Chapter 16: A Time to Heal
Anakin sat down slowly on the side of the bunk; he took Padmé's hand in his, squeezing it gently as he gazed quietly at her for a long moment. She was sleeping now, thankfully, after another strong dose of medication; Anakin leaned down and kissed her gently on the cheek, pausing as he felt her shallow, rapid breath on his own. He opened his eyes and gazed at her for a long moment, looking up as he felt Bail's hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry, Anakin," Bail nodded reassuringly. "She'll be fine. We're less than two hours away from Deyer."
"She's everything to me, Bail," Anakin replied softly, as he gently brushed his fingers through her thick, brown hair. "I don't know what I'd do if I lost her."
Bail shook his head, firmly. "You're not going to lose her, Anakin. That won't happen," he said, offering the young Jedi as reassuring a smile as he could muster. "We'll get her there in time."
"I'm going to go and check our current course and speed," he said, gently patting Anakin's shoulder. "I'll see if I can squeeze a little more speed out of the engines and get us there a little quicker."
"Okay," Anakin replied quietly, nodding his head as he smiled back up at his friend. "Thanks, Bail."
Bail smiled at him for a moment, and then the dark-haired senator turned and walked back out of the crew cabin and headed back toward the cockpit. Anakin turned his eyes back toward Padmé; he watched her quietly for a long moment, and then leaned down and kissed her again gently on the cheek. He leaned up slowly, holding his chest gingerly, and then he stood up and walked back out of the infirmary toward the crew cabin behind him.
Captain Bartellow watched, as the blue-green image appeared on the holopad directly in front of him. "Give me a status report," Darth Sidious said coldly, his dark, hooded image flashing brightly as the captain snapped to attention as he stood before him in the dim light of the frigate's medical lab.
"We currently have him stabilized, your Excellency," Bartellow replied, his voice echoing through the medlab as he spoke. "We have placed him in stasis and are awaiting your orders to proceed."
"How serious are his injuries?" Sidious asked, his cold voice noticeably absent of any trace of emotion as he spoke.
"He's suffered serious burns over ninety percent of his body," Bartellow replied. "His left arm is intact, but his right arm is missing and stripped of flesh to the shoulder. Both legs are missing, the left one below the knee, the right at the hip."
"Will he survive the procedure?" Darth Sidious asked, matter-of-factly, eyeing Bartellow with keen interest.
"It's difficult to say with certainty, your Excellency," Bartellow replied. "But the medical droids feel that there is a sixty-four point three percent chance of success."
"Very well," Sidious said, nodding his hooded head slowly. "Begin the procedure. I am leaving Coruscant and will be enroute to you shortly. Keep me advised as to your progress."
"Yes, your Excellency," Bartellow replied, as Darth Sidious's image flickered and faded from the holopad in front of him. He turned around quickly, his boots echoing through the medlab as he quickly approached the droid that stood near the bacta tank near the center of the room.
"What are your order, Captain?" the droid near the tank replied, as he turned his attention to the Imperial officer as he came and looked at the bacta tank for a long moment.
"Retrieve the information from General Grievous's files," Bartellow said, as the droid obediently plugged the control chip into the socket below the tank's glass. "Remove him from stasis and begin the procedure, as soon as possible."
"Understood, Captain," the droid replied. The captain turned his gaze to the tank once more,a surge of brilliant white bubbles erupting from the bottom of the tank as the droid engaged the control chip.
Bartellow swallowed hard, resisting his own urge to look away, as the shimmering curtain of bubbles rose up slowly and floated past the figure in the tank; he grimaced, as he saw the horribly burned, disfigured mass of flesh inside the bacta tank twitch several times, the burned, charred bone that protruded from where Vader's arm used to be scraping against the inside of the tank in front of him.
"Keep me apprised of your progress," he said, disgustedly, and he turned and walked quickly out of the medlab.
"Yes, sir," the droid replied obediently. He turned to the computer behind him and began to call up the information in General Grievous' file, as his companions prepared to remove what was left of Darth Vader from the blue-hued, bubbling bacta tank behind him.
Bail looked out of the tall, gently curving window, out over the strange skyline of the large city; Deyer was a wet, watery planet, much like Kamino, yet it boasted at least some large land masses to its credit. He looked out through the rain that streaked down the smooth, curved window at the glistening lights of the large, dome shaped buildings that rose high into the dark, stormy sky around them.
They had arrived almost two hours ago; he had brought the Millennium Falcon down through the thick, stormy clouds and docked at the large landing platform adjacent to the large medical facility, and they had wasted no time in getting Padmé off of the ship and into Tion Meddon's capable hands.
He had met the tall, grey skinned physician several years ago, when he and a delegation from the Republic had arrived on a purely diplomatic visit. Meddon had remembered him, and thanks to his pleasant relationship with the distinguished physician when he had visited before, Meddon had arranged from them to land immediately after he had shared the urgency of their situation and Padmé's condition with him.
They had been seeking Deyer's admission to the Republic for decades; the planet boasted a wealth of technological and natural resources. But the government, while hospitable and cordial, had steadfastly refused the Republic's advances. He was thankful now, very thankful indeed, that they had chosen to do so; with Palpatine's Clone Army scouring the galaxy for any trace of the Jedi, this remote planet was a welcome, inconspicuous haven in this dark hour.
