New Life

Night was just beginning to fall as Padme hurriedly threw some clothing in a suitcase. As she rummaged through her belongings, her hand touched something small and hard. Pulling it out, she had to fight hard to bite back tears. It was the tiny amulet Anakin had carved her twelve years ago. It seemed like a lifetime away as she thought of the trip from Tatooine to Coruscant. She'd told him that she'd always care for him. That much had not changed, but everything else had. Anakin was no longer the man she'd fallen in love with. He was cold, distant, and filled with an intense hatred. It was that hatred that caused her to have to flee tonight. Obi-Wan had sent her a message and told her about Anakin's descent into darkness. He feared for her as well as her child who would arrive soon. He'd said that he would take her to Master Yoda on a small out-of-the-way planet where she'd be safe to have the baby. He was coming to get her tonight. She never envisioned a time when she would fear Anakin. She'd hoped for a life that they could share, they and their child. But, so much, everything, was different.

She heard the hum of a ship's engine and closed her suitcase, still clutching the japor snippet. She raced outside and gave a sigh of relief at seeing Obi-Wan's compassionate face. It was a little more worn than the last time she'd seen him, but that was to be expected. She walked up the landing ramp and into the ship where Obi-Wan was waiting.

"I'm glad to see you safe, Padme. I was worried," he said.

"And I you. I do not think I have ever been so anxious in my life." She sat down in the co-pilot's seat and fastened her crash webbing. Obi-Wan did the same. "Where are we going" she questioned, "Is it far?"

" I don't want to tell you anything. Not until we're there." he answered haltingly as he began the ascent.

In moments they were surrounded by the blackness of space. Seemingly anxious, he was quick to put them into hyperspace. Before long, a small muddy-green planet came into view. Obi-Wan's sigh of relief was audible as he put new coordinates into the navicomputer. Padme leaned forward and asked "What is this place?"

"Dagobah" was all Obi-Wan answered.

He landed the ship smoothly and completed the landing procedures. Padme could only stare in wonder at the muddy, lush landscape before her. Animals and plants she'd never seen before crawled over everything. In the midst of it all was a small, mud hut with tiny round windows. She guessed this to be Yoda's home. Once inside, Obi-Wan took her bag and left to speak to Yoda who was outside in meditation. Sitting down, she was assaulted by a sharp pain through her lower belly that took her breath away. She'd been feeling such all day, but never so pronounced as this one. It tore through her body, draining away the surroundings. It was time.

Obi-Wan waited patiently for Yoda to come out of his trance. When he did so, Obi-Wan stepped forward and bowed to the diminutive master.

"I've brought her Master Yoda. All is well." he said.

"All is not well, I fear. Looking for his wife, Anakin is. Find her, he will. Once born the child is, take her away you must. Hide the baby also, you will." Yoda replied.

"Master Yoda, Padme has already been deprived of her husband. She will not consent to letting the child go as well." was Obi-Wan's reply.

"Convince her, you must. Once Anakin destroys the Jedi, to turn the child to the Dark Side he will try."

Yoda's statement left no room for argument. Suddenly both Jedi turned to the hut feeling Padme's pain.

" Time it is for the baby to arrive."

They rushed into the hut as Padme let out a shriek of anguish. Both sent waves of comfort into her tortured body to dull the pain of childbirth. Before long a small child was handed to Padme wrapped in a blanket. The tiny boy cried softly as Padme gently rocked him. She could not be completely happy, for the baby was reflective of Anakin and he was not there to see. She tried to enjoy the tiny new life, but she was assaulted by more stabbing pains.

"What's going on?" she asked breathlessly.

Yoda closed his eyes and sank into the Force feeling another life full of the Force. He opened his eyes. "There is another Skywalker."

Again Padme cried out in pain and reached for a comforting hand, which Obi-Wan readily gave her sending waves of calm through him into her tortured form. In an hour, there was another baby pressed into her arms. This one, was a beautiful girl. Yoda and Obi-Wan left the hut as Padme needed to feed the children.

Outside, Obi-Wan turned to Yoda and said "They are not safe together. I fear that Anakin will find them wherever I bring them. I'm going to have to split them up and hide Padme."

"Hmmmm..........yes. The Dark Side, I sense. Coming are dark times. Take the children somewhere safe, you must," was the small Master's answer.

