A/N It's been a while. Sorry. I got the idea for Padmé's being brought back when I read one of the EU books.

"This is a rather curious case," Obi-Wan commented, stroking his beard.

"Damn it, old man," Vader boomed, "Padmé is not some sort of experiment."

"Father, I'm sure General Kenobi would never…"

"With all due respect, Leia, I have known General Kenobi for far longer than you and I can tell you…"

"Question motives do not. Fallen to the dark side he has not."

"Is that your answer to everything?"

"Your answer to everything it was."

"Are you going to help her or not?"

"Let her go you must."

"I will not let this be a replay of twenty years ago. I didn't need to be told to give up then and I certainly will not…"

"Expect me to climb and see from shoulders you do?"

It was impossible to see Vader's expression but all the force users could sense his embarrassment, relief, and irritation at the misunderstanding. Displaying a tenderness at odds with his intimidating presence, he slowly lowered Padmé to the ground, careful to spread out the edges of the blanket he had wrapped her in.

"That little … he riled him on purpose, didn't he?" Han muttered.

"Yoda's lessons can be…"

"Crueler than a Hutt with a hangover."

"Children, we need you," Obi-Wan called from his position opposite Vader.

Slowly, the force users formed a circle around Padmé's inert body. Yoda grasped Obi-Wan's hand in his, motioning for the others to do the same. Luke threaded the fingers of his right hand through his father's black gloved ones while reaching for Obi-Wan's hand with his left. Leia, after a moment's hesitation, mimicked her brother's actions, grasping both Yoda's hand and that of her father's.

"What do I do?" Leia asked.

"On her place in the force, concentrate you must. Surrounds you the force does."

Vader felt the force flowing about him, through him, reaching from him to his children, to his old mentors, and to his beloved wife lying on the ground in front of him. He had never felt the force in this way – not since he had called himself Anakin Skywalker – and even then, he had felt barred from a true connection to the force because he had treasured his connections with his loved ones more. But now, though the old fear of losing Padmé still beat with every beat of his heart, Anakin felt calmed by the force surrounding him.

…..

Han watched as the jedi linked hands. Although he had told Leia he didn't care that she was Darth Vader's daughter – much, until today he had not really thought of the bright-eyed girl in terms of that hokey old religion. Hadn't enough separated them without her being able to tap in to these mysterious powers and abide by some mumbo jumbo rules – rules that apparently kept people from loving each other. And if he started siding with Darth Vader on love maybe the end of the world was approaching! Thankfully, Jabba was dead cause he always thought the end would include him puckering up to that bloated hutt. Naturally, that image brought thoughts of Leia saving him. Oh kriffing hell – here he was on some swamp planet putting his faith for Leia's happiness in some Force he never believed in – was that a snake slithering past his boot and would it hurt their concentration if he reached for his blaster?

….

Her eyes were closed, but she knew he was there – knew they were there.

"Mom, I'm so glad you're back. And I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"Oh, Leia." She opened her arms and for the first time since her child was born embraced her daughter. She looked up into the blue yes of her son and urged him "you too, Luke."

"Mom." With those words, Luke embraced his mother and sister.

"Thank you." Anakin murmured gratefully to the Force, to Yoda, to Padmé. He couldn't quite believe that she was sitting before him, cheeks flushed healthily.

It was too much. The dark cloaked lord of the sith left the circle, left Padmé to her reunion with their kids, and searched for some spot where he could be alone with his thoughts.

Obi-Wan watched his former apprentice stalk off.

"Unexpected this is," Yoda commented unnecessarily.

Obi-Wan looked at the former Grand Master of the Jedi order. He had no words to express the profound confusion and depression swamping him. Yes, he felt joy that Padmé was returned to life – Luke and Leia's happiness overwhelmed his unease at an experience, which directly contradicted all he had been taught as a jedi. Yet he had to think of the children's father not as Anakin but as Vader. If he didn't hold on to that thought he might give in to the attachment he had felt all those years ago for his brother. He might regret even more than he had that day on Mustafar his part in creating the black suited menace. Knowing he might be making a mistake, Obi-Wan trailed after the man who for over twenty years he had had to think of as Vader, as his greatest failure.

…

"Stop following me, old man." His finger itched to ignite his lightsaber.

Obi-Wan listened to the controlled breathing of his former padawan, strained his ear for any hint underneath the mechanized coldness of the man he had seen earlier, clutching Padmé closely to that hard armored form. So much this day demanded a leap of faith. Perhaps it was time he risked changing the point of view he had been forced to live with for over twenty years.

"You can't run away…"

"I am no longer a student Obi-Wan so you need not lecture me." He might not be able to revenge himself on his old master, not now that the last two jedi in the galaxy had helped bring his wife back, but if the jedi dared mention anything about life and lightsabers…

Ah. The same testiness even if delivered in a completely new way. "Until you realize that opportunities for learning should never be ignored, you will always be the worst type of student."

For a moment Vader's rage sparked. He turned and Obi-Wan took a step back, finally seeing the bogeyman that had replaced Grievous, a menace so dark that old Clone War threats faded into obscurity. "Pray that I ignore you Obi-Wan."

That really didn't go at all the way he had wanted. Obi-Wan sighed. He would have to blame the unraveling of his plan for a talk on his old student. It was just like Anakin not to keep to his script.

…

Somehow, without entirely realizing it, Anakin found himself back by the Millenium Falcon. The smuggler was mostly hidden by the ship he idolized as he once again tinkered with the craft.

Naturally, his breathing gave away Anakin's position. After a moment's delay, Han crawled out from under the open hatch.

"Is the part where you decide you need to have a talk with me?" Han eyed the Sith Lord who had tortured him with his customary bravado. "I was about ready for a drink anyway."

The smuggler already grated on his nerves – but watching the brash Corellian grab a glass of ale and quench his thirst forced Anakin to use calming techniques he had studied but rarely put into practice.

Han wasn't especially comfortable with silence - not that Vader's breathing could in any way be termed silent. In his usual way, Han blundered forth asking what only Vader's Angel had dared to ask. "So now that Luke and Leia's mom has done the whole return from the dead thing and before you settle down to play happy family, I just want to let you know that last interrogation session counted."

"What?" Was Solo daring to …

Whether it was the alcohol, or simply Solo's propensity for talking big, the captain pointed a finger at Leia's father and continued, "I'm just saying you've already grilled me so I don't intend to put up with the ol' intentions speech. Cause we all know it's your intentions that…"

"Anakin!"

"Father!"

"Han!"

As his wife and children called his name, Vader let go of Han, allowing the smuggler's body to thump against the side of his ship.

"Hey, if that dents my ship - " Han threatened in the moment before Leia reached him.

"Anakin, what is going on?"

"Captain Solo and I were just not having a certain conversation."