Chapter 2
"This is so cool!" Jacen cried from where he stood staring out over the jungle. "Imagine all of the different animal species I could collect out there!"
Anakin sat in the middle of the floor, playing with his favorite set of wooden blocks, and Jaina hung her clothing in the closet.
"You know Mom would never let us go out there unless we had an adult," she snorted. Jacen groaned, turning away so he could continue unpacking his own clothes. Anakin watched his siblings with amusement, throwing one of his blocks against the pile he made, causing them to scatter across the rug. Jaina yelped as one whacked her on the ankle, and she glanced over her shoulder, scowling.
"Anakin, you know what Mama said about throwing your toys!" she scolded, and Anakin pointed at a stray block.
"But I'm making a battle," he said, gasping between words as young children often did.
"Uh huh. Well, you know who has to clean them up, don't you?" Jaina asked, and there was a knock on the door. "Come in!" she called, and it slid open. Luke peeped in, smiling at them.
"Hi!" she cried.
"Is everything all right in here? Is it comfortable enough?" he asked, walking in all the way, and nearly tripped over Anakin's toys.
"It's fine," Jacen promised. "Say, Uncle Luke, d'you think we could go exploring through the jungle a little? I have a collection of all kinds of bugs, snakes and lizards, and I'd bet I could get thousands here!"
Luke managed a laugh. "Well, I'm sure we can arrange something. But are you three hungry?" he bent down to lift Anakin, who giggled, and gave his Uncle a hug around the neck.
"Is everything all right, Uncle Luke?" Jaina asked, as she and Jacen followed him towards the cafeteria. Han and Leia were waiting not far away, and the group decided to go together. Luke merely smiled, adjusting Anakin in his arms.
"Everything's just fine, love." He waved to Han and Leia, and Han took Anakin for the time being. The cafeteria, when the family arrived, was bustling with padawans of all ages. They greeted Luke with smiles and nods, and the twins were busting with excitement.
"Don't they ever join their families for holidays, Uncle Luke?" Jaina asked, taking in the multiple scents. Luke placed a hand on her shoulder, and steered her to the direction of the "humanoid" buffet.
"Some do," he replied. "It all depends on where their homes are located. Many, though, prefer to stay here and use this time to strengthen their abilities, one on one with their master."
Jacen smirked. "And probably because the Jedi academy is more comfortable than what their actual homes are like," he whispered to Jaina, who nudged his shoulder in warning.
As they gathered their food for lunch, Luke fought the urge to cough, closing his eyes and letting the Force engulf him. Very rarely did he ever show signs of weakness to the padawans—Jedi were supposed to let the Force heal them.
Eventually, the family took their seats in an empty booth by the window, watching the goings on with interest.
"Not a bad set up, kid. I'm impressed," Han complimented, and Jaina had to cover her mouth in order to stifle a giggle. It amused her greatly when her father called Luke a "kid". Though Luke wasn't old…just thirty at this point…hardly a "kid". It was probably related to their relationship during the rebellion years. Han, Leia and Luke's friendship had lasted a long time, beginning when the boys burst onto the Death Star and rescued Leia from her pending execution.
"Thanks," Luke replied, tickling Anakin, who let out a peal of giggles. Leia knew that in six years, the twins would attend the Jedi Acadamy. It was clear they were both strong in the Force, but Jedi did not begin official training until they were at least twelve years of age. It had been extraordinarily difficult sending them to a remote planet, just barely a week or so after they were born. It took a while for Jacen and Jaina to get used to their parents when they returned, and the idea that Leia had been "forgotten" was painful. However, the twins, like Anakin who'd just returned from his own "exile", eventually grew used to "family life" again.
Luke suddenly began coughing, receiving concerned looks from Han and Leia.
"Do you need water, Uncle Luke?" Jaina asked, once he finished. After managing to take a good breath, Luke shook his head.
"No," he croaked, though the fit began almost instantly afterwards.
Han raised his eyes at Jaina, silently mouthing to her to get the water. A few stray studentswho were close by, asked if their Master was all right.
Luke smiled confidently, though his cheeks were flushed from exertion. "Wrong pipe. That's all," he insisted, and waved them along. Han rolled his eyes, biting back a retort. When Jaina returned with the water, Luke scowled a bit, but accepted it with a quiet "thank you".
"Uncle Luke," Anakin began, "I'm makin' a battle in my room. Can you play with me? I'm using my blocks as a fort!"
Jaina and Jacent snorted into their meals, and Luke, after finishing the water, ruffled Anakin's hair. "I'd be honored to play with you," he insisted.
