Luke

After an hour, Luke accepted he was well and truly lost. Wherever he had wandered, the guards were sparse and there were very few people around. All of the doors in the hallway were locked, and though he could try and open some with the Force Luke decided against getting into any more trouble than he was already in.

Already, he could hear his father demanding to know why Luke was trying to "run away" again – because everyone trying to run away ran deeper into the palace rather than trying to get out of it.

"Luke? Is that you?"

Whirling, Luke hadn't been paying attention, a figure at the other end of the hall approaching.

"Leia! How did you get in the palace?"

Leia was also alone, dressed extravagantly in a light cream color gown with a barely tinted veil pinned in her hair.

"Technically speaking, we aren't in the palace – we're in the senate offices. The real question is how are you here?"

Sighing, Luke scratched at the floor with the tip of his shoe. "My father and I got into an argument."

"Ah. Yes, I argue with my parents a lot, too. My mom didn't even want me to come for the banquet, you know."

"Let me guess – you slipped into the speeder this time?"

Grinning at him, Leia shrugged. "Maybe."

"Why did you want to come?"

"Obviously to try and meet the new imperial prince – why else would one come to such a boring planet like Coruscant?"

Laughing, Luke nodded. "There really isn't much to do here."

"I was joking – Coruscant is such a fascinating place."

The heavy feeling came over him again. "Yeah, I haven't gotten a chance to see much of it yet. I'm only allowed to go to school and then right back to the palace."

"That must be tough." Leia offered.

"I don't know. It's not so bad. My father and I just...don't see eye to eye on things, I guess."

"Well, it's only been a few weeks. Give it some time – it will get better, you'll see!"

Pausing, Luke searched Leia's face only to find she was completely serious. Bail and Breha must truly have been keeping her in the dark, otherwise she wouldn't be offering such advice.

"Yeah, thanks. So what are you doing wandering around? Shouldn't you be with your guards?"

"Shouldn't you?" Leia shot back. "I told you already, I like to wander off."

"That's not always a great habit."

"Says the imperial prince who also is currently wandering off."

"Touche."

Luke's stomach suddenly growled, Leia's eyes lighting up. "Are you hungry?"

"Obviously." Luke blushed, embarrassed.

"I know the best place to eat – it's not far from here, either. Do you want to go? Please? It's been so long since I've gotten to eat with a friend!"

A friend.

It was amazing how it appeared no matter what lifetime Luke was in, Leia was a constant.

"Why not? If we get caught, though, it was your idea."

"Come on!" Leia, true to form, grabbed his hand and began to drag him through the offices. Apparently she had come here often because she knew exactly where to go, leading them in what Luke felt like was circles until finally coming to an exit. A guard was on the exit, but he simply nodded them past when Leia waved a pass at him.

"The senate offices are a lot more relaxed on security because a lot more people come and go, though right now it's quiet because it's after hours. How did you manage to get past the guards that stop you from entering the main palace?"

Thinking back, Luke did have to past through a heavily guarded entrance, but the guards didn't even spare him a glance. "I don't think anyone has orders to stop me." Luke didn't feel like getting into the nitty-gritty details of the Force with Leia who had probably never heard of it before.

Raising an eyebrow, Leia didn't say anything further, just lead them through the busy pathways until finally they arrived at a restaurant.

A host grinned as they entered. "Your highness. I see you have a friend tonight."

"Hello, Don! I absolutely had to show my friend this wonderful restaurant; do you think you could squeeze us in?"

Grabbing two menus, Don winked. "For you? Anything. Right this way."

The restaurant was crowded, but Don lead them to a quiet corner where a table sat empty.

Sitting down, Leia didn't even read the menu. "My friend and I will take my usual."

Laughing, Don nodded, taking the menus away with him.

"Your usual?"

"The owner of this restaurant used to be on Alderaan, actually. All the meals here are based on Alderaanian cuisine which is why I love this place so much."

"And you never tire of Alderaanian cuisine?" Laughing, Luke sank back into his chair, relaxing for what felt like the first time in weeks.

"Never! Would you?" Leia clapped her hands together happily as the first course was brought out along with cups and a teapot.

It was a warm yellow soup with chunks of something floating in it. Taking a bite, it had the texture of a mushroom.

