I've been thinking about this fic lately and wanted to write this one-shot out.

Padmé Skywalker, Duchess of Coruscant, had been feeling ill over the last few days. Which was very odd because she was a vampire, and vampires didn't grow ill. They could be weakened from lack of blood, exposure to sunlight, holy water, or prayer. But Padmé was from a strong bloodline, and such things didn't affect her as those who had weaker vampire parentage.

Her symptoms also did not match being weakened. She was feeling nauseated, very tired, and sore in odd places. It almost reminded her of when she was pregnant with the twins . . .

A cold realization ran through her.

She could not be pregnant. There was no way. It was impossible. She was a vampire; Anakin was a vampire. Two vampires could not reproduce. Anakin had still been human when Padmé had gotten pregnant with Luke and Leia. But now . . .

She summoned her Sabé and explained the situation.

"Is it possible that . . . you . . .?" Sabé tailed away.

"No," Padmé said sternly. "I have been absolutely faithful to Anakin. I have never cheated."

Sabé nodded. "There are spells we can perform," she said. "They were the first spells our sisters ever created."

"Get the supplies you need," Padmé whispered as she pressed a hand to her stomach. "But keep this discreet."

They performed the spell in one of the rooms in the basement, and the results were clear.

Pregnant.

"This can't be," Padmé said. "Summon a midwife, a doctor, anyone. I can't be pregnant."

"What if you are?" Sabé asked, kneeling beside her and taking her hands. "What if it is possible? Anakin is more than just a vampire. He's a Sith."

Padmé was all too aware of what her husband was and the power he wielded, but was this one of them?

"Look through Sidious' texts on the Sith," Padmé said. "See if there are any mentions of Sith being able to have children with vampires."

"That may be hard," Sabé said. "We've handed all documents about the Sith over to your husband."

A lump formed in Padmé's throat. There would be no way to look at those without alerting Anakin.

"Get the midwife and the doctor. Let's see what they say," Padmé said.

The results were the same. Padmé was pregnant.

"Anakin?"

Padmé had just helped put the twins to bed. Anakin was sitting at the desk in the study looking over various papers. He was only wearing his white shirt as his coat and vest had long since been thrown over the back of an empty chair. His necktie was missing and the top few bottoms of his shirt were undone giving her a nice view of his chest.

He paused in his work and looked up at her. He immediately smiled, stood up, and opened her arms. She quickened her strides and stepped into his embrace. Strong arms circled around her as she slid her own arms around him. She rested her head against him and took a moment to savor his smell. He left a few small soft kisses on her forehead.

"Sorry I have been so busy," he muttered.

"I understand," she murmured back.

It had only been a year since Palpatine's death, and the two of them still had a lot of work to do in not just securing Palpatine's dukedom but also his vampire empire. There were plenty who had not accepted Vader and Amidala's rule and had splintered off. The new rulers of the vampires let the groups go if they went quietly, but those who challenged them and fought against them would be dealt with. Anakin was dealing with one such group and it had consumed a lot of his time.

"Anakin," she said again as she finally stepped away from him. "I need a favor."

"Anything," he said without hesitation.

Padmé smiled. Her love was always eager to make her happy.

"I want you to command me to tell the truth," she said.

He blinked. Then his brows furrowed. "What?" he asked. "Why would I ever do that? Do you not think I trust you? Padmé, I trust you."

He stepped forward and gently grabbed both of her upper arms.

"I know you do," she said. Her heart was squeezing in pain. "But please, I need you to do this."

"Why?" he asked, searching her eyes.

"It will make sense afterward, but I need this from you."

They stood there for a long moment. She didn't look away from him, though she was tempted. Then finally he gave the smallest of nods.

"Padmé . . . -Tell me the truth.-"

She closed her eyes as she felt the command settle over her. She had only experienced this once before when she had begged him to do it. She'd been curious; she'd wanted to know what it was like. He had been so reluctant, just as he was now.

"Anakin," she said as she looked up at him. "I'm pregnant."

At first, there was nothing. He just stared unmoving as he processed what she had said. Then his eyebrows rose, his grip on her arms slackened, and his mouth parted a small bit. His face then scrunched up he realized what she had said.

"It's yours," she quickly added. "It had to be yours. I don't know how, but I have never been unfaithful."

"Of course," he said softly. His voice sounded distant. "Is this why you wanted me to command you to tell the truth? Did you really think I wouldn't believe you?"

She smiled weakly. "Anakin, two vampires can't have children. I . . . I feared you would suspect I had . . ."

"Never," he said. His voice was strong. "I would never suspect you of such a thing, Padmé. I know you. I love you."

His grip tightened and he pulled her to her. Their bodies were flushed and she looked up at him.

