Prologue

I smile and nuzzle into my angel's hair. I reach around to pull her close to me. My smile grows as my arm finds a new obstruction. You. I run my hand up and down the perfectly round belly that has been your home for the past nine months.

I already know you're a daughter. My little girl.

I told Padme this earlier and she laughed at me. She thinks I just want a little princess to spoil. I admit I already have images dancing in my head of a little angel around the apartment. Flowers in your hair and running to greet me when I get home. A grease streak across your cheek as you explain to me the inner workings of the swoop bike you've so lovingly created. You and your mother talking about everything from politics and the running of the universe to boys and make-up. Hmmmm. On second thought, forget boys. I don't even know you yet and I already know no boy will be good enough for my princess.

Daughter mine I can't wait to meet you. I prop my head up on my hand and watch the moonlight play across your mother's face. I hope you will look like her. Brown hair, brown eyes, pale skin, a way of glowing from within... That's why I thought she was an angel when I first met her. Not because she was beautiful, though she was certainly that. But because she has an aura, a feeling of being ethereal. Around her I feel peace, comfort, acceptance, serenity, hope…

Hope. In this war-torn universe hope is not easily found. But you, daughter mine, are our hope. Little one I love you already. As I bask in the unconditional love I hold for you, an unexpectedly jolt of fear strikes me.

I have no father, how am I supposed to be one?

I recklessly try to look into the future, but the images are confusing. Why is Bail Organa popping up? I don't think that Padme's that close with him and I know I'm not. Where's your mother? Why can't I See her anywhere? Now I'm getting hit with names of ships and planets that seem to have no rhyme or reason. Alderaan, Bespin, Hoth, Death Star, Endor, Millennium Falcon, Yarvin 4, Tatooine, Tantive IV… The last glimpse I get is of you celebrating with… Eworks? What?

I shake my head to clear it. Force help me but I couldn't understand a bit of that. But why was Padme never there? Why was I never there? I close my eyes and breathe deeply. They say the future is always in motion.

I won't let that be our future, me never present. I promise you daughter mine that I will be the best father ever. Just wait and see.