Plop

Watching the smooth stone hit the water and sink out of sight, Luke scowled at the stream gurgling by from his spot on the banks and drew his legs up, hugging his knees to his chest. He doesn't get it, dammit! He wasn't normal. He would never be normal. He didn't fully understand why his grandpa wouldn't - or couldn't - seem to get that through his thick skull. The whole week Grandpa and Nanna Amidala had been visiting, it was like a constant, neverending silent battle of wills. While his Nanna and Grandma Shmi were more…cautious around him, they still showed interest in what Luke had learned while he'd been…gone. They avoided speaking about the fact that he'd been forcibly taken—in fact, they acted like it was almost like he'd gone on an extended leave to some type of hidden boarding school for special kids, and frankly, he was totally okay that they avoided the real reason why he knew all that he did about the Force and survival skills like hunting, fishing, shelter building, etc. He was more than happy to pretend that he was just abnormally gifted in those particular subjects—and he was quite content to pretend that those skills hadn't come at a very steep cost, a cost that made him…

He dropped that thought instantly. Nope. Not going there.

His father didn't agree with his decision to try to just pretend the whole thing didn't happen the way it did. Luke could feel his father urging him through the Force to open up to…if not him, then the Force itself, to begin the process of sorting out his feelings about what all had happened to him, to all of them. Luke pursed his lips and shook his head. Not happening. He was done with that. He didn't want to open that door, because if he did, he would release a torrent and be swept away by it and drown. Though Luke was getting pretty good at burying those feelings deep into a dark pit inside of himself, he had a feeling that his father saw right through him—and it drove him crazy. He still hadn't asked for training to block his father out. Skywalkers, Mara said, when he told her all of this the day before, are too stubborn for their own good.

She was probably right.

His mom seemed to quietly agree with his father, but he had a feeling that they were both waiting for their company to leave before they began to really push him in earnest to either open up or—he shuddered at the thought—go see a therapist. They hadn't said as much, but isn't that where cases like his usually ended up in the end? So, in the meantime, his mom was the perfect mom (in his eyes at least), being a wonderful hostess to his grandparents, laughing at jokes his father told her despite the strain she was obviously under, listening to Hayden and Leia talk about their days at school, discussing upcoming court cases and other litigation with Satine on the phone…she was as perfect as he remembered her. He just wished that he could make her worry go away—without having to go to a therapist over it.

But Force, his grandfather was something else!…Luke's jaw tightened. It wasn't that he was acting the way he was just to be mean. Luke truly felt that his grandfather meant well. As his parents had warned him a week ago, the man was overly worried and concerned about the powers Luke had inherited from his father. Or, maybe, he was acting like a normal, concerned father and grandfather would be after finding out that his family was involved in a lifestyle that was...at times...very dangerous. Luke wouldn't know though, since he'd always…well, ever since he could remember, he had always been surrounded by the Force. And in his case, his grandfather had been right.

Though Luke understood this, his patience was running very thin by this point. His grandfather was civil enough, but every time he talked to Luke, he almost pretended that Luke was normal. As if Luke would, from this day forward, live the life of a 'normal teenager.' He acted like being normal was a conscious choice Luke could just decide to make, and yet in reality, that had never been a choice for Luke, or for Leia and Hayden for that matter. It was genetics, plain and simple. They were Skywalkers. They were Force sensitive. End of discussion. And, to top it off, they were the children of the most powerful Jedi Grand Master ever….a Jedi Grand Master who, by the way, just so happened to have an arch nemesis in Sidious, one of the most powerful Sith Lords ever.

So, yeah. He was so not destined for normal.

