Sigh...this chapter...Time for some 'Tearful Reunions'

Get it? Get it? See what I did there?

Sorry, I'm out of it lol

PLEASE REVIEWWWW!

Enjoy!

To say Anakin had been furious at the opposition he met when he entered the Halls of Healing would be an understatement. He had expected no one to question him and to get right to healing the horridly injured patient he was carrying in his arms the moment he called for help, but instead almost everyone had stopped and stared, refusing to treat him.

"Is this what you've all been taught?" he snapped, fury alight in his eyes. "To turn away someone in need because of your own pride and prejudice and a mistake long in the past? He just saved the Chancellor at risk of his own life, and he's going to die unless someone treats him!"

They were obviously chastised, but still reluctant. For a moment, no one stepped forward, and Anakin's anger mounted dangerously. However, there was movement at the back of the crowd and a young Mirialan woman with light green skin and cropped jet black hair streaked with Corellian Blue stepped to the front.

"Master Skywalker...I will treat him, bring him here," she said gently, shooting a sharp look at the others that caused them to turn their heads. Her bangs fell into her sea green eyes as she turned to push several of the onlookers out of the way, paving a path for Anakin through the Healing Wing. Once they were past the general crowd she hurried her pace, leading him to a room in the far back of the Healing Wing.

"Put him on the bed," she instructed, moving to the opposite end of the room to pick up a healing crystal nestled on a corner table, as well as...

"Is that a healing crystal of fire?" Anakin asked in mild surprise. The young woman glanced at him.

"Just in case," she assured him. Gently, she started to look Luke over with a precise and swift efficiency. "He's going to need the bacta tank, that's for sure, and for an extended amount of time," she murmured.

"What's your name?" Anakin asked as she lifted Luke's chin to examine the bruises along his neck.

"Knight Saani Sedaya," she told him distractedly as she opened up Luke's shirt, a small gasp coming out of her at the sight of the blaster wound that had just barely missed his heart and the spot where he'd been impaled by the B2 Grapple Droid. Immediately she moved to heal the blaster wound, as it seemed the injury was the most important to heal.

"Thank you Saani," Anakin said sincerely. "I'm in your debt."

"Don't thank me yet," Saani warned, her hands over Luke's blaster wound as she slowly fixed the damage. "It's a miracle he's survived as long as he had. Would you please go prep a bacta tank for him while I heal some of these more pressing injuries?"

"Of course," Anakin responded, turning to leave the room. He stopped, hesitating for a moment before he turned back to the girl. "I can trust you with my son alone, right?"

Saani looked up at him. "I have my own reasons to hold a grudge against him, it's true...but I would never disregard someone in need."

Anakin studied her closely for a moment, probing the Force for confirmation he could trust her with his son's life. When he received that confirmation, he relaxed.

"I'm sorry for doubting, but...in wars like this...and matters like with him...you can never be too careful. It's hard to know who to trust," Anakin said softly.

Saani nodded. "That it is Master Skywalker...the bacta tank?"

"I'm on it," he assured her, taking one last glance at Luke before he turned to rush down the hall.

It was dark, but he was warm. He hurt, but it wasn't excruciating anymore. He was floating, but he was firmly grounded in reality, so he knew he wasn't dead. There was a sickly sweet taste in his mouth, and immediately he realized that he had been in a bacta tank. Gradually, his feeling of floating disappeared, and he felt himself lying as heavy as lead in what felt like a cloud. His arms were heavy at his side, and as the feeling in his arms returned to him he was sure that he could feel a needle in his arm. Was he hooked up to a drip?

Luke parted his parched lips, suddenly wishing for a cool drink of water as he tried to wet his lips for some sort of comfort. A soft moan escaped him and Luke took in a shaky gasp of air, grateful that his lungs didn't burn in pain from the action. Still he remained wary. Perhaps Judro was just healing Luke to push Luke's limits all over again; it wouldn't be the first time that had happened to him. He had to remain on guard; he couldn't let himself fall into any traps...

The surface he was lying on sank on his right, and a gentle hand touched his forehead. "Luke...?"

Luke's heart jumped up into his throat at the familiar voice he hadn't heard in years, and he felt his throat clog with emotion. A strangled sound escaped him as his eyelids fluttered open, frustrated by how blurry and blinded by white his vision was. He was, however, able to make out the blurred form of a person sitting on the...bed...beside him.

"Father," he croaked out, tears stinging his eyes as he gradually focused on the figure beside him. The imposing figure, the dirty blonde hair that now had several spots of silvery gray, and the familiar blue eyes...

