Author's Note: A big thank you again to all of my readers and reviewers. You are awesome as always! And sorry it's been so long between updates. Real life seems to be draining my creative energy of late. But I'll keep my stories going when I can.
Update: If you read this when it was immediately posted, I realized I didn't put anything in the meeting between Chewie and Anakin regarding what transpired between them on Bespin when Anakin had been Darth Vader. So I have since added that.
Update as of 9/8/13: In the previous chapter, I had previously mentioned that Jacen had already been knighted and that is why he wanted Jedi robes much like the ones Anakin used to wear. But this is an inconsistency with later chapters so I have updated chapter 6 to say that he wanted them because he was going to be facing his trials soon. I also added an additional exchange to this chapter where Anakin thanks Jacen for the Jedi robes that I hope you will enjoy. :)
Chapter 7
After Anakin had retrieved his mother's holojournal from his med bay room and put it in one of Luke's carry on bags at his son's suggestion, the Skywalker/Solo family headed for hanger of the medical frigate. As they all approached the Falcon, they saw Han emerge from the ramp giving them all one of his famous lopsided grins. "So you all set to go?" Han asked as he glanced over at Anakin and then back at the rest of his family.
"Yes, we're ready, Han." Leia said with a smile as he looked up at her father with love.
Anakin stopped and crossed his arms in front of his chest as he got a smirk on his face. He started to walk around the Falcon with interest as he noticed Han's eyes on him as he went and that he was leaning up against the side of his ship near the ramp. "It's amazing to finally see The Falcon up close again. I haven't been this close to it since it had been brought on board the first Death Star." He paused. "She is an amazing ship...despite appearances." He told Han as he turned towards him with the smirk still on his face.
"Yeah...well...she ain't much to look at...but she does have it where it counts." Han told him with pride.
"Oh, I believe you." Anakin told him as he walked closer to Han. "It seemed like I was always in pursuit of it...and never could catch it."
Han just chuckled. "Some times I think you let us escape. I'm good, but not that good."
Anakin chuckled in return. "You underestimate yourself, Han. You're a very skilled and clever pilot. And that certainly makes up for some of your ship's...inadequacies."
Han's mouth just gaped open in response. "I don't know if I should be honored or insulted."
"Take it anyway you like." Anakin told him with another smirk as he walked passed him to join the others who were starting up the ramp. "But I didn't always let you escape." He told him with a twinkle in his eyes as he followed Leia and Luke up the ramp into the ship.
Han just looked at him with his mouth gapping open as he followed them to the bottom of the ramp, looking up into the ship. "So you did let us escape, didn't you?"
Anakin turned towards Han and just laughed. "Maybe...sometimes." He told him with a huge smirk on his face and twinkle in his eyes.
Han just sighed and shook his head as he chuckled. "I don't know if I believe you." He said as he crossed his arms in front of him at looked at his father-in-law with suspicion.
"You can believe what you want." Anakin replied while still smirking as he continued his way into the ship.
"In-Laws...you either love 'em or hate 'em." Han said with another chuckle as he saw Chewie arrive on the Falcon. "You ready buddy?"
Chewie just growled something in response. "You and me both, Chewie." He paused. "Having the former Vader on board the Falcon is certainly something I thought I'd never see in my life time." He paused. "But ya know. He ain't that bad...really. You'll learn to like him."
Chewie growled again as Han looked at him with shock. "You knew of him before...when he was Anakin Skywalker?" Chewie growled again in response. "Well, why didn't you say so?" Chewie growled with irritation back at Han. "Ahh...never mind. Just get on the ship fur ball." Han told him as Han followed Chewie up into the ship.
Anakin and Chewie examined each other as Chewie stopped in front of Anakin, studying him and then growled. Han came up behind him and stopped. "Chewie wants me to tell you that it's an honor to finally meet the 'Hero Without Fear'." Han translated as the others on the ship looked at their father in confusion.
"It's an honor to finally meet the mighty Chewbacca...on good terms." Anakin told him with a smile as he held out his right hand towards the Wookie and Chewie took his pro-offered hand. "I'm sorry about what happened on Bespin, Chewbacca. I hope you believe me when I say that."
Chewie growled something in return as Han looked at him with shock. "He says...he no longer sees the evil man in the black mask. He only sees a father who saved his son's life out of love. An evil man cannot love. You saved my friend's life so, therefore, you are forgiven."
