Disclaimer: Star Wars and all associated characters, plotlines, and worlds (good and bad) are property and copyright © of George Lucas (aka The Richest Man in Hollywood). This is purely for fan entertainment only.

Also a warning… this fanfic is rated MA for adult themes. It is also "Obidala"… in other words, if you're offended or otherwise do not like the pairing between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Padmé Amidala, then please don't read further to spare yourself the irritation. Otherwise, enjoy!

Chapter 14 – In His Hands

The room was filled with large tanks of bacta, the substance used for healing wounds and giving the body back its essential energy. Healer bots scurried around the tanks, monitoring the progress of the various patients, mostly clones. The dark reflection of his suit cast a shadow into one of the tanks, and Darth Vader stared at it and the woman within.

He flexed his mechanical fingers of the suit, watching the unnatural way they moved. He remembered what his fleshy fingers once looked like, with their tiny knicks and scars from working on droids and other mechanical equipment and the sand he had so scrupulously tried to scrub away whenever it accumulated on his fingers, under his nails.

He tried to remember what it was like to feel with those fingers, to know a sensation other than pain. It had been so long- a year, practically- since he had felt anything, much less the silkiness of Padmé's hair, which he yearned to do.

He stared at the tank, willing the Jedi within to heal, for her strength to regain as quickly as possible. His eyes within the mask stung from the forever burned optical tissue and the tears that somehow still managed to come, despite it all. He placed a hand on the transparent plastic in a half hearted gesture to boost her healing process, willing the Force her way.

"She cannot help you." Palpatine's voice echoed in the room, startling him.

He turned around abruptly, "What do you mean?"

Palpatine pushed his hood away from his face, revealing his scarred and shriveled face to his Apprentice once more. "We have already tried something similar. It is not possible."

Desperation filled him, "No! That can't be true!" he turned back to the inert Jedi. "You haven't tried her powers. Perhaps she knows something that you have not tried." He suspected deep within that the Dark Lord also did not want him to have his body back.

Palpatine put his shrunken hand beside Vader's larger mechanical one, emphasizing their physical defects, and his own potential desire for a normal physical body. But he changed the subject, "You let Obi-Wan escape."

Darth Vader bowed his head, keeping quiet on the subject so as not to reveal his true reasons behind it.

But as usual, the Emperor was one step ahead of him. "Even if you do not kill Obi-Wan soon, do not let him take their child into hiding."

Any idea of a plan to overthrow him tanked, the concept of catching him off guard dwindled. What else did Palpatine know? If he knew of Padmé and Obi-Wan's child, did he also know about Luke? And if he had not mentioned Luke, was Luke truly alive?

The darkness enveloped his mind and he wallowed in it.

The several day trip from Mustafar to Naboo left him with more than enough time to think about what had just happen. And it should have been enough time to meditate and release the negative feelings into the Force. He should be arriving on Naboo with a calm heart and a less turbulent soul.

However, he had not done any such thing, and had instead rehashed the scene of striking down the innocent Jedi over and over again. He watched as he struck her down in anger, her body falling to the grating again and again. Every time the rage was emphasized, and every time he felt the euphoria of the passion, the anger. And the voice whispered to him, The hate makes you feel stronger.

A small part of him grinned at it, though. This way, there was no way that Vader could regain his body. And with Vader stuck in the suit, Padmé would be afraid of him, would seek protection against him. And that way, she would never remember her former husband's brilliant blue eyes, nor the dimples dotting his cheeks as he smiled. She couldn't brush the errant curls from his face and proclaim how much she missed him, beg Obi-Wan to reveal the secret location of their children.

And he knew within himself that if it ever came to losing Padmé, he would probably give in to her and his former Padawan, no matter what the consequence. He could imagine it now- Anakin back with his former glory and power, his dashing looks, with his strong diplomatic wife by his side… and two adorable, very strong in the Force, children. He would be able to shape the galaxy in whatever form he desired.

But his thoughts reminded him of his own daughter, who was rapidly preparing to make her entrance in the world. It brought a smile to his face, knowing that when he saw Padmé, he would not likely not be leaving her again until after the birth of their child. He would have a daughter of his own, one he could hold in his arms and be awed by her every movement and advancement.

And he knew that Padmé would never allow him to take their daughter away, nor did he think he could give up his soft spot and do it without her consent. He looked forward to drawing them both in an embrace and begging her forgiveness for this entire ordeal.

But he could never mention the Jedi, never mention the episode that sent him reeling out of his sensibilities. Padmé had mentioned once to him of the time Anakin had slaughtered all of the Sand People after his mother's death, not just the men involved but the women and children as well. This incident reeked of it the same negative emotions.

Was he falling in the same trap Anakin had?

He quickly pushed it out of his mind.

Padmé rubbed a soothing lotion over the tight skin of her belly, at the same time massaging the ache that was growing with every day. She grinned as she felt her daughter kick, placing her hand over the spot. It was moments like these that she wished Obi-Wan was there. She sighed wistfully remembering that he had missed the date the Healer had drawn the line for her, suggesting that she maintained bed rest.

Poor Sabé had been waiting on her nearly hand and foot, dutifully regaining her duties she had learned as a Handmaiden and then some. She was also great emotional support, which Padmé was immensely grateful for.

She did not notice as Obi-Wan again surprised her, his own larger hand stroking her stomach gently, his eyes meeting hers. She smiled softly, letting him take over the task. He gingerly spread the lotion over her skin, finding places she had not yet touched. He reached under her light tunic, grinning slightly as he rubbed the lotion on her tender breasts.

She laughed, and drew his head to her for a kiss. "How did you know they ached?"

His blue eyes sparkled, yearning, "I just thought they missed me."

She giggled, holding him close. "No, they won't miss you until after the babe has had her share. I hope you can be patient with them."

Obi-Wan kissed her nose, assuring her, "I have waited his long, I can wait forever." As he said it, a sudden anxiety struck him, and he wondered silently whether he would have to wait forever or not- as he still had no guarantee that Anakin's premonition would not come true. It was almost as if their child was holding a death threat over her head.

He held her close, stroked her hair, and tried to keep the anxiety out of his bond with both Padmé and their daughter. She murmured to him, "I have missed you. What happened on Mustafar?"

He stopped momentarily, then resumed his caress. He kept his voice even. "The Healers are dead. The Empire squashed a rebellion premature in its planning."

She pulled away from him, concern in her eyes. "Are you okay?"

Obi-Wan nodded numbly, keeping his face a mask. "Vader and I are no longer working with each other." He assured her. And that much at least was not a half truth- he planned on telling the Sith Lord that he no longer trusted him as soon as he regained contact with him. He did not care how many times he told him that it was the only way to save Padmé- he would not fall for that story again.

She nodded emphatically, "Good. I thought it was a bad idea to be in his company in the first place. I'm sure he told his new Master exactly what you told him." She lowered her eyes, sighing. "Which means he probably knows about our daughter."

Obi-Wan clasped her hand. "It will be alright. He can't take her away from us."

Padmé shook her head, "We don't know that. It will be a constant struggle forever." Her heart ached within her chest, "I wish this were all over."

He kissed her forehead, "So do I, love, so do I." he had no idea how it would end.

Another angsty chapter. Let me know what you think.