Hello! So I have finally gotten around to posting the rewrite of this story. There are several things that are different now but a lot of it is the same, just better written and more detailed.

Happy reading!

-DFD

Chapter 1

Leia had always been an adventurous little toddler. From the moment she started to move, she figured out how to get into most anything. It didn't help that she had already started to show signs of her paternity through her use of the Force. She would use it to reach containers on the kitchen counter and levitate them until they were off within her tiny reach. Bail Organa had grown fearful over the months since she was born. Her biological father, Darth Vader, the fearsome Sith Lord, the Emperor's second, and Commander of the Imperial Fleet could show up at any given time, and Organa feared what would happen to Leia if he did. He still mourned Leia's mother, a close friend and colleague of his, who was murdered by the Sith and he swore on her deathbed that he would protect her daughter.

On this particular day, Bail's worst fear was realized as he watched Vader's shuttle dock at the Alderaanian Palace. To ensure Leia's safety he ensured the child was in her room with every possible toy to occupy her attention and prevent her from crawling around the palace on another adventure. Organa settled into his chair at his desk in his office, waiting for Vader to march in. He had an idea what Vader wanted. It was well known he did not support the Empire, and Vader was most likely sent to search for proof of his work with resistance groups. Organa shifted in his seat and adjusted the collar of his shirt; that will not happen. He will not let intimidation sway him from his actions, which were morally righteous.

The sound of Vader's respirator echoed as he neared the senator's office. Organa stared straight at the door, and forced a brave face so he would not seem cowardly before Vader. When he first saw the Sith, he had been beyond surprised at the damage Obi-Wan had inflicted on the youth. He had known what the Jedi had done to his former apprentice, but to see how the man was forced to live was shocking. Before that encounter, he had thought Skywalker had been a handsome young man, evident by his large fan following throughout the Clone Wars yet from what Kenobi had told him, it would seem that was no longer the case.

When the door to his office finally opened and the tall black clad figure of Vader strode in, Organa sat straighter in his seat. "Lord Vader." He greeted.

"Senator." Vader returned, his deep mechanical voice responded, "I believe you know why I'm here." He said, cutting to the chase.

"I'm afraid I don't know." Organa feigned ignorance, "Please, enlighten me."

"You and your allies have been against the formation of the Empire from the start." Vader started, "And now we have reports of military grade ships and requisitions going missing. I wouldn't be surprised if it was because you were inciting a rebellion." He said, pacing the width of the room slowly, his hands folded behind his back.

"Yes, I am aware of the supplies going missing. I already have someone investigating the matter." He lied. Organa focused on trying to remain calm, well aware the Sith would be able to sense his discomfort. He had thought he was being careful with how slowly he was moving things around. Apparently that was not slow enough and the means by which he attempted to cover his tracks had obviously backfired somewhat.

"The Emperor wishes me to conduct my own investigation."

"That won't be necessary, my lord." Organa said as he caught a glimpse of a small white onsie quickly making its way down the hall. His eyes widened. Leia had gotten out of her room. Kriff where was her nurse? He couldn't let his thoughts dwell on the predicament for long. "I imagine it is most likely just a miscommunication." He said, focusing his attention back on Vader, "Most of the supplies were scheduled to be sent off to Cato Neimoidia or Mygeetoto help with the reconstruction and they very well might have accidently been mixed up with other shipments." Organa's mind rushed as he tried to casually move to block Leia from entering the room but he wasn't fast enough. Before he reached the door the toddler had wormed her way into the room and started to crawl towards his desk.

"I highly doubt that." Vader said, unaware of their uninvited guest, "There is no way all those supplies were misdirected. I know you had a part to play in their disappearance."

Leia had a wide cheeky smile on her face as one of the frames on his desk was dragged to the floor by way of the Force. Vader saw it and exchanged glances with Organa.

"And what was that?" He asked.

"Nothing." Bail replied, a little too quickly, "Just, clumsy." He almost cringed at his poor answer. Normally he was much better with words but there was too much at stake in this moment for him to process it properly.

Vader did not buy the Senator's answer. He strode to the other side of the office where Organa stood by the desk. The senator moved slightly with his movement as if to block him from seeing something. Coming to stand in front of him, he peered behind him slightly and saw nothing. Staring the man down, he started to walk back to where he stood before, "You are hiding something, Organa." Vader said, "I don't like to be deceived." He turned to face the man, "Pray what I find is harmless." Vader jumped slightly when he felt a weight on the end of his leg. Quickly he looked down to see a small toddler clinging to his boot with a large toothless smile grinning up at him. Vader shifted his foot slightly to gently get the girl to let go, but the move only elicited a happy laugh from the child. He is so distracted by the child he forgets Organa is in the room.

Bending over, he takes hold of the toddler's chubby arms and pulls them from around his boot before picking her up by the waist. Holding her in front of his face, the girl is still giggling and even reaches her small hands out to touch his mask. She isn't afraid of him. More importantly, she looks like her. The child looks like Padme. But that is just a trick of his mask and wishful thinking. Padme had brown hair and brown eyes just like the child, but brown was a very common color and Padme had died less than a year ago and the pain of her loss was still strong. Seeing Padme in her was just wishful thinking. Wishing things had been different. He knew his child had died with their mother. Palpatine had told him so. But if that were the case, why did he feel drawn to this child? As if on queue, the girl's attention diverted to the shelf behind him and a decorative piece fell to the floor before she burst into giggles again. The child was force-sensitive.

