Chapter Text

From The Embers: In The Middle of The Night  

Both Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker are taken from their last thoughts back before the fall of the Jedi, thanks to whether a certain other stubborn Skywalker either prayed hard enough, or opened a time gate unknowingly somehow, or the Force finally just said no. Obi-Wan will find it strange to find his old friend is still, in fact, his friend. Just with a lot more remorse than he remembers.  

I summoned you, please come to me. Don’t bury thoughts that you really want. Within me lies what you really want. Come, lay me down, ‘cause you know this. In the middle of the night, just call my name, I’m yours to tame. I’m wide awake, all night long ‘til morning comes I’m getting what is mine, you gon’ get yours. These burning flames, these crashing waves wash over me like a hurricane. I’ll captivate, you’re hypnotized. Feel powerful, but it’s me again.  

—Rain Paris (In the Middle of The Night)

1. 

Obi-Wan felt like his whole being was forced through a hyperspace drop without any safety protocols, or physical ship making him gasp out loud as he slightly bent over, confusion hit him second once he realised, quite easily that he was alive, when he knew he wasn’t. His senses around him told him he wasn’t alone. That he was in the Jedi Temple. With Force Sensitives all around him.  

“He’s more machine now, than man.”  

His hand came up to grasp his head, trying not to give in to the pain suddenly pounding in his head, when he suddenly froze when he realised why he wasn’t so alone.  

There was a man next to him, who didn’t keep his pain to himself as he like Obi-Wan, was bent over in pain, a hand on his head, his face pinched in pain.  

Obi-Wan couldn’t help the stare, couldn’t help but recoil away from him. 

Because next to him, was a very alive, very human, Anakin Skywalker. 

./. 

Anakin really was no stranger to pain. 

But this hit him like a speeding spice runner. 

Which really should have hurt as much as his head as it did the rest of him. 

“I will not leave you here! I gotta save you!”  

If his boy hadn’t listened to him at least once in his life… 

Yeah, he could figure that out later, when everything around him was alarming him, telling him he wasn’t where he last remembered being, and that he wasn’t dead. 

Something had happened, he didn’t know what, but from his experience when things got messy? The reason would reveal itself when it felt necessary, annoyingly.  

He could deal with suddenly sensing Obi-Wan next to him later since he should really apologise first. 

But suddenly sensing a familiar Force presence that wasn’t there a second ago, had Anakin looking up, to see how in all of Sith Hell, Luke damn-well Skywalker appear in front of them, dressed in black like he last remembered seeing him, wobbling like his centre of gravity was off by a good mile before he started to collapse backwards.  

“Luke!” Anakin heard his own voice ( how?!) yell out as he was suddenly running. 

By the time he saved Luke from hitting the floor, he was kneeling with the young man that he knew as his son, who was now looking even younger crooked into his arm.  

And he was not waking up!  

“Luke!” He cried out, shaking him. 

“Luke! ” Obi-Wan swore he heard Anakin yell out as the man bolted. 

Obi-Wan froze in panic, then in confusion as everything he could sense about the man who was suddenly catching the boy(?) was firmly in the Light after what looked like the balling of all darkness into his centre then it being expelled with enough force it exploded out of the man, making the Force around them ripple violently back at him. 

He felt himself blinking several times before he shook his head and rounded them quietly, observantly. 

“Luke !” Anakin was saying as he shook the boy Luke now was in his arms in panic. 

Obi-Wan froze again. 

“What did you do!? ” Anakin was asking quietly, and when he received no response, he shook the boy again. “Luke!” He stressed again. 

Anakin was panicking. Not the blind panic, but his son wasn’t waking up, and wasn’t responding! How was he supposed to stay calm?! 

He tried really hard not to flinch, or cover Luke protectively when he felt a presence come nearer, only to look up and see Obi-Wan coming in closer with a frown full of wary confusion. Anakin felt himself breathe in relief when he saw that his old Master wasn’t reaching for his lightsaber just yet. He wouldn’t fight him if he did. 

“Obi-Wan...” Anakin heard himself say in surprise before he mentally shook himself. Luke took precedence. “He’s not waking up!” He panicked. 

Anakin saw curiosity overtake Obi-Wan, a feeling that had gotten both of them in enough trouble in the war, but at seeing it Anakin couldn’t help but sigh in relief again. He would rather see curiosity than adversity. 

“You know who this is?” Obi-Wan was asking. 

Anakin found himself nodding, not seeing that wary look returned to Obi-Wan’s when he looked back to Luke. 

“...I just don’t know how he’s here...?” Anakin breathed in confusion. 

If what he could sense, the bright Lights everywhere, then it was well before Palpatine’s clone order of 66. Before... everything went wrong.   

Obi-Wan kneeled on the other side of them, and Anakin looked at him, pleadingly. 

“He’s not waking up.” Anakin pressed. 

He watched as Obi-Wan looked Luke over. 

“Is he breathing?” He asked. 

Anakin blinked suddenly in a panic; he hadn’t checked! Then teethed his glove off his flesh hand to cup his son’s mouth, exhaling in panic.  

Breath. There was breath. 

He slumped in relief.  

“Anakin?” Obi-Wan was asking curiously when he didn’t respond. 

He looked up and saw the surprise tear across Obi-Wan’s face. 

“He’s breathing…” Anakin told him with a sigh of relief. 

Damn this child. 

“You answered to it...” Obi-Wan said in surprise. 

Anakin looked at him questioningly. 

“That is my name...?” He asked in confusion. 

Obi-Wan shook his head and lent forward for some strange reason and demanded his attention just by staring. 

Anakin felt himself frown. 

“Obi-Wan?” He questioned curiously, curling Luke closer on an instinct he didn’t know he possessed. 

“Blue.” His old Master muttered, in what sounded like awe. 

Oh. 

Ohhhh.  

Yeah, if he remembered, it made sense that Obi-Wan would too. 

Oh, he hoped no one else could. 

But he could figure that out later. Luke demanded his attention, and he shook him gently. 

“Please tell me you actually listened and left when I told you to.” Anakin muttered.  

“Luke?” Obi-Wan asked. 

He looked back up and nodded.  

“I told him to leave, the Death Star—” Anakin paused worriedly when Obi-Wan flinched. “Was going to blow up. He needed to leave. He didn’t need to die as well. Not after everything.” Anakin told him softly. 

Obi-Wan stared at him with a frown. 

Anakin couldn’t face the expression and looked back to Luke. 

“Why won’t you wake up?” He muttered softly. 

He heard Obi-Wan sigh out his confusion, then looked up to see the man shaking his head.  

“Maybe we should take him to the infirmary?” Obi-Wan asked instead. 

Anakin panicked. 

“But they’ll take blood, make a history!” He stressed, only to pause when Obi-Wan chuckled. 

“Then a med bot, one we can memory wipe.” Obi-Wan challenged. 

Oh. 

Yeah, well that would be easier. 

Anakin nodded and gathered the child he knew to be his son and made to stand up. 

“Oh .” Anakin breathed in surprise as he paused. 

Obi-Wan looked worried. “Something wrong?” He asked. 

Anakin shook his head. “He doesn’t weigh much...” He muttered out worriedly. 

Obi-Wan watched him nervously as Anakin settled Luke against him for the first time. 

Huh. He had feelings about this. 

Maybe if they were brought this far back, maybe...maybe they could change it from ever happening? 

/

/ 

Anakin settled Luke on a bed while he noticed that Obi-Wan called for a med bot. 

“What did you do...?” Anakin asked softly again. 

He was almost grateful. Only if it hadn’t harmed Luke in the process. 

“Anakin?” Obi-Wan asked. 

Anakin looked up curiously. “Obi-Wan?” He asked back. 

Before either of them could address the multitude of issues in the room, hell before Anakin could apologise, the summoned med bot arrived. 

By the time the droid left for supplies, Anakin had enough time to think, to get over the panic for his son, even though it was still present in the back of his mind. Was this how parents functioned all the time? It hadn’t been five minutes, and Anakin was already exhausted. 

“Obi-Wan?” He started, catching Obi-Wan’s attention. “I’m sorry. ...For everything.” He said softly. He knew he wasn’t enough. 

But it caused Obi-Wan to blink in surprise. 

Anakin watched as Obi-Wan took his Negotiator stance and tried really hard not to flinch because of it.  

“How did it happen?” Obi-Wan asked curiously. 

He could get his old Master didn’t just mean them coming here.  

“Yeah, I…I died. You can either thank or blame Luke for getting through to me before that happened...” Anakin answered.  

He watched the flicker of a frown criss-cross Obi-Wan’s face.  

“I think I’d rather thank him for getting you back.” Obi-Wan muttered.  

Huh. That was new. Anakin hadn’t spared a thought to think Obi-Wan might be happy about this.  

That took a minute to digest.  

“Anakin?” Obi-Wan pressed. 

He nodded, but then soon went back to frowning. “I don’t…actually remember much. I think you were there, sometimes? How…How old is Luke actually?” Anakin stumbled over.  

Since his son was actually looking more like a child right now. 

Obi-wan sided his head thoughtfully. “The last I spoke to him; he was nearing twenty. He was going after you.” He answered.  

Anakin scrunched his nose up in distaste.  

Twenty years? Just like that. Wasted. 

Anakin blew out a sigh. “It was like being around him, he showed me that I was locked inside a room I didn’t know I was in and didn’t know how to get out of. Being around him, showed me where the door handle was.” He tried to explain, and he looked to Obi-Wan. “…Yeah, that doesn’t make much sense…” He muttered. 

Anakin watched the hand wave Obi-Wan did flippantly.  

“No, in context, it makes sense. He called you back.” Obi-Wan settled on.  

Anakin nodded mutely. 

By fire, more like. 

Both of them jolted upright when the med bot returned. 

“Status?” Obi-Wan was first to order. 

“He seems to be suffering from a heavy dose of lightning discharge. He is in a medical coma. If you will permit me to place a bacta patch?” The med bot questioned, holding up a patch in its hand.  

Anakin skirted backwards to allow the droid space.  

They both watched as the patch was laid on Luke’s forehead, and the child’s body slumped in relief, causing both men to frown, having not sensed that Luke was in pain. 

It hit straight through Anakin painfully.  

“He will wake when he is well.” The droid supplied.  

“Is there anything else you need to do?” Obi-Wan was asking.  

Anakin let the conversation drift as he latched onto Luke’s hand while trying to find his son in his own mind. He tried not to recoil when he felt nothing but darkness from his child. 

How had he just … stood there when his child cried for help…? How had he allowed any of it to happen...? 

He looked up to see Obi-Wan crossing his hand over the droid, and the droid went about erasing all the information gathered on Luke. 

The droid nodded. “Have a pleasant stay. He may leave when he is ready.” The droid said, then walked off.  

Obi-Wan smirked happily.  

Then he looked back at Luke. If he hadn’t seen Luke de-age in front of him…? He wouldn’t have known that he was Luke at all. 

“How old is he now ?” Anakin couldn’t help but wonder. 

Obi-Wan blinked, then looked at Luke, categorising his features.  

“Five, maybe six, more likely four, give or take.” He answered after a minute or so.  

Anakin looked at Obi-Wan with a questioning frown.  

“How…?” He asked.  

“You think I would’ve left him alone?” Obi-Wan suddenly looked scandalised.  

Anakin blinked in surprise. “You watched over him?” He blurted out in surprise. 

It only caused Obi-Wan to burst out laughing.  

“The things I do for you, old friend.” Obi-Wan said merrily.  

It left Anakin swaying metaphorically.  

But, apparently, Obi-Wan thought nothing of his statement, hummed curiously and walked over and picked up a device to access the HoloNet. 

“Obi-Wan?” Anakin asked, watching Obi-Wan’s eyes read whatever information he was looking for. 

Obi-Wan looked up for a second to signal he heard, then was back to reading.  

“We need to know exactly when we are, right?” Obi-Wan questioned.  

Anakin shrugged one shoulder. 

Fair. 

“We seem to be just before the War comes to Coruscant…” Obi-Wan muttered out quietly.  

So, give or take, they were dealing with literal months before the Republic fell. 

“Is that enough time?” Anakin asked. 

Obi-Wan looked at him critically.  

“Time for what?” He almost demanded in question. 

“Enough time to incriminate Palpatine as Sidious?” Anakin added, realising Obi-Wan needed him to elaborate.  

Anakin blinked at the surprised face Obi-Wan pulled.  

“Why is this a surprise to you?” Anakin asked, frowning.  

“Last I checked, you were against the Republic.” Obi-Wan surmised.  

Anakin took a second, before conceding that Obi-Wan was right in that matter.  

While the Republic had its issues, there was way too much innocent blood on the Empire’s hands to say it was any better. 

“One of the lesser evils, we can agree on that, surely,” Anakin asked.  

Obi-Wan blinked, then begrudgingly agreed. 

The Republic failed because it was so weak, to begin with.  

“But surely you agree that things are better with democracy rather than tyranny?” Obi-Wan asked. 

Anakin frowned.  

After twenty years of tyranny? Yeah, he could agree wholeheartedly that it sucked. 

It confused Anakin how easily they came to a middle point, seeing both sides, while actually agreeing on something for once.  

They hadn’t agreed on anything…in a long time. 

Anakin just sighed exhaustedly. 

“This is exhausting.” He muttered. 

Obi-Wan chuckled.  

“Diplomacy often is?” He added cheerfully.  

“Last I remember that was still more your forte than mine.” Anakin grumbled in annoyance. 

At this, Obi-Wan literally burst out laughing merrily.  

Anakin stared at him in amazement.  

“What did I do?” Anakin asked, dumbfounded at how Obi-Wan could be laughing at that moment.  

Obi-Wan’s chuckling waned a little.  

“Oh, I have missed you.” Obi-Wan quipped happily.  

Anakin blinked at him rapidly, dumbfounded at him.  

Obi-Wan noticed.  

“You didn’t think I would?” Obi-Wan asked, his tone full of mirth. 

“Not…really?” Anakin muttered. 

Not after he could remember murdering the man. 

Obi-Wan just chuckled.  

“I found it easier to separate you, and…” Obi-Wan paused and looked indecisive about speaking further.  

Anakin could assume what Obi-Wan meant.  

But now that he thought about it… 

“Same.” Anakin added.  

Not that Anakin was running from all the misdeeds from the past twenty years, that technically didn’t happen, yet, and that he would do everything in his power to make sure never happened.  

From what time he was barely aware of, the misdeeds, that of Vader, and that of the Empire were too vast to say his hands were clean. 

But if they could make sure they never happened?  

Then they would only exist in his nightmares. 

Then he paused at the thought.  

“If we take Palpatine down, do we also take me down?” Anakin asked, siding his head thoughtfully.  

Obi-Wan jolted in confusion.  

“Pardon?” He questioned.  

“We’re incriminating Palpatine for the deeds of the next twenty years, then we should do the same for me.” Anakin added. 

He wouldn’t fight Obi-Wan. Not again. 

Obi-Wan stared at him incredulously, only to shake his head.  

“I’m not incriminating you.” Obi-Wan almost spat out vehemently.  

Anakin paused in confusion.  

“Surely, I am to blame as well?” Anakin questioned.  

He was still staring at him.  

“If I was to pull up your file, your history, right now, I would find no evidence of wrongdoing.” Obi-Wan said.  

Anakin frowned. “Well, sure, but—” He paused when Obi-Wan shook his head.  

“But if I was to dig into Palpatine’s history? Into Sidious’…?” Obi-Wan ventured.  

Anakin blinked.  

Right now?  

Yeah, if they looked in the right places, dug in certain areas where Palpatine was sure no one would look? They would find damning evidence. 

“Oh.” Anakin breathed in surprise. 

Now Obi-Wan was smirking.  

“See.” He urged.  

How in Sith Hell could his old Master see past everything Vader had done…? 

“But how can you…?” Anakin wondered. 

“See that you haven’t done any wrongdoing?” Obi-Wan questioned.  

Anakin nodded numbly, while Obi-Wan’s eyes sparkled.  

“Because you find your past actions to be wrong and wish to correct them. You will act to correct them. I am very sure that Palpatine has not and will not see the error in anything he has done.” Obi-Wan explained.  

Anakin breathed in, what he could only classify as a relief.  

By Obi-Wan’s standards, he was repenting. 

While Palpatine? Even in the end when he threw him into the reactor, had the man ever felt guilty for murdering children. 

Suddenly nothing mattered when he heard childish groaning and looked down to see Luke was coming around.  

“Luke?” He questioned immediately.  

The boy only scrunched his face up painfully, and groaned again, his limbs flinching subconsciously before his eyes popped open in confusion. 

“Where?!” The boy yelped out in confusion a second later.  

“Calm down, you’re okay.” Anakin said soothingly and stalled reaching out when Luke flinched backwards. Yeah, he deserved that.  

Anakin watched as the boy stared at him, then looked around him widely.  

“Where am I?” He asked.  

“Coruscant.” Anakin answered softly.  

The boy’s face lit up in a panic. “The Imperial Centre? How’d I get here?!” He yelped in fright.  

Both Anakin and Obi-Wan stared at each other incomprehensively.  

“No. Republic.” Anakin assured, trying to get his child to calm down.  

Luke’s face scrunched up. “No. Imperial Centre. What rock have you been living under.” The boy almost muttered lowly.  

Neither understood what was going on.  

Luke shook his head. 

“No. I don’t understand. Who are you!?” He questioned heatedly. 

Ice shoved itself into every corner of Anakin’s being. 

Chapter Text

  It doesn’t hurt me. Do you want to know that it doesn’t hurt me? Do you want to hear about the deal that I’m making? You don’t want to hurt me but see how deep the bullet lies. Unaware I’m tearing you asunder. Is there so much hate for the ones we love? You, it’s you and me and we won’t be unhappy. If I only could make a deal with God, I’d get him to swap our places; be running up that road, be running up that hill, be running up that building with no problems. If I only could…  

— Thai McGrath ft. Sam Matlack (Running Up That Hill)

2. 

Luke couldn’t remember falling asleep. 

But whenever that was? Yeah, he remembered why he was in pain.  

So, he must’ve blacked out once he got out of the way of the Death Star blowing up. At least that made sense. 

Everything else? 

Yeah, not so much. 

But under all the diluted pain he could still feel from just about every pore of his body? He swore he could hear someone calling him. 

Maybe Han or Leia had found him? 

Maybe he crash-landed back on Endor. 

Made sense.  

So, he was expecting the green forests of Endor, maybe the inside of his father’s ship that he took without really asking permission, but really couldn’t ask for anymore, since— 

No.  

But what he got was a room, one he had never seen before. One that was neither Rebel nor Empiric in design. 

So, he felt he was well within reason to freak out.  

Luke’s eyes opened in panic.  

What if he was captured somehow?! 

He widely looked around, knowing instinctively that with all the pain he could still feel from the Force Lighting Palpatine shoved into his face that he wouldn’t be able to move without a bucket load of pain if he tried.  

But in looking around he saw he was flanked on either side of the medical(?) bed he so suddenly found himself in. 

“Where?!” Luke burst out, frantic, and searching for his sister mentally.  

He panicked just a little more when he couldn’t sense her. At all . 

Was he drugged!? He just got used to feeling mental bonds! 

“Calm down. You’re okay.” The man on his right said calmingly.  

Not that it was calming to Luke, his unfamiliar tone sounding like a sandstorm ripping through stone back on Tatooine.  

Luke couldn’t muscle the necessary strength to glare at the man before he tried to take in the room.  

He…had no idea where he was. 

“Where am I?” He asked.  

Hopefully, the men, who were probably interrogators for the Empire would at least answer that. Just to make him uneasy. 

It probably didn’t look good, incriminating at best, if they had found him with a stolen vessel, and his father’s dead body in the cargo hold.  

Yeah, that wouldn’t go down great with the crumbling Empire.  

“Coruscant.” The same man answered.  

Oh. Luke was in for it. Interrogation, then death . Awesome. 

Yay! 

“The Imperial Centre? How’d I get here?!” Luke’s voice jumped out of him before he had the conscious thought that it was probably a bad idea to talk. 

He watched worriedly that this caused both men to look at each other.  

Was that confusion he spied on their faces?! 

Why were THEY confused!? 

“No. Republic.” The man assured as if it was supposed to mean something to Luke. 

Like it wasn’t meant to make Luke freak out. 

If it was the man’s end goal? It had the opposite effect because Luke felt himself panic a little more.  

Luke’s face scrunched up. “No. Imperial Centre. What rock have you been living under.” He muttered to himself. 

No one called the Imperial Centre Coruscant anymore. No one who lived another day to say it again, in any case. 

But even Luke knew this conversation had gone on too long for it to be a positive for him. 

Luke shook his head. 

“No. I don’t understand. Who are you!?” He questioned heatedly. 

He watched incredulously as both men looked at each other again.  

“…You don’t know who we are?” The man on the right asked, while the man on the left folded his arms and looked thoughtful.  

Luke looked from one to the other. 

“I have never seen either of you before in my life!” Luke insisted. 

What game were these two playing at?! 

Had he hit his head somehow on the way down to Endor? Likely, now that he thought about it.  

Great. Just what he needed; he was hallucinating he was being interrogated by the Empire! 

“What is the last thing you remember?” Left Man asked curiously.  

Luke knew not to incriminate himself. Even a novice knew that. 

“Landing back on Endor.” Luke said evasively.  

Now both men looked even more confused.  

“Then you should know us.” Right Man urged.  

Luke stared at him.  

“Look. I don’t know you.” Luke insisted.  

The man shook his head, almost despairingly.  

“No! You do!” He insisted, Luke almost recoiled from the amount of pain he could hear in the man’s voice. “You do!” He added, making Luke frown. “Close your eyes!” He insisted.  

Luke scrunched his face up. 

“Yeah. No . Not falling for that.” Luke said, glaring.  

The man blinked. “All I’m asking is that you close your eyes. I won’t harm you.” He insisted.  

Luke shrugged.  

Not as if him closing his eyes closed him off from the Force. If these two tried anything, he would still know before they even tried it.  

“You know me.” He insisted strongly.  

“Fine.” Luke hissed, then closed his eyes.  

“You actually…” The man breathed in awe. “Okay.” He cleared his throat. “Reach me.” He asked.  

Luke held up his hand, only for it to be gently put back down.  

“You know that’s not what I meant.” He called.  

Huh. 

“You know me .” The man insisted, despairingly.  

Did he? 

Luke almost rolled his eyes but reached out with the Force. 

There, there could be no lies. No misleading facts. No false truths. 

So, Luke reached out, the Force greeted him joyously then eagerly insisted, like the man to his right said, that he did indeed know him. 

He knew this man’s spirit. 

He knew this man’s heart . 

Luke knew this man’s Force Signature . 

He knew it for the most joyous five minutes of his life. 

His eyes popped open, and he almost screeched in fright. 

“Father!” He yelled as he sat up in a panic. 

“Luke!” His Father (!) yelled back in panic when Luke felt himself sway. “No! Wait! Don’t move!” He continued to yell as his entire body jerked, and Luke was in awe over the fact that he was caught up in his Father’s force lift, not to harm him, but to keep him from being harmed , before the man himself came rushing in to place his hands(!) to steady him.  

“Easy.” The man muttered worriedly.  

Luke couldn’t help but stare at him in awe while unknowingly letting his father sit him properly.  

With it, Luke became aware of the other man, watching on silently, curiously, almost reverently . 

Luke reached out and realised he knew this man too. 

“Ben!” He called joyously.  

Luke watched as Obi-Wan grinned. “Hello there, young one.” Obi-Wan greeted back happily.  

“ Ben .” Luke heard his father retort questioningly.  

Obi-Wan smirked happily. “Fooled you once.” He answered.  

Luke heard his father groan, then glare.  

With it, Luke paused.  

“Wait, am I dead?” He asked, abhorrent.  

Crap, Leia was going to kill him if he was! He promised her he’d make it back! 

This caused his father to move away to look at him.  

“Why would you say dead?” He questioned, something flashing in his eyes.  

Luke needed to, once more, categorise everything new about his father, looking this way, and not by movement, and by deadly mask movements. 

This man was completely new to Luke, even if his Force Signature wasn’t . It was the only thing about this man that was familiar to him now. 

Luke shrugged self-consciously, embarrassed about maybe being wrong. Or upsetting this version of his father in some way. “Well… the both of you are…” He trailed off, uncertainly.  

Obi-Wan clicked his tongue. 

“Fair. But not what’s going on.” He answered.  

Luke felt himself slump in relief.  

“At least Leia won’t kill me when this is all over…” Luke muttered causing Anakin to snort in humour at hearing him. Obi-Wan glared at him for it, making him shrug apologetically.  

“Then…?” Luke tried to question before something in his mind clicked suddenly.  

Hand? 

He pulled his hand up, with a frown. 

Wrong. 

It was wrong . 

For one, it wasn’t mechanical. And second? It. Was. Small . 

“HOW AM I A CHILD!?” Luke yelled in panic, rearing up again, staring at his hand incomprehensively. 

As soon as Luke rediscovered his hand, Anakin knew he lost reason and panicked.  

The screeching was new for him, even Obi-Wan took a step back in surprise.  

“Luke!” Anakin called loudly over the noise of a panicked child.  

The panicked whimper went straight into his heart like a knife.  

“You’re alright, Son. Calm down.” Anakin tried again.  

Luke just looked down at himself. “How is this…?” He asked. 

Anakin just shrugged.  

“Not sure, maybe a side effect of being here, twenty years before you left.” Anakin surmised. 

He was less hung up about the details and more grateful that Luke was unharmed because of it.  

Luke ran his hands through his hair, trying to look at it.  

“Twenty?!” Luke’s voice burst out of him, high-pitched and child-like. 

Anakin would need to get used to the tone, having not known Luke when his son was a child. 

Obi-Wan was also shrugging.  

“Maybe the Force deemed it necessary for you to be a child, to be unharmed. This hasn’t happened before, Luke.” He told him calmingly.  

Luke just frowned.  

“Then when…?” He asked.  

“A few months, give or take, before the fall of the Republic, before you were born.” Anakin answered.  

Anakin watched as Luke’s face pinched thoughtfully, and then the boy frowned.  

“Can we — ?” Luke started to question before he slammed his mouth shut forcibly.  

Anakin sensed his entire Force Signature bleeding out, so much that Anakin blinked, and sat on his bed.  

“Can we…?” He urged him gently.  

Anakin watched as his son searched his face in confusion, and felt him awkwardly tapping his mind inquisitively, confusingly, and apprehensively.  

He frowned; it was almost like his child was afraid to speak his mind. 

“…Change things…?” Luke ended up muttering, flinching away once the words came out. 

Anakin mentally flinched.  

He could see the damage he himself inflicted on his child, in stark contrast to the man he was always confronted with, who held himself in defiance, with hope, with determination .  

“Luke…” Anakin couldn’t help but call softly.  

Anakin watched as his child met his gaze with a shadow of hope, overcast by apprehension.  

He held in the need to take his child in and smother him to his chest protectively.  

Luke probably wouldn’t appreciate the gesture.  

“We were discussing this just before you woke up.” Obi-Wan answered.  

Luke’s eyes went to him immediately.  

“And…?” He asked heatedly.  

Obi-Wan looked to Anakin. “Well?” He added. 

Anakin glared at him.  

Obi-Wan scoffed.  

“You are the only one who could possibly change things entirely. Seeing as you were here for all of it. I wasn’t!” Obi-Wan growled out.  

“Fine!” Anakin spat out angrily. “Fine! On one condition!” Anakin hissed, holding one finger up at Obi-Wan warningly.  

Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow. “Only one ? Oh, this I have to hear .” He answered, his tone heavy in sarcasm.  

Luke’s giggle came out as childish as the boy he now was.  

“If Mustafar happens again, you will finish what you started!” Anakin demanded.  

Obi-Wan blinked at him dumbfoundedly. “But—” He stuttered.  

Anakin shook his head heatedly. “No buts! I won’t be his puppet again! I refuse! You overpowered me the first time, you can do it again!” He answered defiantly.  

“I can’t…” Obi-Wan protested.  

“You can . I won’t have history repeat.” Anakin answered.  

Obi-Wan slumped. “If I must.” He muttered out exhaustedly. 

“Good!” Anakin praised, Obi-Wan just looked disparaged. “Because I’ve just realised in order to get things to change, we’ll need solid and current evidence connecting Palpatine to Sidious, and to do that, the only person he’ll divulge to is me .” Anakin said.  

Anakin watched as Obi-Wan moaned in despair, while Luke jolted in panic.  

“Father!” He called in fear.  

Something within Anakin snapped at Luke’s panic and it pulled at him, he immediately gathered the child up and pulled him to his chest.  

He heard Luke’s soft exhale of air.  

It sounded both out of surprise and in awe. 

Anakin didn’t know how he didn’t freeze up and die from holding his breath when Luke’s now even tinier arms wrapped around his torso, clinging to his clothes.  

His son was trembling . 

“Can you sense me, Son?” Anakin asked curiously down at the little head digging into his middle, only now just noticing his flesh hand running through very blonde hair. 

Anakin felt more than saw his son nod.  

