Chapter Two

A golden protocol droid answered the buzzer promptly, then escorted the pair into the blue-marble foyer, stating, "Welcome to the Organa Royal Palace. My designation is C-3PO, and it will be my pleasure to make your visit to the Organa residence most enjoyable." Han noted that Padmé almost seemed to act as if she knew the droid, but she stopped short of saying anything when the droid gave no indication of returning any recognition.

Han paused, craning his neck to peer up at the high ceiling. The sparkling light fixture hanging over their heads was almost a third the size of the Falcon's exterior so Han hoped it was securely bolted to the ceiling. He then gazed around the room, noting the gleaming pedestals set with flower-filled vases and the many old pictures hanging from the walls. A grand staircase twenty feet wide swept upwards, with hallways at the top angling off in opposite directions. "I'll bet the stuff in this room's worth half a million credits," he said, truly awed. He walked up to a picture, touching the gilded frame lightly.

"Technically, this is not a room, Sir Feeblebane," the droid stated primly. "It is merely the entryway. But please refrain from touching the museum quality items. The oily secretions caused by sentients' glands cause damage."

"Did that droid just call me an oily sentient?" Han asked, miffed. "If this prince doesn't pay me, maybe I'll borrow some of his artwork on the way out."

Padmé put her finger up to her lips to silence the ever talkative Corellian.

The droid gave his arm an awkward wave. "This way, please. Princess Tia Organa appears to be quite excited that you are here. We will take the main corridor to the lift in the rear portion of the palace. Princess Tia's suite is located on the second level, east wing."

Han followed the droid, glancing back at Padmé who seemed to be surreptitiously looking into the many huge rooms they passed by. "Who're you lookin' for?" Han whispered.

Padmé jerked back in surprise. "No one."

"I'm not buying that," Han returned. "Your rebel recruit lives here?"

"Shh!"

"Thought so," Han said smugly. "I just hope it isn't the pitten lady. That could get downright weird…. pittens running around Coruscant with bombs strapped to their tiny backs."

"Would you shut up?" Padmé demanded under her breath, then spoke much louder to the droid. "C-3PO? Is Prince Organa currently in the palace? Or his daughter, Princess Leia?"

The glowing receptors turned to regard the woman. "Both are presently located in their offices, although you are not authorized to meet with them at this time. Perhaps Princess Tia will make arrangements, if you so desire."

"Years ago I saw a holo of Organa and his daughter," Han mused. "She was a cute little kid. Probably a spoiled rotten teenager by now."

"I doubt that," Padmé snapped. Addressing the droid, Padmé put her hand on his shoulder. "Please forgive me, Threepio."

"Forgive you?" the droid repeated, puzzled. "For what?"

"This," she replied, reaching up and switching off the protocol droid's power. His eyes darkened, and his body froze in a half-turned position. Padmé glanced over at a surprised Han. "Hurry, help me stash him someplace."

"You sure do keep things interesting," Han commented, awkwardly hoisting the droid up and shuffling over to the nearest door.

Padmé cautiously opened it and peered inside. "A small conference room. This should do nicely."

"Okay," Han agreed, shoving the droid in the doorway then, following Padmé's instructions, lowering him down to the floor before pushing him under the table. Han stood up, brushing off his pants. "Wouldn't it have been easier and safer to delete his memory bank?"

"No, I wouldn't do that to him," Padmé replied. "Threepio deserves better than that. Besides, you know it's not that easy to delete a droid's memory banks."

"You act like you know the droid."

"I do," she said sadly. "He just doesn't remember me anymore."

"The list keeps growing," Han mumbled.

"What list?"

"The list of people, and droids now, that you claim to know." He eased his head out of the doorway, checking both directions. "Coast is clear. Now what?"

Padmé had already located a computer terminal in the conference room, and was busy pushing buttons. "We find out where Leia's office is located, then head over there." She smiled as directions came up on the screen. "Third floor, southwest corridor. Room 329."

"Why does a teenager need an office, anyway?" Han asked.

"Princess Leia is also a Senator, representing Alderaan in the Galactic Senate."

Han gave an low, impressed whistle. "A senator? How old is she?"

"Eighteen, almost nineteen," Padmé answered softly as she led Han down the hallway and toward the hover-lift. "She takes after .." She stopped, hesitating before finishing. "Her mother."

Han gave Padmé a sideways glance as they entered the hover-lift. "Politics runs in her blood, huh?"

"You could say that."

The hover-lift doors shut and they felt the floor move slightly beneath their feet. "What if someone tries to stop us?" Han asked, feeling somewhat nervous. "It's not likely we'll get all the way to this girl's office without someone seeing us, or gettin' questioned."

"I'll think of something," Padmé said, trying to be reassuring.

Suddenly, the hover-lift stopped at the second floor and the door slid silently open. An older, buxom woman wearing a bright pink beaded flowery dress and matching pearls, with an elaborate upswept coiffure, stepped forward, stumbling to a halt when her eyes came upon Padmé. "Oh my stars!" the woman gasped, clutching her chest. "It can't be!"

