All these characters, and all this universe belongs to the almighty George, I've made no money off of this. (mutter, mutter)
If you want to post this story, ask me, PLEASE!!
7
The amphitheatre fell silent, and a Master who Anakin wasn't familiar with stood. Although the council room was so large, the man's voice carried. "We all know why we're here. The Sith attacks must cease, this has gone far enough. If we do not find a way, and a good way to keep them away from our dimension, they will undoubtedly find a way in. we have just heard reports of another attack on the Borderlands almost at our gates. We must find a way to keep them away. Does anyone have any suggestions?" Anakin heard murmurs and the shifting of robes from all sides, and had to admit that he was doing quite a bit of shifting himself. He jumped when he felt a soft breath on his ear, but he leaned in to hear what Luke was saying better. "Has this been happening a lot recently?" Luke muttered.
"Yes, they don't give up easily once they've got an idea." Anakin muttered back. "They don't seem content with what they've got, and now they want more destruction by taking our dimension over." He sighed. "And I thought the action was over. Silly me." He felt Luke's half smile at his wry humour.
The smile vanished. "Can they get in?"
Anakin shrugged slightly. "I have no idea, but it's very likely that they can."
Anakin fell quiet as Mace Windu stood far below. "I have more disturbing news still. I have just received word that a small village on Ku'ta was attacked. There were no survivors found." Anakin jolted in surprise. Ku'ta had a host of small villages, the Sith could pick and choose.
Again there was a soft breath on his ear. " Where is Ku'ta?" Luke asked, plainly concerned.
And well he should be, Anakin thought. "Ku'ta is a small outer rim world. It's right on the edge of our dimension."
He felt Luke's frown. "I've never heard of it." He said.
Anakin smiled. "Don't worry, it doesn't exist in life yet."
"Oh." Luke said, confusion rippling out of him.
"All worlds exist here, Luke." Anakin explained "All that have been, are now, or ever will be. If they exist for even a microsecond, they are here. And every world here is habitable."
There was a shout from below. "If we can set up a strong enough blockade, it would keep them out for the moment."
Anakin shook his head in disbelief and voiced his own opinion. "For the moment is good enough for now, but they would soon break it down. We need a long-term solution."
"And your idea is..."
Anakin smiled at the speaker "I think I'm officialy banned from plans. Weren't the exact words 'He'll get us all killed.'?" Laughter filled the hall.
Again Anakin felt his son's frown. "Go ahead, Luke. Speak your mind." Anakin urged. "We need every idea we can get. And you have a knack for finding solutions when no one else does." Luke looked up at him, plainly surprised at the compliment.
"Well..." Luke said. All eyes turned towards him and he blushed. "If we could turn their power against them, to form an impenetrable barrier; one that, whenever they attacked turned their attacks into energy for itself... Or maybe even join together to build one ourselves."
Luke trailed off, then jumped as Yoda spoke up. "Work that plan could, but unfortunately no one can achieve that power." The small Jedi Master looked thoughtful.
Obi-Wan spoke up, giving his own opinion. "If they attack us, we might be able to."
"Perhaps." a skeptic asked from below. " But I for one don't want to wait that long, and what if that plan fails? We could be in very major trouble then."
Luke frowned, frustrated that he understood very little of what was going on. "Why would we be able to achieve a high level of power if the Sith attack?"
"If a spirit gets badly injured, it goes to another dimension, called the nether dimension. Spirits can crawl back up from that place, but it is a trying process, and those that have been there say that it's not a very pleasant place to be. But if a spirit is hurt that badly, it can achieve a surge of power unlike any it's ever felt before. Or so we think, it's never been proven." Anakin shook his head; going to that place wasn't something that he dreamed about. Those who had been there had come back with the stuff of nightmares as stories. That is, those who had come back.
"Either way, it is a big risk, and not one that many would jump at."
"You don't want to think about it." Luke looked sidelong at him, not asking a question.
"From what I've heard, Luke, it's no place for a picnic, and that's putting it rather mildly."
Another call in the Force then and once more there was silence. "Go, then. There will be another meeting soon. Keep thinking, but do not act unless we are attacked. May the Force be with you."
Every soul rose to go.
8
Leia sat with her children on Jacen's bed.
Jaina yawned and smiled. "I don't know, I like it here. It's always nice weather, and the air smells good, and the people are very nice." Jaina leaned over to rest on Leia's shoulder, and smiled.
"Yeah," Anakin said "Like Padme, and that man...what was his name? Jacen, do you know?"
Jacen frowned. "I don't know, but yeah, they're nice."
