July 28th, Four Years Post Galactic Empire
Mia woke up screaming as her head shattered with pain, tearing through her body in waves. She thrashed in the bed, clutching her head in agony. Hands were suddenly gripping her, trying to hold her still. She kicked out wildly, pushing them away as tears slipped down her cheeks. Then suddenly the pain was gone in an instant, leaving her breathless. She absolutely hated that it had disappeared so quickly, like her world hadn't just crumbled down. She sobbed, her chest heaving as she tried to reach out, find Anakin desperately. Her heart raced in panic.
"No, no, no, no, no," She cried, the heels of her hands pressed to her eyes.
She sucked in a deep breath, gasping as it caught in her throat.
"Mia, Mia can you hear me?!" Her brother shouted, his hand gripped tightly around her arm.
"Just leave me alone," She begged, sobbing.
"Mia," Micah started, trying to reason with her, get some kind of grasp on what had just happened.
"Leave. Me. Now." She growled out, refusing to look at him.
With that, he left, leaving her to cry in peace.
July 28th, Four Years Post Galactic Empire
Anakin stumbled forward, catching himself on a tree last minute. He felt dizzy and sick and all sorts of wrong. He hadn't anticipated this. His stomach turned, threatening to heave as he tried to make his way back to the dining hall. He stumbled forward again, rushing towards the next tree before he could hit the ground. His breathing was heavy and pained as his chest tightened.
"Woah, okay," Claus spoke, catching him as Anakin's knees gave in. "Come on, we're going back to the infirmary."
Anakin didn't even bother to protest, feeling like he was seconds from passing out. "I feel like shit," He mumbled.
"Well I could have told you that," Claus muttered, taking on most of Anakin's weight as he led the younger Jedi towards the mess hall.
"I didn't expect this," He mumbled.
Claus huffed, "Yeah, well given how strongly the two of you were connected, it's no wonder."
Slowly, they made it back to the mess hall and, eventually, the infirmary.
July 28th, Four Years Post Galactic Empire
Micah stared across the living room and at the open doors. He struggled to listen to the doctor as his catatonic sister laid on the bed with her back turned towards him. He wondered if her distress had been a result of her coma-like condition the past twenty-four hours or something she'd dreamt in that time. He of all people should know what it felt like to have one's subconscious attack them in their sleep. It wasn't as though she was immune to nightmares. She'd stopped crying almost an hour ago, motionless on the bed. She didn't even look like she was breathing which was worrying him all the more.
"My personal recommendation is to keep her under close observation," Doctor Rune Admis stated, glancing her way. "If these violent attacks of panic continue, you might want to consider sedating her."
Micah turned his gaze to the doctor, his irises overtaken by yellow, "You might want to consider leaving," He warned the doctor, his voice unnaturally calm.
Swallowing nervously, Doctor Admis nodded and quickly left without another word.
With a heaving sigh, Micah stepped towards his room.
"Micah," Mia called for him, her voice barely above a whisper.
Turning, he approached her room slowly, hesitant. She kept her back to him as he walked in. Picking up the chair, he moved it so it was in front of her and sat down. Her watery grey eyes glanced along his features thoughtfully. It seemed she didn't have anything to say to him, or if she did, she didn't know how to put it into words.
"How do you feel?" He asked, curious.
Mia shrugged, "I don't know," She admitted quietly, her voice quivering. "I don't know, something's just wrong."
"What's wrong?" Micah asked her, whispering.
Wiping a few tears away, Mia sniffled. "Someone's hurt," She whispered, "Someone in my family, something's wrong with them, I can just feel it."
He nodded slowly, guessing it had to do with Skywalker and his children. He opened his mouth, about to ask what she needed, what she wanted to do. Mia shook her head.
"That's not what I want to talk about," She whispered, "Not right now anyway."
Nodding again, Micah sat back and gave her the time to piece together what she wanted to say. He watched as her bottom lip quivered, "I'm sorry," She breathed out.
