Light Up The Dark
Disclaimer: I don't own.
Chapter 12: Awakening
"To Polis Massa, we must go, young Skywalker," Yoda announced.
Anakin's brow furrowed. "Why? It's an out of the way asteroid belt with hardly anything of note there."
"Something important is there."
"What is it?"
"See that, you will, when arrive we do." Yoda nodded firmly.
"And no matter how much I ask, you won't tell me." Anakin realized.
"No. Indeed I will not."
"All right, Master Yoda, we'll go to Polis Massa." Anakin plugged in the coordinates and they jumped to hyperspace.
*L*U*D*
When the group arrived at Polis Massa, the twins were mesmerized by the asteroids above them. Anakin and Yoda quickly pushed them into the medical facility. "Come on, let's go, kiddos," Anakin said.
They sighed but followed. Once they were all inside, a protocol droid came up. "Can I help you?"
Anakin looked down at Yoda. "What are we doing here? You haven't told me yet."
"See one of your patients, we wish to."
"Who would that be? I shall escort you."
Yoda shook his head. "Speak to the head of this facility, I must first."
"Well, if you insist." The droid led them through the hallways to an office. Yoda turned to Anakin and the twins. "Wait here, you should."
While Yoda spoke with the director of the facility, Anakin had Luke and Leia practice their levitation skills with some datapads lying around. After ten minutes, the diminutive Jedi Master finally emerged, followed by a human man, whom Anakin assumed was the director. "Follow me," the man said.
They made their way through the long, winding hallways and past many security points, which the director let them through. Finally, they arrived at their destination, a room at the very end of the hall they were on. The director then unlocked the door and backed away. Anakin slowly walked forward and pushed the button to open the door. He froze when the lone, unconscious occupant of the room was revealed. "It can't be," he breathed.
"Who is it, Master Yoda?" Luke asked.
"It-it's our mom, Luke," Leia answered, remembering the holopics she had seen of the beautiful woman.
"Padmé," Anakin whispered, taking a slow step forward. He entered the room, his children behind him. His hand reached out and brushed against her face. "Oh, my angel."
"She's so beautiful," Luke murmured.
"Isn't she?" his sister agreed.
Anakin turned to one of the medidroids in the room. "What's wrong with her?"
"She has been in stasis for the past nine years, but if you wish, she could safely be woken."
He nodded. "Yes, please, wake her." Then he turned and fled the room.
Luke and Leia shared confused glances. Luke sighed. "Do you want to stay or go after him?"
"I'll go find Daddy." She darted out of the room. "Daddy! Daddy!" At last, she found him and grabbed his arm. "What's wrong?"
"Go back in there, Leia," he said through his tears.
"I will, as soon as you tell me what's wrong." She crossed her arms and tapped her foot.
"Just…tell your mother that…that I'm sorry for Mustafar and that I understand if she never wants to see me again. If she doesn't, I won't burden her with my presence."
"Daddy…"
"Tell her that for me, princess. Please."
"All right, but I don't think she'll say that."
"Just go, sweetheart."
Leia didn't say anything; she just went back to the room where her brother and mother waited. Luke looked away from Padmé when she entered. "Is he all right?"
"Sort of. Did I miss anything?"
"No; they're still reviving her." They stood beside each other as they watched the droids waking their mother up. Finally, the droids backed away, and Padmé groaned as she opened her eyes. "What…what happened?"
"You've been in stasis for nine years," Leia informed her.
"Nine years! No...that-that can't be." She slowly began to sit up, looking over at the two children. "Luke? Leia?" she asked.
"Oh, Mama!" They both darted forward and threw their arms around her. She returned the embrace, holding them close. "My babies, already so grown-up. I missed so much." She covered her mouth, tears leaking out of her eyes. She took a deep breath. "Your father…"
"He's waiting outside. He said to tell you that he's sorry about what happened on Mustafar and he understands if you never want to see him again, and if you don't, he won't make you see him."
Padmé's brown eyes flashed. "Oh, he's sorry? He will be sorry. Help me up, kids."
They each grabbed one of their mother's arms and pulled her to her feet. She stood for a moment to steady herself before saying, "Where is he?"
Leia began to lead them in the direction Anakin had gone. They passed Master Yoda, who was standing just outside the doorway, and soon Anakin, with his back to them, entered their vision. Padmé pulled herself free of her children's hands and stormed up to her husband. "Anakin Skywalker, you turn around and face me."
He whirled around. "Padmé!"
She flung her arms around his neck and kissed him. "Oh, Anakin." His arms wrapped around her, and they stood like that for several minutes. Finally, they separated, and Padmé lifted her hand and slapped him on the cheek-hard. "You deserve that."
"I deserve a lot worse than that, actually."
"I'll say. You Force-choked me and nearly killed the twins and me, not to mention you tried to kill Obi-Wan, your best friend!" She bit her lip. "Is he…"
"He's fine. He's back at the Temple with the few Jedi who've returned…including Snips."
"Ahsoka came back? That's wonderful!"
"Isn't it?" He sighed. "Well, love, do you want me to leave? I will if you want me to. I can understand if you never wanted to see me again…or let me see the twins."
"Oh, stop it, you idiot. Of course I don't want you to leave. I still love you. And maybe we can finally be a family."
He smiled. "Yes, let's at least try."
Leia grinned at her brother. "We're going to be a family!" The four Skywalkers wrapped their arms around each other. They were together at last.
A/N: Still have an epilogue to go! And, yes, I had to save Padmé's life! Hurray!
OK, so, as I'm posting this, I have 181 reviews. If ya'll can get me to 200 before Saturday, I'll post the epilogue early. A little extra motivation there. ;)
