Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars or anything that has to do with it, George Lucas does (Darn it! Oh well but if he ever wants to sell it...)

Summary: AU One year after Attack of the Clones Anakin and his family are on the run from the Empire. As they try to hide on Naboo, problems begin from within as Qui-Gon's health begins to fail.

Warnings: Nothing for this chapter.

Author's Note: This was my first attempt at fanfiction that I started in 1999 and I have rewritten it several times in order for it to tie into the movies a bit better. I just tried to fix some of the spelling, grammar and typing mistakes but bear with me. My CP and dyslexia makes it hard to catch everything.

Chapter 2: Father and Son; Friends and Family.

Four days later Qui-Gon knocked on Obi-Wan's door and smiled at the younger man as he walked in, "How are you feeling Obi-Wan?" He asked when the younger man looked up from where he was getting dressed.

"Sore but otherwise fine." Kenobi replied with a sad sigh as he pulled his boots on. "But I should be asking you that question, what's going on father?"

"What do you mean?" Jinn asked while trying not to flinch as he sat down next to his previous Padawan.

"Oh, please don't start father." The other said extremely annoyed. He had noticed his father's stiff movements as he sat and that made the Jedi Knight even more convinced that something was wrong. " You're hardly eating and when you do eat, most of it you bring back up fifteen minutes later. You're walking around like you're as old as Master Yoda and you're always tired. Please tell me what's wrong you are the only father Ani and I have. If you're sick let us help, it's the least we can do. Please, don't push us away "

Qui-Gon looked into the other's blue-green eyes and saw tears start to form, "Oh Obi-Wan." He said as he pulled the young man into his arms, how do I tell a loved one that I'm living on borrowed time. Jinn thought. The Jedi Master thought for a moment and sighed before continuing. "I'm dying little one." He felt the young man stiffen up momentarily and he thought he heard Kenobi choke back a sob. "I know I should have told you and the others long before this but I didn't know how. I have something called Asacalare's disease; it's very rare and runs in my family. It affects my bone marrow, blood cell development and my respiratory system."

Obi-Wan pulled out of the embrace, "How long have you known." He asked seriously.

Qui-Gon sighed and looked away for a moment, again unsure of how to answer the simple question "I was diagnosed about two weeks before the Temple fell."

"Does the Council know?"

"Yes, they do." The older man said before taking a calming breath. "I was meeting with Master Windu and Master Yoda when I started having trouble breathing. They were the ones that took me to the healers and stayed with me as I was having the tests done."

"Why didn't you send for me and Anakin?" Obi-Wan demanded to know as he let his tears come full force. "We felt that something was wrong but you closed us off. When Anakin and I tried to find out what happened to you, it was like you disappeared. We should have been the ones supporting you, not Master Windu or Master Yoda."

"I was very sick Obi-Wan." Jinn said as he looked into Kenobi's blue-green eyes. "I didn't want you to see me like that, not until I knew what was wrong. I didn't want you and Anakin to sit in the infirmary and watch me being poked and prodded. Most of all, I didn't want you two to see me cry. Not like that."

"I am your son!" The younger man yelled, not caring whether he was being disrespectful or not. "Maybe not by blood but by all rights by love. Are you telling me that all those years of calling you daddy or father instead of Master means nothing to you? How many times have you seen me, my brother or Anakin cry?"

"Obi-Wan stop this." Qui-Gon said before he pulled Obi-Wan into his arms again and kissed the top of his head. "You, Christian and Anakin are my sons and I love you all more then life. Don't you ever forget that. If any of my actions or words told you otherwise then as your father I must ask you for your forgiveness."

"You have it father." Kenobi said in Nir'duinain before burying his face into the older man's tunic. "Is there anything we can do to help you fight this?"

"There are treatments but since we're in hiding all I can do is take the medication that the healers gave me until I run out." Qui-Gon told him with a shrug. "And all they really do is help control the discomfort."

"Then what?" Obi-Wan prompted as he looked up, fearing the answer.

"I don't know. I could die within days, weeks or months. It depends on how strong I am at that point."

"How much of the medication do you have left?"

"About a month and a half worth but I have to warn you Obi-Wan, when the final stage hits, it isn't going to be easy. I'll understand if you and the others will want to keep your distance."

Kenobi was horrified, "No father!" He said standing. "How can you ever think that? Anakin and I would never let you go through something like this alone but we would also never let you go without a fight either. We'll find a way to get you those treatments and more of the medication you need. Please, just don't give up yet."

