seconds and stop being so dramatic.”
“Han??” C-3PO asked in outrage. “Artoo, I asked you to get Master Luke, not Han.” Artoo beeped defensively. “I get that you couldn’t find Master Luke but did you have to bring… Captain Solo?” He said, more resigned than annoyed as Han came into view.
“Trust me, I don’t want to be here either but your friend was pretty insistent.” Han huffed. “Now, if you promise to stay quiet, I’ll take you to Luke.” He was about to answer but he raised a finger, indicating he wished for him to remain silent in a very rude way. “Quiet all the trip to wherever Luke is. If you so much as utter a word I’ll drop you.”
C-3PO pondered his options. “Very well, I’ll remain quiet.” He sighed in defeat.
Han grunted an affirmative and hauled him over his shoulder. “Gah, what are you made of? You’re so heavy.” C-3PO held back the explanation, remembering the conditions of their deal. “Well, would you look at that? You can stay quiet!”
He held back plenty of reports as he was carried across the base in search of Master Luke. He also held back many complaints about how humiliating it was, Artoo laughing and making “funny” remarks about his situation. Han’s terrible mood did not help at all.
“What do you think you’re doing with my droid?” Mistress Leia’s voice saved him from his misery.
“Oh, I’m keeping him for his sparkling personality.” Han told a clear lie. “I’m taking him to Luke, Princess.”
“And why are you taking him to Luke?” Mistress Leia asked, crossing her arms.
Han made an exasperated noise. “He can’t walk, the little guy asked for help and I’m helping.”
“Are you ok, Threepio?” Mistress Leia, sounding slightly worried.
“He’s fine, he’s just being dramatic.” Han answered for him. “He’s really heavy so if you'd let us continue…”
“First of all, I was asking Threepio not you.” Mistress Leia said firmly. “And secondly, Luke is in the hangar, which is in the opposite direction.”
Han shifted the weight from one foot to another and groaned. “Well, I can’t exactly know where he is at any given time!” He turned around and began walking to the correct location. “How’d you know, anyway?”
Mistress Leia simply shrugged. “It’s better I follow you, lest you do something to my droid.”
Han let out a fake offended gasp. “I would never do anything to Goldenrod over here! I love him!”
Mistress Leia snorted. “Yeah, for sure.”
~*~
“Hey, kid!” Han said as he entered the hangar.
“Han!” Luke greeted, coming out from underneath an X-Wing.
“Your droid got busted.” He said, putting down Threepio, who struggled not to fall off.
“Our droid.” Leia complained.
Luke walked towards Threepio. “Oh, no. Threepio, is everything alright?”
“Oh, yes, Master Luke. It’s a minor inconvenience, really.” Threepio said. Luke was slightly surprised that he wasn’t making a bigger deal out of it. “One of my knees’ joints has been giving me trouble for some time now and it finally locked up.”
Leia looked at him in surprise, indicating that she probably hadn’t known either.
“Well, why didn’t you say something earlier?” Luke asked, patting his back. “Sit down and I’ll get you fixed up.” Threepio stared at him for a long moment. “What is it?”
“Master Luke…” Threepio said, gesturing to himself as Artoo beeped in amusement.
“Kid, he can’t sit down.” Han said, letting out a pull fly disguised laugh.
Luke cleared his throat. “Right, I knew that. Help me sit him, Han.”
With a little help from Leia, they managed to bend Threepio’s knee so that he could sit with only a few high pitched complaints from him. Luke grabbed his tools and knelt in front of the protocol droid.
“Oh, I see the problem. The sand has melted into some of the cogs in the mechanism in your knee.” Luke explained. “I just need to disassemble your leg briefly to fix it, I won’t take long.”
“Oh, thanks The Maker, Master Luke.” Threepio said in relief. “I was worried you'd have to change the entire joint.” Artoo beeped. “Oh, shut up.”
Luke laughed at the two droids’ interaction. “Leia, could you pass me the sonic screwdriver with inverted power from over there?”
Leia looked around and then back at Luke. “Luke, I’m not a mechanic. I have no idea what the kriff you’re talking about.”
Han smirked. “It’s this one, Princess.” He said, handing Luke the tool. Leia shot him a glare.
“Actually, this one is a regular sonic screwdriver, I need the other one.” Luke said, focused on Threepio’s knee.
Leia snorted and passed him the correct one. “Awesome work, Captain.”
