Come What May

by Knight of Sarmatia

AU Three years after Attack of the Clones Anakin and his family are on the run from the Empire. As they try to hide on Naboo, problems begin from within as Qui-Gon's health begins to fail.

1. Prologue

Prologue

Anakin Skywalker was drawn out of a troubled meditation trance when he felt terror coming from his beloved wife and sensed that she and his Jedi Masters were in danger. Padme! Was the thought that tore through his mind as he got to his feet and started running down the path, he had taken from their small camp just a few hours before. The Jedi Padawan instinctually pulled his lightsaber from his belt and sped up as he got closer to the clearing where he and the others had made a makeshift home out of a couple of tents for only a week and could make out several angry voices demanding to know where he, Padme, and the older of his Jedi Masters were.

Skywalker ducked behind a large tree and rock just before he entered the clearing and watched partially frozen in horror as two well-built bounty hunters held the younger of his masters against a huge tree as another hit the man in the ribs and abdomen again and again. It broke Anakin's heart to watch Obi-Wan Kenobi live up to not only his training but also the complete love he possessed for their little family by not making a sound or saying a word despite the obvious pain he had to be in and it took all the Padawan's resolve to keep his anger under control and stay hidden when Kenobi finally couldn't take anymore and screamed in agony when the blows became too much when he was accidentally hit in the lower back.

A nearly devastating injury to Obi-Wan's back about six months before the Jedi Temple on Coruscant was destroyed would have made it almost impossible for the Jedi Knight to try and avoid the blow even if he wasn't being restrained and at least part of the reason the redheaded human had not run suddenly dawned on his torturers. Kenobi had been healing slowly but Anakin knew being hit like that had to have caused some damage.

Seeing that they finally found a weak spot on their prisoner the bounty hunters began to use it to their advantage and hit him in the back again and again, "Where's the Jedi brat, the woman and the other Jedi bastard?!" The bounty hunter doing the questioning screamed as he stopped the beating long enough for the battered Obi-Wan to be able to gather the breath to be able to answer.

Skywalker could see and hear the painful and ragged breath Kenobi managed to take before he yelled back in a guttural language they couldn't understand and winced hard as he once again had to fight to control his anger when the action earned his younger master a hard blow across the face, "Speak so that we can all understand!" The Clawdite bounty hunter screamed as he hit the young knight again. "We don't have all day!"

What the group couldn't have known however was that Obi-Wan had sensed that Anakin was watching them and was telling the younger man to run back into the surrounding forest in the native language of the man that they both called their father. However, Skywalker was unwilling or able to leave his friend and adopted brother to be beaten to death, so he slipped his lightsaber back onto his belt before kneeling to draw the handcrafted dagger his adoptive father presented to him on his fifteenth birthday. He then used the Force to distract the bounty hunters momentarily as he snuck up behind them and used the beautiful but deadly weapon to end their lives.

The Padawan then did his best not to cause his slightly older brother any more pain as he gently caught the man started to collapse and gently lowered him to the forest floor, "Master?" Anakin asked as Kenobi passed out for a moment. "Master Kenobi please! Wake up!" Skywalker then let out the breath he had been holding when Obi-Wan slowly opened his eyes a moment later. "Thank The Lady." He whispered.

"Anakin." Kenobi managed with a wince as his apprentice and brother pulled up his tunic and cursed when he saw the mass of bruises already forming and started to darken his ribs. "Leave me and go find Padme and our father."

"I can't leave you, Master Kenobi." The younger man said before moving to strip one of the dead bounty hunters of their tunic and began to tear it into large strips. "I will not leave you." Obi-Wan tried to hide just how much pain he was in but couldn't hold back a faint moan as Anakin pulled him up into a sitting position and leaned him against his own body before taking his tunic off. The Padawan then tried to be even more gentle as he carefully wrapped the strips of cloth over the contusions to provide any ribs that might be cracked and or broken a little padding and protection and then helped Kenobi get his tunic back on. "I don't know how well this will work Master, but it must be better than nothing."

Obi-Wan could only be slightly annoyed and quietly glad for the help when Anakin disregarded his order to leave, "Thank you Ani." He said softly as he began to read the turmoil coming from his brother and looked into Skywalker's distant ice-blue eyes. "I will be all right." Kenobi then made Anakin look into his eyes and placed a hand against his cheek. "Peace little one."

