Chapter 10 - Jabi'im

Author's Note: We started posting a separate one-shot collection for this series. :)

We're checking in with the twins again. :')

~ Amina Gila

Aniya Skywalker

I've been dreading this moment as much as I was excited for it. I'm a mother now, and it's at the worst time, but – I'm still a parent and so is Jaufre. I wish I could just be happy in this moment, and for one fleeting moment, I try to be, as I look down at the baby in each of my arms.

I had twins, too. It must run in the family.

"How did we both have twins?" Anakin asks flatly, the emotion shining in his own eyes as he looks at them. He's an uncle. This is just as meaningful to him as it is to me.

"Hey, we're twins, too. Maybe that's why," I offer.

They're both boys, nearly identical, but... strangely enough, they have a tiny bit of black hair on their heads. That doesn't make sense. It shouldn't be possible. They can't biologically have black hair unless...

Instantly, my mind jumps to Plagueis. He's been keeping an eye on their growth, touching me with the Force, sometimes far too closely, and I genuinely have no idea what he was doing. I have no idea if this his fault or... what, but I don't want to. I don't want to think about him at all right now, or how he'll probably want us to take them to him, too. If he's going to do anything to them, I can't sit back and do nothing.

"Their names," Anakin reminds.

I nod. We already know we can't wait for Jaufre. (We don't know when we'll ever see him again. I still don't know why he left us.) "Jaufre wanted to name his child Ezra, if he ever had one," I comment, pain spearing sharply through my heart.

"Which one?" Anakin asks.

I look down at the babies again – I've never really taken my eyes off them, actually.

"The younger," I decide, "He already feels more like Jaufre."

Anakin crackles a smile. "Does he?"

"Hey, the older one was wailing and the younger one was just smiling. And now, he won't sleep." He already seems disturbingly hyperactive. He's still staring up at me, with wide blue eyes.

"Do you have any preferences on the other names we discussed?" Anakin queries. We talked about it, of course, but I hadn't been able to make up my mind then.

I was sure if I had twins too, one would be a girl, and I'd probably name her after either Mom, or one of our padawans. For boys, we considered our masters, but in truth, we can't name them something that will make the Sith suspicious. I loathe that they even have a say in it whatsoever, because these are my children, and I can name them what I want, but it's what it is. I wouldn't want him to have exactly the same name as my... father or brother anyway. "Ben," I murmur finally, "We'll name him Ben."

It fits, somehow.

My twin nods, though I can feel his flicker of pain at the name. He reaches out, taking Ben from me. "It's perfect," Anakin says, softly.

"It is," I agree, smiling faintly, "He even frowned the same way Obi-Wan always did."

Anakin's amusement flares momentarily, and he reaches out, taking me free hand with his own.

"We have to do something," I say, finally. This isn't just our lives on the line here anymore. It's my children's, too, and I have to protect them. I can't let them grow up like this. Having them here with me now floods me with a new sense of determination. And fear, because what if we can't – no, I won't go there. I won't let them get hurt, no matter who I have to go through.

Anakin nods. "We will." I don't bother to ask what we'll do – neither of have any answers, but we have to find something. "We can ask Sidious for you to have more time off to be with them, for now at least."

"Yeah," I mutter. Assuming he'll agree. I'm mildly surprised he excused me from missions for this long as is. I don't want to push it – though I also just want to stay with Ben and Ezra. They're everything to me already, and it's so unfair that Anakin never got to see his own children. It's also so unfair that I have no idea when Jaufre will get to see his.

**w**

It's a few days later that Maul comes to see us again. I can't say what it is that's developed between us over the months we've been with each other, but I think I would call him my brother. Sometimes, he feels like the only person we have now that the rest of my family is gone. It's an ache inside me constantly that I've somehow grown used to. And I'm admittedly grateful that Maul's here, even if he's... weird.

Well, there's Sidious too, but I still hardly know what to think of him. It's – he's our master. That says more than enough about our relationship. Aside from sending us to Plagueis, after Mustafar, he has never hurt us himself. Emotional, yes, but that's... different. I don't really think he means to. I think it's more that he doesn't understand others, or know how to connect with them, and I hate that there's a part of me that wants to care about him. It would be so much easier if I could just hate him through and through, along with everything he stands for.

"You are... well?" Maul asks. He seems to be feeling very awkward, not that that's a surprise.

He was thoroughly mind-blown when he'd first heard about my pregnancy to begin with, and then carefully avoided mentioning it again. Given his life, he probably forgot that was even a thing.

"I'm fine," I assure, waving a hand. I keep the twins in the room with me – I don't want to leave them out of my sight, even if this place in the Works feels a little more like an excuse for a home now that we've been here for months; it's still not truly a home.

