Light Up The Dark

Disclaimer: I don't own.

Chapter 9: Killing the Emperor (and Stubborn Princess)

Vader stared at the screen. "That…that's not possible. How can she be my daughter?" His eyes widened. "If she's my daughter, then I must not have killed Padmé!" He covered his mouth, tears leaking out of his eyes. "I know, of course, that she's dead because I saw her funeral, but still…it wasn't my fault." He squeezed his eyes shut. "Oh, my angel."

Vader's concentration was broken when his comlink went off. It was the Emperor. He took a deep, fortifying breath before answering it. "What is thy bidding, my master?"

"Lord Vader, I have received word that Bail Organa is still in league with the Rebel scum. Bring the girl to me. He must learn what the price for his failure will be…and who will pay it."

"Y-yes, Master."

The transmission ended. Vader covered his mouth again, his breath coming in short gasps. No. No, no, no, no. I cannot allow him to harm my daughter.

But you know what he will do to you, another part of his brain whispered.

Better me than her.

He'll kill you, and then what will stop him from hurting her?

True. He closed his eyes. Then he will not survive the night.

His mind made up, Vader-no, Anakin- rose and went to collect his lightsaber. He paused at the door beside his. He nodded and opened it silently. Anakin walked to his daughter's bedside. He brushed a lock of hair away from her forehead and leaned forward, gently pressing a kiss to it. "I love you so much, my dearest Leia," he murmured. He turned and left, not seeing the deep brown eyes snap open.

*L*U*D*

Anakin entered the Imperial Palace, striding in the direction of the throne room. The door swung open, and he entered. The Emperor rose. "Lord Vader, where is the girl?"

"She's safe, which is more than I can say for you." He ignited his lightsaber, the red glow filling the darkened room.

"So, the pupil turns on his master, does he," was the calm reply before another red beam appeared. The sabers met with a crash. "Why would you betray me over…her?"

"No reason you should worry for!" Anakin shoved Sidious backward. Blue bolts of lightning flew at the younger man. He easily absorbed them with the Force. "That won't work on me anymore, old man," he taunted. Palpatine's blade came up again. As Anakin attacked the Sith Lord relentlessly, the other managed to find an opening in his defenses. Anakin gasped as a searing heat hit his arm. Palpatine laughed, momentarily relaxing. Anakin finally saw a small opportunity and took it, stabbing the old man in the chest. The body tumbled backward, and Anakin stood over it, trying to find any signs of life. There were none.

He let out a rush of air. His arm throbbed. Oh. Wait. I'm in charge of the Empire. He huffed. Wonderful. I wish-I wish Padmé was here. She would be able to transition back to a Republic. He stopped at that thought, realizing that was indeed what he wanted to do: restore the Republic. If that's what I'm going to do, then I guess I know who to go to, considering what brought on this fight. It'll require giving up a lot of my pride, but I can do it. He sighed and pulled out his comlink, searching for Bail Organa's frequency.

*L*U*D*

"And you're certain you want to do this?" Bail asked for the eighth time as the three (Mon Mothma had also come, on Bail's invitation) finished up filling out the paperwork required.

Anakin gritted his teeth. "Again, Organa, I am. I never wanted to be Emperor."

"Then why did you do all this? In the beginning, I mean? You already told us that you meant to kill him early on." Mon asked, sounding genuinely curious.

"Someone else would have had the power," he answered. "Someone who was a better politician than I could ever hope to be."

"Padmé," Organa guessed.

Anakin sighed. "Yes. But that is in the past. And, as I do not believe that I am needed anymore, I take my leave of public life." He rose to leave.

"Where will you go now?" Mon asked.

"If one of you could tell me where Obi-Wan is, I…I need to go see him." His eyes filled with tears. "I-I need to apologize."

Bail bit his lip before sighing. "Tatooine."

Anakin's eyes widened in momentary surprise. "Thank you." He swallowed hard. "It's a fitting hiding place, I suppose. I'd never have gone there." He turned to go once more.

Bail's voice stopped him. "What about Leia?"

He had been expecting this question ever since he had revealed that he knew that he was her father. "I've been thinking about that. I think it would be best if she went back to Alderaan with you."

"Really? That surprises me."

"I imagine it does. But you and Breha will be better parents to her than I could ever be. Besides that, I don't deserve a daughter at all, much less one as sweet as Leia."

"Are you sure? She is your daughter."

"Yes, she is, but...she doesn't know that. I didn't say anything to her about it, so she'll be glad, I'm sure, to go back to her home with the only father she knows she has."

With that, he left, but Bail still said the words that had been on his tongue to tell him, "You might not have told her, but she still knows." He sighed. "She will not take this well."

*L*U*D*

Leia had gotten up and dressed after her daddy had kissed her. She felt that something important was about to happen, but she didn't know what. She quietly slipped downstairs, waiting for someone to arrive and tell her what was going on. A knock on the front door finally sounded, frightening Leia, because her daddy wouldn't have knocked. She flew to answer. "Father?" she asked, letting him in. "What's going on? Where's Daddy? Did something happen to him? Is he all right?"

He held up a hand. "Breathe, Leia. He's fine. He killed the Emperor."

Her jaw dropped. "What? Why?"

"Let's sit down." The two went to the sofa and sat, Leia leaning against Bail. "The Emperor found out that I was still involved in the Rebellion. He told Vader to bring you to him. Apparently, Vader had just discovered that he is your father, so instead of bringing you, he went alone and fought the Emperor. He won and called Senator Mothma and I. He turned the government over to us, Leia. We're restarting the Republic."

She nodded. "That's great, but where is he?"

"He…he left, sweetheart."

"Why? Did I do something to make him go?"

"Oh, no, darling. It had nothing to do with you. He-he didn't feel that he was deserving of having a daughter like you, so…he told me to take you back to Alderaan."

She shook her head. "Nope. I'm not going."

"Now, Leia-" Bail began.

"No. I'm staying on Coruscant until Daddy comes back. I know he will, and I'll wait for him."

"Child, you know what this will do to your mother."

She sighed. "Yes, and I would normally never hurt her. Not for anything in the world. But you two lied to me. I'm going to live with my real daddy. I'll stay with you until he gets back, but after that I'll live with him."

"I don't know if he's even coming back, Leia."

"He is. I can feel it."

He sighed in defeat. "If that's what you want," he whispered, heartbroken. "Go get your things."

She nodded and scaled the stairs. Daddy, why did you leave me?

A/N: Oh, Anakin, you are in so much trouble when you get back (and he will. Don't worry about that.). And I know he probably shouldn't have given Leia up so easily, but he's suddenly realized how awful he's been and is currently wracked with guilt.

His transition was quick, I know, but I think he's really been changing ever since Leia came into the picture.

Next chapter has Obi-Wan!