Sorry if this one seems short.

I don't own Star Wars.

Chapter 30: A Family Reunited

Padmé watched Anakin trek up from the lake early that morning. She yawned deeply, having just woke up and stood at the railing of the veranda, letting the morning sun warm her. She wore a long, silky white robe and she had slept later than usual.

Luke followed him and they climbed the steps.

"Morning Mom," Luke said, as he hugged her, before heading inside to the shower.

"Morning sweetie, breakfast should be ready by the time you're done," she called and then yelped, as Anakin picked her up in his arms and spun her around. She giggled, as he kissed her passionately.

"Good morning, you're certainly in a good mood," she purred, as they held each other close.

"How could I not be? We're home, in the Lake Country, and I have you. Everything's perfect," Anakin replied, as he kissed her again. Padmé cooed into his kiss, as he moved his lips over hers with tender passion.

"Wow, it really is a good morning," she said dreamily, as he finally released her lips.

"You know I love showing you how much I love you and I sensed that you're a bit nervous," he replied. She nodded.

"I just know my Mother is going to react badly. I know Rex and Ahsoka said they were happy to go in and explain everything to them, before bringing them back here, but I don't think they realize what they're getting themselves into. I know my mother is going to react badly," she fretted.

"Maybe at first, but once she sees you and meets her grandchildren, her anger will melt to joy, I'm sure of it," Anakin told her.

"I hope you're right my love, but you don't know my mother," Padmé replied.

"Well, no matter what, I'm going to be right by your side. Now, let's go have breakfast. I'm starving," he suggested.

"Me too," she said, as she joined him inside.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Annie giggled in delight, as she skipped along the stone path while her parents followed her. They had decided to get up early and begin a trek to the majestic waterfalls for a family picnic with their little girl.

Satine and Obi-Wan both thought it was best to let Padmé interact with her family first and let them adjust to the shock, before returning. They had packed a picnic and were looking forward to their little family outing.

Annie's eyes were wide with wonder, as she took in all her surroundings. She had never seen such a place that was so vibrant with color and life, for the desert was sadly all she knew. That was one thing both Obi-Wan and Satine were glad they would be changing.

"She looks so happy," Satine mentioned.

"I know, it's wonderful. I'm sorry that we had to spend all those years on that dreadful sand ball," Obi-Wan said.

"Me too, but it was necessary and though we didn't necessarily love our location, we were happy, because we were together," Satine replied. He nodded.

"Yes, but here is much nicer. I don't miss that bloody heat," Obi-Wan said.

"I second that," Satine replied.

"How do you think things will go once Rex and Ahsoka break the news to Padmé's family?" Satine asked.

"Well, they will certainly be shocked and possibly even angry at first. But if they are anything like Padmé, then they will quickly be overjoyed by the news and reunion they'll have with her. Rex and Ahsoka should almost be to her village about now, which means I guess we'll find out around dinner time when they return," Obi-Wan replied. She nodded.

"Until then, we're going to enjoy our first family outing that doesn't involve sand," Satine added in a louder voice, for the giant falls were getting closer and louder. They heard Annie laugh, as she saw several butterflies whisk through the air in front of her. Satine smiled.

"Come on, let's catch up to our little one," she said, as they hurried ahead.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"How dare you!" Jobal growled, through clenched teeth.

Ahsoka and Rex looked at each other, as they sat on the sofa in the living room the of the Naberrie home. They had come to the door just thirty minutes ago and told Sola they were friends of Anakin and Padmé's and they had something important to discuss. Sola had eagerly let them in, wanting to know anything at all about her late sister and brother-in-law, especially if it concerned their mysterious deaths.

But what they had just been told was an incredible story, one that sounded too fantastic to be true. It angered her pessimistic mother, but she found herself only hoping it could actually be true. Anakin and Padmé were alive or so these people said. Could it be true?

"How dare you come into my home with your lies? Padmé is dead! Let her rest in peace," Jobal cried.

"Is it true?" Sola asked calmly. Ahsoka nodded.

