AN- I've decided to try my hand at writing Star Wars fanfics. This is very much AU after AotC. Sorry for any errors.

Sweat dripped down the weathered face of a young man, who could've been handsome in his own right if not for the weathered look he carried. The two suns of Tatooine beat down on him as he worked on the vaporator on his stepfather's moisture farm.

He was the only one in the family capable of fixing machinery. His stepbrother was quite incompetent, and usually spent most of his days being infatuated by his new bride. He didn't begrudge the man his happiness though. He only wished that he would put in some work on the farm so that it wasn't all left to him.

He wiped the sweat away from his overheated face. The man didn't have to glance in a mirror to know that his cheeks were flushed red with heat. His skin was thick after spending many years on the planet, but occasionally there were days where the temperature would reach a record high. It could be brutal.

He finished tightening the pipe. It would need to be replaced in a few weeks, but for not it was stable enough to continue to perform to expectations.

The blond man gathered his tools, and headed back towards his family's homestead. His pants clung to his skin, and his shirt was soaked through with sweat. He would have to take a quick shower to cool off.

The Lars' were some of the only family he had left in the galaxy after the death of his mother by Tusken Raiders. The event was something he preferred never to dwell on because it brought back memories he wished not think about and feelings he refused to feel again.

He smiled at the sight before him as he entered the sand hut. On the floor was one of his favorite people. As if sensing his presence, her head swiveled in his direction and she let out a loud squeal as she flung herself at him. He barely set down his tools before his arms were full of his daughter.

"Daddy, you're back." She breathed into his neck with a soft whisper. "You were gone 'fore I got up."

He smiled as he set her down and smoothed out her flyaway curls. "I had to get my chores done, and then one of the vaporators needed to be fixed. You were sleeping peacefully."

She fixed him with an annoyed look as she planted her hands on her hips. "Daddy, that's no 'cuse. I'm five now. I no longa little. You pwomised that I could help." He had a hard time taking her seriously, but he knew better than to laugh when she was being serious. She took after him more than he would've liked. He could only imagine his master's reaction to knowing that he had to deal with someone very much similar to himself.

"I'm sorry princess. But you also had school today. You didn't do it yesterday." She was schooled on the Holonet as it was easier than having her travel to Mos Espa to attend school with other children. He preferred for her not to be away from the homestead unless accompanied by him.

Her lip jutted out and she made Ewok eyes at him. "That's not fair." She exclaimed before stomping to her room.

There was a chuckle from behind him and he turned to see Beru observing with a faint smile. "She's just like you from the stories your mother used to tell." His eyes dropped to the floor at the mention of her. "She would be proud that you're taking care of your little girl, and she's probably laughing at you." He conceded that his mother probably enjoyed watching him interact with his daughter. "She loved you more than anything." She squeezed his hand as she walked by. He was slightly disturbed at how close she had gotten without him noticing.

He couldn't help but feel jealous that she had spent time with his mother before she passed whereas he literally spoke to her in her dying moments. "Sometimes I'm not so sure." He muttered, taking a seat on a nearby chair.

While he was older and far more mature, he had made so many mistakes. He failed her in the worst ways possible. He helped Palpatine take over the galaxy by not informing the Jedi council of the Sith Lord. He nearly became the man's apprentice until he sensed something off with his dreams. They weren't the same as the one's that warned him about his mother. They were much darker, and he could feel the tempting call of the dark side of the force.

It was only the thought of his mother, wife, and unborn child that kept him from turning and pledging his allegiance to a man that was pure evil. It was his attachments that kept him sane and a stronghold on who he was. The Jedi would not have approved, but he never truly fit in with them. He was different, and while once that would have made him angry, he accepted it because it saved him.

Four years ago

He and Padmé stared tearfully at one another as their decision weighed on them. They knew what they had to, but it didn't stop it from hurting.

"I c-can't." His wife cried into their newborn son's fuzz. She clutched him tightly to her chest as she heaved, her chest constricting painfully. "I n-n-need a-ll of you." He kissed her head, his heart full of love. While he knew she would beg to differ, he had never seen her more beautiful than in that moment.

"I promise I'll keep Leia safe. You'll meet her again one day just like I'll meet Luke." The baby in his arms squawked indignantly as she was feeling neglected.

His wife released a watery chuckle. "She's already got your personality." Her eyes lingered on the baby, and he felt her pain echo through the force. He felt the same, and the bond between the two of them caused an ache.

"This won't be the last time we see each other. Just know that Leia and I love you more than anything, and if it were possible, none of us would be separating." Unfortunately with the issuing of Order 66, he was unable to return to Coruscant.

Darth Sidious did not know about the twins, and it would appear suspicious if Senator Amidala suddenly disappeared after signing the Delegation of 2000. She had to stay. The new emperor had no idea about his children, and he put a block in Luke's head to mask his son's force signature. Luke would never know about his abilities. He would be like every other boy, and when they met again, the block would be removed. It was the only way to protect them.

"Leia and I will be leaving the Core, and heading past the Colonies and Inner Rim. We can't stay here."

"No," Padmé clutched his arm tightly as she refused to release him. "You can't. That's so far. Luke and I will be on Naboo, and you two will be Sith knows where."

He sighed because he knew what he was going to have to do. It was unethical, but entirely necessary given the situation. He called on ability to connect with the Force, and used it to mind control his wife. It took everything he had considering she was not weak minded. "You were on your way back to Naboo when you suddenly went into labor." He bit his lip to hold the tears burning his eyes.

"I was on my way back to Naboo when I went into labor." She repeated back mindlessly. He could feel her trying to fight his control, but this was for her own good.