"Hello, Princess Celly," Padmé said calmly. "It's nice seeing you again."

"I… I do believe my poor old heart is about to give way," Celly cried out, right before she collapsed onto the floor of the lift.

Han stared down in shock at the older woman. "Well, that's just great," Han complained. "There's probably a damn big penalty around here for killing a Princess."

Padmé quickly knelt down to check Celly's pulse. "Close the door," she told Han, tugging the buxom Princess into the hover-lift.

Pressing the 'close' button, Han leaned over for closer inspection. "What are we gonna do with the body? Stuff her under a table, too?"

"She's not dead," Padmé replied tightly. "Celly has always had, err… health problems."

On cue, the princess let out a groan, and opened her eyes, blinking in confusion. "Is this the Alderaanian Golden Fields of Hereafter?"

"Yup," Han said as he patted the wall of the hover-lift. "And you're riding up to those fields in this here Golden Hover-Lift."

Celly struggled to a seated position, frowning up at Han. "Who are you?"

"Saint Captain Solo, the official operator of Golden Hereafter Hover-Lifts at your service. You'd better be nice to me, or I'll put it in reverse, an' you know where you'll end up instead."

"Celly, just ignore Captain Solo," Padmé told the flustered woman as she helped her to her feet.

"Senator Padmé Amidala!" Celly cried out, backing into a corner. "You're… you're dead! I watched your funeral on the holo-net."

"You're dead, too?" Han asked Padmé, eyes wide in feigned shock. "Why didn't you say so?"

"Captain, this is no time for levity," Padmé chided.

"It never is," Han said in mock sorrow before asking, "You're a senator, huh? Why am I not surprised."

Padmé ignored Han, turning her focus on Celly. "I'm not dead, Celly. It was a ploy by Obi-Wan, Yoda and your brother to shield me from Palpatine. I've been in hiding for the past eighteen years but I can no longer remain on the sidelines in silence. I should never have allowed them to convince me otherwise."

"Why have you come here?"

"I need to see Leia," Padmé replied cautiously.

"Bail will never allow it," Celly snapped. "We had heard rumors concerning you and that poor, misguided young Jedi you seduced, right before he was murdered by the Sith." She glanced over at Han and said contemptuously, "Is this ruffian your latest conquest? He certainly looks young enough for your tastes."

Padmé flushed in anger. "Captain Solo is my pilot. I'd appreciate it if you'd refrain from making judgments about my personal life."

"It's your judgment that's in question, Senator," Celly replied haughtily. "You would not be a good influence on our precious little Leia, that's for certain, so you stay away from her."

Padmé didn't have time to reply before the hover-lift door opened again, this time on the third floor. Celly promptly screamed, "Guards! HELP ME! We have intruders in the palace!" She stumbled out of the hover-lift, pointing at Padmé and Han as they exited. "Arrest these trespassers!"

The third floor, however, lacked security since it was assumed no intruders would be able to make it this far without having been discovered far sooner. The only beings in the outer office area were two secretary droids, and they stopped what they were doing, tilting their heads in puzzlement as Celly waved her arms up and down.

"Princess Celly?" one of the silver droids asked in concern. "Are you having another one of your spells? Would you like me to retrieve you some water?"

"NO!" she yelled at the droid. "Shoot those people!"

"But I have no weapons, and it is against my programming to harm sentients anyway."

"Droids are so entirely worthless," Celly complained unhappily.

"I could turn them off and shove them under a desk for you," Han suggested helpfully.

"Celly? What are you shouting about now?" a man's firm voice asked from down the hallway.

Han gave a quick turn on his boot-heel to see that the speaker was a dark-haired older man. Padmé quickly hurried toward the man, her face breaking into a pleased smile. "Hello, Prince Organa," she said, nodding in greeting. "It's been a very long time. Do you remember me?"

The man seemed stunned at seeing the woman. "Padmé? How could I ever forget you?" He glanced over his shoulder to a shut, office door, then turned his attention back to Padmé. "Leia mustn't see you."

"I couldn't agree more," Celly interrupted loudly. "That woman's a tramp. Rouge told me so, and Rouge knows everything."

"I'd like to speak with you and Leia," Padmé said urgently, trying to ignore Celly. "It's important, Bail."

"You shouldn't be here," Bail stated. "You'll be discovered by the very people we've kept you safe from for all these years."

"I have to see Leia," Padmé persisted, feeling a rising sense of desperation. "She needs to be told the truth, Bail. I should never have agreed to do what you, Obi-Wan and Yoda pressured me into doing."

"All I know is that by telling her the truth, all you'll really end up doing is causing her great harm," Bail returned evenly. "If you care anything about her, you'll leave peacefully and quietly. I'll have you escorted safely and secretly back to your ship, and no harm will come to anyone."