Skywalker suddenly fought back tears as he remembered Obi-Wan, his twin brother Christian, and the man had adopted them all saying those words and doing the same gesture so many times before. Often after he would wake up screaming due to a nightmare up until he and Padme started living together, "I'm fine Master." He said just as softly before turning his head away and staring off into the forest. "We need to find Master Jinn and Padme; do you think you can stand?"

Kenobi noted sadly that his brother was still very formal when it came to addressing him and their father but didn't give voice to his worries at that moment. Instead, he nodded and allowed Anakin to pull him up into a standing position, "Unfortunately six more bounty hunters ran after Da and Padme." He said before using the Force to call his discarded lightsaber into his hand and clipping it onto his belt. "Sidious has offered a considerable bounty for our return to Coruscant."

"So, he can kill you, Padme, and Master Jinn before using me to do his dirty work." Skywalker surmised before gently putting an arm around his brother's waist and using the other to suspend one of the injured man's arms over his shoulder. "Ready to walk Master?"

"I have no choice, do I?" Obi-Wan said with a pained smile as he and Anakin began to walk in the direction the others had taken.

"Not unless you want to be left behind and leave all the fun for me." The Padawan said with a halfhearted smile, doing his best to keep the knight from thinking about the amount of pain and effort it took for him to simply breathe. "Like on countless missions, we were on and during the war."

"Funny Ani," Kenobi said sarcastically and a little sadly as he thought of the lives lost in the past three years and how much The Clone Wars had changed them all. Obi-Wan was able to go a fair distance before gasping in pain when he had to step over a large tree root. "I have to stop for a moment."

"Are you all right Master?" Anakin asked when he could take a good look at Obi-Wan as he braced him against the tree, they were next to.

Obi-Wan nodded as he wrapped an arm around his ribs and winced a little as he took a deep breath before trying to stand on his own. The pain was almost unbearable, but he wasn't about to let Anakin know so he drew strength from the Force before preparing to move, "We need to hurry. The Lady only knows what those bounty hunters will do if they find Padme. Sidious doesn't know she's pregnant."

Skywalker groaned when a sickening realization came over him, "And if he finds out…" He said before running a gloved hand down his face. "Oh Sith Master, how could I have been such an idiot?"

"Anakin look at me," Kenobi said as he placed a firm hand on the Padawan's shoulder. "You were slowly being manipulated by the dark side of the force by a Sith Lord for years and you had no control over your actions in the final months before the temples fell. The fact you were able to resist Sidious' final push and uncover what he was saved lives and knowledge that night. What happened was not your fault little brother, whether you can see it or not."

Clear blue eyes finally truly locked with blue-green, "You haven't called me little brother in months Obi-Wan." Anakin said with a small sad smile. "But in all honesty, I feel very unworthy of that title since it was too late."

"For not calling you what you truly are and always will be to me I am truly sorry Anakin. But Da, Padme, Christian, Ahsoka, and I love you with every fiber of our beings and The Lady willing we will see our brother and his Padawan again soon." Obi-Wan said as he gave the younger man a warm smile. "And you will always be my little brother whether you're nineteen or a hundred and nineteen. Whether or not you like that or not." Skywalker gave Kenobi a real smile for the first time in over two years as his brother gently pulled on his Padawan braid like the family always did when they were able to be less serious and Obi-Wan smiled back when he felt a little more of the younger man break through the oppression he had been fighting. "There's a little of the Ani I know and love." The Jedi Knight then managed to take another deep breath. "Come now little one, we need to find our family before those bounty hunters do."

(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)

A few yards ahead of Kenobi and Skywalker, Qui-Gon Jinn struggled to keep from becoming ill as he ran down a hidden trail, he had mapped out a few days earlier in case he, his sons, and his daughter-in-law needed to run and hide. He quickly spared a glance at the pregnant young woman running beside him to make sure his long strides weren't too difficult for her to follow, and the Jedi Master didn't need the Force to know that his young friend and daughter-in-law was feeling rare extreme terror and secretly prayed that it wouldn't send her into preterm labor.

It took a lot to frighten Padme Amidala Skywalker but having six well-armed bounty hunters chasing her after spending so many months on the run already and not knowing if they had killed her husband and his brother was more than she could handle. After a few more minutes of intense running Qui-Gon had to call a halt for a minute, unable to keep his stomach from rebelling any longer. He quickly pulled Padme into a secure thicket of trees and bushes where he dropped to his knees and vomited, "Lady, help me." He pleaded in his native language before becoming ill again.

