Chapter 10

Dormé stood in front of the mirror in the fresher, staring at her reflection. She had followed Padmé's advice, and had put on some makeup and fixed up her hair. That wasn't what was making her hesitant, however; it was the negligee she was wearing. Granted, it was not nearly as provocative as the outfit that Padmé had shown her. Dormé still couldn't get over the fact that Anakin had bought it for her. Her own husband was so naïve when it came to such things, Dormé wouldn't be surprised if he even knew that garments like that even existed. The immediate problem was that Obi-Wan liked to have the lights off, all the time, when they were in bed together. Her efforts would be in vain if she left the fresher and this was the case. What if he has a heart attack? She thought anxiously; he's almost sixty years old….what if this is too much for him?

"Dormé are you coming to bed?" Obi-Wan called from the bedroom. "I'm about to turn off the light."

"I'll turn it off," she called back, summoning her nerve. "Be right there."

"Very well," Obi-Wan said, sliding his slippers off. He left them in the exact same place every night, right where he could find them. Next he took off his robe and neatly laid it on the end of the bed. Pulling back the covers on his side of the bed, he sat down. He took a moment to arrange his pillow just so, and then looked up when he heard the fresher door open.

Dormé stood in the doorway, nervous and unsure of herself. The way Obi-Wan was staring at her didn't help, for he had a look of profound astonishment on his face that had momentarily rendered him speechless. And that, as she knew, was no mean feat.

"Do you like it?" she asked finally, walking into the room. She turned around to give him a full view.

Obi-Wan still wasn't able to speak, and Dormé began to grow fearful that he'd had a stroke.

"Obi-Wan??" she asked.

Finally he smiled. "You look lovely," he said, and held out his hand to her.

The next morning

As usual, the Skywalker household was a hive of frenetic activity as every member of the household prepared to start their day. Anakin had given up trying to cajole his wife into telling him about the scheme he was sure she was embroiled in, and instead took a rather nonchalant attitude, figuring she'd lower her guard sooner or later and then he'd know for sure.

"Dad, can I talk to you?"

Anakin looked away from the mirror to see his eldest daughter standing in the doorway of the ensuite he shared with Padmé. His face covered in shaving cream, Anakin simply nodded, and then returned to his task.

Leia entered the room and watched him for a moment as he meticulously shaved his chin. "You know there are electronic devices that are far easier to use," she pointed out.

I know he told her silently.

"So why do you insist on doing it this way?" She asked. "Luke does too, and I even caught Qui-Gon doing it," she told him. "Even though he has nothing to shave yet," she felt compelled to add.

It gives me a better shave, Anakin told her, focusing on the difficult cleft area of his chin.

"I see," Leia said, watching him. She's always loved watching her father shave; it was like watching an artist painting or a sculptor carving.

So what's on your mind? Anakin asked, glancing at her before continuing.

"Well, I talked to Han last night," Leia began.

Yes?

"And he told me that you came to him," Leia continued. "He told me what you said, Daddy."

Anakin smiled as best he could under the present circumstances. Leia only called him Daddy anymore when she wanted something or when she was very happy with him. He was hoping it was the latter.

He told you everything?

"Yeah," Leia said. "Even the part about how you still think of me as your little girl."

Anakin said nothing in response for a moment and splashed water of his face to wash away the remnants of the shaving cream. Then he picked up a towel and turned to his daughter. "Do you remember when you first met me?" he asked her as he dried off his face. "You were five years old."

Leia nodded.

"You were so cute," Anakin said with a smile. "So …confident, and full of questions," he continued. "You weren't afraid of me, even though I must have seemed like a monster to you."

"No, you never did," Leia informed him. "I was never afraid even when you were in that mask," she added.

Anakin nodded. "I know," he said. "Well that little girl is still how I think of you, Leia," he said. "Cognitively I know you're a grown woman now," he added. "But in my heart…you'll always be that same sweet little girl who told me she thought my cape was soft and wanted to know what all the buttons on my chest were for. No matter how old you are, you'll always be that little girl to me."

Leia smiled, and then wordlessly she wrapped her arms around her father's waist. "I love you Daddy," she said.

Anakin returned her hug and kissed the top of her head. "I love you too," he said. "Come on, let's go have breakfast. I'm starving."

Later that morning

Obi-Wan Kenobi walked down the corridors of the Jedi temple with an uncharacteristically goofy smile on his face. His light-hearted mood didn't go unnoticed either, for several padawans and fellow Jedi did a double take when they noted the spring in his step.

"Good morning, Anakin!" Obi-Wan said as he entered the lounge where the masters shared meals.

Anakin looked at his friend, sensing his mood instantly. "Wow, what's up with you this morning?" he asked as Obi-Wan made himself a cup of tea.

"What do you mean?" Obi-Wan asked nonchalantly.

Anakin walked over to him, observing him closely. "I mean you practically skipped in here," he said. "And you have an idiotic grin on your face," he added. "Not exactly typical behaviour of you."

Obi-Wan shrugged as he sipped his tea. "Men can change you know," he replied cryptically. "You're living proof of that."
Anakin nodded, and then narrowed his eyes in disbelief when he spotted something he didn't think he's ever see.

"Is that a hicky??!" Anakin asked, pulling down his friend's collar most unceremoniously.

"Unhand me!" Obi-Wan protested, pulling away, his face reddening. "It most certainly is not!"
"Yes it is," Anakin insisted. "And there's more than one of them!" He grinned. "I think I know why you're in such a good mood this morning," he said.

Obi-Wan simply shrugged, the smile returning to his face. "Well, what can I say?" he said, his face glowing red. "Be sure to thank Padmé, will you?" he asked, turning to leave.

