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Leia felt her father's intent; he swept in full circle and closed in on her right side. She quickly pivoted to her right and deflected his lightsaber away. She felt his pride at having to notice what he was planning on doing next; she smiled as she realized that she was beginning to forgive him. She would talk to him about it later in private. She was still not ready to reveal her relations to so many people at once. Leia noticed that the crowd was growing in size, as more people stopped to watch Leia Organa being trained by the sith lord, or he used to be a sith lord, but what they didn't know was that Anakin was her father, and she knew it would be a shock to everyone when they learn that Leia was his daughter. She glanced over at Luke; he was beginning to get concerned with so many people watching her learn to be a jedi. Something might accidentally slip, and they would be forced into answering questions sooner than they would expect. She felt him go for her middle; she quickly turned and caught his lightsaber, before anything could take place.

Anakin was thankful that she was able to deflect at a quick pace. He could never forgive himself if he accidentally nailed his daughter. Then again at such low settings nothing bad would've happened. They slowly picked up the pace; she was proving to be excellent at handling a lightsaber in such a fashion. He felt pride, and love for his daughter, she is definitely my daughter, and the way she is handling herself is only to prove the fact was that she has definitely inherited quite a few of his traits, as well as her mothers.

Padme watched in fascination as her husband trained their daughter in the ways of the jedi. She was proud that her daughter broke through a barrier, and begun to bond with Anakin. That was a first step into forgiving him. She also noticed the large crowd that had begun to watch as Anakin trained Leia in the ways of the jedi. She watched as the pace began to quicken a little at a time. Leia was proving to handle lightsaber techniques well that seemed to be one of Anakins specialties and Leia seemed to inherited that part from her father.

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After an hour, Anakin decided to call it quits for the day. He told Leia that they would resume later the next morning. She nodded her head, //Yes master, I look forward to training tomorrow. Anakin smiled, //until than my dear daughter.

Anakin noticed the large crowd, and how it had grown since he first realized that there was a crowd watching them. This made him a little uneasy, he did not want to reveal his relations and cost his children any more pain. They walked back to the apartment.

After the door closed, Anakin turned his gaze on Luke and Leia; he noted that they were thinking the same thing. This was slowly killing him, and they both knew it.

Leia walked over to her father and took his hands into her own. "Father, I know that we have not been on the smoothest course for the past few years." She felt him wince at being reminded on how he treated her a few years ago. "I have begun to feel a new bond, begin to build between us, I wanted you to know that I silently forgave you. We still need to work on some things, but I know we can get through this. I feel it deep in my heart, and I know that it is not wrong in how I have begun to feel towards you lately. I have begun to love you like a daughter should towards her father."

Anakin felt like crying, a huge weight had been lifted off of his shoulders, as he listened to his daughter. Anakin knew deep in his heart that he felt protective towards Leia and that he did love her, that is why it hurt him so much to see the pain he had cost her. Anakin did the next best thing; he enfolded his daughter into a hug as tears began to form in his eyes, no matter how hard he fought them back.

When Leia broke away, she felt strong emotions roll off of her father, she caught his thoughts, he felt like crying and was fighting back tears, but they were forming anyways. She felt tears trace lines down her face, as she felt the truth from him. He was becoming protective of her and loved her like a father should towards his daughter.

Anakin noticed that she was silently crying; he gently wiped the tears away. "Please don't my dear daughter."

She quickly enfolded him into another hug. "Same goes for you too father."

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Padme watched the scene in silence, as tears began to slide down her face; Luke glanced at her and noticed that she was silently crying. Luke walked over and enfolded his mom in a hug. She stood there letting the tears flow freely, as she watched her husband and daughter begin to develop a strong bond between the two. She knew that a bond between a daughter and father was usually a strong one, and the person who tries to love her would have to go through her father first. That part scared her, but Padme also knew that if Anakin wanted to keep this new special bond, he would not do anything bad, except make it clear to that person that he better treat her right.

Unfortunately this did not get past her husband; Anakin glanced over and saw Padme crying. That almost did it in for him; he tightened his embrace on Leia.

Leia felt her father tighten his grip, she knew what that meant, he was on the verge of an emotional brink. He was trying valiantly trying to hold it in; she was wondering how much more it would take before he was full blown on this. Not much she thought. She tighten her grip, "Please don't, that is the last thing you need to be doing right now. Especially with that mask on." Anakin agreed with Leia's assessment, but he still felt like crying. His grip began to grow tighter.

Leia felt his emotions begin to really rile up, as her fathers' grip got tighter; boy this was really starting to get to him. She needed to find some way to break this moment. Leia glanced over at Han and mouthed //kiss me. //

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Han mouthed back //no way princess, bad idea. //

//Just do it// she shot back.

