They walked in silence, following the small path leading to the terrace. Luke walking behind her carrying the box, while she lifted the light guiding the way. Large trees framed the path ahead on either side, and to her left she could see a beautiful ornate stone banister. As they stepped onto the terrace, the lake was visible just below. The full moon having almost completed it's descent, made the dark water shimmer.

Thats where they found him, off to one side, a large shadow leaning on the banister, his hood still up. He was outlined by pale blue light, that vanished as soon as he noticed their approach. Luke wandered over leaning the box on the banister next to Vader, who lifted his hands, lowering the hood. As Leia moved the lantern, aiming to put it down next to the box, she caught a glimpse of his face. His eyes were bloodshot and swollen, if she didn't know any better she would think he had been crying. Ill at ease she lowered the lantern down on the banister, and moved off to the side. This left Luke in the middle acting as a welcome barrier between her and Vader.

Tilting his head, Vader gave the box a cursory glance, but did not look at its's content. They just stood there for a while, until Luke broke the silence.

"I wish I could have known her" he said sadly, looking up at Vader.

"So do I Luke" he replied quietly

"A queen then a senator, she sounded remarkable." Luke continued, trying to coax more out of Vader, but he seemed more reluctant to talk about her now than earlier.

"Elected queen, believe me, she would have made that distinction very clear." Vader finally responded, however he kept his gaze firmly on the horizon.

Leie just watched them talk, she wanted nothing from him, yet she hung on every word he uttered about their mother, she wanted to know, to understand. What had her mother seen in him, had he deceived her?

Luke tried a few more times to engage Vader in conversations, but got mostly one or two syllable replies. Eventually it seemed Luke accepted defeat, but not before making one final push.

"We are going to see her grave in a day, will you come with us?" Luke asked carefully, Vader squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, before he replied "If that is your wish" Then he turned towards her, silently asking for her consent, she thought. Having her own reasons for wanting him there she gave him a small nod.

Looking away from him, she leaned over the banister and gazed down at the water, it was making comforting sloshing sounds, reminding her of home. The lake just below the palace where she grew up had used to glimmer like this at night, the window in her bedroom had looked straight down at it. But like everything else, it too was now gone.

Breathing in the fresh night air, she let out an involuntary shiver, her lack of sleep had left her tired, and more prone to the cold.

Luke moved around for a bit before he turned towards her and wrapped her in his cloak. Gratefully she pulled it close together, relishing the warmth, being so short it cowered her completely. It wasn't until the slightly musty smell hit her nose, she realized this wasn't Luke's cloak at all, it was his. She was tempted to rip it of and throw it into the lake below, but she stopped herself, it was just a piece of cloth, it could not hurt her.

Instead she settled for glaring at Luke, but as she did, his earlier words came back to haunt her. Taking a deep breath she did as he had suggested. Tentatively she stretched out with the force, Luke's presence blazing brightly, standing so close, it was warm and comforting. She wanted to reach out and hug him. He was her brother, and she loved him, he didn't deserve her ire. Letting her senses stretch even further, she gently prodded at the presence next to Luke.

Vader stiffened. Getting to his full height, he swung his head towards her, looking down at her, over the top of Lukes head.

He stood perfectly still, just staring at her, eyes assesing. It felt like light, but it was dull, distant. Then something shifted and it grew stronger. Not as bright a Luke, but steady and warm. Like the beat of a heart. Leia pulled back, he had let her in she realized. Let her see, until she couldn't bear to look any longer, for what she saw broke her heart.

"I don't know how to do this" she muttered quietly. How could she know if he felt different now? When she had confronted him in the past, she hadn't used the force, at least not knowingly. Begrudgingly she had to admit he did not feel like she had expected. No dark fingers ready to drag her into the abyss. What she had felt was heartbreak. Sorrow so deep it made her want to cry, and guilt, so much guilt. The sheer extent of it took some of the fight out of her.

Sensing what was going on, Luke moved back a step. Leaving her and Vader only separated by the box, balancing precariously on the edge. Unable to help it her eyes welled with tears, quickly she blinked them away. Unfortunately it was not fast enough, as a distressed expression crossed Vader's face, and he turned away from her, staring down into the water, his presence dimming.

