Chapter Text
Luke quickly rips off the bottom of his shirt. Though Leia protests, he uses it to wrap around her broken wrist. They've been taken to the Death Star. They haven't been told much, but from picking up hints it's because Vader needs to fix his hand. Until he returns, they are stuck in a secure cell, stormtroopers flocking their only exit. There is no chance of escape, even for them.
Leia is silent, watching Luke attempt to fix her wrist. She lets out small gasps, pain zapping her every time he moves her wrist. Her fingers feel numb, but at least she can bend them. She could hold something if she had to. But the thought of swinging around a lightsaber makes her body shudder. She can't use that hand anymore unless she's desperate. The pain would be too much.
"There. When we get back, you'll have to go to the med bay, but this should make it sturdier." Luke says as he tightens the wrap. He's right, it does feel better to be wrapped up. But again, it's practically useless to her. It will do no good in a lightsaber fight.
A lightsaber fight that is bound to happen because Luke didn't kill Vader. He gave up his chance, throwing his lightsaber away. She pinches her eyes shut, shaking her head at him. She can feel his confusion through the Force, but she's upset with him. "Luke, what were you thinking?" She scolds.
"What do you mean?" He asks, tilting his head at her. "I know I'm not exactly a doctor, but this should at least--"
"Not with my hand." She scoffs. She scowls, feeling herself growing angry with him. "With Vader. What were you thinking on Endor? Why did you let him live? Why didn't you finish him off like we've been told to do?"
"I wasn't thinking. I was feeling." Luke spits back, narrowing his eyes at her. He slightly backs away from her, hurt starting to rise off of him. Why is she mad with him? This isn't exactly his fault, it's the Force's fault. If it hadn't shown him that the was still some good in their father, he would have finished him off. Doesn't she understand that? "Can't you feel the hate and pain inside him? Can't you see how it's tearing him apart at the seams? Don't you feel the shame he radiates?"
"No. I'm not like you." She replies, looking away from him. "You connect with people and their emotions so easily. It's not like that for everyone. You know that it's not like for most people!" Not everyone has the privilege of letting the Force speak to them. Luke can let it guide him into people's souls, seeing them for who they truly are or what they can be. Not Leia. That aspect of the Force has never come to her. She is more rational. Luke is the dreamer of the two of them.
She frowns, growing upset. It's not like she could connect with them even if she wanted to. She's been coerced to ignore that calling in the Force her entire life. "Besides, I can't afford to connect with people and try to cater to their feelings. The things I do for the rebellion doesn't allow me to take that risk. If I did, do you know how many people's lives I could put in danger? I have to shut myself off to them and what they are feeling to do what needs to be done."
Luke looks down, fidgeting with his clothing. She has a point, but he doesn't want to admit it. She has been made to ignore other's feelings, making her seem coldhearted. Plus, for some Force forsaken reason, he seems to express everyone else's emotion so intensely. Maybe what Vader feels is only noticeable to him.
"My missions and yours have never been anything alike." Leia quietly adds, stepping toward him. "Mine are watched by the Empire. I know how they work, I've seen what they've done to planets and to the innocent lives living there. I have to tune out their emotions if I want to keep myself sane."
"I know, Leia," Luke says, looking back at her. "But my missions also involve working with others through the Force. I have to trust what it's telling me and it's saying that there is still good in our father. It wants me to bring him back."
"You think we'll even get that chance?" She fires back. "I know what is going to happen next. We aren't going to get some trial. We are going straight to Sidious and he is going to kill us. He will not hesitate to destroy us because he knows who we are and what we are capable of."
"And we've been trained to kill him. We can finish him once and for all." Luke counters.
Suddenly, the door bursts open. Leia is enveloped in intense cold, fear, anger, hate, and suffering. She shivers, turning herself away from the door.
But Luke stands tall. The flicker warms him, calling him closer.
He is not afraid.
"There's someone who requests your presence." Vader declares.
Without hesitation, the twins follow him out into the hallway. They communicate with each other through their bond. Leia begs Luke to not do anything irrational and he tells her not to worry. He has everything under control. He knows what he is doing.
She trusts Luke, but she is also preparing herself for the worst. In one outcome, Luke dies. In another, she dies. If she does die, which she hopes she doesn't, she wants to know why. Why did her father fall? Why did he leave their mother if he truly loved her?
"I don't understand." Leia declares once the three of them are alone in an elevator.
"What don't you understand?" Vader asks.
"Why you did it?" She replies. "Why did you turn to the dark side? Why did you kill off the Jedi and betray everyone who ever cared about you?"
Vader is silent for a moment and Luke wants nothing more than to tape his sister's mouth shut. What is she doing? What is she thinking? Is she trying to make Vader made so that what little light is left in him will disappear forever?