"Chandrilan tea and Kebroot Stew." Leia explained.

The main course was brought out like they had been expected, Luke barely finishing his stew when another tray was presented.

A large, steaming pie was before him.

"Aldera meat pie. A lot of people like to order Gorak, but the meat pies are much better." Leia was already digging into hers, Luke pleasantly surprised by how delicious this meal was.

Finally, the dessert was brought, Leia's eyes lighting up. "Don, you didn't!"

"Of course we did, your highness. Starblossom ice cream."

"Starblossom?" Luke asked.

"It's a fruit only found on Alderaan – it's hard to bring them over to even Coruscant!"

That was why Luke had never had it before – the Starblossom would have gone extinct with Alderaan. In all his years, Luke had never seen Leia so at peace and so...childlike. How could something as simple as a meal bring such joy?

When they were alone again, Luke considered asking Leia a question, but didn't want to ruin the moment.

"Just ask."

"What?" Startled, Luke glanced up to find Leia staring at him openly.

"You obviously have a question – what is it?"

Leia must have picked it up from their bond as siblings.

"Have your parents ever mentioned a rebellion?"

Frowning, Leia shook her head. "A rebellion?"

Letting out a sigh of relief, Luke shook his head. "It doesn't matter if you haven't heard of it."

This, however, did not appease Leia. Crossing her arms, she looked away. "People are always keeping things from me. What rebellion?"

"Look, if you don't already know, it-"

"It doesn't concern me, right? Yeah, I've heard it before."

"Leia, if you haven't heard of the rebellion, it's probably better than you never do."

Snorting, Leia shook her head. "Why, you think you are protecting me or something?"

"Yes."

That made Leia pause. "Oh." For the first time, Leia seemed to be realizing that not everything in the universe needed to involve her.

"I just...I want you to be happy and Alderaan to thrive."

Dropping it, Leia glanced at the time. "We better get back."

"Yes. Is your mother at the senate office right now?"

"She should be, unless she realized I was gone."

"Can you take me to her?"

"Sure."

The mood was slight altered from Luke's refusal to go into things, but Leia still brought them back after saying goodbye to the host.

A guard was standing outside the door, looking down at him and Leia as they approached.

There was a small part of him wondering what in the absolute kriff was he thinking, considering the Organa's were the only people that could have sent the rebels after him in the first place. But the Force was conflicting with common sense, as it often did – Luke did not feel danger from Breha the night before, nor did he feel any coming to seek her out.

Bail might be another story – it was already obvious that he was not telling his wife the entire story, and it was possible he had sent the rebels without telling her. But then why send Breha to warn him and try and help him escape the palace? There were so many unknowns, especially now that he had shifted the future in a way that made his past potentially obsolete. The only firm ground he had to stand on was the Force now, and the hope it would not lead him astray.

"Hi, Gary!" Leia grinned brightly at the guard.

The guard, however, frowned back. "Your highness, did you sneak away again?"

"Yes, but I didn't go alone. The prince came with me." Leia used her thumb to point to Luke.

Glancing over, the guard sighed. "And where are the prince's guards?"

"Look, Gary, we are twelve now. I hardly think we need guards."

"I disagree, young lady."

Luke, Leia, and Gary turned to see Breha in the doorway, looking very disappointed.

"Mother." Leia crossed her arms. "Don't treat me like a child."

"I'll treat you like a child while you continue to act like one. I told you not to leave the senate offices, but I definitely smell Starblossoms."

Gulping, Leia reached up and adjusted her veil. "Luke had never been to Astor's."

"That isn't a reason to take him without any guards. We will discuss this further later."

"Yes, mother." Leia grumbled.

"And your highness, what brings you here?"

Glancing towards Leia, Luke subtly tried to signal he wanted to speak alone.

"I see. Leia, will you wait here a moment? Come inside, Luke."

Leia looked outraged, but didn't say anything as Luke slipped past her into the office. Entering, there was a calming presence in the air, Luke feeling all his pent up tension dissipating.

"You know, I didn't expect you to come find me the same I day I offered my assistance." Breha smiled at him, sitting down in a very comfortable looking chair.

"Your Majesty." Luke greeted her. "Thank you for meeting me."

