Padme set Leia and Luke down in their playpen in the nursery. Obi-Wan came
up and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, "You know it's for the
best."
Padme nodded. The tears clouding her vision, "I know. I'll be taking them to Owen and Beru's soon."
"Padme I've been thinking about it and I think they'll attract less interest if they are separated."
Padme spun around and stared at her friend, "Separated? No. I won't allow it."
Obi-Wan shook his head, "I'm sorry. But I honestly believe that that is the best way."
Padme sighed she knew he was right. Together they would draw too much energy from the force and attract their father, or worse the Emperor's attention. "You're right. But who will go where?"
"I've all ready contacted Bail Organa and he's agreed to take in Leia."
"Bail?" Padme asked, surprised. "You think its wise to place Leia so near her father?"
"Leia has a power I can't explain. She blocks out what she doesn't want others to see or know. She is able to keep herself from being sensed through the force if that's what she wants."
"How? She's just a little baby."
Obi-Wan shrugged, "I can't explain it and neither can Yoda. Never in his 800 years has he seen something like this. I need to leave you, will you be all right?"
"No, Obi-Wan. You are not going to face Anakin. We have discussed this over and over. He'll kill you and I don't want that to happen. Anakin won't turn back to the light side for anything. I won't let you do this."
"Padme-"
"Don't Obi-Wan. I won't let you do this. I've all ready lost my husband, I'm losing my children, and I am not about to lost my best friend."
Obi-Wan wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, "All right. I won't go."
Padme grasped him tightly, "Thank you." She wiped the tears from her eyes, "uh. Well enough of that. I'm going to head into town and pick up some food."
Obi-Wan nodded. Threepio and Artoo, Padme's droids, came bustling into the room arguing, yet again, about the war. "That's enough you two," Obi-Wan warned, "You're worse than the little ones."
Padme laughed, one of those rare moments these days, "Come on Artoo and Threepio. I'm going to take you with me for my trip to town."
Padme headed out with droids, leaving Obi-Wan with the children. It was a shame that the children would never know their real father, or mother for that matter. "Mistress Padme?" Threepio asked, "May I ask what is wrong?"
Padme gave sigh. The droids' memories would need to be wiped; she didn't want to do that. They'd been the same for over ten years. She patted his golden shoulder, "Nothing, Threepio. Nothing at all."
***
Obi-Wan rocked little Leia. She couldn't stop crying and Obi-Wan had a feeling it had something to do with her father. Leia and her brother Luke had very strong powers but they were very different. Luke's were very obvious and it seemed, to Obi-Wan, that he would be powerful but like most other Jedi. Leia, on the other hand, was very different. She, at such a young age, could block out others, hide her talents, and seemed to sense the pain in her mother and the pain her father was causing.
Leia stopped crying and looked up at Obi-Wan. Her brown eyes seemed to be pleading with Obi-Wan for answers. She reached up and tugged on Obi-Wan's beard. Obi-Wan gave her the biggest smile he could muster, "Yes?"
Leia made a whimpering sound and then pounded on her thighs. "Oh no, Honey don't do that!" Obi-Wan cried and pulled her hands away from her legs. Leia gave another whimpering cry and fought with Obi-Wan to pound at her legs.
Obi-Wan scrunched up his face and tried to understand. What was she doing? Was she trying to tell him? Leia, with a strength that both shocked and impressed Obi-Wan, pulled away from him and began to wail and pound on herself again.
Obi-Wan tried to send a calming message to the little girl with the force but she wouldn't allow herself to be calmed. Fortunately for him Padme came in, with the droids in tow, "Obi-Wan? What's going on?"
Obi-Wan shook his head and passed Leia off to her mother. Leia buried her face into her mother's hair and gave a sigh. She then pulled back and reached out to be held by Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan raised his eyebrows in confusion and lifted the little girl up and she snuggled on his shoulders, "Well I'm confused." Obi-Wan stated simply.
Padme placed her bottom lip between her teeth for a moment, thinking, "Perhaps she was worried about me. Anakin once said that baby Jedi could have visions and things like that. Maybe she had a disturbing vision about me or her father."
Obi-Wan wasn't sure with that idea, but it made sense, "I wonder what she was trying to say?"
Padme only shrugged, "She'll let us know somehow."
***
Darth Vader landed on the planet located in the Outer Rim. What a place to hide. He sucked in a deep breath. Obi-Wan was here and so was his wife. But there was something else, some other presence, what was it? There were two of them.
