Chapter 3.

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'Let It Hurt, Then Let It Go.'

"Anakin it is only human to hurt...you are only human, do not forget that." Padme comforted her new husband, he had been through so much in such a short time, the loss of his mother, the loss of many Jedi and troops. The war was only beginning and it was a lot to take for a 19 year old boy. She knew he would manage though, but she too felt this pain, the pain her husband felt, pain that she couldn't save him from, pain that in just a matter of hours he and a dozen other Jedi were to set off on their new assignment in the clone wars, for how long? She couldn't tell you. Anakin moved his hand to the side of his wife's face, married for all over a few weeks, it was the only happiness he had at the moment. "You are the only good thing in my life Padme.." He whispered softly to her, looking deep into her eyes, he truly was in love with this woman. Padme smiled looking up to him, before shaking his head, "No...I am one of, many great things will come to you Anakin. I am only a small part of your happiness." She said moving her hand to his on the side of her cheek, he couldn't help but laugh at her words, "If you say so...but you are the most important part of my happiness." He smiled leaning down to kiss her deeply, before he began to fade in her arms, against her lips, then harsh breathing, robotic breathing rang through her ears.
"Where is Padme? Is she alright?" A robotic voice she could not recognise, the pain in this voice sounded much like her Ani, "Padme." and eerie whisper in the same voice yet more human like, "Padme help me." again this pain rang through her ears. "Padme!" The last time her name was set it was more startling.

Padme once more shot up from her dreams, the dreams she had been having for weeks now. This time it was now morning and thankfully the babies had begin to cry because that dream...well it was a lot for her to handle in one night. Running her hand through her hair, she got up and walked over to the twins crying in their cribs before lifting Luke out first and Leia after comforting them. "Good morning my loves." She whispered softly to her month old babies, kissing their foreheads one baby at a time, she smiled as they settled in the arms of their mother. Little did she know, those babies saw the same dreams she did, especially Luke. As Padme placed the twins in their carrier to prepare their bottles she had bumped from her breasts, she sat at the dining table made of old rock with twins on the top, so she could feed both at the same time, it was hard, raising twins alone, she was so grateful for her droids. "Breakfast my lady." C3PO said to her as he placed the plate of food in front of her, "Thank you Threepio." she said softly offering him a smile. She had become happier, not so much, but enough for her to believe she could get through this.

"I am running low on the necessities, I'll have to head into the main town this afternoon." Padme spoke to Obi Wan who by now was sat in her lounge with her as she sit with the babies in her arms. "I will accompany you, just as a precaution." He responded looking over to her. Padme nodded in agreement, she would have to take the babies and she had not yet left her hut with them, to be honest she had not yet left her hut and been around a number of people since being there. She was too afraid someone would recognise her, the more social she become, the more dangerous it was for them, but she couldn't hide forever.

The markets of Tattooine were busy, full of mixed races, different species, slaves and tradesmen, mechanics and people who didn't really know their place. It hadn't changed, since the last time she was there, nothing had changed, even more so she could now understand why Anakin hated this place. She and Obi-Wan each had a twin strapped to their chests in a safe carrier with robes and drapes around them to protect themselves and the children from the heat, something they would soon become used too. Also to protect the children's identities, Padme was even wearing a scarf that covered most of her face so she was not identified. "You two!" she heard someone yell from behind them and felt her heart stop, she could not afford any conflict right now, not with the children with her. She looked to Obi Wan who signalled that they should just continue walking through the busy markets and get what they need and leave. Unfortunately that plan was quite unsuccessful when that same voice stopped in front of them. "You two...are new here no?" The elder woman asked, she was maybe in her mid 40's, a little older than Obi Wan maybe. Padme looked to Obi Wan in panic as her hand instantly moved protectively over her baby's back. "My wife and I...we moved here not so long ago. Terrible conflict on our planet from the war forced many to flee." Obi Wan blurted out quickly, a cover story, it was perfect, she would have to remember that, so she made sure that she took extra care in paying attention. The woman looked to them, "Terrible thing this war is, the empire has stolen many things from this galaxy." The woman added, it was clear she was no threat, but her words wounded Padme, 'The Empire'. The Empire her husband now led, the empire that caused so much fear to the galaxy she once served to protect. "Tattooine may not have much, but we are very lucky to be separated from the war." The woman added, Obi Wan nodded. "We would very much like to keep it that way. Now if you don't mind, we are in a bit of a hurry." He responded as he attempted to pass the woman. "Wait, wait a minute. I am Yuk Tee...but I go by Yutee." She said with a smile, offering her hand. Obi Wan sighed softly knowing they were not getting out of this anytime soon. "I am Ben and this is my wife Annie..." He said taking her hand, before Padme too took the woman's hand. "A pleasure, you have children I see...very young too." Yutee added noticing the baby like shapes under the robes on their chests, "Yes and we must get home as quickly as possible, they need attending too..it was nice to meet you Yutee." Padme said with a smile in her eyes since this was her only feature available. The pair walked past the woman, before Padme looked back as she walked, sharing a moment with this woman. A woman she had no idea would be in her future, a woman she was a lot closer too than she thought.

