I just had to deal with some business in real life so I couldn't post. But now you have a long chapter here :)

Chapter 15
"Stroke of luck"

Luke made a quick jump and rolled away from Obi-Wan.
They were having a spar match. Actually Luke was having a saber practice lesson cause Obi-Wan thought he needed some serious training.

Luke was amazed how few he knew of lightsaber battles. There was much to learn and Obi-Wan was a great teacher.

Meanwhile Anakin was watching their duel and yawning.
He was deadly bored but Obi-Wan had insisted him to stay and watch and learn!
Learn! What was he supposed to learn? How to loose your balance?
In fact, that was what Luke did just a minute later.

Obi-Wan had just given him a little push with his leg and Luke lost his balance. Somehow he managed to fall so he grabbed Obi-Wan with him.
Result was chaos.

Anakin burst into laughter.
Both men looked at him and Obi-Wan's gaze was cross.

"I wonder what is so funny, Skywalker?" Jedi Master asked, still lying on ground Luke atop of him.

"Oh, nothing, Master. Everything is just fine. It is just that if you call that fighting I am surprised to see you still alive," he grinned back.

Obi-Wan got up and wiped away some dust from his clothes.
He helped Luke up as well and walked to Anakin who was still chuckling. It was not a benevolent laughter.
He knew Anakin too well to guess he was just laughing cause he had fallen to the ground.

"Is something bothering you, padawan?" he asked calmly. Obi-Wan knew how Anakin hated to be called a student.
That made him angry and that was exactly what Obi-Wan needed right now.

Anakin stood up and Obi-Wan saw he was cross now.

"In fact, there is! First of all, this is pathetic. There are two ways: you can't teach or boy is extreme bungler," Luke blushed, " Secondly, you aren't pushing him. You are taking it as a game. If I remember correctly I was given extra exercises if I did something so wrong.
And thirdly: Don't. Call. Me. Padawan!" he finished with angry snarl.

"Maybe you should teach him then," Obi-Wan offered.

"Thanks but no thanks! I don't want kill a boy."

"I am sure he will be okay. There are even chances he might beat you."

"Beat me! Did you drink something?"

"Then why don't you fight with him?"

"Fine, but I will not cover his hospital cost."

Anakin walked to the other side of the room and began to take off his cloak. He preferred to fight without any unnecessary clothing.

Obi-Wan noticed that Luke was nervous. Most of people were if they had to fight with Anakin.
Main problem with him was his quickly changing mood.
At one moment he might be calm and a fight is a play to him but then he might turn into a furious nexu.

"Don't worry he is bluffing. I trained him and if you show up as much arrogance as he does you will be a worthy adversary," Obi-Wan patted Luke's shoulder.

"Thanks but I think it is not going to work. I have some unpleasant memories of fighting with my father," Luke showed his false hand to Obi-Wan and smiled grimly.

Luke turned to face Anakin who was leaning against the wall and playing with his lightsaber.
He was obviously very self-confident or very bored. Luke lighted his lightsaber and hemmed to get some attention.
Anakin looked at him lazily and took a defensive position.
Luke noticed Anakin wearing a black leather glove.

As their blades clashed Luke asked:" Why are you wearing that glove?"

Anakin pushed him away and swung his saber in one hand, and made a quick jump towards his opponent. Luke blocked his blow quickly.

"It's nothing of you business but if you want to know then it is a reminder."

"I see. And where did you get it?"

"From a battle.

"With who?"

"A Sith."

Anakin knocked Luke away with his leg and was ready to finish this fight already but Luke made a quick roll and tried to make him loose his balance.
Anakin was too fast and jumped into the air before Luke could strike his legs.
In next moment Luke was up again.

"You are quick," he said and barried another blow.

"I know," Anakin grinned and tried to stab him quickly so Luke had to do some acrobatics.

There was a moment Luke was actually afraid of Anakin. He remembered his fight with Vader on Bespin.
Luke had been beaten up easily. Now, as Luke watched the way Anakin fought and moved made it even worse.
Vader had been a little clumsy in his suit but this man before him was everything else than clumsy.
Soon Luke was forced into defensive. Anakin really was a good fighter.
No wonder he was so arrogant.

"First lesson, kid. Never leave your sides open. I could have cut you in half five times already," Anakin spoke and made an attack to Luke's left side.

Younger Skywalker blocked it quickly and pushed Anakin away. Luke saw a challenging grin appearing to his father's face.

"You learn quickly."

"It is in my blood."

Luke pushed Anakin against the wall but received a hard kick into chest. He stumbled backwards and raised his green blade.

"Second lesson! Don't rush into battle before you know what is your enemy's weakness," elder Skywalker said. He heard Obi-Wan snorting.

"Look who's talking? I have seen you rushing into battle more times than I can count."

"Please shut up, Master! I am trying to teach here."

Luke saw Anakin thinking over something for a moment and he used his chances.
He ran towards him and before Anakin could understand what was happening he was kicked to ground, his lightsaber switched off and he was almost defenseless.
Chosen One found a green blade pointed to his throat.

