Disclaimer: I don't own Stars Wars. I just created my own little AU sandbox to play in.
AN: Here's part 4! Thanks for all the amazing reviews! Enjoy this next installment.
Witches: A Forever Destined Vignette
Part 4/?
"Hey, are you okay?" Jake asked, as he returned with their drinks.
"I don't know. Tell me why Veronica was here and we'll see," Leia said, looking right through him. Jake froze and swallowed hard. How had she found out? If he lied, she might sense it and if he told her the truth, he'd lose her forever. He looked at her, as she waited for his answer with a demanding look.
"I…I asked her the same question," Jake replied. That part wasn't a lie.
"And?" she asked. He shrugged.
"She guessed we might come here tonight, you know, since your parents aren't too keen on the real clubs," he replied. Leia rolled her eyes.
"What is her problem? Why is she always trying to be everywhere we are?" Leia asked.
"I don't know, she's just jealous of what we have," Jake replied. That wasn't entirely a lie either, as he suspected that Veronica was insanely jealous of Leia and covered it up with contempt toward her.
"You think?" she asked.
"Of course. You're beautiful, smart, and kind. Veronica knows she can't compete with you in my eyes, so that's why she's so volatile toward you," Jake said. Leia smiled and hugged him and Jake was surprised he had managed to neither lie nor tell the complete truth during that conversation. His Uncle was right. He had the makings of a skilled politician in him.
"I told her to get lost and that you're my girlfriend, so she would just have to deal with it. But you know Veronica, she never takes the hint," Jake added.
"Well, I'm just glad she's gone," Leia replied.
"Me too," he added, as they drank together. Leia's eyes wandered around the room and again found Han, as he sat a table with Lando and Ryoo, catching up. She mentally cursed herself, as she forced her attention back to Jake.
Luke looked at the club in front of them, as Callista parked the speeder. It was one of the worst in the lower levels. If his mother knew he was in this part of Coruscant without his father right now, she'd be worried sick.
"Callista, this place is pretty rough. I don't think this is such a good idea," Luke said. Callista smirked.
"Lighten up handsome, it'll be fun and you'll be safe with me. I've kept up with my light saber skills over the years," she replied, as she hopped out.
"Come on, don't you get a little tired of always being the good son? I know for a fact that your father and uncle used to come to this place and they're both fine," Callista said. The more Luke thought about it, the more he realized that he was tired of always doing everything his parents told him to. His other siblings, with the exception of Kimberly perhaps, were always pushing the limits. His parents were really overprotective sometimes and one visit to a club would be fun and exciting. Luke was bored and he was ready to take a few risks.
"You're right, let's go get a drink," he replied. Callista smiled.
"That's the spirit," she said, as they walked into the loud club.
Leia kissed Jake goodnight on the veranda and he kissed back eagerly. The apartment was dark, with the exception of her mother's gorgeous fountain. It was one of the first times she had ever come home and did not find her father waiting for her to get home. She knew that was her mother's doing. She broke the kiss and smiled at Jake.
"I had a great time. Good night," she said.
"It's not that late and if your parents are in bed, then maybe we could go to the rec room and hang out for a while," he suggested.
"That's probably not a good idea. My parents are trusting me to say goodnight to you and not sneak you into the house. I would rather not break their trust again after the last time I snuck out with you a couple years ago. It's taken me a long time to gain that trust back," Leia said. Jake nodded and sighed.
"I know you think my parents are too overprotective, but they're only like that because they love me so much. Please understand," Leia pleaded. He nodded.
"I do. Sometimes it seems like I don't, but that's just because I'm not used to having such a big family. Since I was ten, it's been just my Uncle and me. And I've never had Sith Lords and Bounty Hunters coming after my family constantly, so I guess your parents have every reason to be overprotective," Jake replied. Leia smiled.
"Thanks for understanding. And…thanks for understanding that I'm ready to…be intimate," she whispered. He nodded.
"Of course," he replied quietly, as she kissed him goodnight and went inside the darkened apartment. Jake watched her for a moment, before getting into his speeder and flying away.
"Go on…taste it," Callista said, as she tipped the shot glass back and gulped down the amber colored liquid. Luke looked at his own with uncertainty and took a sip. He made a face, as the strong liquid slid down his throat.
"Don't sip at it. It's a shot. Tip it back and gulp it down," Callista instructed. Luke shook his head.
"Here goes," Luke said, as he gulped the drink down. He made an awful face, as the liquid burned its way down his throat.
"Oh man, that is nasty stuff," Luke groaned.
"You get used to it," Callista said, as she did another one and had Luke's glass refilled.