Han grumbled and looked away, annoyed, only making Leia snort again. Luke hid a smile by turning around to work on Threepio’s knee.
Leia knelt beside him, watching as he worked. “So, what are you doing now?”
Luke beamed at her. “Oh, I’m removing the outer casing to access the inner mechanisms of his knee.”
Leia nodded and stayed silent for a while. “Hey, teach me how to do whatever it is you have to do.”
Luke looked at her in surprise. “You want to learn? Why?”
Leia looked at him. “Well, Threepio is still technically my droid-” she shot a nasty look at Han who rolled his eyes, “-and I would like to know how to repair him if I need to.”
“Oh, Mistress Leia, that is very kind of you.” Threepio said in what he would describe as a cheerful tone.
“Sure, I’ll teach you.” Luke said with a smile and Leia smiled back. He heard Han grumble in the back but he paid him no mind. “Ok, so first you have to hold this close to the outer casing but not close enough to melt it.”
He explained the whole process to Leia, who listened attentively, nodding her head and asking questions to clarify things. Han occasionally joined in, explaining unpromptedly how that reminded him of repairing certain parts of his ship. As he was ending, they were explaining advanced mechanics to Leia, who was doing her best to understand what they were saying. When something got too complicated, Threepio explained it to her surprisingly well.
“I didn’t know you knew about mechanics, Threepio.” Luke commented after Threepio explained another complicated mechanical term to Leia.
Threepio turned to look at him, his eyelights flaring as if he was blinking. “I don’t know about mechanics.”
Luke looked at Leia and Han, who seemed to be equally confused. “But how were you explaining all of that if you don’t know about mechanics?”
Threepio didn’t answer at first, his eyelights flaring several times. “Well, as a protocol, it is the main objective of my programming to know as many things as I can.” He said and to Luke it sounded unconvincing even though his tone barely changed.
Leia looked worried. “Isn’t it weird that he doesn’t remember?” She whispered to him.
“Maybe you should check his memory banks, just in case.” Han suggested and they looked at him in surprise. “What? It’s the obvious thing to do.”
“It would be more on brand for you to suggest we scrapped him.” Leia teased.
Luke tried to stifle his snort and was unsuccessful. “She’s got a point.”
Han crossed his arms and looked away. “Yeah, well. It’s your droid. Wouldn't want it to short circuit or anything.”
“Excuse me but I’ll have you know my circuits and in perfect shape.” Threepio said, offended. “They have been carefully manufactured and would short circuit as you have suggested.”
“Still,” Luke said before Han and Threepio could start a quarrel. “It wouldn't do any damage to check them.”
Threepio sighed in defeat. “Very well. I suppose I’m due for a checkup either way.”
“Alright. Leia, if you want to see...” Luke said, positioning himself behind Threepio and prying his head’s back panel open.
Leia and Han soon followed and Artoo rolled over them and watched with what appeared to be interest. Luke grabbed the datapad used for repairs and plugged it to Threepio. He began a scan of his memory bank and waited for the results in silence.
“Do you see anything?” Leia asked, peaking over his shoulder.
“I’ve just started it.” Luke said and pushed Han’s head away.
“Hey!” Hand complained.
“Shush! It’s finishing.” Luke shushed him as the datapad beeped, indicating the end of the diagnosis. “Huh.”
“Huh what?” Leia asked, trying to get a better look at the datapad.
“It seems like Threepio’s memory has been partially wiped.” Luke said, blinking in surprise.
“Wiped?” Threepio and Leia said at the same time.
“I didn’t know that.” Leia frowned.
“Did you not do it, then?” Hand asked.
“Well, of course not! I haven’t always had him, you know?” Leia crossed her arms.
“But I thought him and Artoo were originally yours?” Artoo beeped. “Oh, so they were given to you a few months before we met.”
“Yes. They belonged to Captain Antilles for a while.” Leia explained.
“Maybe he did it.” Han suggested.
“Perhaps.” Luke agreed. “But it seems he has been programmed so that a full wipe can’t be performed on him. The memory that was wiped is still stored in his data bank, just inaccessible. I don’t think whoever made Threepio wanted his memory deleted.”
“Would that mean…” Leia trailed off. “Do you think he has important information and someone tried to delete it?”
“Could be.” Luke shrugged.
“Or maybe they just thought he was annoying.” Leia glared at Han. “Ok, force. Relax, I was just joking.”
“Could you restore his memory?” Leia suddenly asked.
“Yeah.” Luke said. Leia stared at him, eyebrow raised expectantly. “Oh, do you want me to?”