The young woman behind him watched in concern as she watched her father-in-law heave the contents of his stomach and struggle for breath before she crawled over and held his long light brown hair out of his face as he became ill the second time. Padme strongly suspected there was something seriously wrong with the Jedi Master because this wasn't the first time, she had seen him sick to his stomach and or in intense pain, "Qui-Gon, are you all, right?" She asked in his native language, having learned it from Anakin, Obi-Wan, and their brother Christian.

The older man pressed a hand to his stomach and looked into the former queen and senator's terrified dark brown eyes, "I'll be all right Padme." Qui-Gon said before closing his eyes and taking several slow deep breaths as he listened to what was going on outside their hiding place. "I'm sorry I scared you child." Jinn opened his eyes and moved to hold the young mother-to-be when he saw that she was shaking. "Shhh my loves." He whispered as he rubbed Padme's back to calm her and the twins and gathered his strength before switching to the Galactic Basic Standard language. "Those bounty hunters are coming this way; I'm going to lead them away from here. I want you to stay here and stay silent. No matter what you hear or see, don't come out until I come back for you."

Padme swallowed and smiled nervously before looking up at him and noticed he was impossibly pale, "Please be careful Qui-Gon, I don't want to lose you too."

Qui-Gon smiled back and squeezed her hand in reassurance, "It will be all right child, Ani and Ben got away." He said before taking off his heavy cloak and putting it around her shoulders so she could be more hidden and keep warm should she have to stay here after nightfall. "This will keep you warm and dry while also being dark enough to use as camouflage in here. I will be back; you and the babies just rest and be ready to run." Jinn smiled again when the young woman nodded and then edged out of their hiding place while keeping his lightsaber at the ready but not lit.

Padme pulled the Jedi Master's cloak around her before moving back into the shadows of the thicket and leaned back against one of the ancient trees as she followed the sound of her friend and father-in-law's footsteps as he quietly slipped away, drawing the bounty hunters away from her. The former queen and senator wrapped her arms protectively around her swollen belly when one of her unborn twins moved, "It's all right baby." She said softly as she ran a hand over her still-growing womb. "Daddy, Grandpa Qui-Gon, and Uncle Ben will be all right and so will we." Uttering the last part for her sake as well as for her twins, all she could do now was wait, pray, and hope.

(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)

Obi-Wan was starting to have difficulty breathing by the time he and Anakin ran into a large clearing not far from where Padme was hiding and tried to judge where the six remaining bounty hunters were. So, Skywalker helped his brother lean against one of the trees before dropping to a crouch and running a finger along a bootprint in the mud. He and Kenobi thanked the Force many times throughout their lives in the Jedi Order that Qui-Gon and his many brothers had the sense to teach them and even their blind brother Christian how to survive without the use of the Force if they needed to. Because as of right now all three Jedi were nowhere near full strength and they couldn't fully sense the beings hunting them in the environment they were in, "They went this way, Ben." He informed Kenobi who was trying to gather enough strength to continue running. "They were following our father and Padme until this point, but it looks like they split up, three east and three west."

"Most likely to surround us." Acknowledged a quiet voice off to the Padawan's left.

Both young men looked in that direction, recognizing the voice, "Da thank the Lady you're all right." Obi-Wan said as Qui-Gon moved out of the greenery not far from where he left Padme.

Anakin looked for his wife behind the Jedi Master, "Where's Padme?" He asked worried.

"She's safe for the moment Ani." The older man explained before giving the young man a proud smile as he went over to take a good look at both of his boys. He could see by the way Kenobi was standing he had been beaten and Skywalker looked exhausted and tense. Jinn had heard Anakin call him father for the first time in months and he thanked the main deity of his native people that his youngest son had seemed to have gotten over that obstacle, which was one of many. "But we need to hurry. I'm afraid three of our friends are following me..."

"You mean are in front of you!" A rough alien voice called out as three heavily armed bounty hunters came out of the foliage and spread around the Jedi.

