Chapter 21: Chapter 21
"So why all the secrecy if all you wanted was a nice dinner?" said Isis
"That's not all I wanted" said Anakin
"Oh really then what else were you after?" said Isis
Luke was smiling and looking at the fountain.
"Actually I just wanted to ask you something" said Anakin.
"Really what?" said Isis
Anakin pulled a box out of his jacket pocket.
"Isis I know I've hurt you in the past, and I have no right to ask your forgiveness for those mistakes but I've always cared for you" said Anakin
"I can not see my life without you in it, if you allow me I will spend the rest of my days making those mistakes up to you if you'll only grant me this one request" said Anakin. Isis looked surprised was he asking what she thought he was?
"Will you marry me, Isis?" said Anakin.
Her hand went to her mouth. She was shocked and surprised. She wasn't sure what to say. Anakin had opened the box when he finished the question. He was staring at her expectantly waiting for her answer. Isis looked at the table and the small box sitting on it. She reached out and picked up the box. The ring inside was beautiful.
The stone caught the light and changed color with the angle she was holding it in. she had seen one of these stones before. It was on Kifer and it was called the heart of fire. It was a truly magnificent piece of jewelry. She pulled it out of the box and tried it on. Anakin held his breath when she pulled the ring from its box. Luke watched it all silently and wondered if his dad had acted too soon.
She slid the ring on her finger and it fit like it was made for her. She watched it catch the light for a few moments, while she made sense of her thought.
"Yes" she said softly
Anakin blinked in surprise. Had he heard correctly, did she say yes?
"Isis?" said Anakin.
"I said yes Anakin" said Isis
He smiled at her "you did?" he said.
He was shocked she had even considered it.
"It's beautiful by the way" said Isis.
"I'm, I'm glad you like it" said Anakin.
She reached across the table and took his hand in hers. He raised her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles.
"I meant what I said I will spend my days doing just that" said Anakin
"No you won't, we aren't going to dwell on the past any longer its time we looked to the future" said Isis
"Indeed" Anakin agreed
"To a bright future to both of you" said Luke.
The boy smiled he was glad she had said yes, he liked the idea of Isis as his step mom.
Meanwhile Han and Leia were just entering the atmosphere of Bellasarius. Han gave the air traffic control tower a false transponder code and his landing vectors. In a few minutes they were cleared for landing.
The food arrived just after Anakin's proposal. So conversation was done around eating. Luke expressed his desire to rebuild the Jedi order to his father. Who in turn suggested a few modifications to the original order's rules. Isis of course added her own suggestions. By the end of the evening they had a workable idea of what they wanted from a new Jedi order. One that would place fewer restrictions on the growth of its member's and would allow candidates to be taken in at any age. Since rebuilding it was Luke's idea, he would be in charge of it. They were still finalizing the plans for it when they returned to the hotel room.
Han and Leia landed and immediately started searching for Luke. The search quickly yielded a hotel reservation. So Han and Leia went there looking for Luke and their dad.
Isis and Anakin were kissing on each other in the doorway to their bedroom. Luke was trying to finalize his plans in his mind, when some one knocked on their door. Luke walked over and opened it without looking to see who it was.
"Luke!" Leia said and hugged her brother.
"Ah Leia, Han what are you two doing here?" said Luke
"Duh we came to see dad, why did you think we came" said Leia.
Isis spotted Leia first and barely stopped Anakin from rushing into the room. She grabbed him and steered Anakin back into the bedroom.
"Luke talk to her now" Isis sent.
Then she closed the door and blocked it.
"What are they doing here?" said Anakin
"Anakin there's something you need to know" said Isis.
"What that my son hangs out with rebel scum, I know thanks" said Anakin
Isis sighed in exasperation
"Now get out of my way so I can be rid of them once and for all" said Anakin
"No you will not hurt Luke's friends period now shut up and listen to me" said Isis Anakin snorted
"You've already got the ordering me around down pat I see" said Anakin
Isis frowned at him.
"Sit!" she said
He sat and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Anakin this isn't going to be easy to say but you should know that Padme had twins," said Isis
"What does her having twins have to do with the two rebels gracing my living room?" said Anakin.
Isis gave him a level look.
"No, uhn't uh no way there not" said Anakin
"Only one of them actually" said Isis
Anakin gritted his jaw.
"Which one?' he asked
"Leia" she answered.
Anakin looked at her with an expression that plainly said he was pissed off. In the other room Luke wasn't faring much better with a confused Han and Leia.
"Why did Isis just push him into the other room?" said Leia
"Leia there's something you need to know about father" said Luke.
"What that he and Isis have the hots for each other" said Han
"Well yes but that's not it, Leia please sit down" said Luke
Leia eyed her brother warily, he was nervous about something she could tell.
"What is it Luke spit it out" said Leia
"Leia he doesn't know about you, I didn't get a chance to tell him" said Luke
"So we can tell him right now" said Han
"It's a little more complicated than that" said Luke
"Complicated how, kid?" said Han
"Han you might want to sit down too" said Luke.
