Ch. 23

A.N. Sorry the updates are taking longer and longer, I'm busy and also I'm sort of having writers block, very frustrating. I'll try to finish this one up soon and get on to the sequel because I have a lot of ideas for that. I hope you're still enjoying and I'll try to get them out sooner, I'm really sorry!

Padme ran nervously through the deserted halls, trying desperately to hold back the tears in her eyes. She would have just let them fall, but she knew that soon she would once again be surrounded by the hoard of reporters and that she had to maintain her composure in front of them. It was in moments like these (not that there were many quite so difficult as this one) that she hated the attention, hated being in the public eye. She knew it sounded somewhat stuck up to be sick of people caring about her life when she had so much public support and was highly regarded by the entire galaxy, but today she simply needed to just find Obi Wan and her children so that she could get help to Anakin right away. She knew that if she showed any emotion it would simply make the reporters more interested, so as she turned the corner that led to the main hallway she paused to calm herself completely.

It wasn't easy- as soon as she stopped and her mind was no longer focused solely on reaching her destination, the tears fell freely. She turned and leaned against the wall, a hand over her face. Normally this kind of situation would probably not have worried her so much, but the events of the past week had really pushed her to her limit. She had always known that their family would be targeted by political enemies or enemies of the Republic, but she had figured that, especially in this time of peace, no problems that could arise would be anything Anakin and the Jedi couldn't handle. This past week had been a wake up call for all of them, making them realize that maybe they were in even more danger then they thought… She and Anakin had often discussed ways to keep the children and themselves safe, and had realistically looked at possible problems that could arise, but none so serious as this. She sighed, hoping beyond hope that Anakin could simply kill this Sith or whatever it was, and that they could finally live in peace.

She admired Anakin so much- he was always ready to jump to the next obstacle and keep her and their children safe. He always made sure he was the strong one so that she could worry, he always reassured her even when he was feeling nervous himself, and she loved him for it. She only wished she could appear less frightened, and more confident like him, but she knew that Anakin didn't care. Before the twins were born, she had been just as ready as he had to face difficult situations and fight to the death for what she believed in, but her children gave her someone to worry about other than herself. It was their safety that frightened her, not her own- she knew that they needed her, and their father, and so situations that once she would have looked right in the face now made her want to simply get her children as far away as possible, to safety. Plus, she simply didn't understand the Force- it was so powerful, and it scared her. She had seen a good friend turn completely evil, she had even seen the love of her life almost reach that edge, and the power of it all made her wish she could understand it better. She sighed, calmed herself, and wiped the tears off her face. She turned to continue to search for Obi Wan, wishing she didn't have to but knowing that Anakin was counting on her. But as soon as she turned, she bumped right into someone and nearly fell over.

"Padme?" said a familiar voice.

"Thank the Force," Padme whispered, looking up into the kind eyes of Obi Wan.

"What's wrong?" Obi Wan asked, suddenly on alert, sensing Padme's extreme distress.

"I don't know, Anakin, he said… he went…he…go find him, please," was all she could say.

"Padme what did he say to you?" Obi Wan asked seriously, looking her in the eyes.

"The other Sith," was all she could get out before Obi Wan began running down the hallway Padme had just come from.

"Padme Sabe's in your office with the twins, we thought you would be there. Go to them, and don't leave. Stay there, and make sure you have as many guards as you can get. Delay the Senate meeting and tell everyone in the building to get to safety," He instructed as he ran backwards down the hallway. Padme began to protest, but he cut her off. "I know it's bad to cause a panic, but it will be even worse if anyone is hurt, if he can take hostages, or anything- go!" He yelled, and with that he was gone.

"Sith," Obi Wan muttered to himself, not even realizing the pun. He had expected this to come up, but not so soon. There were always two Sith, but he hadn't expected the apprentice to show himself so soon- however, it did make sense. The Senate knew everything now, there would be no hope for the Sith's operation at all once the Senate voted on how to deal with the problem, and so he had to strike now, even though the odds were extremely against him. Obi Wan could sense that Anakin was ok so far, but he was worried, and struggling.

Obi Wan felt so much empathy for his friend, whom he really saw as a brother, for having had such a difficult week. It had been hard enough for Obi Wan himself, and he had no further attachments like Anakin did. There was only Sabe, and Anakin himself, and both were fully capable of taking care of themselves, Sabe being a trained bodyguard and decoy for high ranking government officials and Anakin being, well, Anakin. He loved them both, but knew how much more difficult it must be to have two… no, three now, he mused, thinking of the unborn child… young and vulnerable, and totally dependent, children to worry about. He knew that Anakin fought so hard every day to keep them safe, and he really admired him for it. Anakin had become so much more responsible and mature… well, sort of…because of his family. Obi Wan though fondly of the entire family, and they of him, as much as they all teased each other incessantly, and he would have been devastated for any of them to get hurt.

As he followed Anakin's Force signature, growing increasingly stressed, Obi Wan thoughts turned somewhat randomly to the time that Anakin had risked his life to save his former Master by jumping in front of the Sith lightning. That had been beyond the call of duty, and beyond even their friendship, and he hadn't yet been able to properly return the favor, though, of course, he hoped that Anakin's life would never be in jeopardy. But it was with that thought on his mind that he approached the door through which he knew he would find a terrible sight. Taking a deep breath, he pushed the door in with his foot, light saber raised, ready to help Anakin at all costs in finally defeating what he prayed was the last of the Sith.

……………………………

"Chancellor, what's happened?" Asked the reporters, as she was visibly upset.

"I-" She stopped, not wanting to say anything but knowing that Obi Wan had instructed her to. "I can't say anything, just… get somewhere safe."

