Disclaimer: Not mine

EDITED

Chapter 4

Breha smiled as Leia was fitted for her new gown even as the eleven-year-old tried to stay totally still while the seamstress worked. It was time for her to be presented to the people as her heir. The white gown flowed from a modest neckline down to a silver belt and then on to stop just before the floor. She looked so much like her mother but with her hands half hidden in too long sleeves she also reminded her of the General and the way he folded his hands in his robe sleeves.

"You look beautiful," Breha told her, and Leia blushed slightly.

"Thank you Mother. I won't disappoint you."

"You never could Leia." She went to the side table and opened a box, gently removing the ropes of silver, moving to braid them into Leia's hair so that when the light caught her hair it would shine. Alderaan had no crown but this piece had been handed down for generations.

"A true Princess," Bail grinned as he joined them, so proud of both his girls.

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"Ahsoka?"

"We were too late," she admitted as she joined him at the table, and Rex held out his arm in offer, so she curled into his side.

"What happened?"

"Master Ti was on Felucia along with a Padawan. But we were too late, Vader got there first. There was nothing we could do."

"I'm sorry Ahsoka, I know you were close once." Rex tightened his grip on her. How much more heartbreak could she take? Why was Vader so unstoppable? And where he went so did the 501st and that hurt even more, to know his brothers were there, fighting for something they never would have agreed to. They'd freed some over the years but it was never enough.

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Obi-Wan crept into the homestead silently, utilising skills he hadn't needed since the end of the war, since Cody…. he shook those thoughts off fast. He had spent years going over what had happened that day, how his men could have turned on him like that after everything they had been through and the only result of such thoughts was depression.

He slipped into the small bedroom and looked down at the boy sleeping on the bed, hands shaking slightly at the sight, he looked even more like his Father now. He sent a Force suggestion to sleep at him, not wanting him to wake, and then moved silently around the room, gathering the boys' clothes and a few personal belongings before lifting the child from the bed and leaving the farm. He was lighter than his Father had been at this age, shorter too, which made carrying the child a lot easier. He was not as young as he once was after all. He felt sorry for Beru and Owen, but he had tried to reason with them for two weeks.

The Empires' presence on Tatooine was increasing and the likelihood of discovery had become too great. They had begun taking census data of everyone on the planet and it was only a matter of time until they reached the more remote farms. Maybe if Luke had been given their name he would escape notice, but Owen had refused. Obi-Wan knew as soon as the name Skywalker was sent out that either the Emperor or Vader would come to claim or kill the boy.

He drove the speeder back to his hut where he'd hidden a ship, loading the child and their possessions on-board before taking off. Once safely in hyperspace he removed the Force suggestion and waited for the twelve-year-old to wake, doubting their first conversation would go well since they'd only met once and now he had basically kidnapped him.

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Leia stood beside her Mother as the Queen held the monthly audiences. Honestly they were a bit boring but it gave the people access to the Royal Family and let them know their concerns were listened to, even if a solution couldn't always be worked out. In a few more years she would take her Father's place as Senator, in preparation for one day taking the Crown. She needed to learn and participate in Galactic politics, but she was honestly dreading it, she'd heard her Father's complaints on the Senate and the Emperor many times. It was her secret role she longed to take up the most, that of loyal Rebel spy. She wanted so much to help bring down the Emperor and bring back democracy.

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Luke sat huddled on his bunk, arms around his legs as he stared out at hyperspace. Space was so cold compared to home. But it wasn't home anymore, he could never go back and that scared him. He wanted Aunt Beru and even stern Uncle Owen. He'd dreamed of leaving the farm but not like this, he wanted to go on adventures with Biggs not be running for his life because of his name. But he had no way back, even if he could get away from Ben.

The new clothes felt strange and it was weird not wearing worn whites. He didn't mind the haircut so much; he'd been overdue for one anyway even if it was shorter than he'd ever worn it before. Ben had said a braid was traditional but that it was too dangerous for him to wear one and he was glad. He didn't understand the Force and wasn't sure he wanted to learn, even if his Father had been some great Jedi hero. He just wanted to go home.

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Luke stuck close to Ben as they walked through the spaceport, he'd never seen so many beings before! Anchorhead had been so small compared to this, the few times his Uncle had allowed him to go with him or friends. This was the first time Ben had taken him somewhere so populace, usually he only left the ship when they stopped at small ports on out of the way planets. Corellia was something very different and he wanted to see it all. But they were only here for fuel and supplies while Ben talked to someone.

Luke took the money and managed a shaky smile when Ben nodded to him. He moved away and began browsing, thankful for Aunt Beru's lessons in market haggling as he bought the supplies they needed, happy when he managed to finish and have change left over. He made his way back to the ship which he'd named Whitsun after Aunt Beru's family since it hadn't had a name when Ben acquired it.

He stowed the supplies and then went to his tiny cabin to study. He had a lot to catch up on when it came to school and he'd been embarrassed but Ben never got mad when he didn't know something he should have. But it wasn't just normal school classes he was taking, he was also studying to be a Jedi, like his Father. Those lessons were odd since Ben didn't have everything recorded so a lot of the lessons had to be taught from memory.

