Dear Obi-Wan:

By the time you read this, I will be on my way to the Alderaan System. I was wrong about Padmé; she did not go to Vader, thank the gods above. She is living on the planet Delaya, under the protection of Bail Organa, Viceroy of Alderaan. I was so relieved when his men came to collect the droids and I; I am certain that she would have been in great danger had she sought out that monster Vader. So you can rest assured, Obi-Wan: Padmé and twins are safe on Delaya. Vader will not find them. I'm sorry I couldn't tell you in person, but the men were quite anxious to get us all to Delaya as soon as possible. Please come and visit us there if you get the chance- I know Padmé and the twins must miss you, as do I.

Dormé

Obi-Wan reread the message a second time, and then a third. Was this truly from Dormé? Or was it from Padmé, trying to throw me off her scent? Surely Padmé wouldn't invite me to visit…if she's even on Delaya at all… Obi-Wan cursed himself for not being around when Dormé had left; if there had been any duplicity on the part of either her or the men who came to collect her, he would have sniffed it out. But reading a message- it was impossible to do so. Padmé wouldn't want to see me now anyway, he reminded himself, remembering how angry she was when they had parted. No, not angry, incensed…The love she still bore Anakin staggered Kenobi, for he could not understand for the life of him how she could love him after what he had done to her at Mustafar. The image of Vader Force choking his own pregnant wife was one Kenobi knew he would never forget; one he'd had many a nightmare about over the past five years. What would have happened had I not been there to stop him? Would he have killed her?? And how can she still love him after he did that to her? The very fact that she had not gone to Vader gave him hope, however; perhaps upon reflection she realized how foolhardy an idea it was. Even if she still loved him, surely she must realize that the man who once was Anakin Skywalker no longer existed, and the monster that had once borne his name was incapable of loving her. Obi-Wan had always thought Padmé was an intelligent woman; no doubt that superior sense of reason of hers finally kicked in and forced her to see this before she did something rash. Thank the Force for that, Kenobi reflected with relief. You may hate me right now, Padmé, but at least you're safe from that villain. At least he has no idea that you and the twins are alive. Eventually he would insinuate himself back into her and the twins' lives; he had vowed to protect them, after all. Besides that, the twins would need his guidance once they were ready to learn how to use their Force abilities; all in good time, he told himself. Like it or not, Padmé, our destinies lie along the same path.

Planet Delaya in the Alderaan System

"My lady, there is one large crate left, but we aren't certain it's something we can unpack."

Padmé looked up from the box that she had been unpacking to the guards. "Why not?" she asked simply.

"Well, it seems to just be filled with….building materials," one of them said, at a loss. "It looks like some very sophisticated material, too."

Padmé frowned. What could it be? She wondered. "Let me see," she said finally, standing up. "Threepio, Artoo, come with me."

The two droids followed their mistress as she made her way outside to where the final crate sat. It had been opened, but, as the guard had alluded to, it was basically untouched. Padmé walked up to it and peered inside. What is all this?? she wondered. She turned to Threepio

"Have a look and see what you think," she instructed.

The protocol droid trundled over to the crate, his curiosity giving him extra, highly unusual speed. He peered into the box, trying to make out the connection between all the unusual machinery within.

"It looks to me as though someone is planning on building something, my lady Padmé," the droid pronounced at last.

Padmé sighed with exasperation. "Yes, we were able to figure out that much," she replied. "Any idea what?"

"I'm afraid I'd have to have a look at all of the materials to even hazard a guess," Threepio replied. "Shall I commence doing so?"

Padmé shook her head. "No, not out here," she replied, looking up at the sky which was growing darker by the minute. "It looks like rain. Bring it inside, put it in the spare room upstairs, and start unpacking it here. I want to know what all this is."

"Very good, milady," replied Threepio.

Garos IV- The Garos System

Darth Vader lifted the shuttle from the planet surface, trying to put the image of the human carnage he'd left behind out of his mind. How many men did I kill back there? Twenty? Thirty??

But you spared the life of a friend…remember that Anakin.

Vader shook his head, certain that he was imagining the voice in his head, the voice of his first master, Qui-Gon Jinn.

That is the first step towards the light, Ani, and you know it is.

Vader didn't have time to consider the master's words, for no sooner had he escaped the planet's atmosphere than he was met by at least a dozen Rebel snub fighters. Organa set me up… he thought angrily, and then realized this wasn't the case. Organa had known that Rebels were here; he had warned Vader of their presence, in and offhanded way, without openly betraying the Rebels who he also considered allies. He thought no more of it as he immediately raised the shields of the shuttle and prepared for battle. Perhaps I will not need to fake my death after all, he thought somberly as he dove into the midst of the rebel ships. Perhaps it is my destiny to die here.

