Chapter 32

Anakin and Padmé lay it the darkened room, as moonlight streamed through the slightly parted curtains. He smiled at her, and pushed a tendril of hair from her face.

"That was wonderful," she said softly.

Anakin nodded. "A nice welcome," he said.

She smiled. "I've missed you," she said, stroking his face softly.

"I've missed you too," he said with a yawn. "I don't quite feel right when we're apart, Padmé."

Padmé smiled. "I feel the same way," she said. "You're exhausted," she said as Anakin yawned again.

"I won't deny that," he said with a smile.

"Go to sleep, Ani," she said, kissing him softly. "We can talk in the morning." He was asleep in moments.

It was past midnight when Anakin awoke. He was discombobulated for a moment before he realized where he was. He smiled and planted a kiss on Padmé's cheek before he got out of bed. Pulling on his shorts, he slipped out of the bedroom, wanting to see his children. Quietly he walked across the hall and opened the door to the twins' room. He tiptoed in and stood beside Leia's bed, watching her as she slept. He bent and kissed her softly on the cheek, and then went over to Luke's bed. I've missed them, he thought as he softly brushed the hair from his son's brow. He kissed Luke on the forehead and then left the room as silently as he'd entered it. He returned to his own bed, spooning up behind his wife and falling asleep within moments.

The next morning

Anakin was awoken by the sound of giggling. He opened his eyes to see Luke and Leia at the foot of the bed, holding a breakfast tray. Padmé stood behind them. He smiled.

"Good morning," he said, sitting up. "I'm glad to see you guys, come here," he said, holding his arms out to the twins. Padmé took the tray from them and smiled as they scrambled up on the bed to hug their father. Anakin kissed the twins and held them close.

"We made breakfast, Daddy," Luke said. "I made the toast."

"And I made the eggs," Leia piped up.

Anakin smiled. "Well it looks delicious," he said. "How about some help, though? Are you hungry?"

Luke and Leia nodded, and proceeded to help their father eat his breakfast. Padmé sat on the edge of the bed and watched them with a smile.

"Leave some for Daddy," she said.

"It's okay," Anakin said. He looked up at Padmé. "How are you feeling this morning?" he asked.

"I'm fine," she said. "Morning sickness has finally passed, thank God."

"That's a relief," Anakin said. "So twins again?" he asked with a smile. "We're going to be busy."

Padmé nodded. "Most definitely," she said. "I wasn't sure if you'd received my message. I haven't been able to get through to the house on Tatooine."

"Yeah, there's a reason for that," Anakin said. "Kids, can you go find Threepio to help you with this?" he said, handing Leia the tray. "I want to talk to Mommy for a minute."

"Okay Daddy," Leia said, and took the tray. Luke followed behind her.

"I need to tell you about what happened on Tatooine," Anakin said.

Padmé nodded. She had an inkling about what had happened, but wanted to hear it from Anakin nonetheless.

"I told you how I was planning on striking a business deal with Jabba," Anakin began.

"Yes," Padmé said. "Watto was working on that, wasn't he?"

Anakin nodded. "He struck out, not surprisingly," he said. "So I had to go see him. I told him that I wanted to purchase 300 slaves from him, and that I would pay him with platinum. He was very interested in the platinum, as I suspected he would be. He wanted to see it first, so I told him I would return the next morning with the platinum so that he could see that I was on the up and up. But that night, things all went to hell."

Padmé frowned. "What happened, Ani?"

"He'd had his thugs plant explosives all over the property," Anakin said. "I woke up to the sound of the mining machinery blowing up. If I hadn't run outside at that point, I'd have been killed in the explosion that destroyed the house. He destroyed all the work we'd done there, Padmé. He couldn't deal with me in good faith, he was incapable of it."

"That's terrible," she said. "I had no idea, Anakin. Thank God you weren't hurt!"

Anakin nodded. "When I think about you and the twins being there...well it got me angry, so angry that I couldn't see straight. I went over to Jabba's lair with the intention of confronting him, but the anger was too much Padmé," he said, his eyes full of anguish. "I...I killed him, Padmé," he said. "But not just him, I killed everyone in the place. Every being that stood in my way, I killed. It was like I had no control over my actions!"

Padmé didn't know what to say to such an admission, but it was a relief to her that he'd confessed to her. She said nothing, and simply went to him and put her arms around him, hugging him tightly. Anakin hugged her back, grateful for her support, grateful that she didn't condemn him for his dark deeds.

"It's okay, Anakin," she told him, sensing his need to be forgiven. "I know how hard this has been. You've come so far," she said. "And you forgot that you did save someone, remember?" She said, stroking his hair gently. "The young slave girl who I spoke to, what was her name?"

"Naaviva," Anakin said. "I forgot about her," he said.

Padmé smiled. "Well you made quite an impression on her," she said. "She said you were her hero."

Anakin smiled, but it was a semi-sweet smile, a smile that was tinged with guilt. She could see it in his eyes. "I don't think I deserve that title," he said, looking down.

Padmé lifted his face to look into his eyes. "Ani," she said. "Let's not dwell on the negative," she said. "Let's focus on the positive. You saved her life, you set her free," she said. "You've started the process."

Anakin nodded, not sure how he'd lived without this remarkable woman in his life. "Thank you, Angel," he said. He kissed her. "What would I do without you?"

Padmé smiled. "Come on," she said. "I know you need to return to Tatooine soon, but it's a beautiful day. Let's spend it at the beach."

"That's a great idea," he said. "I've missed playing with Luke and Leia."

"A wise man once said that the soul is healed by being with children," she said. She smiled. "Come on, let your children heal your soul, Anakin."

