A/N- I know it has been six months from my last post, but I had severe writer's block on this story. I think it is heading in the right direction now and I will continue to update as I can. Hopefully within the next few weeks from now. Please review or follow if you would like to see this continue. -GP

Chapter 56

Location: Naberrie's Apartment

Month 2 Day 27 Year 27

1330

His eyes blink, blearily from sleep. He blinks and turns his head towards the blinking comm. Link. He moans as he feels his body roll from onto his back to his stomach. He reaches for the comm. Link as it continuously beeps. He presses the ignore call and tries to close his eyes once again. However the beeping screeches back to life and he lifts his gaze onto the contact interrupting his sleep.

Obi-wan

He growls and turns on the call. " This had better be important."

Anakin disliked any interruptions in his sleep, especially since he hadn't slept much in weeks.

There is a quiet undertone to his best friend's voice as he responds, " Anakin, there has been a development."

Anakin lifts his gaze back to his comm. Link and questions, " What sort of development?"

Obi-wan's voice quivers slightly as he answers, " Maul has arrested Qui-gon."

Anakin's head jolts up from his sleepy state, wiping the sleep out of his eyes. " What happened?"

" Maul has evidence connecting him to Carth's death. He seems to believe that the recording holds evidence that Qui-gon or one of the Admiral's within the Academy are guilty. All four of them have been arrested and are being held until further investigations can be made."

Anakin's mind reels and he suggests, " I'll head down there down and see what I can dig up."

Obi-wan's voice is commanding as he states, " No, you cannot get caught investigating Qui-gon's arrest. We need to formulate a plan before acting. I will come to you. I can be over there within twenty minutes.

Anakin is exhausted, but he dismisses it into the force and replies, " I will see you soon."

The click of the comm. link disconnecting has him moving faster than he thought possible. He throws on his obsidian undershirt and runs his hands through his spiked hair. He paces the floor, trying to calm the racing thoughts in his mind.

Qui-gon had safeguards in place. It will take more than a simple interrogation to connect him to the rebellion or to Carth. He is more careful than either Ben and Anakin. Anakin tries to think clearly about what he had been trained to do in case of this situation. Qui-gon had made sure to tell them- but his brain is fuzzy and can't think straight. Qui-gon is right when it comes to people he cares about, Anakin always struggled to think straight or not at all.

He paces the floor, trying to remember their protocols. He remembers briefly in case of this situation that the Jedi Council members within the rebellion must be contacted. But had he even been part of those conversations? His brain racks attempting to remember any of their names- or faces..

He briefly remembers the short green life form with the cane. What was his name again? Goyda? Yoda? He never paid attention to the Master's name during the meetings. He knows he's the one in charge- but who else was on the Council?

He feels as if he is drilling a hole in the floor as he hears the clicking of the apartment doorway.

It hasn't been more than a few minutes since Obi-wan's call. Had Padme' returned from her shopping trip with Sabe?

He steps from the bedroom and into the hallway. He stretches out within the force and senses Padme' within the living room. He brushes her mind, letting her know he is awake and still here.

Her signature is alert and on guard from their past conversation this morning.

Their eyes meet as he enters the living area from the hallway. She has dropped her shopping bags into the entranceway and crosses her arms across her chest. She can sense his tenseness and concern etches her features.

What is it?

She can read him well, especially when something truly is bothering him. What is the point in hiding the truth from her?

" Admiral Jinn has been arrested. It seems they think he is connected to the Rebellion." Anakin states flatly.

Padme' blinks as the news sinks in. Her best friend's hero has been arrested for possibly being connected to the Rebellion. A man she only knew of being loyal to the Emperor and the Empire for well beyond thirty years A man who had been mentoring Anakin since he had joined the Imperial Academy.

Padme perches herself on the edge of the ottoman by the entranceway as her mind reels upon hearing this news. Anakin and Obi-wan always spoke of Admiral Jinn with high respect. He never seemed to falter in his loyalties to the Imperial Academy and the idea that he could be an associate of the Rebellion….

But you had no idea that Bail was associated with them either….

Padme' studies her best friend's body language. He is tense and rigid. Anakin has been this way for several days now. But now? His body reads more than rigidness. It expresses a concern and worry that is very unlike her best friend. He has never been one to follow rules, nor to show a sense of worry unless it was needed.

He asserts, " The only side I'm on right now is yours and Ashoka's. I will do whatever it takes to protect the two of you, so trust me when I say I'm going to look into this and for now- I need the two of you not to plan anything else. Besides you have copies downloaded onto your datapad in case I fail to return them."

Padme's thoughts trace back to the argument they had had this morning about the recordings. He had mentioned discussing with his associates about the matter. Padme's back rests against the wall as her mind reels over his reaction to listening to hers and Ashoka's conversation.

