Sorry for the delay in posting! It's been a busy summer. I'm working on a new idea for Padme/Anakin vignettes, which will be posted under another story title soon, so stay posted for those! I know many of you have been really looking forward to this chapter, so please, enjoy!
Rest
Chapter 19
The meddroid monitoring Anakin's situation brought Obi-Wan back into the room to talk about Anakin's progress in recovery. "Knight Skywalker is healing well. Medics on Polis Massa did well with the surgery on his amputation wounds, and his body has been very receptive to the bacta treatment."
"That's great," remarked Obi-Wan.
"We are working to create prosthetics and will be fitting them tomorrow afternoon. We will bring him out of anesthetics a few hours prior to that to prepare him and change medications for pain management."
Obi-Wan nodded and asked, "How long will it take him to recover and use the prosthetics efficiently?"
The droid took a moment to process and responded, "Much of his recovery will depend on pain management. If he is capable of using the prosthetics tomorrow without inhibition from the pain, he may move to outpatient care rather quickly. As an outpatient, he will require physiotherapy and intermittent bacta treatments. We will also need to continue to monitor his respiration. Knight Skywalker will likely require the oxygen supply until we can confirm full recovery of his lungs."
"I understand," spoke Obi-Wan. He looked at Anakin's resting body on the table, and his heart gave for the suffering of his brother. The meddroid left the room, and Obi-Wan spoke to Anakin.
"I'm sorry this has happened to you, Anakin."
-break-
"Uhaaaaaaaaahh!" cried Padme in anguish.
"Padme, you can do this!" cheered Sola, who sat next to her sister and held her hand.
"Another push," spoke the GH-7 meddroid.
"Ahhhhhhhh!" Padme screamed as she bared down.
Sola looked down away from Padme's face and gasped, "Padme, I can see the head!"
"Keep pushing," said the droid, and it played a soothing sound.
Padme's face was red and sweating from her efforts. She had been pushing on and off for nearly an hour, with little progress being made. "I can't…" Her breath between contractions was shaky as she mustered up to continue.
"You're doing so good Padme, you can do this." Her sister hesitated before deciding to speak the next words, "Anakin… Anakin will be so proud of you."
The reminder of her husband was the ultimate motivation she needed. Padme pushed again, bearing down with all her might, and her first baby, slowly, was born. "A male," spoke the droid as the infant emerged, and he was handed up onto Padme's bare chest and stimulated with a blanket. The new mother held onto him, tears in her eyes, and felt herself completely overwhelmed with love.
"Oh Force, oh my, he's perfect, he's so perfect," Padme was overcome with emotion as the baby laid crying out on her chest.
Sola almost couldn't believe the scene before her, something so incredible to witness, and Padme wept full of joy, amazed at what had just transpired. She held her baby close as Sola assisted the meddroids in cutting the umbilical cord.
Padme was given a few more moments with the baby, until an assistant meddroid asked for the infant to do testing on him. Sola helped Padme hand her son to the droid, and she spoke, "Er… you're not done yet, Padme."
Padme nodded, now feeling incredibly motivated from holding her first child.
The GH-7 droid felt around Padme's abdomen, and voiced soothing tones as it checked the positioning of baby number two. Padme moaned in discomfort, and began to feel the need to push.
"You may begin to push," voiced the droid. Padme cried out as she gave it her all.
"Keep going Padme, you're doing great, breathe," guided Sola.
Padme breathed heavily. She stopped pushing as the urge momentarily subsided.
"You can do it Padme, you're almost there," Sola squeezed Padme's hand.
Padme began to push again, and all of a sudden, her second child emerged, screaming and crying. The droid placed the baby onto Padme's chest, and again, Padme gushed tears, feeling overwhelmed with all her love for the little one. Sola lightly lifted the baby's leg to check, and said, "This one's a girl."
Padme nodded her head. "Sola, I can't believe it. She's beautiful, just perfect. Both of them," Padme wept in happiness while holding her daughter close.
