SON OF THE CHOSEN.

Sequel to 'Tortured Soul'.

Palpatine kidnapped Rexan to escape when he was exposed; fourteen years later, Rexan Skywalker returns. He is angry, resentful, withdrawn_

Is he just a troubled, tortured, young man? Or is he something more sinister?

Rexan: 3 -17.

Luke/Leia: 14.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

Leia jumped, startled, as Rexan dropped on the couch beside her.

"I have a problem," he said, smiling at her.

"ok." Leia frowned, puzzled, and wondering why he would come to her with a problem. "What's the problem?"

"Well," Rexan shrugged and casually leaned back on the couch, "I have these two younger siblings who I think are great, but I have no idea how to get to know them or if they even like me at all."

Leia laughed, "you think we're great?"

Rexan nodded and sighed, "I just wish I knew you." He'd been 'away' their whole lives, he felt like he was a stranger masquerading as family.

Shaking her head, Leia reached out and took his hand. "That's not your fault," she smiled at her eldest brother, "and Luke and me already like you."

Rexan froze, then he took a deep breath and smiled at her. "I always wanted a sister."

"Now you're just making fun of me!" Leia accused, frowning at his serious expression.

Rexan shook his head, "no. When Mom was still pregnant with you and Luke, I told her that I wanted her to have a little sister for me." grinning, he chuckled softly, "back then I honestly thought that you got to choose if you had a boy or a girl when you had a baby." he looked at Leia, "and I wanted Mom to have a girl."

Leia stared at Rexan, shocked, then she grinned. "What did Mom say?"

"That I'd have to wait and see," Rexan fell silent, he hadn't been there when they were born, sniffing he shook his head and blinked back the tears that threatened to fall.

x

Padme froze as she heard Leia and Rexan talking, peering out of her and Anakin's bedroom she gasped, "Anakin, get over here."

"What?" Anakin sat up in their bed, "Why? I thought you were coming back to bed?"

Padme rolled her eyes at him, "Leia and Rexan are talking."

Anakin stood quickly, "what are they talking about?"

"I don't know," Padme said looking back at Anakin. "But they're smiling, and laughing." Anakin moved to stand beside her, his eyes grew misty as he watched his son talking avidly with his sister.

x

"... Sure you have," Rexan rolled his eyes, "you just don't want to tell me."

Leia folded her arms, "and what are you going to do if I don't tell you?" She asked, grinning, "I'm too stubborn for you to use any 'mind tricks'."

Rexan shrugged, "if you tell me, then I'll tell you."

Leia froze, then shook her head, "you're bluffing." he had to be, there was no conceivable way... Was there? Sighing she shrugged, "ok, his name was Arven." She told him, "he was about two years older than me. Tall, black hair, deep golden-brown eyes..."

"What happened?' Rexan asked, smiling.

Leia shook her head, "nu-uh, you first." She folded her arms, "tell me who she was?" If there was a 'she' to begin with.

Rexan shook his head, "I don't know. I only saw her the one time," it had been two years ago, he had been fifteen, Palpatine had been getting their ship ready so that they could leave - and he had seen her, only at a distance; but she had been beautiful. Rexan shook his head, "I never even got a chance to meet her, we were leaving and she was too far away to call over."

"What did she look like?" Leia asked, her eyes wide.

"She had black hair, pale white skin..." She hadn't looked any older than him at the time, Rexan closed his eyes, "... She was laughing, it was the most beautiful sound I had ever heard." He snorted and shook his head, "I haven't stopped thinking about her in two years and I don't even know her name."

"It sounds like you love her," Leia said quietly.

Rexan looked at her and shrugged, "maybe I do." Chuckling he smiled and shook his head, "alright then, your turn." He looked at Leia and shrugged, "what happened with you and Arven?"

"I really thought he liked me," Leia said quietly, "he was nice and kind and funny." Snorting she scowled, "it turned out that his parents had put aside enough money for him to live off, but he wasn't going to get it until he married." Leia told Rexan, "I heard him talking to his father, saying how he had found 'the perfect girl' and how I was 'just what he was looking for'. Then he said that 'once we were married, he expected to get his money'."

Rexan choked, "you're joking!"

"No," Leia sniffed angrily, "I walked right in front of him and told him that I'd sooner marry a rancor than even think about marrying him."

Rexan frowned, "wouldn't you want him to marry the rancor?"

Leia burst out laughing, "I didn't think of that."

Rexan grinned, "it'd be no more than he deserves." He cocked his head, "actually, it'd be better than he deserves."

Leia continued to laugh, "you're funny." Reaching out, she gave him a hug_ And quickly pulled away, "sorry, I forgot, you don't like hugs."

Rexan smiled and put an arm around her, hugging her gently, "I said I wasn't used to hugs." He told her with a smile, "I never said I didn't like them."

x

Padme sniffed and clung to Anakin as she watched Rexan hug Leia, "I can't believe it." A week ago, he would never have acted like this, but now, now...

Anakin smiled, taking a deep breath, he slowly drew Padme away from the door. "Come on," Rexan and Leia didn't need to know they had been spied on.

"But_"

"No," Anakin leaned close and kissed Padme, "leave them to talk." He told her, "he needs this, without us interfering."

Padme groaned and leaned into his chest, "he's really going to be ok isn't he?"

Anakin nodded, "i think so." He hoped so, "at least he has a chance now." For now, that was the best they could hope for. Smiling, Anakin gently led Padme back bed, "where were we?"

Laughing softly, Padme rested her hands on Anakin's chest and kissed him, "I love you." It was the one thing they had had to get them through the tragedy, their love, their children's love, had saved them from being ripped apart.

It had given Rexan a family to come back to.

Anakin pulled her into his arms, "I love you too Padme," he closed his eyes and breathed deeply; it didn't matter what came next, their family was safe and whole once more; and he would do whatever it took to keep it that way.

Just a nice, happy chapter. I thought we needed it, after all, it can't all be doom and gloom - even in the most serious stories, there has to be funny and happy moments. So, I thought a Leia/Rexan bonding moment was in order; I did want to have Rexan bonding with both Luke and Leia, but it didn't work when I tried to write it - this way seemed to flow easier and more smoothly.

Also wanted a little Anakin/Padme moment - let me know how you'd feel about another 'baby' Skywalker?

The next chapter will be Luke meeting Mara - you'll never guess how, serious just try to guess, you will never get it right! - also, Obi-wan and Rexan begin training.