Title: Strength over fear
Author: ewan's girl
*Author's note: Well my lovelies here is another chapter, Work has finally slowed down so I'll have more time to write, but I no longer have internet at work so I don't have great access to the site at the moment. I am not sure how much longer this story is going to go, but it has been a lot longer than I expected. As always please review.
Chapter 29:
"Hmmmm, dangerous your request is." Yoda huffed, and began to pace the room. "Put the child and mother in danger it would."
Obi Wan crossed his arms over his chest. "She won't give them both up master, I know her too well." He looked over at Siri who also had her arms crossed over her chest. "It is going to be hard enough to convince her to give Luke up."
"Obi Wan. . ." Siri spoke up, then noticed a look from Obi Wan. "Ben is right master, the senator is not a Jedi so it would be difficult for her to understand."
"Thinking of what's best for her children we are, our judgement she must respect." Yoda stamped his gimmar stick to accent his point.
"Master, Luke is the one who is strongest in the Force, and is also the one of the two that would be recongnized as a Skywalker, Leia could easily pass as someone else's child." Obi Wan explained, although feeling somewhat ashamed for his idea.
Siri eyed him curiously. "Like who?" She asked.
Obi Wan loooked at her. "Well not mine if that's what you're thinking." He tried to reassure Siri. "If Vader thought Leia was my child, she wouldn't have a prayer." He thought for a moment."Perhapse Organa, his sister recently died during a miscarriage, maybe Leia could pass as his niece who he adopted as a daughter."
Siri and Yoda exchanged glances. "That is asking a lot from Organa, plus Leia is the spitting image of her mother, anyone who looks at her closly. . ."
"Well, I am open for suggestions, I am trying the best I can." Obi Wan explained.
"Hmmmm, strained we all are, become impatient we must not." Yoda intervined. "At stake the future is, made lightly this decision must not be."
Obi Wan and Siri both sighed, releasing their tension into the Force, not realizing how worked up they were. "You are right master Yoda, we have to think about this carefully." Obi Wan agreed.
"I think first things first, we must make sure that Organa would agree to adopting Leia." Siri moved next to Obi Wan reached out and rubbed his back gently.
"I would asume it wouldn't be a problem, he is very fond of the child and her mother." Obi Wan added. "Trust me, he wasn't thrilled with me when he first learned Padme was pregnant and thought I was the father; he cares greatly for Padme to say the least."
Siri tried to hide her smile at the awkward conversation Obi Wan must've had with Organa.
"Hmmm, speak with him I will." Yoda exclaimed. "Convince the mother you must Obi Wan."
Obi Wan and Siri bowed in unison as Yoda hobbled out of the room. "Yes master." Obi Wan stated, but knew it would be easier said than done; he looked at Siri.
"Hell of a honey moon." She tried to make him feel better. He smiled at her and leaned down to kiss her, he then exited the room to find Padme.
************************************************
Padme was holding both the twins on her chest, rocking back and forth in a rocking chair when her door chime rang. She glanced over at the door and sighed, not sure if she wanted the to be intruded upon, but before she could react her faithful droids were answering the door. She turned away as a familiar form entered the room and bowed to her, waiting for her to aknowledge his presence.
"You know you don't have to do that." She stated as he finished his bow.
"I wasn't sure anymore." He replied, not sure how to continue.
"So, I'm still waiting for this compromise you were going to propose to me." She spat out, still not looking at him.
"I want you to know Padme that if it were up to me, I would never ask this of you." Obi Wan stated.
Padme shot him a hard look. "Yet you are asking me."
"I don't expect you to understand Padme, I'm not even sure I completely understand." Obi Wan kneeled in front of her. "All I know is the children aren't safe here, and they aren't safe together."
"Why?" Padme began to break down.
He gently put a hand on her knee. "When more than one individual with the Force stays in one place for too long, it's easy for others strong in the Force to find them." He forced her to look at him. "That is why the rest of us Jedi have come to the conclusion that we can never stay in one place for longer than a couple of weeks." He swallowed hard. "It's either that, or we have to all separate." He closed his eyes at the thought.
"All of you?" Padme asked, noticing the look in his eyes.