"So, tell me about yourself," Callista requested. Luke shrugged.
"There's not much to tell. I have a twin sister, two younger sisters, and a younger brother, and my Dad has been training me lately to get ready for the trials," Luke said.
"Do you think you're ready for the trials?" she asked. He nodded.
"I think I am. I know they're going to the hardest thing I've ever done, but I think I'm ready for the challenge," Luke replied.
"What does your dad think?" Callista asked. Luke shrugged.
"He hasn't really told me yet," Luke replied.
"Well, if you think you're ready, then you should tell him," Callista said. Luke smiled.
"Sure, I can tell Dad that I'm ready all I want, but it will be his decision when I'm ready and he'll tell me when it's time," Luke replied.
"Why?" she asked.
"What do you mean why?" he asked in return.
"Luke, they're your trials and you should be able to decide when you're ready. That's just my opinion," Callista replied. Luke shook his head.
"That's not how it works," he said.
"Yeah, I know. The Jedi and their mysterious ways. That's why I never could adapt. I like doing things my way," Callista said, as she drank another shot.
"Go on, have another. Tonight's all about letting loose," she urged. Luke looked at the shot and drank it quickly, finding that the second one went down much easier than the first.
"See, I told you that you'd like it," Callista said, noticing not for the first time how cute he was, just like his Dad. Her old attraction to Anakin was coming back full force, but since she couldn't have him, then Luke would be a very satisfactory replacement. And fortunately for her, the young man, whose eighteen-year-old hormones were raging, was quite smitten with her already.
It was early the next morning and Anakin was just finishing his meditating. The house was still quiet and Anakin could feel the peaceful auras around each member of his family. Luke wasn't home, but that didn't worry Anakin. He was at the Temple last night and it wasn't unusual for him to hang on there and sleep in his room there when it got late.
Today was a very special day. Not only was tonight Padme's Charity Ball, but it was also their twentieth wedding anniversary. They were of course going to celebrate later with a romantic getaway for just the two of them, but they would also celebrate today. Artoo whirled cheerily, as he parked the speeder on the veranda and hopped out. Threepio got out as well and trotted toward him with a bouquet of angel blossoms.
"Thanks Threepio, these are perfect," Anakin said, as he took the fresh flowers from him.
"You're most welcome, Master Ani," Threepio replied. Artoo whirled impatiently and Anakin patted him on his domed head.
"I didn't forget you either, buddy. There's a nice oil bath in the near future for you for this," Anakin promised.
"Would you like me start breakfast now, Master Ani?" Threepio asked. Anakin nodded.
"That'd be great. Thanks," Anakin said, as he went back upstairs where he slipped quietly into their bedroom. His rested his gaze on his beautiful, sleeping wife of twenty years and marveled at her angelic beauty, as he often did. He placed the bouquet in the vase he had waiting full of water on the bedside table, but took one out of the flowers from the bouquet. He sat beside her and gently touched the flower's petals to her cheek, gently tracing it along the side of her face. She cooed sweetly, making him smile, as he traced it across her forehead and finally down her nose, letting her inhale the sweet, fresh scent. He traced it lightly over her lips, as her eyes fluttered open. She smiled at him through sleep filled eyes.
"Morning," she said.
"Morning," he replied, as he leaned down and captured her lips in a passionate kiss.
"Happy twentieth anniversary, my sweet, beautiful angel," he whispered, as he gazed into her eyes.
"Happy twentieth anniversary, my sweet, handsome protector," she whispered back.
"They're beautiful, thank you," she said, as she admired the vase full of angel blossoms.
"And that's only the beginning of everything I have planned. Our romantic getaway together has to be postponed for a while, but we're still going to celebrate today, starting with a romantic picnic in Calin's gardens and then with tonight, where I plan to dance the night away with my insanely beautiful wife," he told her. She smiled.
"That sounds wonderful," she replied, as their lips met again.
"But you know what would be the perfect way to start off this day?" she questioned. He looked at her slyly
"I have a few ideas, but why don't you elaborate for me," he replied. She smiled and kissed him again, welcoming his protective weight over her, as passion, a passion that burned hotter and brighter than ever, consumed them.
Sometime later
Padme giggled, as they entered the kitchen while he tickled her sides.
"Stop it," she scolded.
"You know me, I can't keep my hands off you," Anakin said, as he kissed her neck.
"I know," she replied, as she kissed him tenderly.
"Breakfast is ready kids!" Padme called. Leia was followed into the kitchen by her three younger siblings, as they sat down.
"Happy Anniversary," Kimberly told her parents, as she hugged them both.
"Thank you sweetheart," Padme replied, as she looked around for her oldest son.
