Yoda blinked as he awoke, staring out into the swamp, a thoughtful expression on his face. A familiar peace seemed to have settled around the area of a person long since dead, but not forgotten, not to him.

"Hhhmmm…Changing things are." The old Jedi master muttered, standing and heading back to his hut. "Done…something must be."

Anakin looked around in the darkness. Every footstep echoed in the vast room, and every step took him nowhere. It was endless.

Wonderful. Just wonderful.

He needed to find a way out…he knew that, but couldn't remember WHY he was needed elsewhere.

"Anakin…"

He turned, expecting Padme but was surprised to see not just her but Leia and Luke standing there. He raised his hand towards them.

Padme and Luke suddenly vanished and a figure grew from behind Leia.

Panic set in and Anakin rushed forward, trying to get to Leia, to protect her, to warn her. But with each step, it seemed he just grew further and further from her.

"Leia! Leia!"

"If you aren't careful Anakin, they will be lost…she will be lost…"

Suddenly a light saber, red in color impaled through Leia's chest. Leia was silent, just staring forward, ignorant to Anakin's screams as she fell forward, crumpling to the ground, the shadowed figure standing over her body triumphant.

"And they will win."

The man looked up and sneered and all Anakin saw was red eyes and then he was in a sea of red.

Drowning and falling, deafened by screams of those he lost.

Anakin awoke with a start, a loud gasp escaping. He was suddenly blinded by light and he clenched his eyes tightly for a moment, before opening them again and blinking to get used to the brightness, observing his surroundings. He was in a home, not in the wreckage of his ship.

"I see you're awake."

Anakin turned his head and saw man pouring some water into a basin, his back to him.

"Um…hello…and you are?"

"I'm called Jericho." He replied before turning. Anakin stiffened in panic. "Though my birth code was CT-9674."

"You're a clone."

"AWOL and a deserter though." Jericho responded, noting Anakin stiffening. "Relax, if I was going to kill you, I wouldn't have waited till you awoke."

"True. Anyway…my name is Anakin." He prompted.

"Skywalker?"

"…yes."

"Well that would explain her personality." Jericho remarked, causing Anakin to look at him curiously. "You gave my animals quite the scare when you crashed into the fields. I was more surprised to see that you had survived the landing than anything, to be honest." Jericho continued, ignoring Anakin.

"Right…sorry about that." Anakin remarked as Jericho bent down and felt his head. He gave a slight satisfactory grunt.

"Your fever has gone down thankfully. I didn't know if you would have woken up after the crash." He stated. Anakin gave a snort, before the memories of the crash came back into his mind.

"Le-" He began as he hurriedly sat up, and immediately regretted it as pain flooded his side. Jericho did not seem too surprised, glancing at him as he curled up.

"You broke a few of your ribs, I would highly suggest not making much movement."

"I'm sorry, I have to go…" He said, struggling to sit up and stand. "My daughter…"

"Is resting right next to you." Jericho finished and he looked over to his right to see Leia sound asleep, covered in blankets, her hammock rocking slightly in the breeze. Near as he could tell, aside from scratches, a nasty looking cut on the side of her head, and bruises, she looked to be in relative good health.

"The gods and goddesses must have been looking down on her. Worst injury she had was a twisted ankle, but that healed quickly. Everything else was just scratches, cuts, and bruises. She's resting right now though."

"Thank you…" He whispered reaching out and brushing the fringe of her hair back. Leia shifted, but remained asleep. "Thank you so much…" He continued to whisper brokenly. Whether it was to Jericho, the Force, or an unnamed god or goddess, he didn't know nor necessarily care; as long as his baby girl was all right.

"You gave the poor girl quite the scare though. Poor thing thought she was going to lose you."

Anakin glanced at him, as he settled back on his hammock.

"Felt especially bad since apparently you two had had an argument." Jericho continued and Anakin shook his head. He didn't feel really want to talk about it.

"I'm surprised that a clone trooper didn't outright kill me."

"I have a daughter of my own." Jericho responded. "I have no intention of separating a parent from their child."

"You…clones can't procreate."

"No. I can't. My daughter may not be mine in blood, but she is mine nonetheless."

