Chapter 10

Master Skywalker, there are too many of them. What are we going to do?

Anakin awoke with a start, his heart pounding in his chest. And it begins, he thought, running his hands through his tousled hair. He knew it was inevitable, only a matter of time before the past began enter his subconscious.

Pushing back the covers, Anakin got out of bed. There would be no more sleep for him this night. He got out of bed and headed downstairs. Pushing the terrace doors open, he stepped out into the cool night air. The sensation of wind ruffling his hair was pleasant, and he closed his eyes and simply drank in the fresh night air.

Anakin wasn't the only one who couldn't sleep. Padmé had passed a restless night, her emotions causing her to be tense and unable to sleep. Why is this bothering me so much? She asked herself. Why do I care if he married someone else? Our marriage is over… Padmé got out of bed and headed over to the doors that lead to the balcony outside her room. She opened the doors and stepped outside, getting a chill from a cool breeze as she did so. She looked down at the gardens, and noticed that there was someone walking around. It was Anakin. She watched him as he walked, wondering what was going on in his mind, wondering why he was as restless as she was. Going to the temple must have been hard for him, she reasoned. Is that why he can't sleep? Are the memories of what he did that night too difficult to bear? In the past she would go to him, comfort him, help him deal with the bad dreams he'd have about his mother's death. How many nights did she spend holding him in her arms, making love with him to help him deal with the pain…but you destroyed that, she reflected. You threw it away...

Anakin had sensed that Padmé was watching him, and he wondered why. Her reaction to Yoda's suggestion that he remarry surprised Anakin, for her emotions hardly seemed like those of a person who was indifferent. Quite the opposite. But why? Why would she care? She doesn't want me any more… Resisting the urge to look up at her, Anakin decided to do something that was sure to get her attention, he headed over to the pool, which was right under her balcony. Dropping his night pants, Anakin walked over to the edge of the pool, naked. The pool was heated, and the warm water was comforting as he jumped in. He swam across the length of the pool easily, knowing that Padmé was watching him. He smiled as he realized that she had seen his newly healed body, knowing without a doubt that she couldn't help but admire him. She always loved my body, he thought as he swam another length.

Padmé was watching him. The sight of Anakin's naked body had riveted her to the spot, and she found that she couldn't take her eyes from him. He's doing this on purpose, she told herself. He knows you're here …he wants you to see him. Despite this, Padmé watched, loving the way his strong arms cut through the water.

Anakin was very much aware of how Padmé was watching him, and it pleased him. After all, if she still found him attractive, there was hope that all was not lost. As he reached the end of the pool, Anakin pulled himself out of the water, giving Padmé the full view of his body. It was then that he realized that he had forgotten to bring out a towel. Damn it, he thought, so much for spontaneity.

"Forget something?" Padmé called, seeing him looking around in futility.

Anakin looked up. "Uh…yeah," he said. "Toss me a towel, would you?"

"Hold on," Padmé said. She was amused, for it seemed Anakin wasn't quite as cool as he thought he was.

Anakin waited, starting to grow cold in the night air. This was not a good idea, he thought as he noticed the affect the cold was having on his body. So much for showing off…

A splash was heard behind him, and he turned around to see a towel sinking into the pool. He looked up at Padmé, who was trying not to laugh.

"Really?" He said. "Is that the best you can do?"

Padmé laughed out loud at this point, unable to hold it in. "Sorry," she said. "I'll be right down."

Great, Anakin said, and jumped back into the pool. He wanted her to see him naked, but the cold air was not exactly helping him show off his impressive attributes. He waited until Padmé appeared on the pool deck before swimming over to the edge of the pool where she stood.

"Why did you jump back in?" She asked.

"I was getting cold," he said. "Nice and warm in here. Care to join me?" He asked with a smile.

"I'll pass," she said. "I asked 3P0 to fetch your bathrobe. Here, you want this?" She asked, holding out the towel.

"Yes please," he said. "Just…don't drop it."

Padmé smirked and watched him climb out of the water. He took the towel from her and wrapped it around his waist. "Thanks," he said.

"Don`t mention it," she said. "I've asked 3P0 to make some tea. Would you like some?" she asked as they headed indoors.

"Love some, thanks," Anakin said, taking the bathrobe from C3P0, who met him at the door.

Anakin and Padmé headed into the parlour nearby and sat down as they waited for 3P0 to bring the tea. "What are you doing up at this time of night, anyway?" Anakin asked her.

Padmé shrugged. "Couldn't sleep," she said. "What about you?"

"Bad dream," he said with a frown as he remembered the images from his dream. "The first of many, I'm sure."

Padmé didn't know how to respond, but was saved by the timely arrival of 3P0 with their tea.

