Three months have gone by and no one has seen or heard from Bane. Both Ahsoka and Cardek were relieved. They were being sent on a supply mission to Lexon for Anakin and his men. Aside from Ahsoka's current condition, the Council believed it would be safe. Cardek and Ahsoka were on their way to Lexon now.
"How much longer until we get there?" She was rubbing her belly.
"Not long, Ahsoka. We'll be there in an hour or two."
"Well, tell the twins that. They've been kicking me non stop for an hour." He chuckled and joked.
"Maybe they're ready to come out."
"Oh my Force. Don't even joke about that. They're not due for another week or two."
"Sorry. Didn't mean to upset you. You know, I kinda can't wait for these babies to be born."
"It's okay. I want them born too. They're kicking the crap out of me. They've never been this excited before."
"It's probably because the due date's so close. I wonder what they'll look like."
"I don't know but," She groaned in pain. Cardek got concerned.
"Are you okay?" She took a few deep breaths, then nodded.
"Yeah. I'm fine." He sighed in relief.
"Thank the Force. I was worried there for a second."
"Don't be. The twins have been a bit rowdy. It was just a kick." She saw the little beeping light on the ship. "Looks like we're here."
"Alright then. Let's go." She took out a holomap.
"Okay. It says that my master's camp should be located around here in the forest. The clones will be on high alert, so we have to be careful. Also, I heard this planet has really dangerous thunder storms, so we'll have to watch out for those too."
"I have a bad feeling about this." He got off the ship with Ahsoka.
"Why? It's perfect out here. We have nothing to worry about right now."
"I don't know why. I just do."
"Well, let's just find my master and get these supplies to him before you jinx us and something does happen."
"Fine. Let's go." He walked towards the forest. As they walked, Ahsoka looked at the holomap.
"According to the map, the camp should be..." A lightning bolt knocked the map out of her hand. She jumped and yelped in pain. "OW!"
"Ahsoka!" He checkd on her frantically. "Are you hurt? Are you alright?" She squeezed her hand and hissed in pain.
"Yeah. I think so. Force, that hurt!"
"Well, you're okay for the most part." He looked around. "Where's the holomap?" Another lightning bolt almost hit her.
"Forget the map! We need to find shelter." His eyes darted around frantically, until they landed on a nerby cave.
"Look over there! A cave! We could stay in there until this blows over!"
"Works for me! Let's go!" She headed for the cave. He dodged several lightning bolts as he and Ahsoka reached the cave. He sat down and panted a bit, and looked out the cave as the storm got worse.
"Damn, I knew something bad was going to happen!" Ahsoka felt something wet run down her legs.
"And I think it just got worse."
"We're stuck in a cave in the middle of a forest on Lexon, with our holomap gone and probably destroyed, and a raging and homicidal storm brewing about! How could it get worse?"
"I think my water just broke!" His eyes widened in utter shock.
"Y-You can't be serious!"
"OF COURSE I'M FUCKING SERIOUS!" She screamed in pain. "I'M GOING INTO LABOR!"
"NOW OF ALL TIMES THIS HAPPENS!" He panicked. "WHY DOES THE FORCE SCREW WITH US LIKE THIS?"
"CARDEK! DO SOMETHING!"
"Okay! Okay! Just calm down the best you can!" He panicked a bit more. "Think Cardek, think! Um...Alright Ahsoka, I'm going to need you to lay down on the ground!"
He helped her lay down. She laid down, breathing heavily and screaming in pain. He pulled off his shirt, folded it up, and placed it under her head for a bit of comfort.
"Okay Cardek. What's next? Um...damn it! I'm no doctor! What do I do?"
"OH FORCE! I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M HAVING MY TWINS IN A CAVE! THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT, CARDEK!"
"HOW IS IT MY FAULT? I CAN'T CAUSE YOU GO INTO LABOR!" He pulled down her pants so the babies could come through.
"IF YOU WOULD'VE TRUSTED YOUR FEELINGS, WE WOULDN'T FUCKING BE HERE RIGHT NOW!"
"YOU WERE THE ONE WHO WANTED TO KEEP GOING DESPITE MY FEELINGS!"
"SINCE WHEN DO YOU LISTEN TO ME WHEN IT INVOLVES MY SAFETY?" His anger reached a boiling point.
"AHSOKA, SHUT UP!" He grabbed her hand and squeezed it tightly. "LISTEN, WHAT HAPPENED HAPPENED! WHAT WE HAVE TO DO NOW IS GET THROUGH THIS! THESE BABIES ARE GOING TO BE BORN AND THAT'S FINAL! SO SHUT UP AND START BREATHING AND PUSHING!"
She was too shocked and in too much pain to respond. She screamed in pain from her first push.