"And to what do I owe this honor, your highness?" Breha was teasing him, but Luke did not mind. It reminded him of Leia, Luke suddenly wishing he had her friendship to lean on.

"I just came to see if you'd found Artoo yet."

"Oh? It seems like you a carrying a much bigger question than simply where a little droid is at." Breha gestured towards the clock on the wall, Luke flinching. It was much, much later than he expected.

"I'm surprised they haven't set off alarms by now." Luke admitted.

"Oh, they did. But they know – or should I say, think – you are still inside the palace, so they simply sent out orders to contact Vader if a blonde haired child wearing black with his arm in a cast is seen wandering around lost. How is your arm, by the way?"

Relaxing, Luke sank back into his chair. It would still take them a while to find the camera footage of him sneaking around. "My arm is fine. My father...is much more complicated than I expected."

"Expected? Oh, yes – your memories."

"He wants me to go to school."

Laughing, Breha nodded. "Well, children should be in school. Even Leia goes to school."

"I don't have time to waste on school – I need to be figuring out how to get the rebels the Death Star plans! I need to be figuring out how to save my father, and stop the Emperor!" Luke growled out, rubbing his face and eyes in agitation.

"Luke, calm down. You may have these memories, but it is not your job alone to save the galaxy. You are twelve years old. Go to school, grow up, relax a little. Artoo will be coming to you soon – I needed to find a way to sneak him into the palace protocol. When you receive him, get the plans and Artoo will figure out a way to get you both to us. I don't want you any more involved than necessary."

"Why? Because you think my father will kill me if he finds out?"

Grimacing, Breha shook his head. "No. After seeing the two of your together, I am not afraid of Vader killing you. I'm afraid of him forcing you to become something you should never be."

Sighing deeply, Luke leaned back in his chair, turning to glare up at the ceiling. "You and everyone else – that's all anyone is worried about."

Chuckling, Breha nodded. "It's nice to have a chance to speak without anyone else around – you are rather refreshing."

"Refreshing?"

Breha stood, exiting from behind her desk and going to her window. "You know, I was sixteen years old when I met Bail. He was training to take over being Senator from his father, and I was blinded by love."

"Blinded? I thought you wanted to change the galaxy, too."

"I do now. I did then, too, I suppose, but I did not consider the weight I would carry becoming a Queen and a Senator's wife. It is...strange, when you suddenly have more than your own life to consider. Alderaan has been so peaceful even with the Empire, I'd forgotten the war going on around us in many ways until your sudden appearance. You're even the reason I've recently returned to Coruscant – I've realized there is more at stake here than just my planet."

Luke wondered if Leia had ever heard her mother speak this way. Leia had always spoken so proudly of her parents and their efforts. It was odd that the people who had become legends would have emotions that turned them so...human. "Do you regret marrying him?"

"No, that's not my point." Breha turned towards him with a smile. "Luke, right now, you are enamored with having a father. But being his son is more than about having a family – one day, the Emperor will try and turn you against him, perhaps sooner than all of us think. They will want you to do things you never thought possible, just as I face decisions I never before considered having to make."

Luke recalled his last moments with the Emperor and his father from his past. The words she spoke could not be denied – the Emperor would surely follow the same path as before. Luke was not so foolish as to believe he could change both his father and the Emperor.

"You don't know him like I do."

"Luke, you've known your father less than a month. And if things are going so well, why did you come to seek me out?"

Unable to face the truth of her statement, Luke turned away from her gaze, unable to meet her eye. "Queen Breha, do you know anything about Order 66?"

"Order 66…" Breha wasn't questioning it, rather, she was debating where to start.

"Obi-wan told me to look it up, but I didn't understand why. It just said my father eradicated all of the Jedi, and nothing else."

"I see. That is what happened, except for a few exceptions. Obi-wan managed to escape, and I'm not sure who else."

Pushing further, Luke wasn't sure he wanted to ask this question. "Have you heard the rumor about my father liking...young men?"

Breha paused, frowning. "Young...men?"

"A Captain asked me on my first day here if I was my father's newest toy. Everyone keeps telling me that he was just making stuff up, but maybe you're right…I guess I don't know my father as well as I believed."

