Anakin sat down at the table as Luke and Leia started to eat causing him to frown. He was completely worried about Padme, she was panicking and he wanted her to stay calm while being in labor. She was underneath enough stress with all of this.
"Dad?" Leia questioned as she watched him with a frown. "You should eat, it's going to be a long day."
Anakin realized his meal was starting to get cold and the twins were halfway through their meals. He slowly started to eat the eggs as Leia watched him. "Leia, is something wrong?"
"Are you all right?" Leia questioned in concern. "You phased out for almost ten minutes."
"I'm worried about your mother," Anakin answered honestly. "She was panicking when she commed me this morning to inform me she was in labor. I'm concerned this would bring back memories from Mustafar…"
"I see," Leia answered with a frown. "Mustafar is where everything went south, wasn't it?"
"Yes," Anakin answered as he finished swallowing his toast. "I just don't want your mother to be under more stress then she already is."
"And yet she was calm when you walked into the room and knew you were prepared to be there for her this time," Leia gently reminded him. "And when that baby comes and you're both there, it will be all but just a forgotten bad memory."
"I hope you're right," Anakin agreed as he finished off his breakfast feeling a little better. "We should get back and make a quick pit stop."
"You just rushed this morning, didn't you?" Leia teased as she stood up. "In the meantime I'll go back to mom's room. You coming Luke?"
"I may have rushed just as much," Luke answered with a sheepish smile. "We'll be back there in a few minutes."
Anakin chuckled as they went searching for refreshers.
Leia entered her mom's room as Sola and Roland looked up with smiles causing her to smile back. She walked in beside the bed as Padme gave her a questioning expression. "Dad will be back in a few minutes, he realized he rushed more then he thought he did."
"He forgot to use the fresher?" Padme questioned with a worried expression as Leia gave a confirming nod. She suddenly realized Anakin was right to be worried, Padme was acting afraid.
"Both Luke and dad both forgot to use the fresher this morning, like father like son," Leia joked as Padme smiled wearily. She glanced at Roland and Sola with an apologetic smile. "Do you think you could give mom and I a few minutes alone?"
"Sure Leia, we'll be right outside," Sola answered as she tugged on Roland's arm leading him outside.
Leia turned her attention to Padme as she reached for her mother's hand. "Mom, I was talking with dad and he brought up some concerns. You were panicking this morning and just now you looked scared. Are you thinking of what happened on Mustafar?"
"Is it that obvious?" Padme questioned as Leia nodded. "I am, and I try not to knowing your father is sound of mind now. I keep thinking he's going to abandon me again and choke me…"
"He tried to kill you?" Leia questioned as Padme nodded. "He mentioned this to us a while back when I prodded him for information on what happened. He's here and in the light side, we're helping him keep grounded. It was Vader that choked you not Anakin. It feels like Vader was the opposite of what Anakin stood for."
"I know and not having to hide the marriage anymore, it's helping big time. We're thrilled at having a second chance," Padme paused for a second. "And he's not abandoning me this time. I'm scared he's going to walk out and not come back…"
"I'm here," Anakin spoke up as he entered the room as Padme relaxed again. "I had a feeling labor was going to bring up Mustafar on us. I've regretted that day every day of my life. Leia, can you excuse us for a few minutes?"
"Sure," Leia left the room as Luke walked up to the room. "Anakin and Padme need a few minutes to work out something that happened between them."
"Mustafar?" Luke questioned as Leia nodded in agreement. "I see."
Leia hoped Anakin could help Padme get past her mixed feelings. She knew things were going to be different this time, her mother just needed to believe it and convince herself that it will be better.
Anakin approached Padme's bed and took her hand into his as he watched her with concern. "Padme, you and I need to talk."
"About what Anakin?" Padme questioned with a frown. "We're not divorcing are we?"
"No, not unless you decide too," Anakin answered with a reassuring smile. "I am concerned that you panic every time I leave the room and I suspect it has to do with Mustafar."
"It does, I'm sorry Anakin. I don't mean to worry you, I guess if I gotten some professional help…" Padme started to apologize as Anakin patiently waited.