"I swear I'm going to be mentally disturbed and scarred after this all over!" He positioned himself in front of her, still holding her hand. "Breath Ahsoka! Breathe! Keep pushing!"
Her screams grew louder as she pushed more. "That's it, keep pushing! You're almost there, Ahsoka! Keep pushing!"
With one loud scream, she pushed as hard as she could. He grew pale at what he saw and nearly threw up, but stayed strong. "I see a head, Ahsoka! One more time!"
"IT HURTS!"
"Just one more time, Ahsoka! Then it'll be over at least momentarily! Do it for us, and the babies!" She pushed hard and screamed as loud as she could. Crying was heard as he grabbed the baby. He looked in awe and wonder as he held it up, allowing Ahsoka to see it. It had dark purple skin and full grey lips. It had proof of growing montrals on the top of it's head. It's fingers were slightly longer than normal. Ahsoka found it perfect in every way.
"What is it?"
"It's a girl...It's a girl, Ahsoka." She smiled weakly.
"A girl. My baby girl. She's beautiful." He smiled as well.
"She is. I knew you be happy. We'll name her Amai...just like we planned."
"Yeah." She groaned in pain. "And I think it's time for Carth to come out!"
"Let's hope it's a boy. Alright Ahsoka, start pushing!" She screamed in pain as she started pushing again. "That's it! Keep pushing! You can do it, Ahsoka!"
Her breathing became more labored. "Cardek... I can't... I can't do it." His eyes widened.
"Yes you can! Don't give up on me Ahsoka! We've come too far! If I lose you, then my life means nothing! I believe in you, Ahsoka." He leaned in and gave her a short, soft kiss, a tear rolling down his eye. "Don't you dare give up."
"It's too much. I don't think... I can make it." He started to cry.
"Yes you can! Don't leave me! The babies need you! I need you! We've been through too much together to let this happen!" He broke down in tears. "Don't give up...Don't give up on me! I love you!"
"Cardek, I love you too. If I don't make it, promise me you'll take care of the twins."
"I...I promise. But you won't die! I refuse to let that happen! You'll pull through, I know you will!" He grabbed her hand and squeezed. "You'll pull through! THAT is a promise!"
She gathered all her energy and pushed. He held Amai closer.
"That's it! Keep pushing! Stay with us, Ahsoka! I can see a head! You're almost there!" She gathered the last of her energy and pushed as hard as she could. More crying was heard as he grabbed the baby with his remaining arm and held it up for Ahsoka. "It's a boy."
She was breathing heavily. "My baby boy. Carth. He's perfect."
"He's amazing. He's like...a gift from the Force itself. My son..." He looked at Ahsoka. "Are you okay?"
"I think so." She carefully sat up. "I want to hold my babies."
"It's only fair." He handed the babies carefully to Ahsoka. She cradled them in her arms and smiled upon them.
"They're so cute. And they're my babies." She looked to Cardek. "Our babies." He smiled.
"Our babies...I like the sound of that. It feels...satisfying. I told you that it would all be worth it when they were born." He stroked Carth's head tenderly.
"And you were right. Cardek, I'm glad you were here to birth them and I'm sorry for what I said earlier."
"No problem Ahsoka. Not the way I expected to be a part of it, but I'm glad nonetheless. And I forgive you. It was the pain talking, not you. Although I'm going to have nightmares over what I just saw for weeks." She chuckled.
"You're going to have nightmares about birthing your own kids? I'm surprised at you."
"Hey, I just got a up-close, personal look at the birthing process, and it wasn't pretty in the slightest. Still..." He looked at the babies with a tender smile. "It was all worth it."
"Well, despite that, I glad you thought it was." She looked down at Amai slowly opening her eyes. Ahsoka smiled as she saw the color of her daugther's eyes match her own.
"Would you look at that? She has your eyes. Like mother, like daughter."
"She does. I wonder what color Carth's are."
"Hmmm, good question." He leaned to Carth and whispered. "Wake up, little Carth." Ahsoka giggled.
"Cardek, I don't think he's going to wake up just because you ask him to. He WAS a little delayed."
"Hey, give me a break. At least I tried."
"He's a newborn. He's tired. And I'm pretty sure he was the one kicking me all day."
"Really? Well he sure is an anxious one then."
"I guess he knew he was going to be born today."
"We already have a prodigy then." He chuckled. "You know, I'm kinda hoping he has my eyes, even if the chances are slim."
"I don't think red and blue make green. Him having your eyes would be nice, though."
"It would, wouldn't it?" He looked at Carth. "Hey, he's waking up."
"He is. Now, we'll know what color his eyes are."
"What color are your eyes, my son?"
"It looks like..." He opened his eyes. "...red." His eyes were like Ahsoka's, but red. He smiled sadly.
"Well, I'm a bit dissapointed, but that doesn't mean I love him any less."
