Luke made his way over to the cafeteria, spotting Obi-Wan sitting alone in one of the corners waiting for him. Luke suddenly had the strong urge to bolt, but he didn't follow through. As that thought crossed his mind, Obi-Wan caught his eyes and waved Luke over.

Almost droid-like, Luke made his way over to Obi-Wan, trying to calm his frayed nerves. This was going to be an interesting talk, to say the least.

As Luke took his seat Obi-Wan watched him intently, and Luke found himself under an all too familiar sharp scrutiny. The silence was maddening, but Luke remained quiet until Obi-Wan finally spoke up.

"Care to explain what that was?" he asked softly.

"Um...where should I start?" Luke asked sheepishly.

"How about with the Skywalker part; is your last name really Skywalker?" Apparently Obi-Wan needed to hear it from Luke himself.

"Yes."

"And your father, the...the Sith. Was that...?"

Obviously he couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence.

"Anakin? Yes...it was..."

Obi-Wan let out a breath he had apparently been holding, eyes closed. "What happened?"

Luke sighed, running a hand through his hair as he tried to think of what to say. Oh Force, how do I explain what I don't even fully understand myself?

"I...don't know the whole story. Not yet anyway...all I know is that he was desperate to save my mother from a vision he'd had of her dying, and the Emperor took advantage of his desperation and used it to manipulate him. At least that's what I've gathered so far, in a nutshell. I'm still trying to figure out the specifics myself," Luke finally said.

"That's the other thing I don't understand; Emperor? Who? How?" Obi-Wan asked in exasperation.

Luke shook his head. "A lot of careful planning and very suddenly, that's the best I can explain. He wiped out the Jedi, decimated the Separatists, and then reformed the Republic into the Galactic Empire. It happened too fast for anyone to grasp just what had happened, I believe."

Obi-Wan sat back, noting how Luke had purposely jumped around the who part. Luke suddenly looked older than he was and drained.

"Your mother...it's Padmé, isn't it?" Obi-Wan asked quietly.

Luke blinked in surprise. "Is it that obvious?"

Obi-Wan chuckled weakly. "With Anakin, it isn't that hard to figure out."

Luke sighed. "I promised him I wouldn't tell anyone."

Obi-Wan seemed startled. "Anakin knows? He doesn't act like he does."

Luke shook his head. "No, he doesn't know any of it really; just the part about a Sith Empire replacing the Republic. The Force doesn't want him to know yet...he doesn't even know I'm his son."

Obi-Wan leaned across the table. "So I'm guessing you want me to keep this to myself?"

Luke glanced away, unable to meet Obi-Wan's intent gaze. "Yes...I talked to Master Yoda about all of this and he said that the Force had a time for him to find out."

"Master Yoda knows?" Surprise flickered across Obi-Wan's gaze as he spoke.

Luke nodded. "I think he found out when he first saw me in the Council Room. I've talked to him about it a little since."

Obi-Wan rubbed his beard as he sat back, deep in thought. Luke let him have his moment; he had a lot to go over.

"So your true purpose—the real reason that the Force brought you here—is to give Anakin a second chance, isn't it? Not really to fill the gaps in your training, as you let the Council assume," Obi-Wan stated.

"No, I'm sure that I'm here for training, as well as to give my father a second chance. Qui-Gon has been coming to me in my dreams—"

"You've talked to Qui-Gon?" Obi-Wan suddenly cut in, an expression crossing his features that was a cross between hope, sadness, curiosity, and doubt.

Luke nodded, remembering that Qui-Gon had told Luke that he'd been Obi-Wan's master. "Yes, he's been giving me some guidance on what I need to be doing, as well as shown me a few things to help me understand everything that's going on and what happened in my time to make things go so wrong."

"I...it's good to hear that," he said softly. Luke could tell part of him wished he could talk to his master as well; Luke could definitely relate with Obi-Wan about that feeling.

"I'll keep this secret, Luke, though I'll probably talk to Yoda about some things," Obi-Wan told him, still pensive.

"That's fine with me."

Obi-Wan sighed. "I knew Anakin was keeping something from me...though I never would have guessed..." he trailed off.

"I'm sure you can understand why he would be careful to keep this a secret."

"Yes, I can...and a lot of his actions over the course of this war are easily explained now."

Luke smiled a little. "You know, Master...something I found puzzling when I came here was that it was the first time I'd heard of attachments being forbidden to the Jedi. I wasn't told anything about that by you or Master Yoda. I've had several attachments, but not once was it discouraged. It's like, over the years, apparently it was decided that attachments would be allowed."

Obi-Wan seemed a little surprised. "Really?"

