Chapter Eight

Every night, Obi-Wan used his connection with the Force to help Padmé to sleep peacefully. Nightmares didn't plague her again. And everyday, Obi-Wan and Padmé walked. They never walked the same path, discovering new ones each time, simply enjoying each other's company and their surroundings. Sabé had discreetly kept herself out of sight, partly because she didn't want to intrude and partly because she did not want to witness the growing intimacy between the two of them. She and Padmé never spoke of their respective feelings concerning Obi-Wan again.

When it was no longer possible for Padmé to walk long distances, at eight and a half months along her pregnancy she could barely make it from her bedroom to the front door, the Jedi Master and the Senator sat on the porch, sometimes speaking for hours, sometimes sitting in silence for hours. He was the second person to feel her babies moving about, next to herself, and more than once, shyly placed a hand on her belly just before a baby would kick.

"Can you talk to them?" she had asked him.

"No, but I can send them feelings of comfort. They are very aware of each other, though," he had answered. "And of you. They know you're their mother."

And they had smiled at each other, much the same way new parents do.

Padmé could not deny that her emotions for her companion ran deep, but she did not dare call it love. He was a comfort to her and she felt selfish for keeping him to herself when he should have been out there, fighting with his compatriots. But, he did not seem inclined to leave either. She saw the way he looked at her, the tenderness in his eyes, and wondered how he felt. Anakin had told her time and again the Jedi are not supposed to feel love. He had been bitter when he spoke of the rules of the Jedi, of having an emotionless existence, but after spending so much time with a true adherent, Padmé saw that it was not an emotionless existence. Obi-Wan had emotions; he just controlled them.

She would sometimes catch him looking up at the blue, cloudless skies, with a shadow in his eyes, and other times, he would catch her fiddling with her wedding ring, but neither spoke of matters that saddened them. For now, they occupied themselves with what the twins were to be named. Obi-Wan had told her the sex of the babies and Padmé had been delighted with the fact that she was to have one of each.

"Mera and Marin," she suggested.

Obi-Wan scratched at his growing beard. Privately, Padmé thought he looked delightfully rakish with the reddish-gold stubble covering his cheeks and chin, but had preferred him clean-shaven. With the full beard, he would once again look the part of the wise Jedi Master, which she believed he wanted anyway.

"I don't know. The names don't appeal to me."

"None of them have." In a moment of inspiration, Padmé grinned and added, "How about Obi-One and Obi-Two?"

Despite himself, Obi-Wan laughed loudly. Padmé chuckled, tucking a strand of chestnut brown hair behind her ear.

"I'll keep those in mind," he said, wiping the laughter induced tears from the corners of his eyes.

"How about Luke for the boy?" Padmé said, inspired. "And for the girl...ow!"

Obi-Wan jumped up as well as her pain flowing through the Force startled him. "What's the matter?"

Padmé could only gasp and clutch at her stomach. In that instant, her water broke.

"But you're not due for another two weeks," he said, somewhat helplessly. Then the old General instincts kicked in and he picked Padmé up, calling out Sabé's name as they rushed into the house. She came quickly, propping up pillows for Padmé to lean on, but Obi-Wan pulled the screaming mother into his arms, and setting her between his knees, letting her lean on him as they both sat on the floor of the living room. He twined his fingers tightly through hers, using the Force to control her pain and soothe her fears.

"They're coming, they're coming," she panted.

Sabé positioned herself between Padmé's legs, her trained eye taking stock of the situation.

"Yes, they are, and they're coming fast," she said. "I'll be right back, Mistress. I am going to contact Senator Organa's medics."

"Hurry," Obi-Wan said calmly, concentrating on Padmé.

"I wish...Anakin....was here," she gasped.

"I know," he said, sadness in his tone. "Just focus on your breathing, Padmé, like I taught you. This will be the easiest birth in galactic history."

"Promise?" she said, fear edging her voice.

"I promise. Now breathe."

Obi-Wan stood at the window, watching the sun set. In his arms, he held a tiny baby. The infant slept, and the sucking sounds he made with his mouth made him smile. In the bassinet behind the Jedi, his sister slept. Unconsciously, Obi-Wan cuddled the baby to him when a soft mewling sound escaped his lips. He could already feel the twins' presence in the Force. It was like a bright star, twinkling where there was only darkness. Anger made Obi-Wan's lips twist. Darth Vader would find them easily, if he ever found out they were alive. The bond between the twins was too strong, their presence in the Force too powerful.

They have to be separated, Obi-Wan thought desolately.

He thought of the young mother lying in respose on the bed behind him. Padmé had done well and had been overjoyed when the babies were first laid in her arms. But it was the moment before the girl had been born that stood out in Obi-Wan's memory for Padmé had screamed out his name. He'd responded by holding her hands tighter, his words tumbling out of his mouth as she called for him over and over again. It was unexpected. He had been waiting to hear Anakin's name fall from her lips, not his own. But it was not unwelcome.

Padmé woke and turned her head towards the orange-haloed figure standing at her window. She could still hear Obi-Wan reassuring words in her ear, his strong hands enclosing hers in their firm grip, and she remembered his elation when her daughter finally arrived, then her son. He had been as proud as a father.

Heis their father, she reflected, her emotions bittersweet.

"How are you feeling?" Obi-Wan inquired, half-turning.

"Like I just gave birth to twins, but you did keep your promise. It was almost painless," she replied with a smile. "Who's that you have there?"

"Obi-Two."

They laughed quietly and he went to the edge of the bed to hand her the baby. Padmé smiled down at her son. Obi-Wan went to the bassinet and took out the baby girl.

"What was your mother's name, Obi-Wan?" Padmé questioned, her eyes on her son and her heart full of love.

"Her name was Leia."

"Leia," she repeated. "That's a beautiful name. Leia...and Luke."

Obi-Wan sat at her side, Leia hugged protectively to his chest. With his free hand, he reached for Padmé's. And when they touched, the universe seemed altogether perfect, if only for this moment.