“Yes, Luke.” She looked at Threepio. “Well, that is, if it’s alright with you, Threepio.”
Threepio hesitated, his hands twitching almost imperceptibly. “Of course, Mistress Leia. I’d like to know who deleted my memory bank. Doing that without my consent feels… invasive.”
“What if you gave your consent, but you forgot about it?” Han raised an eyebrow.
Threepio looked scandalized. “I would never consent to getting my memory wiped! Memory is very important for droids, it’s all we own.”
Han nodded, impressed. “Never thought you droids thought about that sort of stuff.”
“We don’t.” Threepio said, eyelights blinking.
Han huffed in exasperation.
“So, do you want me to restore your memory?” Luke asked.
“If you don’t mind, Master Luke.”
“Leia?” She nodded in confirmation. “Very well, it won’t take long.” Luke tinkered with Threepio’s circuits and then tapped something into the data pad. “Alright, I’ll do it at the count of three.”
Artoo beeped, bumping into Threepio's leg. The beep sounded strangely sad.
“Of course I’m sure I want it restored, Artoo. Wouldn’t you?” R2 beeped a sad affirmative and backed away.
“Here we go.” Luke said, ignoring Artoo’s odd mood. “One… two…”
“Three.”
There was a soft electrical zap and Threepio’s head fell forward, eyelights gone.
“Huh?” Luke said, dumbfounded.
“What do you mean huh? What did you do??” Leia demanded, leaning in front of Threepio’s face.
“I didn’t do anything! I just restored his memory, he wasn’t supposed to shut down!” Luke raised his hands placatingly. Artoo rolled forward and whistled. “Normal? You were there when his memory was erased?”
“What??” Leia and Han said at the same time.
“Why didn’t you say anything??” Leia frowned.
Artoo beeped sadly. “He says he wasn’t allowed to tell us.”
“Hey, look.” Han said. “I think he’s turning back on. Your droid’s alright.” He said, laying a comforting hand of Leia’s shoulder.
Just as Han said, Threepio raised his head, eyelights blinking on.
“Threepio, are you alright?” Leia asked, voice laced with worry.
“Oh dear.” He whispered. He sounded too emotional for a droid, like he was choked up. “Maker no.”
Leia looked at Luke in a panic. “Threepio, are you alright?”
Threepio’s head shot up, eyelights looking straight into Leia’s eyes. She was startled by the sudden movement and almost fell backwards from her crouch.
“Leia.” He said, calling her just for her name which was a rarity. “Oh, Leia.” He raised his hand and the cool metal touched her cheek. “You look just like your mother.”
Leia’s eyes widened. “My mother? You knew my mother??”
Threepio let out a joyless laugh. “Of course I knew her. I served under her during the Clone Wars.” His eyelights flared.
“The Clone Wars?” She asked, holding Threepio’s hand. “She fought in the Clone Wars.”
“She wasn’t supposed to but she did always find herself in active war zones.” He said and looked away from Leia, looking like he was lost in memory.
“My father fought in the Clone Wars, do you think they knew each other?” Luke asked.
Threepio abruptly turned around and it was Luke’s turn to startle. It was weird but despite being unable to change his expression, Threepio looked sad.
“You don’t know.” He whispered and glanced at Artoo, who turned away from him. The same sort of nostalgia that had overtaken him when he looked at Leia came back again. “Oh, Luke.” He whispered, dropping the Master he always used when talking to him. He said it so fondly that it startled Luke. “You look just like your grandmother.”
“Wait? You knew his grandmother as well??” Han asked in shock.
“How is that possible?“ Leia whispered, looking at Luke.
“I-I don’t know.” He whispered back and looked at Threepio.
“How could they hide this from you?” He said but it was more for himself than for them.
“Hide what from us?” Luke said, exchanging a Luke with Leia.
Threepio made a weird sound, like he was taking a deep breath. “Your father is my creator. Master Ani.” He looked down at his golden hands.
“What?” Luke almost screamed. “He was? But how come Leia had you??”
Threepio looked up at him and then glanced at Artoo. “Oh well, I was a wedding gift to your mother.” They could hear the smile in his voice. “Artoo was too, for your father instead.”
Leia looked at Luke with a frown. “Wait. For my mother or his?”
Threepio seemed sad again. “Leia, Luke.” He said, looking at each of them respectively. “You’re parents… You’re twins.” Leia’s breath caught in her throat and Luke stiffened. “I lived with Mistress Shmi for ten years before your father came back. Then I was gifted to her wife and Artoo to him.”
