A/N: I do not own Star Wars or its characters.

CHAPTER ONE

Darth Vader was no more.

Ever since he relinquished the Dark Side and his status as a Sith lord, the most feared member of the now falling Empire after the Emperor himself had become Anakin Skywalker - the son of Shmi, Padmé's husband, father of two (two!) - again. Yes. Anakin Skywalker, the Chosen One, the Hero With no Fear was back. And he was dying.

It was ironic how only at the end he understood the vile nature of the Dark Side of the Force. It had cost his wife's life before, and recently it had nearly cost him his son's life, and his daughter's, for that matter. The girl he had dreamed about back when Padmé was pregnant, whose identity remained undisclosed.

"It turns out we were both right." The thought made him smile internally, despite the pain. Padmé was sure the baby was a boy, whereas he was certain it was a girl. They had twins. Deep sadness ran in Anakin's veins when he realized he would never live to meet his daughter, or to get to know her. On the other hand, he was thankful that despite all of his wrongdoings, the Force blessed him enough to meet his son.

Luke. The name itself meant light, and Anakin couldn't think of a more appropriate name for the boy. He should stop thinking of him as a kid, though, Anakin realized. Luke was 23 years old, a war hero and an outstanding Jedi knight. He had missed his children's whole childhood and teenage years. They were now fully grown young adults and did not really need him for anything. No one needed him, and it was all his fault.

"Ani, you're going down a path I can't follow." He remembered what his wife had told him that dreadful day on Mustafar. Padmé tried to warn him about the Chancellor's evils and he force choked her in return. If only he had listened to her and Obi-Wan, if he had believed what they said about Palpatine back then... he would have fulfilled the prophecy much sooner and would have gotten to have a happy family. Most importantly, he wouldn't have deprived his kids of a childhood with two loving parents, and would have let the woman he loved be a mother and see her children grow up.

As Luke hastily, albeit carefully, dragged his father through the second Death Star's sterile corridors, he could feel the deep sadness in his father's waning force signature. "Just hang in there, father.", he told the former Sith lord in desperation. He had just gotten his father back, he couldn't lose him again. Anakin could barely speak, or breathe, for that matter - the smell of smoke coming from the destruction of the battle station made his condition worse - but tried to send his son comforting feelings through the Force anyway. When they reached the main hangar to look for usable starfighters, Luke laid his father down for a moment. The Jedi knight was exhausted and hurt from all the force lightning Palpatine shot at him. His whole body was a huge bag of pain and he was sure that if he didn't have the Force as an ally powering him up, he would've been dead by now, considering the magnitude of the whole ordeal he had gone through that night. Not everyone could survive that much force lighting.

The injured Anakin Skywalker used the last of his strength to speak. "Luke, help me take this mask off."

An indignant look crossed Luke's face. "But you'll die.", the young Jedi protested. He knew his father needed the suit to survive. Even damaged by the force lightning, it could still help him breathe.

"Nothing can stop that now.", Anakin wheezed, the sound of his respirator louder than ever. "Just for once... let me look on you with my own eyes."

Carefully and hesitantly, Luke removed his father's mask, the black accessory that instilled fear in whoever took a glimpse of it. He was shocked at the sight. The man who once was the most intimidating enemy they had ever faced looked frail and painfully ill. His face was deathly pale and had scars all over. Beneath the scars there was a pair of blue eyes, much alike his own. Those gleaming eyes looked at him lovingly. Luke was not able to keep his emotions contained, and shed a tear for his dying father, with whom he had just reconciled.

Anakin smiled. His son was almost a carbon copy of himself, from the sky blue eyes to the sandy blonde hair. It was like Luke was the Jedi he should have been. The older Skywalker never regretted sacrificing himself to save his son, but now that he looked directly at the young man's face and felt the sheer love he emanated, he was certain he would gladly kill himself over and over again just to make sure Luke was safe.

"Now... go, my son. Leave me." Anakin muttered weakly. His voice was barely louder than a whisper and every breath he took hurt, but he needed his son to leave as quickly as possible. It was a matter of minutes before the station collapsed. Luke looked outraged at the idea.

