Laureeena-age 4

"Daddy's teaching, Auntie Leia." Laureena said. "You can talk to me though, I am VERY bored."

       Leia laughed. "Ok, so what has your daddy been teaching you?"

      "I learnt how to recite my alphabet."

      "Recite them, please."

       Laureena recited the alphabet with only one mistake, She said H-I-j-j, instead of h-I-j-k.  "Very good. What else?"
     "How to WRITE the alphabet. I can write A-D."

      "You will have to show me when I get there."

        "I also can count to 10, and write my #'s. I ALSO can SPEAK jawa."

      "Ooooo."

      Leia and Laureena chatted for a little while then Luke came in. "What are my sister, and baby talking about?"

      "What I have learnt." Laureena said proudly.

      "Very cool." Luke said. "Jaina is waiting for you."

      "Bye Auntie Leia." Laureena called out.

      "Bye honey." Leia called, laughing, when Laureena left the screen she said seriously. "Luke, what have you decided?"

        "Laureena's last name shall remain Tharen." Luke said.

       Leia sighed. "You don't think that will make her feel apart?"

     "Not unless people make a big deal out of it."

         "Look Leia, I don't want to even give her a chance to think I was trying to cover up or hide her heritage. Besides, if Lisa and Raque had wanted her last name changed, they would've changed it."

         "Sure." Leia said. "Issue 2. Laureena is learning a lot, that is good. But she isn't learning how to interact with other kids. She doesn't have any siblings to play with, and Jedi trainees are too busy to play with her. Issue 3 the trainees pamper her, she is going to be a spoiled little kid. Always wanting attention. We all love her, but this much attention isn't good for her."

       Luke shifted, slightly uncomfortably. "What do you suggest."

        "She has to interface with other kids. That will solve all the problems. Luke, I am going to be honest with you. Either you send her to an academy somewhere, or you take a leave of absence from the academy and move somewhere."

           Luke sighed. "She is too young to send to an academy. I was thinking of sending her when she was at least 8. I want more time with her."

          "Then you will have to relocate. Take a break from the academy, or re-schedule training time so training is a couple days of the week "

       "There is no one who can teach!"
      "You have to do something because otherwise Laureena will never be able to deal with people properly."

         "Ok." Luke sighed. "I will look into academies, talk to Tionne, Kyp and Streen and check back with you. I am taking Laureena to meet her grandfather, I will have my choice for you when we get back."

          "Good."

      Luke paused. "Leia, thanks."

      Leia smiled. "No problem brother dear. Talk to you later."

      "Skywalker out."

"Organa Solo out."

       Luke rubbed his forehead, something else to deal with. Luke looked at his chronometer, it was time for Laureena to eat. "Laureena!" He called. "time for the mid-day meal. Come on, you can paint your picture when we get on the ship."

         Laureena came immediately. "Good girl." Luke said, lifting her up. "Let's go."

      Even though Laureena was old enough and able to walk, Luke preferred to hold her, it was comforting.

         Luke and Laureena ate the meal together, chatted for a bit. Then it was Laureena's naptime, Laureena sometimes got very cranky when she was tired, and Luke knew dealing with a cranky kid AND trying to pilot a ship alone wasn't possible. While she was sleeping Luke packed, and prepped the ship.

      "Tionne." Luke said.

    "Yes, Master Skywalker?"

     "You know the lesson plan for the week I will be gone, right?"

     "Yes, Master Skywalker. I need to go to tutor in a few minutes, so I will say my farewell's now. May the Force be with you."

     "May the Force be with you too." Luke said.

     Laureena took a longer nap then usual, which put Luke behind schedule, but when he had gone to wake her up she was sleeping so angelically, that he didn't have the heart to wake her up.

      To make up for the lost time, Luke and Laureena rushed through farewell's and got onto the ship without doing much. "Laureena, strap in." Luke yelled.

       "Yes, daddy."

      Luke felt some strains of mischief from the child. "Laureena, come to the cockpit and strap in please." Luke said, waiting to lift off so he could go and grab the child if she didn't come.

        Laureena came, though, disappointment at 'being caught' evident. "Good girl." Luke said, he had learnt from a parenting vid that especially as they got older, praise for something done right was very important, but you shouldn't always give it, because then they wouldn't value it. 

