AN: Hi everyone. I've been staying up late writing for you guys, huge thanks to all who followed or favorited me or my story. I'm going to switch POV in the middle of the chapter so be prepared for that. Enjoy!

There were no words to describe my reaction to the scene in front of me. The medics said all they could do was fixing the breathing and replace the prosthetics, which was better than nothing. They'd taken off the dreaded suit and mask (putting on a oxygen mask so he could breathe) and I couldn't help but stare at the broken form of my father. I'll admit, it scared the heck out of me seeing all those injuries taken out of his report and put into reality. I don't blame the poor guy for passing out.

The skin was deathly pale, covered in countless scars, that all looked extremely painful. He was unconscious but in no less pain. I wanted to take away that pain, but I knew I couldn't. All I could do was stand by my father's side with a comforting hand on his shoulder, trying not to touch any injuries.

The medics were working like mad, saying fancy words I didn't understand and voicing their shock at Anakin's condition. I looked to Leia and said, "Showing them this would've earned some sympathy."

"Luke, that's the understatement of the century. A simple touch to us is a knife to him. It's scary."

I nodded in agreement and watched the medical tools dance along the battered body in the med room bed. If I knew what they were this would be exciting. With my free hand I held his prosthetic hand, hoping he'd feel the pressure and be comforted by it.

A female medic informed me, "We'll need to place him in the bacta tank for a few hours."

I nodded, "Can I stay here?"

"There won't be anything to see Commander Skywalker."

"It's force stuff, is there a reason I can't stay."

The medic sighed, "No there is not, but you'll be bored out of your mind."

"It'll give me time to think about how messed up my life is."

She nodded in understanding and returned to her work.

(A few hours later)

The wait was really boring, but it was worth it when the limbless body was lifted out of the tank. I smiled childishly and ran over to the bed where my father was now resting. No oxygen mask. I placed a hand on his chest. feeling as it rose and fell with no machines helping.

(POV switch)

When I awoke the first feeling I felt was vulnerability. All I felt was a blanket and… what is that other feeling? I opened my eyes slightly but immediately closed them, stopping the onslaught of light brought from that outside world. Wait, since when was I part of the outside world? With much effort I opened my eyes to see Luke staring into my face.

"You're awake," he said, his smile lighting up my dark world.

"What happened?" I asked, surprised to hear my natural voice for the first time in two decades. I sounded two times my age.

The weird feeling on my chest was Luke's hand, the feeling so unfamiliar yet welcoming. Speaking of welcome changes, I was breathing. I was breathing on my own without any machines assisting me. Take that Artoo! I'm a person now!

"A person who doesn't have any of his limbs," Luke said, picking up on my thoughts through the force, "Should I get Leia?"

"Stay here, you can call her with your com. link. I don't want to be alone again," my reply came out. I immediately felt stupid for sounding like a kindergartener who didn't want his parents to leave him at school. I was a parent begging my son to stay with me because I had no one to be with me for twenty years. The thought of being alone for even a second horrified me.

Luke nodded sympathetically and called Leia, "Leia this is Luke. Come here as soon as you can, Luke out."

We looked into each others eyes for a few moments, and then my son pulled me into a tight embrace. I winced as he accidentally touched a wound on my left shoulder, but did my best to return the embrace. It was hard cause I had no arms.

I heard a door whoosh open and Leia entered the room. Upon seeing our father son moment she smiled and joined in. This is what I always wanted; a family. No one would ever be able to take that from me again.

After what felt like hours (hours well spent) we all let go and Leia asked me, "How do you feel father?"

That word made me feel like jumping around the room and squealing like a fan girl. I felt the darkness in my soul start to dissipate as it was replaced with sheer joy and unconditional love. I don't care how many cookies they have, I am NEVER going back to the dark side.

"I feel great!" I replied, failing to contain my happiness. I was being childish but I didn't care. Dignity was for boring stuck up people. Like Palpatine. That nut case looked worse than I did. Which was really saying something.

"And these hideous injuries don't bother you? Cuz they disgust me." I asked, fearing their answers. But I was done living in a world of lies, what I wanted was the truth.

The twins looked at one another, pondering their answer. Which made me as nervous as I was when Artoo was eyeing my control panel. My children turned back to me and Luke began, "The only thing that bothers us is how painful it must be for you."

"It's what's on the inside that counts, and I'm not talking about organs" Leia added.

What did I do to deserve such kindness? Nothing, but they gave it too me anyway. I felt salty tears beginning to fall down my pathetic excuse for a face. Tears of joy.

"That was so beautiful I have no words left," I sobbed collapsing into the arms of the two people who accepted me for what I was underneath the bad reputation I created as Darth Vader.

I didn't notice the medic coming over, as my head was buried in the depths of Leia's hair (which she was wearing down). The medic tapped my shoulder and the gesture was followed by a surprised yelp. I was embarrassed to realize the yelp came from me.

"Sorry to disturb your moment but we need to discuss the results," the medic said.

I simply nodded and he continued, "Your lungs should be working again, but we didn't have enough resources to fix your heart and other organs. So you will still have to wear a life support device at all times to keep your heart working. We took the one from the suit and modified it to work better. If you'd just hold still for a minute."

I really didn't want to see them implant the panel back into my stomach, so I closed my eyes and gritted my teeth against the pain.

"All done," the medic said, and I opened my eyes to see that Luke and Leia didn't close theirs. They looked pretty disturbed.

I turned to face them and said, "That kids, is why you close your eyes at the creepy parts in holo dramas. It trains you for avoiding seeing stuff like this."

AN: How'd you guys like the different perspective? Vader/Anakin was really fun to write, and he got to teach his kids a lesson my parents failed to teach me (turns on Revenge of the Sith, plays the part where Obi-Wan gets the high ground). I've watched that part way too many times. Please review!