Disclaimer: The sequences at the start are from Return of the Jedi and used without permission, tweaked to fit the universe where Anakin is not in the suit. As ever, no money is made from this work and ROTJ is the property of Lucasfilm; enjoy.

Epilogue

The Death Star - Above the Endor Moon - 23 years later

Emperor's throne room

"Sister. Ah yes; your twin sister. Your feelings have now betrayed her too." Vader told his son with relish, pushing him to release his anger by daring to threaten his only other family. He could remember a time when he'd wanted nothing but to have his children with him; a time that had long since passed... a time that had died with his wife. "If you will not turn to the dark side, then perhaps she will."

"NO!"

Vader spun towards the shout as Luke's green blade sprang to life, his son lunging at him with a vicious slice, driving him backwards, fueled by his fear and terror, pushing him back towards the catwalk. He countered, blocking and parrying, on the defensive, the power of his son's fear making him suddenly uneasy as he struggled to match the ferocity of the attack. His blood flowed through Luke's veins; was it possible his son could best him?

Vader stumbled and fell, misjudging the catwalk, his free hand grabbing the rail to prevent his plunge into the chasm of the reactor, but Luke came on relentlessly. Giving no quarter, he struck downwards on Vader's lightsaber, hammering it again and again, giving him no chance to correct his posture or grip, until, finally, Luke's lightsaber cleaved through the metal of Vader's artificial hand, taking both the limb and the blade with it.

Vader cried out, the searing pain in his wrist no different for it being his mechanical hand; his own fault.

Gripping the sparking stump with his good hand, Vader stared at his son in surprise and fear, waiting for the killing blow to fall.

Only it never came.

His Master's delighted laughter echoed through the chamber. "Good!"

Through his pain and fear, Vader turned his gaze to his Master even as his son did the same.

"Your hate has made you powerful. Now... fulfill your destiny. Take your father's place at my side."

Luke's gaze met his own, ice blue eyes meeting ice blue eyes, before Luke's gaze dropped to his mechanical hand. Vader could practically see the wheels turning in Luke's head before his son stood tall, turned to face the Emperor. "Never." Luke promptly threw away his lightsaber. "I'll never turn to the dark side. You've failed your highness. I am a Jedi. Like my father before me."

The Emperor stared impassively. "So be it. Jedi." His hands were coming up, and Vader knew what would be coming next. He'd been on the receiving end more times than he cared to count, seen others on the receiving end when they'd disappointed the Sith lord. "If you will not be turned, you will be destroyed."

Lightning arced from the Emperor's hands, driving Luke away and down, nearly into the reactor shaft with a cry of pain and surprise. Luke caught himself on one of the control consoles near the edge as lightning ripped through his body, the reaction of his muscles clearly driving his grip.

Vader pushed to his feet, keeping his injured hand close to his body as he slowly stepped clear of the attack, his Master giving him the opening to move back towards the Emperor's side.

"Young fool." There was disappointment in the Emperor's voice, a tone Vader hated to hear when it was directed at him, as his Master stepped down the last of the steps to the landing and slowly approached Luke. "Only now at the end... do you understand."

Part of Vader wanted to cry out, to warn his son, to tell him... to plead with him to submit and accept; to do what he needed to live... yet his voice was trapped in his throat.

Years of obedience and training kept him mute.

Luke gasped and painted with pain, struggling to regain his senses as he pulled himself back from the bring, gripping the console that had prevented his fall and struggling to find a new grip.

Even as his son struggled, Vader took his place just beyond the catwalk bridge even as Luke continued to try and pull himself upwards and further away from the chasm behind him. The Emperor continue to approach slowly, hands outstretched, until he stopped within a few feet of the young man.

"Your feeble skills are no match for the power of the dark side." Power arced from the Emperor's fingertips and ripped into Luke, driving him from the console and back onto the platform, face down with a cry and a gasp. "You will pay the price for your lack of vision."