Han leaned over and whispered to Celly. "Can you catch me up with what's happening? I feel like I've walked in during the middle of a holo-drama."

"Stay away from me, you, you… scallywag!"

"First I'm a ruffian and now I'm a scallywag," Han said ruefully. "You royalty could use a good lesson in throwin' insults, 'cuz you're not very good at them."

"Even if you have me escorted from the premises, I won't give up," Padmé told Bail. "She's an adult now, Bail. The time for keeping secrets is over."

"You don't know what you're asking," Bail said hoarsely. "If you don't care about the danger you're putting yourself in, you should at least care about Leia."

"I care about her," she insisted. "And after I leave here, I'm going to Tatooine."

"You're making a mistake of galactic proportions, Padmé. You should have remained in hiding."

"I'm tired of hiding," Padmé yelled in frustration. "I'm tired of doing nothing while the Empire destroys and enslaves. I'm tired of pretending to be something I'm not. I'm tired of the sadness and loneliness that comes with loving people that don't even know I still exist!"

"Father?" a feminine voice said from behind Padmé's back. "What's going on here?"

Padmé spun around to face the speaker, both her hands going up to her face. "Leia," she gasped, her voice cracking.

"Yes, my name is Leia," the young woman responded, her brow creased in confusion. "You seem familiar. Have I met you before?"

"Only once," Padmé replied, tears welling up in her eyes.

"When was that?"

"Don't, Padmé," Bail beseeched Padmé. "Force sake, I'm begging you to reconsider this reckless venture. It's still not too late."

Heedless of Bail's pleas, Padmé answered Leia, "The day you were born."

"What?" Leia asked, confused at the stranger's remark.

"Padmé!" Bail said loudly. "Please, if you insist on doing this, let's take this into Leia's office." He gave a quick nod toward Celly, although his sister didn't notice the slight movement. "This is a private matter."

"You're right, Bail," Celly said with a sniff, eyeing Han with disdain. "Whatever this is about, we should never air our laundry in front of commoners." She turned her contemptuous gaze at Padmé. "Did you take up being a mid-wife's assistant when you disappeared?"

She started to move toward Leia's office, when Bail cleared his throat. "Celly, I would prefer that you remain out here."

"Well," Celly huffed out. "Wait until Tia and Rouge hear about this! And don't think I'm not going to inform them, either." She turned and marched toward the holo-lift, giving a glance back to see if Bail was going to stop her. When he made no effort to do so, she tossed her head and slammed the 'close' button inside the holo-lift.

Padmé turned toward Han. "Please wait in the lobby, Han. I'll be right back."

"You and the Prince don't seem to be on the best terms," Han grumbled, flinging his body down onto a cushy sofa. He put his long legs up, resting his boot heels on the kaffe table before commenting loudly, "I hope he comes through with my fee."

"Do you mind?" Leia said, glaring at Han as she noticed him for the first time. Her eyes flickered briefly to his feet.

"I'd mind it a whole lot if I don't get paid," Han drawled back, looking up at the young woman and openly assessing her appearance. Short, like Padmé, with dark, long hair, like Padmé's, amazing brown eyes, like Padmé's … Han shook his head, dismissing the similarities as merely coincidence.

"I'm talking about putting your boots up on the furniture," she clarified, pointing at the table. "People put their kaffe cups there, and you're making it dirty."

"You royals are a real pain in the backside," Han said dourly, making no move to take his feet off the table. "Leave me alone and go have your meeting, Your Royal Fussiness."

Leia was astounded at the man's audacity. "What did you just call me?" Without waiting for his reply, she reached down and pulled up one end of the table, forcing his feet to slide to the floor. "You need to learn some manners, you scruffy-looking space tramp."

Han jumped to his feet, frowning down at the petite Princess. "You gonna be the one to teach me, sweetheart?"

"There are lots of things I could teach you," Leia snapped back angrily.

"I'll bet I could teach you a few things, too," Han said suggestively, thinking about how incredibly spunky she was… just like Padmé. But her stark white, high-collared dress and those large buns on either side of her face were simply too easy of a target for Han to resist. "The first thing I'd teach you is how to loosen things up, Your Royalness. Those hair-buns of yours are obviously wound way too tight."

Leia's cheeks flushed a bright red, and she stepped back to put some space between them. "Why, why you – "

"Impertinent plebeian?" Han suggested to the flustered young woman.

"That sounds exactly right," Leia shot back. "I'm surprised you know what those words even mean."

"I'm full of surprises," Han returned quickly, deciding he rather enjoyed sparring with the feisty Princess.

"Captain Solo!" Padmé interrupted the pair. "That is quite enough."

Bail moved over and put his arm protectively around his daughter's waist, his dark eyes assessing the Corellian. "Come, Leia. You don't have to put up with this."

Both Bail and Leia headed into the Princess's office, and Padmé scowled at Han. "When I come out of that office, you will apologize to Leia," she said in a low voice.

"I never apologize," Han stated. "It's one of the few rules I live by."