Luke nodded. "I talked to Anakin about this, too, but I thought about it for a while before I came up with what I believe might have been the reasoning. With Anakin, while the Emperor took advantage of his desperation to save Padmé, it was his love for his family—for me—that saved him in the end. He..." Luke paused, making sure he really could say what he was about to say; just to be sure he didn't say something he shouldn't. "He came back to the light, saved my life, and destroyed the Emperor. That attachment is what saved him in the end, and it was my attachments that kept me on the side of light when the Emperor tempted me as well. I refused to kill my own father, and it ruined the Emperor's plans for me. The attachments aren't a bad thing; that ability to love is what keeps us grounded in the light."

Obi-Wan searched Luke's expression for a moment, his eyes sparkling a little. "I can see your point Luke...you're right, actually. Perhaps I'll talk to Yoda about your point."

"Thank you, Master."

"Just call me Obi-Wan, Luke."

"Okay."

Obi-Wan sighed. "So...should we go back to the lesson we cut short earlier, or do you want to go back to your training with Anakin?"

"I think I'll go back to training with Anakin. There's so much I still have to learn, and I don't know how long I'm going to be here."

Obi-Wan nodded. "Then go on ahead and find him. We can have our lesson another time."

"Thank you, Mas...Obi-Wan." Luke stood up and bowed in respect, grateful that Obi-Wan had taken what Luke had to tell him so well.

"Go on."

Luke left the room, feeling lighter now that Obi-Wan knew and glad he had been allowed to reveal so much to the older man. He was probably glowing as he navigated through the halls, looking for his father so he could try and get some more lightsaber practice in.

Luke actually found Anakin in their shared room. He could sense his father stewing over everything that had happened, and he frowned as he knocked on the door. "Anakin?"

Luke could hear shuffling in the room as Anakin approached to answer the door. "Yes?" Anakin asked as the door slid open.

Luke studied him for a few moments. "Are you all right?"

"Besides being disgraced by the Council, worry about my wife's life, and finding out that the Republic falls to the mercy of a Sith? I'm fine," he replied sarcastically.

Luke gave a wan smile. "I guess that was a stupid question," he chuckled; he was glad to see he managed to get his father to smile, if only slightly.

"Yes, it was actually."

Luke returned the smile. "You know, I've always found flying helps me clear my mind."

Anakin's smile expanded into a grin. "You too, huh? It's nice to know there's someone else around here who understands."

Luke chuckled. "So, is there any way we could get away with a brief flight?"

Anakin laughed. "Who do you think you're talking to? Do you really think I can't arrange something?"

Luke grinned. "All right; I'll hold you to that."

Anakin left his room, making his way towards the hall. "I'll come get you when I've got some ships ready. Only rule, no questions asked; all right?"

Luke laughed. "All right," he called as his father disappeared around the corner.

So much for lessons, Luke thought, slightly amused. But maybe—just maybe—this will give Anakin his much needed respite from everything going on. It should also give me enough time to figure out how to reassure him about Padmé.

************************************************************************************

When his father finally returned, he seemed to be in much higher spirits already, mischief sparkling in his eyes. "All right, I've got two ships ready, though we'll have to get out of here quickly if we want to avoid any unwanted questions."

Luke snickered. "Okay then; lead the way, Anakin."

Anakin and Luke both made their way through the halls with barely contained eagerness to get up among the stars. As they approached the hanger Anakin increased his pace, obviously excited. He led them to two fighters prepped and waiting for them, and Luke was barely able to keep himself from asking Anakin how he'd pulled it off.

Before they got in, Anakin glanced over at Luke. "How about you let me lead, hmm?"

Luke rolled his eyes. "Sure." At least until we're up in the stars, he thought to himself.

Luke wondered for a moment if his father had caught the glint in Luke's eyes, but Anakin simply climbed into his ship. Luke got in his fighter as well and eagerly started it up, grinning when he heard the fighter come to life. Anticipation coursed through his veins as the two of them speedily flew out of the hanger, soaring up into the sky and heading right for the space above the planet. Feeling the controls under his hands and watching the clouds give way as the stars neared, Luke felt an exhilarating joy, and couldn't help but grin and laugh.

"Having fun already?" Luke heard Anakin chuckle over the headset he was wearing. Luke laughed again.

"I haven't done this for fun for far too long," Luke responded with a smile.

"Same."

The two of them finally broke out of the atmosphere, launching into the stars. Luke, unwilling to play follower at the moment, broke away from Anakin's lead, lazily rolling the ship on its side before he straightened out again, looping in the air.

"What's that, Luke? You look like you're flying for the first time," Anakin teased him.

"Oh come on, I'm not even trying," Luke shot back.