He missed his family, but he was beginning to really enjoy learning new things. Ben even let him pilot occasionally which was great! At least one easy thing to learn was calling him Ben, it was the name Uncle Owen had used when muttering about him, it wasn't safe using the name Obi-Wan or Kenobi, he'd been too famous apparently. Luke thought he just didn't like how long his name was.

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Vader stood on the bridge, staring out at his Fleet as they gathered. Rebel activity had been increasing lately and they needed to show them how futile their actions were. "Admiral." He looked to the man who had served as his admiral since the Republic, not that the man knew that. He had tried to transfer to ISB shortly after the Empires formation but Vader would have no other as his Admiral.

"Lord Vader, all ships have reported in and are awaiting you orders," Yularen informed him.

"Very good. Set course for Dantooine."

"At once My Lord."

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The ship shook as a shot brushed the shields and Luke threw himself into the co-pilot seat, glancing over the readouts before beginning to flip a few switches. "Shields down to ninety percent," he called out in warning before glancing up. "Two minutes till hyperspace."

"I hate flying," Ben muttered, and Luke laughed. "Take over."

That made Luke look at him in shock.

"You are a better pilot then me in only eight months Padawan. Switching…now." He switched control to the co-pilots station and then tightened his harness as the ship went into a spin, dodging between two fighters. And what was an Imperial patrol doing out here? They were way out on the rim, there was nothing of interest out here. "Careful, don't get close enough for tractor beams to be used," he warned as Luke drifted close to the Star Destroyer but then they dived between it and the fighters, breaking away. "Nav comp is done."

Luke pulled back on the level, escaping to hyperspace.

"Good work Luke," he praised, and the boy blushed, ducking his head shyly. He may have his Father's piloting skills but he didn't have his ego. In many ways he was more his Mother's son, which could only be good considering Anakin's fate.

"What were they doing here?" Luke asked as he finished setting the controls.

"I do not know, there is nothing out this way of any importance. A question for another day, time to get back to lessons."

"Yes Ben." Luke got up and headed back to the dining nook where he spread out his work on the table.

When Ben joined him he was buried in his galactic history homework. He could at least ensure one child of the new generation knew the truth of the war and the last days of the Republic. Three hours later he finished, and Ben held out Anakin's old lightsaber, getting a nervous smile.

"Really?"

"Really, now come." He motioned to the hold and they both entered.

Ben took his stance and ignited his own blade, after a second Luke copied him and he began moving very slowly through the beginning stances. Watching as Luke did his best to copy, gently adjusting his stance or grip when needed. Luke still had much to learn but he also needed to be able to defend himself if things went wrong. And Younglings usually began learning the forms young, it would be harder for Luke as he was having to gain the flexibility and strength at a much later age. And maybe he needed more work but it wouldn't hurt to get him started with the blade. Eventually they would need to find a way to get a crystal that was attuned to him but all the normal places were watched closely by Inquisitors so it could be years. Until then his Father's would have to do.

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Leia smiled and accepted the congratulations and well wishes, ignoring her aching feet and mild headache. Having such long hair did have its downsides but at least her shoes were mostly sensible with only slightly raised heels.

Breha and Bail smiled in pride as the now thirteen-year-old princess handled her official birthday party like an old hand. Her gown had caused a few reactions, ones they watched carefully, as it made her look a lot like her mother… and the woman she had once played decoy for. But the style was all the rage on Coruscant once again and they hadn't even thought about how it would make Leia look.

"Congratulations on your heir, majesties."

"Grand Moff Tarkin, what an unexpected pleasure," Bail smiled and shook the man's hand while Breha inclined her head in greeting. "And yes, Leia is doing very well in her studies."

"She reminds me very much of a one-time mutual acquaintance," Tarkin commented mildly.

"We do not know the exact identities of her birth parents but we believe one was from Naboo, though I doubt any direct relation. After all there were many handmaidens who could pass for any Royal or Senator," Breha pointed out and he nodded.

"Indeed. Let us hope she proves to be an excellent Queen when her time comes." He left them to greet Leia who handled it exactly how she'd been trained to.

"Are we putting her in more danger by keeping her mother a secret?" Breha whispered.

"Perhaps, but a definite link to even a handmaiden could be very dangerous given how loyal they all were."

"True."

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"Stop, take a breath. There's no rush Luke, try again," Ben coached gently to the frustrated teen. Telekinesis was not coming easily to the boy, unlike flying and fighting.

Luke closed his eyes and took a deep breath and then another, letting go of his frustration before he tried again. The rock shakily rose a few centimetres before dropping down and Luke grinned. "I did it!"

"Yes, you did. Very good." He ruffled the short blonde hair and Luke laughed, ducking away. "Again."

They kept at it for another half hour and then moved on to lightsaber forms to let him burn off some energy. They were flying close to the core worlds, something he didn't like doing due to the risk but he wanted to get news on the state of things and the closer to Imperial Centre the more accurate news was.

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Darth Vader read the report again, his anger rising as he read the man's description. It was Him… how dare he emerge from whatever hole he had hidden in for the last thirteen years! He read through all of the reports, searching for any information on where his ship berthed, noting mentions of a child. As much as killing children disgusted him now, Kenobi had signed the child's death warrant by taking him on. Without Kenobi the boy may never have been recognised as Force sensitive and could have lived a long life, instead Kenobi had ensured the boy would be killed alongside him once caught. He sent the data to the bridge, they would find the ship no matter what it took.

TBC…