He nodded. "It is a very likely senerio Milady, and believe me I want to separate you from your children as much as I want to be separated from my wife." Padme looked away from him and he continued. "I'm afraid for the safety of your children you have two choices. . .one is to go on the run with them, never stopping for any length of time, or two. . ." He paused. "Separating them, sending Luke away, far away while keeping Leia."
Padme's eyes widened. "I can't do that." She looked down at Luke. "I can't keep one over the other."
Obi Wan nodded. "I know it is an impossible task Padme, but these are the only ways to ensure your children's safety." He held her gaze, watching tears form in her eyes. "If you keep them together you rid them the chance of any kind of normal childhood, whatever that may be in this galaxy now." He grabbed her hand. "Don't you want your children to make friends? Rivals? Sleep in the same bed every night?"
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she looked at each of her children. "Yes." She mumbled.
Obi Wan moved and wrapped the three of them into his arms. "Believe me, I wish there was another way." He kissed the top of her head.
Padme lost the battle with her tears, she sobbed into Obi Wan's shoulder. "Oh Ani. . ." She cried, and her crying for him almost caused Obi Wan to lose it as well. "Is it wrong to still love him?" She asked.
Obi Wan shook his head. "No." He answered her.
"I can't believe he's still alive." She stared up at Obi Wan, he noticed the makeup smearing down her face.
He took his sleeve and wiped her face. "He's not; you must remember that Vader is not Anakin." Obi Wan quickly moved away from her. "If he was you would not be facing this choice."
Padme looked down at her children, who were now awake from the comotion. She looked up at Obi Wan. "Can I have a moment?" She asked.
Obi Wan bowed. "Of course Milady." He then exited the room.
Once Obi Wan had left Padme stared down at her two children. Luke was waving his hands around, and Leia was blowing a spit bubble, their mother smiled at them. "I thought when I married your father that I had given my heart completely to someone, when in fact he only had a piece of it, and now you have the rest." She watched as Luke seemed to become frustrated with his hands for some reason and he ended up smacking himself in the face, causing him to cry.
Padme rose to her feet, and placed Leia in her crib. She then held Luke tightly and tried to sooth him. "My beautiful son, why couldn't I do better? Why couldn't I save him, or do something to fix the galaxy?" She felt herself begin to cry again as she looked at Luke again who now was sucking his thumb. "What do I do?"
Suddenly something on her nightstand caught her eye, she rose to her feet and retrieved the small trinket that was connected to a black, thin leather strap. The trinket was small and square and carved with unique markings, Padme sat down on her sleep couch, and placed Luke on the center of the bed. She examined the Jappoor snippet, running the necklace through her fingers.
// "I made this for you." Anakin beemed with pride. "So you'd remember me, I carved it out of a Jappoor snippet."
Padme stared at the trinket in her hands, then at the nine year old boy who had presented it to her. "It's beautiful, but I don't need this to remember you by." She smiled. "Many things will change when we reach the capital Ani, but my caring for you will remain."
The boy looked down for a moment. "I care for you too, only I. . ."
Padme put a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Miss your mother." //
Padme shook off the memory and looked down at Luke. "I never really understood until this moment." She wiped away her tears. "Shmi. . . mom, help me to be as strong as you were." She then tied the necklace around Luke's neck and gently picked him up.
*************************************************************************
Obi Wan ran calloused fingers through his hair, begining to feel his exhaustion due to the recent emotions he had been bombarded with and the lack of sleep. He paced out side of Padme's quarters, waiting for her to come to him with an answer. He stopped and sighed, hating himself for even having to put his friend in such a predicament. He turned as he felt a familiar presence heading towards him.
"Siri." He reached out to her, and she grabbed his hand.
"What news?" She asked.
"She is still deciding." He explained.
"What do you think she will do?" Siri asked.
Obi Wan shook his head. "I do not know." He admitted. "But Padme will do the right thing, she just may take the long way around."
Siri nodded. "Master Yoda spoke with Bail, he's agreed to help Padme in any way that he can."
"No surprises there." Obi Wan commented.
Siri nodded then looked at him. "How are you doing?" She asked.
Obi Wan was taken back by her question. "I'm fine." He automatically replied, then noticed the look on her face. "Actually, I am having difficulty casting my grief into the Force." He stated, ashamed.
