Chapter 61

Coruscant Senate District General Hospital

Padmé had drifted off to sleep when Anakin heard a light tapping on the door. He left her bedside to go out in the corridor to talk to Obi-Wan. Ahsoka was with him.

"How is she?" Ahsoka asked as Obi-Wan handed Anakin a small overnight bag.

"She's asleep," Anakin said. "She's exhausted, totally stressed out," he added with a frown.

"Poor Padmé," Ahsoka said. "She's had a lot to deal with lately. First Palo, then Julie, now this."

Anakin nodded. "Not to mention the stress of being Chancellor," he added.

"Even the strongest person can only manage so much," Obi-Wan said.

"I know," Anakin said. "I want to take her to Naboo, but I know she will feel like she's being irresponsible," he said.

"She's always been very much a person committed to duty, you know that, Anakin," Obi-Wan pointed out.

"Yes, you're right," Anakin replied. "But this time she has to put herself before duty. I don't know how, but somehow, I'm going to make sure of it."

Ahsoka smiled. "And you're not single minded or anything," she teased.

Anakin smirked. "Not at all."

"General Skywalker, we're going to move your wife upstairs to a private room," an orderly informed him.

Anakin turned to him. "I'll come with you," he said. He turned back to his friends. "Thanks for coming," he said. "I'll keep you updated."

"We'd appreciate that," Obi-Wan said.

Later that night

Anakin had not left the hospital, despite the fact that it was very late. Padmé was sleeping, but sleep eluded Anakin. He was deeply worried about his wife. Reflecting on Obi-Wan's words, Anakin thought about all the crises Padmé had endured over the course of the past 2 years. Was it any wonder she was stressed? Was it any wonder she was exhausted? And yet, what could he do? Anakin knew how important her career was to her, and her family equally so. Still, something had to give. He knew all too well what the cost could be of trying to have everything.

"Ani?"

Anakin looked over to see Padmé looking at him. He gave her a smile.

"Hi," he said, sitting on the edge of her bed and picking up her hand. "You should be sleeping," he said.

"What time is it?" she asked sleepily.

"Past midnight," Anakin told her.

"Why aren't you home?" she asked.

"I don't go home until you do," he told her. He kissed her hand. "You're stuck with me, Madame Chancellor."

She smiled. "I want to go home now," she said.

Anakin shook his head. "It's late," he said. "They'll let you go home in the morning."

"Promise?" she asked sleepily.

"Jedi promise," he told her with a smile. "Now, go back to sleep," he said, leaving over and kissing her.

Padmé closed her eyes, and drifted off again. Anakin watched her sleep for a few minutes, and then took up his post on the chair beside her bed, folded his arms over his chest, and, eventually, drifted off to sleep.

The next morning

Anakin stood by as the doctor checked Padmé's vitals. He knew how anxious she was to go home, but neither of them wanted to do anything that might jeopardize the pregnancy.

"Well? Can I go home?" Padmé asked finally.

The doctor smiled. "I know how eager you are to leave, Padmé," he said.

"Then she can leave?" Anakin asked.

"Yes," the doctor replied. "However, I need to impress upon you the importance of getting plenty of rest," he continued. "You are exhibiting classic signs of burn out, Madame Chancellor; exhaustion, stress – I realize your job is a demanding one, but you simply must take care of yourself."

Padmé nodded. "I understand," she said quietly.

"I would strongly suggest a short leave of absence from your duties," the doctor went on. "Two, maybe three weeks. It would be in your best interest to take it easy and avoid stress, Padmé; you've been pregnant before, you know how fragile the first trimester can be."

"I think that's a fantastic idea," Anakin said. He looked at Padmé. "What do you think?"

Padmé was thoughtful for a moment. "I think that's for the best," she said. "Maybe we can go to Naboo," she said, looking up at Anakin with a smile.

Anakin nodded with a smile. "Of course," he said. "Your wish is my command."

The Skywalker home

"Welcome home, Milady!" Dormé said, giving Padmé a hug. "I'm so relieved that you're alright!"

Padmé smiled. "Thank you, Dormé," she said. "And thank you for stepping up when Anakin was with me."

Dormé smiled. "You don't need to thank me," she said. "Luke and Leia will be happy to see you."

"Where are they?" Anakin asked.

"They're having their breakfast," Dormé said. "Obi-Wan is with them. He's been a great help."

Anakin smiled, and exchanged an amused look with his wife. "Good old Obi-Wan," he said, as they followed Dormé into the kitchen. Luke and Leia looked up and broke into huge smiles when they saw their parents, and lifted their arms up to them at once.

"Hello my sweethearts," Padmé said, kissing Luke. "I've missed you!"

"We're going to Naboo for a couple of weeks," Anakin told Obi-Wan and Dormé. "The doctor has advised Padmé to take a short leave of absence."

"I think that's a fine idea," Obi-Wan said. "I'll be sure to visit," he added with a smile.

"I need to speak to Rayna," Padmé said.

"Then ask her to come here," Anakin suggested as Leia played with her father's hair. "She can fight the traffic instead of you."