"What? What's going on?" They yelled anxiously, looking around. Just as she had predicted the whole group was already starting to panic.

"Where is your husband?" Asked one of the reporters, cleverly realizing that something Jedi-like must be going on.

"He's…he and Obi Wan Kenobi have sensed we are in danger, and they are trying to find out what's going on. Master Kenobi has instructed me to warn everyone, especially the Senators…" The politician in her cursed herself for this, it was the exact opposite of proper protocol in an emergency situation, but Obi Wan was right- no one's life was worth risking, because it would only aid the Sith.

"Why? What's happened?"
"I'm sorry, I can't say any more at this time," she said firmly, turning away as the barrage of reporters continued to harass her.

Padme headed for her office, taking out a comlink to contact the Senate's head of security right away.

"This is Chancellor Skywalker, listen…Masters Skywalker and Kenobi have instructed me to put the building on alert, please get as much security as possible, and send the guards and anyone unsure of where to go up to my office."

"Yes, m'lady," came the response, and Padme hurried toward her office, completely confused and tired of the whole situation. Finally, she burst in the familiar doors, the tears now falling freely as Sabe and her children looked up, confused.

"What's wrong Padme?" Sabe asked worriedly, immediately drawing her into a hug. The twins just looked up at her, scared, unsure for the first time in their lives of what to say.

"Sabe, theres-" Padme turned to her children's scared eyes, and realized she didn't want to worry them. She turned Sabe away, and whispered to her. "Anakin and Obi Wan think the other Sith is here, they're fighting it now…"

"Oh Force," Sabe sighed; now sharing Padme's nervous gaze. "Will they be alright?"

"Yes, yes, I'm sure they will, don't worry," Padme said, though she didn't know why. She was just as worried as Sabe. "Obi Wan told me to come here, and that we should stay here. Don't worry, there's a lot of security in the temple."

"Mommy?" Came a small, timid, voice.

"Yes, hello my darlings," Padme said lovingly, turning to them and managing a smile.

"What's wrong?" Leia asked sadly, she and Luke sensing the distress of the adults in the room.

Padme couldn't bear to see her children worried, but she knew there was nothing she could do or say to help- they could sense it through the Force. It was at this moment that she realized that she would never be able to do a mother's main job- comfort her children in the eyes of tragedy or sadness. They would always know the feelings of those around them, and she would never be able to make it better when people were upset. It broke her heart, and she began to cry again, thinking what an awful mother it made her.

"What is it?" Sabe asked, worriedly, and Padme once again turned her around, timidly explaining herself. "No," Sabe shook her head. "No, you're a wonderful mother, the best, I promise. Just because they can sense it doesn't mean they won't still feel comforted by you. Even adults, when they know everything is wrong, still feel better to have someone tell them everything will be all right," Sabe smiled, giving Padme a huge.

"Thanks," Padme smiled half-heartedly. Sabe's argument did make sense, but she still felt awful. "Daddy and Master Obi Wan are just doing more to help defend us," Padme explained to the twins. "And I'm a little worried, but they will be fine, I promise. And so will you."
Leia and Luke nodded, only pretending to understand, and just looked at each other worriedly. However, as most four year olds would, they soon grew bored and forgot their worries. Looking at each other mischievously, they turned sweetly towards their mother.

"I learned a trick, wanna see?" Luke asked innocently, though Padme could see through it.

"What is it?" She asked skeptically, raising an eyebrow at Luke.

"Hm, you'll just have to wait and see!" He said excitedly, as Leia giggled.

"Um, I don't, um…" Padme mumbled.

"Lukey, what are you going to do?" Leia asked.

"Well, I'm… you know," Luke said to her secretively.

"Oh, yes. I know," Leia nodded proudly at her mother.

"I-" Padme protested.

"You don't know," Luke informed her, giggling. "Please can I?"
"Oh all right," Padme conceded, against her better judgment. What else would they do while they waited, anyway?

……………………….

"Obi Wan, oh thank the Force," Anakin said breathlessly, deeply into a battle with a cloaked Sith.

"Who is it?" Obi Wan asked, joining in and helping Anakin as soon as he saw the opportunity.

"I don't know, hasn't said a word," Anakin told him. It was obvious that Anakin was growing increasingly frustrated with the situation. "But listen, you need to go to Padme and Sabe and the children, because… well, look," Anakin said angrily, his face as if he had just tasted something bitter.

Obi Wan turned around, and saw the bodies of at least twenty security guards piled in a corner. "Oh no," was all he could say, feeling momentarily ill. "How much security do they have?"

"Way more than this, but Obi Wan," Anakin said pleadingly, sadness and fear evident in his eyes. "These are the Chancellor's bodyguards, see the insignia on their shoulder?"

Obi Wan stared at Anakin, stunned. Anakin had known this the whole time, yet had kept fighting- years ago he would have rushed directly to Padme, not processing in his brain that the threat was there with him, and that she was most likely safe even without the guard. But, Anakin really had matured as a Jedi- Obi Wan was proud of him, especially of this decision.

"Are you sure you're ok here?" Obi Wan wondered, not sure himself if Anakin could defeat him alone.

"Enough to hold him off, call the council, get help," Anakin added, "Get some protection for them, then come back and help me."

"Ok," Obi Wan agreed, skillfully pulling out of the fight, the Sith still completely silent in his ominous black hood through which they couldn't even see his eyes.

"Who knows, maybe he doesn't speak Basic," Anakin joked, and Obi Wan, ever appreciative of Anakin's ability to make stupid jokes even in the most dire situations, laughed.