Day 8: Unwavering

Summary: (Modern Day AU) Luke and Leia Skywalker after graduating high school have moved out on their own to get away from their overprotective and controlling father, who hasn't quite been the same since their mother died when they were children. However, Luke asks his roommate and friend Han to drive him to his father's house. Luke has something important to talk to his father about. (Note on rating: A few curse words.)

Luke sat slouched over in the passenger seat. He had been quiet the entire trip out of the city and into the country. Not that Han could blame the kid with the news he was carrying to his estranged father. Luke and Leia didn't speak much of their father, and when they did it was a mix. At times they were laughing, holding back tears, as they shared a joyful family memory, but those moments were rare. Mostly when their father came up, it was with bitter words and frustrations.

From what Han had gathered, Mr. Skywalker did not support his children's decision to move to the city and strike it out on their own. Leia was in college aiming to eventually transfer into law school while working a part-time job on the side. Luke had decided to take a gap year and was working at a mechanic's. They shared an apartment with Han in the city and paid their bills on time. Han didn't get what Mr. Skywalker's problem was, but he was proud of the twins.

But now Luke wanted to speak for his father and had asked Han for a ride upstate. Han worked as an Uber and Lyft driver as a front for some of his shadier dealings and had offered the ride for free. Usually, Luke would protest and pay him despite how tight he was on money, but this time he just silently nodded his head.

Han checked the GPS app running on his phone; they were almost there. He looked out the windows to see another large stately home tucked between manicured lawns and behind fences. The Naboo Lake Country was known as a place where the rich came to escape New York City and get some space and quiet. He had suspected that Luke and Leia came from money, but he hadn't imagined they came from this type of money.

"Turn left and arrive at your destination," the GPS said.

He turned onto a drive that led to a wrought-iron fence. It was huge and made out of iron flowers and twisting vines with stars poking through. At the very top arching across the entire gate was the phases of the moon with the full moon dead center.

He stopped right in front of the gate and rolled down his window. Tall white stone posts held up the gate, and each contained a key entry and a small screen. He reached over and pressed the call button. Almost immediately, the video turned on. The face of an old man showed up. Was this the infamous Mr. Skywalker?

Luke leaned over the center console, so his face could be seen. "Hey Rex, it's me," Luke said with a weak wave.

The old man's face lit up. "Luke! Welcome home! Come on in!"

Luke nodded and slid back over to his seat as the gate silently slid open. Han slowly drove his car past the gate but noticed out of the corner of his eye how Luke's face had gone pale. The drive curved around a small grove of trees on a little hill before it opened up a beautiful view of Lake Naboo and an absolutely stunning mansion sitting next to it.

"Damn," Han said. "This is where you grew up?"

"Mostly," Luke said. "Though there was also the house in the city."

Not an apartment in the city. A house. Of course. If Luke's family could afford this place they should be able to afford a house in New York City too. They might even have a house in the Hamptons too.

"Just pull upfront," Luke said.

Han parked right in front of the large steps that led up to the main entrance of the house. Luke didn't move for several long quiet moments even after Han had turned the car off.

"You sure you want to do this?" Han asked. "Say the word and I will turn this car around."

"No," Luke said softly. He finally opened the door and stepped out.

Han debated waiting in the car. He'd rather be in here than dealing with the stuffy rich house but he was too curious. He followed quietly behind Luke as they entered the mansion.

It was just as lux inside as it was outside. A huge bouquet of fresh flowers that towered over Han stood on a small table in the entryway below a chandelier.

"Master Luke! Welcome home!"

An older man with white hair wearing a pale yellow suit walked over. Han couldn't help but smirk at the thought that there was a butler and that Luke was called Master Luke.

"Hi Threepio," Luke said. "Is my father in?"

"Up in his office."

Luke smoked and nodded. He looked back at Han. "Wait down here. Threepio can show you around or get you something to eat or drink."

Luke headed up the curling staircase to the second floor.

"Good luck," Han called out.

Luke paused, turned around and smiled at him, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.

Luke heard Threepio ask Han how he could be of service, and Han groaned. The voices faded away as he walked down the hall. He passed his and Leia's old bedrooms. He could see the door to his father's office was open, and he stopped. His heart was pounding in his tight chest, a lump was forming in his throat, and he was breaking out in a cold sweat. He tried to take a calming breath, but it came out shaky.

Realizing he was never going to be ready, he walked forward and entered the office. It had been over a year since he had last been here and it hadn't changed. The same books sat in the same spots. The same family photos still hung on the wall. Many showed Luke and Leia when they were young when the Skywalkers were still a happy family when their mom was still alive.

Anakin Skywalker sat at his desk looking at his dual screen monitor and typing furiously away. He glanced up briefly, but then looked back up. Then his head snapped back up. His eyes widened and his face went slack.

"Luke?" he said in a soft voice.

He didn't wait for a second longer. He was up, around the large desk, and standing in front of Luke in mere seconds. Anakin Skywalker hadn't changed much. He still stood tall, no longer wore his hair long like in the photos of the past as it was now kept trimmed and short.

