Shadows Away

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A/N1:It was brought to my attention that I forgot to resolve Luke's fear of bath time in my story Cast in Shadow, so here is my remedy. Thanks "Bri" for helping me to catch this oversight. Major AU story!

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A/N2: I do not own Star Wars.

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Luke slammed the door to the refresher stall shut and stood upon the toilet so his legs weren't visible, his chest pumping heavily. He held his breath so as to not give himself away, and when he realized his braces were still visible, he hefted them up too.

Seconds later a chorus of feet followed his trail into the refresher, slowing as they attempted to find the wayward Luke.

"Luke?" one of the boys called.

But Luke remained stock still and silent, something he knew well how to do. The feet belonging to the small group of boys he had been hanging out with dispersed as they continued to search the refresher.

One pair of feet stopped before Luke's chosen stall and tested the door, but it remained in place since the lock was on.

Finally the feet converged once more and someone spoke, the confusion clear in their voice. "I don't get it. All we wanted to do was take him into the pool."

Luke stayed where he was as the boys left, and only when he was assured that they were really gone did Luke breathe without trying to hide it. He trembled heavily still, a cold sweat breaking out on his body. He and Leia had been invited to a lifeday party for one of the boys in Leia's class. Leia had initially been the only one invited, but when she had asked if her brother could come too, they had agreed, since it would be one more boy to play with, as they had put it.

But if Luke had known where the party would take place, he would have flat-out refused. The lifeday boy had chosen to rent out a public pool for his party, and the party members had the complex to themselves for two hours.

Luke had not known what the place was until he and Leia had walked through the gates. And he had been too busy talking to one of the boys in the party group— who had been happy to meet the other child— to pay much attention to where they were. Luke had been happy in turn to have the chance to make a new friend.

It was only when Luke looked up that he had realized where the party was to take place. He had instantly frozen in place, his heart thudding painfully. Leia, sensing his state, had steered Luke to a seat far from the pool, for which he had been glad. And Luke hadn't moved at all since being seated.

That is, until the boys had come over and insisted that Luke go into the pool. Luke had tried to find a way to refuse, searching for Leia so she could help, but she was nowhere that Luke could see.

At a loss as to what to do, Luke had said that he couldn't swim because he still had his braces. One boy had suggested that Luke just sit in the shallow water or on the steps so he could at least play with them.

Luke had tried to refuse again, but he had been tugged to his feet by the exuberant children.

Luke had been too afraid to fight back at first, and instead his gaze had been locked on the ever-nearing water. It hadn't been until someone had jumped in and splashed him that he'd snapped-to. Luke had yanked himself free of the boys' grasp and— with a speed that startled even himself— he raced for any place to hide.

So now here he was in a public refresher stall, waiting for the party to end so he could slink home unseen. Memories assaulted Luke, who tried his best to battle them, but many would not be silenced.

Water all around him, he was under the surface... couldn't breathe...

... "happy lifeday Worthless!"...

... he struggled futilely, his master's stronger grasp keeping Luke down...

... the dewback brush scratching his skin and leaving angry marks in its wake...

...the scalding hot temperature of the water...

Suddenly his foot was wet, and Luke leapt out of his skin, realizing too late that his left foot had slipped into the toilet. Luke panicked, caught up as he was in his memories, and he wrenched his foot from the water. Frenzied, Luke fumbled to open the stall door, and it finally swung out, dumping a frazzled Luke on the floor.

Luke curled into a ball where he had landed; trying to recall his father's breathing lessons to help himself calm down. But he couldn't calm, and he found himself rising to his feet, one of the limbs sloshing with every step he took.

Luke began to weep in distress, wishing valiantly he had never agreed to come. He went to the entrance for the refresher and peeked outside. He saw no one around, so Luke slunk his way to the exit for the facility as a whole, finding a dark corner between one wall and a bank of lockers to hide in.

There Luke stayed, the two hours passing by like a molasses from a jar for him. And all the while Luke shivered and wept. He straightened when parents began to arrive for their children, and as Luke watched people come and go, he squeezed himself deeper into his hiding spot, hoping no one would notice him and ask questions.

He finally hid his face from view too, burying it in his arms.

Thus he missed it when Anakin arrived. Nor did he hear it when Leia ran up to him and exclaimed that she didn't know where Luke had gone. Only when a ginger hand touched his elbow did Luke lift his head, his expression unreadable.

He recognized his father, who was gazing at him with open concern. Anakin turned his head and called to Leia. "I found him!"

Leia appeared soon afterwards, her face registering relief.

"Luke, don't do that again!" Leia chided him. "I was worried sick!"

Luke wiped at his nose. "Sorry." He inched from his hiding place, but didn't look at anyone, instead keeping his head down and making his way to the exit.

