sith_happened | The preserve [afternoon]

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The preserve [afternoon]

Anakin didn't really understand when Luke had called him earlier in the day.

He didn't understand even after the entire "Fathers' Day" thing was explained to him.

But he was waiting in a clearing in the preserve as requested to spend time with his son.

...which he still didn't understand.

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"Hello, Father," Luke said with a small smile as he walked into the preserve lugging a basket full of food.

"Luke," Anakin replied with a nod.

"Happy Fathers' Day," Luke said, handing Anakin a package.

Sometimes Luke thought he was funny.

Sometimes Anakin agreed with him.

This was not one of those times.

He opened the package and arched up an eyebrow. "Funny," he deadpanned. "Especially given your own wardrobe choices..."

Luke snickered. "Relax, Father," he said. "I'm teasing you. Surely you're used to that."

He flung himself onto the grass and reached for the basket of food. "I brought sandwiches and sand cookies," he said with a smile.

"Why would I be used to being teased?" Anakin asked, floating a sandwich towards him and taking a bite.

He paused to chew before continuing, "That requires a familiarity most people don't presume with me."

Luke blinked. "I'm sure that..." his mind whirled through a list of possibilities and coming up blank. He shrugged and pulled out a sandwich of his own. "I was trying to make you smile," he said. "It's something I haven't seen you do a lot."

"There hasn't been a lot of reason this month," Anakin said, busying himself with his sandwich.

Finally, after a long pause, "...how is your sister?"

"Father," Luke sighed. "You know that answer, and having me say it will just make you more unhappy."

"I suppose so," Anakin said, looking sad. "You'll watch out for her."

It wasn't a question.

Luke nodded. "I was without being asked to," he said, his voice tinged with just a little bit of annoyance. "And when I'm not there, she has Han."

Anakin made a face. "I don't suppose I'm allowed to have an opinion on that."

"Not in Jaina's hearing, no, you're not," Luke said firmly. "What's wrong with Han, anyway?"

Not that Anakin's opinion on this was going to change his own, but he'd been curious for a while.

"Well, at the time I thought he'd been dropped on his head because he didn't know about Jedi...now I kind of understand that," Anakin said slowly. "But he dated a eunuch! On purpose!" He wrinkled up his nose. "And there were other rumors that I'm not telling you about because I've caused you more than enough trauma."

Luke went pale. "Yeah, if it's what Lana accidentally thought at me, I don't want to know. And I'm never, ever, ever asking about."

Pause.

"Ever."

"You'll live a much happier life that way," Anakin agreed with a slight smile. "Our family has enough stories."

Luke bit his lip. "Speaking of that...I told Rikku and Tori the whole story. I didn't want Tori to accidentally say the wrong thing to Leia, and Rikku...understands."

Anakin's eyes locked with Luke's. "And you felt this was the right choice?"

Luke's eyes were clear as he stared back. "I do," he said firmly. "You're not the only one trying to figure this out, and you've screwed Rory up enough for an entire legion of Skywalkers. I'll get my help from someone else."

The muscles in Anakin's jaw clenched tightly. "Have I now?" he asked.

But Luke hadn't lived through facing off against the Emperor to back down from saying what he thought was true.

"You have," he said. "You're both going in circles and making the other one miserable and I'm tired of it."

There was an uncomfortable silence.

"And you are so well versed in the ways of the world that you feel qualified offer me advice on this," Anakin replied acidly.

Luke wouldn't be dissuaded. He reached for a cookie.

"She practically screams through the Force," he said, "and you're so blocked off--it's not healthy, Father. I love you both, but if I have to bang your heads together until you both see stars, I'll do it."

"There aren't always happy endings, my son," Anakin said quietly. "We're friends with moments of bickering, sniping, and bringing up the past. There's no future in it, and we're both realizing it."

Which led to more bickering and sniping, but Anakin wasn't exactly the most self-aware being in the galaxy.

"What you're looking for only happens in the holodramas, I'm afraid," he concluded.

"That's bantha poodoo and we both know it," Luke said, frowning hard. "I can feel the conflict in you."

Anakin erected even higher barriers around his emotions. "But not the reason behind it," he snapped back, "and you're not going to. Let it go, Luke. Now."

"Fine," Luke said sulkily, eating another cookie. "What was wrong last week, anyway?"

The sandwich wasn't fascinating enough to merit the kind of attention Anakin was giving it.

Finally: "Your mother's birthday was the ninth."

Luke's jaw dropped.

"Oh," he said softly. "Are you all right?"

Anakin shrugged. "I'm better now. The lead-up is always a bit on the unbearable side."

Luke was still staring. "And you made us run through Naboo...are you trying to see how much pain you can take before you snap?"

Anakin ran his hands through his hair. "It was the only time I ever saved her that was a clear win," he said. "After Naboo...everything got more complicated."

"How old were you at the Battle of Naboo?" Luke asked, laying down on the grass close to his father's feet, paying very close attention.

"I was nine," Anakin said. "It was after I left Tatooine but before I was officially a Jedi."

He gazed off into nothing. "The next I saw her I was eighteen and she was teaching here. Then...there was Rory."

Luke had forgotten about the half-eaten cookie in his hand as he listened. "After you left here--when did you see her again?"

"Padmé?" Anakin smiled softly. "Not for a couple of years. She was the lead voice opposing a Republic-wide military--looking back now, she was right, of course. She usually was--and there was a series of attempts on her life. So the Chancellor asked the Jedi to look after her, and they assigned Obi-Wan and I."

Luke smiled back. "And you fell in love and got married?" he finished.

"It wasn't quite that simple," Anakin said. "Jedi were forbidden from falling in love, and even more not allowed to get married." He shrugged. "We did it anyway and kept it a secret from everyone, including Obi-Wan. It wasn't easy...but it was worth it."

He gave Luke another smile. "Your mother was an extraordinary woman, Luke, and she would've been so, so proud of you."

Luke bit his lower lip, suddenly uncertain. "Really?"

Anakin reached down and tousled his son's hair. "Really."

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The preserve [afternoon]

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