Padmé smiled. "If you insist," she said. "I'll contact her now," she said, having Luke off to his father. Anakin kissed his son. "Let's go get a diaper change," he told them.

"Need a hand?" Dormé asked.

"Nope, you've earned a break," Anakin told her.

Dormé smiled and looked back at Obi-Wan. "Thanks for all your help," she said. "I hope you meant what you said about visiting," she said once Anakin had left the room with the twins.

"I am a man of my word," Obi-Wan assured her.

"Good," she said. "Perhaps I could come with you. I'll miss Luke and Leia terribly," she explained. "Two weeks is a long time," she told him.

Obi-Wan nodded. "Of course," he said. "I'd love to have your company," he told her with a smile.

Dormé smiled. "I was hoping you would," she said, and gave him a kiss.

Upstairs

"Rayna, I'm fine," Padmé assured her assistant. "I've been advised to take a leave of absence, so that's what I'm doing."

"I think that's a great idea," Rayna said. "You've had a lot to deal with lately, Milady. And don't worry about anything," she went on. "I'll keep things running while your away. Vice Chair Amedda will help, I'm sure."

Padmé nodded, keeping her opinion of the Vice Chair to herself. "I appreciate it, Rayna," she said. "I will be in touch."

"Of course," Rayna said. "But you just focus on taking care of yourself and that baby."

Padmé smiled. "Thank you, Rayna," she said, "for everything."

Naboo - the next day

Jobal and Ruwee arrived at the lake house to welcome their daughter and her family. They had both been concerned when Padmé had told them that she was taking a leave of absence, for they knew their daughter well. If she was willing to do such a thing, then she must have a serious reason for doing so. They reasoned that Padmé would tell them when she felt comfortable doing so.

Jobal smiled as she saw the gondola approaching, and she and Ruwee went down to the dock to help with the babies. Padmé smiled as she saw her parents waiting for them, a feeling of peace filling her to be back home.

"Look at how big they are!" Jobal said as she and Ruwee took the twins from their parents. "My goodness!"

Padmé laughed. "They'll be a year next week," she said as Anakin helped her out of the gondola.

"That sounds like a fine reason for a party," Ruwee said. "A first birthday is a big occasion."

Anakin smiled. "It is," he said, taking Padmé's hand. "What do you think, Padmé? You up to a party?"

Padmé nodded. "Absolutely."

Over dinner, Anakin and Padmé filled Jobal and Ruwee in on what had been happening on the capital, including her miscarriage scare.

"Well, I'm so happy you decided to take your doctor's advice," Jobal said. "You need to look after yourself, Padmé, especially with another baby on the way."

"Oh, don't worry about that," Anakin said, smiling at his mother-in-law. "I'll make sure she takes care of herself. I guarantee it."

Ruwee nodded approvingly. "Well then, why don't you let us take care of planning this party?" he said.

"That's a great idea," Jobal said. "We would check with you both, of course, before making any decisions. But let us do the work, please. You two both need some time to relax and just be a family."

Anakin looked at his wife. "What do you think?" he asked her.

Padmé smiled. "I think that's a very kind offer," she said. She looked at her parents. "Thank you so much."

Blacks Funeral Home

The funeral for Julie Banks was a small, private affair, attending mainly by family with a handful of friends.

Aimee Giroux was among the friends who attended. It was very difficult for her, for she had known Julie since they were preteens. It seemed impossible that Julie could do this, that she would take her own life; and it had Aimee thinking. Was that her plan when she jumped? Was she hoping to die or to escape? Given Julie's mental state, it was a valid question. Her delusional mind could have led her to believe that she could escape, despite the fact that she was 900 metres above ground. Was she that desperate? Was she that mad?

"I'm so sorry, Mrs. Banks, Mr. Banks," Aimee said as she spoke to Julie's parents after the service concluded. "I still can't believe she's gone."

Tessa was too broken up to speak, and simply nodded as she shook Aimee's hand.

"It's been a nightmare," Marcus said. "She was deeply troubled. I guess none of us knew how troubled."

Aimee shook her head, wiping tears from her face. "It happened so quickly," she said. "I mean, a few months ago she was fine."

"It was those death sticks," Marcus said with a frown. "They destroyed her mind."

"I know," Aimee said. "I tried so hard to get her to quit," she explained. "She wouldn't listen to me."

"I know you tried, Aimee," Marcus said. "We did too. Julie was always so headstrong, never wanted to listen to advice from others." He sighed, and a look of profound sadness filled his eyes. "And now she's gone," he concluded quietly.

Aimee nodded, as fresh tears rolled down her face. If only she'd listened, none of this would have happened. "How is her uncle?" she asked.

"He's a mess," Marcus said, looking over to where Dane stood with his wife. "I know he blames himself for this, despite what we've told him. I honestly don't think he'll ever be the same, Aimee. None of us will, for that matter."

Aimee looked over to Dane, feeling profound sympathy for the man. She'd always like Julie's uncle, for he'd given her a chance when most of her family had written her off. But if she hadn't been working for him, would she have met Anakin Skywalker? And if she hadn't met him, would she have lost her mind like she did? "I'm so sorry," Aimee said again, not knowing what else to say. Indeed, what else was there to say? "So very sorry."