"What are you sorry about?" He asked her, confused. What did she have to be sorry about?
Pushing herself up with her right arm, she sat up. Her dark grey eyes met his. "I'm sorry for not trusting you, for not understanding you," She whispered. "I never fully realized how you felt."
"I don't understand," Micah interrupted, not seeing how that was a reason to apologize to him.
Mia looked down for a moment and took his hand in hers. She didn't see the way his eyes shut nervously at the unexpected contact. He was very unfamiliar to wanted, gentle physical contact.
"I had a dream, about what would have happened if I'd been taken instead of you, what would have happened if you became a Jedi instead," Mia whispered.
Micah bit his lip, trying not to bark out how he'd never want to be a Jedi. He knew it wouldn't be a comment she'd appreciate and he didn't knew if he still felt that way now.
"I saw myself, dark and angry and hateful, but I felt alone and terrified somehow. I felt abandoned and lost," Mia went on.
His expression softened somewhat, remembering when he was so much younger, feeling like that. There was nobody in the universe to care about him, to care what happened to him. If he was hurt, if he cried, nobody showed him kindness, nobody swept his tears away. It made him wonder what Mia had growing up, people all around her that cared. Did she ever go to bed at night, tears running down her cheeks, feeling all alone?
"You went your whole life thinking nobody cared," Mia whispered.
Her grey eyes met his, "I care, I really, truly care about you," She told him honestly, "You mean so much to me."
He smiled, a faint little upward twitch at the corners of his mouth.
July 28th, Four Years Post Galactic Empire
Obi-wan frowned as Claus examined Anakin. He wasn't exactly thrilled that his former Padawan had wandered off on his own without a word. They'd mentioned something about the bond but neither Jedi had completely filled him in. Luke and Leia crowded around the hospital bed, fawning over their dad, thrilled to see him again. He hadn't let them visit during Anakin's comatose state.
"Well, you're surprisingly stable, there's no midichlorian swelling. Your brain scans aren't showing any sort of tissue damage. There's no permanent damage from what I can see." Claus finally concluded.
"Well that's good to know," Anakin commented with a subtle undertone of sarcasm. Secretly he was extremely grateful for the news but he still had an uneasy feeling as he wondered how Mia had taken the bond being severed.
Claus turned to him with a raised eyebrow, "I still want to get another brain scan later this week just to be sure," He added.
Luke and Leia both stared up at Claus with confused expressions, too young to completely understand.
"So what exactly happened?" Obi-wan questioned, his patience tested as he waited for the news.
"I finally cut the bond between Mia and I," Anakin answered slowly.
Obi-wan's eyebrows went up in surprise.
"I decided that I needed to trust that she'd make her way back," Anakin explained, "And the only way to give her that chance was to cut the bond."
Obi-wan stood still, his jaw hanging a little lower in shock. Anakin had never been good with attachment, even worse with letting go. He never thought Anakin would be able to overcome it. Yet, here he was, proving Obi-wan wrong.
July 28th, Four Years Post Galactic Empire
Micah paced along length of his room, mind whirling with thoughts, all of them centered around Mia. It didn't matter if she'd survived everything this far, he wasn't sure how long she could physically last if she didn't get the cure. Whatever had happened in the last day or so, it was serious and who knew what would happen if it happened again. Sighing, he walked outside into the living room. She sat on the couch with a cup of tea in hand, her eyes distance and glazed over, looking like she might cry. Sitting on the coffee table in front of her, he watched her carefully.
"What do you need to get this cure?" He asked her.
Her eyes squinted for a moment, eyebrows knitting together in surprise. "I need ship and an unregistered comm-link," She answered.
"Will you need money?" He asked her.
Mia shrugged, "Not much, just enough for a few days," She murmured.
She stared down at the lukewarm tea in her hands, not having anything else to say.
Nodding, Micah sighed. "I'm letting you leave as soon as you're cleared to travel, I'll give you a ship and a comm-link," He told her.
