Blaze: yay! The next chapter! I'm still mad at Tigerstar though

Darth: why?

Blaze: I don't know, he's just being stupid

Darth: Tigerstar is stupid

Tigerstar: I am not Palpypie

Blaze: I never said you were, Palpypie's a dumbass, you're stupid, there's a huge difference

Tigerstar: thank God

Palpypie: I'm not a dumbass!

Blaze: (pulls out bazooka)

Palpypie: (takes off running)

Blaze: (puts away bazooka and laughs) here is chapter 3 and I hope you like it and thanks to everyone that has reviewed my story so far, you guys are the best and sorry about Tigerstar's idiocy last chapter and yes the secret is revealed in this chapter, it is also going to be the last chapter of this story, I doubt there will be a sequel so I'm warning you know that this is how this story ends, aside from the Epilogue that is, the Epilogue should come out next week at the most.

Imaginary Reality

Chapter 3

Truth Be Told

Late that same night, Beru made her way down the walkway toward Winter's home, being as quiet as she possibly could. She wanted to see her nephew and she felt a bit sorry for the boy. She wanted Luke to wake up the Liana told her that it wasn't likely Luke would be waking up anytime soon. She said that Luke was very close to giving up on living because of the many wounds that he has suffered and Beru was worried.

She didn't want to lose Luke, Luke reminded her of Shmi Skywalker and he also reminded her of the man her brother in law had been, the man known as Anakin Skywalker. She knocked on the door and it opened to reveal the white haired Winter. She nodded in greeting before stepping aside and Beru slipped into the room before making her way toward the room where Luke was located.

She sat down beside the bed before stretching out a hand and gently placing it on Luke's hand. Luke looked so peaceful and Beru couldn't help but smile slightly as she gently placed a hand on her nephew's forehead.

Luke was cold and yet there was a warmth to him that told her that he was still alive but Liana was hinting that Luke wouldn't survive. Liana had warned Beru that Luke may never wake up from his coma and Beru bit her lip. What would Obi-Wan say if he knew that Luke may be dying? She wondered silently.

She wanted to contact Obi-Wan to tell her that she arrived at Alderaan safely but she knew there was too much of a risk. If Vader caught her talking with Obi-Wan, he may kill her for conspiring with a Jedi. Beru shook her head, she couldn't let Vader know that Obi-Wan was still alive, if she died, she knew that there may be no one to take care of Luke.

She also knew that Luke may not wake up if she was not there and Beru let out a long sigh. She only wanted to see the lively and energetic boy up and about again, she couldn't bear to just watch him lying there.

She gently kissed Luke's forehead. "You'll wake up soon, Luke, I know you will," she said softly but she knew, in her heart, that Liana was right. Luke wouldn't be waking up from his coma and that very thought tore at her heart.

~*~

Luke gazed at his aunt as his aunt walked out of the house. He didn't know where his aunt had been, he only just spotted Beru nearby, walking through the gardens of Alderaan. Luke floated beside his aunt but every time he attempted to touch his aunt, his hand would pass right through him.

It wasn't like Vader, Luke could actually feel Vader just as he could hear him, see him, and speak with him. Luke wanted to know where his body was and he wanted nothing more than to walk around again.

Beru was still walking through the gardens when she stopped and Luke glanced up in time to find Vader making his way into the gardens. Vader glanced at him before turning his gaze to Beru. "Hello Beru," he greeted him.

"Lord Vader," Beru replied lowering her head in greeting though Luke caught a sense of fear in his aunt's eyes.

"You do not need to be afraid, you know who I am, don't you?"

"I know who you once were," Beru replied calmly.

Vader scowled but Luke was gazing back and forth between them, unable to figure out what his aunt was talking about. "What did she mean by that?" he asked curiously.

Vader glanced at him before turning his helmeted gaze to Beru. "I am only wondering what ever happened to the boy that was with you," he asked.

Beru paled visibly and Luke frowned, not knowing why Beru was paling. "What's the matter with her?" he asked curiously.

Vader didn't respond to Luke's question as he waited for Beru to reply. Beru seemed to be fumbling for an answer. "I don't know what you are talking about, my Lord," she said quickly.

"Do not lie to me, Beru, I know when you are lying, where is the boy?" Vader demanded angrily.

