PART TWO: ENDURANCE

Luke rolls over again. He tucks his arm under his head and pinches his eyes shut. He's been tossing and turning all night without a single wink of sleep. He wants to drift away for just a few moments to forget about the events of today, but his mind won't let him. It feels like there's a circuit of energy bolting through him with no stop in sight.

He groans, laying onto his back. All of this is their own fault. They shouldn't have been snooping around, but they were so curious. All of their life, they've been hidden from the secrets of their father and anything involving the rebellion. For once, they wanted to know something.

He tosses his arm over his eyes in hopes of aiding his quest to fall asleep, but it does nothing. All he can think about is the fact that Darth Vader is his father. The man who killed off the Jedi Order is his flesh and blood. The idea of being related to that monster almost makes Luke laugh out loud.

How? How is he the son of that murderer?

He sits up and tosses the covers off of himself. His shirt is sticking to his chest, his room uncomfortably warm. He can't take it anymore. He needs to talk with someone about this. He hasn't spoken to anyone since the confrontation with Obi-Wan.

He just needs someone to listen while he voices his fears and concerns about his future.
What is going to happen to him now? The big secret has been spilled and he now knows what really happened to his father.

Though it's the middle of the night, he exits his room. He walks over to Leia's and gently knocks their secret knock on her door. He has a feeling that Leia is not asleep for the same reason that he isn't.

He hears movement inside and her door opens a few seconds later. Her hair is down, the long brown waves falling over her shoulders down to her waist. She gives him a sad smile and motions for him to enter.

She closes the door, leaning against it as he goes to sit at her desk. "Can't sleep?" She asks, running her fingers through her hair. She figured Luke was up but didn't want to disturb him in case he was actually asleep. She's glad to know she's not the only one who's awake at this hour.

Luke shakes his head. "No. My head just keeps thinking about our father." He answers. He sits backward on her chair, resting his arms on the backrest then placing his chin on top. "It seems unrealistic. It's like I can't get the thought into my head quite right."

Leia nods. "I understand. I can't stop thinking about it either. It's like the words keeping repeating in my head over and over again. 'Darth Vader is my father.'" She explains. She lets out a shiver, pulling her arms to her chest.

"Cold?" He asks, watching her.

"Yeah. I've been freezing all day. I swear, it's like they turned down the heat to keep us locked in our rooms." She says. She walks over to her bed and pulls the blanket off. She wraps it tightly around herself like a cocoon.

"Turned down the heat?" He playfully scoffs. "I think they turned it up. I'm so hot right now. I've been sweating all day." He says, pulling at his shirt in an attempt to cool himself off.

"You must be sick." Leia smiles as she sits on the floor. "I bet you have a fever."

"I am not sick." He says, rolling his eyes. "You're the one who's sick. You're shivering. People always say they're cold when they're actually burning up with a fever." He says with a grin.

"Maybe." She chuckles, looking at the ground. A peaceful silence settles between them. It's comforting just to be in someone else's presence right now. It's nice to know that they're not alone.

Leia lets out a soft laugh, her gaze still on the floor. "Do you remember that one time we got really sick as kids and Mom made us stay in bed for a week?"

"Yeah." Luke smiles. "Uncle Obi made us soup. He said that they used to make it all of the time at the Jedi Temple. It was supposed to cure them of their illnesses really fast. I don't think he made it quite right because I think we were in bed an extra three days from it."

"Or maybe it did work and we got better faster because of it." Leia counters with a smirk.

He chuckles. "I guess we'll never know."

"We'll just have to trust that he was right." She says. They fall silent again, but this time it's not the same. She can feel the uneasiness in the room. The tension of the unknown is almost suffocating. Though the topic makes her stomach hurt, she wants to talk with him about what is to come. "Luke, what are we going to do?" She quietly asks.

"What do you mean?"

"You know." She sighs, looking up at him. "What are we supposed to do now that we know? This secret. . . It's like it's changed our future somehow. I mean, neither of us have ever met our father. We've never had contact with him. Hell, we didn't even know he was Darth Vader until a few hours ago. But it's like I have this irrational fear that I'll turn out like him now. Like it's my destiny to turn to the dark side."

"Leia, don't say that." He says, sitting up. "We aren't going to turn just because our father did. It's not like it's built in our genes or something. It's a choice to turn to the dark side. Why he did it, I can only guess, but it won't happen to us. We won't make that mistake."

"How can you be so sure?" She asks. "Why did they keep this secret from us for our entire lives if there isn't a chance that we'll follow him? There has to be a reason why they kept this from us."

Luke pauses, considering it. She has a point. Why would they keep this a secret from them if there isn't a chance of them turning to the dark side? What would they have to gain from keeping this from them?

He rises from his spot and walks to the door.

"Where are you going?" Leia asks, her head turning to watch him.

"I'm going to talk with Uncle Obi." He says, his hand resting on the doorknob.

"Luke, he's probably asleep. You should leave him alone to get some rest." She argues as she rises from the floor. The blanket drops from her head and rests on her shoulders. She reaches out, touching his shoulder. "Besides, it's not like he's going to suddenly fix everything. We should just leave it until morning."