"That was a nasty trick."

"Well, you said yourself I should use my enemies weakness," Luke deactivated his saber and wanted to help Anakin up but found himself on the floor as well.

Elder Skywalker had called for his saber and now situation was changed.
Luke was now lying on the floor and Anakin was the one with the blade.

"Third and final lesson from me. Never walk away from the fight unless you know your enemy is beaten," Anakin smiled and deactivated his lightsaber.

"Good job, Anakin! Well, maybe some things need to be corrected but…" Obi-Wan began to say but his former padawan stopped him.

"That was the first and the last time. From now on you are dealing with saber practice and I hope you learned how to teach him, Master," Anakin bowed and took his coat from the ground. He had no intentions for staying any longer so he decided to leave.

Obi-Wan helped Luke up.
"What did I told you. There is no warrior like him in this galaxy. Insolent and too self confident but a good fighter," Jedi Master sighed.

"He must be a great help to the Jedi Order," Luke spoke more to himself.

"Oh, he is but there is always a lot of trouble with him as well. Why don't you go and find out something interesting."

"Yeah, I guess I'll go. Thanks for lessons, Ben," Luke smiled and was on his way to catch up with his future father.

---

Anakin hurried through the Temple.
He had done his part today, now was Obi-Wan's turn. All he wanted was to go relax.
Maybe even drive around in the city and have some time alone, some time to think or to daydream.

Anakin shook his head as he managed to hangar. R-2 seemed obviously upset cause a punch of younglings had come to examine Anakin's starfighter.
Instead of talking with Artoo, Anakin stood there and just watched the younglings.
He had always liked to watch them. It made him feel so pure and innocent again.
He wasn't blessed with happy childhood but he still liked to remember.
Yet, he was pulled back to reality soon enough.

"Hey! Wait for me!" he heard Luke's voice. Great!

Anakin was now moving towards his fighter and kids ran away. Artoo peeped with relief.

"What do you want?" Anakin asked plainly.

"I thought maybe you could show me around. I am new here, you know."

"Forget it! If you want me to be your tour guide then you must be really green one."

"Not tour guide but…Come on! I bet you don't have anything better to do."

"Don't bet! Sooner or later you'll lose."

"That was not my point."

Anakin groaned. This kid is a stubborn one just like I. Anakin liked it and he liked Luke as well.
Of course he didn't admit it but Luke was like a little brother or something.
He seemed similar with Anakin in some points.

"What if I say I have something better to do?"

"Like what?"

Now Anakin was trapped.
He couldn't come up with anything reasonable so he decided to agree with Luke.

"Well, come on then. What do you want to see?"

Luke smirked. Anakin won the sparring match but now they were tied. 1:1 papa.
Maybe it would be helpful to visit such places like a Senate. He would ask some questions and see what is going on in Clone Wars.
He needed to know cause he was going to join Obi-Wan and Anakin in battles soon.

Anakin showed him a free fighter and Luke jumped in. It took few minutes for him to study this ship.
X-wings were nothing compared with that.
Jedi fighters were impressive and as Luke took off and followed Anakin into a traffic he was amazed how good it was to fly with this ship.

"So you like politicians?" Anakin spoke from his fighter as they flied in that big city.

"What makes you think that?"

"If you wouldn't like them then why do you want to go to the Senate?"

"Maybe, cause I have never been here before and now I want to see how great is it."

He heard Anakin snorting.

"There is nothing great, Luke. Nothing. It is a nest of lies and bureaucracy. At least, it was before the Clone Wars. There are only few good politicians.
Now we have a good leader and things are changing but politics will never be clean."

Luke was slightly surprised how much Anakin hated it. There was something behind those words: 'There are only few good politicians'.
Luke thought he had felt Anakin's Force signature quivering and a warm wave washing over him.
What was most odd was a picture of young woman flashing before Luke's eyes for a moment.
Was it Leia?
Jedi shook his head and tried not to think of it or he would crash soon.

"Who is that good leader you were talking about?"

"You don't know? I guess you have lingered on Tatooine for too long. Chancellor Palpatine is a leader of the Republic and one of the leaders of this war."

"Palpatine? Never heard of him," Luke said. He didn't lie but somehow that name sent a shiver down his spine.

"He is a good man. A powerful leader and a good advisor. He is a good friend of mine. Maybe I should introduce you to him as well."

"Maybe some other time. I think I may leave a stupid impression cause I don't know much of this war or politics."

He heard Anakin chuckling.

Soon they landed in front of the Senate building. When Luke jumped out of his fighter he saw Artoo.
That little droid was his father's? Luke was not making a big deal of it but it still was stranger how so many things were connected to Anakin Skywalker.

"What are you looking at? Artoo?" Anakin came to his side.

"Yeah. Where did you get that droid?"

"From a friend. Artoo is the best astromech droid in the galaxy. Energetic fighter and a good friend. Obi-Wan thinks he is too independent but I think he is great.
He has a personality and that's what makes him so special," Luke could see Anakin smiling as he spoke of Artoo.

