…Disclaimer: We don't own Star Wars. We are not George Lucas…

…Acknowledgments: Co-written with Seylin. Inspired by George Lucas' film, Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith…

…Warnings: Slash (Obi-WanxAnakin, implied Qui-GonxObi-Wan)…

…Rating: R/NC-17 (Please view Seylin's page for a link to the full version.)…

...Archive: Sure, please just ask first...

…Summary: Anakin's black and white world of the Jedi way has been stripped away by Palpatine's corruption. After the battle on Mustafar, Obi-Wan and Yoda are determined to get it back for him. But, with Padmé gone, will Anakin be willing to hear them out at all? The Jedi will need help, if they plan to save their Chosen One, and Senator Amidala has left them with exactly the help they need…

Monochrome Shatter
Chapter 3: I'm Living On Shattered Faith

Two hours later, Obi-Wan returned, Luke curled into his chest with his head laying on his shoulder asleep. The little boy looked just like his father, same golden blonde hair, blue eyes, even his personality reminded Obi-Wan of Anakin. Luke could be loud and hyper but then at other times he was quiet and content, it was those times that he was reminded of Padmé.

When he sensed Obi-Wan coming closer, Anakin sat up. He sensed someone else too. It felt similar to Padmé, but it was different enough to definitely not be her at the same time. As soon as he saw him, even sleeping, Anakin knew that this child was a Skywalker.

"That's him?" He wondered softly, even though he really didn't need to. Obi-Wan nodded and sat in the chair that seemed to be permanently placed in Anakin's hospital room. He brought the child down and gently turned him so he was reclining in the crook of his arm.

Luke made a little noise of compliant as he slowly woke up. Obi-Wan smiled down at him, and Luke smiled back giggling. Luke's eyes shifted to the other person in the room whose eyes were on him. Pulling on Obi-Wan's tunic he sat up in his lap and stared at Anakin.

"Luke?" Anakin was careful to keep his tone as empty as he could. He didn't want to see too exuberant, and frighten him. His motor skills were fabulous, and Anakin could sense the Force strong within him. He would have made a fine Jedi one day, if he hadn't killed off all but two of the whole damn Order...
Luke continued to stare at him before reaching his hands out.

"Ah! Ah!" Luke exclaimed reaching for him. Obi-Wan looked at him to see his reaction.

"I can't hold him," Anakin murmured, as though realizing it himself, for the first time, as much as explaining to Obi-Wan, as he nodded down at his mostly stumpy form. But, then he turned his attention back to the little blonde that he'd helped create. "Luke...it...it's...daddy..."

The word seemed foreign on his tongue, and it tasted strange to say it. He never had before. He doubted he would have, even if he had known his father. It just wasn't in his nature to be so...cutesy.

"AH! AH!" Luke cried more loudly.

"Doesn't seem he wants to take no for an answer, much like his father," Obi-Wan chuckled. He stood and came closer. "You can hold him, Anakin, we must be careful, though." Obi-Wan reached up and pulled down two extra pillows, he placed one under each of Anakin's arms. "Cup your good arm, like this," Obi-Wan instructed showing him the way he had his.
Anakin obeyed tentatively, and before either of them knew it, Luke Skywalker was held as carefully as his father could.

"The Force is so powerful in him..." Anakin noted, almost idly, as he embraced his son with unfeeling steel. "He would have made a wonderful Jedi." Half of him wished he hadn't slaughtered the Order. Saving people was what he was built to do, as Padmé had told him on more than one occasion. But, the other half reminded him that he had done it so he could save someone: Padmé herself.

"It is," Obi-Wan agreed. He sat on the other side of Anakin a bottle in hand. "Are you hungry little lightling?"

"Gooogah!" Obi-Wan looked at Anakin for a moment.

"That, my friend, means yes." He held the bottle at an angle feeding Luke while Anakin held him. Once Luke was fed, Anakin held him, and pondered something for a moment, before turning to the Jedi Master, with an almost meaningful look.

"Obi-Wan, can I have a moment alone with him?" Obi-Wan studied him.

"Why?"

"I'd like to talk to him?" The supposedly Chosen One offered with a shrug. "And, I don't want you to hear. You don't have to worry, I don't plan to...convert him, or anything." No, Anakin didn't plan to drag his legacy down to his murderous level.

"I never thought you would, I have just become rather attached to him, you should see me. I drive the nurse I hired for him for when I am not there crazy." He smiled. "Let me burp and change him, and I will give you ten minutes, but I will be right outside alright?"

"Fine," he agreed, his gaze oddly distant, and he didn't resist at all, as Obi-Wan took him back. He owed this child so many apologies that it hurt, but as his former master handed the little blonde back over, and exited the room, he figured he'd start with the biggest one.

"I'm so sorry for not being able to save your mother." Luke stared up at him sucking on his hand.

"I loved her more than my next ten minutes of oxygen," Anakin continued slowly. "And,

I tried everything I could to help her, but in the end I wasn't strong enough. You have no idea, Luke, how sorry I am about that."

"Bah bah bah goo bah," Luke babbled.

