A/N: Hey, friends! Thanks for stopping by! Just a friendly reminder that I'm not necessarily looking for constructive criticism on my work- thank you to those who took the time to try to help me improve my writing, but I know my brain, and I'll fixate on it and feel really insecure for a while.

Thank you!

"Luke!" Vader called from the end of the elegant hallway. The boy turned his head, his small figure haloed in the sunlight streaming in from the window.

"Yes? Is everything alright?" Vader strode down to meet him, anger bubbling up more rapidly the closer he became.

"You believe you may just leave the premise any time you please?" He snapped, his massive boots now smacking against the tile floor. The boy's features assembled into gentle confusion as he almost shook his head.

"We talked about this, Father. I'm leaving with Han for a few days," he reminded him gently. Vader halted in front of him, hands on his hips in parental disapproval. Then suddenly, the boy's blue eyes lit up with understanding. "Oh, I get it."

"What?" Vader snapped, locking his shields up tighter. A warm smile blossomed on the boy's lips, distracting Vader from his anger for a quick second as memories of her resurfaced with the identical feature.

"You were afraid I was going to leave without saying goodbye," he said, his blue eyes dancing with good-natured humor.

"Wh-what? No, that..is most certainly not-" Suddenly, Vader's words were halted by two arms encircling his middle and squeezing, followed by a head resting against his chest.

"How could I forget to say goodbye to you?" he mumbled into his armor. Although stunned with such affection, Vader carefully brought up his own two hands and placed them on his son's back. To Vader, the moment became almost awkward as a silence developed between the two, but he could feel Luke's contentment in his Force presence as he held onto his father.

"When will you be returning?" Vader finally asked.

"Four days, it won't be long," he assured, nestling against Vader's chest. "But I'll still miss you," he smiled. After another moment of being stunned by such emotion, Vader gently patted his back.

"As I will you, young one." He could feel his son smile once again, holding him tighter.

"I love you, Father," he whispered. Despite being the most stunned he had been in these past few minutes, Vader managed to bring up a gloved hand to caress his son's blond locks, compensating for the words he could not conjure.

"You must refrain from causing trouble, young one," Vader finally said, although much more gently than usual. Luke laughed.

"I will," he promised, the smile still evident in his tone.

"And you must come home in a decent amount of time," Vader continued.

"Four days, no more, I promise," Luke assured. After another moment of Luke holding onto his father, the two heard the Falcon roar to life outside. The boy looked up to his father, the brilliant blue shade of his eyes making a supernova explosion seem pastel. His smile blossomed into his trademark toothy array, putting the sun to shame with its light.

"You're really going to miss me," he said, not quite a question, but an astonished statement. Vader scoffed, picking his head up to look away from the beacon of light staring up at him like an eager child.

"Is it really that absurd that I may appreciate your presence?" Luke laughed, almost giggled like a small child. A small dose of regretful nostalgia ached in the pit of Vader's stomach as he was again reminded of just how much of his own son's life he had missed, but fought the anger at the ones responsible as not to disturb the moment.

Ever so gently, Luke pulled away from their embrace, trailing his hands down his father's arms as some distance grew between them.

"I'll be back soon," he promised, his words adopting a much more serious tone. "I can call you on the way home."

"Inform me when you arrive at Corellia as well," Vader requested, suddenly wanting the child back in his arms where his safety was ensured.

"I will." Ever so tentatively, Vader brought up a gloved hand to cup his son's cheek, holding his face in his hand. He stroked his thumb over his cheek as Luke's smile grew once again. "I'll be fine, I promise."

"You had better be," Vader semi-threatened. "Or you will not leave this castle again." Luke maintained his smile as he brought up his hand to overlap his father's on his face.

"I promise," he repeated. "Really." After the vow settled around the two, Luke carefully broke free of his father's grasp and gathered his bags next to the door. Just before he pressed the button to open the door, he turned around again, smiling.

"I'll call you when we land," he said, relaying Vader's previous request.

"Yes you will," Vader confirmed, a little sharper than he had intended. "Immediately." The boy nodded, still smiling. He pressed the button, slowly backing out of the room as the door opened.

"I will see you soon." Just as he turned away, Vader had the sudden urge once again to wrap his arms around his son to keep him close, to guarantee his avoidance of harm. He wanted to ensure that no ill-mannered creatures crossed his path, that no technical issues occured aboard that unorthodox ship, and that no possibility even existed that he wouldn't return home.

As the boy walked away, his frame so slight just as hers, Vader took a step outside and failed to control the words that popped out of his mouth.

"Luke," he called.

"Yes?" the boy responded, turning back around with such a serene aura. Vader wanted to tell him to come back, to stay in the castle forever where he would be safe, but he knew he couldn't; he had to let the boy go.

"Be…" Vader sighed as much as his respirator would allow. "Be safe, son." That same smile sprouted once again, and Luke nodded.

"I will, Father."