Chapter 18 – Aftermath

Author's Note: Anakin and Luke have a talk that was a long time in coming. :')

To Guest: Ahhh thank you so much for your kind words! I'm so glad that you and your sister are enjoying this fic and all of the Anakin-Luke bonding moments! ^-^ I'm sure you two will really enjoy this chapter then. :)
We don't know anything about Batman or that fandom, but we're really into Star Wars if there's anything else in this fandom that you enjoy. ^-^
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~ Amina Gila


Anakin returns to the others as soon as he finally calms down, accepting that his son isn't going to just disappear as quickly as he came. He takes off to find Obi-Wan immediately, just to make sure he's okay. Vos is dead, and Maul is... he doesn't know, but he's alone in there with Obi-Wan, aside from Fisto and the clones.

All the while, he tries his best not to think about how Palpatine is dead, gone forever. He knew that would happen the moment Palpatine revealed being Sidious, but now, he knows without a doubt that his friend is gone forever. Palpatine wasn't really his friend though, but it still feels like, somehow, Palpatine and Sidious were... different.

Since he can't well climb back in the window he jumped out of, though, he'll have to walk all the way there... through possibly still hostile territory. "How did you get here?" Anakin asks, as they walk.

"Did you really think we wouldn't plan a rescue, Skyguy?" Ahsoka chirps. He doesn't miss the slightly distrustful glances she keeps shooting Luke, and he knows it's something they'll all have to sort out. It... will not be easy to piece his family back together, but at least all of them are alive.

"Wait, you didn't plan any of this?" Luke asks in surprise, looking at Anakin.

"No. I don't know what they did. How did you get on Coruscant?"

"The clones," Ahsoka explains cheerfully, "Clone Force 99, Rex, and Cody discreetly replaced some of the guards around here. We didn't think Sidious would notice, as long as they watched their thoughts, because most people don't pay attention to them. And we had Echo shut down all communications so no one would be able to call for backup."

"That was a very reckless plan."

"I learned it from you," she replies, casually waving a hand, "And it was the best shot we had at it."

"Well, thank you," he finds himself saying, grudgingly. "I am grateful you came for us."

"Don't be silly, Skyguy. Of course, we did."

"I should thank you too," Luke speaks up, eyeing Ahsoka.

She nods, almost curtly. They need to talk about this, but first, Anakin wants a private talk with Luke.

"Won't the security attack us?" Anakin asks, glancing around warily as they make their way through the palace, and formerly Jedi Temple. It screams of the Dark Side now, and it's sickening. This shouldn't have happened, either, but it did. Maybe... maybe there was some reason it needed to. There probably was, but he can't imagine why. It will take time – a lot of time – for him to accept that.

"Not everyone knows that I... committed treason," Luke points out, "I can tell them to let us through."

Finally, they reach the room where the fight happened in. The room is covered in lightsaber marks, and the walls still echo of pain and death, but he doesn't focus on that.

Obi-Wan is sitting on the floor, and Anakin immediately can see the burn marks on his robes from when Sidious electrocuted him. Not to mention how dangerous that is, because he was injured fighting Sidious before, and if... yeah. Anakin doesn't fully understand the extent of external damage that could be caused, but there's a lot of damage Sidious could've done. It's not as though Obi-Wan ever fully healed from before.

"Obi-Wan?" Anakin asks worriedly, darting over to him. Fisto doesn't seem particularly concerned – he's already discussing something with the clones – so what happened can't be too serious, but still. And Anakin does not appreciate the way Maul is eyeing him. "Are you alright?"

He ignores the flare of... something dark he senses from Luke. They will need to talk about that later, but right now, he needs to make sure his master is alright. It's hard enough not to think about the things Sidious reminded him of or what Luke had told Anakin before coming here. It felt more like something out of a nightmare, but when they were... imprisoned, it was hard not to think about it. It was hard to reach for Obi-Wan's presence without remembering.

