CHAPTER TWELVE:
Because Chance Dared Fate

Lava spurts and splatters, machinery and rigging collapse around the two warring Jedi. The anger, the fear, the pity and the resentment spirit on the Master and the Knight.

Dueling blades clash and clang, the hum of it as it is wielded in passion. Time wove together these two lives carefully. Their path predestined, pre arranged, Time watched as Fate spun the threads; Time created the art as Fate set the stage.

Anakin Skywalker was never meant to save the galaxy, he was never the Chosen One to defeat the Sith…He was, however the Chosen One to destroy the Jedi, to try and destroy The True One.

If Anakin had never been found in that desert, if he was never trained he would never have had to fall. Chance hid that boy for the galaxies safety…it hid the boy to save both galaxy and the child. But Fate had other idea's, and because the Lightside and the Darkside are always at war a Jedi Knight and his padawan came upon that boy and forever changed Fate.

That Knight found himself a pawn in an age old war between the forces of good and the forces of evil. A great shift of good is always met with a great chance for evil. That little boy was created for the evil but Chance took pity on the part innocent soul and hid him away where his purpose could never be fulfilled. Until that fateful day…

When that Knight came upon that boy and sought redemption with the prophecy fulfilling 'Chosen One' he never saw or thought that this one could be an imposter, an evil soul in hidden in an innocent's body. He saw a chance to make up for past transgressions never weighing the cost, never realizing he was already training the True One.

Anakin Skywalker created by the Darkside to destroy the Jedi.

Obi-Wan Kenobi chosen by the Lightside, a mere human with flesh and blood parents, with compassion and knowledge. Raised from a baby to be a Jedi never thinking he would destroy the Sith, never knowing he was destined to save the galaxy. His path hidden from him, hidden from even the most powerful of the Jedi…no one knew that he was the True One.

Qui-Gon Jinn with tunnel vision plucked the innocent slave boy from the safe haven Chance had put him in. The boy's obscurity being shattered then set into motion a Fate from which neither he nor the galaxy could escape.

There could have been a chance for Skywalker to find redemption—perhaps that piece of humanity given to him from his mother could have won the battle, but once awakened to his power, once his mother was taken from him, once the first step had been taken his path was set. His lust for power took control once he opened the door. Fate quaked as it felt the balance shift.

The Chosen One and the True One brought together to defy convention. Growing to be like father and son. Bonds forged so deep the Force needed another chance, another generation for salvation. It would need more time, hope would have to wait for another day; the winner of this war would be neither the Light nor the Dark. Light will lay in wait for another chance to rise; Dark will thrive amidst its daring destruction not caring that its abhorrence might one day end.

Time…Time always plays its part, always Time. Time neither friend nor foe, just constant.

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"You were the Chosen One!" I cry in agony and disbelief.

I stand on the shore of the lava looking to the man filled with hate, the man I should recognize as Anakin…the man that I think of as my son.

"I did fail you! I am so sorry Anakin…I am sorry that I made a mess of this! I am sorry that I didn't tell you about Padmé, that you lost your mother…that you hate me so much you would do…do this! I am sorry…I am just sorry…" I beg, the heat has drenched me in sweat and it has my tunic sticking to me in thick itchy patches. This shouldn't be happening here…this shouldn't be happening at all….Why?

He just glares at me the whites of his eyes appearing nearly yellow from the glaring red all around, his pupils black and I am afraid that is not the surroundings, but his soul. The ragging river of hot magma, the spurts and spatters, the hisses and screams of the steam as it pushes against the hardened lava, seeking its release.

"You are the greatest Jedi…you were its greatest hope…and I failed you! Anakin don't make my failure yours…I wanted, still want only great things for you…Anakin you are my son, as much a child to me as my daughter…I've raised you since…" I choke on my tears as much as the rising smoke.

Please don't do this Anakin…please don't throw your future your goodness away…

"No! Lies, all of it lies! You want me to stop? You want me to be great? Guess what Obi-Wan, I already am! You want to stop me, you'll have to kill me!" he growls preparing to jump from his platform in the middle of the sea of liquid fire.

Eruptions continue, shaking the ground under my feet, I know what I have to, "I have the high ground Anakin! You can't win…"

Please don't do this Anakin…please

His arrogance his drowning, his anger is suffocating.

He jumps, "I hate you!" he screams.

