Chapter Seven

The first thing Luke noticed was the utterly foul taste in his mouth. Unbearably dry, he tried to swallow only tasting paste-y sourness. He raised his head, making the second thing he noticed was the pounding in his head.

He groaned, rubbing his forehead against the scratchy blanket. Pushing himself out of his bunk he wobbled slightly in a very unJedi like manner. Ben would…well at the moment Luke could give a blue mouse's ass on what Ben would have thought. He rubbed his eyes as the events from the previous night trickled back to him.

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.

"Shavit" he cursed. He was so stupid. Leia was going to kill him. Han…well, he didn't know what Han was going to do. Who knew what Han thought of them now. Luke eyed the door warily, wishing he could stay in the bunk until they reached the base. He probably would have tried if he was so fracking thirsty. He opened the door slowly and quietly made his way to the kitchen, filling the biggest glass he could find with water, and drinking it without stopping. He was more than three quarters of the way finished when he heard a voice.

"Well, look who's back from the dead."

Luke choked and coughed, putting the glass down hurriedly and wiping the dribble of water down his chin. Han was leaning against the doorway, slightly bemused.

"Oh," said Luke, looking away from Han. "Yeah." He was embarrassed and scared. He did not know where he stood with his friend, or if he even was his friend anymore. Han studied the young Jedi.

"Hangover?"

Luke nodded.

"Come on" he said, pushing away from the wall. "I'll get ya some meds."

"No," said Luke, still not looking at him. "Really, I'll be okay."

"Not if we run into some trouble. You gotta be alert" he answered. "Come one, kid."

Luke begrudgingly followed Han to the med cabinet. Han opened the cabinet and tossed Luke the bottle that held the head meds. Luke barely glanced up to catch the bottle, still staring determinedly at his feet.

"Thanks" he murmured. He turned to walk away.

"Hey, kid" said Han "About last night-"

"Han you – we don't have to –"

"Shut it, Kid. I'm talkin'" he snapped. He was never that good at…mushy stuff. Luke turned and hesitantly looked at him. "I…look, it don't matter to me who your old man is. Hell, my parents – well, the only real family I got is Chewie. Who am I, right? You gotta make your own path in life. It don't matter who your blood is. Just, ya know, do what you want. Who he is don't mean anything. Not to me, anyway."

The Kid stayed quiet for a minute, eyebrows raised. "Yeah?" he said quietly.

"Yeah" said Han gruffly.

"And you won't tell anyone? You swear?" he asked.

"Not a soul" Han answered seriously.

The Kid let out a breath. "Thanks Han."

"Don't mention it."

"Speaking of not mentioning it…can we not mention it to Leia?" asked Luke, looking down at the cap of the bottle and unscrewing it. "I…I don't think she could take anyone knowing. Not yet, at least."

Han was silent for a moment, thinking back on the pervious night. And nowLeia 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.

Luke looked up. "Please?" he beseeched.

Han sighed. "Alright, Kid. I won't say anything."

"Thanks" said Luke. He shook his head and popped the pills into his mouth.

They both walked back into the cockpit in silence. Han looked over at Luke, to notice the kid had a small smirk playing on his lips.

"What?" asked Han.

"Nothing."

"What?"

"No, it's just- you call me 'Kid'."

"You're younger than me. Your point?" he said, wanting to be more upset. Han Solo didn't like getting laughed at or someone pointing out the obvious. He would have been more upset if it hadn't been the most emotion he'd seen Luke have in a while…well at least the most sober emotion.

"Well,-" said Luke, flopping into his seat. "Leia's my age."

"Yeah," said he said sarcastically, sitting into his pilot's chair. "That's generally the story with twins."

"It's just odd" said Luke, smirk turning into a grin. "You know, kinda makes you some sort of creep."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" asked Han, swinging his chair to face Luke.