Leia felt a shiver run down her spine. "What did the man look like, kids? Tall, brown hair?" Leia crossed her fingers.
"Yeah, mom, that's him. Do you know his name?" Leia sagged at Jaina's responce, so Obi-Wan had told the truth. Well, she told herself, that meant nothing. She shivered again as old memories struggled to the surface of her mind. The cell, dim and small. The door hissed open to admit the huge, black, armoured bulk of Vader. Then, floating in behind him, the round, hovering shape of the interrogator.
"Mama, are you okay?" Jaina looked up at her worriedly. Leia sighed and tried to let her worries run off her like rain off an oiled surface.
"Yes, don't worry Jaina, I'm fine. I just..." she trailed off suddenly, staring at the woman who had just walked in the door.
"Oh," Anakin said, brightening. "Hi, Padme."
The woman smiled, lighting up the already bright room. "Hello, Anakin, hi Jacen, hi Jaina."
"Hi." The twins said as one. Padme's smile grew, and Leia was swamped with memories. This beautiful woman had hid her in a trunk in her infancy, placed her in the arms of her foster father, and caused her to cry when she died. Now Leia's mother was standing before her, and all the things she had imagined she'd say, all the things she'd said in her lonely fantasies, all evaporated from her mind, to be replaced with quiet awe. A thousand emotions coursed through her veins, love, amazement, and happiness leading, but with a trace of hurt betrayal around the edges. A reptilian creature, with eyestalks and long arms and legs came into the room behind her.
"Kids, why don't you go with Jar Jar," she said, indicating the creature that was now waving slightly. "I would like to speak with your mother for a moment." Leia locked eyes with her, and saw warmth and comfort.
"Heyday ho, kiddies. Yousa come wit me now, okeday?" Jaina giggled as she took the reptile's--Jar Jar's--right hand.
"I'm Jaina, this is Jacen, and this is Anakin."
Jar Jar smiled, his reptilian bill and lips drawing up to reveal flat teeth. "Mesa Jar Jar Binks. Yousa name Anakin?" he asked, and the small boy nodded. "Can I call ya Ani?"
The boy laughed. "Sure." They all walked out of the room.
"Jar Jar, try not to blow up the planet." Leia's mother called after them.
Jar Jar stuck his head back in the room and tried to look innocent. "Mesa never ever do anyting you no like, Padme, don't worry 'bout a ting!" He yanked his head back out the door and Leia heard the retreating footsteps.
"Leia." Padme sat down and looked at Leia. "I want to catch up with you, I feel like I don't know a thing, even if I've watched you grow. Talk to me, honey." She almost sounded like she was pleading. She looked down at the floor and sighed. "I never knew, when you were conceived, the kind of life you'd have. I am very sorry that I couldn't protect you the way I would have liked to. Tell me about who you are." she spoke gently, softly, her eyes never leaving Leia's face.
"Mother." Leia whispered, the walls that she had built inside herself crumbling. They embraced, and Padme rocked her daughter.
An hour later they were still talking, covering every topic under the sun. Padme felt surges of pride storm through her as she listened to her daughter's voice.
"Leia?" A voice suddenly interrupted. Padme turned to see Luke walked into the room. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know you had company, I'll wait." Luke turned to go.
"No!" Leia laughed. "Luke, don't you know who this is?"
Luke frowned. "No, I'm sorry. What's your name? Were you with the rebellion?" Padme and Leia exchanged an amused glance.
"No," Padme said quietly, her eyes on her son's. "I wasn't with the rebellion; at least, not in your time. My name is Padme Skywalker."
Luke's eyes bulged, and he took a sharp breath in surprise. "I'm...I'm sorry." Was all he could stammer out.
"It's all right, I wouldn't expect you to remember, you were far too young." She stood, and looked at him, from top to bottom.
"You're my mother?" he swallowed hard.
"Yes." She whispered. "And oh, how I've missed you two so." They hugged. She squeezed Luke a little harder, finally holding her baby boy after so long. They parted as they heard feet returning. Jacen, Jaina, and Anakin Solo ran into the room, with Jar Jar a step behind them. "Good, you're back. I was afraid something had happened."
"Something almost did." Qui-Gon stood in the doorway. "Apparently, while on Alderaan, they were attacked."
"Alderaan?" Leia asked, puzzled. "But it's gone."
Qui-Gon smiled. "Not here. I'm Qui-Gon Jinn." He offered a hand to Leia, which she shook.
"I'm Leia...well," she glanced at Padme "I've always gone by Organa, then by Organa Solo, but I guess if you're going by Skywalker, that I should be saying Skywalker Solo."