"The dark side is a path to many abilities some consider to be unnatural." He says. They wait for him to add more, but nothing comes.
Leia groans. That's not enough for her. "I was told that you used to love my mother. This doesn't feel like love to me. I think that if you ever loved her at all, you would see how much this hurts her."
"It's easier to hate someone you can't have." He replies back, leaving it hanging in the air.
Leia and Luke share a glance, finally understanding. No matter what their mother has said, she does not hate Vader. She is just doing what is easier for her heart. How can she possibly allow herself to love someone she can no longer hold? How is she supposed to care for someone who is on the wrong side?
By making himself believe that he hates her, he can carry out whatever his master wishes.
By making herself believe that she hates him, she can do what she needs to do to destroy the Empire.
xxx
Padmé bursts through the door. Obi-Wan's eyes open, straining to look at her. A bit of guilt eats at her for waking him, but she pushes it aside. She has concerns that matter more than waking him. She stands above him, slightly tipping her head upward to look at him from over her nose. "Vader has taken them."
His face drops. He gulps and turns his head away from her. "I know."
Of course, he knows. He seems to know everything about her children. She knows he's been given the answer through the Force. In times like this, she wishes she was blessed with higher abilities of the Force. Then maybe she would know what he mumbles on about. Maybe she could have trusted her children more when she sent them off.
She wants to ask when he planned on telling her but knows now is not the time. She sniffs, blinking back tears. She is supposed to continue with the plan. This rebellion rests on her shoulders. She can't be putting everyone's lives at risk for two people. Not even for two people who mean more to her than all of the stars in the universe. Her rational side demands that she can't put them above everyone else.
But her motherly side begs her to stop. They are her babies. The idea that they are going to die at her hands makes bile rise. She knows that she has to remain strong for the rebellion, but how can she turn a blind eye to the danger her children are in?
"What am I supposed to do?" She asks. She coughs, trying to hide the lump in her throat. She takes a deep breath, forcing herself to breathe normally. She can not look shaken. She can't let anyone know that she's afraid, even Obi-Wan. She must remain the headstrong leader of the rebellion.
"You continue with the plan." He answers, concern washing over his face. She's wearing a mask of confidence. He can feel the swirling emotions of fear, sadness, and pain inside of her. It's building like a hurricane off of a coast. She can not ignore it or she will drown in the flood to come. Why is she hiding this from him? Doesn't she trust him to know her true feelings? Doesn't she know she can come to him as a confidant?
For a split second, her mask falls. Her lips purse and her eyes drop. She expected him to tell her to stop. She wanted him to tell her that they need to find a way to rescue Luke and Leia. She knows how much he loves them. He would never have her do something that could kill them. But instead of telling her to back down, he's told her to ignore them. He wants her to push on even though Luke and Leia could die.
Maybe he doesn't understand. After all, being in this hospital bed can't be good for his mind. He probably thinks they're captured somewhere on Endor not off-planet. He must believe they're out of harm's way, safe in a prison. "Luke and Leia are there." She slightly stutters. She gulps, regaining her stern voice. "They could die."
She watches fear flash over his face. She sees sorrow build up in his glassy eyes. So he does know. He understands that her plan could destroy two of the things she loves with all of her heart. "I know." He says, blinking back tears. "But we have to trust them. We have to trust in the Force."
"Why should I?" Padmé shouts back. "After all the Force has done to us, how can you trust in it? It took away your Order. It destroyed my husband. I can't let it take away Luke and Leia! I can't lose them."
"I understand where you're coming from, but you can't feel it the way I do." He fires back. He starts to sit up, but Padmé presses him back down. He gives her a glare of protest but obliges. "There's been a shift. Something is happening. Something has changed."
Her eyebrow arches. "Something good?"
"I can't quite tell." He quickly says. He fidgets with the end of the blanket. "I am assuming it's something good. There's nothing telling me it's bad."
Padmé falls into the chair beside him. She should go back to her station. They need her advice on how they should push on. They're waiting for her commands. But she must know. Before she does anything rash, she needs to know if her children will be safe. "Obi-Wan, an assumption is not enough. I need to know."
He closes his eyes. For a moment, the room is silent. All she can hear is the rhythmic pounding of her heart. What can he sense through the Force? Will it show him a vision of the future? Perhaps it is telling him that they are in danger and need his help. She watches a gentle smile make its way onto his face. Slowly, his blue eyes open. "It's good. You need to follow the plan. Everything will be alright."
Her rational side begins to scream at her. Why should she trust him? How could he possibly know if it's good? The Force was covering Palpatine's signature for years. How does he know it's not hiding the darkness again? Plus, he's not exactly in his best shape at the moment.
