Okay, here it is - the sequel, finally! I am SO sorry it has taken me SO long to start this! Many things have hit me all at once, which I was not anticipating. I wanted to have a couple of chapters, at least, under my belt before I posted. I am still quite busy and I don't want to keep you hanging too long in between chapters. This is a shorter chapter than my usual length, but I felt it was a good place to end it. Thank you all again, so much, for your interest in this story! I hope the sequel will not disappoint!

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Emperor Palpatine punched the button on his beeping com. "Yes?"

"My Lord, we have been able to locate the ship that escaped from Mustafar. But it has been abandoned. The two Jedi and the senator did visit a medical center in a nearby system. A medical droid told us that the senator and her unborn child died of injuries sustained on Mustafar. It appears the Jedi took her body with them."

"What leads do you have on their whereabouts?"

"No one seems to know anything, My Lord."

Sidious slammed his fist down on his desk. "Someone knows something! I suggest you become a little more persuasive in your questioning, Captain! I want General Kenobi, not your excuses!"

Of course, My Lord. We will find him."

"Do NOT fail me again, Captain."

The clone trooper knew full-well the implications in that tone. "I…I won't, My Lord."

Palpatine growled in frustration. Blasted inept clones! This was exactly the kind of work he needed an apprentice to do! He stood up from his desk to gaze out his viewport. Truth be told, he was really angrier with himself. Obi-Wan had been right there on Mustafar – right within his grasp! Instead, he had delayed so he could verify Vader's death with his own eyes. Yet again, his dogged focus on Anakin Skywalker had caused him to overlook the one who was truly destined to be his apprentice.

Padme Amidala entered the Emperor's thoughts. He smiled at knowing now that she was dead. Obi-Wan Kenobi had lost everything and everybody he had ever cared about. That kind of pain and grief would make him more susceptible to the lure of the Dark Side. That would only be an advantage, of course, if he actually HAD Obi-Wan in his grasp! Perhaps it was time to call in the professionals. This kind of search was right up the alley of a bounty hunter…

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Padme sat with Yoda and Obi-Wan at the table on their small ship. "So, where exactly are we going?"

Obi-Wan glanced at Yoda. "We're going to a system beyond the Outer Rim. It hasn't been explored or charted yet. The Jedi discovered it quite by accident not long after the Battle of Naboo."

"And you never told the senate about your discovery?"

"Will of the Force, our discovery was." Yoda's voice held no apology. "The key it was, to the future of the Jedi Order."

Padme's brow furrowed. "I don't understand."

Obi-Wan steepled his fingers in front of him. "Everything changed with the reemergence of the Sith. Ever since the inception of the Sith thousands of years ago, their main objectives have been to rule the galaxy and destroy the Jedi. The fact that they had chosen to reveal themselves told us that they had already set a plan to that end in motion. We knew that we had better be prepared for the worst." He laughed humorlessly. "Of course, our idea of what the worst would be could not compare to this."

"Knew we did, that should the plans of the Sith succeed, in grave danger the Order would be. Offer us a possibility of a future, this undiscovered system did." Yoda looked solemnly at Padme. "Call in favors, we on the Council did."

"You called in favors?" Padme looked back and forth between Obi-Wan and Yoda. "Forgive me, but that sounds very un-Jedi-like."

"Unorthodox, yes. But normal circumstances, these were not. Possible, donations made it for a secret refuge to be built."

Obi-Wan could see the understanding dawn on Padme's face. "No one outside of the Council knew about this project. Not even the donors were told exactly how their funds were to be used."

"Need a place to hide, regroup and continue training, we knew we might in the future." Yoda's ears drooped. "Anticipate the total decimation of our numbers, however, we did not."

"Tell me more about this place."

"It was built underground on a small moon in the system." Obi-Wan couldn't contain his awe as he elaborated. "The more we studied this moon, in particular, the more we knew that this discovery was a gift from the Force. There are particles in the atmosphere that mask Force signatures. So, even if the Sith did manage to find this system, they would not sense the presence of other Force users."

"That's amazing," Padme breathed. "How large is this refuge?"

"Large enough to house several hundred."

"But when you made this discovery, there were thousands of Jedi!"

Yoda nodded. "Willing to make that sacrifice, every Knight and Master would have been to preserve the Order."

"The main purpose was to keep…" Obi-Wan paused as his voice cracked. He took a deep, steadying breath. "…to keep the younglings safe," he whispered. Obi-Wan released his grief into the Force. Now was not the time.

Padme reached over and placed her hand on Obi-Wan's. Her heart ached for him. But then he looked back at her with renewed determination in his eyes. When will he allow himself to grieve?

Back under control, Obi-Wan continued. "Only enough adult Jedi were to go to help protect, raise and train the younglings. The base was designed to be like a miniature Temple, though more rudimentary and without the aesthetics."

Padme looked over at her sleeping children. "Will you train Luke and Leia to be Jedi?"

Yoda nodded his head. "Trained, they should be."

Obi-Wan studied Padme's face. "If you agree, that is."

Padme felt hope grow in her heart. Her children could be instrumental in rebuilding the Jedi Order! Perhaps they could undo what their father had done! A genuine smile formed on Padme's face. "Of course I agree! And I know that my children could have no better teachers."

It did Obi-Wan's heart good to see Padme's smile and to feel her hope. He could not agree with her last sentiment, though. He had completely bungled at teaching Anakin. He could not afford to make those same mistakes with Anakin's children. But at least Yoda would be there to teach alongside him. Obi-Wan pushed his doubts aside as he noticed Yoda's intent gaze.

Padme pondered the future lying before her. She would be alone with Yoda, her children and Obi-Wan...for how long? The rest of her life? Did that mean she could be with Obi-Wan in all the ways her heart longed to be? After everything that had transpired, would Obi-Wan even want that? Did he still love her, and would he even want her now? Her thoughts were interrupted by Obi-Wan's voice.

"There's something else you should know. We altered the medical droid's memory and the records at the medical facility to say that you and your unborn child died."

Padme's heart sunk. "My family will eventually hear about that! It'll break their hearts!"

"I know, and I'm sorry. But we felt it was the best way to ensure your safety, and that of Luke and Leia."

Padme sighed heavily. "You're right, of course." Would she never get to see her family again? Would they ever be able to know that she was alive and well?

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They had finally arrived at their new home. Obi-Wan led Padme into one of the many available rooms. Each room had a fresher, but no kitchen and no living area. The facility had been designed with utility in mind. There was a main kitchen and eating hall and a main living area for all to share. "How is this?"

Padme looked around at the large, plain room. "It will be just fine."

"I'll go get a crib for Luke and Leia." Obi-Wan left and headed for what would have been the infant nursery. He walked in and switched on the light. There were at least a dozen empty cribs in orderly lines. Mobiles hung over each one. Stuffed animals, changing tables, diapers and wipes occupied the countertops. It had everything a nursery could need, except the babies. Grief hit Obi-Wan with the force of speeder, bringing him to his knees. Sobs wrenched from his throat as he finally allowed himself to grieve for all who had been lost.