Ah crap. Please forgive me for being like 7 minutes late. I'm reading a great fanfic. "These Aren't the Droids You're Looking For" by Kelaria, check it out.

Chapter 12

Luke sorely regretted answering his Comlink when it rang right at the day's end. "How is your eye?" His father asked from wherever in the galaxy he was.

"Sore," Luke admitted hoping it wouldn't just enrage his father to hate the rebels more (as if that was possible). "Not that I'm not glad to hear from you but I have to get to gymnastics."

"You are not going to gymnastics," his father answered simply, but it didn't stop Luke's heart from falling. He hadn't been to gymnastics in a week, and he was probably not going to hear the last of it for months. "You are to report to your cousin's office in the Senatorial complex immediately. You have an appointment in fifteen minutes."

Luke had really been betting on the Emperor forgetting about the requested lessons; apparently not. "But gymnastics is a requirement for school! I can't just not go!"

It was an excuse and they both knew it. "I am sure your headmaster will be understanding after I explain to him who requested your new lessons. I know you enjoy gymnastics and I am sorry to take this away from you, but that is life. As much joy as it might bring you, abusing the Force's power to win competitions will not help you rule the galaxy some day. Learning from your cousin will."

What could he even say to that? Not only was the teen being reminded, again, of his future, but his father was right. People had been trying to disqualify Luke from competitions for years because the Force gave him an unfair advantage. Still, it felt to Luke like a part of his childhood was coming to an end. He really, really, really enjoyed gymnastics, and certainly would not enjoy politics.

But the Emperor had decided, and no one could just ignore the Emperor because it 'wouldn't be fun.' As much as Luke wanted to take out his frustration on his father he didn't, and just grumbled under his breath as he shut down the connection. He didn't even have time to tell Coach what was up because the Senate building was at least 15 minutes away by foot and Luke was already down to 14 minutes.

Luke could not wait until the next day when he could just fly by himself, especially as he attempted to grab an Air Taxi. Finally the teen gave up figuring the traffic would probably make him later in the end, and so Luke just ran.

He was starting to sweat and aching in pain when he arrived at the senate building. It was probably a pretty terrible impression to make, but at least he was only two minutes late. Now all he had to do was find the office for Naboo's senator…

Luke was a good ten minutes late by the time he found it, and so he didn't even have time to get nervous. He just pushed open the door to the reception area and walked in.

The room was pretty simple with the only adornments being pictures of Naboo. A reception droid sat at a desk, but Senator Naberrie was pacing in the office doorway. She looked up at Luke's entrance, and her eyes grew wide. "Dee-nine-nine, call security if you have to but don't let this one run again." Luke blushed, but Pooja smiled. "It's okay, I'm glad you came I just can't talk to you at the moment. I'm waiting for a representative of Lord Vader…"

"Um, actually, well, that's me," Luke croaked out figuring this was going to be a very, very, very awkward conversation. It would have been bad enough had they not already had an awkward run in on Naboo, but now it was surely going to be unbearable. "I'll explain in your office."

The Senator seemed hesitant to believe him, but seeing as no one in a black cape came to contradict Luke's words, she nodded. Once they were in her office Luke wished he had R2 to check for listening devices, but figured that the Force could probably do the same. Closing his eyes for a second Luke reached out and flipped the switches off. He also double checked that there were no spies in the wall, and was surprised to find there actually was not one. Hmm. Palpatine was actually trusting Luke, how interesting.

"I have to admit I haven't been able to stop thinking about our conversation on Naboo," Pooja finally began, sitting down and offering Luke a drink of water. He could tell from her eyes that she wishes it was something a bit stronger, but she was restraining herself. "I wish to be frank with you Luke and I hope you'll be with me as well. Is my Aunt Padmé your mother?"

It was weird admitting it, admitting it to his cousin, but Luke nodded. "Yes. My parents got married a few days into the Clone Wars and I was born right after the Empire formed. My mother died that day, though I'm not sure of the exact cause."

Pooja nodded, probably having pieced that much together already. "And your father was Anakin Skywalker, the Jedi?" Luke nodded again. "And Lord Vader took you in as a servant? Apprentice?"

Now it was time for Luke to shake his head. "Not exactly… It's. Well, okay I guess. We're family, right? What I'm going to tell you no one else can know. A lot of people have suspected for years, but you're the only one I've ever actually been given permission to tell." Pooja said nothing, but she did not seem scared. "Lord Vader took me in because I am his son."

