The following days were both wonderful and saddening for the Skywalker twins. Their Aunt Sola told them everything she could about growing up with their mother and about her work in the senate. Sitting by a fire at the lake house, she told them about Padme Amidala's work in the Senate. "She was greatly against the Military Creation Act. All she wanted was for peace to be negotiated and thought that creating a grand Republic military would just provoke the Separatists. I agreed with her whole-heartedly until she was captured by the Separatists and learned that they already had a huge army being built. Her capture coupled with Obi-wan Kenobi's investigation rallied the senators who were even originally against the creation of a grand army.

"Each month that passed, Padme urged her fellow delegates to sue for peace so that diplomacy could resume. Each time they came near success, something would happen. Separatist soft targets would be hit by Republic commandos or clone Advanced Recon Commandos to outrage the Separatists or the Separatist leader who wanted to try and negotiate peace would die, supposedly killed by Republic clones. It was madness and anyone with half a gram of sense knew that Count Dooku, the Separatist Chief of State, had arranged for the deaths to keep the war going. It wasn't until your father killed him aboard a Separatist flagship that the war was close to ending. With the death of Grievous, the last military leader of the Separatists, at the hands of Master Kenobi, the war was essentially over. Your mother didn't survive long after that and your father - well, you know."

Luke and Leia nodded. They knew the rest. Palpatine had issued Order 66 which resulted in the sacking of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, the temples, academies and enclaves on other planets as well as the systematic elimination of Jedi Padawans, Jedi Knights and Jedi Masters on the battlefield. Few escaped. Luke had looked into it and found that, of once several thousand Jedi throughout the galaxy, barely two hundred remained and most of them were killed after the Empire rose to full power. By the time Yavin occurred, Luke only knew of Obi-wan, who had just died. Leia had met another named Echuu Shen-Jon who had also fallen to Vader. Leia had also known of several others. For the most part, they were hunted ruthlessly by Vader and the Imperial Inquisitors.

Luke took great comfort in the knowledge that his mother was, by all accounts, a wonderful, caring, strong and bold woman who knew how to stand for what was right. Though his sins grieved Luke even still, Anakin's redemption and his life before he fell warmed Luke's heart. He realized that many, including his sister, may not forgive their father but that didn't truly bother him. So long as it did not draw any of his students to the dark side, he refused to let the idea rankle him.

Leia was torn apart by what she learned and the more she did, the more she was torn. The fact that Anakin Skywalker was a loving husband, a powerful Jedi, a compassionate hero and a wonderful person before his fall only made the crimes he committed as Vader all the more serious. She simply could not get passed the fact that he had killed his own wife, slaughter his friends and essentially his family in the Jedi Order and then by enforcing the rule of a usurping Dark Lord of the Sith with a durasteel fist. It confused the former princess and her emotions ran wild.

Leia was on the balcony, trying to wrap her mind around everything she was learning. Han had come out to make sure that she was okay but she had gently asked him to let her think. A while later, her Aunt Sola came out as well. "Are you doing okay, Dear?"

Leia smiled at her aunt and said, "I'm just so torn, Sola. From every account, Anakin Skywalker was the poster boy for the Republic Military movement and the Jedi Order. My adoptive father told me that he was a good friend. But I only ever knew him as Darth Vader - the monster who slaughtered the Jedi, executed genocide against numerous species and enforced Palpatine's will. During my entire life, I fought Vader and his forces, even if not in person."

Sola smiled and said, "I understand. If I hadn't known him before he became Vader, I would feel as you do. Your brother was there when he died and says that he saved Mara and himself, right?"

Leia nodded. "I spoke to Darth Vader after he landed on Endor. He apologized to me. I removed his mask and saw his face. Tears were in his eyes as he confessed his sins and begged me to help Luke rebuild the Jedi Order and the New Republic. I promised I would and he just slipped away. Moments later, his armor was empty. I had heard of Jedi becoming one with the force at there deaths but had never seen it. How could such a man be so accepted into eternity like that?"

Tears were rolling down Leia's face now and Shola put an arm around her. "I don't claim to understand the nature of the force. To hear you and Luke and Mara talk about it, Anakin willingly and knowingly sacrificed himself for you, for the galaxy and in penitence for his actions. His payment was his life and the life of his master. The truth is, even had Anakin Skywalker lived, he would never have been able to pay the full debt that he owed."

