Chapter 26: The Return
It had been six days since she had called Obi-Wan. Each day that went by Padmé found it harder and harder to bury her anxiety. She found it hard to sleep and eat, but she did her best especially since she was pregnant. On the sixth day, the children were both unsettled. They had both woken up early in the morning and came crying into Padmé's room. She tried to get them to tell her what was wrong, but they didn't seem able to voice it properly.
They were cranky the entire morning. Leia threw a small tantrum over Luke touching her doll. Padmé herself was getting tired. After lunch she tried putting them down to take a nap in their bedroom, but they just weren't having it. Luke kicked all his covers off his bed when Padmé was tucking in Leia. They both just pouted and said they didn't want to nap.
"Fine," Padmé said. "You don't have to nap." The twins jumped out of their beds happy to win this battle. "I'm going to nap," Padmé said. "Me and the baby are going to go to sleep. You two can stay and play in here."
Without another word or look, she turned and went back to her room. But small little feet were heard pattering behind her. She walked straight to her bed, pulled back the covers, and crawled in. She was quickly joined by two children who crawled in the bed from the other side.
"What are you two doing?" Padmé asked. "I thought you didn't want to nap."
"I'm not napping," Luke said. "I'm just watching."
"Well this isn't play time. Go to your room and play. I'm going to sleep," Padmé said as she put on a show of dramatically falling on to her pillow and pulling the covers up.
Leia scooted closer and made sure the covers were pulled up properly around Padmé. She kissed her mother on the head and smiled. Padmé couldn't help but smile back. Then Leia laid down with Luke right beside her. Two sets of eyes, one brown, one blue, stared at Padmé. She sighed and closed her eyes. Every now and then Padmé would open her eyes and watch as the two tired children nodded off to sleep.
She let out a long sigh, happy that they were finally resting. She should get some rest herself, but her stomach grumbled as a wave of nausea hit her. As quickly as she could, without bumping the children, she got of bed and rushed to the refresher. After emptying her stomach, Padmé entered the room and suddenly stopped short. A red Royal Guard stood by the doorway. She glanced around the room. The children were still asleep. Nothing was amiss. She walked cautiously up to the guard.
"Guard?" she asked.
"Yes, your highness?" the guard replied.
"Is there something wrong?"
"No ma'am," he replied.
"Then why are you in my room?" Padmé asked. She didn't hide the irritation from her voice.
The guard was quiet for a moment, as if considering his answer. "My job is to protect the royal family," he replied dryly.
Padmé was going to argue with him. The guards had been protecting the royal family fine outside her room for a week and a half now. Yet then another wave of nausea hit her. She had to quickly return to the refresher again. After throwing up again, she just wanted to sleep and hope her stomach settled down. The refresher door slid open. Padmé noticed a second guard had joined the first. Each one stationed on either side of the door. A small battle was going on inside of her. Part of her wanted to tell the guards to kriff off, but part of her was too tired to care right now.
Then she saw movement out of the corner of her eye. She had expected to see one of the twins awake, but it wasn't. It was Vader. He stood at the edge of the bed. His back was to Padmé, but she could tell he was looking down. Looking down at the still thankfully sleeping children. Vader slowly turned to face Padmé. His gold eyes met her brown ones.
He was dressed in his Emperor clothes. He wore his long black cloak and his fine black clothes. She noticed this outfit seemed to mirror the military uniforms of the Empire. He looked like a commander with his dark blonde hair slicked back. Even as walked to her, his movements were that of a soldier. He walked with confidence and a sense of authority.
He reached her and his gloved hand came to rest of her upper arm. A small smile slowly graced his lips as he looked her over. Her hair hung lose in its brown curls. She wore a simple white dress. She hadn't had the energy to deal with much else this morning with the twins crying. Padmé watched as Vader's smile turned into a frown.
"Are you ok?" he asked.
"Hmmm? I'm fine," she said.
"You look pale," he said. He took a step closer. He put his flesh hand flat against her stomach. Even through the fabric of her dress, she could feel how warm his hand was.
"It's just morning sickness," she said softly.
