Darth Vader went into the quarters that he shared with his little son, Luke.
He had found the boy on Tatooine when he had been nothing more than just a tiny baby. It had been miracle that he had found his son or else Obi Wan would have moulded Luke into a weapon against the Empire.
Against his own father.
Vader would have missed out his son's entire life and the only times they would ever meet would be in the battle field.
Only Force knows what lies Obi Wan would have told the boy about his father to achieve the man's goals.
Vader had raised Luke on his flag ship ever since. He had wanted to keep the child as close to him as possible.
After the night he had found his child on Tatooine, he had murdered his step family and defeated Obi Wan Kenobi in a duel. His old master seemed heartbroken when he had saw what his former Padawan had become.
Vader had taken Luke and notified Palpatine about his existence. Palpatine had seemed quite shocked and had asked what Vader planned for the infant that slept in his arms.
Vader had told him that he had wanted to raise that boy. Palpatine had not been pleased. Vader had asked for permission to train Luke as a Jedi but that had not been granted. Palpatine still believed in Rule Two and firmly stated that there could only be two Sith.
Palpatine had ordered Luke to not be trained. Vader had been furious that his son would be denied his birthright before Palpatine had told him that Luke would be trained when he came of age.
Vader had agreed in the end since this still allowed him to raise Luke. Palpatine had let him keep Luke with him. The only thing that Palpatine had asked him to do was to ensure Luke's complete loyalty to the Empire.
Palpatine would declare Luke as Vader's heir and the Imperial Prince when he was older.
Vader was now hesitant to make a Sith out of his Luke. He wanted Luke to be as innocent as possible. Vader couldn't bring himself to see all of this twisted into anger and hatred.
Vader had made droids to help him look after Luke. Vader smiled as he mentally recalled Luke's babyhood with Vader by his side.
Vader had tried his best with Luke. The only problem was Luke's appetite.
That had definitely been the Skywalker appetite.
Anakin's appetite.
Luke would wail and try to het Vader to give him more of his food but Vader would deny him, saying that Luke had already eaten a lot.
Vader laughed to himself as he remembered those tantrums and those crying fits that he had to go through when Luke got cranky. He remembered how panicky he had gotten when Luke kept screaming in the nursery next to his bedroom.
Speaking of Luke, Vader opened the door to check on his son. Luke would definitely be awake right now.
As Vader scanned the room with his red tinted vision, he couldn't spot the blonde haired toddler he was looking for.
"Luke", he called.
No answer.
"Luke", Vader said gently.
There was some giggling and it was coming from inside the cupboard.
Vader went closer to it and opened it revealing a tiny blonde haired and blue eyed toddler hiding inside, covering his hand with his small hand to repress laughter.
Vader chuckled and reached to pick him up. Luke raised his chubby arms. Vader picked him up.
"Why are you awake this late, Luke?" Vader asked.
"Waiting for you, daddy", the toddler answered.
"Are you not tired?" Vader asked.
Luke shook his head. He grinned at Vader. "Nope, and I never will be, daddy".
Vader chuckled. "I see you have lots of energy wanting to burst inside you".
Luke giggled.
"How about I put you to bed now?" Vader suggested.
"No, no daddy. I'm not tired. I don't want to sleep", Luke pouted childishly.
"I don't want another tantrum tomorrow Luke".
Luke smiled and laughed.
Vader then had an idea. Vader would tire him out and then bedtime for Luke.
"Daddy, put me down," Luke said.
Vader placed him down on the floor. Luke smiled in gratitude and put his thumb into his mouth.
"Don't put your thumb there Luke", Vader chided.
Luke removed his thumb and looked up at Vader.
"We're trying to break that habbit, Luke", Vader told him.
"But I like to do it".
"You shouldn't Luke", Vader chided.
Vader then ruffled his hair affectionately, messing them up.
Darth Vader scooped the toddler into his arms as he screamed with laughter. Vader was tickling him. Luke was startled at Vader attacking him.
Vader tickled him a bit more before letting him catch his breath.
Luke squirmed a little in his arms before sitting on his father's hip. The black masked man always tried his best to make time for the toddler. The problem was the number of duties a Sith Lord and Second In Command of The Galactic Empire had.
Luke had savoured the moments they managed to find together. Luke was still very little and he didn't seem to know much of the galaxy.
All he knew was his father. Luke never had any friends his age. The only friends he had were the droids his father had left him with to occupy the toddler's time when his father was busy.
Maybe Stormtroopers that Luke liked to play with were also considered friends. Luke always preferred his daddy over them. Sometimes, the Sith would get overprotective over Luke.
Soon, Luke was all worn out. Vader rocked him to sleep in his arms, humming a lullaby.
Luke's eyes drooped before he let out yawn.
Soon, the boy had drifted off in his father's arms.
Vader then laid him down on the small bed in the room.
Vader tucked him in and placed Luke's favorite stuffed toy bantha beside him.
Luke made a noise as he slept before cuddling the toy.
Vader smiled before stroking Luke's face. He tucked a stubborn lock of blonde hair behind his ear before switching off the lights and leaving the room.