"1,2,3,4,5,6. All present and accounted for." Chief Dorvan handed little Hayden to Chance.

"Careful, he's a runner." Chance took Hayden, trying to grasp him through the thick, insulated snowsuit. Why did Allana think they need the Chief's help? "Maybe this suit will slow him down."

"I wouldn't count on it." Allana checked the straps on Daisy and Adam's snow stroller. "Mark, Carrie, hold hands. Wynn, you've got Natalie. Chance has Hayden, and I have the babies."

Chance hoped he had Hayden, anyway. "So what's first on that 'agenda'?"

"Skiing on the Kiddie Slopes. Or at least, sliding down them. We'll see how it goes. " Allana led the way across the busy, snow-covered Winter Wonderland courtyard.

"Allow me." Chief Dorvan held the gate open while Allana slid the stroller over the smooth snow.

"Thanks." Allana grinned.

Chance tried not to scowl. So much for "playing house." Apparently, Allana was no longer worried about proving she was capable on her own.

"I want to go down the big hill!" Carrie pointed.

Mark tugged her hand. "Let's do the little one first."

"That sounds like a wise idea to me." Chief Dorvan shifted Natalie in his arms, tried to grab Carrie's free hand. "Maybe we can try the big hill later."

"No!" she squealed, letting go of Mark's hand and running behind Chance. "I want the big hill!"

Chance huffed. "I'll take you, Carrie. These are the Kiddie Slopes, after all. Dad makes sure they're all safe."

Chief Dorvan pursed his lips. "I wasn't doubting your father, Chance. I was only thinking they should start with the beginner slopes."

"She'll be fine. I can handle this." Chance held out his hand. "Come on, Carrie."

Allana watched her friend stalk towards the biggest hill in the Kiddie Slopes Park. Within moments, he was lost to view behind the nearest slope. She wouldn't have believed it if she hadn't seen it.

Chance was jealous.

As if she really meant to make good on her childhood boast that she would marry Wynn Dorvan one day. She would have laughed if she weren't so hurt. Chance really should have more trust in her.

"Wynn, will you watch the kids for a minute?"

"Of course, Princess."

Allana raced after Chance, the snow crunching under her boots. "Chance, wait!"

Calling on the Force, she boosted her speed. Where was he? Gently, she quested for his familiar presence in the Force.

"Allana!" Chance burst around a tall rack of skis just as she touched his presence. He gasped for breath. "It's Hayden! He's gone!"

Allana froze. "What happened?" she managed to ask.

"He squirmed out of my arms and ran. I couldn't hang on to him in that suit."

She groaned. "So much for the suits keeping them out of trouble. I'll try to find him with the Force."

She probed the Force for Hayden's bright Skywalker presence. Nothing. She tried again. Still nothing.

"We're going to need help." Her voice trembled. She hated to admit it, but it was true. They needed help. She and Chance had lost one of their charges. "Maybe the other Twins can feel him."

They hurried back to Wynn and the other children.

"Hay-Hay ran," Carrie reported. "He ran away from Chance."

"Which way did he go?" Wynn pulled out his comm.

"I don't know," Chance sniffled. "We were headed up the hill and he ran down. After that, I don't know."

"Mark and Carrie, I need your help to find him." Allana hoped she sounded braver than she felt. "Natalie has a Twin bond with him, but she'll need help telling us where he is."

Wynn's comm beeped in his hand. He frowned. "It's Admiral Bwua'tu. I need to take this."

Allana nodded. "Maybe he can help."

Stepping out of earshot, Wynn thumbed on his comm.

"Dorvan here."

"Chief, we've got trouble."

"Would it have anything to do with a missing Skywalker?"

For a heartbeat, Nek didn't answer. "One of the Twins is missing?"

"Yes. Hayden ran away on the Kiddie Slopes just now. They're using the Force to find him."

"Tell them to stop. It's too dangerous!"

Wynn spun on his heel, running at full tilt back to the little circle of young Jedi. "Allana! Don't use the Force right now!"

Nek's voice came over the comm. "We have strong indications that they're moving in."

"Let go, kids!" Allana jumped up as the Twins opened blinking eyes. "What is it, Wynn? We have to find Hayden!"

"I need you to trust me on this. We'll look for him. He can't be far."

"I just called Dad," Chance said, "He's got people looking for him."

Allana's head drooped. Chance put his arm around her. "It's not your fault. It's mine. And it's going to be okay. He's got to be somewhere in the park."

"Wynn Dorvan might not like being Chief, but he sure gets a top of the line ride." Ben gently tugged on the yoke and the shuttle responded instantly.

He guided it down to the landing area. It touched down without a bump.

Vestara pushed herself out of her seat. "Come on, Ben. Something's wrong. I can feel it."

