Chapter Six

"Hey."

Leia looked up. She sat on with the wall at her back, overlooking Thila in the place where she and Han had argued the day before. Luke stood at the top of the landing, soft smile on his lips. She summoned one in return, stomach sinking.

"Hi."

He plopped down next to her, in a way only Luke could do. In an instant like this she was reminded of the bright eye boy she ran into on Tatooine. Jedi training had matured her brother, but that boy was clearly present whenever he wasn't on duty. She sighed, How much more innocence will this take? How can I do this to him? She rested her head on her brother's shoulder, hating herself. Fracking Han.

"Leia."

"Hmm?"

"You know you can talk to me, right?"

"Mmmhmm."

"About anything. Even Alderaan…Is it Alderaan?"

"Yes…No. I-" She looked at him. He was so concerned. He had no clue. How could he? "Luke, this thing- this thing that's been" she gestured wildly in with her hands, trying to illustrate her inner turmoil, not finding the words. "It's horrible."

"You can tell me" he said, squeezing her hand slightly.

"No, it's...devastating."

"Hey," he said softly. "I'm your brother, you can trust me."

"Oh-oh Luke" she said, letting out a strangled chuckle that was caught between a sob. "I-I know…It's not that. I-I do trust you. It's just…I wish I didn't know."

"Leia," he said quietly, looking earnestly at her "please."

"Okay" she said, and paused. "I'm so sorry" she quietly. She turned her body towards him, legs crossed and he mirrored her position. She was momentarily brought back to Ben's small cabin, as Ben taught them how to meditate. She took a deep breath.

"When I was on the Death Star, while they were trying to get information out of me, Vader was there" she said, glancing between her knees and her brother, not able to hold his gaze. She unconsciously rubbed where the needle had pierced her skin. Luke knew they tortured her. She suffered some small episodes of hallucinations shortly after her incarceration due to the strength of the hallucinogen pumped into her. "And he used…his mind to try and get the information."

"And you resisted?" prompted Luke, not for the first time amazed at his sister.

She nodded. "I used all Ben had taught me. I'm not sure how long Vader…persisted, but I began to crumble. He…he was pushing so hard and…I thought of you and he tried to grab onto that. I became…incensed and pushed him out, and he must not have been expecting it because I pushed so hard I…I fell into his mind."

"What?" exclaimed Luke. "Vader- You were in Vader's mind?"

She nodded again.

"What did you see?"

She closed her eyes, a few tears slipping out from beneath her lids.

"There was a woman and...it was our mother."

"What? Are you sure?"

"Positive" she said, rubbing the pendent between her fingers. "She had this on. She was in a nightgown and was very pregnant. She asked me- well she asked Vader- what was wrong and he said nothing. But then he reached out and touched the necklace and told her he…he remembered when he gave it to her."

"But-"

"I got pulled out of his mind shortly after that but before…she called him Anakin."

"Why would she call him that?" Luke said, confused.

Leia looked straight at him. "She was in her nightgown Luke- and he said he gave her the necklace."

His brows furrowed. "No, that's not right. Our father gave her the necklace. Ben said…"

"Luke, she called him Anakin."

"Maybe she was confused. Maybe you're confused."

"I thought that too. I went over his memory over and over again in my mind. After-" he voice cracked. "After Alderaan, I…I had to know. I thought I was going to die anyway, what was the point in not knowing, not asking. So I asked him- Vader- if the woman was Padmé Amidala. He slapped me and told me not to ask of what I didn't understand. He turned to leave and I grew desperate. I couldn't not know for sure. So I called out to him. But I…I called him 'Anakin Skywalker'. A-and he…he became enraged. He force choked me. I thought I was dead, but he let me go and left without a word. He…accidently sent out a silent confirmation into the Force and I…I knew."

"Leia, this-"

"He's our father, Luke."

A beat passed. "No," said Luke, jumping to his feet, white as a ghost. "No, you're wrong."