"If you wish to be paid, you'd better start reconsidering that rule, Han," Padmé warned before she entered the office and shut the door in his face.

Alone in the lobby, Han plopped back down on the sofa, and defiantly put his feet back on the kaffe table.

Inside the soft blue-toned office, the air crackled with tension. Leia's eyes moved from her father over to the dark-haired woman. "Now, what's this all about?"

"Should I tell her, or do you wish to?" Padmé asked Bail quietly.

Bail coughed nervously. He'd been a politician all his life, and had always felt calm and in control in the face of even the toughest opponent. This situation, however, was making him feel flustered and uncertain. "I will tell her."

"Tell me what?" Leia demanded.

"You know that you're adopted - "

"I've known that since I turned five."

"Yes, well…" He waved at a chair. "Maybe you should sit down, Leia."

"I prefer standing."

Bail took a deep breath. "Leia, this lady is Padmé Amidala, formerly a senator from the Naboo system."

Leia looked at Padmé with renewed interest. "I've heard about you. I was under the impression you had died years ago." She gave a small, wary smile. "That information must be incorrect."

The older woman blinked back her tears. "Yes, it is quite incorrect."

"Leia," Bail tried again, his voice sounding choked and desperate. "Padmé is your birth-mother."

The Princess's face visibly paled. "My… mother?"

"Yes, Padmé is your mother."

Leia blinked, trying to clear her thoughts. The only thing she could think to say was the question that had haunted her all her life. "Why did you give me up? If you were a senator, surely you had enough credits to keep me." Leia paused briefly, mentally considering the other possibilities. "Unless you had your reputation to maintain."

"It's nothing like that, Leia," Padmé whispered, longing to take her daughter into her arms, but not knowing how the gesture would be received. "I was forced to give you up, in order to protect you."

"Protect me? From whom?"

Padmé hesitated. "I made some powerful and evil enemies during my time as a senator. I'm afraid that Bail isn't thrilled I've come here."

"So why are you here?" Leia asked, trying to remain calm and civil. This was a moment she had both yearned for and dreaded, now that it had arrived she felt as though she were floundering, wondering if this was a dream from which she would awaken. As a child, Leia had always imagined if her birth-mother ever would show up alive and well that she would throw herself unquestioningly into her mother's waiting arms. Now, faced with reality, she felt it would be disloyal to both Bail and Breha to do so.

"I need your help," Padmé answered. She looked over to Bail for support, but the man folded his arms and turned his gaze out of the tall window to look at the garden below. Padmé plunged ahead, "I'm working for the rebellion, and I'm asking you to come with me. It's going to be very dangerous, but without your assistance, I'll never be able to destroy Palpatine and… and Vader. But, along with you and your brother's aid, I have a plan I think can succeed."

"You think can succeed," Bail muttered under his breath.

It took a few seconds for Padmé's comment to sink in. "Brother? I have a brother?"

"Yes, a twin brother. On Tatooine."

Stunned, Leia asked, "Does he know about you? Or me?"

"No, but he will," Padmé replied.

"You don't have to do this, Leia," Bail said. "Like Padmé points out, it will be very dangerous."

"We're already helping the rebellion, Father," Leia pointed out, her mind whirling in a thousand directions with the overload of information being passed to her.

"Only financially," Bail stated.

"Still, if the Empire found out, we'd be arrested and probably executed."

Bail walked over to Leia, putting his hand gently on her face. "You're so young."

"I'm eighteen. That's not so young." Leia turned to face Padmé. "I want to meet my brother, but I have a feeling there's a lot to this story you haven't told me yet."

"I'd like to tell the entire story to both of you at the same time," Padmé said. "Then you both can make up your minds to help me, or not. But it has to be a mutual decision, because I don't think my plan can work without the two of you working as a team."

Leia looked over to her father. "I can't say no to this, Father."

"I had a feeling you'd say that," Bail said sadly. "I love you, Leia."

Smiling, Leia gave her father a tight hug, not noticing the look of longing on Padmé's face. "I love you, too. I'll be all right."

Han sat in the lobby for a long time, finally shutting his eyes to take a nap. When the door opened, he was instantly awake and leapt off the sofa. He noted the grim expression on Bail Organa's face, and Padmé's restrained smile. Princess Leia seemed to be distant and resolute.

"About time," Han grumbled. "I thought I was going to have to call in for room service and spend the night." When the trio did not reply, he addressed Padmé, "Did you get my money?"

It was Bail that answered. "Ten thousand credits will be brought to your ship tonight, Captain Solo. I will set up an account under your name, and once you arrive on Tatooine, Leia will contact me and I will deposit another ten thousand in your account. When you arrive on Myrkr, the same amount will again be deposited."

"Thirty thousand?" Han said, his eyes lighting up at the amount.

Bail stepped closer to Han. "If you keep Leia and Padmé safe during the entire course of this mission, which includes what happens on Myrkr, I will double your fee."