Padme smiled, but there was sadness behind it. "I'm sorry I made things complicated for you." The smile vanished. "They were attacked? By what? What happened?" worry creased her face, and made her appear older.
"By a Sith, we haven't found the exact identity." Qui-Gon replied.
"The Sith have reached Alderaan already?" Luke cried, amazement with worry clouding his features. "Apparently just the one, it must have been left over from the attack on Ku'ta." He sighed. "The council sent Obi-Wan and Anakin to deal with it--"
"No, they didn't, I'm right here!" Anakin Solo tugged on Qui-Gon's robes. Qui-Gon cocked an eyebrow at Padme; she sighed, glanced at Leia, who nodded with an expression like pain on her face.
Padme cleared her throat and explained, "You know the tall man who was with me?" The kids nodded. "Well, he's my husband, and that's his name too."
"Oh." Anakin said.
Qui-Gon smiled "Yes, well, hopefully it won't hurt any soul anymore."
"It won't." Padme heard her husband's voice behind Qui-Gon. "We ran it out."
"Yes, and I think I could have gone without the running part, I'm older then you, you know, Anakin." Obi-Wan interrupted
"Really? No." Padme smiled at her husband's mock surprise.
"It's true, I swear it by the Force."
"Is that a fact?"
"Will you two please stop for two seconds? Thank you." Qui-Gon glanced behind his shoulder at the two figures and impaled them with his stare. Padme could barely see Anakin over Qui-Gon's shoulder, but what she did see was grinning impishly. They looked over Qui-Gon's shoulder at each other, and smiled.
"Does the Council know this?" Qui-Gon asked the two men behind him.
"They know. They weren't happy we let it go, though." Anakin sighed.
"We let it go? Since when?" Obi-Wan turned to his tall student. "I didn't know chasing it to the gates of the Sith dimension was now considered letting it go."
"I think they believe I should have turned into Super soul and showed it to the nether realm. There's nothing I can do that's right, is there?" He shook his head in exasperation and despair.
"Give them time, Ani." Qui-Gon soothed, and Anakin turned just the slightest bit pink at the old nickname. The bed on which Padme sat trembled a little, and she turned to see Leia shaking ever so slightly. Jar Jar turned and started out of the room.
"My see yousa guys later." His ears swung around with him and Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon had to duck to keep from being hit. The mattress trembled again. She looked up at Anakin, and saw that her husband had seen it too.
He turned, saying, "I'd better go." Obi-Wan nodded, and gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder.
"Wait, Anakin. I'm coming." She smiled at the rest of her family. "I'll see you later."
She walked out to catch up with Anakin, and heard Obi-Wan whisper to her, "I'll see what I can do."
"Thank you." She whispered back.
9
She and Anakin walked in silence for a while, then she spoke. "Ani, don't take it so hard, and don't tell me that you're not because I know you are. The backs of your ears turn pink when you feel bad, I think they'd qualify as neon now." They walked into the room they shared whenever they stayed on Coruscant, and Anakin fell onto the bed. He ran a hand through his short, brown hair, and she was convinced; that was another thing he did only when he was nervous or feeling excessively guilty.
"What you did..." she began, but he interrupted her.
"You don't understand, I still have nightmares from what I did, I'll probably have nightmares for the rest of my existence." She knew he had nightmares, she'd wake him up from them, and hold him while he shook and tried to forget. "I...I tortured her! I made her watch as her world and her foster family was destroyed! And I didn't care, didn't care about what she felt. I liked the way she feared me. I only cared that I was that much closer to battle. I cut off my own son's hand, and I only cared that he couldn't fight back when he cried out. I would have killed them all if I could. Padme, I'm a monster!"
"No!" she yelled at him "You are not a monster! Anakin, if you were a monster I wouldn't be married to you, and I definitely wouldn't have had children with you. Think about what you're saying. What you were is not what you are now. Darth Vader ceased to exist when you threw Palpatine down into that core." She walked over to sit beside him, but he wouldn't look at her. "Anakin Skywalker, look at me." Her voice turned into a hiss, then became gentle. "Don't do this to yourself. You are your own biggest critic, and it's not the Council who you can do nothing right for, it's yourself. Please, dear; don't cause yourself this kind of misery. You know your son adores you." He finally looked up at her, and she saw in his blue eyes that she'd reached him. "Yes, Ani, you have a son. You love him, don't you."
"Yes, I do." He said softly.
"And you gave up your life for him. That is the greatest gift a father can give." She took his glowing hand in hers. "Anakin, do you want to know why you can't be a monster?"
"Why?" he looked her straight in the eye, as if daring her to try to comfort him.
