Chapter 10

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''Curiosity Leads Us Down New Paths'

"Luke go round up the herd! There's going to be a sandstorm tonight." A 37 year old Padme called to her 11 year old son from outside her hut. "Yes mom." He said as he walked outside to meet her. Padme had been living under the radar from a really long time now, it was peaceful, lonely at times but peaceful, no trouble had come to them, okay a few minor conflicts with a few locals when it came to marketing but nothing of great concern. Padme had grown so beautiful, she looked no different, a little more mature in the face which was natural with age, her long brown hair that she was so famously recognized for had been cut into a shoulder length long bob, it matched her age perfectly and it was easier to control in the humidity of Tattooine. There hadn't been a day gone by where she hadn't thought about Anakin, but it was also a distant memory to her now, as far as she was concerned her husband was dead, and when her children asked about their father, that would be her response.

Luke had grown up looking a lot like Anakin did when he was just a boy, many times Padme watched him and it took her back to the time when she was just a child herself, queen but still a child, when she had first met him. He was an amazing boy though, respectful, hardworking, selfless, his attitude was much like hers. Leia was a lot like her, where Luke took the blonde hair and blue eyes from Anakin's younger self, Leia took the brown eyes and hair from her mother, yet much of her attitude came from Anakin, so many similarities, it was strange for Padme to see her child acting so much like a man she had never met. Still, she loved her children more than anything and they had made her so proud. She felt so guilty that she could not give them the life she had hoped for them, she did not want to keep them a prisoner or so sheltered but until the time was right, she had to keep them safe.

Although ten years had passed, nothing major had happened, nothing of interest, even with the galactic empire, Tattooine was pretty much safe from it all, sheltered with its only conflicts being its own. Padme was grateful for that, but she knew it wouldn't last forever, and she was beginning to feel things coming to a change, it worried her, Obi Wan felt similar things. Padme's connection to the force had become a lot stronger since having the twins, she was still never as powerful as Anakin or her children but Obi Wan had taught her ways to peacefully connect with the force, to help guide her, to help her intuitions, she couldn't thank him enough for everything he had done for them. Although Obi Wan had taught her simple ways of the force, she made it clear that Luke and Leia were to have nothing to do with it, they were not Skywalkers for their own protection and if were to have some sort of connection in the force, it could lead to a dangerous finding from their father or the emperor. It was cruel but she had to do what was best for them.

"Would you like help setting the table aunt Mali?" Leia asked as she came out of her room seeing her great aunt setting the table ready for their evening meal. "Oh yes that would be very helpful, thank you dear." The older woman said with a smile as she handed Leia the bowls of food. Once everything was done outside Padme and Luke walked back inside their home, with Padme closing the door tightly and putting the sandstorm protectors up. "Will Uncle Ben be joining us tonight?" Luke asked having bonded so well with Obi Wan. Padme looked to him as she walked the couple of steps from the door into the communal lounge. "Oh not tonight love, we both decided it was safer with the sandstorm if he stayed at home." Padme said with some regret. The twins nodded and Luke went to go wash his hands before Leia took a seat at the dining table, "Luke dinner is ready." Mali shouted through to Luke. As the four of them dined together Padme sipped on her drink to wash down the homemade bread Mali had made to go with their soup, "This is lovely Mali, thank you." Padme said with a smile the woman who had been in her life and helped her in so many ways for the last 11 years. "Yeah it's great Aunt Mali." Leia said with a smile as Luke nodded in agreement with a mouthful. "Thank you, although tomorrow I will have to head into the markets, were running low." Mali admitted, Padme shook her head, "Oh don't worry, I can go for you, you deserve a day to yourself." Padme offered with a smile, she needed to get out the hut anyway, she had only been to the market a couple times and by now no one really batted an eye lid. "Oh can I come with you mom?" Leia asked in enthusiasm, Padme looked to her and then Mali in concern. "I will think about it." Padme said simply still so worried even after ten years. Leia just sighed slightly at her mother's constant worry. "Hey mom?" Luke said after swallowing his food, "Yes dear?" Padme asked turning her head to her son. "Can you tell us about dad?" Luke asked innocently, he had been pestering her so much about Anakin lately, Leia seemed to just accept the fact their father was no longer with them, but Luke...he just couldn't let go. Padme swallowed her food before putting her spoon down, "I've told you, he was a great man who unfortunately died just before you were born." Was all she said sipping her drink, Mali observed knowing right now wasn't the best time to intervene, even after all these years anything to do with Anakin still affected her as though it was yesterday, even if she had found some peace with it. "That's it? That is all you're going to give us...again." Luke asked a little disappointed in his mothers lack of story telling. Padme sighed, "Luke, there is not much to tell...I wish there was, now finish your dinner." She said wanting to quickly end the conversation. "But-" Luke went to speak but Padme quickly cut him off. "No buts, no finish you soup." She repeated once more a little more stern, he was a respectful young boy but he was still only 11, he still had a lot of growing up to do and Padme couldn't blame him for his curiosity. Luke sighed in frustration throwing his spoon back into his bowl slightly, "I'm not hungry." He said bluntly with an eyeroll. Padme's eyebrow arched and looked to her son, Anakin was kicking into his attitude too. "Then you can go to your room." she said her parental side kicking in and not taking attitude from her son. Luke just rolled his eyes and left the table in frustration and Padme just moved her hand to the side of her head.

