Disclaimer: see first post
Padme rested her chin on her hand as she listened to the Senate make yet another pointless arguement. She had to wonder if the Republic was even worth fighting for. Nothing was ever solved. There was too much bickering over little things. Several of the Senators had tried to get her support in a faction against Palpatine, but Padme couldn't do it. It would crush Anakin. Senator Bail Organa had asked her in private why she wouldn't join, but she could only shake her head.
Padme rose. She couldn't take it anymore. Representative Jar Jar Binks could tell her about it later. She left the Senate buidling in a hurry. Padme hoped that Anakin would be home when she returned. Anakin sat on the floor in the middle of the main room, tools spread all around him. R2-D2 was in front of him. Anakin had started to go to the Jedi Temple, but the overwhelming guilt stopped him. The only thing that helped him was to fix something. Nothing in the apartment was broken so Anakin settled on working on R2.
He heard and felt Padme enter their apartment. She entered the room, "Hello, Ani."
"Hey," Anakin smiled at her, "you're home early."
"I was sick of listening to the pointless bickering," Padme waved her hand dismissively, hoping Anakin would leave it at that, "What are you doing to R2 now?"
"Tune up," Anakin answered. He wiped his hands off with a dirty rag and rose, "How are you feeling?"
"Good."
Anakin walked over to her. He wrapped his arms around her, "What's wrong?"
Padme laid her head against his chest, "Is this war worth it?"
"We are trying to protect the Republic, Padme."
"The Republic I knew is gone. There has to be a way to end this war and change the system."
"You sound like those Senators against the Chancellor," Anakin accused, pulling back.
"He has been in longer than his term."
"Because the Senate demand that he stay. Padme, what is going on? Before you supported Palpatine and the Senate. The Jedi are with the Senate. Are you against me too?" Anakin demanded, grabbing onto her shoulders.
"No, Anakin," Padme had fear in her eyes. Anakin dropped his hands when he realized what he was doing.
"Oh Padme, I am so sorry," Anakin hugged her tightly.
She looked up at him, "Anakin, something is going on. What is it?"
Anakin sighed. He knew he couldn't hide it any longer, "I'm not the Jedi I should be, Padme. I've given into my anger too many times."
"Have you spoken to Obi-Wan about it?" Padme asked.
"No! I can't talk to him about it. He won't understand."
"Anakin, he's your closet friend. He cares about you. Just let him help you."
Anakin frowned, "He can't help me. I don't think anyone can."
Padme smiled. It had been several months since Anakin had told her that he wasn't the Jedi he was suppose to be. He hadn't gone on about it at all. Anakin had his hand on their chidren, feeling him or her move. Both Anakin and Padme wanted it to be a surprise. Anakin was the happiest Padme had seen him in awhile.
"It's... amazing," Anakin breathed, a huge grin plastered on his face.
"It's kind of strange having something move inside me," Padme admitted, "Anakin, let's leave here."
Anakin looked at her, not following, "What do you mean?"
"I don't want to have our baby here. Let's go to Naboo. We can stay there. I know the Queen won't want me to serve as Senator anymore and quite frankly, I don't want to. Let's just leave all of this behind," Padme told him. She laid her hand on his cheek, "The Lake Retreat will be perfect."
Anakin stared into her eyes, "I want to leave with you, Padme, but we can't. I can't. I have a duty to the Jedi."
"What about your duty to us?" Padme asked, instantly regretting it.
"You know you and our baby are the most important people in my life," Anakin told her."
"Then let's go. You told me that I didn't have to worry about our baby being taken away by the Jedi," Padme responded.
Anakin bit the inside of his cheek. He wasn't sure how, but he knew that Palpatine would keep his child with Padme if he kept doing favors for him. He wanted Padme to be happy, though, so they would go to Naboo.
"You go, love, and I will meet you there in a few days."
Padme frowned. It had been a week since she had arrived on Naboo. She had no heard from Anakin. She hadn't spoken to any of her family yet. She had hoped that Anakin would be there for it. Padme had been working on setting up the baby's room.
Padme froze as she heard her mother's and sister's voices. What were they doing here? Padme rushed over to the balcony. They were below her!
"Someone is here, mother," Sola insisted.
"I don't understand why. No one should be here," Jobal responded.
Padme heard them head up the stairs. She smoothed her hand over her stomach. There was no more hiding from them.
"Padme!" Jobal exclaimed, shocked at seeing her daughter.
"Mom," Padme turned around.
Solo and Jobal's eyes grew wide. Sola recovered first. She gave Padme a grin, "Anakin's?"
