Thank you all for the wonderful comments and support thus far, I am so happy to share this story with you all! I will be traveling this next week and may not be able to post next Friday but I promise I will be back. I hope you enjoy this new chapter, please read, review and let me know your thoughts!
Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Arrival:
Anakin rolled onto his side, reaching a hand out into the darkness to bring his wife closer but was instead met with cold sheets.
Ahsoka was in her ninth month of pregnancy and with the baby growing daily, it took its toll on her sleep schedule. She had a hard time getting comfortable most nights and with their child awake in the early hours of the morning, it wasn't uncommon for Ahsoka to disappear from bed.
Anakin brushed off the sleep and rose from the bed. He grabbed a shirt off the nearby chair before throwing it over his head and moving towards the closed door.
He found Ahsoka leaning against the counter in the kitchen, her eyes were closed as if she was concentrating. A soft creak in the floor alerted her to another presence and she opened her eyes, looking towards Anakin's direction. "Did I wake you?" She asked softly.
He shook his head. "I wanted to make sure you were alright." Anakin closed the distance between them, moving his hand to rest on the enlarged bump.
"I'm fine. Your kid doesn't seem to understand the concept of sleep." She replied with a light chuckle.
"My kid, huh?"
"Yes, he's your kid before sunrise." Ahsoka laughed.
"Still think it's a boy?" Anakin raised an eyebrow.
"I don't know... to be honest I'm happy with either a boy or girl, as long as they're health." She said with a light smile, resting a hand on top of Anakin's.
"I agree." He replied, matching her smile.
Ahsoka winced slightly as she gripped the counter.
"You okay?" Anakin asked as he tried to mask the worry coming across his face. Since she was farther along in her pregnancy, aches and pains came quite frequently but each time it pained him to see her in discomfort.
"Yeah." She replied releasing a breath. "Just my back is all."
"Anything I can do to help?" Anakin asked.
Ahsoka shook her head. "I think I'm going to take a shower, maybe the hot water can loosen my muscles."
"I'll go get the water going and find you a change of clothes." He said giving her a quick kiss on her forehead before disappearing into the refresher.
As Ahsoka tried to balance herself, there was another quick twinge of pain followed by an odd sensation and she soon felt liquid in between her legs.
"Anakin!"
He was at her side in an instant, wrapping one arm around her waist to hold her steady while she gripped his other hand.
"I think my water broke." She spoke the words quietly, still in state of shock.
"I'll contact Sala." Anakin said, releasing his hold on his wife.
"Wait, it's still early. Labor can last for hours. She said once my contractions are four minutes apart, I'll be much closer to actually giving birth. For now, it's just a waiting game." Ahsoka tried steadying her breathing while coming to terms she was in labor.
Anakin didn't like the idea of waiting to call the midwife, especially since he was a novice in this situation. What if something happened within the next hour or so? Would he be able to tell if something was wrong? He knew he wouldn't be prepared to handle a crisis.
'What am I doing?' Anakin thought. He knew this was not the time to panic, he needed to be Ahsoka's side, her rock. "Alright, I'll hold off for now. What do you need me to do?"
"I didn't realize the pains earlier were contractions... so we need to time them. I still want to take a shower, maybe clean up out here a little." She said motioning to her soaked pants and the puddle below.
"Don't worry about this, I'll clean up out here. You go shower and I'll come check on you in a few minutes. Okay?"
Before she could reply, Ahsoka felt her stomach tighten with another contraction. Anakin noticed, offering a hand while she breathed through it while he began rubbing circles on her back with the other.
Once the pain began to dissipate, Ahsoka released her grip on her husband. "Thanks." She said softly.
"Hey, it's the least I can do since I kinda got you into this mess." Anakin chuckled.
Ahsoka released a breath. "I think we both played a part that night."
Anakin helped her into the refresher, removing the wet clothes before he left her to sit under the warm water in hopes to ease some of the tension and pain. He then proceeded to the kitchen to quickly clean, but always remaining within ear shot just in case.
He didn't want to constantly hover over Ahsoka, especially now, but wanted to remain available for the moment she needed him. Anakin knew he should try and busy himself for the time being.
After the kitchen, he moved into their bedroom, replacing the sheets and blankets so Ahsoka would be comfortable once she was out of the shower.
