Once again good responses. Most of you who have written to suggest ideas are already figuring out what's going to happen next. Sorry I haven't updated. I have one excuse: School.

Chapter 3: Secret Communication

Padme soon found herself alone in the cockpit of her Nubian ship. She felt her child-no children kicking her incessantly. Their little movements made her sigh. She sat back and thought of what had just happened.

Anakin had gone back. She was afraid he'd do something rash, his temper not being the best at the moment. Obi-Wan was with him while he cleared out his living space. What he had to clear out, she had no idea, but she was worried. Their children were restless, but she was numb.

Captain Typho came in the cockpit, and sat next to her. He cleared his throat.

"Senator…Padme. I wanted to-I just…" His arms fell uselessly to his sides. Typho stood up and moved to the edge of the cockpit and looked out the window. He looked out into the airspace surrounding the Jedi Temple.

Before he could continue, he felt her hand on his arm. Turning around, he saw the tears stand out in her eyes.

"I'm sorry Captain. I've lied to everyone. I couldn't let it get out. I'm so sorry."

He grasped the hand she had placed on his arm. Squeezing it tightly, he nodded. "I understand more than you know Senator. The thing that I was most worried about was your loneliness. You work too much."

"Now I won't work at all." Padme placed her hands on her covered stomach.

They'd still been hiding her on the way out. The Jedi might know, but the Senate did not. She planned on resigning to her Queen. Many of her senatorial friends might question the move, but she was sure no one would seek her out after her resignation. It was the chancellor she was most worried about, though.

Anakin's mentor might not take kindly to his leaving. She wondered if he'd catch the fact that both of them left at the same time. She worried over this for a time.

The cockpit doors slid open , and made her head whip around. She squeezed Typho's hand back and he stepped through the doors, just as her husband stalked through. He threw himself into one of the chairs and threw a hand over his eyes.

"What happened?" Padme asked, after a long silence. He only shook his head.

"I went back to my quarters, cleaned it up, talked to Obi-Wan. He still thinks I'm a child, well I'm not a child!" He slammed a fist on the control panel. Padme winced.

"Ani-"
"It's the same as it's always been! Look," he extended his metallic hand to Padme's stomach, "I'm not such a child as they think."

Padme recoiled. She placed a hand on herself protectively. "Ani!" If he didn't catch the horror in her eyes, she'd soon show him, she resolved.

His angered eyes dropped, as did his hand. "I'm sorry."

"That was crude, Ani. Not only that, but insulting. What am I to you? What are we?"

Intent on sweeping out of the cockpit, Padme turned only to see C-3PO. She stopped short.

"Oh, Miss Padme, are we set to leave as yet?"

She nodded and silently walked out. She heard a slam behind her as she went down the corridor to a small room she could sleep in. She pulled out the pins in her hair and groaned as she lay down on her bed.

Too draining, too tiring, too heavy…

Anakin tried to gain access to Padme's cabin, but could not open it. He grunted and managed to finally open it with the force. When it slid open he set his eyes on his wife, asleep on her bunk. Her lose hair was down and a lock of it had fallen over her lips, and moved as she breathed. He walked silently over to her, using his Jedi stealth.

Exhausted. She was exhausted. And his anger had made her turn from him, made her lock the door. What else might have happened had his anger continued?

Captain Typho walked in behind him, "Sir," he started before it was too late. Padme gasped and started up, but Anakin put a hand on her shoulder.

"What is it Captain?" Anakin averted his eyes from her. He didn't want to know how she looked at him just yet.

"You have an incoming transmission from the Jedi Temple."

"Thank you." He chanced a glance at her. Her eyes were misty from sleep and she rubbed one. She looked up at him, sympathetically. A good sign.

"I'll take it in here." Typho nodded and left, this time closing the cabin door.

Padme shifted into an upright position on her pallet, slowly. Anakin tried to help her up, but she shrugged him off. A bad sign.

The screen across from them came alive. Master Yoda's face popped up.

"Good to see you again, Anakin. Padme."

Anakin stared at the screen. Padme glanced up at him then replied, "It is good to see you again Master Yoda. Is there anything wrong?"

"Nothing wrong, Padme. In fact, I wanted to discuss your future."

"We're listening," Anakin said.

"Not over yet, your career as a Jedi is."

"I don't understand," Anakin leaned forward on the bunk.

"A Jedi Knight you no longer are, but strong in the Force and the chosen one you still may be," Yoda nodded at Padme. "Strong in the Force your children will be. Their future as well I speak of."

"Can you please get to your point, Master? We're both tired." Padme looked up at Anakin gratefully.
Yoda sighed and shook his head. "So impatient, so angry. Something you must help him with, Padme. I speak of their training."

"I will train them myself. Without the council's approval."

"But correctly, will you do it?"

"I can. I don't need the temple. They'll be as strong as me, and I already knew a lot without the temple."

"Much you have yet to learn, Anakin. But of this we will speak of later. For now, an assignment for you, I have."

"I'm no longer governed by the council."

"Not officially," Yoda winked. "If you gain my meaning."

"Well," Anakin, now intrigued, replied, "what is it?"

"On the loose, Grievous still is, as are the separatists, and the Sith we've been looking for. Find them you will."

"I don't want to leave Padme," Anakin replied. She placed her hand on his shoulder.

"It's alright Ani-"

"No, not use technology. Use the Force you will. Meditation and dreams, all you are familiar with, yes?"

"But why me?"

"Hiding from the Council the Sith is. Not from others. The Chosen one you are, perhaps find the dark side you will."

Anakin nodded and folded his arms. He glanced down at Padme.

"I may have to leave once we find them."

"You'll do what you were born to, Ani." He trailed a finger down he cheek then nodded at Yoda.

"Alright. I'm in."

"Very good. Once a week, check in we will. If find anything you do, tell me, and only, me immediately. No other Jedi will know of this."

"Understood Master."

"May the Force be with you, young ones." His face faded from view.

Anakin leaned back in the bunk.

"How do we get ourselves into these things?" He glanced at Padme, she only smiled.

"Well perhaps it's because my husband is a big important Jedi, hmm?" She rubbed his back with the flat of her palm

"Are you alright, Ani?"

"Yes, I should be asking you that. I'm sorry I lost my temper."

"It's to be expected." She leaned into him and yawned. "After all, we haven't lived together or been together more than a few days at a time. No doubt there'll be some adjustments."

"I suppose. Hey," He lifted her chin with his thumb, "Are you tired?"

"How could you tell?"

"Jedi," he replied making her giggle. She threw her arms around his shoulders.

"This is why I love you Ani. Because you're you." She too k his face in her hands. "Don't ever change yourself Anakin Skywalker."

He kissed her gently on her brow. "Don't you ever change Padme Skywalker."

She grinned and pulled him closer. "I finally get to take my husband home."

"Padme," he began, " you are everything to me. You and our children are my everything, and don't ever forget it."