Chapter 25 Padme's Time
"Oh no; I don't believe this. I barely finished all that stuff she wanted about Alderaan, and now this." Zak complained.
"Now what, Padawan?" Obi-Wan asked.
"I have to do a study of all the native plant AND animal species on Naboo;" Zak answered, "does she KNOW how many there are?"
Obi-Wan suppressed a smile, "I'm sure if you manage to do some of them, she will be satisfied." He assured him.
"Master Nu is never satisfied, Master." Zak replied.
"Well, perhaps not; but she will not fault you for missing some." Obi-Wan told him.
Zak shook his head, "I hope not, because I know I won't be able to get to all of them." He said.
"Just do your best, Zak; and it will be alright." Obi-Wan replied.
"Yes, Master." Zak answered, "I just thought she'd give me a little break."
"Why would she do that?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Because of tomorrow." Zak told him.
"Is there something special about tomorrow?" Obi-Wan asked.
Zak looked at him, sighed and looked out the viewport, "No, I guess not." He answered.
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During the long trip to Naboo, Obi-Wan alternated between meditation and sleep. Zak, meditated, studied his data pads and slept. When they entered the Naboo system, both of them were well rested. Obi-Wan allowed Zak to put the ship down and Zak maneuvered it carefully, landing with ease on the tarmac. They gathered the things they would need, stowing the cold weather gear, and Obi-Wan lowered the boarding ramp….Anakin was standing at the bottom of it, arms folded across his chest and a slight scowl on his face.
"Uh oh; I think you're in trouble, Master." Zak said.
"Hmm…it appears so; oh well, best get this over with." Obi-Wan replied and started down the ramp.
Zak followed at a respectable distance, not wanting to get between them; he knew it would not last, but he would rather not be close for the time being.
"Hello, Anakin." Obi-Wan said cheerfully.
"You should not have blocked me, Obi-Wan." Anakin replied, disregarding his greeting.
"And if I had not blocked you initially, what would you have done, Anakin?" Obi-Wan asked.
"I…I…well, alright, I probably would have…but that's not the point." Anakin stumbled for an answer.
"That's exactly the point; you would have come to Alderaan, leaving your pregnant wife alone." Obi-Wan said.
"But you needed my help." Anakin protested.
Obi-Wan smiled, "Look at me? I'm here, my apprentice is here; we managed just fine without you." He answered.
Anakin sighed, "But only because we connected and I sent you healing strength." He pointed out.
"Yes, but you still wanted to come, even then; if I had let you help me before that, I would not have been able to stop you." Obi-Wan replied.
"Well, you don't know that; and you never gave me the chance to decide one way or the other." Anakin argued.
Obi-Wan sighed and then paused before conceding, "You are right, Anakin; I don't know. But I was thinking of you and of Padme when I made the choice to block you; maybe it was not the right choice, if that is the case, then I am sorry."
"Alright, that's good enough for me." Anakin replied, and then put his hand up and turned Obi-Wan's face sideways, "Oh, that's going to leave a scar." He declared after examining the healing graze on Obi-Wan cheek.
"More than likely." Obi-Wan answered as he pushed Anakin's hand away.
"How are you otherwise?" Anakin asked.
"Fine; just a little sore that's all." Obi-Wan assured him, putting a hand to his side for a moment.
"Can I see it?" Anakin asked.
"Anakin..." Obi-Wan began.
"What? I just want to have a look at it." Anakin insisted.
Obi-Wan sighed, gave up and lifted one side of his tunic, "Ouch, remind me never to get shot with a slug thrower." Anakin replied upon seeing it.
"Well, it is not an experience I would care to repeat." Obi-Wan told him, "Are you through?"
"Oh…uh, yes, I'm sorry; come on, you've come just in time; dinner should be about ready." Anakin said.
"Dinner? You're not making Padme cook, are you?" Obi-Wan asked.
"No, no, of course not; Dorme has been coming in to help her. She's as big as a house right now, so she doesn't get around all that well anymore." Anakin explained.
"How is she, Anakin?" Obi-Wan asked.
Anakin laughed, "Grumpy and short-tempered; thank the Force they baby is coming soon." He replied.
"How soon; I'm sure you can tell." Obi-Wan asked.
"Probably tonight or tomorrow morning." Anakin answered.
"Tomorrow would be a very good day for the baby to come." Zak said suddenly.
