A/N: I had this chapter ready to upload tonight then I saw that Chadwick Bosemen passed away. I'm pretty devastated. We lost him too soon. He was an amazing actor and person. Black Panther had a profound effect on me. RIP King T'Challa. Wakanda Forever.

Chapter 7

Medical facility. Capital City, Lothal

The receptionist, a young humanoid lady with deep amethyst purple eyes and shoulder length brunette hair tied back in a loose ponytail, typed away on her datapad. There was a lull in the day. Earlier, a rush of people came in when two speeders collided with each other. That was hours ago. Now the waiting room to the medical facility was quiet and she appreciated the moment for however long it lasted.

Which didn't last long. Barreling through the doors, a young man carried in a very heavily pregnant woman in his arms. She watched as he tenderly and every so delicately sat her in one of the chairs as if she would break with the slightest touch. Once satisfied she wouldn't fall apart in front of him he came storming up to the receptionist.

"My wife is going into labor. Please help her!" He demanded, hoping that medical droids would instantly appear to whisk his wife away.

The humanoid receptionist was accustom to people barging in with desperate need. She was completely unfazed by his behavior. "Of course. We need to register you and your wife first. What district are you from?" She asked her usual questions.

The young man stuttered for a bit then stated, "We're…not from this planet." He quickly added, "We're refugees from the planet Felucia. We fled after the Separatists attacked our planet."

This gandered sympathy from the receptionist. "I'm sorry to hear that. There are many people out there like you. Luckily, the war is finally over. I'll take care of your registration."

The gentleman's shoulders relaxed slightly, "Thank you, Ma'am." He returned to the pregnant young lady who was sitting down nearby.

The receptionist peeked over as the young man returned to his wife. He sat next to her and held her hands in his while whispering to her. He kissed her hands and then gave her a hug. She smiled to herself at the young couple clearly in love. She finished entering the information and sent it to be processed. Soon afterwards, a medical droid came over to escort them to the back. She smiled to the young couple as they passed her and the young man nodded his appreciation. Lothal was a quiet planet and didn't really keep track with the rest of the galaxy. Occasionally, they'll get people like this couple trying to escape the war. Just another casualty to powers great then themselves. She said a Lothan blessing for the young couple.

The medical droids helped Padmé undress into a gown and she laid on the medical table with a silver dome over her legs and abdomen that monitored her and her baby's vitals. Anakin watched, from a corner in the room, after being pushed aside several times by the medical droids insisting he stay out of the way while they prepped the patient. He had left R2 and 3PO on the ship as well as his lightsaber. Probably a good thing. In his current state of mind, having a lethal weapon may not have been the wisest idea. Plus, he didn't want someone to accidentally recognize it and call in the bounty on his head while his wife was laboring-not a situation to be in.

He was on edge, and with the droids pushing him around, he was about ready to use the Force to crush them-only hesitating for Padmé's sake. He cracked his knuckles unconsciously as he watched. From the medical table, Padmé murmured words of comfort to him. The sweat ran down his temples. He was in worse shape than Padmé and she was the one in labor. Her thoughts always about others before herself. But she knew very well the worry behind Anakin's beautiful blue eyes. She tried to console him and promise him that she would be ok.

Anakin's tormented blue eyes connected with Padmé's tender, sweet, loving brown eyes. Their souls connected as one and even though they weren't physically touching, their connection was deep and powerful. Perhaps it was the Force that joined them, but either way, Padmé used her love and inner strength to comfort Anakin. His heart pounding in his chest. Through the Force, he could feel her pain with each contraction and the enormous discomfort she was in. Yet, her focus was on her husband and his tensions and racing thoughts. He loved this woman with all of his being. Her constant selflessness, putting others before herself when she should be concerned about herself at this very moment. It was her life that could possibly be in danger and not his. He couldn't lose her. She was his very breath and the reason for his being. He just prayed that the Force would not take her away from him in exchange for his child. He couldn't raise a child without her. He didn't think he had the capacity to love this child the way Padmé could and he literally did not know anything about raising children. He was rough around the edges and ill tempered, the child needed the gentle lovingkindness of Padmé and so did he.

He sensed the doctor before they stepped in. A tall humanoid female with dark blue hair pulled into a bun and piercing purple eyes stepped into the room. Her face was calm not revealing any pressing concerns about the delivery. To her, it was a routine procedure in contrast to the feelings her patients were experiencing.

She turned to Anakin and stretched out her hand, "You must be the father?" Her tone was professionally warm but distant.

Anakin shook her hand, "Yes, I'm Boaz and this is my wife, Ruth. We're…"

The doctor finished his sentence, "refugees from the planet Felucia. Yes, I heard. It's all the same to me. Today, your wife is my patient. That's all that matters." She motioned for him to go next to Padmé, finally giving him permission the droids wouldn't.

