"I can't believe they let you teach."

Anakin had been sitting with Juliet at a table and trying to convince her to eat another chicken nugget shaped like a dinosaur when he felt it: the unique, Ben-shaped spot in the galaxy was gone. For just a second, Anakin forgot how to breathe.

Juliet burst into tears.

JAINA? LUKE? he sent immediately, more an emotion than actual words. If he felt frantic in the Force, well, so be it. He was frantic.

Anakin, it should be noted, was not nervous about the potential disaster that might be walking to his door any minute now.

It was just a family dinner, all right? Leia, Jaina, and Ben.

And John and Tahiri.

And Rory and Juliet.

And five different galactic timelines to keep straight.

What's to worry about?

There was a ton of food and enough rum to blind a pirate drink. It would be a very pleasant evening.

And if he had to mindwhammy each and every one of them to have that happen, well, don't think it wasn't crossing his mind.

Anakin was back in his office (the holiday decorations were gone, thank you very much), tinkering with an overly complicated baby monitor.

For a baby who wouldn't be born for months. Anakin was getting neurotic early.

The door was open.

Anakin had a bad feeling about today. He kept putting his hand on the back of his neck to rub at the hair there, certain he was being watched.

He hoped that the feeling had nothing to do with the news he had to share with Jaina, Ben, and Luke. He left oh so handwavy messages for them, then stared at his comlink, trying to figure out exactly how to tell Luke he was going to be a big brother.