Leia nodded. "Had he lived, he would have been tried and executed for crimes against the Galactic Republic, the citizens of the Galactic Republic and even the citizens of the Empire. He would pay with his life one way or the other."

They were silent until Pooja came out and said, "Are you okay, Leia?"

Leia nodded. After another short silence, Pooja said, "You know, I met Anakin years and years ago when he and Aunt Padme had come here for protection after an attempt on her life. Though my memory isn't great, I remember him as a sweet young man. After I learned he was Vader, I struggled with reconciling the sweet handsome man he was with the black armored monster he became. The truth is, I was able to after observing how you and your brother interact with your future spouses. It was Anakin Skywalker who created you. It was his characteristics in you and your mother's in you that brought about the end of Palpatine and not only that, it was what brought him back."

"So because he had us while he was still Anakin minimizes what he did as Vader?"

Pooja shook her head. "Of course not. However, it is what is restoring the galaxy. You and Luke will bring this galaxy back into balance - or better balance. There will never, ever be complete balance and there never was. But you two - you as a politician and Luke as a Jedi - you two will restore the highest level of piece. That will be Anakin Skywalker's legacy even more than the destruction of trillions. The remnants of the devastated will be aided and not hunted down. The Caamasi, the Alderaanians and so many others have received justice through the death of Tarkin, the redemption of Darth Vader and the death of the Emperor."

Leia nodded and silence followed before she said, "Justice is being attained. The people of Alderaan have found a planet of their own and the Caamasi are slowly but surely flourishing as are many others who suffered. You're right of course, but I still can't bring myself to forget or forgive Darth Vader."

Again, silence. Finally, Sola said, "I wouldn't expect you to. He did terrible things."

Luke sat out on a mat on the beach as the moon rose over the lake, meditating on all he had learned about his mother and father. Even though the Jedi of the old order would say that it was against Jedi precepts, Luke felt pride swelling within him at his parentage - pride, tinged with shame and a feeling of great responsibility at what his father had done. Despite Anakin's fall, Luke was proud of his father's Jedi career and his mother's political one. He was proud of their resolve and their unwavering courage. As far of Vader's actions, Luke had reconciled himself to that part of his father's life and had sworn to undo what could be undone of Vader's crimes. He sighed and opened his eyes, gazing at the stars and the moon. Arms lovingly wrapped around him from behind and a pair of soft, warm, red lips pressed against the side of his neck. "Credit for your thoughts, Farmboy?"

Luke chuckled and said, "Just going over everything I've learned. It makes me think better of Anakin, knowing who he was as a Jedi. I hope that I can be like him - at least before his fall of course. He was a courageous leader, a intuitive General and a compassionate Jedi Knight. According to Shola, he was also a loving husband."

Mara smiled and said, "Well I'm really not worried about that one. You love me very, very well."

Luke chuckled as she kissed his cheek again before continuing, "As far as the rest goes, he told you he is proud of you before. I think that he thinks better of you than he does of himself. I agree with him, even if I don't consider his fall. From what I understand of Jedi Knight and Republic General Anakin Skywalker was a man who threw the military strategy and tactical manual out the viewport and successfully won battles against ridiculous odds. You do that even more spectacularly and have sense the Alliance. I used to read reports on you when I was the Emperor's Hand. Want to know something kinda funny?"

Luke nodded. "Every time I read a report about you, I always thought to myself, deep in the privacy of my own mind, I would wish that you were Imperial so you could do that in battles against the rebels. The first time I saw a holo of you, I thought that it was so sad that such a talented, charismatic and yes, even handsome, young man had entered the rebel fold. Because of that, I hated you. I hated you because you were strong and talented and charismatic and on the 'wrong side'. Now, those are the things I love and absolutely adore about you. How's that for irony? Palpatine is probably rolling in his grave."

Luke laughed and said, "Let him roll. He deserves it for what he did to you, to my father and the people of the galaxy. You're your own master now."

Mara smiled and all but purred, "But when you become a Jedi Master, I'll be happy to call you 'master' all you like. Until then, you're my Jedi Knight in shining armor."

Luke laughed and said, "I don't wear armor, Mara."

Mara mock-glared at him and said, "I'm trying to stroke your ego. Would you let me, for the love of the force? I'm aiming to be stroking something else of yours later but if you keep that up, you will get nothing."

Several snide thoughts went through his mind but he clamped them down and discarded them. Mara stroked his cheek and said, "Better. Now, what do you think about Leia? She okay?"

