Leia entered the hospital, first she wanted to check in with Fress and the twins, then she planned to check on Anakin. She had a feeling the talk they were both attempting to avoid, couldn't be avoided for much longer. She saw Kieran walk towards her with a frown causing her to pause.

"Princess Leia, I wonder if I might have a word?" Kieran questioned as Leia gave a reluctant nod as he led her to a small office. She entered as he closed the door behind him. She sat down in one of the two chairs in front of the desk as he sat down in the chair behind the desk. "As you may or may not be aware, Anakin has been having nightmares as of late. And what he has been saying in his sleep leads me to believe they are about tormenting you aboard the first Death Star. One of our nurses recorded this."

"I don't want to see it," Leia spoke causing Kieran to raise an eyebrow. "I've been having suspicions lately of what the nightmare is about."

"Normally I would not allow these types of talks to take place while a patient is under my care, I feel the sooner the better. It is disrupting your father's sleep quite a bit. I want you to watch the holo vid regardless."

Leia released a frustrated sigh as Kieran turned the holo recording on. What Anakin was saying in his sleep left her feeling cold. Keep your hands off her, Vader. She shuddered to think he was watching everything from her view of point instead of Vaders. Was he really feeling that guilty? "I'm starting to suspect this talk can't be avoided for much longer. I'm not looking forward to it."

"Good, I want you and Anakin to have this talk as soon as possible," Kieran suggested causing Leia to frown. "I suspect this would do both of you some good."

Leia chewed on her lower lip as she watched Kieran. He was watching her carefully causing her to release a frustrated sigh. "I'll talk with him after I check in with Fress and the twins."

"I'll hold you to that, Leia," Kieran spoke with a frown. "Within the next two hours, I want you two to talk this over."

"I promise."

Fress looked up as Leia entered the room causing her to smile. Kei was fast asleep in her arms, but she knew it wouldn't last long. Mike would be wanting his next feed in two minutes. "Leia, good to see you."

"How are you feeling?" Leia questioned with a gentle smile. "How are the twins?"

"Good but tired," Fress answered honestly. "The twins are putting on weight rapidly. Have you talked with Anakin yet?" Leia shook her head as concern washed over her. "Promise me you will talk with him soon? Rex voiced his concerns to me earlier this morning and we're very concerned about you two. Anakin almost hit Rex in his sleep yesterday."

"Is it that bad?" Leia questioned in concern as Fress nodded. "I guess dad is really feeling guilty. He told me to let the guilt go and my nightmares stopped."

"If Anakin would only follow the same advice he gave you. I suspect this would be better if you two talked," Fress pointed out with concern in her tone. "I've known Anakin for a long time. He's beating himself up over how he treated you and your brother. The guilt is slowly eating him alive. Please talk with him. I do realize the topic is not a pleasant topic."

"No it's not," Leia agreed with a frown as Fress handed Kei over to Leia and picked up Mike as he started to wake up. "I'm not looking forward to the topic."

"Neither is Anakin," Fress pointed out with a frown. "He suspects he traumatized you and is surprised you want him in his life."

Leia was silent as Fress watched the younger woman. "He said that?"

"He did," Fress confirmed with a frown as Leia placed Mekeia into to bassinet by her bedside.

"I have to go," Leia muttered under her breath. "I'll see you later."

"See you later," Fress watched the Leia rushed out of the room as Mike started to make fussing sounds causing her to smile. "Look who is awake from his nap and ready for feeding."

Leia approached Anakin's recovery room. She didn't realize how much of what Anakin did to her over three years ago was affecting him. She knew he was feeling guilty, but didn't realize to the extent of his guilt. No wonder they were cornering her to have this talk with him. She heard him talking in his sleep. It sounded like he was attempting to protect her from Vader causing chills to run down her back.

Leia approached Anakin's bedside as he turned onto his side as she placed her hand onto his shoulder. "Dad, wake up. We need to talk."

"Don't touch her," Anakin pleaded causing Leia to frown. "Please, can't you tell she's your daughter?"

"Dad," Leia felt her heart break. She knew Anakin was feeling guilty, she didn't realize to what extent until now. "I love you. Please let the guilt go."

"I can't, I traumatized my own daughter. I don't deserve someone so precious in my life," Anakin answered in his sleep. "She's most likely better off without me."

"I need you, dad," Leia pointed out with a frown. "Every girl needs a father."

"Bail was her father..." Anakin began to argue as Leia interrupted him,

"I have room in my heart for both," Leia argued as she shook his shoulder. "You have to wake up, dad."

Anakin's eyes opened as he looked straight through her causing Leia to feel concern. He blinked a few times as she reached for his hand. "Leia? How much did I?"

"Talk in your sleep?" Leia questioned as Anakin nodded. "Quite a bit that not only did the medic corner me into talking with you, but Fress and the others as well. I think this talk is overdue. I didn't realize how much the guilt was getting to you till now. I love you and forgave you months ago. Did you want to tell me about the dream?"

"Do I have a choice?" Anakin questioned with a hopeful smile as Leia shook her head no. He released a frustrated sigh as he explained the dream to her. She closed her eyes as he finished, he was becoming protective of her as any father would behave. "I just wish…"

"No matter how much you want to change the past, you can't change what happened between us. The damage was already done," Leia explained gently as she lightly squeezed his hand. "The only thing left is to put this behind us and move forward. Let go of the guilt, dad. It's the only way the nightmares will stop."

