Hello everyone! Sorry for the delay in posting - winter term at school was crazy, what with uni applications (eek!) and interviews and exams and concerts and lord knows what else. Finally rested up though, and I am very happy to post my next chapter! :D Hope you all had a wonderful festive season!

This weeks' shout-outs go to: Time-Dog, Booksnake3, ArtistsChild93, SocietyMember, random-reader-w/o-profile (also known as Guest), Keeper of Storms, ScarletSecrets1234, Concrete63, Shannyrox101, Sarahclarefelixmordred, sarahmichellegellarfan1, SCE2AUX (who pointed out the one year anniversary of this story - thanks!), Lisse Mirelien and Mistyx7. You guys continue to awe and flatter me ridiculously with your continued love and support for this story. Alice wants to high-five every one of you!

Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars or any of its characters. Only Alice is mine.


They followed the little creature into his house, having to duck well down to get through the tiny doors. The inside was confusingly outdoorsy, with the arches of tree roots forming doorways and seats, and with moss strewn on the floor like a carpet.

"Sit," Yoda said, gesturing to two conveniently chair-shaped roots opposite the small fire. Alice and Luke did as they were told and sat down side by side like two reception children.

Hunched and small, Yoda wandered over to the fire and poked at it vaguely, adding more logs until it was a blaze.

Alice glanced up at Luke to say something and caught him gazing at Yoda with a distinctly concerned look, almost the look a son would give a father when he was worried about him. Wow. I guess they're closer than I thought.

Apparently Yoda felt Luke's attention too, because as he toyed with the fire, he said, "That face you make. Look I so old to young eyes?"

Luke started and glanced guiltily at Alice, "No. Of course not."

Yoda laughed, "I do. Yes I do."

Alice stifled a smile. Contrary little thing.

"Sicker I become," Yoda went on, sounding slightly wistful now, "old and weak."

Luke seemed at a loss for anything to say, so Alice stepped in for him.

"Never," she said, bracingly.

Yoda found this extremely amusing and broke into a wheezing laugh that turned into a cough, "Ha!" When Luke still looked worried, Yoda said, briskly, "When nine hundred years you reach, look as good you will not, hmm?"

Nine hundred? Alice thought, eyes wide. Okay. Twenty years old, maybe a child after all then.

Yoda hoisted a pot of something onto his fire, then came and sat down opposite Luke and Alice. "So, so. Young Alice, a question you have for me."

"I suppose." Alice took a deep breath, trying to figure out, once and for all, what it was that she really wanted to know. She supposed the most important questions were, in order: 1. How she got sucked into Star Wars. 2. Why she got sucked into Star Wars. 3. Was there any way of getting back. …4. Did she really want to go back?

But before she could say anything, Luke spoke. "You sensed Alice before we arrived, didn't you, master."

Yoda frowned, hesitating, "Yes. Sensed her I did." He made a low humming noise in the back of his throat, then said, "Answer your questions I will try to. Luke, leave us, please. Speak to Alice alone I must."

Luke shot a puzzled glance at Alice, then got to his feet, half crouching so as not to bang his head on the ceiling. He paused, resting his hand gently on her arm, "I'll be right outside."

"Okay," she said, ducking her head to hide her smile as she touched her fingers lightly to the back of his hand.

Turning back to Yoda, Alice saw that he was watching Luke depart with a smile that was both fond and exasperated. He shook his bat-eared head, and said gruffly, "Love too easily he does. Hold tightly to the things he loves, he does too."

"Is that a bad thing?" She asked, feeling shy now that she was alone with him.

Yoda sighed, "Difficult to say. Like his father he is, in this." He shook his head again, then gave Alice a shrewd look that reminded her strongly of Ben, "And what of you, Alice Miller? A mystery and a puzzle you are. This world is strange to you, I sense."

Taking a deep breath, she said, "Yes…and no."

"And no?" He asked, cocking his head on one side, "And by this you mean…?"

Well, now or never… "I come from another world. I'd say another galaxy, but it's not just to do with…with the physical location. Where I come from, this whole galaxy and everything that happens in it, the people, the places, the war that's going on: it's not real. It's a story that someone made up."

She paused, gauging his reaction to try and guess what he was thinking, but Yoda's face was impassive. With a sigh that was almost a groan, she ran a hand through her hair, and said, "I knew about this story before I came into it, but hardly any of the details. Well…apart from…I knew who Luke's father was. Not because Ben told me or anything, but because in my home, it's common knowledge. Trivia." She regretted using that word almost as soon as she said it, because instantly, she was hit with images of Luke, sweating and feverish on his bed, his hand gone; or the coldness in his eyes when she revealed that she already knew that piece of 'trivia'.