"Luke," he said again. His brows crumpled. "You . . . you're . . ."

Luke stepped forward and wrapped his arms around his father, who did the same. Anakin held his son tight.

"I missed you," he whispered. "I've been so worried about you and your sister."

Luke didn't say a word. He didn't want to bring up the old arguments. He didn't want or need to rehash things. That wasn't why he was here. He was the one to pull away and Anakin's hands rested on Luke's shoulders.

"Can we talk?" Luke said.

Anakin nodded, gave Luke's shoulders a squeeze before he returned to his seat behind the desk. Luke fought back a sigh; Anakin hadn't sat in the other chair in front of the desk as Luke did. He always wanted to be in the better seat. A subtle reminder of his authority and position.

"Uh . . . dad," Luke said, looking down at his lap. "I uh . . . something has happened and . . . um . . . I think I might need your help."

He finally dared to look up. Gone was the soft caring expression on Anakin's face. His eyes had narrowed and his jaw was tight.

"Why am I not surprised?" Anakin said harshly, causing a shiver to run down Luke's spine. Luke opened his mouth to correct his father's assumptions, but he discovered he had lost his voice in the large lump in his throat. "I knew this would happen," Anakin continued. "I tried to warn you. Well, what is it? Finally run out of money have you? Here to beg for some? I will not help you live a pathetic life in some rundown apartment living with some criminal while you waste your talents working in some two-bit garage. You can come home and come to work for me or attend a good university, unlike that community school your sister is at."

Anakin huffed and rolled his eyes. The lump in Luke's throat was growing bigger. He was completely incapable of words, and his cheeks were growing hot.

"I never wanted this for you," Anakin said. "I do not know why you and sister insisted on being 'on your own.' How has it been? Has it really been the life of freedom you longed for? Eating ramen noodles and cold hotdogs? You two had everything if you followed my advice!"

It was happening again. The same words were coming out that had been said a year ago when Luke and Leia left the summer after graduating from their fancy private high school. Their father didn't understand. They wanted to live their lives, not the life their father had planned out for them. They wanted to explore and make mistakes. They wanted to figure out who they really were when faced with real challenges.

But Anakin Skywalker was deeply against that. Why did his children want such a thing? He had had that life as a child. A life of poverty. It would not provide Luke and Leia with what they were seeking. They needed to stay with their father and take his advice. It was always his way, especially after their mother died. Anakin grew so overprotective of his children. So . . . controlling . . .

What the Skywalker twins really wanted was to be free from their father. Not that they didn't love him, they deeply loved him, but they couldn't spend their whole lives blindly following what Anakin Skywalker said. The problem was, Anakin didn't see anything wrong with that. He was so unwavering his faith that his way was the right way.

Tears were threatening to spill out at any moment, and Luke would not cry here. Not in front of his father. He stood up.

"Sorry," he muttered. "I shouldn't have come."

Then he turned and fled from the room. His father called his name and demanded he come back, but Luke ran down the stairs. He ran across the foyer, out the door, and down the steps to Han's car. He ripped open the door and threw himself into the passenger seat. Only after the door had closed did he allow the tears to fall.

Han heard the running down the stairs and the door slamming.

"Luke?" he called out as he jogged through the fancy house and back outside. He saw Luke hunched over in his. "Luke!" He took the stairs two at a time and opened the door. Luke had his head in his hands sobbing. "Luke? What happened? You weren't up there long enough. Did you tell him?"

Luke's shoulders shook. He looked up at Han. His face was puffy and red as tears rolled down his cheeks.

"N- no- no," Luke said between sobs. "He-he wouldn't-n't listen. He has-hasn't changed at- at all."

"So you didn't tell him?" Luke shook his head. "Anything?" Another shake. "And you're still out here crying? Well, fuck that."

Han turned around and marched back up the stairs. He pushed the door still open and glared up the stairs to the second floor. That asshole was up there somewhere as that was where Luke had gone earlier.

Han walked up the steps and shouted, "Hey! Asshole! I want a word with you!"

"Oh my!" Han heard the voice of the annoying butler from a first-floor hallway.

He had made it up to the top of the steps when he saw a man walking down the hallway directly towards him. This must be Luke's father. Han saw the resemblance not only to Luke but also to Leia. He was middle age and stern looking with a scar on the right side of his face. Where had he got that from? A water skiing accident on the lake?

"Han Solo," Mr. Skywalker said. "I do not recall inviting you to my house, much less allowing you in."

"Your son invited me in," Han said as he took the last step to stand even with the man.

"My son does not live here. I recommend you leave. Now."

Han clenched his jaw. What was this guy's deal? But he noticed the way Mr. Skywalker shifted his stance. Was he getting ready to throw a punch? Han would tumble down the stairs if he got a good hit in, and Han could tell this guy could punch. He noted the muscles under the white button-up shirt. There was something . . . rugged about this guy. Feral. He wasn't completely matching the soft spoiled rich guy he had imagined him to be.