"You're never going to remember this..." Anakin snorted slightly, and leaned forward to kiss the top of the little boy's head, before looking back up, and calling toward the door, loudly enough to be able to hear on the other side, "You can come back in now, Obi-Wan." Obi-Wan returned a few moments later and smiled.

"I think you have a fan, Anakin," he commented looking at the now sleeping baby who had curled up, his head resting on Anakin's chest.

"Should hope so," he joked slightly, adjusting his son's weight to be more comfortable on them both. "Can't be a poster boy without an audience, right?"

"You are right there," Obi-Wan agreed sitting back in his chair. He watched them, the way Anakin was staring at Luke now one would almost think nothing had ever changed. "If you get tired just tell me, but until then you can hold him as long as you like."

"I'm fine." Anakin brushed that off, leaning back against the wall. He felt slightly more comfortable now. Though, he still missed Padmé so much he felt he could cry. That was one big wall Yoda was going to have to break down, if he intended to heal him.

Two hours later, Obi-Wan stood. "It's getting late, you need to rest and if this little lightling doesn't wake and eat I will be up all night with him," he commented coming closer to take Luke away from him.

Anakin frowned at him, shrinking back protectively.

"Can he come back tomorrow?" He asked first.

"Afraid not. I won't even be back tomorrow, I must fly to Corellia and take care of a few outbreaks of raiders. But the day I returned, or the day after, depending on how late it is, I will bring Luke back." He answered, his voice promising he wasn't lying.

Anakin growled, almost possessively, but he did, eventually, loosen his grip enough for Obi-Wan to reclaim the boy. This was all highly frustrating, indeed...

Luke blinked tiredly at him from Obi-Wan's shoulder.

"Gah bah..." he whispered before closing his eyes again. "Mae moo coo." Obi-Wan turned and gave Anakin a soft smile.

"Do you want to know what he said?"

"Sure," he confirmed with a shrug, no longer looking at them.

"Good bye and... I love you." With that Obi-Wan turned away carrying the sleeping baby out of the room. The door slid closed behind them.

"Great progress you've made with him, Obi-Wan," Yoda informed him, as he accompanied the taller Jedi to his star fighter. "What method did you use? Curious I am. Lowering his shields, he is. Easier to reach he is."

"I waited until he said he was ready, and then let him meet Luke," he answered.

The barest hint of a smile flashed across Yoda's face, but it was gone again as quickly as it appeared.

"A good father he shall make, when ready he is," he commented, almost idly.

"Yes, he shall. Please take good care of him and Luke while I am away," Obi-Wan requested, before climbing into the cockpit of his Starfighter.

"Look after them I shall," Yoda assured the other, turning away and walking back toward the buildings, away from the take-off pad. "May the Force be with you, Master Kenobi," he added, waving slightly, once he was far enough away, to not get caught in the draft of the boosters.

1 week later

"Star fighter approaching at a high speed, it doesn't seem to be slowing down," a guard reported.

"Any idea who it is?" His superior asked. The guard typed in a few things before the analysis came up.

"Master Kenobi... but he should know better..." he murmured.

"Something must be wrong. Report to Master Yoda with these turn of events and prepare the hanger for his crash!" The superior ordered.

It was fairly needless to say that Yoda wasn't too happy about this. The last thing that the Order needed was for one of its last two members to die in a shuttle crash. Besides, Obi-Wan was his friend--and Anakin's. A very small part of his mind fretted occasionally what would happen to the young man's progress, if Obi-Wan were to be hurt or worse. So, it was as quickly as he could that he exited his private chambers, and went to see what was going on, with the

Republican general.

The star fighter crashed causing sparks to come up as it's medal slid against the medal of the floor. It finally came to a stop before crashing into the back wall. Everyone ran forward to see why Obi-Wan had crashed this way.

The cockpit glass slid back revealing Obi-Wan to them, a large nasty cut decorated his forehead, blood ran down his face (it would later be discovered his left wrist was also broken).

"Bring a litter! We must get him to the medical rooms!"

C-3PO had come to see what the commotion was as well, Obi-Wan groaned as they pulled him out and put him on the litter. His eyes opened briefly and saw the golden robot.

"Three...po... take... this to...Anakin..." he whispered handing him a picture with a shaky hand.

C-3PO took the picture and looked at it. A smiling Luke stared back, his face covered with whatever he had just eaten, the bowl placed on his head.

It was just as needless to say that Anakin was a little alarmed to see the robot that he'd not only built, but befriended show up at his hospital room. He didn't plan to yell at him this time, though. Yoda had just finished with him recently, so he was still a little out of it. Far too groggy to worry about yelling at protocol droids.

"Master Anakin! It is so good to see you once again. You are looking much better," C-3PO told him.

"Threepio..." Anakin blinked at him, raising an eyebrow, and sitting up. He still wasn't feeling enough like himself to apologize, or thank anyone yet. But, he was trying his best to be polite. Or, at the very least, not rude. "Do you need something?"

"Oh Master Kenobi just crashed in the hanger, he seemed to be in much pain. But he asked me to give this to you," the robot answered handing him to picture.

