Chapter 64

None of the Skywalkers slept much that night. Although the Rebel Alliance had been informed that they would be arriving the next day, it was still bound to be a shock for them when the massive super star destroyer appeared in their midst.

Leia was on her way to join her family for one final meal together before they left when she was met in the corridor by Han Solo. She did her best not to appear happy to see him, though secretly she was. Despite everything, she could not deny the feelings she had for him.

"Morning Princess," Han said, feeling uncharacteristically nervous around the young woman. "Big day I guess, eh?"

Leia nodded. "Yes it is," she said. "What are your plans, Han?" she asked.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"I mean if we'd remained on Hoth you would have gone to pay off Jabba by now," Leia told him. "I just assumed you'd be anxious to get on your way."

Han could see that Leia was still hurt by what had transpired between them the previous day, and it made him feel even more ashamed than he already did. "Look, Leia," he began, "about yesterday. I acted like a real jerk, and I just wanted to…"

"Yes, you certainly did," she replied, folding her arms over her chest.

"I'm trying to apologize," Han retorted hotly. "If you'd just give me a chance."

"I'm listening," Leia replied.

Han wiped his hands, which had become rather sweaty, on his pants as he tried to put together the right words to say. He wasn't a man who often admitted to being wrong, much less apologizing. But he knew that if he did not at least make an attempt, Leia would be lost to him forever. And that was not something he cared to contemplate.

"I suppose you just caught me at a bad moment," he began lamely, "and I was kinda short with you, and I'm sorry."

Leia nodded. "Thank you for apologizing," she replied. "I know that isn't something you do easily."

"No, it isn't," he replied. "But, well, I figured I owed you after the way I acted."

"I see," Leia responded, watching him closely. "Is that the only reason?" she asked.

"What do you mean?" he asked warily.

"Never mind," she muttered, trying to walk past him. She had given him the perfect opportunity to tell her how he felt about her, and yet he had not.

"So are we cool then?" he asked, stepping in front of her.

She looked up at him, doing her best to hide her disappointment. "Cool?" she replied. "Yes, that's a very good word for what we are, Han," she told him as she tried again to get past him. "Will you please let me pass?" she asked in exasperation.

Han frowned. "What's going on?" he demanded. And then a thought struck him. "You… you like that pretty boy officer don't you?" he asked. "That's why you're giving me the cold shoulder, isn't it?"

Leia shook her head. "Do I have to spell everything out for you, Han?" she asked him.

"Yeah, I think maybe you do," he replied.

She looked at him, trying to decide how much longer she ought to let him twist in the wind. "What difference would it make to you if I did?"

Han had played cards since he was a boy, and had become very good at it. He knew when it was time to call someone's bluff; he knew when it was time to fold, and when it was time to put all your cards on the table. At this moment, he felt sure that if he did not show Leia his hand, she would leave his life for good.

"Yeah, it would," he told her at last. "A hell of a big difference, and I think you know it, Leia."

Leia had to fight to hide her smile at his reply. "Why is that?" she pressed, forcing him to say the words.

"You know why," he grumbled.

"No, I don't think I do," Leia replied. "You told my brother how sure you were that I wasn't going anywhere, is that how you put it?" she told him, a spark of anger in her dark eyes.

"That kid has a big mouth," Han muttered. "That was a stupid thing to say, I admit it."

"Yes it was," Leia replied. "It makes me wonder if I made a mistake telling you how I feel."

Han frowned. "Why would you say that?" he asked

Leia sighed, frustrated by his stubborn refusal to be open with her.

"Just forget it," she said at last. "I need to go, Han. Thank you for the apology. I know how painful it must have been for you."

Han was unable to respond, as Leia swept past him and walked away. Damn it, he thought in frustration. Maybe I'm just fooling myself.

Leia continued on her way, determined not to let the uncomfortable encounter with Han ruin the excitement of the day. She found her parents in the dining room, speaking to one another, the closeness between them obvious. It was uncanny how the two of them could tune out the rest of the room, the rest of the galaxy even, when they were together. I want that with, she thought wistfully. He adores my mother, she means everything to him. Han is incapable of such devotion…he's too wrapped up in himself to love someone that completely.

"Good morning," she said, smiling at her parents.

Anakin and Padmé looked up to greet their daughter, and immediately Anakin could see that she was doing her best to hide how upset she was. Solo, Anakin thought angrily as Leia took a seat beside him.

"Did you sleep well?" Padmé asked her daughter.

"Not really," Leia replied. "Too much going on I guess."

Anakin nodded. "It's a big day," he agreed. "I wonder where Luke is," he said.

"He'll be along soon I'm sure," Leia said, helping herself to some juice. "You know him and food."

Padmé laughed. "Sounds like his father," she said, giving Anakin a smile.

"Well, I'm a big man, Padmé," he said in self defense as he helped himself to another helping of eggs. "I'd starve to death if I ate what you eat."

Padmé and Leia both laughed. "We wouldn't want that, now would we Mom?" Leia said, leaning over and kissing her father's cheek.

"Not a chance," Padmé replied. She looked up as Luke entered the room. "There he is," she said. "There's still some food left Luke," she told her son. "I've managed to hold off your father."

Luke smiled as he sat beside his mother. "You are the best," he told her, kissing her cheek.

It had been determined at an earlier date that Han and Chewbacca would return to the Rebel Fleet in the Falcon, while the Skywalker family and Obi-Wan would travel on board the Executor. Leia was disappointed when the decision had been made that Han would not be traveling with them; but now she was glad. She wanted to put some distance between them, hoping that one of two things would happen: either he would come to realize how much she meant to him and change his tune, or she would get over him.