Jacen tugged on his mother's sleeve, and the former Princess of Alderaan looked at him. "Yes, love?" she asked.
"Uncle Luke said we might be allowed to explore the jungle! Can we?"
Leia gave Luke a small scowl, and he shrugged innocently.
"It's much too dangerous," she breathed. "Maybe when you're older," she added, and Jacen groaned, his lips forming in a pout.
"But Mom," he whined. "You always say 'when I'm older'."
"And when your Force powers have developed a bit more strongly."
Jacen folded his arms in disappointment, and Luke gave him an expression of apology. "What you fill their heads with," Leia hissed, and Han leaned back against his seat.
"Eventually we do have to let the twins grow up, Leia."
"Not too soon!" she exclaimed. "Children grow up so fast already!"
Jacen, Jaina and Anakin continued to eat their meals, trying to focus on the food before them. They only half listened to the occasional, casual conversation that broke out between their parents and Uncle, whispering amongst themselves.
"Can we play space pirates?" Anakin asked, pointing at Jaina and Jacen. "And this time, when we play, it's one of your turns to be in prison."
Jacen and Jaina glanced at each other, and tried very hard not to laugh. "We captured you fair and square," Jacen replied haughtily.
"No you didn't!" Anakin snapped. "Being only four years old isn't a good reason!"
"Pirates never have a real good reason to capture anybody," Jaina admitted. "They just do it for fun."
Luke glanced at his niece and nephews, his eyebrows raised. "What's this about capturing the innocent?" he asked, hoisting Anakin onto his lap. Jacen and Jaina were about to respond, when Leia touched Han's hand.
"Perhaps you and I should take a bit of a nap, hmmm?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Luke, are you all right with the children for a bit? Threepio could always take Anakin if he becomes too much for you."
Luke shook his head. "I'll be fine with them, Leia. Stop worrying." He narrowed his eyes to emphasize his point, and Leia sighed.
"All right. Well, you three, your father and I will be in our room if you need us."
"Kissing!" Anakin exclaimed, sending his other siblings into fits of giggles.
Leia squeezed his nose playfully, and he struggled against her grasp. "Yes, ewwwww, kissing." She kissed his forehead tenderly, brushing the child's light brown hair away from his eyes. "Behave for Uncle Luke," she told them. "Don't tire him out."
Jacen and Jaina gave their mother innocent grins, and Jaina lifted her head high.
"Who, us?" she asked, and Luke smirked. "All right, Mom and Dad," he told Han and Leia. "We're going to retire to their room, then." He slid out of his seat, allowing Han to move past him, and then Leia gave him a hug.
"Thank you," she whispered, and Luke squeezed her arms comfortingly.
"I've survived worse," he told her quietly, and she winked. When Leia and Han left the cafeteria, Jacen, Jaina and Anakin exploded into speech, talking at the same time and very fast.
"And the last time," Anakin told Luke, bouncing along beside his Uncle as they made their way into the hall. "They had me in a really cold cell, chained by my ankles! They told me if I made one noise, Jacen would stay in the cell and tell bad jokes for hours!"
Luke laughed heartily, lifting the four year old into his arms. "Well, I'm glad you were able to escape unscathed!" he replied, and the twins were giggling. When they reached the guest room, Anakin squirmed to be let down, and Luke did as he wished. Then, as a bit of a joke, he used the Force to raise several of the blocks into the air, and moved them so they were above the children's heads. Anakin gasped in awe, but every time he would reach up to catch the block in his hands, Luke would move it higher and higher.
"Hey!" he cried. "Uncle Luke!"
The twins were having fun trying to leap as high as they could, but were soon breathless. Luke lowered the blocks to the floor again, and Jaina laughed.
"Could we learn to do that when we come to study at the academy, Uncle Luke?" she asked, sitting on the edge of the bed. She took a ribbon from the pocket of her skirt, and tied her long brown hair into a single ponytail with it. Luke joined Anakin by the "fort", and glanced at her.
"We'll see," he replied. "But yes, you will learn how we lift things using our minds. It takes a lot of practice, but it's well worth it in the end." He let out another nasty cough, making the twins cringe.
"What is the matter, Uncle Luke? Are you getting sick?" Jaina asked, noticing the dark circles under his eyes. He shook his head, after breathing deeply.
"I've had this cough for quite some time," he muttered.
"You should see a healer," Jacen pointed out. "They can help you get better."
