Chapter Twenty-Five
The next day Luke was lying on the bed in the rebel's apartment, he felt a presence sitting on the bed beside him. He opened his eyes to see Gaeriel sitting on the bed looking at him. "Gaeriel, what are you doing here?" Luke asked in surprise.
"I came to talk to you." She replied. "Thank you, for what you did for Eppie, she is fully healed and is back to her old self." Gaeriel said with complete gratitude.
Luke nodded as he sat up. "So what is it you need to talk about?"
"I came to say goodbye Luke, I have to stay here and help Bakura. I am not ready to leave yet, there is so much work to do, since we joined the Alliance." She said with regret.
Luke nodded in understanding, the more he became deep into the force, the more it was harder to find someone. He glanced up at Gaeriel, "It's ok, Gaeri, I understand. You have to do what feels right in your heart." Luke said with complete honesty. He felt a little sad; he knew that they could at least be friends.
"When you have the time, I want you to come back and visit me. You know so we could talk, I want to stay friends." Gaeriel said.
Luke nodded as they hugged. Luke watched as she walked out of the room and out of his life. "Goodbye Luke." Gaeriel called over her shoulder.
"Goodbye Gaeri." Luke said feeling sad.
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Gaeriel strolled out and turned to Anakin, "It was nice meeting you." She said as she shook his hand. "Likewise." Anakin replied.
He watched her leave. Anakin turned back and walked into Luke's room, he knew that Luke had grown fond of her. But it could not be helped, he knew that someday his son would fall in love and get married.
Anakin walked over and sat at the edge of Luke's bed. "How are you feeling son?" Anakin asked all concerned as he saw the sad look on his son's features.
Luke shook his head, it hurt having Gaeriel leave, but he also knew that she was not the one for him. "I'll be fine."
Anakin sat there in silence letting Luke's thoughts go through his mind. "There is something I need to ask you." His father said after a few moments of silence.
"About what?" Luke was curious.
"How do you feel about Kay?" Anakin asked. He talked to Padme and found out that Leia was all for it.
"I like her. Why?" Luke replied. He was beginning to grow fond of the younger girl for some reason, he could not explain why.
"Your mother and I want to adopt Kay into the family. But we wanted to consult you and Leia first. Kay is all for it, she brought up the subject; she wants to be adopted by us. I am wondering on how you would feel about it?" His father finally said.
Luke sat there and thought about it, he kind off liked the idea of having another sister to protect. He never grew up with siblings and neither did Leia, so this might be their chance to have a younger sister. Kay was force sensitive and it might be a good idea if she was adopted into a jedi family. He glanced back at his father. "What if the courts said no? Would you be disappointed?" Luke finally broke the uncomfortable silence. "I like the idea by the way." Luke added.
His father shook his head with regret, "I'm not sure." "I guess I would be disappointed because I have grown fond of her." His father replied in deep regret.
"Father?" Anakin glanced at his son as Luke placed his hand on his arm.
"In a few days when I am completely recovered, I want to try and heal your body." Luke said. Anakin nodded as he thought, it would be better if he did not have the black armor anymore.
"Yes, I would like that very much." Anakin replied with honesty.
He stood up, "Get your rest son. I will be back later to check on you."
"Wait, is Kay out there?" Anakin nodded. "Could you send her in for a few minutes." Luke asked.
"Ok, just a few minutes then you need to try and get some sleep." His father said.
Luke nodded as his father walked out of the room, a few minutes later Kay walked in. Luke motioned for her to sit on the bed. She sat down. "Kay, father and I were talking about something. He asked about how I would feel about having you adopted into the family. I like the idea and I am all for it."
Kay's face lit up; as the final family member approved of the adoption. Luke could see it written all over Kays face, she wanted for this to happen very much. If the courts said yes, he looked forward to having her as his little sister. Luke hugged Kay then watched as she walked out, she promised Anakin that she would not linger too long.
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Four days later Luke and Anakin were sitting at the table, facing each other. Here it goes Anakin thought, they were about to find out if they could restore his body. "This might not even work." Luke said truthfully.
"We can only hope." His father replied, he did not want to run his hopes up too high.