Han frowned at the kid but sat on the arm of the couch, near Leia.
"Luke what is it your scaring me" said Leia
"Leia I'm sorry I lied to you father wasn't Palpatine's prisoner at least not physically, he was his thrall" said Luke
"His what?" said Han
"Its kind of like mind control" said Luke
"Oh so what does that have to do with him not knowing about me?" said Leia
"Leia he's been serving the emperor for a little over seventeen years" said Luke
"Why do I not like what you're implying?' said Leia
"Because its not good news, Leia Vader isn't dead he's our father" said Luke.
Leia looked like she was going to faint. Her mouth moved but no sound came out. Her mind was drawing a complete blank. She couldn't have been more surprised if he had said Palpatine was their dad. For a few seconds they just sat there. In the back room they could hear Isis telling Anakin that he wasn't going to do something.
Han was the one to speak first
"Did you at least kill Palpatine?" said Han
"Yes Isis really did kill him" said Luke
"Did she know?" said Leia.
Her voice was soft and she sounded hurt.
"Leia?" Luke said softly.
She glared at him "did she?" said Leia
"Yeah, she's the one that told me" said Luke
"But I was the one who couldn't tell you so don't be mad at her" said Luke.
He looked sad and very guilty to Han.
"I can't believe you didn't tell me" said Leia
"I know and I'm sorry" said Luke
"Do you have any idea what he did to me on the death star?" said Leia
"No, you never talked about it" said Luke.
"I can't I can't deal with this" said Leia
"I just can't I'm sorry Luke I just can't "said Leia
She started walking towards the door. She was obviously running from the idea that she could be related to someone she hated. It was at this point Anakin stepped out of the room. Isis was hot on his heels.
"Going some where princess?" he said
Leia looked like a cornered rabbit for a second with her hand poised above the door controls.
"Leia sweet heart please come back and talk about this" said Isis
Leia shook her head no in denial; she looked like she wanted to cry. Isis glared at Luke and walked over to Leia. Leia looked at her
"Why didn't you say something?" said Leia
Isis pulled the younger woman into a hug.
"Because I didn't want to hurt you baby girl," said Isis.
She held Leia in her arms. Anakin just stood and watched.
Han was staring at him until Anakin glared at the smuggler. Han seemed unperturbed by the glare.
"So that's what you looked like under that mask?" said Han
"Not now smuggler" said Anakin.
Isis managed to get Leia to come back in the room. She stayed over by Isis however; it was obvious she was afraid of Anakin.
"I know you have more courage than that princess," said Anakin
That seemed to spark Leia's back bone and she pulled out of Isis' arms to yell at him. "what would you know of courage?" said Leia
"Enough to know your mother had it in spades" he answered coolly.
"Don't you dare talk about my mother, you, you monster" said Leia angrily.
Isis opened her mouth to admonish Leia. Anakin waved for her to remain silent.
"Let her speak," said Anakin.
"Please continue, princess, by all means speak your mind" said Anakin
"I am not related to you, I can't be," said Leia.
She was trying to vehemently deny her heritage even when it was staring her in the face.
Anakin laughed,
"That just proves it, Luke reacted the same way you know?" said Anakin
"He's right I did" said Luke.
"So you lied to both of us?" said Leia.
She looked at Isis angrily
"My Isis has never lied to anyone not now or ever," said Anakin.
His voice was harsh and his anger was showing. Isis waved him off.
"Its all right Anakin she's just upset" said Isis
"Upset!, upset? Lady I'm livid, why didn't you tell me?" said Leia
"Because you wouldn't be able to handle it," said Luke.
Leia shook her head in denial.
"No I won't handle it, I'm not his daughter!" she yelled
"No that you aren't your most definitely your mother's" said Anakin.
He moved closer to her. And Leia stepped back.
She was almost hiding behind Isis.
"I will not harm you, please do not draw away" said Anakin
"Yeah right like I'm supposed to believe that with your track record" said Leia.
Anakin stepped closer, intent on touching Leia. Han stepped between them.
"Move smuggler" said Anakin.
Han took a deep breath and said "No".
Anakin looked shocked by his boldness.
Then Anakin smiled at the man and Han wasn't sure what was scarier, Vader with or without his mask.
"I see," said Anakin.
He eyed the smuggler with renewed interest. So this was whom his daughter had chosen? Han started to reach for his blaster. Isis took it out of his hand.
"Hey!, just who's side are you on lady?" said Han.
"The side that doesn't include bloodshed between family and friends" said Isis.
She chuckled when they both simultaneously said, "we aren't friends"
"Well you still will play nice," said Isis
"He doesn't play well with others," said Han.
He pointed to Anakin with his thumb.
"Neither do you" said Isis.
Han opened his mouth to protest.
"Save it smuggler you won't win" said Anakin