Sola beamed at her sister and newest niece. Again, she helped cut the cord, and the droid returned to ask for the second baby so they could monitor her as well. Sola went and brought the first baby back for Padme to hold.
Padme couldn't believe how perfect her son was. "Luke," she said, "Luke, I love you, you're perfect." She kissed his head, and cradled him into her breast where at first he cried, then latched on to feed with no problem. "Amazing," Padme spoke quietly, kissing the top of his head.
Soon her daughter was brought to her as well, and Sola helped position pillows so Padme could cradle them both on her chest, Padme elated and content. "Leia," she whispered, kissing the crown of her daughter's head as well.
The meddroids helped Padme in her delivery of the afterbirth and began to clean the bed. Both babies were inspected again, and both were thriving beautifully. Padme beamed as she was holding both her twins together, this time amazed and thrilled at the idea that there were two. Both she and Anakin were right, she thought. A boy and a girl.
She desperately wished he was there with her to share in these beginning moments with their newborn children. Sola noticed the tears in her sister's eyes and squeezed her sister's shoulder, "Padme, it's okay. Let me go get our parents so they can meet their grandchildren."
Padme nodded with a smile, a rogue tear falling down her cheek. She cuddled close the twins on her chest as Sola left the room.
-break-
This time, Jobal burst through the door in shaky, gleeful excitement. Ruwee followed quickly behind, and Sola walked in after them. Jobal rushed to her daughter, who was now holding two sleeping babies and smiling as bright as the sun.
"Padme!" Jobal sat on the hospital bed next to her daughter to have a better look at her newest grandchildren, tears in her eyes. Ruwee put a hand over his mouth in utter delight at seeing his daughter holding her newborn twins.
Sola brought a chair over so her father and she could both sit next to the bed.
With her parents fawning over the babies, Padme spoke, "Mom, Dad, this is Luke," she gestured to her son cradled in her left arm, "and this is Leia," she looked to her daughter on her right.
Jobal, who was shedding tears of happiness, wiped her eyes and asked in excitement, "Can I hold one?"
Padme nodded, leaning forward for her mother to pick Luke up out of her left arm.
Her father, red-faced from emotion, asked to hold his newest granddaughter. Padme handed Leia to him, taking in the image of her parents holding her children for the first time.
"Oh my goodness, how perfect! Just beautiful. He's so handsome," Jobal gushed, marvelling over her first grandson.
"She's got your hair, love," Ruwee spoke, starry-eyed, and smiling.
"He's so small, so perfect. Looks like he must have his dad's colouring…" Jobal spoke quietly.
Padme nodded, a pang of sadness hitting her as she again wished desperately for Anakin to be there with them and in better health.
Sola looked at her sister, and understood her thought process. "Padme, I'll go check on him soon to let you know how he is. I'm sure things will be looking better for him."
Her sister nodded again, and wiped tears from her eyes. She looked to her parents holding her children. "I can't believe them. And that there's two. I never thought…" her voice trailed.
Her parents just smiled, entranced by their newborn grandchildren.
-break -
A while later, with Padme resting and the babies left in the care of their grandparents just outside the hospital room, Sola went to go check on Anakin. Then, Sola decided, she would have a nap.
Before heading to room 248, Sola went down to the main lobby and bought two cups of caf, something to keep her going at least for the next little bit.
She arrived in the hallway of the second floor and found Obi-Wan sleeping while sitting up against the wall outside Anakin's room. He was breathing deeply, and as Sola approached, she realized she wasn't sure if he was sleeping or meditating. Her question was soon answered as Obi-Wan abruptly opened his eyes at her presence.
"Obi-Wan…" she began as he looked up at her. "I brought you some caf," she offered out a cup.
"Thank you," he said with sincerity, taking the cup from her hands. She sat down on the floor beside him.
"I didn't really get to introduce myself earlier – Padme was a little too frantic – but my name is Sola Naberrie. I mean, you probably guessed, but Padme is my younger sister."
"Oh, yes," said a pensive Obi-Wan.
"He looks about as tired as I feel," thought Sola.
