Anakin turned his attention to the door as Fress walked out of the small room where she went to take a nap six hours ago. He smiled wearily as she sat down beside him as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. He feared of her miscarrying if the Alliance decided to execute him for his crimes. Yoda and Padme seemed sure that wasn't going to happen, but the future was not set in stone. "How are you feeling?"
"Better," Fress answered honestly as she leaned into him. "I miss him already. He always teased, and yet he was always kind with everyone. He was never judging and always knew what to say to everyone. He knew what kind of advice to give," she rubbed her swollen tummy and smiled. "He was happy to hear Jess and I will have a chance to raise a child right from the start this time. He sounded like a happy grandfather when we told him."
Anakin chuckled as Fress leaned her head against his shoulder. "He was like that with everyone. The only thing I won't miss is when he rapped my knuckles with that gimmer stick of his."
Fress nodded as Jess walked up to her with a glass of warm milk and crackers and handed them to her. "Thanks Jess," she quickly ate the crackers and drank the milk. "I'm going to miss him."
"We all will," Anakin agreed as he glanced at Jess as he took the glass and plate away from her. "What ever happens just let it happen. We don't need to make things worse."
"Spoken like a true grandmaster," Fress teased as she reached for Anakin's hand and placed it against her tummy. Anakin felt movement through the sensors of the hand as he grinned. The baby was moving around. He felt sadness settle over him as Fress tensed up. "What's wrong?"
"I missed the most important day of my life. The day my children were born into the galaxy. If I ever get a chance to kill Palpatine for filling my head with ideas, I won't hesitate to do so," Anakin spoke with certainty as Fress nodded in understanding.
"Anakin, Fress and I want you there the day she gives birth," Jess requested with a smile. "We feel its right for you and Padme to be there."
Anakin smiled and nodded as Padme entered the living area. "You hear that, Padme? They want us there when Fress gives birth. I'm honored."
"We'll be there," Padme promised as Luke stepped into the living area and smiled. "How much longer before we come out of hyperspace?"
"In the next couple of minutes," Jess answered as he looked at Luke. "Luke, would you mind helping me pull the Rogue out of hyperspace?"
"Sure Jess, I wouldn't mind," Luke agreed as they entered the cockpit as everyone else started strapping in.
The next few minutes flew by as he heard Jess communicate with Home One. He felt his anxiety rise. He hoped he didn't get executed. The last thing that needed to happen was Fress having a miscarriage and he didn't want to leave his family's side a second time. He heard the hydraulics lower the landing gear indicating they were landing the ship.
A minute later Jess reappeared as everyone unstrapped himself or herself as Anakin shook his head. He was not looking forward to this at all. Padme took his hand into hers as she watched him with concern.
"We'll do this together, Anakin," Padme whispered gently as Fress and Jess led the way off the Rogue. "No matter what happens, I forgive and still love you."
"I love you, Padme," Anakin spoke as they walked down the ramp hand in hand as they were greeted with ten guards pointing their blasters at him. He unhooked his lightsaber and handed it to Luke. "Keep it safe, Luke."
"I will, father," Luke answered as he accepted the weapon from Anakin.
"Lower your weapons," Fress commanded as the one guard shook his head.
"Sorry General, we have our orders from Mon Mothma herself," the guard explained as he looked at Padme. "Please step away from Vader, miss."
"It's all right, Padme. You better do as he says," Anakin encouraged Padme as she looked reluctant to leave his side.
"I'll go talk with Mon then I'll come down to the detention level," Padme whispered to Anakin as she let go of his arm. The guards moved in as Anakin felt them pull his arms behind his back placing stun cuffs over his wrists. He noticed the medics had arrived with a hover chair with them as Fress climbed in. Good, at least she was going to get checked out. Considering the baby was still moving around, he hoped that meant everything was fine.
Anakin watched as Mon Mothma and Padme hugged each other. Then Padme hugged a confused looking Leia. He looked at Rex and Ahsoka as they both watched the scene unfold. "I'm fine. Just keep an eye on Padme and the twins for me."
"We will, Anakin," Rex agreed as they pushed Anakin down towards the detention level. He had a feeling everything would be all right in the end.
