a/n: Thanx for the reviews! Here is Part III of Family Time. I think I'll probably only write one more part for this story, but thanx to all of you who have made writing this story worthwhile by reviewing it. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Enjoy!
Family Time
by Jedi Princess Jainakin
Part III: Lakeside Fun
The lunch was far from quiet and very enjoyable. Luke and Leia spent most of the time giggling about their father. Anakin didn't mind; he loved hearing his children laugh. Padmé sat back and enjoyed the scene before her. She loved watching her family interact together; it brought a sense of peace, security, and serenity with it. When she first met Anakin all those years ago, she wouldn't have imagined that they would find themselves here, together, with two wonderful children. But as she looked at her small family, she couldn't help but smile and thank the Force for bringing them together. Anakin caught her gaze and he smiled at her, he was thinking the same thing as her.
After lunch, Anakin and Padmé sat back and watched their children romp and play in the field around them. The twins were fascinated by the wonders of the meadow and explored every bit of it they could. Every once in a while, they would return to their parents with some new discovery to show them. Leia would often bring her mother some new flower she had discovered and Padmé would tell her what it was and thank her for it. Luke would run up to his father and proudly display a new small animal or insect he had found. Anakin would chuckle to himself and tell his son everything he knew about whatever he held in his hands. The twins listened to everything their parents said to them with rapt attention and absorbed every word. They loved it when their parents shared their knowledge with them.
After spending an hour in the meadow, Padmé and Anakin called their children back so they could head back and get ready to spend some time down by the lake.
Once down by the lake, Padmé was content to just sit and watch Anakin play with the twins. They ran along the shore and played in the water. Luke and Leia weren't the best swimmers, but Anakin patiently helped them. One at a time, Anakin would take his children into the water and hold them afloat. Then he would tell them what to do and let them go. The children would struggle a little, but eventually they would get the hang of it and manage to swim, though a bit awkwardly. Anakin happily beamed at them whenever they succeeded and congratulated them on a job well done. Luke and Leia loved this praise from their father; they always wanted to please him and they tried their best to listen to what he said.
"There you go Leia, that's the way," Anakin proudly told his daughter as she attempted to swim. "Good boy Luke, good job," Anakin congratulated his son as Luke managed to swim a short distance. Anakin was proud of his children. What they were trying to do wasn't easy and more often than not, resulted in failure. But both of his children were strong-willed and determined, like their mother, and refused to give up easily. Anakin's smile brightened at his children's unrelenting spirits. When the twins grew tired of their swimming lessons, Anakin brought them closer to shore and they played around the water's edge. As the day wore on and the sun began to sink below the horizon, Anakin noticed the weary and tired looks on his children's faces. He thought it would be a good time to head back home before Luke and Leia fell asleep. They walked back up to Padmé, the tired twins dragging their feet, to go back. Anakin picked up Luke and carried the basket while Padmé carried the blanket with Leia in her arms. Anakin and Padmé smiled at each other, the sleepy twins in their arms and headed back.