"Would you like to hold your wife's hand as she labors? She'll appreciate your support." Her tone was gentle but firm.

Anakin tried to suppress a scowl at the insult. Offended that the doctor would think otherwise. The rational part of his mind told him she was only trying to help but he couldn't be rational. He placed a kiss on Padmé's forehead and gave her his hand.

The doctor narrowed her eyes as she observed Anakin's different forearms, "I would suggest using the other hand."

Anakin's irritation grew at the commands from this doctor. He had been holding Padmé's hand with his flesh hand. The skin to skin contact that she deserved not his cybernetic hand. The hand that represented another one of his failures. He paused for a moment. Taking in the depths of the doctor's advice and how she was still watching him. This was stronger than a suggestion but not done out of malice or arrogance. He felt it. It was highly suggested for his own good for some reason. Hesitantly, he switched to his right hand and the doctor seemed satisfied as she turned her attention to her medical droids.

She whispered quietly between the two droids before taking a seat between Padmé's spread legs, "Are you ready for the birth of your twins?"

"Twins?!" Padmé and Anakin gasped!

The young couple just stared at the doctor with their jaws hanging open. It took a moment for her words to sink in. Padmé wasn't carrying one child. There are two living beings inside of her trying to make it out into the galaxy.

Anakin flashed Padmé a betrayed look as to why she didn't let him know sooner. The startled look on her face spoke to her surprise of this revelation. His mouth gaped open and close a couple times as his mind tried to wrap around this new development. One child was daunting enough but two. How was he ever going to take care of two children?

Padmé hadn't sought much medical care on Coruscant. It was irresponsible and foolish, but her fears of getting caught pregnant and the repercussions to Anakin's status as a Jedi prevented her from revealing the pregnancy to anyone, living or droid. The betrayed look on Anakin's face flashed a brevity of anger through her as she equally threw him a stern look. Anakin was a Jedi, a Force wielder, the Chosen One, and one of the strongest if not the strongest Jedi of his generation. Why didn't he notice, through the Force, that she carried not one but two life inside her.

The doctor noted both of their reactions before clearing her throat, "So this is a surprise for you two? It's ok. We have plenty of experience with multiple gestation deliveries. You're in good hands." She flashed a confident, encouraging smile to the young couple.

Anakin breathed out a sigh of relief as he brought his flesh hand to cover Padmé's hand that started clenching down on his cybernetic hand. The two shared a tender look as the previous angry had washed away from them both. Reveling in the fact that they would be the parents to two wonderful, miraculously children.

The moment passed as Padmé felt another contraction hit. Each one seemed more potent than the next. Her face scrunched up as she clenched down on Anakin's cybernetic hand and it shot signals to his brain of the dangerous levels of pressure. It surprised him how firm her grip was, and at that moment, he realized the wisdom in the doctor's words. She might even bend the durasteel in his cybernetic hand.

The doctor was centered between Padme's bent legs as she coached her, "Breathe through the contractions. Don't hold your breath."

Padmé nodded as sweat beaded off her forehead. Anakin brushed the strands of hair away that had clung to the sweat on her face. He connected his life force with hers, feeling her pain, and shared her burden. She gave him a reassuring smile. She would offer more encouragement than a smile but her focus was elsewhere.

Anakin gave her a small smile as he thought to himself. Why are you worried about me, my love. You should be worried about yourself.

This continued on. The doctor gave Padmé gentle commands and support. Simultaneously, her two medical droids hovered, keeping analysis of the progress and relaying the information to the doctor who kept a calm, cool composure. This should comfort Anakin. Despite the waves of pain coming from Padmé, everything seemed in order. This is just another routine delivery for the doctor who stated she had done this multiple times. Yet the fear inside Anakin still lingered. He was never good at conquering his fears. He had experienced the pain of realized fears when his mother died. It haunted him especially now. He watched as Padme's face would rhythmically contort with each contraction and he would whisper words of encouragement to her. In his mind, he wrestled with his fears trying to push out the thoughts that she could die here and now right in front of him and he wouldn't know what to do to save her.

He clenched his eyes tight, pushing aside the thoughts that were driving him mad. He reached down into the Force, searching for comfort, pushing past his fears, as he felt himself drift into the currents of the Force and away from the room. In the Force, he felt the light side glowing intensely and pulsating with energy. It enveloped him within it and it encouraged him and whispered to him. Within it he saw a beautiful, blinding white light that took his breath away. In the distance, he heard a noise and urged himself to go back to it. Feeling himself in his body again he heard the beautiful noise-the cry of his child.

