The way back to the fortress was a long one. Especially for the Daughter in her state. So the Father took her by air with his own set of wings. He had told the Jedi to pass over a distant hill and they would come upon the fortress. Considering how odd this adventure had been, no one but Mara had questioned the Father's 'damned nonsensical' instructions.

Anakin glanced at Luke as they began their trek. Luke was dirtied and his clothes had been torn here and there. His hair was messy and he looked exhausted. But still Luke smiled as he held Mara's hand. Luke's smile reminded Anakin of Padmé's. He had not noticed that before. Nor had he really noticed how Luke held himself and how he spoke. The grace and dignity of his mother shown in nearly every way if one actually observed. Looking back over the course of their stay on Mortis Anakin realized something else. He could see himself in Luke too. Anakin saw in Luke his anger, confusion and loneliness. Anakin saw nothing else in Luke that he could call his own. Had he really imparted nothing good to his son? What was Leia like? Was she the epitome of grace and beauty, compassion and wisdom like Padmé? Her one drawback to have been born Anakin Skywalker's daughter?

Luke had noticed Anakin staring, he raised his brows in question. Anakin looked away quickly. Even Luke's bright blue eyes that should have mirrored Anakin's looked more like Padmé's.

What had he done to instill in Luke everything Anakin hated about himself? ...what had Darth Vader done?

"The old man wasn't pulling our legs!" Ben's voice cut through Anakin's musings. They had reached the top of the hill. And there was the fortress again.

"I hate this." Mara announced.

