Success! Thank the Force.

He'd found them. The sense of relief he felt sweep through him was both surprising...and welcoming. They were safe. That was all that mattered for the moment.

And, the ones responsible for this travesty would be on the receiving end of Vader's brand of...justice. After all, this was for his wife...for their family, and Vader would do anything for her and for them.

He just hoped, when all was said and done, that Padme would understand that.

Vader was pleased. More than pleased. Fett had done his job, and done it well. As usual. At least, that was what Vader thought when he finally managed to leave the grateful rebel cell Padme had brought him to and had found a message from the bounty hunter waiting for him on his personal channel: The job was done, and he was headed back to the Executor to drop off the package and get paid. Padme had departed shortly after they'd arrived and she'd introduced him to them, a cell with little to no importance really, in complete disarray compared to some of the other rebel factions Vader had gone up against. But, he'd played the part of a noble Jedi to the hilt, helped them unload the ship, and as soon as he had explained his desire to be 'independent' due to the need to remain 'hidden from the Empire', and had at least gotten their contact information if he wanted to come back and help, he'd left and flown back to his original shuttle, and gotten the message then.

So, it was with great eagerness-and trepidation-that he headed back for the Executor, pushing his shuttle to the limits of its speed capability to get back.

This was it.

While he was playing the part of Sandstorm, the mysterious Jedi, he would also be attempting to win back his wife's favor as Vader, so that when the moment came to reveal himself and his intentions at last, Padme would see that he was still the same man she loved and married. Fett's mission would be the start of that, and he couldn't wait to see the look on Padme's face. Even if it was from secretly taped feed-it would still be worth all of the secrecy, all of the risk, just to make her happy again. And maybe, if she was happy again, she'd actually listen to him, and they could be together, Emperor and Empress of the galaxy.

Just like they should be.

He came out of hyperspace just outside of the Executor, and he immediately opened up his secure channel and called Piett, who answered immediately. "Lord Vader." He said, a small miniature of the prim man appearing on his console.

"Has the bounty hunter arrived yet?" Vader demanded, his grip tightening on the console. If something happened on the way to his ship...it was highly unlikely, true. It was Boba Fett, afterall. He was the best in the entire galaxy. But, that didn't that mean accidents didn't happen, and if he lost them again…He didn't know how he'd tell Padme. Or, her mother. They'd already had so much to grieve over with the death of his father-in-law, Ruwee, and Sola's family missing - all on Sidious' orders.

And, Sidious would pay dearly for targeting and attacking the Naberries. Vader would see to that personally.

"Yes, Lord Vader, and he is waiting in your private wing with the package." Even though the line was encrypted with the best encryption the galaxy could offer, Piett was still smart enough not to divulge anything too important over comm. Just in case. Which is what made him such an excellent officer and partly why he was Vader's second-in-command. Vader trusted the man implicitly.

"Good. Clear the floor of all personnel, and prepare Fett's payment." Piett bowed curtly, and Vader cut off the transmission, relieved now that he knew they were safe...which just left apprehension, a feeling he was not used to feeling. But these days, now that he was trying to win his estranged wife back, it was a feeling he was becoming more and more accustomed to. He had to play this just right-play the pleasant host, and yet not divulge too much information to his family members.

It was a shame Sith Lords weren't known for their hospitality.

He docked his private ship in the hangar bay, made sure that his Sandstorm disguise was hidden away in a locked and protected secret compartment, and that nothing was out of place in his black armored suit. Satisfied he looked the part of the Dark Lord of the Sith, he opened the hatch and descended down the ramp, heading purposefully towards his private wing of the ship, ignoring all personnel who scurried out of his way on the way to the lift. But, as soon as the lift opened on the floor containing his compartments, and the compartments he had prepared for his family, it was blessedly empty of all staff. Piett had done just as Vader had commanded. Good. Vader took a deep breath, preparing himself for what was to come, and then strode towards the reception room with purpose, and with a lot more confidence than he was currently feeling.

The door hissed open at his approach, revealing Boba Fett standing next to the viewport, seemingly at ease (but not in reality, Vader knew), and the four individuals huddled together on one of the couches he never used, staring at him in horror.

Vader gulped at the look on his nieces' faces and once again cursed the wretched mask he had to wear in public.

