Misplaced pronoun...incorrect punctuation...fragment...run-on...One by one the grammatical errors were marked in red on the holographic readout, the frown of she who did the corrections growing deeper with each one. How did these students make it through primary school? she wondered with a shake of her head. Each essay seemed to have more mistakes than the last. Finishing with the current essay, she ejected the data card from the console and glanced at the chronometer. Two hours already? She still had sixteen to go.

With a sigh and a soft groan, Padme Amidala Skywalker leaned back in her chair and rubbed her temples. It had not been easy giving up her position as Representative to her home planet. Padme had enjoyed the ability to do good for her people and help effect needed changes. But lately it seemed the job had been a bit harder on her than usual. Twice before had she lost her temper, twice before working too hard and oversleeping from exhaustion. Padme knew she was overwhelmed, but wasn't one to quit. Finally the Queen herself had taken Padme aside.

"You have served Naboo admirably. I doubt any one person has done more than you," she smiled. "But you have done so for twenty years. You need serve no longer. It is time for you to settle down and focus on that lovely family of yours."

It was a polite way of asking Padme to step down. While there had been tears, Padme realized the Queen was right. She had done her part and then some, serving longer than the vast majority of her peers. So she had retired from her position as Representative.

Idleness had never suited Padme. While Luke and Leia were more than enough to keep her busy, by then they were spending most of their time at the Jedi Temple with Anakin and were only home on the weekends...and, once in a while, for a holiday. Padme had so much time on her hands she didn't know what to do with herself. Hobbies such as gardening and a brief attempt at painting never filled the void. She had to be doing something that mattered in the long run.

So, Padme had put in her name for consideration for a teaching position. Once her name was seen all the other applications had been discarded. For seven years now, Padme had been working as a Social Studies teacher and tutor for the lower grades in secondary school.

Most of the time, Padme enjoyed teaching. Filling young minds with knowledge gave her a great sense of satisfaction. Her heart soared with happiness when a student who had been struggling finally understood a concept and ran with it. She also felt as if she was carrying on her late father's legacy.

Then there were the days where everything seemed to go wrong. This had been one of those days. In the eighth-term class a trio of thirteen year old boys consistently joked, tittered, and generally didn't pay attention to the lesson on Gungan society. Three separate times Padme quietly asked them to stop. They didn't. Finally the woman had enough and asked all three of them to leave the classroom and go straight to the principal's office with two demerits each. When the last complained loudly and made a crude remark about the intelligence of Gungans- and one Gungan in particular -it was all Padme could do to keep from slapping the impudent teen. Recalling the incident later had left her in tears.

Padme liked to think she was a fairly patient woman. Lately it seemed that every little thing was setting her off either with anger or sadness. She had also been plagued with increasing bouts with insomnia, headaches, and dizzy spells and wondered what in the galaxy was going on. The only reason Padme could come up with was the fact that her husband had been out saving the galaxy for a month...with only two points where he had contacted her.

They had been separated for long periods before. In the early days, when their marriage had been a secret, they went weeks and even months at a time without seeing or speaking with each other. Since the secret was out things had improved. Until Anakin had gone back to the Jedi they never spent more than a day apart. Even since Anakin had returned to the Order and begun taking the children to the Temple, she saw him at least three days out of the week and spoke with him almost every day.

I'm spoiled, reflected Padme as she tried to rub away the newest headache forming between her temples. We knew what would happen when he went back. While her heart longed for her Ani, she had long ago accepted the fact that life as a Jedi wasn't normal. She had to share her husband with the galaxy.

But did an undercover sting operation to shut down an illegal spice smuggling ring really have to take a month? Why had it been so long since he had contacted her? Surely the Temple would have left word if something had happened. Anakin had said in his last transmission he should be coming home soon. That had been days ago. Where was he?

He's fine, Padme told herself, though she had long since lost her concentration. The children would know if he wasn't. They'd tell me.

The children...? Padme looked again at the chronometer and grimaced. They were supposed to be coming home any minute. She would have picked them up from the Temple herself, had she the transportation. But Anakin had to take the family starship and repaint it so he could travel incognito. Republic transports were too recognizable. That left the job of taking Luke and Leia home to one of the Jedi mechanics. Jerim S'laan had never passed the Trials, but had made a place for himself in the repair bay. Anakin trusted the man with his life and the children seemed to enjoy his stories. So when neither parent could take Luke and Leia back to Naboo for the weekend, Jerim did it.

Padme sighed when she surveyed the pile of datacards she had yet to go over. So much for finishing before the children are home. All motivation and concentration seemed to have gone. All she wanted to do was take a nap. Maybe something to drink would help...Padme pushed to her feet and was once again assaulted by a spell of dizziness. She had to brace herself against the table to keep from staggering. What's going on?