“How do I feel to you?” He added curiously.  

“Light.” He heard Luke mumble barely. He hated but consented when Luke pulled back, to see the child frowning up at him. “But it’s like your aura—is it called that? —is cloaked in darkness. I don’t think anyone would be able to see under it.” Luke answered. 

While Anakin internally flinched at the reminder that his son wasn’t formally trained as a Jedi, even if he was formidable without it, was fine without it, he had to hope that what Luke described would cover his newfound Light when Palpatine ultimately summoned him in the near future.  

“Obi-Wan?” He asked.  

Anakin watched as his old Master searched him over objectively, then frowned.  

“Luke, pull away for a second,” Obi-Wan asked. 

Anakin almost snorted at the fact Luke pouted at the request, but moved away, to sit by himself. He looked to see Obi-Wan look thoughtful.  

“I can’t see underneath the layer of Darkness that covers you. I only know it’s there because I know what you would be like if it wasn’t there.” Obi-Wan said. 

Anakin felt himself flinch at another reminder.  

Luke looked between them. 

“But that’s good, right? That means Palpatine won’t be able to sense it.” Luke asked.  

Anakin felt his nose scrunch. “But it also means Obi-Wan won’t be able to tell if it goes the same way as before.” He muttered.  

Obi-Wan tutted. “Oh, that’ll be easy to spot. Your demeanour changed rapidly. And you tried to kill me.” He answered brightly.  

Anakin stared at him incredulously. “How can you joke about this?” He asked.  

Obi-Wan shrugged. “Because I can see the vast difference between who that was, and the man currently sitting on a med-bed before me who desperately just wants to hug his son.” Obi-Wan said in mirth. 

Luke, upon hearing this, lit up and literally divebombed his father, having permission to finally do so. 

Anakin was forced to exhale at the amount of force Luke lunged at him with, but he couldn’t help but wrap his arms around the child who was now nuzzling into his middle like Padmé used to do. 

Oh.  

She would be alive . 

“Huh.” The revelation voiced out of him in wonderment.  

“Hmm?” Obi-Wan voiced back.  

“…Will anyone else remember? Snips?” Anakin asked.  

Obi-Wan blinked, and Luke muttered something in sleepy confusion.  

“Did you meet her after the Fall?” Obi-Wan questioned curiously.  

“…I think…so?” Anakin almost muttered. 

Maybe once? Twice? If it was more than that, he wasn’t conscious of it. 

Did he…did he kill her? 

“I won’t leave you!”  

Maybe…he was better not knowing. 

Obi-Wan just sighed. “Then, I’m sure we’ll find out when we see her next. She’ll either smile at you, or she’ll shove something at your head!” Obi-Wan said happily.  

Luke laughed tiredly, causing Anakin to abort glaring at Obi-Wan to look down at his son. 

“Luke? Are you alright?” Anakin asked.  

“‘M tired…” Luke muttered.  

Anakin laughed softly. “You can go to sleep—” He paused feeling Luke’s grip tighten, and watched as the child pulled his head up, suddenly teary-eyed.  

“What if I wake up and I’m back on Endor?! Then this won’t be something that happened! Or I’m just hallucinating, right?! I don’t want to close my eyes! I wanna talk to you more!” Luke implored.  

Anakin’s heart cried out.  

Oh, how he knew the feeling.  

Instead, he just pulled his son up, his mechanical arm going underneath Luke’s knees, his flesh hand against Luke’s back so that their foreheads were against each other. His breath missed a beat when he heard Luke’s awe. 

“Hold on to me.” Anakin insisted.  

Luke blinked in awe. 

“I can?” Luke asked softly in awe.  

Anakin heard the shy I’m allowed ? from underneath everything that Luke couldn’t figure out how to say.  

“You can,” Anakin promised, now able to see how tired the boy was, gently moved his hand up and guided Luke’s head to his shoulder. “I won’t let go, promise.” He added.  

Anakin shivered when Luke’s head finally rested against his shoulder and his breath flowed against his neck. 

“Promise?” Luke asked.  

“Promise.” Anakin answered as he glided his fingers through Luke’s hair again, and felt small fingers rest against his robes, one of which wound its way through the layers underneath his tabards. 

Then Luke’s weight heavied as the boy found sleep. 

“Oh.” Anakin breathed in surprise. 

He wasn’t used to that. 

But it was a good feeling.  

He wanted to get used to it. 

“Is he alright…?” Obi-Wan asked, his tone curious and worried.  

Anakin looked at him. 

Never in his whole life did he ever imagine Obi-Wan taking the news of Luke… well … to say the least. 

But, no, here he was, open, curious, and not at all judgemental.  

“He’s tired.” Anakin summed up. 

Obi-Wan’s eyes sparkled. “You better keep your promise, he’ll never forgive you.” He warned.  

Anakin scoffed.  

Nothing in this godforsaken galaxy would get Anakin to move Luke. 

“But, speaking from experience, you will get severe back pain from holding him up like that, I suggest using the bed if we’re going to stay here.” Obi-Wan suggested.  

“We can’t exactly stay here, and he will draw attention. Where do we go? I’ll certainly cause a riot if any of the Jedi remember the next twenty years.” Anakin was abrupt to bring up. 

Obi-Wan looked thoughtful. “That is true. Hold on.” He wandered off to the side, looked both ways, and then moved just beyond Anakin’s line of sight before his hand came into view and gave a beckoning gesture.  

Anakin followed carefully.  

Into what seemed to be a private med room of sorts. 

Obi-Wan shut the blinds, turned the lamp on, and shoved the ceiling-to-floor curtain on its rail in front of the doorway. “There!” Obi-Wan stated.  

Anakin just looked around apprehensively. “Now…?” He asked.  

Obi-Wan turned around with a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Now you make sure to use the bed, ward off all intruders. And I will scout the Council.” He crowed. 

Anakin just blinked. “…I think I have the better situation.” He muttered, causing Obi-Wan to laugh. “Yeah, yeah, old man, just go.” Anakin scoffed playfully.  

Obi-Wan chuckled, rounded the curtain and was gone with the sound of a door shutting behind him. 

Huh. He could do that. 

Chapter Text

  I told myself I’d never cry another tear and I would bear the weight of the pain and live each day, true to the vow I made. Now I see that I was so afraid. I locked away my whole heart to keep it safe. Hope you still seek the answers I’ve been asking night and day. If I can only find the strength, then maybe you will hear me calling out to you someday. All I have to do is look up, and I will find you before the dawn, it’s shining bright a glowing ray of light.  

— Amanda Lee (Ray of Light)

3. 

The five minutes Anakin could remember after throwing Palpatine over the side, into the Death Star’s reactor, while being as painful as the past twenty years, had been the most joyful and uplifting in a long time. Since Padmé told him she was expecting, probably. 

“Come with me.” Luke had implored . 

Oh, how he had wanted to. How he wished he could wash away the Darkness inside him, a darkness that he realised right then and there, wasn’t his , to begin with.  

He wanted to start again. 

If he could be with his child, from the start ? 

Find a way to repent, to repeal his mistakes? 

He’d take it. 

Anakin looked down at his child still peacefully sleeping on his chest, only now a little easier since he climbed up onto the bed, suddenly moving was awkward with a clinging child.  

Not that Anakin would blame him.  

But in any case, he felt more at ease than he ever could remember, having Luke in his arms, for, technically, the first time ever . Having the child trust him so much that he could fall asleep, fearing doing so in the first place for lost time. Ever since he realised the man he was speaking to was, in fact, his father, his mind had been open, like it had been in those five minutes Anakin begged his child to flee.  

He froze when Luke muttered something, but his grip on his clothes didn’t lessen, in fact, he gripped harder, and he nuzzled into him more. 

It caused Anakin to frown, somewhere in the memories he had of Padmé, she did that when she was cold. 

He brought up his flesh hand to stroke down Luke’s neck. 

The boy shivered, which made Anakin immediately grasp the blanket he had pushed to the side and draped it over him. His arms left the child to tuck the blanket around his tiny body, making sure his legs and feet were covered. 

It was only while Anakin fussed about with the blanket did Luke start to stress, and squirm in his sleep. 

“Father…” He muttered, causing Anakin to freeze in his work. 

It only made Luke cry out and clutch harder. 

“ Father…! ” 

Anakin suddenly blinked in realisation and dropped his fussing of the blanket in a hurry to return his mechanical arm just above Luke’s split knees, and his flesh hand to his back.  

“It’s alright, Son. I’m here.” Anakin told him softly as he hooked his chin over Luke’s head. 

Luke stopped squirming, his emotions that had seeped into fear, suddenly lulled back peacefully.  

He stopped searching for him in his sleep, finally having found what he was looking for. 

Anakin could only blink at the mysterious need his child had for him. 

He doubted he would ever understand why Luke would even want him so, not after all the damage, pain, and death that he’s caused. 

But Anakin had never said he wasn’t selfish. He would take whatever his son was willing to give him. 

/

/ 

It was hard to keep track of time when most of his attention was on monitoring Luke, making sure he was comfortable. But he knew it had to have been some hours before Obi-Wan’s Force presence brushed up against his barrier, where the door was to be let in.  

Anakin let the barrier down, and Obi-Wan thankfully let himself in, he didn’t want to wake Luke up by moving if he didn’t need to. 

As soon as Obi-Wan came around the curtain and the sound of the door closed, Anakin put the barrier back up.  

“So…?” Anakin asked.  

Obi-Wan sighed warily, almost as if he was exhausted.  

“From what I can gather, none on the Council remember. Aside from Yoda. Maybe.” Obi-Wan admitted.  

Anakin flinched, and Luke grumbled at the movement and clutched tighter.  

“Sorry, Luke,” He muttered to the boy, before looking back to Obi-Wan, who was looking thoughtful. “ Maybe ? You don’t know ?” He asked incredulously.  

Obi-Wan shrugged. “It would make sense if he did. But aside from that glint in his eyes, you know the one he gets, the one when he knows more than we do? If he knew, he didn’t speak out about it.” He relayed.  

Anakin lent back against the propped-up pillows in confusion.  

“Wouldn’t he say something if he knew…?” Anakin pressed.  

Hell, he half expected Yoda to trail after Obi-Wan to find him if he knew . 

Obi-Wan just shrugged again. “We’ll both probably have to speak to him. We’ll have to think of a cover story for Luke. We might need his help in that matter. Not only that, but we can’t just say we’ve kidnapped a child. Luke wouldn’t stand for it, nor being separated from you.” Obi-Wan stated.  

“I…wouldn’t stand from him being separated from me, either.” Anakin muttered.  

Anakin was surprised that it caused a chuckle to rise from Obi-Wan. 

“That I never doubted.” He said, full of mirth.  

“So…we need to go talk to Yoda ?” Anakin gripped.  

Obi-Wan again laughed. “Hell come high water!” He laughed.  

Anakin grumbled in annoyance, but relented.  

They both lapsed into silence for a second, not exactly needing to speak, but both deep in thought. 

“Do you think if we subtly tell Snips to remove the clone’s chips, she’ll do it, no questions asked?” Anakin pondered.  

Obi-Wan hummed. “No. She’ll totally ask questions. We both raised her.” Obi-Wan warned.  

“Sith Hell.” Anakin cursed, making Obi-Wan chuckle. 

/

/ 

Obi-Wan briefly left to find food, but he left with a spring in his step and a smile on his face that Anakin hadn’t seen with the man for a long time.  

It was then that Luke started to grumble and wake up. Anakin noticed he clenched his eyes closed before he hid his head away from the world. 

“… Father…?” He called softly, hopefully. 

Anakin couldn’t help but grin, there was the reason. He couldn’t help but run his flesh fingers through Luke’s hair. “I’m here, Son.” He reminded gently.  

At that, Luke was launching upwards, wide awake, and staring at his father.  

“Father!” The boy greeted happily, causing Anakin to chuckle happily.  

“Hello, Luke.” He greeted back. 

Once Luke sat back, he frowned then looked down at the peculiar seat he found himself in and yelped in embarrassment. “I’m sorry!” He yelped, fully intending to jump off his father.  

As soon as Anakin recognised his intent, and felt Luke moving, he used the Force to stop him, Luke yelped in confusion. 

Using the Force was faster than moving to grasp the child at first, which he did next, removing the use of the Force, once his hands were around Luke. 

“It’s alright.” Anakin soothed.  

Luke was jumpier than a damn Loth-Cat. 

“I didn’t—Didn’t ask—Sorry?” Words tumbled out of Luke’s mouth like a torrent of rain. 

One of which Anakin couldn’t keep up with. 

“What’s wrong?” Anakin asked as he sat up properly and placed Luke in his lap. 

Luke stared up at him reverently, almost in awe, before it was washed away from his face in a sea of red.  

“I didn’t ask permission. I fell asleep, on you.” Luke admitted, looking away as if expecting retribution from him.  

As Vader, hell, this would never have happened. 

But as Anakin? Luke would receive no punishment from him.  

But from past experience? Yeah, he could gather why Luke was jumpy about such things.  

They didn’t have this type of bond. As much as they should have had.  

Anakin watched as Luke looked back up at him, fear sliding into his face when Anakin didn’t reply. 

“Sorry!” Luke squeaked in panic as he ducked his head. 

Anakin scrunched his nose up, and before he realised what he was doing, he snatched Luke up and hugged the boy to him again, pulling Luke under his chin. 

“It’s alright, Luke. I’m not mad. Feel me if you need to.” Anakin urged softly.  

Luke whimpered , and it went to his heart painfully.  

Anakin felt the novice prodding from Luke. He didn’t know how to do it properly, so he mentally helped guide him to his emotions. 

What he felt there made Luke sink against him in relief.  

“You’re not mad…” Luke whispered in awe.  

Anakin just chuckled and shook his head, laughed when he felt Luke tug on his emotions experimentally.  

“Yes, that is me !” Anakin answered, prodding him back playfully.  

Luke downright squealed in joy, even more so when Anakin got up off the bed, taking him with him.  

Obi-Wan curved around the curtain with a deep smile, and a tray carrying food. 

“I could hear you laughing from down the corridor…” Obi-Wan said brightly.  

Anakin frowned.  

“I’m sorry?” Anakin wasn’t sure if he needed to apologise, but found himself saying it anyway. 

It was always best to apologise when he didn’t understand Obi-Wan. 

Obi-Wan just shook his head as if he didn’t think it was in error. 

“Ben!” Luke greeted happily.  

Obi-Wan placed the tray down on the nearby table, only to come over to ruffle Luke’s hair. 

Anakin looked on in awe. 

“How are you, Luke?” Obi-Wan greeted back, just as brightly.  

Luke grinned. “I’m good! I fell asleep, though.” Luke reprimanded himself.  

Anakin snorted at his tone, while Obi-Wan simply shrugged.  

“You did just manage to time travel, so that must have been tiring.” Obi-Wan told him. 

“But you guys didn’t need to sleep.” Luke pouted childishly. 

Obi-Wan laughed , surprising both Skywalkers.  

“You physically travelled here, we did not.” Obi-Wan explained. 

“Oh…” Luke muttered.  

Suddenly it made sense. 

“So, how are we smuggling Luke up several hallways, and elevators, without him being seen by a load of Jedi who on seeing me may or may not want to murder me?” Anakin asked curiously.  

Luke sided his head.  

“Oh,” He muttered, causing both of them to look at him. “That’s what it is. The moving Lights.” He said in awe, as if he just realised that he was sensing Force-Sensitive people. 

Obi-Wan nodded. “Yes, those are Jedi.” He answered.  

Luke then frowned and looked at the wall. “And that way?” He asked, pointing to it. 

Both Obi-Wan and Anakin looked and frowned.  

“The wall…?” Anakin asked apprehensively. 

Luke giggled.  

“No! Beyond the wall? I’ve never been to the Imperial Centre before, what building are we in?” Luke asked.  

Luke patted his father’s shoulder when he felt the man flinch.  

“We’re in Coruscant’s Jedi Temple.” Obi-Wan explained. 

“Jedi have temples?” Luke asked curiously. Luke frowned when both of them frowned. “Sorry?” He muttered in confusion. 

Anakin shook his head, while Obi-Wan ruffled his hair again. 

“You have nothing to apologise for!” Obi-Wan warned softly. 

It caused Luke to giggle.  

“But yes, the Jedi have Temples, so do Sith. The reason why you don’t know about them is that the Empire destroyed the majority, if not all, of them.” Anakin explained.  

Realisation dawned over Luke’s face. 

Obi-Wan looked at the wall again. “What do you see that way?” He asked curiously.  

Luke looked again, then so suddenly recoiled into Anakin that he hid his head. “Bad flame. Emperor.” Luke muttered into Anakin’s neck. 

Both looked at each other alarmed.  

“The Senate would be that way…” Obi-Wan muttered.  

“Did he sense you?” Anakin was asking in a rush.  

Luke shrugged. “Does it work both ways?” He asked. 

A worried moan left Anakin’s throat at how untrained Luke was. 

“Yes.” He urged.  

Luke lent back to look up at Anakin. “Oh. Well, I’d assume he’d know if he felt me sense him. He … wouldn’t like that.” He surmised.  

Anakin sided his head. “Do you know how open you are to me?” He questioned. Luke nodded. “Can you close it—?” Anakin paused as he watched Luke’s face turn incredulous.  

“No!” Luke demanded as he curled his fingers into his clothing again. 

Anakin blinked in surprise at the reaction.  

“He doesn’t mean to him , Luke. He means to everyone else.” Obi-Wan interjected softly.  

“You as well?” Luke muttered.  

“Just him , Luke.” Obi-Wan replied.  

Luke grinned, and closed his eyes for a few moments, before looking back to Anakin. “Done!” He said cheerfully.  

Anakin couldn’t help but cuddle Luke close at that.  

Luke yelped in joy again and clung tighter. 

“But, as I was saying, how are we smuggling Luke upstairs? I’m not in the habit of smuggling children.” Anakin reiterated, looking at Obi-Wan, not at all minding his child’s curious fingers tugging at his hair in awe.  

Anakin suddenly was wary of the mischievous look Obi-Wan had in his eye. 

“Oh, that’s easy.” Obi-Wan started cheerfully, then looked to Luke. “I did this with Leia, but you’ll need to walk, can you do that?” He asked. 

Anakin frowned in confusion.  

“Did what with Leia?” He asked.  

Luke grinned. “Sure! Father! Lemme down!” He asked, smacking his hand against Anakin’s shoulder to make him hurry up. 

Anakin put him down in confusion.  

“When did you smuggle Leia ?” Anakin asked in confusion. 

Luke just giggled and swayed, but readied himself by catching Anakin’s robe before Anakin could swoop in and help. 

Anakin watched in confusion when Obi-Wan looked at Luke critically, eyeing how Luke just barely reached Anakin’s knees in height. 

“Oh, it’s gonna be even easier.” Obi-Wan crowed happily.  

“What is?!” Anakin burst out in confusion. 

Obi-Wan looked at him, gleefully, then back to Luke, ignoring him entirely.  

Anakin huffed at being ignored, but let it slide.  

“Okay, Luke?” Obi-Wan called, and Luke looked up to him.  

Anakin watched, with a glance to him for approval, which he gave him, even if he was confused about what was going on. With his permission, Obi-Wan took Luke’s hand and moved Luke to Anakin’s side, then covered the child with his robe. 

All at once, Luke disappeared from view, until the boy laughed and poked his head out.  

Anakin feared the boy was too small for anything. Or that he would accidentally step on him. 

“Okay, so hold onto your father’s leg, and make sure you stay covered!” Obi-Wan ordered.  

Luke giggled. “Okay!” He said, then disappeared from view.  

If Anakin couldn’t sense his Force Signature and feel his fingers curl into the material of his pants, he wouldn’t know he was there.  

“When did this happen with Leia? Why is it easier now?” Anakin asked again. 

“Well, Leia was ten at the time, she was taller, but if I can get her past at least three Inquisitors, you , and a majority of the Empire’s forces? This is going to be way easier.” Obi-Wan started, merrily.  

“What!” Anakin heard himself bark. 

Obi-Wan laughed. “You don’t remember this?” He asked.  

“No! Why was Leia there?!” He asked heatedly.  

Anakin had no memory of this ever happening. 

Obi-Wan shrugged. “One of your Inquisitors orchestrated her kidnapping, to force me out of hiding.” He answered.  

Anakin blinked.  

“Why does Leia get all the fun.” They both heard Luke pout from under Anakin’s robe.  

“Are you having fun now?” Obi-Wan asked.  

“… Yes?” He questioned, clutching Anakin harder. 

“She wasn’t having fun; I can tell you that. She was terrified.” Obi-Wan explained.  

“Oh…” Luke muttered.  

Anakin stared at Obi-Wan. 

“Thank you.” He said softly. 

Obi-Wan looked at him with some confusion marring his face, but he shrugged. 

“She is Organa’s child. And it was my fault she was there at all. So, of course, I helped her.” Obi-Wan announced, flippantly.  

Luke popped his head out, frowning. “She’s not.” He stated.  

Obi-Wan looked to Anakin, his eyes flashing in worry, before looking back to Luke.  

Oh. Right. Obi-Wan didn’t know . 

“It’s alright, Obi-Wan. I know.” Anakin pressed.  

Obi-Wan looked at him, worriedly.  

“How I didn’t know before, I’m unsure, probably because I wasn’t aware most of the time.” Anakin shrugged.  

“I’m not sure if we should be thankful for that or not?” Obi-Wan muttered.  

“Probably not. Since if he knew, Father wouldn’t’ve taken so long to wake up.” Luke answered.  

Anakin snorted. “That is true.” He muttered.  

“Hide, you!” Obi-Wan remarked and covered Luke with Anakin’s robe, making Luke yelp in joy again. 

A sound that Anakin was coming to love hearing.  

/

/ 

Anakin wasn’t sure how it worked, or how he didn’t just step on Luke who clung to his leg as they walked, but they went past multitudes of Jedi and got no reaction out of any of them. 

“Make sure Yoda can’t sense you either!” Obi-Wan suddenly remarked on the last elevator up. 

Luke giggled but otherwise didn’t respond. 

Anakin wasn’t sure if he was more apprehensive or feeling trepidation when they made it to the Council’s doors. 

It didn’t lessen when the doors opened by themselves. 

Not even when he realised only Yoda was there to receive them. 

But they walked in, nonetheless.  

They bowed as usual.  

“You wished to see us, Master?” Anakin asked, like he would have done once being summoned out of the blue. 

Maybe with more patience, and way less spite, but with the same words, nonetheless.  

Obi-Wan eyed him curiously, and he couldn’t help but glare playfully back. 

Yoda only chuckled.  

“Call, did I?” Yoda asked.  

Anakin flinched, pushing down his emotions, thanking Luke when he felt the boy help clumsily. 

“You didn’t?” He asked. 

Yoda chuckled mischievously again.  

“Help you, I can,” Yoda said instead. 

Both Anakin and Obi-Wan looked at each other with frowns, while Yoda chuckled. 

“Surprised, you are?” He asked. 

“A little?” Obi-Wan answered.  

“Picked something up, you have.” Yoda started.  

Anakin flinched when he saw Yoda look directly at where Luke was hiding.  

“Hide, he may cease,” Yoda asked. 

Luke almost fell out of Anakin’s robes at hearing him, nearly tripping over the material.  

Anakin whined mentally in panic and used the Force to pull him back up, without moving. 

Luke yelped but was able to stand upright with his help. 

Luke only bowed when he felt like his feet weren’t going to betray him, it was only then he felt his father’s Force lift leave him.  

“Hello, Master Yoda.” Luke greeted with his bow, following by example. 

He never bowed to either Ben or Yoda before now. He didn’t even know he was meant to.  

Yoda looked just as mischievous as Luke remembered him.  

“Found yourself here, how did you?” Yoda asked.  

It always took Luke a second to auto-translate Yoda. 

“Yeah, I just fell asleep and wound up here.” Luke pouted.  

Yoda, literally? He just laughed merrily. 

It caused Luke to look up to Anakin for help. 

He barely saw the small shrug Anakin made. 

Great, his father was at a loss as well.  

Ben just looked five degrees off from being confused as well. 

They were no help at all .  

“A purpose here, you must have, then.” Yoda pondered. 

Luke looked back at him in confusion. 

“Master?” He asked for elaboration. Not that he always got it. But it was always polite to ask. 

Luke saw the subtle look Yoda gave him to his father. 

Yeah. He totally knew .  

Luke couldn’t help but grin. Understanding that subtle look a mile away. 

“I can do that!” Luke chirped as he nodded vehemently.  

Yoda chuckled.  

“What?” Both Anakin and Obi-Wan muttered to each other.  

“Help him, you must.” Yoda said.  

Luke scoffed. “Duh. He’s, my Father .” He said blatantly.  

Luke couldn’t help that his nose scrunched up in disgust at the idea that he wouldn’t help his father . 

Both Obi-Wan and Anakin flinched. 

But Yoda just laughed.  

“Yes, yes! That he is!” Yoda announced. “Help he still needs.” He reiterated.  

Luke beamed. “So, I can stay with him?” He asked.  

Yoda waved his cane.  

“Skywalker’s, stick together, they must.” He said, dismissively.  

With that tone, even Luke knew to skedaddle.  

Luke bowed. “Thanks, Master!” He said, then he bolted .  

“Wait! Luke!” Luke heard both Anakin and Obi-Wan yell from behind him.  

Luke just laughed merrily.

Chapter Text

  Looking back at all the years past. What do you remember? Can you hold the gift of family, in your hands? Do you cherish all the memories? You don't need the lights, or the darkness: You will find your spirit listen, and you’ll hear it from those within their hands! Open your heart and give yourself, feel the hope and let us shine the light of love. Let us find more than what our hands can hold.  

—Peter Hollens (These Hands Can Hold)

4. 

“Come back here, you little rascal!” Anakin yelled, running over and scooping Luke up. 

Luke shrieked in joy as soon as he knew it was Anakin. 

Anakin tickled him, and Luke laughed harder.  

Obi-Wan sighed in relief as he came up to them, having bolted after the two as soon as Luke scattered as well.  

While Anakin had been fully focused on getting Luke, Obi-Wan made sure no one else was around, both in the corridor, and else wise nearby mentally. 

“Skywalkers!” Obi-Wan muttered out in a sigh, running a hand through his hair, suddenly exhausted. 

Luke panted and struggled to get his breathing back when Anakin relented tickling him. 

“Rascal.” Anakin retorted.  

Luke beamed once he regained his breathing.  

“He knew! It’s alright!” Luke insisted.  

Anakin just tickled him again, causing Luke to shriek out.  

Obi-Wan just chuckled reverently.  

“Maybe you should apologise for scaring him and promise not to run off again.” Obi-Wan advised.  

“But—he’s—Tickling!” Luke was able to get past laughing.  

“You seem just fine talking right now.” Anakin growled.  

Luke was still laughing as Anakin’s fingers found even more ticklish spots.  

“I promise!” Luke yelled out, laughing.  

“And?” Anakin urged. 

“No running! Got it!” Luke insisted.  

Anakin stopped tickling, and Luke slumped against his mechanical arm.  

“See. Not so hard!” Anakin answered. 

Luke giggled, mentally tapping Anakin’s Force Signature, and Anakin let him sit up against his arm. 

Luke was still beaming even after he regained his breathing.  

“So, what do we do now? Let events play out?” Anakin asked curiously.  

Obi-Wan sighed again. “It would be best to, then counter when things change.” He advised. 

Anakin nodded.  

Luke looked between them.  

“What do I do?” He asked curiously.  

“How about no running off?” Anakin was immediately to demand.  

“How about listening for a change?” Obi-Wan asked with a sigh. 

Anakin looked to Obi-Wan. “He doesn’t listen?” He asked.  

“I’m right here!” Luke protested. 

“He gets distracted easily.” Obi-Wan admitted easily.  

“Rude. You say that as if you didn’t!” Luke added in a protest.  

Obi-Wan looked at him. “What was or wasn’t going on with Alderaan at the time, does not concern you!” He remarked indignantly.  

Luke was helpless to giggle.  

Anakin was helpless to agree that they all got distracted easily.  

/

/ 

Anakin and Obi-Wan ended up finding themselves in the mess hall. As soon as the smell of food hit Luke, he found his stomach grumbling loudly enough that they both looked towards his hiding spot.  

“Sorry.” He muttered into Anakin’s leg, where he was still hiding but feeling them staring.  

“I guess we’re stopping here,” Obi-Wan said, and Anakin nodded. “I’ll go get something.” He added, and then he waltzed off towards the direction of food.  

Anakin felt the clumsy knock from Luke and tried hard not to look down at his child but direct him mentally.  

Are you okay? Anakin sent to him. 

Anakin felt the jump against his leg, then a wave of embarrassment from his child.  

Yeah, um … Came the clumsy reply, not used to Force speaking. 

It’s alright . Anakin insisted.  

I can’t call you Father around people. Anakin felt how hurt Luke felt at being denied calling him that. So, what do I call you instead? He asked.  

Anakin blinked and stalled. 

He could barely remember being around younglings as young as Luke now appeared.  

