Super Star Destroyer Executor, Hoth System, 3 years later

Anakin Skywalker stood on the bridge, arms clasped behind his back, his black hood was down and his face was visible to those who saw him, the one Admiral on the ship now was a man named Firmus Piett from the planet Axilla, he picked the Empire simply because the man had no other way of earning income, he was a little annoyed at first when he heard Anakin had destroyed the Death Star above Alderaan 3 years prior, for he'd feared for some of his close allies and ex academy colleagues that were on board the station, but Anakin assured him that his friends would be back, Anakin only wished his eldest children were on board with him, for they and Han Solo had gone back down to the planet to reconvene with Rebel Command, though when Leia had changed her name to Skywalker, upon her insistence not his, answers were demanded and the whole Skywalker clan, himself and Padmé included came forth to introduce the younger children and reintroduce themselves, he revealed he once agreed with Palpatine's views but hasn't for over twenty years and has been a double agent for years, a hand on his shoulder interrupted his thoughts and he looked down to the face of his darling Angel, Padmé.

"Are you alright sweetie?" Padmé asked, concerned for him deeply, he had been quite clearly distressed when Palpatine learned of his recent treachery, but she and their six children had helped him through it, Bail Organa and Obi Wan Kenobi's reluctant release also grated on his nerves as he felt rightfully outraged at what had happened to Padmé and the circumstances that had taken their first two children from them, he shook his head.

"No, I'm not, I thought we wouldn't have to get involved ourselves and I'm honestly very annoyed with the progress of this war, they have a flagship of their own, we have the Executor, why can't the main flagships fight the war in space while myself, Snips, Luke and Leia storm the palace while you and the rest deal with the troopers that come to the defence of the palace?" Anakin asked/ranted, Padmé sighed deeply and took his hand in her own, she gently kissed it.

"That strategy may work, but what about the casualty rates? Surely, they'd be through the roof," Padmé countered, Anakin shook his head.

"Not with the correct strategy they won't, we won't just barge into the Coruscant system and fight them, that's a stupid waste of resources and waste of manpower…" he trailed off as he began to think of a plan, Padmé took him by the arm and led them to their quarters on the ship, she led him to a huge black chair.

"Sit down," she commanded, Anakin obeyed and sat down, she sat across his lap, holding his bearded face in her hands and softly kissed him.

"We have been through hell to get where we have, but we still have some ways to go before we see the end Ani," she gently told him, Anakin hung his head and buried his face against her neck, she could feel his soft crying and tears dropping onto her shoulder, as well as hear his desperate sounding sobs.

"That's just it Angel, how much longer do we need to fight?! I'm tired of war, I'm tired of conflict, I just want a quiet life with my family, is that so much to ask for!" he cried, Padmé held him tightly, it amazed her just how much power she had over this man, the man in her arms had been through battle after battle, war after war, has had a multitude of injuries like burns, concussions, blaster shots, dismemberments, you could name almost any injury this galaxy has ever created, and Anakin Skywalker has likely come into contact with it at least once, she gently wiped his tears away and stared into his sad sapphire gaze.

"I agree with you, but I don't know what to say, as there aren't many out there who have as much experience as you do, even then our trust in one of them has been shaken greatly to almost no return, I know you can't forgive him for what he's done and even I'm struggling to forgive, considering it's been three years since we've confronted them about it and they deem my life as a necessary sacrifice," Padmé spat the last two words and noticed the deep scowl on her husband's face, she ran her fingers through his hair in a soothing manner and his scowl faded as his commlink went off, he groaned in annoyance and answered.

"Skywalker," he called, the other voice had some guests chuckling in the background.

"Come on, Dad, there's no need to be so formal with us," Leia Skywalker's teasing voice replied, Anakin could also made out Han's chuckling, Luke's sighing and Grace's laughter.

"Leia, it's so good to hear your voice, come on in," Anakin said with a small smile.

"Grace's piloting though so if we get there alive, it's just fine by me," Leia replied with a groan, Anakin and Padmé laughed.

"She's a Skywalker, what else is there to say than that?" Padmé cut in, smirking at Anakin, who tried to glare but also laughed himself, Leia chuckled too.

"I'll gladly agree there, we're coming in now," Leia said as the comm channel shut down, Anakin stood up and wiped his eyes, preparing to go meet his eldest children and potential son in law at the hangar, he held out a hand to his wife.

"Care to join me at the hangar?" Anakin asked, she smiled and pulled him into her arms, she kissed him deeply, he knew these deep kisses well enough to sense something more was coming a little later, as they broke the kiss, she took his hand and they left for the hangar.

Skywalker private hangar

Anakin and Padmé eagerly awaited their eldest and middle daughter, their middle son and youngest were on the Executor always and were a Captain and Lieutenants respectively, the shuttle landed in the hangar and Leia Skywalker ran down the ramp into the open arms of her mother, before hugging her father as well.

"I missed you mom, and you too dad," Leia said happily, it had been far too long since Leia or Luke and their parents had any time together, Leia led most missions as an almost Supreme Commander of the ground Fleet and Anakin led the navy, Luke and Padmé were strategists for them both, Grace was the front's fighter as a Commander and while Luke and Leia were both Generals, there seemed to be a noticeable power difference between the twins, they both fought side by side and Grace was there as well, but it seemed like Leia came up with most of the plans while Luke strategized for them to work, Grace's position was a ground Commander and Leader of Red Squadron, Luke had Rogue Squadron and Grace had Red, they usually went on missions together along with their father's squadron 'Knights of the Rebellion' and Han Solo was the second of that squadron meaning he goes up and down to report strategy as it works better than holo projections of them from a distance, Leia also occasionally took up the role of an assassin as she had replaced her poison dart gauntlets in favour of hidden blade gauntlets and she'd killed many Imperials within their own ships just by doing that alone and mind tricking the hangar guards so they'd never remember her being there to begin with, Anakin and Padmé smiled warmly at their daughter.