But the hope that her children are safe cause her heart race. All that matters is that they are okay. She must believe that he knows what to do. As long as she can secure that she won't kill Luke and Leia, then she will push on with their attack on the Empire. "I'll go tell them to continue as planned then."
She rises and quickly makes for the door. She's not very sensitive to the Force, but he tugs at her. Something is amiss. She thinks about the way he looked when he closed his eyes. He was so peaceful. Stopping, she glances over her shoulder. No. He is too comfortable in that bed. He was too secure when meditating in the Force. "Don't even think about it." She declares, marching back to his side.
"What?" He asks, tilting his head to the side.
"I see it. I know what you're thinking." She says, beginning to scold him. After everything they've gone through to get to this moment, he can not back out now.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." He says. He thinks he's playing it off, but she can hear it in his voice. He's been caught and knows it.
"You can't leave me. Not now." She commands. A lump forms in her throat but she swallows it down. "I see that look in your eyes. You were far too comfortable while in the Force. You're planning on leaving me."
"No." He says with a light sigh.
She shakes her head at him. "I can't be here alone, Obi-Wan. I need you here with me at least until they are back in my arms. Until then, you don't have my permission to die." She says. She needs him here with her. He has been supporting her for so long that the thought of him disappearing scares her. And it hurts too. He doesn't want to see the result of what they have working for decades on? Doesn't he want to be here when Luke and Leia return?
He is awestruck, unsure what to think. How did she know? He opens his mouth to protest, but she cuts him off. "And don't give me the excuse that you don't have a say in the matter. I know how stubborn you are. You are staying here with me until it's over. I will drag that bed out into the command center and watch you if I have to."
He smiles softly at her. "Please don't." He says, giving a chuckle. He will do his best to stay here as long as possible. Besides, he doesn't really want to go. He still feels like he has much more life. There are so many things that he wants to show Luke and Leia once they'll be free to roam this galaxy. "I won't go anywhere until you've given me the go-ahead."
She gives him a stern nod like a mother to signal that the conversation is over and what she says is final. She gives him a glare, the telltale sign that she'll be back to check on him and make sure that he's following her rules.
Once she leaves, Obi-Wan sighs and closes his eyes.
There's so much life he has left to live.
But he knows that his time is coming to an end.
xxx
"Master." Vader greets. His children stand on either side of him. Both of them can feel the thick cloud of darkness surrounding Darth Sidious. It has stained his soul, acting as a black hole. It sucks in everything that could ever hold any good and destroys it.
"Good, Vader. Bring them closer. Let me see the apprentices Kenobi groomed for us." He darkly chuckles. Vader gives each of them a slight shove, forcing them to stand closer to him. Luke feels his stomach churn as he feels Sidious's eyes study him.
A scowl forms on the wrinkled creature's face. "No. He's too tainted. It will take too long to get him to understand why we're right." He says. He looks to a Leia and an uncomfortable smile creeps onto his face. Using the Force, Sidious raises Leia up from the ground. She grunts, trying to free herself from his grasp, but it's useless. "Yes, this one will do. Look at her fire, her anger! She will make a suitable apprentice."
"Leia, my master?" Vader asks, turning his gaze off of Luke and onto his daughter. He feels something inside of him tighten as he watches her struggle against Sidious's power. He wants to stop it and pull her back down. Watching Sidious toy with her makes him angry.
Sidious lifts her to his side, tossing her onto the ground at his feet. "Yes. You can't deny how much potential she has. Kenobi has neglected to groom her emotions as he did with that one." He snarls, pointing to Luke. "The problem with him is that he refuses to use his anger and hate. But she has conflicted feelings. These feelings are natural, dear. Give into them. Then you will see how wrong your master was."
Vader looks back at Luke. "Then what do we do with him, Master?"
"You know the rule, Vader." Sidious spits, hunching his back. "Only two. No more. No less. Finish him."
"No!" Leia cries out. She begins to move to her feet, but Sidious picks her up and throws her again. "Quiet, girl. You must see that it's worthless. I will keep you here, even if it means taking drastic measures."
Leia grunts, rolling onto her back. She pulls her head up, narrowing her eyes at the wrinkled excuse of a human. "And you must see that I don't care what happens to me." She fires back.
She jumps to her feet, igniting the lightsaber hidden under her clothes. She bolts forward, ready to strike the final blow at the monster in the dark robes. Before she can make contact with his hunched body, lightning flies out and hits her square in the chest.
She groans, falling onto her back. With the wind knocked out of her, Sidious force pulls her lightsaber from her. He runs his scaly hands over the hilt. "This means something to you, doesn't it?" He asks a twisted grin appearing on his face.
Leia remains silent.
"You made this." He continues. He looks away from her, watching the fight happening outside the large windows. "Your mother is there, isn't she? Fighting another useless fight that will end with another huge loss."
"You don't know my mother. She still has a few tricks up her sleeves." Leia spits.
