More updates are coming slowly but surely, I promise! College just takes up a lot of time and between recording sessions, mixing, and programming; my time management is being pushed to the limits. I do force myself to at least try to write something when I have time, if only to preserve my sanity. But honestly most of those pieces go straight to my scrap folder since they are mostly just me rambling about whatever is in my head. One of them I wrote Anakin as Ramsay Snow from Game of Thrones which is just plain weird.

Anyways, here is the newest chapter! If we're lucky, I'll be able to get chapter 11 up very soon. (Doubtful though).

-DFD

Chapter 10

Left alone in the massive quarters, she wasn't quite so used to having so much free time on her hands. While she had been with the Rebellion she had always had at least something important to occupy her time with whether it was a report to read over or a meeting to attend. Now she hadn't the slightest clue what she should do. Turning around, she walked over to where the children's rooms were. Leia's room was a pale pink color with white furniture. Along the top of the short bookshelf next to her bed were several holos. One was of Leia and Galen sitting on the wing of a TIE fighter that looked to be maybe a year old at most. Another image was of them when Leia was just a toddler. Leia had told her she didn't have too many holos with Vader and this must be one of them. In the holo, Vader cradled the small child to his chest as he rocked gently to keep her asleep. Leia's tiny fist held tightly to her father's cape as she slept peacefully against him. The image made her smile for a moment before a tinge of jealousy made the smile fade.

How was it fair for him to have experienced the joys of parenthood when it had been by his hand they had nearly lost their children? What cruel god saw fit to deem him worthy raising their child and her to spend her days searching and worrying about her wellbeing? She wished things had been different. She wished she had played a part in their children's lives but instead she had been sidelined all their lives. She envied Vader for what he had with Leia. And yet at the same time she was… grateful for it. Padme closed her eyes as she sat down on the edge of Leia's bed. What would Vader have been had he not found Leia? She had seen a small glimpse of that monster on Mustafar so many years ago and there was no doubt in her mind that monster would have only grown more powerful without Leia's pure influence on his soul.

Padme rose from the bed and directed her attention to the boy's room next. She didn't feel like she had the same right to enter the room as she did with Leia's and so she simply peeked inside to get a glimpse of who this boy is. Galen's room looked like a typical boy's room. The walls were a dark blue color and had grey furniture similar to Leia's though much simpler in design. His shelves had only a small handful of holobooks and were mostly lined with model ships and the tools to put them together. His room was much messier than Leia's with half the sheets hanging off the edge of the bed and dirty clothes kicked under the bed. On his walls hung several posters from action movies and a handful of holos. The holo hanging next to the closet was from when they were both very young. Vader sat in the cockpit of his fighter with a child perched on either leg. His arms wrapped around both of them, as they each gripped one of the steering controls in their hands.

Seeing Galen with Vader only reminds her of her own son. The signs that Vader has more good in him than she thought screams at her that she needs to tell him the truth. She must find a way to tell him about Luke. But when she does how will he react? Will he listen to her? Or will he turn on her again? She wants to believe he won't. That his remorse over the past is genuine, but she can't lie and say she doesn't still have nightmares about it. Feeling his ghostly fingers wrapped around her throat, watching his eyes turn a sickly yellow as he glares at her as if she is nothing more than meat, disturbs and terrifies her.

Turning back to the main room, her eyes fall on closed door that leads to Vader's room. Knowing how badly he was hurt and why he wears the suit, she can't help but wonder how he lives now. With the room empty, it seems the perfect time to get some answers. Walking over to the door, she can feel her heart beat hard against her chest as her stomach twists in knots. Standing before the door she pauses a moment before she presses the button to open it. Surprisingly it opens without an issue. It is much larger than the children's room with its own holoprojector and a com unit installed into the wall. In the center sat a massive black sphere split into two hemispheres.

"Oh, Ani…" She whispered, putting her hand to her heart.

"That's Daddy's hyperbolic chamber." Padme jumps and turns to see Leia standing in the doorway. "It's the only place he can take his mask off."

"I figured that much," She said, smiling at Leia as the girl walked over to stand next to her. "How much do you know about your father's injuries?"

Leia looked up at her, "Which ones? The ones from before I was born or the ones given by the Emperor?"

Padme's eyes went wide at the blunt question. While she would never put Palpatine above inflicting harm on Vader, the fact that Leia said it as though it were common disturbed her. "Does that happen often?" She asked, almost afraid of the answer.

"Often enough." She said, "Galen and I always know when it happens. We can feel him almost constantly and when he cuts that off, we know he's in pain."

