Chapter Thirty-three:

Luke sat in his room, reading a datapad with the latest news on it and wondering what it would be like when he got out of the med ward. What would his life be like now? Where would he go? What would he do?

The current Emperor— a man he didn't know by the name of Firmus Piett— was still in talks with members of the galaxy's various leaders, mostly the Rebel Alliance, to bring about peace and a new government that everyone could be happy with.

So far things were going well, though there were members of the Empire that were less happy about the state of things. Those who tried to take matters into their own hands were swiftly dealt with, which helped the Emperor's image in Luke's opinion.

With a small sigh, Luke set the 'pad aside and waited for his dinner, which had been ordered a few minutes ago. It had been another week and a half since Luke had left his room and confronted Anakin.

In that time, the man had studiously avoided the young man, probably due to Luke's reaction to his news. Luke felt bad that he had pushed Anakin away like that, but he didn't know how to fix it.

Truth be told, Luke missed Anakin. In the time he'd been absent from Luke's life this last ten days, the youth had had plenty of time to mull things over. Vader had never directly interfered with Luke's life, he knew: and it really wasn't the man's fault that some rogue troopers had gone haywire.

Evil as the man had been, Darth Vader had never directly hurt Luke. Anakin certainly hadn't. Anakin had only ever been kind to Luke, acting in a fatherly way that had drawn the youth to him without Luke realizing it... until Anakin was gone.

Luke wanted to get to know Anakin better. More importantly, Luke wanted to get to know his father better. Han had told Luke what he knew of the Jedi known as the Hero With No Fear, as many had dubbed the Jedi in the Clone Wars. But it had been patchy information.

Luke had inquired of Obi Wan a few times and received better responses since the Jedi Master had known Anakin well. Last night Luke had asked Obi Wan if he could get Anakin to visit him, and the Jedi had said he'd talk with Anakin.

Luke settled into his bed more comfortably, thinking over his more rigorous therapy sessions and grateful that he had made huge progress. Luke was still shaky at times, but it was residual from his ordeal, and he was in fact gaining a healthy amount of weight that the doctors were pleased with.

The nerve damage had turned out to be minimal, thankfully, with Luke experiencing twitching now and again that he couldn't control. But other than that, he was almost done recovering.

Now he just had to complete his therapy and he'd be discharged. Luke couldn't wait for that day: he was sick of the med ward.

Luke glanced to the doorway, wondering why it was taking unusually long for his food to arrive.

00000

Anakin stood just outside the doorway, hesitant to enter despite Obi Wan's assurances. Luke's meal steamed on the tray in his grasp, waiting to be eaten by a young man that had turned out to have a healthy appetite.

"Anakin, he wants to see you."

Anakin glowered at Obi Wan. "Yeah, sure. You just want me to move on."

Obi Wan lifted a brow. "It is time for that, yes, but would I lie to you on this?"

Anakin sighed. "No. Why does he want to see me?"

"I think he's genuinely sorry for what he said to you." Obi Wan replied. "When I visited him this morning, I saw loneliness in his eyes, despite everyone having visited him frequently."

Anakin shook his head. "Loneliness for his dead guardians, you mean."

Obi Wan folded his arms across his chest, a posture Anakin knew well. "Anakin, quit being so dramatic. He misses you." The Jedi tilted his head toward Anakin. "And I can tell that you miss your son."

Anakin said nothing, a gesture that spoke volumes to Obi Wan. The Jedi Master was correct: Anakin did miss being with his son. He had several years of missed parenthood to make up for. Anakin wanted to show Luke everything he could, to teach, guide and love him as a father should.

Speaking of children... Anakin lifted his head. "Has Bail returned any of your messages?"

Obi Wan sighed heavily, dropping his crossed limbs. "No. I supposed for a while that he was just busy with the talks, but I'm not so certain anymore."

Anakin's gaze narrowed. "You think he's avoiding you." It wasn't a question.