And Luke….despite it all, didn't want to be normal. The Force was his constant companion. It was his lifeline. It was what had kept him going in the darkest of times over the years. It guided him. Comforted him. Strengthened him. He wasn't about to give that up just to please his worried relative. So, when his grandfather was showing Luke different colleges earlier that evening, and accidentally slipped out that Stanford was not only closeby to his mother's family, but was also 'free of Jedi,' Luke had snapped. One second, he was humoring his grandfather and looking at online brochures of different colleges in his parents' living room, and the next…Well...He didn't yell, thankfully. However, his whole body tensed up immediately, and his grandfather must have felt it, because he paused. "I mean, that's not the reason you should go—your parents went to that college, after all, and…"

"What if I want to be a Jedi?" His voice was hard, firm. He didn't know what possessed him to say that, since he certainly didn't want to be a Jedi, but, at the same time, he didn't want anyone to make decisions like this for him. Not anymore.

His grandfather hesitated. "If—if that's what you want, then of course." He slid a glance towards the kitchen, where his parents were talking with his Nanna and Grandma about the test scores he'd gotten back earlier that day, and the finalized plans he'd made with the school district for school. His grandfather's voice lowered as if he were afraid of his father overhearing him. "I just thought….after what happened, of course…..well, that you'd want to be done with…with those powers and not use them anymore."

Luke abruptly pushed the laptop off of his lap and stood up, his jaw tightening, his lips flattening in a thin line. "No. I'm not done with those powers. Nor will I be." Luke didn't bother to keep his own voice low, and he vaguely noticed that all conversation in the kitchen had stopped. He heard Threepio sigh from the kitchen as if to say Oh, dear. Not another fight. "Those 'powers,' as you call them...It's part of who I am. If I want to be a Jedi, I'll be one. If I don't, I won't. That's my decision to make. But, even if I don't, I'm not going to be normal. Not ever. Furthermore, I'm not going to pretend like I don't have them! I'm not about to have people tell me what I can and can't do with my own damn powers! They're as much a part of me as the blood in my veins!"

His grandfather's face flushed red. "Now, you listen here young man," He began, and Luke could tell that he was upset. But, in that moment, Luke didn't give a shit. He turned to make a break for the back door, to get some fresh air, to distance himself from his grandfather before he really lost his temper and…his father was standing right there.

Luke flinched, expecting his father to get upset with him for disrespecting his grandfather…but no. Anakin wasn't even looking at Luke. He was glaring at his father-in-law, his lips thinned into a hard line, his blue eyes narrowed and stormy under furrowed brows. Luke could feel the pure fury - controlled though it was - emitting through the Force from his father, and it made Luke back up a step. "I've had enough." His father's voice was calm, and yet firm. Anakin's full attention was on his father-in-law.

Even though he couldn't feel his father's anger like Luke could, his grandfather faltered. "I'm only trying to help—those powers have gotten this family into nothing but trouble from the start, and…"

"And, it's not something that we can just turn off and on, like a water faucet, when we feel like it!" Anakin interrupted, his voice clipped and jaw tight. Behind his father, his mom appeared, looking worriedly between her dad and her husband. His grandmothers were right behind her, and Luke sensed that what was coming next…Well, it wouldn't be pretty. This was a fight a long time coming, and it didn't really have anything to do with Luke himself—but he seemed to be the catalyst for it. No, this was strictly between Ruwee and Anakin.

And, frankly, Luke wasn't interested in being involved any further. Though his mom called after him, Luke bolted out the back door and into the late afternoon sweltering heat, heading for anywhere that wasn't around his family—around anyone, really. He needed to calm down. He needed to think. He needed to be alone.

So here he was. Deep in the woods behind his house. Staring at a crystal clear stream that he vaguely seemed to remember, breathing in the fresh scent of pine and cedar. The sun was beginning to set in the distance, but he just didn't have it in him to get up and head back to the house to see the damage the fight had done. The sticky heat of the afternoon had melted away, and a cool breeze was now starting to pick up—at least, as cool as East Texas ever got. The rage on the other end of his bond with his father had simmered down to mere annoyance at his grandfather, coupled with concern for Luke. Come home, Luke. It's okay. His father's voice echoed down the bond, It's getting late.

