CHAPTER TWO

PLANS TO PROTECT MOTHER AND CHILDREN

MEETING ROOM TO THE RIGHT OF PADME'S ROOM

Obi-Wan walked through the door, after it slid partly open. He stared into the compassionate eyes of Master Yoda, and Bail Organa. He sighed wearily. "She had twins. A boy and girl. They are named Luke and Leia Skywalker." He frowned, "I have convinced Padme to remain with us for the sake of the twins."

"This is good." Yoda nodded his head sagely. "We must do everything in our powers to protect the twins, and Padme." He waited until the young Jedi Master sat down to the right of him. "They must be separated the twins will be."

"We can't just allow Padme just to have one of her children.' Obi-Wan said with his eyes wide.

"The twins will be separated from one another, and from their mother. It is best for everyone. The twins will be protected, and so well Padme. Anakin will be looking for Padme with her child. Both of the twins are strong in the Force. They must be separated to protect them better." Yoda said in a calm voice.

"I'll take the girl." Bail said. "My wife will love to raise a baby girl."

"Than the boy must go to Tatooine He'll be safe there." Yoda nodded. "Padme will go back too Naboo. She'll be protected by the loyal guards."

"You don't care for Padme!" Rage had entered Obi-Wan in sheer force. "Padme doesn't have the Force so she can easily be killed, and you wouldn't give a Sith spawn about it. You just care about the damn Force."

"Be aware Jedi Master Kenobi that anger is of the dark side." Yoda raised his finger in warning.

"This isn't the anger that will lead to the dark side, Grand Master Yoda. This is righteous anger." Obi-Wan sighed deeply. "I simply can not allow you to separate Padme from her children."

"You desire Anakin's wife." Yoda said in a gravely voice.

"I just want what is best for the Skywalker family. Without Anakin." Obi-Wan fought for control. "What's best for them is not to be separated from one another." He eyed Yoda deeply. "Anakin can still feel them after all. I know for a fact that he didn't die at Mustafar. Palpatine would never allow his Apprentice to die so early on." His eyes darkened. "After all Darth Sidious loves to rub our faces in that he stolen the Chosen One."

"Anakin Skywalker is no more for now. He is Darth Vader." Yoda said in a gravelly voice. "The Skywalker twins are our only help. If we don't protect them till they are adult, and truly strong enough to face their father – then all help will be lost." He eyed Obi-Wan "Luke shall be your Padawan."

"Leia ..." Obi-Wan began.

"You are not Leia's master." Yoda shook his head. "She's going to Alderaan. She will be safe as Bail Organa daughter. She'll have a firm seat in the Senate. Princess Leia Organa will do much good for the galaxy."

"Luke and Leia Skywalker are both my Padawans. You will not separate the twins. You will not separate the twins from their mother." Obi-Wan said in a steel voice. "I will not allow it."

"You have no choice Master Kenobi." Yoda said finality. "We must think of the whole galaxy – not just one sad family."

Leaning forward with his hand clenching the edge of the table, "Look here you eight hundred and seventy nine year old alien." Obi-Wan said with harden steel covering around his heart. "I will personally kill you where you sit; before I allow you to take Padme and the twins from me."

"You desire Anakin's secret family. The family should never have been created." Yoda didn't even blink. He just calmly sat back against the seat. "You do not realize how important the Skywalker twins are too the future. We must protect the future here. You all ready messed with it when you convinced Padme to live."

Color drained from Obi-Wan's face. "Sith spawn the future!" He breathed out.

"Master Kenobi; remember whom you are speaking too." Bail said in a deep warning voice. "If the only way to keep you calm – is too take Padme and Luke under my wing also." He tucked his chin inwardly as he thought of what his wife would say to this. But, his head lifted once more as he meet the steely ice in Obi-Wan Kenobi. "I'm sorry Obi-Wan, I didn't mean to sound ungrateful; I would love to have Padme live in the Alderaan Palace with my wife and I. To watch Leia, and Luke grow up with one another. I know for a fact that Leia would be a better, and stronger Princess; with her brother with her. I also know that Luke would be much stronger in his Jedi training with his sister by his side."

"The future is counting on both Luke, and Leia. The future can't be let down for the sake of two children. Their destiny's awaits them." Yoda said. "You don't know what you are asking, Master Kenobi. Obi-Wan the fate of all the future innocents are on the line here."

"But-" Obi-Wan opened his mouth to speak.

"Facing their father is the least of their concerns." Yoda gravely sighed. "Both Luke, and Leia MUST be at their very best when they meet the darkest, and evil that the Force can dish out. You must trust me in this; when I tell you that the Skywalker Twins must, and will be separated. Also they will be separated from their mother."

