A light rain has begun to fall as I head down to the hangar with Luke. Even from this distance I can feel my daughter's distress. I wonder if she too has sensed the certain calamity that awaits Coruscant; she is as strong with the Force as her brother, though has not been trained to use this gift yet. Has she seen the same visions that we have?

We find Leia in the hangar, attempting to busy herself by tidying up with a well worn broom that she'd found. She's so much like me, I reflect; I have always busied myself whenever I was upset about something.

"This place could use a good cleaning," she grumbles as she notices Luke and I. "I guess it doesn't get much use."

"No, I'm sure it doesn't," Luke agrees. "Leia, we need to talk to you about something."

She looks up sharply at her twin, her dark eyes full of trepidation as though she already knows what Luke is going to say. She probably does...

"What is it?" she asks simply, looking from him to me and then back to him again. "What's going on?"

"Father and I have reason to believe that there is some trouble at Coruscant," Luke tells her. "We have both had visions foretelling an invasion."

Leia frowns. "Visions? What do you mean?"

"Force visions, Leia," I tell her. "Surely you've had them yourself."

Leia nods slowly. "Yes, I have. When the Death Star blew up I knew that Luke was alive and that Vader was gone…what are you telling me? That Han…that he's…"

"No, Leia," I tell her, taking her by the shoulders. "No, we did not foresee that. But Coruscant is in danger, and if Han is late in arriving, then it is logical to assume that he's been delayed because of…"

"Because of an Imperial invasion," she finishes for me, her voice hushed. Her eyes dart up to mine. I see in them the fear she feels, but also the strength, and I am proud of her.

"At the very least, a blockage," Luke tells her. "That's what we have envisioned, Leia," Luke says gently. "And the sooner we can find out, the faster we can do something to help."

"But without Han, how will we get to the fleet?" Leia asks.

Luke looks to me for answers.

"Well, there is an older model Nubian in the other bay," I tell my children.

"That ship hasn't flown in over 20 years, Anakin."

The three of us turn to see Padmé standing before us.

"And that is a problem how?" I ask her with a smile. "You forget what magic I can work with these hands," I tell her.

Padmé smiles. "I haven't forgotten," she says, her face coloring slightly by the unintentional double entendre.

"You think you can get her flying again, Father?" asks Luke as the four of us head for the adjacent bay.

"Do you doubt me, my son?" I ask him with feigned indignation.

Luke chuckles. "No, it's not that…it's just that..." he stops as he beholds the Nubian. "Wow, what a beauty."

"She is that," I say, looking at the ship with admiration. "Of course I spent the better part of yesterday afternoon cleaning her up, taking apart the hyperdrive, balancing the fuel intake…"

"Does that mean she'll fly?" asks Leia, her impatience coming forth despite her efforts to keep it at bay.

"There's only one way to find out," I tell her. "Care to serve as co-pilot?" I ask her.

"Me?" asks Leia, surprised by my offer. "I… I've never flown such a ship, Father."

"Ah, but your father could fly this ship in his sleep," Padmé tells her. "Why don't we all take her out and see what magic your father has managed to work on this old girl."

I grin, loving Padmé's playfulness. It is so refreshing to see it after so long.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Luke jumps in. "Let's see what she's got!"

Boarding the ship triggers a wave of memories, of moments shared by my wife and me aboard this vessel. Our trip to Tatooine, in a vain effort to save my mother; then on to Geonosis, another rescue attempt that went terribly wrong. But there were many wonderful moment aboard this vessel as well; our return to Naboo after the start of the Clone War when I proposed to Padmé…many happy moments. I suppose the last time I saw this ship, before yesterday, was on Mustafar...no, I will not think of that…I must not think of that…

"Father? Are you alright?" my son asks, noticing the subtle change in my mood.

I look at him. "Yes, perfectly," I tell him, pushing away the awful memories of that day. "Let's see what we can do with this old girl."

We enter the cockpit, where I move to the pilot's chair. The controls seem almost archaic by today's technology, but they are familiar, like an old friend. I glance up to see Padmé standing behind the vacant co-pilot's seat, her eyes reflecting the emotions that flash through her.

"Join me?" I ask her. She looks down at me, shaken out of her reverie by my invitation.

"Alright," she says, tentatively sitting down on the co-pilot's seat.

I smile at her. "Almost like old times, isn't it?" I ask her softly.

"Almost," she replies, looking away from me. I can feel how torn she is, how frightened she is to look back on our past; so frightened that it is preventing her from seeing a future together. I am, however, determined to make her change her mind; all I need is time and patience.

"Would you look at those old style controls," Luke says as he sits behind his mother. "Classic!"

