Chapter Ten

Padmé stared up at Obi-Wan, her head rising and falling with each breath he took. The sun had begun to rise and she could see his handsome features clearer. She had spent most of her mornings doing this very thing, committing every line, every freckle, every expression he had to memory. After the first time, Obi-Wan no longer slept in his room. They hardly spent a second apart in anticipation of a separation that may never end and with the twins in the room with them, it was almost as if...

Taking a shuddering breath, Padmé pushed the thought from her mind. They had promised each other that they would not say the words 'what if'. It would hurt too much when the time came. She tightened her hold on him as she realized that they only had a week left.

"Stop it," Obi-Wan muttered, opening his eyes a fraction. "I can hear your thoughts loud and clear and I don't like the direction they're taking."

"Sorry," she said, kissing his cheek.

"Luke's waking up," he said, coming up from underneath her.

"I'll take care of him," she said, rising as well.

Luke's brilliant blue eyes twinkled as he looked up at his mother and Padmé could hardly get her fill of him. She wondered what kind of man he would turn out to be. Luke had Anakin's coloring and Padmé silently prayed that if he also had Anakin's fire, he would use it to the betterment of the galaxy. As he suckled on his bottle, Padmé stroked the blonde hair on his soft head. He blinked up at her, his hand reaching up towards her face. Smiling, she kissed his palm and placed her finger in his grasp.

"He's strong," she observed.

Sitting up on the bed, Obi-Wan agreed. "He will grow up to be a fine young man, Padmé."

Padmé thought of her son's history, the anguish and turmoil that the people around him had to go through in order to bring him to being. These stories would shape him, perhaps warping his mind beyond repair. Vengeance, the same vengeance that changed her, would fill his mind. In that instant, she knew what had to be done.

"Obi-Wan, you must never tell him about me," she said, her voice strong and sure.

"What?"

With Luke in her arms, Padmé went to sit on the bed. "You can't ever tell about his past. About Vader, about me, about us, about all this. I want him to grow up as normally as he can." She looked to the bassinet where Leia still slept. "His sister may not be able to have that staying here with me, but I want at least one of my children to live life to the fullest."

"His life can't be full if he doesn't know about the sacrifices you had to make," Obi-Wan argued.

"Please, do this for me," she said, but added. "At least wait until he's older and able to handle it."

"I don't think anyone would be old enough to handle this, but I will do as you ask." He put an arm around her and the baby, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "But, he will know one day, Padmé. You won't be able to shield him from his heritage, especially when his heritage is Darth Vader's Force talent."

Padmé stroked her son's cheek with a gentle finger and he smiled sunnily up at her. She smiled back.

"He has Anakin's smile," she said.

"And his coloring. Leia, on the other hand, is your child."

"Yes. Let's just hope she has better luck with men than I did."

Obi-Wan grinned, his blue-gray eyes sparkling. "Well, I know I'm no prince, but I'm certainly not a scoundrel."

Padmé patted his hand. "That is an arguable point."

Laughing, Obi-Wan stood and took Leia out of the bassinet as she was waking up.

"Did you hear that, Leia. Your mother wants you to stay away from scoundrels and Jedi Knights." His smile faltered. "Although, the latter won't be hard to do."

Padmé reached out and squeezed his hand. Too many nights she had had to wake him from nightmares that made him call out the names of friends lost. Anakin's name had passed his lips more than once. He squeezed back but let go after a moment, a signal that he did not want to pursue the subject.

"Have you spoken to Owen?" Padmé inquired.

"Bail has. He is expecting me."

"You will live with them," she stated.

"No."

Padmé's eyes shot to his face. "Are you going to fight, Obi-Wan?"

A weariness settled over the Jedi and he rested back against the headboard of the bed. "No. I'm finished fighting, Padmé. I will watch Luke from afar, making sure he doesn't stray from the path you've laid out for him."

"You won't train him then?"

His face tightened with suppressed anger. "How can you even ask me that?"

"Obi-Wan…"

"I know you think Darth Vader is not my creation, but he is just that." He put a hand on her shoulder. "Let's not talk about this now. We have such little time left."

"You're so sure that we won't see each other again?"

They stared into each other's eyes.

"What do you think?" he whispered.

"I dream," she answered, her arms tightening around Luke. "I don't think."

Gurgling, Leia reached out and grabbed a handful of her mother's long, shining hair. Padmé smiled tearily at her.

"Silly little girl," she chided, taking her hair out of Leia's grip.

Obi-Wan leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers. "Enough with the serious talk. Let's start this morning right, shall we? Good morning, Love."

Despite his smile, Padmé felt a weight on her soul. Still, she smiled back.

"Good morning."