Chapter 10: Day Five: Revenge of the Sith

"This will be a trap," Vader says, arms crossed as he stands in the tunnels next to Ahsoka and Obi-Wan. They've spent the entire night looking for Rex. It's got to be near sunrise by now that they've finally picked up on a lead. And Vader can sense clearly that Maul is waiting for them there. He's not going to underestimate the Sith. He wouldn't be luring them all there at the same time if he didn't have some at least semi-reasonable reason to think he could handle them all.

"Next move is to spring the trap," Obi-Wan says. His Force presence is whirling with a mix of anger and smugness. He wants to end this. Just like Vader does, but feeling this from Obi-Wan makes him think about the times he confronted him in the past and it's making him frustratingly uneasy.

"We cannot go in together," Vader objects, "He does not need to think we have all come for him at once."

"He wants me," Obi-Wan insists, "He'll be distracted if I'm there." He's probably not wrong about that.

"Then if you distract him, that should be plenty of time for Anakin and me to get in there and free Rex," Ahsoka points out.

"You are the one he will underestimate, Ahsoka," Vader says. She's the one Maul doesn't know and the one he has no interest in. "You should come in as back up."

It's still jarring to be working with people again. To actually get to discuss his plans with them. It's refreshing in a way he long forgot. It – it eases the loneliness that's torn him apart for so long.

Though right now, all he can focus on is that Rex is out there and he has to get to him before it's too late. He can't fail him like he has everyone else in his entire family. That desperation is swallowing him whole, remembering how every single time, he always fails. First his mother, and then really with Ahsoka during her trial even if she didn't end up dead, and then Fives and his children and Padme worst of all. He won't let it happen again, no matter what it takes. He won't.

They split up there, moving through the tunnels along with the clones. The passageways are narrow and that could definitely give Maul an advantage.

The tunnel widens at one point and Vader senses a flare of danger right before a blaster shot flies over their head. Vader whips out his lightsaber instantly, as the Mandalorians and clones start exchanging fire. He charges the Mandalorians, cutting through them without hesitation but they just keep coming.

"We don't have time for this," Obi-Wan calls, "Maul's going to use this as an opportunity to get away. Or to wear us out so he can handle us better."

He's probably not wrong about that.

They are walking into a trap and Rex's life is in danger. But so are all the clones here.

"I'll help them, Master," Ahsoka offers, before Vader has to try to make a choice, "You go ahead."

He nods, gratitude flaring through him before he takes off, Obi-Wan not far behind.

The tunnel forks off not far ahead and they go both ways – he can sense Maul much closer now.

Vader reaches one of the doorways that he can sense Maul behind the same time Obi-Wan reaches the entrance on the other side. They're coordinating – as awkward as it is to work with him again. But this is for Rex and there is nothing Vader would not do for him.

And at least right now, he – knows Obi-Wan won't turn on him when all he wants is vengeance on Maul.

Vader ignites his lightsaber, plunging it into the door and cutting it open. He wanted to enter by surprise, but there is no other way in. They already scouted the entire area. What has him wary is that Maul is obviously waiting for them.

Seeing the blue lightsaber is still jarring. He kind of misses when it was but maybe that's just because he hasn't been able to see anything blue period in twenty years so he can't stop staring at the color. Red is still – that's what fits him. It's what he is. He's a Sith and that can't change so easily, especially not when he needs this power to make sure Rex survives. He can't fail. Not again. And if he does fail him again, that will be the final proof that he really is irreparably broken somehow, that he really doesn't deserve to feel anything but this Darkness ever again. Now isn't the time to think about everything his once family has been saying to him.

Vader Force-throws the piece of door in hard, hoping to knock over whoever's standing right behind it. Someone yelps as they fall to the floor from the force of it, but most everyone was standing pointedly clear of it. Vader ducks into the room, taking in the scene for the first time.

There's twelve Mandalorian warriors in here, in addition to Maul who's pacing the length of the room. Two warriors are positioned next to each entranceway, blasters drawn, and the other eight... They're all standing around Rex, who's suspended in an energy field in the center of the room. They all have their weapons out, pointed right at him.

