Chapter 12

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'Grand Slam Sith Breakfast'

'Daddy's a Hero'

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MORNING –

Anakin gets up and goes to wake up his children. He goes to Luke's room and kisses him awake. Luke rubs his eyes then sees his father smiling down at him.

"Hi, Dad." He yawns.

"Good morning, Luke. Ready for breakfast?"

Luke yawning again. "But I haven't dressed yet."

"I'm making an exception. It's pajama Friday, remember? Come on, get out of bed."

"It smells good. You didn't cater it? You couldn't have cooked it. I don't smell smoke."

Anakin pretends to be insulted. "Luke, I'm hurt."

"Then who's cooking??"

"Go have breakfast. I'll wake your sister."

Luke goes to the kitchen and sleepily takes his place at the table. He rubs his eyes then sips from his favorite Ewok juice glass. The oranges taste freshly squeezed. He looks up and sees a vision.

"Mum???"

"No, Luke, it's just me. How are you?"

"You're an angel!"

She laughs then ruffles his already messy blond hair.

Meanwhile, Leia wakes up. She lumbers to the breakfast table, still bummed out by her father from the day before. Her eyes widen. Her mouth drops open.

Isabel never gets to say, "Good Morning." Leia smiles then turns and storms into her father's bedroom. She doesn't see him. Then, without thinking, she opens the refresher door. He is standing over the bowl. He yells in a panic for her to get out. She is too happy to be overly shocked. She closes the door then stands outside to wait for him. She jumps up and down on his bed. Anakin washes up then closes his robe. He opens the refresher door and sees her. She leaps into his arms and hugs him.

"You're the best dad in the galaxy!" She kisses him "Thank you. Thank you! Thank you!"

"Only the best for my little girl. But you could have waited. I deserve a bit of privacy."

"I'm sorry, Daddy. I'm just so happy."

"It's ok." He kisses her.

She smiles and smoothes his hair.

"Daddy, let's go have breakfast."

"I have to get dressed first."

"But you said it was pajama Friday."

He puts her down.

"So I did. Alright, let me get dressed in something more appropriate…in private, Leia."

She giggles and covers her eyes as she faces the bedroom door. She is giddy. Anakin feels a bit uncomfortable dressing in the presence of his young daughter but she refuses to leave the room. Very little shocks Leia at her young age. He puts on his elegant slippers and velvet robe. She picked them out for him when they went shopping on the very expensive and trendy Selvaris Drive the day after their trip to Alderaan. He wanted to ask her about the man she met called 'Guy Engine,' But she was so excited about going shopping the subject never came up. He made a mental note to ask her again when things had quieted down.

"Come on, Dad! You're taking too long."

Leia drags him from the bedroom. He is only wearing navy silk pajama bottoms, slippers and his long robe. He ties it closed before entering the hallway. They go into the breakfast room and join Luke at the table. Isabel sees them and smiles. Anakin is a bit embarrassed.

"It's 'Pajama Friday' here at the house. I hope you don't mind."

"Well, that's very nice." Anakin has freshly brewed jawa. Isabel serves him his breakfast."

"Thank you."

"You're very welcome, Sir."

Leia is exceptionally jubilant and complimentary this morning.

"This is excellent!"

"Why, thank you, Leia."

Leia smiles then invites Isabel to join them.

"Isabel, come sit with us."

"I'm a little busy right now. Besides, I'm the help. We don't sit with the family."

"Please?"

Anakin insists.

"Isabel, come. Join us. They won't finish without you."

She reluctantly takes a seat at the table. Luke smiles contentedly. He continues to stare at her as he drinks his milk. Anakin calls him but Luke is mesmerized.

"Luke…Luke." Anakin is embarrassed.

Isabel feels a bit awkward but smiles back at Luke. He finishes his milk in one gulp. Isabel wipes his mouth. She takes his glass.

Leia giggles. Anakin looks down at Leia. They are enjoying breakfast for the first time this morning. When breakfast is almost over Luke finally speaks.

"Hi."

Isabel is amused. She smiles then replies.

"Hi."

Anakin speaks to his son.

"Luke, time to get dressed."

"Will you dress me?"

Anakin answers him. "Of course."

"Not you!" He surprises his father with this remark. Luke's voice almost sounds indignant at the very idea of his father's offer. Anakin doesn't know if he should feel insulted or humored that his son refuses his offer. Luke is still staring into Isabel's eyes. He is smitten. Isabel makes a suggestion.

"Luke, why don't you go with your father and I'll help Leia?"

"Okay." He obediently slides out of his chair and follows Anakin. He is almost in a trance, still smiling up at her as he leaves the table. He walks backwards following Anakin until Isabel is out of view.

Isabel and Leia are alone at the table.

"Don't mind him. He's just weird."

"He's adorable."

"He likes you."

"And I like the both of you."

