Chapter 2: What If

Padmè was helping Beru out with lunch when the young wife shooed her out of the kitchen. "Go spend time with the children. I'll call you when it's ready," she insisted. As if on cue, Luke and Leia started to cry. She walked down the hall and went into her room.

"My little darlings," she cooed.

She picked Luke up and gave him a gentle smile. "Well good afternoon to you too, sleepy head," she laughed. She tickled Luke's belly before picking Leia up. "Lunch time for the two of you," she observed. She sat down and then when her twins were fed, she placed them on the floor on their little blanket that Beru bought for them one day in town. She played with Luke and Leia with a big smile. She saw that Leia was getting her brown hair and her eyes, Luke was getting Anakin's hair and eyes. She had lost all thought of Vader; her mind was focused on her children. Beru came into the room to see Padmè playing a hand game with the twins.

"Padmè, lunch is ready," she informed.

"All right, I'll be there in a minute."

She picked Luke and Leia up from the floor and placed them into their crib. "Sweet dreams, my children," she whispered. Padmè placed a kiss on the top of their heads before leaving. However, she stopped when she found an image of her beloved Anakin before he became a Jedi Knight after their wedding. She picked it up and saw that he was practicing his lightsaber techniques. She picked it up and decided to skip lunch to stand outside to look at the stars.

Once she reached the outside, the afternoon wind blew her hair into her face. Padmè pushed her hair back before pushing back the tears.

(Lyrics to What If)

She sighed as she sat down in the sand with her back against the house. Tears began to make their way down her cheeks. She had her arms wrapped around herself and her head buried into her lap. She cried with sadness that remained in her heart. "Padmè," Obi-Wan called. He saw her leaning against the house crying. "Padmè," he whispered. He sat next to her and placed an arm around her shoulders. She leaned against him and cried. Obi-Wan said nothing; he just comforted her the best he could.

(Lyrics)

"Do you think it would have been different if I hadn't married him, Obi-Wan?" She asked. He looked at her and shook his head.

"It wouldn't have changed anything. He would have still been thrown to the Dark Side. It's not your fault, Padmè; it's Palpatine's doing. He's the one that had Anakin turn. I had to get you and the children away from him before it was too late," he answered.

She nodded to him before placing her head on his shoulder. "You've been a loyal friend, thank you," she whispered. He held her to him while looking at the sky.

"You're welcome," he sighed.

(Lyrics)

That evening, Padmè was looking over the gowns that she brought with her when she found the dress she wore in the fireplace room at Lake Retreat. "To think that was only three years ago," she whispered to herself. She leaned against the wall and slid to the floor while holding the dress close to her.

(Flash Back)

Padmè and Anakin were sitting in the fireplace room talking when they realized that they were too close. She looked away from him until he began to speak. "From the moment I met you...all those years ago...not a day has gone by when I haven't thought of you. And now that I'm with you again...I'm in agony. The closer I get to you the worse it gets. The thought of not being with you...I can't breathe. I'm haunted by the kiss that you should never have given me. My heart is beating...hoping that kiss won't become a scar. You're in my very soul...tormenting me. What can I do? I will do anything that you ask," he explained. Padmè didn't answer him and he began to speak again. "If you're suffering as much as I am please tell me," he begged.

"I can't. We can't. It's...just not possible," she denied.

"Anything is possible, Padmè listen to me."

"No you listen. We live in a real world," Padmè snapped as she stood up, "Come back to it. You're studying to become a Jedi I'm---I'm a Senator. If you follow your thoughts through to conclusion...it'll take us to a place we cannot go...regardless the way we feel about each other."

"Then you do feel something."

"I will not let you give up your future for me."

Anakin stood up and began to walk towards her. "You're asking me to be rational. That is something I know I cannot do. Believe me I wish I could just wish away my feelings, but I can't," he snapped.

"I will not give into this," she argued.

Anakin began to leave the room before looking back at her. "You know, it wouldn't have to be that way. We could keep it a secret," he suggested.

"We'd be living a lie...one we couldn't keep even if we wanted to. I couldn't do that. Could you, Anakin. Could you live like that?" She asked.

Anakin shook his head in response. "No. You're right. It would destroy us," he answered.

(End Flash Back)

(Lyrics)

She looked at the dress one last time before putting it away. She looked down to see Luke and Leia playing with little blocks that Owen made for them. Sabè came in to see her friend looking over the gowns that she was able to bring with her. Luke and Leia were giggling as they built a tall tower with their little blocks. "Padmè, dinner is ready," she informed. Padmè wiped her tears away quickly before answering.

"I'll be there in a few minutes," she answered.

Sabè walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I don't know what it's like to lose a husband, but I do know what it's like to lose someone you love ever so deeply. I lost my parents, don't you remember that? I had to stay with you. You lost your husband, it must be just as painful," she assured. Padmè nodded before following her friend after putting the twins into their little playpen.

While her friends ate, she just played with her food while thinking about Anakin again. Her mind flashed the images of their time together. "Are you an angel?" Those words echoed through her head. The twins began to cry so Padmè took this chance to leave. "Excuse me," she mentioned. They watched as she went to take care of Luke and Leia. Beru got up to speak with her.

(Lyrics)

Padmè and Beru changed Luke and Leia while talking. "It just seems like yesterday that I just met Anakin in Watto's shop," she sighed. Beru held Luke while Padmè sat across from her while holding Leia. "Do you know what Anakin asked me when we first met?" She asked.

"No, what?" Beru answered with another question.

"He asked if I was an angel."

Beru smiled to see that she was finally talking it out. "My son looks like him, you know," she mentioned.

"I know he does. He'll be just as strong as him too," Beru added.

Padmè smiled at Luke and kissed the top of Leia's head. Even if her heart was aching for Anakin, she was living for her children.

(Lyrics)

That night, she placed the twins back into their crib before she crawled into bed. She looked at one of the moons that shined high above her window and the light came through her window and onto her children's crib. "I love you, Luke, Leia," she whispered. Then she fell into a deep sleep, dreaming of Anakin, Luke, and Leia.

(Ending Lyrics)

Author's Note: I hope you have enjoyed this so far. Since this is my first Star Wars fic. Please be kind. Those lyrics by Kate Winslet aren't mine, review please.