It was strange indeed to be sitting at an Imperial court event next to her brother and her father, at the Emperor's own table. Leia couldn't quite fathom her abrupt change in circumstances. Everything here glowed with wealth and privilege. Her gown alone cost enough to feed the Rebellion for a month. It was an entirely different world.

Luke was starting to relax around Vader, though Leia could tell the emperor still terrified him. But that was the reaction Palpatine brought out in most people. Just now Luke was toying with the food in front of him, carefully watching which utensil Leia used, and following her lead. Every so often his eyes would flicker up to Vader, then over to Palpatine.

Leia relaxed further into the Force. Luke was bright and unfocused, his emotions floated mixed with memories, and disbelief. He didn't quite believe he was here, on Imperial Center. His mind lingered on his childhood friends, the sands of Tatooine, and the memory of thirst.

Vader sat silently on Palpatine's right, while the Emperor spoke to Tarkin at his left. Vader hated these gatherings, that was nothing new. But his sense in the force was not as resentful as Leia might have expected. Though her father sat stiff and strait, his head tilted ever so slightly to Palpatine, his attention was wholly focused on his son. Against the dark corona of Palpatine's presence, Vader almost seemed almost… bright.

Leia brushed aside the strange thought, focusing instead on her master. Palpatine was an unremitting darkness, much like, she imagined, the void left when the Deathstar had destroyed Yavin. She couldn't read him well, he was far too powerful, but she knew he'd enjoyed having Tarkin fire the Deathstar. It had strengthened him, somehow.

After the banquet was done and the emperor had departed, her father accompanied her and Luke back to her apartments. Vader didn't wish to be parted from his son, she realized. It was touching, and more than a little disturbing.

She thought of Palpatine's words before he had sent her away on her mission.

Attachment to his family has ever been Darth Vader's weakness.

She had to admit she could see her Master's point. She looked at her father, again speaking so gently with his son. Had he been like that with her, in those early days when she had been so confused? He had been strong. He had been resolute. She'd set fire to the Imperial Palace and he'd just absorbed that and welcomed her into his home. Maybe that would do the trick.

"Father." She addressed him, his helmet turning to survey her. "I think Luke should have my old room at your residence. Then he can stay there while he trains, just like I did."

Vader inclined his mask, "A fine idea, Daughter."

Leia woke late. There was something wrong with today, but she couldn't quite pin down what was bothering her. She felt worried, disturbed, and somehow already exhausted. Perhaps she had just slept poorly? She'd been trying to get back into her physical training routine, maybe it was just taking its toll? She hoped if she just ignored it, the strange feeling would go away.

She decided go to see how Luke was doing at her father's residence.

"Leia!" Her brother was always so happy to see her. She did love him, of course she did, she just couldn't remember what it felt like to be so… enthusiastic about everything.

She let Luke embrace her. He led her into his room at their father's residence, once her own room. She smiled, she strongly suspected her father enjoyed having a child at home again.

"Coruscant is amazing!" Luke enthused,"I never imagined a city could be so alive!"

Leia nodded, "It is the most populous world in the Empire, Luke. But you should call it Imperial Center."

Luke agreed, "Because it is the bright center of the universe!"

"So you're happy with your new life?" Leia asked.

Luke said he was happy. He'd wanted to get off Tatooine, he'd wanted a father, and now he had those things, and enough food, and water even, things were good.

"Luke, I need to talk to Father." Luke gave her a disappointed look at that. "Go back to your studies, I will say goodbye before I go." Leia assured him.

Leia met with her father inside his hyperbaric chamber. It had long been their meeting place of choice, the only place they could look at each other face to face.

Vader surveyed her carefully once she had seated herself and the chamber had sealed. "You are recovering your strength." He observed.

"Getting there." She agreed. "I see Luke is acclimating well."

Vader answered with a nod. "He is very much like I once was."

"I can't believe he was hidden away on your home planet all this time." Leia commented, thinking of Kenobi's deception.

"Yes." Vader agreed. "Obi-wan knew I would never go back there. It was brilliant move."

"I wish I had had the chance to kill Obi-Wan Kenobi for you, Father, but he had me collared the whole time."

Vader brushed this away with a wave of his cybernetic hand, "You have brought our family back together, Leia. You defeated Kenobi at his own game, I doubt he will be much of a trouble to us now."

That did not sound like the father she knew. Darth Vader was raising shields, but why? What did he have to hide from her? "Father, your sense in the Force is… strange. I'm confused."

Vader looked at her, his eyes almost completely blue. "It was all based on a lie, Leia. Only now do I see it."

Leia had no idea what she was talking about. "Kenobi?" She guessed, disinclined to try to read her father's mind.

Vader's gaze grew more distant, "Finally, I understand."

Leia scowled, uncertainty slowly turning to fear. She had to ground her father in the present, she needed him to stop being so weird. "When will you begin training Luke?" She demanded.

Vader hesitated, which was very peculiar.

Leia stared at him, "You will train him, won't you?"

Vader inclined his head. "Of course, Daughter, Luke must be trained to use the Force."

Was her father lying? She couldn't understand the prevarication or make sense of Vader's tightly raised shields. And she couldn't call him on it. He would never stand for that.

She forced herself to smile gently, her own shields also raising, "I should go."

"Daughter," Vader stopped her, his voice reedy without the mask.

"Yes?"

"I hope you do not begrudge me this time with your brother. I have missed much of his life. I hope you do not feel neglected."

Leia blinked, her father never spoke about… feelings. "Never, father, I understand completely."

Leia did not understand at all.