… You’d have to call me Master Skywalker . Anakin pondered as he slowly remembered being followed by younglings whenever he was near the crèche.  

It felt … wrong , for Luke to call him that. 

But he felt Luke perk up. You’re a Master ? He asked curiously. 

Anakin mentally snorted. No, Luke. Never was . He answered as he watched the room, at the Jedi mulling about casually. There weren’t many, as most were still fighting in the Clone Wars. 

Knight, then? Because Yoda said I would be if I didn’t die . Luke asked, helpfully curious. 

You’re more Jedi than I am, Son. Anakin replied.  

He felt the confusion coming from his Son in waves. 

I don’t get it, what makes you less of a Jedi than me? You’ve got more experience than me in years, surely . Luke asked. 

Ah, but I broke the rules. Attachments aren’t a thing Jedi should have. You know this . Anakin said. 

More confusion from Luke came.  

Um. No. I was never told to not have attachments. Ben and Yoda never said not to have them. Am I not supposed to be attached to you, or Leia? Luke was indignant at that.  

Now Anakin was confused. 

Wait, neither of them told you about the rule of attachment? Anakin burst out. 

He felt Luke shake his head against his leg. Ben only said to be mindful because of the Emperor, nothing about getting rid of them, or not having them . Luke answered in confusion. 

Anakin stared at nothing in particular in wonderment and fully in thought, lost for a minute or so. 

If what he could understand from Luke was correct, then neither Yoda nor Obi-Wan had taught Luke to ward off the affection of others, of attachment. 

And he became a better Jedi because of it.  

Huh. Well, fancy that. Anakin tried not to scoff.  

… Father? Luke was questioning.  

Anakin prodded him further, softly. 

Does that mean if I call you Master that I can come out? Luke asked.  

Anakin stifled a laugh. It would be hard to eat under there. Anakin replied in mirth. 

Luke was immediately indignant. That’s why I’m asking ! Luke growled back in a pout.  

Anakin’s reply was to gently lift his robe, revealing him.  

Luke blinked at the sudden light hitting him in the face, but moved away from Anakin a little, fearing he was a little too close. 

Seeing Anakin start to move, Luke kept up, and they came over to a table.  

“Here.” Anakin was saying, then he bent down to pick Luke up and place him into the stall. 

Luke saw people around and nodded. “Thanks, Master Skywalker.” He said gratefully.  

He saw Anakin’s look of distaste at him calling him that. 

Yeah, it felt wrong . 

Luke’s mind screeched to a stop, making Anakin look at him in alarm. 

What do I call Ben?! Luke yelled in panic. 

Anakin chuckled fondly.  

Just either Master Obi-Wan, or Master Kenobi, Luke. He answered softly. 

Either is fine? Luke asked. 

Either is fine . Anakin told him. 

Obi-Wan came back with food, enough for them all, and looked wary seeing Luke out in the open.  

“Welcome back, Master Kenobi!” Luke said, diligently, as a youngling and a Padawan would.  

Obi-Wan blinked and looked astonished for a second before his nose scrunched up. 

“Yeah, it’s weird.” He muttered as he took his seat.  

“Figured it would be easier to pass him off as a youngling than anything else.” Anakin explained, passing a plate down to Luke.  

Obi-Wan nodded. “Fair. But weird.” Obi-Wan noted. 

Luke noted that no one took notice of him or thought him out of place.  

“You said this doesn’t happen often, but no one is looking at me weirdly?” Luke asked. 

Obi-Wan looked up from his meal, while Anakin didn’t.  

“Ah, that would be because the younglings adore us. They make it a habit of following us around when we’re here.” Obi-Wan admitted.  

“… It’s cute…” Anakin muttered. 

Obi-Wan grinned. “It is.” He replied.  

Huh. Luke pondered. Then it would be easier than he thought.  

“Do they follow you out of the building?” Luke asked.  

“No. They’re too young.” Anakin said.  

Okay, that one might be a problem solved only by smuggling. 

Suddenly, Obi-Wan’s com unit was buzzing, and he looked down in confusion, before fumbling to find where his past self had placed it. 

He pressed it on, and a holoprojector started up.  

“Ahsoka!” Obi-Wan greeted happily.  

Luke hid under the table as soon as he heard the communicator go off.  

“ Hey, Obi-Wan. … Can we meet to speak? ” She was asking.  

“Sure. Are you okay?” He asked worriedly.  

Even if Ahsoka was no longer considered part of the Jedi, he would still worry about her.  

“ I’m fine, but please? ” Ahsoka asked.  

Obi-Wan shrugged. “Sure. Whereabouts, are you?” He asked.  

“ I can see Coruscant’s Jedi Temple if you’re there ?” She asked.  

“Sure—” Obi-Wan stalled, seeing Anakin cross his arms petulantly. “What’s that look for!” He asked. 

“I swear I’ll just invite myself if you won’t!” Anakin said indignantly. 

Ahsoka’s image flinched.  

“I thought you were coming anyway?” Obi-Wan asked.  

“Duh!” Anakin hissed.  

Obi-Wan looked back at Ahsoka’s worried face. “We’ll meet you out front.” He answered.  

Ahsoka nodded, and then the relay dropped out.  

“Welp, time to go down another billion more levels!” Anakin said helpfully.  

Luke hopped off the chair.  

“Where to?” He asked.  

“It might be best you hide for this venture, Luke.” Obi-Wan warned. 

Luke blinked but nodded. 

They were going outside the building after all.  

/

/ 

It didn’t take long to get outside.  

And it wasn’t hard to spot the nervous pacing Togruta out front. 

Who’s that ? Luke asked curiously.  

Anakin suddenly stalled walking when he was distracted by the amount of traffic buzzing around, and the number of ships he could spy out in the outer atmosphere, and completely missed Obi-Wan greeting Ahsoka.  

Her name is Ahsoka. Ahsoka Tano. Anakin replied, now walking again as Ahsoka hugged Obi-Wan, who returned it wholeheartedly.  

He could tell, from miles away, Snips was worried about something.  

Do I call her Master too? Luke asked, easily spying her lightsaber at her belt.  

Nope. While I trained her as a Padawan, she’s no longer a Jedi. You can just call her Ahsoka . Anakin told him. 

He could feel Luke frown. I am so confused . He muttered.  

Anakin watched as Ahsoka froze mid-sentence to Obi-Wan when she saw him come up behind him.  

“Heya, Snips. You look worried.” Anakin started.  

She stared. “Skyguy…?” She muttered in confusion. 

Anakin sided his head.  

“Yeah?” He asked. “What’s the staring contest for?” He added. 

It didn’t stop her from staring, looking almost dumbfounded.  

It did cause Anakin to look at Obi-Wan in confusion.  

“Ahsoka?” Obi-Wan asked.  

“It’s just—it’s you?” Ahsoka ended up questioning.  

Anakin frowned. “No one more me than me, Snips. Seriously. What’s wrong?” He asked.  

She flinched. “I don’t know how to say…” She muttered.  

“It’s been a weird day, Snips. Don’t worry. It’ll probably end just as weird as well.” Anakin told her. 

She regarded him worriedly.  

“Okay, so what if I told you the future is really bad, and we need to change it?” She asked hurriedly.  

“Okay, like you had a vision bad, or you lived it bad?” Anakin asked. 

Obi-Wan snorted in amusement, and Anakin glared at him for it. 

“ Lived it bad .” Ahsoka answered, worriedly. 

Obi-Wan rolled his eyes exasperatedly.  

“Like Order 66 bad or Empire bad, work with me here, Ahsoka!” Obi-Wan asked, pleadingly.  

Ahsoka flinched. “Both?” She asked.  

Both stared at her.  

“Look, I know it sounds weird!” Ahsoka started.  

“Not really. You survived?” Obi-Wan asked.  

“Yes? Why—Wait, what?!” Ahsoka trailed off, as if just realising what Obi-Wan said.  

“I survived too.” Obi-Wan surmised easily. 

Ahsoka stared . 

Anakin started laughing. “You broke her!” He said merrily.  

Ahsoka still flinched.  

“Didn’t survive him , though.” Obi-Wan jabbed a finger at Anakin.  

“ Rude . I barely remember it. I certainly didn’t tell you to run into me on the Death Star.” Anakin pouted as he crossed his arms defiantly.  

“Ah, but you do remember it!” Obi-Wan teased.  

Anakin rolled his eyes. “I’d rather actually not.” He retorted.  

Ahsoka was looking from one to the other. 

“You know?” Ahsoka breathed at them.  

Anakin pointed to himself. “Some of it. Not all of it. Loads of darkness, screaming, gross ink, bacta. Not much else.” He added.  

He felt the smack Luke gave him, and he sniggered.  

Anakin saw her look down where Luke was, and frown. 

“You’re not in the habit of kidnapping Force Sensitives, are you?” Ahsoka warned.  

“No. That was him .” Anakin replied indignantly.  

But he allowed her to move his robe away to see Luke.  

At seeing him, she lit up.  

“Hello, youngling!” She greeted. 

Luke frowned. “Hi…?” He questioned. 

“Yeah, for reasons unknown, he’s sticking to me like glue.” Anakin mentioned.  

Ahsoka laughed. “I can see that!” She crowed. 

Anakin shrugged. “But now it makes it easier to ask you to de-chip the clones, and not ask questions while making sure it doesn’t get back to you-know-who .” Anakin said. 

Ahsoka eyed him critically, and he let her nudge him and let her in. 

She blinked in amazement but nodded. “Consider it done. With the timeframe… I might not be able to…” She mumbled.  

“We’ll take what we can.” Anakin insisted. 

Ahsoka nodded and then patted Luke on the head.  

“Keep on him.” She ordered.  

Luke beamed. “Duh!” He gripped, then hid away.  

Anakin snorted in amusement when he barely heard Luke giggling.  

Ahsoka looked less worried now, and more determined.  

But she saluted all the same. “Those clones aren’t gonna see themselves!” She noted cheekily, then skipped off.  

They could only hope that it would be enough. 

Suddenly Anakin looked worried.  

“If we don’t keep to the script he has, he’ll go after Padmé.” Anakin suddenly said. 

Obi-Wan looked thoughtful. “And not to mention what he’ll do with little Luke here if he finds out about him.” He added.  

Anakin looked at him worriedly.  

They both heard Luke hiss angrily. 

“So!” Obi-Wan said brightly, causing Anakin to frown questionably. “Who’s up to smuggling a senator into the Jedi Temple?” He said casually.  

“How will you manage that?” Anakin asked, stupefied. 

But at the grin Obi-Wan sported, Anakin was sure he would fare better if he didn’t ask. 

“Okay, sure, stealing Senators now. Why not.” Anakin grumbled. “Where will we keep her and Luke? In the med bay?” He asked sarcastically. 

Senators didn’t exactly go into the Jedi temple. Jedi always went to them. 

Not to mention, mention they would probably need to keep to Padmé’s schedule.  

Which meant probable multiple smugglings.  

Anakin doubted she would take a leave of absence. Not with the political climate that they found themselves in. Unless she worked through one of her handmaidens. Sabé, maybe. 

… Which would be way more beneficial, now that Anakin thought about it. Especially when she started showing.  

How either of them thought they could keep it a secret… 

“Will she be home, currently?” Obi-Wan asked instead. 

Anakin frowned. “Maybe…?” He asked. 

Obi-Wan looked humorous at that. “Maybe we should just go to her place, and wait if she’s not there?” He asked.  

Anakin just ended up shrugging.  

He had no idea what his former Master was up to, but he doubted it would be anything good.  

He stalled when he felt Luke tap his leg. 

“Where are we going?” He heard the boy whisper. 

“Home.” Anakin answered.  

Oh . He heard the surprised awe from the boy, and then he clung tighter, ready to move with him at a moment’s notice.  

/

/ 

Luke had no idea where they were going, what part of the Imperial Centre they were in, or exactly where ‘home’ to Anakin was. 

He didn’t exactly know who this Padmé was either, outside of her being important as well as a Senator.  

He really hoped they weren’t kidnapping a Senator.  

Leia would kill him. 

But all he knew was that getting to this place was wearing on his child-like body.  

“Father…” He called quietly.  

It caused Anakin to immediately stop. 

“Luke?” He called worriedly.  

Luke couldn’t help but nuzzle tiredly into him.  

“Tired.” He muttered. 

/

/ 

Getting to the Senate Apartment Complex, while being sneaky about it, always took longer than Anakin liked.  

One Jedi could get past, no questions asked.  

But two? Unlikely that they wouldn’t be seen in some way.  

“Father.” He heard Luke call, making him immediately stop.  

“Luke?” He asked, seeing that Obi-Wan was looking around categorising if they were in danger, while taking his arm and entering a darkened alleyway.  

“Tired…” Luke answered quietly, nuzzling tiredly.  

Anakin blinked, but before he could stop himself from acting, he was leaning down and picking his child up without a second thought. 

“Luke?” He asked again.  

“This is—” Luke yawned. “ Silly .” He muttered.  

While Luke might have been the last Jedi where he came from, but here, he was just an injured child.  

A child who was helpless to need his father and snuggled into him regardless of the surrounding danger. 

Not that Anakin helped, he brought Luke’s head to his shoulder.  

“Sleep, if you need to.” He answered softly.  

“Sorry?” Luke muttered apologetically.  

“You’re not at fault, Luke.” Obi-Wan told him.  

They would just have to make do. 

“‘Kay, Ben…” Luke muttered back. 

Anakin really couldn’t guess why Luke trusted him so much. 

He looked back to Obi-Wan when he heard the man hum thoughtfully.  

“We should be far enough from straying eyes. But I’d rather not chance to enter the complex on the Senate’s side.” Obi-Wan muttered.  

Anakin could agree. It was way too close to Palpatine than he wanted to be.  

Obi-Wan stalled him before they moved off again.  

“Hold up.” He requested.  

Anakin blinked at him. Obi-Wan came in closer and moved his robes to cover Luke a little.  

“There. Now he should be a little warmer.” Obi-Wan said.  

Anakin grinned at him gratefully and rearranged his arms to make sure Luke was situated comfortably.  

“Alright. Let’s go.” Anakin said.  

Obi-Wan nodded and headed off.  

Now they just needed to get all this past Padmé .

Chapter Text

  No power on earth, no power in hell, is gonna steal my peace. Ten thousand enemies, they will end up on their knees. Where could I run, where could I hide? Restore the ruins of my life, from rags to royalty. I can see you. I believe you. I trust you. Break-in on me, ‘til all I see, is you. Your light will terrify the dark, I call upon the name that tears the night apart. My doubt will answer to your scars and fear will have no place, no hold upon my heart.  

— Skillet (Terrify The Dark)

5. 

Luke was fast asleep by the time they made it up to the apartment complex. 

Not that Anakin minded. But he was loath to put him down. 

Obi-Wan didn’t seem to mind that they were more than casually breaking the rules.  

“Master Ani!” Called a very surprised Threepio.  

Anakin stared back in amazement, having all but forgotten that the protocol droid existed. 

“Hello, Threepio!” Obi-Wan was quick to cover him.  

“And Master Kenobi! What a surprise! Mistress Amidala is not due back for at least an hour!” Threepio panicked.  

“Not to worry, Threepio, I’m sure we can manage an hour or so to wait for her.” Obi-Wan said and entered the apartment with ease. 

“Of course, sir! Tell me if you need anything! I’ll get it straight away!” He chirped helpfully, before returning to his chores. 

Anakin was helpless to follow Obi-Wan into the main seating area. 

“… Do we tell her everything?” Anakin asked as he was careful to step down the few steps to the lounge, mindful he didn’t jostle Luke too much.  

“… Maybe see how well she goes with knowing who Luke is first. And maybe not all of it here .” Obi-Wan answered carefully.  

Fair. 

“Are you going to put him down?” Obi-Wan asked instead.  

Anakin blinked. “If he’ll let me.” He grumbled out, since trying to move him previously had ended badly.  

But much to Anakin’s surprise, Luke went down on the couch without much fuss, and he pulled off his robe and placed it over him to keep him warm. 

Anakin must have stared too long.  

“Anakin? You alright?” Obi-Wan asked.  

Anakin looked at him, puzzled.  

“I don’t understand.” He ended up blurting out helplessly.  

Obi-Wan sided his head.  

“Understand what?” He encouraged.  

Anakin shrugged his shoulders. “Why he’s like that. I should be the last person he wants to be around, hell, even trust as he does!” He answered. 

It hurt him to admit, but he caused this himself.  

Obi-Wan looked at him thoughtfully, before taking a seat on the lounge chair opposite Luke. 

Seeing him sit, Anakin sat by Luke. 

“Do you remember the tradition of making a wish on the solstice and on life day?” Obi-Wan asked. 

Anakin frowned at the sudden question, not really understanding its importance.  

“It was something I did as a child, sure.” Anakin responded. 

He couldn’t remember doing it after that. 

Obi-Wan nodded. “Well, Luke did the same. Since he was a baby, till well into his teens, he only had one wish. Every cycle. One wish.” Obi-Wan said.  

Anakin blinked, then looked down at his child and laid his flesh hand on his head.  

“Just the one? Was it answered?” Anakin breathed in confusion.  

Obi-Wan shook his head. “No.” He added.  

Anakin’s nose scrunched up. “How hard of a wish was it?! Surely it couldn’t’ve been that hard!” He exploded in confusion. 

“Well, it could only be answered by one person.” Obi-Wan started. 

Anakin sided his head as his fingers started to run through Luke’s hair. 

“All his life? All he has ever wanted was one wish: and that was you. Just you.” Obi-Wan explained. 

It felt like the floor underneath him disappeared and gobbled him up.  

“Me?” He asked quietly.  

Obi-Wan hummed as he nodded.  

Anakin looked down at his child. 

Everything Luke was, was everything Anakin wasn’t. 

“I don’t deserve that.” Anakin muttered.  

Obi-Wan lent his arms against his legs as he lent forward.  

“I don’t think it’s about that, Anakin,” Obi-Wan explained, making Anakin look back at him. “It’s about what Luke deserves. Does Luke deserve a father?” He asked. 

“Of course!” Anakin exclaimed heatedly.  

It was why he was doing this in the first place! 

“Then be the father he deserves .” Obi-Wan said simply.  

Anakin blinked.  

“Surely it can’t be that easy.” Anakin protested. 

Obi-Wan shrugged his shoulders. “I asked him once, around this age, what he would do if his wish was answered.” Obi-Wan started.  

Anakin perked up at that.  

“What did he say?” He asked curiously.  

Obi-Wan chuckled happily.  

“If his wish was granted, and he had his father? His next thing to ask his father for, while you weren’t busy, you know ruling the Galaxy ,” Anakin glared at that and Obi-Wan laughed quietly in order not to wake Luke. “All that he wanted from you, Anakin? Was a hug .” Obi-Wan explained.  

  The tears strolling down his cheeks were a welcomed surprise Anakin had forgotten he could do.  

Obi-Wan watched contently and lent back off his arms.  

“By his standards, since we’ve come here? You’ve been getting gold stars.” Obi-Wan added softly. 

“But I haven’t done anything!” Anakin protested. 

Obi-Wan stared at him, dumbfoundedly. 

“… You say that as if you haven’t worried about his every need every five seconds? As if, right now, you’re not making sure he’s safe, warm?” Obi-Wan asked. 

Anakin blinked, then paused.  

“Huh.” He muttered. 

Obi-Wan grinned. “It’s nice to see you have it in you.” He added happily.  

Anakin wasn’t sure if he was meant to glare at him for that comment.  

“Surely taking care of children is harder than this.” Anakin said.  

Hell, he could remember doing rounds in the crèche being harder than this. 

Obi-Wan laughed. “Oh, it is! Luke is just making it incredibly easy! Plus, he’s more or less self-sufficient for his age!” He crowed.  

Anakin noted that away from future reference, reminded once again that Obi-Wan had been around children, his children, for longer. 

/

/ 

The elevator dinging announced Padmé well after Anakin and Obi-Wan had sensed her on her way up to know she was bringing no company with her. 

It was long enough for them to stand up to greet her, and long enough for Anakin to start panicking.  

Something Obi-Wan noticed.  

“… You’re not taking this well.” He noted in surprise.  

Anakin glared at him, while out of the corner of his eye he saw Threepio move to greet her, just out of his line of sight.  

“Totally not going to handle telling her I ended up killing her!” He hissed back. 

At this, Obi-Wan looked surprised.  

“… You didn’t kill her.” He muttered.  

Anakin blinked at him rapidly. “I didn’t?” He asked breathlessly.  

Obi-Wan shook his head. “Your turning did.” He answered. 

Anakin’s determination turned steely. Just another reason to out Palpatine as Sidious. 

They both turned to see Padmé walk into the room.  

“Master Skywalker! Master Kenobi! What a pleasant surprise! I wasn’t aware you were no longer stationed in the Outer Rim!” She said happily, beaming.  

They both bowed at her, as they usually would. Anyone could be watching, or spying. 

“Hello, Senator. It is good to see you.” Obi-Wan greeted warmly.  

Anakin held back, not being able to make words or sounds. He glared when he heard Obi-Wan snickering at him. 

“And what do I owe this pleasure to?” She asked pleasantly, waving Threepio off towards the kitchen, most likely to prepare dinner. 

Anakin noticed Obi-Wan’s stance subtly changed to his Negotiator stance.  

“I was wondering if it had gotten to you any news whether senators were being targeted by the Separatists.” Obi-Wan asked. 

Padmé looked alarmed. “No, that hasn’t crossed my ears.” She muttered.  

They could feel she was beginning to feel afraid.  

Anakin finally stepped forward.  

“We believe you are a prime target.” He told her. 

Padmé looked at him, concern all over her face. 

Obi-Wan nodded gravelly. “If not the only .” He added. 

Padmé looked at him in confusion. 

“Why only?” She asked.  

“We believe that because of us, we called attention to you by the Sith.” Obi-Wan added.  

Padmé’s eyes turned wide, and she looked at Anakin in worry. 

Both noticed the subtle hand go to protect her stomach, unconsciously.  

Padmé then looked back to Obi-Wan. “What do you propose, Master Jedi?” She asked.  

“Is there any way you can limit your physical attendance at the Senate? I wouldn’t ask you to leave it entirely.” Anakin asked gently. 

Padmé frowned. “Why would I…?” She pondered. 

“Just a precaution to limit your danger. We suspect the Sith know how to infiltrate the building.” Obi-Wan answered. 

Padmé nodded as if the half-lie made sense. 

In a way, it did make sense, since Palpatine was the Senate. 

“Also, they know you live here. So being here is compromised. You’ll have to come with us.” Anakin supplied.  

Anakin was surprised that this was what caused her to glare at him. 

“Limiting my movement, I can agree on. But leaving?!” She nearly screeched. 

Both Obi-Wan and Anakin flinched back at her noise. Anakin quickly looked over to see that Luke was unmoved by the noise, thankfully.

Seeing so, she sighed. “I apologise. This is for my safety. … Do I have time to pack anything?” She asked. “What about Threepio?” She added.  

“Threepio can stay here, in the meantime. The latest we can do is early tomorrow morning if you don’t mind us staying here overnight.” Obi-Wan informed.  

He knew how long it could take Padmé, a senator no less, to get her affairs in order.  

Padmé smiled. “That I have no problem with Master Jedi. You’re welcome here. I would say you’re safe here, but you say otherwise, and I believe you.” Padmé agreed. 

Seeing the conversation was coming to an end, and most likely Padmé would leave to pack, Anakin nearly moved, but then rebutted the idea. Making him jerkily stall on the spot.  

Obi-Wan saw the aborted movement and huffed indignantly, but well with humour while rolling his eyes.  

“Go hug her, or something, I swear!” Obi-Wan said while shoving the man forward. 

Suddenly, with permission, Anakin was off like a shot and hugging his wife. 

Padmé screeched in confusion and panic at what was happening. 

Obi-Wan laughed merrily behind them, without a care in the world about what he was witnessing.  

“ What ?!” Padmé asked. 

“He knows. Don’t worry.” Anakin told her. 

Padmé whacked his shoulder.  

“You telling me not to worry makes me worried!” She hissed indignantly.  

It caused Anakin to laugh and grip her harder.  

“I missed you.” Anakin told her painfully.  

“And I, you.” Padmé answered softly, if only a little more confused than not.  

Padmé pulled away and looked to confirm Obi-Wan wasn’t confused about what he was witnessing.  

When she saw his reverent almost saddened look, and his soft nod of confirmation, she took hold of Anakin’s hand. 

“Excuse us, Master Jedi!” She told him, then yanked Anakin out of the room.  

“Whoa!” Anakin exclaimed with surprise at the fact he was suddenly moving. 

Leaving behind a kind, softly laughing Obi-Wan Kenobi. 

Anakin wasn’t surprised to see Padmé haul them into their bedroom. 

Or that she shut the door behind them. 

The glare she pulled on him, though, that he wasn’t used to seeing. 

“What!” Anakin protested.  

“When did he find out? Were we not careful enough?” She asked worriedly.  

She could easily see that if someone else had found out, it would have been way worse. 

“Technically, he found out this morning?” Anakin asked even himself. 

Since that was when Luke decided to drop in with their memories.  

When had he actually found out? That he didn’t know. 

“Will he tell the Council? Will you be expelled?” She asked worriedly 

Anakin shrugged his shoulders. “If they find out, they find out. If they want me to leave, then I’ll leave. It’s not the end of the world, Padmé.” He answered softly.  

  Padmé looked at him in confusion. 

“… Before today, it was everything you worried about.” She said with a frown. 

“Snips left, and she’s fine.” Anakin said offhandedly.  

“But—It’s just—” Padmé worried, then found herself crossing the room to sit down on the bed.  

Anakin sided his head, but went to her, kneeling to see up at her face. “It’s just…?” He asked softly.  

“It’s worse now.” She muttered.  

Anakin frowned. “How could it be worse?” He asked.  

Padmé looked at him worriedly. “I’m pregnant, Ani.” She muttered in panic. 

Whatever reaction she was fearing he would have; it wasn’t what she ended up getting.  

Anakin slowly grinned at her, as realisation dawned on him, before he quickly got up, taking her with him, only to pick her up and twirl her around.  

Padmé screeched in surprise, having expected him to yell, be angry at her, or even downright deny what she said, not him to be joyful.  

“That’s great!” He yelled.  

“How is it great!?” She yelled back in panic.  

This wasn’t how the conversation went in her head. Not with any scenario she played over and over in her head, Not by a long shot.  

“Perfect, then.” Anakin admitted happily.  

“ How ?!” She asked.  

Anakin put her down gently and looked at her.  

It was because half of what she was growing was Luke, who was perfect. The other was Leia, who he didn’t know much of, but she would be no less than Luke. 

Padmé sat back down, dizzy from the spinning.  

“It’ll be fine.” Anakin told her. 

“You can’t guarantee that.” Padmé told him.  

Anakin hummed. “True. But I can try.” He answered truthfully.  

Padmé looked at him, confusion rolling off her at how his demeanour had changed so positively, so suddenly, since last they spoke.  

Anakin sat next to her happily.  

“How long have you known?” He asked curiously.  

Padmé shook her head. “Only a little while…” She muttered.  

Anakin grinned. “Then surely, by now, you have names.” He asked. 

She glared at him. “It’s too early to find out its gender!” Padmé protested.  

Anakin grinned. It was also too early for her to know there were two . 

“That doesn’t mean you haven’t thought about it.” Anakin said mischievously.  

Padmé glared at him, before pushing at his shoulder.  

“Well, sure. I’ve chosen a girl’s name if it turns out to be a girl. … But a boy’s name…” There she looked uncertain.  

Anakin couldn’t remember having this conversation the first time, but he ended up looking at the closed door, where beyond it, he could still sense Obi-Wan standing guard and Luke sleeping peacefully.  

“Luke.” He muttered. 

Padmé looked at him, then huffed indignantly.  

“Oh, sure! It takes you all of five seconds!” She said in annoyance.  

“Does that mean you’ll keep the name?” Anakin asked.  

Padmé rolled her eyes. “Just because you asked me to. Don’t get upset if it doesn’t turn out to be a boy.” She warned carefully.  

Anakin grinned but nodded. He knew the outcome already. Maybe that was cheating.

By the time Padmé had gone through her wardrobe at least once, it was well after sunset.  

“So, I’m being hunted by Separatists and the Sith. Where in all the Galaxy would I, and our unborn child, be safe?” Padmé asked.  

“That’s why Obi-Wan and I are taking you to the Temple.” Anakin answered brightly.  

Padmé turned to him. “ What .” She asked as she stared. 

“Safest place.” Anakin added.  

… Until order 66 happened, at least. If, of course, Ahsoka couldn’t de-chip all the Clones in time. 

“What part of I’m carrying your unborn probably Force Sensitive child did you not get?” Padmé asked incredulously.  

“You’re not showing yet. And I can’t sense it. You’ll be fine.” Anakin insisted.  

Padmé sighed, insufferably. “You and Kenobi are going to smuggle me in, without anyone knowing, aren’t you?” She asked faintly. 

Anakin grinned. “Yep!” He crowed. 

Padmé groaned in despair.  