There's – there's no way he could take them out fast enough without someone shooting him.

This was Maul's point, wasn't it?

Obi-Wan's just ducking through the other opening, but even together – It's not a risk Vader's willing to take. He'll find a different way. His mind is whirling, quickly assessing the odds. He has a plan, maybe. He'll just have to see if it'll work.

"I have been waiting for you, Kenobi," Maul hisses, glee filling his gaze.

"You're only half the fighter you used to be," Obi-Wan shoots back, much too smugly, "That won't end well for you."

Maul's eyes flash with a burning fury. "We shall see. I would suggest both you and your apprentice surrender or your friend here will die."

Vader's gaze jumps back to Rex, unable to move in the center of the room.

Rex subtly shakes his head. He doesn't want him to do it. He's willing to let himself die if it means Vader won't be hurt. He doesn't deserve that. He doesn't –

But he's not going to let it happen. Ever.

He has no idea if Obi-Wan will care or not but he's not going to risk it. "Why should we believe that if we surrender, you won't hurt him?"

Maul turns to him. "I have no quarrel with the clones. Once this is finished, I'll send him back to his brothers."

That feels like the truth in the Force, much as Vader doesn't want to believe a word of it. This is Maul, who killed so many of his men in another lifetime. But he doesn't have much other choice right now and it's not as if he's planning to let Maul get any further anyway, even if he gives off the show of going along with this. Not that that does much to ease the fear inside of him. He knows how easily this could go wrong.

Vader extinguishes his lightsaber, dropping it to the floor and raising his hands. He meets Obi-Wan's gaze on the other side of the room, attempting to communicate that he has a plan, so his former master doesn't do anything stupid. It's awkward to even be trying to work with him again, but...

Obi-Wan catches his gaze and he looks very, very grumpy as he lets one of the Mandalorians take his weapon.

Maul gestures for the ones in the center of the room, one of whom deactivates the energy field, letting Rex fall to the floor. They're quick to snap him in binders before he can get to his feet, though, directing him to the far side of the room where two warriors stand guard over him, blasters raised.

At least it's just two. That's good. They'll be easier to take down without Rex getting hurt but he doesn't think now is the right moment.

"Put Skywalker in it," Maul orders, gesturing to the energy field.

Oh.

Great.

That is not going to be good.

Vader already has the sinking feeling he knows exactly where this is going to go, but it's too late for him to try lashing out abruptly as they grab him, shoving him forward. Obi-Wan jerks forward instinctively, obviously trying to stop them, but there's too many in the way – and most importantly, Maul is in the way.

They suspend him in the energy field. He's been in this position numerous times in the past – just not in many years. He hasn't been captured in many years. It feels like a failing right in and of itself but... they haven't defeated him yet. He's just playing along until he can act, but that doesn't mean he's not afraid of what he's pretty sure he's about to happen. What he needs here is Ahsoka.

But she's still out there and she'll be coming, just like they planned along with the rest of the clones.

"I have waited this moment for years, Kenobi, from the moment I first learned of your apprentice. You will feel a mere fraction of the pain that I suffered all this time and then you will both die," Maul says. He flicks a hand, turning the – something on with the Force.

Vader doesn't have more than a moment to think about what. Electricity crackles from the device he's hooked up to, into him.

Strangled screams escape him as the blinding pain whites out everything else. He's used to this, to fighting through it, fighting past it but that never makes it any easier. It hurts and it burns and it feels like the intensity of it is increasing or something unless his nerves are getting too sensitive but he doesn't think so – not that he can think much at all in this state when all he feels is the burning pain ripping through him.

Maul's going to kill him here.

Like this – isn't he –

He' s not gonna let it stop –

Not the – he counted on having more time.

Can't let that happen. Can't just –

Vader reaches outwards desperately. He knows how to close himself off in his mind from ceaseless torture even if this is senseless, intended to cause as much pain as possible, not to kill him. But it's not worse than the times Sidious was the angriest. He can still –

Finally he feels Ahsoka and latches onto her Force presence, communicating the message better than anything could. He needs her to come here now. And he can sense that she is. He just needs to – to last that long. He's felt worse before. It'll end. It'll end. Even if it doesn't, he can endure – That's all he can do –

Aside from scream anyway.