And I love you…my son…I am sorry…just so sorry.

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"Obi-Wan!" he comes through the docking bay doors into Organa's ship.

He receives me with open arms, holding me right as he murmurs my name over and over again.

I choke on sobs that fight to escape all at once, sobs of fear, and sobs of relief. I cling to him trying to convince myself he's here, that this is over. He smells of smoke and his once cream tunic is a muddy brown from sweat and ash, I don't care, he's alive and he's in my arms!

"He's gone," he says softly though his voice isn't quite. He's talking to Master Yoda and Bail behind me.

With effort I, pull away swatting at tears, still not able to let go of his arm, I still need his touch.

"Done it is not…Anakin Skywalker gone…Darth Vader still on rise," Master Yoda shakes his head in a way that can only be described as true to the soul anguish. I don't understand! Obi-Wan is here…Anakin isn't….

"Vader?" my lips form the name though I can't give it voice…Vader…as in Obi-Wan's father, Vader? Surely, there is a mistake…

"Yes, Vader, Obi-Wan's father's name, no mistake…" Master Yoda reads my thoughts, I wonder if he knows my fear as well.

"I…I don't understand," Obi-Wan shakes his head, his arm that is around my waist tightens, "I watched Anakin die…I watched the lava take him…Vader? I don't understand!"

"Talk we must," Master Yoda says turning to walk to the common room.

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I can't comprehend what Master Yoda just told me…I can't. I can't understand it and I certainly won't accept it! There must be some mistake!

Anakin is my cousin. How can I accept that? Shmi Skywalker and my mother were sisters. Again, I refuse; Qui-Gon must have gotten it wrong…

And what about Vader? Did Anakin know we were family? Master Yoda seems to think he didn't…Then why did he become Vader? Out of all the names in this dark forsaken galaxy, did he end up with my father's name? …Palpatine! No…could it be some cruel joke? Some demented way to punish me, to rub in my face the fact that Anakin is smearing the name of my father? How could Palpatine know? And how did Anakin crawl from that lava…how will he survive now?

My former Master came to hold council with Master Yoda…from the Nether World of the Force and they discussed my lineage, they discussed my past and apparently my future…and my child's—my children's future.

"Child you carry…great Force in him there is. Bringing hope, he is. Protect him…and Leia we must. Topple the rising Empire they will," Master Yoda shakes his head, "Above else all, separate!"

Terror grips me like a tight unrelenting fist around my heart, Padmé gasps then in flash her hands move protectively to her flat stomach, "I…thought…I had thought I might…but I didn't know…not for sure!" she turns her eyes to me in desperation.

I put my arms around her and am more then surprised to find her steady, "We'll figure this out, it will be okay." She nods her certainty seemingly absolute.

A child! I will be a father, again and a son! …separate!

"More is there is, separate from you too they must be…Too much power to sense there would be…"

"No!" Padmé now pushes away from me eyes lit up like fire.

My mouth goes dry, thought escapes me, "Why? Why do we have to destroy our family? Wasn't it the will of the Force that we came together in the first place? Isn't that what you—the council said? Weren't we acting in line with the Force? Why is it necessary to rip us apart now?" I demand fury quickly coming on leaving the confusion in its wake.

"Your purpose, Fate it was, will of the Force it was…to have these children! Brought together to accomplish something bigger you were! Protect their future we must…reunited you will be…when time right it is."

"You want me to give up my daughter…my son?" Padmé with the heart of protective mother glares not in the least bit intimidated into Master Yoda's eyes as I would never think of doing.

Master Yoda looks calmly at her and seems to reply with much care, "Like you, your daughter is…will be. Need her, galaxy does. Hard though, it will be. Your son like your husband…great compassion and strength have will he. Save they will because of their parents fight, their belief, their sacrifice the galaxy."

"Where will they go? Who will raise them, who will love them?"

I see her lips tremble and her eyes turn a faded, weary shade of brown.

I can't speak, I can't act, my anger too new…my resentment and hurt too deep.

"Plans made there have to be…Trust in the Force we will…"

And prey tell what has the Force done for me? Taken away Anakin, given back a Sith Lord, and is now taking my children? Tell me, what has the Force done for me that I should keep trust blindly?

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I find my husband in our room curled in the corner of big bed Leia wrapped in his arms; even in the dark, I see his tears.