"Obi-Wan?" Something oddly concerned snuck into his tone, but he bit it back, and just took the picture out of 3PO's hand. An actual smile broke out, when he got a good look at it.

"Is there anything I can do for you while I am here Master Anakin?"

"No." He shook his head a bit. "No, Threepio, there's nothing you can do." Had he been able, C-3PO probably would have looked disappointed.

"Well goodbye then, Master. I shall go to see about Master Kenobi," he said turning to leave.

"Wait...Threepio, there is something." Anakin amended quickly, before he could actually leave. "Tell me how he is, okay?"

"I will return when I know something," C-3PO agreed and left, leaving Anakin with his picture.

Which, actually, contented Anakin a lot more than being alone did. He laid there and started at that photo the entire time, until someone came back.

C-3PO returned two hours later.

"Master Kenobi shall be fine, Master Anakin. He will be in a bit of pain but nothing more," he reported.

Anakin murmured something to the effect of 'good', though it was far too soft for his droid friend to actually hear it. He still didn't take his eyes off of Luke's photo, though. The only time he planned to do that was when he could see his son in the flesh.

"Maybe you should hang it on the ceiling. I have heard you spend enough time staring at it." Or...that had been the plan. He looked away from it now, to offer the droid a dry look.

"Thank you for the comment, Threepio," he muttered sarcastically. "But, I can't."

"I could for you Master," 3PO suggested.

Those stained eyes stayed glued on him for a moment, before he just shrugged, and held the photo out for him.

"Fine," he agreed shortly. "Do it." C-3PO climbed into the chair with the picture.

"Where, Master?" He questioned.

"There." He pointed up, at a patch of ceiling directly in his line of vision, while he was laying down. C-3PO placed the picture there and then placed two pins in it that would secure it to the ceiling. Climbing back down he looked at Anakin again.

"There you are Master."

The only response he got was a curt nod, though, as Anakin settled back into his staring contest with his son's image. He hoped Obi-Wan lived...even if a good sixty percent of that wish was only because he was dying to see Luke again.

"Shall I tell Master Kenobi anything when he wakes Master?"

"Yeah." He nodded again, more slowly this time. "Tell him I want to see my son."

"Alright. Goodbye, Master," C-3PO told him and left once again.

"Bye." He waved ever so slightly, hearing the gears whirr in his arm. After that, he had nothing better to do than, what else, stare at the ceiling. Even if he did have a particular spot this time.

Three days later, Obi-Wan made his way down to Anakin's room, when he looked in the window he saw that he was asleep. Deciding not to wake him, he turned and left to go home. After waking up the day after he had crashed in the hanger the medical droids and Yoda insisted he stay until they were sure he was ok when all he really wanted to do was go home and see Luke. He was sure Anakin wanted to see him as well, but that would have to wait until the next day.

When that day came, Obi-Wan's visit prompted another one of Anakin's honest smiles. Why? Because he knew that familiar yet not-so-familiar energy coming with him, and it made him feel excited. He'd been right, when he'd speculated that Luke reminded him of Padmé, but not in the bad way he'd assumed.

When the door slid open it revealed Luke sitting high in Obi-Wan's good arm, pulling at the bandage that still circled his head while the cut healed. It seemed that Luke didn't like it being there.

"Luke, please stop," Obi-Wan requested although he didn't expect him to.

"Luke," Anakin called to him, upon realizing what was going on. His tone came out slightly more sharply than he'd first intended, but it was quite effective. Well, that and the light Force pressure he applied, to get his son to settle down. Luke stilled his hands looking at Anakin pouting.

"Thank you," Obi-Wan said as he sat. "I'm sorry, I did not mean for this to take as long as it did. I would have been and brought him sooner, but Yoda and the droids would not allow me to leave. Last night you were asleep."

"I would have been happy to wake up for him," he protested, holding his arm out, to be able to hold his son again. Obi-Wan stood and gently handed Luke to him. Luke quickly started babbling in baby talk as if trying to tell Anakin something.

Anakin shushed him quickly enough, though, and decided that the easiest way to find out what Luke wanted would be gently probing into his mind, and just extracting the information that way, considering he didn't have a clue what he was actually saying. Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow.

"Anything I can get him?"

"No." Anakin shook his head, after a moment of searching. "He's just a chatterbox." Obi-Wan laughed, Luke looked at him and then started to laugh to.

"Who do you think he's more like?" Anakin wondered idly. He couldn't remember ever laughing for no reason, outside of Padmé's company.

"Right now? You."

"Me?" He glanced back up at him, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes. You always had a sense of humour even if you only expressed it with a smirk." Obi-Wan explained.

"He doesn't think anything's funny, though," Anakin explained, with a small snort. "He's just happy."

"You were always happiest when in the presence of those you cared about," Obi-Wan told him.

"He doesn't even know me, though." He frowned a little. "How can he care?"

"He loves you, Anakin. Don't you remember the last time I had him here?" Obi-Wan asked.

"I do," he corrected. "I just don't know why, or how, he loves me."

"You are his father Anakin. You have a bond that no one else can ever have or explain. Babies don't care about what we've done wrong or right, all they want it to be loved and cared for."

"Even though it's my fault his mother's gone?"