"Sixty thousand?" Han gasped, then looked suspiciously at Bail. "What's gonna happen on Myrkr?"

"I'm not at liberty to tell you that," Bail said. During the course of their long meeting, Padmé had told them Han was unaware of her connection to either Luke or Leia, and she wanted it kept from him for the time being. Since it didn't seem to matter either way, Leia and Bail had readily agreed to Padmé's request.

"The flyboy can add numbers," Leia commented dryly. "I can only wonder what other surprises he has in store for us."

Han gave Leia a wink. "I've already told you I'm full of surprises, Your Royal Shortness."

Several hours later, Han was back at the spaceport with his two passengers in tow. Grateful at having 'escaped' the Organa Palace without having to actually groom any pittens, Han led the ladies into the hanger, barely listening to the Princess's continual verbal jabs at his character. He had ten thousand credits waiting for him at the foot of his ship's ramp, so that was all that mattered at the moment.

"Is this your ship?" Leia asked incredulously. "Does it fly?"

The insults to his own character he could ignore – any insult to his ship he took personally. "Not only can the Millennium Falcon fly, she's the fastest ship you'll ever have the privilege of riding in," Han stated. "She's made the Kessel Run in twelve parsecs."

"That's not poss-" Leia started to say, when Padmé cut her off.

"If Han says he did it, then he did," Padmé stated. "It's never a good idea to question the pilot."

"You can say that again," Han crowed.

Leia frowned at Padmé. "But…"

"Some things simply aren't worth arguing about," Padmé said, patting Leia's arm.

"Yeah," Han agreed with a firm nod. "Me an' Padmé have reached an understanding, haven't we?" He grinned broadly at the older lady. "The Corellian is always right."

"Oh, for star's sake," Leia muttered under her breath.

Han looked around the hanger bay. "By the way, where's my money? The Prince said it would be waiting for me when we got here."

"Is money the only thing you love?" Leia asked, annoyed. "Besides yourself, I mean?"

"Nope," Han replied, putting his arm around Padmé's shoulders. "I love this pretty lady, too." He gave Padmé a quick peck on the cheek. "Paddie loves her Corellian, too. I call her Paddie, 'cuz it's my pet nickname for Padmé. Princess Celly sure had the two of us figured out fast, didn't she? That's because we're so much in love, it's hard to hide our true feelings for each other."

Padmé was utterly astounded. "What!?"

Suddenly, Han realized he had no idea what was possessing him to spout these bizarre comments, other than the young Princess was getting under his skin and he wanted to, to …. Well, he wasn't sure what he wanted to accomplish, really, other than getting back at the uppity Princess. Now that he had started down a very slippery slope, he couldn't very well go back without looking like a complete fool. "Two wild and crazy spacers, flying through the galaxy with stardust in our eyes," Han finished lamely.

"Is that right?" Leia questioned, looking suspiciously at a dumbstruck Padmé.

"Uh…" Padmé stuttered, trying to decide whether she should play along with the obviously demented pilot.

"Look," Leia said, pointing toward the ship's ramp. "There's C-3PO, coming from behind the ship. He must have your credits with him, Solo." Leia smiled and waved. "And he's got R2-D2 with him, too." She hurried over to the two droids. "Threepio! Do you have Captain Solo's payment?"

"Yes, Princess Leia. I most certainly do have it," Threepio replied, hoisting up a box he was carrying. He then noticed Leia's companions, and backed up a step upon seeing Padmé. "You are not going to turn me off again, are you?"

"I'm sorry, Threepio," Padmé apologized once again to the droid, grateful for the sidetracked conversation. "I really needed to see Leia. I hope you'll forgive me for being so rude to you earlier."

"He's a droid," Han grumbled. "You don't have to apologize to a droid."

"That is quite correct," Threepio said, sounding wistful. "A droid's lot in life is a difficult one." The protocol droid tilted his head as Artoo gave a sharp whistle. "Oh, yes, Artoo. I was getting to that. Prince Organa requested we accompany Mistress Leia to wherever it is that she is going, and offer our assistance in her mission. I do hope it isn't dangerous." He craned his neck to gaze up at the ship. "This isn't the ship we are going to be traveling on, is it? It looks somewhat unreliable."

"The ship undoubtedly takes after its captain," Leia told the droid.

"Droids?" Han protested. "No pain-in-the-rear droids on my ship, and that's final."

"If the droids don't go, then neither do I," Leia stated through clenched teeth.

"Good," Han said. "You're a pain, too."

"If Leia doesn't go, that means no credits for you," Padmé pointed out. "Not the first ten thousand, or the second… or third…."

Han held up his hands. "I get it. But taking droids wasn't part of the deal."

"Tough," Leia said tightly. "From now on, you'll be taking your orders from me, and don't you forget it." She turned to the droids and pointed toward the ramp. "Threepio, Artoo… get onboard this rust bucket." Leia then turned her icy gaze at Han, and indicated with a wave of her hand to several large cases sitting against the outer wall. "Bring my luggage onboard."

