Disclaimer: I don't own these characters or Star Wars.


Luke was asleep. His father tucked him in and placed his little stuffed baby polar bear under his arm. It was a souvenir from a cruise the Skywalkers had taken to northern Canada when the twins were only about two.

Padme had thought it would be very romantic, with her and Anakin snuggled up on deck watching the Northern Lights, a bundled-up toddler in each of their arms. But poor Lukey hadn't adapted well to the cold, and had nearly frozen to death. Padme had taken him down to the ship's doctor, where he's recovered quickly and spent the rest of the cruise huddled in the Skywalkers' cabin with his sister.

Cute little kiddo, Darth thought to himself as he left his son's room.

Next, Darth went downstairs and spooned out a bowl of chocolate ice cream for Leia. He found his daughter crying in her room.

"Leia, honey," her father said to her. "I'm very sorry that I can't be home more often, but you have to understand, I have a very difficult job." He paused and gave a few breaths on his respirator. "Your aunt says that you had a rough day in school today."

Leia nodded, then shook her head. "I don't want to talk about it, Dad," she said stubbornly, accepting the ice cream.

"Leia," Darth said slowly. "I too was once a teenager."

Leia just stared at her father in disbelief.

"I can help you with your problems," Darth continued. "Do you think your mother and I got along one hundred percent of the time?"

"Dad," said Leia flatly. "If you think I'm going to grow up to marry Han Solo, than you are sorely mistaken."

"That's not what I meant, Leia," Darth chuckled, "but while we're at it, I want you staying away from that Solo kid. Word has it that his father is up for CEO at RebelCorp. I can't have you hanging around with him."

Leia didn't know what RebelCorp was, and didn't care. What her father had said had just put a big smile across her face.


The next morning, Darth pretended to drink his coffee as usual. Then he turned on the television in the living room and pretended to watch the Today Show while, in fact, he had absolutely zero interest in it and was actually checking EmpireCorp's stock prices online.

Luke was still running a fever and coughing horribly. Darth gave his son a hug—so much so that Luke's eyes welled up with tears as he wished his father would hug him more often—and wished his daughter good luck in school. Then he left for EmpireCorp.

Leia went off to school and Aunt Beru arrived shortly after.

"'Morning, Luke," Aunt Beru smiled as she walked into her nephew's room. "I brought some board games today. We can play chess."

"I've never played chess, Aunt Beru," Luke replied blankly.

"I know that. I'll teach you to play chess." Aunt Beru opened the game box she'd brought with her and started setting up the chess board. "How was your night last night? Did you sleep well?"

Luke shrugged and gave a couple of raw coughs. "I guess. I dreamt that Dad took his suit off and there was a giant polar bear underneath, and he tried to eat me."

Aunt Beru chuckled. "I have weird dreams when I'm running a fever myself, Luke."

The phone rang.

"Who could that be this early in the morning?" Aunt Beru asked aloud as she answered the phone in Luke's bedroom. Luke tensed up; maybe Dad had had an accident on the way to work. Darth Vader was a bad driver; he easily got road rage and was always threatening to kill somebody.

"Hello…yes, this is Beru Lars…she has?" Aunt Beru was panicking. "Is she all right?" Pause. "Oh, good, I'm glad to hear that…has her father been called?" Another pause. "Oh, he has, has he?" she demanded, sounding annoyed.

From what Luke could pick up, Leia had gotten into some kind of incident at school. Finally, Aunt Beru hung up the phone.

"Luke, honey, I need to go to school and pick up your sister. There's been an issue at school, and she isn't hurt, just shaken. Her guidance counselor thinks it would be best if she were sent home."

Luke's heart was caught in his throat. "Is she—is Leia-"

"She's fine, honey," Aunt Beru smiled. "Now, how about you have some tea while I go and pick up your sister? We can all play Monopoly when I get back."


Leia Skywalker had gone to school that morning with a plan. The first time that Han Solo had harassed her by asking her to the dance, Leia had replied, "Well, Han, I spoke to my father, and he doesn't want me anywhere around you."

Which was 100% true.

Han hadn't taken very well to that news. After Leia had sauntered off, Han had taken it out on his best friend, Chas Bacca. Chas—nicknamed "Chew" because he had so many pieces of gum in his mouth at one time that it was hard to hear him say anything except make grunting noises—had gotten into some sort of fight in the gym before school. Leia hadn't been around, but she had been shaken enough that a couple of her friends had taken her to the guidance office.

The first thing the guidance counselor did was call her father. Darth Vader, although very concerned about Leia, was on his way to a meeting that he couldn't possibly get out of, advised the school to call the kids' aunt.

Beru Lars had just shaken her head in disbelief upon hearing this.

"Your father sends his regards," Beru told her niece as she drove her home. "He was on his way to a very important meeting and couldn't get out of it."

In the front seat of the car, Leia sighed.

"What happened, honey?"

"I told Han I couldn't go to the dance with him because Dad doesn't like him. And that's true, Aunt Beru! I didn't lie!" Leia cried. "He really does hate Han."

Aunt Beru had to smile. "And Han didn't like hearing that news?"

"No. Carrie and Marilou told me that Chew Bacca told Han, 'I told you so, Leia Skywalker hates you,' and Han didn't like that, so he and Chew got into a fight. Chew's nose is broken."

"Hmm."

"Yeah, Aunt Beru." Leia sounded spooked. "I can't go back to school tomorrow. If he beat up Chew Bacca, who's to say he won't-"

"Leia, honey, Han is never going to attack you. He likes you too much. In any case, he might show up to the house tonight with flowers and beg your father for his blessing."

"Very funny, Aunt Beru."

"Well, let's head home. I told your brother we could play a game of Monopoly with him."

Leia raised an eyebrow. "Who's going to be the racecar?"


Up Next: Leia Plots Revenge