After enjoying lunch together, the twins helped Geeta clear the table and set about helping her make preparations for dinner. Soon after, the estate's security system informed them that a ship had entered the hangar bay. Bail met them in the lounge area of the house before they decided to have their meeting in Anakin's office.
"You look much better than the last time I saw you Padmé. I trust you are recovering well", Bail stated.
"Yes, I am thank you Bail. I have a medical droid here to monitor me, but I am very lucky for the medical treatment I have received and to Anakin for saving my life", Padmé replied, taking her husband's hand.
"It is good to see you as well Anakin. Despite knowing it was you under the suit and mask, I never imagined I would see your face again", Bail commented, slightly surprised by how little Anakin had changed in over 8 years.
"Thank you, Senator Organa. I must express my gratitude to you for protecting and supporting Padmé when I have been unable, it means a great deal to me", Anakin replied.
"It is my pleasure", Bail stated with a small smile. "And Obi-Wan. It has been too long my friend", Bail added, nodding to the older Jedi in acknowledgement.
"I agree Senator. I just wish we could be meeting under different circumstances. But right now, the galaxy needs us to act", Obi-Wan replied as he took a seat next to Bail, who sat opposite Anakin and Padmé.
"Anakin, can you divulge what you established from the communications you had with your troopers this morning?", Obi-Wan asked.
"Yes. There have been some interesting developments. My commander informed me that they have managed to trace some of the explosive residue and have established that the explosive device used was purchased by someone from within the Imperial network. So, someone from the Empire ordered that hit", Anakin stated.
"Why would someone from the Empire want to kill an Imperial Senator?", Obi-Wan asked curiously.
"I don't know, but I intend to find out. I have got my trooper investigating further into the tracing of the account. But whoever they were, they wanted it to be anonymous", Anakin declared.
"Could it be they had been made aware of Padmé's identity as Senator Soruna?", Bail asked.
"I don't think so", Anakin replied. "The Empire has believed that Senator Amidala died more than 8 years ago and from what I understand you have done very well to keep it a secret. Senator Soruna was placed under the protection of Darth Vader following the first attempt on her life. I think whoever it was that ordered the hit, intended for the target to be Senator Soruna, and they very nearly succeeded, as well as nearly killing me in the process", Anakin added.
"I hope that we are able to bring the assailant to justice for their crime. But until then I think it is wise that you do not return to the Senate when it reconvenes Padmé", Bail said.
"I agree with your concerns and I think it would be foolish of me to return to the Senate. I am confident I can execute my duties from my home planet, and if I need to visit the Senate for any reason, we can make suitable arrangement when the occasion arises", Padmé told them.
"I also spoke to the Governor Tarkin. I am unsure how much you know about the Death Star", Anakin asked.
"We only know what the Emperor will tell us. He says it is a machine being built for the protection and security of the Empire and its people. Whilst I do not believe he is being honest, I cannot say I know any more about it", Bail confessed.
"I am the same as Bail", Padmé concurred.
"The Death Star is a weapon of incredible magnitude. It is an enormous space station and once construction has been completed it will have the power to destroy a planet with its superlasers. It is the hopes of the Emperor and the leading Governors and Grand Moffs that this station will make them an unstoppable force and certainly one that will destroy the Rebel Alliance", Anakin informed the group, seeing the concerned looks build on their face.
"I don't believe it", Obi-Wan stated, shocked by Anakin's words.
Padmé took her husbands hand and said, "Ani, surely you know we cannot allow the construction of this death star to be completed. If the Empire was to possess a weapon that had the power to destroy planets the Rebel Alliance would not stand a chance, there would never be peace in the galaxy", Padmé exclaimed desperately.
"I know my love I know. Even as Vader I was never enthusiastic about the station's construction. It was my belief that the ability to destroy a planet was insignificant next to the power of the force. But that station will be almost fully operation before construction has completed, which makes it even more of an imminent threat", Anakin identified.
"Can it be destroyed?", Obi-Wan asked.
"A station that size. How could we destroy such a thing?", Bail Organa exclaimed.
