Here it is. Chapter 10. I hope you like it. Thanks to everyone for leaving reviews. You make my day every time I get one. I'm doing slightly better. I'm off the oxygen but I am still sick a little. Blame my condition that I need infusions for. It makes any sickness last three times longer than normal.
I DON'T OWN STAR WARS.
I proudly present... chapter ten.
Padme was freaking out. Did she seriously just tell Anakin she loved him? Over the phone? As an afterthought to a busy time at home?
Padme took a deep breath. She needed to think about this. Did she love Anakin? Obviously, she did at one point, but did she love him now? Yes. Yes, she did. He was so caring with Leia and Luke and was successful with his own business. He took the time to give Leia anything she needed that was within his power to give. He extended that care to Padme and Luke.
Padme just knew that if she stayed, anything she wanted that was within Anakin's capability to give, he would just willingly hand over to her. If she stayed, Luke and her would never want for love and affection. Anakin and Leia would give it to them a million times over.
Padme took a deep breath. So… yes she loved Anakin. She honestly had never stopped. It might have dulled with the thoughts of his supposed betrayal but it never went away.
"Mama." Luke knocked on the door behind her softly. "Grandmother is on the phone for you."
Padme's heart broke at the downtrodden and polite tone Luke had in his voice. Her parents were the worst. They had broken her little boy's spirit and she didn't even notice.
Padme grit her teeth and stood up straight. She opened the door and accepted the phone from Luke. "Luke, why don't you and Leia go color pictures for Daddy when he comes home from work?"
"Yes, Mama." Luke left the room dragging a furiously scowling Leia behind him.
"Hello, Mother." Padme greeted with all the calmness she could muster. She was angry. Beyond angry. Dare she say it? She was pissed off with her parents.
"Padme, dear, you must tell me where you are. Rush called. He said he hadn't heard from you in days. I called your work and they said you had left on vacation. I'm worried, dear. You never take spontaneous trips to nowhere."
"Mother. I am in Arizona." Padme let that sink in.
"Arizona?" Her mother sounded scandalized. "Why would you go out there? There is nothing in that state worth being there for. All it is is a bunch of sand and red rocks."
"And Anakin and my daughter." Padme felt like yelling. Only the fact that her mother would get even nastier if she lost her temper stopped her from releasing her emotions.
There was an extended pause. "I don't know what you are talking about. When are you coming home? Rush was wondering when you two could get together again."
"Mother." Padme had to count to ten in her head. "Cut the bullshit. I know what you and Father did. I know that you told Anakin that Luke and I died and I know that you lied to me and told me that my daughter died and Anakin left me willingly. I just want to know why. Why would you do this to my family? Why would you break my family apart?"
"Really Padme, don't be so vulgar. I raised you better than that. Besides, this is not the time to have this discussion, dear. When are you coming home?"
Padme sighed in frustration as her mother sidestepped the question yet again. "You know what Mother? I am home and I might never come back to North Carolina. You destroyed my family once. I refuse for it to happen again. I love Anakin and I love my daughter, Leia. We are happy here and I sincerely hope that you could put aside your hatred for my chosen family and let us be happy. I'll see you when I decide to come back to get my things. Goodbye Mother."
Padme hit the end call button with vicious satisfaction. That didn't go as she wanted but, hopefully, Padme's point was made.
"Mama?" Leia peeked her head out of her bedroom door. "Are you okay?"
"I'll be fine, Little Princess. What can I help you with?" Padme noted the way Leia shot a worried look back in her room.
Leia inched her way out of the door and closed it as softly as she could behind her. She waved her hand for Padme to follow her.
Padme walked after Leia, extremely confused. Why was she acting like this?
Leia didn't stop until she was in the kitchen. Leia climbed up on the counter and turned on the sink. She was reaching for the blender when Padme stopped her.
"Leia? What's going on?" Padme lifted Leia off the counter and sat at the kitchen table with Leia in her lap.
"Do that thing Mama and open the eyes in the back of your head. I don't want Luke to hear this and the shelf hasn't been moved yet."
Padme stifled a chuckle. Her daughter looked very serious and Padme didn't think laughter would help right now. "Okay, Leia. What's wrong?"
