As their kiss broke, Anakin felt the presence of his old master at the door.
"I am sorry to disturb you both. But I was informed that Padmé had been brought down to the medical bay and I just wanted to check you were alright", Obi-Wan stated softly.
"Please, come in Obi-Wan", Padmé said with a soft smile as Anakin took his place next to her bed.
"You look like you are being well cared for Padmé", Obi-Wan stated.
"I am most definitely. And I am just fine, more than fine", Padmé told her friend.
She looked at Anakin wordlessly as they exchanged thoughts. Anakin took his wife's hand and then said, "Padmé is pregnant".
Obi-Wan's eyes widened slightly in surprised before saying, "Well I believe congratulations are in order. I am very happy for both of you. I am sure that Luke and Leia will be thrilled to have a little brother or sister. Another Skywalker child to guide and train. I've always liked a challenge".
"Haha indeed. I am certain Luke and Leia will be very pleased. I cannot wait to be a father again, it is the biggest gift Padmé can give me, other than her unconditional love", Anakin replied, kissing his wife's hand softly.
"It is still very early stages, but we will tell the twins because I have a feeling that even if we did not, they would find out anyway. I think it's a Skywalker trait", Padmé commented with a smile.
"Oh it most certainly is, Padmé, trust me", Obi-Wan countered.
Anakin, Padmé and Obi-Wan left the medical bay and headed towards the kitchen where Luke and Leia were sat at the table devouring a large stack of warm pancakes made by Geeta.
"Good morning Master, My Lady, Obi-Wan", Geeta stated, greeting each guest as they walked in.
"Good morning Geeta. These smell wonderful", Padmé commented with a smile.
"They are amazing mum. I want to have Geeta's pancakes every day for the rest of my life", Luke stated excitedly.
"Take a seat and I will make up a fresh batch for all of you", Geeta said, as the group joined the excited children at the large glass dining table.
"It looks like you both got your large appetites from me huh", Anakin told his children as they both stuffed their faces with pancakes, chocolate sauce and berries.
"We used to say in the temple that the Padawan's got through more food than the rest of the order combined", Obi-Wan commented with a smile.
"That is certainly true for these two, I can vouch for that", Padmé replied.
"Here you go. Enjoy", Geeta stated, as she placed a fresh stack of pancakes on the table.
Both Luke and Leia reached out for the plate but were stopped as the plate floated away from them and came to land in front of Padmé.
"Ah ah ah, manners you two. Let your mother and Obi-Wan eat first, before you devour all of Geeta's supply", Anakin told his children.
Both children fell back in their seats and huffed as they finished the last of their pancakes. The adults helped themselves to breakfast before Anakin pushed the plate towards Luke and Leia.
"Now, if your stomachs will allow it, you can help yourselves", Anakin stated.
"Yay", the twins replied excitedly.
Padmé sat and watched the scene before her, smiling at her husband's wit and response to their children's enthusiasm. She was so excited they were going to have another child. She knew how much joy it would bring her, and Anakin and he was such a wonderful father.
"Your father and I have some news", Padmé announced, putting down her cutlery before she spoke.
"Do you have to go back to Coruscant?", Leia asked sadly.
"No sweetheart not yet. This is good news, wonderful news", Padmé replied with a warm smile. "I am pregnant. You are going to have a little brother or sister".
"What, no way! That is so cool mum", Luke replied.
"The baby survived the explosion mummy?", Leia asked curiously.
Padmé placed a hand on her still flat stomach gently and said, "Yes Leia. This baby is strong just like you, your brother and your father".
"And like your mother", Anakin added, resting his hand on top of his wife's.
"What are you going to name the baby?", Luke asked.
"We have a long time to think about that yet Luke", Padmé replied.
"Obi-Wan Junior has a nice ring to it", Anakin commented with a smile.
At his statement Obi-Wan choked on a small piece of pancake. He cleared his throat before saying, "With the greatest amount of respect, it really does not".
"We have plenty of time to think of a name, but we don't know if it a boy or a girl yet", Padmé told her children.
"It could be twins again", Leia stated excitedly.