Bail turned around, as he heard Obi-Wan's voice behind him. "Any word yet?" Obi-Wan asked, as he stepped up to him and offer him one of the steaming cups that he held in his hand.
"I'm not quite sure what it is," Obi-Wan shrugged, "but it's hot, and it doesn't taste too bad."
"Sounds good enough to me," Bail grinned, as he took the cup from Obi-Wan and looked at it thoughtfully. "And no, no word yet," he said. "Tion said that he'd let us know something as soon as they could."
Obi-Wan looked across the room, to the small circle of chairs that stood near the windows not far from them; Yoda sat resting quietly in one of the chairs, his eyes closed, as Threepio and Artoo stood near the window, looking out over the city as the rain continued to pour down from the skies in thick, heavy sheets.
"Is Anakin still in there with her?" Obi-Wan asked, as Bail raised the cup to his lips and took a small, apprehensive sip.
"Yes," he nodded, furrowing his brow and looked down at the cup in his hand again. "Tion tried to convince him to let one of his medical droids get started on his own injuries, but he wouldn't have any part of it."
"Little strong, isn't it?" Bail frowned, as he took another halting sip from the cup in his hand.
"Just a bit," Obi-Wan chuckled, as he took a sip from the cup in his own hand. "But it gets better after the second cup," he said, as Bail looked back up at him with a curious grin. "Trust me."
Obi-Wan walked over and stood at Bail's side near the window, and the two of them looked out for a long moment over the dark, rainy city that stretched out before them. "Odd, isn't it?" Obi-Wan said quietly, shaking his head slowly. "The one planet we find that can help us looks a lot like the one that helped create this mess in the first place."
"Fortunately, I think you'll find that's where the similarities with Kamino end," Bail replied, taking another sip from the cup in his hand. "I remember that much from our visit several years ago. The government of Deyer banned cloning centuries ago. The people of this planet are deeply religious, and they hold life, in all of its forms, in the highest regard."
"They view cloning as a violation against the natural cycle of life itself," Bail nodded. "But their medical skills are second to none."
Bail and Obi-Wan turned around together, as they heard the doorway behind them open. They watched, somewhat anxiously, as Tion Meddon stepped through the door; he turned his large, grey head slowly, blinking his dark eyes several times as he walked slowly toward Bail and Obi- Wan's place near the room's large windows.
"Senator Organa," Tion said politely, bowing his tall, grey form slowly as Bail and Obi-Wan returned his gesture.
"How is she, Tion?" Bail asked, as the tall, gangly physician stood up straight and blinked his large eyes again, slowly.
"Her injuries were significant," Tion said, his shrill, smooth toned voice echoing through the room around them as he spoke. "She suffered a small fracture to the base of her skull, just below her left ear. Her internal organs showed signs of impact trauma, and there was some internal bleeding."
Obi-Wan took a long, troubled breath; he had known that Padmé had been injured, and seriously. Yet now, he felt a genuine sense of fear as he listened to Tion tell them just how bad those injuries had been. He glanced over, as he heard the tap of Yoda's cane on the smooth floor beside him, and he watched as the tiny Jedi master walked up to his side and listened intently as Tion continued.
"It is a miracle that she was able to survive the trauma of natural childbirth, given the extent of her injuries," Tion said, as he glanced over at Yoda as he spoke. "We had to repair a rupture in her diaphragm, remove one of her ovaries, and repair a tear in the other," he said. "Given the seriousness of her injuries, I am honestly amazed that she was able to survive until your arrival."
"Is she going to be all right?" Obi-Wan frowned, as Yoda lowered his head and closed his eyes thoughtfully, turning his small cane slowly in his hands.
"Much of that will depend on her," Tion said, his tone growing softer as he spoke. "She's obviously very strong, or she would not have survived as long as she has," he said. "We were able to stop the bleeding, and her injuries have been repaired, but she's very weak at the moment. We have her in a recovery chamber. She is currently sedated, but you may see her, if you wish."
"How's Anakin?" Bail asked.
"He is as well as can be expected," Tion sighed, nodding his large head slowly. "We encouraged him to come and wait here, with you, but he would have no part of it. He remained at her side through the entire procedure."
"I have tried to encourage him to let us assist him with his own injuries," Tion said, shaking his head slowly as he spoke, "but he steadfastly refuses to leave her side. Perhaps you can convince him to let us help him."
"I'll try," Obi-Wan sighed, deeply. "But I'm not holding much hope for getting Anakin to leave her side right now."
"Yes," Tion nodded. "His love and devotion to her is quite evident," he said. "I am assuming that hers runs just as deep for him?"
"If not deeper," Bail said, looking at Obi-Wan and Yoda for a long moment.
"That bodes well for her chances, then," Tion replied. "Very well, indeed. Come," he said, as he turned and extended his long arm toward the door behind him. "I'll show you to them."
"The younglings," Yoda asked, quietly, looking up at Tion's large, round eyes as they started slowly for the doorway that Meddon had emerged from. "How are they?"
"The news is much better, where the children are concerned," Tion said, his tone brightening somewhat as they walked. "Both of them are doing remarkably well, considering the stressful situation of their birth and their somewhat premature arrival," he said. "They are both in the nursery, not far from their mother, and I am pleased to report that they are in good health. We have given them a treatment to help them breathe better, and they are responding well to it. They both just received their first feeding."
"Threepio," Obi-Wan said, turning and looking at the two droids as they stood close by, listening intently. "You and Artoo wait here. We'll be back shortly."