"It took us a long time to find you three." Said the one who seemed to be the leader of this group as his suburbanites stripped the three of their weapons and outer cloaks. "But the reward is more than worth it." The heavyset and tattooed human eyed his prisoners like a rancher inspecting his stock while trying to figure out what the emperor would want with such pitiful-looking humans. To him, all three Jedi looked weak and in poor health. The younger one with ginger hair and blue-green eyes could barely stand, the eldest of the three looked extremely ill and the youngest one with a long thin braid that hung from just behind his right ear and ended just past his shoulder looked as if the weight of the universe was on his shoulders. "Where's the woman?"

"Somewhere you'll never find her!" Anakin snarled back as he and the Jedi Master and knight were tied to a tree.

Easy Anakin. Qui-Gon told him through their Master/Padawan bond. Don't give in to your anger; it's what Sidious wants. Keep to the light my son; I don't want to lose you again. He added slipping into his native language.

Anakin looked into the older man's tired gray eyes and almost wept when he suddenly sensed how much physical pain the Jedi Master was hiding. Yes, Da. The Padawan replied while trying to keep his tears from falling. Please help me.

Of course, we will Ani. Obi-Wan told him while he and Jinn sent waves of love and encouragement through their bond considering they couldn't hold the young man. Come what may, we will always have each other.

(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)

By nightfall, the bounty hunters had regrouped and three were searching for Padme while the others stayed in the clearing guarding the Jedi, "I say we show them what happens when they kill one of us." Demanded another male Clawdite, who had found the three bounty hunters that Anakin had killed earlier. "My brother is lying in the dirt because of them."

"You know our orders!" Barked the human. "The emperor wants them alive." He cast a cold hard look in Anakin's direction. "Especially the boy."

"May I ask just how much Palpatine is offering for our capture?" Qui-Gon asked while trying to shift his weight against the rope that had him held to the tree. He knew better than to refer to Sheev Palpatine by his Sith name Sidious considering most of the galaxy had no idea what the now Emperor Palpatine was. "It must be quite a sum of Credits if ten bounty hunters, who normally would work in pairs or alone would join forces to capture us."

The bounty hunter narrowed his eyes, there was something about the tall and long-haired Jedi that didn't sit right with him, he looked familiar to him, "Which one are you?" He asked as he got up, walked over, and got right in Jinn's face despite the fact there was at least a six-inch difference between them.

"Qui-Gon Jinn." The Jedi Master said calmly.

The bounty hunter's brown eyes went wide before he began laughing hysterically "Well look here boys." He said grabbing a handful of Jinn's long hair and pulling his head back exposing his throat. "We have a Nir'duinain in our presence." The bounty hunter let go of Qui-Gon's hair and pulled his arms out of the rope. "And not just any Nir'duinain mind you." He vaunted while pulling the Jedi Master's tunic off, revealing a large forest green tattoo of elaborate ancient knotwork designs that ran down both his arms from his shoulders and became winged beasts at his wrists. "This is the son of a chieftain! A very powerful chieftain too." He turned back to Qui-Gon sneering. "Isn't that right barbarian?"

"I have nothing to hide." Jinn acknowledged calmly with a shrug. "I come from a proud people and because my people embrace a simple life without much technology doesn't make me a barbarian."

The bounty hunter chuckled as he tied Qui-Gon to the tree again, "That's a matter of opinion Jinn." He spoke. "And to answer your earlier question; his Highness has offered a reward of 20,000 Credits to each of us if we bring you and the woman back alive."

"You're not going to find her, especially in the dark. I hid her too well." Qui-Gon told him.

"The work of your Jedi witchcraft?" The other demanded.

"No." The Jedi Master replied calmly. "It's something we barbarians like to call hunting skills."

"You are in no position to be mocking me Jinn!" The man yelled before backhanding the man, causing his head to slam into the tree. "I don't want to hear any more talking over here." With that the bounty hunter stormed off to help build a fire for the night, ignoring the shocked looks on the faces of the other two prisoners.

Are you all right Da? Obi-Wan asked through the Force once they were left alone.

I'm fine Ben. The older man replied. But I'll probably have a decent headache later.

How did he know who you are? Anakin asked knowing full well they had never run into that bounty hunter before.

Ah, his name is Rickon. Qui-Gon said with a small smile. He had a run-in with my father a few years ago and I guess that he didn't quite like the result.

What was he doing on Nir'duin? Kenobi asked.

From what your Uncle Micheál told me, Rickon was in hiding from Republic authorities and was doing a fine job of it until he tried to steal from one of the farmers in our village. Jinn told them as the three bounty hunters that went looking for Padme came trudging back into the camp just as it started to rain.