"Even with that," Obi-Wan assured him. Anakin sighed thoughtfully. If Luke didn't care, and could forgive him...if Obi-Wan and Yoda could forgive him...why couldn't he seem to forgive himself? He wondered the question aloud, but it was barely audible.

"He's growing so fast," Obi-Wan mused.

"Yeah," Anakin agreed. He was sure Luke was bigger than he'd been at this age. He'd been a shrimp, until he'd hit puberty, after all. "Yeah, he...he's going to be just fine in the galaxy." Himself, he couldn't be sure of, but he had faith in Luke.

Luke gave him a hard look and reached up smacking him on the nose. Obi-Wan had to hold back his chuckle.

"Seems he doesn't want you thinking badly about yourself." Anakin's lips twisted wryly, and he scooted Luke a bit further up, to meet his eyes.

"Sorry, kid," he spoke to the child, as though he could actually understand him. "But, Daddy's a big screw-up." He had the majority of the population of the Republic depending on him to be their hero, and what did he do? Yep, that's right, go over to the dark side. Great move.

"Bah!" Luke exclaimed. He then placed a sloppy kiss on Anakin's cheek.

A bright crimson blush spread quickly across his war battered, alarmed face upon that. Padmé and his mother were the only two to ever kiss him before...he wasn't positive how much he appreciated it, but he did know that it embarrassed him terribly. Obi-Wan smiled slightly and slowly stood.

"I must go speak with Master Yoda for a few moments. Will you both be alright?" He questioned like any concerned parent would, he did take care of Luke the most after all.

"Yeah, yeah." Anakin brushed that off absently, now staring at Luke like a baby boy was the most fascinating thing in the world. "Have fun, Mas--Obi-Wan." The word had started to slip out, almost out of habit, but he managed to catch himself mostly in time. He hadn't been paying attention...he'd have to correct that blunder...but later. For now, he was perfectly happy to just eye the one creature in the universe who didn't care at all about all the wrongs he'd committed.

Obi-Wan nodded and left them.

"Da. Do da!" Luke said.

Yoda couldn't say he was exactly surprised to see Obi-Wan, when he arrived. He'd sensed him coming long before he showed up. He let him in generously, and offered him a chair, before returning to his own.

"What errand today brings you here?" He wondered with mild curiosity.

"Nothing really, Master. Anakin really seems to be responding to his time with Luke, so I thought it would be good for some one on one time," Obi-Wan answered. Yoda nodded in thoughtful agreement, closing his large eyes for a moment, in concentration.

"Progress he makes," he commented after a few moments. "Every day, stronger he gets. Fight it, he does."

"That is good. Do you see him able to get his new arm and legs attached anytime soon?"

"Perhaps," he replied, before continuing. "On his mental recovery, it depends. Away from Palpatine, keep him we must." This wasn't a suggestion at all. It was just a fact. Anakin would never improve if they let him get back in with the 'Emperor'.

Obi-Wan's good fist clenched. "If I knew where he was, I would find and kill him," he growled.

"No, Obi-Wan." Yoda shook his head for that. "Right the time is not yet. Low, we must lay. No more charges against the Jedi must we commit, just yet." Obi-Wan lowered his head.

"Forgive my outburst, Master."

"Difficult a time this is for the Order," Yoda explained calmly. "Carefully on these waters we must tread. Our numbers we must build back up. Young Skywalker, we must build back up."

"Yes Master," he agreed. "Once I am healed should I travel around, and see if there are any children who would be willing to join us?"

"To other planets we must now venture." He nodded slowly. "Corrupted, and frightened, are the minds of Coruscant." He tapped one finger meditatively against the top of his other hand. "But, for now, focus you must on Anakin. Bring him back to our side, Master Kenobi. Only then stand the chance of victory do we."

Obi-Wan stood and bowed, it was time he return to Anakin and Luke.

When Obi-Wan returned, Anakin had laid down on the bed, supporting Luke, as he sat up on his chest, with his one hand, as he spoke softly to him. He planned to tell him as much about Padmé as he could, regardless of whether he remembered or not. He shut up right away, when Obi-Wan came back in, though.

"Nice chat?" He asked sitting back in his chair, he did not ask what they spoke of, it was not his business.

"Sort of..." It was probably best that he didn't ask. Anakin really didn't plan to tell him.

Luke smiled at him from where he had reached up and was currently playing with Anakin's hair.

"Da! Do da!" He exclaimed. Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow to him.

"Umm... you want to brush his hair?" He questioned not sure. The older Skywalker offered him the oddest look to ever grace his face. He glanced between his son and his former master, half pleadingly. Why would Luke want to do that? Padmé had never brushed his hair, he couldn't remember if his mother had or not. Hell, he rarely brushed his own hair. What would possess his son to want to?

Luke brought a hand up and messed up his own then looked back at Anakin. Obi-Wan stood.

"Well... ok." He reached down and brought a soft baby brush out of the bag he had for Luke's things and gave it to him. Obi-Wan watched in fascination as Luke started the pull the brush through the hair on Anakin's head that he could reach.

"What's he doing?" Anakin wondered, a bit helplessly. "And why's he doing it?"

