Chapter 22AE

'Walking in Single File to Hide Their Numbers'

'She came in Through the Dark Lord's Window'

'The Skywalker Walk of Shame'

The house is quiet. Obi-Wan and Aunt Bunny have gone home. Nakai and Ouisanne take Arnold home in their speeder. Anakin paces the floor of the living room. He can feel Isabel standing in the foyer watching him.

"Don't judge me, Isabel."

"No one is judging you, Anakin."

"Your mother was. I didn't see you defending me."

"Oh please; it's not as if you need me to defend you. Give me a break."

"Why does everyone have to undermine me?"

"Anakin, you cannot humiliate your children at the dinner table and then expect them to obey you. All this drama is unnecessary."

"Thanks for supporting me."

"Stop feeling sorry for yourself." Isabel finds one of Han's leather driving gloves and places it in the granite tray on the foyer table. "It's late, let's call it a night."

"Did you forget that we have a twelve-year old running amok in Coruscant City?"

"No, I did not forget. We need to approach this like responsible parents."

"What are you trying to say?"

"I believe I've made myself clear."

It is now ten o'clock. There is distant chatter going on outside on the terrace. Anakin hears someone running across the stone patio. Whoever it is bumps into the breakfast table. Anakin follows the footsteps in a steady but determined pace.

The sliding door opens. At the same time, someone else is climbing the trellis. It is evident that there are multiple intruders. The trellis is wobbly. A few leaves from the d'ian orchid vine break off and drift from the trellis to the ground. This structure could collapse at any given moment. The trellis suddenly stabilizes. The intruder is about to climb another rung up to a second floor bedroom window. The dark lord speaks to the intruder.

"Going somewhere, young lady? We do have a front door. Only burglars and truants sneak into bedroom windows."

Ana-Lena looks down and stares into her father's eyes. She whispers to herself.

"I can't believe this."

Anakin waits for her to climb down. Luke appears on the patio and stands several feet behind his father. He shrugs and mouths the words 'I'm sorry' to his kid sister. Mara is sitting in their speeder.

"Lu-Lu, hurry up. The food is getting cold. I thought we were going home after this, you promised."

Anakin speaks to Luke as he waits for Ana-Lena.

"You're the best Jedi in the galaxy, Luke and you've reduced yourself to contributing to the delinquency of a minor."

"She's a good kid, Dad."

Ana-Lena barks at them.

"I am not a kid!"

Her father has a difference in opinion.

"I'm paying for your tuition, you're a kid."

Mara calls Luke again.

"Luke! Come on!"

Luke rolls his eyes.

"Alright already!"

"Go to your ball and chain. I'm not through with you but your red menace is going to wake the neighbors."

"Okay, Dad."

Luke backs away and heads to the parking bay to the speeder. Ana-Lena steps to the ground. She scowls at her father. Anakin responds.

"If you think you're grounded, you'd be correct."

"I'm in convent school. I'm already grounded."

"Oh, I have a few more surprises for you, young lady. Get in the house!"

"I feel like a prisoner. You are so mean!"

"You think I'm mean? Pray I don't change your punishment. Start walking."

He follows her through the sliding doors leading to the kitchen.

At the same time this is happening, someone is creeping across the floor in the Dayroom. A sliver of moonlight sheds just enough light for the second intruder to travel across the room. The intruder stops walking halfway across the room. He senses a trap.

A reading lamp clicks on in the far corner next to an upholstered armchair.

"We have a front door you know."

"Uh…uh….Hi..hi, Mom…" Kris tries to act casually but his young voice cracks. "Gee, I'm sure glad it's you."

"You know what time it is don't you?"

"Uhm…yes."

"And you were someplace you weren't allowed to go. Your father was quite clear about that."

"I won't do it again. I promise…just don't tell Dad."

"Oh, I know you won't do it again. We're done. I stood up for you when your father was going to give you a stiffer punishment. You betrayed my trust, Kris."

The sound of footsteps gets close to the room. Anakin walks into the room.

"Ah! Here's the other intruder. You must think we're really dumb."

"I never said mom was dumb."

Anakin thinks for a moment then looks at his child. He notices something tucked under Kris' arm. Anakin flicks the object with his index finger.

"Is this what I think it is? Where did you get the money for this, huh?"

"You'll get mad."

"Oh…I'm beyond mad. Nice board. You had it customized too…sweet."

Kris confesses to everything as if compelled by the force.

"Nana…and Palps!..."

Anakin turns to his wife.

"See? Your mother is trying to sabotage my parenting."

Isabel rolls her eyes.

"Oh, Anakin, please!"

"Well, I'll settle this right now. The board comes with me."

Kris calls out to his father in protest.

"Dad! No! It's mine! I got it with a discount and everything." Kris is almost in tears. Anakin keeps up the pressure.

"Oh, so the old man is a co-conspirator, hey?" This is really a nice board…it's a shame that you won't be using it."

"I was going to meet my friends at the board park. It's not fair."

"Life sucks don't it? Stop the pity party tears. I see you're picking up the old man's habits."

Isabel reaches for the board.

"Anakin, hand it over."

Kris whines.

"But, Mom, if I'm grounded, I won't be able to see my friends."

"Your friends can come over here. I'm holding the board now. Go to bed…all of you!"

Anakin is annoyed that Isabel had stolen his thunder. In order to save face, he echoes her words after seeing Li-An and Alex eavesdropping while trying to sneak upstairs from the laundry room.

"Yeah! Move it!"

Even though Li-An and Alex are technically out of the house, there is still room to fear the wrath of their father. The brothers scramble to be the first up the stairs. Neither wants to get a lecture from the dark lord. They will be blamed for aiding and abetting two minors.

The house is soon quiet. Everyone has gone to bed after an exhausting evening.

Anakin is standing on the terrace outside the master bedroom. Isabel is in her nightgown and robe. She turns down the bed then stops to watch Anakin gazing up at the stars. She wonders what he is thinking.

"Happy?"

"It wasn't such a bad evening. After all, four of our six children are home. Yeah, I'm happy. But you know what? I could have done without the dirty looks across the dinner table. What was that all about?"

"Stop looking up at the sky, you'll give yourself a headache." Isabel drifts off to sleep.