Anakin could sense there was a warning involved with that and decided, for the moment to let it be. Besides, he heard Leia shift in her hammock, mumbling something and then yawning. He looked over and saw her stir and sit up blinking tiredly, her hair crazed from her sleep. She rubbed her eyes, and then glanced over, blinking sleepily.

When she spotted him, her eyes became alight and she scrambled out of her hammock.

"Daddy!"

He let out a loud grunt as she threw herself onto him, wrapping her arms around his neck tightly. Still he didn't reject the hug, instead returning the hold and ignoring the pain.

"You're alright!" She sobbed and he nodded.

"I'm fine. I promise." He managed and she pulled away suddenly, sniffling and wiping at her eyes.

"I'm sorry…" She whimpered and he blinked in surprise, staring at his daughter. He didn't even notice Jericho leave, instead pushed Leia's bangs out of her face.

"What are you apologizing for?" He asked.

"I yelled at you! I said…I said that I hated you!" She sobbed. "I didn't mean it! I didn't!"

"Sweetheart, Baby Girl, ssshhhh…" He soothed, pulling her close. "I know you didn't. What happened wasn't your fault."

"But I-"

"Leia, look at me." He said lifting her chin up. Swallowing she did so, her eyes glittering with tears. He offered a small smile.

"Sometimes, I forget that you are only eight because you're so mature, and have gone through so many things because of me." He started gently, pausing when her bottom lip quivered. "It wasn't fair of me to blow up on you like that." He amended. "I can't expect you to read my mind and take my anger. That's not your job."

She swallowed roughly, wiping her eyes and sniffling. He offered a gentle smile.

"I'm sorry for arguing and yelling at you baby girl." He apologized and she nodded, wiping her eyes. R2 suddenly came in, chirping happily.

"Hey R2. I see you helped Leia while I was out of commission." Anakin responded, holding his sore side. R2 responded with chirps and beeps, and Leia's face slowly turned red as the droid began to explain what had happened after the crash.

"You lifted debris?"

"I…well yeah…I know you said I shouldn't do that in the public, however I couldn't move you any other way, but it was really exhausting and-"

"Leia, that's wonderful."

"It…is?"

"Sweetheart, in a difficult and stressful situation, you not only managed to keep yourself calm enough to not panic, but calm enough to use the force in such a way. I couldn't be any prouder at this moment."

Leia's face turned a bright shade of red and she fiddled with strands of her hair in embarrassment. They both looked up at sounds of struggling.

"Let go!"

Leia blinked in surprise.

"That's…" Anakin trailed off as a person stumbled into the room, growling angrily. Jericho was quick to follow, a quarterstaff in his hands.

"You dare to trespass into my home?!"

"Oh shut up clone! Where are they? Or did you sell them out to the Empire first thing you-"

"Kanan?"

"Leia! Anakin!"

Leia stood up, stumbling back as Kanan hugged her.

"Are you alright? Rex hadn't heard anything from you and they were worried that-"

"We're fine." Leia promised. "Papa just woke up. Jericho's been housing us."

"Whose Jericho?"

"Me."

There was a clang and Kanan stumbled forward and Leia looked over to see an enraged Jericho with his quarterstaff.

"Get off of my property!"

"Wait, can everyone calm down for a minute!" Leia begged. As that left her mouth two more figures barged in; Hera, and a large…cat like looking alien rushed in, the latter of the two having Naomi clinging to his back as she attempted to tug him back, by the ears.

"What is going on?!"

Leia groaned.

"Luke! Dinner!"

Padme looked down the hall as silence greeted her. Sighing, she went down the hall. He had been rather complacent in staying inside, though she knew full well it was only because something had caught his interest.

Whenever that interest was placated, he'd be asking to roam again.

She just hoped her nerves would let him out of her sight.

Padme knocked on the side of the doorframe as she entered her son's room, smiling as Luke looked up from his desk.

"What are you doing?"

"Building a droid. I think there should be smaller ones." Luke replied. "Like pocket sized, but has the same intellectual like C3-PO." He explained. Padme smiled gently, leaning against his desk.

"And how's that going for you?"

"Pretty good, I guess." Luke replied. "I need to go to some shops to get different supplies and pieces of tech."

