Sick Day

11 years

Another cough sounded from Luke's bedroom along with a pained moan. Padme got up from the couch and retrieved the cough medicine and a couple of spoons from the kitchen. She walked down the hall to her son's room.

"Hey, buddy," she said gently as she opened the closed door. "How you doing?"

"Okay," Luke rasped, his voice barely a whisper. Padme sat down on the bed beside him. Luke eyed the medicine bottle in her hand and groaned pitifully.

"Oh, no, we are not doing this. Open your mouth," Padme instructed as she poured a dose into the spoon. Luke scowled and pulled his blankets over his head. Padme yanked them off just as a cough came from Leia's bedroom across the way. "C'mon, Luke, I have to go help Leia. Open your mouth."

"No," came the sullen reply, before another cough wracked his small frame. Padme rubbed his back soothingly.

"Yes," she said softly, moving the spoon towards his mouth. "You know it helps."

Luke opened his mouth piteously while giving Padme huge puppy-dog eyes, trying to change her mind. It didn't work. In went the spoon. Luke swallowed, grimacing at the bitter taste. Padme handed him a cup of water from the nightstand then stood.

"Lay down. I'll be back in a while with some dinner." Padme walked out of the room and across the hall, closing the door softly behind her. Leia wasn't in any better state than Luke, though she did take the meds better than he did. Leia had just swallowed when Padme heard running feet down the hall, and, soon after, sounds of throwing up. "Oh, boy. Leia, stay here." Padme quickly walked down to the 'fresher, where Luke was kneeling over the toilet, trying to cough up an internal organ since the contents of his stomach were already out. She filled a cup of water in the sink and handed it to him.

Leia peeked around the door frame of 'fresher and made a face. "Ewww."

"Leia, I told you to stay in your room. Besides, this could be you, you know. Go on." Padme said. Leia ducked back out. Padme grabbed a washcloth and wet it under the sink, then gently wiped Luke's face. "Let's go lay back down, huh?" Padme asked gently. Luke nodded, but made no move to get up. "C'mere." Padme said, and with a grunt, heaved the eleven-year-old onto her hip. Luke snuggled into her hold. "You, mister, are way too big for this." Padme returned Luke to his bedroom, gave him a drink of water, then left him to sleep. Her holoprojector pod beeped, and she pulled it out of her pocket.

"Hi, Angel." Anakin's form appeared as a small, blue, translucent hologram.

"Hi, Ani." Padme said, leaning against the wall wearily. "How are you doing?"

"Padme, I'm bored out of my brain. The negotiations are going fine, but they're not really my thing. Obi-Wan's got things handled. How are you?"

"I'm okay. The twins are sick, and Luke just threw up."

"So, you're having just about as much fun as I am," Anakin laughed, then looked behind himself. "Oh great, Obi-Wan needs something. I better go."

"Okay, bye, Ani." Padme sighed, then shut the pod off. This was going to be a long few days.

...

Anakin walked into the apartment, and two seemingly healthy twins ran to meet him.

"Dad!" they shouted happily in unison.

"Hi guys!" he shouted back. He swept them into a hug. "Hey, I thought you were sick."

"Uh, yeah, until yesterday. You've been gone forever," Luke exaggerated.

"Luke, three days is not forever. You know it's my job," Anakin said.

"Uh, Dad, let me go." Leia pulled from his embrace. "I don't think I'm better yet," she said, and took off running towards the 'fresher holding her mouth.

Anakin watched her go. "Oh boy."