Our Secret {Anakin/Padme}

[JediLeia]

The quotes around soon scare me.

[Courtney Solo]

The next week went as usual. Anakin was given lessons by Obi-Wan and was briefed by the Jedi Council. He mustnow go to Yavin IV and confront nother one of Dooku's pawns, Asajj Ventress. He decided not to worry Padm`e with the news. That day she'd had the day off, and spent it at home, tidying up, organizing. At one point, she was so bored, that she color coded Anakin's clothes, all the way down to his undergarments.

"This is strange, even for me," she muttered before falling asleep on their couch. A couple hours later, Anakin arrived home. Upon seeing his beautiful, sleeping wife, he smiled and kissed her lips softly.

"I'm home, my love," he whispered gently. She opened her eyes begrudgingly, then her lips parted in a smile. He kissed her again before she spoke.

"How was work?"

"As normal as it gets. How was your day off?"

"I think I even organized the dust bunnies under our bed," she said sleepily. Her husband laughed. "I missed you."

"I missed you too, Padm`e," Anakin stroked her hair. He bit his lip. "I'm being sent away again."

"Where are you going this time?"

"Yavin Four,"

"Padm`e sighed. "Okay."

Anakin's features displayed his regret. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay, Ani. This is how we chose to live."

"Now that I'm with you, I can't live without you," Anakin whispered lovingly, then kissed her forehead. "Get some sleep, you deserve your rest." She nodded and curled up against the couch again. He smiled fondly at her and walked into their room. He spotted a very worn, tan book on the floor and picked it up. He knew it had to be Padm`e's diary, and he decided that she wouldn't want him to be reading her diary, so he wouldn't. But as he set the book down on her dresser, a couple of phrases caught his eye ... Anakin was only a padawan, Obi-Wan would come to see me and only me ... I thought I was in love.


"Oh Force, please let it all be a mistake. Please let her not be in love with my Master."

---

Anakin walked up to his Master, deciding to bring up the subject randomly, but carefully. Obi-Wan smiled when he sensed his paadwan's uneasiness. Accept now-a-days, it was natural for Anakin to be wary. "What's on your mind, Anakin?"

His apprentice bit his lip and sighed. "Did you visit Padm`e instead of sleeping on weekends when I was young?" Obi-Wan remained calm.

"Yes, Anakin, I did visit her when she was the Queen of Naboo," Kenobi turned to Anakin. "But that was a very long time ago, when I had less ... appreciation for the Jedi Code."

"And you do now?" Anakin asked dryly.

Obi-Wan lifted a corner of his mouth into a small, mocking smile. "Possibly. Really, Anakin, I thought you would come to me with something that matters, like your Knighting ceremony next week." His apprentice's mouth dropped open.

"I'm being knighted!?"

"Yes, you are. I believe you are ready. You still need to learn self-control in many areas, but I can hardly teach you anything of that. Only the Force and experience can assist you in those matters."

"Th-thank you, master," Skywalker finally sputtered. Obi-Wan patted his back.

"Don't disappoint me," he teased. Anakin's spirits fell slightly, and Obi-Wan sensed it. "I'm sure you won't."

---

"Senator Amidala, please open the door!" A young voice insisted from the other side of her door. Padm`e answered it, only to be met with a boy only about 5 years of age.

"Can I help you?"

The boy grinned. "My name's Kent Darkfire. I was sent here to deliver these capsules to you," Kent handed her two small vials. "They're an antidote to leukemia! The Queen of Lianna wanted to give you soemthing of value, but this was all she had. They have a lot of value, and you can either keep 'em or sell 'em," Padm`e smiled and thanked the boy. "Can I tell you a secret?" Kent asked, his lips parting in a cute smile revealing a very loose tooth.

"Of course you can, sweetie," she smiled at him. He leaned forward.

"I'm not goin' back with the shipmen' to Lianna. I'm gonna stay here and b'come a pow'rful Jedi, like Anakin Skywalker," Kent whispered. "Anyways, hope ya put the cure to good use."

