Luke couldn't help but smirk as Vader finished reiterating their plan of action.

"Why didn't you just say that in first place? You could have saved me a hand."

"You truly have a morbid sense of humor."

"It's only developed in the past few hours."

Vader laughed shortly.

For that moment, everything was normal- and perfect.

No Empire, no Alliance, no Force.

Just them.

Then Luke became serious, "Do you think it'll work?"

"Palpatine will be so overjoyed at his new 'toy,'" Vader surmised in disgust, "He'll never see it coming."

Luke glanced at the chrono on the wall, they'd been mulling over this plan for nearly five hours-but he still hadn't tired of talking with his father. He felt like he finally had to the chance make up for the past twenty years. He held the bridge of his nose between his index fingers, "So, where am I going to sleep anyway?"

"Here, of course."

"Huh?"

Vader laughed, "It's been a long time since anyone has said 'huh' to me."

Luke raised an eyebrow at the man seated across from him.

"I had these quarters prepared--- when I found out about you."

Luke's jaw dropped, "These are MY quarters?"

"Yes."

A silence fell over them, not for the first time since this bizarre conversation had begun.

"Father--"

"Yes, Son?"

"I'm-I'm sorry."

Luke felt his father frown.

"Luke, you have nothing to apologize for-the things that have happened--- you had no control over, I should be apologizing to you."

Father and son stared at each other for a long moment.

The son finally broke, "What happened?"

"What happened to what?"

Luke gave Vader the look he had last favored Artoo with right after arriving--rather, crashing in the swamps of Dagobah, "To YOU."

"I wasn't satisfied with the training my Master offered me--"

He paused.

"And I accepted the lessons of a new Master--"

Vader looked at Luke sharply, "What are you smiling at?"

"There is good in you." His son noted with that same imperturbable smile.

Vader clenched his fist, fighting the urge to backhand the boy again.

"What makes you say so?" He asked instead.

"You speak about Anakin Skywalker with the pronoun 'I'."

"You build a case against me with mechanics, child?"

"Not against you-FOR you."

"Obi-wan once thought as you do--"

"I do not know the power of the Dark side." Luke finished for him quietly.

Vader dug a gloved hand into his armrest.

"How did you know I was going to say that?" He demanded dangerously.

"Because you have said it- in my dreams, every night for the past four weeks."

Once again- this fair-haired child put Vader at a loss of words.

"Get some sleep." Vader said simply, and retreated.

You win this round, young one.

~

Luke watched his father depart.

He'd learned much about his dark father in their short time together; and he'd never engaged in as many arguments as he had in the past five hours.

He glanced around the room where a chair still lay broken and a table upturned.

He undressed in mental silence and slipped into bed.

~

"We're two days from Coruscant, Sweetheart. What's the plan for finding him?"

Leia rubbed her temples as she regarded Han seated across from her.

"Honestly, I haven't the slightest idea."

Han nodded, "Always good to have some reassurance."

"The problem is- I'm sure Luke isn't going in without a plan himself. If only I could just talk--"

She cut herself off.

"Leia?" Han's hand shot across the table to cover hers.

"I CAN talk to him," She muttered.

Han simply stared.

Her eyes suddenly met his- wide with anticipation.

"Han- when we were fleeing Bespin-I HEARD Luke, and I knew where he was."

Han nodded slowly, "The Force."

"Yes."

"How did you do it?"

"I didn't-he did."

Han stared at the table in thought.

"Too bad Luke didn't show you that little trick."

"Mmm." Leia replied. "Maybe-maybe he did."

Han raised an eyebrow at her.

"Maybe by the mere act of communicating with me like that-he opened a window for me to do the same with him."

"It sounds like a long shot."

"But worth a try."

"Yeah," He agreed, "Anything is worth a try."

She stood and headed towards her bunk, "Give me some time alone to concentrate- ok?"

"Sure- and Leia?" She stopped and looked back at him, "Take my quarters, they're more comfy."

She smiled, "Thanks."

~

-Luke.

-LUKE.

"Wha-?" Luke sat up in bed, covered in a cold sweat. He looked around in panic. Where the hell am I? He thought, pulling the silk sheets over him.

And then he remembered.

Settling back against the pillows he closed his eyes and simply breathed.

-Luke.

He blinked.

-Father?

-You CAN hear me!

Luke frowned.

-Who are you?

-It's me- Leia.

"Leia!" Quickly he shut his mouth; fearful his father had heard him.

-Where did you learn to do this?

-Well, from you did actually.

Luke was stumped. Leia felt his confusion and quickly explained.

-I rebuilt the feelings I had when you called to me on Bespin; I think it's the Force-

-Yes, Luke interrupted, but it's also something more.

-What?

-We must have some kind of bond to be able to do this with so little training.

-Well, we'll look into it once we rescue you.

-Rescue me? Where are you?

-Enroute to Coruscant.

-Leia!

-Luke, I'm not leaving you!

Luke swallowed,

-Leia, my-my father and I have a plan.

-You can't trust him!

-Yes, I can. Together, we are going to kill the Emperor.

-And what of the Empire? You don't really believe it'll simply dissolve- do you?

-It will be just.

He felt Leia's scowl.

-Look, Luke, we're still coming- like it or not, you will have our help.

Luke propped his back against his headboard.

-All right, we're stopping in the Adritha System in twenty hours.

He felt Leia check something.

-We can be there in thirty.

-Ok, wait just outside the system.

He felt Leia hesitate.

-For what?

-For us to capture you.

She was silent for a moment.

-Han's not going to like this.

-Well, after this he can say he's gone head-to-head with a Super Star Destroyer and survived.

-He can say that already.

-Well, this time he can say he knows what he's doing.

Leia laughed.

-We'll see you in soon.

-Okay- take care of yourself Leia.

-You too.

And she was gone.



[Once again- I apologize for the brief chapters-next chapter will be up soon! Thank you SOOOO much for the reviews!!!]