        Laureena smiled, pleased, and she forgot about her mischief. Luke checked her straps, in all the other seats he had a 'child checker' that would test the straps, but not in the cockpit because the checker was annoying for adults, and the adults rode in the cockpit.

       As they got closer to Corellia, Luke got nervous. Laureena's grandfather was Renn Tharen, Luke's confidante, Han's ex-girlfriend, and of course Raque's sister, Bria Tharen's father. Luke felt he was at least partially responsible for her death, even though Renn didn't think Luke had anything to do with it, but Luke had avoided Renn for years, but when Laureena was left in his care, Renn had contacted him, asking to see Laureena again. Luke knew Renn had a right, as Laureena's grandfather. He had sent Renn a message back saying, of course, Laureena is your granddaughter, and I want her to know her grandfather. Luke and Renn's schedule's hadn't coincided until now so Luke hadn't had a chance to take Laureena to see him, even though Renn had tried very hard, Luke had to admit that he had been very happy at being able to delay this meeting. But now the meeting very coming close, and he would see Renn Tharen face to face for the first time since Bria died.

      Luke found himself stalling the hyperdrive a bit, to delay it more. This is ridiculous, he thought to himself, this meeting is going to come. Laureena needs to know her grandfather, I will spend an hour or two with Renn so Laureena thinks/sees we get along, then I will escape. Face your fears, Luke. Come on. Let's just get this over with.

        Luke let go his control on the hyperdrive, enhancing it instead.

They arrived at Corellia in short time after that.. Luke smiled as he saw Laureena staring at the planet as they came down; Corellia was fascinating, and he had himself stared at it when he had first come there.

      Renn was waiting for them as they touched down. Luke sighed, here it was, the moment he had been dreading for years. He unfastened Laureena's straps. "Come, we are going to meet your grandfather."

        "Ok." Laureena said, hopping down and following Luke.

       But as Luke opened the door she got nervous, and grabbed his hand tightly, trying to hold him back.

       "Laureena, come on… Laureena."

       Renn walked forward, he knew that Luke had been avoiding him for years blaming himself for Bria's death. He wanted to make this meeting less awkward for Luke. The wind blew his hair that had whitened because all of his grief, the two people in his life who had cared for him, instead of his money, Raque and Bria, had died. He had an orphaned granddaughter, but his money prevented him from raising her. He was determined to get to know Laureena though. He was all alone on Corellia, his wife and son, Pavik, only cared about money. Neither had even cared about Bria's death, except for his wife who griped about the lost chance to marry her to some big-time heir, they had staged a big elaborate funeral for her, making it a society affair. For this reason, he had kept himself and them out of Raque's funeral, wanting to leave it simple. Some father, he thought! I couldn't even be at my son, and daughter-in-law's funeral. Concentrate on the present, he told himself.

     He saw Luke standing and trying to coax a little child-Laureena, to leave the ship. Renn felt tears come to his eyes it was too much. Looking at Luke brought memories of the past, when he would steal away to Tatooine to see his son and his friends. Remember, try not to make this awkward for Luke, don't cry, he told himself. Nevertheless, his voice cracked a bit as he said. "Hello, Luke."

           Luke released some of his grip on Laureena's hand as he heard the familiar voice. He stood up, looking at Renn. His eyes became moist, as memories came flowing back to him. "Hello." Luke said, when he got his voice back.

         Renn through caution to the wind he ran forward and embraced Luke. Luke was surprised, how could Renn embrace the man responsible for his daughter's death.

        As he felt the hug he remembered the old days and all he could think of was how right this felt. "Renn." Luke said his voice breaking, he hugged .

            Luke turned to Laureena, and knelt. "Remember what I told you about grandfathers? Well, he is your grandfather, say hello."

             Luke got up, prodded Laureena again who said a shy hello clinging to Luke. Renn was pained he wanted to know his granddaughter, be close to her, have another family member who loved him.

      Luke noticed and mouthed. "Don't worry, little kids often do this. She will open up."

He then said loudly. "Renn, Laureena and I rented a place a minute's walk from your place, why don't we go there?"

       "Why aren't you staying with me?"

       Luke was startled, he knew that Renn's wife didn't like Raque's marriage because it was to a 'common farmgirl' and she refused to recognize Laureena.

