Chapter 7: The Argument

Over the next week, Anakin and Padmé took joy in each others arms and talked about how their lives would change with their soon to be new addition. Wanting to get out of the apartment and away from Coruscant before they returned to their normal routine, the young couple planned a trip to Naboo. Not only would they be able to relax and enjoy the stunning vistas of Naboo's landscape, but they also would be able to share their news with Padmé's family.

Anakin landed the Nubian cruiser they had taken from Coruscant in a private landing area in the city of Theed. As a Senator for the planet, Padmé did garner some perks from her office and the private landing strip was one of them. It gave them some privacy and some protection when traveling planet side.

Anakin and Padmé disembarked the cruiser together hand in hand on their way to her parents' home for a short visit. When the couple made it to the bottom of the exit ramp, Anakin turned back to look up at the top of the ship where both R2D2 and C3P0 were making their descent. "You two. Get a speeder and make your way to the retreat. We will meet you there later tonight." Anakin instructed.

"Yes, Master Anakin." C3P0 said cheerily, while R2D2 beeped sadly in acknowledgement.

Padmé looked at her crestfallen droid and replied, "Pooja and Ryoo won't be there R2. They had school today and are back at their own home. You can see them another time."

Although the little droid still moved around slowly as if he was depressed by this news, he beeped a little more cheerily before following C3P0 after he said, "Come along R2." Anakin and Padmé turned away from them and started to make their way out of the hangar.

"He certainly does love your nieces." Anakin stated as he glanced back at the retreating droids.

"Yes he does, and they love him too. I think they will be more upset that they did not get to see him if they found out we were here. They love to chase him around the house."

"Well, we won't be here that long, this is only a short visit."

"Do you think that will matter to two young girls?"

"Well, um…"

Padmé smiled at her husband as she said, "You will learn a lot with our own little one."

Anakin just squeezed Padmé's hand affectionately and gave her a roguish smile as they came up to the Naberrie residence.

The couple did not have a chance to knock on the door before it swung open and Padmé's parents, Jobal and Ruwee, greeted them jovially. "Welcome home you two!" Then both Padmé and Anakin were separated from one another while they were hugged.

"How are things in the Senate?" Jobal asked her daughter.

"Busy." Padmé responded with a sigh.

"And the Jedi Temple?" Ruwee asked Anakin.

"Busy." Anakin stated.

Jobal and Ruwee both rolled their eyes at their daughter and son-in-law. "This is a very enlightening conversation. You two definitely need a vacation if you can only come up with one word responses." Jobal stated sarcastically.

"We have some news." Padmé stated cheerily, her face lighting up with a smile.

"Oh?" Jobal and Ruwee prodded simultaneously as they shifted their gazes between Anakin and Padmé.

"We can tell you later, first can we get something to eat. I think we both are starving." Padmé stated.

Both Padmé's parents looked at her inquisitively. However, after a moment Jobal just shrugged and said, "Come on in, lunch is ready."

Anakin and Padmé entered the Naberrie house behind her parents and made their way to the dining room. Anakin pulled out Padmé's chair and helped her get seated before he seated himself to her right. Jobal had laid everything out on the table before they had arrived, so they could serve themselves. A variety of meats and cheeses as well as a garden salad were laid before them.

As everyone began eating, Padmé struck up an idle conversation with her parents while Anakin remained silent by her side. It was not that he did not have anything to say, but he did not know what to say. Padmé's parents were fully aware that he had once been Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith, and it seemed awkward to talk to them. They had been very accepting of him and had never mentioned his past, but he feared how they would react if they ever found out the details, particularly details concerning Padmé.

Before he had fallen in love with her, he had physically and mentally abused Padmé and had almost taken her life. After all the horrors he put her through he often felt he did not deserve her love and that she could easily leave him. Anakin seriously worried that if her parents ever became aware of the things he had done to their daughter before their marriage, they would find some way to separate the two of them. Although Anakin admitted that a separation would be warranted, he could not bear the thought of losing his angel, so he remained fairly silent when in the presence of his in-laws.

"So, Padmé what is the news?" Jobal asked her daughter as they were finishing the meal.

Padmé smiled at her before turning towards Anakin. He took her hand in his and smiled back with a slight nod. Padmé then turned back to her parents and excitedly said, "I'm having a baby!"

Ruwee and Jobal's jaws dropped momentarily and Anakin was worried that they were upset by this news, but they soon leapt to their feet and came around the table to hug Padmé and then him.

"Congratulations! When are you due?" Jobal asked.

"Not for a while, I just got pregnant."

"Then how do you know that you are?" Ruwee asked skeptically.

Anakin fidgeted nervously remembering how he mistook his unborn child for an intruder. Padmé saw Anakin's look of uneasiness and answered, "Well, it is a long story, but basically Anakin could feel the Force presence of the baby."

Ruwee slapped Anakin jovially on the back, "Who knew Jedi abilities could have such a practical use." Anakin just smiled in response before Ruwee posed another question. "So, have you two started making plans for when the baby is born?"

"A little. We know we need to get a bigger place, our apartment is too small." Padmé answered stepping up to Anakin and holding him close. She could tell that he was a little uneasy and thought that her presence might soothe him.

"What about Varykino, it has enough room for a growing family."

Padmé scoffed at this, "It is the family retreat, not a family residence."

"You and Anakin are the only ones who use it. It might as well be your home." Jobal countered.