"Well?" Rickon asked his second in command. "Did you find anything?"

"No." A short dark-skinned human said as he sat down on a fallen log. "That Jedi knows how to hide what he doesn't want found too well." He sneered while pointing at Qui-Gon. "At this rate, I don't think we'll ever find her."

"Enough of this!" The Clawdite yelled as he started walking over to the prisoners while drawing his knife. "I say we ask him."

Rickon stepped in front of the other bounty hunter before he could even take two steps toward the Jedi, "If you lay one hand on those three the emperor will have your head." He said before taking a good look at the three in question. "Besides they look like they're half dead already. I want you and Oren to take first watch while the rest of us try and get some sleep, is that clear?"

"Yes sir." The two replied before Rickon walked back to the fire to bed down for the night.

(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)

By the next morning, the Jedi were soaking wet, freezing from the rainstorm that had passed over during the night and Obi-Wan's breathing had slowly become more labored. All three of them were susceptible to the cold more than they would have been if they were at their full strength and Qui-Gon was the most at risk even though he had yet to tell the two next to him and both he and Anakin were trying to control their terror for their son and brother.

Keep breathing Obi-Wan. Jinn encouraged in his native Nir'duinain through the bond they still had as father and son.

Kenobi tried to give his father and little brother a reassuring smile before shaking his head to try and clear it. My back and chest are killing me. He admitted before managing a deep breath and swallowing hard a few times. Oh, Lady, I'm going to be sick.

"Hey!" Skywalker shouted in the Galactic Basic Standard language at the three bounty hunters who were left guarding them as the others went looking for Padme again. He too had been using the bonds through the Force he had with Kenobi to urge him to keep going. "Untie us! My Master is sick. You said yourself that Palpatine is paying you to keep us alive!"

Two of the bounty hunters looked toward Rickon, wondering what the human wanted them to do, "Do it." He commanded as he added another log to the fire before following his men. "But you three better not try anything."

The Clawdite guard pulled out his knife and severed the rope, which unfortunately was the only thing holding the injured man up, "Obi-Wan!" Qui-Gon and Anakin cried at once in Nir'duinain as the younger Jedi started to collapse. Jinn was barely able to grab Kenobi before he hit the forest floor.

"I've got you Obi-Wan." He said as the young man started retching. "It's all right my little firedragon."

Obi-Wan groaned and looked up into his father's eyes, "I'm so sorry." He said before looking at his brother for a moment.

"Shhh, don't worry," Anakin said as he gently rubbed the young knight's back as Kenobi threw up again. "Try taking slow deep breaths if you can."

We need to get him warmed up. Qui-Gon told the young Padawan as Obi-Wan started shivering hard, "Come here Obi-Wan." The Jedi Master said softly as he gently pulled his eldest son into his arms and held him close to transfer some of his decreasing body heat. What did they do to him?

They beat him to try and get information out of him. Skywalker informed him. He didn't say a word.

Oh, Ben. Jinn said sadly as he held his son just a little tighter. I'm so sorry they did this to you little one.

I'm all right Da. Obi-Wan replied casting a contented look towards Qui-Gon and Anakin. I was thinking of more important things and at least I get a hug out of it.

That you do Ben, you too Ani. Qui-Gon said while smiling at Skywalker before carefully watching the bounty hunters as they surrounded him and his children.

"Leave us alone." Anakin hissed as one of the bounty hunters tried to make them stand so they could be returned to the tree. "We're not going anywhere. My master is sick, and Jinn and I are too tired to do anything against you." With that, Skywalker sat down and moved closer to his father and older brother to try and stay warm.

"Peace little one," Jinn said to Anakin in Nir'duinain as the young man sat down and moved closer to him and Kenobi. He then moved to hold both his boys before pressing kisses to both their heads when the bounty hunters weren't looking.

The two bounty hunters looked at their leader, waiting for instruction, "Ah, let them be but you two keep a closer eye on them." Rickon said before walking back to the fire.

"Anakin," Obi-Wan whispered weakly, still in their father's native language after the younger man settled in Qui-Gon's arms. "Let me rest a bit then you do what you do best."

"All right." The Padawan replied with a slight bow of his head and a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "Just let me know when you and Da are ready."

