A/N: Enjoy!


Chapter Three

Come on, big brother, wake up.

"So you finally admit I'm the older one."

Luke Skywalker opened his eyes to see his sister Leia sitting by his bed.

"Hey" she said standing up to get a better look at him. She flattened his hair on his forehead. The bacta tank had healed his most sever injuries. His face was slightly swollen and he his wounds from the wampa attack were pink and puffy. She swallowed the lump in her throat. While having a big brother was wonderful, it made her more susceptible to tears. Not that she'd ever give in to them. Most of the time. He smiled weakly at her.

"No need to fret, little sister. I'm fine."

She sat back down, wry smile gracing her lips. "I still think that I'm the older one."

"No you don't. Otherwise you wouldn't have called me big brother."

Her brows furrowed. "I didn't"

"But, I-"

Leia put her hand on his. I thought it.

"Whoa" said Luke, looking wide eyed at an equally surprised Leia.

"This is new" Leia choked out. "Do you think this is another twin thing, or could it be a-"

"Force thing?" finished Luke. Luke and Leia discovered that over the past few months that they were able to interrupt each other's feelings simply by being in close proximity to each other. They learned that it wasn't uncommon for twins to be in tune to each other's emotions, but lately Luke wondered if the force had been magnifying it.

"Master Luke!" exclaimed Threepio "Sir, it's so good to see you fully functional."

Artoo beeped merrily. "Artoo expresses his relief as well"

"Thanks" said Luke. He opened his mouth to expand on the discovery that he and Leia stumbled upon when the doors to the medical bay opened. Han and Chewie walked in, Chewie growling his greeting to Luke. Luke smiled at the entrance at his two friends, but noticed Leia putting her senatorial mask back on and crossing her arms. Han winked at Leia and she narrowed her eyes at him.

"How are you feeling, kid? You don't look so bad to me. In fact, you look strong enough to pull the ears off a Gundark."

"Thanks to you" said Luke, partly for himself partly for Leia.

Not that she needed reminding. She was the one who had to wait one agonizingly long night waiting to see if Han had found Luke and if they'd survived the night.

Han, who went looking for her brother even though he was told it would be certain death.

Han, whose last words exchanged with her was in anger and about kisses.

Han waggled his fingers at Luke in good humor. "That's two you owe me, junior." He turned to Leia grinning broadly. "Well your Worship, looks like you managed to keep me around for a little while longer."

Leia rolled her eyes and haughtily stated "I had nothing to do with it. General Rieekan thinks it's dangerous for any ships to leave the system until we've activated the energy shield."

Luke watched in amusement as Han and Leia bickered.

"That's a good story" said Han, raising his eyebrows slightly. "I think you just can't bear to let a gorgeous guy like me out of your sight."

Leia rolled her eyes again. "I don't know where you get you delusions, laser brain" she said bitingly.

Chewie barked out his laugher, extremely amused. Han turned to him, feigning betrayal.

"Laugh it up, fuzz ball" he said, turning to saunter over to Leia. "But you didn't see us alone in the south passage." He threw a lazy arm over an indignant Leia "She expressed her true feelings for me."

Really? said Luke to Leia in their newly discovered mode of communication, highly amused.

Leia felt her face flush and she violently shrugged Hans arm off her shoulder. "My-! Why, you stuck up,...half-witted...scruffy-looking...nerf-herder!"

"Who's scruffy-looking?" he asked, marred. "I must have hit her pretty close to the mark to get her all riled up like that, huh, kid?" he said doggedly to Luke.

Leia and Han glared at each other for a moment, Leia determined not to let her vulnerability seep through and let Han get the upper hand. The medical bay door slid open again, Wedge Antilles walking through it.

She made up her mind in a split second.

"Why, I guess you don't know everything about women yet." She turned as Wedge started to say "Hey Luke! How ya feel-" and kissed him full on the lips.

She pulled away from him. "Hi Wedge" she said and walked out of the medical bay.

Oh, Bravo Luke called just before his sister was out of his range. She left the room completely dumbfounded. Han looking at the door Leia just exited, unseeingly. Wedge stood shell shocked and utterly confused. Luke snorted as an announcement rang out over the loud speaker.

"Take it easy" said Han as he stalked out of the room, Chewie following, completely ignoring Wedge.

"Why do I have a feeling that that had absolutely nothing to do with me?" said Wedge, still confused.

Luke started to laugh.


Father, my poor Father. Why didn't you ever tell me about my mother?

He knew those words weren't directed towards him, rather that thief, Bail Organa; but still, those words had haunted him since the unearthing of his offspring. It had been easy for Darth Vader to track down his daughter and her unseemly entourage.