"Brushing your hair, it seems, and I don't have any idea," Obi-Wan answered an amused smile on his face.

His expression softened ever so slightly, and like it had with Leia, the harsh gold of his eyes seemed to dissipate a bit more. It still was no where near gone, but it seemed a bit more blue, a good step toward it's original colour. Luke started to babble on his he brushed Anakin's hair.

"Do you remember being that much of a talker growing up? When I met you, you sure weren't."

"No," Anakin replied shortly. "I don't. Didn't have too many people to talk to."

"He must take after his mother in that area then," Obi-Wan mused.

"I can't imagine Padmé talking that much," he snorted slightly. "She usually preferred...silent communication." He coughed discretely.

"I can't, and wouldn't want to, imagine what you mean."

"Really?" He blinked over at him, and for a moment the old Anakin shone through. But, only for a moment, he turned back to Luke again, after that. Obi-Wan felt this was a good of time as ever to bring his bad news up.

"Anakin... I have some bad news."

"More?" He frowned a little, looking back over at him again. "Don't tell me someone else I care about is dying," he ordered flat out, before quieting down to listen.

"No, nothing like that. After I am healed, Master Yoda and I both think it is best if I travel to find new children who may want to become Jedi. I don't know how long this is going to take," he told him. Anakin's frown deepened now.

"What about Luke?" He wondered, urging the child away from his head, and into a laying position. "Who's going to take care of him?"

"I will hire someone to stay with him at night, he already has a nurse for the day when I am gone. I will ask her if she will bring him to see you but I don't know if she will say yes," he replied.

"Can't he just stay with me?" He already knew Obi-Wan would probably say no, but he had no doubt that Luke would be fine. It was a hospital. It wasn't like he couldn't get help in tending to him, if he needed to.

"I was considering it, but it would be a lot of trouble for you. Especially with only your one arm. I asked Master Yoda about your other limbs today, I think he may be considering giving them to you."

"Obi-Wan, it's not like I can't get help if I need it, here," Anakin pointed out, feeling mildly annoyed again. The yellow of his eyes strengthened a bit more of what they had lost, in Luke's presence. There was a reason Jedi weren't supposed to feel angry, after all. Luke started to cry. He didn't like the negative energy he was feeling from his father. Obi-Wan shot him a look.

"I am still considering it," he said.

The only response he got from Anakin was a noise half way between a grunt and a growl. Luke, however, got a soothing, hypnotic thought shot into his mind, to calm him down.
Luke sniffled and lay his head against Anakin's chest, his tears still falling.

"I can't promise anything, but we'll see okay? If I were to judge you now. I would say no.

But I won't," Obi-Wan told him.

"Hey, I calmed him down, didn't I?" He wondered, resting his arm over his son's back protectively. "Obi-Wan...please. He's the only part of Padmé I have left."

"He's still crying," Obi-Wan pointed out. "I'm trying to think of what will be best for both of you."

"Only reason I'm annoyed enough to make him cry is because you're being a..." He bit back a rather rude insult, that didn't want Luke to know just yet, and changed his tactic.

He closed his eyes, and tried to calm himself down. Hopefully, that would calm Luke as well.

Luke sat up wiping his tears away and looked at Anakin. He moved so that his arms were resting around Anakin's neck in what seemed to be a hug.

"Better, General?" He eyed him dryly, unable to keep the little bit of hostility out of his

tone, as his hand's gears whirred softly, when he moved it to gently pet his baby's back.

"Much," Obi-Wan replied keeping his stern look.

Luke sat up again a few moments later and turned to Obi-Wan holding his arms out. Obi-Wan stood and picked him up.

Anakin's expression fell, and he felt another surge of anger and darkness within his mind and heart. So much for that. Looked like Luke didn't want to stay with Daddy.

"He's just hungry, Anakin. Calm down," Obi-Wan told him pulling a bottle out of the bag.

"Oh..." He calmed again, upon the assurance. Well...who cared if he was a paranoid Sith Lord? He was more friendly than Dooku had been, if he did say so himself. Some other feeling surged this time. It was not anger, nor jealousy, nor grief. It was that damn guilt again. Silently, he cursed his Jedi upbringing. If it weren't for that, he'd be having a much easier time of dealing with all the things he'd done.

Luke sucked on his bottle staring up at Obi-Wan until his eyes closed, Obi-Wan removed the bottle when he saw that Luke was asleep. He moved his slowly to his shoulder so he could burp him, a brief grimace of pain crossed his face.

Anakin was dead silent for several minutes, almost ten, even after Obi-Wan was finished burping Padmé's baby. And, when he did speak up, his tone was almost resignedly flat.

"I think I should feel entitled to hate you, Obi-Wan," he noted, almost absently. "But, I can't."

"Really? I thought you would too. Why can you not?" He asked quietly.

"Because," he snarled softly, not wanting to wake Luke up. "Regardless or not of whether I'm--or can ever be again--in the Order, I'm still a Jedi--because of you."

"Then I guess you hate Master Qui-Gon as well?"

"No." He glared at the wall in frustration. "Jedi don't hate." Well...theoretically, they don't love either. But, he'd only said he was a Jedi, not that he was a good one.

