Chapter 6

Shortly after arriving back home, Anakin made arrangements to take his wife and younger five children to Naboo. He realized that it was there that Padmé would best be able to get the rest and relaxation that she needed. Leia was close to taking the trials, and Anakin judged that she would not want to be away from the Jedi Temple for long. Or Han Solo either, he reflected with a frown. Anakin liked Han, he always had. But he knew that it was only a matter of time before Leia announced her engagement to him, and the thought of his precious little girl being married was more than he could handle. One kid at a time, he told himself.

"This was a wonderful idea, Ani," Padmé said as they made their way to Naboo later that day.

"I thought so," Anakin agreed. "They certainly do too," he said, indicating their excited younglings nearby.

Padmé smiled. "They love it up at the lake," she said. "Must be in the genes."

Anakin laughed. "Must be," he said. "But I don't want you lifting a finger up there, understand? You're there to rest. Let me look after the kids."
"Whatever you say," she said.

Anakin had arranged for household servants to be present when they arrived, and they made themselves busy with the luggage, preparing rooms for everyone, and getting dinner started. Padmé was quite overwhelmed by their efficiency.

"Where did you find this staff?" she asked as they sat down to dinner. "And on such short notice too?"

"I have my ways," Anakin said with a smile.

"Some of your old imperial flunkeys, Dad?" Qui-Gon quipped.

Padmé was not impressed with her son's question. "Qui-Gon, really," she said.

"That's all right, Padmé," Anakin said. "I was Darth Vader for five years, I can't deny that. But no, son, they were not …flunkeys."

Qui-Gon chuckled as he focused on his dinner.

That night, once the children had finally settled down and gone to sleep, Anakin entered him and Padmé's bedroom with a surprise for her.

"What's that?" Padmé she said, noticing that he was holding something behind his back.

"Something to help you relax," he said.

"Ani I'm so relaxed now that I could fall asleep," she told him with a smile.

"Well don't fall asleep, not yet," he said. "I seem to remember your fondness for this scent," he said, producing a bottle of massage oil from behind his back.

Padmé sat up and took the bottle from him. She lifted the cap and closed her eyes as she drank in the fragrance.

"You really do spoil me," she said.

Anakin smiled. "I enjoy spoiling you," he said. "Now lose that nightie, and lie on your stomach. Please."

Padmé complied at once.

"You have such wonderful hands," she murmured as Anakin massaged her back. "So strong…"

Anakin was doing his best not to get excited by what he was doing, but had never been good at showing restraint where his wife was concerned. She can't have any physical exertion, he reminded himself. And sex definitely counts as physical exertion.

As for Padmé, she was also finding it hard not to be aroused by the feeling of Anakin's hands on her bare skin. He knew exactly how to touch her, where to touch her, to reduce her to a quivering mess. And he was doing a masterful job of it right now.

"Does that feel okay?" he asked, his mouth at her ear.

"Yes," she sighed. "It feels heavenly."

Anakin smiled. "I would love to…massage you everywhere," he said. "But the doctor told you to avoid physical exertion, right?"

Padmé frowned. "Yes, that's right," she said. Anakin could hear her pout.

"We'll be here a couple of weeks," he told her. "I don't think I'll be able to resist you for that long."

Padmé laughed. "I know exactly what you mean."

The next day the family headed down to the beach. It was a beautiful, warm day, the perfect weather for spending the afternoon enjoying the warm waters of the lake.

"Dad can we swim out to the island?" Shmi asked.

"Yes, just be careful," Anakin said, and watched as Shmi and her twin headed down to the lake's edge.

"Can I go too, Daddy?" Amidala asked.

Anakin looked down at his youngest daughter, who looked up at him with her mother's big brown eyes.

"Ami you're too young," Anakin replied gently. "Stay here with Mom and me," he said. "Look, Obi and Ani are making a sand castle."

But Amidala wasn't interested in sand castles. At 11, she was at the age where she wanted to hang out more with her teenage siblings. The thought of hanging back with her two little brothers was mortifying to her.

"I don't want to play with Obi and Ani," Amidala countered. "I'm not a little kid."

Anakin exchanged a look with Padmé, who was watching the exchange with interest.

"I didn't say you were," Anakin said, returning his attention to his daughter again. "It's a long way. I'm not sure you're strong enough."

The expression on Amidala's face told Anakin what his daughter thought of his opinion.

"Anakin why don't you go with her?" Padmé suggested. "The boys can stay here with me."

Anakin wasn't crazy about the idea, especially leaving the youngest boys with Padmé. "I don't know," he said.

"Please, Daddy?" Ami asked.

Anakin looked back at Padmé. "Are you sure?"

Padmé nodded. "The boys will be good, won't you boys?"

Obi and Ani looked up briefly and nodded.

"See? Now go," Padmé said.

"Okay," Anakin said. He walked over to Padmé and bent down to kiss her. "You just love getting me in that cold water, don't you?" he said.

Padmé laughed.

