Author's Notes:
We've made it to 2021. Happy New Year everyone. Let's kick off the age of Aquarius with the third chapter of my story Dawn of New Innocence. This chapter is a long one. I hope you will enjoy it. I want to thank all of you for your kind reviews, favorites and follows for this story and my other stories in my Anakin and Padme AU series.
CullenLaly: "How nice that you have decided to do this review. you have an incredible talent. hope you update soon."
Thank you so much for your kind words regarding my ability to tell a story. One of my goals in this story is to offer some perspectives that may have not been used in any other SW fanfiction. I hope you enjoy this new chapter.
Sfloresf: "Hey there BMG27... Well... You did it again! Another Fabulous chapter! I couldn't help but laugh at the embarrassing questions "Dr. Polis" asked Anakin and Padme. What was more amusing was the responses Padme gave... Awkward Moment. The conversation between Padme and Anakin regarding the practice of The Jedi Order to take infants away from their parents was righteous. I have to say that I agree with Anakin. Taking an infant away from their families in order not to have attachments is RIDICULOUS. I'm glad they both decided to not let the Jedi take their children away. It's obvious that Anakin still has some strong feelings against Chancellor Palpatine and "What Could Have Been". I'm truly enjoying this very intriguing story. I can't wait to read more of your story. Thanks for the update. Stay Safe! Stay Well! ;)"
Thank you Sfloresf. I always enjoy reading your thoughtful reviews. Ha, ha, that awkwardness is exactly what I was going for between the conversation with Anakin, Padme, and Dr. Polis. I kept going back and forth about whether I was g
oing to write that scene, but I could not resist. We know Anakin speaks what's in his mind and heart. Padme is used to it by now and loves him for it. If you haven't noticed by now, I'm not the biggest fan of some of the practices and beliefs of the Jedi Order and I have no problem discussing them. George brings up some very interesting issues and questions with the dogma of the Jedi in Star Wars. I'm enjoying exploring some of that in my story.
Picnics and Family Dinners - Chapter 3:
After returning from visiting Dr. Polis who confirmed that Padme is pregnant with twins, Anakin and Padme returned home, contacted the Naberrie family, and asked if they could join them for dinner. After a brief conversation with Padme's parents, Anakin and Padme packed up a picnic basket and made their way back to their speeder.
"Aren't you going to land?"
Anakin turns to Padme and smiles. "I thought we'd go for a little ride first."
Anakin flies the speeder over the shaak fields and slows the vehicle to a crawl as he flies straight towards the waterfalls, a powerful display of endless cascading water over verdant cliffs. Padme and Anakin smile at each other as the spray of the waterfall sprinkles over them. Padme locks her arm around Anakin's arm at the wondrous sight of a breathtaking rainbow shooting from the sky blanketing over them. The rays of the rainbow and moisture of the spray from the waterfall made the water appear as dazzling pastel specks of color floating in front of them and around them.
"Oh, my gods Ani. This is so beautiful."
"Anakin's smile is beaming as bright as the sun shining in the bright blue sky as he wraps his arm around Padme and pulls her close."
Padme turns to Anakin, places her hand on his cheek, and pulls him in for a passionate lip lock. Anakin pulls her in for a warm hug and kisses her ear. "I love you Padme."
She looks deeply into Anakin's blue eyes. "I love you so much Ani. I am so very happy."
"You are my happiness Padme. You are my life."
"You are the other half of my soul Ani."
"And you are mine, my love."
They kiss again. The spray from the waterfall wetting their lips and tongues as their mouths dance together. They pull away and laugh.
"This is like kissing in a rainstorm. Maybe I should move this speeder a little, we're getting soaked."
"Maybe you should but keep driving along the falls. This is so beautiful Anakin."
As Anakin moves the speeder a little bit further away from the falls, Padme notices something that takes her breath away."
Padme clutches Anakin by his arm excitedly. "Ani look there's two of them, a double rainbow."
Anakin and Padme stare at the glorious heavenly display of overwhelming beauty in disbelief with their mouths and eyes wide opened in wonder.
"Twin rainbows." Anakin smiles and looks lovingly into her eyes.
"It's a blessed beautiful sign. Twin rainbows and we are having twins." Padme says as she places his hand on her belly and puts her hand over his.
"The force is speaking to us Padme."
"It most certainly is my love."
Anakin continues to fly the speeder along the falls. He moves the vehicle all the way up to the top of the waterfalls and then gently lowers the speeder so they can admire the awesome display of water as it plunges down to the deep blue pool of water below them. As they finish their trip around the waterfalls, Anakin parks the speeder on the grass near the water with the falls directly behind them.
"That cooled me off nicely," Padme says to Anakin.
"You ready for a swim?" Anakin asks Padme.
"Yes, I got my bathing suit on."
"You didn't have to wear one. I told you I'd be more than happy to go skinny dipping in the falls."
"Anakin Skywalker, it's the middle of the day. What if someone saw us? Do you remember that Sith damned halo camera and the pictures of us making out? It was all over the halo and in Coruscant's publications.
"I guess you're right. We can't take the chance after the trouble we went through. But a man can still have his fantasies about his beautiful wife." Anakin replies as he Force jumps out of the speeder.
"Maybe I have my fantasies about my handsome husband," Padme says cheekily as Anakin helps her out of the speeder.
"You can't say things like that and not expect me to want to go skinny dipping with you even more now."
Padme giggles as she takes off her dress. She is wearing a sky-blue one-piece bathing suit with a high cut up to her hips that drives Anakin nuts. Anakin is wearing a dark blue pair of swim trunks. Anakin and Padme hold hands as they walk down to the gravel shore to the side of a waterfall. He holds her steady to support her as they walk together in the water. The water is cool and refreshing.
They swim, splash, play, and make out in the falls. Padme wraps her legs and arms around Anakin and they move along together in the refreshing sparkling water.
