Beth was alone in the cockpit of her ship. She was impressed at how well it had kept since she had last been in it. Breathing deeply, she was thankful that Piett had returned to her. But for some reason or another, her mind was still on Anakin and Vader.

"Bethie?" came his soft call from just outside the cockpit. He entered and placed his hand upon her shoulder. She looked up at him with sadness.

"Hi," she whispered.

"I thought I'd find you in here," he said as he claimed the seat next to her, smiling. "Luke and Leia are worried about you. I am too."

Beth returned his smile. "I wouldn't be surprised about you worrying about me. I don't know about Anakin's twins, though." She swung around in the chair to face him and looked at the cockpit door.

He reached out to stroke her arm and asked, "What's troubling you, Bethie?"

"You know that Leia and Luke are our niece and nephew?" He nodded in affirmation, and she continued. "Well, I need to tell you about Anakin. And Vader."

"I was hoping you'd tell me why Vader knew who you are. I haven't mentioned your name to him at all."

Beth sighed, searching for the right words. "He's… He's," Beth stumbled her words. "There's really no easy way of saying this."

"When you're ready sweetheart. Only then."

"I'll never be ready, but I feel that I should tell you and I should start at the beginning." Looking Piett over, she said, "While I'm telling you this, don't interrupt or I'll never get the courage to do this again." She stopped and thought about the best possible place to start. "Years ago, before the Empire, Vader was a Jedi Knight. His true name, the name he has forgotten and the name that he has buried along with all memories of the time before the darkness, is Anakin Skywalker. Anakin is my half-bother, and husband of Senator Padmé Amidala Naberrie-Skywalker of Naboo. I was four when he became Palpatine's puppet. Six months later, Luke and Leia were born."

Piett sat there with an open mouth, not really believing what he had heard. "No wonder you don't like talking about your past," he finally stammered. He swallowed around the lump in his throat. "That's why you left me."

Beth nodded slowly. "I was afraid he would find out about us and kill you for treason. And he would have found out about our daughter and we would never have seen her. I never wanted that to happen. I know you wouldn't either. Luke and Leia don't know." Beth looked up to gaze into Piett's eyes. "That's one of the reasons why I wanted him to take me. I know the truth about his past and I know that I have a way of reaching Ani. I know he doesn't know of Leia, and I don't know how he found out about Luke. It wasn't through me, because I guarded my thoughts while being held captive by him."

"He knows about Luke?"

"He probably found out about Luke after the Death Star was blown up. That was Luke's doing and I'm sure that Vader would have wanted to find out who did that. I should tell you my true birth name, the name I haven't gone by since Anakin turned."

"I'm assuming that it's Bethia Skywalker, not Bethia Hughting?"

"No, it's not either of those names. Skywalker was my mother's maiden name. My father's name was Cliegg Lars. I didn't tell you before because I'm used to using the name Hughting. That's the name I grew up with."

"So what exactly did you do to Vader?"

"To Vader? Nothing. It was Anakin that I was aiming for. I'm not the one who's going to turn him back to the light side in the end, though. It's up to Luke and Leia," Beth's eyes locked with his again and she took a deep breath. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you anything about this before, because I know that Vader has his ways of finding out information."

"Are you afraid?"

"Of what?"

"Of losing your life to Vader?"

"No. I'm more frightened of losing you and Myrrha than losing my own life. I've grown up with danger and I've learnt not to fear death – for myself." Beth gazed out the view port. "That doesn't mean that I'm not afraid."

"The last three years, I was afraid that I was going to be found out and I wouldn't see you again. I'm that worried about you."

"I can look after myself."

"I know. It doesn't stop me from worrying though." Piett swallowed. "You remember when we first met?"

"Of course I do. I saved your life, and then directed you back to where your men were waiting for you. That same day, I lost one of the last members of my family. That's why I was upset yesterday, if you remember."

Piett smiled sadly. "Where have you been?"

"I went somewhere safe with our daughter, until about four or five months ago. My niece and nephew have a thing for getting into trouble. I thought their friends could use a hand getting them out of trouble or at the very least, keep those twins out of it."

"From what I've seen of them, I'd agree with that," Piett said with a slight smile on his face.

Beth looked at him and said, "Come on! You're just as bad as they are."

"For the past three years, I've been trying to keep out of trouble," Piett said quietly. "I found that rather hard when I don't have you with me." His hands cupped around her cheeks.

Beth smiled, silently agreeing with him. She, too, had found it rather difficult to stay out of trouble herself. Her right hand went up to cover his left one and he leaned towards her to rest his forehead on hers. Neither said anything as they fell deeper into each other's gaze. Her lips parted slightly and she brought them to land on his in a passionate kiss – the first they had had in three years.

His arms and hands moved from her face to snake around her waist and pulled her closer to him. One was higher than the other and it travelled up to cherish her hair. He pressed his mouth harder against hers.

Her hands were on his shoulders and she, too, pulled him closer to her. The passion between them was growing and neither could help themselves but to start exploring the other with their hands.

He pulled away slightly and began a trail of kisses down her neck as he fingered her hair, his right hand playing with the padawan braid she still wore, before his hands moved to her shoulders and he buried his face in her hair and neck. But soon, Beth had lead his lips back to hers.

Beth could feel the discomfort that radiated out from their (unwelcome) visitor and pulled away from Piett gently. She turned and looked toward the door at the embarrassed Leia, sure that she would have been a bright red if she hadn't had any control over her facials. Piett was going red.

"Yes?"

"Um…" Leia looked down at her feet, her face a bright red. She hadn't intended to walk in on the couple. "I was wondering if you could tell me of Father."

"I'm sorry, Leia. I hardly knew Anakin as he died when I was four."

