Padme stared at her husband for a long moment as they met on the landing pad where his shuttle craft was waiting. She noticed him staring back at her as he swallowed and looked towards the ground. "You could have done this without imposing the stress upon our daughter in law and the baby. Why Anakin?"

"Because I didn't think that you would listen to me after everything."

"I think that you were mistaking Anakin. You should have gone to Luke first."

"At least they are safe," Anakin replied.

"It could have been done without the brutality. That arnage was uncalled for," Padme stated.

Anakin hung his head before he looked back at her.

"Come back to us. You have a family. Come back and work it out instead of roaming the Galaxy alone."

Anakin raised the hood of his cloak and passed his wife.

He looked back at her as he spoke, "I will be back in time."

"When you do you have a place to stay. I will provide you with the place where you may stay," Padme stated.

Executor:

Luke boarded the Executor with his arms tightly wrapped around his wife. He saw Admiral Darklighter standing at the bottom of the Millennium Falcon's boarding ramp as he stepped into the hanger bay.

"What happened?" Biggs asked.

"Once we are on our way back to the Capitol have Han take you to the bar for the discussion. Mara and I need rest. Basically he used her to get to the men that were plotting to seize power from me. He then let her go as he promised that he would after he had what he wanted."

"Your father kept his word?" Biggs asked in disbelief.

"He is changing Admiral. It is a very slow process but he is changing."

Biggs shook his head as he spoke, "What is he doing now?"

"Going after those that were involved in the coup. He wants to make sure that our family is safe."

Padme kept her hand tightly wrapped around her grandson's hand as she walked down the boarding ramp. She noticed her son and daughter in law departing from the hanger. She took Ben out of the hanger as she looked down at the small redhead. She bent over and scooped him up. She kissed his forehead as she spoke, "Grandma may be old but she is still strong enough to pick you up."

"How can you be old when your hair isn't white?" Ben asked.

Padme smiled as Ben spoke, "Grandma if the bad man is Daddy's daddy does that mean that he's my granddad?"

Padme looked into Ben's eyes as she spoke, "Yes Ben that is correct."

"But he is old isn't he?"

"Your Granddad is younger than me."

"He looks old though," Ben replied.

"Vader is younger than you?"

Padme turned to Admiral Darklighter as she nodded, "By Five years."

"He's so gray though," Biggs replied.

"When you're a power mongering tyrant the years aren't kind to you Admiral. I am fifty years old and he's only forty five."

"It's hard to believe how old you are. Your parents don't even look quite so old."

Padme smiled, "We all live healthy productive lives and the results are what you see. Just stay out of those cantinas."

"That is where Han, Chewie and Lando and I were all going tonight. Of course Luke said he will be busy. I guess that being a father makes the man too busy. Her certainly won't be going after today."

Padme said nothing in response as she looked at Ben, "Are you hungry?"

"Yes," Ben replied.

Padme glanced at Biggs before looking back at her grandson, "If you'll excuse me I'm going to get him something to eat."

Coruscant: Three days later:

Luke stood in the doorway of Ben's bedroom as he watched his son sleep. He felt a hand on his shoulder as he turned back to the embrace of his wife. She slowly led him away from the door as she used the force to quietly close it off.

He sighed as he looked at her, "Why did you tell him to come back to us? Do you not know all that he has done to our family? Do you not remember that your mother was having nightmares of you being abused and tormented for five years because of him?"

Mara said nothing as she moved towards the nearby couch. Her husband sat down beside her as she spoke, "There is no denying all the pain that he has caused us. Regardless of all that he has done to us think about it he is changing. If we reject him what reason does he have to change if his entire family has already washed their hands of him?"

"Do I need to repeat myself?" Luke asked in frustration.

"He saved our son. He saved me and he saved our next one," Mara stated as she placed a hand on the moderately visible bump that appeared under her white dress.

Luke placed his flesh hand on her stomach and nodded. He sighed as he spoke, "There is no arguing with what he has done. I just don't see how he can atone based on that aspect Mara."

"Luke our babies are going to live because of him. As a mother that makes me grateful enough to him. The fact that he gave me my lightsaber after my abduction shows that he really wants to rebuild the bridges that he burned. Give him a chance. Let Ben have his grandfather in his life Let Anakin have a reason to keep going. Otherwise he is just going to stay in that swampy hell with the old troll and rot."

"Swampy hell?" Luke asked.

"General Veers said that it is easily the most disgusting planet he has ever seen."

Luke was silent as he processed his wife's statement.

"Luke you know that it is right to forgive your father and Yoda. Look at what your father did for our family. Forgive him Luke."

Steel blue eyes locked with emerald green eyes. Luke let out a sigh as he leaned forward and captured Mara's lips. As the kiss broke Luke spoke, "I cannot really argue with your statements love. He did save our boy. I will give him a chance but if he hurts any of us again I will shut the door indefinitely."

"Fair enough, I wonder when he will return to Coruscant."

"In due time," Luke replied.