After cleaning up and doing a little more of her homework Leia said goodnight to the two women, before going to her room. The sandstorm had shortly kicked in and it was a bad one, thankfully Padme had known before hand and made sure everything was secure enough to keep her herd and her home safe. Leia on the other hand was struggling to sleep because of it, so getting up and quietly going through to her brothers room. "Luke." She whispered as she opened the door ever so slightly. "Are you awake?" She asked again, before hearing his response. At his approval for her to come in, she quietly closed his door not wanting to wake her mother and aunt. "I can't sleep, it sounds scary outside." She said sitting on the bed with her brother for his comfort. "It's fine Leia, we're safe inside." Luke whispered sitting up with her on the bed as they leaned against the wall. Leia nodded and they sat in silence for a second, "I think you should apologise to mom." She whispered knowing that Luke had been in his room all evening. "Why? She's the one keeping secrets from us, I don't understand why she can't just tell us the truth." He said obviously frustrated that Padme was keeping their father from them. "I understand Luke, I want to know too...but have you ever actually looked at her when you've asked about him?" She asked seeing her brother shake his head, "She is clearly still suffering from whatever it is that happened. Every time you mention him she has the sadness in her eyes, I just feel it, she has so much pain...maybe there is a reason she is not telling us the truth completely, but whatever it is we are still too young to understand, and she will tell us when she is ready...personally I don't think hearing about a man who has never been in our lives is worth the pain mom goes through at the mention of him." She said softly knowing her brother probably never thought of it like that. Luke sighed a guilty sigh, "I guess you're right." Luke sighed once more, "I just...I want to know who he was, what he did, what he looked like, how him and mom met, everything." he said trying to explain it. "I know Luke...I want that too...and I am sure we will know that some day...we just have to be patient." She said taking her brothers hand to comfort his frustrations, Luke looked to her hand and then to her, "You always know what to say." He said with a smile, Leia chuckled, "That's because I am the better twin." He teased shoving him, Luke laughed and shoved her back. "At least I'm not the ugly one." he said with a chuckle, "Keep dreaming farm boy." She laughed as the pair bonded even more, before Leia had gone back to her room to sleep.

The following morning Leia and Mali where in the communal lounge drinking their morning drinks whilst the kids slept a little longer, "I just feel so guilty about not being able to tell them the truth...but I can't..I just..." Padme was cut off by Mali's hand on her own. "Don't feel guilty about something they don't understand, they won't hate you for it and when they do know the truth, they will understand why you protected them." Mali responded with a smile, Padme nodded her head looking to her friend. "I guess so...I should probably wake them up." She said sipping her drink before standing up and knocking on their doors calling through to them to wake them up.

After breakfast, Padme had gone out to make sure everything was okay from the sandstorm the night before, thankfully not too much damage before heading back inside to grab her robe and bag, "I'm going to head in to the market to pick up the groceries." Padme said to them, Luke and Leia at the table doing their school work from their homeschooling. "Oh please can I come with you mom?" Leia begged, Mali sent her a nod to say it would be fine before Padme smiled, "Fine...but just this once, and grab your robe." She said watching as her daughter jumped with excitement. "Luke once you finished your homework make sure you feed the herd, let them roam the land for a bit too." She said with a smile kissing the side of his head, "Will do mom...and I'm sorry for last night." He said looking to her, Padme smiled at his words, "That is okay Luke, thank you for apologising."