"Ah, my darling. But so do I."
xxx
Luke scrambles backward, his hands somehow finding his lightsaber. He ignites it, his gaze never leaving the soulless red glass. "You don't have to do this."
"You don't know the power of the dark side. I must do my master's biddings." Vader rumbles back. He feels that tug again. It pulls him to Luke, an ache that seems to only be tended to when the boy is around. It wants him to build on something buried deep inside his soul.
He doesn't want to kill him. Luke is his son, his and Padmé's. Why would ever want to destroy anything that could be hers? Why would he want to lose the first thing that is finally his? Luke is everything that he could ever hope for in a son.
But what choice does he have?
If he ignores his master's commands, he runs the risk of losing Padmé. Which is more important to him? The one person he has ever truly loved with his whole heart or the result of that love?
It seems like Sidious has already made the decision for him.
"Don't you get it?" Luke shouts, tensing his shoulders. "Sidious doesn't care about you anymore. He has Leia and that's his only priority. You and I are nothing to him."
"You still don't understand, child," Vader says. He swings his lightsaber but Luke dodges it. "I've come to terms that I'm nothing to him. I've seen all of the apprentices he has tossed aside over the years. I aided in ending one!"
"Then why follow him? Why do you continue to be a pawn in his games?"
"It's the only way to keep her alive." Vader breaths. Luke feels the flame inside of Vader. It wavers and Luke is unsure whether it is growing or dying out. Either way, his mother moves something inside of him. "I pledged myself to his teachings as long as he kept her alive. He's keeping his end of the bargain so I must keep mine."
"My mother." Luke gasps. "Sidious is keeping her alive?"
"And if I don't do his bidding, then he will kill her," Vader says. He begins to swing again, narrowly missing Luke. "So you must see that I can not disobey him without killing her. Her life rests in my power and I will not be the one to allow her to die!"
"So you're just going to let him take Leia and kill us both?" Luke shouts back. "Don't you see that there is no winning in either situation?" He swings are Vader. The green and red blades pop and crackle as they make contact. "If we take him out together, we can save both Leia and my mother."
Vader snaps his lightsaber, causing Luke to falter. He stumbles to his knees, his lightsaber slipping away from him. Again, the red blade rises above his head. "Father, please!" Luke begs, watching the red light hover above him. "You're a good person, don't do this!"
"No, son. I'm not. Not anymore." Vader replies, feeling something break inside of him. He closes his eyes, bringing the lightsaber down to meet Luke. He doesn't want to see it. He doesn't want to hear it. If he closes himself off, maybe he won't even know he killed his son.
"No!" Luke cries out, watching the red blade chop towards him. He rolls away, heading towards Vader. As he misses the swing, Luke grabs onto his hand. He opens his mind and falls deep into the Force.
He begins to crawl into Vader's emotions, seeking for that small flicker. Though it's dull now, he grabs at it and begins to comfort it. He thinks about all of the times anyone has ever shown him love for his father.
Vader gasps, shocked at the imagery Luke is giving him.
"I was your father's padawan. He used to call me 'Snips.'" An older Togruta woman says. Ahsoka. It's Ahsoka. He's can recognize her from anywhere. "He was a great master, and I miss him dearly."
She thought he was a good master? Even after everything he did? Even after having to suffer with him through the Clone Wars?
"He was the best star pilot in the galaxy." An older man says. Vader has to study the man for a while to finally understand that it's Obi-Wan. His hair is no longer that familiar shade of red, rather it's gray. "And I loved him very much. He was my best friend." He adds a tone of sadness in his voice as he reaches out to pat his shoulder.
He truly did love him? That wasn't something he just said to try to bring him back?
"Master Ani was very important indeed. Without him, I wouldn't even exist." C-3PO says as R2 chirps beside him. Small arms wrap around the gold plated protocol droid then around the painfully memorable blue Astromech. R2 lets out loud praise, leaning into the hug. "Yes, and Artoo is correct. You look very much like he did."
Then the one person he's been so afraid to see finally makes it way into his mind. "Your father was a good man. He cared deeply for everyone and always wanted to do what's right." Padmé says. She reaches out, running her fingers through what must be Luke's blond hair. "Though he is no longer here, I think about him almost every day. He would have loved you just as much as I do!" She grins, squeezing Luke tightly.
Luke opens his eyes, exiting the Force. The flicker is now turning into a flame. Its bright light is growing, warming every dark corner in sight. He looks up at his father, trembling as he holds on tight to him. Has Luke finally been able to reach him and bring him back?
Vader looks down at his son's face. "I'm sorry." He rumbles.
Luke shakes his head. "Don't say you're sorry." He says. "Help me rescue Leia and defeat Sidious. Then I'll know that my father really is back and that he's the man those people loved and spoke of so highly."
