8
Anakin Skywalker knelt beside his grandson, gently stroking the young man's forehead.
He's too young, Anakin mourned. He shouldn't have had to die. His time was too short.
The young man lay on his grandparents' bed in their home on Naboo. His grandmother, Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, and the rest of their "little group" sat quietly in the living room of the small house. The elder Anakin had been allowed to stay with his grandson because the pair of them had got along famously when they had last met.
Anakin the younger stirred in his fitful sleep, his brow wrinkling. Skywalker rocked back to sit on his heels, wanting to give the young one some room when he-
"Tahiri!" Anakin sat up in bed with a gasp and a cry. His eyes darted and his fear seemed to ooze from his glowing blue form.
"Shhhh," The elder man murmured, placing a steadying hand on his grandson's trembling shoulder. "It's alright, just relax."
"Where am I? Who're you?" The frightened teen jerked away, scooting back into a wall. His eyes darted quickly around the room, "Where's my lightsaber?"
"Your lightsaber isn't here, Anakin." Anakin Sr. tried to calm the boy, "You were in a battle and you lost it."
"The battle…then we're back in the worldship?" the boy frowned, but understanding was leaking into his eyes. "Or are we on Myrkr?"
"No, Anakin," Skywalker said slowly, "you know what happened, you know where you are."
"No, I don't." Anakin replied stubbornly, "I…" His voice faltered.
"You don't have to be afraid." The soothing tone seemed to calm the boy, and the elder man continued, "You're safe now."
"I'm…I'm dead?" The boy looked at his glowing hands and back up at the other occupant of the room. "You didn't tell me who you are…or were…or whatever."
"You met me once, a long time ago." Their eyes met, blue on blue, and the older man smiled, "You were named for me."
"Grandfather?" Anakin Solo reached out with a trembling hand and touched his grandfather's sleeve, wondering if he was dreaming.
"Call me Ani. Grandfather is a title I don't feel old enough for." Ani gave a small grin and gently brushed Anakin's hair out of his eyes. "Are you alright?"
"I…I think so." Anakin felt his stomach, wincing at fresh memories. "I can't believe this." He glanced up sharply "Did everyone get out?"
"I can't tell you. We honestly don't know. What were you fighting?"
"The Yuuzhan Vong." Anakin cocked his head slightly, "I thought the dead would be watching."
"That's the thing. We can't see them. I saw you fighting nothing. By the way," Ani inclined his head proudly, "that was some pretty fancy swordplay. Did your uncle teach you to fight like that?"
Anakin nodded, smiling modestly at the praise. "Mostly."
"I'm impressed." Ani got off his knees and shook the aches out of his muscles. "Do you feel strong enough to get up?"
"I think so." Anakin slowly got out of bed and stretched. "What are we going to do?"
"We're going to introduce you to the rest of your family." Ani proudly grasped his grandson's shoulder and steered him out of the room.
