Chapter 8 – Together

Author's Note: Enjoy the end of this story! Thank y'all so much for reading, favoriting, following, and/or reviewing! :D:D:D

~ Amina Gila


It's not until later that Luke consciously notices the brilliant presence he's been picking up on in the Force around him. Something about the way it's touching him almost feels like it's hugging him, though he doesn't know if that's because of the emotion behind it, or because of the ridiculous size of his father's presence.

Something shifts in the Force, and Anakin appears in front of them. Right. That reminds him... "You two... talked about things?"

"We did," Anakin replies, exchanging a glance with Leia. She seems strangely more content than she has in a while. "Leia said she had questions," he continues, "I imagine you do too,"

"Yes," Luke agrees. Actually, he doesn't even know where to start. "I went to your castle on Mustafar."

"I know," Anakin replies.

"You were watching me the whole time?"

"Most of it."

"I saw... Ben's robes there, I think," Luke begins, slowly, "Why would you...?"

"I may have told myself it was for many reasons, but in reality, I... missed him," Anakin replies.

"How?" Luke demands, "How could you after what he did?!"

"What are you talking about?" Leia demands.

"Father was in that suit because of him!"

Leia looks between them, more than a little mind blown.

"And I helped destroy all he cared for," Anakin interjects.

"I'll assume this has some connection with why you were chasing Ben everywhere thirteen years ago," Leia interrupts, "But maybe we should start at the beginning?"

"Yes," Luke agrees, "I want to know how you ended up with Palpatine – if you don't mind talking about it. He said you... didn't have anyone else?"

If Anakin doesn't want to talk about it, he gives no such indication, moving closer and taking a seat between them on the bed. "I do not know how much you know of the Jedi, but they are not allowed to marry," Anakin begins, after a pause.

"Sidious told me as much," Luke acknowledges, frowning.

"I married your mother, Padme, right before the Clone Wars started. It was a relationship I had to keep secret from everyone. Before the Empire's formation, I was gone on the front lines for months. I returned only days before the war's end, to find out Padme was pregnant."

Luke reaches over, taking his father's hand. There's no way this can be easy for him to talk about, ghost or not. Leia is listening with rapt attention, and he notices how close she's sitting to Anakin, as though it doesn't really bother her. "I was planning to leave the Jedi so I could be with her, but I was waiting for the war to be over, and in truth, I... was reluctant to leave Obi-Wan."

"Why?" Luke blurts, again.

"We were... close," Anakin replies, "He raised me, and I... saw him as my father."

Luke stills. Oh. Oh. That explains – so much of how Anakin feels, if the way Luke's been these past months is anything to go by, but it only makes him even more angry. Despite that, Obi-Wan literally – He doesn't even want to think about that moment again.

"But after Padme was pregnant, I knew I would have to leave. The war was about to end anyway, but then I started having visions of her dying in childbirth."

Luke's blood runs cold. Suddenly he has a very bad feeling about where this is going. "He – he told you there was a way to reverse death, didn't he?" he breathes.

"To stop it," Anakin corrects, "A legend of Plagueis who I later found out was his master. Similar to what he told you." It makes Luke sick, seeing how his father Fell for the exact same thing he did. Force, he fell to save their mother, Leia, and Luke himself.

"I know I don't know anything about the Force," Leia speaks up, "But why would you think you could... interfere with death like that?"

"I trusted Palpatine," Anakin answers simply, "I met with him frequently since I was young, and –"

"Hold on," Leia cuts in, "Why would the Chancellor meet with a Padawan?"

"He asked to spend time with me from when I was twelve and the Council agreed."

"And no one saw anything wrong with that?!" she demands, voice rising.

"They trusted him, and it was a convenient relationship for them to... use," Anakin replies.

Luke's anger flares instantly. For them to use. They let a twelve-year old around an old politician because it was convenient for them?! It's not as if Palpatine had any obvious reason for having an interest in him either. Shouldn't that have at least raised a red flag?!

"What happened after that?" Luke prompts, finally.

"Sidious told me the Jedi were committing treason, and legally, they were. I saw one of them trying to kill him and I... reacted without thinking. After that I knew I couldn't go back to the Order, so I joined Sidious. I didn't know he would send me to the Jedi Temple with the clones to kill everyone, but once he told me, I didn't know how to back out." His face is oddly distant as he relates it.

Luke can only listen with growing horror. It's so much like what happened to him, and... It's also horrifying hearing what his father did, but Luke knows on a personal level how much of a choice he really had in it. (Actually, his father really had less of a choice than he did.) "I told myself I had to do it, for the Republic, and... for you and your mother. After that, Sidious sent me to Mustafar to deal with the Separatist leaders and that's when Obi-Wan found me. We... fought, and he left me for dead." His voice is too toneless, an obvious sign it's a lot harder to talk about than he's letting on, and Luke tightens his grip on his father's hand, a gesture he returns.