"How did you end up with a beautiful woman on your arm?" The guard on the right asked as they walked down to the detention level.
"I don't see how that is your concern," Anakin shot back as the man sounded happy.
"Maybe I have a chance with her," he commented causing Anakin to roll his eyes. "I'm still looking for miss right."
"As if you would ever have a shot with her," Anakin snipped a little too easily. "She's most likely not your type. She's a high class woman, way out of your league."
"And how would you know? You're most likely not even capable of caring for someone," the guard snared. "Let alone loving someone. I bet she looks beautiful naked chained to a bed post."
"You lay one hand on my wife and you'll be dealing with me," Anakin snapped angrily causing the guard to fall silent. "Keep your hands off her. The last guy to put his hands sexually on her in front of me needed stitches."
"Red, you better lay off," the guard on the left warned. "He sounds serious to me and I wouldn't be testing that theory considering who this is."
Anakin waited to hear what Red had to say as he heard Padme call for them to slow down. They stopped walking as Padme stepped in beside him as they started walking again. "Leia has already requested to speak on your behalf. Mon is willing to allow me to help Leia speak on your behalf. Rex has agreed to speak as well as Ahsoka and Fress. They're going to wait until Fress is done getting checked out first. Brice wants to say something on your behalf. He wouldn't tell me why."
"Blast it, I forgot about what's his name still on the Executor's detention level. I wonder if he's calmed down yet," Anakin felt disbelief rush through him as Padme watched him with interest. Old age was finally catching up. "I paid off his owner with spice for his freedom. We've been spending a lot of time together since."
"Who are you talking about, Anakin?" Padme questioned as she heard a gasp of shock from the guard on the left.
"His name was Grentan," Anakin answered with a frown. "After paying him off he decided to take a ride up to the Executor and pulled a blaster on me demanding the amount of credits that Palpatine promised for my capture. I came close to killing him but Leia reminded me that she out ranked me. So I put him down and had him locked up in the detention level since. Should probably send someone to check in on him if not release him."
"The Executor?" Padme questioned in confusion.
"A super star destroyer, my flag ship while I was with the Empire, they defected shortly after I did," Anakin explained. "Padme, the guard on the right thinks he has a shot at you. How do you feel about that?"
Padme turned her attention to the guard who gave her an appealing smile as she shook her head. "Sorry, you're not my type. I'm married to him," she pointed to Anakin as he smirked. "The last man to look at me that way ended up needing stitches. My husband can get pretty jealous."
"You don't look that old, how old are you?" Red questioned as Padme raised an eyebrow.
"Old enough to be your mother," Padme answered with a frown. "Sorry I was taken a long time ago. At the beginning of the Clone Wars," she pulled out a small wooden necklace with a ring on the chain.
Anakin watched her with a grin as he recognized the snippet that he made for her when they first met. "You kept it after all these years."
Padme fingered the snippet as Anakin watched her with concern. "I missed you, Anakin. It reminded me of the good that resided in you. The man you used to be before turning to the dark side and becoming a stranger to me. Mon Mothma wanted me to ask you something. More like an ultimatum. Are you willing to tell the Alliance everything you know? It's that or the death penalty."
"I'm ready to tell them everything," Anakin answered with a frown. "Did they cast a vote?"
"No, they haven't. Mon felt it was best to hear your answer before the meeting started. Eventually you will be asked to be escorted in," Padme explained with a frown as she tucked the chain back under her shirt. "They will be expecting you in an hour or so."
"Or so," Anakin teased causing Padme to hit him on the shoulder. He felt a mild shock go up his arms as his hands moved a bit. "I'm in stun cuffs, Padme. Easy please. You know it's true. Sometimes political meetings can go on for hours. Lets see how many hours have I spent home alone waiting for you to come back?"
"Ani, you put up with it because you knew how much it meant to me," Padme gave a mischief smile as they stopped in front of a cell as one of the guards opened it. Anakin entered in as the guard removed the stun cuffs. Padme hugged him before stepping out of the prison cell. "When they're ready, I'll be back."
"I love you," Anakin spoke as Padme smiled.
"I love you, Ani," Padme returned as she walked back down the hallway as the guard on the right stayed behind.
