AN Thank you to all the people who reviewed. I tried to update as fast as I could, and I think it's a safe promise you won't have to wait a year for the next chapter either. I hope you won't get too upset about the Jedi bashing in this chapter, just remember it's all Vader's point of view. I do believe Jedi had a lot of good ideas both concerning the training of future Jedi and their role in the galaxy. The bad ideas however were an important point of both the Code and their way of life and led to their downfall.

CHAPTER 5

Vader would never remember making his way back to his chambers or what he did upon entering them. He felt like he was on autopilot as he sat in his chair in front of a screen detailing the results of a paternity test. He blinked and seamed to return to his senses. Still he made no move to signal this change. For one thing, the Dark Lord had no idea of how he should react. And until he determined that he couldn't perform said reaction. Was he happy, should he be grateful, perhaps fearful? Vader was also in shock. He had a son. A son that was not as happy or as well cared for like Vader would have wanted. A son who needed a better family than the one he had left behind. Vader decided that he would be that family. That before returning to Coruscant he would tell the truth to the boy and have his son live with him. The Dark Lord had learned long ago to ignore his emotions because he functioned better without them, unless said emotions were hatred and anger. In the long run it was always better to analyze the situation and make the appropriate decision and only later stop to disentangle the mess that were his feelings. He had perfected that process in such a way that now he rarely had any feeling to disentangle. With that in mind he started making the necessary preparations; he called his castle and ordered an officer to have a room near his own ready for a visitor. He also sent said officer to get a few change of clothes, leaving the bulk of the shopping his son needed for later. Having completed that Vader ran a search of the best schools on Coruscant, nothing less would do for his son.

Seeing there was nothing more Vader could do at the moment (Nothing concerning your son, you mean. Don't you care about the rest though?) his mind felt free to wander. So far he knew his son had grown up on Tatooine. That didn't mean he was born there. If only he could where he had been born Vader would at least have a lead to follow. For, what he wanted, even after all these years spent behind the hideous mask, was to know for sure what happened to his wife. Every report he had mentioned her as missing and presumed dead. After the search he himself had conducted there was little chance she was still alive, but he needed to know. He was sure Luke didn't remember her. The Jedi would have taken care of that. Even in hiding, Luke would have one day been expected to be trained and stand up (You mean murder since Jedi don't believe in redemption. Not that you would ever need or want it.) to him and the Emperor. They had trained Anakin who had a strong bond with his mother, but they would not repeat that mistake.

Anger bubbled inside Vader, directed once more towards the Jedi who saw fit to rule his life and make decisions without him knowing there was something that needed to be decided in the first place. How dare they hide his wife and not let her contact him! How dare they keep his son away from him! How dare they lie to him and tell the boy his parents were dead! And send him to live on that miserable dustball he had practically no chance of leaving! Vader knew they were acting in what they perceived to be the galaxy's best interest. But just because it was the product of their 'superior' intelligence and 'vision' (That never could see past the line between Light and Dark) didn't make it right, legal, or even best for the galaxy. And it sure as hell didn't take into account how the persons in question – in this case Luke, Padme and himself – would be affected. That never did matter. At the thought that his own son would one day have been trained with the sole purpose of killing him (Would they have told him he was to kill his own father? Or that they were the reason his father did not know of his existence?) he felt hatred like no other for the Jedi, and especially one Jedi.

'Kenobi' Vader hissed the name of his former master, vowing once again to get revenge. Thanks to him, most people would not call Vader a man and Luke would not be able to see his father's face, or even what was left of it. He may take the boy to live with him and even introduce him to the Emperor and the not so savory aspects of an imperial leader's life, but Vader had no intention of horrifying his son by revealing his true appearance. He was too ashamed of it to begin with.

The Emperor would need to be told. Vader settled to wait until they reached the capital and only then call the Emperor. He would not be pleased, as the existence of such a powerful force user, even if he didn't know how to use the force, was disquieting at best and a threat at worst. Vader didn't want the Emperor to see his son as a threat as the old despot had a pretty standard way of dealing with threats.

Don't you mind the fact that your son won't be trained?

Of course I mind, he should be able to fulfill his potential.

Are you willing to train him, then?

I probably don't know enough to train him.

And you don't remember your time with the Jedi, and all the things you thought you could do different, better, if only you would one day get the chance. This could be it. Your chance to train someone the way you consider best. Without repressing all emotions and without searching something to spur your anger in order to draw strength.

As if the Emperor would ever approve of that!

