Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars.
AN: Here's chapter 35! Thanks for all the great reviews. Enjoy and let me know what you think!
Foundations of Hope
Chapter 35: Battles and Life's Changes
Ruwee knocked on Sola's bedroom door.
"Sola...are you okay?" he called. He heard her stop crying and shuffle around, before opening the door.
"Hi Daddy," Sola said, trying to sound cheerful. But she was unsuccessful and her eyes were red and puffy.
"Oh Sola...what's wrong?" he asked.
"N...nothing," she lied, as she turned away.
"Sola, I want you to know that you can tell me anything. I'll always be here for you and I'll never judge you," he promised, as he paused for a second.
"Honey, if something bad happened to you, then you need to tell me. You must know that it's not your fault, no matter what you've been told," Ruwee said. Tears welled in her eyes, as she turned to her father.
"Sola...did someone hurt you?" Ruwee asked. Tears poured down Sola's face.
"Oh Daddy," she sobbed, as she fell into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably. Ruwee held her tightly, rocking her back and forth, all she prepared to confess everything to him.
~*~
Ben fought the tears that threatened to fall, as he gazed down at her beautiful face, as she slept. He quietly dressed and leaned down, brushing his lips against her forehead. She slept soundly and he doubted she would wake, for they had made love quite vigorously for the last few hours.
"Goodbye my love. I hope you'll understand why I'm doing this someday," he whispered, before he quietly slipped out, his heart breaking in two as he did so.
Left behind under the mess of bedclothes, Beru stirred awake.
"Ben," she mumbled. She slowly sat up, finding no sign of him. There on the floor, having been slipped under the door, was a folded piece of parchment. Beru got up, wrapping the sheet around her unclothed body, as she went to retrieve the item.
"My dearest Beru,
This is probably the hardest letter I've ever had to write. The time I've spent with you has been the best time of my life. I love you more than I ever though I could love anyone and that is why I have to leave. The Hutts have a bounty on my head and Fett is personally hunting me down. I refuse to put you in that kind of danger. I must return to Tatooine to pay Jabba. If the Force's will is good to me, then I will return to you. If not, then I will at least die knowing that you are safe. Goodbye my love. May the Force be with you, always.
Ben.
Tears gushed down Beru's face, staining the piece of parchment. He was leaving her. How could he? She loved him with all her heart and soul. How could he just leave, especially to run off and get himself killed? It wasn't too late though and she wasn't going to let him go without a fight.
~*~
Chewie rawled sadly, as he watched Ben load his stuff onto the ship. He came down the ramp and tipped the bottle of scotch up, gulping the stinging liquid down his throat. He had decided to get an early start on numbing the pain. He was far from drunk though and only buzzed. He was much more dangerous when he was buzzed, for not only did he not feel any pain, but he was still lucid. And his temper flared to a violent level when he saw wonder boy and his spoiled princess emerge from the shadows. Tahl, Quinlan, and Master Dooku also appeared. He was being ambushed. He glared at Chewie, as he tossed the bottle against the ship angrily. It shattered and the liquid stained the floor.
"You told them!" Ben yelled at the Wookie in disbelief. Chewie rawled back, just as angrily.
"Don't blame Chewie. He did the ring thing. He's trying to save your worthless skin," Anakin spat.
"I never asked for your help, Sith spawn, nor do I want it," Ben spat venomously.
"So that's it. You're just going to leave me. You're going to throw away everything we have?" Beru sobbed, as she slowly approached.
"It's better this way," he replied.
"So I mean nothing to you?!" she yelled.
"You mean everything to me!" he yelled back.
"Then stay," she pleaded.
"I'm not going to risk your life, which is what I will be doing if I stay with you," Ben replied.
"I don't care!" Beru cried.
"Ben, if Fett comes after you, then he'll have to deal with both of us," Anakin stated.
"I don't need you coming to my rescue, hero boy! The Hutts aren't creatures you want to mess with!" Ben yelled.
"I know!" Anakin screamed back. Padme clutched her husband's tunic, as she saw the pain in his eyes.
"The Hutts used to own me! I know exactly how cruel they are! I'm not going to let you ruin my sister's life by walking out on her!" Anakin yelled.