Anakin whirled around. "Thank her for what??" he demanded.

But Obi-Wan was on his way, and Anakin was, once again, left without an answer.

The day passed quickly, as was usually the case. The Skywalker children had met up with their father in the hangar bay and were, as usual, arguing about who was going home with whom. Anakin just stood by and let them sort it out, knowing better than to get involved.

"Dad goes faster than Luke," Ami protested. "I wanna go with him!"
"He does not," Ani disagreed. "Dad is way slower than Luke."

Luke grinned and looked at his father. "Yeah, I know he is," he teased.

Anakin lifted his eyebrows. "Speeding inside city limits isn't exactly responsible behaviour," he commented. "Speeding on a race track, that's another story altogether."

"You said you were gonna race," Qui-Gon reminded his father. "You were gonna kick Luke's butt, remember Dad?"

"I did say that, didn't I?" Anakin said, folding his arms over his chest.

"So do it!" Shmi said, and was seconded by her brothers and sisters.

"Well? What do you say?" Anakin asked Luke. "Want to put your money where you're mouth is, padawan?"

Luke laughed. "Any time, old man," he said.

A chorus of "ooooooooooo!" was heard from the children.

"Rippen Race track?" Anakin asked.

"Meet you there," Luke said.

"What about Mom?" Leia reminded them both. "She'll be expecting us home."
"I'll tell her to meet us there," Anakin said. "No doubt she'll want to see me humiliate your brother here," he added, looking at Luke with a confident smile.

"No doubt she'll want to console you when you lose," Luke corrected him.

Anakin laughed. "We shall see, young Skywalker," he said. "We shall see."

Obi-Wan Kenobi directed the speeder home, doing exactly the speed limit, driving defensively as he always did. In the back seat his two children were talking quietly, knowing better than to monkey around. Obi-Wan sighed as he thought back to what Anakin had said to him the previous day, about how he needed to spend more time with his children. Ben was thirteen now, and Obi-Wan could already see the changes starting in the boy. Soon he would be a man- the carefree days of childhood gone forever. I mustn't let these years slip away this way, he thought with a frown. He envied Anakin for his carefree attitude; it seemed fun just came naturally to him. It did not to Obi-Wan. Raised under the auspices of the Old Republic, in a very strict Jedi Order, Obi-Wan simply wasn't able to loosen up. Change came very unnaturally to him. And yet, the previous night, hadn't he been delighted with the changes that his wife had introduced into their relationship? Change is a good thing, he told himself; there's nothing wrong with trying new things.

"So…" Obi-Wan began, glancing in the rear view mirror, shocked with how nervous he suddenly felt. "I was wondering if perhaps…you children would like to go to the water park after dinner this evening?" he said.

Ben and Chloe were too shocked to respond.

"It's supposed to stay hot until quite late, and I thought maybe we could do with some cooling off," Obi-Wan added.

"You want to go swimming with us, Father?" Chloe asked, unable to keep the incredulity from her voice.

"Yes," Obi-Wan said. "Unless of course you don't want to see my spindly white legs," he quipped.

Ben and Chloe laughed out loud at their father's joke. Obi-Wan smiled broadly.

Rippen Race Track

Rippen race track was one of Anakin's favourite places on Coruscant. His love of racing had not diminished at all as he'd grown older; if anything it had grown stronger. Now he had children who shared his love of it. Padmé wasn't thrilled about her children racing, just as Shmi had been when Anakin raced. And yet, she and Padmé had managed to reach an agreement: no racing until the children were thirteen.

"I can't believe you're doing this," Padmé said to her eldest son. "You know what's going to happen."

Luke smiled. "Come on, Mom," he said. "Have a little faith in me! I really think I can take him this time."

Padmé shook her head doubtfully. "And if you can't, we'll be listening to his gloating for weeks."

Anakin had arrived in time to hear the last part of the conversation. "Me? Gloat?" he asked incredulously, wrapping his arms around Padmé's waist from behind her. "Jedi never gloat!"

Padmé rolled her eyes. "Can I get that in writing?" she asked.

Luke laughed. "Come on old man," he said to his father. "Let's see what you've got."

Anakin released his wife and followed Luke to the area where the swoop bikes were located. There were no other clients at this time of day, so they didn't have to wait to begin their race.

"Hope you're hungry, Dad," Luke said as he and his father selected their bikes. "'Cause you're gonna be eating my dust soon."
Anakin laughed. "Such cockiness," he said. "You will really be humiliated when you lose."

Luke shook his head. "Oh I'm not planning on losing," he said.

Anakin smiled. "The Force is with you, young Skywalker," he said. "But you are not a Jedi yet," he reminded him.

Luke was a little unnerved by his father's cool reminder, but did his best to hide it from him. "You ready?" he asked as he mounted his bike.

"Bring it on, boy," Anakin replied as he did the same.

From the spectator seats Padmé and the remainder of the family watched eagerly as the race began. All six of Luke's siblings were on their feet, shouting encouragement to their brother and father. Padmé simply remained calm and impartial. She didn't care who won, so long as no one got hurt.

Anakin and Luke were almost neck and neck for the first half of the race. Luke couldn't tell if his father was toying with him or not, for Anakin was a master at shielding his thoughts.

You're going down old man, Luke sent to his father. But Anakin made no reply, which only frustrated Luke more.

The finish line was approaching and Luke's bike was ahead by several centimetres. Suddenly Anakin's bike shot forward with a sudden burst of speed. It was enough to propel him over the finish line almost a metre ahead of Luke.

"I told you!!" Ami shouted triumphantly. "I told you Dad was faster!! In your face, Ani!"

"Amidala, be nice," Padmé said as she stood up. "Let's go congratulate them both on a good race."