"Really? Why would that be, Padawan?" Obi-Wan asked.
Zak looked down at the ground, "I don't know; I just thought it would be." He answered quietly.
Anakin looked at Obi-Wan curiously, "You're not going to let on that you know?" "Not yet." "How long are you going to hold out?" "Just until tomorrow." "That's not nice, Obi-Wan." Obi-Wan smiled back at him, "I have my reasons."
Zak looked from one to the other, "What are you talking about?" He asked, more curious than anything else.
"Just about what's going to happen tomorrow." Obi-Wan answered.
"Oh." Zak replied as he eyed both of them with suspicion.
Anakin shook his head and laughed, "Alright, why don't we just go home and see what Dorme has cooked up for dinner." He said.
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As the baby in Padme's belly kicked and back-flipped, she put a hand on her stomach and groaned, "Settle down, I want you out of there too." She said.
"Are you alright, Mistress?" Threepio asked solicitously.
"You mean aside from the fact that he's trying to kick his way out?" Padme replied sarcastically.
"Pardon me, Mistress; but I was under the impression that you did not want to know the baby's gender." Threepio pointed out.
Padme gave a small laugh, "I don't, but he kicks like a boy; and no girl would be this impatient." She answered, and then groaned when the baby kicked again.
"Oh, I see; can I get you anything?" Threepio asked.
"Not unless you can get this baby out of here." Padme replied, groaning yet again.
"I am afraid that is not in my programming." Threepio told her apologetically.
"Just let me know when Master Anakin gets home." Padme requested.
"Yes, Mistress." Threepio answered and started to leave.
The baby kicked once more, "There are times, Anakin Skywalker, when I would just love to kill you." She said aloud.
"Oh my." Threepio replied as he walked out.
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When they walked into the house, the smell of cooking meat permeated the air. Threepio appeared briefly and then disappeared down the hallway. Moments later, Padme waddled into the front room to greet them.
"Hello, you're just in time for dinner." She said, "Dorme has made a shaak roast."
"Yes, it smells delicious; how are you feeling, Padme?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Tired; my feet hurt, my back aches and this little one keeps telling me she wants out." Padme said, patting her stomach.
"She? Are you still convinced it's a girl?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Of course she is!" Padme answered.
"But, Mistress, I thought you said…" Threepio said from the doorway.
"You must have misunderstood, Threepio." She interrupted.
"But you said…" Threepio insisted.
"Well, that's not what I meant." Padme cut him off again.
"What did she say, Threepio?" Anakin asked, smiling.
"Apparently, she said it kicked like a boy and no girl would be so impatient to come out." Threepio informed him.
"Oh, she did, did she?" Anakin replied, clearly amused.
"Yes, she also said…." Threepio began again.
"That will be enough, Threepio." Padme interrupted again.
"Oh….oh dear, oh dear, oh dear." Threepio replied and left the room.
"What exactly did you say, Padme dear?" Anakin asked, "Wait, let me guess; you'd like to kill me again."
"She wants to kill you, Anakin? What have you been doing to her?" Obi-Wan asked in mock seriousness.
"Nothing! Whatever it is, it's not my fault." Anakin answered defensively.
"Umm…I think I'll go find the babies." Zak announced and slipped out of the room.
Suddenly, Padme sat down and burst into uncontrolled laughter causing both men to look at her, "What's so funny?" Anakin asked.
"You, my love; Obi-Wan was…." She finished with more laughter.
"Obi-Wan was what?" Anakin asked.
Obi-Wan shook his head, "And I thought you could always read my mind." He said, grinning.
Anakin reacted by grinning back at him, "I did." He replied.
"Very clever, Anakin." Obi-Wan told him.
"I hate to interrupt your little game here, but my roast is waiting." Dorme said from the doorway.
"Oh, of course, Dorme; I'm sorry. And I meant to help too." Padme replied as she pushed herself awkwardly to her feet.
"No need; Zak happened by at the right time." Dorme answered, "Such a nice young man."
They all followed Dorme into the dining room. The twins were seated in highchairs near one end of the table. Zak was attempting to cut a piece of meat up for them; it was a constant fight trying to keep the meat from gravitating off the plate. Each time he moved the fork, he lost control of the slice; the twins laughed and clapped their hands each time Zak had to regain control of the meat. Patiently, he would grab it out of the air and pin it down to the plate with the fork.