He pointedly ignored the voice, managing to erect a weak barrier between him and his father. He knew his father could break through it with little thought, but he didn't. He sensed the wall in Luke's mind, and withdrew…but only a little. But Luke wasn't alone for long. From behind him, he heard a whistle, whirring, and several beeps and boops. He craned his neck around to find Artoo slowly rolling his way towards him, his domed head and optic sensor swiveling all around to look for any obstacles that would stop his progress over the uneven ground. When Artoo was close enough for Luke to read his translation panel, Luke bitterly asked, "Did my father send you?"

A low moaning squawk sounded that didn't need translation, but it popped up on the screen anyway. No.

Luke relaxed a little bit and sighed, running his hands over his face. "Was the fight bad in there after I left?"

More droid speak that translated seamlessly for him. Master Anakin basically told your grandfather to either accept you and your siblings for who you are, or to get out of his house and don't come back again until he does. It was quite epic. Too bad you missed it.

Luke winced. He didn't blame this one on himself. Clearly, this was a fight a long time brewing. It was bound to happen sooner or later. Still, he felt bad for his parents. His mother especially as it was her dad that was causing such a ruckus. "Well, they're all going home tomorrow anyway. Maybe a little space is what's needed now."

A little space is always good for Master Anakin and your grandfather. If Artoo could speak, Luke imagined his voice being rather dry in that moment, and he smiled at the thought.

And…there it was again. That odd feeling that he somehow knew Artoo, knew him better than almost anyone else. As if they were destined to be together. "Artoo…do we know each other?"

If Artoo could have snorted, Luke was sure he would have. What kind of question is that? Of course, we know each other.

Yes, even with his tampered memories, he remembered Artoo being there, but… "No. I mean more than just…before the incident. I mean…" He paused, trying to come up with the right words. "I don't know. I just feel like you and I have known each other across lifetimes." His cheeks reddened. He knew he sounded insane. And yet…

I was created and built by Master Anakin while he was in college. I have no memory of another lifetime. If it existed, my memory bank must have been wiped clean.

It was such an innocent answer, and Luke was grateful the droid hadn't called him crazy. Still, Like stared at the blue and white droid, his eyes narrowing slightly, trying to place it…and as he did so, a picture began to form in his mind of Artoo projecting an image of his sister dressed in a strange white dress with her hair looking weird done up like cinnamon rolls, and pain suddenly began to throb in his head again, threatening to become unbearable if he went further. He winced and gritted his teeth and immediately stopped trying to place where he knew the droid from, and the pain receded slowly and reluctantly.

A concerned whistle. Are you alright, Master Luke?

Luke smiled softly. "I'm fine, Artoo. Thanks for…"

"You talk to droids just as much as dad does." Luke whirled sharply, finding Leia carefully picking her way over to the stream bed. She wore a light blue cardigan over a soft pink blouse, dark blue jeans and a pair of white sandals. Not exactly the right footwear to be picking her way through the woods to find him.

"Artoo is good company." He patted the droid's dome affectionately, and Artoo made a chuffing noise of approval.

Leia smiled wistfully. "Yes. You can say that again." She sat down beside Luke and sighed. "So. I came home to find Dad and Grandpa getting into it. Mom said you'd gotten upset with Grandpa about the Force, and Dad defended you."

"Does that make you upset?" Luke asked, looking at his little sister. Not that she was that much younger (hey, ten minutes younger was still younger)—frankly, he sometimes thought she acted like she was years older than him, as if she'd lived a whole lifetime already. And then, sometimes she totally acted her age—like a few days ago when she'd come storming out of the house mad as fire while he and Han and Chewie were working on the Falcon and began pelting Han with Nerf gun foam bullets, yelling at the top of her voice about how he was still a "scruffy-looking Nerf Herder." Shocked - after all, what the hell was a 'Nerf herder,' anyway?- both Han and Luke had dove for cover (while Chewie just roared with laughter watching the events unfold)… only to find Mara with her own Nerf gun joining Leia in the assault, her foam bullets hitting Luke left, right, and center. Luke and Han later found out from Mara that Leia had started the one-sided fight because their dad had chewed her out royally about kissing Han, and it was her 'revenge' for them telling Anakin in the first place. Mara, Leia said, had joined the ruckus just because she "couldn't pass up an opportunity to see the look on Luke's face when she hit him with foam bullets."

