A Bend in the Road
a Star Wars story
by Hermione Eveningfall
Chapter 1
On the morning of his sixteenth birthday, Luke Skywalker stumbled sleepily from his bedroom. He yawned loudly as he made his way down the narrow corridor, dressed in his traditional work clothes. The hut was quiet, except for the sound of his Aunt humming and bustling around the kitchen. She seemed to sense his presence, and immediately turned as he stepped through the doorway.
"Good morning," he told her in a cheerful tone, coming over to peck a kiss on her cheek.
"Good morning, Luke. Happy birthday," she added, pausing in what she'd been doing to get a better look at him. She shook her head, a proud smile spreading across her face. "You just more handsome every day," she breathed, causing him to blush. "At least a head taller than last night, as well!" she winked, and Luke rolled his eyes.
"Not unless sandpeople snuck in and stretched me," he teased back, accepting a large plate of food. Noticing the third member of their party was missing, he glanced up from pouring a glass of blue milk. "Where is Uncle Owen? He didn't start work already, did he?" He knew his Uncle like clock work, and the gruff, aging man rarely ever broke his routine. Beru sat down beside Luke, taking his hand and giving it a gentle squeeze.
"He had to stop for something in Anchorhead."
Luke blinked. "Really? What?"
Beru shrugged. "Oh, nothing important." But the mischevious glint in her eyes told him otherwise. He smirked, and nodded in understanding.
"I won't ask anymore questions." He insisted, and continued eating. Beru glanced towards the open door, leading towards the sandy farmland. Already, Owen set the droids to work, doing their daily moisture collections.
"Your Uncle wants you to start your work as usual," she added, after a few moments of silence passed between them. "And not to worry about waiting for him."
Luke surpressed a soft groan; Kit figured that Owen would't cut him any slack, even on his birthday. He merely sighed softly, and slouched back in his seat. "You know he hasn't forgotten your birthday, Luke," Beru promised. "But we can't put off the important things that keep our farm running. We'll have a little celebration at supper tonight."
Luke nodded, understanding where his Aunt was coming from. It was just difficult, because he and Owen had been butting heads quite a bit lately. No matter what he did or wanted to do, he felt Owen was always on his back; keeping him on some sort of invisible leash.
What he wanted to do more than anything, was to join the two of his friends who had recently joined the flight academy, but there was absolutely no way his Uncle would give him up now. 'Thankfully Biggs' wont be going until next season,' he thought with a sigh of relief. 'And I don't think Camie or Deak will be going anytime soon, either. But stars, I want to get off this rock more than anything!'
"Well," he finally spoke, unable to eat anymore. "I'd better get to work." He stood, receiving a sympathetic expression from his Aunt, who watched as he disappeared into the yard.
Luke ran his fingers through his thick blonde hair, blowing out his breath. No matter how many years' he'd spent on Tatooine, nor how much knowledge about moisture farming and it's perks he gained, he knew he would never be completely satisfied here. It was a vast wasteland, with the closest excitement being the Tosche station where Biggs' and his friends often relaxed. And even that, he admitted, grew tiresome. His friends, as much as he enjoyed their company, were on occasion royal pains in the rump. He never quite fit into the young crowd from the Imperial academy he'd originally attended, and though they allowed him to continue to tag along, they almost consistently teased him. Well, they'd gotten a little less obnoxious over the years, but Luke still felt left out.
He shuffled into the dark garage, passing the droid lubrication bath, and picked a brass bucket from the work bench. Connected to each droid was a large, clear tube, used to transport the water from it's belly to the bucket, and Luke dumped whatever moisture he could collect into a special round, barrel-like tank. This chore he and his Uncle continued from late morning until early evening, and even after supper they spent time lubricating the droids for the next day.
As he stood in the center of the open area watching the droid waddle about, he turned his gaze towards Tatooine's famous twin suns, which were slowly starting to reach their peak in the deep blue sky.
When he continued on his way, it wasn't until at least an hour later that he heard the noise of the family speeder approaching. However, that was not the only noise he could detect. He set his bucket down, wiped his hands, and dashed through the house and to the front door.
Owen pulled the speeder in front of the hut, turning off the engine. "Happy birthday," he announced, and Luke could hardly believe his eyes. The other noise he'd heard was a faint barking, and, sitting in the passenger seat was a tiny black puppy dog! It stood up on it's back paws, leaning it's front paws on the edge of the door, and yapped at Luke.
"Here now, don't go breaking your neck," Owen warned, pulling the animal back so he could land the speeder .
"A dog!" Luke exclaimed, once his Uncle climbed out. "Is it for me?" he asked, reaching in to lift the animal into his arms. However, as soon as he did so, he felt his nose begin to itch, but he ignored it for the moment. Owen chuckled, coming to give his nephew a hug.
"I thought you could use some company besides myself and the droids while you work," he explained, and the puppy's long, pink tongue hung out as it panted in the heat. "Your Aunt and I had discussed getting you a pet for quite some time, and we definitely think you're responsible enough to take care of him now."
Luke scratched the dog behind the ears, setting it down, and embraced his Uncle again. "Thank you, Uncle Owen," he cried, and the gruff man gave the boy an awkward pat on the head. "Well, you'd better take that animal inside and get him a bowl of water before he dehydrates," he ordered. "I'll meet you back in the field."
Luke gave his itchy nose a rub, snapping his fingers to get the dog's attention. "Does he have a name?" he called, as his Uncle made his way towards the front door. Owen shook his head.
"Not that I know of," he replied, and stepped inside.
Luke sniffled, bending down on one knee. "What should I call you, huh?" he asked, stroking the soft fur. The puppy began licking his hand, and stared at him with big brown eyes. "Ugh, my nose is driving me crazy!" he gave it another rub, reaching into his pocket for his spare handkerchief. "Well, let's bring you inside before we decide on names, okay?" he gave his nose a good blow, growning as his eyes started to water a little.
With a satisfied "Woof", the puppy bounded into the hut after him.