"Because I love you." She said simply.
He smiled at her, "The greatest thing about being married to you," he teased. "is that I have my very own psychiatrist right here."
She laughed, and leaned against his shoulder, feeling his warm breath against her scalp. " It's good to know I'm of service to you." He shifted, and she could feel the muscle under his robe.
"I love you, angel." He murmured, remembering the first time they met.
"I love you too. Go to sleep, you look like you've gained a year."
He smiled. "I thought women liked older guys."
She shifted to get more comfortable. "You'll never be older then me."
"Is that something you want to admit?"
"Only when we're alone."
"Obi-Wan wanted me to patrol the border tonight."
"So go tonight, have you checked the time lately? It's lunch time."
"Lunch? I'm hungry."
"You're always hungry."
"I want to eat."
"Did you give your mother this much trouble at bedtime?"
He laughed. "Why don't you ask her?"
She smiled, knowing he would sense it. "Don't think I won't." She got stern "Now go to bed, young man, or I'll tell your mommy on you."
"I'm shaking in my boots." But he was already dozing off.
10
Leia watched as her mother and...he walked off. She felt angry with herself for showing that much fear, but she couldn't help it. She had feared Darth Vader for too long to just accept him. She clenched her hands together to stop their shaking. "I will be going, I have an audience with the Grand Council."
Luke frowned at Qui-Gon's words. "The Grand Council? What is that?"
Qui-Gon smiled. "The best Jedi Masters of the order. They also tend to be the most overbearing. Every time they look at you, you feel like your tunic is untucked, or you've stopped glowing."
"Gee, I've never felt that before." Obi-Wan muttered, just loud enough to be heard.
Qui-Gon raised his brows. "I wasn't that bad, was I?"
"No, but you did have a look that you'd always give me when I was younger. You always managed to make me feel like instead of my lightsaber, I'd started carrying a tulip in my belt."
"I'll try to give you that look more often, if you liked it so much."
"Thank you oh so very much." Obi-Wan rolled his eyes. Leia still looked nervous; yes, they would have to talk. She couldn't fear Anakin forever, Obi-Wan knew that. Anakin was known for holding a grudge against himself, and this would only help him do it.
"Farewell." Qui-Gon gave a little bow and left the room, muttering, "Good luck." to Obi-Wan on his way out. Obi-Wan turned to Leia, but Luke beat him to it.
"What's wrong?" Luke knew, obviously, but wanted Leia to admit her fears herself, instead of accusing her of having those fears. Smart boy, Obi-Wan thought.
Leia sighed, and looked younger. "Kids, why don't you all take a nice nap in your rooms. You all look bushed, I'll see you in a bit."
"Okay, Mom." Jaina nodded slowly, sensing the tension in the room. The three kids trotted from the room, and Obi-Wan closed the door after them.
"Thank you, general." Leia murmured
"You do look as if something's troubling you." Obi-Wan said, trying to be diplomatic.
She smiled wanly. "You both know what's bothering me, but thanks for attempting some diplomacy."
So much for that idea, Obi-Wan thought.
"I can't help it." She continued "I can't think of him as anything else but Darth Vader, and believe me, I would be the last one in line to keep that memory alive. I thought I'd stopped fearing him, but apparently I haven't. He did things that I still don't want to think about, and I've had to accept that his blood runs in me. Seeing him normal like that, it just is a total overload. I can't handle that he is my father, and I don't know how you deal with it, Luke."
"I've talked to him." Luke replied simply, as if that was all there was to it.
She shook her head sadly. "Luke, it'll take a lot more then that to convince me that he isn't what he was."
"Well, Leia," Obi-Wan said thoughtfully "why don't you make a start with that. Just talk to him, and see how it goes from there. It can't hurt, can it?"
The haunted look in the girl's eyes caused him to almost wince. "General," she whispered "you'd be surprised how much it can hurt, both emotionally and physically."
"He would never do anything to hurt you, or your children." Obi-Wan felt his expression soften. "Leia, you'll have to face him at one point, and better sooner then later. You can't spend eternity avoiding him."
"Just watch me." She muttered fiercely.
"Leia," Luke broke in. "just talk to him. I think it will help, it did with me. I can go with you if you want, but I think you should do it alone."
Leia's eyes grew round, and she sputtered "Alone? Luke, are you crazy?"
"Do you trust me?" he asked calmly.
"Well, yes..."
"Then you can go alone. Leia, Ben's right. You can't hide from him forever." There was a long silence after that exchange.
"Luke," Leia said, her voice under tight control once more. "I do trust you, but please don't be far. I trust you, but I don't trust him."
