Aaahhhh...just a little more of A New Hope, and then we get to have some breathing room and do some purely original stuff for a few chapters, and then we're back into cannon material with Heir to the Jedi.

I'm hoping to catch up the posting with where Jesi and I are writing lol

By the way, so little reviews! But so many readers! Come on guys, we love your reviews! Don't leave without sending us a review, we want to hear from you! Pllleeaaaassseeee?

At least the next chapter, okay? Deal? The next chapter, you just HAVE to review! You'll see why ;)

Anyway, Enjoy!


As the Rebel Base came into view, Luke could feel the excitement and euphoria of those inside coming at him in waves and lifting his tired spirit. A grin slowly worked its way across his features as Luke realized all of that had really just happened. Han had returned to the fight when Luke had needed him most, Luke had blown up the Death Star, Leia and the others were all safe, and Anakin and Luke had outmatched Darth Vader in a dogfight.

To say Luke was exuberant or ecstatic when he finally touched down in the base's hanger was putting it lightly. Luke opened his cockpit to thunderous cheers as everyone crowded around the X-Wing of the pilot who had destroyed the Death Star and saved the Rebellion. Luke clambered out of the X-Wing, practically sliding down the ladder to the ground to greet the others, swinging his sweat-soaked hair out of his face. Leia was there almost instantly, shouting his name over and over with a smile to light the galaxy.

"Luke!"

Luke responded with a wild laugh, wrapping her up into a tight hug and spinning her around as she laughed hysterically, his leg all but forgotten as the adrenaline and excitement kept him going. He heard a similar exclamation from behind him, and turned to see a grinning Han Solo approaching him.

"Hey, Kid!" Han shouted, rushing up to Luke. Luke embraced Han as well, grabbing him by the front of the shirt.

"I knew you'd come back, I just knew it!" Luke exclaimed happily. As always, Han was quick on the comeback, and it only made Luke beam even more.

"Well, I wasn't gonna let you get all the credit and take all the reward!" Han told him, causing Luke to laugh. Leia went into to give Han a tight hug as well, opening an arm so Luke could make it a group hug.

"Hey, I knew there was more to you than money!" Leia told Han, and Han's already crazy grin widened.

Anakin's arrival was thankfully far less noticed, and he managed to slip in under the radar as it were as the crowd buffeted Luke and he received more personalized greetings from Leia and Solo.

Anakin was glad Luke could have this; Anakin knew it would be an important experience in his life to come.

Anakin's attention was drawn inexplicably to the charred and silent Artoo, and Anakin's heart clenched painfully.

He was just about to step forward when Threepio drew attention to his counterpart.

"Oh Artoo!"

There was a small commotion as the droid was lifted from the socket and—much to Anakin's amazement—Threepio offered his parts to save Artoo. Anakin now saw just what it was Padmé liked about Threepio in their timeframe.

Before Anakin could begin to make his way toward his son, the young man was carried off by the crowd. Anakin let them go, remaining near his ship and using the action of looking it over to mask that he was deep in thought.

That last probe from Vader...why had it affected Anakin so? Why had if been like Vader was attacking not just a Jedi...but someone clearly important to the Sith Lord?

It made no sense, but Anakin theorized that if Vader had hunted down all of the Jedi and Anakin had been one of them, maybe Vader held a personal grudge against him specifically.

That had to be it...right?

Anakin sighed, finally leaving his ship in the capable hands of the technicians and wandering outside for some fresh air. He found a log at the edge of the tree line and sat quietly, grateful for the quiet moment.

Part of him longed to have Luke by his side, but he wasn't about to steal the boy's thunder. Let him have this.


Luke did enjoy the attention and all of the praises, as well having his friends by his side, but he hadn't forgotten his father, and he wondered forlornly where the other man had disappeared to.

Eventually Luke was able to excuse himself after the debriefing and all of the congratulations, his leg hurting him once again and the fatigue pressing down on him like the Falcon. Leia had said something about a medal ceremony tomorrow, and it wouldn't do Luke much good to be falling asleep during that.

Once he finally stumbled into the room he shared with his father, Luke peeled out of his flight suit and collapsed onto the bed. Still worried about where Anakin had disappeared to as it was now obvious he wasn't in the bedroom, Luke sent a tired probe after his father, searching for the man's comforting presence before he even thought of falling asleep.

Anakin felt Luke's weary but concerned prone and grimaced, feeling a little guilty at making the younger Skywalker wonder where he'd gone.