She swallowed. "I found Luke" she offered, wanting to do anything to distract herself, even talk to him. For at that moment she was unsure whose pain she was feeling, his or hers, for a while they had blurred together as one. She could not help but wonder if he was feeling the same way . "At Bespin I mean" she babbled, he had seemed interested in this, hadn't he?

He turned back to look at her. "And at Endor" he replied "I felt your presence there"

"You didn't before"

"I didn't feel much of anything before." he sighed, the flickering lantern offering a good view of his face, dark shadows playing across his features.

"Except hate that is. In fact I bore a strong dislike for you, for more than your rebellion, at least now I know why. The hair, the eyes, they were all my clues. I just didn't want to see it. Any reminder of her was more painful than any fire, and I wanted to put it out. Put you out" he added, studying her face.

She had reminded him of Padme all this time? Someone he claimed to love, yet if Luke had not saved her, he would have killed her. For a moment there she had felt a tiny flicker of pity for him, had forgotten what he really was. Then he spoke a few words, and it all came rushing back. Luke groaned in the background, clearly not impressed by Vader's tactics.

Echoing her thoughts he spoke, shaking his head sadly "I would have killed you, my own flesh and blood, and I would never have know. I would not have cared. You are right to hate me."

"And now, do you still want me dead?" She asked bitterly, pulling her anger around her as a blanket.

His eyes snapped to hers. "If I wanted you dead, you would be dead" he replied, sounding a bit annoyed, then he took a deep breath calming himself and added wearily "I meant what I said Leia, I will never harm you again, never"

Taking a tentative step towards her, eyes mild he asked in a soft voice "Is that what you saw?"

He knew very well it wasn't, she had seen a man in pain, full of regret. However running through all that sorrow, she had felt love, pulsing steadily, even brightly. It had been directed towards Luke, towards her. She shook her head, unable to speak, he could not fake that, could he?

As he moved closer he looked her up and down, eyes narrowing slightly, then he reached out a hand, moving it slowly towards her, like he was approaching a wild animal. She watched it as wearily as one, thinking it would be childish to slap it away.

Instead of grasping her by the throat, he carefully tugged at the cloak, she hadn't realized how closely she had tucked it around her, before he started pulling at it. Rubbing the material between thumb and forefinger, he took a step even closer to her, studying it.

"Is this mine?" he asked, sounding astonished. "It's a real Jedi cloak"

She nodded, her hands clasping the rough fabric at her throat, holding it close, like armor. Not willing to let go. He looked a bit amused at her death grip, and gave the cloak an extra tug, a small smile on his face.

"Yes, Jobal and Ruwee found it among mothers things, a long with several other objects, all in the box" Luke answered, indicating the box by a tilt of his head.

Vader let the cloak go, but not before murmuring softly "You keep it Leia"

Then he moved towards the box, resting one hand on it's side. It was almost dawn and the first rays of sunlight could be seen on the horizon. Framed by the weak light, he stood there, still as a statue shoulders hunched, peering into the box. However he didn't reach inside and touch anything. After a while he tightened his grip, she was half afraid for Luke sake, that he would push it into the water.

Abruptly he let go, and turned back to face them, stretching his other hand out, offering Luke the object Jobal had given him earlier. Leia realized he must have been holding it all this time

"I would like you to watch this" he said . "To know I wasn't always like this" he added, indicating himself with one hand.

"I already know that father" Luke said, but he took the offered object anyway.

Vader nodded, than walked briskly past them adding a "Let's go" as he passed by, not bothering to see if they followed, the action of a man used to being obeyed. Leia felt a flash of anger, she was no stormtrooper. Luke must have notice her expression, because he laughed, pulling the hood over her face, so she could not see. "Grumpy" she heard him say, and she halfheartedly swung her hand in his general direction.

Pulling the hood down again smiling slightly, Leia started walkingfollowing Vader's dark form, , Luke beside her, with his box of treasures.

Notes

I am amazed so many are following my story:) Thanks for all the reviews, it's really nice to read them.