Six years later
As the Lars homestead came into view, Anakin gave a sigh of relief and pressed down on the speeder bike's accelerator. On the back, Luke was completely covered and quiet.
Although his Jedi lessons had continued, Anakin frequently found that the demands of fatherhood would often cut his time with Obi-Wan rather short, although Obi-Wan understood.
The Lars family had fallen on hard times because it was becoming increasingly difficult to keep the moisture vaporators running with the severe lack of rain from the sky. As a result, Derrick, who had recently turned 18, had moved to Mos Eisley in hopes of finding a well-paid job so that he could help support his parents. He kept in touch often, although he could rarely visit.
Luke, on the other hand, was a free-spirited boy of 13 and, more often than not, his ambitious nature often got him into trouble, yet Anakin was always there to provide him with help. He had friends in Anchorhead, but, as the journey was dangerous for a teenager, Anakin had not allowed Luke to go roaming away from the homestead very much, but he had allowed Luke's friends to sometimes visit.
It seemed like nearly every day, Luke was taking more reckless chances, which saddened Anakin. One of these days, Luke would end up in trouble that would end his life.
Fortunately, for now, Anakin was able to still be there and rescue his son, like at the moment.
Possibly in anger that Derrick, whom he considered a friend, had left home, Luke had stolen had stolen the keys to his Uncle Owen's skyhopper and gone on a joyride far across the desert, but he ended up crashing near the Jundland Wastes. Although Luke was unhurt and able to radio back to the homestead for help, the skyhopper was totalled.
While Beru stayed at home to calm a furious Owen down, Anakin took Owen's speeder bike, as well as a medi-pack, across the desert and was able to locate Luke before any of the Jawas or Sand People. After giving Luke a short lecture, they had started back for home together.
The skyhopper was irrepairable, so Anakin had left it behind, only taking a few parts for things he could later build. To him, a busted-up machine was not worth Luke's safety.
Unfortunately, about halfway home, they had hit a severe sand storm that included a heavy dust cyclone. Instead of stopping, Anakin had covered Luke with his cloak and ridden through the storm, as he wanted to get his son back to safety as soon as possible.
Now, as they pulled up in front of the homestead, Luke uncovered himself just in time to see Beru come outside, "Anakin, you got him!" she said, pulling Luke from the bike and into her arms.
Even though he was feeling extremely tired from all the hard riding he had done, Anakin smiled and got off the bike, "Luke's just fine, Beru," he reassured the woman who had been a good mother figure to Luke for many years. "I couldn't save the skyhopper, though."
Nodding, Beru sighed, "Well, Owen's calmed down enough that he can actually look at Luke now without smacking him hard," she stated. "Let's all go inside and have some dinner, all right?"
Anakin nodded and followed Beru, who still had an arm around Luke, into the house.
Gritting his teeth, Owen glared at Luke as Beru led him and Anakin into the dining room.
"How was your journey, Anakin?" Beru asked, giving Owen a look to tell him not to start screaming at Luke, no matter how angry he was about the skyhopper.
Taking a seat at the table, Anakin coughed, "About halfway home, we hit a sand storm that had a rather nasty dust cyclone in the middle of it," he said, quickly grabbing his glass of water and taking a drink. "Other than that, it was hot and quiet...I really rode hard to get back here quickly."
There was silence as Luke sat down next to his father and Beru brought dinner to the table.
"Dad, can I apply to the Imperial Academy?" Luke suddenly asked, gazing at Anakin eagerly, as that ride in the desert had made him want to start doing useful things with his life. "I wanna become an Imperial soldier and help keep peace in the galaxy, like my friends are gonna do."
At the mention of the Empire, Anakin choked on the food that he had just put in his mouth. Owen swore and smacked his stepbrother hard on the back until the food came out of his mouth.
"No, you may not apply to the Imperial Academy, you're too young," Anakin stated, a firm tone in his voice. "Besides, I think it's better if you stayed here and helped your aunt and uncle out."
Luke scowled, "I don't wanna be a moisture farmer!" he protested angrily. "How come I have to go outside and work with Uncle Owen every day and you don't, Dad?"
"I can't tolerate the harshness of the heat from the suns, Luke," Anakin lied, not wanting Luke to know that he spent most days in the garage, learning from Obi-Wan. "I do plenty to help your aunt and uncle, but it's easier for me to be in the house, doing repair jobs."