"You're feelings for my sister" said Luke. "If I'm a kid, than she's a kid, and that makes you some sort of pedi-"

"Hey!" said Han, loudly, over Chewie's rumbling laughter. "Let's get two things straight. Number one: I do not have feelings for your sister. And number two: I call you kid 'cause you act like an idiot and I'm constantly saving your sorry ass. Now shut up. The both of ya" he growled, glaring at Chewie. "This is my ship. If you want to go act like morons, get out."

Luke leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes. "Aye, aye, Captain."

Why 'especially' me?

You know why.

Han shook his head, swinging his chair forward again, lips twitching. Stupid kid.

The rest of the trip went as smoothly as could be anticipated. Soon enough The Falcon was making its descent to Thila. Luke felt Leia's happiness and worry shining out from inside the landing bay. He sighed, guilt washing over him. He had been selfish before leaving. He had every right to be distressed, but Leia had been carrying the heavy weight of their parentage for a while now, by herself. He was ashamed of himself.

They pulled into the base with relative ease. Luke shot Han a small smile as the Falcon finally came to a shuddering stop. He jumped up and ambled to the exit. Han followed. As the ramp open, he spotted Leia standing a few yards away.

"Sister!" said Luke loudly, making a show of opening his arms wide.

Leia's eyebrows shot up surprised and laughed at his over exaggerated manner and he wrapped her up in a hug.

"Trip go well?" she asked, bemused at his changed attitude.

"Yeah, it went fine," he said smiling at her giving her hand a soft squeeze.

"And you?" she asked tentatively.

"I'm…better," he allowed. "Open space was good for me." He caught sight of Han exiting the ramp. "I'm gunna go take a shower. A real one. With water. Force knows how much longer wet showers will be worth when we get to Hoth. Let's grab dinner in the mess tonight. Three quarters of an hour? I'll see you then." And with a kiss on her cheek he left.

Leia watched her brother walk away, slightly stunned.

"Hello, your Worshipfullness" greeted Han. Leia nodded, eyes still following Luke's retreating back.

"He seems…better," said Leia, testing the word out uncertainly.

Han shrugged. "I guess."

"Did he do anything–" Leia started but stopped.

"He was fine. Surprisingly did nothing enormously stupid, which coming from your brother is a fracking miracle."

"Did he…did he say what was bothering him?" she asked, looking at him for the first time.

She scared Han realized. He could see it in her eyes. Her face was expressionless. Calm, even. But her eyes were terrified. "We had…words" Han allowed.

Her eyes widened slightly. "What did he say?" she asked sharply.

"Uh, not much. Just ya know…stuff," he said, not knowing why he was having a hard time lying. He lied for a living. And no matter what setbacks Han Solo had had over the last year or so, no one could ever say he wasn't damn good at his job.

"Like…?" she wheedled.

"I dunno, we just talked. He seemed to be more of himself after. I dunno. He's your brother," he accused.

"I know whose brother he's is, thanks" she very nearly huffed, narrowing her eyes and crossing her arms over her chest.

"Well, I dunno what else you want me to say."

"Nothing. Thank you, Captain," she said using her formally cool tone she saved, it seemed, for him. It was this tone that usually led to their many fights.

"You're Welcome, your Excellentness."

She turned to leave him but paused. "The High Council would like a copy of your ships logs for this trip, Captain. As soon as possible." She turned and began walking away.

"Hey, Princess!" called Han, fishing around in his pocket. Leia turned around again. "I live to serve," he said, throwing her the data chip containing his logs. She caught it with one hand, and rolled her eyes at him.

He did not miss the way she pursed her lips, fighting back a smile. He couldn't deny, at least to himself, that he hoped that was for him as well.

Lord Vader was not such a fool that he did not know that the Emperor had spies. Many different branches spies. His most used weapons were his 'Hands', young girls plucked from their families from a early age who exhibited massive amounts of capability in the Force, but were never trained to what would be remotely close to their potential. None of them knew of each other and were stationed in his court as dancers, performers, and other positions, secretly doing their masters bidding, whether that entailed spying or enforcing his word. They were utterly devoted, all believing to be their master's one and only trusted Hand. Darth Vader was also not such a fool not to have his own legion of spies. While he played the dutiful servant to his master, his sent his spies to discover all that they could about the young Jedi that blew up the Death Star.