The nearest hospital or clinic was hours away hence why they decided it was best to have the baby here at home. Ahsoka always hated any type of hospital so it was the last place she'd want to be during a time like this and Anakin tried to be supportive of that. However, there was always the worry in the back of his mind if something were to go wrong.
Anakin tried to push all negative thoughts from his head to focus on the situation at hand. Once the bed was made up, he went into the refresher to check on his laboring wife.
"How are you doing?" Anakin asked as kneeled outside the shower.
"I just had another contraction, it ended about a minute ago." Ahsoka said as she practiced the breathing Sala taught her.
Anakin mental recorded the time so he could keep track of the progress, anxious to call the midwife.
"Sorry I missed it."
"Don't be, there'll be plenty more to come." She light chuckled. "Can you help me up? I want to lay down for a bit if that's okay."
"Whatever makes you comfortable." Anakin proceed to help her up and out of the shower, grabbing her clothes while she dried off. He handed her one of his shirts to wear for the meantime. Once she'd grown out of her clothes, Ahsoka hated the idea of buying a whole new wardrobe so instead she preferred to wear his. He didn't mind as long as she was happy.
-•-•-•-
Hours passed as Ahsoka's contractions grew closer and more frequent. She'd tried laying, siting, walking and stretching to try and ease the pain in her back and abdomen but each only offered momentary relief.
"It's starting." She said breathlessly as she leaned against Anakin.
"That's four minutes." He said, once they contraction passed. "I'm going to call Sala, you going to be okay for a couple minutes?"
She nodded before releasing her hold on him.
Anakin quickly located the old communicator that the midwife had given them during their last appointment. He powered it up and opened the link.
"Hello?" A tired voice came through after a minute.
"It's Anakin, Ahsoka's in labor, I think you should get over here."
"I'll be there within the hour." Sala said before ending the communication.
Anakin returned to his wife, she was slowly walking back and forth through the kitchen, every once and a while stopping to leaning against the nearby counter.
Approaching Ahsoka, Anakin softly spoke. "She's on her way."
Ahsoka's words were staled by another contraction ripping through her body. She'd been trying so hard not to cry out with each coming pain, but it was almost impossible now. She buried her face into Anakin's chest, gripping one of his hands while his other continued to rubbed circles on her back.
It broke his heart to see her like this, he wanted nothing more than to take away this pain. Unfortunately, all he could do now was hold his wife until the contraction passed.
Ahsoka slowly released her grip, taking slow and steady breaths to calm herself before she spoke. "Thank you."
"Hey, we're in this together." He said with a soft smile.
-•-•-•-
"That's it, breathe." Anakin softly whispered to Ahsoka during a particularly difficult contraction. Labor was taking its toll on her body and mind. She couldn't stand on her own anymore, needing to lean against a counter, table or her husband.
"It's over." Her words were weak. Anakin helped her lean back against the pillows as she caught her breath. The couple heard a knock and a wave of relief washed over Anakin.
"That's Sala, I'll go let her in. You alright?" He asked as he used a cloth to wipe the sweat from her forehead.
"I'll be fine." Ahsoka replied, giving his hand a gentle squeeze.
Anakin stood from the bed and headed out into the common room, opening the door to allow the older woman entrance.
"Thank you for coming." He said with a soft smile.
Sala retuned the smile before asking, "How is she?"
"She's hanging in there, ready for it to be over." Anakin replied as head led the midwife through the house.
"And you?"
Her words caused him to stop short of the hall. He hadn't had time to think of himself. How could he? His wife was suffering to bring their child into the world. "I'm fine. Ahsoka's more important right now." He said, turning to face the woman.
"You're correct, she is, but you are also important. So... how are you?" Sala asked, raising an eye marking.
Anakin released a breath and dropped his head, ashamed of his words. "I'm... terrified."
"Good."
"How is that good?" Anakin was taken aback.
"It means you're a good husband and father. This is difficult time for not only Ahsoka but you as well. You may not experience the pain as she does, but you have to stay by her side and watch her go through it. I know you are worried for her, but she is strong, and I promise you that I will do everything in my power to keep them both safe... it will be okay. Do you trust me?"
