Disclaimer: I still don't own Star Wars. Never have and never will.
A/N: Thank you all for taking the time to read this and thank you to those who have been waiting for this next chapter. I had originally planned to post Chapter 3 sooner, but writers block stinks. And I was a bit nervous to introduce some new characters, but I have overcome that. Hope you enjoy and review, if you feel so led. It helps authors like me grow. Now onto the story!
Padme suddenly opened her eyes. Her eyes were wide with fear as her heart pounded like a drum in her chest. She shivered slightly as she felt cool sweat on her skin. A trembling hand went to her belly as the twins aggressively moved around, confused and scared from the distress they sensed from their mother. She rubbed her belly, trying to calm them down. Then she noticed Obi Wan. He was standing in the doorway, his bluish-gray eyes glued to her. Fear and concern were visible on his face as his forehead creased. Without saying a word, he silently moved to her side, kneeling at the edge of the bed.
"Are you alright?"
Padme opened her mouth, but no words came out. After a moment of trying to speak, she finally managed to piece something together.
"I.. I.. I'm alright." Her voice shook slightly. She thought if she said she was fine, she might be able to believe it herself.
He nodded, also trying to believe her. "Just relax. I'll get some water." He stood up and quickly left. By the time he returned, Padme felt her heart rate slow down a bit and the initial fear had died down a little bit too.
Her slightly shaking hands reached for the cup of water that was extended towards her and she took a long drink. Then she took another. A minute of silence passed as she finished the water. Obi Wan took the cup and set it on the edge of the bed, before kneeling down again so he was at eye level.
"Would you like to talk about it?" He gently asked.
Padme turned her head away from him. "I can't. I don't think I can." She shuddered as she thought about it. It was just too terrible to put into words.
"Is there anything I can get you?"
She shook her head. "No, thank you. I just want to go back to sleep."
" Alright. Well, if you change your mind, just let me know." With that, he walked out of the room and made his way to bed for his own personal restless night of sleep. That night, Obi Wan was haunted with his own nightmare of his former apprentice's snarled lip and hateful screams.
For the next week, Padme didn't appear to be like her usual self. She moved much more cautiously, as if she was afraid something invisible would attack her at any moment. Like the reality of her dream would come alive before her very own eyes. And she started to nervously bite her lip, breaking some skin and causing it to bleed more than a few times. But the pain didn't seem to bother her. Obi Wan found all of this very concerning. He wanted to do something, but he wasn't sure what. So once again, he turned to meditation.
Master, it's me again. I hope you can hear this. I, as usual, could use your guidance. I'm concerned about Padme. About a week ago, she had a dream. About what, I'm not sure. She hasn't chosen to reveal that information to me. All I know is that it was bad. And it's caused her to act differently than her normal self. She's scared of what she saw. I can see it in her eyes. She is trying to act like she's okay, but she isn't. What should I do? I feel so helpless. I want to relieve her of this burden, but I can't.
After half an hour of no reply, Obi Wan sighed in disappointment and slight frustration as he ended his meditation. His stomach let out a loud growl, so he decided to make his way back inside to look for something to eat. It appeared that Padme was doing the same thing. She was standing with her hands on her hips, staring at the almost bare cabinet, where the ration bars were. She looked at Obi Wan when he entered.
"I think we'll need to go into town at some point. I don't want to live on ration bars forever." She then gestured to the shelf. "We're almost out anyway." She explained somberly.
Obi Wan nodded his head in agreement. "I have had my share of ration bars for meals, so that sounds like a good plan. There's a small town, Pika Oasis, about an hour away that I have been wanting to check out. We can get something to eat and pick up some supplies."
Immediately Padme perked up. Something about leaving the hut made her mood from the past week instantly change. "How are we going to get there?" She asked curiously.
Obi Wan's eyes twinkled in amusement. "Well, let's just say that the other day I made a trip to Bestine and got a land speeder for a good price."
Padme's smile grew bigger. "And you didn't even tell me. You have yet to amaze me, Master Jedi."
"I've had years of experience."
With that, they departed from the hut and started on their way to Pika Oasis.
As Obi Wan flew the speeder, he began to feel nervous as they grew further and further away from the hut. Even though he had made a trip the other day, there was a growing unease in his belly. This on the other hand was probably not going to be as easy at that. There would be more interaction with other beings. Since Padme was with him, they'd be more vulnerable. Now he'd seen her handle herself before, but she hadn't been pregnant before. And as safe as the town was, they were still on Tatooine. It was the same place where Anakin lived as a slave, where crime and gambling was high in numbers. He had to keep Padme safe. Nothing can happen to her or her children. Their safety was his priority.
"Did you have a chance to try out your backstory yet?"
Obi Wan quickly glanced over at Padme as she broke the silence and his thoughts. "Not really. I did try out my new name. It seemed to work out quite nicely. They didn't ask too many questions. All that mattered was the amount of credits I had. That's all that seems to really matter here."
After another moment, Padme squinted her eyes at Obi Wan. "Are you nervous at all? About this?"
"What makes you think that?"
Padme glanced at the speed dial. "You're only going about half as fast as this thing can actually go."
