Come Undone

Chapter 15

Padmé knew she was dreaming. Anakin was still on his assignment from the chancellor and he had not been able to send a message yet, but she could almost swear she was hearing his voice. She sighed and tried to settle back into deep sleep again. Maybe she could still dream of Ani...

"Don't worry R2; it looks like she needs to sleep." The hologram said a little sadly. "Play this message when she wakes as I won't be able to rebroadcast for a while. Rest well beloved. I miss you..."

As Padmé struggled to get up, the sudden movement caused a shock of pain to run through her abdomen and she froze, willing the pain to subside.

"No!" she thought. "It's too soon! Oh Ani!" She cried out as the image faded, knowing she had missed talking to Anakin by the smallest of margins.

She rubbed her stomach gently, trying to sooth away both the pain and activity.

"Not yet, little ones," she murmured softly. "Your father wants to be here for your arrival. What a surprise he'll have! He thinks there's only one of you..." She smiled wistfully. "Besides, you're early. Not for another few weeks at the least." As if to contradict her, the pain flared up again and she felt the movement beneath her hands. She gritted her teeth, silently willing both the movement and the pain to stop and finally, after a time it did.

"R-2, play back the message please." Padmé smiled at first, but her joy quickly diminished as she listened to the message with growing despair.

Unusually enough, Anakin was dressed in civilian cloths.

"Hello beloved," the message began and the holo image smiled sadly. "I'm sorry I haven't been in contact sooner, I really can't tell you everything...Anything that's going on. You'll just have to try to understand that things aren't working out as well as I had hoped, that I might be away longer than I had anticipated. Padmé, beloved... I want you to return to Naboo, the Chancellor has already promised to have a transport arranged for you within the next few days." He took a deep breath and continued. "Padmé, I've... I've done some… things... The Chancellor is supposed to be smoothing things over... but for now we both think it's safer for you just to be home on Naboo... Not with the Jedi... just, home... I'll join you as soon as I can...Don't worry R2, it looks like she needs to sleep. Play this message when she wakes as I won't be able to rebroadcast for a while. Rest well beloved. I miss you..."

The figure faded away and R2 whistled mournfully. All Padmé could do was sit there and look blankly at the space where her husband's image had been moments before. Go back to Naboo? What had could he have done that required the intervention of the Chancellor? Her mind reeled and she had to close her eyes to fight off the tears. What was happening? Anakin, her beloved Ani...

A knock at the door interrupted her train of thought. It was Dormé, who had come back to Coresaunt shortly before Anakin's departure. Padmé had been relieved to have her there, not only for the company but for the fact that she  seemed to know exactly what needed to be done at any given time. Now however; she only stood there, looking a little confused.

"M'lady, Master Obi-wan wishes to speak to you. He says it's important."

Padmé briefly considered telling Master Obi-wan exactly where he could stick his light saber and his 'important discussion', but then she thought better of it. With a heavy sigh, she slowly pushed herself to the edge of the bed. Dormé was at her side instantly, helping her to her feet and Padmé flinched in anticipation of a fresh bout of activity from the babies. This time, thankfully, they remained mercifully still.

"Please tell Master Kenobi I'll be with him shortly," she said resignedly. Dormé nodded in agreement and walked back out to the sitting room. Padmé sighed again, and began to replait her hair. She may not have felt like the great mistress of the household, but she would be cursed if she would let the Jedi Master know that. After a quick glance in the mirror, she carefully made her way into the sitting room to join them. A snake of fear wound it's way inexplicitly in her stomach, and she hesitated.

"Sith spit woman!" She thought angrily to herself, using one of Anakin's pet phrases. "It's Obi-wan Kenobi, Ani's friend and mentor, not some monster from the bowels of the planet." Still, she was very afraid and had to force herself to enter the room despite her misgivings.

"Master Obi-wan," she began, a large false smile on her face. "How pleasant it is to see you..." Her voice trailed off when Obi-wan did not return her smile. In fact, if anything he looked almost more pale and drawn as she did herself.

He regarded her almost sadly. "Senator Amidala. Padmé, We need to talk about Anakin. Do you know where he is...?"

