Ch. 25

"Anakin, I have to warn you, my family likes you very much after meeting you as my body guard, but they will not be pleased that I have kept all of this from them for so long. And that's putting it mildly."

Anakin and Padme sat in the cockpit of the ship, each holding a baby and staring out at the stars together. The ship was in hyperspace, being flown by instrumental programming, so that they were able to enjoy the two days of flying as time alone together. The babies were very well behaved, and Padme and Anakin appreciated that they were able to actually get some rest after the long week that had just passed.

"I'm sure that they will be happy for you, Padme. Just knowing you're happy will be wonderful for them, even if they are initially shocked," Anakin tried to reassure her.

"Well… yes and no. Of course they want me to be happy, but this is a lot to take so suddenly... My parents worry about me very much- as happy as they were to see me successful in my chosen field, politics, they still don't like the fact that I left Naboo. I hardly ever see them, and when I do I am always worried about the problems of the galaxy. They don't really understand- they like to remain on Naboo, be family oriented and community oriented. They are wonderful people, informed and educated, and of course they want to help matters in the galaxy, but their idea of helping is donating to needy systems and volunteering on Naboo, for example. My chosen life was difficult for them, as proud as they are. You must understand that- they never showed me their worry, but it was clear to me that they were unsettled by my ambition at times.

"Now, I haven't been home in three years- the last time I saw them was with you…I have, of course, spoken with them as much as possible, but I recently haven't talked to them since the battles on Coruscant. I'm sure the news has reached them, so the fact that I haven't been able to contact them to tell them I'm all right is enough fuel for them to be angry- just because of the worry I put them through. This will certainly be… interesting."

"Padme, I have seen you persuade the most intimidating and influential politicians that you are right. And I know that your parents are extremely proud of you. I have complete confidence that you can handle your family."

She smiled at him, and even still, after three years of marriage, looking into his eyes made her blush and look down, butterflies in her stomach. His faith in her meant so much. Padme knew that Anakin truly believed that she was capable of achieving any goal she set, and this gave her confidence.

"When I left them more than three years ago I was so different Anakin, think of what's happened since then…look at us, we both look older and war-torn. I haven't really told them about the battles I've been in… The fact that I suddenly have children will not necessarily go over well. Our family is very close, so the fact that I kept my husband and children from them will not be taken lightly. I just want you to be prepared."

"Are you prepared?"

She looked at him, and couldn't help but laugh. "What do you think? Not at all…" She sighed, and looked down at Leia on her lap. The love she had for her new family was beyond anything she had ever felt before meeting Anakin. She couldn't have even imagined that such intense emotion was possible three years ago. She loved her Naboo family dearly, they meant the galaxy to her, but something about the love for her own children was so intense, and the love she had for Anakin was overwhelming. She scooted closer to Anakin, and he put his arm around her as they watched their children wiggle happily. The innocence of the children, so oblivious to the problems of the galaxy, was a constant source of calm for the Jedi and the Senator.

Luke yawned.

"My son is getting tired," Anakin said. "That's right Luke, rest up now so that you are the most powerful Jedi when you're older." He held his son up and kissed his forehead. "Just don't beat up on your old man too much, ok buddy? Ok?" He tickled Luke's stomach.

Padme laughed at him.

"What?" Anakin said, his cheeks turning red.

"Anakin you are adorable."

"No, I'm very intimidating," he said, really half serious, and she laughed harder. "Hey, I'm one of the most powerful warriors in the galaxy, remember?"

She kissed him, and ruffled his hair. "To me you're my little Ani, and adorable."

"Darth Sidious, the Sith Lord, didn't seem to think so," Anakin said defensively. However, what he didn't admit but both he and Padme knew was that he loved when she thought he was being sweet.

"Leia, you see, men like daddy get very flustered if you don't find them intimidating. It will make them all defensive like daddy, but really, they like it a lot," Padme paused, considering this. She kissed her daughter, and turned to Anakin, distressed. "Did I just give my week old baby advice on how to pick up men?"