Luke glanced at everyone in the room. We will need several hours of complete silence, no one can call or talk." Luke said with finality. Everyone nodded as they left the apartment. Next time they came back in, Anakin might be fully restored and out of the mask and body armor.
Luke turned his gaze on his father. "Ready?"
His father nodded. "Yes I am."
Luke and Anakin connected up through the force. He got a good look at what his father used to look like; he pictured his father in his mind as they began to repair the damage. The scars where not that hard to make disappear, but the lungs were a lot harder to repair then expected. The eyes were difficult as well as any other type of organ that was damaged by the lava pit. It was several hours later and they were both growing to the point of exhaustion. Luke felt Leia quietly walk in and added her own strength to the very long slow process, Anakin was thankful for her added strength. They left gratitude, as she walked back out. Freshly renewed, they worked into the long hours of the night.
Dawn was just beginning to break; they were both exhausted to the point of collapsing. Luke watched his father take off the helmet and mask as he set it on the table, Anakin took his first deep breath in twenty-four years, with out the mask, he thought that he would never get rid of the blasted thing.
Luke looked deep into his fathers ice blue eyes; Luke knew where he had gotten a good portion of his looks. His father's eyes looked haunted as tears streaked down his face.
Anakin could not be any happier then he was now, he watched his son as tears slide down Luke's face. Luke looked so much like him when he was that age; he had his eyes and facial features. For once, he was able to look at Luke with his own eyes, and not through a visor.
"Shall I go and get mom?" Luke asked softly as he broke the tender silence. Anakin nodded.
Luke stood up as he began to draw strength to himself, he felt his father do the same. The only thing to take care of now, was to start the adoption process.
Luke walked out with a grave expression on his face, he did not want to give away the success quite yet. "Mom, can you come in here for a minute?"
Padme nodded, she was wondering if they had failed, and they were going to tell her that it could not be done. She walked into the room to see her husband smiling at her. His looks were fully restored; except his hair was a much darker blond then she remembered it.
Padme started at a dead run to Anakin, as Anakin intercepted her he picked her up and swung her around. As he put her back down their lips locked into a deep passionate kiss. Her hands ran down his now useless armor, he does not need it anymore Padme thought as she felt Anakin run his hands down to her waist.
Tears sprung to Anakins eyes, He knew that he was missing something and now he knew what it was. It was to feel Padmes' soft petal lips on his.
Padme could see tears in his eyes, but she felt wet lines go down her face as well. She missed kissing her husband like this, and she could not be any happier. They would've tried to stay like this but they gasped for air.
"Should we go and tell the others?" Padme asked as she glanced at Luke, she noted that he was smiling as he watched them lip lock.
Luke turned to the door feeling excitement run through him at their success. "I will go and let them in." Anakin and Padme acknowledged him as they locked into another kiss. Luke knew that is what they will probably be doing for a while now.
Luke walked out as everyone threw questioning glances at him. "Alright everyone, come on in." Luke said.
Everyone followed Luke in as they looked over to see Anakin and Padme locked in a kiss.
Anakin finally had to come up for air. "I see you haven't lost it. I love you so much Angel."
Padme grinned, "You haven't lost your touch either Ani. I love you too." Padme returned.
They walked over to the rest of the group. Leia was smiling at her father as he smiled back; she couldn't believe it. He didn't need the black armor or the mask anymore. She hugged him.
"If it wasn't for your extra strength I don't think Luke and I could've done it, I am deeply grateful. Thank you, my dear daughter for your help." He turned to Luke, "Son, I am deeply grateful for what you have done for me." Anakin said with complete gratitude in his voice and a look of being grateful in his eyes.
Luke nodded as he replied. "You're welcome."
Kay walked over and gave him a quick hug. Anakin glanced down at her, "What do you think?"
She smiled at him, "I think it's great." Kay replied with excitement in her voice.
Han Chewie and Dev were surprised; Han could swear that Anakin looked like an older version of Luke. Han watched the way Padme and Anakin were looking at each other, he could really see the love they were showing for each other and the way they looked at Luke and Leia and now Kay if everything went their way. They were used to seeing the black mask and armor, this was going to take some time getting used to.
