CHAPTER EIGHT:
Saying Goodbye

"Do you really have to go back so soon?" Padmé asks me softly as I pack my small bag.

"I am afraid so, I wish I didn't. The idea of leaving is…" I clench my teeth in anger, "I just don't have a choice," I answer shortly zipping close the bag with irritation.

She takes a small step back.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have snapped," I grunt, "I wish I could stay here and I am just angry that I can't… I shouldn't take it out on you though," I sit heavily on the bed.

"I know, I didn't mean to make the matter worse," she sits next to me.

"I still shouldn't have snapped," I take her hand turning it palm up, looking at how my hand engulfs hers.

"I'll be leaving myself here soon…and the thought of it breaks my heart," she whispers tears coming.

"I know, soon though my love, soon she'll be with us on Coruscant," I try and resolve myself, so I can sound confident.

She nods into my shoulder, "But I want her to come now."

"Soon, darling, soon, I promise."

I hang back silently watching from my stone balcony as Obi-Wan talks with Paddy in the court yard. Leia is in a stroller pushed by Obi-Wan.

These men both mean so much to me, they walk amongst the gardens and I am sure it's not the roses they are discussing but rather Leia and I.

I have a feeling of almost panic building in me and I am not sure why. It's come on all of a sudden. It's like a voice inside of me is screaming but I remain silent, the action is making me dizzy. It's a fear coming over me like a thundercloud. I am shivering though the sun is high, my stomach is in knots and my knees are weakening. I don't know what is going on! I feel like crying, my throat clenches with unvoiced sobs.

There is something coming, I don't know what, I don't know when, but I know it is going to bring me to my knees.

"Your daughter is beautiful, Obi-Wan," Paddy grins.

"Looks like her mom," I nod proudly, "Paddy I have to ask a big favor of you," I mutter stopping at a bench.

"I know," he sits beside me.

I look at him bewildered for moment then I remember, "Jedi, of course."

He smiles.

"It's a big favor I know. But there isn't anyone Padmé and I trust more," I rock the stroller a bit.

"We would like to take Leia with us when we go back…but it won't be possible for a while because we have to get things under control and Paddy, we think of you as family and we want her to be with family...we want her safe," I circle the issue with uneasiness. Asking this of him, I know could be hard because of his past.

"Paddy we'll understand if you don't feel comfortable with this," I search his face.

"You mean because of losing my wife and child?"

"Well yes, I can't imagine losing both Padme and Leia," I shudder at just the thought.

"I appreciate your concern but it would be a great pleasure and honor looking after Leia. I saw Padmé grow up and now I will see her daughter," Paddy smiles with fondness and a bit of melancholy, his eyes a bit teary.

"It was a boy…"

I realize he is talking about his child.

"CadiLynn so wanted to be a mother, she could not wait! We were so anxious…I never saw it coming…" he stares far off.

I would speak but I have no words and perhaps it is best because I don't think he is opening up for me to offer empty words sympathy.

"I loved her, how I loved her! I was so angry when she died. I hated everything, everyone! I turned my back on the Force on life… I was ready to die too. Everything worth living for died the moment my beloved and our son died…" he looks to the balcony where Padmé had been standing moments ago, then turns back to me.

"Then I met Luke Naberrie. He found me drunk, inches from death outside a cantina, I don't know what compelled him to drag me back to his home and have his wife sober me up, but he did.

"That started our friendship. He introduced me, once I was more aware of what was going on, to his wife Maria and his daughter Padmé…she was a month old. I looked at her and saw my son; he would have been just about that age. It was both healing and torture.

"Luke and I talked and I soon told him of my various skills including mechanics and basic maintenance abilities and eventually he whittled out of me the cause of my near suicide. Knowing I had little if no reason to continue on he stabilized me and brought me here to be caretaker.

"I tried to separate myself from the darling Padmé, but as you found out as an adult her charm is irresistible and she had me wrapped around her finger in no time. I adored her, and she followed me around pulling the flowers instead of the weeds in the garden beds because she thought the common weed was prettier."

He pauses to look at Leia and I know he must have been remembering Padmé.

"When Luke and Maria were killed during the Civil Uprising I was the one that found Luke just before he passed…He made me promise to look after Padmé, she was only ten at the time and away at school. And from that moment on I looked after her…" he looks over to me, "That is till you came along," he grins widely, "wasn't much need for me after that, as it should be. You married my little Padmé and became her protector…though I must confess I still keep my eye on her when I can…nothing against you but she will always be the little girl to me," he smiles and tears glisten in his eyes.