Maul eyes the babies, an unreadable look in his eyes.

"Want to hold them?" I offer, if only to see his reaction.

He blinks. "No."

I can't help but smirk, exchanging glances with Anakin.

Maul pauses. "You have named them?"

"Ben and Ezra," Anakin answers.

"Your master will allow you to raise them?"

The question makes air freeze in my lungs for a moment. "Why wouldn't he?"

"He has been unusually accepting of your... attachment to one another, as it is," he replies.

I exchange a tense glance with Anakin. "He says he doesn't see it as a weakness," my brother responds, "He never expressed any problem with... this."

Maul makes a noncommittal noise; he has one of those odd looks on his face, I still can't entirely read. I think it's just that the way things are with us is nothing like how he was raised. Then again, the only person he had growing up was Sidious. He didn't have a sibling or anything. I can't imagine what that must've been like.

"What?" Anakin asks finally, eyeing him.

"I had another brother once. He was... small. For a Nightbrother."

I blink. That's... Okay, I'm not surprised to hear, but he almost never speaks of his past. I suppose we've all gotten a little freer around each other over the months. Maybe seeing my children is making him think of his own family. "On Dathomir?" I ask, "You didn't... see him again?"

"I did not return since Sidious took me," he replies, stiffly, "But I did not come here to speak of this. I have been given a mission Plagueis considers of extra importance."

I tense.

"What?" Anakin demands.

"He wants Anakin's children found," Maul replies, "More Jedi have been spotted recently in several regions, and I am to go personally to search for them. He believes one of the Jedi formerly close to you is likely with them."

What?!

My gaze locks with Anakin's, my blood turning to ice. No, that can't happen. It can't. He can't find them. It's more than enough that he has us and my children, and my fear instantly shifts to an overwhelming rage. We cannot allow that to happen, no matter what.

"We never heard," Anakin says, and I can feel his fear and anger.

"I will tell you what I discover," he replies, and leaves it at that. We can't openly speak of what's technically treason beyond that, but it's still touching he's willing to take that kind of risk.

"Thank you," Anakin replies, quietly.

Maul nods stiffly. "I am to leave now."

I hold back the wish of good luck I'd normally give to Anakin – it's not as if any of us want good luck on this mission, though if Maul is able to find them before any Inquisitors do and warn them, that would be for the best.

I still remember the time I'd accidentally blurted out the Jedi phrase of "may the Force be with you" to him. He'd quite rudely informed me that such Jedi platitudes were useless to Sith. And that the Force is always with him, without someone telling it that it should be. As if that was even the point.

No one has ever... been sensitive with him, so I suppose I can't really expect him to know what that means. He was raised to hate.

Aside from the feelings Ben and Ezra give me now, I still feel like that's all I'm capable of. I don't know if it's better or worse that I haven't gone on missions in a long time. I do support the Empire, but I still feel like it's turning out hardly any better than the Republic. At the same time, not being on missions leaves me with nothing to do but brood. Then again, it often feels that's all I'm good at anymore, anyway.

**w**

I'm unsurprised when it's a couple months before we hear from Maul again. I've been sent on an occasional mission during that time, but mostly I've tried to spend all the time I can with Ben and Ezra. If I'm gone, then Anakin stays with them instead. It's hardly the environment I want to be raising them in, but at least they're okay... For now.

Plagueis insisted on seeing them, but he hasn't actually done anything to them, except observing them with the Force. They spent pretty much the entire time there crying. Not as if it's surprising – if I were younger, and didn't understand what the Dark Side was, I would be, too. Sometimes, I want to, anyway.

He re-grew my hand over the past couple months too, and being on the receiving end of what Anakin went through was far from pleasant. It only makes me loathe Plagueis more, even if I certainly don't mind being fully human again. I never asked for it to happen like this. At least it went far faster than when Anakin's arm was regrowing.

Anakin answers the incoming call, a hologram of Maul appearing. "Kenobi has been spotted," he reports, "There are too many others with him to identify, but Senator Amidala may have been with him."

My heart jumps to my throat, and I exchange a desperate glance with my brother. He's on Obi-Wan's trail. And if Padme's there too, it must mean she's alive. Of course, we would've felt it if she wasn't, but it's still different hearing a reassurance of this.

And it also means they are very much in danger right now, and that we may have a chance to see them again. To... something. Somehow, that terrifies me far more than it excites me. I want to see Padme and Jaufre again, but I don't know why they left. And Obi-Wan – I don't know if either of us will ever be ready for that.

"Where are they?" Anakin asks, faintly.