"If you are pregnant with my child, this must be a blessing," he said.

"Ani, we're vampires. We don't get blessings. And if we do, they hurt us."

"Then it's a miracle," he said.

"What if it has to do with you being a Sith?" she asked.

"It could be. I don't recall anything mentioning such a thing. But . . ." He leaned down and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. "I am so happy." He pressed his forehead against hers. She placed her hands on her cheeks and pulled his lips towards hers.

"I am happy too," she said. She meant it. She could feel the worry and anxiety leaving her. She could finally be excited about having a new baby with the love of her life.

"It's a boy," Padmé heard someone say.

Her heart was pounding in her ears and her breathing was hard and ragged from giving birth. But she couldn't help but smile as she heard the wail of a baby. Someone pressed a fresh cold cloth against her head.

"You did great."

Sabé. That was Sabé. Always by her side.

"Please, let me see him," she said.

She held up her hands and noticed the worried look everyone exchanged. A pang of fear ran through her.

"Let me see him," she said as she sat up ignoring the pain.

"You heard her."

Anakin. Anakin's voice.

He had been sitting by her side and holding her hand. Now he stood up and collected the crying little bundle. He paused and smiled down at it before he walked over and lowered it slowly into Padmé's arms. At once, she pulled the precious child to her chest. She looked down at the pink face all scrunched up.

"There, there," she cooed softly.

The baby started to calm down. Big watery eyes looked up at her, and she smiled. A wave of emotion struck her suddenly, and tears formed in her eyes. It was Anakin who dabbed a cold cloth against her cheeks to catch the tears.

"It's ok," he whispered.

He knew; he understood. The last time she had given birth, she had never gotten to hold her babies. She had barely seen them before they were taken away. But this time . . . she held the baby a little tighter . . . this time, it would be better.

Anakin sat beside her on the bed and wrapped his arm around her. She finally relaxed and he helped her lean back onto the stack of pillows that sat against the headboard. They stayed like that undisturbed for a short while.

"My lady," someone said. "You must get ready to do the afterbirth."

Padmé sighed.

"It's almost over," Anakin whispered as he kissed her sweaty head.

He gently took the baby from her arms.

"I'm going to take him to meet his siblings," he explained as he reassured her he wasn't stealing the baby. "I'll be back soon."

She nodded, but she couldn't take his eyes off of him as he walked to the door. A handmaiden opened and shut it, but even through the closed door, Padmé could hear Luke and Leia's voices.

"It's a boy!"

"It's so red!"

"It's so tiny!"

"Can I hold him, Papa?"

"No, not yet," Anakin said.

Padmé smiled despite the pain and the soreness and how tired she was.

Padmé sat in the rocking chair as she watched her husband change the baby. The three were alone in the nursery. No handmaidens, no servants, no wet nurse. It was just them. Anakin was a natural at taking care of a baby. He had, after all, done the same for Luke, and his experience was obvious. She was a bit jealous of how he knew more about caring for a baby than she did, since she had never had the chance to care for either of the twins.

"You don't have to do that," Padmé said.

Anakin looked over his shoulder and flashed a smile. "I don't mind," he said looking back at the baby and finished pinning the nappy on.

She knew that was true. He truly didn't mind. In fact, he wanted to be involved. How had she gotten so lucky? Most fathers, especially those of the upper class, were rarely involved in caring for the children. Even the mothers were the same having delegated care of the children to the nannies and governesses.

Anakin walked over carrying his son and passed him back into her arms. She gave the baby a small kiss before she started to rock.

"I never did find any information regarding Sith having children with a vampire," Anakin said. "Not even my scholars found anything. They even searched the Jedi archives back in London."

"Scholars?"

Anakin shrugged. "Sidious had a few. Vampire scholars."

Silence fell between them. She didn't want to think or talk of Sidious.

"I wonder though," Anakin said, "what Jonin will be."

They had picked the name Jonin as a mixture between the names John and Jinn. Anakin would never allow his son to be named after a Jedi, but Qui-Gon Jinn had been the one that had brought Anakin and Padmé together. Despite being a Jedi, he had been nothing but kind to the two of them.

"What he will be?" Padmé asked.

"A child born of vampire and human parents is a dhampir. What makes a child of a vampire and a vampire? Is he a vampire?"

"Well, he certainly nurses like a human baby," Padmé chuckled. "But I suppose if he grows sharp little teeth, we shouldn't be surprised? Is that what you're saying?"

"I don't know," he said. "I guess we should be ready for anything. But . . ." He leaned down and gave the baby a kiss and then kissed her on the cheek. "It doesn't matter what he is. He'll be loved no matter what."

Padmé smiled as she looked down at her son who was nodding off to sleep. Anakin was right. No matter what, this little baby would be loved.