Chapter Thirty Seven:

Four years ago

Luke was giddy with excitement today, going about his chores with an unusual amount of enthusiasm. His master had been telling Luke for several days now that today he would be coming back with a gift for Luke. A gift! In Luke's six years of life, the man had never given Luke a gift. Young as he was, Luke still had some sparks of innocence left that hadn't quite been snuffed out by Hazael's cruelty.

Luke had not been this excited since Kalira had surprised him with a swiped treat on Luke's lifeday. They of course did not know Luke's actual lifeday, since Hazael hadn't told them, so they had merely chosen the day Luke had come to live with Hazael. Hazael of course hadn't known they'd chosen that date.

That is, until Thew— who'd been visiting with Hazael and overheard his two slaves talking— had told him. Both Luke and Kalira had been on edge ever since, and despite only being six, even he knew that Hazael had to be fuming that they'd kept such a thing a secret.

Now Hazael was away, with a promise to return with Luke's gift. Luke would of course have to be finished with his chores by the time Hazael returned.

Refusing to lag behind, especially today, Luke forced himself to focus, and was proud of the fact that he finished before Hazael came back. Luke had just put his things away when the door opened.

Luke came to the other side of the sitting room and stood expectantly, trying to look humble like his master preferred. Luke heard Kalira come to the door of the kitchen, bearing a tray of food that was ready for Hazael as always. Luke beamed at her, causing her to frown somewhat.

Hazael stood aside and ushered in a few men, who all helped to carry a large concealed item.

"Wait for me here," Hazael ordered Luke. "When it's time for your... gift, I will send for you."

Luke waited obediently; aware that Kalira kept shooting worried glances his way. Luke tried not to feed off of her fears, but he couldn't help the tiny bit that crept into his bosom. Hazael had never been nice to Luke, so why was he being so now?

Luke warred within himself, unaware of the passage of time until the men all left, and Hazael approached Luke.

"Are you ready?" Hazael looked to Kalira, and Luke didn't see his expression, but Kalira did, because she began to tremble. However, when she tried to speak, Hazael silenced her with a gesture the two slaves both knew well.

Hazael placed a hand on Luke's shoulder and clamped down, leading him to the basement, the one place in the house Luke didn't have to clean. Luke was afraid of the basement, honestly, because it was dark and cold down there. Something about the basement didn't sit right with Luke, and as he was taken there by his master now, something in his gut churned.

But Luke, still trying to keep some of his hopes up, pushed away his doubts and allowed his master to lead him along. There had to be something good about Hazael... right?

Hazael turned on a light once they were where they needed to be, and Luke blinked in shock to find a bathtub in the center of the room. He hadn't ever seen it before, so it had to be the item Hazael had brought home. Presently it was filled with water, and by the looks of the steam wafting off the surface, it was hot.

"So I hear you and Kalira have chosen today as your lifeday?" Hazael said, and something in his voice gave Luke pause.

Luke swallowed nervously, but nodded, knowing that to lie was to be severely punished.

Hazael nodded. "Well, since I know now, I am going to help you... celebrate your coming to live with me each year as well. Consider this my version of a lifeday party for you. Undress."

Luke hesitated, but at a sharp glance from Hazael, Luke obeyed. When he was naked, Hazael motioned to the stepladder next to the tub.

"You will take a bath on your... anniversary here."

Before Luke could react, his master snatched Luke up and threw him into the water... which Luke only then discovered wasn't just hot: it was scalding!

Luke screamed in agony, clawing his way back to the surface. Hazael shoved him back under, however, and Luke panicked instinctively. His lungs screamed for air, his body spasming in response. He heard warbled voices from beyond the water, and Luke was temporarily released.

When Luke at long last broke the surface, he gasped heavily for air. Through the pounding in his head, Luke heard Kalira's pleading voice.

