Author's Note: Thank you for your positive reviews so far. They encourage me to keep this going. A couple of you asked me about Padme. I don't want to give too much away, but she will certainly be on Anakin's mind a lot. He has been through a lot lately and just trying to get used to his new situation. He also believes her to be dead by his own hand and it's a painful subject for him to think about.
Chapter 2
Leia just looked at her brother and then Anakin with disbelief. "Our father?!" She exclaimed then looked back at Luke. "Luke, have you gone mad? Darth Vader died on the Death Star." Leia stole a sideways glance at Anakin and then looked back at her brother with irritation. "And you know better than to bring up that subject with me! I will NOT EVER acknowledge that monster to be our father...EVER!"
Anakin just looked down with shame with tears forming in his eyes, as Luke replied to her. "Leia! He is no longer Darth Vader. He is Anakin Skywalker again!"
Leia turned and looked at the tall man standing by Luke with suspicion, noting that there was somewhat of a resemblance between her brother and him, despite his taller stature. "I'm sorry, whoever you are. But if you are here to try to trick my brother and me into believing you are our long, lost father back from the dead, it's not going to work!" Anakin looked up at Leia with pain and sadness in his eyes. It was then that Leia noticed unshed tears forming in his eyes as he gazed back at her, un-nerving her a bit and causing her soften towards him a bit. He looks so sad and hurt.
"Leia...I-I understand why this sounds so unbelievable to you. But it's true. I am your father." Anakin paused, looking down at the floor and then back up at her with regret evident on his features. "And...I have no words to express how deeply sorry I am about what I did to you on the Death Star. I'm sorry I hurt you when I probed your mind about the location of the Rebel base." He told her as he stepped forward and reached out to her cheek with his left hand. "You resemble your mother so much. I-I don't know why I didn't see it before. If I had known..."
Leia abruptly stepped back, looking at him with disgust and pushing his hand away from her. "Don't touch me!" She exclaimed to him as she then looked at him with horror and shock, realizing that only Darth Vader would know what happened in her cell on the Death Star. It had been such a horrible experience for her that she had pushed it to the back of her mind and never even told Luke or Han about it.
"How do you know about that?!" Leia said with continued disgust and horror on her face as she looked back at her father.
Anakin looked at her with love and sadness as he clasped his hands together in front of him. "Because I was there, Leia." He told her honestly. "And I am so sorry. I truly am. I hope you will someday be able to forgive me."
Leia's eyes started to sparkle with unshed tears and she looked like Anakin had just slapped her in the face. She then walked up to him with authority with her hands on her hips, looking him straight in the eye. "Ok. Let's just say I believe you. I am repulsed at the idea of Darth Vader being Luke's and my father. So if you are our father, then stay away from me because I don't want anything to do with you. As far as I'm concerned, Bail Organa was my father. And he died when Alderaan was destroyed by the Death Star...or don't you remember that?!"
"Leia!" Luke interjected as he looked at her with shock.
Leia turned to look at Luke with her hands still on her hips. "I'm sorry, Luke. But if this man is our father, I don't want anything to do with him!" She reiterated while pointing with left index finger at Anakin. She then turned back to her father and pointing her right index finger directly at him. "Just stay away from me!" She declared to him as she then turned and stormed out of the gym.
Anakin and Luke quietly watched her as she left. Anakin then looked down with sadness and shame while Luke turned red with embarrassment. Luke looked up at his father in apology. "I'm sorry about that, Father." He told Anakin as he started running after his sister. "Leia! Come back!"
Anakin just stood alone in the middle of gym, looking off to the side with a tear sliding down his right cheek. Well...that went 'well'. I knew she would never accept me. He thought to himself. I'm only hurting Leia more by being here. A few seconds later, he heard Luke and Leia's agitated voices echoing from out in the hall. They were arguing about him, he knew, but they were far enough away that he couldn't hear what was being said. This is going to be a lot harder than I thought.
