Summary: Mara secret is out, Anakin returns from his journey. Han and Luke are called away this time for a long amount of time. Anakin is faced with one of his greatest test he will ever have to be put through.
Rate: PG
Category: Drama/Romance
Disclaimer: See part one and two
�Mara,� Padme said.
�Padme does anyone know you�re here,� Mara asked.
�No we told no one Lando understood,� Padme said.
�There in the back with Sheri,� Mara said.
�Auntie,� Anakin said putting his hands to Mara.
�Go Leia with them,� Mara said taking Anakin.
It was a dream come true for Leia she had all her children again, but she could only imagine what the nurse had went through. She hoped that she was safe and in no pain, but she knew it was unlikely. It had been three months since Luke and Han had seen their family and they just wanted this to end. The war was ending they both knew that, Emperor Palpatine was using his last efforts to defeat them. More and more planets were helping them once they found out that Emperor Palpatine had stolen children.
�Wedge they have Princess Leia Solo and Jedi Knight Mara Jade,� a man said.
�Get me Skywalker and Solo now,� Wedge said.
�Right away,� he said.
�Do they have the children or Padme,� Han asked.
�No just those two just captured them a day ago�they were on their way somewhere,� he said.
�So they weren�t even on a planet,� Luke said.
�No in ship called Sky-Green,� he said.
�Fine where they are,� Han said.
�This could be it Han we could finally have the empire,� Luke said.
�I know�contact Anakin,� Han said.
�I�ll have some jedi knights waiting to join you,� Obi-Wan said.
�No I think that only I should go,� Anakin said.
�Why,� he asked.
�I know how the empire works to many will only hurt us,� Anakin said.
�True�wish granted Master Skywalker,� Yoda said.
�Thank you,� Anakin said.
�Come back you must,� Yoda said.
�Thanks for the faith Master,� Anakin said.
�He means we wouldn�t want one of the council members killed before they actually serve the council,� Obi-Wan said.
�But, I�m not on the council,� Anakin said.
�You are now,� Yoda said.
Anakin walked out of the room in disbelief, he was now an official member of the Jedi Council. He ran out of the temple and to Luke who he told first, he and Han were both happy for him. They knew there was a lot to tell their wives when they all were reunited. Luke and Han knew this was leading to the last battle, the battle that would decide if The Empire ruled or The Republic ruled.
�Emperor Mara Jade and Leia Solo are on there way�the children weren�t with them,� he said.
�Of course not they must have hide them,� Emperor Palpatine said.
�They should be here with in an hour,� he said.
�Prepare their room�they will be honored guest,� Emperor Palpatine said.
�Mara how are you,� Leia said.
�It�s ok,� Mara said.
�No it�s not�your almost five months pregnant you shouldn�t be put through this,� Leia said.
�This is nothing compared to what Emperor Palpatine will do when he finds out who the father is,� Mara said.
�Everything will be ok,� Leia said.
�I hope so,� Mara said placing her hand on her stomach.
It wasn�t long before they were there and we taken to a room where they would stay. Neither one had the strength to argue or fight the guards so they just followed them. They went to bed hoping this was all a bad dream but knowing it not to be. A few hours later a woman walked in with clothing, Mara knew none of them would fit her. Leia held up a dress that was for Mara since the stomach part wouldn�t fir her.
�He knows you�re pregnant,� Leia said.
�But he doesn�t know who the father is yet,� Mara said as a woman came.
�Emperor Palpatine wishes your audience for supper,� she said.
�Can we change and shower first,� Mara asked.
�Of course,� she said.
�Where are we headed,� Leia asked.
�His throne room then to dining area,� she said.
The hallway was longer then Leia had remembered from the months before when they were here. Mara held her stomach and Leia could feel her fear. So far they had been treated as royal guest of the emperor not as prisoners and Leia wondered why. The throne room was nothing like she�d expected it was elegant and eccentric compared to the dark room she had pictured. The emperor sat on his throne looking down at them as they walked in with an evil smile on his face and they knew this wasn�t good.
�Princess Leia and Mara Jade,� Emperor Palpatine said.
�Emperor Palpatine,� Leia said, but Mara said nothing.
�And my hand,� Emperor Palpatine said.
�I am not yours,� Mara said.
�No you are not�then what are you,� Emperor Palpatine said.
�I am a jedi knight guardian of the peace and justice,� Mara said.
�No, you are sleeping with our enemy and pregnant by him�you are a traitor Mara Jade,� Emperor Palpatine said.
