Chapter 3: Padmé and Leia Bond
As they waited, Padmé rocked Leia gently as the younger woman sobbed out her pain over Alderaan's destruction. "Mama, it's not fair," Leia sobbed violently. "Alderaan was a peaceful planet. We did nothing. We had no weapons, no military, nothing, Mama. It was my home. I miss it. I miss everyone there. I couldn't save them, not even my, my guardian, Viceroy Organa."
"Oh, Leia, my little one, I'm sure you do," Padmé whispered, pulling Leia close.
Leia shook violently, burying her face in her mother's shirt. Padmé squeezed her eyes shut. Bail Organa was dead. Beru and Owen were dead. The sentences revolved in her mind. How many more would this Empire take from her family, from her children? They didn't deserve this pain. Right now, she didn't care about her usually pacific ideals; right now she wanted to rip the Emperor apart or get his head on a platter. She really hadn't decided yet. She'd figure that out later, but the Emperor would regret hurting her family, even if she had to tear him limb from limb. Strangely, she found that she didn't mind the idea of tearing the Emperor limb from limb. It had to be that over-protective mother feeling she had been getting right from the moment she was, well, reunited with her kids; there was no other way to describe it.
Leia looked up at her mother and, through her tears, asked, "Mama, why'd they do it?"
Padmé took a deep breath and said, "I don't know, baby girl, I don't know. But know this. The Empire has not taken all your family from you. You still have Luke. Once the Empire has fallen, I want you and Luke to promise me that you will go to Naboo and seek out the Naberries. Tell them you are the children of Padmé Amidala. They are your family too."
Leia nodded and said, "OK, Mama."
Leia clung to Padmé as the older woman hummed a gentle lullaby she remembered her own mother singing to get her and Sola to sleep when they couldn't sleep.
Leia curled up on Padmé's lap, clinging to her mother's shirt, and slowly drifted off. "Sleep, little one," Padmé whispered. "I will protect you."
Leia rolled slightly, pinning Padmé's arm, making herself very comfortable. Padmé shifted Leia closer to herself and glanced up as Anakin and Luke entered the room, laughing and talking. "Shh, Leia's sleeping," she hissed over the top of the sleeping princess's head.
Luke fell silent and he and Anakin sat quietly next to the two women. "Wanna stay home," Leia mumbled, reaching one handedly for Anakin.
Anakin took her flailing hand and squeezed it gently. "Shh, little Angel, I'm here," he murmured gently.
"Sleepy, Daddy," she fumbled around, appearing to search for a blanket.
Luke grinned and asked, "Is that normal?"
Anakin shrugged. Leia rubbed her eyes and then stared at her brother, before tackling him, giggling. Padmé and Anakin stepped in quickly, prying the twins apart. "Come on kids, behave," she urged.
The twins nodded when Luke asked, "What will we do now?"
"Well, we're not going back to Tattooine," Anakin decided. "I say we join the Rebel Alliance."
Padmé nodded in agreement. "Wait," Leia shifted, and stared up at her mother. "You're Padmé Amidala. You were one of the founders of the Rebel Alliance."
"What?" Padmé and Anakin both stared at each other.
"I don't remember that," Padmé squeezed her eyes shut.
Anakin shrugged and said, "It hasn't happened in our time, Angel."
Padmé nodded. Then she asked, "Well, kids, are you joining the Rebel Alliance?"
Luke nodded and said, "We have to restore the Republic."
Leia nodded and said, "I'm in, Mama."
Anakin nodded in agreement. "Let's free the galaxy, Angel," he said, pulling the twins against each side.