"Well that hurts, since he is the one who chose you and insisted on making you a Jedi. If my memory serves me correctly I was very against it."

"He didn't try to kill me," Anakin pointed out coldly.

"And I did? Had I wanted to kill you, Anakin, you would be dead," Obi-Wan replied.

"You still tried." He waved his still hacked off arm around in the air, as example. Well, granted...that was technically his fault...the entire fight had been his fault...It was all his fault, but would he ever admit it? Not yet. Obi-Wan sighed shaking his head.

"We should be going. We will see you tomorrow."

Anakin just grunted his acknowledgment, and turned his moody glare to the wall, rather than the ceiling. He didn't want to look into the face that Padmé had created, while he was feeling this way.

The door slid closed behind them.

Anakin didn't need to sense them coming the next day, anyone could hear Luke talking in his baby talk a whole hallway away.

Now, he'd managed to calm down significantly since the day before. But, he'd also come to a conclusion. Luke needed to learn telepathy, so that he could shut up occasionally. That was something he could teach him, when his mind developed enough to be able to handle it...

Obi-Wan came in smirking focusing his gaze on Anakin and then he looked back at Luke.

"There. There he is. Will you please be quiet for two seconds now?" He questioned.

Luke stared at Anakin for a moment before reaching for him continuing with his babble. Obi-Wan just shook his head.

"He's in a good mood today," Anakin noted, sitting up, so that he could accept the child when he was offered over.

"Very," Obi-Wan agreed rubbing his temple lightly. "He hasn't stopped since he woke me up this morning."

"Good," he snorted, bumping his nose lightly against the top of Luke's head. "A general has no reason to sleep past dawn anyway."

"It was 3 am, before dawn. I think you told him to torture me," Obi-Wan joked lightly.

"If I did, you deserved it," Anakin pointed out, only a little bitterly this time. Holding

Luke made him think of holding Padmé. And, holding Padmé made him calm. Obi-Wan rolled his eyes. He looked up as the door slid open and he smiled.

"Ah, C-3PO thank you," he thanked him as he took the book the robot carried.

"You're welcome Master Kenobi. Good morning Master Anakin and little Master Luke," C-3PO greeted.

"Threepio." Anakin nodded to him, shifting Luke's weight slightly, on his thighs, frowning when he saw how they cut off at his knees...again. "I want my legs back," he grumbled, once the droid was gone. Well...he wanted to go see Padmé's grave, mostly. And, he needed legs to do that. Otherwise, he wouldn't have minded quite so much.

"You'll have to talk to Master Yoda about that," Obi-Wan mused flipping through the rather large book.

"Great." He rolled his eyes, feeding assuring thoughts into Luke's mind the whole time, to prevent him from getting upset, before he could. Luke giggled and reached for his hair.

"This is for you," Obi-Wan told him closing the book.

"Me?" He echoed, ignoring the tugging on his hair, as he tried to get sight of the cover.

"Yes you. I made it over the past few months in my very little spare time, this became full so I have started a new one and figured I could give this to you."

Anakin moved Luke over to the mattress, where he wouldn't fall, and extended his hand, to accept the book, and hopefully examine it.

Obi-Wan gave him the book, keeping a watchful eye on Luke.

Anakin opened the book, and looked through it with increasing interest, he froze though, when he saw the picture image of Padmé. And, he very nearly started crying right there. He didn't, but he certainly wanted to...

"I know some of the pictures may hurt now but... maybe someday they will bring bittersweet even good feelings," Obi-Wan said quietly.

"N-no..." He shook his head slightly, unable to tear his gaze away. "No, I...I'm fine."

Luke sensed his distress and scooted over placing his little hand on Anakin's medal one.

"I just...wish I'd been with her..." He admitted softly, looking away before the hot, burning tears dripped down onto Padmé's flawless face. "That's all. I still feel...like I might have been able to help her, if I had been."

"She was in much pain despite the help we gave her. I'm not sure she would have even known you were there."

"That wouldn't have been the point." He shook his head. "I might have been...physically able to do something to help her..."

"I don't know if you could have or not Anakin so I won't argue. Look on," he urged.
He turned page after page, but none interesting him as much as Padmé's pictures. Well...maybe the ones of Luke, on the last few pages, but mostly it was all Padmé.

"Do you like it?"

"It has Padmé in it." He shrugged, as though that were supposed to answer that. Still, once he reached the last page, he set it aside, and scooped Luke back up.

Luke cried out happily giving him a sweet smile. Obi-Wan laughed.

"Maybe he wouldn't have made a good Jedi," Anakin amended his earlier diagnosis with a small snort. "I don't think he could handle swearing off emotions." Obi-Wan nodded in agreement.

"It would be difficult, of course he is still a baby. Babies usually find things funny or amusing or sad, their three basic emotions."

"I couldn't," he pointed out. "He's living proof of that. If he's as much like me as you say, he wouldn't be able to either."

"That is true. You know Anakin, sometimes I envy you and your emotions," Obi-Wan said quietly looking at the floor.

