Chapter 95 - Visitors on Coruscant

Author's Note: I can't believe this fic is almost over. xP

~ Amina Gila

It's been so long since she last saw the Ghost crew, Vizma would be bouncing with excitement if she weren't already fourteen. "Well, look who's here," Zeb calls, as they step off the shuttle.

"Vizma!" Ezra and Sabine exclaim eagerly.

"Hey, everyone," Vizma chirps, looking them all up and down. They haven't changed much, though Ezra is a little taller now and his hair is a lot shorter. He looks far close to adulthood now. "I hope you haven't been too bored in my absence."

"That is one word for it," Ezra agrees with a grin.

"It's been a lot quieter," Hera replies, giving her a warm smile which she returns. She forgot how much she missed Hera, too. She's like a second aunt. One who isn't crazy like Anastasia.

"It has been a long time," Kanan concurs.

She finds herself almost speechless. Everything is finally coming together for the best, and it's... She can't believe the fight is over, and she'll be back with everyone in her family and all her friends again.

"It's good to see you that you're... alive," her father interjects, stepping closer. She can feel his relief pouring into the Force, "Are you alright?"

"We're fine," Sabine offers, "It came close, though."

"We were captured, but you should have seen the governor's face when she was told to release us," Ezra smirks.

Vizma laughs. "I can only imagine."

"You were captured?" Marr asks.

Kanan nods. "Atallon was attacked before we even went to Lothal, and we lost a lot of people."

Her smile fades at that. The cost was great everywhere, and now, they're all left with the task of rebuilding. Marr nods, expression grim. "I expected it would be severe, but..."

"We lost Commander Sato during the attack," Hera adds, "But the purrgil came in to help. Apparently, Ezra's fascination with them proved useful."

"The Force led him to them for a reason," his father says, dryly,

"How did the purrgil come to help?" Vizma asks dubiously.

"We sent out a mating call with the Ghost," Ezra explains brightly.

She snorts, despite the situation. "I suppose they weren't happy having their mate attacked."

"They destroyed a lot of Thrawn's fleet, and a thunderstorm with glowing eyes that Kanan summoned did the rest," Zeb says, waving his hands for dramatic effect.

"A thunderstorm with glowing eyes?" Marr echoes.

"Bendu," Kanan replies, "I may have made him angry."

"You made him angry," Marr repeats, "How?"

"I... called him a coward?"

Vizma laughs. "You called the Force a coward. No wonder you 'made him angry'."

"Yeah, I can see why," Hera agrees, giving him a 'seriously?' look.

"He was refusing to help us," Kanan protests. "He essentially said it wasn't his problem."

"I can't imagine he put it like that," Marr objects.

"He said he only did that which was the will of the Force," he admits grudgingly, "He didn't intervene until they started bombarding the planet." They really seemed to be doing that everywhere, not that that's a surprise.

"None of you were injured then?" Marr asks.

"We were fine," Hera assures.

"What about when you were captured?"

"No. They didn't get that far," Kanan assures, and Marr nods, obviously relived. So is Vizma. She knows far too well from what happened to her father about the way the Empire treats their prisoners.

"But you were injured. Are you okay?" Kanan asks.

"I was, but it was nothing that serious."

"You were in the medbay for days, Dad," Vizma objects, looking up at him.

"And now I'm not," he replies, smiling faintly. "I'll leave you here to catch up."

Vizma nods, hurrying over to Ezra, Sabine, and Zeb as the adults move off to talk on their own. "So, I heard Anakin is here?" Ezra asks, almost incredulously.

"What happened with Mandalore?" Sabine queries.

"We brought some meliooruns if you've been missing them," Zeb says cheerfully.

Vizma can't help but laugh. She forgot how much she missed them. Being back on Mandalore was good – it was her home – but it wasn't easy, being there with only her mother and cousin. "I can't answer so many questions at once," she replies, "Yes, Anakin is here, and he's my uncle, apparently."

Sabine raises an eyebrow. "He is?"

"You know how my dad always calls him his brother, and it's... very mutual now, I think."

"I thought he was a Sith," Zeb objects.