(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)

A little after two hours Kenobi gently woke his sleeping younger brother, Anakin. He said through the Master/Padawan bond while gently nudging him on the shoulder. We're ready when you are.

Skywalker smiled and nodded before assuming a meditative position and focusing on the deepest parts of his mind. Making sure to shield both his father, brother, and unborn twins as much as possible, Anakin gathered as much of the living Force as he could focus on the bounty hunters' minds and pushed. All six bounty hunters watched as their youngest prisoner's ice-blue eyes became locked on theirs and before they could think of reacting the young man had rendered them all unconscious with a slight movement of his hand.

Obi-Wan caught Anakin as he fell back when came out of his trance exhausted, "Well done Ani." Kenobi said as Qui-Gon moved quickly to retrieve Anakin and Obi-Wan's cloaks, all three lightsabers, and his tunic. "Can you walk little one? We have to move fast to retrieve Padme and get out of here."

The Padawan nodded and moved to get to his feet but found that it made him sick just lifting his head, "That took more than I thought it would Obi-Wan, I can barely move." He admitted while trying again to get up.

"Just rest then Ani," Qui-Gon said as he came over with their belongings. "I'll go retrieve Padme and if you still feel too weak to stand when we return, I'll carry you."

"Yes, Da," Anakin said as Jinn covered him with his cloak and Kenobi used his own to support his head.

"I'll be back," Jinn said before moving into the vegetation opposite where the bounty hunters had been searching.

While their father was gone Skywalker closed his eyes to rest as his brother watched the unmoving bounty hunters for any signs that they were waking. About five minutes later Anakin opened his eyes and looked up at Obi-Wan with a tired but genuine smile, "I think I can get up now."

"Thank the Lady Ani, but Obi-Wan can't be lifting you," Jinn said as he came into the clearing with Padme behind him. The Padawan tried to reassure his wife with a warm smile when he saw the frightened look on her face as Qui-Gon came over to help him stand. "We need to get to the city as fast as possible and get off the planet."

Skywalker nodded and bit his lower lip as Jinn pulled him to his feet, "I'm fine." He said after a few moments before he and Qui-Gon gently and carefully lifted Obi-Wan to his feet.

"Gods what happened to him?" Padme asked when Kenobi bit back a scream and she saw her husband brace his brother against him.

"Just a little disagreement between me and our friends over there darling," Obi-Wan said as he tried to reassure his sister-in-law. "We best get on the move before they come to."

(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)

Padme silently walked beside her husband as she and the Jedi started the three-hour walk to the nearest city after they quickly retrieved their sparse belongings from their former home. When they had been walking nonstop for nearly an hour, one of her twins told her that she needed to sit down, "Ani." She said, bringing the Padawan out of his thoughts. "I need to sit down for a few minutes."

Anakin shook his head as they all stopped for a moment, "We need to keep moving baby." He said looking over his shoulder. "I think those bounty hunters are starting to wake up." The young man handed over helping Obi-Wan to their father before picking her up into his arms. "But I can carry you." At first, Padme was going to protest but when she saw the look in her husband's eyes, she just laid her head against his shoulder and held on for the ride. "Padme," Anakin said after a few minutes. "If something ever happens to me, promise me that you'll tell the twins about me. Don't tell them what happened before we left Coruscant until they're older but tell them about the good things I've done and how much you, my father, Obi-Wan, and our brother mean to me. Tell them how much I love you all."

"Anakin, you're not going anywhere," Padme said, holding his face in her hands and not liking the turn of conversation. "You can tell them yourself."

Skywalker smiled sadly, "I hope so baby."

(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)

Padme fell asleep sometime after her husband started carrying her and when she awoke the young woman shifted in Skywalker's arms causing the Padawan to look down, "Hey sleepyhead." He said smiling at her as he and the others stopped just outside of a city's walls. "Feeling better?"

"Much better, thank you." She said returning the smile and looking around in the growing darkness. "Where are we, my love?"

"We were just about to enter the main city," Obi-Wan told her as Anakin put her down and he drew strength from the Force to be able to stand and walk on his own. "We'll hopefully be able to get a transport off of here and hopefully find somewhere safe enough for all of us to finally be able to rest."

"That and Ben is in no condition to be helping us defend ourselves," Skywalker said before he and Jinn had to grab Kenobi when the injured man's knees buckled.