“We should probably get back to Obi-Wan before he paces himself into the ground…” Anakin muttered.  

He could sense that his old Master had started to pace. 

And Obi-Wan’s pacing in circles was never a good sign.  

Padmé came back out of her wardrobe with a bag that she set on the bed and nodded.  

“I’ll check on Threepio.” She muttered to him, then bore off to the kitchen.  

Anakin returned to Obi-Wan, who stopped pacing, sensing him moving. A quick look at Luke told him the boy hadn’t moved and was settled on the couch, breathing softly. 

“Everything alright?” Obi-Wan asked worriedly.  

Anakin nodded. “She’s agreed to be smuggled into the Temple.” Anakin answered.  

“Did you tell her why?” Obi-Wan asked worriedly.  

“I’d rather not do that here?” Anakin muttered.  

Obi-Wan sighed exhaustedly. “True.” He answered.  

Anakin looked back towards the kitchen. “She knows she’s pregnant.” Anakin told him quietly.  

He looked back to see Obi-Wan’s expression turned worried. 

“The War comes to Coruscant soon.” He added.  

Obi-Wan nodded thoughtfully, and calculatedly. “We don’t have long.” He muttered.  

They both turned when they sensed Padmé enter. 

“Threepio tells me that dinner will be served soon.” She told them. 

Obi-Wan nodded. “Thank you, Senator.” He told her gratefully.  

“I think he’s cooked way more than he should for the three of us…” Padmé muttered as she came down the stairs towards them. 

It was then that she noticed that Anakin’s tossed robe was breathing, and the little blonde mop of a head popping out from underneath it.  

“Why is there a child here?” She asked in alarm, coming in closer.  

“Ah. Right.” Obi-Wan started awkwardly.  

Suddenly it made sense why Threepio had an extra meal planned.  

Padmé came in closer, and by chance or by the will of the Force, Luke chose that moment to wake up and stare sleepily up at the familiar face.  

“Leia…?” He questioned quietly.  

Chapter Text

Fall asleep to dreams of home, where the waves are crashing. The only place I've ever known, now the future has me. I see the fire in the sky. See it all around me. I said, "the past is dead; the life I had is gone." Waking up and letting go, to the sound of Angels, am I alive or just a ghost? Haunted by my sorrows. Hope is slipping through my hands; gravity is taking hold. Said, "I’m not afraid, that I am brave enough. I will not give up, until I see the sun." As I burn, as I break, I can’t take it anymore! Rescue me somehow. Hold me now, ‘til the fear is leaving, I am barely breathing.  

— Red (Hold Me Now)

6. 

“Leia?” Luke questioned quietly . 

Huh. So, Leia looked like Padmé? How had he missed that? 

Probably for the best, actually.  

Luke sat up, Anakin’s robe drifting off his shoulders as he rubbed one eye tiredly, then looked again at the stunned person in front of him, with a yawn.  

“You’re not Leia.” He muttered tiredly. “Sorry.” He added with another yawn.  

Padmé looked to them for an answer.

Obi-Wan was tiredly running his hand through his hair exasperatedly, while Anakin shrugged his shoulders and stepped forward, into Luke’s eyesight.  

Luke brightened seeing him.  

“Master Skywalker!” He quipped happily, a little more awake. 

He giggled when Anakin picked him up, but hadn’t turned from looking at Padmé decisively.  

“Sorry for calling you, Leia. You kinda look like my sister.” Luke apologised. 

Padmé stared incomprehensively.  

“This,” Anakin started, immediately gaining Luke’s attention. “Is Padmé Naberrie. Padmé, this is Luke.” He answered.  

Both child and woman blinked.  

“ Oh .” Both muttered. 

For very different reasons. 

They could all sense the hysteria rising in Padmé, well before she herself was starting to panic.  

“Not here!” Obi-Wan hissed in a hurry, as he looked back to the balcony, stressed.  

They couldn’t put up a barrier without it being noticed by Palpatine.  

They could do it at the Temple, as most did when they meditated. So, it wouldn’t be amiss there.  

But here, everything they did, said, could be overheard.  

Padmé checked herself and nodded silently.  

“Dinner is ready!” Threepio called as he waddled into the room.  

“Threepio!” Luke called happily, as he pointed.  

“Excuse me, sir?” The droid asked. 

Luke frowned. “Oh. Right.” He muttered scornfully, then shook his head and shoved it into Anakin’s neck.  

Anakin grunted in surprise. “Careful, Luke.” He muttered softly.   

Luke grumbled at him incomprehensively.  

Luke was put on a chair, and when he sat down, he huffed out a laugh that he couldn’t see over the table.  

“Oh.” He heard Padmé sound and saw her move out of the room as he leaned up his legs to reach the table awkwardly.  

“Why are you so small…?” Anakin muttered worriedly.  

“Seeing you both, we totally got her height.” Luke grumbled. He wasn’t about to admit it took him a long minute to realise why Padmé was so important to Anakin.

At this, Obi-Wan laughed loudly. Anakin glared at him.  

Padmé came back in with a cushion that Luke could sit on, so he could oversee the table comfortably.  

“… I don’t know what this is?” Luke said, pointing to just about everything he could see.  

“Think of it like Mechouia, but eat it with your fork, not the tabouna.” Obi-Wan said offhandedly, as if of no consequence.  

Anakin and Padmé stared at him in confusion at how the comparison would work for the child’s understanding.  

“Oh! Okay!” Luke answered brightly, and tore at the bread to dip it, then picked up the fork happily. As if he understood the comparison. 

You’re from Tatooine? Anakin asked. 

It was the only thing that made sense, since the foods Obi-Wan compared it to were familiar to Tatooine.  

Yes? Luke questioned. 

Huh. Anakin pondered. Yeah, okay, it totally made sense to hide Luke on Tatooine.  

It would be the last place he looked.  

/

/ 

Padmé, seeing the two Jedi worried, wasn’t something she had seen often. Not since the last time that someone made an attempt on her life.  

Was she three ways confused about the child? Yes.  

Was she going to question it as soon as she could? Absolutely .  

A craft flew a little too close to the building, making it rumple, and it sent Luke running over to Anakin in a panic, where he hid under his robes, while the man himself glared out at the balcony protectively.  

Even Obi-Wan was on edge. 

They weren’t safe. And they knew it. 

Child and his origins aside, she hated seeing them so worried.  

Seeing them so it made her decide to leave as soon as she could.  

“Would you mind if I went and contacted Sabé? I won’t take long.” She asked. 

Both Jedi looked at her and nodded.  

“Please don’t take too long…” Obi-Wan told her.  

Anakin turned from glaring at the balcony. “… Maybe also leave the door open.” He requested.  

She nodded, agreeing to the terms, and was on her way to grab her communicator. 

She knew enough of Jedi wizardry to know they could sense her anywhere in the entire complex, but the door physically got in the way in case something went wrong.  

Anakin blew a sigh of relief when she left to talk to Sabé. 

Luke giggled and came out of hiding.  

“The Imperial Centre sure is busy.” Luke admitted curiously.  

“Coruscant.” Obi-Wan amended softly. 

Luke shrugged one shoulder absentmindedly.  

“It is one of the busier planets I know.” Anakin told him. 

Luke grinned up at him. But curbed his interests and questions for later. 

/

/ 

Anakin looked to his side fast when he felt Luke slam into his arm, stalling in his quiet conversation with Obi-Wan.  

Luke grunted tiredly and sat back up. “Sorry.” He muttered as he pawed one eye. 

“You’re allowed to say you’re tired, Luke.” Obi-Wan told him.  

“Wanna talk more.” Luke said defiantly.  

Anakin just scooped him up once more. “Sleep, child.” He ordered as he sat Luke on his lap.  

Luke huffed, but he nuzzled down into his father without hesitation and was asleep as soon as his head touched Anakin’s chest.  

“Okay, so…” Padmé started talking, making them both turn to see her storing away her communicator on her belt, and placing a bag by her feet. “Assuming how long will this take, roughly?” She asked curiously. 

“Hopefully no longer than a few months, we do have to catch the Sith, which you might be aware…hasn’t been easy to hunt down.” Obi-Wan said. 

They both knew it took nearly the same amount of time for the twins to be born, as it was to find out Palpatine was Sidious.  

But she didn’t need to know that. 

Padmé just sighed and conceded.  

“I have instructed Sabé to work in the Senate in my steed.” She told them. 

Anakin sighed in relief.  

“Now, Master Jedi,” She asked as she came down the stairs. “How do you propose you smuggle me into the Jedi Temple without anyone seeing?” She asked.  

Even she was wary of the mischievous look Obi-Wan suddenly had. 

/

/ 

Anakin had to admit, by the time they got back to the Jedi Temple that it was almost midnight, and barely anyone was around.  

But place a robe over Padmé’s head, and suddenly no one was the wiser. 

Luke was the harder one to cover, which made Anakin duck and dive with the shadows until they were well inside the Temple to keep out of the Holo-Recorders, then there no one would ask questions about an asleep youngling. Having seen it too many times before to think Anakin had smuggled him in and out of the building.  

Obi-Wan led them to a lesser-used part of the dormitories now that there were fewer and fewer Jedi surviving the war, ushered the family in, and then waved the door closed and locked behind him.  

At once, he knew that Anakin threw up a barrier. And if he knew Anakin, no one would be able to sense it unless he wanted them to. Making it easily blend in with others around it seamlessly. 

“I’m going to go put Luke down.” Anakin announced to them, then went off to search for a bed.  

“Good luck!” Obi-Wan called ironically. 

Padmé put her bag down and discarded the robe on a hook near the door she figured was for them, seeing the table for four, she sat at it, exhaustedly. 

Seeing her sit, Obi-Wan did the same. 

“Are you okay?” He asked her.  

“Can you explain the situation now?” She asked.  

Obi-Wan nodded. “As soon as Anakin gets back.” He told her.  

She sighed in relief. 

Anakin came back without his robe.  

“Wrapped Luke up in it…” He muttered self-consciously, seeing the two questioning stares as he joined them at the table. 

“He’s alright though?” Obi-Wan asked in concern. 

Anakin nodded. “Yeah, no screaming this time.” He said softly, then he looked at Obi-Wan. “How much sleep does he need?” He asked curiously, looking back to the door where he left Luke.  

He had not expected Luke to sleep as much.   

Obi-Wan lent back in his chair thoughtfully.  

“He is sleeping more than usual. He shouldn’t fall asleep over the day at his projected age. He shouldn’t need more than thirteen hours.” Obi-Wan pondered. 

“Is it because he’s here?” Anakin questioned. 

Obi-Wan sat back up. “That may well be the case.” He conceded. “From the med droid before, he’s still healing from Force lightning, yes?” He asked.  

Anakin flinched but nodded. 

“I’m sorry? Lightning ?” Padmé interrupted.  

Anakin scrunched his nose, while Obi-Wan ran his hand through his hair in exhaustion.  

“This might be easier from the start…” Obi-Wan started. 

“That normally is the best place to start.” Padmé urged. 

Obi-Wan looked at her. “This won’t be easy to hear.” He warned her.  

Padmé nodded. She expected that with the amount of heavy feelings she could see in their eyes.  

“Luke here is roughly from twenty years into the future.” Obi-Wan explained.  

Padmé nodded, it wasn’t the most insane thing she had heard from the Jedi. 

“And he is also your son.” He added quickly.  

Padmé looked at him immediately.  

“ What .” She demanded. 

/

/ 

Recounting the next twenty years hadn’t taken as long as Anakin or Obi-Wan thought it would, for twenty years’ worth of explaining. An hour went by at best. 

… There really hadn’t been much to explain. More to gloss over the atrocities. 

“Okay, okay, okay,” Padmé stalled, waving her hands. It was hard to disbelieve everything when Luke was in the next room asleep. “You said twenty, but Luke is a child .” Padmé protested.  

“We’re assuming travelling through time de-aged him somehow.” Anakin added. 

Fair. Fine. Whatever. At him talking, Padmé turned to glare at him.  

Anakin immediately held his hands up in surrender.  

“No matter what happens to me, don’t you dare leave him alone, again!” Padmé ordered. 

Anakin looked pained at that, but nodded. He wouldn’t disrespect her wishes. Painful as it would be, it was more painful to think of the life he hadn’t witnessed with his children because of his own actions. 

“Father…?” Luke called, making everyone jump and turn to him. 

Luke was rubbing his eye tiredly with one hand and holding the door with his other.  

Neither Obi-Wan nor Anakin had felt him stir. 

But seeing him up, Anakin got up and went over to him to pick him up.  

“Luke?” He questioned worriedly as he lifted him.  

“You left.” The boy muttered.  

Anakin blinked in astonishment. “I’m here.” He told him.  

Luke hummed tiredly and turned his head into Anakin’s shoulder. 

Anakin ran his flesh fingers through his hair. “Can you sense me, Son?” He asked again.  

Luke hummed again. “Light. Still here.” He mumbled out tiredly as he latched onto Anakin’s tabards.  

“It’s still really late, you should be sleeping.” Anakin gently scolded.  

Luke clenched harder. “But you left.” He muttered. 

Anakin hummed. “Sleep, Luke.” He told him. 

Anakin waited until his child slumped, then looked back to Padmé and Obi-Wan.  

“Is this gonna be a problem?” He asked in concern.  

“Only if you want it to be?” Obi-Wan questioned back with a concerned frown. 

Anakin shook his head. “I don’t mind him sleeping on me. Padmé does it all the time,” Anakin ignored the indignant huff from his wife. “But will he be able to sleep when I’m not here? Like if Palpatine calls me, for whatever reason…” He trailed off.  

He watched warily as Padmé crossed her arms. 

“After all you just told me, you consider him a friend?” She asked, indignant. 

Anakin blinked at her, severely confused.  

“Ah.” Obi-Wan voiced. “That’s not what he meant,” He added, causing Padmé to turn to him incredulously. “Anakin is the only person he will out himself to. And if he doesn’t go, doesn’t follow the script Palpatine has laid out, Palpatine might defer from what we know, and come after you, or Luke if he somehow learns of him.” Obi-Wan explained.  

“And not because that he is my friend. I am going to hear not just Luke screaming in my nightmares for a long time…” Anakin muttered in disdain.  

Obi-Wan came over and patted his shoulder consolingly. 

“We’ll have to see if Luke is capable of sleeping by himself, or at the very least, with Padmé nearby. In case, the Council still sends me to Utapau for Grievous again. I won’t be here, either.” Obi-Wan warned.  

Anakin looked worried at that. “Right. You weren’t here.” He muttered, suddenly remembering.  

“In any case, we’ll deal with it as it comes,” Padmé said softly, coming over to run her fingers through Luke’s hair. “He looks like you.” She commented.  

“Apparently Leia looks like you, since Luke mistook you for her.” Anakin added.  

Padmé blinked in realisation. “ Twins !” She said, rushing to put her hands over her mouth to stop herself from screaming. 

Anakin laughed quietly.  

“If that’s all we can think of at the moment, I’m going to bed.” Obi-Wan warned and went through to the opposite sleeping quarters Luke came from. 

“Night, Obi-Wan!” Both Anakin and Padmé said. 

He raised his hand and then was gone. 

Anakin put Luke back in the bed and wrapped him back up in his robe, while Padmé quickly got changed by her bag. 

Luke fussed a little but didn’t wake up. 

Once Luke was down, Anakin tore off his tabards, belts and outer tunic, determined to find clean ones in the morning, then shoved off his braces for his mechanical arm with scorn. 

Padmé was already in bed by the time he looked around for her.  

“Is he alright?” She asked curiously.  

Anakin nodded and got into bed next to her. 

He had planned to talk to her, to apologise, but he was already asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. 

/

/ 

Consciousness vaguely resurfaced groggily to Anakin in waves. 

First, he noticed Padmé must have fallen asleep on top of him, only to be confused that her presence was next to him, he could numbingly feel her wrapped up in his mechanical arm. 

Feeling her there, he blinked his eyes open to chase the sleep away, and immediately was greeted by a blonde mop of a head he recognised as his son. Looking blearily to his side, he could see Padmé, still asleep on her side. He could feel and hear Luke breathing against his chest gently. 

All in all? Not a bad way to wake up. He could get used to it. Gladly. 

The annoyance of his communicator suddenly going off by his head, though, yeah that he would gladly smash against the wall for otherwise threatening his peaceful morning. 

“What is that noise?” He heard Luke childishly whine as he nuzzled into his chest, trying to get away from the noise. Padmé grumbled and turned over, releasing his arm as she did. 

With her letting go he was able to sit up, trying not to jostle Luke so much as he did and summoned the communicator to his hand, turning it on to voice only.  

“ Master Skywalker! ” A younger voice sounded out while panting a little as if running.  

Luke twitched in his lap but otherwise did not respond further, thankfully.  

“ The Council wishes to see you and Master Kenobi! But I can’t find you! ” The young girl continued to yell frantically as they ran. 

“It’s alright, youngling. I heard you. We’ll be there shortly.” Anakin answered through a yawn.  

“ I’ll tell them! Sorry for waking you! ” She said a little softer, then she dropped out. 

“Luke?” The boy grumbled. “Either you’re staying with your mother, or you’re waking up to see me off.” He bargained.  

Luke’s eyes popped open immediately. “I’m up!” He yelled as he hopped off his father’s lap, saluting playfully and bolting out of the room without a look back. “Ben!” He called joyfully.  

Anakin yawned again and went to find his clothes.  

“We’ll be back soon, love. You might need to keep Luke.” Anakin told her. 

“Is he always that excitable?” She asked, opening one eye as Anakin threw on his clothes. 

“You’ll most likely be the first to know out of both of us. Obi-Wan most likely already knows.” Anakin reminded. 

Padmé hummed. “Wake me up before you leave.” She demanded, then turned over and went back to sleep.  

Anakin laughed and left her be. 

By the time Anakin got to the common room, Luke was wide awake and pulling Obi-Wan out of his room.  

“Alright, Luke, alright…” Obi-Wan muttered tiredly. 

Anakin snickered.  

“Father’s communicator thing went off!” Luke admonished.  

“And that means you get me up and let your father asleep? Rude.” Obi-Wan scolded tiredly. 

“No. It woke me as well.” Anakin answered. 

Obi-Wan looked up to see Anakin. 

“Oh good. You’re awake,” He looked down at Luke. “Go bother your father. I need caf.” Obi-Wan ordered.  

Luke giggled, nodded, and bounded his way back to Anakin.  

Anakin didn’t need to be told to pick Luke up when he got close enough. 

“Why did he wake me up, by pouncing on me, no less?” Obi-Wan demanded.  

“I think I should apologise for that?” Anakin asked as he came over to help Obi-Wan. “But, in any case, you needed to be up, a youngling called me, saying the Council wanted us.” Anakin explained.  

“Oh, fun…” Obi-Wan answered around a yawn, while Anakin got down two cups. 

“There’s…not much here in the way of food…” Anakin noted. 

“We’ll have to bring food back.” Obi-Wan said.  

If they were squirrelling away two people, they needed to have food at their disposal to limit their movement. 

“I have three credits to say why the Council needs us,” Anakin grumbled around easily juggling Luke clinging to his side, propped up by his mechanical arm, and the other holding his mug.  

Obi-Wan looked at him.  

“It’s totally that Palpatine kidnapped himself.” Anakin hissed out.  

At that, Luke perked up, and looked around then stared at a wall, that both Anakin and Obi-Wan noticed.  

“His flame is gone.” Luke said.  

“Yeah, not helpful, Luke. You made me lose credits sooner.” Obi-Wan scolded.  

Luke turned back to them and laughed happily.  

Caf finished; Anakin stood Luke on the chair to be better level with his height. 

“Okay, so you need to stay here with Padmé, alright? We’ll be back afterwards.” Anakin warned. 

Luke looked slightly downcast at the order, but nodded in any case.  

“Okay, Father.” Luke said sadly.  

Anakin sided his head. “… Do you know how to put up a barrier?” He asked.  

Luke blinked, then shook his head. 

Anakin stared down in worry. 

Obi-Wan hummed. “It’s similar to blocking out everyone, except, whom you want to be aware of you. Does that make sense?” He asked. 

Luke blinked again. “Sort of?” He asked. 

Anakin shook his head. “I’ll help you.” He offered.  

Luke grinned and nodded. 

It didn’t take Luke very long to get the hang of what his father was trying to show him. His only concern was maintaining it for the long-term, or if he was asleep.  

But he would try.  

Seeing that Luke got the hang of it, Anakin smiled proudly and ruffled his hair.  

Luke giggled.  

“Right. I’m going to wake Padmé. If you hear her screeching blue murder, it’s because of that.” Anakin warned.  

Luke snorted. “Leia hates being woken up too.” He snickered.  

Anakin groaned. “Yay. And here I thought I was the worst one out of all of us.” He grumbled, ruffling Luke’s hair again, then went to wake Padmé up. 

He considered it a win-win when she didn’t screech at him or punch him in the face. 

Chapter Text

  This hell in my mind, you somehow can make it mend, can’t let it be wasted. So please never let it end. Walls fell and joy came in for the first time. You open my heart. And I know it’s insane, but I’d swear that you’re heaven sent. And I promise to focus on affection, you don’t have to reach perfection. I’m not leaving. No, I won’t go away. Oh. I chose you and that’s all that’s gonna matter, there’s nothing else I’m after, it’s true.  

— Nathan Wagner & Tiffany Wagner (A Wedding Song)

7. 

As soon as they left, Luke put up a barrier.  

Good job, Luke . Anakin praised him.  

Thanks! Luke cheered. 

And then they left. 

Luke looked back to see Padmé looking through the empty cupboards.  

“Father said he and Ben would bring something back. There’s nothing here to eat.” Luke informed.  

Padmé jumped and turned around in fright, not expecting Luke to speak. 

He cringed seeing her reaction. “Sorry.” He muttered, then tossed himself up onto the chair using the Force and saw her flinch again. “ Sorry .” He muttered again. 

He really got off on the wrong foot with the females of his family, huh?  

First, his sister, who at the time, he didn’t know was his sister which was always awkward and embarrassing to remember, and now his mother, who jumped at his every move. 

Padmé just shook her head. 

“No, I’m sorry. I just realised you were actually Force Sensitive.” She remarked.  

Luke sided his head as he sat down. “Leia’s empathetic. She’s a Senator.” He answered.  

“Huh.” Padmé voiced out curiously.  

“Not that there’s much of an Imperial Senate where I’ve come from, but hopefully there will be now.” Luke said. 

Padmé took a seat next to him. “How so?” She questioned.  

Luke shrugged. “I mean, I’m no diplomat, but the Empire just got doubly beheaded, and blown up, I doubt there’s anyone left to lead it.” He explained.  

“But you’re a Jedi.” Padmé protested.  

Luke looked at her. “I’m the only Jedi, so says Ben and Yoda. And I’m a soldier . I’ll leave the diplomatic stuff to my sister, who actually knows what’s she doing on that front. The Organa’s raised her well.” Luke said. 

Padmé was helpless to run her fingers through his hair.  

“You’ve been through a lot, haven’t you?” She asked gently and quietly.  

“Father’s been through more, I imagine.” Luke deflected. “Leia to. I was stuck on Tatooine while she was in the Senate, with the Rebels. I only got involved after Ben died .” Luke pouted. 

Padmé saw through it, having dealt with Anakin for so long. “That doesn’t devalue what you’ve been through since then.” She told him.  

Luke looked at her, with tears in his eyes.  

“Is it too much of me to ask for you and Father?” He asked quietly.  

Her heart broke, and she gathered him to her.  

“It’s not too much, Sweetheart, no.” She scolded softly. 

Padmé let him cry into her, and she winded her fingers through his hair. 

She could see why he clung to Anakin, as traumatised as he was. Anakin must’ve been the only person, aside from Obi-Wan, that felt familiar anymore.  

“It’s alright, you can cry.” Padmé told him, holding him tighter.  

Luke took that as permission to cry his heart out. 

“I miss Father!” He whimpered quietly to her.  

Padmé sniffled. Yeah, she could sympathise.  

Missing Anakin sucked.  

But she could see why Anakin was so at ease at holding him. 

It just felt right, and very un-right to let the child go. 

Even as exhausted as Luke was, having cried for a few minutes, she kind of hoped he didn’t get snot everywhere. Only because she didn’t spy where this Jedi room kept the clothes’ refresher, and she didn’t exactly want to get up, and jostle Luke too much, who seemed to need a minute to rein himself back in. 

Sooner rather than later, Luke moved off her and back to his own seat. 

“What do we do while we wait?” Padmé hummed thoughtfully.  

“Sabacc?” Luke questioned.  

Padmé stared at him. “And how does a child like you know how to play?” She scolded.  

Luke blinked. “… I’m actually twenty?” He reminded.  

Padmé blinked.  

Oh.  

Right. 

Time travel . 

/

/ 

Padmé wasn’t even mad that she lost seven times, knowing full well she was playing against a Force Sensitive, who didn’t seem to know he was using the Force to cheat. 

From his ‘last Jedi’ comment, she could guess he probably wasn’t well versed in civilities around using the Force with non-Sensitives. 

By the eighth round, Luke dropped his cards and looked to the door, not a second before it slid open and Anakin and Obi-Wan walked in. 

“Father! Ben!” Luke greeted them once the door closed, not running to them, seeing that they had their hands full carrying what he could guess were food items. 

Luke felt when his father put up his barrier, which meant he put his down with a relieved mental sigh.  

“No. I get what you’re saying, Obi-Wan.” Anakin was saying, sounding frustrated. 

Even if he sounded frustrated, Luke felt him greet him softly through the Force. All the while he watched in awe mixed with amazement at what his father was holding, suddenly lifted out of his hands. It left room for him to cross them as the food items went floating across the air and put themselves away. 

“Then why are we having this conversation, again?” Obi-Wan asked with a frown. “—Hey!” He yelped when suddenly what he was holding was yanked out of his arms as well. 

Something in the way his voice turned indignant told Luke Ben had no control over what was happening. 

“You were unconscious at the time; it will be something he expects me to do. Not what I want to do.” Anakin tried to explain.  

Obi-Wan looked worried, while Anakin was watching the food put itself away with focus. It was only when the cupboards shut that he looked towards Obi-Wan. 

“If we deviate this early, leave Dooku alive? At my own hands? I don’t know what methods Palpatine will take later.” Anakin added.  

This caused Padmé to look at them.  

“You kill Dooku?” She asked, not exactly horrified.  

Luke sided his head. “Who’s Dooku?” He asked curiously.  

Both Obi-Wan and Anakin looked at him. 

Anakin was frowning with worry, but something in him got him anxious, and he moved and picked up Luke.  

While Luke was now used to his father holding him, he was still in awe every time it happened.  

“Father?” He questioned softly.  

“Am I okay?” He asked quietly, worriedly. 

It wasn’t as if Luke left his father’s psyche alone.   

“I never left.” Luke told him. 

Anakin blinked in surprise. “Oh.” He muttered.  

Luke giggled and moved to touch his forehead to his father’s. “You’re worried, sure. But you’re still Father. Still Light.” He nuzzled. “More than what I’ve ever seen.” He added quietly.  

Anakin clicked his tongue.  

“You were able to stay with me the entire time?” He asked curiously.  

Luke pulled away and nodded. “You do know I’ve sensed you on the Death Star from Endor , right? It’s how I knew where to go to get caught.” He said, a little annoyed. 

He watched as Anakin blinked in surprise. “I…didn’t know that.” He muttered.  

Suddenly Luke’s annoyance was thrown out the window, unneeded.  

“You didn’t know I was on Endor?” He asked curiously.  

Anakin sided his head as he settled Luke on his mechanical arm thoughtfully. “I think I felt you pass… Palpatine certainly knew better than I did. I think.” He said with a frown, as if the memory he was trying to recall was murky at best. 

Luke just sided his head and shrugged. “You weren’t exactly in a good place then.” He reminded softly. 

Everyone saw the look of distaste roll across Anakin’s face. 

“I haven’t been in a good place for twenty years. Don’t defend me, young one.” Anakin somehow scolded gently, shaking his head self-deprecatingly. 

Luke hissed, and both his small hands immediately went to hold Anakin’s face, to stop him from moving. “I will not lose you a second time!” He defended heatedly. “Not since knowing you here! I refuse!” He demanded.  

“Luke…” Anakin tried to protest. 

Luke shook his head vehemently.  

“No! I’ve been counting!” Luke ordered, slapping his cheeks petulantly, as if the action alone could remove his negativity.  

Anakin brought his flesh hand to cover one of Luke’s. 

“Counting?” He asked curiously.  

“Hmm!” Luke nodded. “I only had five minutes with you on the Death Star. Since coming here? I’ve had more than five minutes.” He added, leaning his forehead against Anakin’s. “Don’t take that away, please.” He said softly.  

Anakin looked at his child in awe. 

Every minute was worth counting…? 

Why ? 

Just because it was a minute more? One more minute he could never get back…? 

Anakin just sighed, not wanting to fight with his child.  

“Is every extra minute worth that much to you?” Anakin asked softly. 

Luke pulled back and glared. “Duh! You’re my Father !” He implored. 