"I do." Obi Wan replied solemnly. "I fear you may be correct after all. I will try one more time in the morning and demand to speak with him. If he doesn't allow the communication, we will go to Raxus Prime."

Anakin blew out a breath, his worry over Leia steady and constant. She was in a hostile environment in every way. That was no place for his daughter.

As if reading his thoughts, Obi Wan stepped forward and placed a hand on Anakin's shoulder. "There isn't anything you can do for Leia right now. But you can do something about your son. Go to Luke."

Anakin nodded, looking to the chrono. "I'll take him his dinner."

Anakin shook his head when a medic passed, staring quizzically at him. Anakin indicated the tray, and then opened the door to avoid further awkwardness. He stepped through, taking a deep breath as he did so. Then he was around the privacy curtain and was met with a blue gaze so like his own it was unnerving.

"Hi," Anakin said softly. "I brought your food."

Grateful for the starter, Anakin set the tray on Luke's mobile table and adjusted it before the youth. Luke hesitated, still looking to Anakin, and the man paused, not sure what to say or do.

Luke fiddled for a moment, and then spoke softly. "I'm sorry for how I treated you. I know it wasn't your fault what happened. I was just..."

He seemed at a loss for words so Anakin supplied some. "You needed a way to vent all your pent-up grief."

Luke met the man's gaze, his eyes so earnest and needful that Anakin forgave the boy then and there. "Yes. I... I was always so scared of Darth Vader because Uncle Owen was. He thought you would come for me."

Anakin nodded. "It's okay, I understand. I... did a lot of horrible things as Vader. But I have been trying to put that behind me."

Luke nodded. "Han told me. And... I promise not to say anything."

Anakin's heart lifted...

"And I forgive you."

His heart soaring now, Anakin laughed shakily. "Thank you... son."

Luke's eyes misted and he pushed aside the table so he could stand. Before Anakin could blink, the boy was wrapping his arms around Anakin. So surprised was the man that it took him a few moments to reciprocate. At long last Anakin hugged his son tightly, kneeling down so Luke could reach his father better.

"I've always wanted my father," Luke whispered to Anakin. "I was told you were dead... and I always longed to know you. I'm so glad I can now."

Anakin's eyes leaked. "I wanted you from the moment I heard your mother said she was pregnant. I thought you were dead too... and when I found out you weren't I searched everywhere for you."

Luke nodded. "I know..."

"...Han told you." Anakin finished for him dryly, and they shared a laugh.

Luke pulled away, wiped a little self-consciously at his face, and finally began to eat. The two spent the rest of the evening together, talking and getting to know each other. Luke told Anakin of his time on the farm, what life had been like with Garris, and how he'd begun piloting for the man.

In turn, Anakin told Luke of his own childhood and how he'd piloted a pod racer just like Luke, intending to continue.

At that news, however, Luke stared intently at him, which made the man pause. "What?"

"You raced pods... you were the only human to do it then, right?" Luke asked.

Anakin nodded, openly curious. "And since, until you did."

Luke blushed a little, and then spoke again. "What did your pod look like?"

Wondering more acutely at the specific inquiries, Anakin replied. "My cockpit was narrow and had concave air scoops on the front for aerodynamics, with a silver and blue paint job. It was pulled by two narrow silver engines with three yellow air scoops."

Luke took that in with a look Anakin couldn't decipher. "I think... I inherited your pod racer," he said softly, almost as if in awe. Then he looked bashful, hesitant. "I... never told anyone this, but..."

Anakin nodded encouragingly. "Go ahead."

Luke bit his lip. "Well, sometimes when I raced, I got flashes of another boy racing the same pod, with the exact design you just described."

Anakin blinked, surprised. "You saw me?"

Luke's mouth twisted uncertainly. "I think I did. I got flashes as I flew. Not always; mostly when I was training."