"No! You're coming with me. I can't leave you here. I've got to save you." I just got you back, I won't lose you again, he thought.

Anakin sighed. His son was not making it any easier. He understood Luke wanted him to live, to make up for the twenty-three years he had been absent, but there was nothing the boy could do to prevent his death. Besides, Luke had already given him the best gift of all: redemption.

Looking intently at the young man's eyes, he muttered with difficulty, "You already have, Luke. You were right about me." His son had indeed been right all along. There was still good in him. It was a shame neither Luke nor his sister would ever get to properly see it. Luke's sister. Anakin's thoughts drift again to the daughter he never met. "Tell your sister..." - he pauses, out of breath - "you were right." With those last words, Anakin closed his eyes and let out a shaky, dying breath.

Luke's eyes were full of despair as he looked at his father's frail form. The young jedi searched for the elder Skywalker's force signature, and found a waning, but subsisting presence.

"Father, I won't leave you." This isn't fair - Luke thought - everyone grows up with a father, and now that I finally get to know mine, he's about to die. The young Skywalker decided he was not going to let the worst happen. He took a quick look around the room to search for usable starfighters, but a desperate crowd of fleeing stormtroopers and imperial officers was making it difficult for him to see anything. A huge explosion rocked the docking bay, making Luke rise and drag his father through the hangar until he stumbled upon a shuttle. He swiftly made his way into the fighter and placed his father in it. After starting the engine, he took off into the vastness of space, headed for the moon of Endor. Not five minutes later, what was left of the second Death Star was blown up into nothing, and Luke smiled as he saw the Millennium Falcon soar, victorious. Even though his worries about Anakin weren't leaving his mind anytime soon, he couldn't help but feel relieved. I can't believe this is finally over, he thought.

I can't believe this is finally over. Princess Leia Organa, general of the Rebel Alliance, thought, as she watched the explosion happen in the sky. It was like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Her only worry now was her brother. She just hoped he had gotten out of that dreadful place in time. She had lost so many people already, and to lose her brother a day after they had found out about their kinship would destroy her. Besides, Luke was a good person, and he did not deserve to die like that.

Han seemed to share her worries. No matter how tough, careless and coldhearted the smuggler tried to act, Leia knew the Corellian was a ball of warmth - a caring friend and loyal partner deep inside. "I'm sure Luke wasn't on that thing when it blew.", he said, looking down from the sky to the Princess.

Leia remembered what Luke had told her earlier, when she mentioned she could neither understand nor have his powers. You're wrong, Leia. You have that power too. In time, you'll learn to use it as I have. Her brother believed so much in her, enough to be sure she could be everything he was. Maybe I can try to feel him through the Force. We have done that before. She recalled all the times she could sense Luke's emotions and his very presence. She had always called that intuition, but now she knew better. She tried to search for her brother in the Force, keeping her eyes fixated on the sky, right where the explosion had taken place. Slowly but surely, she starts feeling connected with her environment and all beings around her. Suddenly, she could feel everything. She could sense every human, alien or wild animal, the water, the rocks, everything emitted a signal, and although it was quite disorienting at first, she quickly got used to it and concentrated on Luke. Her brother was not hard to find, as his force signature was already familiar to Leia, even though she had never noticed it before. His presence was a beacon of light in the Force and it made her feel warm and complete. She smiled.

"He wasn't. I can feel it." The Princess replied to her lover, who frowned.

Han had always felt like he was getting between the Princess and the farm boy, but Leia kept coming back to him, so he had assumed she had sorted her feelings out. However, on the night before, he had seen her hugging Luke very intimately, which made his insecurities return.

"You love him. Don't you?" Han asked bitterly.

A puzzled Leia answered him with a simple "yes", like that was the most obvious fact in the universe.

Han decided he would not be the one to keep two of his best friends from being together. Besides, Luke was a perfect match for Leia. They were both innate heroes, and he was a scoundrel, as the Princess had previously put out.

"Alright. I understand. Fine. When he comes back, I won't get in the way." The smuggler said. Leia briefly wondered why in the universe Han would think he would be in the way of two siblings, until she realized she had not told him about her connection with Luke yet. With an exasperated laugh, she answered him.