Beru gasped in surprise as the animal dashed into the kitchen, running in circles around the small table. "Oh isn't he a darling!" she exclaimed, laughing and clasping her hands together as it approached her, sniffing her shoes. "Your Uncle is certainly full of surprises!"
Luke nodded, fetching a bowl to fill with water. "This is really one of the best gifts Uncle Owen's ever given me," he admitted, setting the bowl on the ground once it was ready. The dog immediately dashed over to it, lapping noisily. "But I-KI think I'm-K" he began breathing rapidly, and Beru raised her eyes with concern.
"Do you have to sneeze, love?" she asked, leading him to the table so he could sit. Luke nodded, covering his mouth with his hand.
"HuhKESHHHH! Eh-Keh-KKSHHHHH! Huh-Khuh MMMMPSH!" he shook his head to clear it, and blew his nose again.
"Are you coming down with a cold?" she asked, her heart pounding with worry, though he'd seemed perfectly fine at the table earlier that morning. She reached up to feel his forehead, brushing his bangs away from his eyes. "You don't have a fever."
Luke shrugged. "I don't really feel sick," he promised. "My nose just itch-Kitch-KasHHHHH! Huh-KehSHHHH! HuhKSHHHHH! Unnn!" he sniffed, and Beru shook her head.
"Bless you!" she clucked her tongue. "Perhaps you'd better lie down for a little while until your nose settles. I'll tell Owen you're not feeling well."
Luke shook his head. "No, I'll be okay. Besides, I haven't named the dog yet. Do you have any ideas?" he added, and Beru thought for a moment, examining the puppy closely.
"Well, he certainly is a hyper little thing," she laughed, as the dog bounced around the kitchen, exploring its new surroundings.
"Lucky might work," Luke suggested.
"Arfarfarfarf!" The dog skidded across the kitchen floor after it's third lap around the table in the past five minutes, and he impatiently nipped Luke's pant leg.
"All right, boy, I'm coming," Luke chortled. "So, what do you think? Does Lucky work for you?"
"Woof," the dog replied, clearly satisfied, and Beru folded her arms.
"Perfect." She gave Luke a kiss. "If your nose bothers you too much, come right back inside and rest," she ordered.
He gave her a confident smile. "I'm-KI'm-Keh-Keh-KHuhASHHHHH! YESHHHHH! HuhKSHHHHH!" These sneezes, unlike the sneezes he delt with when he had a cold, were much stronger and faster. And no matter how often they were released, his nose still tickled with desperation for more.
"Bless you!" Beru frowned, pausing in her clean up as Luke stumbled outside. She shook her head, unable to wrap her mind around this sudden ailment. She could hear him sneezing in the distance, mixed with Lucky's barking, and decided she would discuss the matter with Owen after dinner that night.
Chapter 2"Come on, boy! Get the ball! Get the ball!"
Owen smirked as he finished putting the last of the supplies into the hut that evening. Luke knelt down in the sand, rolling a red ball along the ground. Lucky let out another "Woof" and darted after it, scooping it into his jaws. As he set the tools on the work bench, he could hear Luke's rapid breathing start up again. The boy broke into fits of sneezing every couple of minutes, though he showed no other signs of illness.
"Uh...eh...heh...KSHHHHH! HmmPSHHHHh! HuhETSHHHH! HahKSHHHHH!" Luke snapped forward, his hair flopping into his eyes.
"All right, let's get you inside before you sneeze your head off," Owen encouraged, easing his nephew to his feet. Lucky sat with his small head cocked to one side, and then let out another excited yip when they made their way into the hut. Beru was just putting dinner out for them, when she heard the sound.
"Bless," she told Luke, as he sunk into his usual seat, groaning miserably.
"I'b so stuffed ub," he croaked, clearly only able to breathe through his mouth at the moment. Beru set a dish of scraps for Lucky in the corner of the kitchen, and took her seat once everything was ready. "By dose keeps itching and rudding." He gave another sniff, burying his head into his arms. Beru rubbed his back gently, glancing at Owen.
"Why don't you go and rest, love?" she asked, kissing Luke's head. "We'll bring your gifts to you."
Luke let out a soft "Mmmmm", and allowed her to help him to his feet.
"When Lucky finishes his dinner, I'll make sure he finds you," she chuckled, as Luke started to call the dog after him. He nodded, resting his shoulder against his Aunt. He felt exhausted from the constant sneezing, but was quite surprised by the fact that no sore throat or fever followed.
She eased him into bed once he took off his boots, and pulled the blankets up to his neck. "Eh...ehKSHHHHH!" Luke groaned, flopping back against the pillows.
"Bless you!" Beru sighed, giving him a kiss. "Rest your eyes, now. Your Uncle and I will be in the kitchen if you need us."
"Thank...thank...KSHHUUUH!" Luke sneezed again, and Beru merely smiled, shutting the door after her. She made her way back into the kitchen, where Owen still sat at the table, his chin in his palm.
"I just don't know what's wrong with him," she sighed, watching as Lucky gobbled his dinner. "He doesn't have a cold from what I've been able to detect."
Owen rubbed his chin, raising his hands. "The only other thing I can think of, is he might have an allergy of sorts. That would explain the constant sneezing."
Beru thought for a moment, pondering the idea. Tatooine was such a dry planet, with very few species of flora and fauna, that it was almost impossible for anyone to have an allergy. Unless they were allergic to the dust and sand that swirled around, but at that point, they might as well pack their bags and go to another planet. "What could he be allergic to?" she took a small bite of her meal, and Lucky at that moment gave a yip. "All right, little one, I'll bring you to your master." She chuckled, standing and walking over to the animal. "Well, we'll have to test him. I can't think of anything that would be bothersome!"
"Well, if he were allergic to any of the plants you brought in for cooking, he'd have had a problem long before now," Owen grumbled, as his wife lifted the puppy into her arms. She laughed as the dog licked her face, and wagged its tiny tail. "So we can push those aside. Think, Beru. Is there anything you might have used to clean the kitchen that might be making him sneeze? Any new products?"
Beru shook her head. "The same thing I always use, and he's never sneezed around it before."
