Wild Is the Wind
Author's Notes: The title of this fic comes from a classic Nina Simmons song; I think that song is perfect for any time you're talking about two really passionate lovers, as Han and Leia will be here :)
Set in the 50's in California, USA. God-father style, but not quite.
1: No broken-hearted girl
Skywalker Ranch, Napa County, California, USA
1955
Nineteen year old Leia Skywalker sat on the floor of her wide, luxurious bedroom, her arms wrapping her knees and her pretty face staring at the ceiling. She had been trying really hard, but at last, she couldn't help it, and tears escaped her eyes.
It had been such a task, having breakfast with her family; speaking to them and the servants, pretending to be alright, while she quite figuratively felt she was dying inside. It was such strange pain, one she had never thought possible.
She used to think the only pain in the world was the physical one, when you hit yourself or when someone hits you. That would be easy to treat, that would be easy to get rid of… but this?
How was she supposed to make herself feel better when she couldn't see the bruise? The scar? How would it appear, oh how would it heal?
Her heart was bleeding and she couldn't stop it.
Her tears made her feel she was choking, yet no one was pressing at her neck. So what could she do to erase the pain?
The answer showed itself quickly, but she hated what her mind told her.
Him.
I need him!
Ugh, of course not! He had been very clear; he wanted nothing to do with her anymore.
Rage mixed with the pain, as she thought of how easily he could go on without her, while Leia, well, she had crumbled like a child who's been punished.
She didn't realize how much she was crying, she just let her pain out till she could find release, which of course, she never got.
So she wept… and wept… and then—
Fuck.
There was a knock on the door.
Fuck!
She couldn't be seen!
Leia Skywalker, crying like a sulky little girl? Oh what would her father say!
She cleared her throat and tried to speak up, putting on her haughtiest voice possible; thinking it was a servant calling her to see if she needed anything.
"Leave me alone!" was all she could think to say. "I'm trying to rest."
"It is 4:00 pm, my dear," the person at the other side of the door said, causing Leia to gasp and almost faint. "Now it's not the time to rest."
Oh, fuck.
"Father," she said, more respectfully. "I'm sorry, I can't talk right now."
"It appears you're already speaking," came the sarcastic reply from Anakin Skywalker. "Open the door, Leia."
She shook her head even though he couldn't see her.
"Well?" he said, sounding annoyed as seconds passed and the door wasn't opened.
Leia ran to the mirror, she cleaned her face, but it was all useless; the signs of weeping were too obvious. She couldn't keep her father waiting and she couldn't let him know she had been crying for a man; so, very quickly, and easily, mind you, she thought of a lie as she opened the door.
"My child?" Anakin asked at once upon seeing her. "What's wrong?"
She pouted to let him know she was angry. "Oh father," she said, not worried about the shakiness of her voice anymore. "I went horse riding earlier," she said as confidently as if it were true. "And the damn horse gave me the scare of my life!"
"Really?" he exclaimed, with perfectly acted concern.
"He did! Oh damn animal you should shoot it! He was going so fast and then… oh I fell from the horse!"
"Oh my God!" Anakin cried, putting his hands on her shoulders. "Come, come. We must go to the doctor immediately!"
Goddamn, of course!
"Really it's not necessary," Leia quickly said, nervously.
"Why, of course it is! And after we return. I myself will go and shoot your damn horse for scaring you so!"
Oh, what have I done?
"No!" she cried, the idea of anyone hurting an innocent appalled her, but her own horse? The one she loved as dearly as another member of her family? She forgot just to whom she was talking to and before she could realize, she had raised her voice in anger. "You will not hurt Alderaan father! You'll have to shoot me to get to him!"
Mr. Skywalker repressed a grin.
"Why, Leia? Weren't you the one who asked me to do just that?"
Leia looked red in frustration. Really, she usually wasn't so bad at fooling people, and lying, but her father was a whole other thing…
"Yes… but—but… I didn't mean it!"
"Of course, don't worry, Alderaan will be safe from my gun, child. Now, you will not refuse my first idea, right? Get your coat and bag; we're going to the hospital."
"First of all," Leia said, unamused. "It is a hundred degrees outside. Second of all… I am fine. I was barely hurt."
"You are perfectly unscathed," Anakin said sternly, all previous fatherly sweetness departing him, giving way for the cunning and ruthless mafia boss, one that, in that world, people sometimes called Vader… "And you are lying to me, my princess."
Leia started shaking. "I—I am not," she stammered.
"My dear," he said, more softly. "Why can't you trust me with whatever it is that's bothering you?"
Leia turned her back on him, ashamed.
"I don't want you to think less of me, father."
"You're pretty much risking that, either way, my princess," he said with a mocking grin that hurt Leia.
She started pacing around the room. "Please, father," she said, her old pain coming back stronger than ever. "I want to be alone."
He walked to her and made her be seated; he stood before her, getting on his knees so he wouldn't tower over her. "Leia," he said, putting a finger on her chin, making her look into his kind blue eyes. "I hate to see you like this. This isn't you! You are so brave, so strong… you always have been. Tell me what I can do to make you smile? My little girl, it breaks my heart so see you so sad!"
Her father's words did nothing but increase her emotional state, she shed tears violently and threw her head back, "I want him!" she cried, the confession leaving her lips before she could stop it. "I want him to love me!"
Anakin immediately stood up; a dark cloud seemed to cover his handsome features, he grabbed Leia's arm harshly and made her look at him in the eyes again, an action she was desperately and fruitlessly trying to avoid.
"Who?" he said, slowly and menacingly. Leia almost forgot that was her father with her, and she shrink in fear.
"Let go of my arm," she begged when the pressure hurt her too much. "Father!"