They were all here. His wife's family. Sola, his wife's beloved older sister, her husband Darred, and their two young daughter's, Ryoo and Pooja. All of whom stared at him with pale faces, horrified that Lord Vader himself had come to receive them. He could feel their terror in the Force, and though it irked and pained him that his own family, by marriage as they were, were terrified of him, he immediately took in their appearance and knew that wherever they had been, it had not been good. All of them wore shabby threadbare clothes, their faces smudged with dirt, and he detected raw marks on their wrists from where chains had been. Anger surged, and he whirled on Fett. "What. Happened. To. Them." He demanded, his voice coming out through the mask harsh and metallic. Ryoo and Pooja eeped, and retreated further into their mother's sides, and he remembered Luke and Leia's reaction to hearing his voice through the mask...and again the anger subsided slightly, replaced with shame.

"I found them on one of the smaller Spice worlds, in the Spice Triangle between Tatooine and Ryloth, milord," Fett replied coolly, his voice also modulated through his own mask, "They were held there as slaves in the mines. Separated, but I managed to find all of them and liberate them." Vader didn't need to ask to know that by liberate, he meant kill their slavers. He ground his teeth together to keep his cool. He couldn't scare the children more than he already was, but...good. Slavery was an abomination...and to know that Padme's family had been subjected to it...it infuriated him to no end. Based on his own childhood, he knew, without a doubt, his family members had been through hell since their enslavement. Padme would not be pleased. Rightly so. "They are, otherwise, unharmed. As you requested." He cocked his head. "My pay?"

"See Piett." Vader pulled out a datapad and keyed instructions for the bounty hunter's pay to be transferred from one of his many private, hidden accounts.. "You can expect a large bonus for your quick timing… and your silence." Fett, highly pleased, nodded and strode out of the room, leaving Vader alone with his family.

As soon as the door was closed behind Fett, Vader turned to face his family, that apprehensive feeling once again replacing the anger. Did they know? Had Padme or her mother had a chance to tell them why they had suffered this fate? He stared at them, considering, trying to find a way to approach the subject...delicately, but finally Sola, ever the outgoing one in her family, cleared her throat awkwardly, nervously. "L-Lord Vader," she said, her voice more timid than he remembered. Slavery would do that to a person, he thought darkly. "It's...an honor to be summoned by you, and I'm...we're grateful you've reunited us, but...to what do we owe this...pleasure?"

It was clearly very, very forced...but Vader got the impression she genuinely wanted to know why he'd done this. So, he thought darkly, they didn't know. Perhaps they'd never gotten the chance to find out before...everything happened to them. So, in response, he simply reached up and took off his helmet, revealing his identity to the last of his family.

There was an awkward silence as they all stared at one another, the Nabierre's clearly very confused at what they were seeing. Darred and Sola seemed to grasp the enormity of the situation quickly; however, and their expressions darkened, while little Ryoo and Pooja just remembering him as the nice Jedi who had sometimes played with them when he went with their Aunty Padme to Naboo, gasped. "Master Skywalker!" And, even though Sola made a move to keep them from going to him, they jumped up anyway and ran to him, both of the girls still so short that when they hugged him, they each had just one of his legs. And then, they started bawling.

The poor dears. Vader felt his heart clench at the little girls' obvious distress. Younglings should never have to suffer as they so obviously had.

He flushed, suddenly not sure what to do exactly. He was a Sith Lord-he hadn't been around children like...at all the last two years. Honestly, he hadn't even thought about how his nieces would react to seeing him. He'd enjoyed playing with them whenever he saw them, of course, and he knew it made Padme happy when he did...but, it wasn't just for Padme's sake. He'd genuinely wanted to be an integral part of her family, and she adored these sweet little girls. So, he did, too. Though it felt awkward, he gently patted their backs, trying to soothe them as they blubbered about all the horrible things that had happened to them. He ignored Sola and Darred for the moment, and though the suit was awkward, he knelt down to their level, reaching up to gently wipe their tears away. It struck him that it was a very good thing he'd moved all his personnel off of this level, for if they saw Darth Vader acting like this…well, it would not bode well for his reputation.

But, then again, if he reacted this way to his nieces, how was he going to react to his own children? He couldn't treat them cold and distant just because he was a Sith Lord. Nor did he want to. This wasn't just because he wanted to win his wife back-this was because he wanted to win his family over, because...he realized...he truly cared about their well being.