Vader stepped back to his Master's side as the power of the dark side ripped into his son over and over again, his body jerking and

"Father please." Luke cried out to him, writhing helplessly in the throes of the Emperor's attack. "Help.. me...!"

"You're better... better than this, Ani."

Padmé's voice echoed in his mind, her last words suddenly present as if she were there before him; words he'd blocked for so long, the pain they'd brought beyond even his ability to endure. The image of her in her last moments flickered behind his eyes. Lovely, even in her final moments, her eyes so, so sad and yet hopefully - for him. His son't cry brought him back to the moment.

"AHHHH!

"And now young Skywalker, you will die."

Vader looked to his Master before looking back to his son, gasping and clutching himself in pain.

Surely the Emperor meant it only as a threat? Looking back to the Emperor, Vader understood it was not. Luke would die; here and now. For having the audacity to thwart the Emperor's plans and not follow in Vader's foot steps. For refusing to give in and submit to his greater power, Luke would die.

The Emperor's teeth flashed, visible through the side of his hood as his full rage was channeled into the young man on the floor; Vader's head turned helplessly back to his son.

The flashing light of the force lightning attack sent his mind spinning back to the landing pad on Moltok, suddenly there again, with Padmé in his arms.

"The good..." her voice was weak and getting weaker as he clutched her desperately, willing the Force to empower him to save her... and nothing happened. He was helpless. in the face of her fate."...is in you, Ani."

"Padmé... Angel," he begged, pleading with her not to go, with the universe, not to take her. "please."

"They'll find you... one day..." Luke and Leia; she spoke of Luke and Leia. She was dying and her last thoughts were for them - for him - and not herself. "and you'll... see..."

Lightning arced mercilessly from the hands of the Emperor, driving into Luke's body and making him writhe, agonized, paralyzed and helpless to resist.

Vader looked at his son and looked at his Master, watching each, back and forth and back again as Luke's gaze connected with his in desperation.

"Father!"

Anakin looked back at the man who had held his leash for so long, made promises he hadn't kept; the mentor who had taken his fear and anger and pain and turned it against the galaxy all for his own purpose.

There was no question now of what he had to do; he had to save his son.

Stepping into the man who had pretended to be his friend to gain his trust, only to make him a slave once more, Anakin grabbed the Emperor around the waist and lifted him off the ground.

The Emperor cried out in surprise, his hands snapping back as the lightning left Luke and sprayed the room, slamming into the top of Vader's head.

Pain arced through his muscles, making them clench and spasm, much like they had his son's, as the Emperor's hands were suddenly there above him, lighting ripping into the bones of his skull. Blackness edged his vision as he felt the impact of the electricity clear through to the bones in his toes. This close, this the strength of the Emperor's fear and anger drove straight into his skull and soft tissue, blurring his vision and making his muscles spasm. Years of enduring the onslaught of the Emperor's wrath hadn't made him immune, but Anakin remained able to function.

Barely.

Stumbling, his steps shifting and slow as the Emperor wriggled in his grasp to be free, Anakin sought only one outcome. To end the threat; to make it so that the Emperor could never harm a member of his family again; never take someone from him again.

Anakin would ensure his son would live; what became of him once the threat was gone was inconsequential.

That will drove him forward even as he felt the clouding in his mind as the lightning drove into soft tissue with deadly intent. His steps continued, haltingly, the seven steps it would take to get to the end of the chasm and eternity, each more difficult than the last.

But Anakin would not fail his family again. He would not-

His knee hit the rail, his shin crashing into the console.

Anakin pitched forward, tripping and used the momentum to push forward, the Emperor's body pitching and swinging with a scream as he slipped over the side and into the chasm.

The cry was suddenly cut off as the Emperor impacted the base of the shaft, striking the shielding and an explosion rocked the room, the shock wave nearly knocking him back.

Anakin took a knee, leaning heavily against the console as lightning continued to race through his body, his lungs burning as he struggled to breathe, the internal damage from his proximity to the Emperor during the attack making it all the worse. He was dying; he could feel it. The Force lightning had done its work and he would not recover from this.