Mia stared at him for a long moment, shocked. "Why?" She questioned.
"I don't know what's wrong with you, but if you can get a cure to stop it, then that's what you need to do," He stated simply.
A long silence passed of them just staring at each other. "And how do you know I'll come back?" Mia asked finally.
Micah sighed, looking down at the floor. "I know you won't," He murmured, "And as much as I want you to stay, I know you need to return to your family."
Nodding, Mia stood up. "I guess I better start packing," She murmured.
Micah watched her retreat to her room. "And Mia, one more thing."
Hesitantly, she turned to face him.
"Burn the picture of Skywalker, don't ever let anyone see it. If they even think you know where to find him, you'll never make it." He told her, almost making it an order.
"How," She started, eyes wide, not sure how to finish that sentence.
"It doesn't matter, burn it," Micah insisted, eyes hard.
Nodding, face pale, Mia retreated back to her room. Sighing heavily, Micah turned back to his room, exhausted.
July 28th, Four Years Post Galactic Empire
Anakin sat on the edge of the hospital bed, staring at the wall. He was already beginning to regret breaking the bond. He couldn't feel that familiar little spot in the back of his mind, the place where her emotions would gently drift, reminding him she was there. Now it was empty and he couldn't feel her in the universe. What if something happened to her now and he never felt it. That was terrifying. He had no idea if she'd ever escape or if he'd ever find her again. What happened to her the seconds after he cut the bond? Had she cried? Did she think he was dead?
It was certainly possible. Before today, he'd always known he'd rather die than let her go. She probably knew that as well as he did. He had no idea what she'd do if something happened to him.
Obi-wan stepped into the room with a wary expression, "You don't look happy," He mentioned.
"I'm starting to have second thoughts," Anakin muttered, staring down at the floor, "It feels weird, wrong actually, to not know for a fact that she's there, to not be able to sense her."
"You can't sense her at all?" Obi-wan clarified, concerned.
Anakin shook his head, "Not like I used to, but not like you're thinking," He stated. "I don't feel her emotions or a rough idea of where she is but I do know she's out there."
"I think as soon as I get out of here, I need to make a plan to try and find her," Anakin murmured.
"How?" Obi-wan inquired, doubtful.
Anakin shrugged, deciding to not let onto the fact he already had an idea—using himself as bait somehow.
July 28th, Four Years Post Galactic Empire
Mia stared at her packed duffle bag—provided by her brother—with hesitancy. She crossed her arms and took a deep breath. She was very eager to leave and very nervous about leaving all at the same time. It meant she'd see Anakin and the twins and Obi-wan again. It also meant she wouldn't see her brother again for quite some time. She might not see him for years. She wouldn't even get to see his face because the world knew him as a faceless entity behind a mask. She longed for a photo to take with her, to keep with her like she had for Anakin, but she was certain he wouldn't want her to have that with her. Ever.
Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out the photo of Anakin and the twins. Her hand shook nervously.
She suddenly felt his presence behind her. "Would you like a lighter?" He offered.
Mia turned around, unsurprised to see him dressed into his armor. "You have a lighter?" She asked him with a wry smile, amused. "I thought you didn't smoke death sticks."
He scoffed. "It's not for that," He told her. "I keep it with me on missions for survival."
Nodding, Mia shrugged. "I guess."
Turning, he walked out only to return a moments later with a pack of matches. "I lied," He added, almost smirking.
Rolling her eyes, Mia pulled out a match. Her fingers shook again.
In seconds, he crossed the room and gently gripped her wrist, steadying her hand. "You need to do this." He stated.
"I know," She whispered.
Sucking in a deep breath, she lit the match. Micah carried in a metal trash can and held it out for her. Holding the match to the photo, Mia let it burn. Her eyes watered as she dropped it into the trash can. It felt irrational, crying over a photo when she would see them in a day, two at the most. Looking away, she blinked the tears away.
Reaching into his cloak, he pulled out a large parcel.