Padm`e didn't quite know what to say, so she kept smiling. "I'll put them in a safe place." She assured him. He saluted to her in a clumsy, 5 yr. old fashion and exited her apartment.

Padm`e furrowed her brow and placed the vials in the only safe place she could think of; the secret compartment underneath the bed, which only contained her and Anakin's wedding certificate.

[JediLeia]

Hmm...interesting.

[Courtney Solo]

The cure for leukemia will appear in upcoming posts in my BytS fic called "Over the Course of Time"

[Courtney Solo]

I really need to post the updates.

[DV's Daughter_♥]

yea u do

[Courtney Solo]

Padm'e thought about the vials all the next day. Anakin had left for Yavin 4, and no one knew when he was going to be back, or if he would get back for that matter. The vials containing the cure for leukemia felt important to her. Padm'e felt that someone in the future would need the cure desperately. It was only a gut instinct, but deep down Padm'e knew she must keep the vials safe. She deciphered a map that, if discovered, led its follower everywhere around Coruscant until finally pin-pointing the vial's location. Once the safe under the bed was found, a riddle was given to help the reader determine the code.

After putting her map skills to work, Padm'e was exhausted. Unfortunately, another duty of life called; Politics. "Ugh."


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Anakin navigated his space craft and air crew with excellency. He calculated that once the last bend was made, his battalion could give him enough cover fire to enter the Yavin system unseen. "Alright, boys, the fun begins in three, two, one..."

[missile fire sounds]
The Separatists came into view.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Padm'e called Obi-Wan. He answered almost immediately. "What is it, my lady?"

"I must speak with you privately, Obi-Wan. We must discuss a matter of great importance," she said directly.

"As you wish, my lady."

*~*~*~*~*

Obi-Wan entered his old friend's apartment with a wide smile on his face. Padm'e returned the smile and hugged the older Jedi. "What's this about?" He asked, somewhat concerned.

"Two vials of high value have come into my grasp, Master Kenobi. I am to take great measures to make sure they are kept safe. The safest place I can think of for the map to be hidden is with you at the Jedi Temple. Will you do me this tremendous favor and take this with you to the Temple to keep it safe?"

Obi-Wan nodded and took the map from her. "I'm sure it will be alright with the Council if I hide it somewhere safe in the Temple. I'd be happy to help an old friend," He shook her hand, then kissed her cheek politely. "Take care of yourself, Padm'e. You're looking a little pale."

"The troubles of the galaxy, Obi-Wan," She replied softly. "The troubles of our demented galaxy."


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Anakin landed his craft with ease and leapt out of the cockpit, lightsaber at hand. He knew Asajj was nearby; he could feel her sheilding. All of a sudden, a red lightsaber ignited and the Dark Lady stroke at him from above, then dived into the brush. Anakin force-leapt onto a thick branch connected to a looming, ancient tree. The next thing he knew, it had snapped like a twig and he was sent spiraling towards the ground. But he did not become impatient. The last time he had become impatient, it had cost him his arm. This time it could cost him his life.

Asajj Ventress; however, did become imnpatient. She had hoped that Count Dooku's evaluation of the young Jedi had been correct. She found it much easier to kill impatient youth filled with vigor. But Skywalker, instead of being angry and frustrated, merely stood still, lightsaber at hand, atuning himself to the Force; ready. The next pass Asajj made cost her one end of her red, double-bladed lightsaber.

She decided to give up surprise combat, and eased herself into direct combat mode. It was much easier to kill when the target was at very close range. Asajj emerged from the bushes, lightsaber forward, ready to murder. Yet, Anakin was also ready, tuning himself to Ventress' every move. They parryed for a little while, testing eachother's strength, feeling eachother out. The first ground Asajj gained was when her lightsaber skimmed Anakin's right arm, causing hot blisters to pop up, which felt much worse than having one's arm cut off. Now that Skywalker was weakened, it would be easier to defeat him. However, she was wrong. Anakin's injury only allowed him to tighten his defense. He soon blistered her arm AND right leg as well. Her anger towards him momentarily gave her an advantage, and Anakin's backside soon roaed with pain from the light but painful wound. Asajj said something in a foreign tongue, and Anakin smirked.