A few days later…

Anakin, Padmé and their children had left the house right after lunch, bound for Theed. Padmé planned to spend the afternoon with her sister while Anakin entertained the five younglings. He soon discovered how challenging a task this would be.

"Dad, I don't want to see that stupid movie," Shmi complained. "It looks so dumb."

Amidala nodded her enthusiastic agreement. "You said you'd take us shopping, remember?" she added.

"Eww, shopping stinks," Anakin Junior said, making a face. He was seconded by his younger brother, who held his nose for good measure.

Anakin was growing exasperated when Qui-Gon came up with a solution.

"Dad, I'll take the boys to see the movie," he said. "You take the girls shopping. The theatre is in the shopping plaza, after all."

Anakin looked at his son, and considered his suggestion. Qui-Gon was almost fifteen now, and quite a responsible young man.

"All right," Anakin said. "I guess that will be okay. But you two boys behave yourselves," he said, looking at Obi and Ani. "Don't you give your brother any trouble at all, or you'll spend the rest of this vacation with 3P0. Inside. Listening to him talk about himself."

"We'll be good," Ani said. "Promise."

"Very well," Anakin said. He handed some money to Qui-Gon. "Thanks son," he said. "Let me know if they try anything."

Qui-Gon smiled. "Will do," he said.

As the boys made their way to the theatre, Anakin and his daughters headed to a nearby trendy shop.

"Can we get something, Dad?" Shmi asked. "This store has those cool new shoes that I've wanted."

"Let's have a look," Anakin said, starting to feel like it would an expensive day.

I'm so glad Obi-Wan isn't here to see this, Anakin reflected as he stood outside of the dressing room in the back of the small boutique. His daughters had each found several items of clothing that they could not live without. Anakin was beginning to wish he'd gone to the movies with his sons.

"No luck?" Anakin asked as Shmi appeared.

"Wrong size," she said. "I'll be right back."

Anakin nodded, and pretended to be interested in a potted plant that sat nearby as Shmi went back to find the size she needed.

"Can I help you, sweetheart?"

Shmi looked up to see a young man who she hadn't noticed earlier. "Do you work here?" she asked. "I'm looking for size 4."

"Well actually, I don't work here," he admitted. "I just saw you when you came in, and wanted to say hello. I'm Jake."

"Hi," Shmi said, busying herself with finding her size.

"Aren't you going to tell me your name?" Jake asked.

"No," she said, wishing her father would come over.

"You're very pretty," Jake said. "How old are you?"

"I'm 14," Shmi said, starting to grow uncomfortable. "I need to go."

"Don't go," Jake said, blocking her way. "I want to get to know you. Maybe we could have dinner tonight."

"I don't want to go out with you," she said. "Please just leave me alone," she said, pushing past him and heading over to where her father was waiting.

"Don't go," Jake said, following her. "I just want to talk to you." He stopped when he saw the large man that Shmi now stood beside.

"Is there some reason you're bothering this girl?" Anakin asked.

"Excuse me, but this is a private conversation," Jake had the utter misfortune to say.

"Oh is it?" Anakin asked, folding his arms over his chest.

"Yes it is," Jake said, trying not to be intimidated by the man's physical stature. "I was going to take this young lady on a date."

"Like hell you are," Anakin said, growing angry. "If you're smart, you'll leave right now. You don't want to see me when I'm angry."

Jake looked at Shmi, then at Anakin. Judging wisely that he was not a man to be trifled with, he turned tail and ran.

Anakin frowned and turned back to Shmi. "Are you okay?"

Shmi nodded. "What a jerk," she said. "I told him I didn't want to go out with him. Why are some guys so stupid?"

"I couldn't say," Anakin said. "Hurry up and try these on," he said. "The boys will me finished their movie soon."

"Okay Dad, be right out," Shmi said and disappeared into the change room once again.

That evening, Padmé listened as each of her children tried to tell her about their day. Shmi and Amidala insisted on showing her each and every new item of clothing that their father had purchased them, while the boys told her all about the exciting movie they'd seen. Anakin sat back and watched, amused by his children, amazed by his wife's patience. Every so often Padmé would glance over at him, and he'd simply wink at her, letting her field the children's demands for attention.

"Dinner is served," one of the household servants announced. The five Skywalker children all ran to the door, only to be stopped by their mother's voice.

"Walk," she said. "Hands."

The children stopped, and then made their way to the closest fresher to wash up.

"You were enjoying that, weren't you?" Padmé said as she held her hand out to Anakin.

"Yes," Anakin freely admitted, taking her hand and standing up. "You handled it well. That was quite an offensive."

Padmé laughed. "I'm used to it," she said. "I've had a few years practice."

Anakin smiled, bringing her to his mouth hand and kissing it. "It will be a shame to go back to Coruscant," he said.

"It will," Padmé agreed. "But it's almost time, I think. I'm feeling much better, and the kids have missed too much school already."

"I think they'd disagree with you," he said.

Padmé laughed as they headed for the dining room together, hand in hand.