So here we are again, another chapter!
We've done a little bit of a time warp for this one!
I do apologize for the time between chapters. I often find myself getting a bit of writers block because I have so much and so many different plot lines that I want to include that I get overwhelmed. But eventually I reel in all the thoughts and put something together. I've already partially written the next chapter so no worries. And possibly doing a holiday one-shot in this universe :3
Thank you to everyone who has read, and reviewed. I do read them all and listen to what you have to say. The good and the bad.
And of course as always a very special thank you to my beta, ellisaed, head on over to her page and read her amazing stories!
You were a child
Crawling on your knees toward it
Making momma so proud
But your voice is too loud
We like to watch you laughing
You pick the insects off plants
No time to think of consequences
Kids- MGMT
Five years later.
She was Padmé Amidala Naberrie Skywalker, she was strong and powerful. She had been a Queen at fourteen and Senator of the Galactic Republic after that. She was married to a Jedi Master, and she feared no one. Yet here she was, head in hands, trying to understand what her lovely children had been thinking when they erased all the information on one of her data pads. She had never been so relieved that it was a Temple day.
"Vroom swooosh vrooommm!" Luke was running throughout the house levitating one of his star fighters pretending to shoot targets. He had his arms stretched out and a fighter pilot helmet covering his shaggy blonde hair. "Pew! Pew! Pew!" He weaved through the halls in search of the enemy. "Lock onto the enemy's main station Artoo!"
The droid who was following the young boy whirled. This was Luke's favorite game, which he called "playing Daddy."
The next sound heard was one of Padmé's least favorite noises. It was the screams of her daughter, Leia, who was sitting in the living room watching a program on the Holonet and playing 'Senate' with her dolls.
"Daddy!" The young girl cried from her spot in the center of the now tossed around dolls. Padmé appeared in the door way and the girl took one look at her and screamed again, "Daddy!"
There was no doubt in Padmé's mind that her daughter loved her, but she always wanted Anakin when she was upset. She was the true definition of a Daddy's girl. Her big brown eyes, Padmé's eyes, were filled with tears and her small hands were clenched into fists at her sides.
Anakin came running from the fresher in his and Padmé's room in nothing but his Jedi pants and a tooth brush hanging from his mouth, and hair still wet. Realizing there was no real danger he sighed and looked at Padmé, who threw her hands up in defeat.
"She called for you." Padmé answered.
"What's wrong Princess?" Anakin asked bending down to his daughters level. Leia immediately threw herself into Anakin's arms and sobbed.
Leia sniffled, "Luke ruined my game. He was running around and shot my dolls." The girl paused to let out another sob, causing Padmé to internally roll her eyes. She was upping the drama, she knew exactly how to play her Father. "He said they were evil Sith and needed to be destroyed!"
"Luke Ben Skywalker! Get in here now!" Anakin shouted and the 'pews' and 'vrooms' ceased immediately. Luke slowly poked his head in the room to see his sister crying in his dads arms and was hesitant to come in the room. Unlike Leia who could lie through her teeth, they always knew when Luke lied - he was terrible at it. And more so Luke hated being in trouble.
"Come in here Luke." Anakin didn't need to turn around to sense his son was there.
Luke slowly entered the room with his head down. "Did you do this to your sisters toys?" Anakin asked.
Luke looked at Padmé on the verge of tears, who nodded at him reassuringly, "Yes Daddy." He answered.
"Don't do it again, okay?" Luke nodded his head, "And say you're sorry."
"I'm sorry Leia, I won't ever do it again. Promise."
Leia crossed her arms and turned away with a 'hmph'.
"Alright, go get dressed for the Temple. We're leaving after breakfast." Luke ran from the room before Anakin could even finish.
"No Daddy!" Leia yelled, "He has to be punished. He did bad, punish him!"
"Leia, your brother is sorry for what he did. This isn't something worth a punis-"
"Yes it is! He ruined my game!"
"Leia, your father is right. Luke didn't mean to ruin your game, he was playing his own." Padmé offered stepping towards them, the young girl still fuming.