"I'm fine." Obi-Wan tried to insist as his father and brother eased him into a sitting position on the rim of a large planter. "I'm just exhausted, like you, Da, and Padme are."

"That's a load of Bantha shit and you know it," Anakin said before finally letting Qui-Gon and Padme in on how badly Kenobi had been tortured. "You have bruised and or broken ribs and they hit you where you broke your back repeatedly." He then looked at their father a bit sheepishly after he swore.

That was the least of Jinn's worries at the moment and he simply gave his youngest son a look of forgiveness, "The question is where would be the safest place for us to go?" He asked his sons and daughter-in-law. "Since it sadly doesn't take much for us to be identified."

"Naboo?" Padme suggested. "There are places there that very few know about."

"Is the Lake Country that secure?" Anakin asked as he discreetly felt around his brother's ribs to make sure the bandages hadn't moved.

"There's an old, abandoned cabin about two hours from my parents' house, sometimes my family and I would have picnics there." The former queen and senator explained. "It was the best place to go if you didn't want to be found. Only my family and I know how to get there."

"Naboo it is then," Jinn said before looking at Obi-Wan and Anakin for any indication of disagreement. "Agreed?" His sons nodded in agreement. "Then I suggest we find transport."

(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)

Not long after dark but long enough to give the three Jedi a bit of a rest Padme waited in the dark alleyway between two large buildings while Anakin, Qui-Gon, and Obi-Wan went looking for a transport to get them off the planet, "Hello my dear." A ruthless human male voice said from behind her as whoever it was spun her around and pinned her against the wall. It was Rickon. "I have one hell of a headache thanks to that Jedi slime you call a husband. He said before noticing her distended belly. "Well, isn't his highness going to be pleased? You're carrying that Jedi's spawn."

The young woman bit her lip hard to keep from screaming as she hit the bounty hunter in the groin and tried to get away. "ANAKIN!" She yelled as she got to the end of the alley and saw the three Jedi heading towards her. "ANAKIN!"

"PADME!" Skywalker yelled back when he saw someone grab his wife from behind and drag her back into the alley.

The three Jedi immediately went into combat readiness as they rushed to the young woman's aid, weakened ability to use the Force or not the Jedi were skilled warriors, "RICKON!" Qui-Gon yelled as he and the others rounded the corner. "Let her go."

"Not a chance Jinn." The bounty hunter yelled as he pressed Padme close to his body, put a dagger to her throat, and started to back down the alley using her as a human shield. "She's coming with me; the emperor will be extremely pleased that the young brat there has sired a child."

"No," Obi-Wan said calmly while slowly taking a step toward the two. "You will drop all your weapons, let her go, and back away slowly facing us the entire time." He said with a wave of his hand.

The bounty hunter laughed as Kenobi tried to use the Force to persuade him to let Padme go, "Nice try Jedi but I don't think that will work, you're not strong enough." Obi-Wan frowned and sent Padme an apologetic look, who gave him a sad smile, "Now, are you going to come along or is this little lady going to be the only one to keep me company?" Rickon asked as he planted a rough kiss on Padme's cheek. "You'd better hurry or we're going to miss our flight."

There was no way in any hell the men were going to abandon Padme or put any innocent bystander in danger, so all three Jedi held up their hands and started to walk forward. Obediently following Rickon through the alleyway, while trying to think of a way to get away from the bounty hunter and off the planet. Anakin was the strongest one of the three at the moment so whatever plan they came up with he would have to be the main executor. Rickon let go of Padme as they entered the busy streets of the city but kept his dagger close to her back to keep any of the others from trying to get away.

(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)

Rickon led his prisoners onto a landing platform where the other bounty hunters were waiting patiently for their leader. Every one of them cast a lusting look at Padme and a murdering look at the others as the prisoners were lined up in front of the starship to be disarmed and placed in restraints. Anakin was the first one to be readied for transport and as the bounty hunters were busying themselves with his wife, father, and brother the Padawan went to work.

Escaping had always been one of Skywalker's specialties, getting him in trouble many times with the Jedi Council but often saving his, his masters, and many other lives while on dangerous missions and during the war. So, while keeping a straight face and being very subtle about it he used the Force to pick the lock of the restraints, knowing he like his masters had only a limited amount of strength and had to plan this just right.