Luke nodded. "That's the reason that you're going to do this.
If you want to post this story, ask me, PLEASE!!
7
The amphitheatre fell silent, and a Master who Anakin wasn't familiar with stood. Although the council room was so large, the man's voice carried. "We all know why we're here. The Sith attacks must cease, this has gone far enough. If we do not find a way, and a good way to keep them away from our dimension, they will undoubtedly find a way in. we have just heard reports of another attack on the Borderlands almost at our gates. We must find a way to keep them away. Does anyone have any suggestions?" Anakin heard murmurs and the shifting of robes from all sides, and had to admit that he was doing quite a bit of shifting himself. He jumped when he felt a soft breath on his ear, but he leaned in to hear what Luke was saying better. "Has this been happening a lot recently?" Luke muttered.
"Yes, they don't give up easily once they've got an idea." Anakin muttered back. "They don't seem content with what they've got, and now they want more destruction by taking our dimension over." He sighed. "And I thought the action was over. Silly me." He felt Luke's half smile at his wry humour.
The smile vanished. "Can they get in?"
Anakin shrugged slightly. "I have no idea, but it's very likely that they can."
Anakin fell quiet as Mace Windu stood far below. "I have more disturbing news still. I have just received word that a small village on Ku'ta was attacked. There were no survivors found." Anakin jolted in surprise. Ku'ta had a host of small villages, the Sith could pick and choose.
Again there was a soft breath on his ear. " Where is Ku'ta?" Luke asked, plainly concerned.
And well he should be, Anakin thought. "Ku'ta is a small outer rim world. It's right on the edge of our dimension."
He felt Luke's frown. "I've never heard of it." He said.
Anakin smiled. "Don't worry, it doesn't exist in life yet."
"Oh." Luke said, confusion rippling out of him.
"All worlds exist here, Luke." Anakin explained "All that have been, are now, or ever will be. If they exist for even a microsecond, they are here. And every world here is habitable."
There was a shout from below. "If we can set up a strong enough blockade, it would keep them out for the moment."
Anakin shook his head in disbelief and voiced his own opinion. "For the moment is good enough for now, but they would soon break it down. We need a long-term solution."
"And your idea is..."
Anakin smiled at the speaker "I think I'm officialy banned from plans. Weren't the exact words 'He'll get us all killed.'?" Laughter filled the hall.
Again Anakin felt his son's frown. "Go ahead, Luke. Speak your mind." Anakin urged. "We need every idea we can get. And you have a knack for finding solutions when no one else does." Luke looked up at him, plainly surprised at the compliment.
"Well..." Luke said. All eyes turned towards him and he blushed. "If we could turn their power against them, to form an impenetrable barrier; one that, whenever they attacked turned their attacks into energy for itself... Or maybe even join together to build one ourselves."
Luke trailed off, then jumped as Yoda spoke up. "Work that plan could, but unfortunately no one can achieve that power." The small Jedi Master looked thoughtful.
Obi-Wan spoke up, giving his own opinion. "If they attack us, we might be able to."
"Perhaps." a skeptic asked from below. " But I for one don't want to wait that long, and what if that plan fails? We could be in very major trouble then."
Luke frowned, frustrated that he understood very little of what was going on. "Why would we be able to achieve a high level of power if the Sith attack?"
"If a spirit gets badly injured, it goes to another dimension, called the nether dimension. Spirits can crawl back up from that place, but it is a trying process, and those that have been there say that it's not a very pleasant place to be. But if a spirit is hurt that badly, it can achieve a surge of power unlike any it's ever felt before. Or so we think, it's never been proven." Anakin shook his head; going to that place wasn't something that he dreamed about. Those who had been there had come back with the stuff of nightmares as stories. That is, those who had come back.
"Either way, it is a big risk, and not one that many would jump at."
"You don't want to think about it." Luke looked sidelong at him, not asking a question.
"From what I've heard, Luke, it's no place for a picnic, and that's putting it rather mildly."
Another call in the Force then and once more there was silence. "Go, then. There will be another meeting soon. Keep thinking, but do not act unless we are attacked. May the Force be with you."
Every soul rose to go.
8
Leia sat with her children on Jacen's bed.
Jaina yawned and smiled. "I don't know, I like it here. It's always nice weather, and the air smells good, and the people are very nice." Jaina leaned over to rest on Leia's shoulder, and smiled.
"Yeah," Anakin said "Like Padme, and that man...what was his name? Jacen, do you know?"
Jacen frowned. "I don't know, but yeah, they're nice."
Leia felt a shiver run down her spine. "What did the man look like, kids? Tall, brown hair?" Leia crossed her fingers.