"We missed you too Leia," Anakin replied joyfully, Leia smiled and kissed him on the cheek, Han Solo and Luke Skywalker came down next, there was a noticeable difference to both of them as they walked down, Anakin noticed quite frequently that Luke had grown more in terms of muscle mass, he had longer hair that had darkened into an almost bronze, and there was an air of power there from the years he'd spent with his parents and Jedi training that wasn't there before, Han Solo was still a Corellian at heart, which meant he kept the same trousers and blaster but otherwise, he'd cleaned up, his main attire consisted of his blood striped trousers, a navy blue button down shirt, a maroon jacket, black piloting gloves and black boots, some would say he looked like he was going to a dinner party every mission, to which Han would reply.

It is a dinner party, isn't it? Cause they'll be eating my blaster for dinner.

Anakin smiled at the memory, it was true though as Han was an excellent shot, he moved forward and embraced both his son and Han tightly, he pulled back to let Padmé embrace them too, she did so, gladly.

"Luke, Han how you are doing?" Anakin asked cheerfully, Han and Luke smiled up at him.

"Well, I've practised lightsaber techniques with Aunt Snips quite frequently and before every mission in order to make sure I've got the right technique," Luke replied, Anakin nodded and turned to Han.

"Whenever I'm not piloting with you, I spend time with Chewie when he's back from his family on Kashyyyk, he was a little hurt that he'd never get the chance to pilot alongside you but he wanted to see his family too, I told him he couldn't have both ways and I also take the time on leave to spend it with Leia, she's been far more receptive of me than I ever thought she'd be considering the beginning of our relationship," Han replied, Anakin smirked. Yes, his daughter was more accepting of Han Solo now than she ever had been before and if he was sensing things correctly then as soon as the war was over, wedding bells would ring, and he'd be around crying babies yet again, though not his own children, his grandchildren, I suppose it's about time he thought solemnly, he was 45 years old while his eldest were 22 so while he wasn't surprised by this, it was still unsettling to think about as he really was getting old, sensing his thoughts, Padmé took his arm and motioned for the rest to follow her.

Grace had come out as well and heard her father's thoughts as she hung back for the moment, she knew better than most of her father's frustration with war and conflict, she herself had asked him why this was the case as a small girl at the mere age of 6, she still remembered that day vividly…

Flashback, 13 years ago, Lake Retreat, Naboo

Six year old Grace Skywalker sat on her parents bed, crying as she watched her father dress in the suit she'd learned would disguise him from the bad people in the Empire, at least that's what she thought it was called but if she was honest with herself, she hated this Empire or whatever it's called for more than her parents did, for these bad people always took her daddy from her and she hated that with all her small heart, her daddy sensed this and motioned her to him, she eagerly went into his embrace, she felt him stroke her hair softly.

"What's upsetting you baby girl?" he asked, concerned for her, Grace sniffed.

"Why? Why do you have to do this daddy? Can't the Emperor or whatever he's called do this without you?" she cried, Anakin sighed deeply.

"He probably could, but he'd search for us Grace, like how you search for your brother when you play hide and seek with him? The Emperor would do that with our family," Anakin explained to her, Grace wiped her tears away and kissed her father's cheek.

"You don't like this, do you daddy?" she asked pointedly, Anakin gave her a 'what do you think' expression.

"No, I don't, I've hated conflict, war, all of it, it means nothing other than bragging rights and most of all, it keeps me away from the people I love," he said softly, Grace tightened her hold on him, he reluctantly got her off of him as he had to get going.

"Sorry baby, I've got to go," he said sadly, Grace nodded and walked him to the hangar.

End Flashback

"I had very different thoughts about your dad once."

Grace jumped a little at Han's voice and looked up to see him smiling at her, she wiped her tears like she had that day, though here she didn't notice she was crying, Han's smile faded.

"What's wrong sister?" he asked, concerned, Grace sighed.

"I guess it's because I'm bonded with dad more than I am mom it hurts more when he leaves than when she leaves, she leaves I know she'd come back safely but when dad left I was never sure and Bella and Owen, ugh, they were inconsolable the first time he left them, there was always an uncertain feeling and I have never liked it, he's staying with us now though yet we're both fighting, I'd prefer to be home on Naboo but this is better than nothing," Grace explained, her voice heavy with memories, Han looked at her critically, she was very different now compared to how she was when he'd first met Grace Skywalker. She, like Leia, had bottled up her emotions because she detested weakness of any sort, but Han could see right through her, underneath the sarcasm and witty charm was just a girl who wants her father safe and sound, he noted also that she was also almost his height at 6'2 and she was 19 years old, he slowly walked toward her and put a hand on her shoulder.

"There's no need to feel ashamed sister, I know you want your family and in particular your dad safe, but the fact is that no one but him seems to take the initiative in a fight or any situation for that matter, he was my childhood hero, but I don't think I'll ever understand him the way you do," Han told her, Grace smiled and left the hangar in search of her daddy. Han shook his head in amusement.

"Skywalkers, crazy yet lovable, who woulda thunk?" Han asked himself rhetorically as he left to find his Skywalker, Leia.