"Could there be a weakness. Something we could exploit.", Obi-Wan stated.
"I have been placed in charge of reviewing all of the schematics for the Death Star. Prior to the commencement of its construction I spent weeks analysing the plans that were developed, trying to find any weaknesses", Anakin told them.
"Anakin if anyone can find a weakness in that station, you can. You know so much about engineering and robotics"; Padmé told her husband.
"I must inform the Alliance about this. If we are to stand a chance of destroying the Empire and bringing peace to the galaxy, we must destroy this monstrous space station", Bail announced.
"Some changes have been made to some of the defence systems schematics and Tarkin has asked me to review them. I will do so and if I can find any weaknesses, I will let you know. This station was designed to be impenetrable by any large fleets and destroyers", Anakin stated.
"Any help you can give us will be hugely valuable Anakin. I will ask the Alliance to start to prepare fighters and forces. If we can find a weakness to this station, we can destroy it", Bail replied.
"Destroying that station is just the beginning. If we destroy that station, they will simply build another that is bigger and more powerful. If we are going to destroy the Empire, we need to totally dismantle it from the inside. The key to all of this is destroying the Emperor, and that task falls to me", Anakin announced firmly.
"I understand Anakin. We all have a part to play in this. But I hope it will be a time remembered in history, when we can all live in peace", Bail responded.
"You will not be alone in this Anakin. I will help you defeat the Emperor. I won't let you face him alone", Obi-Wan confessed.
"I suggest we conclude our meeting here. I shall contact the Alliance and inform them of what we now know. I am unsure when we will be called back to the Senate, but I am hoping this current furlough will buy us some time to build momentum and rally more support. Anakin, if you are able to provide us with any information, we would be most grateful", Bail highlighted.
"I will do all I can Senator Organa. All I want is for my family to live in peace and not in fear of the Emperor. I want to make amends for all the pain I have caused people in this galaxy. We are all soldiers in this war and I will do my duty", Anakin replied.
"Excellent. I shall leave you to have some time with your family", Bail commented as he stood from his chair.
"I will escort you out Senator", Obi-Wan insisted, as they exited the office and headed back down towards the hangar bay.
"I can't believe what you said about the Death Star. I never imagined such a weapon could exist", Padmé confessed to her husband.
"I promise we won't let that station become operational Padmé. I will do all I can to find a weakness and help destroy it. I won't let any harm come to you or the twins, never again", Anakin promised his wife as he kissed her hand.
"I hope so Ani. I just want this all to be over", Padmé replied.
"Soon my love", Anakin said assuring. "I also want to find whoever is responsible for your attempted assassination. It is troubling to me that it is someone from the Empire. Someone who had substantial wealth and connections to organise such a plot, whilst remaining anonymous. But when I find out I will make them pay", Anakin stated forcibly.
Padmé brought her hand to her husband's face and said, "Please don't let your anger consume you Anakin. I know you want to find the person responsible, but do not let your desire for revenge cloud your judgement and draw you back towards the dark. I can't lose you again", she pleaded, tears coming to her eyes.
Anakin relaxed his face after hearing his wife's words, realising he had let his emotions get the better of him. "I'm sorry my love. It is just the thought of anyone hurting you just breaks me. But I promise you will never lose me again. I cannot live without you, Luke and Leia", he confessed as he leant down to kiss her lips softly.
"Let's go and be with our family Anakin", Padmé stated as their kiss broke. The pair then left the office and walked down to the kitchen where they were greeted by their children.
"Mum, dad, dinner is going to be the best tonight, because me and Leia have helped make it", Luke announced proudly.
"Yes, we have picked more berries for a cake we've baked, we've helped Geeta make some soup too. It's going to be yummy", Leia told them.
"That sounds beautiful, I am so excited for it", Padmé told her children with a smile.
"As am I. I am as hungry as a rancor", Anakin commented.
"It shouldn't be too long", Geeta informed them.
"How was your meeting mummy?", Leia asked.
"It was good sweetheart. We talked about a lot and we are making a plan. It just takes a lot of time because a lot of people are involved", Padmé stated.