"Yeah, mom, that's him. Do you know his name?" Leia sagged at Jaina's responce, so Obi-Wan had told the truth. Well, she told herself, that meant nothing. She shivered again as old memories struggled to the surface of her mind. The cell, dim and small. The door hissed open to admit the huge, black, armoured bulk of Vader. Then, floating in behind him, the round, hovering shape of the interrogator.
"Mama, are you okay?" Jaina looked up at her worriedly. Leia sighed and tried to let her worries run off her like rain off an oiled surface.
"Yes, don't worry Jaina, I'm fine. I just..." she trailed off suddenly, staring at the woman who had just walked in the door.
"Oh," Anakin said, brightening. "Hi, Padme."
The woman smiled, lighting up the already bright room. "Hello, Anakin, hi Jacen, hi Jaina."
"Hi." The twins said as one. Padme's smile grew, and Leia was swamped with memories. This beautiful woman had hid her in a trunk in her infancy, placed her in the arms of her foster father, and caused her to cry when she died. Now Leia's mother was standing before her, and all the things she had imagined she'd say, all the things she'd said in her lonely fantasies, all evaporated from her mind, to be replaced with quiet awe. A thousand emotions coursed through her veins, love, amazement, and happiness leading, but with a trace of hurt betrayal around the edges. A reptilian creature, with eyestalks and long arms and legs came into the room behind her.
"Kids, why don't you go with Jar Jar," she said, indicating the creature that was now waving slightly. "I would like to speak with your mother for a moment." Leia locked eyes with her, and saw warmth and comfort.
"Heyday ho, kiddies. Yousa come wit me now, okeday?" Jaina giggled as she took the reptile's--Jar Jar's--right hand.
"I'm Jaina, this is Jacen, and this is Anakin."
Jar Jar smiled, his reptilian bill and lips drawing up to reveal flat teeth. "Mesa Jar Jar Binks. Yousa name Anakin?" he asked, and the small boy nodded. "Can I call ya Ani?"
The boy laughed. "Sure." They all walked out of the room.
"Jar Jar, try not to blow up the planet." Leia's mother called after them.
Jar Jar stuck his head back in the room and tried to look innocent. "Mesa never ever do anyting you no like, Padme, don't worry 'bout a ting!" He yanked his head back out the door and Leia heard the retreating footsteps.
"Leia." Padme sat down and looked at Leia. "I want to catch up with you, I feel like I don't know a thing, even if I've watched you grow. Talk to me, honey." She almost sounded like she was pleading. She looked down at the floor and sighed. "I never knew, when you were conceived, the kind of life you'd have. I am very sorry that I couldn't protect you the way I would have liked to. Tell me about who you are." she spoke gently, softly, her eyes never leaving Leia's face.
"Mother." Leia whispered, the walls that she had built inside herself crumbling. They embraced, and Padme rocked her daughter.
An hour later they were still talking, covering every topic under the sun. Padme felt surges of pride storm through her as she listened to her daughter's voice.
"Leia?" A voice suddenly interrupted. Padme turned to see Luke walked into the room. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know you had company, I'll wait." Luke turned to go.
"No!" Leia laughed. "Luke, don't you know who this is?"
Luke frowned. "No, I'm sorry. What's your name? Were you with the rebellion?" Padme and Leia exchanged an amused glance.
"No," Padme said quietly, her eyes on her son's. "I wasn't with the rebellion; at least, not in your time. My name is Padme Skywalker."
Luke's eyes bulged, and he took a sharp breath in surprise. "I'm...I'm sorry." Was all he could stammer out.
"It's all right, I wouldn't expect you to remember, you were far too young." She stood, and looked at him, from top to bottom.
"You're my mother?" he swallowed hard.
"Yes." She whispered. "And oh, how I've missed you two so." They hugged. She squeezed Luke a little harder, finally holding her baby boy after so long. They parted as they heard feet returning. Jacen, Jaina, and Anakin Solo ran into the room, with Jar Jar a step behind them. "Good, you're back. I was afraid something had happened."
"Something almost did." Qui-Gon stood in the doorway. "Apparently, while on Alderaan, they were attacked."
"Alderaan?" Leia asked, puzzled. "But it's gone."
Qui-Gon smiled. "Not here. I'm Qui-Gon Jinn." He offered a hand to Leia, which she shook.
"I'm Leia...well," she glanced at Padme "I've always gone by Organa, then by Organa Solo, but I guess if you're going by Skywalker, that I should be saying Skywalker Solo."
