Padmé had begun to hear the faint sound of her husband speaking several moments ago. For a while she was not sure if she was dreaming, but then she felt his warm lips on her hand and knew she couldn't be imagining it all. She felt herself becoming more aware of her state, as she listened to Anakin's beautiful words. Gradually she felt her senses come back to her, as her husband's touch became stronger and she felt the brightness of the lights shining through her eyelids. She gently fluttered her eyes open, having to close them quickly whilst her eyes adjusted to the light she had been deprived of for several days.
"Ani", Padmé said softly, as her eyes focused on Anakin's face, who was sat right next to her bed.
"Padmé. Angel. You came back to me", Anakin replied softly, caressing her face as warm tears sprang to his eyes. "I have been so worried", he told her.
"What happened to me?", Padmé asked, her memories proving to be hazy.
"Threepio told me you had been suffering from a headache. And whilst I was detained in meetings you had retired to your chambers to lie down. But you must have decided to go to the medical bay, but you collapsed on the way there. When I finished my meetings, I came to find you, and when you weren't in your room, I panicked. I searched the whole establishments and found you in the corridor near the medical bay. The droids said you suffered from delayed brain trauma following the explosion. That was why you were discharged from Coruscant Medical, because the symptoms don't present themselves immediately. They placed you in a stasis chamber in suspended animation for two days to help your brain heal itself. But Padmé I am so sorry. I neglected you, and because I was so busy in stupid meetings, I was not there for you. Had I been, this could have been avoided", Anakin commented guilty.
Padmé reached up and placed a finger on her husband's lip, "Shhh Anakin no, don't be silly. There was nothing you could have done. Neither of us knew this would happen. And now I am well, so please do not trouble yourself. You look exhausted, have you had no sleep?", Padmé asked, seeing the sunken look on her husband's face.
"I have been so worried Padmé; I was not able to sleep. I had to go and see the Emperor and keep him appraised of the investigation, so that I could be back here when you were woken up", Anakin replied.
"You are here now my love, that's what matters", Padmé told him with a smile.
"Ahh, Miss Padmé. It blesses my circuits to see you awake. I have bought the food for you that Master Anakin requested", the golden droid stated, as he brought the food into the suite on a large tray.
"My favourite stew, and strawberries", Padmé commented, "Thank you Threepio", Padmé said with a smile, before looking at her husband in thanks.
Padmé and Anakin sat together as Padmé ate the food that the golden droid had prepared for her. Anakin could not take his eyes off his wife, so grateful that she was well and eating. Padmé too was looking at Anakin and noticed that he looked very worn down. Dark shadows encircled his eyes and she could tell that there had been more to Anakin's meeting with the Emperor than he had let on. She planned to speak to Anakin about everything later, but despite feeling as though she had just woken from a deep sleep, she also felt very tired and fatigued. As Padmé finished her food, the medical droid approached the couple and conducted some final tests on Padmé.
"You appear to have responded well to the suspended animation, Senator. Your vitals and brain functionality are near optimal", the droid reported.
"I am most grateful for all of your help. I am sure that over the last few days, you have had more visits than you have during your entire time here", Padmé commented with a small smile.
"It has been our pleasure My Lady", the droid replied with a nod.
"When can I leave the medical bay?", Padmé asked. She did not intend to overexert herself but having spent a significant amount of time in her as both patient and guest, she was most apprehensive to depart.
"I am happy for you to depart now My Lady. I am sure Lord Vader and the C3PO will take good care of you. You will likely feel rather fatigued for the next day or so, so I suggest you perhaps retire and get some sleep soon, now you have eaten. As I did with Lord Vader, I ask that you return in 48 hours for a check up or if you experience any pain or headaches", the droid stated.
"I will keep a close eye on her", Anakin told the droid, looking to his wife.
"Thank you for your services", Padmé told the droid again, before she sat up and moved to stand from the medical bed. Anakin was right by her side and motioned to pick her up from the bed.
"I am alright, Ani. I can walk", Padmé told her husband. He reluctantly moved his arm down and when she was stood on the floor, he wrapped an arm around her waist to support her as she walked.
"Take it steady my love", Anakin said, moving slowly at her pace as they exited the medical bay.
"I am alright Anakin. It is good to be up and walking again. I have been lying down for the last several days. I know the doctor said to go and sleep, and I admit I am a little tired, but I just don't want to go and lie down straight away", Padmé replied.
"What do you want to do?", Anakin asked his wife as they walked down the hall together.
"A shower and some fresh air would be terrific", Padmé stated. "Being in that stasis chamber has made me feel a little claustrophobic", she told her husband.