"That's quite a woman," Red commented as Anakin nodded in agreement.
"You have no idea," Anakin spoke in a gentle loving tone. "She's one in a million."
Padme sat down beside Leia as Fress entered the room looking a little worried. Brice entered with her. Hopefully the exam went well. Leia was a confident young woman and Bail did an amazing job with her. Better then she could ever hope. Luke was an amazing young man. He was taking after Anakin in so many ways while Leia took after her. She turned her attention to Fress with a frown. "How did it go? Is everything all right?"
Fress glanced up from where she sat down and nodded. "The medic says the babies are healthy and on time."
"That's good to hear," Padme said with a smile. "Anakin will be happy to hear it," Padme paused to think about Fress's words. Babies? "Fress, you said babies."
Fress gave a weary smile and nodded. "I'm pregnant with twins. Jess and I are both in shock."
That would explain why she looked a little worried when she entered. "Congratulations."
"I'm going to have two siblings?" Brice questioned in an excited tone bouncing in his chair causing Fress and Leia to smile at the young boy's excitement. "Maybe a brother and sister?"
"That's not how it works, all I know I could be pregnant with two boys or two girls. We won't know for another three months," Fress quickly reminded Brice with a smile. "I'm hoping we can keep them from executing Anakin," Fress muttered under her breath most likely trying to divert the topic. "He has so much information, more than any of our spies or those who have defected could ever hope to give."
"I know," Padme agreed with a worried expression as Mon Mothma and Admiral Ackbar entered the room next, along with Madine. Fey'lya walked in next and if she remembered correctly about the rumors, he was going to be hard to win over. "Leia, I'm very proud of you," she whispered as Leia smiled in appreciation.
"Thanks Padme," Leia whispered back as she grasped Padme's hand under the table. "Hopefully we can get Anakin out of the detention level."
"That's the hope," Padme agreed as Mon Mothma stood up and looked around the table. She felt a little nervous. This meeting could end in either way.
"I would like to welcome everyone for coming on short notice. There have been recent developments. There is a rumor going around that Lord Vader is no longer acting as Palpatine's right hand man. He left the Empire a month ago and Palpatine has placed a considerable amount on his head for his capture. I'm here to tell you those rumors are true. He left the Empire and is now on Home One down in the detention level. He's agreed to help us end the war in exchange for a pardon."
"A pardon?" Fey'lya spoke up quite loudly. "After everything he's done? He wants a pardon. He should be executed. How do we know this isn't a trap?"
"It's not," Leia spoke up with a neutral expression. "What I'm about to say will come as a shock, Vader and I shot each other down on the planet about a month ago. He was injured and we had no way to communicate to the bases for help, we talked to help pass the time. My perspective on him changed dramatically. I talked him into leaving with me. If you don't think Palpatine doesn't punish him physically like the others, then you are wrong. He has taken abuse from the Emperor and he's just another victim just as much as the next person."
"Princess, I didn't take you as being naïve," Fey'lya commented with a frown as Padme felt her anger surge. Her daughter was a smart intelligent woman and spoke the truth. She was shocked to hear Palpatine had abused Anakin. "Besides, he's telling you what you want to hear and nothing more to it."
"I know Leia is telling the truth," Fress spoke up causing everyone to look at her. "I knew Vader during the Clone Wars before he turned to the dark side. We were good friends. I know for sure he's back to his right mind and is feeling really guilty and ashamed over his behavior for the past twenty-one years. Living with your guilt is worse than death. I told him about our son Brice and he felt really bad we had to give our son up for his safety. We didn't want Vader to find him."
"If that's the case, why is he here now and not with his adopted parents?" Fey'lya questioned harshly. "You trust him after one month not to do anything?"
Fress turned to Brice as he looked unsure about speaking up as she leaned down and whispered something into Brice's ear. "My son would like to explain that part himself."
"Go ahead Brice," Ackbar encouraged gently.
