Chapter 31

Anakin awoke to the smell of food cooking. For a moment he thought Padmé had surprised him and returned, and smiled. He got out of bed and headed out to the kitchen, shocked to see Naaviva.

"What are you doing here?" Anakin asked.

Naaviva looked at him with a smile. "Making you lunch," she said. "It's all ready, so sit down."

Anakin sat down as she placed a plate before him. A rather unusual meal sat on the plate, but it smelled good so he dug in. "This is fantastic," he said, looking up at her with a smile. "Thank you."

Naaviva smiled, and sat down to watch him eat. "I'm glad you like it," she said. "Did you sleep well?"

Anakin nodded. "Like a baby," he said between mouthfuls.

"You had a message come in while you were sleeping," Naaviva told him.

Anakin looked at her. "Really? From who?"

"I don't know who she was," she said. "She was beautiful though," she added.

Padmé he thought. "My wife," he said. "I'll have to get back to her," he said, standing up from the table. He headed over to the computer and sat down, entering Padmé's transmission signal. He waited for several minutes, and got no answer. He frowned. She was just here, he thought in frustration. Where is she now? Is she ignoring me now? Is everything okay? I need to go there, I need to clear this up with her... His reflections were interrupted by his comlink. "Skywalker here," he said.

"It's Rex, sir. Thought you'd want an update on our progress. Can you come down here?"

Anakin nodded. "Yes, I'll be there in half an hour." He closed the transmission and stared at the computer screen, deciding his trip to Naboo would have to wait.

Naboo

Jobal and Ruwee could see how upset their daughter was, but decided not to pry. She had been quiet since she'd arrived with the twins. Luke and Leia had been excited about visiting their grandparents again so soon, and proceeded to tell them all the gifts they wanted for their upcoming birthday. Jobal and Ruwee indulged them, all the while waiting to speak to their daughter about what was bothering her.

"How about we go outside and play catch?" Ruwee suggested to the twins.

"Yay!" Luke said, running after his grandfather, followed quickly by his twin.

"Cup of tea, Padmé?" Jobal offered.

"Thanks Mom," Padmé said and sat down at the kitchen table while her mother made the tea.

"I'm surprised to see you again so soon," Jobal said. "Happy, but surprised."

Padmé shrugged. "I just felt like getting out of the house," she said.

"I see," Jobal said as she turned to look at her daughter. "So tell me what's bothering you."

Padmé looked up at her mother, feeling foolish to think that she could keep anything from her. "Something happened," she said. "And I don't know how to feel about it."

Jobal nodded. "What happened?"

Padmé sighed. "I contacted Anakin, or at least I tried to," she said. "The transmission to the house on Tatooine wasn't working for some reason, so i tried to reach him on board the ship."

"And?"

"And a young woman was in his quarters and answered the call," Padmé said.

Jobal frowned. "What young woman?"

"She told me that she had been a slave in Jabba's palace," Padmé told her. "And that Anakin had rescued her the previous night."

Jobal smiled. "Well that's wonderful," she said. "That's what he set out to do, isn't it?" she asked.

Padmé nodded.

"Then why are you upset?" Jobal asked as she set a cup of tea before Padmé.

"It's what else she told me that upset me," Padmé said as Jobal poured herself a cup of tea. "She told me that Anakin had killed Jabba and everyone in the palace."

Jobal digested this silently and joined Padmé at the table. She took a sip of tea as she formulated her response. "Did she tell you why he did that?" Jobal asked. "I'm sure he must have had a good reason."

Padmé shook her head. "I didn't ask," she said. "I was too shocked. I'm worried Mom, worried that he's slipping back to the dark side again."

Jobal frowned. "Don't you think you ought to talk to him before you jump to that conclusion?" she asked.

"I suppose so," Padmé said. "I guess I'm just afraid to hear what he'll say," she said. "It's sometimes easy to forget that he was Darth Vader not that very long ago."

"Yes he was," Jobal said. "And he's come a long way in a fairly short time, in my opinion."

Padmé was surprised to hear her mother defend Anakin, and smiled. "You're right, he has," she said. "I'm going to try and contact him now. I really need to talk to him."

Jobal smiled. "I think that's a fine idea," she said.

Padme stood up from the table and left the room to go and contact Anakin.

Tatooine

Anakin stood with Obi-Wan and Rex, surveying the damage. The house was a smouldering ruin, very little left of it that was salvageable. The mining equipment had been destroyed, as had the brand new cruiser that Anakin had recently purchased.

"You wanted to know why I killed Jabba," Anakin said, addressing Obi-Wan. "This is why. This," he said, gesturing the destruction surrounding them. "If Padmé and the twins had been here..." he stopped, not wanting to considering what could have happened.

Obi-Wan nodded. "I know how upsetting this must have been," he said.

"Upsetting?" Anakin said. "Yeah, I'd say so. You don't know Jabba like I do, Obi-Wan. This was a malicious act. He meant to inflict harm, to kill me and my family. There's no question in my mind."