He shakes his head. "I can't leave it until morning. I need to talk to him now."

"It's just going to be a waste of time." She says as she shrugs her shoulders.

"I don't care. I need to see him." He says, opening the door. He steps into the dark hallway, quietly moving towards Obi-Wan's room. He can't leave things the way they did. He wants to make sure that Obi-Wan is okay. Plus, Luke wants some comfort. He and Obi-Wan have always been close and he knows that Obi-Wan would never turn him away, even if it's the middle of the night. Even if he's disappointed him multiple times in one day.

Leia pouts as she argues with herself. She doesn't want to go, but she doesn't want to be alone either. "Ugh. Slow down. I'm coming." She groans as she gently closes the door to her room. The soft light from her lamp seeps out from under the door. It provides enough light for her to follow the figure of her brother until her eyes adjust to the dark.

When they reach the door, Luke takes control and knocks first. It's quiet for a few moments, the air still. Leia is about to open her mouth and tell him that she was right when the door opens.

"Hello there." He gently greets. Leia's stomach drops as she looks at the aging man. She's suddenly afraid that today's fight has aged him years. She feels guilty for what she found out today and spilled to Luke. She feels like all of this is her fault.

Luke steps forward, happy to see that he's awake. "Uncle Obi, do you mind if we talk? Please?"

He opens the door wide, waving them in. "Of course." He says. They quickly shuffle into his room and stand beside the door, unsure where to go exactly. Obi-Wan doesn't have much but the room is small. There's a mat on the floor and a few trinkets on the shelves. There's a chest in one corner of the room that brings them happy memories. It's been carried with them to every new location.

Obi-Wan sits on his mat and gestures for the two of them to come close. The twins take a seat on the cold floor in front of him. Leia shuffles to move her blanket underneath her so that she won't completely freeze. Luke lets out a sigh, the cold ground cooling him off. "I was expecting the two of you," Obi-Wan says.

"Expecting us?" Luke repeats, tilting his head to the side. He wasn't planning on coming here until just a few minutes ago. How could Obi-Wan know they would show up at his door this early in the morning?

"I couldn't sleep properly for a long time after the fall of your father. I figured you two would be the same." He says. He takes a deep breath, hoping to keep himself calmer than before. Whenever it comes to Anakin, he can't seem to find a way to control his emotions. He's been building up a wall to keep it in for over a decade, but today he's been weak.

His eyes dart between the twins in front of him. Though they've grown so much in just the past few years, he can still see the two happy toddlers in their faces. Their eyes used to be so bright, making his heart full of love and joy. But after this evening, he sees pain and fear. He feels responsible for this change in them. He should have done a better job protecting them from this until the time was right.

Leia stays silent, watching him. She loves Obi-Wan very much, but she doesn't have the same type of relationship with him as Luke does. He is the first person Luke will go to anytime he needs guidance, a friend, or even just someone to talk to. Obi-Wan is more of a teacher and family friend to her. He is important in her life, yes, but Luke sees him more as the father they never had.

The person she thinks of as her father is Bail Organa. She almost wishes she was with him right now. The only thing stopping her is she doesn't know if Bail knows about her father. She doesn't want this horrid information to spread to him if it's possible. She doesn't want him to change his opinion of her because of what her father has become. She doesn't want to age him the same way she has done to Obi-Wan.

Luke looks over at Leia then back to Obi-Wan. It's clear that she won't be adding much to the conversation tonight. Not that it really matters. He is the one who wanted to come here. "I'm feeling lost, Obi-Wan." He confesses. "I'm not sure what to feel or what to do. I just feel numb and confused."

"This is a lot to take in, Luke," Obi-Wan says, a soft frown on his face. "You're not expected to learn this and then go about your life as if nothing has happened. This is hard and I know that it hurts."

"But that's just it, I don't feel anything," Luke says. He takes a gulp, looking down at his hands. "I know I should feel afraid or upset, but I don't."

"It's okay if you don't feel anything." He comforts, his hand reaching out to touch Luke's shoulder. Luke looks up, his eyes meeting Obi-Wan's blue ones. "Don't beat yourself up if you don't feel anything. There is no right emotion to feel. Over the years, you may feel differently, which is okay too. The important thing is to know how you feel and how to handle it."

"But what if I don't know how to handle it? What am I supposed to do?"

"Then you come to me." He says his voice suddenly firm. The twins hold their breath, their attention grabbed from his change. "I will always be here for you. It doesn't matter what you've done or what is happening. I will drop everything to help you, do you understand?"

Luke nods his head. "Okay." He quietly says. "I will come to you. No matter what."

Obi-Wan drops his hand and turns to Leia. "It's the same for you, Leia. It doesn't matter the situation, I will be here for you. I will always make time for you. It can be about anything. Just come and talk to me, okay?"

Leia blinks, shocked at his offer. She's never been close enough with him to feel that she could come him no matter what, but this offer comforts her nonetheless. She feels part of the weight on her shoulders being lifted. "Okay."

