Author's Notes: Sorry that this is a little late. I wasn't able to get on the computer this evening, but here is the third chapter, and I hope you enjoy it.

Thanks so much for the kind reviews!

Christmas Reunion Chapter 3

Anakin was standing by the window, looking up at the night sky when Luke came back to the living room.

"Leia and Han sent some clothes over," he remarked, without turning around.

Luke glanced at the stack of neatly folded clothes lying on the sofa and then went over to stand beside Anakin. "What's wrong, Father?"

Anakin looked at his son's face, noticing that some of the joy had been replaced with concern. He decided right then and there that whatever reservations he and the Lars might have about one another, he would keep quiet about them and not ruin this reunion for Luke. His son deserved to be happy.

"Not a thing," he smiled warmly at Luke and patted his shoulder. "I was just looking at the stars. I always liked to look at them when I was a boy on Tatooine. I guess seeing Owen and Beru again made me think about that."

"I can't believe they're alive." Under other circumstances, Luke probably would have realized that Anakin was hiding concerns about something, but at the moment he was still so overjoyed he wasn't paying close attention to anything else. "I missed them so much. I know I never talked much about them, but that was because it hurt to remember them when I thought they were dead. And I always felt guilty, like it was my fault in a way."

"None of what happened was your fault," his father told him firmly. "It was mine. I sent the troopers after the droids. I'm the one who turned to the dark side and served the Empire for twenty years, for that matter. I think that makes me to blame for anything that happened to your aunt and uncle."

"Oh, no, Father," Luke protested. "I'm sure Aunt Beru and Uncle Owen won't blame you. They're just a little nervous around you right now because they don't know the story of how you turned back. Once I tell them how you saved my life, more than once, and how much good you've been doing, I know they'll understand and be glad to get to know you."

Anakin wasn't at all sure that convincing Owen and Beru was going to be as easy as Luke seemed to think it would be, and he was afraid that his son was going to be disappointed. He wanted to spare him that sorrow, and he hoped that the Lars could find it in their hearts to forgive him.

But they had spent years trying to protect Luke and keep any knowledge of his father from him. They had lost their home and spent four years in a harsh prison camp because of him. Despite Luke's assertions, Anakin knew he was to blame for that.

And even if they could forgive him for the damage he had done to them personally, they might find it harder to forgive him for what he had done to Luke in the past. Yes, he had saved his son from Palpatine, but only after placing him in that danger. He should have never brought Luke before the Emperor, and then he had waited far too long before acting. He had let Luke suffer that agonizing lightning attack almost to the point of death before he could bring himself to move against Palpatine.

He hated those memories. He hated for anyone to think that he was a hero because of his actions that day. And he had a feeling that Owen and Beru would rightfully see it that way, too. And Bespin.... He didn't want to know how they would react to hearing about that. Luke may have forgiven him, but he couldn't imagine that the Lars would.

Anakin knew how he felt towards anyone who caused the slightest harm to come to his children, and he had been with them less than a year. What if he had been able to raise them? What if he had rocked them to sleep as babies, seen them take their first shaky steps as toddlers, watched them grow from children to teenagers? Would he ever be able to forgive someone for hurting them? He didn't think so.

"And speaking of that," Luke said a little hesitantly, "I was going to ask you for a favor."

Anakin dragged himself away from his thoughts and smiled at Luke. "Anything, son. Just name it."

Luke took a deep breath. "Would you mind staying over at Leia and Han's apartment tonight?" He continued in a rush before his father could say anything. "See, I want to explain to Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru everything that's happened since we've been apart, and if you're here, I think they'll be nervous and maybe wonder if you're influencing me or something. I think they'll be more relaxed and able to listen to what I'm saying if we're alone."

Anakin felt a momentary pang of sorrow and reluctance, but he could see Luke's point so he hid it and nodded. "I don't mind. I'm sure Owen and Beru would like to spend some time alone with you."

Luke looked relieved and chattered on quickly. "And once they understand that you're on the right side again, they'll be more comfortable around you, I know. They'll see how much we love each other and everything will be fine."

Anakin wanted to caution him that things might not be that simple, but he just couldn't bring himself to dampen Luke's spirits. Instead he patted Luke's shoulder and said, "I hope so, son."

