❝ when will it end? ❞

―

CARINA PARKED THE CRUISER, anxiety coursing through her as she glanced back at Obi-Wan who had lips pursed, "Let me talk to him first."

"Carina—"

"Please. I have to try."

Obi-Wan slouched back in his seat, "Alright, but if he tries to hurt you—" he begun but couldn't finish as Carina cut him off, "He won't."

Obi-Wan nodded to which Carina stood from her seat as she watched a hooded figure descend up the skiff as Carina exited the lowered ramp. Carina picked up her pace as Anakin made his way towards her, the brunette held hesitance in her movements as the blonde engulfed her.

Carina froze for a moment before hesitantly wrapping her arms around him. Anakin pulled back, examining her face as he spoke, "What are you doing out here, Ina?"

"I needed to see you, to see your face."

Anakin furrowed his brows in confusion, "What do you mean?"

"I don't— a part of me is hoping that there's even a sliver of a chance that it's not true. I know it's idiotic and ignorant but I want to believe in you."

Anakin's lips parted as he gazed intensely at his wife, hand reaching up to cup her cheek as he questioned, "You're scaring me, Ina."

Carina began to breathe heavily, "The attack on the temple, on the younglings, on the Jedi... it caused by you, wasn't it?"

Anakin searched his lovers gaze, yet to his surprise he found no hate in them, "Who told you that? Obi-Wan? Is he the one trying to turn you against me?"

Carina closed her eyes for a moment, that was all the confirmation she needed, "I saw it with my own eyes, Ani. You held me the night I almost died knowing you were the one who had given the order to kill all Jedi." Anakin was quick to retort her accusation, "No, it was meant for the others. I would never ever hurt you. Everything that I'm doing, all this. This is for you, Ina."

Carina pulled her arms away from him, tears clouding up her vision as she took a step away from her husband, "No, this isn't for me. You know that all this would be the last thing I'd want."

Anakin clenched his jaw, "No one else is able to save you, only my new powers can do that." Carina gaped at the male, shaking her head in disagreement, "But at the cost of what? You are a good person, Anakin. Don't go down this path."

The blonde narrowed his eyes, "I won't lose you the way I lost my mother. I've become more powerful than any Jedi has ever dreamed of and I've done it for you. To protect you."

Carina looked at the man before her like a total stranger, the person before her was not Anakin Skywalker, "You killed those younglings in cold blood, not a shred of mercy to be seen." the brunette's hand instinctively went to her womb, "What of our child?"

Anakin's lips parted at what she insinuating, "I wouldn't hurt our child—"

"How am I supposed to believe you? After you lied to my face, Mace was never captured— you helped murder him and then killed my friend all because she wanted to save a youngling, a child, just for you to kill her in cold blood as well."

Anakin raised his chin, "I told her to step aside." Carina couldn't believe what she was hearing, "How can you even say something like that? For so long, I was in denial, hoping and begging that all my mind was telling me would turn out to be false but here I am. Living out my worst nightmares."

"Enough, everything, every action I've done is to save you. The Chancellor was right, they've twisted your mind against me."

Carina gave the blonde an incredulous look, "Anakin, listen to yourself, Palpatine has manipulated his way into your mind, feeding you lies and like an idiot you've just believed them. I have always been by your side, helping and loving you. But you're going too far, you're going down a path I can't and won't follow. This is where I draw the line."

Anakin clenched his fists, "So you're doing the very thing you swore not to do. You're going to stand against me?" Carina held a pleading gaze, wishing for it to not come to violent matters, "I love you, Anakin. I always will, you know that. It doesn't have to be this way, there's good in you, I know there is. We can leave, raise our child on a planet far far away from here, all you have to do is come back, I'm here. I'm right here, my love."

For a small second, Anakin's demeanor faltered, his blue eyes shining as he gazed at his wife, regret for all the atrocities he had committed circling through him— but all sight of that was long gone as the blonde caught sight of Obi-Wan, standing on the ramp of the cruiser.

Anger and resent coursed through the Sith upon knowing his wife had brought Kenobi with her, "Liar!"

Carina glanced back to see Obi-Wan treading down the ramp, she grit her teeth, mentally cursing her friend for not giving her two more minutes.

"You're with him. You've betrayed me. You brought him here to kill me."

Carina turned to look at her husband once more, firmly shaking her head, "No, I would never want for you to get killed. I meant what I said, you have to believe me."