Anakin snickered before he pulled the same maneuver he'd used to avoid the missiles when they'd rescued Sidious. However, he was making a beeline for Luke's ship, causing Luke to become slightly jittery. Luke went to move out of the way, but Anakin's amused voice came through the headset.

"I wouldn't move if I were you," he laughed. At the last possible second, when Luke thought Anakin would crash into his ship, Anakin pulled up sharply, narrowly missing Luke's ship. Anakin let out a loud whoop of laughter and Luke let out the breath that he'd been holding. "What, Luke, did you think I was going to kill us both?" Anakin laughed at him.

"Well, you came close!" Luke said with a bout of nervous laughter.

Anakin chuckled. "Oh, I'm only loosening up; you need to do the same. Just relax, let your instincts guide the flying; don't think it all through."

Luke smiled a little. Was he really getting a flying lesson from his father right now? He shook his head in amusement. "All right then, all right."

"That's a good Padawan."

Luke rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on," he complained teasingly.

"What did I tell you? Relax..." Anakin simply said, though Luke could tell he was holding back his own laughter. Luke rolled his eyes once again, but took his father's advice, loosening up.

Soon enough Luke was twirling the ship around among the stars at a high speed with his father. They weaved between each other, twirled over each other, and rolled mere inches apart. Luke felt so alive and shared several exuberant bursts of laughter with his father at the joy that soared between them. This was a memory Luke was sure he would keep with him long after he died. What made it even better was the feeling he could sense coming from his father; he was so happy—so full of light—that Luke was positive Anakin was experiencing the same sensation of his soul soaring that Luke was. To know that Anakin was so happy filled Luke with an overwhelming amount of peace.

**********************************************************************************

Unfortunately, Luke soon heard his father's voice come over the headset to tell Luke the very thing he wished he could postpone. "We need to head back before we're missed."

Luke sighed wistfully. "I know..."

Anakin chuckled at Luke's tone. "One more round?"

"Yes please!"

Anakin laughed. "All right then, I hope you're ready!"

Once again, the two did their complicated yet exhilarating flight, pulling every trick that they could imagine before they settled back into flying side by side. Luke sighed wistfully yet again, wishing they could stay up among the stars a little longer. He could tell his father felt the same way, but they both knew that they needed to return to the Temple.

"We'll have to do this again sometime," Luke told his father.

"I agree; this is something I could never do with Obi-Wan," Anakin chuckled.

"Not a good enough flyer?" Luke guessed.

"Not even close," Anakin laughed. "And he says that he hates flying."

The two gradually sobered and they both eventually brought their ships to a smooth and somewhat sad stop in the Temple's hanger. Luke hopped out of the cockpit, Anakin approaching him the moment they were both firmly back on solid ground. He pulled him in for a brief, friendly hug. "That was amazing. Thank you so much for that, Luke."

Luke smiled up at his father, touched deeply at the gesture and appreciation. "Any time, Anakin. Though I must mention, you were the one to supply the ships."

Anakin smiled mischievously once again. "Which I now have to make disappear. I'll catch up to you in the same room we were in earlier for more practice; I just have to take care of these first. Once again, thank you, Luke."

"Of course," Luke said simply. He was about to go on his way when he paused, turning back to his father. "Oh, and Anakin, one more thing. I've been thinking about your dream and I have to mention...I once had a vision of my friends in terrible pain, and I rushed off to save them out of desperation, believing they would die if I didn't do anything to stop the vision. It turned out that...well...they didn't die, but acting on the vision didn't help them either and...I was thinking that perhaps you should think of the possibility that acting on the vision could be the very thing that makes it come true. The more you think about it and worry about it, the stronger the vision becomes from what I hear, so...maybe acting on it is what will make it come true."

Anakin paused, some of the glow that had been lingering around him dimming. Still, he seemed to take Luke's words to heart, mulling them over in his mind. "You know...I hadn't thought of that, though now that you mention it...it does make sense. I'll...I'll think about that. Thank you for telling me Luke."

Luke nodded, offering Anakin a small smile before he turned away to really leave this time. He didn't expect Anakin to let go of his fear of losing Padme all at once, or to completely forget the dream, but it was a start. Maybe Luke's theory was right, and maybe Anakin's vision would come true only if Anakin acted on it.

As Luke made his way down the halls of the Jedi Temple, he smiled widely at the happiness he could still sense radiating off of his father no matter how far he went. Soon, he heard a familiar voice speaking to him through the Force as Obi-Wan once had.

You're doing well, Luke. Experiences like these truly will help your father and give him a release he desperately needs, and your words about his vision were what he needed to hear. The Force is with you; keep up the good work, Qui-Gon's voice told him.

I will, he thought. Happily, Luke continued on his way, feeling better than he had in quite some time.