"He was, but now he's not. Force users change religious all the time." She waves a hand. "We won on Mandalore, but it was... bad." And now, she has the honor of telling Sabine what happened.

"How bad?" Sabine asks, expression pinched.

"They started bombing the surface, and the casualties were... high." She hates to have to do this on their reunion for the first time in in a year, but she needs to tell her. "And there is something else I need to tell you."

Sabine tenses. "What?"

"Your family..." She swallows when she feels Sabine's fear and dread skyrocket. "Your mother was lost. I'm sorry, Sabine." For a heartbeat, there's nothing – but she can acutely feel her shock and disbelief in the Force. "I talked to your family before it happened. They want to see you again, if you're ready. Your mother was proud to hear what you've done in the time you were away."

"I..." Sabine trails off, looking away, and Vizma can tell that she's having a far from easy time keeping herself under control. Mostly, she's just in shock.

Ezra reaches over, laying a hand on her arm. "I'm sorry," he offers, quietly.

Vizma moves closer, wrapping her arms tightly around her, something Sabine returns just as fiercely. It's not something they really did much – pretty much the only one she's ever hugged is her father – but being without made her realize how much she missed it with anyone.

"It was for Mandalore," Vizma whispers, "But I know that's – hard to accept. Even with Aunt Satine it felt so..."

"I know, with my parents, too," Ezra says, quietly.

"What it was for doesn't make it easy," Zeb agrees.

They pull apart, and Sabine is still quiet for a long moment. "I'll just..."

"If you want a moment, you can have one," Vizma offers, and she nods, slipping off.

It leaves the three of them in an almost depressing silence for a few moments. "I can show you around, if you want," she offers, finally.

"Sure!" Ezra says, trying and failing to brighten, "Is this really the former Jedi Temple?"

"It is. Isn't much to look at now."

They don't get far before Sabine finds them again. Her pain is radiating into the Force, even if her face is mostly closed off. Dwelling on it and talking about it more will change nothing.

"Are you alright?" Ezra asks, first.

"I will be," Sabine answers, unconvincingly.

"I know it's not easy," Vizma murmurs, "But come on. I'm sure there's a lot you can feel free to repaint here. Although you might have to get permission from... Emperor Anakin."

"Hold on," Zeb yelps, "Emperor?!"

**w**

Kanan doesn't know what to think of any of this, really. He hadn't known Anakin that well when he was young, and most of it had just been borderline worshipping him because of who he was, but he'd still cared for and respected him.

And he'd nearly killed him and Ezra on Lothal.

Standing in front of the cyborg now is... slightly unnerving, if he's being honest. Not to mention that he can't deny feeling betrayed – even if he feels so much more Light now, because he's redeemed. Because apparently, that's possible – but Marr would know. "Marr said you aren't a Sith anymore," he blurts, then feels decidedly stupid.

"I am not," he replies. It's hard to imagine that he was once Anakin, but when Kanan pays attention to the way he moves and just how he talks, he can see all the signs.

Somehow, it makes the betrayal hurt more. "Why?" Kanan finds himself asking, "Why would you have joined the Sith?" Why would he have done any of this?

"I was blinded by Sidious. I believed I needed him," he replies.

It doesn't answer much, but it's what Marr was saying. Kanan knows that, and he trusts Marr. He's willing to give the ex-Sith a chance if Marr thinks they should but trusting him will be hard. Forgiveness even more so, but they have a common goal, which makes it easier. "I don't understand it," Kanan admits, finally, "When I knew you, you were..."

"I knew better. I will not justify what I have done," he responds.

All Kanan can do is nod, at that. There's more he wants to say, but he's plain not comfortable talking about it right now. It's been too many years, and he never knew him well in the first place. "Thank you for saving Marr," he says, finally.

The helmeted head inclines a little, and Kanan finally decides to leave it at that. Maybe he'll talk to him again later, once things are moving towards a new normal.

He and the Ghost crew need to go back to Lothal soon anyway, to deal with the fallout. There's much to be done. Now that Ezra has a home to go back to, he's itching to go there, and the others will be going with him. Hera might pay her father a visit first, but they'll be heading home to Lothal hopefully very soon.

