Three months later.
Padmé is already living in Naboo. At first she was very happy because she could have some rest from the oh-too-excited-little-Padawans and have some peace. Padmé could be with her husband and take care of herself like she should've been doing for a long time.
But as time went by, something was missing. She had her soon to be born baby, she had Anakin, she had her friends close to her, but still... That wasn't enough for her.
The Jedi weren't there. How could she feel complete without that part of her life, that part of her heart? That sense of protection that she gave to others was adicting. And adictions, no matter to what they are, aren't good.
People knew that they could rely on the Jedi whenever they needed them, that they would always be there for them. But Padmé couldn't be there, and that made her mad. She went from being the chosen one, the responsable of bringing balance to the Force, to a laid back wife and soon to be mother.
It wasn't that she was complaining, but one thing didn't compared with the other. On one hand she had her needs and on the other she had her family. Her family was also in her needs, and besides needs she had love towards her family. But she also had love to the order.
To the Jedi she had devotion, but in a different way as the one she had to Anakin and her baby. It was all just too complicated, and Padmé's mind was a mess. Speaking of messes...
"Hey, Padmé!", Sabé said cheerfully as she aproached Padmé's bench in the garden. Padmé smiled and moved aside so that Sabé could sit next to her. She did so and let out a long and heavy sigh. Padmé smiled knowingly.
"What happended now?", she asked trying to keep a straight face. Sabé looked at her and shook her head.
"That husband of yours... He's always complaining about his outfit. You know, if he likes politics so much he should accept everything that comes with it", she statened. Padmé fought back a smile and cleared her throat.
"Well, you know Anakin, he's always been...", she paused when she felt a powerfull kick on her stomach. Sabé smiled and looked at Padmé's hand, that was pressed against her belly.
"He doesn't get tired of doing that, does he?", she asked amused. Padmé didn't reply and kept her eyes closed. Sabé thought this was weird. "Padmé are you alright?", she asked concerned. Still no answer. Suddenly, Padmé cried out in pain. Sabé opened her eyes widely and sat closer to Padmé, puting her arm around her.
"Padmé please talk to me!", she said. Padmé breathed deeply and tried to steady herself. She raised her head and looked at Sabé through her almost closed lashes.
"Sabé... take me to the med center...", she managed to say. Sabé reached for her comm link and called for help.
*
Theed Palace's Med Center.
The healer examined Padmé several times, and his conclusions were always the same.
"Your baby is in danger. We'll have to perform a very delicate surgery to take it out before it's too late", he explained. Padmé could barely think. The pain was so much. She could also feel her baby's pain through the Force, and that kept her from thinking clearly.
"Anakin...", she whispered. "Bring Anakin, he'll know what to do...", she repeated over and over. Sabé held Padmé's hand in an effort to comfort her. "Anakin..."
"Where's the king?", the healer asked for the fifth time.
"I've called him several times, but he doesn't answer his comm link. I think that he had a meeting today, or something. I have guards looking for him, but still nothing!", she answered desperately.
"Well you better get him soon, I'll begin the surgery in five minutes. If he isn't here by then, I'll start without him. Please, you go and find him. She needs him".
Sabé sighed and nodded, determined to find Anakin and bring him to the med center before the surgery started. "I'll be back in two minutes, and I'm bringing the king with me", she statened. "Please hold on, Padmé", she whispered before she left.
*
"Your highness? Your highness?", Sabé called through the halls of the palace. Nothing, there was no sign of Anakin. She thought about going to his private chambers to see if he was there, but then she remembered that Anakin had gave specific orders to the entire Palace staff to stay away from there. His privacy was untouchable.
Sabé stopped on her tracks and brought her hand to her forehead. "I am SOOOOOOOOO stupid!!", she cursed herself. She sighed and ran towards the east wing, where the king's private chambers were. She finally reached the door, and without hesitating, she entered the room.
Anakin was lying on his bed, sleeping peacefully on his trousers and with his head resting heavily on the pillow. Sabé muttered someting through her teeth about the king taking naps during daytime while his wife was in labor and jumped on the bed, shaking it. "WAKE UP!!", she yelled.
Anakin woke up and jumped out of the bed, falling to the floor. He saw Sabé and frowned.
"What do you think you are doing here?", he asked amused. Sabé picked his shirt and threw it on his face.
"Get dressed! Padmé is having the baby. Now!!!", she cried out. Anakin opened his eyes widely and got dressed.
"Why didn't anybody tell me this?", he asked as he put his boots on. Sabé almost screamed, but held herself.
