A/N: Chapter title loosely based off of a track title in Revenge of the Sith. I don't own, so you don't sue. Also, you might want some more tissues.

Padmé is sleeping in her bed in the medical room when Zaja rushes in.

"Padmé," she says, gently shaking her away. Padmé sits up, a little bit stronger in the time since her twins left her. "Sabé made it," Zaja informs her. Padmé nods solemnly.

"Can you please send her in once she gets settled? There's a lot I need to inform her of and we have a lot of work to do," Padmé says. Zaja nods her head and walks away. Padmé doesn't notice the swelling in Zaja's abdomen anymore. Maybe she had just been imagining things earlier.

While she waits for Sabé, she thinks about her potential plan for going into hiding and the twins. Mostly, she wonders where Anakin is. No one has told her exactly what became of him and she's not quite sure she wants to hear it from someone else. She just hopes that she and the twins can get to him before it is too late. The twins will hopefully be safe in their respective hiding places for the time being. Padmé hopes that this way, the twins will have some sense of the life that she is not able to provide for them. The thought that she can't breaks her heart but she knows that the chances that they will survive are high with the Jedi looking out for everyone. This is what she has to do.

What she is going to ask Sabé to do will be equally difficult for both of them.

About a minute later, Sabé enters the room.

"Padmé," she says relieved. She hurries over to her and embraces her, knowing well enough that Padmé needs a friend more than she needs a handmaiden.

"It's so good to see you," Padmé says before continuing, "Obi-Wan was right..... about everything."

"I thought so. You don't tend to end up in med centers otherwise," Sabé remarks with a sad but kind smile on her face, "How are you feeling?"

"I'm....still processing," Padmé admits.

"I can imagine," Sabé says, "It's going to take a lot of time to let this heal. I'm sorry he was right."

"Believe me. We all are," Padmé says.

"So, what do we do next?" Sabé asks her, awaiting her lady's last request.

"What I'm going to ask you to do is going to be difficult....for both of us," Padmé explains, "And I'm sorry we have to do it but there really is no other way to go about this."

"I'm willing to help in any way that I can," Sabé says, "All we have to do is plan and talk through it."

"Be prepared, we have quite a lot to talk about," Padmé warns her. Sabé pulls up a seat next to Padmé's bedside.

The two friends start to craft their plans within the safety of the medical center.

A few hours later, Sabé is preparing to depart for her part of the plan, dressed in comfortable navy blue traveling robes, complete with a hood. Padmé hugs her tightly from the bed. Both of their expressions are somber at what they have to do but they know that it is the best way to someday bring peace back to the galaxy.

"I'm so sorry you have to do this," Padmé apologizes.

"Padmé, it's the way I can best serve you and my people. There's nothing that brings me more joy than this. It's not going to be easy but we've talked this through multiple times. It's what we have to do to bring peace to the galaxy. It may not be what we want to do but in our situation, we rarely get to do what we want. I've always been the shadow to so many but you're giving me a chance to help the galaxy in a way that we'll hopefully be able to look back and see someday," Sabé explains, "Besides, there is no one I would be happier to serve than you." Their arms wrap around each other tightly as the weight of the future rests on them both.

"Be safe," Padmé says, "And I can never thank you enough for this."

"Hold up your part of the deal and bring peace to the galaxy," Sabé reminds her as she exits the room, "That's all you have to do. Look after yourself, Padmé."

"You too," Padmé calls out as she watches her friend and most faithful handmaiden leave on the mission of her life. Zaja says goodbye to her as well before joining Padmé, being there to comfort her friend.

Maybe a standard day later at most, Sabé arrives in Theed, the capital city of Naboo.  She had piloted a shuttle to a planet where she could take a transport back home to Naboo. As she steps off the transport and informs the Naboo planetary entry staff that she is one of Padmé's handmaidens returning home from Coruscant, they let her through.

Sabé wastes no time in hurrying to a small hotel room that she and Padmé had rented. Sabé didn't have time to return to her actual home on Naboo at the moment but would at a later time. Once there, she checks into the hotel room as Sabé, double checking to make sure that it was a room with a back door on the first floor. She and Padmé picked a remarkably nice hotel suite for Sabé to stay in but nothing too fancy. Once she receives her room key, Sabé hurries into the room. She changes from her travel clothing into a simple dress that Padmé used to wear and pulls a cloak that Padmé also used to wear, over it. She arranges her hair up into a simple style that Padmé would have worn and then pulls the hood over it. Standing in front of the mirror, Sabé fastens the buttons on her cloak and glances up for no particular reason. She sees only Senator Amidala in her reflection. She picks up a suitcase, containing the beautiful waterfall dress that Padmé had agreed that she be dressed in for her funeral.

