Author's Note: Wow...thanks for the feedback. I didn't know that many people were reading this. Well, here it is. You asked for it. I hope it lives up to your expectations!

IN DREAMS

Chapter Four

Padme shifted from side to side in her bed, crying out for her husband…

"Anakin! Where are you?"

She turned and he was standing directly in front of her. His arms automatically encircled her waist and drew her closer to him. He lifted one hand to her face and stroked her cheek gently before he leaned down to kiss her. When the kiss subsided, he whispered softly into her ear: "Everything's going to be alright. Don't worry about me. You need to take care of yourself."

She smiled faintly and started to speak before he stopped her.

"Padme, don't listen to anything they say."

"What?"

"I'm not dead. I'm alive…I'll find a way to come home to you…I promise…"

Padme's eyes opened wearily as the dream faded out. One hand rested gently on her slightly swelling abdomen, the other rubbed her temples. She hated those dreams. They caused her nothing but pain and anxiety. The last thing she needed right now was a stupid dream telling her that Anakin was alive…but it seemed so real…like he was really there with her…whispering in her ear. Those dreams were driving her insane and she didn't think she could take it anymore. It had been well over a month since Obi-Wan had delivered her the news of Anakin's disappearance. She knew that everyone else believed him to be dead, that he would never be seen again.

She sighed, thinking of how easily everyone had given up on him. They had sent out a search party, but that wasn't good enough for her. Not where Anakin was concerned. She wanted the Council to search every end of the galaxy for him but it was as if they had just taken the news and that was it. To the rest of the world, Anakin Skywalker was dead. But for Padme Skywalker, she knew she could never give up.

Perhaps there was someone who could help her…

Padme took a deep breath and looked down again to make sure her condition wasn't visible at all. It didn't really matter, though. He would find out sooner or later.

She knocked softly at first, then more confidently on his door. It flung open to reveal a very surprised Jedi Master.

"Senator? What…can I help you?"

Padme laughed, despite her reasons for coming to see him. "I thought I told you to call me Padme."

Obi-Wan smiled wearily and gestured for her to enter his chambers. "How can I be of service to you, Padme?"

She turned to face him and took a deep breath. "I didn't mean to interrupt you…I can come back later if you're busy…"

"Don't be silly, Padme. Please, sit down."

Padme nodded and found the couch as Obi-Wan sat down across from her. He watched her bit her lip nervously and frowned at the desperate look in her eyes. Something wasn't right here…

"I really don't know why I'm here, well, I know why, I just needed someone to confide in. I just can't take it anymore and I don't know what to do…"

He put a comforting hand on her shoulder and she stopped talking momentarily. "Slow down. I'll do the best I can, but I need to know what's going on first."

She nodded and replied hesitantly. "You have to promise me that anything I tell you will be kept strictly confidential between us."

He nodded immediately and urged her to tell him what was on her mind.

"I'm pregnant."

Obi-Wan froze and he paled at her words. He immediately reached out to grasp her hand but she pulled back suddenly.

"Who is the father?"

She looked at him with tears shining in her eyes as she responded: "Everyone thinks he's dead."

Obi-Wan exhaled loudly and ran a hand nervously through his long hair. He didn't need to told exactly who the father of Padme's child was. He had feared something like this would happen.

"There's more, Obi-Wan, I just found out yesterday that I'm having twins."

He drew in a sharp breath and a hand rose slowly to his mouth as she continued.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have burdened you with this. I just…I didn't know who to turn to."

Suddenly, he snapped out of his trance and quickly moved to embrace her. "Don't worry; everything's going to be alright. You'll see."

"But how? He'll never see them; they'll never know their father. You have to find him; you have to bring him home to us."

"Padme…"

"I don't care about that, Obi-Wan. He's not dead. He can't be."

He sighed and looked at her sadly. "I know you want to believe that, but he's gone, Padme. He's not going to be come back. I'm so sorry…"

"No, he's my husband…"

"Your what?"

"Anakin and I married shortly after the Battle on Genosis. Obi-Wan, I have these dreams. Anakin comes to me in my dreams. He always tells me that everything is going to be alright and that I should take care of myself. Last night, he told me that he was still alive and that he promised he would find a way to come back to me. You see, he's alive and he's coming back. You have to help him."

Obi-Wan took a small step back, not completely sure if she was in her right mind or not.

Padme looked at him in shock. Why didn't he believe her? She was sure that Anakin was alive…she had thought that if anyone would believe her, it would be Obi-Wan. She looked up as he spoke.

"Padme, I want to believe that he's alive just as much as you do, but the fact is…"

"The fact is there are no facts. The fact is there is no body, Obi-Wan. There is absolutely no proof that he really is dead. All you know is that he couldn't have survived under the rubble. Did you ever stop to think that maybe he got out too? That maybe he's lying somewhere hurt or in pain or dying? You have to find him, you owe him that for leaving him there to die!"

Obi-Wan opened his mouth to speak but was too shocked to find the words he wanted to say to her. She was right. She was absolutely right. He had left his padawan to die. Anakin was dead now because of him. He somehow found Padme's angry eyes and stared into them with remorse and regret.

"Alright, I'll help you."

Somewhere, deep within the galaxy, a Separatist guard unlocked a prison cell door. He walked in swiftly and surveyed the sight before him. A man, a Jedi, lay on the cold ground, shaggy blonde curls shading the man's tightly shut eyes. The guard leaned forward to make sure the prisoner was still alive. He saw the Jedi's shoulders rise and fall and nodded with satisfaction. As he turned to leave, he heard the Jedi whisper softly:

"Padme, I'll find a way to come back to you…I promise…take care of yourself…Padme…"