"Damn." Owen cleared his throat. "Perfume, perhaps? I know you occasionally use that."
Beru's eyes widened. "I did spritz a little of it on this morning...I only wear it on occasion." She set the dog down again. "Let me fetch it, and we'll see if it bothers him. Would you help clear the dishes from the table if you're finished?"
Owen gave a nod. "I will, go on." He waved her off, and sighed heavily. The boy was an almost never ending series of health hazards, and it almost shocked him that he hadn't keeled over yet.
Beru eventually found the perfume bottle she'd been looking for, and took a small sniff from it. It was a light scent, almost soothing. She carried it into Luke's bedroom, where he lay in bed, gazing up at the ceiling. "Luke?" she spoke softly, causing him to turn.
"Hi," he croaked, sniffling, and she came to sit beside him. "What's the matter?" he added, noticing her expression of concern.
"Your Uncle and I were discussing what could be causing this sneezing, and we thought you might be allergic to something."
He stared at her. "Allergic?" he asked, not having even given that prospect a thought.
"This might seem a bit strange," Beru added, "but we were coming up with a list of things that might bother you. I'm going to see if my perfume is one of them."
Luke rubbed his nose, though he didn't quite feel the urge to sneeze again. "What do I have to do?" he asked, watching as she removed the stopper from the phial.
"You just have to smell this, love, and tell me how you feel."
Luke leaned forward so she could hold the phial under his nose, and he took a small sniff of it. She held her breath, watching as he grimaced a little, but then felt her body relax when he didn't sneeze. "I feel okay," he admitted. "It's a bit strong, though." He coughed, waving his hand in front of his face.
"Well, yes...it isn't meant to be smelt from the bottle itself," she kissed his forehead. "That's a relief." She put the stopper back into the phial.
The sound of Lucky's anxious barking from outside the door startled them both, and Beru laughed. She stood to open the door, and the dog gave a perky bound into the bedroom, attempting in vain to leap onto his master's bed. Beru bent down and picked the puppy up into her arms, placing him on Luke's lap. "There you are," she smirked, watching as the dog leapt against Luke's chest, and began licking him all over his face.
Luke burst into laughter, pushing the animal away from him so he could have a bit of breathing space. "All right, boy, I'm here," he promised. "Lay down," he ordered, and Lucky merely yipped, wagging his tail. "Lay down," Luke ordered, and with amusement, Beru watched as the dog did as it was told, resting it's chin on it's paws.
"Thank you, Aunt Ber...Ber...oh...no..." he suddenly felt his breath begin to quicken, and Beru's eyes widened. "UhKESHHHUH! EhKUSHHHH! HmmmPSHHHH! Ah...ahh...CHUUUUSH! Oh Aunt Beru, I can't stop sneezing," he gasped, his eyes squeezing closed once more. "CHSHHHH! HutSHHHHH! EtSHHHHH!"
Beru watched as Lucky got onto all fours again, staring at his master with surprise and concern. "Lucky, dear, come," Beru ordered, snapping her fingers, and the dog turned to her. She quickly ran over to pick the animal up, and urged it out of the room. As soon as the door closed, the urge to sneeze backed down quite a bit, and Luke took a deep breath of relief.
"Ugh," he croaked, reaching under his pillow for a spare handkerchief. He gave his nose a great blow, flopping back against the pillows, panting.
"Oh Luke," Beru sighed. "I...I think I'm going to have a talk with your Uncle. But just rest your eyes, and I won't be very long."
Luke gazed at her quizzically, but turned towards the wall, bundling into his blankets.
Beru slipped through the bedroom door, approaching Owen who was coming to check on them. "Come with me," she whispered, and brought him into their bedroom.
"What's the trouble? Is he allergic to the perfume?" Owen asked, as they sat down on the edge of their bed. Beru listened to Lucky's yips and pants outside of their door, and fiddled with the corner of her sleeve.
"I really don't believe so," she sighed. "He might be allergic to the dog."
Owen raised an eyebrow. "The dog?"
Beru smiled softly. "Well, if you really think about it, Owen, he's never been exposed to dogs before. He didn't sneeze at all until Lucky was in the room." She sighed. "That's such a shame... he loves the animal."
Owen rubbed his chin. "Maybe we can keep Lucky in the garage, and Luke can visit him in short spurts?" he suggested, hating the idea of telling Luke that the dog had to be returned to Anchorhead. The sight of the boy's delighted face was still engraved in his mind, but Beru shook her head.
"I'm worried about Luke's health, Owen. Even when he's within a few feet of Lucky his poor nose starts acting up. We're going to have to break the news, love."
Owen grunted under his breath. "Well, why don't we wait until after we've opened presents with him?" he suggested. "He's in such a good mood despite the sneezing, and I don't want to ruin his birthday."
Beru frowned...she didn't want Luke becoming too attached to Lucky, for the reason that parting with the animal would be more difficult. "I..." she sighed. "Perhaps we'd best keep him in the shed for now, and we can discuss the situation with Luke in the morning."
Owen agreed to that, and the two gathered the smaller gifts they'd either made or bought for him, coming back into Luke's bedroom. He sat with the back of his head leaning against the stone wall now, and smiled when they approached him. "Not much of a birthday, is it?" Owen asked, as Beru sat down beside her nephew, kissing his forehead. Luke shrugged, rubbing his nose with the back of his wrist.
"Not so bad," he admitted. "At least I'm not sick." He gave another sniff, and the adults chuckled.
"That's true enough." Owen offered Luke his package, and Beru pulled the teenager into a hug while he opened it. Luke finished tearing off the wrapping, and stared at the contents inside. He was speechless for a few moments, as was Beru, and both of them stared at Owen.
"A flight jacket and helmet?" Luke gasped, picking up the helmet and placing it on his head.
"I will keep my promise about letting you attend the academy, Luke," Owen insisted. "I know how badly you want to join your friends, but now it's not quite possible. However, it wouldn't help if you didn't have the proper attire, would it? When you did go, I mean?"
