Office hours [all day]

[sith_happened]

A week away without the baby? Anakin had loved it, even if he had begun feeling vaguely guilty about leaving her by Thursday.

Which was why he was now updating the photos in his office (which would also be helpful for when alumni stopped by during the weekend, he thought) and humming "Sweet Caroline" under his breath.

Rory swore that Juliet loved the song. Anakin rather suspected it had something more to do with the guy with the hair and the guitar from Squee singing it.

Either way, the door was open.

Comments

[sith_happened]

"And I am not harping on this because I want to be right about everything," Anakin replied. "I'm not saying you need to be obsessed with makeup or start living at a mall or whatever it is that teenagers on this planet do. I just want you to take a break because you realize that taking a break is healthy, not because you think taking a break will make me shut up and you're counting down the seconds until you can go back to doing something you think is more useful."

[solo_sword]

"I've had six trips since July that weren't for work," Jaina pointed out. "I do some work on them when I can, sure, but six vacations. That's ridiculous for anyone."

[sith_happened]

"It's good for you," Anakin insisted quietly. "You don't have to defend your time away."

[solo_sword]

"That's what I'm saying. And yet I still get people telling me to take breaks and go out more, and you know what, no. I'm good here. That's the thing, everyone wants to help, but it's not helping," she said. "I really am truly, honestly fine here."

[sith_happened]

Anakin watched her eyes for a moment, listening for nudges in the Force, before nodding. "Very well. But when you're not, don't stonewall me?"

[solo_sword]

If he was accepting that, she could give that much. "Okay," she agreed.

[sith_happened]

"Okay," he repeated, giving her a tiny smile. "You do know I love you, right?"

For Anakin, that took a lot to say aloud.

[solo_sword]

"I know. I love you too." Really, if she didn't, she wouldn't have kept showing up with all these issues hanging there. "I feel like we should be congratulating ourselves for this."

[sith_happened]

"Having an adult conversation about issues?"

[solo_sword]

"It's us," she said, thinking that explained her point.

[sith_happened]

"You said I didn't listen," he said quietly. "I'm working on it."

[solo_sword]

"Thanks," she said. Seriously, that went a long way after all this. "I should let you get back to it. I'll see you next week."