Chapter Forty:
Time passed swiftly indeed for the Skywalker family, though it was doubly so for Luke.
The family had spent much time together within Luke's hospital room, all learning about each other in the time they were there. The family asked Luke many questions, yes, but it was Luke who couldn't seem to get enough. He was like a sponge that could hold an infinite amount of water: the moment Anakin had begun teaching Luke, he had soaked everything up. Luke had taken to learning quickly once the first few typical schooling hiccups had been surpassed.
And he was thirsty for more.
Luke was reading fluently now, doing so in his spare time. In fact, Anakin couldn't get his son away from the books now that such an avenue had been opened to the boy. Luke was constantly seeking additional knowledge, and he often pleaded for more reading material so he could learn about the galaxy around him.
His greatest interest by far, however, was in ships and mechanics. Anakin felt a surge of joy that his eldest son shared the father's passion for these things. It had given them much to talk about that didn't involve awkward subjects. And as a result, father and son were much closer, something Anakin cherished.
He had a feeling he would need to make up time with Leia and Ijon, but no one in the Skywalker family was complaining. Everyone understood Luke's predicament, and knew that things would even out when Luke had been brought up to speed.
Something that made Anakin even happier, however, was the fact that with Luke's intake of information, he had also overcome his fear of the view outside the windows in his room. The shades were now wide open so he could drink in the sites, and Anakin was proud of his son for his accomplishment. He also knew that with time, it would not be the only thing Luke achieved.
Physical therapy had begun with a hitch: Luke had been so eager to walk again that he had gone too far too fast and had ended up needing to take another few days off. With that lesson firmly in mind, Luke had taken to the second attempt with deliberate patience. Thus it hadn't really taken long for him to start walking again.
Just as Doctor Kness had said it would, muscle had built up slowly the more Luke had moved around. Soon he had been allowed to walk about with a pair of specialized braces, and Luke's newfound mobility had boosted his spirits tremendously. It was obvious to Anakin that Luke was ready to get out of the hospital.
However, when the day came, Luke was a bundle of nerves. He sat on his bed, dressed in a new pair of sweatpants and tunic that Padmé had brought him. They hung on his frame since he still looked like a rail, but Padmé and Anakin had both assure him that once Luke regained his muscles in full, his clothing would fit properly.
Anakin now observed his son as he awaited the discharge instructions from Doctor Kness. Luke tried to hide the fact that he was apprehensive, but Anakin knew his son well enough by now to read him.
Anakin moved to sit next to his son on the bed, and he wrapped an arm about Luke. That was another area of improvement for the child. He would allow physical contact from his family or Han without hesitation. But any others he was still hesitant with, and anyone who Luke did not know was forbidden to lay a finger on him. Luke refused physical contact without his consent first, and Anakin hoped that would slacken as Luke healed.
Anakin knew it would take time— perhaps years— for Luke's scars to heal enough to where he was no longer jumpy and reclusive. Luke was trying, though. Anakin could tell, because Luke consciously made attempts to open up to those he was less familiar with, even if he wasn't entirely successful.
Luke was also much more open about his feelings with Anakin and the rest of the Skywalkers. And with Han, of course. Anakin was grateful that Luke had a comrade outside of his family, and was thankful that Han was such a good friend to Luke.
"Are you nervous?" Anakin asked Luke as they sat together.
Luke glance to his father, and his eyes said it all. The boy nodded a little shakily, but said nothing.
Anakin hugged Luke gently. "Things will be alright. You will just have to adjust to life outside the hospital. But it's much better out there, I promise. You will see." Anakin glanced about conspiratorially. "Don't tell the staff here, but the food is also much better outside the med-ward."
Luke cracked a smile. "If you say so."
Anakin snorted. "I know so."
Luke and Anakin looked up when the door opened to admit Dr. Kness. The man smiled widely at his patient.
"Alright Luke, it's time. Here are your discharge instructions. You will continue all therapy, so you will return to the hospital for those sessions and anything else noted on these." Kness handed Luke a stack of flimsies. "You must use the braces until I give you the go-ahead to stop, understood? You are stronger than you were, but not enough to hold yourself up for any major duration."
Luke nodded. "Okay."
Kness glanced to Anakin and then Luke. "Do you have any questions?"
Luke shook his head. Anakin smiled at the doctor and extended a hand, standing. "Thank you so much for all you've done for my son."
Kness clasped Anakin's hand firmly. "It's been my pleasure. He is a good young man."
Luke saw what Anakin did and got to his feet also, clinging to Anakin with one arm so he, too, could offer his hand. Kness saw this and smiled again, taking Luke's offered hand gently and shaking a few times.
"I've been happy to look after you, Luke," Kness said. "Take care, alright?"
"I'll try," Luke replied. He accepted the braces Anakin handed to him and then walked slowly from his room with Anakin at his side. Luke took a deep breath the closer he came to the hospital's exit, feeling many sets of eyes on his retreating back. Unexpectedly, a nurse began clapping, and Luke blinked in surprise, looking to see who it was. Then everyone applauded and Luke blushed at first, but then smiled, grateful for their encouragement. Many of the people clapping had tended to him at one point or another. Offering a thankful wave, Luke followed his father out of the hospital with a new sense of courage.