"And your past memories didn't give you any answers?"

Luke felt tears entering his eyes as he shook his head. "No, I've never heard that rumor before. But now the rebels are trying to kill me, and my father is angry at me every other moment, and I just don't understand why."

Coming over, Breha knelt down so she was even with Luke, resting her hands gently on Luke's shoulders. "Child, calm yourself. I haven't heard such rumors, so I can speak to their validity or lack there of. This is why I want to get you out of here."

Feeling physically sickened, Luke finally nodded.

"Thank you for listening." Luke muttered, unable to contain his obvious disappointment. A part of him still desperately wanted to believe his father could be changed, but it felt like more of him believed it was impossible.

Pausing, Breha smiled down at him. "My, you remind me of Leia. If you ever need anything, kiddo, you just come back here, alright? I'll make sure even if I'm not on planet that you have a way to reach me or Bail."

Softening, Luke nodded. "Thank you."

"Now, my guard is going to take you back to the main palace and help you find your guards. Don't worry about Artoo – he'll find you."

Stepping out of the office, Leia stood up.

"Come on, Leia, we need to head back as well."

"Bye, Luke."

"Bye, Leia." Luke felt torn, wishing he could have spent more time with Leia but knowing the impossibility of it. It would be far safer if she returned to Alderaan soon, especially if Luke was planning on disappearing as well.

Waving goodbye, Luke followed after the guard, taking much less time to get back to the main palace then it was to get lost outside of it. In an hour, they were entering the main hall, the guards at the doors snapping to attention at the sight of Luke.

"I found this one wandering through the senate offices. I thought I'd do us all a favor and return him where he belongs." The guard winked at Luke after passing him off.

One of the troopers grabbed his radio. "Sir, we've found the Prince. We are returning him to his quarters now."

Perhaps the palace was getting smaller, or Luke just truly did not want to find what was awaiting him at his quarters, but the walk back to his room felt painfully short. Tason had appeared as he entered his father's wing, fretting in the Force.

"Hey, Tason."

Walking a full circle around him, Tason seemed relieved that Luke was fine but miffed about something else.

"Something wrong?" Luke asked, his heart not genuinely curious.

"You…" Tason paused, licking his lips. "Are challenging to guard."

Snorting, Luke nodded. "And my father was any different?"

Tason shook his head. "I didn't guard him."

Rounding the corner, they found Hal pacing in front of the door. As soon as the group emerged, Hal rushed up to them. "Luke! Do you have any idea how worried we all were? I need to put a tracking device in you!"

"Don't you mean on me?" Luke corrected.

But Hal shook his head. "On you can come off – in you stays put."

Laughing, Luke stopped awkwardly when Hal didn't start laughing with him. The man was searching something on his pad, Luke about to ask exactly how serious Hal was when he realized they were already in front of his room. Entering, Luke froze. Six guards were waiting inside, along with a very large, black mass that was watching out the window again, brooding.

"Father." Luke greeted, somewhat used to this by now. Vader brooding usually meant he was overthinking something.

"I see you tried to run away."

"Run away? I went for a walk to cool my head. If I wanted to run away, I'd have had to find an exit." Luke retorted.

"Just because you did not manage to find one does not mean that is not what you were doing!" Vader scolded, whirling around to face him.

Softening, Luke felt the waves of concern through the Force. "I'm sorry. I thought Tason was with me, so I went for a walk. When I realized he wasn't, I was lost."

"Why did you not seek out a guard to help you then? It's been hours!"

"I did! When I found one – the senate offices are mostly empty now!"

"Senate offices? How did you manage to get into the senate offices? Just who were you seeking out in the senate offices?"

"No one! I got lost!"

"You are lying to me, child! Do you think a Sith Lord cannot discern a lie from the truth?"

Huffing, Luke did not know how to twist his words to get this deranged man to listen to him.

"Then don't twist them, child."

It took Luke a second, his hand flying to touch his lips, which had not moved. "Are you listening to my thoughts?!"

"Well, it's hard not to when you are yelling your thoughts so loudly. Now tell me the truth, or I shall rip it from your mind!"