HON-3 was waiting at the foot of the ramp. "Mr. and Mrs. Skywalker, this shuttle is unauthorized. You can't park it here."

"Oh, it's not ours," Ben explained.

"Not yours?" The droid's response was cut off by a ding from his comm.

"HON-3, I need you to get back here with a shuttle right away," Lando said. "And tell all the other droids to get to the Kiddie Slopes. We've lost little Hayden."

"What?" Ben and Vestara gasped at the same time.

Before Lando could respond, Ben scooped Vestara up in his arms and raced for the park. They found the Twins on a bench, surrounded by Chance, Allana, Wynn Dorvan and Admiral Bwua'tu.

Five Twins. Vestara's heart constricted. "Where is Hayden?"

"Vestara, Ben, I'm so sorry," Allana sobbed. "We'll find him, I promise."

"It was my fault," Chance interrupted.

Instinctively, Vestara reached out with the Force, searching for her son's presence.

"If you're using the Force, please stop," Admiral Bwua'tu stepped forward. "There are more dangers here than you know."

There. A bright, Skywalker flare. "Ben, I've got him."

Ben wrapped his arm around her. "I've got him, too. Up at the old Rebel Base."

Wynn frowned. "How did they get in the old Base?."

"With help," Nek said grimly.

"It doesn't matter," Vestara almost screamed. "My baby is-" She broke off. "They?"

"Who?" Ben demanded. "Never mind. We'll take them, whoever they are. Allana, Chance, will you take the other Twins to the Lodge? Don't let them out of your sight."

Allana nodded. "You'd better take Nek with you. He's got reinforcements headed down."

"Sure." Ben motioned to a nearby snow speeder. "Chance, does that thing work?"

"I think so." Chance grabbed the stroller as Allana clutched Natalie. "Please find him."

Ben helped Vestara into the speeder. "We will."

"You two get in the back." Nek slid into the driver's seat. "Wynn, I think you should stay with the children."

"We don't need help," Chance insisted.

"It would be good to have an extra pair of hands, just in case," Allana countered.

Chance exhaled in a huff. "You mean just in case another one gets away from me? I guess you're right."

"Just in case they start acting like crazy Skywalkers. Everybody needs help with crazy Skywalkers." Ben climbed into the speeder beside Vestara. "Let's go, Admiral."

"Hold on tight." Under Nek's guidance, the speeder whizzed over the snow, headed towards the old Rebel Alliance Base.

Originally, Lando had planned to turn the base into the resort's central lodge, but a combination of feasibility and Leia's disapproval had led him to preserve it as a historical site instead. They passed the boundary of the resort proper and approached the snow topped wall surrounding the base. Vestara barely caught sight of the sign in front of the elegant memorial Lando had erected in honor of the fallen rebel heroes.

"He's in the command center," Ben said.

Nek swung around a corner and slammed to a halt. Ben unfastened his harness and helped Vestara climb out. She squeezed his hand. Their baby was inside, surrounded by Sith. The Admiral thumbed on his comm.

"Squadrons, check in."

"We don't have time to wait." Ben picked up Vestara, dashing through the nearest door.

She felt her son's presence growing stronger as Ben sprinted through the twisting hallways. Finally, they approached a large door. Ben slowed and placed her on her feet. Without speaking, they pulled out their lightsabers and ignited them. Lifting his hand, Ben gave a silent countdown. Vestara called on the Force, jumping into the room after Ben.

"Mama! Daddy! I hab ice keam!" Hayden squealed. He sat in the middle of the big, crowded room, happily licking an ice cream cone.

Vestara lifted him into her arms. A sudden chill washed over her and she froze. Slowly, she scanned the room. Where were the Sith she had felt? Her heart nearly stopped.

"Ben, look!"

He followed her pointing finger to the closed closet door and the black robe caught in the latch. He paused. "Maybe Hayden shouldn't see… whatever's in here."

She nodded and turned him away from the door as Ben slowly opened it. Five Sith bodies lay inside in a neat stack, with no sign of a violent struggle.

"Three sabers and two lords," Vestara murmured. "And someone or something killed them without a fight?"

"I don't like this. You don't suppose Abeloth is back, do you?" Ben knelt for a closer inspection, lightsaber held at the ready.

"I hope not." Vestara held Hayden tighter.

A door on the other side of the room opened and a boxy-looking droid rolled in.

"Welcome, Jedi," said a voice, "we've been expecting you."

Author's Note: Yes, little Hayden is eating ice cream in the middle of all this tension. Of course, as Ben said, there wasn't an actual struggle. Hayden probably didn't even notice what happened. Any ideas who the Sith got mixed up with? I would love to read your guesses or see your thoughts on the story so far! Also, counting heads is very important when you are keeping track of a lot of kids. You have to make sure they are all there!

Thanks for reading and God bless you!