The unexpected feel of Luke's hands on his shoulders as he was lifted from the console and drawn backwards, into his arms, had him looking up in surprise.

"Father."

Anakin could still feel the aftershocks of the lighting through his muscles; it was a testament to Luke's strength and resiliency he was able to move after such a concentrated attack.

"My... son."

"Thank you."

Anakin struggled to breathe, and nodded, offering a faint half smile. He wanted to tell Luke how proud he was of him for everything. For doing what he'd been unable to do; for being the Jedi Anakin should have been.

But the words wouldn't come.

Luke smiled back and then it disappeared as he looked around, his gaze going back to the viewport. "We need to get out of here. Can you move?"

"With... your... help."

"Come on then," Luke pushed to his feet and slung Anakin's arm around his shoulder. "Ready?"

Saving his breath to breathe, Anakin nodded. Slowly, Luke got him to his feet. The world spun, darkness edging his vision again, as something inside his body tore loose, a physical tearing from the lightning damage. He said nothing; he was dying but he didn't intend to die where he'd killed the Sith who'd held him in thrall for over two decades..

Slowly, they made their way out of the Emperor's throne room, Anakin directing Luke with shaky hand gestures when he paused for a direction. It was painful and agonizing, the trip to the deck, each step feeling as if it were a million.

The Force swirled about him for the first time in over a decade, pure and good, not tainted by anger or fear; it was a proverbial breath of fresh air. Drawing on it, he bolstered his strength to help his son, knowing Luke would never leave him behind.

They made the flight deck to find the same chaos the rest of the Death Star appeared to be in. Anakin's steps faltered as they neared the Lambda class shuttle that had brought them to the space station in the first place.

"Just a little father, father," Luke urged, helping him up the ramp and into the ship as his feet seemed to want to slip out from under him. "I'm not leaving you here."

Anakin nodded, gasping for air as he was practically dragged into the shuttle and settled in the copilot's chair. Luke was quick to take the pilot's chair, not bothering with crash webbing as he spun up the engines and got it flying. They escaped the hangar just before it exploded, and Anakin's pride in his son swelled, even as his lungs continued to liquify in his chest.

It wouldn't be long now, but it didn't matter; his son was everything Anakin had ever hoped him to be and he couldn't be more proud.

"Father?"

"Here." He gasped on the word, wheezing badly. "I'm... dying... Luke."

Luke set the controls on autopilot as it veered towards the forest moon. "Father-"

"It's... alright."

"Not yet, father; please. Leia's on that moon. My sister-"

"I... know."

"We won't be long, please hold on."

"I.. will... try."

Each word was like a thousand vibroknives in his chest, but Anakin was determined to do as he promised. He focused on the Force around him and pulled on it again to bolster his strength. It wouldn't last long, but perhaps... perhaps long enough to reach the moon. Closing his eyes, he focused on breathing and ignoring the physical damage that was slowly killing him. He bolstered his heart and lungs, keeping the fluids away through sheer force of will; it was a stop gap measure, but Anakin was determined to meet his daughter before he passed into the cosmic Force.

Leia saw the Death Star explode and knew Luke had made it off alive.

After informing Han that he was her brother and commandeering a speeder bike, she set out quickly for his location. Driven by an urgency she didn't fully understand, Leia tracked the descending shuttle, one eye on its descent, the other on her surroundings as the bike sped through the jungle. Had Luke been injured? What she was feeling wasn't fully her own and she couldn't make head nor tails of it, only that it was imperative that she be there when the shuttle landed.

Almost ten minutes later she was breaking to a stop in a clearing as the shuttle was folding its wings to land. Hopping off the speeder bike, she walked swiftly towards the loading bay door as it hissed, breaking the seal and began to lower.

"Leia!"

"Luke!" his call from within the shuttle had her breaking into a run at the urgency in his voice. "Are you alright?"

He didn't answer.

Speeding up the ramp into the ship, she didn't find him in the main compartment but saw him kneeling beside the copilot chair in the cockpit. Tears streaked his face, tears she could see even from a distance. "Luke!"