Darth Vader focused but found himself stunned when a powerful force pushed him away. Obi-Wan? No. Padme? No. Who was it?
***
Obi-Wan stretched out on the sofa, "Padme are you sure that there's nothing you want me to do?"
"Positive!" Padme called from the kitchen, "Working keeps my mind off things."
"At least let me help."
"You've done enough," Padme said, coming out of the kitchen. She was stirring something blue, "You've helped me when I needed someone the most, you were there for my children, you're still here, and you've agreed to protect them. You have done more than I can ever thank you for."
Obi-Wan smiled, "And you have done more for me than I could ever repay you for."
Padme opened her mouth to say something but was cut off as she suddenly found herself at a loss for breath. She couldn't breathe. She struggled for words but couldn't speak as everything went black.
"Padme!" Obi-Wan cried, dashing up to help her. She had fainted. When she didn't answer Obi-Wan picked her up and brought her into the bedroom.
***
The healer shook her head at the Jedi Master, "I'm so sorry, Sir. But it doesn't look at though your wife is going to make it."
"She's not my wife." Obi-Wan whispered.
"She had better not be." A hissed voice said from the edge of the room. He clothed in dark black robe. Darth Vader.
Obi-Wan pursed his lips, "Anakin. Padme is very ill."
Vader took one threatening step towards him but stopped at Padme's whispered voice, "Ani? Is that you?"
***
Obi-Wan sat in a chair on the one side of Padme's bed. Anakin sat across from him on the other side. Both their faces were wet with tears. Padme grasped Anakin's hand, "Ani," Her voice was weak and tired.
Anakin squeezed her hand, "I'm here my love. What do you need?"
Padme sucked in a harsh, raspy breath and fumbled her way to Obi-Wan's hand, "Obi-Wan."
Obi-Wan looked at her. Her face was whiter than Palpatine's hair. "I'm here."
Padme struggled for words. She was so tired. "My children. Where are they?"
Anakin brushed the hair away from her face, "They're safe, darling."
Padme tried to shake her head. Anakin shouldn't be here. She knew that. It was only a few days ago that she had convinced Obi-Wan not to seek out Anakin to save him from the Dark Side. For Obi-Wan's sake. Anakin's handsome face was ruined by the anger in him. "Obi-Wan. Keep them safe."
Obi-Wan nodded, "I will."
"Ani," Padme struggled to breathe, "Ani don't hurt Obi-Wan." Ankain glared at his former master. They had been like brothers. "Promise."
Reluctantly Anakin promised he wouldn't hurt him. Padme struggled to breathe. She had more to say. Much more and then to no one in particular Padme muttered, "Keep the children safe."
Obi-Wan watched as Padme slipped back into sleep, a final sleep. Obi-Wan detangled his hand from hers and left Anakin alone with his wife. The tears dripped from his eyelids as he looked out at the lake. He never should have brought Padme and the children here.
Anakin emerged from the bedroom, "This is all your fault!"
Obi-Wan spun on his old friend, "Don't remind me! I feel bad about it as it is."
"Well you should feel worse," Anakin spat, his anger reaching an all time high.
Obi-Wan tired to calm himself, "You really don't want to play the blaming game with me."
"And why not?"
"If you really want to blame it on someone we can go far back to you! If you hadn't turned Padme never would have had to come here for YOUR children's safety!" Obi-Wan screamed, losing all self-control. The only time he'd ever lost it like that was when Qui-Gon died.
Anakin sucked in a breath and whispered, "You're right."
One of the twins started screaming and Obi-Wan hurried into the nursery. It was Leia. He scooped her up and bounced her up and down, "Ssshhh. Its okay."
Anakin came into the doorway; "I'll be taking Leia and Luke with me to Corscant."
Obi-Wan looked up sharply, "No."
"Yes," Anakin said. They are my children and they are coming with me to Corscant, whether you approve you not. I promised Padme I wouldn't hurt you and I will keep my children with me."
Obi-Wan shook his head. Anakin had arrived right after Padme's fainting spell and had spent the last several days pleading with her to live. Obi- Wan was too tired to argue, way to tired. But this was a matter of life or death here, or pretty close anyhow. What choice in this matter did he really have?
"You have no choice," Anakin said, as if reading his mind.
Obi-Wan sighed, "I don't see any other way out. Take them." His voice was sad. He handed Leia over to her father and Leia began to wail and reached out for Obi-Wan.
But Anakin wouldn't let her have him. "Ssshhh. My darling its all right." But Leia wouldn't quit her screaming, she wanted Obi-Wan and Anakin was afraid that would never change.