Anakin and Padme have finished their picnic lunch. Anakin's body is stretched out across their blanket and his head is resting in Padme's lap. His eyes are closed and he's smiling feeling totally at peace. Padme is lightly running her fingers through Anakin's wet hair and smiling down at him.
"You remember when I told you about Palo."
"How could I forget."
"He came here with his friends once and painted a beautiful painting of the falls. It's hanging in Theed's Art Museum."
Anakin lifted his head and sat up. "Really? Wow, that's impressive."
"I thought of that painting just now because of how special it was to fly around the falls with you. You can never capture a beautiful moment like that one, but on canvass, you can try to recreate that beauty and the feelings you felt with a paintbrush."
"Art is a gift. My mother could draw a little." Anakin shared with his wife.
"You never told me that."
"She used to draw little sketches for me of spaceships and stuff."
"That's so sweet, too bad you don't have any of them."
"I know, I regret not taking some of them with me when I left to join the Jedi Order. Since you brought up Palo, I have to admit I'm curious about something."
"What's that?"
"For some reason when you told me about him, I had this funny feeling that something didn't add up about him."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know it's just a feeling. What was it again you called him, dreamy?" Anakin says teasingly trying to imitate her.
"He was cute and sweet."
"Right, so you had a crush on him?"
"Yes, and he liked me."
"How did this first kiss happen anyway?" Anakin asked his wife.
"You really want to know?"
Anakin nods. "One day after class Palo and I were talking about the fact that his older brother was always kissing his girlfriend in public. Palo told me that he had kissed a few girls, but none of them was anything particularly special. I admitted to him that I had not kissed anyone and that maybe he had not kissed the right girl yet. We drew closer to each other and kissed."
"So you kind of gave him the go signal to make his move. And were you the right girl?"
"At the time it seemed that way."
"How long did you guys date?"
"Four months, but he quickly became passionate about pursuing a career in art."
"How did that come about?"
"He started hanging out with a group of artists that would make trips around Theed and other locations near the capital city to paint."
"Were there other girls in this group trying to catch his interest?"
"No, the group were all boys."
"Ah, ok. And what were you doing while he was away on his little trips with his boy band of artists?"
"I was busy learning the entire spectrum of Noobian political tactics in my legislative program. Palo kept on skipping classes and the instructors grew tired of it. They asked to speak with him. He showed them his paintings and they were blown away. The academy where I was attending my program held a show for him to display his paintings. A recruiter for Theed's most prestigious art school was there. Palo soon left the legislative youth program to attend that art school and we ended our relationship."
"So what about you?" Padme ask her husband.
"What do you mean?"
"You're a very handsome sexy young man Anakin. I can't imagine that no girls were trying to catch your attention."
"There were and not just girls either."
"Wait, what?"
"Yep, I had a couple of guys hit on me."
"Oh my, that must have been awkward for you?"
"You bet the Force it was. Two of them are padawans around my age.
"How did you know they were interested in you?"
"Let's just say I could tell both of them were interested in more than sparring practice. I caught them numerous times checking me out. One of them asked me if I wanted to visit his living quarters while his Master was away on a mission. I made it clear to them both that I don't swing my lightsaber that way."
"And what about the girls?" Padme asked Anakin.
"There were a couple of girl padawans at the temple and many girls I'd run into on missions with Obi-Wan. Whenever we go into clubs and sleazy establishments, girls were trying to catch my eye. One of the girls at the temple tried to kiss me."
"How did that happen?"
"She was always trying to talk to me. She was nicer than a lot of the Padawans at the temple, so I appreciated her kindness. One day she asked if she could speak to me privately about a lesson from Master Yoda's class. I spoke with her outside her living quarters. At the end of the conversation, she put her hand on my arm and leaned in to try to kiss me on the mouth. I quickly moved away from her. I told her I was very flattered, but I wished to strictly follow the Jedi code. I did not want anything physical with anyone at the temple. She did not argue with me and after that our friendship fell apart."
"You have very strong will power. Most guys would have jumped at an opportunity like that. Was she pretty?"
"Her features were aesthetically pleasing, but I'm not like most guys Padme."
"You certainly aren't, and I love you for it. Anakin, I know the night we got together I told you Palo was the only guy I had kissed other than you, but that wasn't true. I only said that because I did not want to talk about other guys I had dated. I wanted to enjoy the evening with you. But now that we're married, I might as well confess that Palo is not the only guy besides you, I have kissed. But all my kisses with him and the other couple of guys were chaste. You're the only guy I let kiss me, you know opened mouthed and then did everything else with.
"Really, wow I can't believe they didn't at least try to with you? Maybe those other guys especially Palo weren't that into girls?"
"Other than Palo, they did try. But I did not let it go any further with any of them. As for Palo's sexual preference you might be right, towards the end of our relationship he was more interested in painting rocks than kissing me."
"You mean to tell me he never asked to paint you?"
"He never did."
"Angel if I could paint, the first thing I'd ask would be for you to model for me so I could capture your beauty. I sense I am right that this guy was probably more interested in the male form."
Padme starts giggling. "My gods Ani, in comparison to any of those other boys you certainly did not waste an opportunity to flirt, try to impress me and put the moves on me. And let me guess, you would want to paint me nude?"
"My love I'd been dreaming about you for years. I was determined to win your heart. Force yes Padme, I would want to paint you nude. I worship your irresistible body. I think I made that quite clear over and over again last night and this morning."
Anakin started caressing her lower back. Padme leaned into his touch. Sitting behind her Anakin began to place kisses at the back of Padme's neck and worked his way around to the shell of her ear. Padme turned her head and allowed Anakin to capture her lips in a steamy kiss. As Padme continued to kiss her husband, Anakin's hands started to play with the straps of her bathing suit. She could feel Anakin start to slip the straps down her shoulders.
Suddenly Padme pulled away from Anakin breaking their kiss. "Ani we can't do this here. It's the middle of the afternoon. Anyone could see us."