"Well, maybe I'm just cautious."
"You do think before you do things. You plan ahead and prepare for anything." She agreed.
Obi Wan winced slightly. If only he could have picked up on what was going on with Anakin sooner. It was the one time that he didn't realize it until it was too late. And after taking the time to think about how they got to Tatooine, he wasn't sure if that was the best idea either. Maybe he should have thought more about it. How he really wished for some extra guidance.
"I know that this is far from ideal, but we can make it work. For the twins, I mean." Padme added, as if she could hear Obi Wan's thoughts.
"And I'll protect you all." For him.
It was just an average day for Annileen Calwell. She got up early in the morning to make breakfast, restock and open her store and cantina, Dannar's Claim. Her daughter Kallie joined her, but ended up spending most of the day with the family's dewbacks and other animals outside of the Claim. The same people came in to buy the same goods and drink the same drinks. It was pretty dull to be honest. Definitely different from the dreams that she had so long ago in her youth. But she did it everyday for her late husband. For his memory.
As she wiped down the bar's counter with a tattered rag, her blond haired daughter came running inside, bringing dirt and mud along with her. Excitement and surprise were plastered on the 17 year old's face.
"Mom! Mom! You'll never… you'll never guess who I saw outside!" She flung herself at one of the bar's stools as she caught her breath.
"Who'd you see?" She asked, clearly unsure who would make her daughter that excited.
"I don't know! Mom, there's new people in town. New people! And they're heading this way."
That caused Annileen to finally look up from the bar. Her elbows rested on the table as she stared at Kallie. She was always happy to have customers, but to have new customers, that was something they didn't often have. They lived in a town where everybody knows everybody. So new people stuck out very easily.
She looked at the mess her daughter had brought in behind her. "Go clean up." She ordered. The girl jumped up from her seat and headed towards the hall that led to their private quarters, but before she made more than a few steps, another order was thrown out.
"Clean the mess first."
Obi Wan and Padme walked through the streets of the small town, looking for some sort of place to stop. The suns were brutally beating down on them, causing both to sweat. Padme adjusted the scarf around her face and neck, pulling it a bit looser from her hot neck. Pregnancy and heat didn't mix very well. So she tried to distract herself from the heat by observing the people and things around them. Some children were out playing in the streets, and few people were outside cleaning their houses and personal speeders or bikes. But the streets weren't as full as the woman expected.
The houses were simple, much like the ones in Mos Espa. Light tan with oval shaped doorways. They were plain and dull like the hovel the Jedi and former Senator currently occupied. But Padme actually found it very interesting. She thought the same when she saw the Skywalker residence for the first time. They were as basic as a being could possibly get, much different than what Padme had been accustomed to her entire life. Rich, lavish, big homes was what she grew up and lived in up till now. But she found the change not completely unwelcoming. It seemed nice to not drown in material goods, but to really focus on and value the people around in one's life. Maybe it helped some people put their priorities straight. While at the same time, maybe that's why there was so much crime on Tatooine. She wanted to understand more about a place that was so foregin to her. And maybe over time, there's a way she could help the people there. After all, that's what Anakin wanted.
Finally, they found a cantina. Padme suddenly felt very hungry as soon as they stepped in. A cool drink of water could also hit the spot. When they entered, they were very quickly greeted by a young teenage girl. Long blond hair fell down her back and her eyes were bright, full of curiosity, and excitement.
"Hi! Welcome to Dannar's Claim. I'm Kallie." She pointed a finger at herself before she gestured to the long bar towards the far wall. "Please, sit down. Make yourselves at home."
Padme smiled at the girl as she followed. A hand rested gently on her belly as she walked. The twins were moving around, probably trying to be active like their mother. When they reached the bar, another woman, probably around her mid 40s, walked out from a storage room to behind the bar. She gave the newcomers a smile.
"Hello. I see you've met my daughter. She gets excited about visitors. What can I help you with?"
Obi Wan returned the smile politely. "Yes, she's been very kind so far." He glanced at Padme.
"We would like some water and food, if you have some to spare. And after that, if there's a place we can go to buy some supplies, that would be most appreciated."
Padme nodded her head in agreement as she went to sit down on a stool. Obi Wan helped her before sitting down on another stool to her left. He quickly reached out through the Force and after a moment he sensed nothing dangerous or concerning from the two locals. He relaxed slightly in relief. They were alright, at least for now.
Meanwhile, Annileen poured the two glasses of water and Kallie leaned against the bar, studying their guests. The woman appeared to be a bit younger than the man. She couldn't be older than 30. Her face was smooth and youthful, with big brown eyes. Her head and neck was wrapped with a long white scarf, to protect her skin from Tatooine's harsh suns. Strands of brown hair poked out from underneath it. The man wore the same type of scarf, except his was tan and made of a rougher material. He wore an auburn beard and had blue-gray eyes. Both wore basic tan clothing of tunics and pants with boots. But the woman's clothes were baggier. And a gentle hand rested on her belly.
"Are you pregnant?" Kallie blurted out.