Anakin nodded, and then got out of bed to get dressed.

The four of them spent a fun day at the beach. Threepio had packed them a picnic lunch, and the weather was perfect for a day outdoors.

"So someone is having a birthday soon," Anakin said as they enjoyed their lunch. "Only a few weeks now."

Luke and Leia looked at each other in excitement. "We are, Daddy!" Leia said. "Me and Luke are having a birthday!"

Anakin smiled and looked at Padmé. It would be nice to make some new memories of that day, for up until now the anniversary of Luke and Leia's birth had been one of pain and loss for Anakin. That will change from now on, Anakin vowed. This birthday will be one none of us will ever forget.

Anakin enjoyed himself immensely, swimming with his family and building sand castles with the children. But the time passed by quickly, as fun times are prone to do, and soon the sun started its slow descent towards the horizon. Anakin helped Padmé pack up the dishes and carried it up to the house while Padmé took the children by the hands to bring them inside.

"I don't wanna go inside," Leia whined as they climbed the stairs leading back to the house.

"Me neither," Luke said.

"I know, but it's time to go inside," Padmé said. "You both need a bath before suppertime."

As Padmé got supper ready, Anakin gave the twins their bath. He hated the thought of leaving them again so soon, but knew that the situation on Tatooine was unstable, and needed to be resolved quickly.

"What do you think about setting up a provisional government on Tatooine?" Anakin asked his wife as they ate dinner.

"I think that's a good idea," Padmé said. "Without Jabba in control the people will need someone to take control to ensure that someone like him doesn't step in," she said.

"My thinking exactly," Anakin said. "I was hoping that the New Republic would extend its protection to the planet, but Obi-Wan seems to think it's too far away and too under populated."

"Both things are true," she said. "But now that you've found mineral wealth there, it may make Tatooine more attractive to other worlds as a trading partner. That would interest the Republic, in my opinion."

Anakin nodded. "Obi-Wan said he'd talk to him on my behalf," he said. "I'm sure he'll get further than me with the Chancellor."

Padmé agreed with him, but didn't say so. "This is so exciting, Ani," she said with a smile. "You're creating history. Your mother would be so proud of you. I know I am."

Anakin smiled. "Thanks Angel," he said. "You have no idea how much that means to me."

After helping Padmé get the kids to bed, Anakin prepared to leave. He hated having to say goodbye to his wife, he always had. But this time was different, for it was temporary. He would be back soon, he promised. And soon there would be no more reasons for them to be separated. And two new babies on the way, he reminded himself. The future is very bright...

"I'll contact you soon," Anakin said as he held his wife for one last time. Padmé had wanted to walk him to the landing platform, but Anakin wouldn't hear of it. And so they said their goodbyes at the door.

"I'm looking forward to hearing all about the new government you have planned," she told him. "I hope that Bail sees his way clear to giving you some help."

"Me too," Anakin said. "But I'm not counting on it. We don't have a very good history, he and I."

"I know," she said. She kissed him. "Have a safe journey," she said. "I love you, Ani."

"I love you too," he said. "Take good care of yourself, Padmé. I'll see you soon."

On board the Devastator

Obi-Wan had been waiting for close to an hour for the new Chancellor to respond to his hail. He was doing his best to be patient, but it was growing more and more annoyed longer he waited. It's not like I didn't make an appointment, he thought with a frown. I have things to do as well..does he think my time isn't important?

"Obi-Wan, so sorry to keep you waiting," Bail Organa said as he appeared on the screen.

Obi-Wan smiled, the picture of patience. "No need to apologize, Chancellor," he said. "I know how busy you are."

"Never a dull moment, that's for sure," Bail said with a smile. "What can I do for you?"

"It's about Tatooine," Obi-Wan said. "And some interesting developments here."

"Tatooine interesting?" Bail said. "That's rather a contradiction in terms, isn't it?"

"Normally I'd agree with you," Obi-Wan said. "But things have been happening here that i think you should be aware of. First off, Jabba the Hutt is dead."

Bail's face registered surprise. "That is good news," he said. "Who do we have to thank for that?"

"That's irrelevant," Obi-Wan said. "The important thing is that he's dead," he said. "His death creates a vacuum, however," he went on. "And as you know, vacuums can be very dangerous and lead to instability."

"Agreed," Bail said. "I don't understand what any of this has to do with me, Obi-Wan."

"Anakin wants to create a provisional government to protect the people of the planet from any more despotic exploitation," Obi-Wan said. "And he was hoping that the New Republic would be willing to extend its auspices to protect this fledgling administration."

Bail sighed, and stroked his beard, a gesture which Obi-Wan recognized well. "I wish I could help," he said. "Truly I do. It sounds like a very exciting time for that planet. But Tatooine is very remote, and its population is very small. Extending resources to such a planet would be ill advised, I'm afraid."

Obi-Wan nodded, not at all surprised by Organa's response. "Would it interest you to know that mineral wealth has recently be discovered there?" he said. "Considerable wealth, I might add."

"Is that so?" Organa said. "That's wonderful. How are the minerals being developed? Is there a plan in place for their extraction?"

"Yes, Anakin Skywalker is using his own money to fund that endeavour," he said. "But he is no politician, as you know. "

"Yes, I'm aware, " Organa said. "Tell you what," he said. "I will send some advisors out to help Anakin put a provisional government together," he said. "And I'll monitor the situation. Perhaps in a year or so, if things go well, we can revisit this."

"Fair enough," Obi-Wan said. "I thank you for your time," he said. He closed the transmission with a frown. While he wasn't surprised by Organa's response, he nevertheless was disappointed. And he knew, without a doubt, that Anakin would be even more so.