"I'm sorry Grand Master Yoda; but I can't allow this to come pass. I have to disobey you; in the fact that I won't allow the twins to be separated from each other; or from their mother! I'm going to personally take them under my wing. I won't allow any harm to come to them." Obi-Wan looked straight into Yoda's eyes.

"You are right, Young Master Kenobi. I won't be able to separate the twins from their mother – or from one another. If Padme had died in childbirth; than Luke and Leia would have grown up without one another." Yoda finally spoke. "With Padme alive; the twins are better with one another. The future events will take place – but will the Skywalker twins still be able to save the galaxy?" Yoda nodded his head.

Obi-Wan closed his eyes, "Yes". His eyes slowly opened as the ls symbol first received it's programing bits, "Whatever is going to happen in the future, Master Yoda, Luke, and Leia Skywalker will be ready for it. Together."

"Now where is the best, and safest place for the small Skywalker family to be. Young Anakin will have no problem going to Naboo again." Yoda said moving onto the other business at hand. "After all Palpatine wants to destroy Padme's home planet in revenge."

"I would offer up Alderaan, but Palpatine would just send Anakin there, and Anakin would be able to force his way to his wife, and children." Bail shook his head. "Even if I were able to keep Leia, I'm not sure I would have been able to keep her safe on Alderaan."

"Leia kept herself hidden from the force throughout the pregnancy. She still is hiding." Yoda said in his gravely voice. "Luke is blazing through the force. He is learning now that he must shut down in order to protect his sister." He nodded, "Tatooine is the safest place for the three Skywalkers. Darth Vader would never go to that planet – that would bring Young Anakin back out full force."

"We will leave just as soon Padme can be moved safely." Obi-Wan nodded. "I will be known as Ben. That was the name that my mother wanted to name me. But my father said that wasn't a proper name for a Jedi."

"The droids are to remain with you. But See Threepio must have a memory swipe. He can not remember that young Anakin was the one whom created him." Yoda remarked. "Artoo will be fine. He had always shown more loyalty towards Padme. He would never give away the secret of his mistress or her children."

"Threepio won't be happy with this when he learns the truth later on. I'm sure he'll be very upset that Artoo was more trusted than he was." Obi-Wan said warily.

"That's the price you shall pay for commanding that Padme and the twins remain together." Yoda said with some light sparkle in his tired sad eyes.

"I'll gladly pay it." Obi-Wan returned just as wearily as his Master. "What about you?"

"I'll go into hiding. I'm not going to tell you. When the time comes for the Skywalker twins to be trained the force will tell you where to find me." Yoda gravely said. "While you are in exile your old Master has more training for you."

Obi-Wan's eyes lighten up. "Qui-Gon Jinn? I have missed him. Why hasn't he visited me before now? Why hadn't he visited Anakin? I know that Anakin had truly bonded with him when he was six years old. Anakin mourned Qui-Gon Jinn's death for many years." Anger entered his eyes. "Why now?"

"You were not ready for what the Force has to teach you back then." Yoda replied. "He wasn't Anakin's true master. Anakin truly considered him his father. He still does." His right eyebrow rose; "I know that this must hard for you to accept it – Obi-Wan; ever since Qui-Gon died; you considered young Anakin like a son. Even through you were still in your teens when you 'adopted' Anakin."

"He was my brother. Not any longer. My kid brother is dead. He died among Order 66." Obi-Wan said in a soft dead voice. "I hate that I have to face my master once more – and tell him that I couldn't protect Anakin for him. Like I promised." A lone tear rolled down his hot left cheek.

"Qui-Gon knew what Anakin would grow up to become." Yoda sighed.

"That's because he's one with the force." Obi-Wan voice rose to a high pitched level.

"He knew the moment he set eyes on Anakin on Tatooine." Obi-Wan watched in dumb silence as Yoda got up, and left the room. When he saw his old master again he had some major explaining to do. But in the meantime it was time to get Padme, and the twins to safety.

Bail silently watched as the young Jedi Master got to his feet, and made his way tiredly to the door himself. He knew that Obi-Wan had just signed up for a lot of heartache in his exile. But, at least Ob-Wan wouldn't be alone in his exile – like how he would have been if Padme had died in childbirth. Granted he would have been able to look after Luke – but Bail knew that Obi-Wan would have wanted to be where Leia was also. But that would have been impossible had the twins been separated.

"May the Force be with us all in these troubled times." Bail sighed as he got up himself. It was time to get on with the living.

END CHAPTER TWO