Luke couldn't believe it. For the past year or so, he'd been hinting to his Uncle that he wanted to leave the farm badly, but every time he even mentioned it, Owen said "You'll get there eventually. I just need all of the help I can get, Luke."
He fingered the orange nylon material, and closed his eyes at the feel of the helmet on his head. "Thank you, Uncle Owen. This really means a lot," he whispered, and Beru gave her husband a kiss on the cheek. Suddenly his face crinkled again, and Beru stared at Owen with a worried expression. "HehKMMMPH!" Luke sneezed into his hand, stifling it as best as he could, but sighed irritably.
"Bless you," Beru told him.
He sniffled, smiling weakly. "Just a leftover sneeze," he promised, setting his flight outfit aside so he could open Beru's gift. She gave him a book all about the making and maintenance of droids, something Luke loved doing in his spare time. He loved building things, and took pleasure in fixing mechanical objects, as long as he did it on his own will.
"Maybe you can make your own protocol droid one day," Beru chuckled, as he wrapped his arms around her, kissing her cheek. He also leaned over to peck a timid kiss on his Uncle's cheek, not wanting the man to feel left out of his affection.
"I love you," he told them. "I love you both so much. Thank you." He strained his ears, listening for Lucky. "Where is Lucky? I don't hear him barking or anything," he announced, and Owen gave Beru a quick glance.
"He's out in the shed, Luke," he explained, and Luke stared.
"Why? Did he do something?" he asked, starting to stand, but Beru placed her hands gently on his shoulders.
"We were hoping not to tell you this so soon, Luke, but we don't want to lie to you."
Owen nodded, and Luke swallowed. "It has to do with my sneezing, doesn't it?" he asked, fearing the worst.
"Your Aunt mentioned to you the possibility of an allergy, didn't she, Luke?" Owen added, and Luke nodded, rubbing his nose.
"Oh, Luke, I'm so sorry," Beru told him. "We think it might be Lucky who is making you sneeze so badly."
Luke was very quiet, and then lowered his head with embarrassment and disappointment. Beru stroked the back of his head, rubbing his back comfortingly. "Are you all right, sweetheart?"
Luke shrugged. "Guess so," he muttered, and Owen sighed.
"I'm sorry, Luke. Don't think this is your fault. You can't control what you're allergic to, and we wouldn't have known about this. But I'm glad we've cornered the problem before it got worse."
Beru cocked her head to one side, trying to read her nephew's expression. "Shall we let you alone for a little while? I know this is difficult," she sighed, and Luke shook his head.
"You don't have to," he whispered. "Isnt there any way we can keep the dog? I mean, I don't mind sneezing...feels kind of good actually." He looked up again, and Beru laughed.
"Oh honey, I wish we could, but I really hate to see you suffer so much. Besides, sneezing is one thing, but I'm afraid of what else might happen if you're near Lucky too long. Sweetheart, we might get you another pet, but the dog will have to be sold back to Anchorhead."
Luke perked up a little. "Wait a minute, no he wont," he said. "I could take him to one of my friends and see if they don't want a pet. I'm pretty sure Camie would love him. She does like cute things, even though she hates to admit it." He winked, and Owen laughed heartily.
"That's the spirit, Luke. I knew you'd take it like a man." He clasped his nephew on the shoulder.
"I should go and see her first thing tomorrow," Luke added, realizing how dark it was getting. His relatives never let him leave the property after dark, for fear of his being attacked by the Sand people or other creatures lurking through the desert.
"All right," Owen agreed. "You can go before you begin your work."
Luke groaned. "Oh Uncle Owen, can't I have one day off?" he asked, and Beru gave Owen a small grin. Owen thought about this for a minute, rubbing his hand over his face. "My friends were too busy to come over for my birthday...I doubt any of them even remembered. But I feel like I haven't seen them for weeks!"
Beru touched Owen's arm. "Oh let him take a day for some amusement," she encouraged, and Owen threw his hands into the air.
"Looks like I'm defeated, Luke. All right, you can have tomorrow off. But that's it, you understand?"
Luke nodded. "Thanks, Uncle Owen. I really appreciate it." He sniffled. "I'd hate for Lucky to have to spend the night alone in the shed though. Can't he stay in the house, as long as he doesn't come into my room?" he asked, and Beru frowned.
"I'd really prefer he didn't go anywhere near you, sweetheart. Lucky has plenty of water out there to last him overnight, so he should be fine."
Luke frowned. "Well, I guess so. I wish I could have said good night to him, though."
Owen snorted. "He's a dog, Luke. He wouldn't understand what you said to him. He'd just know it by tone of voice." He patted Luke on the head. "Well, I'm exhausted...I'd better get ready for bed if I'm going to be one man short tomorrow." He stretched his arms over his head, and Beru rolled her eyes.
"It's only seven thirty, Owen," she told him. "And it's Luke's birthday. We should spend our time with him tonight."
Owen winked. "I think three's a crowd," he admitted. "I might read a while and then hit the sack early. Good night, Luke. Happy birthday." The two watched as he left the room, and when he was out of earshot, Beru whispered into Luke's ear.
"Your Uncle can be quite impossible, can't he?" she asked, and he laughed.
"I miss singing with you, Auntie," he admitted. "Let's go into the parlor and sing like we always do on my birthday."
Beru grinned. "All right, Luke. I'll find the music, and meet you in the parlor."
Luke struggled to his feet, hurrying out of the room, feeling more lighthearted than he had in his life.
Chapter 3Luke awoke early the next morning, popping his head into his Aunt and Uncle's bedroom. Beru was still asleep, but Owen was moving about, gathering his clothes.
"Perhaps it's best if you bring her to see the dog," Owen suggested, once both tiptoed into the kitchen. "Sneezing and trying to navigate a speeder isn't a real smart idea, I don't think." He plucked a piece of fruit from the bowl in the center of the table, and Luke sighed.
