Chapter 6: Leia's Death

Dedicated to Carrie Fisher

It had been many years since Padmé and Hera had last spoken.

Life had treated Padmé well, she had died after her great niece, her namesake's tenth birthday.

Padmé continued to watch over her family, from the Force.

She kept a vigil at Leia's side after her heart scare. Anakin, Luke, her son-in-law, Han Soloa, Chewbacca, a close Wookie friend, her grandson, Ben, and her great niece, Padmé, but nicknamed Rey, by Ben, all were in the room when Leia breathed her last.

Rey hugged Anakin while Ben, Han, and Chewie comforted each other.

Luke let out an awful cry of pure pain. Padmé winced. He sank to the floor, shaking in pain.

She hated how helpless she was. What would become of her bright happy little boy without his mischievous twin sister?

Luke slowly got up, his very soul aching. Padmé knew she needed some advice and she knew who to talk to.

"Hera?" Padmé called uncertainly.

The goddess arrived. "My friend," the goddess smiled.

"She's gone," Padmé broke down in tears. "My princess, my little Leia. She died and Luke's in so much pain and I don't know how to help him."

Hera held Padmé gently. "First, you must grieve. Then once you are ready emotionally, stay with Luke, help him find peace in this time of sorrow."

Padmé nodded.

In order to distract himself from the pain of losing his twin sister, Luke threw himself into missions, his Jedi duties, sometimes to the extent of avoiding most of his family-the only one who still saw him was Rey.

Padmé got sick of it after a couple of weeks and visited her son. "Luke, we all miss Leia..." She began.

Luke broke down in tears. "Mom, we didn't just bury Leia that day. Half of me died with her. I can't look at Ben anymore without seeing her. She was always there for me and I was always there for her and now she's gone and it hurts so much."

Padmé sat at her son's side as Rey padded into the room. She hugged Luke. "Cousin Luke, please don't go through this alone. Let us help," Rey begged.

Padmé nodded. "None of us will ever truly understand the bond between you and Leia, but you are not alone. Let your family help you, my son," she pleaded.

Luke nodded, beginning the long journey to healing and peace.

It would take several years, but Luke would heal from losing his twin, but he would visit her every year on their birthday and the anniversary of her death.

After Luke's death, Rey and Ben took up the tradition, passing it on to the next generation.