Anakin seethed in anger as the Chancellor's voice plagued his mind, "I warned you, Carina wishes to kill you, siding with Obi-Wan as she does so. Kill her. End this cycle of betrayal."

The Skywalker boy became blinded by his jealousy and anger as he raised his hand, beginning to force choke Carina who began gasping for air. Obi-Wan treaded down the ramp, eyes narrowed as he spoke, "Let her go, Anakin."

Carina clawed at her neck, feeling her head begin to feel light as stars appeared in her vision.

Anakin grit his teeth, "What have you and she been up to?"

Obi-Wan eyed the brunette worriedly before grounding out, "I said, let her go."

Anakin blinked, as if he had realized what he had done, releasing his grip on Carina who crumbled to the floor, coughing violently as she rubbed her sore throat.

Obi-Wan took a protective step beside the girl as Anakin glared between the two, feeling his anger consume his thoughts and actions once again, "You turned her against me."

Carina breathed heavily as Kenobi glanced up at Anakin, "You have done that yourself."

Anakin shrugged off his robes as he narrowed his eyes at his old mentor, "You will not take her from me."

Carina gazed at the ground, not a shred of emotion visible on her features as a single tear ran down her cheek, listening to Obi-Wan who scoffed, "Your anger and your lust for power have already done that."

Carina closed her eyes to keep from crying anymore as Kenobi continued, "You have allowed this Dark Lord to twist your mind until now... until now you have become the very thing you swore to destroy." Obi-Wan shrugged off his own Jedi robe as Anakin faced away from the two, "Don't lecture me, Obi-Wan. I see through the lies of the Jedi. I do not fear the dark side as you do. I have brought peace, justice, freedom, and security to my new Empire."

Obi-Wan gaped at his old padawan, "Your new Empire?"

Anakin narrowed his eyes, hands twitching in anticipation, "Don't make me kill you."

Carina finally raised her gaze, staring at Anakin's figure as she felt a pit settle into her stomach upon hearing him say such words.

Obi-Wan shook his head in disbelief, "Anakin, my allegiance is to the Republic— to democracy."

"If you're not with me, then you're my enemy."

Carina swallowed a lump in her throat, eyes wide with tears decorating them. Her entire life had been devoted to destroying murderers, traitors, and the Sith. Yet there she was, gazing at Anakin's figure to find that despite it all, she still loved him.

Carina despised herself knowing she could never hate the man that had taken so much from her.

Obi-Wan breathed out, "Only a Sith deals in absolute." the Jedi Master glanced down at Carina who was regaining her strength, "Forgive me, Carina." he lifted his gaze, setting it on Anakin once again, "But I will do what I must."

Carina didn't care anymore, she wanted everything to stop, the grief suddenly hitting her like a wave as she realized she longer had a husband or a friend. Everything her mind had been warning her about just for the girl to continually push it aside, and now, she was at fault for it all.

Padme was gone, there was no way of getting her back and it was because of her. She should not have let the Senator to have headed back on her own.

"You will try."

Anakin ignited his lightsaber, leaping into the air as he landed before Obi-Wan as they began clashing weapons as they began fighting, each with the intention to take the other down.

Carina watched them disappear into the control room, the girl shut her eyes gathering up her strength as she stood from the ground. The brunette had a mental conflict ongoing, Anakin was fighting to kill Obi-Wan just as Obi-Wan was fighting to kill him, so where did she stand? She would not allow either of them to kill the other but she did not have the strength to take them both on, she was pregnant, inching closer and closer to her due date so she was not at her full potential.

Carina slipped her saber out from her utility belt, gazing down at the weapon as she pursed her lips. Arrogance was a Jedi's greatest fault, she now understood why. The Jedi council had always been too sure of themselves and because of it, there was nothing left now.

Even she herself had been too arrogant, too sure and hopeful nothing would happen. How mindless she had been.

Carina's head snapped up, a sudden feeling creeping into her mind, Obi-Wan was in trouble. The brunette's body moved on it's own, running across the platform as she entered the control room, eyes darting around as she finally caught sight of the two males.

Anakin grit his teeth, pushing his blue ignited saber so that he was centimeters away from burning Obi-Wan's head off when he was suddenly flung back into the walls where the control panels were. The husband peered open his eyes to see Carina glaring at him as she stood protectively before Obi-Wan, holding her golden lit saber before her menacingly, "You're not taking him from me."