"They were on Mapuzo," Maul responds, "I have identified a trail of people hiding from the Empire that leads through there. Their ship escaped, but we are tracking it now. Their most likely destination appears to be Jabi'im."

I'm unsurprised about the trail – we've seen traces of that in the past. "We'll be coming," I say, before Anakin can voice it.

Though what happens when we get there, I have absolutely no idea. Obviously, we aren't going to capture them, so we'll have to... give our masters a very good, believable excuse on how they got away. It's not as if we could truly hope to keep that we're going there a secret. But we'll worry about that later.

Right now, this is the only path forward.

**w**

Anakin Skywalker

Nearly the moment we streak out of hyperspace over Jabi'im, I already have my questions answered. Our family is here. Or at least... much of it.

Obi-Wan is shielding heavily, but reaching out with the Force, I can still distantly feel him, along with two brilliantly shining Force presences that he's trying to shield, too.

Even sensing him this close again is nearly enough to make me cry, just remembering. I haven't been without Obi-Wan for this long ever since we met first him so many years ago. Sure, we weren't around each other nearly as much after I was Knighted, but it was never like this. And it's worse, knowing that I don't know if he even wants to see us ever again. Not that I can blame him.

(He misses us too, though, doesn't he? I don't know if I want the answer.)

"We will go in alone," I tell the Imperial forces, knowing that it's likely to arouse suspicion but it's worth it if our family is fine. I'll worry about news spreading to Sidious later.

Aniya and I head for the surface in silence. There's nothing to say; we can't assure each other it will be fine when we don't know that. All we can do is what we always have – offer each other our own unwavering support.

"They're barricaded inside the complex," Aniya observes, as our shuttle lands a distance away from the structure. It's late evening now, night quickly overtaking us, and somehow, it's... appropriate.

Likely, they're preparing to escape right now, but the Imperial ship is positioned over the base. Escaping will... not be easy. I can only hope they're actually prepared for it, because we can't be any more obvious than we are now, that we want them to get away.

I still don't know what it is we're planning to do as I cross the rocky ground, but I don't have to wait and consider it – the back doors of the facility suddenly slide open, a far too familiar stepping view, before the doors just as quickly seal closed behind him.

For a long moment, none of us move. I can see him clearly enough, even through the darkness. He looks much the same as he did that day I last saw him on Mustafar – after I hurt him – except he's not in Jedi robes anymore. His expression is tight, closed-off, and that's definitely not a good sign, but...

His presence is still sharpy and icy, in much the same way it was on Mustafar, except now it seems... harder, darker, like ice in the night, and I'd be lying to say it's not unnerving. I didn't know Obi-Wan even could feel like this.

Suddenly, I find myself at a total loss for words. I didn't know what I came here to say in the first place, just to... something. I never expected Obi-Wan to come to us.

I want to cry. I want to fall to my knees and beg forgiveness that I don't deserve – that I could never deserve, not after everything I've done and caused. But I know better than to let myself be so openly weak like that, especially after how much the Sith have been exploiting that lately. "Obi-Wan," I say finally, grateful that my mask and armor at least are hiding me.

"Anakin," he replies, unmoving. His voice sounds as cold as his presence feels, and I almost take a step back from how icy it is. This isn't... Obi-Wan. This isn't the person we used to know. What happened to him? What has he become?

"Where have you been?" Aniya demands finally.

His eyes narrow. "Why would it matter to you?" he throws back. "So you can tell the Emperor?"

He's trying to make us react, to make us angry. All he's doing is hurting us. "This wasn't all our choice, Obi-Wan." I hate to say it, but I – I have to. I can't back down and let him have control of this. I've done that too much recently. I can't do it when... I don't necessarily have to. I would much rather not do it at all. "You chose to leave, too. Not that I blame you for it." I would have left me, too.

Atop that, I hear an echo, a whisper, a – would you, though? You don't leave your own behind. But when he did, what does it mean? Is he still your family? I force that away as fast as it comes, because that's a stupid question. Of course, he is. Obi-Wan used to mean everything to me. He still does.

"You are the ones who chose to leave." Of course, he says that – tries to deflect blame. Why did I expect anything else? Either way, it hurts.

"Don't do this," Aniya says shortly, obviously hurt, "We missed you. We just wanted you back."

There's a long pause of quiet. I don't think Obi-Wan knows how to respond. "Then why did you do this?" It's still accusing, but I think it's also a genuine question. He's hurting, too, I can tell.

"We told you before," Aniya replies. "We chose to stand with the Republic."

"And do you see what this has become?" he demands, icily, "Have you not seen what the Emperor is doing? How could you ever stand with this?"