He gives her a smile, softening again. "And how do you feel about this? I know you must be feeling something. We both were letting our emotions get the better of us earlier."

Leia sighs, sagging her shoulders. "I feel angry and betrayed. You have been lying to us about our father for our entire lives." She says. Obi-Wan just nods, which makes her want to continue. He is allowing her to speak what's on her mind without interjecting and making her feel invalidated. It's not often that people let her do this. "And I'm afraid of my future. What is going to happen to me now that I know this? Will I turn like him?"

"You have every right to feel angry at me. I'm sure you believe that you should have been told this earlier, but I want you to know that I did this with the intent of keeping you safe. It wasn't for my own personal gain or because I thought you couldn't handle it. You are both very strong and I am very proud of what you have accomplished." He answers. Leia softly nods her head, understanding his reason for keeping it from them. She doesn't think that it was right, but at least it wasn't because he didn't think they could handle it.

He is one of the few people who has told them personally that he fully trusts them and believes in them. He is proud of them for what they have done on their own. Their efforts to prove themselves has not gone unnoticed. To him, they don't look like helpless children who need to rely on their mother for help.

His hand rests on hers and she suddenly feels safer. He gives it a soft squeeze. "I don't know your future, but I don't believe that you'll turn like your father. I failed your father many times, but I have learned from those mistakes. I raised you two with great faith that you would never follow in his steps." He adds. Leia noticeable relaxes, content with his response for the time being. She feels better now that some of her questions have been answered.

It's hard to believe that only a few hours ago none of them could be in a room together. There was so much chaos and pain that no one could think about their actions and the consequences that would follow. Now that they've all put their emotions aside, it's like their souls have met and made up. They all feel at peace and closer than ever before.

Luke shifts, trying to get comfortable again. "Now that Leia has brought it up, I'm also worried about our future. Not about our father or our paths. How do we go forward from this? What do we do now?"

Obi-Wan brings his hand to his chin, tugging on his beard in thought. "Have you talked to your mother yet? Does she know what you've uncovered?"

They hang their heads in shame. "No," Luke says.

"Because you're ashamed for snooping around?" Obi-Wan asks.

"No." He replies, shaking his head. "Well, not really." He corrects, a blush coming to his cheeks. "It's mostly because I'm afraid of hurting her. I saw how you reacted and I'm afraid that she'll do the same. I don't want to do that to anyone again."

"I let my emotions control me, and I'm sorry about that. I shouldn't have reacted that way." Obi-Wan says. He takes a deep breath and gives them a soft smile. "But you should talk to your mother. She deserves to know and you can't keep this from her forever. She will find out, even if you don't tell her. Your mother is a very smart woman, trust me."

"I can't tell her. It'll break her heart." Luke argues. He can already picture the pain and sorrow that will cross her face when she hears. He doesn't want to ever put her through that. He can almost hear her weeps echoing in the hallway again at the thought of telling her.

"She can handle it."

"What if you do it? Then she knows and we don't have to tell her." Leia offers. She doesn't want to hurt her mother either. She has gone through so much in her life and she doesn't deserve this. Besides, she needs to worry about leading the rebellion and ending this war. This painful secret can't come to light now.

"I think you should tell her. It'll be much easier for everyone if you do it yourself. Plus, I think that it'll help you deal with this. You'll feel better once all of you know." Obi-Wan insists. He thinks that things will go a lot smoother for the twins if they do it themselves. He doesn't want them to regret her finding out and never getting the chance to tell her themselves.

"Can we go together? And be there in the room while you tell her?" Luke asks. He doesn't think that he'll be able to get the words out if he has to tell her. He wants to be there when she finds out though. Maybe Obi-Wan can just say it for them.

Obi-Wan takes a deep breath, thinking this through. It's clear that it's not what he wants, but he nods his head. "Yes. We can go together."

Luke lets out a chuckle, some stress leaving him. "Thank you, Obi-Wan."

He smiles, folding his hands into his robes. "Anything thing for you two." He says. The three of them sit in silence, exhaustion now hitting them. A few yawns exit the twins and Obi-Wan rises from his mat. "I think you two should head to bed. We have a busy day tomorrow and it's late."

They rise to their feet and go to the door. Leia begins walking into the hallway but stops when she notices Luke isn't following her. She goes back, watching him struggle to find the right words. "Uncle Obi, I hope this doesn't sound childish, but can we stay in here for the night? I just don't want to be alone right now." Luke asks as he runs his hands through his hair.

"It doesn't sound childish, Luke." Obi-Wan replies, softly touching his shoulder. "You both are welcome to stay the night in here."

So the three of them spread out across the floor in his room. Though his room is small, it is just big enough for them to sleep without being uncomfortably close. At first, it's awkward to lay in the silence. Leia's tempted to leave, but once she closes her eyes, she falls into a deep sleep. Luke slows down his breathing and connects himself with the Force. It brings him peace, lulling him into a calm slumber. Obi-Wan remains awake until he's sure the twins are asleep. His eyes grow heavy as he watches over them. Before he can stop it, he's fast asleep with them.

It is the best sleep the three of them have had in years.

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