"I sensed that." Siri said, taking both of his hands. "I know how close you have become to this family, and how much it is killing you to be doing all of this, but it is showing what a true Jedi you are."
Obi Wan kissed her forehead. "Why didn't I bond with you sooner? I've never shared a bond with someone so encouraging."
"Well, enjoy it while you can, because in a few months down the line when I'm sick of you I may not be so encouraging." She joked.
He smiled and the couple shared a kiss, that was quickly interupted by Padme's door opening. Padme exited the room, holding Luke, followed by her two droids that were carrying some baby nessecities.
Padme stopped in front of Obi Wan. "You promised me once that you would watch over Anakin's child for all eternity if you had to." She looked Obi Wan straight in the eyes.
Obi Wan nodded. "Yes, and I still am bound by that promise."
She looked down at the precious bundle in her arms. "He won't remember me." She sadly stated. "But it's better that way."
Obi Wan looked back at Siri, and both Jedi wondered if their parents went through a similar scene. "He will be taken care of, I promise you Padme." Obi Wan assured her.
Padme looked up at Obi Wan and bit her lip to keep her from crying again. "I know, you are a man of your word." She kissed Luke on the top of his head, and held him tightly. "I love you so much Luke, please know that." She couldn't hold back the tears again. "Please understand why I did this, please know that I do love you, with all my heart."
Obi Wan and Siri shifted uncomfortably while they watched the Senator clutch the bundle in her arms. "Padme." Obi Wan softly ventured after a moment.
Padme slowly nodded, and reluctanly handed Luke over to Obi Wan. She then placed a hand on Luke's forehead, and kissed him one last time. "Take him, it's best if I don't know where he is in case Vader. . ." She stopped for a moment to gather the words. "In case Vader finds out."
Obi Wan closed his eyes and nodded, he then held Luke closely and headed off down the hall. Siri watched him go, then turned back towards Padme. The two women stared at each other for a moment before Padme could take no more and headed back to her quarters.
**********
Obi Wan secured Luke in the transport and headed down the ramp of the ship, where he was met by Bail Organa. The two men clasped hands.
"Thank you again for your timing." Obi Wan stated to Bail.
"You should really be thanking Padme, she's the one who convinced us to go after you." Bail admitted.
Obi Wan swallowed hard. "I see."
The two men stood in awkward silence for a moment, before Bail cleared his throat. "Padme sent me to give this to you." Bail handed Obi Wan a large bag of credits. "She said to give this to who ever you give Luke to."
Obi Wan looked down at the bag, not sure what to say. He decided to stay silent and clipped the bag to his belt.
"When you return, we can discuss our next course of action." Bail didn't miss a moment.
Obi Wan sighed. "Bail, like I explained earlier the Jedi would do the Rebels more harm than good right now."
"If we act quickly. . ."
Obi Wan placed a hand on Bail's shoulder. "I promise when I return we will sit down and talk about this, but for right now I have a very important mission to handle." He noticed Siri and Yoda heading towards him. "Make sure Padme is alright, I'm very worried about her."
"Of course general Kenobi." Bail stated and left the three Jedi alone.
"Going with you I am." Yoda stated as he headed up the ramp of the ship, not letting Obi Wan argue.
"Apparently he is going with me." Obi Wan turned to Siri. "We won't be too long." He ran a hand through her hair.
Siri gave him a half smile. "Why do I not believe you?"
He leaned down and kissed her. "If we are gone too long, you know it's up to you to get the children out of here."
Siri sighed. "I know."
Obi Wan smiled at her, then turned to the ship.
"May the Force be with you." Siri called after him.
Obi Wan looked back at her and nodded. "You too Mrs. Kenobi."
Siri rolled her eyes, and held back her worry as she watched the ship take off into the sky.
**
Padme pulled her knees up to her chest as she watched the ship pull up and disapear, she tried to stop crying, but couldn't. Suddenly Leia began to wail and the mother quickly grabbed the infant and rocked her back and forth. "I know Leia, I miss him too."
******************************************************
TBC: Ok, I hope this wasn't too mushy or whatever. . .and as always, I'm sorry about the mis spelled words, I only have wordpad and it doesn't have spell check. Please review!