         "My wife and Paavik are out on their 'society retreat'. They won't be back for a month." Renn said, guessing the reason. "I insist you stay with me. This way I will get to see more of you."

          "Sure." Luke said, a bit uncomfortably.

        He let Renn lead the way to the house. He tried to project positive vibes so that Laureena would pick up the vibes and go to Renn quickly.

            "You have a rotating pool." Laureena squealed. "Auntie Leia has one. They are my favorite."

         Luke was relieved, that was a good way to get Laureena to play with Renn. "Well, ask your grandfather if you can play in it with him?" Luke said.

       Laureena ran to Renn. "On one condition." Renn said.

    "What?"

     "You let me play with you." Renn said.

       Laureena squealed and ran towards it. Luke let Renn stop her. "First get into a suit."

        Laureena pouted, but Renn was firm.

         Luke watched as Laureena and Renn played. Renn was great with kids, Bria and Raque were lucky to have him, Luke thought.

          Luke decided to leave, he had to unpack anyway. This way Renn would have a memory with just Laureena.

          Luke set up the guest 'quarters' that Renn had allotted them. He tried only to take out the bare necessities. No matter how nice Renn was being Luke wanted to get out of there As soon as he possibly, realistically, and honestly could. 

                 Luke went outside when he was done two hours later, they were still playing in the pool. "Come join us, Luke." Renn called.

     "Yeah, daddy."

     Luke was about to object then thought better of it. He went got changed and came back. He got into the water and started playing with them. Two hours later they all got out.

       Renn told Luke to tell the housekeeper to make Laureena's favorite dish. Luke did as he was told.  In the meantime Renn got Laureena ready for dinner. Luke was walking to the meal room, and as he got closer he heard Laureena's giggles and Renn's laugh. He smiled. He stood just outside the door watching as Renn played with his granddaughter. As he watched, he knew he had made the right decision. He knew he had been very selfish, not only for Laureena's sake but also for Renn's. Renn's heart had been severely broken by the death of the only family that had cared about him, and then having Luke run away from him.

       "Where is daddy?" Laureena asked.

      "Coming, Laureena." Luke said.

    He came into the room and sat down. The table was circular, and set up so all three of them could be next to the other at the same time. Renn's doing, Luke thought. Circular tables were not 'done' in the aristocratic crowds Mrs. Tharen and Pavik traveled in. They didn't emphasize rank. "You happened to have a circular table." Luke asked Renn, trying to show that he was reaching out to Renn.

     "Yeah." Renn shrugged. "I keep it for the rare occasion that one of my well-wishers comes to visit."

      Luke looked down for a moment, and then covered his reaction when he saw Laureena look at him curiously. "Renn, I think you and I need to have a talk."

       Renn nodded, a hopeful look in his eyes. That was the moment Laureena chose to throw her vegetables on the ground. "Laureena." Luke said, a warning tone in his voice.

    "Sorry." Laureena said, giving him an angelic smile.

   "Last warning, no throwing food." Luke said, giving her a stern look. "Renn, will you please serve Laureena some more vegetables that she will eat like the good girl that she is."

     Laureena pouted, but ate the vegetables. "I think it is Laureena's bedtime." Luke said.

  "Can I get a bedtime story?" She asked.

   "If Renn says he will read it with me." Luke said, getting an idea.

  Renn looked at Luke. "I would love to." He said, surprised.

      Luke helped Laureena get ready for bed and then sent her off to her bed. "Renn and I will be there shortly." He promised.

      "What story do you want to tell her?"

  "What about Raque's favorite, the Corellian space ranger?" Renn asked.

    Luke smiled. "That would be great."

    Renn and Luke went in and told Laureena the story. "That was a really nice story." Laureena said sleepily.

    "I am glad." Renn said, kissing her forehead.

   Renn was going to say something else when his maid came in. "I am sorry, sir, but there is an urgent phone call for you."

       Renn sighed. "Its ok. At least I could sit for dinner and the entire story."

   He touched Luke's hand. "Let's talk after Laureena goes to bed."

     Luke nodded, knowing there was no way to avoid it.

   As it turned it, the talk didn't happen for another week, Renn's priority was spending time with them and he had to go into the office, so the talk kept getting postponed.