A few minutes later, Anakin's attention was brought back to the door when he heard one set of footsteps approaching the gym and he saw Luke reappear. He stopped and looked at his father with continued sadness and apology as he then continued his way back over to him. "I'm really sorry about that, Father."
"I knew she would be upset with me." Anakin replied. "There was no excuse for my actions as Darth Vader and she has every right to hate me."
Luke looked at his father with understanding. "Father...I know that you did some horrible things as Darth Vader. But you're no longer him. You are no longer full of hate and darkness. I felt it when you saved me on the Death Star and I still feel it now. You are a good man again. You are Anakin Skywalker again."
Anakin weakly smiled and stepped forward putting both of his hands on his son's shoulders. "Thank you, Luke, for having faith in me and loving me despite everything I have done in the past. You were very right about me." He paused as he then returned his hands to his sides and turned away, crossing his arms in front of him. "But Leia is right. I was a monster...and I did some horrible things in the 23 years I was Darth Vader. Just because I returned to the light side of the Force and have starting using the name I was born with doesn't dismiss that, and I have to live with that guilt and shame for the rest of my life. I don't deserve anyone's forgiveness because all the horrendous things I did as Vader are just simply unforgivable."
Luke walked over to his father and put his right hand on his father's left arm. "But Father. Obviously, the Force thinks otherwise or you wouldn't be here. And I forgive you because I love you and see that you are sincerely sorry and regretful for all that you did. You are a good man and, as far as I'm concerned, Darth Vader, that monster, died the moment you made the decision to save my life and Anakin Skywalker, my father, was reborn."
Anakin turned his head to look down at his son. "But will Leia ever feel the same as you? As far as she is concerned, Darth Vader and I are one in the same and there is no separation. I will always be a monster to her for what I did to her and because I stood by while Tarkin gave the order to destroy Alderaan. I didn't agree with the whole idea of being able to blow up entire planets. I should have done something but my hands were tied. Tarkin had the full authority of the Emperor on that matter."
"Father, so that proves that you still had some good in you. Only a good man would question the morality of destroying an entire planet." Luke rationalized with him.
Anakin then turned the rest of the way towards his son and sighed as he put his right hand on Luke's shoulder. "Perhaps you are right...on that notion. But...there is still no excuse."
Father and son just stood in silence as Anakin turned away from Luke, crossing his arms in front of him again. Luke then looked up at his father. "Have you thought about where you are going to stay?"
Anakin shook his head. "No, I haven't thought that far ahead yet. I woke up here in my old quarters here at the Temple. Perhaps I'll just clean up that room and stay there."
Luke weakly smiled. "It must still be a mess. I haven't cleaned up the living quarters yet. Just the one room I've been staying in. You're welcome to stay there with me for now. I have an extra cot in case Leia kicks Han out after another one of their famous arguments." He said with a small snicker. "He could stay on the Falcon, but usually he wants to come here to talk to me about it."
Anakin looked at Luke with interest. "So Leia ended up with that smuggler Captain Solo, huh?"
"Yeah, well...not exactly. Han wants to marry her, but Leia keeps putting him off for some reason." Luke replied with a sigh and then smiled. "I don't know why. They're perfect for one another."
"So they are that serious?! Hmm. I could see how much they loved each other on Bespin." Anakin said as he got a slight twinkle in his eye at the thought of his daughter and Han Solo being together. But then a sinking feeling came over him as he covered his eyes with his gloved right hand and pinched the bridge of his nose. I saw how much they were in love and I hurt Leia yet again by freezing the man she loves in carbonite. He cursed himself again, realizing that would be one more thing that his daughter will hold against him.
He then got a far away look in his eyes as all the sad memories of his past life with his wife started flooding into his conscious mind. Padme. He walked a few steps away and then turned around again to look at Luke. He became even more serious. Tears started forming in his eyes and started flowing down his cheeks as he thought of his long, dead wife who had died at his hand. I miss you so much Padme. I am so sorry, Angel. He thought to himself as he continued to berate himself for turning on her on Mustafar.