Leia stood up, crossing her arms protectively over her chest, letting tears fall silently. "Luke, I'm-"

But her brother was pacing, shaking his head. "You're wrong, Leia. There is no way that…It's impossible! Ben said-"

"Luke!" she said, grabbing his arm, making him look at her. "I wouldn't tell you if I wasn't sure."

Still shaking his head, he closed his eyes. "You're wrong, Leia. You've- you've got to be wrong!"

"I'm so sorry" she said, voice cracking again.

"You're wrong" he said angrily, braking away from her. He ran his hand through his hair, pacing like a trapped animal.

"Delve into the Force, Luke! You're stronger in it. It will verify it. You know it, you understand it."

He stopped, facing a wall, his back towards her. Leia's heart broke at the sight of him, his shoulders beginning to shake. He knows. Suddenly, he slammed both fists against the rock wall. Leia jumped.

"Luke," she said softly, approaching him slowly. She placed her hand on his shoulder.

"Leia, I-" he choked out. She lost all composure. She threw her arms around her brother and he clung to her just as fiercely.

"No, no!"

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

A short while later the twins found themselves sitting once more against the wall, exhausted and cried out.

"What are we going to do?" asked Luke softly.

"What can we do? We are going to keep…going, keep fighting." She turned her head to look at him. "Look, biologically he might be….whatever. We had good fathers. Bail was my father, Owen was yours. They are what are important. Not…him. It doesn't matter."

"I don't understand. I can't" said Luke insistently. "Ben always spoke with such love for Anakin. I don't understand how Vader…" he broke off, not able to finish. He shook his head. "You know, it's really stupid, but when I was younger I used to dream that my father wasn't dead. I imagined that he'd come for me one day and we'd fly away on his ship. And now I find out…"

"It's not stupid" she said softly.

"I thought our father was a good, noble man. I wanted to be just like him. Make him proud."

"I know."

"Do you think he knows? About us?" Luke asked, half ashamed at himself. Why should it matter if he knew or not?

"I don't know. Maybe... Maybe he doesn't give a damn" she said with malice. She paused, thinking about it rationally. "But…I don't think he knows. He…didn't understand my connection with our mother. When I asked about her… there was no recognition. Just anger on my intruding. We were separated in order to be protected from the empire. And…he's second in command in it. He must not know or else we would have been found."

Luke nodded. "Makes sense."

The twins were silent a while longer.

"We don't tell anyone" said Leia quietly.

Luke laughed bitterly. "I thought you said it doesn't matter."

"It shouldn't to us," Leia said with a resigned determination "but it will to them."

Gotcha, you lousy bastard thought Han, working beneath the inner floor panels of his beloved Falcon. Sticking his tongue between his teeth he reached for his hydrospanner, he fixed the loose bolt that was causing his wires to short circuit. Looking for any more potential problems, he heard the sound of footsteps far too light to be Chewie's. Hoisting himself half way out of the maintenance hatch he spotted the Princess. Arms crossed over her chest, looking coolly impassive.

"Hey there, Your Worshipfulness" he said, placing his hydrospanner back in its box and lifting the rest of his body out of the floor. "What brings you 'round here?"

"I wanted to check your inventory for your run to Hoth tomorrow."

He stood, raising his brows easily, smirking. "Sure it wasn't cause you wanted to see me, Princess?"

Leia rolled her eyes, raising her chin slightly. "The inventory, Captain" she said, placing one hand on her hip, the other out stretched, waiting for the list.

He rolled his eyes and went to get her the list, and handed it to her. She turned from him, walking to where she knew the smuggling holds were. She crouched down and removed them, eyes going from the list to the hidden holds contents.

"You know," he said flippantly, leaning against the wall, "I can count. I did this when it was delivered."

"I know you can count," she said back bitingly "though sometimes I wonder how high. This shipment is extremely important. We can't afford any mistakes."

"I think you just wanted to see me" he said easily.

He couldn't see her face, but he could imagine her rolling her eyes. "In your dreams, Captain."