I find tears in my own and I can't seem to speak around the lump in my throat.

"I will look after Leia as I did Padmé, I will keep her safe till you are able to take her with you," he nods looking to Leia who has awoken, yawned.

"Thank you Paddy," I hug the man who kept my wife safe till I came along, who will now look after my daughter till I can come back and get her.

"The Separatists are on the move, they have banded together even stronger while you've been away," Master Windu says with disgust as he, Master Yoda and myself walk a long corridor in the Jedi Temple.

"What is the Senate doing to stop it?" I ask folding my hands into my sleeves.

"There is talk that the Chancellor is pushing to assemble a Republic Army…"

Padmé had thought something like this would be happening; I've come to share that belief.

"They intend to vote in the next few days…We assume your wife will be there for the vote," Master Windu arches an eyebrow.

"I am sure she will be. She has been very involved in regard to the Separatists threat," seeing as how she was one of the first to know of it.

"Peaceful resolution she seeks, yes?" Master Yoda contemplates.

"She does, as I am sure everyone does," I nod and unfortunately believe there will no answer without blood shed; how I wish I were wrong.

"Agreed."

We continue on, and then pause in the breezeway looking down to the young Jedi trainees.

"By the way, congratulations on your baby, a girl right?" Master Windu leans on the rail.

I feel a surge of pride come on, along with an unstoppable smile, "Yes, we named her Leia. She looks just like her mother," I laugh.

Master Yoda and Master Windu exchange glances… uh oh.

"Leia was my mother's name, I know. Qui-Gon told me," I state lowly.

"Qui-Gon always breaking rules…but good Jedi he was," Master Yoda answers without rebuke.

"Yes, he was a good Jedi," Master Windu echoes and his eyes narrow on me and I know that he is saying this is to be the last time we speak of my parents. Rules are rules, and this is breaking them.

"Skywalker, his training well?" Master Yoda changes the subject.

"Yes, he is making great progress. I believe he will be ready for the trials soon."

He has been acting strangely since I've arrived back, aloof and cold. It's a bit strange, but not really, in the grand scheme of things I suppose, he is after all still a teenager.

"Cloudy…future is," Master Yoda shakes his head.

"Find your padawan Master Kenobi and meet the council in an hour, there are things to discuss."

"Yes Master."

"She will be fine, Padmé, I will take good care of her," Paddy promises as I prepare to board my ship.

"I know you will Paddy," I sigh tears sliding down my cheeks, "You took good care of me…It's just her father left only a few days ago and now I am leaving too!" I hold her against me, heart breaking.

I hate this, I don't want to leave! I wasn't supposed to be leaving for another week yet.

"It will be okay, truly, you will go to Coruscant, take care of business and before you now it, you will be back here taking this precious one with you."

I nod numbly. The moment of panic like on the day Obi-Wan left, returns. I try and convince myself it is just my motherly instincts running rapid. It doesn't soothe completely but I manage to breathe.

"Padmé…" Paddy begins voice full of concern.

"It's okay…" I choke trying to will my arms to turn Leia over to him.

"Thank you Paddy," I cry finally able to put my baby in his arms.

"Keep an eye on that husband of yours okay?" he hugs me careful of Leia.

"I will," I hug him tight tears cascading.

"I love you like a daughter Padmé," he holds me at arms length.

My shoulders sway and I tremble, "I love you too Paddy," I kiss his cheek.

"Bye Leia, momma loves you," I kiss her downy head.

With barely a glance back, for fear my resolve will crumble, I escape to my ship.

"We are ready milady," Rabé, my handmaiden filling in for Saché who had to return to Theed for a family emergency tells me.

"Alright," I shutter drying my eyes.

"We've been over the proposed plan for the Republic Army, and we feel…"

The doors to the council's chambers burst open interrupting Master Windu's statement.

"There has been an attack!" the young messenger announces, breathing heavy.

"What happened?" Master Windu demands in calm though concerned voice.

