A/N: The title of this fic is a variation of the phrase "I love you to the moon and back." In this case it's "to the suns and back."

I don't know how often I'll be updating this. Just assume that my updates will be sporadic. Chapters will come whenever inspiration strikes.

Chapter Summary: Luke is minding his own business when Vader comes calling.

This turned out angstier than I intended. Hope y'all enjoy it anyway. :)

Chapter 1: I'm Fine

Luke Skywalker was bored. He suppressed a yawn and forced himself to focus on the words Mon Mothma was speaking.

Truthfully, he didn't know why he was required to attend this meeting. They were only debating the location of their next base. High Command had never asked for his input before. For whatever reason, here he was, listening as Mothma droned on and on about the weather patterns on some Outer Rim planet Luke couldn't remember the name of.

Although, it was nice that they were taking climate into account for their next base. Luke would love to have words with whoever thought Hoth had been a good idea. But if he had to sit here for much longer, he was going to lose his mind.

Next to him, Leia kicked his leg under the table for a third time. She was giving him The Look—the one she usually reserved for Han when he was acting particularly like a nerf herder. He swore he could hear her voice in his mind saying, Pay attention!

He grimaced and shot her an apologetic look, attempting to straighten up in his chair and look attentive. Luke really should at least act interested. This was an opportunity for Luke to show High Command that he was ready to go back out in the field. And he was ready. It had been three weeks since Bespin and they hadn't let him go on any missions.

He still had nightmares every night. In his dreams, he relived the duel with Vader. Normally, the dreams played out exactly as it had on Cloud City. But sometimes he dreamed that Vader had caught him before he could fall. In those ones he always ended up Turning. Others had Vader successfully freezing him in carbonite and presenting him to the Emperor. In one especially graphic dream, Vader had killed him on the gantry instead of just cutting off his hand.

His nights were still traumatic for him, but he no longer jumped at every shadow. He no longer heard the phantom sound of a respirator in his waking hours. Luke couldn't just sit around base. He needed to do something to take his mind off Bespin. The only way to accomplish that was to convince High Command they could send him on missions.

Luke.

He felt the cold tendrils of his fa—of Vader's Force presence envelop his mind a split second before his voice sounded in Luke's head.

Despite that this was the fifth time Vader had tried to contact him since Bespin, he was still startled. Luke yelped and jerked in his seat, slamming as many mental shields down as he could. Every eye in the room turned toward him and he cursed Vader's timing.

"Luke, are you alright?" Leia asked, her forehead creased in concern.

"I'm—"

Luke…

"—fine." Luke forced a smile. "Please, continue."

The meeting resumed. Leia kept shooting him glances. Luke ignored her and the tendrils prodding against his mental shields. They weren't harsh but they weren't exactly gentle either.

Luke, you are acting like a child. Cease ignoring me. Vader's mental voice was heavy with disapproval.

Luke clenched his jaw but otherwise showed no outward signs of discomfort.

Luke—

Leave me alone! Luke snapped and immediately regretted it as a sense of triumph flooded across the bond.

I thought you would appreciate a distraction.

What?

You were broadcasting your boredom so strongly, it is a wonder the whole galaxy did not feel it, young one.

Luke blushed and rechecked his mental shields.

Do not be embarrassed. Your lack of training can be rectified.

In an instant Luke went from embarrassment to anxiousness. He swallowed hard and decided to ignore that last part.

Doesn't the Supreme Commander of the Imperial Navy have anything better to do than interrupting my daily routine? Luke snarked, trying to hide his fear.

A soft nudge against his leg made him look over at Leia. She was gazing at him intently. "What's wrong?" she mouthed.

He shook his head in reply. He couldn't tell her, especially not in front of High Command.

Luke felt a sharp mental tap of admonishment from Vader. It is you who interrupted me, son.

Don't call me that!

And why not? You are my son.

Get out of my head!

Very well. Vader's emotions were roiling in frustration and disappointment. You cannot deny the truth forever, my son.

Luke resisted the childish urge to retort, Watch me.

Vader's overbearing presence finally faded, and Luke sighed in relief, slumping back in his chair.

The meeting concluded shortly after and Luke was the first one out of the briefing room. He tried to hightail it down the hallway, but Leia caught up with him.

"What happened in there?" she demanded.

"Nothing," he lied, and hated himself for it.

"Luke…" Leia warned.

He didn't want to lie to her. She had been through so much. She was his best friend. But he couldn't bear to see her reaction to the truth. He didn't want to see her recoil in horror. He didn't want to lose their friendship. Leia hated Vader. There was no way she wouldn't look at him differently.

"I'm fine." He didn't know if he was trying to convince her or himself.

Leia glared at him and crossed her arms over her chest. "I know you're not fine, Luke. You've been off since Bespin."

Luke opened his mouth—to say what, he didn't know—but Leia held up a hand for silence.

"I understand that you don't want to talk about it." Her eyes softened and she reached out to grasp his hands in her own. "Just know that I'm here if you ever do."

He couldn't speak past the sudden lump in his throat, so he nodded. She pulled him into a hug and he let himself relax in her embrace, tears stinging behind his eyes.

I'm fine, he thought, and tried for one desperate minute to believe it.

A/N: If you made it to the end, thanks for reading!