Padmé sighed sadly. Luke was leaving the next morning to finish his school year and he wouldn't be able to travel to Naboo for quite a while. Padmé consoled herself with the thought of having him for the rest of their lives.

Padmé stopped by Leia's half-closed door and peeked through the opening. Leia was on the bed, apparently sleeping. Padmé smiled and was about to continue her way.

"Mother?", Leia asked in a small voice. Padmé turned to look at her.

"Yes, darling?"

"Are we ever going to be a family?". Padmé walked to the bed and sat next to her daughter. She touched her hair soothingly, trying to find the best way to explain everything to her.

"We are a family"

"It doesn't feel like one", Leia added.

"You know how some families live together?", Padmé asked. Leia nodded. "There are also other families who only have one parent; just a mother or just a father, just one child… Other families aren't as lucky as we are. You have a roof over your head, you have toys, you've never been hungry, you have friends, you have a brother and a father who love you… You're very lucky, Leia."

"I guess you're right…", Leia whispered. Padmé smiled softly and touched her face. "I just wish we could all live together, you know?" Padmé nodded softly.

"I know, sweetie …", she said sadly. They remained quiet for a while, both thinking about what had happened the last weeks.

"He'll stay if you ask him", Leia cut in.

"Leia, Luke has to go to school, he has to finish this year"

"I mean daddy", Leia corrected. Padmé's eyes flew to her daughter's. "He would stay if you asked him". Padmé looked away and shook her head.

"I can't do that, sweetie"

"Why not? Don't you love him?", Leia questioned anxiously. Padmé looked at her.

"Not the way you want me to love him", she replied. "You understand?". Leia shook her head and Padmé smiled gently. "Your father will always be special to me because thanks to him I have you and Luke. I love you two more than anything, and that will never change. But your father and I, we don't have… we don't feel the same love that made us want to get married now, we have something different", she explained.

"But you said love never changed", Leia debated.

"I meant the love your father and I have for you and Luke, that will never change. Love between grownups is… different. It's more complicated"

"You love me and Luke, right?"

"More than anything. You two are my life".

"And we're part you/part dad. We're half him half you, and you said you loved us more than anything, that means you love dad, too", Leia reasoned. Padmé smiled softly. 8-year-old's minds could be naïve but still touching.

"Like I said: love between grownups is different.", she insisted.

"I can tell…", Leia scoffed. Padmé smiled. "What did father do to make you love him? Why did you like him?", Leia asked curiously. Padmé sighed softly and giggled.

"He was… kind of clumsy", she replied. Leia frowned, amused.

"What do you mean?"

"He always bumped his head somewhere or dropped something. Anakin is a dropper". They laughed. "And whenever that happened he would try to make it better but he kept dropping things or hitting his calves or his knees and it was just endearing"

"What else?", Leia insisted. Padmé looked away, trying to think.

"He was funny and very sweet with me. He was always tickling me".

"Are you falling in love with each other again?" Padmé turned sharply to her.

"What makes you say that?"

"I've seen the way he looks at you and how you're always nervous when he's around", Leia simply replied. Padmé looked away, feeling caught. "You're always glancing at each other when the other's not looking"

"When two people have a history together like Anakin and I do it's… it's inevitable to feel nervous or… or curious when you see each other again after a long time", she explained.

"Why did you divorce?"

"That's something between your father and me, Leia. It's not something that you share with anyone, especially with our children. People have to keep their intimacy problems to themselves; involving the children can't bring anything good. Trust me, sweetheart: it's not because we don't love you, it's because we love you too much to tell you things that don't concern you. We don't want you to go through more pain than you already have".

"I understand", Leia sighed. Padmé leaned down and kissed her head.

"Good night, sweetheart".

"Good night". Padmé stood up and walked to the door. "Don't close it. Dad was coming to say good night".

"Okay", Padmé said. She turned to the door and found Anakin standing right in front of her. Padmé gave a little jump and Anakin cringed apologetically.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you". Leia watched from her bed, amused.

"It's okay…", Padmé said, waiting for her heart to slow down. She walked passed Anakin and into the hall. Anakin turned to Leia and shrugged innocently. Leia giggled and Anakin smiled evilly.

"It's time for the Jedi monster to attack…", he said in a deep voice. Leia covered herself with the covers and Anakin jumped to her bed.

"No, no, no! Dad!", Leia squealed. Anakin tickled her and Leia laughed out loud.

Padmé was walking to her room when she heard noises coming from Leia's room. She turned and made her way back to the little girl's room when she heard shushing and whispering.

She peeked through the door and saw Anakin sitting on Leia's bed, his hand extended to the little girl. Leia sat in front of him and took a small box from her father's palm. Leia opened the box and looked at Anakin.

"What's this?", she asked quietly.

"I made it for you. I wanted you to have it before I left. Luke has one just like it", Anakin explained.

"Is this like the one you carved for mother?", Leia looked at him. Anakin shook his head.

"No. You can't wear this one, you keep it under your pillow", Anakin took the small wooden object from Leia and placed it under the pillow. He held Leia's arms and urged her to lie down. "This way I can take care of you while you sleep and make sure you don't have any nightmares", he explained.

Padmé watched from the door, her smile sad.

"Why are you letting mom live with both of us?", she asked suddenly.

"Who told you that?", Anakin asked back.

"We were listening", Leia simply replied. Anakin tried to think of the easiest way to tell her without revealing too much. He picked her up and sat her on his lap. Leia instantly wrapped her arms around him.