"I suppose that's not surprising," she said as she picked up a cup from the tray 3P0 had set on the table beside her chair. "You've had a lot of conflict in your life."

"You could say so," Anakin said. He took a sip of tea. "But what about you?" he asked. "What's keeping you up?"

Padmé wasn't sure if she ought to tell him what was on her mind; the last thing she wanted to do was give him a false impression. "I was thinking about Yoda's suggestion," she said. "And what a difference it would have made if he'd come to that epiphany a few years earlier."

Anakin nodded. "It would have made a huge difference," he said.

"Yes it would," she said. She frowned. "I just can't help but you marrying another women will make things …awkward."

There it is, he thought. "In what way?" he asked.

"Well, if we both want to have full custody of the twins, living in the same house is the only way to do that," she said.

"Correct."

"But if you remarry…you'll want to live with your…your wife," she said, the words sounding strange to her. "And that means she'd live here," she went on.

Anakin was enjoying her obvious discomfort. "Why would that be a problem?" he asked. "We each have separate wings of the house. We would maintain our own respective privacy."

"I realize that," she said. "I guess it would just make me uncomfortable. That's all."

"That's all? You're sure?" he said.

Padmé didn't like his implication. "Yes, quite sure," she said. "But you do what you feel you need to do, I have no right to an opinion on the matter," she said. "I'm not your wife anymore."

Anakin looked at her in silence for a moment, trying to read her mind. She was always good at shielding her thoughts from him, and this was no exception. "No, you're not," he said. "But you're the mother of my children. I say that gives you the right to an opinion."

But soon there will another woman who can call herself the mother of your children! Where will that leave me? She wanted to scream, but she didn't. Padmé knew how vulnerable she was where Anakin was concerned, as wasn't about to allow herself to be hurt by him again. It had taken years for her to get over losing him. She couldn't go through that pain again.

"Well I'm going back to bed," she said. "I told Bail I would come in tomorrow, so I need to get at least a little sleep."

Anakin stood up as she did. "I meant what I said, Padmé," he said. "Despite the fact that we're no longer married, your opinion will always matter to me."

Padmé forced herself to smile, but it was clear to Anakin that she was upset. "Goodnight," she said, and left him. Anakin watched her leave and then sat down again. His tea was getting cold, and he no longer wanted it. He set his cup down and sat back in the chair with a heavy sigh. Don't you know that there will never be another woman? Do you really think I could be with anyone but you? Don't you know that I love you still? Anakin stood up, his heart heavy, and headed back up to his cold, empty bed.

Anakin was awoken early the next morning by a pair of invaders who crept into his room. He opened one eye to see Luke and Leia standing at his bedside, smiling at him.

"Good morning, Daddy!" Leia said cheerfully. "Mommy said we get to play with you all day today!"

Anakin smiled. "That sounds like a great plan," he said. "Come here, you guys," he said, opening his arms wide to his children. Luke and Leia scrambled up onto the bed and snuggled into their father's arms. "But why don't we just snuggle in bed for a while?" he asked, hoping for a few more minutes of sleep before starting his day.

"Daddy it's light outside, time to get up," Luke insisted.

Anakin couldn't help but laugh at his son's logic. "So it is," he said. "So it is. But before I get up I think you two need a good tickling," he said, attacking the twins with both hands.

Chancellor Organa's office

"Good morning Padmé," Bail said as she entered his office. He couldn't help but notice that she looked rather fatigued. "Feeling alright?"

"I'm fine, just tired," Padmé said as she sat down opposite him at his desk. "What's on the agenda today?"

Bail indicated with his hand, and Padmé turned to see Obi-Wan and Yoda there. "The Jedi Council," he said.

"Well only part of it," Obi-Wan said. "I understand Anakin is minding the younglings today."

Padmé forced a smile. "He doesn't need to mind them," she said. "We have Dormé living with us after all. He does enjoy spending time with them, though."
"Look forward to meeting your twins, I do," Yoda said, giving Padmé a warm smile. "Good to see you, it is."

Padmé was far too well bred not to return Yoda's sentiment. "Anakin told me that you have some plans to change things in the Jedi code," she said. "I have to say it's about time."

"Anakin is living proof of the power family can have," Obi-Wan said. "Without the love Leia showed him, he may never have returned to the light."

"He also told me that you want him to give the order more children," she said, getting right down to it. "Is that correct?"

Obi-Wan could see that this bothered her tremendously, despite her façade of calm. "Well, it's an idea," he said. "Of course, Anakin will be the one to decide that. We won't force him to do anything he's uncomfortable with. And he did seem rather uncomfortable with the notion."

Interesting, Padmé thought.

"The Council has asked for our help," Bail said as the two Jedi took their seats. "That's what brings them here today."

"I'm sure we'll do whatever we can to help," Padmé said, ever the diplomat.