Anakin waited before two of the bounty hunters were leading him on board the starship and they were out of sight before slipping his hands out of the restraints and knocking both of his captors off him with well-placed back-handed punches. After making sure both bounty hunters weren't going anywhere, Skywalker carefully moved back to the main entrance of the ship, pulled out his dagger from his boot, and positioned himself for the attack.

The Clawdite bounty hunter who had lost his brother gave Padme a nasty look as he placed her in restraints; "I'm going to enjoy guarding you when we get into Hyperspace." He said, "The Emperor can have his fun with you when we get to Coruscant, but I want to play first."

"That is not going to happen," Padme said coolly as she looked him in the eye.

The Clawdite growled and slapped the young woman across the face, "I don't think you have a choice, Milady."

"Oh, yes I do!" She boldly shot back, finally unable to hold back her anger. "You will never lay one slimy hand on me. And his Highness will never get his hands on my husband, his masters, or my children; this I promise you!"

The bounty hunter drew back his hand preparing to slap his prisoner again but instead let out a shocked cry as he felt something hit the back of his hand. His dark eyes went wide when he lowered his arm and found an elegantly crafted dagger through his hand, blade on one side hilt on the other, and both parts covered in blood. Rickon turned just in time to see a Lightsaber go flying, ignite in midair, and land in the outstretched hand of Anakin Skywalker.

"One's loose!" Screamed Rickon's second-in-command as the young Padawan ran down the landing platform and quickly cut his brother, father, and wife out of their restraints before using the Force to retrieve his dagger from the Clawdite's hand.

"Well don't just stand there idiot!" Rickon shouted as the other Jedi armed themselves. "Shoot them!"

The other nodded franticly as the Jedi took out their captors one by one. One of his wild shots hit home and Anakin screamed in pain as a blaster bolt hit him squarely in the stomach, "ANAKIN!" Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, and Padme screamed. They all saw Skywalker go down from three different angles but only one of them could get to him.

Padme ran over to the fallen Padawan and pulled him into her arms, "Ani?" She whispered fearing her husband was already dead.

Skywalker cried out in pain as he opened his eyes, "Ami?" She nodded. "Ami, get out...of here." He said using her to pull himself up into a sitting position. "We need...to get you out...of here."

His wife nodded and dragged him to his feet, "Come on Ani." She encouraged as the two started for the safety of the starship.

"Hold it right there!" Someone ordered from behind them when they got to the other side of the ship. The young couple turned to face a battered Rickon, who had his blaster aimed right at Padme's chest. "I'm sorry it had to be this way."

Already knowing what the bounty hunter was going to do, Anakin took a deep breath and knocked Padme out of the way just as Rickon fired, taking the shot in the chest himself, "NO!" Padme screamed as she watched her husband fall to his knees, his face showing shock and pain before falling backward and coughing as the air was knocked out of his lungs.

"NO!" She cried before rushing to his side as tears started running down her face. "Ani no, please don't leave me like this."

The Padawan looked up at her and smiled lovingly even though he could barely focus on her face, "It'll be okay Ami."

Rickon chuckled as he watched Padme pull her dying husband into her arms and start rocking him back and forth, "Now we end this." He said aiming his blaster at the base of the young woman's skull. But before he could pull the trigger, his breath was knocked out of him when he felt a sharp pain in his chest when something hit his upper back before he fell forward, dead.

Padme's eyes shot up and saw a gold-winged creature with emerald eyes sticking out of the bounty hunter's back, "Padme!" Two familiar voices cried bringing her out of her shock. "Padme are you all, right?"

She blinked and focused on the men in front of her, "Help Ani!" The young woman begged when she recognized them as her father and brother-in-law.

"We will Padme," Obi-Wan said and was already working on the wounded Padawan.

"Come with me," Qui-Gon said pulling her up. "Give Ben some room and you need to be looked at too."

Padme held on to Qui-Gon like a lifeline and sobbed into his chest for a few moments before it all became too much for her and she found herself passing out.

(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)

Sometime later Padme suddenly woke from a dreamless sleep when she heard someone cry out in pain. She looked around and found that she was lying on a foldout cot in the corner of a small room, "It's all right Padme." Qui-Gon said as he moved out of the shadows to sit at her side. "We're safe."

"Ani?" She asked trying to sit up.

"He's alive although very weak." The Jedi Master informed her, asking for her to stay still. "Obi-Wan is doing all he can. Just rest child."

"Where are we?"

"On a transport heading for Naboo."