Surreptitious

Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars or the dialog of Episode 3. Dialog is as found in Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith By Patricia C. Wrede based on the screenplay by George Lucas. Definition Source: WorldNet ® 2.0, © 2003 Princeton University

A/N: This is a prequel to my story, Reunions.

Spoiler Warning! If you haven't seen Revenge of the Sith yet (and Why not?) and do not want to know what happens then please do not read. You have been warned.

STAR WARS

Surreptitious

The darkness has fallen.

The Jedi as an Order no longer exist.

Where once stood a Republic there is now an Empire.

Surreptitious: Adj. Middle Naboo, from Basic surripere, to take away secretly:

1: marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed; 2: conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods; "cloak-and-dagger activities behind enemy lines"; "secret missions"; "a secret agent"; "an undercover investigation"; "underground resistance"

Chapter 1

To take away secretly

o O o

Mustafar

Padme looked out of the cockpit window and saw Anakin's familiar figure eagerly running out to meet her. 'Obi-wan must have been wrong.' Padme thought even though a part of her knew he wasn't, a part that she refused to heed the warnings of. Quickly undoing her harness she ran out to meet him. His strong arms encircled her making her feel safe and loved once more.

"It's all right," Anakin murmured. "You're safe now. What are you doing here?"

Everything that Obi-wan had said and all the things she had refused to acknowledge came rushing back. Padme looked down. "Obi-wan told me terrible things."

Padme felt Anakin stiffen. "What things?"

"He said you turned to the Dark side." Padme blurted out. "That you killed younglings." The words came rushing out. She hadn't meant to ask like that, it sounded like an accusation not a question.

"Obi-wan is trying to turn you against me," As Anakin said it Padme could hear the terrible anger that was starting to rise in voice.

Padme had been able to fool herself, convince herself that her Ani would never turn and never betray the Jedi, till now. She could sense the difference in him; this wasn't her Ani. The feeling was even more pronounced as his anger grew. "He cares about us. He wants to help you."

"Don't lie to me, Padme." Anakin said his arms dropping to his sides. "I have become stronger than any Jedi ever dreamed of. And I've done it for you. To protect you."

Padme drew back. Padme might not be a Jedi but neither was she unaware of the Force. Her knowledge had only grown since she married Anakin. A cold chill passed through Padme despite the heat of Mustafar. For the first time the Dark Side was real to her, a real threat to the one she loved. "I don't want your power." She swallowed. "I don't want your protection." She reached for him, pleading wanting to be the man she loved. "Anakin, all I want is your love."

"Love won't save you." It almost sounded like a threat. "Only my new powers can do that."

"At what cost?" Padme asked she didn't want this, to watch Anakin sacrifice his light for her life. "You are a good person. Don't do this."

"I won't lose you the way I did my mother!"

"Come away with me." Padme pleaded her hand on her stomach. "Help me raise our child. Leave everything else behind while we still can."

"Don't you see?" Anakin leaned toward Padme almost eagerly. "We don't have to run away anymore. I have brought peace to the Republic. I am more powerful than the Chancellor. I can overthrow him, and together you and I can rule the galaxy. We can make things the way we want them to be."

Padme recoiled. "I don't believe what I'm hearing! Obi-wan was right. You've changed." Fear flooded through Padme not for her self but for the man she loved and the life growing within her.

"I don't want to hear any more about Obi-wan!" Anakin said his temper surging to the surface. Padme's fear was evident and Anakin saw it and he made a visible struggle for control. "The Jedi turned against me." Softly, "The Republic turned against me. Don't you turn against me, too."

'Never against you, only against what you've done and what plan to do.' She thought. "I don't know you anymore." 'Can't he feel my heart breaking?' "I'll never stop loving you, but you are going down a path I cannot follow." 'I cannot follow you into the darkness, to turn my back on all I have fought so hard to protect.' In despair she reached out with all the raw Force talent she had to the bond they shared. Even a trained Jedi cannot create connection just by trying and Padme was no Jedi. She only found a wisp of what they had shared, what had once seemed unbreakable now seemed unspeakably fragile. Yet, it was still there joining her to a familiar trace of… goodness? Hope stirred and fears were set aside. Striving to apply all she had ever learned about the Jedi, all that she knew was of the Light she spoke to that part. The Anakin that she had fallen in love with, who was her husband, lover and the father of her child. Trying to pull him back from the precipice that was trying to claim him. "Stop now," she begged. "Come back! I love you."

Padme thought she had gotten through to him for a moment, and then Anakin's expression hardened. "Liar!"

His eyes were locked on something behind her. Padme turned to see Obi-wan standing in door of her ship. 'He tricked me, using me to find Anakin!' "No!" Padme said knowing that this new Anakin would not listen to her now.

"You've betrayed me!" Anakin's rage turned his face unrecognizable raising his hand he started choking her through the Force.

'Don't! Don't kill our child!' Padme thought but she had no breath to cry out with. No matter how hard she tried Padme could find no trace of their Force bond. Consciousness slowly slipped away.

o O o

Med-Center

As first baby was born Padme stirred, it took her a minute to figure out what was going on. "Is it a girl?" she whispered.

"We don't know." Obi-wan said he seemed tired and a little lost as to what he was supposed to be doing. "In a minute."

"It's a boy." Med droid said handing the baby to Obi-wan, his eyes tightly closed against the bright light.

"Luke," Padme says with a small smile.

"And a girl," droid said holding her where she can be seen. Her daughter's eyes were wide open focused on her. As if to memorize what her mother looked like.

"Leia."

"You have twins, Padme. They need you. Hang on!"

"I can't." Padme said reaching for Obi-wan's hand. She couldn't explain it but she knew that if she stayed her children would be in danger. 'I can't raise them under the Sith's control. Anakin is still out there in some form and he would never give up looking for me. I can't put my babies at risk like that. They will be safe.' She thought trusting the Force.

"Save your energy." Obi-wan said.

"Obi-wan," Padme gasped. "There's still good in him." She said pausing to pant; she knew that she couldn't hold on much longer. "I know there… is… still…" Then everything went dark... Green?

o O o

A/N: I apologize for the short chapter but this is where the story demanded to break. This ties up the loose ends between my dimension and The Great Flannelled one's, although I do intend to add one or two more chapters and writing is well under way.

If anyone knows of a good beta-reader that might be interrested in lending me a hand please send them my way. Thank you.