"No. It's not like that at all" - Han frowned at that. - "He's my brother."

Han was suddenly consumed by a mix of relief, confusion and clarity. It made sense that two people as extraordinary as Luke and Leia would be related, and had the situation been different, he was sure he wouldn't stand a chance against the kid. However, as he delightedly kissed the smiling Princess, he couldn't help but remember that one time on Hoth when she made out with Luke to provoke him. He sincerely hoped they did not know about their kinship back then, otherwise the siblings were into some very disturbing practices. As the shock wore off, he could relax more into Leia's lips. An ewok warrior appeared behind them, celebrating their triumph and breaking their kiss, as Leia gazed into Han's eyes and grinned, making him smile back at her and ruffle the ewok's fluffy head.

Han knew Luke and Leia could not have known they were siblings since the beginning. After he, Luke, Chewie and the old man Kenobi - Rest In Peace - rescued the princess aboard the Death Star four years ago they all spent time getting to know each other, and Han even picked on Luke because he noticed the kid was infatuated with the princess. Unable to keep the question to himself, Han decided to ask.

"Since when have you known about this?"

"Since last night. Luke told me before he went to the new Death Star to confront Vader." Leia answered, her happy disposition quickly deteriorating after the mention of Vader. She knew she would eventually have to tell the man she loved about her biological father, but the princess was worried he would never want to look at her again after he found out the truth. Vader's name was enough to cause revulsion in anyone that heard it, and his evil deeds to the galaxy in the name of the Empire could never be erased.

"Why did Luke have to go confront that piece of poodoo on the first place? Vader would have died from the explosion anyway." Han came to the conclusion that the reason Leia was so miserable last night was because she thought Luke would die from the confrontation. To be honest, had he known what that crazy kid was about to do, he would also have thought that.

"Vader could feel Luke's presence on this moon. Luke thought he would be jeopardizing our mission if he stayed here." Leia said nervously, still mustering up the courage to tell Han the truth.

The smuggler was confused. How could Vader sense Luke of all people? Why was the kid so important to him? He couldn't help but ask.

"But why did Vader sense Luke? Why was he so interested in him? Does it have to do with the force thing? Can people who have the force sense other people like them?" He truly felt stupid, and nothing could have prepared him for Leia's next words.

Leia knew she couldn't avoid the truth any longer. If she postponed it, it would be bad for everyone.

"He's Luke's- our biological father." Leia said as she trembled. Never in her life she had felt so disgusted of herself. She was literal sithspawn, child of an evil man whose full time job was terrorizing the galaxy.

The princess fitted Han as he took in the information. The pilot was at a loss for words. How could something so vile be responsible for the existence of not one, but two of the most incredible people he had ever met in his not-so-short lifetime? However, Leia interpreted the look on his face as an expression of rejection.

"Han, I really am sorry that you have been caught up in the craziness that is my life. I understand if you don't want to be with me any longer, I mean, I would be second guessing if I were you-" Han didn't let her finish the sentence. He caught her lips in a reassuring kiss that almost undid her. It was Leia's turn to be consumed by relief. He really did love her after all. She felt like a teenager again, insecure about her lover, even though she knew that was utterly foolish.

"Hey, you kissed your own brother and I didn't leave you. What is being Vader's daughter in comparison?" The smuggler joked, giving her one of his crooked smiles. He laughed out loud as he watched Leia's face turn bright red.

"Can we please never mention that again?" The princess said, covering her face with her hands. If there was one thing she could take back...

"Hey, relax, you didn't know." Han said soothingly.

"Still... that's something to cringe about for the rest of my life" Leia answered. That kiss at Hoth's med bay wasn't even the only one she had shared with her brother. Talk about an ick factor.

"Well, at least I know you won't be opposed to calling him whenever we want to spice things up a bit- if you know what I mean." Han jested, smirking.

Leia's eyes went as wide as saucers. She playfully hit Han's shoulder, her face still as red as Mustafar. Han started laughing again, and this time, Leia giggled along with him.

They would be just fine.