Anakin's only answer was to pick up Leia. "Don't listen to mommy. She's trying to corrupt you early," he said, and tried to exit the room seriously. However, he couldn't contain his laughter, and rushed to make it out the door before he began laughing.

"Anakin!" Padme followed him, taking Leia back. They brought the children into the small room they all shared, and set them in their crib. Anakin rocked the crib back and forth, and Force soothed them until they fell asleep.

"Is it bad that you put them to sleep like that? It seems like it's almost a drug or something…"

"It's absolutely safe," Anakin reassured her. "I'm not forcing them to sleep, I'm just calming them down, the Force is very soothing. I do it to you all the-" Padme glared at Anakin, "um, never." He pulled her into a deep embrace.

"Don't think you can change the subject that-" His kiss interrupted her, "easily!" She said, his kiss again interrupting her. He pulled her down on to the bed, and rolled on top of her, smiling mischievously. Padme almost lost herself, but suddenly remembered the babies.

"Anakin, I don't feel comfortable doing that in front of them."

"They're asleep!"

"Still…"
"Padme, we are supposed to share a room with them for at least six months. Are you really suggesting we can't be together at all for six months?"

"Well, we'll have some time alone..."

"They are a week old Padme, and sound asleep. The only thing they'll be aware of…is very positive Force energy," he smiled at her, raising his eyebrow.

"That really affects the Force?"

"Everything does," he answered her. He kissed her again, and she gave in to him.

"You're lucky you're so irresistible to me," she said, and then was quiet as they made love for the first time in at least a week.

The next morning, Anakin took over the controls of the ship as they steered into Naboo. Padme was again as nervous as she had been when they brought the babies home on Coruscant for the first time. She had always known it would be difficult to tell her family about this, but the sudden realization that she would actually have to do it was dawning on her. How could she have kept all of this from them? Her mother would not take lightly that her baby girl suddenly had two babies of her own… and her father, well… Anakin would just have to keep his light saber close at hand.

"We're going to have to somehow keep the babies away until I tell them," she thought out loud, and Anakin just nodded, navigating his way through a strangely large number of ships around Naboo.

"Why are so many ships here?" He asked Padme. "Is this normal?"
"Oh Force!" Padme suddenly realized, "I completely forgot what month it was!"

"What?" Anakin asked, confused.

"This is a time of celebration for the Naboo- the biggest holiday we have on the planet. It celebrates the time that Naboo became a democratic world, when the queen was first elected instead of descended from the Royal Family…I'm probably supposed to be here now, how could I forget! I think I'm supposed to make a speech!" Padme's voice kept getting louder, until Anakin put his hand over her mouth.

"Well then," he said calmly, "It's good that we're here." Padme tried to act calm, but her worried eyes betrayed her.

Anakin expertly dodged the ships surrounding them, Padme gasping each time, sure that they would hit one but always aware that Anakin was the best pilot in the galaxy. Suddenly, she realized he was headed in the wrong direction.

"Anakin, don't go to the public spaceport. Go to our own!"

"You have your own spaceport?" He asked, incredulous.

"Um…yes," Padme said, slightly embarrassed.

"I grew up a slave," Anakin said, with no real point but to embarrass her further. "And you have your own family spaceport." He looked at her, and laughed.

"Yeah well it certainly didn't seem to hurt your pride or anything," she said sarcastically.

A voice suddenly came over the ships transmitter. "Landing code please?"

"N6354, A," Padme recited, and Anakin just rolled his eyes.

"Your highness!" The voice said, obviously surprised. "Thank goodness you're safe. Your family will be overjoyed."

"I'm not the queen any more, Tal," Padme replied. "No need for the title."
"The title remains, your highness," the man answered. Then he laughed, "Welcome back Padme."

"It's good to talk to you again old friend," she said. "Could you do me a favor and not tell my family I'm here yet?"

"Well… Sola has already demanded that I let her know if I hear anything from you. I won't tell your parents though, I wouldn't want to- you can deal with that yourself…And who is flying the craft?"

"Anakin Skywalker," she answered, and she smiled at her husband, her hand on his arm.
"Master Skywalker," The man said, obviously familiar with the Jedi, "I wish I could express the thanks of the whole planet for what you have done for the galaxy."