She weaves her way back through the hotel and hurries through Theed to an artist that she and Padmé agreed upon. The city is full of life and yet still very somber at the recent loss of the planet's Senator.

The planet's Senator who Sabé is pretending to be.

She finds the artist's home in a quiet part of the city, near the outskirts. It stands grand and tall with gorgeous beige pillars supporting the roof and wide, round stone steps that lead up to two grand wooden doors. She knocks on the door and an artist a little bit older than Padmé and Sabé answers.

"Hello...." she says, "Who might you be?"

"Senator Amidala," Sabé says quietly, "We need to speak privately."

"But you're supposed to be...." the artist trails off and Sabé steps up closer to her.

"I know," she replies, "I survived the attempt on my life but you are to tell no one. There are still people out to get me. We need to speak about my funeral. Is there any way you can make a body that looks like me? A pregnant version of me?"

"Well...I suppose I could. Do you have some clothing that could be worn by her?" the artist asks. Sabé hands over the briefcase and the artist marvels at it.

"It's beautiful," she says.

"Thank you," Sabé says, "Now how long do you think it will take? Captain Typho and my handmaidens will need to hand the body over as soon as possible and I will need to go into hiding so I can't fetch it myself."

"I could probably do it in a couple of days but I'm going to need a model," the artist explains.

"I can send you a hologram one of my handmaidens took of me," Sabé says. The artist gives her the information and soon has the holo in her possession. 

"Do you have contact information for one of your handmaidens or your captain?" she asks her as she smooths the fabric of the dress under her fingers.

"I can give you the contact information for one of the handmaidens. She looks exactly like me so don't be alarmed when you see her. Her name is Sabé," Sabé explains. She gives the artist her personal information.

"I'm assuming I'm not to let anyone find out about this? Even the Queen?" the artist asks, "I have a mortician friend who should be able to help me. "

"I'm afraid so," Sabé answers, "My handmaiden and I are sad that we have to lie to so many in such a way but it's the safest thing for everyone involved. Thank you so much for your service to your Senator." She leaves the grand house and makes her way back to the hotel where she makes contact with some of the other handmaidens. The funeral arrangements are made with the Royal House of Naboo and soon Sabé retrieves the "body" and places it in the hover casket.

The next day, the funeral occurs. Sabé and all of the other handmaidens are dressed in dark dresses with hoods pulled up to hide their stoic faces. Sabé doesn't know how to feel. She follows behind Queen Apailana, pondering the events of the last few days.

For all practical purposes, Senator Amidala has died. Padmé is no longer the Senator and her handmaidens no longer have anyone to serve. The thought of being able to do whatever she wants crosses her mind but she doesn't know what to do. She knows she will miss her Lady and really her closest friend, dearly but she can't go see her anymore. Especially when Amidala is supposed to be dead.

She looks at all the faces of the people watching, the citizens she and Padmé have served for so long.

Now, they're lying to them to protect them.

Sabé feels so twisted by this. It's so hard lying to the people that she and her Lady have served for so long but she knows it must be done. It's not what she wants to do but it's what needs to be done for the betterment of the galaxy.

She's still pondering this when they arrive at the tomb, say their final goodbyes and close the door forever on the past segment of her life, leaving a legacy of service with it. A single tear runs down her face as the layers of deception that she and Padmé are weaving, breaks her composure.

Meanwhile on another planet in the Mid Rim, Bail Organa holds the new future Princess of Alderaan tightly in his arms as he walks down the steps of his ship. The beauty of his home greets him as he walks towards the palace. He can see the curious gazes of his people as they notice the small bundle in his arms. Bail keeps his head up and maneuvers the spaceport without skipping a beat. Leia stretches an arm outside of the blanket and her dark eyes open, indicating that she is fully awake. Bail smiles at the sight. The little baby girl has Padmé's eyes.

He can't wait to raise her as his own. He only hopes that she'll get to meet the wonderful person that her mother is someday. He has a feeling that it may take awhile for that to happen.

Bail walks out into the open, taking in the beautiful snowy peaks set ablaze by the colors of the sun set. The layers of pink and yellow welcome him to his home. Bail hurries towards the entrance of the Royal Palace of Alderaan, formerly known as House Organa. He tries to keep Leia hidden from the rest of his kingdom, wishing for his wife to be the first person of Alderaan to lay eyes on her.

He's never been so happy to be home. He can't imagine how Padmé must be feeling with everything that has happened within the last few days. He hasn't even really begun to process his own feelings. That's just something he'll have to do later on, sometimes with his wife, other times without.