The anger in the air dissipated as soon as he said it, Luke taking a step back in terror. Vader, realizing he had gone too far, simply stood there, the only sound his respirator. The guards, Hal, and Tason were all trying very hard not to be noticed, remaining against the back wall of the room like flies listening in.

"I…" Vader stopped.

Reaching up, Luke's cheeks were tickling, Luke finding water dripping from his eyes. "Um...I went to see Breha Organa. I heard she was on planet; she told me I could ask her for help if I needed it. I thought she could help me send a message to my Aunt and Uncle – but not so I could run away, I just wanted to know how they were doing!"

Technically, none of it was a lie, even if Luke had forgotten to ask about his Aunt and Uncle entirely.

"Why did you not ask me, young one?"

"Because you told me to forget that life, and to forget them! I can't even ask Hal or Tason about it..." Trembling, Luke's voice was breaking now between not having enough air and trying not to break out sobbing.

"Young one…" Kneeling down, Vader held out his hands. "I did not mean to tear you away from them. I was worried that if you contacted them too much while settling in, you'd get too homesick to try adjusting here. If you wish to speak to them, I will arrange it."

"Really?" Coming closer, Luke tentatively took his father's hand.

Squeezing it gently, Vader shocked Luke and pulled him into a hug, one of Vader's hands wrapping around his back and the other carding gently through his hair. "Really. I promise – I'll see if I can arrange a call with them sometime this week, alright? Just promise me that you are going to stop wandering off."

"Okay. I promise." Luke hugged his father back.

"Now, I think it is well past your bedtime, isn't it?" To prove his father's point, Luke yawned. "Off to bed with you. We will discuss this again after school tomorrow."

Nodding, Luke watched as Vader and the guards left the room, Luke's stomach rumbling again. Though he hadn't eaten that long ago, all the walking had made him hungry again. Vader paused in the doorway, glancing back.

"You missed dinner, didn't you?"

Nodding, Luke scratched the back of his neck, not trusting himself to speak.

"Come, child."

Confused, Luke followed after, his father bringing them to a conference room not far from Luke's room. Pulling out a pad, he gestured towards a seat and began to read.

Sinking into the chair, Luke waited in silence, wondering what his father was up to now. Finally, a knock came at the door, a droid entering with a tray.

"Thank you." Luke told the droid, who simply bowed and left.

"You need not thank them, Luke. You are a prince now – you need not thank anyone." Vader pointed out.

Luke, taking a huge bite of the sandwich he'd been brought, swallowed quickly. "But it's polite to thank people."

Vader's helmet tilted, then straightened. "I see. Very well, do as you wish."

"Thank you, Father." Luke continued with his sandwich, feeling his father's amusement through the Force.

Finishing his dinner, Luke watched his father read his reports in silence for several minutes before his father noticed.

"Well, then, off to bed. You're not getting out of school tomorrow."

"I know...I just, I'm sorry about earlier tonight. I didn't mean to yell."

Vader set the pad aside. "Do not fret, young one, I will protect you. Now, off to bed."

Thinking that was as close to an agreement as they would get, Luke smiled and nodded, heading back to his room and to his bed.

The rest of the week was so similar it almost blurred together. School was mostly political nonsense that Luke ignored. The kid – Valos – was suddenly moved away from him after the second day. Luke had a sinking feeling that just because the other kids didn't know to be cautious of him, that was not the same for the parents. Valos's parents must have seen them together yesterday and called the school. After that, most of the kids seemed to avoid him unless he approached them, and even then it was obvious how nervous they were.

Put out as he entered the palace, an all too familiar chirp drew him from his bad mood. Looking up, Luke grinned, seeing a blue and white astromech droid.

"Artoo!"

The droid chirped again, spinning in a circle before rolling up to him. About to reach a hand out to touch the dome, Luke paused. This Artoo wasn't the Artoo from his vision. This one didn't know him; he hadn't helped rescue Leia from the Death Star, or fly with him during his time as a rebel. Artoo hadn't helped him rescue Han from the hutts, or start him on the entire adventure by showing him the SOS message from a Princess.

"Uh...sorry." Luke took a step back away from the droid, who chirped in confusion and rolled closer. "Um...the Organa's sent you, right?"

Chirping again, Artoo agreed.

