Anakin watched as his kids were growing. He aspired to provide all the best for them. He hated when the kids at school picked on Luke and Leia for not having a mom. He wanted to rip them all apart, it wasn't their fault. It wasn't anyone's fault. That's something that Anakin had to remind himself about a lot to finally believe and accept it. He could easily find another lover, he had plenty of women interested in him, but for some reason he couldn't get himslef to like any of them. Something was always missing. They just weren't Padme. He was also afraid that this potential new lover wouldn't like his kids and hurt them. That was a risk he didn't want to take.

-Skywalker, daydreaming again? - asked his so called colleague from work. Anaking hated his guts with passion, he was favorised by the boss and it was plain to see. But Anakin couldn't do anything about it.

-I was just thinking on solution to my client's request. - he answered and got back to typing on his computer.

He was working at the office, this job was both blessing and the curse. It wasn't dangerous or heavy, but it was stressful. That wasn't helping with his anger outbursts, to the point when he was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder.

-Need a hand? - asked Lance.

-No thanks. - answered Anakin shortly.

Last thing he needed was that flea around his customers and documents. Especialy now, when he needed an outstanding results, there was the competition for a promotion. Anakin hoped with every fiber in his body that he will win.

A week later the results were announced. Anakin's score was two times bigger than Lance's, but still Lance go the promotion. Their boss only said that Lance deserved it, because his results were constantly growing. Anakin was seeing red. He was livid. He wanted to make a scene and just quit that damn job, but he remembered about his kids. He needed money. So he decided to shut up and be as problematic to his new team leader as possible.

-One more thing. - said the boss. -Tomorrow you will have a new colleague. Anakin, you're in charge of showing him around and helping him out.

-Shouldn't the team leader do it? - he asked calmly, smirking internaly.

-Don't talk back to me, I wasn't asking, but informing you about your task. - answered the boss and dismissed Lance and Anakin.

Time skip

On the next day Anakin met his new acquaintance. He was around the same height as Anakin, had h/c hair and e/c eyes. Many people were giving him an eye, and that didn't go unnoticed by Anakin. He stood up and shook his hand.

-Y/n L/n, at your service. - smiled the new guy.

-Anakin Skywalker, nice to meet you. -Anakin replied. - You'll be sitting next to me so I wouldn't have to run around when you'd have a problem.

-It's fine, I'm a quick learner, so I shouldn't bother you much. - said Y/n earning a small nod from Anakin.

There was something about Y/n that made Anakin feel at ease. He didn't feel like that in a good while. They got seated and started their day. Anakin gave Y/n a tour around the office, introduced him to the members of different departments, had a coffee with him and then they finally made it back to their office.

-What do you think about the people so far? - asked Anakin.

-Everyone's nice, but it's only my first day. - shrugged Y/n. - But this Lance guy seems fake as hell.

That earned a chuckle from Anakin. He could like this guy.

-Let me show you something. - said Anakin and sat at the desk. He showed Y/n the monthly results from the past quarter of the year. - This is my score, this is Lance's. Guess who got the promotion.

-That's not fair. - said Y/n. - Is he sucking the boss off or something?

Anaking held back the fit of laughter, but he couldn't surpress the chuckle. This guy was really something.

-Stop it, the boss has a wife and kids.- Anakin wanted to scold him, but he couldn't be serious enough.

-That doesn't mean anything. - grinned Y/n.

They laughed about it for few seconds. Anakin realised that in this one moment he laughed more than in past six years combined. And it was an honest laughter, not something forced. And it felt good.

-Having fun I see. - said Lance, who heard their laughter on the corridor.

-I just made a mistake when Anakin was explaining the system to me. - said Y/n.

-What's so funny about it? - asked Lance.

-The mistake was so stupid we couldn't help but laugh. - smiled Y/n innocently.

Lance just nodded and walked out of their office, closing the door behind him.

-He actually believed it. - said Y/n making them laugh again. - I can't believe he's so stupid.

-If you'd work here for few more days, you'd believe it. - answered Anakin wiping the tear out of his eyes after laughing so hard. - My stomach hurts because of you.

-Oops, I didn't mean it to happen. -chuckled Y/n. - Don't fire me I'll be good, promise.

-I'll think about it. - smiled Anakin.