The next morning, Leia awoke with her backside still feeling the effects of the whipping her 'father' had given her. She knew that sitting wouldn't be something that she would be able to do anytime soon, despite Luke's lotion. The hate she had for the Emperor was intense and she slowly realized that she was becoming darker than ever.

Jo came to Leia's sleeping chamber bearing a tray of fresh fruit and a glass of juice. "Thanks, Jo." Leia weakly stated as she turned on her side and winced a bit.

"I'm sorry." Jo cried as a few tears fell from her dark brown eyes.

"Don't be, it's not your fault, Jo. But I have to ask, why did you try to get between the Emperor and me?"

"He was going to hurt you; I can't bear to see you hurt." Jo responded.

"Well for your own safety, please don't do it again, I fear he might kill you next time."

"Yes, your highness." Jo sadly replied.

"Can you do me a favor?"

"Certainly, your highness."

"Can you find me something comfortable to wear?"

"Sure." Jo smiled grateful to be doing something for the young lady she had come to admire.

Princess Leia was the only one who treated her like a human being, while she did a vicious temper, she was also very kind; Jo often was the brunt of most jokes and when something went wrong in the kitchens, she often fingered and punished. She never complained to Princess Leia, because she recognized that she had more than a bushel of problems herself.

Jo pulled out a simple dress and slippers for the Princess, when she returned she saw the Emperor standing over Princess Leia. She immediately placed the dress and slippers on the chair and prostrated herself, not daring to look at the Emperor, she only wanted to serve without fear, but this not meant to be.

"After you finished getting dressed, meet me in the sparring room."

"I would like time to heal." Leia asked with as much dignity as she could muster.

"Denied, I give you fifteen minutes, do not be late." He pointed at Leia and turned to leave.

Leia gathered the Force about herself, and Anakin could feel the build up the anger and the hate as the temperature dropped twenty degrees.

"Save it, Leia. Do not challenge me again; I would certainly hate to add more lashes to your backside."

Leia watched as the Emperor's eyes turned a sulfurous yellow tinged with red. She cowered as she caught the true meaning of his words, he wouldn't hesitate to whip her again, despite the multitude of lashes she had received last night.

"Ten minutes, Leia. Do not be late."

Jo took the dress back to the large walk-in closet and instead pulled a pair of black pants and matching tunic.

"Leia, are you okay?" Jo asked.

"No. By the Gods of Alderaan, I hate him! Why did he kill my father, Bail? WHY?" Leia screamed.

Jo tried desperately to get the Princess ready before she missed the deadline.

Leia braided her hair into a single plait and carefully pulled on her pants and tunic. "I hate black, why does everything have to be dark colors?"

Jo didn't answer and instead hurried the Princess to the sparring room.

"You are three minutes late, Leia. I guess you didn't think it was important enough to make haste."

"You gave me fifteen minutes!" Leia yelled.

"I gave you ten; you wasted the first five minutes arguing with me, not a wise investment of your time."

"I didn't argue with you, I told you I wanted time to heal." Leia angrily responded.

"Which I denied, and instead of accepting that, you wanted to start a fight with me, by pulling heavily on the Force. When are you going to learn that I am stronger than you? Will it take another whipping?"

Leia winced and cowered, whispering, "Is that a rhetorical question?"

"It can be much depends on your attitude."

Leia swallowed hard and took a large step back as the Emperor approached her with is right hand out, "Come."

Leia shook her head, 'no.'

"Your cooperation is essential, Leia or else that question that you hope is rhetorical will become reality, and do I make myself clear?"

Leia's eyes grew large, round, and full of fear, she decided that cooperation was a better part of valor, especially for her wounds to heal. Leia placed her hand in his and he gently pulled her closer as he guided her to a separate meditation room. There were two large pillows on the hardwood floor, a several gold sconces fitted with black candles. Leia watched as the Emperor lit each one.

"Are you thinking of me as the Emperor instead of your father, interesting reversion."

"My father wouldn't do the things that you do, he loved me. He mostly certainly never beat me with a belt or denies me time to heal."

Anakin smiled most evilly as he looked at Leia. "Is that what you think? You think that I do not love you?"

"Yes, I know you don't!"

"Then you know nothing, young one."

"Good! I don't want to know anything about you, you are a monster!" Leia spat as she tried to leave the room, but the door slammed in her face and locked.

Anakin watched bemused as Leia struggled with the door. He sat on the floor watching his daughter trying to escape and when she finally realized how futile it really was, she stood by the door, crossing her arms.

"Ever wonder about your name, young one?" Anakin smiled.

"Bail told me that my mother named me before she died." Leia haughtily replied.

"Mm. A half-truth, actually it was me. When your mother and I discussed names, she felt that she was having a boy and I told her that a baby with that strong of a kick was definitely a girl."

"So why did you name me Leia?"

"Because you felt weary to me, like you had to fight all the time without rest, and despite of your weariness, you continue to fight even when the odds are stacked against you."

"Thanks a lot." Leia sighed heavily.

Anakin laughed the response that Leia gave was a perfect example of her namesake.

Leia glared at him, "What's so funny?"

"You are my daughter."

"I don't want to be your daughter, in any matter, shape or form!"

"Despite what you want you are my beautiful stubborn daughter and nothing is going to change that."

Leia screamed, "Just because you had something to do with my conception and had a hand in naming me, doesn't mean a damn thing! It takes a lot more to be a father than recognizing your own flesh and blood as such. Fathers love their children."

"Are we returning to this question again?"

"You don't love me, you want to own me and shape me into someone of your image."

"Don't you dare tell me that I don't love you, everything I've ever done is for LOVE! I became a Sith to protect my family. I sacrificed everything and all I ask in return is a bit of loyalty. Is that really too much to ask!"

The flames on the candles started to flicker as Anakin's dark side emissions continue to build. Leia tired of living in fear, responded.

"What does a Sith know of Love, except to use it and bend it to their own selfish desires!"

"Young lady, is that what you think?"

"I know, father. You want everyone to bow down to your will, while Luke adores you and wants to do nothing to please you, will follow you down your wicked path of darkness."

Anakin had to laugh, "You think that Luke is following me down the wicked path of darkness? Have you looked in the mirror lately, Leia? Your anger, hatred of me is very Sith-like; you even have the deviousness and the secrecy down pat. If there is a Sith apprentice here, it is you, my beloved."

"No, that's not true." Leia cried.

"Oh, but it is, while I love my son very much, he is more Jedi than Sith, despite his hard trials of life."

Half-broken and recognizing the truth in his words, she collapsed to her knees, shaking and crying. Anakin feeling terrible for telling her the truth comforted her. She allowed him to hold her and calm her, "You aren't completely Sith, Leia. You still have the goodness in you, your compassion for others is one of your greatest strengths, and it is something that you retain from your mother." Leia desperately clung to her father as something reached out to her and she recognized the love he had for her, it was always there, warm and glowing.

Perhaps Luke had been correct about their father that despite the darkness there was a warm spot in his heart for his children and of their mother. Leia recognized it as unconditional love: that no matter how much her words or actions would hurt him he would always love her.

"I'm sorry, father, you aren't a monster." Leia whispered as he lifted her chin and kissed her forehead.

A warm healing peace overcame her pain and she felt her wounds begin to heal along with her heart. . .

Author's Note: Thanks for your kind reviews and remember that none of this belongs to me; I am merely playing in the George Lucas' sandbox.