Continuing to scowl, Luke picked up his fork and took a bite of his food, "Well, I wanna come and work in the garage, then!" he stated, his angry voice rising. "I don't LIKE being outside all day!"
"Luke, you need to be grateful for the fact that your aunt and uncle have put up with us for so long," Anakin gently reprimanded his son. "If it weren't for their kindness, we could have ended up as slaves in Mos Espa, as we were destitute when we first came to Tatooine."
Owen and Beru exchanged a look, but kept quiet, as Anakin was trying to deal with his son.
"Working out in the heat all day with Uncle Owen is like being a slave," Luke sharply stated. "I don't have any freedom to do what I want. He makes me work really, really hard."
Fighting to keep himself from screaming at his insolent son, Anakin sighed, "Helping family who have done so much for us is not slavery, Luke," he said, defeat in his voice. "In slavery, there really is no freedom at all...You really need to count your blessings, my son."
Realizing that nobody was going to back him up, Luke swore and bolted from the table.
Feeling worn out from yet another argument with Luke, Anakin slouched and fought to keep awake. Beru rose and went after Luke to try and talk some sense into him.
"I should turn that boy over my knee for talking to you like that," Owen hissed, anger in his voice.
Anakin shook his head, "It's not worth it, Owen," he said, rising from the table. "I think I'm going to call it a night. I have absolutely no energy left after that long ride."
Owen nodded, "Rest well, brother," he said, concerned by how worn out Anakin looked.
Coughing, Anakin left the room and quickly retreating to his room, he lay down and shivered.
As he drifted off to sleep, Anakin wondered if Luke would ever grow into a responsible person.
Yawning, Luke rose from his bed and immediately felt guilty for his outburst the night before.
Putting on his housecoat, Luke quietly made his way from the room and into where his father was still sleeping. He needed to apologize and work on becoming a better person.
"Dad?" Luke asked, as he shook his father's shoulder. "Dad, are you awake?"
Instead of replying, Anakin began to shiver and cough, "L-Luke...I'm sick," he finally managed to reply in a weak voice. "I can't breathe...It's too hot in here..."
Worried, Luke placed a hand on his father's forehead and was horrifed that Anakin had a very bad fever, "Luke, I can't see you.." Anakin whispered. "...My eyes are swollen shut, I think..."
Swearing under his breath, Luke ran from the room and into the kitchen, where his aunt and uncle were making breakfast together, "Dad's really sick, Uncle Owen," he stated, extremely scared.
"What do you mean your father's really sick?" Owen asked, wondering if Luke was just messing with him to get attention.
Fighting back tears, Luke lowered his head, "I went in to his room this morning to apologize and I found him coughing in bed, saying he couldn't breathe," he revealed. "His skin is really, really hot and he can't see anything."
"Sand pnuemonia..." Owen murmured, exchanging a look with Beru. "He must have caught it while riding home with Luke in that storm the other day..."
Motioning for Luke to stay in the kitchen, Owen quickly left the kitchen and went to Anakin's room.
"Anakin, Luke says you're sick," Owen said, swearing as he placed a hand on Anakin's forehead and realized that there was a high fever present. "Can you really not see anything?"
Anakin shivered, "It feels like my eyes are swollen shut," he wheezed. "I can't breathe either..."
Swearing, Owen gently pulled Anakin into an upright position, "My guess is that a lot of sand got into your eyes," he said, as he examined Anakin's eyes. "Why weren't you wearing your flight goggles?"
"I wanted to keep Luke safe from the storm," Anakin weakly replied. "I gave him my cloak too."
Not surprised that Anakin had made sure that Luke would be safe before worrying about his own needs, Owen nodded, "I need to get you out of bed and into a cold bath," he said, gently lifting Anakin from the bed. "After your body temperature's back down, I'll work on your eyes."
Fighting to keep from passing out, Anakin groaned and allowed Owen to escort him through the house and into the fresher. He felt himself being sat down on the edge of the tub.
"Since there's no doctor around here anymore, I'll be playing it by ear," Owen said, as he turned the taps and cold water began to fill the tub. "I hope this helps..."
Laying back so that his head was against the wall, Anakin used the Force to try and find out of Obi-Wan was awake yet. He needed Obi-Wan desperately, as Owen didn't know what to do.
"...Anakin, are you all right?" Obi-Wan suddenly asked in Anakin's mind, as he sat in the garage, hearing Anakin's silent call for help.
"I'm sick and I can't see, Obi-Wan," Anakin weakly replied, his voice weak.