"She's had a rough few days…" I whisper daring to intrude. He nods his answer still looking intently into his sleeping child's face. His face is that of a broken father. Silent, his tears are few and so very far between and always silent, tears creep from the corners of his tired focused eyes. Behind the fear, behind the hurt and the sheer desperation I catch the shimmering of amazement, a father clearly delighted by the miracle of the life in his arms.

I slide in next to him laying my head on his shoulder, leaning to brush away the curls on Leia's hair from her face. I press into my husband seeking comfort from his warmth and steady presence.

"I can't be the strong one…not when it comes to her," Obi-Wan speaks lowly after long minutes of silence.

"I don't understand…" I look from Leia to his face; I find his gaze settle firmly on me.

"I can't be the strong one…I can't be the strength right now, I am sorry. I seem to fail at everything… I can't save my padawan, I can't protect my daughter…I can't keep my family together! I can't… I don't know how."

My heart hits my ribs in a stinging continual stream, "Obi-Wan…this isn't your fault! You didn't do this…" I start to try and lend my support to assure him I don't blame him, nobody does!

"No! Padmé, I should have been able to finish…to…Anakin should not be still free to inflict pain! I should have been able to deliver justice; I should have been able to keep you, Leia…our unborn child safe! I failed!

"Now, when I should be able to comfort you, when I should be able to say 'I trust in the Force' I can't. I look at our little girl and everything in me breaks! Every defense, every strength that sustained me in war fails. I look at Leia and think of her future and all I want to do is hold her and never let go! How is that right? You, a mother, a woman, you stood up to Yoda when I couldn't, you demanded answers and didn't settle, you were ready to go to battle and I was so caught up in my fury and anger that I could only sit! I can't be the strong one anymore…I can't trust in my Force because I am so resentful of everything it's taken from me…is trying to take from me…"

His voice is rough, cracked and vulnerable…as he is.

"Obi-Wan…" I touch his hair, kiss his forehead, "You are strong, so strong…You didn't fail. I don't know how to convince you of that, but you didn't, not in the least! This is happening for a reason, for what reason I am afraid I don't have the knowledge to understand, but a reason none the less. My heart is breaking, is broken and it will never be fixed till I can have my family together with me—and safe. Darling, I love you…I don't blame you for this…" tears drip from eyes in an ever increasing stream, "I'll forgive you for insinuating that because I am woman and mother that I can't be strong too, because I understand what you were saying, but I don't understand why you think that you can't hurt, that you can't feel! I can't understand why you think that because you're human, and you look at your daughter, think about our son, and hurt at the thought of them, makes you weak! It doesn't!" I touch his forehead with mine.

"Obi-Wan…this is our daughter…I don't think either one of us can be the 'strong one' in this…this is our family! We love our children…we love and because we love we will be hurt, love strips away defenses. It's just the way it is, love is powerful it can heal, it can tear apart…You loved Anakin I know that, and that's why it hurts. You love Leia…that's why this hurts. It doesn't mean you're weak it just means your human…The only way we are going to get through this is together…And we will, we will get through this!"

He takes in a breath that has his whole chest shaking, "Alright, together, us, we'll do this…We'll do this," he whispers hoarsely curling an arm around me, "We'll do this…you…me…Leia…and our son, we'll do this."

And so we do. We start our muddling through tonight, we start together in each other's arms on our ship moving through space not speculating about time, not worrying about the future or grieving for the past. We accept the present and all its misgivings and virtues and we muddle through…We'll do this, not because we want to, not because we have choice…but because it's what we do—we survive.

A/N: I know, another shortish chapter, I'm sorry, life it's a pain. But we are painfully near the end, one more chapter after this—unlucky thirteen, and right around Halloween time too! Shoot. I didn't plan it I swear LOL Speaking of the next/last chapter I am afraid I have to beg your forgiveness in advance. I am going out of town for some business and will be gone at least a week and I am afraid fan fic writing isn't possible for this trip LOL So I hope you'll forgive me and enjoy this chapter in my absence.

