Hi everyone, this chapter marks the half way point in the story! I really hope you've been enjoying it so far and don't worry, the family will be reunited soon! Thank you all, now let's read...

The comm device beeped, signalling that his request to speak with the academy's principal had gone through. A middle-aged woman with brown hair clipped into a tight bun appeared in the HoloProjector, dressed in full military regalia. She immediately bowed at seeing him.

"Principal Holden."

"Lord Vader, what an honour it is to speak with you. How may I be of service?"

The dark Lord looked at the stack of flimsi on his desk. The children's documentation required for their new school had all been processed smoothly despite not having any academic records available from Bakura. But he had something important to discuss which was of a private nature with the principal.

"As you are well aware, tomorrow evening you will be accepting two new pupils into your care. Luke and Leia Kayla."

"Yes my Lord, everything has been prepared for their arrival."

The rebel alliance's knowledge of Luke and Leia's heritage was troublesome, and he didn't want word of it to reach the imperial army, navy or any of the military institutions just yet. He was still coming to terms with being a father, and throwing Anakin Skywalker's identity into the mixture was asking for trouble. His past life could be brought to the light, and he hadn't fully processed the implications of such a dangerous thing.

Better to let everybody think he had found two Force-sensitive strays in the Outer Rim than for the truth to come out, hence his decision to keep their surnames as Kayla for now.

"You may well be wondering why I am personally taking the effort to enrol them, when Project Harvester usually does the work for me."

"I- well, yes my Lord, I am a little curious."

"These children are my personal wards, my future apprentices in fact. No one in the academy is to know their importance or their relation to me as their guardian. They are to receive the same treatment as all the other students. I expect you and the other teachers to be vigilant and see to it that they are well looked after, though you may not reveal why. Is that understood?"

She nodded with a neutral expression. If she had been intrigued by his decision to become a guardian, she didn't show it. He wondered what her face would've looked like had he revealed the whole truth. "I will see to it my Lord."

"If I find that word of their relation to me has spread around your academy, I will personally see to it that the deputy principle has a sudden promotion."

The woman's eyes widened a fraction. They had not had the pleasure of speaking before, and his reputation always preceded him.

"That will be all Principal Holden."

With that he disconnected the call. With the twins away training, he could rest relatively easy. Kenobi and Padmé on the other hand, were still pressing matters.

His master, who was no doubt keeping an eye on him through his spies, would be wanting to see evidence of his hunt for Obi-Wan. He had taken several trips over the last few weeks to interrogate known rebel alliance affiliates that had come to light after their attack on his ship. However, none of them had revealed anything new, and Kenobi's location was officially a mystery, though he still suspected it to be Alderaan.

Keeping up appearances for a while longer, he planned to return to Coruscant to continue his investigation. After an unsuccessful hit and run supply raid, a small rebel cruiser had been apprehended a few days ago. The crew were being held in a detention centre in Imperial City, and it gave him the perfect chance to glean information. If he had promised not to hurt Kenobi, he had said no such thing about the other thousands of rebel scum out there threatening the peace he worked so hard for.

There was another reason he was eager to return to the city planet, and that was to keep Padmé hidden. She would undoubtably hate being locked up in the palace, but the less people that knew about her, the better.

Perhaps no one would make the connection between the two wards that were training far away, and the barely-seen woman in his quarters. Somehow though, it seemed unlikely he could keep such a secret hidden for long.

As for her and Obi-Wan's child, he had already discreetly researched several orphanages in the wealthier parts of Imperial City. Perhaps if the baby were given away to a wealthy family, Padmé would know the child would grow up safe and they could resume their lives.

He couldn't be sure at present if the child was Force sensitive. If they were, that could complicate things. But he'd cross that bridge when he came to it. Stacking up the flimsi and data pads on his desk, he made to leave, but he couldn't suppress the voice inside his head that told him this decision would do far more harm than good.

The thought of separating her from her baby caused a bitter conflict to rise in his chest. A conflict no Sith Lord should ever feel. Angrily, he pushed the thoughts away.

ooooo

Padmé had slept badly, waking up every hour, using the fresher and tossing and turning with anxiety. Rolling to her side and wincing at the pain in her hips from the pregnancy, she checked the room's chrono for the hundredth time. It was 0500. Too early to get up and wake the twins.

Luke mumbled in his sleep and threw his arm out, hitting her in the back. Trying not to wake them, she got up and used the fresher, then returned to bed, awkwardly getting comfortable again. Settling down under the covers, Padmé decided sleep wasn't as important as spending this still and sacred time with her children.

The day of their departure was finally here. It didn't seem real; it didn't seem possible that the moments she held onto now would soon be a memory. No matter how hard she strove to make the minutes last, they would slip through her fingers.

