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 4
Less than an hour later, they entered the dual sun system that held Tatooine. Anakin had composed himself, and was now in control once again. At least, he looked at way. To Padmé, he was still scared of what could happen, but resolved to do the right thing. She'd never be more proud of him.
Anakin checked the coordinates of the Lars moisture farm as he brought the ship around and began his approach at the planet. Beside him, Padmé was checking the sensor readouts, making sure they wouldn't encounter a dust storm. He glanced at her profile, feeling blessed to have such an incredible woman as his wife. He wouldn't fail her. Turning his gaze back to the controls, he brought the ship down across the dune sea, the boxy starship streaking across the sandy plain faster than any pod racer. Within minutes they were approaching the Lars homestead.
Settling the ship down without a bump, Anakin cycled the engines down to standby and sat back. "We're here. Are you sure you want to go through with this?"
Padmé turned to look at him, nodding, "I am, Anakin. You?"
He shook his head, "No. But we have to if we want them to have a future."
She reached out and grasped his hand in hers as the wine of the repulsorlifts died away and finally stood. "I'll go prepare the twins."
He watched her go, taking a fortifying breath. If Padmé could do this calmly, how could he do anything less? A movement outside caught his eye and he looked up. His step-brother, Owen, stood looking at their ship. He was older than Anakin remembered him, having grown much in the last year and a half. Owen was a man, and he had likely married his long time girlfriend, Beru Whitesun. Anakin exhaled and rose to his feet. It was time to ask his step-brother for the one thing he needed, and yet didn't want to do, most.
He walked quickly through the halls of the ship that had been his home for the last six or so months and made his way to the landing ramp. As he passed the room where Padmé was preparing the twins, he could see her packing their bag. They didn't have much, but what they did would go with the children. He stepped down into the sweltering heat of the Tattooine suns and sweat instantly coated his forehead.
A reluctant smile kicked up the corner of his mouth. Some things never changed. His steps long and easy, his stride purposeful, Anakin walked from the shade of the ramp and towards his step-brother.
Owen Lars met him halfway, his expression stormy. "Anakin."
Anakin shook the hand his step-brother extended, "Owen. You're looking good."
"You look like hell. What brings you here?"
Anakin resisted the sudden urge to smile. Trust Owen to dispense with the small talk. The simple would-be moisture farmer didn't have much use for the niceties of civilization. "Padmé and I have something to ask of you and Beru."
Owen looked past Anakin's shoulder, his eyes widening in surprise. Anakin turned to find his wife carrying a bag slung over her shoulder, an infant in each arm. He quickly stepped to her side and relieved her of Luke. She smiled her thanks, using both arms to carry Leia. As they stepped out of the shadow of the ship, both children began to wail, too hot for comfort.
Owen stood where Anakin had left him, watching as Anakin and Padmé slowly calmed the twins. He'd just started to compose himself when Beru came out of the homestead, "Owen? I thought I heard... Goodness, Anakin and Padmé? Come in, out of the hot sun. Owen, just don't stand there gawking, help Padmé with that bag!"
Anakin looked up, offering a smile to the practical young as they were ushered into the welcoming shade of the homestead. Beru made sure they were settled at the main table with a drink before seating herself next to Owen. "We didn't know you were coming, Anakin."
"We didn't trust the holo-net to relay this message," he admitted, "Padmé and I have a favor to ask."
Owen and Beru exchanged looks before Owen spoke, "Why should we help you Anakin?"
Anakin swallowed, "I was hoping you wouldn't ask that. My mother's marriage to your father made us step-brothers. I was hoping I could impose upon you to care for your niece and nephew."
Owen's eyebrows hit his receding hairline, "Pardon?"
Beru's smile was ecstatic, "Care for these two Angels?" she reached across and gently ran a finger over Leia's face. She looked up at Padmé, suddenly concerned, "Where are you going that you can't take your family with you?"
Padmé looked at Anakin. "Back to Couruscant. The Supreme Chancellor is threatening to harm me if Anakin doesn't return. It's a long story, but we only have a limited timeframe to work with. Palpatine doesn't seem to know about the children," her voice was soft as she looked down at her sleeping daughter. "We don't want to expose them to him if we can help it. If something happens to us, at least they'll be safe."
"So this could be for as long as they live," Owen observed slowly.
Anakin nodded, "Yes. Their Jedi heritage is putting them in danger. You're not Jedi, by keeping them here and keeping them hidden, you're offering them a chance at a normal life."
Owen looked at Beru, "We'll talk it over. You're welcome to stay for a while if you like."
Padmé smiled, "Thank you."
Beru stood and, after convincing Anakin to give up his son, led Padmé away to their temporary room.
Anakin remained at the table, "She's your wife?"