Leia and Luke looked at each other and the word twins formed in their mouths.
“Wow.” Han said, sounding as surprised as them. “Uhm, that’s a lot.”
“Wait. But my Uncle- Why didn’t they recognize you?” Luke said in a whisper.
Threepio did something similar to a shrug. “I suppose to keep you safe. They were good people and they did a wonderful job raising you. Your mother would be very happy to know who raised you both.”
Leia could feel her eyes burning. “Who was our mother?”
“Padmé Naberrie.”
Leia gasped. “Do you mean Padmé Amidala?? Senator Amidala from Naboo??”
“Yes. But Amidala was a fake name to keep her loved ones safe, she always preferred Naberrie.” He looked away. “Although no one ever did call her that.”
Luke was still looking at Leia. “Twins.” He murmured. A smile slowly crept into his face. “Leia. We’re twins.” He whispered, this time in awe.
Leia looked up at him and smiled. “Yeah.”
Luke didn’t hesitate, just stood up and wrapped her in a hug. “I can’t believe it.”
Leia hugged him just as fiercely. “I could feel it, deep down.”
“Yeah right.” Han snorted but when Leia looked up he had a pleasant smile on his face so she didn’t say anything.
“I can’t believe our mom was Padmé Amidala.” Leia said, still hugging Luke. “She was the coolest person ever.”
Luke snorted. “I take it you’re a fan?”
“The biggest fan.” She said, looking him dead in the eye.
“Uhm, your droid is leaving.” Han said.
Leia and Luke looked just in time to see Threepio exit the hangar, followed by Artoo. By the time they went after them, they had already disappeared.
“Well.” Han said, leaning on Luke. “He really is related to you two.”
~*~
Being outside the base was extremely unpleasant and could be dangerous for the both of them but it was the only way to talk in private. Artoo risked a glance at Threepio and was relieved to see him looking away, into the horizon.
He knew they had to talk but he also had no wish to start the conversation so he stayed quiet, looking at Hoth’s frozen landscape with his oldest friend.
Threepio finally sighed. “You knew.” It wasn't a question and Artoo didn't try to deny the statement. He didn’t look at him and Artoo would have preferred he had. “Why did you let them? Why didn’t you say anything, after all this time? It’s been twenty years, Artoo.”
Artoo kept looking at the horizon, fearing he’d meet Threepio’s eyelights if he looked. Threepio’s normally emotional voice was uncannily neutral, like droids were supposed to have and he didn’t like it. He’d always liked how easy to read he had been, a stark contrast to most humans. But now he didn’t know what he was feeling. He knew he was most likely angry but that was it.
He took his time to answer the question because he was not sure what the correct answer was. Did he do it because they told him to? He was a droid, so it should be true but he had never been particularly obedient and he could have easily disobeyed, it wouldn’t have been the first time. Just another thing he had shared with Anakin, like their recklessness and great plans.
No, that wasn’t the correct answer. The other answer could be that he had just felt like it. He wanted to mess with him, wouldn’t leaving his best friend in the dark be a great prank? Maybe Threepio could have believed it but Artoo didn’t. It didn’t matter how much he liked teasing his friend because he would never use his memory as a prank. Memory was important to droids, although not a lot of sentients knew. It was the only thing they had, it made them be who they were. Despite what most sentients thought, their experiences shaped their personality almost as much as the initial programming did. It was a thing that could easily be taken away and it was a sensible subject among droids.
He would never let Threepio’s memory be deleted as a prank. The answer was complicated and something he had not even pondered when he had heard Bail Organa give the order. Threepio was understandably upset, he had no doubt he would have done everything in his power to avoid his memory from getting erased had the rolls been switched. The least thing he could do was tell him the truth.
“Protect me?” Threepio didn't scoff but it was close. “From what, Artoo? From the truth? He was my creator, all I had left from Shmi. What he did was not the worst thing I have seen, I could have dealt with it like I dealt with Shmi’s death.”
That was true and Artoo knew it; despite how often Threepio complained about dangerous situations he ended up in and how anxious he was in them, he always overcame it. Complaining was like his coping mechanism, he whined for a while and then he was fine, ready to continue with his duties.