"Yeah." He gave a small shrug. "Well, I guess I'll go out and check on Lucky then," he spoke, but was already out the door before Owen could protest. The elder man raised his eyebrows and sighed in frustration. He eventually went back to eating breakfast, and decided to let the boy do what he needed to do. `After all,' he thought, chewing on the fruit thoughtfully, `I did give him the day off.' He gave a small grumble under his breath, and listened for any movement from his wife.
Luke hurried outside, grateful to take in the first breath of early morning air. This was actually one of the most comfortable times of the day on Tatooine, when it felt cooler. Otherwise, it was so dry and hot, and almost complete torture spending hours working on the farm.
As Luke approached the shed, he wasn't surprised that his nose started to itch, giving him the urge to sneeze again. Lucky came running as soon as he unlocked the main door and pulled it open, and began bouncing.
"All right, boy, I'm here," Luke laughed, bending over to scratch the animal behind the ears. He felt his heart breaking at the thought of having to get rid of Lucky...the animal gave a yip and circled his feet while he stood inspecting the work bench, making sure all of his tools were in place. "HuhCHSHHHH! HehCHHHHH!" he groaned, rubbing his watering eyes, and turned to look at the dog. Lucky sat a few inches away, wagging his tail, and panting. "EhKSHHHH! HuhCHHHHSH! HuhESHHHH! Stars, I can't do this," he croaked, feeling a little dizzy. "I'm sorry, boy, but I can't keep...HuhESHHHH! HetSHHHHH!"
"Luke! Come inside right this minute!" Beru stood in the doorway of the hut, having heard the sneezing from a distance. Luke had to run out of the shed, quickly shutting the door closed after him to avoid letting the dog out. He was still sneezing fitfully as he came back in, and Beru wrapped her arm around his shoulders for support.
"Are you crazy?" she asked, helping him sit down.
"HuhCHSHHHH! HuhESHHHH!" Luke groaned, resting his head in his arms. "I'm sorry," he muttered. "I wanted to go and make sure he was...CHSHHHH!"
"Bless you." Beru rubbed his back, glancing at Owen, who raised his hands innocently.
"He was too quick for me to get a word in," he explained. "Luke, I would advise that you wait until you've calmed down before you decide to leave. And I would recommend that your Aunt go with you."
Luke felt his cheeks flushing, gratefully accepting the handkerchief from Beru. "She doesn't have to come with me," he insisted, blowing his nose, and clearing his throat afterwards. The thought of showing up with an adult to a group of teenagers who already gave him a hard time was horrifying. Beru laughed, kissing the top of his head.
"I won't embarrass you, sweetheart." She winked at Owen, who headed off to work. "It's just not safe for you to be riding around alone right now."
Luke let out another pitiful moan, and she pretended to give him a playful shove on the shoulder. "Oh come now! Your old Aunt isn't that bad, is she?" Beru cocked her head as Luke raised his, and he managed a weak smile.
"No," he replied. "It's not you, I just...I never feel like I fit in with them. As much as they like me and tolerate me, I feel like I'm an outcast."
Beru hugged him close. "Well, just stay as you are." She raised his chin. "You're perfect." She kissed his forehead. "Now have some breakfast, and we'll take the trip over to Camie's." she ruffled Luke's hair, watching with satisfaction as he selected a piece of fruit.
Eventually, the two said goodbye to Owen, who was so immersed in his work that he merely nodded with a small wave. Beru took Luke's hand and gave it a comforting squeeze, helping him into the driver's seat of the speeder. "Say," Luke grinned as she climbed into the passenger seat, looking rather frightened. "I don't think I've ever seen you in a speeder, Aunt Beru!"
Beru managed a small laugh, buckling her safety belt, and grasping the side for dear life. "Don't go too fast, dear," she breathed, knowing how Luke enjoyed racing his pod across the desert. He laughed, quickly pecking a kiss on her cheek.
"I won't," he promised, and gunned the engine. "Ready?" he asked, preparing to press the gas pedal, and Beru nodded quickly, feeling her stomach rise to her throat as the speeder lifted from the ground. "Here we go!" he shot away from the hut, and was shocked when Beru seemed to enjoy the ride immensely. He dared to take a peek at her expression as the traveled, and saw that she was grinning and holding onto her sun hat.
"Let's take one spin around, huh?" he called over the roar of the wind, and she turned to him.
"How fast does this racer go?" she called back, and he grinned.
"Are you serious?" he laughed, and she let out a whoop.
"I've forgotten how much fun these are...woooooooooh!" she removed her hat before it flew off, and nodded to Luke. They took a quick loop around the homestead, and Luke was greatly amused that his Aunt enjoyed the speeder so much. When they made their way towards Camie's, she was filled with laughter.
Camie herself was sitting on the front step of her family's hut, and glanced up when she saw a familiar speeder in the distance. She stood and shielded her icy blue eyes, which were a remarkable contrast with her raven hair. She felt the familiar blush creep into her cheeks as she saw Luke's figure come into view, and was quite surprised to see his Aunt along for the ride.
"Hi!" Luke called, once they pulled in front of the hut and turned off the engine.
"Hi Luke," Camie greeted, hurrying over to help Beru down from the speeder. "You didn't tell me you were coming over this morning! It's good to see you, Mrs. Lars," she added. "My parents are just fixing breakfast...I'll let them know you're here, and maybe you can join us?" she watched as Luke gave her a small hug.
"Actually, I just ate, but thank you." He rubbed his nose. "I came, because well...it's kind of a mixture of good and bad news." He sniffled, and Camie raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"What's up?" she asked, bringing them both inside. "Mom? Dad?" she called. "Luke and his Aunt are here!"
A middle aged woman came into the parlor, wiping her hands on a thin towel. She beamed at the company, and shook hands with Beru. "Luke, it's been so long, dear! You really must come and visit more often," she added, giving him a hug. "What brings you out this way?"
Luke hesitated, not sure if he wanted to inform everyone about his new allergy, but he didn't want to be rude. Camie smiled at her mother, shaking her head. "Actually, can Luke and I have a moment?" she asked, and Mrs. Windsong gave a small nod, inviting Beru into the kitchen with her. Camie led Luke into the living room, and offered him a seat on one of the couches.