"Makes it more exciting doesn't it?"
"Anakin."
"I haven't forgotten what you told me when we got back from our wedding reception right before we went to our bedroom. You said, "you seriously considered fooling around with me after we had rolled around in the grass together."
"I knew I shouldn't have told you that. That was a smooth move Jedi. You scared the heart out of me with that fall off the shaak and then pulling me onto your body. Did you plan that whole thing?"
"I was trying to impress you by standing on that shaak. I did plan to fake a fall and scare you in fun. I didn't plan on pulling you down onto my body and rolling in the grass with you. That was a spontaneous wonderful accident. You can't take back this little naughty secret of yours's angel, it's out. Just so I get this picture in my mind correctly. This fooling around you wanted to do with me. I'm guessing it was when you were lying on top of me and I was holding your hips?"
"Anakin, you are so bad."
"I just want to get this clear."
"Yes, and particularly when you flipped me over and your body was pressing into me. You were lying on me, leaned your head down and I thought you were going to kiss me. I thought that was so hot."
"Hot enough that if you had allowed me to kiss you again, you would have wound up getting naked with me right here in the field?"
"I never would have let it get that far."
"But you said fooling around Padme."
"Fooling around, as in kissing, necking, and touching over clothing. That type of thing."
"Ah ok, my mind was thinking sex."
"Your mind is always thinking sex Anakin"
"When it comes to you, I can't help it. And anyway, your mind doesn't go to sex? Because I know from many happy experiences it does."
"I'm thinking about it right now."
"Oh yeah. Anakin says in a sexy low voice."
"But not here. Let's go back to the lake retreat. We can share a shower together and then we have to get ready to go to my parents for dinner."
"Is there a chance I will get lucky in this shower?"
"When have we not had sex when we share a shower or a bath?"
"Never, a perfect record."
"Then I'd say in Master's Yoda's language, "high the chances are."
Anakin laughs out loud at his wife's sassiness. "Ok, let's get going, but maybe we could come back here one night soon and have a camp out under the stars?"
"That sounds amazing."
The two droids followed their beloved master and mistress along the cobblestone path to the beautiful ornately designed metal door. The door was quickly opened by Jobal. The droids, Anakin, and Padme stepped through the back door into the Naberri family kitchen. The smell of home-cooked food enticed the young couple's senses.
"Good, you two made it. Dinner is ready." Jobal says to Anakin and Padme.
"Yay, you brought R2 uncle Ani." Pooja declared happily.
"Hi, 3PO. Your so shiny it's pretty." Ryoo said to 3PO while dancing around him.
"Thank you, Mistress Ryoo. I didn't always have these coverings it took a long time to get them. Mistress Shmi gave them to me."
"Whose Shmi?" Pooja asks.
With the mention of Shmi, Padme noticed the smile on Anakin's face disappear. Padme reached for Anakin and rubbed his arm gently.
"Pooja, Shmi is Anakin's mother," Padme told her niece.
Sola noticed Padme comforting Anakin. She took the opportunity to break up the conversation. "Alright you two, you've been playing in the backyard for hours. Get in the fresher and wash your hands.
Anakin pulls out Padme's chair as the family sits down to eat in the dining room. "Thank you, my love," Padme says to Anakin.
R2 and 3PO stand near the doorway watching everyone sitting at the dining table begin to grab spoons and ladles from bowls to scoop food onto their plates. Sola grabbed the plate in front of Pooja. "Would you like some purples potatoes, sweetie?"
"Yes, mommy."
Before Ruwee could grab the dish of purple potatoes the bowl lifted on its own a few inches off the table and into Sola's hands. "Thank you, Anakin," Sola said and started to scoop some food onto her daughter's plate.
"Wow, it's always so cool when you do that Uncle Ani?" Pooja said to her uncle.
"Thank you, Pooja," Anakin replied.
"Can you teach me, Uncle Anakin?" Pooja asked.
"Yes, me too. I want to make things fly around." Ryoo chimed in
"That would depend on if you two are Force-sensitive. There are ups and most certainly downs to being Force-sensitive. You would have to be tested and meet the Jedi council. Trust me when I tell you that, that experience may not be a fun one for you both. By your age Ryoo I was already manipulating the Force without realizing what I was doing. So, most likely you don't have Force abilities, but that doesn't mean that you don't have other special powers within yourselves. You just need to figure out what those are. Look at your aunt, her passion for helping people led to being crowned Queen of Naboo, successfully freeing her people and now she is a senator."
Padme turned to her husband and put her hand over Anakin's. "Thank you, Ani, that was beautifully said. Pooja and Ryoo, you are both special sweet little girls. You will both discover the power you hold to make your difference in the world. But right now, I think you should instead stick with your schoolwork and your hobbies."
"I couldn't agree more Padme and Anakin. So, what have you two been up to today?" Sola asks the newlyweds.
Anakin and Padme smiled at each other. "Anakin and I had a picnic and a swim at the shaak fields near the waterfalls."
"Darred and I love it there."
"Well, actually, the shaak fields are where Anakin and I kind of had our first date. We had a picnic and…"
Padme giggled for a moment and looked at Anakin. "Anakin jumped on one of the shaaks. The animal bucked and sent Anakin to the ground."
"Did you get hurt uncle Ani?" Pooja asked.
"No Pooja but thank you for asking. I was just trying to scare your aunt."
"Why would you try to scare Aunt Padme?" Pooja asked.
"It was a joke. I have strong ability with the Force to tame wild animals. I was in complete control the whole time."
"Shaaks are funny they make all sorts of weird noises. One of them let out a giant fart as it was walking by us last time we were in the fields." Pooja declared to the family and everyone at the table started giggling. "Ryoo, daddy and I couldn't stop laughing about it. Mommy didn't think it was so funny"
Sola smirked shaking her head. "I live in a house with three comical characters. Your all so silly sometimes."