I know the Empire isn't what it should be. It's not what I'm supporting it for, but in truth, it's not worse than the Republic. At least there's slightly less tolerance for corruption now. "What else can we do?" I argue, "I know it is not... as it should be, but it is little different than the Republic. We cannot just leave."

"Why?"

"You think we wouldn't if we could?" Aniya snaps back, temper flaring, "You think I would let them hurt Anakin if I could stop it?"

I reach out, lightly touching her arm. There's nothing more I can offer. Not now. There's nothing I ever have been, and I hate feeling so helpless.

I can't clearly see Obi-Wan's expression in the darkness, but he seems slightly taken-aback. "What are they... doing?" he asks, "Why can't you walk away now?"

"There is nowhere we can go that they would not find us," I reply, bitterly, "And I will not lead that danger to anyone else. Not when we can at least stay and try to do something for the galaxy."

"What you're doing isn't benefiting anyone."

I know he's just trying to be harsh. I don't think it's true, but part of me... is still worried. I'm still afraid that it is true. "Yes, we are," I argue, "We're making a difference. At least we... could be. If the Sith weren't stalling the change."

"Doesn't that include you?"

"We're not really Sith," I object bitterly, "There are only two. Our masters. We're... nothing."

"What happened?" Obi-Wan asks finally, "Why did you turn on everything we stood for?"

"I didn't think I had a choice," Aniya confesses, hands clenching. "We were having... visions. We knew the Jedi would turn on the Republic. And we knew you were going to betray us."

"I never betrayed you," he objects, instantly bristling.

"You attacked us on Mustafar," I reply bluntly, "Aniya foresaw a... much worse outcome." How that could happen, I still can't imagine. I still don't understand how we are where we are now, let alone how our lives could've fallen past this. "One where you won."

"I would never have hurt you," Obi-Wan argues.

A surge of pain and bitterness flare inside me. "Then why did you try to?"

He doesn't have a comeback to that. Instead, he dodges the question entirely. "You could have come with me."

"And, what?" I ask, "Abandon the galaxy? At least here, we can do something. We could have done something. And even if we would have been willing to, you never gave us that choice."

"Then what are you here for?" Obi-Wan demands.

"We had to see you again," Aniya replies finally, "When we heard where you were..."

"Then, what?" he asks. He's angry, and he has a right to be. We did destroy the life he spent so much time dedicated to and working towards. "To kill me?"

"If we fight again, that won't be on my terms, either." I just miss who he used to be and what we once had. I wish he could hold me again, wish that I could feel as warm and protected by him as I did when we were younger. Obi-Wan was always... soothing. I can't tell him that, because I don't know how, but I hesitantly reach up, pulling off my mask. It's fairly light and durable, much like the armor the clones had, and I hold it against my hip the same way Rex would've a lifetime ago. The way he would've if he was still with us.

"We came, because you would know what to do," I continue before I can stop myself and think better, "Because we need to get out of this, and I don't know how. And you – you always knew what to do."

"Why should I help you?" I hate how we're carefully probing each other, as if we're total strangers, as if we weren't once... what we were.

My fingers curl tightly around the edge of my helmet. If my hand was still mechanical, I think it'd be tight enough to break, but instead, it just sends a stab of welcoming pain through it. "I was your padawan," I remind him, bitterly, "You called me your brother once."

"That was before," Obi-Wan says, "Before you changed."

"We haven't changed at all," Aniya replies, quietly. For once, instead of angry, she just sounds worn. "We still care more about our family than anything else."

"And yet, you left them," he accuses.

"We didn't leave," I argue, "They left. All of you did." And maybe that's why I've been so willing to let the Dark Side drown me, even now. If everyone I used to know and love left me, refusing to accept what I am, then... then there must be something wrong with us. Something unlovable. Something that... can never find peace, because we were made by the Sith. We can't change what we are, even if I want to.

"Did you even miss us?" Aniya blurts out, "Did you?"

"I could ask you the same," he snaps back.

My grip tightens farther. "We risked everything to come here to see you." I can't handle it if he rejects us again. I could hardly handle Mustafar. This is... this would be worse. After everything that's happened, I need him. I need to know we're not always going to be alone, but somehow... it doesn't even seem worth it to hope anymore, and I'm terrified of what will happen if I give up entirely.

"To...what?" he asks, "You already said you will not leave now, either."

"We need to – to stop Plagueis before he hurts anyone else," Aniya says finally, "I can't let him hurt Anakin's children."

"He won't, if they are able to get off-planet," Obi-Wan replies.