"Yes, Master Kenobi," Threepio said, and he and Artoo watched in silence, as Bail, Yoda, and Obi-Wan all walked quickly through the tall, arching doorway as Tion Meddon closed the door and followed close behind them.
Anakin looked up, slowly, as he saw Obi-Wan, Yoda, and Bail step through the doorway and walk quickly toward him, as he sat at Padmé's bedside, holding her hand tightly. "How is she, Anakin?" Obi-Wan asked quietly, as he stepped quickly to his friend's side and placed his hand on his shoulder; Anakin was a pale as a ghost.
"She's sleeping," Anakin replied weakly, nodding his head and looking back at her as Obi-Wan squeezed his shoulder reassuringly. "Tion says that they have her sedated, and that she'll be asleep for a little while," he said, as Bail, Yoda, and Tion Meddon walked up quietly to the foot of Padmé's bed.
"She's not hurting as much, anymore," Anakin said quietly, as he reached out and touched her cheek gently. "I can sense that much, already."
"That's good," Obi-Wan said, as brightly and encouragingly as he could. "That's a good sign."
"Yeah," Anakin said, trying as hard as he could to force a smile as he nodded his head slowly. Obi-Wan looked down at Anakin; he was in agony, and not only physically. He felt his own heart ache, as he watched Anakin reach up and rub his eyes, wearily, and then place his hand back on Padmé's again.
"Anakin," Obi-Wan said quietly, as his young friend looked up at him, "I know that you don't want to," he said, "and I'll understand if you say no, but you really need to let Tion's staff take a look at your injuries."
"I don't want to leave her," Anakin said, shaking his head slowly. "Not until I know she's going to be okay."
Obi-Wan patted Anakin's shoulder again, as he turned and looked back at Tion as he stood quietly at Yoda's side. "I asked," Obi-Wan said, shaking his head slowly. "I won't ask him again," he said. "We'll just have to wait."
"Very well," Tion nodded. "Would it be possible to persuade him to allow us to provide him with some medication for the pain until we can treat him?" Tion asked, watching as Anakin looked over at him.
Anakin looked up at Obi-Wan for a long moment, and then nodded his head, slowly. "That appears to be acceptable," Obi-Wan said, looking back at Tion with a weak smile.
"Progress, at least," Tion said, as he turned and started toward the doorway again. "I'll have it brought in directly."
"Perhaps the two of you would like to see the children?" Tion asked, looking at Yoda and Bail, his tone brightening. "If you'll follow me, I'll show you to the nursery."
Anakin watched quietly, with Obi-Wan standing by his side, as Yoda and Bail followed Tion out of the door and started down the long, white hallway.
"Don't worry, Anakin," Obi-Wan said, squeezing Anakin's shoulder firmly as Anakin turned his tired, worried face up toward him again. "Padmé's strong," he nodded, smiling at him as reassuringly as he could. "She's going to be fine. You'll see."
Anakin smiled, very weakly, and Obi-Wan watched him as he turned his attention back to Padmé; Obi-Wan took a long, halting breath, as he looked at her as she lay, completely still, in the bed, with nothing but the soft beep of the monitors and equipment in the room to break the worried silence around them.
All they could do now, he thought to himself as he sighed deeply, was wait.
Anakin lay on his back in the thick, green grass, his head resting in her lap; he laughed, smiling brightly, as he looked up at Padmé's radiant face as she smiled down at him.
"What's so funny?" Padmé laughed, as she pinched his arm playfully.
"Nothing," he laughed, squirming as he reached over and caught her hand as she pinched him, squeezing it tightly as she laced her fingers in his.
"Don't you like that name?" Padmé asked, as Anakin pulled her hand up and placed it on his chest, holding it tightly. She watched him, as he reached over with his free hand and rummaged through the small basket beside them, and then pulled out another small handful of bright red cloudberries.
They were some of his favorites, and she always made sure she packed plenty of them into their basket when she came to the city to have lunch with him. The small, cozy park was only a short walk from their shop, and they came here often. Anakin's days at the shop were usually very busy, and the park was a perfect place, a tiny oasis of peace and contentment, where they could spend a few quiet moments together in the middle of the day.
She smiled, as she watched him pop a couple of the sweet, juicy berries into his mouth. "Yes, I do, very much," Anakin nodded, chuckling under his breath as he munched contentedly. "I think it's a wonderful name."
"Then why are you laughing?" Padmé said, looking down at his twinkling, happy eyes with an inquisitive grin; she opened her mouth, as he reached up and placed one of the plump, ripe berries in her mouth.
"I was just thinking about the look on your father's face a little while ago, when you told him we were having two," Anakin laughed, looking up at her as he watched her smile brighten even more. "I don't think I've ever seen anybody get that excited before."
Anakin had never felt so happy, so content; Padmé's eyes sparkled as she laughed with him. "I know," she laughed. "I don't think I've ever seen him so happy. Are you going to be able to fix that logic probe he dropped?"
"Sure," Anakin chuckled, as he popped another berry or two into his mouth and chewed happily. "Even if I can't, it was worth the price of a new one, just to see the look on his face."
"Think he's made it back home yet?" Anakin asked, as he reached up and placed another berry in her mouth.
"Probably," Padmé nodded. "He's had time."
