Once he was alone, Anakin wept again until he had no strength left to cry. As he did so, he slowly opened himself fully to the embrace of The Force, letting in the Light and weaving it around himself. It shielded him from the Dark, hiding him from the lurking evil that ruled the galaxy now.

She was gone. The Jedi were little more than extinct. SHE was gone. The galaxy was under the rule of the Sith. HE-HIS CLONE had destroyed everything he loved. He had ripped the love of his life from his hands and she died believing he was-

'She believed in you till the end, Anakin.'

Obi-Wan's words rolled back to him like a gentle whisper through the Force, wrapping around him like a bittersweet blanket.

He could almost hear her, far away from him. He couldn't hear her words, but he could feel her love across the sea between them. The Force sang it like a lullabye.

Padme.

Even when she thought that he had become a monster, she still loved him. Her hope from him was always undying.

The room around him trembled as his grief swelled again with aching self-loathing.

He was never the man she deserved. He was arrogant and selfish, violent, demanding, jealous, always looking for someone else to blame (usually Obi-Wan) and never taking responsibility for himself, yet constantly plagued by the need to prove himself.

If only he'd known what he knew now, they might have been happy. She could have seen how he'd changed, how he'd grown. They could have run away from it all and started a family, just like they'd dreamed of.

'I am all grown up. You said so yourself.'

The words of a proud young man, little more than a boy echoed mockingly to him from the fringes of the warm light around him.

Anakin grimaced, but still, instead of squashing the taunting memories, he let them in. They swirled around him, accusing him and crushing his already broken heart.

All the ways he'd truly failed his wife, right from the start. And now she was gone.

Wisdom told him he had to learn how to live with the past. Peace told him to embrace his failures. Anger told him to learn from them. Grief begged him to do better. The Light and the Dark mixed, balanced together in a slow dance of pain and resolve.

~You were young, Ani. We both were. It's where we go from here that matters. Trust the Force. I am one with the…~

Anakin's eyes snapped open with a sharp gasp.

"Padme?!"

The silence of the room was deafening.

For a few hours Anakin meditated, retraining his mind to the bombardment of the seen and unseen universe around him, listening hopefully for the voice of his dead wife. When her voice did not return he gave up and, desperate for comfort, searched instead for his two Stars. They were now lost among billions, but he knew he could find them again.

Cloaked with Balance, Anakin stole along, unseen by anyone who might want evil upon him. He found one of his little lights sooner than he'd expected. It burnt brighter than before, almost as though-

Jerking upright from where he'd been laying, Anakin stared at the wall.

They were on the ship! One of his Stars was here with him!

Heaving himself to his feet, Anakin wrapped a blanket around himself and left the tiny medical bay, ignoring the poor droid's protests.

Using the wall to support himself, Anakin followed the thread to its source in the passenger compartment.

He hesitated, lurking just at the edge as he peered in, heart pounding.

It was empty except for Obi-Wan and Leia.

The light wasn't Obi-Wan, he knew that, which meant-

Anakin stared at the child curled up asleep next to Obi-Wan.

He prodded her with The Force, truly reading her for the first time since meeting her.

She sensed it, the little Force Sensitive scamp that she was, and riggled in her sleep. The beautiful thread, her Force Signature, merely swatted at him lazily as it burrowed closer to Obi-Wan's. After years of distant connection, Leia knew him, even if she didn't know it yet. It was no wonder she had reacted so strongly when he was struggling earlier. The poor thing.

Anakin shook his head a little, utterly baffled. They'd formed a strong bond already, but why? HOW? Who was this child?! Why were they-

Wait.

Ten. She was ten. And he'd been in that hell hole for what…ten years?

Weakness trembled in his knees as Anakin stared at the little girl.

The sassy remarks, the determination, the fire in her soul. Obi-Wan was protecting her while also using the same tone with her as he used on Anakin when he was exasperated. It all lined up. She even LOOKED like her! And suddenly that explained why Padme had been feeling so emotional, ill and worn out the last time they spoke.

But when-

"Oh." Anakin breathed, hardly making a sound. "OH!"

He remembered his last time with Padme. It was right before he'd left again for the sieges on the Outer Rim. The night had been filled with passion…and reckless decisions.

Leaning back against the wall, just out of sight, Anakin ran his shaking hands over his face.