"...I wish I could help you," Obi-Wan responded. "I know how to help..."
"Owen...can you get Luke to help you today?" Anakin asked, fighting the urge to pass out.
Quickly realizing that Anakin wanted Luke away from the house so that Ben Kenobi, who most likely had more experience than he did with sickness, could come out of the garage and be of help, Owen nodded, "I'll get Luke to help me with the work on the north ridge today."
Fighting to catch his breath, Anakin heard the tub being turned off and Owen leaving the room.
If he died, Anakin thought, at least Luke would be under the roof of people who loved him dearly.
"...Hold his mechanical arm above his head, Beru," Obi-Wan gently said, as he knelt beside the tub full of cold water, which contained a semi-conscious Anakin. "I'll get some fluids into him."
As Beru lifted Anakin's right arm to keep it from getting wet, Obi-Wan lifted a small pitcher full of water to Anakin's mouth, "Drink all of this, Anakin," he ordered. "It'll help your lungs."
Feeling nothing but trust that Obi-Wan would be able to help him, Anakin opened his mouth and sputtered as he felt the water being poured down his throat.
Right after Owen and Luke had gone outside to work, Beru had gotten Obi-Wan from the garage and together, they had undressed Anakin and gotten him into the cool water. While Obi-Wan, who knew a thing or two about medic procedures from past adventures, took direct care of Anakin, Beru busied herself with ensuring that Anakin's mechanical arm wouldn't suffer water damage.
"All right, take a deep breath if you can," Anakin heard Obi-Wan say, as he heard the now-empty pitcher being put down. "I'm going to wash out your eyes with some saltwater now, it will sting a bit...Just stay still and try to relax."
Anakin winced as he felt his eyes being forced open and treated with saltwater, but he didn't move, or say anything, mostly because he had no strength to argue with his former Master.
"Good, I see some sand coming out," Obi-Wan stated, smiling at Beru.
While laying in the cold tub and feeling both Obi-Wan and Beru work to help him get better, Anakin couldn't help but wonder what Owen and Luke were doing.
Tears stung Luke's eyes as he handed his Uncle Owen another tool, it was his fault that his father had ended up severely ill. If he hadn't acted so reckless, everything would be all right.
"Luke, that's the wrong tool," Owen stated from under the vaporator. "I need the right one."
Embarrassed that he had caused yet more frustration in his uncle, Luke turned away and began to cry, not being able to hold his sadness in anymore. The noise from under the vaporator suddenly stopped and Owen crawled out, shocked to see Luke crying.
"What's the matter?" Owen asked, concerned that Luke may have hurt himself somehow.
Luke said nothing and continued to cry. Pulling himself out from underneath the vaporator, Owen sat up and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, "Luke, tell me what's wrong," he said gently.
"If I hadn't stolen your plane, my dad wouldn't be dying!" Luke finally sobbed. "It's my fault!"
He thinks Anakin is going to die? Owen thought, suddenly very worried. Not good.
Sighing, Owen put his arms around Luke and held the boy close, "Luke, your dad is NOT going to die, he's just very sick," he explained, hoping that what he was saying would help.
"It's my fault, though!" Luke protested tearfully. "He came into the desert to rescue me from the Jawas and Sand People. When we ran into that storm, he gave me his goggles and covered me with his cloak so I wouldn't end up sick. I was stupid and because of it, my dad..."
Owen sighed and gently mussed Luke's hair, "Your dad is not going to die, Luke," he repeated, a firmer tone in his voice. "Yes, you were reckless and shouldn't have stolen my Skyhopper to go joyriding across the desert, but I think you are learning your lesson now."
"I'm sorry for being reckless, Uncle Owen," Luke apologized. "I'll try and do better."
Nodding, as he knew this whole experience would serve as a lesson that Luke would never forget, Owen used his sleeve to dry the boy's face, "You need to tell that to your father, Luke," he stated. "Did you know that your father almost died right after he brought you here?"
Luke's eyes widened in shock, "Dad almost died bringing me here?" he asked. "I didn't know that."
"You were about a year old when your father brought you to Tatooine," Owen explained, briefly remembering the day that Ben Kenobi had brought Anakin and baby Luke to the homestead for a new life. "Bad things had recently happened and your father needed to keep you safe."
Even though he wanted to know what bad things happened that caused his father to bring him to Tatooine, Luke knew that it was not an appropriate question to ask at that time and merely nodded, "I promise to do better, Uncle Owen," he said. "I will tell my dad that too."