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Padme nodded. The tears clouding her vision, "I know. I'll be taking them to Owen and Beru's soon."
"Padme I've been thinking about it and I think they'll attract less interest if they are separated."
Padme spun around and stared at her friend, "Separated? No. I won't allow it."
Obi-Wan shook his head, "I'm sorry. But I honestly believe that that is the best way."
Padme sighed she knew he was right. Together they would draw too much energy from the force and attract their father, or worse the Emperor's attention. "You're right. But who will go where?"
"I've all ready contacted Bail Organa and he's agreed to take in Leia."
"Bail?" Padme asked, surprised. "You think its wise to place Leia so near her father?"
"Leia has a power I can't explain. She blocks out what she doesn't want others to see or know. She is able to keep herself from being sensed through the force if that's what she wants."
"How? She's just a little baby."
Obi-Wan shrugged, "I can't explain it and neither can Yoda. Never in his 800 years has he seen something like this. I need to leave you, will you be all right?"
"No, Obi-Wan. You are not going to face Anakin. We have discussed this over and over. He'll kill you and I don't want that to happen. Anakin won't turn back to the light side for anything. I won't let you do this."
"Padme-"
"Don't Obi-Wan. I won't let you do this. I've all ready lost my husband, I'm losing my children, and I am not about to lost my best friend."
Obi-Wan wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, "All right. I won't go."
Padme grasped him tightly, "Thank you." She wiped the tears from her eyes, "uh. Well enough of that. I'm going to head into town and pick up some food."
Obi-Wan nodded. Threepio and Artoo, Padme's droids, came bustling into the room arguing, yet again, about the war. "That's enough you two," Obi-Wan warned, "You're worse than the little ones."
Padme laughed, one of those rare moments these days, "Come on Artoo and Threepio. I'm going to take you with me for my trip to town."
Padme headed out with droids, leaving Obi-Wan with the children. It was a shame that the children would never know their real father, or mother for that matter. "Mistress Padme?" Threepio asked, "May I ask what is wrong?"
Padme gave sigh. The droids' memories would need to be wiped; she didn't want to do that. They'd been the same for over ten years. She patted his golden shoulder, "Nothing, Threepio. Nothing at all."
***
Obi-Wan rocked little Leia. She couldn't stop crying and Obi-Wan had a feeling it had something to do with her father. Leia and her brother Luke had very strong powers but they were very different. Luke's were very obvious and it seemed, to Obi-Wan, that he would be powerful but like most other Jedi. Leia, on the other hand, was very different. She, at such a young age, could block out others, hide her talents, and seemed to sense the pain in her mother and the pain her father was causing.
Leia stopped crying and looked up at Obi-Wan. Her brown eyes seemed to be pleading with Obi-Wan for answers. She reached up and tugged on Obi-Wan's beard. Obi-Wan gave her the biggest smile he could muster, "Yes?"
Leia made a whimpering sound and then pounded on her thighs. "Oh no, Honey don't do that!" Obi-Wan cried and pulled her hands away from her legs. Leia gave another whimpering cry and fought with Obi-Wan to pound at her legs.
Obi-Wan scrunched up his face and tried to understand. What was she doing? Was she trying to tell him? Leia, with a strength that both shocked and impressed Obi-Wan, pulled away from him and began to wail and pound on herself again.
Obi-Wan tried to send a calming message to the little girl with the force but she wouldn't allow herself to be calmed. Fortunately for him Padme came in, with the droids in tow, "Obi-Wan? What's going on?"
Obi-Wan shook his head and passed Leia off to her mother. Leia buried her face into her mother's hair and gave a sigh. She then pulled back and reached out to be held by Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan raised his eyebrows in confusion and lifted the little girl up and she snuggled on his shoulders, "Well I'm confused." Obi-Wan stated simply.
Padme placed her bottom lip between her teeth for a moment, thinking, "Perhaps she was worried about me. Anakin once said that baby Jedi could have visions and things like that. Maybe she had a disturbing vision about me or her father."
Obi-Wan wasn't sure with that idea, but it made sense, "I wonder what she was trying to say?"
Padme only shrugged, "She'll let us know somehow."
***
Darth Vader landed on the planet located in the Outer Rim. What a place to hide. He sucked in a deep breath. Obi-Wan was here and so was his wife. But there was something else, some other presence, what was it? There were two of them.
Darth Vader focused but found himself stunned when a powerful force pushed him away. Obi-Wan? No. Padme? No. Who was it?