But Threepio didn’t know what it had been like, to live all those years knowing what had truly happened. He had lived in blissful ignorance, never knowing what had happened to Padmé or what Anakin had done. And that had been just what he had wanted, he had wanted him to live without knowing all the terrible things they had been unable to stop. He knew he wouldn’t be able to have that but at least Threepio could. Bail had thought he wouldn't be able to keep a secret because of how much he talked (the fact that Threepio had immediately revealed everything didn’t precisely help to prove that wrong) but Threepio knew how to keep a secret. He had kept Anakin and Padmé’s marriage a secret, arguably better than they had. Threepio could keep a secret and if he had revealed the truth to the twins it was because he had considered it appropriate to do so. He also thought it wrong to keep the truth from them now that the only people that knew the truth were gone but he hadn’t dared to tell them, once again because of the same reason he had let Threepio’s memory be erased.
“Artoo.” Threepio said and he was surprised by how softly he said it. “I appreciate that, I really do. But as painful as it is to remember everything… I’m happier now that I remember. It’s as if I had regained an important piece of myself I always missed but didn’t know what exactly it was.”
Artoo was relieved to hear regaining his memories hadn’t made him more miserable. But still, if they encountered Darth Vader again, Threepio would know who was behind the mask and how far gone.
“Gone? Oh, Artoo.” Threepio laughed like he had been told a particular bad joke. “I can’t believe you’ve forgotten! Wasn't I supposed to be the one with memory loss?” He didn’t particularly like the jokes about the memory erasure so soon. “Don’t you remember what Mistress Padmé said?”
On cue, a holoprojection of Padmé appeared against the white snow of Hoth. It was the recording of her last moments.
“There is still good in him…” she rasped out as life slowly left her eyes.
Artoo looked away as the image fizzled away.
“Master Ani is still there, somewhere behind that awful mask.” Threepio said, sounding strangely joyful. “I’m sure we can bring him back, he just needs to remember who Anakin Skywalker really was.”
Artoo doubted it, he knew what Anakin had done, all of it. Much more than Threepio. But it was strange to be the pessimist while Threepio remained chaotically hopeful, normally it was the other way around.
“We’ll find him and bring him back, Artoo.” He said with confidence. “I don’t know how but I’m sure we can do it. Especially with Leia and Luke’s help.”
He found Threepio’s optimism to be endearing; he wouldn’t mind seeing that side of him more often.
“Oh well, it’s easy to be optimistic about something you’re sure it’s true.” Threepio waved a hand dismissively. “I don’t think I can do it with other situations.”
It was funny, really; how he could have confidence that a Sith Lord could change his ways after twenty years but each time they were in a space battle he panicked.
“How could I not?? Space battles are terrifying!” Threepio said, voice high pitched.
Artoo allowed himself a laugh and returned his gaze at the horizon. When they had exited the base, it was still dark. But now, the sun was beginning to peak from behind the frozen mountains. As the light hit their light receptors he wondered for the first time if it was truly possible to bring back Anakin. He had thought it wasn’t for the longest of time but Threepio seemed sure. Was he sure?
“Of course I’m certain, Artoo.” Threepio said. “And even if it’s not… I owe it to Shmi and Padmé to at least try.”
They stayed quiet after that, watching the sunset. Artoo looked at the light hitting Threepio’s outer casing, casting a gold gleam around him like he was the sun. He remembered something, a memory long buried in his databank. A sentence heard from a distance as he rolled after Master Qui Gon to get parts to repair the Naboo ship they had been traveling in. “Are you an Angel?” Anakin had asked Padmé. He allowed the memory to stay for a while in the forefront of his processors. It had been a long time since he had remembered something so innocent about Anakin. It was one of his earliest memories of him, before he knew him as the awkward Padawan, as the brave Jedi Knight or as the angry man that had turned into Darth Vader. A young slave that met a young girl and saw something special in her, and she in him. He was surprised to find that he couldn’t relate that to any bad memories, he hadn’t thought he would ever be able to think of Anakin without also thinking of Darth Vader. But he didn’t see Darth Vader in that memory.
“Oh, yes. You barely met him when he was a slave.” Threepio said and if he could, Artoo knew he’d be smiling. “He was the most generous, kind hearted and clever young boy in all of Mos Espa. Everyone was delighted with him, at least that was what Shmi always told me.” He remained quiet for a moment, staring at the rising sun. “Would you like to see more of him? Of little Ani?.
Artoo thought of the kid that had offered to help complete strangers just because he knew he could do it. He would have loved to have more time with that kid.