He pulled her into an embrace, gently hugged her. "You should rest," he said into her hair. He then left three small kisses on the top of her head.
She let out a small huff. "That's what I've been trying to do," she grumbled. "But the children have been cranky all day. I just now got them to take a nap." Vader said nothing. Only continued to hold her. Finally Padmé placed her hands on his chest and pushed away. His hands slowly slid off of her. "What are you doing here?" she asked. "Are you . . . done with your work?"
"No," Vader replied. There was an edge to his voice. Annoyance? Anger? "I decided it would be best to bring you and the twins to Imperial Center. You will be safe there. The entire First Fleet stands guard over the planet. Plus you'll have the best care for the baby." Vader's eyes flicked briefly down to her stomach.
"I thought . . . I thought we were going to wait until you were done. So we could go together," she said.
"We will go together," Vader said. "I'll see you there myself."
"But you're not going to stay," she pushed.
Vader sighed. "No." He looked over his shoulder at the twins. "I'm afraid I won't be able to stay."
"Then we can just wait here," Padmé offered, "Until you're finished. Like we originally planned."
Vader turned back to her. His face was hard. "No," he said harshly. "You three are going to my palace. Going home."
Padmé searched his face. He wasn't telling her something. Something had changed. She glanced over at the red Royal Guard. They were both still standing by the door. She had never seen them in her personal space before. Vader seemed to enjoy his privacy with his family. He had never had the Royal Guard inside their rooms on the star destroyer. So why did he have them here now?
"What happened?" she asked.
He just stared at her as if he was considering telling her or not. "It is no concern to you," he replied.
"No concern to me?" she asked. She realized she had raised her voice and quickly glanced around Vader. Neither child stirred. She glared back at him and whispered. "No concen? If there are guards in my bedroom, then I think there is a concern to me."
"My angel," Vader said as he placed both his hands on her shoulder. "I don't want to worry you about it. You have enough you should be focused on."
"Like what?" she pressed him. "My pregnancy? You forget I was actively involved in the Senate until days before I gave birth."
She saw him tense up. His hands curled into fists at his sides. "And was that really for the best?" he said between clenched teeth. "Padmé, you almost died. You would have died if I hadn't saved you."
She glanced down at the ground, unable to meet his gaze. Vader let out a long breath. She felt the tension leave his body.
"I have a shuttle waiting," he said.
She only nodded as she headed over to her closet and pulled out a jacket and shoes. Vader hovered nearby as she finished putting on her shoes. She glanced over at the children. She didn't want to wake them. They hadn't had enough sleep. Plus they would be waking up to Vader . . . Another wave of nausea hit her.
"Padmé?" Vader asked.
She dropped her jacket and ran back into the fresher. At least this time she was sure there was absolutely nothing left in her stomach now. She shakingly returned to feet and left the refresher. Vader still stood in the same spot, but he had picked up her jacket from the floor. His arms were crossed and the jacket hung from his arm. He had been watching the children, but turned as she came out. He walked over to her and lightly pushed her back into the fresher. Once inside, the door slid shut.
"Are you ok?" he asked.
"Honestly? No. But it's just morning sickness," she said. "Why are we in the refresher?"
Vader unfolded his arm. He opened his gloved hand to reveal a com unit. Her com unit. The stolen one. A sharp coldness shot down her back. Her suddenly seemed to have to work harder. It thumped hard in her chest.
"What is this?" Vader asked. His voice was even. It gave away no hint of his emotions that were surely boiling underneath. Padmé didn't look up at him. Her eyes were just on the com. "What is this?" Vader asked again. His anger started to leak into his words. "Where did you get this?"
Padmé took a deep breath before she straightened herself up. She stood tall and then looked Darth Vader in the eyes. He was angry. His eyes seemed to glow.
"It's a com unit," Padmé replied calmly.
"I know what it is," Vader hissed at her.
"Well you asked me what it was, and I told you," she replied.
"Where did you get it? Who did you call?" Vader growled.
She didn't back away. She didn't flinch. She held her ground. One of her hands came to rest on her stomach. A move which Vader noticed as he eyes glanced down, but then returned right back up.