A blaster shot rings out suddenly and some more loud noises that somehow don't seem louder than his own screams but then he hears the sound of activating lightsabers and he knows it means Ahsoka's here. Now is the moment and he has to act now. The pain he's in is fueling the Dark Side but that's whiting out his mind just as much and he finds himself reaching for the determination he has to make sure all of them get out of this alive. He will not let Rex or Ahsoka be hurt in this. Ever. Or any of the rest of his boys. Or – or Obi-Wan. Even if just to spite Maul.

He lets the Force in its entirety flood him, lets himself momentarily feel the lives of everyone around him. He can feel the way Ahsoka is fighting off the Mandalorians, the way the clones are exchanging fire with them and a few of them are already dead, the way Obi-Wan's fighting Maul, and the way Rex is still in danger. They're about to shoot him.

He lashes out wildly, a Force wave exploding in every direction, flinging Maul and the Mandalorian warriors aside. He crushes the machine containing him in the same move.

Vader falls, the energy field gone. He lands unceremoniously on the ground, gasping for breath. It takes him a moment to be able to look up again, with how badly his head is pounding.

Obi-Wan's already gone for Maul, and their lightsabers are clashing on repeat.

Vader doesn't have the strength to drag himself to his feet right off, especially not with the way his limbs are still spasming and how he's still burning everywhere inside, but he swiftly glances around the room, struggling to think past the pain. Knows how to – even if he can't think much of anything but how much it hurts.

The clones are shooting at the Mandalorians who are just picking themselves back up again and Ahsoka is in the center of the room, deflecting the shots away.

Several of the Mandalorians turn abruptly, firing at Rex.

No.

No –

He flicks out a hand, Force deflecting the blasts aside – even if they're on the opposite side of the room that he is. The blasts hit the wall and he lifts the Mandalorians in a Force choke, crushing their necks without a second thought. He draws the Force to him, letting it keep him upright. He knows how to use his fear and pain to fuel him, to be able to endure anything to survive. But more than that, he can feel the desperate desire to keep his – his family safe.

Well, technically they are still Anakin's family and he can't forget that but even if they aren't his, he's not going to let anything happen to them. Not this time. And that's a lighter – it's a strange lightness he's been finding inside of himself more and more ever since he hasn't had to be so alone anymore. Doesn't take the time to ponder it – just throws up a hand up to deflect a couple of the blaster shots the Mandalorians are firing at him now – directing the shots right back at them.

He can see his lightsaber on Maul's belt and he lifts a hand, calling it to him. Not that he's really in a fighting state but he'll have to make it work. He drags himself to his feet unsteadily, deflecting the shots aside as a group of the Mandalorians attack him from all sides. Dodging their blasts, Force-shoving them back and running them through with his lightsaber, then dodging out of the way before they can shoot him again is far from easy but he lets the Force keep him moving, even if he's starting to see stars. He can genuinely hardly see the room around him anymore. He thinks he's dangerously close to passing out. His heart is still hammering erratically, wildly and he can hardly draw a breath in, but finally the last of the Mandalorians falls to the floor.

The only one left is Maul – though beyond this, Vader can feel the clones are fighting off some of the other Mandalorians. He needs to get out there to help them, but he'll have to finish up here first.

He stumbles over to Rex who is already standing and he cuts the binders on his wrists free. "Did he harm you?" Vader demands, blinking a few times and trying to ignore how it looks like Rex's face has vanished into darkness and flashes of light.

He needs to sit down. But he's not weak, no matter how much pain he's in.

"No," Rex replies, hand on Vader's arm, steadying him. He tries not to lean against him too much but he can hardly stay on his feet right now. Can't let the exhaustion catch up with him yet, though. "You didn't need to do that for me, sir."

"Of course I did. And it – worked out. It's okay." His voice sounds strangled, weak, even now.

He turns away, back to their surroundings. Ahsoka is jumping for Maul now, just when he kicks Obi-Wan aside.