"Aren't we a bit past insults, Ventress?"

"I said 'We cannot all pass through life with ease and charm' in my native tongue," she spat back. They had battled their way onto a hilltop, with a very steep, rocky descent down to the bottom. Asajj used the Force to increase the level of pain in Anakin's backside, then used the moment of paralysis to push him off the mountain. He grabbed hold of the edge, looking upwards with evident fear in his eyes. Either way, he would die. But Ventress did something unexpected. She raised her arms up to her hips and smiled sardonically, and that was her downfall.

Anakin quickly summoned his lightsaber to his free hand and thrust it into Asajj Ventress' chest. She stumbled backwards, a bit surprised. "You have beaten me, Anakin Skywalker," she said raspily, a smile on her face. "Well done." Then she sank onto the soft, earthen ground; dead.

"You died honorably," Anakin whispered, then hoisted himself onto the edge. He retrieved his lightsaber with distaste; he hated deaths. The thought of his mother once again pushed its way into his mind; he calmed his sudden surge of anger with thoughts of Padm'e. he pushed Asajj's body off the edge of the cliff, down inot the rushing waters below.

The battle was over. He could now return home to the Jedi, and his wife.

[Courtney Solo]

After the Knighting Ceremony, many of the Jedi congratulated Anakin with enthusiasm, thinking it was another step towards bringing balance to the Force. Yet, the older more wise Jedi feared that this was yet another step towards an unspeakable darkness.

---

Anakin felt as if his soul had been sucked out of his body where he stood He had been standing atop the mountain on which he had defeated Asajj Ventress, gazing out at the landscape. Anakin was now soaring at unnatural speed through the air, passing what seemed to be visions of his life.
The Past ...

Anakin saw his mother, hugging her arms to herself as she watched him go.
He saw her meet Cliegg Lars. Anakin then saw his mother being attacked by the Tusken Raiders.
Then he saw himself, slaying the Sand People. He winced, then relaxed as he saw Padm'e.
She was smiling, laughing, rolling on the grass with him...

He saw the present. Anakin saw himself lying on their bed, an arm around Padm'e.
She was curled up on his chest, her eyes closed; sleeping peacefully.

The Future...
Anakin felt as if he had gained speed. He saw himself in his future as a Knight.
More missions, more battles ... more time away from the one he loved.
He saw Padm'e, gazing out at the Jedi Temple, a solemn expression on her lovely face.
Her dark brown hair was fashioned in many rinklets, and ... she was pregnant?!
Oh, no! He thought.
He saw his wife weeping. He saw her running from the Cruiser to meet him on a volcanic planet.
"Anakin, you're breaking my heart!"
What?!

Anakin woke slowly and moved gently out of his wife's embrace. He substituted a pillow for his chest so it would seem he hadn't moved. He pulled on a cloak and walked out onto the veranda.
What had he done to break Padm`e's heart? He would never do anything to hurt her...

The lights turned on and Padm`e came out onto the balcony.
She came up behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Bad dream?"

"I didn't mean to wake you,"

"You didn't," Padm`e enveloped herself in her husband's arms. "The pillow did."

"Yeah, I guess I'm a bit harder than the pillow," he smiled.

"No," Padm`e smiled lovingly and shook her head. "Your embrace is softer than the finest pillow on the galaxy," she tucked a strand of hair behind his ear. He felt a surge of love for her flow through him and he pressed his lips to hers. They kissed passionately until Padm`e broke the kiss. "Come to bed, my love. Forget your dreams for a while," Anakin followed his wife willingly to their bed, a smile full of mischeif dimpling his cheek. They fell on the bed together and Padm`e kissed Anakin's jawline. "I love you."