"Does it really matter who I called?" Padmé asked. "Does it really change anything? You're here. We're going back to your palace. Nothing has changed."
"Nothing has changed?" Vader growled as he leaned in close. So something has happened, Padmé mused to herself. Vader's hand clenched around the com unit. She heard a cracking and snapping sound. Vader opened his hand to reveal the unit completely broken. "We're leaving, now," Vader barked.
Vader sharply turned and left the refresher. Padmé's hand gently rubbed her stomach. She was thankful that hadn't gone any worse. She wondered how much Vader was holding his temper back because she was pregnant. Yet her mind went to back to what Vader had said and how he had reacted. Something had happened. Had it been Obi-Wan? Or another rebel cell? Something had happened to get under Vader's skin. He was worried about her and the children. He had the guards in the room with them. He wanted them at his palace right away. Why?
She exited the refresher to find the children were now awake and sitting up in the bed. They were rubbing their eyes and yawning. Vader was gently putting on socks and shoes on Leia. Padmé walked over to the bed. As soon as Padmé approached both twins called out for her. They eyed their father, clearly uncomfortable to be around him. Leia held her arms to be picked up. Padmé leaned over and picked Leia up. When Vader finished putting on Luke's shoes, he picked up the boy.
"Come," Vader ordered as he led the way out of the room.
No one said anything. The twins were both quiet. Luke stared at his mother over his father's shoulder. His blue eyes were wide. A small frown was on his face. Leia just tightly clung to her mother. There were two red guards in front of Vader. The two from the bedroom had fallen behind them. A third pair joined the end of the line after they walked through the living room.
Suddenly Luke let out a small whine. Vader stopped and the whole line stopped as well. "Luke?" he asked. Luke buried his head into Vader's neck. He let out another small whine. "Luke? What's wrong?"
Vader glanced up at Padmé. His face was full of concern. Padmé moved closer to see if she could see what was wrong. That's when Leia squeezed Padmé tighter. Vader's head snapped up, his eyes wide, his mouth slightly open in shock. His eyes turned towards her, his mouth opened. She was sure it was to say her name, but he never got around to it.
That was when the explosion hit.
Padmé was at once thrown to the ground. Her knees burned from the impact. One of her hands caught herself on the wall. The other arm continued to tightly grab at her daughter. Rubble started to pour down around her. Smoke filled the air. Her ears were ringing. Hands grabbed at her. She jerked away, but the hands kept their grip.
"Padmé!" Her name sounded muffled. She looked up to see Vader pulling her up. He took Leia from her arms and passed her off to a guard.
"No!" Leia cried. "Mother!" She reached out back towards Padmé. Luke was also in the arms of a guard. He looked equally unhappy happy as his sister. His arms were also out towards Padmé.
Vader wrapped his arms around his wife. "Padmé?" Vader asked. "Are you ok?"
She looked up at him and nodded. He hugged her and then he let go. He grabbed her hand and pulled her down the hall. The guards, including those holding the children, followed along. They were moving at much faster pace now. A tremor shook the building, causing the group to pause. Vader glanced back down the hall. He shared a look with one of the guards, before he turned and continued on.
The halls they were walking through had changed. No longer were they the soft whites of the living quarters she had been staying in, they were now a light grey and metal. It reminded her of the star destroyer. Vader paused as they came to an open room. Several hallways branched off from this room. Vader let go of her hand and pulled a guard off to the side. The two at once were talking quietly in the corner.
The twins had been quiet, but now that they had stopped, they wiggled against the guards holding them. The guards struggled to contain them.
"It's ok," Padmé said. "You can let them down."
The guards slowly put the two children down, who rushed over to Padmé the moment their feet touched the ground.
"Mother! Mother!" they both cried as their small arms tightened around her waist. She placed a hand on each of their heads and stroked their hair. They buried their heads into her side. Every now and then they would look around. Often just glare at the guards, and then cuddle back against Padmé.
