PART 49

'Promise me we'll always be together.' Sola's words haunting Padme day after day. Two months had passed and Mon Mothma felt it was time for Sola and Mara to return to Chandrila, the Emperor's troops were moving quickly across the galaxy.

"Palpatine is still looking for you Padme, in the rare times the Senate does get together he still brings up your treason and betrayal of the republic, ordering for your immediate arrest" Mon Mothma said to Padme through a holographic message.

When Padme showed Obi-Wan the message he told her it was finally time for Sola and Mara to go back. Obi-Wan however didn't know that Padme had other plans.

"I already sent her a message back" Padme said as she watched Obi-Wan begin to record a new message.

"So she knows when to expect the girls?"

"Yes, but it's not just the girls who are coming, we are going as well, all of us."

"Padme we can't, it's too dangerous."

"I'm not doing this anymore Obi-Wan, Sola's words have been haunting me day after day, her plea for us to be together, I'm not leaving them again, I already did that with Luke and Leia."

"You did that for Luke and Leia to protect them, it's what you are doing for Sola and Mara as well."

"No, the difference between the twins and our girls is, they know me, we have always been together until this past year, the twins have no memory of our life here."

"The Empire is on the move again, they could be landing here on Tatooine this second."

"Which is why we are leaving tomorrow, the girls are packing as we speak."

"I cannot agree to this."

"Well I'm sorry but my decision has been made, I won't leave them, I can't."

"What are you saying Padme?"

"That I'm boarding Mon Mothma's ship tomorrow, with or without you."

"And she's okay with this?"

"Yes, she saw how hard it was on the girls, she promises as much protection as she can give."

"And you didn't feel you could talk to me about this?"

"She's my friend Obi-Wan, not yours, you don't like politicians remember?"

Her harsh words and tone made him speechless, it was true he never liked politicians but he had always considered Padme and Bail friends, they were the only two politicians he trusted, he didn't know Mon Mothma at all until recently. He sat down on their bed and ran his hand through his hair sighing.

She walked over to him and looked down at him, for the first time in years he saw pure coldness in her stare. He hadn't seen Padme give him such a look of anger since her parent's death.

"I didn't confide in you because I knew you would try to talk me out of this, I know you think it's safer if we are apart, but my heart aches too much for them, it's bad enough to be so close to Luke and not be able to be with my son. I just can't do it anymore, even if we were to send them back to Chandrila without us, we can't stay here, if we do, a day will come when I will walk over the Lars farm, take Luke and run away from here without you."

He looked up at her in alarm, "Why would you do such a thing?"

"Because I need to be with my children, I thought I could handle being so close, but I can't, with the girls here with us now, reminds me of what I've lost, if I lose them, I've lost everything."

Obi-Wan couldn't believe what he was hearing, he knew Padme was resistant to sending Sola and Mara away again but he had no idea that she was hurting this much. But then he thought back to the past and how Padme had tried to keep a lot of things hidden from him.

"I'm sorry, I thought my love would be enough for you, I was foolish to think it would be, a mother needs to be with her children, I truly understand that now Padme."

"Come with us" she said bending down taking her hand in his.

"Do you really want me to?"

"Yes, why wouldn't I?"

"You just told me you planned on leaving with or without me!" he snapped back.

She released his hand and walked over to the door pacing back and forth.

"I don't want to leave you, I want to be with you, but I also want to be with Sola and Mara and I know you can go on without them, I can't."

"I have been a Jedi all my life, I've been trained to let go of the one's we love, I haven't let go of Sola and Mara, I'm able to go on because I know they are in a better place."

"I can't do that Obi-Wan, I'm not a Jedi."

"I know."

"I know you love them, I see how you are when you are with them, it makes you happy again."

"You make me happy too."

"Do I really? Sometimes I wonder if you regret coming over to my apartment on Corescant that day."

"Why do you say that?"

"Look at us Obi-Wan, look at our life, moving from place to place, hiding from everyone."

"That's because of Palpatine."

"You didn't answer my question."

"No I don't regret it; meeting with you that day has been the best thing that has ever happened to me."

"What about the Jedi Order?"

"The Jedi meant a lot to me yes, but before I was just a Jedi, now I truly feel like I am man."

"What do you mean?"

"My only love was to serve the Republic, but I was missing something, I felt like my only identity was being a Jedi. That day you invited me to your apartment, and time we spent afterwards, I realized I was more than just a Jedi, I was human, and that I was capable of becoming attached. With Anakin it was all about his training, I loved him, but I never questioned my duty as a Jedi, with you I did. My greatest sin is that I failed and betrayed Anakin by being with you. But it was too late, I was already in love with you and you needed me, it was a sacrifice I was willing to make, just like you sacrificing your life with me to be with your children."

"I don't want to leave you; I want to be with you always."

"I want to be with you too, I'd be lost without you Padme."

"I think you would be alright" she said with a small smile coming to her face.

"No, I wouldn't, I'd be fine physically but emotionally I would be lost, I'm no longer a Jedi, the only reason I was able to move on was because of you."

"The only reason I'm alive today is because of you, you saved me in everyway possible." He smiled at her with such love in his eyes.

She threw herself into his arms and kissed him, not wanting to talk anymore, only wanting to be with him.

While frantically taking off each other's clothing, a small knock came from the door, followed by Sola's voice, "Mom, we are done packing."

Obi-Wan quickly got up from the bed and threw his robe back on, going to the door and opening it slightly.

"Good, why don't you and Mara go play that new game we got, you could play against Threepio and R2."

"Okay" she said as she ran back into the living room.

While Obi-Wan walked back to the bed Padme said, "Does this mean you are coming with us?"

"I could never leave you, I'm hesitant about going, but I will trust in the force, my life is with you and the girls."

She smiled at him in appreciation, giving herself fully to him while he gently and passionately made love to her.

"I won't keep my feelings hidden from you again" she said as she kissed his nose while he lay sleeping later on that night.

"I'll hold you to that" he said startling her.

"I thought you were asleep."

"I always wait until you fall asleep before I do."

"Why?"

"To make sure you are safe."

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The next morning Padme set out with R2 to the Lars farm, she told Obi-Wan she wanted to say goodbye to Luke privately before they left for Mos Eisley. He made her take R2 with her while Threepio and the girls helped him pack their stuff into the speeder.

"Are you sure you don't want me to go with you?"

"I'm sure, I'll be fine, besides R2 is with me, and I have my blaster, I'll be back soon."

"Be careful" he said as he kissed her goodbye.

"Bye girls I'll be back" she said as she kissed them both goodbye.

Obi-Wan watched as Padme got on their Eopie and set off with R2 following behind trying to ignore the bad feeling he was having.