Swallowing hard, Alice carried on, "And I guess that's why I think this whole idea of me being a 'Force sensitive' or whatever it's called is so ridiculous – because at home, that wasn't even a real thing. Nobody could make things move with their mind or return from beyond the grave; and people that thought they could were called crazy and just ignored. So even though I know some things about this galaxy that no one else could, it doesn't make sense to me, at all. And I was hoping…well, I was hoping that maybe you could explain to me why I'm here, and…if I'll ever go back."

She looked up at him again. For a moment, she thought he'd drifted off – his eyes were shut, and his breathing had slowed. She was about to call Luke when Yoda's eyes drifted open, and he made a long, dissatisfied humming sound. "Such strange new knowledge…realities beyond our own, alternate worlds…suspected this, my people have, but never proved…and that a Force sensitive should come from a world where none exist…"

"Wait," Alice said, a feeling of dread boiling in her stomach, "so you're saying that…I am Force sensitive?"

He nodded almost impatiently, "Correct, Luke is. Potential with the Force you have – if trained properly…in days gone by, too old would you be. But much is changed." He paused, then went on, "I do not know your purpose, but that your arrival was manipulated by the Force is clear." He fixed her with a grave stare, "As to your third question…to return to your home, so far away in time and space…impossible, it is."

"Impossible?" A strange feeling, a little like being struck hard in the chest and having all the air driven out of her, came over her. True, she'd almost forgotten about home what with all that had been happening to her – but learning that it was impossible for her to go back…it still hurt.

"Impossible for us to send you back," Yoda said, sounding a tiny bit hesitant, "brought to us by the will of the Force you were, and only by the same may you return." Before Alice could fully process that statement, the tiny master suddenly broke into a fit of coughing that racked his minute frame.

"Luke!" Alice called, concerned, "Luke!"

The door opened and Luke came hurrying back in, his face surprisingly pale. His gaze rested on Alice briefly before he went to go and kneel by Yoda's side. Gradually, the coughs subsided, and Yoda heaved a ragged sigh, "Soon will I rest, yes. Forever sleep. Earned it I have."

"Master Yoda," Luke said, looking upset, "you can't die."

Yoda smiled, "Strong am I with the Force, but not that strong. Twilight is upon me, and soon, night must fall." He settled back further in his seat, which, now Alice looked closer, she saw was actually a tiny bed. Her heart squeezed, and she glanced at Luke in worry. He seemed to be trying to ignore her, and reaching out, helped Yoda settled his blanket around himself. "The way of things, that is," Yoda said, quietly, his eyes drifting shut, "the way of the Force."

"But I need your help," Luke said, with a tone of desperation now, "I've come back to complete the training."

"No more training do you require," said Yoda, his ears twitching slightly, "already know you, that which you need."

Luke bent his head, "Then I am a Jedi."

Yoda raised his eyebrows, amused, "Not quite yet. One thing remains. Vader." Sitting beside him, Alice felt Luke's muscles clench. She glanced at him and rested her hand lightly on his shoulder. "You must confront Vader," Yoda said, seeing Luke's discomfort, but carrying on regardless, "Then, only then, a Jedi will you be. And confront him you will."

"Master Yoda?" Luke said, taking a deep breath, "Is Darth Vader my father?"

The small Master sighed, and rolled over, "Rest I need. Yes, rest."

Alice's mouth dropped open slightly. Way to dodge the question, Yoda.

Luke seemed to think the same, "Master. I must know."

Yoda's shoulders moved slightly beneath the rough blanket, as if he were sighing again, "Your father he is. Told you, did he?"

Luke looked up and met Alice's gaze. She squirmed uncomfortably, remembering how angry he'd been with her when she'd confirmed she knew the truth about his dad. "Yes. He told me."

"Unexpected this is," Yoda said, "and unfortunate."

"Unfortunate that I know the truth?" Luke said, riling up at once, in much the same way he had at Alice.

"No," said Yoda rolling back over to face them, "unfortunate that you rushed to face him when incomplete was your training. That not ready for the burden were you."

Luke shook his head, "I'm sorry. But…" he looked up at Alice, "I had to save my friends."

Alice knew without having to look in a mirror that she was wearing the dopiest of dopey smiles.

"A Jedi's strength flows from the Force," Yoda said, knowingly, "understand your actions I do. But beware anger, fear, aggression. The Dark Side are they. Once you start down the Dark Path, forever will it dominate your destiny." He shifted where he lay, then whispered, his voice starting to fail, "Luke. Do not underestimate the powers of the Emperor, or suffer your father's fate, you will."