"My adopted parents were killed in a Tuskain Raider attack a couple of months ago," Brice explained with a sad expression. "My Aunt and Uncle didn't want the responsibility. Instead of contacting Fress and Jess about me needing another home, they sold me into slavery. Fress and Jess came into the shop looking for a battery and offered to buy me on the spot. Fress was willing to give up her X-wing in hopes of buying me but the owner wanted spice instead. I didn't understand at first why they wanted me so badly, until my owner spelled it out for me. Vader helped my parents secure the payment for them and bought my freedom back. We've been bonding since."
"He does a good deed to get back into your good graces?" Fey'lya questioned as the others looked a little shocked at his outburst. "This is a trap. You must see that by now."
"It is no trap, and two good deeds. He helped Leia and the others get Han back," Padme spoke up as she stood up. "I'm Senator Amidala from Naboo. I served in the Senate on Coruscant before the Clone Wars started and served during the Clone Wars. This is going to come as a shock as Leia put it. I married Anakin Skywalker at the beginning of the Clone Wars and we kept the relationship a secret for years. Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa are our twin children. They were separated at birth to keep them from coming to the attention of the Emperor. If he knew Anakin's offspring survived him, they would be a threat to him. There is one thing that some of you know and some don't know and it played a big role into getting Vader to switch sides."
"He's your husband?" Madine questioned as if he suddenly put the pieces together. "Lord Vader is Anakin Skywalker, isn't he?"
"Yes, he's my husband," Padme answered as she took a deep breath and slowly released it. "I know he's back to his right mind. You can't compare Anakin to Vader. There is no comparison. The personalities are just too different. Palpatine manipulated Anakin the same way he manipulated me. I'm the reason he got in as chancellor in the first place. If I could go back to that day, I wouldn't have agreed to it. I would do it differently. Palpatine is really good at getting people to do his dirty work for him. He knows exactly what to say to you. He tricked Anakin into serving him. I wish I knew what Palpatine said to him, whatever it was. It was enough to get him to switch. I ask you not to hold any of Anakin's crimes against our children."
"Don't worry, we can't hold them accountable for General Skywalker's crimes," Mon spoke up with a frown. "That is not what the Alliance is about."
"I remember Anakin," Ackbar spoke up with a frown. "The man was willing to help our Prince take back the throne. Vader wouldn't have done that. He would've been the one helping the enemy succeed. I would like to talk with him to know where he stands."
"As would I," Madine agreed as Mon Mothma spoke into a comlink and gave the word to bring Anakin into the room. "Any information he has would go a long way to end this war. If he's willing to give it, then I say we give him a pardon in exchange."
Padme breathed a sigh of relief, as Ahsoka and Rex also looked happy to hear that bit. She knew where Madine stood on the vote and it sounded like Ackbar was leaning towards a pardon as well. She already knew Mon Mothma's decision.
"No need to call him," Fey'lya commented as Mon Mothma looked at him with suspicion.
Fress's comlink went off as she answered it and turned her attention to Fey'lya. "That was Commander Shern. Anakin is no longer in his cell. What did you do?"
"Ordered his execution," Fey'lya answered simply as the doors opened. "And we all get to watch."
"What are you talking about?" Mon questioned as Anakin was pushed into the room rather roughly. He was no longer wearing the armor and was struggling to breathe. He had no oxygen tank with him and he was bare naked. "We are not the Empire. We do not stoop to this level of torture."
Padme looked at Anakin in shock as he glanced at her wearily as she stood up. Her anger flared as Fress called the medics asking them to bring an oxygen tank with a mask and a blanket. She walked to his side as he collapsed to the floor from the lack of oxygen. "Anakin, look at me."
Anakin looked up with fear in his eyes as Padme gently ran her hand along his cheek. "I don't want…." He stopped for a second and shook his head. "I didn't want you to see me…"
"Shhh just relax, Ani, save your strength," Padme whispered as Anakin closed his eyes. She eyed him noting he looked like a human wreck out of the armor. She wasn't about to say that to him. "It's all right," she noticed his breathing was slowly turning shallow as she leaned over him and pressed her mouth against his lips and forced oxygen into his lungs for him until the medics arrived.
Anakin's eyes opened as the medics rushed in and quickly placed the mask over his nose and mouth and turned the oxygen tank on. They lifted him on a hover bed, laid the blanket on top and rushed him out.
Thanks for reading :)