Nodding, Owen looked out at the suns that were beginning to set as he continued to hold his nephew close, "Why don't we watch the suns set for a few minutes and you can think of what you would like to say to your father?" he suggested in a kindly tone.
Luke nodded and stared at the setting suns as he tried to figure out what to say to his father.
By the time the two had come inside, as the sunsets were too alluring to miss a moment of, supper was already out on the table and Beru was washing Anakin's supper dish in the sink.
She smiled as she heard Owen and Luke walk into the kitchen, as she could tell Luke that although Anakin was still very weak, he would eventually be okay. After being left in the cold water all day and forced to drink liquids while Ben flushed his eyes out with saltwater, Anakin had managed to eat a decent amount of soup before returning to bed for rest. Although his eyes were still swollen shut, Anakin's fever was down and it was somewhat easier for him to breathe.
After helping Anakin back to bed, Ben had retreated and locked himself in the garage so Luke wouldn't see him, as it was Anakin's wish that Luke not meet the mysterious stranger yet.
"Did you two work hard today?" Beru asked, as she walked over to the table where Owen and Luke sat, putting food on their plates.
"Aunt Beru, can I go talk to my dad before I eat?" Luke asked, as he knew that he wouldn't be able to enjoy his meal unless he apologized to his father first.
Unsure of what to say, Beru looked at Owen for an explanation, "Luke wants to talk to Anakin right away," Owen explained. "He has some things he wants to say that are very important."
"Well, Luke, are you okay with the fact that he's not going to be able to see you because his eyes are swollen shut?" Beru asked, testing to see if Luke was sincere about wanting to talk to Anakin.
"Yes, Aunt Beru," Luke replied. "I know that he won't be able to see me, but I can hold his hand and talk to him. He might be happy with me just being there."
Giving Luke a look of both wonder and compassion, Beru nodded that it was okay and after watching Luke get up from the table and leave the room, she looked at Owen, "What on earth did you say to him today?" she asked, curious as to why Luke's attitude was suddenly so different.
Not wanting to discuss the private conversation that he and Luke had shared, Owen merely smiled and, quickly putting a reassuring arm around Beru, he continued eating his dinner.
Luke quietly crept into his father's room and saw that his father was wearing fresh pajamas and along with being well covered, he also had a cloth coolpack over his eyes as he lay in bed.
"Dad, I don't know if you're awake, but I just want to say I'm sorry," Luke said, as he moved around the bed and sat in a chair that had been placed there earlier that day. "I shouldn't have taken Uncle Owen's skyhopper for a joyride and crashed in the Jundland Wastes," he said, fresh tears rolling down his face. "If I hadn't gone, you wouldn't have had to come after me and get sick because you just wanted me to stay safe in the storm we hit on the way back. I am just so incredibly sorry that my recklessness caused you to get sick. I am going to try and do better."
There was silence so Luke, figuring that his father was asleep, rose to leave.
"Luke, come here a moment," Anakin's weak voice suddenly sounded out, as he had been laying there listening to his son's tearful confession. "I want to talk to you before I fall asleep."
Curious as to what his father had to say, Luke moved closer and took Anakin's gloved left hand so that his temporarily blinded father could know he was there, "I'm right here, Dad," he said.
"Luke, please don't blame yourself for my getting sick," Anakin said, feeling as if he would fall asleep any second. "I was scared that you would be very hurt, so I rode straight to the Jundland Wastes and took you back here just as fast, even though we could have stopped and rested. I wasn't patient once I knew you were safe, I just wanted to get us home. When we ran into the storm, I should have been responsible, stopped, and set up camp for us until it passed, but I did not choose to do that. I want you to promise me that you will stop blaming yourself for this."
Even though his father couldn't see him, Luke nodded, "I promise to stop blaming myself for you becoming sick," he said. "This has really taught me a lesson, Dad. I want to do better now."
"That's good, Luke, there's always room for improvement in one's life," Anakin replied, his voice growing weaker as sleep continued to beckon. "Before I fall asleep, I just want you to know that I do and always will love you, Luke. I am very, very proud to be your father..."
There was a sudden gasp, which quickly softened into quiet breaths as Anakin finally allowed himself to fall asleep. Luke sat there for a moment, then put his father's hand under the blanket.
"I love you too, Dad," Luke whispered, as he rose and moved towards the doorway so he could go and join his aunt and uncle at the dinner table. "I am very, very proud to be your son."