"As you wish My Lady", Anakin replied, kissing his wife's hand softly. When they arrived at Padmé's bedchambers, Anakin took a step back as his wife took off her medical gown and placed it on the bed gently. She didn't say anything but turned around and looked at Anakin, her soft brown eyes calling for him to follow her. As he did so, he removed his own clothing and placed his lightsaber on the bed before entering the fresher. The room was already steaming as Padmé had started to run the hot shower. Anakin walked in carefully, finding his wife through the steam as the water cascaded down the pair.
"I'm so happy you have come back to me, Padmé", Anakin told his wife, as his human hand caressed her face.
"I am too", Padmé replied. She could see the toll that her condition had clearly taken on her husband. He looked physical and mentally exhausted. It was clear he had hardly slept, and he had mentioned he had gone to visit the Emperor. "What has happened while I've been in stasis Anakin? You said you met with the Emperor", Padmé asked her husband.
Anakin paused for a moment. He did not want to talk about the Emperor. He simply wanted to enjoy his time with Padmé without thinking about that evil man and what had transpired at their last meeting.
"I did. I informed him of the status of the investigation. We have a name for the assassin. But I do not think he was the one who ordered the attack, he was working for someone else, someone who wishes to remain anonymous. But I will find out who it was who tried to kill you Padmé", Anakin told his wife.
"I see", Padmé replied. "What did the Emperor have to say about it?", she asked.
"Not much. He remarked upon your fortune that I arrived in time, and how my desire to save Senator Soruna stemmed from my previous failures", Anakin told her, trying again to block the painful images from his mind.
"What did he say to you?", Padmé asked her husband. She brought a hand up to his face softly and she could see the pain in his eyes.
"Nothing", Anakin stated, covering her hand with his own.
"How long is it going to take for us to be honest with each other?", Padmé asked. She was reminded of a time when she had pleaded for Anakin to tell her the truth on their veranda at 500 Republica.
"He did what he usually does. He told me that Senator Soruna reminded me of you. He reminded me what I had done to you on Mustafar. He showed me what I did to you on that day Padmé. He will not ever let me forget it and I cannot either. Only last night I woke up from a vision of what happened on the platform. I cannot get it out of my mind, it hurts so much. You have suffered so much at my hand Padmé", Anakin confessed, his voice breaking towards the end.
Padmé did not have any words to respond, her heart breaking seeing her husband like this in front of her. She simply wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close into her. She knew that no words could console her husband right now, and that what he needed was to know that she was here with him and that she loved him. Padmé ran her hands through her husband's wet hair soothingly as he broke their embrace and looked into her doe brown eyes.
"Padmé I'm so sorry, for all that I have done", Anakin said simply.
"I know you are Anakin. And more than that I forgive you. You have started to rebuild your life as Anakin Skywalker. You have rejected the Emperor and the dark side and have welcomed me, and the twins love into your heart. You are rebuilding your relationship with Obi-Wan, and one day you will restore balance to the galaxy and bring peace. I cannot begin to imagine how much all that had happened must torment you. But I think perhaps it was always meant to happen. You had to go on this journey to come back to me and be the man you were born to be", Padmé told her husband passionately.
Anakin could not help but smile at his wife's statement, as she once again had not failed to amaze him. "Padmé you are truly the most incredible woman in the galaxy. I don't know what I ever did or ever can do to deserve you", he told her as he leaned in to kiss her
"Just love me Anakin. That is all I have ever wanted, is your love", Padmé told him after their kiss broke.
A while later the couple stood looking out from the bedroom balcony. It was getting late and both Anakin and Padmé knew that soon they would be most grateful to get some sleep.
"I want to go and see the twins Anakin", Padmé told her husband, as she leant against the balcony looking out into the cityscape. "After all that has happened, it has made me realise that the only things that are truly important to me are you and the twins. I need to see them", she added.
"I agree", Anakin replied. "The Senate has been disbanded and I am responsible for conducting the investigation into your attack. I see no better time to go than now", he commented.
"Let us go and contact Obi-Wan now. Can we meet them again at your estate on Alderaan?", Padmé asked.
"Yes, I think it is the safest location for all of us to meet. I imagine Geeta will be pleased to have some guests to entertain again", he replied.
Padmé moved to leave her chambers, but Anakin took her by the arm gently and asked, "Permit me to go and contact Obi-Wan and make the arrangements. I can tell how tired you are Padmé", he told his wife, still concerned that she was pulled from suspended animation only hours ago.