Strange thought...something he'd think about later.

"Everything is alright now, young ones." He soothed, and his voice was actually soft and gentle. "You are safe. You will never go back to that horrid place."

The girls sniffled, their tears having left tracks in the dirt smudges on their faces, and then they were hugging him, burying their faces into the leather of his suit. Clearly, they either didn't understand that Vader and Anakin were two different people, or they just didn't care. "I knew you'd rescue us," Ryoo whispered, and Vader's heart clenched again. If only he'd known their fate sooner…

He looked over to Darred and Sola, who were now openly shocked by what was happening. "What happened?" He demanded, though he kept his voice as controlled as possible. He didn't want to scare the only two children in the entire galaxy who weren't terrified of him.

Darred and Sola exchanged looks. "Honestly," Darred said, his voice exhausted, "I don't even know anymore."

"We were supposed to go into hiding with my family," Sola shot him a look that said from you, "But, the days surrounding the end of the Republic were...chaotic. We think some of the neighbors sold us out...and before we were supposed to meet with my mother to be rescued by Master Kenobi, we were attacked by slavers and…" she trailed off, her gaze narrowing. "Would you like to explain what's going on? Some answers would be nice."

Yep. The same fire as her sister. Vader smirked internally. No one questioned Vader...except anyone related to Padme. Padme didn't get it from nowhere. All the Naberries were like that. "I didn't...I didn't know what had happened to you. Had I known sooner…I'm so sorry, Sola, Darred," he sighed, carefully extracting the girls from himself and leading them back to their mother, who reached for them. The girls obediently went to her, and Sola hugged them protectively. "I didn't know until Padme told me…"

"You know where she is?!" Sola paled.

"Yes, they are in hiding," Vader replied patiently, "I have told no one else. No one." He gave Sola and Darred a pointed look, hoping to convey his sincerity in stating that.

Sola and Darred gave each other another confused look. "Why? Why did this happen, Anakin? Or, should I call you Vader?" Sola asked with an arch of her brow. Yep, definitely his wife's sister alright.

"Vader, if you please. Skywalker...I'm not that person anymore." Though this time, as he said it, it wasn't said with as much fervor, as much conviction as he usually did. At least, he wasn't killing them for knowing his identity. "I'm not sure how much Padme has told you...?" he said it as a question.

"Just that we were on the run from Vader and the Empire. There wasn't enough time to get all of the details." Darred replied, giving him a dark look.

He considered how much to tell them. The bare minimum, he decided. "The Jedi turned against Emperor Palpatine. I alone stood with him, and assumed the identity of Darth Vader to better serve him and the Empire. However...my master and I are at...odds, you could say. He wants my full loyalty, my total allegiance, unhindered and unencumbered. So, behind my back, he attacked your family, because he knew that as long as you all live, I will always have other allegiances, other loyalties to someone other than him. If I had known sooner..." he trailed off. Sorry wasn't enough, even though he'd already said it. Words would never be enough. He knew too well what slavery did to someone. It was just a miracle they were still alive, and that he could find them all again.

"But why?" Sola demanded. "I knew you and Padme were close, but...you were a Jedi…?" He was pretty sure she already knew the answer, but she wasn't willing to contemplate it aloud.

"We were married. For quite some time." Vader replied shortly. "She...she got pregnant, towards the end of the Clone Wars. I dreamed...I dreamed that she would die in childbirth." His throat tightened, as it always did when he thought about those dreams. But, she was alive now...somehow. And, so were their kids. "The Jedi wouldn't help her. The Emperor...he had power. Enough to save her, or so he claimed," he paused. He wasn't going to tell them about Mustafar. "But, things fell apart, and Padme and I...got separated." More like kidnapped by the Jedi, though he didn't think that would win him any points with Sola and Darred. "I was told by the Emperor that she'd died in childbirth...but she actually didn't. She lived and gave birth to twins. Our twins."

"TWINS?!" Sola gasped, again going pale. Apparently, she didn't know either. "I...I have…?"

"Yes." Vader replied, and this time he smiled as he said, "Luke and Leia. They are two now and...beautiful."

"We have cousins?" Pooja asked, her eyes wide with excitement, her little mouth in an 'o.'

Vader...actually smiled wider, happiness filling him as he looked down at his niece. "Yes, you do." He replied, "And, you're going to meet them very soon."

