A/N: Here's the next chapter… enjoy!

Chapter Fourteen: Family first

Despite the heat of the planet Mustafar, and intensity of the duel he was engaged, Anakin felt a strange calm fall over him. Someplace, far away, something wonderful had happened. The baby had been born, happy and healthy. Anakin knew it. It was the same kind of wonderful feeling he had when Luke and Leia had been born.

Ahsoka's lightsaber brought him back into reality as it flew by his head, just barely missing him. Anakin had to finish this if he ever wanted to get back to his new, entirely whole family. They all needed him to come back alive, and most definitely still in emerged in the Light side of the Force.

Anakin struck back with his blue blade with more power than he had come up with the whole fight. The truth was Anakin wasn't fighting to the fullest of his ability. He didn't want to hurt, and possibly kill Ahsoka. She had been his apprentice. It was Anakin's fault she fall to the dark side; he didn't want her physical death on his hands too.

Ahsoka hesitated for only second before charging back at him. She had been fighting beyond her ability, or least beyond what Anakin thought her ability was. It has seemed he had underestimated her.

But that didn't change anything. No matter much Anakin underestimated the team of Ahsoka and the Dark side, that could never change the fact Anakin had years of experience on her. It also couldn't change that Anakin taught her; he knew all of her tricks. Sure, she had new ones, but they weren't enough. He had her cornered. There was no way out for her now that wouldn't result serious injury or death.

Pressed up against the black, hot rock of Mustafar, Ahsoka's eyes darted beyond her former Master, searching for a way out. Anakin advanced on her; he switched off his lightsaber.

"It's over, Ahsoka," Anakin said, "but it's not too late for you."

Ahsoka stared at him with pure hatred. "But it is for you!"

Once more, she charged at him with all her might. Anakin ignited his lightsaber once more, and in even than second sliced directly through Ahsoka's right arm. Only moments later she coiled on the ground in pain, screaming in anguish.

Anakin looked her on, knowing full well the agony of losing a hand. He was sorry he had to do it, but not sorry at the same time. He had to put his family first. Anakin didn't have time to humor Ahsoka with the off chance that she might turn back.

"I hate you!" She screamed.

Anakin nodded. It wasn't exactly news. "I'm sorry it ended this way, Ahsoka. You made the wrong choice."

With that, Anakin turned away from her and headed back to his ship. It was too late for her, at least it was now.

"Finish me, you coward!" She yelled after him, but Anakin didn't turn around. Anakin liked to think if she had asked him to save her, or even showed a sign of remorse, Anakin would have turned back around, but she didn't. So he never looked back.

Perhaps it wasn't because Ahsoka didn't ask. Anakin now had an entirely different feeling. His sick, thirteen year old son was needed him, and this time, family had to come first.

Luke found himself flat on his back and staring up at his former brother's lightsaber. This would be the end for him, and everything had been going so well. Luke closed his eyes tightly, waiting for the death blow. It never came. When Luke opened his bright blue eyes, he saw Gage standing over him just like before, only not like before. Something had changed in Gage's expressions. Luke could tell. Gage was confused. The red lightsaber was no longer held with force and power, but limply by a hand that had suddenly grown weak.

Luke slowly sat up, feeling safe. "What are you waiting for? I thought you wanted to kill me?"

"No," Gage shook his head violently. "I was ordered to kill you. But I… I can't do it, Luke. You're my brother."

"No," said Luke, firmly and confidently. "We're not brothers. We're not even friends, and we won't be seeing each other anymore."

"I know," said Gage, switching off his lightsaber and taking a step backwards. "I'm sorry, Luke."

Luke nodded, "me too."

Gage backed up a couple of more steps, still dumbfounded by his sudden change of heart. Finally, he turned around, but strangely enough didn't walk away. Gage fell to his knees and then face first on the ground with a quiet thud. It only took a couple of seconds for Luke to understand what had happened. Standing over Gage's body was Jack with the lightsaber Gage had Force-thrown only minutes ago.

"NO!" Luke shot to his feet, suddenly energized. "You killed him! Why did you do that?"

Jack looked at Luke with a cold expression. "He's a sith, or should I say was a sith."

Forgetting that he was unarmed and that Jack most definitely was armed, Luke took a run at Jack, who had turned off the lightsaber. Luke didn't care that he was attacking out of rage. All he thought about was hurting the Jedi who had just killed the boy who had been his brother. Light side or dark side, at this moment in Luke's life, he didn't care.

However, before Luke could even lay a hand on Jack, he was swept up by strong arms. That wasn't going to stop him from trying. Luke wriggled, screamed, kicked, and did anything he could to get away from the strong stranger.

"Let me go! He killed him! Let me go!" Luke shouted at the top of his lungs. He didn't care how ridiculous he looked or sounded. All he wanted to do was tear Jack apart.

"Shh, Luke, it's okay," said the stranger, who Luke remotely acknowledged to be Anakin Skywalker, his father. This didn't stop Luke's rage. He kept it up until Anakin was required to drag him inside the Jedi Temple. Anakin managed to make Luke fall into the floor with him, still holding him down due to the fit of rage and emotion Luke was experiencing.

"You got to stop this, Luke. It won't change anything." Anakin whispered, though his words had no effect. Luke's fit continued until Anakin gave in and used Force suggestion to induce sleep. After Luke was out cold, Anakin decided it was up to him to clean up the mess outside. It was going to be a long night, but at least his family was okay.

A/N: I know its short, but there was nothing else to add. Hope to have the final chapter up soon. Thanks for reading and reviewing!

VAD

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Matthew 19:26