Chapter Text
It was eight years ever since he heard from Shmi, his beloved. He remembered how they parted ways so many years ago. She didn't like that he was a part of a gang, but when he was to join Blackwatch, she hugged him, and told him that she would always love him, no matter if they were stars apart.
She said her farewells, and left for Alderaan, and he didn't hear from her since. He missed her, and after leaving Blackwatch, he was looking for the way to contact her and learn how she was faring and if she needed his aid to rescue her.
Then, she managed to reach out to him, and tell him that they had a son named Anakin alongside her being free and married. He didn't mind that, and told her that he would look for Anakin and ensure his safety.
However, he was surprised to hear that Anakin was a part of the Jedi Order, as he left her behind, when he was nine, three years before the incident in Venice.
"I hope it's not some religious cult. You may never know," Jesse said.
"It's the order of the peacekeepers, and Anakin won't look back. I told him that, before he departed. I don't know how he fares, as the Jedi do not allow their members to contact their families. I only hope that he's alright."
Jesse left it at that, and was proud that his son was safe with the Order, and would move on with his life, while checking upon Shmi anytime he could.
Now, Jesse learned that the war erupted across the Galaxy, and the Jedi were involved in it. Anakin was a prominent Hero, as he was Hero With No Fear, and according to database searches.
And Shmi was dead as well, as he checked with the Lars family, and Cliegg told Jesse that Shmi died, and Anakin went after her. He returned with her body the next morning, and a funeral took place.
He pointed to the tombstone, and Jesse walked to it. He had his hat on his chest, as he closed his eyes.
"Shmi, I know that you are buried beneath the ground, but here I am. I left Blackwatch after the Venice incident, and things started to go wrong for us from that point on. Overwatch got disbanded, and that's when I started searching for you and got contacted by you.
"There is so much that I missed, didn't I? Yes, I missed a lot. At least I know what is going on, and I never imagined that we would have a son after that night before we parted ways.
"I'll find our son and save him from a war, that the Jedi should not be a part of. I know that I may invalidate your sacrifices, but I am not willing to lose the only thing left of you. It'll be an effort for me to find him, but I will. I love you, and I miss you, so much. I am so sorry," Jesse said, as he then put his hat back on, knelt before the grave and placed his hand onto the tombstone to whisper a farewell that she said to him years before, and was to leave Tatooine, before he was stopped by Cliegg.
"You at least can atone for your mistakes by finding Anakin. I am sure that is what Shmi would have wanted now. She spoke how happy she was with you, and how saddened she was to part ways, when you joined Blackwatch. She missed you, and I knew that you were in a rough position, but you did right. You had no idea what would happen next, and she loved not only me, but you as well until her last breath.
"Go, and make things right," Cliegg said with the encouragement, and Jesse smiled in the return, before he said his farewell, and departed Tatooine.
His search took him a few months, and he found his long-lost son in a midst of a battle between him and a man named Tofen Vane. Thanks to Shmi and Cliegg's descriptions of Anakin and also the news, finding Anakin was not that hard.
Jesse had to hide to listen to the conversation, and step in, when things got rough. And they took a grim turn, when the man with blond hair pointed the gun at Anakin's head. It was time to step in, Jesse thought.
"Listen, I have no idea what you mean here, but no one touches the last thing I have left of Shmi, and get away with it," Jesse growled, as he took out his gun and left his hiding spot.
"You have no idea what he did! The Jedi started this war, and he killed my father," Tofen exclaimed.
"I've been hearing this, and I think they were dragged into the war. Should had stayed out. Still, I am not letting my boy go through what I did after leaving Blackwatch," Jesse said.
"Only Palpatine would refer me as my boy," the young man, who was on the ground. It was Anakin, and he looked badly hurt.
"An old man? I don't think I am approving of that friendship anytime soon. I am taking you away from here, and away from this war. As for you," Jesse said, as he turned to Tofen. "I suggest that you rethink your heroism. You are an idiot for blaming an innocent person, and a group of people for something that they potentially did."
Jesse then lifted his son, who was still injured, and carried him away to the ship, while tending to the injuries.
Then he heard a ping, and saw that a communication like device on his newly found child's wrist. Anakin didn't hesitate and pressed it.
"Master, we noticed Tofen Vane's fighter leaving. Are you alright?" a young female voice asked.
"Ahsoka, I am afraid that there has been a complication to the mission, as someone rescued me," Anakin responded.
"Ahsoka, you say?" Jesse asked. "She has to follow us to meet up with us," he added.
"Who are you? And what have you done to my Master?"
"I am Jesse McCree, as for your mentor, he's taking a permanent time off from the war, that your Order should had not gotten itself involved in," Jesse responded.
"Permanent time off? What do you mean?"
"You will understand, in time. And so will he. Don't worry, I and my love will care of him," Jesse replied.
"Can I come with you?" Ahsoka asked.
Anakin chuckled. "If you wish, Snips. But hurry up. But be cautious. It could be a Separatist trap," he answered.
"I'm following the ship that you were just seen entering with that man," Ahsoka agreed, as the communication ended.
"The more, the merrier, they say. Let's get out of here, before I am mistaken for a kidnapper."
"And you're a kidnapper, as I have no idea who you are," Anakin said.
"Rescuer is a better word to describe this situation. Wait until I get you to safety and we'll talk," Jesse chuckled.
Anakin wondered how this man who just rescued him knew Shmi Skywalker. She didn't tell Anakin about having a father, so, this was odd, naturally. And Anakin had Plo Koon as a father figure.
He had to find out. For now, he would play along, and Ahsoka would be with him. The ship departed, and Ahsoka followed on her fighter, as she wanted to know what was going on, and what that man had to do with her Master.