Binary Skies

Chapter 13: Mistake and Mistaken

Anakin smiled warmly when, like a child, Luke fell asleep against his side, his head still pillowed against his chest. Anakin simply sat where he was, not wanting to wake his son and relishing this moment with him.

However, when Luke began to shiver with cold, Anakin recalled that the boy was shirtless. He used the Force to open the refresher door and called softly for Artoo.

The droid appeared and Anakin looked to him. "Would you please bring a blanket for Luke?"

Artoo acknowledged and disappeared, returning a short time afterwards with the desired item.

"Thanks Artoo. Watch the ship while we rest, would you?"

Dooeep! Artoo spun back around and wheeled out, leaving the door ajar.

Anakin wrapped Luke in the blanket, his love, and his arms, then rested his head against Luke's hair, kissed his head before he just sat there, a silent sentinel. He lost all track of time and he passed it with memories of Padme, and how radiant she'd look with a belly rounded over their two children.

He never noticed when he too fell asleep.

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Nakari didn't know what woke her, but she was awake and she felt refreshed. With a stretch and a yawn, Nakari slid from the bed and then stepped up to the dresser for a change of clothes.

Her mind, previously blank from catching up with the waking world, now recalled her reactions to Luke last night. She sighed, running a hand over her chin.

She should have known he'd react if she tried touching what was obviously a taboo item with him. If she had truly only been trying to help, she'd simply have told him his collar was down and that would have been the end of it.

No, she had wanted a closer look, had wanted to touch it. She knew that was wrong, just as she knew her reaction to his panicked reflexes had been childish.

She glared at her reflection from where it stared back at her on the wall-mounted glass. "You need to make this right, you selfish fool," Nakari chastised herself.

With that in mind, along with a warm shower, Nakari grabbed her fresh clothing and made her way for the refresher. She noted that the ship was unusually quiet for having three humans onboard.

Wondering what her companions were up to, Nakari decided she would figure it out after her...

She stepped up to the partially-opened hatch of the refresher and promptly froze. Inside, sitting together against the far wall, was Luke and Anakin. Nakari tilted her head at the sight, seeing how Luke was obviously turning to Anakin for comfort while Anakin was openly acting as the protector.

She recalled Luke denying they were brothers, so maybe they were cousins? She couldn't think of any other explanation for these two's relationship.

Nakari made to turn when her gaze, almost against her will, lingered on Luke.

Her heart fluttered at the sight of him so...vulnerable. His face was completely relaxed and his hair fell in random patterns to play peek-a-boo with his handsome facial features.

She let out a soft sigh, a gentle smile touching her lips. There was no doubting Luke was a very handsome man, and he was a sweetheart, too.

That brought her back to her actions the night before, and her smile faded as guilt crushed it to powder.

Of course he was a sweetheart; he was the gentlest soul Nakari had ever met. He hadn't meant to hurt or frighten her.

What made her feel worse was the acknowledgement that Nakari had retreated to lick her own wounds while she left Luke to wallow in his mistaken belief that he had pushed her away.