Anakin was mortified when he realized who he was attacking, but luckily, due to his skill with a saber he was able to disengage it in mid swing so that the deadly blow never connected. He dropped his saber to the ground and quickly drew Padmé into his arms, "Force, I could have killed you."
Padmé just clung to him, trembling and breathing heavily from the fear at what had almost happened. When she had calmed down a bit, she asked, "Wha… what were you doing?"
Behind the couple R2D2 was pushing C3P0 back into their room to give the young lovers some time alone. "No R2, they may need our help. I am programmed to understand humans, not you." The golden droid said irritatingly as he tried to stop the smaller droids insistent nudges.
"It is all right 3P0. We are fine." Padmé reassured the droid over her husband's shoulder. "Please give us some time alone."
"Oh." C3P0 said in surprise. "Come along R2, they wish to be left alone."
If the domed droid had eyes, it would have rolled them. Instead it merely beeped in indignation, "Boop boop boop!"
"Don't get technical with me." C3P0 retorted in response as he walked back into the other room.
Padmé said, "Thank you," before the door to the room closed behind R2D2 who was continuing to angrily beep at his golden counterpart. However, everything was quiet once the door was closed except for the heavy breathing of Anakin who had his arms wrapped around Padmé's petite form. Now that the droids were gone, she turned her attention back to her husband and questioned him once more, "What were you doing?"
"I… I…" Anakin was too startled by his own actions to form a coherent sentence. He took a deep breath to try to calm himself and began again. "I…felt the Force presence of the intruder behind me. I was defending myself; I did not think it was you. Gods, I could have killed you. Why did you come out here? I thought I told you to stay in the bedroom." Anakin finished by hugging Padmé closer to him.
"I was worried about you. Did the intruder get away?"
"I don't know." Anakin shook his head, and then closed his eyes to see if he could sense the presence once again. His eyes snapped open in surprise when he felt the presence had situated itself between him and Padmé.
"What is it?" Padmé asked when Anakin abruptly pulled away from her.
Anakin did not answer her question, but just stared into her eyes dumbfounded. There was no one between them because he was staring straight at her. Anakin closed his eyes once again and tried to get a better read on the strange Force presence.
Concerned by her husband's behavior, Padmé gently placed her left hand against his cheek while she said, "Ani, please tell me. What is going on?"
The Force presence was still faint and difficult to find, but Anakin could still feel it. It felt vaguely familiar, but he was unsure of its identity. It was not until Padmé began to gently stroke the side of his face with her thumb that realization dawned on him.
"What are you doing?" Padmé asked as Anakin began to pull apart the front of her robe. She pulled back from him slightly, unsure of what was going on.
"Do you trust me?" Anakin asked as he grabbed Padmé's wrist to hold her still.
"Yes, but what are you doing?" Padmé asked again as Anakin continued to pull apart her robe.
Padmé had pulled a light blue, shimmersilk nightgown on before leaving the bedroom and Anakin gently placed his palm on her abdomen and called upon the Force once more. Padmé watched as a surprised and delighted smile crossed her husband's face before it faded into horror. "Force, I could have killed all of you." He stated shakily.
"Anakin!" Padmé yelled with irritation at not being told what was happening. However, she softened her tone when he fell to the floor at her feet. "Anakin?"
"Force, I almost…" Anakin trailed off as he sat on the floor with his face in his hands. He was trembling slightly with the terror of what he had almost done.
Padmé knelt down beside him and ran her fingers through his hair before drawing him close to her. When Anakin remained silent and did not explain his erratic behavior she firmly, but at the same time gently asked for enlightenment again, "Anakin, will you please tell me what is going on. What happened to the intruder? I cannot help you through this if you do not talk to me."
Anakin shook his head and said, "There is no intruder." He then dropped his hands into his lap and raised his head to look up at the ceiling, "Gods, I could have…."
Padmé watched as a lone tear trailed down her husband's cheek. She brushed it away with her fingers before firmly grasping his chin and forcing him to look at her. "You did not kill me, so quit beating yourself up about this. Now explain to me, why there is no intruder, I thought you said you felt a strange Force presence?"
Anakin could not deny the chocolate eyes that held him captive for the moment, so he took a deep breath to calm himself before he spoke. "It is faint, and I thought it was someone trying to cloak themselves. There was something familiar about that Force presence, but I was not sure what it was."
"Did you find out?" Padmé asked, her own fear returning at the thought of someone in their home. As a former Sith Lord Anakin had gained numerous enemies after the fall of the Empire, and Padmé shared them as a Senator of the new Republic. Although the galaxy was better off as a free Republic, there had been some people who had prospered under the Emperor's rule who were not happy to see the Empire and their fortunes crumble.
"Yes, it is a mix of you and me." Anakin stated as he gently took Padmé's hand and laid it on her abdomen.
At first, Padmé gave Anakin a perplexed look unsure of what he was talking about, and seriously questioning his sanity. However, after he placed her palm on her stomach and she reassessed what he had said a thought occurred to her.
Anakin smiled at her when, Padmé's eyes widened in shock. "Yes my angel, you are pregnant."
Padmé stared blankly at Anakin, too shocked by what he had said to do anything. She knew he was not lying, obviously he could feel the Force presence that had just formed within her. The strange Force presence was not cloaking itself, it was just not developed enough to give off a significant projection.
The news or her pregnancy did come as a bit of a surprise, a pleasant surprise, but a surprise nonetheless. While Padmé tried to take in this revelation and gather herself, Anakin dropped her hand and turned from her. He had not only almost killed his wife, but his child. He felt horrible at what could have been lost. He should have been more careful.
Padmé noticed her husband's morose behavior and wrapped her arms around him from behind to comfort him. "Aren't you happy?"
"Yes, but I could have killed you and the baby." Anakin said regretfully as he turned his head slightly so he could see Padmé in his peripheral vision.
"But you didn't." Padmé stated lightly giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"But I could have." Anakin stated sadly.
"No you couldn't, you love me too much." Padmé said as she nuzzled the back of his neck.
"Padmé…" Anakin turned to face her to retort her teasing remark, but he was stopped when her lips captured his. Her tongue twined with his and almost wiped out his retort, but he was able to gently push her away so that he could finish his thought. "You saw it yourself, I almost killed you."
Padmé rolled her eyes at her stubborn husband and sighed in exasperation, "Yes, you almost did, but as I keep reminding you, you didn't. We can add it to all the other times you've failed to kill me." She finished with a smile.
"This is not funny." Anakin glared at her.
"No it isn't." Padmé said seriously. "But, you did not mean to kill me, you thought there was a legitimate problem. Even Jedi are allowed to make a mistake, none of us knew last night's homecoming would be eventful." Padmé started to laugh lightly at her final remark.
Anakin could not help the smile that crossed his face as well. He was still unhappy by his actions, but he was also immensely overjoyed by the discovery that he would soon be a father. He could try to be upset by his actions, but Padmé's smile and laughter were infectious and seemed to brighten his mood. Additionally, her forgiveness for his actions also made him feel better. "I love you," he stated.
"I know. Now are you going to quit being upset by this and help me celebrate our new arrival?"
Anakin did not say anything, but pulled Padmé into his arms and rained kisses all over her face before picking her up and taking her back to their bedroom.