The tears poured out of his eyes when he realized that it really was his Father sitting beside him, it really was his father that was reaching out to touch his cheek, it really was his father that was crying along with Luke.

"Father," he said again, louder this time but with a voice strangled by raw emotion as he reached up with his left hand to grab his father into an unrelenting hug, careful not to jostle the drip attached to his right arm. Anakin looked like he was going to force Luke back onto the bed and scold the younger man to save his strength for a moment before he too gave in and gathered the younger man into his arms, pressing Luke tight into his chest. The two men stayed like that for a long time, crying into each other's shoulders with occasional whispered words of joy and sorrow.

"I've missed you," Luke whispered into his father's shoulder, squeezing his eyes shut against the tears that were spilling forth from him. He clutched his father as tightly as he could with his miniscule reservoir of strength, holding in the sob that wanted to break out of him. "So much..."

"I never gave up trying to get you back," Anakin told him sincerely, gently clutching a tuft of hair at the back of Luke's neck as he spoke. "I kept trying to get your exile ended, kept trying to find you, I never gave up on you..."

"I didn't expect you to give up," Luke responded simply. He was perfectly content staying here in his parent's arms, twenty-nine years old or not, Luke hadn't seen him in over five years, and after everything that had happened seeing Anakin again brought a childlike, pure joy back that Luke hadn't had in a long time. Suddenly, a thought came to him. "How long have I been unconscious?" he asked quietly, pulling away. Anakin slowly and reluctantly helped Luke lie back down, but he kept a tight hold on his son's hand as he spoke.

"Thanks to Saani—the woman who treated you who's standing just outside—you were only out a few days," Anakin informed him gently. "Though now that you're awake, she should have contacted the others, who should be showing up at any moment now—"

The words had hardly left his mouth when the sound of hurried footsteps reached them, and Luke turned his head weakly towards the door. All he heard was a strangled cry of relief as a gray blur rushed towards him and fell over his chest in relief. Luke grunted in pain, but didn't let any other noise get out of him as he registered just who had thrown themself at him.

"Jeza!" he exclaimed in relief, putting an arm around the sobbing girl and pulling her closer to him. "Oh Force Jeza...you're safe, I was afraid of what might have happened to you..."

"Me? I was scared for you!" Jeza sobbed, pulling away and gently slapping his shoulder. "Don't ever, ever do that to me again Father!"

"I won't, I promise," Luke sighed tiredly, pulling the girl in for another hug and ignoring the strange look that Anakin was giving the pair of them; that could be addressed later.

She wasn't the only one to arrive in the doorway though. It seemed a crowd was slowly gathering, and Jeza pulled away the same time a certain brown haired Princess appeared.

"Luke!" Leia cried out in relief, and Anakin was able to gently pull Jeza out of the way as Luke's twin rushed to his side.

"Leia," Luke sighed with a reminiscent smile as he pulled his sister into a tight one armed hug and held back tears. "Force I missed you little sister," he murmured as Leia pulled him close to her.

"I missed you too Luke," she said gently. For once, she didn't argue that he was only older by a few seconds. She simply clutched him tighter to herself, burying her face in his neck. "Don't ever leave us again...please..."

Luke didn't say anything; that was one promise he didn't dare make lest he couldn't keep it. He simply sighed, holding his sister a little tighter as his limited strength permitted. He looked up at the door to see the only missing Skywalker from the scene, and just as it had when he'd returned from Byss all those years ago, he felt his eyes water once more and tears spilled over as he laid eyes on her.

"Mother," he whispered. There were wrinkles starting to play peek-a-boo on her face, and her hair was starting to gray like his father's, but she was still beautiful and lived up to the reputation of an Angel that his father painted of her. Tears spilled over her eyes as she rushed forward, and Luke needed to be helped up by his sister so that he could sit up and embrace his mother when she reached him, the pair sobbing into each other's shoulders shamelessly while the others looked on. It broke his heart to hear her crying at the same time it felt so heartwarming to hear her again. "I'm here mother...I'm here...please, don't you cry too..."

"I have every right to cry Luke Skywalker," Padme sobbed. "Don't you dare tell me not to cry."

Luke couldn't help but laugh softly under his breath. "Yes Mother..."

"Kid..." came a soft spoken voice from the doorway, and Luke looked up to see Han, Chewy, and Obi-Wan all pushing their way through the door. Luke grinned, reluctantly letting his mother leave his embrace as Han approached. Han pushed his shoulder playfully once Luke was settled back against the bed. "You and I have got to quit running into each other in medical bays, don't you think?"