What had he said again?

'If The Force wants to give us a baby tonight the one time we don't bother with it, then it can go right ahead. Our baby would be a blessing to the galaxy.'...or something like that.

Amusement rippled through The Force as it laughed at him affectionately and Anakin rubbed his fingers through his hair, still not even daring to believe.

There was only one way to find out. If there was even a chance that a part of his beloved lived on, Anakin needed to know.

He took a deep breath and pushed off the wall, forcing himself to calm the raging, terrified, giddy feeling in his chest as he stumbled in and sat next to Obi-Wan.

The man jerked awake and his eyes widened with confused fear for a moment before he remembered and relaxed.

"Give me a heart attack, why don't you." Obi-Wan grumbled as he closed his eyes again. "Shouldn't you be with the medical droid. I was certain it said something about possible organ failure if you weren't careful."

"Oh, you must have heard wrong. It gave me the green light. Said I've never been so healthy."

Obi-Wan snorted and then shushed him when Leia stirred a little.

"How is she?" Anakin asked, noting the dried tear tracks on Leia's cheeks. His heart twisted.

"She's resilient." Obi-Wan sighed tiredly and reached an almost hesitant hand out to brush a little of her stray hair away from her nose. "But still a child who's gone through too much. The sooner we get her home to Bail and Breha the better."

"She doesn't look much like either of them." Anakin commented lightly, gadging Obi-Wan's reaction carefully.

"She is their daughter." Obi-Wan answered a little stiffly.

"Who is she? Who were her parents? There is more to it than this, and we both know it." Anakin asked, unable to stop himself.

Obi-Wan stiffened and Anakin could practically taste the panic in the air.

"I told you, Anakin. She is Bail and Breha's daughter."

Anakin forced a calming breath in and out.

Obi-Wan's distrust was understandable, he reminded himself, trying not to take it personally. He was just trying to protect the child from harm. Protect her from him if he went the same route as Vader.

Clenching his fist a little, Anakin fought for peace.

No matter how much he wanted to hurt those who caused such utter carnage to his life and the people he loved, Anakin knew even a hint of his fury would bring only fear and distrust. Besides, while he had found balance was not really the absence of anger, his new found practices were not exactly the Jedi way of merely releasing negative feelings into the force. It was the way he used them that counted and the way he directed them with the light. Without peace and clarity he was as mindless as the monster who-

Deep breath in. Deep breath out.

"Obi-Wan. I need to know. Please."

At one time pride might have kept his voice from breaking at the end, but Anakin was so desperate to know if any remnant of his beloved Padme remained that he could care less.

"Please…please don't ask." Obi-Wan murmured wearily. Begging was more like it. "I want to believe you are Anakin, my brother and my friend…but please, try to understand what the last ten years have been like. I need to keep her safe. She is the daughter of Bail Organa. Believe that, and accept that right now. That's all I can say."

"We both know that she isn't." Anakin sighed softly. "Padme and I…the night before I left for the Outer Rim that last time…Please, just tell me the truth. It was love that freed me from the dark before…give me another reason to fight, Obi-Wan. I feel the connection to her. Her light was one of the two that broke through when I had nothing left, when my connection to the Force was shattered in all other ways. She was one of my Stars. I need to know. Who is she?"

Obi-Wan slowed his breathing, staring at the ground. Finally he turned and looked Anakin dead in the eye.

"If you aren't who you say you are…if this is a trick in ANY way, if you one hurt even ONE hair on her head," Obi-Wan's voice shook with emotion and tears brimmed alongside the utter determination behind the truthful words. "I will kill you."

Anakin gave a small nod and said with all sincerity, "Good. I'm glad to hear that."

Then he grinned shakily as he forced his body to shift in the seat so he could see the child again.

The sleeping angel. She was nestled safe against Obi-Wan's side, still clinging to his hand.

What the man hadn't said was as good as confirming it.

"Tell me." Anakin whispered again. His voice was coaxing, with compassion and warmth overflowing for this man who had been both his father and brother. They both knew he knew, but Anakin needed to hear it. He still needed proof he wasn't dreaming and it was real.

"If the stubborn, bullheaded, reckless bravery didn't tip it off, I should think the way she commands her presence will."