"Cuts it off?" A furrow formed on her brow. Not being Force Sensitive sometimes makes it difficult to understand the depth of his connection to things.

"He shields us from what he is feeling," Leia explained. "Cutting himself off means we won't feel whatever is happening to him, but it also means he feels what is happening to him a lot more because his attention is divided between the pain, shielding his thoughts, and cutting us out." Leia lowers her gaze, lost in a memory, "He was punished when I snuck onto Naboo." She said, "It was my fault."

Padme was quick to crouch down next to her, "No." She said, gripping her by the shoulders, "It wasn't your fault."

Leia shook her head, "Daddy said the same thing but it was. He got hurt because of me."

Padme lifted the girl's chin to force her to look at her, "Leia… if you hadn't done that I would have never found you. I think your father would agree that it is a small price to pay in the long run." Padme pulled Leia close, hugging her tightly before pulling back. "Why don't you and Galen show me around?" She suggested, "I haven't been on a Star Destroyer since the Clone Wars and this one is certainly much larger than anything I've ever been on."

Leia perked up at the suggestion, "Galen's waiting for me in the mess hall." She scratched the back of her neck in a nervous gesture that was exactly like what Anakin did when he had done something he shouldn't have. "I'm supposed to bring him some firecrackers to put in Lieutenant Royce's lunch." Padme gave her a scolding look that made her wince, "He deserves it." She defended, "Even Dad thinks he's an idiot."

"Leia, that doesn't give you permission to mess with the man. What does your father think of all this?"

She gave a small shrug, "He doesn't approve. But we do it anyway."

Padme shook her head, "Let's go to the mess hall before Galen does anything then."

[][][][]

Vader stood in front of the massive windows on the bridge watching as the TIE fighters flew past. He tried to focus his mind on anything else but Padme but no matter what he tried she always found a way to invade his thoughts. He had missed her. Missed her smile, her laugh, the way her eyes would light up when she looked at him. He had missed the sound of her voice and the scent of her hair, the softness of her skin against his. Vader closed his eyes, silently scolding himself. While they were able to act civil around the children, he knew she didn't feel the same way anymore. Why would she? The glass of the window reflected the grotesque mask he is forced to live in- the mask that hides the hideous burns and scars that cover every inch of what is left of his body. She could never love him for what he has become.

The sound of laughter reached his ears as Leia and Galen entered the bridge. Turning his head slightly he saw Padme was with them. The children were explaining some of the work that was done on the bridge and where some of the more interesting jobs were. Padme listened carefully to what they said but he was certain some of it went over her head. Vader decided it was best to spare her more of their rambling when Galen started talking about the ship's propulsion systems.

"The children gave you a tour of the ship?" He asked.

"Yes, though not a full tour." She said, "This ship is massive. It must be bigger than the Malevolence."

Vader remembered that ship better than most, partially since Padme had been captured on it. "Yes, almost three and a half times larger. But ten times more powerful." He said.

"It certainly is impressive." She remarked though it didn't quite reach her eyes.

"We showed her the recreation room," Leia said, smiling brightly up at her father. "We're going to need bathing suits if we're going to go swimming."

"So it would seem." He said, "I take it the addition of a pool is to your liking then?"

She nodded her head eagerly, "Yes. I wanted one for years but the Exactor didn't have room for one." She said, directing her last statement to Padme.

"Have you ever been swimming?" She asked.

Leia shook her head, "No. I always wanted to, though."

"There was an episode of Voyages of the VSD Protector that took place mostly underwater. She's wanted to learn how to swim ever since. Though at first she asked for an ocean before settling for just asking for a pool."

Leia gave a shrug, "I was five. I didn't even know the difference between salt and fresh water." She defended.

"Speaking of things you don't know, that reminds me." Leia's eyes went wide, suddenly realizing what he was getting at. "You have missed quite a few lessons since your little… adventure with your mother. I trust a week to get caught up is sufficient?"

"A week?" She asked, "That's impossible!"

Vader raised a finger in warning to her, "It's only impossible if you don't assert yourself." He said, "Now, Galen has already had these lessons, I'm sure he can help you with them and Montferrat is more than willing to spend extra time tutoring you given the circumstances."

Leia let out a groan, "Why does it have to be him? He's boring."

He shook his head, "It will only take a week of hard work. Then you can go back to your normal routine." He explained.

She turned her head to Galen who was smirking beside her, "You realize you're stuck in this mess with me, right? Since you already know the stuff."

The boy gave a shrug, "Maybe I do, or maybe I wasn't really paying attention."

Vader crossed his arms over his chest, "Is that so? Perhaps I should ensure your next class has a test on the past month?"