Anakin stacked the blocks in a particular way, clearly in his own little world. Luke gave the twins a weak smile, and shook his head. "There's no need," he insisted, and Jaina and Jacen gave each other disbelieving glances. "It's just a cough, nothing more. I think I can handle that." He covered his mouth with his fist, this fit even worse than the last.
"Oh, can you?" Jaina asked. "Uncle Luke, please go to the healer! At least to get checked over. Even if they don't find anything wrong with you, you'll be able to rest more easily knowing you're fine."
Luke absolutely hated discussing the topic of his health, and changed the subject immediately. "So, Anakin," he said a little more loudly than was necessary. "Who exactly are we battling?"
"The Empire of course," Anakin replied, and Luke sniggered.
"Of course." He motioned for Jacen and Jaina to come and sit with them, and allowed Jaina to snuggle against his side. Anakin, once the "fort" was complete, hid behind it, and pretended to hold a blaster. "I see storm troopers comin'!" he cried, pointing. "Right over there, Uncle Luke! Bang, bang, bang!" he pretended to pull the trigger, and Jaina suddenly clutched her chest, making a horrible gagging noise.
"I've been hit!" she clawed at Luke's arm, her face contorted in pain. She let out another, slightly pitiful moan, and collapsed to the rug with an "Ughhhhhh."
Anakin's eyes were wide, horrified at the thought of having hit his sister with the blaster bullets. "Jaina, nooooo!" he wailed, and Jacen hovered over Jaina's fallen form, holding her wrist and feeling for her pulse.
"She is dead," he sighed grimly. "But she wasn't hit by your bullet, Ani. She was hit from behind…duck!" he fell over Jaina's body, and she gave an annoyed "Ummph!"
Luke watched as the mock battled "raged"…Anakin ran around the room, firing his invisible blaster. Jacen battled the enemies with his lightsaber, and Luke levitated Jaina, who had her arms crossed over her chest.
"Argghhhh!" she suddenly cried, realizing how light she felt, and she did a bit of a summersault through the air.
"You're alive!" Anakin exclaimed. "We thought you were dead, Jaina!"
"Uncle Luke, that's not fair!" she cried, though she was laughing, and flapping her arms like a great bird.
"He's a pirate!" Anakin squealed, and the two younger Solo boys tackled their Uncle once Jaina was lowered to the ground. Luke snatched Anakin from the floor, turned him over, and began to tickle his sides and stomach. Jacen in turn, began to tickle Luke in retaliation, and soon the room was filled with hysterical laughter.
"Stoppit, stoppit, stoppit," Anakin squealed, protecting his sides and stomach from his Uncle's wrath.
"Space pirates tickle their victims unjustly because that's their way," Luke replied, and Jaina wrapped her arms around his neck, placing a large kiss on his cheek.
"Ugh!" Anakin and Jacen groaned, as Luke gaped at her.
"And he's the most handsome space pirate around," she announced.
"Why thank you, my lady," he stood and bowed. "Are you willing to join my crew, then?"
"Don't do it, Jaina! Pirates are bad!" Anakin begged, pointing. "He's tricking you!"
"Don't listen to him," Luke whispered. "Come away with me, and together we'll pillage, plunder…" his breath suddenly snagged in his chest, and the three children stepped back as he began coughing hard. The game ceased, and Jaina grabbed his arm.
"We have to take you," she told him.
"No," Luke whispered, his eyes tearing.
"Well, can you at least sleep then?" Jacen asked. "Maybe a nap will help you feel a little better…"
Luke leaned on the twins for support once he stood, though the room spun. Anakin looked worried this time, and frowned. "Did we hurt you, Uncle Luke?" he asked, and Luke shook his head.
"No, Anakin, you didn't hurt me. But I think a nap would be a good idea. I've been overexerting myself more than I should have." He sighed once he stopped coughing, and Jaina rubbed his back.
"We'll lay down with you," she insisted. "I'm kind of sleepy myself."
"Well, if you're all right with that," Luke told her. "How about you two? Would you mind napping for a little bit?"
Jacen and Anakin shook their heads, not wanting to cause anymore trouble for their Uncle.
"All right. My bed is big enough to fit all three of us," he replied, and Anakin refused to be carried.
"I'm too heavy," he said. "You'll start coughin' again."
Luke felt his heart melt with the little boy's concern, and urged them out of the guest room. "Shouldn't we tell Mom and Dad where we are, in case we're still sleeping when they come looking for us later?" Jaina asked, and Luke bent down to kiss the top of her head.
"I'll contact them from the control panel in my room," he replied.
"We're ready, Uncle Luke," Jacen announced, and Luke lead them away.