"Would you like me to get your luggage, Mistress Leia?" Threepio asked nervously, uncertain what was making the Princess so upset.

"No," Leia snapped. "Solo will bring it if he knows what's good for him." With that, she stomped up and disappeared into the interior of the ship with the droids obediently following her inside.

Han stood still, his mouth open. "I don't take orders from anyone but me," he finally mumbled in disbelief, looking up at the empty ramp.

"Why did you tell her we were lovers?" Padmé hissed out, giving Han a hard slug with her fist on his bicep. "Are you insane?"

"I… I don't know," Han admitted sheepishly, rubbing the spot where she'd hit him. "I have no idea what came over me. It's like the words came tumbling out all by themselves, and I couldn't stop myself until it was too late. Are you going to tell her the truth?"

Padmé was about to say 'yes', when she stopped herself. "Maybe. I don't know yet. It depends."

"What does that mean?"

"It means you'd better start behaving yourself around Princess Leia, or I'll turn into a very jealous paramour. Maybe, just maybe, by pretending we're involved, Leia won't kill you, since that will be my prerogative." And maybe, Padmé mused to herself, by pretending to be involved with Han, he won't turn his bad-boy charms toward my daughter. Then she spun on her toe and marched up into the ship, leaving Han standing alone, wondering how his life had taken such a strange turn in the past few days.

Tatooine

The trip to the desert planet was quiet and strained. Princess Leia remained sequestered in the small cabin she was sharing with Padmé, and other than using the refresher, refused to come out. This situation upset Padmé quite a lot, and the older woman was of the opinion that Han was to blame for Leia being so unsocial. Padmé spent most of her time in the berth with Leia, leaving Han alone to deal with the protocol droid and his little companion, Artoo. By the time the Falcon made landfall in Mos Eisley, Han was in a sour mood.

Han spared a glance over at the Princess as she exited her cabin. She was carrying a small satchel and had dressed in a light blue shirt and white pants. Han noted that Leia was no longer wearing her hair in that absurd style, but rather had it braided and hanging down her back. Then Padmé exited the cabin, and Han blinked in surprise. The older woman was dressed very similar to Leia, except her shirt was pale pink. Her hair, too, was worn down in a long braid.

"You two look like sisters," Han blurted out.

Padmé gave a genuine smile. "Thank you. Darling."

Darling? Han thought with a start, before remembering his idiocy during their departure from Alderaan. He noted that Leia's expression darkened upon hearing Padmé's term of endearment. Once again, he felt the overwhelming urge to capture the Princess's attention. "I like your hair much better without it being trussed up in those dumb buns."

"I couldn't care less what you like or don't like," Leia said frostily.

"Will you go rent us a landspeeder?" Padmé asked Han, keeping her voice sugary. "A large one, dear, since we'll be taking the droids with us." She put her arm through Leia's, tugging the young woman to come along. "We'll be getting directions to the Lars' homestead. I was once there, but it was a very long time ago, and not by landspeeder."

"You've been there? Have you met Luke?" Leia questioned.

"No," Padmé said. "It was before Luke was born."

"Why do I have to go along?" Han complained, frowning. "This isn't my mission."

Padmé gave a stern look toward Han. "You wouldn't want me to get captured by Tusken Raiders, would you?"

"Uh, I guess not."

"You don't sound too concerned about your girlfriend's welfare, Solo," Leia bit out sarcastically. "And don't forget, my father is paying you well for this mission."

"Let's not dawdle," Padmé declared as she hustled Leia away before another argument could ensue.

An hour later, with both droids loaded onto the back trunk area of the four-seat speeder, the group set off into the hot desert sand. Padmé kept track of their direction, and occasionally pointed for Han to make a small course correction. Eventually they passed a small town, which Padmé identified as Anchorhead. "Just a few klicks further, and we should be coming up to their homestead."

"Why anyone lives on this planet is beyond me," Han stated grimly. "Much less way out here beyond civilization."

"They're moisture farmers," Padmé explained. "The towns rely on moisture farmers for their water supply, otherwise no one could live here at all."

"No great loss," Han replied, thinking about Jabba the Hutt. "The only thing this system is good for is criminal activity, anyway."

"You're quite the expert on that, I'd imagine," Leia commented snidely from the seat behind Han.

Han grinned smugly, looking into the rearview mirror at the Princess. "Glad you can admit I'm an expert."

"On being a criminal," Leia returned. "That's not a compliment, laserbrain."

"I'd like to think being called an expert on anything is a compliment," Han goaded.

"You would," Leia mumbled.

"Look!" Padmé cried excitedly, pointing off toward the horizon. "There it is…. Luke's homestead."

Han squinted. He could see a few small mounds, the same color as the sand. It looked as desolate as everything else on the planet. "One rebel recruit lives in a palace, the other rebel recruit lives in a mud hut." He looked over at Padmé. "What do these two people possibly have in common?"