"I will be fine, Anakin," Obi-Wan replies, though he doesn't miss the obvious hint of exhaustion in his voice, "But you do not look much better." He doesn't miss the exasperation or maybe the faintest hint of... fondness? in his tone.

"More of Sidious' hospitality?" Ahsoka asks with so small measure of anger in her voice.

"He was... not pleased I would not cooperate," Anakin admits.

"And here you said you would be fine, and you could figure out a way on your own," Obi-Wan says, dryly.

"I was working on it," he grumbles, "But I knew you were here. I saw no reason to put you more at risk."

"Right," Obi-Wan replies, skeptically. Anakin holds his hand out to him, and Obi-Wan takes it, letting Anakin pull him to his feet. On hindsight, he thinks they're leaning on each other almost equally, but it's not like Anakin minds, because this is the closest they ever get to hugging. He treasures every minute of it, even if he would prefer it were under better circumstances.

"Thank you for coming for me," Anakin tells them all, pulling Obi-Wan's arm over his shoulder.

"Of course," Fisto replies. "It is good to see you are alive."

Anakin smiles, though it's the slightest bit forced. He doesn't feel good about anything right now. He just needs time to accept it, is all. He needs to process.

He's still not sure what to think of how Master Yoda appeared in the middle of the fight, but it's at that very moment that his Force ghost – Luke had mentioned something about that before – materializes again.

"How are you here?" Obi-Wan asks, almost incredulously.

"Many mysteries of the Force, there are," he replies, mysteriously.

"Doesn't... consciousness disappear once one becomes one with the Force?" Ahsoka objects.

"Learned a way, I did, taught by Obi-Wan's old master," Yoda responds.

"Qui-Gon?" Obi-Wan echoes, eyes widening.

"Here, he is," the Grandmaster agrees, "Perhaps appear to you later, he can. But leave you to finish here first, we will."

Obi-Wan looks as mind-blown as Anakin is feeling. There's a chance they could see Qui-Gon again? That's – it sounds so impossible, but Master Yoda being here at all is proof of it.

He doesn't have the chance to ask anything further, before the Grandmaster fades out, leaving them alone.

He's not wrong that they do need to focus on the here and now. "What happens now?" Anakin wonders. They won. It's almost hard to believe that the fight they've been dealing with the for past several months – years actually, if the entire time the Clone Wars was going on counts – is finally over. And now... he doesn't know.

"That's a trip to the medbay for you, sir," Rex replies, removing his helmet.

"Yes, it is," Obi-Wan agrees with a pointed look at Anakin.

"After you," he concedes finally, grumpily.

**w**

Luke senses them coming before they get there. "Lord Sicarius," the Grand Inquisitor greets stiffly, igniting his lightsaber as he strides into the room, the rest of the Inquisitors hovering close behind. "You are a traitor."

"Am I?" he asks, calmly. He doesn't know if this is going to end in a fight, but he'll try to avoid it if possible. (Besides, he's the only one here, and he knows he could never defeat them all alone.)

"You betrayed the Empire and Lord Sidious. He is dead because of you," he accuses.

"Isn't it the way of the Sith to betray their master when they begin to show weakness?" Luke replies.

He falters for a moment.

"You allied with the Jedi," another argues.

"Yes," he agrees, calmly, "I am doing what is best for the Empire. As the Lord of the Sith, you now answer to me. Stand down."

They exchange glances before, one by one, they put their weapons away. He dares to breathe out a quiet sigh of relief.

"Then what now?" the Grand Inquisitor queries, "Our purpose was to destroy the Jedi."

What will they do? He doesn't know yet, but... he'll figure it out later. For now, he'll just tell them to wait. This is a whole galaxy. There must be some sort of conflict they'll have use in.

**w**

He's waiting to talk to Anakin the moment the clones decide he's ready. Luke can't ignore the unease he feels. It's not going to be an easy discussion, but they need to have it. "I have... questions, and I'm sure you do, too," Luke says finally when he enters.