"What's up, wormie?" she asked, and he leaned forward, rubbing his hands over his face.
"This is really embarrassing, Camie, and I'll completely understand if you say no."
"Are you trying to ask me out on a date or something?" she teased, and Luke stared at her. "Honestly, Luke, you're a good friend, but I don't feel that way about you."
Luke snorted. "No, believe me, I wish that were the reason."
Camie leaned back against her seat, smiling at him. "So what's up then?" she asked.
"Well, my Uncle got me a dog for my birthday yesterday..."
"Your birthday?" Camie cried. "Oh Luke, I'm so sorry...I forgot!" she gasped, and he shook his head.
"Nah, it's no big deal, Camie," he insisted. "But anyway, I found out last night I'm kind of er...allergic to it."
Camie was quiet for a moment, fiddling with a stray piece of yarn on her cushion. It didn't surprise her in the least...Luke was always finding a new thing wrong with his health. "I'm sorry," she replied, not quite sure what else to say. "What are you going to do with it, then?"
"Uncle Owen thought about bringing it back to Anchorhead where he bought it, but that would be too devastating. I thought... well, you and your family always keep tons of animals outside, and I thought that you might want him."
Camie gasped, her eyes lighting up. "Oh, that would be fantastic! I love dogs! How much would you want for him?"
Luke stared at her. "Nothing, of course!" he exclaimed. "I wouldn't charge one of my friends!"
Camie hopped up from her seat and dashed into the kitchen to tell her parents the news, and Luke waited for everyone to come out and speak with him about it. "Sneezing all night," he caught Beru's sentence, and heard Mrs. Windsong clucking her tongue.
"We would be happy to take the dog, Mrs. Lars. That's a shame he's allergic to it."
Beru smiled softly, folding her arms. "I know." She wet her lips.
"I'll follow you on my speeder so he won't have to bring it back," Camie offered. "Mom, you and Dad wouldn't mind if I hurried over to Luke's now to pick it up, would you?" she asked, and Mrs. Windsong shook her head.
"You may go, my dear," she agreed.
"Thanks for thinking of me, Luke," Camie told him, as she followed him outside. While the teenagers were out of earshot, Mrs. Windsong brought Beru into the parlor.
"So Luke's not been well in general this year, I heard?" she asked quietly, as they sat waiting, and Beru gazed at the window. She could hear Luke and Camie laughing over some inside jokes, and turned back to the younger woman across the room.
"No, he hasn't," she admitted. "It's cold after cold, and it's been like this since he was brought here, and I don't know what to do anymore." She raised her hands in defeat, and Mrs. Windsong folded her own hands on her lap.
"I am sure the boy will grow out of it," she insisted. "He certainly proves himself around my daughter and their group."
Beru started to tell Mrs. Windsong about Luke's feelings towards his friends, how left out he felt, but decided it wasn't the best time to do so. "Mom?" Camie peeped her head through the door. "We're gonna go!"
"I should make sure Luke's all right in the speeder. After his little attack this morning, I don't trust his going out alone." She smiled and stood. "Thank you for your hospitality," she added, and Mrs. Windsong led her to the front door.
"Please feel free to stop by again, Mrs. Lars," she added. "You two be careful!" she added, as Camie climed into her speeder. Luke glanced at his Aunt with a small smile on his face, and their speeder took the lead. Camie followed close behind, wearing her protective goggles to keep out sand and dust.
"You really should wear something like that, Luke," Beru told her nephew as they neared their hut.
"What?" Luke called, not able to hear quite as well over the roar of the engine.
"Never mind," she replied, smiling at him, deciding it was best not to say anything else.
When they arrived home, and after the speeders were parked, Luke brought both women into the house. "Honey, maybe you'd best stay in here and let Camie and I go out to see Lucky, all right?" Beru asked, pulling him back as he made his way for the shed. Luke blinked, nodding.
"All right." Camie smiled at him and gave him a pat on the shoulder, following Beru outside. When they were out of earshot, Luke groaned and sat down at the table, resting his head in his arms. Well, that settled his wave of affection for Camie. In a way, he was almost relieved...he wasn't quite sure how she felt about him, and he was glad to know that they were merely friends.
"Oh, he's adorable!" Camie's squeal of delight when Beru opened the shed filled his ears, and he peered through the doorway. "Luke, he's perfect!" she called, and Luke stood, walking to the doorway. He leaned against it and folded his arms, watching wth amusement as Camie held the dog in her arms, letting it lick her face.
"Thanks for agreeing to take him," he replied, rubbing his nose.
Camie cuddled the puppy, making baby noises with it. "I wish I could take a picture of this," he snorted, as Beru gathered Lucky's belongings. "HuhCHHHHH! EhCHHHHH!"
Camie and Beru turned to him, shaking their heads. "Bless you," they said in unison, and Beru pointed to the house. "Inside with you, Luke. Don't make me carry you."
"Are you coming by the shop later?" Camie asked, still holding the dog protectively in her arms.
"Yeah I might," Luke agreed. "My Uncle gave me the day off, so I should be able to come." He rubbed his itching eyes. "I have to go in," he croaked. "Thanks, Camie."
She nodded. "You're welcome. I would hug you, but I don't think that's a good idea." She waved with her free hand, and, after thanking Beru, headed for the speeder. "See you later then!" she called over her shoulder, and disappeared around the bend.
When Beru came back inside, she noticed Luke's distant expression, and touched his cheeks lovingly. "Are you all right?" she asked, brushing his bangs away from his eyes. He nodded, resting his head against her shoulder wearily.
"Go and rest, love. You're worn out." She kissed his forehead. "I'll wake you in a few hours so you can visit your friends at the shop."
"Okay." He gave her a hug, and shuffled off to his bedroom.
Chapter 4Luke, after napping, felt somewhat refreshed. He went out into the kitchen and poured himself a cup of blue milk, before Beru joined him. He jumped when he glanced out of the corner of his eye and saw her figure, nearly choking on the mouthful he'd just taken. "You scared me," he laughed after he managed to swallow.