"Where's Luke?" she asked.
"He must have stayed at the Temple last night," Anakin replied. Padme accepted that answer, knowing it wasn't really out of the ordinary for Luke to crash in his room at the Temple.
But just as they were finishing breakfast, they heard some noise on the veranda and they all went out into the living area to see what the commotion was.
That's when they found Luke laying on the floor, having tripped on his way in, laughing. And standing over him, chuckling as well, was a blonde haired woman who was about Anakin's age. And Anakin could smell the liquor on his son from all the way across the room.
"Callista Ming," he said, as he glared at her.
"Anakin Skywalker, long time no see," she replied, looking him up and down with a hungry gaze.
"Luke, are you okay?" Padme asked.
"Huh…oh hi mom," Luke slurred, as looked up at her.
"What the hell is going on?" Anakin demanded of Callista. But she just shrugged nonchalantly.
"I got in last night and met your son. We decided to go get a few drinks together and get to know each other. Unfortunately, Luke doesn't hold his liquor as well as I do and had too many," Callista explained. Anakin looked at her incredulously.
"You're here on Coruscant five minutes and you think it's okay to take our son drinking? Are you insane?" Anakin asked, then thought about it for a minute.
"Wait…don't answer that," Anakin spat. Callista chuckled.
"You always were cute when you were mad. I'm sure you agree, Senator," Callista said to Padme.
"I agree with my husband that it was completely irresponsible and totally out of line for you to take our son out drinking," Padme said. She just shrugged.
"He's eighteen and he wanted to go. He's good looking, like his father. I bet you have to beat the ladies off with a stick, when it comes to your boys," Callista said, noticing Jayden too. Padme fumed.
"I'd like to beat you with a stick right now," Padme snapped, making Callista laughed.
"Yeah, I figured you'd feel that way when you found out I "corrupted" your precious baby boy," Callista joked, but neither Anakin nor Padme thought she was funny.
"This is serious! You're supposed to be here to represent your planet, not go out partying, especially not with our son," Anakin said.
"I felt that I could do both," Callista shrugged. Luke giggled.
"We had a great time," he slurred. She chuckled.
"He's right and if hadn't got so hammered, we'd probably still be having fun," Callista leered. Anakin looked between them and noticed Luke's lips were tinted with the color of Callista's lipstick. And that's when they all felt the temperature drop at least ten degrees in the room.
"No…no way in hell," Anakin growled, as Callista smirked.
"What can I say? I'm just one lonely woman and he's such a young, handsome, and very eager young man who happens to be attracted to me," Callista stated. Padme gasped and Luke's siblings caught onto what was going on.
"Gross," Jayden said, wrinkling his nose. Callista looked at him.
"You'd only be so lucky, kid," she boasted.
"Yeah right," he replied.
"You wish," Jenna added.
"Yeah, I can't believe Luke kissed you. You're…old," Leia continued. Callista looked offended, though she hid it under another smirk.
"I'm the same age as your father, which makes me younger than your mother," Callista told them.
"Yeah, but Mom and Dad look a lot younger than they are. You don't," Leia retorted.
"You have a sharp tongue. I suppose I should have expected that from your daughter," Callista said dryly, as she looked back at Anakin.
"They're right. You're twenty-two years older than him, so what the hell do you think you're doing with him? Anakin questioned. She shrugged.
"Last time I checked, we were just having fun," Callista said.
"Yeah, we were just having fun. Lighten up, Dad," Luke slurred. Anakin gave him a waning look.
"Well, you've had your fun and now you should go. And while your at, you should stay away from our son," Padme said sternly. Callista chuckled.
"Well, Coruscant is going to be a lot more fun than I thought. Just messing with your perfect little world is going to be a hoot," she joked. Anakin put his arm around his wife's waist.
"If you mess with her or my kids, then you're messing with me and I don't think you can handle that," Anakin warned. Callista only smirked.
"I can handle more than you think," she replied, as she walked toward her speeder on the veranda.
"And I'll stay away from your son…but there's no guarantee he'll stay away from me," Callista leered. Padme fumed and was going to march out after, but Anakin held her back. Callista laughed, as she sped away in her speeder. Padme turned to him, as he lifted their son up and over his shoulder.
"What's gotten into him? He's never acted like this," Padme fretted.
"I don't know, but when he sobers up, we'll be having a very long talk," Anakin replied, as he carried him up to his room to sleep it off. Luke would wake up hung over and sick and after he recovered enough, he would be sitting down for a talk with his parents so they could get to the bottom of his sudden bad behavior.
