Hello everyone! Sorry I disappeared from the internet for a while. You know, with school and me being a procrastinator and all.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed. It really means a lot to me!

I've been reading a lot of Star Wars novels lately, but I wrote all these upcoming chapters way before I read those books, so I've realized that there are a lot of inconsistencies with my previous chapters, especially when it comes to Leia's childhood. However, I'm not going back to change all those parts because there's too much stuff to change, according to Leia: Princess of Alderaan.

To one of my friends who I know will be reading this chapter, Happy Birthday!

Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars or its EU. I only own the plot of my story and any characters I may have dreamed up.

(Published 10.27.18)

Chapter Twenty-Four: From a Certain Point of View

3 BBY

"Leia."

Leia grunted in her sleep, not wanting to wake up.

"Leia, walk up," said Bail. "Wash up. We need to get to the Tantive IV."

"Mm, why, Papa?" she asked sleepily. "What time is it?"

"Seven, hardly too early," he said. "Meet me in twenty minutes."

As she yawned and stretched her legs, she said to herself, "What could be so important?"

Anakin woke up, and he reached over to the bedside table to get a datapad.

"No need for that, Ani."

Anakin's eyes jerked up. Slowly, his head turned to see a face that he hadn't seen in over fifteen years.

Padmé was smiling down at him. "Good morning, Anakin."

He grinned. "Angel." He lunged up and, embracing her, kissed her head.

"I missed you, Ani," she said softly. "You don't know how much I missed you."

"I think I do, Angel," he said, pulling her down into the bed.

After a few minutes of lying there, faces close, Padmé asked, "Do you want to tell the kids?"

Anakin's heart swelled, knowing that his wife, his son, and his daughter were all there. "Let's do it."

She sat up. "Leia's coming here soon." She began to walk out the door, holding her husband's hand.

Anakin groaned. "Okay, but stay here for a while."

"You're impossible," Padmé scoffed with obvious love in her voice. "I don't know why I ever put up with you."

"It's because you love me so much," said Anakin mischievously.

"Oh, get up," said Padmé, swatting at his head. "I don't think that your daughter's going to react well, so just… prepare yourself."

"Who's this?" asked Luke as he practically inhaled his breakfast.

Anakin and Padme looked at each other. "An old friend of mine," he said simply.

"I figured you would say something like that," Luke muttered, looking at his father and then back down at his food. "Never mind. If it's important, I'll find out." Padmé stared longingly at her son, more like his father than she ever could have imagined.

"Come on, Luke," said Anakin, patting his back lightly. "We're meeting Senator Organa."

His eyes looked up. "Are you joining the Rebellion? Can I join too?"

"No, we're not joining the Rebellion, and I wouldn't let you even if the rest of us were," Anakin scowled.

"Why?" Luke asked angrily, but was cut off by Ben coming down the hall.

"Good morning, Anakin, Luke - " He looked up. "Padmé!"

Padmé smiled. "Obi-Wan," she said, and ran to embrace him. "It's very good to see you."

"You as well, Padmé," he replied, nodding.

They walked into the room where Bail Organa, Ahsoka Tano, and Leia Organa were sitting. Luke's eyes lit up when he saw the Princess. "Hi, Leia! Sorry, uh, Princess," he stuttered.

"Leia's fine," she said, smiling warmly.

"I'll leave you four alone for a while, as I arrange Captain Solo's payment," Bail said quietly. Ahsoka nodded to them and followed him out.

"What's this all about?" Leia demanded. "All the secrecy, it doesn't stop, does it?"

"It will," said Anakin. "It will today."

Luke and Leia glanced at each other, not understanding.

"Leia, I know that you are aware you're adopted..." muttered Padmé nervously.

"Chewbacca?" asked Ahsoka numbly. The Wookie roared and staggered in for the hug. "Hey, buddy, that's alright," she managed to say as Chewie muffled her face.

"Hey, Chewie, who's this? How do you know her?" Han asked, stepping in.

Chewie growled.

"The Jedi who helped you with Trandoshans?" he translated. "Ahsoka Tano."

"That's me," she laughed. "Yeah, I'm afraid that Chewie and me go way back." The Wookie growled in protest. "Just kidding. You saved my life." She turned to Han. "So? You're a smuggler?"

"Yeah, that's the only job I've known in a while," he explained.

"So why are you doing that instead of being here?" she asked.

"Here?"

"The Rebellion," Ahsoka said quietly.

Han chuckled. "The Rebellion? It's not for me, sister. I got myself and Chewie messing around with the wrong people a few years back, and you know that you can't get yourself out of that."

"I've only heard stories," Ahsoka sighed. "But you don't like the Empire, I can tell that much."

"Oh, I've got it out for the Empire, all right," Han said coldly. "Chewie, too. He was enslaved by them for a while. But there's nothing that we can do about them, can we? You've got to live with it while it lasts, hoping it fades away."

