FROM THE ASHES

Chapter 27

The Organa's private ship courteously returned them to Coruscant, the pilot dropping off Obiwan to the temple, and the Skywalkers to their penthouse. Coming inside, Anakin and Padme turned on the lights and looked at the house as a home, not just a residence. Their daughter was back, with no more fear of her being taken from them. They knew they needed their son to complete the family, and they would rest and start out again the next day. Padme held very tight to Leia, who had not cried all the way home through many miles and hyperspace. "Anakin, look at her, she's so perfect."

"Of course she is, she looks just like her mother."

They spent the whole night cuddling and loving and being so grateful for what they had, considering all they'd been through. They stared up at the skylight, with Leia between them. Her little eyes were open, and she seemed to be cooeing at the scene. "Look, Leia, isn't it pretty?" Padme pointed, and Leia seemed to chortle back an answer. They were so happy, and so safe at this moment. It felt good.

The next morning, before they were out of bed, Anakin got a message beep on his communicator. It was the med center, they wanted to see him immediately. "Oh dear, what could be wrong?" Padme worried, her face in a frown.

"It's about me, not you, so just stay here with the baby. I'll be all right."

"Maybe you should take Obiwan?" :

"If I need him, I'll call for him through telepathy. He's usually in his mediatation this time of the morning." Anakin cautiously went to see the droids who had sent for him, wondering what it was about. You wanted to see me, what is wrong?"

The droid told him to sit down, and take off his boots and pull up his pants. "It is time to see if your knee has healed sufficiently. You have ignored most of your recent therapy sessioms."

"I've been busy." That was an understatement!

The droid took off the brace and asked Anakin to step down on it. He felt for the strength of his ligaments, and then had him run on a treadmill device. All examinations showed his knee to be practically as good as new. "You will not be needing it anymore, you may go now, and not return unless you are injured again. You are a free, healthy young man."

Anakin was extremely happy. He was pronounced back to normal, after all he had been through. It was incredible. As he had lay blind, burned,having severe breathing problems, crippled, in such pain, he was sure he'd never live a normal life again, yet here he was, good as new physically. "Mind if I give it a try while I'm here with you?" He asked. The droid didn't know what he had in mind. He went out into the hallway, ran, then flew through the air in a double twist Jedi move and flipped back down onto his feet for a safe landing. So struggle, no pain. "Whoopee!" Anakin said without thinking how it sounded. "I'm me again! It feels so good!" His moves were completely back. He was very content and excited. Thanking the droid again, he quickly returned home.

When he got back, Padme was standing there with a worried look on her face. "What was wrong?" She timidly asked, fearing bad news.

"Get that look off your face, I'm fine! They only wanted to take off my knee brace, for good! I'm all better, Padme!" She squealed happily as he pulled her in mock dance moves around the apartment.They stood on the veranda for a moment, reflecting. "It's so hard to believe, how broken up my body was, I got it back, I got it all back" He held out his arms and looked up at the sky."You're healthy, too, and Obiwan. We are truly graced by the force. I feel very fortunate."

He knew that they still had emotional scars that would never totally heal, and problems that would not completely go away, but the fact that they were cured and relatively safe after their ordeals lightened his heart. More tasks did lie ahead, there was the issue of Padme's job, his place in the Jedi Order, dealing with the tragedies that had befallen them, and of course, the one at hand- gettng Luke back! While they were still watching the sky, Obiwan pulled up in a borrowed craft and told them to get in for Tatooine.

"Padme, perhaps you should stay here with Leia. You aren't completely strong yet, we can handle this." Obiwan said, giving Anakin a concerned look.

"No, I must go, I want my son."

Anakin sensed Obiwan's uneasiness. "Padme, he's right. There might be danger.."

"Danger? How? What's wrong with Luke?"

"Nothing, but it's a dangerous planet, and what if.."

"What if they don't give him back?" "Padme, we don't know what might happen. It's Tatooine. It's a dirty place. I'd feel better if you and Leia were here and safe. We'll be back soon."

She looked disappointed, but agreed. "All right. You two take care of yourselves and bring my baby back to me!"

As they flew out of Coruscant's sky and headed for Tatooine, Anakin spoke of his feelings to Obiwan. "You sensed something, didn't you? I could tell as soon as I saw your face."

"Yes, I didn't want to scare Padme, but I feel there is a thread awaiting us there." Anakin gazed out into space, then back at Obiwan. "I just knew it! I got my brace off this morning, you know, and I was feeling so good about life. I might have known something else was going to go wrong. What is it this time? I can sense it, but I can't pin it down."

"Nor can I, Anakin. We shall find out soon enough."

Landing on Tatooine near the Lars place, the sand blew in all directions as the ship set down. Disembarking and walking to the residence, they were met by Beru with tears in her eyes. "What has happened?" The Jedi anxiously asked, sensing something very bad.

"The boys are gone!"

"Gone? What boys?"

"Luke and Han."

"Who is Han?"

"He's a little orphan boy we have adopted. They have been taken away and Owen has gone out to look for them!"

Anakin closed his eyes and heaved a miserable breath. He was so glad Padme wasn't here. He was too distraught to speak. Obiwan continued to inquire of Beru. "Who took them? Do you know?"