Luke saw Anakin didn’t exactly understand his need.  

“How can I show you, let you see?” Luke implored again.  

Anakin blinked. “I won’t impose on your thoughts, Luke.” He argued.  

“Bah!” Luke stuck out his tongue. Anakin was helpless to snort with humour. “How is it an impose when I am asking ?!” He implored indignantly.  

“It’s not the—” Anakin started and paused at Luke’s glare. 

“If you’re about to say it’s not the Jedi way , I will hit you over the head with a chair.” Luke challenged. “You’re not a Jedi. Neither am I, by old Galactic standards, apparently. And I need you to understand!” Luke demanded. 

Anakin looked to Obi-Wan who had a snide smirk on his face, with his arms crossed, Obi-Wan who indeed, did not help him persuade, or dissuade him at all. 

“You’re no help!” He told him in annoyance. 

“Oh no, I’m enjoying this way too much!” Obi-Wan replied happily. 

“See! Ben agrees!” Luke defended happily. 

Anakin groaned. “Alright, Luke. Alright.” He sighed. 

Luke perked up happily in his arms. “What do I do!” He asked in a second.  

Anakin sighed again. “ Fine . Feel where you can sense my emotions?” He asked.  

Luke nodded. 

“Yeah. You’re all over the place.” Luke commented.  

“Being bested by a four-year-old will do that.” Anakin glared.  

Luke giggled. “I’m twenty.” He added.  

“Not right now, you’re not!” Anakin argued. 

He ignored Padmé and Obi-Wan laughing in the background.  

But Anakin felt the gentle tug on his mind.  

“Okay, now lead me to where your emotions are.” Anakin guided.  

Luke nodded, and closed his eyes to concentrate, unknowingly leaning into Anakin as he did. Anakin was helpless to cradle his head with his flesh hand gently.  

Anakin nearly swallowed his tongue when he felt the explosion of Light from Luke once he was guided to his centre.  

His child had so much of it that it reached back to his own and seemed to take root there warmly.  

Luke ? He called.  

Anakin physically felt Luke jolt in his arms in surprise at hearing him so close.  

Father ! He heard his son call back happily.  

Here, you can show me what you want to show me . Anakin reminded. 

How? Luke was curious.  

Anakin frowned, before pushing the thought again of how untrained he was worriedly and focused back on Luke. 

Here you can think of memories or thoughts, and I will sense them, or if they are visual, I will see them . Anakin told him.  

Anakin felt Luke’s curiousness, but then his memories rose and swamped the connection.  

“There’s nothing left for here now. I want to learn the ways of the Force, and become a Jedi, like my Father.”  

“You didn’t destroy me before; I don’t believe you’ll destroy me now.”  

“You failed, Your Highness. I am a Jedi, like my Father before me.”  

It felt like being battered emotionally from all sides. If such an experience could be positive . Since it was .

He felt when Luke got the hang of directing his memories. 

“What do you wish for?” He heard a wizened Obi-Wan ask curiously. 

Anakin suddenly saw Obi-Wan staring down at him. 

“Hullo to you to Ben!” A young Luke responded, causing Obi-Wan to smile gently. “Well, it’s the solstice! I have a wish! Just one!” Luke told him. 

Anakin watched as Obi-Wan looked curious. “Only one?!” He asked.  

Young Luke must’ve nodded or got distracted by something, since the scene changed a little.  

“Care to tell me? Maybe telling someone will help?” Obi-Wan asked, suddenly sitting next to Luke. 

Young Luke looked at him dubiously, causing Obi-Wan to bark out a laugh. 

“Well, surely it can’t hurt?” He asked. 

He deliberated that. “I want my Father.” Young Luke implored, not seeing Obi-Wan suddenly become as alarmed as Anakin could before he looked up to the stars.  

“… What would you do if you had your father?” Obi-Wan asked, while the caution in his voice went over Luke’s head, it wasn’t lost on Anakin.  

Young Luke hummed thoughtfully. “I practised the word when Uncle isn’t looking, so I knew how to say it properly. But if he was here? Tomorrow? Then he’d be here, and that’s…really all I’d want. Oh, that and a hug, if he wasn’t busy. Fathers are busy people. That’s why he’s not here. That’s all.” Luke explained.  

The memory was faded, but the feeling of being needed, of being wanted by someone, being wanted by his own father ? That feeling remained in Anakin. 

Luke never asked for much. Just time . 

I just wanted to be with you, Father. Luke told him. That’s all.   

Nothing more or less. 

Suddenly, Anakin’s emotions exploded, throwing the connection off, causing Luke to yelp as he was mentally thrown out.  

“Luke!” Luke heard his father yell out, explosively. 

Then he was being crushed. 

It took Luke a second longer to realise that his father was hugging him . 

His name, constantly rolling off his father’s mind in a pained mantra. 

Oh . Luke really hadn’t expected that big of a reaction from his father, finally understanding him. 

From Obi-Wan and Padmé’s perspectives, both Skywalkers stood still for five minutes, before Anakin suddenly yelled out, Luke yelped in surprise, and the man was hugging his child steadfastly against himself. 

Padmé looked to Obi-Wan for an answer, but only got his reverent, saddened silence in response.  

Something was happening, Force wise, that much she could understand. She could only hope that with Obi-Wan’s lack of interference, it wasn’t something bad. 

“Father!” He heard Luke yelp out.  

He was literally all the boy needed. From the start. 

And he didn’t even need to do anything to earn his revere.  

And where was he?!   

“ Father! ” Luke called, a little more heatedly.  

Anakin slowly pulled back mentally.  

“While this is what I meant! You’re crushing me!” Luke yelped.  

Suddenly everything in Anakin screeched to a halt, and he pulled back, yanking himself back and opening his eyes in a panic.  

“Luke!” He panicked when he heard the pained huff of his child.  

He looked down, realising he had too much strength.  

“Sorry! Sorry! ” He moaned, his flesh arm racing up to hold Luke’s head and move him, so he could see his child’s face. “Did I hurt you!?” He demanded. 

He watched as Luke moved his mouth experimentally, grunted, then opened his eyes to look up at him.  

Seeing him become present again, his face broke out into a happy grin.  

“Father!” He greeted.  

Anakin shook his head vehemently. “Did I hurt you!” He demanded.   

Luke blinked in surprise, then shook his head. “No. Just a little winded!” He amended.  

Anakin stared at him. He almost choked—?! 

Luke raced up and slammed a hand over his mouth.  

“No! That’s not what I meant! You didn’t do that !” He yelled. 

Anakin watched painfully as his child looked at him bewilderedly.  

“Why is it everything I say seems to come across negatively? I literally just mean I’ve never been hugged that hard before. It surprised me, not hurt me.” Luke amended with a frown.  

“… I…didn’t hurt you?” He asked quietly.  

Luke nodded. “Nope!” He answered. 

Anakin could only slump against his child in relief. 

He could never do that again. Hurt him. Not as long as he breathed. 

Never again. 

He looked back up to see Luke smiling at him knowingly. Somehow his child knew.  

Anakin sniffed and pulled away. 

Luke giggled but let him go.  

“You’re sure, Luke?” Anakin asked again softly. 

Luke regarded him before he yanked his father back into his emotions to mentally show him that he was fine and unharmed, not noticing he was pouting. 

It caused Anakin to burst out laughing at his expression.  

“Okay, okay! I get it! Peace!” Anakin called.  

It was only then Luke pulled back, glaring playfully. Anakin reacted by ruffling his hair. 

“I hate to break this up,” Obi-Wan interjected, his voice apologetic, making them look at him and noticed he had his communicator out. “And I really do . But we are needed somewhere, Anakin.” He reminded them. 

Anakin clicked his tongue in annoyance but nodded then looked back to Luke.  

“Okay, dear one; I need you to promise me something…” Anakin asked him.  

Luke blinked in awe at the endearment. “Sure?” He asked. 

Luke pouted when his father put him on the chair, and kneeled next to him, for once causing Luke to look down . 

“I need you to stay with your mother, but stay with me here ,” Anakin asked him, tapping the side of his head. “If you feel me slipping, even an inch , I need you to yell at me, yell at Obi-Wan, understand?” He asked. 

Luke frowned. “But you won’t leave again.” He said firmly, convinced.  

“It’s not me I’m worried about.” Anakin pressed, bringing Luke’s hand to his heart. “I’ll always be here . But only you were able to see me, to bring me back out. I need you to tell me if I slip, okay?” He asked.  

Luke nodded. “I promise.” He muttered.  

Anakin could feel Luke crawling back into his mind loudly when he mentally tapped him to let him know he was there.  

“Good.”  Anakin answered.  

Luke didn’t look happy about the arrangement, but didn’t voice his displeasure any further. 

Anakin sighed in relief and got back up, stalling in surprise when he didn’t get far when Luke wrapped his arms around his middle.  

“Just promise you’ll come back.” He heard Luke ask faintly into his middle.  

“In some form, I’ll come back, Luke.” Anakin answered.  

Luke hissed and shook his head. “No! Promise!” He shrieked into him, holding tighter.  

Anakin sighed again. “I promise, Luke.” He said softly, running his flesh hand through his hair.  

It was only then Luke nodded and moved away.  

Obi-Wan moved to Anakin’s side and slapped his back.  

“Don’t worry! I’ll be there!” Obi-Wan said happily. Anakin stared at him dumbfoundedly.  

“And if I recall, nothing bad happens on this mission. It’s afterwards that everything goes wrong.” Obi-Wan continued happily.  

Anakin frowned. “That’s not helpful.” He hissed. 

Obi-Wan laughed and headed for the door.  

“No, seriously, how is that helpful?!” Anakin called, moving off to argue further. 

“Because this mission is the easiest in the terms of the next twenty years.” Obi-Wan stated, opening the door.  

“That’s not helpful!” Anakin yelled again in annoyance.  

Obi-Wan laughed. “Don’t forget your barrier, Luke!” He called then bolted.  

“Obi-Wan!” Anakin called and ran after his old Master.  

Padmé saw Luke’s look of confusion. “Yeah, they’re always like that!” Padmé explained. 

Luke blinked.  

Oh. 

Great.

Chapter Text

  Hold it together, birds of a feather, nothing but lies and crooked wings. I have the answer, you are the faith inside me. I’m a believer. Nothing could be worse. All these imaginary friends. Hiding betrayal, driving the nail, hoping to find a saviour. No! Don’t leave me to die here! Help me survive here! Alone? Don’t remember! Don’t surrender! Put me to sleep, evil angel. Open your wings, evil angel. Fly over me, evil angel.
Why can’t I breathe, evil angel…?  

— Breaking Benjamin (Evil Angel)

8. 

It took Anakin way too long to remember to call Obi-Wan Master again. 

It also took them way too long to get up into Coruscant’s airspace.  

Likewise, it took Obi-Wan a minute and a half to remember the Clones were helping them, and he needed to direct them. 

“ Flying is for droids! ” Anakin heard Obi-Wan demand. 

It caused him to laugh. “ You still hate flying, Master? ” He asked cheekily.  

Obi-Wan swore at him. 

It took him longer than a minute to remember Anakin needed to call him Master , and when he did , he wasn’t referring to Palpatine when he said it. 

But Anakin laughed anyway. Obi-Wan really couldn’t help but smile softly at hearing him.

Obi-Wan yelped in alarm when he felt his controls suddenly not respond to him, and his ship was physically shoved to the side, allowing the buzz droids to narrowly miss his hull. 

“ Watch out! ” He heard Anakin yell. 

Oh. He must’ve… 

“ Careful! ” Obi-Wan yelled back. 

Obi-Wan worried that every little move Anakin made within the Light that he hadn’t before was being scrutinised. 

“ Sorry. ” He heard Anakin mutter back.  

“ Have you noticed the shields are still up?! ” Obi-Wan demanded, seeing Anakin way too distracted with helping people around him.  

“ Sorry, Master! ” Anakin said, swore quietly, broke off, flipped around his ship and started blasting away at Grievous’ ship. 

Then there were droids to worry about blasting their faces off. 

Obi-Wan noted that Anakin was way more reserved about using his lightsaber than previously. And while his psyche was almost thankful for it, he probably needed to use it more than his use of the Force to smash the droids around him and deflect bolts without seeing them or moving at all. 

“Don’t forget you’ll still need to use it.” Obi-Wan told him quietly.  

He watched as Anakin paled for a second, but nodded. 

He tried really hard not to recoil when Anakin summoned his lightsaber, standing next to him, destroying his fair share of droids around them with it physically.  

At least R2 knew what he was doing.  

He breathed a sigh of relief when he put it away. 

“Sorry…” Anakin muttered apologetically.  

Obi-Wan sighed. “It’s alright, it’s not your fault.” He answered, then went over to R2, who was already searching for Palpatine.  

“… Is it still a trap if we know about it?” Anakin asked curiously.  

Obi-Wan grinned. “Still gotta spring it!” He cajoled happily.  

He started to walk away, and Anakin chased after him. “Not with ourselves, again, surely !” He protested.  

Obi-Wan was still grinning, causing Anakin to groan in annoyance. 

Getting trapped again. Yay. 

“R2, stay with the ships!” Anakin ordered, and Obi-Wan threw his communicator for the droid. 

R2 caught the communicator and blew a raspberry of annoyance at them. 

At least R2 was unchanged.  

They allowed themselves to be corralled into the elevators.  

“Drop your weapons!” A droid behind them ordered suddenly.  

And before Obi-Wan could react they were all slammed against the walls, offline in seconds.  

He looked at Anakin incredulously, only to note worriedly that Anakin was pawing his forehead.  

“This is exhausting…” Anakin muttered softly.  

“Are you alright?” Obi-Wan asked.  

Anakin looked at him and nodded. “I’m fine, it’s just…” He waved his hand in the air distinctively. “I didn’t realise before how much darkness there was around us…” He added tiredly.  

Obi-Wan hummed in agreement. He hadn’t noticed either until it was too late. 

“Is it getting to you?” Obi-Wan asked in worry. 

Anakin shook his head. “I keep asking, don’t worry.” He said with a frown. 

Obi-Wan could actively guess it was taking a lot out of Anakin to keep it that way. 

“Let me know if I can help.” Obi-Wan asked.  

Anakin looked at him in surprise, before grinning softly, bemusedly. “Sure.” He answered quietly. “Maybe don’t get knocked out this time?” He added. 

Obi-Wan barked a laugh before they both yelped out in surprise at the elevator stalling. 

“I don’t have time for this!” Anakin hissed, throwing his hand up and clawing the top off, pausing when he felt Obi-Wan flinch. “Oh. Right. Sorry.” He muttered and stopped reacting.   

Obi-Wan sighed and tried reaching for R2 for help, only for both of them to slam into the ground when the elevator fell. 

“Whoa!” Anakin yelled. 

“R2! We need to be going UP!” Obi-Wan yelled.  

While Anakin tried to get up, Obi-Wan stayed where he was. 

He rolled to the side when the elevator stopped again and barely missed Anakin falling into him.  

“ What ?” Anakin muttered painfully.  

“Stop moving!” Obi-Wan advised.  

Anakin moved onto his back and pawed both his eyes while groaning painfully. “What was that…?” He asked.  

“R2—” Obi-Wan started.  

“No loose wire jokes!” Anakin overruled as he pointed a finger at him accusingly.  

“I didn’t say anything!!” Obi-Wan refused heatedly, confused as to why Anakin was glaring at him.  

Leaving the elevator, Anakin immediately flinched and hunched his shoulders, making Obi-Wan look at him worriedly.  

Anakin just shook his head but didn’t say anything. 

They were too close now for anything they said to not be overheard by Palpatine.  

But they walked up to him like they usually would have done.  

“Chancellor.” Obi-Wan greeted as he bowed.  

“Are you alright?” Anakin asked.  

Only Obi-Wan heard the bite Anakin had in his tone. 

He would gladly hurl himself and Anakin off this bridge as far as he could away from this man if he knew it would benefit them both in the long run.  

“Count Dooku.” Palpatine remarked, not even looking at them. 

They could already sense Dooku behind them, but it gave them an excuse to stop paying physical attention to Palpatine.  

“This time, together.” Obi-Wan reminded softly as Anakin walked behind him.  

“Don’t get pushed this time.” Anakin whispered back.  

Obi-Wan heard the worry under his tone.  

He was probably counting on the fact that if he didn’t get knocked unconscious, he might be able to reduce Dooku to surrender, and not to death, and not have Palpatine question it.  

Which was fair, but he wondered if either of them would need to hold back the twenty-plus years they had of experience they didn’t have the first time around. 

Anakin, by himself, could surely coax the man into surrendering, without even using his lightsaber. 

And if Vader had never won against Obi-Wan in his lifetime, then surely Dooku wouldn’t stand a chance if Obi-Wan allowed it. 

Obi-Wan eyed Anakin, who shrugged noncommittally.  

Neither were sure which path to take, especially with Palpatine watching and judging so closely.  

Obi-Wan really couldn’t help but look back to make sure he did indeed spy Palpatine was cuffed to the chair. He could stay that way. 

Maybe they could just Force push the chair out the window…while in the fight…accidentally. No one could say it was incidentally their fault. Anakin would back him up on it. 

“Get help. You’re no match for him. He’s a Sith Lord.” Palpatine helpfully informed them.  

Obi-Wan couldn’t help but turn around to him fully. “Chancellor Palpatine! Sith Lords are our speciality.” He remarked warningly.  

He caught Anakin looking at him worriedly at his tone. 

“Your swords, please.” Dooku was saying, making them look back at him. “We don’t want to make a mess of things in front of the Chancellor,” Dooku remarked, clearly meant to get a reaction from Anakin who, this time around, sided his head and didn’t react.  

Anakin almost looked confused at the remark, most likely not remembering what Dooku was referring to. 

Obi-Wan mentally nudged Anakin.  

Remember, it needs to look convincing to the crowd. He reminded. 

He felt the pain lance through Anakin before he excepted it and nudged him back gently. 

They both ignited their lightsabers at the same time. 

“You won’t get away this time, Dooku.” Obi-Wan told him, warningly. 

It took only a few seconds for Anakin and Obi-Wan to synch up. While they hadn’t literally fought beside each other for over twenty years, it thankfully didn’t show as they fought Dooku back, making sure to surround him. 

“I’ve been looking forward to this.” Dooku told them, pleasantly.  

Anakin clicked his tongue and set his lightsaber ready, waiting for Dooku to move. 

Dooku hummed thoughtfully when Anakin didn’t retort but lunged at him again, which both easily blocked.  

Obi-Wan let himself slide away with a grunt, and Anakin covered him as Dooku retreated up the stairs. He went after the droids when they started shooting at them, knowing Anakin had Dooku covered for the time being. He panicked when Anakin went flying into the wall, and even more so when he felt himself being lifted with the Force, only to be flung away.  

He barely felt another presence push him away from the rail, and from harm’s way, especially when the fall to the ground hurt. 

“Obi-Wan!” He heard Anakin shout.  

Obi-Wan grunted in pain but got up to his knees with a pant, looking up to see Anakin looking at him worriedly. He had a hand stretched out, he felt himself being yanked across the floor, barely missing the top section crashing down on top of him. He couldn’t help but yell out in fright and skitter away from the debris. 

“It seems you still have some tricks up your sleeve.” Dooku said, impressed.  

Anakin turned to him and glared, got up, only to Force throw Dooku down into the lobby and jump after him.  

… Obi… Wan…! Get…up…! He heard Anakin yell at him, mentally distortedly.  

Obi-Wan panted and tried to get up again, seeing the two engaged again.  

“I sense great fear in you, Skywalker. You have hate. You have anger . But you don’t use them.” Dooku commented as he tried to take Anakin’s head off. 

Great. That’s all he needed. Yay. 

But at least Palpatine would have heard that, at least. 

Anakin may have had those emotions in spades, but he knew the price of using them would grant him a walking prison, and never seeing his children grow up.  

Being with his children? Seeing them grow up in a peaceful Galaxy? That was a price worth going through all of this again, trying to get it all right.  

He could still feel Luke at the back of his mind, and never once had the child yelled that he was slipping. He trusted the boy to sense it and tell him if he did. 

They ended up rounding up to Palpatine by the time Anakin was losing patience.  

“Anakin!” Obi-Wan yelled as he came around the other side, catching Dooku off guard, leaving Anakin an opening to twirl his lightsaber around and butt the man in his chest. Hitting hard enough to stagger him, then next with a series of jabs to the chest, then one to the forehead, causing the man to kneel as Anakin pulled his lightsaber out of his hand, then dangerously directing both at Dooku’s head. 

“Anakin!” Obi-Wan called warningly, coming up to him. 

This is exhausting . Anakin tried to mutter at Obi-Wan mentally. 

“Surely, he can’t be left alive!” Palpatine protested.  

It wasn’t just Anakin and Obi-Wan now eyeing the man nervously.  

“Kill him. Kill him now.” Palpatine ordered.  

Anakin noted the look of outstanding fear in Dooku’s eye at his Master so clearly writing him off. 

“Anakin.” Obi-Wan warned, staging for the crowd they had.  

Anakin just sided his head. “Looks like you’re not needed.” He told Dooku. 

He watched as fearful understanding returned to Dooku’s eyes, before he jabbed his lightsaber across his face again, this time knocking the man unconscious.  

As soon as Dooku slumped, Anakin tossed the Sith lightsaber up and tore it in two with his own, then turned his off, glancing at Palpatine with a frown.  

“He’s too dangerous to be kept alive!” Palpatine demanded, his tone seeped in annoyance. 

“It is not the Jedi way to harm unarmed prisoners.” Obi-Wan retorted.  

Both warily noted the angry glare Palpatine shoved in Obi-Wan’s way, would have missed it had they not been looking for it.  

“Of course, Master Jedi.” Palpatine conceded. “I just worry he will come after me again.” He added.  

Anakin hissed, then hauled Dooku across his shoulders.  

“Leave him. We need to leave before more security droids arrive!” Palpatine said.  

“His fate will be the same as ours!” Anakin told him heatedly.  

If he could come back from using the Darkside, then maybe Dooku could as well, seeing that his Master had no further use for him, even condemned him, he might even turn on him and be a source of information. Out Palpatine for him.

Besides, he had a feeling Luke would never forgive him for leaving him behind without trying. 

“Elevator’s not working.” Anakin remarked, seeing no lights. 

“Please remember we’re on an active battleship, at war.” Obi-Wan reminded. 

Anakin blinked.  

Oh.  

Right . 

Oops. 

Obi-Wan chuckled, then called down to R2. 

Suddenly, their escape went a little south when the ship’s hull was hit. Gravity sent them racing to grab onto the walls, then to pull themselves into the elevator shaft and bolt down towards the hanger bay.  

“Why do all our plans end up like this?!” Obi-Wan was screeching indignantly.  

“Just keep running!” Anakin yelled back, keeping one eye on Obi-Wan, and the other mercilessly on Palpatine.  

While he wouldn’t be amiss to just toss the Sith to the side, out of an airlock and call it a day, it would look bad if he somehow was able to survive and tattle on them. 

Then the plan went a little more south when the craft levelled out, tossing them when gravity caught up. Gravity caused Anakin’s mechanical arm to crack mercilessly into the durasteel hull of the elevator shaft, and Dooku to once again hit his head as Palpatine grasped onto his leg.  

Anakin grunted in numb pain, knowing something in his arm was broken, but he was able to hook it around a wire to stabilise them all. While so, he saw Obi-Wan grab hold of a cross-section while gasping in pain when he hit it a little too hard with his chest.  

“You alright?” He asked, keeping his annoyance to himself that Palpatine was clinging to his leg. Just one little kick… 

“I’ll survive? I think.” Obi-Wan grunted back in annoyance, then looked at him. “You?” He asked in worry, seeing him carrying the two Sith.  

“I’ll live. I think something broke in my arm.” Anakin grumbled, not exactly feeling everything respond when he tried to move it.  

He saw the look of worry Obi-Wan sent him.  

“Aside from that? Peachy .” He added meaningfully.  

Luke hadn’t yelled at him yet . 

Then came the fast-incoming elevator and swinging for their lives. It caused them to land on the ground at a speed they didn’t like.  

“This day just keeps getting better and better!” Obi-Wan said cheerfully.  

Anakin sat up and felt down his mechanical arm painfully. There was something loose, not something that he could fix right now.  

“Says you .” Anakin retorted exhaustedly.  

Obi-Wan helped him up, then patting him consolingly on the back.  

“Yeah, yeah,” He muttered back. “I’m good.” He answered, annoyance seeped into his tone at how his arm hung uselessly at his side, but he would deal with it later. 

With a quick check over Dooku, Anakin noted with the recent hit to the head meant the man wasn’t going to be waking anytime soon. He hefted the man up back onto his back, yelping in pain and surprise when the weight boring on his mechanical side hurt him.  

“Anakin?” Obi-Wan asked in worry. 

Anakin waved him off. “It’ll be okay once I fix it.” He reassured.  

He ignored the calculative look from Palpatine.  

And then they got caught again by ray shields.  

Was it being caught if it was on purpose?  

Anakin didn’t know, and by then he was too exhausted deflecting to question it.  

He was only thankful he was relieved of carrying Dooku for a little bit.  

He actually forgot all about Grievous.  

“Oops?” Anakin asked. 

“Oops? Oops ?!” Obi-Wan retorted incredulously.  

“Should I just apologise now or later, Master?” Anakin asked tiredly.  

Obi-Wan groaned at him. “We’ll see if there is a later.” He muttered. 

They were taken to Grievous. They even took Dooku and placed him to the side helpfully. 

Yay. 

“You’re shorter than I expected.” Anakin retorted.  

“We’ve got a job to do, Anakin, try not to upset him.” Obi-Wan reminded. 

It rhymed with getting off this Sith-filled and forsaken hull, and it didn’t involve Grievous conscious. But it did rhyme with making sure Palpatine stayed put, annoyingly. Anakin chased after the man to secure him, begrudgingly releasing him from his restraints, and running back to help Obi-Wan with Grievous. Only to lose the sentient droid when he lashed the window. Losing gravity caused Dooku to smash into the side and then back into the ground by the time the windows closed. Anakin almost felt sorry for the man’s concussion. 

“Can you fly a cruiser like this?” Obi-Wan asked curiously.  

“I think you mean, do I know how to crash it safely.” Anakin retorted.  

“You could’ve just said land it like any normal person.” Obi-Wan muttered out incredulously. 

“Where’s the fun in that!” Anakin laughed.  

Half the cruiser detached on the way down.  

“We lost something.” Anakin muttered in concern. 

“Not to worry! We’re still flying half a ship!” Obi-Wan said cheerfully. 

Anakin ended up landing the cruiser; crashing whatever remained of it, the landing strip and several buildings along the way. 

“Another happy landing!” Obi-Wan crowed happily. Anakin glared at him. “What! We landed! So, success!” He accused. 

Anakin rolled his eyes and then groaned in pain. “Let’s just get off this thing before it falls apart any more than it already has!” Anakin muttered back.  

That Obi-Wan could agree with. 

Reporting this mess to Jedi Council? Yeah, that he couldn’t wait to do. But it was probably better to secure Dooku before the man woke up. 

They were both happy to see the back of Palpatine’s head when he was dragged away by his advisors and medics, so much that Anakin slumped.  

“That…” Anakin muttered. 

Obi-Wan looked at him in worry.  

“I don’t want to do that again in a hurry.” He added softly, his flesh hand pawing his eye tiredly.  

Obi-Wan crossed his arms worriedly. “That bad?” He asked.  

“It was horrible,” Anakin answered. “My strength just went into the void. It was like I was back fighting him constantly on the Death Star to help Luke.” He added tiredly. 

Obi-Wan patted his shoulder, freezing when Anakin moaned pain. “Wrong arm!” He panicked.  

Anakin waved him off. “I’ll be fine.” He muttered. 

“Anakin!” Palpatine called, causing Anakin to flinch in panic, straighten up from his slump and Obi-Wan to grasp his flesh arm protectively in response. “My dear boy, I need your help with something.” The man asked, coming back over to him, after waving his advisors away.  

“Can, can it wait, sir?” Anakin asked, clearly showing pain. “I need to fix my arm, it got damaged in the crash.” He added. 

Palpatine zeroed in on him in a moment. “Alright, I’ll let you go, but! I can tell you before you leave that with this debacle the Senate will great me more emergency powers over this war, and with it, I’m appointing you to be my personal representative on the Jedi Council.” Palpatine informed. 

Obi-Wan flinched, while Anakin looked confused.  

“The Jedi Council elects its own members; they won’t agree to this.” Anakin said, beating Obi-Wan by a second. 

“Oh, they will have to. They need you.” Palpatine warned. 

Palpatine left with a smile neither of them liked, and with that news, Anakin knew he wouldn’t be fixing his arm, or getting back to Luke and Padmé any time soon. 

Chapter Text

  What’s left to say? These prayers ain’t working anymore. Every word shot down in flames. What’s left to do with these broken pieces on the floor? I’m losing my voice calling on you. Can you use these tears to put out the fires in my soul? ‘Cause I need you here! ‘Cause I’ve been shaking, I’ve been bending backwards till I’m broke, watching all these dreams go up in smoke! Let beauty come out of ashes. And when I pray to God, all I ask is can beauty come out of ashes?  

