Chapter Text
Goshdarn, it's hot, Owen Lars thought. He had forgotten just how different the twin Suns of Tatooine felt compared to the relatively cool Coruscant. And even when the city planet had been warm in the middle of the summer season, basically every building had decent air-conditioning. There were benefits to living in the centre of the civilised galaxy.
Owen had been travelling around the outer rim now for about a year with his adopted son, but he had grown tired of the nomadic lifestyle. Finally, he had decided to settle down in the most remote, yet familiar place he knew. He understood Tatooine. His grandparents had been moisture farmers, and when he would visit them, he always been struck by the isolation - people really didn't tend to go to the desert unless they absolutely had to. So though both his grandparents and parents were long gone, he had decided that this was the perfect place to hide away from the galaxy, and to start life anew. It was for this reason that he was standing by an old moisture farm on the edge of the Jundland Wastes, waiting for the estate agent to come and show him around.
As he waited, holding his excitable child in one arm, he held up a holo-vid of the news in his free hand. Dreaming of hearing any news about Queen Amidala's existence, he had checked the holo-net as often as he could. Any time Naboo was mentioned, or King Bail Organa, he would begin to shake involuntarily, and pray under his breath that Padme's face would appear on the screen, healthy, happy and smiling. And most importantly; safe.
He knew deep down that she must be dead, but that didn't kill that small bit of hope that lingered at the back of his mind that she could be alive and well, and he could reunite her with her beautiful boy. Still though, after Naboo was turned to a dead planet of ash from that natural disaster a few months ago, he had secretly thought that perhaps it was a good thing she never saw the devastation that had occurred on her home planet.
Finally, in the distance, he saw what looked like a small sandstorm getting closer, but Owen knew it was likely to be the landspeeder of the estate agent. He was correct, and the speeder slowed down as it got closer so as not to kick up too much sand, then stopped, and out got a young woman who smiled brightly at Owen.
"Sorry to keep you!" she said, apologising enthusiastically. "I totally forgot to get fuel so I had to make a quick stop. The Chott Flats are relatively safe, but you don't want to be stuck out in this heat, you know? My name's Beru, and I’ll be your estate agent!"
"Nice ta meet ya, Beru! I'm Owen. Ah, I'm from Tatooine originally, so I'm well aware about the salt flats," Owen said with a polite chuckle.
"Oh! Well, then. You were from Mos Eisley?"
"Mos Espa, actually, though I would visit near here occasionally.”
"Ah, nice. I've actually got family from Mos Espa. Shall I take you around the farm?"
Beru lead Owen around the place, pointing out features as she went. The farm was basic; sixty-three moisture vaporators spread around a large area, miles and miles from the next closest farmhouse. Accessible via a pourstone entry dome, the actual homestead was underground, with a central open-air crater linking all the rooms which acted like a makeshift quad.
"Your son is very sweet," Beru said smiling at the waving young boy as she led Owen from one bedroom to another.
"Ah, he can be, when he's not too hungry," Owen said with a laugh. The boy smiled widely at Beru and giggled a bit. "His name is Luke."
Though Luke wasn't Owen's biological son - and was thrust upon him by fate – Owen still truly loved him with all his heart. And it must have showed in his smile when he looked at Luke as he carried him around the homestead, bouncing him gently in his arms.
"He's very lucky to have such a loving father," Beru said genuinely.
A pang of sadness struck Owen's chest at this, but he nodded politely at the estate agent. He may not be Luke's real father, and he wished things could be different for the child, but he promised to show Luke all the love and care in the universe that he deserves in the absence of his real parents.
"Well... I think that just about does it!" Beru said, glancing around once more to see if anything else sprung to mind. "Is there anything else you'd like to know?"
"Yeah, actually. Is there anywhere around here ta get a drink and a bite ta eat? I fear the little one's about ta have a meltdown soon, and I like ta have his mouth full of food ta help muffle the resulting tantrum if I can help it," Owen said with a cheeky smile.
"Well, Anchorhead's not too far from here. It’s a little town, but it’s got a few places to eat. Though actually, I'm heading to Tosche Station which is just outside of Anchorhead next. It's a mechanic's that sell bits and pieces, you know, but they also have a makeshift sort of cafe... it's real nice, I swear! Kind of a sports-bar vibe, and they show podracing on the screens, and some of the classic races too! I could drive you there on my speeder and maybe we could all have lunch together? If you’re not too busy, of course?"
“Well,” Owen said turning to Luke, “that all depends on the little one. What do ya think, Luke? Shall we have lunch with the nice lady?”
Luke giggled and put his face into Owen’s shoulder, snuggling closer to him.
"I think that’s as close ta a ‘yes’ as we’ll ever get,” Owen laughed. “Beru, we would be delighted ta have lunch with ya.”