"Lord Vader..." The eerie voice of the emperor said to his apprentice from his throne, "I sense your mind is clouded." He said his eyes piercing through the soul of the man he destroyed. Ana-Vader stay on his knee with his head bowed to his new master, the heavy breathing and constant sounds from his mechanical suit torturing him, "Only on our next steps master." He said simply, his robotic voice echoed through the emperors chambers. Palpatine stood up at his words and walked to him, "Rise Lord Vader..." Palpatine stood in front of his new Sith lord, watching him rise from the knee he was previously on, before circling him. "I sense great fear in you, great anger...let it flow through you, feel that pain and let it succumb to the darkness I feel so greatly within you." The emperor said, in a way that implied the buzz he got of Anakin's pain, the pain that turned him more and more to the dark side. "Ani let it hurt you, then let it go...that's all we can do to survive, I'll hurt with you, and I'll let it go with you...I'll always be right by your side." The tormenting voice of the wife he believed to have killed rang through his ears at the painful memory of her, and it was only then that his anger and hatred fuelled within him again, dragging him more and more to the dark side as if he was stuck in quick sand, with no way out. But, with that came a terrible amount of suffering. "Yesss...I feel it, as you give yourself to the darkness that flows within you." The emperor was most pleased with his apprentice, no other Jedi would give himself so easily, but then he had taken everything Anakin had ever cared about away, so he really had nothing left to lose. "You will become one of the most powerful sith lords to have ever lived...together you and I will rule this galaxy and finally our galactic empire will be at peace." Palpatine added in optimism, evil optimism for sure. Vader just looked at him through his mask, was this his life now?

Tattooine was approaching its winter season, even then it was ridiculously hot, Padme was not used to such temperatures, even on Geonosis she could handle it. For this she was tossing and turning in her sleep, the only source of fresh air was on her children so that they didn't become dehydrated in the night. She had to make sure they maintained a healthy body temperature. As she rolled on her back in a huff looking up at the rock ceiling, she sighed placing a hand on her stomach, longing for her husband to be laying next to her, she closed her eyes for a second as all the happy memories she and Anakin shared flooded her mind, their moments in their luxury penthouse apartment, that time he came home from the war to surprise her, for one night and one night only. The many times she walk out the refresher in her silk robe and wet hair over one shoulder and he, he would come up behind her, his arms wrapped around her small waist breathing her in, kissing her shoulder and just standing there, for a moment, they were so happy. For her birthday, prior to her falling pregnant and his fall, he had planned something so amazing for her. Yes he was leaving the following day for what would have been the 8 months apart prior to his return on Coruscant to find out his wife was already heavily pregnant with his child. So, Anakin had made sure it was incredibly special for her, he had dimmed the lights of their apartment, placed her favourite flowers all around the rooms, lit small romantic fires that flickered so perfectly around creating and even more special aura. On the table in their lounge he arranged a beautiful organisation of all her favourite things, with a holographic photo of their wedding day. And in the background, the soft rhythm of the Naboo themes, he knew how much she missed home and she connected so well to the music. She couldn't speak when she saw what he had done for her, she was incredibly lucky and the pair spent the evening slow dancing to the music, reminiscing some of their most precious moments together, talking of their future, their hopes and dreams, and even a night full of passion and love making, most of that they didn't even make to the bedroom, but still...this was the romance she had hoped for and he tried so hard, no matter how difficult their secrecy was, he made such great effort so that she felt so loved by him, and she did, she truly did.

Padme's thoughts became rather distracted by her motherly protective instinct when she heard something coming from outside. Standing up instantly she checked the babies before walking through the bedroom door to the main lounge, where she saw the droids in their downtime. Her face furrowed in caution and suspicion as she attempted to figure out the noise, but when she heard it again she knew she had to intervene. "Threepio...watch the children." She ordered her droid who had woken up to her voice, instantly going to the bedroom to keep a safe watch on the twins. Padme slowly moved and quietly towards the door of her hut, grabbing her staff for protection if need be. Quietly walking up the small steps she saw a figure, rummaging through her speeder, her heart almost sank to the floor, Obi Wan was not here to protect her of the babies, she mentally debated her next move as she kept a close eye on the hooded individual. Could it be a thief just looking for parts? Was it worth it? she couldn't take it anymore, she had two young children in there and she knew she couldn't sit by and let some scavenger become a threat to her family. Instantly getting up she attacked the figure with her staff knocking them to the floor pointing the staff at their body. "Who are you?!" she yelled in frustration and concern, but not loud enough to wake the babies. It was only as the moons of Tattooine shone its light onto the figure that she realised it was the woman she had met before, Yuk Tee.

Padme's eyebrows arched in panic, what did this woman want?