"No," she said slowly. "He didn't tell me anything, just that he would be away for a little while and not to worry... Master Kenobi, what has happened to my husband?"

Obi-wan tore his gaze away and looked at the floor. "Senator," he began again, "This is harder than I thought... Did he not tell you? He didn't... Oh Gods!" He took a deep breath before continuing. "There's no easy way to say this Padmé. He left the Jedi Order a little over a week ago... There had been meeting of sorts... it  ended in a slaughter. One of the survivors, he described a Jedi that looked like Anakin..."

Padmé didn't hear the rest of what Obi-wan had to say. She collapsed slowly to the floor in a faint, an expression of shocked horror on her face. Obi-wan rushed to her side, sending Dormé into the kitchen to get her some water. He cursed under his breath. Why in Blazes did these things have to fall to him?

        "Are you all right Milady?"

"Padmé? Senator…"

Padmé blinked blearily, momentarily confused.

"What...? Dormé quit mothering me, I'm alright! Obi-wan! I'm a grown woman, quite able to... to... Oh!" Her face went white as her breath hitched in her throat.

Obi-wan helped her to a sitting position and turned to Dormé.

"Get a bowl! Quickly!" he snapped at the handmaiden, who raced into the little kitchenette to get one.

"No..." said Padmé suddenly, trying to maintain a semblance of control. "Just help me into the fresher... Please..."

As carefully as he could, Obi-wan obliged.

"Leave the door open," he commanded her gently. "I'll be just outside if you need anything."

She started to reply angrily but was suddenly seized by a fit of vomiting. Obi-wan discreetly moved away from the door but the sounds of her retching seemed to permeate the entirety of the little flat.

"How long has she been ill like this?" He asked quietly, and Dorme' shook her head.

"A few days. There's been pain, but she won't let me call the healers in. Before you came Master Kenobi, I was going to bring them in anyway. She won't listen to me, she's too much like Master Anakin in that regard."

Obi-wan considered this. "She's due in how long? What... Six weeks?"

"Twenty six days," gasped Padmé as she staggered out of the little room.

Obi-wan put a steadying arm around her waist and lead her to the couch, Dormé followed behind and sat next to her, holding Padmé's hand.

"How long have you been feeling the pain Padmé?" Obiwan inquired gently. "Describe it to me, if you would."

Padmé took several deep slow breaths, unable to answer. She shook her head as if to brush the inquiry aside.

Obi-wan tried to mask his concern but his voice grew stern.

"Padmé, I want you to come back to the Temple for a bit, I don't like this, not at all."

Padmé shook her head again, barely able to make an articulate reply. "No!" she said at last. "I can't go. Ani wants me to go back to Naboo... I can't..."

Obi-wan, normally was quite a level headed man, but he was quickly loosing his temper now.

"Padmé, you don't seem to understand the situation. Your beloved husband is certainly not in a position to help you at this time! You cannot stay here and you are most decidedly in NO condition to travel to Naboo! There is the very strong possibility that your child is coming early..."

"Children," she interrupted him with a pained wince. "Not child... Children..."

This time it was Obi-wan who was rendered speechless. He could almost hear Master Yoda's voice in his head. "Now, things are worse."

"By all that's…" he spat finally. "Does he know?"

Padmé managed a little more composure.

"If you are referring to my 'husband', no, Anakin doesn't know that they are twins... I... I haven't had a chance to tell him." She started weaving back and forth on the chair, the colour leaving her face.

"M'lady!" Dormé cried out, trying to keep her from falling. Obi-wan swept her up into his arms, as Anakin had done so many times before but she had already lost consciousness again. He started for the door, determined now.

"Master Kenobi!" Dormé pleaded. "What are you doing?"

"I will take her to the Temple infirmary, she'll be the safest there." He grimaced. "If... if he comes for her, or tries to contact her, tell him to find me. He'll know where… and how."

Dormé needed no further explanation, and she bowed her head in agreement. "I am not worried about the Master; he would kill to protect her if necessary."

Obi-wan only nodded, not admitting to Dormé that it was exactly that which was what he was afraid of.