Padmé was in utter disbelief. How could they be going back to Mustafar? They just got out of that horrible place and she just had her children.
"Anakin, be reasonable. Mustafar is no place for a child." She said her voice trembling. "Ani please." There was desperation in her voice.
"It won't be for long my darling. I have a plan. Don't worry." He always had a 'plan'. His plan was to save Padmé from death yet here she is dying on the inside and watching her marriage die. Watching the life she wanted die.
"Ani I don't believe you." She said in shock. She needed a plan and she needed a plan fast. Pain. That's it. She was in so much pain. That was her ticket out of this.
"Ani I need medicine. This pain is unbearable." She said.
"But we're almost there." Anakin replied.
"Anakin, I have been through hell. I just got done delivering your children, please, please just stop so I can get some medicine."
"alright. But not for too long. We're on a time crunch."
"thank you." Padmé said.
...
"We're about to pull in. Padmé, please be careful, this is a sketchy area. Are you sure you want to go on your own?" He asked. He cared about her, but it wasn't the same, not as it used to be at least.
"I am strong Ani. I can handle myself. Besides it will only be for a few minutes." She was scared. She would have to leave her newborn children with their father. She would have to leave them with a monster. She carefully handed him Luke, then Leia. "I'll be back my wonderful babies." She whispered as she kissed each one of them on their forehead.
"Here. Take this, and don't forget the credits." Anakin handed her a blaster and 600 credits. "Be careful." He said before giving her a kiss. Tears filled her eyes as she turned around.
"Come on Padmé, keep it together." She whispered to herself as she walked off the ship into the sketchy black market to get medicine.
"your strongest pain killer please?" Padmé asked the clerk. She was trembling on the inside.
"and what's a beautiful lady like yourself doing here?" He said smiling. He took his hand and caressed her arm. She flinched and pulled away.
"my good sir that is none of your concern." She said sternly. The clerk rolled his eyes and turned towards the wall behind him. He grabbed a small bottle.
"here. The strongest in the galaxy." He slammed it onto the counter.
"now how do you expect to pay for this?" He asked.
Padmé threw her 600 credits onto the counter. "And keep the change." She said.
"now how in the hell do you got this many credits?" He said raising an eyebrow.
"once again, that is none of your concern." She replied. She took the bottle and left.
She wanted to run back to the ship but the numbness and pain in between her legs prevented her from doing so.
She walked onto the ship. She sighed a sigh of great relief. Her children were fine. Anakin sat on the floor with the two babies. His smile made her smile. He softly stroked their heads. It was a wonderful painful and bittersweet moment.
"Padmé!" Anakin said. He seemed relieved she was okay. He bounced to his feet careful not to disturb the sleeping children. He kissed her, and she kissed him back.
"hi my darlings!" She whispered through tears of relief as Anakin handed the babies.
"I am so glad you're alright! Did you get what you needed?" He asked her. "Yes, yes I did." She said. She was mildly distracted. She was mesmerized by the sight of her twins.
"we should be there soon my dear." Anakin said before kissing her forehead and walking back to the front of the ship.
...
For a brief while everything felt normal. Padmé was in heaven holding her babies. And just for a moment, she forgot about everything, about the Sith, about Mustafar, and for a moment she forgot about the last month of pain. She thought for a split second that they could be a normal family, but then the cruel haze of reality sank over her once again. They arrived at Mustafar.
"Padmé we're here." Anakin walked to the back and the hatch opened. "Just stay close to me my love." The pair walked, Padmé holding their children as they walked from the launch pad into the dark and depressing building. Overwhelmed she started to cry. Only a month ago she stood here and only a month ago she watched her only love, the love of her life, disappear. Only a few moments later they reached the apartment.
"Now I know you took a key. It was smart, but I can't have that again. I can't lose you Padmé. You need to stay here where you'll be safe." He said. Padmé nodded and handed him the key she took.
"Ani would you like some tea?" She asked.
"That would be lovely but are you sure, I can make it if you want." He asked grabbing her hand.
"No really it's okay. It will give you time to bond with the twins." She forced a smile. This was it. It was now or never. She brewed some tea and took the bottle she had gotten not too long before and dumped its contents or at least a good portion into his tea. She didn't want to kill him she just knock him out.
"Here." She said as she handed the cup to Anakin. "Thank you my love." He said with a smile. Padmé fought back tears. She sipped her tea and waited for the drug to take its effect.
She watched as slowly he became more and more mellow until finally his eyes closed and his cup fell onto the table.
"I am sorry Ani." She whispered and kissed his forehead. She could feel tears well up until the tension broke and once again they ran down her cheek.
She reached into his pocket and grabbed the key he took back and as quick as she could she picked up her babies and rushed back to the ship.