Luke became serious as he noticed his father's uneasiness and he felt an overwhelming feeling of anguish coming from his father's aura through the Force. "What's the matter?" Luke asked with concern. "Is it something I said?"
"No...it's not you, Luke." Anakin finally said as he looked up at his son. "I was just thinking about your mother. I love her so much and I lost her the day I became Darth Vader. I hurt her and she died in childbirth because of what I did to her." He told his son as he fell to his knees and started to weep. "I don't remember seeing her spirit to greet me after I died. I only saw my mother and Obi-Wan, then later Master Yoda. She must hate me so much that she didn't even want to see me in the afterlife."
Luke knelt down and put his right arm around his father's shoulders in a comforting manner. "Are you sure she is dead?" Luke asked him. "Maybe there is a reason you didn't see her in the afterlife. I mean...you didn't know I was alive or that I had a twin sister for many years. Maybe she is alive and out there somewhere too."
Anakin abruptly turned and looked at his son with a glint of hope in his eyes, but then that hope quickly faded again. "No, Luke. I don't think she is alive." He sighed. "If she was, there was no way she would have allowed herself to be separated from you and Leia. She wanted to be a mother so badly and loved you so much. She would have wanted to raise you herself."
Luke looked down in sadness as he nodded his head in understanding. He then looked up at his father again. "What was her name? I don't know anything about my mother."
"Padme. Padme Amidala. She was a senator from the planet of Naboo. I met her when I was 9 years old and she was the queen of Naboo." He paused as his blue eyes sparkled with love and a tiny smile formed on his lips. "She was only 14. The first time I saw her, I thought she was an angel."
Luke smiled at the thought of his parents meeting at such a young age. "She was a queen AND a senator?" Luke exclaimed in astonishment. "Now I see why Leia is so interested in politics."
Anakin nodded in agreement as he weakly smiled. "She is very much like her mother...in that way at least."
"Where did you and mother meet?" Luke asked.
"On Tatooine." Anakin replied.
"Tatooine?!" Luke replied in shock. "That's where I lived with Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru."
Anakin smiled and looked at him with surprise. "Owen and Beru Lars raised you?"
"Yes..." Luke said with continued shock and curiosity. "Did you know them?"
"Yes, I knew them." Anakin replied sadly. "My mother married Owen's father, Cliegg, after I left to train to be a Jedi." Anakin told him and then he weakly smiled again. "Your grandmother's name was Shmi." He then became more serious and sad. "She died in my arms when I was 19 years old. I hadn't seen her in 10 years, and I-I didn't get there in time to save her. She was kidnapped by the Sand People and they beat her to near death."
"I'm sorry." Luke said with sadness. "I knew that she had died...but Uncle Owen never really told me how." Father and son, both now sitting cross-legged on the floor together, just sat in silence until Luke looked up again at his father with interest. "So if Mother was a queen of Naboo, how did she end up on that Force forsaken planet Tatooine? It's not exactly paradise!"
Anakin snickered. "Her ship needed repairs. She had escaped the occupation of Naboo by the Separatist and was on the way to Coruscant to plead their case to the Senate to ask for help." He paused as another thought occurred to him. "I met Obi-Wan shortly after that as well. He had stayed on the ship; but he was there with his master, Qui-Gon Jinn. Your mother and Master Qui-Gon arrived at Watto's shop in Mos Espa looking for parts for the ship. My mother and I were Watto's slaves."
"You and Grandmother were slaves?!" Luke said in astonishment. "I mean I knew that slavery existed on Tatooine, but...I had no idea!" But Luke got a puzzled look on his face. "So how did mother end up in Watto's shop. I mean if she was a queen, wouldn't be safer if she had stayed on the ship."