"You need to stay here with me this afternoon," Anakin grinned, as she looked back down at him fondly as she gently wove her fingers through his long hair. "We can go home early today. I want to be there to see the look on your mom and Sola's faces when we get home. I don't want to miss that."
"Okay," Padmé laughed, as she gently rubbed the back of his neck. "Hey, can we stop by the shops on the way home?" she asked. "There's a new book that I've been wanting to pick up for a while now."
"Of course," Anakin nodded, as he looked up at her fondly for a long, quiet moment.
"Leia," Anakin sighed, after a long pause; he reached over and placed his hand gently on her stomach. She was just beginning to show, and he could feel her soft, round stomach underneath her thin, white blouse. "I really like that name," he said. "It's beautiful, just like her mother, and just like she's going to be."
"You're sweet," Padmé smiled radiantly back at him, as she squeezed his hand gently. "And besides, it matches the one you chose for our son," she said. "Don't you think they go well together?"
"Luke and Leia Skywalker," Anakin nodded, grinning. "Yes I do," he chuckled happily. "They're both wonderful names."
"Then that settles it," Padmé said, nodding her head firmly. "You hear that, you two?" she said, looking down and patting her stomach playfully. "You have names now. I hope you like them."
Anakin laughed at her for a long moment; he closed his eyes and smiled contentedly, as he felt her place her hand gently on his cheek. "I love you," he sighed, as he snuggled close to her as he lay in her lap; he closed his eyes and sighed peacefully as he felt the warm, soothing tremor that traveled from her heart to his, as warm as the afternoon sun that shone down on them, as Padmé gently ran her fingers through his long, wavy hair.
"I love you, too."
Anakin sighed again, as he heard Padmé's soft voice and felt the gentle touch of her hand on his neck. It seemed so real; he could feel her fingers, as she gently wove them through his wavy blonde hair and softly rubbed the back of his neck.
He had fallen asleep at her bedside, his right hand resting gently on her shoulder. His head rested in the crook of his elbow, and he slowly opened his eyes, as the stark, white walls at the foot of her bed began to slowly come into focus. He blinked his eyes sleepily several times, as the peaceful image of his dream began to fade and he slowly began to remember where he was.
He didn't know how long he'd been sleeping; the pain medication that Tion's staff had given him had made him sleepy, and the last thing he remembered was politely refusing to leave Padmé's bedside as Tion's assistants had asked him, once again, to let them treat his injuries.
He glanced wearily around the room, his head still resting on his arm, his eyes half open; the chair in the corner where Obi-Wan had been sitting was empty, and Anakin turned his sleepy gaze toward the window. The rain had let up, at least for the moment, and he could see the city's lights twinkling in the darkness outside, glistening through the drops of water that stood on the surface of the tall, concave glass.
He started to yawn, but his breath suddenly caught in his throat; he was sure he had been dreaming before, yet he snapped his eyes open wide, as he felt the soft touch of Padmé's hand again, as she placed it gently on the crown of his head and slowly stroked his hair.
It wasn't just a dream, after all; Anakin turned his head and looked up, sleepy, exhausted, and bewildered, toward the head of her bed. He felt his heart leap in his chest, as he saw Padmé's tired but smiling face looking back at him; it was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen.
"Padmé?" he asked softly, as he sat up quickly and leaned close to her, blinking his eyes again sleepily. "What?" he asked, shaking his head slowly. "What did you say?"
"I said I love you, too," Padmé smiled back at him, warmly, and she placed her hand gently on Anakin's cheek as he reached across her and took her other hand tightly in his.
"You were talking in your sleep again," she said; her voice was weak and broken, but her eyes shone brightly as she smiled at him, watching as he took her hand from his cheek and kissed it gently, squeezing his eyes shut tightly.
Anakin had been running on hope, and hope alone, ever since that moment in the cave on Mustafar; that terrible, horrific image had been burned into his mind, and he had watched her strike that wall, over and over again. He'd been strong, because he knew that she needed him to be, not just for her, but also for the two tiny children that slept in the nursery not far from them.
He had known all along how close to death she had come, yet he had refused to consider the horrible, unbearable thought that he might lose her. He had steadfastly pushed it away, buried it deep inside him, each time he had felt that terrible flame of despair lick at his heart.
Anakin felt an incredible wave of joy and relief sweep over him as he looked deeply into her beautiful brown eyes; he felt tears start to sting his own, and he took several quick, deep breaths, squeezing his eyes shut as he pressed his lips tightly against her hand. "Padmé," he whispered softly, as he opened his tear-filled eyes and looked back at her.
Padmé could feel the overwhelming torrent of emotions that touched his heart, and hers, as well, as he leaned close to her. She placed her hand gently on his cheek, as she watched him try to speak as the tears welled up in his bright, blue eyes.
"Don't cry, Ani," Padmé said softly, as she gently wiped away the tear that stood on his cheek with the pad of her thumb. "Everything's going to be okay."
Padmé closed her eyes as Anakin quietly laid his head gently on her chest and wrapped his arms around her, as gently but snuggly as he could. She felt her heart ache, as she heard his soft, broken voice, as he finally managed to speak. "I thought I'd lost you," Anakin whispered, his voice trembling.
"Not hardly," Padmé sighed, wrapping her arms around his shoulders; she held him tightly, stroking his long hair comfortingly as she felt him begin to sob softly in her arms. "You couldn't lose me, Ani," she said softly. "You were holding me way too tightly for that to happen."