"Yes," Anakin confirms. He's sitting on a cot in the medbay, looking none too happy about it, but neither of them mentions it. "I... do."

"I know this will be hard," Luke continues, "But all I ask is that we be completely honest with each other. If I tell you everything I saw in my time, maybe you'll understand why I made these choices." He waits for a moment to see his father's reaction. He's surprisingly difficult to read. His expression is carefully blank, though he lacks the angry undertone he always has when he looks at Obi-Wan with that expression.

"Tell me," he requests. "I want to understand."

"As do I," Luke replies. "I want to know what Sidious was talking about."

"I don't want to talk about it."

"I asked that we would be completely honest with each other," he replies pointedly. "There are many things I don't want to mention, either, but you deserve to know." He hopes so, anyway.

"I understand why you did it," Anakin answers finally, shifting slightly, "But she... she was fine."

Is that still what he thinks? "I didn't do it for her. I did it for you, Father. It was only ever for you. I knew there was a chance she might die, and I was willing to do what I had to, to help her and Leia, but it was mostly you."

Anakin looks... confused. Luke suspected he would still struggle to understand, after a lifetime of being told that he's expendable by the Jedi, but it still hurts to see. He'd also spent a long time trying to figure out how to say this. As much as it hurts seeing how his father looks at Obi-Wan and the clear affection they share, he found his answer. It turns out, he and his father are far more alike than he realized. All it means is that it makes it easier for them to talk.

"First," he asks, sitting down on the chair next to him, "Can you tell me what Sidious was talking about?"

"I... don't know where to start."

"Then I'll start," Luke decides, settling back. This won't be easy, he knows. "You already know I was raised by Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru. I was nineteen when I joined the Rebellion, but that was not... intentional at first. I wanted to go, but my uncle refused. I always knew I was meant for more. I just never knew what. It really started when we bought Artoo and Threepio. Artoo was... carrying a message from my sister, asking Obi-Wan or – Ben as I knew him then, for help against the Empire. She had the completed Death Star plans and was just captured by... Vader."

"Artoo took off," Luke continues. "I followed him, and we ran into Ben. It was the first real conversation we had. He gave me your lightsaber, and we... talked. He wanted me to leave, and I wanted to go, but I knew I couldn't."

'Then what changed?"

"The Empire. They tracked the droids, and when I went back... they were gone." He tries not to focus on the flare of grief he feels. It's in the past, like everyone he knew from that time. It hurts to be away from them, but at least he has his father now. "Ben took me off-planet. We were heading for Alderaan, to help Leia. She was their princess. Ben told me a little about you."

"What'd he say?"

"I don't really remember everything, but I knew you were close. He said you were friends and that you were a good pilot."

Anakin scoffs. "He hates my flying. I'm glad to know he missed it. Usually, he'd spend the entire time screaming at me."

Luke smiles faintly but keeps talking. He'd rather not get distracted with what his father's relationship with his master used to be like. Somehow, his father seems to have a track record of getting the worst masters. "We split up when we were pulled aboard the Death Star. Ben went to deactivate the tractor beam so we could escape. I went with our companions to rescue Leia. We... met up in the hangar again, but Ben... he was fighting Vader. I knew it before it happened, but he let Vader kill him."

He keeps talking before Anakin can interject, though he feels his father's horror in the Force. "We escaped though, and I destroyed the Death Star. Ben's ghost was there, and he told me how to do it. I didn't see Vader again for a few years until he came after me again. The Rebellion was on Hoth, and when the Empire came there, I got separated from Leia again. Vader captured her, and I went to Dagobah to be trained by Master Yoda. Ben told me where to go. It was the first time I actually saw him. I... sensed Leia and our friend Han were in danger. Ben and Yoda told me not to go help them, to leave them to their fate." He doesn't even bother trying to hide his bitterness as he says it.