Luke chuckled. "Yeah, I guess so; at least this time I don't owe you," Luke joked lightly. Chewbacca howled, and Luke's grin grew. "Yes Chewy, I've missed you too."

Obi-Wan approached, causing Han and Chewy to separate to make way for the elderly man. Obi-Wan looked even older than he had the last time Luke had seen him, but he didn't look like he was letting age get in his way.

"Ben," Luke said softly. Obi-Wan smiled a little.

"I haven't gone by that name in a long time. You gave your father and me quite a scare when we found you...how are you feeling?"

"Much better," Luke said, leaning his head back against the pillow. He let his gaze run the length of the room, taking in all of his loved ones in one place, reunited once more. "Much better now..."

"I should hope so; it took quite some effort to get you to where you are now," came a new voice Luke did not recognize. A Mirialan young woman entered the room, a datapad in hand that immediately signaled to Luke that she was the Saani that his father had mentioned earlier. Something nagged at the back of his mind that he should recognize her; a feeling that didn't set well with him. These days if he felt he should recognize someone, they tended to be a victim or a friend or relative of a victim.

Saani continued without looking at him. "You still have to recover though. I'm sure you've noticed you barely have enough strength to move; you're going to be given bed-rest for quite a while until you're firmly back on your feet."

Luke was itching to ask her who she was, but he held his tongue, figuring that was not a question to ask in front of so many, especially if it was a question that was going to ruin the happy reunion moment that was going on. Instead, he nodded slowly. "Thank you," he said gently, trying to catch her eye. The woman's eyes flickered up towards him, slightly startled, before she cast them back down to the datapad.

"I suggest that he be given plenty of time to rest, which means the visits should be kept short and few, simply for the sake of letting him get the rest that he needs for a speedy recovery," she added, placing the datapad on a corner table that housed two crystals as well. "If you need anything just let me know."

"Actually...something to drink would be nice..." Luke said hesitantly, not really wanting to ask her for anything but also dying of thirst—figuratively of course. Saani nodded.

"That I can do," she said before she bowed out of the room. Anakin was watching Luke closely as he resumed his original position on Luke's bed.

"You know her, don't you?" Anakin asked softly, only meaning for Luke to hear. Luke met his eyes for a moment before he turned away, wanting to avoid that conversation. Everyone else settled in various positions, though all of them made sure that they were close to Luke in some way. Jeza sat on the other side of Luke, holding his hand protectively. Obi-Wan remained standing next to Padme, who sat in one of the armchairs. Chewbacca occupied another corner, while Han and Leia sat together on the small couch that occupied the room. Luke's eyes just happened to rest on their interlocked hands, and he jerked from surprise.

"You're married?" he asked, staring at the two in surprise. He felt a pang go through his heart; had he really missed that much of his family's life?

Leia shook her head. "No, just engaged," she assured him. Han nodded.

"It didn't feel right having a wedding when you couldn't be there," Han admitted. "We both decided to wait until you came out of your exile, however long it took."

Luke winced slightly at that, barely stopping himself from asking the great 'what if I hadn't come back?'

"I'm still trying to process something else," Anakin said turning his gaze towards Jeza momentarily. "I'll admit...when Jeza said that her father was on the Nexu—the cruiser you were on—I wasn't expecting to find that she was talking about you."

Luke tightened his hold of Jeza's hand just slightly, though he was sure that she had noticed. "I've kind of...taken Jeza in since I was sent into exile," he said slowly. Jeza sighed.

"He's being modest," she said with a small roll of her eyes. "He's practically adopted me and taken care of me this entire time; I couldn't ask for anyone better to raise me," she said, getting Luke to blush. Anakin looked like he was going to press for more of the story, but he apparently decided against it. At that moment, Saani reappeared with Luke's glass of water in one hand and syringes in the other. She placed the syringe on the table, coming over to hand the glass of water to Jeza. Jeza and Anakin collectively helped Luke sit up, but it was Jeza that helped Luke take a drink from the cup.

"Thank you," Luke murmured again. He didn't like how weak and helpless he felt at the moment, but there wasn't much he could do about it. He nodded towards the syringes. "What's that?"

"Painkillers and anesthesia; when you're ready for them of course. That's why I'm putting them over here," Saani told him.

"Okay...thank you," he said with a nod. His eyes scanned the room again and he frowned, turning to his father. "Where's Ahsoka? Galen? Juno...Mara?" he asked, whispering the last name very quietly.

