AN: I know some of you are going to look at that tile and be like, "what?" But just go with it. And since I'm still without internet, I haven't been able to reply to reviews or even adjust my profile accordingly. So a concern came up about Padmé killing a Jedi being stretched and it is and I took all of that into account when I wrote this story and left some things open for a sequel later. So some things you'll all just have to wait to be explained completely later and go with for the time being and someone mentioned Anakin, and believe me, I've got stuff planned for him in the future. You'll see.

Anywho, special thanks to Jedi Master Misty Sman-Esay for letting me know that I accidently posted the wrong chapter. I went and deleted it and replaced it asap. The funny thing is though that even after you delete a chapter it keeps all the reviews you got for it. A flaw needs to fix perhaps? Whatever.

Read, enjoy, and review!

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Chapter Seven

Luke and Leia

Anakin wasn't as bothered by the council not appointing him to be a master as he thought he'd be. He said it himself. The council elected its own members. It wasn't a fight worth fighting as he was in a rush to get back to Padmé. Therefore if he could save himself some time by not arguing, who cared what the council did and said. Padmé's behavior was bothering him more than his own disappointment at not being a master. She was still herself, but something was off. Could it be the beginning of his dreams coming true?

He shook his head of the thought as he heard Obi-wan call him. Anakin turned to look at his former master, but wasn't really looking at him as he was caught in his own thoughts.

"You seem rather calm about the council's decision," he pointed out.

"I know I am," Anakin muttered absently.

Obi-wan raised his eyebrows at him before frowning. "Something's bothering you and you're not doing a very good job of hiding it."

"It's nothing," Anakin said quickly.

Obi-wan obviously didn't belief him, but left it alone regardless. "Anyway, the council doesn't like when Palpatine interferes in Jedi affairs."

"I said as much to him and Padmé," Anakin replied remembering that it was he who ended up defending the Jedi not only to Palpatine but Padmé. "I didn't ask him."

"But it's what you wanted. Your friendship with Chancellor Palpatine seems to have-." Obi-wan stopped. "Padmé? Senator Amidala?

"You know any other Padmé's?" Anakin asked dryly.

"What's she got to do with this?"

Anakin shrugged. "I don't know. She just so happened to be having a meeting with the chancellor I guess."

Obi-wan accepted that but didn't miss the way Anakin's tone became uncertain when he mentioned Padmé.

"Regardless, you're in a delicate situation."

"You mean divided loyalties?" Anakin asked.

"You walked right into it."

"You of all people should have confidence in my abilities. I know where my loyalties lie," Anakin said certainly.

"I hope so."

"I sense there's more to this than you're saying."

"Anakin, the only reason the Council has approved your appointment is because the Chancellor trusts you."

Anakin sighed impatiently. "And?"

"I'm on your side. I didn't want to see you put in this situation," Obi-wan assured.

"What situation?"

Obi-wan paused before saying, "The council wants you to report on all of the chancellor's dealings. They want to know what he's up to."

"They want me to spy on the Chancellor! That's Treason!"

"We're at war Anakin. The Jedi Council is sworn to uphold the principles of the Republic even if the Chancellor does not," Obi-wan reminded.

Anakin's first instinct was to react in outrage, but then he paused as he went back to his conversation with Palpatine and Padmé. Padmé had agreed with Palpatine on some of the things he said. Then he remembered her asking him how the Jedi could uphold the Republic when they didn't give their members a choice to have those same rights. Even though it made sense, the fact of the matter was she had agreed that Palpatine deserved to have control of the council. Since when did she agree with him politically? If he remembered correctly, she was one of his biggest critics or at least she used to be. The only reasonable explanation was that she was up to something or Palpatine was. But it was ridiculous. Palpatine was a good man and Padmé was his wife, but still…

"Anakin," Obi-wan said snapping him out his thoughts.

"Sorry Master. I have a lot on my mind," Anakin replied.

"I can see. Are you sure it's nothing?"

"Why didn't the council give me this assignment when we were in session?" Anakin asked ignoring the question.

Obi-wan didn't press. "This assignment isn't to be on record. The council asked me to approach you personally."

"The chancellor isn't a bad man," Anakin said though it wasn't as convincing as it would have normally been. "He befriended me. He's watched out for me ever since I arrived here."

