Padme turned in confusion as a faint scream echoed through the hall. There was no one there.

"Strange…"

"Mom?"

She turned and then sighed when she saw Luke, scratching at the bandage on his head.

"Luke, the doctors said to take it easy."

"I'm okay, Mom. Really." Luke assured as she walked over, biting her lip. "Shouldn't you be back at the Senate?"

"You were nearly kidnapped, and yet you somehow think I'd head back skipping."

"Well no, but the vote-"

"Luke." Padme interrupted gently. "You are more important than a vote to me." She insisted, pulling him to her. He blinked before giving a tiny, sheepish, and shy smile. She drew him into a hug.

"But you're sure you don't want to go back?"

Padme smiled and then drew him to her and began to tickle him. He began to laugh, wiggling to get free. Padme smiled, drawing him into a hug, kissing his cheek.

"I'm sure. I'd rather be here and make sure you're safe." She stated. "I'm just so happy you managed to escape."

Luke blinked and opened his mouth for a moment before closing it and smiling. No, it wouldn't be a good idea to tell her a voice in his head helped him escape. It'd probably frighten her even more.

"Come on, let's go find something to eat, alright?" Padme suggested and Luke nodded. The pair walked down the hall, Luke glancing behind as though he heard a voice call out before being silenced.

It smelled…sweet she realized, when she awoke again, a soft breeze brushing against her forehead. Then the events of the day before crashed into her and her eyes widened as she struggled to get out of her blankets, gloriously falling flat on her face and becoming personal with the ground below.

"You fall down!"

She looked up in surprise to see a tiny girl staring at her face. She was perched in a hammock type of bed and judging by the similar hammock above her, figured she had been in that one prior. She grunted in pain as she sat up, looking down and to her surprise, seeing she was wearing an oversized shirt over her shorts, her cuts bandaged and her ankle splinted and heavily wrapped. The little girl giggled from her roost resting her head on her arms on the taut fabric. Leia glanced over when she heard overjoyed beeping and smiled as she spotted R2.

"Boy am I glad to see you." She said as the droid rushed over to her, making several beeps and chirps. The girl continued to laugh.

"You funny!" The girl above chirped.

"Am I?" Leia grumbled, rubbing the knot on her forehead. "Never heard that one before." She replied dryly before looking at the girl as R2 made a chirping sound similar to laughter. "I don't suppose you're going to tell me your name, are you?"

The little girl's umber eyes lit up and she gave a smile.

"Naomi, you better not be annoying the patients." A voice; one with a cockney that was surprisingly familiar to Leia, called out, and the girl—Naomi—squeaked, hiding her head back into the hammock, telling her name forgotten. Leia glanced over towards the entrance of the room when she heard footsteps before a larger figure entered. Leia's eyes widened at the sight.

A clone.

He looked different than what Rex, Wolffe, and Gregor. While he had aged as quickly as the others, the right side of his face was heavily scarred, his right eye blind, a scar stretching across his face, and the remaining grayed hair hung in a ponytail. But there was no denying it; despite the few differences he was no doubt a clone.

"You…you're a c-"

"Papa!" Naomi squeaked.

"Naomi, you shouldn't bother the two." The clone said, setting down a bag before going to a basin as the little girl scampered over to him, clinging to one of his legs.

"But the girl's awake! She fell on her face!"

"Did she now?" The clone stated glancing at Leia. "Then is she well enough to tell us what she and her companion were doing in a wreckage at the end of my property?"

"I…well…it's a long story." Leia murmured, earning a grunt in response.

"I have half a mind to contact the nearby village to have you and your companion transported-"

"No, please!" Leia begged. Not that, if they discovered who he was, then-

The man looked at her, rather curiously at her adamant refute.

"You are a strange girl."

"And you're a clone." Leia spat, temper flaring. She immediately regretted the remark as the man's entire form stiffened.

"How do you know that?" He asked softly, power exuding from the tone. She swallowed.

"I've met others like you." She replied simply, jumping slightly as he set an old blade down hard against the table. The design was older, not used as often now. "So I can tell who is a clone."

"Oh I doubt that." He responded. "Judging by how old you look, you were either just born or not even born when the Clone Wars ended."

She kept silent.

"Still doesn't give me any reason to send you to the town. Actually your attitude gives me less of a reason for you to stay."