It was the next morning that Vader walked into the room his son occupied. Luke was still sleeping and Vader took a moment to look at the boy's peaceful face. He hoped Luke would be able to accept him as a father, because if he didn't they were both in for some rough years. The boy would have to learn to behave in a manner fit for his father's rank among the Imperial government and to be ready to kneel in front of the Emperor. Judging from the treatment Luke had received from his captors, the kneeling part would need some serious persuasion. From what he sensed in the boy's force presence, Vader knew his son was terribly stubborn.

Seeing that Luke showed no sign of waking and needing to get over with the most awkward part, Vader sat gingerly on the end of the bed. He gently shook the boy until he was finally greeted by two sleepy eyes and a mumbled 'Wha….' Seeing who it was that woke him, Luke sat up abruptly and forced his eyes wide open.

'Morning' he said smiling sheepishly.

'Good morning', Vader's ominous voice rumbled.

'I'm leaving?' Luke asked trying not to whine. His uncle used to cuff him when he did that. It was best to start acting as he should seeing he was going back.

'Yes, but not for Tatooine'

'Where will I go then?' asked Luke a little fearful. He didn't particularly enjoy Tatooine but at least he had a family there. Someone that would take care of him. Did he know for sure it would be better someplace else? No. He suddenly realized how stupid he had been. His reluctance to go back had made Lord Vader decide to send him elsewhere. Surely the Dark Lord would be angered if he told him he had changed his mind.

'Would you like to stay with me?' asked Vader leaving Luke gob smacked. Somehow, I didn't see that coming, thought Luke, and was surprised to see Vader's shoulders shaking in silent laughter. He smiled. Just one more thing he needed to know.

'What will I have to do?'

'Do?'

'Yes. Don't I have to work if I stay with you?'

'Absolutely not', said Vader in a tone that left no room for discussion.

'But, then, what will I do all day?' Luke knew he was missing the point here and although Vader seemed kind enough he wanted to know all the details. His aunt Beru always said that he had the tendency to dive headfirst into danger.Wouldn't she be proud to see him now?

'I expect you to go to school like any boy your age. Anything else you insist on doing will take place in your free time.'

Luke had liked school the one year he had attended. The classes in Anchorhead had children of different ages and he was among the youngest, so he didn't have any close friends, and Fixer and his friends always made fun of him. Still Luke relished the opportunity to learn, knowing it was the only way he could someday become a pilot.

'Then what do you gain by letting me stay?'

This is it, try not to mess up, Vader thought.

'What do you know about your parents, Luke?'

Luke felt the truth. It was floating at the edge of his mind but he couldn't quite grasp it. So he answered, hoping it would get him closer to it.

'My father died before I was born, and my mother died when I was two months old. I don't remember her, and I've never seen any holos of my parents. Uncle Owen never told me their names, but I heard him and Aunt Beru talking once… I asked her the next day and …my father's name is'

'Anakin Skywalker' finished Vader, surprised at the ease with witch that came out.

'Yes' said Luke.

'Luke, I suppose there is no easy way of saying this. I am your father.'

'But I thought…' Luke started, trying to defend the man he had known as a parent only by name. Vader held up his hand and Luke stopped, on the verge of tears.

'Listen to me. Not everything was a lie. Your mother is believed to be dead, and Anakin was your father. It was the name I had until I became Sith.- Darth Vader.'

Luke looked at his hands that were crossed in his lap. He had lost the battle with his tears. His father was alive! It was what he had always dreamed of. Why couldn't he be happy? What was wrong with him? Vader however appeared to see the problem.

'No, Luke, I never abandoned you. I didn't willingly let you on Tatooine. And ever since I found out about you I …' he stopped, unable to say the words. The words that had brought him so much pain – and love, and Luke. But so much pain. 'I never knew about you. Your mother disappeared before she could tell me she was pregnant, and until yesterday I had no idea I had a son, let alone who and where he was.' The boy has a habit of focusing on his pain to the point of ignoring all else, noted Vader, recognizing the Dark Side potential in him.

'But you want me' said Luke in a small voice, needing to ask but not wanting to be heard saying it.

'Yes, I want you.'

Luke looked up and gave the Dark Lord a watery smile. It wasn't much but Luke felt he wouldn't have dared hug Vader even if he felt like it. It wasn't a totally happy smile and Vader noticed, but his feelings for Luke were still jumbled and he understood. Or better said Luke has jumbled all your other feelings.Vader ignored the voice. He had always been good at ignoring things.

'Okay. I'll come with you.' said Luke.