"I did it, Leia." He turned his gaze towards her, the same sadness she'd sensed in him before clear in the depth of his eyes and the lines of his face. "I did it. I saved him."

"You..." she stepped into the cockpit and hesitated, seeing that Luke grasped the hand of another; someone who was sitting in the chair. She swallowed hard, knowing what she was going to find; knowing that Vader sat in the chair.

Her... their Father.

The same man who had tortured her on the Death Star years ago without a single sign of recognition; the same man who had stood by and held her still as Grand Moff Tarkin ordered the destruction of her adopted home. Her adopted family. The only parents she'd ever known had been killed in the attack, leaving her an orphan twice over - or so she'd thought.

Since Luke had dropped the bomb that Vader was his father, her world had been tilted on its axis. Even more so when Luke had confirmed what she'd long suspected; long known - Luke was her brother.

And the man who had cause so much destruction and brought so much despair to the galaxy, had given them both life.

She'd spent a good deal of time and sleepless nights thinking about it and what she was going to do if she ever met him again. Now that the moment was upon her, it was not what she expected.

Luke extended his hand to her and motioned her over. "Quickly; he doesn't have much time."

Leia exhaled and stepped forward, taking Luke's hand and turning her gaze to the man in the copilot chair.

Vader... wasn't Vader. His flesh was red, burned and blistered as if he'd strode through the gates of hell. His hair was singed, burned almost completely away, some of the flesh melted clear through to the bone of his skull. But it was his eyes that held her. Eyes that held recognition, sorrow and remorse - eyes that were not those of the monster she'd met before.

These eyes were ice blue and sunken into his skull, glowing with a pride and love she had only ever see on her adopted parent's faces before.

This then was not Vader, but Anakin Skywalker - the father Luke had been so desperate to save.

"Leia..." Anakin gasped. "Our... Leia."

Luke squeezed her hand and then, to her surprise, shifted, drawing her down with him so they were both kneeling beside their father. Luke folded her hand about his where it held their father's hand and squeezed, adjusting his grip so they were both holding Anakin's hand. Luke then put his arm about her shoulders, presenting a solid united front. "This is our father, Leia; Anakin Skywalker."

Anakin chuckled and then coughed weakly. "She knows... Luke." He wheezed in a breath that made her wince and cringe inwardly; he was clearly dying. How he was still alive, she didn't know. "He was right... about me, Leia." gasping for breath between words, Anakin struggled to get the words out. "And I... was right... about you."

She blinked, not expecting that. "About... me?"

"I met you... once... on Alderaan. You were... two... and said... you were... three."

The memory was faded and fuzzy, dismissed until this moment as the dreams of a child. A meeting, like so many other meetings, between Bail and his guests. But this one had Anakin Skywalker's face, charm dripping from his words meant to enthrall and tease. "It was a pleasure, Leia. I'm sure you'll grow up to be just as feisty as your mother."

Giving her head a slight shake, she refocused on Anakin's and saw a deep remorse in his gaze.

"You're just... like her. Just as... beautiful and... feisty." Anakin coughed. "I'm sorry... Leia."

"For what?" His apology caught her off guard. Vader had never apologized to anyone for anything. Luke squeezed her shoulders, as if sensing her confusion and trying to reassure her - which he probably did and probably was.

"For Alderaan." Anakin wheezed. "For not... recognizing you... then and... taking you... back to... your mother."

"To my..." Leia glanced at Luke to find his eyes as wide as hers. "I don't understand."

"So close..." Anakin coughed, his hand trembling in theirs, gripping almost painfully tight. "I was... so close... and I didn't... see." he coughed again, blood flecking his lips as tears slid down his cheeks. "I'm sorry... Padmé... so sorry..."

"Padmé?"