"It's only my duty," Anakin answered, trying hard to be humble. "You're welcome, and I really mean it. I am just honored to be able to help."

"You are cleared. Land safely!"

"Thank you, Tal," Padme said.

"So," Anakin began, "Looks like they heard the news about the war here."

"Of course, it's been a week," Padme muttered.

"You haven't told your parents you're ok?"

"I warned you this would be difficult, Anakin. All communication was cut off from Coruscant, surely you realized that."

"I don't have anyone else that wasn't on that planet, Padme. Who would I have tried to contact? Obi Wan and I were stationed on Coruscant, and the only people I love were safe with me. My family on Tatooine hasn't spoken to me since the… incident there…" Padme smiled at him, feeling what almost qualified as pity for her husband. She felt awful for having brought up the fact that he had no real family left…

But Anakin, if he was at all discouraged, didn't show it.

"Well then," he said, "here's to us!" With that, he flew quickly and easily onto the landing pad. Immediately, Padme saw Sola standing there, her arms crossed. Obviously Tal had contacted her. And she didn't look happy. Padme sighed, knowing she should have found a way to let her family know she was safe.

"Anakin… stay with the babies here. I'll… I'll have to tell Sola now, there's no other way…and then… maybe she could take them for a while- while we tell Mom and Dad."

Anakin nodded, always happy to spend time with his children, and Padme ran off of the ship to embrace her sister.

At first, Sola refused to respond to her sister's hug, but finally, she gave in, tears in her eyes, and hugged Padme tightly. Suddenly, Sola pushed her sister away, angry again.

"Attacks on every senator on Coruscant? Death toll enormous? Clone troops turning on the Republic? You not showing up for an important speech on Naboo? And you didn't even contact us? Do you have any idea how worried we've been, Padme? Mom and Dad are going to be so angry, but so incredibly relieved. They've hardly slept in a week; no one knew if you were safe, we haven't seen you in three years, haven't talked to you in at least a month… for all we knew you were killed Padme."

"I… I know, I'm sorry," was all Padme could manage to say.

"Just be prepared for mom and dad, little sister," Sola said. "I'm so glad to see you again." She gave her another hug, then stepped back to look at her sister. "You look awful, Padme, what did happen to you?"

"Thanks a lot, Sola," Padme frowned.

"That's not what I mean, you look beautiful as always- you know you're the pretty one," Sola laughed. "You just look… so worried… your eyes are older."

"I've been through a lot, Sola. A lot more than I have ever told you," Padme said. She knew she couldn't avoid the truth for much longer.

"You have scars, wounds!"

"Yes, it's been a very stressful time. I've been in several battles I never really told you about… but I'm fine now, and I will explain everything now that the war is over."

"I will never understand you, Senator," Sola smiled at Padme. "I'm just glad you're all right. Later, you'll have to tell me everything you've been through. Let's get you home, for the first time in three years." Sola began to walk out, but Padme put a hand on her sister's arm, and the look Padme gave Sola let the older sister know that something very important had happened.

"What is it, Padme? I knew something else was bothering you. Are you all right? You aren't sick are you?"

"Listen to you," Padme laughed, "You sound like mom… no I'm not sick. I'm fine, in fact… I'm better than I've ever been, Sola."

"If I didn't know you were over-devoted to your job, I'd think you had a boyfriend, little sister."

Padme smiled, almost sheepishly, and her sister knew she had hit the mark.

"Who is it Padme? Who finally got you to forget the politics?"

"First of all, Sola, I did not forget the politics. In fact, they want me to be Chancellor of the New Republic."

"What?" Sola could not believe it. She was happy for her sister, but she knew that meant seeing even less of her. "Congratulations, that's absolutely wonderful… I just wish we could see you more. When you're Chancellor, make a law that the Chancellor must be able to go home every once in a while, ok?" Sola smiled, "So is there a guy, or isn't there?"
"Sola… sit down."

"This must be serious then," Sola now looked concerned.

