POV: Kylar Skywalker

I'm seven years old and my daddy has been missing a lot. He leaves me with his droids and comes home every few weeks or every few months. I hate him for being gone. I really do. He's never here to take care of me or love me or tuck me in at night. Every time I ask him about mommy, he gets angry or sad. I don't understand why he acts the way he does, but I don't like it. I just hate him.

I hate him for leaving me with these droids instead of my mommy. He barely lets me out of the place I've been staying in. I have no friends and I don't know his friends.

"Master Kylar," Threepio called out as he waddled into my dorm. He said my daddy built him when he was around my age. "Your father has returned. He is awaiting you on the veranda."

I pouted for a minute, staring out the window at the snowy ground. "Fine," I muttered, spinning around on my seat. I leapt off of it and slowly walked out into the open room where my daddy stood.

He looked at me happily, or so I thought. He was never happy. Even after he took me, he wasn't happy. I knew he was forcing his smile and I hated him for that, too. "Hey, kiddo. How are you doing? I missed you."

He knelt down and I walked even slower before stopping altogether. I didn't want to hug daddy. This wasn't the first time he left me and I knew he'd only be here for a couple days. "Hi."

He looked hurt and he got up, coming closer to me. His robe dragged behind him and his boots were loud on the floor. He knelt in front of me and brushed my hair back with his droid hand. "I missed you, Ky. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." I ripped myself away from him and crossed my arms over my chest. His eyes got bigger and he pulled back a bit. "When do you leave again?"

"Ky, I'm sorry. I really am. You know I'd stay if I could. I get a little more time with you now though." He looked like he wanted to say more, but he bit his lip and got quiet. I didn't like when daddy did that, but I didn't want to talk to him either.

"Why?"

"I got injured. I would've been back a few weeks ago. I was trying so hard to get out of there and I got… really hurt. I'm okay now."

My heart hurt a little when he said that. As much as I didn't like when he left me, he was still my daddy. I searched him quickly, looking for the place he'd gotten hurt. "Where?"

He tapped his chest lightly and I got sadder. "I'm okay, kiddo. Want to play?"

I shook my head and hugged him gently. I didn't like when daddy got hurt and I knew that happened to him a lot. He just didn't tell me about it. "I love you, daddy."

"I love you, too, Ky. I love you a lot." He rubbed my back with his real hand before picking me up and holding me close. He left me here a lot and I hated him for it, but I knew daddy tried to come back as quick as he could. "Ky, daddy has to talk to somebody on the com really quick. Can you go put some warmer clothes on and we can go outside for a little bit?"

I pulled back and looked at him, nodding slowly. "Yes, daddy." I was surprised he wanted to go outside with me. He never wanted me outside. He hugged me again before setting me down gently. I ran into my room and took my pajamas off and got into winter clothes. Whatever planet we were on was cold a lot. The snow covered the mountains a lot…

I was dressed quickly and I remembered my snow boots were in daddy's room. I turned the corner to go into his room and I heard him talking to someone. "Master, I need recovery time. I might… not have a lot of time."

"Anakin, you need to come back to Coruscant. The droids are still running your tests. We need you back here."

"I can't." Daddy looked hurt. His eyes were closed and I saw a tear run down his face.

"Where do you keep running off to? Every single time we return from a mission, you're gone within days. I may need to install a tracking device inside of you just to keep track of you."

"I'm sorry, Master."

"Answer the question."

I tried to walk in quietly because my boots were behind daddy. He wouldn't even see me. I walked in silently until I tripped over his pack. I hit the floor a little too loud. Daddy shut off his com quickly and hopped off his bed. I quickly got up and backed away, thinking he was mad. I was surprised when he grabbed my arms and asked me if I was okay. "Ky, talk to me. Are you okay?"

"I'm okay, daddy."

He brushed my hair with his hand again and kissed my forehead. "I'm glad you're okay. Are you ready to go out for a bit? Did you eat yet?"

"I'm ready and yes." My stomach was full from earlier, but I still wanted to eat. "But I'm hungry."

He laughed and smiled. "Okay, kiddo."

Daddy helped me put my winter jacket on and helped me into my boots. He rubbed my cheek before placing a hat on my head. "Daddy, can I ask you something?" I'd been thinking a lot while he'd been gone and I wanted to know my mommy.

"Sure, Ky. What's on your mind?"

"When do I get to meet mommy?"

POV: Anakin Skywalker

My heart froze over when he asked when he would get to see his mother. My son's mother was long gone at this point. She'd died during the Clone War and… Padme had left me when she found out I'd spent time with another girl. I was twenty three when I found out I had a three year old. The Clone War had just ended and I found out from his temporary guardians that his mother was killed… I took him in because I owed him that much. He was my son and I wouldn't abandon him like my father had abandoned me. "Kylar…" His eyes lit up and I frowned. "Someday," I sighed, my throat hoarse. "I don't know where mommy is, but I know she misses you."

