Endor
4 ABY
"Leia?" asked Luke as he slowly approached her. Since the celebration last night, Luke hadn't been able to talk to Leia properly and see how she was doing after everything that had happened. She seemed okay the previous night, but she was still trying to digest everything that Luke had told her and he wanted to make sure that she was okay.
"Yes?" she said in acknowledgement as she stared down at the forest floor from where she was standing on the wooden catwalk.
She seemed to be in deep thought and Luke could sense the uneasiness and turmoil within despite her calm exterior.
"You weren't at breakfast this morning," he said running a hand through his hair, "just wanted to make sure you were okay."
Leia sighed as she turned to face Luke, "I'm okay, Luke. It's just that Anakin-," she said as she looked off the side, her words dissipating away.
"I know," said Luke taking her small hand into his own.
"I don't hate him if that's what you're thinking," she began as she pursed her lips, "it's just that I've always known I was adopted, but I never tried to find my biological parents. I had Bail and Breha and that was enough for me."
She paused as her long brown hair swayed in the wind, her face passive as she thought about what to say next.
"And to think for all that time he was-," she said as she stopped midsentence, not being able to find the words to describe it.
"Frozen in carbonite," said Luke finishing her sentence for her.
"It seems crazy doesn't it?" said Leia with a small smile gracing her lips, "I mean have you seen him? He looks our age for force sakes!"
Luke laughed as he leaned on the wooden fence like Leia, his eyes bright and alive as he looked down at the Ewok's.
"Technically he's biologically a year younger than us."
Leia groaned, "Please don't remind me."
They remained in silence as the wind blew in their faces as they looked into the foliage of the trees before Luke said, "I know this must be hard for you."
Leia's eyes drooped as she played with the splinters in the wood, not saying anything as she tore off the little pieces of the wood.
"Owen and Beru told me about him," said Luke, "although now I know most of it was lies, but it was still something."
"You had Bail and Breha, they were your parents," began Luke, "nothing will ever replace them."
Leia turned her face away from her brother, her face etched in pain at the memory of her loving parents was brought back to her.
"Anakin doesn't want to replace Bail, Leia. He just wants to get to know you."
"I know," said Leia truthfully as she spotted Anakin making his way out of his tent, his arm in a cast as he made his way over to where breakfast was being served.
"They'll always be the people who loved and raised you, just like Owen and Beru," said Luke.
"There you guys are!" said Han as he made his way up the steps, his smile lightening up the drab mood that surrounded the twins, "I was wondering where you two had gone off too."
"Han," said Leia in greeting, her eyes as well lightening up at the sight of him.
"So," said Han as he took in both of their appearances, "what are you guys up to?"
"We were just talking," said Luke casually as he looked back down to Anakin, who had spotted the trio and smiled up at his son.
"So we ready to pack up or what?" asked Han clasping his hands together, "I don't know about you guys, but I'm ready to be off this moon."
"We've already packed our things," said Leia, "we're just waiting for the order from the ships."
"Good," said Han as he waved down at Chewie and Anakin.
The silence that followed was awkward, neither of them sure what to say as they watched Anakin make his way up the steps to join them after having eaten his breakfast, a bright smile on his face as he greeted the trio.
"Good morning," said Luke brightly as Leia looked away from the man, her eyes looking anywhere but into his blue ones.
"Morning," said Anakin brightly as he smiled at the trio, his eyes lingering on both his children.
"Excuse me," said Leia with politeness befitting of a politician as she bowed her head to the three men before walking away from them.
Anakin tried not to look hurt as he watched his daughter retreat down the cat walk but quickly hid his disappointment with a large smile, but his eyes still held the pain of her rejection.
"Did you sleep well, Father?" asked Luke awkwardly as he tried to lighten up the depressing and brooding air that surrounded the men.
