"I can't exactly invite him into my office and demand to know his secret pain," Anakin said, smiling a little about being described as a sparkplug. "If he disrupts class again, he's getting detention."

"There always is around here," Anakin said quietly.

There was a pause.

"I miss you."

"But you'll be back in less than two weeks," Anakin said, who knew to the hour how long it would be.

Anakin's forehead creased with worry. "You're sure you're all right," he pressed.

Anakin pressed the button immediately and his worried face was soon smiling at her.

"Hi, you," he said softly. "You look comfortable."

"If she does, you put her on the phone with me," Anakin said, eyes flashing. "You need a nap, not an inconsiderate Gamorrean-dating roommate."

"I'd hope not," Anakin said, smiling at her. "Paris probably couldn't deal with the drooling. Close your eyes."

Anakin's voice had dropped into the tone he used just for her. "Because you're taking a nap," he said quietly, "and traditionally that happens with your eyes closed."

"I know," Anakin said, dorkfacing like a pro.

"What kind of story?" Anakin asked, curling his hand a little more tightly around his phone.

Anakin smiled. "Once upon a time there was a beautiful and brilliant princess named Lorelai who lived in the far off kingdom of Connecticut," he began.

"I figured you might," Anakin replied. "She was a bit of a bookworm and had to live with three, um, crazy roommates: a shrill girl who did crafts at three o'clock in the morning, a hyperactive but adorable flying puppy, and a naked guy."

He paused. "No one liked the naked guy very much."

"Not in my story he's not," Anakin insisted stubbornly. "Anyway, in the far off kingdom of Fandom, there was going to be a ball because there was a stubborn old, um, knight there and the people of his kingdom were tired of him moping around for no good reason."