His spies found a pilot that had flown with the Rebels during the Battle of Yarvin. After the battle the pilot had flown back to his home world. Vader, following the information of his spies had hired bounty hunters to abduct the pilot and bring the man to him. The interrogation that followed was quick. The Rebel Pilot was no match for a lord of the Sith. Mere minutes into prying through the man's memories, he revealed the young Jedi's name.

"Sky-Skywalker."

Vader knew the last name was no coincidence. He killed the man and the bounty hunters that relieved him to Vader soon after he reviled the young Jedi's last name.

His sons last name.

It confirmed his suspicions. It was stupid of Luke's kidnappers not to change the boy's last name, to leave him with the fool of a last name such as Skywalker, and think the boy would be concealed from his father (or anyone else knowing the name's significance). Killing the pilot and the bounty hunters that brought him to Vader would not stop the Emperor finding out about the boys parentage.

If he didn't leave Tatooine, said a voice sounding eerily like Obi-Wan, you might never have known he even existed. You vowed never to go back to that sandy hell.

Well, that was true enough. But if the boy was anything like his parents, he would have wanted to get off that decaying rock for better things. The boy seemed to inherit Vader's exemplary piloting skills.

And anyway, said the voice, they put your daughter right under your nose for years, and you never knew.

Vader stood up from his seat in his privet office in his flagship the Executor angrily. He did not like to think about his obliviousness regarding Leia. While it was true enough he did not see the princess often if at all during her childhood, as she became more involved in galactic politics he saw her more often than not. She was not a quiet creature, taking after her mother. Much like the man who hijacked her, Leia expressed extremely anti empiric polices.

But so did Padmé. She was never for the empire. She believed in a republic.

Regardless, Luke and Leia would have been on the right side of this pointless rebellion if he had raised them. As Vader walked to the Executor he brooded on how little he knew of his children. Yes, he knew the basics about Leia, but nothing more. She didn't seem to be trained in the Force, at least not extensively. Vader knew she harnessed great power and potential in the Force, but it didn't seem to be utilized. He knew even less about Luke.

Even with Luke was obviously trained in the Force by Kenobi, he could be so much more. Vader – he could show Luke! Show him without harming him the way he was harmed in learning the dark side. He could show his children true power. The three of them, together, could rule the Empire, and bring peace to its citizens.

Vader stepped onto his bridge, feeling the soldiers working stiffen. He could feel their fear, letting it swell around him, giving him a heady rush. Yes, he'd find his children, explain to them what he knew, and then together, rid his master of this universe. As he moved across the bridge he saw Captain Piett conversing with Admiral Ozzel. Vader approached the screen, studying it.

"You found something?"

"Yes, my lord," answered Piett. Ozzel seemed less than pleased.

Vader closed his eyes, completely opening himself up to the Force, concentrating on his children.

"That's it" Vader said triumphantly. "The Rebels are there."

"My Lord," spluttered Ozzel "there are so many uncharted settlements. It could be smugglers, it could be –"

"That is the system" Vader said certainly, vaguely noting Ozzel's insubordination. "And I'm sure Skywalker is with them. Set your course for the Hoth system. General Veers, prepare you men!"

Vader turned and walked away. His plan was being set in motion. He would be united with his children. All would be right. They would make it so together.

So I'm not even going to give an excuse on why updating took me forever. Just know that I'm so sorry.

Thank you all for sticking with this story for those who are coming back to it after this extremely long hiatus. If you're new to this story, welcome! Know that you will not have to wait as long as some for updates. The next chapter is half way written. A family reunion of sorts.

Thanks for reading. Reviews are greatly appreciated!