"What goes on between Beru and I is none of your business," Ben spat back.
"It is my business when it involves my sister," Anakin spat back, with a look of stern determination.
"Get out of my way now Skywalker or I'll make you move and it won't be pleasant," Ben threatened. But Anakin only smirked.
"I hope you can back up your words, because I'm not moving, so you'll have to go through me," Anakin replied. Ben smirked.
"Nothing would give me greater pleasure. I do apologize in advance, Princess, for the mess I'm about to make of your husband," Ben sneered. Anakin chuckled.
"Just like you made a mess of me last time we sparred," Anakin taunted with a cocky smirk.
"Ani stop," Padme pleaded, as she tugged on his arm.
"You would be wise to listen to your wife, you cocky whelp. I'd hate to have to hurt you," Ben taunted back.
"Stop this now!" Beru cried, as she stepped in between them.
"Do you love me?" she questioned him.
"Of course I do. You know that," he replied.
"No...I don't. Because if you love me, then you won't do this! You won't destroy us by leaving to march off to your death!" Beru cried.
"If I stay with you, then I might as well sign your death certificate," he said sadly.
"You don't know that! You can't predict the future! You don't know what will be," Beru insisted
"I am no good for you. That is something I do know," he replied.
"Fine. Just leave then. I don't want a coward anyhow," she spat. Her words stung deeply.
"A coward? Is that what you think?" he asked, as he grabbed her wrists.
"Why can't you see that I'm doing this because I love you?! I'm letting you go, because I love you too much to let my past destroy you when it catches up with me!" Ben yelled.
"I deserve a little more credit than that, Ben. We're much stronger together than apart," she insisted.
"You have no idea what kind of people I've associated with. And I'm not just talking about Fett and the Hutts. I refuse to introduce you to that part of my life," he replied.
"And I refuse to give you up," Beru said fiercely, as she crushed her lips against his. Ben gave in, letting his cold exterior fade. He kissed her back with intense passion, wrapping her in his strong arms. How could he leave her when he could barely breathe without her?
"I'm sorry," he whispered, as their lips parted.
"You can make it up to me later," she replied. He smirked.
"Oh really?" he teased.
"Yes, but if you ever pull a stunt like this again, so help me, I'll kill you myself," she warned. He smirked.
"Don't make threats you cannot carry out," he replied.
"Oh, but I can carry it out. You are not off the hook yet and you have a lot of groveling to do if you don't want to end up on the couch for the next week," she threatened. He winced and his smile faded when he realized she was serious. He was forgiven, but she was going to make him earn it nonetheless. And he couldn't blame her. Padme smiled up at her husband, with love shining in her eyes. He smiled back at her and kissed her forehead, as she cuddled against his chest, as he held her in his strong arms. Everything seemed okay again. Yan approached the couple, looking sternly at his current padawan, though his eyes were showing relief more than anything.
"I'm sorry Master," Ben apologized.
"I'm just glad that you've come to your senses. I'll see you for training in at five, which is only four hours from now," Yan reminded. Ben groaned inwardly.
"Yes Master," he answered. As Yan turned, there was suddenly a loud banging as a storage crate fell from the rafters and busted into pieces. The crate was full of spare ship parts and they now lay in a hazardous heap on the floor.
"How did that happen?" Padme wondered.
"I don't know, but it had help," Anakin stated. Padme looked at her husband in alarm, as he suggested that someone had caused the heavy crate to fall, for it could have killed someone. Anakin felt a dark presence creeping up on them. For a moment, he feared that it was Vader, but this darkness did not feel like Vader. It was different, elusive, yet no less sinister.
"I feel it too," Ben said, answering Anakin's thoughts. Several loud snaps were heard, as a dozen barrels of coolant were suddenly released from their restraints. The dangerous, heavy barrels came plummeting down on them, causing instant chaos, as they each avoided certain death. Anakin reached deeply into the Force and stopped one barrel from crushing him and Padme and deflected it into the wall. As the barrels came down, they all exploded, spilling coolant everywhere. The docking bay door slammed shut, trapping them inside.
"Anakin, what's going on?" Padme asked, her voice trembling, as she clung tightly to her husband.
"Someone is doing this...someone evil," he whispered to her.
