Part II

He found the way to his room blocked by his mother, looking down at him from above her folded arms. He waited patiently until she partially moved aside to allow him to enter, but followed in behind him. He flopped down sulkily on his bed.

"I didn't much care for your attitude back there, son," she told him mildly, "Nor the way you spoke back to your father."

Ben huffed.
"He doesn't understand. He never understands!"

"Oh?"
Mara Jade lifted an eyebrow, still gazing down at her son from above.
"Have you ever considered that it might just be you who doesn't understand? You might want to try listening to him for once, before making up your mind that he's the one who's wrong."

Ben glowered angrily at his mother, but remained silent.

"Ben," Mara sighed, dropping her combative posture.
"Dad is only doing what's best for you."

"Like giving me a lecture?"

"Would you learn a better lesson if he whipped you?"
His mother's voice was unnaturally sharp. Ben looked up at her in shock.

Mara kneaded her forehead.
"Ben, Dad wants to make sure you don't repeat your mistake in future. The only way that can happen is if you try to understand where you went wrong."

Ben scowled.
"I was only trying to defend myself against the bullies. Was that a mistake?"

"No. But the way you went about it was wrong."

The young boy's patience was at an end.
"Fine! What should I have done, Mom?"

Mara gave him a wan smile and moved to sit beside him.
"First of all, that's the attitude you should have adopted with your father in the first place. Admit you were wrong, then seek guidance. Ideally? You should have walked away from them. Not drawn yourself into a confrontation."

Ben was incredulous.
"Because that's what the Force says?! How would that have helped anything?!"

"Because you're bigger than that. Better than that. Leave aside the Force. You can't fight violence using violence, Ben. It doesn't work. Take it from me."

He rolled his eyes.
"Geez! Why is everything a lesson with you guys?!"

Mara snorted.
"Because we're Jedi Masters? Sorry, kid. Tough for you you got stuck with us!"

Ben let out a breath.
"So what if I don't want to be a Jedi? You'd really hate me if I didn't?"

Mara's eyebrows shot up.
"Hate you?! What gives you the idea we could ever hate you?"

Her son rested his gaze on the floor.
"Whatever I do, I can't ever seem to make him happy."

Something ached in Mara's heart.
"Don't you ever think that, Ben. You hear me? You don't have to do anything for Dad to love you. He loves you unconditionally. You know what that means?"

It was obvious from his wide eyes that he didn't.

Mara cradled his face gently in one hand looking at him intently.
"It means No Matter What. Always remember that, ok?"

Ben looked away, fidgeting as his face flushed.
"I wish he'd act like a dad more though, sometimes, instead of like a Jedi Master." he said gruffly.

Mara pulled herself up to leave with a sigh, but stopped and turned at the door to face her son.
"Ben, I'll tell you one thing about your father. He values the title of 'Dad' much, much more than the title of 'Jedi Master', believe me!"

THE END