"Please Master, don't do this to him! He's just a child!" Kalira trembled even as she tried to help Luke, and Hazael back-handed her so hard she fell. The brunette hit her head on the steps when she landed, and Hazael kicked her hard once she was down.

"How dare you interfere?!" He hollered furiously. "And how dare you two go behind my back on this!"

He returned to Luke, this time grabbing a wicked-looking brush, which he loaded with soap. He grabbed Luke by the hair and hefted him up out of the water, proceeding to scrub Luke with the prepared item. Luke screamed as the brush scratched and scraped him. It hurt so badly!

To make matters worse, when Hazael finally dropped Luke back into the water, the temperature wounded him so much more because of all his open wounds.

Kalira risked trying again to help Luke, and Hazael grabbed her head... and slammed it into the side of the tub. Kalira screamed, and Luke gasped despite his own pain when he saw that Kalira had a gash in her forehead now.

Luke sobbed for them both, thinking of how heartless it had been of Hazael to play this trick on the boy. Hazael had fooled Luke, the boy knew, and Luke's heart broke further.

00000

Present time

Luke woke in the early morning hours despite how tired he had been. And still was. As his sleepy mind struggled to work, he wondered what had woken him. He saw sunlight beginning to filter through the blinds that blocked his view of the outside world.

Luke also noted that instead of lying on his back, he was on his stomach... sort of. Frowning in confusion, Luke stirred, shifting his head and realizing then that he lay against something warm and soft... yet firm.

His subconscious woke him an instant later, and he froze in place, especially when the thing he lay against moved with a breath of air. Luke craned his neck and spied his father... and then the boy remembered last night.

Luke merely gazed at his father for an unknown amount of time, replaying the events of the night in his mind's eye. His father had rescued Luke from all the voices in his head. Not only that, but he had somehow known Luke's base needs and had held Luke to his chest... their skin touching. Luke hadn't known until something in him had responded to that gesture that he had needed that skin-to-skin contact.

When Anakin had held Luke's naked chest to his own, Luke's mind had flashed to a faint remembrance that had occurred before his kidnapping: a recollection of the scent of his father, and the sound of his beating heart against Luke's ear... the security of the man's arms about his tiny body, and how warm and loving his father had always been.

Luke had no idea how he could remember something from his infancy, but he didn't mind it because it was the only truly happy memory he now possessed. True he'd had moments with Kalira, but they had all been tainted with the shared knowledge of their situation. Before Luke's kidnapping, he had been truly happy and loved.

Luke remained silent and thoughtful as Anakin continued to slumber, the boy's mind wandering and starting to doubt what was really going on. Feeling insecure, Luke soon found himself at war internally; something that matched the struggle he had known four years prior.

Luke's doubts began to eat away at him, his past making it difficult for Luke to accept what was real anymore. Luke closed his eyes against the emotional pain he was now in, and he began to weep silently.

Apparently the movement of Luke's body was enough to wake Anakin, because the man began to stir, and Luke suddenly wished they weren't touching. It was too hard for Luke to remain firm when Anakin held him.

Luke strained with what little energy he had— his ordeal from the night before had drained him more than he'd realized. Anakin opened his eyes and spied Luke, who refused to meet the man's eyes.

When Anakin saw the wet cheeks Luke now bore, he frowned in concern. "Luke? What's wrong?"

Luke didn't answer, his only goal in that moment to get away from the man in his bed. Sensing this, Anakin sighed softly and stopped the child. Helpless against the stronger man, Luke merely went limp as Anakin left the bed and set Luke in it properly.

"Did I do something wrong?" Anakin asked, perplexed. "I know we were touching, but you seemed alright with it last night."

Luke swallowed with difficulty and looked away. Seeing Anakin's face wasn't making things easier. He closed his eyes tightly, willing himself to toughen up. How many times would he fall for such tricks?

His heart once more began to whisper at Luke to allow for hope, while his mind warned him not to give in. It was only Luke now... he was all alone, and he would never be loved by his family. If they hadn't come for him in all the time he had been with Hazael, what's to say they'd want him now?

