PART 19

Darth Vader went immediately to Dantooine after being informed there was a sighting of Padme there. He and the imperial troopers landed on the planet and immediately took control. He came to find out that Obi-Wan and Padme had a secret ceremony in a small village and that they were there for three days. There was no documentation of anyone else being there except for two droids. Vader tried to track down the man who conducted there ceremony, but he was no where to be found on Dantooine.

"Continue to track him, I want this man found!"

Vader couldn't believe that Padme had married Obi-Wan, his instinct had told him something had been going on between the two of them before the battle on Mustafar, but he didn't want to believe it. Now he had proof that something had happened between them, he could no longer rationalize the fact that Padme was with Obi-Wan because his former master was keeping her from him. She harbored feelings for him as well.

Anger and jealousy consumed him, using the force to tear apart the building he was in. He then ordered the village to be burned to the ground as he took off in his starship.

'You will pay for this Obi-Wan, I won't let you keep her from me.'

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After receiving a message from Yoda that he felt a disturbance in the force, Obi-Wan decided it was time to leave Bespin and the cloud city. He had saved some money, but decided on going to the planet Yavin 4 to find work.

Things with Padme hadn't changed very much, though now she was opening up to him a little more. She started knitting as a hobby and it seemed to help keep her mind off of things. When they arrived on Yavin 4 Obi-Wan had a hard time finding work at first, but eventually he did find a job, unfortunately he didn't like the job at all. Neither Padme nor Obi-Wan liked life on Yavin 4; Padme hated the apartment they were living in, for it was too hot and humid.

"I can't wait till we get out of here" she said as they were eating dinner.

"I know, but the good thing is this job is paying better than the one on Bespin did. We don't have to stay here as long."

"Good, I'm looking forward to when we can finally settle down somewhere, permanently, I'm getting sick of moving from place to place."

"Well, since we separated Luke and Leia, I think in time we won't have to be on the move constantly." He saw a deep sadness in her face when he mentioned their names; they usually never spoke of the twins because it hurt Padme to think of them.

"Excuse me" and she got up and left the table and went into the bathroom.

She didn't come out, after a while Obi-Wan got worried so he knocked on the door.

"Padme, love, are you alright?" There was no answer.

He knocked a few more times, still no answer so he busted the door open. He saw Padme sitting on the floor rocking back and forth as she wept.

'Padme, why didn't you answer me, I was worried" he knelt down on the floor to face her.

"Do you know I can't stand to think of them for 1 minute, 1 minute and I feel like I am dying inside. What kind of mother doesn't want to think about children?"

"A mother who loves them so much she did the only she could to save them."

"I've been dying inside everyday without them."

"Padme" he said as he held her tight. "I'm so sorry."

He undressed her and helped her into the bathtub to clam down, she sat there staring as he washed away her tear stained face. When finished he dressed her and took her into the bedroom and laid her on the bed. She still stared with a catatonic expression on her face.

Right before he was about to leave the room he said, "I know you're heart is breaking for your children, but remember that I'll always love you."

She finally turned and looked him in the eye; she took his face in her hands and started to kiss him gently. He accepted the kiss and wrapped his arms around her as the kiss deepened. Their clothing was quickly removed and she rolled him on top of her as they gently and tenderly made love, afterwards he stroked her back and shoulders as he kissed her flushed face.

"I've missed us being together like this."

"Me too, I was not myself before, I wanted to take the pain away through my aggression, and I had to feel something different" she said shamefully.

"I know" he said as he continued to stroke her back until she fell asleep in his arms.

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Two months later Obi-Wan and Padme left Yavin 4, even though they probably should have stayed longer, they had enough to buy a better spacecraft and soon were in hyperspace planning their next destination.

Obi-Wan needed to take Padme away from Yavin 4, he needed to take her somewhere safe and secluded.

Padme was pregnant.