Padme swallowed, pushing down the worry.

What had happened was in the past…she couldn't change it now. But her protective side reared its head in defiance. Not again. She couldn't possibly lose her baby again.

She shook her head to free herself of those thoughts.

"Then we'll have to look around for the parts, I suppose." She managed and he grinned. Her heart skipped a beat as she spotted the familiar self-satisfied expression that was so much like his father.

Her heart twisted painfully and she ruffled his hair. Sometimes it felt like just yesterday she saw Anakin last, others just a faded dream. She shook her head, before her smile brightened.

"Come on, dinner's ready."

"Sweet! Food!" He whooped, his robot forgotten and he hurried out of his room. Padme smiled, glancing behind her shoulder at the robot again. She could see the schematics fluttering slightly in the wind, but held down by metal. She smiled slightly, before suddenly remembering something she had gained several days ago. In the whole calamity of the near kidnapping, she had forgotten. Glancing out towards the hall, she made a right, going to her room for a moment. Looking around to make sure no one was there; she pulled out a small circular disk and a small drive. As she typed in the code for the Intel to be sent, she prayed that it wasn't outdated, the information of the so-called academy could aid Anakin in some way, it just had to.

Biting her lip as the lights blinked in a moving circle, she typed in her password to get into the channel and pushed the drive into the small port.

"Mom?"

"Coming!" She called out in a hurry, looking up. Luke blinked as he entered the doorway.

"What's that?"

"Something from the Senate. I meant to send it to Bail, but I forgot. I'll be just a moment."

"Oh…okay…" Luke stated, though he didn't seem all that convinced. Finally he left and she sighed.

Too young. He was far too young to know what she did for the rebellion. Maybe when he was older.

She just needed to figure out when older was…

Finally the beeping ended and she withdrew the drive and closed the port. She placed the disk back into the desk drawer. She then exited the room and made her way down the hall.

Anakin winced as he exited the hut, holding his side gingerly. He looked around, enjoying the cool breeze that blew across his face.

"I see you're walking now."

He looked over to see Jericho resting on a crate, before gesturing towards the fields. Looking over, Anakin spotted Leia walking around with Naomi, Kanan, and Zeb.

"Your daughter is helping Naomi with some of her chores."

"And you?"

"Watching your allies to make sure they don't screw anything else up. The only one I trust is that Hera woman. The other two are idiots." He remarked, and looked at a beat up droid. "And don't get me started on their droid."

Anakin held back the laughter, leaning on a post nearby watching as Leia followed Naomi into the chicken coop.

"So, you'll be leaving soon then?"

"Yes. We'll stop at Lothal for a moment and someone else will pick us up then."

"I see. It will be rather quieter when you leave. I like quiet. Naomi will likely miss Leia though, so I can't say I will enjoy that quiet."

"For a clone, I'm surprised that you wouldn't have tried to find us."

"I'm old, Sir. Some clones may want to keep going into a fight, but I'd rather be here for Naomi than go against an Empire."

"We all make sacrifices for our children." Anakin agreed, watching as Leia picked up Naomi, the latter giggling loudly. "You've raised an excellent daughter away from the hands of the Empire. I wish I could say the same."

"You've raised Leia fine, even in the middle of all this shit. But, I do wish to know, Sir. Why didn't you join the Emperor and Empire?" Jericho asked and Anakin looked at him. "From what was known, it was seen that you and the Emperor were…close…during the War. It was rather surprising to hear that you had become the leading figure for a quickly forming Rebellion."

Anakin chuckled, leaning back, staring at the deserter clone.

"Truthfully, I was close." He admitted. "Not something I like to say, but I was incredibly close to joining him."

"So? What changed?"

"…when your wife was pregnant with Naomi…what would you have done if you saw visions of her death?"

"I'd try to make sure those didn't happen."

"Same. I kept seeing visions of Leia's mother dying because of the pregnancy. Palpatine had already begun to influence me at that point, and he was succeeding. I felt as though I couldn't trust anyone. That my wife's life was only in my hands."

"So?"

"…It was a few days before Order 66 was issued. I had been asleep…same story; I wasn't able to save Pa-…my wife and my child. Palpatine was standing there, hand extended, saying that he could save her, he alone."