You will be just fine. Hang on, I'm going to save you. Luke thought to his father as he prepared to land on Endor. He could feel Vader- no, Anakin's force signature getting weaker by the minute, and he really didn't know what to do. Endor didn't have a rebel base and he doubted they would want to care for Vader aboard the Home One. If he could find a way to access a med bay without anyone seeing him...

The young Jedi suddenly had an idea. He commed his sister, who quickly answered the holo call.

"Luke! Nice to see you alive and well!" She said, smiling brightly.

"Hey, Leia! I need a favor. Can you contact the Home One and request a detachable intensive care med bay?" He went straight to the point. Leia's face quickly became inquisitive.

"Why? We have already requested one. There's more than enough space for additional people." She asked, frowning. Luke trusted his sister with his life, but he knew he couldn't tell her the truth, she just wouldn't understand. Leia had openly hated Vader for as long as she could remember, and it just got worse after he tortured her for hours. made her watch the destruction of her home planet and froze her lover in carbonite, among other things. Luke really couldn't blame her, but he hoped she would eventually come around. She deserved to know the man Anakin Skywalker had been before he was corrupted by the Dark Side of the Force.

"I know, but the guy I'm taking needs to be separated from the others. He has been heavily burned and could easily get an infection if he's too exposed to other people's germs." Luke tried, thankful they weren't talking in person. Even unaware of her Force abilities, Leia had always been very connected to it, he realized. She'd always had a strong intuition and was often quick to sense whenever something was wrong. He was sure she would have sensed his lie had he been by her side at that moment.

"Who is he? Is he a rebel? He can't be... you were the only one of us who went inside the Death Star." Leia inquired. There was nobody in the galaxy who she trusted more than Luke, strangely, he had always made her feel at home. That's why finding out he was her brother wasn't a shock to her at all. Still, she couldn't help but sense something was off, even through the blue holo image of her sibling flickering off her comlink.

"He's..." Luke knew he couldn't tell Leia a complete lie. Besides shattering her trust in him, she would never believe it in the first place. "He's an Imperial Soldier, he realized that what the Empire was doing was wrong and actually helped me in the Death Star, but got injured in the process. Imperials really have no mercy... even on their own." It wasn't a lie. Like Obi-Wan once said, it was the truth, from a certain point of view. Luke snickered internally at the thought.

Leia looked skeptical for a moment, but complied. "Alright. I trust your judgment. I'll contact Admiral Ackbar right away. Just be safe and don't do anything stupid."

Luke scoffed. "When have I ever done anything stupid?" He asked, pretending to be offended.

Snorting, Leia answered, "when have you ever not?"

Han's face appeared on the holo, squishing Leia's right cheek. "Aww, look at you two, already bickering like siblings." The smuggler joked.

"You know?" Luke didn't even know why he was surprised.

"Of course I do. I'm part of the family too, aren't I?" Han added, winking.

"I guess you are. Don't let it get to your head, though." Luke felt so lucky to have found such great friends, friends who became figurative, and in Leia's case, literal family. Who could have imagined something as terrible as a war, known for destroying families, would reunite his own.

Han laughed at the young Jedi's statement. He loved his friend to death as well, but would never admit it. Gotta keep the calm, collected Corellian attitude, he thought with a smirk.

"I have to turn the comlink off. I'll see you soon. Thanks, Leia!" Luke quickly said. He had to prepare the shuttle to enter Endor's atmosphere. While talking to his friends, he briefly forgot about his dying father inside the ship with him. Fearful, he checked the force again for Anakin's signature. The former Sith Lord hadn't moved or made a sound the whole time they were in the spacecraft, and it took Luke a while to find it. It was faint, but is was there nonetheless. Sighing in relief, he entered the forest moon's atmosphere and set the shuttle's controls to land, hoping that nobody on Endor noticed the giant man clad in black shining armor he carried with him.

A/N: So... Should I continue? This chapter reimagined a lot of existing scenes, I know, but I needed to set up the context for what's coming ahead. I have great plans for this story! Please review so I can know what you guys think of the story or if it's any good at all. Thanks for reading, until next time!