---

"Anakin, this is Obi-Wan Kenobi, do you copy?"

Anakin woke slowly. Padm`e was already up and about. She handed him his comlink. "Yes, Master?"

"Are you still asleep at this hour?"

"Um, ... no."

"I've called you almost five times,"

"I was in the shower..."

"Anakin, in five minutes there is going to be a briefing on the Outer Rim Seiges. I have begun to suspect that they may send you and I, along with several others,"

"A while ago, when I was a little boy, I told Qui-Gon that I wanted to be the first person to see all the systems," Anakin glanced at his wife. "The way I'm being sent around, that might become true."

"You're the Chosen One, Anakin. The galaxy needs you," His mentor stated. "I'll see you in five."

"Right..." Ani closed his comlink. Padm`e tried to smile.

"Where to this time?"

Anakin shifted uncomfortably. "Outer Rim."

"How long?"

"Probably two to three months," He swallowed. Padm`e's face fell and she turned around to hide her tears. "C'mere," Anakin drew her up in his arms and kissed her quickly. "Once the war is over ... things will be different. We'll be able to feel free, travel where we want, and keep out secret even more safe than before. Maybe ... Maybe we'll even get to start a family," Padm`e looked into his eyes with surprised delight. "But right now, I must go assist the Republic in ending this war. I'm sorry, I wish things could be different for us ... better."

Padm`e smiled. "You make the best of the worst, Ani. Come back safe and in one piece, and I'll be satisfied. I love you."

Anakin grimaced. "I love you, too. But could you settle for two pieces?" He held up his almost robotic arm. Padm`e laughed and kissed his cheek.

"I suppose I can," she said. He turned to leave. "Be careful, Ani."

Anakin turned back to his wife. "You, too, angel."

---

"Anakin, come here, I have a question to ask you," Mace Windu told Anakin.

"Yes, Master Windu?" The young Knight asked.

"You are a close friend of Senator Amidala's, am I right?"

"Yes, master."

"Then do the Council a favor and watch over her while you're in Coruscant. Earlier today, I sensed two new Force-signatures coming from her aparment ... from inside her."

"Y-you mean she's..."

"Pregnant. I know this news is hard to accept, considering your ... attraction to her, but please. These new arrivals have made her more vulnerable. Watch over her, and make sure the father takes his part in her life. He has laid a heavy burden on her shoulders."

"Yes, Master Windu," Anakin walked away guiltily. "I will make sure."

[Courtney Solo]

It is strange … Master Windu sensed the twins.
He doesn’t know who the father is, which is good, I suppose.
I sensed them this morning before I left, but I didn’t have the heart to tell my wife.
Master Windu told me that the father had laid a heavy burden on Padm’e’s shoulders.
Now, I am second guessing myself.
I loved Padm’e, and I would never do anything to make life harder for her.
Should we have kept our distance, only to love from afar? Oh well, it doesn’t matter.
Master Windu knows, and so I have no doubt that soon Yoda, and Obi-Wan will know as well.

Will Obi-Wan figure it out? He saw the kiss that Padm’e and I shared, as did Yoda, at Geonosis.
Maybe he thought it to be a friendly kiss.
But even if he does, what about Yoda? No one can fool Yoda in the long run.
Being a Jedi is very important to me, but if I have to give that up for Padm’e, I will.

Anakin Skywalker

---

Obi-Wan Kenobi called today. He asked me how I was.
I answered that I was feeling fine, considering that I was caught up in a political mess.
He asked me how the babies were doing. I asked him what he was talking about.
He said that the Jedi has sensed me carrying twins.
Who do they think they are?
Do they search innocent women’s wombs every day for exercise, or something? Ugh. Why didn’t you tell me, Anakin?
Obi-Wan asked if the father was who he thought the father was. Was it Anakin? Obi-Wan asked.
I didn’t panic; I only answered in a confused tone. I told Obi-Wan that if I was pregnant, there was no father.
Obi-Wan then thanked me, and ended the conversation.

