Chapter 12
Luke took quite a while to digest all these things that he had just heard and after doing some thinking he finally asked: "Why were you and me separated in the first place?" Padme had known in advance how difficult this whole thing would be, as she kept herself in the background for now of course she hoped that her daughter would come up with plausible explanations for the actions that people had done without asking them for their opinion. Leia surely knew that she had to choose her next words very carefully, already being quite aware of the fact that her brother was already upset because of what he just had heard and she understood very well how hard this all must be to comprehend.
After taking one deep breath she finally said: "You and me were separated for our own safety, it surely wasn't an easy decision to make for Padme and Obi Wan at this point of time but the last thing she wanted was that her children would fall into the hands of the Empire after the old Republic had collapsed because of Palpatine." There was some silence between them before Luke finally asked:
"But I don't understand why our real mother wouldn't come with us into hiding and fake her own death instead!" That last remark hit Padme really hard, even if she had to agree with him and had to ask herself: Why didn't I go into hiding with my children? Instead I was foolish enough to let myself be persuaded by Obi Wan into thinking that it was the best for my children if I would stay behind and let the Emperor think that I was dead.* She tried very hard to fight it but one tear finally rolled down her left cheek, which she quickly wiped away with the back of her right hand. Then Leia stepped a little bit closer to Padme again, softly squeezing her hand for a moment as she could clearly sense how painful this whole conversation was for her.
Padme finally took one deep breath thinking to her: No matter how painful this whole thing might be to endure, this is really something I've got to get through. "Trust me Luke if I could make it undone what happened I would do it immediately, this decision was truly one of many that I'm not proud of and maybe there has been too much damage done but please give me one chance to make up for the lost time."
"Our mother only stayed behind and faked her death to ensure our safety, because if she had stayed with us we probably wouldn't have got the peaceful childhood we had." Leia said voicing her verbal support for her mother, hoping that somehow Luke would understand that they mother had decided this all having the right intentions. Also keeping in the background, standing at the rear end of the freighter Jedi Master Ralkitta watched this scene play out in front of him and kind of felt so sorry for them all because that was clearly not how a big family reunion should go after not seeing each other all these years.
As Padme and Leia anxiously waited for a response from Luke, they hoped that he could somehow find it in his heart to forgive his mother for what she did even if that was probably easier said than done. Luke meanwhile began to pace the big hangar, trying to decide what to do in this very difficult situation as he asked himself: Could he really believe the fact, that this stranger was his real mother as he somehow knew that no mother would leave their children alone?
He was suddenly interrupted as a very familiar voice spoke through the Force with him:
Luke, my son if there's anyone to blame for your family being torn apart it's me and not your mother. I know it's hard to believe what you've been told but it is the truth, even if it was a forbidden love because of the Code of Jedi me and your mother fell in love long before you and Leia were born and if I hadn't let Palpatine cloud my judgment we could be a happy family now.
Luke was so touched by the words of his father that he couldn't fight the tears anymore and finally let them just fall down his cheeks. Padme wanted to close the distance between her and her son but she was quite unsure if that was the right thing to do and so she waited for the right moment to come. Trying his best to calm down again Luke finally was able to get out the words: "Oh Mother I missed you so much."
Then Padme finally closed the little distance between them and it felt so got to be able to hold Luke in a gentle embrace. For a couple of minutes mother and son just enjoyed this moment, time becoming an irrelevant thing to them for now because they just wanted to enjoy this special moment together. But as the young Jedi Knight's head lay there on his mother's shoulder he realized that he soon had to tell her one bad news, if nobody had told it already: The death of her husband and their father Anakin Skywalker and that news would definitely devastate her. One thing was pretty clear to him right at this moment: Sooner or later he had to tell her this, of course choosing his words very wisely because that was one thing that they really couldn't keep a secret no matter how painful it might be to endure.
When they finally drew away from each Luke was the first to speak: "I suggest that we continue this little family reunion at a place that's more private than the hangar of the Jedi Training Center."
Jedi Master Ralkitta, Leia and Padme just nodded in agreement, then the little group finally followed Luke out of the Hangar of the Jedi Training Center and because Leia and Luke did have a special connection through the Force she somehow knew what he worried about a lot right now: Telling their mother about the death of Anakin Skywalker.
AN: Thanks to- Ash the musical girl 13 for reviewing this story, Thanks to- .5851 for reviewing this story, Thanks to- Darth Vader Fangirl 15 for adding this story to her favorite stories list, adding me to her author alert subscription, Thanks to- prank princess 123 for adding this story to her story alert subscription, Thanks to- Maleficent-darkgoodwitch2416 for reviewing this story. Please read and review