Owen nodded, "You knew she would be. You don't know what you're asking Anakin. Beru is barren, she can't have children."
Anakin sat back, stunned by that revelation. Beru, sweet loveable Beru who would make a wonderful mother, couldn't have children? He swallowed hard. "If I had known I wouldn't have asked this of you. I can't trust anyone else with their lives, Owen, I just can't."
Owen looked after the women, nodding once, before they fell into an uneasy silence. Both of them knew that if Anakin and Padmé didn't return the twins would be raised as a cherished son and daughter. But, if they did come back, taking them away from Beru might destroy her. Anakin swallowed hard. It was not a decision he wanted to make.
Beru helped Padmé unpack a night's worth of clothing and supplies for the twins as they gurgled happily on the bed. They'd quickly adapted to the new surroundings. Beru was quiet, her gaze moving constantly to the infants on the bed.
Padmé finally placed a hand on Beru's shoulder, smiling. "They're beautiful, aren't they?"
Beru nodded, hoping Padmé wouldn't catch the sudden sheen of tears in her eyes, "They're prefect, Padmé."
Padmé's brows drew together at the hitch in the other woman's voice. "What's the matter Beru?"
Beru shook her head, gently dislodging Padmé's hand, "I'll never know what its like, that's all. I don't think you and Anakin know what you're asking of us, of me, by leaving the twins with us."
She studied the stoic young woman, "Are you and Owen happy, Beru?"
"That's not it."
"Then what?"
Beru picked Leia up in her arms and gently rocked her before holding her against her breast, "I can't have children, Padmé. Owen loves me, and it makes no difference, but..."
Padmé watched in stunned silence as Beru bowed her head, the baby held close to her heart. In sympathy and sudden understanding, she wrapped her arms around the other young woman. "I'm sorry."
Beru's tears were quiet, her eyes shining as she looked up and met Padmé's eyes. "I've never been able to hold a baby, Padmé. Don't be sorry, even if you leave them here and come back to take them away some day, I will have had the opportunity to be a mother, even if its only for a short time."
Padmé hugged her, careful of Leia, "Thank you."
Beru said nothing as she gently rubbed the baby's back, her thoughts already turning to how she was going to convince Owen. Dry eyes, she sat in Padmé's embrace, her arms cradling the greatest gift in the galaxy.
Disclaimer: I don't own any this, all the characters (Except my original) are property of Lucasfilm etc etc.
Hide Your Love Away
Chapter 4
Less than an hour later, they entered the dual sun system that held Tatooine. Anakin had composed himself, and was now in control once again. At least, he looked at way. To Padmé, he was still scared of what could happen, but resolved to do the right thing. She'd never be more proud of him.
Anakin checked the coordinates of the Lars moisture farm as he brought the ship around and began his approach at the planet. Beside him, Padmé was checking the sensor readouts, making sure they wouldn't encounter a dust storm. He glanced at her profile, feeling blessed to have such an incredible woman as his wife. He wouldn't fail her. Turning his gaze back to the controls, he brought the ship down across the dune sea, the boxy starship streaking across the sandy plain faster than any pod racer. Within minutes they were approaching the Lars homestead.
Settling the ship down without a bump, Anakin cycled the engines down to standby and sat back. "We're here. Are you sure you want to go through with this?"
Padmé turned to look at him, nodding, "I am, Anakin. You?"
He shook his head, "No. But we have to if we want them to have a future."
She reached out and grasped his hand in hers as the wine of the repulsorlifts died away and finally stood. "I'll go prepare the twins."
He watched her go, taking a fortifying breath. If Padmé could do this calmly, how could he do anything less? A movement outside caught his eye and he looked up. His step-brother, Owen, stood looking at their ship. He was older than Anakin remembered him, having grown much in the last year and a half. Owen was a man, and he had likely married his long time girlfriend, Beru Whitesun. Anakin exhaled and rose to his feet. It was time to ask his step-brother for the one thing he needed, and yet didn't want to do, most.
He walked quickly through the halls of the ship that had been his home for the last six or so months and made his way to the landing ramp. As he passed the room where Padmé was preparing the twins, he could see her packing their bag. They didn't have much, but what they did would go with the children. He stepped down into the sweltering heat of the Tattooine suns and sweat instantly coated his forehead.
A reluctant smile kicked up the corner of his mouth. Some things never changed. His steps long and easy, his stride purposeful, Anakin walked from the shade of the ramp and towards his step-brother.
Owen Lars met him halfway, his expression stormy. "Anakin."
Anakin shook the hand his step-brother extended, "Owen. You're looking good."
"You look like hell. What brings you here?"
Anakin resisted the sudden urge to smile. Trust Owen to dispense with the small talk. The simple would-be moisture farmer didn't have much use for the niceties of civilization. "Padmé and I have something to ask of you and Beru."