Dagobah: one month later:

Anakin pushed several snakes to the floor of the dingy old hut as he picked up the last crate. He turned back to Yoda as he spoke, "This is everything Master."

"Mmmm good. Go to Coruscant we will. Humble ourselves before many we must. Humble I must be before Obi-Wan and Senator Amidala. Humble you must be before your children and Senator Amidala."

"I know Master. I just wonder if they will accept us after all that we have done."

"Know not the answer do I. Know that a lot of explaining we have to do."

Anakin sighed as he ran a hand across his unshaven face. He glanced back at the ancient Jedi Master and nodded his head.

He found himself realizing that he was overdue for a shave. He crawled out of the small hut with the last of Yoda's belongings as the tiny creature followed him. The odd pair soon boarded the waiting Imperial Shuttle.

Anakin and Yoda both found themselves inside of the cockpit as they stared at the swamp that they had called home. For Yoda it was the ending of an exile that had lasted for over two entire decades. For Anakin it was the ending of a very brief chapter of his life. A chapter that he was more than eager to close. He only hoped that his family would truly welcome him back. He wiped a few tears away as he spoke, "I have caused them so much pain Master."

"But forgiven you they have. Certain of that I am."

Anakin looked down at his hands as he spoke, "I maimed my own son. Almost murdered my own wife. I have committed countless atrocities. I hate the man I became. I do not know what it was that possessed me."

"Darkness," Yoda replied.

The former sith hung his head and glanced back at Yoda and nodded. He turned his head back towards the control panel as he spoke, "Let's go home."

Coruscant:

Luke sat within the Imperial Palace inside of the dark throne room. He sat on the throne that had been his father's for two decades. He sat in silent meditation as he thought of the last week. He had spent the last week interviewing new senators that were in the process of being appointed to the Imperial Senate. In the coming weeks he would likely sign the throne over to his mother and take Mara and Ben off to Naboo so that they could enjoy a normal life.

The thought of being able to leave politics and war and everything that he had been immersed in for too long was far more than appealing. He desired it more than anything. At that moment, the doors of the throne room opened. He looked down the stairs and saw Mon Mothma entering the room.

"I was told that you wanted to see me your Excellency."

"Yes," Luke replied.

Luke looked at the two stormtroopers who stood on each side of the door as he spoke, "Guards leave us."

Mon walked up the stairs as the two obedient stormtroopers departed from the room.

Luke shook his head, "Why do I even bother keeping them in here?"

Mon laughed, "I sometimes wonder that myself. I wondered the same about your father of course."

"It was probably more than unnerving when you were summoned in here to talk to him," Luke said.

"I still am trying to get used to the feeling of being one of your top officials. It is so surreal when you think of all of the nightmares I have had of kneeling before him in this very room as my execution was commenced."

Luke shook his head, "How many millions died under his reign?"

"Too many," Mon replied.

Luke nodded as the doors of the room opened to reveal his mother, Han, Leia, Mara and Chewbacca. Behind the group he saw General Medine, General Dodonna, and General Rieekan. He also could see Admirals Darklighter and Ackbar at the far back of the group.

"We are going to discuss the next upcoming week. It will be the first session in the Senate and we are going to discuss other laws that were passed in the last days of the Republic that need to be repealed."

"You're talking about laws passed during the Clone Wars?" Han asked as he walked up towards the throne.

"Yes," Luke replied as he felt a chill running down his spine.

He met Mara's eyes before turning to Leia who nodded, "I feel him too."

Luke activated his comlink as he spoke, "Be advised, my father is on the planet. If he approaches the Palace admit him and bring him before me. Emperor Skywalker out."

"Acknowledged your Majesty," Luke heard on the other end of the comlink.

Luke smiled and deactivated the comlink as he turned back to his senior staff.

Yoda hobbled down the boarding ramp of the Imperial shuttle to be greeted by an aged human man that he recognized as Obi-Wan.

The ancient Jedi Master allowed his ears to drop as he spoke, "Return to you humbled I do Obi-Wan. So wrong I was all of those years ago."

The younger Jedi Master was silent as he stared upon the ancient Jedi. He breathed in deeply as he spoke, "How many years of untold suffering did we instigate by separating the Skywalker family as they were?"

Yoda's ears dropped as Obi-Wan noticed his former padawan hastily walking past him.

"So quick to leave are you?" Obi-Wan asked.

"I need a drink," Anakin replied.

Obi-Wan lifted an eyebrow as he spoke, "You should go talk to Luke."

"After I get this dried throat taken care of," Anakin muttered.

Anakin sat in the dingy bar as he sipped his liquor. He noticed the various podrace games that were being displayed but gave them no attention. His main thought was what he would say to his son as they faced one another. As he finished the one glass of beer that he had ordered something caught his eye. He noticed a familiar Imperial officer standing a distance away at the edge of the bar.

"Admiral Piett you still have your rank?" Anakin asked as he approached the man who had once been one of his most trusted servants.

"Your son actually offered me the white uniform," Firmus Piett answered as he looked his former Emperor in the eye.