Anakin leaned closer to try seeing Luke's face, worried at how Luke had shifted gears so...

"Luke, please," Anakin pled in a pained voice that made Luke wobble inwardly, "talk to me!"

Luke clenched a fist... be strong... his mind whispered... give him just a hint... his heart objected.

"It's all... a trick!" Luke whispered, barely managing not to sob, but he thinned his lips and held a whimper in the best he could.

He didn't see Anakin's shocked visage, nor did he see the way Anakin back-stepped a pace. "What? No... Luke, I would never..."

"It's all a lie!" Luke shouted, tired of all the games. Han jumped awake at Luke's exclamation, his eyes going to the scene before him. He stood silently when he caught sight of the two Skywalkers. With a bewildered expression, Han looked to Anakin for an explanation, but the elder Skywalker could only shrug helplessly.

Luke sat in his bed, arms folded across his chest. Why couldn't anyone just leave him alone? Hazael was gone, yes, but did the man's treachery have to continue upon Luke past the grave? Luke wept openly now, the tears streaming like little waterfalls down his ruddy cheeks.

Anakin was open-mouthed, unknowing of how to combat this new turn of events. Where had this come from?

As for Luke, his mind went through the various times when Hazael had taken great pleasure in playing with Luke's heart. Above all others, however, one instance stood out to Luke the most.

00000

"Well boy, guess what I heard today?" Hazael said to the eight year old. It had been a week since Kalira's... death, and Luke was still crestfallen. He had loved her so much! She had been the only kind person in his life...

Luke remained silent as usual, but looked to his master expectantly.

"I heard that your family actually wants to come visit you," Hazael said, and Luke blinked in shock. Seeing the eight-year-old's expression, Hazael nodded. "It's true! They heard about Kalira's death, and wanted to come pay their respects."

Luke was suspicious; recalling other times Hazael had played tricks on him. At the forefront of his mind was the introduction of the bathtub. Besides, why would his family suddenly visit him?

Despite his dubious inclination, Luke couldn't help but wonder if maybe... just maybe they would actually come for him. Had they changed their minds about Luke? Luke warred within himself, desperate to believe, and yet knowing deep down that he shouldn't...

Two days passed, and the time had come that Hazael had sworn Luke's family would come. Luke felt like the two halves of his soul were pulling him in opposite directions: with hope on the one hand and hesitancy on the other. And no matter how hard Luke tried to combat the optimism, it just wouldn't leave him alone.

Luke had grown accustomed to his hopelessness, and now he was comfortable in his hell. Why couldn't the hope just leave him alone?

The day came, and Luke hated that he was still looking for his family, glancing to the front door every time he passed it. He even imagined a time or two that he heard a speeder pulling up, and he'd pause in his chores to stare at the door, his chest tight. But eventually he'd realize it was only his imagination, and he would return to his chores.

Luke didn't like to admit it, but he was subconsciously waiting for the moment his father at the very least would walk through. Surely Anakin would come and take his son away from the madman who called Luke his slave. His father would save Luke from the man's cruelty and harsh words...

When the hour struck, Luke stood at the window, peering through even as his heart clenched.

They're not coming... his mind told him. No, they're just late... his heart replied stubbornly.

Luke was nearly in tears over the internal war raging within him...

A hearty, spiteful chuckle came from behind Luke, and he knew the truth at last, his heart sinking like a rock in a pond even as his mind told him that he should have known better. He turned from the window, unable to control his tears.

Hazael approached, sneering down at Luke and his wet face. "How stupid can you be to continue to fall for my lies?" he said contemptuously. "I thought Skywalkers were supposed to be intelligent? I guess it didn't pass on through the male child. Hopefully your sister got more smarts than you." He leaned forward, smirking. "But I guess you will never know."

