The morning after their arrival, the Skywalkers, Mara and Han ate an early and light breakfast before taking a very flashy palace landspeeder out to the coordinates and the estate that was there. Walking up to the door, Luke and Leia shot uneasy glances at each other, wondering how they would be received and what, if anything, they would learn about their mother and father. Taking a deep breath, Leia rang the door chime. Within a minute, a young girl of no older than ten or eleven opened the door and her blue eyes became large in wonder. After a moment, she called out, "Mother, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Mara Jade and Han Solo are at the door!"

Laughter followed and the warm voice of an elderly woman was heard, "Well don't leave them on the stoop, Child. Let them in."

Wordlessly, the child stepped to the side and motioned them inward with a shaking hand. Leia smiled and said, "Thank you, young one. What's your name?"

The child barely whispered, "Orme, your Highness."

Leia gently tapped the girl's shoulder. "You don't have to call me that, Orme. My name is Leia and that will do just fine. Do you know who this man and I are?"

The young girl nodded vigorously. "Yes! You're the galaxy's GREATEST HEROES! You defeated the Empire!"

Leia chuckled and knelt down. "We didn't on our own, Orme. We had many, many friends to help us out, including these two here;" and she motioned to Han and Mara behind her. "But I meant, do you know who we are in relation to you?"

The girl shook her head slowly and Leia said, "Well your grandmother was our mother's sister. That makes us cousins."

The girls already large eyes grew even larger and she whispered, "I'm related to two of the galaxy's greatest heroes?"

Luke knelt down beside his sister and said, "That's right, Orme. Can you take us to your mother and grandmother, please?"

"No need, Master Skywalker. I'm not so old that I can't come to you;" said a warm, slightly wizened voice from an entry way to another room. Luke and Leia stood and looked at the woman who had spoken. Somehow, they knew instinctively that this was their Aunt. Even in her age, she was still graceful and lovely in the most motherly way. She put a hand over her mouth and tears sprang into her eyes. After a moment, she whispered just audibly, "You certainly are the children of Anakin Skywalker and my sister Padme Amidala. You share their looks and you have their eyes - both of you."

She slowly approached and looked them both in the eyes. Suddenly, she wrapped an arm around each of them and gave a quiet sob. After a moment, she separated from them and took another long look at them. "We thought that you had died with your mother at the hands of Darth Vader - but I am getting ahead of myself. Please come in and sit down. We have so much to talk about."

Luke and Leia shared troubled looks at one another. All of them went into a sitting area and Luke cleared his throat and said, "Allow me introduce my fiancé, Mara Jade and Leia's fiancé Han Solo."

Their Aunt said warmly. "It's a real pleasure, my Dears and my name is Sola Naberrie Janren. These are my daughters Ryoo and Pooja and this is my son-in-law Traiten Elissin and you already met my granddaughter Orme."

Leia frowned and looked at the smiling woman Pooja and suddenly realized that she knew her from years ago. "You represented Naboo in the Imperial Senate!"

Pooja and Leia stood and clasped hands, old friends who had not seen each other since before the destruction of Alderaan. Pooja, who was older by at least seven or eight years, nodded her head. "It's true and it is wonderful to see you again, Princess Organa."

"Please call me Leia. I had wondered what had happened to you after Palpatine dissolved the senate;" gushed Leia. Pooja smiled sadly and said, "I came home and became involved in local politics. But enough of that; you came here to learn about your parents. Mother can tell you quite a bit about Aunt Padme and even a little about Uncle Anakin."

The Skywalker twins looked at each other. Hearing their father referred to as 'Uncle Anakin' was beyond strange. They all sat down and Traiten stood and offered kindly, "I think I'll make some tea and some caff."

They all thanked him and fell silent. Sola looked at her niece and nephew for some time before sighing. "In truth, my dears, I don't know where to begin. It seems so strange to talk about my sister after so many years. What would you like to know?"

Leia nearly blurted out eagerly, "Everything, Aunt Sola. Start from when you were kids. To Luke and I, anything and everything is new."

Sola laughed lightly and said, "Well your mother was always a passionate, loving and caring woman. She went to school in the best academies in Theed and always volunteered to aid the weak and those who needed help. She ran for election at the age of fourteen and was elected the Queen of this planet. We were all beyond surprised by that. Immediately, she successfully amended the constitution to put the monarchy limit to two terms per elected individual. She was quite popular during her time as Queen. Less than a year into her reign, the Trade Federation blockaded our world. With the help of a couple of Jedi, she escaped only to return and unite the Naboo and Gungans against the Trade Federation. Under her leadership, the Trade Federation was defeated - thanks in no small part to your father who himself was only ten years old."