"Yes," said Anakin deciding not to go in depth of how awful he had really slept that night. The sleeping mats were too short for him and his feet and a good portion of his legs had dangled off as well the mat being lumpy and hard in places. He had tossed and turned the entire night trying to get comfortable and trying not to think of the events of the previous day too much.
"And you?" he asked his son as he too tried to keep up the small talk.
"Fine," said Luke as well lying about his sleeping experience, which like his father's was not terribly pleasant.
"So Anakin," said Han diverting away from the awkward father-son chat that he had the unfortunate opportunity of witnessing, "you ready to get off this moon or what?"
Anakin chuckled, "I can't say I'd want to stay here for much long, but it's not that bad here."
"Are you kidding me? I can't wait to get off this moon."
"You just want to get away from the Ewok's," said Luke rolling his eyes.
"Who doesn't?" asked Han raising his hands in defense, "I know they look cute and all but I'm kinda tired of them pointing their spears in my face or trying to eat me."
"So where do you plan on going?" asked Anakin.
Han raised his shoulders, "I guess wherever Leia goes. What about you guys?"
"I was thinking about going to Naboo," said Anakin quietly as he stole a glance at his son, "I need to visit her and say goodbye."
Luke put his hand on his father's shoulder, his eyes full of sadness and understanding of his father's pain and regrets.
"I was hoping that you and your sister would accompany me?" asked Anakin hopefully.
"Of course," said Luke, "I don't know about Leia but I'll accompany you."
"And if Leia comes your welcome to join us as well," said Anakin to the smuggler.
"It's been awhile since I've been to Naboo," said Han, "and besides I think we all could use a vacation."
"What's this I hear about a vacation?" said Leia coming up the stairs apprehensively and cautiously as she rejoined her friends which she had hastily abandoned only a few minutes ago.
In this sort of situation she would've sought out her best friend, but Winter had left for Cilpar early that morning and that left Leia to figure everything out on her own.
She had felt trapped and cornered whenever Anakin was near her, but she had felt like a child when she had run away from the person who had never done anything to her. She knew he wasn't Vader, but she couldn't get over the fact that this was something she had never asked for. She knew that Anakin wanted to be there for her and Luke, but it felt all too surreal for her and she didn't feel comfortable confronting those strange feelings.
"Luke and I will be traveling to Naboo after this," said Anakin holding her wavering glance, "we were hoping you would join us?"
"Oh," said Leia looking between the men with a surprised look on her face. She been to Naboo only a handful of times in her life, but she had never known then that it was her biological mother's home world.
Naboo was as beautiful as it was peaceful and had always been a trusted and reliable ally of Alderaan's and although they used to be under Imperial control, most of the planet were secretly Rebel supporters. They had secretly been giving the Alliance help and support for years because of their strong belief in democracy and the Republic. With certainty, Leia could say that Naboo was the best the Old Republic had to offer and now that she knew who her mother was, she was proud to be a part of their strong and beautiful heritage.
"I would like that very much," said Leia after careful consideration as she met her father's hopeful baby blue eyes.
Going to Naboo would give her the chance to learn more of her mother and the legacy she left behind and although she would be forced to spend time with Anakin, which wasn't that big of a deal, she would never give up this opportunity to learn more of the woman who gave her life.
And maybe it would give her more time to get to know Anakin, which she was not opposed too but definitely wary of. Leia had always been a reasonable person and she knew none of this was Anakin's fault but she wasn't exactly ready to call him daddy either. But she could no longer deny that he was her biological father and she could tell that he wanted to have a relationship with her, but he would never replace Bail and Leia wasn't about to let him.
"I'm glad to hear that Princess," he said gently as he smiled and Leia found it in her heart to return the gesture.
"Are you coming as well?" asked Leia looking up at the Correlian.
"You bet," said Han grinning down at her, "I go where you go, remember?"
"Right," said Leia as she snaked her arms around him and rested her head on his chest as he held her tight to him.
Anakin smiled as he eyed the two before he excused himself and made his way down to his tent so he could pack up what few belongings he had.