"It's much too late to talk about this, um, my Lord, I think we should ask her again tomorrow morning, maybe she's just sleepy and not remembering," Luke suggested, he figured it was around midnight and anyone up at this time of day is bound to be sleepy.

"We will continue our conversation in the morning," Vader said and Luke heard Beru let out an almost inaudible sigh of relief.

"Yes, my Lord," she said before she bowed and quickly made her getaway. Luke watched her go before he floated over to join Vader.

"She seemed afraid of you, why's that?" he asked.

Vader shrugged. "Many people are afraid of me," he said. "I think its' because of the suit that I am forced to wear."

Luke nodded once. "Out of curiosity, why did she pale when you mentioned that you knew I was with her?" he asked.

Vader shrugged again. "I figure it is because she knows where your body is but she is unwilling to reveal its' location to me," he replied.

"Why?"

"I cannot say," Vader said and Luke narrowed his eyes, he knew instantly that Vader was keeping something to him.

"You're keeping something from me," said Luke. "Why are you keeping something from me?"

Vader hissed and Luke figured it was just a sigh. "Very well, I will tell you the truth, let's go to my rooms," he said before he turned around toward the palace and Luke floated after him as he led the way into the palace.

When they arrived at his room, Vader led the way inside and Luke floated in beside him before making his way to Vader's side. Vader gazed at him. "I know you will not understand when I tell you the truth," he said.

Luke frowned. "What do you mean I won't understand the truth?" he asked curiously.

"It will be hard for you to believe."

"Will you just tell me? Please?" Luke asked floating to Vader's side and placing his ghostly hand on Vader's. Vader stiffened slightly before he slowly relaxed and Luke figured he was just now getting used to the fact that he was the only one that could see, hear and apparently feel Luke, even though he was a ghost.

"Very well, I told you that I knew your father very well, did I not?"

"Yeah, you did."

"Needless to say, I knew him better than most," Vader replied before he turned his helmeted gaze to the ghost that was floating at his side. "I am your father, Luke."

Luke gazed at Vader in shock, unable to comprehend what he was hearing. "Wait, how can you be my father?" he protested. "My father died before I was born."

"I was not killed before you were born, it is a long, complicated story that I may explain to you when you are older but I will tell you this, I did not know you were born. Your birth was kept from me and that is why I was unable to take you away from your abusive uncle," Vader said.

Luke, realizing that had been what he was about to ask, narrowed his eyes. "How did you know I was going to ask that?" he protested.

Vader tipped his head to one side. "The Force," he replied.

"Isn't that how I got here?"

"Yes, your thoughts are projected quite clearly through the Force, as is your worry for your Aunt Beru," Vader replied.

"I hope Aunt Beru is going to be all right," Luke murmured.

"I know, I will speak with her tomorrow, I know she knows where your body is and I am sure we can figure out what happened to cause this," Vader said.

"You won't hurt her, will you?" Luke asked worry in his voice.

"I will not harm her, Luke, do not worry."

"Okay," Luke said smiling.

~*~

Beru narrowed her eyes as she made her way toward Vader's room and she let out a long sigh when she spotted Bail making his way to his side. "Where are you going, Beru?" he asked curiously.

"Vader wants to talk to me, I think he knows about Luke," Beru whispered.

Bail narrowed his eyes. "I do not think he would harm Luke if he found out," he said.

"But what if he turns Luke into what he has become? And what about the Emperor? I don't think Palpatine would let Luke live if he knew that Vader was…" Beru didn't complete her statement but Bail nodded, understanding what she was about to say.

"I cannot say, Beru, you must go speak with Vader, I will check on Winter and Leia," Bail said and Beru nodded before walking toward into the room.

She waited until she heard Vader's, "enter," and she slowly made her way into the room. Vader was sitting nearby, his helmeted head was lifted and Beru was a bit uneasy at the red gaze that was trained on him.

"You wished to talk to me?" she asked making her way into the room.

"Yes, please sit," Vader replied, his helmeted gaze never left Beru as Beru hesitantly made her way to the couch and she sat down. Vader was silent for a long moment and he seemed to be staring at a spot that was over Beru's shoulder.

"I know about Luke," he said finally and a bit bluntly. Beru paled, her eyes widening and she struggled to regain herself.

"What?" she asked finally.