"It was the sand people, the Tuskens." Anskin's eyes immediately snapped back open and locked in a stare at his mother's gravesite. She had been killed by Tuskens, and he had gone on a rampage and took out their whole village in revenge. Now he was back from the dark side, but didn't know how he was going to face it if his son were also killed by them.

Obiwan realized this and tried to calm Anakin. "I know what you're thinking, but we have to remain rational. We will find them if we have to take banthas to get around! We can sense Luke, that will help us. Keep your head, Anakin, this is very important."

"I know." He answered, his voice trying to remain steady through his anger and pain. He turned to Beru. "We're going to get them all three back. Stay inside in case any more come around." They exchanged anxious glances and caring looks before the two Jedi set off on foot.

They had hoped to be able to bargain with jawas for a borrowed speeder, but soon came across a broken down one they were able to reactivate using the force. It was a rattle trap and shook all the way but it would have to do. They flew all around the caves and dunes they knew the Tuskens populated, trying to sense Luke. "I can feel him, Obiwan, very strong!"

"So can I. He must be very near." They saw campfire smoke and knew they had to be near. They parked the speeder, nodded to each other, and headed in. They had both drawn their lightsabers but did not ignite them. As they appeared to the Tuskens inside, fear seemed to show in their faces. Some were survivors of Anakin's previous spree who had fled, others had heard of him through stories. The tall, blond human with the piercing blue eyes and the glowing blue stick who had wiped out so many of their kind in anger! He was a legend!

Now with Obiwan present, there were two of them. "I sense their fear." He told Anakin.

"Yes, I think they've heard of me." Having no intention of using it unless he was attacked first, Anakin ignited his lightsaber. As soon as the blue glow and hum penetrated the camp, the Tuskens grunted and fell back. Anakin waved it all around, staring menacingly at them. "You will let me pass or I will kill you all!" He didn't intend to, but the fear factor worked. Agressive negotiations, Padme would have said. Once they were all cleared out, Anakin followed his force sense of Luke to a tent and went inside. There was Luke, in the arms of an older boy, Han. In the corner was Owen, beaten and bound much as Shmi had been. It brought back terrible memories for Anakin. He tried to purge them from his mind so his emotions would not overcome him. He cut Owen down, and finding him able to still walk, quietly motioned him to follow. Anakin held Luke in his arms, covering him with his cloak. Obiwan carried Han piggyback, and Owen stumbled along. "All too easy." Anakin whispered to Obiwan.

"Your reputation preceded you, my friend. It was all we needed."

The shabby speeder barely made it back to the Lars place before breaking down again, smoking up the surrounding sand. Anakin lept out, still carrying Luke, Obiwan let Han walk on his own, and Owen stumbled behind. Beru, hearing the noise, came running. Her tears turned to a happy smile as she saw them approaching. She hugged and kissed Owen, as filthy as he was. Owen looked at Anakin and Obiwan and thanked them."My opinion of Jedi has just changed for the better."

They winked back at him. "You look out for those Tuskens next time."

"That I will." Obiwan put Han down, and he ran to Beru and Owen. They all hugged like the happy family they were.

Beru looked up at Anakin. "I guess you'll be taking your son back now?"

"Yes."

She appeared sad, but faked a brave smile. "I thought so. We have Han now, and you make sure you come back and see us. We're family, after all." Anakin hugged Beru warmly. "Always."

Han looked on sadly as he watched Luke leaving in Anakin's arms. "So you're his real Daddy, huh?"

"Yes, I am."

"Does that mean he's not really gonna be my brother?"

"Not brother, but cousin, kind of. How's that?"

"How about a friend?"

"You got it!" They shook hands.

"See you again? I'll see Luke again?" Han made him promise.

"I promise! I have a little girl, too, her name is Leia."

"Is she pretty?"

"Oh, she's real pretty." Anakin winked at Han. "You'll be seeing a lot of my kids over the years." There were more sad but happy hugs and farewells all around, and one last wave as the ship took to the air and headed back to Coruscant.

Anakin flew the speeder up onto the Veranda and stepped out, with a bundle in his arms. Padme heard it and came running, the anxious look on her face replaced by ecstasy as she saw her husband and son safely returned to her. "Thank you, Obiwan!" She said, looking at him with gratitude. Obiwan gazed and smiled at them both as he took the controls of the ship and returned to the temple. Padme pulled back Anakin's cloak to look at her son's face. He was a bit bigger now, but he also remembered her as Leia had and cooed and kicked wildly. "Did you have any trouble getting him back?"

Anakin didn't even feel like telling her about the kidnapping by the sand people right now, and having to see her get all worked up over it. "The story can wait. The main thing is, he's safe and sound and we are a family again!"

They took him into the bedroom and lay him beside Leia. The twins were so happy to be reunited! After Anakin had washed and changed, he climbed into the bed with his wife and children. It felt so good to be so safe and happy, and all together again. They all four stared up at the skylight, watching the lights go by.

"Look, Luke, isn't it beautiful?" Anakin pointed to the sky. "I told you, one day I'd take you flying in it. Didn't mean for it to be so soon, but there will me much more ahead for you and me, for all of us, together." Padme didn't speak, but tears of joy were in her eyes. She looked into Anakin's eyes, and he looked back at her in love. They all laid back down and stared up at the skylight, enjoying the sight so much they didn't even want to close their eyes to go to sleep.

It would be the last time they'd ever see it.