Luke lay on the floor of his cell as Vader returned. As the older man entered the cell Luke sat up and smiled at him. Vader knelt next to his little rebel. The smile evaporated from Luke's face and tears started to run down his cheeks. Vader drew the boy close and rocked him like a parent would rock a baby.

"It's all right, Luke. I won't let you die alone."

Luke brushed tears from his cheeks, "Thank you for coming back. I-I was afraid that you had decided that I wasn't worth your time."

"You are worth it. I don't know what I'll do when you're gone."

Luke didn't ask if Vader would take him in, he felt as though he had already been too much trouble for the Dark Lord. "You'll come with me when they execute me?"

"I will."

"Will you take my body? I don't want to just be left to rot in the dump."

"Of course I will."

"I have something I want to give you before I die. My father gave it to my mother and in her last moments she gave it to me."

"Are you sure you want to give it to me? I did kill your father, after all."

"I'm sure. I don't have anyone else to give it to. You've been like family to me." Luke reached into his tunic and pulled out something on a long cord. "It'll bring you good luck. It's japor."

Vader stared at the snippet that hung from the cord, "You said your father gave this to your mother who gave it to you? Who were your parents?"

Luke frowned slightly as he took the necklace off, "My father's name was Anakin Skywalker. I don't know who my mother was."

Vader scooped him up again, "Luke! My child! Oh, I'm so dense." He stood and spun Luke in a circle, making him laugh.

"What are you doing?" Luke was still laughing as his father stopped spinning him and let his small body fall back against his chest.

"When I was a Jedi my name was Anakin Skywalker. My beloved wife was named Padme. The child who was never born would be exactly your age. We both loved the name Luke. There were so many obvious clues. I had wondered, but I was afraid to ask."

"Are you saying that you're my father?" Luke clung to Vader's neck, afraid to believe it.

"Yes I am. Oh, Luke." Vader stroked his son's hair. "It's time to go home now. Are you ready?"

"Yes! Oh, Dad. Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!" he pressed his face against his father's chest plate, any feeling that he should be mature in any way, shape, or form gone.

"You're safe now, child. You're safe with Daddy." Vader felt tears trickling down his cheeks.

Luke smiled at his father. Vader carried him out of the cell.

An imperial officer trotted up beside them, "Lord Vader, I can take the boy for you, assuming that you are done with him, of course."

"I am taking my boy home. If there are any trackers or the like in him I would like them deactivated."

"Prisoners do not have any devices in them. It is near impossible for them to escape, so it would be a waste."

"I see." Vader brushed past the man and continued to his shuttle.

He set Luke on the co-pilot's seat and took the pilot's seat. Luke curled into a ball and Vader was reminded that the boy was from Tatooine. He unfastened his cape and wrapped it around the boy. Luke mumbled something he didn't make out and was asleep in moments.

"There you are, my son. Sleep well." Vader smiled and took the controls.