"Not really. Frankly, I'm surprised Dad hasn't snapped at Grandpa before now. I think he's held back all these years for Mom's sake." She shrugged. "It is sad though. Sad, but understandable that Grandpa is like this, working for the government as he does. He's always been stiff-necked about government protocols and 'doing the right thing to protect the public.' Still, they'll all be gone tomorrow." She grinned. "Then, it's just us, and you'll be going back to school."

Luke made a face. He'd taken the test to be placed in a grade level yesterday. He was supposed to get his results back tonight, and his dad wanted to help him pick out his classes based on the results. "That's…great." He said, turning away from her.

Leia was silent for a while. "I'm worried about you, Luke." She finally said, her voice soft.

Luke tensed, but still didn't look at her. "There's nothing to worry about." He muttered, but he didn't bother to try to make it sound convincing. He didn't buy it himself, and he knew his twin didn't either.

"You know that's a lie." He felt her hand on his shoulder. "And, it's understandable, given…what happened, y'know. But…you've always liked going off on your own to figure out your own problems."

Luke didn't disagree with that, but for Leia to know that…. "Was I like that as a kid, too?" He asked, and this time he did risk a glance at her.

Leia raised her eyebrows and snorted. "Luke. Trust me on this. You have always done that, even at very inopportune moments. It's like…you seem to think that you need to take on the whole universe's problems alone, and if you pull away from other people, you'll somehow keep them safe." Her eyes narrowed. "Don't get me wrong. It's very noble, of course, but also very untrue."

Luke frowned. She knew him so well, too well, really, and yet, he barely had a legitimate memory of her. "I'm still here, aren't I?"

"Yes, but you're still a million miles away...in here." Leia pointed to his head and then to his heart before turning away from him, staring at the stream. "You know…we used to play in this stream all the time when we were little. You, me, Ella, and Ezra would spend hours out here."

"Really?" Luke looked back at the water, as if by doing so he could find his lost memories hidden underneath the surface. He reached out a hand and touched the cool water. "It doesn't seem like it's deep enough to play in."

"Now it doesn't, because we're older and bigger. But when we were little, it was the perfect size for us." Leia laughed a little. "Mom used to get so mad at us when we came trudging in and dragged water and mud through the house. Threepio used to grumble while he cleaned it all up."

Despite not being able to remember it, Luke began to smile, as if he too could remember those happier times. "We must have been a handful for Mom then."

"Oh, yeah! And, Dad, too. Poor Dad sometimes didn't even know what to do with us, especially when we argued." Luke had a mental image of his dad just watching in horror as he and Leia blew up at one another. He could imagine them unintentionally using the Force to emphasize their distress…like an exploded cake…

"Leia," Luke frowned. "I think….I think I sort of remember the cake incident. Ella grabbed a piece of our cake with her hands and…" He frowned, trying to remember. "I got upset, and you were upset that I was upset with Ella…and then we were yelling at each other across the table, and I accidently blew the cake up with the Force."

Leia chuckled. "Yeah. You sure did. You still owe me a birthday cake, Brother." She nudged him playfully in the ribs with her elbow, and Luke broke out into a wide toothy grin. "I'm kind of in the mood for cake now. Thanks for that."

"You're welcome." He said, relieved that he'd actually remembered the incident. "Sometimes I remember scenes from the past. But, they're brief and random. Just quick flashes really."