Leia scrambled for a reason to stay here.

"I'll work!" She finally exclaimed and he paused looking at her. She swallowed roughly. "I'll work for him and me to stay here. But please let us stay here." She begged. He was silent, staring at her as though assessing her.

"Jericho."

"I…what?"

"That is what I am called. Jericho." He remarked, picking up the sword again. "And you will start working in the morning. Naomi." He ordered and the little girl looked up. "Find some outfit for this…"

"Leia."

"Leia to wear for tomorrow." He finished and Naomi nodded, giving a bright smile. He glanced at Leia again before turning and exiting the room.

Leia watched as he exited, before glancing at where her father was lying. She swallowed roughly.

What had she gotten herself into?

"And I'm telling you, you pull that wire, you may shut down the entire ship!"

Kanan rolled his eyes at the indignant complaint that only Hera seemed to understand from Chopper.

"At the rate they're going we're going to need to stop somewhere to fuel before the ship is fixed." He heard and turned around to see a Lasat come out of one of the rooms. He snorted.

"Zeb, you know it's their way of saying they care for each other." Kanan replied.

"Yeah well their touching display is giving me a headache."

"Could be worse." Kanan remarked.

"Right…could be how you and Hera show how much you care for each other." Zeb responded, smirking at how Kanan stumbled and then looked over, glaring at him. "What?"

"That is-! Hera and I are not-"

Whether it was a mercy or just coincidence, the intercom beeped of an incoming transmission. When Kanan glanced at the code he rolled his eyes.

Leia.

"Hey Zeb, I need to take this alone. You mind?"

"No, not at all…" Zeb grumbled rubbing the back of his head. "I'll go see what that rust-bucket and Hera are doing, not like I have anything else I need to do."

"Knew you'd find something." Kanan called out as the door closed. He sighed as he pressed a few buttons. "Leia, I thought your father and I told you to not contact us unless it was an-"

"Emergency?"

Kanan looked up and his demeanor changed. Rex was in front of the hologram instead of the familiar 8 year old.

"What do you want?"

"We've…had a situation."

"Oh really?" Kanan remarked dryly, looking at the retired clone trooper and now agent of the rebellion. Even if Rex was on their side, deep down he was in no way ready to trust a clone.

"The base was attacked."

"Is Leia alright?"

"…We don't know."

Those three words sent chills down Kanan's spine.

"How do you not KNOW?!" He spat out, ignoring what seemed to be a flinch from the aging clone. It was probably just a glitch in the aged intercom. "You and your people are supposed to make sure that everyone, her especially, is on a ship when leaving a base!"

"She was lost in the chaos, Jarrus."

"That doesn't matter!"

"Anakin returned for her and managed to get her before the base fell to the Imps."

"So how do you not know where she is?" Kanan asked as Hera entered.

"Anakin's ship was hit and he was forced out of hyperspace. We only received a short distress call before he vanished."

Hera and Kanan glanced at one another, Hera frowning in concern at how pale Kanan's face was.

"Our last coordinates for their whereabouts was in Garel. Anakin stated that his ship had been hit and they were crashing. We're organizing a group to rescue them, but you're squad is closer."

"You want us to see if we can find them." Hera interjected and Rex nodded.

"The sooner we find our Leader and Leia, the better."

Kanan nodded and disconnected the call.

"We need to go. Now." Kanan stated and Hera nodded, beginning to set up for a hyperspace travel.

It must have been a dream, Leia thought as she awoke for a brief moment and stared into the darkness of the room, startled by the soft sound of musical chords. It must have been a dream, she reasoned as she watched Jericho sitting at the table, looking at a familiar crystal that she could have sworn she had seen her father show her. But this one glowed yellow, faint and familiar. And the older man's face seemed to have a light as well; this one of sorrow and loss as he listened to the soft tune coming from a darkened box sitting in front of him.

But that was just a dream, wasn't it?

She closed her eyes as Jericho glanced in her direction and she feigned sleep. She opened her eyes partially again as the chair slid on the ground and the music abruptly ended with a soft click.

She should ask him, she supposed. But later, her mind begged as sleep took hold of her again.

Leia groaned as she awoke, blinking blearily at the little girl that stood next to her hammock with a smile on her face. Glancing towards the window, she saw that there was barely any light.

"It's so early."