Han sighed, still grumbling that this was a bad idea, he walked over and kissed her deeply on the lips. Anakin pulled a way, and shot daggers at him. Luke and Padme where stunned to see that happen.

Han shrugged, "Not my idea, why don't you ask Leia about it. It was her idea."

Leia felt guilty, as she explained, "Han's right father, I could not let you cry with that mask on. Later you can, but right now is not a good idea."

Anakin thought it over, Leia could feel his emotions as he was tightening his grip on her. She knew that he was on the verge of letting the tears go. With this mask on, she knew that was not such a great idea. Anakin realized that his daughter had just put Solo into an awkward position. Anakin mumbled an apology and walked over to Padme and embraced his wife. She leaned against his chest. Then wrapped her arms around his large bulk frame.

Han and Leia fell into a deep passionate kiss. Anakin watched his daughter knowing that he had missed both of his children growing up. And now his daughter was in love with the smuggler. He could not say anything, after all Han treats her right, he feels that he does not have to remind Solo that.

Luke felt like telling his father that he had also begun to love him, as a son should. But he felt that his father had enough emotional brinks for one day. So he decided to tell him some other time.

Anakin glanced over at his son and felt that his son wanted to tell him something, but decided to wait for another time, "Is there something you want to tell me son?"

Luke nodded, as he walked over to his father. "Father, I want you to know that I have begun to love you too." Anakin broke away from Padme and enfolded his son into a hug as tears threatened to envelop him once again. Luke glanced at his fathers' mask. As he felt his emotions, now he knew why Leia broke that moment. His father tightened his grip even more on Luke.

Luke tightened his grip, but he had no way of breaking the moment. He wanted to reassure his father, but how to do it without sending him over a brink of tears he did not know. He thought quickly and it hit him, it was time to check on the fleet. He glanced back up at his father, "Please don't, besides it is time to check on the fleet."

Anakin nodded, he broke away from Luke, as he recomposed himself.

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Governor Nereus was having a break in the courtyard; he was standing by a flowing fountain. The sound of bubbling water made a grand effect of calming his nerves. He turned his head over to watch his aide walk out and stop to wait for the Governors convenience. He was going to let his aide wait, but he realized the moment of peace was gone. He walked over to his aide with complete annoyance in his step.

"What is so important that it could not wait?" Nereus asked with impatience.

The aide replied, "You have a transmission waiting on hold from the enemy sir."

Nereus impatience was replaced with a new urgency, what did the fluties want now? "Why didn't you speak up? I will take the transmission in my office."

His aide nodded in acknowledgement as he followed the Governor back to his office. He walked over and sat down behind his desk. He commed his secretary, "Please transfer the transmission to my office Ari."

He keyed in his access codes, Dev Sibwarra was on the other end. "What good news does your masters bring us this time?" He asked sarcastically.

Dev replied, "I fear I do not bring good news this time I am afraid. My masters have a proposition for you. My masters promise they will pull out if you hand us over one person."

Nereus thought it over, the fluties will pull out for one buffoon. "Keep talking."

Dev nodded as he continued. "Hand us over Luke Skywalker and we will pull our forces out of the system."

Nereus thought it over, hah; he did not believe that for a second. If they wanted Luke Skywalker then they would not get him alive. He would dispense with the young commander at his leisure, he would find some way to hand Skywalker over to the enemy without the Alliance knowing about what happened to their commander, he would try and infect Skywalker with a parasite that would kill him from the inside out and infect the rest of the fluties ship, yes he would kill two birds with one stone. He turned his attention back to Dev. "Give me 72 hours, I will contact you with details then."

Dev nodded as he broke the connection.

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Dev turned to his masters who were waiting for his report. "In 72 hours we will have the jedi." Dev reported.

Blue Scale nodded in appraisal, "72 hours is more then we could've hoped for. You have down well Dev, you're devotion is unquestionable."

Dev bowed his head in respect, "Thank you elder."

Blue Scale turned to Firwirrung, "You have 72 hours to prepare for the jedi."

His master bowed his head as he acknowledged Blue Scale.

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Gaeriel was going over the latest reports from Nereus when there was a knock on the door. "Come in."

Her aide Ari walked in, she walked over to Gaeriel and whispered, "We are being monitored."

Gaeriel nodded. "What is it?" She whispered. Ari leaned in closer as she answered in a soft voice, "Nereus has given the Ssi Ruuk 72 hours and he is going to hand Skywalker over to them."

