CHAPTER FIVE

PARENTHOOD

Two years later. . .

Summary: Anakin and Padmé got married. Anakin didn't left the order because the Jedi needed as much Knights as possible, so they accepted the marriage. Oh yeah, Anakin is a Knight now. He was on a mission when he recieved a holo message where Sabé said Padmé was bout to have their baby. They haven't seen each other for three months.

Anakin was waiting outside the delivery room for her child to be born. He was wearing his Jedi robes because he'd just arrived from a mission. Suddenly, the door opened and the doctor told him to come in. He haven't seen Padmé yet, so he rushed inside the room. There was Padmé lying on a bed, all sweaty and breathing hard. Her belly was still big, so Anakin assumed she hadn't deliver yet. Padmé turned to see who was at the door, and smiled when she saw Anakin standing there, smiling at her.

"Ani!", she cried out and then screamed out of pain. Anakin quickly stood at her side and cleared the hair from her face to kiss her.

"Yes, I'm here honey". Padmé grabbed his hand and squeezed it. Anakin almost yelled, but calmed down. His wife was in much pain than he was and yet controlled herself. 'Force, she's so brave', Anakin thought while he kissed her forehead.

"Alright, senator. One more push and we'll be done", the doctor said.

"What do you mean 'we'? I'm the one delivering twins here!!", she yelled at the doctor. Anakin widened his eyes and almost fell to the floor in shock. Padmé looked at him. "Oh, I forgot to tell you, Ani: we are having twins.

"Twins?", he asked still in shock. He put his free arm around her shoulder to gave her strengh through the Force. Padmé noticed and thanked him squeezing his hand twice. Padmé screamed one last time and there was a two seconds silence. Two babies crying were all the sounds they could hear. A nurse appeared with one baby on each arm. Anakin and Padmé held hands without looking at each other because their eyes were at the twins. Padmé was already crying since the labor work begun, but Anakin hadn't cry yet. YET. His blue eyes became brighter and tears rolled down his cheeks as the nurse approached to the bed. She handed Padmé the babies and she held them very carefully, afraid to drop them, and looked at them, unable to believe she had her and Anakin's children on her lap. She turned to look at Anakin who was a few steps away, drinking some water to calm down. He left the cup on the table next to the wall and looked at Padmé, who was giving him a tired smile. She reached out for his hand, letting him know that it was ok. He grabbed her hand and sat on the bed, next to her and the twins.

"They're. . . they're so perfect", he whispered, still surprised by the fact he was a father of TWO children. He smiled and surrounded Padmé with his arm. With his other hand, he softly touched each twins head.

"I know, they are beautiful", Padmé said leaning on Anakin's shoulder.

"Thank you Padmé. Thank you for having this beautiful children, it's the best thing you could ever done for me", Anakin said, tears rolling down his cheeks.

"No, Ani. Thank you for giving them to me". They kissed until they were interrupted by one of the twins, who was kicking Padmé's stomach.

"Hey, what's the matter with this little guy right here?", he asked grabbing the baby's hand.

"This little guy is a girl, Master Skywalker. The one next to her is a boy", the doctor corrected.

"A boy and a girl? How perfect is that? How are we going to name them?", Anakin asked excited.

"For a boy, I was thinking 'Luke'. What do you think, Ani?". Padmé looked at Anakin, who had a wide smile on his face.

"Luke? I love it!", he said excited.

"Luke it is, then. What about her sister, how should we name her? You name her, Ani. I know you have good taste".

"Yeah, me too. . . " They both laughed. "Ah, let's see. . . ", Anakin said looking to the ceiling and grabbing his chin, trying to think of a name. Suddenly, he got it. "Leia!, oh, I love that name".

"Luke and Leia Skywalker" Padmé said.

"Don't forget Naberrie, senator", he told her with a respectful but funny look on his face.

"Luke and Leia Skywalker Naberrie. I like the way it sounds". Padmé smiled.

"Then it's settled. I love you three". Padmé looked at Anakin and kissed his cheek. They silently looked at the twins for a while.

"Padmé?"

"Yes, Ani?"

"Can I hold one?", Anakin asked shyly. Padmé smiled at him and gave him Leia. Anakin carried her very carefully. When he knew Leia was safe on his arms, he smiled at her. "Hi, Leia. Wow Padmé, she looks just like you", he said amazed.

"Really? Do you think so?"

"Come on, just look at her. She's got your eyes, your hands", he said taking Leia's hands in his fingers, "and your chin. . . see?" Padmé smiled. "And you are both beautiful", he said and then bent down to kiss her. He rested her forehead on hers for a while until Luke started to kick Padmé, just as Leia had a few minutes earlier.

"Hey, what's wrong with you? Come here", Anakin said taking Luke in his arms next to Leia. "Let you mother rest".

"Now Luke is like your reflection on a mirror. Look at his eyes, his hair, his nose. He's just like you when you were nine". Padmé giggled at the thought. "He's very cute".

"They both are", was all he said.

"You too, Ani". Padmé played with her husband's hair.

"I know, that". They both laughed, but stopped when they noticed the twins get a little nervous with all the excitement around them. Anakin gave the twins to Padmé. "Your mother will handle this better than me, kids".

"I thought you were invincible, mister super-chosen-one-Jedi", she joked with a grin.

"Well, twins are beyond my reach, I'm afraid", he said raising his eyebrows. Padmé smiled and kissed him. Then she rested her head on his shoulder and yawn.

"Hey, are you tired? Why don't you sleep while the doctors check on the twins? You could use some sleep, Padmé", he suggested worried.

"No. I just want to be with them a little longer", she said closing her eyes. A few minutes later she fell deeply asleep. Anakin smiled and made a sign to the nurse, who was waiting for a long time next to the bed waiting to take the twins away, but apparently, every time she tried to, Padmé gave her a killer look. The nurse took the twins away and another nurse took Padmé to her room.