Chapter 118

AN: My computer had an unfortunate death, so it took much longer than planned to get this chapter up. However, everything got fixed and here is the overdue chapter.

Luke was waiting right outside the entryway for her and gave her a small smile, which she returned. "Hungry?" he asked.

After a moment, Ari nodded. Eating was not something they often had time for, and it was something she did not often think about. However, she was hungry now. "I could eat a bantha."

"I think we are fresh out of bantha," he answered as they went to the fire that was starting to grow slightly in size. Some foods were laid out like the night before and Luke used the Force to pick it up a piece of fruit and then floated it to Ari, who took it right out of the air. She smiled at this, glad to see him like this.

She took a bite of the fruit and then closed her eyes for a moment to savor the taste. It was sweet and fresh. There was not a lot of fruit or vegetables on Tatooine or the time to grow them since joining the Rebellion. She knew that if she had a choice though, she would never eat another ration bar again. Most likely, she would not get that choice, but it was nice to imagine.

Ari sat down next to the fire, flexing her toes a few times, enjoying the fire warming her feet. It was so relaxing that it seemed nearly impossible there had been fighting before. Her muscles were sore and ached, but it had become almost a common feeling.

Luke sat beside her with a piece of fruit as well. They both ate a few pieces, silent, watching the fire.

"Luke?" Ari spoke up after a moment, after licking off the fruit juice off her fingers, then wiping her hand on her pant leg. Her parents would both have shaken their heads as such a display, since they had considered etiquette and manners important. The very thought of her parents caused a flash of pain to race through her and she pushed it away, focusing on the moment.

"Yes?" he asked, glancing over.

"You do not have to talk about it if you do not feel ready for it, but I was wondering about something last night. With...the fire," she replied, uncertain if she should call the deceased Vader or Anakin. She had seen him at the Ewok camp as a spirit, but found it still difficult to imagine that Luke could have a father who was feared through the galaxy.

Luke was silent as he glanced at the flames of the campfire, as if that would transport him back to that moment. "He was Vader for so long, Ari. I feared my father was truly dead and replaced by that...monster."

He glanced over at Ari. "But he died as my father. Ari, he saved me. The Emperor was going to destroy me. He didn't let that happen though. He died to save me. At that moment Vader was gone for good and my father, Anakin Skywalker was back."

Ari remained silent, watching him. His gaze was not at her any longer, but at the flames once more. He had started by talking to her, but he seemed to be talking to himself more.

"He must truly have loved you then. Even though he was Vader for so long, he could still love," she finally spoke.

Luke nodded after a moment, thinking this over. His troubled expression made her shiver, and she hugged her arms around herself for a moment. "I almost followed in his footsteps," he admitted after a moment.

"I am sure that is not true. You never could," Ari replied. She could not even come close to imagining Luke as being like that. He had gotten upset before, but never like a Sith. If anyone was the least like a Sith, it would be Luke.

"But I almost did," he answered, voice firm as he met her gaze. "I was so close to giving into my anger. They, Vader and the Emperor, taunted me. They knew how to make me upset. Vader, he tried to get into my head and he succeeded. I could feel him searching through memories and I know he saw the one of the two of us, just last night. As well as a few memories from when we were little. I was so scared that if he knew about you and how I felt, that something horrible would happen to you if I failed. That he would come after you next. I managed to hide that from him, but then I thought of the others, though I tried to keep my mind clear, and I felt Leia's pain when she was shot. He threatened to turn her if I would not join him."

Ari was shocked. She gently reached over and touched his arm, wanting to offer some comfort, but there was not too much that she could do. These memories would most likely haunt him for quite some time, if not for the rest of his life.

"I just lost control," he continued, looking up at her. "I thought about losing you, and then Leia. I couldn't handle that. I would never be able to forgive myself and I do not know how I would keep going. I attacked him. I knew that I had to stop him though. Unlike you, Leia has no training and I know she still holds anger toward him. That could be dangerous. And you, while you have had training, I would never want you in harm's way," he ended in a whisper and tucked back a strand of her messy blonde hair behind her ear.

"You won't lose me, Luke, or Leia. We're here," she whispered to him. She wanted to just hug him and let him cry, but could sense he was not ready for that. Not at this moment.

"I know. But the fear was so real. I attacked him with anger and I..." he trailed off and looked at his artificial hand, which was still covered by a glove. "I cut off his arm, just like how he cut off mine. I was shocked at what I had done. I was following him down the path to the Dark Side. I didn't continue though. I refused to fight him, even though my other option was death, according to the Emperor. I told him that I was a Jedi, like my father was. Then the Emperor attacked me with bolts of Force lightening."