"Good. We have a lot of work to do. I don't know what system the plans are in, but with my help, you have to find them and get them back, okay?"

"Luke, what are you talking about with that droid?" Hal appeared, his hat in his hands.

"Nothing! I just like him." Luke grinned at Hal.

"I see. Well, your father has something to tell you-"

Eyes lighting up, Luke found his father in the Force and rushed off. "Right! He must have heard from my Aunt and Uncle!"

"Luke, wait-"

But Luke didn't wait. Instead, he followed his father's Force signature to a conference room, skidding to a halt outside the door when he heard his father's booming voice.

"How am I to tell the child that they are dead?! What happened?!"

Dead? Who was dead? Why would his father have to tell him that some people died? Vader was being loud enough that Luke could hear him through the door, Luke certain his father had no idea he was there. Technically, Vader could be speaking about anyone, but Luke couldn't make himself open the door and go in.

In the past, his Aunt and Uncle died because the Death Star plans came to them on accident. Luke would have died as well if he wasn't hunting Artoo down across the planet. But this didn't make any sense – the Death Star plans were no where near Tatooine currently. How could they possibly have died?

"Luke!" Hal had caught up, grabbing Luke by the shoulder. "Wait a second, okay?"

Looking up at Hal with glassy eyes, Luke grabbed his wrist tightly with his good hand. "How did they...how did...how?"

"Tuscan Raiders. Luke, I know what you're thinking, but if you'd been there, you would've died, too-"

"No. If I'd been there...the raiders wouldn't have come."

"Luke, you know that's not true."

"What does it matter? I ran away from home, and never got a chance to say goodbye. Now they are dead, and I won't have a chance to tell them how much they meant to me."

Artoo had followed along as well, and bumped into him gently. Turning to give him a stare, Luke was about to leave when the door opened.

"Luke." Vader stood in the doorway, looking for the first time ever like he was extremely uncertain.

"Father." Shoulders slumped, Luke shoved his good hand in his pocket so they couldn't see his fingers clenching into a fist.

"You overheard." There was nothing in his tone that suggested whether he approved or not; it was simple statement of a fact that they both knew was truth.

"Yes."

"I'm sorry. There was nothing I could do."

"I shouldn't have left them."

"Then you also would be dead."

"If I was still there, Obi-wan would have been. If Obi-wan was there, he would have known they were coming and warned us. He used to do that for all the farmers." In his memory, Luke remembered the agonizing pain he had felt as he watched his home burn in the distance. But before, it had been storm troopers that lit his home ablaze and killed his Aunt and Uncle – now it was apparently Tuscan Raiders.

That seemed like nothing compared to what he was feeling now. His Aunt and Uncle, who gave up everything to take him in and protect him, were now gone because of him. He went off to save the galaxy, and ended up sacrificing his family as pawns. Maybe if he'd thought this through, he could have figured out a way to get them somewhere safer, or a way to convince Obi-wan to stay with them. Instead, he went off on some hair brain plot that cost everyone everything.

Except maybe the Sith, considering he was now in the palm of the Emperor and his father.

"Young one, what happened was not your fault-"

"But it is! I tried to change everything by coming here, and all I did was kill everyone!"

"What are you talking about?" Genuinely confused, Vader was staring down at him like he had grown a second head.

Clapping a hand over his mouth, Luke paled. "Uh...nothing. I didn't mean anything."

"No, you definitely did. What did you try to change?"

Glancing at the guards beside them, Luke shook his head slowly. Perhaps it was time to tell his father the truth – or at least, part of it. "Not in front of anyone."

Nodding slowly, Vader dismissed everyone both in the conference room and out in the hall, bringing the two of them back into the room.

"Now that we are alone, what is it you wish to tell me?"

"I...Obi-wan told me I had a dream, but I think the Force brought me back to the past. I lived a whole life where I eventually learned in my twenties that you were my father, but I remembered everything when I woke up again. I wanted to meet you, but Obi-wan wouldn't help me, so I ran away...and then everyone kept telling me that I was just having nightmares and should forget it."

"What happened before you...woke up again?"

Luke hesitated. "I died."

"You died?"

"The Emperor killed me. Then I woke up back on Tatooine. I was sick for days...Obi-wan I think was convinced it was just a fever dream."

