Chapter 52

Night had fallen on Delaya when the Skywalkers arrived there. Obi-Wan and Anakin each carried a twin to the house, both Luke and Leia having fallen fast asleep hours earlier.

The house was dark when they reached it, so Padmé went ahead to unlock the door and activate the lights. Opening the door, she stepped inside and then let Obi-Wan and Anakin enter carrying the twins. The house was quiet, and Padmé half wondered if Dormé had vacated the premises in their absence. But soon the sound of people entering the house and walking about awoke her, and she poked her head out of her room in time to see Obi-Wan enter the twins' room with Leia sleeping in his arms. Dormé hastily put on her robe and headed down the stairs to see what was going on.

"Padmé, you're home!"

Padmé, who was in the kitchen preparing to make a pot of tea, turned around at the sound of her voice. "Yes, we just got in," she said. "Sorry we woke you."

"It's okay," Dormé said, watching her friend, feeling terribly awkward with her. Things had been so strained the last time they saw one another that Dormé had to wonder where she stood with Padmé. The fact that Obi-Wan was in the house, and helping with the children made her think that perhaps they were not as bad as she had feared.

"Is everything okay?" Dormé asked. "Anakin…he's…he's alright?"

Padmé nodded. "Yes, he's fine," she replied. "We were able to get him there in time. He and Obi-Wan have mended their differences too. I suppose we have you to thank for bringing them together," she added with a smile.

"Padmé, you know I never meant any harm by leaving him that note," Dormé replied. "I truly thought that you had abandoned your idea of going to Vader. I didn't mean to cause any trouble, you must believe me!"

Padmé walked over to her friend and put her hands on her shoulders. "Yes, I know that Dormé. This has been a rough time for all of us. I want to apologize for the way I spoke to you the last time I was here, and for striking you. That was a terrible thing to do, and I'm sorry."

Dormé smiled, relieved beyond measure to have Padmé back in her corner. "I'm sorry too," she said. "For ever doubting you, for all the things I've said about Anakin. I should have known better than to trust your judgment, and for that I'm sorry."

Padmé smiled, and hugged Dormé. "I've missed you," she said. "You are my oldest friend, Dormé. I need you in my life."

Dormé nodded, her own tears preventing her from speaking. "You'll always have me, Padmé," she replied at last. "As long as you need me."

"Well, looks like the twins are down for the count," Anakin said as he entered the kitchen. He was surprised to see Padmé and Dormé hugging one another.

"Anakin, it's so good to see you well," Dormé said as she released Padmé. "I was so worried."

Anakin was surprised by her words, and looked at Padmé, who merely nodded.

"Thank you," he said at last. "It's good to be home. I don't suppose you have anything to eat lying around, do you?"

"I'm sure I can find something," Dormé replied with a smile.

"Great," Anakin replied. "Because I'm starving."

"So what else is new?" Obi-Wan quipped as he entered the room.

Anakin laughed and proceeded to help Padmé with the tea as Dormé bustled around to find something to eat for the four of them. She felt flustered to be in Obi-Wan's presence again, and couldn't even work up the nerve to look at him right away.

"It's good to see you again, Dormé," he said at last, sensing her nervousness.

She looked up from what she was doing and smiled at him, her cheeks turning pink. "It's nice to see you too, Obi-Wan," she replied. "Are you hungry too? I'd be happy to get something for you."

"That would be lovely, thank you," he replied as he sat down at the table.

Anakin came up behind Padmé and put his arms around her waist, kissing her neck.

"Ani, we're not alone!" she chided him gently.

"So?" he replied. "We don't have to pretend any more, Padmé. Do you realize that? We don't have to hide our marriage any more."

Padmé turned to him. "You're right," she replied with a smile. "Hard to imagine, isn't it?"

He nodded. "It is," he said. "But it's true. Now we can let the whole galaxy know how we feel about one another," he told her, kissing her again.

Padmé smiled. "Yes, but maybe right now isn't the best time to do so," she replied.

"Alright, alright," he said, releasing her. "I'll try to behave. For now at least," he added with a smile.

Padmé laughed. "Can you reach that teapot up there?" she said, pointing to the top shelf.

Anakin brought it down effortlessly using the Force. "You mean this one?" he said, floating it to her.

"Show off," she said with a smile. "Thank you."

"No problem," he replied.

"Here we are," Dormé announced as she brought a plate of sandwiches and one of biscuits to the table.

"Thank you, Dormé," Obi-Wan replied with a smile.

"Here's the tea," Padmé said, setting cups down before each of them.

"Where is Master Nejaa?" Dormé asked as she sat down.

"He went to Dagobah to find Yoda," Padmé told her.

"I will be most interested to see what Master Yoda thinks of your transformation," Obi-Wan remarked. "Although something tells me he already sensed it happening."

"That's very possible," Anakin replied. "And only makes sense, since Palpatine did."

Obi-Wan nodded solemnly. "Yes, I wasn't surprised by that at all. It was really only a matter of time before he did so."

Dormé, who really had no idea about how such things were possible, merely nodded in agreement, only too happy to be sitting beside Obi-Wan, listening to his accent again.

