Genre: angst/romance rated: PG (for now)
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, they belong to Lucas Title: dont have one yet

plot summary: Padme is dying and she turns to Obi-Wan for help

At a time when parents should be ecstatic about the birth of a child, for Padme Amidala it was a very stressful situation, more streesful than for most mothers-to-be. For one thing, her marriage to Anakin Skywalker was a secret, since Anakin was breaking the Jedi Code, second, Padme's health has not been good. Of course morning sickness and all that stuff happens, but this was different, Padme didnt want to tell Anakin because he was worried about her and the baby enough, she didnt want him to worry anymore than he had been. So she went to the very best medical facility on Coresant, and was beyond shock at the news they gave her.

Padme Amidala was dying.

It was unlike anything the doctors had ever seen. Physically her body was fine, the tests showed nothing abnormal, and the babies were fine as well, it was how she came to find out she was going to have twins. But for some unknown reason, Padme's body was slowly deteriorating, her organs were slowly shutting down, but yet, the babies in the womb were still striving and healthy. The doctors didnt know how to explain it.

But deep down Padme knew, it was the force doing it.

She didnt know much about the force, but in her heart she felt that the force was keeping her babies alive. Why she was dying, she had no idea, and neither did the medical experts. 'Maybe this was my fate, my destiny' she said to herself.

She took the news surprisingly well, she didn't cry, she was void of emotion when she walked out of the office building and went back to her apartment. She immediately sat down and wrote down in a book all the things she needed to do before she died. She knew that her children would be alright, but she needed to prepare for them to have a life without her. And most importantly, she knew she couldn't tell Anakin about what she had found out today.

She couldn't bring herself to tell him that there was nothing the doctors could do, she knew he could never accept it, and she knew he would go down a destructive path trying to find a way to save her, it seemed like already that's what he was trying to do. Most importantly, he was having nightmares about her dying in childbirth.

'How can I tell him that his dreams will come true?'

Anakin needs to be a father to the twins, the twins NEED a father. Padme only wish was that Anakin would be allowed to stay in the Jedi Order, the twins could be protected with the Jedi, and they could learn the ways of the force, with thier father. And with her being gone, the order wouldn't have to worry about her being in the way, Anakin was the chosen one, the chosen one having offspring would most surely be something the order would want.

But she wasn't sure, she wasn't sure about anything anymore, only that she knew her husband had to be a father to her children, even if it meant leaving the Jedi Order.

One of the things on the list of things to do Padme had written, was to not dwell on her illness and to try to live in the moment. Do things she always wanted to do, buy things she wanted, just try to live out the best life that she could.

One thing she wanted to do was get to know Obi-Wan better, he was such a great friend to Anakin, but Padme always regretted not seeing him as much as she'd like to. After all, she was afraid to spend too much time with him in the fear that he would figure out about Anakin and herself. But now things were different, right now she needed a friend more than anyone, and she knew that Obi-Wan was someone she could count on.

Of course he was surprised when she had asked him over for lunch the next day. But he happily accepted the invitation, he wanted to talk to her about his concern with Anakin. The council was concerned about him, and he wanted to know if Padme knew anything that was troubling Anakin. Obi-Wan sensed immediately something was different about Padme, her behavior most of all, she was a lot more laid back and less reserved. She laughed, she made jokes, behavior he rarely saw in her.

For Padme, she was just acting the way she always did around people she was close to, she was this way with Anakin and her family, and with some of her former handmaidens, but very few saw this side of Padme.
And lately with all the chaos going on with the Senate and with Anakin gone fighting the Clone Wars, Padme didn't get the opportunity to show this side of herself much these days.

Over the weeks, Padme saw Obi-Wan almost daily when he wasnt fighting in a battle or busy with the Jedi Council. She enjoyed his company, they often went for walks, usually in remote places, Padme didn't want Anakin to find out, the day she invited Obi-Wan over for lunch, Anakin figured out he was there and started asking a lot of questions. She always knew Anakin could be a little possessive, but she'd never seen him like that. Had she not known she was gonna die once her children were born she probably would have obliged Anakin and stop her friendship with Obi-Wan, but she knew she had little time left, and she was going to use that time on herself. Even though it was selfish, she had made a committment to Anakin as his wife, deep down she knew she had to continue seeing Obi-Wan, her heart told her it was the right thing to do. And, she was going to live her life the way she wanted to, even if it meant doing something her husband didn't approve of.