"Inside is two bank cards, the blue one is to a private account I can't track. The second one has considerably less money. If you ever need my help, just use it and I'll have your location and I'll depart immediately." He instructed her. "There is an Imperial ship waiting in my personal hanger, take it and sell it in exchange for an unmarked ship. Buy an unregistered comm-link with your own money."
Nodding, Mia slipped the parcel into her duffle back.
Reaching for his utility belt, he pulled out her lightsaber. She took it in her hand, enjoying the way it felt so familiar in her hands. It was simple but elegant in design. She slipped it into her duffle bag.
Suddenly, Mia hugged him. "You'll always be my brother, no matter what," She whispered before pulling away.
He looked shocked by the hug but quickly recovered.
"You could come with me, just leave the Empire," Mia added softly, surprised at how hard this was.
"Mia, nobody in my position just leaves the Empire," Micah stated simply.
Her heart sank and ice filled her chest.
Nodding in an attempt to shake the depressing thoughts away, Mia reached for the duffle bag. Micah handed her the black cloak, motioned for her to put it on. She sighed and took it from his hands, gently setting the bag onto the floor. The shiny black fabric billowed in the air as she pulled it on and folded the hood over her forehead, allowing it to shroud her face in the shadows.
"Remember to duck your head for the cameras," He murmured.
Nodding again, she picked the duffle bag back up.
"Most of the crew is meeting in the hanger for a drill, so the hallways will be fairly deserted." He added.
He put on his helmet without much warning. She tugged at the fabric of her cloak for a moment, suddenly much more nervous than before. She followed him out.
The walk to his private hanger was silent and uninterrupted. She stared up at the Imperial ship, a small, single person ship. He motioned for her to get in.
Turning, Mia climbed up the ladder and sat down in the pilot's seat. She turned to glance at him
Switching on the computers, she was very glad that ships hadn't changed too much from the old Republic's ships. She glanced to her right and smiled at him before taking off. Flying into space, she programed the navi-computer and launched into hyper-space.
July 29th, Four Years Post Galactic Empire
Mia wandered through the crowded, busy streets of Corellia. It was hot and the smoke and exhaust of all the factories dutifully building ships clung to her skin. It didn't help that she was wearing a heavy scarf, wearing it so it wrapped around her head and covered her mouth and nose. It was a busy core planet, she couldn't risk a camera getting so much as a glimpse of her face. The war had brought her to this planet from time to time, usually to its large industrial cities. Tonight it brought her to a space pirate. He was well known for having a distinct taste in ships—and women, and spice, and treasure.
Turning down the narrow alleyway, she pulled the hood of her cloak over her face. Around the back of a popular theatre was a narrow red door. Pushing it open, she stepped inside. Smoke hung in the air like a cloud. A man with dark hair and a scraggly beard sat behind a desk, looking more interested in the blond woman sitting in the corner, gazing at him through her thick lashes.
"Where can I find Jace Young?" Mia inquired in a low tone, crossing her arms.
The man glanced at her, a glint in his dark blue eyes. "Well, that really depends on what you want," He stated with a cocky smirk, eyeing her up.
"I would like to move some very precious merchandise," Mia stated, looking around the room.
"Can help you if you don't tell me what it is," He pointed out, still smiling that cocky smile.
She stopped for a moment, staring at an old holo-reel of Clones being let by a Jedi—Master Windu's squadron, if the markings on the helmet of the Captain was anything to go by.
"An Imperial H-class Star Fighter, single pilot, still weaponized," Mia answered, glancing over her shoulder. "I heard you were the man to move something like that."
Jace Young stood up, striding towards her. "Now how did you get your hands on that?" He asked her.
Mia chuckled, "Let's say the pilot isn't doing so well," She told him vaguely.
"What do you want for it?" He inquired, leaning in.
"Mostly to have it off my hands," She stated dismissively, "How about a trade."
"For what?" Jace Young questioned.
Mia just smirked.