May the Force be with you all while I am away and let Obidala fill your hearts with happy moments :-) Lots of Love—RaeAnne

LadyJadePerendhil: Thank you so much for reviewing, as to determining paternity, I still haven't made up my mind LOL

mrs skywalker: hehehe, Obi-Wan, dear, darling, sexy Obi-Wan…he de limbed our former Jedi friend though left his hinny intact…it was (when Anakin was a nice guy) a nice backside…But you're right Anakin needs a good a-- kicking but we'll have to settle for a hacking LOL

SeventhAngelicSlayer: oh indeed, the world has achieved balance just to once again be sent off kilter LOL Thanks for reviewing!

sassy-satine: Oh you are too nice to me. I wasn't really depressed per say, just disheartened really LOL Clarification? Oh dear…clarifying if Luke is Anakin's or Obi-Wan's…yes I suppose I should clear that up soon….(still just a bit of rebellious streak in me that can't make up it's mind…)

Oh don't feel bad about your last review, don't be silly! It's not a big deal, not in the slightest, I deserved it totally :-)

Well I do so enjoy your reviews, appreciate them too, you are just too good to me my dear! LOL

TheAmazingTecnocolorRingWraith: Thank you, so glad to be forgiven and even gladder (see there is my word again ;-) that you didn't really hate me:-)

Your Force sounds mean, glad you directing your Force at Anakin instead of me…Much happier to be on your good side then bad side LOL

the rain in spring: OH THANK YOU THANK YOU! THANK YOU! Those reviews just so made my day! I am so glad you like this story and its development, I've been playing with it for months trying to connect all the stories together and trying to then tie them in with the real movies while creating something all together different…I can't find the right way to say this…without sounding arrogant which I am totally not trying to do, I just want to say that I appreciate so much when readers notice, understand, realize, recognize, I don't know the word I am looking for, that I've tried to put together a story that has depth, that has a plot, an emotion undercurrent beyond just some slapped together half idea…ya know? Oh that doesn't sound right…I just mean…well thank you, thank you for taking an interest, I guess is all I am trying to say. LOL

Sorry for the lack of Obidala action recently…its tough. Part one was my sappy lets just kiss and get married thing, two was the happy newly wed, new parents very little bad stuff happening let's kiss and make out not up, stuff, now three, oh three it's like it had to be dark and emotional, it's a rule LOL Curse Lucas for making these stories so gloomy! LOL I

Again thanks so much for the review, totally brightened my day :-)

blackrosemystic: I totally agree with you. In the movie, we have this woman who is telling her husband who says she loves that she can't follow down his path, tells him to take a hike (basically)—without her which is tough. Then said woman dies of lack of will! What kind of screwy logic is that? She's got these kids that need a mother since they lost their father to Sith, these poor babies innocent in every sense of the word need a mother who will fight for them, keep them safe and she just goes and dies because she can't find the 'will' to live without Anakin? Come on, really, she had the strength to walk from Anakin but not to live without him, even for her, their, kids? I think not.

LOL As you can tell that whole thing in movie just fried my cookies. I would have liked to added more strength to her character given her situation but I was playing with a tad different story line where it wasn't as easy. I tried though in this chapter to showcase her strength while showing Obi-Wan's struggle, his near defeat of not only spirit but soul. They have strength independently of each other, two different kinds of strength and when meshed together they create this fortress of strength that I just think is great. Anyway, I am sorry I'm rambling again; man, I like to do that.

Thanks for the review, it's always appreciated!

amber75: That's alright, I don't like it either when a writer posts something with obvious mistakes, so I try not to let it slip too often. I should get a beta but I just never seem to get around to it. Oh but don't leave yet, the story isn't done! You would think I would just shut up and leave our happy family alone…but as it seems I am destined to draw out their agony a least a chapter more LOL Thanks for reviewing!

SuP3R G1R: Oh, dear, I am sorry I killed you LOL I tried to ease the wait and the discomfort as soon as possible, though I am sure it wasn't soon enough in some cases, thanks so much for reviewing as always :)

Emma: Well thank you so much! I appreciate so much that you've been reading and have taken the time to review, it means so much! Well, I hope the people are reacting is a good thing…not that they just hate it, truly LOL Again thanks so much for the review and great compliment!

sarahhillary39: Welcome back online, and welcome back to the story, I hope you've enjoyed :-) Yeah, the last two chapter, this one too for that matter have been depressing and I am afraid this story is going to end on a depressing note…but a hopeful one too…I hope LOL I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Thanks for reviewing!

SoloKenobi: 'fraid I'm just not cold enough to kill them off, and I am glad I'm not. I hate writing sad stuff, makes me sad. Oh yes be careful of anger, of darkside it is, you are right. LOL I hope you like this update :-)