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The next day Luke was lying on the bed in the rebel's apartment, he felt a presence sitting on the bed beside him. He opened his eyes to see Gaeriel sitting on the bed looking at him. "Gaeriel, what are you doing here?" Luke asked in surprise.
"I came to talk to you." She replied. "Thank you, for what you did for Eppie, she is fully healed and is back to her old self." Gaeriel said with complete gratitude.
Luke nodded as he sat up. "So what is it you need to talk about?"
"I came to say goodbye Luke, I have to stay here and help Bakura. I am not ready to leave yet, there is so much work to do, since we joined the Alliance." She said with regret.
Luke nodded in understanding, the more he became deep into the force, the more it was harder to find someone. He glanced up at Gaeriel, "It's ok, Gaeri, I understand. You have to do what feels right in your heart." Luke said with complete honesty. He felt a little sad; he knew that they could at least be friends.
"When you have the time, I want you to come back and visit me. You know so we could talk, I want to stay friends." Gaeriel said.
Luke nodded as they hugged. Luke watched as she walked out of the room and out of his life. "Goodbye Luke." Gaeriel called over her shoulder.
"Goodbye Gaeri." Luke said feeling sad.
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Gaeriel strolled out and turned to Anakin, "It was nice meeting you." She said as she shook his hand. "Likewise." Anakin replied.
He watched her leave. Anakin turned back and walked into Luke's room, he knew that Luke had grown fond of her. But it could not be helped, he knew that someday his son would fall in love and get married.
Anakin walked over and sat at the edge of Luke's bed. "How are you feeling son?" Anakin asked all concerned as he saw the sad look on his son's features.
Luke shook his head, it hurt having Gaeriel leave, but he also knew that she was not the one for him. "I'll be fine."
Anakin sat there in silence letting Luke's thoughts go through his mind. "There is something I need to ask you." His father said after a few moments of silence.
"About what?" Luke was curious.
"How do you feel about Kay?" Anakin asked. He talked to Padme and found out that Leia was all for it.
"I like her. Why?" Luke replied. He was beginning to grow fond of the younger girl for some reason, he could not explain why.
"Your mother and I want to adopt Kay into the family. But we wanted to consult you and Leia first. Kay is all for it, she brought up the subject; she wants to be adopted by us. I am wondering on how you would feel about it?" His father finally said.
Luke sat there and thought about it, he kind off liked the idea of having another sister to protect. He never grew up with siblings and neither did Leia, so this might be their chance to have a younger sister. Kay was force sensitive and it might be a good idea if she was adopted into a jedi family. He glanced back at his father. "What if the courts said no? Would you be disappointed?" Luke finally broke the uncomfortable silence. "I like the idea by the way." Luke added.
His father shook his head with regret, "I'm not sure." "I guess I would be disappointed because I have grown fond of her." His father replied in deep regret.
"Father?" Anakin glanced at his son as Luke placed his hand on his arm.
"In a few days when I am completely recovered, I want to try and heal your body." Luke said. Anakin nodded as he thought, it would be better if he did not have the black armor anymore.
"Yes, I would like that very much." Anakin replied with honesty.
He stood up, "Get your rest son. I will be back later to check on you."
"Wait, is Kay out there?" Anakin nodded. "Could you send her in for a few minutes." Luke asked.
"Ok, just a few minutes then you need to try and get some sleep." His father said.
Luke nodded as his father walked out of the room, a few minutes later Kay walked in. Luke motioned for her to sit on the bed. She sat down. "Kay, father and I were talking about something. He asked about how I would feel about having you adopted into the family. I like the idea and I am all for it."
Kay's face lit up; as the final family member approved of the adoption. Luke could see it written all over Kays face, she wanted for this to happen very much. If the courts said yes, he looked forward to having her as his little sister. Luke hugged Kay then watched as she walked out, she promised Anakin that she would not linger too long.
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Four days later Luke and Anakin were sitting at the table, facing each other. Here it goes Anakin thought, they were about to find out if they could restore his body. "This might not even work." Luke said truthfully.
"We can only hope." His father replied, he did not want to run his hopes up too high.