Anakin pulled himself up from the ground, "You would choose him over me?" Carina spun her saber in her grasp before getting into her stance, hands slightly shaking as she did so, "Please, don't make me do this, Ani."

Anakin narrowed his eyes at his wife, "You will join me, Carina. One way or another. Unless, you strike me down." Carina swallowed a lump in her throat, raising her chin as Obi-Wan stood by her side, "Then so be it."

Anakin grit his teeth, the male extended his hand out, sending Obi-Wan flying down the hall as he ignited his saber once again, "You're really choosing to fight me?"

Carina shook her head, "It is you choosing this, Anakin. Not me. I won't let you kill him." Anakin clenched his jaw, "Then you really have turned against me." the blonde pounced, clashing his saber against Carina's, the brunette using all her strength as she pushed him back, slicing upwards as she caught his attack, twisting herself before kicking him in the chest, sending him tumbling backwards.

Carina adjusted her grip on her weapon, "You're pulling your strength, you don't want to hurt me, I know you don't."

"You're right, I don't. Join me Carina, we could take control over the galaxies together. We're two of the most powerful people known, everyone would fear us."

Carina held a disappointed glint in her eyes, "You are not the person I married." Anakin slashed his saber again with more strength, a powerful spark creating from the friction as Anakin gazed into Carina's eyes.

Fear, he sensed slight fear coming from her, a feeling he never thought he would cause in her. The blonde's force faltered and Carina seized the opportunity, jutting her hand up as she hit the male in the jaw before kicking her leg out as she threw him off balance.

Obi-Wan ran into Carina's side, slashing his saber against Anakin's as he had regained his stability. Carina twirled her weapon as Obi-Wan kicked Anakin down, the blonde landing on the table with a thump as Kenobi raised his saber up, ready to cut down on Skywalker.

Carina moved quickly, catching Obi-Wan's saber with her own as they clattered together. Kenobi glanced up at the girl, confusion evident in his gaze.

Carina pursed her lips, "I won't let you kill him either."

Anakin spared his wife a glance before kicking his leg out as he hit Obi-Wan, leaping back onto his feet as Obi-Wan narrowed his eyes at him. Carina let out a tired sigh as she was the one standing in the middle.

Obi-Wan and Anakin pounced, both clashing weapons as they pushed the other back. Anakin jutted his knee up, hitting Kenobi in the groin to which he doubled over for Anakin to raise his saber over him.

Carina moved again, catching the blondes attack before spinning him back. Clutching her saber tightly as she hit it against Anakin's, deflecting every single hit the blonde attempted on her as she kicked him out of the doorway that had just opened, taking them onto a railed ledge where the steaming lava could be seen below them.

Obi-Wan walked onto the ledge, spinning his own lightsaber as Carina's steps faltered, blinking slowly as she began to feel weak, shaking her head before she got dizzy.

Obi-Wan and Anakin saber fought, pushing each other onto a ledge as they watched the others every move. Carina gripped onto the railing, feeling herself get sick to her stomach as she breathed heavily.

Anakin's attention was torn away from Obi-Wan as he gazed over at his weakened wife, lips parting in concern for her.

"Obi-Wan!"

Kenobi glanced back upon hearing the girl call out for him, growing worried as he took in her condition, listening as she spoke, "Please, don't kill him."

Obi-Wan pursed his lips, "I'm sorry, Carina."

The Jedi Master turned his attention back to Anakin who was steadily holding his weapon before him. Weapons clashing echoed in Carina's ears as she crumbled onto the ground, chest heaving rapidly as she no longer held any strength. Tears rolling down her face as she knew Obi-Wan would do what had to be done.

Carina fell backwards, closing her eyes as she fell unconscious.

―

Carina slowly blinked, cringing slightly at the bright light looming over her. The brunette winced at the pain throbbing in her womb. The Algora girl looked to her side to see Obi-Wan right there, a small smile tugged on her lips, "Obi, where am I?"

Obi-Wan gazed intently at the brunette, "The medical room, you're having your children now."

Carina gaped at her brother, "Children?" Obi-Wan nodded in confirmation, "You're carrying twins, Ina."

Carina let a smile caress her lips before remembering, "Anakin? Where's Anakin? He said he'd be here, he promised to be by my side."

Master Kenobi's gaze saddened, remembering how he left his dear friend on Mustafar, thinking he had been burned alive. Obi-Wan shook his head and that was all Carina needed to know as a sob escaped her trembling lips.