Owen looked past Anakin's shoulder, his eyes widening in surprise. Anakin turned to find his wife carrying a bag slung over her shoulder, an infant in each arm. He quickly stepped to her side and relieved her of Luke. She smiled her thanks, using both arms to carry Leia. As they stepped out of the shadow of the ship, both children began to wail, too hot for comfort.
Owen stood where Anakin had left him, watching as Anakin and Padmé slowly calmed the twins. He'd just started to compose himself when Beru came out of the homestead, "Owen? I thought I heard... Goodness, Anakin and Padmé? Come in, out of the hot sun. Owen, just don't stand there gawking, help Padmé with that bag!"
Anakin looked up, offering a smile to the practical young as they were ushered into the welcoming shade of the homestead. Beru made sure they were settled at the main table with a drink before seating herself next to Owen. "We didn't know you were coming, Anakin."
"We didn't trust the holo-net to relay this message," he admitted, "Padmé and I have a favor to ask."
Owen and Beru exchanged looks before Owen spoke, "Why should we help you Anakin?"
Anakin swallowed, "I was hoping you wouldn't ask that. My mother's marriage to your father made us step-brothers. I was hoping I could impose upon you to care for your niece and nephew."
Owen's eyebrows hit his receding hairline, "Pardon?"
Beru's smile was ecstatic, "Care for these two Angels?" she reached across and gently ran a finger over Leia's face. She looked up at Padmé, suddenly concerned, "Where are you going that you can't take your family with you?"
Padmé looked at Anakin. "Back to Couruscant. The Supreme Chancellor is threatening to harm me if Anakin doesn't return. It's a long story, but we only have a limited timeframe to work with. Palpatine doesn't seem to know about the children," her voice was soft as she looked down at her sleeping daughter. "We don't want to expose them to him if we can help it. If something happens to us, at least they'll be safe."
"So this could be for as long as they live," Owen observed slowly.
Anakin nodded, "Yes. Their Jedi heritage is putting them in danger. You're not Jedi, by keeping them here and keeping them hidden, you're offering them a chance at a normal life."
Owen looked at Beru, "We'll talk it over. You're welcome to stay for a while if you like."
Padmé smiled, "Thank you."
Beru stood and, after convincing Anakin to give up his son, led Padmé away to their temporary room.
Anakin remained at the table, "She's your wife?"
Owen nodded, "You knew she would be. You don't know what you're asking Anakin. Beru is barren, she can't have children."
Anakin sat back, stunned by that revelation. Beru, sweet loveable Beru who would make a wonderful mother, couldn't have children? He swallowed hard. "If I had known I wouldn't have asked this of you. I can't trust anyone else with their lives, Owen, I just can't."
Owen looked after the women, nodding once, before they fell into an uneasy silence. Both of them knew that if Anakin and Padmé didn't return the twins would be raised as a cherished son and daughter. But, if they did come back, taking them away from Beru might destroy her. Anakin swallowed hard. It was not a decision he wanted to make.
Beru helped Padmé unpack a night's worth of clothing and supplies for the twins as they gurgled happily on the bed. They'd quickly adapted to the new surroundings. Beru was quiet, her gaze moving constantly to the infants on the bed.
Padmé finally placed a hand on Beru's shoulder, smiling. "They're beautiful, aren't they?"
Beru nodded, hoping Padmé wouldn't catch the sudden sheen of tears in her eyes, "They're prefect, Padmé."
Padmé's brows drew together at the hitch in the other woman's voice. "What's the matter Beru?"
Beru shook her head, gently dislodging Padmé's hand, "I'll never know what its like, that's all. I don't think you and Anakin know what you're asking of us, of me, by leaving the twins with us."
She studied the stoic young woman, "Are you and Owen happy, Beru?"
"That's not it."
"Then what?"
Beru picked Leia up in her arms and gently rocked her before holding her against her breast, "I can't have children, Padmé. Owen loves me, and it makes no difference, but..."
Padmé watched in stunned silence as Beru bowed her head, the baby held close to her heart. In sympathy and sudden understanding, she wrapped her arms around the other young woman. "I'm sorry."
Beru's tears were quiet, her eyes shining as she looked up and met Padmé's eyes. "I've never been able to hold a baby, Padmé. Don't be sorry, even if you leave them here and come back to take them away some day, I will have had the opportunity to be a mother, even if its only for a short time."
Padmé hugged her, careful of Leia, "Thank you."
Beru said nothing as she gently rubbed the baby's back, her thoughts already turning to how she was going to convince Owen. Dry eyes, she sat in Padmé's embrace, her arms cradling the greatest gift in the galaxy.