Author's Note: For disclaimers, see first chapter. Lucas owns all the lovely people.

Thanks for all the reviews, guys! was screwing up stuff, so a lot of them just showed up today. So -

Nubian Queen: Thanks for the compliments! I think you'll have found out "what happens next" by now – I hope you liked it. The "gremmel" thing is, as far as I know, my invention – I'm glad it didn't come across too corny, at least to you.

Princess-Aiel: Thanks for the reviews! Hope these are quick-enough updates for you!

SSG Michael B Jackson: I'm glad the characterizations sound good. I'm always a little afraid during the Vader POVs because he's rather more emotional than the Vader of the OT. I was trying to strike a balance between the very passionate/emotional AOTC Anakin and Vader of the OT. Hopefully it didn't come off too badly.

Ten-sixty-three: Leia's a little feisty, isn't she? But she also has a tender side to her, which I think you'll see in this chapter. Thanks for the review.

Rose-Arwen-Padme: All caps means I must have done something right. :)

Thanks for the review, as always. I hope you like the Padme characterization. My women are rather strong-willed. :)

To all my reviewers: Thanks so much for the reviews! They make me happy, and inspire me to write more of the story. It's almost done now!

And finally: be warned, mush ahead. :) Enjoy!

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Obi-Wan's head jerked up in astonishment. Was Vader really letting them go? Just like that? After all the anger, the murderous lightsaber fight, the shouting – he was just letting them go?

He looked down at Leia, who still sat clinging to him. Did Vader suspect Leia's identity? Why not just take her then? Was he going to trail them? Was he just being extra cruel to Obi-Wan – would he let them get halfway up the gangplank and then cut them down?

His doubts were interrupted by Luke's Force-presence in his head. Ben! Mommy fell down and I think she hit her head! She won't open her eyes, no matter how much I shake her!

Don't shake her! Obi-Wan sent back in alarm. I'll be there in a minute. Well, that put an end to doubts. Padme couldn't fly away unconscious – although by all rights she should have already been gone. He distinctly remembered, that when he had started to lose the fight, he had had told her (through Luke) to take off right away.

But that was a discussion for later. Right now, he gently stood Leia on her feet, then stood up himself.

Leia wasn't paying any attention to him. She was staring at Vader, who had whirled around after his last speech and now stood facing the opposite wall. Only his imposing back was in view.

"Come on, Leia," Obi-Wan urged quietly. I don't think I want to try to stretch my luck...

But she kept ignoring him. All her consciousness seemed focused on Vader.

Then suddenly she stepped forward to Vader's side, and fearlessly slipped her tiny hand into his massive one.

Slowly, as if against his will, the Dark Lord turned his head and looked down at the little sprite of humanity.

She gazed up at him, unafraid. "I'm sorry I yelled at you," she said softly. "I didn't mean to make you sad. I thought you were going to hurt Ben and I was scared…" She trailed off, as Vader continued to stare at her.

There was a pause. Obi-Wan looked helplessly on. Vader was far too volatile for Obi-Wan to risk making any sudden moves toward Leia.

Leia asked very quietly, "Did you ever have a little girl?"

Obi-Wan was almost physically sick right then and there. The nausea made him imagine that Vader shuddered slightly.

"My wife…we were supposed to have a little girl," Vader finally answered.

Obi-Wan wasn't sure what he should be more surprised at – at the fact that Vader had actually answered the question, or at the raggedness in the manufactured voice.

"What happened to her?" Leia asked innocently.

Obi-Wan could see Vader squeeze the little hand tightly, in reflex. Leia didn't even flinch, just kept staring steadily at him.

Vader breathed in-out, in-out. "She died."

Pause.

Then Leia tugged on his hand, presumably to focus his attention on her again. Vader responded by kneeling down so that he was more on her level.

"You loved her very much, didn't you?"

There was a very long pause. Obi-Wan stood transfixed.

"Yes."

And Obi-Wan heard in that one word, heartbreak and loss and guilt and love. And he wondered, for the very first time, if Anakin might actually still live in that monster somewhere.

Leia looked at the Dark Lord for a few more long seconds. It seemed as if this conversation had been going on for hours. Obi-Wan had the distinct impression that time was standing still, perhaps out of mourning for what might have been.

And then Leia put her arms around Vader's neck, and held him close to her with all her four-year-old strength.

Obi-Wan's jaw fell open when Vader quickly returned the embrace, holding her tightly to him, crushing her as close as possible without hurting her.

In a weird, aching sense of déjà vu, Obi-Wan felt as if it were years ago, and he kneeling, holding his dying Master, imploring the Force not to take him away.

After what seemed like eternity, they drew apart.

"Go now, Leia," the dread Sith said quietly. "Go and live, child. Be happy. Live."

"And you? Will you be happy?"

He did not answer.

She lifted her hand and touched the cheek of his mask. "May you find true happiness and peace, and may they ever be by your side. May you live long and fulfill your dreams, and may the Force be with you always."

The age-old benediction hung the air between them for some seconds. Then she stood on tiptoes and kissed his cheek, or the cheek of his mask rather. "Goodbye," she said, smiling at him.

"Goodbye," he said.

She turned and walked back to Obi-Wan, and placed her hand in his.

They went up the gangplank and into the ship.

They took off.

A/N: Almost done, not quite. Let me know what you thought! - Kaitie