While the girls gasped and whispered about the possibilities of having new cousins to play with, Sola asked, "But, now you know she's alive. That they're alive. And, you're bringing them here?" her voice was hard, and he could tell she expected him to say yes.

"No." he replied, again shocking her and Darred. "I'm sending you to them. As we speak, a shuttle is being prepared to take you to them."

There was stunned silence, with the exception of the girls whispers of delight at the prospect of getting to meet their cousins. "But...why?" Sola breathed, shock and disbelief clearly on her face.

Vader was quiet for a moment, again, deciding on what to tell her. Obviously, he wasn't going to reveal his master plan, but…"Because I love Padme." he replied, seriously, honestly. "And, I love my children. If it makes them happy...I will go to the end of the universe to make it happen." The data pad pinged, and he glanced at it. "Speaking of which...Your shuttle awaits." He looked at his family again, practically drinking in the sight of them. Who knew when the next time he'd see them would be. "Give...give my love to Padme and our children. Please." His throat was tight, and it was obvious when he spoke how sincere he was.

Sola's face was stony as she replied, "We'll see." Well, it was better than an outright 'no.' Vader nodded, put his helmet back on, and escorted them to the hangar bay.


She knew it. She'd seen him standing there as soon as she reached the clearing.

Figures. She rolled her eyes and sighed.

Might as well get this over with, she thought wryly.

Obi-Wan was waiting for her when she parked the speeder outside of her home, arms crossed, a frustrated frown on his face. She knew he was annoyed with her, and she pointedly ignored him, determined to act like what she'd done was perfectly normal, as if she'd gone on an extended shopping trip rather than a pirate chase. So, she took her time, finishing with the speeder, getting her things together, slinging her bag with her gear in it over her shoulder, before casually strutting towards the house. Obi-Wan had not moved, just watched her intently, one eyebrow arched, as if she were about to turn around and run off again and he needed to be prepared for such an inevitability. She reached the porch, hearing the sounds of her children playing with Yoda in the house. "Good afternoon, Obi-Wan." she greeted calmly, even throwing him an easy smile.

Obi-Wan's jaw clenched. "Mon Mothma contacted me." He said, and though his voice sounded calm, there was that little bit of what she liked to call "Obi-Wan sass" in his voice. "She told me you were on your way home."

"Did she? That was nice of her." Padme said lightly. Actually, she'd just returned from Rebel Command, to report the results of her unsanctioned mission. Needless to say, though Mon was grateful for the supplies back, she'd gotten quite the lecture about disobeying orders, putting herself needlessly in danger, etc. Honestly, Padme was surprised she hadn't been court martialed. But, the Rebellion was still too small, too new. Regardless of how Mon felt about her actions, Padme was badly needed, and the supplies she'd brought back were even more desperately needed.

"Yes." his blue-green eyes darkened. "I'm glad you didn't decide to take anymore foolish detours on the way back." Ah, there was the bitterness, and the worry. Jedi though he may be, Obi-Wan was still human, who had already lost so much. The thought of what Obi-Wan had lost, however, brought the image of Sandstorm to her mind again, as it had multiple times since she'd parted ways with the rogue Jedi.

"I did what I meant to do. There was no need for more." She said, and she walked into the house without another word, knowing Obi-Wan would follow. Yoda, she was sure, would also want to hear of the mysterious Jedi. But the moment she walked in, her mother's furious voice interrupted her train of thought.

"Where have you been?! You've had us worried sick!" Jobal stood in the kitchen doorway, hands on her hips, dark circles under her eyes. Padme paused, noticing just how tired her mother looked. She wondered if she'd even slept over the last few days, and a pang of guilt hit her. She opened her mouth to explain, but she suddenly felt two sets of arms wrapping around her legs. She looked down with a smile to find each of her children hugging her tight, as if she were their lifeline.

"Mama," Luke said, looking up into her eyes...and his wide blue eyes, so much like Anakin's, made her heart melt. "Why you go?"

"No leave Mama." Leia agreed, squeezing her leg tighter.

Padme sighed and knelt down, pulling both of them into her arms, where they settled on hugging her around the neck. "I'm sorry, my darlings." She said, and meaning it. She forgot, sometimes, how hard it was for her little ones. They meant the entire galaxy to her, and she was doing all of this for them-but they were still so young. They were only two after all. "I needed to...help protect the galaxy."