"Ahsoka is out in the field right now, but she does know that you're back. The others...well," Anakin said, sighing. For a moment, fear gripped Luke. He'd been so sure that he'd sensed Mara, surely something hadn't happened to them? "Mara left the Order after you were exiled."

"She what?" Luke asked, sitting up sharply and accidentally hurting himself. He gasped slightly in pain, and Jeza pushed him softly back onto the bed.

"Easy," Jeza warned him. Luke nodded and turned his attention back to his father.

"Why did she leave?" he asked.

"She left to find you," Anakin told him gently. "These past five years she's been scouring the galaxy for you. Galen wanted to keep his promise to you, so he went with her to watch out for her, same with Juno. We've been trying to reach them, but we haven't been able to get in contact with them."

At the alarmed look on Luke's face, Obi-Wan cut in. "They'll go weeks somewhere out of our reach at a time; this isn't abnormal. I did leave a message for them, and when they receive it I'm sure they'll be here as soon as possible."

Luke shifted uncomfortably. What if by the time they got the message, Luke was already sent back into his exile...or worse? "Listen...I...I'm glad to be back and all...but we don't even know if I'm back. How do you all know I'm not going to be sent right back into my exile, or get punished for coming out of my exile?"

"I won't let them send you back. I just got you back, I'm not going to lose you again," Anakin said firmly.

"If they try to exile you again, I'm going to have some words with a few people," Padme said dangerously.

"Besides, you've gained favor with people in high places Kid," Han said pointedly. Luke frowned.

"What are you talking about?" Luke asked cautiously.

"That man you rescued from the bounty hunters. Do you know who he was?" Anakin asked. Luke shrugged.

"I figured he was just some politician that crossed the wrong person," Luke mumbled, taking another sip from his water.

"He's the current Supreme Chancellor."

Luke started coughing and sputtering almost immediately, going red in the face. Jeza took the glass from him before he could spill it or break it while Luke stared at Anakin, watery eyed.

"He's the what?" Luke asked in shock.

"Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic," Anakin said with a slight smile. "And I must say, he's not as bad as he acted. He's supposed to act like a bumbling clueless politician if he ever ends up in a situation like that where he needs transportation. That way whoever's providing his transportation will want to get him there as fast as possible and be rid of him. It works."

Luke ran a hand through his hair. "So...you're telling me I rescued the Supreme Chancellor, not just some random politician?"

"Yes, you did," Han said very slowly as if Luke's addled brain was unable to register anything but the slow, causing Luke to roll his eyes.

"He could technically give you a pardon and you wouldn't have to go back into exile," Padme said quietly from by the door. Luke stared at them all, heart aching over their hopeful faces.

"I can't ask him for that," Luke said quietly, looking around. "It wouldn't be right; I'd feel like I was taking advantage of him. Besides...you all know how I feel about this. I told you what I thought before I even had my trial; I'm not going to complain and I'm serving out my full sentence."

He couldn't look some of them in the eyes for the pained look that appeared at his words, but it was the truth.

"What if he gives you a pardon...but none of us ask him to give you one?" Leia asked diplomatically.

"That would be wonderful and a miracle, but I don't think it's just going to pop into his head to pardon me. I don't want anyone trying to plant the idea or even bring up the topic with him, okay? It's using him, and I won't have that," Luke said firmly despite his weakened state. He sighed, leaning back against the bed and closing his eyes as a wave of exhaustion suddenly rolled over him and a dull ache started to rise in his chest. Saani was at his bedside almost immediately, checking his vitals.

"He needs his rest; I'm afraid this reunion will have to continue at another time," Saani declared.

"Of course," Obi-Wan said graciously as he stood up. "We wouldn't want to impede on his recovery."

Everyone began to stand one by one, all be it reluctantly, but they all had to admit to the truthfulness of Obi-Wan and Saani's words. Anakin and Jeza were the only ones who were still sitting down as everyone started to murmur their temporary goodbyes, ranging from 'Take care Kid' to 'Get well soon' to 'Everything will work out, I promise.'

Luke noticed Jeza's rebellious look appearing on her face, and knew she was going to protest before she could even open her mouth. Gently, he squeezed her hand and nodded towards the group that was filing out the door. "Go on, I'll be fine." Jeza looked like she was going to argue, so he shot her a pointed look. "Jeza..."

The girl sighed, getting up slowly and reluctantly. "Don't take too long to get better," she warned gently.

Luke couldn't help but chuckle at that. "That shouldn't be much of a problem."

Jeza smiled at him before she turned to leave. "Take care Father."

