Rex entered the room Anakin was resting in. Fress slipped into labor an hour ago and Jess had rushed her to the medward. Padme voiced her concerns with Rex, she asked him to try to get Anakin to open up about the nightmares he started having before meeting them back at the medward. Mekaila was waiting outside the room with the hover chair. He heard Anakin talking in his sleep and what he heard caused chills to run down his back. Anakin rolled over again muttering about keeping Vader away from Leia. He placed a hand onto Anakin's shoulder as Anakin shrugged Rex's hand away. "Anakin, wake up."

"Keep your hands off her," Anakin snapped as Rex took a step back from the bed as Anakin's eyes snapped open. It took a few seconds before Anakin placed a hand against his forehead. "Rex?"

"That was some nightmare," Rex pointed out as he stepped back towards the bed. "Want to talk about it?"

"Not really," Anakin answered honestly as sat up with a frown. "What's going on? And why are you in my room?"

"The others took Fress back to the medward and they asked me to come and get you," Rex explained with a frown. "You were talking in your sleep and I can guess what the nightmare was about. Are you sure you won't talk about it?"

Anakin fell silent as he slowly sat up and rubbed his temples. He could tell his long time friend was stressed from this nightmare. "I honestly don't want…"

"You promised to talk about anything disturbing you," Rex reminded Anakin with a stern expression. "It'll make you feel better by getting this off your chest," he paused for a second as Anakin glanced at him with disbelief. "If you won't talk to me, will you at least consider talking to a therapist?"

Anakin took a deep breath and slowly released it as Rex waited patiently for him to answer. "I keep asking myself one thing."

"And what is it you keep asking yourself?" Rex encouraged with a frown.

"Why I didn't realize Leia was mine back on the first Death Star," Anakin answered honestly. "During my interrogation of her mind, I remember sensing Padme in her. I must've pushed that thought to the side."

"What was the dream really about?" Rex persisted as concern washed over him. Anakin must be really beating himself up over the treatment of his children.

"I'm standing in Leia's prison cell, she's resting on the bench," Anakin started to explain as he gave a pleading expression for Rex to drop it. Rex gave a nod of encouragement instead, he wanted Anakin to get this off his chest. "The door opens and Vader walks in with the probe droid. Leia sits up with fear in her eyes. Fear and pain I caused her. I desperately want to put her torture to a stop but I can't. I most likely traumatized her. It's a wonder she wants me in her life."

"It's interesting you're watching everything from Leia's perspective instead of your own," Rex commented with a frown as he placed a hand onto Anakin's shoulder. "Being tortured like Vader did with Leia puts you in her place. As for wanting you in her life, haven't you seen by now she's forgiven you and has given you a second chance? She's fallen in love with the father she never knew. That is a rare gift considering the past you two shared. She already suspects you're having nightmares from aboard the first death star. Just talk with her."

"That is not a conversation I'm looking forward to having," Anakin muttered under his breath. "I can't bear the thought of bringing up bad memories on her."

"The sooner you two have this conversation, the sooner the nightmares will stop," Rex pointed out with a frown. "Don't avoid it for too much longer."

"We should get to the medward before Fress gives birth," Anakin pointed out with a slight smile as Rex nodded in agreement. Kay entered the room with the hover chair as Anakin settled himself in. He didn't seem in quite as much pain as he did earlier, maybe that extra bit of sleep here did Anakin some good.

Anakin glanced around the medward as the doctor who was overseeing his case headed towards him with a frown. He gave a sheepish smile knowing he was gone for more than a few hours. "I fell asleep at my friends house for a few hours."

"We can all vouch for him," Rex backed Anakin up pretty quickly. "At the moment we need to get to the maternity ward. A friend of ours is going to give birth shortly and I know she wants Anakin there."

"Well, at least we know which part of the hospital Anakin is in," the medic seemed hesitant for a second and shook his head. "Before I let you head up there, I need to ask you a few questions. Anakin, it's been more than a few hours since you're last dose of pain meds. On a scale of one to ten, how much pain are you in?"

Anakin paused as he thought about it. He was still in some amount of pain, the healing trance from earlier did help quite a bit. He was able to stand up without getting the wind knocked out of him like earlier this morning. "I would say seven."