Padme's eyes widened in surprise as she looked at the girl. She wasn't expecting her to be so blunt, but Padme knew she definitely looked pregnant, so someone was bound to mention it sooner or later. Annileen looked shocked and embarrassed at her daughter's question as she handed them their drinks. "Kallie, for heaven's sake, you don't ever ask someone a question like that." She scolded. "Now apologize."
"I'm sorry." She muttered.
Padme gave her a small smile. "I am actually pregnant, so no harm has really been done."
Kallie's face lit up again. "Really? Do you know what you are having? How far along are you?"
"I'm having twins, not sure on the genders though. But I'm about 5 and a ½ months along."
"Wow! You and your husband must be very happy!"
Padme's smile instantly faded from her face as she looked at Obi Wan. A solemn look appeared on his face.
"Oh, I'm afraid you're quite mistaken. We aren't married. She's my sister-in-law. My brother died recently so I'm taking care of her." There was pain in that response that Obi Wan couldn't hide as he very briefly and vaguely explained the situation. After all, it was partly true.
"I'm very sorry to hear that." Annileen empathized. "My husband died a while ago, so I understand the challenges that loss brings."
Now she glared at her daughter. "I think it's time to leave these poor people alone. Go check on the dewbacks outside. Now!" With that, the younger woman quickly left.
Annileen then placed two small plates of food in front of the hungry people.
"We'll let you eat in peace. After that, I can help you with any supplies you need. Just let me know if there's anything else I can get for you." She then stepped away, leaving the two to eat in silence.
Padme very quickly went to devour the food on her plate. It wasn't much, but it felt like a feast compared to all the ration bars they had eaten lately.
"What do you think?" Padme asked Obi Wan when she finished eating.
He looked up from his almost empty plate. "They seem like nice people. Not many people must come by this part of the Oasis." He answered after he finished chewing a bite of food.
"I agree. I think it's nice that they're so friendly. I've missed…"
"Me too."
After a few more minutes of silence, Annileen showed up behind the bar once again. She took their dirty dishes and led them to the general store, through another small hallway to the right.
"Are you just passing by or planning on staying here?"
"We're currently staying along the edge of Pika Oasis. The plan is to be there for a while." Obi Wan replied.
Annileen nodded her head. "Well, we got plenty of supplies that you could use. Feel free to look around as long as you want." She gestured to about half a dozen shelves.
"We also got some very simple infant supplies, if you are interested in getting something now."
Padme immediately went to that section. The old shelves looked a bit dusty; there didn't seem to be many babies born out here with how tidy they looked. But all the essentials were there; bottles, cloth diapers, a handful of clothes, formula, toys, and about a dozen other things. She filled a basket full of supplies before she made her way back to Obi Wan. He had his own bag of supplies too.
"You ready?" Annileen asked?
Obi Wan nodded as he and Padme handed over the bags. "Yes."
As the older woman was starting to count out the prices, a few speeders were heard in the distance. Suddenly the noise grew louder and louder. She paused as she looked up from the item she was holding.
Obi Wan and Padme shared a look of confusion.
"What is it?" Obi Wan cautiously asked, his hand going immediately to his side, where his hidden lightsaber was under his robes.
"Those who go out during the Settler's Call are returning home. You can hear them coming from a mile away." She explained as she returned to her price check.
"What's the Settler's Call?" Padme wondered out loud.
"We are connected with the other homesteads around Pika Oasis. When there is a Tusken sighting, the Settler's Call alerts everyone in town that help is needed. Orrin Gault leads his followers on the Tusken hunts. Sometimes they kill some. Other times they don't." She frowned. "My son, Jabe, goes on the hunt, even after I tell him not to. You never know what can happen. I just don't want to lose him… the way I lost my husband."
She looked up again, and saw terror frozen on the young woman's face. "You should be fine as long as you don't go into their territory. But you need to be aware whenever you travel."
But Padme's horrified state was much deeper than anyone realized. Three years ago, the Tuskens kidnapped and killed Anakin's mother, Shmi Skywalker. When Anakin had finally been able to find her, she died in his arms. After that, he massacred the Tuskens. It was a horrific thing. The pain he experienced was heartbreaking. It created a fear in him that he had to save his loved ones. He had to find a way to be strong enough. That's why he went to the lengths he did to try and save her. But he couldn't save himself.
Obi Wan sensed her distress, as she appeared to be on the verge of crying. Her arms tightly wrapped around her unborn babies. He reached out through the force to try and find why she was bothered so much. Her guard was down so he could easily know and see what was going through her mind. And what he found was horrific.
He stumbled back a few steps, eye wide from shock as he broke the force connection. "No." He whispered.
Anakin had killed Tuskens.
He looked up and saw Annileen's concern. "I'm sorry. We must be going." He made no effort to explain what had happened.
She was surprised but handed over their bags of supplies as he quickly shoved credits at her.
He gently led Padme through the store towards the nearest exit.
"Wait, what are your names?" Annileen called out behind them as she tried to follow them.
"Ben and Padme." He hastily answered.
"It was nice to meet you. I'm Annie."
And at the sound of that name, Padme broke down and cried.