"You took it?"

"Almost. But…something stopped me. Or rather someone. When I turned around, the person didn't have a face, form…just a shape."

"Leia?"

"Probably. Or a vision of what Leia could become. Her force before it became her." Anakin remarked. Thinking about it, it was probably a combination of both his children. "It wouldn't let me go, said that what I was doing…where I was going…that I would lose the…her forever. That continuing the path with Palpatine, my world would become a darker…colder place. One she couldn't…or rather wouldn't, follow."

"And that's what changed your mind?"

"I always walked a thin line between dark and light sides of the force. That was my nature. Still is. But seeing that shape…I don't know…something told me to stop. I don't think I had felt that much at peace than I did at that moment in my lifetime. I went to go talk to Palpatine…the day the Republic fell. Master Windu had gone to arrest him with Masters Tiin, Kolar, and Fisto. By the time I had arrived up there…only Master Windu was alive. He wanted to kill him, put an end to Palpatine. I told him not to…it was not the Jedi way and that he must stand trial. He hesitated. Palpatine took the chance."

"And General Windu was killed." Jericho finished. "And so began the fall of the Republic."

"Yes."

"So it was the temptation to save your wife that he tried to use to turn you…and the love of your daughter that saved you."

Anakin chuckled looking over the two girls.

"I suppose."

"How did you survive?"

"When Palpatine attacked Windu, I tried to aid him and was thrown out of the window along with him. I managed to catch myself on a nearby building, but I couldn't save Windu. Then, Palpatine released Order 66…and any nearby clones began to attack. My captain, Captain Rex, had been nearby and betrayed his brothers, managing to save me. My wife was attacked as well, but she was saved by another clone who had had the chip taken out." He explained. "She went into labor but was sent to a different location where she had Leia."

"I see." Jericho remarked, silently staring at the two girls feeding the chicks, both laughing as several chicks took off chasing after Kanan and Zeb.

"Can I ask you…who is Naomi's mother? I can't imagine your wife would have been happy to have her here with strangers."

Jericho was silent for a moment.

"Well to clear things up, Naomi isn't mine…or my wife's…daughter."

"She…isn't?"

"No. 4 years ago a young girl stumbled onto the farm, heavily pregnant. She had been cast out of her family, and the father of the child refused to acknowledge her or the child. When she gave birth, she was too weak and lost too much blood to last and passed away. Logically, the best answer at the time would have been to given her to a family here, but looking at that little girl and how vulnerable she was, and that her mother had been kicked out so her life would have been harder still…we decided we couldn't abandon her too. We waited and listened for a little while, but neither families inquired about her or her mother, so Naomi is my daughter for as long as she wants to be."

"So…you're wife…"

"Her name was Kana Elysar…she is…was…the General of me and my men during the war."

"Elysar…she was a Jedi. From the planet D'Qar."

"Yes." Jericho remarked with a morose smile, his hand resting on the charm tied around his neck. "She was gentle, kind and cared about every clone under her command. When the Order was given, she didn't fight, fully prepared to die."

Anakin looked at Jericho, confused. What Jedi would be ready to die in such a manner?

"Her race was always a secretive race with set ideals. So much so, that each one would know how they would die and not put a stop to it, or try to change it. You could take her out of her planet, but you couldn't take her from race."

"So, she saw her death by the hands of her men?" Anakin asked, bewildered. Jericho frowned, shaking his head.

"Not exactly. She knew she was going to die, but not by who, but became convinced it would be by me. When the command of Order 66 came out, we were patrolling from the cruiser, talking about the life below on the planet and how different it must have been. She then told me of her end, and I would be the one to take it. I didn't understand…why would I be the one to take her life? But right then, one of my brothers was the one to inform me of the command and I changed, aimed my blaster at her head. She didn't flinch, not even a centimeter and…I hesitated."

Anakin gaped, his eyes flicking to the spot where the heavy scar was. Had it been removed prior to Order 66? Jericho either didn't notice or didn't care of Anakin staring, instead looking up at the sky.