**w**

Obi-Wan hasn't seen Leia since he was last on Alderaan seven years ago. It's been... a long time. Senator Organa was lost in the chaos, and he imagines Leia will not be taking it well. It's now her role to become Senator of Alderaan, hence why she's finally arrived on Coruscant. Luke is supposed to be on his way, but he was caught up in the Rebellion and whatnot. He destroyed the Death Star, which the Rebellion had been lucky enough to get the information about on time before it became too dangerous.

Leia stills atop the ramp when she sees him. Her Force signature is one of melancholy, but it flickers with relief when she sees him. "Ben?" she breathes.

"Leia," he responds. Idly, he wonders if Lola is with her. She looks so much like her parents, somehow even more now than when she was younger.

She walks down the ramp, before all formalities abandon them. She is his niece, after all. She's Anakin's daughter. Leia picks up speed as she approaches him, and Obi-Wan steps forwards to lay his hand on her shoulder. She moves forwards to embrace him anyway, and he obliges, wrapping his arms around her.

"I knew I would see you again," she says, smiling, though there's a visible pain in her eyes.

It reminds him abruptly of how they parted, and that he never told her anything of her parents. He never told her about Anakin, and now, he'll have to. He doesn't even know if she wants to know, though. Anakin does. That's where it gets... tricky. "There is something I must tell you," Obi-Wan says when she finally pulls back.

"First, I want to know how you've been," she replies – she's so much like when she was younger, only she's older now and more mature and self-assured.

"In truth, quite well," he replies. "Do you remember when I told you of your father.?"

There's a flicker of pain in the Force around her, and she nods. "Yes, I do."

"He and I were... quite close. I recently found he's still alive. He would like to meet you when you're ready."

"I don't know," she confesses, "If he wants to see me, I'd be happy to see him." Whether she's saying it for herself or for him, Obi-Wan can't tell. Leia is so much like Anakin in that way. Her first reaction to anything is to give others what they want. Anakin was like that, too.

In many ways, he still is.

"First, there is something you must know."

She must sense the seriousness of it, because she nods slightly, turning towards him. They've moved to the side now, trying to avoid the people milling about. Being inside the Imperial Palace is highly unnerving, and it's worse knowing this was once the Jedi Temple. This was once the place Obi-Wan called home – the place he lived most of his life.

He's also very grateful to be off Tatooine – now he knows why Anakin hated it so much.

"It's about your father," he tells her, "Both of your parents, actually."

"Tell me," Leia requests. She's curious, though wary. She should be. He doesn't know how well she'll take to this.

"I first met your parents... many years ago, when they were both still children," he begins, "Your mother was Queen Amidala of Naboo. She was fourteen when I first met her." Leia's eyes widen slightly, clearly recognizing the name, but she doesn't interject. "It was on a mission with my master. I was still a padawan at the time. We went to Tatooine, which was when we first met your father. Anakin Skywalker."

"Anakin Skywalker," she repeats, "You mean, that Anakin Skywalker?"

"Yes. Yes, he was."

Obi-Wan shakes off the emotions this conversation is bringing up and continues talking. She needs to know everything, and Marr had pulled him aside right before her arrival long enough to emphasize that she needs to know everything if she'll be able to understand and process. Accepting that her father was Darth Vader will not be easy. She never knew him... before.

"He was a slave then, which I now realize shaped much of his life. Your parents were already friends when they parted. She was fourteen. He was nine, and... he became my padawan. My own master had recently died when I took him. It was not easy for either of us, but we became close." Close, he thinks, is an understatement for how they always felt as though they were two but one. Every single thing in his life since they met was about Anakin, and everything since Mustafar was always an if Anakin were here. Just like Cato Neimoidia.

Some things will remain unstated, though – there is no way to put them to words.

"One of the most important parts of being a Jedi is letting go, which Anakin never learned. I never knew how dangerous that was until it was too late. Marriage for Jedi is... prohibited. Attachments interfere with our duties and cloud our judgment. Your parents met one another a decade later. I knew they were close, but I did not realize how close. It was days before the Clone Wars when they were reunited, and I suspect they married then."