"Leia, you need to calm yourself. Let your anger go into the Force. Let go o-"
Leia didn't even let him finish, she let out a angry scream and ran from the room. Her bed room door being slammed seconds later.
"Anakin-" Padmé started.
Anakin held up his hand and shook his head, "I know Padmé. I know. She's just so angry sometimes."
"It scares me." Padmé said, walking to her husband who pulled her into his arms.
"Don't worry she's still young, I'll help her. She'll learn to control it. And when she's older I'll teach her about what happens when you don't."
"I trust you Ani. For twins, they are polar opposites" Padmé kissed her husband and smiled. "Now go finish getting ready and I'll help Dormé with breakfast."
In the kitchen, Dormé, Padmé and Threepio were busily preparing breakfast for the family. Padmé laughed from her spot at the counter cutting fruit, Threepio was having a fit as he tried to remember if Leia liked her toast cut diagonally or straight across.
"Diagonally, Threepio." Padmé patted his shoulder, understanding the droid didn't want to send the young girl into another one of her famous tantrums.
"Of course Miss Padmé." He said cutting the toast.
"We wouldn't want the Princess to get upset over toast, now would we?" Dormé joked as she placed eggs on the plate with Threepio's toast.
Padmé smiled as Anakin entered the kitchen, in full Jedi attire, and sat down at the table. "Smells delicious." he said as Padmé placed a plate in front of him.
"Good morning, Master Skywalker." Threepio said placing a cup of coffee and a data pad with that mornings paper in front of him.
"Thank you Threepio." Anakin replied picking up the data pad.
Luke entered the kitchen next, dressed in his youngling clothes, a simple tan and brown tunic and pants. He sat down and dug in the second Padmé placed the plate down.
"Certainly has your appetite." Padmé joked, "Anything in the news this morning?"
"Nothing about us, if that's what you mean." Anakin smiled taking a sip of his coffee. The media had always targeted them, that was nothing new to the couple. But since the news of twins and their marriage coming to light, the media had not left them alone. Padmé always complained that she could deal with it, she just didn't want them harassing the children.
Leia walked into the kitchen in a noticeably happier mood. She sat in her seat across from Luke, dressed in her olive and black tunic.
"Thank you Mommy." she smiled as Padmé placed her plate down.
"Of course." Padmé remarked a bit shocked, taking her seat, now that the family was served, across from Anakin. "I see you've left your hair down, Leia. Would you like me to do it after breakfast?"
"Yes Mommy, can you do the buns? I love them."
Padmé smiled and nodded, "Of course."
Dormé grabbed her plate and was about to excuse herself from the room when she stopped next to the table. "Excuse me Master Skywalker, Lady Skywalker?"
"How many times do we have to tell you? No need for the formalities Dormé." Anakin answered.
"Yes of course, I'm sorry. I just wanted to let you know that I will be going to visit my Father again this week."
"Of course Dormé, but you've just returned nearly two weeks ago. Are you sure you don't want to take an extended break? I can always have Sabé come here. Or we can relocate your father here from Naboo." Padmé offered.
"I apologize my Lady, I know I have just returned. Please understand that I appreciate your offers, but my father is a very head strong Nabooian, much like yours. He won't leave for anything. And not to be harsh but Sabé belongs in your Senate office; she is more useful there than in the home. I will not do that to you and the children."
Padmé laughed, "Yes, Sabè is better at the office, but she is fully capable here."
"I do not mean to offend, my Lady. But I do not wish to be replaced-"
"She will not be replacing you. Dormé, I could never replace you. You've been my faithful hand maiden since I was Queen, you kept all of my secrets, you were nurse to my children. You are more than hand maiden, you are a part of this family. I love you like a sister."
Dormé's face fell a bit, "I never knew you felt that way my Lady. But my father needs me."
"I understand Dormé. Go ahead." Padmé said dismissing her.
Anakin narrowed his eyes at the handmaiden; he could feel her uneasiness and sense her deception. He had felt it slightly every time she had gone away on one of her trips home, but wrote it off as worries about her job and family. This time was different, she was making too many excuses and her stories were wavering. He didn't want to hurt Padmé, knowing how she felt about the hand maiden, but he needed to get to the bottom of it.