Obi-Wan took a drink of the hot liquid, it warming him from the inside out. "Is Padme alright?" he asked, voicing genuine concern.
Sola nodded, "Yes, she's resting now. It felt like she had a long labour... I can't seem to recall what day it is now, or the time." Sola's voice drifted, "But she's okay. She had twins actually. They're healthy, perfect really."
Obi-Wan didn't think there were any surprises left in the universe. At hearing about the twins, he realized he was wrong.
Sola noticed the Jedi's eyes widening, although she could see he was trying to keep from showing any bewilderment. "It was a surprise to her too. The twins I mean – but I guess, probably, the rest of it too."
Obi-Wan huffed, "It's all a surprise to me." He stared into space, and continued by confiding, "I thought it was a harmless infatuation he had with her… I never thought the feeling was mutual." But then a memory flashed through his mind, one where a captain of the Nabooian senatorial guard said, "I'd me more concerned about her doing anything foolish, than him."
Sola considered for a moment; she was not sure how much to share. "I don't want to intrude on Jedi matters, nor my sister's privacy…"
Obi-Wan shook his head, "It's not quite Jedi matters yet. The council hasn't been informed of anything." He had made up his mind to talk to Anakin before speaking with the council. "I was going to talk to Anakin before involving the Jedi council with… whatever this is."
"Padme will appreciate that…" Sola thought for a moment and reflected, "I only found out about my sister's private life a few days ago when she showed up almost nine months pregnant at my doorstep… I can imagine it's been quite a shock to you as well."
Obi-Wan nodded silently.
"Anyway, you'll have to ask them more about it," said Sola, who did not want to share too much. "How is Anakin?" she asked.
This was something Obi-Wan could more easily explain. "Still stable, and doing rather well considering his injuries… They are constructing his prosthetics as we speak. They'll be fitted onto him tomorrow afternoon."
Sola nodded in understanding. "Can I see him? Then I can tell Padme how he's doing…" her voice trailed off.
"Sure." They stood up and entered the room.
Sola was taken aback to see Anakin, who was looking so well recovered since she had seen him earlier. He was still lying on the sterile table, with the remainder of his amputated limbs encapsulated in silicon casings. His previously burned skin looked somewhere between pink and normal flesh tones in most areas, with wrinkling denoting the areas healing from blisters. Bacta gauze covered many areas where he likely had nerve damage, mostly around his thighs, stomach, and chest. The rest of his skin looked oddly glossy, which Sola realized must be from a thin layer of bacta ointments used to recover anything left needing it. At any rate, he looked much better than when she saw him the day before.
However, he was still definitely unconscious and hooked up to many supportive machines. There was the oxygen tube under his nose, IV fluids in his arm, and something to monitor heart rate and breathing. A meddroid sat in the corner of the room at the ready.
"He looks much better. Already," remarked Sola, in surprise. "Padme will be happy to know."
Obi-Wan nodded. "What room is Padme staying in? In case he wants to know."
"526," Sola said, letting out a yawn. Then she remembered something, another concern she thought about from earlier, "Uh, Master Kenobi, we can… keep this quiet from the media, right? Padme hasn't explicitly said anything yet, but I know it will be a concern of hers…"
"Of course. We'll do our best."
Sola quipped a grateful, "Thank you." She looked at Anakin again, then left back upstairs to update her parents, and soon Padme, on her discoveries.
-break –
Obi-Wan stayed in the room with Anakin after Sola's visit. In a daze, he looked at his brother's unmoving face, and recognized the odd, childish innocence that unconsciousness brought upon him.
"How… how did they keep this a secret for so long? If there's a child, no, children, they've probably been together for a while…" Anakin was always one to break Jedi mandates, but this was disregarding one of the fundaments of the Jedi Order: no attachments.
Obi-Wan was pulled from his thoughts by the fluttering of Anakin's conscious presence in the room. He seemed to be reaching to Obi-Wan through the Force; perhaps his anesthetic medication was reaching a lull.
"Anakin?" communicated Obi-Wan.
"Obi-Wan. Tell them to stop the anesthetics. I want to wake up."
