Chapter 17: Do You Wanna Build A Snowman?—Part 2
It had been approximately two months since Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala, soon to be Padmé Skywalker, had left and returned to the past. The twins had had two very different reactions. Luke had accepted their departure much sooner than Leia had. In fact, she still hadn't accepted their departure. Leia chose to lock the door leading to her quarters every night and isolate herself from the rest of the team. While the rest of the team worried, Luke understood the situation immediately—Leia was orphaned twice—beginning when Padmé died when he and Leia were born, then when Alderaan was destroyed, and finally Anakin's death after the Final Battle of the Death Star II.
"Luke, it's Leia, I'm really worried," Han admitted.
Luke offered to check on her. "I'll go check on her," Luke replied immediately. "If anyone can get her to open up, it's me."
Luke walked over to his sister's door and knocked. "Leia, please, I know you're in there. People are asking where you've been. They say have courage and I'm trying to. I'm right out here for you—just let me in. We only have each other; it's just you and me. What are we gonna do? Do you wanna build a snowman?" He said softly.
"Luke, please, I want to be left alone," Leia called back.
"I'm not leaving, Leia," Luke replied. "I can be just stubborn as you."
Leia sighed. "Luke, you don't get it," she finally said.
"I know, but if you let me help you, I might understand," Luke said. "As it is, I'm the only one who knows what's really wrong, sis."
"Luke, you don't get it," Leia said. "Please, just go away. I'm fine. I'll come out when I'm ready."
"And when will that be?" Luke replied. "Leia, I need you. I need my sister back. Please. Don't shut me out. You never shut me out before. Ever. I can help you. I know I can. If you'll just open the door and let me in."
"What about when we were separated—for the first nineteen years of our lives?" She shot back.
"That was different," Luke replied. "We didn't get a say."
Leia sighed. "Luke, no," Leia replied.
Luke took a deep breath and said, "I miss them too, Leia."
"Luke, you don't get it!" Leia screamed. "I was never put with family! I was put with strangers! People I never belonged to! I needed Mom and Dad. I still need them."
Luke watched as the door opened, and he saw his sister, sobbing on her bed. He crossed the room and wrapped his arms around her waist tightly. "Our future will be different. Remember—Mom and Dad said so," Luke reminded her.
Leia nodded, sniffling. "Don't leave me," she whispered.
"I'm not going anywhere," Luke promised.
She knotted her fingers into her brother's shirt and wept bitterly. "I wish we could have had more time with them," she admitted.
Luke could only nod in agreement. The past few years were the best years of Leia's life. She had gotten time with the two people that she hated the Sith most of all for taking away—Anakin and Padmé Skywalker—and she had loved every minute.
Luke loved the time spent with his parents but he knew they'd get them back. Luke took a deep breath. "Leia, Han is taking us to Naboo. We're finally going home," he said slowly.
Leia looked up at her brother. "We never got our chance to say our goodbyes, to Mom," Luke choked out. "When we were younger. It's time we finally got our chance. And I was talking to Mom and Dad before they left; we were supposed to have been born on Naboo, not wherever we were born."
Leia nodded. "Could we be alone for that?" Leia asked.
Luke replied, "I'll tell Han and Chewie and Lando and Uncle Obi-Wan."
Luke reported Leia's request to Han, Chewie, Obi-Wan, and Lando and the four agreed.