"If he hadn't done it how he did it, maybe I could understand it," Luke says, bitterly.

"What?" Leia asks, warily.

"He cut off his limbs and left him burning on a lava bank." He feels sick again, just thinking about it. And furious.

Leia's muted horror echoes into the Force, but she seems too overwhelmed to reply.

"Sidious found me, and he told me Padme died. I thought you were gone too. I stayed with him because I thought I had nothing else," Anakin continues.

"You didn't," Luke interjects, bitterly. Really, what else could he have done?

"So that's why you were trying to find Ben ten years later? To kill him?" Leia asks faintly.

"I wanted to hurt him." Anakin is staring blankly at the wall of the ship across from them now. "And I did. Then I realized I didn't want that. I – missed him and wanted him back, so I planned to turn him."

"Like you did me," Luke murmurs, and his father nods. (And like Luke had offered to Leia.)

"But Obi-Wan won when we fought again. And... we talked. He walked away again, and I was... too badly injured to follow. After that, I thought – that he never cared for me, and Sidious told me to stop looking for him, so I did."

Luke can only stare, numb with horror. Why did he think Mustafar would be the last of it? Ben hurt his father again, abandoned him again, even after what he did the first time?! (Ben's lucky he's already dead.)

"I can see why you... what you did to him on the Death Star," Leia says, quietly, voice strained.

"I really don't see how you could miss him, even after that," Luke adds. That, he will never understand.

"I told you, he's my father." Anakin's voice is still strangely flat. "We both made mistakes, and we were everything to each other. Neither of us saw it until it was too late."

"I – maybe we shouldn't have asked all that," Leia murmurs.

"It is fine. You deserved answers," Anakin responds quietly.

"I'm glad you told us, but..." Luke trails off. Even he can hardly think about everything he just went through, and what happened to his father was so much worse.

Luke moves closer, wrapping his arms tightly around his father. Anakin returns it immediately, slipping an arm around his shoulders. Leia scoots a little closer almost uncertainly, reaching towards him. Anakin reaches back, taking her hand.

"This is strange," Leia says flatly.

"You get used to it," Luke offers. Ghosts really feel different than people, even if it's still physical.

"I thought you were dead for years," Anakin says quietly, "I wanted to find you as soon as I realized you weren't, but I... apologize for how I went about it."

Luke's hand tingles with phantom pain for a moment. "We were fighting," he offers, unhelpfully.

"That does not excuse that I hurt you for no reason."

"Technically I hurt you first."

"I am not saying that was okay, because it's not," Leia interjects, "But I suppose you didn't have the best mentors... to teach you otherwise." She leans closer suddenly, wrapping her arms around Anakin, too.

He seems more caught off-guard by it than Luke is, but he shifts his position immediately, wrapping his other arm around her shoulders, holding them both tightly, protectively.

It's the first time they're together with their father as a family ever, and Luke never wants to be anywhere else. He'll have to figure out where he's going to go soon enough, but for now, he's content to just stay here. Once on Tatooine, all he wanted was a father, and now he has that and a twin sister, and he loves them both more than words could ever say.

**w**

"I need to leave," Luke says, standing in the cockpit of the Falcon. He doesn't want to do this, but there's little choice. He can't go back to the Alliance. Not anymore.

"I know," Leia replies, though she does not look happy.

"You sure about this, kid?" Han objects, "We don't want you getting entangled with another Sith."

"What if another one finds you?" Chewie agrees unhappily.

It almost hurts to be talking to all of them like this as though nothing has changed at all, when everything is totally different, and never will be the same again. "I think Sidious was the last one. And if not, I won't fall for the same mistake twice," he replies firmly. Of that, he's certain. He still wishes Anakin was alive, but he knows he'll have to accept it. Remembering Vader's last words now, he truthfully doesn't think his father wants to be alive. And he saw how much it hurt him to say no. He won't do that to him again. (He still wants him with him physically, but this... He needs to accept it.)

"What if another one hurts you?" Chewie growls unhappily.

He gives him a half smile. "I don't think there's any as dangerous as Sidious, and we know he's gone this time. Don't worry about me."

"I don't like being without you, Luke," Leia replies unhappily, and his heart clenches at the words. He doesn't like it either, but he can't go back to pretending nothing changed. It would be wrong anyway. "And I don't want you to be alone."

"I don't like it either, but you know I can't come back."

"I can't believe you're just leaving," Han says.

"I'll still be around," Luke assures, "You can always contact me if we need help, and I'll be doing my own things to help the galaxy." Though he hasn't quite figured out what that will be yet. "It's not as if I'll be away any more than I usually am on missions."

"Maybe not," Leia agrees reluctantly.

"Where are you gonna be staying?" Han asks.

