The Fate of Angels

10. Home Is Where the Heart Is

"Where we love is home - home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts."

- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Anakin

After a few standard minutes, I'm given clearance to land and so the ship gently touches down on one of the main air hangars, reserved for dignitaries or elites that needed privacy. I step out of the pilot's cabin as I power down the engine and find the rest of my family beginning to stir. Padmé is awake and fixing Leia's braid while Leia is shaking a stubborn Luke who wants to go back to sleep. It's surreal to think that after five years without a family or even a soul that I cared about, I now have a son, a daughter, and a wife after a blink of an eye. Is Padmé still my wife? Will she allow me to be a proper father to my son and daughter? It's hard to tell and things didn't seem promising during our earlier conversation. 

The suit is uncomfortable as usual and I silently wish that I didn't have to hide my identity from my own children although Padmé had a point, it was going to be overwhelming when they found out that not only was their father alive but also Darth Vader. Did I really want them to know the monster that I'd become? I exhaled softly and grabbed the trunks filled with the twin's clothes as the landing bay door lowered and several handmaidens bustled in, greeting Padmé and the twins with gasps of amazement as they helped get everything else in order. Padmé looked radiant, her eyes were sparkling with joy and her smile lit up the cabin as she introduced the twins to her old friends. Luke and Leia on the other hand weren't as amused.  "Can we go now? It's getting stuffy in here and I'm hungry" Luke whined, his blue eyes blissfully innocent as he stared up at his mother, wide-eyed. Padmé opened up to chide him but Leia beat her mother to it. The little girl scoffed and gave her twin a thwack on the head, "Stop being a baby" She scolded as she smiled smugly and glanced back at Padmé.

I had to hold back a chuckle, one that I knew Padmé wouldn't appreciate because she'd think I was egging Leia on. Leia just reminded me so much of her, she was a smaller physical duplicate of her lovely mother and she had her mother's spirit as well. In the brief time that we'd been together, I recognized pieces of myself in her and it scared me. I'd much rather she take after Padmé then take after me. Luke also took after his mother with his patient, calm demure although physically we were nearly identical. 

The twins began to get antsy as conversations were carried on and while several looked to me, Darth Vader, to give the orders, I looked to my angel.

Padmé

I found it hard to believe that she was actually back on mu home planet, I'd never imagined that I'd be given an opportunity to go back, it was simply too dangerous to visit with the twins. Somehow, Vader was a curse but a blessing, he brought painful reminders of my past trailing on the hem of his sweeping black cloak but he also had just given me what I wanted the most, to go home.

I expected Vader to give instructions but he was watching me intently and didn't seem like he was going to speak anytime soon. The twins were starting to squabble as they got hungry and I smiled at some of the old friends and dignitaries that had come to visit Lord Vader and his retinue. Imagine their surprise when they'd found their beloved Senator and two children along with him. "

Well, I'd love to stay out here longer but we should go inside and talk more, I'm afraid it will only get worse with these two, they take after their father" I explained good-naturedly although I froze lightly, this was the first time that I'd ever alluded to their father in five years. While I sometimes spoke to the twin or thought about him to myself, I rarely mentioned it aloud. Vader audibly inhaled sharply although no one seemed to notice as their eyes gleamed in curiosity, wondering who the father of the twins was.

They all seemed hesitant to ask and eventually I could tell that they decided to leave the question alone, something that I was extremely grateful for. 

After embracing me and meeting the twins, Sabe began to take charge as she demanded for the trunks to be sent to the guest rooms until further notice. The twins seemed to fall in love with her as they talked over themselves to get her attention. 

I was walking with several of my old handmaidens, talking quietly with them as we went inside and I couldn't help but look at Vader.

And for the briefest moment, I smiled. 

A/N: Long time no update! I've just been soooo stressed with school, prom <3 and ap exams, I probably won't be able to update again for a little while but for now enjoy! Sorry this is so short c:

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