"I...see. Yes, so you have inherited it…" Vader muttered the last part to himself.

"So it is my fault – my Aunt and Uncle died because I left!" Luke hugged himself, slouching down in his chair.

"Do not take that blame upon yourself. We cannot control everything – some things are unknown even to us."

"Even to us? What does that mean?"

Vader paused, glancing down at the twelve year old as if remembering who he was talking to. "Nothing. It was simply a dream – forget what you've seen. It will not come to pass."

It was almost exactly what Obi-wan had told him from before, Luke frowning. There was something about this that seemed to be missing – something they didn't want him to know. But what? It wasn't like he could convince Vader he'd time traveled – Obi-wan was convinced he was one loop short of fruit when he'd explained it before.

"It is vitally important that the Emperor never discovers this – you must tell no one else about your dreams. If you have another, you must come and tell me and only me. Do you understand?"

"But...if they are just dreams, why does that matter?"

"They would upset people, and the Emperor likes being able to upset people. He would use you, and turn people against you." Vader looked at Luke with scrutiny. "Was there anything else to this dream of yours besides learning that I was your father? What did you mean you had lived a whole life?"

Gulping, Luke considered his words carefully. "Before...in my previous life, when I turned eighteen two droids came to our farm. They were carrying plans that the Emperor wanted back..."

It took several hours to explain everything, Vader listening intently the entire time. Whenever his comm went off, he would simply turn it off, giving Luke his full attention. Luke skipped over a couple of important details, like anything about the Death Star and what his father had been doing while the Emperor murdered him, but otherwise he told him everything.

"I see. Luke, thank you for trusting me with this. For now, we must keep this between the two of us, alright?"

Tilting his head back, Luke finally held out his right hand, pinkie finger first.

"What is this?" Vader asked, coming closer to stare down at Luke's hand that was reaching towards him.

Sighing, Luke grabbed Vader's hand and manipulated it so the pinkie was also out. Wrapping it in his own, Luke shook his father's hand. "There. It's a pinkie promise that I won't tell anyone."

Taken aback, Vader let his pinkie be shook several times before he slowly pulled it from Luke's grip. "Yes...a promise."

A tear slipped down Luke's cheek. Apparently, this was the week for crying.

"What is it, child?"

"My Aunt taught me that – a pinkie promise."

Sorrow wrapped around Luke like a cloak, his father trying desperately to understand how he was feeling in that moment. Drifting away into the darkness, Luke did not realize his single tear had turned into desperate sobs, Vader scooping him up into his arms and holding him as tears ran down his uniform.

Unsure how long he remained clutching his father, Luke finally realized that the light had faded from the window, Vader still crouching down to embrace him.

"Um...I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"That you had to see me this way."

"Child, you have nothing to apologize for. Are you hungry?"

Shaking his head, Luke stood up slowly, Vader following suit. "I'd like to go lay down."

"Of course." Vader walked him to the door, only no one was on the other side. Glancing back in confusion, Luke realized that Vader was planning to escort him.

Walking to his quarters in silence, Vader did not come into Luke's room. "Try to order something to eat – the guards will be outside should you need any assistance. I will check on you later."

"Okay...thanks, Father."

"You...are welcome."

The door slid shut, leaving Luke alone in silence and darkness. Going to his bed, Luke grabbed his blanket before going over to the balcony. Pushing open the door, he curled up in a ball outside, pretending the speeders flying by overhead were stars. Even though it was not the off season for Coruscant, Luke was still not used to a planet not warmed by twin suns. The chill cut through to his bones, but Luke couldn't tell if it was because of the climate or the ice pumping from his heart through to the rest of his body.

There was almost zero possibility that Obi-wan would suddenly appear to offer some controversial advice at this point, and Luke did not feel like hearing any other.

Perhaps this was the Force's way of telling him that he couldn't change the future, and that if he tried he'd only speed up the process. Even Vader had seemed skeptical of his story, making him promise not to tell another soul so no one else would realize the Imperial Prince was actually insane.

"I'm sorry...Aunt Beru, Uncle Owen...It's all my fault."

Closing his eyes, Luke lay down on the balcony, ignoring the fact that he was already shivering.