Tears rolling down the side of her face as she went into labor, swallowing her cries as she pushed, teeth gritting in pain before she hissed in agony. Carina began to feel as if her life force was beginning to be drained away from her, the brunette put more force into pushing as she mentally fought whoever was feeding off of her life.

Carina did one last great push and caught her breath as baby cries filled the medical room, "It's a boy." Obi-Wan glanced over as he took the small child from the robotic nurse, smiling as he showed the baby to Carina who breathlessly laugh, "Luke."

Carina delicately touched her sons forehead before cringing in pain as she felt her second child begin to push its way out, clenching her jaw as much as she could as pain coursed through her lower body.

Obi-Wan gazed at Carina before looking down at baby Luke in his arms. A second child's cry echoed through the room as the nurse cooed to calm the baby down, "And a girl."

Carina's chest heaved up and down as she panted heavily, "Leia." Obi-Wan took the baby in his other free arm as he showed her to their mother. Carina pursed her lips as sobs racked through her, her trembling hand reaching up to hold her daughter's hand.

Carina glanced up at Obi-Wan, "Someone's trying to take my life force." she rasped out with what little strength she had left. Obi-Wan gazed at the girl in concern, "What?"

"I don't know if I can fight it." Carina breathed out. Master Kenobi's lips parted as he shook his head, "You must, Carina. You can resist it, it's possible and I know you're strong enough."

Carina bit her lower lips, struggling to contain her cries as she spoke, "Why should I? Everyone's dead, and evidently, Obi-Wan, I am so incredibly tired."

Obi-Wan gave the girl an incredulous look, "Just look at the two small humans you brought into this world that are in my arms. You continue for them, later in life they will need their mother, Ina."

Carina's gaze shifted over to her twins, smiling slightly just at the sight of them. The brunette closed her eyes, taking a deep breath before nodding, "Okay."

A small girls laughter rang in the brunette's ears, the sound bringing her joy as she imagined it as her Leia.

Carina swallowed thickly, breaking off any and all connection with the force. She no longer had faith in anything, all that mattered to her then was her children. Only for them would she push onwards.

Carina's breathing began to stabilize as she rolled her shoulders back, sitting upright, smiling as she regained a small portion of her strength back. The Algora girl looked up at Obi-Wan who smiled at her before handing her the twins, the girl couldn't wipe the smile off of her face as she gazed between them.

"They're perfect."

―

Darth Sidious cautiously watched as Darth Vader's mask snapped into place. Palpatine had found him just when his legs had just begun to burn, his face remaining unharmed with only a small gash on the side of his eye to compliment the scar he had on the other side of his face.

Palpatine watched the table begin to put Vader up right, gazing carefully as the Sith took a deep breath.

"Lord Vader, can you hear me?"

Vader raised his head in acknowledgment, "Yes, Master." Darth Vader glanced around the room, taking in his surroundings as he spoke, "Where is my wife? Is Carina safe? Is she alright?"

Darth Sidious hid a cunning smile, "Mhm, it seems that her having fought against you while you were blinded by your anger, killed her."

Darth Vader's breathing began to quicken as he shook his head, "I couldn't have— I would have never killed her. She was still alive—"

Darth Sidious hummed, "Her presence from the Force has disappeared, she is gone, my young apprentice."

Vader began to tremble as he shook his head in denial, "No! No, no, not my Carina." the apprentice pulled on the metal bonds holding him, breaking the cuffs as the room shook with the anger and grief coursing through him. Objects crushing against themselves as Palpatine smiled widely.

A piece of him felt hollow, like a part of him had just died just from such news. Gone, his home was gone, because without Carina, he had nothing.

Darth Vader felt tears run down his face, blinking quickly as he did not have the means to wipe them away, "I lost her."

―

Carina had her hair pulled up into ponytail, her leg crossed over the other as she was sat around a table with Master Yoda, Obi-Wan, and Bail Organa.

"Hidden, safe, the children must be kept."

Carina nodded in agreement, "They can't stay with me, three Force sensitive beings together would rain too much attention. I cannot raise them." it pained the brunette to know she had to give her twins away, everyday of her pregnancy she longed for the day she would have them in her arms, be able to witness their first word, their first walk, but even that had been taken from her.

Obi-Wan gazed over at the girl, "People must think you died, Carina."