Both the children's eyes widened and they shook their head rigorously, "Won't be necessary." Galen said, "I was paying attention. I can help." He grabbed his sister by the arm, "Let's get going." He said, "Before he really does give us a test." He whispered as they turned around and started for the turbolifts.

Vader shook his head, "Piett!" He called, "Ensure they both have a test next week- a large one." He ordered not even waiting for the admiral to approach.

"That might be a little harsh," Padme remarked.

He turned back to face her and gave a shrug, "Their education is important." He said, "If that makes me the bad guy, so be it. I have a feeling you will quickly become the favorite parent." She smiled and he is certain if his suit wasn't forcing air into his lungs his breath would have hitched.

"I don't think so." She said, "Leia's only known me a few weeks. And I don't even know Galen well enough to know what he thinks of me."

He smiled under his mask, "She's wanted you in her life from the moment she was born." He said, "And Galen, he's hard to get to open up, but once he does, you'll see how much he cares for the people he loves."

"And he loves you?"

At first, he felt slightly offended she would even ask, but he could understand her reservation. "Yes. As I love him." He said, "He may not share my blood, but he's still my son." Her eyes look away from him and he could feel the tension and internal struggle she felt. She was hiding something. He couldn't tell what it was, but he knew it was something big- something that bothered her greatly. Should he ask? If he asked would she think he was overstepping? No. He shouldn't ask. Not yet anyway. Too much had happened already this day. Once those questions were quelled for the moment, his mind couldn't help but wonder what her secret was. What he had said about Galen had triggered this, was it possible she had met someone else? That she had a child somewhere else? With someone else? They had been apart for so long, the possibility was very likely. And she had made it quite clear she wasn't interested in him in that way anymore.

The thought of her with someone else brought back bitter memories. Memories of Clovis and how close he had been to losing her to him. His fists clenched at the thought of someone else holding her, kissing her, sharing her bed. Never again. The love they had once shared had been powerful. And such a love must have a way to be renewed. He will find it. No matter how long it may take, he will find it. For himself and for his children. They deserved to have parents who loved one another. Parents who can show them what love looks like. He might not be fond of the idea of his little princess dating, but he doesn't want her to be single for the rest of her days - only until she's forty. But when the day comes that she does find someone to spend the rest of her days with, he at least wants her to have the knowledge to know what is genuine and what is not. He just wants the assurance to know that she will be loved and well cared for.

[][][][]

Leia and Galen retreated into her bedroom, locking the door behind them. As much as her parents tried to hide it, the tension between them was still obvious. Her father was still very much in love with her, though it seemed for some reason her mother was determined to keep him at arm's length despite how much she really does care about him. "We have to do something." She said, looking over her shoulder at her brother who had made himself comfortable on her bed, resting his head on her pillows.

"I know. What do you think about filling Montferrat's quarters with used ammo cartridges?"

"That's not what I'm talking about." She said, hopping up to sit at the foot of the bed facing him. "I'm talking about mom and dad." She clarified.

Galen raised a brow at her, "What do you mean?"

Leia resisted the urge to grown at how blind he could be. "We have to do something to help them get along." She said, "Dad loves mom. He's always loved her. But she hasn't been here to see that so I don't think she knows just how much he does."

Galen held his hand up to stop her, "Hold up, what does this have to do with us? Better yet, what does it have to do with me?"

She rolled her eyes, "She's still married to dad so that makes her your mom too, nerf herder. Besides, think how happy dad'll be when they get back together. I could get the sister I always wanted!"

"Since when did you want a sister?" He asked.

Leia smiled at him, "I asked dad for a sister and I got stuck with you instead." She said, "He told me he needed mom to help make a baby, and now that she's here that can happen!"

He shook his head, "Leia, have you ever thought that maybe they should fix their problems alone? I mean, from what I understand they separated before you were born. Maybe it doesn't even concern you."

Her eyes narrowed for a moment, "We're still a family." She said, "Families fix problems together. And whatever happens with them affects us as well. We have every right to do something about it."

Galen was silent a moment before he let out a tired sigh, "This family is just messed up." He said, "But its the only one I got. Whatever we do, we are not getting too involved. Ultimately they'll need to want to be together for this to work like you want it to."

Leia lunged for him, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck, "I knew I could count on you!" She shouted in his ears.

"You're choking me!" He groaned, pushing her back with his elbow. "First things first, we need to get a feel for what exactly it is between them," He started, explaining to Leia the importance of not being the blunt and impatient person she normally is. It wasn't going to be easy, but knowing he had her back, she knew they had a good chance of success.