He had been through so much, since this terrible ordeal had begun, and he had been there for her through it all. The events of the past few days flashed through her mind, as she held his trembling body close to hers.
Anakin had been her strength, through everything that they had been through together in the past few days; his courage had brought him, and Obi-Wan, safely through their ordeal on the Imperial Hand. He had seen his friends and mentors killed, by a man that he once trusted and a genetic abomination that had been created from his own body. After Vader had attacked her, he had ignored his own pain and agony, when he had carried her out of that dark, terrible cave on Mustafar to safety. Afterwards, he'd given her all the strength he had, and taken away as much of her pain as he could, as he helped her through the pain and agony of the premature birth of their children.
She opened her tear-filled eyes, and glanced around the room; she didn't know where she was, what had happened to her since she'd been here, or how she had even gotten here, but it didn't matter; she had sensed his love and presence through it all, and she knew in her heart that he had been right here, at her side, through every painful moment of it.
She felt her own tears begin to trickle onto her cheek, as she squeezed her eyes shut and held him as tightly as she could. He had given so much since this terrible ordeal had begun, so much more than any one person should ever have to give. It was time now, she thought to herself, far past time, for her to finally take care of him, just as he had cared for her.
"It's okay, baby," Padmé said softly, her own voice trembling as she felt him finally let go in the security of her arms. "I've got you," she said, gently stroking his hair as she felt his sobs grow stronger. "I love you so much, Anakin Skywalker," she said. "And I'm not going anywhere. I promise."
The soft sound of the raindrops striking the window began to fill the room as the rain began to fall again from the dark skies outside. They both clung to each other tightly in the dim light, their hearts beating together in perfect harmony as their love for each other gently began to wash away at least a part of the pain and heartache of the last few days, just like the rain that washed gently over the windows outside.
"So how are you feeling?" Obi-Wan asked, as he sat down carefully on the side of Padmé's bed near the window, reaching over and placing his hand gently on her arm. He could still feel the incredible sense of relief that had swept over all of them when Anakin had come down the hallway a short time ago and given them the wonderful news that she was awake.
"I've been better," Padmé sighed, looking over at Obi-Wan with a weak smile. "Remember that gondark that you always say Anakin eats like?" she asked, as she took another long, slow breath, closing her eyes as she spoke.
"Yes," Obi-Wan grinned, nodding as he watched her grimace and frown slightly, as she tried to lift herself, ever so slightly, in the bed.
"I think he ran over me," Padmé said with a groan, as she opened her eyes slowly and grinned back up at him.
Obi-Wan laughed, as he turned his attention to Anakin as he sat on the other side of her bed, holding her hand tightly. "Looks like her sense of humor's still intact," Obi-Wan said, as Anakin looked back at him with a tired, weary smile.
"So how is she doing, Tion?" Bail asked, as he and Yoda stood quietly near the foot of her bed, watching as the tall, gray-skinned physician examined the sensor data carefully on the small display near her bedside.
Padmé glanced up at Tion as he studied the display for a long moment; she squeezed Anakin's hand tightly, looking back at him fondly as he sat quietly at her side while Tion examined the display carefully.
"All things considered," Tion stated matter-of-factly, as he tapped the controls on the display, his large, skilled eyes quickly scrolling through the data that streamed from the sensors attached to Padmé's body, "her recovery thus far is nothing short of remarkable. I believe," he said, smiling down at Padmé as he turned his attention to her, "that I can say that I am quite confident that she will make a full and complete recovery."
"Welcome news, indeed," Yoda grinned broadly, rapping his cane soundly on the floor in front of him as he looked up over the foot of her bed toward Padmé's tired, but smiling face.
The collective sigh of relief that filled the room around them was almost audible, as Padmé smiled up at Tion's large, round eyes. "Thank you, Doctor," she said, nodding her head as he bowed his head politely toward her. "Thank you for everything that you've done," she said, shaking her head slowly. "I don't know how I'll ever be able to thank you properly."
"No thanks are necessary," Tion said, bowing politely as he folded his hands in front of his long, silver robe. "It has been our great pleasure to be of assistance to you, and your children."
Tion glanced at Anakin for a moment, watching him as he sat quietly at Padmé's side. "On second thought," he said, turning his attention back to Padmé again and tilting his large, gray head slightly, "there is one thing that I can think of that you can do for me."
"What's that?" Padmé asked curiously, as she saw him glance over at Anakin again.
"Your husband is in serious need of medical attention, as I am sure you are aware," Tion said, as he watched Padmé nod her head, and then look back at Anakin fondly. "He currently has several broken bones, and I am quite sure that he has suffered some significant bruising and abrasions, judging from the amount of pain that he is in."
"He steadfastly refuses our attempts to assist him," Tion said, glancing quickly at Anakin as he looked up at him and raised his eyebrow suspiciously. "His companions have attempted, unsuccessfully, to gain his cooperation for us several times," Tion said, turning his large, round eyes back to Padmé again. "Perhaps you could persuade him to let us help him?"
Obi-Wan smiled, as Padmé looked at Anakin fondly. "Consider it done," she nodded, squeezing Anakin's hand tightly. "He won't give you any more trouble," she said, as she reached up and placed her hand gently on his cheek. "I promise."
"Excellent," Tion exclaimed excitedly, clasping his hands triumphantly as he watched Anakin sigh and smile at Padmé weakly. "I will escort him to the trauma examination room immediately."