It's time to finish them.

Vader moves forward, hand tight around his lightsaber.

Maul looks up sharply, catching his gaze, then Force-jumps across the room away from Ahsoka, landing right next to Vader. He flings him across the room into the wall, then jumps before Vader can block it. His vision nearly blacks out entirely as he hits the ground and Maul's red lightsaber appears in his vision a moment later, swinging downward for the kill. He throws up his right hand, blindingly struggling to draw the force to it enough to block the lightsaber – he can do it but he can't focus on anything right now –

Another blue blade intercepts it. He blinks, totally caught by surprise when he realizes it's... Obi-Wan.

Who just... saved him.

For – for some reason.

He shoves Maul and Rex fires at the Sith a few times, forcing him to back away.

He reaches out toward Maul with the Force, Force-throwing him across the room as fast as he can, then yanks his lightsaber out of reach with the Force when he tries to get to him. Obi-Wan lunges forward in Maul's moment of distraction, slashing deeply into his chest.

The Sith stumbles back, collapsing to the floor. He just killed him when he was technically defenseless – not that Vader's exactly surprised about that. Doesn't much care either because at least the Sith is gone.

He doesn't feel any satisfaction – he never feels that in anyone's death. Never has. But he is unreasonably relived. His boys are safe. They're safe and it feels like... he'll never forget the day he found all those helmets in the snow, Ahsoka's lightsabers next to them and it feels like they're deaths were finally avenged, even if that never happened in this timeline.

He lets go of his hold on the Force then. Isn't physically capable of holding onto it anymore but the next thing he knows, he's falling. The world blacks out around him and he doesn't register anything again until someone is... holding him. There's a hand on his forehead. His first thought is Sidious but no – it doesn't have that cold slippery possessive feel. It's heavy, rough but still gentle, familiar.

Something – a rare display of affection – that he longed for in another lifetime – and Sidious would never hold him. Vader blinks, just enough to open his eyes. It's Obi-Wan, a hand smoothing back the curls matted in Vader's face. Why is he – What –

It's – that doesn't make sense. Why's he being gentle – he's not that what –

But he doesn't have it in him to try to get up. He's been so affection-starved for so long, and especially right now when he's in so much pain, he doesn't have the strength to refuse it from anyone. Not even if it was Sidious. Can't say how long he's wanted someone to just hold him either.

"Anakin," Obi-Wan says finally. He looks worried. There's that affection deep in his eyes that Vader saw another lifetime ago, when he actually was Anakin, and Obi-Wan should know that's not who he is anymore so why –

His mind can't comprehend another response except a rush of tears, blurring his gaze, spilling down his cheeks. He should get up. Should – this position is too vulnerable and he couldn't do anything if Obi-Wan wanted to hurt him. But if it means that he'll be held for one second longer, he genuinely doesn't even care right now.

"What's wrong?" Obi-Wan asks, sounding minorly freaked out but the hand against his cheek doesn't move.

Vader doesn't have the mind to reply, just lets himself slip off into unconsciousness again, even as he tries to cling to the lingering feel of finally being held.

**w**

When Vader opens his eyes again, it's to the familiar sight of the medical wing on the 501st cruiser. He's in a bed and it's so soft – he hasn't slept in an actual bed since the time travel. So the last time was probably the last night he spent at Padme's apartment. He doesn't want to move sheerly from how comfortable he is... but then the reminder of what last happened comes rushing back to him. What's going on, on Mandalore now? He needs to know.

But what matters most to him is that Rex is alive. His boys are safe. He – he actually succeeded. Way inside, he didn't think he would but he did. Somehow he did.

Vader turns his head to look around the room. It's empty, except for Ahsoka who's resting her head on her arms, breathing evenly next to him. She must've fallen asleep. Something about it is kind of adorable. To be fair, she's only seventeen and still a child. He can't help how much he finds half of what she does adorable still.

She's – she's his little sister, his – he has no idea how he survived so much time apart from her. But he needs to remember that this isn't his Ahsoka. This is just – it's something that's going to end eventually, like everything. Maybe his family here wants him, but these aren't his. His are still gone. That reminder comes with a sinking depression, taking an edge of the hints of calmness he'd been starting to find. He doesn't want to think about it yet, but... He needs to remember.