"Perhaps. A part of me hopes it is just one child. I would never change you and Luke for the world Leia but carrying two babies was very hard. I continued to work as a Senator almost until you were born, and for most of it your father was away fighting in the Clone Wars", Padmé stated honestly.
"But this time it will be different. I will be here for you Padmé. I promise you won't go through this alone", Anakin promised his wife.
"Yes, mum and you have us and Obi-Wan and Geeta", Luke reminded her.
"Absolutely. I will always be here for all of you", Obi-Wan stated, smiling at them.
"I know. Thank you. I love you all very much", Padmé declared, turning to each person at the table and Geeta who was stood near the mantelpiece.
"Ooh mummy I know what we can do today", Luke announced excitedly.
"What is that sweetheart?", Padmé asked her son.
"We should show daddy the holos and videos you have from when we were babies", Luke said.
"That is a wonderful idea son. I would love to see them", Anakin stated.
"I would like to take the opportunity to train this morning. If we are going to face the Emperor, I do not want you to be worrying about me being below standard Anakin", Obi-Wan commented.
"Yes. I will have enough to be worrying about Master, without having to be concerned about losing you as well", Anakin stated.
"I will take the children for a walk around the lake and fields this morning. I believe you have some messages waiting for you from your troopers Anakin", Padmé informed her husband.
"Yes, you are correct. I need an update on the status of their investigation", Anakin remembered, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"Thank you for breakfast Geeta, it was delicious", Padmé told the woman as she cleared away the plates.
"Indeed, thank you so much for your hospitality. Can I help at all?", Obi-Wan asked chivalrously.
"No, I'm fine Master Kenobi. Please, go and enjoy your training", Geeta replied with a smile.
"Okay thank you. I will see you all later", Obi-Wan stated, before departing.
"Shall we go and get our swimsuits on in case we want a dip in the lake on our walk", Padmé asked her children.
"Yeah, good idea mum", Luke replied, getting up from the table.
"I will meet you both down here once we are dressed. Remember to wear some comfy shoes for walking", Padmé instructed her children.
"Yes, mum", the twins replied before heading up to their rooms.
"I need to retrieve my armour before I make my calls", Anakin stated, as him and his wife walked back towards their chambers.
When back in their room, Padmé searched for a swimsuit to wear before going into the fresher to change. Anakin routed around the room, searching for all parts of his armour. He slowly got dressed, despising the thought of becoming the masked monster he now loathed. His thoughts were broken when Padmé exited the fresher, braiding her chocolate brown hair.
"Do you need any help?", Padmé asked her husband, as he manoeuvred his large chest plate in an attempt to make it comfortable.
"I think I've got it. The suit is just very heavy and cumbersome. I cannot believe I wore it every day for 8 years", Anakin replied.
Padmé approached her husband and helped him fix the chest and shoulder plates in place as he stood towering over her in the suit of Vader.
"You look beautiful", Anakin told his wife, caressing her face with his gloved hand.
"Thank you. I suppose I should make the most of wearing a swimsuit like this before I get fat", Padmé commented, touching her still flat stomach lightly.
Anakin smiled at her comment and placed his hand over hers before saying, "Padmé you will always be beautiful to me, and you will never be more beautiful than when you are carrying our child".
"You always did know what to say", Padmé replied softly.
"I just wish I wasn't saying it to you wearing this suit", Anakin stated regretfully.
Padmé raised his sunken chin with her hand as their eyes met and she said, "It doesn't matter if you are wearing that suit Anakin, it doesn't change who you are. You have come back to us; you are Anakin Skywalker once again".
"What would I do without you?", Anakin asked his wife softly. After the words passed his lips he reflected on the statement and realised he knew the answer. Without Padmé in his life he would be that masked mechanical monster completely submerged in darkness and bitter regret.
"You won't ever have to find out Ani", Padmé replied, seeing the slightly pained look in his eyes.
"I should contact my troopers for an update", Anakin stated, knowing he was prolonging the inevitable.
Padmé nodded and then left the room, retrieving a skirt and towel before she did so. Anakin watched her leave before he put on his mask, not wanting to show his face as Vader around her.