"That's not fair," Anakin sighed, as he felt her gently caress his cheek. "You're cheating."
"Ani," Padmé said softly, "I'm fine, but you're not. Let them help you," she nodded. "Please."
"I'll be fine," Padmé said, as she nodded toward the others. "Bail, Master Yoda, and Master Obi-Wan will take good care of me while you're gone. You know that."
"You have our word," Bail nodded, as Anakin turned and looked up at him.
"Go," Obi-Wan said, nodding his head toward Tion as he looked at Anakin with a grin. "Before Padmé tells me to throw you over my shoulder and carry you."
"Okay, okay," Anakin sighed defeatedly; he leaned forward and kissed Padmé gently. "Are you sure you'll be all right?" he asked quietly, as he placed his hand gently on her cheek.
"Absolutely," Padmé nodded, as she pulled him to her and kissed him again, softly. "Now go," she said, nodding her head toward Tion. "The sooner you go, the sooner you can come back to me."
Padmé winced, as Tion placed his long fingered hands gently on Anakin's shoulders and helped him up to his feet; she could feel, and see, the pain he was in as he stood up, very slowly, holding his chest tightly. "Please take good care of him, Tion," Padmé said, as the tall physician turned to her once more.
"We will," Tion nodded, quite confidently, as he guided Anakin toward the door. "I assure you."
Obi-Wan watched quietly, along with the others, profoundly relieved, as Anakin walked slowly through the doorway and down the long hall, with Tion's long, thin fingers resting gently on his shoulder as he walked.
"It's about time," he sighed, folding his arms across his chest as he looked back at Padmé. "I'll never know how he managed to last this long."
Padmé smiled, as she felt Anakin's strong, soothing tremor deep in her heart, as strongly as she had ever felt it. "I do, Master Kenobi," she said quietly, as she relaxed and leaned back against her pillow, watching as he rounded the corner at the far end of the hallway, as Tion led him to the examination room.
"I do," she sighed, nodding as she felt his heart speak to hers once more, more clearly than ever.
"Careful, Artoo," Threepio said, as he watched his little round companion extend his data probe and press the button on the console in front of him. "Are you absolutely certain that's the move you want to make?"
Bail smiled, as he watched the little astrodroid swing his dome toward his tall, silver companion and respond with a long string of beeps, clicks and whistles.
"I'll never understand your strategies, Artoo," Threepio said, waving his arms disgustedly as he watched the tiny, holographic creature scramble across the round, checkered game surface. "I don't know why Senator Organa is even bothering to play with you."
"Don't be too hard on him, Threepio," Bail said, as he studied the game surface carefully. "I've only played this game two or three times before, myself," he said, as he reached over and pressed the control pad on his side of the small round console. "Although I must say, I do enjoy it immensely."
Artoo and Threepio watched, as the tiny figure on Bail's side of the board strode quickly across the board and, with a tiny shriek, swung the staff in its hands, quickly striking down the creature that Artoo had just moved, sending it to the board with a mournful cry.
"There, you see, Artoo?" Threepio said, waving his arms disgustedly again as Bail leaned back and laughed heartily, reaching over and picking up the cup that sat on the table next to him. "I told you that was a terrible move."
Yoda chuckled to himself, as he watched Artoo spin his dome around quickly and give Threepio what could only be described as an electronic raspberry. He looked up from his seat, as he saw the door behind the couch where Bail sat open slowly. He nodded his head to Bail, and they both turned their attention to Obi-Wan as he walked across the room toward his companions.
"How are they doing, Obi-Wan?" Bail asked, as he took another sip from his cup and watched as Obi-Wan, for all intensive purposes, flopped into the chair across from him next to Yoda.
"Padmé's sleeping, thankfully," Obi-Wan sighed, nodding his head as Bail and Yoda listened intently. "I just checked on Anakin," he said, looking back at his companions with a tired smile. "He's got several broken ribs, and he's giving the medical droid a bit of trouble," he said, taking another deep breath, "but that's to be expected."
"I get the feeling that Anakin's not exactly a model patient," Bail chuckled, leaning back in his chair as Obi-Wan leaned his head back and yawned, deeply.
"Not hardly," Obi-Wan said, stretching hard as he leaned back in the chair again. "He never has been, either."
"He's definitely headstrong," Bail nodded, as he paused and took another sip from his cup as Yoda and Obi-Wan looked up at him. "He reminds me a lot of Padmé when she first came to the Senate."
"He has his moments," Obi-Wan sighed. "But he's nowhere near as headstrong as he was before he and Padmé were married," he said. "He's only that way now when it comes to things that concern her."
Obi-Wan smiled, as he looked back at Bail again. "As far as medical droids go," he chuckled, "he just doesn't like them. At all."
"Well, truth be told," Bail nodded, "I don't care for them much, either, so I really can't blame him."
"So, Master Yoda," Obi-Wan said, leaning forward in his chair and folding his hands thoughtfully in front of him as he looked at the tiny Jedi master thoughtfully. "Things seem to be calming down, somewhat," he said, as he and Bail both turned their attention to him.
"We've got some quiet time for a while, I think, while they tend to Anakin," he said. "He suggested that now might be a good time for us to let you share some very interesting information with us about Padmé."
"Perhaps I should leave," Bail said politely, as he started to stand up. "This sounds like a matter that might be best discussed among yourselves."