Vader reaches out with his free hand. He helps Luke to stand and together they march over to Sidious. Now, it's three versus one. This fight will end just as quickly as it started.
"Vader, why haven't you destroyed the boy? You know what needs to be done." Sidious growls.
Without any warning, Vader ignites his red blade, stabbing it through Sidious. The old man begins to choke, feeling where the blade hit him. But it isn't enough to kill him. He begins to fire bright bolts of lightning at Vader. The metal, acting as a conductor, begins to electrocute him.
"No!" Luke shouts out, his feet frozen in place. He can't move. He can't think. All he feels is his Vader's force signature beginning to tremble. After everything he's done to finally get his father back, Sidious is going to take him away.
Leia snatches Luke's lightsaber from his hands. She marches up to Sidious and before he can react, she slices off his head. Vader falls, catching himself on the chair as Sidious's body tips over.
He's dead. The dark cloud that hovered over him begins to disappear as well. The Force feels lighter than either of the twins have ever known. How much darkness could one being hold inside themselves?
Leia looks back at them. "Someone had to save our skins." She declares, gesturing to Sidious's body. If she didn't react, then who would have? She had to stand up and protect her father.
Luke rushes over to their father. He holds onto him, looping his body underneath him to keep him steady. His breathing is uneven, sounding ragged in the suit. Luke is worried that Sidious did more damage than they can repair.
"Let's get to the shuttle. We need to get him to the medical bay." Luke says. Leia loops her body underneath his other side and together they work their way to the hangar bay. The ship is in chaos, everyone fretting over what to do about the incoming attack from the rebels. The shields are down, thanks to Ahsoka and the ground crew.
They shove their way into Vader's shuttle. Luke runs to pilot the ship out of there as Leia stay with their father. "Leia," He says, catching her attention. She feels uncomfortable and awkward. Of course, this man is her father, but he's also done terrible things. This is the man that they've heard nothing but bad things since they were born. She is starting to think this is some weird dream. Is she going to wake up at Sidious's feet soon? "Help me take this mask off."
She begins to stutter unsure of what to do. "But you'll die." She finally says.
"I think that's going to happen anyway." He replies. So she follows his instruction. She feels like she's moving on autopilot. She feels numb and confused. Why is she helping him again? Why did he help them? What did Luke do while she was battling Sidious?
She feels lost if she's going to be honest.
"You look just like her," He whispers, a sad smile on his face. "When I first looked at you, I knew you were your mother's. Everything about you screams her name." He says. He begins to cough then collects himself. "But I didn't believe you were mine. I thought, 'How could a young woman this strong, this selfless be mine? How could she have a father like me?'"
Tears well in her eyes. Even though she doesn't really know if this is him, it hurts her. To hear from someone that she is strong and selfless makes her feel good. To know that she is like her mother brings a smile to her face. "Thank you." She says, grabbing his hand.
He looks around, his blue eyes searching for something. "Your brother." He says. "Where's Luke?"
"Flying the ship." She answers. Maybe this really is him. This must be her father, right? "He really likes it, you know? Everyone always told him how much you liked flying." She adds, saying the only thing that comes to mind. For years, Obi-Wan bragged about how strong of a pilot their father was. It seemed like fate that Luke took to it so easily.
"Tell him to come here."
Quietly, Leia rises from the ground. She explains that their father wants to see him. Luke frets that he's needed to fly, but Leia assures him that she can handle it. She wants him to have this moment with their father before it slips away.
Luke kneels on the ground, taking in his father's now shown face. "You were right, Luke." He says. He lets out a fit of coughs then gains his composure. "Somehow, you knew how to bring me back."
"Training, I think." Luke answers. "But the Force told me what to do. It showed me how to revive the good still inside of you. It just had to be coaxed out."
"Listen to the Force." He smiles. "Trust in the Force. It'll do you good. I know it."
Quickly, Leia lands the shuttle as Luke continues to speak to their father. Guilt gnaws at her insides. She knows that she should be happy to be in her father's presence. After all of these years, he's here with them. But after everything he's done, she's not ready to forgive him. It feels wrong to be mad at him for what he's done but she can't control herself. She thinks about the people who he's hurt and she feels for them.
She feels conflicted, just as Sidious told her she was.
Ignoring her emotions, Luke and Leia work to get their father out of the ship. Running to meet them, Padmé immediately begins kissing them. "You're okay. I knew you'd be okay." She frets, tears running down her face.
"Padmé."
She freezes.
It's been so long since she's heard his voice.
"Ani?" She asks, now noticing him. There he lays on the floor between Luke and Leia. He's scarred, his face hardly recognizable. His helmet is gone and now she can see those blue eyes. Looking into them reminds her of times long forgotten.