He picks up his pace, wanting to introduce Leia to Breha, his wife and Queen of Alderaan, dearly.

He enters the palace and nods to the people he needs to as he walks by. The people he passes shoot curious and somewhat shocked looks at the bundle in his arms but he doesn't have time to discuss.

"Where is Queen Organa?" he asks a servant kindly at one point.

"She is out on the balcony outside of her quarters relaxing. You are welcome to see her if you wish," the servant responds before hurrying back to her duties. Bail hurries to his wife's quarters. Leia begins to coo happily in his arms, her soft baby noises echoing throughout the hall. Bail moves through his wife's quarters, gently rocking Leia to keep her calm and make her feel safe. He reaches the balcony's doors and takes a deep breath.

He really should have asked about it first, but he feels that Breha will be happy regardless. He shuffles Leia around in his arms as he tries to make himself look his best. This is a big decision and he's not sure that Breha will appreciate the impulsiveness of it or the family relations of the child he's brought home with him.

Naboo and Alderann have always had good relations. Padmé has had a good relationship with both Bail and Breha over the years. There shouldn't be any reason why Breha wouldn't want to help Padmé or her child. And really, how would she be able to say no to a baby girl, especially Padmé's baby girl? She's been wanting one ever since they discussed marriage.

Bail opens the door to their room and steps through it. On the way to Alderaan from Polis Massa, he had sent a message to his wife saying that he was coming home and had a surprise for her. He hadn't told her what the surprise was. He has a feeling he won't need to worry what will become of the child. His wife will make sure that she is well taken care of.

He looks at his beautiful wife, wearing a dark dress and a pretty headpiece that covers the top of her dark hair. She is standing and watching the sun set over the peaks of Alderaan. She turns to face him when she hears him enter. She gasps slightly when she sees the baby and raises an eyebrow.

"This is a wonderful surprise," she tells him as she sits down. Bail walks over and sits down next to her before handing her Leia. Leia's dark eyes stare up at her new adopted parents in a way that Padmé would look at a person.

"I know you've always wanted a baby girl and Leia's mother needs another home for her for the time being. I thought we could raise her," Bail suggests with a hint of a smile on his face. Breha looks up at him in curiosity but knows better than to ask since they are outside and people could be listening.

"I would be happy to raise her. Leia's a beautiful name for her. I'm assuming it came from her mother?" Breha asks as the two of them sit side by side, watching their little adopted baby girl flex her fingers and look at her adoptive parents.

"It did," Bail confirms, "It was one of the few things her mother was able to give her. I can tell you that her mother will be pleased to have Leia in such loving care." Breha smiles at him in agreement.

"We will raise her as our own....our Leia Organa, the future Princess of Alderaan and heir to the throne," she says and the happy parents smile at their new baby as they watch the sunset on Alderaan.

In a completely different part of the galaxy, Obi-Wan Kenobi is moving through Mos Eisley, trying to hide the child within his cloak. His hood is pulled over his head to hide his identity as a prominent Jedi. He has to find someone who knows where Owen and Beru Lars are. The binary suns beat down on him, informing him that it is indeed midday on Tatooine.

He doesn't want to take Luke into the cantina. Such a place is too seedy and uncivilized for Luke to experience at such a young age. He spots a human eiope vendor and walks over.

"Excuse me," Obi-Wan calls out and the human looks up from his work, cleaning off one of the creatures.

"Yeah, what do you want?" he asks with a surly tone, throwing down the brush he was using to clean the animal.

"Do you happen to know where Owen and Beru Lars live?" he asks, "They're old friends of mine and I thought it would be nice to see them while I was on-world."

"Yeah," he says, "Heard of 'em. Seen 'em around here a couple times. They live on a moisture farm not too far away from Anchorhead, out in the Jundland Wastes somewhere. Want one of my eiopes to get you there?"

"Of course," Obi-Wan says.

"It'll cost you," the vendor says, "Extra since I gave you the information. Five hundred...right now."

Obi-Wan sighs, reaching out with the Force and feeling that the man won't change his mind. He fishes a small amount of credits out of his pocket. He places it in the proud outstretched palm of the vendor, just to try and see. "That will have to do. I don't carry much with me," Obi-Wan says. The vendor glares at the amount in his palm. It amounts to about 275 credits.

"This ain't nearly enough!" he snaps and Luke starts to stir at the conflict.

"I could take my business elsewhere and then you would lose out on the funds entirely," Obi-Wan suggests and the man's face reddens more.