Sola was quiet for several long minutes before saying with unabashed fondness. "From what I hear, you two are the reincarnate versions of your parents. Leia, your work with the Rebel Alliance is one of the main reasons that the New Republic is rising and you, Luke, there are songs, poems, holo-novels and holo-films made about your doings. There's a rumor out of Coruscant that an up and coming play write is writing an opera about you - you and your lovely fiance as well."

She cast a kind look at Mara who returned the smile humbly and squeezed Luke's hand. "Anyway, after her two terms, Padme was elected the Senator for Naboo. She quickly grew in influence among the other senators and became the leader of a faction that was known for its vast opposition to many popular and seemingly well intended ideas such as, for example, the creation of a Republic Military. Unfortunately, many worlds and systems began to secede from the Galactic Republic, becoming the Confederacy of Independent Systems under the leadership of Count Dooku of Serenno. The CIS made attempts on your Aunt's life, though I'm not sure why - probably because the Viceroy of the Trade Federation was still holding a grudge from losing his army and fleet at the Battle for Naboo."

Sola began to chuckle and shake her head. "I still remember the first time I met your father. He was young, polite and very handsome. You have his chin dimple and jaw line, Luke."

Luke blushed and Mara chuckled at his humility. Sola smiled and said, "It was so much fun, teasing my sister about him. There was clearly a spark between them and it didn't take the force to feel it either. Anyhow, they went and hid at our lake house in the mountains. Oh..." she stopped for a moments.

"While you're here, we should visit it. If I were a gambler, I would bet that's where things really took off between them. Anyhow, from what I heard later, they randomly left the mountains and headed to another planet. If my memory serves me, those two wound up smack in the middle of the first battle of the Clone Wars on Geonosis."

Sola was quiet for several long moments. "Those times became terrible. No one was safe anymore. There were several more battles on Naboo itself, more attempts on my sister's life and your father..." and she chuckled, "... your father - the Hero with No Fear. He was the poster boy for the entire war effort - he and General Obi-Wan Kenobi. Wait a moment."

She stood and went to a small box on a holo-book shelf. With a chuckle, she pulled out data cube and activated it. There stood two young, handsome men - one of which was obviously Anikan Skywalker and the other had to be Obi-Wan Kenobi. A holo-net announcer gave a news update on some battle or another. "Resounding Victory! After many long days of hard fighting and sacrifice, Generals Obi-wan Kenobi and Anikan Skywalker successfully hold the industrial world of Christophsis AND negotiate the use of hyperspace lanes through Hutt Space. The Negotiator and the Hero with No Fear, leading our brave boys in white to victory after victory!"

At the end of the clip, it showed the two men, and also a very young female Togruta wielding a green lightsaber in a reverse group much like Galen Marek. Luke pointed the young Togruta out. "Who was that?"

Sola chuckled and said, "That was your father's spirited and talented apprentice Ahsoka Tano."

Leia sighed, a look of sadness on her face. She looked at Luke. "She was another who fell to Darth Vader during the Rebellion."

Luke nodded sadly and so did Sola. "Yes. Many, many fell to Darth Vader; your father and your mother were not his only victims. Many dozens of Jedi died on that evil man's blade as did many innocent beings either by his hand or by his orders."

Luke and Leia looked at one another uncomfortably. Sola stood with and sigh and said, "I have a few things of your mothers actually. I'm sure she'd want you to have them."

She disappeared from the room. Luke put his head in his hands and Leia took a shuddering breath. Pooja and Ryoo looked at each other and then back at them. Ryoo asked anxiously, "Are you okay, Cousins?"

Mara sighed and hugged Luke from behind, answering with a smile. "It's a long story, I'm afraid."

Luke and Leia held a hurried conversation through their bond and they seemed to rally a little. When Sola returned, she had a small box in it. There was an elaborate flimsy diary book, a necklace made of simple metal chain and a carved piece of wood. Luke recognized it easily. "Japor ivory wood - it's really rare and can only be found on Tatooine."

Sola nodded, "Yes it is. Your father made that for your mother when he was young after only just meeting. This - and I don't know why your mother kept it - but this is your father's padawan braid. Here is quite probably the only surviving holo image of them on their wedding. They were married at that lake house I mentioned earlier. Leia Dear, are you okay?"

Leia was in tears again, bravely holding in her sobs. In the image was Anakin, no older than Luke and she were at the Battle of Yavin. This man, this brave, kind, loving man had turned into the second most terrible monster she had ever known or heard of. Her emotions were so overloaded trying to reconcile that, she was bursting. Han lifted her and hugged her to him, shushing her. Luke had tears in his eyes but he was much more together. "There is something you need to know about our father and your brother-in-law."

He was silent for a long moment before saying, "He wasn't killed by Darth Vader in the Jedi Temple. He BECAME Darth Vader. He turned to the dark side, slaughtered hundreds of Jedi and, yes, killed your sister and our mother."

