Speech, no, droids? Who was that? Leia's half-conscious mind began to awaken from a very deep sleep. Sprawled out like a starfish in the bed, she became aware of soft sheets beneath her cheek and hands, and the smell of linen. With a fright she wondered where she was before the events of the previous two days came rushing back in an instant.

Groggily she began to sit up, running a hand through her hair as she got used to the feeling of being awake after such a long sleep. Sitting upright, she looked over into the living room and saw that mother and Luke were already awake, sitting at the table as some etiquette droids had arrived with trays of breakfast.

Hating feeling like she'd missed out on something interesting, she stretched and quickly jumped off the bed to brush her teeth and wash her face ready for the day.

When she joined them, Leia wrapped her arms around her mother, still so relieved that she was alright and that they were together. After she'd been taken to speak with Vader yesterday, she and Luke had been convinced they'd never see her again, but thankfully she had returned, and even more thankfully, she seemed alright after the encounter, though she hadn't told them very much about what had happened.

"Good morning Leia," mother said warmly, giving her a kiss on the cheek and placing a slice of toast in her mouth which she gladly began munching.

Sitting beside Luke, she enjoyed sharing breakfast with her family, though she missed her father terribly. The news about their true biological father and their parents lives before them was still so new. Even though she'd had all of yesterday to dwell on it, she still couldn't really believe it was true. How could her mother have ever loved that man? And even if he had been nice before, how had he turned so horrible now? Leia didn't really understand it.

But one thing she did understand was that she loved her father more than she could fathom. The warm and loving Force presence that had been there all her life was gone, and she still didn't feel right without it. Night and day, her shining presence was seeking him, far far away across the stars. She was sure Luke was too, whether it was a conscious effort or not. Leia loved the man who had raised her, and refused to even entertain the thought that Vader should take his place. Such a thing was just wrong.

Even though she knew she should be angry at her parents for hiding the truth, she wasn't. The whole revelation had just made her want her father back even more. Leia wished with all her heart that they were back home and he was lifting her high on his shoulders. She would do anything to see him and admitted to herself that the teasing she'd received at school about being daddy's little girl had all been correct.

But no amount of wishing would bring him to them. For now, all Leia could do was try to keep mother happy until that time. Things almost felt normal as they ate and talked. Leia told her again about their adventures and how they had seen some of the things they'd learned at school in real life now, such as going into hyperspace and foreign currency on Tatooine. Mother listened with endless patience, enjoying hearing her talk. Smiling, Leia bit into another piece of bread, swinging her legs below the table. Just being back with her made her so happy that she forgot about all the other bad things that were going on.

"What are we doing today?" Luke asked as he drank some juice.

Their mother put down her tea, "I don't know."

"Can we explore the ship?" he asked.

A hint of displeasure entered her expression. "No Luke. We're being held prisoner here, even though the cage is comfortable."

Leia looked about the room. "Well, what can we do today?"

"I'm afraid the future is a little foggy at the moment," she said. "I wish I could give you the answers you want, but I don't know what's going to happen to us."

"The Emperor said we're going to an academy to train, is that true?" Luke asked.

"Over my dead body," she muttered, almost to herself.

Leia finished her juice and noticed a parcel the droids had left by the table that she hadn't seen. Unaffected by her mother's mood she pointed at the package.

"What's in there?"

"I think it's some clothes for me," she said with a grimace. Leia could understand her feelings. She'd much rather be wearing her own clothes than the baggy ones they'd been given. Finishing her tea and her meal, mother stood up, putting a hand over her large stomach. "I'm going to have a shower. Both of you stay here and don't try anything. I don't want any of us to get in trouble here. Got it?"

They nodded and mother got up, waddling towards the bathroom. When they were alone Luke turned to face her at the table. His bruises had faded quite a bit after the bacta pack he'd used yesterday. "Do you want to find that Holo show again?"

"Yeah, let's find it!"

After washing their dishes, the two of them sat cross legged on the sofa, turning on the HoloNet and searching for the show they'd found the day previous. There were so many channels on the ship but most of them were boring. Flicking through, they finally found it. Engrossed, they sat and watched as their new hero, a Mandalorian, went gunslinging and shooting his way across the galaxy.

