Crazy how it feels tonight
Crazy how you make it all alright love
You crush me with the things you do
I do for you anything too
Three Months Later..
She stared out over the collective pride swelling in her chest as the first assembly of the new Senate was called to order. It had been eight months since her father's death, eight months of fighting Imperialist, eight months of pain and torment, but it was over.
The Democrats, in the beginning, hadn't the foggiest idea what to do with her. The people loved her, and all that she had done for the Empire in its dwindling days, so much that when she had proclaimed the beginning of the New Republic, many had pleaded her to remain in office.
She finally relented to their pleas and allowed them to proclaim her Empress of Coruscant. She would sit in on meetings and committees, and do charity work. She had no plans to use what little power she had, only wishing to devote her time to her study at the newly renovated Jedi Temple.
She had removed many of the policy's that hadn't worked and, at the aggravation of the more corrupt and her last act had been to place Bail Organa as the new Chancellor, removing most of the power of the positions and setting strict term limits. He would be allowed two four-year terms before forced to stepped down.
No repeats.
She rubbed her ballooning stomach, the child was restless and her back was immensely sore. She felt another kick and winced, "Oomph!" She cried out and sat back on the ledge. Her hands had been swollen all morning and she had felt tired all day, but she wasn't going to let pregnancy get in the way of this momentous day.
"Hush, Momma's working." She said quietly, her self-appointed Jedi protector looked back at her and smirked.
"Problems Milady?"
"Just feeling very pregnant Obi Wan." She felt a quick flash of guilt at forgetting Atam, her most loyal guard. But when upon her return after the Battle of the Death Star she had allowed him to seek out his family once more. Now that the danger was oven her most loyal of friends had requested that he be allowed to retire. A request she had given more than willingly.
He had brought his wife and young son Han to the capital and she had offered him a lavish pension for all his efforts, in which he took humbly. She still saw the wry, comical old man often. She had demanded, as a term of his retirement, that he take an advisory role to the new senate guards that had replaced her Royal Reds.
She closed her eyes and tried to calm her heart and her child, but neither would quiet. She slumped to the ground, the pain in her back shooting down her legs.
"Mally." Obi Wan said, kneeling beside her, his arm wrapping around her shoulder. "You are not alright." Obi Wan looked to Padmé and caught her eye.
Padmé rushed over with Anakin racing beside her, "What wrong?" Padmé asked. He shrugged and saw both Obi Wan and Aja sitting on the ground.
"Good thing you're a phenomenal pilot, cause we need to hurry." Obi Wan said nervously. "She's not well."
"The baby decided she doesn't like politics. She wants out now." Aja winced and bit down on her lip hard. Obi Wan's heart was racing as he watched Anakin scoop his sister up and race to the hanger. He placed in her in the back seat, her head resting on Padmé's lap.
"You coming Old Man or what?" Obi Wan's hesitation was amusing, or would be at any other time. He jumped into the speeder and Anakin raced off weaving in and out of traffic. He happened to turn around just as Aja let out a painful scream.
"Breathe Aja," Padmé coached, "Breathe." Obi Wan had been there for the birth of Padmé's twins, but somehow this seemed different. He had been so focused on the remnants of the battle with then-Vader, keeping Padmé alive and hiding the twins, he hadn't the time to appreciate what was actually occurring.
Anakin landed and was immediately in motion, "Sir I-"
"This is the Empress. You really want to tell me what I can't do?" Anakin snapped. Padmé smiled at her husband's care for his sister. He carried her into the hospital and brushed her hair out of her face, "I got your back sis." Aja moved to cup his face but her hand clenched in pain.
The Doctor's began hooking her up to monitors and tried to usher them out, but Anakin wouldn't have it. "We are allowed to stay," he suggested to the Nurse, who nodded and turned back to Aja.
"160 on 110 Doctor. We've got Pre-eclampsia!"
Things started happening and Aja was screaming. "SAVE HER!" The doctors were yelling things like "we're taking this to surgery" and "hook her up," and "blood; she needs blood."
And the one that concerned Anakin the most "We're losing her!"
He started trembling as he watched them wheel her out, the image of his sister's bloodshot blue eyes staring at him, Take care of them, all of them.
"No.. Malla!" he screamed and reached out for her, but she was already gone through the double doors.
"What Anakin?" Padmé asked.
"She's-.." Tears sprung to his eyes, "She can't give up.. I need her."
"She'll be fine Ani." Padmé rubbed his back, "She will not die in Childbirth." I promise you Ani, I won't die in Childbirth. "She's young and strong."