"Dormé." Anakin said without turning away from his data pad. "Can you bring me home some Shuura fruit? I do miss the sweet taste."
"Oh-um-of-course Master Skywalker." She faltered and exited the room.
"Anakin, my mother sent us some Shuura fruit in her last package. We still have some in the fridge." Padmé stood to get the fruit.
"I know." Anakin answered motioning for her to sit back down, "I just thought it'd be nice to have some more."
Anakin could feel Padmé staring at him, trying to read him, what he was up to. He wiped his face and stood up walking from the room, "Be ready to leave for the Temple in ten minutes."
"Mommy will you do my hair now?" Leia asked pulling Padmé from her thoughts.
Anakin stood facing out toward the busy city of Coruscant. He and the twins were beginning their day with their usual mediation inside of his Master chambers. The room was simple, open and quiet, only have two small seating areas for others. Anakin had always preferred to stand while mediating, Leia stood next to him and Luke, who preferred to sit, was seated on the floor behind them.
"You know I can tell when you're not mediating, right?" Anakin said to Leia, who opened her eyes in shock. "Clear your mind, young one. Let the Force consume you."
Leia stared out the window half ignoring him. She hated mediating, and found it to be boring.
"Closing your eyes helps." Anakin sighed as the girl continued to ignore him. "If you wish to be a Jedi Leia, you need to follow what your Master says. I know you find this boring; I did too. But it is necessary."
Leia sighed in defeat, "Fine." She closed her eyes and felt the soothing presence of the Force.
Anakin smiled as he felt Leia pass into a state of mediation. All was peaceful in the Chamber.
Anakin reflected back on his past, recalling how he had always hated meditation, often thinking about pod racing or Padmé instead. As he had gotten older Obi-Wan would have had a stroke if he'd known what Anakin was thinking about instead of mediating. Anakin laughed to himself, remembering all of those days as a Youngling and a Padawan, how he had caused Obi-Wan a lot of grief. That was when he remembered what Obi-Wan had said the night the twins were born after he apologized to him, "It's okay, you're about to receive payback…Make that double!" Anakin sighed; he didn't know the half of it.
A disturbance in the Force pulled Anakin from his nostalgic thoughts. Anakin grabbed Leia before she hit the floor.
"I felt it too." He said, turning to see Luke staring at him wide eyed.
"What does it mean?" Luke asked, easing at Anakin's calming vibes.
"It means you two stay here and don't move. You understand me?" Anakin sent them a warning look and ran from his mediation chamber, light saber in hand.
As soon as she deemed Anakin's presence far enough, Leia made for the door of the mediation chamber and into Anakin's chambers.
"Where are you going?" Luke asked jumping up and following her. "Dad said stay here."
"Don't be a baby Luke. Are you coming?" Leia asked, grabbing her practice saber.
"Leia, I really think we should stay here like Dad said. I just have a bad feeling about this.
"And I have a bad feeling about staying here."
Anakin pushed his way through the Younglings and Padawan's who were all running in the opposite direction, out the Room of a Thousand Fountains. Of course someone would hide there and attack, it was a seven layer botanical haven. He heard bits and pieces ofwhat was going on: someone had broken into the Temple and was killing people with a red lightsaber.
Anakin, his throat tightening, felt an overwhelming feeling of darkness as he made his way closer to the source. Finally pushing through, he saw a figure in a black cloak standing over a female Padawan. The Padawan had her saber out and was pushing back against the cloaked attackers saber.
"Let her go!" Anakin yelled from across the square.
The cloaked figure kicked the girl and turned to see who was talking to him.
"Anakin Skywalker." A male voice hissed from under the cloak. "The almighty Chosen One." The man deactivated his saber and stepped away from the Padawan.
The Padawan went to slash the attacker but instead was Force pushed back into bushes.
"Who are you? And what do you want?" Anakin demanded.
"I don't think you're the one who gets to make the demands Skywalker. You're pitiful." The cloaked man laughed.
"You know who I am. It's only fair."