"You always are, Princess" he said, smirking. He loved getting her all riled up. While most times their arguments would leave him in a sour mood, there was always an instance – maybe just a mere moment – of a thrill. Her cheeks pink, her eyes gleaming– albeit angry, but focused entirely on him. He couldn't help the small pang of disappointment when she hardly reacted.

Leia let out a sound mixed between a snort and a scoff and didn't turn around. She systematically checked under every hidden compartment, and went into each other the holding rooms. After about twenty minutes, she approached him in the ships small galley as he stocked up the cabinets.

"Well, everything seems to be accounted for" she said evenly.

"I know" he answered. "I counted them before."

She pursued her lips momentarily. "Yes, well if I don't see you tomorrow morning, good luck, Captain."

"Yeah, thanks" he said. She didn't move. He smirked and leaned back against the counter. "Anything I can help you with, Your Worship?"

"I- yes" she said suddenly. He was taken aback. "I…I need you to look after Luke on this trip" she said quietly, not meeting his eyes.

"Luke?" he said uncertainly. "Yeah, sure. I always watch out for the Kid."

"This time's different" she said softly. "I'm afraid he might do something…rash. Something deliberately stupid."

"I don't geddit" said Han. "Sure, the Kid has a hero complex, but he ain't dumb. A little naïve at times, sure, but-"

"I told him" she said, cutting him off. "I told him about the…thing we discussed the other night."

"Oh" said Han eloquently.

"I'm just…just look out for him, won't you?" she asked, finally looking up at him.

How could he say no to those eyes? Not when they looked at him like that. He nodded. She gave him one strong nod back and walked out of the Falcon.

"You all right there Kid?" asked Han, looking over at Luke. They were less than two days away two days away from Thila. So far there supply run had been a success. "Kid?" Han asked again. Luke was gazing absently at nothing.

"Hmm?" said Luke, breaking out of his reverie. "What did you say?"

"Don't worry about it" said Han, scowling slightly, getting up out of the pilots seat. He walked to the galley, shaking his head. He began to take out ingredients for the night's meal. Frozen veggies and some meat would have to do. He had hoped that the Princess had been worrying for nothing.

While Luke hadn't done anything overly reckless or stupid, he had become something Han thought was far worse. He was listless and easily distracted. He was sullen and spent all time that he wasn't needed in his bunk, simply staring at the ceiling or sleeping. Not that he needed Luke to go beyond the call of duty. He would never admit this to anyone, even Chewie, but he sorta missed the Kid's endless chatter. He sorta enjoyed discussing which fighter model was the best. He must be faking the sleeping bit, Han reflected, as he put meet into a pan with a satisfying sizzle, or else he wouldn't have such bags under his eyes…

Chewie walked into the galley, sniffing.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm almost done" said Han. "Grab some plates." Chewie took some plates out and started loading up his dish. "Luke, Food."

Luke walked in. "I'm not really hungry, Han. I think I'm gunna head to bed." He turned to leave

"Oh yeah, 'cause you done so much today" snapped Han.

Luke paused and turned slowly to Han. "If you don't think I'm pulling my weight-"

"Did I say that?" bristled Han.

"You implied it."

He looked at the Kid. There was no fight in him. Whatever Leia had said…

I can't talk to Luke about it.

Why not?

The tru…it would devastate him.

"Look," he said patiently "Your sister will skin me alive if you arrive back on Thila sick. And that's what gunna is happen if you don't eat. So grab a plate and eat somthin'." He walked out of the galley to the holochest table, placing his plate on that and walking to his cabinet, grabbing three glasses and a bottle of whiskey. When he reentered the room Chewie sat in the large chair and Luke was sitting quietly at the holochest table, eating. Han put the glasses on the table, filled one, and handed it to Chewie. Han began to fill another. He looked up at Luke.

"Want one?"

The Kid looked at Han for a moment, almost surprised he asked him, and then nodded.

Han slowly drew Luke into conversation between him and Chewie. They talked of small, stupid things. Chewie had left the two, saying that at least one of them should be able to function without a massive hangover in the morning. Han and Luke exchanged stupid stories of times before the Rebel Alliance.