— Celine Dion (Ashes)

9. 

Anakin slumped into the hull of the taxi that was taking them across Coruscant to the Jedi Temple. 

They both found it ironic that they called them for a meeting while they were on their way.  

Obi-Wan was the one who responded to say that they were already coming.  

“Will you be alright?” Obi-Wan asked in concern.  

“You’d think I’d be used to this kind of pain. But nope.” Anakin hissed out, holding his mechanical arm in place, so it didn’t jostle as much with turbulence.  

“Pain, is still pain, Anakin.” Obi-Wan reminded softly.  

“Yeah? Well, it sucks .” Anakin gritted back through his pain.  

Obi-Wan didn’t take it personally, he knew by now when Anakin was snarling from anger, and this clearly wasn’t that. He just patted his flesh arm, consolingly.  

Anakin grunted. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to yell at you.” He muttered.  

“That really wasn’t you yelling.” Obi-Wan was quick to amend. He had seen that up front and personal. “But at least with us going to the Temple, we’ll be closer to Luke and Padmé?” He asked.  

Anakin hummed thoughtfully and tiredly. “Do you think after the Council yells at me for subterfuge, I can go sleep?” He asked hopefully.  

Obi-Wan laughed. “Only if I can!” He answered back cheerfully.  

Anakin hung back quietly, knowing Obi-Wan needed to enter with the Council first.  

He was nearly balled over by the severity and weight of the emotions that were suddenly crashing into him, that he had to grasp the wall to stay upright.  

Father! He heard Luke cry out happily.  

Everything inside him released softly as he sighed in relief.  

Hello, my Son. He answered softly, leaning his head against the wall, and closing his eyes in respite.  

You’re in pain. Luke was immediately saying.  

Anakin hummed tiredly. My arm was shoved out of place during our crash back into Coruscant. I haven’t had the chance to fix it yet. He answered. 

  Oh . Luke answered, then curiously, Anakin felt his son’s energy softly coalesce over his entire being. Not just wiping the numb pain from his mechanical arm, but also the barbs Palpatine had attempted to set into his Force Signature, he hadn’t noticed. There. Does that help? He asked curiously. 

Anakin sighed as the weight was removed. More than you know, my child. He told him gratefully.  

All he got in return was his child’s embarrassed giggle. 

He would hug him later, once this was over.  

Anakin noted the door opening, so he allowed himself to move. 

Anakin felt the sharp critical look from Yoda at the same time he saw Obi-Wan’s worried frown.  

Yeah, this wasn’t going to go down well. 

But it was going to go down without him throwing a man-sized tantrum about it.  

He didn’t want to be there as much as they wanted him to be.  

Well, maybe him more so than them, since he wanted to be a few flights up, hugging his child.  

But same difference. 

But he entered all the same and bowed as much as he could with his arm in as much pain as it was in. 

“Allow this appointment lightly, the Council does not. Disturbing is this move by Chancellor Palpatine.” Yoda started.  

Yeah, it was more of a Sidious move than anything. Anakin wanted nothing to do with it, if he was honest.  

“I understand.” Anakin said softly in understanding. 

“You are on this Council, but we do not grant you the rank of Master.” Windu announced.  

Anakin bowed. “I understand that I need more time. Am I still allowed to sit in on meetings?” He asked instead.  

He felt the mass confusion his compliance brought, and he looked to Obi-Wan for help, while he couldn’t do anything grand, he was happy for the comforting nod.  

Windu looked the most confused, while Yoda looked deliberating. “You may. Sit.” Windu ordered, gesturing to a seat. 

He really rather not. But he sat, all the same.  

Then really, without him realising it, he phased out of consciousness altogether as soon as he sat down and missed out on the meeting in its entirety.  

He couldn’t even remember closing his eyes, or how he remained sitting.  

“— Anakin ?” He heard Obi-Wan calling softly.  

Anakin jolted the move, causing pain to ricochet down his arm, making him yelp in pain as he opened his eyes.  

He heard Obi-Wan gasp, then felt a hand stabilising him.  

He blinked several times before he understood where he was.  

“Obi-Wan?” He questioned back.  

“Ah, there you are. Are you alright?” Obi-Wan asked, leaning down to see into his face.  

Anakin frowned. “I don’t remember falling asleep.” He muttered.  

Obi-Wan chuckled. “You didn’t miss much if you’re worried.” He reiterated.  

Anakin scrunched his nose up as he tried to settle his weight. “No, but it probably looked really bad.” He said softly.  

“Just like you were meditating, not asleep. I mean, I could tell you were asleep, no one else though.” Obi-Wan told him.  

Anakin was able to muscle a glare at him, which only served to make Obi-Wan laugh. 

“In pain you are?” Yoda asked.  

Anakin flinched and looked to see Yoda was the only Council member still present.  

“Uh, yeah. My arm sustained damage, I haven’t had a spare second since it happened.” Anakin answered, slightly awkward.  

“Leave you shall. Fix. Deliberate later.” Yoda demanded.  

Yep. With that tone, Anakin knew to get out.  

He was grateful that Obi-Wan still had a hand on his back. 

His feet took him back to Luke.  

He felt the boy giggle when he brushed up against the barrier for entry, and it was gone in a second. 

The weight in his shoulders vanished when he saw his son run up to him as soon as the door opened. Luke was wrapped up around his leg before he could throw up his own barrier to replace Luke’s just before the door could even close. 

“Father!” He cried happily as soon as he knew it was safe to do.  

Anakin’s flesh hand automatically found its way into Luke’s hair. 

“Hello, Son.” He said quietly.  

Luke giggled and nuzzled his head into his leg. 

“Where’s Padmé?” Obi-Wan was asking curiously. 

“Oh!” Luke said suddenly, pulling away, he pointed to their sleeping quarters. “Yeah! Her communicator thing went off, and she started using words I didn’t know existed, but they sounded very Leia-ish, so I put up a privacy ward so who Mother, and whoever she’s talking to can’t hear us.” Luke informed, looking up at them.  

  Both looked to the room, and could barely feel the ward Luke put up, but if they felt hard enough, they could still feel Padmé.  

Anakin just ruffled his hair, causing the boy to splutter.  

“Alright, Luke. Mind helping me?” He asked as he walked towards the table to sit, awkwardly shrugging off his robe as he went.  

Luke nodded as he caught his father’s robe, saving it from the floor.  

“Sure? I don’t know why you didn’t just go to a medic before coming here. You’re in a lot of pain.” Luke said as he walked with his father while using the Force to put his father’s robe on its hook by the door.  

Obi-Wan watched them reverently.  

“I think you being this small will actually help better.” Anakin told him.  

Luke frowned. “I can’t heal people, Father.” He protested in concern.  

Anakin was frowning, pausing in removing his gauntlet seeing Luke was glaring at the chair that really was too high for him to climb up comfortably, he used the Force to lift him up.  

Luke squawked, then laughed loudly. “Whoa!” He cried happily.  

Obi-Wan chuckled as the boy somersaulted up into the air as Anakin rolled his sleeve onto his shoulder. Luke was on the fifth somersault when Anakin removed the last braces and pulled the gauntlet off to reveal the mechanics underneath.  

“ Oh ,” Luke breathed in realisation, not exactly caring he was upside down at the time, but Anakin righted him and stood him on the chair next to him. “Yeah, okay, that makes more sense…” Luke added, and then he looked to Anakin for permission. As soon as Anakin nodded, Luke gave his mechanical arm his full attention. “This is so old. Why can I see through it.” The boy muttered, sounding horrified.  

Anakin couldn’t help but snort. “Synth-skin doesn’t exist yet, Luke.” Anakin added with mirth.  

Luke blinked a few times. “Oh. Touching is probably going to hurt…?” He muttered.  

“Thanks for the warning, Luke. But it’ll hurt more if we leave it.” Anakin told him. 

Luke nodded and laid one hand near the elbow joint.  

Anakin tried his best not to flinch in pain as the boy moved closer to peer through it.  

“Oh. I see the problem.” Luke said, then without much else warning, he shoved his fingers through the casing. 

Anakin expected it to hurt, but he felt himself suddenly become detached from his own pain and body, almost as if he was metaphysically shoved out at the same time Luke moved in.  

He could numbly feel Luke was pressing and moving something, he barely heard the hiss when something reconnected. He couldn’t move anything, not even his flesh fingers, or summon up the Force. He felt the Force shove back on his mind as much as he felt the numb pain vanish altogether.  

“There!” Luke celebrated, both arms up in the air.  

Anakin stared at Luke in astonishment.  

“Did you just shove me out of my own body?!” He asked incredulously.  

Luke blinked at him. “Yes…?” He said questioningly.  

Both Obi-Wan and Anakin stared at him in astonishment.  

“What?” Luke asked in worry, seeing them.  

“You can just do that?” Obi-Wan asked curiously.  

Luke shrugged.  

“I haven’t done it before…? Is it bad?” Luke asked with a frown, gathering the gauntlet to give back to Anakin. 

“No. But it might be useful. I couldn’t do anything. Physical or Force wise.” Anakin noted.  

Anakin then looked at Obi-Wan with a grin the man didn’t like.  

“Try it on Obi-Wan!” He said gleefully.  

“Ohohoho! No! No way!” Obi-Wan protested.  

“I need to know if it works on more than me, and you’re right here!” Anakin crowed.  

Obi-Wan moaned in protest and slumped. “I’m going to regret this.” He muttered.  

Obi-Wan waved Luke on and hunched his shoulders up protectively.  

Luke looked worried, but he could see where his father was coming from. 

But Luke shoved Obi-Wan’s Force presence in the same manner that he did his father’s.  

Nothing in Obi-Wan’s figure showed anything different, except the sudden vacant look in the man’s eye.  

Anakin couldn’t sense any difference; it was suddenly like Obi-Wan had started to meditate.  

Then suddenly, Obi-Wan gasped and recoiled over the table as he panted once Luke released him.  

“That is strangely…like being dead …” Obi-Wan muttered in distaste.  

“Could you fight him?” Anakin asked curiously, fighting the urge to apologise again.  

Obi-Wan shook his head. “Couldn’t do anything !” Obi-Wan protested. 

“Is it bad?” Luke asked in concern. 

They could both hear the undertone of what Luke wasn’t asking.  

Whether or not he should use the ability. 

Seeing Luke so worried, Anakin gathered him up and smothered him into his chest.  

Luke yelped out in surprise, but roped his arms around his neck happily.  

“It’s not a Sith move, Luke,” Obi-Wan said, causing Luke to look at him. “It’s a Force restriction ability, sure, but Sentinels use them more than Knights. If anything, it’s Greyer, because it leans neither way. Could you have harmed either of us while you used it?” Obi-Wan asked.  

They saw the absolute confusion roll over the child’s face at several key moments, before he scrunched up his face.  

“I don’t want to hurt you! I tried using it because I didn’t want to hurt Father!” Luke cried out.  

Obi-Wan chuckled. “Which is why you would make a terrible Sith.” He counted.  

Luke stared, before hiding his head under Anakin’s chin forcibly, causing Anakin to grunt out in surprise. 

“Speaking of Sith. What happened to Dooku?” Anakin asked.  

“The Peacekeepers and Sentinels took him. Why did you leave him alive?” Obi-Wan asked curiously.  

“Aside from the fact that I didn’t actually want to kill him, I sensed his fear when Palpatine told me to kill him. It’s in the Sith way to know you’ll eventually be replaced or killed. So, fearing the process means he’s not all Sith, or at least repentant.” Anakin explained.  

Obi-Wan hummed thoughtfully.  

“What are Sentinels?” Luke asked, muffled from under Anakin’s chin.  

Anakin saw the look of pain that passed over Obi-Wan’s face.  

“I’m sorry, Luke,” Obi-Wan started, causing Luke to lean back and look at him. “With so little time, I didn’t have long to teach you everything I wanted to.” He apologised.  

Luke frowned, but Obi-Wan clicked his tongue and ruffled his hair, causing Luke to squawk in laughter. 

Anakin watched reverently that Luke tried to swat Obi-Wan away, but the man seemed to be able to evade the smaller hands, ruffling his hair further.  

“Ben!” Luke protested.  

It caused Obi-Wan to smile softly, but relented, letting Luke catch his hand. 

Luke beamed at him. “I’m guessing it’s something to do with Jedi?” He asked curiously.  

Obi-Wan nodded.  

“There’s more than one path to focus the Force. Yoda and I trained you as a Guardian type, but there are also Sentinel and Consular. Basically, how a person can perceive and use the Force determines the path they are set on from childhood.” Obi-Wan explained.  

Luke frowned. “And that…just determines it? Not the child?” He asked, his tone turning incredulous.  

“That’s how it was, yes…” Obi-Wan said. 

They watched as Luke’s face scrunched up. “But what if it’s not the right one? Or the child isn’t how they are as a grown-up?” He asked.  

Anakin blinked, then ruffled his hair.  

“Welcome to me, Luke.” He said, ignoring Luke yelping.  

Obi-Wan sighed sadly. “I can’t apologise enough, both of you.” He said softly. 

Both Anakin and Luke looked at him in confusion.  

“Hey, no. I didn’t mean you were to blame, Ben!” Luke protested. “I get why Yoda and you taught me the way you did with the limitations you had, and the Galaxy climate. But to force children onto set paths when they could choose themselves in a time of peace seems…” Luke added. 

“Wrong?” Obi-Wan added curiously.  

“Yeah—” Luke stalled, then looked a little panicked. “Wait! That’s not—” Luke frowned, and little a little confused. 

Obi-Wan just chuckled. “I understand what you mean, Luke. Don’t worry. The Jedi Order became stagnant for a reason.” He said understandingly.  

Anakin was already frowning, but suddenly he was rushing up to Obi-Wan and shoving a hand onto his forehead. 

It caused Obi-Wan to yelp in fright at the sudden move.  

“Are you sick?” Anakin asked, his tone a mix of worry and mischief. 

Obi-Wan suddenly glared. “Yes. I’m perfectly fine and rational.” He glowered.  

Anakin laughed. “Just making sure!” He crowed. 

Obi-Wan sighed warily and Anakin took a step back out of his space respectfully.  

“So, what now?” Luke asked curiously. 

Anakin blinked. “Right,” He turned to Obi-Wan. “Are you still being sent to Utapau?” He questioned, not exactly remembering when Utapau happened. 

Obi-Wan looked worried. “Not that it has come up in meetings yet… I don’t exactly want to go…” He said worriedly. 

From Obi-Wan’s point of view, he had left for Utapau with Anakin apologising for his temperament, with things looking like they were finally turning a brighter corner. Only for everything to go so horribly wrong, returning to the Republic in shambles, the Clones turning, a dead Jedi Order, and Anakin firmly in the Darkside.  

“I’ll be fine, Obi-Wan…” Anakin told him.  

Obi-Wan sighed. “I want to believe you, really I do.” Obi-Wan attempted to explain. 

Anakin nodded.  

He could understand all too well. 

“I’ll be here!” Luke said encouragingly. “I already removed the spikes Palpatine inlaid in his aura! Father’s fine!” Luke said happily.  

“I also don’t know what will happen if we leave Grievous alive…” Anakin muttered.  

Obi-Wan by then was looking worried and frowning in concern.  

“I just…don’t like the thought of leaving you alone to deal with Palpatine, knowing…” Obi-Wan tried to explain warily.  

Anakin could see his point of view.  

Before he could set him at ease, he felt Luke clutch harder.  

“Then I’ll stick to him like glue!” Luke added determinedly.  

Obi-Wan burst out laughing. “Hell come high water; you wouldn’t be!” Obi-Wan laughed.  

Luke giggled. “True. But I won’t leave Father alone.” He admonished.   

“I’m right here!” Anakin grumbled good-naturedly.  

Luke giggled, as he turned to him and patted his cheek. “I know. You’re right here !” Luke commented.  

And just like that, Anakin felt disarmed at the idea that was all his child needed.  

“Alright, Luke.” Anakin felt himself saying, leaning down and touching his forehead with his, seeing Luke’s happy smile bloom on his face. 

As if the singular action brought his child peace. 

It was still as mind-boggling as it was when he first found out. 

Obi-Wan still looked worried. 

“… I’ll talk to Yoda about it…” He ended up muttering instead. 

While he trusted Luke, and Anakin, while the man was in the Light. He did not trust Palpatine, or Vader, as far as he could throw either of them without the Force to aid him. 

Anakin nodded at him, while Luke happily scrunched his nose up at him. 

Keeping these two safe had been Obi-Wan’s main objective most of his life. Not that he could say he was any good at it. Something always went wrong that was out of his control. Palpatine with Anakin. Vader’s Inquisitor with Luke. But he would like to think that he tried . 

“You did, Master.” Anakin suddenly said. 

Obi-Wan blinked out of his thoughts and looked at Anakin. The man looked awed and somehow openly soft, while the boy he held looked close to happy tears.  

“And that’s all that matters!” Anakin added with a soft nod.  

Obi-Wan felt himself tear up and shake his head despondently.  

“I should have tried harder. Done more—!” He paused in surprise when Luke cried out in grievance, one hand patting his father’s shoulder, his other making grabby hands at him.  

Anakin walked closer and before Obi-Wan really could understand what was happening, suddenly Luke was in his arms, racing to hug him.  

Obi-Wan couldn’t help but hug the child back hard.  

“I’m sorry!” Obi-Wan couldn’t help but plead tearfully.  

Luke shook his head into his shoulder. “Ben.” He added softly. 

There was so much forgiveness in how he said Obi-Wan’s name. In the waves, the child sent him, that he looked to Anakin for approval.  

Anakin just nodded, and suddenly threw his arms around Obi-Wan as well. Obi-Wan was fast to return the gesture, not at all caring for the rules they were breaking. They all needed this reprieve. 

Chapter Text

Tell me, tell me, how does it all work? Who lies within me? I’m already gone, so I stop breathing. I can’t unravel myself. Breakable? Unbreakable! Insane? Sane! Then you found me, and I felt something break! I don’t want to hurt you. I’ve changed and I can’t change back. Paralysed by the fact I’ve changed; I cannot change anything! Before the future unravels into the trap someone else planned: remember me as how I used to be: don’t look for me, don’t look at me, don’t forget me! I won’t let you be defiled by me!  

— OR3O (Japanese) | Jonathan Young (English)

10. 

Luke was the only one who heard the confused tapping from the other room.  

“Oh…” Luke muttered and pulled back, both men let him go without question, but looked confused when he pointed to the door towards the sleeping quarters. Their confusion was abated when they felt the ward release and Padmé walked out, looking rather confused.  

“What…?” She was asking, then paused, seeing Obi-Wan and Anakin back. “Oh! I didn’t hear you return!” She said in surprise.  

“Yeah, uh,” Luke started apologetically. “You kinda said words I’ve only heard Leia use, so I figured it was Senate related, and it would probably be best if they didn’t hear us.” Luke said.  

Padmé blinked. “Thank you…?” She asked.  

Luke shrugged as if of no consequence.  

“How did the Senate go anyway?” Obi-Wan asked curiously.  

Padmé sighed warily. “It’s like the democracy we’re serving, no longer exists.” She said sadly.  

Everyone saw Anakin flinch, and Obi-Wan wasted no time in turning Luke over back to his father. 

Luke just crawled back into the nooks and crannies of his father’s psyche helpfully. There were no barbs in his aura from Palpatine, but Luke could feel the weight of the Darkside around them all.  

“Luke?” Anakin muttered curiously as he felt the boy nest. 

“I thought you were hurt…” Luke answered back, referring to why Anakin was suddenly holding him. 

Anakin shook his head. “No, I’m alright?” Anakin answered, even so, Luke didn’t move. 

Padmé looked between them all. “Democracy won’t have its say until you can out him, correct?” She asked curiously. 

Anakin nodded exhaustedly. “Being with him last time took everything I had.” He muttered.  

Luke sided his head. “Would me being there with you help you?” He asked.  

Anakin shook his head. “No, that would probably make me freak out and kill him before I can out him.” He said truthfully.  

“Close, then!” Luke demanded.  

“Luke…” Anakin warned.  

Anakin was surprised, just as much as Obi-Wan and Padmé that Luke actually glared at his father.  

“No! I can help! I am helping!” Luke protested.  

Luke watched Anakin blink at him.  

“I know you’re helping, Luke. But you…being so close to him, in the same room with him, in any capacity…” Anakin trailed off, looking unsettled and worried.  

Luke could sense how troubled the idea made his father.  

He could suddenly hear his own muffled screaming and beseeching from far away, rising up in his father’s memory. So much that he beat it back down and shoved his forehead against Anakin’s.  

“No.” He demanded of his father, and the memory. 

“You can’t chase every bad memory away, Luke.” Anakin warned softly.  

“Bah!” Luke protested. “Watch me!” He added, then he poked his tongue out.  

Anakin just laughed. 

/

/ 

Luke jolted up from the table sleepily seconds before Anakin’s communicator went off.  

“I don’t want squid…” Luke muttered incomprehensively and tiredly. 

Obi-Wan looked at him in confusion, but they all felt Anakin’s ire rise.  

“Would anyone mind if I smash this against the wall?” He asked. 

“Probably the technicians who will need to give you a new one?” Obi-Wan questioned, causing Padmé to giggle. “What’s wrong?” He asked. 

Anakin sighed but got up. “Palpatine’s calling,” This made Luke sit up. “No, you’re not coming!” Anakin said firmly to him, pointing a finger. Luke immediately slumped and crossed his arms in annoyance. “It’s way too late, and people will question why there’s a four-year-old running around.” He added. 

It didn’t improve Luke’s pout, so much that Anakin sighed dejectedly, not at all knowing how to handle the situation.  

“… Next time, alright?” Anakin guessed.  

This had Luke perking up. “Really!?” He asked.  

“As long as you go to bed and be good until I get back!” Anakin ordered.  

Luke stood up on his chair and saluted. “I can still be there, though, yeah?” He asked, tapping his head.  

“Don’t you ever leave!” Anakin scolded playfully.  

Luke laughed, then squawked when he felt himself being Force lifted by his father.  

“Fine! Fine! I’ll go to bed!” Luke laughed.  

Anakin sighed in relief when Luke didn’t fight the sleep suggestion through the Force. He stared down at his child as his breathing evened out, even if the boy was asleep, his presence within his mind was still as bright as it normally would be if he was awake.  

Anakin felt a certain comfort in that.  

Hopefully, it meant that Luke would still be able to bat away any Darkside spikes Palpatine tried to set into his Signature.  

But at least with this meeting not deviating, Anakin knew the script, and what Palpatine expected him to say and do for him to continue to think he had sway over Anakin. He made a mental note to grab a holo-recorder before he met up with the man.

“There’s no way to glue him to the bed, is there…?” Anakin asked Obi-Wan as he shut the door on Luke sleeping.  

Obi-Wan guffawed. “If there was a way, I would have found it by now, with all of you!” He laughed. 

So… that was a no on the glue. 

Darn. 

“… If you don’t hear from me in half-hour…maybe break the sleep suggestion on Luke?” Anakin suggested.  

Obi-Wan suddenly looked wary and nodded.  

“May the Force be with you.” Obi-Wan pleaded. 

Anakin grinned and left. 

/

/ 

Anakin turned up later than the first time, thanks to Luke. But Palpatine didn’t seem to mind.  

Yay. 

But how had Anakin never seen how bad it was the first time, he had no clue. It probably rhymed with brainwashing. 

The man was literally gleeful, and all too willing to share information.  

But at least he could tell the Council about Utapau now? 

While Palpatine droned on, Anakin homed in on the cracked Force-bond he had with Obi-Wan. He was grateful it was still there and that it was mendable, but he couldn’t remember for the life of him when it had gotten so frayed and torn.  

But he had been fixing it ever since Luke showed up. He had forgotten to ask Obi-Wan about what he sensed on his side of things. But he hoped that fixing his side of things would help whatever lay beyond his sight with Obi-Wan.  

Hey, Obi-Wan? He sent out curiously. 

Anakin was surprised to feel Obi-Wan’s panicked and surprise jolting back at him.  

Anakin!? Are you alright?! Obi-Wan called.  

Huh. So, it could be fixed! Fancy that. 

Which meant it was only on his end that it was frayed.  

Great. 

Yeah, I’m fine. I wanted to ask a question. Anakin sent to him.  

He felt Obi-Wan curiosity, and the general health check on his Signature, which he allowed.  

Which is? Obi-Wan asked back.  

Anakin felt the almost nervous pull back as soon as Obi-Wan realised Anakin wanted to show him something. But Obi-Wan relented cautiously.

Fair.  

“If they haven’t included you in their plot, they soon will.” Palpatine said.  

“I’m not sure I understand?” Anakin queried back, confused.  

“You must sense what I have come to suspect: the Jedi Council want control of the Republic. They are planning to betray me.” Palpatine warned.  

This is now? Anakin heard Obi-Wan overrule.  

Anakin was simultaneously sending the memory as Palpatine was saying it, he told Obi-Wan so. 

He felt Obi-Wan become thoughtful. This is the furthest from the truth, Anakin. If anything, the Jedi want less control than what they have with the Senate and return to being requested peacekeepers. Unaligned and Grey to both sides. To see the middle ground, and come up with solutions for the best of both. Obi-Wan explained his thought tone was heavy, despondent, and depressed.  

He was worried about how Obi-Wan was coping with all of this. Especially now when he could feel him like this. 

Obi-Wan ? Anakin questioned.  

He felt Obi-Wan shake his head. If the Jedi survive this time, they need to change, else wise, nothing will have been gained. They cannot be left to stagnant further. Obi-Wan pressed.  

Anakin blinked at the phrasing, making it sound like Obi-Wan set himself apart from the Order at large. 

Obi-Wan ? He questioned again, he felt Obi-Wan’s tiredness and resolved to question him in the morning. 

“Did you ever hear the tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise…?” Palpatine questioned.  

And at that, Anakin could feel the barbs cutting into him, and he had to not react or show panic when they dug into his aura. Luke didn’t react, in his mind, worryingly. 

Obi-Wan! Anakin gasped, and he felt the man jolt up in a panic. I’m going to need Luke awake! He panicked.  

He felt a slice of Obi-Wan’s fear before the man became lost in waves of movement. 

Oh, he hoped Luke would wake up fast. 

As soon as Palpatine was done talking… As soon as he was dismissed with the information about Utapau… Anakin had permission to bolt . 

He needed out before he stopped breathing in panic. 

How had he not seen the layers of darkness he was just pummelled with the first time?! Or hadn’t questioned how he knew a ‘Sith Legend’ to begin with!? 

Father! He heard Luke call out in a panic.  

/

/ 

Obi-Wan!  

Obi-Wan panicked at suddenly hearing Anakin so fearful, that he jolted up from his dozing, and slammed his knee into the table.  

Padmé had long gone to bed, but for some reason, Obi-Wan hadn’t been able to fully fall asleep. 

This was probably why; the Force was screaming at him, and Anakin was in a panic. 

I’m going to need Luke awake! Anakin was yelling in panic .  

That got Obi-Wan up and running.  

He would need to apologise to Padmé, for barging in, later. 

Obi-Wan easily broke the sleep suggestion Anakin had placed on Luke, but actually getting the boy to wake up was another thing entirely , it was like the boy was unconscious!  

“Luke!” Obi-Wan yelled, causing Padmé to wake in fright.  

“What!” She screeched.  

Obi-Wan shook Luke enough that the boy grumbled in annoyance. 

“Luke! Wake up!” Obi-Wan yelled.  

Suddenly the boy was awake and sitting up.  

“Father!” He called in a panic.  

“What’s going on!?” Both Padmé and Obi-Wan were yelling.  

They stalled when Luke glared at them warningly for their noise.  

Obi-Wan clammed up and raised a hand to Padmé for her silence. Luke probably needed all the help he could get. 

/

/ 

Father! He heard Luke call out in a panic.  

At hearing his son’s voice, Anakin collapsed into the nearby wall, thankfully no one was around to see a fully grown Jedi slump lifelessly into the side of the building. 

Luke. Help. He called pleadingly.  

He could feel the boy storming through his psyche, smoothing over where Palpatine had prodded, and yanking out the barbs of darkness slicing into his aura. While the ones previously he hadn’t felt, but these? These were painful . 

Luke . He called, suddenly exhausted.  

The darkness being removed left gaps that hurt, and he moaned painfully. 

I don’t know where you are! Luke was saying in annoyance. Are you able to return? How far away are you?! You’re in so much pain! What if Ben comes? He asked, beseechingly, hopeful for an option. 

Anakin panted. He’ll sense Obi-Wan coming. I need to leave by myself and make it back. He told him. 

He heard Luke’s worried whine. How long will it take you? What if Ben meets you at the front steps? He asked. 

Anakin chuckled tiredly at Luke’s constant barrage that somehow took his pain away. 

Just don’t fall asleep. Anakin asked. 

I’m not going anywhere until you get back here! Luke demanded. 