After a moment he headed back to his bedroom, saying, "I guess I'll pack a bag and head on over to Leia and Han's. Owen and Beru probably won't be much longer."

A few minutes later he was leaving the apartment. Luke stopped him at the doorway. "Are you sure you don't mind, Father?"

Anakin hugged him. "I don't mind at all, son. I love you, and I want you to be happy."

"I am happy," Luke hugged him back. "Thank you, Father. See you in the morning."

When Anakin had left, Luke collected the extra clothes and went to lay them on the bed in the room near the refresher his aunt and uncle were using. There was a chime at the front door as he came back to the living room, and he opened it to find room service delivering the soup and steaks Leia had had sent up.

He had set the plates out and was pouring drinks when his guardians came in, looking a little uncertain. They looked much better cleaned up, although it would take time for the effects of the harsh conditions they had been living under to fade.

It was strange to see them both gaunt and thin when they'd always been so solid. Beru's hair was past her waist, and she had pulled it back into a clasp at the nape of her neck. They were shivering, too, despite the warm, comfortable sleepclothes and robes they wore.

"I'll turn the heat up. Coruscant's a lot colder this time of year than what you're used to," Luke hurried to adjust the apartment's temperature. "The food's here, too, so we can eat while we talk."

Beru glanced around the apartment and Owen said tersely, "So where is he?"

"Father went next door to stay with Leia and Han tonight. It's just us. Come on, sit down. It's all right."

They sat on the sofa together, but instead of reaching for her plate, Beru touched her nephew's arm. "My baby. I can't believe it's really you."

Luke's eyes filled with tears as memories rushed through his mind. How many thousands of times had he felt his aunt's gentle hands holding him, smoothing his hair, resting on his shoulder? She had always been the demonstrative one, the one who made him loved and secure. She had taken him as an infant and from the very beginning had accepted him as her own. She was the most gentle, loving person he knew, and it was because of her that his childhood had been as warm and happy as it had been.

And it had been a happy childhood for the most part. Funny that he'd never realized it until they'd been gone. When he was growing up on Tatooine, he'd always complained about the boredom and the hard work, but looking back he could see that he'd been loved and that his aunt and uncle had given him all they could.

He flung his arms around his aunt. "I love you, Aunt Beru."

They clung to one another, weeping, and after a while Luke felt another hand, larger and rougher, awkwardly patting his back. Uncle Owen. His uncle had rarely been openly affectionate like his aunt. The most he'd usually given Luke was an approving grunt or a quick squeeze on the shoulder, and even those small signs had been few and far between.

It had been much more common for him to scold and berate. Although he'd never struck his nephew, Luke remembered being rather nervous around him as a child. He'd been a daydreamer, inclined to forgetfulness and carelessness, and Owen had had little patience with him.

Luke could understand him better now. Money had been scarce, and time had been precious. Little childhood faults, like tearing his jacket or losing the hydrospanner, seemed more serious when every credit counted, and there had been plenty of years in the Lars' home when they'd just barely scraped by. Perhaps it hadn't been fair to expect a child to understand, but Luke could see that when Owen was no doubt worrying if there would be enough money to pay taxes and keep food on the table, that his young nephew's lack of concern would add to the stress.

And then there was the whole matter of his father. Surely a lot of Owen's strictness was based on fear that Luke would end up making the same wrong choices Anakin had made. His uncle's almost fanatical desire to keep him on the farm made much more sense, and Luke could even see it as protectiveness now.

It occurred to Luke that he and his uncle had had more physical contact this evening than they had had in many months put together when he'd been growing up, but Owen seemed to want to be closer to him now, and Luke was eager for that, too. He'd always longed for his uncle's love and approval. Maybe now they could finally have a closer relationship.

He turned to embrace his uncle as well. Owen was still for a moment, then he hugged Luke back fiercely. "I've missed you, boy."

It was probably the closest he could say to "I love you" and Luke was perfectly willing to accept it. He smiled. "I missed you, too."

The three of them finally sat back with their plates and began to eat. After a time Owen said, "Well, obviously, you didn't stay on the farm and mind your own business. So exactly what have you been up to?"