Leia sighed. "It'll come back, Luke. Slowly, but surely. Y'know, if I was a really mean sister, I'd totally make things up. Like say…you promised to buy me a Ferrari when we turned sixteen." She looked at him expectantly. "Where's my Ferrari, Luke? You're almost two years overdue here."

Luke started to laugh. Really laugh. And, it felt…good. Better than good. It felt great! "Even I know that I wouldn't ever promise anyone something like that, Little Sister. Besides, who needs cars anyway when we have way cooler speeders?"

"Nope. You're getting me a Ferrari. It's official." Leia insisted dramatically. "You also promised to buy me the moon once." Leia pursed her lips and nodded her head slowly, watching the stream.

"Our father is the director of NASA. He's been to Mars. He's way more capable of getting you that than I am." But, Luke was still laughing, rolling his eyes at his sister. Clearly, she was trying to make him feel less stressed out—and it was working. And suddenly, Luke was feeling…spontaneous. Without thinking of the consequences (typical Skywalker trait, of course), he reached out in the Force and used it to pick up two globs of water, suspending them in the air before them, where he then shaped one into the shape of a Ferrari and the other the shape of the moon.

Leia stared at it for a moment, then rolled her eyes. "Show off." She said.

Luke grinned…and promptly squirted both the water Ferrari and the water moon….right into Leia's face, dousing her with the water. "There. As you asked for. There's your moon and your Ferrari, just as promised." He laughed as Leia shrieked, the water drenching her hair and face.

When she was done wiping the water from her eyes, she glared at Luke. "So, that's how you want to play, huh?"

Luke grinned, and Artoo began to back up, making concerned beeps, his dome rotating rapidly left and right. "Whatcha gonna do about it, Little Sister? Huh?"

Despite the glare, his challenge sparked a fire in her brown eyes, and she grinned. "Oh. Oh, it's on now, Big Brother."


"Mr. Skywalker, Luke's scores are, frankly, above and beyond what a normal high school student would score...in any category." The superintendent said over the phone. Anakin listened intently, trying to pretend that he hadn't just snapped at his father-in-law (who was now in the guest bedroom with Padme's mother, probably ranting away about his 'disrespectful son-in-law'). Thankfully, Padme had backed him up wholeheartedly, because she too was tired of her father's obstinate response to her Force-sensitive family, but Anakin could still tell she was stressed about the whole situation. She still loved her parents very much, despite her father's bull-headedness. He would have tried to soothe her worries then and there, but he'd gotten the call they'd been waiting for about Luke's scores, and his own mother assured him that she would take care of Padme until he was done on the phone.

"Well, that's pleasing news." Anakin said, feeling pride swell up in his chest for his son. He knew Luke was smart—he'd always known Luke was smart. Luke wouldn't have been able to escape him as Vader if he hadn't been. He'd gotten his brilliant intellect from both his parents, Padme's intelligence being superb as well. Still, given how little Anakin knew about Luke's education the last nine years, he wasn't sure where he would be academically. He wanted his son to succeed. He wanted him to do whatever he put his mind to—and not be held back by not having a documented education. "So, what does that mean for Luke in practical terms?"

"It means, technically, he could take the GED and be done with school completely." The superintendent replied.

Anakin was already shaking his head. He and Padme had already discussed that option. He was certain Luke would love to take the GED and be done with it, but this wasn't just about Luke's documented academic scores. It was about getting his son back into the real world, assimilating him back into society. Luke needed to heal, and part of that healing process was exposing himself to normal people in normal everyday circumstances. "He needs to go to school, if not for the academic part of it, then the social part of it."

The superintendent sighed. "I had a feeling you'd say that." There was a pause. "Well, we could enroll him in the advanced courses in the senior year of high school. He could be in the same core classes as his sister. That would provide somewhat of a challenge for him, and get him the college credit he needs. Then, for his extra curriculars, he can do whatever it is he wants to do."