The soft whirring of servomotors announced the arrival of See-Threepio. The golden protocol droid tilted his head to one side in concern. "Oh. Dear me, Miss Padme, are you all right? I do hope you have not taken ill."

Padme forced a smile as the dizziness passed. "I'm fine, Threepio. Just tired."

"Might I suggest you take a respite? If I may say so, you look a bit...well, out of sorts," said the droid as tactfully as he could.

"Do I?" Padme gave an ironic chuckle. Her reflection in the nearest window looked about as tired as she felt. A small streak of gray beneath one temple had appeared seemingly out of nowhere several months before. Its presence had made Padme laugh. At thirty-nine she was on the cusp of entering middle age and her mother had grayed early, covering it with dye. The odds were against her. At the moment Padme felt about twice her age. "Unfortunately I can't take a break until I'm finished. These assignments still have to be graded."

"Well, then, is there anything I might do to help?"

"No, thank you, Threepio. I can manage."

"A cup of tea, perhaps?"

Padme smiled. "That...sounds perfect. Thank you."

Happy to be of use, Threepio executed a stiff bow. "It shall be ready momentarily, my lady."

The floral tea had barely finished steeping when the distinctive sound of a starship coming in for a landing made a relieved smile rise on Padme's face. They're here. One last correction was made on the current essay before the datacard was ejected and the console put in sleep mode.

The next moment, the stampeding of young feet raced up to the front door. After a brief, muffled argument over who won the race, the door slid open to admit a pair of eleven year old children. "Hi, Mom! We're home," announced Luke.

Padme was already up and halfway to the door by then. "Luke. Leia." One at a time the children were caught in a close embrace and given a kiss on the cheek. "Well, it looks as if you're both in one piece," she remarked with a relieved sigh. The dangers of Jedi training were not something to dwell upon.

"Of course we are," said Luke indignantly. "You don't have to worry about us."

"I'm your mother. It's my job," replied Padme with a slight smile. It faded into a look of wistfulness as she saw that Luke was nearly as tall as she. "You've grown again."

"It's only been a week, Mother," said Leia, amused.

"Maybe just I keep forgetting how tall you both are. Oh, I hope you've thanked Jedi S'laan for the ride," reminded Padme as only a mother can. She looked outside to thank him herself and saw no one. Confusion made her take a step back.

The twins exchanged barely-contained grins. Luke shrugged. "Oh, it wasn't Jerim this time."

Padme knit her brows. No one had said anything. "Then who gave you the ride home...?"

"If you'll excuse me, M'lady, it was I." A tall, handsome Jedi with a twinkle in his blue eyes sidestepped into view and executed a formal bow. "You needn't worry. I assure you that your children were quite safe in my care."

Padme's head snapped up at the voice and crossed the space of two meters in a single bound. "Anakin!" In half a moment she was in her husband's arms. Then he kissed her, and the rest faded away.

She might have had to share Anakin with the rest of the galaxy, but this part was all hers.

:=v=: :=v=: :=v=:

In a matter of minutes Luke, Leia, and Anakin had all unpacked and settled in. Artoo-Detoo, Anakin's blue and white astromech, had also come inside to converse with the family and See-Threepio. In time dinner was ready, and the family sat down to eat and talk.

Luke needed no prompting to speak extensively about what he and Leia had learned during the week and different things that had happened. His tone was one of great enthusiasm. He detailed progress made in different applications of the Force, for both him and Leia. She was the one he bragged on, proudly speaking of her high marks and social skills. Both children were praised equally by both parents, though admittedly Padme was a little lost during the conversation. Anakin explained anything he could and encouraged the children to go on.

Leia was quieter and didn't say much except about the areas where she felt most comfortable; academics. There was a conversation between her and Padme for a time while they discussed history and why so much of the galaxy interpreted things differently than the Jedi.

"Oh, speaking of exams...Dad?" said Luke, swallowing a mouthful of spicy noodles. "Piloting exams are next week. Do you think I could practice in your ship?"

"I don't know," said Anakin, catching how uneasy Padme looked. "Maybe when you have more experience."

"Experience? I've been flying since I was six."

"I've been flying since I was four, and I have about twenty years on you."

Luke nodded eagerly. "I know. That's why I want you to teach me. You're the best pilot in the galaxy!"

Anakin's mouth threatened a smile. "Flattery isn't going to get you anywhere, son."

Luke sighed impatiently. "But it's true, right? And I'm not going to get any better unless I practice."