"Are you going to kill the Emperor father?", Luke asked.
"Yes, I am Luke", Anakin replied.
"But he used to be your master", the young boy stated.
"He did son. But I made a big mistake serving him. He is a very bad man and in order for there to be peace in the galaxy, we need to get rid of him. I am the only person who is strong enough to kill him", Anakin told his son.
"But dad, what if you aren't strong enough. What if he kills you?", the boy asked sadly.
Anakin paused for a moment upon hearing his son's question. He had been training intensely and he knew he was physically stronger than his master. But the Emperor was not to be underestimated and he possessed the power of Sith lightning, which had proved to have a detrimental impact on his breathing if experienced in large doses.
"Your daddy is the strongest Jedi in the whole galaxy Luke. He will beat the Emperor and we will live happily together as a family", Padmé reassured her children, also upset by his statement.
"I am training hard and I am getting stronger with the force. When the time comes, I will be ready son, and I will do it for you, your sister, and your mother", Anakin replied, looking at both of his children intently.
"And more importantly, he won't be alone", Obi-Wan stated as he entered the kitchen, having escorted Senator Organa back to the hangar bay.
"Dinner is ready", Geeta stated as they all moved to take their seats at the table.
"This is looks and smells wonderful, thank you Geeta", Padmé told her.
"Thank you, My Lady. I had a lot of help", she replied, smiling at the twins.
After dinner, Anakin, Obi-Wan and Padmé enjoyed being taught a new game by the twins. They were amused by the ever-changing rules meaning the grown-ups almost always lost, but it brought great joy to all seeing the twins so happy.
"Alright you two, I think it's time for bed", Padmé stated, having seen both of her children attempting to stifle their yawns.
"Can we play again tomorrow?", Luke asked.
"We can have another whole day of fun tomorrow", Anakin told his son.
"Yay", the twins replied in unison.
"Goodnight young ones, Good night Anakin, Padmé", Obi-Wan stated, bowing as he left the lounge area and headed for his guest quarters.
Anakin lifted up both his children in his strong arms and joked, "I swear either you two are getting bigger and stronger by the day or I am getting weaker".
"You aren't getting weaker dad, look how big your muscles are", Leia stated, poking her fathers tensing bicep as he carried his children.
"That means my babies are growing up", Padmé stated, looking at her children as she walked with her husband up towards their bedrooms.
"We won't be children forever mum", Leia said.
"I know. But I want to make the most of it while you are. Don't be in any rush to grow up sweetheart", Padmé reminded her daughter.
"Yes, mummy", Leia replied as Anakin put her down on her bed gently.
"Goodnight Princess", Anakin said as he kissed his daughter softly and went to take Luke to his bedroom.
"Night daddy and night mummy", Leia replied, as her mother tucked her in gently and kissed her goodnight.
"Goodnight my beautiful girl, sleep well", Padmé said softly, before leaving the room and going to Luke's adjoining room.
"Goodnight son", Anakin stated, as he pulled the sheet up over his son's body.
"Goodnight father. I am so happy you are alive. Me and Leia are so lucky you are our father, and you have made mummy so happy", Luke told his father softly.
"I am so happy to be here with all of you Luke, and I will be here always", Anakin told his son, as he heard Padmé approach them and kiss her son goodnight.
The pair then walked out, content that their children were in bed and going to sleep.
"Remember you have your check-up with the medical droid Padmé. If you would like we can go now and see it so it is done", Anakin reminded his wife.
"Oh yes. Truthfully, I had forgotten about that. We've been having such a wonderful time here and I feel fine", Padmé replied.
"Well it would make me feel much more at ease if you would go and get checked by the medical droid. You shouldn't underestimate all you have been through over the last many weeks my love", Anakin commented.
"I know Ani. Come on, let us go now whilst the twins are in bed", Padmé replied.
Moments later they entered the small medical bay and were greeted by the medical droid they had brought with them.
"Ahh My Lady it is good to see you. I was hoping you would come today for a check-up. I will be with you momentarily", the droid stated as it collected the necessary equipment to conduct the test.
