Chapter #8

Ben rushed outside onto the balcony ahead of the others. One glance and his face contorted with fear; there sat Abby about ten meters away with her legs dangling over the side of the roof.

"Hi, Daddy," she waved.

"Abilee!" cried Rachel as she and the rest of the family poured out onto the balcony. "Ben, how are we going to get her down?"

"Don't worry I'll get her," replied Ben, panic evident in his voice. "I just need to think of a way to get up onto the …"

"Ben…" interrupted Luke.

"Not now, Dad, I've got to…"

"Ben!" said Luke, again.

Ben looked into his father's eyes for a moment and then finally seemed to understand.

"It'll be OK, son," reassured Luke gently squeezing his shoulder. "Everyone, just step back a little." Luke dipped into the Force again and quickly found Abby this time. As he gently lifted her from the roof, she began to squeal with delight and clap her hands. Slowly Luke brought her closer to him, safely into his waiting arms and sighed.

Nice work, Grandpa, said Mara.

"Whoa…." said Tiann in total awe, "somebody want to tell me what just happened?

"It was the Force, Laser Brain," said Nirice. "I would've thought with all the reading you do, you'd at least know a little about what a Jedi can do."

"Fighting bad guys is one thing but what I just saw was

empirically impossible," said Tiann shaking his head.

"Not with the Force…" started Nirice.

"That's enough, you two. Let's all just get back to the table and have something to eat. Your mom needs some food and I need to sit down," said Ben taking Abby from Luke, his hands shaking. "And you, Abilee, are grounded till you're thirty-five."

"Sorry, Daddy," said Abby, burying her head into his chest.

"I don't understand how she gets into situations like this," said Rachel, taking a deep breath. "All my children are active, but Abby just seems to go from one crisis to the next."

Luke gave Mara a knowing look but said nothing in reply.

The meal was a rather subdued affair, until it appeared that Caleb could no longer resist temptation and dumped blue milk down Emia's back. Rachel and the children looked exhausted, so Luke understood as Ben said it was time to leave.

"Thank you for everything," smiled Rachel giving Luke and Mara both a hug. "We'll see you tomorrow. Hopefully it will be a less eventful day." She herded the children across the hall to their awaiting beds.

Ben lingered a bit and turned to face his parents. "I'm grateful for what you did with Abby, Dad, but for the rest of the visit I'd appreciate it if you would not use the Force in front of the children."

Mara gasped, her anger flaring. "Ben, your father just rescued your daughter from what could've been a tragedy."

"I know that!" snapped Ben, his face red. "I'm just asking that use of the Force be kept to a minimum. I don't think that is asking too much."

Mara opened her mouth as if to rebuke her son, but Luke jumped in first. "That's fine, Ben. We understand and will respect your wishes. Sleep well, son. We'll see you in the morning."

Ben nodded his head and left the room.

"Are you out of your mind?" inquired Mara as she closed the door.

"It's always a possibility," replied Luke, rubbing his eyes with his hand. "I don't like it either, Mara, but they are his children and he does have the right to make that request. As long as they are not in any danger I will do as he asked."

"I can't believe my own son is telling me what I can and can't do," Mara huffed. "He has kept those children totally in the dark about the Force, you know."

Luke nodded. "I had to practically bite my tongue when Rachel starting talking about Abby."

Mara paused, looking at her husband. "She's Force sensitive isn't she?"

"Dripping in it," chuckled Luke, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

"Are all the children?"

"I don't know… I hadn't planned on finding out. But when Abby pulled her little escapade, I reached out to find her and felt it flowing through her," said Luke.

"Do you think Ben knows?" asked Mara.

"Ben is in such denial, even if he suspects anything he wouldn't admit it," said Luke. "The best thing we can do is just keep this to ourselves and do as he requests." And I'll be keeping Ben's name change to myself, too, at least for now. Mara is riled up enough for one evening, thought Luke.

Mara looked intently at Luke as she casually walked over to face him. "And just what are you trying to keep me from being so riled up about?"

Luke groaned. "There are times I really wish we weren't so connected, my love." Taking her hand he led her over to the sitting area and sat down. "I found out earlier today that Ben changed his surname to Enjeris when he and Rachel married."

He didn't quite know what Mara's reaction would be, but was surprised to see her sitting nonplussed on the couch for a few seconds before any emotion surfaced.

"He changed his name?" she asked softly.

"Yes," answered Luke, equally as soft, stroking her hand gently.

"THAT SON OF A SITH CHANGED HIS NAME?" Exploded Mara, standing up with clenched fists.

Luke thought it a very good thing that his wife was not wearing her lightsaber right now.

"He changed his…how could he do that, Luke? How could he? Has he absolutely lost his mind? He has a lot to answer for and he's going to do so right now." Mara headed toward the door, her anger swelling.

Luke raced to catch her, before she could do anything they might both regret later. "Mara, wait."

"No, Luke. This has been coming for quite a while and it is time for Mr. Enjeris to face his demons. Namely ME!"

Luke put both his hands on Mara's shoulder and gently turned her to face him. "You don't think this is killing me, too? But we have to approach this in a non-confrontational manner."

"Why, Luke?" snapped Mara, folding her arms across her chest.

"Because if we don't, it may be another fifteen years before we see him and his family again," explained Luke.

Mara sighed and allowed her self to be led back to the couch. "Okay, so maybe I won't go over there and rip his head off."

Luke smiled ruefully. "I think that is very prudent of you, my love."

"Well, he just better watch himself, that's all I have to say," muttered Mara, standing and heading toward the bed room. "Stupid poopy head…"

"I couldn't have said it better myself," sighed Luke.