"Yes, they don't make them like this anymore," I tell him. "Where is Leia?"

"Trying to raise Han again," Luke tells me. "She's putting on a brave face, but I know how scared she is."

"Yes, so do I," I tell him, looking back at the hold. Finally Leia appears, her face set carefully to hide her true emotions.

"Any luck?" Luke asks her.

"No," she replies quietly. "I still can't raise him."

"We'll find him, Leia," I tell her. "I promise. All set?"

She gives me a quick nod as she sits down behind me.

"Okay let's hit it," I tell Padmé.

It is as though we are young once again, flying side by side as we did so many times. Her skill as a pilot has not diminished with lack of practice, and I am pleased that our children are able to see this side of their mother in action.

We soar above the forest canopy, the Nubian gliding along as gracefully as it had 20 years ago.

"Anakin, you are a miracle worker," Padmé says, giving me a smile. "This ship hasn't run in ages! How did you do it?"

"He has magic hands, Mother," Luke reminds her. "Didn't you know that?"

Padmé and I laugh. Leia, however, is too lost in her own thoughts to share in the joke, and remains silent.

"Let's see how she handles in space," I say, itching to test the hyperdrive.

"Are you sure that's such a good idea?" cautions Padmé. "After all, it hasn't seen the stars in…"

She stops as we break forth from the atmosphere. "It's so beautiful…" she says softly, looking out at the stars. I am astonished to see tears well up in her eyes, and then realize that it has been over 20 years since she has been in space, more than 20 years since she has experienced the thrill of the being surrounded by the stars.

"What's the read out on the hyperdrive?" I ask Luke. He stands up to check.

"Operating at full power," he tells me. "Are you really going to do this?" he asks me.

I look at Padmé. "Well?" I ask her. "Are you coming with us?"

She turns to look at me quickly. "You mean…now?"

"Yes, I mean now," I tell her. "The Alliance needs our help, Han needs our help. Are you coming?"

I don't put into words my heartfelt desire for her to come, my fear of leaving her behind, my desperate need to have her with me; no, I do not wish to pressure her, as difficult as it is for me not to speak what is in my heart. I must keep it to myself for now, and let her decide on her own.

"Anakin, please don't put me on the spot like this," she replies finally. "I…I need time to decide. I'm sorry. Please, take me back home."

"Are you sure, Mother?" Luke asks, leaning forward and putting a hand on her shoulder. "We don't want to leave you alone, not ever again."

Padmé puts her hand on Luke's and looks up at him. "I know you don't, Luke; I'm just not ready for this. You must understand; it has been more than 20 years since I left Hannas II. The thought of leaving it…it's just too unsettling."

"I'm sorry," I tell her. "I shouldn't have done that. I don't mean to pressure you, Padmé, honestly I don't. It's just that we don't have a lot of time; if our vision is correct, than Coruscant is in danger, and, I'm afraid to say, so is Han. You must understand the urgency of the situation."

"Yes, of course I do," she replies. "You must do what you need to do, as I must do what I need to do. Please try to understand, Anakin, and respect my feelings."

"I do, Padmé, believe me, I do," tell her. "I will take you home now, if that's what you truly want."

"Thank you, Anakin," she replies, relief filling her voice. "It is."

I nod, and, with a sigh, return the ship to the planet below us. Silently we descend to the lush Hannan forest, and return to the hangar bay, our all too short journey at an end.

"We will leave tomorrow morning, first thing," I tell my children as we disembark.

I watch as my family walk up to the house. Luke turns to me. "Are you coming?" he asks me.

"In a while," I tell him. "I have a few things I'd like to check on the ship first."

"Need a hand?" he asks.

"No, you go on and be with your mother," I tell him. "I'll manage."

He nods, and then returns to his sister and mother. I watch the three of them as they disappear around the corner of the path, the forest obscuring them from my sight.

Disappointed, I return to the hangar. I have nothing that I need to check; I merely needed to be alone. Padmé's rejection stings me, and I am angry with myself for pulling such an asinine stunt. Way to go, Skywalker, I admonish myself as I lean against the wall of the hangar. Another brilliant move… I stare at the chrome that gleams now after my tender loving care, lost in thought as I try desperately to find a way to convince my wife to trust me, and to accompany us on the trip the next day. But there are bigger issues to contend with; how am I going to help the Alliance defeat the Empire? I am but one man…and then an idea strikes me. The thought of it sends a chill down my spine, makes my heart rise to my throat…but if it works, it will all be worth it. Glancing back at the house through the open hangar door, I screw up my nerve and head for the ramp of the ship. Sorry children, you can't help me with this one…I lift the ship from the hangar and head for space, not thinking twice about what it is I must do.