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 8: Shared Nightmares, Force Communications and The Kenobi Twins.

Padme woke some time before dawn and felt like she was wide awake despite the early hour. She yawned and stretched her arms above her head before turning her head to look at her still sleeping husband, "Ani?" She called out into the darkness when she realized that her husband wasn't lying next to her. "Ani, where are you?" The young woman got up and pulled her purple satin robe around her shoulders before going out into the common room. "Ani?"

"Padme." An electronic voice said from behind her before it hissed in a breath. The senator turned around and found herself face to face with a person dressed in black body armor and a skull like mask. "Padme." It said again before drawing a black Lightsaber and igniting it's blood red blade.

The last thing Padme did before she died was asking the thing that used to be her Anakin "Why..."

Padme shot up in her bed and immediately broke into tears, "Anakin." She sobbed before trying to wipe away the tears that kept streaming down her face. "Why?"

"Padme." A male voice asked her from the doorway. "Are you all right?"

The young woman looked up and gasped in momentary fright when she saw her blind brother-in-law, "Christian how did you..."

"Know you were having a nightmare?" He asked by way of interrupting. "Anakin told me."

"Anakin told you?" She asked as he followed the sound of her voice. "How is that possible? Obi-Wan said that he would need to be in a Healing Trance for a week."

"He told me through the bond that we have." Christian said as he sat down on the edge of the bed. "Even though I'm not bonded with him as a master would be to a Padawan; Anakin and I bonded as brother to brother when I first met him after he came to the Temple and Qui-Gon adopted him."

Padme smiled sadly, "Sometimes I wish I could have been a Jedi. So I could talk to Anakin the way you can."

Kenobi laughed softly, "You can."

She gave the Jedi a confused look and when he didn't respond she remembered that he couldn't see her face, "How?"

"It's quite simple really, you just need someone to connect you." He cocked his head and smiled. "Anakin never told you about this?"

The young woman sighed, "No and I think there are quite a few things about the Jedi Order I don't know." She smiled nervously and ran a hand through her dark brown curls. "And I still don't understand."

Her brother-in-law smiled and held out his hand in the direction of her voice, "Come with me."

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

Fifteen minutes later Padme was kneeling at her husband's bedside with Christian beside her. "Are you ready?" The knight asked her as she shifted her weight on her knees.

"Does Anakin know we're here?" She asked as she ran a hand through her husband's short sandy blond hair.

"Yes. He feels us in the room with him" Her brother-in-law said with a smile while looking directly into her eyes. "He just can't respond, yet. Give me your hand." The young woman did so and felt something touch her mind gently. Don't fight me Padme, I know this feels strange but you'll get used to it.

Christian? Padme asked amazed.

She heard him chuckle softly in her mind. It's okay Padme; I can help you connect with your husband so that you can talk to him.

How long do I have? The young woman asked.

I'll hold the connection as long as I can but I will tire quickly. I'll be directing the thoughts of two people while I have my mind closed off so I can give you two some privacy. Plus Anakin is still healing so I have to lend him the energy to talk to you.

Okay. Padme replied.

Now don't try to talk, just think and I'll do the rest.

Okay. Padme watched as Christian placed his other hand on Anakin's forehead and took a deep breath. He then nodded when a connection was established. Anakin?

Ami? She heard her husband ask, he sounded stronger then when he went into the Healing Trance a few days ago but it was obvious he was still weak. Are you okay angel?

I'm fine. She said with a small smile.

You had a nightmare. Anakin said matter-of-factly. Are you all right?

It doesn't matter baby. Padme said while trying to change the subject.

Yes it does. Anakin insisted. Now what did you dream about?

You. She said sadly. Us.

I killed you. Her husband replied after reading her Force signature. You saw what I would have become if I had given in to the Dark Side. You and I were having the same dream. I'm sorry angel.

Shhh. Padme said while running a hand through his hair again. I feel better now that I've been able to hear your voice.

Oh Ami, I'm fine. I'll be able to wake up tomorrow.

So you're feeling better?

I'm almost healed but I'll feel much better when I see your beautiful face.

The rest of me will scare the Sith out of you, I think I've gained ten more pounds in the last week.

It's all baby and don't forget, you are carrying two.

I try to forget but my back won't let me.

You really are an angel; you're giving me what I've always wanted.

Well, our families are saints.

Are the twins okay?

They want to hear your voice too, I can tell.

I really hate to break this up you two but I can't hold this connection much longer. Christian interrupted, completely exhausted.

Anakin and Padme quickly said their goodbyes. I'll see you tomorrow baby I love you so much.

I love you too Ani.

Padme opened her eyes, not realizing that she had closed them. She turned when she heard Christian breathing heavily, the Jedi sensing her looking at him gave her a tired smile.

He gasped in surprise when the young woman threw her arms around him and hugged him hard, "Thank you Christian, thank you." She said over and over, each time holding him tighter.

"You're welcome Padme." Christian replied, trying to breath and not blush at the same time. "I really love hugs but um...I need to breathe too."

"Oh, I'm sorry Christian." She said as she regained her composure.

The knight laughed, "I don't mind a bit, it's not every day that a beautiful woman hugs me with such enthusiasm."

"How do you know what I look like? I could be the ugliest woman in the galaxy for all you know."

"Anakin showed me a mental picture of you." He said gently running a hand over her face. "You are quite beautiful, besides I can hear your voice and sense your feelings. I may be blind Padme but the things I see can't be seen with your eyes."