Obi-Wan looked at Anakin's body in puzzlement. "No Anakin, it's helping you recover. The medication keeps you in a state so your body can heal faster…"
"Obi-Wan, please. I need to see her. Is Padme alright?" Obi-Wan noticed Anakin's heart rate slightly rising on the machine. "Is she safe? And the baby?"
Obi-Wan kept the twin surprise to himself. "Her sister just visited. Padme is fine, the baby is healthy."
A sense of calming came from Anakin's presence; he was reassured by Obi-Wan's words. "Please, Obi-Wan. I need to go see her. I need to see… my child… for the first time."
"You'll be in intense pain, Anakin." Obi-Wan tried to reason, but he felt his emotions soften for his fellow Jedi, and he found he couldn't argue. "But alright Anakin, I'll see what can be done."
"Thank you." Anakin's heart rate was returning back to normal now. Obi-Wan stood to talk to the meddroid in the room to see about changing the IV fluid medication to wake Anakin from anesthesia.
-break-
It was either very late at night or very early in the morning when Anakin woke up. His mind was foggy, and his voice sounded hoarse and strained as he spoke her name. His master affirmed, "Yes Anakin," and talked with the meddroids, whose processors questioned why a patient in such a painful, fragile state would want to leave the room. Anakin was still hazy as Obi-Wan asked of him, "You are my brother, Anakin. Who is Padme to you?" Anakin took a deep breath to speak out, "My wife."
Obi-Wan nodded knowingly; he was past shock at this point. He turned to the meddroid and asked, "How can I transport him to floor 5?"
They arranged a supportive wheel chair with sterile coverings to keep Anakin's regenerating skin as uncontaminated as possible. Obi-Wan smiled sadly at the sight: Anakin looked quite the ridiculous figure sitting up in the chair, his hospital gown covering his burns and tenting over his stumped limbs. The oxygen tank and IV fluids were attached behind the chair on rollers. After the ordeal of seating him, Obi-Wan was finally able to wheel Anakin to the elevator lift.
On their way up to the fifth floor, Obi-Wan spoke aloud, "I suppose congratulations are in order."
Anakin, now more alert, managed a weak smile. A laboured breath, and he made out, "Thanks, Obi-Wan." His voice was clearer now.
They arrived at the fifth floor, and Anakin's heart was racing. Obi-Wan sensed it, "Calm down Anakin, everything is fine. Be mindful of your thoughts."
Anakin tried his best to center himself.
After navigating through hallways, they found the door to Padme's room. Anakin was so anxious; he would have ran there if he were able. He felt as though Obi-Wan was pushing the chair torturously slow.
Obi-Wan knocked on the closed door to the room. They entered and came upon a scene of both Sola and Padme sleeping; Sola had her eyes closed while sitting up in a chair across the room from the hospital bed, in which Padme laid asleep. Anakin looked at his sleeping wife, and felt tears sting his eyes.
Sola woke up at recognizing the visitors entering the room. "Obi-Wan, Anakin, oh… I didn't expect…"
Obi-Wan nodded at Sola. Anakin worked to pace his breaths, and Obi-Wan moved his chair closer to Padme's bedside. Through the pain at moving his burned skin, Anakin still reached his right mechano-arm up to touch Padme's hand over the blanket. The cool of his robotic hand disturbed her, stirring her in her sleep, and soon she woke.
"Anakin!" cried Padme upon realizing her love was there in the room with her. She moved her aching body as best she could to sit up, and she held his metal arm with one hand and caressed his face with the other, her eyes glistening.
"I'll give you two some space…" voiced an awkward Obi-Wan. Sola smiled shyly, and left the room also.
Padme leaned forward to kiss him, now both their eyes wet with tears.
"Anakin, I love you," she wept, nuzzling her nose against his.
"I love you too, Padme," he managed, voice raspy and strained.
She leaned back slightly, reaching her left hand forward towards him. Her fingers caressed down from his right brow to his chin, and her heart ached at the sight of the burns around his neck. Her face twisted, so anguished to see him like this, but not wanting him to know how much it hurt her to know he was in such a state. She settled her hand on his mechanical arm and leaned forward to kiss him again. He felt at peace in her presence, and rhapsodically kissed her back.