"That's why you must help us, Anakin. Our allegiance is to the Senate, not to its leader who has managed to stay in office long after his term expired."

Anakin started to reply before remembering Padmé's words about the Senate. She sounded as though she had lost trust in the abilities of the Senate and it almost sounded like she had lost faith in democracy. But that was ridiculous. Padmé was the voice of democracy.

"That's it," Obi-wan said. "Something's bothering you. This is the third time you've spaced out in the span of this conversation. Don't you dare tell me it's nothing."

Anakin started to do just that, but then wondered if he wasn't going to tell Obi-wan, who was he going to tell? He could ask Padmé but she'd probably assure him she was fine and her ideals hadn't changed because he was pretty sure she thought her ideals hadn't changed. Palpatine seemed to have something to do with the change. Not that he was the direct cause but why would he think something was wrong. She wasn't fighting him every chance she got, so that was out of the question. If he didn't tell Obi-wan, who was he going to talk to about it?

He eyed Obi-wan briefly before shaking his head. He'd ask Padmé first.

"You wouldn't understand. Don't worry about it. I'm fine," he said.

"Are you sure you're up to this?" Obi-wan said. "If it's bothering you that much I can tell the council-."

"No," Anakin said suddenly very interested in what Palpatine was up to himself, but only as it concerned Padmé. "I'll be fine. Tell them I'll do it."

Obi-wan started to walk away but then turned around with a smile.

"By the way. I hear your padawan is very irate at you right now for neglecting her, not to mention she's still sour that you didn't let her go on the mission to save the chancellor.

Anakin cringed and then said, "I'll deal with her tomorrow."

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"Beautiful isn't it?"

Padmé jumped. "Don't do that… You startled me."

"How are you feeling?" Anakin asked.

Padmé smile a little as she places her hand on her stomach.

"Fine," she said with a strained smile.

"No you're not."

Padmé shook her head. Her back was just hurting a little after the events of the day. The other senators were worried. Bail and Mon were putting together an organization to oppose Palpatine and try to reinstate powers in the senate. While she didn't disagree with them, Padmé was starting to believe that putting powers back in the senate the way it was, filled with corrupt politicians who would only make the same mistakes again, would do more harm than good especially when it came to ending this war. It was likely they would be dealing with the Separatists for years to come if that happened, a lot longer than the three years they had been fighting the war. Of course, she didn't tell them that. It was only a petition so far, so she didn't feel the need to betray the trust of her friends for it, but if it turned into something more… Padmé sighed.

"What's worrying you?" Anakin asked giving her that look he had given her two nights ago and just yesterday.

"Nothing," Padmé lied as she grabbed Anakin's hand and placed it on her abdomen. "He's kicking."

"What makes you think it's a boy?"

Padmé laughed. "My motherly intuition," she said as the child moved under Anakin's hand.

"With kicking that strong, it must be a girl."

Padmé smiled and then asked, "So what did the council say about the chancellor's appointment."

"I'm on the council," Anakin said slowly. "But they won't make me a master."

Padmé frowned. "The council won't recognize your skills?"

Anakin gave her that piercing look again and Padmé frowned.

"What?"

Anakin forced a smile and shook his head. "It's nothing."

Padmé sat up. "No really?"

"It's just… You seem to be on good terms with Palpatine," Anakin pointed out.

"I've never had anything against him," Padmé replied.

"No. I mean politically," Anakin said. "Since when has that been the case?"

"Since I found out that our goals for the Republic aren't so different," Padmé said softly. "The chancellor's just misunderstood. Believe me. My ideals haven't changed. I'm just taking different approach to achieving the same goal."

"A different approach?" Anakin asked thoughtfully.

Padmé looked out at the view. "You've seen it, not just with the Jedi but the Senate. Sometimes I wonder what's happing to them. This war is destroying the principles of the Republic."

Anakin looked ahead. "I don't know anymore Padmé… Everything used to be so black and white. The line between good and evil was obvious, but now…"

"Is this about your dream?" Padmé asked him.

"I won't lie," Anakin started, "But my dream has shaken my faith some. Makes me wonder what it is I'm really fighting for, what side I'm on. If the ideals I'm fighting for, democracy, this republic, even exist anymore. Why should I still fight for it?"

"You're sounding like the Separatists," Padmé said seriously.

"I know," Anakin admitted. "But that doesn't mean I'm going to join them. It's just how I feel about all this."