"You know, if mother was a queen, that makes me a princess," she told Luke proudly as they watched the protagonist meeting with a queen in the show.

Luke snorted. "You're no princess Leia. You're too loud and annoying. More like a nerf-herder."

"I am a princess," she insisted. There were big herds of nerfs in the pastureland to the north of Namusa and she knew how bad they could smell. "You're just jealous because you're too scruffy looking to be allowed into the castle."

"Who's scruffy looking? Have you seen yourself?"

"I'd make the guards keep you outside. No gamorrean boys allowed."

"Whatever, I don't want to be a prince anyway."

"Good because you're not one."

He made a face at her because he couldn't think of a comeback. Leia smiled with the smugness of victory, happy to see she was still the superior twin. After some time, their mother emerged from the bathroom dressed in a black top and trousers that hugged her pregnant figure, with a tan coloured jacket similar to the clothes that had been brought to them. She sat down to watch the Holo with them and plaited her own hair, then Leia's so they were matching. Leaning against her, she felt safe and happy, enjoying the escapism of the show. But it wasn't long before her and Luke experienced a joint shiver. They could feel a presence approaching the apartment and they knew who it was instantly.

Without a knock the door to the apartment slid open and Vader entered, his cape flowing behind him. His black attire contrasted starkly against the white interior of the suite and made him appear even more cold and frightening. The man approached with heavy footsteps and stopped a few feet away, glowering with malice. Looking down at them, he decided to take a seat opposite. The door slid shut and then they were all alone with a monster in their safe space.

Leia held her breath as she looked into the black mask and heard that familiar mechanical breathing. She remembered the story that she'd been told, that this man used to be Anakin and was her biological father. Terrified, she hugged her mother's arm. Her heart raced as she wondered if they were going to be separated again, she wouldn't allow it!

"I have come here to congratulate you both on your acceptance into the Arkanis Imperial Academy. Luke, Leia, you will be starting in the new term in a few weeks time. You can find all the information here about your classes and what is to be expected of you," he produced a data pad and placed it on the side table.

For a few moments no one spoke and Leia looked expectantly at her mother. There was a glint in her eyes which she had never seen before.

"I refuse. They're not going," she said with absolution.

"I am afraid this matter is non-negotiable," he replied darkly.

"And what will you do if I refuse?"

"I would ask you to remember what happens to those who put obstacles in the way of my or my master's plans."

"I see. Do you remember the last time a nine-year-old child was taken from their mother, it didn't end so well did it?" she said with venom in her voice. Leia didn't know what she was talking about, and glanced nervously between the two of them.

The hissing sound of his respirator repeated a few times before he finally answered. "They will be attending this academy, with or without your permission."

"And how will you take them from me? Am I to be shot again? Or will your henchmen drag me away kicking and screaming?"

"There is no need for melodramatics. The day before term begins the children will be escorted to Arkanis. You will stay here."

"No, never. You're not taking them anywhere!" Padmé hugged them tight and Leia could feel her mother's anger rising rapidly. Like a she-bear protecting her cubs, she was not backing down.

"You have no choice in this. You will accept or else," he threatened.

Leia looked from Vader to her mother and she could see she was furious, more furious than she'd ever seen her. The situation was escalating rapidly and she longed again for her father who was always the peacemaker when arguments broke out at home.

"Or else?" she laughed incredulously without any hint of humour before her tone became distraught. "What are you going to do, choke me?!"

Leia could feel the Force around them moving dramatically as if in motion. Vader was silent again, considering his words. His face and voice gave nothing away. To the outsider, he was unreadable. "Do not dwell on the past. Can you not see the glorious future ahead?"

"I see no future for any of us, only darkness."

"I will not hurt you or the twins, but my master's will must be obeyed."

Leia could sense in some inexplainable way that the terrifying man sitting before them was telling the truth. He was not going to hurt them. He was still scary, but not as much as before when they had first been taken from Watto's shop. Curiously, she could feel a change in his Force presence, so subtle that Luke might not have even picked up on it, but it was there. Something important was going on she was sure, but what it was exactly, she didn't know.

