Chapter two

"We won't let

it become real"

General Grievous' escape pad took him back to the sith headquarters He ran out of it coughing and hacking, ran into the main room were the consol stood. Pressing some buttons an image appeared in the center.

"Yes, Lord Sidious?" Grievous asked as the hooded figure appeared.

"General Grievous, I suggest you move the separatist leaders to Mustafar," Sidious said as he fluttered in and out on the console.

"I will be done my lord," said Grievous as he bowed and coughed.

"The end of the war is near General," said Sidious his voice cracking.

"But the loss of count Dooku--," Grievous began.

"His death was a necessary loss. Soon I will have a new apprentice—," said Sidious slowly, "One far younger and more powerful."

……………………………………………………

The lights around them were dime but the city was lit up for the night. Luke and Anakin were in Padme's (and Anakin's) apartment talking about the mission that they had just completed. Anakin stood and went to the balcony were Padme was brushing her hair; Luke followed but only came as far as the balcony entrance.

Anakin leaned against the back wall and watch his wife brush her long flowing curls with a speeder going by every once in while, but he was not watching the speeders, he was watching her with a small smile on his face. Luke looked around the corner at Anakin and rolled his eyes as he leaned against the window frame.

Padme knew that they were both there and she smiled, but her thoughts took her again and it faded, "Ani, I want to have our baby back home on Naboo." She said turning the smile returning, "We can to the lake country where no one will know…where we can be safe. I can go early and fix up the baby's room. I know the perfect spot-right by the gardens."

"You are so—beautiful." Said Anakin.

Luke smiled and went back inside giving them some time alone.

Padme smiled and said, "It's only because I'm so in love."

"No-no it's because I'm so in love with you," said Anakin with a smile.

"So love has blinded you?" said Padme dropping the smile.

"Well, that's not exactly what I meant." Said Anakin with a chuckle.

"But it's probably true." Said Padme with a real smile.

……………………………………………………..

A baby is crying loudly, Padme is crying out, "Anakin, help me!" the baby's cries get louder and louder, Padme goes from crying to screaming "ANAKIN HELP!

Anakin sat up kicking the blanket up as he did, he was covered in a thin layer of sweat, and as it dripped off of his nose he turned to Padme. There she was, right beside him sound asleep. Anakin hear footsteps as some one walk passed their front door; he grabbed his shirt and went to see who it was.

Anakin saw the shadow walk out to one of the balconies; Anakin had a pretty good idea of who it was. When he walked out on to the balcony his guess was right. There was his brother sitting on the edge of the fountain.

"Luke are you alright?" Anakin asked as he came and sat by his brother.

"I think I should be asking you that question, did you have the dream too?" Luke asked though he already knew the answer.

Anakin nodded, they sat in silence for a while watching the fountain's and some late night speeder ride by. There was one thing about the Skywalker Brothers, they knew when all they needed was each others company.

A few hours later Padme walked out onto the balcony to see the two brothers sitting side by side on one the fountains not saying anything and looking worried, she wondered what could have gotten them up so early the sun wasn't even starting to rise yet. She walked up to them and put her hand on her husband's shoulder.

"What's bothering you two?" Padme asked rubbing her husband's back.

Anakin turned to her and made an attempt to smile, he sighed saying, "nothing," reaching down he pick up the small piece of wood that hung from the chain around Padme's neck and added, "I remember when I gave this to you."

Padme sighed and said, "How long is it going to take for us to be honest with each other?"

Anakin sighed and said, "It was a dream."

"For both of us," said Luke.

"Bad?" Padme asked.

"Like the ones we use to have about our mother, just before she died," said Luke starring off into space.

"And?" Padme asked.

"And, it was about you," said Anakin in a low voice.

"Tell me," Padme said rubbing Anakin's back in a circular motion.

"It was only a dream," said Anakin standing up and walking over to another fountain.

Luke turned to Padme. Knowing that she had to know he said, "You die in childbirth."

"And the baby?" Padme asked her hands going to her stomach.

"We don't know," said Anakin giving a thank you look to his brother.

"It was just a dream," said Padme walking over to Anakin.

"We won't let this one become real," the twins said together.

Padme didn't take her eyes off of Anakin as she said, "This baby will change our lives. I doubt the queen will continue to allow me to serve in the senate. And if the council discovers you're the father, you'll be expelled--," Padme began but Anakin raised his hand to quiet her.

"I-I know. I know," Anakin said looking away from Padme and to his brother.

Luke walked up and an arm around his brother's shoulders.

"Do you think Obi-wan might be able to help us?" Padme asked looking Anakin in the eye.

"We don't need his help, at least not yet, our baby is a blessing," said Anakin smiling as best he could as he hugged his wife.

T.B.C.