Anakin's eyes opened and found the doctor holding the crying, bloody, pink mess of a lifeform. "Congratulations! You have a son!"

A son! He breath caught, Anakin and Padmé glanced at each other in wonder of the moment. "We have a son." Anakin's voice trembled with emotion.

Padmé smiled between the heavy breaths. Anakin couldn't help but think how beautiful she looked in this moment and how amazing and strong his wife truly was. He leaned down and kissed her cupping her face in both of his hands. She brought her hands up to hold his forearms.

"We have a son!" Tears filled his eyes as he pressed his forehead against hers.

Padmé managed a half hearted and tired laugh, "Our son."

Anakin turned, he watched in awe as the medical droid busied cleaning the newborn off and ran a diagnostic check on his son. An exhilarated thrill shot through Anakin's body and he forgot about his fears. The other medical droid remained by the doctor's side, handing the doctor instruments as they whispered quietly among themselves, and Anakin's concerns returned. The doctor sensed his uneasiness and addressed him.

"Multiple births are a little different from singular births. We just need to make some arrangements to prepare for the second child. Standard protocol."

Anakin nodded a reluctant acceptance as his hand went back to hold his wife's.

"It's ok. I can feel it. Everything is going to be ok." Padmé offered encouragement as they readied themselves for the second child.

Anakin could only offer a small smile as the thrill of seeing his son warmed his heart and contrasted with his concerns for Padmé's safety. He brushed his flesh hand against her temple, feeling her life force strong and vibrant, he connected his life force with her's once again. Feeling every pain she was going through and lending her his strength. And she was in so much pain. He had been blown up, thrown off countless cliffs, kicked, electrocuted, punched, and knocked unconscious, but the intensity of her contractions-they rivaled the worse Anakin ever dealt with in the Clone Wars. He could handle this. He marveled at how she was able to handle it. His wife was indeed an amazing person.

"You can do this. I'm here for you. We'll do this together." Anakin squeezed Padmé's hand, "One more time, my love."

Padmé took a deep breath and felt the connection they shared through the Force. It gave her strength and she smiled back to her husband, "Together."

The doctor looked up, "Are you ready to push again?"

"Ready," Padmé boldly proclaimed.

Though more tired than the first time, her resolve grew after hearing her child take his first breath. Their son. She could do this again. She wanted to meet their second child. A gift from the Force she didn't expect but overjoyed to have. Padmé was ready to be a family. So she pushed with her husband faithfully by her side. She kept going until she heard that sweet, beautiful sound when her second baby decided to reveal themselves.

"You have a daughter!" The doctor proclaimed as she handed the girl to the medical droids, "Aren't you a lucky couple? You have one of each gender now. Congratulations!" The doctor reviewed the diagnostic information on the twins. Satisfied that they were in good health, she offered, "Would you like to hold your children, sir?

Anakin looked down at the tired but content Padmé, who gave his hand a gentle squeeze, "Go and meet your children."

Anakin brushed his lips against her forehead before turning to the awaiting medical droids, "I….yeah….sure."

Gently, each droid laid the newborns into his awaiting arms. Holding both of his children in his arms, he broke out into a wide, goofy grin. His legs felt weak and he willed them to not give way. He gazed lovingly at the two helpless lifeforms in his arms. His children. Their life force was strong and he could feel their light radiating into the Force. They were absolutely beautiful.

His heart swelled with such joy, looking down at his son and daughter, he thought his heart might burst out of his chest. Peering at their helpless forms with their eyes closed, they seemed to calm in his arms. Somehow knowing this was their father. From that grew in him, this selfless love for them.

"I didn't have a father. I swear to you I'll be around for you two." He whispered as he instinctively rocked them in his arms. Tears pooled in his eyes as he quietly devoted himself to them. "I'll do whatever it takes. I'll make a million mistakes." He held them tighter to his chest, "I'll get it right for you."

He had to make a decision. Darth Sidious will not stop looking for him. He swore an oath to the Dark Lord and knows that the Sith will not take being a traitor lightly. He will want revenge absolutely. And the Jedi? They probably still think he's a Sith. He killed innocents. To them, he might as well be. It doesn't matter that he walked away. They believed once you turn to the dark side there's no going back. They would probably kill him on sight. He knew his Force signature was too strong. He couldn't risk it. Sooner or later they'll start looking for him out here. He had to do it. He had to shut himself off from the Force. Drop the trail. He had to so he could protect his family. He didn't need the Force. All he needed was his son, his daughter, and his wife. Family.

A/N: So Padmé survives childbirth! Was it because it was a false vision placed by Palpatine, a new future based on their actions, Anakin using the Force to share her pain in labor, the fact that Anakin was just there for support, or all the above? I'll leave you to debate it!