Anakin rose from his place on the log and made his way quietly back to the quarters he and Luke had been given. Upon entering, Anakin saw Luke was barely awake, but he walked forward all the same and gently places a hand to the young man's shoulder.

Luke smiled up at his father when he felt Anakin's hand on his shoulder, feeling himself finally relax now that he knew where his father was. "I was wondering what happened to you..." Luke murmured.

"I'm sorry, Son," Anakin offered a small smile. "I just needed a moment. You did very well today, Luke. Now rest; the galaxy won't be going anywhere while you sleep."

"There's a medal ceremony tomorrow. Leia wanted me to tell you because there's going to be a medal for you too," Luke sighed, allowing his eyes to droop shut as he spoke. It was nice to finally lie down and rest after going to and fro with no time to breathe. If he hadn't been exhausted, his mind probably would have been racing with everything he'd learned.

Anakin merely nodded, staying with Luke until the youth was fast asleep before he too lay down to rest.


He was standing upon a salty sand flat, gazing into the horizon without really seeing it. Then a hazy, mirage-like voice sounded behind him, and at first he thought it was his imagination, something brought on by the heat.

But then it came again, and he finally turned...and felt his jaw drop.

"Mom?" He breathed, hardly daring to believe.

But even after he had blinked, she was still before him. Though...upon closer inspection, her image was washed out, and though her eyes still held the love she had always felt for him, they were now deep wells of sorrow.

"Ani..." Her voice sounded much like a garbled recording, yet he understood her perfectly.

"Mom, what is it? I'm so glad to see you!"

But as he approached, she moved her hand away, her soft features twisting with anguish.

"Anakin...What have you done?" she whispered, causing him to frown.

"Wh-what do you mean? " he stammered.

But yet again when he tried to touch her, she jerked away, and then her face became angry, sneering.

Anakin back-stepped, fearful. "M-Mom?"


"M-Mom?"

For some reason, this soft spoken, agonized word woke Luke in the dead of the night, and he groggily opened his eyes to look around for the source of the voice. He didn't see anything for a few confusing moments before he finally saw movement over on Anakin's bed. More awake now that he had a good idea of where the disturbance had come from, Luke sat up in the bed, straining his eyes in the darkness to see Anakin tossing restlessly in the bed. His concern growing, Luke threw his sheets aside and got out of the bed to approach Anakin, hand poised to shake the older man awake. However, Luke paused just before he moved to wake him up, hesitating. Maybe it would pass and Anakin would go right back to sleep; he hadn't slept just as much as Luke, so he had to be exhausted. Luke didn't want to wake him if he didn't have to...


Anakin sniffed at the air, smelling something...sulfurous. Upon looking down, he saw that the sand beneath his boots was changing to molten lava and dark brimstone.

"You will have to pay for what you've done!" Shmi's voice resonated, but when he looked fearfully back up, she was nowhere to be seen.

"Mom! Mom wait! Wh-what is this?" Anakin called.

In response, images and sounds suddenly assaulted him: a dark night full of dying Tusken screams...A man walking among bodies of fallen Jedi and children...Pleas for mercy and sounds of chaos surrounded him...He recognized the Jedi Temple...Obi-Wan was suddenly there again, fighting a man in dark clothes in the same molten place Anakin now stood.


Luke was snapped out of his hesitant state when Anakin's restless state suddenly grew much more violent, the older man thrashing in his sleep, drenched in sweat and chest heaving as if he was starting to have a panic attack. His concern now full alarm, Luke grasped Anakin's arm, attempting to shake his father awake and pull him out of whatever horrible nightmare had seized hold of him.

"Anakin...Anakin. Father!" Luke called, shaking him a little harder each time.


Anakin lastly saw, amidst the pandemonium that was the sea of voices, a man in dark robes clenching a fist...and choking Padmé!

Anakin jerked awake with an agonized scream, hands flying out blindly, protectively, when he felt a weight on his arm.

His chest heaved and he struggled to focus his attention, but the image of Padmé, heavily pregnant with Luke, dropping lifelessly to the floor refused to leave him, and Anakin hiccupped a sob before he could catch himself.

Luke jumped when Anakin suddenly screamed and jerked awake, Luke swearing loudly at the same time. Slowly, his erratic heartbeat evened out and Luke was able to unfreeze himself, loosening the tightened grip on Anakin as his father suddenly doubled over, his breathing labored and his presence feeling like a hurricane of raging emotions through the Force even to Luke's untrained senses. Luke instinctively slid the hand that was grasping his father's bicep up to Anakin's shoulder, placing his other free hand on Anakin's shoulder blade on the other side. Anakin was trembling violently, and to Luke's shock a sob even escaped him. Luke felt a chill go down his spine as he tried to imagine just what could have shaken his father so much in a dream.