Luke looked down, his tears falling silently... and his heart developed another crack. Luke felt that if someone were to look at the heart within his chest, it would resemble a dry, cracked riverbed.

"Go to your room, Runt, I'm tired of being around your stupidity for the day."

00000

Leia, Ijon and her mother approached the room, their spirits high after the report from Han last night. Finally Luke had opened up to one of them! Maybe he would let the rest of them in too!

Leia reminded herself to take it slow, for Luke's sake. He might be starting to warm up to them, but that didn't mean he wouldn't return to his shell if someone moved too quickly for his comfort.

They got to the room and the trio entered, though the moment the door opened, Leia could feel the tension inside so thick it could have been cut with a knife. She held out a hand to stall her mother and brother.

"Wait..."

Padmé glanced to Leia, frowning. "What's wrong?"

"I don't know; I just... feel like something's happening."

They entered with caution, and all stopped short to see Anakin and Luke holding what looked like an odd stale-mate. Anakin looked lost for words while Luke was both crying and trembling.

"What's wrong?" Leia asked of no one in particular.

Anakin shot her a glance, his face contorted, but it was Han that answered.

"Luke thinks that Anakin being nice to him was all a ploy, if I understand this right."

Leia gaped, looking to Luke, who glanced her way but didn't say anything. However, seeing the remainder of his family arrive only seemed to upset him more, and he made a tortured sound.

"Why... can't you... let me live... in peace?" Luke asked shakily, and Leia was too shocked to hear him actually talk to realize his voice was rough and unused. "You wanted... n-nothing to do with... me while I lived... with Hazael, but... now that he's... gone, you... suddenly care?"

All the eyes belonging to Luke's family members widened. Even though Han had warned them previously, it still hurt to hear Luke say it.

But Leia was the first to find her voice. "Is that what you think happened?"

Luke glared, suddenly angry. "Yes."

Leia shook her head, approaching the bed but stopping partway there. "Luke, no. We didn't know you were alive! I swear it!"

Luke turned his head away, his voice breaking. "My... m-master swore... many things to... me that... weren't true."

Leia considered that bit of information, though she could sense the newfound understanding of her parents through the Force. Suddenly Luke's reasoning for both hating them and now thinking everything was a lie made perfect sense.

Leia closed her eyes and let the Force fill her, needing its guidance more than ever now. Her parents remained silent, hoping that Luke's twin would get through to him at long last. If anyone could, Anakin thought, it was Leia.

"Luke, listen to me." Leia spoke calmly, but firmly. "I promise you on my own life that no one in this family abandoned you. We all thought you were dead, because Hazael faked your death."

Luke sniffled, and Leia could see him struggling to decide if he should listen to her or not.

"We mourned your death." Leia let a few of her own tears slip free, and that seemed to grab Luke's attention, for he stole a few glances her way. However, he was still at war with himself; that was clear for her to see.

"It shook me so hard I was never truly the same." Leia went on. "But eventually we managed to go on with our lives, wishing you were with us. It wasn't until I felt a glimpse of you in the Force and reached back that I realized that— somehow— you were alive! I was so shocked I nearly burst. And in my excitement over this discovery, I nearly cost Uncle Obi Wan a hand..."

Leia shifted, but Luke looked to her at that, blinking in surprise.

"No one believed me so I began an investigation, which eventually led me to..." Leia went on.

"...Hazael's house..." Luke whispered, looking down shyly. Leia could see in his eyes that he was vying with the two parts of himself. Should he believe or should he not?

Leia tilted her head curiously, her surprise evident. "How did you know that?"

Luke hesitated at being called out, his eyes shifting nervously. Eventually, however, he must have figured that no one would shame him, because he ventured a hesitant statement. "I... saw you that day... in... Hazael's office..."

Leia took that in, and she recalled feeling like she was being watched... and now understood why. "That's right: on Coruscant at least, Hazael had you locked away in that little room... and it was in his office."