Luke sobered and sighed, "I don't know. I'm worried about her. I don't think that she'll fall to the dark side or leave the Order but I am worried about her feelings and how this is affecting her. She's tough and can handle almost anything but this is a very heavy situation. Anakin did many terrible things as Vader, things that Leia was very close to in her career and in her life. The crimes he committed touched her deeply."

They were quiet for awhile before Mara moved around and snuggled under his arm, wrapping her own around him from the side. "She's tougher than she seems, Luke. While she may never forgive Anakin, I think she will at least accept that he wasn't always evil. I honestly doubt she will ever consider him her father."

Luke nodded. They looked up into the stars and at the moon for quite a while in both verbal and mental silence. This place was so peaceful. The moon was full and the gentle lap of the water was soothing. As they sat, Luke emptied his mind and just existed - without thought, without thinking. Mara was affected differently. Whether it was psychological or there was actually a biological reason for it, being under the stars and full moon and pressed against the man that she loved and adored with her entire being, she found desire filling her. Desire, passion and a dull ache was beginning to permeate her body. Every cell tingled at the thought of Luke. Mara opened up their bond just a tiny crack and allowed her desire to begin to seep through. When Luke came back to himself, he noticed and it immediately began to give him the same feelings and ideas. Immediately, he cast around and saw down near the shore line that there were tall rocks. He turned back to his future wife and her lips captured his with a hungry kiss. Her tongue traced the seam of his lips. Luke's mind began to go fuzzy as he opened his mouth and met hers stroke for stroke. After some heated kissing, Luke used his head to motion in the direction of the rocks and muttered, "The rocks; out of sight from the house and the rest of the shore;"

Mara gasped, "Oh yes. Let's go;"

They were both up and blazing towards the rocks with force enhanced speed. Luke had used the force to grab and roll the mat as he ran. They had their red and black outer robes off well before they reached their destination.

Leia was at the comms station. She had just cut connection with Winter who was eager to learn everything that Leia had learned, being her adopted sister by Bail Organa. Leia had told everything. Winter had been silent for some time before she had said, "I'm not certain how I feel about this, Princess. No matter what he did before his fall or even after his supposed redemption by Luke, he still murdered trillions and destroyed worlds and enforced the will of Palpatine. The only way that he was better and less evil than the Emperor was that he served someone and the Emperor only served himself. I was immensely satisfied when I heard that Vader and the Emperor died and not one any less than the other. Our father died because of both of them equally and I hated them both equally."

Leia had nodded, shocked at the emotion Winter had showed since she was normally a very emotionally stayed woman. Winter had studied her and given a small smile. "I'm sorry. I am quite passionate about this."

Leia smiled. "Wouldn't have guessed. I don't know, Winter. It's not a matter of forgiveness it's just a matter of reconciliation the information I have of both Anakin Skywalker, Jedi Knight and Republic hero, and Darth Vader, Dark Lord and Imperial villain. Winter, they are two absolutely different people. I - we can discuss it in more detail in person. I honestly need to just get to bed. I'm so exhausted."

Now Leia just stared where the holograph had been. There was a knock on the door. "Come in;" called Leia. She sensed Han come through the door, move over and sat on the bed. He remained silent as she continued to stare at the empty space. After over a minute, she sighed, stood and went over to snuggle into her fiance's arms. "Hold me, Han. Just hold me."

They didn't speak. They didn't do anything. Han just held her, his chin resting on her head and his eyes closed. His heart ached for her and he wanted to do or say something to help her but when she just wanted to be held, he knew from experience that just holding her was the best thing to do. After what felt like hours, Leia shifted and said, "I'm going to take a bath."

Han smiled and said, "I'll prep the water for you, Honey."

Leia smiled and said, "Thank you. Then, if you'd like, you can get in with me."

Han's smile widened and said, "I think I'd like that. Once I'm done starting the water, do you need help undressing?"

Leia nodded and said, "I think so. This outfit is a little difficult to take off."

Both couples woke the next morning in the arms of their lovers. Luke and Mara lay wrapped only in their cloaks and each others arms among the tall rocks on the beach. Leia and Han woke in the warm bed of Leia's guest room cuddled close together. The former had to sneak in, shower and change while the latter were able to spend time talking about nothing in between kisses and caresses. When they all joined their aunt and cousins for breakfast, Shola was quite animated. "If you don't mind, I would love to show you around the villages. There are shops and parks and such that my sister and I loved to go to - most of them still are owned by the same beings or their children."