Vader lowered the child enough so he could see Bail Organa, "The girl can use the Force." He said.

"Yes." Bail answered. He couldn't deny that. There was no way to play off the decoration falling in a way that was believable.

"And her mother?"

The senator's eyes narrowed, "My wife, Queen Breha. Do you think I'd be unfaithful?"

"I never said you were the father." Vader proclaimed, "But I do find it odd that you have a child. If I recall correctly, you and your wife had been trying for a while to have a child."

"What are you implying, Vader?" Organa demanded, "Just give me my daughter, I'll ensure she doesn't bother us for the rest of your visit. And I'll permit you to do your investigation."

Vader shifted Leia in his arms so she was resting against his chest, "Your compliance is greatly appreciated. But I am most interested in this child." Vader paused as he walked to the door, "You were a close confidant to the late Senator Amidala, and if something happened to her, you would be one of the people she would trust with her child. With my child." He said, pausing as he looked down at the child in his arms. She had already closed her eyes and snuggled close to his chest. No child would do such a thing unless she felt the familiarity of his Force signature. "I believe this girl is my daughter." Vader said, "And if she is, she belongs with me."

Organa narrowed his eyes at the Sith, "You will not take her." He said, "You murdered her mother! You have no claims to her, Padme trusted her to me!"

"So this is my daughter?" Vader asked.

"No, she is my daughter." Organa argued, but his breath caught on the last word as he felt the invisible hands of the force wrapping around his throat.

Vader held Organa by his throat with the Force for several moments, "Don't you dare try to lay claim to my daughter." He said before he let the man drop. Vader looked down at the girl in his arms and felt his heart warm for the first time since Padme's death. His little girl, "What is her name?" He asked.

Organa coughed as he rubbed his sore throat. Looking up, he knew he had no chance now to convince him otherwise. While he would gladly die to protect her, he knew he had to now get word to Obi-Wan that Leia was now with her father. He had failed. "Leia." Organa answered, "Her name is Leia… Padme named her."

Vader looked back down at his daughter and while no one could see it, a smile graced his face, "Leia…" He tested the name on his own. Of course she would have named her that. It was the name he picked for their little girl when he was so convinced she was carrying a daughter and she was adamant it was a boy. Looks like he won that bet. Turning his attention back to the senator, he had to figure out what to do with him. Every instinct told him to kill the man right here, right now; but as he glanced down at Leia, did he really want her to see that? Besides, was it not Organa he had to thank for brining them together? "I will spare you." Vader said, turning his attention back to the Viceroy, "I will spare you this one time because your foolhardiness is responsible for bringing us together. I warn you though, next time you misstep, I will kill you." Without waiting for a response, the Dark Lord turned with a flourish of his cloak and left, holding his daughter close to his heart.

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When Vader brought Leia aboard the Exactor he noticed how his officers gave him surprised looks when they saw the small child in his arms. If he had not been so distracted he might have made an example of them, but for the moment Leia was his only concern. The first thing he had to do was do a DNA analysis on her. While he is certain she is his, he feels he just needs the analytical confirmation; to see the results himself and let that fact sink in. fortunately medical droids ask few questions and after a small pin prick and calming the crying toddler, the results are displayed on the screen and it is just as he suspected. She is his daughter. When he looks back down at Leia, he sends her all his love through the Force and promises everything he has to her. He promises to protect her until his last breath, promises to always love her, and promises to be the father she deserves. He may have failed her mother, but he swears he will not fail his daughter and the last piece he has of Padme.

The door to the medical bay opens and Captain Piett, one of the few officers that are actually competent enters hesitantly. Standing several feet away he observes the fearsome Sith Lord slowly rocking with a toddler in his arms. Knowing Vader's temper, he ignores the child at least until the girl starts to whimper and lets out a cry. Piett watches his commanding officer try to calm the child but it doesn't work. Clearing his throat, Piett tries to get Vader's attention, "Perhaps she needs a change, sir." He suggests.

"A what?"

Piett clears his throat again, "A change, sir. Um… I think she might have uh, gone potty." He shifted awkwardly from where he stood, until this moment it was the last thing he thought he might talk to the Sith Lord about.

Vader turned his head to the captain before looking down at Leia and quickly concluding he has no idea what he is suppose to do. He doesn't even have a place for her to stay. No bed, no changing table, no toys, no food… nothing. "Captain," Vader squares his shoulders, "Arrange for the quarters next to mine to be set up for a baby girl."

"Right away, my lord." Piett bowed his head slightly.

"And…" Vader paused as he looked back down at his daughter before meeting the captain's eyes. Of all the people on his ship, Piett was the most reliable man he had and someone Vader felt he could trust, "I have a special mission for you. A classified mission that no one can know about, not even the Emperor." Vader started. Piett nodded and waited a moment for Vader to continue, "Teach me how to do this." He said, gesturing to the crying girl in his arms.