Padmé sat down on the medical bed in the centre of the room as the droid came over to check her vital signs and her responses following her time in suspended animation. After all the tests had been completed the droid reported, "I am very happy with your recovery My Lady. Your brain has responded well to the time in stasis and so I am confident you should not experience any further headaches or injuries from the accident. Your burns and cuts are healing well and should be gone in a few more days. I believe your abdominal wound experienced exceptional recovery, which was why you were discharged from Coruscant Medical".
"So, everything is fine, and she is back to normal health?", Anakin asked, wanting to confirm that his wife was healthy and well.
"I am very happy with your wife's recovery My Lord. I do just want to run one test again, but it has returned an unusual result, but it is nothing pressing and more than likely it is an error in the equipment. I will rerun the test and inform you when I get the result back. But in the meantime, My Lady, I recommend you avoid strenuous exertion, but you can exercise again, and continue to follow a healthy balanced diet", the droid replied.
Anakin couldn't help but raise his eyebrow at the comment regarding an unusual result. But having spent a significant number of hours receiving medical treatment, he knew that some tests could be temperamental and simply needed to be double-checked.
"Good, please do inform us when you have that test result back. I want to know that my wife is well", Anakin replied.
"Yes, My Lord", the droid replied.
Anakin helped Padmé down from the bed as they left the medical bay hand in hand. It was a short walk back up to their chambers where both of them prepared for bed. Padmé sat at her vanity table and removed her ring and started to brush her hair soothingly. Anakin emerged from the fresher moments later and ran a hand through his hair and got into bed, admiring his wife as she sat brushing her hair.
"You know all I have to do with my hair is run a hand through it. Why is it not so simple with yours?", Anakin asked his wife.
Padmé turned to look at her husband and then stated, "Firstly, my hair is much longer than yours. Secondly, it has been styled all day so when I take it out it needs to be brushed. And thirdly I don't just run a hand through mine because I'm not a scruffy-looking nerf herder".
"A scruffy looking nerf herder. Senator, I am offended. I take great pride in my appearance", Anakin replied.
"I can see that", Padmé responded sarcastically.
"Why else do you think all women from across the galaxy fawn over me?", Anakin retorted.
Padmé laughed at his statement and then said, "Oh is that so? So, I am just like any of these other women who fawn over you", Padmé teased, standing up from the small table.
Anakin stood up to meet her in the centre of the room, his broad muscular frame towering over her petite body.
"Oh, not at all Senator. Quite the opposite. It is the ones who play hard to get who are the most desirable, and you are certainly desirable", Anakin replied, kissing her neck softly.
"Don't think you can just seduce me with your words of flattery Master Jedi. I am not just any woman", Padmé told her husband, trying to put on her best senatorial voice.
"Believe me, I know. I don't even think you are a woman at all. You are an angel, even more beautiful than the ones from the moons of Iago. But more than that you aren't just anyone, you are my wife Padmé. Other women don't exist to me. You are in my very soul", Anakin told her passionately.
"Be careful Anakin if someone was to hear your confessions, they may think you sound weak", Padmé stated, her lips hovering over her husband's teasing him.
"Oh, but I am. I am weak at the knees when I am with you Padmé. You are my greatest weakness and my greatest strength. What I feel for you is unmatched by any other", Anakin confessed.
"Oh, how the mighty have fallen", Padmé taunted as their lips collided in a passionate kiss.
Anakin lifted his wife up into his arms, as her legs wrapped tightly around his waist and their kiss intensified. They were both lost in their passion for one another as time around them froze. Anakin walked over to their bed and lowered his wife down onto the sheets below. Their eyes met, both communicating their feelings for one another without speaking. Padmé embraced her husband tightly as he joined her on their bed and the desire inside of both of them burned intensely as they lost themselves in the mass of silk sheets.
Anakin awoke quite early the next morning, as he saw the sunrise coming up from outside the window on the balcony. Still half asleep he rolled over to embrace his wife and was surprised to see the bed next to him was empty.