"Yes, they were awakened from their frozen state less than a month ago," Rex stated.

"And this carbonite stuff, why exactly were they frozen in it again?" Sola asked, trying to understand.

"My Master was gravely injured in his battle with Palpatine and Vader eighteen years ago, just before the inception of the Empire. He was dying and fell into a coma. The Healer was certain that he would die within a matter of days, unless his body was somehow given the necessary means to properly recover. Suspended animation was the only answer," Ahsoka explained.

"And what does this have to do with Padmé? Why was she frozen too?" Sola asked.

"At the time Anakin slipped into a coma, Padmé was in labor. She gave birth to twins and then faded away as well. Her condition mirrored Anakin's and perplexed the healers. When she thought she had lost Anakin, her heart was broken and she slipped away with him. So the healer froze her as well and for the last eighteen years they were hidden away until it was determined that Anakin was finally healed," Rex continued.

"Padmé had twins?" Sola asked. Ahsoka nodded.

"I can't believe you're buying into this farce, Sola," Jobal scolded. "If I have two grandchildren by Padmé, then how come I have never met them?"

"In order to protect them, we had to separate them at birth. We couldn't bring one of them to you, because if Palpatine had got an inkling that this child you were caring for could have possibly been the child of Anakin and Padmé, he would have had the child killed. We had to let the entire galaxy, including you, believe that they were dead and their unborn children with them," Rex stated.

"Leia was raised on Alderaan by Queen Organa and her husband, Senator Organa. I have spent these last eighteen years as her bodyguard," Ahsoka explained.

"And Luke was sent to Tatooine to live with Anakin's mother, Shmi. Obi-Wan and I have kept close watch of him over the years. They were just recently reunited with each other and their parents," Rex said.

"We just left Yavin IV, which was where the Rebel Base was located until we were discovered by the Empire. Anakin and Luke destroyed the Empire's new weapon, the Death Star, before it could destroy us. But now the new base is under construction and we've come back to Naboo to lay low in the Lake Country until it's time to leave for the new base," Ahsoka said.

"If Padmé and Anakin are alive, then why didn't they just come to us themselves?" Ruwee asked, speaking for the first time.

"Because your village is too close to Theed. There's a bounty on Anakin's head the size of Coruscant and the rest of us as well. We're both taking a risk by coming to Theed too, but we're willing to take that risk in order to reunite you with your family," Rex stated.

"We'll give you a few moments to pack some things, but don't dawdle too long. We shouldn't stay here much longer," Ahsoka said. Sola nodded, as she, Ruwee, Jobal, Darred, and their daughters went upstairs to pack.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bounty Hunter Cad Bane switched the holocom off in his hideout, as Darth Vader himself finished the mandate he had initiated.

The bounty hunter was surprised about the information which he had just received. It seemed that after all these years, Anakin Skywalker was alive, which actually made Cad Bane excited.

He had a score to settle with the Jedi, which had become impossible when he had learned the Skywalker and his pretty little wife had perished in a ship crash. But now that he was alive, Cad Bane intended to be the one to collect the bounty on his head. He would then become a legend when he presented Skywalker and his little family to Vader. The money would set him for life and his name would be forever glorified among all bounty hunters.

Now, the challenge was to find where Skywalker was hiding. He stood up and holstered his blasters, as he turned to his posse.

"We're going to be the ones to find Skywalker. Tatooine usually has all the gossip, so we'll start there," Bane ordered, as they followed him to the ship.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Leia stirred the cake batter, following her mother's instructions. Padmé checked the casserole in the oven and then went back to chopping vegetables.

"How's it coming?" she asked.

"Okay I think. I'm kind of embarrassed to say that I've never really cooked or baked anything before," Leia replied.

"You're doing fine. My mother taught me to cook and I was hoping I could teach you. I didn't have time to do much cooking when I was a member of the Senate either, but after I married your father, I always tried to make him a home cooked meal, which he always appreciated. And since he and your brother are training, their appetites will be nothing short of amazing," Padmé replied. Leia smiled.

"You're nervous, aren't you? About seeing your mother again?" she asked. Padmé smiled thinly.

