Binary Skies

Chapter 13: Mistake and Mistaken

She bit her lip, knowing she had to make amends; but how?

Then a thought hit her, and she decided to give it a shot; it all she could do, really. She wanted to do more than just say sorry.

Nakari returned her clothes to her room and then made her way to the galley. It had already been established that she wasn't a very good cook, but by the stars she'd give it a try for Luke.

He was, after all, steadily burrowing like a seed into her heart, and she didn't mind that at all. The only question was if he felt anything like that for her.

Getting a few ingredients out for her late mother's hotcake recipe, Nakari got started.

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Luke was the first of the pair of Skywalkers to wake up. He blinked blearily as he returned to consciousness, taking a moment to figure out where he was and about a minute to remember why he was curled up in Anakin's arms. When he did remember, he sincerely wished he was unconscious once more. However, he was already awake, and experience told him his mind was already too active to fall asleep again. So, very reluctantly, Luke pried himself free of his father's embrace, taking great care not to wake the elder Skywalker. He shivered against the sudden cold, remembering his momentary act of frustration and gathering up the torn shirt on the floor before he turned to his father and situated the blanket back around the man.

"Thank you," he murmured softly, squeezing Anakin's shoulder and making sure the other was comfortable before he left the refresher behind to go and get a new shirt.

As Luke dressed, he could smell something wafting towards him from the galley. Considering Anakin was passed out in the bathroom, Luke immediately knew Nakari was the source. He frowned the next moment, thinking of how she'd said their diet was going to consist of the protein rations after the nerf steaks. What could she possibly be cooking?

Not wanting to dwell on Nakari too long and bring up the painful emotions of last night, Luke set thoughts of her aside the best he could, pulling on a fresh shirt and making his way to the other side of the ship; to the cockpit.

Artoo greeted him with an inquiring chirp, and Luke automatically patted Artoo's domed head. "I'll be okay, Artoo," he assured the droid, sitting in the pilot's chair and checking to see how long they had left before he sat back in the chair and stared at the passing blue streaks of hyperspace, his mind—and heart—in turmoil.

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Nakari thought she heard someone rustling about and she paused to listen. Indeed, she poked her head out to check and saw a shock of golden hair enter the cockpit. Nakari thinned her lips when the ship fell silent again and she returned to her cooking, determination fueling her once more.

She had followed the recipe exactly, and she prayed the offering was at the very least edible, even if it didn't taste the best.

She finally completed her task and piled a few cakes and a slice of bacon on the side. Biting her lip and with a nervous air, Nakari walked to the front of the ship.

She swallowed hard once she stood outside the door, then mustered up her courage and entered.

She waited for the door to close behind her, and when he didn't turn to see who was there, she fidgeted.

Just do it! she pepped herself.

"Luke?" she spoke timidly, taking a tentative step forward.

Luke jumped slightly at the voice that broke through his brooding, turning in surprise to see Nakari standing hesitantly in the cockpit entrance. For a few heart stopping moments Luke believed she was still afraid of him, and the guilt threatened to swallow him whole once again before her presence in the Force assured him she was just worried about startling him. A blush colored his cheeks, and he suddenly felt awkward, last night's events still painfully fresh in his mind.