Anakin looked at Chewbacca with shock. "Thank you, Chewbacca, thank you." He paused. "You also saved my padawan learner's life many years ago. Do you remember Ahsoka Tano?"
Chewie growled in response to Anakin's words as Han and the others continued to look on with awe. "Chewie said it was a pleasure to save Padawan Tano. He was only returning the favor because she helped save his life." Han translated as Chewie bowed his head in respect towards Anakin.
Anakin, not knowing what to say in return, only bowed in response to what Chewie told him and then turned to the others. "I wish I knew what happened to Ahsoka. She left the Jedi Order prior to the purges and I never saw her again. She would be around 70 years old now...and probably a grandmother." Anakin said with a sad smiled.
"I've never heard of Ahsoka Tano, Father." Luke told him. "If she is still alive, she must have decided to stay hidden even after the fall of the Empire."
Anakin just nodded sadly in response as Chewie and Han started towards the cockpit. "I'd still like to know what happened to her." Anakin told his son as Han turned just before disappearing to the front of the ship.
"Maybe we can make some inquiries about her, Father." Luke suggested as Anakin nodded.
"I would really like that." Anakin replied with a weak smile towards Luke with love for his suggestion.
"Make yourselves comfortable. It should only take about 3 standard hours to get there since Naboo is so close to the Outer Rim Territories." Han informed them as Luke, Leia and Anakin sat down around the holochess table.
"Thank you, Han." Leia told him as he then nodded and continued into the cockpit to fire up the engines to get ready to leave.
Anakin then looked around noticing that the Mara and his grandchildren were no where to be found. "Where is the rest of the family? Aren't they coming too?" He asked his fellow travelers.
"No." Leia replied. "But they should be here shortly to see us off." She told her father just as they heard a lot of chatter coming from the back of the Falcon. Leia then smiled, getting up from her seat at the holochess table and returned to the back of the ship to the ramp, followed by Luke, Anakin and Han.
Little Ben arrived just inside the entrance of the Falcon with his mother and exchanged hugs and kisses with Luke. "Stay safe, Luke." Mara told her husband as they kissed on the lips and they looked into each other's eyes with love.
"Thank you, Mara. We should be back in no less than a week, I believe." Luke told his wife as Ben turned to look at his grandfather.
Anakin bent down and Ben ran into his arms. "I'll miss you, Grandfather." Ben told Anakin as he returned his embrace and kissed the 7 year old's cheek. "I've really enjoyed your stories about the Clone Wars."
"I'll miss you too, Ben." Anakin assured him with a smile. "I'll tell you more about my adventures when we get back." He paused as he looked into his grandson's sad blue eyes, putting both of his hands on the boy's shoulders. "Be good for your mother."
"I will, Grandfather." Ben promised with a nod as he began to pout. "I wish I could go with you." He said as Luke bent down also to take his son back into his arms.
"Perhaps another time, Ben..." Luke told his son as Ben hugged his dad. "...after we all get to know our cousin Pooja better. We don't want to overwhelm her right now. She just learned about your aunt and I being her cousins...and about your grandfather being back." He told his son with small chuckle.
"Ok, Dad." Ben replied with a pout and then looked up at his dad with sad blue eyes again. "I'll miss you too." Ben told him as everyone looked on thinking how cute Ben was acting.
It was at this point that Jacen and Jaina arrived and came up the ramp, taking the attention away from Ben. They started to make their rounds, giving their parents and uncle hugs and kisses until they finally stood in front of Anakin. "I see my formal Jedi robes fit you." Jacen told his grandfather as he crossed his arms in front of his chest and looked him up and down.
Anakin smiled as he looked down at himself and then up at Jacen again. "Yes, thank you for them, Jacen. They are very much like the ones I used to wear during the Clone Wars."
Jacen smiled. "You're welcome, Grandfather. I read somewhere that you wore this style of Jedi robes during the Clone Wars, but they aren't really me and not what I'm used to wearing."
Anakin just smiled warmly and simply nodded. "Your mother indicated as much." He told him as Jacen smiled back at him.
"You look very handsome in them, Grandfather." Jaina said with a smile and then smirked over at her brother. "They definitely look much better on you than they ever did on this nerfherder over here." She told him as she pointed at her brother with her left thumb.
