Chapter 41 - First Date

"Good work, Galen. Now why don't you go see what Luke and Leia are doing. There's a council meeting in five, and I'm running late for it as it is." Anakin checked his time-piece nervously.

"Okay. Say... Master Anakin, can I show Luke or- or Leia that thing you taught me today?" Galen nervously asked.

The master looked up. "Well..." Anakin remembered how at this age he was always told 'No. No you can't do that outside of official practice. No, you can't show off in front of your friends.' And truth be told, it was dangerous to allow a Padawan to do advanced Force-tricks without a Master present, but Anakin also remembered ignoring said rules numerous times. "I suppose so, as long as you ask your father or another Master to observe."

"Thank you, Master Anakin." Galen smiled and ran down the halls of the center to look for the Twins.

Anakin turned back towards the room the Jedi council had claimed as their meeting room. When he got there he looked around in confusion. Usually the doors were wide open, and most of the council members would be casually strolling in. Obi-Wan would always be waiting impatiently outside, and when Anakin arrived, he'd say something about it being rude to not show up on time. Of-course to Obi-Wan on-time was always ten minutes early, but still. Anakin checked his time-piece again. 'Nope, I'm right on time today.' Anakin said to himself.

Anakin stepped up to open the council room doors, and that's when he heard noise of voices inside.

"This is a good thing, I think we should allow it," said Kirak Infil'a. Numerous voices began to object.

After several seconds a loud bang could be heard from Yoda's stick as he called for attention.

"Thank you, Master Yoda," said Obi-Wan. "We have already agreed to change the code to allow such things. What we have called this emergency session today for is to discuss how exactly to go about including our youngest members in it. The Padawans. They're reaching an age where this is natural."

This made Anakin very confused. 'Emergency Session! If the meeting was starting early, why didn't anyone tell me?'

"May I speak," Kirak requested. "As I was trying to say before, this is a good opportunity. The Youngling could have done this on her own, without saying anything to her parents or her Master, but she didn't. Because of this we have an opportunity, here, to reward her openness with understanding, and to provide guidance as she goes about this stage. This is, indeed, a good thing."

"Mmm-hmm." Yoda hummed. Anakin felt himself nodding in agreement, as well. He didn't know all of what they were discussing, but what kirak was saying sounded logical.

"Well, that may be the case. The trouble is, her father's going to lose it. When An-" Obi-Wan started, but Yoda tapped his stick on the ground to stop him.

"Time for our regular meeting to begin, it is. Enter Skywalker," said Yoda.

Anakin tiptoed into the room. "Greetings, Master. I apologize for my tardiness." The first thing Anakin noticed was that Obi-Wan and some of the other council members wouldn't give him eye contact. "I-uh was unaware of the emergency session."

Others, like Master Yoda, wouldn't look away. "Unnecessary, your apologies are. Told, you were not."

"Yeah, about that?" Anakin said in an inquiring voice.

"To discuss, in part, your younglings, we have come," said Yoda.

"Oh," Anakin took in a deep breath. "What did the twins do now?" He took a seat.

"Nothing yet, they have done. Permission, young Leia has requested."

Anakin sighed in relief. "Well, that isn't so bad. What is she asking for?"

"Out with a young boy, she wants to go. Her first date, this will be. Yes?"

Anakin's eyes opened wide and he stopped breathing altogether for a second...


"Anakin, Anakin." Obi-Wan fanned him from the side as he came back to reality.

"Agree with Kirak, I do." said Yoda.

"No. No! NO!" Anakin got up to object. "Not Leia. Not yet. She's too young. No, no, NO!"

"Take another deep breath, Anakin," Obi-Wan guided him. "She is sixteen now, and we're not throwing her to the Krayt Dragons here. We intend to use this as an opportunity to guide her."

"Okay, so we just need to explain to her what a bad idea this is. She's still a Padawan, for goodness sake." Anakin started to calm down.