"I left anyway, of course, and tracked them down. They were already escaping by the time I got there, but... I realized too late Vader had set the trap for me. Ben warned me, but I didn't listen. I wanted to kill him. Everyone told me he was a monster, and I was a Jedi. It was my duty."

"You failed?" Anakin guesses.

"I thought I could defeat him, but I failed. He was only toying with me."

And, Luke realizes with a sudden jolt, he misses Vader. Anakin is, and always will be, his father, but Vader was the one he knew. This is what he wanted, but Anakin isn't... the same. He wishes he could talk to Vader again. He understands him now in a way no one ever could before, and it's not fair his father didn't get to have that.

"We fought for a long time. He... mentioned Obi-Wan, and I lashed out. All I wanted for years was to destroy him for that and the damage he caused to the Rebellion. I lashed out and... I slashed his arm open, I think, and he cut off my hand. I thought he was going to end it but he... asked me to join him. He told me who he was, that he was my father." Sometimes, Luke can't help but wonder what would have happened if he had joined Vader then. It may have been better, but it may also have been worse. He doubts they would have successfully destroyed Sidious.

"Vader," Anakin echoes, face pale. "That was me?"

"Maybe," he answers, "But you are him no more than I am... the young me."

"Lior."

"You changed his name?"

The look on his face is almost bashful. "I already had a Luke," he admits. "I didn't want another, and you were gone. I – you are not the same, and it felt too much like replacing you."

A feeling of warmth spreads through his chest, and he nods, offering a small smile. Feelings say more between them than words could, so he keeps talking. "I turned him down, and... I struggled with it for a long time. I had heard so much of Anakin Skywalker, I couldn't understand it. I do now. Sidious... he takes whatever good he can find in a person and twists it against them, until he destroys them completely."

"But you fought back," Anakin argues. "You withstood him. It takes strength, and that –"

"Was something I learned from you," Luke interjects. "You were strong until the end. You fought against him as much as you could. You did everything you could have. And I felt that, even when I saw you. I... sensed the light in you. I knew it could never die like the Emperor thought, so I... turned myself over to Vader. It was only six months later, but something changed. I imagine Sidious found out Vader was intending to betray him, but I don't know. He just felt so dark and... hopeless." It hurts to think about, to remember how his father's presence felt at that time. Whatever it was he was fighting for the last time Luke had met him – not counting when Vader shot him down shortly thereafter – was gone, replaced by a strange sort of crushing depression and acceptance.

"He took me to Sidious, who tried to turn me. I tried to kill him, and Vader pulled his lightsaber on me. We fought, again, and it wasn't until I nearly killed him that I realized what I was doing." It still floods him with shame, but he's learned to accept it now. All he wanted to do was hurt him for threatening Leia, and he hadn't stopped to think about how he was giving in to the Dark Side and to his own rage – for as much as he loved his father he was also furious at him, just not enough to overcome his constant aching desire for... something – and it wasn't until Vader was lying at his feet, defenseless, not even fighting, that Luke realized what he was about to do.

He knew if he went down that path any farther, the only person he would kill is himself – like he did that day in the cave on Dagobah. If he went down that path, if he carried through with it, there would be no going back. This is the part it hurts worst to talk about. He will remember it for the rest of his life, no matter how many memories he has here with Anakin in this time.

"Sidious tried to kill me when I refused to turn and Vader... turned on him. He killed Sidious, but it cost him his life." Anakin reaches for him, slowly, hesitantly, like he doesn't trust himself to do it right. Luke may not have either, once, but he does now. He trusts him without question.

Luke takes his father's hands in his own, squeezing them. "I wanted to get him back to the Rebellion, to help him, but it was too late. He let it go. He let go of everything. He... knew it would happen, and he accepted it. I think..." He swallows, hard. It hurts to talk about, and he wants to cry just thinking about it. "I think he wanted it."

