Son Apart

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A/N1:Major AU story!

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A/N2: I do not own Star Wars.

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A/N3: This is my first time writing Anakin Skywalker (and/or any Prequel characters) as major characters in a story of mine, so please be kind in your critiques...

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Prologue:

"Anakin, I have the power to save Padmé!" Chancellor Palpatine wheezed as he sat at lightsaber point. The howling wind whipped through the large space, courtesy of the shattered viewport.

Mace Windu threw Anakin a look over his shoulder, though he kept his violet blade in place. "Anakin, what's he talking about?"

"She will die without my knowledge!" Palpatine truly sounded desperate.

Anakin Skywalker stood poised in the office, on the threshold of his life-changing decision: accept this Sith Master's offer of power and the chance to save his wife... or choose the Jedi way and continue to receive no help whatsoever?

Although he couldn't blame them too much, since they did not know he was a married man...

The thought occurred to Anakin then that Sith, whom he'd considered a dear friend, had played him just like all the others. He'd befriended him from day one, shown him kindness when the Jedi seemed to hate him. Had it all been an act?

And yet, the Jedi didn't seem to have the answer to his dilemma either.

What was he to do?

Anakin closed his eyes tightly in an attempt to seek out the answer, and to his utter surprise, everything faded away...

"Daddy?"

Anakin jerked his head up, eyes wide. What...

"Daddy."

Anakin whipped around, looking straight on, but then something tugged his attention lower, and Anakin's heart stopped in shock. There, standing before him, looking both sad and utterly innocent at the same time, was a little boy.

And he was the spitting image of Anakin during his own youth: blond hair and sky-blue eyes that looked into one's soul with little effort.

Then it finally registered to Anakin the word— no, the name— that this boy had used to call upon him.

"Daddy?" The boy's voice was soft and kind.

Anakin shook himself when the boy attempted to speak yet again, and he knelt before the child, who he only now saw was a corporeal form.

"Who are you, Little One?" Anakin asked gently.

"I am growing inside my Mommy," the boy answered. "I do not have a name."

Anakin's heart-rate increased at that revelation, and joy filled his being for a moment. "You're my son?"

The child nodded, and Anakin's face split into an almost slap-happy grin. Then he frowned.

"How is this possible? Why are you here?" Anakin asked, glancing around.

"You needed help."

The boy abruptly looked over his shoulder as if he'd heard something and then turned back to Anakin, his motions now hurried as though he was short on time. He stepped forward and lifted his hands in a pleading gesture.

"Daddy, please do not leave Mommy. She is stronger than you think, and that man in black is nothing but a liar... you know this already, but you don't trust yourself." He again looked over his shoulder, and jabbered out the rest of his remarks at the speed of light. "I don't want to grow up without a family! Please, stay strong..."

And then he as gone...

Anakin staggered as he came-to once more, and he had to take a minute to steady himself. His son! He'd seen his son!

He didn't know how it was possible, and he didn't care... all Anakin knew was that he would do whatever it took to give the child the family he deserved. And he couldn't do that by Palpatine's side.

But he might not be able to do it with the Jedi either...

Anakin sighed, knowing that he'd have to come forward with the truth, and that he may very well be expelled from the Jedi Order. But his son had pleaded with him...

I don't want to grow up without a family...

Anakin knew all too well what it was like to grow up without a father, not that he had ever blamed Shmi for that. But it had still been lonely: doubly so when he'd left Tatooine to train as a Jedi.

Anakin felt his resolve harden. He would not allow his child to grow up an orphan. His family meant the galaxy and more to Anakin. And though it hurt to trust in the Force for this, Anakin felt the fear fade away with the assurance from the Light that he was making the correct choice.

And in any case... the boy was right: Padmé Naberrie Skywalker was a fighter. She had remained the picture of health, even as he'd fretted over her: she'd not declined into any sort of illness. And unless something went horribly wrong during her delivery, she would be just fine.

Another notion came to the young man then, one that churned his gut. What if Anakin's nightmares had all just been an attempt by Palpatine to get Anakin to become the desperate soul he currently was?

"Anakin, please!" Palpatine begged. "I have been your friend all this time! It was I who helped you! I gave you a seat on the Council; I made you feel important..."

But Anakin was done listening to him. He gave Mace a meaningful look and then turned about and left the room, feeling the storm of Dark Side energy as the Sith Master's life was ended.

Anakin felt tears sting his eyes: despite the traitor he'd turned out to be, Palpatine had been a friend. And... now Anakin truly had to show utter trust in the Force. It was up to the Force as to whether or not Padmé survived.

Squaring his shoulders, Anakin returned to the Jedi Temple... only to receive news that Padmé had already gone into labor upon his arrival. He was back out the hangar in seconds, speeding away for the medical center where Padmé was due to deliver the child.