"I find it amazing that you two claim to be lovers, yet you've kept this huge secret from Solo," Leia said to Padmé. "Maybe when he finds out, he'll dump you."

"Maybe," Padmé agreed quietly.

"What huge secret?" Han demanded.

"You'll find out shortly, Han," Padmé said. "I promise."

Leia immediately regretted the harshly spoken words to Padmé, thinking that perhaps that was the reason Padmé was delaying telling the pilot the facts – she didn't want to lose her lover. Leia gave a furtive glance into the rearview mirror, appraising the Corellian's windblown appearance. Although he was quite a bit younger than her mother, Padmé was still a very attractive woman. It certainly wouldn't be odd that Solo found her appealing. And it wasn't strange that her mother found the pilot attractive as well. Han Solo might be incredibly annoying, but Leia wasn't blind to the fact he was ruggedly handsome. Certainly nothing like all those lame schoolboys and vapid politicians Leia had to deal with everyday. Leia could very well understand that Padmé could find comfort in those strong arms. She found herself wondering what kissing the Corellian would feel like, then gave herself a firm mental shake. He was her mother's lover, for star's sake! What in the galaxy was causing her to think about him in such a way?

Instead of thinking about Solo, Leia forced her thoughts toward the rapidly approaching moisture farm. Her twin brother was living there, toiling away in the heat. And his life was about to be altered in unimaginable ways.

Han brought the speeder to a halt, close to the sand-worn dome. As the group exited their transport, an older man appeared from the underground dwelling to greet the newcomers.

"Can I help you?" he called out.

"Owen," Padmé said breathlessly, hurrying toward the man. "Is that you?"

"Yeah, that's my name." The grizzled man eyed Padmé and looked over her shoulder toward Leia and Han. "And who would you be?"

"It's me, Padmé Amidala. I know it's been a long time – "

Owen blinked, and staggered back a step. "It can't be…"

"Yes," Padmé said, smiling. "It's me."

Owen's craggy expression hardened. "You need to leave before Beru sees you and gets all upset."

"I need to see Luke," Padmé stated, her smile fading. If Bail was difficult to convince, Padmé suspected Owen might be even more so.

"Kenobi told me you were dead. Seems that sneaky old wizard lied to us." He shook his finger in Padmé's face. "If you didn't need Luke before, he certainly doesn't need you now."

"No, Luke doesn't need me," Padmé agreed. "But there are things he needs to know now that he's an adult. There are decisions he has to make, once he hears the truth."

"I'm not allowing it," Owen replied stubbornly. "The truth is the last thing Luke needs to know. He's way better off without knowing it."

Leia finally stepped closer. "My name is Leia Organa, and from what I've been told, Luke is my twin brother. Even if you have issues with Padmé, I believe I have the right to meet my brother, just like he has the right to meet me."

"This recruit is your brother?" Han interrupted in surprise. "Is that the big secret?"

"One of them," Padmé said dryly.

"I say no one has any rights," Owen spat out. "Look around you, missy. Fairytales are for stories, not real life. If life was fair, I wouldn't be eking out a living in the middle of a desert, would I?"

"Listen up," Han put in without being asked, "all Padmé wants to do is to talk to the kid. We ain't leaving until that happens."

"I say it's not gonna happen," Owen said stubbornly.

Before anyone could react, Han drew out his blaster, pointing it at Owen. "And I say it is."

"Han!" Padmé said, appalled. "Put your weapon away."

"Do you know what negotiating and diplomacy even mean?" Leia added, disgusted at the Corellian.

"Sure I know," Han replied. "It means wasting a lot of time getting nowhere fast. I prefer aggressive negotiations, myself."

Padmé gave Han a strange look as the memory of Anakin saying that same phrase a long time ago came flooding back. She pushed Han's weapon away, firmly forcing the memory of Anakin back into the recesses of her mind where it belonged.

A head liberally streaked with gray appeared at the top of the home's steps, and a second later a woman exited onto the ground level. "Owen? What's going on?"

"These people are lost and I'm just giving them directions," Owen quickly called back over his shoulder.

"Beru?" Padmé called out. "It's me… Padmé Amidala!"

Sitting around the table in the small kitchen, Padmé sipped the cool drink that Beru had graciously provided the travelers. Her eyes gazed around the stark, utilitarian room, which was surprisingly clean considering the constant battle with dust that Beru had to contend with. The homestead had changed very little since she had visited it all those years ago. She could tell that Leia was fascinated with these simple living conditions, so completely different than her own, luxurious palace. When they were still outside, Han had quickly holstered his blaster, and mumbled some type of short remark that might have resembled an apology to Beru for pointing a gun at her husband and was now fidgeting as he sat next to Padmé. Owen had vehemently disagreed when Beru had invited them inside before stalking away, complaining bitterly that Beru was making a huge mistake allowing them to stay.