"The pilot agreed to stop at Polis Massa to get you to a medical center. You delivered a healthy baby boy, but you don't remember who his father is. You aren't married, and you were only friends with Anakin Skywalker." Her mental ability to shield herself naturally was strong, but he was stronger. When they met again, he would fix it. For now, he knew she would be happier not remembering. He would have to remember for the both of them.

"Goodbye my Angel, until we meet again." He felt the pain she would carry in her heart as he walked away. While her head would not remember, the heart was something that refused to be controlled.

Palpatine would not know what happened to Anakin Skywalker because he no longer existed. He was a phantom. He disappeared one night, and all anyone had were stories of what happened to the Hero with No Fear. He happily fed rumors to those passing through Tatooine whenever the opportunity arose. Anakin Skywalker stopped existing the day his children were born.

He knocked on his temperamental daughter's door. He then heard her thoughts through the Force and frowned immediately. Eh chu ta! His wife would murder him with her bare hands if she ever discovered that their daughter knew how to swear in Huttese.

He entered her room without permission and raised a brow at her. Leia glared back at him. "Hunka be," he pointed at her bed. She had the nerve to scowl and stomp over to her bed as she muttered a few more swear words. He couldn't exactly reproach her because he knew where she got them. He often swore in his head or sometimes he and Owen let a few words slip out in frustration.

"Leia try to be more mindful of your language. I know you hear it a lot, but it isn't appropriate for little girls to say." He regretted his words at once as he saw the little gleam in her eyes.

"So then when I olda?" He swore softly under his breath. He dug himself a hole.

He ran a hand through his hair as he considered his next words carefully. His daughter was quite the trickster. "How about we talk about it when you're older?"

She sighed but conceded defeat. "Can you tell me a story? Maybe about the Kwee-Kunee?" Leia's favorite stories involved a Queen and a former slave.

"I'll tell you a new one about your favorite. Once upon a time ago, there lived a fourteen year old queen. Her home world was being invaded…" Fifteen minutes later, he tucked her blanket around her. It was her favorite, and she refused to part with it.

"When will you tell her the truth about the Queen?" Anakin startled at the sudden appearance of his sister-in-law. He was a bit out of practice with detecting others through the Force. He kept a low profile, and rarely used it except to communicate with his daughter on occasion.

He slumped against the wall. "I'm not sure if I ever will. She's young and idealistic right now. I don't know anything about how her mother is doing, and I wouldn't want to tell her only for her to ask me where she is. She could be on Naboo, Coruscant, anywhere in the Core Worlds to be honest. I don't want to ruin her belief in happy endings."

Beru smiled sympathetically at him. "I have a feeling one day you and her won't be here. There are bigger things out there for you Anakin Skywalker. You were never meant to stay here on Tatooine for a lifetime. You're far more special to continue to waste your life. You should be doing something to help the cause. If you want your family, you sure aren't acting like it." He blinked at her as she left him with those parting words.

She was right as she always was. He had known her since they were children, and back then she had a tendency to be correct in her analysis of him. He needed to be doing something. He was not someone who could sit idly by and watch as the rest of the galaxy did the dirty work.

If he wanted his happily ever after, he was going to fight for it. He started making plans in his head, and figured a good place to start was tracking down his old master.

A woman sat in her senatorial pod, and watched as this farce continued. The Imperial Senate was useless. They had no actual power, but gave the illusion that planets still had a voice. It was mostly used for political advantage, and for Imperial propaganda. All she wanted was to be at home with her little boy.

The debates continued until six o'clock. She wearily returned to her office where her handmaiden and friend Dormé watched Luke. He was curled up on the chaise she had. He was beautiful and innocent as he snored softly. She loved to watch him sleep. In the beginning she watched him sleep every night to make sure he was real and that he never stopped breathing. She was such a nervous wreck.

"How was he?" She asked her friend.

The woman smiled up at her as her remained on her Holopad. "He was an angel. He complained about doing his homework. We then practiced futhark." It was the formal written language on their home planet. She wanted Luke to know it for when they were home. "He fell asleep at half past."

There was a knock on the door. "Enter." She called.

Bail Organa entered with a grim expression. "We must talk immediately." He passed a piece of paper to her as they shook hands. "I'll see you soon Senator."

She nodded to him as Dormé walked him out. "I'm going to call it a day." She gently lifted her sleeping son into her arms and the two walked to meet her speeder. She knew whatever Bail wanted to discuss was about the Rebellion.

Upon entering her penthouse, she tucked her son in and changed her clothes. She was anxious as she awaited her friend and colleague. She wasn't sure if it was good or bad news that he needed to deliver to her. The two of them along with Mon Mothma were the leaders of the Rebellion, and therefore a lot of secrecy and hiding was necessary.

The door buzzed and she immediately went to answer. She pushed the button to open the doors, and Bail and Mon entered in a rush. "What's this about?" She asked them.

"We've received some news from Obi-wan." He was not officially apart of the Rebellion as the Jedi were being hunted. He travelled the galaxy searching for the remaining Jedi. "He's been in touch with his former Padawan."

She couldn't contain the way her heart stuttered to life. "General Skywalker?" Her heart fluttered as his name slipped past her lips.

"Yes, Mon and I are leaving the city tomorrow to rendezvous with him. He wants to join, but we want to make sure that it is definitely him. We were wondering if you would be willing to accompany us as you knew him better than we did." The prospect of seeing him again caused her stomach to flip.

Padmé bit down on her lip as she considered their proposition. "I don't know. What will I do with Luke? I cannot leave him here."

Mon snapped her fingers, startling her partners. "You can bring him with. He can keep a secret, yes?" Padmé nodded. "Then it is settled. Leave word with your office, that you'll be taking a bit of a vacation with your son. We are leaving at dawn."

The former queen, now Senator had the feeling her life was about to change. She just didn't know if it was going to be good or bad.

AN- Thoughts?