Padmé glared at him. "There's something you're not telling me."

Anakin smirked. "I could say the same to you," he said meaning to tease but not sounding so. She sat up to grab his hands before wincing and putting a hand on her back.

"What's wrong?" Anakin asked any anger forgotten.

"Nothing…" Padmé said though her worried expression contradicted her. "I'm-."

Padmé cried out as the pain in her back suddenly intensified and this time affected her abdomen.

Anakin put his hands on her shoulder, but Padmé was hardly aware of this as intense fear overcame her, the screams of the woman on Maya came to mind, but instead of fearing her own life she feared her baby's.

"No," she said as tears welled up in her eyes. "Ani… It's not time yet."

Anakin didn't waste time as he lifted her up in his arms and took her out to her speeder.

"What are you-?" Padmé stopped as she put both hands on her stomach as another contraction came, not as painful, but no less worrying.

"I can get you to the medical center faster than it will take a medic to come here and then take you back."

For once in her life, Padmé had no objections to Anakin's reckless driving. She had full faith that he would get her there safely and even if she wanted to object, she couldn't as she was silently pleading to the force that her baby would be fine.

As soon the medic saw her come in, she was rushed into the back. As they didn't know Anakin was her husband they also wanted tried to tell him to wait in the lobby. Her protests, with the help of a mind trick, changed their minds. As the nurse hooked her up to a monitor, the medic started an ultrasound and checked to see if she had dilated any. She had.

"It appears that you've definitely gone into labor Senator," the medic said to her.

"But my baby," Padmé said as her lips trembled. "I'm only twenty-eight weeks. I've got at least eight more to go. You have to stop it."

"It's too late," the medic said. "You're too far dilated."

"But my-."

"When you deliver, we'll have to work quickly to save the babies," the medic continued.

"I won't get to-."

"Babies?" Anakin asked stopping his pacing.

"You all didn't know?" the medic said surprised. "The senator's carrying twins."

Padmé hardly registered what the medic was saying, only now that she had two babies to worry about, that she wouldn't be able to hold as soon as they were born.

"The fact that they're twins puts them at added risk," the medic said honestly. "But try not to worry too much. There's a good chance for them. We'll go ahead and prep you for delivery."

Padmé was trying to be strong. But she was scared to death quite frankly. What if something was wrong with her babies? What if they died? It was an unrealistic fear her mind told her logically, as unrealistic as her dying in childbirth or something… The screams from the woman on Maya rang in her head again and she wondered in the baby had survived because Dalia had been so sure the mother wouldn't.

"Padmé."

Padmé snapped out her thoughts as she let the tears she had been trying to hold back fall from her eyes.

"Ani… Our babies…"

She said no more and Anakin came over and embraced her.

"They'll be fine. The force is strong with them Padmé. I can sense it already," Anakin assured.

"But what if-."

"We're not going think like that Padmé. They'll be fine. I promise you."

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"So tell me why you're here again?"

Anakin sighed. This is what happened when he was given a padawan like Ahsoka. She was too intuitive for her own good sometimes. Why couldn't she just leave it?

"Because," Anakin said tersely. "Senator Amidala went into labor early and she didn't want me to leave. So I stayed through the delivery."

"And you were with her to begin with why?" Ahsoka asked obviously enjoying herself at Anakin's expense.

"Is it a crime to visit a friend?"

"Okay. Well if she's fine and she's already delivered and the babies are fine, why are you still here?" Ahsoka asked with her arms crossed.

"Because Senator Amidala-."

"You know," Ahsoka said cutting him off. "You only call her Senator Amidala when you're trying to keep up appearances for some reason. So what's the secret?"

Anakin put a hand on his face in exasperation. Ahsoka wasn't even supposed to be here, but she had insisted upon it. He wondered if this was how Obi-wan felt during his own padawanship.

"There is no secret," Anakin insisted.

"Liar," Ahsoka said with a wide smile. "It's no use hiding it."

"Hiding what?" Anakin asked calling her challenge.

"You wouldn't want me to say it out loud and risk someone hearing. The media would have a field day…"

"You wouldn't."

"I'm not heartless Skyguy. Play innocent all you want," Ahsoka said to him with a smile. "Now where-?"

"Anakin," Padmé said from inside her room.