"You couldn't have waited a week?" Her mother demanded crossly, though she'd lowered her tone so as not to scare the children.

"No." She said, giving her mom a look. "I was going insane cooped up here in the house, not doing anything useful."

"But, you are useful here." Obi-Wan reminded her, motioning to the children in her arms. "They may have us, but they need their mother."

"They also need a safe galaxy to grow up in, Obi-Wan," Padme pointed out. "I'm doing this for them. We've discussed this."

"I know, Sweetie," Her mom said, running a weary hand over her face. "But, this isn't healthy. Throwing yourself into danger constantly…I know you're stressed. We all are since…" she trailed off, remembering that reminding Luke and Leia of the 'bad man' would probably upset them all over again.

"This is why I'm proposing that we leave this place." Obi-Wan said as he sat down beside Yoda, who had walked in and sat down at the kitchen table.

Padme clenched her teeth. "This is why I went off by myself." She said, shooting a glare at him. "We've been over this a thousand times already. I'm not going to run more than I already have. He's always going to find us, now that he knows not only that I'm alive, but…"

"Padme." Obi-Wan had straightened, his expression grave.

She ignored him. "...he knows about Luke and Leia, too…"

"Padme…"

"Wha, Mama?" Luke asked, looking up at her, and she ruffled his hair.

"Nothing, Sweetie." She said, giving him a smile that she did not feel. But if it helped him feel better, she'd smile. "Anyway, there's no point in running…"

"Padme!" Obi-Wan was back on his feet, as was Yoda, both of them reaching for their lightsabers, serious expressions on their faces. Finally, Padme stopped talking, looking at them in astonishment. "Someone is approaching." Obi-Wan whispered.

Padme's expression darkened, and she carefully extracted Luke and Leia from her. "Go to Grandma," she whispered, her free hand already going to her bag where she'd stowed her blaster. "Go with Grandma and do exactly as she says."

"But, Mama," Leia whined, and Padme gave her a stern look. Leia looked like she was about to argue...but she glanced at Obi-Wan and Yoda, and must have sensed something was wrong through the Force, for she soon nodded and both she and Luke went to her mother, who took their little hands and pulled them back to the bedrooms.

Padme stood, looking to Obi-Wan and Yoda sternly. "Is it him?" She asked softly, her grip tightening on her blaster.

"Vader, it is not." Yoda murmured, a frown on his face, "But no danger, do I sense. Darkness, but no danger."

"That's still not exactly good news, Master Yoda," Padme pointed out, creeping to the window and just barely opening the curtains a smidge to peek out. So far, it was just the forest beyond, but...there! "An Imperial shuttle." she whispered, watching it rise from the forest, turning, and then taking off from whence it came. "It's...leaving?" she said softly, turning with a shocked expression to look at Obi-Wan and Yoda, who were now frowning.

"The person with the dark feeling…" Obi-Wan murmured, "He's...leaving?"

"Presences there still are, in the forest." Yoda informed her, "Light presences. Innocent."

Ok. This was just kriffing weird.

That didn't make any sense. Clearly, the Imperial shuttle was from Vader. If it had been from anyone else, Padme knew they wouldn't have left. But, why leave someone behind? "I don't care who they are," Padme whispered urgently, lifting her blaster. "If they're from Vader, they can't be good news."

Obi-Wan looked inclined to agree, but Yoda tilted his head. "Possibly." He said, and Padme bit back a biting retort. "Cautious, we must be."

Padme sighed and turned back to the window, watching, waiting. "I know this may not be the best time to tell you this," she whispered as they waited, watching, hands on their weapons, "But, while I was out there...I met another Jedi."

Obi-Wan caught his breath. "A Jedi?" he whispered, his voice eager...and wary at the same time. "Alive?" She knew he was thinking about their failed trip to the Spire.

"Yes." She replied softly, her eyes continuously scanning the tree line.

"Who was it?" he asked, and there was so much hope in his voice.

Padme hesitated. "I don't know his real name." she explained softly. "He's protecting his identity...like I am. He calls himself Sandstorm. Clearly a codename, like mine, but...do you know anyone who would have called himself that?"

She didn't need to turn around to know that Yoda and Obi-Wan had exchanged puzzled looks.

"No," Obi-Wan said, his voice frowning. "What did he look like?"