"Well… Luke is very happy here; he needs his mother and his sister. And your mother needs him, too, so we thought it would be for the best if Luke finished his school year and then moved here with you girls."

"You don't want to take care of us?"

"Of course I want to, sweetie. But I can't take care of both of you if I'm a Jedi, I could barely handle Luke. And your mother is so good at it, she would do it a million times better than me and I want you kids to be as taken care of as you can", he continued.

A tear rolled down Padmé's cheek.

"I'll visit you all the time, I promise. Every week, and we'll go camping and swimming and eating… we'll do anything you want and it will be so much fun…", he continued, feeling a knot in his throat. Leia looked away and cried softly. Anakin coughed and rubbed her back.

"Now, don't cry, little princess. What if your mother walks in? She'll think you don't want to be with her, you wouldn't want that to happen, right?", he asked. Leia shook her head and pulled back. Anakin smiled at her. "Good girl. Let's wipe that beautiful face, okay?". Leia nodded and wiped her face with her sleeve. Anakin took a pillow and playfully pressed it against Leia's face. Leia giggled and pushed the pillow down. She turned serious again.

"I don't want you to go, daddy", she blurted out, holding him tightly. Anakin kissed her head and rocked her softly from side to side.

"It's okay. You know what? Luke will be back here in a couple of months and you two will live together and you'll play, and talk and do things to annoy your mother…", he joked. Leia laughed softly and Anakin kissed her head.

"I want to live with you, too"

"But I'm coming to visit you guys all the time, I won't miss a single birthday…", he trailed off and Leia frowned.

"Luke and I have the same birthday"

"Exactly"

Leia giggled and Anakin laughed with her.

Padmé took a deep breath and leaned against the wall in the hall. She breathed out and as quietly as possible made her way to Luke's room. She opened the door and found her little boy sprawled on the bed, sleeping. She walked inside and pulled Luke's arm to the bed again. Luke opened his eyes and smiled sleepily at her.

"Hi", he said in a groggy voice. Padmé smiled sadly.

"You mind if I stay here tonight?", she asked softly. Luke shook his head and pulled the covers back. Padmé lied next to him and held him tightly. "You really need to wash you hair, Luke"

"I know, mom", Luke yawned again, "but I'm still handsome, greasy hair and all". Padmé smiled and squeezed him.

"Yes, you're the most handsome man in the galaxy. Girls will be all over you". Luke sighed as if to say 'I can't help it' and Padmé giggled.

"Mom, you're not gonna hate my girlfriends, right?", he asked. Padmé pondered on his question for a while.

"Yeah, they're dead". Luke laughed and Padmé kissed his cheek.

"If you ever get married again-", Luke started.

"I don't think that's going to happen, sweetie", Padmé interrupted.

"Okay, but let's say it happens… You realize your husband will never be as handsome as me, right?"

"Yeah, it took me some time to accept it. You're my guy", she declared. Luke smiled proudly.

"Cool". Padmé smiled and covered him.

"Okay, prince charming. Go to sleep".

"G'night, mommy"

"Good night".

The next morning, everyone was in the doorway saying their good-byes. Anakin had Leia in his arms and held her tightly while Padmé did the same with Luke.

"I'll come and visit you next month, okay?", Anakin assured. Leia nodded and kissed his cheek.

"Be good in school and study a lot", Padmé advised her son.

"I will", he replied softly. Padmé pulled back to kiss his forehead and placed him back on the floor.

"Say good-bye to your sister", she said. Anakin put Leia on the floor and the twins hugged tightly. Padmé watched sadly as her children said their good-byes. It was heartbreaking to see how two innocent kids had to pay for their parents' mistakes. But what was done was done. They had to move on. Still, Padmé couldn't hold back a sob. Anakin glanced at her and then looked back at the twins.

"We're running late, kid", he cut in. The twins broke the embrace and turned to their parents. Padmé kneeled on the floor and reached for Luke, who wrapped his arms tightly around her. Padmé kissed his head and smiled at him.

"Good-bye, handsome", she whispered. Luke smiled at her and kissed her cheek.

"See you, mom".

Anakin kneeled in front of Leia and kissed her cheek. "See you, little princess". Leia smiled sadly and kissed his cheek. Anakin turned to Luke. "Ready?" Luke nodded and Padmé kissed his cheek before standing straight. Anakin stood up as well and turned to her. "Take care".

"You too", she whispered. Anakin forced a smile and turned to Luke.

"Okay, kid. Let's go". Anakin picked up the bags and walked outside. Luke gave Leia a quick hug and followed him.

Leia leaned her back against her mother and Padmé placed her hands on her shoulders comfortingly. Both watched as they left.

"He'll be back in no time, dear", Padmé soothed. "You'll see". Leia pulled away and walked back inside. Padmé sighed and turned to her. "Leia…", she called, but Leia ignored her and kept walking. Padmé closed the door and walked after her.

Outside, Anakin and Luke watched the closed door.

"You're a Bantha head", Luke said.

"Excuse me?", Anakin asked, offended. Luke turned to him, upset.

"You ruined everything! Now we'll never live together like a family, and it's all because of you! It's all your fault!", Luke blurted out on the verge of tears. Anakin reached for him and hugged him, even though Luke tried to push him away.

"Hey, calm down", he soothed, but Luke kept pushing him away. "Hey! Enough!", he ordered severely. Luke calmed down and tried to breathe more calmly.

"This sucks…"

"I know, it sucks", he agreed. "But you will always have us. No matter if we live here or there or under the water; you'll always have your family, okay?"

"Okay".