"She's Padme's and mine?" Anakin mouthed, a wobbly smile shaking the edges of his lips and utter joy felt like it might burst from his chest.

Obi-Wan nodded once, defeat and uncertainty rushing through him.

"We lied to you, didn't trust you and kept things from you once, Anakin, and it broke us all. Do not make my telling you be added to the long list of regrets I have."

"As I said. I had a lot of time to meditate in that prison, master. Anger can be a part of me, but it will not rule me. Peace is my compass, but it does not keep me from acting. I will not fall. Search The Force, master, and you'll know I'm telling the truth." Anakin whispered with a little cheek. He was honestly trying to be gentle with the old man. Never had he seen his master so broke hearted and worn.

"I'm…out of practice when it comes to the ways of The Force…and my faith in the teaching of the Jedi have been shaken to their core. I am no longer certain of anything." Obi-Wan admitted tiredly, rubbing his eyes with one hand. "But, I'm trying."

"How did you end up with her?" Anakin asked, sudden concerned etching his face. "What was she doing in that place?"

"They kidnapped her to try to get to me." Obi-Wan said slowly, his shoulders dropping a little with an unseen weight. "Vader's minions discovered a link between Bail and I, and they figured I would rescue her if she were to be taken. They were right. I couldn't say no when Bail came to me. I tracked her to Daiyu-"

"Daiyu!?" Anakin exclaimed, his face twisting, horrified. "That's a planet filled with the worst scum, even ten years ago! Was she alright? Did they hurt her?!"

"Oh, she was alright. She's strong and fierce." Obi-Wan reassured him, "After Daiyu we escaped to Mapuzo. Things got a little complicated there and Leia got taken by the inquisitors. Then Tala and I staged a rescue, and the rest you know."

"I get the feeling you've left out several important details." Anakin murmured, brushing carefully against the old training bond he shared with Obi-Wan and letting his concern show.

"It's not important now." Obi-Wan insisted, his free hand coming up to unconsciously rub at his side and leg.

Sensing his brother wasn't ready to talk about whatever had happened, Anakin switched his attention back to his child instead, still marveling with disbelief.

"She looks just like her." Anakin breathed softly, tears pricking the edges of his eyes. He hated that she'd been through so much darkness and a protective fire rose up from deep within. "She's perfect."

"I'll have you know she is twice the trouble you ever were," Obi-Wan muttered, thumb rubbing affectionately across the back of the child's hand. Leia snuggled in closer in her sleep, her other first finding a chunk of Obi-Wan's robes. "I'm really too old to be dealing with your offspring, Anakin."

Anakin laughed a little weakly. Despite the help he was able to draw from the Force, his strength was a far cry from what it once was. He needed a Healing Trace. It should be more effective now that he wasn't living through a sliver of The Force.

"Oh, you laugh." Obi-Wan grumbled, though his voice was thick with emotion as he scolded. "It wasn't anything to laugh about. Within thirty minutes of rescuing her the first time, she managed to clobber me in the gut with a stool, insult me several times, weasel me out of several credits, run from me AND the bounty hunters chasing us, then nearly fall to her death all before she finally decided she trusted me. You never gave me THAT much trouble."

"Then your memory must be short circuiting in your old age." Anakin whispered, trying to shake off the almost feral feeling he got at the idea of the child running around a crime ridden planet with bounty hunters after her. He gazed at his perfect angel with the same love and adoration he would have if he'd been there from the start.

His beautiful light in the dark, shining next to-

"Wait. What about the other one?!"

"Other one?" Obi-Wan asked slowly, glancing at Anakin with that distrust that made his gut clench with anger and compassion.

"The other one, Obi-Wan!" Anakin straightened with a sudden burst of energy and immediately regretted it. Clutching his side he growled in pain, then asked excitedly. "There were TWO!? SHE HAD TWINS?! Where is-"

"Anakin! Keep your voice down!" Obi-Wan hissed, but it was too late.

Leia jerked awake with a little yelp, staring around wildy for trouble and breathing hard.

"Now look at what you did," Obi-Wan grumbled, resting a reassuring hand on Leia's back when she stiffened at the sight of Anakin. "It's alright, Leia. Anakin has trouble being quiet sometimes. Everything is-"

BOOM

The ship rocked, sending the three lurching to the floor.