"Sola, the reason I look different to you is because I'm bigger- I'm still carrying weight from… from when I was…um…" Suddenly, Padme couldn't bring herself to tell her. She had never been unable to speak before; she was famous for her convincing speeches to politicians, and this was just her sister. But how could she tell her older sister, in whom she had confided everything since she was a little girl, that she had kept something so huge from her.

Luckily, Sola, having given birth twice herself, suddenly knew exactly what Padme was talking about.

"You were pregnant, Padme?" Sola said quietly, and, clearly ignorant of Padme's marriage, couldn't hide the disappointment in her voice. "As a senator? No wonder you look stressed. Padme, what were you thinking? They didn't kick you out of office did they? Why do I even care about that, how are you? Who is the father, does he even know? You never even told me you slept with anyone recently Padme, how could you keep this from me? I'll even give you that I understand being afraid to tell mom and dad, but how could you not tell me? You know I would have helped you. I can't even believe this Padme, it's very irresponsible. You were so successful…"

Padme, though she knew that in seconds it would all be cleared up, couldn't help but be hurt by her sister's comments. However, it amused Padme how much Sola had started to sound like a mother now that Ryoo and Pooja were a little older.

"Sola, you've begun to sound so much like mom," Padme said.

"Well, apparently you had better start to as well," said Sola, standing up and looking away from Padme. "You're my baby sister Padme, this is so hard to believe…How could you let this happen to yourself?" Suddenly, Sola realized the absence of the baby they had been talking about. "Where is your baby, anyway? You kept it, didn't you?"

Now Padme laughed, she couldn't help it.

"How is this funny, Padme?"

"Sola, my babies are on the ship."

"Babies?"

"Twins, a boy and a girl. Luke and Leia. And their father is on the ship with them... We're married, Sola."
"What?" Now Sola really couldn't believe it. She stood silently for what seemed like hours. She didn't know if this was better or worse than before. "You got married and you didn't tell me, then you had two babies and didn't tell me, and now you're hiding them on the ship as if they're some huge secret?"

"Well how would you have reacted if I walked off the ship with two babies?"
"I suppose I see your point there… but who is he Padme, I can't stand this anymore, just, please, be honest and tell me everything."

"Sola," Padme said, putting her hand on her sister's shoulder. "The reason I couldn't tell you, or anyone, is because my marriage was illegal up until a week ago. It would have created enormous problems on Coruscant, and throughout the galaxy." Sola turned to her, utterly confused.

"Illegal? By what law?"

Padme paused, then looked into her sister's face. "By the Jedi code." Padme paused, letting Sola take this in. "My husband… you know him Sola. It's Anakin Skywalker."

Sola was silent for a long time. She turned to Padme, and suddenly gave her a big smile.

"Padme, he's the hero of the galaxy! That's… that's every girls dream now, you know, my own daughters have already decided they will marry Anakin Skywalker when they're older- imagine their shock when Aunt Padme already has… I hope you realize that everyone in the galaxy loves him…" Sola laughed. "I knew you had feelings for him, I could tell when we met him three years ago. He was infatuated with you, but of course I thought nothing could happen because of the code. I never would have expected you to break the laws."

Padme smiled at her sister. "The code has been changed now, because of Anakin and me. Because he saved the galaxy and sacrificed himself even with emotional attachments… he proved that love can be good thing for a Jedi, and they changed it."

"But I can't believe that you of all people would have married illegally."

"You should understand, Sola. Love cannot be ignored," Padme smiled, her love for Anakin twinkling in her eyes.

"You really, really love him Padme, don't you? I can't believe I couldn't tell…Well, let him out of that ship, I want to see him again! I've wanted to meet him again anyway, due to his incredible work as a Jedi, but now to find out he's my brother in law… You're lucky, Padme, he seems wonderful."

"He is," Padme smiled. She walked up to the entrance of the ship, and smiled as she saw Anakin had fallen asleep in his chair with the babies also sleeping in his arms. She walked over and kissed him, and he woke up.

"Sola knows," she said. "And she's very happy for us, now that I've explained everything. Come out and meet her again. She can't wait to see you, and to meet her niece and nephew."

