I am in a meadow in springtime, surrounded by tall grass and wild flowers. Above me in the cloudless sky, a single sun shines brilliantly, bathing me in warmth. I shield my eyes, squinting against the brightness to watch as someone approaches me. My heart beings to race as I see who it is, see the face of my beloved angel as she smiles at me. I stand to meet her, holding my arms out to her. In an instant she is in my embrace, her tiny body pressed to mine. The scent of her surrounds me, my entire body afire with my need of her. She is my very soul, for I know that without her I would be an empty shell. I bend to her, my hand moves to her face to draw a loose tendril of hair from her brow. She looks up at me, pure adoration radiating from her, filling her luminous brown eyes.

"I love you, Padmé," I tell her, holding her precious face reverently in my hands. "I have always loved you, from the moment we first met. My life would be meaningless without you."

She smiles, gently caressing my face with her tiny hands, her touch electrifying me. "I love you too, Ani," she replies, her voice silken and soft like her hair and her ivory skin. I draw her face to mine and kiss her, pouring my love, my passion and my desperate need for her into the kiss. She responds with equal ardor, our bodies so close that it seems we are but one being in our embrace. I feel Padmé's hands move to the fastens of my tunic, as I slip the straps of her gown off of her milky shoulders. Without breaking our kiss, we slowly sink to the grass, lost in the urgency of our need…

My beautiful vision ends abruptly by the prodding of a blaster barrel into my side. I am startled, a feeling I am most decidedly not fond of nor accustomed to, and I open my eyes.

"Rise and shine," the guard announces cheerily.

Damn you

"Why did you wake me?" I grumble, sitting up. "Just for kicks?"

The guard snorts. "Yeah, right," he replies gruffly. "You have a visitor."

It has been two weeks since my confinement in 'the hole', and in that time I have only been let out when Luke has come. I am only permitted to be out of the hole for thirty minutes at a time, only once a day, and never, ever, without the accompaniment of the detestable ysalarmi.

"Mustn't forget your roomie," says the guard, indicating the thing in the cage. "Can't have you working your magic tricks on anyone, can we Vader?"

I sigh, standing up to tower over the man. "No," I reply. "Of course we can't."

I do not need the Force to tell me that the man is momentarily intimidated by my imposing stature. He steps away from me as a second guard enters the cell and proceeds to bind my ankles and wrists. I submit without a word or a struggle; I know any recalcitrance would only result in physical abuse.

"Let's go, Vader," my custodian orders, shoving me out the door. I forget how low the ceiling is and slam into the door frame. I see stars for a moment, as the guards chuckle behind me. I throw them a dirty look, which only earns me another shove in the back.

I know the way well by now, having memorized it. Why, I'm not quite sure; it certainly isn't likely that I shall ever have occasion to escape, especially now that my Force abilities have been taken from me. I guess that my visitor is Luke, for since my visit from Sola, he has been the only one to come see me in this hell hole. Even my visits from Qui Gon have ceased now that I am unable to connect to the Force. But Luke, ever faithful Luke, comes each day without fail. And although I cannot feel his emotions at this time, I know how difficult this is for him. I know that the connection we share is just as important to him as it is to me.

As predicted, it is Luke who awaits me. He is standing in the doorway of the small visitors' room. I smile when I see him, enormously happy that he is here. He frowns when he sees me, looking at my forehead. I realize that I am bleeding, and wipe at the blood with the back of my manacled hands.

"Leave that …that thing out here," Luke tells the guard, looking with undisguised disgust at the ysalarmi in its cage. "It is immensely painful to me and my father."

The guard snorts. "That's the idea," he retorts. "This isn't a resort we're running here."

"Yes, I know all too well the sort of place you're running here," Luke replies evenly. "Nevertheless, I am not an inmate, and I demand that you keep that thing away from me."

I am proud of my son, and watch the guard's reaction with interest.

"Your father's life is in your hands then, Skywalker," he replies at last. "He so much as looks at one of us the wrong way and I'll blast his hide straight to Hell. Got it?"

Luke nods, his eyes never leaving those of the guard.

To my great relief, I am allowed to join my son in the small room without the dreadful creature that has enslaved me. As soon as I am out of its presence, I can feel the change within me. It is as though I have been endlessly submerged in water, and am finally up for a breath of air. I close my eyes and drink in the glorious feeling, reconnecting in the process with my son. As I do so, I realize that he is not alone, and I open my eyes to see my daughter, Leia, sitting at the small table.

"Leia," I say, pleased and surprised to see her. "I'm….I'm so happy to see you," I tell her awkwardly. I sense the conflicting emotions in her, chaotic in their struggle for supremacy. She says nothing, but merely looks at Luke, seeking guidance and support. I know it must have taken a great deal of convincing on his part to get her to come here, and I am grateful that he was willing to try.