"Pot," Kirak coughed, "kettle, black." Anakin glared at him. "All I'm saying is that once upon a time there was another little council that explained how much of a bad idea attachments were to another young padawan. Fast forward several years and we were being introduced to his secret wife and young children."

Anakin looked around for help. Obi-Wan shrugged and Yoda remained silent.

"A lot can happen. A lot will happen, but while she's still a Padawan, we can help her learn what is safe and what to avoid." Kirak continued.

"In agreement with this, I am," Yoda said. "On this date, young Leia will go."

Anakin growled. He intimidated no one.

"Settled this is?" Yoda looked around but no one objected.

Anakin huffed. "Fine, but I wanna meet this boy first. Make sure he knows his place."

Obi-Wan patted Anakin on the shoulder nervously. "It'll be okay," he whispered, while Yoda was steering the discussion onto another topic.


Padme was beginning to prep for dinner that night when Anakin came home from one of his Jedi Council meetings. The way he huffed as he entered the door, she knew he was upset about something. Another two Jedi followed him into their house. Padme put the pot she had just filled with water on the stove to boil and went to find out what had her husband in such a mood. 'He couldn't have heard about Leia's news yet. Could he?'

"Ani, how was your day?" she asked in a casual tone.

"It's Leia. Apparently one of the little rascals has gotten it in his head…" Anakin started, his tone angry.

Obi-Wan placed his hand on Anakin's shoulder and interrupted him in his rant. "Someone's asked Leia on a date. As I understand it, there is a concert in Anchorhead tonight, and they wanted to go listen to the music together."

"Already approved this outing, the council has." Yoda added.

Anakin sighed. "I was outvoted."

Padme laughed at her husband's scowl. "I know. The young gentleman asked my permission earlier today. I'm sure when you find out who she's going out with you'll feel better about this. He's really a good kid."

"Well that's what we're here for. I've sent Leia a message that I want to meet this boy when he picks her up. And they're here to back me up." He pointed to Yoda and Obi-Wan. "We're gonna make sure he knows who to respect around here."

Padme looked up to Obi-Wan anxiously. He reassured her, "I'll keep him from going too far. That's why I'm here." Yoda nodded and led them to sit in the kitchen.


"Oh my!" Leia read a message on her comlink and got up from doing her homework. She left her bedroom and walked down to the lounge to where her brother Luke and Han Solo were playing with a simulator unit that the old clone troopers used to train on. "Oh boy… I'm toast," she announced upon entering the room.

"What's the matter?" Han set down his consol to ask her.

"I could've just told Dad I was going out with friends. Galen is a friend, technically, but no. Somebody had to tell Dad I had a date tonight, and he's gone barvy. Thankfully no one has yet told him who, but he's insisting he wants to…" Leia used her fingers to add quotations to her rant. "'Meet the Mudscuffer.' I can't tell dad I'm going out with his Padawan. It'll stir up a Mynocks' nest!"

"So, don't go out with Galen. Tell him and dad you've changed your mind. Easy-peasy." Luke picked up his controller again, satisfied that he'd solved his sister's dilemma.

"But I do want to go. We're going to the Swelling-Servos Concert tonight, and Galen is like, dreamy hot."

Luke started to make choak sounds, but Han leaned back and offered his own advice. "So, the issue is that you need to present this Galen in a way that is most positive. You need to suggest an alternative first. That way when you bring Galen in, he'll look better by comparison."

Leia rolled her eyes. "That's the best you guys can offer! I'm going to comm my girlfriends and get better advice." Leia left with a huff, and Han and Luke went back to their game.


Leia felt the nervous energy ready to burst out of her. As she approached the kitchen her face felt warm and she hoped she wasn't blushing. 'Act normal. You've got this,' she told herself.

"Come on Anakin. Stop polishing your lightsaber," Obi-Wan ordered.

"I want it to be bright and noticeable, so when I wave it in front of his little Peedunky face..."

"No." Obi-Wan, Padme, and Yoda all uttered at once.

"You'll leave the weapon on your belt unless you want me to confiscate it from you." Obi-Wan's tone was firm and demanding.