And he knows it's not like he deserves to have them back anyway but he doesn't feel quite the same surety of that as he used to. They – his wouldn't want him, though. Not that he can blame them. He can't forget what these versions of them have said but he can't – He doesn't know anymore.

He can hope that Luke will want him, though. And maybe Leia, too. Even if he doesn't really believe they will.

Slowly Vader reaches out, laying a hand on Ahsoka's head, feeling the smoothness of her montrals beneath his fingers. For all the time she spent away from the Jedi, she's still so light, so –

But that was from what Anakin taught her, not from him. Not truly.

He knows things from this before weren't always good. Like what Ahsoka was saying about the Council. Things weren't good then either but at least it was better than it is now. Not that he has any higher of an opinion about the Jedi. Just – it's only for his family who he wants back even if he can't imagine actually getting any of this acceptance from his own.

Ahsoka starts sharply suddenly, sitting up. "You're awake!"

"What's going on?" he asks, blinking a few times as he slowly pushes himself into a sitting position, wincing a bit at how sore he is. But being sore was basically a constant part of his existence as Vader so this really is nothing. The lingering effects of electrocution are so commonplace.

"We're on the way back to Coruscant."

"Coruscant? But – what about Mandalore? What happened?" And this means he's being taken back to the Jedi. He can defend himself. It's fine. But that doesn't mean he's looking forward to such a confrontation. He doesn't want to be dragged back to the Council but really... If Ahsoka's going back to Coruscant, he wants to be with her regardless of where she's going.

"We won with Maul gone. We cleared out." The way she catches his gaze, he thinks she figured out what's wrong. Ahsoka reaches out, hand slipping into his. "Don't worry. I'm sure the Council will at least hear you out. You defeated Maul and Sidious."

He wants to believe they'll be that reasonable but he really doesn't. Not that there's any other choice right now.

"I've been thinking," Ahsoka says slowly, "About... finishing my training. About coming back to the Order."

Vader freezes.

She – what?

"You mean that?" he asks, staring at her.

She nods. "I was reminded of what being a Jedi means to the people. I want that again, as long as you can finish my training." Which is when the full reality of the situation crashes back down on him. He's not staying here but that's beside the point. He doesn't know if Anakin will be able to. Everyone is about to find out about his marriage to Padme anyway and Ahsoka deserves to know the issues with her coming back before she seriously considers it.

"This should be for Anakin to tell you," Vader starts and he thinks it really hits him for the first time that the Anakin here isn't him. He's not even the person who he used to be. He's someone else entirely who lived the life he once had. But he's not him and Vader doesn't want to make the decisions for him on what to tell his family but he has to say this. "But... I don't know if he would have been able to stay in the Order even now."

She frowns. "Why?"

"I... am going to have children. Twins. I'm married."

She blinks, staring at him. "You – what? That – since when? But – "

"I know I broke the Code," he replies bluntly, "But it was right after my mother died and I could not imagine going on almost entirely alone. It was before I met you or the clones."

"Senator Amidala?" Ahsoka realizes, eyes wide. "And wait – you're going to have children? You mean – "

"The timing was far from ideal." But maybe Anakin will get the chance he never did, to raise his children from birth.

Luke and Leia are both back in his time but he doesn't know that either of them will want anything to do with him. Not that he can blame them if they don't. That doesn't stop the crushing longing that floods him overwhelmingly as he thinks about. All the years he could have been raising them are never coming back. He cannot undo that he has hurt them both. And even if he could stay here in the past to do it, it would feel fake. It wouldn't change what he already lost.

Ahsoka looks overwhelmed, unsurprisingly. "I don't know what to think. I didn't know you..." She cuts off with a half laugh. "I can't believe you, Skyguy. I can't believe you're going to be a father. I'd like to see your children."

