Anakin was granted leave to stay with Padmé during the entirety of her pregnancy. Luke and Leia were worried about both of their parents and during the month away from the Jedi Temple, Luke and Leia formed a stronger bond. Han Solo worked with Luke on various speeder projects whereas Leia spent time with Padmé discussing the senate and their various procedures. Her Master Gallia approved of this time spent, the Jedi council were concerned about Anakin he had formed a deep attachment to Padmé and they were worried about him succumbing, but Obi-Wan knew that even if Anakin were to lose Padmé that he wouldn't leave the Jedi Order or his children. Mara Jade was worried for her master but the training never ceased and though he seemed depressed he never took it out on her.

Anakin did his best to supplement his healing to Padmé's ever weakening heart, but it was proving difficult especially since the child was growing stronger.

"Ani, have you decided on a name yet?" Padmé whispered as his love comforted her with deep caresses.

"No." he curtly replied.

"How about the name A' Marie if it's a girl."

"How on earth can you be discussing names, Padmé?" Anakin suddenly jumped up as he ran his hand through his thick blond locks.

"Anakin Skywalker! I don't believe this! The child will need to be named."

"I know Padmé it's just you are dying and there's not a damn thing I can do about it, except to comfort you and help with your pain."

"Just because I'm dying doesn't mean that you can stop living. Look at you, you haven't slept in weeks and those meditations haven't helped at all. You have grown distant, grumpy, and seemingly angrier here lately. Like you were those few weeks before Darth Sidious was defeated. I won't lose you Anakin, I need you and so does your family, stop dwelling in that dark place you've constructed. It isn't helping; even Mara has been noticing the difference."

"What has she said?" Anakin yelled.

"Nothing and she doesn't have to, she's worried about you, you've cut off the training bond with her and she sometimes feels that all you do is seeing her mistakes and none of her successes. You need to snap out of it and accept the inevitable, Anakin. I will always be with you and I will always love you." Padmé hugged her husband as he dropped his resolve and cried as he did when he was a young boy. He clung onto Padmé as the truth became evident in his conscience. He finally accepted Padmé's death, though it was the hardest thing he ever had to do. He would do everything to make her last days as pleasant and wonderful as possible. He even touched the mind of his unborn daughter and she responded eagerly to his touch. "A' Marie will be just fine." Anakin smiled.

"She's a girl?"

"Yes, milady."

Padmé smiled and hugged Anakin, he picked her up and carried her off to bed gently easing her down and curled up next to her.

Mara Jade was mediating near the large tree and stream when she felt Anakin's approach, she tested the bond and it had returned he was himself again. The darkness had been banished for the time being, he had felt extremely cold to her touch. He had been overly critical, harsh, and very stern. Mara did her best during that time to not make any mistakes so he would turn his cold blue eyes upon her. Anakin offered Mara a beautiful white rose as he knelt down beside his padawan.

"Master?"

"I've been a complete fool, Mara. I'm sorry that I've been distant."

"Distant? You've been cold, harsh, and incredibly short-tempered even for you." Mara laughed at that last remark.

Anakin knew she was right and allowed her to express her feelings.

"I've found warmer caverns on the ice planet Hoth then with you recently!" Mara exclaimed.

Anakin sighed deeply, Mara was right. Even a small piece offering as a white rose wasn't really enough. It would take time for Mara's trust to build back to the levels they had previously.

At the Jedi Temple, Barriss Offee was meditating as per Yoda's request to find a way to help Padmé with her heart trouble. He told her that Padmé would die if there wasn't a way to help the wife of the Chosen One. Even though Barriss felt badly for Padmé and Anakin both, she felt also that if he hadn't married her in the first place and broke one of most sacred tenets of the code, then this would not be necessary. But Master Yoda saw in the future and knew that both Luke and Leia would become very important to the survival of the Republic and even the Jedi Order itself. He didn't know why yet, he knew that Anakin wasn't in danger to falling to the Dark side, but something was happening just out of Yoda's reach. Even the unborn child would have an integral part to play.

The only solution that Barriss could think of was really unthinkable and she certainly didn't think that Master Skywalker would go for it, but when she explained it to Master Yoda he would have to concur.

Author's Note:First I must I have received a half of dozen emails pleading for me not to kill Padmé. Hopefully what I have planned for her will be a compromise. But I'm still not going to tell you what that idea is yet. Thank you for your support of this story. DarthGladiator45