"I don't care," Han said. He pointed his finger at Anakin. "I don't care about you, but I do care about Luke who is out in my car crying his heart out because his dad is fucking asshole who won't even listen to him."

"My business between my son and me is private. Leave now, Mr. Solo. It would be a real shame for Officer Fett to get a call that you're breaking your parole."

"Have you always been a dick?" Han asked. "Or has that been a recent development? I have no idea how Luke and Leia are your kids."

A chill ran down Han's spine as Mr. Skywalker's blue eyes narrowed at him.

Han continued, "I'm leaving. I just wanted you to know why your son came out all the way out here. He came out here to talk to his dad to tell him he's sick. Some kind-"

Han was cut off.

"Sick? What do you mean sick?"

But before Han could say anything, Mr. Skywalker had brushed past him, down the stairs, past the waiting butler, and out of the doors.

Luke's head was back in his hands and he was still crying but not as hard as earlier. He didn't look up as he heard the door open again. He just wanted to go home, crawl into bed, and disappear. He dreaded the long awkward car home. He shouldn't have come here. Why did he think things would be different? That his dad would get off his high horse? Of course, he hadn't wavered at all.

"Luke?"

Luke looked up and blinked trying to chase away his tears and clear his vision. It wasn't Han standing there, but his dad. A strong sob ran through him shaking his whole body that he could feel in his bones. He didn't want his dad to see him like this.

"Luke."

The words were soft. Way too soft. Anakin reached out with one hand and gently cupped his son's face.

"You're sick? What does that mean? Please . . . please don't tell me it's . . ."

"The same thing mom had?" Luke muttered. He squeezed his eyes shut and nodded his head unable to say it out loud.

He heard his father take in a sharp breath and felt the small flinch of his hand.

"Da- dad," Luke sobbed opening his eyes back up. "I . . ." But the words fell out of his mouth as he started to cry harder.

He couldn't say it. He couldn't admit he was scared. He remembered clearly what the same disease had done to his mother. How it had eaten her away. Eaten away his father, too, until he had become a completely different person after she had died. After the disease had won.

"I don't want to die," Luke said. His words oddly clear and even despite the sobs shaking his body.

"No," Anakin said. "No. You will not. You are not going to die, Luke. I won't let it happen."

Luke wanted to argue. How could his dad stop it? He hadn't stopped it before.

"Come here," Anakin whispered as he pulled his son out of the car and wrapped his arms tight around him. He kissed Luke's cheek. "It will be alright. I promise."

Luke didn't have the strength to argue. Instead, he let himself sag against his father, and Anakin held him up. He hugged Luke tighter, and for the moment, Luke wanted to believe that his dad could save him. That everything would be alright. This time, surely this time, they would beat it.

Anakin Skywalker opened the door very slowly and peered in. Luke was curled up fast asleep in his bed. In his room. In the house that Padme's great grandfather had built. The house where Luke belonged with his father. Anakin closed the door. He looked at the closed door directly across from him; it was Leia's room. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

Leia still had his number blocked, and he hadn't asked whether Luke had contacted his sister about his current location. Hopefully, that smuggler scum would tell Leia once he returned to the city. Then soon . . . Soon both of his children would be home again. This house could be a home again.

He turned and walked down the hallway to his office. It sat in the middle of the bedrooms. He had purposely placed it here when Padme had gotten sick. He never wanted to be far from her or the children. He was going to be there for all of them. Yet despite everything that he did, all the favors he had called in and the dirty deals he had made, nothing had saved his beloved.

He sat down at his desk and looked at the two picture frames he kept there. One was of Padme and Anakin on their wedding day. It was the only photo that was taken from when the two had eloped. They were both so young and happy, and his heart hurt every time he looked at it. The other picture was of the four of them. The twins were cute, adorable six-year-olds. Everyone had huge grins. The bags under the eyes wouldn't appear for another year. This was a time when they were all still happy and healthy and together.

How Anakin yearned for that now.

He hated that his family had been torn apart. He hated spending time alone in this house. Sure there were the staff like Threepio and Rex . . . but it wasn't the same. He missed Luke and Leia. He often found himself opening their doors at night to check up on empty beds. Where had he gone wrong? He had given them the best, and yet they both wanted to throw it away.

But . . . with what had happened today . . . would things change? Would Luke and Leia come back home? Would they rally together? Be a family together again?

He hoped so.

Anakin pulled out his cell phone and made a call.

"Tarkin," a voice said on the other end.

"It's Vader," Anakin said.

"I take it you heard the news of the diagnosis?"

"Yes. Luke came home to tell me."

"Isn't that what you wanted?"

"Yes," Anakin said. "Thank Doctor Aphra for me. Those pills worked well to give him the symptoms, and she did well on the false test results. I will contact you when your services are needed. I'll wire the money in the morning."

"Good night, Vader."

Anakin didn't even bother with saying goodbye as he ended the call and leaned back in his chair with a smile on his face as he looked back at the photo of his family. His happy family all together like it would soon be again.