"Would it help if I asked a counselor to stop by?" Anakin questioned in curiosity as Padme nodded in agreement. "I'll make arrangements for someone to come in, either now or after the baby is born. This stress is not good for you or the baby."
"How about now?" Padme requested as Anakin nodded in agreement.
"I'll go and request for the on call counselor to make a stop," Anakin promised. "I won't be far. If you're in full labor I want you to contact me immediately."
"All right," Padme smiled in appreciation. "The medic said I'm five centimeters dialed now. It'll still be a few hours."
"I can't wait," Anakin smiled with an excited grin. "I'll be back shortly," he bent down and kissed Padme on the forehead and left her room. He paused beside Leia for a minute. "I'm going to see if a counselor is free to come speak with your mother. Keep an eye on her for me."
"I will dad," Leia promised with a smile. "I'll comm you if anything changes."
"Thanks sweet heart, I'll be back."
Anakin stepped into the counselor's office as she looked up with an inviting smile. He sat down in one of the chairs in front of her desk as he felt nervous all of a sudden. "Do you have a few minutes?"
"I have no appointments for a few hours, how can I help you?" The woman asked with a gentle smile. She was wearing a soft flowered shirt with a small butterfly pin on the front. "I'm Dr Rose Childs, what is your name?"
"Anakin Skywalker," Anakin answered with a frown. "My wife Padme Amidala has some things on her mind and I'm not sure I'm the correct person to help her with this considering it was my doing."
"And what exactly did you do?" Rose questioned with a frown. "That hurt Padme emotionally."
"I broke her heart a long time ago," Anakin answered honestly. "I fell to the dark side and attempted to kill her when she was pregnant with our twin children. I was Darth Vader for twenty years, I abandoned my wife for a pack of lies and empty promises. And now she's in labor and expecting our third child, she panics when I'm not in the room with her. I think her feelings are a bit mixed and she's remembering…"
"What you did all those years ago?" Rose questioned looking horrified as Anakin gave a quick nod. "I'll talk with her," she agreed with a smile. "It would be my pleasure. Padme Amidala was my favorite politician from that time. I had no clue you and her broke the rules, that most likely put your marriage on the rocks making it difficult for you and Padme to lead a normal life. What made you fall to the dark side?"
Anakin glanced down at his hands as Rose patiently waited for an answer causing him to sigh. "I started having dreams of Padme dying during child birth and Palpatine promised me to show a way to keep her from dying."
"Promised to help you prevent Padme from dying?" Rose questioned as Anakin nodded.
"I don't know what I was thinking, you can't stop death any more then you can stop water running though your fingers," Anakin explained with a frown. "Palpatine was the Sith Master the council had been looking for, I should have realized he was lying to me."
"Anakin, do you need someone to talk to about all of this?" Rose questioned sounding concerned as Anakin shook his head.
"I don't know if there really is therapy for all of…" Anakin started to object as Rose raised a hand up.
"Anakin, everything you went through requires therapy. Emotional ways to move past this just as Padme needs therapy," Rose explained with a frown. "Promise me you'll think about it."
"I'll think about it," Anakin promised as Rose stood up. "For now, can you help my wife?"
"Yes, lets head down there now. Lead the way."
Anakin nodded to the room Padme was in as Rose walked into the room. Leia walked out a minute later as Rose closed the door behind her. "How is your mother?"
"She panicked again five minutes after you left the room," Leia answered honestly with a frown.
Anakin crossed his arms over his chest leaning against the wall. He half expected this and he hoped the memories or the feelings it brought would not surface, it appeared it was….
"Are you all right, dad?" Leia questioned in concern as she placed her hand onto his arm.
"I half expected this might happen, I was hoping it wouldn't but it did," Anakin answered as he felt guilt over take him. "No I'm not okay. I told the counselor everything and she wants me to come in for counselling now."
"It wouldn't be a bad idea," Leia agreed with a frown. "She can help you get over your guilt. At least just think about it."
"I suppose it couldn't hurt," Anakin semi agreed with a frown. "Maybe this baby is a blessing, a way for this family to move forward."
"That's what I'm thinking," Leia agreed with a smile. "Dad, we love you and want you to be happy too."