"Many things changed over the war. Anakin had... always had a very strained relationship with the Jedi Council. Looking back, I fear I only worsened that connection. I knew it was falling apart long before it did, but I was blinded to it. We realized far too late that the then-Chancellor was the Sith behind the war. The Council never suspected him until the war began to drag on and we... started to suspect a double game. We had given Anakin to him when he was but a child. I never saw what the Emperor was doing."

"He wanted my father on his side, didn't he?" Leia deduces.

She's a fast thinker. So much like her father. It feels like someone stabbed a knife into his heart – idly, he wonders if this is how Anakin felt on Mustafar. Years later, it still haunts his dreams. He can still hear the scream, still feel the weight of his padawan's body in his arms.

He still remembers Anakin crying his name as he walked away. If he didn't, he may not hate himself quite as much as he does.

"Yes, he did," Obi-Wan confirms, "He has a way of getting what he wants, one way or another. When the Jedi fell... Anakin joined Sidious and took the name Darth Vader."

Leia's eyes are wide. "That was him?" she asks.

Obi-Wan wishes he could deny it. "In a sense, yes, it was. He... has been through a lot. Now that his master is gone, he's trying to find balance, but it won't be easy."

"Then where has he been?" she demands. "For all these years? Why...?"

"There's more," he explains, "After I found he had joined the Emperor, I tracked him down. We fought, and I thought he was dead. Your mother gave birth hours later, to you and... your brother. Luke."

"Brother," she echoes.

"I took him to Tatooine, where he could be raised by the rest of Anakin's family. Bail Organa had helped me to safety, and he offered to take you. I stayed on Tatooine, watching over Luke. I didn't leave until you were kidnapped. That was when I found out Anakin survived."

"Why did he stay with the Empire?" Leia inquires. She's clearly in shock, but she wants to know the full story before making up her mind.

"He had very little choice of his own. He wants to see you, but... You must make that choice for yourself, when you are ready."

Given everything, Leia already seems completely overwhelmed. "I'll think about it," she promises, and that's the most he can ask for.

**w**

Anakin is unsurprised when he hears Leia isn't ready to see him yet – he couldn't blame her if she never wants to, given what she knows about him. His son is here, though, the one he didn't even hear about until very recently. He has twins.

Luke stands in front of him now, and suddenly, both of them feel speechless. He – he's almost an adult now. He lived seventeen years without him, years he'll never get back. For as overwhelmed as Anakin is to see him, it also hurts. He'll have time to know him now, though, and that's... only because of his brother. Where would he be if not for Theseus?

"Father," Luke breaths finally, staring up at him.

"Son," he murmurs – or would have if the vocoder didn't always amplify it.

"I – I thought you were dead," he blurts, "Until a horned Sith, and a Mandalorian showed up fighting on our farm, along with Ben."

What?!

"Ben?" Anakin echoes, "Is that what Obi-Wan was going by?"

"Yeah, Uncle Owen always said he was a crazy hermit."

"That may be a fitting title." He can't quite suppress his amusement at the title. "Who was the... horned Sith?"

"Maul," Luke replies, "But it was the first time I got to see a lightsaber! And Jedi fighting."

Leave it to his son to care more for that than how he could have been killed. But growing up on Tatooine, how's that a surprise? "Did Maul harm you?" Anakin demands.

"No," Luke assures, "Marr and Ben killed him, and they told me you were alive. Ben started training me after that."

"I did not know where you were, or if you lived," Anakin confesses.

"Why would you think I wasn't?" Luke frowns, "And why were you with the Emperor in the first place?"

"I had visions of your mother's death. I hoped to prevent it by joining the Emperor, but I... failed. I was... injured, and Obi-Wan took her. I did not know if the child lived until now."

Luke is quiet for a few long moments, probably trying to process it all. "Uncle Owen would want to see you," he says finally, changing the topic.

"I have not seen him in... years." He didn't even know him, but if anything, he should thank him for raising Luke so well when Anakin himself did not.

"When did you last know him? He never talked about you much, but he was not happy Ben never said you were still alive."

"We met only briefly." Luke deserves answers about his family, but this is part of his past he doesn't want to talk about.

