"The dark is generous, and it is patient, and it always wins- but in the heart of its strength lies weakness: one lone candle is enough to hold it back. Love is more than a candle. Love can ignite the stars." Revenge of the Sith my Matthew Stover
Chapter 7: Three's Company
Only when the last guests had left and her nosy guests were safely in bed did Padmé dare to breathe. So many narrow escapes had occurred that night and she knew only too well that her luck would eventually run out.
When it did, she would loose everything.
Anakin's vow to steal away to her that night caused a tingling feeling within Padmé and, after changing into a purple nightgown that was sure to please him, she began to impatiently wait for him. He would come- that she was sure of, but the anticipation threatened to undo her.
Sighing, she picked up her favorite brush and moved over to the window. There she gently brushed her hair while contentedly feeling the stirring and kicking of the baby within her. Nearly eight months along, she looked down at her swollen middle and thought of the many blissful hours she'd spent in Anakin's arms.
"You look so… beautiful," a soft but reverent voice said from behind her.
The low tone sent chills down Padmé's spine and, with a teasing grin, looked back at Anakin.
"It's only because I'm so much in love with you," she whispered, allowing her hands to fall to her side.
Silently, he took the brush from her hand and gently began to run it through her hair. "Force, I've missed you," he murmured and, for a moment, he paused in his ministrations. "Every day and every moment I was away, you were all I could think of." Setting the brush down on the window ledge, he slowly snaked his hands across her stomach and pulled her up against him.
"Are you saying that our love has distracted you?" she teased him lightly, giving him a fond kiss.
"No… I…" he tried to defend himself but, because she had either outwitted him or was so intoxicating to be around, he couldn't find anything to say. "A most wonderful distraction," he finally conceded.
"Anakin, we need to talk," she said in a tone that instantly warned him that something was wrong. "Please," she said in a voice barely above a whisper, "do not take my baby away from me."
Shocked, Anakin found that he could not speak.
"Please, Anakin," she begged as even her brown eyes pleaded with him. "I want to raise our baby back on Naboo like I had wanted to with Luke."
"But… how will I ever see her?" he sputtered. "How will I ever see you?"
"I… I think you'll have to bear it like I have these past months," she said sorrowfully. In a gentle caress, she covered his hands with hers and held them against her belly. "I just could not live… if you took her away from me," she choked, mournfully shaking her curly head. "Oh, Anakin, you have no idea what it's like," she said, a tear rolling down her face. He wrapped his arms about her and held her even closer. "Do you know what it is like to carry a baby for nine months, to feel him or her kicking and growing within you, but one day your find your womb and arms empty?" Padmé shuddered. "It hurts so much." Resting her head against his arm and closing her eyes, she wept.
"Padmé," he said tenderly, turning her around so he could look her in the eyes. Lovingly, he cupped her face in his hands and soundly kissed her forehead. "I want you to raise our daughter on Naboo- I will have it no other way." He looked at her sadly and bit his lip. "You must promise me you'll raise her with great love and care."
"I will," she promised, resting her head against his hard chest as he wrapped his arms about her.
Both suddenly jumped away from each other when they heard a noise. To their surprise and relief, it was Palo. Sheepishly, the artist grinned. "Sorry," he quickly apologized. "I promise to never interrupt you again, but could you tell me where you want me to sleep so I'll be out of your way?"
By the look on her husband's face, Padmé could tell that he was thinking some pretty unfriendly things, but she was not able to stop him before he said through gritted teeth, "Anywhere but with my wife, Palo."
"Anakin!" Padmé cried out, slapping his arm. "Don't be rude!"
"It's alright," Palo said hastily.
"I guess you'll have to sleep in my room," Padmé said slowly, giving Anakin a hard look when anger flitted across his handsome face.
"But…" Anakin sputtered, all hopes of his romantic night with her suddenly dashed.
"I really don't want to be in the way," Palo stammered, rather embarrassed to be caught in the middle of this.
"You'd be out of the way back on Naboo."
"Anakin!"
"What?" Anakin snapped. "I need to share my first night back with you with a complete stranger?"
"He's trying to help us," Padmé retorted. "You'd better change your attitude or you'll find yourself sleeping on the couch."
"And where would Palo sleep then?" Anakin sneered. "In bed with you?"
"Anakin!" Padmé cried out again. "Are you hearing what you're saying? You're a Jedi Master now- shouldn't you act in a more mature manner?"
For a moment, Anakin said nothing but coolly regarded the artist. "I'm sorry," he said though he certainly didn't mean it.
Palo flashed Padmé an apologetic smile before disappearing into her bedroom.
"Come- let's go to bed," she said, pulling Anakin along by his arm.
Not looking forward to the prospect of trying to get cozy with his wife while his rival slept just feet away, Anakin glumly followed her.
This problem should have been the least of his worries.
In the shadows, an unforeseen enemy watched and
waited.
