Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars...because if I did Boba Fett wouldn't be a clone.

Author's Note: Just a cutesy story...I don't intend for it to go on for too long. It's funny b/c I never imagined myself writing a whole lot of Luke, but oh! there he is! Enjoy...read'n'review, if you please...

Chapter I: They're Just Children

Luke Skywalker sighed, remembering the old aphorism: Patience is a virtue.

It wasn't solely a Jedi aphorism, by any means. But it certainly did remind him that, above all, a Jedi had to be virtuous.

And that, of course, meant that he had to be patient.

"It's my turn, Jacen! You know it is!" Jaina, his young niece, thrust her chin out stubbornly, posting her small fists on her hips. Indignation painted her face a slightly flushed hue, and she stomped a foot inconsolably. Her six-year-old eyes burned with an intensity that echoed of her mother's own strident stare. Her temper seemed to match that of her mother, as well.

Luke could not entirely hide a smile, though, thinking, It would be unfair of me not to acknowledge Han's contribution to the matter, however.

"I had it first, Jaina. It's my turn." Jacen, her brother, crossed his arms imperiously, hiding the handheld-gaming system in his hand. He stiffened his neck and peered down his nose to glare at her through half-lidded eyes. The effect was not ruined by the fact that they were practically the same height. But the look did lose some of its mature character when he stuck his tongue out.

Jaina gasped sharply at the gesture, before her eyes narrowed into a tight glare. "You take that back, Jacen Solo!" she said in a tone that was all reprimand.

Anakin, watching the exchange with his bright blue eyes, laughed and clapped happily. He promptly stuck his own tongue out, mimicking his older brother. "Take that, Jaya!" he cried, using the nickname he had given her since toddler-hood.

"I'll get Mom if you don't stop!"

"No, you won't!" Jacen looked around, scanning the immediate vicinity for their mother. "You will not. Uncle Luke's right there!" he said, gesturing toward their uncle. He looked up uncertainly, his brown eyes meeting Luke's blue eyes worriedly, "You saw that it's my turn, didn't you, Uncle Luke?"

"It's not! It's mine!" Jaina exclaimed loudly. A little too loudly, Luke realized, because the argument was no longer under the radar, as far as their parents were concerned. The Jedi Master felt the spike of frustration in Leia's consciousness and the almost imperceptible waver of exasperation in Han's. Maybe now would be a good time to step in, Luke thought.

He had just opened his mouth, readying to settle the dispute when a voice, which stopped the children and demanded answer all in one breath, inquired: "What are we arguing about?"

The children turned slowly, hesitantly, to face their mother. Leia stood in the doorway to the living room, not yet descending the two steps into the room. Wearing a white shift that came to her knees under a tailored floor-length coat of a crimson hue with flowing sleeves, she also had her hair up. Her trademark braids wound around her head, but not so trademark were the red and white ribbons that interlaced the plaits. Flat white shoes with ribbons that ran up her calves finished the ensemble. She remained standing in the doorway, waiting for an answer. Fidgeting with an earring, her demeanor was no less intense for lack of strict stature.

"Well?" She looked to the trio, clearly expecting an answer.

"It was," Jacen finally answered, "Uhm, nothing, just Jaina's turn to play." He handed the hand-held system to her. She took it slowly, her wide eyes watching her mother's every move.

Tension dissipated when, with a nod, Leia smiled, "Good." Smoothing her skirts, she turned to Luke. "Will you be all right?" she asked, worry furrowing her brow. "You know that the kids are a handful. I could always have Winter --"

"Nothing I can't handle," Luke smiled reassuringly, touching Leia's shoulder.

"Those are common last words, kid," Han said as he stepped into the room. As he adjusted the military-styled coat for what Luke could guess was the tenth time, Han grinned and turned to address the children. "Now, remember, kids, Uncle Luke is not Winter. He'll be easy to scare away. So if you do, do it only right before we get home. Understood?"

The children laughed before swarming around their father excitedly.

Leia looked to Han. "I suppose we should get going."

"Yeah," he agreed. Tugging at his dark blue coat again – Han hated to dress up – he turned to Luke, a skeptical expression tightening his eyes while saying, "You're sure you're fine with this?"

Luke laughed. What was wrong with these two? Watching children, his nephews and niece,would be a welcome distraction to the ever-increasing – and overwhelming – pressures of his life. Managing a host of Jedi trainees was tiring work. He did not for one minute regret his life's work, but it was nice to have a little vacation. And he had no qualms leaving the Academy, with Kam Solusar in charge.

Besides, he did not get to see the children nearly enough. As it was, rare was the chance that he got to see even Han and Leia these days.

And he knew that it was even rarer that Han and Leia had a chance to go out as Han and Leia, the married couple, as opposed to Han and Leia, hero and political figure of the New Republic. That had been why he had volunteered to watch the children. He knew that Han and Leia both felt guilty, because they too felt that they did not see the children nearly often enough. But Luke had insisted that they go out, and they had grudgingly accepted the idea.

"Of course I'm fine," he insisted. "Say good-bye to your children, or you'll be standing here all night asking me the same question."

Good-byes were short and sweet, the children offering their upturned faces for kisses before racing back into the depths of the living room.

Luke walked Han and Leia to the door and bid them a good time.

As the couple was walking out, Leia turned around. "If there's any trouble, Luke..."

He laughed again. "You worry too much. They're only children." He chose to ignore the knowing look that Han and Leia exchanged before they continued down the hall.

"Don't forget whose children they are, though!" Han called back over his shoulder. A cocky grin spread across his face as he added, "That's part of the problem, you know."

Luke stepped back inside, shaking his head with a smile. He wasn't a complete idiot. Children, even if they were Han and Leia's, would not be that bad.

He enjoyed the quiet serenity of the Solos' apartment for only a brief moment, before Anakin's wail pierced the silence:

"Now it's my turn!"