Padme nodded slightly, watching her mother. Jobal walked over to her daughter, "Padme, what's going on?"
"Mom, Anakin and I are having a baby."
Jobal smiled at her daughter and hugged her, "Oh, Padme! I'm so happy for you! I've missed you! What are you doing here?"
"I'm having the baby here. Anakin will be arriving soon," Padme didn't feel as confident as she hoped. Jobal didn't seem to notice.
"Is the Council okay with it?" Sola asked.
Padme nodded. She didn't want to talk about it anymore. She just wanted Anakin here with her. Anakin held his head in his hands, palms wiping away his tears. Since Padme had gone, Anakin had been killing the Senators Palpatine wanted to get rid of. Palpatine promised safety for Padme and the baby. Anakin hated himself. He didn't want to do it, but he was.
R2-D2 beeped next to him. His starfighter was ready. Anakin had one more mission before going to meet his wife on Naboo. He had to kill Senator Mon Mothma. Mon Mothma saw someone standing in the shadows. A blue beam ignited. She knew that she was going to die. She hit a button on her desk calling for security. She hoped that someone would come soon to stop this murderer from killing anyone else.
The shadow lurked closer to her, cloak drawn tightly around it. It raised its blue blade and struck. Obi-Wan was shocked. He could not believe what he was seeing. He watched a holorecorded of Mon Mothma's murder. Someone had been killing Senators. All the Jedi had been able to learn was that it was with a blue blade. That could be anyone. They had thought it was just a citizen who had aquired a lightsaber and wanted to cause trouble.
In a half a second, the hood had flipped back enough to reveal the attacker. There was no mistaking who it was. It was Anakin.
Obi-Wan turned off the recording. He pull out the datachip and wiped any other memory away. He should have known. A presence had been left from each death, one of hopelessness and despair. Prehaps Obi-Wan knew, and just did not want to admit it.
Obi-Wan did not tell the security anything. He knew he had to take this to the Council. He didn't want to. It would make it more real.
Obi-Wan sat in silence while the Jedi Council watched the security recording. Mace Windu rewound it after its completion to the point where Anakin was reveiled.
"He is the one we have been searching for," Mace stated simply.
Obi-Wan nodded, "What are we going to do?"
Yoda look at him, "Find him, you must. Bring him to use and we will decide."
Obi-Wan nodded. He knew that he had to find Anakin soon. He hoped he wasn't too late to turn him back. Anakin waited impatiently to go into hyperspace. He had stopped by Palpatine's office to say the deed was done and they took off for Naboo. Something was telling him that he had to get away from Corescant. Anakin didn't even take his fighter. He took one Palpatine had given him access to. Anakin did bring R2, though.
Anakin stared down at his mechanical hand. It reminded him of his failure with Count Dooku. Anakin didn't like to fail. He hated it. He had fed on that anger to kill.
Anakin closed his eyes. He had to clear his head. Padme would not want to know what he had done. Obi-Wan sat in a meditation chamber in the Jedi Temple. He had been trying to find Anakin all afternoon. Padme had left over a week ago for Naboo. Her flight plan indicated that her return was unknown. Obi-Wan had a hunch Anakin was there. Once getting to Naboo, he would have to find the young man. Anakin had learned to dampen himself enough in the Force to where not even Obi-Wan could sense him. Obi-Wan had tried the tracer on his ship, but Anakin didn't take it. For Anakin not to take his fighter told Obi-Wan that he did not want to be found.
Obi-Wan left the chamber. It was time to go. Padme hurried to the side entrance of the Lake Retreat. Her mother and sister had already gone home. Anakin sprinted up the stairs. She embraced him tightly.
"Oh, Ani, I'm so glad you're here," she whispered.
Anakin kissed her softly, "I missed you."
"I made the baby's room," Padme smiled at him. She took his head and lead him to it.
"Do you like it?"
Anakin nodded, "It's perfect."
"Mother and Sola were here," Padme told him.
"They were surprised," he stated.
"Yes," Padme took his hand again and lead him outside.
"Are you sure you should be out here, my love?" Anakin asked her, brushing his fingers on her cheek.
"I'll be fine," Padme hugged him tightly. She had never felt so safe in a long time.
"Padme," Anakin said quietly, "I am so sorry. I know lately I have been moody and anger with you. I had no right. Can you ever forgive me?"
"Yes, Anakin," Padme looked up at him, "I forgive you. It's alright. Soon our baby will be here. Everything will work out."
Anakin had to hope she was right. He leaned down and kissed her. For the first time in months, everything seemed alright in the galaxy.