Luke waited until his father's trembling slowed to speak, keeping his tone soft and quiet. "Father?"

Anakin heard the soft voice, which eerily reminded him of Shmi in that moment. He glanced up, apprehensive of seeing her harsh expression yet again...but he was instead met with the concerned blue eyes of his son.

"Luke?" Anakin whispered, half-fearful that he was still dreaming.

"Are you all right?" Luke asked him with a slight frown. "You seemed like you were having a pretty bad dream," Luke informed him tenderly, picking up on Anakin's confusion and even some of his fear.

Anakin closed his eyes, willing away with great difficulty his morbid fears.

"A nightmare...it was horrible!" Anakin whispered, shuddering. "I...I saw my mother, and then...all of this horrible stuff...and..." He bit his lip uncertainly, looking away as tears stung his eyes once more.

Luke—not missing the irony that at the moment it was the son comforting the father—settled down beside Anakin, offering his silent support. He knew his skills in the Force weren't ideal, and he wasn't even sure if he was doing it right, but Luke did his best to stretch out to his father's Force Presence and offer himself as comfort. He hoped his father would find comfort in Luke's presence at the very least.

It was...strange, to say the least, seeing his father so nakedly afraid and vulnerable at the moment. He almost told Anakin that it had just been a dream, but he felt as if the words were empty and would hold no real meaning. So, he tried for something else.

"At least it's over now. Do you want to talk about it, or..." Luke said, trailing off. He didn't think his father would be that willing to open up about something that had obviously deeply disturbed him.

Anakin managed a grateful smile for Luke, who he sensed was doing his best to comfort his father. But he didn't want to talk about that last scene, for talking about it would mean he acknowledged it was real...

"I think this was a byproduct of Vader's last mind-attack," Anakin said instead, trying to ease Luke's fears. "I'll...be okay once I can think it over and get back to sleep."

He shrugged, looking down. "It's not the first time I've had horrid dreams."

Luke's frown deepened, his heart going out towards his father. However, he resisted asking about that last statement, sensing that would bring up a new planet of problems that their fragile relationship wasn't ready to handle. "Well...if you need anything, I'll be right over here. And I don't mind being woken up."

Anakin nodded. "Thank you."

He felt bad about this chink in their relationship, realizing it was still a newfound one. He wanted to open up to Luke, but he just couldn't...not on this. It was too close, too raw, for Anakin.

Thus, when Luke looked a little put-out, Anakin grabbed his hand just as he stood up. "Luke, please try to understand. I am a very private person...it's not easy for me to just open up, especially when something upsets me so. You definitely got your open nature from your mother, not me. I appreciate your concern, really, I do."

Luke gave his father a small smile and felt his heart warm hearing about yet another thing he'd inherited from his mother, squeezing Anakin's hand in assurance. "I understand; really, I do. Uncle Owen was a private person too, so I grew up around that. Still, if you ever need to talk..." Luke trailed off, figuring he didn't even really need to state that. Besides, Luke had already unloaded quite a few of his own pains and heartaches to his father by now; he wouldn't mind carrying some of his father's in turn.

Anakin nodded. "Thank you."

Luke returned the nod, going back to his bed and settling down once again. "Goodnight, Father."

"Goodnight," Anakin murmured, waiting for Luke to fall back into a deep sleep before he stood up and left the room.

He returned to his log, careful not to disturb anyone, and lost himself in thought once more. He'd told Luke this dream had been a product of Vader's mind games, but it still disturbed him. Shmi's face...he had never seen her angry with him...

And the fight between Obi-Wan and that dark figure...why had it felt so real to him?

But none of that really mattered next to Padmé falling limp to the ground, her rotund belly housing their unborn child showing clearly. He reminded himself that Luke was alive...he had just talked to him, hadn't he?

But Padme...Obi-Wan had said she was dead. Was this how it had happened? Had she been killed by the dark man, and Luke birthed to save his life? Anakin shuddered, and then willed away his pain and fear with effort.

It had only been a dream. He would not make the same mistake he'd made when he had dreamed of his mother.

Taking a deep breath, Anakin returned to his room, smiled upon Luke, and returned to bed. He was asleep in seconds, and it was a blessedly empty sleep.


