Vader's Realistic Reactions

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Chapter 3: A Future Son-in-law

Vader whirled to glare at his daughter. "Did Luke just allude to a future union between you and that-that-that smuggler?"

She returned the angry stare. "What does it matter to you if he did?"

"You are my daughter; I should think my opinion matters."

She smirked. "Well, it doesn't. At all."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes. Besides, didn't you already know he and I were in love? You were there, as I recall, when we kissed in the carbonite chamber. Oh, right, because you were the one freezing him in it."

"Leia, I thought that was a kiss born out of desperation, like…" He trailed off.

"Like what?"

"Like the first time your mother told me she loved me. We were both about to die-"

"But you didn't, and you married her. At least I assume you did."

He gripped her arm tightly. "Don't you dare doubt the love she and I shared. That is the one thing about my life I would never change. "

She yanked her arm free. "Sure, maybe. But anyway, if you married her, why would think Han and I wouldn't marry?"

"Honestly? He's not good enough for you."

She snorted. "Really? That's the best you've got?"

"He's a smuggler. You're a princess. That should be enough said."

"Right. And a woman-any woman, since I don't know who my mother was- and a Sith Lord weren't too far apart."

"No. We were too far apart. I should never have presumed to fall in love with her."

"But you did."

"Yes, and a former slave and, at that time, Jedi Padawan was a thousand parsecs away from a former queen and Senator."

Her voice softened, and her brow furrowed. "You were a slave?"

"Yes. But I don't need your pity."

"And I wasn't giving it. However, I hate slavery, no matter who the victim is, even if he might deserve it." Her scathing look informed him that, in her mind, he did indeed deserve it.

"I hate it as well. Sadly, the Emperor disagreed with us on that."

Leia thought about something else he had said. "Did you say Mom was a Senator?"

He smiled under his mask. "Yes. Actually," He gave her a calculating look, "you remind me of her."

"Really? Who was she?"

"Having been raised by Bail Organa, I'm sure you've heard of her. Her name was Padmé Amidala."

She gasped. "Padmé Amidala was my mother?"

"Yes, indeed she was."

"She's always been one of my political inspirations! Her work on the Declaration of 2,000, her opposition to so many of Palpatine's policies…" She stopped. "I'm boring you, aren't I?"

"Well…"

She laughed. "Sorry. I do that to Luke and Han, too."

He cocked his head. "What color is your hair?"

She gave him a confused look. "Brown…."

"And your eyes?"

"Also brown…Can't you see?"

"See, yes. However, everything is tinted red for me. I can no longer see colors."

"Oh," she whispered.

"I had to know that to tell you this: You look…" he gently took her chin in his hand. "exactly like your mother. It's remarkable, really."

"I do?"

"Yes, you do. You have her eyes, her hair, her…well, her height, her facial structure…even that fire in your eyes comes from her."

She bit her lip. "Out of pure curiosity, whose is the temper?"

He laughed. "I'm afraid that that would be mine." He hesitated. "What color is your brother's hair?"

"It used to be sandy blond, but it's darkened since he left Tatooine, and his eyes are blue."

He nodded. "So, there's a younger Padmé and a younger me loose…Force help the galaxy."

Leia couldn't help but laugh.

"Did he happen to inherit my temper, as well?"

"Afraid not. I'm the only one who got stuck with it."

"I'm sorry; I know how terrible it can be."

Somehow, Leia knew that he was apologizing for more than just his temper. She tried for several moments to respond, finally being able to say, "I forgive you."

Vader, too, knew that they were talking about more than simply inheriting an undesirable quality. He reached out and lightly squeezed her shoulder. "Thank you. And…for what it's worth, I knew that your smuggler would be all right. In the carbonite, I mean."

She smirked. "How would you know that?"

"I've been frozen in it myself."

"No way."

"Obi-Wan and I both were. Now, that was a long time ago." He chuckled. "Actually, that was when I first met Tarkin."

She winced. "I'm sorry."

They exchanged glances before both began to laugh. Once they recovered their breath, she said, "You know, you might actually like Han if you gave him a chance."

"Perhaps. But I don't know if I could."

"He hates slavery, too."

"Truly?" Vader could see his perception of the man beginning to change.

"Yes. That's why he left the Empire, to rescue Chewie from slavery."

"Well, he has just earned a little more of my respect, it's true."

She tentatively reached for his hand. "Come on; let's go find the boys…F-Father."

He smiled and carefully wrapped his arm around. "Yes, let's do that."

That night, as the odd family consisting of a farmboy-turned-Jedi, a princess-turned-Senator-turned-Rebel-leader, a smuggler-turned-Rebel-general, a Wookie, two eccentric droids, and a slave-turned-Jedi-turned-Sith-turned-father sat watching Ewoks dance, Obi-Wan and Yoda appeared. Yes, Obi-Wan thought, the Force certainly brought them together. Nothing else could have done so.

A/N: Well, that's the last of the Reactions! Until a new movie comes out, anyway…Y'know, Rey's parentage reveal might spark another of these…Yeah, it probably will.

But, anyway. For now, this is the end. Thanks for tagging along on this wild ride!