He recovered his senses and let her go. "Forgive me, Leia… I—"
"Get out of my room!" Leia found her usual courage and strength. "I don't want to see you again! I don't want to see anyone! Only him, and he does not want to see me!" heartbreak was plain in her young voice.
"Leia!" Anakin cried, shocked.
"I want him!" she repeated. And though her father didn't say anything, her mind answered, but he doesn't want you!
She threw herself on the bed again and wept more intensely than ever, her tears feeling like daggers in Anakin Skywalker.
"Tell me his name!" Anakin demanded.
"Father, go to Hell!" Leia cried, enraged.
It wasn't out of character for Leia to be so insolent, but it was for her to be like that with her father. She just couldn't help it. The pain and heartbreak clouded her mind and judgement, like they would to most Skywalkers.
They were a strong family, and Anakin had thought Leia surpassed them all in that regard. Till lately…
"You are a Skywalker!" he cried, standing by the door. "Act like one, Leia!" he scolded.
"Leave. Me. Alone!" she spelled, angrily. Her face buried under wide white pillows.
"I want no broken hearted girls in this house!" Anakin was now shouting. "I don't want to hear of such a thing as a broken hearted Skywalker!"
"Oh the humanity!" Leia mocked, face still under a pillow.
"Hear me well, Leia," the threatening voice came back to him. "I can't stand to see you so weak. That isn't like you! You will get over this. You will forget about that fool! Especially since, as I can see, he doesn't even want you!"
His cruelty made her groan and scream loudly.
"I want no broken hearted girls in this house!" he repeated and stormed out.
Leia finally stood up, she ran and opened the door; her father was a few steps away, almost reaching the stairway. She peaked her head out and cried, more loudly and angrily than she ever had before: "Well, you have one!"
Anakin Skywalker was fuming.
He walked into his personal office, served himself a glass of whisky, drank it, and threw the crystal at the wall, smashing it into pieces.
He groaned and paced around the room, cursing endlessly that his beloved daughter had become such a fool.
Where had they gone wrong?
Leia was always the child he was more proud of (though he'll never say it out loud) and she was so smart and strong—like him.
How could she act like a rebellious teenager all of the sudden?
The answer came quickly to him: love. His daughter had fallen in love.
Or not? No, of course not!
He could never believe that.
Even though his daughter had been alive for almost two decades now, Anakin still saw her as a fiery little child. The apple of his eye. The light of his life.
But now… his sweet little princess had turned on him. She had disrespected him, and for a stranger?
The rich man thought there was no way he could ease his current anger and pain.
Especially since his adoring wife had chosen that weekend out of any other to go visit her parents, taking their son Luke, Leia's twin, with her.
Leaving Anakin with his mother Shmi, and Leia, and of course, the servants, and of course…
Anakin suddenly remembered. There was a way he could ease all his anger and frustration.
He served himself a few more drinks, maybe five or six, and more relaxed, he walked outdoors.
The Skywalker Ranch was, apart from his family, Anakin's biggest adoration. The vineyard produced enough money to make them rich, yet it didn't turn them into millionaires. Anakin's other… business, accomplished that.
He was aware of how much the other… business, had changed him.
He was never a very easy man to deal with, he always had a temper, and a certain arrogance to him, but since he became the mafia boss Vader, well, his confidence grew like his wealth did.
He now thought himself larger than life. Invincible. Powerful like no other. Even above the law.
He lost all scruples, he became accustomed to violence and getting his way by whatever means necessary.
One might easily call him dangerous… but, sadistic? Till that day, the answer would've been no.
Vader got on his favorite horse and followed the rough path to his destiny.
He cruelly used the silver spur on the animal, forcing it to take him faster to where he was going.
He entered the dark room at last, told the security guard to leave for a moment, and stared at his prisoner for a few minutes before speaking.
The kidnapped man was sitting on the floor, blindsided, not yet very beaten, with his hands tied behind his back, and for the moment, seemingly sleeping.
Vader hated to look at him, and know that that scum had managed to smit his young daughter.
"Solo," he finally spoke, and that dark voice would've scared the bravest of men. Oddly though, not the one who lay there helpless.
"Han Solo," Vader said, now with more volume which caused Han to sit up.
"Hi, sir," Han said, casually. "Nice of you to drop by again."
The owner of the Skywalker Ranch almost pulled out his gun and ended him right there.
"Have you come to your senses?" Vader asked; his voice the usual ice Han had become so accustomed to.
"How do you mean, sir?" Han acted innocent like a child, infuriating his captor even further.
"Don't act like an idiot, you are not, Solo. But you have done foolish things. While I've giving you the chance to escape with your worthless life. Tell me, have you come to your senses?"
Han knew perfectly well what the older man was talking about. The answer was, still, negative…
"Sir," Han spoke as confidently as if he could see him in the eyes. "I will NOT leave Leia."
Anakin groaned, angrily and slapped Han. "You could absolutely live without her. Stop being so foolish!"
"Could I live without her?" Han said, not particularly to Anakin, but to himself. "Maybe. Yes, I guess I could. I mean, I managed for twenty eight years without her. I could do another twenty eight without her. Maybe. But, Sir," Han's usual mocking tone abandoned him. "I don't want to. And I will not."
Anakin sighed, dedicated a few pensive looks to Han Solo, and finally said, voice completely devoid of humanity: "Wrong answer."
AN: I think we can all agree Anakin is the worst father in-law, in any universe. Poor Han…
Also, Anakin's vineyard here is based on the one we see in The Parent Trap (1998) I just love that place since I was little, I wanted to live there lol so yeah, if you've seen that movie, imagine it every time there's a scene in Anakin's home =)