Author: ewan's girl
*Author's note: Well my lovelies here is another chapter, Work has finally slowed down so I'll have more time to write, but I no longer have internet at work so I don't have great access to the site at the moment. I am not sure how much longer this story is going to go, but it has been a lot longer than I expected. As always please review.
Chapter 29:
"Hmmmm, dangerous your request is." Yoda huffed, and began to pace the room. "Put the child and mother in danger it would."
Obi Wan crossed his arms over his chest. "She won't give them both up master, I know her too well." He looked over at Siri who also had her arms crossed over her chest. "It is going to be hard enough to convince her to give Luke up."
"Obi Wan. . ." Siri spoke up, then noticed a look from Obi Wan. "Ben is right master, the senator is not a Jedi so it would be difficult for her to understand."
"Thinking of what's best for her children we are, our judgement she must respect." Yoda stamped his gimmar stick to accent his point.
"Master, Luke is the one who is strongest in the Force, and is also the one of the two that would be recongnized as a Skywalker, Leia could easily pass as someone else's child." Obi Wan explained, although feeling somewhat ashamed for his idea.
Siri eyed him curiously. "Like who?" She asked.
Obi Wan loooked at her. "Well not mine if that's what you're thinking." He tried to reassure Siri. "If Vader thought Leia was my child, she wouldn't have a prayer." He thought for a moment."Perhapse Organa, his sister recently died during a miscarriage, maybe Leia could pass as his niece who he adopted as a daughter."
Siri and Yoda exchanged glances. "That is asking a lot from Organa, plus Leia is the spitting image of her mother, anyone who looks at her closly. . ."
"Well, I am open for suggestions, I am trying the best I can." Obi Wan explained.
"Hmmmm, strained we all are, become impatient we must not." Yoda intervined. "At stake the future is, made lightly this decision must not be."
Obi Wan and Siri both sighed, releasing their tension into the Force, not realizing how worked up they were. "You are right master Yoda, we have to think about this carefully." Obi Wan agreed.
"I think first things first, we must make sure that Organa would agree to adopting Leia." Siri moved next to Obi Wan reached out and rubbed his back gently.
"I would asume it wouldn't be a problem, he is very fond of the child and her mother." Obi Wan added. "Trust me, he wasn't thrilled with me when he first learned Padme was pregnant and thought I was the father; he cares greatly for Padme to say the least."
Siri tried to hide her smile at the awkward conversation Obi Wan must've had with Organa.
"Hmmm, speak with him I will." Yoda exclaimed. "Convince the mother you must Obi Wan."
Obi Wan and Siri bowed in unison as Yoda hobbled out of the room. "Yes master." Obi Wan stated, but knew it would be easier said than done; he looked at Siri.
"Hell of a honey moon." She tried to make him feel better. He smiled at her and leaned down to kiss her, he then exited the room to find Padme.
************************************************
Padme was holding both the twins on her chest, rocking back and forth in a rocking chair when her door chime rang. She glanced over at the door and sighed, not sure if she wanted the to be intruded upon, but before she could react her faithful droids were answering the door. She turned away as a familiar form entered the room and bowed to her, waiting for her to aknowledge his presence.
"You know you don't have to do that." She stated as he finished his bow.
"I wasn't sure anymore." He replied, not sure how to continue.
"So, I'm still waiting for this compromise you were going to propose to me." She spat out, still not looking at him.
"I want you to know Padme that if it were up to me, I would never ask this of you." Obi Wan stated.
Padme shot him a hard look. "Yet you are asking me."
"I don't expect you to understand Padme, I'm not even sure I completely understand." Obi Wan kneeled in front of her. "All I know is the children aren't safe here, and they aren't safe together."
"Why?" Padme began to break down.
He gently put a hand on her knee. "When more than one individual with the Force stays in one place for too long, it's easy for others strong in the Force to find them." He forced her to look at him. "That is why the rest of us Jedi have come to the conclusion that we can never stay in one place for longer than a couple of weeks." He swallowed hard. "It's either that, or we have to all separate." He closed his eyes at the thought.
"All of you?" Padme asked, noticing the look in his eyes.
