Anakin stood beside Leia as she finished filling out the paper work for the last twenty crew members who pledged themselves to the Alliance. Some crew members left to get their families to safety. Leia had pushed their paperwork through first. She rubbed her temples as she glanced at Anakin as he placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm exhausted," Leia muttered under her breath. "It's a good thing Mon Mothma is sending me help. They should be here later today."
"You still haven't told her about me yet, have you?" Anakin questioned as Leia shook her head.
"If I did, no one would come. We'll let them know once they come aboard the Executor," Leia answered with a frown. "We still have to squeeze in Han's rescue at some point."
"As soon as Fett makes the drop, I'll go get him," Anakin promised as Piett walked through the door with ten more crew members as they pledged themselves to the Alliance.
"I had them fill out most of the paper work," Piett spoke with a smile.
"Thank you Admiral," Leia answered with a tired smile as he handed the paper work over. "I'll get to these a little later today. I'm getting too tired to see straight."
Piett nodded in understanding as Anakin watched the crew members leave in a hurry. He really caused fear into others. He sighed as Leia placed her hand onto his forearm. She was watching him with concern as he gave a frustrated sigh. It was going to be a while before they stopped fearing him.
"Give it time, Anakin," Leia gave a reassuring smile. "It'll take a while for them to get used to you."
"I know," Anakin agreed. "Did you want to take a break? Grab something to eat?" He questioned as Leia nodded. He smiled as she stood up and stretched and followed him out of the room.
As they entered into the mess hall, everyone stopped eating and turned their attention to him. He wasn't used to coming in here, he never came in here to socialize with anyone. He nudged Leia lightly. "Go grab something to eat and I'll find a table."
"All right," Leia agreed as she walked to the line up and grabbed a tray.
Anakin walked to the table that was in the far corner away from everyone as he reached for the holo cube in his belt. He turned it on and studied the holo of Luke and Leia the day they were born. Fress handed him the holo last night explaining she had taken the holo of the twins the day they were born and kept it safe in Artoo.
"Is that Luke and me the day we were born?" Leia questioned causing Anakin to look up and nod. "How did you get a holo of…"
"Fress had taken it and hid the holo in Artoo for safe keeping," Anakin explained as he handed the holo over to her. "I believe Fress said she had made you and Luke a copy. With everything going on she hasn't had a chance to give it to you yet."
Leia studied the holo as she turned her attention to Anakin. "You never did have a chance to hold us, did you?"
"No, I didn't have a chance to hold you or Luke. Padme was still pregnant when I…." Anakin shook his head as he closed his eyes not being able to finish the sentence. He Force choked Padme while she was still pregnant with Luke and Leia. He fought Obi-Wan and then woke up as they started placing him in the armor.
"Anakin," Leia said as he opened his eyes as she placed her hand on top of his. "What really happened?"
"I broke her heart," Anakin answered honestly. "She wanted me to leave it all behind and I Force choked her when Obi-Wan walked off the ship. She was still pregnant with you and Luke…" He let his voice trail off as he remembered calling Obi-Wan a liar. His friend was not one. He could've lost all three if he didn't release Padme from the chokehold. "She must've went into labor shortly after that. Obi-Wan took her someplace safe after we fought to the death and I lost. Palpatine told me she died, I assumed she died with the child."
Leia handed the holo back to Anakin as he turned it off and tucked it away into his belt. "What's taking you so long?"
"Looking for permission," Anakin answered honestly. "Bail raised you not me. I just gave you life. I don't have any right."
Leia gave an understanding nod as she stood up and walked around the table and sat down in the chair beside him. Anakin moved the chair back suddenly understanding that she was going to allow him to hold her. She stood up and sat in his lap.
"Just hold me, Anakin," Leia whispered as Anakin brought her in close to him. He held her for the next ten minutes as the crew members entered the room and started watching him. He didn't care. He was getting a chance to really hold his baby girl in his arms. He released her as she stood up and pulled the tray over and started to eat. He felt his heart warm at the thought of what just took place.
Anakin stood beside Leia as the shuttle sent from Home One touched down on the metal deck. The help for Leia had finally arrived. Mon Mothma had sent eight people to help with the paper work. That should help speed things along and will allow him and Leia to leave to rescue Han from Jabba.
Leia walked forward as two guards walked down the ramp with their blasters drawn. Here we go, he knew it was a bad idea to be with Leia when the shuttle had landed but she was insistent for him to be there. "Put your blasters away."
"Princess, what's going on?" The guard wanted to know as he eyed Anakin wearily. "You didn't say anything about Vader being here."
"He defected and the Executor came along with him," Leia answered honestly. "It's fine, he's not going to hurt anyone. Trust me."