When Luke finally woke up, he felt like he'd had the best sleep in his life. With a soft groan, Luke rolled out of bed and was startled to see a fresh pair of clothes waiting for him on the desk by the door.

At least I don't have to worry about wearing those dirty, torn, bloodstained clothes to a medal ceremony, Luke thought to himself as he shuffled over to the refresher as quietly as possible in an attempt not to wake his father. Anakin had enough of a rough night, and Luke figured he needed all the rest he could get.


Anakin woke late into the morning to find Luke's bed empty and he sighed deeply, stretching to wake up. He had thankfully had a peaceful rest of the night, and he felt rather refreshed.

He spied a fresh set of clothes on the desk, assuming they were for him. Getting up, Anakin made to head for the refresher but found it occupied, so he settled back onto the edge of the bed and pulled his lightsaber out for a cleaning.

When Luke was sure that he was clean and presentable he emerged from the refresher, his father cleaning his lightsaber the first thing Luke saw.

"I see you're finally awake," Luke teased lightly, reaching for the clothes he'd noticed earlier. It took him a moment to separate the clothes meant for his father from the ones for him as they were apparently folded together.

Anakin nodded with a smile. "You know, while we're talking about things you have in common with Padmé..." He allowed his smile to grow playfully. "...you could add long showers to that list," He ended with a chuckle, happy that Luke was in a good mood too.

Luke blushed, tossing his father's cloths at him in retaliation. "Not normally. It just took that long to get all the grime and sweat off...though I'm pretty sure that smell from the garbage compactor was still lingering yesterday," Luke said as he wrinkled his nose. "I think it's gone now," he told Anakin, pulling on his clothes.

Anakin sniffed theatrically. "Yup, definitely gone." He grimaced when he caught a whiff of himself. "Now it's my turn."

"Yup, and you need it badly," Luke said cheerfully before he grew serious. "Though we can't take too long; right after this medal ceremony—which is only...an hour away, yikes—they're evacuating the base."

Anakin merely nodded. "That's good. It won't take long for the Empire to retaliate." He stood. "I'll be quick."

Luke nodded, stretching with a yawn. "I'll wait for you," he told Anakin, smiling faintly as he took up his spot on his bed again, pulling on his boots.

Anakin took his gear into the refresher and washed up swiftly, having developed the habit in the Clone Wars. One needed to be swift and efficient in wartime.

He did take an extra moment to allow the hot water to soothe his muscles, but then he withdrew from that luxury and toweled dry.

He picked up his new clothes, wondering if the princess had selected the outfit. It rather reminded Anakin of something Padmé might pick out for him...

That thought had Anakin pause as he worked to dress. He tilted his head thoughtfully, giving the matter more attention now that he could afford to do so.

Leia had a hair of deep brown and her eyes were a rich chocolate full of a familiar fire. Anakin wondered at the possibility of the princess's similarities to Padmé being coincidence.

He felt a presence approach their front door and cut off his train of thought, dressing in his dark grey pants, black tunic, and deep red jacket. He ran a comb through his hair to make it more presentable and exited the refresher just as Luke, wearing a pair of brown trousers, a black shirt, and yellow jacket, answered the door.

Han Solo stood there, lifting a brow at the pair of Skywalkers.

"Her Worship sent me to find you," Han drawled. "You ready?"

Luke rolled his eyes, glancing at Anakin to be sure the elder Skywalker was indeed ready. "I think so. Lead the way."

Han did so, leading them through the halls until he signaled for them to turn into a waiting area with a large set of double doors.

Anakin gestured to Luke. "You should be in front; you pulled the trigger."

Luke shook his head avidly. "We all played a part. You distracted Vader, Han took out the wingmen, I sent in the torpedo, Chewie piloted the Falcon with Han; we should all go in side by side," he said firmly, already standing by the door.

Anakin sighed. "All right..."

There was some sort of fanfare to be heard on the other side of the doors, and Anakin grimaced, shifting uncomfortably.

"I hate these kinds of things..." he grumbled under his breath.

"Well in that case you can take comfort in the fact that it will be short," Luke told him quietly, fighting the grin that was trying to spread across his features as the door slowly opened. He shot Han a quick grin, and the smuggler returned it with a somewhat nervous smile. "Here we go."

Anakin lifted a brow at Luke's comment and enthusiasm, but otherwise remained quiet. He would maintain a stiff upper lip for his son, and if it helped to boost morale in the troops. He had always held his clone troops in high regards, but even they needed boosters now and again.