"Well, he was wearing a mask. But, he was taller than me...taller than you, Obi-Wan. Humanoid. Blue eyes. His voice had a modulator, so it wasn't recognizable. He said he was on a secret mission with only two clone troopers, so that's how he got away from Order 66. Does that narrow it down?" She half hoped that it would, for she was curious about the new commer. Very curious.

"Slightly." Yoda replied, "On secret missions, many Jedi were. Possible some survived and escaped, it may be."

Padme opened her mouth to reply...but suddenly there was movement at the tree line. "There." She whispered, raising her blaster, her entire body tense, watching, expecting Stormtroopers to come strolling their way any second. But, as the movement became more clear, and she realized it was not Stormtroopers, but something else she thought would be impossible, she gasped. "No," she whispered, "It...it can't be…"

"Padme," Obi-Wan said, frowning, "Isn't that…? Hey! Wait! It could still be a trap!" Padme had dropped her blaster and gone running to the door, throwing it open. She didn't listen to him. Padme knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that this was no trick.

She'd know her sister and her family anywhere.

She jumped off the porch, running towards Sola and Darred, and Force, was that really Ryoo and Pooja?! It was! When her sister saw it was her, she too broke out into a run, though there was a limp that hadn't been there before, and Padme was sobbing as they met each other halfway, wrapping one another in each other's arms, holding the other close. "Sola!" Padme sobbed into her sister's shoulder. She'd forgotten that her older sister was taller than she was, but she hadn't forgotten her touch, or the smell of her hair, or the sound of her voice. She'd half given up on ever seeing her sister again, or even learning what had happened to her until after the war was over, when it was safe to look. But, here she was, right there, and soon she felt Ryoo and Pooja hugging her waist, crying too. She pulled away from her sister just enough to run her hands over the girls' hair, feeling that they were real, that this moment was real… "You're here! You're alive! How…?"

"I can't believe it either!" Sola said through tears, touching Padme's cheeks. As Darred approached, Padme smiled at him and gave him a hug too, just so happy they were all still alive and in one piece. "We didn't think we'd ever see you again…."

"Same here!" Padme laughed, a real, genuine laugh. Force, it felt good to laugh with someone other than her children. "But...where did you go? What happened?!"

Sola's expression darkened marginally, but before she could reply, a scream from the house interrupted them. Padme whirled, her hand going to her weapon-less side, but relaxed when she realized it was just her mother, having been told what was happening by probably Obi-Wan or Yoda, who was running for them even as she sobbed. "Mom!" Sola cried, and she let go of Padme to go to their mother. Her nieces also cried for their grandma, and they too ran for her.

Padme watched with tears in her eyes as her mother enveloped the rest of her remaining family in her arms, crying and kissing them on their foreheads, unable to speak due to the tears that made speech impossible. But, as Padme watched, glorying in the sight of her family finally reunited, she remembered the Imperial shuttle, remembered the destroyed safe house that had been found when they were supposed to be picked up to join them, and doubt began to settle in. "Mom," she said, and her mother paused, barely, to look at her, not taking her hands off of her family. "We need to move this inside. Find out what's going on."

Before her mother could reply, Pooja tugged on the sleeve of Padme's shirt, calling her attention down. "Aunty Padme," she said, with a smile on her face and excitement in her eyes. "Where's our cousins?"

The feeling of unease grew. "Cousins?" Padme echoed, eyebrows shooting up.

"Yeah, Luke and Leia?" Ryoo added with a grin, excitement blossoming across her face as well.

Padme blinked. Her sister's family wouldn't know about Luke and Leia. She had kept that secret hidden well, and she knew that her mother, who had contacted them to run in the first place, wouldn't have told him because even she didn't know the story at the time. There was no way they'd know about Luke and Leia...unless…

Her mother had stopped crying, for she too seemed to sense the unspoken implication of that question. "They're inside." She said, her voice cracking. "Why don't we all step inside the house and discuss what happened, shall we?"

When they entered the home, there was no sign of Yoda, and Obi-Wan was in the kitchen, making tea for the family, staying out of the way of their reunion. But, given the sinking feeling in Padme's gut, she thought it would be good for him to stay, so when he brought tea into their living room, she motioned for him to sit. He hesitated, but he didn't argue. Thankfully.