"We're... stalling them. You'll have the chance now if you move fast enough. Are they – okay?" I don't even know what they look like or anything. I have no idea when I'll ever see them again. I still don't know why Padme and Jaufre left us, either. I don't think they could have done it willingly, but I don't know what could've happened, either. They could have talked to us, something. But they didn't.

"They're fine," Obi-Wan replies, something cautious and wary in his tone. He doesn't even trust us with them. He probably shouldn't, either.

There's so much I want to ask, but I don't know if I should. I don't know if he'll answer, and I'd rather not ask if he won't. He needs to leave anyway, if they're going to escape. Even if I don't know how I'll be able to handle him walking away again, even if there isn't any other way this can end anyway. (Maybe I just wish he'd demand that we come, even if I know we can't. Or at least for him to... something. Something other than... nothing. I don't even know if he wants us again, and that's what hurts the most.)

"Have you seen Qui-Gon?" Aniya asks finally, "We haven't heard word of him or... anything. I know it's probably best, but I don't know if he's alright."

"No," Obi-Wan answers, "I have not. Not since we..."

"Since Mustafar," I interrupt, sighing quietly. "Yes. Everyone split up after that." Alema, I suspect, went back to Ryloth. I heard word that Ahsoka was spotted on Onderon, but she'd already disappeared from there. I have no idea what happened next. There's nothing like knowing my family is scattered all across the galaxy and wishing there was something I could do about it, knowing the entire time that this is partly my fault.

"Why come now?" Obi-Wan asks, "When you could have asked my help earlier?"

"When I was certain you would hurt Anakin?" Aniya asks, "You mean then? Or in all the months we were searching for you but found nothing?"

"Look," I interject before they can start going for each other's throats again, "Blaming won't help. We weren't able to, until now. And we need – we need to know what to do. That there is something we can do."

"You are the ones with the Empire," Obi-Wan points out bluntly, "You have all the firepower and Inquisitors you could need."

Maybe the problem, then, is that I just need permission to do it. That I need to stop being too afraid to try. "There's something about him that's unnatural, Obi-Wan. I don't know what it is, but he... he's unnaturally powerful. You fought him yourself. You know what he's like."

"From what I know," Obi-Wan answers at last, "You will never be able to take him on alone, unless you use your combined power. I know your... bond fuels each other, gives you strength."

I wince. He knows that both from fighting alongside us, and against us. "I'm sorry. For everything. I didn't mean it to fall so far."

Obi-Wan looks... surprised. That almost hurts, except I can't blame him for it. "That won't undo what happened."

I can't help stepping closer, just... wanting more. Not that it'll change anything. "I know."

"What will you do now?" Aniya asks.

"Find somewhere your... family can settle down."

"I'm not sure that's possible anymore," I object, "Plagueis wants them. That's why we have to stop him."

"You could die," he warns.

I can't help glaring at him. "I'm not sure anyone would be particularly bothered by that anymore." We have to protect Ben and Ezra, and... really? That's the only reason I care. And that I want to see my children myself, but at least if Plagueis is dead, I'll know they'll be safe.

"Will you need me to be there?" Obi-Wan asks, finally.

Absolutely not. The last thing I need is him as collateral damage in the middle of everything. "No. No – we don't. We'll figure something else out." Somehow.

A strained silence settles over us, though it's not as hostile as before. Something has... at least somewhat toned down now, to something calmer and less volatile. Even so, I'm still afraid of what it'll mean for the future. Really, we don't have any hopes of fixing anything even if we are able to leave the Sith. Even if we do manage to find a way home.

"Be careful," Obi-Wan adds finally, and for the first time, there's something softer in his voice, something more like what it used to be. "I know how this can drive you."

I find myself blinking back tears. "We'll come back." Even if the thought of leaving him here and now, when it would be so easy for us to leave ourselves is... but we can't leave Ben and Ezra behind, obviously.

"Oh," Aniya adds, nervously, "There's... something Jaufre should know. Tell him – tell him that Padme was right, and that their names are Ben and Ezra."

I don't think Obi-Wan has any idea what that means, thankfully, or this might get a lot more... explosive. "I'll tell him," he replies despite his very obvious confusion.

She nods. "Thank you. He needs to know this."

I move a little closer, until we're standing only a couple paces away from each other. "You should go," I say, quietly, "I don't think we can hold off the others much longer."

Obi-Wan eyes me, something almost searching in his gaze before he nods. "Do not do anything needlessly foolish," he warns. "For now, I will watch your family."

"Thank you," I whisper, trying to hold back the tears that suddenly threaten to fall. If we had more time, maybe... I don't know, but he needs to go.

For a moment, I think Obi-Wan's going to say something else, but instead he turns to go, disappearing back through the doors of the complex, leaving us alone.

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