Is he part of the rebellion? Would her best friend join the other side?

Her thoughts reel back through the last year and half since he had joined the Imperial Academy. He had been quite distant at times within their friendship after reuniting with her. There had been plenty of times he had chosen to keep his distance, not including his association with Admiral Jinn. Anakin had been spending a lot of time outside of work with him- Obi-wan as well.

Did she really not know anyone around her and their loyalties anymore?

" He's guilty, isn't he." She assumes quietly, her mind connecting the pieces.

She can sense the hesitation within her friend's voice. " What makes you think that?"

She bites her lip and murmurs quietly, " Because you are worried about him- genuinely worried. And I know you. If you are worried, you have good reason to be."

The silence between them is deafening. The lies that have been building up between them finally come apart. The raw sheer emotion within the force is such a band of emotion that Padme' finds herself trying to rear back her own emotions within their bond. She felt a bit betrayed knowing that he had lied to her for so long about his association with the Rebellion. But on the other hand, she knows he probably feels the same betrayal from her.

He sits next to her on the ottoman and takes her hand. She squeezes it back as he explains, " Qui-gon recruited me within the first six months at the Academy."

Her chocolate orbs stare at his blue orbs as she allows him to continue to explain. " The Jedi order is still in existence. There are very few of us but we infiltrate the Imperial Navy to get intel to help the Rebellion."

Padme quietly asks, " Why did you choose to join the Jedi?"

Anakin suggests, " Because Obi-wan and Qui-gon thought I could be a threat to the Emperor at the time."

Padme's eyes wander across the room and her mind replays the recordings between Dooku and Rush. Dooku had sensed the power their daughter had had. He had sensed the power from Anakin's bloodline…. Was Anakin the Emperor's own blood?

She turns her eyes back on him then. She observes his features, trying to decipher any former of the hideous Emperor within his features. It's as if Anakin knows what she's searching for. He cups her face within his hands and murmurs, " That is what they thought too. The Emperor believes I am of his creation in a lab where my mother was held. Qui-gon helped her escape so I could have a life outside of his grasp."

Padme's blood runs cold. Her understanding as to why their daughter had been killed forms in her mind. Rush hadn't been the one to order Corde' to kill her and the baby. It had come from higher up- perhaps even the Emperor himself had ordered the hit- all because he didn't want Anakin producing heirs that were as powerful as him or as powerful as the Emperor. Her stomach churns at this fact.

" How long have you known he's the reason our daughter is dead?" She questions with a hint of anger in her quiet voice.

His eyes soften upon mentioning the truth. He responds, " Since she died. I couldn't tell you that it was my fault that she's dead."

Her hands shake within her lap. It isn't his fault. He cannot choose his parentage. Everyone is born to two parents and they cannot be blamed for their parent's sins.

But he had said, they had thought he was the Emperor's blood…

She questions, " What do you mean by they thought you were his son?"

Anakin takes her hands in his and murmurs, " Qui-gon suspected I was because he knew my mother. But after some time, he suspected that it wasn't true so he had my DNA ran against his own."

Padme's eyes widen, understanding the connection between Anakin and Qui-gon now. She understands his concern. She would feel the same if something happened to her own father. She claims, " He's your father, not the Emperor."

Anakin's eyes peer down at their clasp hands. " Yes and I do not want to lose him after discovering the truth."

" How long have you known he's your father?"

He murmurs, " The day I was released from prison he told me."

She says, " I'm glad you are not the spawn of the Emperor."

He chuckles slightly, lightening the dark mood. " Me too. But I have to help him P. He's my father."

She nods and mutters, " You need to think this through before you act. We both know that you think irrational when it comes to anyone you care about or consider family."

He nods and says, " Obi-wan told me the same. He is on his way here to discuss the matter. P, it might be better if you are not involved."

She frowns and suggests, " Anakin, I'm already involved. You already know how I am involved. So whether you like it or not, I'm staying. You cannot protect me from this. I'm choosing to help you. You are my family and that makes Qui-gon family too. If it was my father, you wouldn't hesitate to help me."

He snorts at her stubbornness. She has a point and three minds might be better than two. He agrees, " I don't like it, and neither will Ben."

Padme' snorts. " Ben is going to have a lot to adjust to."

Anakin's brown furrows and before he can ask Padme' answers, " He's going to be a father."

Anakin's eyes widen slightly and he isn't sure what to say. Padme' murmurs, " It is best if it comes from her."

Before he can respond the door chimes. Their eyes turn to the pad and Anakin uses the force to let Ben in. The door slides open and Obi-wan looks between the two of them and all he can say is , " Anakin, what have you done?"

To be Continued..