"Funny things are always happening at home at the lake retreat right my little friend," 3PO says turning and putting his hand on R2's dome. R2 beeps in agreement happily with 3PO's statement.
"Why it was just the other night R2 and I accidentally saw Master Anakin and Mistress Padme completely naked. We walked into their bedroom and…"
"3PO stop!." Anakin shouted at the bewildered droid. Anakin jumped up from his chair and immediately walked over to 3PO and R2. He stood in front of 3PO with his arms crossed. "I think I need to continue to work on 3PO's programming," Anakin said while running his hands through his hair exasperated.
R2's response was to send his friend a few electrical shocks to his behind. "Ouch, I told you to stop that you short rusted can of bolts," 3PO said angrily to R2.
"3PO, R2 please go outside to the backyard. You're setting a bad example for the children with your behavior right now."
Anakin put his hand on 3PO's shoulder and the other on R2's dome. The Jedi ushered them out of the room and out the backdoor. Anakin returned to his chair. Padme's hand was holding her forehead shaking her head in embarrassment.
Padme turned to her husband and let out a frustrated sigh. "You said you fixed this issue with 3PO."
"I said I hoped I had," Anakin replied to his wife.
"You need to keep working on it. He cannot keep doing this, it's embarrassing. We're not going to be able to take him anywhere with us."
"I will fix it, angel," Anakin said to Padme.
Jobal recognized the tension between her daughter and son in law. She quickly took the opportunity to ease the awkwardness in the room. "Well, we're all married here."
Everyone at the table started laughing except for the two little girls who were confused why all the adults were giggling in the room.
"Now that that's out of the way." Padme took Anakin's hand and smiled at her husband. "Anakin and I didn't just come over for dinner for a visit. We have some amazing happy news to share with all of you. This morning Ani and I went to my doctor and it seems that I'm carrying twins."
"Wait, what really?" Sola blurted out with great enthusiasm.
"Yes, I sensed it the morning after our wedding. I sensed two life Forces." Anakin shared with the family.
Ruwee quickly got out of his seat, walked over to his daughter, and kissed her on the cheek. "Congratulations sweetie. This is fantastic news."
Padme smiled and had tears in her eyes. "Thank you, daddy."
Anakin stood up and hugged Ruwee. Jobal followed her husband's lead giving Padme and then Anakin a hug. Everyone at the table continued to wish their congratulations to the happy parents to be.
"Wow, you two are going to have your work cut out for you. I remember Sola and I had our hands full those first six months raising these two little stinkers." Darred shared with everyone at the table.
"Daddy." Pooja said to her father.
"Yes princess," Darred said to Pooja.
"What was 3PO talking about before about seeing uncle Ani and Aunt Padme nak…" Pooja was cut off from speaking any further by her mother.
"Sweetheart 3PO was just joking. He was trying to make everyone laugh." Sola said to her daughter.
"Oh ok, ha, ha 3PO is so silly," Pooja replied to her mother with a giggle. Her little sister giggled with her.
After dinner, the adults helped to clear off the dining table and bring food back to the kitchen. Padme walked over to the sink to start piling the dirty dishes into the washer.
"Padme don't worry about that. I will take care of it." Jobal said to her daughter.
"Mom you are not going to clean all this up on your own," Padme said.
"Go relax Padme I'll help out here," Anakin said to Padme.
"Oh, thank you so much, Anakin." Jobal said.
"That's very thoughtful my love, thank you," Padme said as she gave Anakin a quick peck on the lips.
"Mom, go relax. Anakin and I have this. The ladies of this house can take a rest." Darred said.
Ruwee looked at his left and right hand. "Last I checked I'm not a lady. I'll help too. Go relax dear." Ruwee said kissing his wife on the cheek.
"Who are you and what have you done with my husband?" Sola asked teasingly.
"Very funny honey," Darred said to his wife.
Sola put her arm around Padme's shoulders. "Come on little sister let's leave the room and pretend we're not going to talk about our men."
Padme and Sola walked into the living area where Pooja and Ryoo were playing a game on the halo.
"Anakin needs to hang around Darred more, he's a good influence," Sola said to Padme.
"Darred is a great guy," Padme said to her sister.
"I love him with all my heart, but I have noticed Darred is more self-aware when he's around Anakin. Usually, I have to kick him in the but to pick up his socks and help with the cleaning. So, to see him offer to help out mom in the kitchen after Anakin offered was encouraging."
"I think he gets a lot of his considerate nature from being brought up as an only child with his mom and sadly both of them existing on Tatooine as slaves. He respects and appreciates the plight of women's work. He made it clear in the first few days he was protecting me how much he admired my political work."
"I noticed he got quiet when the girls asked him about his mother."
"The pain is still fresh. Padme wiped a tear from her eye. "Sola, she died in his arms."
"I am so very sorry, has he talked about it?"
"He has but truthfully he hasn't allowed himself to grieve. I know I will have to talk to him about it and I will. There was so much he was dealing with and now we just found out we are going to be raising two babies at once."
"He will open up about it when he's ready. You'll know when to say something and comfort him."
"I hope so, thanks Sola."
"So, to go back to poking my nose into your love life. What did you say to Anakin those first days after you reunited while he gushed over you?" Sola asked Padme.
"I didn't say much, I played it cool."
"Is that what all that he's not my boyfriend stuff was? Your way of pushing him away?
"Yes, but all of that flew out the window quickly."
"For the record none of us believed you when you said that you and Anakin are only friends and that your relationship was what was it, strictly professional?"
"Sola what am I going to do with you. I am not going to go into all the details, but we had our first kiss at the lake retreat later that day. By the time we left Naboo to search for Anakin's mother, I was pregnant, but we didn't know it yet."
"Wow, so you changed your mind about Anakin fast after you visited us. I remember how sad Anakin looked when you announced to the table that he wasn't your boyfriend. I knew he wasn't going to give up on you so easily."