Padmé paused for a second and then replied, "Okay Anakin. Thank you. Please see if you can arrange for us to meet as soon as possible. I need to see our babies", she told him.
Anakin kissed her hand and replied, "Of course my love, I will see to it now. Please get into bed and try and get to sleep. I will come and join you shortly", he told her, bowing as he left the room. Padmé watched him leave before she walked over to the large bed and pulled back the soft sheets and got into bed. She felt a wave of tiredness wash over her as she closed her eyes and conceded to slumber. A while later, Padmé stirred when she felt the mattress sink next to her.
"Ani", Padmé whispered softly, opening her eyes a little to find her husband in the darkness.
"I'm here Angel", he told his wife, reaching out to her. "We are going to see Luke and Leia tomorrow. We will leave in the morning", he informed her as he pulled her close to his warm body.
"I am so excited Ani. We can be a family", Padmé stated softly, as she closed her eyes again and started to fall back to sleep.
"Sleep well, Angel", Anakin replied as he kissed his wife's shoulder softly and then closed his eyes as well.
The next morning, Anakin awoke before his wife and started to make preparations for their departure. He was unsure exactly how long they would be gone, but he knew that his estate had sufficient supplies for any length of stay. He had left Padmé sleeping and returned to his chambers to retrieve some items to pack and his suit and mask. As he walked back towards Padmé's bedchambers, he suddenly remembered that Padmé had been requested to return for a check-up with the medical droid. He scolded his forgetfulness, before an idea came to him.
Anakin entered the medical bay and searched for the medical droid. "Droid", Anakin stated, unsure where else it would be.
"My Lord, how may I serve you? I trust yourself and the Senator are recovering", the droid said as it emerged from a medical storage room.
"My wife and I are departing soon for Alderaan. It is a pleasure trip so she will not be engaging in any strenuous activities, but consequently, she will not be here for her check-up as you requested. However, I have a solution. As myself and my wife are gone, there is no one in these establishments for you to serve, so I ask that you come with us, so you are able to continue to monitor my wife's recovery", Anakin informed the droid.
"Indeed, My Lord, that is acceptable. What supplies do I need to bring?", the droid asked.
"My estate is equipped with a small medical bay. I had one constructed in all my establishments", he replied, remembering back to when he had first been injured on Mustafar and required regular medical intervention.
"Of course, My Lord. I am happy to come. When are you departing?", it enquired.
"Once my wife awakens. I estimate in the next hour or so", Anakin replied. He then turned and left to go and check on Padmé, wondering if she was awake yet.
When Anakin entered Padmé's chambers, he found that the bed was empty and had already been made. He smiled softly as he heard the shower running in the fresher adjacent to him. A little while later Padmé emerged, dressed in a pair of tan coloured trousers and a white fitted top. She had tied her hair up simply, but elegantly.
"Good morning Ani", Padmé said with a smile.
Anakin approached his wife and kissed her on the forehead before saying, "Good morning angel. Are you ready to leave soon?".
"Yes, I am nearly ready. I don't need to pack much, from what I gathered we have a lot that we need on Alderaan", Padmé replied.
"Yes, we do. With one exception. I have asked the medical droid to accompany us to Alderaan, so that he can monitor your recovery. I am conscious you will not be here for your check up as he requested, but I want to keep my oath to make sure you recover and take it steady Padmé", he told his wife.
"That is very thoughtful of you Anakin", Padmé stated as she kissed her husband softly on the mouth.
"Shall we go to the hangar bay?", he asked her.
"Yes, let's go. We have quite a long journey ahead of us", Padmé replied, as Anakin picked up her small case and walked with her towards the shuttle.
"Do you not need your mask and suit on?", Padmé asked, remembering they had a façade to maintain.
"Fortunately, not. The group of troopers that maintain my hangar bay have been relocated to assist with the senate furlough and the investigation", Anakin informed her.
"That is good. It will be good for you to be completely free of that suit for a few days. I have been worried about you Anakin", Padmé admitted, as they boarded the shuttle.
"I am fine my love. Please do not worry yourself. It will not help you recover any faster. I am here with you now, and we are going to see our beautiful children. That is what I want you to think about", he replied as they took their seats and entered the co-ordinates for his Alderaani estate.
"It will be so wonderful to see them. I have missed them so much Ani. After all that has happened recently, more than ever I want to be close to them. They bring the best out of both of us", Padmé replied.
"I couldn't agree more Padmé. Never have I been so happy and feel so at peace than when I am with you and our children. I feel like the luckiest man in the galaxy", he told her with a smile.