Gaeriel was startled to hear this, she reflected on what would happen if Anakin found out, that situation would not be a good one. "Thank you Ari I will take care of this."

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Gaeriel walked to the apartment that was set up for the rebels, she knocked on the door wondering if Luke was even in there. The door opened and it took all of her strength not to back up as she caught site of the black armor. "Is Luke here? I need to talk to him in private."

Anakin nodded as he motioned for her to come in as Luke walked to the door. "Hi Gaeriel." He greeted with a smile.

"Hello Commander. I need to talk with you alone." She glanced at Anakin who nodded in agreement. "I'll check on the fleet to make everything is ok, I'll catch you later."

Luke nodded as he watched his father walk out of the door. He turned his attention to his guest as he motioned for her to sit down. "Would you like to sit down so I can?"

Gaeriel nodded as she sat on the couch beside Luke. "Is you and your company comfortable?" She asked in a conversational way.

Luke nodded as he glanced outside the door. "Yes, I believe so."

Gaeriel reached into her bag and pulled out the bubble disrupter, she turned it on. "The Susi Ruuk is after you, they gave Nereus 72 hours to hand you over."

Luke nodded remembering the warning he received through the force. So they were planning on moving through Nereus. She turned the generator off again. "Are you hungry? I could have a light dinner sent here."

"Please." Luke replied in kind as Gaeriel spoke into her comlink, he could not remember what the pronunciation was. "So do you like sea food?" She asked with a smile.

Luke nodded as he unhooked his lightsaber and placed it on the table, Gaeri's eyes widened in surprise. "Is that what I think it is?"

"Yes it is. It's my lightsaber." Luke answered with a smile. "My family is force sensitive strong."

Gaeriel frowned, "a family of farm boys that are force sensitive." She noticed that Luke grimaced, and knew she struck a nerve.

"My life has had its up and downs. The morning I left the farm is the day the Empire killed my guardians because they were looking for Artoo and Threepio." Luke said with a frown. "I left that morning, if I was there I would've been dead too."

"I'm sorry to hear that." Gaeriel said with a frown as a knock sounded at the door, she walked to the door and brought in the cart. She lifted the dish off of each plate.

Luke smiled as he stood up and grabbed a plate and start to place food on it.

Luke silently ate as he thought about what to say. Gaeriel reached for half a slice of fruit and smiled.

"I am curious as to how you found out that your father was Vader. If you don't mind me asking." Gaeriel asked with hesitation.

Luke nodded as he told her about what happened on cloud city.

Gaeriel was horrified as she listened to something that was hard for Luke to tell. She took his hand into hers.

"Gaeriel, I know your afraid of me. But there is no need to be. I do respect your religion."

She nodded in agreement wondering if her beliefs were not all that cracked up to be. "Thank you." Gaeriel stood up with a stretch and Luke stood up with her. "I really should be going, I wouldn't trust those storm troopers anymore."

Luke nodded in agreement as he walked her out, "Good night." He watched her leave, instead of heading back in he walked up to the roof to think some things over.

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Anakin was walking back to the apartment; it has been a while since he had a long walk, it gave him time to think. He had just finished checking on the fleet. When Anakin was passing several houses, he noted that all the houses were silent. He tilted his head as he caught sound of whimpering coming from a dark alley. He walked towards the sound as he stretched out with the force. He felt a very young presence.

He caught sight of a child not passed ten years old. She was sitting on the ground with her back against the wall; her head was in between her knees as she silently sobbed. Anakin walked over, giving her the illusion that no one was there, if she caught sight of him, then most likely she would bolt and something was telling him that she was in trouble and needed help.

He kneeled in front of the child making his presence known, she looked up startled, when she saw who it was she tried to back up against the wall and stand up. She heard about the Sith Lord and knew that he was evil. That is what her parents told her.

Anakin placed a hand on her shoulder, "Do not fear me young one." He put as much reassurance in his voice for he did not want her to be afraid of him.

She nodded as she tried to relax, but it was so hard not to get up and bolt.

"What is your name? Where are your parents? What is troubling you?" He asked suddenly all concerned at seeing no one else around.

She shook her head to his questions; this was really confusing. She did not know what to tell him.

Anakin was waiting patiently for her to answer.

"My name is Kay Shran, my parents were killed a week ago, when they tried to stand up to Nereus. He was threatening to have them put in jail, because they are apart of the rebellion here on the planet, they were killed protesting the Governor." She replied through ragged breaths.

Anakin thought it over; he did not help but feel partially responsible for the girl's parents. He noticed that Kay was watching him for his response. He tilted his head as he asked her. "You are probably wondering why I even care at all, am I close?"

She nodded her head in acknowledgement. "Yes."

