Chapter 4: The Battle of Yavin
They all arrived on Yavin IV safely. Once Luke was out of hearing, Obi-Wan asked, "Why did you save me, Anakin?"
"You're training my son," Anakin responded immediately.
"No, I was supposed to die on the Death Star, and Luke was to be trained by Master Yoda," Obi-Wan replied.
"Well, maybe you and Master Yoda could teach him together," Anakin said calmly, running to catch up with Padmé and Leia, who were currently discussing Han Solo and how annoying he was and Padmé was also trying to see if her daughter was in love at the same time. Anakin knew that right now, Leia needed her father more than her mother and he would give her that.
Leia smiled weakly at Anakin. He hugged her. "Bail was a good man. Don't let his death be in vain," he murmured. "Fight on, so that Alderaan's memory will live on in the Alliance."
She nodded and said, "I miss him. I never told him that I loved him before I left Alderaan on the mission to get General Kenobi."
Padmé backed away and Leia continued, "Before I went to get General Kenobi, Bail and I had a really bad fight. And I never got the chance to make things right."
Anakin hugged his daughter. "I love you, Daddy," she mumbled into his shirt.
"I love you too, Leia," he whispered.
"I just had to tell you in case something happens," she murmured.
Anakin could only nod silently as he carefully held her. Padmé rejoined them and said, "Ani, what are we going to do? I can't believe that the Emperor would order such a thing."
Anakin nodded and said, "We fight for the Alliance. We kick the Emperor's butt. We restore order. Then we go back to our time to stop the Emperor there. And if we can't expose him, then we'll tell Senator Organa about Alderaan's fate and hope that he'll help us."
Padmé and Leia both grinned at Anakin. "He'd have to be someone powerful," Anakin observed, thoughtfully, "Someone who already has control of the Republic."
He and Padmé stared at each other. "Chancellor Palpatine!" They exclaimed, the same horror filling them.
"Oh, Leia, forgive me, my child," Padmé begged.
"For what, Mama? There's nothing to forgive," Leia responded.
"I betrayed you. I aided Palpatine in becoming Chancellor. I called for the vote of no confidence in the previous Supreme Chancellor, Chancellor Vallorum," Padmé replied, returning the hug Leia offered.
"We'll beat him, together," Leia responded.
Padmé smiled, releasing her daughter. Then Leia held up her hands to Anakin and said, "Daddy, hold me."
Anakin picked her up gently and held her. "Shh, princess, shh, I'm here," he promised.
Leia nodded, sniffling slightly. Anakin, Padmé, and Leia anxiously monitored the battle outside the base, hoping Luke would come out alive.
When Luke returned, Leia, Anakin, and Padmé surrounded him and hugged him.
Then Luke was rewarded during an awards ceremony. Leia grinned at her twin brother and afterwards, Anakin and Padmé found their two children sitting and talking quietly by the Falcon. Han had decided to join the Rebel Alliance after all. Anakin had a funny feeling that it was mostly because of his daughter. The small family looked at each other and then nodded in agreement. The Empire had to be destroyed. And the Skywalkers would do it—together.