When she left, Anakin turned to face Luke. Both of them seemed to have completely forgotten Saani over in the corner as she checked Luke's drugs one more time.

"It's going to take some time to get used to hearing my son get called Father," Anakin said quietly. "How did you come across her?"

Luke looked away. "She was...already on Xenon. There used to be a settlement there, but only Jeza and her guardian Denna were left. Denna died the day I arrived, and had me promise to take care of Jeza."

Anakin studied him for a moment. "You're leaving something out."

"It's something I don't feel like bringing up right now," Luke admitted. Anakin reluctantly stood up.

"Well...rest assured that she will be taken care of while you're recovering," Anakin said, getting ready to leave. Before he could, Luke reached out and grabbed his hand.

"Father," he said, his tone suddenly serious and grim. Anakin turned in surprise, studying Luke's gaze closely.

"Yes Luke?"

"I want you to promise me..." Luke hesitated, picking out his words very carefully as he knew he was about to tread on some toes. "...that if I ever fall again, you'll kill me before I fall too far."

Anakin pulled his hand out of Luke's grasp like Luke had bitten him. "Luke, don't talk like that—"

"I'm serious," Luke said, his expression determined. "I cannot allow myself to go through that again; I cannot bear the thought of such a thing happening again. That's why I am begging you; if it ever happens, I need to know that you'll stop me before I can hurt anyone. I cannot bear the thought of what will happen if I am ever consumed by the dark side again."

"Luke, you know I can't do that," Anakin said softly.

"You'll have to; cause if I fall again I don't know if there is anything that will bring me back like last time. I'm not saying I will, I'm just saying if it ever happens, please, kill me. And I'm telling you now so that you'll know it's what I want..."

A fiery look entered Anakin's eyes and he set his jaw in firm determination, clasping Luke's hand in his own. "It won't happen again Luke. You don't have to ask me to do that, cause I won't have to." He sighed, grasping Luke's shoulder. "Now get some rest son...you need it."

Luke said nothing, watching wearily as Anakin left the room before he leaned back onto the bed with a groan. Saani approached the bed and made Luke jump when she spoke. He'd completely forgotten she was there.

"It looks like you need this more than I thought," Saani said, leaning over to inject the first drug—most likely the painkillers—into Luke's drip. He settled back into the hospital bed, shifting to make sure he really was comfortable so he wouldn't wake up with any new pains.

"Mhm...you might need to give me a prescription just for the headache that's going to meet me outside these walls," Luke said, trying to joke. He succeeded in getting a small smile out of the woman before she turned somber again. The drugs were already starting to kick in; he could feel the beginning effects. Saani called the other syringe to her hand through the Force, but before she could administer the anesthesia, Luke spoke again. "I'm sorry," he said softly.

Saani froze and looked sharply up at him, startled. "What?"

Luke met her sea green eyes straight on. "I've decided to make it a point to remember faces and names with all the ghosts that have been showing up from my past recently. I'm sorry; I wish I could take it back but I can't. All I can do is repeatedly apologize and know that will never be enough."

Saani looked away, unable to look him in the eyes as the painful memory was brought right to the front of her mind. He waited patiently, trying to remember the specifics of the wrong he had done Saani in the silence. He remembered a very young Padawan...

"He was only twelve," Saani said bitterly, and Luke felt a spasm of emotional pain go through him. That was only roughly two years older than Jeza had been when Luke had taken her in.

"I'm so sorry..." Luke whispered, his voice breaking.

Saani looked up at him. "Well...your father had a point when he said it was in the past, and it's not the Jedi way to hold a grudge and turn away someone in need. Besides, it's as you said; there's nothing you can do about it but apologize." She leaned over to inject the anesthesia, silence stretching between them for a moment. "The girl...there's rumors that there were entire villages that you wiped out. Her village was one of them, wasn't it?"

Luke saw no reason to lie. "Yes...it was..."

"Well, I can see that you're trying to amend your mistakes to the best of your abilities," Saani said. Luke had to give it to the Jedi Healers; they used the best and fastest drugs in the Galaxy, because it was already kicking in and causing Saani's voice to start to sound like it came from the end of a long tunnel. "So...I can't hold a grudge against you after what I've seen...but I can't quite forgive you yet...Some would say you don't deserve forgiveness...but I'm starting to think they're wrong."

"Maybe they're not..." Luke murmured.

"Maybe...maybe they just need to see what I've seen...maybe you're just too hard on yourself."

If she said anything more, Luke didn't hear. He had already slipped into unconsciousness.