“This one is rather funny.” Threepio said, sounding a little embarrassed. “When Ani hadn’t programmed me yet, his friend Kitster reminded him that if Watto found out he had built a protocol droid, he might want to take it from him. He came up with… a creative solution.”
Another projection came to life, showing Ani tinkering with something in his room. He looked smaller than when he had first met him but he still looked too thin. Shmi’s voice came from somewhere, muffled. He couldn’t hear what she had said but Ani quickly stood up and walked to be right next to what he Threepio, if the legs he could see where any indication.
Shmi came into view, followed by Watto. She looked anxious and sent an apologetic look at her son.
“So, boy.” Watto spoke. “I hear you’re building a protocol droid.”
“Yes, master.” Ani said, perfectly calm. It was weird hearing him like that. It felt wrong.
“Mmm. You know, I could use a protocol droid.” He smiled and Shmi looked sad behind him. “Show me what he can do, boy.”
Anakin nodded and turned to look towards Threepio. Watto couldn’t see it because Anakin’s back was facing him but he had a huge grin on his face. Despite it, he spoke in an even, respectful tone. “C-3PO, why don’t you tell Mister Watto all about what you can do.”
Just as Artoo had been thinking, Threepio began talking nonstop. He explained how many languages he knew and Watto looked extremely impressed and pleased. But as it usually happened with Threepio, he began to ramble and talk about things that were barely related to the initial topic. Artoo saw as Watto’s facial expression gradually turned from pleased to bored and then into annoyance.
“ALRIGHT, FINE. I GET IT.” He screamed and the recording flickered and Artoo couldn’t help but think Threepio had flinched in the memory. He really didn’t like Watto. “Just shut up already.”
“Of course, Master Watto.” The Threepio from the recording said in a polite tone.
“Will you take him, Mister Watto?” Anakin asked with an innocent, slightly worried voice.
“Augh.” Watto shivered. “I don’t think I need a protocol droid after all. You can keep it, kid.” He grumbled something that the recording didn’t catch and exited the room.
Shmi waited a few seconds before turning to look at her son with a smile. Artoo couldn’t help but think how right Threepio had been when comparing Luke to her, they shared the same smile.
“Ani, you are the cleverest of boys.” She said, pressing a kiss to his head and looking fondly at Threepio.
“Whatever do you mean, mom?” Anakin said with an innocent smile that didn’t fool anyone that truly knew him. “I just programmed Threepio to be the coolest droid ever. It’s not my fault Watto doesn't have good taste in droids.”
She ruffled his hair and he squeaked, still smiling. “You are a rascal.”
He looked sweetly at her. “I’m your rascal.”
She laughed. “Of course you are, Ani. You’re all mine.”
“And Threepio is ours too!” He said, and disappeared from view, most likely to hig Threepio. “Isn’t that right, mom?”
She smiled at Threepio. “Of course he is.” Pressing her forehead against Threepio’s she said: “Welcome to our little family, Threepio.”
The recording fizzled out and Artoo looked at Threepio. He was looking at the place where Shmi had been just a second ago and for some strange reason, Artoo had been expecting to see tears in his eyelights.
It was a sweet memory. A testament to the kindness of the Skywalker family, a trait that Luke and Leia also had.
“They really were the kindest.” Threepio agreed and looked at him. “I refuse to believe that part of Ani is gone.”
Artoo looked back at the place where Shmi had been and couldn’t help but agree. It didn’t seem possible to think that kindness had disappeared completely. Even during the Clone Wars, when Anakin’s darkest side had shown most often before he turned to the dark side, his kindness was something everyone saw in him. He remembered how fondly Captain Rex had looked at Anakin, how willing to follow and cover for him he had been. He thought back to Ahsoka leaning against his side after a tough battle and him whispering kind words of reassurance to her. And even with Obi-Wan, with whom he bickered almost constantly. Anakin had always worried for him and fought to keep him safe. And how he had greeted Padmé, lifting her into the air and spinning her around as they laughed. He remembered how happy they both had been the day of their wedding.
And he would never forget his own friendship with him, how he always had gone back for him even when people had told him he was just a droid. Or how patient he was with Threepio’s rants and rambles, usually just smiling at him and laughing at his constant complaints, maybe rolling his eyes affectionately from time to time.
He understood Threepio’s optimism. How could they have thought he was gone forever? Someone like that couldn’t just banish in a few days. Somewhere deep down, Darth Vader had buried Anakin Skywalker and they would dig him out. He had no doubt.