"For reason's we can't explain," the medic droid said coolly, "We're losing her."
"She's dying?" Obi-Wan's voice was full of horror.
"We don't know why, she has lost the will to live," the droid explained, "We'll need to operate quickly if we are to save the babies."
"Babies?" Senator Organa cried.
"Yes, she is carrying twins."
"Save them, we must," Master Yoda says, "They are our last hope."
Ahsoka hasn't said a word and as she watched the medic droid hover back into the operating room, where Padmé lay lifeless, she realized how wrong this was. Padmé was surrounded by emotionless droids and three men, two of which were Master Jedi and the other so befuddled he was just as emotionally inept; this was no place for a woman to give birth to twins. The togruta had lost so much today, her friends, her master, she couldn't bear to loose anyone else.
She joins Obi-Wan as he rushes to be with Padmé, it is the least she can do, as far as she is concerned the woman might as well be her older sister.
"Where do you think you're going?" Master Kenobi asks.
"With you obviously," Ahsoka tries to smile, but there is too much sadness and pain, "Padmé needs me."
Obi-Wan ponders this for a moment and he nods. They both clutch one of Padmé's hands as the labor starts.
For a few moments, Ahsoka is glad that she will never have to go through the pain the woman on the operating table is having, but she quickly pushes that thought aside. The medic droid keeps mumbling something about Padmé loosing the will to live and that is unacceptable, Padmé will live.
"It's a boy," another medic droid announces, handing the newborn to Obi-Wan.
"Luke," Padmé smiles and Obi-Wan bends over so the mother can touch her baby. It's terrifying how weak this woman is.
Ahsoka still holds Padmé's hand and smoothes back her hair, "You're doing great, don't give up."
The senator holds Ahsoka's gaze for a second and nods her head with what little energy she has left. After another minute of agonizing screams, a second baby was held up by the medic droid.
"And a girl."
This baby girl is placed in Ahsoka's arms, a mystifying emotion washes over the togruta and for a few brief moments, Ahsoka is jealous that she will never have a child of her own, but she quickly pushes that feeling down and shows Padmé her daughter.
"Leia," Padmé gasps, still managing to smile at the sight of her child.
"They're beautiful Padmé," Ahsoka says, wishing she could reach out to the senator, "And they need you, please hang on."
Padmé's gaze becomes like steel, but it quickly melts, "I don't think… I can."
Unacceptable.
"You can and you will," Ahsoka urges, "Think of all the great things that you'll miss if you just give up."
"It hurts…" she whimpers and suddenly it's Ahsoka who's the grown up and Padmé who's the child.
"I hurt too," she says shakily, "I can feel him burning and it hurts so much, I can hardly imagine how much pain you're in, but it'll end, I promise."
"There… is… still good in him," Padmé cries between struggling breaths, "I know there is… still…"
"Yes, yes, there is! And if you live, maybe you'll see it," Ahsoka feels tears drip down her cheeks and sees them drop onto Leia's blanket, "Luke and Leia will see it too."
Padmé takes a few more shaky breaths and the multiple monitors she is hooked up to start to beep with life, the noise steadily growing stronger and stronger. The medic droid is surprised as the woman leaps from the edges of death and back into the realm of the living.
Ahsoka tries to smile and succeeds.
author's note: I was watching Revenge of the Sith earlier today and I was wondering how the outcome might've changed on Polis Massa, had someone other than droids and men had been there to help Padmé.
