Padmé stood for a moment just admiring her husband and children in front of her. Only a few weeks ago she could never have dreamed of the image before her now. Anakin was alive and they were back together as a family. Together they were going to save the galaxy and bring peace back, and then they could be together forever. She slowly walked over to the sofa and kissed her husband lightly on the forehead to wake him up. Anakin's eyes opened softly, not being in too deep asleep, and saw the twins asleep in his arms. Padmé moved to pick up Leia, as he picked up his son gently as not to wake him. The couple carried their children up to their bedrooms and kissed them goodnight. He had promised Luke and Leia he would see them before they departed in the morning, so was happy he didn't have to wake them and ruin the tender moment.
Once the twins were asleep Anakin and Padmé followed the dark corridor to their chambers, before entering their room.
"You must be very tired Ani", Padmé commented, "It isn't that late and there you were fast asleep with the twins", she added with a smile.
"I just feel so at peace in their presence Padmé. I wasn't especially tired, but when I am with them the darkness cannot touch me and I feel that in those moments everything is perfect", Anakin told his wife.
She couldn't help but smile at his statement and replied, "The connection you share with Luke and Leia is so powerful and so pure. I know the darkness is eradicated in you when you are with them". She turned to join her husband at the balcony they shared, looking out at beautiful stars above.
"I cannot tell you how much you have changed my life Padmé. You make me feel the same way the twins do, and you aren't force sensitive. Your presence is so soothing to me. I know now that is why I fell so far into the darkness. I could not exist as Anakin Skywalker without you, and now you are here I cannot exist as Darth Vader", Anakin said as turned to his wife, the moon shining softly on her face.
At that moment Anakin saw the japor snippet resting on her chest. His eyes widened, unsure he was seeing correctly, before reaching out with his gloved hand to touch the necklace.
"Your necklace", he stated. "I remember when I gave this to you. You still have it?", he asked shocked.
Padmé brought her hand up to touch his, "Yes. While you were with Luke and Leia, Obi-Wan returned it to me."
Anakin looked at his wife a little confused. Padmé could see his visible confusion and so continued, "After what happened on Mustafar, when I believed you had died, I couldn't bring myself to wear it anymore. It served as a constant reminder of having lost you and the pain was unbearable. I gave it to Obi-Wan to look after for me because I knew I could never get rid of it properly because it was the only thing I had that reminded me of you", she reminisced painfully.
"Padmé, I am so sorry for all the pain I caused you. I know that is not good enough. But I will never truly forgive myself for what I did to you on that day, and I will continue to spend every day for the rest of our lives atoning for what I did", he replied passionately.
Padmé smiled at her husband softly, as a tear escaped her eye. "It wasn't your fault Anakin. You were deceived by a lie and were obsessed with the belief I was going to die as your mother did. I know how much pressure you were under keeping our marriage a secret against your vow as a Jedi. I cannot imagine the feelings you had at that time. I just wish I had seen it better and been able to help you before it was too late", she responded regretfully.
Anakin cupped Padmé's face and said, "Don't you ever apologise Padmé. You did everything I could have ever asked for. You married me; a humble child slave turned Jedi Knight. You stood by me during the clone wars when I was away for months at a time. You too had to keep our marriage a secret. You gave me two wonderful children. You spent most of your pregnancy alone, all whilst serving as a Senator for Naboo. You survived and raised our two beautiful babies after what I did to you on Mustafar", he said, choking on his final words.
He paused for a moment and added, "Padmé. You are the strongest and most beautiful woman to ever exist, more than the angels on the moons of Iago, and what is even more incredible if you are my wife and you love me. A man could never earn such a gift, and yet you have given it to me anyway".
Padmé could not help but shed another tear at his beautiful words. She then replied, "It is a gift you more than deserve Anakin, and you have returned the same gift to me. You have come back to us Ani. And when this is all over, we can be a family together, and never again will we have to live in secret or fear someone finding out about us".
"I cannot describe how happy that makes me Padmé", Anakin stated. He then leaned down and kissed his wife and said, "I can declare my undying love for you from the rooftops. Everyone from the core to the outer rim will know that I Anakin Skywalker am completely, unconditionally and irrevocably in love with you, Padmé Naberrie Amidala Skywalker".