I mean, really, doesn’t he have something better to do than freak out a secretly-married, pregnant senator?
Can you believe it, though? I’m going to be a mother!
I’ve often dreamed of starting a family with Anakin.

We’d have a palace by the lakeside on Naboo, where I grew up.
Our children would play in the open fields beside the waterfall while Anakin and I watched them from the highest balcony in the highest tower, where we could see most of Theed.
In the winter season, our children would romp around inside, and Anakin and I would take pleasure in helping them wreck the whole house, and then make it a game to clean it up before someone found out.

Our twins. What should we name them?
I should name them after a beloved deceased someone from both sides of the family.
Well, mine was easy. I had an uncle named Luke. He was an awesome uncle.
He would give me and my sister piggy-back rides throughout the entire palace when my parents were nobles. Then he’d take the blame for the wrecked palace and shattered glass caused by our clumsiness. He was a loving figure in my life, until an assassination attempt on his life succeeded. I was only eight years old. That settled it; I’d name the boy ‘Luke’.

But what about the girl? I don’t know much about Anakin’s family, accept his mother’s name, Shmi. She was a kind woman, who cared for everyone, and rarely thought of her own needs. I personally thought Shmi was a beautiful name, but would naming our daughter that cause Anakin pain? Yes … I think it would. What had Anakin said his grandmother’s name was? Luna … no, … Lucy? No, no, no … Leia? Leia. That’s it, I’ll name our daughter ‘Leia’.

But what if we have two girls? Or two boys?
No, for some reason, I can just … sense our twins are going to be of opposite genders.
Luke and Leia.
Hear that, Anakin? You’re going to be a father!
Is there any possible way I could get any more excited? Or scared?
I need to go start planning right away…

Padm’e Naberrie Amidala SKYWALKER

---

“Anakin, I suppose you’ve heard the news,” Obi-Wan said to him. They were still traveling towards the Outer Rim. “About Padm’e.”

“Yes, Master Windu told me yesterday,” Anakin stated. “I’m happy for her.”

“He said you looked surprised.”

“I was,” Anakin raised an eyebrow. “You’re fishing.”

“For what?”

“Information,”

“I sense you know something,”

“I know nothing more than anyone else, Master,” Anakin leaned back in his seat.

Obi-Wan leaned forward. “I sense you know who the father is.”

Anakin played with the worn covering of his seat. “I have my suspicions.”

“Who?”

“Padm’e told me about someone when we were on Naboo. Paolo … or something,” Anakin flicked away dust. “She liked him.”

“So, you think they found each other?”

“He’s an artist. He probably came to Coruscant to sell and heard that Padm’e Amidala was in the vicinity.”

“Padm’e told me there was no father,” Obi-Wan said carefully.

Anakin shrugged. “That’s possible. It happened to my mom.”

“Yes, but, if you’re the Chosen One, what are Padm’e’s twins?”

“My faithful sidekicks,” Obi-Wan’s younger friend joked. Obi-Wan laughed.

“Coming up on Outer Rim. Please buckle up…” A mechanical voice stated over the intercom.

“Let’s make this quick and painless,” Anakin announced.

“What’s the rush?” Obi-Wan asked “innocently”.

“Questions un-answered,” Ani muttered.

I’m gonna have a lot of s’plainin’ to do one day…

[General Aleema]

This is great Court!!

[Courtney Solo]

Thanks, Cyra!

[DV's Daughter_♥]

the best very good

[Courtney Solo]

*blushes*

[DV's Daughter_♥]

*laughs*

[Courtney Solo]

I need to update.

[General Aleema]

Yes, you do need to update!

[Courtney Solo]

OK, OK, it's on it's way!
;D

[Courtney Solo]

I am to be a father.