"I'm so sorry," Anakin says finally. His touch is gentle, even with his prosthetic. Luke can feel his pain as acutely as ever – it fuels the Dark Side. It's always like this with Anakin. Always has been.

"It's alright," Luke promises quietly. "I came here."

"I don't understand how this answers anything," Anakin confesses. "Why would this make you want to Fall for me? I – I hurt you. I hurt your friends." This is the trickier part, as Luke knew from the start. He spent a long time trying to put it into words, and he can only be grateful for their shared background.

"I think it's time for you to explain what Sidious was talking about," he decides. "The answers are connected."

Anakin's eyes narrow slightly before he nods. "Alright," he concedes. "Tell me your questions, exactly."

"Sidious said something about Obi-Wan... making you think he died," Luke says. He senses the way Anakin's presence flickers with shame in the Force, something that mirrors Luke's every time he thinks about the Death Star. "Let me tell you Vader had a very legitimate reason to kill him," Luke promises. "I'll explain that, too."

"It was a mission," Anakin answers at last. It's obviously not an easy topic, and Luke doesn't hesitate to let it fuel him – emotions fuel the Dark Side, and drawing it off people helps them, if only temporarily. "He... went undercover disguised as a bounty hunter to unveil a threat against the Chancellor. It was no big deal."

He lets go of Luke and moves backwards, closing his eyes for a moment. "Alright," he says. "You asked. I will – I'll tell you everything. He had to make Dooku believe he was dead, for the mission, and to get into the prison for a legitimate reason. It was – easiest. To make me think it was real. Ahsoka and I were both there – he was shot. I thought he was gone – like my mother. She died – the Tuskens killed her."

"I know," Luke interrupts, "And they were killed. Was that you?" He doesn't know why he asks. Maybe because part of him hopes it was.

His father nods slightly and looks away. "I promised her I would never fail another person, like I did her, but then – then my master died. I saw it. We saw it. All I could think about for weeks was holding him in my arms. I know –"

Luke can't help his sudden swell of rage. It hurt so much when Vader died. It haunts him, even now. He can't imagine his father having experienced the same thing, twice, one of which was needlessly. "I know how that feels," Luke finds himself saying. "When you – when you died. I took his mask off so we could see each other for the first time and – and I watched as the light faded from his eyes." He can't help it when he finally breaks down and cries. He hasn't since his father's funeral – there hasn't been time to stop and process.

Anakin moves over a little, then pats the area next to him. "That's your bed," Luke grumbles.

"Come on," he repeats. "Why not?"

Luke obliges, moving over to sit next to him. Anakin winds his arms around him, holding him tightly. He's missed being here. He's missed it for years. (He only wishes Leia were here, too.)

"Keep talking," Luke requests. It won't be enough to stop the memories from replaying in his mind. Nothing will ever be enough to make him stop remembering his father's weight as they stumbled to the shuttle, how Anakin's presence curled around them in the Force, keeping them steady – and he wonders how much of them getting there on time was his father protecting them. Luke could hardly walk from the lightning, and his father seemed mostly paralyzed. Nothing will make him forget that, but he can focus on something... else.

"Obi-Wan was... disguised as the person who I was told killed him," Anakin continues finally. "When he broke out of prison, I... went after them to stop him. I was going to kill them, but Obi-Wan... stopped me. He did what he had to, to protect himself. We were both injured, Ahsoka more minorly than me, but..."

Yeah. Okay. Something is not adding up. Either Anakin is majorly minimizing something important, or Sidious was lying, because Luke can swear, he remembers something about Anakin being unable to walk afterwards. Which he is not admitting to. "Sidious said you could hardly walk."

"I... broke one of my ribs. It wasn't major. I've had far worse during the war." Luke senses the lie, but he doesn't call Anakin out on it. He can understand that this is a difficult topic, and one he shouldn't pressure him about. "Master Yoda told me the truth afterwards. Then, the mission was over, and Obi-Wan came back and... we went back to normal."