The guard hesitantly put his blaster away as Anakin didn't react to the hostile intent. He suspected this much from them. "Welcome aboard the Executor," Anakin spoke in a non-threatening tone as he gestured to Piett and a small squad of troopers. "This is Piett, he will show you where you will be sleeping and will give you a detour. Leia really needs the help to get the paper work done."
"Fine," the guard gave the all clear to the pilot as the others walked down the ramp. "Be warned, if this is a trick..."
"This is no trick. The Emperor has already ordered my execution along with the others four days ago," Anakin explained in a serious tone. "I promise everyone will be safe."
"And how do you know the Alliance will not execute you for your crimes?" The guard questioned with a hardened expression. "Force knows, you deserve it,"
"I can sense you're angry about something," Anakin spoke as the man shone brightly through the Force like a star waiting to go super nova. "We should talk more once you've had a chance to cool off."
The guard looked taken back at his answer as he blinked a couple of times in disbelief. He looked at Leia and swallowed hard as she watched him with concern as Piett handed Anakin a note. "Anakin, this came for you while the shuttle was transmitting their clearance codes."
Anakin looked down at the flimsy plast and smiled as Leia watched him with curiosity. I have secured the eviction notice. Ready when you are. He glanced at Leia as she raised an eyebrow as if to say well, what is it? "Luke has secured the eviction notice. He'll deliver the notice once we're back planet side."
"Is that really a good idea?" Leia questioned with a frustrated sigh.
"They lied to Luke, sold Brice into slavery and they're expecting to live comfortably for the rest of their lives?" Anakin questioned in a disbelief tone. "They don't deserve to live there. The Lars family was a kind and generous family. Clieg bought and freed my mother and married her. They never dealt with slaves. They never sold family members into slavery either. They were good people."
They started walking towards the doors that led to the hall where the offices were that she was working from. The guards and the others followed them obviously listening to the conversation and most likely curious about how Vader was now. Leia heaved a frustrated sigh as she turned her attention to Anakin. "Do me a favor, Anakin and don't scare them too badly."
"They would have it coming," Anakin answered causing Leia to glare at him.
"You really do have a habit of sticking your foot in your mouth, don't you?" Leia questioned causing Anakin to grin. He heard the guard following them chuckle a bit at the exchange. "Just don't take it to the extreme."
"For you, anything Leia," Anakin promised with a smile. "I still get to scare them."
"Why do I suddenly have a bad feeling about this?" Leia muttered under her breath as Anakin wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "You being in the armor is enough to scare anyone."
"Don't remind me," Anakin muttered under his breath as Leia smiled warmly up at him. Despite it all, he was glad he left the Empire. Palpatine would've pitted him against his children. He was almost positive of that. He was happy to have the twins back in his life.
Anakin stood on the bridge as he looked out the giant window as Leia and the others filed more paper work. He was more of a fighter then a politician. He found it boring. He only put up with it for Padme and Leia's sakes. He turned his attention to Piett who approached him with a serious expression. "What is it, Admiral?"
"Anakin, a man named Grentan has landed on the Executor and is demanding to speak with you," Piett explained causing Anakin to raise an eyebrow in disbelief. He gave the man five hundred thousand in spice for Brice's freedom.
"Give him an escort but he is not allowed to wander around on his own," Anakin commanded as Piett relayed the message. "I will deal with him myself. It's best if Leia doesn't know."
Piett raised an eyebrow as he watched him with a frown. "I suddenly pity the man."
"I will meet him half way," Anakin decided as he walked off the bridge headed towards the landing bay. Piett followed at a distance as he took out his comlink most likely alerting Leia. He had a feeling Leia would prevent him from acting out just as Padme had all those years ago. She would want to take the diplomatic way out.
As Anakin approached Grentan with the escort he could tell the man looked unsure of whether or not he wanted to go through with this. Leia ran up to Anakin with one of the guards that came with the Alliance crew trailing behind her. She placed her hand onto his arm giving him a warning look as he shrugged Leia off lightly. "What is it that you want? I paid you in full."
"You lied to me," Grentan spoke angrily. "You're no longer with the Empire and hold no power. It was all for show, wasn't it? Colias knew you would bring Brice back to her. I want another half a million that Palpatine has placed on your head or I will kill Brice. I want the remote back."
"Let me handle this, Anakin," Leia whispered as Anakin ignored her as he held up his hand. Leia placed her hand onto his arm and forced his hand down. "Please back down, Anakin."
Anakin didn't say a word as he looked at Piett who looked frozen with fear. He turned his attention back to Grentan. He'll try it Obi-Wan's way first. "Perhaps you feel like you've been treated unfairly? We can take it up with the Hutts."
Grentan crossed his arms over his chest with the expression of not backing down. "I want the remote and Brice back until you can come up with another half a million."