"I was lying to myself and the family what I felt for Anakin. I didn't want to face the choices I would have to make if Anakin and I gave into our deep feelings and powerful attraction for each other. When love finds you, it does not always start easy. He professed his love for me the night after we visited you guys. I almost let him walk away, but I couldn't I had to explore my love for him."
"There is no way you could have walked away. I see how in love with him you are. He's a wonderful man Padme and a handsome one. I am so very happy for you. We all are."
Padme and Sola hug warmly.
"Thank you so much, Sola. I love you."
"I love you too, little sister."
A short while later the rest of the family gathered in the living area. Anakin and Padme sat next to each other on one of the sofas.
"Padme, we have something very special your grandmother wanted you to have," Jobal said as she put a box on Padme's lap.
Padme lifted the box and handed the lid to Anakin.
"Mom these are beautiful." Padme held up a delicate baby blanket of pink and blue.
"The girls love to wrap their dolls in the ones grandma gave us," Sola said.
"Padme's grandmother made these?" Anakin asked.
"Yes, Anakin she did. My mother Winama was known in Theed as one of the best weavers. Sadly, she just missed seeing Padme elected as Monarch of Naboo. She passed away right before Padme's coronation." Ruwee said to Anakin.
"I'm sorry my love," Anakin said to Padme as he took her hand. "Thank you, Ani. I miss her. She was very funny. She always encouraged me to pursue my dreams. I don't know if I would have pursued a career in politics if it wasn't for her. I would not have been queen. She always told me how much she believed in me. She made me feel like I could do anything."
"We all miss her and now you have something really special that your children can grow up with that she made for you," Jobal said to Padme.
"I love it mom and dad, thank you," Padme said to her parents.
"Your welcome sweetheart. Your father and I have another surprise for you both. We are turning your room Padme into your children's nursery and playroom."
"Mom, dad that's amazing thank you."
"Your father and I are going to be clearing the room in the next few days. Why don't you take a look around the room to see if there is anything else you want to bring home. We'll be moving everything into the attic."
Padme and Anakin are in Padme's bedroom.
"I guess I'm building two double cribs for two different nurseries now," Anakin said while holding Padme around her waist from behind and kissed her shoulder
"My parents turning my room into our two precious one's nursery and playroom is so incredibly thoughtful," Padme says looking down at her belly and smiling rubbing it gently. Anakin places his hands over her hands. He is rocking them slowly. Padme leans into him smiling with a peaceful look on her face.
"Yes, they are looking forward to the arrival of these little ones. You have a great family Padme. It means a lot to me that they are now my family. From the moment I stepped into this house, they were so kind to me. They made me feel like I belonged."
"Sola just brought up how she remembered when I said at the dinner table that you weren't my boyfriend and only my Jedi protector. She said she saw how sad you looked when I said that. Ani I never meant to make you feel that way, I'm sorry." Padme turns around in his arms and places her hands on his shoulders.
"I know angel, thank you."
"I want you to know that I have always felt something for you. You touched my heart when we met when we were kids. You were this kind, talented, brave boy that amazed me. Then when we reunited in my apartment, I was speechless. You had grown into this handsome, strong, passionate guy that was flirting with me. I was trying to process all of it."
"I recall when we were in here last time you were wearing this blue dress that showed your entire lovely stomach and back. From what I could tell you weren't wearing a bra."
"The top had a very low-cut design in the back. My bra would have shown."
"Can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"At that point, you were still pushing me away. So why did you wear all those enticing outfits that showed off your beautiful body?"
"You had awoken something in me. I saw the way you looked at me and it made me feel so alive. The way you talked to me gave me goosebumps. You intrigued me and I found you so sexy. As much as I tried to deny it, I felt the undeniable chemistry between us. I looked forward to seeing your reaction to each outfit I wore. I began to discover this other part of myself as a woman that I had ignored up until you walked back into my life."
"I loved all of those outfits you wore, but my favorite was the black dress. Seeing you in it drove me wild. You like teasing me don't you?"
"At times I do enjoy it, yes."
Anakin runs his thumb over Padme's cheek and leans in to join his lips with hers. They begin to kiss lovingly. Anakin cups Padme's right breast, caressing her nipple over her clothes with his thumb.
Padme breathlessly breaks their kiss. "Anakin my entire family is downstairs."
"So, like your mom said we're married."
"Anakin."
"Alright, alright I'll behave myself."
Just then they hear Jobal call. "Padme, Anakin come downstairs! We have desert and caf in the kitchen."
Outside in the Nabarrie family backyard – After desert, the family retreated to the back yard with tiki torches illuminating around the landscape. Fireflies are lighting up around them. Beautiful flowers are planted around the patio. There is a little fountain with twin birdhouses perched next to it. A cobblestone path leads to the playground where Ryoo and Pooja are playing on the swings and sliding down the slide. R2 and 3PO are watching over the children. 3PO is pushing Pooja on the swing. Anakin and Padme are sitting outside in the backyard patio with her parents, Sola and Darred.
"You're the talk of Naboo once again Anakin. There isn't a place in Theed where I've been over the past week where you won't find gossip about how you defeated the Sith Lord and his apprentice. When the news was first announced by the senate the speculation on what happened with Chancellor Palpatine was non-stop, and then once again leading up to your wedding in Theed there has been a rebirth of constant talk." Jobal said to her son in law.
"It's all over the halo too. Anakin Skywalker the chosen one who defeated the Sith Lord. The hero without fear and boy who blew up the droid control ship during the invasion of Naboo, marries Padme Amadala the universe's most beloved senator. " Darred shared with the family.
"If you had gotten married quietly, there might not be as much chatter," Ruwee said to the young couple.
"I know dad, but when Queen Jamila offered Naboo's support we didn't want to refuse her. Besides, Anakin and I always thought we would have to get married in secret because of our professional duties. The idea of being able to marry out in the open and have the people of Theed celebrate our happy day meant a lot to us."