      "Finally." Renn said, when they actually got down to talking.

    Luke just smiled, he could've waited, but there was no way he could've said that.

    "Luke, I am going to be honest. I am having a great time with you and my granddaughter."

   "And I know both of us are too." Luke said, returning the favor.

   "Then will you come back?"

    "I don't think I have much of a choice," Luke said, half-joking, "Laureena is your granddaughter, so you have a right to see that."

      "Do YOU want to come back."

      Luke sighed. He looked inside himself for a moment. "I will also be brutally honest. When I came here I was afraid, I had every intention of getting you and Laureena settled together, making some excuse and leaving then coming back to pick up Laureena. But I am not afraid anymore. I can see you don't blame me for Bria's death-"

     "You had nothing to do with that." Renn cut in, trying to convince this stubborn young man of that fact.

      "I wish I could be as sure of that as you are." Luke said, his pain coming through in his eyes.

        "I am sure." Renn said, grabbing Luke's hands. "Listen, I am Bria's father. I make the decisions around here about who is guilty of my daughter's murder. It is not you."

      Luke laughed. A minute later he said. "The answer to your question is that I am enjoying myself, I am in a way reliving good things from my childhood. I haven't exonerated myself for Bria's murder yet, but that isn't keeping me from enjoying your company."

    "I am glad." Renn said. "Maybe we should let time convince you to exonerate yourself."

     "Maybe." Luke said.

     "But in the meantime, will I see you again Luke?" Renn asked.

      Luke sighed. "If you want to see me again, I will be here."

      "Even without Laureena." Renn asked.

      "Yes." Luke said, knowing what Renn meant.

      Renn smiled. "I am glad."

     Luke let the moment stand for a moment then he said. "Let's book it on your schedule now."

       "That reminds me." Renn said. "Another thing I was going to ask you, what are you planning for Laureena's life."
       Luke smiled, that question was never going to leave him was it. "I am thinking of sending her to an academy." He said. "Leia recommended it, she said that being at the Jedi Academy wasn't giving Laureena enough of a chance to interface with people her age, and that it caused her to become a tad spoiled."

      "I agree." Renn said. "Do you have any in mind?"
     "No, I haven't actually started looking yet."

     "I think I can help you there." Renn said. "I am a patron of some academies, and I know of others. Besides, my secretary needs things to do. She has too light of a workload now that I am not in the office." Then in response to Luke's look he said.  "He gets paid by the hour, and so he is loosing money. Money that he needs."

      Luke consented. "Don't worry." Renn said. "I won't interfere in your decision, except on one thing."

    "What?" Luke asked.

    "I insist on paying her tuition."

    "What?" Luke protested.

   Renn put up his hand. "I am her grandfather, it is my right. Secondly, I admire the work you have done and are doing, but I also happen to know that it doesn't pay enough for tuition. It also takes money out of the hands of my greedy family."

     Luke sighed, everything Renn said was true; he would've had to get another job to pay for tuition. "Fine." He said, giving in.

    "Thanks." Renn said. Then he pulled out his planner. "And we will plan trips around Laureena's break with one in the middle for just the two of us."

       Luke smiled, "sounds perfect." Too perfect, his mind said to him. He ignored it.

      The next day when Renn came back from work he had a list of academies for Luke. "Luke, I was thinking of taking Laureena to the kiddiewonderland. Can I?"

 "Go right ahead." Luke said, hearing the unsaid, I was hoping it would be just the two of us. "I will look through this list."

    " Thanks.You know where the comm. room is if you want to me make calls." Renn said.

    Laureena wasn't shy with Renn anymore so Luke didn't have to coax Laureena into going, or tell her it was okay. Luke had also decided that he should let Laureena feel that Renn was another adult she had to listen to, and that authority wouldn't be established if she saw Renn asking Luke's permission all the time.

     Luke was very selective as he went through the academies. He designated about 3/4ths of the ones he went through as 'no way'.

         Renn and Laureena were gone for over 7 hours, and in that time Luke had gone through the list and marked 3/4ths as now way, 1/16 as awesome 1/8 as maybe. Luke was just dialing the number for the first academy on his list as 'maybe' when he 'felt' Laureena's presence get closer. Laureena, like most children her age, was very inquisitive so he put the datapads away.