He squeezes her hand. "You will have plenty of time. The galaxy should not fall here as it did before." But it's not something he'll ever get to see. That didn't start feeling so real until right now. He doesn't want to think about it yet. He's not ready to leave even if – he can't imagine staying here forever, either. These aren't his family, even if it feels easier to be around them. "But perhaps Anakin can finish your training even if you do not rejoin the Order."

"I suppose that's possible," Ahsoka muses, "You really think – You were going to leave before?"

"I was. But everything fell first. I had no idea you were intending to return, either. I cannot say what choice I would have made, had I known." He would've still left to raise the twins, he thinks, but if he'd known Ahsoka wasn't just going to leave him again... A lot may have changed. Or nothing might have.

"What did you do after you left?" he asks. He had so many questions all those years ago. None of which he got answered.

"I hung around on the surface for a while. I didn't know where to go. Eventually I found my way to the Underworld. Ran into some friends who let me work at their mechshop. They accidentally made a deal with some Pykes and I was trying to pull them out of the mess when I found the lead on Maul."

He nods. "You were alright, then?" He was so worried about her all the time after she left, even if he knew she was truthfully safer away than in the war.

"As well as I could be." A shadow crosses her face. "I always missed you. I wanted to talk to you again, but I didn't want to distract you and I was afraid I'd... end up wanting to go back before I was ready. I tried to find balance in the Force. I think – it's easier when I was not answering to people anymore, and only lived by the Code."

"Yes," he says quietly, "I... imagine it would be." All he's ever known is following people. He doesn't know how to do anything else, even if it's the Force he always trusts to bring him to where he needs to be. But with what Ahsoka's saying... He finds himself rethinking what he's thought all this time about both the Jedi and the Sith. What if –

"Maybe coming back to the Order isn't... what I need to do," she goes on, tentatively, "After what you've said about the Council, about how you Fell – Maybe it'd be better if you did leave. We could still be together."

He swallows past the tightness in his chest, at the words.

"Tell Anakin this," he requests finally. At least he can give his younger-self a chance he never got.

And maybe – he doesn't know what'll happen back in his own time. He doesn't see any path except as a Sith, where he can be powerfuland therefore useful and yet, listening to what Ahsoka's saying, thinking about everything that's changed since he came back here... He's suddenly not sure anymore. Even if it's still not a choice he has a clue how to make.

**w**

Coming back to the Temple is nearly enough to take his breath away. The longing and pain and guilt and bitterness that are crushing his chest is nearly too overwhelming for him to know how to handle. This was his home once until everything fell. Until the Jedi betrayed everything they claimed to stand for and he still doesn't know that he believes it won't happen again. He can't stop seeing flashes of Order 66 from mind either. Of the clones dying as the Jedi cut through them without remorse and of so many falling on his lightsaber, even people he once loosely knew.

Memories of his life as a Jedi mix over with all the negative memories he has of here. Of being lonely and ignored and unwanted and – It comes with good and bad but nothing was like what it was with Sidious and he misses this.

"I told the Council everything that happened. You don't need to worry," Obi-Wan says, glancing sideways at him.

Vader nods, the tiniest bit of gratitude flaring through him. It's strange to be with him again. Especially alone even if they're in a room full of people. Of Jedi. He can't let his guard down for even a moment here, knowing what could happen.

And then the way Obi-Wan was holding him only hours ago flickers through his mind again and –

He tries not to think about that either. Focus on the Council. That's the next threat he needs to face.

He can sense their tension when he enters the Council chambers, moving to stand in the center of the room. This is not somewhere he wants to be. They're all studying him, sizing up a threat, trying to determine if he's useful to them anymore - not that he cares any longer if he isn't but that doesn't mean it doesn't remind him of when that was a concern. Memories of the night of Operation Knightfall flicker through his mind overlayed with the hours and hours he had to sit in the Council room, pretending that he was one of them while knowing that he was still literally nothing to them and they certainly didn't have a shred of respect for his supposed position as one of them. He was never one of them. Never could be. Never... good enough to be, even if he never understood why. He roughly shoves both memories aside.

"You're Fallen," Windu is the first to speak. Strange to see him alive again, too.

"I thought Obi-Wan briefed you on that," he shoots back.

The Council members exchange glances.