"I am not criticizing you, just making an honest observation. Whether you two had decided to keep the ceremony small and intimate or large and public, we were so very happy to be there. I thank the gods you didn't marry in secret. That would have hurt us deeply that none of us would be there to share in your happiness. " Ruwee said.
"Thank you Ruwee and Just to be clear I did not defeat the Sith Lord and his apprentice Count Dooku alone. Master Obi-Wan Kenobi had a large part to play in that monumental victory."
"What part was that?" Jobal asked.
"Mom we didn't come here tonight to talk about this. We came here to share the happy news about the twins and to enjoy a nice relaxing evening with you." Padme said in frustration.
"And we appreciate your visit sweet-heart but knowing how close you were to being threatened by such evil is terrifying for me and your father. Your grown-up, successful, married and soon you will be a mother, but we will always worry about you."
"I know mom, it's just Anakin and I have been through a lot."
"I hope someday you will feel comfortable enough to share some of that with us," Jobal said to her daughter.
Anakin turns towards Padme and takes her hand. "Maybe it's time we shared some of it with them."
Padme turns to him with an annoyed look. "Ani this is not the time for this conversation."
"It's as good a time as any. They're our family, I think they deserve to have some idea what a Sith spit show our lives have been like."
Padme turns to Anakin to look him straight in the eye. "I need to speak to you in private."
They both stand up. He follows her to a quiet corner in the backyard.
"I can't believe you want to get into this right now."
"Padme we can't shield them from the truth forever."
"Ani, it's too much too fast."
"They have been aware for a long time that your career puts you at risk of harm and ridicule. They also know what a dangerous life a Jedi leads." Anakin says to Padme.
"To tell them the truth will not only upset them regarding my safety and the twins. but reveal a great deal more personal details about your life as well." Padme responded to her husband.
"I don't want to start our life together with this family feeling like I can't be honest with them. I dealt with enough of that with the Jedi Order, always having to hide my true feelings, thoughts and be shamed for them. I'll be damned to Sith's hell if we let our younglings grow up in a constant state of pressure to repress who they are based on a set of archaic rules."
"I understand my love." Padme takes a deep breath to calm her nerves.
"Ok, we can tell them about how you and Obi-Wan defeated Sidious. But expect that they are probably not going to like some of what they hear."
"The truth is not always pleasant," Anakin says to his wife.
"I will support you on whatever you want to tell them, I trust you," Padme replies to her husband.
"I trust you too and I will support you on whatever you want to share with them," Anakin says to Padme.
Padme takes Anakin's hand and they rejoin their family on the patio.
"Mom, dad there has been quite a lot Anakin and I have not told you. Both of us were in a great deal of danger and mainly because of two evil men."
"Chancellor Palpatine and Count Dooku. They were both behind a malicious plot to not only kill Padme, but ultimately take over the entire galaxy. Palpatine wanted to destroy the republic and the Jedi. He planned to replace the republic with a new totalitarian rule over the galaxy called the empire."
"How do you know this Anakin?"
"Because Ruwee…" Anakin takes a deep breath to steady his pounding heart.
"He told me, and he told me because he thought I had joined him as his new Sith apprentice."
"Why would he think you would ever do such a thing?" Jobal asks her son n law.
"I pretended to join him, but it was no easy mission. Chancellor Palpatine or his real Sith name Darth Sidious was an extremely powerful Sith Lord well trained in the Jedi arts, extremely capable with the dark side of the Force, and a master manipulator of the mind. He was so effective of mental manipulation that he could even cause a person to have false visions."
"What kinds of visions?" Darred asked.
Padme put her hand on Anakin's shoulder. He turned to look at her briefly.
"About a month before Padme and I reunited on Coruscant, I began to have visions of my mother being tortured. Padme and I went to Tatooine to try to find my mother. I was able to track her down, but it was too late. When I found her she was happy to see me, but…." Anakin swallowed hard. She died in my arms only minutes later. Then shortly after I found out Padme was pregnant, I began to have nightmares of Padme dying in childbirth."
"I thought I had life figured all out, especially my own life, and then Anakin walked back into my life. I've come to realize I don't know guano or as they say on Tatooine poodoo."
"What are talking about Padme?" Jobal asked.
"I've made terrible decisions that have resulted in many deaths and the near-collapse of the Galactic Republic. It was my fault. During the blockade war, I let Palpatine convince me to set forth a vote of no confidence; which allowed him to be elected Supreme Chancellor of the Republic. Then I stupidly put Jar Binks in charge to take over my place in the senate while Anakin was protecting me. While I was away from the senate Binks was largely responsible for the vote that gave Palpatine emergency powers. Palpatine immediately declared the republic will have a clone army. That kicked off the clone wars and hundreds of Jedi died in battle. Lastly, after Ani quit the Order, I once again foolishly made a terrible decision to encourage Anakin to take the position Palpatine had offered him to become his personal bodyguard."
"You were only doing what you felt was right Angel."
"Padme I've got a shocking piece of news for you, you're not perfect and none of us expect you to be. Everyone makes mistakes." Ruwee proclaimed to his daughter.
"I know dad, but my mistakes could have hurdled the entire galaxy to ultimate catastrophe. In fact, with everything I've experienced and the fact that I am now about to be a mother, I'm contemplating retiring from my position right after the twins are born."
"What? You haven't told me this." Anakin said to Padme.
"I've been thinking about it for a while, ever since Mustafar."
"Mustafar, Padme what would you ever have to do with that awful planet?" Jobal asked Padme.
Padme's heart was pounding in her chest. She held onto Anakin's hand tightly. "I went there to find Anakin."
Jobal sat in shock and put her hand over her heart. "Padme you can't be serious. What were you thinking?"