Yes. That seemed reasonable enough. Now, hopefully, Luke wouldn't bite his head off for agreeing to put him in advanced courses. "Ok. Let's do that." He said, and distantly, he heard the back door open. Reaching out with the Force, he felt both Leia and Luke come into the kitchen. Good. It was dark out now, and he needed to go online with Luke and pick out the extra curricular courses he needed to round out his schedule. "Thank you for your help."

He disconnected the phone and exited the downstairs den, heading for the kitchen to talk to Luke…

"What on earth did you two do?" He heard Padme's shocked - and irritated - gasp. Concerned about the tone in her voice, he picked up the pace, every possible scenario playing out in his mind. Blown up ships. A fist fight with each other…or someone else. Luke taking apart Artoo and not being able to put him back together again. But, when he turned the corner to the kitchen, he stopped short and tried hard to not burst out in a fit of laughter.

There were his twins...and his very upset wife. Luke and Leia stood next to the back door, massive grins on their faces as Padme glared at them, and Shmi tried to hold back laughter by placing a hand over her mouth. Both of them were dripping wet, and covered head to toe with mud. Artoo was next to them, also with mud splashes on his exterior. "Oh," Luke grinned devilishly, "We just had a little fun, is all."

"A little fun?!" Padme asked incredulously, as Threepio shuffled into the room to see what all the commotion was about now. He stopped short at seeing the three of them covered in mud.

"Oh, dear, not again," Threepio wailed, "Artoo, why didn't you stop them? Now, I'm going to have to clean it all up…."

"Threepio," Anakin interrupted before the droid could start ranting and get Artoo upset and out for revenge, "Go get the twins some dry clothes. Oh, and towels...lots of towels." Threepio was still grumbling, but he turned around and did as he was told.

But, Padme wasn't done...not by a long shot. "Leia, those clothes are destroyed!….and Luke, I just bought you your clothes, young man, and they're probably destroyed now, too! Honestly! How old are you two anyway?!" Now, Anakin was grinning from ear to ear, leaning his shoulder against the kitchen doorway to watch the exchange, his arms crossed over his chest. He remembered well how Luke and Leia would play in the stream in the woods, and come in the house covered in water and mud just like this…except that usually they came in while Padme wasn't around, and never bothered to change their clothes until after they had sat down on every piece of furniture in the house they could find. He could still remember Padme scolding them (and him for allowing it) as she dragged them by the arms into the bathroom to clean them up, and the whining and complaining Threepio made while he washed out the couch cushions.

Some things, apparently, never change.

Covering his mouth to prevent his laughter from escaping, Anakin felt it prudent not to remind his wife of the time he'd walked in on her and Mindy having a paint war in their old house in California during their college days….and how his wife had been covered head to foot in paint, rather than the mud now encasing their offspring. And, Anakin also realized, as Luke unintentionally projected his feelings through their Force bond, that Luke was actually…happy. Well, happier than he had been since he'd arrived back home. He stood there, listening to his mother chew him out, grinning like a madman. "Aw, Mom. You know what? You're just jealous that we didn't invite you to play, too."

Padme huffed, but even though outwardly she seemed upset, Anakin could feel her relief at seeing Luke happier than he'd been in the last week. "I am not jealous, I can promise you that, young man! Now, you wait here for Threepio, and don't you dare step one foot onto the carpet…"

"Next time, we promise to invite you, Mom." Leia promised, her unrepentant grin matching her brother's.

"No, really, that's…" Padme began, but Luke cut her off by stepping forward…and enveloping his mother in a bear hug. Padme squeaked, and now, Anakin was openly laughing. "LUKE!"

"I'd never want to make you feel left out, Mother Dear!" Luke insisted, his grin wolfish, as he hugged him mom tighter.

"Anakin!" Padme wailed, "Get him off me!"

"No, no," Anakin held up his hands innocently, "I wouldn't want to interfere with a son's love for his mother." Even as he refused to intervene on her behalf, Anakin knew payback from his wife was coming later when they were alone in private. Secretly, he quite looked forward to that, too.

