A/N: Semi-AU fic. A story about how Luke and Leia grew up.
Dec.18/04-->This is due for revision in 2005...so keep that in mind!
"Luke, slow down!" Padme called out to 6 year old Luke. She and her two twin children were out on a bright day, walking through the lush green meadow. Her husband, Anakin Skywalker, was away, dealing with the increasing tension of the Clone Wars. He was a general now.
"Come on, mother!" Luke shouted. "I want to see the waterfall." He happily ran towards the extensive, beautiful waterfall. Luke was just like his father, adventurous and eager to go places.
"Luke, honey, you stay right there, you hear me?" Padme scolded. "Don't go near the edge! Wait until your sister and I get there." Padme continued to walk, young Leia's hand in her own.
"Mother, when is father coming home?" Leia asked. Unlike Luke, Leia was more like her mother. She wanted to be just like her, to be more specific. Leia wanted peace in the galaxy and wanted those who do evil to get their "just desserts".
Padme sighed, thinking of the wavering order in the galaxy. "I don't know, Leia. Soon I hope. Your father misses you both dearly!" She answered, thinking of the last holo-letter she had received from him.
They reached the waterfall and the two children stared in awe at the grand sight. Waterfalls were always so pretty. "I want go down there." Luke pointed at a gathering of rocks.
"No you don't because it's too dangerous, right?" Padme said, smiling down at him.
Luke sighed. "Right." He looked up at the sky. "I want to leave Naboo."
"Why do you want to leave Naboo?" Padme questioned him, a little hurt that he wanted to leave her homeworld. She loved this place.
"I want to be the captain of the fastest starship in the galaxy!" Luke exclaimed, his eyes shining with excitement. "I want to be the best pilot too, as good as father. I want to travel all over the galaxy and be a Jedi too! I want to protect people from the bad guys."
They all sat down in the grass, enjoying the light breeze. Padme laughed. "In other words, you want to be just like your father!"
"Yep!" Luke replied, grinning.
"Well I don't want to be any of that!" Leia declared. "Except for the part of protecting the people from bad guys. I want to help others and restore fallen...kingdoms?" She looked at her mother.
"Close." Padme said. "Most are called governments. There are rulers and senators."
"Just like you, mother?"
Padme nodded to her daughter. "Yes, just like me, except I've taken time off to raise you two and spend time with you both. I only wish your father were here. Then everything would be complete." She looked at the sun, which was slowly descending into the west. "We'd better head home. It's time for evening meal." She stood up, grabbing both children by the hands. "I'm sure you're both very hungry."
"You bet!" Luke said. "When will we see Uncle Jar Jar again?" Jar Jar Binks had met both Luke and Leia and was "adopted" as their alien uncle.
"Uh.maybe next week sometime. He is very busy right now, especially since he is helping fill in for me." Padme replied. They reached the waiting land speeder, where the pilot, an old friend by the name of Paddy Accu, was waiting.
"Back so soon, my lady?" Paddy asked, grinning at the two kids.
"We have to go home to eat!" Leia answered him.
"That's right!" Paddy said, looking at the sun. "It's about 17 standard hours, the time for the normal evening meal. Buckle yourselves in!" He waited until they were ready. "We're off!"
The two children giggled and laughed as the old pilot told them stories of his childhood. Padme just watched, content that everything was fine. Everything but the growing worries that clouded her thoughts. Worries about Anakin, worries about her family, and worries about the increase of power that Count Dooku had gained. He led a separatist party and she was also suspicious of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, former Senator of Naboo.
She hoped Anakin was alright. She hoped things would smooth out but she had a uneasy feeling about the galaxy's situation.
We move about 6 months into the future let's just assume!
"Join me, Skywalker, and together we shall control this galaxy and command all to do whatever we order." A wicked smile spread across Palpatine's face. Or rather soon-to-be Emperor Palpatine.
Anakin Skywalker knelt down. "I will do whatever you command me to do...my master." His downfall began years ago but these very words completed it.
Palpatine laughed out loud. "It is only a matter of time..."
Anakin Skywalker is no more. Darth Vader is.
Obi Wan Kenobi, Anakin's former master, spoke sharply, "Senator Amidala, you must listen to me! Anakin is not coming home. He has already chosen the path to the Dark Side." He said bitterly. "Who knows how much Palpatine has poisoned his mind! Soon Anakin will be hunting down all the Jedi, killing and destroying at Palpatine's command."
"Know this for a fact, we do." Yoda added softly.
Padme turned to stare at Mace Windu, another Jedi Master. "I cannot leave my children!" Tears fell down her face.
"Anakin will want to find Luke and Leia and he will try to teach them the ways of the Sith. He will try to turn them over for Palpatine knows that Luke and Leia are both very strong in the Force. Palpatine does not want them opposing him. He might even try to kill them!" Mace answered firmly.
"Anakin would not allow that!" Padme screamed. "I know him! He would not do such a thing to his own children."
"How do you know that?" Obi Wan questioned her. He felt responsible for Anakin's downfall. "He is not the same person."
Padme continued to cry softly. The three Jedi Masters looked at each other in silence and sadness. Finally, she spoke up. "Where can I go? Where will my children go?"
"Bail Organa has offered you a place to stay but only you and Leia must go." Mace explained.
"What about my son?" Padme said, grief-stricken. "He's much too young and-"
"Luke will be staying with Anakin's step-brother, Owen Lars, on Tatooine. We have contacted him and his wife." Obi Wan replied. He knew Owen had been reluctant to do it because he had heard of the terrible change in Anakin. "We all believe and hope that Anakin will not think to look there."
"The only way, it is, to keep the young Skywalker children safe." Yoda said. "Leave soon, we will."
"Master Yoda," Padme began, turning to him. "Is there any hope for Anakin at all? Can you see his future? My children's future?" She asked, not concerned with her own future.
Yoda paused. "Always in motion, the future is." He answered solemnly. "Away with your worries! Safe your children will be. Strong in the Force, they are, and continue to grow even stronger, they will. For now, go to Alderaan, you must. Awaits you, Bail Organa does."
Padme nodded, tears streaming down her face. It was time to be strong for her children. She left the room to tell her children.
Mace looked at Yoda. "I will be waiting outside." He left Padme's home.
Obi Wan glanced at Yoda. "I shall be getting off with Luke on Tatooine. I will watch over him from a distance, and I will be going by the name of Ben..." his voice trailed off as he noticed Yoda's sad appearance. Then Yoda spoke his final words in the home of Padme Naberrie.
"Luke and Leia Skywalker, our last hope, they are."
REVIEW PLEASE! Much appreciated.