TORMENTED RECOVERY.
A year ago Anakin was taken by Dooku while he was rescuing Chancellor Palpatine, in an attempt to turn him to the darkside; now he finally escapes. But the Anakin who returns isn't same Anakin who was taken. He is frightened, withdrawn; his memory of the last year fragmented, his spirit and soul shattered.
Obi-wan and Padme join forces to help Anakin rediscover the man he used to be; but sometimes things that are broken, cannot be fixed.
CHAPTER ONE.
Anakin felt Padme pull gently away from him,"no!" He tightened his arms around her and shook his head. "Don't go..." her presence was soothing, as it always had been; he needed her_
"It's ok Ani," a hand stroked his cheek, "I won't leave the room."
He struggled to keep hold of her hands as she stood, his breath shaking with fear, "there's a couple of people you need to meet." She walked away from him and Anakin buried his head between his knees, the fear returning to torment him.
"Anakin?" He lifted his head and blinked, in Padme's arms were two babies about a year old. Padme smiled and shrugged, "I never got a chance to tell you I was pregnant."
Anakin sat forward slowly, scarce believing what he had heard. "They're mine?"
Padme grinned, putting one of the babies in his arms. "This is Luke, your son." She held the second baby out for him to see, "and this is your daughter, Leia."
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Obi-wan smiled as he watched Anakin hold his son, Padme had done it, she had reached him when no one else could.
Master Vokara Che moved beside him, she smiled as Anakin leaned forward to kiss Leia's forehead. "When did this happen?"
Obi-wan shrugged, "only a few minutes ago." He didn't look at the healer as he watched Anakin, "now that I think of it, none of us tried talking to him.' he glanced at Vokara Che, "we left when he started screaming."
"He was distressed, leaving calmed him."
Obi-wan shook his head, "we looked so hard for him." Every lead had sent him rushing off, every lead had turned up nothing; it had been like chasing after a ghost.
Vokara Che held the small bowl of stew out to him, "go to him."
Obi-wan took a deep breath, "we don't know that he'll let me enter." For all they knew, it was only Padme he would let near him.
"You won't know if you don't try," Vokara Che pushed him forward, "he needs to eat."
Swallowing Obi-wan stepped through the door, "Anakin?" he paused when Anakin's head jerked in his direction, "It's me Anakin." He didn't move, didn't dare to in case his doing so caused Anakin to become distressed again.
Padme smiled and stroked his cheek again, "it's just Obi-wan Ani."
Anakin frowned, staring at Obi-wan through haunted, fear tinged eyes. Taking another deep breath, Obi-wan took a step closer. "I never stopped looking for you."
Anakin licked his lips, still staring at him. Then he smiled faintly, "it really is you."
Obi-wan relaxed, smiling he walked forward and held out the bowl. "Master Vokara Che says you need to eat."
Anakin's stomach growled, he reached out and almost instinctively floated the bowl to his hand. Leia giggled clapping her hands with delight, cocking his head, Anakin suddenly grinned; the pillow on his bed ripped open at a corner and a handful of feathers floated out, they drifted over Leia's head and then floated tanatlisingly close, but just out of her reach.
Leia squealed, laughing as she sat, reaching up for the feathers; little arms waving wildly. Anakin chuckled, spooning a mouthful of stew into his mouth; his stomach growled gain and he began eating ravenously.
He froze as Luke crawled up to him, the baby boy who was almost a toddler, reached up for something to pull himself to his feet; he gripped Anakin's hair. Anakin hissed at the pain as his hair was pulled, memories slammed into him; lightning struck him from all sides, pain engulfed him as he screamed...
"It's ok Ani," Padme's voice was soft, as gentle as the hands that cupped his face. "That's it, just calm down..." he heard a baby's frightened, startled squall; his son, Luke.
Breathing shakily, Anakin opened his eyes, instinctively reaching for the momentarily forgotten boy; lifting Luke into his arms, he cuddled him close. "I'm sorry," snuggling his son tight to his chest, Anakin gently rocked him. "don't cry, it's alright." Luke sobbed, still releasing startled cries. Anakin frowned as he remembered the song his mother had sung to him as a child, he didn't notice when he started to sing, holding Luke close in his arms.
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"Come stop your crying, It will be all right. Just take my hand Hold it tight, I will protect you from all around you. I will be here, Don't you cry."
Padme's eyes widened at the softly sung words, Anakin seemed to have forgotten everyone except his crying son; Padme sat back to listen, tears prickling her eyes.
"For one so small, you seem so strong. My arms will hold you, keep you safe and warm. This bond between us Can't be broken. I will be here, Don't you cry..." his chest swelled, and Ankakin's voice rose slightly. "Cause you'll be in my heart, Yes, you'll be in my heart. From this day on, Now and forever more."
Luke's cries stopped and he stared up at Anakin through calm eyes, Anakin's eyes closed as Luke's tiny hand reached up to touch his cheek; tears slid down them as he cried.