Padmé laughed at his statement and replied, "It will be most unusual to not have to worry about meeting in the shadows or you sneaking away from the temple to my apartment on Coruscant. We won't know what to do with ourselves", she added.
"Oh, I think I know", Anakin replied cheekily as he moved to kiss his wife on the neck softly. Without saying another word Anakin effortlessly lifted his wife into his strong arms, as she wrapped her legs around his waist. They shared a passionate kiss as the gentle night air cooled their passions. Anakin carried his wife back into their room and sat on the edge of the bed, as they continued their kiss, getting lost in their feelings for one another. The kiss ended, as Anakin brushed Padmé's chocolate curls off her shoulder softly.
"I don't think I will ever get enough of you Padmé", he stated lovingly.
"Well, it's a good job because you're stuck with me Skywalker", she commented with a smile.
Padmé got up from her husband's lap and changed into her nightdress, keeping her japor snippet on. Anakin moved to lean against the headboard of the bed, as his wife started to brush her hair. He couldn't help but remember how that was her usual routine back when he used to stay with her at her apartment on Coruscant.
"So that is the secret to such wonderful hair, you have to brush it constantly", Anakin commented with a smile.
She turned to her husband and replied, "It requires a lot of maintenance yes. Although I am grateful for it being shorter than when I was Queen and Senator. Some of the hairstyles I had to wear meant I had to brush my hair for so long after".
"Yeah and you also needed a gravity repulser to get your hair in those styles no doubt", he stated boldly with a laugh.
She gasped at her husband's comment and said, "You dare to insult a Queen's hair. I'm not sure whether you are brave or stupid Anakin Skywalker".
He laughed at her reply as he removed his shirt ready for bed. Padmé couldn't resist looking in the mirror at her husband's chiselled torso. Anakin had always been muscular and strong, and especially during the clone wars he became even bigger and stronger and was significantly bigger than her tiny frame. But over the last 8 years, he appeared to have got even stronger and had truly grown into the man she knew he would always be. But not just physically. His mental transformation was truly incredible. She had known her husband since he was a boy, and it was truly remarkable to see how he had changed. He really is the chosen one, she thought to herself as she finished brushing her hair.
Padmé walked over to the large bed and was pulled in by her husband. She sat on top of his legs facing him as they both looked at one another not saying anything.
"We had such a lovely day today Anakin. That walk around the lake and through the woodland was beautiful", Padmé said to her husband as she rested her hands on his warm muscular chest.
Anakin took one of her hands and brought it up to his lips to kiss her softly before saying, "Yes I agree. I think it was nice for Luke and Leia to see some of the planet, and they got to ask us some questions about us too", he added.
"Your answer was so touching Anakin. I meant it when I said you have always made me feel so loved. The things you said today just reminded me of that", Padmé said softly.
"I meant every word Padmé. You are brave, selfless, strong, loyal, intelligent and beautiful", Anakin replied passionately.
Padmé blushed at his statement and replied, "I meant it too Anakin. I am so proud of all you have done and that you have renounced the dark side. I love you", she stated, leaning in to kiss her husband. Anakin caressed his wife's face as they did so, supporting her body with his other arm.
"I love you too Padmé. More than you will ever know. You are in my very soul", he replied.
"We truly have quite a love story", Padmé commented, re-iterating what the children had said earlier.
"Indeed. I am still in favour of the Slave and the Senator. But perhaps the Queen and the Jedi would sell more copies", he joked.
She hit her husband playfully on the chest at his statement and then said, "I think it was interesting that they asked if we planned on having any more children".
Anakin ran a hand through his hair and replied, "Perhaps. But maybe until recently, they didn't think they ever would have any siblings because you believed me dead. But now that we are together, they wonder if we might. After all Padmé, we are hardly old", he added.
"That's true. And it certainly is something I think we both would consider. It just is not the time right now", Padmé commented.