Leia bit her lip and cast her eyes to the open doorway. "It's Luke. He showed me a bit about our other Grandma and Grandpa. Did you know they yell at him when he runs or when he wants to be himself they will tell him not to and make sure that he acts all 'proper' all the time? They won't even let him have any sweet lemonade! Grandma Shmi makes me sweet lemonade. Luke is really upset and I don't know what to do. I tried hugging him but it didn't work. What else can I do to make him feel better?"
Padme was shocked. "Is Luke okay?" She half rose from her seat to go be with her son. Leia placed her hands on Padme's middle and pushed as hard as she could.
"That's not all. Luke doesn't want to go back. He says that his cousins are mean and make fun of him and that being here with Daddy and me is the best thing ever." Leia wiggled on Padme's lap. "He's really upset Mama. And I don't know how to help him."
"Let me talk to him. I know what you can do. Why don't you make him something? I'll go talk to Luke and you can be in here at the table." Padme kissed Leia's hair and set her on the seat beside her. "I'll be right back, Sweetheart."
Padme stood up and left a very concerned Leia in the kitchen by herself.
Luke laid on Leia's bed and stared at her wall. Leia had hung a picture of her and Daddy by her bed.
Luke wished with everything in him that they could move to Arizona and live with Leia and Daddy. Luke never wanted to step foot in North Carolina ever again. He hated his Grandmother! He hated her! She was mean and not like Grandma Shmi at all. Grandpa was better than Grandfather too.
Luke sighed. Leia had left the room a few minutes ago. She had been sending him good feelings and had given him a lot of hugs but Luke still felt upset.
Luke studied the picture of Leia and Daddy. They were by the huge wishing rock that Leia had shown him. Leia was sitting on Daddy's shoulders and holding a popsicle. Daddy was smiling. Leia was laughing.
Luke couldn't look at the picture anymore without feeling sad. He turned over to face the door just as a soft knock happened on it.
"Luke? Can I come in?"
It was Mama.
"Sure, Mama." Luke sat up as Mama came into the room.
"What's going on, Little Space Pilot?" Mama sat on the edge of the bed next to him.
"I don't want to leave," Luke whispered. "I really like it here with Daddy and Leia. I don't want to go back to North Carolina."
"Leia said that Grandma Naberrie was not very nice to you." Mama rested her hand on Luke's hair. She ran her fingers across his head.
Luke sighed and leaned into the touch. He loved it when Mama ran her hands through his hair. It felt so nice.
"She's not. She makes me call her Grandmother and yells at me whenever I do something wrong like not stand up straight or walk right. My cousins know all this but they don't help me. At daycare, the kids make fun of me and I spend most of my time talking to Leia or playing with Lucy." Luke felt everything just spill out of him. All the things he wanted to tell her before but wasn't brave enough to. Being here with Daddy and Leia made him brave.
"Oh, Luke. I'm so sorry." Mama hugged Luke tight.
Luke sniffed deeply. He tried really hard to not cry. Luke gave up that fight when he felt his Mama's tears on his head.
"I love you very much, Luke, and I'm sorry that I didn't notice what was going on before. I promise you that I will never let it happen again. If we do go back to North Carolina we will never see Grandmother and Grandfather again. I swear it." Mama pulled back and wiped her eyes. "I love you, Little Space Pilot. Since the day I first held you in my arms. I will never let anyone hurt you again."
Luke was pulled back into another hug. Luke sobbed into his Mama's shoulder. The comforting smell of cinnamon and spices made Luke feel better. "I love you too Mama. I won't let anyone hurt you either. So will Daddy and Leia."
"Thank you." Mama kissed his forehead. "Let's go see what your sister is up to."
Mama led the way out of Leia's room to the kitchen. When Luke entered the room, Leia's gaze went to him.
Are you okay, Luke? Do you feel better?
"Look! I got you cookies!" Leia proudly showed off the plateful of cookies that she put together. "I wanted to get you some milk but Daddy and Uncle Obi both say I'm not supposed to get the glasses without a grownup. Plus the milk was too heavy to take out of the fridge. Mama, can you get us some milk?"
Luke smiled. Thanks, Leia. I feel much better.
Mama looked at the stove for a second before sighing. "What the heck. We can all use some cookies. It's been a rough day."