"On the contrary," Obi-Wan said, as he reached over and placed his hand on Bail's arm and pressed him gently back down into his chair. "Anakin wanted you to hear this."
"As do I," Yoda said, looking at Bail and nodding his head firmly. "Trust you, implicitly, we do, Senator," he said, as he watched Bail sit back down in his chair. "The will of the Force, it was, that you have become a part of all that has happened."
Bail and Obi-Wan watched, curiously, as Yoda reached down and pulled the small data disk from his belt again and held it up thoughtfully in front of them. "Four years ago, it was, that this began," Yoda said, looking at his companions as they listened to him intently. "Best it is, that we start at the beginning."
"Padmé?" Anakin said softly, as he placed his hand gently on her cheek as he sat down gently on the side of her bed. "Can you hear me?"
She took a long, deep breath, as she blinked her eyes and opened them slowly; she smiled, as she saw him. "How long have I been asleep?" Padmé asked, as she closed her eyes and yawned deeply.
"A couple of hours," Anakin said, as she opened her eyes and looked back up at him. "How do you feel?"
"A little sore, but I'll be fine," she sighed, as she reached up and gently touched his cheek. "What about you?" she asked, her expression growing a bit more concerned as she dropped her hand to his shoulder and squeezed it gently. "How's your chest?"
"Better," Anakin nodded. "I had a few broken ribs, and they finished mending them a little while ago. They're ready to start the dermal generators now."
"Then what are you doing here?" Padmé asked with a tired smile, as she shook her head slowly. "You're supposed to be letting them help you."
"I am, don't worry," he said, nodding his head obediently. "I talked Tion's assistant into letting me come and see you for a few minutes before they started with the dermal generators," he said. "It's going to take a while, with all the bruises and cuts I've got, and I wanted to come and see you first."
"Well," Padmé sighed, "I guess I can forgive you then," she said, smiling warmly up at him. "Does it hurt?" she asked, as she squeezed his arm again tightly. "Open your shirt and let me see."
"It's not too bad right now," he said, shaking his head slowly. "It's really not much to look at."
"Open it," Padmé said, furrowing her brow as she looked back up at him. "I want to see how badly you were hurt."
"Honestly, it's not that bad," Anakin said, as he reached down and began to gingerly unbutton the chest of his tunic. "The pain meds they gave me are working pretty well."
"See?" he grinned, quite sheepishly, as he pulled his tunic open so that she could see the damage that Vader's metal ingot had inflicted on him. "It's just a scrape."
"Oh, Ani," Padmé sighed; she winced, as she saw the angry scrapes and deep purple and black bruises that covered his body, stretching all the way from his stomach to his shoulders. "Are you sure you're okay? That looks terrible."
Don't worry," he said, shaking head slowly. "I'll be fine." He smiled down at her, as she began to fasten the buttons on his tunic again. "It looks a lot worse than it actually is, I promise."
"How many ribs did you have broken?" Padmé asked, as she watched his slow, measured movements.
"Five," Anakin said quietly, that sheepish grin returning to his face once more. "Three on one side, two on the other."
"Five?" she exclaimed, as she reached out and helped him fasten one of the buttons on his tunic. "You carried me out of that cavern with five broken ribs?"
Padmé sighed deeply and watched him for a long moment, as he slowly and painfully fastened the last two buttons, and then she reached out and took his hand again as he took a deep breath and turned his eyes back toward her.
"It wouldn't have mattered if they'd all been broken," Anakin said softly, as he smiled back at her. "I'd have still carried you."
"Anakin Skywalker," Padmé sighed, gazing at him fondly as she gently caressed his cheek. "What am I going to do with you?"
Anakin smiled at her for a long moment, and then he turned and looked at the two tiny babies that lay in the small basinet near Padmé's bed, as he saw Luke's tiny arms begin to move under the soft, thick blanket. "How are our little ones?" he asked, reaching over and gently pushing the blanket back so that he could see his tiny face better; he smiled, as he saw Luke's bright blue eyes looking up at him.
"They're just fine," Padmé nodded. "They brought them in to me just about an hour ago," she said, as he looked back at her. "They said that I should be well enough to start feeding them, the next time they get hungry."
"Already?" Anakin asked, a bit surprised. "Are you sure you're ready?"
"Ready or not," Padmé shrugged, "I'm their mother."
"Leia's sleeping," she said, turning her attention back to the basinet again; her smile brightened in concert with Anakin's, as they watched Luke wiggle under the thick, soft blanket that was tucked securely around him.
"I think your son is awake," Anakin said, as he reached over and gently touched Luke's tiny hand.
"Hand him to me, Ani," Padmé said quietly, squeezing Anakin's hand tightly. "Please. I want to hold him."
Anakin smiled back at her, then nodded his head. "Okay," he said quietly, as he reached over and gently brushed his hand through the thick, brown hair that hung at her shoulders. "Are you sure you're up to this?"
"Yes," Padmé nodded. "I'm sure."
She sighed deeply, as she watched him stand up and, very gently, reach down into the basinet; Anakin stood up, slowly, a bright smile on his face, as he cradled the small, wiggling bundle gently in the crook of his arm.
"He's a little hard to hang on to, when he's awake," Anakin laughed quietly, as he sat down slowly again on the bunk; he looked over at Padmé, watching her fondly as she reached over and gently pushed the blanket that he was wrapped in to the side so that she could see him better.