Anakin asked, "Can I trust you with a secret, do you promise not to tell anyone about it?"

She nodded, she was curious.

"I have two children of my own, a son and a daughter, I want to help if you will let me." Anakin told her, he was hoping to gain her trust with this secret.

"Ok." She sounded reluctant; something in his voice told her that he could be trusted.

Anakin stood up and offered Kay his hand, she took it as he helped her back to her feet. "Come back to the apartment with me and we will contact your nearest blood relatives." She nodded as they walked back to the apartment.

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Han and Leia finally had some time alone, Padme had gone to bed, as well as Chewie, Luke was on the roof thinking about his relationship with Gaeriel trying to figure out where he stood with her, and Anakin was just heading back from checking on the fleet. They had a few minutes before he returned, so Han and Leia decided to get some quality time in.

They were locked in a deep passionate kiss when the door soundly swished open, they pulled away startled, Leia looked over to see her father walk through with a ten year old child in tow?

She threw her father a questioning look as she asked. "What is this all about?"

Anakin nodded as he explained to his daughter Kay's situation. Leia shook her head, her father was full of surprises. She turned her gaze on Kay, "Come sit by Han and I."

Leia told her, Kay obeyed. She walked over and sat on the couch beside Leia.

Han and Leia regarded her, as Kay recognized them. "Hay you are Han Solo and Leia Organa." Leia and Han nodded to confirm it.

Leia spoke, "What are the names of your nearest blood relative, we will contact them and have them pick you up."

Kay was silent, "The nearest blood relative is one hundred miles from here."

Leia asked "Then who is your nearest friend you can trust."

Kay silently began to cry, "I have no friends who I can trust."

Leia glanced at her father as she felt his heart go out to Kay. Anakin walked over, he kneeled to eye level with her and rested his hand gently on Kay's shoulder.

His voice sounded gentle as he asked, "Come now child, there must be someone near by that you can trust." Kay shook her head as she told him that her friends were on Nereus's payroll. Anakin nodded in understanding.

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Padme walked in the room when she heard her husband speak, she rubbed sleep from her eyes as her gaze landed on Han and Leia sitting beside a young girl who could not be past ten, her husband was kneeling in front of her with his hand on her shoulder. She noted that the young girl had been crying.

"Anakin, what's going on?" Padme asked. Anakin glanced at her as he explained the girl's situation to her. Padme nodded in understanding as she walked over to her husbands' side. She kneeled beside Anakin, as she became eye level with Kay.

"I hope my husband did not startle you too badly." Kay looked over startled at Anakin as Padme continued. "Kay, give us the name of your nearest blood relative and we will contact them, you can stay with us until they pick you up. Ok?" Padme told her. Kay nodded her thanks as she told them who her nearest relatives where.

Padme nodded, "We will contact them first thing. You can sleep on the couch tonight."

Kay nodded, "Thank you." She whispered with gratitude.

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The door swished open and Kay glanced up to see a young man walk through, her eyes widened in surprise. "You're Luke Skywalker."

Luke nodded, "Yes I am and who you might be?"

"My name is Kay." She answered, she felt shy; she heard about the young jedi commander.

Anakin glanced at his son as he explained Kay's situation and how it was going to be handled. Luke nodded in understanding. "Please make yourself at home." Luke offered.

Kay was on the verge of tears again, Anakin noticed this as he swept forward and gave her a hug and let her cry on his shoulder. "It's ok young one, you will be alright." Anakin reassured her. He knew this was hard on her. He left his mom at an early age.

Han looked over completely sympathetic, "I lost my parents when I was four. A person by the name of Garris Shrike killed them." Leia grabbed Hans's hand, as he brought up painful memories of his past.

Anakin spoke, "It won't be easy and the pain never goes away, but it does ease off and it does get better, and you can live on with your life. It will just take some time getting used to." Padme placed her hand on her husbands shoulder for reassurance as he brought up painful memories of his mothers last moments. "I lost my mother, when I turned 19, someone cut her down in front of me, I held her as she died in my arms."

Luke and Leia were startled to hear this. Kay eyed them questionably, Luke shook his head as he walked over to his father's side and kneeled beside his mom. Kay began to wonder if Luke and Leia were the children that Anakin mentioned. It just made perfect sense.

Luke spoke, "The day I left my the farm is the day that the empire killed my guardians because they were looking for Artoo, who had the first death star plans. If I did not leave early that morning then I would've been killed too." He glanced at his father, as he got a reading off him. He was shaking a little.

"I gave instructions to leave Beru and Owen alone." Anakin told his son.

"Sounds like someone ignored your command." Han said.

