Oct 2002
Disclaimer: I don't own any this, all the characters (Except my original) are property of Lucasfilm etc etc.
Hide Your Love Away
Chapter 3
Anakin teased Luke with his fingers as the infant lay spread out on the bunk before him. Leia was playing with a lock of her mother's hair as she changed the dressing on her daughter. "They're so perfect."
Padmé smiled at his wondering tone, "Of course they are."
He chuckled, "Your pride in our daughter and son seems to be your biggest emotion," he teased, "is there any room left for me?"
She laughed, "You are my heart Anakin, they just join you in its space. So what are we going to do? Do we go back and Face Palpatine or do you think we can continue living like this. On the run with no safe haven."
Anakin sighed, "We fight," his words were soft, "I set our course for Tattooine a couple hours ago. Owen won't be expecting us, but you were right. Palpatine will never think to look for the kids there." He lowered his head and blew gently on Luke's belly, drawing a delighted giggle from his son. He smiled. "I'll miss them when it's time."
Padmé finished with Leia and sat on the bed next to where he lay with their son, "So will I, but if we want to be able to grow old with them, we've got to do this now. With Palpatine in power, how can we hope to lead a relatively normal life if he's hunting us?"
Anakin nodded, "I know. It doesn't make it any easier though."
She gently ruffled his hair, "We're doing this for them, love, you know that. It's not easy for me either, but if I spend all of my time worrying, we'll never get anything done. Concentrate on what we have to do and believe we'll see them again."
He turned his head to look at her, a crooked smile on his lips, "You're so wise, it's no wonder you were the best senator in the senate. You're right of course." He picked his son up, "Come on Luke, it's time for your nap."
Luke's face screwed up as if he was going to cry, and Anakin sent an unthinking wave of comfort to the infant. He quieted instantly, looking deep into the blue eyes of his father. His toothless smile was brilliant as he made a grabbing motion at hit father's hair. Anakin almost dropped his son in shock as the impression of a hug wrapped around him. Small, ghost-like arms wrapped around his neck, broadcasting a thank you through the Force.
"Anakin?"
"Luke used the Force."
Padmé looked at her infant son and back to her husband, "Are you sure?"
He nodded, "He gave me a Force hug."
Padmé smiled as Luke gurgled. Anakin set the baby down in his crib as Padmé put Leia beside her brother. "Are you alright, Anakin?"
He nodded again, smiling rakishly at her, "That was incredible. I thought holding him in my arms for the first time was a moment that couldn't possibly be matched, but I find myself bursting with awe and happiness at his action." His gaze went to where Luke and Leia were curling up together, their tiny yawns identical. He stood and extended a hand to her, "Come on, we have a ship to prepare for our return to Couruscant."
Padmé accepted his hand and left it in his as they walked towards the cockpit. There was a comfortable silence between them, the silence of understanding and companionship that had always been theirs. Well, not always, she amended silently. Before she'd accepted her love for Anakin a year ago, she'd thought him nothing but a child. How wrong she had been, and she was thankful for it.
"Deep thoughts, Angel?"
She shook her head, "No, just remembering the day you convinced me to marry you."
He chuckled, stopping to gently stroke her cheek, "You've made me the happiest man in the galaxy, Padmé, I hope you know that."
She turned her head and placed a kiss in his palm. "The same you've done for me, Anakin, how could I do any less?"
His smile was swift, "Come on, or I'll forget I can't touch you for another 5 galactic months."
Her laughter echoed in the hallway as they ducked into the cockpit.
Padmé was at the controls when a second message came in for Anakin the next day. They were nearing Tatooine already and she felt a pang of sorrow. Soon, she'd have to give up her children so that she could ensure they'd be able to grow up free. She closed her eyes against the sudden rush of loss that assailed her.
"Padmé?"
She felt the sting of tears and blinked rapidly before turning to Anakin, "I'm alright."
He stepped into the cockpit and knelt in front of her, "Are you sure you want to go through with this? I can face Palpatine on my own. If I don't make it back, at least the twins will have one of their parents."