"He is moving a lot, isn't he?" Padmé laughed softly, as she watched his tiny hands open and close quickly as Anakin placed the tiny, wriggling baby boy carefully into her arms.
"There's your mother, Luke," Anakin sighed, gently placing his hand on his son's tiny forehead as he watched Padmé cuddle him close to her.
"He's so beautiful," Padmé said softly, watching her newborn son as he blinked his eyes and gazed up at her as he wiggled in her arms. "And he's strong, too," she laughed, looking back up at Anakin with a grin as she felt Luke wrap his small fingers around her own and squeeze it tightly.
"I know he is," Anakin nodded, as he looked back down and watched Padmé wiggle her finger gently and touch his tiny lips softly as Luke clung tightly to it. "So is his sister," he said, as Padmé smiled back up at him again. "I got to hold them both for a little while when we were on our way here aboard the Falcon."
"Oops," Padmé said, as she looked back at Luke, watching him as he pulled the tip of her finger into his mouth. "It looks like somebody really is hungry, aren't you?"
"But what else could you be?" Padmé smiled down at him. "I mean, look at who your father is, after all. He's hungry all the time."
"Bail said we had some rations in the crew cabin," Anakin said, as Padmé lifted her eyebrow and smiled coyly up at him. "I could run out to the ship and get him something."
"I don't think so, my love," Padmé laughed, as she looked back down at Luke fondly. "I think I'm supposed to take care of that right now. The rations come later," she grinned, looking back up at Anakin. "Much later."
"So," Anakin said, as he slid closer to her, watching her as she gazed at the tiny baby boy in her arms, "How, exactly, does all of that work?"
"I haven't got a clue," Padmé said, smiling back up at Anakin and shaking her head slowly as he watched her. "I mean, I know how things are supposed to work," she said. "But I don't really know how to get him to eat. Mom and I never really talked about all of this. I meant to, but they just got here a lot sooner than we thought they would."
Padmé glanced back down at Luke, as he pushed her finger away from him and began to cry, softly.
Anakin looked at his son, as he began to cry and whimper softly in his mother's arms. "I think it's time to try," Anakin said, looking back at Padmé's apprehensive face. "Are you sure you're up to this?" he asked again, placing his hand gently on hers.
"Yes," she nodded. "But I'm going to need a little help," she said, slowly raising her knees and cradling her newborn son carefully in her lap.
"Be careful, Angel," Anakin said, as he leaned close to her and began to carefully unbutton the top of her gown. "Just lay still," he nodded. "Let me help you."
Padmé closed her eyes and grimaced, slightly, and she shrugged her shoulder carefully and helped Anakin push the thin, white gown off of her shoulder, and then he leaned close and watched as Padmé gently picked Luke up in her arms and, a little apprehensively, placed him close to her chest. He smiled, as he felt the intoxicating mixture of apprehension, amazement, and love that swept over Padmé as she watched their newborn son place his tiny hands on her chest as she cuddled him close to her, letting her own instincts take control as she watched him follow his own.
Padmé looked up at Anakin, as Luke's muffled cries suddenly stopped; she looked at him for a long quiet moment, watching him as he watched their son with a wondrous smile.
"Looks to me like he knows just what to do," Anakin nodded back at her, as she leaned slowly back against the soft pillow behind her and took a long deep breath as she gazed down at Luke, cradling him securely in her arms.
"It's all so amazing," Padmé sighed, looking back up at Anakin as he slid closer to her. "It's really happened, Ani," she said, her eyes shining brightly as he reached up and placed his hand gently on her cheek.
"We're all here," Padmé said, as Anakin reached up and wiped away the happy tear that stood on her cheek as she gazed deeply into his eyes. "We're a family."
"Yes, we are," Anakin nodded, as his eyes searched hers for a long moment. "I love you, Padmé," he whispered, as he gazed at her fondly for a long, quiet moment. "So much."
"I love you, Ani," Padmé said softly, and she closed her eyes as Anakin leaned down and kissed her tenderly for a long moment. Their lips parted, and Padmé looked down with a smile as Anakin gently stroked Luke's tiny arm as he nursed at his mother's breast. She looked back up at him, and then leaned forward and kissed him gently on the cheek.
"You'd better get back, or they're going to come looking for you," Padmé nodded. "Or else Tion's going to think I didn't hold up my end of the bargain."
"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Anakin asked, looking back down at his son again for a long moment.
"Oh, yes," Padmé sighed, as she settled back into the pillow behind her, cuddling her nursing son close to her chest. "We'll see you as soon as you get back," she nodded, as she looked back down at Luke again. "Won't we, Luke?"
Anakin smiled, and she watched him fondly as he stood up and squeezed her hand tightly, and then turned and started toward the doorway.
Padmé smiled, as she watched him approach the narrow, arching doorway. "Hurry back, Daddy," she said softly, watching him as he turned and looked back at her once more. "We'll be waiting for you."
Anakin took a long, contented breath, as he watched her look down and brush Luke's fine blond hair from his face as he clung tightly to her. "I will," he sighed happily, as he looked at his beautiful wife and children again for a long moment. "I promise."
He turned around and, taking another long, contented breath, he walked, somewhat slowly and painfully, back down the hallway, where Tion's assistant waited patiently for him, the dermal generation units in his long, thin-fingered hands.
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