"Lord Vader, Sir", the trooper responded, nodding in acknowledgement to his commander.
"What is the status of your investigation trooper? I have encountered a dead end in my own personal investigation off world. I believe the assailant and the one responsible for ordering the hit on Senator Soruna is from Coruscant", Vader stated. He wanted to make it clear to his trooper that he had been investigating the attack, but he also did not want to detract from the clear progress they were making from the leads on Coruscant.
"Lord Vader we pursued our investigation to attempt to establish a source of the purchase of the traced explosive debris. However, we have encountered an issue. The information that we believe may lead up to individual or group responsible cannot be accessed by myself or any trooper. The information is encrypted and requires the highest security clearance Sir", the trooper stated.
Anakin paused and considered his troopers words. It was obvious that whoever it was who ordered the assassination of Senator Soruna did not want it to traced back to them. For their accounts to be encrypted with such a high-level security clearance they must be someone of significant importance.
"If that is the case trooper, I will return to Coruscant to gain access to these files. If we are able to do so we should be able to trace the accounts to the individual responsible. I do not need to remind you trooper how sensitive this case is following what you have discovered. You must discuss this with no one other than myself. It is clear that whoever ordered the hit on Senator Soruna has done all they can to ensure their anonymity", Vader responded.
"Yes, My Lord. I shall await your arrival on Coruscant then Sir", the trooper replied.
As the holo image of his commander faded, Anakin took off his mask and sat down on the bed, rubbing his chin with his gloved hand. It was highly curious that the investigation into Padmé's or rather Senator Soruna's attempted assassination was cloaked in so much security. Anakin couldn't quite put his finger on it, but something about all of this didn't feel right within the Force. He knew that sooner rather than later the investigation would reach its conclusion and they would know who was responsible for nearly killing his wife and himself. His fists clenched tightly as he thought back to that afternoon. Never again did he want to fear what he felt then. The terror he had felt in Padmé's heart when she believed she was going to die, and the fear in his own heart that his angel was going to die and he wasn't going to get there in time to save her. He shook his head as his thoughts threatened to take him down a dark path. Wanting to be free of the confines of his menacing suit, Anakin changed and headed out to find his family.
It did not take him long to locate his wife and children as they walked around the lake near the house. He watched them from afar proudly, basking in their beautiful force signatures and letting their light intoxicate him. Anakin knew that with them in his life, he would never again succumb to the darkness. He would never again by that heartless mechanical monster drowning in guilt. An idea came to Anakin suddenly and he smiled as he knelt down to pick up a beautiful purple flower growing just off the path from him. Using the Force, he then levitated the flower from his hand toward his wife who was walking behind their children as they chased one another in the long grass.
Padmé smiled as she watched her children laughing and playing as they attempted to catch one another in the grass. It was moments like this when she forgot about the troubles in the Galaxy. She forgot about who she was and her responsibilities. She was not Padmé Amidala, ex Queen and Senator of Naboo, and she was not the Black Widow, member of the Rebel Alliance. She was Padmé Skywalker, wife and mother, and she wanted to be nothing more. Her thoughts were interrupted when she saw something slowly floating towards her. Curiously, she walked further forward, until the object came to rest in her hands gently. Padmé brought the beautiful violet flower to her face and inhaled its fragrant scent. She turned to inspect her surroundings, knowing exactly who had delivered the gift.
"It's beautiful isn't it. It's a Leia I believe", Anakin stated, as his wife turned to see him leaning against one of the trees that forged the path ahead".
"It is. And it smells divine", Padmé commented, again bringing the flower up to her nose to smell it.
Anakin emerged from the shelter of the trees and came to stand next to his wife. He did not want to tell her that he had to return to Coruscant, so instead simply enjoyed the moment admiring his wife.
"Daddy!", both children shouted, as they ran down the path to see him.
"How was your call?", Padmé asked, keeping the topic vague in front of the children.
"Acceptable", he admitted. "I must return to Coruscant. There are some pressing matters that require my attention", he added.
At his words he saw the smiles of his children turn to frowns, as they realised that once again that they would be apart from their father.
