Padme cradled Luke in her arms as the escape pod left the space station where she was kept. Darth Vader now knew about his son, and it would be even harder to keep him away from the boy. They were lucky he didn't know about Leia, his daughter, for she was still safe on Alderaan.

"You understand we can't stay on Alderaan anymore." Obi-Wan spoke up.

"I know. We have to take him somewhere else from Naboo when we land. If Vader tracks this pod, he must be far away." Padme said softly.

"We must take him somewhere where Vader wouldn't dare to look." Obi-Wan said as they now had to find a new planet. Padme thought long and hard until she finally thought of the perfect place.

"Tatooine." Padme said.

"But isn't that too obvious? That's Vader's home planet!" Obi-Wan said confused.

"He wouldn't go back. It's the one where he lost his mother. The one where he slaughtered a village of sand people. It's too painful for Vader to go back. Luke can be safe there. He has relatives he can live with." Padme explained.

"What about Leia? Should we bring her too?" Obi-Wan asked.

"No, she's safe where she is. Yoda was right. They are safer if they are far apart." Padme said with a heavy heart, but no tears. She was done with crying. Tears wouldn't help her family; only actions could help her family.

"And which one will you stay with?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Neither. Tell each family that they are the permanent guardians." She replied. Obi-Wan's face was filled with complete shock. Was she really giving up her twins?

"I'm only putting them in danger if I stay with them. If Vader comes for me, I cannot have my son or daughter within his reach. I must leave them for their own safety. As much as it tortures me, I know it's the right thing to do." Padme said turning her face from Obi-Wan and into space. Obi-Wan didn't know what to say. He could say she was as wise as Master Yoda. Giving up her children for their own good was a major sacrifice. It showed a pure heart.

The escape pod landed on Naboo as Obi-Wan and Padme walked towards the secret retreat Padme had come to years before. It would be a safe place for her, just not her kids. If Vader dared to walk through these halls, he'd find the memories of their loved shared that weekend 3 years ago. It might even awaken Anakin in that black monster. As they made it to the front door, Padme told them,

"You can use the secret shuttle I keep under the hill. Also, I need you to stay with Luke." She turned around to face Obi-Wan who was holding Luke. "If Vader comes to find him, I'll need you to protect him."

Obi-Wan turned to leave, but turned back one moment to analyze Amidala as she watched the sun set out her window. He felt a presence there he had never realized before, as if she was force-sensitive. He thought about how this could be possible, but then it hit him. Padme had had two force-sensitive life-forms inside of her, and even though they had already left her, she still contained some of their midi-chlorians. He wondered if she would be able to…No, she couldn't. Could she? She was too old. However, she did show a sacrifice only a selfless Jedi would do. They had to at least try.

"Padme," He called back to her. She turned to face him. "I know it's a little far-fetched, but I think you are capable of studying the force." He told her. Her head tipped to the side with great confusion.

"You mean…I could be…a Jedi?" She pointed to herself almost laughing at the idea.

"We could give it a try." Obi-Wan shrugged. Padme couldn't grasp the idea. He had to be joking with her.

"Oh and how could I do that? I'm not force-sensitive." Padme threw her head back in laughter.

"Before, you weren't, but now I sense a large amount of midi-chlorians in your bloodstream." Obi-Wan said

"Well, how did they get there? Was it something I ate?" Padme said still chuckling.

"Actually, I think it was the presence of Luke and Leia inside you that did it. Plus, you sacrificing them for their safety showed a great amount of selflessness in you, the amount for a Jedi." Obi-Wan explained. Padme stopped laughing and turned serious.

"You're really serious about this, aren't you?" Padme stared at him.

"Why would I joke about anything like this?" He told her. She looked down for a minute to consider, but then looked up again to reply,

"I can't be a Jedi. That takes years of training! And don't you have to start from infanthood?"

Obi-Wan encouraged her, "If you know at least the basics of the force, they can help you if Vader ever comes for you." Padme thought about this. She realized she would be able to defend herself even more if she studied the force, so she couldn't turn it down.

"Alright, I will accept the training. But who will be my teacher? You're going to be with Luke all the way on Tatooine." Padme asked.

"Qui-Gon will be able to teach you." Obi-Wan told her. Padme just got confused all over again. Qui-Gon was dead! He was killed 13 years ago!

"How?! He's dead." Padme asked.

"He has learned to communicate from the other side of the force." Obi-Wan explained. Padme realized then that the force was even more powerful than she imagined. The force could not be understood by questions and answers. She would come to understand through her training.

"May the force be with you, Padme." Obi-Wan said as he turned to leave.

"You too, Obi-Wan. Goodbye, old friend." She said as she touched his shoulder. She looked at Luke and brushed his forehead one last time.

"Take good care of Luke." She told him.

"I will, I promise." Obi-Wan said before he closed the door on his way out.

Padme watched out the window as the shuttle left for Tatooine. She saw her son and friend disappear into the night sky. She turned around to go to bed. She fell into a deep sleep and dreamt about her children. She saw her son on Tatooine, living with Beru and Owen, without a care in the world. She saw her daughter on Alderaan, a beautiful princess, and a strong leader like her mother. Both were far, far away from Vader. And Padme…was watching everyone at the top of the galaxy.

Padme

The next morning, Padme woke up to somebody calling her name.

Padme, wake up.

She got out of bed to see Qui-Gon in a blue ghost form standing across the room.

"Qui-Gon…" She whispered.

"Are you ready to begin your training?" He asked her. She sat on the floor with her legs crossed.

"I'm ready."