Sola and her daughters were absolutely silent. Luke readied himself for the denial and for the argument and even the defensiveness but Sola sighed and rubbed her temples. "I believe you, Luke. There was always something about Anakin that worried me - some shadow that always seemed to hang over him. In the end, what was Anakin - or Darth Vader I guess - like?"

Luke couldn't speak. He had become so overcome himself that his voice would not obey his commands. The memory of Anakin Skywalker standing with him side by side against Emperor Palpatine and sacrificing his life for him and Mara still affected him. Mara cleared her throat, her own voice huskier than usual as she said, "Anakin Skywalker came back. He turned on the Emperor and took his first and last steps to undoing all that he could of his evil work for Palpatine. It was Anakin who defeated the Emperor. It was Anakin who saved me and Luke. It was Anakin Skywalker who paid the ultimate price."

Silence followed her declaration. Luke was finally able to clear the lump from his throat and he said in a still shaky voice, "There are some things that Vader did that cannot be forgiven. His last request of me was to undo his work since he wouldn't be able to. I promised I would. Vader destroyed the Jedi and the Republic. Leia and I are assisting in rebuilding both. Vader enslaved trillions. We are working to set them free again. There are some things we will never be able to do - like bring our mother back or bring the worlds destroyed by the Empire back or bring the devastated species back to their former prosperity and grandeur. However, I like to believe that, in the end, Anakin Skywalker defeated Darth Vader when he defeated Emperor Palpatine and saved me and Mara from the second Death Star before it exploded."

Sola looked into his sky blue eyes for a long time before smiling sadly and saying, "I am going to live the remainder of my days under that assumption then, Luke. I will assume that Anakin died as the man my sister loved."

Leia had sat back down, her eyes red and still not speaking but she smiled and nodded in silent agreement. It was then that Traiten came back in with a tray bearing two kettles and cups and saucers for all of them. They all accepted cups of one or the other and fell to quiet but much more pleasant conversation. Sola and her daughters were immensely interested in how the two Skywalker twins were raised and, of course, all wanted to know about their feats and their parts in the Rebellion against the Empire. They stayed until the sun was high in the sky and Sola clapped her hands. "Good conversation sure makes the time fly. Come, let us have some lunch. We have some days to get to know each other and talk about your father and mother. "

They agreed heartily. By the end of the day, the four travelers returned to the palace, emotionally and physically exhausted. Luke changed into sleeping pants and shirt and collapsed on the bed with a shaky sigh. "This has been an emotion turbolift ride;" he murmured. Mara had changed into his white tunic from Tatooine and snuggled up beside him. "I can only imagine, Luke. How are you holding up?"

Luke wrapped his arms around his wife to be and pulled her atop him, smiling up into her beautiful face as her glorious gold and red hair tickled his forehead and his cheeks. "I'm okay. I'm a little worried about Leia though."

Mara nodded and kissed him before saying, "She has Han and that Corellian has a way with Leia that I will never, ever understand."

Luke nodded and gazed into the mesmerizing green eyes of his fiancé before kissing her again, going from all tenderness quickly to passion and Mara chuckled, "Easy, Farmboy. I'm not sure I want to tonight."

Luke couldn't help but chuckled, "Mara, I can tell you do three different ways. One, you're wearing my tunic - and nothing under it. Two, you just have this look in your gorgeous green eyes that lets me know and three, I'm in your head. I can read your mind and you are thinking of some highly inventive and very appealing things right now."

Mara smiled teasingly and said, "Well? What are you going to do about it?"

Luke grinned and rolled her over, kissing her ardently.

Leia had gone back to the suite and immediately went into the refresher to shower. Han knew what that meant. She was going to cry some more and he wished, he really wished, he could do more for her but he knew that she needed time to herself. With a sigh, he changed into something more comfortable to sleep in and then went to the little kitchenette and made some tea and set the caff machine to make caff early the next morning. Then, he settled down to catch up on the holonet news. The Hapan Ambassador to the New Republic, Lady Mesa Lorilli, was being interviewed by a very attractive female Twi'lek journalist. The journalist asked, "Now, tell us, Ambassador because we all really want to know, is it true that you are involved with the Jedi Apprentice Wade Vox? There is some quite incriminating footage that suggests so."

Mesa laughed delightfully and said, "Would either yes or no be so shocking, Miss Aspara? I mean, can you pull up a holo of the young man, please?"

Immediately, a holo image of Wade popped up, his hands on his hips, a dashing, laughing smile on his face and the journalist giggled and said, "I suppose he is quite an attractive young man, Ambassador but you haven't answered my question."

Mesa chuckled and said, "Am I involved with him? Yes, I suppose that I am involved with him. I quite like having him around. It's always useful to have a Jedi around, you know, and I doubt that Jedi Jade would allow me Jedi Skywalker or that Shara Grey would allow me her husband and so on. Besides, there is something about that scruffy looking young man."