Leia swallowed hard; she'd heard that name. Bail had told her about her adopted mother before she'd made her choice to join the Senate as his aid. He'd wanted her to understand and had tried to dissuade her from the course as her birth mother had wanted more for her. Leia hadn't been dissuaded once she'd learned Padmé had been a senator herself; it had simply solidified her outlook and the path she'd chosen to take. "Our mother."

Luke's arm jerked around her shoulders, but Leia focused on Anakin. "What do you mean your didn't see? That you didn't bring me to her."

"She was... waiting for me... on the ship... after I saw you." Anakin's hand squeezed impossibly hard in theirs, making her fingers numb. "We were... searching for..." he wheezed, "you both... I'm sorry... I couldn't..." a cough broke his words, making them difficult to follow. "find you... sooner. You weren't... together. You should... have been... together..."

And then Leia understood.

Vader hadn't recognized her at the meeting because she'd told him she was the wrong age and she was a single child. He'd been searching for them. Their mother had been searching for them - with him. And they'd been assumed to be growing up together. "Father," she slid her hand across his wrist, noticing for the first time that tears were sliding down her cheeks as well. "I have had a happy life; you did not fail me."

"I failed... her."

"No," Luke chimed in, his voice thick. "No you didn't. We're here. We're together now. You did that."

"But she... is not."

Luke smiled, tilting his head to Leia's even as his own tears ran in silent streams down his cheeks. "Yes she is. She's a part of us. A part of the Force. She's right here with us... and she's waiting for you."

"Luke-" Leia shot him an alarmed glance.

He smiled sadly, catching her gaze with a short shake of his head before addressing Anakin again. "She brought us back together, father; I know it."

"She was... right..." Anakin smiled, coughing and more blood flecked his lips as a slight gurgle entered his words. "You found... me. Both of... you. You... saved me."

"Go to her, father," Luke told Anakin thickly. "She's waited a long time for you to join her."

"Luke!" Leia cringed, watching Anakin.

Anakin to her surprise, smiled even wider, revealing bloody teeth and gums. "It's alright... Leia. He is... right. I am..." he struggled to continue talking through a coughing spree, his words becoming faint as the gurgle intensified. "We are... so proud... of you... both." Anakin sucked in a sharp breath and then seemed to deflate, sliding back into the seat, his eyes closing, "May the... " his voice ebbed away as the air left his lungs and his lips could no longer formed the words. "Force be..."

A soft hiss escaped his lips and then there was silence, his hand going slack in theirs.

"With you," Luke finished softly, choking on the words.

Leia turned her face to Luke's shoulder, feeling the sudden and devastating loss of something she's only just found and hadn't the chance to truly appreciate. Luke seemed unable to finish the phrase, so she did it for him, whispering against his neck as she did. "Always."

Anakin's grip slacked and disappeared as it slipped from theirs. Luke turned then, clutching her in a tight embrace as tears soaked her shoulder, his chest and shoulders heaving in silent sobs for the man who had helped give them life. For the man who had been their father and all, she realized with a suddenly revelation, that he had lost.

Holding him, Leia's own tears fell, but she didn't sob. Her chest was tight as she held her grieving brother. Anakin Skywalker had been a deeply flawed man... a man of great emotions and, in the end, it had been the love of his son who had rescued him.

They sat there, holding one another, for so long that it wasn't until Luke's sobs finally ebbed and his tears stopped, that she realized she couldn't feel her knees. Not that she cared. She'd have stayed there for him

Luke raised his head, his eyes red and puffy, sorrowful but not grief-stricken. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"Being here."

"You needed me," she returned seriously, searching his gaze. "Where else would I be?"

"I wasn't sure you'd come after everything he'd done."

"You're my brother, Luke," Leia told him softly, squeezing his shoulders as she took them in her hands. "And he was our father; Anakin Skywalker. We were given a chance to glimpse the man he once was; a rare and precious gift. I'm glad I came."

Luke nodded, glanced at the chair and then swallowed hard. "We should burn his body; lay him to rest."

Silently, she agreed with a nod, knowing he needed this and, as she stood, realized that a part of her needed this too. It would bring closure to two parts of her history that had been in conflict since Luke had told her of their true parentage.