"Right before Anakin left for Mustafar to fight Sidious and Dooku, he came to see me at my apartment. This was right after the Jedi temple appeared to be under attack. There was smoke billowing from the temple and I sent Anakin a comm. He came to see me at my apartment a few hours later, but when I asked him questions about what was going on I could tell he wasn't telling me the complete truth."
"Why wouldn't you tell my daughter the truth?" Ruwee asked Anakin.
"I hated not being able to tell Padme everything that I was dealing with, but I had to keep some very important details from her." Anakin shared with the family.
"Why would you keep important information from my sister?" Sola asked Anakin.
"It wasn't about keeping information from Padme, it was to prevent it from reaching Sidious. You see Darth Sidious was an extremely powerful Sith Lord who could use the dark side to read thoughts and place false images in someone's mind. If I had told Padme the entire strategy Master Kenobi and I had in motion, I was risking that Sidious would be able to read Padme's mind and the plan would fall apart. Not only would the plan to trap him fail but Padme and I would put ourselves in even greater danger. And on top of that Sidious had total control over the clone army and had an evil plan in motion to put forth an instantaneous order to kill all the Jedi in the galaxy. The order was called 66."
"I remember when Chancellor Organa discussed Order 66 when he was sworn in," Ruwee said.
"Thank the gods, you were able to stop them Anakin," Jobal said.
"It wasn't easy I assure you," Anakin said.
"To go back to that night. When Anakin came to visit me, he spoke cryptically telling me "if everything goes as planned everything will soon be set right." When I asked him what he was talking about he said "that is between me and my master." When I asked Anakin what he was talking about he told me he could not say anything more. He told me that "the separatists and Count Dooku have gathered on the Mustafa system and that he was going there to end the war." After Anakin left, I did some deep soul searching and realized that a lot of this mess with Palpatine was largely my fault."
"Padme is wasn't your fault," Sola said to her sister.
Padme ignored her sister's kind words. "I was deeply worried about Anakin and knew there was more he wasn't telling me. I could not let the man I loved and the father of my child face Count Dooku alone. I needed to talk to him. I needed to be there to support him. So I left on my own and when I got to Mustafar Anakin ran to me. Obi-Wan was holding Count Dooku captive. Anakin still wouldn't tell me what was going on other than that I had to hide in the ship because Chancellor Palpatine would arrive any minute. He quickly walked me back into my ship, pleaded with me to hide in the ship, and asked 3PO and R2 to watch over me. For a while things were calm, but then all of a sudden, the door to my escape hatch opened. I was surrounded by a dozen droids pointing their blasters right at me."
"For gods sake Padme," Jobal called out in horror. Ruwee put his arm around his wife to try to calm her down.
"I was terrified, but I was the most disturbed when the clones told me that Anakin had joined the Sith Lord as his new apprentice Darth Vader. I didn't know what to believe but I knew in my heart it couldn't possibly be true."
"And it wasn't true," Darred said.
"No, of course, it wasn't. But Darred I had no choice but to pretend that I had become Darth Vader. It was the only way I could fool Sidious and trap him."
"I was held at blaster point for what felt like hours. In reality, it was probably thirty minutes, but none the less being held at blaster point six and half months pregnant was the most traumatic experience of my life."
"After Obi-Wan and I defeated Sidious, we ran back to Padme. I found her being held at blaster point, hysterical covering her belly. Fortunately, I was able to use a Jedi mind trick to convince the clones to leave the ship and we quickly left Mustafar."
"I would have gone if it was Darred."
"Sola are you out of your mind," Jobal said in absolute shock and horror.
"You would too mom if it was dad," Sola said to her mother.
"I love your father with all my heart, but I can't imagine going to that horrible star system when I was pregnant with you and Padme."
Sola looks over at Darred for a moment. "If he was talking all cryptic and I knew he was in over his head, I would probably follow him to Sith's hell too.
Jobal turns to Sola. "I hope to gods that you are never in a situation where you would feel you have to."
Jobal turns back to facing Anakin and Padme. "You two can't just think of yourselves for much longer as separate people. You're going to be parents. Your children's safety will have to come first."
"We know that mom and it will. We promise you." Padme says to her mother.
Ruwee takes Jobals hand. "Dear please calm down. We have to trust them."
"You don't think she was irresponsible?" Jobal asks her husband.
"I do but more than anything, I thank the gods Anakin and his friend Master Kenobi were able to stop that bastard, those mindless clones and that everyone's ok. Our family just celebrated a beautiful wedding, and we have two grandbabies on the way. Please let us focus on that! Whatever happened on that gods forsaken planet is over."
"I know I'm sorry, but this has really upset me," Jobal said to Ruwee.
"I'm sorry mom. I knew it would and that's why I was not planning to tell you." Padme said to her mother.
"You put yourself and your unborn children in enormous danger and what good did it do? You were hiding on that ship. You're not a Jedi. You could not defend yourself against that Sith Lord and his henchmen. You almost got killed."
"Actually Jobal, I think Padme coming to visit me on Mustafar did help. It made a great deal of difference.
"How could that have possibly helped Anakin?" Jobal asked.
"Because knowing that Padme was there with me on that bed of Sith's hell, pregnant and in danger fueled an inferno of determination in me. Although, I was not happy that Padme had not followed my request for her to wait for me on Coruscant and instead went to Mustafar to find me. Knowing she was in mortal danger somehow allowed me to channel the most powerful surge of energy through the force I have experienced. That explosive power from the light side of the Force is what helped me to defeat and kill Sidious."
"You don't think you and Master Kenobi could have defeated him if Padme wasn't there?" Ruwee asked.
"There is no way to know for sure, but I do believe being aware that we were in a life-or-death situation somehow helped me to maximize my ability to use the light side of the Force."
"I can't even imagine the power and skill it must have taken to kill that dangerous evil man," Jobal said to her son n law.
"It took everything in me." Anakin shared with the group.
"I believe it," Ruwee said.