"I am Darth Galen, and I am here to do the job you didn't do!" The Sith cackled and Force leapt at Anakin, red lightsaber ignited. Anakin met the red blade with his own blue one.
Their sabers met a couple of times with a clash. With each new swing Anakin added more and more Force. He had always been a very aggressive duelist and Darth Galen had clearly known this, meeting every one of Anakin's offensive attacks. In the midst of their battle Galen's hood fell, revealing his face. Anakin almost faltered a bit to see the young Dathomirian Zabrak's yellow skin and thick black markings. It reminded him of Darth Maul, the Sith apprentice he had encountered in his childhood.
Out of the corner of his eye, Anakin saw another figure moving; he recognized the presence but didn't want to lose focus looking deeper into who it was.
Anakin gained a bit of an advantage, pushing the Sith Apprentice back towards a fallen tree. Galen attempted to summon Force-lightning on Anakin, but it was blocked with Anakin's light saber.
"Leia!" Luke grabbed the girls shoulder pulling her back into their hiding spot. They were ducked behind a few bushes and a fallen statue watching their Father duel the strange looking man.
"I have to help him." The girl urged.
"No." Luke said, grabbing her practice saber from her, "It's bad enough we're down here. Dad is going to kill us."
"Not if that Sith kills him first." Leia grabbed her practice saber back and ran across the square to where the Jedi and Sith were dueling. Raising her practice saber above her head she went to go whack him when suddenly she felt a push and was sent flying back across the court yard. She looked up and her Father was glaring at her over the Sith's shoulder.
Scrambling to her feet she felt a pair of arms wrap around her and picked her up. She was about to put up a fight when she looked up to see it was Ashoka who had grabbed her. Running back towards Luke, Ahsoka grabbed his arm and pulled him with her as she went into a full Force sprint out of the vast jungle like room. Force jumping down, Ashoka landed in the lower level of the gardens and placed Leia down.
"Have the two of you lost your minds?" Ashoka crossed her reddish tan arms across her chest. "Master Skywalker is not going to be happy with you two at all. You could have gotten yourselves killed!"
She grabbed Leia's practice saber a laughed, "Did you really think this would protect you?" She tossed it up in the air and using one of her duel green sabers sliced it in half. "Now don't move an inch. You understand me?"
Luke, who was on the verge of tears, nodded and sat down on a rock next to one of the water fall ends, mumbling something about his "Mommy."
Leia glared at Ahsoka - how dare she speak to them that way. "Don't speak to us that way. I'll tell my Daddy on you Ahsoka!"
Ahsoka looked at the little girl in disbelief, "And you think Master Skywalker is going to side with you, Youngling? Remember that here he is Master Skywalker, not your father. I am a Jedi Knight, and you will respect me as such. Now stay here."
Leia was about to answer back when Luke interrupted her, "Leia, we're already in trouble. Just stop."
Leia sat down on the floor crossing her arms over her chest glaring straight ahead of her.
"Thank you Luke." Ahsoka said and Force leapt back up to the previous level.
Luke sighed resting his head in his hands and looking at his sister, who was still glaring into the jungle like gardens.
Anakin's saber hit the Sith's again in a hiss and he grunted pushing harder against him.
"You can't win Skywalker." Galen laughed bringing his saber back and forward again with more force.
"You are the fool if you truly think Sidious isn't using you." Anakin was trying not to think about it, knowing it would cause him to lose focus. Leia had blatantly disrespected him by coming here, and even worse, she tried to attack him. Anakin was only relieved to see a flash of red, orange and blue that he knew was Ahsoka scoop her up and bring her to safety.
"I've got you Skyguy!" He heard Ahsoka yell as she came running at the pair duel sabers in hand.
"I'm here too!" Obi-Wan had his blue saber out and was rushing towards them from the opposite direction.
Darth Galen used the Force to send a tree towards Ahsoka, but she chopped it with her sabers, failing it from slowing her down.
Knowing he was out numbered the Sith laughed, "You may have gotten me this time, but you'll fail in the end Skywalker. You and the Jedi will fail!"
