AN: I've just changed this chapter a bit because there was a scene I just realized at the last moment was meant to be in the next chapter and not this one. So please forgive me, those of you who have already read it. I promise the scene will be in the next chapter.

Chapter Fifteen - Birth

In Naboo's medical facility the mood was highly strung. Excitement due to the approaching birth of the Skywalker child and the tense nervousness of how the delivery would go. Padme had been dressed in a long white robe and was laid down on a floating medical bed in the middle of the huge birthing room. Anakin stood by the bed at her side holding one of her hands in his, her other hand was on her stomach and her eyes were closed as she took deep breaths. Each time she whimpered or groaned in discomfort, he stroked her hair soothing her as best he could.

Obi-Wan stood in front of the large viewing window which was all one wall. On the other side of the glass behind Kenobi was an audience of eight: Ahsoka Tano, Yoda, Mace Windu, Plo Koon, Kit Fisto, Aayla Secura, R2-D2 and C-3PO.

Anakin's former Padawan watched anxiously through the glass at her friend, former master who looked more worried than she had ever seen him before. Plo Koon, who stood next to her, put a comforting hand round her shoulders which she held onto with her own. Yoda watched Anakin and Padme with one of his usual unreadable expressions, while seated in his floating hover chair. The other Jedi were waiting with strong anticipation for what they were about to bear witness to. And the faithful droids stood close by one another as they watched their owners through the glass.

It was probably the longest afternoon any of them had ever had, but they hardly seemed to notice. For everyone's thoughts were on Padme and the coming baby. When the sun had set in the evening, the droid nurse rolled over to the end of the bed where Padme's feet were.

"It is time, sir," she declared to Anakin.

Obi-Wan stepped over to the other side of the bed opposite Anakin and took Padme's other hand, so she had another to hold onto. She opened her eyes and gazed up at both of them, looking anxious.

Anakin wrapped an arm around Padme's shoulders, still keeping his hold on her hand. "You need to start pushing Padme," He said gently.

She nodded and leaned her forehead to his, closed her eyes again and started pushing.

Each one of her pained cries was like a saber to Anakin's heart, but he kept hold of her, still afraid of his nightmare coming true and losing her in any moment. He summoned the Force for reassurance and to keep her heart beating. She suddenly stopped, gasping for much needed air.

"You can do it Padme. I know you can, deep breaths now." Obi-Wan encouraged. She shut her eyes tight breathing deep and managed to continue pushing.

Finally after what felt like ages, she let out one last gasp and her hands, which had been squeezing both the Jedi's relaxed. She rested back against the bed with sweat covering her forehead and her eyes still closed. Anakin looked her over, fearful she may be fading away, but was reassured by the strong steady beat of her heart. He realized she was only getting her breath back from all the effort of pushing. Very gently, he wiped away the sweat which covered her forehead with a small smile.

A new sound met his ears, a small murmur. He turned and his eyes widened as he saw the nurse droid wrapping up a tiny baby in a blanket and lifting it into her robotic arms. His heartbeat accelerated at the sight of his newborn child.

The nurse rolled over towards him with the precious bundle. "It's a boy," she declared.

His racing heart stopped as he gazed upon his son for the first time as the nurse handed him over to Anakin, who took him into his arms; he was so small. Anakin's heart started racing again at the fact that he was actually holding his child in his arms, his son. Padme had been right all along. She had been carrying a baby boy. Anakin was also aghast at how much his son resembled him. It was as though he was looking into a vision of his own past. His heart sang with love and he vowed that he would love and protect his son now and forever, for as long as he lived.

"Luke," a small sweet voice spoke from below him. Anakin turned to see that Padme was looking up at them and had tears in her eyes as she gazed at her newborn son in his arms. Luke? She had called him Luke. It was the perfect name for their son. A simple, yet strong name.

Instantly Anakin stepped closer to her and lowered the baby so Padme could meet her son. She reached a trembling hand forwards and touched the backs of her fingers to his small cheek. Luke murmured and she smiled up at Anakin who returned her smile with all the happiness in his heart.

But before anyone could say anything else, Padme suddenly lay back on the bed and started moaning in pain once again. Anakin's heart lurched for the second time that day. No! This couldn't be happening, it couldn't. Not now when their happiness had only just begun. She couldn't leave him now. He wanted to reach forward to hold her, but his hands were full with his son.

