Chapter 8AE

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'Droid and Master Bonding PT 2'

['Don't be too proud of this technological terror you've
constructed' - D.V.]

'Bedtime for Jedi & No Rest for the Sith'

'Mother and Child Reunion is Only a Starship Away'

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Things have quieted down since dinner. Anakin finally goes upstairs after spending some time in his den. He is weary from the events of the day and is ready for a goo nights rest. He knows he has to make please with his wife before his head hits the pillow. He takes a long shower to wash away the sins of what he might say that may further alienate him from the bedroom. It seems to have done the trick. He and Isabel engage in a constructive dialogue before going to bed.

"All I ask is for a little peace in my own home. Do I deserve it? Yes, Do I get it? No."

Anakin tosses several decorative pillows and Euro squares onto the floor. Isabel finishes brushing her hair before tying it back with a satin ribbon. She walks over to the bed and assists her husband in removes the pillows while he vents.

"Why is she here? Have I ever intruded on anyone with my problems? And I've got a lot of problems."

"Actually…"

"Don't go there, 'Bel. I had actual crises."

"How about the time you drove to Gladys' house in the middle of the night to persuade her not to retire. That was not a legitimate crisis."

"Alright, I got over that painful moment in my life. I more reasonable now. Other than that, I have never overstayed my welcome at someone else's home."

"How about the time you stopped by to see Obi-Wan and Bunny last season."

"How about you supporting me for a change?"

"That was not a crisis."

"I don't know, 'Bel. Seeing my father in the altogether with his centagenerian mistress was quite traumatic."

"I don't believe she was that old, Anakin."

"Doesn't matter…whatever her age, it would have be just as revolting. You had to have been there to see my old man's wrinkly body sent me back to the psychiatrists' couch. All that progress gone to pot."

"Alright, I'll give you that. I can see where that would send you over the edge."

"Damned skippy."

The family canine droid Skippy walks into the room. He turns in a circle on the mound of pillows in the corner of the room. He looks up at his master. Anakin looks back.

"That's an expression."

Skippy seems to understand and promptly goes into sleep mode. Anakin continues his conversation with his wife.

"I mean, can't she resolve her marital spats in her own home? Why bring it all the way across town to us? Geez!"

"She just needed a place to clear her head. I'm sure she'll have a constructive and calm discussion with Han when she gets home."

Anakin is still removing pillows from the bed as he talks.

"Take us for example. We always resolve our disagreements without a lot of histrionics. You've gotten really good at controlling your temper. What?"

Isabel returns a blank stare. She decides to let his incendiary comment pass. Instead, she keeps the focus on Leia.

"You might want to talk to her. Let her know that you support her."

"She knows I support her. That's why I sent her home."

"That's not support, Anakin."

"Why is it that everything I say is wrong?—and why are their so many 'effing' pillows on the bed?"

"Did you take your medication?"

"Will it make the pillows go away?"

"Don't be a wiseass."

They get into bed and turn out the lights. Their heads barely touch the two remaining pillows when there is a knock on the door. The visitor opens the door and whispers.

"Mom? Dad?"

Anakin speaks without lifting his head or turning on the lights.

"This had better be good. 'S' or 'D'?

"Wha--? " The youngest of the Skywalker brood is confused. His father repeats the question.

"Sick or dying?"

He figures it out. You can almost feel a smile creep across the young boy's face as he figures out his father's secret codes.

"Oh! Neither—or may be partly 'S'…or at least that what Uncle Ben thinks…."

"Get to the point, kid. I swear to god --"

As Anakin starts to get annoyed, Isabel is the more nurturing and reasonable of the parents. She slides into a sitting position in the dark room and waves her young son over to the bed. Kris is aided by the sliver of moonlight peeking through the window on his mother's side of the bed.

"Hop in, sweetie. Let's talk."

Anakin protests.

"No! Can't you kids show some restraint? Can't this wait until morning? Do I creep into your bedroom in the middle of the night with my issues?"

"Yeah?"

"That was a rhetorical question."

"You never made that clear, Dad."

Isabel smiles.

"What is it, sweetie?"

"I think I'm lovesick." He sighs wistfully. Anakin interrupts.

