The next morning Padmé woke up with a new view of circumstances. Anakin was there, yes, and he was getting married again. So what? If he could start over, so could she. The thing was she didn't want to start over. She was happy with her life: she had two wonderful children, great friends and a job she enjoyed so much it didn't feel like a job.

After showering she picked her favorite dress and slid into it. This was the last weekend the twins would have the entire family at her house and she wanted everything to be perfect. It also meant that Anakin's wedding would be taking place in a matter of hours. 36 hours, to be exact. Padmé decided not to ponder on the issue any longer and strode into the hallway with the intention of meeting her children for a pleasant morning. Only the last thing she found there was a pleasant situation.

"Get away from me, you freak!", Krista cried out as she hid behind Anakin's chair. The twins tried to disguise their obvious laughter covering their faces with napkins, but it was no good. The situation was just too humorous: Jar-Jar was chasing Krista all around the table and the poor woman ran away from him as if the devil himself was pursuing her. Padmé didn't know what to make of the situation. Yes, it was funny, but she couldn't help to feel sorry for Krista. Jar-Jar could be a real pain when he wanted to, and even if he didn't, he just was. Padmé was shocked when she noticed that Anakin was as amused as the children.

"Jar-Jar, please go to your cage, I mean, your room", Padmé ordered. Jar-Jar's ears flew up when he heard Padmé's voice.

"Oh! Meesa so, so, sowy! Meesa sowy!"

"I heard you the first time, Jar-Jar", Padmé said as politely as possible.

"Okie dokie!", Jar-Jar smiled.

"Go to your room", Padmé said. Jar-Jar was about to protest when Anakin wove his hand in the air.

"You're tired. You're going to your room and stay there for three weeks."

"Four", Padmé added.

"Four weeks. And don't repeat this, please".

"Okie dokie", Jar-Jar said, completely hypnotized, and left to his room. Padmé sighed and took her seat on the table. Krista looked at her, feeling threatened by her presence, and sat next to Anakin. The twins glanced at each other, annoyed.

"I'm so glad you didn't keep that thing after your divorce, Niki", Krista commented. The entire Skywalker clan turned to her, taken aback.

"I don't think that's an appropriate thing to say in front of my children", Padmé said harshly.

"They are Anakin's children, too"

"She hasn't said otherwise, Krista", Anakin cut in. Krista scoffed and returned to her breakfast. Anakin looked at Padmé, who gave him a disapproving look. "I think you owe her an apology". Krista looked at Padmé, a proud look on her face.

"Excuse me?", Padmé asked.

"I was talking to Krista", Anakin corrected. The twins smiled and so did Padmé, a satisfied wink in her eyes. Krista turned to Anakin, thinking he was kidding.

"Right…", she said. Anakin arched a brow and she realized he was serious. "Oh, come on Niki! I didn't say anything!"

"Are you deaf or plain stupid?", Leia asked.

"Leia!", Padmé warned.

"I can see where she got her manners…", Krista mumbled as Padmé turned to her.

"What exactly do you mean by that?", she asked cautiously.

"Nothing… It's just that you raised her and suddenly she makes a comment like that to a guest… it's obvious where she got that from".

"Krista, I think you should-"

"No, Anakin, I'm interested on hearing her take on this", Padmé interrupted. "So, Krista. You want to give me advise on how to raise a child?"

"Whatever I can say won't do; she's as spoiled as it is right now".

"Watch it, Gungan lover!", Luke warned menacingly.

"Luke!", Anakin cut in. "Enough of this. Now, I think we should start acting like civilized people and try to finish this meal".

"Civilized, you? Since when?", Padmé asked. Krista turned to her.

"Since he dumped you, you uptight witch", she shot. Anakin hit the table with his fist and they all jumped, scared.

"Krista, that's enough! This is not anyone you're talking about, this is Padmé, and you will respect her as much as you respect me and the twins!", he ordered, upset as he had never been. Padmé just stared at him, impressed by his fierceness and determination to defend her. The twins remained quiet, not expecting this reaction from their father. Krista looked at Anakin, trying to control her anger. "Now you apologize to her. Please", Anakin added in a softer tone. Krista smiled arrogantly and leaned back on the chair.

"No". The twins and Padmé looked at Anakin, waiting for his response. He just sighed and returned to his food as if nothing had happened.

"You know the way out, then", he said. Krista opened her eyes widely.

"What? You can't kick me out!", she protested.

"Oh, but I can, and believe me: we're not enjoying your company", Padmé said, amused. The twins nodded, supporting their mother.

"Naki, if I leave now I'm not coming back", Krista warned.

"The way I see it you have a choice. One, you apologize to Padmé and the twins and everything comes back to normal; or two, you don't apologize, you leave and you never hear from me again", Anakin told her.