"Here Anakin, I'll take him," Obi-Wan's kind voice said from right beside him. Anakin didn't want to let Luke go, but he needed both hands to help Padme and Obi-Wan was more than capable of protecting his child. So, reluctantly he handed his son over to his Jedi master.

"Don't leave," he pleaded.

"I'll be right here," Obi-Wan assured him, stepping round to his original spot on the other side of the bed holding Luke in his arms.

Anakin wrapped his arm back round her shoulders and took her hand. "Padme?!" he cried. "What is it?" But her eyes were closed in pain and she cried out. He looked desperately towards the droid nurse for help. But the droid didn't rush for any medicine or medical supplies, she remained at Padme's feet, her photoreceptors gazing downwards.

"What's going on?" He demanded, his panicked voice almost rising to a shout. "What's wrong with her?!"

The nurse looked up and spoke a sentence which seemed to turn Anakin's whole world upside down. "It appears she is having twins, Sir."

Dazed at the nurse's words, he looked down at Padme's stomach he saw that sure enough there was still a small bulge there. His heart did a somersault in his chest. It had not been one, but two babies! He didn't know what to say. How could he not have sensed this from the start? But he was cut off from his thoughts as Padme started up the effort of pushing again.

Just like before, he held her close and encouraged her to breathe as she pushed. He felt sweat covering his own brow as he prayed and prayed that all of this effort would not kill her. He kept telling himself that Padme Amidala had always been a strong woman who could do anything. This would not be her end. She would not die bringing his children into this galaxy. She would live.

After a short time she stopped and relaxed in his arms, gasping in lungfuls of air. Relieved beyond anything to still hear her strong heartbeat, he leaned forward to kiss her damp temple. He rested her down on the bed and turned to see the nurse swaddling the second child in her arms. Anakin did a double take, for he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. The baby in the nurse's robotic arms looked like a baby version of Padme. He straightened up and stared in wonderment.

"It's a girl," the nurse declared and his heart stopped for probably the millionth time that day.

They had both been right, a boy and a girl. Anakin felt his mouth tremble and go dry, his eyes moistening as the nurse came towards him and handed him his daughter. The moment she was in his arms Anakin felt happier than he had felt the night of his wedding with Padme. His heart was melting in his chest as he looked upon the beautiful little girl he had envisioned ever since Padme had told him she was pregnant. Now he had not just one child but two, twins.

He returned to Padme's side and her smile became serene. "Leia."

The moment she named their daughter the tears of happiness escaped Anakin's eyes and he cradled the baby girl close to him and seated himself on the edge of the bed next to Padme. It was a beautiful name, the perfect name for their little princess. Padme reached up from behind him to rub his arm as smiled down at his daughter.

The droid nurse pressed a few buttons on the edge of the bed and it slowly floated backwards until it was against the back wall. Then she pressed another button and the back of the bed rose slightly so that Padme could sit up a bit. Obi-Wan came over and Padme met his eyes. The Jedi Master glanced down once more at the baby boy, and then handed him over to Padme. Once Padme held her son, tears of pure happiness fell down her delicate cheeks. She gave Obi-Wan a grateful smile and he gave her hand a squeeze before he turned and walked for the door.

Padme turned back to Anakin who was still seated beside her, hugging Leia close to him.

"Ani," she whispered, taking one hand from around Luke to rest on his arm. His tear stained face turned meet her own, then he gazed down at Luke. The baby boy was gazing up at his father with Anakin's own blue eyes. His lip trembled and he reached down to caress his son's small cheek with his fingertips.

"He looks like you," Padme whispered, stroking the baby's smooth blond hair. Anakin nodded and looked back down at Leia who was also looking up at him with her mother's chocolate brown eyes.

"And she looks like you," he said. Padme smiled happily and stroked Leia's cheek with the back of her fingers. Anakin sniffed then leaned down to kiss Leia's forehead, which had her mother's soft brown hair. Padme did the same to Luke.

Anakin shifted even closer so that Padme could lean up against him. Holding Leia securely in his right arm he slipped his other round her. The cause of Anakin's tears was not just because of his beautiful children. It was because his vision which had haunted him for a long time now had not happened. Padme had not died giving birth to these baby angels. She was still here with him and alive. He felt that in his heart he had taken the right path. Because everything was alright, his wife was alive, his children were safe, Ahsoka had come back into his life and he still had the support of Obi-Wan. Just the thought of all this had brought tears of happiness. If he had followed Palpatine…No! He could not think about that. Not now, not ever again.

"Thank you, Padme," he said through his tight throat.

