A/N I hope you guys like the second part of this!
This was all new to him, these past couple days had been quite an adjustment. Babies cried and ate a lot, something he discovered as he attempted to keep somewhat of a routine on the Devastator. He tried to keep focus, to do his job, but was incredibly distracted. When he would be on the bridge of the ship, looking out the viewport at hyperspace swirls, he felt strong urges to go back to his personal chambers and watch Luke.
Lekauf's personal assignment consisted of one thing, and one thing only. Watch Luke until they reached Coruscant, which he had been doing an excellent job at. He had also ordered Lekauf to have supplies a baby would need to survive delivered to his personal level in his palace in Coruscant as well. While it seemed to be going smoothly for now, Sidious was a rather large concern. He pondered on how Sidious would react to the news of his son. The son Sidious had claimed that Vader killed in the womb, along with Luke's mother. He squeezed his hands into tight fists, a lie, his master lied.
Finally, his ship exited hyperspace, Vader looked down on Coruscant. The city glowed brightly even from up here. He could see the reflections from the lights on the viewport, it cast light shadows throughout the bridge.
"We arrived over Coruscant, Lord Vader." A Captain spoke up, Vader turned around and faced him.
"Obviously," Vader replied then quickly left the bridge. He quickly pulled out his com, "Have a personal shuttle prepared, Lieutenant, we will be leaving immediately." He informed Lekauf.
"Right away, my Lord." Lekauf quickly replied, Vader stormed through the halls. Stormtroopers, Lieutenants, Technicians, P.A's all alike feared Vader. They parted like water for him as he quickly crossed the star destroyer, they did their best to hide it. Vader always felt their fear spike as he passed.
Soon enough, he was in his personal champers. He quickly made his way to Luke who was still in the bassinet like carrier he was brought in. Luke looked up at Vader as he nibbled on his blanket, he seemed to be the only one who didn't cower around the Sith Lord. His eyes were wide but were without fear, his son seemed to radiate curiosity through the force. He then saw Lekauf walk in his personal chambers.
"The shuttle is prepared, my Lord." Lekauf bowed.
"Excellent work, Lekauf." He used the force to gently lift Lukes carrier and headed for the hangar, Luke didn't seem to notice he was moving, he was still asleep. He walked through the hangar, the carrier right in front of him with Lekauf following only a few steps behind. Vader walked in the shuttle, moved into the cockpit, and placed the carrier on the co-pilot's seat.
He lifted the ship out of the hangar and carefully maneuvered through space heading towards Coruscant. Luke squirmed as the shuttle began to move through space, he would have to tell the Emperor about Luke. His instincts told him to hide Luke so the Emperor would never find out, Vader knew the Emperor would find out eventually. If Sidious found out later, it could possibly have worse repercussions then if he just told Sidious now.
The ship entered Coruscant's atmosphere, he usually would speed through Coruscant's traffic but not this time. He was being as careful as possible, night rolled over the city. When he reached his hangar, he went in for a smooth landing. He stood up from his seat and flew Lukes bassinet close behind him as we walked off the ship. He saw by the turbo-lift were a stack of boxes, Lekauf was already looking them over. Vader walked up to him, the bassinet floating behind softly.
Lekauf turned around quickly, "I believe these are the supplies I had ordered to be delivered to your personal residence, my Lord." Lekauf informed Vader.
"Have a crew unpack them and build them, I want it finished by the time I return from the meeting with the Emperor." He pointed at Lekauf, "Use any room by my personal chambers."
Lekauf nodded as he wrote down in his datapad then looked back up, "What would you like me to do with-" Lekauf glanced at the floating bassinet, "The child?"
"Keep him in my personal chambers, watch over him until I return," Vader instructed, with the force he moved the bassinet around to be in front of him. Luke was still asleep, it was late after all. Lekauf grabbed the handle on the bassinet, Vader looked down on his son for a moment and found he didn't want to leave his side.
"I will ensure his safety until your return, my Lord." Lekauf stated as he held onto the bassinet.
"Be sure that you do!" He pointed hard at Lekauf, a threat clear in his voice. He then quickly turned back towards his shuttle. He boarded the ramp and entered the cockpit, lifted the shuttle, and headed towards the Imperial Palace. Possibilities of how Sidious would react ran through his head. Sidious could possibly see his son as a threat, someone who could overthrow his rule. Luke was only a baby, Vader tensed and squeezed the yoke of the shuttle at the possibility of Sidious commanding Luke to be executed. He would never let that happen.
