in a different universe, anakin is slightly more stable. in a different universe, qui-gon is here, with him, as his master.
it was hard for the boy to get used to his new life. mom wasn't here to cheer up and calm down little anakin, but here was qui-gon with him. older jedi was a solid, reliable wall of support, always willing to help him and guide him. anakin didn't need to search for support somewhere else, because qui-gon was already here.
a few years later, slavery started to disappear from tatooine. qui-gon actually fought for it, despite the council's unwillingness to do anything. but naboo were ready to help, and even more systems after naboo too. it will take many years to finally eradicate slavery, but son and mother were finally free together, nothing threatened their lives anymore. anakin could only smile meaningfully when he saw how his mom and qui-gon look at each other. adult things, he guessed.
qui-gon taught anakin more than the jedi code ever allowed. if he tries to count, he's already broken a dozen rules just for his padawan. qui-gon doesn't see anything wrong with it if it means anakin have been trained right. it was still hard, all the trauma anakin endured and lack of close contact with padawans of his age wasn't a good thing, the looks he received from council members were even worse. but qui-gon's hand on anakin's shoulder was always there, anchoring and reassuring him.
assassination attempts on padmé's life would still happen, anakin's role as padmé's guard too. the tusken massacre wouldn't have happened, at least in the best variation of this universe. and even if it still happened, anakin would've had enough strength to confess to qui-gon and ask for help.
in this universe, anakin still marry padmé— part of their fates that cannot be avoided. qui-gon notices this. how can he not notice when his padawan has become happier than ever? but he won't say anything, of course.
the clone wars in this universe still happen. the empire still rises. and just maybe, in this universe darth vader doesn't exist. or exists, but for a shorter time.
in this universe, qui-gon did everything he could for anakin to avoid this fate.
in their actual universe, qui-gon didn't have enough time.
