Night fell on Kashyyyk; Leia was mediating when Anakin approached his daughter. He was very proud of her. She was wearing the black Jedi robes with a matching midnight cloak. After she opened her eyes she saw her father standing in the door way smiling gently. "Ready princess?"
"Yes, father I'm ready." Leia stood and Anakin pulled her hood up over her head.
"You are ready for this, I will need you to be mindful and watch out for enemies. Whatever happens, Leia do not engage the enemy, and it will be your mission to get back to camp if anything should happen to me. Understand?"
Leia and Anakin left the camp. Chewbacca and Han Solo saw the two disappear, knowing where they were headed.
"Let's go." Han whispered to the large Wookiee.
Chewbacca readied his bowcaster and Han made sure his pistol was on his hip. Silently through the brush Leia and Anakin crept using the Force to shield their presences from the enemy. Though neither Han nor Chewbacca could see them, Chewbacca with his highly defined nose, could pick up on their trail. Once they arrived on the enemy camp, Leia was sequestered to the top parts of the trees. Anakin leapt using the Force to lower himself to the ground, Tarfful was bound in an iron cage, and he was subdued by some very strong tranquilizers. Anakin opened the cage and sent healing into the strong Wookiee; Tarfful awoke staring into the blue eyes of the Chosen One.
"Thank you." He growled. Chewbacca starting shooting at the slavers as they poured out of their tents, Han Solo followed suit. Leia threw large boulders, crushing them as the enemy tried to take her father. The leader of the slavers saw the fierce look in Anakin's face and immediately surrendered.
"Solo!" Anakin called.
"Skywalker!" Han responded trying to lighten up the fierce warrior.
It worked, Anakin laughed and grabbed the slave leader by the collar dragging him through the woods none to gently either, the man pleaded and begged.
"Do you know how much patience I have for slime like you?" Anakin asked.
"No, sir."
"None, zero, zilch, so I would recommend you don't try me with your begging, as you are a coward."
The slaver was then shown an image of his own death if Anakin allowed Tarfful to get a hold of him. Tarfful would rip his arms off and choke him with his bare hands. The slaver stopped pleading and was very silent as he was cowed. Leia couldn't help but to scowl at the slaver, "Leia, stop glaring at him."
After the celebration that lasted virtually all week, Leia, Han, Mara, and Anakin would return to Coruscant to pick up Padmé and head home for a vacation. Luke and Obi-Wan would be joining them shortly after that.
Padmé went to the healing ward with Yoda, as he suspected there would be trouble with the pregnancy. "Discuss this you should with Anakin."
"Master Yoda, what did you see?"
"Tell you I cannot, nothing is set, always in motion the future is."
"Master Yoda, tell me don't keep it a secret."
"Cause complications this child may. Speak with Anakin you will."
Padmé began to cry silent tears. That night she finished crying as she would have to try to have a strong façade when Anakin called this evening. She put on her politician's face when the com began to beep.
"We are on our way home, Angel. Should see you tomorrow morning possibly noon, the council is giving our team a month off. Isn't that wonderful?"
"Yes, it is."
"Padmé, is everything okay?"
"Yes, its fine. I love you Ani, I'll see you tomorrow." Padmé shut off the com before Anakin could respond.
Padmé also managed to shut off her bond to Anakin, which he felt like a punch in the gut. He nearly fell over when Han caught him, "Are you okay?"
"Solo, best possible speed to Coruscant."
Han didn't respond to the order with a smart aleck remark like he normally would, something was wrong, very wrong.
Padmé finished her crying and decided she needed to go near the gardens and dipped her feet into the warm water.
Keri was supposed to be in bed, but she felt an incredible sadness emanating from Mrs. Skywalker. Keri crawled out of bed pulled her slippers and her dark brown cloak on leaving the crèche.
"Keri, you are going to get into trouble again, you must love scrubbing the council chambers."
"Shh, Brandon; Mrs. Skywalker needs me." Keri whispered and walked to the gardens. Padmé was crying, Keri walked up to her and hugged her.
"Keri, its late honey, you should be in bed."
"Sorry, milady; I felt your sadness."
Keri was empathic and could feel others strong emotions like they were her own, she hoped to be in medical corps when she grew up. Keri felt Padmé shudder as warm light feelings flowed into Padmé.
"Anakin is very good at this too . . ."
"You miss him, he's worried about you."
"Yes, I know."
Keri put her hands on Padmé's flushed cheeks and looked deeply into her dark brown eyes. "Master Skywalker won't fall to the dark side, he has friends here in the temple and he is surrounded by love not only by his children but by his padawan. He may leave us for awhile though."
"What do you mean and how can you possibly know this Keri?"
"Because not only is Keri empathic but she also sees the shatter points in the Force. One day when she is older, will take her place as my padawan if she learns obedience and discipline." Master Windu stated.
"Master Windu, I'm sorry."
"Good night, Keri. I trust you know how to make it back to bed without any side trips?"
"Yes, master." Keri hugged Padmé and Master Windu took a not so gentle swipe across Keri's backside. "Ow!" Keri rubbed her behind as she ran off towards her dorm room.
Padmé felt a bit better but still so sad. "Master Windu?"
"Yes?"
Master Yoda said that there might be complications with my child."
"Your child will be fine; it is you we are worried about. There is an alternative. . ."
"I can't believe what you are suggesting! Never, do you hear me!" Padmé stood to her feet and angrily yelled. Mace was shocked by Padmé's outburst; he remained silent and decided that he would mediate on the situation. Padmé returned to Anakin's quarters and fell into a fitful sleep.
Anakin didn't even bother waiting for the landing ramp to go all the way down before bounding down it and using the Force to enhance his running to his apartment. Padmé jumped up when Anakin burst into the room and knelt on the floor beside her.
"Padmé, are you okay?" Anakin pulled Padmé into his arms and she was shaking with fear. Anakin sent warm compassionate feelings over their bond, she stopped crying. She still couldn't speak so she shared her feelings with Anakin and at first he was shocked, he felt for the baby's presence and the child was developing fine, but Padmé felt weaker somehow. The baby was unknowingly somehow pulling the life force from Padmé's heart and she was weakening because of it.
"I've been to the healers, but there is nothing that can be done, Ani. I'm so sorry."
"Don't cry Angel, please don't. I want our next few months to be wonderful and peaceful."
"I will not sacrifice our child, Anakin."
"I wouldn't ask you to do that, Angel. Never in a million years."
Author's Note:Hate to leave you guys hanging like that, but I figured you would want another update especially since it had been a while. Thanks for all the helpful reviews and comments. DarthGladiator45.