He remembered what he told Sidious before he left for Tatooine, that an Inquisitor reported urgent news and had alerted Vader. That a possible child of a Jedi was on Tatooine, he told Sidious he would see if what the Inquisitor claimed was true. Children of Jedi were incredibly rare, but if there was one somewhere in the galaxy, Sidious would want it handled quickly.
The Palace was in view through the transparisteel viewport of his shuttle, the night glow of Coruscant and the soft buzz of the millions of people's force presence were examples of how this planet never sleeps. Nothing on Coruscant changed when the sun went down, soon he landed on one of the landing pads and turned off the shuttle.
He quickly exited the shuttle, wanting this to be over as quickly as possible. He never enjoyed being in his master's presence, but unfortunately, it was mandatory. He entered the palace, people who were still working gasped slightly at the sight of him. They kept close to the walls as Vader marched through the center of the hallways towards Sidious's private audience room.
When he neared the large door to the Emperor's throne room, the praetorian guards swung the door open revealing the room. The Emperor's throne room was large with glossy marble flooring, tall transparisteel viewports lined the walls looking out over the city with long golden curtains. He walked the stretch from the large doors towards the throne, which sat atop a dias. Sidious looked upon Vader and sat up slightly the closer Vader got.
Vader kneeled before Sidious, waiting for him to say something. He kept his mental shields locked tightly. Sidious remained silent for a moment then began to drum his fingers on the armrest of his throne. "Lord Vader, how was your mission with the Inquisitor?"
"The mission was successful, the Inquisitor had found a force-sensitive child on Tatooine." Vader informed, trying to find the right way to tell Sidious.
"Was it the child of a Jedi?" Sidious inquired, Vader was silent for a moment.
"The child is the offspring of the former Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker." Vader still knelt before him, Sidious was silently glaring at him. A hush washed over the throne room, creating a thick level of tension between the two.
"The offspring of Anakin Skywaler?" Sidious finally said, his voice was venomous and slow. "And you executed the child, correct?" Sidious asked, Vader still was keeping his mental shields locked.
"He is just a boy, he could be a great asset to us, my master." Vader finally replied. With Sidious keeping his mental shields locked, there was no way of detecting what he felt. But from his facial expression, he didn't look pleased.
"Or, he could be a great threat." Sidious stood from his throne, his face was mostly covered in the dark shadow cast by his hooded robe. His yellow eyes glowed through the darkness. "I hope you know that, Lord Vader." Vader stayed silent as Sidious slowly moved towards him. "You should have killed it."
"I believe he could be a benefit to your power, to aid the Empire." Vader replied, he had to make Sidious change his mind. He was not going to kill Luke. Sidious stood right in front of him, his hands gently held together.
"Where is the child?" Sidious asked.
"My residence, my master." A look of disgust formed on Sidious's face.
"You plan on keeping it?" Sidious asked incredulously, "Raise it?" The room fell to a tense chill, Sidious was disgusted by the idea of Vader raising his own child.
"I would like to raise my child."
"You believe you could possibly make a good father?" Sidious almost laughed, it was something Vader feared. How could he possibly raise a child, would he fail miserably? "Sith do not keep pets." Sidious spit.
"I do not wish to abandon my own child, my master." He felt Sidious's cold stare cut into him with disgust, a frown curled his lips. It was silent for a long time, Sidious staring at him intensely.
"You may keep it, but I will tell you when you can train him. I will keep track of his progress." Sidious said finally after the moment of silence.
"Of course, my master." Vader replied.
"I want you to keep your priorities straight, Lord Vader." Sidious placed his wrinkled hand on Vader's shoulder, "I shall always come before your offspring, your loyalty belongs with me."
"Of course, my master," Vader said again, Sidious removed his hand then waved it in the air.
"You are dismissed, Lord Vader." Vader stood once again and bowed to Sidious before he left. He walked down the halls of the Palace clenching his hands in tight fists. The meeting with the Emperor was overall successful but was incredibly aggravating. He wouldn't unlock his mental shields until he left the Palace, but deep inside he was boiling in rage.
He stormed out of the Palace and entered his shuttle, began the ignition sequence and lifted the shuttle in the air. Pure hot rage rolled through him, Sidious was incredibly close to having his son be executed. While he was satisfied with the results of the meeting, the Emperor aggravated him. His son wasn't a pet, not something you could just throw away like the Emperor had wanted him to.
He flew through the city and soon came upon his hangar, he smoothly moved into the hangar and landed. Now that the confrontation with the Emperor was over, he could begin to worry about other things. But right now, all he wanted to do was see Luke. He walked out of the cockpit, down the exit ramp and saw most of the boxes that were stacked in a pile were gone.