Without a word, they left the shuttle. Working together in silence, they found a downed tree and set to work clearing the forest away from it. Building it up with deadwood, they created a platform that would hold Anakin's body. Around the pyre, they stacked bundled of wood, packing it together and soaking it in fuel to ensure it would burn long and hot. More wood was stacked to the side just in case they needed to feed the pyre once it was lit.

Once they had enough wood, Luke led the way back into the shuttle and, together, they lifted Anakin's body from the chair where he'd passed on and carried him out of the shuttle. It was slow going, but they took their time and, once they were at the Pyre, Luke used the Force to lift Anakin's body into place.

In silence, they stared at their creation as twilight descended around them. Time passed slowly as they stood, his arm around her shoulders and hers around his waist, silently waiting for the right moment.

Night fell before they stirred, the stars appearing in the sky above, a shooting star drawing their gazes heavenwards.

It was time.

Off to the side, Luke had placed a branch with a fuel soaked rag. He called it to him with a wave of his hand, catching it easily. Holding it out before him, Leia took the cue and lit the branch. Their eyes met and Leia place her hand on the stick just below his, understanding his offer. Together, they stepped forward as one and lit the pyre, saying goodbye to the Father they'd known only briefly, together.

The whoosh of the fuel as it caught fire was audible, forcing them back as the flames raced along the imbued wood and across Anakin's body. Heat forced them back yet more steps as the pyre went up, lighting the darkened forest clearing as if it was daylight.

And so Anakin Skywalker's mortal remains were consigned back to the cosmic Force and the ethereal arms of his love.

"Ani."

The voice teased the edges of his senses, familiar and beloved, but he knew it to be a trick. She'd died long, long ago.

Her laughter suddenly surrounded him.

"You're right; I did. Open your eyes, my love."

His eyes snapped open... and there she was. Just as he remembered her. No sign of the damage that had taken her from him; she was beautiful and whole.

"Padmé!"

She was in his arms then, holding him close.

"I've missed you, Anakin."

"I've missed you too, Angel. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry - for everything."

"No," she shook her head, and it was only then he realized he could see through her; see through his own body. "You kept your promise; you found them, Ani."

"Too late to save you."

"But not too late to save yourself." Her hands touched his face, her smile brilliant and proud. "You saved Luke and he, in turn, saved you."

"He almost didn't."

"Almost doesn't count, only what is." her tone was teasing, "Do or do not, there is no try..." her expression then softened, practically glowing with pride, "and Luke did."

"So he did." Anakin laughed, the sound echoing around them. "Our children are amazing; I'm sorry I could never find them for you."

"No regrets, Ani." Padmé shook her head. "I've been watching our children for a long time and I'm as proud of them as I know you are. They grew up where they needed to be to become the people they are now."

"I've missed you. So... so much!" He wrapped himself around her tightly. "I'm never letting you go again, Padmé. I love you; I've always loved you."

"And I love you, Anakin Skywalker." Her smile was brilliant before it melted away, her voice becoming disembodied as their essences merged and became one, uniting in the cosmic Force for eternity. "Welcome home."

Fin

Author's Note: And that's it folks; thank you to everyone who has stuck around from the start, to those who have joined at some point or another.

I know the story was dark, I know it was difficult to read at time and I know there was a lot of speculation about where it was going and what would happen - or if it would ever end. Thank you for your patience and understanding over these last years - they have not been easy on me and major life changes and tragedies put this story's completion in jeopardy more than once. I'm happy to say it didn't kill it, though, and am proud of having finally completed it despite everything.

This story wouldn't have been possible without the guidance and story idea, plot points and direction that Daenarrah gave at it's creation; a big thank you to her for the plot bunny, her input and, in places, the scenes she envisioned as a part of the story. This plot bunny was far more rabid and monstrous than I ever thought it would be.

Thank you for all of your comments and most of all, your time and commitment to this story. Thank you for reading.

May the Force be with you.

-Jade_Max