Anakin POV
We put the twins to bed around 1800. Tonight Padme bathed Ashla, while I bathed Jinn. He was so adorable as he tried to bat the bubbles away and realized that they would pop when you hit them. Then we dressed them in some warm pajamas and all sat in the living room while Padme read "The Kaadu's Ride." It was a gift from Jar Jar Binks, and he said that the gungans told their children this story to help them fall asleep. The story worked, and soon both the twins were fast asleep. Gently, Padme and I carried the twins back to their rooms, and placed them in their cribs.
Afterwards, Padme went to the kitchen table, and was trying to catch up from some work she missed from taking a few days off to help with Ahsoka's wedding. I went to the living room, and watched turned on the HoloNet.
I flipped through some channels until I found a podrace that took place on the planet Theron. There was an older human who was trying to win Five Sabers, a series of five podracers that were all dangerous and difficult. He was actually talented, and had won the first two of the five races the astrosphere dash and the orbital sprint. He was also a young guy in his twenties, born into the Force, and he had an amazing reaction time.
"Your giving it too much juice," I said as he came up on a drop off like on the Bonta Classic. "Hit the Stabilizers! Hit the stabilizers, you idiot!" He did not listen to me and spiraled out of control and crashed. "No! WHY didn't you hit the stabilizers?"
"Ani," said Padme from the kitchen.
"Yeah?"
"I am going to bed."
"Okay. I am coming." I turned off the HoloNet, I did not care who won now, and walked down the hall into our bedroom. I kicked off my boots and changed into some sweatpants and a tunic, and got into my side. I watched Padme change into a lacy pale blue silk nightgown, and got in bed beside me.
"You are so beautiful," I said, and leaned in to kiss her lips. She turned away and I started to kiss her neck and shoulders instead.
"Go to bed, Anakin," she said.
"We are in bed," I said as I kissed over and over.
"Then go to sleep," she said, laughing.
"How can I sleep with you next to me?"
She settled down into the bed, and acted like she was going to sleep. "Good night, Anakin."
I continued to kiss her and touch her, hoping that I could get her to wake up and kiss me back. But then I heard a loud snore come from her side of the bed. I realized that she was not playing, and we were not going to do anything tonight. Rolling my eyes, I said "Good night, Angel," and kissed her cheek. Then I turned over, and drifted off to sleep.
The dream was black at first, but soon the darkness melted away into the afternoon in Naboo at the lake palace. Padme and I were sitting in a field of wildflowers having a picnic.
"I have a question. Have you ever had a boyfriend?" I asked her.
"I don't know," she said looking away.
"Sure you do. You just don't want to tell me?"
"You gonna use one of your Jedi mind tricks on me?" she asked playfully.
"GET UP!" said a strange voice.
"They only work on the weak mind." I said back to her, ignoring the voice.
She thought a minute. Finally she said, "Alright, I was 12. His name was Palo. We were both in the legislative youth program. He was a few years older than I, very cute, dark curly hair, dreamy eyes…"
"Alright! I get the picture. Whatever happened?"
"I went into public service. He went on to become an artist."
"Maybe he was the smart one," I said rudely.
"GET UP!" said the strange voice again.
"You really don't like politicians, do you?" she asked offended.
"I like two or three. I am not really sure about one of them. I don't think the system works."
"How would you have it work?"
"GET UP!"
"We need a system where the politicians sit down and discuss the problem, agree what is the best interest of all the people, and then do it."
"That is exactly what we do, the trouble is that people don't always agree."
"Well then they should be made to."
"By who? Who is going to make them?"
"GET UP!"
"Someone."
"You?"
"Of course not me."
"But someone?"
"Someone wise."
"Sounds an awful lot like a dictatorship to me."
"Well if it works."
"Your making fun of me."
"No, I'm not. I'd be much too frightened to tease a Senator."
"GET UP NOW!"
My eyes shot open and I had a sense of danger. My lightsaber shot into my hand and I ignited it as I got out of bed.
"Ani?" said Padme, "What is it?"
"Get your blaster and comlink," I commanded. I was no longer Ani, I was Commander Skywalker. "Come with me, quietly."
When she did what I said, I lead her out of the door to Jinns room. My saber threw a pale blue light around the room, and I could see that the danger was not here. I turned to Padme and whispered, "Go get him, try not to wake him."
She walked into the room and put the blaster and the comlink in an empty diaper bag sitting in the rocking chair in the corner. After slinging that over her shoulder, she picked up Jinn. He cried being woken up from his sleep.
"Shh, Mommy's here," said Padme. She started singing a lullaby and rocking him, and he fell back to sleep. She turned to me and nodded.
Quietly, we crept towards Ashla's room. I prayed to every God I knew this evil was not in their with my little girl. I used the force to open the door and thankfully I found Ashla sleeping peacefully alone. Padme walked in with Jinn, as I stood guard at the door.
"Lock the door." I whispered. "Shoot anyone who breaks in."
Padme put Jinn in the crib by his sister, then got the blaster out of the bag. "We will be fine," she whispered back. "Just get them out of my house!"