***
Obi-Wan stretched out on the sofa, "Padme are you sure that there's nothing you want me to do?"
"Positive!" Padme called from the kitchen, "Working keeps my mind off things."
"At least let me help."
"You've done enough," Padme said, coming out of the kitchen. She was stirring something blue, "You've helped me when I needed someone the most, you were there for my children, you're still here, and you've agreed to protect them. You have done more than I can ever thank you for."
Obi-Wan smiled, "And you have done more for me than I could ever repay you for."
Padme opened her mouth to say something but was cut off as she suddenly found herself at a loss for breath. She couldn't breathe. She struggled for words but couldn't speak as everything went black.
"Padme!" Obi-Wan cried, dashing up to help her. She had fainted. When she didn't answer Obi-Wan picked her up and brought her into the bedroom.
***
The healer shook her head at the Jedi Master, "I'm so sorry, Sir. But it doesn't look at though your wife is going to make it."
"She's not my wife." Obi-Wan whispered.
"She had better not be." A hissed voice said from the edge of the room. He clothed in dark black robe. Darth Vader.
Obi-Wan pursed his lips, "Anakin. Padme is very ill."
Vader took one threatening step towards him but stopped at Padme's whispered voice, "Ani? Is that you?"
***
Obi-Wan sat in a chair on the one side of Padme's bed. Anakin sat across from him on the other side. Both their faces were wet with tears. Padme grasped Anakin's hand, "Ani," Her voice was weak and tired.
Anakin squeezed her hand, "I'm here my love. What do you need?"
Padme sucked in a harsh, raspy breath and fumbled her way to Obi-Wan's hand, "Obi-Wan."
Obi-Wan looked at her. Her face was whiter than Palpatine's hair. "I'm here."
Padme struggled for words. She was so tired. "My children. Where are they?"
Anakin brushed the hair away from her face, "They're safe, darling."
Padme tried to shake her head. Anakin shouldn't be here. She knew that. It was only a few days ago that she had convinced Obi-Wan not to seek out Anakin to save him from the Dark Side. For Obi-Wan's sake. Anakin's handsome face was ruined by the anger in him. "Obi-Wan. Keep them safe."
Obi-Wan nodded, "I will."
"Ani," Padme struggled to breathe, "Ani don't hurt Obi-Wan." Ankain glared at his former master. They had been like brothers. "Promise."
Reluctantly Anakin promised he wouldn't hurt him. Padme struggled to breathe. She had more to say. Much more and then to no one in particular Padme muttered, "Keep the children safe."
Obi-Wan watched as Padme slipped back into sleep, a final sleep. Obi-Wan detangled his hand from hers and left Anakin alone with his wife. The tears dripped from his eyelids as he looked out at the lake. He never should have brought Padme and the children here.
Anakin emerged from the bedroom, "This is all your fault!"
Obi-Wan spun on his old friend, "Don't remind me! I feel bad about it as it is."
"Well you should feel worse," Anakin spat, his anger reaching an all time high.
Obi-Wan tired to calm himself, "You really don't want to play the blaming game with me."
"And why not?"
"If you really want to blame it on someone we can go far back to you! If you hadn't turned Padme never would have had to come here for YOUR children's safety!" Obi-Wan screamed, losing all self-control. The only time he'd ever lost it like that was when Qui-Gon died.
Anakin sucked in a breath and whispered, "You're right."
One of the twins started screaming and Obi-Wan hurried into the nursery. It was Leia. He scooped her up and bounced her up and down, "Ssshhh. Its okay."
Anakin came into the doorway; "I'll be taking Leia and Luke with me to Corscant."
Obi-Wan looked up sharply, "No."
"Yes," Anakin said. They are my children and they are coming with me to Corscant, whether you approve you not. I promised Padme I wouldn't hurt you and I will keep my children with me."
Obi-Wan shook his head. Anakin had arrived right after Padme's fainting spell and had spent the last several days pleading with her to live. Obi- Wan was too tired to argue, way to tired. But this was a matter of life or death here, or pretty close anyhow. What choice in this matter did he really have?
"You have no choice," Anakin said, as if reading his mind.
Obi-Wan sighed, "I don't see any other way out. Take them." His voice was sad. He handed Leia over to her father and Leia began to wail and reached out for Obi-Wan.
But Anakin wouldn't let her have him. "Ssshhh. My darling its all right." But Leia wouldn't quit her screaming, she wanted Obi-Wan and Anakin was afraid that would never change.
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