A/N: So it's been a while but I'm back! I don't know why but this one got kind of stuck in my head so its probably just self-indulgent fluff but I feel like this series needs more fluff.

Anyway, enjoy!


Episode 3: Honey, I'm Home


Anakin Skywalker crept into Padmé's darkened apartments, silent as the grave. If anyone had been watching - which they weren't - they would have seen the shadows of his face give way to a small grin and if anyone had been listening - which they weren't - they would have heard a contented sigh.

Padmé's presence down the hall beckoned him, but it wasn't her summons he obeyed first. Instead, he passed her open bedroom door with only a prolonged look and found another, into which he stepped inside.

The grin spread from small to blinding in the space of a few seconds.

Two Force signatures, previously stilled with sleep, stirred at his presence, one on either side of the room. Anakin crossed to the left one first and played with the baby boy's sleeping fingers. They were so tiny his heart swelled in disbelief. He had been to impossible worlds of every description, seen things he'll never forget, met species of every creed, but he had never seen anything more delicate or precious than his son's tiny hand.

Or his daughter's sleeping face. Her precious, fragile hands were closed into fists, thrown up by her head as she dreamed. As he took the few steps to her crib, her leg kicked in a swimming motion and Anakin laughed out loud, quickly stifling it before the outburst of sound could wake his slumbering children. Or his wife.

With a final loving look, Anakin crept out of the twin's room and returned to the one he had passed by before. Kicking off his boots and crawling onto the bed, he snaked his arms around Padmé's waist and pulled her back to his chest, burying his face in her soft dark curls.

'If you're going to do that, at least take your belt off,' she winced, but he couldn't see her smile. Anakin chuckled lowly in his chest, the sound mostly muffled by her hair, but complied. His belt, tunic and glove found their way to the floor.

'That better?'

'Mhmm,' she hummed and twisted around to face him, brown eyes opening to take in his face. 'Hello.'

'Hello,' he whispered back. He rolled onto his back, still not letting go until she was lying on top of him, her long hair enclosing their faces in a dark curtain. 'Hmmm I could get used to this,' he smiled.

Padmé cocked her head at him. 'Is it likely you'll have to?' she asked.

'I got word today,' he confirmed. 'Master Yoda is taking on a more active role in the Order and assigning me to take care of and teach the younglings.'

'He's giving you a desk job?' Padmé asked. 'Why?'

He smirked ruefully at her. 'Practice.' Then he sobered. 'And as of two days from now, I will be the only Jedi without a Padawan, as per the agreement, but I need an excuse. If I'm training the younglings, I can't have a Padawan of my own, see?'

Padmé absently traced circles on his chest. 'So that means that you'll be here, on Coruscant, for the foreseeable future?'

Anakin nodded. 'It looks like it.'

She frowned. 'And you're okay with that?'

'Of course not,' he replied, a hint of bitterness colouring his voice. 'I want to be out there restoring peace to the Galaxy while you're here doing the same in the Senate, but instead, Yoda's got me as some-' he pursed his lips.

'Some what?'

Anakin huffed. 'Some stay-at-home-dad.'

Padmé grinned at his indignance. 'Now that is a sentence I thought I'd never hear you say,' she giggled. 'Sorry. I know this is hard for you. But you're going to be great. You'll be safeguarding the future as much as Obi-Wan or Yoda or the other Jedi. And... If you think about it, Master Yoda has done you a kindness. He's given you the opportunity to be here, close to your family.'

Anakin ran a hand through her hair, playing with the curls. 'Well,' he said, and the teasing tone was back. 'It does have its perks.' He pulled her head down for a kiss.

When they broke apart, Padmé sighed solemnly and lay her head down on his chest, tucked under his chin. 'This means in a few years you'll see the twins more than I will.'

Anakin tightened his arms around her, hearing the heartbreak in her voice. 'Padmé, I'm sorry this had to happen. I'm sorry we couldn't hide you three away so they could live apart from this. I'm sorry we're eventually going to have to give them up.'

'I know,' she murmured. 'And I'm sorry they're never going to know you're their father. But we're doing the right thing. For them, for the Galaxy. They'll be safe at the Temple with you. The Sith are dead and you'll be there to protect them for me.'

'I will,' Anakin vowed. 'I promise.'


The next morning, before the first light of dawn had appeared, glinting off the skyscrapers of Coruscant, Anakin and Padmé awoke to a beautiful sound.

Their baby girl was crying to be fed.