"What for, Ani?" she asked softly.

"You saved me from something I would never have escaped from." He shuddered and her hand cupped his cheek and wiped away a stray tear with her thumb.

"Ani, my love, there is no force in this universe strong enough to break us apart. I always knew you were stronger than you thought you were. Not in power, but your will to do the right thing. Look at them and see the proof of your inner strength and your heart."

He looked down at the beautiful angels cradled in their arms and there was no denying that Padme was right. He had taken the path which had led him to preventing the loss of his wife and children. He smiled and buried his face in her soft hair.

"This is the happiest moment of my whole life," he sobbed.

Padme kissed his neck. "And mine too," she whispered, burying her face in his shoulder.

During all of this, Obi-Wan had not left the room. He had silently stood frozen in place watching the whole scene. He smiled to himself at the strong emotions of love which filled the room through sight, sound and in the Force. Anakin was a beacon of complete light. The brightest he had ever shone in the Force. Obi-Wan could not recall another time where Anakin had felt such happiness, love or peace. It was absolutely extraordinary.

Deciding to leave the family alone, he left through the door. Outside the viewing window he saw that emotions were just as strong as they were in the room he had just left. Ahsoka Tano was also crying tears of joy and was under the comforting arm of Plo Koon, her old friend. Kit Fisto and Ayla Secura were also smiling happily, their eyes glistening with tears. Both the droid's gazes were still fixed on their owners, Threepio now had his golden hand resting on top of Artoo's dome while the smaller droid quivered happily with small beeps. Mace Windu stood as straight as a saber, his face held a trace of disbelief.

Yoda, on the other hand, was still wearing one of his unreadable expressions as he remained seated in his hover chair, his fingers on his chin. The ancient master met Obi-Wan's eyes and through the Force they shared a silent agreement. If Anakin had not broken the Jedi code and fallen in love with Padme he probably would have easily fallen to Palpatine's dark power and been seduced by the dark side of the force forever. The love in his heart had saved him.

Anakin was reluctant to sleep because all he wanted to do was hold his children close and bathe in the joy that they brought him. And the fact that Padme had survived the birth and was still with him and their babies. She was now resting so she could regain her strength after her tiring delivery. The nurse droid had assured him she was in good health and just needed rest. So while she was sleeping, he was waiting in a smaller ward just opposite Padme's room taking care of the twins. He was seated on the edge of a small double bed, cradling baby Luke in his arms and just enjoying this quiet moment of being a father.

Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine he would father a child, let alone twins. It filled him with a warmth similar to the one Padme's loving presence always gave him. Smiling happily, he leaned down to kiss Luke's cheek, the baby murmured and for a half second, Anakin was sure the baby had given him a small hint of a smile, though his eyes were closed. His smile widened and he looked down at Leia who was looking up at him from in her small cot with her lovely brown eyes. He reached down to stroke her cheek with his finger. "Here we are then." he said smiling.

The door opened behind him and he turned to see Ahsoka enter the ward.

"Hey, Sky Guy," she said with a cheeky smile.

Anakin chuckled softly. "Hey, Snips," he said.

She came over to his side and looked at Luke. "I had a feeling he may look like you," she said.

"I can't believe it myself." Anakin replied. "The whole time I was expecting Padme would deliver a little girl resembling herself. And she was expecting it would be a little boy who resembled me."

Ahsoka's blue eyes met his. "And the Force blessed both of your wishes. You both got what you were hoping for."

"That doesn't mean I'm not happy with Luke," he said, returning his gaze to his son. "He is just as beautiful."

Ahsoka nodded and stepped up beside Leia's cot.

"Can I hold her?" she asked. Anakin gave her a silent nod and Ahsoka reached into the cot and lifted her up into her arms. For a while she just held Leia and admired the serene beauty in her face before she held her close in a loving hug, closing her eyes.

"To think that once, you were the one caring for me," she commented sitting next to Anakin on the bed.

Anakin chuckled. "And now you're helping care for me and my children."

She nodded before kissing Leia's forehead. The baby girl murmured and Ahsoka then slipped her finger into Leia's tiny hand and the baby's hand closed round her finger.

"She likes you," said Anakin. "

"I like her too," said Ahsoka, rubbing the back of Leia's hand with her thumb.

