Star Wars. Suns Among Stars Trilogy, Book One: A Man Among Boys

Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten:

Luke looked up from the lounger he rested in as he held his daughter. He had hardly been able to set her down for anything but feedings and diaper changes— something he was becoming rather proficient at, he mused.

But he was troubled by a few things, and now he had been contemplating them for several hours. The first being how he was going to explain the baby to his guardians, the second what to name his child.

When he saw who was at the door, he smiled softly.

"Hello Heather."

"Hi." She moved closer and extended her hands. "I need to check her, if you please."

"Sure." Luke handed the slumbering infant over.

"Thank you." Heather got to work, and Luke watched as the nurse tended to the little girl with practiced, yet gentle ease.

He figured that after some time he would also become that proficient at seeing to his daughter's needs. But so far he was slightly clumsy, though he was giving it his best effort, trying to remember everything they'd taught him, though if he was honest with himself, it was all sort of a big jumble at the moment. He only hoped he remembered how to do everything when it was time to return to the homestead.

As Heather worked, she glanced at him. "Have you given her a name yet?"

Luke sighed heavily. "No. It's not that I haven't tried out a few, but noting seems right. I don't just want to slap a label onto her. She'll carry this name with her the rest of her life, so I want to put a good deal of thought into it." He grimaced. "Is it bad that I want to wait? I mean, all children need a name."

Heather shook her head. "Not at all, Luke. It's perfectly okay to want your child's name to be meaningful. I would be worried if you simply grabbed the first one that came to your mind."

"Okay." Luke blew out a relieved breath.

"You should be able to take her home in the morning," Heather told him. "And get some rest. We will keep her in the nursery tonight so you can."

Luke was hesitant, not wanting to let his child out of his sight. Seeing his face, Heather placed the baby in her floating bassinet and then gave him an understanding pat on the back.

"Luke, I promise you the baby will be safe. No one is allowed to leave the medical center with her but you." Heather gestured to the bed. "And you have not slept much in the two days you've been here. Sleep: that's an order." She softened the rebuke with a wink.

Luke glanced at the bed, feeling the thing calling to him. Sighing, he had to admit that she was right: he was exhausted.

"Alright, thank you." Luke kissed his daughter's forehead and watched Heather take her out of the room before he settled onto the bed.

He shut his eyes... and the next thing he knew there was a knock on the door. Blue eyes sprang open to see sunlight filtering through the window, and Luke blinked in surprise. He never remembered actually falling asleep, but now he was glad Heather had suggested it, because he felt so much more refreshed.

Taking a deep breath, he looked to the door and saw Corsair standing there.

"Good morning Luke." He smirked. "Sleep well?"

"Yes sir." Luke stood and stretched. "How is Venussia doing?"

"She's fine, thank you." Corsair shut the door and stepped forward to place a hand on Luke's arm. "Luke, I wanted to apologize for everything Venussia put you through. You are a strong man, Luke. Most people I know would have become shriveled and dry after nine months of the hell you endured. But you pulled through and now here we are."