"Why must you go daddy?", Leia asked, as the family started to walk back up the path towards the house.
"Do you remember the accident that mummy and daddy were in? Well I am in charge of finding out who's fault it was. And unfortunately, some information that we need is locked to anyone but me. So, I have to go and get this information so we can catch the bad man", Anakin did his best to explain.
"Can't you just give someone else the key to unlock the information?", Luke asked.
Anakin smiled at his son's response and replied, "I wish I could son. There is nothing more that I want than to stay here with all of you. I love you all so much".
"And soon the Emperor will be dead wont he dad, and then you never have to go away again", Leia stated.
"That's right Leia. I am going to be right here with all of you, where I belong", he told her with a smile.
Padmé walked alongside her husband, enjoying listening to her family's conversation. She had been amazed at how well Anakin had managed to explain things to the twins, despite the complexity of it all. And she knew that more than anyone Anakin wanted the Emperor to be dead, so they could end this war, end the deception, and be together like they always wanted.
"Okay, let's head inside and have some food and then we can show your father some of the holovids", Padmé stated as they neared the entrance to the estate. She had barely finished her words before the twins ran inside to great Geeta in the kitchen.
Anakin smiled as his children ran excitedly towards the house at the prospect of food. He turned to his wife as they walked along the stone path up towards the house.
"How are you feeling Angel?", he asked softly.
"Much better. It usually passes after the morning, and now that I know what it is, it feels much more worthwhile", Padmé replied.
"I wish there was some way I could take away the sickness", Anakin stated, hating to see his wife ill.
"Don't worry Ani. It doesn't last for the whole pregnancy. And when our baby is here, it will only be a faint memory and nothing compared to the joy this child will bring us", his wife replied.
Anakin took his wife's hand and kissed it softly and said, "I couldn't agree more Padmé. Come on, let's join Luke and Leia before there is no food left. You know what they're like", he commented with a smile as he opened the door for Padmé into the house.
"Master, Madam Skywalker, I have made some soup for you all if you would like some", Geeta stated, as the couple entered the kitchen to see their children and Obi-Wan sitting at the table.
"It smells delicious Geeta", Padmé commented with a smile, as she went to take a seat next to her daughter.
"How was your training Obi-Wan?", Anakin asked his old master as he sat down next to him at the table.
"I certainly am not as young as I used to be. But I have to admit that I have missed training like we used to. The last 8 years have consisted mostly of meditation for me. My connection to the Force has grown, but I am afraid I am not as physically strong and fit as I once was", he informed the group as they ate.
"Excellent. So, it looks like I am going to be saving your skin for the tenth time", Anakin commented wryly.
"We shall see, Anakin", Obi-Wan replied.
Once the group had eaten, Padmé took Luke and Leia into the living room to set up the holos they wished to show their father while Anakin and Obi-Wan helped Geeta clear up the plates.
"I'm afraid I must return to Coruscant", Anakin told his former master.
"Is that so?", Obi-Wan stated.
"It appears that the investigation into Padmé's attempted assassination has encountered a rather interesting problem. We have traced the credit path from the bomb materials to an Imperial account. However, the details to this account are locked and only available to those with the highest security clearance. Consequently, I need to return to gain access to this information.", Anakin informed Obi-Wan.
"Interesting", the older Jedi replied, stroking his beard slowly.
"I have been treading a fine line coming here for this long without the Emperor's explicit permission. He ordered me to find the assailant, but I also have responsibilities amongst the Empire, most notably the Death Star. And now I am facing pressure from the Alliance to find a weakness for that monstrosity so that we can end this war. I also need to devise a way to destroy the Emperor, while keeping Padmé and the children safe, and now that she is pregnant again the risk is higher and …", Anakin said, becoming increasingly apprehensive as he spoke.
Obi-Wan placed a hand on his friend's shoulder, calming him down. "Calm down, Anakin. Breathe", he told him. "I know there is a lot on your mind, and I know there isn't anything I can do to alleviate any of those worries. But all I can tell you is that you are not alone. You won't have to do any of this alone. Soon you will get what you deserve, and you will be able to be with your family free of these heavy burdens of responsibility", he continued.