"You know, Snips, ever since Padme and I married, I had this secret dream to start a family with her. I never admitted it because I believed it was impossible with all the rules of the Jedi. That if I even tried to make that dream come true they would somehow find out. We had already risked so much to seal our bond of love by marrying in secret. I thought that alone was as far as it would go, so I eventually gave up the hope of dreaming for a family. It was the happiest surprise of my life when Padme told me she was pregnant with my child. Unplanned, but wonderful at the same time."

"It seems that even the impossible is sometimes possible despite what we may believe or think," said Ahsoka as Anakin nodded.

"These angels are my life now, including Padme. I will protect them with my life. And see that they get the childhood they deserve. Better than the enslaved childhood I had with my mother. They will live loved, happy and free."

Ahsoka smiled. "I have no doubts that you will both give them all of that and more."

She placed Leia back in her cot and the little girl curled up and closed her eyes. Ahsoka then came and seated herself back beside Anakin on the bed.

"I've been wondering ever since I first felt their strong Force signature. I and many others would agree that such powers and gifts cannot be just left alone. So when the time comes that they are old enough, will you train them, Anakin?"

He was silent for a few moments, and then stood and placed Luke down in his cot beside Leia's. After giving the blonde hair a tender stroke, he sat back down with Ahsoka.

"I do agree that their skills cannot go to waste. So yes, when they get a bit older I will train them so that they can control their powers. Yet they will be different from any of the Jedi that has ever lived. My children will grow up, knowing what it means to be loved by their family and they will love each other. They will be special and unique."

"I think they already are special." Glancing back down at the twins a cheeky grin started to form on Ahsoka's lips. "Let's just hope that no sibling conflicts will develop between them as they grow."

Anakin laughed. "Padme and I will make sure that doesn't happen. We will teach them right from wrong and how important family is and how we must stick together no matter what." He turned to face her. "You'll help as well, won't you, Snips?"

Ahsoka nodded. "Of course Skyguy, I will help in any way I can. As I already promised, I will remain with you and Padme for as long as you both need me."

He didn't say anything in response to Ahsoka's kind words. Instead he put his arms round her and she hugged him back smiling happily.

Later on Anakin was still wide awake, and still watching his children as they both slept peacefully in their cots. Ahsoka wasn't there as she had gone to find Obi-Wan. The lights had dimmed, but by now his eyelids felt like lead and his head was drooping so that his hair almost covered his face. He'd kept rubbing his eyes wishing for them to keep focused. It was nothing to him, sitting there all night on the edge of the bed watching them. But then he heard the door open behind him again.

"Ani?" He whirled round at the sound of Padme's sweet voice. She was in her long white robe, her curls beautifully flowing as she approached, and her eyes looked as though they were still sleepy.

"Padme, are you alright?" he tried to hide it, but his voice also indicated how tired he really was.

"I've been constantly waking up and hoping to find you asleep beside me," she said, quietly coming up to him. He wrapped his arm round her.

"I can't leave them Padme. They're so small and helpless. I need to keep watch and make sure they're safe."

She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "They are safe Ani, and so are we. With Ahsoka, Obi-Wan and the rest of the Jedi here, there is more protection here than we need. You can't stay awake forever. You need to keep yourself healthy and strong as well." She climbed up onto the bed. "Come to bed Ani, please," She whispered sleepily.

There was nothing she could ask that he could ever refuse. He shed his leather vest, gauntlet and boots. After one last glance at his children, he climbed up beside Padme and took her in his arms.

"I'm so happy you're alright," he whispered, burying his face in her sea of fragrant curls. She wrapped her arm round his waist.

"I told you I wasn't going to die in childbirth, Ani. Everything is alright now, there's nothing to fear."

Anakin said nothing more. He kissed the top of her head and gave into sleep. Because he knew in his heart that Padme was right. Everything was fine. His children were here and so was she.

They were all together, as it was always meant to be.

Author's Notes
Hello there everyone! This has to be my favorite chapter of all. The scene of Luke and Leia's birth was the first part of this fanfic that I had ever written. I have been so excited about posting this part into the story. I always wished that Anakin had been present to see his children born and it's so sad that he didn't in the movies and that he missed so much of his twin's lives. So I wrote the scene as my take on if he had been there. I kept it on hold then finally edited it to fit the story and finally I have it posted for you to see and read. And I hope you'll all like it.

I was so delighted with receiving lots of reviews after posting the last chapter so please keep it up and let me know what you think. It looks like another ending but no there is still a few chapters left so keep a look out for them.

Thank you very much Carrie2sky for your Beta reading, great as always.

And as always, May The Force Be With You!
LouisaJane007