Little droid let out a set of whistles and peeps, obviously happy with Anakin's words.

Anakin told him about some of their adventures with Obi-Wan and the ways they always got themselves into trouble.
Mostly cause of Anakin himself but there were times when Obi-Wan had made wrong decisions as well.

Luke listened carefully and couldn't help but laugh at this. It was great to talk with him.
It was the first time Luke felt like he was really talking with his father though Anakin didn't know it.

"Hey, Luke. I have some business to deal with here so maybe you could look around on your own," Anakin asked him and Luke saw how uncomfortable he was with it.

"Sure, you have told me enough already," Luke nodded agreeably.

"Thanks, I'll see you in Temple later!" elder Skywalker waved his hand and hurried away.

Luke waited a minute or two and then followed him.

---

At the same time…

"Han, come on!" Leia called for him.

"Just a minute!" Han shouted back and took a security card. Then he took a little machine and inserted a card.
30 seconds later he took a card out and looked it. Place where had been a picture of bounty hunter was now a picture of Han and data was also changed.
Corellian smiled proudly:" It's lucky I didn't throw this little forger away."
"Chewie! Stay with the ship," he ordered and ran out.

"What took you so long?"

"Oh, nothing. I just made us a life assurance," Han replied and showed her a false security card.

"I can't believe it. You are such a scamp!"

"I may be a scamp but you like them," Han laughed.

Leia laughed all the way to Senate Grand Hallway. Now she was convinced how Han hated to deal with all that 'chit-chat'.
He had never even been close to Senate and he had many remarks to do.

Yet, something was bidding her. She felt cold in her heart. It was a feeling of loss and oblivion.
She had never felt something like that before and she was confused now. Her thoughts drifted to Anakin all the time.
Why was she thinking of him? He was no one to her. No one!

But he is. He will be your father in future and there is nothing you can do to change it, a little voice whispered in her head.

As much as she wanted she couldn't argue with that. There had always been something missing in her life.
She understood it as she looked into those blue orbs yesterday. Was she missing him? Was she missing a man she never knew?

But now is the right time to know him, a voice whispered again.

Leia tried to ignore it but her heart melted.
Maybe she was too stubborn. Maybe she just didn't want to see a good side of that man.
Perhaps it was her only chance to see what was Anakin Skywalker really like.

"Hmmhmm! I don't want to disturb you but you should see one thing," Han said and pulled her behind a pillar.

They saw familiar Jedi walking towards them. At least so it seemed.
"Not good!" Han pulled Leia closer to him.

But instead of stopping, Anakin marched forwards until the next pillar.
Leia heard Han swallowing nervously.

"I am getting out of here. I could have handle with security but not with Sith lord," Han was ready to run away but Leia pulled him back.

"Wait! Listen!" she commanded and put her hand to his mouth so he would be quiet.

They heard a silent voice talking very near to them. Leia knew it was Anakin who was talking.
Next she heard a female voice. Leia was taken aback of it.
This voice. It seemed to familiar so soft and sweet.
They slowly moved so they could see who were talking.

---

"What are you doing here? It is dangerous for us to meet here," she touched his cheek with her little hand.

Anakin leaned into her touch and pulled her closer to him:" I couldn't keep myself away. Every hour I am away from you makes me so desperate."

"Anakin! I have work to do. I can't…" she struggled against his hold.

He let go of her and nodded sadly.

"I have to spend my night in Temple. I can't come to you tonight and I might be called back to the front line every moment. Is it wrong to come and see you if we might not meet each other for another 2 months?"

"Oh, Ani! I didn't know," she felt somehow guilty.

He gathered her in his arms and kissed her forehead sweetly.
"It's alright. I just want to be with you as much as possible. I don't want to go away for another month. I don't want to leave you," he whispered and stroked her back with his false hand.

"Why does it have to be that way?"

A smile pitiful smile came over his face:" As you, say, we have a duty to do. We can't sneak away from it and we can't abandon it. But don't worry, it will all be over soon and then there is enough time to make up the lost time."

He raised her chin and looked into her deep brown eyes. There was nothing as beautiful as the sight before him.
He slowly moved her face closer to him and kissed her softly. He felt losing himself into this kiss.
He would never have enough of the way she tasted, the way her hair smelled, the way her soft touch made him feel so peaceful.

But even moments like this don't last forever.
She pulled away from him as they heard something.

"Someone is coming. You have to leave," she pushed him away.

Hurt was clearly shown on his face. Yet, he tried to smile comfortingly.

He started to back away from her. "I'll see you again!" he said and disappeared into the shadows.

"I love you!" she whispered after him.

"I love you too!" his voice spoke in her mind.

---

Leia and Han stared quietly at woman who was now leaving with some other senator.
Han had been not as shocked as Leia but he had felt weird.
A Sith lord who knows what is love? That was something new to him.
Worse was yet to come. He imagined that Vader and that woman together.
It gave him chills but at least he got back his speaking ability.

"Now that was something very odd for a Sith lord," he managed to get out.