He nodded. "It is a very likely senerio Milady, and believe me I want to separate you from your children as much as I want to be separated from my wife." Padme looked away from him and he continued. "I'm afraid for the safety of your children you have two choices. . .one is to go on the run with them, never stopping for any length of time, or two. . ." He paused. "Separating them, sending Luke away, far away while keeping Leia."
Padme's eyes widened. "I can't do that." She looked down at Luke. "I can't keep one over the other."
Obi Wan nodded. "I know it is an impossible task Padme, but these are the only ways to ensure your children's safety." He held her gaze, watching tears form in her eyes. "If you keep them together you rid them the chance of any kind of normal childhood, whatever that may be in this galaxy now." He grabbed her hand. "Don't you want your children to make friends? Rivals? Sleep in the same bed every night?"
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she looked at each of her children. "Yes." She mumbled.
Obi Wan moved and wrapped the three of them into his arms. "Believe me, I wish there was another way." He kissed the top of her head.
Padme lost the battle with her tears, she sobbed into Obi Wan's shoulder. "Oh Ani. . ." She cried, and her crying for him almost caused Obi Wan to lose it as well. "Is it wrong to still love him?" She asked.
Obi Wan shook his head. "No." He answered her.
"I can't believe he's still alive." She stared up at Obi Wan, he noticed the makeup smearing down her face.
He took his sleeve and wiped her face. "He's not; you must remember that Vader is not Anakin." Obi Wan quickly moved away from her. "If he was you would not be facing this choice."
Padme looked down at her children, who were now awake from the comotion. She looked up at Obi Wan. "Can I have a moment?" She asked.
Obi Wan bowed. "Of course Milady." He then exited the room.
Once Obi Wan had left Padme stared down at her two children. Luke was waving his hands around, and Leia was blowing a spit bubble, their mother smiled at them. "I thought when I married your father that I had given my heart completely to someone, when in fact he only had a piece of it, and now you have the rest." She watched as Luke seemed to become frustrated with his hands for some reason and he ended up smacking himself in the face, causing him to cry.
Padme rose to her feet, and placed Leia in her crib. She then held Luke tightly and tried to sooth him. "My beautiful son, why couldn't I do better? Why couldn't I save him, or do something to fix the galaxy?" She felt herself begin to cry again as she looked at Luke again who now was sucking his thumb. "What do I do?"
Suddenly something on her nightstand caught her eye, she rose to her feet and retrieved the small trinket that was connected to a black, thin leather strap. The trinket was small and square and carved with unique markings, Padme sat down on her sleep couch, and placed Luke on the center of the bed. She examined the Jappoor snippet, running the necklace through her fingers.
// "I made this for you." Anakin beemed with pride. "So you'd remember me, I carved it out of a Jappoor snippet."
Padme stared at the trinket in her hands, then at the nine year old boy who had presented it to her. "It's beautiful, but I don't need this to remember you by." She smiled. "Many things will change when we reach the capital Ani, but my caring for you will remain."
The boy looked down for a moment. "I care for you too, only I. . ."
Padme put a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Miss your mother." //
Padme shook off the memory and looked down at Luke. "I never really understood until this moment." She wiped away her tears. "Shmi. . . mom, help me to be as strong as you were." She then tied the necklace around Luke's neck and gently picked him up.
*************************************************************************
Obi Wan ran calloused fingers through his hair, begining to feel his exhaustion due to the recent emotions he had been bombarded with and the lack of sleep. He paced out side of Padme's quarters, waiting for her to come to him with an answer. He stopped and sighed, hating himself for even having to put his friend in such a predicament. He turned as he felt a familiar presence heading towards him.
"Siri." He reached out to her, and she grabbed his hand.
"What news?" She asked.
"She is still deciding." He explained.
"What do you think she will do?" Siri asked.
Obi Wan shook his head. "I do not know." He admitted. "But Padme will do the right thing, she just may take the long way around."
Siri nodded. "Master Yoda spoke with Bail, he's agreed to help Padme in any way that he can."
"No surprises there." Obi Wan commented.
Siri nodded then looked at him. "How are you doing?" She asked.
Obi Wan was taken back by her question. "I'm fine." He automatically replied, then noticed the look on her face. "Actually, I am having difficulty casting my grief into the Force." He stated, ashamed.