"Yup! We need to move the Seobs to the fields!" Naomi stated. "You pwomised Daddy you'd help."

With a groan she slowly crawled out of the hammock, glancing at her father.

"I hope you know what I put myself for you." She grumbled. R2 looked at her with a tired beep, beginning to move.

"No, stay here. I'll help out." Leia ordered with a yawn and the droid seemed to happily agree, settling back down. She stood and stretched.

"Okay…so…do you want me to wear those clothes?" Leia asked as she spotted a folded set of clothing. Naomi nodded.

"Is a bit big, but der my Mommy's!" Naomi explained and Leia nodded, though a bit perplexed about the whereabouts of Naomi's mother, and proceeded to grab the clothing and head to the washroom. She didn't glance at the mirror, unwilling to see the bruises on her face. She pulled the under dress on and then threw the over dress on, noting the split in the middle that broke the dress in half until it reached her navel. It had a pretty design on it, and seemed to not match Naomi's designs. She shook her head as she pulled the sash around and exited the room.

"Yer preedy!" Naomi chirped and Leia blushed with a smile, tugging the sash a little bit.

"Thank you." She muttered, before glancing behind her as Jericho entered. He paused briefly, staring at her in that attire, before looking away.

"Leia, you will be in charge of planting the Iscus."

"But I've never…" She stammered out, but was ignored.

"I'll monitor." He stated gruffly. "Naomi, you will be in charge of separating the Seob kits so I can milk the mothers."

"Yes Papa!"

"You girl dig up the soil is a start. Can you manage that?"

Leia glanced at the field and the tools that were leaning against the wood post before pushing her sleeves up and tightening the strings and walking over. She swallowed and began to get to work.

In no time, her back was beginning to ache as she slowly and methodically began to make lines. Once she felt they were deep enough she went to the seedling Iscus's and pulled them out heading over and began to dig holes and place them into it. She was halfway down the first row when she heard footsteps.

"What are you doing?"

"Um…planting?" Leia asked as she finished another hole, only to look up and see Jericho pulling the seedlings out and setting them aside.

"If I wanted to have my garden go to waste, I would have told you so." He stated and she blinked in surprise as he straightened and looked at her.

"Soil's not ready for planting yet. You're going to have to dig up the good soil better than that."

Leia stood frozen before startling herself out of her stupor and hurrying forward.

"Okay!" She exclaimed, and began to do as he said, now feeling his eyes bearing down on her like a sergeant would do for a recruit.

"What about…fertilizer?"

"See those dead leaves from the woods?"

"Um…yes." She stated looking at the bags.

"That's plenty."

"Right…" She muttered continuing her assault on the earth, panting. Her hands burned, but she didn't care. She was more annoyed now at the glare she could feel burning her back and was determined to prove to him she could do this. Hours ticked by as she continued to get the ground ready.

"Furrows are next."

"Ri…right…" She panted and did as she was told. A little while later, he returned.

"Stop crowding them all together."

"But…but wouldn't that mean more plants?"

"Not if the roots get tangled." Jericho replied and she flushed, but not from the heat and began to do as he said.

"Too small, make them bigger."

"S-sure!" She snapped, and began to do as he said. She ignored as Naomi came over and offered her a small meal, just pausing briefly for a sip of water. The sun was nearly down as she felt a hand rest on her shoulder and she looked up.

"You've done a fine job for a first timer, and with few instructions." He muttered and she looked up, blinking at the semi-straight lines. She blinked several times more and looked up at him.

"You…you mean it?" She asked and he let out a soft snort.

"For a first timer." He repeated, pushing her lightly. "Go inside and wash up with Naomi, I'll finish here and make dinner."

"You…you sure?" She panted, though exhaustion was already creeping up on her.

"Yes."

She nodded and then walked out of the small farming, glancing back briefly to see Jericho standing in the field, looking at her work. She shook her head and then walked towards the small home, the ache in her ankle returning. Naomi looked up from where she was sitting, chatting with R2 apparently and hurried over.

"You're dirty!" Naomi exclaimed.

"I suppose I am." Leia muttered in exhaustion, before chuckling. "I don't think I can sit in dinner all dirty." She reasoned and Naomi giggled, hurrying inside to grab some more clothes before tugging Leia's arm.

"Lets go!"