"Why?" He offered the Jedi Master a look that clearly stated that he thought he was crazy. "Yes...they're good, occasionally. But, mostly they cause nothing but grief. Obi-Wan, I envy you."

"You shouldn't my young... Anakin. I envy your memories to. You remember your mother where I do not. The first person I ever loved was the man that trained me but of course that was thrown away because it is not allowed. And then there was you, and now Luke."

"I wish I couldn't remember her, sometimes," Anakin admitted. He didn't know why he was having this conversation with Obi-Wan Kenobi. This man was his enemy, no longer his friend. He, himself, was no longer a Jedi. He'd thrown that willingly away for Padmé, why did he still feel...like he needed this man's support? "Whenever I do think about her, all I can remember is her thanking me for coming for her...and then...and then she..." He trailed off, not wanting to cry in front of his former teacher nor his son. Obi-Wan stood suddenly.

"I have some things to take care of. I'll be back soon," he said and left.

Anakin waited silently, for the door to shut, and until he felt Obi-Wan far down the hallway, where he knew he wouldn't hear, before he whispered out two words that he hated himself for, as soon as he said them.

"Yes, Master."

"Coo caa!" Luke exclaimed.

Obi-Wan returned, the sling from his arm finally removed. Two medical droids accompanied him.

"Let me take him while we get you ready," he said.

"For...?" Anakin blinked at him, more than a little bewildered. What in the name of the Force was going on? Obi-Wan gave him a smile.

"Well, if you are going to take care of little lightling here, you are going to need more room than this little space."

"Still not getting it, Obi-Wan," he stated, raising an eyebrow. "I'm afraid you're going to have to be a bit more blunt about it."

"I'm healed so that means I will be leaving within the next two days. You wanted to take care of Luke while I was away, to do that you are going to need more room," Obi-Wan explained.

"Oh...okay..." He agreed slowly. "So, how much preparation could that take?"

"Not much for you. Only being moved to a bigger room really. I will be moving some of Luke's things to that room... you may even be able to help," he replied.

"How?" He raised an eyebrow. He knew he'd mentioned beating Count Dooku single-handedly at least once or twice...but that hadn't been literally. And, who knew? Moving baby things might be more complicated!

Obi-Wan took a box from one of the droids and opened it. Inside was a new prosthetic arm. Anakin cocked his head a bit.

"You talked to Yoda?"

"Actually he decided this himself. He thought if you were to be taking care of Luke it

might be better for you to have use of both arms."

"Or, at the very least, easier." He agreed lowly to that. "What about my legs?"

"Not yet. But you know what I always told you, you must be patient," Obi-Wan answered.

"And, you know what I always told you," Anakin countered with dryly. "No."

"Sorry this is the best that could be done so you'll have to live with it. Now come on, we want to get this done as soon as possible."

"Well...yes..." He agreed, loosening his grip somewhat, to let Obi-Wan take Luke back, while the droids took him off. It would take a bit, to get the surgery done...

While he was in surgery Obi-Wan left Luke with his day nurse and Master Yoda in his quarters while he moved things into the new room. His wrist was paining him by the end of the day but he continued to work, the very last two things he got were the picture from Anakin's ceiling and the scrapbook.

When Anakin was finally moved to his own room again, late that night, he was eyeing his new fingers, and flexing them thoughtfully. He was still really annoyed that Obi-Wan had cut his hand off to begin with...but this was better than nothing. He'd need another glove now, though...

"I thought you might think that so here you are," Obi-Wan told him handing him the glove as he came back in. He looked around making sure he had gotten everything.

The former Jedi Knight, pulled his shirt sleeve down, like the other one, and fit the leather thing on over it, smiling grimly at the nice, snug fit.

"I would have brought Luke back but he was asleep and I didn't want to wake him. I will be leaving in the morning so I will bring him in then. C-3PO will be coming in to check on you after that and of course the medical droids will be in and out. I wrote down this list of things I've learned about Luke so you wouldn't have to guess," Obi-Wan explained handing him a little notebook.

Anakin actually laughed lightly to that.

"You're like a doting father," He commented idly, glancing through the pages. "Which, I believe, is my job."

"Yes well you are like a son to me and he has been staying with me so I had more time to watch him those first few months. I don't know how long I will be gone but here's a communicator so in case anything happens you can call me or I can call to just check in," he told him.

"Uh huh," he snorted, accepting the thing. "And, don't call me your son again. It's creepy."

"Sorry, would brother make you feel better?"

"Not...really," he admitted, offering him the oddest look. "That'd be a little weird too, considering there was one point where I had a huge crush on you." He didn't feel as awkward admitting that as he felt he should...but, either way, he just eyed Obi-Wan dryly. It was the truth. Why bother to lie, if he didn't have to anymore?

Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow but brushed it off, not showing the difficultly it took.

"Well get some rest tonight Anakin. You will have a long few months ahead of you," he said.

"Maybe you're a better Jedi than I gave you credit for, Obi-Wan," his former padawan commented, allowing the droids to get him quite comfortable on the bed.

"Goodnight Anakin." And with that he left.

Anakin just shook his head in mild amusement, before settling down for the night. He had a couple more questions, when Obi-Wan returned the next day...

