Star Wars: Cross Paths
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Chapter 59 – Life and death
Varykino:
It was almost lunch time in the Lake Retreat, but at that time Ines was giving a slow walk around the place, being held by her husband. Since that morning that her contractions were getting closer and stronger. Her water didn't broke yet, but according to the midwife, it wouldn't take time. She told them to give a little walk cause it would help, and that's what they were doing.
Wrapping his right arm around her waist to support her, while his left held her left hand, Luke was helping her, stopping every time she had a contraction. According to his counts, the last one was 45 minutes ago. Right now they were having a nice walk around the place.
"Do you want to sit down darling?" he asked, sensing she was getting a little tired.
"No, my love. We are walking slowly and actually it is helping" she said when she stopped and tight the grip on his hand.
"Take deep breaths" he told her, knowing a contraction was hitting at that very moment.
Ines closed her eyes and pressed her forehead on his shoulder, making Luke rest his right cheek on her head. He could feel she was in terrible pain and it hurt him that he couldn't do anything about it. It was the natural way of birth. But he was here for her, always.
"What can I do to help?" he asked
"Having the kid for me" she smiled looking back at him
"If could I would. Seeing you in pain breaks my heart" he said stroking her hair that she didn't have the mood to tie up that morning, but he didn't mind at all.
He sensed her body started to relax, indicating that another contraction was over.
"This is was short but strong" she said taking a deep breath
"And they are getting closer. This one was 40 minutes apart from the other" he said stroking her cheek while he kiss the top of her head. "Just think that at each one, we are closer to have our baby in our arms" making Ines nod.
"So our plan to stay here only a few days, turn out to be a few weeks?"
"Of course, you need to recovered after giving birth, so I informed Queen Naluma and she said we can stay as long as we want. We are welcome to be here anytime we want, being the son of Queen Amidala, and being a Naberrie. Actually she wants to see the baby when we leave. After all he will born here" he smiled.
"Babe. Are you planning to use your mother's name: Naberrie?" she asked him
Luke looked away thinking. That was something he never thought before but he was now thinking that was not a bad idea. He was a Naberrie by blood.
"I don't mind actually, but I also like to wear my Uncle Owen last name: Lars. After all he and my aunt Beru were the ones who raised me."
"Why not wear the two: Luke Lars Naberrie Skywalker? After all you will always be known as Luke Skywalker"
"It is a possibility. But that reminds me one thing. When we register our baby I want to register him as Ben Anakin Talia Skywalker. I want him to have your last name. After all you are the one who is putting him in this world." he smiled as he kept stroking her hair, making her smile at him
"You are the best husband I could ever found" she said.
Luke looked at her amber eyes he loved and leaning in he kissed her gently.
Then Ines pulled back from the kiss with a gasp.
"Luke!"
"What is it?" he asked her
Looking down and then looking at him
"My water just broke"
Luke heart started to beat fast, but he tried to calm down, he needed to be calm so he couldn't make Ines more stress than she needed to be.
"It is alright. Let's get inside and call Yolla. I'm here for you my love. Let's go have a baby?"
Ines nod and taking a deep breath they head inside the home.
Coruscant:
It was a busy week in Senate. It was a week of meetings and law approvals that took all week, and today was no exception.
The sun was setting on Coruscant, and Leia was still in her office in the Senate. She was there at sun rise and she barely ate something all day, and the fact since the morning she felt something was going on with Ines and Luke, that didn't help to relieve her stress.
The door opened and Han entered with Chewie, followed by 3PO.
"Leia, what are you doing here? You are the only one left" Han told, not very happy.
"I'm almost finishing" she said not even looking up at him, since she was focus on the monitor in front of her.
Han looked at Chewie. He had enough today. Heading towards the desk, he turn off the image that Leia was looking at, something that made really angry
"What the hell are you doing? I was working Han?" she yelled at him
"Enough is enough, Leia. The past week you spent from sun rise to sun set in this office. Barely eat properly and that can't happen"
"This is my job, you knew that from the beginning."
"Yes I knew that, but the moment you're caring my child, you need to think of that first. And you don't lately" he sighed looking at her
"I'm fine"
"No you are not. The other day you felt a cramp on your belly. I know it you had. Maybe it is a sign that you need to slow down. You are not the only Senator here." Han said. He was getting worried with Leia health.
"I'm not but being on the head of the Rebellion, everything comes to me, everyone wants my opinion. Can't you understand that, Han" she replied getting stressed
"You are not the only one that worked for the Rebellion. Mon Mothma and Admiral Ackbar can do that too. Leia, you are pregnant, they should be more flexible" Han said
Chewie stood there in silence and even 3PO was usually quiet.
"Are you saying I can't do my job only because I'm pregnant. As far as I know, Ines went all the events in Tatooine, Endor and inside the Death Star while she was pregnant and I didn't see Luke stopping her for coming with us. Are you saying I'm weaker than Ines in terms of pregnancy? Why because her kid has pure Jedi blood so he is stronger than mine?"
Han looked at Leia not believing what he was wearing.
