Author's note:I'm sorry that this chapter so short. I want to thank you for all the reviews. The next chapters are having our characters grow older. Thanks again for reading. Enjoy!
While Lando and Anakin completed their business, Han Solo packed his bags. Mara was still quite upset about being grounded for so long, Han blamed himself. Anakin purchased the Falcon, which really surprised the both of them. Han was so happy, until he found that he wouldn't be allowed to pilot it, he decided that since he was already in enough trouble with his new employer to not really complain too much, like it would do any good anyway. He was currently stuck in the galley with Mara to clean up the kitchen and to put away the new equipment and food. Mara was silent and seemed to be brooding again.
"Maybe when his lordship allows us some free time I could teach you how to play Sabacc."
"Mm."
"Come on Mara, cheer up. If my pop had been around, he would have beaten me within one inch of my life. At least he didn't do that, or did he?"
"No. It's not the Jedi way."
"Jedi, I know that your father is a Jedi but are you too?"
"He's not my father, Han. We just did that for a cover, not many people understand the relationship between a Jedi Master and a padawan. Some people would think that I was his slave, you know?"
"So what did he do?"
"I don't want to talk about it! You know I'm grounded that should be enough for you nerf-herder!" Mara stormed away and ran to the cargo hold. Han sighed; sometimes he just didn't understand girls.
"Mara? What's wrong?"
"Why did you have to get Han? He's an annoying nerfherder."
"He needs someone to look out for him; Lando told me he was starting to get into trouble, particularly with smuggling."
"So? You can't adopt every single pathetic life-form there is, it isn't fair."
"Life is rarely fair, Mara. Han is a very talented mechanic and one day will be a fine pilot."
Mara sighed heavily, she knew that her master was right of course, but still it annoyed her to no end.
Anakin notified Padmé that they would be home soon; he purchased a new ship and hired a mechanic assistant, he asked her to prepare a room for him.
"What's his name?"
"Han Solo, he's fifteen, he's an excellent mechanic."
"What about his parents?"
"They are gone. One of my clients, Lando Calrissian was looking out for him, but he's a business man and doesn't have time to look out for a teenager."
"Okay, you may want to contact Obi-Wan, he's called here looking for you, the twins are fine, but you may want to talk to him."
"What's wrong?" Anakin was concerned.
"Just a prank was pulled, poor Mace."
"What happened?"
"You will have to talk to Luke and Obi-Wan yourself, Anakin, if you want full details."
"I love you, Padmé."
"I love you, Ani. Hurry home."
Anakin comm'd his former master, "Obi-Wan, are you there?"
"Good to hear from you my friend. How's business?" Obi-Wan greeted.
"Cut to the chase, Obi-Wan. What's going on with Luke?"
"Are you near Coruscant?"
"Not really, do I need to come? Is it that serious?"
"No but if you were in the neighborhood. . ."
"Okay, Obi-Wan I'll be there this evening, I'm bringing Mara and a young man I met on Corellia."
"Sounds good, see you then."
Luke was sitting on his bed trying to mediate like Obi-Wan told him, he wasn't succeeding he was worried.
"How are you doing, Luke?"
"Not good. What do you think father will do when he finds out?"
"Don't know; just be honest with him, own up to your prank, like he always did."
"What time is it?"
"Two-thirty."
"I have to go, before I'm late. Master Windu wants to meet me in the cafeteria." Luke sighed.
Obi-Wan watched him leave. Mace Windu sat on the edge of the table and glared at Luke Skywalker as he entered the cafeteria, ashamed.
"Padawan Skywalker, you are hereby assigned to cafeteria duty for the next week you will be responsible for washing dishes after lunch. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Master Windu."
"Good. I hope this teaches you not to pull any more pranks on me."
"May I be honest, Master Windu?"
"Yes, that's one Skywalker trait that I actually do appreciate."
"It probably won't be my last prank." Luke sheepishly smiled.
"Hopefully it will be for the next week, padawan."
"Yes, master. I'll be too tired to do any more."
"Good, I'll leave you to it."
Luke sighed deeply as he walked to the sink full of warm sudsy water. He stepped up on the stool and started washing. He wasn't allowed to use the Force to help either, it was really aggravating.
"Han, please come here." Anakin called.
"Yes sir?"
"We are going to Coruscant, I have some business to attend at the Jedi Temple, you will be with Mara Jade, please do not do anything foolish. I'll have her take you to the gardens and there you will wait until I conclude my business. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir." Han replied.
"Good."
"Sir? Are you still angry with me?"
"Yes, what you did was reckless and immature, but I don't hold grudges at least not anymore."
"I'm glad to hear that sir." Han replied.
Mara Jade and Han Solo followed Anakin down the ramp after they landed.
"Good evening, Obi-Wan."
"Your son is in the apartment anxiously awaiting your arrival."
"Yes, I know. I feel his tension, what did Mace do assign dish duty?"
"Yes, he actually just finished before the dinner rush."
"So what happened?"
"I'll let Luke tell you, Anakin. Don't be too hard on the boy."
"I won't. Han Solo this is Master Obi-Wan Kenobi."
"Nice to meet you."
"Likewise."