"I'm sorry," she replied. "I was just about to wake you, actually. How are you feeling, love?"
Luke massaged his forehead after finishing the last of his milk, and leaned against the counter. "A lot better." He pecked a kiss on her cheek. "Well, I'm going to the tosche station as I promised Camie I would. I should be home by dinner."
She nodded, and then told him to wait before he left. Luke stood watching as she disappeared into the parlor, and raised an eyebrow when she came back. She carried one of Owen's floppy sunhats, and handed it to him. Luke glanced at it, and felt his cheeks flushing again.
"You can't be serious," he snorted. "Aunt Beru, I can't wear that!" he stepped back, and she stepped forward.
"Oh yes you can, Luke. You really should wear a pair of goggles too, as Camie did this morning. Your eyes get so red when you come home." She put the floppy hat on his head, adjusting it so it wouldn't cover his eyes. "Just do this, for me? You can take the hat off as soon as you get to the station."
Luke sighed heavily, giving his Aunt a hug. "All right, Aunt Beru." He could hear Owen shouting obscentities to one of the droids in the distance, and shook his head with a smirk on his face. Beru pointed to the clock on the wall, and gave Luke a stern look.
"I want you back before dark," she told him. "I love you!" she added, as he disappeared through the main entranceway.
"I love you too!" he called back, waving as he made his way out to the speeder. He hopped in, actually somewhat greatful for the hat...usually he had to shield his eyes from the blinding twin suns. He gunned the engine and sped away, heading towards the station.
The wind cooled his cheeks as he traveled across the desert, and he gave a sigh of relaxation. He felt most at ease when he was behind the wheel of his pod, and could drive it all day if he had the choice. It was somewhat old, given to him by old Ben Kenobi as a birthday gift about two years before. Well, at the time they didn't know old Ben had given it. According to the hermit, Owen would have thrown a fit if he knew who the speeder came from. Luke only found out when he was wandering around with Biggs, and he never told Owen about the little celebration they had in the old man's cave.
Eventually Luke pulled in front of the building, noticing his friend Deak sitting on the front step. He was fiddling with wires in an old battery, his dark hair hanging in his eyes. When Luke turned the engine off and hopped down, Deak didn't even have to look up to know who had arrived.
"Hey wormie," he greeted, and Luke snorted.
"Am I really here that much?" he asked, and Deak glanced at him.
"Biggs is inside," he added, and Luke stepped through the main door.
"Hey, hotshot!" Biggs greeted, noticing his friend from where he and Camie sat chatting on one of the several work benches. Tosche station was moderate in size, cluttered with different electrical devices and parts. There were papers spread over the table, and Biggs was copying something down into a notebook with a pencil.
"What's going on, you guys?" Luke asked, joining them on the other side of the table.
"Not much," Camie replied. "Biggs was inspecting the shop and there are some repairs that need to be done." She sighed and watched as Biggs scribbled some notes onto a pad, his forehead crinkled in concentration.
"What kind of repairs?" Luke cocked his head to one side, trying to read the notes. "Anything I can help you with?"
Biggs glanced up at him. "Nah, kid, nothing too major. So... Camie told us the incident with the dog. I'm sorry we missed your birthday, Luke," he added. "Things were kind of crazy around here, and we didn't remember until Camie came by today."
Luke shrugged, rubbing his nose with the back of his hand. He still felt a tiny bit stuffy, but not nearly as bad as when Lucky had been nearby. "How is Lucky?" he asked, as Camie took a screwdriver from the toolbox in the center of the table, and stood up.
"Great!" she replied. "He's getting along with the other animals in the pen, I think. They bonded with him pretty fast. That's a great dog your Uncle picked out, Luke." She smiled, and walked over to the electrical box, her tongue sticking out of the corner of her mouth as she worked with one of the loose wires. Luke stood and went to join her, putting his hands in his pockets, and rocked back and forth on his feet awkwardly.
"Camie, I..." he started, and she turned to him, her dark eyes narrowed with curiosity. "I didn't make you feel weird this morning, did I? I didn't mean to give you the wrong impression or anything."
Camie shook her head. "Luke, you never make me feel weird." She attached a blue wire to a red one, turning her head as a few sparks shot out from the tips. Biggs watched as the light hanging from the ceiling flickered, and turned to her.
"The other one, Camie," he called, and she nodded.
"Yeah, that was a negative." She released the blue wire and took a green one. "And I was serious when I said I don't feel..." she lowered her voice. "Romantically towards you. It's not your fault, wormie. It' s just, well..." she shrugged.
Luke nodded, managing a small smile. "I figured. You like Fixer, don't you?"
She was quiet for a moment or two, and sighed. "Fixer won't be back from the academy until next season, Luke. I don't know how he'll feel about me when he returns."
Luke gave her a hug once she attached the correct wires, and the two watched as the station brightened. Camie rested her head on his shoulder, enjoying the company of a friend. "How could he not want you, Camie?" Luke asked, bringing her back over to the bench so she could sit down. Biggs checked off an item on the list, and walked off to inspect the other mishaps.
"You're sweet, Luke," Camie told him.
"So what should we do to make up for yesterday, huh kid?" Biggs asked, wiping his dirty hands on his pants.
"You guys don't have to make anything up to me," Luke insisted. "I understand you were busy."
"That's no excuse." Biggs sat down. "Deak, get in here!" he shouted, and the other boy dashed in. "Get some cups and pour some of that stuff from the dispenser, will ya?"
"I live to serve," Deak teased, saluting his friend. Biggs rolled his eyes as Deak fulfilled his orders.
"Well, what do you propose we do, then?" Luke asked, rubbing his nose. Camie smiled at him.
"I would invite you all to my house for dinner, but since you're still kind of sensitive to the dog, I wouldn't want to risk that," Camie replied thoughtfully, and Luke shrugged.
"Hey, I have an idea," he added. "Do you guys want to come back to my place? I did promise my Aunt I'd be home for dinner, and maybe you could spend the night?" he shrugged, feeling a little childish. However, his Aunt always invited his friends to come whenever they had a free moment, and she always made sure they got their fill.