"R2, stay here." Leia muttered in exhaustion before following Naomi to a small back area, covered by walls made of reeds from Wolf Hogweed.

"Your father didn't mention I would be working this hard." Leia complained as she peeled off her current clothing, her nose wrinkling at how badly it stunk.

"He didn' want you slacking." Naomi offered as she did the same.

"Still…I mean he was nice in the end."

"Cause you did whats you were told! Papa always says that Mommy wan's us to work hard. So she can keep smiling."

"And where is she?"

"In the sky."

Leia paused, before looking at Naomi, who seemed so blissfully unaware of the impact of what she had said.

"Your mother's…dead?" She managed and Naomi nodded.

"Papa doesn' talk about it, bu says she loves us very much." Naomi stated, pausing to scrub her face with some water. Leia was quiet as she stewed this over washing the sweat, dirt, and grit out of her hair and off her skin. After she was reasonably clean, she dried off and pulled on her new clothes, and followed what Naomi was doing and placed her dirtied clothes. Leia glanced at Naomi and sighed.

"Want to know a secret?"

"Wha?"

"My Mommy isn't with me either."

"Weally?"

"Mhm…I don't know where she is, but I hope she's happy…wherever she is." Leia explained and Naomi giggled as they turned the corner. Leia looked up to see Jericho entering, his expression almost softer. Leia entered with Naomi, but beelined it momentarily towards the hammocks nearby.

"Dad?" She called out, but earned no response only a slight shift in Anakin's hammock. She went over to it and saw that his wounds seemed better, and his expression less pained. R2 chirped and Leia sighed in relief.

Nothing had happened while she was gone.

"Dad, when you wake up, I have some things to talk about with you." She said with a slight smile. "Please wake up soon…" She begged.

"Leia!" She heard and turned to see Naomi peering through the curtain. "Dinner! Papa said he'll look at your friend after! He's been doing dat all day!"

Leia blinked and looked back at her father, before nodding.

"Okay."

She walked out of the room and glanced at Jericho.

"Jericho?"

"Hm…"

"Thanks…" She stated and Jericho glanced at her for a moment, before letting out a huff and continued to stir the pot he was in front of.

The next day was different. Instead of working the fields, they were charged with moving out the Seobs into a field just up the hill from the cottage. Naomi had stated she thought they looked funny due to their one large eye surrounded by smaller eyes, small front legs feathers covering their bodies minus their head.

Leia thought they looked terrifying and even if their eggs tasted good, there shouldn't be so many in one setting.

Still it was a bit more relaxing than gardening and they were eating lunch.

"One cookie."

"…two cookies?"

"One and if you're good you can have another later on tonight." Jericho stated, pulling a cookie away from Naomi. Leia smiled as Naomi bit into her cookie, grumbling. He certainly was a doting father, Leia mused as she ate a cracker. Though she did wonder how he of all people, had become a father. She glanced over at Jericho, blinking when she saw he was no longer looking towards them or the flock. Instead he was looking towards the sky. Leia followed his gaze and her heartbeat sped up as her stomach dropped.

An imperial ship.

She scrambled up, her lunch and her exhaustion forgotten, ignoring Naomi's cries, her only thoughts on her father who lay prone and defenseless in the house. She kept looking over her shoulder, seeing the ship slowly descending. She managed to get inside before it landed, her heart thudding in her ears as she panted and went to the Anakin's side. She needed to hide him. Grunting she threw as much strength she had and dragged him out of the hammock, begging she hadn't hurt him further. She looked around, trying to frantically find a place to store him. Finally she found refuge under the table and proceeded to move him under it as gently, but quickly, as she could. R2 made several beeping sounds.

"R2, hide!" She hissed out from her hiding spot and she heard him moving away, chirping lowly. She barely managed to yank the Wolf Hogweed reed throw over the table low enough for them to hide as footsteps drew closer. She held her breath.

"What are you doing on my property?"

Jericho.

She swallowed, unsure if the clone would remain loyal and not out her. The footsteps stopped and turned.

"Sorry citizen we-"

"Sir." Jericho's voice interrupted. "Boy, I am older than you, you will address me as Sir."

Leia held back laughter at the indignant sputtering from the men.

"Sorry…SIR…" the man continued, "forgive us for interrupting you day. There's nothing to worry about."

"You've scared my livestock here, I'd like to know why."