Anakin didn't say a word as he felt his anger rise as he raised his other arm into the air as Leia backed away from Anakin with fear in her eyes. "Do you know who I am?" He questioned in a warning tone. "You have your payment, twice the amount you asked Fress and Jess for. I suggest for you not to push your luck."
Grentan didn't say a word as he pushed past his escort and rushed towards Anakin with a blaster drawn. He pointed the blaster at Anakin causing him to raise an eyebrow. "You will hand me the remote now or you will die."
"You know how many blasters have been pointed at me over the years?" Anakin asked in disbelief as he unhooked his lightsaber and ignited it. The crimson blade appeared with a snap hiss. "More then I can count, but if you're insisting, take your best shot."
"Anakin no," Leia warned as she looked at Anakin pleadingly. "Put him in the detention area if you must but don't kill him."
"I'll back down only if he backs down first," Anakin answered as he watched Grentan with a serious expression. "Perhaps the Force choking wasn't enough of a warning considering you are threatening me now."
"You Force choked him?" Leia questioned as she watched him in disbelief.
"I had to make it believable," Anakin answered causing Leia to raise an eyebrow. "Your move, Grentan. The easy way is to turn around and leave right now, not bothering Brice never again or we do this the hard way which will not end pleasantly for you."
Grentan fired a couple of blaster bolts at Anakin as he used the lightsaber blade to absorb the shots. He held out his right hand and used the Force to tug the blaster out of Grentan's hand as it landed solidly into his.
Anakin deactivated his lightsaber as relief crossed Leia's features as he levitated Grentan into the air and pushed him against the wall fast and hard causing the man to lose his breath in the process. "Let go of me," Gretan begged as Anakin walked up to him and placed his hand onto Gretan's neck and squeezed.
"I can kill you here right now if I wanted too. You chose the hard way, that is most unwise," Anakin threatened in an angry tone as he applied pressure to Grentan's throat. "If you go near Brice or my friends and family ever again, I will put you six feet under. Have I made myself clear?"
"Put me down," Grentan begged sounding fearful for once. Fear was in the man's eyes as he sensed the man's panic in the Force. Grentan must've realized he was in over his head. Leia walked up behind Anakin and he could sense her eyes on him. "Help me, Princess. Please."
"Put him down now, Anakin," Leia commanded in a serious tone. "I out rank you now, remember?"
"As you wish," Anakin let go of Grentan as the man hit the floor with a loud thud. The man stood up and started rubbing his rear. "Count yourself fortunate," he turned to the guards who escorted the man from the landing bay. "Take him down to the detention level. I'll deal with him later."
The guards stepped forward and placed Grentan into stun cuffs causing him to struggle as he glared at Anakin. "You can't do this to me."
"I believe I already have," Anakin pointed out in a dangerous tone. "You need a cooling off period, we'll discuss this once you've had time to think things over. Take him away," he watched as they escorted Grentan down to the detention level as Leia glared at him. "He's still alive. That's the same look your mother gave me just before she chews me out."
"Anakin Skywalker, what am I going to do with you?" Leia questioned as Anakin sensed shock from the guard that came with the Alliance transport that came down with Leia. The guard must've realized he was Luke's father. "The last thing I need to do is deal with Vader's persona again. I would hate to see that happen. Please for Luke's sake and mine, behave appropriately from now on."
Anakin gave a short nod in agreement as he watched Leia feeling regret. The last thing he wanted to do was destroy the bond they started building up since they crashed on the planet. "I'll do my best in the future."
"Thank you, father, that's all I ask," Leia gave him a relieved smile as Anakin felt surprised that she addressed him as such. He didn't deserve her forgiveness after everything he did to her.
"Leia, I gave you life and nothing more. I lost the right along time a go to be addressed as such. My first name is fine," Anakin spoke as he walked to her side and placed a hand onto her shoulder.
"Don't you think I am old enough to make that decision for myself if you have lost the right or not? I will always love Bail for everything he's done for me," Leia spoke in a gentle tone as she turned around to face him. "I want to get to know you. The real you. I forgive you, father."
"I don't deserve it," Anakin pointed out as Leia took his hands into hers. "I love you so much and I treated you horribly."
Leia looked into his mask directly into his eyes and brought him into a hug. He returned the hug and rubbed her back gently. "You may not deserve it. But you need it. We need to start somewhere to heal from everything," she whispered. "I love you and I don't want to lose you again. When you're ready to talk about what happened between us, let me know. We'll take it one day at a time. Don't break my heart again."
"I promise, I won't," They had a lot to work out before they were able to push the past behind them. Anakin closed his eyes as he held Leia. She was his baby girl now, he had no doubt about that and he knew it would be her love for him that would help keep him grounded.