Oh, hell no, Alice thought, wishing she could butt in to the conversation, I am not letting Luke go to the Dark Side. Ever. At all.

"When gone am I, the last of the Jedi will you be. The Force runs strong in your family. Pass on what you have learned you must."

Luke looked at Alice, but Yoda's voice, croaky and barely intelligible now, called their attention back to him, "Luke. There is…another Skywalker." With that, his small head fell back, and his eyes drifted shut. Alice stared down in shock as his tiny body started to fade, then disappeared entirely. The blanket that had covered him floated back down to the bed, as if the Jedi Master had never been there at all.

"Luke?"

He met her eyes, his expression thoughtful. "Another Skywalker, Alice," he said, quietly, "who is it?"

"I…I don't know."

Um. Finding out Leia is his sister is no way as big of a bombshell as finding out Vader is his father…but what if he's still angry I didn't tell him? I don't want to fight with Luke ever again, it's exhausting.

Luke seemed to hear exactly what she was thinking and with a slight smile, he shook his head, "I don't believe you. You know. Like you did with my father."

Alice sighed. "I mean, yeah…?"

"Luke. Alice."

They glanced up together, to see Ben sitting innocuously in the corner of Yoda's little house, as if he'd been there all along. Alice jumped, but Luke seemed unsurprised.

"Jesus, Ben," Alice said, pressing a hand to her pounding heart, "don't do that!"

"Forgive me, Alice," the old man said, with a faint and familiar smile, "it is good to see you."

"Obi-Wan," Luke said, not to be deterred, "why didn't you tell me? You told me that Vader betrayed and murdered my father."

Ben transferred his gaze to Luke and sighed slightly. "Your father was seduced by the Dark Side of the Force. He ceased to be Anakin Skywalker and became Darth Vader. When that happened, the good man who was your father was destroyed. So, what I told you was true, from a certain point of view."

"Oh," Alice said, narrowing her eyes, "that's sneaky. That is awfully sneaky, Ben. You'd be a great politician, twisting facts like that."

"You are young," Ben said, a tad condescendingly, "as you go through life you will come to appreciate that truth is not one thing to one person all of the time; many versions of it may coexist. Anakin was a good man. That is true. But that man is gone now, as surely as if he had died."

"No." Alice glanced at Luke, surprised by the firmness of his tone, "There is still good in him. I know it."

Ben gave a noncommittal nod, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with Luke's words, and again Alice reflected he would have been an excellent diplomat. "He's more machine now, than man. Twisted and evil. You cannot escape your destiny, Luke, and sooner or later, you must face Vader again. I beg you, do not risk your life and the lives of your friends by looking for something that is no longer there."

Luke bowed his head briefly, but when he spoke he sounded just as decisive as before, "I can't do it, Ben. I can't kill my own father."

The old man raised his hands, the picture of wisdom surrendering to idiocy, "Then the Emperor has already won. You were our only hope."

"Ben," Alice said, annoyed, "you just said there's more than one truth. Maybe there's more than one way for Luke to carry out his destiny. Besides, Yoda just said-"

She stopped, and glanced at Luke, who nodded slightly, "Yoda spoke of another."

Ben hummed thoughtfully; Luke held Alice's gaze, giving her a small, grateful smile. She blushed, and turned towards Ben, waiting to hear what he would say.

The old man seemed to hesitate, and Alice thought she saw his fists clench slightly (though it was hard to tell with a ghost) before saying, "The other he spoke of is your twin sister."

Luke frowned, "But…I don't have a sister."

Alice wisely kept her mouth shut.

"To protect you both from the Emperor, you were hidden from your father when you were born. The Emperor knew, as I knew, if Anakin were to have any offspring, they would be a threat to him. That is the reason why your sister remains safely anonymous."

Beside Alice, Luke suddenly straightened up, his eyes wide, "Leia! Leia's my sister." He turned to Alice, searching her face, "You did know, didn't you. That's why…"

"That's why I was never really comfortable with the idea that you two might fancy each other?" Alice finished, wrinkling her nose a little, "Yeah. That'd be it." Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Ben giving her a look that was both thoughtful and unsurprised.

"Your insight serves you well," Ben said to Luke, "Leia is indeed your sister. But," he held up a warning hand, "you must take care to bury your feelings deep down, Luke. They do you credit, but they could be made to serve the Emperor."

Luke nodded, "I understand."

Ben nodded and gave them a small, tired smile, "Very well. I'm glad I was able to see you both. This war is not over yet, but its end is coming, one way or another. Luke, remember your training and it will serve you well. Alice."