And with that, he was gone.
"No!" Anakin yelled, slicing his saber through a nearby rock.
"It's okay Anakin." Obi-Wan placed his hand on Anakin's shoulder and looked at Ahsoka.
"Where are my Younglings?" Anakin asked, remembering Leia's attempted interference.
"I'll get them Master." Ahsoka bowed and went to retrieve Luke and Leia from where she had left them. Hopefully they had listened and hadn't move.
"You brought the Younglings here?" Obi-Wan's eye brows shot up in surprise.
"No. They disrespected me, and came without my approval." Anakin answered rubbing his forehead.
"Sound familiar?" Obi-Wan replied with a little laugh.
Anakin shook his head, "Not now, Obi-Wan."
"Daddy!" Leia ran up to him arms open.
Anakin put his hand out stopping the girl, shocking her. "How many times do we need to remind you Leia that I am not 'daddy' here. I am Master Skywalker, and you are to address me as such."
"Sorry Master Skywalker." She answered, holding her head high.
"I am so disappointed in the both of you. How could you disrespect me like that? I told you to stay in my Chambers where it was safe." Anakin could sense the shame in Luke, but felt not even remorse from Leia. "Not only did you risk your own lives, but youendangered everyone in this Temple. Do you understand the severity of what could have happened?"
Luke nodded his head tears in his eyes, "I'm sorry Masters."
Leia continued to hold her head high.
"Ani!" Padmé came running through the brush, dressed in one of her elaborate Senator gowns of green and gold. That didn't stop her from falling to her knees and pulling Luke and Leia into her arms. "I sens-heard what happened and came here immediately. Is everyone okay?"
Anakin sighed placing his hand on her shoulder but it was Obi-Wan who spoke, "We lost a few Younglings and Padawans."
"How did this happen?" She questioned pulling her children closer to her. Luke clung to her as if it were his life line. Leia seemed indifferent to the smothering.
"We don't know Padmé, but there is a lot we need to discuss." Anakin said running his hand through her hair. She tried to stand but Luke wouldn't let go. Releasing Leia she picked Luke up in her arms. Anakin shook his head, "Put him down Padmé."
Luke tightened his hold on his mother, "Why?"
"Because he needs to learn not to be so attached to you." Anakin snapped.
"Pot calling the kettle black if you ask me." Padmé said turning and walking away grabbing Leia's hand, "I'll meet you in the Council Chambers Master Skywalker."
"Troubling this is." Master Yoda was seated on his seat in the Jedi Council Chamber. His eyes were closed and he was reaching out into the Force. "Disturbance I feel, closer than we think it is."
"How close?" Master Aayla Secura asked from her seat, the young Twi'lek Master was clearly plagued with worry.
"Unsure of this I am."
"We should have seen this coming." Master Windu said from his seat next to Yoda. "Of course Sidious would get himself a new Apprentice. How powerful was he Skywalker?"
Anakin took a deep breath in, "He's powerful. More prepared then anything. He knew exactly how I would attack. He only fled when Obi-Wan and Ahsoka got there. He goes by Darth Galen."
"I sensed his power in the Dark Side, but his Force signature was average." Obi-Wan explained.
"Senator Skywalker, is there anyway to keep this information from leaving the Temple?" Master Windu asked, turning to Padmé.
Padmé, who was seated between Yoda and Anakin, shook her head, "If there was anyone here today who wasn't a Jedi, then I doubt it. The media will know any moment now."
"I feared that."
"I fear what this will do in the Senate. As the Senator for the Jedi Order, it's my duty to act in our best interest. But I doubt everyone else will see it that way. You already know several people are trying to take you out. This could be their crutch. The fact that the war isn't completely over, recently the people of Kloper uprised against the clones and Jedi occupation. Now you were attacked here in your own Temple, Senator Beruss is going to have a field day with this, and there is only so much I can do."
"Correct Senator Sywalker is." Yoda spoke up. "Deal with the issue on Kloper we must."
"Perhaps I can go, a diplomatic solution may be what we need in these times." Padmé offered.