She drops to the ground, her hands trembling as she grabs his head. She pulls him to her chest, hugging him close to her heart.
"I know you can't forgive me for what I've done. But I want you to know that I'm sorry. Truly and deeply sorry." He says, pinching his eyes closed. Her hands run over his head and he's soothed. When's the last time anyone has shown him affection? This feels so foreign but good. How he has missed her.
"I know you are." She replies back. She stifles a sob, holding him tighter. This is her Ani. This is the man that she's bragged about to her children. This Anakin is their father. She always knew that somehow, someway he would come back to her.
"I love you. I always have." He croaks.
"I love you too, Anakin." She says without hesitation.
And at this moment, Leia finally understands what Luke meant. She can feel the flicker, now bonfire, inside of their father. Being in their mother's arms, it burns brighter and hotter. The feeling of it through the Force is so strong that she almost has to cover her face from him. Even closing her eyes isn't enough. It's like staring into a supernova.
"I have to go." He says.
"It's okay." Padmé nods. She presses her forehead to his, holding him. "You're going to be alright. It's time for you to rest, Ani."
And they feel it. The bright supernova begins to disappear but the warm feeling that he brought remains with them. Leia walks over to her mother, gently grabbing onto her shoulder. She looks down on her father's face resting in her arms. Yes, this man did terrible things. But he died as the man their mother talked endlessly about. He left them as the person their mother loved more than humanly possible.
Luke jumps and Leia and Padmé look at him. "What's wrong? You're pale." Padmé instantly says.
"Nothing."
Padmé places a kiss on Anakin's forehead then rises. She gently lays his arms over his chest then walks over to Luke. "You're not yourself. Tell me what you're feeling."
A frown appears on his face and Leia senses the fear and sadness radiate off of him. "It's Obi-Wan. Something's happening to him."
Padmé nods. "I told him to wait." She mumbles under her breath. "Stubborn old man can't wait more than five minutes to meet him."
"What?" Luke asks, stepping forward. He couldn't understand what she was saying. Something about him being stubborn? What has happened since he and Leia left for Endor?
"Come on. We need to go. I'll have someone take care of your father. It'll be alright." Padmé says. Quickly, the twins nod and rush off to Obi-Wan's room. Leia doesn't feel it, but she knows that something bad must be happening to the old Jedi for Luke to be acting this way.
xxx
"Obi-Wan," Luke says, rushing to his side. His hand takes his, holding onto it tightly. He looks worse than anyone led on. He's pale and much thinner than when Luke last saw him. His breathing is ragged, looking almost painful. His hands tremble in Luke's.
Luke squeezes them, fear striking his heart. He's afraid of what is going to happen next. He's afraid of what is to come.
"Luke," Obi-Wan says, his smile reaching his blue eyes. He is overcome with emotion, looking at the boy he helped raise. Back when he was just a child, everyone was so afraid that he would turn out like his father. They saw the similarities in the two of them and tried to ignore it. But Obi-Wan imbraced. He encouraged him to be free with his emotions and that saved the entire galaxy.
It also saved someone Obi-Wan loved very much. Someone who meant everything to him. Someone he missed dearly.
And he is so proud of Luke for what doing what he could not.
"I did it," Luke says, holding back tears. He is trying to be strong but it feels like someone is squeezing the air out from his lungs every time he tries to breathe. He can't cry, not in his final moment with Obi-Wan. He must push through. "Leia, she was there too. Both of us fought Vader and Sidious. All of those hours of training finally came to good use. Without you, I'm not sure we would have survived."
"You're being too kind." He chuckles. He's sure the training helped, but that's not why Luke and Leia survived. He sits up, a fit of coughs raking his body. Luke leans in close, his heart cracking inside. "The Force works in mysterious ways. With or without me, you would have completed your destiny."
"Then I'm glad that the Force allowed me to learn from you," Luke confesses, the pressure building up behind his eyes. He can feel it, Obi-Wan's tremor in the Force slowly fading. Luke knows that he's dying but he doesn't want to accept it. What will he do without Obi-Wan?
"Thank you for giving me a second chance after my failure." He replies back, his voice going hoarse. He tries to clear his throat. Padmé quietly leans over, brushing his hair from his forehead then giving him a sip of water. Throughout the room, Luke can feel their sadness growing stronger by the second. They know it too. Soon, Obi-Wan will no longer be with them.
He searches for what he wants to say, knowing that time is running out. He's worried that he won't find the right words. Obi-Wan can't die now. Everything is finally looking up. The rebellion has finally won the dragged out battle against the Empire. Vader and Sidious are no more. Obi-Wan should be allowed to celebrate this victory with him, Leia, and their mother. He should get to spend more time with Ahsoka to make up for all of their lost years.