It had been a while since Vader had been involved in a dogfight such as this, but his skills had not diminished nonetheless. Using the Force and his natural abilities as a pilot, he dispatched ship after ship, evading others and making maneuvers that he knew no rebel would dare attempt. It soon became evident, however, that despite his superior skill, he was too greatly outnumbered to win with conventional means. Time to do something crazy, he thought grimly. Directing his ship at the heart of the rebel fleet, he accelerated, knowing that they would not have time to react due to the breakneck speed that he was traveling. Closer and closer he raced until finally – impact. Using the Force, he made a micro-jump into hyperspace, timing it perfectly to look as though he had perished in a fireball when his ship had made contact with three rebel ships.

Planet Delaya

Padmé stood in the room with the droids and looked around at all that had been unpacked. What is all this? she wondered. And then she realized what it was…the hyperbaric chamber…

"I know what this is," she announced at last.

Threepio looked up at her. "What is it, milady?"

"A hyperbaric chamber," she replied. "Do you know what that is?"

"Oh yes, milady," Threepio replied proudly. "You seem to forget that I…"

"Do you know how to build it?" Padmé interjected.

"I do believe so, milady," the droid replied.

"You believe so?" she asked. "If you don't know, then don't even try. I don't want you messing it up, Threepio. It's a very important piece of equipment."

"I won't …mess it up, milady," the droid replied in a hurt tone. "I assure you."

Artoo made comment at this point that Padmé interpreted as one of derision and had to hide a smile.

"Okay then," she replied. "Artoo, keep an eye on him," she said as she left the room.

Dormé and the children were just sitting down as Padmé joined them for the evening meal.

"Did you figure out what all that is?" Dormé asked.

Padmé nodded. "Yes, it's for Anakin," she replied, not saying any more on the topic. She and Dormé had said very little to one another where he was concerned, for Dormé still harbored serious doubts about the trustworthiness of Darth Vader.

Barely had they begun their meal when one of the security guards came into the room.

"Senator Amidala, a ship has landed on the platform in the clearing," he told her.

Immediately Padmé's heart jumped to her throat as she and Dormé looked at one another.

"I've sent a detachment down," the guard continued. "I suggest you and your children go upstairs and…"

"It's Daddy," Luke said to his mother. "Daddy is here."

Padmé looked at her son, astonished with the calm sureness the boy manifested.

"Are you sure, Luke?" she asked.

"Luke is right, "Leia said. "It's Daddy!" she added, getting out of her chair.

"Leia wait!" Padmé shouted, jumping up and following Leia. Luke joined his mother, leaving Dormé alone and bewildered.

"Now children, wait here," Padmé commanded the twins as they reached the path that led to the forest. "If it isn't your father..."

"But it is," Luke insisted. "I know it is, Mommy."

"And so do I," Leia insisted.

Padmé was torn; it was obvious that the twins shared a psychic bond with their father through the Force, and were more than likely right. But what if they weren't?

"See? It is him!" Leia exclaimed, pointing behind Padmé. She turned to see Vader emerge from the forest, followed by a small group of guards. She smiled, and allowed the children to run to him.

Vader stopped when he saw his children running towards him and got down on one knee to greet them. He opened his arms and held them close as they reached him, his heart swelling with love for the twins.

"We missed you so much!" Leia said to her father. "What took you so long!?"

Vader wanted to laugh at his daughter's imperious attitude. "Forgive me, my lady," he replied, tugging one of her braids gently.

"Thank you for all the toys, Daddy," Luke said, looking up at his father with adoration.

Vader took the small boy's face in one large hand. "You're welcome, son," he said. "I'm glad you liked them."

"Come on," Leia said, taking his hand. "Mommy probably wants to see you too," she said.

Vader grinned. "Yes, probably."

Vader walked the rest of the way with a twin on each side, their small hands hidden in his enormous ones. When he reached the edge of the forest, he saw Padmé standing there waiting for him. She smiled when she saw him, the relief filling her. He walked to her, and, releasing the children's hands, embraced his wife.

"I'm so glad you're here," she said as she wrapped her arms around his waist. "We've been so worried."

"I'm fine," he said, stroking her hair softly. "Better than fine, actually."

Padmé looked up at him. "What do you mean?"

"Come inside and I'll tell you all about it," he said.

From the window, Dormé witnessed the tender familial scene with shock. How can this be? She thought in astonishment. But the manner in which Vader greeted his wife and children, the love tenderness that were evident even without seeing his face, was enough to convince Dormé that she was wrong; Vader had changed. No, he was not Vader anymore; he was truly Anakin Skywalker once again...

"Dormé," Vader said as he and Padmé entered the room. Vader held the twins in his arms.

"Hello," she said, not even sure what to call him. "This is quite unexpected," she said at last.

"I told you he had changed," Padmé said, linking her arm through his. "Can you see that now?"

Dormé nodded begrudgingly. "Yes, I can't very well deny it now," she said.

No, you can't, Padmé thought triumphantly as the children escorted their father into the house. No one can deny it now, not even Obi-Wan Kenobi.