When the doors finished opening, Anakin began walking, feeling Han and Luke move to keep pace with his naturally long gait.

Anakin studiously kept his eyes on Leia, and he used the walk forward to once more entertain his thoughts on her possible connection to Padmé.

Anakin needed to know for sure. He knew himself well enough that he understood he wouldn't be able to rest until he settled this mystery.

He would have to do it quietly though...and he had an idea how. He smiled secretively when he secured his plan in his mind.

Luke almost faltered in his step when he entered the room and saw just how many people were in the room, but he managed to keep moving, suddenly very aware of how short he was compared to his other three companions. However, he kept his mind off of those thoughts as he focused on Leia in front of them, who looked so beautiful, still dressed in white...

Chewbacca rumbled behind Luke about the time that they reached the edge of the stairs, and collectively all of the people behind them turned from facing the aisle they had walked down to facing the front, perfectly in unison as the four climbed the stairs to where Leia was waiting for them. Luke couldn't keep his eyes off of her, so many emotions flashing past he couldn't make sense of it all.

Leia stepped towards them, chin held high and regal as she gazed at each of them without a word. When she met Luke's gaze, he smiled at her, and Leia returned the smile with a wide grin of her own, causing Luke's heart to flutter while General Dodonna approached with the medals. Leia met Han's gaze at well, and the smuggler gave her a lopsided grin, causing the smile Leia had been trying to control to linger just a little longer.

Anakin didn't miss the way Luke was eyeing Leia, and he coughed softly to hide a smile. Solo received his medal first, and the smuggler winked at Leia after his was about his neck.

Then Leia turned to Anakin, and he instinctively straightened. However, when he realized that he was too tall, he bowed to her, and Leia placed the medallion about his neck. Her hand lingered a moment longer than was proper, prompting him to look up and meet her gaze.

Anakin's throat closed when, at such proximity and with Leia being so open, it was as if he'd just met his wife's eyes. It took all his willpower not to react to this, and Anakin resolved to prove his suspicions medically.

He saw her smile just for him, and Anakin gave her one of his own, enjoying their silent communication before she moved on to Luke.

Luke did his best not to bounce from the nerves and excitement and just the beauty of Leia in front of him in this moment, bowing his head respectively as she tenderly placed the medal around his neck. Luke smiled, releasing the breath he hadn't realized he's been holding. Once all of them had their medals, the three collectively bowed to Leia. As they straightened, Luke heard a familiar, cheerful whistling, and Luke looked over to see Artoo wobbling excitedly beside Threepio, looking as good as new. Luke grinned and laughed softly at the sight, grateful to see that Artoo was all right and just like his old self as the droid continued to tootle and whistle, bringing a smile out of all of them before Leia nodded slightly at them, signaling that they needed to turn and face the crowd. Luke did so, glancing over at his companions with a grin while Chewbacca roared with the clapping of everyone assembled in the room around them.

Anakin kept his expression pleasant, but he was dying inside to get out of the spotlight. To pass the time, Anakin continued to plot his way of getting some DNA from Leia. The base would be going through an evacuation shortly, which meant that in the chaos that would follow, Anakin could get her blood tested against his.

Now all he had to do was get that sample.

Luke sensed his father's unease but didn't say anything, enjoying the happy moment as it lasted. Apparently, it wasn't going to last long at all.

Leia signaled for the cheering to quiet, which it did gradually, and the festive air quickly grew somber with the words that followed.

"Thanks to your courage, we have delivered a telling blow to the Empire with the destruction of their Death Star," Leia began. "But our own casualties were not small." She managed to keep her head high and her voice loud enough to be heard. "Let us take a moment to honor the lost souls of Alderaan; to honor Viceroy Bail Organa and Queen Breha Organa."

Luke and Anakin both closed their eyes, thinking of the mass losses they had felt.

"May they forever be remembered," Leia finished.

Anakin picked up some chatter about an Ice Princess and royalty not showing emotion, and he narrowed his eyes at them.

Next to speak was General Dodonna. "Would that there were proper time to mourn...but the Empire now knows our location. Therefore our first priority is to find a new base of operations." He lifted a hand. "To that end, all Rebel fleets have arrived to assist us in evacuating Yavin immediately. Each of you has been assigned a station for dismantling and transportation," he began to gesture. "Some of you will be asked to scout for potential outposts."