"Well, we've got a few things to clean up here," Biggs told Luke. "But yeah, that sounds good. Like old times, eh?" he winked, and Luke grinned, turning to Camie and Deak.
"What do you guys say?" he asked, and Camie shrugged.
"Sounds good to me, wormie. Though I should probably zoom over to my house and let my family know where I'll be."
Luke nodded. "I can always swing you by your homes on the way to my place," he suggested.
"Always the resourceful one." Biggs gave Luke a slap on the shoulder. "All right. If you're sure your Aunt won't throw a fit because you didn't let her know ahead of time we're coming, then more power to you."
Luke snatched the notepad away from his friend's hands, and glanced at the markings. "What do you need help with?" he asked, and Biggs snatched it back.
"Not on your life." He set the pad down. "Let's get to your Aunt's before it gets too late. We'll take care of this stuff tomorrow, okay?"
Luke stood, but as soon as he did so, he felt a sudden urge to sneeze. Biggs and Camie stared at him, and Deak gave a shout. "Hit the deck!" he ordered, and Luke glared at him.
"HuhKESHHH!" he snapped forward, sighing in annoyance afterwards. "Very funny," he added. "Sorry," he added, glancing at Camie. "I'm still a little stuffed up." He led the group outside, and they piled into two speeders. Camie sat next to Luke, while Deak hopped in the other one with Biggs.
"Nice hat," Camie snorted as he put it on, and he merely stuck his tongue out at her. She returned the gesture, strapping on her goggles once he started the engine. He motioned to Biggs with his arm that they were ready to go, and the parade took off.
They arrived at Camie's place, and Luke remained in the pod as she dashed inside. He didn't want to risk being near Lucky, who would surely set him off sneezing again. Mrs. Windsong stepped out with her daughter, and waved to Luke, smiling as Camie returned to the racer.
"You're lucky you didn't come in," she told Luke before they started off once more. "Lucky was running around the kitchen."
Luke nodded.
When they arrived home, Beru was startled to see them. "That was quite a fast visit," she laughed, hugging all of them as they entered the hut.
"You don't mind if they stay for dinner, do you, Aunt Beru?" Luke asked. "And they'd like to spend the night if that's not a problem, also."
Beru smiled at him. "You know I don't mind, Luke. Come in, come in, and make yourselves at home. Excuse the mess in the parlor... I've been straightening and reorganizing things for the past couple of days."
Luke gave his Aunt a grateful look, and led his friends into the parlor. "Does anyone want juice or milk or anything?" he asked, and they shook their heads.
"No thanks," Deak replied.
"Ok..HuhKESHHHH! HehESHHHH! Ugh!" Luke took a handkerchief from his pocket and blew his nose, flopping down on the couch beside Camie.
"Are you sure it's the dog you're allergic to, Luke?" she asked, frowning, and he glanced at her.
"I sneeze worse than this," he told her, his voice somewhat muffled through the fabric.
"Can't you get through one year without your health getting the better of you?" she added, rolling her eyes a little, and winking at Biggs.
"I can't help it," he told her. "I catch everything."
"No kidding," Deak snorted. "Someone has a cold a mile away and you're sick the next morning."
Luke groaned, resting his head against the back of the couch. "So what do you guys want to do? We can play video games if you'd like. My set isn't as new as yours, Biggs, but hey, it works." He stuffed the handkerchief back into his pocket, and Camie bounced up and down on the cushions.
"Spaceballs?" she asked, and Luke grinned.
"We play that all the time!" he exclaimed, and Biggs shrugged.
"We're getting good at it. I think I've beat you at least seven times in a row."
"Well, how about we try another one?" he asked.
"Like what?" Camie cocked her head to the side.
"Well, I have one where you're trying to race pods around this track, and you have all of these different obstacles you have to go through. Like fire rings, ramps, whatever." He sniffed and gave his nose a rub. "I'm still working my way through this, but I've gotten better at it."
Camie and Deak smiled at each other, and nodded. "Sounds good."
As the teens began to set up the video game, they became so caught up in the moment that they didn't notice Beru watching from the kitchen doorway. Folding her arms tightly around herself, she wet her lips, her eyes fixed on her nephew. It was a blessing that they'd been chosen to raise Luke. She remembered hinting to Owen that she wanted to try to have a child, but he'd always been too caught up in his daily work to take heed of her hints. When Obi-Wan came that one evening seventeen years before, she'd been ecstatic when he'd quietly placed the sleeping bundle into her arms. Even Owen, when she'd dashed to him with the baby, displayed his own surprise and delight.
However, Owen became rather distant from then on, never quite comfortable around the baby. It didn't help much that Luke was sick a great deal of the time, either. It wasn't until he turned eight that his relatives felt comfortable sending him to the Imperial Acadamy Public school in Anchorhead. "It will be good for him to meet children his own age," Beru told Owen one night over dinner.
So for several hours a day...about four or five, Luke studied at the academy. After a while, the threat of illness came on again, and the Lars' couple decided it was best to take their boy out of school. "Besides," Owen grumbled. "What they teach at those schools is complete rubbish. I'd rather Luke learn about the importance of moisture farming...that's what he'll be doing for most of his adulthood, anyway."
Beru sighed softly, turning away and heading back into the kitchen. Every now and again, she could hear Luke or his friends cheering and laughing, and smiled to herself. She would never regret taking the child in, and no matter what happened, was proud to say he was a member of her family.
The character's names and places do not belong to me. Well, Lucky the dog does ;o) but Luke, his Aunt, Uncle and his friends belong to George Lucas.
This is the third "novel" in the "Life and Times of Luke Skywalker" series, or, as I've called it recently, "The Chronicles of Tatooine" (somewhat based off of the title of LM Montgomery's "Chronicles of Avonlea" ;o)) so yes, now Luke will be sixteen years old if you've been following the other two properly. And compared to the first two, this is much less serious, and a tadshorter than the others. Enjoy!