The mood in the shuttle on the trip over to the Executor was one of nervous excitement. The fate of the galaxy was in their hands, and everyone present was keenly aware of this. While Anakin was looking forward to shocking the Rebel leaders, Leia and Luke were a little nervous about how they would react. Perhaps it was best that they had not told them that it was the Executor, for no doubt the conservative leaders would have refused to trust Piett and his crew. Once the Executor was in their midst, the matter would be a moot point.

"Quite an historical day this is, wouldn't you say?" Obi-Wan asked Anakin and Padmé as they neared the enormous ship.

"Let us hope so," Padmé replied. "Let's hope that the Alliance sees it that way."

"Do they know who I am?" Anakin asked Obi-Wan. "Or who I was?"

"They don't know that you were Darth Vader until recently, no," Obi-Wan replied. "I was thinking about that, and whether we ought to tell them."

"I'm not sure how it will be avoidable," Anakin said. "They will no doubt want to know where I have been for the past twenty years. If they are to trust me, they must know the whole truth."

"Yes, I think you're right," Obi-Wan said. "Let's just hope that they can put aside their animosity for Darth Vader in order to embrace this new alliance."

"If they truly want peace, they will," Padmé said. "The Executor and its crew will tip the scales in the favor of the Alliance, not to mention the addition of the Chosen One to their ranks," she added, looking at Anakin with a smile.

"If they accept me," Anakin reminded her. "Knowing that I have been Darth Vader for the past twenty years may make that impossible for them. All we can do is wait and see, and hope that they realize that what we propose is the only chance to end the conflict in the galaxy."

"Dad, Mom, we're about to dock," Luke said as he entered the hold.

"Very well," Padmé said. "We're ready, aren't we gentlemen?"

Obi-Wan and Anakin looked at one another. "Another adventure for Kenobi and Skywalker," Obi-Wan said with a smile.

Anakin nodded. "Let's hope we haven't lost our touch in our old age," he remarked with a smile.

Obi-Wan chuckled.

"Well here we are," Lieutenant Keller announced as he entered the hold.

"Let us be off," Anakin said, standing up. He held out a hand to his wife and together with their children they made their way towards the exit.

Nothing could have prepared anyone for the reception that awaited them when they descended the ramp. The hangar bay was full of troops, officers and crewmen, all waiting in anticipation for the arrival of their new allies. Upon seeing Anakin, the crowds erupted into loud cheers.

Anakin stood amidst the sea of cheering with his wife at his side, completely at a loss for words. Admiral Piett approached them with a smile. "As you can see," he said above the cheering crowd, "they are rather pleased to see you."

Anakin nodded, taken aback by the awesome reception and the overwhelming display of support. He turned to Padmé, who seemed as affected as he was.

"I guess we have no doubts about their cooperation," Leia put in, delighted to see the great show of support for her father.

"Perhaps you ought to say something to them," Padmé suggested.

Anakin looked at her, feeling rather unnerved at the prospect of addressing such a huge gathering. "I wasn't expecting this," he said. "I'm not prepared."

"Come now, Anakin," Obi-Wan urged. "Since when have you ever been at a loss for words?"

Luke and Leia had to laugh at his comment, as well as the expression on their father's face.

"Very well," he said, looking around, wondering how he would make himself heard amidst such an enormous throng.

"I'm afraid there is no platform here to stand on," Piett told him, realizing what Anakin was looking for. "Only that balcony for the security alcove, but you have to go out into the corridor and down a ways to reach it."

Anakin looked up at the alcove, trying to decide if he could make the jump up to it. He looked at Obi-Wan. "What do you think, Obi-Wan?" he asked. "Think I can make it?"

Obi-Wan looked up at the balcony thoughtfully. "It's rather high," he said. "And you're not as young as you used to be, Anakin," he couldn't resist adding.

Anakin raised his eyebrows. "Still younger than you, old man," he countered and then walked towards the balcony.

Obi-Wan merely smiled as Anakin nimbly leapt up to the balcony, to the astonishment of all assembled.

Anakin, who was secretly pleased that he'd managed the jump, smiled at his family, and then turned to the crowds surrounding them. He held up a hand to quiet them, and soon the enormous hanger was silent.

"My friends, today we stand upon the threshold of a new era," he began. "When you decided to stand against the tyranny of the Empire, you set into motion a series of events that will change the destiny of the galaxy forever."

The men assembled below erupted into cheers again. Anakin looked down at Padmé. He could see the tears in her eyes as she smiled back up at him.

Once the room became quiet again, Anakin continued his oration. "For twenty years the Rebel Alliance has been waging war against this tyranny. With our combined strength, we shall prevail against itl!"

More cheers erupted from the room, and then a few of the men started chanting: Skywalker! Skywalker! Skywalker! It soon caught on and before long the whole room was chanting it. Anakin was too overwhelmed to say anymore, and turned to look at his family. They were no longer where they had been moments earlier, and he looked around for them, a moment of panic seizing him. But then they entered the alcove and joined him.

"Dad, this is unbelievable!" Luke said with a smile.

Anakin nodded. "This isn't all for me, Luke," he replied. "They realize that they are free of the servitude to an evil tyrant, they are finally free."

Leia felt a lump in her throat, realizing that her father spoke as much of himself as he did the men before them. She took Anakin's hand wordlessly.

"Now it's time to free the rest of the galaxy," Padmé said, linking her arms through Anakin's.

Anakin nodded. "Yes it is," he said. "It's time we were on our way. Our allies are expecting us."