"Mara Jade, it's so nice to see you again."
"Hi, Master Obi-Wan." Mara gave him a big hug.
"Mara go ahead and give Han the tour of the gardens, we will catch up with you later."
"Yes, Master."
Luke felt his father's presence; he started to shake with fear. He knew that it wasn't very Jedi-like to feel fear, but Anakin Skywalker was not only a strong Jedi Master, but his father as well. It was easy for one to be intimidated by him, particularly since he was so tall and sinewy. "Master Skywalker, may I say one thing to you?" Master Windu asked.
"Yes, Master?"
"Like father, like son." Mace smiled shook his hand and continued his way.
Anakin smiled but was puzzled, "What exactly did my son do?"
Luke was sitting on his bed, picking with the hem of his nightshirt; he had just taken a hot shower. Obi-Wan entered the apartment and Anakin went down the hall to his old bedroom that now belonged to Luke.
"Come in, father." Luke gently called before Anakin could knock.
"Good evening, my son."
"Hi."
Anakin sat beside Luke who immediately crawled into his lap and hugged him and began to cry.
"Shh, come it can't be that bad?"
"I'm scared."
"Yes, I know. I don't want you to fear me, Luke. Tell me what happened."
"I pulled a prank on Master Windu."
"I've heard, tell me the rest."
"I was practicing my levitation skills and when he was walking to the Jedi Chamber, I attached a sign on the back of his cloak, which read 'Call me Master Windbag, I like hearing the sound of my own voice.' The entire council saw it and Master Yoda knew that it was me."
He tried to appear stern but he couldn't help but to laugh, "So, what is it dish duty for a week?"
"Yes. Are you mad at me?"
"A little, but I find it more humorous than anything at least you were honest about it."
Luke sighed. He felt relieved he thought for sure that his father would really be angry.
"Master Obi-Wan was right."
"About what?"
"That you would be a little angry, but you would find it more humorous than anything."
"The biggest part of pulling pranks, Luke, is that you own up to them and that they aren't dangerous to cause life, limb, or serious injury."
Leia and Master Gallia were sitting in the temple gardens mediating when they heard a loud argument. Mara Jade was arguing with some teenage boy, he was tall, had dark brown hair and brown eyes. He was cute in a scruffy sort of way.
"Corellian, I wonder what he's doing with Mara Jade. Where's Anakin?" Master Gallia wondered.
"Master?"
"Come, Leia let's introduce ourselves." Master Gallia stated.
Leia hugged Mara Jade, "It's so good to see you, Mara."
"Same here, Leia; this is Han Solo, he was hired by Master Skywalker to be a mechanic assistant."
"Father actually hired him?" Leia asked incredulously to Mara Jade.
"Yes, I was surprised too. Stay away from him Leia; he will cause you nothing but trouble."
"Am I missing something here?" Han could tell that they were talking but he couldn't hear them.
"Sorry, nerfherder. We have the ability to talk telepathically."
"Well that's some trick."
Leia smiled knowingly at Mara.
"No, Leia. I don't want to get into any more trouble. I've been grounded for three months!"
"Three months? For what, taking a joy ride with the scruffy nerfherder?"
"Yes, that wasn't the worst part." Mara Jade sadly stated.
Leia felt her friend's pain, quite literally. "Father actually spanked you?"
"For putting my life in unnecessary danger or so he says."
Han was getting impatient, "Hey! Did you forget that I was still here?"
"How could we, nerfherder!" Leia yelled.
"High and mighty!"
"Nerfherder."
It continued until Leia force-pushed Han into the water. Master Gallia had gone to the botanical garden to pick some fresh herbs for a sauce she would be making later.
"Leia! That's not very Jedi-like."
"Sorry, Master."
"You are apologizing to the wrong person, Padawan."
"I am not going to apologize to a scruffy looking nerfherder!"
Anakin walked in and saw Han Solo all wet.
"Padawan Leia Skywalker you will do as I tell you." Gallia sternly replied.
Leia sighed, "I'm sorry for pushing you into the pond, Han."
"You did that? How? All I felt was a strange push; I thought I was imagining things."
"Han? Are you trying to show off to my daughter? She's ten years your junior." Anakin scolded.
"Huh? Miss high and mighty is your daughter?"
Anakin folded his arms across his chest and glared at Han. Han looked at the floor, damn this man was intimidating.
"Hi daddy!" Leia watched her father's face change from anger to immediate laughter. Leia was briefly hugged and Han looked to see Anakin laughing.
"What so damn funny?" Han Solo stated as he sulked.
"Let's get you into some dry clothes, Solo."
"I wasn't doing anything with your daughter, sir."
"I know she's much too young for you, Solo."
Leia waved goodbye and then felt her father's voice,
"I will see you later, Leia, behave." There was a slight reprimand in her father's voice.
"Yes, father." Leia gulped and followed Master Gallia out to their chambers.
"I won't always be too young, father." Leia liked Han Solo even if he was a scruffy-looking, nerfherder and ten years older than her. It's odd for a five year old to like boys, but Leia was growing up fast at least emotionally. Luke though was still so childish, in Leia's opinion; all he did was build models and to play.