Vader marched over. His face was grim. "We're almost to the hangar," he said as he looked down at the children. They both peered up at him. "Let's go," he ordered. The twins squeezed Padmé tighter, whined, and buried their heads back into her. Padmé looked back up at Vader. He wasn't angry or annoyed but worried and tired.
He sighed. "Children, we must go to where it is safe," he said calmly. He took a step forward, his arm was out as if to grab one of the children's arm, but then he stopped. He took a sharp intake of air. His head snapped to the side. The temperature suddenly dropped. Padmé felt both children shiver a bit.
"Obi-Wan," Vader hissed softly.
Padmé noticed Vader's hand was on his lightsaber. He glanced over at his family. His eyes were glowing yellow with red along the outside rim.
"Guards," he barked. "Get my family to the shuttle. See them to the Devastator. No delays."
"At once your majesty," said one guard.
Vader's eyes caught Padmé's, before he turned on his heels and marched down the hallway they had just come from. His cape swaying behind him. Padmé felt hands on her arms. A guard had come up beside her and was trying to lead her away. Padmé unwrapped the small arms around her waist. She took a hand from each child, and nodded at the guards. She followed as they led her on.
Her mind raced all over the place. Obi-Wan was here. He had come. His timing was a bit off. He had come at the same time as Vader. But . . . could it still be possible to escape? If so Padmé had to get herself and the children away from the guards. But how? The children were too small to outrun them. Her thoughts were still going over the possibilities when they entered the hangar. An Imperial shuttle sat on the far end.
Her hands were sweaty. Her heart pounded in her chest. She was sure she could hear it echoing throughout the hangar. Her mouth was dry. She glanced around from side to side. There had to be some way for her to get out of this. Once she got on that shuttle, she feared there was no escape.
The clapping sounds of running boots filled the hangar. Four of the red Royal Guard shifted their position. They stood in between Padmé and the group that had just run into the hangar from a side door. The group was made of various sentients. They all wore spacer clothes of synthleather and mix-match armor. Most wore helmets, some of which covered their whole head. They all carried a blaster, which they raised and without hesitation fired at the guards.
The guards were ready. The four in front each pulled out their Force pikes and a blaster from under their robes. As soon as Padmé saw the blasters rise from both groups, she gripped her children's hands tighter and pulled them in the opposite direction. The remaining two guards followed. Red blaster bolts shot past Padmé and the twins. Against the wall was a desk and a counter. She pushed the twins behind the desk and took cover behind it as well. The two guards didn't join them.
The three instantly clung tightly to each other as they huddled under the desk. The sound of the fire fight continued. Every now and then Padmé saw a red blaster bolt go over the desk and leave a scorch mark on the wall. She wasn't even sure which side she wanted to win. If that group out there were Rebels, they opened fire without hesitation. Without concern towards her or the children. What if these Rebels weren't here with Obi-Wan? A separate group?
A new sound was heard beyond the desk. A sound Padmé knew very well. It sent shivers up her spine. The hairs on her neck stood on end. Goosebumps formed down her arms. The last time she had heard this noise was when she had first been brought to Vader. Her hands had been bound behind her back and ankles bolted to the floor. The hum of lightsaber was unmistakable. She remembered the hissing sound it had made as it cut off Rion's hand.
Behind her, behind the desk, someone wielding a lightsaber had joined the battle. She could hear it humming. She could hear it hiss as it blocked or deflected a blaster bolt. Then slowly the shooting stopped. She heard the snap-hiss as the lightsaber blade went back into the hilt. Then there was an eerie silence. The only thing Padmé could hear was the sound of her own pounding heart and her breathing.
Sounds of boots were heard walking across the hangar towards Padmé. They were growing closer. Padmé tightened her hold on the children, pulling them closer. The boots got louder and louder. Her mind raced. Who was it? It could only be one of two people. She heard the steps approach and round the desk.
Padmé looked up. He looked like he had five years ago. He looked like he always did. His wore his tan and brown Jedi robes. His lightsaber clipped to his belt. His auburn hair brushed to the side. His beard well trimmed. Padmé let out a sigh of relief.
"Obi-Wan," she said.
"Padmé," he replied back as he bent over and held out his hand to her.