Baltimore 2011
At Baltimore airport, Anakin was waiting for his in-laws. They haven't seen each other since the wedding. He knew how happy Padmé was to see her parents, she always has a close relationship with her family. He liked that and decided to intensify his relationship with Cliegg and Owen. Now he knew what family meant and was sure that Padmé's parents still viewed her as their little girl even though she was already an adult, he was sure Cliegg viewed him the same way.
"Anakin, we are so happy to see all of you... especially our grandchildren, I'm so excited, really."
"You have so much luggage, luckily we have an SUV now. You stay longer than just two days?"
"No, they're just presents for the babies."
"Oh my god, Jobal, do you know what Padmé has already bought? …a lot."
"It's never enough...and besides, there are a few little things for Padmé, she had birthday."
Anakin grinned and now thought he knew from whom Padmé inherited this love of shopping. He himself was never a shopper. Yes, he had nice things, but not in excess. That must be the female mentality. He could only guess, he hadn't lived with a woman before to be able to compare. No matter, his wife can do it, he was a millionaire, but no one should know that, most of the money was earmarked for the children's education. He still has to talk to Padmé about this.
Laurel 2011
There was great joy at home. Seeing her parents again after so long brought tears to Padmé's eyes, and Jobal cried when she saw her grandchildren. They were only two weeks old and still small.
And then the unwrapping of presents began. Jobal said the babies need a lot to wear, nice bed linen, a few little things for the children's room and of course many cuddly toys... a hundred of them, or a few more.
"I also brought something." Ruwee said "...it's very light but serious."
He pulled an envelope out of his jacket pocket and gave it to Anakin.
"That should cover the tuition fees."
Anakin tentatively took the envelope and opened it. Inside were two checks made out to Lady Leia Alexandra Skywalker and Lord Luke Anakin Skywalker, each for the sum of five hundred thousand dollars.
"That's very generous, thank you, but it wasn't necessary, Ruwee, we have money."
"All my grandchildren get this. Money is always needed, and we have enough, we can't spend it all."
"Thanks, Daddy, Mom, you are the best…..uh…and my birthday present?"
Jobal laughed. "I actually waited until you asked about it." She took a white bag and reached in with her hand. Padmé's eyes widened. She pulled out a light brown paper bag marked LV. Padmé squealed like a teenager and snatched the bag out of her mother's hand. She quickly picked up her gift. "Exactly what I need for this summer, a blue denim bag from Louis Vuitton, OMG! How do you always know what I need?"
"I am your mother, Padmé."
Padmé went to her mother and kissed her, then to her father and thanked her in the same way.
Afterwards, Padmé fed the babies, and then they talked about the past few months and what had happened. The topic of politics was also brought up and the parents wanted to know why Padmé really took maternity leave so early. Jobal was challenging to deceive; she knew her daughter well. Padmé hated lying, and she was bad at it, but she stood her ground. She knew she couldn't reveal the real reason. The parents had to be content with the fact that she had difficulty moving with her huge belly and couldn't drive, but they couldn't believe Padmé would now take such a long break. They knew how committed she was to her job and what her ambitions were.
Ruwee really wanted to know: "Padmé, are you returning to politics at all...or are you considering working as a lawyer...eventually?"
"A question with ulterior motives?" Padmé laughed.
"You can ask, right? Weren't you thinking about going back to Boston?"
"Honestly, no…but you never know. Besides, Anakin has a good job in one of the best clinics in the country, he can't easily find anything comparable. He's now a junior chef, and in a few years, he can replace his boss, who is older and... I don't know, really not."
Anakin listened to the conversation, not wanting to bring up any ideas of his own, but making a mental note to talk to Padmé about it when they were alone again.
Padmé and Mrs. Summers cooked the lunch on Sunday. Jobal helped. There was asparagus cream soup, asparagus with sauce hollandaise and ham, and strawberry tiramisu for dessert.
Since the month of June was already advanced, it was warm and summery, so they were able to have their meal on the terrace. Luke and Leia lay in the baby car seats and let the family admire them. Leia was close and safe next to her father's chair, who dropped his right hand every few seconds to adjust the blanket over his daughter.
"Ani, this is how you wake her up, let her sleep."
"I just don't want her to catch a cold."
"And I know what you want, Ani. You want to have her in your arms all the time. That doesn't make sense, later I'll have to do it all day because she'll get used to it."
Jobal smiled, she saw how Anakin was addicted to his daughter and then she said: "Ruwee has had Padmé in his arms all the time too...and now she always prefers her arms around his neck, not that I'm jealous. " They all laughed but knew it was the same.
Afterwards, Padmé breastfed the babies and they sat for a while and discussed when they could see each other next. She promised to come to Boston for Christmas and stay for a whole week, Anakin will try to get a vacation. Luke and Leia will be six months old by then, and they will be able to survive an hour and a half flight.
The Naberries flew back to Boston on Sunday evening. When Anakin returned from the airport, Padmé put the babies in their cribs and waited for Anakin on the sofa.
"I can see that you are happy and content, Angel."