Despite how weak they both were, sitting in their hospital gowns, they were completely enthralled to be together. They laughed in their mirth at being reunited, and slowly kissed again, Padme being gentle not to hurt Anakin or disturb his oxygen tube.
Pulling back from the kiss, Padme asked in concern, "How are you up here?" She turned to gaze up at the chrono on the wall, "Sola said you wouldn't be awake until much later today…"
Anakin took a deep breath and shook his head, "Doesn't matter. I had to see you…"
Padme smiled sadly. "I love you," she kissed him again, then began to shift her body over to get up out of the bed.
"Padme, don't!" Anakin began, his heart palpitating heavily and his mind forgetting everything; he did not want her to feel the strain of standing. She ignored him, and it was then he noticed the clear bassinette behind him to which his love turned. His heart skipped a beat as he realized what she was doing, or rather who she was retrieving. There was his child. He was a father.
Padme reached down and gathered the baby in her arms. She returned and sat on the side of the bed and leaned forward to her husband, holding their baby towards him. Padme beamed through her tears as she said, "Ani, this is our son, Luke."
Anakin gazed upon his child for the first time, eyes glistening. "Wow," he quietly voiced.
The baby had his colouring, the fair wisps of hair, but very much like Padme in facial features. Anakin did not expect himself to feel so full of emotion, so full of love. Tears falling, he said, "He's perfect." Padme's heart nearly burst at the sight of Anakin beholding his newborn for the first time.
"I wish I could… hold him," Anakin explained in guilt.
Padme shook her head sadly. "It's okay Anakin. Eventually." She held the baby closer to him. "Look, he's perfect." She held a finger out to the baby's hand, which his little fingers grasped right around.
Anakin couldn't believe his luck in life. This was his child, and he felt so much love for the little baby before him. He leaned forward to kiss Luke on the head, tears continuing to fall. "I can't… I can't believe him." He looked up and met her eyes. "You're amazing Padme. I love you. And you, Luke." He reached his metallic hand forward to caress the blankets around the baby's head. A deep sense of peace overcame Anakin, and he breathed the moment in.
After those first minutes together, Padme stood up. "Hold on," she said. Anakin furrowed his brow as Padme moved to put Luke back down in the bassinette behind him.
"Padme, what are you…?" He questioned why she would put the baby back down so soon. He wanted more time, all the time possible, to be with her and his son. Padme placed Luke in his bassinette, then moved to the space directly behind Anakin where he could not see, where, unbeknownst to Anakin, his other child rested in a similar bassinette. She picked up their daughter, went back to the edge of the bed, and sat back down before him.
Anakin looked in confusion at this other baby in the differently coloured blanket. His eyes focusing on the dark wisps of hair peeking through the soft blanket at the baby's crown, he slowly questioned his wife, "…Padme?"
"Ani," she began, elated, "This is our daughter Leia." Padme spoke softly, looking from the baby up to her husband's face.
Anakin's jaw dropped open, his body reacting in sobbing tears.
Worried, Padme spoke quickly, "Ani, Anakin it's ok, it's ok. We're safe. Everything is fine. Take a deep breath." She tried to calm him, holding the baby securely but wanting to reach to him to console him with her touch. "It's okay," she implored, not expecting him to react his way and concerned about his breathing.
Anakin nodded his head noiselessly and worked to control himself. "Twins?" he asked between heaving breaths. Padme nodded in affirmation, then leaned forward with the baby so he could see his daughter for the first time.
Through watery eyes, he found her perfect face, the beginning curls of dark hair, and contented little mouth. He couldn't believe her; she was better than he could ever have imagined. He was amazed at the amount of love he felt, and he momentarily closed his eyes in disbelief at the whole thing. He opened his eyes again, and there was his perfect daughter. His heart nearly exploded.
Still in emotion, he looked up to Padme in shared wonder. She was crying too.