Anakin glared at Ahsoka once more before gesturing for her to follow him into the room. Padmé, who was trying to get out of bed, looked at Ahsoka in surprise before looking at Anakin. He only sighed and shook his head.

"Does she…?" Padmé trailed off.

"Kind of," Anakin said simply as he went over to her. "What are you doing?"

"I want to see Luke and Leia," Padmé said as she wobbled to her feet. Anakin steadied her.

"You're supposed to be resting," Anakin replied.

Padmé only gave him a meaningful look and said deliberately, "I want to see my babies."

Anakin sighed. It would be no use trying to stop her. But he insisted they get her a hover chair to take her. She relented to that and so he pushed her into the NICU of the med-center and over to where Luke and Leia were in their separate incubators.

"Wow," Ahsoka said in awe. "That one's so tiny," she added in reference to Leia.

"Both of them are," Padmé whispered as she urged Anakin to push her closer. She slipped one of her hands through a hole in each incubator and gently took both her children's hands rubbing her thumb over the back.

"Mommy and Daddy love you both," she whispered. "And we want you to get strong so we can take you home to Naboo… And I'm going to fix your room for you. It'll be so pretty, right next to the gardens. The sun will stream in all day long."

As touching as it was for Anakin to see Padmé contently talking to the twins without a care in the world, he couldn't help the ominous feeling he had, like this wasn't going to last. The memory of his vision came back to him. It was such a contrast to the woman sitting before him, his wife, his angel… But he couldn't help but feel that this was only the beginning.

"So how long will it be before I can bring them home?" Padmé asked a few days later after the medic had discharged her.

"Until their lungs are strong enough… At least six or seven weeks and we've seen that they can definitely breathe without assistance," she said.

"Seven weeks?" Padmé whispered and Anakin sighed.

"At least," the medic added implying it could be longer.

"I'm not leaving!" Padmé said as she stopped packing the few things Anakin had brought to the hospital for her.

"Senator there's nothing wrong with you. We have to let you go. You can come visit every day. We won't stop you," the medic added.

"No," Padmé said as tears sprang to her eyes again. "I'll sleep on the floor in the NICU if I have to. I want to be near my babies."

"Senator-."

Anakin put his hand up to stop the medic and gestured for her to leave. She nodded and left the room.

"I'm not leaving them Ani," Padmé declared stubbornly. "I'm not leaving them here that long alone. I'm staying with them."

Something about this was uncharacteristic of Padmé, Anakin noticed. He had never seen her so scared in his life. He didn't know a lot about women's emotions when they gave birth, but he guessed it was all part of having just given birth and not being able to take the twins home, not including the stress of the war. But Anakin couldn't help but feel that something was wrong about this. They had a good chance. The twins would be fine. He was almost positive of that. Anakin could feel it, but no matter how much he said that to Padmé it didn't at least take away some of her fears. He wondered what had terrified her so.

"There's something you're not telling me," Anakin determined. "Why are you so scared?"

Padmé started not to answer him and Anakin was prepared to have to force it out of her, even if it meant getting angry. But then she suddenly seemed to change her mind. And so she told him about what she had seen when he was gone and went to Maya, how she saw the woman giving birth dying and the fatality rate that Dalia had told her about.

"Is that all?" Anakin asked with a comforting smile as he rubbed her arms. "Padmé the war isn't here. In fact, once we find General Grievous it'll be over."

"I… Do you really believe that?" Padmé asked him.

"I know," Anakin assured. "The force is with Luke and Leia. They'll be fine. I promise you."

Padmé didn't answer, but Anakin sensed that her fear had abated as Padmé's emotions weren't as carefully shielded as they usually were. However there was something else. Usually Padmé wholeheartedly put her faith and trust in him when he reassured her. But this was a new emotion, one he had never sensed from her towards him. Doubt.

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AN: There's a reason for everything. Just remember that. There's a purpose for Padmé having the twins early which mean as a writer I took creative license and messed around with the Star Wars timeline. So while it's not certain how much time RotS covers, and people have different opinions of it from nine days (which would really make me doubt that Padmé could give birth to a healthy set of twins that would have to be premature) to weeks or even a few months (which makes me hard pressed to believe that Padmé was that small! But hey it could happen), I know I've butchered it up. Again, I took creative license so please pardon me.

Hope you enjoyed. Review Please!