It was a struggle not to chuckle at how Luke was working his father. Anakin smiled. Personally he wouldn't have any problem letting his children fly his ship. He knew their skills and felt confident neither of them was going to crash. But judging by Padme's pale complexion she didn't feel the same. "Is it all right with your mother?"

Luke turned to Padme and took her hand. "Mom, I promise I'll be careful."

Padme offered her son a wan smile at the typical pre-teen promise. She actually trusted him to keep it more than the average child, but the fact remained that he was still a child. "I know, Luke. Both you and Leia are fine pilots. You, unfortunately, can be a little reckless. I don't want you going up alone."

"They won't," put in Anakin firmly. When Luke tried to protest he showed a palm. "I'm sorry, Luke. I know you can handle the ship, but I'm not letting either of you fly solo until you're sixteen. Understand?"

"I guess," sighed Luke. His disappointment was brief. "Does...that mean I can go?"

After seeing Padme nod, Anakin turned back to his son. "All right. Two conditions; first, Leia comes with us, and second, no showing off. Deal?"

Luke's bright grin returned, and he sat up a little straighter in his seat. "Deal. Thanks."

Leia eyed her twin brother. "You better not stick me in the copilot's seat the whole time like you did last month," she warned.

Luke nodded, but the glint was still in his blue eyes as he gulped down another mouthful of noodles. He didn't mind sharing flight time with Leia. His only hope was that their father would allow them more than an hour in the air.

:=v=: :=v=: :=v=:

After dinner Luke busied himself talking Leia into different physical challenges in the backyard, and Leia was taking him up on them. Where she struggled, he helped her. At the moment they were having a competition as to who could walk farther on their hands.

Padme and Anakin had just finished the dishes and had risen from the table to talk in the living room when another dizzy spell assaulted Padme, and she staggered, hand to her head.

"Padme?" Anakin quickly gripped his wife's waist and eyed her in concern. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine." Padme smiled at her husband, but when he let go, she went down again.

"Come on, sit down," urged Anakin, all but carrying her to the sofa despite her frustrations. "What's the matter?"

"I just stood up too fast," said Padme, rubbing her temples. "It's nothing."

Threepio waddled by, stopped, and turned to regard the pair. "Oh, my lady. Another dizzy spell? Dear, dear. You really must slow down."

Padme frowned at the droid and waved him aside. "I'm fine, Threepio," she said with a slight edge to her voice. "Why don't you see if the flowers in the greenhouse need watering?"

Threepio seemed taken aback, but bowed and waddled off again.

Anakin, meanwhile, felt his alarm rise a notch. "What did he mean? This has happened before, hasn't it?"

Reluctantly Padme nodded.

Anakin's reparative instincts immediately kicked in. Find out what's wrong and fix it if you can. "When did it start?"

Padme shrugged. "A few days after you left."

That long? Anakin sagged a little in his chair. "What happened?"

"I don't know. I'm not hurt," said Padme quickly, "so don't look at me as if I'm going to fall apart."

"Is there anything else?"

"Headaches...sometimes."

"You need to see a medic."

Padme shook her head at his worry. "Ani, don't start. It's just fatigue. I haven't been sleeping very well, and this is what happens."

Anakin knit his brows, fretfully rubbing the back of Padme's hand. "Well, why haven't you been sleeping?"

Padme gave a helpless shrug and offered a tired smile. "I missed you."

Anakin slid his arm around Padme's shoulders. "I missed you, too. But something tells me this is something else. As soon as you can, I want you to see a medic. All right?"

Padme frowned, but was too tired to argue. "All right...but I'm fine. So stop worrying about me."

Anakin let out a heavy sigh and rubbed his face against hers. "I can't help it. I love you so much, and I can't stand it when you or the children are in pain. Is there anything I can do?"

"Well, there is something that might help."

"What's that?"

Padme turned around and craned her neck upward to kiss her husband firmly on the lips. She didn't stop until they were facing each other and locked in an embrace.

Anakin blinked with pleasant surprise as he pulled back. "Feel better?"

Padme nodded. "I do. Thank you."

Anakin's smile widened. "Happy to help."

Their second kiss was interrupted by a chorus of giggles. Both parents and pulled away to see Luke and Leia standing in the doorway wearing a pair of silly grins.

Anakin grunted in annoyance, pressing his forehead against Padme's for a brief moment. By unspoken consent, they agreed to resume their conversation later.

:=v=: :=v=: :=v=:

Long after both Luke and Leia had gone to bed, their parents did resume the conversation. Some of it involved speaking of different events that had befallen them while Anakin was away. In other instances, no words were needed. It took time. There was quite a bit to catch up on.

