Light Up The Dark

Disclaimer: I don't own.

Chapter 4: Discovery and Illness

Leia opened her eyes and glanced at the chrono beside her bed. Wow, 0600? It's too early to get up, she thought. After lying in bed for several minutes, she finally realized that she wasn't getting any more sleep that morning and got up and showered. By the time that was done, it was only 0645, and she had no idea what else she would do until breakfast, which she and Vader normally ate around 0800. I guess I could wander around and see if he's awake. So she crept out of her room, trying to guess where he might be. I doubt he'd be in his office this early...Wait! Didn't he say recently that he trains in the mornings before I wake up? She slipped downstairs to the basement, where she assumed his training facility would be, based on the fact that she had never seen it.

Sure enough, when she got to the bottom, she saw a large, open room with a hoodless Vader inside. He was standing at an angle that prevented him from seeing her, but she could see his face clearly. Her immediate reaction was excitement; her lone goal for the past several weeks had finally been accomplished. Before she shouted in success, though, she looked closer at his face, startled to find that she recognized him. No way...he's my father? She was shocked, yet some things began to make sense, such as his "dead" baby who would be about her age and his holopic of her mom. I wonder if he knows... She soon concluded that he didn't, remembering her adoptive father's advice upon her departure from Alderaan. He's afraid for Mister Vader-no, Daddy-to know who I am. But why?

While Leia was a very smart eight-year-old, some things were just too much for her to comprehend, and this appeared to be one of them. She gave up thinking about it and plastered on a huge grin. "I did it! I finally saw you without your hood!" she called as she stepped out of the shadows.

Vader looked up and laughed. "It appears you did!" he replied as he came toward her. "Well? Am I what you expected?"

"No, but that's not a bad thing."

He smiled. "What are you doing up so early?"

She shrugged. "I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep."

"Ah." He nodded. They stood in a companionable silence for several more moments before Vader spoke, "Well, I'm going to go get cleaned up, and perhaps you should start on your schoolwork for today?"

She sighed. "I guess I should."

"I thought you liked school," he said as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

"I do, but...well...not this early." She groaned.

"But you're awake, so you ought to put the time to good use, right?"

"I know, I know." She yawned.

"A nap might be in order later, hmm?" he asked teasingly.

She rolled her eyes. "Maybe, but probably not."

"Too old for naps, Leia?"

"Yes, I am."

"I see. Well," He winked at her. "I'm not, as long as I'm tired enough." By this time, they were at their respective rooms, so they parted for the moment, Leia still marveling at her earth-shattering discovery.

*L*U*D*

A couple of weeks after she learned that Vader was her father, Leia woke up and immediately groaned. "I don't feel good," she muttered. Slowly, she turned her head and was shocked to see that it was nearly 0800. She began to haul herself out of bed, but she collapsed back down. "Mister Vader?" she called, hoping her father could hear her.

In his room next door, Vader did indeed hear Leia calling and instantly rushed to her room. "Leia? Leia, what's wrong?"

"I don't feel good," she murmured.

He crossed the room in three long strides and laid his flesh hand on her forehead. "You're burning up, princess. I think you have a fever."

"I believe you," she whispered, trying to push her covers aside.

He helped her remove them before beginning to walk away.

"Where are you going?" she asked weakly.

"I'll be right back, Leia. I'm just going to get a medical droid, all right?"

"Oh. OK."

He smiled and hurried to find a medidroid. Though he didn't want to admit it, he knew that he was worried about her because he cared about her. I'm a Sith; I shouldn't care for anyone, much less a Rebel princess. Yet, in his heart, he knew that he already cared for her too much to ignore.

*L*U*D*

The medical droid examined Leia and determined that she had a virus, nothing too serious, but she did need rest. She wasn't happy about having to stay in bed, but Vader insisted that she obey the droid. Finally, she agreed, albeit begrudgingly. "But what if I need something? Can't I get out of bed then?" she asked slyly.

He chuckled. "No, but I'll be here; I can get things for you."

"You really would do that?"

He smiled and began to gently stroke her hair. "Of course I would. Why wouldn't I?"

"I just didn't think you'd want to waste your time taking care of me."

"It wouldn't be a waste of time at all."

She grinned, but her smile slowly faded. "Uh, Mister Vader?"

His brow furrowed. "Yes, Leia?"

"I think I'm going to need a bucket or something very soon." She flung her hands over her mouth.

He nodded and swiftly retrieved a wastebasket. He was just in time, too.

The girl sighed. "This is going to be a long week or two."

*L*U*D*

Leia was right in one way; the next week and a half were very long as she lay in bed nearly all day. There wasn't much for her to do after she finished her school for the day besides watch the holonet and read, and both of those got old very quickly.

However, in another way, she almost wished that they had lasted longer, because her father was there for her almost all day, every day. He spent time with her, tried to keep her from being too bored, fetched things for her, and essentially doted on her. She loved it. Some doubt had entered her mind about his ignorance of their relationship, if only because he was so attentive.

She would have given almost anything to have spent a week and a half with him like that without being sick. In short, she had begun to truly love her father.

A/N: Whoa! Over 50 reviews! I am so happy! Thank you all so much!