           "Daddy." Laureena squealed running to Luke.

       Luke laughed as she pounced on him. "We had so much fun. Grandfather has a hovercar just like the one Auntie Leia takes to government functions, I GOT TO PUSH THE BUTTONS. I want one of those hovercars."

         "Sounds like fun." Luke said, laughing. "And Renn, judging from the look on your face, you also had fun."

          "Yes I did." Renn said, later that evening after Laureena had gone to bed. "It was so refreshing to be around someone who had fun with the simple things, like operating a hovercar, or running through a fountain." His lip twisted. "If most of the people I am around are in a hovercar they are talking about how they need to get the latest model, or how I can make it look more classy. They would never be caught dead, running through a fountain because that just wouldn't be dignified."

        Luke didn't know what to say so he just settled for giving Renn a sympathetic smile.    "So," he said, changing topics. "Did you get a chance to look through the list of academies I gave you?"

  "I gave it a preliminary look over." Luke said. "I have eliminated a lot of them."

 "I am glad you didn't make a final decision yet, I was going to tell you, this only covers the academies on this side of the galaxy. My secretary said she got only as Mon Calamari."

    "I kind of figured that out." Luke said, smiling. "Let me see if Leia can help me with the others. She has already said that she would like to do something."

    "Ok." Renn said. "If you want me to look any more up tell me."

    "I will." Luke said. "I just need to give Leia something to do."

    "Sounds like a lot of work." Renn said.

    Luke snorted. "Yes, delegating work is a lot of work."

    "When are you going to call Leia?"

    "In two hours. Then it will be 2000 hours on Coruscant, and Leia will probably be home."

     "Ok." Renn said, he yawned. "Listen, I had better get to bed. Today was a long day. I can't sleep in like you can."

       "Good night."

       "Good night."

     "Luke!" Leia said. "How are things?"

     "Well, I decided that I will look into sending Laureena to an academy, at least part-time."

      "Great decision."  Leia said.

     "Agreed." Han said, coming into view.

    "Hi, Han." Luke said.

    "Hi, kid."

     "Leia just give it to him." Han said.

    "Give what to me?" Luke asked.

    Leia blushed. "Well, since I was hoping you would do this so much I got a list of all the academies in the galaxy."

     Luke laughed. "I was going to ask you to see if you could find the academies between the other rim and Coruscant, Renn got me the ones between Tatooine and Mon Calamari."

       "Ok, I will do another search and eliminate all the others." Leia said.  "Let me go do that. Talk to Han in the meantime." Leia disappeared.

       "Kid, do you mind if I look through the list." Han asked.

     "Be my guest." Luke said. "I already dumped the ones I didn't like at all."

     Luke sent the list over. Han scanned it. " On first glance, it looks like you have good taste."

    "Thanks." Luke said.

   "Kid, I saw the list of academies that Leia put together, it was very big. I will help you look through it, on one condition."

     "What's that."

     "You let Leia and I… or at least me come with you when you go to check the academies out in person. I want to see where my niece is going to spend so much of her time."

      "That is a given." Luke said. "Your condition is accepted."

      "What condition?" Leia asked, coming back.

   "Oh just that the kid would let us come along when he went to check out the academies."

     "Well, that is the condition I was going to give for my work efforts as well." Leia said. "So I guess they were accepted."

     "I hope you didn't spend much time on it." Luke asked, worriedly.

     "No." Leia said. "Honestly, how much time does it take? Just press one button on the NRNS and it does it for you."

     Luke smiled. "Thanks. You guys are the best."

     "Thanks." Leia said smiling.

      "Listen, let me call the kids and Chewie, they will want to talk to you, Luke." Han said.

    "Hurry, I don't want to run up a huge bill for Laureena's grandfather." Luke said.  

    "Well, we will call you back." Leia said. "I have the codes."

    "Ok." Luke said.

     They disconnected, and sure enough in three minutes Leia called back. Leia chatted with Luke while Han rounded up everyone else. Luke chatted with them all for awhile. "Where is Laureena?" Jaina asked.

      "Asleep." Luke said. "Its pretty late over here."

      "Then you get yourself in bed." Leia said, wagging her finger at him. "Wake us up at odd hours next time. We can take turns."

     Luke laughed. He gave Leia a military salute and closed the connection.