"There is nothing more that I want than to be the father of your children Padmé. And once the Emperor is dead and there is peace, we will have all the time in the galaxy to decide what we want to do", Anakin replied.
"Come on let's get some sleep. We need to be up early tomorrow, and we have a long journey back to Coruscant", Padmé told her husband. He nodded in agreement and then kissed her softly once more before she rolled next to him onto the bed and into his arms.
The next morning Padmé and Anakin woke up and headed down towards the hangar bay ready to depart for Coruscant. They loaded up the ship, waiting as long as possible before waking the twins to say goodbye. Neither of them wanted to leave the twins, and Anakin could not believe the beautiful and incredibly strong bond he had formed with his children in less than two days.
Anakin smiled at his wife and took her hand to cheer her up as they walked towards the living area to say goodbye to their children, Obi-Wan and Geeta.
Luke and Leia were both stood in their pyjamas with sad expressions painted on their faces. They had never liked their mother leaving them and had formed such a strong bond with their father that they were going to miss their parents equally.
Anakin got down on his knees to meet his children and hugged them tightly. He then said, "I am going to miss you both. I cannot tell you how happy I am to be your father. I know we have not spent a lot of time together, but I promise that will change soon and us and your mother will be a proper family together".
"We will miss you to daddy", Leia said trying not to cry as she hugged her father.
"You are the best dad we could have ever wished for", his son replied proudly.
Anakin smiled at his children's words and cupped their faces with his hands and stated, "You two are the kindest, smartest, strongest and most beautiful children I could have ever wished for. I love you both so much".
Padmé and Obi-Wan stood watching the emotional exchange. Padmé then hugged her good friend and said, "Thank you so much for bringing Luke and Leia here Obi-Wan. And for continuing to protect them whilst Anakin and I are on Coruscant. I do not know what I would have done without you for all of these years. Please know I am eternally in your debt", she added.
Obi-Wan hugged her back and said, "It has been my pleasure Padmé and it always will be. Please just stay safe on Coruscant, and hurry back because I know how much the twins will want to see you both again".
"We will, I promise. Everything is going to change very soon. It is only a matter of time", Padmé reflected, again glancing at her husband, who was now stood up, embracing his children. He put them both down and kissed them both on the forehead as Padmé walked over to join them. Anakin smiled at his wife as he walked over to his old master.
Obi-Wan reached out and placed a hand on his old apprentice's shoulder and said, "Stay safe Anakin. I know how hard it must be for you to continue this façade as Vader. But you must not let your anger and hatred for the Emperor consume you. We cannot lose you again friend".
Anakin nodded and replied, "I know Master. I promise you I won't. I cannot do that to my family again", he added turning to see his wife and children embracing warmly. He could see the tears filling Padmé's eyes, knowing how hard it must be for her to leave them.
"The bond you all have is truly remarkable", Obi-Wan commented, seeing Anakin's attention drawn to his family.
"Yes, it is. Despite having only been with the twins for two days, I cannot believe how strong my connection is to them through the force", Anakin replied.
"And your connection to Padmé has always been strong, especially as she isn't force-sensitive", Obi-Wan added.
"My connection to Padmé is like nothing I have ever had with another person. I cannot explain it. But it consumes me", Anakin replied passionately.
Obi-Wan smiled and replied, "I now understand how hard it must have been for you to keep your marriage a secret. To form such a strong attachment to someone and go against the Jedi code like that".
"I would have gone against the galaxy to marry Padmé", Anakin stated matter-of-factly, as he continued to watch his wife and children.
Obi-Wan had no response to his statement. Truly he had never felt such an attachment to someone in that way, and he knew that most people, force sensitive or not, would never share the bond that Anakin and Padmé had. As Padmé hugged the twins one last time, Obi-Wan said, "Have a safe trip and try and stay in contact when you can. I will make contact with you to inform you when we arrive back on Naboo. I plan on leaving later on today when Luke and Leia have packed and eaten", he added with a smile.
"We will try and contact you as much as possible", Padmé said, looking at her children with a smile.
"We will miss you mummy and daddy", Leia stated again.
"We love you both too, so much", Padmé replied smiling at her daughter brightly.