Mama poured them glasses of milk and set the plate of cookies in the middle of the table. Before they sat down, Mama shook her head. "This isn't going to work." Mama picked up the plate of cookies and her glass of milk. "Come with me, kids."
Mama led the way to the couch and sat in the middle with the cookies in her lap. "Come on. Get up here."
Luke climbed up on one side of her and Leia got on the other. Mama turned on the tv and started back up the movie with the cooking rat Remy. Mama ate two cookies before putting her arms around Luke and Leia. She pulled both of them into her sides.
"I love you both and I will try to work everything out with your dad. I'm sorry today was such a bad day." Mama kissed Leia's head and then Luke's head. "I hope tonight gets better."
They watched the movie for a bit. Luke ate three cookies before Mama took the plate away.
"Mama? When is Daddy coming home?" Luke snuggled closer to Mama.
"In an hour so after this movie is done." Mama set her phone aside. "I'll order dinner when he gets back. What kind of pizza do you like Leia?"
"Cheese. Sometimes I like olives on it. The black kind. Not the icky green kind. Daddy likes a pizza with a lot of meat on it. Like tons of meat." Leia was laying against Mama. Her feet were up on the arm of the couch and her head was in her lap. Leia hummed as Mama played with her hair.
Luke looked over at his sister. "I like cheese too but I don't like olives. I like pepperoni pizza."
Leia wrinkled her nose. Luke just knew she was going to say something but Mama bopped Leia on the nose and gently tugged Luke's hair.
"Let's not start this again. We can get a cheese pizza and a four meat pizza. You two can share the cheese and Daddy and I can share the meat pizza. Deal?"
"Yes, Mama," Luke said as Leia said the same thing at the same time.
Mama sighed. "Twins."
"Mama? What are twins?" Luke was curious. Mama called them that a few times.
"Twins are two babies that are born at the same time. They share the same birthday and are the exact same age." Mama pressed play on the movie that Luke didn't even know was paused.
"Like us? Leia and I are twins?" Luke was happy. Leia wasn't just his sister and best friend. She was also his twin.
"Exactly like you two. Now, let's watch finish watching the movie." Mama went quiet and Luke focused back on the movie.
Daddy came home right at the best part. Where the rats are cooking in the kitchen. Daddy sounded happy as he entered the room with a big smile on his face.
"I'm home. How was your day?" Daddy set aside his work bag and lunchbox. "Can I get some hugs?"
Leia just laid in Mama's lap and Luke just stared at him.
"Anakin. Not right now. We had a bad afternoon." Mama tried to get up but Leia whined and Luke clutched at her side.
He didn't want her to get up.
"What happened?" Daddy's face went serious.
"My mother called and demanded I come back. Luke answered the phone and she got to him. Join us for the rest of the movie? I called the pizza place from the menu you had on the fridge. It should be here in half an hour." Mama scooted over and set Leia in her lap. Leia was now laying on Mama with her head on Mama's shoulder.
Daddy sat down and pulled Luke into his lap. "Hey, Little Co-Pilot. Did you have a bad day?"
"Yes, Daddy. I missed you." Luke snuggled into Daddy's chest and grabbed his hands.
"I missed you too." Daddy was quiet as the movie finished.
Anakin was mad. That witch messed up his family's day. It wasn't enough that she had to break apart their family once, now she was doing it again. No more.
Anakin stood up. "I'm going to go get some soda for dinner tonight and maybe some dessert. Who wants to come with me?"
"Me!" Leia popped up and got off the couch. "I'll come with you, Daddy!"
"Me too! I want to come!" Luke scrambled off the couch and ran to grab his shoes. "Let's go, Leia!"
"I'm hurrying as fast as I can, Luke!" Leia was right behind him as she too ran for her shoes.
"I'll stay here for the pizza." Padme stood up and stretched.
Anakin reached out to touch her arm. "You can't let her get to you. If you let her get to you, she has already won."
Padme didn't resist his attempt to hug her. She went into his arms easily.
"Don't let her win. Be stronger and a bigger person than her." Anakin wanted to kiss her but held back. She wasn't ready yet.
"I will Anakin. I'll try my best." Padme sighed into his shoulder.