"Just shut up and hurry! The surgery will begin in two minutes!", she pressed. At the word surgery, Anakin gasped. He hurried up and got fully dressed. "That's more like it...", Sabé muttered. "Now let's go!!"
//We'll have a little talk later...//, Anakin thought to himself.
*
"Thank the gods that you are here, your majesty...", the guard that was outside the med center said. Anakin rushed to him and grabbed him by the collar of his uniform.
"Where's my wife?!!", he asked desperate. The guard pointed at the door and Anakin released him. "Im sorry!", he said before entering the room.
Anakin saw Padmé on the surgery table, and she seemed to be sedated. Anakin stood by her side and cupped her face. "Padmé, can you hear me?", he whispered. Padmé half opened her eyes and relief washed over her when she saw her husband there.
"Ani... I'm so glad that she found you", she whispered back.
Anakin turned to the healer a little confused. "Why isn't she completely asleep? I though that pacients had to be unconscious during surgery". The healer shook his head.
"Not in this proceedure, she has to be aware of what's happening. Now please, your highness, stand on the other side of my table, it's better if you don't look", he suggested.
Anakin did as asked and stood by the other side, never taking his eyes off of Padmé's. "Try to distract her, it will be easier for her and that way we'll keep her awake", the healer added.
"Alright", Anakin answered. He looked back at Padmé and smiled nervously. "So, um... we... we haven't thought of a name yet", he said trying to sound calmed. Padmé smiled.
"I have". Her tone was so weak that Anakin had to lean down to listen at what she said. "We know that it's a boy, so I was thinking...", Padmé trailed off and closed her eyes. Anakin held her hand and squeezed it softly.
"Padmé, stay with me. Open your eyes", he pressed. Padmé shook her head and sighed.
"I'm so tired..."
"I know, but you must stay awake, alright? Padmé...? Come on, open your eyes, do it for our baby, honey", Anakin said in a shaky voice. Padmé opened her eyes and looked at him.
"Don't call me honey". Anakin smiled sadly and brought his other hand to her head. He figured that if he played with her hair and tugged on it softly she would stay awake.
"Alright, whatever you say. So tell me, what names do you have in mind?", he asked trying to sound as if nothing was happening.
"I forgot...", she said smiling. While Anakin tried to keep her awake, the healer and his crew were begining the surgery.
"Scalpel", the healer said and Anakin could feel how Padmé's body tensed a little. After opening her stomach, the healer turned to one of the nurses. "Forceps", he said. A juicy-like sound was heard, and Anakin shut his eyes tightly. He felt a squeez on his hand.
"What's happening, Ani?", Padmé whispered. Anakin opened his eyes and forced a smile.
"Nothing, everything's fine. So... so tell me, do... do you like staying here in Naboo?", he asked in a shaky voice. He was almost in tears. In the background, he could hear the healer's concerned words. What he heard made him miss Padmé's answer.
"...this will be harder than I thought...".
Anakin tried to think about something else and returned his attention to his wife. "You know what? I... um, I was taking a nap, and Sabé woke me up by jumping into our bed". Padmé smiled and tried not to laugh.
"Really? Is that true or are you just making it up to cover an affair?", she asked mockingly, but her voice was less than a whisper. Anakin sighed and raised his brows.
"You caught me...", he said. Padmé smiled weakly and blinked twice. "I love you too", Anakin whispered. Meanwhile, one of the nurses stared at them with a puzzled look, wondering what was the matter with them. Anakin noticed and threw her a hard glance. "Go back to your work". The nurse excused herself and continued what she was doing.
"You... love to boss people around, don't you?", Padmé asked through heavy breaths. Anakin laughed.
"That's the good thing about being a king...", he paused when he heard something that casted him away from his thoughts.
"I've got him, bring me a blanket for the baby".
He was there. He was with them now.
"He... he's...", Anakin tried to say. The healer smiled at him and brought his arms up, where a little baby was resting peacefully.
"Congratulations, your highness. Here is your baby boy", the healer said as he handed the baby to Anakin. He held it carefully as he tried to keep his eyes open all the time, trying to take in the image of his new born son.
Anakin's world stopped for a minute. A sense of devotion and unconditional love invaded him, and he opened the doors to his heart to welcome the new feelings. He made a realization: From now on every upcoming day of his life, would be lived for his son. Without him, his life was meaningless. It was the first time that Anakin saw his child, and he already was madly in love with it. Was it possible to love some one so much at first sight? It was. He had the evidence in his arms. It suddenly strucked him.
He was a father.
