Luke walked further along the trail, feet lightly stepping over roots and ingrown grass. After falling for the third time, he had decided it was better walking than running. 

If only he had flown his x-wing fighter closer to the entrance of the Imperial base but he couldn’t risk being caught. He had already experienced being caught by Imperials, well, also a Sith, who was also, his… Dad. 

“Vader’s your Dad?” Yeah, yeah, it made his life sound like a holofilm. It was something he didn’t even want to think about, because, as far as he knew, he didn’t know if his…

“Son,” This was exactly what he did not count for in his plan. He didn’t want to get caught by Imperials, but by his Dad? 

Luke turned to his right, coming face to face- well more so, face to chest, with his Father.

“Dad.”

His Father physically reacted, falling backwards in shock as Luke tried to grab his gloved hands. Reaching towards them and pulling, he found that he couldn’t  pull his Father up and fell on top of him, a “Oof” coming out of his mouth. 

A muffled sound came from under Luke, and he realized he was sitting on his Father’s vocal transmitter. 

-off, Son.”

Luke slid off his Father, not before, of course, hitting a button on his Father’s life support suit and Vader’s arms reached out, trying to fix the life support.

“Oh man, oh, oh kriff,” Luke continued as he tried to help his Father to sit up and fix the life support. Vader clicked a button that was flashing a myriad of colors, before his suit sounded, and the swoosh ooosh sound rejoined them.

“Great to see you, Dad!” Luke gave his one in a million smiles as his Father’s voice filled the beauty and nature of the forest, as dark and sinister as everyone considered it to be (Besides his son, and Piett, and maybe.. Maybe Veers), “Luke. I..”

He paused before moving up to his knees and standing, Luke joining him at his full height, which of course was much more so shorter than Vader’s towering form. 

Luke looked up to his Dad, his Father, as Vader sat there, quite puzzled. 

“Look, I don’t care if he’s your Dad, the next time you see him, show him this.”

Luke sighed, an awkward smile splayed upon his lips as the shorter woman lifted her hands onto her hips, and a frown decorated her features, “But Le-“

“Don’t even try it,” She turned away from him, glancing down at the holopads upon her desk, before grabbing a small pad.

Luke stared at the woman, before he stood up, taking the pad from her, and softly saying, “You don’t have to protect me.”

As he grabbed the pad, she covered her hands over his, “I know I don’t, Luke. I just want him to know his terms and conditions that come with his son, Luke Skywalker.” She watched as his face changed into a sour looking, mouthing terms and conditions.

She moved him to the chairs in front of her desk, as they sat down, looking at each other.

Leia sighed, “Luke. You’re my family.” After Alderaan, she had lost all of her family, friends, and now that was left was the Rebellion.

He smiled, he didn’t know what it was like to lose a whole planet but she had become his family as much as he had to her.

Luke moved his chair closer to Leia, “You’re my family too. I just-“ He had to give her a chance. It was risky to even come into contact with his Dad, which he preferred not to do, but it was pretty much invitable.

They were tethered together by the force, and while Luke wasn’t comfortable with that idea, the force worked how it worked, and he couldn’t change that.

He had looked down at his hands, uncomfortably rubbing his fingers over his gloved right hand. Then, he looked back up, as his eyes met Leia’s.

To his friend, Leia, well more so his “sister”, he felt connected. Even since training with Yoda on Dagobah and the events on Bepsin, Han was long gone. Lando was new company and while Luke was indifferent towards him, Leia would rather be slightly in the shadows. Leia didn’t care if Han and Lando were friends, Lando betrayed him. He gave Han to the Empire, to Vader. She handed over a com, before explaining, “You can insert the pad into this slot, after it plays once, the recording will be erased,” she grinned, “R2 saw that it would do so.”

Which, of course brought Luke back to where he was.

He shuffled through his clothing, pulling out the pad, “Look,” his tone was filled with all the awkwardness that it seemed only Skywalker’s could have, “I know there are many things to do, but, before we continue I was supposed to show you this.”

Before Vader could even respond, Luke lightly pressed the button of the com he was holding and a tiny Leia presented itself.

“Hello Lord Vader. Or should I say Uncle Vader.” Leia drummed through the recording.

Vader shook, “What. Is. This.” He seethed before turning to his son who was just as confused as he was. Except of course, he wasn’t fuming with anger, more so filled to the brim with embarrassment.

“Uh- well, I was suppo-“

Vader seethed, “Can you explain to me why one of the top leaders of the rebellion wants to talk to me?”

Luke closed his eyes in frustration before opening them, his stance changing to one of determination and prurpose, “I am in the Rebellion. I live to fight against the Empire.” He had spat out, before shrugging and muttering, “Besides, Leia’s like my sister.” Vader turned towards his son, all focus lost on Leia’s terms and conditions. It sometimes seemed that Vader only thought of “Luke’s rebellion” to be seperate from the rest, but it couldn’t be further from the truth.

“Son.” His voice soft but squeezed into thin lines of impatience.

“Dad.” -And Vader was never going to get used to that. He turned his focus back to the communicator, the Princess’ hand pointed out, and it was as if he could feel her threatening him in person.

Her face was lined with worry, “-and he doesn’t want anything to do with the Empire. Luke has been wholeheartedly loyal to the Rebellion-“ and with that he turned back to his son, knowing that the next actions taken would not be done so lightly.

“Luke, I must ask you something,” and the blond kid from Tattooine turned to him, his face showing little emotion as he responded, “Yes?”