July 29th, Four Years Post Galactic Empire
Anakin watched as the twins sat at the coffee table, drawing quietly. He'd been home for a few hours now but they'd been unusually quiet. He could sort of sense it was because they were nervous about him needed to be in the infirmary again because of some sort of setback. It seemed like the longer things continued to not return to normal, the quieter they became. Mia had been gone for so long and there wasn't any clear indication of when they might find her again. He'd been hospitalized twice now in just a month. Children aren't supposed to go through that kind of stress in such a short period of time.
"So what do you guys want to do for your birthday?" Anakin asked them suddenly.
Luke and Leia looked up at him in surprise. "Birthday?" Leia repeated, her little eyebrows pulling together.
"You're turning five in a few days, do you want to do anything special?" He asked them.
"I'd like cake," Leia suggested.
"Chocolate cake," Luke added insistently.
Anakin stopped for a moment, wondering how he'd scrape together chocolate cake together. "I definitely think that's doable," He spoke up when they began to look uncertain.
"Anything else?" He asked them.
"Can Clause come over for dinner?" Leia added, smiling. "I like his stories."
Anakin nodded, "Anyone else?" He asked.
Luke and Leia looked at each other for a moment, pondering it. "Reina!" They decided at the same time.
"Okay," He agreed. "Anything else you want to do for your birthday?"
Luke and Leia glanced at each other for a moment. Leia sighed. "Can Mia come home?" She asked.
Anakin sighed, "Princess, I don't know when Mia's coming home," He told her quietly.
Tears welling in her eyes, Leia stood and ran upstairs, slamming the door to her room. Luke looked down at the floor.
"Does Mia not want to be a part of our family anymore?" He whispered so low Anakin almost didn't hear him.
"No, of course she wants to be a part of our family," Anakin insisted, "She loves you two more than anything in the world, she wants to be here."
"Then why isn't she here?" Luke asked him, sniffling.
Anakin sighed, not having an easy answer. There was so much he wanted to protect Luke and Leia from. He wanted to see them still have hope. He wanted them to have that innocence he never got to have as a child.
"It's complicated," He whispered.
Standing up, Luke went upstairs without another word.
Looking down at the drawings the twins had made, Anakin sighed. He felt like he was failing them again and again.
July 29th, Four Years Post Galactic Empire
Mia stared out at the distant skyline, admiring the way it stretched so far out as the orange and pink sky was slowly whisked away by the night. Great spires of skyscrapers reached into the stars, threatening to surpass them. She smiled gently, admiring it. There was something about travelling to distant worlds for the Jedi Order that she never realized she missed before tonight. The smile dimmed and Mia looked away from the window. Pulling the bedspread off of the bed, she touched her bare feet to the cold floor. Stepping towards the window, she sat down on the floor. She wanted so badly to be taking off right now, leaving and making her way to where ever they were.
One night, she promised herself. One night for her to rest before leaving. It was so much to ask for, to just wait when she could be there by morning.
Closing her eyes, Mia stopped herself for a moment. She needed stop and think for a moment.
She'd been, in the eyes of everyone, held captive for over a month by the Emperor's second in command. If she told the truth to everyone, they'd have her committed. They wouldn't believe her. The Rebellion and its medical doctors would decide she'd been severely psychologically tortured or that she was lying. If they did believe her, she'd be asked about everything she knew about the Empire's military infrastructure and all the weaknesses her brother had.
Whatever she told the Rebellion, she had to tell Anakin the truth.
She couldn't lie to him. She couldn't just walk back into their lives and act like so much about her life hadn't just changed so drastically.
Touching the palms of her hands together, Mia closed her eyes and rehearsed what she'd say.
July 30th, Four Years Post Galactic Empire
She didn't sleep much, she couldn't really make her brain shut off all night. It didn't matter, she was leaving today and nothing in the world could stop her. Smiling slightly, Mia glanced out the window of the taxi-speeder and watched as the towering, reflective structures around her flew past. The taxi-speeder made a left, driving down a narrow street. It pulled along the side of a wide, non-descript white building. Paying the driver, Mia stepped out into the warm air. Walking inside the private ship hanger, she walked down a short corridor that branched off.