Luke debates answering that for a moment. "Mustafar. Don't tell anyone else, but that's where I'll be."

"Vader's world?" Leia asks, raising an eyebrow.

"Seems appropriate, doesn't it?" he asks dryly, though there's little humor in it.

"Isn't that the place that kind of started all of this?" Leia argues, "Why would you want to go back there? What if it's dangerous?"

"I don't think so. There weren't any traces of Sidious that I could see, and it's pretty much abandoned. If there's anywhere I can learn more about the Dark Side, it will be there."

"The Dark Side?" Chewie objects, "I thought that was dangerous."

"Yeah, I thought that's the "magic" these Sith use," Han agrees.

"It's not inherently wrong – it's how it's used, you know," Luke argues, "And I can't go back to being a Jedi. Not anymore."

"Why not?" Leia asks, frowning, "Vader did."

"I know, but I can't. I don't believe in the Jedi way anymore. I saw what happened on Mustafar, Leia. What Ben did to him. If the Jedi can do that to their own family, I want no part of it."

Leia doesn't look the happiest, but he thinks she can relate. "I understand. I don't know much of how this... works."

"If you want to learn, I'll be happy to teach you," Luke promises. Although he doesn't know that he wants to teach her in the Dark Side, but at least he could give her basic Force training.

"I... need time to think about it."

"That's fine. We have plenty," he replies. "It's not as if this is a goodbye."

"No," Leia agrees, giving him a half-smile, "I suppose it isn't."

**w**

Anakin has little desire to return to his castle on Mustafar, for all the memories that it holds. Memories of his time as Sidious' slave – and of everything that he did then. But if Luke is going to be here, then he'll do it anyway, for his son. "I will never understand your choices of residence," Obi-Wan says dryly.

"It was where Vader was truly born. I thought it appropriate at the time," Anakin defends.

"I still don't see how you could have wanted to stay here."

"I didn't. That's why I did."

"Very logical."

"When you are a Sith, yes," Anakin replies, "You don't need to... appear here, if you do not want to."

"I don't believe Luke wants to see me," he points out, some of his amusement fading.

Anakin winces. Luke – saw that, and he can't blame him for his reaction. "For now, no. I'll talk to him."

Obi-Wan doesn't seem in much of a hurry to leave, though. "I didn't know you... kept those here," he comments, as they phase into the room where he kept all those things from his past – Sidious would have been most unimpressed if he knew.

"There was no reason to mention it. We're together, Master. That's all that matters."

"True," his former master agrees, "I assume Sidious never knew about it."

"No. If he had, I would have had to tell him..."

"What?"

"That it was to 'remind me of my hatred'," he replies, "I doubt he would have believed it."

"Likely not, from what you've said about him," Obi-Wan agrees. It's... good to be here with him again, so much so that sometimes it hardly feels as real as it is – but they'll be here together forever now, and in time – hopefully many, many years in the future, he knows his children will join him. Ahsoka will too. He never thought he'd get this connection with even Luke, not to mention Leia, and he can't forget that moment when she'd hugged him. He doesn't deserve that from her, but he... never thought he could be this at peace.

"Are you alright?" Obi-Wan asks him suddenly.

"Yes. Why?"

"You'll be on Mustafar a lot now, and I know that it's not easy."

"It's the past now," Anakin assures him. It's not quite that simple, but he's working on it. "And Luke needs me."

Obi-Wan sobers. "Yes. And with him Fallen, I do not know who will rebuild the Jedi."

Anakin frowns. "There are still some others out there. I doubt Ahsoka would want to do it, but perhaps someone could... train Leia."

"Perhaps," Obi-Wan muses, "But you shouldn't keep Luke waiting."

Anakin shoots him a grateful look – more like a projection of gratefulness because they don't have much of a physical form here. He can feel Obi-Wan touch him back through the Force, a mixture of the approval and love he always wanted so much to see throughout his life – but at least he has it now.

And he'll give the same unquestioning love to both his children. (This time, while they are still alive.)

**w**

Coming back to Mustafar is... painful, but it's the place where his father lived, and Luke really wants to know more about him. (He can't say he doesn't deserve the pain anyway.) He has wandered into Vader's office again, standing near the window which overlooks the lava rivers. After what happened here, why would Anakin ever have wanted to stay in a place like this? It would have fueled the Dark Side, though, so he supposes he can understand it.

He's snapped out of his musing as his father's now brilliantly bright presence suddenly appears behind him, a stark contrast to the much darker but similar presence that still clings to the walls.

"I couldn't go back to the Alliance, so I thought... It's a pretty safe place here, I think," he says, gesturing around.

"Safe, yes," Anakin agrees, "It is also a Dark Side planet."

He isn't sure if his father is happy with the decision but well... he can understand why he'd want to be as far away from his Vader past as possible. "I am a Dark Sider now."