"She's been through so much." He slumped onto the chair, hanging his head. "I need her so much. She's -.. she's my Sister." He felt the bond wax and wane, weakening as she slipped out of consciousness.
He slumped on the wall trembling with emotions, willing the connection to remain intact. As long as he felt the golden edge to her mind in his own, he knew she was ok.
It was early evening and hours had passed with nothing from within the operating room. Only Padmé had left the small waiting room, momentarily and contacted Aja's loyal handmaiden Rooki to care for the children while they were at the hospital. The woman had wanted to rush in, but knew that her mistress would wish her to care for the children. She spotted a nurse at the desk and her mind made a decision. "Excuse me, I was wondering if you could help me?"
"What do you need Milady Skywalker," She smiled, warmth filling her from the sound of her true name.
"A blood test." The nurse nodded and showed Padmé into a room. She had returned and eagerly looked to the two men, hoping for some kind of sign. Obi Wan was attempting to meditate and Anakin was pacing. She opened her mouth to give them the good news when the doctor emerged suddenly, his face full of concern. "Well? How's the Empress?" Anakin barked. His own worry clenching his heart.
"She's.. Stable. For the time being. She gave birth to a perfectly healthy baby girl."
"But the Empress." Anakin pressed.
"Yes, she had some major complications. She's lost a lot of blood. We're replacing it now. Providing she doesn't go into shock, she should be ok.."
"Should?"
"Her condition is very fragile right now. She needs lots of rest and time to recover. It seems her body took on much stress during her pregnancy and she had neglected her own needs. The baby leeched what it needed at her expense." The words floated past him. "Since she no longer has any family-What with the Emperor and Prince gone.."
"I am her brother." Anakin said bluntly, "this is my wife. We are her family." The Doctor restrained his surprise well, but not enough that the Force sensitives in the room couldn't see it.
"I didn't know that she-.. Well that certainly changes things." The Doctor spluttered at the sight of the two Jedi and the beautiful Senator Amidala all looking at him with piercing glares.
"Can we see her?" Obi Wan asked cautiously.
"Certainly. She is sedated but should be coming around soon." Anakin nodded and the three followed the good Doctor to the room. Anakin's brittle emotions nearly broke at the frail image before him. She was ghastly pale and her breathing was shallow. A nurse came in, a large bundle in her arms.
"The child?" Padmé stretched her arms out and cradled her niece in her arms.
"She's beautiful." Padmé said smiling, looking over at Aja. She sat on the bedside and the babe reached for its mother, as if she knew that her mother needed her. The child was barely hours old and it was already worrying about her mother. Anakin felt a fluttering in the deep recesses of her mind and smiled.
"That's it little one," he cooed to the child, "reach for your Mother." Obi Wan was floored by what he was feeling, the snap in the Force and this golden woman and child connected like an fishing line pulling its bounty to the surface.
"Tara?." Aja mumbled, "My little Tara.." Her eyes floated around the room till she saw her daughter in the arms of her Sister in law. She attempted to sit up but was restricted by the tubes and wires.
"These are unnecessary." She started pulling the wires off and loud beeping started wailing, the Baby jumped and began to cry. "Oh my little one," she scooped the child from her Aunt and, supporting her head, she pulled her close turning the machines off with her mind.
Nurses and the Doctor came in, scowling at the scene before them, "I'm fine. You can leave." Anakin and Padmé rolled their eyes.
Anakin stood and shot a speculative glance at his flummoxed Master, a smirk blooming across his face. He looked down at his wife beside him, "We should go save Miss Rooki, the children will have locked her in the cupboard by now."
Padmé quirked a brow, "You Skywalker's." She rolled her eyes. "We'll return with the children. They've been anxious to meet this little one." Aja smiled broadly. She and Anakin shared a glance, so much being expressed with no words being said.
The baby was nestled up against her breast, her grey eyes darting around the new surroundings, as if making a study of all her family in the room.
Anakin kissed her cheek, "I love you Mal," and he kissed his niece on her blond forehead, "And I love you little one." He turned to follow his wife, glancing at Obi Wan, "Take care of her." He said weaving many meanings into four words. Obi Wan watched them leave and then turned back to the woman and the babe on the bed. "Milady," he bowed courtly, "I am-.. am pleased to.. To see you-"
"Oh, just come sit," She pulled him down to sit on the bed beside her with her own hand. He noticed how weak her grasp was, how pale she still was.
He looked at her deeply, her blue eyes just as piercing as her brothers, "I was-.. Scared." Obi Wan admitted to her, "I didn't know what –" She smirked and cupped his cheek, her arm shaking under her own weight.
"Oh my silly old Jedi." She said weakly, "What am I ever going to do with you." His eyes flashed and she chuckled, which turned quickly into a cough. "Admit it."