For a moment, she sensed it, an imprint of a memory she didn't understand. She heard lightsaber sounds and ships taking off, an echo.
Confused by it, Mia stepped away from the corridor where she sensed the echo in the Force.
She found her ship in its assigned hanger. It was sturdy, and honestly a little ugly, but she knew it would get her where she needed to be.
Glancing back at the door, she pushed a square green button the length of her hand. The ceiling above her raised up, opening up to the sky above. Slinging her duffle-bag over her shoulder, Mia climbed up the ladder of the ship. Climbing into the cockpit of the small ship, Mia set her duffle bag down at her side and secured it. Flipping switches, she started up the ship. She could feel the way it floated off the ground, the way power subtly vibrated through the ship as she rose higher into the air.
Flying out of the hanger, she left Corellia. Sitting in hyperspace, Mia pulled out the unregistered comm-link she'd bought the night before. Pushing for the pre-programmed encoded frequency she couldn't forget if she tried, she engaged the comm-link.
A minute later, the comm-line was opened. "Hello?" Obi-wan inquired, baffled.
"Obi-wan?" She laughed, so happy to hear his voice.
A second later, her smile dimmed as she wondered where Anakin was.
"Mia? Mia, where are you?!" Obi-wan questioned, suddenly alarmed.
"I'm in a ship, ready to enter hyperspace," She told him, "I just need coordinates."
"Grid Coordinates: 607.5, 43, 127.82," Obi-wan rattled out, surprised.
Punching in the coordinates in the navi-computer. "Unikar system," Mia murmured, "Mirunkeer."
"You still know the Rebel base frequency?" He asked her.
"I do," She assured him. "I'll be there in a few hours."
Confirming the calculated route, Mia launched the ship into hyperspace.
July 30th, Four Years Post Galactic Empire
Anakin walked upstairs, surprised to hear voices when he knew the only person up there was Obi-wan. Opening the door to his room, he glanced at Obi-wan standing in the middle of the room with a shocked expression. Eyebrow raised in concern, Anakin stepped further inside. Then he saw it, the old comm. he'd set up with Mia nearly five years ago as an encrypted channel to communicate in emergencies.
"Obi-wan," Anakin spoke carefully, not sure what to expect.
"It was Mia," Obi-wan explained, looking like he didn't quite believe it. "She's in a ship, she needed coordinates, she contacted you."
"How is she?" Anakin asked suddenly, filled with new questions.
Obi-wan paused for a moment, trying to find a way to articulate it. "I, I don't know," He answered, "She wasn't on the line for long, she was about to jump into hyperspace."
"But she's coming here," Anakin confirmed. "When?"
"She said she'd be here in a few hours," Obi-wan answered slowly.
Nodding, Anakin slowly sat down on the bed, shock taking over.
July 30th, Four Years Post Galactic Empire
Obi-wan stood in the information center on base, watching as comm. responders monitored for traffic around the planet. Behind him Anakin paced back and forth nervously, tugging at his shirt or running his hand through his hair. The technicians inside the room watched him with growing irritation, clearly wishing he'd finally step outside.
"Incoming vessel, what is your planned flight path?" One of the technicians spoke through the comm.
"This is… requesting… landing coordinates…"
It was cracking and unclear but Anakin was certain he could hear Mia's voice on the other end.
"Incoming vessel, repeat, what is your planned flight path?"
The technician looked to the others within the room, motioning for them to try improving the signal better.
"This is Jedi Knight Mia Rosslyn piloting a J8S-class Corellian-made Star Cruiser, requesting landing coordinates."
Anakin abruptly left the room, wanting to be the first to see her. He rushed out the mess hall and outside where Claus was watching Luke and Leia play in the field below. The older Jedi stood up suddenly, eager to hear the news.