Anakin knew just what to say to make her laugh. "Do or do not. There is no try. Well, at least my old friend Yoda says. Well, more like an ex sponsor. Personally, I think he is a half-troll."
"Anakin." Padme tried to sound scandalized but ended up trying to hide a laugh.
"What? Can't you just see it? He's small enough to be one and grumpy enough. He could be a troll. Give me ten dollars to pass you will." Anakin tried to get Yoda's broken English accent right.
Padme burst into giggles. "That… that was awful Ani."
"And green. Like all over. Skin included."
"Ani stop!" Padme was breathless with the laughter she was giving.
Anakin smiled at the genuine grin she was sporting. "There you are. A wise woman once told me to never let my anger get the best of me. Anger hurts you and everyone around you. It also destroys relationships."
"I told you that." Padme stared at him with amazement on her face.
"Yes. I do listen to you." Anakin paused and stared at the true beauty in front of him. Padme was smiling a real smile and was backlit by the setting sun out the windows. "My Angel." He breathed in awe. The urge to kiss her welled up again, fiercer than before. "Padme can I-?"
"Daddy! We're ready!" Leia's shouted words interrupted their moment.
Two sets of little feet ran into the room from the hall.
"Let's go get some 'sert and soda." Luke came into the room with his shoes untied and on the wrong feet.
"Come on Daddy. Let's go and get back so we can have pizza." Leia's jacket was twisted behind her back.
Luke and Leia came to a stop in front of Anakin and Padme and pulled on their clothes.
"Hold on. Let's fix your jacket and shoes." Anakin lifted Luke and set him on the couch. He took off his shoes and got them on the right foot. Then he fastened them closed.
Padme helped Leia with her jacket and then Anakin switched over to Leia to do the same thing he had done to Luke.
"Okay. Let's go. We'll be back soon. Any requests while we are out? Don't eat all the pizza without us. " Anakin gently teased her.
"Very funny Anakin. Can you please pick up some strawberries? I have an idea for dessert." Padme fiddled with Leia's jacket collar.
"Yes, Ma'am." Anakin was tempted to kiss her temple goodbye but stopped himself. Now was not the time. Maybe later they could pick up where they left off.
Anakin led the twins to his truck and buckled them in. "Okay. We have fifteen minutes at best before the pizza gets there. Let's go and be back before then."
Anakin started up his vehicle and drove to the store down the road. He made a mental list in his head. Strawberries and soda.
Anakin tried to go as fast as he could through the store. Having two four-year-olds 'helping' really didn't go fast.
Anakin learned to always have a shopping cart when going to the store with young children. That way you can put them in the basket and go at your own pace.
It took the whole fifteen minutes to drive to the store, get the strawberries and soda, check out and get back to the car. It was twenty minutes total for the whole trip.
Padme had the pizzas warming in the oven when they got back. Anakin poured the drinks while Padme served the food. They all sat down at the small kitchen table and ate their respective pizza slices.
After dinner, Anakin searched for a funny family movie. He settled on the movie with the spy guinea pigs.
Halfway through the movie, Padme whipped up some strawberry and chocolate milkshakes. Strawberry for her and Leia and chocolate for Luke and him.
The kids were a little wired after the movie but a quick round of tickling and laughter wore them out. Anakin tucked in Leia and Luke. He moved aside for Padme to do the same.
Anakin walked to the main area to pick up toys and things that got left out. Padme came out to wash dishes.
"Padme?" Anakin leaned in the kitchen doorway. "Are we going to talk about what you said this afternoon?"
"Anakin I-"
"Because I just wanted to say that I love you too and that I honestly never stopped. I never even looked at another woman after Leia was born. No one could compare to you and-"
Anakin's words caught in his throat as Padme gently kissed him.
"I never truly stopped either. Mother forced me to go on a few dates but no one could ever measure up to you."
Anakin's brain was frozen for half a minute.
"I love you Anakin Skywalker and I will never stop loving you."
Anakin unfroze and kissed Padme with all the love he felt.
Leia woke up sad. She knew this was most likely the last day she had with Luke and Mama. Leia was determined to have them stay. She would do anything. She would even hide in their car so they had to come back to give her to Daddy.
Leia dressed and headed out for breakfast. Luke was already awake. Leia found out the cereal was for breakfast. She had a bowl of her favorite cereal. Trixx.