"I'll just tell 'em what you tried to pull on me!" he shouts, "This ain't nearly enough and I told ya to pay extra for the information!" Obi-Wan inwardly sighs at the confrontation. He doesn't want to have to do this, especially since the Empire is newly formed and has a vendetta against the Jedi but this vendor leaves him no choice. He raises his hand and calls on the Force to cloud the mind of the vendor.

"The amount I have paid will be sufficient," he says, his voice laced with the Force. He hates doing this to further his own good in this way but it has to be done. Luke's life is depending on it.

"The amount you've paid will be sufficient," the vendor repeats, now in a daze. Obi-Wan doesn't break his conversation and waves his hand again.

"You will go back to cleaning and I can take one of the animals," he says. One last trick should ensure that they make it out without any more delays.

"I'll go back to cleaning and you can take one of the animals," the vendor repeats.

"And you will forget everything that you saw," Obi-Wan finishes as he takes the reins of the animal and climbs on. He starts to lead the animal away. He hears the vendor repeat the last phrase before he leaves, the whole experience reminding him of Qui-Gon and another vendor on this same planet many years ago. Heading off into Mos Eisley, Obi-Wan haggles a little bit more with some of the other vendors to buy some supplies so he may go live on his own. Before long, he is leaving Mos Eisley, a place he hopes that he never has to return to and is making the short trip to Anchorhead. He wanders through Anchorhead and finds a sweet friend of Beru's who knows where she and Owen live. She tells Obi-Wan and tries to ask him how he knows about the apparently newly wedded couple but Obi-Wan tells her that he is a friend and is in a hurry to see them. He leaves Anchorhead and starts the long, hot trek out to the Lars homestead.

He sees it and the minute he pulls up, Beru walks out of the home. She wears a dark blue sweater over a pretty brightly colored dress underneath, the colors set ablaze by the sunset. She stands from a distance. Obi-Wan reaches out to the Force to gauge her reaction and realizes that she's confused by who he is and what's in his arms.

"Can I help you?" she asks him, approaching him, "Are you lost? Can I get you something to drink?"

"No," Obi-Wan replies, "I'm Obi-Wan Kenobi. I was once Anakin Skywalker's Jedi Master. Have you heard about what's happened to the Republic?"

"Yes...but I thought those were just rumors. No one really cares about the Republic out here but it's still interesting to hear the stories," Beru explains softly, "I don't really know much about it except that the Empire is reaching out to some of the prominent figures here. I've heard stories about them too. What do you mean you were once Anakin's Jedi Master? What's happened to him?"

"He turned to the Dark Side of the Force. He has committed many dark deeds and has joined the Emperor in his crusades. It's a dangerous time for his son to be with any of the Jedi or with any of his immediate family," Obi-Wan says to her, gauging her reaction. Beru looks sadly at the baby in his arms. "He needs a place where he can grow up and be safe," Obi-Wan states.

"I need to go ask my husband. We just got married and we can't do anything to protect him if his father comes looking for him. I was here when Anakin went and killed the Tusken Raiders. You could almost feel the power he was experiencing from the anger he felt. It was....terrifying," Beru explains, "There's no way Owen and I could protect him from that but I'm willing to try. Please...excuse me while I go speak to him." She walks over to a man watching the sunset over on a small ridge in the ground near their home. She places a hand on his shoulder and the two of them talk. Owen looks back at Obi-Wan as they discuss. The discussion appears to get slightly heated before they both relax and Owen nods his head. Beru comes back over to Obi-Wan.

"I can hide the child elsewhere if it is needed. He may be able to stay with me for a time but not forever. A life in exile is no place for a child," Obi-Wan explains.

"Owen says we can take him," Beru cuts him off. She looks like she has more to say but she stops. Obi-Wan moves his cloak and hands Luke over to Beru. The sleeping baby doesn't stir at all at the transfer. Beru smiles at the baby in her arms, looking up at Obi-Wan once before looking back down at the child. Obi-Wan returns the expression with a solemn one of his own. Beru makes sure that Luke is supported and comfortable before leaving Obi-Wan to join her husband in watching the sun set. Owen turns back to look at his wife coming up to be with him and Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan rubs a finger across his chin in thought. A chapter in his life has closed much sooner than he ever intended it to. He has gone from being a great Jedi hero to being just another being in the galaxy within the span of a couple of days. He inwardly mourns the fact that he will not get to actively be a part of Anakin's childrens' lives as they grow up. Deciding not to let his emotions rule him, Obi-Wan turns and starts to walk back towards his eiope before he can give it too much more thought, leaving the child to his destiny.

Owen leans down and strokes the side of the baby's cheek. The young couple admires their nephew as the new family watches the sun set on Tatooine.