She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and cradled his head in her lap, "Where you go, I go. I wouldn't be able to stay here quietly knowing you are going to be facing without me."
He closed his eyes as she ran her fingers through his hair. "Are you sure, Angel?"
She nodded, even though he couldn't see her, "How could I stay, Anakin, knowing what you've been through already? Palpatine is going to try and take you away from me again, I refuse to sit idle and watch him try. You're mine, and it's about time I fought for you."
He chuckled, turning his head to look up at her, "I thought you already had. Telling that Sith creature he couldn't have me took guts."
She smiled at him, continuing to run her nails over his scalp, drawing a low purr from his throat, "It was more bravado than courage," she admitted, "I was so angry that someone had kept you away from me for so long that I couldn't stand the thought of something else stealing you again when you'd finally come back to me. As angry as I was, Anakin, you know I never stopped loving you, right?"
He nodded, straightening so he was almost looking into her eyes from where he knelt, "I knew. I know. It's in your eyes, Padmé. When you looked at me before you left I saw that you loved me, even if you said you weren't sure you could say it to me again. I saw it, and I saw what I'd destroyed by my actions. I lost your trust and that was a blow I hadn't expected." He sighed, "I made a lot of mistakes, didn't I?"
"We both did. I should have told you I was pregnant before I left," she gently stroked his face, "you had a right to know. You'd changed though and I didn't know how you'd react. This is why I have to come with you, can't you see that?"
He nodded, his hands tightening on her waist, "What if he tries to use you against me, Angel?"
She was quiet at his softly spoken question. Could Palpatine use her against him? "I don't have an answer to that. I know that if it comes down to it, he'll try and play on your emotions." Her lips kicked up into an affectionate smile, "You always were too emotional to be a Jedi. It's your strength, but also a weakness. If he tries to use me against you it will be in the capacity of a trap. I love you, Anakin, but I'd rather die than see you turn."
He closed his eyes against her words, trying to block them out. "Your life is worth more than mine, Padmé. I'd gladly turn if it meant keeping you safe."
She cupped his cheek, waiting until he opened his eyes to look at her. "That's what he'll do, don't you see? Palpatine knows it, Anakin. He knows how much you love me and he'll try to get you to give up your life so that he'll spare me."
"Then why are you going if you know he's going to do that?"
"Because I have to. Everyone thinks I'm dead, remember? Appearing after six months of absence will get people asking questions. He won't expect me to come back."
"You're going to try and throw a dark lord of the Sith off balance with your presence?" He would have laughed if he wasn't so worried about the possible outcomes, "Are you sure that's wise, love?"
"Wise? Probably not. Not conductive to long life, either. Dormé died because of his ambition, Anakin, she deserves to be avenged. I have to make Palpatine pay for what he's trying to do to my family. I won't lose you, not again."
He buried his face in her lap, his words a plea, "Hold me, Angel."
Her heart going out to this sensitive man who was her husband, she cradled him close and held him, feeling moisture soaking through the fabric of her pants. Murmuring softly to him, she rubbed his hair and back, holding him close and telling him without words that she would hold him next to her heart. And this time she wouldn't let him go.
She pulled back after several minutes, "Anakin?"
He raised his head, his eyes dry, his expression serious, "Something wrong?"
She nodded, flipping a datapad out of a compartment and offering it to him, along with a datarod, "This came for you while you were in the back."
He took the items gingerly and moved to sit in his seat. He hooked the rod into the pad and keyed the sequence. He closed his eyes briefly. Another message from the Chancellor.
"Is it from Palpatine?"
He nodded, opening his eyes as he keyed in the encryption sequence, reading the short text.
Skywalker,
A reminder. Your life is mine or your wife's is forfeit. Be there or she dies.
Master Sidious
He swallowed hard and offered the pad to Padmé, looking out the front view ports. Padmé's sharp intake of breath made him wince. She knew what Palpatine wanted from him, knew what they would be walking into. "You can still stay with the twins. He can't reach you here."
Her hand was gentle on his shoulder, "Never. I go where you go."
He closed his eyes, laying his cheek against her hand and allowed her to leave it at that. Soon, they'd be facing the biggest challenge of their lives.