Anakin was silent for a few minutes and smiled. "Sounds familiar. Did it work for you?"

"It did, the nightmares stopped," Leia answered honestly. "I fell in love with the father I never knew. I need you in my life, dad," she leaned forward and kiss Anakin on the forehead. "Is there anything else bothering you?"

Anakin sat up making room on the bed as Leia sat down beside him. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders as she rested her head against his side taking his free hand into her own. "I keep asking myself one question."

"And what question is that?" Leia questioned in curiosity.

"Why I didn't stop the interrogation when I sensed your mother's signature inside you," Anakin answered honestly. "I must've pushed the thought to the side thinking it was impossible."

"Maybe it was for the best," Leia said with a frown. "If you had figured it out sooner I was your daughter, what would've you done then? You softened in the last two years after discovering Luke."

"I don't know," Anakin answered honestly. "I would've wanted to train you in the dark side…" He paused for a second and shook his head. "Maybe it was for the best the way everything played out. You most likely wouldn't be talking to me now. All the things I did to you…"

"I know," Leia agreed silently with a frown. The times Vader tortured her and nearly killed her a couple of times in the past three years. Vader and Anakin were just two different personalities. "It was Vader, not you."

"It was me," Anakin argued as Leia felt concern wash through her. "No matter how much I wish it wasn't."

"Would you deliberately torment me if I wasn't your daughter?" Leia questioned hoping to get her point across. Anakin shook his head no. "Would you deliberately have me injected with chemicals? Attempt to kill me with your lightsaber with burn after burn until I'm in agonizing pain?" Guilt crossed Anakin's face as he shook his head no. "Would you throw me in the detention level and allow Tarkin to sign my death warrant? Would you deliberately allow Tarkin to blow up my homeworld in front of me?"

"No," Anakin admitted in a saddened tone. "I wouldn't, I honestly don't know what got into me. It's almost like being blindsided by your emotions and enjoying the fear and anxiety it brought by sensing pain through the Force. It made you feel powerful and unstoppable. The darkside is a lonely life. You can't be around those you love."

"You've been lonely, haven't you?" Leia questioned as she felt her heart break. It never crossed her mind as the type of life Anakin lived for the past twenty years. Not having anyone in your life was not a good life.

"Not any more," Anakin explained with a slight smile. "I have my family back and I've felt better and more fulfilled then I have in a long time," he tightened his grip around her shoulders. "And I have you to thank for that."

"You're welcome," Leia smiled in appreciation. Anakin was healing, but it was going to take him some time. "Anakin, you need to forgive yourself as others have."

"I know," Anakin was silent for a few minutes. It was a comfortable silence Leia reflected with a slight smile. Leia closed her eyes as Anakin held her in a way that reminded her how Bail used to hold her. She felt safe and loved in Anakin's arms as if nothing in this galaxy could ever harm her again.

Padme entered Anakin's room as she noticed Leia and Anakin sleeping against each other causing her to smile. She hoped this meant the two got a chance to talk about what happened in the past. Anakin's eyes opened as he glanced at Padme then glanced to his side. "She trusts you, Anakin."

"I guess so," Anakin agreed with a smile as Leia shifted in his arms. "I must've fallen asleep, did I talk in my sleep again?"

"Not that I know of," Padme answered honestly as Leia blinked her eyes opened. "Are you feeling any better?"

"Physically yes, emotionally better," Anakin answered honestly as Leia glanced at him with a frown. "I guess we fell asleep."

Leia nodded in agreement as she leaned against Anakin. "I felt safe and loved in your arms as if nothing in this galaxy could hurt me again. I haven't felt that kind of a father's love since before Bail died."

"What happened to Bail?" Padme questioned with a concerned expression as Anakin turned his attention away from her. "Anakin?"

"He was on Alderaan when Tarkin blew the planet up," Anakin explained with a frustrated sigh. "I didn't agree with it, but he was determined to get Leia to tell him where the Rebel base was."

"Tarkin did what?" Padme questioned with a raised brow. "I never liked that man. He nearly got Ahsoka charged with treason and executed without actual evidence that it was her. I was wondering why the Empire blew up Alderaan."

"I haven't forgotten," Anakin shook his head sadly. "At least I got Ahsoka off the hook. Maybe it was for the best. Ahsoka went on to serve Bail helping him run the Rebellion."

"Leia, I need to speak with you," Ahsoka entered the room as Anakin let go of Leia. She stood up and followed Ahsoka out of the room as Padme sat down on the bed beside Anakin. She felt the baby move inside her as she picked up Anakin's hand and rested it against her stomach.

"She's a kicker," Anakin commented with a grin as the baby continued to kick. "I'm excited and can't wait."

"Me neither," Padme agreed with a smile. She loved her family and couldn't wait to meet the newest member of their family. She was thankful to have Anakin and the twins back in her life. Anakin rested his head against hers as she leaned against his chest.

"My Lord, we have the samples as requested," Shalon bowed to the cloaked figure who was sitting in a chair.

"Excellent, let the work begin. Get into contact with Kamino to begin cloning the Shern children. The fetus with the strongest amount of midi-chlorians will be my heir," the man commanded.

"At once my Lord."

Thanks for reading :)