Leia, laughing, approached Shmi. "Nana, do you feel left out, too?"

Shmi, still failing to hold back her own laughter, snorted. "Oh, you know I'm feeling left out, too." Grinning, Leia threw her arms around her grandmother, and Shmi didn't complain one bit as she hugged her granddaughter back.

Finally, Padme managed to squeeze her way out of Luke's muddy, wet embrace, now wet and muddy herself. At that moment, Threepio entered the kitchen with towels and clothes for Luke and Leia, and stopped short. "Oh no, now everyone is wet and filthy, I see!" He wailed, placing the twin's things on the counter.

"I'm not wet and dirty." Anakin pointed out with a smirk. "So, it isn't everyone."

Luke froze, as if realizing that, indeed, Anakin was still dry and clean. Immediately, the grin disappeared, and Anakin could feel turmoil in Luke's mind. Anakin's grin began to disappear, too—he hadn't meant to make things awkward for Luke, and yet here Luke was, feeling awkward and confused. Anakin sighed—helping Luke was not going to be easy. He'd known it wouldn't be, of course, but he wished he could just tell Luke he knew how he felt. If Luke wasn't already coming to terms with what Palpatine had done to his memories, Anakin would have told Luke about his past already. But, Luke still had a hard time believing that Palpatine's fabricated past for Luke was a lie….So, how could he even approach the subject with his son of them all being from another galaxy without sounding like a crazy person? It was something he wrestled with. If he told Luke the full truth, maybe it would get Luke to open up to him more, to really trust him. But, Luke could also pull further away, refusing to trust someone who sounded insane…

It was as he was distracted and debating this for the millionth time that week, that he didn't notice Luke going over to the kitchen sink—or at least, he didn't put together the reason why, until Luke had pulled out the power spray hose Threepio used to scrub off hard food from plates, aimed it right at Anakin, and used the Force to turn it on full blast, instantly drenching his father. Anakin sputtered and gasped and jumped out of the range of the spray, his thoughts immediately coming back to the present, his eyes and mouth wide as Luke turned off the spray, that devilish grin on his face again. "There." Luke said with a nod, "Now Threepio needs to get everyone dry clothes."

The room was silent for a long breathless moment, as everyone waited for Anakin's reaction. It was not often that Anakin got sprayed with water in his own home—in some situations, he might have gotten upset, but…Despite Luke's grin, Anakin could feel Luke's worry. Worry that Anakin would get mad and explode over it…as well as hope that his dad would understand that he was trying to tease him like he'd done his mother, without actually having to physically touch him to do it. Luke hoped that Anakin understood that he was trying to include his father in something fun, but that he wasn't quite ready to do it in the same way he could do it with his mom. And, as much as Anakin wanted Luke to be able to feel comfortable with physical touch, he also recognized that this was a huge step forward for his son. Luke was actually playing with him. After all the pushing away Luke had been doing, it was a major step forward, even if it was a small one.

So, Anakin grinned, tilted his head back, and laughed, breaking the tense silence as Padme, his mom, and Leia began to cautiously laugh, too. But, what pleased Anakin the most was the sense of relief and cautious happiness his reaction gave Luke.

Perhaps things were starting to look up, after all.


So long time no post! I know, I know. I try not to post this late. But I did. I got SUPER sick...like I probably should have gone to see someone but I'm too stubborn for my own good. Then when I recovered, I got the raise I've been wanting for my job...but it also means that my life was slammed by multiple large projects. Which I love doing. But it also makes me come home insanely tired.

So, I'll promise to update more on this story and my others. Blade should be posted within the week too. I got stuck on it, so my Beta is helping me co-write this chapter. So for those of you who read Blade...be ready for an update soon!

Happy 40th Aniversary of Star Wars! LOVED the new trailer...I only watched it a million times already.

The song for this chapter is Luke and Leia by John Williams.

Review!

Love,

Sarah