Disclaimer: I don't own any this, all the characters (Except my original) are property of Lucasfilm etc etc.
Hide Your Love Away
Chapter 3
Anakin teased Luke with his fingers as the infant lay spread out on the bunk before him. Leia was playing with a lock of her mother's hair as she changed the dressing on her daughter. "They're so perfect."
Padmé smiled at his wondering tone, "Of course they are."
He chuckled, "Your pride in our daughter and son seems to be your biggest emotion," he teased, "is there any room left for me?"
She laughed, "You are my heart Anakin, they just join you in its space. So what are we going to do? Do we go back and Face Palpatine or do you think we can continue living like this. On the run with no safe haven."
Anakin sighed, "We fight," his words were soft, "I set our course for Tattooine a couple hours ago. Owen won't be expecting us, but you were right. Palpatine will never think to look for the kids there." He lowered his head and blew gently on Luke's belly, drawing a delighted giggle from his son. He smiled. "I'll miss them when it's time."
Padmé finished with Leia and sat on the bed next to where he lay with their son, "So will I, but if we want to be able to grow old with them, we've got to do this now. With Palpatine in power, how can we hope to lead a relatively normal life if he's hunting us?"
Anakin nodded, "I know. It doesn't make it any easier though."
She gently ruffled his hair, "We're doing this for them, love, you know that. It's not easy for me either, but if I spend all of my time worrying, we'll never get anything done. Concentrate on what we have to do and believe we'll see them again."
He turned his head to look at her, a crooked smile on his lips, "You're so wise, it's no wonder you were the best senator in the senate. You're right of course." He picked his son up, "Come on Luke, it's time for your nap."
Luke's face screwed up as if he was going to cry, and Anakin sent an unthinking wave of comfort to the infant. He quieted instantly, looking deep into the blue eyes of his father. His toothless smile was brilliant as he made a grabbing motion at hit father's hair. Anakin almost dropped his son in shock as the impression of a hug wrapped around him. Small, ghost-like arms wrapped around his neck, broadcasting a thank you through the Force.
"Anakin?"
"Luke used the Force."
Padmé looked at her infant son and back to her husband, "Are you sure?"
He nodded, "He gave me a Force hug."
Padmé smiled as Luke gurgled. Anakin set the baby down in his crib as Padmé put Leia beside her brother. "Are you alright, Anakin?"
He nodded again, smiling rakishly at her, "That was incredible. I thought holding him in my arms for the first time was a moment that couldn't possibly be matched, but I find myself bursting with awe and happiness at his action." His gaze went to where Luke and Leia were curling up together, their tiny yawns identical. He stood and extended a hand to her, "Come on, we have a ship to prepare for our return to Couruscant."
Padmé accepted his hand and left it in his as they walked towards the cockpit. There was a comfortable silence between them, the silence of understanding and companionship that had always been theirs. Well, not always, she amended silently. Before she'd accepted her love for Anakin a year ago, she'd thought him nothing but a child. How wrong she had been, and she was thankful for it.
"Deep thoughts, Angel?"
She shook her head, "No, just remembering the day you convinced me to marry you."
He chuckled, stopping to gently stroke her cheek, "You've made me the happiest man in the galaxy, Padmé, I hope you know that."
She turned her head and placed a kiss in his palm. "The same you've done for me, Anakin, how could I do any less?"
His smile was swift, "Come on, or I'll forget I can't touch you for another 5 galactic months."
Her laughter echoed in the hallway as they ducked into the cockpit.
Padmé was at the controls when a second message came in for Anakin the next day. They were nearing Tatooine already and she felt a pang of sorrow. Soon, she'd have to give up her children so that she could ensure they'd be able to grow up free. She closed her eyes against the sudden rush of loss that assailed her.
"Padmé?"
She felt the sting of tears and blinked rapidly before turning to Anakin, "I'm alright."
He stepped into the cockpit and knelt in front of her, "Are you sure you want to go through with this? I can face Palpatine on my own. If I don't make it back, at least the twins will have one of their parents."
She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and cradled his head in her lap, "Where you go, I go. I wouldn't be able to stay here quietly knowing you are going to be facing without me."