Luke and Leia, sensing that the newcomers were safe, appeared not moments later, looking around the corner shyly. They had never really known any visitors to come to their home. Except the 'bad man.' Not a good memory. Padme and Obi-Wan were careful to keep them out of sight, and the only person who had come close to being a visitor was Yoda. But. when Ryoo and Pooja saw them, they squealed in delight. "Is that Luke and Leia?" Ryoo gushed. Hearing their names, Luke and Leia glanced at each other, as if deciding what to do, before Leia cautiously stepped forward. Seeing his sister moving into the room, Luke quickly followed.

"Yes." Padme smiled thinly. "Luke, Leia, come meet your cousins, Ryoo and Pooja." Again, her twins shared a puzzled look, not knowing what a cousin was, or why there were kids not that much bigger than they there, but they approached anyway, and Ryoo and Pooja began to fawn over them. Leia seemed quite pleased with this; however, Luke gave Padme a dismayed look, but nevertheless allowed them to continue gushing over how cute he was.

"They're beautiful." Sola said softly, "Leia looks just like you."

Padme smile widened. "Yes, she does. Thank you."

"And Luke…" Sola trailed off.

Obi-Wan, by then, had picked up on the reason why Padme had gestured for him to stay, and he leaned forward, stroking his beard curiously. "What exactly happened to your family?" He asked.

Darred and Sola exchanged a dark look, before Darred spoke. "We were sold out. By the neighbors, we think. We were captured and sent into slavery on one of the spice worlds." Jobal made a horrified noise at that, and Padme clenched her fists in anger. It was a miracle her nieces could still smile. She remembered how slavery had affected Anakin, how it still practically affected Lord Vader…"We didn't think we'd get out of there...until Boba Fett showed up, liberated us, and...well…" he trailed off.

Boba Fett? What? Why? Padme could feel a headache developing in her head. "What. Happened?" She asked evenly.

Again, another look between them, and with a pang she realized how much she missed sharing knowing looks between her and Anakin. But, the thought was replaced as Sola sighed and told the most wild story of being liberated and rescued by a ruthless bounty hunter in Vader's employ, being brought on board the Executor, Vader's flagship, being brought to his personal sitting room and meeting him in person… Finding out that he was, in fact, Anakin Skywalker because he'd taken off the helmet…

"He is not Anakin." Padme cut in bitterly. "He's Darth Vader. My husband is dead."

An awkward silence fell. "I know Darth Vader has done…" Sola paused. "Horrible, terrible things. Even we heard about it in our...situation. But...Padme...the man we met...I mean he wasn't exactly Anakin, but he wasn't fully Vader either." She looked towards where Ryoo and Pooja had settled down, playing with Leia and Luke, though Luke still seemed unsure of the newcomers, "He was kind, gentle even, to Ryoo and Pooja. Just like he used to be."

Padme was shaking her head, anger bubbling inside of her. "He isn't what he used to be. That person is gone!" She protested. "I know my husband. I know Vader. They are two different people. If he was kind...it's a trick." She said the words, trying to make herself believe it….but why would he rescue Sola and her family? It didn't make sense. Sith Lord's didn't do things like that...but then again, Palpatine had acted so kind and benevolent. She hadn't suspected anything. Perhaps Vader was picking up on his master's tricks. Yes, that had to be it.

Sola frowned. "Alright. I'm just saying, he didn't just look like Anakin…"

"He doesn't look like him." Padme interrupted stubbornly. "Not with those cursed Sith-gold eyes!"

Another exchanged look between Darred and Sola. Padme rolled her eyes. "Oh come on, you can't tell me you think that doesn't matter! It's a sign of his allegiance to the Sith!"

An awkward silence fell. Then Darred said the words that stopped her heart, that made her even more confused to the point where she couldn't think straight. "But Padme," he said slowly, "That's just it, though. Darth Vader's eyes...weren't gold."

Padme's eyes bugged out, her jaw dropping in shock at Darred's next words.

"They were blue. Completely blue."


The next chapter is already written and edited...but I'll release it in a few days. It's...literally one of the most amazing chapters I have ever written. Like. I know that's weird to say. But it is. My Beta's direct quote: "This is the best chapter of all of your stories." Which is high praise coming from her since there are a few chapters in Second Chances she adores lol. So, review! Maybe I'll consider updating it sooner. Idk. Things are pretty busy, so. We shall see! ;)

Review!

Love,

Sarah