Chapter 20

Aric followed Luke carefully. He wouldn't look at Mara and avoided being next to her. Mara tried to introduce herself, but he backed away nervously and she let him be.

Luke noticed that Mara wasn't the only one Aric shied away from. All the women they passed, he made a point to avoid them as if they were some disease. Luke made a mental note to talk with his father about that later.

Glancing over at Mara, he noticed her face was set in an almost frown: the look she got when she was thinking about something. He smiled slightly and let his hand slide against hers.

Mara looked up.

"Are you okay?" Luke asked.

She pursed her lips and nodded. "Seeing your father was… revealing," she told him. "He's nothing like I expected."

Luke frowned. "What did you expect?"

"A dark lord," Mara replied honestly. "Someone with evil intent and in complete black… I almost expected a red light saber to be drawn."

"That's not him."

Mara nodded. "I know. He's—"She smiled and glanced at him. "He's like you."

Luke blinked in surprise and Mara turned her face away, but he reached over and slid his hand into hers. She squeezed it lightly.

They reached the hallway near the chancellor's office and looked at two very confused guards.

"Hey, did you see anyone?" One of them asked as they approached. "There was this hooded fellow. One moment he was here, the next-"

He frowned. "I don't know what happened to him."

Luke tried to hide his amusement, and Mara rolled her eyes. "We need to pass," she told them. "We must speak with the chancellor."

Immediately both guards stiffened. "And you who are you?"

Luke smiled kindly. "Her son."

"Oh," the first guard shrugged. "Okay. I'll take you to her…" but his companion stopped him.

"How do we know you are her son?"

Mara waved her hand at them. "Because he says he is."

They seemed okay with that as the force ordered them to be, and let the three pass.

Aric looked back as they neared the door.

"They aren't too bright."

"No," Luke agreed. "But they mean well."

"So does Dooku," Mara pointed out.

Luke nodded. "Good point."

He knocked on the door and waited. "Mother? It's Luke. May I come in?"

For a moment, there was no response. Then the door slid open slightly and Padme welcomed them in.

Mara pulled her hand away from Luke's and walked in with a nod towards Padme, but sight of her son holding hands with another Jedi was not lost on the chancellor. She smiled and embraced her son.

"Luke."

"Mother," he said, hugging her back.

The two pulled away from each and Luke laid a hand on Aric.

"You've met Aric."

Aric blinked and looked up at the woman in front of him. He wanted to back up, but he was rooted to his spot. He glanced around quickly and started biting his lip.

"Hello, Aric," Padme said, bending down to look at him. "Did you take my advice."

Aric swallowed and didn't answer her. He blinked his big brown eyes and just stared.

"He was in the ship," Luke explained. "He only came out because I promised to take him to father."

Padme smiled kindly. "Well, then, we can't keep you waiting," she told Aric.

Standing up, Padme walked towards the back of her office. Aric quickly decided the office was huge. It was bigger then the house he had lived in before he had met Master Anakin. He looked around with awe.

Behind a wall, there was a great window, big enough to be a good size swimming pool. In the middle of the glass like wall, stood Anakin with his legs spread apart and his hands behind his back.

Aric nearly jumped of the floor and took off towards him.

"Master Anakin, I found you."

Anakin let a smile grow on his face as he turned to watch Aric bound towards him. "Well, why didn't you tell me we were playing hide-and-go-seek? I would have found a better hiding spot."

His apprentice slid to a halt in front of him. He was beaming from ear to ear. "No, that's okay. This one is good enough."

He glanced back behind him and whispered. "This place is huge!"

"Yes," Anakin agreed, raising an eyebrow. "And you've only seen one building."

Luke laughed and put a hand on his father's shoulder. Padme came and stood by Anakin's right side and Luke stared at them as if they were a picture frame. Never in his life had he dared to hope that he would some day see his mother and father standing before him, side by side.

Tears welled in his eyes and he clapped his father on the shoulder again, at a loss for words.

Anakin seemed to understand and nodded towards his son, saying nothing.

Mara stayed backed away. She felt as if she was intruding on something all too private.

To break the awkwardness, Anakin set his eyes on her and put on a rough smile. "Tell me, Mara Jade. Do you wish to kill Dooku yet?"

Mara felt herself starting to smile. "Yes."

Luke shook his head. "Mara…"

"But perhaps it is merely a test of patience," Mara continued. "And if so, I plan to win."

Luke couldn't help but smile.

Anakin nodded slowly and turned to Padme who was holding onto his arm. "I must go find Dooku before Mace kills him."

"Oh?" Padme put on a smile. "He doesn't have patience?"

"He didn't have it for me," Anakin pointed out. "He won't have it for Dooku."

Padme nodded slowly, not taking her eyes off him. "Okay. I'm going to see Leia, and meet you after the senate meeting."

Her husband nodded and slid out of her hold. "In the council room."

He and Mara headed towards the office door with Aric following closely behind. Luke gave his mother a hug before leaving the office and waved goodbye before calling to Mara to wait up. Anakin gave Padme a long look before heading out the door.

"Ani."

He looked back. "Padme."

"Be careful."

Anakin smiled a sad smile and looked at her lovingly. "Just take care of yourself Padme. Then I'll be fine." He turned and was gone.