He closed his eyes as she ran her fingers through his hair. "Are you sure, Angel?"
She nodded, even though he couldn't see her, "How could I stay, Anakin, knowing what you've been through already? Palpatine is going to try and take you away from me again, I refuse to sit idle and watch him try. You're mine, and it's about time I fought for you."
He chuckled, turning his head to look up at her, "I thought you already had. Telling that Sith creature he couldn't have me took guts."
She smiled at him, continuing to run her nails over his scalp, drawing a low purr from his throat, "It was more bravado than courage," she admitted, "I was so angry that someone had kept you away from me for so long that I couldn't stand the thought of something else stealing you again when you'd finally come back to me. As angry as I was, Anakin, you know I never stopped loving you, right?"
He nodded, straightening so he was almost looking into her eyes from where he knelt, "I knew. I know. It's in your eyes, Padmé. When you looked at me before you left I saw that you loved me, even if you said you weren't sure you could say it to me again. I saw it, and I saw what I'd destroyed by my actions. I lost your trust and that was a blow I hadn't expected." He sighed, "I made a lot of mistakes, didn't I?"
"We both did. I should have told you I was pregnant before I left," she gently stroked his face, "you had a right to know. You'd changed though and I didn't know how you'd react. This is why I have to come with you, can't you see that?"
He nodded, his hands tightening on her waist, "What if he tries to use you against me, Angel?"
She was quiet at his softly spoken question. Could Palpatine use her against him? "I don't have an answer to that. I know that if it comes down to it, he'll try and play on your emotions." Her lips kicked up into an affectionate smile, "You always were too emotional to be a Jedi. It's your strength, but also a weakness. If he tries to use me against you it will be in the capacity of a trap. I love you, Anakin, but I'd rather die than see you turn."
He closed his eyes against her words, trying to block them out. "Your life is worth more than mine, Padmé. I'd gladly turn if it meant keeping you safe."
She cupped his cheek, waiting until he opened his eyes to look at her. "That's what he'll do, don't you see? Palpatine knows it, Anakin. He knows how much you love me and he'll try to get you to give up your life so that he'll spare me."
"Then why are you going if you know he's going to do that?"
"Because I have to. Everyone thinks I'm dead, remember? Appearing after six months of absence will get people asking questions. He won't expect me to come back."
"You're going to try and throw a dark lord of the Sith off balance with your presence?" He would have laughed if he wasn't so worried about the possible outcomes, "Are you sure that's wise, love?"
"Wise? Probably not. Not conductive to long life, either. Dormé died because of his ambition, Anakin, she deserves to be avenged. I have to make Palpatine pay for what he's trying to do to my family. I won't lose you, not again."
He buried his face in her lap, his words a plea, "Hold me, Angel."
Her heart going out to this sensitive man who was her husband, she cradled him close and held him, feeling moisture soaking through the fabric of her pants. Murmuring softly to him, she rubbed his hair and back, holding him close and telling him without words that she would hold him next to her heart. And this time she wouldn't let him go.
She pulled back after several minutes, "Anakin?"
He raised his head, his eyes dry, his expression serious, "Something wrong?"
She nodded, flipping a datapad out of a compartment and offering it to him, along with a datarod, "This came for you while you were in the back."
He took the items gingerly and moved to sit in his seat. He hooked the rod into the pad and keyed the sequence. He closed his eyes briefly. Another message from the Chancellor.
"Is it from Palpatine?"
He nodded, opening his eyes as he keyed in the encryption sequence, reading the short text.
Skywalker,
A reminder. Your life is mine or your wife's is forfeit. Be there or she dies.
Master Sidious
He swallowed hard and offered the pad to Padmé, looking out the front view ports. Padmé's sharp intake of breath made him wince. She knew what Palpatine wanted from him, knew what they would be walking into. "You can still stay with the twins. He can't reach you here."
Her hand was gentle on his shoulder, "Never. I go where you go."
He closed his eyes, laying his cheek against her hand and allowed her to leave it at that. Soon, they'd be facing the biggest challenge of their lives.