"Padme is it very upsetting for me to know you put yourself in that much danger, but I don't want you two to feel you can't talk to us. What kind of family do we have here if we can't be honest with each other? Being a stable happy family is not only about celebrating the good times, but also about getting through the tough ones. It was a huge shock to hear all this from you both, but I am ok now. The fact that you were so worried about what we would think of you marrying Anakin because of your positions of power should be a wake-up call for me. This is your life and you need to make your own choices. I might not always agree or understand them, but I will respect them." Jobal replied.
"Thank you mom that means a lot to me," Padme said.
"Jobal, Ruwee I know I have said something similar before our wedding when I asked for your blessing to marry Padme, but I want to tell you both that I will do everything in my power to use the light side of the Force to keep Padme and our soon to be born younglings safe and happy. And just to be clear, Padme is quite capable of defending herself. As a boy, I was astounded by her ability to reclaim her throne by defeating the Vice Roy fueling the trade blockade. She came up with that entire battle plan and her abilities in using a blaster are impressive."
"Thank you, my love." Padme leans over and kisses Anakin on the cheek.
After Anakin and Padme's powerful confession to the family, Ruwee asked Anakin if he could look into an electrical problem he was having with his speeder. Anakin is reviewing the vehicle's computer programming.
"So how are you holding up with all of what you told us tonight? I had no idea what you went through with your mother-son."
"Thank you Ruwee, none of it has been easy but I have a lot to be grateful for."
"You certainly do, wait till those two babies are in your arms. There is nothing like the feeling of seeing your children born and holding them for the first time. They become your whole world. All you want to do is protect them and do what you believe is best for them."
"This is all new for me."
"Of course, it is."
"I never had a father, only a mother. But I had the most loving wonderful mother a kid could ever want. I intend to show my children that same love I was so fortunate to receive."
"You never met your father?"
"Sighs. No, I mean, this is hard to explain."
"It's ok, son."
"There's a reason why I've been called the chosen one half of my life. You see, my mother somehow by some strange wondrous miracle became pregnant with me. Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn believed I was conceived through the Force."
"Are you saying you were somehow conceived through some type of immaculate conception?"
"Yes."
"Now Padme is about to give birth to your children. Does that mean they will have powers like you?"
"I would be shocked if they didn't. They will probably both have a strong sense of the Force."
"What do you and Padme plan on doing about that?"
"When they are old enough I will probably train them in the Jedi arts. At the very least Padme and I will have to monitor their Force senses. The Jedi council has already expressed interest in me training our child."
"Child, they don't know you and Padme are having twins?"
"Not yet we wanted to tell the family first and keep it to ourselves for a little longer."
"We very much appreciate you and Padme sharing the happy news with us. That's perfectly understandable that you did not tell the Jedi yet, it sounds like you and Padme have a lot to decide."
"One thing is for sure Ruwee. Padme and I will not be raising our children on Coruscant. We want them to grow up on Naboo."
"That makes us very happy son."
Padme and Jobal sat and watched 3PO push Pooja and Ryoo on the playground swings.
"Can we talk more about your thoughts on stepping down as senator?" Jobal asked her daughter.
Padme took a deep breath. "I feel in my heart that it's time for me to take a break from politics. My priorities have changed. What and who I want to devote my time to has changed, everything has changed."
"I understand and I couldn't agree more. I know your father feels it's time for you to step away, the whole family does."
"I know mom, thank you."
"How do you think Anakin feels?"
"I know he will support me on whatever I decide. He's actually thinking about leaving the Jedi Order again."
"Really, why?"
"I'm not going to go into all the reasons, but we both agree that it's wrong for the Jedi to be taking babies away from their parents. We don't like how the Jedi raise children and we want to keep them far away from our soon to be born younglings."
"I completely agree sweetie."
"Mom, I want to enjoy raising my children with their father. I don't want anyone else raising them. I want to be there with Anakin day by day, side by side working as a team. They'll only be babies once and I don't want to miss any of it, their first walk, their first tooth, their first word."
"You feel comfortable enough that you will be able to walk away from the senate? Because I know you Padme, they'll need something else from you and you'll get sucked right back into it."
"Not this time mom. I trust Bail Organa to lead and rebuild. Now is my time to be with my family and I'm taking it."
"When do you plan to announce your leaving?"
"I'll discuss it with Anakin, but most likely soon after the twins are born. To be honest, these past few months being pregnant with twins has become increasingly difficult to devote my time and energy to being Naboo's senator."
"This is your time for yourself and you more than deserve it. I'm very happy for you and you know how proud I am of you."
"Thank you, mom, I love you." Padme and Jobal hug.
The night winds down as Padme and Anakin say their goodbyes to the family. Hugs are given all around.
"Thank you for a wonderful dinner tonight," Anakin says to the family.
"You're always welcome to join us," Ruwee said to his son n law.
"I love the baby blankets, their so beautiful," Padme said.
"Of course, sweetie, your grandmother made them for you to give to your children," Jobal said to Padme.
"We had so much fun with R2 and 3PO tonight. Thanks for bringing them, Uncle Anakin." Pooja said to her uncle.
"Your welcome Pooja, we'll bring them again. But it might be a while till they return with us. I've got my work cut out for me to work on 3PO's programming."
"Please keep us posted with everything," Sola said to Padme.
"We definitely will," Padme replied.
Anakin holds Padme's hand as they walk up the ramp to enter their Naboo cruiser with the droids following them. The Naberrie family waved goodbye as they watched the young couple's ship speed off into the Naboo night sky.
Author's Notes:
I hope everyone enjoyed that chapter. I have been writing it for months. I want to share that the beginning scene with Anakin and Padme flying around the falls in their speeder is the scene I have wanted to write for a very long time. I have had this beautiful scene in my mind since I wrote Honeymoon on Naboo. I had planned to have that scene in that story. I hope you are enjoying my story and reviews are appreciated. I'm not sure when chapter four will be live. I still have a lot to figure out. Hopefully I will have the next chapter up in a few weeks.