It was a while before Luke was finally able to gather himself enough to speak.

"So...n-now you know."

He said it more as a statement then a question.

Anakin nodded solemnly and the two shifted so that they were sitting side by side on Luke's bed. "Yes...Qui-Gon came to me and showed me...enough."

"What did you see?" Luke asked softly.

Anakin gave a heavy sigh, looking away. After a few moments he returned his gaze to Luke, though he wasn't looking him in the eyes. Instead, he was gazing at Luke's mechanical hand. Wordlessly, he took the hand, examining it with a distant, sad look in his eyes. "I'm the one who did this to you," he said in quiet mourning. Luke drew his hand back with a shake of his head.

"No, not you; Vader, from my time...a time that can still be changed," Luke told him softly but firmly. "What did you see?"

Anakin sighed, propping his elbows on his knees as he stared off into space, his mind floating back to the vision. "I saw...what happened to Owen and his wife...I saw...what happened to...Obi-Wan." Anakin paused for a moment, obviously having to regain himself. "I saw your training on Dagobah, and the fight...on Bespin." Anakin winced as he thought of the harsh beating Luke had taken, how he'd lost his hand, and the emotional agony it had caused him when he had discovered that his father was still alive and was in fact Darth Vader.

Anakin shook his head to dispel the dark thoughts before he continued. "And I also saw your surrender, the fight on the space station, the...my redemption...and my death." Anakin tensed a little and looked back at Luke, a fire in his eyes. "I can assure you I never would have stood by and watched that. Never would I have threatened or attacked you like that..." Anakin trailed off, voice breaking.

Luke put a hand on Anakin's shoulder. "It's fine; I know you wouldn't. I've come to know my father very well in the time that's passed."

Anakin felt a warm feeling spread through his chest, and he managed to give Luke a tiny smile. "I'm glad." However, the smile gradually slipped away from his face as his thoughts wandered. "Qui-Gon told me you were having your own vision about...my fall. I'd ask but...I don't think I want to know."

Luke looked away at that, suddenly much quieter. Anakin sensed what Luke had just seen coming back to haunt him in memory, so Anakin put a hand on the other Skywalker's knee. "Try not to think about it if it's that bad."

Luke nodded. "I-I know, I just...I never knew how or why...I just knew that it happened."

"So we both got answers tonight; it wasn't just me."

Luke nodded again. "I'm glad you know now. I've wanted to tell you...quite often. But of course..."

Anakin sighed. "Yes, I get it; the Force had a plan it seems. I won't complain anymore."

Luke smiled timidly. "Yes, the complaining about not being able to know didn't help matters at all."

A few moments of silence persisted between them, and Anakin ran a hand down his face. "So am I the only one that knows?"

Luke shook his head. "No. Yoda figured it out when he saw me for the first time in the Council Room, and Obi-Wan...you remember how Obi-Wan saw something he wasn't supposed to that day when we meditated together, the one we wouldn't tell you about? Well, I guess I told you a little, since I told you about the Empire...but he saw my memory of Bespin, and considering Vader called me Skywalker twice, it wasn't that hard for him to figure out."

"Obi-Wan knows?" Anakin asked, shocked.

Luke smiled sheepishly as Anakin sat back in shock. "It was purely accidental that he found out; I didn't tell him. He just figured it out when he saw something I didn't plan on him seeing."

"I...I would have thought he'd say something if he knew. If he knows about you then surely he's figured out I've been sneaking around with Padmé..."

"Oh yes, I'm sure he does, but I asked him not to say anything and he hasn't. I think that you don't give him nearly enough credit," Luke said, trailing off as his eyes gained a faraway glint. Anakin frowned; from the way Luke had been tossing, turning, crying, and sweating in his sleep, Anakin knew that his vision had been far from pleasant. He also had the feeling that Anakin's vision was nothing compared to whatever Luke had seen.

Anakin sighed. "I think I'm going to teach you some tricks that, from what I've seen, would do you well to learn."

Luke seemed glad for the distraction. "Like?"

"Like deflecting lightning with a lightsaber. It seems you would have been saved some trouble if you'd known how to do that."

Luke gave a worn, somewhat bitter smile at the memory of the battle aboard the Second Death Star. "Yes, that probably would be helpful."

"I know what I'm going to start you on in the morning."

"So soon?"

"Of course so soon," Anakin returned. "You obviously need to learn how, and the sooner the better."

"I can't argue with you on that."

"There are some things I don't know, though, that are still going unanswered," Anakin said, almost absentmindedly.