It was hard for him to do this, but Luke and Leia barely knew anything about their mother and they really needed this opportunity to get to know the person she was and he needed to say goodbye to her. He had grappled with her death and it was honestly one of the hardest things that he had to come to terms with, but she wouldn't want him to wallow away in guilt and sadness. He needed to come to terms with it no matter how hard it would be because he knew she would do the same thing in his position.
"Anakin," came Obi-Wan's voice from behind him and Anakin quickly wiped the stray tear from his eye as he turned to face the force ghost of his old master.
"Master," he said stuffing what little he had into the bag.
"I came to see how you were doing and now I see that I was right to come," said Kenobi as he sat down next to his old apprentice, "what's troubling you?"
"Nothing," he said passively as he zipping the bag.
"Anakin," came Obi-Wan's stern and reproachful voice, "I've known you long enough to know when you're hiding something from me, so you better start talking."
Anakin sighed as he sat up and looked over to her former master, "I never was able to hid much from you was I?"
"Except your marriage," pointed out Obi-Wan, "but now that I think about it you didn't hide that very well."
"Well I thought we did a pretty good job considering none of you guys figured it out," said Anakin, "either that or guys where just down right oblivious."
Obi-Wan snorted, "We were fighting a war and it wasn't like we had the time to check up on your whereabouts 24/7."
"True," said Anakin looking down in his lap.
"Come on," said Kenobi nudging Anakin's shoulder, "spill."
"It's Padme," began Anakin, "I was just thinking how I never got the chance to say goodbye to her."
"Oh," said Kenobi as he begun to play with his blue beard, "I see."
"I mean I did say goodbye to her but I had the intention of seeing her again," he said, "it wasn't like I planned for any of this to happen."
"None of us were," pointed out Obi-Wan, "never in a million years did we think this would ever happen."
"You were with her when she died, were you not?" asked Anakin after a few seconds of silence.
Obi-Wan sighed, "I had the unfortunate opportunity, yes."
"What were her last words?" asked Anakin with unsureness in his eyes.
"She said that there was still good in Vader."
Anakin breathed in deeply as he took in his friends words, his fist clenching up tightly before he released it. Even in her last moments she still saw the goodness in people, even if they had harmed and killed her. She saw the goodness in everybody and she was willing to forgive anybody no matter their crimes.
"She thought he was you," said Obi-Wan sensing his former padawan's distress and anger through the force, "we all did."
"I know," said Anakin after a few moments of careful thought, "but I just can't imagine her dying without ever knowing."
Obi-Wan didn't say anything as he put his hand on Anakin's shoulder. He couldn't say anything to that because he would never know what was going on through the Senator's mind in those last moments of her life, but he knew it pained Anakin that she had died in such a manner and that he had never really gotten the chance to say goodbye to her.
"Don't do this to yourself, Anakin. Padme wouldn't want you too."
"I know she wouldn't," said Anakin sighing as he stood up and hoisted his bag onto his shoulder, "I need to go and check in on the others and see if they're ready."
"Anakin-," called out Obi-Wan as he watched the other man retreat out of his tent and he decided it wasn't worth chasing after him. Anakin always had a way of diverting from conversations or situations he'd rather not participate in anymore and this was one of them.
He needed to let Anakin come to terms with everything that had happened on his own instead of everybody just comforting him and telling him everything was going to be okay, because it wouldn't be if Anakin didn't do this on his own.
But he did have to admit that Anakin was starting to do a lot better since finding out about Padme's death and he had to wonder if that was because of the twins or not. If there were no Luke or Leia he wasn't sure Anakin would have survived this whole ordeal.
Obi-Wan shook his head in dismay before he faded away from the tent and back into the force where he could safely watch over everything that was happening.
But he knew that even though Anakin was struggling, that everything was going to be okay.
Indeed everything would be okay, but it was going to take time.