"And you're telling me you still retain your current rank because you were foolish enough to

reject it? What was your reason for betraying me then? You were going to get it after the war. And why would my son give it to a traitor?"

"Because Luke and I understand what matters most. I took the job as head of the Academy so that I could be with my family. I am done with being a career soldier. And your son? He is going to leave the throne for his family. We all had dinner last night and he doesn't think he can hack another week as Emperor."

"It still doesn't explain your betrayal," Anakin replied.

"You betrayed my trust. I revered you all throughout the clone wars Anakin. I revered you during your reign. I thought that I was serving the greatest man in the Galaxy. I thought that until I saw you for what you were."

Anakin frowned, "You have no idea."

"You choked your own pregnant wife. You almost killed your own son, you maimed him. You conspired to murder his wife and child. You conspired to destroy the soul of his son. You lost my respect Anakin. I had no desire to serve a man with such wickedness. Why should I after seeing what you were?"

"What right do you have to judge me?"

"Every right," Firmus replied.

Anakin lowered his head as he processed the words of the younger man.

"Luke are you sure that you are comfortable with having me mediate this trade dispute?" Mon asked.

"Of course I am Mon. I trust you as much as I do anyone else here. I will have a transport and protection ready for you in two days."

"Thank you," Mon replied as the doors of the throne room hissed open. All eyes turned to the sight of Anakin Skywalker who stood at the entrance. The young Emperor gazed upon his father in shock as the older man strode up the stairs towards him and his retinue of loyal family and staff who were gathered in seats that surrounded his throne.

Luke looked his father in the eyes as he turned to his family, friends and allies.

"All of you should leave," Luke stated.

Luke noticed that no one bothered to question him. Not even his own mother. The only person who lingered was Mara.

Luke turned to his wife as he softly spoke, "Mara I said everyone. Go relieve the babysitter and remain with Ben."

Mara reluctantly stood up as she glanced back at her father in law.

Anakin stared at his son in silence for a long moment as the younger man stepped off of the throne.

"How long are you back for?" Luke asked.

"Permanently," Anakin replied.

"Father after everything that you have done do you expect me to trust you?"

Anakin shook his head, "You have no reason to."

"No I don't," Luke replied.

"A month ago you were committing a horrible homicide that I could have lived my entire life without seeing."

"To be fair they were going to do the same to your family," Anakin replied.

"Do you remember attempting to murder me and my wife?" Luke asked in anger.

Anakin lowered his eyes as Luke spoke, "You have the nerve to talk about Moff Motti trying to destroy my family when you spent four years chasing us across the galaxy with the same intentions. Were you any different father?"

Anakin sighed, "I guess you don't want to put it behind us do you?"

"How do you expect me to forget Bespin and Naboo overnight?" Luke resentfully asked.

"You're the one that ended up leading the revolt against me. Did you ever think of how much that hurt to see your only son waging a war against you?" Anakin asked.

"Don't you dare try to play the victim father. You're the one that allowed a weapon that was capable of incinerating an entire world to be created. Did you really expect me to really stand for something that evil? And you have the nerve to play the my son and heir betrayed me after that and after the forced marriage between me and Mara?"

"You two seem pretty happy together after all of these years," Anakin replied with a smile.

"Dad stop trying to make excuses for your behavior. They are getting you nowhere with me. After everything you have either humbled yourself enough to say that you were wrong or you haven't."

Anakin sighed, "I never said that I was right."

"Why can't you just say it?" Luke asked in frustration.

Anakin swallowed hard as he looked into his son's eyes. He breathed in deeply as he relented and spoke, "I was wrong."

"Wrong about everything?" Luke asked.

"Yes," Anakin replied.

"What are you waiting for? You owe the same apology to my mother and to my mother in law for the pain that you caused both of them."

Anakin looked at his son with a sigh as he stood up and spoke, "I guess that I will take my leave."

"And go where?" Luke asked.

Anakin shrugged as he walked away from his son.

As Anakin walked down the hallway he heard an all too familiar voice calling out his name.

He turned around to face his ex wife as she spoke, "I'm sorry but you're not going to just walk away again Anakin."

"What do you want me to do Padme?" Anakin asked.

"Come back home. I have a couch that you will fit on. Come back let us work things out so that they can be like they were before the twins."

Anakin sighed, "Padme you're saying you want me back after everything after the grief I caused you? Did you forget about the divorce that you demanded that I granted?"

Padme shook her head, "I never filed it after you signed the papers Anakin. Do you know what it means?"

Anakin's jaw dropped down as he looked down at his wife in disbelief.

"Do you know what it means? It means that we are still legally married Anakin. We have spent twenty four years apart let's make it up now. The war is over and things are hopefully going to improve. Please return to your family," Padme stated as she held out her hand.

Anakin shocked his wife as he reached forward and slowly accepted her hand. The two looked one another in the eyes as they contemplated all that had happened. It was in that moment that the two realized that they were both agreeing to take the difficult path of mending their shattered marriage.

Sorry it's been so long I'm taking a full course load this semester and work has been getting in the way. I will try to have the next update up next week or sooner.