Sifting through the data, Padmé knew that no mind tricks were involved; though Anakin may be obsessive over her, he would never Force her to love him. There were no active mind tricks going on. Love was too important to him. He wouldn't Force himself on her like the Force using slavers or Dark Jedi she had been reading about.
However, there was something she read about – Force users who subconsciously will people to like them – and she knew in her heart that this was the answer. Anakin was abnormally strong in the Force; this no doubt shifted the will-to-like to the will-to-love. He had relentlessly come after her those days on Naboo; how could she have resisted such power?
She almost felt sick. She knew Anakin would never consciously violate her, but she still felt sick that she had been living a lie these last years. She cared for Anakin deeply still – how could she not? As a friend. Now, she was trapped in a loveless marriage. With a child on the way.
That night, she cried her way to sleep.
~Unintended~
- two months later -
Coruscant had been under attack, but they had been saved for the Hero With No Fear had arrived. He had rescued Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. Rumors also were spreading that he had killed Count Dooku, leader of the Separatist Alliance. The war was almost over, but Padmé couldn't worry more, for this reunion marked a change in her life that couldn't be surpassed.
Anakin was there, arguing with C3P0, trying to find her "unofficial" location. Then, breaking off a talk with Senator Organa, he came to her, wrapping her in his arms. The last warmth she would ever share with him.
"There had been whispers that you had been killed," she said – still caring about her friend's well-being.
"I'm so happy to see you," he said with a spreading grin.
Meekly, she said, "We need to talk."
Pain conquered her as her husband gripped her arms tightly. "Who? Who is it?" he growled.
Anger exploded in her. "How dare you!" she hissed. He let go of her, guiltily. "I was going to tell you that . . . I'm pregnant."
Anakin's face filled with joy. "This is . . . this is great," he said, attempting to wrap his arms around her once again.
She shrugged him off. "Anakin, this isn't easy to say, but . . . there's a problem."
"With the baby?" he asked worriedly.
"No. With . . . out marriage."
"What do you mean," he hissed like a snake.
"I was filling unwell, so I went to see a Jedi Healer . . ."
"Do they know? That's not a . . ."
She put her hand up to stop him. "About you? No. They know about the baby. What they found . . . was a Force knot. From the research they gave me, I determined that you have been using the Force to make me love you – subconsciously, of course. I would never believe that you would violate me like this on purpose."
"What do you mean?" he asked, fear and anger creeping into his voice.
"We're over. You can stay a Jedi – this will not become official knowledge – and you can visit . . . ahhhh!" She cried as Anakin viciously slapped her across the face.
Guild filled him instantly. Then he marched away.
Bail Organa rushed into the side hall where the interchange had taken place, then rushed to Padmé as he saw her on her knees. "Padmé! Are you alright?"
Taking Bail's offered hand, she said shakily, "I'm fine. Could you . . . take me to my apartment?"
"Yes, of course!" A frown was written across his face as he said so.
"Thank you. Grab 3P0, if you don't mind."
~Unintended~
"Hmm, I see Anakin," Chancellor Palpatine said. "I understand why you can't go to the Jedi with this. Senator Amidala dying in child birth! Do you know who the father is?"
Anakin looked at him.
Palpatine gave a laugh. "Okay, okay. I know you're the father," he said with a grin. "What do you plan to do?"
"Nothing. Absolutely nothing."
"What!" Palpatine nearly yelled, his wrinkled face barely able to enshroud the anger that threaten to explode from the Sith.
"She wants to divorce me. She dies and I can give our child to the Jedi – I'll see him at least a little." Anakin was nearly crying then, but anger prevented any true sadness from manifesting.
Palpatine spoke, nearly panicked. "Anakin, Anakin, you can't . . . you can't want her to die!"
"I don't need this," Anakin roared, leaving.
Darth Sidious was angry. Even such unrestrained anger from his new apprentice couldn't satiate his anger at this unforeseen thorn.
~Unintended~
As soon as her water broke, there was a knock at the door. "Hello, Anakin," Padmé said weakly, opening the door.
"You're having the baby today," Anakin said, grabbing her by the wrist. "He's going to be born at the Jedi Temple."
Padmé went along with him willing, though uncomfortably; she hoped this was some sort of reconciliation that should have been coming for months. The speeder ride was agony: pain and discomfort. Physical and mental. How could her marriage turn into a quiet speeder ride on the way to the birth to of her child?
Within half an hour, Anakin had dragged her into a healer's ward. "Take care of her," Anakin said emotionlessly. "I have business to take care of."
"Well . . ." Padmé began as she told her caretaker what was needed of her.
~Unintended~
After hours of near agony – agony that was dulled by the use of the Force thanks to the Jedi Healer – she was done. Her babies had been born. Babies. Twins. A surprise. The Jedi Healer was checking over the newborns, an unusual task for a Jedi.
Padmé looked over as Obi-wan cleared his throat. "The Jedi Council can't honor his decision . . . not without your word."
"Huh?" Padmé asked tiredly, half embarrassed. When had he entered the room?
"Anakin went to the Jedi Council to hand over your children. His children."
Fear gripped Padmé like a serpent around her heart.
"His reasons for doing so were . . . selfish," Obi-wan continued. "Vindictive. And, as you can imagine, the Jedi Council is very unhappy with him right now." Obi-wan sighed.
He felt betrayed, she knew. Two close friends, married behind his back. And children no less. Not to mention that his padawan and friend was starting to show very unsavory behavior.
Would she give up her children? She had thought hard on this question, back when she thought they were one child. Could she give them up? The good they could do as Jedi was insurmountable. Could she stop them from achieving their destinies? Could her selfish desires stop the good they would inevitably do? But, how could she ever hand over her children? Those sweet children she had held within her for months. Those children she loved; the ones she had planned on raising, loving and spoiling. She had planned to take them to Naboo; she wanted them to have a happy, loving family. But, deep in her heart, she had always known they wouldn't. Their father's destiny as a Jedi prevented it.
A tear dripped down her face, and she made a decision.
"Obi-wan," she asked, voice suddenly strong. "I want to hold my children."
~It had all been unintended~
A/N: I hope you enjoyed! I am heavily considering a sequel! And the answer to Padme's choice will be answered! The sequel will be your typical OT AU, but maybe occuring a little earlier. Darth Sidious will need to find a new way to destroy the Jedi and secure himself an apprentice And our heroes will need to find a way to save the galaxy from the Empire
This story will take place in the future of this timeline, and I plan to explore how Sidious gets an Apprentice, how and how badly the Jedi fall, and the fate of Luke and Leia in flashbacks.
If you wish to read the sequel, please feel free to request PMs! I won't promise it soon, because I have two stories in the work, but the bunny has bitten and won't let go!
note: I highly suggest reading the RotS novelization. The Anakin hits Padme scene is based off of that. He just seemed so violent. Also, the idea of using the Force to accidently will someone to like you is based off an apprentice from Yoda: Dark Rendezvous, an excellent Star Wars book!
Revised: 1/31/2016