He smiled widely. "Really? Did you talk to her?"

"No," I whispered. "She and I haven't spoken in a while…" I trailed off, knowing that the last time I'd actually been around his mother was more than seven years ago… before she was pregnant. The last time I'd been with her was the night Kylar was conceived. Yes, it only took one try, but… I never expected to impregnate her. I didn't intend for it to be a one night stand either. It just… happened like that.

"I can't wait to have a mommy again."

"Kylar… your mommy won't be in our life again. She and I aren't on good terms…"

"What about a new mommy? Don't you want to get married?"

"Someday, maybe. I... have a girl waiting for me on Coruscant. I could try to get her to come here. You know, if you want..."

"Does she make you happy, daddy?" This boy was wonderful. He wanted me happy, but he didn't know that he made me happy. Ky is my son. I could never ask for a greater blessing than that which I've already been given.

I hugged him to my chest despite the slight pain. The bacta wasn't helping me much and the wound was too deep. If I were to die in the next few days, I'd spend them with Ky. "Yeah. She makes me really happy and so do you, kiddo." I shrugged the conversation off and rubbed his head. "Let's get out of here for a little while, okay?

He nodded happily and wandered over to my airspeeder. I followed him, not even bothering to change out of my Jedi attire. It would be warm enough for me and I wanted to spend as much time as I could with my son before the Council called me back…

Later.

"You... know that I wouldn't do anything to jeopardize us, but... I have a son. He..."

"Anakin, I know about your son. I saw him in your dream the first time I slept beside you. Is he okay?" She looked genuinely concerned even through the hologram and it made my heart skip a few beats.

"My son is fine," I whispered. "I would never ask for anything if it wasn't important. Baby, I have a huge favor to ask of you and I'm hoping that you'll do this for me."

"You know I'd do anything for you. You're my Master and my… my sweet lover."

I was touched that she felt that way about me and it meant a lot to have her say she'd do anything for me. I was surprised that she was this cool about me having a son with someone other than her. We always talked about starting a family together, but… I kept my having a son from her for quite some time. Hell, I didn't know throughout the entire Clone War and I still kept it from her upon its end. "Ahsoka, would it be too much to ask for you to come to me, to come to us?"

Her smile was beautiful and I could almost feel her excitement just by looking at this blue, see through version of her. "I'd love to, Anakin. I miss you even though you've only left me for a few hours and I want to meet your son."

"It would mean the galaxy to me to have you here with us. I know we can't stay long, but… I want to talk to you personally once you get here, okay?"

"Of course, baby. I'll pack my things and com you when I'm there."

"Please, for me, be safe, my love."

"I will. I've only learned from the galaxy's best pilot, you know." She smirked before blowing me a kiss quietly. I smiled and she ended the transmission. I leaned back on the soft couch and closed my eyes. My chest made me wince a little, but I'd be fine. The droids said there was a slight possibility that I wouldn't make a recovery; they even suggested that I wouldn't make it at all. If that were to happen, I'd need to make arrangements for Ky and there was only one person I could trust wholeheartedly with him.

I could feel Kylar coming before he even left his room. I opened my eyes and sat up a bit, glancing in his direction. "Daddy?"

"Yeah, kiddo?"

He slowly emerged from his room and came closer to me. "Can I sleep in bed with you?"

"Of course. Are you tired?"

He nodded, rubbing his eyes. I got up and bent over to pick him up. His legs dangled at my sides, his arms wound around my neck, and his face nuzzled into my neck. "When is she coming, daddy?"

"Who?"

I carried him into my bedroom and he latched onto me before I set him down. "Your girlfriend."

I smiled. "She'll be here in the morning and she's excited to meet you, Ky." I rubbed his back and kissed his head before he finally allowed me to lay him down. "I think you'll love her. She's really sweet and caring and…"

He stared at me as I trailed off. I didn't want him to think I was replacing his mother. I wanted him to like Ahsoka and get attached to her. If he resented me for loving her… "I can't wait to meet her, daddy."

I messed with his hair, laughing quietly. "I can't wait for you two to meet. You're both extremely important to me…"

He moved up the bed and got under the blanket. I took my boots off and set them beside the bed. Just as I was about to crawl in beside him, he shot straight up. "Daddy, can you get my Wookiee?"

"You still have that thing?" It was a plush toy I'd gotten for him once he'd started living with me. I thought he'd like it, but I didn't think he'd like it this much. He nodded and pointed towards his bedroom across the hall. I walked into his room, picked it up from his bed, and went back into my own room. When I handed it to him, he was overjoyed. I smiled and got into bed with him. He cuddled up to me and held my hand. It kind of reminded me of how Ahsoka and I slept beside each other whenever we were given the opportunity.

"I love you, daddy," he whispered, his eyes already closed.

I smiled, not being able to help the fact that I was staring at him. When I got here today, I felt like he hated me. Now that he said otherwise, I felt so much better. "I love you, baby boy. I always will."