He now swept his hand across the gathering. "All of you are invaluable. Through you the Alliance lives to fight on." He paused to see if there were any questions, then finished. "To your stations, and may the Force be with is all."

As people began to move to where they needed to be, Luke plucked up his courage and turned to Dodonna. "Sir, when I've done my part with the evacuation, I'd like to volunteer to scout for a new base," he said seriously.

Anakin overheard Luke and stepped up beside him. "I'll be his partner in that search, Sir." He glanced at Luke. "If you don't mind that."

Luke smiled a little at his father. It would be a nice chance to spend some real one-on-one time with his father without any of the other crazy things going on. "That sounds great."

Dodonna nodded at the pair of them. "That will do nicely. Report to me after the evacuation is completed."

"Yes sir," Anakin saluted.

He watched Leia leave, and he looked to Luke. "Go ahead; I'll meet you when we're ready to go. I have something to take care of."

He didn't wait for a reply, instead making his way steadily out of the Great Hall

Luke frowned at his father's abruptness, but brushed it off and turned his attention to the task at hand. He needed to clear out the meager belongings in their temporary room and make sure they was packed, prep the X-Wings, find Boomer...

Grimacing at the growing mental list, Luke got to work.


Anakin had no trouble finding Leia's quarters after he'd stopped by medical for his tool. Anakin knew it wasn't the proper way to collect a blood sample, but it would have to do.

He reached her door and knocked three times, waiting for a response.

"Come in."

Anakin did so, closing the door behind him and turning with a smile. "Hello Princess, I just wanted to see if I could help you with your packing or moving any gear?" His smile faltered to find her currently hefting a large metal cabinet. "Leia..."

She shook her head. "I can...get this, don't you worry..."

Anakin bit his lip, but then recognized his chance and took it. Using the Force, he tipped it in her grasp. Leia gasped and scrambled to hold it, but Anakin again tampered with it and made certain that when it fell it cut her arm. Nothing serious, of course, but he needed a good amount of blood to do his test.

"Gah!" Leia cried out when the cabinet finally toppled, and she grasped her wrist tightly.

Anakin leapt forward, deftly pulling a cloth from her dresser and hiding the open-end test tube within the folds as he grabbed her hand.

"Are you all right? Let me see..." Anakin carefully positioned his test tube to collect any amount of blood it could and he made a show of inspecting her arm.

"I'm fine," Leia said tightly. "It just hurts."

Anakin looked to her, taking an opportunity to help Leia help herself. "Well...no offense, Princess, but you should have asked for help or waited for someone to move the furniture for you."

"I didn't want to be a burden," Leia argued. "I want to do my part to help out."

Anakin could feel that this really meant a great deal to her, and he felt horrible for what he had done. But he had to know. He finished collecting his sample, using the Force to make sure she never saw the tube, and then he gently ran his fingers along the injury, healing it with the same power he'd used to draw the blood in the first place.

Leia watched, enthralled, as her skin healed slowly but surely. When finished, Anakin sat back with a small smile.

"There, good as new."

Leia turned her wrist this way and that, her brows lifted. "Wow! Thank you."

Anakin nodded. "My offer to help with packing is still open..."

"No, I'm done." Leia sighed. "And I will let the men do the heavy lifting as you suggested."

Anakin placed a hand on hers. "Leia...you do more than you give yourself credit for. You're a leader, and you give hope to them where there is none. You're strong; don't forget that. I'm sure your parents would be very proud of you."

Her eyes widened as they met his, and he saw them fill with a deep pain. Anakin touched her face tenderly. "I know what it's like to lose your parent. My mother was tortured and then killed by Tusken Raiders on Tatooine."

Leia softened. "I'm sorry."

"So am I, but what I learned is that it's okay to mourn those who pass on," Anakin said seriously. "So if you need someone to talk to or cry with, I'm available whenever you need it."

Leia smiled weakly. "Thank you. And...thank you for helping yesterday in the battle."

Anakin nodded, taking his leave. He leaned against the wall momentarily to gather himself and then made haste for the medical center. He ran into the Two-One-Bee medical droid and took him into a side room.

"I need you to analyze this blood," he held up his vial, "with mine. Don't ask questions, all I need to know is if it's a match—paternally—to mine."

"Sir, it's not the proper way..." the droid began to protest, but Anakin cut him off.

"I know that!" He closed his eyes and took a calming breath. "Please, just do it."

"Very well, Sir." The droid took his arm and swiftly drew a sample of Anakin's blood, then left the room to test the two vials. Anakin felt the Force vibrate with anticipation, and he was pacing a rut into the floor when the droid finally came back.