"But you said…"

"Lord Vader is Anakin Skywalker," Luke interrupted before she got even more confused. "I was not lying when I said Anakin Skywalker was my father. He is, and so is Lord Vader. They're the same person. On the last day of the Republic the Jedi order did betray Palpatine, but my father turned on the Jedi and pledged himself as a Sith to the new Emperor. He was gravely injured by a fellow Jedi, Obi-Wan Kenobi, in a duel over my mother and me. He barely survived, and has had to live in his suit because of his injuries. Kenobi stole me and my mother, and then after she died he took me to live with my Aunt and Uncle on Tatooine- my father's step-brother and his wife. When I was 10 I got caught at a Rebel Rally and arrested. In the end it was the best thing to ever happen to me because I met my father. We'd both thought the other was dead for a decade, but we had both survived. He's been raising me ever sense and training me as a Jedi. Now the Emperor thinks I need to learn more about politics and etiquette, so he wants me to take lessons from you. If you don't want to you don't have to but…"

"But of course I have to," Pooja reassured Luke. "Not because the Emperor said so, but because as you said we are family. But, am I allowed to tell my mother and grandparents about you? They all miss Padmé terribly and if they knew her child survived…"

His father wouldn't like it; Luke knew that. Still, he'd never had much family outside his Aunt and Uncle, and even they weren't blood. If he got to know his mother's family, well it might be like getting to know his mother. "I think that's okay, but just the family. If anyone else asks why you're giving me lessons it's because the Emperor asked you as a fellow citizen of Naboo."

"It's probably for the best anyways," Pooja admitted standing. "If people knew I was related to Vader, even by marriage, well there would be concerns. Not that your father isn't a respected person but…"

But he really wasn't. He was mostly feared. "I understand. Would it, ah, would it be okay if we started in two days? I have plans tomorrow."

"That sounds good to me," Pooja told him actually walking around the desk to give him a tight hug. Luke hadn't had anyone hug him in a long, long time, and even though Pooja wasn't much older than him, Luke imagined it as a hug from his mother… actually it felt a bit like the 'hug' he'd received on Naboo.

When Pooja pulled away Luke realized she was crying. "I'm sorry," she laughed, trying to wipe away the tears. "I just. It's so hard to believe! Ryoo and I always knew about your parents you know; we caught them kissing one day. We never told anyone though, not even when everyone was wondering who the father of her dead child may be… but the child isn't dead and… Well, I am so glad to have a cousin. I cannot wait to tell my mother, and I think you're going to have to meet her soon unless you want her causing a scene. She'll be so happy."

Luke couldn't wait to meet his other aunt, so he smiled and nodded. "I would be glad to meet them. Maybe I can even talk my father into letting me go to Naboo with you…"

"Oh we could take you to Varykino!" Pooja exclaimed, clapping her hands together. "It's our house in the Lake Country. Actually it's your house because it was your mothers but it went back to my mother when she died but… Oh you'll love it there. Ask your father. Even if it has to wait until your school year ends it would be wonderful."

It sounded wonderful, especially because Luke was pretty sure the holos of his parents wedding were taken in Naboo's Lake Country, probably this Varykino. "I'll ask. He owes me and I can probably guilt him into it."

"I find that so hard to imagine," Pooja admitted. "Someone guilt tripping Vader, but there must be a human side to him still. I know Anakin was always very kind, if fierce. I guess he just has an image he must maintain, but he's probably not really like that at all. Is he?"

Luke wished he could say she was right, but it wasn't the truth. Sure his father wasn't all hard edges, but he was certainly dangerous as people assumed. He was really only nice to Luke, and perhaps civil to Rickon and the Admiral. No, he was pretty similar to his public image most of the time. "He has good in him, it's true. He actually had me put flowers on my mother's grave when I was there."

"The leias! My mother was wondering who had known how much she loved them. Oh I wish I could take you with me tonight for the memorial celebrations tomorrow, but…"

"Yeah, I can't." Actually Luke didn't want to. He'd feel like a stranger in mourning for a stranger. Even if it was his mother, Luke didn't really belong. No one was allowed to know she was his mother at all. "But I've heard they were very beautiful."

Pooja nodded in agreement. "Yes, we try to keep them small, but her memory still looms. She was our greatest queen they say, and probably the only thing that kept us safe during the Clone Wars. I always try to be like her in my work, a lot of young senators do."

Luke still found it hard to imagine that he'd come from such a legendary figure, but he liked to picture it. "If you're heading back to Naboo tonight I should let you go. I'll see you in two days then?"

"Yes, I'll be back," Pooja told him, giving him another quick hug. "Maybe my mother will be with me too and you can meet her."

Luke would surely enjoy that more than just a politics lesson, so he nodded. Perhaps this actually could be better than gymnastics.