"Be good for Obi-Wan okay. Listen to what he says, do your work and your training and we will see you very soon", Anakin told his children.
"Yes daddy", the twins replied in unison.
"May the force be with you", Obi-Wan said as the pair turned to walk out the room and head towards the hangar bay.
"May the force be with you too master, and you two", Anakin said looking at his old master and then his children.
The pair then turned to depart, leaving their children and good friend behind. Anakin took his wife's hand supportively and kissed it softly. "We will see them soon Angel", he told her.
"I hope so Anakin. I hate having to leave them like this. We shouldn't have to be apart", Padmé replied sadly.
"We won't be for long Padmé I promise you", Anakin stated, knowing how hard this must be for her. Padmé forced a smile back not wanting to look too upset.
The couple headed for their ship and boarded. Anakin set the co-ordinates for Coruscant and sat back in the cockpit chair next to his wife. "Let's just get back Anakin", Padmé said to her husband, sounding deflated already having only just left the twins.
The couple sat in silence for a relatively long time, before the ship jumped into hyperspace. "We will be back on Coruscant late tonight. But it should mean we will arrive back unnoticed. Then we can get some sleep before returning to the Senate tomorrow", Anakin told his wife, trying to break the silence between them.
"That's good", Padmé replied, as she twisted several strands of hair around her finger.
Back on Alderaan, Obi-Wan was helping the twins back their things ready to depart. He could tell they were very sad about their parents' departure. But they also understood that for now, it was the way it had to be, in order to keep them safe.
"Come on you two. Geeta has said she will make you a nice big breakfast before we leave", Obi-Wan told the twins, trying to cheer them up. The pair turned to the master Jedi and nodded and smiled at his statement before heading to the kitchen.
When they walked into the kitchen Geeta was stood there with three large plates of food for her guests. She smiled as they sat down at the table and she said, "I'm going to miss you lot. It has been lovely having people in the house. I hope you come back soon", she added.
"Thanks, Geeta. Your cooking is awesome. Will we miss you too", Leia replied.
"Yeah. And hopefully, we can come back soon to see mummy and daddy again", Luke added.
"Indeed. I know how much your mother and father will miss you", Geeta told the children, knowing how hard it must be for them to have to separate.
The group ate their breakfast before Obi-Wan started to gather their bags to depart. Geeta helped them carry their bags to their ship and to bid them goodbye.
"It was lovely to meet you all", Geeta said as she passed the last of the bags to Obi-Wan.
"Likewise and thank you very much for your hospitality, Geeta. I can imagine this has been a very strange situation for you", Obi-Wan commented.
"It is my pleasure. I am aware Master Skywalker informed you, you can return whenever you wish. I will be here to serve you all when you do return", Geeta replied with a smile.
"Thank you", Obi-Wan stated again.
"Have a safe journey back", Geeta commented.
The twins thanked Geeta again before boarding the ship with Obi-Wan close behind. They wondered how long it would be before they saw their parents again. Despite having spent less than two days with their father, the connection they had was incredibly powerful, and it made them more desperate than ever for them to be a family. But they knew that the Emperor was a bad man and they had to be protected, so had to remain hidden with Obi-Wan.
"I hope we see mummy and daddy soon", Leia commented sadly as the ship took off from the Alderaan estate.
"Don't worry young ones", Obi-Wan replied. "I know how much your parents want to see you again. And they will do all they can to make sure they see you as soon as possible", he added.
"I just hope they are safe from the Emperor", Luke stated.
"Don't you worry Luke. Your father is the strongest and most powerful Jedi to ever exist. And I know he will do anything to protect you two and your mother. He will bring balance to the force", he stated proudly.
Several hours had passed on the ship, and Anakin had busied himself by reviewing several reports that required his urgent attention. Some new amendments had been made to the design of the death star, and Vader had been consulted to testify for the new designs' structural integrity. He also knew when he returned, he would need to meet with the Emperor. Before he had departed with his wife, the Emperor had informed him that his condition of still being personal security for Senator Soruna was that he managed to extract some information from her regarding the Rebel Alliance. Truthfully, Anakin's mind had been as far from his duties as Vader as possible over the last few days, but he knew it was not important for him to focus back on the tasks at hand. He could not do anything to raise the suspicions of the Emperor. If Anakin was going to stand a chance at destroying his Sith Master, he was going to need to be as strong as possible and have the advantage of it being a complete surprise.