Luke looked torn still, so Leia approached step by careful step, and Luke's eyes riveted to her, becoming a little frightened with every step she took toward him. He frowned at her approach, but when her arm lifted in a tell-tale manner, he swallowed heavily. He shied away as much as he could until there was nowhere left for him to go.

Leia's hand quivered ever-so-slightly, and she spoke to him in a soothing tone. "It's alright Luke; I'm not going to hurt you..."

Leia felt like she was talking to a frightened, caged animal that had spent its life being abused.

Luke nevertheless stared at her hand, and when she stopped beside him he leaned backwards now and into his pillow. This continued until he could do so no more. Then his eyes followed Leia's slow hand, his entire frame trembling heavily.

"Please don't..." he whimpered.

"Luke, you can trust me," Leia promised. "I would never harm you or trick you. Not like you're thinking."

Luke shook his head, quivering... her hand was so close her could feel the heat from it. "Physical touch... only ever... brings... p-pain and s-s-suffering..."

Leia's heart clenched, but she remained firm and gentle. "Not from me. Not from any of us in this room."

Finally her hand touched Luke's cheek and he jumped despite her assurances, but Leia maintained contact. She watched as his chest pumped with every sharp inhalation Luke took. It hurt her deeply to see how afraid he was of any form of physical contact, because it told her how deeply scarred her brother was.

But though her face was wet, Leia held to his cheek until Luke finally began to calm down. She could feel his emotions vying for dominance, and chief among them still was fear. Luke looked to the only person Leia knew he trusted right now.

"H-Han..." Luke whispered hoarsely.

Han perked up at being brought into the conversation. "Yeah?"

Luke held Han's gaze, and the depth of trust Han saw there was utterly humbling. "Is... are they... telling me the... t-truth?"

Han nodded once solemnly. "Yes. I can personally vouch for Leia's search too, because I was there with her through much of it."

Luke sought Han's eyes for any sort of treachery, but he saw nothing. Finally his gaze returned to Leia, and he glanced to where her hand touched his cheek. Luke let his gaze move to his mother, who wept but smiled at him. Luke saw the open love there, and how much Padmé wanted to be let in by her son.

Luke noted his younger brother, and saw that Ijon was looking hopeful. As for Anakin, he was standing with arms clasped, his eyes so hopeful that Luke couldn't deny him.

Luke's mind tried to stall for more time: why didn't he come for you?

Because he didn't know, Luke answered with his heart, silencing his doubt and choosing to accept his family at long last.

He still wasn't comfortable yet with touch, and he pulled away from Leia, who blessedly allowed him to do so. But he tried to smile, though he wasn't very good at it.

"I... I'm sorry." Luke looked down.

"For what?" Anakin asked.

Luke shifted. "For being so... mean to... you all."

"Oh Luke," Padmé said, coming and kneeling beside his bed. "Sweetheart, you have nothing to apologize for. You have been through so much, and we may not know it all, but we are trying our best to be understanding and patient."

Anakin nodded his agreement and joined Padmé beside Luke. "All we ask is that you be patient with us too, and let us help you heal."

Luke recalled last night and held out a timid hand to Anakin. "Will you help me?"

Anakin tenderly clasped Luke's hand in both of his. "If you ask me, I will stay with you until you leave here."

Luke nodded emphatically. "Please... stay!" He wept, new tears falling. "I n-need you!"

Anakin squeezed the hand he held, taking a shuddering breath. "I will, I promise."

Luke hesitated habitually, but then nodded. "Okay."

"We love you, Luke," Padmé said, standing so she could kiss his head, "so much!"

Luke hiccupped a sob. "You... l-l-love m-me?"

His parents and both siblings nodded. "We do."

Luke was so happy he couldn't control himself; he took in several shaky breaths in an attempt to express his joy, something he'd never known before. It took several minutes for him to calm down enough to where he could answer.

"I... I l-love... you too."