I sit down across from her, with Luke at my side. I examine her face, marveling how much she looks like my beloved Padmé. How did I not see it before? Her eyes are the exact shade of brown, the same shape…even the way she carries herself is the image of her mother.

"I'm glad you came," I say again, desperate to connect with her. "There is so much I need to tell you, so much I want to say to you."

Leia's eyes turn to me at last, and in their dark depths I see so much; fear, confusion, mistrust…she is going through what Luke went through after our encounter on Bespin: the same conflicting emotions, the same reticence, the same desperate need for answers. But will she be as accepting of me as Luke has been?

"I have some things to say to you too," she replies.

I nod. "Of course you do," I say gently. "I can only imagine how you are feeling now that you know the truth."

I see a flash of anger in her eyes. "Can you?" she replies, her voice carefully controlled. "Can you imagine what it feels like to learn that your most hated enemy is in fact your father?"

I look down at the binders on my wrists, bracing myself for her barrage.

"I don't suppose I can," I say quietly. I look back up at her. "You have a lot to say, I can see that. Go ahead. Let it all out. I know you need to."

Leia looks at Luke as though looking for his approval. Luke says nothing, but I sense in him a sadness that worries me. Does he already know where his sister's heart lies?

"First of all, let me say thank you for saving Luke's life," she begins, to my surprise. "Luke means a great deal to me, and I can't imagine losing him. You have my gratitude for saving him the way you did."

"Luke means a great deal to me too," I reply, my eyes steadily on hers. "I love him, just as I love you, Leia. I would do anything to save either of you, even if it meant my own life."

Leia looks away from me, unsure what to make of my words. She is confused, and I sense that she is greatly conflicted.

"I'd like to believe that," she says at last, her eyes cast down. "I'd like nothing more than to accept you and forgive you the way I know Luke has. But I'm not so sure I can do that." she looks up at me again. "I look at you and I see so much of myself, so much of Luke; but at the back of my mind I know that you have spent the last 22 years as Darth Vader. You have caused so much pain and suffering to the people I love, and that is something I can never forgive. You stood by and allowed the destruction of my home, along with the people who raised me, the only parents I ever knew, and that is something I can never forgive. But it's not just about me. You have, without conscience, committed acts of unspeakable cruelty, immoral and heinous acts! Your deeds of violence are renown through out the galaxy, your name synonymous with evil." She stops, her face flushed with anger and agitation. I say nothing, and for a moment she merely looks into my eyes, hoping, perhaps, to see there what she needs to see. "I…I know you have changed," she admits. "I can see it in your eyes, feel it somehow…but the past cannot be changed."

"No, Leia," I put in as she takes a moment to collect her thoughts. "It cannot be changed. If it were possible, I swear to you that I would give my life a thousand times over to change it! I would give anything to be able to undo all the destruction that I have had a hand in, to heal all the pain that I have caused. But I cannot. All I can do is spend what is left of my life trying to make up for it. I feel as though I have been given a second chance at life, something that is rarely afforded to anyone. I believe that there is a reason I was given that chance, I truly do. I have had a lot of time to think these past few months, and that conclusion is inescapable. I have a purpose; I have an obligation to atone for my past. What I need from you, my daughter, is the chance to do that. Will you let me, Leia? Will you allow me the chance to prove to you that I have changed? Can you get past all the hurt I know is inside of you to let me try?"

Leia is silent, but I can see that my words have affected her. Her resolve to hate me is wavering; I am not what she expected. Yet deep within her still lurks so much anger, so much fear; it frightens me, for it reminds me so much of myself at her age. How do I communicate to her that her feelings are dangerous, without sounding like a hypocrite? I look to Luke for help.

"Please, Leia," he says, taking her hand in his. "The galaxy needs him. He has so much to offer, so much to give. And he loves us, Leia. Can't you feel that? Can't you see how much he has changed? How deeply he needs both of us?"

Leia turns her eyes from Luke back to me, the tears in them shining as she struggles to master her emotions.

"I know he's changed," she says softly, wiping at a tear as it runs down her cheek. "I …I want so badly to get to where you are, Luke, truly I do! But I'm not ready yet. It's been too soon! I am still reeling from the knowledge that Darth Vader is my father!"

"But he is no longer Darth Vader," puts in Luke. "He is Anakin Skywalker again!" I sense that this conversation is not a new one between my children. Leia seems as stubborn and intractable as ever, just like her father…

"Luke, your sister must find her own way," I tell him at last, putting a hand on his arm gently. "She must find it in her heart to accept me or not. Either way, I will honor her decision," I add, turning to look at her.

"Will you?" asks Leia, an eyebrow cocked. "Your single mindedness is rather legendary."

