Believe 12
Luke watched her go with a sickening feeling. What he said had been harsh and thoughtless of him. She's right he was a jerk, now if only he could find her to apologize.
He hadn't truly meant to upset her, just make her think. He was certain the thought occurred to everyone that her boyfriend was more than likely dead. It didn't seem to occur to Sam however and he should have broken the news with more tact. He had let a burst of jealousy and anger to take over and, he had blurted the news to her in anger.
He felt like she was rejecting him in favor of a dead man. It was absurd he realized now. So, he went after her, he owed her an apology if nothing else.
Anakin watched from the hall as Mon Mothma talked calmly to Sam. He caught only a few words of Sam's explanation. One of which was his son's name. Luke would have some explaining to do. Thankfully he had already sent Han with Kam and Corran to Tatooine. Han hadn't liked what he suggested doing. In truth, Anakin didn't like it either, but if it kept her safe.
In the long run Han had agreed to do as he asked and not say anything about it to anyone. Luke came around the corner at a run. Anakin hailed him. "She's in there with Mon Mothma" said Anakin Luke swallowed nervously and looked away. "What happened?" said Anakin
He wasn't going to wait until Luke fessed up to whatever it was, he did. "I told her that her boyfriend Josh was most likely dead and that was likely how Maul found her" said Luke. He sounded sullen and remorseful. "I told her in anger, because she made me jealous" said Luke "she made you jealous?" said Anakin
"Yes, she claimed she didn't want our relationship to go any farther, because she already had a boyfriend," said Luke. "So, in your opinion, you thought it necessary to deflate her ego, because she wounded yours" said Anakin. His tone was cold, but Luke sensed his anger. "Father please, I've come to apologize, I know I was wrong. will you let me talk to her?" said Luke Anakin frowned at him, he honestly thought his son had more sense. The girl had stopped sobbing thankfully. "I will see if she wishes to see you," said Anakin.
Anakin walked into the room, leaving Luke with two of the rebel alliance commanders standing outside the door. The Mon calamari was watching him with its huge wide eyes. "The females of any species are always an emotional lot" said Nianthanhal. Luke nodded; the older general was attempting to cheer him up. "Youth affords us many advantages, one of those is the ability to learn from our mistakes" said the other twilek standing beside him. Luke nodded they were both right, he just hoped he didn't destroy his chances with Sam. Anakin popped his head out of the door. "She will see you; you better have a good explanation for her" said Anakin.
Luke nodded nervously and followed his father into the room. Sam was seated at a chair, with Mon Mothma sitting across from her. She looked up at him when he walked in, and he saw the red rims around her eyes. She had been crying, he had made her cry. It made him feel like a complete jackass. "Sam?" he said softly. He knelt by her chair and looked up at her face. "Please forgive me, I'm an idiot sometimes" said Luke. She snorted as if to say he was only partially right. "Please believe me, the last thing I wanted to do was hurt you" said Luke
"Yes, you did, you were mad at me," said Sam She must have picked up that flash of anger. Luke looked down, so he had no choice he must be honest with her. He didn't want a relationship built on lies. "Yes, I was and I'm sorry for it, my anger was irrational, the only explanation I have was jealousy" said Luke. Sam was glaring at him; the guy was unnervingly honest. Josh would have never bothered to explain anything to her.
Why would Luke be jealous of that? "Why?" said Sam "because you would rather go back to someone who ignores you and uses you, than to stay with me" said Luke. "Luke I, ah I never meant it like that, you're confusing me" said Sam "then let me clarify things for you, I want you to stay with me, but I will not use deception to do it" said Luke "it's not the Jedi way" said Luke. He glanced at his father, who looked guilty for some reason. "Then why won't you let me go home?" said Sam
"My dear child, no one is keeping you here against your will, we are simply concerned for your safety" said Mon Mothma "concerned why?" said Sam "because Maul will be waiting for you to return home with a mind for revenge" said Anakin Sam shivered, that man scared her and Anakin knew it. Sam looked at her lap "what about my family?" said Sam
"If they were lucky, they went to other family members before Maul found them" said Mon Mothma. "And if they weren't?" said Sam. Her voice was soft, but you didn't have to be a Jedi to hear the worry in her voice.
"Then they are one with the force my child" said Anakin. Sam put her hands over her mouth and rested her head in her hands. Tears were falling down her cheeks again. Luke moved closer and pulled her gently into his arms. He held her as she cried out her fears into his arms. "Shush its ok, were here, I won't ever leave you I promise" Luke said softly.
Her pain was bleeding across into his mind through their touch. All he wanted to do was to soothe it. Mon Mothma stood up silently and motioned for Anakin to follow her outside. She wanted to give the two youngsters a little privacy.
They stepped back out into the hallway. "Is the child, all right?" asked the mon calamari. "Yes, he's soothing her, she's had a bit of an emotional upset" said Mon Mothma. "I see shall we continue our discussion or would you prefer to remain," said the twilek. "We can continue, I believe our Jedi allies have it all under control." said Mon Mothma
"No, I don't like it either Chewy, but you heard the general" said Han. Chewy growled something that sounded less than flattering. Han was keeping his voice low because of his other passengers. Jedi tended to stick together no matter what. They thought what Anakin wanted to do was wrong, but the Jedi would probably support him on it. Han had done what he said to a point, but he would keep the girl's info for later use. Just in case everything ever went south, at least she would have a place to run to. "We're entering Tatooine space," said Han. Corran poked his head into the cockpit. The senior Jedi looked concerned to Han. "You really like her, don't you?" said Corran. Han frowned he hated that maddening ability.
"Yes, she's a sweet kid," said Han. Corran nodded in agreement. "She is also our chosen one, so you understand his over protectiveness when it concerns her" said Corran "whatever you say man" said Han. "I know you consider yourself her friend but do her a favor, don't give her a way home until she can actually defend herself" said Corran. He went back into the cabin area. Han stifled the urge to swear, just barely.
Chewy growled something else and Han agreed with him. "Yeah that is an awful lot to put on her shoulders" said Han. He banked towards the planet and gave his information to the control tower. Or at least one of many anyways. He landed smoothly at the spaceport and unstrapped. "Yeah I know, this is a hell hole, but this is where they sent us," said Han.
The Jedi were getting off the ship to commence their search. With the information Sam had gleaned off the saber hilt. She still had no idea what it was she had read, but the rest of the Jedi were even more convinced now. This small woman was indeed their chosen one. Kam rented a speeder and they headed towards the Jundland wastes Han stayed in port and kept an eye on his ship.
The Jedi headed out into the desert heat while Han wisely chose to stay in the shade. He hid the coordinates for Sam's world one more time, just in case the general had a backup plan. The Jedi came back three hours later in triumph. Escorting ten Jedi kids, one old woman Jedi and a stack of holobooks. "Yoda's legacy" said Kam He pointed to the children taking seats in the Falcon's hold. Han smiled ruefully.
So maybe the Jedi did need all the help they could get. Who's to say giving them a little hope wasn't a good thing? Han headed for the cockpit and closed the door as soon as the last of their refugees were on board. He took off towards the base. He would have to do several jumps to keep imperial spies from following them.
