Luke and Leia had spend the day of hyperspace travel in boredom. Both were confined to their own quarters. Leia's father shadowed Anakin like a mynock. Luke's mother insisted on remaining with Anakin as well—to save his life and his soul.

Anakin had requested Master Yoda's input as the Rebels and the Imperials reworked their plan together. Everyone was on edge, as there was no way to contact either the Rebels or the Mandalorians while they were traveling through hyperspace.

Before his parents left in the morning, Luke asked, "Can me and Leia stay in here together? It's no fun when we're in different rooms. Please?" He widened his big, blue eyes and stuck out his lower lip.

Anakin turned at the main hatch, his helmet in his hand. He raised his eye ridges at his wife in question with a tiny smile.

Padmé knelt down, grasping Luke's shoulders. "Luke . . ."

Luke nodded. "I miss her, Mommy."

"Well . . ." Padmé glanced at Anakin with her eyebrows raised and mouth open in question.

"I'll talk to Bail. If he agrees, we'll leave Artoo with you." He pointed his finger at Luke, "But I want no misbehavior. Am I clear?"

"Yes, Daddy. Thank you, Daddy." Luke's eyes brightened as his wide smile exploded across his face. The boy ran over to his father and grabbed him by the leg in a hug.

Anakin beamed at the little boy and ruffled his son's sandy hair with his gloved hand.

Padmé crossed to Anakin, wrapping her right arm around his waist and placing her left hand on Luke's shoulder.

The boy said with a catch in his voice, "I just wish . . . that we could all be a family again."

Padmé sighed as she ran her fingers through her son's hair and nestled her head into Anakin's chest armor. Her husband positioned his helmet on his head, his regulated breathing masking the pain Luke felt through the Force. 

Telling Luke that Leia was his sister may have been the wrong decision. Leia could never know.

When Bail heard that R2 would watch over the children, he repented his decision to keep them separated. Leia's misery had eaten away at him these past two days, wearing down his resolve.

At least he could trust the droid to keep them under control. There were too many places on a star destroyer those two could get into trouble.

So, Leia found herself with Luke, in Darth Vader's quarters, playing with paper fighters created from recycled food wrappers. The tiny princess chased him around both rooms in the suite, with R2 right behind them beeping and chirping.

They climbed on top of the furniture, jumping off and rolling to the ground in sequence. It was like they both knew what they wanted to do before they did it.

At one point, they were both on the floor within easy reach of the astromech droid. The droid beeped and whistled at them, grabbing their toys with his pincher arm. He rolled into them, herding them back into the reception room.

"Oh, Artoo, why'd you have to ruin our fun? It was just getting interesting," Luke said with a puckered lip and eyes crunched together.

The droid scolded him with an incessant stream of beeps.

"We didn't mean to break it."

R2 beeped back at him, rolling into him so that he would sit on the couch next to Leia. As the droid dimmed the lights in the quarters, he produced a holographic recording.

Luke and Leia leaned forward, watching a young man and young woman on a terrace overlooking a lake. An elderly man stood behind them.

The woman's lace dress fluttered in the breeze. A lock of her curly hair flowed down across her chest, sneaking out of her white headdress, while a thin braid fell across the man's shoulder.

The man in the brown robe and black leather surplice took her hand. His golden prosthetic glinted in the sunlight as the yellow orb sunk below the horizon.

Luke said with excitement, "That's Varykino. That's Naboo. I've been there, Leia."

"Yeah, but look at her dress. It's so beautiful. Who are they?"

"Artoo, go back a few seconds. Yeah, where they grab hands. Can you zoom in on them?"

The droid adjusted the image as requested.

"They're my parents, I think."

"Look at the beading on that dress—they look like precious gems. I want a dress just like that when I get married." Leia's eyes glazed over. "Diamonds and maybe some rubies for a hint of drama."

As the couple kissed, Luke said, "Oh, Artoo, why did you have to show us that? It's bad enough when I have to watch them kiss now."

"Hush, I think it's romantic," Leia said with a dreamy look in her eyes. "Your father certainly was handsome." She winked at him. "Now I know where you got your good looks."

"I think I'm going to puke," he said while holding his belly in exaggeration and crossing his eyes at her.

Leia whacked his chest playfully. "If they never got married, you wouldn't be here."

"Please, I don't even want to think about that!"

She leaned close to him. "Well, I'm glad they did, or I wouldn't have you." She quickly pecked him on the cheek.

He raised his hand to his cheek, his skin flushing in embarrassment and something he could not quite name.

"That wasn't so bad, was it?"

He shook his head slowly from side-to-side, a small smile creeping upon his face. She's your sister, he reminded himself as he secretly desired another kiss from the small princess. Luke grasped her small hand in his, just holding it for a minute. "Your hands are cold."

"Mummy always says 'Cold hands, warm heart,'" she said with her infectious laugh. "Artoo, do you have any other vids?"

