Dooku knelt before Palpatine as the man sat down behind his desk causing Dooku to swallow hard. He did not have good news to share with his master. He went to check on Luke, and just as predicted he was no longer there. After a quick examination of the lock and identifying the lightsaber scorch marks. He knew Anakin Skywalker was not with the fleet, he was planetside all this time. "Master, it has come to my attention from Grievous that General Skywalker is not with the fleet as originally thought."

"And Luke Skywalker? Is he still in your possession?" Palpatine questioned in a troubled tone.

"No master, it appears young Skywalker has rescued him," Dooku reported suddenly feeling nervous. "It appears Skywalker knows you're behind the kidnapping of his son."

"Or knows you're the one behind his kidnapping," Palpatine muttered under his breath. "Luke knows I was behind his kidnapping as well," he spoke in a troubled tone. "I have not spent years of careful planning for this to come apart at the end. You must retrieve the son, and when you do. Kill him immediately. Before he has a chance to talk."

"Yes my master," Dooku stood up and quickly took leave of the man's office through the secret passage. He was almost positive that someone already talked with young Skywalker. He had a feeling things were about to change to the Jedi's favor.

Anakin watched as the medic walked out of the room where she was treating Luke. He hoped Luke would be all right. He walked towards her with a slight smile. "Thank you for helping him. How is he?"

"He will heal, Master Skywalker, but it will take some time. He was hit pretty hard with force lightning. For now, he needs bed rest, I gave him something to help with the pain," Bahli spoke with a slight smile. "He is asking for you."

"May I see him?" Anakin questioned as he felt his anxiety rise a bit. Leia nearly chewed him out, he wasn't sure how Luke would react. He was hoping his son was a little more reasonable.

"Yes you may, but keep it brief," Bahli answered.

"I will," Anakin promised as he slipped into the room where Luke was lying down on the bed. He approached the bed and placed his hand onto Luke's shoulder as Luke's head turned in his direction. "I'm hoping you're more sensible then Leia is."

"She chewed you out, didn't she?" Luke questioned with a slight smile as Anakin nodded. "I asked her not too."

"It's okay, it's something I needed to hear," Anakin reassured with a weary smile as his eyes lowered to Luke's hand noting it was fake. "I'm almost afraid to ask how you lost your hand."

"When I faced against Vader, I was young and impulsive. I went in there looking for a fight to take you out, and you put me in my place," Luke explained with a frown as Anakin felt horror rush through him.

"I cut your hand off, didn't I?" Anakin questioned as Luke nodded in agreement. "I'm so sorry."

"I know," Luke agreed with a frown. "We made our peace by fighting on the second death star when I took your hand in turn."

"The Death Star?" Anakin questioned with a frown as Luke chewed on his lower lip.

"It was used to destroy Alderaan, the planet Leia grew up on in front of her," Luke explained as Anakin closed his eyes.

No wonder Leia had no love for him when he first met her. Anakin shook his head "Is Palpatine behind the war?"

"Yes he is, he attempted to pit you against me to see who would come out on top. He was looking to replace you with me," Luke explained with a frown. "He's a dangerous man and shouldn't be allowed to live," he paused for a moment as he made eye contact with Anakin. He noticed Luke had the same eyes as him. "Please for everyone's sake and your own, don't trust him anymore."

"After what you and Leia had to say," Anakin gave a weary smile. "He's a walking dead man and doesn't know it yet."

"Glad to hear it," Luke attempted to push himself up to a sitting position but after a minute of struggling he gave up. "I don't remember being this weak like last time."

"You are older and the body can only take so much," Anakin reminded Luke gently. "Did you want some help?"

Luke nodded as Anakin leaned over and helped him sit up in the bed. He pushed the pillow behind Luke's back as Luke leaned back against the pillow. "Thanks."

"You're welcome," Anakin answered with a slight smile. Ventress had taken the medic back to the temple and was going to deliver a message to Leia for him. Letting Leia know Luke was safe.

Padme opened the door as Ventress gave a weary smile as she took a step aside to allow the other woman in. She didn't see Anakin with her causing her to feel concern. "Where is Anakin?"

"With Luke," Ventress answered honestly. "In a rented apartment under a fake ID I set up for him. Anakin asked me to deliver a message for him, Luke is safe."

"Thank the Force," Padme breathed with a sigh of relief. "Why is he hiding?"

"To keep Luke safe from Palpatine, he was tortured and he didn't want Palpatine or Dooku to track him down easily," Ventress explained. "He needs time to recuperate."

"Can you give me the coordinates?" Padme questioned in a worried tone.

"Anakin has requested for me not to give that to you," Ventress answered as Padme felt a little stressed. She wanted to meet Luke. "Don't worry your pretty little head of yours, he will make contact with you in two days time. If you don't hear from him in two days from today then you are to contact me."

"All right," Padme placed her hand on her swollen tummy as she felt one of the babies kick. "Thank you. I'll let Leia and Ben know. You've been a big help to us. I really appreciate it."

"You're welcome, I have things to take care of," Ventress said with a slight smile. "My part is done."

"I know, thank you again," Padme watched as Ventress left the apartment as she closed the door behind her. She was thankful that Anakin was able to rescue Luke and she trusted his judgment into deciding to stay silent. At least Anakin had a come rescue me plan in place if she didn't hear from him in two days time.

Leia walked into Padme's office as Padme looked up with a slight smile. "Well?"