"You're definitely your father's daughter and yes, I'm a little nervous," she replied, before continuing.

"I love my mother deeply and I know she loves me, but she was always critical of my decision to serve in the Senate after my term as Queen ended. She always wanted me to come home and settle down like Sola did. I know she will have some criticism for me, even though I know she'll be happy that I'm alive at all. And she'll be very happy to meet her grandchildren," Padmé assured her.

"Well, she shouldn't be too critical, because you're a good person and you and Daddy did what you did for love," Leia replied. Padmé smiled and hugged her.

"Thanks sweetheart. Now, let's get that cake in the oven before your father comes in and tries to eat all the batter," she said, making Leia giggle, as they poured it into the cake pan.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Padmé finished setting the table on the veranda for evening meal, as Satine and Leia helped her. Rex and Ahsoka were on their way up with her family and they would soon come face to face.

Anakin took Padmé in his arms and held her close, as they waited. Luke and Leia joined them, while the Kenobi family, Lux, Aisha and Rukto stood quietly in the background. Annie and Rukto weren't sure what was going on, but they knew that things had turned serious for some reason and that meant they were supposed to be on their best behavior.

Rex and Ahsoka led the Naberrie family through the living area and onto the veranda. Sola gasped, as she saw the truth for herself.

"I can't believe it...it's true!" Sola exclaimed, as she ran to her sister and enveloped her in a big hug.

"Oh, I've missed you Sola," Padmé said, as tears slipped down her cheeks.

"Look at you...I can't believe it. You haven't changed at all," Sola said in amazement. Padmé hugged her father next.

"I knew you were alive. Somehow I knew it," Ruwee said.

"Ani and I have been frozen in carbonite for the last eighteen years. I'm so sorry for the deception," Padmé apologized.

"You're sorry?" Jobal snapped, catching their attention. "Sorry isn't good enough this time, Padmé! We've mourned you for the last eighteen years!"

"Dear, please. Our daughter and our son-in-law are alive, that's what matters," Ruwee attempted to soothe his wife's anger.

"Grandpa is right. If we have to blame anyone, it's Emperor Palpatine. He caused all this. He is the reason we were all torn apart and the reason so many secrets had to be kept," Pooja spoke up.

"You're Pooja Naberrie, the Senator of Naboo. I recognize you from the Senate," Leia said. Pooja smiled.

"I recognize you too, Leia Organa. I had no idea that we were actually cousins all these years," she replied.

"You're Senator of Naboo?" Padmé asked in surprise with a smile. Pooja nodded and hugged her Aunt. Jobal snorted.

"Oh yes, she's been trying to follow in your footsteps since you were supposedly killed and Sola did nothing to stop her," she grumbled. Sola rolled her eyes.

"I am very proud of Pooja and you should be too. Daddy and Darred are proud too that she followed in her Aunt's footsteps," Sola said.

"Damn proud," Darred confirmed.

"Oh, you both have grown up to be so beautiful," Padmé said, as she hugged both Ryoo and Pooja.

"We've missed you so much, Aunt Padmé," Ryoo sobbed.

"Luke and Leia, this is your Aunt Sola, your Uncle Darred, your grandfather Ruwee, your grandmother Jobal, and your cousins, Ryoo and Pooja," Padmé introduced.

"It's so wonderful to meet you both. Talk about a pair of copies. They look just like you two," Sola said to Anakin and Padmé, as she hugged them.

"It's great to meet you too," Luke said. Jobal softened considerably and tears rolled down her cheeks, as she and Ruwee hugged the grandchildren they never knew they had.

"Well, perhaps we can continue to get acquainted during our evening meal," Obi-Wan suggested.

"That's a good idea. I forgot to introduce everyone else. This is Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, his wife Satine, and their daughter Annie. You've met Ahsoka, and this is her husband Lux, and their kids, Aisha and Rukto," Padmé said. Pleasantries were exchanged again and they sat down to evening meal together. The evening and the next few days would be interesting to say the least, as a family would become whole again.

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