After a while, Anakin returned to the cockpit and was surprised to see his wife was not there. He checked the navigation system for their location in hyperspace before sitting back down in his seat. A few moments later Padmé returned to the cockpit, having clearly been in the small living area next door. "I just needed to freshen up. I always feel very dirty when I travel for a long time", Padmé stated, sitting back down next to her husband.
"Yes, I know what you mean", Anakin replied, slightly distracted by his earlier thoughts about his upcoming meeting with the Emperor.
Padmé could immediately see his pre-occupation and asked, "What is troubling you?".
"I anticipate I will have a meeting with the Emperor upon my return to Coruscant. I doubt he will have noticed I've been gone for two days, but he will want to know what progress I have made on my mission to find out information from Senator Soruna", Anakin replied, hoping his wife would catch on to what he saying.
"That is why you were assigned to protect me by the Emperor. He wanted you to find out what I knew about the Alliance", Padmé deduced.
"Yes, and before I left, he told me that I had had more than sufficient time to break down the walls of your mind to find out some information. I am now faced with the challenge of needing to provide him with sufficient information to make him believe you are still valuable enough to require my protection, but not enough that will incriminate you as a member of the Rebellion", Anakin stated sounding troubled.
"I see", Padmé stated, also thinking about the dilemma.
The pair remained in silence for a moment before Padmé said, "There used to be a Rebel base on Dantooine. Perhaps you could tell him that you believe that is a place of significance to me. You could then go there and pretend to exterminate the rebels there, but as the base is abandoned you are doing no harm to the rebellion".
"That could work", her husband commented. "That would also not be significant enough that the Emperor suspects you are a key member. He assumes you are simply a tool being used by Bail and Mothma as a Senator from a core planet. Your friends need to cautious of what they do, they are being watched very closely Padmé", Anakin added.
"I understand how difficult this is for you Anakin. But right now, you need to do all you can to appease the Emperor and make him believe you are still his loyal second in command. There is very little we are doing as the rebellion right now. We have been waiting for the right opportunity to strike, and it appears that through us finding each other we have found it. You are the opportunity we have been waiting for", Padmé commented hopefully.
"I hope so Padmé", Anakin said, running a hand through his hair. "All I know is that I need to do all I can to keep you and the twins safe. I must be prepared to fight the Emperor, but right now I am not sure I am strong enough. I need more time so I need to try and buy as much as I can by continuing my pretence as Vader to avoid his suspicions. He is already very paranoid. We must manage this situation with the greatest care and sensitivity", Anakin reported.
"I know Anakin", Padmé replied.
Anakin then took his wife's hands in his and said, "Promise me you will not do anything dangerous Padmé. I know you served as a key member of the Alliance, but right now you cannot be doing anything that could incriminate you. I may be around in the Senate most of the time, but I cannot be there all the time to protect you. I have to know you are safe Padmé, and not taking any unnecessary risks", Anakin pleaded.
"I won't Anakin. As I said, the Rebel Alliance have been buying their time at the minute. Since Bail and Mon have found out about you renouncing the dark side you have given us a new sense of hope. And when the time comes, we will all be here to support you. But I need you to promise me the same thing Anakin. Do not put yourself in unnecessary danger please, I already worry about you so much, being around that evil man", Padmé said concerned, shivering at the thought of the Emperor.
"I will do what I must to make sure you are safe Padmé", Anakin replied ambiguously. He knew how dangerous it was going to be to confront the Emperor. Of course, he did not want to die, he wanted more than ever to be there with his wife and children. But if sacrificing himself was the price he needed to pay to ensure his family was safe, he would do it without hesitation. They were his reason for existing, and they were all that mattered to him.
