Padme's Back

Finally, they landed on Naboo and Darth Vader held Anakin's hand to prevent him from running away. Anakin looked around as if looking for Darth Maul...or Qui-Gon. Qui-Gon, how long had it been since Darth Vader had thought of him.

"Is Master Obi-Wan going to be okay?"

"I left word that he's not to be harmed."

"Did the Princess escape?"

"It is regrettable."

"I'm glad she did. I like that Piett guy."

"He is most trustworthy," Vader agreed. Anakin grabbed onto his hand, clutched it as they went inside the tomb.

"What are we doing here?"

"Saving Padme."

"Is she dead?"

"No, she's been held in suspended animination for quite some time however. We are going to save her."

"Do you think she'll be happy to see me?"

"Of course she will. Let's go." The two of them entered the tomb and came out two hours later, Vader holding a woman of dark hair, one that was merely sleeping. Anakin ran ahead of him giving Vader's orders out before he snuck back to Obi-Wan. With tears rolling down his eyes he manipulated the door to open and crawled into his master's lap.

"What happened, Padawan?" he asked, taking the pad of his thumb and wiping away the tears.

"He hurt Padme, didn't he? I hurt her." Obi-Wan sighed.

"It's not a pleasant memory."

"You were there?"

"Yes, I was."

"You let me hurt her. I don't understand."

"I know you don't. Tell me what happened."

"I think she was dead. He told me she was hurt that we were just going to save her, make her better. She screamed at him, she didn't recognize him at all. Did I do something bad by helping him bring her back? He said she was hurt and I only wanted to help her, Master!"Anakin pushed away his hands and pressed his face into his master's tunic.

"So Padme is alive. She believed up until she died that there was good left in you. Her very last words were of the good left in you and then she tried to hand me something, but I didn't understand the significance of it and it was buried with her."

"My japor snippet. I gave it to her after Qui-Gon died, when I left to start my Jedi training. It was to protect her, something to remember me by." As he was talking an idea formed in his hand, how to bring Darth Vader back, the japor snippet was the answer to everything. He pulled away and looked at his master. "I have to go to her. She knows me, but she's very upset. She thought I was Luke. I'll be back Master." A smile on his face he sprung down the hall and away. Even with his door unlocked he didn't move instead he sat there and thought of what Anakin had said, he may be onto something. Obi-Wan had no intention of leaving the Star Destroyer he decided to take a look around.

Anakin headed back to Padme. He sat on the bed and stared at her, she was very weak."Padme, how are you feeling?" he asked her, sitting on the edge of the bed and swinging his legs back and forth.

"It's been so long since I've been shorter than you, Ani."

"So I get tall?"

"Taller than me, Ani, yes."

"Taller than Master Obi-Wan?"

"Yes."

"I have something for you," he added as he hurriedly took off the japor snippet and handed it to her.

"Thank you, Ani."

"I'm sorry if I hurt you."

"Anakin, I know that. I always loved you. I want you to believe that," she whispered as her voice shook. "How is it possible that you are here in this time?"

"See that's a funny story."

"Tell me," she asked softly.

"Well, Master Obi-Wan and I were on a mission trying to create peace for the Trade Federation and we ran into some trouble and I got in one of the escape pods and next thing I know I was on this starship and there was a Princess, Princess Leia and.."

"Did you say Leia?"

"Yes."

"Do you think you can keep a secret, a special secret one from the older..."

"Of course, Padme, I'd do anything for you."

"Oh Ani. We had twins. Leia and Luke."

"Princess Leia is our daughter."

"Yes. Do you know how to contact her?"

"She's with the Rebel Alliance. Vader's looking for her."

"That's bad. Vader is determined to destroy the Rebellion."

"We have to help her."

"Master Obi-Wan is here."

"We will save him, Ani."

"Padme, can I lay here beside you?"

"Of course," she said and he crawled into bed beside her and she curled against him, brushed his soft face a face that didn't need to be shaved. He was so innocent, his eyes the color of the lakes on Naboo, he hadn't been corrupted by Palpatine and she wouldn't allow it. He would never get to Anakin as long as she had breathe left in her body.