"I know that Luke is my son and I know that you know where he is. I also know that Luke is in a coma because of what my imbecilic stepbrother did to him," Vader said.

Beru lowered her head, unable to keep the sadness out of her eyes. How did he find out? She wondered silently.

"If you must know, Luke told me himself about how Owen beat him and that his name was Luke Skywalker, and I sense that Luke is in a coma," Vader said and Beru, realizing Vader had picked the question out of her mind, glanced up at him.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Vader demanded when Beru didn't reply right away. "It was that damn Kenobi, wasn't it? I knew Kenobi was still alive but I did not think he would have kept my own son away from me."

Beru swallowed. "From what Obi-Wan has told me, he wasn't keeping Luke from you, he was keeping him from Palpatine. He wouldn't tell me why but I think its' because Palpatine may consider Luke to be a threat," she said.

Vader nodded and Beru felt relieved when she noticed the dark lord's anger was starting to fade. "I know, Palpatine would consider my son a threat but I think I should have known that he was my son," he said.

Beru sighed. "Luke's in a coma and the medic Liana said that he may not wake up from it, I think he's dying," she said.

Vader stiffened. "Why do you say that?" he asked.

"Liana said that, she said that Luke seems to be giving up on the will to live," Beru replied.

Vader flinched again and Beru heard him murmur something under his breath but she couldn't' figure out what he had said. "Where is he?" he asked finally.

Beru sighed. "At a friend's house," she said softly.

"I want to see him."

Beru sighed. "I'll tell Bail," she murmured before she got to her feet and walked out of the room with Vader watching her go.

~*~

"You aren't going to hurt Bail or Aunt Beru, are you?" Luke's voice asked as Vader made his way down the hallway toward the medbay where his son's body had been transferred. Beru had told Bail the truth and Bail agreed to let Vader see his son, as it would probably prevent Princess Leia from becoming fatherless.

Vader glanced at Luke. "No, I will not harm them," he said.

"What did you mean when you said I was a threat to the Emperor?" Luke asked as he floated at Vader's side.

"I said that because you are powerful in the Force and if Palpatine knew about you, he may force me to kill you. That is why when we find a way to get you out of your coma, I am going to leave," Vader said.

"I can't come with you?" Luke asked sadly.

Vader shook his head. "As I told you, if Palpatine discovers you are alive, he will force me to kill you and I cannot do that," he said.

Luke frowned. "Do I have to go back to Tatooine with my Uncle?" he asked.

"Your Uncle is being held in a maximum security facility on Coruscant, I had him transferred there when he was arrested on Tatooine, he won't be getting out. I think it would be best if you stay here on Alderaan," Vader replied.

Luke shook his head. "But I want to go with you!" he protested.

"I'm afraid you cannot, if you do not want to stay here on Alderaan, I'm sure I can find someplace where you would be safe, like maybe Naboo," Vader said and emotions once again surged through his veins. In the short time that he has known his son, Vader was starting to experience memories of the time he had spent on Naboo.

Luke narrowed his eyes. "What's Naboo like?" he asked.

"It's beautiful, there are waterfalls, forests, and a beautiful capitol city known as Theed, you would like it there, it is much better than the dustball known as Tatooine," Vader replied.

Luke gazed sadly at his father. "But Aunt Beru said that I'm dying," he protested.

"You are here so that tells me you are still alive," replied Vader.

"But what am I supposed to do?"

"I don't know." Vader walked into the medbay before gazing at his son's body for the first time. Luke, just as he looked as in spirit form, was slender, small in build, his skin was pale and he was motionless. Vader made his way to the boy's side before stretching out a gloved hand and gently touching his son's cold face. He glanced up at Luke's spirit that was floating at his side and Luke gazed back at him.

"I'm glad I was able to get to know you, father," the spirit murmured softly. "I love you, father."

Vader stiffened at the three words that were whispered toward him and his breath seemed to intensify but he managed to calm it down. His breath rasped through his respirator as the boy that was his son gazed at him, as if expecting him to say those three words back to him.

Luke frowned. "Father? Are you all right?" he asked.

"Yes, I'm fine," Vader muttered.

"Did I do something wrong? Don't you love me?" Luke asked.

Vader had to look away from his son's spirit and he could almost instantly feel the pain coming off of Luke. He glanced back at Luke and frowned when he noticed that Luke was starting to fade and the machine that displayed his heart rate was starting to slow. "Luke?" he said softly.