Padme smiled, but there was sadness behind it. "I'm sorry I made things complicated for you." The smile vanished. "They were attacked? By what? What happened?" worry creased her face, and made her appear older.
"By a Sith, we haven't found the exact identity." Qui-Gon replied.
"The Sith have reached Alderaan already?" Luke cried, amazement with worry clouding his features. "Apparently just the one, it must have been left over from the attack on Ku'ta." He sighed. "The council sent Obi-Wan and Anakin to deal with it--"
"No, they didn't, I'm right here!" Anakin Solo tugged on Qui-Gon's robes. Qui-Gon cocked an eyebrow at Padme; she sighed, glanced at Leia, who nodded with an expression like pain on her face.
Padme cleared her throat and explained, "You know the tall man who was with me?" The kids nodded. "Well, he's my husband, and that's his name too."
"Oh." Anakin said.
Qui-Gon smiled "Yes, well, hopefully it won't hurt any soul anymore."
"It won't." Padme heard her husband's voice behind Qui-Gon. "We ran it out."
"Yes, and I think I could have gone without the running part, I'm older then you, you know, Anakin." Obi-Wan interrupted
"Really? No." Padme smiled at her husband's mock surprise.
"It's true, I swear it by the Force."
"Is that a fact?"
"Will you two please stop for two seconds? Thank you." Qui-Gon glanced behind his shoulder at the two figures and impaled them with his stare. Padme could barely see Anakin over Qui-Gon's shoulder, but what she did see was grinning impishly. They looked over Qui-Gon's shoulder at each other, and smiled.
"Does the Council know this?" Qui-Gon asked the two men behind him.
"They know. They weren't happy we let it go, though." Anakin sighed.
"We let it go? Since when?" Obi-Wan turned to his tall student. "I didn't know chasing it to the gates of the Sith dimension was now considered letting it go."
"I think they believe I should have turned into Super soul and showed it to the nether realm. There's nothing I can do that's right, is there?" He shook his head in exasperation and despair.
"Give them time, Ani." Qui-Gon soothed, and Anakin turned just the slightest bit pink at the old nickname. The bed on which Padme sat trembled a little, and she turned to see Leia shaking ever so slightly. Jar Jar turned and started out of the room.
"My see yousa guys later." His ears swung around with him and Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon had to duck to keep from being hit. The mattress trembled again. She looked up at Anakin, and saw that her husband had seen it too.
He turned, saying, "I'd better go." Obi-Wan nodded, and gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder.
"Wait, Anakin. I'm coming." She smiled at the rest of her family. "I'll see you later."
She walked out to catch up with Anakin, and heard Obi-Wan whisper to her, "I'll see what I can do."
"Thank you." She whispered back.
9
She and Anakin walked in silence for a while, then she spoke. "Ani, don't take it so hard, and don't tell me that you're not because I know you are. The backs of your ears turn pink when you feel bad, I think they'd qualify as neon now." They walked into the room they shared whenever they stayed on Coruscant, and Anakin fell onto the bed. He ran a hand through his short, brown hair, and she was convinced; that was another thing he did only when he was nervous or feeling excessively guilty.
"What you did..." she began, but he interrupted her.
"You don't understand, I still have nightmares from what I did, I'll probably have nightmares for the rest of my existence." She knew he had nightmares, she'd wake him up from them, and hold him while he shook and tried to forget. "I...I tortured her! I made her watch as her world and her foster family was destroyed! And I didn't care, didn't care about what she felt. I liked the way she feared me. I only cared that I was that much closer to battle. I cut off my own son's hand, and I only cared that he couldn't fight back when he cried out. I would have killed them all if I could. Padme, I'm a monster!"
"No!" she yelled at him "You are not a monster! Anakin, if you were a monster I wouldn't be married to you, and I definitely wouldn't have had children with you. Think about what you're saying. What you were is not what you are now. Darth Vader ceased to exist when you threw Palpatine down into that core." She walked over to sit beside him, but he wouldn't look at her. "Anakin Skywalker, look at me." Her voice turned into a hiss, then became gentle. "Don't do this to yourself. You are your own biggest critic, and it's not the Council who you can do nothing right for, it's yourself. Please, dear; don't cause yourself this kind of misery. You know your son adores you." He finally looked up at her, and she saw in his blue eyes that she'd reached him. "Yes, Ani, you have a son. You love him, don't you."
"Yes, I do." He said softly.
"And you gave up your life for him. That is the greatest gift a father can give." She took his glowing hand in hers. "Anakin, do you want to know why you can't be a monster?"
"Why?" he looked her straight in the eye, as if daring her to try to comfort him.
"Because I love you." She said simply.