"Show yourself! You can't hide your dark presence in a room full of Jedi!" Anakin called. A sinister chuckle answered his call. At first it was unfamiliar, but it quickly deepened into a recognizable tone. One which made Tahl shiver. But when Paul emerged from the shadows, eyes bleeding yellow, he was the last person they expected.
"Paul?" Tahl asked in confused disbelief.
"You poor blind fools. This puny doctor was the perfect vessel for me to use to reach my goal of rebirth and now the time is finally upon us!" Paul yelled.
"Who are you?!" Anakin demanded. Paul chuckled
"I'm so glad you asked that...son," he laughed, as he let out a painful how. Force lightning erupted around him, blinding them all. The docking bay exploded in flames, the lightning ignited the coolant. Padme and Beru screamed, as flames shot up around them. The docking bay's sprinkler system came on and doused them all in water. The flames burned strong though, thanks to the abundance of flammable coolant. They all looked through the flames and were met with the sight of a new figure standing in Paul's place. He was gone and in his place stood a tall, very thin, pale man with a bald head, sunken eyes and cheek bones and yellow eyes.
"No...you're dead!" Tahl screamed. He chuckled.
"Not anymore, my dear," he replied. This weak doctor's body provided me with the perfect rebirth. I've come back to claim you at last, my dear Tahl," he replied.
"Darth Plageuis," Quinlan growled, as he ignited his emerald blade. Plageuis roared in rage, as he leapt at Quinlan. Tahl screamed, as he toppled Quinlan and they disappeared into the flames.
Anakin held Padme against his chest. He needed to help Quinlan, but he needed to get Padme to safety first. They noticed a violet colored blade pierce the docking bay blast door, slowly cutting an opening. Master Windu would be here to help soon and then he could get Padme out. He heard his wife cough and he tore the sleeve off his shirt, before wrapping it around her nose and mouth. He covered his face with the collar of his shirt, as he searched for a clear opening. Without warning, he swept his wife into his arms and followed Ben, as they used the Force to part the flames. They both set Padme and Beru down by the door, which Mace was currently sawing through.
"I'll stay with them and get them out," Shaak Ti called. Anakin nodded, as he drew his lightsaber.
"We have to find Quin," Tahl called, as Yan helped her to the door.
"I'll find him mom!" Anakin called, as he disappeared into the smoke.
"Anakin!" Padme screamed in terror.
"Ben!" Beru called, as he followed Anakin.
~*~
Plageuis wrestled Quinlan to the ground.
"You've been getting in my way, Jedi. She'll be mine after I get rid of you!" Plageuis growled, as he Force choked Quinlan. The Jedi shoved his feet into Plageuis' gut, throwing him off and breaking the Force choke. Quinlan gasped for air, but the flames flared up around him, catching his cloak on fire. He threw it off and tossed it away. Unfortunately, he didn't see Plageuis coming at him again through the thick cloud of smoke. The Sith bashed his head into the floor twice, as he started choking him again. His vision swan and blood seeped down his forehead, as he slipped into unconsciousness.
"She's mine now and just to make sure you're out of the picture for good," he said, igniting the Jedi's own emerald lightsaber.
"Just to make sure you won't cause me anymore trouble, I'll kill you now," Plageuis stated. Just as he was about to spear Quinlan through the heart, Anakin tackled him to the ground, knocking the blade out of his hand. Anakin screamed in agony, as Plagueis pumped Force lightning into him, throwing him off. He went sliding to the floor on his back. Fortunately, Ben had already carried Quinlan off and disappeared from Plageuis' sight.
"At last, we meet my son," Plageuis goaded.
"I...am not your son, you psycho," Anakin growled, as he picked himself up and ignited his lightsaber. Plageuis called the one he took from Quinlan and ignited it as well. Plageuis came at the young Jedi and Anakin raised his blade, blocking the saber blow. Their blades crackled and hissed, as they made contact.
"You are powerful, young one and soon, that power will serve the dark side," Plageuis taunted, as they noticed the fire and smoke clearing. Mace and Dooku were using the Force to douse the flames and dispel the smoke. Plageuis cackled, as he realized they now had a visible audience.