"You don't love me," Luke's fading voice whispered.

Vader took a deep breath when he realized what was happening, his son was alive and well and all he wanted was to know that his father loved him. Vader didn't know what to say but he could tell immediately that that was the reason the Force had sent Luke to him. A small part of him that was still Anakin Skywalker was reawakening and Vader didn't try and quench that part of him.

He stretched out a gloved hand to touch Luke's cold skin before he turned his helmeted gaze to Luke. "I do love you, Luke," he murmured softly. "I have only just found you but I have loved you ever since your mother told me that she was pregnant with you. My life as a Sith Lord prevents me from feeling such love but I still feel it inside of me." Vader knew instantly that it wasn't the dark lord inside of him that had said that, it was the part of him that was still Anakin Skywalker.

Anakin still lived on inside of him and Vader knew instantly that his former self was fighting against his dark self. It was as if reality and imagination was starting to collide, the reality that his son was dying and the imaginary life that Anakin had created when he was driven away the day he became Vader. And Anakin was now fighting against the imaginary life he created and the reality that his other self was facing.

Luke gazed at him. "Do you mean that?" he asked.

"Yes, I mean that, Son," Vader replied.

Luke gazed at him before he floated over to the his still body and he placed his hand on his own still body. Vader watched as the spirit of Luke disappeared and the heart rate displayed on the machine began to beat at a regular pace. Vader gazed down at Luke's body just as he stirred and blinked open electric blue eyes.

The part of him that was still Anakin smiled as he gazed at his son, while the part of him that was still Vader was attempting to push Anakin away, back into the imaginary life the latter had created. But Anakin wasn't going anywhere, Anakin was there to stay and Vader, himself, found himself being thrown to the back of his own mind.

Luke sat up slowly before gazing at Vader for a long moment, his innocent blue eyes locked on Vader's helmeted gaze. "Father?" he said and Anakin smiled beneath his helmet at the sound of his son's voice, no longer a whisper in the Force but a real live voice that everyone, not just him, could hear.

"Son," he replied softly.

Luke smiled slightly at his father. "Thank you," he whispered.

Vader frowned tipping his helmeted head to one side. "For what?" he asked.

"For opening up to me and proving to me that my father is alive," Luke replied.

"I told you that I was still alive," Vader pointed out.

"You aren't my real father, you are just a shadow of who my father really is."

Vader was shocked to hear something so logical come out of the mouth of an eight-year-old boy but Luke was right. Vader wasn't Luke's father, Vader was just as shadow of Anakin Skywalker, Anakin was Luke's true father.

"Do you want to know who your father is before he turned into me?" Vader asked finally.

Luke nodded once.

"He's name was Anakin Skywalker and he was a Jedi Knight."

Luke smiled slightly though Vader saw surprise in his son's eyes. "And yet my real father hasn't turned into you fully. I don't understand the Force but the Force did send me to you, send me in a form that only you can see and hear. And I think he sent me for the mere reason of awakening the part of you that is still Anakin Skywalker."

Vader stayed silent for a long moment and when he spoke, it wasn't he who was talking, it was Anakin, no longer imprisoned in his imaginary reality. "I guess you are right, Luke," he murmured. "I must get going, I love you, my son, and I wish you well." With that, Vader turned around and made his way out of the medbay. In a way, a part of him was being left with his son, the part of him that had been living in an imaginary reality for the last eight years. And yet part of Anakin was staying with Vader as he walked away from the medbay on the planet Alderaan.

A/n what do you think?

Blaze: yes, that is how this story is ending

Darth: what? But there are so many questions?!

Blaze: yeah, I know, I might do a sequel but I doubt it

Darth: ah come on, but Anakin's reawakening and you're not going to continue this story?

Blaze: yeah, if I get enough reviews on this story, I might do a sequel

Darth: you better

Anakin: yeah

Tigerstar: yeah

Palpypie: no

Darth, Blaze, Anakin, and Tigerstar: who asked you?!

Palpypie: you can't do anything to me

Blaze: (blasts Palpypie into oblivion)

Oblivion: I don't want him

Blaze: (laughs) please review and if I a lot of reviews, I may post a sequel, the Epilogue will come soon but I don't know how soon