"You can't go. Besides your health, you are not a Jedi Master on this Council. That is a decision you can not make." Anakin said in disbelief at his wife's proposition.
"Yes Master Skywalker, thank you for reminding us all yet again that I am not a Jedi Master. But I am the political representative for this Order and am capable of handling these matters." Padmé was fed up with him. "I have been in much worse than this."
"I'm not doubting you Padmé, I just don't feel you are the right person for this mission." Anakin pleaded with her.
"Master Skywalker has a point, this is no mission for a Senator." Master Windu interrupted. "Master Kenobi, Master Skywalker. The two of you will attend to the issues on Kloper. Senator Skywalker, we need you here helping us fight in the Senate."
Obi-Wan nodded his head patting Anakin on the back, "Just like old times, Anakin."
Anakin laughed, "Let's just hope this goes a lot smoother then we're used to."
"Another issue we have." Yoda said opening his eyes.
"What is that?" Obi-Wan question his laughter ceasing at the elder Masters concern.
"Much anger I sense in Young Skywalker."
"Leia?" Anakin questioned looked at Yoda in disbelief.
"Yes. More anger we sense in her, than you Master Skywalker." Yoda looked at Padmé and Anakin.
"I understand Master Yoda. I am working on that with her, I will teach her to control her feelings."
"This you may do, but train any further than a Youngling she will not."
"I'm sorry Master Yoda, but are you saying my daughter can not train as a Jedi?" Padmé questioned in disbelief.
"Yes Senator Skywalker. Continue she may to learn here, but a Jedi she will not become."
"Anakin." Padmé looked at him confused, placing her hand on his knee.
"I promise, I knew nothing of this." He said taking her hand in his.
"Perhaps Leia will fall into politics with you Padmé." Obi-Wan suggested.
"She does favor the days she goes with you to the Senate." Anakin added.
"But we promised that they would get to decide, and now we can't give her that option." Padmé pleaded.
Anakin laughed, "Padmé, Luke is as much a Senator as I am. Luke will be out in the fighter ships. Leia may have my anger and attitude but she applies it the way you do. I swear she looks at me sometimes the same way you do when you're mad."
"I'm sorry Senator Skywalker, but we fear she will be too dangerous. The temptation will be too strong." Master Windu added.
"I understand, I couldn't bear to lose my Leia like that." Padmé smiled tears in her eyes looking at Anakin. "When will we tell her?"
"When the time is right."
The sound of her heels clicked on the concrete floor as she walked through the thought to be abandoned tower in the lower Works of Coruscant. She had been meeting him here for five years, and the place no longer gave her the chills. Then, though, she was nervous that her story was starting to fall through. She pushed through the metal door, that scraped against the floor.
She was used to this room as well, the only place with light, a vast open space with all the necessary amenities that reminded Dormé of a 'panic room'.
"Dormé. What news do you have?" The Sith Lord questioned from his place in the chair.
"My Lord." Dormé bowed kneeling to the floor. "I have been observing the children, and think you have chosen the wrong one."
"Oh yes?"
"Yes." Dormé continued, "The boy is weak, attached to his mother. The girl is the one you should go for. She is angry, just like Skywalker was, worse even. I believe she will be more powerful than her brother."
"Hmmm." Sidious scratched his chin in thought. "Yes, and how shocked Skywalker will be to see his little girl turned against him."
Sidious laughed in what Dormé would have mistaken for joy, by now she knew better. "We will have to see when they are older, which one is truly more powerful. Then I will take them on as my apprentice."
"What of Darth Galen?" Dormé questioned.
Sidious cackled again, "Darth Galen is weak, a useless tool in all of this to throw Skywalker off."
"I understand my Lord. What do you have for me now?"
"Continue to watch the children, and when the time is right . . . we will rule once again."
Dun dun dun...
I love writing Luke and Leia as little kids, such cuties.
So who saw that coming? Anyone? How could she?!
I'd also like to point out I made up Darth Galen...to an extent. Galen Marek is one of Darth Vader's apprentices. Except Galen was a human.
I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter.
Please review! :D
May the Force be with you!
xx Padme