The Algora girl nodded firmly, "It's the only way." Yoda agreed with what was said as Obi-Wan thought out loud, "We must take them somewhere the Sith will not sense their presence."

Carina gazed down at the wedding ring on her left hand, "We have to split them up." Organa shifted his attention over to the mother, "Carina, with your permission, my wife and I will happily take the girl. She will be loved and protected with us, I assure you."

Carina blinked, voiding her expression of any emotion as she nodded, "Thank you, Bail. Leia will go with you then. I am trusting you with my daughters safety, please, take good care of her."

"And what of Luke?" Master Kenobi questioned as Yoda answered, "To Tatooine. To his family, send him."

Carina stayed quiet, not opposing to the idea as Obi-Wan looked over at her for confirmation. The brunette thought for a moment, "Only if Obi-Wan watches over him, I don't trust Luke under anyone else's watch."

The Jedi Master nodded, "I will keep an eye on him, I promise you that, Ina." Carina mustered up a smile, "Keep my children away from the Jedi ways, I want them having no part in anything, they have no reason for it."

Obi-Wan glanced over at Yoda who merely nodded.

Carina gazed down at her lap, lips pressed firmly together, "The council knew either Anakin or I would fall to the dark side. Yet, no effort was made to make sure it didn't come true."

Obi-Wan blinked at the girl as Yoda sighed, "Wanted to believe this, we did not."

Carina shook her head, "Look where we are now because of it. It was not only Anakin who failed us."

Carina abruptly stood from her seat, the girl reached to unclip her lightsaber from her utility belt. The brunette gazed down at her weapon intently, memories of the day she wielded it purging her mind. Qui-Gon had helped her, the only father she ever knew.

A glimpse of Qui-Gon's proud smile he had given her once young Carina had shown him the completed weapon, flashed in her mind.

Yellow had always been her color. She had always felt pride upon attaining a lightsaber and wielding such a bright a powerful color, but she no longer felt pride upon owning such a powerful saber. She felt nothing.

Carina dropped the weapon into the table, the clattering noise tensing its way through the quiet atmosphere. The brunette pursed her lips, "I won't be needing it anymore."

Obi-Wan gaped at the girl, "It is a Jedi's greatest weapon, Carina."

Carina lifted her head, gazing into her friends eyes, "I'm not a Jedi. Not anymore."

Yoda closed his eyes as a disappointed sigh escaped his lips, he knew young Carina would decide such measure.

"I'll go into hiding then."

Carina walked out of the room, making her way down the open ramp as she stepped onto the green grass, inhaling sharply before looking over at her awaiting starfighter.

"Carina."

The brunette turned to see Obi-Wan picking up his pace to catch up with her. Carina tilted her head slightly, "Have I missed something?"

R2 rolled out from behind Obi-Wan, beeping at the girl. Master Kenobi gestured towards the droid, "They're going to wipe his memory, he demanded that he said his goodbye to you."

Carina's lips parted as she glanced down at the R2 unit, a small smile caressing her face as she placed a gentle hand upon his head, "Thank you for being a wonderful droid, R2, and an even better friend. I will miss you."

The droid gave her a small beep before the brunette glanced back up at Obi-Wan who spoke, "You won't be attending Padme's burial, will you?"

Carina licked her chapped lips, "I said the goodbyes I needed, besides, I don't deserve to go." Obi-Wan gave the girl a look, "She was your friend, Carina."

"And it's my fault she's gone so please, don't try to comfort me. I don't want or need it."

Carina held no emotion in her eyes, slipped her hands into her pocket as she sighed, wanting to lighten up the mood, "The saying 'things never go as planned' has a whole new meaning for me now."

Obi-Wan chuckled softly, it had been the first time the girl had made a joke since everything had went downhill so quickly.

The Jedi Master pursed his lips in sadness, "I will miss you, Ina."

Carina mustered up one last smile for her dearest friend, "Thank you, for all the memories, Obi. You will always be my brother." The brunette turned, slipping into the cockpit of her aircraft as she started up the vehicle, looking to gaze at Obi-Wan one last time before taking off into the sky.

Obi-Wan watched the girl's ship disappear into the clouds, crossing his arms over his chest. He knew it would not be the last anyone would see of Carina Algora.

―

AUTHORS NOTE,
i was an emotional wreck writing this but hey it can't get worse now right?
(i'm regretting everything i did)