Vader sat at the head of a large dining room in Bespin's Cloud City, when the doors slid open revealing Calrissian, Captain Solo, his daughter Leia, and the Wookie. The Wookie let out an enraged growl. In a flash, Solo stepped in front Leia, pulling out his blaster and firing shots at him. Vader easier blocked the shots with the Force and pulled the blaster out of Solo's grip, leaving him unarmed and shocked. Vader placed the gun on the table as Boba Fett stepped out of the shadows.

"We would be honored if you would join us."

Solo glared angrily at Calrissian, as Vader felt his daughters fear in the Force, one arm raised in futile defense.

"I had no choice. They came just before you did. I'm sorry" Calrissian explained.

Solo and Leia exchanged a glance. Solo grabbed her hand and said "I'm sorry too."

Leia and Solo entered the room, resigned, both faces masked; Leia, ever the diplomat, emotionless and capable; Solo, the picture of lazy arrogance and charm. The Wookie, Chewbacca and Calrissian walked in behind them as the doors closed. Calrissian moved to the side of the room.

Vader gestured with his helmet "Fett, take Captain Solo and the Wookie to other accommodations" he said, knowing the bounty hunter knew what he was talking about. "I wish to talk to the Princess alone."

Solo took a small step in front of Leia, gripping her hand more tightly, his fear spiking. Vader delved deeper into to Solo's fear, finding the source of it not to be fear in what was stored for him, but rather fear for what was stored for Leia. Vader's eyes narrowed beneath his mask.

Oh, this was not to be borne. His daughter was not to be loved by a common Corellian smuggler. He was coarse, rude, arrogant, and a good for nothing pirate. He was dishonorably discharged from the Imperial Starfleet, had Rebel connections, and was completely without respect or manners.

And he was far too old for her.

"Surely, we can all chat together, my lord" he said, the last to words with utter contempt.

"Do not question me Solo. You are in no position to bargain."

Fett walked purposefully to Solo, grabbing one of his arms roughly, jabbing his blaster into Solo's back. Solo stood resolute, eyes locked with Leia, still gripping her hand. She placed a hand on his arm.

"Do as he says" she said softly, as if to sooth him. "I'll be okay." Solo nodded, and went to let go of her hand to be led away, but she gripped tighter. They both knew what was in store for him. "Be…Take care of yourself, okay?"

He shot her a grim smile. "Hey, it's me, isn't it? I'll see you soon."

His daughter turned her back towards him as she watched Solo and the Wookie being led away, Calrissian followed.

"Please take a seat, Princess" he rumbled to her turned back. He watched her shoulders rise and fall, as if she took a deep breath, and turned. Her face set in a cold mask, hers not giving any more away than her fathers.

"Do you know how to use the Force, princess?"

"I am not Force sensitive, Lord Vader, so I do not know how to use the Force."

His daughter obviously didn't know her force strength, or even her force capability, because he could sense that she was not lying to him.

"You are force sensitive, child" he said insistently.

She raised her eyebrows sardonically "Looking for another reason to kill me, Vader? I would have thought you'd have enough by now."

"You are force sensitive," He said, ignoring her last comment, "and thusly, you have a strong Force signature. Unconsciously or not, you have masked it very well, for one so untrained."

She sat in stony silence. He pressed on.

"Did you know, Princess, that family members have similar force signatures? Siblings even more so." Her eyes widen slightly.

He knows Leia thought to herself. He knows about Luke. She didn't know whether this was completely dangerous. They'd agreed that they wouldn't openly announce that she and Luke were twins for fear of…well, fear of the unknown. Would their mothers name save him? Or condemn him?

"It is important that you keep your signature hidden. The empire is already on the hunt for one force sensitive rebel. Two would be disastrous."

Leia sat, stunned. Vader was warning her?

"Why? Why are you doing this? Because of my mother?" she asked bewildered.

Where is she? Where is your mother?

She's dead. Why does it matter to you?

"It time you will understand" he said cryptically. Vader had so much to say to her, so much he wanted to tell both of them. He wanted to enlighten Luke and Leia of the true parentage together. They sat in silence, Leia not looking at him, mind whirling.

"What have you done with Han?" she asked, looking up, voice not trembling, but eyes giving her away. He did not have to reach into the Force to tell she loved him too.

But she should know better! She was raised as a princess! She should know that she was better than smuggler scum!

Just like a queen should know better than to love a slave? said a smug voice that sounded very much like Obi-wan in the back of his mind.

She's dead. Why does it matter to you?

"I met your mother when I was nine years old." Vader said, shocking himself and Leia. "She was fourteen and a queen and I was a slave. I asked her if she was an angel."