He heard a sigh behind him and soon Anakin's hand was upon his shoulder, guiding Luke to the family speeder. The ride home was a mixture of Luke's silence, and Leia talking about the fun she'd had.

Luke tuned her out, still trying to ward off his wealth of bad memories in relation to bodies of water. When the family arrived, Anakin helped his daughter from the vehicle and then turned to Luke, who hadn't moved at all.

Anakin gestured to Leia, and she left while Anakin sat next to his son. "Luke, what happened?"

Luke sniffled, feeling deeply embarrassed now. He also knew now that his father would know that Luke hadn't gotten over his fear of water after all like Anakin believed. Sure Luke had been keeping himself clean... via a towel bath each time. Luke had yet to actually take a bath or shower.

"I..." Luke tried to explain, knowing Anakin deserved to know. "I was afraid of the p-pool. Some of the boys tried to force me to go in, and I panicked."

Anakin frowned. "I thought you were over your fear of water?"

Luke shook his head, hunching down into himself. "No."

Anakin tilted his head. "But you've been bathing while at home."

"I've been giving myself a towel bath." Luke admitted, unable to look his father in the eye. "I still can't stand to be in the water though."

Anakin took that in. "I didn't realize that," he said at length.

Luke nodded. "I've been hiding it..." He sighed. "Like I hid my lack of education."

Anakin laid a hand on Luke's shoulder. "You will need to overcome this fear too, Luke."

Luke swallowed. "Why?" But he knew why.

Anakin knew this too and merely tilted Luke's chin so he could see his father's lifted eyebrow. Luke breathed erratically.

"I c-can't!" Luke tried to evade, terrified.

"What if I'm there with you?" Anakin offered. "Would that help you?"

Luke considered, though he was still frightened, and he began to weep again. "I don't want to be in water."

Anakin thinned his lips. "If not a bath, then maybe a shower: to start with at least. But you can't avoid bodies of water forever. Eventually you will be needed to go into one."

Luke sighed, knowing his father was right. He thought it over, coming to a decision. "You would be with me?"

"I will be in the room for emotional support." Anakin agreed.

Luke gulped in a breath of air. "Okay."

Anakin nodded once and led Luke to the refresher, where he began to run a bath.

"Can we not fill it a lot right now?" Luke asked. "Please?"

Anakin inclined his head. "Alright: just enough water for it to be a bath, but no more than that."

Luke smiled gratefully, but made no move to undress, his eyes glued to the clear liquid filling up the tub. He began to tremble, and memories assaulted him again. Luke squeezed his eyes shut and fought against the recollections.

He didn't know how long this went on before Anakin touched his shoulder. Luke opened his eyes to see Anakin gazing at him.

"The memories won't stop coming," Luke explained.

"And they will continue to bother you until you face them." Anakin told him patiently. "You need to accept that these things happened to you, and choose to not let them bother you anymore."

Luke blinked. "All at once?"

Anakin smirked. "If you can. But if not, then work on them in shifts. Little by little or as the memories come to you. Yes these things occurred, but they are also in the past, where they can no longer do you harm."

Luke had never thought of that. It was true: his memories were all of events from the past. And he was in the present, where things were happening right now.

Luke gritted his teeth and slowly stripped down before he moved to the tub. He paused before it and stared. Then he tested the temperature with a finger, and found it to be pleasantly warm.

Luke lifted one foot and with great hesitancy placed it in the water. He paused again, fighting off memories. He was doing this willingly, and he worked to accept the past like Anakin had said.

When he felt ready, Luke climbed fully into the tub and sat down slowly. He simply sat still for a long time, in which he battled a new bank of memories. Luke trembled where he sat, and while he wasn't entirely successful in warding off the unwanted remembrances, nor did he flee the tub.

But he wasn't ready to put his head under.

"This is all I can manage." Luke told Anakin, looking to his father with mixed emotions.

But Anakin was smiling. "It's a step in the right direction, Luke."

All Luke saw in his father's gaze was encouragement and pride, and Luke smiled in return.

"Thank you for always supporting me, Dad," Luke said. "Even when I've made trouble." He looked down. "I'm sorry I frightened Leia and you earlier."

Anakin kissed his son's head. "I understand. But please don't do it again."

Luke nodded. "I promise."

Anakin gave Luke a look. "Is there anything else I should be aware of?"

Luke cringed, but shook his head. "No," he answered honestly. "I am hiding nothing else."

Anakin nodded. "Good to hear Son. Now, about that bath, you do have to actually cleanse yourself..."

Luke rolled his eyes good naturedly at Anakin's jest, grabbing for the soap. "Yes Dad."