Anakin was about to reply when he stopped, a thoughtful expression on his face. "I think we're about to be invaded," he said.

Padmé looked at him in alarm. "What are you…" she stopped as Luke and Leia ran into the room. "What are you doing up?" she asked as Leia and Luke hopped onto their father's lap.

"We're hungry," Leia announced. Luke nodded in agreement.

Anakin looked at Padmé. "Sounds rather suspicious to me," he said.

Padmé nodded. "Yes, I think so too," she replied, offering the tray of sandwiches to the twins.

"You must be happy to be home," Obi-Wan said to the twins with a smile.

Luke and Leia nodded as they munched on their sandwiches.

"It's been very quiet around here lately," Dormé remarked. "It's good to have you back."

"Obi-Wan, why did you hurt our daddy?" Leia asked, looking at the Jedi Master intently.

Obi-Wan was taken aback by her question, and was momentarily flummoxed by the child's candor. He looked up at Anakin for help.

"Sometime adults disagree about things, Leia," Anakin told her gently, "and sometimes we use physical means to settle those disagreements. It's not right, but sometimes we do it anyway."

"Sometimes Leia and me fight," Luke piped up. "She sits on me and pinches my nose."

The adults had to suppress their laughter at Luke's solemn statement.

"And what do you do to her, Luke?" Padmé prodded.

Luke looked up at his mother. "Well, sometimes I pull her hair," he admitted sheepishly. "But Mommy always makes us kiss and make up," he hastened to add.

"Did you and Obi-Wan kiss and make up?" Leia asked her father.

Anakin looked at Obi-Wan and laughed. "Well, no," he replied. "We just hugged. No kisses."

Obi-Wan nodded with a smile. "Yes, Jedi don't do much kissing as a rule," he added.
"Daddy kisses us all the time," Luke piped up. "And even Mommy too sometimes."

"Is that so?" Obi-Wan replied thoughtfully. "Well your daddy has his own set of rules, little one," he said looking at Anakin with a smile. "He always has."

"That's okay if you don't want to kiss Obi-Wan, Daddy," Leia spoke up. "Dormé will do if for you. I know she'd like to."

Anakin nearly choked on the mouthful of tea he had, and had to fight not to spray it across the table. Obi-Wan was utterly speechless, and Padmé covered her mouth to hide her smile.

"I….I'll start cleaning up this mess," Dormé stammered as she hastily rose from her chair.

Anakin looked at Obi-Wan with a smile. "Told you so," he said softly.

Obi-Wan merely shook his head, his face completely red.

"Maybe it's time we got these two into bed," Padmé suggested.

"Good idea," Anakin agreed, standing up with a twin under each arm. "Let's go you two. And don't tell me you're not tired. I caught you both yawning more than once."

"There's a bed set up in the room down the hall, Obi-Wan," Padmé said as Anakin left the room with the twins. "And a fresher across the hall."

"Thank you Padmé," he said. "I'm most grateful for your hospitality."

Padmé smiled. "Well, it's not exactly the palace of Theed, but it's cozy. I hope you sleep well."

"Thank you," he replied. "You too."

You could always ask Dormé to share her bed, Anakin said to him through the Force.

Obi-Wan shook his head. Shut up and go to bed.

Anakin only laughed in response as he proceeded up the stairs. Padmé followed behind, getting the distinct feeling that she had missed something.

"Now, time to go to sleep," she said as Anakin set the twins down in their room. "Hop into bed, both of you."

Both of the children complied, and were tucked in by their parents.

"Leia, you mustn't say things like that about Dormé," Padmé told her gently. "You embarrassed her."

"Not to mention Obi-Wan," Anakin added with an amused expression.

"Obi-Wan's face went all red!" Luke said. "Like that time he went swimming without sunscreen."

Padmé had to smiled at the innocence of the twins. "Yes, it did," she agreed. "Because he was embarrassed too."

"Why are they embarrassed?" Leia asked. "They both want to kiss. Why would they be embarrassed?"

"Because they don't want everyone to know it," Padmé explained. "You mustn't share the thoughts of others, Leia," she continued. "I know it's easy for you to see what others are thinking, but it's not always right for you to share those thoughts. Sometimes they are private, and shouldn't be shared."

"Okay, Mommy," Leia said at last.

"Goodnight love," Padmé said, leaning forward to kiss Leia. "Sweet dreams."

Anakin closed the door quietly behind them. "I thought I was going to lose it when Leia said that," he told his wife as they walked down the hall together.

Padmé smiled. "Yes, me too," she replied. "Poor Dormé."

"Poor Obi-Wan," Anakin replied.

"You think he has feelings for her?" Padmé asked as they entered their bedroom.

"I didn't think it was possible, but now I'm not so sure," Anakin replied. "Leia certainly seems to think so."

Padmé nodded. "She did say that. I've learned not to underestimate the twins' hunches."

"Very wise of you," Anakin replied as he closed the door behind them. "But for now, let's not worry about Dormé and Obi-Wan," he said, pulling her into his arms. "I have other things on my mind right now."

Padmé raised her eyebrows. "Is that so?"

Anakin nodded. "Yes," he replied. "Shall I share them with you?"

"Absolutely," she said as he pulled her closer.