"Luke will be here soon," Beru told them pleasantly as she bustled about preparing dinner. "I'm sure it will be a shock to meet you." Indeed, it had been more than a little stunning for Beru to find out Luke's mother was still alive. However, unlike Owen, she was determined to be a good host to these unexpected arrivals.

"Is Obi-Wan still around?" Padmé asked cautiously.

"Oh, yes, he certainly is. He goes by the name 'Ben Kenobi' now," Beru replied. "Ben's presence has always been a burr under Owen, too. I've told him a million times that Ben has a right to live here, but Owen doesn't understand."

Or, perhaps, thought Padmé, Owen understands the implications of my appearance far more than Beru does at this point.

Leia's expression perked up at the mention of a familiar name. "General Obi-Wan Kenobi? My father's told me about him. He's living here? On Tatooine?"

"Yes," Padmé said. "Since right after the Clone Wars."

"He had to go into hiding, like so many others," Beru said sadly.

Padmé coughed softly. "Why does Luke use the last name 'Skywalker' instead of 'Lars'?"

"Owen wanted to honor his stepmother, Shmi Skywalker," Beru explained. "Shmi was very loved, so it seemed like a good way to remember her."

"I see," Padmé said. "That's nice." Although, she mused, it seemed that Obi-Wan would have objected to keeping that dangerous connection. Before Padmé could voice this concern, a loud noise came from up at the top of the stairs.

"Aunt Beru?" a young man's voice called out. "I'm back. Who owns that landspeeder? Do we have guests? Are they interested in selling those two droids sitting inside? We sure could use a couple of working droids to help fix those condensers." The kid clunked noisily down the stairs and into the kitchen, and the group found themselves staring into the curious face of a sun-tanned blond, young man. "Hi. My name's Luke Skywalker."

"Luke, I'd like you to meet Padmé Amidala, Leia Organa and Han Solo," Beru said by way of introduction. She quickly took Luke's arm and guided him to a chair. "Have a seat. These people have something very important to tell you." She looked at Padmé. "Should I leave?"

"You are certainly welcome to stay," Padmé said politely, before turning briefly to Han. "Han, would you please check on the droids?"

"Why?" Han asked in disbelief. "What could've happened to them in that short time? And if something did, who cares?"

"Can you really be that dense?" Leia asked snidely. "We want privacy, you thick-head."

"Why didn't you come out and say that, then?" He started to leave, before turning to speak to Padmé. "If you insist on keeping all these secrets from me, then I'm gonna have to start rethinking our relationship, sweetheart." He was pleased to see that this remark made Padmé blush, and Leia become even more annoyed than before. He gave a quick nod to the boy on his way out. "Good luck dealing with these two, kid. You're gonna need it."

After Han left, Padmé turned her dark eyes toward her son, and took a deep breath before plunging in. "There is no easy way to say this. Leia is your twin sister, and I'm your mother."

Luke kept looking from Padmé to Leia, and back again. "No way. This is a joke, right? Did Fixer put the two of you up to this? I'll bet he did, that moron. He thinks he's the galaxy's biggest joker." Luke grinned at Beru. "Why are you going along with this?"

"Luke, please," Beru pleaded. "This is important, and you need to listen."

"This isn't a joke," Padmé said. "I truly am your mother."

"But… I'm a Skywalker," Luke said, suddenly feeling his world tilting on its axis.

"I was married to Anakin Skywalker."

Luke's gaze went back to Leia. "You don't look a thing like me."

"Leia's appearance takes after me, as you can see," Padmé said. "Your looks very much take after Anakin."

"He was a Jedi, wasn't he?" Luke asked, suddenly very interested. He looked over at Beru. "You and Uncle Owen told me that both my parents had died during the Clone Wars. Did you know my mother was alive?" His head swung back to Padmé. "Where have you been? Why have you come here now?"

Beru tried to answer some of Luke's many questions. "No, Luke, we didn't know your mother was alive. We had been led to believe she was dead."

Padmé gave a shaky laugh. "Yes, Anakin was a Jedi, and that's the main reason I've come here. You see," she said, pausing to look at both her children before rushing forward with her explanation. "Anakin turned to the Dark Side. He became a Sith Lord. It's the reason I've been pretending to be dead all these years... the reason you were separated from me and hidden away."

Beru was stunned at Padmé's words. "Anakin is still alive, too?"

"I don't understand," Luke said, frowning.

"Neither do I," Leia agreed, although she was starting to get a cold feeling of dread in the pit of her stomach where Padmé's story was heading. On Alderaan, all Padmé would tell Leia during their meeting was that she needed Leia's help to destroy Darth Vader and the Emperor. There had been no mention of Anakin Skywalker, or his turning into a Sith Lord.

"What's a Sith?" Luke questioned.

"A Sith is someone that is evil and wicked. Your father is no longer the man I loved and married. I need you to come with me to Myrkr, and lure your father to that planet."

"Then what?" Luke questioned.

"Then she intends for you to join together and kill him," a refined, yet unfamiliar voice spoke from the shadows of the doorway.