Obi-Wan chuckled and nodded in agreement. "Let's get inside, a storm is coming."

~~~

Mara used a wet towel to wipe off dirt on Ben's face. "What have you been doing, rolling in it?" Mara asked in a good natured scolding.

Ben shrugged and grinned, allowing his mother to fuss over him. "Been rolling in a lot lately."

"I can see that." Mara stood and turned to Luke, immediately bringing the towel to his face. "What the hell are we going to do about Abeloth?" She asked. Luke had brought her up to speed on what had been happening since Luke and Ben's arrival.

Luke shook his head slightly, letting Mara wipe him off. "Our only move is the dagger. With the Son dead and Daughter sick we don't have much else to rely on."

Mara raised an eyebrow. "What about the Father?"

"There's something off about him." Luke said. "I don't know why... I can't quite put my finger on it."

"Speaking of finger." Mara said, holding up Luke's hand. "What happened here?"

Luke frowned at the cut across his palm. Then he shrugged. "I fell."

"Really?" Mara raised an eyebrow. "I recall you being more graceful than a cat."

"You try fighting a god, then we'll talk."

Mara smirked and opened her mouth, but a knock at the door interrupted. Ahsoka and Obi-Wan were just outside.

"The Father put out food." Ahsoka said. "And I think we all need it."

"Yes, we do." Mara decided, grabbing Ben's arm and going to the door. "C'mon Luke, you look like trash."

"I'll be down in a minute." Luke said.

Mara nodded and practically dragged Ben out the room. She always did look out for the best when it came to Ben.

Once the group had left Luke held his hand, the cut across it was clear and fresh. Luke quickly pulled his shirt off to check his arm, he starred intently at the mirror. Both his arm and neck were still undamaged. But what was more disconcerting was his scars. The memories had faded with time and other ugly terrors. But Luke could still see the Emperor's sickly white hands and the lightning that struck out of them. He could remember the bitter shame he had once felt over the scars left behind by that monster. The intricate lightning patterns still marred Luke's chest, back, arms and lower neck. Yet where the dagger had cut him those permanent scars had faded significantly. Luke frowned at the mirrored image, feeling something akin to disgust with Abeloth. And with himself. Whatever Abeloth had actually done to save him could not have been good. Whatever she had done to trick him with the cut on his palm was even worse.

"Luke?"

Luke startled and quickly grabbed his shirt. Anakin was standing in the guest room, just outside the fresher. He looked worried.

"Anakin," Luke sighed and shrugged his shirt back on. "What's wrong?"

Anakin thinned his lips. Then he opened his mouth about to speak, only to shut it again.

"You look upset." Luke said, trying to help Anakin's loss of words.

Anakin chewed the inside of his mouth a moment, jaw clenching. "I had a vision." He finally spoke.

"A vision?" Luke echoed curiously. "What of?"

"Me." Anakin said. "And... you."

Luke nodded slowly, not sure where this was about to lead them. "You want to talk about it?"

"Obi-Wan said we'll figure it out once we're out of here but..." Anakin shook his head. "I have a really bad feeling."

Luke took a deep breath, swallowed his own bad feeling down. He nodded slowly. "What did you see?"

Anakin shifted on his feet uncomfortably. "I saw you hurt, hurt bad. Your hand was gone and you said-" Anakin shook his head, an expression of guilt crossing his face as he looked away. "You said I did that to you."

"The disturbance." Luke guessed softly.

"Partly." Anakin said. "Ben said a Sith did that to you."

Luke unconsciously touched the cybernetic replacement.

"I did that, didn't I." It was not a question.

"Anakin-" Luke began.

"No I know I did that." Anakin snapped, his eyes becoming glassy. His face twisted in anger and guilt. "Did I torture you with lightning too?"

Luke took a step forward. "Vader didn't and you haven't done anything."

Anakin scoffed. "I don't care if I haven't done it yet. It's already been done, you're proof enough!"

Luke raised his hands. "I know you're upset."

"We're past upset." Anakin grimaced. "Do you know why I did it? Why I turned to the Dark Side? If I know I can fix it, I can make it right for everyone."

Luke shook his head. "Anakin, I don't know if that's possible. We can't possibly understand what this is or-"

Suddenly Anakin grabbed Luke's arm and firmly shook the artificial hand in Luke's face. "I have to try, Luke." Anakin said, his voice low and determined. "I can't do this to you. I won't."

"But in the end you saved me." Luke challenged. Gently he set his other hand over Anakin's.

"Nobody walks away from the Dark Side, Luke. Nobody." Anakin stressed, and he believed it.

"You did." Luke said, unfazed but also saddened that even now his father could not see the way through his destined dark path.

Anakin shook his head, releasing Luke and approached the window. Anger and fear rolled off Anakin. Luke frowned and followed. He wondered if perhaps what Anakin wanted could be done. If Anakin could resist the Dark Side and save himself this time around. But what of Luke's life? As much as he hated what happened to Anakin and to their family, Luke would not be who he was without those events... he would likely have never met Mara. He would have never had Ben. Leia would undoubtedly never meet the lowlife scoundrel Han Solo. They would never have Jaina, Jacen and Anakin Solo. Luke had lived a life of agonizing terror, pain and loss. And Abeloth was right. The galaxy punished him for it. But he had been blessed too. He loved deeply and he was loved. Even if so much of it was lost again.

Hesitantly, Luke reached out and set his hand over Anakin's shoulder. The man trembled. Luke was not about to try and understand what intricacies this 'time travel' had. Or the plain of existence the Father claimed Mortis was on. All Luke truly knew in the end, was that he was a Jedi. Jedi helped people regardless of who they were or what they had done. But more than that, Luke loved his father. He loved Anakin. Luke could not bear to see Anakin afraid of his future.

"You didn't tell me everything... but you said you held on too tight to my mother." Luke began. Anakin finally turned enough to face him. "You couldn't let go. You wouldn't trust the Force or your friends." Luke took a deep breath. "It's a mistake I've nearly repeated."

Anakin shook his head, confused. "What do you mean?"

"I still can't remember it all." Luke said. "But... I did help Abeloth get here. In return she was going to bring Mara back and 'fix' my family. You- from my time, warned me not to accept her end of the deal. I swear I refused her."

Anakin squeezed his eyes shut. "Me- Darth Vader- it's about Padmé? And all this was about Mara?"

Luke nodded. "You will do terrible things for her."

"Luke," Anakin took a breath, "is Padmé going to die?"

Luke nodded. "Leia remembers her in childhood memories. But whatever happened to her, Leia doesn't remember." He offered a pained smile. "I never knew her, Leia and I were separated."

Anakin shook his head. "Because of me?"

"Because of the Emperor." Luke said firmly. "Obi-Wan was afraid he would come after Leia and I. We assumed Padmé paid the price for Leia's safety."

"Padmé dies because of me." Anakin said shaking his head and pushing Luke away. "You and Leia, you both suffer because of me."

"Anakin you're not listening."

"I am." Anakin shouted. "I destroyed everything, I killed everyone, I hurt you-"

Luke suddenly wrapped his arms around Anakin in a firm embrace. The taller man stiffened in Luke's hold. "There is good in you." Luke spoke softly, but firm, silencing any further objections. "There was good in Darth Vader, so I know you are good. You have a chance now. Dwelling on what a different version of you did won't save you." Luke pulled away and offered a kind smile. "Anakin... Father, you still have a choice."

Anakin shook his head. "To do what?" He asked, pleadingly. "What Luke? What can I do? What choice can possibly stop all that evil?"

"The only one that matters." Luke said. "A choice to be better."