R2 beeped at them.

Luke asked, "Ooh, you have war vids? The Clone War?"

R2 beeped back again, scrolling through different vids in front of them.

"I don't want to watch war vids, Luke." She tilted her head and asked, "How about we get out of here?"

"We promised our parents we wouldn't get into trouble today. Besides, the hatch is locked."

"I didn't say we'd get into trouble. Come on, as long as Artoo is with us, it should be fine," Leia said, wheedling him with her voice. She opened her eyes to their widest and batted her eyelashes at him. "Please."

He shook his head and snorted. "Girls." He shook his head in disbelief. "Come on."

R2 emitted a long string of beeps, rolling into both Luke and Leia, in an attempt to stop them.

"How are we going to get out of here?" he asked.

The princess looked at the astromech, rubbing the top of his silver dome. "Artoo, you are so smart, I'm sure you could open this hatch in no time at all."

The squat droid retreated, letting off a string of beeps that did not sound nice at all.

"Artoo, watch your language." Luke shook his finger at the droid. The boy examined the hatch control and closed his eyes.

"What are you doing?"

"Shh. I'm trying to concentrate. Gotta find the . . . right . . . connection." Luke gasped in exasperation.

The blastdoor quickly slid open, revealing an empty corridor. The children grabbed hands and ran down the hallway with the silver astromech droid beeping his disapproval in their wake.

At the junction of another corridor, Luke asked, "What do you want to see? The barracks? The maintenance area? The guns?"

Leia smiled at him with her eyes sliding to the side. "How about a TIE fighter?"

He grinned back at her before dragging her down the corridor to the right. Life was definitely more fun with the princess.

After reaching the primary hangar, they saw maintenance crews installing laser cannons on the Silver Streak. To their left sat a row of Lambda-class shuttles, but to their right was a squadron of TIE fighters in their launch bays.

Luke led Leia across the mammoth hangar, skulking behind crates, gas cylinders, and other ships.

When R2 caught up to the hangar, beeping and whirring in frustration, the children sprinted across the deck to the personnel ladder next to a TIE fighter launch bay. They skittered up the steps and crawled into the TIE fighter through the top hatch.

"Wow! Cool!" Leia said as she looked out the viewport. "Can you fly it?"

"I can figure it out." He thrust his chest out and climbed into the pilot's seat. He waved his hand above him, closing the hatch with the Force. When he looked at the controls in front of him, not sure what else to do. He pushed a few buttons, but nothing happened.

Leia gazed at him, her eyes going wider as she watched Luke push more and more buttons buttons. As the craft jerked to life, she fell on top of the boy. When he grabbed her arms, she pressed her lips to his.

Just as he realized she was kissing him, the hatch above them opened. He heard R2 beeping loudly and then a rough voice through a vocalizer, "I found them. Power it down, kids."

Luke looked at the controls, trying to figure out which one to press. He hit his hand on one, which caused the craft to lift, launching from the cradle and jerking the stormtrooper commander through the hatch.

"Land this craft now."

"I don't know how," Luke blubbered, while Leia still pinned him down.

The stormtrooper flung both of the kids to the floor of the TIE and swerved the craft right before it hit the magnetic shield. He landed the craft with a rough jolt in the middle of the hangar. "What were you thinking? Heading out into space without a life-support suit? You'd be out of oxygen in seconds! Now get out!" 

He pushed the scared children through the upper hatch to the stormtroopers that surrounded the craft. As the man pulled himself up, he groaned.

A dark figure with a billowing cape entered the hangar. Three smaller figures followed the man.

The clone trooper recognized them all from his years in the wars—Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan, former Senator Padmé Amidala of Naboo whom he had thought dead, and Master Yoda whom no one had seen in years, presumed dead after Order 66.

Vader rumbled, "Commander, well done. I could use a man with your talents on our next mission. Code designation?"

After jumping to the ground, the trooper stood to attention swiftly and saluted. "SCM-2224, My Lord."

"Cody?"

The stormtrooper hesitated before nodding. "That's a name I haven't heard in a long time, my lord."

"Report."

"Caught these two Rebels trying to steal a TIE fighter, my lord."

Vader inclined his head toward the boy and girl. "Stealing a TIE fighter? I thought you promised you'd stay out of trouble today, Luke." 

As Luke bit his lip, Vader grabbed the boy by his arm roughly. Bail cleared his throat, causing the man to release his grip slightly.

"I wasn't trying to steal it. That was an accident," the boy said, looking at the deck. "If Leia hadn't kissed me—"

Padmé pulled Bail back a few paces exchanging a worried glance. She raised her eyebrows at the man, clenching her teeth. Bail raised his hand, motioning for her to relax.

She whispered, "Bail, you have to tell her."

"Alderaanians kiss to show all types of affections, Padmé. It's cultural."