Anakin slowly nodded. Sala's words helped lift this weight from his shoulders and calm his mind. Something he'd been trying to do all night.
"Good. Now, why don't we check on your wife?" She said motioning towards the bedroom. Sala followed the young man deeper into the house to her patient. Ahsoka rested against a few piled pillows on the bed. She could see a bit of relief wash over the laboring mother like she knew her pain would be over soon. This look was one she'd seen many times over the years, and it gave her a bit of happiness to know she would be a part of such an important moment. "How are you doing, my dear?"
"I've been better." Ahsoka replied. "But I know it'll be worth it in the end."
Anakin returned to his place beside Ahsoka as she reached for his hand once again.
"That it will be, I promise you that." Sala set her bag down at the dresser across from the bed before turning back to face the couple. "I'm going to check your progress. It may be a little uncomfortable, but it will be over soon."
Anakin looked back at his wife, trying to think of a distraction from the invasive exam. "You know we still don't have a name."
"That's because we could never decide on one." Ahsoka weakly laughed.
Anakin's chuckled. "Well, we may not have much time left to decide." Ahsoka hissed through her teeth as the intrusion. "Breathe." Anakin quick said.
"All done. You're not quite there, but almost. I think you'll have this baby in the next hour or two." Sala said.
"Contraction." Ahsoka gritted her teeth, gripping Anakin's hand as her stomach tightened.
"Is there anything you can give her for the pain?" Anakin asked the older woman.
"No... I'm fine, really." Ahsoka interjected.
Anakin wanted to protest further but knew it was a losing battle.
-•-•-•-
Another hour of painful contractions passed, and Sala checked the young mother. "You're fully dilated, are you ready to meet your child?"
"Absolutely." Ahsoka felt a sense of relief that this long process was almost over.
"Alright, when you feel your next contraction, I need you to push." Sala said as she prepared for the delivery.
"Anakin." Ahsoka's words were soft. "I'm scared."
"Hey, don't be." Anakin could see the exhaustion and fear in her eyes, they were so close. "You're strong and I know you can do it. I'll right here the whole time... I love you."
Feeling the contraction take her body, Ahsoka took a deep breath and whispered "I love you too" before using her strength to bring her child into the world.
-•-•-•-
An hour passed and Ahsoka's mind and body were on the brink of collapse. She could barely hear the words of encouragement from her husband and the midwife.
"Come on, it's almost over, Ahsoka, one last time!" Anakin could see she was fading but she was so close.
Ahsoka mustered all the strength she had left and gave one final push, expelling the child from her body.
The room was then filled with the loud cries of their child. "You did it… I'm proud of you." Anakin softly said as he helped Ahsoka rest against the pillows. It took the last of her strength to fight the exhaustion until she could see her baby.
Sala cleaned the child in preparation for the new parents then moved towards the bed with a swaddled baby, handing it straight to the tired mother. "Congratulations on your healthy baby girl."
Ahsoka was in awe by the tiny baby in her arms, she was the most beautiful child with white marking matching her mother but light brown hair like her father. "She's perfect."
"She is." Anakin was seated beside his wife but all he could do was stare down at his daughter as his chest filled with pride.
"Thank you, Sala." Ahsoka said looking up at the older woman.
"You, my dear, did all of the hard work. Let me help you get cleaned up so you can rest, alright?" Sala said grabbing clean sheets and blankets.
"Do you want to hold her?" Ahsoka asked her husband.
Anakin slowly nodded as she handed the child over. She felt so fragile, as if she was made of glass and that terrified him. But as she opened her eyes for the first time, Anakin knew he'd be the best father to this little girl.
After Sala had finished taken care of Ahsoka, she looked over at the exhausted mother as she spoke. "Why don't get some rest, my dear. I'll take a look at this little one here and make sure she's alright."
Anakin reluctantly handed the child off to the older woman before leaning down to his wife. "You were amazing. Thank you for giving me a family." It was hard to keep his emotions in check at this moment, but he wanted her to know how much he loved her and grateful he truly was.
"I love you so much. Thank you for staying with me through it all." Ahsoka said giving a weak smile. "Wake me in a bit so I can hold her again."
He placed a kiss on her forehead as her eyes slowly closed. "Sleep well, my love."