He smiled at her, "The greatest thing about being married to you," he teased. "is that I have my very own psychiatrist right here."
She laughed, and leaned against his shoulder, feeling his warm breath against her scalp. " It's good to know I'm of service to you." He shifted, and she could feel the muscle under his robe.
"I love you, angel." He murmured, remembering the first time they met.
"I love you too. Go to sleep, you look like you've gained a year."
He smiled. "I thought women liked older guys."
She shifted to get more comfortable. "You'll never be older then me."
"Is that something you want to admit?"
"Only when we're alone."
"Obi-Wan wanted me to patrol the border tonight."
"So go tonight, have you checked the time lately? It's lunch time."
"Lunch? I'm hungry."
"You're always hungry."
"I want to eat."
"Did you give your mother this much trouble at bedtime?"
He laughed. "Why don't you ask her?"
She smiled, knowing he would sense it. "Don't think I won't." She got stern "Now go to bed, young man, or I'll tell your mommy on you."
"I'm shaking in my boots." But he was already dozing off.
10
Leia watched as her mother and...he walked off. She felt angry with herself for showing that much fear, but she couldn't help it. She had feared Darth Vader for too long to just accept him. She clenched her hands together to stop their shaking. "I will be going, I have an audience with the Grand Council."
Luke frowned at Qui-Gon's words. "The Grand Council? What is that?"
Qui-Gon smiled. "The best Jedi Masters of the order. They also tend to be the most overbearing. Every time they look at you, you feel like your tunic is untucked, or you've stopped glowing."
"Gee, I've never felt that before." Obi-Wan muttered, just loud enough to be heard.
Qui-Gon raised his brows. "I wasn't that bad, was I?"
"No, but you did have a look that you'd always give me when I was younger. You always managed to make me feel like instead of my lightsaber, I'd started carrying a tulip in my belt."
"I'll try to give you that look more often, if you liked it so much."
"Thank you oh so very much." Obi-Wan rolled his eyes. Leia still looked nervous; yes, they would have to talk. She couldn't fear Anakin forever, Obi-Wan knew that. Anakin was known for holding a grudge against himself, and this would only help him do it.
"Farewell." Qui-Gon gave a little bow and left the room, muttering, "Good luck." to Obi-Wan on his way out. Obi-Wan turned to Leia, but Luke beat him to it.
"What's wrong?" Luke knew, obviously, but wanted Leia to admit her fears herself, instead of accusing her of having those fears. Smart boy, Obi-Wan thought.
Leia sighed, and looked younger. "Kids, why don't you all take a nice nap in your rooms. You all look bushed, I'll see you in a bit."
"Okay, Mom." Jaina nodded slowly, sensing the tension in the room. The three kids trotted from the room, and Obi-Wan closed the door after them.
"Thank you, general." Leia murmured
"You do look as if something's troubling you." Obi-Wan said, trying to be diplomatic.
She smiled wanly. "You both know what's bothering me, but thanks for attempting some diplomacy."
So much for that idea, Obi-Wan thought.
"I can't help it." She continued "I can't think of him as anything else but Darth Vader, and believe me, I would be the last one in line to keep that memory alive. I thought I'd stopped fearing him, but apparently I haven't. He did things that I still don't want to think about, and I've had to accept that his blood runs in me. Seeing him normal like that, it just is a total overload. I can't handle that he is my father, and I don't know how you deal with it, Luke."
"I've talked to him." Luke replied simply, as if that was all there was to it.
She shook her head sadly. "Luke, it'll take a lot more then that to convince me that he isn't what he was."
"Well, Leia," Obi-Wan said thoughtfully "why don't you make a start with that. Just talk to him, and see how it goes from there. It can't hurt, can it?"
The haunted look in the girl's eyes caused him to almost wince. "General," she whispered "you'd be surprised how much it can hurt, both emotionally and physically."
"He would never do anything to hurt you, or your children." Obi-Wan felt his expression soften. "Leia, you'll have to face him at one point, and better sooner then later. You can't spend eternity avoiding him."
"Just watch me." She muttered fiercely.
"Leia," Luke broke in. "just talk to him. I think it will help, it did with me. I can go with you if you want, but I think you should do it alone."
Leia's eyes grew round, and she sputtered "Alone? Luke, are you crazy?"
"Do you trust me?" he asked calmly.
"Well, yes..."
"Then you can go alone. Leia, Ben's right. You can't hide from him forever." There was a long silence after that exchange.
"Luke," Leia said, her voice under tight control once more. "I do trust you, but please don't be far. I trust you, but I don't trust him."
Luke nodded. "That's the reason that you're going to do this.