Ari just nodded slightly. That must have been what she felt when that pain had run through her body. It was the only thing that made sense. While everything had hurt Luke that would be the only thing that would explain the pain she experienced. "I felt it," she replied.

Luke looked up at her, a bit in surprise, and then he sighed. "I thought as much."

"I felt you shut yourself off too. I was so afraid that it meant…" she trailed off, not wanting to finish that thought. It was just too horrible to speak of. Often, she had feared she might not see him again, but she knew that the previous night had been far more dangerous than anything else.

"I didn't want to worry anyone or distract anyone. I did not know how things were here, and I have to admit, I had my doubts when I heard that the fleet was flying into a trap."

"It was probably a bit of Han's infamous Corellian overdrive," Ari managed a small smile.

"Probably," he agreed, giving her a small smile in return, tucking a strand of her hair back with his hand. "I am just so thankful that you and the others are alright. I could see the battle in space…I am glad you were on Endor." He continued before she could say something. "I know that you are able to take care of yourself, but I couldn't help feeling like that."

Ari paused then nodded, slipping her hand into his, giving it a squeeze. She would not contradict him. She did feel she could have helped by flying with the others, but knew that the Force had meant for her to go to Endor. She had done as the Force had instructed and everything had worked out in the end. She and the others had survived, defeated the Empire and Luke had managed to save his father at the last moment. She could feel that there was finally balance in the galaxy. The road to setting up a democratic government would be hard, but they could do it. As well as restarting the Jedi Order.

Luke squeezed her hand back in response, and then tugged her closer to him. She slid over to him a bit more and felt both of Luke's arms go around her waist, which caused her to smile faintly. In response, she placed one hand over one of his, leaning against him slightly.

"I love you," Luke whispered to her, kissing her cheek, tightening his arms around her, giving her a small squeeze.

"I love you too," she replied, smiling slightly at this. While they had known each other for years, she felt as if she had butterflies in her stomach at such "And I am happy for you." She paused before adding to that. "I am happy for your father too. He seems like he was a great man in his time, and he has proved that his love for his son is greater than anything."

Luke nodded and then sighed, resting his head on hers. "I wished I had more time with him. I have so many questions about him. About his life, about turning to the Dark Side. And I wonder about my mother. What she was like, even who she was."

"Your mother?" she asked. She knew that he missed his parents, though he had never really known them. Often he seemed to think more about his father, since Anakin was discussed more than Luke's mother, though not much was said about the fallen Jedi. Luke had been told he was a pilot and was dead. That had not been true.

"I know a bit about my father now, but nothing about my mother. I imagine that, if I was like my father that Leia is like our mother. I don't know though," he sighed.

Ari's mind went back to her conversation with Siri and Taylor. They had mentioned Anakin Skywalker being secretly married to someone named Padme, who was better known as Queen Amidala as a teenager, and Senator Amidala as an adult.. She had just never had a chance to tell Luke. First, she had been shocked about Vader being Anakin, and then she had not seen Luke in months. They freed Han and after that they were busy getting ready for the mission. Now was a good time to tell him. She even remembered a holo in her mother's diary that showed Amidala. Luke would like that, if he knew it was his mother.

"Luke?" she spoke up and he looked at her with a questioning look. "I….I need to tell you something. I know-"

"Luke!"

Ari glanced over her shoulder, sighing deeply. While she realized it was Leia, she had wanted to tell Luke about his mother. It was only right that he knew. However, Leia should know as well. Padme was her mother as well.

Leia came up to them then paused. "Oh…" she turned her head slightly, seeing how close Luke and Ari were. The pair pulled back from one another, the moment having passed. Ari instantly felt the lack of warmth of Luke's arms around her.

"What is it?" Luke asked, seeing that she looked nervous and yet excited. Ari noticed as well, and while she had been disappointed about being interrupted, she was certain it was for a good reason. Leia only wore such a look for a very troublesome situation.

"Our celebration is over. We have our first task as a Republic."

"What is it?" Ari asked.

"We just got a distress signal from the planet Bakura," Leia explained. "They were trying to get in contact with the Empire, but they got us instead. They need help to get rid of a race of aliens that are trying to take over. They take captives and kill many. If we go, we can help them and gain a firm ally."

"But they are loyal to the Empire," Luke pointed out.

"They must not know then. We have to help," she insisted, glancing from Luke to Ari, then back to Luke.

However, Luke did not need anymore convincing. "Alright," he nodded as he got to his feet. "When do we leave?" He asked, offering Ari his hand, pulling her up as well.

"As soon as possible. The situation is dire."

Ari bushed herself off then glanced over at Leia. "It appears that dire situations are our specialty."