She looked up, apprehensive, and feeling very young and small and not at all equipped to fight a war, "Yes?"

His smile widened, "You too must remember all that you have learned. Trust yourself, and all will be well."

He put his hands on his knees, as if he were about to stand up, then paused, and said, with a cheeky smile, "Oh, and my apologies for the occasional commentary, my girl," his eyes darted over to Luke and just as quickly back to her, "but sometimes I feel you need a little guidance."

Alice stared at him, open mouthed, "Get out of here, before I set the Ghostbusters on you!"

The old man laughed, and slowly faded from sight, leaving them alone once again.

"What was he talking about, Alice?" Luke asked, a little too innocently.

"Nothing," she said, getting carefully to her feet to stop herself from hitting her head on the low ceiling of Yoda's house, "nothing at all."

Luke put out the small fire, which still burned in the hearth, and then each of the candles around the room, while Alice waited at the door. It was sad to see the little house so cold and empty; without the flickering lights, it looked like nothing more than an uninhabited hollow in a tree that had been carved out by some trick of nature. That's all it will be in a few years, she thought, sadly. There's no one else on this planet. No one will even know Yoda was here.

The expression on Luke's face seemed to suggest he was thinking along much the same lines. She didn't like seeing that look on his face, and taking him by the hand, she pulled him out of the door and away.

"I can't believe he's gone," he said, quietly, as they picked their way through the swamp, "first Ben, then Yoda."

"I'm sorry, Luke," she said, voicing the words without really thinking them through, "but hey, you've still got me." She paused as she realised what she'd said, and hastily added, "And Leia and Han and Chewie…and so on."

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught him giving one of those patented 'Luke Skywalker Unfathomable Looks' again and felt a very strong desire to put a hand on his chest and not let him get past her until he'd explained himself. She was wondering if perhaps a talk would be a very good thing for them, but by the time she'd concluded that it would, he was already at the transport.

"Come on, Alice," he called, as he climbed aboard.

She sighed dispiritedly, "Right behind you."

According to Luke the rest of the Rebel fleet was waiting for them near some place called Sullust, and it would take them a couple of hours to get there.

Seeing as how they'd chatted most of the way to Dagobah, Alice decided she might as well try to get some rest now – goodness only knew what task they'd be jetting off to next when they reached the fleet. But while she was still in the process of trying to get comfortable in her co-pilot's seat, Luke's voice cut through the warm, humming quiet of the cabin.

"Alice, do you mind if I ask you something?"

"Hmm?"

"What did Master Yoda say to you?"

Ah yes. That. That thing I've been trying not to think about.

"Oh, nothing much."

Luke swivelled his chair towards her, the glow of the controls and the rush of stars outside the cockpit lighting up the side of his face in silver. "Alice."

"He said…"

She hesitated. She wanted nothing more than to tell Luke what Yoda had said about her not being able to go home ever again – she knew that keeping it to herself would probably be majorly damaging and painful – but at the same time, telling him was impossible. How, after all this time pretending to be a part of this galaxy, could she turn around and reveal the truth of where she came from without losing all of her friends and making them think she was delusional?

Feeling Luke's eyes still firmly fixed on her face, she continued weakly, "He said that I'm Force sensitive. So…I guess you were right after all."

Luke's expression was, to his credit, sympathetic rather than smug, "I see."

Alice gave him a sheepish smile, "I'm sorry I was so stubborn about this before. It was sort of scary, that's all."

"You don't have to apologise," he said, slowly, "I should have known it wouldn't be easy for you, and I didn't make it any easier." He made a face, "I was so-"

Alice smiled drily, "Blunt?"

"I was going to say condescending," he said, his mouth twitching up into a smile as she laughed.

"You were a little bit condescending too," she agreed, grinning at him, "but you were trying to help, so I think you're off the hook. Thank you for taking me to see, Yoda, as well. I'm glad I got the chance to meet him."

"You're welcome," he said, quiet, but pleased. And with that, it seemed that every last trace of anxiety and confusion between them had evaporated, for the time being at least; the ensuing silence was comfortingly companionable, and when Alice dropped off to sleep half an hour later, she dreamed of nothing at all.


"Alice? We're here."

"Wassat?"

She dragged her eyes open to find herself wrapped into an uncomfortably tight ball, the arm of her chair digging into her side in a way that was far from pleasant. A glance at the view screen showed that they'd dropped out of hyperspace and were cruising along through a crowd of Rebel starships, great big ones. Luke had one hand on the controls, the other was shaking her shoulder gently.

The com in their clumsy transport hissed, and a man's voice said, "Transport, identify yourself."