"-then all he just stared at me, opened the door, and let me go!"

"Really?" asked Luke, taking another gulp from his drink. He and Han had both lost count of how many they'd had.

"Yep. I couldn't believe it! I thought it was a trap. Musta jumped into and outta hyperspace seven times before Chewie convinced me that we weren't being followed."

"That's crazy" laughed Luke, shaking his head, downing his drink and pouring himself another.

Han leaned forward in his seat, grabbed the bottle, and poured himself another as well.

"Ye-p. That's me, Han Solo. Crazy and unbelievable."

Luke snorted. "That's not that crazy. And it isn't really unbelievable."

"Like you can judge" Han accused.

Luke brought his flask to his lips, raising his eyebrows, accepting the challenge. "I could fly Beggar's Canyon with my eyes closed."

"I made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs" scoffed Han.

Luke rolled his eyes. "As a kid I got caught in a sandstorm and lived."

"I jumped out of a building, fell fourteen stories and landed on speeder Chewie had commandeered."

"When I was ten I killed a krayt dragon."

"I graduated at the top of my class with the rank of lieutenant at the Imperial Academy."

Luke downed his glass and began to pour himself another as Han drank his. "My father is alive."

Han choked of his drink. "W-What?" he coughed.

"Yep" said Luke, popping the 'p' pouring himself more whiskey.

"Are-are you sure?"

Luke leaned back in his seat, nursing his glass. "Leia told me."

"Huh." Han remembered hearing reports about the famous 'Hero with No Fear' as a kid. "That's good news, innit? Your dad being alive. He's almost all you ever talk about."

But, no, that wasn't right Han realized. He hadn't said a work about his father since Leia talked to him. He hadn't said much to about anyone really…

Luke laughed bitterly. "You'd think so." He paused swirling the amber liquid around.

"Why isn't it? What's…what's wrong with him?" Han asked, confused.

"What's wrong with him" murmured Luke. "What's wrong- everything. Everything about him is wrong. The biggest thing- though, at the moment, the one I'm still having trouble wrapping my head around- is that he's second in command to the empire."

Han stared at Luke. The kid was looking determinedly into his drink, jaw tight. "Wh-uh, I don't understand."

"Yes you do" said Luke, voice thick. "You'd just rather not."

"Darth…Darth Vader….he's your…?"

Luke nodded.

"But- Anakin Skywalker…he's isn't…?"

"One in the same, apparently" answered Luke, taking another gulp.

"What!"

"You know," said Luke, "Ben always said that my father was a good man. That he loved my father. He rarely talked of Vader, only saying that if Vader knew who we are, he'd want Leia and me dead. Vader destroyed my father. He always forgot that small detail that my father became Vader. He destroyed himself. He…my mother…and Leia and I…" he snorted. "A good man. People talk about Anakin Skywalker and they say he was a hero. He was brave. He would be fighting with us now if he hadn't died. Imagine what they'd say if they knew their 'Hero with No Fear' was now. He was my hero! Mine, before I even knew his name. And now look at him."

He chugged the rest of his drink and stood up unsteadily. Han half rose with him, but stopped. Luke wiped his hand over his face hurriedly.

Han was at a loss. This was the Skywalker twins secret. This was what Leia and Luke had been struggling…Kreth, she must have been killing herself over it. Leia…Leia was tortured by Vader. Vader…he was her…

"And now," wobbled Luke, making his way clumsily towards the bunks. "Leia is gunna kill me. We agreed on telling no one. And I've gone and told you. You. She'll be heartbroken because I told you. Especially you."

"Why 'especially me'?" he asked, completely overwhelmed.

Luke didn't turn around. "You know why."

Han stared blankly at the door in which Luke had disappeared through, processing all this information. He suddenly jumped up, and stumbled through the door.

"Luke, I-" but he stopped. The kid was lying on his stomach, legs hanging off the bunk, passed out.

A/N:

I hope you enjoyed it. Please tell me what you think! Thanks for reading