"What's that?" Luke asked.

"Well first of all is the how, but I don't think I want to know, and secondly is the Emperor; who is the Emperor?" Anakin pressed, caution and curiosity in his tone.

Luke cocked his head to the side, thinking carefully before he met Anakin's gaze. "That's for you to find out on your own, apparently."

Anakin sighed. "Well, I guess I can't complain since everything else has finally been told to me," he mumbled before he turned back to Luke, a new question on his lips. "I didn't really see anything about...your sister. I mean, she was the one you rescued the day Obi-Wan died, right?"

Luke simply nodded.

"Then I only saw her twice, and only briefly."

Luke shrugged. "Perhaps that's for another time."

Anakin nodded thoughtfully. "I guess Qui-Gon did say I was going to see your story."

"Then maybe you'll have a separate vision of her at another time," Luke suggested.

"I'd like that." There was silence between the two for a few moments before Anakin spoke again. "Could you tell me at least the gist of what happened to me? Not the details, I don't think I'm ready for that; just a vague idea about what happened is what I want to know."

Luke looked away, eyes distant once again as he carefully thought his words through. "You sold your soul to save Padmé, but in the process became your own worst enemy, were deceived by the lies the Emperor told you, and lost everything. I'm also rather sure now that your nightmares about Padmé are warnings of what will happen if you fall to the dark side, not a prediction of the future."

Anakin nodded, filing the former information away for future reference as he processed the revelation that he might have caused his own self-destruction. Padmé, perfectly healthy, and him acting on those fears of his nightmares being the very thing to bring about her death...all because of him. He would have killed her trying to save her from a phantom threat.

"This has been an eventful night," Anakin commented after a lengthy silence.

"Yes, it has, hasn't it?" Luke mused.

"Do you plan on telling your mother? Because I know I plan to," Anakin said with a chuckle.

Luke smiled. "I would like her to know."

"Good, because I was going to tell her either way."

Luke laughed and Anakin smiled at him before he slipped back into seriousness, letting Luke finish laughing before he spoke. He put his hand on Luke's shoulder for extra emphasis. "I promise you, Luke, I won't fall. Not now; I couldn't knowing what I'd do and how much it would hurt those I care about."

"I'm glad to hear that, Father."

Anakin smiled at him, pulling Luke in for a one armed hug. "I'm glad my son turned into such a fine man."

Anakin chuckled when he felt Luke's embarrassment through their Force Bond, which he realized had increased significantly since the visions. "It's a compliment, Luke; no need to be embarrassed," he teased lightly as he released his son.

"I can't help it," Luke mumbled with a smile, his entire face bright red.

Anakin laughed again, returning to the couch once again. "Come on, we need some rest. We've got some people to visit tomorrow."

With that, Anakin got situated, letting his eyes close.

"Goodnight, Father," Luke said softly from his bed.

"Goodnight, Son," Anakin replied just as quietly.

The happiness from both of them was thick in the air, and it was easy for Anakin to slip back into a peaceful slumber.

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

Luke was awake a little longer then Anakin, staring up at the ceiling as he thought about everything he'd just seen. It seemed Luke had already changed so much, though he was weary of being lulled into a false sense of security.

I agree, came Qui-Gon's voice from within Luke's mind. Sidious is a clever, quick thinker, and adjusts swiftly and effectively to changes that disrupt his plans. Even though you have already changed things, he doesn't seem too worried, and I don't think that it's because he's overconfident.

Then what should I do? Luke asked.

Stay alert, and help the Jedi and your father prepare. I can feel the massive shift from the dark side towards the light that he has taken, but Sidious is ruthless and has known your father since he was a young boy. You will need to be ready for anything.

All right Qui-Gon, I'll try. Ah, I mean, I will, Luke replied, correcting himself when he remembered Yoda's words 'Do or do not, there is no try.'

The Force will be with you Luke. Do whatever you have to in order to protect your father from Sidious' influence. The time is fast approaching for Sidious to make his move.

I will.

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

"Obi-Wan!"

Obi-Wan turned to see Anakin and Luke walking up to him side by side, both beaming in unusually happy moods. Luke walked a little slower and gingerly than normal, but other than that he seemed perfectly fine.

Anakin slung an arm around Obi-Wan's shoulders as he reached him. "Where are you headed to, old man?" he teased with a luminescent smile.

Obi-Wan raised his eyebrows, though he returned the smile. "Luke, I see you're up and about. They've released you from the medical wing?"