He entered the speeder and set his braces to the side. Anakin climbed into the driver's seat and lifted off the deck. Luke watched as the hospital grew smaller and smaller until he could no longer see the building. Then Luke gazed about the speeder as they flew, taking in everything he could. He spied two buildings that were unlike the rest of the landscape and turned to his father.
"What are those two buildings way over there?" Luke gestured.
Anakin glanced over and smiled. "The one that resembles a mushroom is the Senate, and the one with the spires is the Jedi Temple."
Luke nodded his understanding and realized they were approaching a tall building. And they seemed to be going to the very pinnacle of it. "Do we live way up there?"
Anakin nodded. "Yes. Your mother is a very influential Senator, and as such can afford this place. And I am a Jedi Master on the Council, so that helps too."
Luke was in awe. "I'll bet you can see everything from up there."
"Pretty much." Anakin agreed.
As the speeder came to a lading on their personal balcony, Luke saw the door open. His mother and siblings came out, all of them smiling, and Luke felt warmth spread through him. He was finally home... and with his family.
They wanted him, and he felt their love.
Luke waited for Anakin to come around and open his door so he could swing his legs out of the speeder. With his braces poised, Luke worked to hoist himself from his seat. To his surprise, Ijon came over to help by tugging on Luke's arm.
"Thank you, Ijon," Luke said. He had developed a relationship with his little brother already, though it was still somewhat foreign to him to having any siblings around. But Luke pushed that away, knowing it stemmed from his past.
Ijon grinned and released Luke once the elder boy was stable. Luke followed his brother to the door, and on the way Padmé and Leia both hugged him.
"Welcome home, Luke," Padmé said, her face wet with happy tears. She kissed his forehead, and Luke closed his eyes to take in the gesture of love from mother to son.
Leia gestured once Luke turned to her. "I'll show you to your room."
Luke followed his twin sister, someone else he'd grown close to. He and Leia had been working now and again to try renewing their twin bond, though they both understood that would take time.
The rest of Luke's family followed the twins as Leia took Luke to his room. She opened the door for him and Luke hesitated briefly before entering.
Inside was a clean space that contained— among an entire wardrobe— things he had said he liked. There were many instances when his mother or sister had asked him what he liked, from colors to objects. Thus, his bedding was green, and there were a few model ships waiting for him to put together. He hoped Anakin would be there to do at least one of them with his son.
And there were books! Luke was already eager to read them, and he knew what he would be doing later, once he'd settled in.
Luke sat upon the bed, taking in the amazing view beyond the window. He was astonished by the scene, and grateful he had overcome his fear of the outside world.
Luke was joined by Ijon, who all but leapt upon the mattress. "Do you like it Luke?"
He indicated a stuffed animal Luke hadn't seen until then, a medium-sized bantha. Upon seeing it, Luke was inexplicably reminded of his excursion through the desert with Hazael, and his heart skipped a beat. Luke stared at the toy, his mind at work.
When Luke didn't reply, Ijon frowned worriedly. "Do you not like my gift?"
But Luke couldn't reply, so caught up was he in his own mind. Only when a heavier weight than himself was added to the bed did Luke snap-to. He turned to see his parents had both joined him on the bed and he seized his father's hands.
"Dad, I need you to do something for me," Luke said seriously. "Please."
Anakin blinked, but nodded. "What is it?"
Luke blew out a breath. "Hazael has mines on Tatooine, and in them he uses slaves... and they are all Sand People and Jawas. Someone needs to save them!"
Anakin shared a look with Padmé over Luke's head, and the boy glanced between his parents, frowning. "What?"
Anakin looked back to Luke and squeezed son's hands. "We know, Luke. And it was taken care of. Obi Wan discovered that dirty secret while he was combing through all the files we took from Hazael's computers."
Luke recalled how Obi Wan had indeed been absent for quite some time now. He'd visited Luke often, but had abruptly stopped coming. Luke had wondered why that was, and now he knew.
"Uncle Obi Wan is on Tatooine?" Luke clarified.
Anakin nodded once. "Yes. He saw to the mission personally. Everything is going well so far, all things considered."
Luke relaxed. "Good. Thank you." He looked to Ijon, realizing he had never replied to his brother's question. "I like the bantha Ijon, thank you."
Ijon's face split into a pleased grin. "Yay!"
Leia approached now, offering Luke a small card, which he frowned at. "What's this?"
"It's a library card," Leia answered. "You can use it at the public library to borrow books bring home and read."
Luke sat up straighter, his eyes shining with delight. "Really?"
Leia nodded. "Tomorrow I will take you to the library, and we can stay for a while if you want. Mom and Dad have meetings, and Ijon will be going to a party for one of his schoolmates."
Luke was already nodding. "I'm in!"
Everyone laughed, though Anakin patted Luke on the shoulder. "Well, for tonight, we are all staying in and spending the night as a family. I ordered takeout and we can watch a holo or play games: you kids choose."
Luke felt bliss bubble up inside of him, and he stood with his braces to walk with his family to the sitting room. He was finally home where he belonged, and he was at long last with his family.
He couldn't have been happier.
~ The End ~
(A/N: Thank you to everyone who followed this, and I apologize for my long break partway through this story. God bless! I honestly don't know what story I'll work on next, though I'll try to finish more of my half-done works.)