"I know what you told Leia," Anakin replies, "But Obi-Wan's actions do not mean the Jedi are all wrong."

"Maybe not," Luke agrees, "But I don't know how to come back, and I... don't know if I want to. I don't want to be a Jedi anymore. Unless you can teach me?"

"I cannot interfere to that extent," he replies, which is what Luke expected. "I can always watch over you, but I cannot... do that."

"Were you there on Exegol too?" he wonders. He'd felt so alone and scared then all the time – something formerly totally foreign to him – but he knew what he had to do, and there was no other way. That doesn't mean it was easy.

"No, I could not risk appearing there." He sounds regretful. "I know I should have been there for what Sidious was doing to you – "

"Hey, then we wouldn't have been able to defeat him at all!" Luke cuts him off, "You did what you could. It's not as if there was anything to see."

Anakin grimaces. "I saw how he was talking to you. And it was... similar for me. I know how he must have treated you."

"I'll be fine," Luke assures him. The lightning scars will fade in time. There's a lot of other things far worse, like what he did, the effects of which won't go away quite so easily. (Nor will the nightmares of Sidious that still are haunting him.).

"I know the effects are not that easy to shake off."

"What did he do to you?" Luke demands, "I mean, you were already in that suit. Did he still –"

"Yes. It was... frequent. Enough to... keep me in my place."

It's awful and disturbing at once how well they can understand each other now, and all Luke can think to do is cross the room, wrapping his arms around his father. Anakin pulls him close immediately.

"You were with him for over twenty years," Luke whispers, into his shoulder, "How did you do it? I didn't even know how I would after a few months, but it felt like I couldn't leave."

"I felt the same," Anakin murmurs, "And I... was still loyal too and cared for him, even if I also hated and feared him."

"Right," Luke mutters, "I forgot you used to know him so well. He always talked about you like..." He pulls back, looking up.

"Like what?" Anakin asks, in a tone implying he's not sure he wants to know.

"He was acting like he missed you or something. Like – you were his favorite weapon that he regretted having to destroy." He doesn't bother keeping the disgust and loathing out of his voice.

"That is how he often acted," Anakin admits. Luke swallows past how sick he feels, reaching out to take his father's hand.

"I wish you could have gotten away from him sooner," he whispers, "I wish I took your offer on Bespin."

"No, Luke, it's a good thing you didn't," Anakin responds firmly, holding his gaze. "I don't know what would have happened, but – it would likely not have ended in anything but disaster, or the Force would have allowed it."

Luke frowns. "Why do you say that? Couldn't we have destroyed Sidious then?"

"I had a vision later," Anakin explains, "I do not think it would have ended well. Sidious would have told you to kill me, and you... You did not know me then."

Horror and denial flare through him instantly. "No, I wouldn't have."

"Either way, I do not want you to be a Sith."

Luke's gaze falls to the floor, shame filling him. "I can't go back to being a Jedi. Not anymore."

He looks up again when Anakin's other hand touches his shoulder. "You do not have to, if the Force is guiding you elsewhere, but you know the Dark Side is dangerous. Much of what is keeping you there is... guilt."

"Then how would I ever turn back?" he asks, frustratedly, "I can't let go of that. Wouldn't that be just as wrong?"

"Much of what kept me in the Dark, Luke, was my own self-hatred. I could not forgive myself for any of what I had done, and even now, I – Sidious manipulated you into much of what you did and you were doing what you thought was the only way. It was not... entirely your fault. Your choices may have led to it, and that doesn't mean you shouldn't regret your actions, but hating yourself for it will help nothing. It will only become a cycle that makes it worse."

Is that supposed to mean... 'forgive yourself but still feel bad about what you did' or what? Maybe his mind is just not processing it right now. All of this at once is too much to think about. "I'll think about it," he says, glumly. He doesn't want to be a Jedi, but maybe hanging onto the Dark Side isn't the answer either.

"You can't undo what you did, little one," Anakin says, "But it's never too late to make better choices." He steps away, pulling the chair of his desk out with the Force and sitting down. "Here."

"Aren't I far too old for that?" He's literally an adult.

"Why would you be? You're still my son and you will always be young to me."

If anyone else were here, he'd be far too embarrassed to do it, but he goes over anywhere, settling in Anakin's lap. It's a ridiculously comfortable position to be in, given his age, but it's not as if anyone else needs to know. He wishes his father could have held him like this when he was growing up.

Luke settles into the embrace, resting his head against his father's shoulder. For a moment, he lets himself just relax in it – in the feel of it, feeling his father's love and affection – wrapped around him like this. He almost wishes Leia was here so they could all be together, although that would be odd, unless she joined. He highly doubts she would go that far.

"I love you, Father," he whispers, into his ghost robes, a silent echo of the last thing he'd said to him before he died.

"I love you too."

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