Luke nodded as Anakin led them to somewhere they could talk freely, his arm still hooked around Obi-Wan's shoulders. What was going on? Anakin was hardly ever this happy, least of all recently.

"Yes, they told me I could so long as Anakin swore to make me keep the strenuous activity on a down low, preferably non-existent level."

"That's understandable," Obi-Wan mused before he looked to Anakin. "What's got you so upbeat?"

Before Anakin could respond, Obi-Wan looked at Luke, an expression of Obi-Wan mischievousness appearing in his eyes. "I don't even think this is Anakin, he's way too happy."

Both Skywalkers chuckled, and Anakin shook a finger at Obi-Wan. "You've been keeping secrets from me, my future hermit friend."

Obi-Wan frowned, confused. Anakin jumped at the opportunity to tease him further, looking at Luke and gesturing to Obi-Wan dramatically. "What do you know, Luke, he's already going senile; he'll be your crazy hermit mentor in no time. He's already forgotten how he didn't tell me."

Obi-Wan scowled. "Tell you what? Luke, what's the crazed man talking about?"

Luke chuckled. "Father's just being Father."

Obi-Wan started at how open Luke was about the matter, but he was quick to realize what was going on. "Oh, so you've finally figured it out? It took you long enough," Obi-Wan exclaimed.

Anakin rolled his eyes. "I'm sorry, I wasn't really open to the possibility he was my son from the future."

Obi-Wan nodded. "That's understandable."

Anakin wagged a finger at him again. "You and I have a lot to talk about, Master."

Obi-Wan planted his feet firmly, folding his arms across his chest. "Yes, we do; for example, you and Padmé. How long?"

Anakin suddenly became bashful. "Oh...since the war started."

Obi-Wan blinked, shocked. "That long? Anakin, you were still my Padawan!"

Anakin grinned. "Exactly, and you didn't realize it. You're becoming senile in your old age Obi-Wan; I'd break out the hermit clothes."

Obi-Wan groaned and Luke laughed at them. "You do realize that you've committed a major infraction against the Order? And with Padmé pregnant on top of that—"

Luke cut in before he could continue and sour the happy mood. "Yoda said he was going to meditate on the matter, though he hasn't said anything else on the subject to me since he left for Kashyyyk, so right now it's a matter for another time. There are much more serious things to address right now."

"Yes, for example, the fact I'm the prime choice for a psycho's new apprentice," Anakin said, managing to keep a light tone despite the seriousness of what he just said.

"Or the fact that the Republic and the Jedi Order are in imminent danger," Luke chimed in.

Obi-Wan shook his head. "Two Skywalkers are one too many," he mumbled.

Anakin grinned. "And just think; if things go right then there'll be three, not counting Padmé."

"The horror."

Luke, Anakin, and Obi-Wan all fell into step side by side, collectively making their way down the hall. "So you're going to Utapau...tomorrow, I believe?" Anakin asked Obi-Wan, who nodded in reply.

"Yes, I do. If anything happens here, then I'm probably going to miss it."

"Almost everything happens here," Luke said under his breath, a bitter tone in his voice.

Obi-Wan raised his eyebrows at Luke's sour voice in surprise. Where had that come from? Obi-Wan looked to Anakin, wondering if he would be able to shed some light on the matter. However, Anakin simply shook his head to tell Obi-Wan not to ask.

"Are you two going to be all right on your own?" Obi-Wan asked sincerely.

"I'd like Luke to get more practice in on his Djem So and I'd like to teach him a few more Force techniques to keep us busy in the meantime, but I have no idea how much time we have."

"I don't either," Luke admitted as Anakin placed his hand on Luke's shoulder. "Though I have some security precautions I was hoping you two could propose to the Council. I saw what...what happened here and I have a few ideas to strengthen the defenses and provide an escape route for the younglings and...if the worst still happens...survivors."

Obi-Wan's frown deepened as he took in the young man's solemn demeanor. Studying him closely, Obi-Wan could tell that whatever Luke had seen had scarred him deeply, though the boy was putting on a brave face, just as his father would do.

"Of course; just tell us and we'll present it to the Council. I'll make sure that they take the precautions that you suggest seriously." Obi-Wan gave Luke a reassuring smile as he spoke, glancing up at Anakin for a split second.

"Thank you, Obi-Wan," Luke said.

"So, what were you thinking for defenses?"

Luke gained a mischievous look in his eyes, one so similar to Anakin's own mischievous glint that Obi-Wan had to shake off how much it unnerved him.

"All right, here's what I was thinking..."