Their shuttle entered Alderaani hyperspace as Anakin directed their ship through the darkening skies and towards his estate. Despite the long flight, both Padmé and Anakin were eager to see their children. The shuttle entered the hangar bay and the couple disembarked quickly. As they walked down the shuttle ramp they were greeted by Geeta with a smile.
"My Lord, My Lady, it is so lovely to see you again", she said softly. "It is my pleasure to inform you that Master Kenobi and your children are already here. I have just finished helping them get their pyjamas on".
"Thank you Geeta", Padmé replied, as she and Anakin entered the property.
"Mummy, Daddy", the twins shouted as they stormed down the corridor to greet their parents. Anakin and Padmé stood with their arms open and picked one child up each.
"Hello my beautiful babies. I am so happy to see you. Mummy missed you so much", Padmé said, trying her best to contain her emotions.
"We missed you too mummy. And you daddy", Leia stated as she touched her father's face gently.
"I have missed you my little princess. And you my son", Anakin replied, looking from his daughter to his son happily.
"Mummy are these from the accident?", Luke asked curiously, as he hovered over the still visible burns and scratches that Padmé had on her face.
"Yes, they are Luke. But I am much better now. Your daddy has been taking great care of me", Padmé told her children reassuringly.
"And your mother has been looking after me as well. She is so caring", Anakin added, looking at his wife lovingly.
"Yeah, mummy is really good at looking after people. She always looks after me and Leia when we are sick", Luke told his father.
"And that is why we all love your mummy so much Luke", Anakin told his children.
"Right you two. We should get you to bed, because I bet you have had a long day and a long journey here and we don't want you to be tired when we want to spend all day together tomorrow", Padmé interjected, as she too felt tired from the journey and wanted to be able to spend all the time she could with her children in the coming days.
"Your mother is right", Anakin replied as he put Leia down and saw her take her mother's hand.
"Can we have a bedtime story mummy?", Luke asked.
"A quick one perhaps", Padmé replied.
"Can we have one of the stories you used to tell us about the space pilot and the princess?", Leia asked her mother.
"Okay", Padmé conceded, as she started walking with her children towards their bedchambers.
Anakin smiled as his family departed and decided to go and retrieve the bags from the shuttle. As he walked back down towards the hangar bay, he was greeted by his old master.
"A pleasure it is to see you again Anakin", Obi-Wan stated.
"Yes, it is great to see you again Obi-Wan. I feel as though so much has transpired since we last saw one another", Anakin replied.
"Story of our lives really. Always on the move. Always an adventure", the Master Jedi commented, as he proceeded to follow Anakin towards the hangar bay.
"Quite right you are", Anakin replied.
"You seem troubled Anakin", Obi-Wan commented.
"Do I?", Anakin asked simply.
"Yes, you do. Do you want to talk about it?", he asked.
"Truthfully, I am not sure where to begin", Anakin replied.
"At the beginning often helps", Obi-Wan responded wittily, glancing at Anakin with a smile.
"Very funny old man", Anakin stated. "I just wish it was that simple", he added.
"Speak your mind Anakin", his master encouraged him.
Anakin paused for a moment, trying to find the words to articulate how he was feeling. But he knew that in his own mind he was still confused by what he felt, and that was no succinct way to explain the torrid of emotions that were tormenting him.
"I know Padmé has forgiven me for all I have done, but no matter what I cannot escape the past. I am constantly reminded of that day on Mustafar and the Emperor tortures me with visions of it. On that day I believed that I had lost Padmé, that she had died at my hand. Now, since Padmé has come back into my life, everything is changing irrevocably, and I am struggling to keep up with the pace of that change. When I returned from Dantooine, I genuinely did not think I would get there in time and I thought I was going to lose Padmé all over again. There was such a big part of me that knew I could not go through that again. If I were to lose Padmé again, I do not know what I would do, because I cannot go back to being Darth Vader, he was more a machine than man, twisted by the evil of the Emperor. But I also know that as Anakin Skywalker I cannot live without Padmé either, because when I was faced with that prospect all those years ago, I was willing to give up anything in order to try and save her life", Anakin confessed.
Obi-Wan listened to his friend's confession in silence, truly overwhelmed by his response. He had never felt such feelings for another, and he knew he could never understand the torment that Anakin must have gone through when he feared losing Padmé the way he had lost his mother. But he knew that Anakin needed his help. He could see that these thoughts were eating him up inside, and it was likely he had chosen not to confide these thoughts in Padmé as to not worry her.
"Anakin, I know I can never understand the bond you and Padmé share. I know that the Jedi way teaches us to rejoice for those who die and become one with the force and to not mourn or miss them", Obi-Wan replied.
