Jobal stood at the stove making breakfast for her and Ruwee. She had discovered Anakin had gone out again this morning for another job interview when she found a note in the kitchen.
Ruwee walked down the stairs. The smell of whatever was being cooked filled his nostrils. "Dear?" Ruwee called out.
"In here Ruwee." Jobal answered.
"Where's Anakin?" Ruwee asked as soon as he reached the kitchen, and noticed Anakin's absence.
"He had another interview."
Ruwee looked down. "Oh." Ruwee sat at the table and picked up his data pad. "Poor him. Three interviews already and now another one."
Jobal nodded in agreement. "I admire him though. After three you thought he might get even a little discouraged; but no. He just comes back, spends time with his children, then goes to another interview." Jobal placed her and Ruwee's plates on the table before she sat down with him.
"Your right. Now, hopefully this fellow will actually listen to him. Especially with his situation. A father with an unresponsive wife and their two children, and he's raising them on his own. Nobody should ever have to go through that."
Jobal nodded.
"But then again he's who he is. I know he won't give up on his family. He never has and still hasn't on Padmé. I can completely tell why Padmé loved him so much. Cause I love him the same... as my son."
Joabl smiled at her husband. "He is our son. Not by blood but by love. And I love him so much too!"
Ruwee let his admiring words about Anakin continue. "Isn't it easy to tell that he loves being a father?"
Jobal nodded.
"I'm amazed at how quickly he's adjusted to it. You remember when Sola was born, it took me like 2 months before I finally got used to it."
"Well, it's like you said. He is who he is."
Ruwee smiled at Jobal once more.
They both were grateful that Anakin had joined their family, now both had equal confidence in Anakin as a husband and a father.
Anakin walked back home after his interview. At last someone was willing to let him work from home at least until the twins were old enough to attend school. Afterward he could begin actually working at the shop. He liked who he was working for, and that helped raise his confidence level a little. However, the only thing he was really focused on was getting back home and holding his kids.
Anakin walked into the house, and he could sense the only ones in the house were the twins. Jobal probably waited till they were asleep, and left 3P0 to watch them so she could run to the market. Luke could probably give her enough time, but Leia would be up begging for attention before anyone knew it. Proven, because of the wails coming from upstairs. Anakin could easily sense it was the little girl. Anakin rushed upstairs so he could tend to her.
There was Leia waving her tiny hands in the air, and wailing. Anakin came over to her crib and scooped her up. "What is it Sweet Angel?" He tried touching her mind with the force, but she didn't need anything. She just wanted him. He could feel and hear her begin to settle as he held her longer. Anakin himself felt his own need to hold her settling. He turned his head to her and kissed her forehead. "Happy girl!" He played. He bounced her a little on his shoulder, and he could swear he heard her giggle. Wanting to try this he took her from his shoulder and raised her above his head, then gently tossed her in the air and caught her in his hands again. The smile that the new thrill had caused lit up her whole face, and she was laughing continuously. "You liked that didn't you? Fly girl!" He brought her to his face and rubbed his nose with her own. "You might just end up like Daddy when you grow up. Daddy loves flying. If it's what you want to do you might just become a pilot." Anakin continued to play and pretended to look around to make sure no one was around then he brought Leia closer to his face so he could whisper to her. "Of course, we won't tell Mamma that! No no!" He nudged Leia's cheek with his nose, and she continued to laugh.
Anakin continued to play around with Leia until she got tired, but of course Luke woke up later and he had his own amount of play time with Anakin.
Anakin smiled at all of the fun he had with his children. He couldn't even remember the last time he had just simply played like that, but he enjoyed it. Anakin kissed Luke before he set him back in his crib after he had gotten tired. "You get some good rest Little Buddy!" He whispered to his son.
His son! Anakin thought. And his daughter! Anakin had never though he would be so blessed. Of course he had always wanted children, but he never expected to end up with twins with he and his Padmé's first pregnancy.
Padmé! Anakin all of he sudden remembered the promise that he had made to her. He had promised he would tell the twins about her. And what better time to start than now? When the twins were fighting to fall asleep. Anakin sat down on the cushioned chair next to the twins' cribs, and simply let words fall out of his mouth. "Daddy is the best pilot in the galaxy you know! Nothing gets past Daddy in flying. Mommy always said Daddy was crazy because of the way Daddy flies. However, I can assure you two right now Daddy is not crazy!" Anakin paused for a moment and laughed. After he calmed down he looked back at the twins, and continued his story telling. "You know Leia, you look just like Mommy. Mommy is very pretty, just like you! Just like Luke is handsome like Daddy. Mommy is also very smart. You could ask her to figure out something and she could. Mommy also has a very good heart. She tried to put others before herself. She loves you both so much!" Anakin paused for a moment to collect himself from his growing emotions. "If Mommy could be here with us right now she would. However, she's asleep. She'll wake up when she's ready. But until then, you two better not forget about her!" Anakin looked down at them, and saw that they were trying there hardest to stay awake. "But I promise that you never will. Not as long as I'm around to tell you everything about her."
Anakin saw Luke trying to reach up to Anakin with his hand. Anakin reached his hand into his crib and took his son's tiny hand within his own. The little boy fell asleep a few minutes later. Anakin laid the hand down by Luke's side then looked to his daughter. She was staring at him. Love gleaming in her eyes though. The same look that Padmé had in her eyes when she looked at him. Anakin rubbed Leia's cheek with his real finger. The sweet little girl cooed to him, and he told her he loved her.
Anakin watched the breeze swing the trees into a dance out the window from his bed. His children cooed beside him after a warm bath, a feeding, and being dressed in their pjs.
Anakin kept them with him at night. It comforted him, and he was quick to learn that they enjoyed it too. That's where he would keep them until he decided it was time to start getting them used to being on their own at night.
The thought alone of either of them growing up was heartbreaking. However, it was something he would teach them as they did mature. It is important to not lose your child spirit completely. It benefited him as he got older, and he hoped it would them as they grew.
He prayed Padmé would awake soon. She would love them as much as he did already. Then again how could she not already love them. They are her babies. She shared a precious bond with them that he couldn't possibly understand. He wondered if it was that way with all mothers. Something he probably would have to ask Jobal about.
However, the twins only knew him as their parent, and had bonded with him enough that they knew he was their father. Would Padmé wake up in time so that they could still bond with her he wondered. Then if she didn't how would they react when she did wake up. Would he have to do the best he could to get them to accept her as their mother as they grew, or would they do that on their own because she woke up. He wasn't sure what the future held, but whatever it did. He would be there for them. They wouldn't be alone for as long as he lived.
Anakin leaned down and kissed each of them goodnight. Then he leaned over and turned off his lamp.