P.A's were picking up the last few boxes and moved to the service turbolift to bring them up to his level, Lekauf was not here. He moved towards the turbo lift, his presence brought a hush over the crew unpacking the boxes in the hangar. He entered the turbolift and began to ascend to his level, he reached out with the force and poked at Lukes signature who seemed to be upset.
He instantly wished the lift would move faster, soon the lift doors opened and he quickly walked down the halls and turned into his personal chamber. He saw Lekauf standing over the bassinet Luke was still in, a few boxes were placed around the two. Luke was crying, Vader rushed over.
"What is the matter?!" Vader asked Lekauf, Lekauf looked at him nervously.
"I-I-" He stammered and swallowed hard, "He just started to cry."
"Why!?" Vader demanded, Lekauf took a couple of nervous breaths.
"I-I don't know, he has been fed, changed, I am not sure." Lekauf looked at Luke nervously, "Maybe he just wants to be held?" Held? Do babies just want to be held? Vader reached out with the force again, Luke seemed fine overall, but was distressed.
"What are all these boxes in here?" Vader asked.
"Some boxes contain clothes, blankets, bottles, and toys, my Lord." Lekauf informed him, Vader lifted one of the boxes through the force and held it in his hands. Perhaps he could find something to calm his little one down, he looked through it. There were tightly folded blankets stuffed inside the box. He looked at them, some were striped, polka-dotted, or a plain color. The one that stuck out to him was the blankets with small ducks on it.
He pulled the blanket out, and turned to Lekauf, "Leave us." Lekauf quickly bowed and left the room. He no longer wanted his subordinates to see him holding a child, he still had an image to hold. Once Lekauf had left, he moved over to Luke who was wailing in his bassinet. He placed the blanket on him, he kicked his tiny feet and balled his fists.
Still slightly apprehensive, he gently picked up Luke. It was still quite awkward for him, seeing as he had never held a kid before this. He opened up to the force and stretched out to his son, sending again soothing and comforting feelings to him. Trying to put his son at ease, Luke tugged at the blanket here and there. He paced in front of the bassinet, continuing to send nothing but comfort to his son.
Vader began to think maybe he couldn't even comfort his own son, he was set up to be a terrible father. Perhaps Sidious was right, how could he be possibly a good father? When it all began to seem hopeless, the crying quieted down, Luke now was asleep peacefully in his arms wrapped up in his ducky blanket. He couldn't believe he had done it, he comforted his baby. How he had done this was beyond him, something inside him rose into his chest as he held him. He quickly put Luke back in the bassinet. He looked down at him and knew the meeting with the Emperor was worth it, now that he had his son.
He turned to leave the room, the doors swooshed open and Vader saw Lekauf standing in a doorway looking into a room a little down the hall. Vader walked down, Lekauf looked to see Vader coming and moved aside. Vader looked in, it was quite perplexing. A nursery, he never expected to have one on his personal level in his Palace. He was probably the first Sith in history to have one.
"Have Luke moved into this room, Lieutenant," Vader instructed, Lekauf bowed and moved to grab Luke. Vader walked in the room and stood with his hands behind his back waiting for Lekauf, soon his Lieutenant came back in holding Luke and put Luke in the crib. Lekauf turned back to face Vader.
"I hope this room is up to your standards, my Lord." Lekauf had his hands placed behind his back.
"It is adequate, follow me." Vader left the room, he did not wish to wake his sleeping son. Vader walked to the large sitting room and looked out the large transparisteel viewport at the glowing city. Lieutenant Lekauf stood behind him silently, waiting for him to speak. "I have decided to make you my personal assistant, your post will be here, Lieutenant." He heard Lekauf gasp and felt his shock radiate through the force.
"I-It's an honor, my Lord." His voice was in clear disbelief. Vader had looked into Lieutenant Lekauf's work history while on the Devastator, his work history and climbing through the ranks was impressive.
"I found your skills most valuable." Vader turned to face him, "You shall keep post here for the evening, collect profiles of potential au pairs for my son and bring them to be in the morning."
"Yes, my Lord" Lekauf bowed and pulled out his datapad.
"I shall be in my private chambers, do not disturb me unless it is urgent." Vader turned around quickly and walked back to his private chambers. He opened his meditation pod and moved to sit in it. The pod closed, his mask lifted and he slowly breathed in the oxygen. He unlocked his shields and stretched out with the force, he reached for his sleeping son. He wondered how much more his life could change now he was a father and would be raising his son. Though he was worried he was destined to be a bad father, he would do his best for Luke. So far, a considerable amount has changed, but it was all worth it.
A/N I hope you guys liked the latest chapter! If you want more baby Luke let me know! I really enjoy writing baby Luke, let me know what you thought and thank you again or reading!