They soon go into Leia's room. Her uniform is ready. Isabel combs Leia's hair. It is the neatest since she has moved in with her father except for the times during her visits to Naboo when her grandmother does her hair. Isabel then helps Anakin with Luke. She makes sure their books and homework is in their book bags. She presents them to Anakin before they leave the house. He is shocked at the transformation. Anakin smiles.

"You two look great!"

"I know." Leia confesses to Isabel. "We looked like orphans before this. My dad isn't very good getting kids ready in the morning."

"Well, we'll have to help him. It can only get better from this point on."

"Are you going to be here when we come home from school?"

"Yes. Just for a short time. You're going to Naboo this evening."

"Nooo…."

Anakin is not pleased with her whining.

"Leia…" Anakin gives her a stern look "You know the schedule and you know the rules. "

"Yes, Daddy. But, Isabel, you'll be here on Sunday when we return won't you?"

"Yes, I will."

"Then we'll see you Sunday. Promise?"

"I promise."

Just when Anakin is done scolding Leia, Luke starts with his whining. Luckily, Isabel manages to handle the situation because Anakin is about to lose his patience. He wants so much to make a good impression.

"Can't we go to Naboo next weekend?"

Isabel gently touches his face.

"You haven't seen your grandparents for two weeks. You'll have a great time. Besides, I need to help your father with a few things here."

Leia cannot wait to responds to this.

"Oh, I guess. He needs all the help he can get."

Luke chimes in.

"That's for sure!" He looks up at his father as if to say, "You had better pay attention to her. This is your last chance."

Isabel looks apologetically at Anakin not intending to embarrass him in front of his children.

"Luke, Leia, be kind. So, I will see you after the weekend. Clear? Your father is waiting. Go."

Luke waves to her. "Bye!"

Leia wants reassurance that Isabel will be at the house when they return. She whispers to Isabel, almost pleading. "Be here, okay?"

"I will be." The children hug her then leave with Anakin for school.

Threepio turns to Isabel

"I think that went rather well."

"I think so too. So, I had better get started."

"Oh, my, yes. Master Ani needs so much help."

Artoo chirps a remark to Threepio. "Any bets on her running out on them when it gets bad?"

"Oh stop it, Artoo. I think things will work out just fine."

Isabel replies to Threepio. "I'm here to make this transition easier for him."

She starts to clean the house. She straightens up the children's rooms and cleans the kitchen. She does not go into the study as she had been informed it is off limits. She goes into the master bedroom. Off to the side is his meditation chamber. She finds it an ominous structure. She closes the doors. She proceeds to make his bed. She is startled hear a voice behind her in the doorway. It is Anakin. He has returned from dropping off the twins at their school.

"You can leave that."

"I don't mind. I'm sure you have work to do."

"Leave it." The voice is more firm and dark.

She stops then walks out. She is a bit shaken at his tone.

She prepares the children's laundry and packs their overnight bags for the trip to Naboo. He walks into the laundry room to apologize for his short temper.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…"

"I understand, Sir. Listen, my job involves the whole family. I need to make your job as a father easier."

"Just concentrate on the children. I can handle my own affairs. And you shouldn't make the beds. I have a housekeeper for that.

"Yes sir."

He leaves her to her work.

That afternoon the children return home from school. They drop their book bags and search for Isabel. Anakin watches them. They find Isabel in the kitchen. She has prepared a meal for them before they leave for Naboo. Leia is chatty, engaging Isabel in a conversation about her school activities. Isabel listens attentively. Luke tries to get in his time with Isabel.

After the meal Anakin tells them to hurry up because they are on a court ordered time constraint. They are reluctant to say good-bye to Isabel. They give her a long and heartfelt hug not wanting to leave her. Though they have started to connect with their father, they are still insecure about him and are concerned he may not keep Isabel. Anakin leaves with the children.

He returns that evening. Isabel is preparing to leave. A car is waiting for her. Anakin thanks her for helping on these hectic first few days.

"So, I will see you on Sunday."

"Yes."

"The children like you."

"I like them. Thank you for giving me this opportunity."

"You're doing well. I believe this will work."

"I believe it will too, sir. Well. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

Threepio and Artoo watch from the balcony window as Anakin waits her taxi to take off.

On Naboo, Ruwee Naberrie and his wife Jobal greet their grandchildren with excitement. They immediately notice a change in the twins. Once fearful and wanting; Luke and Leia are happier today. The children tell their grandparents about the new addition to the household. Ruwee and Jobal are pragmatic and are determined that whatever change occurs will be for the better. They conclude that this is good for the children no matter where help comes from.

Anakin sleeps well that night knowing that his children will enjoy coming home on Sunday. Hopefully they will feel this way long after the help has gone.

To be continued… 'Tutoring Daddy' and 'It Looks Like a Sarlacc'