Chapter 14: Struggling

Anakin was looking around when he could see the Emperor attacking Padmé. "NO! You said you wouldn't hurt her," he reminded. Only evil laughs and Padmé's screams could be heard. "NO! PADMÉ!" He shouted.


"ANAKIN, HELP ME!" Padmé screamed.

(End Dream)

Anakin woke up from his nightmare and looked over to find Padmé asleep and between them were Luke and Leia. He quietly climbed out of bed and went to the front of the ship.

He looked at the controls and sat down. He placed his head in his hands and thought about all the things he did. He took over so many systems and it was because of the lies he believed from the emperor.

Padmé woke up and saw the twins fast asleep, but no Anakin. "No, not again," she whispered. she got up and went to talk to her husband.

When she came to the bridge, she saw Anakin sitting in the pilot's chair with his head in his hands. "Anakin," she whispered. He lifted his head up and she walked over to him. "Anakin, what's wrong?" She asked.

"Nothing," he lied.

She could see it in his eyes, he couldn't hide it from her. "Anakin, you can tell me, what is it?" She asked. He sighed as he looked over at her.

"Padmé, I had a dream. No, not a dream, a nightmare," he told her.

"About the future?" She asked worriedly.

"No, about the past."

Padmé then put together what her husband was dreaming about. "Don't do this to yourself, Anakin. The emperor is gone, you fulfilled your destiny," she pointed out.

"But I almost lost you in the process," he added.

She placed her hands on his face and he pressed his forehead against hers. Padmé closed her eyes and then a loud beeping sound could be heard from the console. Anakin let her go and walked over to the console. "We've arrived on Naboo," he informed. Padmé smiled and Anakin stood up. "We should get dressed into something more formal," he commented. She nodded before they went to their room to wake their children and to get dressed.

Once the ship landed, Padmé looked over at Anakin to see the hood over his head already. She nodded before placing her hood over her head. The twins were hidden under their cloaks as they walked off the ship.

People were staring at them as they walked by. Anakin walked beside Padmé and she held onto his hand.

Once they arrived at the Naberrie home, Padmé's eyes filled with tears when she saw that her nieces were almost all grown up. Ryoo and Pooja saw them and stood back in fear. "Who are you?" Sola asked. Ruwee and Jobal stood up and Ruwee stood in front of his family.

"What do you want?" He demanded.

Padmé took a step forward and removed her hood. "Hi, dad," she greeted. The Naberrie family looked at her in disbelief.

"Padmé?" Sola asked.

Padmé smiled and then her family embraced her. Padmé hugged them back with a smile on her face. "Padmé...the last time we saw you, you were heavily pregnant," Sola commented. Padmé nodded and lifted her cloak up to reveal Leia.

"Padmé, she's beautiful," Jobal commented.

"That's not all," Padmé added.

Anakin stepped forward and removed his hood. "Vader!" They gasped. Padmé quickly stood beside Anakin and held onto his hand.

"No, he's not Vader, he's Anakin again, I promise," she assured them.

"How do we know he won't turn on us?" Ryoo asked.

"He saved our lives," Padmé replied.

Anakin lifted his cloak up to reveal Luke. "This is Luke and that's Leia. The day I gave birth I found out I was carrying twins," Padmé informed. Jobal walked over to them.

"Come inside, we'll have a long talk about this. These two must be exhausted," she commented.

Padmé handed Leia over to her and then she picked Luke up and they went inside.

(That Night)

Anakin and Padmé were in Padmé's old room when Padmé saw her husband by the window. "Ani, are you okay?" She asked. Anakin turned and looked at her.

"I'm just a little distracted," he replied.

"You've been distracted all day today," she commented.

Anakin nodded and continued to stare out the window. The memories of what almost happened to Padmé and their children. Padmé knew what was bothering him and stood beside him. No words were said, Anakin just wrapped his arms around her and tucked her head under his chin as she leaned against him. All Anakin did was hold her and that's all she wanted him to do.