"We're looking for anything unusual here." Another voice piped up.

"Unusual? Like what?"

"Unusual people, droids, or creatures, for instance. We spotted a ship crash a few miles down the way, and we wanted to ensure that no unsavory or those who look suspicious are wandering around the area. You can understand wanting to keep your property and family safe, don't you?"

"If I've seen people I would know, and droids aren't common here. They're useless in the terrain. The only unusual thing I've spotted was last week when I treated one of my Seop's that had a bicornuate uterus. She delivered a healthy kit on each side."

There was an uncomfortable silence.

"Does that help?"

"Um…you're sure no one came from that crash?"

"Young man, I examined that crash. If anyone were alive in there when the crash ended, they'd be dead by now. Now if you boys will excuse me, I have a farm to run. You know you're way out."

There was grumbling and then footsteps storming away. Leia laid there longer, listening to the whirring of the engines coming back to life, and then the walls around her shuddering as the ship took off. She swallowed glancing back at her father who was deathly still, his breathing shallow.

"Daddy?" She whispered, rolling over in concern and saw that his face was flushed. She pressed a hand to his face, and was startled to feel it hotter than normal. She heard footsteps enter the house and froze, praying no one heard his or her breathing.

"Leia?"

Relief was instant and she rolled around, glanced through the cracks to make sure no one was with Jericho before scooting out.

"What in the world were you doing?"

"Papa…he…he's got a fever." She breathlessly said, pointing under the table. Jericho's brow furrowed.

"Why did you put him under there?" He snapped.

"I…I…" Leia tried to explain, but found she couldn't think of an appropriate answer as Jericho bent down and gingerly pulled Anakin out from under the table. With ease, Jericho placed Anakin back into the hammock. Leia's eyes watered at how pale her father was at that point, the only color in his face was a rosy red in his cheeks. Jericho felt his forehead and frowned.

"The mean men are gone Papa!" Naomi yelled out as she rushed in, blinking in confusion as she watched Jericho pour some water into a basin and wet a dry piece of cloth. "Is he okay Papa?"

"It seems he's gained a fever." Jericho said as he placed a damp cloth on Anakin's head. "No doubt his body reacting to the trauma of the crash and everything that just happened. Best thing for him right now is rest. If it gets worse we'll have to figure something out." Jericho added. Leia's hands tightened on her lap, her eyes never left where her father was lying, covered in quilts and pelts. Jericho glanced at her, frowning.

"Come along you two, let's go bring in the flock and make supper. We need to be quiet so he can recuperate." Jericho finally ordered, grunting as he stood. Leia however didn't move from her position next to him.

"Leia, Leia come." Naomi said. Hesitantly she moved away from her father and followed the two. "Do we needs a healer, Papa?" Naomi asked.

"It's only a slight fever for now. If it continues, we can go and ask her to come here for a visit." Jericho replied. Leia paused again, shaking as she gripped the edge of her shirt in panic. No…that wouldn't be good. That wouldn't be good at all.

Still she didn't voice it as she helped Naomi bring in the flock, or when she fed them dinner, or when she helped prepare their own supper, her fingers trembling as she peeled the vegetables. Once supper was made, they ate in relative silence, her anxiousness apparently much clearer than she had thought.

Suddenly there was a series of wheezing coughs echoed from the room that Anakin was lying in. Leia was up within moments, rushing to her father's side. Jericho watched her rush away, disappearing into the room.

"At this rate she'll be sick herself." Jericho remarked mostly to himself as he swallowed a spoonful of soup.

"That's bad right Papa?" Naomi asked and he glanced at her before glancing at the curtain again.

"We'll just have to hope he gets better, sweetheart." Jericho responded glancing at Leia who ever since the Imperial troopers had visited, had become solemn. He just had to hope that her father would improve, or he worried it wouldn't just be the man who would be lost.

He hadn't gotten much better.

Over the next few days, his fever had grown worse; his breathing ragged and pained sounding. Leia, hadn't left his side, barely eating and sleeping. She just sat next to him, curled up into a tight ball, her chin resting on her knees.

"Leia, come now, why don't you get some rest?"

"I'm fine."

"I'll watch over him for a little bit." Jericho suggested gently, but Leia only shook her head.

"I'm fine." She repeated and Jericho sighed before going out to where Naomi was sitting. No luck.