"Well, that's not how it happens on Tatooine nor Naboo. If we let this go on much longer, Luke's going to be so confused—"

"Fine. Then tell her." Bail's eyes became hard as agates.

"You want me to tell her?"

Bail nodded. "Just don't take her from me."

Vader said, "Escort these two back to my quarters and set a guard at the entrance, Captain Cody. They are not to leave without my permission. Oh, and, Captain, join us in the strategy tank when you are done."

Cody nodded to his superior. "Yes, my lord. Thank you, my lord."

Padmé stepped forward. "I'm going with them. Her Highness and I have a few things to discuss."

"Very well." Vader strode out of the hangar back to their strategy meeting.

Padmé dragged both children down the passageway, with two stormtroopers trailing the party. She shoved Luke into her quarters and sealed the hatch. "If he so much as touches the controls, contact Lord Vader immediately."

"Yes, milady," one of the troopers said.

"And get two more guards up here. After her highness and I have a chat, I want her hatch secured, as well."

"Yes, milady."

Padmé shoved Leia into the quarters. "Sit down, young lady. Now." 

Leia's lip wiggled as she blubbered and tears streamed down her eyes.

"Your tears won't work on me, Leia, so stop it." Padmé paced in the little room, not sure how to broach the subject. "You do realize that your little stunt today almost got you both killed?"

Leia nodded her head, biting her lip, trying not to cry.

"You don't have that luxury, young lady. You are a crown princess. You have a responsibility to your people. But more importantly, you have a responsibility to your family." Padmé sat next to the girl as her temper calmed. "They all love you very much, and you would leave a gaping hole in their hearts if you died."

"It was an accident. We were just going to take it on a joy ride around the hangar. And then when it started up, I fell on Luke. His elbow hit the controls—"

"And when in the middle of all this did you decide it was a good idea to kiss him?"

Leia looked back at her, confused. "What's the big deal? It was only a kiss."

Padmé took a deep breath. "Luke's from Tatooine. It's different there than on Alderaan. A kiss means a lot more for a boy there, and you're confusing him, Leia."

"But I love him. Just like you loved Luke's daddy at your wedding." 

Padmé frowned at that last statement.

"Artoo showed us the holovid today."

The woman wrung her hands wondering how to tell the little girl the truth. "Leia, what I'm about to tell you is a state secret of the highest level. You are not to discuss it with anybody else. If you do so, your career in politics and the crown of Alderaan will be at risk."

Leia's eyes grew wider at the serious tone of her voice. She nodded.

"Leia, if you saw that video, you know what a good man he was . . . he is. The war changed us all, though. Four years on the front lines confused everyone's thinking about what was right and what was wrong and what we wanted to hold onto."

The princess nodded her understanding.

"Anakin wanted to hold onto me. He had dreamed of my dying in childbirth. When it appeared I would not survive the delivery, his children were taken into hiding, to protect them from the Emperor."

Leia's eyes grew wider. "Children? Plural?"

Padmé nodded. "The Emperor knew that if Anakin were to have any children, they would be a threat to him. That is why Obi-Wan took the boy to his relatives on Tatooine . . ." Padmé watched as Leia's mouth opened in anticipation. 

". . . while a good friend of mine adopted my daughter, making her the crown princess of Alderaan."

The girl's mouth dropped open, and her cognac-colored eyes widened in shock.

"Yes, Leia, it's you. You're Luke's twin sister. Now do you understand?"

"You're my mother?"

"Yes." Padmé clutched the girl to her chest in a strong hug. She stroked the girl's hair as tears streaked her face. "Leia, if anyone knew that you were Darth Vader's daughter, it would be very bad for Alderaan. That is why—"

"Daddy and Mummy never told me about my father." Leia pulled back from the embrace.

"And that's why it must remain a secret."

"Does Luke know?"

"Yes. We told him a few days ago." Padmé's smile dropped from her face. "Leia, if the Emperor finds out whose daughter you really are, you are in grave danger. You must obey. No more tricks. No more jokes. No more adventures."

"I promise, as Her Highness the Crown Princess of Alderaan, I promise."

"And no more kissing Luke."

Leia scrunched up her nose at that. "How about on the cheek?"

Padmé clenched her teeth, staring at the girl for a few moments before acceding to the compromise. "On the cheek it is."

Leia turned and leaned back on Padmé's chest. "Mommy, tell me about when you fell in love with Daddy." The girl reached up and pulled on a stray lock that hung down Padmé's chest.

"I was a senator. He was my Jedi Protector . . . and so obnoxious."

"Boys!" Leia giggled, setting Padmé off with a tiny laugh.

Did you know . . .

● I had to come up with a reason why Leia was constantly kissing Luke in the movies. You don't just kiss someone you just met less than an hour ago, for luck or not. She hugs. She kisses. Touch is her love language. But I believe it also had to be cultural for her, as royalty, to be so free with her affections.

Tell me what you think . . .

● Now that Leia knows, how will the relationship with Luke differ?