"I beg your pardon?" He said, trying to play dim. They stared at each other for a few minutes before she sighed and rolled her eyes.
"Fine, I will. I love you." She said plainly. These Skywalker's sure don't beat around the bush, he thought, the rosy blush crept up his neck and began staining his cheeks. "I think I've loved you since I first saw you in that dank bar." She sniggered at the memory. Her hand was falling from his face, and he mourned the loss, quickly catching it in his own hand and pressing his lips to her knuckles.
She smiled genuinely and looked over at the baby resting in her arms. "She's so beautiful." She glanced back at Obi Wan's and their eyes connected. He bend forward and pressed his lips to her gently.
"I love you too. Amallakin." A tear fell down her cheek and she snuffled at the tenderness of the calm man in front of her. "I don't have anything to give you except myself."
"All I have ever wanted was love. I gave my love willingly away and got my heart broken, but I would do it all over again. And I am prepared to.. With you." Her blue eyes pierced him and he felt her looking into his soul. "Love is painful-"
"But worth it. From what I've seen." He smiled. He looked down at the child in her arms, a tear falling down his own cheek, "So beautiful."
I am like a falling star who has finally found her place next to another in a lovely constellation, where we will sparkle in the heavens forever. She thought as she smiled up at the man who was staring at the little creature in her arms. I am complete.
"You think that was wise? Leaving them together?" Padmé asked softly as they walked up to the apartment.
"Absolutely. He'll either give in to the conflicted feelings he's been trying to hide from me for months now, or we'll get a call that she's murdered him from her conflicted feelings." She was exempted from a response as their two children came racing out. Anakin chuckled and scooped up Leia who had run straight for her Father as Padmé was kneeling staring at Luke who was holding up a finger.
"I hurt." She pulled the little hand close for inspection.
"I know the perfect medicine." She kissed the finger, then the hand, then she laid kisses all over his face, much to the glee of the little boy. "All better?"
"Uh huh! Where's Aunt Ajie?"
"She is at the hospital, she had her baby." The two started squealing and their parent's shot each other a look, "How about we eat dinner and then go visit? I'm sure she's very sleepy." The two nodded and rushed back into the Apartment. Rooki had emerged long enough to see the children's parent's and turned and followed them back inside.
Padmé spied the pamphlet she had been reading earlier that week. The suspicion of where it had originated from nearly unquestionable. She picked it back up, smiled, and handed him the pamphlet.
Opening it he saw a familiar scrawl.
Think About It.Was all it said.
His smile grew wider as he read the printout. "Do we need to make a decision?"
"I already made up my mind, one way or another we're going to need to figure something out." He gave her a quizzical look and she smiled broadly.
"I'm surprised at you Anakin Skywalker. For one so intelligent you sure can be mighty dense." She reached up and looped her arms behind his neck, "This apartment is grand, but it's not a home, too many bad memories are attached to it. And it's no place for a baby."
"Angel, Mally won't have Tara here that often. You speak like she'll be living with us."
"And you assume I'm speaking about Tara." His wife's eyes twinkled.
"But at least you'll have peace for now. At least for a couple months." The words echoed in his head. She had said she had a vision. Could it be? His mouth went dry and flapped open and shut a couple times before words finally came out, "Are you sure?"
"Very sure. I took a test at the hospital, I was about to tell you when the Doctor came out." She smiled. His laughed was warm and echoed through the halls of the stiff apartment. He picked her up and swung her around, still laughing, the jubilant feeling washing over him so powerfully, that his eyes were watering with unshed tears.
Pulling back Padmé sighed. "This place has too many scars, I think it's time we start fresh." It was certainly home, but it wasn't homey.
Especially now that his wife was pregnant. He had been married to this wonderful creature for nearly seven years, despite being estranged from her for three of those years, he fully intended to use the next fifty or more to make it up to her. In any way, in every way. And if she needed an adjoined luxurious twin apartment that had apparently been purchased recently by his sister then she would have it.
He would move galaxies for this woman and their two – soon three children. And the little family-to-be across the city standing in awe of their own love.
Love, he smirked, once upon a time it had been a dirty word. At the Jedi Temple, to Love was unacceptable. After he had lost her, Love was impossible. It had been unfathomable to ever love again. To consider it had been too painful for even the vicious dark beast he had been.
Now he had so much love bursting from him. His wife, his children, his sister, his friend.
Love lit his way back, and he would trust it now, for he had learn the hard way that love was not dirty, nor impossible, but oh so clever, and sometimes, if the timing was right and the conditions were perfect.
Love was kind.