"Tell me young one...how much do you love your wife?" he taunted. Fear struck Anakin, as he saw Padme clutch her throat. But Plageuis' sorely underestimated Anakin's power and control. The young Jedi brought his blade around, bypassing the Sith's and sliced through Plageuis' right arm, chopping it off at the elbow. Anakin leapt into the air and kicked the Sith Lord in the face, breaking his nose sending him to a broken, bloody heap on the floor. He ran to wife, as the Force choke was broken. She gasped for air, as he helped her up.
"Padme...are you okay?" he asked. She nodded.
"I'm fine," she assured him. Mace and Dooku secured Plageuis' arms with a Force resistant binding cable and a pair of Force resistant manacles around his ankles.
"Master Ti, have a cell prepared for our guest, complete with several Ysalamir to keep him company," Mace said, as he glared at the Muun.
"You can't hold me forever. And just as I killed Quinlan, I'll kill the rest of you fools," Plageuis bellowed.
"You're wrong on both counts, you Sith slime. I'll personally make sure you rot in your cell for whatever time you have left and Quinlan Vos is still very much alive. Furthermore, if you EVER try to hurt my wife again, I'll take off more than your arm next time," Anakin growled.
"Ah yes, please kill me. Release my spirit from this body so I may infect another," Plageuis cackled, as he was hauled off to be imprisoned. Anakin ignored his ranting and swept his wife into his arms.
"Ani, I'm fine," she protested.
"Maybe, but I'm going to have a doctor check you over anyway," he replied, as he headed toward the med bay. His mother was already there, as were Ben and Beru, for Quinlan had been rushed there.
~*~
Padme sat on the med table, as her husband stood next to her. He held her hand and refused to leave. Kayla Johnson had been a doctor for many years and had never quite seen such devotion as she saw with these two. She'd been Padme's personal doctor since she had come to Alderaan, as she was also Breha's doctor. As she ran all the routine tests, she had come back with some very interesting results. Padme was in perfect health as usual, but there was something in her condition that was going to change her life, as well as her husband's life forever.
"Dr. Johnson, is everything okay?" Anakin asked.
"Padme is in perfect health," Kayla said. Anakin sighed in relief.
"But something very interesting showed up on the tests I ran," Kayla continued.
"But I thought you said she was okay?" Anakin questioned.
"She is, but she just happens to be six weeks pregnant too," Kayla said with a smile. Padme and Anakin gaped at her, as they turned to each other.
"I'm pregnant?" Padme asked.
"Very much so. Have you had any symptoms lately?" Kayla asked.
"Well...I did get sick this morning," Padme answered.
"You did? Why didn't you tell me?" Anakin asked. She shrugged.
"I didn't think anything of it. I just thought the seafood we had last night didn't agree with me," she replied.
"Morning sickness is not unusual, especially in your first trimester," Kayla assured the new mother-to-be.
"Come to think of it, I've been having the strangest food cravings lately too," Padme replied. Kayla chuckled.
"That's perfectly normal too," Kayla replied, as she handed a couple bottles to Padme.
"These are your prenatal vitamins that I want you to start taking. Then I'll see you in one month for your first sonogram. That's where we listen to the baby's heartbeat. And in two months, you'll be ready for your first ultrasound. That's where we will get to see a picture of the baby inside you," Kayla explained, as she picked up her bag.
"Congratulations to you both," Kayla said, as she left them alone sink in. She saw a grin spread across her husband's face.
"We're having a baby..." he said, as he hugged her tightly. Padme sought his lips and he pressed them tenderly to hers, as they lost themselves in their love for several long moments.
"I'm so happy," Padme said, with tears in her eyes.
"Me too angel," he replied, tears in his own eyes.
"Let's get you dressed, so we can go tell everyone!" he said in excitement. Padme agreed, as her husband helped her out of the med gown.
"Your mom could probably use some good news right now," Padme said, as she finished dressing. Anakin nodded.
"She could, but Quinlan is going to be fine too. I can feel it," he replied, as he grinned.
"And I'm going to be a father," he added, as he spun her around. She giggled, as their lips met again with blissful passion. They joined hands and left the room to spread their wonderful news...
In the next chapter, Sola confesses everything to her father and Anakin and Padme break their good news to everyone.