Sometime later they lay side by side with quiet contentment between them. Padme felt much better and was nearing sleep, head pillowed on her husband's shoulder, while Anakin stared into the darkness. His mind wandered back to the Temple until it settled on a subject he would rather not think about. It made him frown even as he held Padme in his arms. There was still something they had not discussed. Too late now, he thought, sighing heavily. It would have to wait until tomorrow.

Padme stirred against him. With a yawn she lifted her head and turned bleary eyes to her husband. "Ani?"

Anakin stroked her cheek. "I'm sorry. Did I wake you?"

Padme shook her head. "No. I wasn't asleep yet. Is something bothering you?"

Anakin smiled ruefully. "You should have been a Jedi. Sometimes I think you can sense things as easily as Luke and Leia can."

"Well, after fifteen years, I hope I know you well enough to not need the Force," offered Padme with her own lopsided smile. It faded quickly. "What's wrong?"

"I don't know that anything is...wrong," hesitated Anakin. "I was just thinking about the children."

"What about them?" asked Padme, mildly concerned. "Were they hurt more than Leia told me?"

"No. Leia's fine. Her arm should be better in the morning."

"What, then?"

Anakin let out another sigh. "It's their training. They're both growing so strong in the Force. Everyone in the Temple has taken notice of them, from the youngest initiate to the oldest Master. Both are generating quite a bit of talk...mostly Luke."

Padme knit her brows. "Why Luke? Haven't you said both he and Leia are equally strong in the Force?"

The Jedi nodded. "They are. But their talents are in different areas. Leia's strengths are in academics and social skills. She relates well to people...I might even say she's a natural leader in some ways. She takes after you, in that instance." Anakin smiled indulgently at his wife.

Padme waved his compliments away. "Actually, I think she might be better at that than I am. What about Luke?"

Anakin moistened his lips. "Luke is more physical. His talents lie in swordsmanship, telekinesis, piloting, mechanics...that kind of thing."

Padme chuckled. "Sounds like another Jedi I know. So, what's the problem?"

Here Anakin cringed. "The problem is both of them are learning at a faster pace than I ever imagined. Luke could build his own lightsaber by the end of the year. He's been ready to be taken on as an apprentice for almost thirteen months now. Leia has a few more things to learn before she is, but it won't be long."

The former senator frowned. "But Anakin, I thought you were going to be the one to train our children."

Anakin shook his head. "Only until they were ready to be taken as apprentices."

"But why? I may not be a Jedi, but I can see the progress they've made. Why shouldn't you keep training them, even as Padawans?" Padme wanted to know.

"Because the Jedi Code still forbids taking on more than one apprentice at a time," explained Anakin.

"Hasn't the Code been changed?"

"Only the parts about attachment. And to be honest, I don't know that I would be the best teacher for them."

Padme snuggled a bit closer to her husband. "Ani, of course you would. You're wonderful with them."

Anakin gave a wan smile. "Being a father is one thing. Being their master would be something else. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have them as apprentices. I'm just not sure if I could take on both of them at once."

Padme shrugged. "Well, if not you, then whom?"

Anakin grimaced. "There's no shortage of choices. Leia already has a few Masters watching her closely, and Luke? He has a line going out the door."

Padme blinked as she absorbed what her husband was saying. She understood the worry about not being able to handle both at once. They were a loving but trying pair. "Coudn't you train just one of them, then?"

Sadly the Jedi nodded. "I'd like to very much. But taking one of them and not the other could make them jealous. I don't want to have to choose between my children."

Padme seemed to understand this. She nodded back. "I know. I don't think I would be able to choose between them either." Her head returned to Anakin's shoulder. "When will you know that the children are ready to graduate from the Youngling class?"

Anakin almost chuckled. "Graduate? I've never heard it put that way before...but I'm not sure. I'll tell you when I do."

"You'd better," murmured Padme. A large yawn nearly split her face. "Well, it's not going to be tomorrow, so you don't need to worry about it tonight."

"I'm not worried, just concerned," corrected Anakin.

Padme shrugged. "Either way, you'll do neither yourself nor the twins any good losing sleep over it. It can wait a few more days."

Anakin sighed softly. "I suppose so. What about you?"

The woman smiled at him. "I'm fine. But the sooner you go to sleep, the sooner I'll be able to...and I'm tired." She yawned yet again.

How in the galaxy did I end up with the perfect woman? Anakin stroked Padme's bare arm with the back of his hand, smiling softly. "All right. I'll sleep." He leaned over to cover her lips with his in a brief but firm kiss. "I love you."

A warm but tired smile spread across Padme's face. "I love you." Curling up against her husband, she was asleep in moments.