"I do not understand how, Sir, but the samples in these vials show that you are indeed the father. You two are far too close in age for you to physically be her father, but that is what the blood is telling me. The data is irrefutable."

"Thank you." Anakin sank onto the bed. "Tell no one of this meeting, understand?"

"I cannot, under patient rights..." the droid said as if that were obvious.

"All right," Anakin said. "And thanks again."

His daughter! He had a daughter! How?

Fool, isn't it obvious? Anakin thought. Luke has a twin!

He was smiling before that though finished, and he felt his heart leap for joy. Two children! He had two children! Anakin wanted to shout it out to the galaxy...but something stopped him. Leia was far different from Luke. She had been raised differently too. And while she liked him, she already had a family in this life. He wouldn't take that from her...he knew exactly what it was like.

Obi-Wan had told him Luke had been hidden for his safety. Leia must have been hidden as well. And she was a far more public image in this time-period than Luke. Once the Empire got Luke's name, he would become the number one on all hit lists.

No...Anakin would have to love and help Leia from a distance. Or at least be her father in shadow. For her to be discovered a Skywalker would prove disastrous for her. And Anakin ached at that...but was also determined now more than ever to learn whatever it was he was meant to fix so that his children—his wonderful, sweet children—could grow up with their parents...not extended family and friends.

Realizing that his absence would start to be noticed, Anakin erased all evidence of his being in the med ward and left.


"Are we all set Artoo? Boomer?" Luke asked, helmet under his arm as he did one last inspection of the two X-Wings. He already had the location they would be scouting. It was a populated planet, but sparsely so. It would be easy to hide there if the Imperial presence was still lacking as it had been the last time the planet was scouted. Dodonna had said that every possibility was being evaluated as things were moving so suddenly, and the best option they could find would become where they settled.

Anakin arrived in the hangar to find Luke already waiting with Artoo and Boomer, a green and black astromech Anakin was already growing attached to; but only slightly. He would never replace Artoo, but Anakin still wanted his most faithful metal companion to take care of Luke.

He grinned happily at Luke as he approached, unable to completely hide his happiness while he geared up to leave.

"Where are we headed off to?" Anakin asked.

"Oh, some temperate planet that's supposed to be sparsely populated and lacking in Imperial presence. Maridun is what it's called, I think. The Imperials established some mining colonies there, but they don't really pay the planet much attention anymore. There's some rumors that there's Hutt presence there, but it sounds like there's plenty of places to hide in the savannas or rainforests...if the Rebellion slips in right. I don't know, it doesn't quite sound like an ideal option, but we're supposed to check it out and see if the Imperial presence has gone down enough to take up residence...and see if the Hutts might be a problem," Luke told Anakin, climbing up to the cockpit to make sure everything was there while he spoke.

"All right, let's go," Anakin sprang into his cockpit after levitating Boomer up into his socket, then Artoo.

Luke smiled a little. He'd only been at the Rebel Base for about a day or two and already he was making a run for the Rebel Alliance, already an official member. He was rather excited to go on his first mission with his father.

Speaking of which...

As Luke climbed into the cockpit and situated his helmet over his head, Luke turned on the communications unit between himself and his father. "Are you feeling okay over there? You're acting...odd," Luke said, lacking a word to place to Anakin's strange behavior. He started up his X-Wing, ready to pull out into the stars.

Anakin smiled. "All things considered, I've just had the best morning ever...Something I've not had in a long time."

Luke chuckled. "Do I have to get used to this now? Because your moods are all over the place, I'm having so much trouble keeping up," he joked.

Anakin shot him a playful Force nudge. "Consider it preparation for if you ever get married. Women are all over the place too sometimes."

Luke snorted before he suddenly started to laugh, shaking with mirth as he entered the coordinates into his X-Wing. "Wow...jumping the gun a little, aren't you? I'm only nineteen..."

Anakin snorted as well. "Sure. You can't get married until you're twenty-eight. My orders..."

Luke stared, befuddled, at the cockpit of the X-Wing beside him in the stars. "Twenty-eight? Why twenty-eight, of all the ages...and aren't you twenty-three right now? How old were you when you married Mother?"

Anakin opened his mouth to retort, but then grimaced, trying now to back out. "Ah...that's not important..."

Luke, sensing he's struck gold in this particular conversation, pressed for more. "Oh really? It's not important I know when my parents were married? Then what is important if not that?"