Anakin smiled softly at his wife. At eight months pregnant, she was glorious round. At the moment, she was folding baby clothes.
"What is it?"
Anakin walked over to her, "You are beautiful."
Padme smiled and walked over to him, "You're not so bad yourself."
Anakin kissed her softly, "Are you ready?"
Padme nodded, "Are you?"
Anakin nodded. He was ready. He was ready to leave. He knew that he and Padme had to leave this place. They had to find somewhere to hide forever. It would break her heart to leave, but that is what they would have to do to keep their child safe.
"What?" Padme looked at him concered.
Anakin took a deep breath. He ran his fingers through her hair, "Padme, we can't stay here. We have to hide. Our child is in grave danger."
Padme's eyes widened in horror, "What? From who?"
"It would be better for you not to know. We have to leave soon, though."
Padme nodded, "Then I guess we better pack up now. Can you go get my shuttle?"
Anakin nodded, "I'm sorry, Padme, I know how much you want to have our baby here."
"All that matters is the safety of our child," Padme told him, "Hurry."
Anakin kissed her quickly and ran out the door. He would see them safe. He would not fail his wife and child. Obi-Wan saw Anakin jumped out of a water speeder and run to a hanger bay. He sprinted after him.
"Anakin!"
Anakin froze, "Master?"
"Anakin, you have to come back with me. The Council know what you have done."
"I can't," Anakin shook his head. Padme's shuttle was only a few meters away.
"You have to."
Anakin shook his head, "I'm sorry, Master. I had to kill them. It was the only way to keep my family safe."
At that, Anakin ran to the ship. He used the Force to lower the ramp. He rushed to the cockpit.
Obi-Wan had followed him off. He jammed the ramp controls and entered the cockpit.
"You will come with me, Anakin."
Anakin's eyes flashed with anger, "No."
A sudden rush of pain hit his abdomen. Anakin doubled over. Padme!
"Anakin!" Obi-Wan looked concered.
Anakin gritted his teeth and turned to Obi-Wan, "Get off my ship right now!"
"No! You are going to endanger Padme and the child she carries! I know, Anakin! I know about the baby!"
"You'll take it!" Anakin ground out, "You and the other Jedi are hurting my wife!"
"Anakin! That's no reason to kill in cold blood! Turning to the Dark Side will only destroy you and Padme's lives!"
That was it. Anakin could still feel Padme's pain. He knew what it was. She giving birth early. She hadn't been to a medic since her early pregnancy so their saying of her being eight months now could be wrong. Obi-Wan was making him mad. He was saying he would kill his wife and child. He had no right.
"GET OUT!"
"I am taking you to the Council, Anakin, whether you come willingly or by force."
Anakin moved quicker than Obi-Wan could realize what was happening. Anakin Force-choked Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan couldn't stop it. He fell unconscious on the deck.
Anakin picked up Obi-Wan and drug him out of the shuttle. He locked him in a public refresher than hurried off to Padme.
Obi-Wan found himself in a place he really didn't want to be. He was in a public refresher. Worse, he was locked inside with a Gungun. How he had ended up there, he didn't remember. Right now, it didn't matter. He had to get out of there and fast. He "suggested" that the Gungun take a nap. He then managed to unlock the door and fell out. He recieved several stares as he stood up and ran past the crowd. He had to find a transport. "Padme!" Anakin ran to he and his wife's room. She was on the bed.
"Anakin!"
"Padme, we have to leave, now!"
"Anakin, our children..."
"I know, but we have to go," Anakin told her. C-3PO and R2-D2 appeared. Anakin pointed to the bags Padme had packed, "Take those to the ship now."
Anakin picked up Padme and carried her to the ship, "I'm sorry, love, but we have to leave now. I will get us to safety in time, I promise."
Padme nodded, touching his cheek, "I know you will, Anakin, I trust you." Palpatine grinned to himself. He had felt Skywalker's rage. He knew Kenobi was chasing the boy. Skywalker's wife should be giving birth soon.
Everything was going as planned. Padme gripped Anakin's hand tightly, "How much longer till we land?"
"An hour till we are out of hyperspace," Anakin told her.
"I don't have that long," Padme ground out as the most powerful contraction hit.
"You are doing great, my love," Anakin encouraged. He didn't know much about women giving birth. That wasn't something covered in Jedi Training. If he was still in good terms with Obi-Wan, Anakin would have joked about how Jedi should always be prepared.
"You are never going to touch me again!" Padme snapped. Anakin glanced at 3PO. The droid had looked up what Anakin should do. He let go of Padme's hand long enough to get everything ready.
"Okay, love, we are going to have to do this on our own. Push!"