"Oh yeah, I haven't seen them in a long time. Normally, I never let so much time pass. I love my parents... uh... I'm sorry Ani, I didn't mean to be tactless. I know you miss your mother, and I doubt that will change, no matter how much time passes. Mother is mother."
"That's not the point, Padmé. I have a family now...you and our children. I am a happy man. Yes, I will always miss my mother, but not like a little child...it's just...I'm just thinking... You have such a close relationship with your parents and with your sister, and it's not unthinkable to leave Laurel now that you don't want to work in Washington anymore. It's true that I have a great job and great prospects for career advancement, but it's not impossible for me to find a job in Boston. Boston General Hospital is one of the best hospitals in the USA; with my references, I would definitely be able to find a job there."
"But you would have to start over. No, Ani, let's stay here."
"I just wanted to tell you I wouldn't mind moving to Boston. I moved a lot, it wouldn't matter. I spent the first eighteen years of my life in England, then I was in Germany for eleven and a half years. I've been in America for a year now... I don't feel connected to any state or city... I actually feel... kind of uprooted, but I have a family that is my home. When I come home to where you expect me...then I know I'm in the right place, no matter where that place is...I mean geographically."
"That's so sweet of you, but I'm taking some time off now for the children until they go to kindergarten. They need me now, I want to be a mother for Luke and Leia, I don't want to have them raised by a nanny. We'll see later."
"As you wish, Padmé, but as I said, we are not bound here. By the way, your father was very generous, I mean we have money for the children's education. I calculated that it would cost about two million dollars if we sent them to private school."
"Now we need a million less but that's not all, Ani. Sola got the same amount and another two and a half million for the house they bought for Darred...so I can expect the same amount." She winked.
"We're millionaires, huh. The money doesn't make you happy, but it does calm you down. When I met you, I wasn't a millionaire, but I was happy and still am. The millions don't preclude our happiness, right?"
"Right...and now I have to prepare my milk for later, then I'll go to sleep. You have the next shift."
"Very well, My Lady."
"Ani!"
"Yes?"
"I love you. Good night."
"I love you too, sleep well."
Despite being tired after a tiring day, Padmé couldn't fall asleep straight away. She kept looking at the clock and watching baby monitors. She won't get much sleep tonight, she thought, she couldn't force sleep, especially with so many important things spinning in her head like an endless loop. Did she really want to go back to Boston? At first, she wanted to leave, Washington offered so many opportunities, good... and not so good as it turned out. She was not a small child and knew that politics is not a clean affair, that a world power like the USA cannot assert its influence in the world with honesty and kindness... but what she witnessed on May Day... no, that was too much. No, she doesn't want that. It was clear to her that she couldn't change it, but she didn't want to to be part of it. It's possible to work in her father's law firm; one day, with more experience, she could become a well-known criminal defense attorney...or should she look for a career in the public prosecutor's office? Better not, it's also connected to politics, no, she wanted to be left alone from all of this. Only Sabé knew that, maybe not in detail, and Anakin understood and supported her. She didn't want to decide tonight, but at some point maybe...yet.
She had to get up at three to feed the babies again, Anakin was sleeping next to her. She looked at him for a moment. He was so beautiful, so perfect, and he was her husband. Now, after giving birth to twins, she was still overweight and covered in those ugly stretch marks. It will take some time until she is somewhat presentable again, hmm, if she even regains her former appearance. Yes, when she stops breastfeeding and can train hard again, the pounds will just fall away, but the stretch marks will remain. She will train, she has decided to do that. She wants to be herself again and attractive to her husband...and the next child? She asked herself why she was already thinking about the next baby, she hasn't even had sex...uh, that will take a while, it's not possible now...but she could please him differently...yes, maybe.
After feeding the babies, she went back to bed and fell asleep immediately. Anakin took the shift at six in the morning, feeding the babies, showering, dressing, making his favorite breakfast and coffee. It was unusual to have breakfast without Padmé, he missed her and their morning conversation, but it will be like that for some time now, the babies and their needs come first. He remembered his request to Padmé..."don't do that"...he wanted to be a father and now he is a father, even of twins. He felt the urge to see his children, ran upstairs, went into the children's room and carefully, without waking them, he kissed their little heads and said goodbye for the day. Then he went into the bedroom and tenderly kissed his sleeping Angel.
"Rest, Angel, I love you. See you tonight." He whispered.
"Mmmm, I love you too." She murmured without knowing it.
Anakin went into the garage, got into his Porsche and drove to work. As soon as he got onto Highway one, his iPhone rang, it was Ben.
*Hey Anakin, slept enough?*
*Unnecessary question, no. I'm chronically sleep deprived...but my twins are worth it. Something new?*
*No, but speaking of twins; I would like to see them. How about next Saturday?*
*Great. When?*
*Around 4:00 p.m.?*
*Perfect. Are you coming alone? You can also come with Sabé.* He grinned.
*Nice try, but no, I'm coming alone...maybe.*
*Maybe? OK. alone or accompanied, you are always welcome. See you later.*
*Bye.*
Best regards from Germany