"Senator Amidala's cruiser has been blown up…"

AN: Just a wee bit of a cliff hanger, hope you don't hate me :-) It's seems like I was going to say something else, but I can't remember hehehe. Hope you enjoyed! RA

Oh now I remember I am going out of town for the next six months and won't be able to update…. Just kidding! Aren't I funny? ….. (Okay…watch the head with those stones will ya….geesh… I thought it was funny ;-)

Zan189: Thank you, I am glad the element of surprise is remaining some what in tacked. I am having a time with three, I have been writing it since…well the end of May and it so far it has suffered revisions, editing, scribbles (silly me, I have it written instead of typed) notes in the margins and a crisis of writers worry that no one will read it. LOL So I am so glad to hear that you are looking forward to it! J Thanks for reading!

MoldyKetchup: So glad you enjoyed, I agree I have seen some fathers who shouldn't be…there should be a list of do's and don'ts a manual of sorts, I am sure the children would be grateful! LOL I so appreciate the review!

Sassy-satine: I hadn't really even thought about the water/rain till I was working on a different Obidala and it had rain…a light went off and it hit "DUH!" so I went in and reworked some scenes. Did you know Leia really means weary? Yeah I actually looked it up out of curiosity; three seconds on Google and bam and there it was…Rain worked better though for my story hehehe :-) Thank you so much for always reviewing,

TheAmazingTecnocolorRingWraith: I had a wonderful 4th thank you, and I hope you did too if indeed you are Red, White and Blue true :-) (side note, I was looking at your stories/profile I was getting ready to read one of your Lord of the Rings fics, I just love LotR, and I wanted to say how much I love your youth pastor's KFC line, I cracked up and how true! So while I have yet to read your fic, though I am getting to it, I had to say how much I love that quote.)

Christian Bale, oh he was indeed some nice eye candy in Batman. Him waking up to Alfred getting on to him about his bruises…yum!

Yes, Anakin is indeed a moron and it saddens me. But not everyone can be as perfect as Obi-Wan I suppose… :-) Thank you so much for reviewing, I enjoy them so much.

Sarahhillary39: No Luke, at least for the moment… in time though of course :-) Thanks for reading and reviewing!

SuP3R G1R: Yes Obi-Wan like most everything else is a perfect father, well striving to be a perfect father anyway. Yes dear Palpy, I can't stand the guy, just gives me the willies. Those I must confess he is sorta fun to write…hehe, thanks for reviewing!

S.B. Kisses: thank you:-)

Nyoko: Thank you so much, I am glad you are enjoying my fic…truly so very glad :-)

Hey, if you ever get that space time continuum thingy figured out I am so there, I'll even bring a few of my spike heels that have been used to bring many a man to their knees! Aw, yes we can save the galaxy not with a lightsaber or blaster but rather some multifunctional footwear! Yee haw!

I am glad you like the obidala moments and are enjoying this story! I love your reviews; they brighten my day and encourage my writing. So as always thanks for reading and reviewing!

Amber75: I appreciate your reviews when ever you able to leave them few and/or far between, thank you so very much.

Mrs. skywalker: thank you, Anakin will find out…am I terrible for dragging it out so much? I hope not, I am trying to bring straight all the kinks…I hope ya all aren't getting frustrated with me…

Vee017: Keeping me on my toes LOL yeah, you are making me work… I must be honest it didn't even occur to me about Obi-Wan feeling Padmé's pain…like duh of course he would! I was so busy putting other spins on it…I suppose I was hoping to make him the traditional 'father' and then writing in Anakin's run ins with Palpatine…it didn't even cross my mind LOL. Now I feel stupid… LOL

Oh, perfect image you painted there, Obi and "Never again" that just sounds like him… too funny. I am so glad you enjoyed this chapter, I really was anxious to see how everyone reacted to just Leia if they would be put off by changing the plot so much…because if they are put off by that…the are going to be shocked when they read three…anyway thank you so much for the kind review!

Sparkle85: Thank you so much…such a nice review! I am glad you liked it!

lazy.kender: Let me first say thank you so much for your reviews on part I, I am so glad you enjoyed it too.

I don't really hate Anakin, not really anyway. I strongly dislike him and how his character turned in episode III, his actions were unforgivable. But up till then I liked him okay, never like the Padmé/Anakin relationship (even if there wasn't an Obi-Wan I would still be a little weirded out by it LOL) and I just adored him in episode I… I try to play him out to be an okay guy in my story…well of course up till his fall. But I still feel sorry for the guy:) Thanks again for reviewing both my stories!

Starnat: well, Luke isn't even a twinkle in his daddy's eye yet (as my mom likes to stay when she talks about before I was born) but don't worry he'll show up :-)