Breaking the silence that had fallen between them, Anakin stated, "I must put my mask and suit on before we land to keep up appearances. We will be coming through my private hangar again, but I cannot be sure who is watching my ship arrive".
Padmé stifled a yawn and replied, "Yes, that makes sense. We must do everything we can".
Anakin nodded and then departed the cockpit to don the mask and suit of Darth Vader. He found that he was loathing himself more and more every time he was forced to wear it. He loathed the man he was when he wore it and it served as a reminder of the last 8 years of hell he had lived as Vader. But now everything was different. He was not defined by the suit and mask he had once worn, and he was becoming Anakin Skywalker again. He was Padmé's husband and Luke and Leia's father, and that gave him a powerful sense of purpose beyond what he had ever felt as Vader.
A little while later Anakin returned from the small room fully dressed as Vader. Padmé did not turn around when he emerged, and when he came to sit down in the pilot's chair, he saw that his wife was sat in the chair fast asleep. He simply sat and watched her briefly, admiring the way strands of her tied up hair had fallen framing the sides of her face. She looked so peaceful Anakin didn't have the heart to wake her. He knew that leaving the twins had not been easy for his wife, and he hoped they would not be a part for long. But for right now they both had duties to return to, and it was for the good of the galaxy and the safety of their family. As the ship came out of hyperspace and entered Coruscant's atmosphere Anakin guided the ship through the city and towards his establishments. Despite it being late at night the streets were still busy with traffic efficiently flowing through the night sky.
When Anakin landed the ship, he made the point of checking if any troopers were patrolling the hangar. Once he had established, he wouldn't be seen, Anakin lifted his wife into his strong arms and disembarked the ship. It was a short walk from the underground hangar into his establishments, and he knew that inside he would not be seen by anyone. As the lift doors opened, Anakin carried his wife up to the bed, who remained sleeping in his arms. He knew she was upset about leaving the twins and had been stressed about his return as Vader and his inevitable encounter with the Emperor, so he did not want to deny his wife of some peaceful slumber. When he entered their bed chambers, he placed Padmé on the bed softly, as he removed his mask and suit. He hated the thought of having to don the dreaded mask for his return to the Senate tomorrow. As the days had gone on, he felt more and more frustrated at the prospect of being Vader around his wife. He knew the two could not co-exist. Padmé had married Anakin Skywalker, and since he had found out she was alive, he had been calling her his wife. She was his wife, undoubtedly. Even as Vader, he had never stopped loving Padmé and had lived with the regret of believing he was responsible for her death. So surely if he never stopped loving Padmé that meant that he never completely rejected Anakin Skywalker, he pondered. He shook his head as the myriad of thoughts raced through his mind. Deciding to distract himself briefly he left his wife asleep and returned to the hangar to retrieve their baggage from the ship.
When Anakin returned, he was pleased to see Padmé was still asleep in their bed. He knew she would probably contest to sleeping in her clothes, but she had chosen comfortable attire for the journey so he was happy she would be comfortable. He stifled a yawn as he removed his shirt and glove and got into bed next to his wife. He used the force to cover her wife a blanket as he wrapped his arms around her softly. Subconsciously Padmé was drawn in by her husband's heat, and moved closer to him, her head resting in the crook of his arm.
The next morning, Anakin was woken abruptly by the sound of his alarm. He rubbed his eyes tiredly and reached to turn the incessant device off. Padmé too was awoken by the alarm and turned to see her husband getting out of bed. She was clearly confused as she looked down at herself, seeing she was still in the same clothes.
"How did I get to bed. Why am I still in my clothes?", Padmé asked confused.
"You fell asleep in the cockpit last night, so I carried you from the ship into bed. But I didn't have the heart to wake you up by changing your clothes, so I left you because you seemed comfortable. And you are so beautiful when you are asleep", he told his wife as he leaned down to kiss her on the forehead softly.
"Thank you", she replied with a smile.
"I must hurry and get dressed to go to the Senate. We need to continue our usual routine, so I shall see you at the hangar bay at the Senate", he stated, as he picked up his mask and suit.
"Yes agreed. See you soon", Padmé responded, running a hand through her chocolate brown hair as she got out of bed.