"But we work on Coruscant, it does not make sense to live on Naboo."

"You are going to continue working?" Ruwee asked.

"Yes, why not?" Padmé asked.

"Nothing, it's just like you said, life as a Senator and Jedi are busy."

Padmé shrugged, "We will find a way to manage."

"Yes, that is something the two of you will need to discuss." Jobal reiterated before dropping the serious tone and smiling once more, "I am so happy for the both of you." Jobal then hugged her daughter once more.

Ruwee and Anakin gazed at each other pleasantly, seemingly oblivious to the chatter of the women between them. After a little while, Anakin gazed up at a chrono on the wall and realized that they needed to think about leaving if they were going to get to Varykino at a decent hour. He leaned down towards Padmé to whisper in her ear, "Time to go."

Padmé glanced up at the chrono and softly said, "I know." Then she turned back to her parents and said, "I would love to stay and talk with you all day, but Anakin and I need to be leaving if we are going to make it to Varykino."

"Of course." Jobal and Ruwee said simultaneously as they showed the young couple to the door.

"Enjoy your vacation." Jobal said waving at the young couple as they exited the home. "Come back to see us when you have a chance and let us know how the baby is doing."

"We will mother." Padmé called out as she slipped her hand in Anakin's.

"Take care you two." Ruwee added.

Both Anakin and Padmé turned and waved back at them in response before leaving to return to their cruiser. If this had been a longer trip to Naboo, they would have left the cruiser and taken a speeder to Varykino, but since they only had time to spend a few days at the retreat, they were taking the cruiser with them so that they could maximize their time there. They had sent R2D2 and C3P0 ahead of them so that they could unpack some of their belongings and make sure the retreat was ready for them when they arrived. Their vacation time was precious and Anakin and Padmé wanted to savor every second of it.


With their cruiser parked safely a fair distance from the retreat, Anakin and Padmé were able to relax and enjoy the solitude of the vacation home. After a candlelit supper courtesy of their two droids, the young couple had retreated to gaze at the evening sky. Padmé had on a simple baby blue v-neck dress. The fabric was a lightweight material that clung to the curves of her body. Additionally, there was a cutout in the dress that exposed her taut midriff.

Padmé was leaning against the railing of an outdoor balcony and gazing at the sky while Anakin stood behind her. He was wearing a light pair of slacks and a gauzy long sleeve shirt both in beige. He had his left arm wrapped around Padmé with his hand on her exposed abdomen while his other one rested on the railing of the balcony next to her. Periodically he would nuzzle her neck before turning his gaze to the stars as well.

"You do not have to be so quiet around my parents." Padmé stated softly.

Anakin sighed, "I just don't know what to say."

"Just be yourself."

"It is just awkward because of my past. I suspect they might reject me."

"They won't." Padmé said lacing the fingers of her right hand with the hand Anakin had on her midriff. "And if they did it would not matter because I love you. Your past does not matter to me, I only care about our future."

Anakin kissed her neck as he said, "I don't deserve you, my angel. You are so forgiving."

"If you do not deserve me, then I do not deserve you. You are the father of my child and my reason for living. I love you." Padmé tilted her head back and Anakin and her shared a brief kiss before returning their gaze to the stars above them.

Anakin could not thank the gods enough for bringing him the beautiful woman in his arms. He was truly blessed to have found her and to be with her. She had led him from darkness and was a constant bright spot in his life today. As he continued to hold Padmé in his arms his thoughts drifted away from her and to their new baby. Their lives would change once the child was born. As he contemplated this he considered the conversation Padmé's parents had started.

"Do you want someone else to watch over our baby?" Anakin asked breaking the silence between them.

"No, I will watch over it." Padmé stated.

"Then you will have to resign your post as Senator."

"What! Why?" Padmé asked indignantly.

Anakin could feel Padmé tense in his arms and he tried to speak soothingly to calm her down, "It is just as a Jedi and a Senator our lives are very busy. We spend a lot of time away from home. If we are both to continue our duties we will have to find someone to help care for the baby."

"I am not letting a stranger raise our child." Padmé said with irritation.

"I know my angel, so you do need to consider your resignation."

"Why do I have to resign, why can't you quit being a Jedi?" Padmé asked angrily as she turned around to face her husband.

"I will if that is what you want." Anakin stated trying to diffuse the situation as Padmé pushed him away from her.

"I can't believe you asked me to resign!" Padmé yelled at him fury flashing in her eyes as she completely ignored what he just said.

"Look, I just thought you would want to stay home with the baby." Anakin said, irritation creeping into his voice as well.

If Padmé considered Anakin's words, she would know that they were true, but she was angry that he had just said she should resign without considering resigning himself. As a Jedi his job was very important for the security of the Republic, but Padmé knew that her job was important for the people she served. She was aware that her argument was irrational, but she could not help but let it feed her anger. "I don't know where you get off thinking your job is more important than mine, Jedi Skywalker!" Padmé emphasized his title and name as she yelled back at him.

"I never said that, Senator Amidala!" Anakin retorted his hands resting on his hips and his shoulders tensing in his anger. The two of them glared at one another before Padmé walked away from him and toward the bedroom door. "Where are you going?" Anakin tersely called after her.

"I cannot believe you would say such a thing!" Padmé yelled as she opened the door and entered the bedroom. Anakin followed after her, but the door slammed loudly in front of his face before he could enter. He growled in anger when he heard the lock click.