"I don't think that's the way anyone should live their life," she said, and walked away. "I hope to see you around, Han Solo."

Though Han didn't admit it, he left the conversation feeling something that he hadn't felt since before Crimson Dawn, and Beckett, and Lando, and Kessel, Enfys Nest, and Savareen.

Hope.

"Yeah? What about me being adopted?" Leia asked.

"You know you mother was a Naberrie, and that's very clear," said Padmé soothingly. "But you still don't don't know who it is."

"That's right. And I've told you that I don't need to know."

"Leia," she groaned, "I don't know how to say this. I'm a Naberrie as well."

A dry look crept onto the Princess's face. "You're repeating things that I already know."

As quickly as possible, Padmé said, "My real name is Padmé Amidala Naberrie."

"Your real name is…" Leia's face grew slack. "P - Padmé Amidala? You're Padmé Amidala?"

"Is that name really important?" Luke whispered to his father.

"You'll find out," Anakin said quietly back, smirking.

"Yes," said Padmé, lower lip trembling slightly. "That's what I used to be called."

Leia's rage grew as she spoke. "You - you're lying! You can't be Padmé Amidala! She was a Senator who died at the end of the Clone Wars."

"Do you think that I didn't want people to believe I was dead? Your father kindly accepted me and got the new name, new degree, all the records. How do you think I have all that knowledge of the inner workings of the Clone Wars? How would I know about the hostage crisis in the first year of the Clone Wars?"

"I remember that," Anakin said quietly, earning a look of confusion from his son.

Padmé continued. "Plus, I wanted to be near you, Leia."

"Me… why me?"

Closing her eyes seemingly painfully, she took a breath and looked at Anakin. Not making eye contact with Leia, she said, "Leia… I wanted to stay with you because… sixteen years ago, I gave birth to you."

Luke spoke first. "You're her mother?"

"You're my mother," Leia whispered. "I - I can't believe I'm saying this, but… I know it's true. I've always known it's true."

"Yes," said Padmé in a comforting voice.

The fire returned to Leia's brown eyes. "But that doesn't mean I like it!" She moved to stand up, but Anakin put a hand on her shoulder.

"Leia."

The girl sat down again, but instead of rage, tears were brimming. "You - you acted like my teacher for all these years, and my parents and you didn't even have the courage to tell me."

"I will take full blame, but I will not, absolutely not let you put this on your father. Bail asked me time after time whether I wanted to tell you, but I said no every instance," said Padmé.

"Why couldn't I just know?" Leia whimpered.

She sighed. "I supposed I'll let Anakin explain."

"Oh, Force, it's my turn," the Jedi laughed. "Well, let's get this done quickly. I'm married to Padmé and you two are our twin children."

"That was much simpler than mine, Ani," Padmé said.

As for the kids, they were caught dumbstruck. In fact, if you were to wave your hand in front of their faces, they probably wouldn't have reacted.

After a brief moment, Luke murmured, "You're joking, right?"

"Nope," said Anakin. "Ask Obi-Wan, or Ahsoka, or Rex, or Senator Organa. They were all there when Padmé gave birth to you two."

"So why separate us?" asked Luke calmly, though he was panicking internally. Princess Leia was his sister? His twin sister?

"You're both strong with the Force. Sidious - "

"Sidious?" said Luke.

"Emperor Palpatine," Anakin clarified and continued. "He has the ability to search for Force-sensitives and he would definitely be able to sense you two. Though there is a Jedi Master who is shielding you from his presence right now, we thought it would be smarter to separate you. Twin bonds are more powerful than any bond."

"Okay, I didn't understand a word of that," Luke said truthfully, "but I'm going with it."

"How much did Qui-Gon teach you?"

"Not much in one year."

Suddenly, Leia spoke up, her voice a surprise to everyone in the room. "How can you be so calm about this, Luke?" she said quietly.

"What?"

"I mean, how does this roll over your shoulders like some uneventful prank?" she yelled, her hand gestures violent. "My entire life has been a lie, all because of a bad decision." She glared at Anakin.

"Leia," he said. "What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean! You were a Jedi, and you broke its laws. Luke and I are alive because of some poor decision made by a Jedi and a Senator." At this, she finally stormed out of the room.

"Leia!" called Luke, glancing at his parents and then racing after her.

Padmé moved over to Anakin. "Hold me, Ani."

"Of course, milady," he replied, wrapping his arms around her.

They stayed there, assuring themselves that everything would be alright. Besides, Leia always had her twin brother to help her out, even if they had only known the truth for five minutes.

So, after 24 chapters, they finally know the truth. Han and Ahsoka talk about Rebellion, and Han is reminded of Enfys Nest's talk of being part of a rebellion (I watched Solo again last night, can't blame me). What did you think about the family reveal? Overwhelming? Underwhelming? Please let me know your thoughts in a review!

We won't get much of the Ghost crew for a while, but they'll be back. I really like writing Rebels stuff.

May the Force be with you and God bless!

-HH