Instead, he won't get to reap what he rightfully deserves. All that he's done will go practically unnoticed. His work in the Clone Wars, his survival of Order 66, and his duty in the rebellion will not be recognized by more than four people. He'll leave this world and not get to see how beautiful the galaxy is now, how free it finally is. "Please. Don't go. Don't leave me." He begs, unable to stop his tears from streaking his cheeks. He squeezes Obi-Wan's hand with almost all of his might, hoping that somehow that will keep him here.
"Luke, I am not leaving you," Obi-Wan says. He can feel Luke's fear and sadness. He wishes that he could have more time to assure him that everything will be okay. He doesn't have to worry about him. He reaches out, his shaking hand cupping Luke's face. With his thumb, he wipes his tears away. "I will always be with you. It'll just be in a different way than we're used to."
"But I don't want it to change, not yet. Everything is happening so fast." He cries as he pinches his eyes shut. A few sobs rake his body. Just moments ago he lost his father. Obi-Wan leaving him too seems unfair.
"You did a good job, Luke. You did the unexpected and I'm so proud of you." He continues. Luke opens his eyes, not wanting to forget this time with him. Obi-Wan takes a labored breath, almost forcing himself to continue. "You saved him. And now, it's time for us to finally be reunited."
"How did you—"
"I felt it. His tremor in the Force for just a few moments. I felt Anakin." He explains, tears welling in his eyes. His body still has goosebumps from the experience and the thought of how happy Anakin must have been to see his children and Padmé. "And I knew that you and Leia had succeeded."
Obi-Wan's smile is happier than Luke has seen in years. Pushing aside his own emotions for just a moment, he feels the gladness Obi-Wan is radiating. It's like stepping into the beaming sun after hiding in a cold shadow. Everything is warm and good. "Just because I'm on my way out doesn't mean that I'm not still attuned to the Force." Obi-Wan chuckles.
But Luke doesn't join in. He can't even think about laughing at a time like this. So instead, he says the only thing repeating in his head. "I love you."
Obi-Wan softly smiles. "I love you too, Luke. We'll be seeing each other again very soon. Everything will be alright."
Not wanting to ruin Luke's final moment with Obi-Wan, Leia remains silent beside her mother and Ahsoka. She knows how much she would have wanted to have just one minute with Bail before the end. So she lets Luke take all of Obi-Wan's remaining time even though she wants to speak to him too. She lets him mourn with his exemplar in peace.
Though Obi-Wan would never admit it, she knows that he has always held a special spot for Luke that no one else could ever replace. Obi-Wan loved her greatly, and she knows this, but it was never the same as his love for Luke. They had a bond that she never quite had with him.
And she's okay with this because she had Bail.
And Luke had Obi-Wan.
As Obi-Wan closes his eyes for a final time, Leia comes over and presses a kiss to his forehead. She hopes that this gesture is enough to let him know that she will miss him and that she loves him. His smile brightens for a second and she feels a connection with him. She knows that he received her thoughts.
Without another sound, he disappears into the Force.
Luke stands and cries into his mother's shoulder. Leia turns to Ahsoka. She feels the tears welling in her eyes and she's afraid that she might overstep her boundaries with her father's padawan. Almost as if Ahsoka could read Leia's thoughts, she pulls her in for a hug.
Though their hearts cry out in sadness Luke, Leia, and Ahsoka can still feel him. They know that he is one with the Force and is still with them. They know that he is not alone wherever he has gone. They feel his immense happiness just before it disappears into the Force surrounding them.
xxx
YEARS LATER
Padmé sits on her porch listening to the rushing of the waterfalls in the distance. She closes her eyes, thinking of one of the times she was near them. She was wearing her yellow dress, tumbling in the tall grass with her bodyguard. She was sent away to be safe with the boy that was always on her mind.
A landing ship gets her attention, taking her away from one of her long lost memories. C-3PO shuffles to her side. "Princess Leia and Captain Solo have just arrived." He says.
"Thank you, 3PO. Tell them I'm on the back porch." She says, smiling up at the gold plated droid. He gives a slight bow then rushes off to greet her guests. He's been her trusty sidekick for many years now. After the fall of the Empire, he was going to be sent away on another mission but she requested that he joined her in retirement on Naboo. He's earned his rest just as much as everyone else.
Running footsteps make Padmé rise from her chair. She kneels close to the ground, a grin wide on her face. "Gramma!" They shout. A toddler comes tumbling to her arms, her chubby legs carrying her as fast as possible. She stumbles a few times, but not enough to make her slow down.
"Annie." Padmé coos, hugging her granddaughter tightly. She runs her fingers through the child's dark brown hair and rests her head on her shoulder. "I'm so happy you're here." She says, standing up to hold the child on her hip.
