Skywalker
Written by: Adventure-Seeking-Juliet
When: After having a very shitty day.
Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars, never have, never will.
A/N AU. Padme survives ROTS. In order to keep her children, the only hope left for the galaxy, safe, she must give one of them up to another family, leave her past life behind, and hide from the one she loved, who believes her to be dead.
So so so, if you're reading any of my other stories, I bet you hate me right now. Updating has been tough, especially with A.P. classwork and work and writing on my 'original story idea' and typical life drama. This idea came to me after watching Bambi the other day, don't ask me how or why, and I decided to go ahead and write it. I REALLY DO promise to update Time Changes Everything and The Familiar Stranger soon. Really. On another note ( and yes I know this is THE LONGEST author's note in the world) this will be my 100th story on , so please review? :D
Prologue~ On Polis Massa~
Padme Amidala Skywalker awoke to a blindingly white room.
All around her, beeps and whistles were blaring and people were speaking in hushed tones.
She gasped, struggling to breathe as several different faces came into focus above her. She didn't recognize most of them- they were medic droids.
Only one recognizable human face peered down at her.
" Obi-Wan?" She choked out, her voice breaking," Did Anakin come?"
" You're alive-your heart stopped! Padme, can you hear me?" Obi-Wan asked, still holding the twins. One, the boy, Luke, was wailing, but Leia remained silent.
Padme frowned, perplexed with what Obi-Wan was saying and frustrated that he hadn't answered her question.
" Did Anakin come?" She repeated, barely dodging a medic droid that was trying to start an I.V.
Obi-Wan's eyes said no before he could even speak the words.
Tears pricked at Padme's eyes, and a feeling of immense loss settled in her chest, until she saw a children.
A small smile spread over her face, and her hope swelled," Can I hold Luke and Leia, please?"
Obi-Wan immediately obliged, placing baby Leia in Padme's arms first.
Leia stared up at her mother with wide eyes, still quiet," She's so good-natured," Padme whispered," and beautiful."
Obi-Wan smiled," Just like her mother."
Padme smiled too, waiting as Obi-Wan placed a wriggling Luke in crook of her other arm.
Luke automatically calmed down once he was in his mother's arms, and looked up at Padme with clear blue eyes.
Padme grinned, catching Luke's little waving fist in her hand," He looks just like his father."
" Yes," Obi-Wan agreed, a tinge of sadness coloring his voice.
" What are we going to do?" Padme asked, her voice gaining a bit of strength. It seemed working as a politician had taught her how important it was to put emotions aside until a problem was resolved.
"Master Yoda, Senator Organa, and myself have been thinking on that, but as it is, you cannot leave the facility until you recover."
Obi-Wan's response did not seem to satisfy Padme.
" We need to have a plan, Obi-Wan. Palpatine will be looking for me, for us. We need to find a place to hide. And quickly." Padme looked from one child to the other as she spoke, disgust and worry filling her at the thought of Palpatine touching her children.
" I agree," Obi-Wan admitted, reluctantly," but for now we need you to recover. In a few days, we'll move into action."
Padme had intended to push the issue further, but exhaustion finally overcame her and she was forced to admit that Obi-Wan was right.
~A Few Days Later~
Padme walked in the small conference room of Polis Massa with a serious look on her face- her jaw was locked and her eyes were hard, giving her the appearance of pure determination.
Sitting in the three chairs in front of her were Master Yoda, Obi-Wan, and Bail Organa.
"Senator Amidala, please I am that well you are," Yoda greeted her," Many important matters to discuss there are."
" Yes Master Yoda," Padme replied. She had left the twins sleeping with the nurse droids, so that she could fully focus on the conversation. Without them, she could feel sadness descending upon her, she hadn't been away from Luke and Leia since their birth. Separation from them was nearly unbearable, after losing Anakin.
" First- is what to do with the babies," Organa began," I arranged for a funeral ceremony this morning. The people of the Empire now believe you to be dead, and the twins with you."
Padme nodded solemnly," Does my family know the truth?"
" I'm afraid not," Obi-Wan replied," We could not take the chance of word getting back to Palpatine."
" I understand," Padme spoke quietly," I only wish they wouldn't have to feel so much pain."
" You wish is commendable," Obi-Wan agreed," but much too risky."
"Something else there is," Yoda continued, bowing his green head slightly," separated the babies must be."
" What? Why?" Padme felt a shock travel through her body at the thought of being separated from her children.
" It's too dangerous- they have inherited Anakin's strength in the force," Obi-Wan explained," with Anakin and the Emperor still alive, it would be too easy to sense the twins if they are together."
Padme's head shot up," Anakin is still alive? Why can't we-"
Padme was silenced by Yoda shaking his head," Incorrect Obi-Wan is, alive Anakin is not. Sold his sold to the dark side, he has."
Padme slowly spread her hands on the table, trying to calm herself," I don't understand, Master Yoda. Is Anakin alive or not?"
Yoda inclined his wrinkled green head," Ceased to be Anakin Skywalker he has. Darth Vader he now is."
" You mean he's become Palpatine's Sith puppet? And we're not even going to try to...get him back?"
" There is nothing that can be done," Obi-Wan explained," I have tried. Anakin is too immersed in the darkside."
" But-" Padme struggled to find her voice," there is still good in him. I know there is."
" Gone, Anakin is. Consumed by Vader, young Skywalker has become." Yoda's voice held a certain finality that was nearly impossible to argue with.
Padme felt her throat constrict and her vision started to blur," I don't agree with you."