"You're too young to be lovesick. Go to bed."

Uncle Ben said you were lovesick once. You were younger than I was. He said it lasted for a long time."

"Uncle Ben has a big mouth. Can we get some sleep in here now?"

Isabel reaches over and turns on the bedside lamp. Anakin's eyes bug out from the glare. Isabel pats the empty space in the bed she creates between her and Anakin. She has always done this whenever any of the children required a bit of reassurance during the night.

"Come on; let's chat."

Anakin is annoyed.

"Awww, you've got to be kidding me!" He covers his head with his pillow. Kris climbs over his father and then sinks into the spot his mother has made for him. He snuggles up with her for their late night mother and child chat.

"So…tell us what's going on in your young life."

"Us? Oh---" He turns his head to see his father hiding under the pillow. His mother holds her finger to her lips indicating that they should keep their discussion to a whisper. Kris goes into detail in describing his dilemma. "Well, there's this girl, and she's totally cool. She's one of the best air surfers and snowboarders ever…for a girl. She's awesome, Mom."

"Does your young lady friend have a name?"

"Sigi…that's what everyone calls her but it's really Sieglinde."

"Oh, that's a lovely name. I think I remember you telling me that you met a friend on Hoth. That's when Luke gave you a ski trip for your birthday."

"Well…actually we met here on Coruscant during the Intergalactic Youth Convention."

"She must be pretty."

"I guess…but what I truly admire about her is her air surfer skills and her intellect."

Anakin has been eavesdropping. He snorts a laugh from beneath the pillow. Anakin tries to turn it into a cough. Kris ignores him. Isabel listens intently to her son. She gets great joy seeing her child artfully skirt the issue of any romantic feeling between him and his adolescent counterpart.

"I see. Does she know that you 'admire' her athletic abilities?"

"Oh, sure. I showed her how to do a Backside 180 with a triple twist. She said that no one had ever communicated a routine to her so fast. She's a fast learner"

"Ahso."

Anakin chimes in as he pretends to sleep.

"Smooth move, Kris."

"Thanks, Dad."

Isabel gently massages his head as he talks.

"Anyway, she's really popular. Everyone likes her. Palps says she's perfect for me. We have chemistry He says she has a lot of spirit. And she's not bossy like Leia."

Anakin chimes in once more.

"Tell your grandfather to mind his beeswax. He wouldn't know good chemistry if it hit him in the face. What's he doing? Pimping out his grandchild now? That old coot has never had a hot chick in his life."

Isabel strokes Kris' thick blond hair.

"Well, I'm very happy for you, sweetie. We'll have to invite your friend over for dinner sometime."

"Thanks, Mom."

Anakin is no longer hiding his head under the pillow. He wakes his hand.

"Okay, lights out, pal. Some of us have jobs to go to in the morning."

The room is dark again. Anakin speaks to his young son.

"So, is that your news?"

"Yeah, I guess."

"You know, that could have waited till morning."

"But Dad, you don't hang around long enough in the morning for us to have a meaningful talk."

"Are you saying that I haven't been a good father to you? Think again. Move on the outside so I can sleep next to your mother."

"Alright." Kris switches places with his father. Suddenly there is a loud 'thump' on the floor.

"Hey!"

Anakin calls to his son in the dark.

"Did you fall out of bed, son?"

"Yeah! Geez, Dad!"

"Looks like we ran out of room."

"What? You mean I can't stay?"

"No—"

"I thought we were having a father and child moment."

"We did…and that moment has passed. Now it's time to move on."

"Goodnight…Mom."

"Goodnight, sweetheart. We'll have another talk in the morning. Okay?"

"Sure!"

Kris walks around to her side of the bed to kiss his mother 'goodnight.' Anakin calls out to him.

"What about me?"

"Oh, yeah…that moment has passed."

"What?"

"Life isn't about you, Dad."

Kris heads for the door and leaves.

Anakin drops his head onto his pillow. Something bothers him. He feels his wife smiling with a sense of satisfaction.

"It's not nice to gloat, Isabel."

The Dark Lord settles down to sleep. The morning has got to be better than this.