The twins were sleeping deeply, thoroughly worn out from the previous day's activities. Since being imprisoned in the apartment a few weeks ago, Vader had spent a fair amount of time with the children, though it was always without her consent. However, whenever they returned to her, there was nothing in their demeanour which suggested he had been frightening, violent or cold. If anything, they seemed to enjoy their time with him.

When they had first returned from flying in a TIE Reaper with the Sith lord himself, she almost couldn't believe her ears when they had told her of all the fun they had.

Padmé knew that children had an innate sense of the true character of others, especially hers as they were Force-sensitive, but she just couldn't believe that Luke and Leia were able to sense any change in Vader, it just couldn't be possible in so short a time span. Besides, he was still sending them to the Arkanis sector. More likely it was all some manipulative game Vader was playing with them, tricking them into thinking he would be a good father to them.

The thought revulsed her. It was an insult to the nine years of hard work Obi-Wan had gone through raising Luke and Leia from new-borns. No other man had the right to pretend to be their father, especially not one who had committed such atrocities. No…it must be a deception on Vader's part that the twins seemed at ease with him.

She on the other hand, was dreading the twin's departure for it meant not only the loss of her children, but her subsequent isolation with Darth Vader. Currently, her twins were like candles that banished the darkness that surrounded her. Cuddling Luke and Leia close whilst she could, she knew that once they were gone, that darkness would swallow her whole.

As time stretched on and she listened to their steady breathing and the hum of the engines, Padmé felt her baby moving around inside her stomach. Her nine-month mark had passed a few days ago. The fact that her labour could begin any day was another thing that deeply worried her.

At this point, she predicted that Vader would ensure she received all the medical treatment she needed for a safe delivery. The Sith had made it clear that he planned for her to stay with him, indicating he wanted her alive and well. But as for her and Obi-Wan's child, she didn't know what would happen to him or her. None of her babies were safe and it ate at her more than anything ever could.

Her weary heart ached for her husband and the way he always knew how to reassure her. Obi-Wan's arms were the safest place in the galaxy, a place where nothing could harm her and all that existed was love and his steady heartbeat. If she closed her eyes, she could feel his lips against her forehead and his hands in her hair, drawing her close against his warm and solid chest. Blushing, she remembered the feeling of him between her legs and their long nights of passion. She missed his presence so much.

Thinking of the man she adored, Padmé realised she still had one candle left against the darkness. Obi-Wan was out there somewhere, alive, and she knew that if she kept herself and her baby safe, their eventual reunion was possible, however unlikely it seemed.

Absently, she stroked Leia's rosy cheek. They were both deeply asleep, their breathing even and their mouths slightly parted. How many times had she checked on them sleeping throughout their lives, she wondered? From their first days as new-borns, to toddlers, to little children and now to big children. All those times that nightmares or a sick stomach would have them awake, standing in the doorway to her and Obi-Wan's bedroom seeking comfort in the middle of the night came to mind, and she remembered how they'd climbed into bed with their parents, safely sandwiched between them.

As she wandered back through a myriad of motherhood memories, Padmé realised that tears had begun to run down her cheeks. Sniffing quietly, she wiped them away and placed her hand back on Leia, taking in her delicate features and the softness of her dark wavy hair. Drifting her eyes to Luke, she studied his peaceful sleeping face, now devoid of all bruises. His resemblance to Anakin was unmissable, but at the same time, she recognised herself there in the openness of his complexion. Tenderly, she brushed strands of blonde hair from his forehead.

Eventually, the chrono was reading the hour the twins usually got up, and Leia was the first to stir. Blinking slowly and moving her head to look about, she saw Padmé watching over her and smiled.

"Hi mom," she yawned, stretching her arms above her head.

"Hi Leia," she smiled down at her, giving her cheek an affectionate light pinch.

Her daughter grinned and sat up, before remembering what day it was and the smile quickly fell from her face. "How long until we have to go?"

"He's coming in a few hours."

They both turned around as there were some sounds from outside and they tensed. Two protocol droids entered with breakfast and they exhaled with relief. The friendly droids and their trays of food were the only pleasant thing about the whole ship. Luke woke up at the sounds and Padmé watched as he sat up and stretched, running a hand through his bed head. He rubbed his fists in his eyes and soon they were all out of bed, getting ready for the day.

A few hours later, the three of them were walking in stony silence with the dark Lord, accompanied by a squad of stormtroopers. The group made their way towards the hangar bay, but there was no excitement from the twins this time.

The only time the silence was broken was when Vader looked over his shoulder slightly to talk to her.

"Once the children have departed, you will prepare whatever belongings you have with you. We will be heading to Coruscant imminently."

"Coruscant?" she breathed, not really processing what he was saying.

Overwhelmed with everything else that was going on, she simply nodded in acquiescence. Whether her prison was on a ship or on the city planet, it didn't matter to her. The only things occupying her mind presently were the two small figures on either side of her holding her hands.

When they eventually reached the bay, Padmé was shocked to see it almost completely empty. Presumably the star destroyer was preparing to end its deployment on Coruscant and all activities had been brought to a close.