For the second time, Padme hurriedly packed some things. Yoda held the two children and waited for her to finish. She was still in great pain and so Obi-Wan had to carry her into the ship. Yoda came in after and secured the two children. Obi-Wan turned to speak to him,

"I am taking Padme and the girl to Alderaan. I feel they will be safe there."

Yoda contemplated this "Yes. Safe will they be on Alderaan. Take them there quickly you must."

Obi-Wan boarded the ship, checked on the children and Padme, and then started to ascend into the cloudy sky.

During the flight, Padme fell into an anguished sleep haunted by images of Anakin. He would walk up to her, smile at the babies in her arms, and then step back as she set them down. In that instant, they were no longer infants, but toddlers and began to walk to him. He smiled lovingly at them and reached under his cloak as if to hand them a gift. But when he brought his hand out, it was not a gift he was holding, but an ignited lightsaber with a blood-red blade. She would jerk awake just as he swung the blade at the children. It was the same every time she fell asleep, so she gave up on sleeping and tried to get up. She groaned in pain and laid back down. Hearing her moan, Obi-Wan looked over at her and laid a healing hand on her arm. She felt immediately better.

He looked back at her again and said,"Padme, I have something to tell you, but it may be difficult for you to hear." he looked worried and Padme braced herself for the worst. "Anakin has become strong in the dark ways of the Force. These two children are his and so share that immense strength in the Force. He will try to find them and raise them in the path of the Dark Side. They must be hidden." His face was guarded as if he had more to tell but Padme spoke before he could.

"I understand. We will have to go into hiding. I expected that."

Obi-Wan looked at her now in a way that told her there was more to it than that.

"Padme, if they are kept together, their strength in the Force will draw Anakin to them like a homing beacon. I want to leave you and the girl on Alderaan and take the boy to Tatooine." He searched her face for a reaction.

Padme looked back at the two sleeping forms of her children. She knew Obi-Wan was right, but tears streamed down her face.

"Let me be the one to give the baby to...to....who will you give him to?" she questioned.

"I don't know yet. I thought I would raise him myself, but Anakin might find me." he offered hesitantly.

"I know a family who might take care of him. Anakin's mother's stepson Owen and his girlfriend Beru. They seemed like such good people. They'll take good care of my son." She started to weep again profusely.

"Do you know how to contact them?" he asked taking her hand.

"No. But they live on the outskirts of Mos Eisley. I only hope they remember me." she answered.

Hours later, the ship touched down outside of Mos Eisley near a familiar looking homestead. A bearded young man stepped out of the house and looked in wonderment at the starship. Upon seeing Padme's face, he was filled with recognition. Obi-Wan got to him first and began to speak,

"Are you Owen Lars?" he asked.

"Yes, I am." was the brief reply.

"My name is Obi-Wan Kenobi and I have something important to speak with you about. Do you remember Padme?" he asked as she approached.

"Of course I do. Where's Anakin?" He stopped as Padme and Obi-Wan exchanged pained glances.

"Maybe we'd better go inside." Owen offered.

In the hut, they were met by Beru who immediately recognized Padme and gave her a hug. As soon as they were all seated, Obi-Wan began to speak,

"Anakin is gone. He's succumbed to the Dark Side. Before he had done so, he and Padme were married and they now have two children." He paused realizing this was a lot to take in. Jedi were not ones for smoothing things over. Padme took up where he left off,

"We fear that he will come for the children and raise them in the path of the Dark Side. If we keep them together, he will find them. What we are going to ask you may be difficult for you to answer as you may be in danger if you agree." She paused unable to go on. Obi-Wan began for her keeping up the verbal tennis match.

"We ask you, with the gravest importance, to raise and protect the boy." he finished, studying their faces.

"Where is he?" was all Owen wanted to know.

"In the ship with Artoo." Obi-Wan answered.

Beru turned to Owen, "You know we have to do this. The baby is in danger and so is Padme. She's our friend and needs our help." she turned to Padme. "We will do anything and everything we can to help you, including protecting your son." She finished and seemed to become strong.

They all walked to the ship. They had to go slowly though, for Padme could barely walk and had to be supported by Obi-Wan and Owen. Once inside, she led them to the crib where the baby slept and lifted him out. She closed her eyes and inhaled his sweet baby smell. When she opened them again, tears glistened in her eyes and threatened to fall. She kissed his forehead and handed him to Beru.

"What is his name?" she asked slowly, being considerate of Padme's sadness.

" His name is," she searched inside herself, " Luke, Luke Skywalker."