"Alright, you two; what have a told you about playing with your food." Anakin said sternly.
"We was just havin' fun with Sackie; he don' mind, do ya', Sackie?" Luke explained.
"It would be a lot easier if the meat didn't fly around while I was trying to cut it." Zak replied.
"Oh, alright." Luke conceded with great reluctance and let the slice drop back down onto the plate.
Before Zak could put the fork into it, however, it floated up again, "Leia, that means you too." Anakin ordered.
"Yes, Daddy." Leia replied contritely and dropped the meat.
"You shouldn't let them get away with that, Zak." Anakin said.
"Well, it was a little hard to control both of them; and anyway, they don't listen to me." Zak replied.
"You could have just told them no." Anakin told him.
"Oh; I guess I never thought of that." Zak answered.
"Uh oh." Padme said.
"Uh oh? Padme, honey." Anakin replied
"Time; it's time. Oh dear." Padme answered as she put a hand to her belly.
"Time? You mean, right now? We haven't had supper yet." Anakin said, panicking.
"I don't think she cares; we have to go." Padme told him.
"No, of course she…he doesn't." Anakin agreed, "Bag; Padme dear, where's your bag?"
"I'll get it, Anakin; I know where it is." Dorme interjected and started to the hall.
"Dorme, I am…ooh, sorry about the….Ahh…about the meal." Padme said, grunting through an early contraction.
"Not to worry, Padme; I can clear all this up and put it away. Needless to say we have three men in the house and they are going to need something eat for the next few days." Dorme assured her just before she disappeared down the hall.
"How far apart are they?" Anakin asked.
"Far enough; but I don't think we should wait." Padme answered.
"I'll bring up the speeder, Anakin." Obi-Wan offered and was gone.
"Thank you…brother; oh well." Anakin said after he had left, "How are you doing, Padme?"
"How am I doing? I'm having a baby, Anakin!" Padme replied, "Ahhh."
"Alright, alright; just calm down." Anakin told her.
"Calm down? You calm down." Padme retorted.
"Obi-Wan is bringing up the speeder…" Anakin started to assure her.
"I know; I heard. I'm having a baby not going deaf." Padme cut him off.
"Sorry, don't get so upset." Anakin said.
"I'm not upset." Padme replied.
"Master Anakin, Master Obi-Wan has the speeder ready to go." Zak informed them.
"Good, alright; are you ready? Slowly now." Anakin said as he took hold of Padme's arm.
"Here's her bag, Anakin." Dorme said, holding the bag out to Anakin, "Don't worry about anything; I'll stay here with the twins and clean everything up."
"I'll take it." Zak replied, "And I'll come back and help you when I put it in the speeder."
"Don't you want to come, Zak?" Anakin asked.
"It's not really my place to go." Zak told him.
"Why? Master Obi-Wan is going." Anakin said.
"Please, Zak; I'd like you to be there." Padme added.
Zak looked at Dorme, "Go on, I can handle this." Dorme assured him.
Zak grinned, "Alright; if that's what you want." He answered and went ahead of them.
"Is the baby gonna come out now, Mommy?" Leia asked as she slid out of her highchair.
"Yes, then you're both going to have a new sister." Padme answered.
"Don't listen to Mommy; it's going to a boy, so you'll have a new brother." Anakin countered.
"Right, well, Mommy's going to have her baby right here if we don't get going." Padme announced.
Luke joined his sister, "I wan' a brother." He decided.
"Alright, we'll see what we can do." Anakin promised as he picked them both up, kissed them; then held them so that Padme could too before setting them back down. "Be good for Dorme."
"Yes, Daddy." They answered together.
"Anakin, we have to call my doctor." Padme suddenly realized.
"I'll do it, Padme; and let her know you're on your way." Dorme offered.
"Thank you, Dorme; I don't know what I would do without you." Padme replied.
"Just let me know….you know, when it happens." Dorme answered.
"Of course…OH, Annie; we forgot about my parents, and Sola and…." Padme suddenly remembered, "And Declan, we wanted him to be here."
"Don't worry; I'll call everyone when we get to the birthing center." Anakin assured her, suddenly feeling very calm as he took Padme's arm and guided her out the door, "And I guess we'll have to do this without Declan."
"Bye!" The twins called out as they left.