Crossing the black shiny floor, the group headed towards a solitary shuttle ship. Vader commanded the troopers to prepare for boarding, and they marched off leaving the four of them relatively alone for a few moments, although there were still a few officers about, but none within ear shot.

The moment was here.

If the children saw the true extent of her inner distress, they would refuse to leave and Padmé was terrified of what Vader would do if that happened. Her third child was present with them now, and for their sake and for Obi-Wan's, she had to let these events play out. But just because she had no choice did not make it any easier. Donning her senator's mask as best she could, she held the twins' hands tightly and looked up at Vader, waiting for whatever came next.

Instead of tersely dismissing the children, he surprised all of them by unclipping a lightsaber from his belt and offering it to Luke in a dark gloved hand.

"Son, I want you to have this whilst you are training."

And there it was, the shining silver hilt that belonged to Anakin Skywalker, the blade that had been hidden in their home for years and used for the children's training in the Force. The blade had saved them, Luke had told her, as he'd used it to melt the door of their Project Harvester prison cell to escape. Anakin would've liked that, she thought.

But now it was being given freely as a gift from Vader, its importance seemed to change. She watched as Luke moved forward to inspect it.

"This is my parting gift," Vader said.

Her boy looked at it with wariness, his eyes seeking hers for assurance. Padmé nodded at him, wanting part of his father to be with him. Anakin would've wanted Luke to have it, and so did Darth Vader evidently. She did not dwell on what that similarity of intention could mean, all her mind was focused on now was the final precious moments she had with the twins.

Luke looked up into the black emotionless mask, then took the saber with his small hand and mumbled a thank you sir, placing it in his rucksack.

"Daughter," Vader said, holding out another less familiar lightsaber hilt. "This is for you. It belonged to someone very powerful in the Force and a worthy foe."

She took it cautiously and Padmé wondered who Vader had killed to acquire the weapon. Feeling a little sick, she didn't think too much about it.

"Thank you sir," she said, also depositing it into her rucksack.

"Use it well. When you are older, you may build your own lightsabers, but for now, practice with these."

The children nodded, dragging their eyes away from the tall dark Lord to land on her instead.

Her daughter's eyes were shining and her lip was starting to wobble, and so Padmé dropped down to their height, standing on her knees. Instantly the two of them rushed forward, wrapping their arms around her neck in a crushing hug.

The urge to cry was tremendously hard to suppress, and with hindsight Padmé wouldn't know how she had managed it.

Moving back a little so she could see their faces, she stroked their hair and took in their anxious expressions. Their faces were usually so full of joy, and it broke her heart to see them looking on the verge of tears. Padmé tried her best to smile for them.

"Don't be afraid," she whispered, touching their cheeks.

Luke and Leia moved forward again and wrapped their arms around her. Leia kissed her cheek and it took everything in her not to weep.

As she held her children, it felt like the first time and every time since then. When she'd cradled them to her chest as crying new-borns, only minutes old, to when she'd embraced Luke after his first steps, to holding Leia when she skinned her knee because she ran before she could walk. When Leia's skin was sun kissed and warm from a day at the lake and she was passed out in her arms. When Luke was hot with fever, cradled against her as she put him to bed with a cold compress. When they'd been scared of the thunder and didn't want to leave her lap. When they were simply happy to see her after a day of being apart and they'd run into her open arms.

Every single second they spent in her embrace was just the same as this. The bond she had with them was like nothing else. They were her entire existence. In an instant she would lay down her life. She would do anything to keep them safe, and the fact that she was powerless to do so now was beyond agony.

Not for the first time lately, she remembered Shmi. The bravery of Anakin's mother to send her only son away into an uncertain destiny, sacrificing her own happiness for that of her child, was a something she only now understood the pain of. What would she say if she could see this scene now, she wondered?

The parallel situation was not lost on her. Standing beside her was the Sith who used to be in the children's position: being sent off to an unknown destiny and being separated from the mother that loved him.

Now the moment had come. Fighting every single instinct within her, she stood up straight and remained dry-eyed for their sake.

Vader nodded to his guards and they began to escort Luke and Leia towards the shuttle.

Watching their retreating backs, her body moved of its own accord, taking a step forward as her heart hammered in her chest.

Once they had gone up the gangplank, the two of them turned back to look at her as a stormtrooper guided them inside. Padmé caught their eyes for a split second before the door slid shut and they were gone.

Unable to keep up the facade, she sank to the floor. Her senatorial mask shattered as her face crumpled. Hot tears flowed down her cheeks without restraint and her lips pulled back in a faint grimace as the first sob shook her shoulders.

The world blurred around her through her tears. She didn't care that Vader was standing beside her, or that there were officers further down the hangar bay watching. The shuttle was growing more and more distant now, and she looked up to see it vanish into hyperspace, leaving her to be swallowed whole by the darkness.