Office hours

[sith_happened]

Anakin's desk was covered in electronics as he spun a tiny screwdriver between his fingers and consulted his schematics again.

It was easier to keep his mind off of unpleasant thoughts when his hands were busy.

The door was open.

[OOC: What Anakin and Molly talked about NFB, please.]

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[sith_happened]

Anakin shook his head again. "It seemed like an acceptable price to pay--my life for his."

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

Molly lips firmed. He was sorry for what he had done. She believed that.

"What if someone else you love is threatened?" she asked. "Would you go to the dark side again to save them?"

[sith_happened]

"It doesn't work," Anakin said, which didn't really answer the question.

Mostly because he hadn't figured that out for himself yet. It was the tiny wellspring of fear he still had left.

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

"What doesn't work?" Molly asked. "What would you do?"

[sith_happened]

"Turning to the dark side wouldn't stop anyone from dying," Anakin said. "I've learned that lesson."

Which was not entirely the lesson he needed to learn.

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

Molly sighed and stood up to walk around the desk. She put a hand on Anakin's shoulder.

"I believe that you are sorry," she said. "Luke has obviously forgiven you since he brought you back here."

She sighed again and moved her hand up to his cheek, running her thumb along the bottom of his scar. "It is probably going to take me a while to really accept that you were Vader, but you, Anakin, are my friend. You will always be my friend." She gave him a small smile. "You should know though, I will do everything in my power to stop you if you ever go to the dark side again."

[sith_happened]

Anakin closed his eyes quickly to stop the sudden rush of tears.

No one had touched his face in decades.

He took a deep breath and composed himself, then opened his eyes again.

"Thank you," he said. "For both parts." He looked down at his hands. "I certainly hope I've learned something."

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

Molly narrowed her eyes and frowned a little. "None of this would have happened if you hadn't left here in the first place," she pointed out, teasing to try to lighten the mood.

[sith_happened]

Anakin gave her a small smile, grateful for the attempt.

"But then there wouldn't be Luke," he said.

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

"Hmm, true," Molly admitted. "Probably best not to think about it," she added with a shrug. "We're all here now and that is what is important."

She hugged him tight.

[sith_happened]

Anakin clung tightly. "I've missed you," he murmured.

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

"I missed you too," she said.

[sith_happened]

Anakin pulled back. "And I'm sorry for giving you detention," he said.

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

"Ha! Joke's on you," Molly said with a grin. "I had fun in detention both times you gave it to me."

[sith_happened]

Anakin smiled back. "All part of my plan, then," he decided.

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

"Liar," she said, still grinning.

[sith_happened]

"Maybe," Anakin admitted.