Obi-Wan wasn't sure who Anakin was trying to convince at this point. "Yes, you're right," he said. "But your reaction was out of proportion, don't you think? Killing him, yes, that I can see. But his minions? His henchmen? Rex here tells me there was more than thirty dead bodies in Jabba's lair. Was all that really necessary?"

Anakin frowned, but said nothing. He'd been asking himself the same question for hours, in truth. "I can't undo what I did," Anakin said. "Perhaps I did overreact, but anger does that to me. I'm not perfect, Obi-Wan, not even close. The darkness still takes control of me from time to time. I'm fighting it, but sometimes it overwhelms me."

Obi-Wan was alarmed to hear Anakin's admission, but the fact that he could identify his issues have him some measure of hope. "You've come a long way, Anakin," he said. "Don't forget that. You've accomplished a lot in a short time. I would just hate for you to slip back now. "

"I won't," Anakin said. "I have too much in my life to lose. Besides, you and Qui-Gon would kick my ass if I did," he added.

"You're right about that," Obi-Wan said. He sighed. "I think perhaps it's time to get a provisional government set up," he said. "Now that the Jabba is gone, this outpost will be in disarray if someone doesn't step up."

"Agreed," Anakin said. "Do you think the chancellor would agree to extend the Republic's protection to Tatooine?"

"Doubtful," Obi-Wan said. "The population is too small, and it's far too remote. But perhaps he could offer some suggestions on how to proceed from here. I shall speak to him if you wish."

"Yes," Anakin said. "Please do. Rex, you and I are going to finish up here. We need a new plan for this operation, as well as for the property that Jabba owned."

Rex nodded. "I'll get an engineering crew down here on the double," he said. Rex walked away, leaving Anakin alone. I need to see my family he thought with a frown. Sooner rather than later...I need my wife...

"Sir!" Rex called.

"Coming," Anakin said, and walked over to join him.

Naboo

"Any luck?" Jobal asked as Padmé rejoined her at the table.

Padmé shook her head. "No," she said. "He's not on the ship, and there's no connection on the planet. I left him a message, so hopefully he'll get back to me soon."

Jobal smiled. "I'm sure he's just as anxious to talk to you as you are to talk to him."

"Yes, I'm sure too," Padmé said. "I'm worried about him, Mom," she said. "He's still so susceptible to the Dark Side. I should never have abandoned him."

Jobal reached over and put a hand on Padmé's. "Padmé, you left because it was the best thing for you and the twins," she said. "You didn't abandon him, love. I'm sure he doesn't feel that way at all."

Padmé nodded. "I hope you're right," she said. "I never want him to feel alone again."

Jobal smiled. "Well with another set of twins on the way, there's not much chance of that happening is there?"

Padmé smiled. "No, I suppose not," she said.

On board the Devastator

Anakin was exhausted. After a long day spent with the engineering team, he'd retired to the star destroyer in the hopes of getting in touch with Padmé before going to bed. As he sat down at the computer, the door chime to his quarters sounded. "Come in," he said, dismayed by the interruption.

"Hello Anakin!" Naaviva said as she entered the room. "I hope I'm not disturbing you."

"No, I was just about to check my messages," he said.

"Did you eat?" she asked.

"I'm not hungry, thanks," Anakin said, hoping she'd take the hint.

"Nonsense," she said, heading into the kitchen. "You need to eat. Let me fix you something."

Anakin didn't argue with her, and opened up the message that was waiting for him. It was from Padmé. Anakin smiled when he saw her face.

Hello Ani - I'm sorry I missed you. I hope that you're well, and making progress in your mission. I have some amazing news, Ani. I'm carrying twins again. Can you believe it? I'm excited but terrified at the same time. Please contact me as soon as you can. I miss you so much.

Anakin smiled. Twins! he thought with excitement. Four kids? God help us...

"Here you are," Naaviva said, bringing Anakin a plate of leftovers. "Now eat up." She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Goodnight, Anakin."

"Goodnight," Anakin said. He entered Padmé's signal into the computer, hoping to connect with her. But he was unsuccessful once again, much to his consternation. He ate his supper alone again, hating the solitude. I'm going to Naboo, he thought as he ate his meal. Padmé needs me...and I need her...

Naboo

Night had fallen when Padmé closed the door to the children's room. Luke and Leia had spent a day playing with their grandfather in the fresh air, and had dropped off to sleep without hesitation. Padmé was just about to draw a bath when she heard the front door open. She frowned, and then stepped out into the hallway. "Hello?" she called. "Is someone there?"

Anakin stepped into the hallway. "Yes, someone is," he said giving her a smile.

Padmé smiled and went to him. He took her in his arms wordlessly, holding her close. "I've missed you so much," he said, kissing the top of her head.

Padmé pressed her face against his chest, not realizing until that moment just how much she'd missed him. "I missed you too," she said, snuggling against him.