"What do you see?" Padme asked.

"You love your husband more then life it's self and you would do anything to make him happy. You can't wait to hold your twins in your arms but at the same time you wonder what type of mother would have their children be born into the middle of a war."

The young woman broke into tears, "I'm so scared Christian, I'm scared of what will happen after my son and daughter are born. It wouldn't be fair for them to have to grow up running, not being able to make friends or fall in love. I know Anakin and I won't be able to raise them and I hate it. I have all I ever wanted but I won't be able to hold onto it. I want my husband, I want my babies and I want my babies to know how much their mommy and daddy love them. How much light and joy they've already given us and they're aren't even born yet."

The blind Jedi pulled the sobbing woman into his arms and whispered in her ear, "They know Padme, don't worry about loosing them, you won't. My father, brothers and I won't allow it. We came up with a plan when Anakin told the council that you were with child and every Jedi knows it." Christian pulled away from her and placed a hand on her belly. "Your children are the offspring of 'The Chosen One' and are just as strong in the Force as their father. It's important that Anakin has a hand in their training."

"I never understood what Anakin being 'The Chosen One' means."

"Master Jinn can explain it better then I can, as a student of the Living Force he's read everything he can get his hands on regarding it."

"So what's the plan?" Padme asked.

"Would it be all right if I ask for you to wait until Master Jinn and my brother are up, they will help you understand better then I can."

The young woman nodded, "Of course, I need to speak with them anyway."

Christian nodded and tried to stand but couldn't even get off his knees. He gave Padme a weak smile, "I guess the connection took more out of me then I thought." He braced himself against the bed and pushed himself up while Padme stood and grabbed his arm to steady him.

Before she could ask if he needed help back to his room, her sister came in, "Oh Padme your up, I just came in to see whoever was watching Ani would like some tea." Sola looked at Christian and smiled. "Good morning Christian, I won't start breakfast until everyone else is up but I figured you could use something to drink."

"Thank you Sola but I was just going to wake my brother, I need to rest for a few hours but if I know my brother the stronger you can make the tea the better."

Sola smiled, "I think I can do that."

Christian nodded, started for the door but stopped when he become disoriented. Padme went to him and took his arm before he could walk into any walls, "Here Christian, let me help you." She said.

The young man sighed, excepting her help gratefully. The Jedi turned to her, "Please forgive me Padme." He said as Sola took his other arm.

"It's all right." The young woman said as they slowly walked down the hall. "We all need help sometimes."

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

Obi-Wan was definitely going to have a few words with his brother for not waking him sooner. I told him to wake me at five. He thought as he pulled on his pants. I may have had a nightmare last night but I can still look after my own Padawan. All of Kenobi's complaints were forgotten when Padme and Sola came into the room, both of them leading an exhausted looking Christian.

Obi-Wan ran to his twin and took the blind man's weight off the two women. Before he could ask what happened, Christian filled him it, "I'm all right Obi." He told him in their language. "I'm just very tired."

"Thank you for helping him, Padme, Sola." His brother said turning to the two women.

"Do you two need any more help?" Sola asked.

"No thank you, I can help him from here."

"All right then." Padme said as her sister left. "Thank you Christian."

"You're welcome Padme." The he said before the young woman followed her sister.

Christian didn't need his eyes to see that Obi-Wan was mad at him, "Don't give me that look Obi-Wan, I helped her telepathically speak with her husband. That's all."

"You know holding telepathic commutation between a weakened Force sensitive and a non Force sensitive is draining for any Jedi" Obi-Wan said as he led his brother over to one of the two beds and had him sit. "But to do it when you haven't slept all night is even worse!"

"I felt fine, I just under estimated how much strength it took." Christian said as he pulled his boots and tunic off. "Just because I'm blind doesn't mean I can't do what I was trained to do Obi-Wan!"

Before the other twin could respond, Qui-Gon came in, "Would you two kindly knock it off." He said sternly, crossing his arms. "Remember that we are guests here and that you two are way too old to be yelling at each other like a couple of children."

Both of the young men flinched at the reprimand, "Yes father." both twins said as one. "Sorry."

Jinn sighed, "I except your apologies but I'm not the one you two should be apologizing to." He said. "You two may be knights but as long as I'm alive you'll always be my responsibility." The Jedi Master held up a hand to keep them from protesting. "I'm not saying that I think you two can't take care of yourselves, all I'm saying is as of right now I am officially the highest ranking Jedi in this house. Do you understand?" Both men nodded. "Good, now I want you two to have apologized to all of our hosts, including the children by midday. They don't need any more stress upon their household."

"Yes father." The twins said again.

"Now would one of you kindly tell me what got you two going at each other's throats?"

"Christian wore himself out by helping Padme achieve a telepathic connection with Anakin." Obi-Wan told him.

"And Obi-Wan still thinks that he has to take care of me." Christian said crossing his arms.

"All right you two, don't start." Qui-Gon said holding up his hand again. "Christian, I know you don't like being 'taken care' of but you do need a little extra help sometimes, especially when you're exhausted. So don't take offense to your brother's concern."

"Yes father."

"Now I want you to get into bed and sleep until I wake you." Jinn said to Christian before turning to the blind knight's brother. "And you Obi-Wan are to help Padme figure out what we're going to need for when she goes into labor and the twins are born. Do you both understand me?"

The twins both cringed at the tone of the older man's voice, "Yes father." They said before Qui-Gon left them alone.