"She disguised herself as one of her handmaidens." Anakin laughed as he remembered her cleverness and sense of adventure. "She was curious about the planet and knew they wouldn't let Queen Amidala accompany them to such a dangerous place." Anakin paused and then wiped a tear from his cheek with his gloved hand as he started to get to his feet, not wanting to continue with such a painful subject. "Well, enough about the past for now." He said as he got to his feet and Luke followed suit. "I would like to go find your sister."
"Are you sure that's such a good idea, Father? I know Leia and she meant what she said. She wants you to leave her alone." Luke told him with concern.
"I know that's what she said, Luke." Anakin told him. "But I did feel her softening towards me at one point. I may still be able to reach her."
Luke crossed his arms in front of him and shook his head. "I realized that, Father. I felt that too. But I think you should give her a little more time to cool off and warm up to the idea."
Anakin sighed. "Perhaps you're right."
"Are you hungry?" Luke asked him. "I haven't had any breakfast yet and I know this great diner in downtown Coruscant called Dex's. Have you ever been there?"
Anakin chuckled and then weakly smiled as he remembered Obi-Wan's favorite hangout. He then felt his stomach growl. "Yes, I do know of Dex's. Dex was actually a friend of Obi-Wan's and I am little hungry." He told his son.
"Really?! I didn't know that!" He paused. "Ok. Let's go then." Luke said with a smile. "I'd love to hear all about how Obi-Wan knew him."
"Sure! I'll tell you all about it." Anakin said with a smile as he put his left arm around Luke's shoulders. Father and son then left the Temple side by side, both looking forward to getting to know each other better and with Anakin hoping perhaps he'll see an old friend of a friend.
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Meanwhile Leia had left the Jedi Temple in a state of disbelief, shock, and horror in search of Han Solo, the love of her life. I need to talk to Han about this. He's going to be just as appalled as I am. I know it! She thought to herself as she got into her speeder and drove off into the busy Coruscant traffic.
Han Solo was still working with the members of the former Rebel Alliance to combat the current and potential threats that still remained. These threats were caused by the last remnants of Grand Moffs and Governors who still had enough influence and wealth to pose as a threat to the newly formed New Republic government. He happened to have the day off today and she knew that he was probably tinkering with his pride and joy, the Millennium Falcon. The New Republic had offered him a new ship as a sign of gratitude for all that he did in the assistance of bringing down the Empire but he refused their generous offer. The Millennium Falcon was his 'baby' and there was no way he was giving her up.
Leia smiled at this thought as she approached the hanger near their apartment where he housed his 'baby'. She parked her speeder just outside and entered the hanger in search of her current boyfriend. She noticed Han was working inside a compartment just next to the ramp when she spotted him.
"Han!" Leia yelled out with a wave, which caused him to turn and look in her direction.
Han gave her a lopsided smile that made her go weak in the knees every time she saw it, but then he became serious when he noticed how upset Leia appeared. "What's wrong?" He asked as she approached him.
"We need to talk." She simply stated as she motioned him to follow her into the Millennium Falcon.
Han picked up a nearby rag and started wiping the grease off his hands as he followed her into the ship and sat down next to her at the holochess table. "What's going on, Leia? You'd think that Emperor Palpatine himself just returned from the dead by the look on your face."
Leia looked at him with shock and became irritated. "You don't know how close to the truth you are." She replied. "More like Darth Vader just returned from the dead."
"What?!" Han replied with shock. "H-How?! I thought the kid said he died on the Death Star...all redeemed...because he saved his life." Han replied sarcastically as he waved both hands in front of him.
Leia just looked at him with a look of disgust on her face. "I don't know how it's possible, but he's not dead now." She paused. "And it gets even better. He doesn't need to wear that black suit anymore."
Han looked at her again with shock, his mouth gaping open. "How is THAT possible?! I thought he needed that thing to breathe."
Leia abruptly got up and then started pacing the floor with her arms crossed in front of her chest. "I don't know. Luke told me something about the Force allowing him a second chance at life to atone for his past transgressions. Maybe that has something to do with it, I don't know." She replied as she stopped pacing and faced Han again.