At that the older man stood and placed his hands on the other man's shoulders. Smiling as he drew him into another hug, Qui-Gon rested his chin on top of the younger man's head for a moment before saying softly, "I'm not giving up little one. I've got to much living to do and grandchildren to meet." He rolled his eyes. "Even though the later part reminds me of how old I am. Having you, Anakin, Padme and Lady willing Christian with me will give me strength."

"Are you sure you don't want me to go with Padme." Obi-Wan asked still in Jinn's arms. The older Jedi had explained the plan to him and he had agreed that it would be best for all involved. "I don't l feel comfortable with you going out there without any backup, especially now."

"I'll be fine Obi-Wan, we'll both be fine as long as we stick to the route that we have planed. Besides, you're still too weak and you're the only one of us that has any type of medical training."

"Okay, but I still don't like it." Kenobi said as they started walking towards the bedroom that Padme and Anakin were using.

(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)

"I know this is a little long for you Padme but it'll keep you warm and hide your pregnancy if it comes down to that." Obi-Wan said as he helped her into Anakin's dark brown hooded cloak.

"Thank you Obi-Wan." She adjusting it so that it covered her and pulling the hood up. "We'll be back as soon as we can, please take care of Ani."

"I will Padme, don't worry. You two please be careful."

"We will Obi-Wan." Qui-Gon said, pulling the hood of his cloak up, hiding his face. "I suggest we go now Padme, Anakin will be fine." He said gently seeing the young woman look back toward the bedroom, where her husband was laying. Unconscious.

(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)

The Jedi Master walked far enough behind his daughter-in-law to keep it from looking like they were together but close enough to reach her quickly if he sensed any danger. Once they reached her family's neighborhood it would be safer for them to walk together.

Two hours into their journey and after they entered an upper-class neighborhood the young woman called a halt to the walk when she saw that her Jedi companion looked a little sick to his stomach, "Master." She said softly and bringing the older man out of his thoughts. "There is a public park not far from here.

"Are you all right?" The other asked when he suddenly realized that he hadn't been paying attention to what his son's wife needed.

"Yes I'm fine." Padme replied with a smile before looking into his midnight eyes that had turned to stormy gray. "But you look like you're going to pass out any second."

"You know me too well child. I think we could both use a few minutes off our feet. " Qui-Gon told her before following the young woman down the street.

(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)

Qui-Gon tried his best not to groan as his vision swam and the young woman in front of him quickly became two. The Jedi Master was only half aware of being led to a bench in a public park and asked to sit down, "Are you all right Master?" Padme asked after noting how pale the older man was as he sat down. She knew he was not well. He had no choice but to tell her after his strength suddenly failed momentarily when he was doing some basic repairs on the cabin.

Jinn closed his eyes, took a few slow deep breaths and centered himself into the Force for few moments. Allowing it to calm his churning stomach, "I'm fine now." He said as he reopened his eyes and saw that Padme had taken a seat next to him. "I'm finding that stress doesn't agree with me as well as it used to."

His young friend nodded solemnly, "Do you need a doctor?" She asked.

"No, I'm fine, I'm just very tired." The Jedi Master replied before looking around for any possible dangers. He looked back at his young charge when he heard her gasp painfully. "Are you all right?"

Padme smiled as she took his hand and placed it on her tummy, "You look like you need a 'Hello'." She said with a smile.

Qui-Gon smiled in wonder when he felt a kick from each of the twins, "Strong little ones, like their parents."

The young woman smiled, looking directly at him, "No I think they get that from their grandfather."

"I'm honored, even if it does remind me that I'm ancient." Jinn said with a smile that was half amusement and half dread. "I'm not ready for this…"

"Oh you're not that old." Padme said with a laugh as she got to her feet and offered her hand to the older man, "My parents' house is not much farther, in fact it's just around the corner."

"Oh thank the Force." Qui-Gon said retuning the smile as he accepted her hand to stand.

"Hey." His young friend said playfully elbowing him in the ribs, immediately regretting it when he winced and groaned quietly, pressing a hand to his lower back and taking several deep breaths. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hit you that hard."

"You didn't Padme, I'm all right. Asacalare's disease causes muscle cramps and I just had a very painful one in my back." Jinn said taking another deep breath before smiling. "Anyway, you were saying?"

"I was going to say." She said following his lead to lighten the mood. "I'm the one carrying the Shaak and you don't hear me complaining, do you?"

"That's why women bear the children young Handmaiden." The Jedi Master informed her, smiling at the inside joke that he and Padme had shared for years as they resumed walking. "Can you really see us men having children? We would never survive."