She took a deep breath and blinked a few times. Padme refused to cry anymore...she had done enough of that in the past weeks to last a lifetime.
"Whether you agree or not, there is no feasible way for you to go to Vader. If he realizes you're alive, Luke and Leia will be in immediate danger," Obi-Wan said, watching Padme intently as he spoke.
Padme was silent for a moment, contemplating," I understand. I will do anything to keep them safe."
"Even not go after Vader?" Obi-Wan persisted.
" Yes."
" You know you'll have to go into hiding," Obi-Wan continued," As will Master Yoda and I."
"Where should I go? Where will you go?" Padme asked, feeling hollow.
"Somewhere Ana-Vader will never go," Obi-Wan answered her.
" Dagobah, where it is I shall go," Yoda said," with Padme, go you should, Obi-Wan."
"Why? Will that not bring attention to them?" Bail queried, finally speaking.
" Not if somewhere they go, where chase them, Vader will not."
Obi-Wan and Padme exchanged a glance," Tatooine."
"Are you sure Vader will not make a surprise visit?" Bail pressed.
" Positive," Padme replied," There are too many bad memories for him there."
"And it is in the Outer Rim, making it impossible for Palpatine to sense us," Obi-Wan added.
Yoda nodded in agreement.
All there became lost in their thoughts before Padme spoke again," Master Yoda, I understand why it must be this way, but I must tell you- I cannot lose both of my children and Anakin. I wish to raise one, and to know the other's new family thouroughly before and during our separation."
Yoda slowly closed his green eyes, appearing deep in thought," Done, that can be."
Before Padme could speak reply, Bail said," My wife and I can take Leia. We've always wanted a baby girl-" his voice took on a soft tone.
Padme took a deep breath, the thought of giving Leia up to anyone, even Bail, made her chest tighten.
" I promise we will keep her safe. She will be loved with us."
Padme smiled," I know you will. Tell her about me? As much as you can?"
"Of course."
With a firm nod of his little head, Yoda ended the meeting with a quick," If in agreement we all are, leave tonight we should."
Padme returned to her makeshift room, where two pristine and white medic droids were stationed to watch her sleeping children.
Padme whispered a short thank you to the droids as they dismissed themselves, but as soon as they had left the small room, she collapsed onto her bed in a heap.
She balled her small hands into fists, clasping the clean linen of the bed, remembering what is felt like to have Anakin's hand in her own.
" You should be here," she choked out. Her hands were trembling so terribly, she couldn't hold onto the sheets any longer.
In an attempt to stop her quiet sobs, Padme began to pack the few belongings Bail had been able to find at her apartment in Coruscant.
All that she had now were a few of her gowns and dresses, which she doubted would be much use on Tatooine, a couple pairs of shoes, a small assortment of baby clothing, and the japor snippet pendant Anakin had carved for her many years earlier.
She touched the snippet tenderly, allowing a smile to reach her trembling lips," You should be here," She repeated quietly," And one day, you will be. I know it."
Padme had only just finished packing her things when there was a knock at the door.
"Come in."
A moment later, Obi-Wan stood before her, still dressed in his Jedi robes.
" Are you ready, Padme?"
Padme sighed," As ready as I will ever be." She then moved over to the crib the twins shared and gently picked up baby Leia.
Obi-Wan lifted Luke from the crib as well, and the four of them exited toward the small port that had landed on.
As they drew ever nearer to goodbye, Padme hugged Leia closer to her chest and asked Obi-Wan," How are we to get to Tatooine?"
" We will be using the ship you flew to Mustafar. I sold Grievous's starfighter just after arriving here- I hope it will cover our living expenses for a while, at least."
Padme nodded, growing silent as they came upon the ships. There were three. Her Nabooan craft, Organa's small passenger shuttle, and a smaller ship model she could only guess would serve to transport Master Yoda.
Bail and a few of his aids, along with Yoda, were waiting next to the ships, looking anxious, and as Padme and Obi-Wan drew near, Yoda was already preparing to leave.
" In touch, we shall be," Yoda addressed the three younger beings," Be with you, the Force will."
" And with you," Obi-Wan replied.
As Yoda took his leave, Padme turned to Bail, tears filling her brown eyes. Brown eyes that were reflected in her daughter's beautiful face.
Padme kissed her daughter's little cheek and held her close for several minutes before she released her.
" I love you, Leia."
Although she knew Leia couldn't really understand, Padme hoped that somehow she knew what those words meant.
Bail gently took Leia into his arms and gave Padme a half-smile," Good luck to you, Padme. I will be in touch as soon as everything is settled."
Padme nodded, unable to speak.
With that, Bail Organa was gone, taking baby Leia, the new princess of Alderaan with him.
Padme felt a fresh stream of tears coming, and choked back the urge to sob again. Nothing had hurt as much as losing one of her children.
" Everything will turn out, Padme," Obi-Wan reassured her," Don't give up hope."
" Never," Padme promised. And as she took baby Luke into her arms and stared down into Anakin's vibrant blue eyes, Padme felt as though she was filled with a new hope.
A new hope that could not be snuffed out by all of her loss.
A/N Soo, that wasn't the greatest thing I've ever written, and for that I am deeply sorry. It will get better with the next installment, I promise. Please review! Also interestingly enough, I almost got into A LOT of trouble while writing this chapter! My biology teacher ( in case you didn't know I'm failing A.P. Biology Woo!) took up my writing and yelled at me for not paying attention.
But anyway, sorry for any mistakes, no spell checker. Thank you and review! :D