"Yes, much like yours," I counter with a smile.

Luke covers his mouth to conceal a chuckle, earning him a dirty look from his twin.

"You have my word," I tell her at last, fixing her with my gaze.

She looks into my eyes, searching within them for a moment, then finally nods, satisfied with my promise.

"We have news, Father," Luke says. "Hopefully, good news."

I turn my eyes to him, my eyebrows raised in curiosity. "What is that?" I ask him.

"You are being moved to Coruscant tomorrow," Leia tells me. "The leaders of the Alliance wish to see to your trial themselves."

I frown, a feeling of cold dread filling me.

"And how is this good news?" I ask, looking from Leia to Luke.

"Well, for one thing you won't be subjected to the physical abuse you've had here," replies Luke. "The Alliance is very strict about treatment of its prisoners."

I nod, grateful at least for that much. "While I welcome that news," I reply, "I do not doubt that the outcome will not change. I'm sure that the Alliance has already condemned me."

"What do you expect?" retorts Leia hotly. "Did you really expect them to forgive and forget all that you've done to destroy their cause?"

I look back at my daughter, seeing the anger and indignation in her eyes. "There is much anger in you, child," I tell her solemnly. "It scares me how much of myself I see in you."

This comment startles her at first, perhaps because she knows it to be true. Then she becomes angry. "I am nothing like you!" she cries. "How dare you imply otherwise?"

I continue to face her, feeling the terrible anguish within her. It scares her, for she knows that I am right.

"Leia," says Luke gently, reaching out to his sister. "Don't. He didn't mean to upset you..."

"Like hell he didn't!" she retorts angrily. "To even think that I am anything like him is…is..."

"Terrifying?" I offer, holding her eyes with mine. "Isn't that it, Leia? The thought that you carry my genes is terrifying to you, isn't it? The thought that maybe, just maybe, you have within you the same darkness that caused me to become the monster you loathe." I can see that I have hit a nerve. Her eyes are wide, and I see in them tremendous fear. "You also carry your mother's genes, Leia, don't forget. And I see far more of her in you than me," I conclude, giving her a sad smile.

The mention of her mother softens Leia, and the tears start again. "My mother?" she asks softly. "You...you think I'm like her?"

I nod, my own emotions flooding through me. "Yes, very much. You have the same spirit, the same passion for justice and democracy…and you are the very image of her," I finish, my voice faltering. I look away, the image of my beloved flashing through my mind. I close my eyes, fighting for control. My children are silent, both as moved as I am. I open my eyes and look at Leia again. "But there is also part of me in you, Leia; your quickness to anger, your refusal to bend, to forgive, and your fear of losing anyone you love; that was me at your age. That is what worries me, for it was that anger and fear that led me to the Dark Side. You have the same abilities as your brother, Leia, for I feel how strongly the Force is with you. If you cannot learn to control your anger, I fear that you will fall into Darkness."

She is shocked by my words and says nothing at first. I can see that in her mind she is trying to process what I have said. Perhaps I was too harsh…perhaps I have spoken too frankly.

"I don't want to hear any more," she says at last, her voice quiet. "You have gone too far, V…" she stops just short of addressing me by that hated name. Yet, she is not ready to call me Father. Not that I'm surprised by that…

"I'm sorry," I say to her. "I didn't mean to upset you. You must understand that I have only your best intentions at heart, Leia. I know you don't believe that right now, but I swear that it's true. If you look inside yourself, if you search your feelings, I think you will see that I am telling the truth."

Leia frowns, obviously not happy with my ability to read her so well. She turns to Luke, unable to face me any longer.

"And as for the trial," I say, addressing them both. "No, I expect no leniency. I deserve whatever punishment I am given."

Both my children look at me, neither quite knowing what to say.

The door opens, and I know that our time is up.

"Back to the hole, Vader," the guard announces.

"His name is Skywalker," Luke says vehemently. "Vader is dead. You would do well to remember that."

The guard seems unaffected, and merely shrugs. "Whatever," he mutters, taking my arm as I stand up.

"We'll be back for you tomorrow, Father," Luke tells me, walking beside me as I am escorted out the door.

I nod my understanding. "I'll see you then. May the Force be with you, my son," I tell him. I look back at Leia. "And with you as well, Leia."

She merely nods in response, and then I am pulled out the door.

I feel my son's hand upon my shoulder and turn to him. "This will all be over soon," he tells me. I see the love and hope in his eyes, and it fills me with guarded optimism.

"One way or another," I reply with a smile. "Thank you, Luke."

"For what?"

"For not giving up on me," I reply. "For believing in me. It's been so long since someone has."

Luke is moved by my words, and he merely smiles back at me, and watches helplessly as I am lead away once again.