Anakin sighed. "Fine. But I'm still spit polishing it. Don't want it to be missed."

'Oh boy!' thought Leia. 'Things are worse than I thought.' Just then Leia noticed her brother and Han coming towards the kitchen.

"Thanks for letting me try the simulator, Han," Luke said.

"No problem, kid. Piloting simulators have never been more fun," Han replied.

"Yeah. What do you want for a snack?" Luke asked.

"Whatever your mom is willing to spare," Han answered.

Leia hopped out of her hiding place and joined the pair of them. She stood next to Han and gave him a determined smile.

Han looked down at her suspiciously. Luke didn't notice a thing and after a second they followed him into the kitchen.

"Mom, do we have any more of those frozen blue cheese pizza strips?" Luke asked with his head already stuck in the freezer looking for his favorite snack.

"No, no snacks. Dinner is almost ready." Padme answered him.

"But mom, they're for Han." Luke tried.

Padme squinted at Luke, giving him one of her motherly, 'I'm not falling for it,' faces.

Leia took it as an opportunity. "Of course, why doesn't Han just stay over for Dinner. Please, Mom, Dad. Can Han join us for dinner?"

"Okay, that sounds like a good idea. Han, I'm making a dewback roast with tubers and greens. If you'd like to stay, why don't you go help Luke set the table," Padme agreed.

"If it's no trouble, I'd like that very much," said Han.

As Leia was trying to slip out with Han and Luke, Padme called her, "Leia, please stay. We'd like to have a word with you." Leia gulped as she turned back around.


Maybe it was from growing up on the streets, as Han had, where he'd gone to bed hungry more often than not, those nights he'd had a bed, that is. Or maybe it was because he'd lived as a single guy with a Wookiee ship-mate for too long, living on Kabatha guts and Won-won, or the fabled Bantha Surprise. Han didn't want to tell Chewy, but he'd figured out the 'surprise,' long ago. It was always the same: Bantha rump. So when miss Leia had suggested he stay for dinner, even though Han was suspicious of her motives, he couldn't refuse the meal.

Luke followed after Han, reorganizing the place settings after Han had laid everything out. Han never really understood why people with means were so bothered by something as mundane as the placement of a fork. Han turned and looked quickly at Luke. The boy had learned all these 'proper manners,' even before he learned how to fly. But then with his Mom's background, it wasn't shocking that's what he'd be taught first. Padme, as Han understood it, was born into a family with much means, like Kaldana Syndicate level means, and for a single family that's saying something.

Her husband Anakin, on the other hand, had a much different backstory. Anakin was a local boy, born a slave, actually. He was then freed and raised with the Jedi. A group who, though they were encouraged not to seek out many luxuries, until recently they enjoyed a very comfortable life in their Coruscant Temple. The Skywalkers were an unusual pair, indeed. Han couldn't imagine the type of woman he'd end up with, if he ever was to settle down, that is, but he doubted he'd ever end up in a relationship as shocking as the one in front of him. Still, if Padme and Anakin could make it work…

Raised voices broke Han out of his daze. There was an argument going on in the kitchen. 'Boy, Leia can sure yell.'

"It's always the same! You don't trust me!" Leia hollered.

Han glanced back at Luke. The kid looked like he wanted to melt.

Leia kept yelling at her parents. Her father was doing a stunning job of keeping his own emotions under control. "I want to meet him." he insisted.

"And I told you, you know him already!" Leia insisted.

"Your father is being very generous, allowing you to go on this date. You owe him the reassurance of telling him exactly who you're going out with," Padme said.

"It is the only way this is going to go down. I suggest you present the young man. We promise we won't bite." Obi-Wan then looked at Anakin and amended, "I won't let him bite."

"Fine, it's Han Solo…" Han's attention was pinged on those words. Leia continued her shoddy confession, "Are you happy for me Daddy?"