Leia nodded slowly, accepting that. "Would there be any chance for you to train me?"

"I don't really know. I'll have to think about it."

"Thank you." Leia turned and left the two alone.

Beth turned her attention back to Piett. "She didn't hear about what we discussed, Firmus."

"Are you sure about that?"

"I sensed her coming. She didn't start moving into earshot until we had finished discussing my brother's past. I'm tired. I'm going to bed, if you'd like to join me?"

Piett smiled, knowing that Beth had her ways of putting his mind at ease.

c d

Beth was content in Piett's arms. He was asleep and she was lost in her own thoughts. She needed to get up and think things through before going to sleep beside her husband.

Quietly, she moved from his embrace, careful not to wake him up with her movement, and slipped on some soft-soled slippers.

Her feet padded their way to the dimly lit common room. It was vacant to her relief. The others aboard the ship must have retired like her and Piett. The main area of it was largely empty so she could practice Force techniques.

Sitting cross-legged in the middle of the room, Beth thought back to the two years she had been close to Piett. She imagined him sitting cross-legged opposite her or on one of the chairs, just sharing each other's company in silence as she meditated or they would talk about things that fancied them.

Now alone, and well past midnight on her chrono, she was searching for answers to some of the questions she had. Doubting her ability to train both Luke and Leia at the same time, Beth was sure that it was too much to ask of a young mother.

She knew Luke's training had to be finished before he found out the truth. Leia, also, needed to know in time, but not until she had at least started her training.

Beth, remember what I kept on telling you before you took the trials?

Beth opened her eyes and sitting opposite her, mirroring her position, was her former master. A blue aura surrounded his being. "Yes, Master Windu. You told me 'there is no try. Only do.'" She sighed. "But I don't know if I can do this. I don't know whether or not to start Leia's training now while finishing Luke's. And somebody has to look after Myrrha."

The Force has a will of its own. You must remember that. Which is why your husband came back.

"What can I do?"

Trust yourself, Beth, and do not doubt your abilities. Master Yoda is old and unable to train any more padawans. It is up to you to continue the Jedi Order. Or else, it will fall.

Beth nodded. "I know. It's hard, Master. Facing him and then Palpatine was the hardest choice I made, but this one is even harder."

You will someday be recognised as one of the greatest Jedi Masters of this time, Beth. And you must realise that one of the things that brought me joy was to see you accomplish.

"Thank you, Master Windu." Beth stood and added, "You have encouraged me and have given me a lot to think about."

Don't delay your decision.

"I won't." Beth made her way back to the captain's room where Piett was lightly snoring. Looking at him sleeping peacefully, she decided then and there that he could help her. Especially with their daughter.

She knew that Luke and Leia needed as much help as they could get with training if they were to bring down Vader and have Anakin back. They would be trained.

Slipping off the slippers, Beth stealthily climbed back into bed. Piett stirred and woke.

"Bethie?" he whispered tenderly. "You awake?"

"Yes," she whispered back, just as tenderly. To indicate that she was, Beth moved to lay her head on his chest.

"How long have you been awake?"

"A while. I couldn't sleep." She closed her eyes and sighed contently. He shifted under her and had lifted her chin up so in the dim light, they could see each other's faces. He smiled delicately at her before covering her lips with his in a tender, passionate kiss.

c d

Beth was the first one up on the ship the next morning. In the early hours, they had come up on their destination and she had asked for clearance to land. Then, she had moved to the cargo hold aboard the ship to clear it out to train Luke and Leia in. It was mostly clear already, and she only had to stack the few boxes in the room against one of the walls. She knew that Leia had a lot to catch up on to be at the point Luke was at.

She didn't know how she was going to manage it, but she was determined to do it. Then it occurred to her. She could teach Luke patience as she taught Leia the basics.

Piett, also up, came to help her. "Aren't you tired?"

"Not really," Beth replied with a smile. "You look like you need to go back to bed."

Piett rubbed his eyes after placing the final box on the stack and returned her smile. "Are you sure about this?"

"Yes I am, Firmus." She took his hands in her own and looked deeply into his eyes. "I don't have a choice. I have to train them. I don't like it much, but there is no other way."

"Aunt Beth!" Luke called.

"Mommy!"

"You sure are popular this morning," Piett smirked.

"Oww! Leia! What was that for?"

"It looks like you've got trouble on your hands," Piett commented. Beth sighed and he smiled again.

Beth walked out of the cargo hold towards the sound of the two voices coming from the common room. "Stop it! Both of you," she said quietly as she entered the room, calming both twins down with the Force. "You're twenty-one-years-old, now act like it." Luke and Leia were still visibly scowling at one another when Beth turned to Myrrha. "Mia, you will leave Luke and Leia alone until they have finished their training, unless, during that time, you are asked to bother them or it is an emergency. Now go to your father," she said, while raising her arm to point towards the door where her husband stood, silently watching.

After Myrrha and her father had left, Beth turned back to glare at her niece and nephew. "Luke, you are to practice your meditation and healing techniques in your cabin, or if you want, in here. Leave your lightsaber with us as Leia's going to need it for what I am going to get her to do. Now, Leia, follow me."

"What are you going to make me do, Aunt Beth?"

"First of all, you are going to stop addressing me as Aunt Beth and call me either Beth or Master while training. Secondly, you are going to come to the cargo bay and practice lightsaber techniques against a remote."

"Yes, Beth."

Beth looked at Luke with a glare. "And I don't want to hear you complaining about this task, Luke. The only reason I decided to train you both was because I was asked to." Luke nodded. Beth turned and left the room with Leia.

AN: Thanks for your help, Tweets with writing this, and for your help with editing.