"Is it her, is she here?" Claus questioned, looking nervous.
Anakin nodded, "I just heard her over the comm." He answered, "They're giving her landing coordinates now."
Below in the field, hanger attendants were rushing Luke and Leia off to the side and up the stairs to where Claus and Anakin stood.
"They say a ship's coming," Luke mentioned, completely unaware of who they were all waiting for.
Anakin nodded, too nervous to focus on anything but the fact that Mia was close, so close that even without the bond he could sense her getting closer. Obi-wan appeared outside, looking a little pale.
Suddenly the grass field broke in two as the large hatches opened up with a landing platform for Mia too land the ship. Hanger attendants stood, ready and waiting with anchoring cables in hand. Then he heard it, the fine hum of a ship circling above as it lowered closer to the ground. Heart hammering and palms sweaty, Anakin inched closer to the stairs that would take him down to Mia. The ship landed slowly but solidly, just like he'd taught her. The second it touched the ground, he ran down the steps.
Mia stared out at the trees around her, marveling at the forest as she climbed out of the ship. Landing soundly on the ground, she looked up at Anakin, standing thirty feet in front of her. Dropping the duffle bag, she ran towards him.
He picked her up the second she had her arms around him, spinning her in joy. She laughed and cried, surprised and relieved and so happy to be back.
"Thank the Force your alive," Mia whispered, her voice pitching upward as she buried her head in his chest. "Don't you ever scare me like that again!"
Anakin laughed, "I promise," He insisted, holding on tightly.
"I was so scared something had happened to you," Mia murmured, pulling away.
He wiped the tears away with his thumbs, grinning widely. "I'm just happy you're finally home," He whispered. Glancing to his left, he smiled. "And I'm not the only one."
Following his gaze, Mia smiled as Luke and Leia came running forward. Crouching down, she pulled them into a hug, tears spilling down her cheeks again.
"Oh, I missed you so much," Mia told them, hugging them tightly as she kissed their foreheads and cheeks with joy.
"My birthday wish came true!" Leia exclaimed, overjoyed.
Mia laughed, "Your birthday wish? Your birthday isn't for another three days," She pointed out, "I know, I came home just for that."
"Claus said I could make an early birthday wish," Leia explained, giggling.
Mia's eyebrows knitted together, surprised to hear his name.
"Yeah, so Leia and I both wished for you to come home on our birthday," Luke added.
"And it really came true," Mia laughed, hugging them again.
Up above on the balcony, Claus and Obi-wan watched as Mia reunited with Anakin and the twins. Obi-wan glanced at Claus, wondering if he'd finally go down and greet his daughter for the first time in years.
"Are you going to go down there?" Obi-wan inquired.
Claus shook his head sadly.
"She'll be thrilled to see you," Obi-wan insisted.
"Yes, but she won't know who I really am," Claus muttered, trying to ignore the way his chest ached to just hug his daughter.
As much as he tried to remember, he couldn't clearly recall the last time he got to hug her. There had been a few, brief moments when she'd hugged him, simply because she wanted to, but he couldn't accurately remember how long it had been. She was a teenager then, that he knew.
Truthfully, the day she decided she'd rather be in the field than be a doctor was one of the saddest days of his life.
"You should go down there, she'll want to see you." Claus told Obi-wan, wincing as he heard the bitterness in his own voice.
Nodding understandingly, Obi-wan walked down the wooden stairs onto the ground below. The second Mia saw him she ran and pulled him into a hug. Watching his daughter interact with her family—a family he didn't have a place in—Claus walked back inside alone.
Yes, I did change my name, I guess you could say I've begun to outgrow it. Yes, chapter 26 is ready to be published next week. Heads up, there is also going to be a few chapters going up on my side fanfic Adventures of a Past Long Gone for this story including chapters for That Shithole of a Planet Parts 2 and 3 as well as A History Lesson in Pranking. Those will be up in a few weeks I think. I'm trying to be more consistent with my updates