The boy doesn't push, though. "I wanted to leave Tatooine a long time, and he didn't agree until now. But now that you're here..." He looks up at him, hopefully.

"I would like us to stay together, but we... should speak with him as well," Anakin replies. He can't imagine not being with his son. All he wanted was his child, and now he has two – both of whom have lived other lives, happily and safely, without him.

Luke nods, then looks slightly uncomfortable. "I wanted to know you for years," he says, quietly.

"All I have wanted once I knew you were alive was to find you – once it was safe." That had been true for Leia, at least, and it would have been true for Luke, if he knew he existed.

"I wanted to stay here," Luke reiterates, then pauses, "Wait, if you're the Emperor, does that mean I'm a prince?!" He sounds minorly horrified.

A smile tugs at his lips, despite the circumstances. "Yes. It does. But you have always been – your mother was once a queen."

"Can you tell me more about her?" Luke asks, hopefully.

Thinking about Padme will always hurt, even if it's a little less now with his children here. "Yes," he concedes, a little reluctantly, "I can."

It's the first chance he's had to spend with his son ever and even if nothing will make up for the time they spent apart, at least they're together now.

**w**

It's a couple days later that Leia comes to talk to him. He's been busy with the constant political chaos, and there's a lot of chaos in the newly forming Senate that Leia has undoubtedly been busy with, too. Her adopted father is also dead, so he knows how much she must be trying to deal with right now.

He loathes that this is something she has to handle, and he doesn't know how to go about helping her. He doesn't even know her.

"The new Senate isn't much to look at," Leia finally blurts.

"No Senate has ever been," he replies, dryly.

"Fair point," she concedes, staring up into the visor of his mask. She reminds him so much of Padme, in many ways. He can feel her pain, though, as she talks about anything related to the Senate.

"I regret that Senator Organa was lost in the attack." It's completely insufficient, but there's little else he can say. He knew there would be disastrous consequences for trying to take out Sidious like that, but this was something he never anticipated.

"What happened?" Leia asks, past her flare of pain. She wants answers, and he'll give her all he can.

"Sidious had a ship concealed beneath the surface," Anakin replies, "It destroyed the building after his death." For all that it hurt his daughter, in some ways, there were minor benefits to what happened, too. Many of Sidious's supporters were killed, as were Sly Moore and Mas Amedda. It could have become complicated if they were still alive. They would never allow Vader to take the role of Emperor unchallenged, and in the Senate's absence, whoever reacts first is first to gain control.

"You didn't know about it?"

"I did not. There was much Sidious never revealed to me."

"Ben told me," Leia replies, and he can't help but wonder what Obi-Wan told her, though he doesn't ask. It reminds him of what happened years ago when Obi-Wan had been protecting her. From the Empire. He never truly considered why he would consider her so important until he heard of her. "He said you two were... close."

He may be here again, but it still hurts to remember what he once had with everyone. "We were."

"Why were you searching for him years ago?" Leia asks.

"I sought to have him join me," Anakin replies. "I... did not know who you were at the time." Not that it had been his choice to kidnap Leia anyway, but he knows it could not have been an easy experience for her.

She nods, slightly. "Why did you think he would join the Empire?"

"I believed once that if he were there, we could destroy the Emperor."

She's quiet for a long moment. "You wanted to leave, then."

"Yes, I... did. But it was my choice to remain." He let his fear of Sidious rule him – he knew it even then, and he continued to do so, until he had a reasonable chance of defeating him.

"Maybe," Leia replies, still staring up at him with that penetrating look, "But I didn't come here to debate that. When Ben first met me, he... told me a little about you."

"I desired to find you as soon as I knew you were alive. But I know you already have parents that I will not replace." He doesn't know if she'll ever see him as her father, and that hurts, but it's... Bail raised her when Anakin wasn't there, and he can only be grateful she grew up a princess, with the life he would never have been able to give her.

Leia nods. "I have wanted to meet my biological parents before. And since I'm trapped here in your new... unimpressive Senate, I imagine we'll have plenty of time."

She does want to know him at least, and that's something. More than he can ask for. He'll finally have the chance to get to know both of his children.

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