The markets were busy as always, Padme held onto Leia's hand so protectively and did not let her out of her site, she had every reason too be this way. As they stood at the market for the fresh foods Leia saw the boy a little older than her helping his mom behind the stall, she smiled at him, he was very cute and she felt her cheeks blushing slightly. "What can I get for you?" The boy asked her as Padme ordered some stuff from his mother, "Uhm...a round of your Jabba berries please." She said sweetly as she swayed slightly. The boy took grabbed what she needed before handing it to her, "I like your pin." she said noticing the badge like object on his tunic. "Thank you, I like your hair." He responded, Leia smiled running her hand through her braided hair, "Thank you...I'm Leia...Leia Varla." She responded her heart pumping the entire time. "Its nice to meet you Leia, I'm Ren...Ren Beruss." He said offering her the same smile back. "It's nice to meet you too Ren." She said softly before being distracted by Padme's words. "Come on Leia, we're done here." She said softly with a smile, "I'll see you around?" Ren asked seeing that she had to leave, "I hope so." Leia said before walking away with Padme as she held onto the berries. "Making friends Leia?" Padme asked softly having noticed her daughter's interaction. "Sorry mom, I know you don't like us being too involved with the people." Leia said with a frown, that made Padme feel guilty. "You are a growing girl Leia, I should have expected you to want to make friends...it is fine, I just ask that you are careful." She said looking down to her mini self. "Always mom." Padme smiled at her daughters words, "Good...now we just have to go to one more stall...your brother drank the last of the blue milk this morning." She said playfully to say that Luke always drank the milk.

Whilst walking through the busy markets, Padme once again kept Leia close as they headed to the stall that sold the Bantha milk, turning the corner Padme stopped in her track when she saw a storm trooper from the empire roaming the streets, what where they doing here? she asked herself, it caused panic in her, there hadn't been stormtroopers around Tattooine in almost 9 years, and where there were stormtroopers, there was Vader. Swallowing hard she continued to act calm for her daughter but Leia sensed her mothers stress and squeezed her hand softly. Putting her hood up as she walked quicker to the stall with Leia walking quickly beside her. Paying for their milk and walking back to her speeder, Leia knew there was evil taking charge of the galaxy but she had no idea how closely related to this Sith army she actually was. "Are you okay mom?" Leia asked as she helped pack their groceries on the speeder, "I'm okay Leia...lets just get home." Padme added before climbing onto the speeder with her daughter and speeding off into the distance.

That evening once the children had gone to bed, Mali saw the expression on her face and had become concerned, even Obi Wan had sensed something different inside her, since he had arrived shortly after them coming back home from their shop. "There were stormtroopers in the market today...I don't know what for, I don't know for how long but they were there...it seemed like they were just doing patrols but on Tattooine in a poor market like that one? It's a little suspicious don't you think?" Padme said pacing back and forth her lounge with the two adults, Obi Wan looked to her, he was a year from 50 now so his hair had began to grow a little lighter in colour, his skin aged a bit more, but he was still very much the same Obi Wan, but he did suffer with PTSD, something Padme and Mali helped him get through. "I think it is wise that none of us leave our homes for the next few days." Obi Wan said simply, moving his hand through his beard the way he always had. "He's right, we are too far from the town to be caught up in anything if something were to happen, but just to be on the safe side." Mali added, Padme just nodded. "I just...I'm not ready for things to become so exposed to them just yet...I can't bare to think about what I'd do if something was to ever happen to them." Padme said sadly. Obi Wan looked to her, "Nothing will happen to the them Padme, I promise you." Obi Wan assured her.

A promise? its not that she didn't believe his promise, its just she was afraid, her twins grew up so peacefully, she didn't want anything to ruin that right now. She prayed that everything would be okay, that the stormtroopers would leave shortly and they would go back to living a quiet life once more.

But sometimes things don't always go the way we want.