Sola couldn't prevent the tears from forming in her eyes as she saw her sister walk out of the ship with Anakin Skywalker and two tiny babies, one in each parent's arm. She rushed over to them, enamored of her niece and nephew.

"Padme," Sola started, then was at a loss for words.

"This is Luke," Padme said, "and this is Leia."

"They're beautiful, Padme. I can't believe you're a mother, you're supposed to be the baby, not have babies of your own!"

Padme smiled. "And this," she said, "As you must remember, is Anakin."

Sola looked up at the Jedi Master in front of her, almost in awe of the whole situation. She couldn't believe her sister was married to a Jedi Knight, for so long it had been illegal. Looking at the older and wiser Anakin, she couldn't help but understand Padme's physical attraction to him. She laughed to herself at this thought. Anakin held out a hand to shake hers, but she instead rushed to give him a hug. "It's a pleasure to see you again, Master Skywalker. The last time I saw you, you were just a young Padawan."

"Please, m'lady," Anakin said. "Please, call me Anakin. We're family!" Sola's hug had felt so nice to Anakin-to finally have family to call his own, people to care about and spend time with just to be together was more than he could have ever hoped for. It was amazing to be loved by someone other than Padme and the Jedi, to be cared about simply as a person and not as a warrior.

"Of course, Anakin. And call me Sola. Anakin… thank you for all that you've done for the galaxy, it's just amazing. Have you two even seen the Holo Net lately? Anakin's everywhere, so is Obi Wan Kenobi…"

"We actually haven't," Padme said. "We were in the middle of it all, we didn't need to be reminded by the Holo Net…"

Anakin put his arm around Padme, on the side with the mechanical hand, and Sola noticed it. "Anakin, what happened to your hand?" She gasped.

"Count Dooku cut it off," he told her.

Sola gasped.

"Yes- he was stronger that time, but it's ok, I killed him just recently," Anakin said, obviously happy with his revenge.

"Anakin, enjoying revenge is not the Jedi way," Padme told him. Sola just stared at him, opened mouthed.

"Um, thank you Master," Anakin joked. Padme leaned in to him, the only form of hug she could give since they both had a baby in their arms. He kissed her, and they looked in to each other's eyes lovingly.

"You two really are in love," Sola smiled. "Now I really believe you Padme. How long have you been married?"

"Well, prepare yourself for this," Padme paused, "three years."

"What?" Sola was again shocked, but got over it more quickly this time. "Wow. Have fun explaining that to mom and dad."

"Actually, we were wondering if you would watch Luke and Leia for us so we can tell them… then of course I want everyone together so that I can tell you what else has happened to me. It's been extremely emotional and intense. I'm sure I can give you a better report than the Holo Net, and there are several matters to discuss in terms of reorganizing the galaxy and the continuing battles on the Outer Rim. It's imperative that you all understand what's going on," Padme said.

"Padme, I'm your sister, not the Senate," Sola said. "Do you ever get to be just Padme anymore?"

"Of course," Padme smiled warmly. "I've just gotten used to being professional with everyone but Anakin, we tried so hard to cover up our relationship and act businesslike…We have a lot to catch up on, Sola, including seeing my brother in law and nieces again. Where are they?"

"At home. They will be incredibly excited to see their cousins," Sola said. "And Anakin, you're going to have two little girls following you around everywhere, I hope you're prepared. You're a hero to them."

"Please, don't bolster his confidence any more, he doesn't need it," Padme teased Anakin, and Anakin tried to look nonchalant as if Sola's words hadn't made him over-proud.

Sola laughed. "We'll all come over later, hopefully mom and dad will take the news… well… non-violently."

"It's ok," Padme said, "they can't beat Anakin, so it would be silly to try." She smiled at him. "See, I do compliment you sometimes."

"I would never hurt your family, Padme. I'd let them kill me first," he said, then thought for a second. "Well… maybe I would defend myself a little."

They all laughed, and Sola agreed to take the babies to her home. Sola took the babies and the babies' luggage, and Padme and Anakin took their own luggage and walked across the fields to The Naberrie house, hand in hand, ready to face the hardest battle yet- confessing their relationship to Padme's parents.