"What Ines had to do this? Why are you bringing her to the conversation. Ines and Luke are in Naboo right now, and leave them alone. Is not Ines who's caring my child, it is you. And honestly lately you are only thinking of you and not on our baby" Han started to get angry, which didn't help on Leia's mood. Standing up from her chair, she was ready to yelled when she felt a sharp pain on an abdomen area. Grabbing it she wince
"Princess Leia, are you alright?" 3PO asked
"Leia, what is wrong?" Han ran towards her.
"It hurts" she said with tears on her eyes "Something is wrong."
Han really wanted to tell he warned but, he was concerned about his child. The fact that he saw blood running down Leia's leg, he knew something bad was about to happen.
"Han" Leia said crying.
Picking her, Han looked at Chewie
"Let's go the Senate Hospital now" he said and they all head to the Hospital, being followed by 3PO.
Varykino:
The sun was setting on Naboo. In the Lake Retreat, Ines rest her back on the headboard, breathing heavily, after another strong contraction. Luke was sitting on her right side, cleaning the sweat from her forehead and neck. Her contractions were around 1 minute apart and very strong.
Yolla was talking to her
"You are doing great" she said touching her cervix "You almost fully dilated, just a few more minutes and soon you can start pushing"
Sighing Ines tried to calm down
"Oh please cut me open and take this kid out of me" she winced, making Luke concerned. She was getting tired, he felt it. Looking at Yolla the woman looked at him smiling.
"Don't worry. It is normal. After all is it long hours of labor. But she is doing fine, actually really good for a first child"
Luke nod and looked back at Ines
"Hey, I'm so proud of you right now." Luke said smiling at her while he stroke her sweaty hair from her forehead "I couldn't choose any other woman to put my child into this world but you, Ines."
Ines smiled at him and rest her hand on his left cheek
"When you told me in Hoth that you loved me as well, I felt I was the luckiest girl in the galaxy, cause I loved you for so long Luke"
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner how much I loved you" he said kissing her, when Ines started to breath heavily, indicating she was having another contraction.
Luke hold her, resting his forehead on hers, taking deep breaths, being followed my Ines.
"You are doing great my love"
Once it calm down, Ines looked at Luke
"Something happened with Leia" she told him
"I know. But let's focus on our baby, okay. Han is with her. She is not alone" he told her.
Yolla spoke, making Luke looked back at her
"Okay, this is it. On the next contraction, push"
Ines nod and looked at Luke
"This is it." she said smiling at him "We are going to meet our baby."
"Yes we will and I know he will be beautiful and a great fighter, stronger, kind and sweet, like his mother" he said looking at her smiling
"I know he will be powerful, and wise, and gentle, and handsome and I hope he will have his father's blue eyes" she smiled at him, resting her hand on his cheek, making Luke grab it and kiss the palm of her hand.
"And I'm going to tell him how crazy I am for his mother" he said and kissed her "I love both of you so much"
"And I love you both so much too" she said
Yolla smiled at the scene
"My goodness, this kid will be so loved. You two will be amazing parents"
Luke smiled at her and then to Ines. He felt so much love for her, now more than ever.
Ines breathing started to picking up.
"Are you ready?" Luke said
Ines nod
"Okay Ma'am. This is it. Push"
Ines sat straight with the help of Luke and started to push has hard as she couldn't
"AaaaaaHhhhh" she scream
"You are doing great. Keep pushing. That's it" Yolla said as Ines rest her back again on the headboard.
Feeling another contraction Ines started to push again
"That's it. I can see the head. Keep going" Yolla said as Ines keep pushing
"Come on my love" Luke said at her ear, supporting her in his arms
"The head is out. Don't push for a while. Hang on" Yolla said
Ines kept taking deep breaths, she really needed to push but she kept breathing. Luke's voice making her calm.
"Now, give a big push. Come on" Yolla said
Ines looked at Luke who smiled
"Come on. Big push?" he told her
Ines nod and taking a deep breath she push with all her strength. She keep pushing when seconds later the room was filled with a baby crying.
Resting her back on the pillow resting on the headboard of the bed, Ines rest on it, breathing heavily.
"Here he is. It is a perfect and healthy baby boy" Yolla said, grabbing a towel and wrap the baby on it.
Ines raised her arms
"Give me my baby" she said with tears down her face as Yolla put the baby on her arms.
Holding her little boy on her arms, Ines cried, kissing her son's head, feeling how warm he was.
"Hi, sweetie" she said and looking at Luke she smiled when saw Luke crying next to her, as he hold his son hand who wrapped his little hand on his father's finger. "Luke, you are father"
Luke wrapped his arms around the two most important persons in his life.
"I'm a father" he said and looked at Ines "Thank you for this gift Ines. I love you so much, my love"
Ines smiled
"I love you so much too" she said.
Luke took her lips into his. Today was the happiest day of his life.
Luke and Ines finally have their baby: Ben Anakin Talia Skywalker finally born. He born with 3.2kg and 47cm, in Varykino, Naboo, 7 months after the Battle of Endor and the fall of the Empire and the Emperor.
About Han and Leia, I can guarantee they will have kids sooner than you think.