"My son...", Anakin whispered in awe. He laughed nervously and brought a chair next to the bed and sat next to Padmé. "Padmé look", he said, his eyes fixed on the baby. Padmé opened her eyes slowly and her eyes welled up in tears of happyness.
"My goodness... he's so beautiful", she said in a cracky voice. Anakin smiled at her and leaned to kiss her forehead. "Anakin...", she paused and took a deep breath. "I can't believe this".
"But he's here, Padmé, look", he said bringing the baby closer to Padmé's reach. She brought her hands to the baby and Anakin carefully trespassed one of his reason for living to his other reason: his loving wife.
Padmé recieved the baby and held it close to her heart. The baby yawned and clasped his little hands in fists. That was when Padmé let her tears splash out. "I love you... so much", she whispered to the little person in her arms. As her lips brushed the baby's forehead, an inmense peace washed over Padmé. A mother pride swept with all of her existence, and she was a totally different person now.
She was a mother.
Padmé was starting to lose her grip on the baby, and Anakin noticed in time, holding the baby in his arms. Padmé's eyes rolled all the way up and turned white. She let out a long sigh and her head dropped to the side.
"What's happening? What's happening to her?", Anakin asked genuinlt scared. The healer started to do something in Padmé's stomach quickly. "ANSWER ME!", Anakin yelled as he got no answer. The baby stirred in his arms a little nervous.
"She's losing too much blood, we need to close... quickly, or she might go in a coma... or worst", he answered trying to stay calm.
All of Anakin's happyness came down and a huge angst was built instead, replacing his inner calm. He handed the baby to a nurse and settled himself by Padmé's side again. When he caught sight of some of her blood on the floor, he felt destroyed, as if he was dying along with her. Slowly, Anakin burried his face in Padmé's neck and breathed, doing his best to stay calmed.
"Hurry up!", the healer pressed. The nurses rushed to his side and handed him all kinds of medical equipment, trying to do their best to help the king's wife. The healer turned to look at Padmé. "Her eyes are open. Hurry up!"
Anakin raised his head from it's hideaway and looked at Padmé. Her eyes were fixed on his. A weak smile appeard on her lips.
"Ani...", she breathed. Anakin brought his hand up to her face and carressed its side.
"Yes, Padmé?", he asked in a cracky voice. He was about to give into his pain.
"I want to call him Seth", she said still smiling. A tear escaped her eyes and rolled down her cheek, making its ways to Anakin's finger. One of his own tears fell on the pillow. "You don't like it?", she asked softly.
"I... I do, I like it", he managed to say. He pursed his lips and made his best to stop crying. Padmé smiled again.
"I thought that...you wouldn't like it... because it sounds like 'Sith'... but I was wrong", she whispered. Another tear rolled down Anakin's cheek. Padmé brought her hand up and Anakin held it carefully in his as he pressed a kiss there. "I...". Padmé closed her eyes and sighed while her head dropped heavily to the side.
Anakin opened his eyes widely and softly shook Padmé's shoulders. She didn't seem to respond. "Padmé, please! Padmé!", he pleaded. Anakin turned to the healer. "Do something!", he yelled in anger. Most of all, it was hurt in his voice.
"I'm doing my best, your highness", the healer said nervously. Anakin didn't care, he just wanted Padmé back
"I command you to bring her back! Do it, do it now or I'll kill you myself!", he screamed. Anakin breathed heavily as tears rolled down his cheeks. His face was red and his head was burning, burning in pain and suffering. This was too much for him.
Anakin held Padmé's head in his hands and pressed his face against her cheek. The tears made him slip and he constantly brought his face up to its original position while his hair got in the way. He needed to feel her warmth, that was the only sign that indicated she was still alive. That she was still with him.
"Make it go away, please make it go away...", he repeated over and over again, reffering to his pain. He felt how his world torn appart in front of him. The worst thing was that he couldn't stand it. It hurt, it hurt so badly. He felt how his chest stiffened and for a moment it was hard for him to breath. Something was squeezing his muscles and didn't allow him to move freelly. This had to stop. He was beeing trapped in his missery, in his pain.
"There. Give her the shot", the healer ordered. A nurse grabbed Padmé's arm and gave her a shot. Seconds later Anakin felt something brushing his forehead. He looked up and saw Padmé opening her eyes. Anakin let out all the tears he had left and cried in happyness. She was there. She was alive.
"Padmé...", he whispered as he hugged her. Padmé gathered all the stengh she had left in her tired body and brought her hand up to trail her fingers down his hair, letting him know that she was fine. Anakin wiped his tears with his sleeve and then proceeded to clean her face, wet with a mixture of tears and sweat. "I thought I had lost you", he said looking at her. Padmé smiled weakly and brought him closer.