Anakin gave a slight nod in agreement as he sensed Padme's fear calm down, what ever Rose was saying to her seems to be helping. "Padme is calming down, I can sense it."
"Asking that Dr to come in was a good idea, she'll help mom get past her feelings," Leia agreed with a concerned expression. "Dad, are you ready for three months of no sleep?"
"Don't remind me, Leia," Anakin said with a slight smile as Sola and Roland walked up to them as he turned his attention to Padme's sister. "Padme's been panicking on and off when I'm not in the room with her, a counselor is in there with her now. I'm hoping Rose can help her."
"I'm glad to see you getting her some help," Sola commented with a concerned expression. "I guess this is bringing up memories on her?"
"Memories on what I did to her while she was still pregnant with Luke and Leia," Anakin admitted with a frown. "She's afraid I'm going to go to the dark side and abandon her again, hurt her…" He started to explain as the door to Padme's room opened.
Rose walked out turning her attention to Anakin with a frown. "Anakin, please join us."
"All right," Anakin entered the room as Rose followed close behind closing the door behind her. "What do you need to speak to me about?" He asked feeling his anxiety rise.
"Anakin, Padme has something to say to you," Rose spoke with a frown as Anakin walked up to her bedside taking her hand into his.
"Do you want a divorce?" Anakin questioned feeling his anxiety rise.
"No Anakin," Padme answered with a frown. "I'm sorry I'm worrying you. On the other hand I feel you need some sort of punishment," she continued as Anakin raised an eyebrow. "One month on the couch."
"For you anything," Anakin agreed with a slight smile. "One month?"
"I was thinking two months," Padme explained with a frown.
"One month it is," Anakin agreed with a smile. "Anything else, my dear loving wife and mother of my children?"
"And the first two weeks on diaper changing duty," Padme added in as an after thought. "That will be your punishment."
"I can agree to that," Anakin gave a smile as he noticed how happy and relaxed this was making Padme. "You drive a hard punishment, mi lady."
"It could've been worse, I was thinking one month of diaper duties but I felt two weeks was enough," Padme admitted with a sweet smile.
Anakin gave a small appreciative smile that Padme decided on two weeks instead of four weeks. He also noticed she looked more relaxed now then she did earlier this morning, what ever Rose said seemed to be working. "Padme, are you going to be all right if I need to slip away for a few minutes now?"
"I am," Padme answered honestly. "I also know you've been living in hell for twenty years thinking I was dead, almost seems like a life time of punishment in itself. I also feel you need some punishment directly from me and I was afraid to bring it up."
"You've never been afraid to punish me before, so what stopped you this time?" Anakin questioned in concern. Or does it have to do with the fact I was a feared sith lord for twenty years and nearly choked you to death while you were pregnant? He added in after thought. "Or do I need to guess?"
"Anakin, I saw your physical body, you looked like a human wreak without the armor. You've been through so much I felt I couldn't put you through anything else…" Padme started to explain as Anakin nodded in understanding.
"Sleeping on the couch and diaper duty is pretty minor compared to all that," Anakin explained. "You should've came to me sooner, Angel. After everything I did I feared you would walk out of my life and want nothing more to do with me. It would've been your right. I was prepared for that. Feel free to dish out the punishment as you see fit. You have my permission for that. I want you to come to me if something bothers you."
"Thanks Anakin," Padme leaned her head up with an inviting smile.
Anakin leaned over and kissed her on the lips, she responded by deepening the kiss the way he liked it causing him to groan in pleasure. He pulled back looking into her beautiful eyes. "Anything else, Padme?"
"No, that basically covers it for now," Padme answered with a relieved smile. "Have you decided on names?"
"I have but I'm going to wait to see what the sex of our baby is first," Anakin answered honestly as Padme gave a mystified smile. "As long as the baby is healthy, it does not matter if it's a boy or girl. This is giving us a chance to raise a child together."
Padme nodded in agreement as Rose silently left the room. Anakin was grateful to the counselor for helping Padme through her feelings. It definitely helped her. And now they were expecting their third child some time today, he couldn't wait to meet their third child.
Thanks for reading :)