"Why do you insist on this?"

"Because Padmé is the mother of my children, and if you don't respect her then you don't respect the twins. And anyone who doesn't respect my family doesn't deserve to be in my presence. Now, please let me enjoy my last breakfast with my children and leave."

"Hell, yeah!", Luke exclaimed proudly.

"Shh, Luke!", Padmé hissed. Krista tossed her napkin on the table and left the room, fuming. As soon as the door closed behind her the twins burst out laughing.

"My goodness gracious, what a display!", Leia said diplomatically yet excited. Anakin frowned at her words and turned to Padmé, looking for an explanation. Padmé raised her brows guiltily and Anakin smiled at Leia.

"Thank you, little princess", he said, trying to keep a straight face.

"You were awesome, dad! Man, did you look at her face? It was the funniest thing!", Luke added. Padmé turned to him.

"Luke, you shouldn't laugh at other people's misery."

"Sorry", the little boy apologized.

"Good", Padmé acknowledged. They continued eating in silence, trying desperately not to think about the little scene. After a while Padmé raised her eyes to Anakin, who was chopping Leia's food. She smiled a half smile.

"Thank you", she said. Anakin looked at her. The twins looked back and forth, excited. "I wasn't expecting you would defend me like that. I appreciate it", she added, trying not to blush. Anakin smiled softly.

"Don't mention it", he whispered. Padmé looked away awkwardly and Anakin cleared his throat. Leia noticed the tension between them and turned to her father.

"Are you enjoying your breakfast, father?", she asked regally. Luke frowned and Anakin exchanged knowing glances with him.

"Yes, my beautiful daughter. But to tell you the truth I like this little fingers better", he said as he playfully bit Leia's hand. Leia laughed and Padmé smiled gently. A thought suddenly struck her. This would be the first and only time her children would share a breakfast with both their parents on the table. Instead of letting the thought sadden her, she decided to make the most of the moment.

"You should tell the kids about that time when you and Obi Wan fell in the mud pit in Alderaan". Anakin and the kids looked at Padmé, surprised. The kids were expecting a fight. It was inevitable.

"Only if you tell them about that time your skirt lifted in the senate".

"Anakin!", Padmé warned, glancing at the kids. Anakin shrugged and chuckled.

"Is that true?", Luke asked curiously. Padmé looked at Anakin and tried not to smile. She looked at her plate and nodded softly.

"Yes, dear", she confirmed. Leia frowned, amused.

"How did that happen?", she asked.

"Ask your father".

"I told you then, and I say it until this day: it wasn't me!", Anakin protested. Padmé laughed in disbelief.

"Anakin, I saw you wiggling your fingers when it happened". Anakin cleared his throat nervously and fidgeted.

"I… I was… counting… something", he lamely explained.

"Man… You're a terrible liar", Luke said, shaking his head.

"You can't blame me, your mother has killer legs".

"Anakin! The kids!"

"Will you teach me how to do it?", Luke asked, excited. Anakin winked at him.

"You're not teaching my son how to lift women's skirts, Anakin", Padmé warned.

"But I wanna learn!", Luke protested. Anakin sighed.

"Fine, fine… I won't…", he promised. Padmé nodded.

"Thank you". They all went back to their meals. Luke glanced at Anakin, who was mouthing "I will" to him. Luke smiled, excited, and Anakin brought his finger to his lips, indicating him to remain quiet. Leia looked at him and opened her eyes widely.

"Mother!"

"Shh!", Anakin hissed.

"If you teach Luke how to do that I'll teach Leia how to make a man cry", Padmé threatened. The twins turned to Anakin, who was blushing furiously.

"Mom made you cry?", Luke asked, amused.

"I didn't cry… much", Anakin muttered defensively.

"What did she do?", Leia smiled. Anakin looked at Padmé, who was smiling proudly.

"She gave me a shot for the space flu", he confessed. Luke opened his eyes widely.

"Needles?", he asked terrified, his hand instinctively reaching for his arm. Leia and her mother exchanged knowing glances.

"Men", they both sighed.

"To my defense the needle was very big", Anakin pointed out.

"So what? You cried like a little girl. You were crying even before I gave you the shot", Padmé said, obviously amused. "You just love to put a big show… 'Padmé, I can't feel my legs, I think I'm going blind, the needle is too big…' I hadn't even opened the wrap and you were already complaining, for crying out loud!"

Padmé and the children laughed out loud and Anakin shrugged defensively.

"At least I didn't eat like a beast at the queen's party…", Anakin mentioned to his defense. Padmé raised her brows.

"Maybe, but I didn't cry…"

"Shut up!"

They all laughed.