Callista entered the Council room that afternoon and stood before them. She noticed Dooku and Qui-Gon's icy gazes first. It seemed that this family had no secrets, for Anakin had already filled them in on her antics with Luke since her arrival. Obi-Wan and Mace's gazes were none too kind and Anakin's was down right frigid.
"You know, you're making the room a lot colder than it needs to be," Obi-Wan mused to his little brother.
"How would you react if a man twenty-two years older than one of your daughters preyed on her innocence and inexperience, took her out, got her drunk, and took advantage of her?" Anakin asked. Obi-Wan looked at him and nodded.
"It would be colder than Hoth in here right now if that were the case. But do you really think they slept together?" Obi-Wan asked.
"I don't think so, but I'm sure she would have taken advantage of him if he hadn't been too drunk to stand up," Anakin replied. Obi-Wan nodded.
"You do realize that you're going to have to impartial to her when it comes to discussing Dathomir's acceptance proceedings, right?" he asked. Anakin scoffed.
"Fat chance of that happening," Anakin replied.
"This meeting will come to order," Mace announced, as Callista took her seat in the guest chair.
"As you know Callista, you are here to represent your people and plead their case for Dathomir's request to be admitted to the Republic. After we make our determination, based upon your testimony, we will take our recommendation to the Chancellor," Mace stated. Callista nodded, as she rose from her seat.
"Our planet has been torn apart in recent years a civil war. It finally ended with the crowning of Queen Rayna, but unfortunately, her evil twin sisters have led a violent, powerful resistance. We believe that being a part of the Republic could help bring order to our planet. And with the help of the Jedi and Clone efforts, we can quell the resistance, arrest my Queen's sisters, and restore peace," Callista explained.
"In the past, your planet has had no interest in being part of the Republic. Your planet has also been hostile to visitors in the past and some would argue that you practice slavery in regards to the males on your planet. Why should we now believe that your intentions are pure or that your people really want to change?" Yan asked.
"Not all of them do, but the majority who follow Queen Rayna do. We have been hostile to visitors in the past, but we've realized now that change is the only way to ensure our survival. But we cannot do it on our own and my Queen pleads for your help," Callista answered.
"The Republic has a no tolerance slavery policy and they will perform continued evaluations to make sure the men in your society indeed continue to have equal rights," Anakin stated. Callista nodded.
"I understand and I will present your terms to my Queen," Callista replied.
"We will make our own recommendations to the Chancellor, but our final decision will not be made until we send one of our own and a representative from the Senate to observe your society for themselves. And according your Queen, which with whom we agree, Anakin and Padme are the most effective choice for this task," Mace stated. Callista nodded and Anakin smirked.
"Makes you kind of wish you hadn't gone and pulled the antics you did, huh?" Anakin asked smugly. Callista glared at him.
"I would think that you and your wife are more evolved than that. It wouldn't be fair to judge my people based on my antics alone," Callista retorted. Anakin smirked.
"Don't worry, we'll put aside our feelings toward you in order to make our decision. You'll not find a fairer or more skilled diplomat than my wife. Just the same, my warning still stands. You haven't even been here twenty-four hours and you've already interfered with Luke's training," Anakin said. Callista rolled her eyes.
"He's an adult. Maybe you and your perfect little wife should cut the umbilical cord," Callista retorted. Anakin fumed. No one, especially not this Sith witch, would tell him and Padme how to raise their kids.
"Maybe you should grow up and find someone your own age," Anakin bit back.
"Enough," Mace interrupted sternly.
"Callista, I know that you have never regarded our rules, but when it comes to the padawans, we ask that you please keep your distance. Luke is getting ready for the trials and he doesn't need that kind of distraction," Mace stated.
"Not to mention that you are much too old for him and you'll only end up breaking his heart," Anakin added. Callista scoffed.
"Maybe you're just jealous that I'm not throwing myself at you anymore," she retorted, making Anakin chuckle.
"You wish. You've seen my wife. Why would I want you?" Anakin retorted. Callista glared at him. She was about to lay into him when Obi-Wan interrupted.
"Please, this is getting us no where," Obi-Wan interjected.
"Obi-Wan is right. For any of this to work, we have to put our personal feelings aside," Mace said. Both Anakin and Callista were quiet.
"Good. Now, tonight is Senator Skywalker's annual Charity Ball. I assume you will be in attendance, representing your Queen?" Mace asked. Callista nodded.
"Of course, I'll be there," Callista replied, smirking smugly at Anakin, knowing that he was hating the fact that she would be there at his precious wife's little event. And despite the fact that she was supposed to behave, she knew she wouldn't be able to keep herself from causing waves within the perfect little Skywalker family…