Anakin was amazed that the Force would grant his son that gift. "I'm glad I could be part of your life then, even in such a way."

Luke smiled at him. "Me too."

Anakin patted Luke's knee and resumed his tale, moving on to how he had started on his path to becoming a Jedi. And so it continued, with them trading stories until it was time for Luke to go to sleep.

Anakin stood; ready to leave when Luke caught his hand.

The look in Luke's eyes spoke volumes to Anakin. "Please stay with me tonight. I don't want to be alone."

Anakin smiled lovingly. "Of course. I'll take the couch."

Luke's smile was all the thanks Anakin needed as he settled in for the night.

"Goodnight Dad," Luke said a little gingerly.

Anakin's heart grew another size at the endearing title. "Goodnight Luke."

00000

Obi Wan Kenobi pursed his lips as he stared almost blankly at the screen of the communications station. He was hesitant to call Senator Organa once more, because he was afraid of the outcome. Obi Wan had said he suspected Bail to be busy with the meetings he was part of with Emperor Piett, but deep down Obi Wan also knew that for the senator to ignore Obi Wan's summons entirely was out of character for him.

In the past, Bail had made room in his schedule to talk with Obi Wan the few times he reached out. The man had always been pleasant and welcoming with Obi Wan, and Obi Wan considered him a friend.

But now... Obi Wan didn't want to know if Bail had indeed lost his adopted daughter. Because if that was the case, Obi Wan feared for the child, who would indeed be lost as both Luke and Anakin claimed. Not only that, but Leia was in grave danger... and Obi Wan had delayed her rescue to give Bail a fair chance to be part of the situation. But the Negotiator in Obi Wan had come out, and he was ready to give Bail a last chance to speak for himself.

With a sigh, Obi Wan put in the call, dialing Bail's comlink directly this time, something he only did as a last resort. He had called the man's staff the other times, and nothing had come of it. Now Obi Wan would call the man himself and see where that got him.

After two rings the line opened on the other end and a well-cultured voice answered. "Senator Organa."

"Senator, it's Kenobi," Obi Wan replied. "We need to talk."

There was a pregnant pause on the line, and then a deep sigh. "I know." Bail's voice was resigned.

Obi Wan lifted a brow. "In the interest of time, I will ask straight out. Where is Leia? Is she safe with you?"

Bail hesitated, and then responded. "No, I'm afraid she isn't with me... and she is likely not safe at all."

Obi Wan straightened. "What happened?"

"We were travelling as a family, Leia and I, when our ship was attacked by pirates." Bail began. "They boarded our vessel and took all our valuables. Leia put up a fight, then tried to reason with them— she's as much a politician as Padmé was, I'll tell you that— but they weren't having it. They took her from me, and when I tried to fight them off they knocked me out." He paused again. "When I came-to, they were gone, and I had no idea where."

Obi Wan allowed a stern note to enter his voice. "Why didn't you contact me? You were given charge of Leia!"

"I know I was!" Bail snapped. "I cannot help what happened! And I did search for her, but the galaxy is vast, and I ran out of time and resources. I... I had to give up the search."

Obi Wan couldn't help himself. "Padmé wouldn't have stopped." His voice was hard as durasteel.

Bail's reply was both angry and ashamed. "Well, I am not Padmé."

Obi Wan pinched the bridge of his nose. "How long ago was she taken?"

"It's been about two years," Bail said gingerly, perhaps fearing another rebuke. "And for the record, I sent out bounty hunters to find her from time to time, but nothing came up."

Obi Wan cringed. Two years... a lot could happen in that space of time. He sighed heavily. "Okay. There's no sense in lecturing, so I'll let you go."

"I'm sorry..." Bail hastened to say. "I know it's not enough, but it's all I can do."

Obi Wan, irate already, simply terminated the call, sitting back and running a hand down his face. Anakin would not be happy about this news.

With a world-weary sigh, Obi Wan rose from his seat to find his brother-in-arms.