When Anakin burst through the doors, he was greeted with a panting Padmé lying on the birthing table. She screamed as a contraction hit her.

"How is she?" Anakin demanded of the medic as he got cleaned up in order to help Padmé.

"She's perfectly fine, this is all normal, Master Skywalker," the man assured him.

"She's not sick, or having any complications?" Anakin pressed.

"None so far."

"Good," Anakin breathed with relief, and then entered Padmé's room with the doctor.

"Anakin!" Padmé gasped, taking his hand when he arrived.

"I'm here, Angel," Anakin soothed, grateful that he'd given her his prosthetic hand to hold when the servos creaked under the pressure Padmé was exerting.

"Okay, Padmé, it's time!" the doctor said. "Push!"

Anakin braced Padmé, and she did as she was ordered, crying out in pain. Time passed in a mixture of excitement and dread for Anakin, who monitored Padmé every step of the way as she labored and pushed their son into existence outside her womb.

When his son's first wails sounded inside the hospital room, Anakin craned his neck to see...

"It's a boy!" the doctor announced, and Padmé beamed at Anakin.

"Luke?" she inquired.

"Luke," Anakin confirmed.

Anakin turned to the doctor, ready to accept his son, when he noticed that the medical staff and Padmé were all preparing for something to happen again. With a frown, Anakin turned to his wife.

"Ani..." Padmé breathed. "I... didn't get a... chance to tell... you..."

She broke off as she pushed, her sentence ending in a scream. Anakin sat back in shock, realizing only then that there was another presence within Padmé's womb. And that presence was panicking now with the sudden loss of companionship, and the fear of being jostled about. Tears flooded Anakin's eyes, and he reached out gently with the Force to soothe the second presence as best he could, and gasped when he felt a returning tendril of Force energy.

Minutes after Luke's birth, Anakin witnessed his second child arrive, and his heart soared.

"It's a girl!" the doctor announced happily.

Anakin wiped at his face. A son... and a daughter! Twins!

"Leia!" Padmé spoke up, still laboring for air. That was the name Anakin had selected, just as Padmé had chosen Luke's name.

"Leia it is!" Anakin whispered as he caressed Padmé's cheek with his fingers.

"Luke and Leia Skywalker," they said together, their faces bright with joy.

Anakin listened to the cries of their two newborn children, his heart filled with utter bliss. Then the nurses brought the twins over, who were fussing still. Anakin noted that the closer the nurses held the infants to each other, the less their distress seemed to be.

"Congratulations to the both of you," the nurse on Padmé's side of the bed said quietly, handing one bundle to Padmé. "This is Leia."

Padmé smiled warmly at the infant, who stopped crying when she was held closer, though her tiny fists waved about as if to seek out her brother, who was handed over to Anakin.

Anakin's throat closed up with emotion the second Luke was in his embrace. He cradled the infant to his heart, kissing the exposed crown of his head.

"Hello again, Little One," Anakin whispered, closing his eyes against the flow of tears. "Thank you so much. You saved me... I love you... Luke. Your name is Luke: Luke Skywalker."

To his surprise, the infant boy looked directly at him, and Anakin felt his tiny mind touch his, forming a bond. Anakin laughed shakily, watching as Luke's eyes closed and he snuggled into his father's embrace.

So caught up was he in his moment with Luke, that Anakin forgot all about his fears for Padmé's well-being... until she started to go limp.

"Padmé!" Anakin leapt forward, minding Luke even as his heart hammered against his chest.

"She's fine, Master Skywalker," the nurse beside his wife assured him, the woman was now holding a screeching Leia, Anakin noted. "She's just exhausted from the double-delivery. She needs time to rest."

"There is nothing wrong with her, then?" Anakin had to be certain.

"No."

Anakin wilted with relief, taking a seat in the first chair he could find.

He felt his heart go out to Leia then, and he made room for her in his arms, accepting her from the nurse. He cooed at her lovingly, feeling her tiny mind also touch his, and he smiled before he kissed her cheek.

"My sweet Leia, and my little Luke," he murmured. "I love you both so much. I will always love and protect you."

The twins— much to Anakin's fascination— instantly calmed down when they were again together, and they instinctively turned toward each other.

"Are they doing this because they grew up together in Padmé's womb?" Anakin mused aloud.

"Yes," the doctor answered as he finished tending to Padmé. "Twins are naturally close when born. They know each other because of the shared womb, and they take great comfort in that now that they are out in the real world. I wouldn't be surprised if these two grow very close throughout their lives."

Anakin nodded, smiling down on the pair of newborns.

He closed his eyes and thanked the Force for his wonderful children... and for not taking his Angel from him.

Anakin made a silent vow then and there to never give in to the Dark Side, no matter the temptation.