She was stubborn, he'd give her that, and it wasn't surprising as that man was her father. But she needed sleep. He glanced again at the room Leia was in, before ushering Naomi to stand.

"Come along. It's time for bed." He stated.

"Daddy, Leia needs to sweep." Naomi stated with a yawn as Jericho tucked her in. Jericho looked at her.

"You think so?"

"Mhm. Always say sweep is good."

"That it is." Jericho replied, brushing his hand over her hair. "I'll talk to her alright?" He promised and the little girl nodded, giving a big yawn. He smiled, kissing her forehead before tucking her into the hammock. After making sure she was asleep, he situated her doll closer to her and away from the edge before leaving the room and heading to the other one where two other occupants were.

Leia awoke from another one of her catnaps to the sounds of her father's coughing again. She fumbled tiredly to get a washcloth and gently dabbed Anakin's sweat covered face. She stared at him until her eyes began to burn and her vision blurred. She pressed her face into her knees, her form trembling as she gripped her upper arms tightly.

"Leia, I'm coming in."

Leia looked up as Jericho walked in one hand balancing a small meal that she hadn't eaten during dinner. Jericho's brow furrowed as he looked at her.

"Now why are there tears?" He asked gently as Leia hurriedly went to wipe her eyes. "This is not a crying matter, is it? Look at him, he's sleeping soundly." He remarked sitting down next to her, setting the plate down.

"But what if he dies?" Leia whimpered and the tears returned with vigor and slid down her cheeks. "What if he dies and he leaves me, and…and…" She began, her voice cracking and she gripped the hem of her shirt.

"Now, now…"

"I said I hated him…we were arguing, he was upset and…and…I said that horrible thing. And we didn't speak after, then there was a fight, and before we could apologize we crashed and…" She trailed off, swallowing audibly as she wiped her eyes. "I don't hate him. I was just angry, and I…" Leia began to sob, trembling as she tried in vain to stop her crying. Gently, Jericho rested a hand on her back, and she welcomed the gesture.

"Take a deep breath." Jericho ordered gently, and slowly, Leia did so, wiping her eyes with a shaking hand. Jericho watched her, shrugging finally as he looked at Anakin.

"Now I can understand why you're concerned." He began, slow and steady, as though he was merely explaining her a simple task. "Many people die without any warning even when they're in perfect health…" He trailed off, his Adam's apple bobbing, before he shook his head. "And your father's injuries were severe. But they are healing nicely and this is just a common cold. If the crash didn't kill him, I think he has a strong chance of living through a measly cold."

Leia fidgeted, looking back at Anakin. Jericho smiled and patted her head forcing her to look at him.

"He knows you don't hate him. Given the relationship you two seem to have, I don't think it could shatter over a little fight. I would know. I'm a father myself." He added. "But right now, if he was awake, I think he'd be more worried about you. Just like we all are."

Leia blinked and looked at Jericho.

"You're at your breaking point, Leia. I'm worried, Naomi's worried…we're all worried for you and your health. And I guarantee if he were awake he'd be worried too. Now would you lay to rest the worry in my old heart and get some sleep? I'll stay here and keep watch over your father and wake you up if there is any change." He said softly as he led Leia to the other set of blankets and mattress resting nearby. He gently tucked the girl in, patting the blankets softly.

"Now close your eyes, and relax." Jericho remarked softly, smoothing out the stress lines in Leia's forehead. The young Skywalker reluctantly did so. She didn't know if it was Jericho's familiar voice that she had heard so often from Rex, Wolffe, and Gregor, the soft smell of the incense, the slight breeze drifting through the room causing the faint sound of the wind chime to echo, her own exhaustion, or a combination of them, but sleep crashed into her system and she fell into a dreamless sleep.

So before people start yelling that clones can't have kids, keep in mind I didn't find anything specifically saying they can't have kids rather it was against the rules of having kids. And I figured that not all clones are evil bastards (his story will be explained in the next few chapters). Slightly inspired by the Clone Wars episode 'deserter' though Jericho is more of a tough guy than Cut was. I didn't want it to be a bad guy since that always is what happens in other things. And Leia doing hard labor is basically Jericho's way of seeing if Leia is as honorable as she seems to be and actually completes her promises.

And happy (slightly belated) May the 4th!