�No I never swore my self to you or the empire my father did but I did not,� Mara said.
�Calm your self�you should get angry in your condition,� Emperor Palpatine said.
�He�s right�and anger is of the dark side,� Leia said.
Emperor Palpatine stood up with another evil grin on his face and went towards the window. Leia had taken Mara hand trying to calm her down. Mara took in a deep breath and started to say the jedi code in her head and to she surprise it worked. Emperor Palpatine still hadn�t made any move towards hers, just looked out the window and with an evil grin.
�And you Leia Skywalker-Solo daughter of Anakin Skywalker,� Emperor Palpatine said.
�What about me,� Leia said.
�You lived a life a lying, stealing, cheating and do what you must until you met your husband,� Emperor Palpatine said.
�No I was a princess�adoptive daughter of Bail Organa,� Leia said.
�What about Ali and Uncle,� Emperor Palpatine said.
�So I made some mistakes in my youth don�t we all,� Leia said.
�Yes we all do�look at your father,� Emperor Palpatine said.
What about my father,� Leia said.
�At 19 he married like you did at 20 he became a father and didn�t even know about you,� Emperor Palpatine said.
�My father is a good man,� Leia said.
�That what a shame he would have replaced me but he chose her instead,� Emperor Palpatine said.
�My mother,� Leia said.
�Yes he always chose her over us,� Emperor Palpatine said.
Han and Luke spent the next two hours waiting for Anakin to tell them where they were headed. But he said nothing he just kept flying to god knows where, but they never gave up the faith. Within in minutes they saw where they were headed, the imperial main base. Luke and Han had never seen so many imperial fleets in one place before.
�On my signal shoot that base,� Luke said.
�Right away boss,� Wedge said.
�Got it Skywalker,� Corran said.
�Let�s go in,� Luke said.
�Stay behind me,� Anakin said.
They stayed a few steps behind Anakin as he started his way towards the palace and snuck inside. The hallway seemed to go on forever and they knew where they were headed. Outside t he throne room they could hear a conversation going on between Emperor Palpatine and Leia. Luke held his breath and when he heard Mara say something and the emperor just laughed at her.
�They will not come they don�t know you�re here,� Emperor Palpatine said.
�Want to bet on that,� Anakin said.
�Luke,� Mara said.
�Luke tell to get ready,� Anakin said.
�No this is not what I saw.� Emperor Palpatine said.
�You saw what you wanted to see,� Anakin said.
�Now,� Luke said.
Few seconds later a huge explosion was heard and the emperor went to the window and watched as the base burned from the explosion. He looked at Anakin and back at his children who had not moved, and at Mara who still clenched her stomach. He didn�t see this he had not looked at any of the signs, only that Mara was here and he would take that child. He let his pride and desire for power overwhelm him and because of it he failed. He knew it was soon he would die anyway, that why he wanted an heir to replace him to make The Empire great.
�Goodbye my old friend,� Emperor Palpatine said.
�What,� Anakin said.
�One thing I am sue of it that I will die soon but not before your son,� Emperor Palpatine said.
Before they could do anything Luke was on the ground after having a lot of electric shock being put through him. Han had pulled out his blaster and shot Emperor Palpatine and he fell. Emperor Palpatine looked up at Anakin and he knew he planned this he needed some to kill him. Emperor Palpatine eyes closed and Anakin saw that the whole town around the palace was burning and the people who survived would leave. For now the nightmare of the empire was gone. But he was sure it wasn�t over.
�Leia,� Han said pulling her into a hug.
�Oh I have missed you so much,� Leia said.
�Mara what happen are you ok,� Luke said looking at her.
�Fine�Luke I�m pregnant this is your child,� Mara said putting his hand on her stomach.
�Oh Mara I love you,� Luke said pulling her into a hug as well.
�So what knew,� Leia asked.
�Dad is part of the council and I�m not leaving the Rouges,� Luke said.
�Senator Febis left and that position is open to you while I stay General,� Han said.
�Luke I think I want to open up my own business working with Zeb really opened my eyes,� Mara said.
�Fine lets go before they blow this up to,� Luke said.
Anakin walked behind his family with a great smile on his face. He was going to be a grandpa soon and see his son get married. Padme had told him Mara needed some one to give her away and he said he would do if she asked, but he thought of someone else who could do. They would go back to Zeb and get Padme and his grandchildren then they were off to the Coruscant so Leia could accept the job.
Next Chapter: Luke and Mara�s Wedding