"I've missed you," Annie replies. Her sticky hands eagerly touch Padmé's face. Padmé laughs, knowing that Annie is so full of excitement that she doesn't know how to express her happiness properly. She tugs on the japor snippet around Padmé's neck, holding it close. She has always loved that carved snippet for whatever reason.
"I've missed you, too," Padmé says, taking her two small hands and holding them close. "How was your trip? Did you fly in your daddy's big ship?"
Annie nods her head, her giggles echoing loudly in the courtyard. "Daddy and Uncle Chewie flew us as fast as possible. He let me use the hyperdrive!"
"No! You're too little! You can't do that!" Padmé playfully gasps, making Annie squeal and nod her head fast.
"Daddy let me! He did!"
"Oh, well, I'll just have to have a talk with him. You're much too little." She says, bopping her granddaughter's nose. Annie laughs, cuddling close to her.
It's been a few months since Padmé last saw Annie. It's interesting how similar she is to both Han and Leia. She has Leia's dark hair and Han's smirk. She has both of their fire and stubbornness. But one thing that surprised them all is her stunning blue eyes.
"Hello. Sorry, we're later than expected. The meeting went long but I'm sure you know how that is." Leia happily sighs as she and Han enter.
"I know exactly how that is," Padmé says as she gently places Annie on the ground. "It's so good to see you again." She says, pulling her daughter in for a hug.
"It's good to see you too." Leia chuckles.
"Hi, Han." Padmé greets, giving him a small wave over her daughter's shoulder.
"Hey." He replies with a quick smile as he hikes Annie onto his shoulders. "How's Naboo been?"
"Quiet." She answers, folding her hands over her stomach. "But a good quiet."
Suddenly, a very familiar blue astromech strolls onto the scene.
"Artoo-ie!" Annie squeals. She tugs on Han to let her down. She scrambles to the droid, hugging him tightly. "Artoo-ie, you're here!"
"I see, Artoo gets all of the attention." Luke chuckles as he joins the group.
"Uncle Luke! You're here too?" Annie asks, holding her arms out for him to pick her up.
"Of course. I love getting to see you." He smiles as he tosses her into the air. Once Annie's laughs die down, Luke looks to the others. "What time are we planning on leaving? There are a few things I want to check out here before we go."
"I don't know. I'm assuming we should leave here fairly early tomorrow morning. Ahsoka made it seem like it was very important." Leia answers as Han pulls her to his side.
"Where are you two going off to now?" Han asks.
"Dagobah. Ahsoka said there's someone there we would like to meet." She answers. She slightly sighs, shaking her head as Luke holds Annie upside down. She looks to her mother, continuing the conversation. "I haven't got a clue who could be on that snake-filled planet, but they must be interesting if Ahsoka wants us to come."
"Does that mean I get to watch Little Annie while you're gone?" Padmé asks a smile wide on her face.
"Well, Han is staying too, but I'm sure he'll gladly let you take over while Luke and I are away." She smirks.
"I'd hate to make you do all of the work, but if you insist on watching her, I guess I could take a break." Han cooly replies. Leia rolls her eyes and elbows him in the side.
"I love watching her. I'll happily do it." Padmé chuckles. She glances over at the child filled with so much light that it's almost blinding. She's running in circles, explaining something to Luke, R2, and 3PO. Her infectious smile brings a soft laugh to Padmé's lips.
She holds back tears at the sight of a free child. She knows nothing of war. She knows nothing of pain. All she has ever experienced is love and joy. She has never feared for her life. She has been allowed to enjoy it and experience everything it has to offer. Her innocence is something that every being in the galaxy should be allowed to have.
The Empire took that away from her children. Luke and Leia were toted from base to base. Padmé and Obi-Wan had to do everything in their power to try and keep them hidden from everyone until it was impossible. Her children weren't allowed to be themselves. They were forced to take on secret identities, hiding their last names. They had to do things in order to survive that no child should ever have to do.
But this New Republic has become the dream that they always talked about. People can go where they please, do what they love. Looking at this little girl, Padmé is grateful for what had to be done. She lost many friends, Bail especially in the many years of battles. But it's clear that it was for a good cause. Bail died for something bigger than either he or Padmé could have imagined.
Now, the galaxy is free to be independent and happy.
Annie Solo is a prime example of a child who has reaped from the hardships her parents endured. She is carefree and joyous. She is everything a parent wants their child to be. At night, when she lays down for bed, she doesn't wonder if she'll get to see tomorrow. She asks what she'll get to do. She talks about the future, knowing that she gets a choice.
Annie runs over to Padmé, startling her. Her arms wrap around Padmé legs. She looks up, her cheerful blue eyes meeting Padmé's brown ones. "I love you, Gramma."
"I love you too, my Annie." Padmé softly replies, running her hand over the child's dark hair. "And I always will."
~~~~~~~~~~