"All right," the medic waved a nurse over and wrote down instructions. The nurse glanced at the flimsy gave a short nod and walked off. "It appears that nap did you some good. What is the name of your friend that is in labor?"

"Fress Colias," Anakin answered with a frown. "Why?"

"In a few hours I need to know where to send the nurse to check on you," the medic answered honestly. "Nothing more."

"Oh, right," Anakin muttered under his breath as the nurse walked up beside him and pushed a needle into his arm. As soon as the medic gave the okay, Rex pushed the chair towards the turbolift. He hoped he wasn't too late.

Jess glanced up as Rex pushed the hover chair Anakin was sitting in as Mekaila entered behind them causing him to smile. Padme, Luke, Leia, Ahsoka and Han were in the room with them causing him to smile. They were surrounded by their friends for this great occasion. He placed the cloth against Fress's forehead wiping the sweat away. She was almost six milliliters dilated meaning the twins could come at any time. Brice was sitting in the chair on the other side of Fress's bed. He was very excited. "Glad to see you finally joined us, Anakin."

"As long as I haven't missed it yet," Anakin smiled as Fress shook her head. "How are you feeling?"

"Like giving birth," Fress snipped easily causing Anakin to pause with a cautious frown. "So five minutes right, Leia?"

"You told her?" Anakin questioned as Leia smirked. "Don't get any ideas, Fress."

"Get any ideas," Fress paused for a second then gave a smirk of her own. "I have pregnancy brain, no ideas yet."

"Very funny," Anakin raised an eyebrow as Fress gave a grin in turn. "You will be too busy to come up with a plan and by the time you have spare time, you'll forget about what you have been told."

"We'll see about that," Fress teased then grimaced. The readings on the monitor went up as Jess held onto Fress's hand. "No more kids after this. You're getting fixed."

Jess swallowed hard and shook his head. "Do I have too?"

"Yes," Fress enforced with a frown as Jess bit on his lower lip. "Three kids is enough."

"Yeah, you're right. No more kids. Three is a good family size," Jess agreed as he gave a pleading stare to Fress, it looked like she had made up her mind already. "I love you more now for going through this a second time. You're just at fault as I am. It takes two to make a kid."

"Don't push it, Jess," Fress warned with a hiss causing Jess to give a smile in turn. "You will make arrangements in the next couple of days."

"As will you, Anakin. Once you're well enough," Padme spoke as Anakin's jaw dropped.

"Now wait a minute," Anakin defended himself as he glanced at Luke and Leia. Padme was showing, close to six months causing him to frown. "Jess, you and I will go drinking first."

"Sounds like a plan to me," Jess agreed as Fress glared at them.

"Don't try to get out of it," Fress warned as Padme crossed her arms over her chest glaring at both of them causing Anakin to grimace. The look Jess thought as he felt like a pitton caught in the headlights of a speeder.

"Fine," Anakin agreed with a frown. "Give Jess a few days and when I'm feeling up to it, we'll go together."

"I agree," Fress agreed with a slight smile. "Padme and I will accompany you that day to make sure you don't chicken out at the last minute."

"Blast it," Anakin cursed under his breath as Padme glared at him with a warning causing Anakin to pause for a second. "I honestly don't want…"

"You'll be protecting me, Anakin," Padme pointed out with a frown. "If I get fixed the surgery is far more dangerous. With you it's a ten minute procedure."

"I'll get it done," Anakin agreed after a minute of silence as Jess nodded in agreement. Since Padme put it that way. It was protecting the woman he loved.

"We'll go together," Jess agreed as Fress gave a smile in appreciation. "Anakin, when you're up to it. We'll make the appointments."

"Sounds good," Anakin agreed as Padme smiled in appreciation as the medic walked in. Luke and Han both looked mortified causing Jess to give a slight smile. "Don't worry you two. It's just Jess and I. Three kids is enough."

"Sorry to interrupt but I would like to check on Fress to see how far along she is, only the father may stay. Everyone else must leave."

"We'll be just outside the door," Anakin spoke with a calm expression as everyone filed out of the room including Brice.