Obi-Wan was sitting in the driver's seat with Zak next to him, "I thought it would be best if I drove and you sat with Padme in the back." Obi-Wan explained
"Good thinking; I'll just tell you how to get there." Anakin replied, easing Padme into the back seat and then hopping in after her.
"How are you doing, Padme?" Obi-Wan asked.
"If either one of you asks me that again, I'll shoot…ahhh…both of you." Padme answered.
"Alright, forget I asked. I've already been shot once this week; I'd prefer not to get shot again." Obi-Wan said as he maneuvered the speeder away from the house.
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Padme's doctor was waiting for them when they arrived, "How are we doing, Padme?" She asked as Anakin lifted her out of the speeder and helped her settle into the waiting hover chair.
"Don't ask her that, she's liable to shoot you." Anakin warned.
"Fine, I guess." Padme answered.
"Good, good; and the contractions are how far apart now?" The doctor asked.
"Wait a minute; why is that when Obi-Wan and I…." Anakin began.
"Because she's my doctor, Anakin; now stop interrupting." Padme admonished before answering, "Twenty minutes, Valeria."
"Oh, that's just fine; has your water broken yet?" Valeria asked.
"No, not yet." Padme answered.
"Perfect, that means we have plenty of time; shall we get you settled then?" Valeria asked.
Anakin guided the chair into the building, following Valeria down the corridor, "I've already pre-registered her, and her room is all ready." Valeria informed them and then turned to Obi-Wan and Zak, "We haven't been introduced, but I'm assuming you are family. Why don't you have a seat in the waiting room here and Commander Skywalker will join you after he takes Padme to her room."
"Very well, Zak, give Anakin Lady Padme's bag." Obi-Wan said with a bow.
Anakin took the bag from him and said, "I'll be right back." He then continued to follow Valeria down the corridor until she stopped in from a one of the doors.
Anakin guided the hover chair through the door and then helped Padme onto the table.
"That's fine, Commander; I can take it from here. Go out and join your…brother, is it? Out in the waiting area and I will come and let you know what I find." Valeria instructed.
"Yes, alright." Anakin answered and then kissed Padme and squeezed her hand, "I love you."
"I love you too." Padme replied.
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"Well, we have a bit of wait ahead of us." Valeria announced when she joined them in the waiting area.
"How long?" Anakin asked.
"Several hours. She hasn't dilated nearly enough, and her contractions are still pretty far apart; and her water has not broken yet. She's getting into her birthing gown now; after she's dressed, I've told her to just walk. It will stimulate her system and move things along." Valeria explained.
"Thank you, doctor." Anakin answered.
"I've got things to attend to so we can be ready when she is; I'll be back in an hour or so to see how she's doing, but if there are any problems or questions be sure to call me back sooner." Valeria told him.
Anakin nodded, "Several hours; it's going to be a long night." He declared after she had gone, "Too bad we didn't think to bring some of Dorme's roast shaak with us."
"Maybe we can find something around here." Obi-Wan suggested.
"Maybe; oh, I almost forgot; I'd better contact Padme's parents." Anakin replied, "I'll be right back."
"Well, it looks like Padme's baby will come tomorrow after all." Obi-Wan told Zak.
"Yes, it sounds like that." Zak answered.
"Isn't that what you wanted?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Oh, sure; that would be alight." Zak replied.
"That's it; just alright? You were so enthused about it when we first arrived." Obi-Wan said.
"I still am; I guess I'm just kind of hungry." Zak decided.
"Then let's go find something; I think we're going to be here for a while." Obi-Wan answered and then stood up.
"Where are you two going?" Anakin asked.
"To find something to eat; would you like to join us?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Not just yet; I think I'll stay with Padme for a bit." Anakin replied.
"Alright; when we find something, we'll bring some back for you." Obi-Wan offered.
"Sure that would be great…if you'll excuse me." Anakin said as he looked past them down the hall.
Obi-Wan looked in that direction; Padme had just come out of the room, "Go on and join her, Anakin; Zak and I will see you later." He told him.
"Yeah, alright." Anakin answered, though clearly distracted by the sight of his very pregnant wife walking toward him.
Obi-Wan smiled, shook his head and turned toward the entrance to the center, "Come, Padawan; let's leave them alone for a while." He said.
"Yes, Master." Zak answered with understanding.