Willow
–
Rough on the surface, but you cut through like a knife
And if it was an open-shut case
I never would've known from that look on your face
Lost in your current like a priceless wine
–
Padme opened up her front door to find Vader standing with a bottle of wine in hand.
"It used to be your favourite." He handed the bottle over.
"Still is." She told with warm eyes, accepting the gift.
He made slow strides to the couch as she took the bottle to the kitchen. He was immediately joined by Leia standing in front of him as he sat down beside Luke.
"Your hair looks nice." He observed his daughter's slicked back hair buns just above her ears. He then glanced at Padme and back to Leia – she was her mini-me.
"Thanks!" She quickly replied, giddy with delight about her and her mother's matching hairstyles. "Mum did it."
"Your mother always has nice hair." He agreed with a nod.
Padme returned from the kitchen. "So did you once."
He cocked an eyebrow at Padme, who now sat on the armchair beside them. He noticed a half smirk appear from the corner of her mouth. "Hitting me where it hurts."
Padme tried not to grin.
"You did love your hair." She shook her head, mocking him softly.
"I had a full head of hair!" He playfully argued.
Luke looked up at Vader, his brow furrowed. "You don't have any hair?"
Padme fidgeted awkwardly as she heard her son's innocent query. To tell your children their father was injured in a fire was hardly an easy conversation to have.
Vader moved an inch forward, bringing Leia's curiosity to the forefront as well. "I don't have eyebrows either."
Leia winced, and Padme sighed inwards. "Don't scare 'em."
–
Leia, unable to quieten her inquisitive mind, stood in between her father's knees, observing his suit.
She placed her little hand on his chest, while Luke hovered beside him, hanging off his arm. Padme couldn't avert her eyes. It was heartwarming to see the look on her kids' faces now that they were able to revive this connection. It was very meaningful, natural – like they had known him all their lives. They weren't shy around him. In some ways, what they went through with him ripped off the bandaid so there was no need to tiptoe around each other or play this cumbersome dance in regards to what to do or say. There was this raw honesty between them – accepting the flaws of their paternal bond.
"What do these buttons do?" Leia asked, her finger dragging down his chest.
"They switch up his voice." Padme couldn't help herself. She quickly pursed her lips, trying not to break into laughter.
Vader looked over at her, and she knew he went from unimpressed and underwhelmed by her bad joke to finding her humor endearing in a wonderfully silly way. He also noticed her smile lines were more pronounced as she got older, and that made him happy, knowing she still had things to smile about in the last decade.
He held her gaze, and suddenly she could feel him flash her a smile behind the mask, appreciating her mischievous remark – almost chuckling at it himself, and remembering how they used to laugh together.