"Most likely the Emperor pulled a fast one on me." Anakin replied to Han.

Leia shook her head, she glanced at her father, and she could feel him pleading not to bring it up. //Leia I am so sorry. I did not give that command; it was all Tarkins idea. Leia nodded as she caught what her father said.

Anakin was shaky; he pulled away from Kay. He stood up to his full height as Padme enfolded him in a hug; the empire killed both of his children's guardians.

Leia spoke, "I was standing on the first death star with my home planet in view, Tarkin was trying to get information from me by saying that he would destroy my home world, if I did not tell him where the rebel base was. I told him a lie; he destroyed the planet anyways. I went to charge Tarkin, when Anakin held me back." She glanced at her father, "The way you did it though was a little confusing."

Anakin stiffened, now that he thought about it, it was almost like he had known that she was his daughter, and he had put a comforting hand on her shoulder at the time.

He knew that part of him wanted to comfort her while the other part of him screamed against it. Now he understood why.

Leia stood up and walked over to her father as he broke away from Padme, Leia enfolded her father into a hug. "I am sorry father, I did not mean to bring up that memory like that." Kay noted that Anakin put his arms around his daughter, "Its ok, that is one of the problems we need to work on no matter how painful it is."

Kay glanced at Luke as she noted that he looked a little worried "Does that mean that you are his son he told me about?" Kay asked Luke. Luke nodded to confirm it. He felt wow mixed with fear come from Kay.

Luke looked her in the eyes, "Do not fear him, he has changed and is not the same person that you were told about." Kay nodded in understanding.

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Just then Chewie walked in, wondering what was going on, he huffed a question. Han looked at his co-pilot as he explained the young girls situation. Chewie walked over and put a comforting paw on her shoulder. He was a father; he could not picture what his child would go through if he died. Chewie huffed another question, Han translated, "Chewie wants to know what your name is."

Kay nodded; she felt wow, as Han understood what the alien said. "My name is Kay." She answered. She stared at Chewie, she has never seen his kind before. "He's a wookiee." Han told her with some amusement.

"I have heard of them, but I never saw one before." Kay answered truthfully.

"I was a Lt in the Imperial Navy, Chewie was defying his orders and my superior told me to kill him, but I couldn't. I owed another Wookiee by the name of Dewlanna, who took care of me when I grew up on Shrike's ship. She took care of me after Shrike beat me up to the point where I could not survive on my own. She made sure that I got my education and everything. I owed that Wookiee my life. I was nineteen when she died, because of me Shrike killed her because I killed his brother, Dewlanna would not stand aside and Shrike shot her. I told her if I had a chance I would save another of her kind. Chewie was my ticket to repay her, but he still insisted he owed me a life debt. I tried to get rid of him, but now I am glad he stayed around." Han told his story as his eyes came on a far away look.

Kay glanced at Han, as she listened. Leia walked over and gave Han a hug; she did not know about his life as he grew up, that would explain why he was a little rough around the edges.

"Han I had no idea." Leia told him as she rubbed his back.

"It's ok sweetheart." Han told her. He pulled away and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. She returned the kiss more deeply.

Anakin broke the silence, "It is getting late, maybe it is time to get some rest, we have another long day ahead of us."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

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That night Anakin walked out to check on Kay, he watched her sleep, he knew that he should not blame himself, but he could not help feel partially responsible. She stirred; she woke up suddenly and started at the sight of Anakin.

"I did not mean to wake you." Anakin told Kay. She nodded as her memory caught up with her.

"It's ok." She told him as she sat up on the couch. She stared at his black armor and mask, wondering how it happened.

He walked over and sat down as the girl started to cry again as she began to think about what happened to her parents, the memory was so strong, she watched Nereus kill her parents in front of her.

Anakin put his arms around the young girl. "Its ok, the pain eases a little day by day but it never goes away completely." He told her. Anakin caught a flicker from her thoughts and he drew in a sudden breath as the truth hit him. "You watched your parents die, didn't you? That is why you could not go back." She nodded to confirm it, as the jedi caught onto what she was thinking about.

It hurt Anakin so much; to see how much damage he had done, he destroyed innocent lives. He knew that he should not blame himself for this one, before it happened he was already with the Alliance. He tightened his grip, to reassure the young girl that she was going to be ok. Her arms went around him to return the hug, grateful that he cared so much for her.

Anakin broke away and stood up, "Try to get some sleep. I will stay until you fall asleep," he told her. She nodded as she laid back down. He walked over to the window. Kay watched him, she felt safe in his presence, she could not say why. She suddenly fell asleep. After a few minutes, Anakin walked back into the room him and Padme were sharing.

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