See first chapter for disclaimer & other information

A/N: Wow. The response for the prologue was overwhelming! Since I'm in such a good mood, I'll give you the next chapter. Oh, and KD Skywalker wants me to threaten you to read A Road Less Traveled. Except I'm too nice, so I'll ask you all nicely hehe. Enjoy!

Welcome to Varykino!

Sinking into his favourite chair, Anakin smiled. He hadn't been home for what he felt was the longest time. All he wanted to do was to lie back in his favourite chair and read the HoloNews. As he put his feet up, he flicked through the device looking at the latest news. Flicking through, he found at least five articles that bore the name Skywalker. Quite an achievement for a kid that escaped slavery just by the luck of the Force, he thought.

He had just gotten settled when an annoying voice scared him half to death. "Master Ani."

Nearly jumping five feet in the air, Anakin turned to face the wonderfully annoying droid. Why had he dismantled the auto-off device?

"Yes, Threepio. What is it?" his tone clearly indicating his annoyance. Oblivious to his Master's mood, Threepio kept talking.

"Mistress Padmè commed Artoo just a moment ago. She will be arriving by the gondola in about fifteen minutes. She also said that Leia was not accompanying her and to expect her to be late this evening".

"Thank you, Threepio. Now please, go busy yourself in the kitchen or go prepare the kid's rooms. Just do something!"

"But Master Ani…"

Shooting his droid a look that could scare away Palpatine himself, he threatened "Threepio…"

"Oh look, Artoo needs me. Right away, Artoo!"

Finally, some peace and quiet, the Jedi Master thought to himself. Just as he had gotten himself settled yet again, he heard a thump in the entrance to his house. The familiar noise of his son arriving home made Anakin groan. The joys of being a parent.

"I'm home!" rang out Luke's voice. Perfect.

"In here son," Anakin replied.

Luke walked in, twirling his ignited lightsaber.

"Show-off," teased Anakin. Luke smiled and threw the still ignited saber to his father who caught it and began twirling it in the same way.

"Hey, you're the one who taught me how to do that, Dad. Being a show-off I mean."

Smirking, Anakin threw the saber up into the air and used the Force to bring it back to Luke, disengaging it on the way down. "You're really funny, Luke. Must have inherited your mother's sense of humour."

Luke's padawan braid swung as the young boy laughed heartily at his father. Anakin smiled as he thought back to the conversation Obi-Wan had with him the day before last. Obi-Wan had confessed that he thought Luke was just about ready for his Jedi trials. Unfortunately, Anakin had been sworn to secrecy. He was really very proud of his son.

"Speaking of the female members of the Skywalker clan, where are the Chancellor and the Princess?" Both father and son smirked at their inside nicknames for Padmè and Leia. It was a joke they shared but if either of the women in their lives found out…well the consequences would be harsh.

"The Chancellor has just arrived, Padawan Skywalker. And you would do well to remember who pays for the upkeep of your Coruscant and Jedi Temple apartments, your ship and your 5000 credit speeder. Not to mention those crystals you 'needed' for the saber you haven't started building yet," the gentle voice of Padmè Skywalker rang out through the house.

"Nice to see you too, Chancellor," he grinned as he bounded over and hugged his mother. She tousled her son's hair and planted a kiss on his forehead. Dropping her luggage, she sat down on the seat that was currently being occupied by her husband.

"Excuse me, Chancellor. But there seems to be someone already sitting here!" Anakin gently cajoled her.

"I apologise, Master Jedi. I seem to have mistaken you for someone else. I was wondering if you knew where that gorgeous husband of mine is?"

Laughing, Anakin pulled his wife down for a more intimate kiss. From across the room they heard their son groan and leave the room. "Thank goodness for some privacy," muttered Padmè into her husband's lips.

"Mmmm" he mumbled.

They continued to kiss until Padmè pulled away for some much needed air. Due to some experimental drugs the Republic scientists had been working on, Padmé didn't look her forty-five years. She could have passed for thirty. She had let her curly brown hair out but was still wearing an extravagant Senatorial gown. Her face was painted with an intricate design of makeup, very similar to the Nubian custom. It was one of the regulations a female Chancellor had to endure, although Padmé was working quite hard to abolish that rule.

"I'd better go change, Ani. I feel like an idiot wearing these ridiculous work outfits and makeup here at the retreat."

Just as Padmé stood up, Threepio marched into the room. Anakin frowned.

"Threepio, I thought I told you to stop bothering us!" he nearly shouted.

"Yes, Master Ani. But I'm afraid I have something important to tell you. Mistress Leia just contacted Artoo with a message. It seems she is bringing home a guest for the weekend."