"I appreciate your concern Master and I know you have offered your help in defeating the Emperor. But a lot of this I must do alone. I must engage with my commanders alone regarding this investigation and then I need to inform the Emperor once we have found the responsible party. I also need to continue my work alongside the Governing board for the Death Star. I am also the only person who can review all of the schematics and possibly find a weakness that the Rebellion can exploit", Anakin replied.
"I know Anakin", Obi-Wan stated simply.
"I don't want to worry Padmé, because she has enough to worry about and she has been through so much already. Now that she is pregnant, I cannot burden her with my concerns. I just worry I will not be able to do all that has been asked of me", Anakin stated honestly, running his human hand through his tousled locks.
"Anakin. People have asked a lot of you since you were a young boy. I have seen you face so many challenges and emerge successful. You have grown into a much better man than I could have ever hoped you could be. You were burdened with the title of being 'The Chosen One', but you have far surpassed what was promised of that. I am proud to say you were my padawan Anakin. Do not doubt all that you have achieved and will do so in the future. Your accomplishments will live beyond you, but they will be told throughout history, and your stories will live vicariously through your children", Obi-Wan told him reassuringly.
Anakin paused for a moment, finding comfort in his words. He then turned to him and bowed softly before saying, "Thank you Master. For everything".
Obi-Wan smiled in response, before Luke came charging into the room.
"Come on dad, we've got all the holos set up", Luke announced, indicating for his father to follow him with the wave of his small hand.
"I'm coming son", Anakin stated, as he followed his son's guide.
Anakin entered the living room, and found Padmé sat on the sofa with Luke and Leia taking their seats on the floor directly in front of her. He moved to occupy the seat next to his wife, but then pulled her onto his lap, caressing her back with his gloved hand. Padmé kissed his cheek softly, before Luke signalled for the holos to start playing.
Anakin had not been prepared for effect that seeing the holos would have on him. One by one he saw the beautiful images appear, moving through time from when the twins were first born to them growing up. Tears sprang to his eyes as he watched videos play of the children taking their first steps, saying their first words, and even seeing Luke levitate his teddy bear with the Force for the first time. He couldn't help but think about all that he had missed over the years, when he had been encased in his suit as the mechanical monster Vader. He had lost over 8 years of his beautiful children's lives and missed so many incredible moments. As he tightened his hold around his wife and inhaled the sweet smell of her hair, he wondered how he ever managed to go so long without her, and worse than that he had lived believing he had killed her; his angel.
Anakin blinked away the tears that threatened to spill down his cheeks as the holo player continued to scroll through more and more pictures. As they approached the end, a smile beamed across Anakin's face as he saw a picture of the four of them appear. It has been one that Geeta had taken when they first came here together. It was the first holo that they had together as a family, and Anakin knew there would be so many more to come.
As the holos ended, Padmé turned to her husband as she sat on his lap and said, "Did you like that Ani?"
Anakin smiled at his wife and then his children and replied, "Yes. That was beautiful. Thank you so much for showing me. I know an apology can never make up for all I have missed in your lives. But I am the luckiest man alive to be here with you now, and I promise I will never leave you ever again. I cannot wait for us to make so many more memories together as a family, and with your new brother or sister".
"It wasn't your fault daddy", Leia stated. "Besides, we have so much time to take holos together", she added.
"Yeah dad. And when this baby comes, you'll get to see the things you missed with us", Luke said softly.
"Yes, son you're right. But that doesn't change the fact that I was not here for those things with you and Leia. But I will spend the rest of your lives trying to make up for that, and I love you both and your mother, and new brother or sister more than anything in this galaxy", Anakin told his children passionately.
"Group hug", Leia said excitedly.
At the words Luke and Leia stood from their seated position and jumped on their mother and father on the sofa, where they all tightly embraced one another.
"I love you all so much", Anakin told his children and wife, kissing each of them on the forehead softly.
"We love you too daddy", the twins replied.
"I love you Ani", Padmé stated, running a hand through her husband's hair.