"I hesitated. For the first time in my life, I didn't know what was going on. In my head, I was being told that Kana was a traitor to the Republic; that her death would save what was left. But my heart wasn't listening to my head. I had known her from when I first arrived into battle, been under her command for just as long and she hadn't betrayed me. I asked her, if she had known this, why she hadn't run me through with her lightsaber, why hadn't she let me die earlier. She had wanted to know me; that even if nothing would change, she wanted to know who the man that was to kill her was. That she had come to care for me and could think of no better one to end her life."

"But you didn't."

"All I can figure…is that the chip in my head was defective. That something hadn't worked properly or it was only at half-strength, because I rebelled, questioning why we had to kill her, why not imprison her at the very least. We had been under her command for three years, why would she suddenly turn on us? My men—my brothers—deemed me a traitor and attacked both of us. I lost my eye in the ensuing fight before we fell off the ship and fell to the ground. I wouldn't have survived if Kana hadn't protected me. I still don't know how we got to the ground, but she nursed me back to health, and then we went on the run, hiding here on this planet. We…I…thought that we were safe; that they wouldn't think Kana or I had survived. Years passed, we married. Her under a false name of course, but no one thought the wiser. She gave me one of these…" Jericho lifted his necklace and Anakin saw at the end of it was a light yellow kaiber crystal, "and she had another one."

"They were your wedding bands." Anakin realized gently, Jericho smiled almost bitterly.

"Yes, for all good that did us. Four years, almost five years passed…and someone must have noticed her, recognized her from the war and ratted her out. We were out checking fence lines when we were attacked. She was protecting Naomi, and saw I was about to be attacked on my blind side. She had no weapons, but took a blow meant for me. She shouldn't have. I should have died…not her. I went berserk, lost my temper, and killed those who had attacked us. By the time I had snapped out of it, she had lost too much blood. She died in my arms."

"Jericho…"

"In some way, I guess she did die by my hands…She wanted me to keep on living. For her, Naomi…and mainly for myself. To find my own path where I wasn't just a soldier or just trained to kill and sacrifice." Jericho said softly. "I wanted to die…but then that would leave Naomi alone. What type of father would I be if that happened?"

Anakin was quiet, before glancing up at Leia watching as she laughed, helping Naomi place more seed down.

"Protect her."

Anakin looked over at Jericho who was staring at the two girls, helping Kanan up, Naomi clinging to Zeb's foot.

"If there is anything a father should be good at doing, it's protecting their loved ones. Many fail. Don't be one of those, Skywalker."

Anakin was quiet watching his daughter before looking at Jericho, his eyes resolute.

"I will. She's the only thing keeping me going right now. I'd be a fool to fail her."

"Then, Leader of the Rebellion…I wish you safe travels and the best of luck. May the force be with you."

Anakin looked at him and smiled, giving a nod.

"And to you, my friend."

"Now, while your daughter and mine are busy criticizing those two, I'm going to make something to eat. Seeing as I have five more mouths to feed." Jericho grumbled and Anakin chuckled.

"Jericho."

"Hm?"

"Thank you."

Jericho turned to look at him, regarding the leader of the rebellion before giving a nod and entering the home again.

Luke stared at the stars that night. It was late, the only sounds echoing through the air were of the nighthowlers and the bugs that sung their mating dance. The night was so clear, the moons shining so brightly that if he tried, he could probably see everything around the property if he tried.

However, despite the clear night, his mind was foggy with everything going on and what had happened.

Sighing he went back to his room and flopped onto his bed, staring at the constellations that twinkled above him via hologram.

He felt…empty.

He didn't really know why he felt like that, as though a piece of him was missing.

It didn't take long for him to know why.

It had been fun when he was younger and had imagined Leia. She was a friend he could have adventures with when none of his friends had been around, a friend only he could see.

It had felt like a connection that only he had.

But ever since she had convinced him to escape from the kidnappers, the connection had begun to feel faded, as though the act of her helping him had used up too much energy. The connection with her was slowly vanishing all of a sudden.

And he didn't know why.

Dang, I need some more things for Luke and Padme XD. Anyone have any suggestions? Anyhoo, here's another chapter. We learn of Jericho's history and Naomi's parentage. I know, I know, cliché but I like the story idea a jedi and a clone trooper falling in love and adopting a little child. So they're headed to Lothal.

Wonder who they'll run into there?