"Hey!" Jacen retorted as he dropped his arms to his sides while looking at his sister with mock irritation. Anakin bit his lip trying his hardest not to laugh at the sibling rivalry, but Jaina showed no shame by having a good laugh at her twin brother's expense. She continued to smirk at him as Jacen just shook his head in disbelief as he folded his arms in front of his chest again. He then turned to look at his grandfather with a serious look on his face. "I wish we could come along." Jacen declared as he opened his arms to give his grandfather a hug. "But we both have exams this week." He explained with Anakin returned his embrace and then they both stepped out of it.
Jaina, at that point, proceeded to give her grandfather a hug with Anakin returning it and then she stepped back again, crossing her arms in front of her chest with a disappointed look on her face. "Yeah...and Mom won't let us go because she doesn't want us getting behind on our studies. We are supposed to be facing our trials soon and wants us to be ready. Even though we both keep insisting we are." She told her grandfather as Anakin nodded in understanding.
"I understand." Anakin replied as he crossed his arms in front of his chest and sighed. "But your mother is right. Your education is important and should come first, especially if you want to pass your trials." Anakin told him with a smile and then paused as he surprised even himself. "I can't believe I just said that." Anakin said with a chuckle. "I wasn't always the most diligent student." He admitted to them. "I would rather be working in the hanger with the Jedi mechanics, out flying, or in light saber practice than concentrating on my studies. And just forget about meditation. That was definitely not something I excelled in." He chuckled again in sad reminiscence. "I drove my poor master, Obi-Wan, crazy."
"So that's where they got that from?" Leia, overhearing their conversation, interjected as she crossed her arms in front of her chest and looked at her father suspiciously. "I always loved school, so I always assumed our kids got that from Han."
"Hey! Now I'm insulted by that." Han exclaimed in mock irritation as he overheard her comment to her father. But then laughed as he looked over at Anakin with a smirk on his face. "At least I know I'm not the only one to blame. We both can share that pleasure." Han remarked, causing the whole group to laugh at their expense.
After everyone had said their proper goodbyes to one another, those who were staying behind left the ship and formed a group just outside the hanger on the observation deck where those in the Falcon could see them. They all waved back at the rest of the family who were waving from the cockpit of the Falcon as Han continued to raise the Falcon off of the hanger floor and flew the ship out into space.
"So how are they going to get back to the Temple on Yavin IV?" Anakin asked Luke as Luke, Anakin and Leia all returned to the back to sit at the holochess table. They felt the lurch as the ship jumped into hyperspace.
Luke turned to look at his father who was sitting to his right. "They are taking a long range shuttle back there. It's not very far from their current location." He explained which seemed to cure Anakin's curiosity.
Anakin just nodded in response as the three continued to talk about the coming days ahead.
Theed, Naboo – Three Hours Later
"Well, we're here." Han declared as he returned to the back of the ship with Chewie not far behind. "So what's the plan? Is your cousin meeting us here, Leia?"
Leia nodded. "Yes." She replied. "She was expecting us so she should be here shortly to accompany us to the lake retreat."
Everyone else nodded as Luke, Leia and Anakin got to their feet and continued down the ramp that Han had just opened. Han then turned to Chewie. "Hey, pal. Are you sure you don't mind staying with the ship?"
Chewie growled in response and nodded his head, just happy to have some time to spend making some more improvements and repairs to the old, battered ship.
"Thanks, Chewie." Han replied. "I'll contact you once we reach the lake house."
Chewie growled again and nodded his head as he headed back up the ramp in the Falcon.
"Chewie isn't accompanying us?" Anakin asked as Han joined them.
"Nah. He told me earlier that he thinks this trip is personal family stuff, so he's happy to stay on the Falcon." Han informed him. "He's actually looking forward to working on some problems we've been having with the hyperdrive."
Anakin chuckled. "You're still having trouble with the hyperdrive?"
"Oh...I forgot you'd know about that. That's how we ended up on Bespin in the first place." Han replied with a bit of embarrassed. He sighed. "Actually, this is a new problem."
"Oh?" Anakin replied as he looked at Han with sympathy. "Do you want any help? I've had a bit of experience with actually fixing ships."
Han looked back at his new found father-in-law with surprise. "Really?"
"Yes, really." Anakin informed him. "And I assume that is also a trait my son and grandchildren have picked up from me." He said with a twinkle in his eye.
"Hey! Are you insulting my mechanical skills?" Han asked in an appalled manner.
Anakin just laughed at him. "No, no." He replied as Han realized his father-in-law was just messing with his head.