The journalist laughed and said, "I suppose that's as good as I can expect, Ambassador. How are things on Hapes? My sources say that the nobles there are quite split do to the new Queen not even being Hapan."

Mesa just shook her head. "I can assure you that everyone, including the former Queen Mother Ta'a Chume is firmly behind Isolder's wife Teneniel Djo. There are a few with concerns but that will not affect our joining of the New Republic."

"That is quite reassuring, Ambassador. Thank you for your time today."

Mesa stood and smiled brightly at the Twi'lek. "It was my most sincere pleasure, Miss Aspara. I hope to do so again."

Han chuckled to himself. "The press are going to love her - and Wade to. That poor kid is going to have to hide."

"I taught him how to deal with the press a long time ago;" came a voice from the refresher. Han looked over to see Leia wrapped in a soft white robe, her hair still wet and let down. She looked tired and her eyes were still red but even so, she looked breathtaking to Han. He stood and smiled at her. "Hey, Hon. How are you doing?"

She moved easily into his arms and sighed. "As well as can be expected; I learned that my father killed my mother. Just add that to the thousands of crimes Darth Vader committed and yet my saintly brother just forgives him and, I'm sure, expects me to do the same thing."

Han shook his head and kissed her forehead before saying, "Oh I doubt it. Just because your twins doesn't mean Luke expects you to just forgive Anakin. He knows how much you lost and knows that he can't just expect it of you. My guess is that he's very worried about you, Sweetheart. I am too."

They were both silent before she murmured. "Is that tea for me?"

Han nodded. "I figured if you wanted any, it would be there."

She smiled at him and said, "I honestly don't know how you do it but you always make me feel better, Han. Some tea would be wonderful. Can you pour me some while I go change into something to sleep in?"

Han nodded and kissed her forehead again. Leia disappeared into the bedroom while Han poured tea into a cup and added just a dash of sugar - just the way Leia liked it. He saw a small bottle of golden colored nectar and added just a couple drops. He heard the door open and close behind him. With a cup and saucer in his hand, he turned to look and his mouth fell open. Leia was wearing one of his white shirts - and from all appearances, that was about it. Her hair was still down and the top three buttons were left undone, revealing a tantalizing strip of bare flesh and just the tiniest peep at her breasts. Han gulped and smiled, handing her the tea. "You know, I think you look even better in those shirts than I do. I should buy you some."

Leia laughed and sipped the tea. After a quite appreciative 'mmm', she asked him mischievously, "But why when I can just wear yours?"

Han chuckled. She was right of course. If he bought her shirts like that, she would still just wear his. It would probably be smarter just to buy himself and extra or two to make sure that he had a spare when she was wearing one of his. Han gazed at her, his eyes roving down her brown hair and her lovely, soft brown eyes. There was something about her long hair and her eyes that always hypnotized Han. He shook his head and said with no small amount of wonder, "You are just so beautiful, Leia."

She smiled at him and swallowed another sip of tea before saying, "I already said I'd marry you. You don't have to keep wooing me."

Han smiled and said, "I don't ever plan to stop wooing you, Sweetheart. Not ever. You're my princess. I would be a fool to stop even after I marry you. If I stopped wooing you and showing you how much a love you and telling you how beautiful you are, I would stop deserving you - if I ever deserved you at all that is."

Leia smiled and finished her tea before taking his hand and pulling her towards a couch. They settled in, snuggling up together. Leia whispered into the silence. "You know something, Han - after losing so much and learning so many horrible things, I still feel like the luckiest woman in the galaxy. Do you know why?"

Han shook his head and she continued, "Because I still have a wonderful, loving man - one whom I'll be married to soon - who always knows what I need to feel better and who always says and does the exact right thing even if he also knows how to push my buttons and tick me off."

Han grinned his roguish grin and Leia felt her heart quicken slightly at that all-too familiar, all-too endearing smirk. "What can I say? It's healthy to have a little bit or argument between couples - keeps things interesting and besides, if we didn't argue, we'd never have the opportunity to make up."

Leia laughed quietly. "I have to say that your reasoning makes sense, even if it is a little backwards. Is that a Corellian thing?"

Han's eyes twinkled and he said, "Nope. It's a scoundrel thing."

He kissed her ear - and then the side of her neck right over her pulse. Leia nearly purred and said, "I suppose that makes sense. It's getting late, my scoundrel. Let's go to bed."

Han smiled and scooped her up, continuing to kiss her, muttering between each one, "You know, I'm not sure who enjoys the term scoundrel more - me or you."

"Definitely you;" she said before nibbling at the scar on his chin. Han couldn't really argue, even if he had wanted too. As the door shut behind him and he laid her on the bed, he thought to himself that no smuggler deserved his good fortune and he would do everything in his power to make sure that he took every opportunity to show his thankfulness and appreciation for the woman beneath him.

Updated 12.02.2017