It had been six months since Luke's kidnapping. His son was a lot better than before; but there were still moments when Luke would refuse to be put down by him or be away from him. It was mostly after he had conversations with the Emperor or if he spoke his master's name. Luke knew something but refused to tell him despite how many times he asked. He didn't know exactly what his son had been told but it haunted Luke.

No four year old should have to feel like that. Especially his son. His son was...free. Unlike he had been during his childhood. His son was a free person. So was he for the most part. Sidious wasn't afraid to show that he was in control of him. Once that had been the case but ever since he discovered Luke's existence...

"Peet!" Luke's voice exclaimed from the living room.

Ah Piett was here. His son had grown sort of close with the captain over the past few months. Vader stood up from his desk and walked into the living room to see Luke hugging Piett's leg. He couldn't help but smile at the sight. But he had a feeling something was wrong...

"Captain, what is it?" Vader asked.

"Lord Vader the Emperor is due to arrive onboard in fifteen minutes," Piett answered nervously.

Vader froze in his spot. Sidious was coming here? Why had he not been informed about this?!

"Why have I not been informed about this until now?!" He demanded.

"I-I don't know Lord Vader. I only discovered it just now. Then I came to tell you. He requested to meet you and...Luke privately."

That's how Vader knew. His master somehow knew about his involvement with the Rebellion. That or he had a sneaking suspicion. But either way...he might try to steal Luke from him and he refused to let that happen.

"Piett prepare my shuttle in my personal hangar immediately and stay there."

"Yes My Lord."

With a bow, Piett left Vader and Luke alone. The sith picked up his little son then rushed into his son's room and grabbed a bag and Luke's favorite stuffed toy, a duck. He slung the bag over his shoulder and gave the stuffed toy to his son.

"Daddy? What's wrong?" Luke asked.

"The Emperor is coming here and I do not think he had good intentions," Vader replied.

Luke stiffened immediately and held onto Vader tighter. Then he felt Luke's fear pour off of him in waves. He had less than fifteen minutes to get his son out of here. If he could at least give Luke to Piett they could take off and he could hold off Sidious if need be. The only thing that mattered was getting his son away.

Vader rushed out of Luke's room and grabbed another bag in his bedroom then left his quarters. He had to hurry, this was for Luke, for Luke... Sure he could try to play it off but his master was smarter than that. There was a reason he hadn't been alerted to his master's arrival until now. If...If he didn't make it maybe Luke could.

He arrived at the hangar and nothing seemed to be amiss but...something was wrong. Something was very wrong.

"Lord Vader, leaving without saying goodbye?" A older voice spoke out.

Vader slowly turned around to see Sidious standing right there. Vader gently put down Luke, the bags, then stood in front of Luke protectively.

"Piett...get Luke on the ship." He ordered.

Piett picked Luke and the bags up and brought them onto the ship despite Luke's protests. Once Luke was in the ship Vader could hear his son screaming for him. It broke his heart in two.

"My master I was not aware you we-"

"That I was coming. I'm aware. Neither was I aware until recently that my apprentice had gone traitor."

"You hired someone to steal my son." Vader spat at him.

The Krayt Dragon inside him roared and this. Sidious wanted to steal Luke, his precious treasure. Luke was his, not Sidious'.

"You've grown too attached to the boy Lord Vader let me take him off your hands before your trial," Sidious said.

Vader's hands balled into fists at this. Yeah, trial more like public humiliation then execution. He should know he had been the executioner several times for Sidious' stupid trials that meant absolutely nothing. But his master would not touch Luke, over his dead body.

"No. Luke is not yours."

Vader ignited the blood red blade of his lightsaber then dashed forwards. Force lightning came out of Sidious' fingertips and shot at Vader. He brought his lightsaber up and blocked the attack.

"What did you do to my son all those months ago?!" He yelled.

"The truth, that you would die. Because your son will be my apprentice when he gets...older. I was hoping for you to be loyal a little while longer."

Vader's presence bristled in furry. How dare he?! How dare he?! His son would never be his apprentice, never. He would make sure of it himself.

Suddenly the shuttle started rising in the air and he smirked a little. Ah, he saw what Piett was doing. But in his moment of distraction sith lightning blasted into him and he screamed. He screamed for what seemed like forever then there was a explosion and someone was helping him walk and then he was laid out onto something. The last thing he remembered was hearing his son scream for him then nothing.

********

Vader slowly blinked his eyes open to see that he was in a white room. It looked like it was a medbay of sorts. There was a bacta tank in front of him and off to the side there were several medkits. This was no Imperial medbay though so where was he? Also everything on him hurt and his throat felt like he had screamed for hours. What had-

"Luke!" He shouted.

The sith moved to get up but a hand pushed him back down. He looked over to see that it was Piett.

"Where's my son? I want my son! Is...Is he alright?" Vader questioned, his throat dry and sore.

Sore from all his screaming... Normally when he was blasted with force lightning he could prevent that. But he hadn't felt that much pain in his life, he would have died if... He wasn't quite sure what had happened yet.

Before Piett could reply the door opened and a small boy with blonde hair ran through and towards Vader's bed.

"Luke!" Vader exclaimed despite the pain it caused him.

"Daddy! Daddy!" Luke yelled.

He looked over at Piett then pointed to him then Vader's bed, but before either could do anything Vader lifted Luke onto the bed using the force.

His son was safe. Luke was safe, he was alright...After he was struck with lightning he wasn't quite sure what had happened afterwards. It was all a bit fuzzy. But it didn't matter at the moment Luke was safe and he was here.

Luke moved closer to him, but he was being careful about it. He seemed to know how much pain he was in and didn't want to make it worse. That was until Vader outstretched his arms and wrapped them around Luke. His son rested his head on his chest and he bit back a cry of pain. He made sure that was hidden behind mental shields.

Vader laid there, exhausted, his son in his arms, and content for the time being. He soon fell asleep to Luke's small breathes.

A/N: Well that fight with Palps could have gone...better. But at least they all made it out alive? XD Hope you enjoyed!