After breakfast, Daddy went to work again. He begged Mama again, like yesterday, but Mama made him go to work. Just until five.
"Mama?" Leia was bored. "What are we doing today?"
"Well, I was thinking we could go out and around town today. We can go to the park and check out your new school or we could go visit Grandma Shmi and Grandpa if you want or we can stay here and do nothing." Mama was working on cleaning the kitchen.
"Can we do both? Go to the park with Grandma Shmi and Grandpa?" Leia widened her eyes and clasped her hands in front of her chest.
"Of course. Just let me call your grandma." Mama set the last bowl in the washer and reached for her phone. Mama made a face as she looked at the screen before calling Grandma Shmi.
Leia was so eager. She almost felt like she was going to bounce out of her shoes. Mama had finally got off the phone with Grandma Shmi. They were heading out soon. Leia couldn't wait.
"Luke! Go get ready to go! We are going to see Grandma Shmi and Grandpa!" Leia ran into the living room where Luke was watching the tv. Some cartoon was on about a cat and mouse.
"Just a second, Leia. It's almost over." Luke didn't look away from the show.
Leia waited for Luke to be done. She huffed. "Well, I'm getting ready." Leia turned and walked to her room.
Why was Luke so obsessed with that show? All it was was a cat and mouse fighting. That was boring. If Leia wanted to watch a cat fight a mouse she would give Tooka her toy mouse and let her play.
Speaking of Tooka…
Leia hunted around for Uncle Obi's cat. "Here kitty, kitty. Tooka? Where are you?"
Leia found Tooka hiding under Daddy's bed. "Come on Tooka. Want some treats? I can rub your ears." Leia wiggled her hand under the bed but Tooka just hissed and scratched her hand.
Leia yanked it back and stared at it. Her eyes filled with tears. Tooka really hurt her. She didn't know why Uncle Obi's cat hated her. She was nice.
Leia stood up and made her way to Mama. Maybe Mama would know why.
"Mama!" Leia came to a stop in front of Mama. She was vacuuming Leia's room. "Mama!"
Mama stopped the loud vacuum and turned to face Leia. "What's wrong, Little Princess?"
"Tooka was being mean and she scratched me. Look!" Leia shoved her hurt hand at her Mama. "It really hurts."
"Let me see?" Mama took her hand and held it. She bent her head and kissed Leia's hand. "There. It will be all fine soon. Are you almost ready to go?"
Leia shook her head. "No. I need to do my hair and put on my shoes and get Larry. Grandma Shmi said she had something for him when she got back from her trip with Grandpa."
"I'm almost done here. Why don't you go do those things? All except your hair. I'll help you with that. But go get your shoes on and get Luke to go get ready too. Grandma Shmi said that Grandpa has a present for Luke too." Mama stood back up and turned to the vacuum.
Leia went to grab her shoes and left Mama to finish her room. "Luke! Mama says it's time to go! Grandpa and Grandma Shmi is waiting. They have presents for us too!"
"Okay!" Luke turned off the tv and jumped down from the couch. "Let's go."
Leia put on her shoes and grabbed Larry in her backpack. Leia put on her easy shoes with the things that stick together. Mama didn't need to help her with those.
Leia helped Luke put his shoes on the right feet. (Leia knew how to do that since she was almost four but she didn't want to hurt Luke by saying that.)
Leia made sure that Larry was safe before putting on her backpack with Luke's help. It was nice to have a twin brother. He helped her and she helped him.
"Mama! My hair!" Leia yelled down the hall.
"Coming!" Mama exited the bathroom with a brush and hair ties. "How do you want your hair today, Leia?"
Leia eyed Mama's hair. It was done in a twist on her head. "Like yours?"
"Okay. I'll need to get some clips. Hold on." Mama went back to the bathroom. She came out with one of her clips in her hand.
Leia beamed. She got to wear some of her Mama's things. Mama did Leia's hair quickly.
"Okay. We are meeting Grandma Shmi and Grandpa at their house so we better hurry. Let's go to the car, kids." Mama locked the front door and led the way to her small car.
Leia bounded after her. She wanted to let every moment of this day count towards letting Luke and Mama stay here. She would not give up. Never.