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Three Hours Later
Bolting upright in the bed, Anakin clutched at his chest as he gasped for breath. While his lungs filled with air, his eyes focused. Safely sleeping beside him was Padmé, her arm curled about the swell of their child. Over on the couch, Palo also contentedly slept.
With a shaking hand, Anakin reached out and placed his hand on the curve of Padmé's stomach. Within her, the baby kicked reassuringly. He laid back down on the bed and, scooting down to where he was even with her waist, rested his head against her stomach as he wrapped his arms about her.
Closing his eyes, Anakin lost himself in the baby's Force presence and slowed down his heart rate to match that of his daughter's.
Still, the darkness haunted him.
Even though immersed in the Force, Anakin felt gentle hands running through his hair. Opening his eyes, he found Padmé's brown ones worriedly watching him.
"Anakin, are you alright?" she whispered while he moved back up to where they were looking each other in the eyes.
"I couldn't sleep," he murmured, allowing her to snuggle against him.
She sighed and gently caressed him. "You had a bad dream, didn't you?" Accusation was light in her voice but her words still made Anakin feel uneasy.
"It was just a dream," he said lightly. His metallic hand gently touched the japor snipped that rested on her chest. With a slight Force suggestion, he tried to urge her back to sleep.
Still, she was no ordinary woman and didn't even bat an eye. "Anakin, you don't just dream," she said quietly, turning up her head so she could look him squarely in the eyes. "Was it a premonition?"
A heavy silence ensued.
"Yes," Anakin said slowly. "Please, Padmé, do not concern yourself with it- you worry enough as is."
"Anakin, your well being is tied to mine," she insisted, shaking her head. "If you suffer, I suffer."
"I… I saw darkness," he said in a broken tone, unable to meet her worried eyes. Pulling away from the warmth of her body and the reassuring feeling of her arms about him, Anakin sat on the edge of the bed as he held his head in his hands. "Pain…"
"Is something going to happen to the baby?" she asked fearfully, her hands hastily moving to her stomach as if that gesture alone could protect their unborn baby.
"No," he said flatly with a haggard breath, "it was about me."
There was silence as Padmé laboriously climbed out of the bed and came to stand before him. By the light that was being cast in through the window, Anakin saw how troubled she was.
"Anakin, please tell me- I need to help you," she pleaded. When he reached out to touch her stomach, she pulled away.
"In my dream… there was another woman…"
Gasping, Padmé stared at him in shock. "But… why?"
"I don't know," he replied helplessly. "Padmé, I do not know what it means, but I will not, I promise- no, I swear- I will never let anything, anyone, or even the Jedi Order come between us," he cried out passionately. "I love you, Padmé, and I never want to be with anyone but you."
"I know," she said softly, reaching out to touch his hair. "What is really bothering you- we both know that you would never do such a terrible thing."
"I would tell you if I knew," he promised. "It was mostly just feelings- I really can't explain it. I am slipping and there isn't anything I can do to stop it."
"Anakin, I think you should speak with another Jedi- hopefully they could give you more guidance," she said, climbing back into bed with him. Snuggling back under the covers, she gazed up at him.
"No!" Anakin cried out without even thinking. Hastily, he looked over at the couch to see if he had woken up Palo, but he saw, much to his good fortune, that the artist was still sound asleep. "No. Our love and our children are a blessing- I do not want to risk what little we do have together by getting any of the Jedi involved."
"What about Obi-Wan?" she asked, propping herself up on one elbow. "You said he was as powerful as Master Windu and as wise as Master Yoda."
Somehow, Anakin found himself beat. "I'll speak to someone tomorrow," he promised. Already, he was dreading the confrontation.
Satisfied, Padmé soon nodded off to sleep, but Anakin could not enter into slumber and consequently remained awake pondering for quite some time.
In the shadows, the darkness smiled in triumph.
Night had come.
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Spoiler for the next chapter: As Wise as Master Yoda
All of the sudden, Luke cried out, "Dada!"
Shocked, everyone, including a startled Siri who covered her ears, gaped at the baby.
"Um… did he just say what I think he just said?" Obi-Wan asked in bewilderment.
Before Anakin could reply, Luke practically screamed, "Dada!" as he reached up and grabbed at Anakin's face.
"I think so," Anakin said sheepishly as he pulled the baby's fingers away from his face.
"Mama?" Luke asked in a voice barely above a whisper.
"I didn't know he was talking yet," Obi-Wan said in an impressed voice.
"I didn't either," Anakin admitted, becoming increasingly distressed as Luke continued to call out for his parents. When the baby burst into sobs, Anakin gently rubbed Luke's back but he continued to cry.
"He want's his mama, whoever that is," Obi-Wan helpfully supplied.
"Mama!" Luke derisively screamed.
"Who is his 'mama'?" Obi-Wan asked worriedly, for it was evident that he was getting a headache with all the racket similar to Siri's. As realization dawned on his face, he carefully took Luke from Anakin and, as the baby started to scream, held out the squirming boy to Siri.
As Siri fervently shook her head
in protest, Luke continued to wail.