Luke and Leia smiled and, after looking to their fiances for approval and receiving it, they agreed eagerly. In the first small village, they visited caf-taps, grocery stores, a library, an old fashioned arcade and even a open air market where many different species, including Gungans. Luke and Leia were fascinated by the Gungans - by their speech, their wares and even their looks. Mara and Han looked at one another with a near long suffering look at their future spouses and an amused one passing between one another. The Gungan shop keeper, hearing who they were related to became quite animated, hugging them both and offering them free wares and saying that, "Yousa modder uniten de Naboo and de Gungans! Queen Amidala is a muey great hero to ussens!"

Mara and Han found the interaction quite humorous and Luke and Leia found it endearing. They walked away from the shop with a small cargo haul of fresh fish, shell fish and fruits and veggies from the swamps, seas and and lakes of the planet. At a tapcaf within the local library, they were approached by a very elderly man and this time, Sola said, "These two here are my niece and nephew, the chidren of Padme Amidala and Anakin Skywalker."

The old man's mouth fell open and tears filled his eyes. "Oh young Padme was such a wonderful woman. I should have seen it. You have your mother's eyes, young lady and you, your father's, young man. It was a horribly dark day when we heard that Darth Vader had assassinated Senator Amidala. She was such a wonderful woman. You two are undoing the work of the Empire just as your mother and father would have wanted you to. If Anakin Skywalker and Senator Amidala had survived the rise of the Empire and the Jedi purge, they would have done just as you did. You are a tribute to your parents' legacy."

Luke and Leia looked at one another and squeezed each other's hands and their loved ones did as well. Sola had tears in her eyes and she was smiling widely. In one of ths shops, the owner stared at them with open mouth and then said, "You can't be. You died with the Senator."

Sola shook her head and said, "They were hidden from Palpatine so that they could save the galaxy and they are."

The old man broke down and wept before reaching forward and touching them. "You are the most beautiful beings I have ever seen. Luke and Leia Skywalker, you are the greatest legacy your parents ever left. Luke, you are exactly what your father was - a hero who wished to save the galaxy. Leia, you are what your mother and adoptive father were - skilled leaders who risked all to stand up for what is right even in grave danger."

Though touched, the Skywalker twins were disturbed by the old man's words. Since it was later in the evening, they ate dinner and returned to the lake house for the evening. Luke had closed off his connection to Mara and swam to the island. Mara, worried for her lover, swam after him and found him deep in a meditative state. Knowing that rousing him from it would do neither of them any good, she sat down across from him and meditated herself. It was over an hour before she sensed Luke come back to himself and so Mara did the same. She opened her eyes and looked into his glittering blue eyes - those eyes that made her feel like she was floating in a crystal clear lake. After some silence, Mara asked, "Are you alright, Beloved?"

Luke looked away and opened the link to their force bond and through that bond, Mara heard the words of the old man at the grocery store. "Luke, you are exactly what your father was."

With those words came flashes of Darth Vader holding his red bladed lightsaber and hacking at Luke with dark fury or slaughtering rebels. It was finished with an image that was clearly from Leia's memories that she had shared. It was the durasteel grip of Darth Vader on her shoulder as Tarkin ordered the destruction of Alderaan and her entire world and life. It was all imbued with the heavy sense of anxiety. It was less than a moment that Mara understood. Smiling, she shook her head and said, "You are not going to turn into the next Darth Vader, Luke. Do you know why?"

"Why?" he asked very quietly. Mara rose to her knees and moved closer, taking both his hands. "Because you have his example to both live by and, in some cases, avoid; because you have so many examples that you follow - Obi-wan, Yoda, Kota, Galen and Kanan; because you tasted the dark side and didn't fall at an extremely difficult time; finally, because I will never let you fall to the dark side."

Despite himself, Luke smiled and his anxiety began to slip away. "You and your controlling nature will either be my savior or the end of me, you know."

Mara smirked and said, "You got that right. Come on. Let's swim back and get to bed."

A smirk that would do Han Solo proud crossed Luke's face and he said, "Any excuse to get me in bed, huh?"

Mara smiled seductively and said, "Do I really need an excuse, Farmboy? Come on, General Skywalker. We have military regulations to break."

Updated 12.02.2017