"Padmé is not a Jedi. She will never become one with the force", Anakin interjected.
"I know Anakin", Obi-Wan stated. "I think that is why you may benefit from some meditation, to help to clear your mind of some of your worries. You must open yourself up and begin to heal from the past and look to the future", he added.
"I remember once I was meditating with Master Yoda and I told him about my premonitions. I told him they were of pain and suffering and he told me to train myself to let go of everything I feared to lose", Anakin told Obi-Wan. "I think perhaps that was what sent me over the edge. Because at that moment I realised I would never be able to let go of Padmé, and that I would always fear losing someone I loved".
"I agree. You had always been a deeply emotional being with significant attachments. I was not naïve to your attachments to Padmé, your padawan and myself. I think it all stemmed from being with your mother until you were nine and then losing her so terribly", Obi-Wan deduced.
"I know that attachments were forbidden by Jedi. But truthfully Master, I believe that a life without attachments is no life at all", Anakin admitted.
Obi-Wan paused as him and Anakin entered the lounge area with the bags. "I have to agree Anakin. Despite my ruthless dedication to the Jedi order. I must confess that I myself broke that oath to the order. On the night of Order 66, myself and Master Yoda entered the temple and he went to face the Emperor and I was sent to find you. But I begged Master Yoda to send me to fight the Emperor because I proclaimed you were like my brother and I could not kill you. And I know what I did to you on Mustafar was barbaric and believe me when I say that day will never escape my memory either. But truthfully Anakin, I could not kill you, because I too had formed such an attachment", he admitted.
"I guess no one is perfect. Not even you Master", Anakin stated, smiling softly.
"How true indeed. But Anakin, do not be so harsh on yourself. You should not underestimate the good you have served in this galaxy, and what having attachments has done for you. Without such attachments you would have been lost to the dark side forever. Those three people up there are your reason for redemption, and it pleases me greatly to be on this journey with you, to support you, my brother", Obi-Wan expressed, as he reached a hand out to Anakin.
Anakin returned his gesture with a hug. He then stood and faced him and said, "Goodnight Master".
"Goodnight Anakin", Obi-Wan replied, as they both headed to their quarters.
Anakin reached the main quarters and could feel his wife's and children's presence inside Leia's room. He stood in the doorway and saw Padmé asleep, cradling the twins as they slept soundly. He admired the beautiful scene before him, reflecting on the words his master had just told him, and he realised how right he was that they truly were his saving grace from the dark side and that without them he would be nothing. He picked up Luke carefully and carried him to his bedchambers and kissed him goodnight. Once he was content his son was comfortable, he returned to his daughters room, and kissed her softly on the forehead. Careful as to not wake either of them, he then picked up his wife into his strong arms and carried her out of Leia's room and into their bedchambers.
As he walked with his wife in his arms, he could not help but admire the angelic beauty of her sleeping face. He knew how exhausted she must have been when they arrived, but he also knew how much she had wanted to see the twins. When they arrived at their chambers, he gently lay Padmé down on their bed, and she stirred awake.
"Sorry Angel. I did not mean to wake you", Anakin said as he kissed her softly on the lips.
"No, it's fine. Once I had finished the story, we must have all fallen asleep. The twins were so tired as well", Padmé told him.
"Did they enjoy the story?", Anakin asked, as he and his wife both got ready for bed.
"Yes. They have always loved my princess and the pilot stories", she commented with a smile.
"I see. It sounds similar to the Senator and the Jedi. Are there any parallels?", he asked jokingly.
"Some maybe. I have sought some inspiration", Padmé stated.
"Oh really. Such as?", Anakin asked curiously.
"Well, the pilot is the best in the galaxy. He is a brave and cunning warrior as well and helps to save all the planets from war and slavery", she told him.
"Ahh I see. I am guessing the princess is beautiful and strong and brave as well. That she does what is best for her people", Anakin asked.
"She does the best that she can", Padmé replied as they got into bed.
"But I am guessing it is useless for her to deny the feelings she has for the pilot. I mean who could not fall for such a brave and cunning pilot?", he asked.
"She puts her duties first. She tries her hardest to fight her feelings for him because she knows they both have a job to do. But the pilot is incredibly determined, and eventually he wears her down and she cannot fight anymore", Padmé teased as she rested her head on her husband's bare chest.
"Oh, I see. So, it wasn't her undying love for him, it was just that he wore her down hmm?", Anakin asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Something like that", Padmé teased.
"It's a good job I love you Senator", Anakin stated as he kissed her head softly, and they both fell asleep wrapped in each other's arms.