"He's our son. We shouldn't judge him on how he looks. The fact of the matter is he's ours."
"Of course, Ahsoka. He's ours, and so is Amai, and nothing will ever change that." A thought ran through his mind and he chuckled.
"What are you chuckling about?"
"Just the fact that we still need to get to Anakin's camp, and when we enter, we'll be carrying two newborn babies with us. Imagine the look on Anakin's face when he sees that."
"He'll probably flip out. He sometimes joked that when they're born, they'll shoot right out of me and he'll want to catch it. He also said he wanted to be their godfather."
"Well, I don't mind if he is. He's helped us out throughout this whole thing, and he deserves to be the godfather."
"He does." Carth started to whine. She gently shook him. "What's wrong, Carth?"
"Maybe he's hungry."
"Probably. Here, take Amai." She handed her to him. He took Amai and rocked her gently. Ahsoka pulled down her shirt and exposed her breast. Cardek looked at her breasts, and smirked to himself as he continued rocking Amai. Ahsoka rolled her eyes with a smile. "Wipe that smirk from your face. These aren't for you at the moment."
He chuckled. "Yes dear." He caringly stroked Amai's head. Ahsoka chuckled as she placed Carth at her breast.
"So...this is what it feels like to be a parent."
"What do you mean?" Carth started to suck on her breast.
"This feeling of joy, of wonder, of love...I feel happy, I feel complete. Isn't that what you feel?"
"Yeah, it is. It's one of the great things of being a parent. I love the feeling of being with my babies. And with you. I feel like we're a family."
"We are a family, Ahsoka. And we always will be." He leaned in to kiss her. "And I wouldn't have it any other way."
"I'm glad you think that. I love you."
"I love you too, Ahsoka." Her smile faded.
"Cardek, someone's coming." He turned his head to the cave entrance, his hand instinctively reaching for lightsaber. Anakin walked in and saw them.
"Cardek. Ahsoka. There you guys are."
"Master?" Cardek lowered his hand, breathing a sigh of relief.
"It's just Anakin." Anakin scoffed.
"Well, hello to you too, Cardek. Are you guys alright?"
"Yeah, I guess you could say we're alright." Anakin noticed the babies.
"So you already had the twins."
"Yeah. That's Amai and this little one is Carth."
"A storm came in as we were walking to the camp and we had no choice but to hide in this cave. And of course, Ahsoka went into labor then and there. It wasn't easy, let me tell you, but the babies came out alright."
"Carth here almost didn't come out." Anakin was puzzled.
"What do you mean?"
"The pain was becoming too much for her and I nearly lost her and Carth. But she managed to hang on, much to my relief and joy."
"Well, I'm glad you made it. Both of you."
"Thank you, Master."
"Can I hold one of them?"
"Sure." Cardek stood up and handed Amai to Anakin. "But be careful."
He carefully took Amai and looked at her. Amai looked back at him. "She has your eyes, Snips."
"I know."
"She's beautiful."
"I know. She's a gift from the Force."
"They both are." Amai lifted her hand to Anakin. He took it and gently shook it. "Hey, little one. Welcome to the world."
"You're a lot better with kids than I thought."
"Yeah, I thought they would scream at the first sight of him."
"Ha ha. Very funny, Cardek. You're already on thin ice being with my Padawan. Don't push your luck."
"Whatever. I'll keep it in my mind."
"You better." Ahsoka spoke up.
"Guys, you know what I just noticed?"
"What?"
"Carth has been eating for almost ten minutes and he won't let go."
"Really? He must be a hungry little kid."
"He's a boy, so I'm not that surprised."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Don't get offended. Newborn Togruta boys are twice as hungry as girls."
"Ah, I see. Sorry I misunderstood."
"It's okay. I didn't exactly make that clear enough. Besides, I think he's done now." She moved Carth from her breast and pulled her shirt back up. Anakin looked away.
"Okay, that was something I did not need to see." Cardek chuckled at Anakin's reaction. "What are you chuckling at?"
Ahsoka put Carth over her shoulder and gently started to pat his back. "Calm down, Master. He meant nothing by it, right Cardek?"
"Yeah, I didn't mean anything by it. Just enjoying the moment."
"You're lucky I'm holding a baby and that Ahsoka would kill me if I killed you."
"I've actually gotten used to your threats, Anakin."
"Have you, now? Well..." Ahsoka spoke up.
"Guys, can you not do this right now? I'm in no mood to break you two apart if this gets physical."
"She's right. The twins have just been born. We should be happy right now."
"That you, Cardek. Besides, I'm really tired and could use a nap right now." Carth burped. She chuckled at him. "And apparently so could he."
Cardek smiled and picked her up bridal style. "Then I guess we better head to the camp then."
"Yeah. It's this way. Follow me."