Luke glanced at everyone in the room. We will need several hours of complete silence, no one can call or talk." Luke said with finality. Everyone nodded as they left the apartment. Next time they came back in, Anakin might be fully restored and out of the mask and body armor.
Luke turned his gaze on his father. "Ready?"
His father nodded. "Yes I am."
Luke and Anakin connected up through the force. He got a good look at what his father used to look like; he pictured his father in his mind as they began to repair the damage. The scars where not that hard to make disappear, but the lungs were a lot harder to repair then expected. The eyes were difficult as well as any other type of organ that was damaged by the lava pit. It was several hours later and they were both growing to the point of exhaustion. Luke felt Leia quietly walk in and added her own strength to the very long slow process, Anakin was thankful for her added strength. They left gratitude, as she walked back out. Freshly renewed, they worked into the long hours of the night.
Dawn was just beginning to break; they were both exhausted to the point of collapsing. Luke watched his father take off the helmet and mask as he set it on the table, Anakin took his first deep breath in twenty-four years, with out the mask, he thought that he would never get rid of the blasted thing.
Luke looked deep into his fathers ice blue eyes; Luke knew where he had gotten a good portion of his looks. His father's eyes looked haunted as tears streaked down his face.
Anakin could not be any happier then he was now, he watched his son as tears slide down Luke's face. Luke looked so much like him when he was that age; he had his eyes and facial features. For once, he was able to look at Luke with his own eyes, and not through a visor.
"Shall I go and get mom?" Luke asked softly as he broke the tender silence. Anakin nodded.
Luke stood up as he began to draw strength to himself, he felt his father do the same. The only thing to take care of now, was to start the adoption process.
Luke walked out with a grave expression on his face, he did not want to give away the success quite yet. "Mom, can you come in here for a minute?"
Padme nodded, she was wondering if they had failed, and they were going to tell her that it could not be done. She walked into the room to see her husband smiling at her. His looks were fully restored; except his hair was a much darker blond then she remembered it.
Padme started at a dead run to Anakin, as Anakin intercepted her he picked her up and swung her around. As he put her back down their lips locked into a deep passionate kiss. Her hands ran down his now useless armor, he does not need it anymore Padme thought as she felt Anakin run his hands down to her waist.
Tears sprung to Anakins eyes, He knew that he was missing something and now he knew what it was. It was to feel Padmes' soft petal lips on his.
Padme could see tears in his eyes, but she felt wet lines go down her face as well. She missed kissing her husband like this, and she could not be any happier. They would've tried to stay like this but they gasped for air.
"Should we go and tell the others?" Padme asked as she glanced at Luke, she noted that he was smiling as he watched them lip lock.
Luke turned to the door feeling excitement run through him at their success. "I will go and let them in." Anakin and Padme acknowledged him as they locked into another kiss. Luke knew that is what they will probably be doing for a while now.
Luke walked out as everyone threw questioning glances at him. "Alright everyone, come on in." Luke said.
Everyone followed Luke in as they looked over to see Anakin and Padme locked in a kiss.
Anakin finally had to come up for air. "I see you haven't lost it. I love you so much Angel."
Padme grinned, "You haven't lost your touch either Ani. I love you too." Padme returned.
They walked over to the rest of the group. Leia was smiling at her father as he smiled back; she couldn't believe it. He didn't need the black armor or the mask anymore. She hugged him.
"If it wasn't for your extra strength I don't think Luke and I could've done it, I am deeply grateful. Thank you, my dear daughter for your help." He turned to Luke, "Son, I am deeply grateful for what you have done for me." Anakin said with complete gratitude in his voice and a look of being grateful in his eyes.
Luke nodded as he replied. "You're welcome."
Kay walked over and gave him a quick hug. Anakin glanced down at her, "What do you think?"
She smiled at him, "I think it's great." Kay replied with excitement in her voice.
Han Chewie and Dev were surprised; Han could swear that Anakin looked like an older version of Luke. Han watched the way Padme and Anakin were looking at each other, he could really see the love they were showing for each other and the way they looked at Luke and Leia and now Kay if everything went their way. They were used to seeing the black mask and armor, this was going to take some time getting used to.
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