"A Sith, you are, and yet killed the other Sith, you did," Yoda says, studying him.

"I realized too late that Sidious was the one destroying the galaxy. And that is all Maul has ever done."

"And what do you intend to do now?" Windu demands.

"I will not be here much longer," Vader replies, "You need not concern yourselves with it. This is not my time."

"If you could fall this far, what assurance do we have that Skywalker won't?" Mundi speaks up, his hologram flickering.

Oh.

Of course that's their next concern and it doesn't bode well for how they're going to be treating Anakin.

"Sidious manipulated him. He is gone now. But treat him as your enemy and you are more likely to make him into one," Vader replies bluntly. There's so much he could say to the Council about that but he doesn't know where he'd stop if he started. It's not as if they'll listen to him anyway but... At least he can warn them. "In my time, you betrayed the Republic – "

"We would never do that," Mundi interrupts, clearly scandalized.

"I know what I lived through. You may have had good intentions but that does not change what you did. The Order has become far too involved with the Senate to follow the Force as they should be." If they were still his masters, he wouldn't dare talk to them like this but they aren't anymore even if facing them down like this makes him uncomfortable, reminds him of the time he would be silent in submission.

"You're a Sith," Windu replies coldly, "You aren't one to speak of losing their way."

"I know why I lost faith in the Jedi before. And why my padawan and so many others did throughout the war. Your path to destruction may not be set yet if you choose to follow the Force instead of politics and the Senate. But for as long as I am here, I have no desire to harm any of you."

He doesn't want to hurt anyone else.

Never has but it's the only thing he knows. The only thing he's ever known. It's an excepted part of his existence that he stopped resisting long ago but now... He doesn't know anymore.

**w**

It's the first time he's walked through the Temple halls alone since everything happened. The sun is setting, and it hits Vader right then that today is the day. This is the day that everything fell. This is the same sunset he watched in another lifetime before he Fell.

Before he lost his family. He almost wants to stay here, to not go back, but – He wants Luke and Leia and everyone he lost. It's not the same here and it never could be but he's terrified to go back, to face – What he knows he will. Even if it'll be more familiar.

He doesn't know how he found his way to his old room. He almost mindlessly enters the code to his room and the door opens. It looks exactly like it did the last time he saw it. His gaze darts around the room, taking it all in. Of everything he once had.

Loneliness clings to the walls in here. He spent so much time in here missing Ahsoka right after she left, before leaving for the Outer Rim sieges. But he still feels the lingering lightness on the walls. The Light that Anakin once was. That he's not –

He doesn't know when he started missing it so much, all the while knowing that he can't have it back because aside from making him useless, he doesn't know how he could ever truly let go of everything that's been crushing him all this time.

But today is the – that day that he Fell and –

Something inside him shatters. He slides to the floor, a wave of tears hitting him. It's the second time he's broken down completely since coming back. He lets himself cry, lets himself remember and long and – he's alone here. All alone. Just like he was that night.

And in the end, it's not his family that's here. Not for real. Not that he won't treasure every moment he got to spend with them forever, even if it's the last time anyone wants him. He's only half sure if this has all been a dream entirely.

He could stay here for tonight but the ghosts would be too much. No, he's going back to the cruiser. Ahsoka will be there. And Rex. He'll stay with them every last moment he has here. Maybe it's not real but he can't say no to it.

It's still a long time before his breathing starts to even out again and he drags himself off the floor, stumbling out of his old room for the last time.

Final Notes: Reviews are always appreciated! ^-^

Come hang out on Discord (delete spaces), discord . gg / nqSxuz2 or find us on tumblr at fanfictasia (our more serious blog which does have controversial posts on it; I won't be offended if you choose to block it, promise), and disastertriowriting (which is our fun blog with crack posts or incorrect SW quotes)

We've got a YT channel for tributes! (delete the spaces) youtube channel / UC_g1M5rSCxJUzQCRS29B6pA

ALSO: We have SW gift request forms for General, Anakin-Clones-centric, and Bad Batch fics. :D (delete spaces) bit . ly / CourtesyTrefflinFicRequests