"I sensed that." Siri said, taking both of his hands. "I know how close you have become to this family, and how much it is killing you to be doing all of this, but it is showing what a true Jedi you are."
Obi Wan kissed her forehead. "Why didn't I bond with you sooner? I've never shared a bond with someone so encouraging."
"Well, enjoy it while you can, because in a few months down the line when I'm sick of you I may not be so encouraging." She joked.
He smiled and the couple shared a kiss, that was quickly interupted by Padme's door opening. Padme exited the room, holding Luke, followed by her two droids that were carrying some baby nessecities.
Padme stopped in front of Obi Wan. "You promised me once that you would watch over Anakin's child for all eternity if you had to." She looked Obi Wan straight in the eyes.
Obi Wan nodded. "Yes, and I still am bound by that promise."
She looked down at the precious bundle in her arms. "He won't remember me." She sadly stated. "But it's better that way."
Obi Wan looked back at Siri, and both Jedi wondered if their parents went through a similar scene. "He will be taken care of, I promise you Padme." Obi Wan assured her.
Padme looked up at Obi Wan and bit her lip to keep her from crying again. "I know, you are a man of your word." She kissed Luke on the top of his head, and held him tightly. "I love you so much Luke, please know that." She couldn't hold back the tears again. "Please understand why I did this, please know that I do love you, with all my heart."
Obi Wan and Siri shifted uncomfortably while they watched the Senator clutch the bundle in her arms. "Padme." Obi Wan softly ventured after a moment.
Padme slowly nodded, and reluctanly handed Luke over to Obi Wan. She then placed a hand on Luke's forehead, and kissed him one last time. "Take him, it's best if I don't know where he is in case Vader. . ." She stopped for a moment to gather the words. "In case Vader finds out."
Obi Wan closed his eyes and nodded, he then held Luke closely and headed off down the hall. Siri watched him go, then turned back towards Padme. The two women stared at each other for a moment before Padme could take no more and headed back to her quarters.
**********
Obi Wan secured Luke in the transport and headed down the ramp of the ship, where he was met by Bail Organa. The two men clasped hands.
"Thank you again for your timing." Obi Wan stated to Bail.
"You should really be thanking Padme, she's the one who convinced us to go after you." Bail admitted.
Obi Wan swallowed hard. "I see."
The two men stood in awkward silence for a moment, before Bail cleared his throat. "Padme sent me to give this to you." Bail handed Obi Wan a large bag of credits. "She said to give this to who ever you give Luke to."
Obi Wan looked down at the bag, not sure what to say. He decided to stay silent and clipped the bag to his belt.
"When you return, we can discuss our next course of action." Bail didn't miss a moment.
Obi Wan sighed. "Bail, like I explained earlier the Jedi would do the Rebels more harm than good right now."
"If we act quickly. . ."
Obi Wan placed a hand on Bail's shoulder. "I promise when I return we will sit down and talk about this, but for right now I have a very important mission to handle." He noticed Siri and Yoda heading towards him. "Make sure Padme is alright, I'm very worried about her."
"Of course general Kenobi." Bail stated and left the three Jedi alone.
"Going with you I am." Yoda stated as he headed up the ramp of the ship, not letting Obi Wan argue.
"Apparently he is going with me." Obi Wan turned to Siri. "We won't be too long." He ran a hand through her hair.
Siri gave him a half smile. "Why do I not believe you?"
He leaned down and kissed her. "If we are gone too long, you know it's up to you to get the children out of here."
Siri sighed. "I know."
Obi Wan smiled at her, then turned to the ship.
"May the Force be with you." Siri called after him.
Obi Wan looked back at her and nodded. "You too Mrs. Kenobi."
Siri rolled her eyes, and held back her worry as she watched the ship take off into the sky.
**
Padme pulled her knees up to her chest as she watched the ship pull up and disapear, she tried to stop crying, but couldn't. Suddenly Leia began to wail and the mother quickly grabbed the infant and rocked her back and forth. "I know Leia, I miss him too."
******************************************************
TBC: Ok, I hope this wasn't too mushy or whatever. . .and as always, I'm sorry about the mis spelled words, I only have wordpad and it doesn't have spell check. Please review!