"And what of my unborn child?" she questioned.

"That is a topic for another time."

Mother shook her head, drawing her and Luke closer to her. "I cannot believe this is happening. None of my babies are going anywhere. You will stay away from us."

Before he could answer she spoke up in mother's defence, emboldened by her discovery in the moving Force. "I'm not going! I'm staying right here and so is Luke."

Vader looked at her quickly and though he gave no expression she could see he was not used to people talking back. Like standing up to the bullies at school that would harass her and her friend, Leia found her voice without a problem.

"To resist is futile Leia," he said.

"Then I will be futile!" she argued, not knowing what that meant.

Vader breathed, glancing between her and Padmé, who's anger had reduced to a steady simmer. "I can see that stubbornness is an inherited trait. No matter your intended plans, you will be going to Arkanis. That is all."

He got up to leave and Leia surprised herself by also jumping up from the sofa, standing before him, feeling small but fierce. "Why do you have to obey him?"

Vader stopped dead and stared down at her from his great height. Despite his frightening appearance and all that their mother had told them last night, she felt no fear. Perhaps she should.

"He is my master," his cold modulated voice replied, as if that answered everything.

"Well, break the rules! I do it all the time," she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Leia…" her mother warned her in a low tone from behind, taking her arm to try to make her sit down, but she resisted.

"It is not that simple I'm afraid," he said, shaking his head slightly.

"Well can't we begin class at a later time?"

"Since you are both nine, you need to train as soon as possible."

"I'm not going!"

"Leia, sit down," her mother hissed, yanking her sleeve so she sat back down on the sofa heavily. Instantly a warm arm was around her, shielding her. Her outspoken nature was a part of her and she didn't have an adult's sense of when she had overstepped a boundary, but she realised why her mother was being wary. Earlier she had told them not to get into trouble.

Vader was silent, looking down at the three of them with an unreadable face and unreadable body language, but again Leia could tell he wasn't angry. Despite this when he finally spoke, she felt her mother flinch. "Make the most of your time together before you leave. This is the end of this debate. Your fate is sealed."

With that he turned and left and the dark void that seemed to suck all the light from the room was gone, leaving it feeling bright and airy. But to her dismay her mother took her by the shoulders and she knew she was in big trouble.

"Leia, don't ever speak to him like that again!" she met with her livid brown eyes and shied away from them, looking at her lap on the sofa. "You have no idea how dangerous he is. Don't you remember what I told you last night?"

"But he wasn't going to hurt me," she said in her defence, hating being told off.

"How can you be sure? He's evil Leia, he hurts everybody he touches!"

Leia stared at her hands on her lap, hating the scolding and instantly feeling sorry for the way she'd spoken. Her throat felt sore suddenly as the urge to cry came over her, but she buried it down to be brave. She met Luke's eyes and she could see lingering fear on his face from the encounter. Maybe her mother was right and she'd just imagined that he wasn't angry.

"I'm sorry, I won't do it again," she mumbled.

"He hurt me," she lifted up her gaze as her mother placed a finger on her chin, wanting to meet her eyes. "He hurt you both when you were in my stomach. He hurt your father and so many others who would've been your extended family had he not betrayed us. Please listen to me, you can't let your guard down with a monster like that. Don't give him any reason to become angry with you."

She nodded, biting her lip, feeling foolish for the way she had talked back when it could've put them all in danger. Mother's features softened and she stroked her hair, "I don't want to be angry with you. You're a very brave girl Leia, and I love how you stand up for injustice, it makes me so proud. But I'm afraid. I'm afraid he'll hurt you. Please be careful my love."

Leia nodded and moved forward, burying her face in her mother's shoulder as they hugged tightly. She felt a kiss being planted on the side of her head and she sniffed, willing the tears not to come forth. Breathing in the smell of her hair and the fabric that covered her shoulder, Leia was filled with the feeling of love and warmth. There was nowhere safer in the whole galaxy than in her parents' arms. How could she and Luke ever bear to be parted from her again?