"Very funny." Han retorted as he crossed his arms in front of his chest and shook his head in disbelief.
Anakin and the twins just laughed as Leia put her left arm through Han's left arm. "Come on, nerfherder." She told him with love as she smiled at him and then motioned her head towards the door. "Pooja just arrived."
In the door of the hanger, stood Pooja Naberrie with her brown, hair pulled into an elaborate hair style on top of her head; and she was wearing a pale, green dress. "Leia!" Pooja exclaimed as she walked up to the group excitedly and gave her friend and new found cousin a hug. "It's so good to see you again!" She exclaimed as Leia released her arm from Han's and returned the embrace. It was then that Pooja looked over Leia's shoulder in shock as she saw Anakin quietly looking back at her. "Anakin! I don't believe it!" She said as she released Leia from her hug and walked up to him.
Anakin smiled at her with his hands clasped in front of him. "Hello, Pooja. It's been a long time." He told her while reflecting how much she resembled her Aunt Padme.
"I don't believe this." Pooja reiterated as she reached her right hand out to him to greet him and he shook her hand in return. "When Leia told me that you had somehow returned to us...well..." She paused as she put her left hand on top of his. "Welcome back, Anakin." She finally said not knowing what else to say as she then reached out and pulled him into an embrace. "It's good to have you here." She told him as Anakin awkwardly returned her embrace. Pooja, noticing this, released him and looked up at him.
"Thank you, Pooja." Anakin replied with a weak smile. "It's good to see you again also...and to be back on Naboo." He then paused as unshed tears started to form in his eyes as he tried to hold them back. "I-I was hoping we could visit your Aunt Padme's grave...before heading for the lake country."
Pooja nodded with a sad smile on her face as she put her right hand on his left arm. "Of course, Uncle Anakin." She said to him with a sad smile. "You are part of our family and I suspected that you might want to. I will take you there myself. My speeder is just outside." She told all of them as she squeezed his arm again and then started towards the entrance to the hanger.
"Thank you." Anakin replied sadly as the Skywalkers and Solos followed Pooja Naberrie outside and proceeded to get into the awaiting speeder. Leia sat in the front and the guys all got into the back seat.
As Pooja drove them towards the cemetery, Pooja broke the silence as she pointed to Theed Palace in the distance. "The Naboo government has finally approved plans to renovate part of Theed Palace that was destroyed years ago when Naboo was attacked by the Empire. Our hope is to restore it to its former glory when Aunt Padme was queen there."
Anakin weakly smiled at her from the back seat where he sat with his arms crossed in front of his chest. "That will mean a lot to the people of Naboo." He paused as remorse filled his heart. "Why did it take so long for the renovations to happen? I would have thought they would have done those renovations years ago after the fall of the Empire."
Pooja sighed. "Naboo had been in economic decline for many years after the fall of the Empire and it was deemed an unnecessary expense as the rest of the palace remained in tact. It wasn't until recently that it was decided something needed to be done before that part of the palace fell over the cliff and was lost forever."
Anakin nodded in reply. "That makes sense." He sighed as he looked off to the side at the passing scenery. "The Empire destroyed a lot of worlds and a lot of people's lives." He paused as he looked down in shame. "I'm sorry for the part I played in it."
Pooja, remembering what Leia had told her about Anakin's past life as Darth Vader, just nodded as she saw in the rear view mirror how ashamed and remorseful he was acting. I can't believe he was ever Darth Vader. She thought to herself as she continued to answer him. "The past is the past, Uncle Ani. We must move forward as a people and as a galaxy. All we can do is learn from the mistakes of our past and try to make the galaxy a better place again."
Anakin looked up at Pooja with a start from her use of the nickname that only his mother and Padme had used for him and at how much her statement reminded him even more of his late wife, filling his heart with joy and sadness at the same time. "Thank you, Pooja. Your acceptance and forgiveness means a lot to me."
Pooja weakly smiled back at Anakin through the rear view mirror. "Aunt Padme loved you. She saw the good man that you were and are. I trust her instincts...and see that you are truly remorseful for your past deeds. So I do forgive you, Uncle Ani. You can be assured of that."
Anakin smiled back at her with a tear escaping down his cheek. "Thank you, so much for that, Pooja." He told her just as Pooja stopped the speeder outside the cemetery, bringing an abrupt end to their conversation and filling all those within the speeder with even more sadness at the sight of Padme's final resting place.