"But how do you know for sure he is...Darth Vader?" Han asked with disbelief. "Have you ever seen his face? I mean a man shows up out of no where claiming he's your's and Luke's long lost daddy dearest? That just sounds fishy to me."
Leia sighed. "I know it does, Han...but he knows things. Things that I didn't even share with you or Luke about what Vader did to me on the Death Star."
Han froze and then became angry. "What did he do to you? I'll kill the man myself for hurting you!" He exclaimed as he got to his feet. "Did he torture you?!"
"It's not that important now." Leia said with concern for Han as she put her right hand on his left arm to calm him. "I don't want you going after him, Han. He's too dangerous and you know that. I don't want to see you get killed over something that happened even before we met."
Han just sighed and ran his right hand through his hair. "But he hurt you, Leia! Why didn't you tell me about this? I thought I meant more to you than that."
"I'm sorry, Han. I didn't even want to think about it myself, let alone talk to anyone else about it. I just wanted to forget about it completely." Leia replied with sadness. "Will you forgive me?" She added as she walked closer to him with a smile, putting her arms around his neck and looking at him with her big brown eyes.
Han stared back into her big brown eyes and started to calm down, flashing her one of his famous partial lopsided grins. "Yes, I suppose. But I may need a little more encouragement in order to completely forgive you."
"Oh really." Leia said seductively as she moved in closer, bringing him closer to her so she could kiss him passionately on the lips. She then backed away relieved that he had thought better of staying mad at her. "I've got enough to worry about without having you mad at me too." She told him still looking into his eyes.
Han sighed and Leia removed her arms from around his neck noticing that he had a concerned look on his face. "Well, what does Luke think of all this?"
Leia crossed her arms in front of herself again and looked away with ire, then turned back towards Han mirroring his look of concern. "He's already welcomed him back with open arms." She paused in thought as she sighed. "But you know...for a moment...I almost gave in to forgiving him myself."
Han looked at her with bewilderment. "But why? You know what he was for the last 23 years, Leia. He murdered more people in cold blood than anyone this galaxy has ever seen. You said it yourself several times. He's a monster."
"But he seemed so lost, Han, sad...remorseful. He apologized to me for hurting me on the Death Star. He told me that I resemble my mother and that had he known..." She looked down and then up at Han again. "I almost believe him...that he wouldn't have hurt me if he had known I was his daughter. I could tell from the way he was acting that he really loved our mother. That he really loves Luke and I." She told him as she turned away with tears starting to form in her eyes.
"Yeah, but you forget, Leia. He cut off Luke's right hand at Bespin and then proceeded to tell him he was his dear old dad. Oh...I think he still would have hurt you, Leia, even if he did know. So I wouldn't believe that." Han tried to reason with her.
Leia turned to Han again. "I know, Han, but there was just something in his eyes." She sighed. "The look in his eyes showed so much sadness and remorse. And I could feel his sincerity and anguish through the Force. I do believe he truly is sorry for what he did as Darth Vader. I just don't know if I can get myself to completely forgive him and to see him as Luke sees him."
Han shook his head in frustration and brushed his right hand through his hair again. He shifted from one foot to another and crossed his arms in front of him. "So what are you saying, Leia? Are you forgiving him? Are you just going let him waltz right into your life after all that he's done and act like nothing ever happened? He was Darth Vader, Leia. Darth Vader!"
"I know!" Leia said as she started to cry, covering her eyes with her right hand, as she turned away from Han. She sighed as Han came up behind her and wrapped both of his arms around her from behind, kissing her neck. "He looks like a taller version of Luke, Han." Leia continued. "He has the same eyes as Luke, and it was like watching Luke pleading for my forgiveness." She told him as she leaned into Han's embrace.
"So what are you going to do?" Han asked, now somewhat shocked by this new revelation regarding Vader's resemblance to Luke.
"I don't know, Han. I really don't." Leia replied. Her thoughts drifting off into space.