"An angel?" she asked bewildered.

"Like on the moons of Iego"

I've heard the deep space pilots talk about them… They are the most beautiful creatures in the universe. They are good and kind, and so pretty they make even the most hardened spice pirate cry.

I've never heard of angels

You must be one…maybe you don't know it.

"Did you love her?" Leia asked.

"I still do" Vader said quietly.

Leia's eyes hardened. "Is that why you killed my father?"

"What!" thundered Vader, standing up. Leia flinched, but otherwise did not move. Of all of the nonsense for his children to believe! "You think I killed your-" he broke off, understanding.

Obi-wan.

His old master must have told, no, poisoned his children with this nonsense. He let the anger coarse through his body. He killed Obi-wan, but felt as if he could Obi-wan one hundred times over, and that still wouldn't be enough revenge.

"Come, I will bring you to your cell" he said walking over to her. She stood up uncertainly. "I will clear your…your misconceptions when young Skywalker arrives."

"Luke? Luke's coming here?"

Vader was about opened the door, knowing stormtroopers stood on the opposite side, awaiting their presence.

"How will he know to come?" she asked Vader.

"He will sense it" he said shortly.

Father and daughter stepped into the hall and were hit with a strong sense of déjà vu.


Leia paced the cell she shared with Chewie, anxiously waiting for Han. Chewie sat in a corner, trying to reattach Threepio, who was mindlessly chatting. She twisted her hands as she walked back and forth.

He's been gone too long she thought. Well, he'd been gone too long the moment the bounty hunter took him away. But now it was far too long. Between her overwhelming worry for Han, and the conversation she just had with Darth kriffing Vader, she was nauseous.

Suddenly the doors slid open. Two stormtroopers supported Han and dropped him unceremoniously onto his knees. Leia grabbed him before he fell onto his face and Chewie scrambled forward leaving a forgotten Threepio on the floor. Han looked dazed to his friend.

"I feel terrible."

Chewie yowled in sympathy. "Come on, hot shot," said Leia, helping Chewie guide Han to the metal slab in the wall that doubled as a bench. "Lie down."

"Thanks sweetheart" he said, eyes closed. She knelt down to him, stoking his hair in what she hoped was a soothing manner.

"They never even asked me any questions" Han said feebly. She nodded.

"We're bait for Luke."

Hans's eyes opened. "Luke? How-"

"He'll sense you being tortured and my turmoil. He'll come, I know it. He is already on his way."

"That kid," sighed Han, closing his eyes again "has one hell of a hero complex."

Leia snorted, choosing not to mention the hero complex had developed over the last three years.

"Han," she said suddenly, "have you ever heard of the angels on the moons of Iego?"

"Yeah. Deep space pilots claim to see them" he said. "Supposed to be the most gorgeous creatures in the universe. So beautiful, in fact, to make the meanest space pirate cry." He summoned a grin. "Reminds me of someone."

He expected to see a small smile, at least, on Leia's face. Instead, she looked as if she was torn between tears and vomit.

"Sweetheart?" he asked confused. He tried to sit up. Leia shook her head, softly nudging him back down. She placed her chin on the edge of the platform and Han turned his head, looking right at her.

"That was the first thing he asked my mother. He asked her if she was an angel."

"Who? Vader?" Han asked, shocked. Leia nodded.

"He was nine years old and a slave. She was fourteen and a queen."

"Slave?" Han said, head spinning. He couldn't imagine how Leia's head was. "Vader was a slave? Did you know that?"

"No." she said quietly. "I can't imagine him a slave. Force, I can't imagine him as a child!"

Han thought of miniature Vader, suit and all. "Me neither."

Leia laid her head on the metal. "He claims to still love her." She said, still quiet, as if she said it quietly it wouldn't be true. "And he became livid when I mentioned my father's death. And he knows about Luke, hasn't told the emperor about us being related and warned me about the Emperors desperateness for a force sensitive rebel."

"Sithspawn" cursed Han.

"He thinks I'm force sensitive."

"Are you?" Han asked.

"I don't know." She sighed, "I don't know anything anymore. I'm so confused."

"Hey," said Han, grabbing her hand, holding it to his chest. "You know me."

She smiled and lightly kissed him on the lips. "Yes, I do."

The doors slid open, revealing Lando Calrissian.

"Here we go" mutter Leia as Han sat up.


A/N: Duh, duh, duh. Luke and Vader's fateful meeting is next. I honestly think in another time, Anakin and Han would have gotten along. Both had rough childhoods, an extreme distaste for slavery, fall in love with woman way above their own station, and are phenomenal pilots. Food for thought.

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