"Padmé", Anakin said, as he sat up in bed, confused.
"I'm in here Ani", Padmé replied.
Anakin then noticed the white light of the fresher door which was left ajar. He got up from their bed and put on his sleep pants before walking to the fresher to see his wife. When he entered the fresher, he saw Padmé sat resting against the toilet.
"Angel, what's wrong?", Anakin asked concerned, as he knelt down next to her.
"I'm just not feeling that great", Padmé replied, her pale pace turning to look at her husband.
"We should take you to see the medical droid", Anakin stated.
"No, Ani, it's fine, its probably just a bug. I'll be fine", Padmé replied. She had hardly finished her sentence when nausea overcame her, and she moved her head into the toilet bowl. Anakin quickly moved to support her and held her hair above her head.
When the immediate feeling of sickness had passed, Padmé looked at her husband and said, "I don't want you to see me like this Ani".
"Why not. In sickness and in health remember. I'm not just here for the good parts", Anakin stated softly, smiling at the memory of last night.
"Thank you", Padmé replied.
"I'm worried about you Padmé. I want us to go to the medical bay and have the medi-droid look at you. It could be something to do with the accident or your injuries", Anakin commented.
"If you insist Ani. But I think it is probably just a bug. I've been under a lot of stress; I haven't had time to be ill. Perhaps it is just catching up to me", Padmé responded.
"Either way my love, I want you to seek the advice of the medical droid. Come on", Anakin told her. Before Padmé had the chance to replied, Anakin picked his wife up carefully and carried her out of their chambers towards the medical bay.
"Good morning Master. How can I help you?", the medical droid asked, as he saw him enter carrying his wife.
"Padmé has been ill this morning. I am concerned it is related to her recent injuries. Please can you have a look at her?", Anakin asked the droid as he placed Padmé on the medical bed gently.
The droid took Padmé's temperature and assessed her vitals before saying, "Your symptoms are not consistent with any conditions you could develop following the accident. I was most happy with Miss Padmé's recovery and I am uncertain as to why her body has reacted this way", the droid stated.
"So, you don't know what's wrong with me?", Padmé asked the droid curiously, as Anakin passed her a glass of water.
"I cannot currently Miss but …", the droid stated, before being interrupted by a loud beeping noise behind it. "I believe that is the rerun of the inconclusive test I ran yesterday. Hold on one moment", the droid added.
"How are you feeling angel?", Anakin asked his wife intently.
"I am feeling better now. The nausea is passing.", Padmé replied.
Just then the droid returned and said, "Sorry to interrupt you both, but I think you should know that I just got the results back from the test I ran yesterday My Lady. The reason the test returned erroneous results was because your body was showing inconsistent signs of a matter in the blood that was not recognised. But now it makes sense as to why. I believe you are pregnant My Lady", the droid informed her.
Both Padmé and Anakin remained silent for several moments after the droid spoke. Neither of them was able to believe what they had just heard, as they exchanged several shocked expressions.
"I'm, I'm pregnant", Padmé stammered.
"Yes, My Lady. Congratulations", the droid replied.
"Padmé, I can't believe it. You are pregnant. I'm going to be a father again!", Anakin replied elated as he embraced his wife as she sat up on the medical bed.
"It all makes sense now. What I felt was morning sickness. I cannot believe the baby survived the explosion, my injuries and my time in the stasis chamber", she commented.
"She must be a fighter, just like her mother", Anakin stated proudly, as he caressed his wife's face.
"What makes you think the baby is a she? You always think it's a girl", Padmé asked her husband.
"Yes, and I was right wasn't I", Anakin replied.
"But so was I", Padmé retorted with a smile.
"I don't mind. Any child that you give me is the most incredible blessing Padmé. Words cannot express how happy I am that we are having another child. And this time I will be here with you. I promise you will not go through this pregnancy alone Padmé. I will be here with you, always", Anakin promised.
"I love you Anakin Skywalker", Padmé stated, as she leaned in to kiss her husband.
"I love you too Padmé, so much", Anakin stated lovingly as their lips met in a soft kiss.