Han's eyes opened wide in shock. Luke looked up at him, almost as if he was evaluating if he needed to beat up his friend or try to hide him. Across the room, in the Kitchen, Anakin looked over and glared daggers at him. 'Oh shoot, I'm a dead man. So that's what she had planned. I'm surprised, she's actually following my advice, but does she know she needs to pick a worse example. An example which, next to it, her boyfriend would look stunning, not depleted.'

"Falsehoods, Jedi do not tell." Yoda scolded.

Padme crossed her arms and frowned at her daughter.

"Falsehoods, Leia, are you lying to me?" Anakin looked shocked.

Leia looked like a fish in hot water. She even turned to look at Han and Luke in desperation. Luke stared at her with his mouth slightly dropped open. Han just kinda shrugged at her.

'Tough case. Looks like they're on to you, sweetheart. It's time to fess up with the truth and hope for the best!' Han thought.

Leia turned back to her father and she took in and let out a deep breath. Just then there was a knock at the door.

"I'll go get that. You tell the truth, missy." Padme walked out of the kitchen.

"It's Galen," Her father stared at her like he didn't really believe what he was hearing. "I'm sorry. I just didn't want to create drama, or to have you order him not to see me, because I really do like him."

"Come on in here," Padme said from the foyer. She walked in, followed by another sixteen year old in the casual garb the Jedi had taken to wear in place of their old robes, which could be spotted by anyone who worked for the empire a mile away. The poor kid looked like he'd prefer that kind of audience. Anyone but this group here. And the truth was, Han didn't blame him. Sure, he'd kick the little boy's ass if he tried anything, but Han remembered Anakin's death glare from moments ago,and he could sympathize.

Anakin then surprised everybody by laughing. It started sounding like he found the idea of his daughter and his Padawan dating to be humorous, but as he kept laughing Han thought it started to sound crazy. Judging by the worried looks Padme and Obi-wan threw at Anakin, Han wasn't alone in that impression.

"This is great," Anakin cackled out.

Leia gave him a face, filled with sarcasm, that clearly meant, 'Are you serious!'

"This couldn't be better. I don't need to give veiled threats or scare anyone with my saber technique. The kid already knows I can best him in a fight, and how far I'd go to protect the ones I love." Okay, maybe there was a little bit of a veiled threat in Anakin's voice right there. "Go ahead kids. Have fun!" Anakin picked up his hand to wave at the two 'lovebirds' in the room.

Galen almost touched Leia's shoulder, then he seemed to remember who else was watching, and he flinched back. Instead he held out his hand, to gesture, 'This way.' He then followed Leia as she walked out. Han thought both kids probably held their breaths until they were outside and far from the house. Very, very far.


Hello Everyone,

This is now my longest running fanfic yet! But as long as you guys keep reading it, and I can keep coming up with ideas, I will continue to write it. [Insert subtle bid for reviews/comments here.]

I had a ball writing this chapter, and I hope you love it just as much. As I was considering the ways to have Anakin find out that Leia has a date, in a Jedi council meeting was the most humorous that I could come up with. As I mentioned before, the Jedi have a different way of viewing things. Traditionally, a Jedi parent doesn't have custody of their own Jedi children. A Jedi doesn't have children of their own anyways, but follow me here. All Jedi children are considered the responsibility of the Jedi as a whole. So of course when Yoda finds out his Padawan was asked out on a date, he brings it up to the council to help him make a decision on what to do about it. Consulting her actual parents doesn't occur to him at all.

Now, don't worry about Leia and Galen becoming a thing. I tend to stick to traditional ships. It's only realistic that she'd go out with other boys in her teenage years. And she's too young to go out with a 25 year old anyways.

And Han Solo never did have a father figure, according to canon. So the advice he gives Leia is more along the lines of selling shoddy goods or making a business deal, which Solo is more familiar with. Too bad Leia took him so literally.

In the next chapter I intend to get back to the main story line. There will be a surprise Visitor to Tatooine, and an adventure will result. This next story line may take more than one chapter, but I can't be sure until I start to write it. And the Twins will be Seventeen in the next chapter.