"This is General Skywalker and Lieutenant Miller, returning from the Dagobah system," Luke said, gazing out of the window out towards the hulking mass of metal that floated weightlessly in space, "find us which ship Princess Leia is on, and we'll dock there."

Alice waited, her lips pressed thoughtfully together as the answer came back, "Yes, sir." After a brief pause, the man said, "The princess is aboard the Admiral's flagship. In the centre of the formation, sir."

"I see it," Luke confirmed, putting his hands back on the controls and gunning them forward, "thank you, soldier."

Alice rested her chin on her hand and her elbow on a button-free bit of the control panel, leaning forward to watch the ships go by. There was something comforting about the sight of them, though she'd never boarded half of them and would probably never meet the thousands of people who manned them. Still, knowing that they were back with the Alliance, and that Han and Chewie, Lando and Leia would be waiting for them…it felt like going home to family after a particularly long and stressful day.

She turned to Luke, wanting to try and express the feeling, only all of a sudden, she couldn't speak. Just looking at him, watching as he stretched up in his seat to flick a switch on the ceiling above him made her mouth go suddenly dry. Her heart was beating faster for no particular reason she could name, and it felt like there was something desperately urgent that she needed to say to him, but she wasn't sure what it was.

Feeling her looking at him, he glanced over at her and smiled, and like the aftershock of an earthquake, her heart tripped a beat, leaving her suddenly breathless.

Oh good lord, I know what I need to say to him.

"Um…say, Luke-"

The com hissed loudly and this time it was Leia's voice which emerged from it, "Luke?"

Luke was quick to answer, leaning eagerly towards the intercom, "Leia. Alice and I are on our way to your ship now."

Alice closed her mouth, smiling ruefully. Never mind. It was enough to see Luke happy again.

"Good," the princess said, sounding more cheerful than she had for a while, "we've got a very important plan that you need to hear."

"Roger that," said Luke with a smile. He disconnected the contact, then sat back in his chair and started directing them towards the largest ship. "My sister," he said, wonderingly, "she's my sister."

Alice smiled, amused by his sweet, bewildered expression, "How does it feel, having a twin?"

"Strange," he said, "but…not. As though I knew there was something connecting us, I just didn't know what it was." He paused, discontented, "I just wish I could tell her."

"I can't wait to see her face," Alice said, honestly, "she'll love it. And you'll both have a family again."

Luke seemed to consider that, and when he smiled, it practically lit up the entire cockpit.

Feeling a little flushed, she got to her feet, "I'll go and wake Artoo up, shall I?"

Luke hummed in acknowledgement as he plotted their course towards one of the many docking bays on the side of the Admiral's ship. Alice couldn't help a smile, and without even thinking about it, leaned down to kiss Luke on the cheek before slipping out the door. It was only when she was halfway down the corridor that she realised what she'd done.

Perfect. That is just….perfect.

Artoo was napping in the main cabin, and by the time Alice had gotten him up and active, Luke had landed them safely within the ship – it was a cargo hangar, by the quick glimpse she got of their landing site through the window of the shuttle. She headed for the door – mentally fretting about what she would do once Luke reappeared and confronted her about their second accidental kissing experience all the while – and reached for the opening switch, only to jerk back in surprise a moment later when the door hissed open and she found an orderly in smart black uniform waiting for her; he gave a nervous swallow, and called, "Lieutenant Miller?"

Surprised at being hailed, she didn't exactly answer with the same kind of respect, "Um, yup?"

The man threw his hand to his forehead in a frantic salute, and said, "I'm to escort you and General Skywalker to the briefing room, ma'am. The princess and General Solo are waiting for you there."

"General Solo, huh?" She said, amused, "Well, you'd better take us there then."

The man nodded, then suddenly froze, before giving a salute so enthusiastic he practically hit himself in the forehead. Alice glanced round to see Luke standing just behind her. He caught her gaze and she blushed at the very meaningful and at the same time very bemused glance he gave her.

"This way, sir," the soldier said, clearly so star-struck that he could barely see straight. Alice rolled her eyes, but at the same time, she couldn't help feeling sort of proud.

Yeah, well, I liked Luke Skywalker before it was cool, so.

They followed their eager guide away from the docking bay; on their way, it seemed that everywhere they turned, they found wide staring eyes, looking at them from every direction with some kind of weird awe.

Finding herself plagued by an overwhelming desire to laugh, she leaned over to Luke and muttered, "Am I the only one getting a tad creeped out?"

His mouth twitched and he shot her a mock reproachful glance, "Alice, that was rude."

Alice grinned, and patted Artoo on the dome, "Me? Rude? Never."


Thank you for reading, and please review!