Chapter 54: Anakin's Nightmares
After Luke had recovered, the entire family headed for bed. Around midnight, Leia woke up, not from a nightmare or an attack this time. She padded silently into Padmé's room. "Padmé, wake up," she woke her mother.
"What is it, Leia?" Padmé mumbled.
"I can't sleep," Leia admitted. "I'm scared I'll have another nightmare again."
Leia began to cry as the oldest Skywalker sat up, pulling Leia into a hug. "Hush, princess," Padmé murmured. "I'm here. I won't let these nightmares hurt you anymore."
"I want them to go away," Leia sobbed out as her shoulders began shaking.
"Hey, everything's gonna be okay," Padmé murmured, gently rocking Leia.
Anakin soon entered the room, followed by Luke. The two men sank onto the bed, Anakin next to Padmé, and Luke next to Leia. "Is she alright?" Anakin asked, not touching his daughter, even though he longed to comfort her.
Luke moved closer to his sister. "Lei-Ley, it's okay," he murmured. "We're all together, like it's supposed to be."
Leia hiccupped slightly. Luke was right—this was how it was supposed to be. "Can we all just stay here tonight?" She turned to Padmé.
"Sure," Padmé replied.
The family soon curled up in bed together, mother and father on either side of the bed with the twins in between them—the daughter closer to her mother. Anakin woke up from nightmares of his own—of his mother's suffering.
Anakin moved to leave the bed. Leia reached out and grabbed at him. "Father," she mumbled sleepily.
Anakin gently took Leia's hand and watched her pained expression disappear. He smiled.