"He hurt you," Luke says finally, trying not to outright scream at the absolute wrongness of everything he just finished hearing. "And you still love him, don't you? You would do anything for him. That's how I felt towards Vader. I may regret the lives I have taken, but I cannot regret my choice. You'll get the life you deserve, this way."

"All I wanted was to protect you. All of you."

"I know. I did, too, but there are times that we... cannot control these things. No one can control life and death. Not even you."

"Then what good is it?" he asks. There's an honest confusion in him, and all it does is make Luke feel even worse.

"What happened to you?" Luke asks, when he finally finds his voice again. He is going to be sick. This is a million kinds of wrong, and it is not normal. He has no idea how to handle it. "What have they been telling you? How can you believe that the only reason someone should care for you is because you're powerful? How can you truly believe the only reason you have a right to life is if you are Light?"

"I thought Palpatine liked me," he snaps, but there's no heat in it, "But he only wanted me for power. That's – it's what it is."

Luke is almost fully convinced he's going to either scream or throw up, but all he does is start crying again. "I will find everyone who hurt you and kill them. I swear I will."

Anakin pulls back to look at him. "I don't want anyone to be hurt because of me."

"You mean everything to me. Can't you understand? It's not because of how Light you are. It's because you are... you. And you are good. Too good for this galaxy. And definitely too good for your master."

"I'm not," Anakin argue, "Or I would not destroy everything I try to help. Let go of it, Luke. Let it go and come back."

"I cannot," he retorts, "And I will never be a Jedi again. I will stay with you, if you'll have me, but I can't rejoin them. Not after I've seen what they did." He knows Anakin will not be happy, but it is what it is. He can't and won't go back to the Jedi way.

"What would have happened, had you not come here?"

He pulls back, wiping his face off on his sleeve – no, he doesn't care that Aunt Beru would have a fit. "I do not know the details, but I imagine you joined Sidious when he first asked you to. Obi-Wan survived the clones and found you. I can't say how the fight started, but I saw its conclusion in a vision." He pointedly tries to block out the screams he can still remember so clearly from it. "I told you that you were a cyborg later, when I found you. I don't know the full extent of your injuries, but he left you for dead. Sidious found you later. He must have... put you in that. Vader was... more machine than human. Ben looked down on him for it, not caring it was his fault in the first place."

Anakin leans forwards unexpectedly, pressing a kiss to his forehead. "I think," he says finally, "That is enough for now. I don't... want to know. Obi-Wan and I have always had a very complicated relationship. He was my teacher, not... not my father, regardless of how I see him. We can't judge him the same, or for what he could have done in the future."

Maybe that's true, but Obi-Wan has already hurt Anakin so much in this time, too. The only thing holding him back from vengeance is that he knows it would hurt Anakin even more if he did. "Maybe not," he admits, "But I can't trust him. He..."

Anakin sighs quietly. "He hasn't done what he did in the future, and I... cannot imagine it was without reason. You said I Fell, and..."

Luke tries to shove the memory of Mustafar to the back of his mind. "You're right. I think this is enough for now." He really doesn't want to talk about that again. Anakin won't accept what he's saying. (Any more than Luke ever would have if someone said things like that about Vader.)

He scoots closer again, leaning against his father, who immediately wraps an arm tightly around him. "How are you feeling?" Luke queries, looking up at him. He was injured, after all.

"I am... fine."

"Is that why you're in here?" he asks, dryly.

"I'm stuck here on mandatory bedrest under pain of death," Anakin declares, scooting over to lay down. Luke lays down beside him. Even if they only spend a few minutes in here, he's not at all opposed to snuggling right now. There's not much else he wants to do, anyway. His father keeps an arm around him, and it feels so... safe and comfortable and protected here. He never wants to go or be anywhere else.

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