"You'll not... get rid of me that easy...", she whispered. Anakin smiled and placed kisses all over her face. Padmé sighed and held him against her chest. "Ani... we have a baby... a baby boy...", she whipered in contentment. Anakin smiled and looked up at her. She was smiling back and drifting off to a peacefull sleep.
*
Two days after the hard and angsty labor, Padmé was starting to feel better. It wasn't easy to have a premature baby through a dangerous surgery, nearly dying in the process, and then feel as good as new. Padmé only remembered part of what had happened, and maybe that was for the best. There were only two events that were clear on her head: the first time she saw and held her baby, and Anakin crying, saying he thought he had lost her.
The healer had to explain to her what Anakin meant by saying that. The new information shocked her. She had almost left her son and husband forever. After realizing what that meant, Padmé promised herself that whatever the circumstances were, she would fight for her life.
It seemed that her son was doing the same thing. He had been in an incubator for the past two days, gathering the strengh he needed to keep on living. Anakin divided his time between his son, his wife and his work. He hadn't had a good night sleep since his son's birth, and he was really tired.
But the last thing in his mind were his sleeping hours. He just wanted to be with the people he loved. He also wanted Padmé to see the baby again, because after the surgery, she wasn't allowed to get out of bed, and the baby wasn't allowed to get out of the incubator.
*
The King's Chambers
"Hi, mommy", Anakin greeted as he walked towards the bed with the baby in his arms, a big smile playing on his lips. Padmé smiled back and reached for her son, desperate to hold him in her arms for the second time. Anakin sat next to her and carefully handed her the baby. He looked at Padmé and smiled. She was radiant.
"Hi", she said, tears welling up in her eyes. She softly pressed the baby against her chest and carressed him with her fingers, ever so lovingly. Anakin smiled again and placed his arm around Padmé's shoulder, holding her closer. She didn't complain and got closer, resting her head on Anakin's chest.
"Have you ever seen anything so beautiful in your life?", Padmé asked softly. She was overwhelmed by her son's presence and all that these meant. Anakin kissed Padmé's temple and smiled.
"Once...", he said running his hand up and down her arm. Padmé smiled and shook her head. Anakin returned his attention to his son and brought his finger to his little hand. The baby got a grip on his father's finger and squeezed it, never wanting to let go. "I can't believe how much I love him", Anakin whispered.
Padmé smiled knowingly and nodded. "I know, it's incredible. I never want to leave his side, nor yours, Ani", she said cuddling closer to her husband. Besides the happyness in her eyes, there was also a strange and unwelcome sadness, telling her that soon she would have to return to her duties. Now that he held her child in her arms, the Jedi were nothing.
"Padmé... I hate to bring up the subject now, but you know that in three months you'll have to return to your duties", Anakin said unwillingly. It hurt him so much that his wife would have to leave her baby.
"I know, Ani...", she said in a sigh. The baby yawned and Padmé smiled. "Oh, I think that he's tired, look at him. He's so beautiful...", Padmé said in awe. Anakin noticed that she was changing the subject, but he let it go for this time. Padmé's amazement was justified.
"I know...", he said smiling. "So, how are going to name him?", he asked. He already knew what Padmé's choice had been, but he didn't want her to remember anything of that afternoon.
"Seth", she said in a determined tone. Anakin smiled. "I know, it sounds like..."
"Sith", Anakin interrupted. Padmé looked at him and nodded.
"You don't mind then?", she asked not able to fight back a smile. Anakin shook his head and smiled back. Padmé looked back at her baby and smiled satisfied. "Seth it is then". The baby made a little sound and Padmé giggled.
Slowly, her expression changed, and tears welled up in her eyes. "We wanted you so badly... and you are finally here...", she whispered in a shaky voice.
Anakin felt how a tingling spread all over his body at Padmé's words. He held her closer and kissed her. Padmé returned the kiss but broke it when a tear fell to their lips. Anakin smiled and cleaned the tears with his thumb.
"You are a mother now, Padmé", he said. Padmé smiled and a nervous laugh escaped her lips, as if she didn't know how to react at his words.
"I know... We are parents"
*********************
A/N: Well, I have to confess that this has been the hardest chapter I've ever written in all of my stories. Mostly because of the mixture of emotions that the characters have, especially Anakin. During the entire chapter he felt every emotion I could think of, and it was hard to make the bridges from one feeling to another. It was also hard to make it seem real, you know, the way de dealed with all this emotions.
Anyways, I hope that you enjoyed it!