Jess leaned his head against Fress's as she waited patiently for the medic to perform his duty. They had their son back and they were about to add two more to their family soon. He couldn't be any happier then he was now.

Anakin closed his eyes for a few minutes. He could not believe what Padme wanted him to do, she felt that three kids drew the line. Then again, getting fixed meant anytime anywhere without getting her pregnant again. There was one bright side to it. He felt something wet warm and pleasant pressed against his lips with a slight aftertaste of fruit. He opened his eyes looking into Padmes as she pulled back with a slight smile.

Before a word could be spoken the door opened as the medic stepped out with a frown. "Fress has requested for Brice and Anakin to be in the room with her. She's close to delivering, everyone else will be asked to head to the waiting room."

Anakin gave a short nod as the others walked away. Brice stepped back into the room and walked to Jess's side as Anakin maneuvered his chair to the other side of the bed. He reached for Fress's hand as the medic told her to push.

"It's a boy," the medic spoke out as Anakin heard a small voice cry out.

"Mike James Shern," Fress said with a grin as Jess repeated the name.

Another minute passed by as the medic pronounced a girl. A small voice started crying causing a grin to cross his face. "Mekeia Ani Shern."

The twins were rushed off to check their health due to being premature. Fress looked tired and Brice and Jess both looked excited. He smiled in turn, he couldn't wait until Padme gave birth. He was really hoping for another girl. Padme picked up a few items more meant for a boy. I guess they each hoped for the other.

Brice and Jess walked out to the waiting room as everyone stopped what they were discussing and turned their attention to them. Anakin held Mekeia in his arms as he looked down at the baby girl. Brice held his baby brother. "May I present Mekeia Ani Shern," Jess announced as he glanced at Anakin. "And our son Mike James Shern, Both are healthy."

Padme knelt down beside Anakin as he looked down at the tiny bundle in his arms. "Would you like to hold her?"

Padme nodded as she took Kei out of Anakin's arms. "She's beautiful, congratulations Jess."

"Thanks," Jess grinned as he handed out pink and blue chocolate covered cigars. "And to celebrate with fake chocolate cigars. Fress and I appreciate everyone helping us out at the last minute. We couldn't have finished without your help."

"He's adorable, it was our pleasure, Jess," Leia was gushing over the baby in her arms as Han looked on with wonder. "Han."

"I'm all for it, when the time's right," Han agreed with a smile. "And they would have everything they need."

"I know," Leia agreed with a soft smile as Ahsoka picked up Mekeia into her arms.

"Is Ani Anakin's childhood nickname?" Ahsoka questioned as Jess nodded. "I think it's sweet. Ani is a beautiful girl's name."

"Hey," Anakin rejected with a mocking glare. "It's short for Anakin."

"That maybe so, but it's still a girl's name," Ahsoka teased with a smirk. "Maybe your mother was hoping for a girl."

Anakin paused for a second raising an eyebrow in disbelief. "She shortened my name and it stuck with my childhood friends," he paused for a second as Ahsoka watched him with a frown. "Okay, so maybe she was hoping for a girl. I still loved her regardless."

"I know, Ani," Ahsoka smiled as she handed the child to Luke. "They are adorable, Jess. Congratulations. How is Fress doing?"

"She did good, but she is tired," Jess answered with a smile. "The medic is cleaning her up at the moment. Rex, what is this about helping with diaper duty for the first week?"

"We made a small bet on Anakin's reactions in Jabba's palace when he walked in," Rex answered honestly as Anakin raised an eyebrow. "And I lost the bet."

"What did I miss?" Padme questioned with a curious expression.

"Nothing much, Leia got caught by Jabba and he dressed her like one of his play toys. Quite a few people made bets on Anakin's reaction towards the hutt," Rex explained with a sheepish smile. "By then everyone in Jabba's palace knew Leia was Vader's daughter."

"I can see Anakin Force choking the hutt," Padme said with a slight smirk as Rex groaned. "You bet against that? Fress knew what his reaction would've been."

"Remind me to never bet against Fress again," Rex smirked as Jess nodded in agreement.

"My lord, the Shern twins have been delivered."

"Have they now? Get me their midichlorian count."

"At once my lord."

To be continued

Thanks for reading :)