Anakin sighed, knowing when he was cornered. "Alright...I was twenty when we married. And it was the best decision I have ever made...well, in my time."

"Well...I don't plan on getting married any time soon, so you can relax over there," Luke chuckled, taking note of the love in his father's voice.

Anakin smiled warmly. "Just make sure you marry for the right reasons, Luke. That's all I can say to you."

Luke blushed. "I haven't really thought of marriage to be honest...I always figured I'd think about it when I met the right person..."

"And that's how it should be," Anakin assured him. "Don't worry about it until then."

Luke coughed awkwardly, watching as the stars of hyperspace went by, reclining in his seat as he started to relax...

...and then bolted upright when he realized he'd completely forgotten to mention something very, very important.

"Oh!" Luke exclaimed, probably startling Anakin in the other X-Wing. "I almost forgot to tell you, I..."

He hesitated, sobering his tone a little as he knew this was still a sensitive subject—it was for Luke, too, but he had to tell his father.

"I heard Ben again...during the Death Star Battle..."

Anakin lifted his brows. "Really?"

"Yes and...I actually heard him about...four times...probably because I kept thinking I was hearing things..." Luke said in embarrassment.

Anakin laughed. "At least you listened to him. I ignored his advice more times than I can remember."

"He's the reason I destroyed that Death Star. I was going to use the targeting computer but...he told me to use the Force instead. I probably wouldn't have made that shot if he hadn't directed me to use the Force..." Luke told his father. He was silent for a few moments before he spoke up again. "Do you think either of us will hear from him again?"

Anakin felt twinges of sorrow begin to cloud his previously happy state, but he pushed it aside.

"If we are meant to, then yes," Anakin said softly. "I'm glad for you, Luke."

Knowing they were headed down an unhappy road, Luke decided to drop the subject and try a new topic. "Could you tell me about Mother? And about your adventures in the Clone Wars? Just to pass the time, you know..."

Anakin pursed his lips. Where to begin? He wondered.

"Is there anything you'd like to know specifically?" he asked.

Luke sighed, thinking it over for a moment. "Not really...I just want to know more...anything at all, truthfully," Luke told him honestly. "Maybe adventures the two of you had together."

Anakin thought it over a bit more. "Well... How about when your mother won back her planet? I could go into more detail on that."

Luke smiled softly, relaxing in his seat once again. "Yes...yes, I'd like that very much."

Anakin nodded even though Luke couldn't see it.

"It started before I met her, when the Trade Federation blockaded and invaded Naboo..." Anakin began.

Time passed without his noticing.

"... And then she tricked everyone once again by allowing one of her handmaidens to pretend to be her, and no one found out until she asked the Gungan King for help..."

"... And then when Viceroy Gunray thought he had her, she got the jump on him again..."

"...You should have seen it when the Neimoidians were finally taken off-world. They weren't nearly so confident without their droid army to protect them…"

"…and then she reunited the Gungans and the humans; it was the same day I became Obi-Wan's Padawan."

Luke's heart had swelled with joy as he'd listened to the story of how his mother had reclaimed her planet. He couldn't believe he was the son of such an amazing woman, a queen nonetheless, and also the son of a legendary Jedi of the Clone Wars. Artoo broke Luke's musings when he tootled out the announcement that they would be coming out of hyperspace soon, though Luke still shared his thoughts with Anakin as he prepped the X-Wing. "Wow...I would have never imagined..." he said breathlessly, still in a daze. Oh, how he wished he could have known his mother! He was beyond grateful for this chance to know his father, bizarre as it may have been, but he couldn't help the part of him that wanted to know the woman who'd carried him as well now, the woman his father had fallen in love with and married.

Anakin felt Luke's happiness, and was glad he could be part of that. Boomer signaled the revert to real space, and Anakin pulled back on the lever, bringing his X-Wing out of the mottled tunnel it had been in.

He instinctively did a few loose maneuvers to shake any unknown tails or anything else unwanted while Luke also reverted.

"Well, here we are." Anakin flipped on his data display. "Did Dodonna give us any place to begin?"

"He told us to land outside a city so no one would see the X-Wings; that will be a giveaway that we're with the Alliance. However, he left the starting point up to us. There's a few main cities he gave me the location of, but that's it. I was thinking we'd hide the X-Wings outside of the city and then stay in the city limits while we scout around," Luke told him, picking one of the city locations and having Artoo send it to Boomer while he spoke.

Anakin read Luke's coordinates and nodded. "All right, let's go."