Luke bit his lip. "First, can I ask you something? I've been curious for a while now. How much did you two know about my family?"

Owen and Beru were still for a moment. Finally Beru said, "We knew that your father was alive and he'd become Darth Vader. We knew you had a twin sister. We didn't know her name, or where she was. Ben told us it was best if the two of you grew up separated and never knew about each other. It would be safer for both of you. We could see that so we agreed."

She looked down at her lap and continued softly. "I'm sorry we lied to you. We hated doing that. You know how we always told you to be honest and truthful. I felt so guilty, like such a hypocrite." She looked up to gaze pleadingly into Luke's eyes. "But we did it because we wanted to protect you. We wanted to keep you safe for as long as possible. I don't know if you'll believe me, but I was very close to telling you the truth before we were separated. I knew the time was coming when you were going to have to make some choices about your life, and I thought you needed to know at least part of the truth. But I couldn't decide how much to tell you. And then it was too late, and I never had the chance."

Luke squeezed her hand. "It's all right, Aunt Beru. It's all worked out for the best."

"But how?" Owen demanded. "How did you find out the truth? Did Kenobi tell you?"

Luke gave him a wry grimace. "Actually, no, he didn't. At least, not when I think he should have. But it's a long story. I better start with the droids," Luke quietly explained to his guardians the events of the past few years. They listened intently at first, though Owen couldn't resist rolling his eyes and making disapproving noises at the mention of Obi-Wan and Yoda. Luke expected some reaction from him when he told about becoming a Jedi, but Owen accepted that part quietly. It was when he told them about Bespin that they became upset.

Beru's eyes grew wide and filled with tears. She grabbed Luke's artificial hand and began crying over it, while Owen began cursing in a low, furious voice.

"Aunt Beru, Uncle Owen, please don't," Luke tried to comfort them. "Father feels terrible about it now. He's completely different. He would never hurt me, or any of us. He's changed."

"Luke!" It was his aunt and he had never seen her like this. Tears were coursing down her face, her voice shook, and her eyes were terrible. "How can you call that monster your father? No true father would ever treat his child in such way."

"I knew the man was dangerous, but I never thought even he could do something like that," Owen growled. "Don't ask us to accept him, Luke. And you're not having anything to do with him anymore. We'll go back to Tatooine and-"

"Uncle Owen, I'm not a child," Luke said firmly, although he wasn't feeling particularly in command of the situation at the moment. He'd realized that his aunt would find it difficult to hear about Bespin, but he was a little surprised at his uncle's vehemence. "And I'm not going back to Tatooine. At least, not to live. I'm a Jedi Master now. I have to rebuild the Order."

Owen cursed again. "The Order be hanged! What have the Jedi ever done for you? Let you walk into a trap blindfolded! And what is that-that man doing here? He has no right to be part of your life. I can't believe you- "

"He saved my life!" Luke felt like crying himself as he saw the sorrow and anger on his guardians' faces. He'd thought they would be understanding of his father, that they could all be one big happy family, but Beru and Owen were taking this part of the story much harder than he'd expected. Maybe if they would just listen to the rest of it. "Please let me finish before you make up your minds."

They finally calmed down and listened as he told the rest, but there was a heavy silence when he'd finished.

"Can't you see that Father has changed?" Luke pleaded. "I would have died if it weren't for him."

"You wouldn't have been in danger to start with if it weren't for him," Beru countered, and Owen grunted in agreement. She gazed sadly at her nephew. "Luke, I can see that you truly love your father, in spite of everything. But I'm not sure I can understand it, or accept it. I love you, and the thought that you've suffered so much at his hands makes it very difficult for me to see him as anything except a monster. I don't want to hurt you, so I'll try, but I just don't know if I can." Her face crumpled and she abruptly set her plate aside and left the room.

Luke glanced at his uncle. "Uncle Owen?"

Owen shook his head. "I still don't understand you, Luke. All I can say is, keep him out of my sight. I'm sure I wouldn't stand a chance against him in a fight, but if I see him, I just might forget myself." He, too, set his plate on a nearby table, and stood up, saying, "I better check on your aunt."

And Luke was left alone with his disappointment and crushed hopes.

TBC