Darth Vader stalked down the corridor of Aldera Palace. Did Bail Organa truly believe that he could hide his child? His own flesh and blood, along with the shining Force signature?

He passed to unsuspecting guards, throwing them into a wall. Surely if his child was alive, so was Padmé, which meant Bail Organa was hiding her…right?

Once he had been able to feel the Force after his "surgery" he had asked his Master about her. He couldn't feel her light; it had left him after her ship had jumped into hyperspace.

"It seems, in your anger, you killed her."

But if he had killed her how could she have possibly have died?

But now he, Darth Vader, stood in front of an open door; silently walking into the nursery he reached out with the Force and searched for his child. Almost absentmindedly he wondered if the child was a boy or girl, he personally hoped for a son.

"Keep doing that and you'll wake her."

Anakin's eyes changed from blue to yellow, letting his newly found hate for Bail Organa submerse him in the Dark Side of the Force.

"You're a fool for stealing my child Organa. I can either kill you now or my Master can do it for you, he'll be most merciful."

"Somehow, I doubt that Lord Vader."

Bail Organa walked past him towards a crib in the further end of the room. Vader followed him, not letting the bundle in Organa's arms out of his sight.

"Give the child to me."

"Why? So you can kill her just like her mother."

"I DID NOT KILL HER!" He roared, he curbed his thirst for Organa's blood; the infant was still cradled in his arms.

Glancing down at the stirring infant, Bail Organa sighed, "thank you, she had just fallen asleep."

"Give her to me Organa or I will kill you."

"Mhm," Organa mumbled, rocking the infant gently in his arms, "it's okay Leia, go back to sleep sweetie."

Vader stood still, Leia, the name sounded angelic. Leia Organa, Leia Amidala-Skywalker, it sounded perfect both ways.

Vader could only see the top of the girl's forehead, but that's where his eyes stayed.

"What will you do with her?"

Vader looked at Organa, the movement unnoticed because of the mask.

"I will raise her, give her the best education in the galaxy-"

"I can do that Anakin."

Vader stiffened at the use of his old name.

"I only wonder…" Bail Organa tilted his head slightly downward, looking at Leia, "can you love her? Can you give her the time and attention that she needs? Or better yet, keep her safe?"

"Of course I can, I am all powerful."

"More powerful than our esteemed Emperor?

Vader said nothing.

"I thought not," turning Bail laid Leia onto the soft bed, careful to remove the blanket.

"The Dark Side will help me overthrow him."

Bail looked at Vader, a grim smile on his face.

"Just like the Dark Side saved Padmé?"

Again Vader could say nothing, Organa was hitting all the right marks.

"If you take her Anakin, then Palpatine will have no use for you. He will kill you and raise Leia as a Sith, I won't let that happen."

For my sake or her's? Vader thought quietly.

"If Leia stays with Breha and myself however, then Palpatine will not kill you, and Leia can truly be safe."

"How?"

"Because of you. Because you have the power to use her Force abilities against the Emperor and because she is our Princess. The Emperor will not let any harm come to a member of royalty, it would look follish on his part."

Vader nodded, Organa was right, if his child was to live, she would need to be protected from Palpatine.

"I will…cut certain ties, the owns that will allow her to access the Force willingly. It will diminish her presence so that my Master will look her over."

"And if she chooses the life of a Jedi?'

"Then she only needs to meditate on what she wants, and the ties will come back to her."

"Very well…we have Padmé's droids if you-"

"No, keep them. I have no more use for a droid."

"Very well then."

Vader took three strides and looked down at his baby girl. Only days old and he knew that she would look like her mother, and possibly like his own. His anger surged, Padmé would never hold her because of Palpatine's lies. Something she had done nudged the back of his skull. The Petition of 2000. Organa had the drive and connections for a rebellion to work.

"For her protection however, you must do something for me."

Bail stiffened, "and that is?"

"Burn this Empire to the ground, but leave Palpatine to me."

With that Vader cut Leia from the Force and strode out of the nursery, planning how to overthrow his Master.