"That's for sure." She said behind his back.

I heard that. Replied a masculine voice inside her head.

"I hate it when you do that." The young woman grumbled as she stepped up next to him.

Sorry. The voice said again.

"Stop that!"

I can tickle you with the Force too.

"Don't you dare!" Padme cried before sidestepping the Jedi. "Anakin does that to me all the time."

Qui-Gon chuckled, "And who do you think taught him how to do that my young friend."

"Oh." The young woman stopped. "So I should thank you for this then." She said with a smile and placing a hand on her belly.

Jinn held up his hands mock defense, "I do not need to know what my sons do with their wives behind closed doors." He replied with a tired but genuine smile.

The young woman smiled back before taking the lead, she loved it when the Jedi in her family showed their less serious sides.

(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)

Padme smiled as she and Qui-Gon rounded the corner and the first thing she saw was that her two young nieces, Ryoo and Pooja were playing in the yard. It was hard to tell which child was which, with all their winter clothing on but it made her smile none the less, "My sister and her husband are here." She informed the Jedi Master before they got within the girls hearing range.

"Still, we must be cautious." Jinn warned, going to full alert and keeping a hand on his Lightsaber.

The young woman nodded and smiled again as she and the Jedi approached the two children, "Hello Ryoo, Pooja. How are my favorite Nubian princesses?" Her nieces abruptly looked up from their game and ran into her waiting arms. "I've missed you two so much."

"We missed you too Auntie Padme." Pooja, the youngest said trying to hug Padme but couldn't quite reach around her large belly. She got a surprise when something bumped against her cheek. "What was that?" The little girl asked startled.

"That was your cousin saying Hello." Her aunt told her, placing a hand where her daughter was moving, hoping to calm the commotion.

Pooja stared a moment then lit up, "You're going to have a baby?"

"Twins."

"We've all been really worried Auntie Padme, are you okay?" Pooja's older sister Ryoo said she herself hugged her aunt.

"I'm fine but I need to talk to Grandma and Grandpa."

"Mommy is helping Grandma with house work and Daddy is helping Grandpa fix the old speeder but they're not doing a very good job." The youngest informed her aunt.

"Pooja that's not nice." Her sister said placing her hands on he hips in a very adult fashion.

"Who's that?" Pooja asked after noticing the very tall stranger standing next to her aunt for the first time.

"This is Master Qui-Gon Jinn, he's Uncle Ani's father and one of your uncle's Jedi Master's. Do you remember him at my wedding?"

The two young faces immediately brightened up when they remembered the taller Jedi explaining to their parents and grandparents how the Nir'duinain and Jedi wedding ceremony was going to work and helped them figure out how to fit Nubian customs in as well.

"Where's the older lady that spoke all those funny words?" Ryoo asked.

"What older lady little one?" Jinn asked, trying to figure out whom she was talking about.

"She was the one standing in front of Aunt Padme and Uncle Anakin." The child clarified. "She sounded very important."

"Oh." The Jedi said with a pleased smile. "That was my mother. She lives in the village where I was born, on my home world. My mother was performing the wedding ceremony because she is a Nir'duinain High Priestess."

"Oh." Ryoo said in thought.

"We heard what that bad man Palpatine did." Pooja said as tears started to flow down her angelic face. "And my teacher told us that all the Jedi died."

"My teacher said that too." Her sister said as tears started to fall as well. "I remembered visiting the Jedi on Coruscant and I thought all of them were dead."

"Unfortunately most are little one but the Jedi believe that we don't die, we join the Force." Qui-Gon said pulling both the girls into a warm hug.

"Including my Uncle Ani?" Pooja asked.

Padme winced, "No, but that's why we need to talk to Grandma and Grandpa."

"Padme." Jinn said behind her causing her to turn. "This might not make a very good first impression on your parents but, I think I'm going to be sick." He said before placing a hand over his mouth.

The young woman quickly grabbed the Jedi by the arm, dragged him up the steps, into the house and into the Refresher just in time.

(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)

"Padme!" Joble Naberrie cried, embracing her youngest daughter as she came running out of the kitchen to see what all the commotion was about. "Sola go get your father and Darred!" She told her oldest daughter, who was already half way out the door. "Oh Padme we've been so worried, are you...?" Her mother stopped in mid sentence when she felt something move and then kick her under the cloak the young woman was wearing.

"We'll explain everything Mother but right now, we need your help." Padme said before taking off her husband's cloak and draping over the back of a chair.

"We?" Joble asked right before Qui-Gon rejoined them. "Oh my Gods."