Meanwhile, Padmé and Zaja prepare to leave Polis Massa. After a few days, Padmé is finally healthy enough to travel. Bail had arranged for a shuttle to take them to the place where Padmé would go into hiding. Zaja would merely accompany her there to ensure that she arrived safely and to see if there is any way she can start to get involved with bringing down the Empire.

The two fly the shuttle that Bail had left for them to a planet in the Core Worlds. They are silent most of the way there, too exhausted by the last few days to say anything. Padmé wears a simple traveling outfit with a cloak over it and Zaja wears the same outfit she's been wearing but with a different cloak over it.

They watch as the planet of Chandrila comes into view. Calm seas cover the planet and Padmé smiles at the placid waves lapping at the shores. A little ways off, she can see some gentle rolling hills crowding around a beautiful lake. Hanna City soon comes into view and the rays of the sun glisten on the tall buildings. Padmé takes in the beauty of the planet, excited to be here and knowing exactly who her contact most likely is.

"It's beautiful," Zaja says, "I think you're going to be very safe here."

"Very safe and hopefully very involved," Padmé agrees, "But from a distance of course. Hanna City seems like a wonderful place." Zaja nods her head in agreement.

"It does. I'm excited to come back here someday."

The two take the shuttle in and land it at the Hanna City Spaceport, pulling their hoods up to disguise themselves. They weave their way through the city and hurry to the building where they know the contact will be waiting for them. Hanna City buzzes with activity as it's the height of the workday for many beings on the planet. Padmé and Zaja stay close together as they navigate the busy building. They come to a receptionist at a desk.

"Hello, is Mon Mothma in?" Padmé asks.

"I don't believe she's expecting anyone," the receptionist replies.

"She's expecting me," Padmé replies, "I'm the handmaiden from Naboo. The Senator I was serving just died but I wanted to see if there's a way I could continue what she started." The receptionist sighs.

"I don't get paid nearly enough for this," she mutters before speaking to Padmé and Zaja directly, "I'll contact the Senator and see what I can do. Who's your friend?"

"She decided to accompany me," Padmé explains and Zaja can feel her friend's hesitation through the Force as she concentrates on it to calm herself, "She was also close to Senator Amidala and wants to help continue the fight."

"Of course," the receptionist says skeptically before pressing a button. A buzzer sounds and the receptionist informs Mon Mothma of her visitors.

A few moments later, a set of double sterile white doors open and Senator Mon Mothma steps through.

"Hello!" she exclaims before being taken aback by the two women standing there, "The handmaiden from Naboo I presume?"

"Yes and my friend, though she won't be staying long. She has somewhere else she wishes to go," Padmé explains, "She, like myself, wishes to continue the cause that you and My Lady took up in the Delegation of 2000 to the best of both of our abilities."

"That's wonderful. We have a great deal of work to do," Mon Mothma says, "I'm sorry but I don't believe I know your name." 

"Sabé," Padmé introduces herself, "Sabé Naberrie and this is Zaja."

"Hello, Senator," Zaja says kindly.

"It's a pleasure to meet you both," Mon Mothma says, "Now if you'll follow me. We have a great deal of work to do."

Padmé nods and follows Mon Mothma back into her office area, taking her first steps to leaving Senator Amidala behind and taking on the role of Sabé Naberrie, determined to bring peace to the galaxy.

A/N: This is officially the end of Part I for those of you who are curious about that.

Sooooooo......Sabé's being the ultimate decoy, Padmé's preparing to help out Mon Mothma (I'm pretty sure a lot of you know what's coming with that...), and the twins have found homes!!! Yay!!!!

Just so you're aware and if you missed it before hand, this book is FAR from over. I have plans to go through the events of the Original Trilogy and maybe a little bit beyond that (mostly so we can get some fluff with the characters in)

This is probably my other favorite chapter (I don't have a declared favorite) because this one is kind of the crown jewel of the book so far. This is what the entire plot has been working up to at this point (obviously, we have a long ways to go and much more to cover but this is the first milestone).

I had a blast writing in the little side conversations between Breha and Bail, Beru and Obi-Wan, Obi-Wan and the vendor, Padmé and Mon Mothma....

And Sabé pretending to be Amidala one last time was great.

This whole chapter just turned out so well for me. I'm really happy with it.

I'm excited to continue Padmé's story and tell the story of the beginning of the Rebellion.

Thank you so much for sticking with me through this first part!! I hope you've enjoyed the book so far. I'm so excited to keep going!!!! I've been working on this book since January (I believe, that's when I came up with the idea at least) of 2021 so it's been a project worth working on for sure. :)  Thank you so much for commenting, voting, reading or doing whatever it is you do. It means a lot to me!!!

-Aisling