Pooja turned off the speeder and then turned to her right to look at all of those in the speeder. "Well...this is it." She told them sadly as they all proceeded to get out of the speeder in silence and started following her on foot into the cemetery.
Anakin walked behind the others as he saw the Naberrie family mausoleum come into view in front of them. Tears started to form in his eyes and flow down his cheeks as they stopped in front of it. Pooja took an old fashioned durasteel key out of the pocket in her dress and unlocked the durasteel gate. She then pushed on it with both hands and it creaked as it opened from lack of use.
Luke turned to look at his father feeling intense waves of guilt, sadness, and regret pouring out from his aura. "Are you going to be ok? Are you sure you still want to do this?" Luke asked him with concern as he put his left arm around Anakin's shoulders in a comforting manner and causing the others to turn and look at him with compassion in their eyes.
Anakin looked down and nodded as the tears continued to flow down his cheeks, and Leia also put her right arm around her father's waist in a comforting manner. "Are you sure?" Leia asked him.
"Yes...I'm sure." Anakin replied sadly as the group continued inside.
"Grandma and Grandpa Naberrie are buried in here also." Pooja explained as she pointed to a couple of stone caskets with a holo of a very young Ruwee and Jobel Naberrie on their wedding day in between their two caskets.
"I'm sorry." Anakin said as the group stood in front of the elder Naberries' caskets in solemn remembrance and/or with respect. "They were good people."
"Yes, they were." Pooja replied. "They were wonderful grandparents to me and my sister." She looked at Luke and Leia. "I'm sorry you weren't able to know them." Luke and Leia just nodded sadly as Pooja then turned to Anakin while pointing to another stone casket at the far end of the mausoleum. "Aunt Padme's casket is this way." She said as she led them over to it.
Anakin couldn't take his eyes off of the 3D holo of his beautiful wife that was prominently displayed in front of her casket as they drew closer to it. Luke and Leia released him as he quietly stepped forward to Padme's final resting place and put his right hand on the cold stone casket before him. He then started to weep uncontrollably as he fell to his knees. "I'm so, so sorry, Padme. For everything." He paused as tears started to fall more heavily down his cheeks as the years of not allowing himself to truly mourn her death started to overtake him again as if it had just happened. "I miss you so much, Angel. I should have listened to you. I should have gone with you when you asked me to. I was so stupid." He continued to berate himself as he covered his face with both of his hands and continued to sob uncontrollably.
The others, who were standing behind him watching this heartbreaking scene before them, couldn't help but feel compassion for him, no matter what little resentment or bad thoughts they may still have harbored for him. All of that seemed to be unimportant to them right now as they watched this man, formerly known as Darth Vader, Sith Lord and second in command in the Empire, father and Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, breakdown in front of their very eyes. They saw how much love he had for his wife and could feel his regret emanating off of him in such violent waves that it made both Luke and Leia almost pass out by the shear power of it.
"Perhaps we should leave him alone for a few minutes." Luke suggested in a whisper as the rest of them nodded in agreement and silently started heading for the door. Although, Luke stayed behind for a moment as he put his left hand on his father's right shoulder, squeezing it. "We'll be right outside, Father. Take all the time you need."
Anakin nodded his head as tears continued flowing down his face, and he vacantly stared at the lovely holo of his wife in front of him. Without another word, Luke retreated outside with the others to wait, leaving him alone to mourn his wife without watchful eyes upon him.
"Why haven't you come for me, Ani? It's so dark here."
Anakin whipped around in a state of shock as he looked around the dark interior of the mausoleum. "Who's there?" He finally asked as he got to his feet, taking his light saber from his belt and igniting it so he could see more clearly in the dark room. When no one answered him and he didn't see anyone in the blue glowing light given off from his light saber, he extinguished his saber and returned it to his belt. "I'm starting to lose it." He quietly said to himself out loud as he wiped the tears that were still streaming down his cheeks with the back of his right hand.
"Ani, I'm right here. Why can't you see me?"
Anakin abruptly turned around again in the direction he heard the voice; but then this time he saw the blue, glowing figure of someone he thought he would never see again looking back at him with both love and sadness. His eyes opened wide in shock and his jaw dropped. "Padme." He mouthed in almost a whisper as he reached out with his right hand and moved towards the ghostly figure of the woman he loved more than life itself. But no sooner than he reached her, she was gone. "Padme!"
Author's Note: Ok you Padme/Anakin lovers out there. I hope this is perking your curiosity. ;)