Whatever his child wanted… 

Yeah. Moving now suddenly felt like he was residing in thick quicksand or bogged in mud. Neither was fun, and he couldn’t move without a lot of force behind each step. So much it took him ages to retreat from the Opera House to where the taxis were, and at least with them, they could move him faster back to the Jedi Temple.  

Each second away from Palpatine, it seemed to get lighter. Maybe that was because he was moving back towards Luke. 

Either way. 

It didn’t stop him from bolting through the doors, only making himself quieter due to the time, heading back towards his family. 

/

/ 

Obi-Wan watched the child nervously.  

Luke didn’t move, he could see minute expressions pass the child’s face as he conversed with Anakin. 

He didn’t stop staring until Luke slumped and sighed in relief.  

Luke opened his eyes.  

“He’s alright.” He muttered in relief.  

Obi-Wan couldn’t help but scoop up the child and hug him.  

He knew without Luke; Anakin would be in trouble. Had been in trouble.  

“How bad?” Obi-Wan asked, not sure if he wanted the answer.  

“Palpatine inlaid, um, like I don’t exactly know what to call them. They’re like balls of darkness that are spiked,” Luke tried to explain, Obi-Wan let him go, he got the reference. “Into Father’s Force Signature, and it was like they tried to sink into it.” Luke looked at him to see if he was making sense. “It pained Father a lot. I was able to take them out again, but this time it was harder. Maybe because Father was aware of them this time, as before he wasn’t.” Luke paused and frowned.  

That didn’t sound like it made sense. 

“Can he make it back?” Padmé was asking in fear.  

Luke looked at her and nodded. “He’s on his way back. He said he needed to get back by himself because Palpatine would have sensed Ben coming to help.” Luke explained. 

At least that part made sense.  

Before Anakin really realised that he was back, he had Luke in his arms and everything that was hurting and painful was stripped away just by holding his child.  

“Luke…” He muttered gratefully.  

“Next time. Next time, I’m coming.” Luke demanded heatedly, holding Anakin close. 

Yeah, there was no way he was doing that again by himself. 

Anakin nodded in exhaustion. 

He felt Obi-Wan come in closer and pat his arm.  

“I think you need to sleep, old friend.” He said sagely.  

Anakin was grateful that neither Padmé nor Luke begrudged being squished on either side of him. 

/

/ 

Once more, Anakin woke to Padmé wound up around his arm, and Luke on top of him, holding onto his shirt. The child wasn’t going anywhere, and Anakin could very well get used to waking up like that.  

While he’d rather linger, he had things he needed to do, and it rhymed with telling the Council about Grievous being on Utapau. 

Despite what happened the night before, Luke was relatively easy to put down in his spot once Anakin got up. He grumbled, but he settled back into the blanket that Anakin threw over him.  

Anakin summoned his communicator to ask for a meeting as he left to find the caf machine. 

By the time Anakin felt more awake, he heard Obi-Wan’s communicator go off, the man getting up to turn it off while grumbling.  

He looked up to see the man in question walking into the living quarters. 

“Why did you need to call a meeting so early?” The man asked in a half-asleep grumble. 

“Technically I just requested one, I didn’t allocate the time!” Anakin said back cheerfully as he handed a cup over in truce.  

Obi-Wan grumbled in annoyance, but excepted the terms. 

By the time they were ready to leave, Anakin went back to Padmé and Luke, he wasn’t surprised to see them both still asleep.  

“Padmé,” He called quietly.  

The woman moaned tiredly and opened one eye at him questioningly. 

“Gotta go. Council meeting. Luke’s still asleep, mind looking after him?” Anakin asked. 

Padmé sniffed as if offended. “You do remember I’m his mother , right?” She asked, actually offended.  

Anakin blinked. “I know this. But I wouldn’t judge you for taking time to…get adjusted to it?” Anakin asked as confused as well. 

Padmé laughed quietly.  

“Fair point, Master Jedi,” She teased, and Anakin threw the blanket over her head, making her laugh again. “But Luke makes it easy, he’ll most likely look after me.” She added softly.  

How very true. 

Anakin even felt Luke subconsciously throw up his barrier when Anakin took his barrier down. 

He learnt fast if nothing else.  

But nonetheless, Luke made him feel proud. 

It still felt odd to be admitted to the Council at the same time as Obi-Wan, he still felt himself pause where he usually did and was confused when Obi-Wan looked back. 

“Are you coming? You did call this meeting. Don’t you dare make me get up this early for nothing !” Obi-Wan warned.  

At his tone, Anakin laughed and fell in step with Obi-Wan. 

Just like before, himself, Obi-Wan and Windu weren’t the only ones physically present, with some on their own assignments across the Galaxy in this false war that kept dividing them. 

If he remembered anything about the meeting that he previously slept through, but was present for the first time, Yoda was sent to Kashyyyk. He couldn’t much remember where the other members were. 

But they all knew through Anakin that Palpatine told him where Grievous was.  

Utapau. 

“ Act on this, we must. The capture of General Grievous will end this war. Quickly and decisively, we should proceed. ” Yoda stated. 

“The Chancellor has requested that I lead the campaign.” Anakin relayed.  

As if Anakin actually wanted to leave Coruscant.  

“The Council will make up its own mind who is to go. Not the Chancellor.” Windu warned.

Anakin nodded. “I am just stating what the Chancellor requested, it is not my own request. I understand I need to stay here.” Anakin said understandingly.

He felt the confusion rolling off Windu the most at his compliance.

“ A Master is needed, with more experience .” Yoda said. 

It was then Anakin felt Obi-Wan become nervous and worried. 

“ I concur. Master Kenobi should go. ” Ki-Adi-Mundi agreed, looking back to Obi-Wan.

The Master doesn’t see Obi-Wan flinch.

The entire Council agrees, and Obi-Wan doesn’t feel any better. 

Even if Windu stated the Council was adjourned, Yoda did not leave when the others did.

Windu was frowning when Obi-Wan stood and looked nervously around the room. 

Oh. Right. Watched.

Anakin looked around to search for the Holo-Recorders through the Force, eyeing each one and turned them off.

“Anakin?” Obi-Wan questioned, seeing the man stare at the ceiling. 

Anakin looked down and nodded, then looked to Yoda and Windu, one of which looked more concerned than the other.

Rightly so.

“Masters,” Anakin started, he ignored Obi-Wan’s flinching. “I bring an update if you have a moment.” He requested. 

“You don’t need the rest of the Council for this?” Windu asked, looking over Anakin’s shoulder as if he was deliberating calling them back.

Anakin shook his head. “Since it’s off the record, I figured the less who knew the better.” He stated

“Anakin.” Obi-Wan warned worriedly.

Anakin turned and grinned at him. “Don’t worry! I turned them off!” He said gleefully. 

Obi-Wan blinked in amazement that Anakin thought that far ahead. 

“It’ll look like a technical glitch it’ll fix itself in about ten minutes,” Anakin said, cheerfully. “I figured I better bring it to your attention, Masters.” He added, looking back to Windu and Yoda.

Windu was still confused about how Anakin’s demeanour had changed in the last few cycles, while Yoda looked grim.

“Forces here, moving they are. Quick you shall be.” Yoda requested. 

Anakin nodded and brought out the Holo-Recorder, and pressed play.

He couldn’t remove himself from having prior knowledge that might taint his ability to know whether or not Palpatine knowing a ‘Sith Story’ was common ground. 

But, Windu had no prior knowledge, so his reaction would be a good basis for the knowledge.

But with Windu’s frown getting deeper and deeper, he could guess it shouldn’t be.

You had the foresight to record this? He heard Obi-Wan ask as the man stared at the recording.

Yeah, I can’t exactly tell if Palpatine knowing the legend is common knowledge because we know he’s Sidious, but the look on Windu’s face is telling. Anakin relayed back.

Anakin felt Obi-Wan check him again, and he let him, especially when Palpatine denied Anakin could learn it as a Jedi.

With that, Anakin turned it off, and put the device away.

He watched as both Yoda and Windu looked as concerned as they did calculative. 

“Did he say how he knew of the story?” Windu asked.

Anakin shook his head. “Do you want me to find out?” He asked.

Windu blinked, he almost looked stupefied that he was suddenly nodding. 

“We need to know how he knows about Sith legends.” Windu acknowledged. 

“ Fine by yourself, you will be? ” Yoda asked curiously.

Anakin couldn’t help but smile. “I’m not alone.” He said happily.

He ignored Windu’s confused head turn as Yoda chuckled.

“ Go now, I must. ” Yoda reminded, and then he dropped out. 

Anakin could guess the battle on his end would be starting soon.

/

/

Obi-Wan finally let out a worried exhalation and turned abruptly, stalling when he saw his actions put a smile on Anakin’s face.

“Are you sure you’ll be alright!?” He asked worriedly.

“Luke won’t hear the end of it. I’ll have to figure out a way he can be with me every time Palpatine asks for me, and somehow not freak out because he’s there.” Anakin answered brightly. 

Obi-Wan stared at him endlessly.

It caused Anakin to laugh. “If you don’t go, Windu will get angry at the both of us. I kinda don’t like him at the best of times. Him being angry is the worst . I’ll be fine! Luke will be with me. As long as he’s not asleep, and near, we’ll all be fine.” Anakin added.

Obi-Wan glared. 

Anakin shrugged. “At least you’ll know the second it does go wrong? … Wait, that’s not a good analogy.” Anakin trailed off, suddenly concerned. 

Obi-Wan just shook his head disparagingly. “Skywalkers.” He muttered in soft disdain. 

What would he do if he wasn’t always a step behind them?

“You’ll make sure Luke knows to tell me the second something goes wrong?” Obi-Wan asks instead.

Anakin nodded. “You have my word.” He said.

Anakin literally needed to shove Obi-Wan back towards Cody. “You need to leave!” He hissed. 

Obi-Wan looked back at him nervously, urgently, as he left. 

Yeah. Yeah , he felt that.

Anakin watched the ship leave before he turned to make his way back to his remaining family, hoping that the next time they met, he would still be the same person.

Chapter Text

I’m talking in circles, can’t get out of my head. I’m pulling your last thread when I’m coming unravelled. When you go quiet and won’t let your guard down, I hear through the silence that you’re trying to figure it out: you’re trying to make me proud, believe me now. We may fall, but we’ll keep on going. We may break, but we won’t stay broken. For you see our storm clouds forming, and the sun won’t rise in the morning when your skies are grey and your whole world is shaking: To the moon and back, I love you more than that.

— Alice Kristiansen (Moon and Back)

11.

Anakin wasn’t proud to admit how long it took for them to perfect hiding Luke under his robe. He was just glad all the little mishaps, while Obi-Wan was at Utapau, were minor and no one saw Luke anytime the boy tripped out into the open. 

But Luke insisted.

And Anakin found out that he had a hard time saying no to the boy.

Especially when Luke used the word, please .

It was somehow hardwired into him to melt into a puddle whenever Luke asked something of him.

He wasn’t exactly sure if it was a Force thing, or it was because Anakin was his father , and he knew Luke only wanted to spend time with him (and to keep him firmly in the Light).

But even in war meetings, no Jedi had noticed the boy’s Signature when he was glued to his leg, except Anakin. 

He knew this because no one ever pulled him up, or was looking confusedly at his leg like Ahsoka had done previously.

Palpatine also seemed none the wiser as well, which was a relief all round. The man tried multiple times to set more barbs into his Signature, which Luke was meticulous about removing as soon as he could.

“ General Kenobi has made contact with General Grievous… ” Cody informed. 

It caused Anakin to perk up, with engagement happening, it hopefully meant that Obi-Wan would return faster.

He felt Obi-Wan multiple times search for him, and sense his Signature and well-being. Most times, Anakin metaphorically threw Luke at the man when he got too worried. 

Luke laughed, but he didn’t mind.

“Anakin,” Windu started, Anakin blinked and turned to him. “Deliver this report to the Chancellor. His reaction will give us a clue to his intentions.” Windu ordered.

“Yes, Master.” Anakin answered, he felt Luke cling a little closer, ready to move, and once he did Anakin turned and left the war council.

He knew where this was leading. 

As soon as he had an empty corridor, he broke off into its shadows as quickly as he could. 

Father? He heard Luke’s cautious question.

Hush, dear one . Anakin soothed back. 

Luke nodded and quietened down. 

Ahsoka? He sent out to Ahsoka. Snips? He added. 

It took a second, but he felt her cautious stab. Skyguy? She questioned nervously. 

He sent over his Signature, and he felt her calm down a little.

Please tell me you’ve seen to at least some of the Clones . Anakin asked her. 

The majority, I hope, maybe? Most of the commandos. Ahsoka replied. Why? She asked. 

Because we are running out of time, Snips. Anakin warned. 

He heard her sigh. I figured. I should have Cody’s 212 boys in within the next rotation or two. She said. 

Anakin’s blood went cold. 

That’ll be too late! Anakin panicked. 

He felt Ahsoka panic. Are you sure?! She asked. 

I’ll tell him! Anakin told her.

Obi-Wan! Anakin yelled.

For some reason, Obi-Wan’s frustration and surprise came through first. 

Anakin! Not now! I’m a bit busy chasing an out-of-control vehicle! I nearly fell! Obi-Wan warned.

Yes now! Ahsoka didn’t get to Cody’s men in time! Anakin yelled back in panic.

He felt Obi-Wan pause, as if he needed to look around himself. Now?! He asked incredulously. 

Soon, but if Palpatine still orders 66 to happen, Cody will have no choice but to fire on you. Anakin answered.

Okay. Now it is. I’ll manage. Are you alright? He asked in concern.

Luke is with me, he hasn’t said otherwise. Anakin added. 

Alright. Good. I’ll go hide, or something. I’m good at that. Obi-Wan muttered.

Please be safe. Anakin asked.

I’ll tell you if I need to hide, old friend, but you’ll probably know first. Obi-Wan said, despondent. 

Then he let go.

Anakin looked down to see Luke looking up at him worriedly.

Are you alright? Anakin asked him. 

Luke nodded. It’s getting darker. Not around you, just around everything. Like Palpatine has given up hiding his Signature. Luke pondered. 

Yeah, it felt like he had.

Come on. Anakin warned, and with it, Luke knew he was going to move.

/

/

Anakin stalled just outside the Senate chambers, he did not want Luke in the room, especially if he put one foot out of line, Palpatine would likely sense his change of demeanour and then his child. 

He looked up and saw the ventilation system.

Luke? He called. 

Luke tapped his knee.

I’m going to need you to do something for me. Anakin asked.

When his father said he required him for something, he didn’t think he would be given the Holo-Recorder device. Added with instructions on how to use it, then told to jump up into the air vents and audio record the entire conversation that was about to happen . 

And if he figures out you’re not as Dark as he would like? Luke had asked incredulously.

You’ll be the first and probably last to know, Son. Anakin had answered before throwing his child up into the vent and walking into the chambers.

Fathers!

Seriously. 

Luke had to scramble to keep up while making small movements, so he didn’t give away where he was, and even so, he could only go so far. 

But from where he is, halfway in, he could hear them anyway, so he figured he’d count his loss as a win and know it could have been worse.

“ Chancellor, ” He heard Anakin start, and he knew to start the recording. “ We’ve just received word from Master Kenobi. He has engaged General Grievous. ” Anakin reported. 

“ We can only hope that Master Kenobi is up to the challenge. ” Palpatine replied easily.

“ I should be there with him. ” Luke heard the worry in his father’s voice.

“ It’s upsetting to me to see that the Council doesn’t seem to fully appreciate your talents. Don’t you wonder why they won’t make you a Jedi Master? ” Palpatine asked. 

Luke had to then yank out the barbs Palpatine threw towards his father’s Signature, and he felt Anakin thank him softly.

“ Because I’m not ready. I know that. ” Anakin answered, his voice moving from either side like the man had started to move around the room.

“ Oh no, you are ready. You don’t get the feeling you’re being excluded? ” Palpatine paused, and Anakin must have made a confused expression because he eagerly continued. “ They don’t trust you, Anakin. I beg you to see it! They have seen your future. They know your power will be too strong to control. ” Palpatine added. 

“ How do you…? ” Anakin asked, his voice a little closer than before. 

He sounded confused, but Luke could feel he was far from confused, he could feel the rage bubbling quietly. 

It was curious to sense that the anger in Anakin was controlled, and not the uncontrollable black void he knew from Vader. 

It wasn’t controlling him yet, or even uncontrollable in any sense, but it was there all the same. He tapped Anakin’s Signature to see if the man was aware of it or not, and he felt Anakin answer him back gently. He knew. And he wasn’t touching it.

It was times like these that really annoyed Luke that he was so far away from his father, but he resulted in just hugging his father’s mind instead of physically. He felt the humour rise in his father at the gesture and the resulting hug back.

“ You must break through the fog of lies the Jedi have created around you. Let me help you know the subtleties of the Force. ” Suddenly, Luke could see them through the vent grill.

“ How do you know the ways of the Force? ” Anakin answered back, his tone still confused.

“ My mentor taught me everything about the Force. Even the nature of the Dark Side. ” Palpatine revealed. 

Luke blinked at how open and blatant Palpatine was being, while he watched Anakin twirl around the man, a cautious frown on his face.

The two started to circle each other. 

“ You know the Dark Side? ” Anakin asked incredulously. He must have seen something on Palpatine’s face that made him draw his lightsaber. “ You’re the Sith Lord! ” Anakin burst out contemptuously. 

“ Use my knowledge, I beg you! I know what’s been troubling you, don’t trust the Jedi! ” Palpatine urged. 

Every step Palpatine took, it was measured by Anakin’s lightsaber, dangerously close to the man. 

“ Are you going to kill me? ” Palpatine asked curiously.

“ I would certainly like to! ” Anakin retorted heatedly. 

Luke could guess Anakin knew what would happen if he did. It would only go negatively, even with the Holo-Recorder on. 

There would need to be more evidence, more witnesses, before Anakin swung down on Palpatine.

They all knew it.

“ I'm going to turn you over to the Jedi Council… ” Anakin ordered.

Back up, dear one. Luke heard Anakin ask.

With that, Luke turned the recorder off, and focused on getting back out.

By the time Luke crawled his way back to the vent where Anakin threw him up, Anakin was already there waiting and looking up nervously for him. 

Come on . Anakin urged, holding up his arms.

Luke jumped down into his father’s arms, where he immediately threw his arms around him. Anakin wasted no time in wrapping his arms around him steadfastly. 

Are you alright? Anakin asked softly.

Huh. He was trembling. He didn’t even know until now.

Luke shrugged his shoulders but tightened his grip.

Alright, dear one, alright. Let’s go. Anakin told him, patting his back gently.

Anakin didn’t move him or settle him at his hip, or on the floor, instead, his flesh hand cupped the back of his head, keeping him close, and he just ran as fast as he could towards the exit.

/

/

Anakin? Anakin! Obi-Wan called, causing Anakin to slow as he neared the Jedi Temple. I’m on my way back, are you alright? He asked cautiously. 

I’m fine. Palpatine outed himself as Sidious. We recorded the entire thing. Anakin told him, dodging Jedi and security holos, and slipped into the shadows, feeling Luke wasn’t ready to unhand him just yet.

He knew Palpatine wouldn’t react until the Jedi forced him to. 

He just hoped he didn’t call 66 early. 

He’s still alive? Obi-Wan asked. 

I didn’t want to risk up heaving another political civil war or get myself into a position where I would be landed in jail for treason. Anakin answered. Since last time ended so well.

He needed more evidence, and Palpatine alive could only bring it. 

Anakin briefly gave thought to marching down to Dooku, to see if the man had become lenient in giving information, but he doubted he had time enough to do that.

Fair. I’m making my way back now. I got thrown off Boga. Obi-Wan said. 

Anakin blinked. You’re… You’re still on Utapau?! He asked incredulously. 

Obi-Wan just sighed. Don’t ask, my friend. Just don’t ask. He said reverently. I’ll see you soon. He added, then was lost to movement. 

Anakin looked down at Luke, who had thankfully stopped trembling. He felt the number of barbs the child had to pull out of his Force Signature, and he hoped it wasn’t reverse-affecting him somehow. 

Luke? He called. 

Luke looked up and beamed. I’m alright, Father! He said brightly.

Anakin looked him over physically and mentally to make sure, causing the boy to giggle. 

Alright, but you’ll need to walk now, alright? He asked. 

Luke nodded, patting his shoulders then once Anakin put him down, he retreated underneath his robe once more.

Anakin made way to the shuttle depot, where he knew, Windu, would be.

./.

“Master Windu, I must talk to you!” Anakin asked as he rushed over.

Windu looked back at him, but not Kit Fisto, Agen Kolar and Saesee Tiin who kept walking. “Skywalker, we received word not long after you left, that Obi-Wan has destroyed General Grievous. We’re on our way to make sure the Chancellor returns emergency power back to the Senate.” Windu explained. 

“He won’t do that, Master.” Anakin urged. 

Hearing his tone, Windu turned to him. 

There Anakin reached for the Holo-Recorder Luke returned and played it. 

“… He’s the one we’ve been looking for…” Anakin added, not that he needed to. 

Palpatine had damned himself with how much he liked to talk.

“Our worst fears have been realised. We must move quickly if the Jedi Order is to survive.” Windu said in alarm and started to walk faster.

“Master, if he’s Sidious, then he’ll likely be as powerful as we’ve feared in the past!” Anakin urged him to understand.

It literally took twenty years of darkness, one bright boy, and being thrown down into a reactor core for this man to die.

“Are you sure you won’t need my help to arrest him?” Anakin asked.

Not that he didn’t trust Windu’s capabilities, he just remembered the man was dead .

Either at his hand, or Palpatine’s…

“I can see that you’re faring better these past few months, but for your own good, stay out of this affair, until we at least confirm what we now know to be the truth.” Windu offered. 

Anakin blinked but nodded. 

“How will I know if or when you will need my help?” Anakin asked. 

“You have my trust, Skywalker, that there is no doubt, more so if this is all true. If we need you, the Force will tell you. Remain here, until it calls to you.” Windu said. 

While he wanted to do as Windu asked, and stay as far away from Palpatine as he could, he feared not going was a death trap to the Jedi now going to seek confirmation that Palpatine was Sidious.

But what he could do was return to Padmé and wait for the Force to tell him otherwise. 

Either way, something would scream at him. 

By the time he returned to the room they were using, he noted just how many of the Jedi were missing, and how many were still in the halls.

The younglings just about to go to bed, the older ones, the ones ready to become Padawans, still training in groups…

This night was cursed.

But it wouldn’t have him kill children once more.

As soon as he was in the room, he turned to the speaker system built into the wall and pried the cover off gently. 

“Father?” Luke asked as Padmé came over curiously. 

“Ani? What’s wrong?” She asked.

Anakin clicked his tongue. 

“No matter how it goes, I will not have this night go the same way because of my actions.” He informed heatedly as he clicked the system on, and started using the holo-pad that lit up. 

The system made a series of clicks, then the green button turned red. 

“ Initiating Drill Protocol 61A. ” Droned a mechanical voice. 

Suddenly, there was an alarm blaring, causing Luke to shriek and cover his ears.

“ Further Instructions? ” The mechanical voice asked. 

“Do not end initiative until Master Kenobi gives the order for either enacting Drill Protocol 98C, other, or a cease drill!” Anakin ordered. 

“ Understood. ” The mechanical voice answered, but the blaring alarm remained.

The light switched back to green, locking Anakin out of the system entirely, and only Obi-Wan would be able to override it with a voice imprint.

“Father?” Luke asked again.

This time, Anakin turned and saw the nervous look both he and Padmé had.

“I’m sorry.” Anakin apologised. “I’m just…making sure if it happens again, I can’t…” He tried to explain.

Padmé blinked, then looked horrified, as if she just figured out what he was doing, while Luke ran at him, and Anakin didn’t need a second look before gathering the child up and hugging him.

“But you’re alright, Father. You’re still Light.” Luke answered. 

Something in him slumped in relief at Luke saying so. 

“That’s a relief,” Anakin muttered, then he looked at Padmé. “You’re making me nervous, can you sit, please?” He asked her urgently.

Padmé snorted at him, but she went and sat down. 

/

/

Halfway through making a cup of caf, the Force started screaming at him. So much that he gasped out in pain and dropped the mug as he hurriedly grasped the sink for leverage, never hearing the mug shatter against the ground.

“ Father! ” He heard Luke screaming at him. 

There was a sudden hand at his back that wasn’t there before that made him look up, and confusingly, he saw Obi-Wan.

“Obi-Wan?” He asked in confusion. 

The man looked worse for wear, but he was there.

The man grimaced. “Did you really need to put the alert for the entire temple on to max?” He asked

“You’re here.” Anakin breathed in surprise. 

“And don’t you dare ask how!” Obi-Wan warned. 

Anakin chuckled airily. 

“We need to go…” He muttered. 

“I know.” He said, then looked away. “Luke?” He asked. 

Luke bounded on the balls of his feet. “Don’t you dare say I can’t come!” Luke warned. 

It only made them laugh.

Only for Anakin to pause, and grunt in pain, doubling over again. 

“Anakin!?” Obi-Wan and Padmé called out.

You do know, don’t you? If the Jedi destroy me, any chance of saving her will be lost. Palpatine told him. 

“He’s in my head!” Anakin gasped in panic as one hand pawed at the side of his head.

He felt Obi-Wan grasp his arm protectively, and Padmé gasp in horror.

“NO!” Luke yelled just as suddenly as the wave of air pushed past him.

All the noise from Palpatine infiltrating his head was silenced suddenly, and all his strength left him. 

Obi-Wan yanked his arm, and he went easily. 

“Anakin!” Obi-Wan called frantically, worried about how Anakin slumped into him. 

“I’m okay…” Anakin muttered. “It’s alright…” He added quietly. 

He felt Obi-Wan search for him. “Are you sure?” He asked worriedly. 

“That hurt.” Anakin added, then while still leaning into Obi-Wan turned his head to his worried child. “Did you just shove him out of my head?” He asked. 

“He was hurting you!” Luke answered petulantly. 

Anakin snorted with humour, but straightened out. 

“We still need to go…” Anakin muttered. 

“Are you sure you’ll be alright to face him?” Padmé asked worriedly. 

“You’re standing again…” He muttered at her. 

Padmé glared, and he offered to surrender. 

/

/

Even with the rushing they did, Anakin paused outside, sliding when suddenly he was at a loss.

“Luke!” Anakin said worriedly.

Luke looked up. 

“Hide!” Anakin insisted and threw the Holo-Recorder at the boy.

“Wait! I’ll be a second!” Obi-Wan stated, then bolted back the other way, for something.

While Anakin stormed into the office, Luke kept behind him until he could hide behind a large pot next to an archway, stamping out his life force being projected through the Force. As soon as Luke was hidden from sight and the Force, Anakin stumbled once he couldn’t feel his son, then realised what Luke was doing, and continued onwards.

From where he hid, he could see Palpatine and Windu being the only Jedi left, Luke turned the Holo-Recorder on to visual and audio and waited. 

With it recording Palpatine with a red lightsaber, it would be damning to whoever watched. 

“You are under arrest, my lord .” Windu was saying over the wind.

Windu saw Anakin approaching, and gave him a signal to abate, which Anakin saw and obeyed. 

“Anakin! I told you it would come to this! The Jedi are taking over!” Palpatine insisted.

Anakin frowned, still as confused as the first time, as to how Palpatine got it into his head the Jedi wanted control over the Senate. 

“The oppression of the Sith will never return! You have lost!” Windu vowed, still holding his lightsaber at Palpatine. 

Suddenly there was lightning that caused Anakin to recoil backwards away fearfully. 

“He’s a traitor!” Palpatine was hissing. 

Glancing back, he saw that Windu had taken the lightning with his lightsaber, and away from harm. 

He heard mentally Luke whining in panic, it was enough to make Anakin move and take out his lightsaber decisively, yanking Windu back out of danger when Palpatine pushed again. 

“Anakin!” Windu called back defensively. 

“You’ll get hurt.” Anakin told him as the man panted.

“Oho?” Palpatine was questioning as he sat up, scanning Anakin questionably. “You’re not going to kill him?” He asked.

Anakin sensed Windu’s confusion at that. 

“He’s done nothing wrong,” Anakin answered. “Destroying the Sith is what Jedi do.” He added.

Palpatine almost looked confused at Anakin’s blatant refusal. 

“And what are you then?” He hissed dangerously in a warning. 

Anakin didn’t feel the need to answer, but readied his lightsaber at his side defensively. 

“Then you chose wrong!” Palpatine shouted, suddenly the desk in the middle of the room was flattened when both Windu and Anakin went flying into it. Anakin barely heard a holo-call power down with the loss of power, beside his ear dizzily.

Before they could retaliate, Palpatine lifted them both up into the air, slowly taking the oxygen from around them away.

“You could have been greater than this, you young fool!” Palpatine yelled, then flung Windu into the wall, where the man yelled in pain but was forced to remain still. “Now she will die along with you.” He added to Anakin. 

From his pocket, he pulled out a communicator and gleefully contacted Cody. 

“Execute Order 66!” He snarled. 