The next morning it was very early when Obi-Wan found himself walking down the hall to Anakin's room. Luke lay against his shoulder sound asleep, covered by a blanket. He pressed the buttons that would make the door silent when he entered. Glancing towards Anakin's bed he saw that he was still asleep and had not been disturbed by his presence. Gently he gave Luke a hug and a soft kiss on the forehead.

"Be good for your father my little lightling," he whispered. Leaning down he placed Luke in his crib and covered him. "Goodbye little one." His eyes were tearing up so he turned and started to walk out of the room before he paused in the doorway. Blue eyes landed on Anakin's sleeping form. "Take good care of him my...padawan." And with that he stepped out letting the door slide closed.

That really annoyed Anakin, when he woke up to find Luke there, and Obi-Wan gone. He'd wanted to ask about R2! Well...he supposed he could always ask 3PO, next time he popped in.

Luke slept late for once but when he woke he looked around in bewilderment. This wasn't the room he was used to waking up in.

"Ke?" He called using the name he had given Obi-Wan. Anakin used the Force to move his son's crib closer to his own bed, and then sat up on what his knees should have been, reaching in to extract the baby.

"Obi-Wan's not here right now," he relayed the message, having gotten the question from the baby's mind. "But, I am." Luke looked puzzled and looked around again before looking back at Anakin.

"Da?"

"Just you and me for a while," Anakin confirmed, laying back down, and settling his son down, straddling his chest. "But, it'll be just fine. You trust me to take care of you, right?" Luke seemed to think for a moment before he lay his head over Anakin's heart. "I'll take that as a yes," Anakin snorted at him, before just shifting slightly on the mattress, and waited for 3PO to come. "I'll have a new friend to introduce you to soon, if I can find him."

C-3PO made his appearance about 30 minutes later. "Good morning Master Anakin. Did you and baby Luke sleep well?" He asked.

"Yes," Anakin confirmed, turning to him. "Threepio, what happened to Artoo? Did he make it back off Mustafar?"

"I have seen him around so I would say so. Robots do not have ghosts. Would you like me to find him?"

"That'd be great." He nodded, the barest hint of a smile ghosting across his lips. "I think he'd make a good friend to Luke, too."

"I shall find him then. But before that, Master Kenobi put me in charge of you and Luke's nourishment. He doesn't trust those medical droids. What can I get you this morning?" C-3PO asked.

"It doesn't matter." He shrugged a little. "I'm not picky, and I trust you with him."

"Master Kenobi left food for little master Luke. I will come back soon with your

breakfasts and R2 then," he answered leaving.
"Well, kid." He turned his attention back to the little being on his chest, once they were alone again. "Time for you to meet another one of my best friends." Luke looked up at him and smiled.

"Bah bah bah," he said. It was Anakin's turn to smile, when 3PO returned later, with none other than R2-D2 in toe. He'd missed that little bot...

R2-D2 whistled and beeped in greeting. C-3PO set the tray on the table, a jar of food and spoon for Luke while their was a egg and bacon breakfast for Anakin.

"Thanks, Threepio." Anakin offered him a small smile, before turning his attention to R2-D2. "Hey, Artoo." Obi-Wan had accused him of spoiling R2, before. Of treating him as a pet, and a friend. Of getting too attached. And...really, giving the droid a pat on the dome, in greeting did nothing to disperse that theory. "Obi-Wan been treating you well?"

R2 beeped in confirmation, he even told Anakin of some spoiling Obi-Wan had been doing. Anakin flat out grinned, upon hearing that.

"Good to hear," He snickered slightly. "And...sorry about the whole Mustafar thing. I hadn't meant to leave you there, I promise." And, technically, he hadn't. He just hadn't been the one to ensure R2's safe journey home. R2 beeped again, had he been human he would have been shrugging it off. Luke stared down at the little robot apparent wonder written on his face.

"Oh, right." He carefully leant over, holding Luke on the floor in a standing position so that he could see R2 properly. "Luke, this is Artoo. Artoo, this is my son. You'll help take care of him too, right?"

R2 rolled forward and Luke cried out happily as R2 whistled and beeped for his entertainment.

"Thank you." Anakin's grin slipped into a smirk, as he pulled Luke back up onto the bed. "Threepio." He turned back to the golden protocol droid. "Master Yoda's coming today, right? There's something I need to talk to him about. Soon."

"I believe so Master Anakin. I have not actually seen him but he has not missed a day with you yet," 3PO answered.

"Good." He nodded, glancing at the wall directly in front of him in a distracted way. "That...that's good. It's...important that I speak with him soon."

"Would you like me to go find him Master?"

"Actually..." His smile regained some of it's vigour, as he nodded a little. "That would be wonderful, Threepio."

Luke tried hard to whistle or do something back at R2 but he just ended up clapping his

hands and laughing. C-3PO turned and went to find Yoda.

Thus, Anakin had several minutes of just sitting there--almost half an hour--and watching Luke and R2 play. 3PO did return, with Yoda, before too long, though. And, it was with grim satisfaction that Anakin noticed the old master's presence.

Next: I'm Not A Jedi