A/N: I'm sorry it's been so long, but I wanted to wait until my exams were out of the way before writing some more. I'm also sorry this chapter is so short but it's the best I can come up with at the moment. I'm definitely planning on making the other chapters the usual length.

Chapter Fifty-Four – Your Daughter.

As Obi-Wan watched another double sunrise over Tatooine's Dune Sea he took a deep breath and slipped into a meditative trance. It was difficult to find time to meditate these days. No doubt Yoda would have scolded him for it, but whenever he reached out to the Force he was always wary of Vader picking up on it.

'Vader,' he thought. 'I don't even call him Anakin anymore. How long have I done that for?'

He pushed this reflection away and concentrated on making a connection with the Force. He had been working on the things that Yoda had taught him to contact Qui-Gon. It wasn't always successful, but there had been a few notable exceptions. That time on Alderaan for example.

Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan opened his eyes, surprise flooding his consciousness. Master?

A faint shimmering of blue materialised in front of him, unmistakably the shape of Qui-Gon Jinn. For a brief moment Obi-Wan wondered if he was hallucinating. This was the first time the passed Jedi had appeared in a visible form. Then the 'hallucination' spoke. "Hello, old friend."

"Is that truly you?"

"Yes. Mostly. I weigh less than I used to." The smirk was just the same as he remembered.

"Master Yoda said that you had learned the secret to immortality."

"I have, in a manner of speaking. He has learned it too."

Obi-Wan nodded. "He wanted me to learn it."

"And so you have."

"I don't understand."

"When it is your time, you will."

"Somehow I knew you would say something like that."

Qui-Gon's ghost smiled. "Seems I taught you well then."

Obi-Wan laughed softly. "Yes, that you most certainly did."

"I bring some messages for you."

"Typical. You were one of the greatest Jedi Masters the galaxy has ever known and you've ended up a messenger."

Qui-Gon chuckled. "If you were still my Padawan I would punish you for cheek."

The two shared a grin and Obi-Wan said, "My apologies, Master. What did you want to tell me?"

"You must pay a visit to Alderaan. Sabé will send word through Beru Lars."

"Why? What's wrong?"

"Your wife has something to tell you."

"That would be no reason to send for me, there must be something else."

The spirit nodded. "Yes. Padmé is fading."

Obi-Wan frowned and got to his feet. "Thank you, Master." Out of habit he bowed to the spectre and set off for the Lars Homestead.

On Alderaan, a concerned Saché and Breha sat by Padmé's bedside. The former Senator lay sleeping, her hands clasped over her stomach. Her face was deathly pale and dark circles shadowed her eyes. It was past midnight, but they did not like to leave her.

Outside in the corridor, Bail and Sabé were making their way towards her room, deep in discussion. "You have to tell him soon," Bail was saying.

"I think he will probably notice when he gets here anyway," Sabé replied solemnly. She glanced down at the bump where her toned stomach had previously been. She was still at the stage where it could be covered up with clothes, but she was currently in her nightgown and a shawl.

"How long do you think it will be?"

"I sent word to Beru Lars yesterday."

Bail nodded and they entered Padmé's room. Breha glanced up at them and held out her hand. Bail took it and slipped an arm around her shoulders. "I don't think we can do anything more," she whispered. "She's just slipping away."

Sabé perched on the bed beside Saché. The two ex-handmaidens looked down at their friend and former queen, their sorrow etched on their faces. "I've spent my life trying to protect her," Sabé muttered. "But we can't protect her against heartbreak."

"She has made her own choices," Saché said quietly.

"I know. Do you think we could've stopped her doing anything less?"

They smiled sadly. Padmé breathed heavily and twitched a finger. "Is she dreaming?" Bail wondered.

"I don't think so," Breha answered, checking Padmé's temperature. "Gods, she's so cold."

A shadow fell over the group and they turned to the door. Obi-Wan was standing in the doorway looking grave.

"Master Kenobi," Bail greeted. "It's good to see you. Although I wish it were under different circumstances."

"Thank you, Senator."

Sabé stood to welcome her husband, hurrying over to embrace him. "How is she?" he asked.

"Unchanged since I wrote to you," she replied, folding her shawl over her stomach. Now was not the time.

Obi-Wan approached the bed and placed a hand on Padmé's forehead. Her eyes fluttered open, but there was little life in them. She recognised the Jedi and looked at him with indifference. "There is…good in him," she whispered. "You'll…see." Her eyelids drifted closed once more and Padmé Naberrie Amidala Skywalker breathed her last breath.

Sabé and Saché did not hide their tears as Bail and Obi-Wan drew the cover over her head.

Her funeral was a private affair. Her body was cremated and buried in the palace gardens. Sabé stood with Obi-Wan as Bail and Breha heaped earth over the urn. Saché sat nearby with Leia and Winter. Sabé held Padmé's beloved japor snippet necklace clutched tightly in her hand. After the brief service, Sabé and Obi-Wan left the others to take a walk in the gardens.

"I want to take this to Naboo," Sabé said, meaning the necklace. "She would have wanted it."

Obi-Wan nodded. "And someone must tell her family."

"Will you come with me?"

He raised her hand to place a kiss on the back of it. "Without question. I will need to leave you with your mother for a short while. I have found evidence to suggest that there may be another Jedi on one of the moons. I can't give up the opportunity of looking."

"No, of course not." She smiled and briefly rested her head on his shoulder. "How do you get away with walking around here so freely?"

"A Jedi can have an uncanny talent for not being seen," he replied.

"Of course."

There was a comfortable silence as they walked through a tree-lined grove. Then Sabé sighed, realising that she could not put off telling him any longer. "I have some news," she began.

"Yes," he said. "I have been in contact with Qui-Gon. He said you had something to tell me."

Taking a quick look around to check that they were indeed alone, she stopped walking and turned to face him. His hand was still clasped in hers and she brought it up to rest on her stomach. His eyes widened and his face broke out in a smile. "My love…"

She could not help but smile back. "Your daughter. And she kicks like a herd of bantha."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

A/N: Next chapter an unwelcome visitor on Naboo.