Chapter Text

I will lay down my sword: my rebellion is yours. I know I’m not the first to have come here, someone told me you can help me with so many layers. I’m a danger, full of anger. Someone told her death was coming soon to all of us. Want to find the reason why we have to cry? The buildings falling down and no one’s there to save us. Gonna find the answer, how to clear this up. You made these crazy worlds: I’m stuck between the two. Want to find a reason why my friends all died. You made these crazy worlds: I’m stuck between the two.

— Aimee Blackschleger (Layers)

12.

From his pocket, he pulled out a communicator and gleefully contacted Cody.

“Execute Order 66!” He snarled.

“No!” Anakin yelled in panic. 

Palpatine turned back to him fully and glared. “I gave you the chance to join me, now like the rest, you will die a traitor!” He said, as he closed the Force around Anakin’s neck, cutting off his airways. 

Anakin was losing his sight just as fast as he was losing his consciousness. 

“No!” He barely heard Luke yelling. 

Then he was crashing painfully to the ground, gasping for air as soon as the Force weight was lifted, and looked up to see Palpatine suspended, looking behind him, he saw Luke pointing at Palpatine. 

“Luke…” He muttered in exhaustion as he tried to get back up, as did Windu. Only to see Obi-Wan marching through the room and throwing something at Palpatine’s feet, which immediately started inhibiting Palpatine’s Force ability, if Luke wasn’t already doing so. Obi-Wan continued to run at the man and throw restraints on his wrists that bound them together uselessly. 

Anakin whined in panic and called up the communicator, Palpatine dropped onto the floor and called Cody back.

“Retract previous order! Do not act!” Anakin ordered firmly in a yell.

Cody nodded. “As you wish, Lord Vader.” He answered. 

Anakin stared blindly at the now-off communicator in his hand blankly.

What.

“Father!” Luke was yelling loudly, then suddenly the boy was in front of him, looking up at him with such beseeching concern, his hands landing in his knees.

“ What? ” Anakin ignored Windu repeating himself in confusion several times from the side of the room and immediately smothered the child to him. 

“Are you alright? Could he fight you?” He whispered hoarsely, not having the capacity to speak any louder at the moment. Relief poured through him when he felt Luke nuzzle into him.

“He’s growling at me.” Luke said simply.

Anakin immediately looked up protectively, but didn’t hear the man snarling.

Palpatine was limp still and dazed in look, which made Anakin realise Luke still was pushing him out of his body. 

They both turned when they heard Obi-Wan sigh exhaustedly as he helped Windu up. 

“You can let him go, Luke. The restraining beam has him, and he can’t use the Force while it’s in use.” Obi-Wan explained 

Luke sided his head with doubtful confusion at something like that ever existing and didn’t him go. 

Anakin growled at himself when he couldn’t get up and needed to rely on Obi-Wan to help him up, as he did with Windu. 

“Where’s the Holo-Recorder, Luke?” Obi-Wan asked. 

Luke blinked. “Oh!” He said, then summoned the recorder from the side. “I got to Sidious saying Father was a traitor after he announced 66.” Luke said, hovering the device over to Obi-Wan. 

“ What. ” Windu was asking again in confusion. 

“Thank you, Luke.” Obi-Wan thanked. 

Luke grinned happily, then looked towards Palpatine. 

They both saw when Luke let the Sith go.

The man immediately snarled and tried to move in the force field, and found he couldn’t.

“She will still die!” Palpatine hissed in rage.

Anakin sided his head, then looked at Obi-Wan. 

“Actually, do you mind?” He asked curiously, gesturing to Luke. 

Obi-Wan beamed. “Oh, no! Not at all!” He crowed back happily. 

Obi-Wan eagerly excepted Luke into his arms, while Anakin drew his lightsaber and struck Palpatine through the heart, instantly killing the man.

Then he turned back to Obi-Wan. “That was exhausting.” He said, grinning happily.

Obi-Wan snorted, while Luke giggled. 

/

/

With the amount of evidence Anakin had collected on Palpatine, he wouldn’t later be tried for treason with the Republic’s Senate, which was up in arms about Palpatine being a Sith under their nose the entire time. 

It didn’t excuse him, however, from the scrutiny of the still mostly whole but mostly headless Jedi Order. 

They immediately put Palpatine to burn, and all his dark secrets went with him. All remaining Jedi felt the immediate shift in the Force as soon as it happened.

Anakin knew better than to bolt with Windu glaring at him.

“Council room. Now .” The man ordered. 

Yep. He still feared Windu when he was angry.

Windu was the only Council member present, aside from Obi-Wan. The only one they knew that was still alive . 

And he was glaring at him.

Windu bounced between outrage and incredulousness, never settling on one for long. 

“ What .” Windu demanded. 

Anakin felt Luke flinch at his side. With the secret out in the open, there was no real need for Luke to hide, but he could feel that his child wanted to hide from Windu’s calm vitriol.

He needed to curve his protective instincts, knowing they would only make things worse. This was bound to happen eventually. 

Obi-Wan had stepped out of the side to stop the alarm blaring when Anakin cheerfully said it would only turn off for his voice imprint, and it wasn’t on a timer.

Luke, seeing the man looking at him, stepped forward, away from his father, and bowed like he had observed he should do. 

“Greetings, Master, you’ll have to forgive me that I don’t know your name.” Luke greeted and apologised at the same time. 

Windu was struck in confusion at Luke.

“Not much survived from before the Empire…” Luke added. 

Windu blinked. 

“ Empire?! ” He asked, and before he could ask further, the door behind them slid open.

They all looked to see Yoda walking through, looking a little worse for wear, like them all, but alive, nonetheless. 

“Yoda!” Luke greeted happily. 

Yoda didn’t seem all that surprised to see Luke. Or slighted at the fact Luke didn’t greet him like how a Jedi should.

“Greetings, young Skywalker, fare well, did you?” He asked. 

Yoda, as well, seemed to be ignoring the face race Windu seemed to be doing between them all and Luke with rising hysteria.

Luke bounded on his toes. “Yep! Father struck the Emperor through the heart instead of down the Death Star!” Luke answered happily. 

“Luke…” Anakin muttered fearfully. 

Luke blinked at him, then slowly realised what he said, and where. 

Yoda just laughed at Luke’s horrified expression.

“You knew about this?” Windu asked incredulously.

“Did, I do. Mind, I do not.” Yoda said happily, not at all caring for the broken laws in front of him. 

Windu looked to Obi-Wan, outraged. 

“Guilty for way longer than you’d like to know.” Obi-Wan stated before Windu opened his mouth. 

Anakin looked at him. “Wait, exactly how long did you know!?” He asked outraged. 

Obi-Wan laughed. “You were never subtle, my friend!” He crowed. 

Anakin slumped in defeat, while Luke giggled. 

Windu was looking between them all in confusion. 

“Ben!” Luke called running over to Obi-Wan, much to Windu’s increasing befuddlement, Obi-Wan picked the child up like he didn’t pose that their laws had been broken.

The man threw the child up into the air and laughed when Anakin twitched in alarm. 

Luke just laughed giddily but slammed his one hand against Obi-Wan’s shoulder several times, as if he didn’t already have Obi-Wan’s (and everyone else’s) attention.

“You were gone a long time! What were you doing!” Luke asked curiously.

“Ah, see, I was chasing an out-of-control wheel bike…!” Obi-Wan started, laughing when he saw Luke’s awed expression.

Obi-Wan didn’t mind that not even halfway through his retelling that Luke started to squirm and handed him back over to Anakin when he started to make grabby hands at Anakin. 

The boy squealed in delight when Anakin started tickling him. 

Obi-Wan ran an exhausted hand through his hair once he finished recounting, he had to chuckle again at Luke’s awed expression from where he was sitting on his father’s mechanical arm easily. 

“Are we going to acknowledge that Skywalker has a child?” Windu finally questioned, his tone increasingly confused as he watched Obi-Wan ruffle the child’s head. 

“Technically, I don’t. Luke here is from the future.” Anakin happily supplied. 

“ What. ” Windu asked.

Before anything else could be said, a bunch of younglings burst through the doors in a panic. 

“Master Skywalker!” One young boy called in a panic, addressing the first person he just so happened to see.

Obi-Wan watched the terror roll through Anakin’s face, as the man stepped back fearfully. 

Luke tapped Anakin’s shoulder in concern when he felt the panic start, and tried to help lessen it.

“Young one, what is it?” Obi-Wan asked instead.

“There are soldiers at the doors!” The boy said fearfully. 

Luke yelped in surprise when Anakin was suddenly running out of the room.

“Anakin!” Obi-Wan was yelling, way behind them.

“What is going on?” Windu muttered in confusion as they chased after Anakin. 

“Scarred, he is.” Yoda added. 

Obi-Wan scoffed. “He has twenty years of abhorrence to regret, I would imagine it would leave scars.” He answered. 

“Remember, he does?” Yoda asked in surprise. 

“Not on a conscious level. But he remembers enough.” Obi-Wan said softly. 

Obi-Wan just hoped he hadn’t turned the alarm off too soon. Because if he had, and Ahsoka hadn’t gotten to the five-0-one division before now. They would be walking out of a drill and into their deaths.

He would never forget the deaths this night brought.

He resolved to run a little faster.

Anakin ground to a halt, seeing the Clones at the steps, warily.

He recognised Cody a mile away. 

He didn’t know where Rex would be. With Ahsoka, maybe?

How many hadn’t gotten to getting their chips removed?

How many Jedi were still dead?!

“General!” Cody called, his tone frantic. 

Anakin warily moved himself, so Luke was out of their line of sight, out of the line of fire, should they be a second away from firing. 

“Sir! We lost General Kenobi!” Cody pulled off his helmet, looking as frantic as his voice. “Please don’t tell me one of us shot him. There was that order from the Chancellor, and then your command to make it stop, but between then…” Cody tried to explain. 

“Cody!” Obi-Wan yelled in surprise to see him. 

They could all sense the Clone’s relief. 

“General…” Cody muttered in relief.

Obi-Wan ran up to them, alongside Windu, as Yoda hopped off his shoulder. 

“Are you alright?” Obi-Wan questioned. 

Cody looked downright confused at that. “Sir, I think we shot at you? I don’t know why!” Cody asked.

Obi-Wan sighed and shook his head. “It’s all a little confusing, I know. But I need you and your men to get up to medical to sort it out.” Obi-Wan ordered.

Cody saluted. “Sir! We are scheduled for a health check in thirty minutes, will that suffice? It’s by order of Rex.” Cody asked nervously.

Obi-Wan nodded. “That’ll do, see to your men.” He said. 

Cody nodded and was soon corralling his men into transports.

“The Clones fired on you?” Windu asked. 

Obi-Wan sighed exhaustedly. 

“Do we know how many were gunned down?” Anakin asked as he watched the Clones warily. 

Anakin would watch them all warily until they were no longer present. Would continue to watch them until he knew they didn’t carry the chips in them.

“I’ve sent out a message to see who is alive. None from the Council have answered. But, so far, we can account for Jaro Tapal and his Padawan Kestis, Cere Junda and her Padawan Suduri, Depa Billaba and her Padawan Dume have all reported in so far. Billaba stated that Grey was helped by Clone Force 99, who actively ignored the order when they couldn’t while knocking out one of their own just before the order went out, oddly.” Obi-Wan stated.

Anakin blinked, then frowned. 

Snips! He yelled frantically. 

Skyguy! You don’t need to yell! I’m BUSY! Ahsoka yelled back, indignant. 

Wow. Okay. First of all, rude , second of all you survived 66 again, and you didn’t think to tell me? Rude , Snips. Rude. I was worried here. Anakin retorted.

WAIT, THAT WAS TODAY?! I’M IN SPACE! Ahsoka yelled back.

So rude. Anakin bit back with humour.

Anakin rolled his eyes. 

“Ahsoka’s fine too, she was just extremely busy and apparently forgot the time .” Anakin answered.

“Socks is yelling at you.” Luke said brightly.

“I know, and I’m ignoring her!” Anakin said with mirth.

Obi-Wan rolled his eyes, but marked her down on a holo-pad.

Both could definitely see the Togruta returning to the Temple just to yell at them, a place where they couldn’t ignore her. Anakin shivered at the idea.

Obi-Wan just ended up issuing an order that all Clones to return to Kamino for health evaluations, even if they had already received them. And every remaining Jedi and Padawan to return to the Temple.

They needed to know the price of freeing tomorrow.

/

/

Returning to Padmé, Anakin was well beyond exhausted but seeing Padmé rush up to him, worried and eager at the same time, with Luke dozing on his arm. He thought it would be best to get Padmé out of the Temple before every alive Jedi returned.

Hey, Obi-Wan? He questioned tiredly. 

Anakin felt Obi-Wan’s exhaustion hit him like hitting a speeding frigate. Are you okay? Obi-Wan asked. 

I’m going to take Padmé back home. Anakin advised, so Obi-Wan knew where he was if he came looking for him.

Fair. I’ll distract Windu. I’ll see you there later. Obi-Wan answered.

Windu was still taking it hard that the rules were blatantly broken, and that both Yoda and Obi-Wan were unfazed by it.

Thanks! Anakin said gratefully. 

“I’ll tell you once we get home.” Anakin said, seeing Padmé’s expression.

Padmé literally lit up happily and rushed to get her bag.

It was just as easy to sneak her out, as it was to sneak her in.

To be fair, everyone had a lot more on their minds than what Anakin Skywalker was doing. Most were more worried about why their Clones and friends had turned on them, who was alive, and who was dead.

By the time Anakin and Padmé were greeted by a grateful Threepio, Luke was fast asleep. Considering the boy had been up most of the previous few nights, running on adrenaline, Anakin was a little jealous he wasn’t asleep as well.

Padmé watched as Anakin placed Luke on the couch to sleep, and tossed his robe over the boy once more. 

Anakin looked up to see the calculative look on Padmé’s face. “Padmé?” He asked curiously.

Padmé looked at him. “We need a bigger house.” She stated. 

Padmé’s one little bedroom Senatorial suite was soon to be way too small.

Anakin counted, yeah it was going to be way too small if Snips and Obi-Wan stayed with them, even before the twins were born.

“Think we can find something big enough that Snips and Obi-Wan can stay with us if they want to?” Anakin asked. 

Padmé grinned. “Let’s find out!” She crowed happily, then went to find a Holo-Pad.

Chapter Text

Leaves from the vine, falling so slow. Like fragile, tiny shells, drifting in the foam. Ash in the snow, falling so slow. Like fragile, broken hearts, with no place to go. Little soldier boy, taken from home, forced to fight a war, that was not his own. Little soldier boy, cold and alone. Brave soldier boy, never made it home. Leaves from the vines, changing so slow, like empty fallen souls, looking for a home. Little soldier boy thought he could soar. Brave soldier boy, fallen in the war.
My little soldier boy, I need you home...
My brave soldier boy,
please come back home.

By Reinaeiry (Leaves From The Vine)

13.

Soon enough, Anakin found himself in the Jedi Temple helping to correlate the data coming in from Jedi stating they were alive.

There were so many more than the first time. 

“ ANAKIN! ” Anakin heard Ahsoka yelling at the top of her lungs. 

Anakin immediately looked up to see the enraged Togruta running in his direction as fast as she could, and he paled in fright . 

“Ah hell!” Anakin burst out in panic, launched Luke at Obi-Wan and bolted .

Obi-Wan just laughed loudly and merrily as Ahsoka raced past him, bypassing him altogether in a cloud of dust.

“She can really run when she wants to!” Rex was saying in a huff of breath, making Obi-Wan jump a mile into the air. 

“Rex!” Obi-Wan shouted with alarm.

“Hey there, General!” Rex greeted, then seeing Luke, he saluted playfully. “And Commander! Don’t mind Ahsoka, she just wants to kill Anakin for pissing her off while she was in space!” Rex explained.

Luke snorted happily.

He was beginning to like the Clones.

Rex saluted Obi-Wan properly.

“Just here to drop off Ahsoka, then on to Kamino, as you ordered. Wanted to make sure Ahsoka got here safely. Don’t want the Empire starting up again while I’m not looking!” Rex said, then was distracted by directing some of his men that came with him back to the transport, leaving a frozen Obi-Wan behind.

“ What. ” Obi-Wan muttered.

Ahsoka still looked a little annoyed, while Anakin looked sheepish when they returned not too long afterwards. 

Luke whacked Obi-Wan’s chest to get the man’s attention, then pointed at them. 

“Ah, so the padawans return.” Obi-Wan remarked teasingly. 

Luke snorted when both of them glared and crossed their arms similarly. 

“Did you tell Rex about the future?” He asked curiously. 

Ahsoka shook her head. “No, why?” She asked curiously. 

“Because I’m pretty sure he just mentioned the Empire.” Obi-Wan breathed in confusion.

“He knows?” Ahsoka breathed, and Obi-Wan shrugged. “I gotta tell him I’m not dead!” She shouted happily, and then she was gone in a flash. 

“She took off like a womp rat out of a box…” Anakin muttered airily in shock. 

Ahsoka was suddenly cannonballing into Rex’s side. 

The man shouted out in panic at so suddenly finding himself pile-drived into the marble floor. 

His men laughed uproariously seeing their Commander and General go flying.

Rex was dragged back to them by Ahsoka. Not that she needed to, Rex would have followed her into the Unknown Regions if she asked him to. 

“He remembers, what the hell .” Ahsoka was pouting as she muttered. 

Rex chuckled but patted her shoulder. “Wasn’t exactly a good thing to bring it up.” He told her. 

Ahsoka sniffed petulantly. “But, yeah, not dead.” She muttered. 

“What did happen? I never got the explanation. To be fair, we were all distracted with fighting the Empire afterwards…” Rex asked.

Ahsoka shrugged, looking confused. “I don’t get it either.” She said, unhelpfully. 

Luke giggled and slapped Anakin’s shoulder happily.

It caused both Rex and Ahsoka to look back at them at the movement. 

“You made Socks angrily.” Luke laughed merrily.

Ahsoka was now frowning in confusion, so much her head was tilted to one side.

Luke saw her and waved happily.

“Thanks for pointing out the obvious, Luke. What gave it away, her yelling my name, or her running me through the entire Temple like it was on fire ?” Anakin asked scoldingly.

“At least she didn’t shove her lightsabers at you!” Luke said, as he laughed, he could see she carried two now fully.

Anakin snorted. “No! She already did that!” Anakin snickered. 

Luke slapped his hand down on his shoulder again. “When!” He demanded, suddenly outraged.

Ahsoka was suddenly shoving her face into their space, Anakin yelped out in surprise at her so close, but she was staring at Luke as if he were a puzzle. 

“Socks?” Luke questioned. “Maybe not so close? You scared Father—”

Suddenly her eyes went wide, and suddenly Anakin didn’t have a hold of Luke anymore, as Ahsoka yanked him out of his hold and was holding the child above her head. If it had been anyone else, Anakin would be screeching blue murder, and not blinking in confusion at his empty hands, where his son just was. 

“LUKE?!” Ahsoka was yelling. “When did you get so small?!” She added in surprise, staring at the child she was holding above her head. “You were bigger than this, last I saw you!” She screeched. “What happened? No! Wait! Never mind that! How are you here?! ” She yelled in panic.

Obi-Wan was laughing by now, and Anakin glared at him. 

“I don’t understand, Socks!” Luke was yelling, beseechingly. “But I’m dizzy!” He yelped. 

Ahsoka blinked and settled the boy at her front. “You don’t know me?” She questioned, a little sadly, staring at his face. “But you know Anakin’s…?” She looked confused.

“I fell asleep after leaving the second Death Star, then I woke up here!” Luke explained. 

Ahsoka’s eyes narrowed a second. “Huh.” She pondered.

“You’ve met Luke after that, then?” Obi-Wan asked curiously. 

Ahsoka nodded. “Five or so years afterwards. I came across him by happenstance looking for another Jedi, he was teaching Grogu, a Youngling Foundling.” Ahsoka answered.

“Huh.” Luke breathed. “What’s a Foundling?” He asked. 

Ahsoka looked at him. “A Foundling is a perspective child of a Mandalorian.” She explained. 

Luke looked confused. “A Mandalorian? Like Fett? Han kicked him into the Sarlacc.” Luke said, his tone confused. 

Anakin was suddenly roaring in laughter. 

Ahsoka glared at him. 

“Wait. Hold on, if you survived 66 and the Empire, where were you during it?” Luke asked. 

Ahsoka blinked. “I was keeping a promise, then I was kinda stuck between the Force and the purrgil.” Ahsoka said. 

Luke’s nose scrunched up. “Sounds painful.” He said.

Ahsoka laughed as she handed him back to Anakin.

“Wait, wait, hold on, hold on!” Rex was saying, as he waved his hands, he pointed to Luke, who pointed to himself in confusion. “You can’t just mention the Death Star and expect me not to ask questions, kid! I was there!” He said with a frown. 

Luke blinked several times. “On Endor?” He asked.

Rex nodded. “Lord knows, there weren’t any kids there amongst the Ewoks…” Rex muttered. 

“I don’t remember seeing you?” Luke said. 

“I was older! And I had a beard!” Rex said as if offended.

Luke squawked suddenly, pointing to the man. “I know you!” He yelled. 

“God for you, kid. But I don’t know you!” Rex exclaimed. 

“Oh. I was older. Twenty. I was wearing black! With Han Solo and Leia Organa!” Luke said, helpfully.

Rex’s eyes narrowed as if he was trying to place him before he lit up. “The last-second Commander that joined!” He said, pointing. 

Luke laughed and waved. 

“I never got your name, kid?” Rex said, not understanding why his Jetii aliit were starting to knowingly smirk at him while watching his every move gleefully. 

It was always bound to bring trouble.

“I’m Luke! Luke Skywalker!” Luke said, helpfully .

Rex just stared.

“How does it feel to never be out of orders from the Skywalker lineage, Rex?” Anakin asked, sporting the biggest grin Rex had ever seen. 

Rex just shrieked loudly as he pointed.

/

/

“Father?” Luke asked tiredly. 

Not just Anakin looked at him, but both Padmé and Obi-Wan. Ahsoka was off with Rex and Cody making sure the Clones were seen too properly.

“Yes, Luke?” Anakin asked, coming over to Luke, who was struggling to sit up on the couch after sleeping for a few hours. 

While it was cramped, Obi-Wan and even Ahsoka didn’t feel like leaving Padmé’s apartment when they were planet-side.

It made Padmé resolve to find a bigger place faster, especially when she felt the twins get more and more active with kicking her ribs every five seconds. 

“When is Empire Day?” He questioned tiredly. 

Anakin hummed and sat next to the boy to help him sit, something uneasy settled in the back of his mind. 

“Would have been a good few days ago, maybe a week ago, why?” Anakin asked. 

He looked to Obi-Wan when he heard the man gasp in stark realisation, and he looked to Padmé quickly. 

“Obi-Wan? What’s wrong?” He asked worriedly. 

“Luke and Leia were born on Empire Day…” Obi-Wan muttered. 

Padmé was still pregnant. 

The wheels in Anakin’s headspace grind to a stop, and he looked at Luke, who was becoming more and more tired as the days dragged on. He thought it was because the boy was helping too much, pushing himself too hard.

But now…

Anakin lifted Luke into his arms, and the boy murmured something into his shoulder weakly, and hugged him tightly, his flesh hand securing Luke’s head when he felt it loll backwards.

“Are you pushing to stay, dear one?” Anakin asked quietly. 

“But you’re here.” He heard Luke answer quietly. 

Some dam broke in Anakin, and he clutched his child closer, as he stood up. 

“Oh, love, I’ll always be with you!” Anakin answered painfully.

Luke cried out and clung tighter. “I don’t wanna go back! I don’t wanna leave you!” He cried out.

Anakin barely heard Obi-Wan explaining to a distraught Padmé what was going on. 

He would need to thank Obi-Wan later. If he survived this. Survived the pain tearing through him. Survived all the tears he would shed because of this farewell. 

“You won’t leave me, dear one, I promise,” Anakin answered, moving slightly, so Luke was leaning his exhausted body into him, so he could rub the child’s back. “ I promise. ” He added as he latched onto Luke’s Force Signature gently. 

He wouldn’t cry now. Not when he needed to be strong for Luke.

“Promise? Promise we’ll talk more?” Luke asked against his neck.

“Always. As much as you like until you’re sick of me.” Anakin chuckled back, wetly. 

“Hmm.” Luke hummed tiredly. “Not likely. You’ll be tired of me first.” Luke answered. 

Anakin chuckled wetly. “Now that’s a lie if I ever heard one. I’ll never tire of you, of hugging you, of spending every moment with you, dear one.” Anakin promised. 

Luke hummed tiredly again. “You better, I won’t forgive you if you’re lying…” Luke said.

Anakin could only laugh wetly.

Anakin looked up to the broken expressions of Obi-Wan and Padmé. 

“Luke?” Obi-Wan called quietly.

Anakin moved his head, so Luke could see, handing him over when he saw the weak grabby hand movements Luke tried to give. 

“Hello, young one.” Obi-Wan greeted sadly as he settled Luke’s nearly non-existent weight against his chest. 

“Hullo, Ben…” Luke said quietly.

Obi-Wan chuckled reverently. “What will you do now, now that you got your wish?” He asked softly.

Luke hummed and nuzzled his head against Obi-Wan’s shoulder. “I think I’ll ask for forever. Do you think that’ll be okay?” He asked. 

Obi-Wan looked up when he heard Anakin’s aborted sob, and saw the tears trying to break through. 

“I think we can do that for you, Luke. I’ll make sure of it.” Obi-Wan answered. 

“Take care of Father?” Luke asked quietly. 

Obi-Wan’s expression almost broke, but he nodded quickly. “Of course…” Obi-Wan answered.

Obi-Wan gently gave Luke back to Anakin. 

“Bye, Ben.” He heard Luke say quietly, and it made him break a broken huff as the boy settled back into Anakin. 

Padmé came in closer and put a hand on Luke’s back. She couldn’t hold him anymore, not with the unborn version of him kicking him, but she could do this. 

With Anakin’s help, Luke was put between his parents and was able to wind his arms around Padmé’s neck. 

“Mother?” Luke questioned barely.

“Yes, sweetheart?” She asked. 

Luke huffed a quiet laugh. “Han calls Leia that…” He said. 

Padmé sniffed quietly. “Must be a good man.” She added.

She felt him nod. “He’s a good brother.” He whispered.

Padmé felt him nuzzle into her, and a current of electricity seemed to pass from him to her peacefully, safely, warmly.

“Mother?” He tried again, and he heard her hum quietly. “Hug Father for me when I can’t, yeah?” He asked faintly.

She beat down the sob rising in the back of her throat. 

How was this child so good , and so caring, self-less, in the face of all this?

“I promise, love.” Padmé promised him.

Padmé passed him back when he tried to tap her shoulder and missed.

As soon as he was settled back into Anakin’s arms, he nuzzled there and settled there tiredly. 

“Are you alright, Luke?” Anakin was helpless to ask. 

Luke hummed. “Warm.” He muttered.

Anakin sniffed. “Good.” He said softly. 

He saw Obi-Wan helping Padmé to sit.

“Father?” Luke asked faintly.

Anakin immediately looked back at him and was helpless to start rocking on his feet. “I’m here. I’m always here, my son.” Anakin told him reverently.

Anakin saw Luke’s hand twitch, and he took it within his own. His hand engulfed Luke’s small one protectively. As it should be.

“I don’t…” Luke muttered. 

Anakin could feel Luke’s sudden spike of tired fear when his exhaustion tried to claim him. 

“It’s alright, Luke,” Anakin said, holding the boy closer, and even closer within his heart. “It’s alright, dear one. I’m here. I’ll always be here. You can let go. I’ll be alright, I promise.” Anakin promised him softly. 

Anakin brushed his Signature over Luke’s gently, calmingly, soothing his child’s mind, and helping the boy let go.

Anakin felt Luke’s weight vanish against his mechanical arm altogether, followed by the child’s body fading, just like the boy came to them all those months ago. 

Anakin’s arms fell to his side uselessly once he was sure his child was gone. His shoulder’s started to tremble in so much overbearing pain before they wound around him tightly. 

“ Father .” 

They all looked up to suddenly see a transparent man, wearing all black, one hand gloved, a lightsaber at his hip, a smile on his face, and his eyes full of happy tears.

“Luke!” Anakin cried out in surprise.

Luke’s grin got a little bigger. “ Thank you for showing me my wish coming true, Father. ” Luke told him.

Anakin stared at him, blinking stupefied for a second, before shaking his head vehemently. His throat clogged up too much to speak, and he ended up whining needfully. 

“ Do you have a wish, Father? ” Luke questioned curiously.

 Anakin cleared his throat painfully. “That I’ll see you again?” He asked.

Luke tilted his head, then gestured to Padmé. “ I’ll always be here, with you. Always. ” He said.

Anakin shook his head. “That’s…not what I meant…” He tried to explain.

Anakin looked at him and saw Luke’s reverent, happy expression.

He didn’t understand it. In fact, the entire meaning went over Anakin’s head.