For Obi-Wan, his emotions were very conflicted. He knew it was against the Jedi Order to become attached to someone, but they didn't disapprove of a Jedi having friends, but Padme was becoming more than just a friend, his lifetime of training told him he should detach himself, but the force was telling him she needed him. But he had no idea why, the only emotion he could sense from her was sadness, especially when they went on thier walks in an enclosed garden.

"It is so beautiful, too bad all of Coresant is one big city" she said with so much sadness in her voice. "Nature doesnt get much say here."

Obi-Wan agreed, he didn't like Coresant much, if the Jedi Temple wasn't here he would hardly want to spend anytime on Coresant. He wanted to ask Padme what has been bothering her, but he knew he couldn't. She was defintely sending off the vibe, 'don't ask a lot of questions,' he knew something was really troubling her.

So instead he would just pretend like nothing was wrong, he gave in to whatever she asked, a lot of times while they walked she would often take his hand and hold it. He had no idea why she was doing this, but the grip she would have on his hand was strong and signaling 'please don't let go.' And to be truthful, he didn't mind holding her hand at all, it was almost like she was just his.

Padme was falling in love with Obi-Wan, and she didn't even feel guilty about it. She still loved Anakin with all her heart, she would tell him that everynight when he would come over to her apartment. And when he would sneek out in the early morning she always made sure to give him one last hug for the day. They often talked about names for the baby. They were still very close even though she felt Anakin was keeping something from her, and she noticed his resentment towards the Jedi Order.

But her feelings for Obi-Wan were different, when she was with him, she didn't have to worry about the future she wouldn't have, she didn't have to worry what was going to happen to Anakin after she was gone, she had a few hours to herself, and not have to worry about anything. Being with him took her mind off all her troubles. And he was a Jedi too, she knew she would always be safe with him. She was basically living two different lives.

But as the weeks progressed, so did her pregnancy and her illness started to get worse, she would often have to excuse herself in Obi-Wan's presense to run to the bathroom because of vomitting. When she did it in front of Anakin he just assumed it was because of the twins, he didn't know the reason she was vomitting so much was because Padme was terminally ill. It was becoming harder to hide her pregnancy as well, she often wore outfits she wasn't found of, but they concealed her changing form quite well.

One day, while Padme and Obi-Wan were eating at Dex's diner, he finally confronted Padme. He couldn't stand the silence and the unsaid things that were going on between them.

"Padme, what's wrong with you" Obi-Wan said with the gentlest voice Padme ever heard him say.

"Nothing" she responded harshly and quickly, "I just haven't been feeling well lately, I think have the flu or something."

"That's a lie, I know it!" Obi-Wan raised his voice for the first time since they had been meeting secretly.

"How dare you" she started to reply but was soon interrupted by Obi-Wan saying, "You're pregnant aren't you?"

Padme stared at him in shock, "How do you know that?" she didn't understand how he could possibly know, no one knew.

"Because, I've been seeing you just about everyday for the past 2 months and you are starting to look different, despite the good concealment with the clothes, plus with all the vomitting I put two and two together quite easily". "And it also explains why you've been coming to see me everyday except for when I'm not on Corescant, I sensed you were hiding something to begin with, but I knew you needed a friend, and I just wanted to be there for you. But now I am worried, what are you hiding from?" He said it with such urgency and concern Padme couldn't bear to be angry with him any longer.

"Obi-Wan, no one can know about this, NOT ANYBODY! Promise me, please." she was almost about to cry, and Obi-Wan then took her in his arms.

"Don't worry Padme, no one will know, I'll protect you, but Padme, what about the father?"

She looked deeply into his eyes then said, "I care for you Obi-Wan, more than you know."

"I care for you too, I go crazy when I'm not around you, but please, tell me, who is the father?"

"I can't tell you that Obi-Wan, I'm sorry, don't worry, I've got everything under control, please just kiss me now." Tears were streaming down her face at this point.

And he did, Obi-Wan had finally given into his desire and kissed Padme with a deep passion he did not know existed within himself.

TBC...