"Anakin has Luke," Padme reported. "He's gone underground with Luke, only Ventress knows where they currently are. He's going to contact us in two days from now."

"I'm happy to hear that, how do we deal with Palpatine?" Leia questioned in a curious tone. "He's so far up with power…"

"Emergency powers he should not have," Padme pointed out with a frown. "I fear he may have talked Jar Jar into giving him the emergency powers in the first place during my absence. Like he talked me into calling a vote of no confidence against Chancellor Valorum. If I hadn't called for a vote of no confidence, Palpatine wouldn't be Chancellor."

"I didn't know that," Leia muttered under her breath, it was beginning to look like Palpatine had manipulated both Padme and Anakin into getting what he wanted and she would not be surprised if there were others. "I'm relieved to hear Luke is safe, was he hurt?"

"Luke was tortured and needs time to recuperate," Padme answered honestly. "Don't worry, Anakin will look after Luke. His future depends on it."

"I know," Leia nodded in agreement. She trusted Anakin now that she got to know his light side personality better. Maybe this meant he would go right after Palpatine knowing what would take place in the future. "I never thought I would say this, but getting to know Anakin this way…." She paused for a second and shook her head. "Makes it easier to forgive him."

"I'm pleased to hear it," Padme spoke with a soft smile, "Leia, I know this hasn't been easier for either of you. I'm happy to see you and Anakin spending time together. It's giving you a chance to see how he really was and not as you have known him."

"He reminds me of Han a little bit," Leia pointed out with a small smile. "Han's a handful on a regular day."

"Who wants a stuffed shirt for a husband?" Padme questioned with a mischievous smirk. "Sounds like you have similar taste in men as I do. It keeps life interesting."

Leia nodded with a grin. She never thought of Han being like Anakin, but they did share common interest traits. Both were amazing flyers and a bit hot-headed. They were both mechanics. Not to mention Han rescuing her and Luke more than a few times. There was something else Han and Anakin shared in common.

Luke sat up in bed as pain raked through his body causing him to lay back down. He hated being bed bound. Anakin had been seeing to his needs in the meantime making him feel loved. He was learning quite a bit from Anakin and the life he lived and where he came from. He spoke quite a bit of Padme, he felt like he was starting to get to know his mother through the eyes of another. He hoped to meet Padme before he went back. He hoped Anakin didn't fall this time, he suspected he would make a great father. He closed his eyes, the more he slept the quicker he would heal.

Dooku shakily kneeled down to the floor, he was not able to turn up any leads as to where Anakin took Luke. Palpatine made it clear that failure was not an option. He was terrified he could get punished. It had been almost two days since Anakin went silent. It was almost like the young man was living under a false id. Checking security holos turned up no leads. It was almost like Anakin was no longer planetside or found a very adept way of hiding.

"Arise my apprentice and report," Palpatine spoke in a nonemotional tone causing Dooku to swallow hard. "I can sense your fear."

Dooku got to his feet and swallowed hard. "I have not found where Anakin Skywalker has gone, I checked security holos, registries with the apartments on Coruscant. There are no descriptions of a male moving in with an injured man. It was almost like he had an accomplice to make the arrangements for him or he's no longer planetside."

"Think my apprentice, who would he turn to for assistance?" Palpatine questioned as he walked up to Dooku and eyed him with a frown.

Who would Anakin turn to in this situation? Someone who knew Dooku well enough to figure out a way to hide in plain sight. "Ventress? Why would he turn to her?"

"I think you know the answer, my apprentice, there is no doubt that's how Anakin found out where you hide his son," Palpatine explained with a frown. "She would know how to hide Anakin in plain sight from you. You find her, you will find young Skywalker. Now go."

Dooku wasn't sure she would be so cooperative, last time they met she attempted to kill him. If Skywalker paid her off she would never tell him willingly on where young Skywalker was. He would need to prepare for his meeting with his former angry apprentice.

Ventress didn't turn around as she sensed Dooku behind her causing her to frown. She was guessing he had yet to find out where Anakin was hiding causing her to smile inwardly. "Lost something have we, your way perhaps my former master who betrayed and attempted to kill me."

"I understand I'm the last person you want to see, I'm looking for Young Skywalker and I believe you helped him rescue my prisoner two days ago."

"Young Skywalker, now why would I be helping him?" Ventress questioned in curiosity as she turned around. "I have not seen him since I helped him get Ahsoka off the hook for murder charges."

"Why did Anakin ask for you to help him?" Dooku questioned with a curious tone.

"I helped Ahsoka and had information for Anakin that helped him solve the case and nothing more," Ventress answered honestly. "I have not seen him as of late. You're wasting your time with me. I want you to leave."

"And yet you recently received a pardon for your war crimes," Dooku pointed out. "How do you explain that?"

"It was a promise made by Ahsoka when I was helping her. It came by carrier two days ago," Ventress answered easily as she watched frustration cross Dooku's face. "You are not welcome here, I suggest you leave before my hospitality runs out."

"Very well," Dooku walked out of the room as Ventress watched him. "It's good to see you again," Somehow Dooku figured out she helped Anakin and she had anticipated this and made sure she had an instant answer for his questions.

She knew him almost too well. "It's good seeing you too." Ventress watched as Dooku headed towards the turbo lift before she re-entered her apartment. She could not risk contacting Padme right away. Surely Dooku left a listening device behind. She would need to do a scan first.

Thanks for reading and review :)