I keep thinking that sentence; trying to get my stubborn brain to comprehend it. But all I keep getting back is negative. How can I be a father? I’m barely twenty years old! Padm`e … we were careful, weren’t we? Ugh. If I keep this up, my rear’ll get kicked by a droid controlled by artificial intelligence.

Oww! My weak, left arm us … eugh … the skin is so weak, my clothes are giving it a painful rash. M-my lightsaber! It’s flickering … must be another power wipe…

*~*~*

Anakin turned to Obi-Wan. “What now?”

“Well, we obviously can’t see anything in the dark,” Obi-Wan replied. “And that’s what they want.”

“Ah, but we’re not blinded, are we?” Anakin grinned.

“We most certainly are not,”

---

“I don’t want anyone to know, Sab`e,” Padm`e wrung her hands together. Her trusted handmaiden gave her a comforting smile.

“Wear big dresses to conceal your pregnancy. That’s what I’ll do once my womb grows considerably,” Sab`e winked.

Padm`e smiled broadly, then laughed. “You’re pregnant? Who’s the father?”

The younger woman looked to the ground. “I’m not at liberty to say,” Padm`e nodded. “It goes against our … superior’s plan. But we do love each other.”

“I’m glad for you,” The secret Mrs. Skywalker stated happily. She glanced at her chrono. “Ooh, I need to go. Thanks for the advice. Um … have you told him yet?” Sab`e shook her head. “I see.”

“Can I ask who your twin’s father is?”

Padm`e looked to the ground. “I’m not at liberty to reveal that information, either.”

“Ahhh…” Sab`e concealed a smile. “Good-bye.”

Her friend grinned. “Best of wishes for you and Obi-Wan.”

Sab`e gulped. “Don’t say anything to him or anyone else about it, please.”

“I won’t,” Padm`e promised.

“Tell Anakin that if his kids grow up to be like their parents, y’all will have to work extra time to keep them in sight,” Sab`e winked.

“I won’t tell if you won’t,” Padm`e sang out. Her friend nodded and waved.

Oh, Force, someone knows our secret!

---

“We’re alone in the dark with nothing to talk about, for three hours,” Anakin moaned to his former Master.

“No, you’re wrong about one thing, Anakin,” Obi-Wan stated. “We do have something to talk about.”

“Like what!? ‘Doesn’t the sewage smell delightful, today, Anakin?’ ‘Oh, yes, nothing like the smell of FODDER to clog up the senses, eh?’”

“Anakin, I haven’t been completely honest with you.”

“About what?” Betting 10 credits he knows.

“I … I’m in love with Sab`e,” Darn, I owe you 10 credits. Don’t lemme forget. Whew!

“And you’re telling me this because…?”

“I know your secret. I know you’re Padm`e’s twins’ father,” AUGH! Gimme back my money!

“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Usual first reaction to a lie turned back on you – WAIT A SECOND!!?? “Sab`e’s pregnant, isn’t she?”

“I sensed it.”

“Oh, great.”

“Anakin, we must not tell anyone,” Obi-Wan’s voice was grave.

“Oh, I didn’t know that, really?” Anakin rolled his eyes. “I know. Geez, what does Sab`e see in you?”

“I don’t know,” Obi-Wan spoke in a whisper, as if the very thought of her made him breathless.

“Do you love her very much?”

“I love her deeply,” Obi-Wan smiled to himself. “She is perfect.”

“I love Padm`e, Master,” Anakin stated. “And I want to stay with her always. To raise our children beside her, instead of watch on the sidelines. I’ll keep your secret safe.”

“And so shall I.”

My, my, Obi-Wan has the same secret.
This is getting complicated…

[DV's Daughter_♥]

ohh that was good court

[Courtney Solo]

Thank you very muchly! ;D

[DV's Daughter_♥]

your welcome

[Courtney Solo]

More comin' soon!

[DV's Daughter_♥]

great

[Courtney Solo]

*sighs* It's still comin. LOL.

[Jeditheskyisblue]

Thank you so much Courtney for giving me the link for your board. I missed this story. It's going great by the way.