Whenever Padmé had imagined how Luke and Leia would behave around each other after being reunited, she had always thought they would take a while to become comfortable with each other. That they would initially have an awkward period for a few days, in which they were hesitant to interact on a deep level. But Luke and Leia defied all those expectations. Just a few hours after everyone had returned to Yavin IV, the twins were already acting very much like normal siblings- complete with squabbles and fits.

As Padmé was walking around helping people set up tents for the night, she became aware that Luke was quietly following her. "What is it?" she asked him.

His round lower lip was stuck out in a pout. "Leia's being bossy," he huffed.

"How so?"

"She keeps telling me how I should fly my ship!" Luke indignantly held up the model X-Wing they had built.

Padmé tried not to laugh out loud. Apparently they were having personality clashes already- Leia's strong will and sense of order versus Luke's free spirit.

All she said was, "Luke, I'm kind of busy right now. Why don't you go find Daddy? He can help."

"No, he's busy too. Helping people fix stuff."

"Well... Just try to be nice to Leia. She probably doesn't know she's being bossy. Maybe you can politely explain that you don't want to be told what to do."

Luke sighed in annoyance and stomped off. This was good for him and Leia, Padmé figured. They had both been used to having a parent to themselves, and now they must learn to share everything they had.

It proved quite difficult over the next couple of days to manage both the Rebel camp and the twins. Luke and Leia were supposed to stay with the other Rebel children and do group activities for most of the day, but they would both get bored and wander off. Anakin had immersed himself into helping the Rebels, so he was no more available to settle the daily disputes than Padmé was.

She just wanted a few hours each day to spend with her family. But with the constant flow of new supplies to manage, she hardly ever got a break.

As if all this wasn't enough stress, Padmé worried about Anakin and his injury. He worked himself too hard every day; she thought he should have been resting more to recover faster. But, whenever she brought this up, he insisted he was fine. And Padmé was so busy that she had no idea whether or not this was actually true.

She was starting to reevaluate her priorities, seeing as how the Rebel Alliance was crowding out time with her family already. But she didn't get much time to think about it until she was given an opportunity to go by herself to Dantooine to investigate the cities, and she convinced Bail and Mon to let Anakin go with her.

Finally, it would just be the two of them, alone together. Just like the old days.

Anakin was exceptionally quiet as he lifted off the small ship they took. He didn't speak until they were in hyperspace.

"This is strange, Padmé. We've been back together for days, and yet... I've hardly seen you at all."

Padmé could read a subtle undertone of confusion and hurt between his words. He probably hadn't expected to discover that she was so busy, so preoccupied.

Even though she felt badly, she didn't feel that she had done something wrong. Keeping busy was how she coped with any sort of loss or hardship, and she felt that she belonged in a position of leadership like this.

"I know," she said softly. "I've been living like this for years, enjoying my role within the Rebel Alliance but also wondering if I'm giving Luke the time he deserves. And now there are two kids that need love and attention! I know I must find a compromise, somehow. Help the Rebels while still taking care of Luke and Leia, and spending time with you. I miss the old days, Ani."

"I don't miss the war," Anakin said bluntly. "But you're right. We used to have those nights together in your apartment, at least. Now there's no peace and quiet anywhere."

"Part of that is because the Alliance is in a terribly awkward situation. We don't even have a base right now, so we have to work twice as hard to do anything."

"Exactly, they need all the help they can get. I've heard all about this most recent battle."

Padmé stared sadly at the ground. She hated the feeling of all those memories coming back, the acidic reminder of all the lives lost.

But Anakin was not accusing her. He put a gentle hand on her shoulder and whispered, "It's all right. This isn't your fault, and you're doing everything you can. Besides... I've failed a lot worse than you have. Recently, too."

She looked up at him in surprise. There had definitely been something on his mind lately, but he had not explained what it was. "What happened?" she asked.

Anakin hesitated before telling her all about the recent events involving Leia and the Empire. How she had been taken and he had spent days trying to find and rescue her.

When he described how he had given in to the Dark Side, Padmé was shocked. But then again, she wasn't. Anakin had been this way his whole life. For years he had tried to suppress the part of himself that was drawn to the Dark Side. But it always had been there, and it always would be, and Padmé had known that from the very beginning.

"I think about this every day," Anakin said, staring intensely at the ground. "And I hate myself for it. What should I have done instead? Almost anything would have been better!"

Padmé realized she had been asking herself that exact same question for several days.

"You're not the only one who struggles with this," she said slowly. "I'm not so innocent either, Anakin. I, too, have gone into Empire territory and shot people down in order to protect something I care about. Maybe you were more extreme, but I still did it... and even worse, I led many others to make the same choices."

"But I was selfish, and you were fighting for something greater than yourself, for a cause!"

"My cause. My ideas. That's no different than you fighting for your family."

Anakin sighed and stared off into the distance for a moment before saying, "I guess."

Padmé hoped she had actually gotten her point across. Anakin was not the only flawed person out there.

"However," Padmé said softly, "I do think you need to explain some of this to Leia. You told me you've never hidden anything from her; don't let this be the first exception."

"I know, it's just... She trusts me, Padmé. I don't want to lose that."

"I don't think you'll lose her trust because of this. But you definitely will if she finds out on her own, and realizes that you never told her about it."

Anakin nodded vaguely, but he seemed eager to change the subject. "I think figured out what I want to do now. Someone told me that the Alliance needs a new lead pilot."

"No!" Padmé gasped, jumping up and grabbing his shoulders tightly. "Please, Ani, it can't be you! Our first lead pilot was killed in the first battle. We got him a replacement for the attack the other day. He was killed too. It's... dangerous. Even more dangerous than any other job here."

Anakin smiled and gently brushed a stray lock of hair away from Padmé's face. His gaze was intense, penetrating, seeming to stare into the depths of her soul. "Padmé," he whispered, "that's exactly why I must do it."

She opened her mouth to protest, but the controls beeped, indicating that they had come out of hyperspace.

As they landed the ship, Padmé tried to clear her mind so she could focus on the next task. But a new thought entered her mind, and she couldn't shake it away.

She, Bail and Mon had always been willing to lay down their lives for the Rebel Alliance. But now that Anakin and Leia were back, things were getting complicated. Anakin wanted to be heavily involved with the Alliance too. There was a high chance that Luke and Leia could lose both their parents in one swift blow. If Anakin and Padmé both went out to battle together, it would be far too easy to make one mistake that could end it all.

The Rebel Alliance had the potential to tear this family apart, just like the Clone Wars and the Empire.

And Padmé had to ask herself: was the Alliance really worth that at all?

(Author's Note: Sorry about the delay, but I am hopefully back on schedule! This chapter ended up taking a completely different turn than I anticipated. There was going to be more action, but I realized Anakin and Padmé needed some time to process all the recent stuff. :) Please continue to vote AND comment! I love to hear your feedback even if you don't think you have anything good to say!

On a more serious real-life note, I was quite saddened to hear about the recent passing of Carrie Fisher. :'( As you all can probably tell, Leia Organa Skywalker is a very important character to me. She will be greatly missed and never forgotten! <3 )