Baltimore 2011

Just got to work, Anakin already missed his twins. Several times a day he called home and Padmé was happy to hear his voice. So, the week passed and the Skywalkers prepared with curiosity for Ben's visit.

Laurel 2011

On Saturday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. Ben parked in front of the garage, got out of the car, walked around and opened the door. A slim, attractive brunette got out, took her bag and something else that was beautifully wrapped and looked like a gift. Hand in hand, they stud in front of the door and rang the bell. After a few seconds, Anakin opened and greeted them warmly. Padmé was already there.

"Hey how are you? May I introduce, Stephanie Preston, my sister-in-law…my late wife's sister."

Anakin held out his hand, "Nice to meet you."

Padmé did the same.

This Stephanie must be very fascinated by Anakin's beauty if she stares at him like that, though Padmé, Ben noticed it too. Well, then… "Come in, we'll go out to the terrace straight away, it's so warm and pleasant."

"We brought a little something for the twins."

"Oh, thanks, but when they are awake again, I'll take them downstairs and then we'll unpack the little something. OK. ? Anakin, you take care of the drinks and I'll ...of the cake." She went to get glasses and plates.

"Very well, My Lady."

"My lady? Is he making fun of his wife, Ben?"

"Actually not. Didn't I tell you that Anakin belong to old English nobility…Lord Skywalker."

"Oh my god, this perfect man is also a lord, WOW."

Ben was good-looking, he knew that, but he didn't like the fact that she was so infatuated with another man in his presence. "He's not snooty or judgmental."

"Certainly not, otherwise he wouldn't marry this...ordinary woman."

Ben was starting to get angry. "Padmé is not an ordinary woman, she is extraordinary, a brilliant lawyer, was an assistant to Senator John Kerry and comes from a good family in Boston...and she is beautiful."

"Well, thirty pounds more than she needs…."

"Stephanie ! She gave birth to twins three weeks ago. Every woman looks like that after this ordeal, but after a few months she is as beautiful as ever."

"You think quite highly of her, don't you?"

"Indeed, and with the necessary respect. She's my best friend's wife."

"If you say so."

Ben regretted in advance that this afternoon would not be as pleasant as he had hoped. Stephanie looked like her sister but her personality was completely different, which was exactly what Ben didn't want. They just started going out together and he was already thinking about how he could put an end to it without it getting ugly.

Anakin and Padmé only caught snippets of the conversation between Ben and Stephanie and could only exchange glances. So be careful.

Anakin brought drinks, alcoholic, various juices and coffee. Padmé didn't drink alcohol because she was still breastfeeding, Anakin didn't drink out of solidarity, and Ben didn't drink because he had to drive. That's why Stephanie drank...for all of them and became more and more abusive. Padmé and Anakin pretended not to notice, but for Ben it was really embarrassing.

Around half past five, Padmé brought the twins down. Ben was delighted.

"Oh Anakin, Luke looks just like you."

"But the daughter is his favorite." Padme laughed.

"And your favorite is your son, you have him in your arms again."

"Who wouldn't if he looks so much like his father?" Stephanie flirted again.

Ben tried not to notice. He gave Padmé the gift and she opened it. There were cute bobble hats for the coming winter, as well as two pairs of UGG boots, one pink and one blue. Padmé thanked him.

"Oh thank you, these are so cute, just the thing. We'll need it in Boston, where it can get very cold. We're going to Boston for Christmas."

"You fly with two babies?" Stephanie wanted to know.

"By then they'll be six months old, it won't be a problem."

"Two little babies, tell me...Padmé, how do you manage that and the career?"

"Well, I'm on maternity leave now, maybe longer, but that's not a problem and shouldn't be. Some women dedicate themselves to careers, some to motherhood, some do justice to neither and I will do both."

Anakin smiled, pulled her close and kissed her hair. "My wife, like no other. Here's your whiskey Stephanie."

"Thank you My Lord." She smiled seductively at him.

"Just Anakin."

"If you insist…"

Padmé and Ben looked at each other, Ben rolled his eyes.

And so it went until six o'clock, then Anakin brought the bottles and fed first Leia and then Luke.

"Why are you doing this, Anakin, isn't it your wife's job?" Stephanie wanted to know.

"No, we share the work and they are my babies too. That's how I build the bond with them."

"What did you say you were a gynecologist? I have to come over to your place…for a check-up."

"I think you have one or two whiskeys more than you can handle, Stephanie, we should slowly go. Padmé and Anakin need to bathe the babies and prepare them for the night."

"Well then Master Kenobi, let's go."

Padmé and Anakin said goodbye to their guests.

"Huh Ani, that was something. This rarely happens to me, but I couldn't wait for them to go."

"I feel the same way. I just don't know what he's thinking about dating his late wife's sister. That can never work. It's been five years since his wife died. Apparently, he's still not over it and now he's looking, or trying, to find his wife in her sister. I don't know if I should say something to him or if it's better not to."

"I don't know what to advise you, Ani. You know him better than me, I don't know if you can talk to him so openly, I mean he's older than you and because you're married now it doesn't necessarily mean you can give out advice now. He's an adult and needs to know what he wants...although, you can think logically and have a brilliant mind."

"Thank you, Angel," he laughed, "...but it is better I say nothing."

Sunday passed as usual. They spoke to Cliegg, Owen and Beru via Skype and then to their parents and Sola. Her parents were preparing for a three-week trip to Great Britain at the end of July. They accepted Cliegg's invitation.

"It's a shame we can't be there, Ani."

"Did you like England so much, Angel?"

"What I saw, yes. Especially the cottage and I could…."

"No Angel, we won't live there."

"OK. , but we can fly to England more often."

"We'll do that, I promise."

They spent the rest of the day cooking, feeding babies and enjoying each other's company.

On Monday, Anakin spoke on the phone with Ben, who told him he had had a little accident on the way home on Sunday. No worry, they're not hurt, but he'll have to buy a new car. A little accident with that woman in the car, huh? Did she distract him, did they argue? Shit, he definitely won't ask that.

That Monday, Sabé also called and announced her visit; she also wanted to see the babies. The appointment was Saturday lunchtime. Sabé wasn't a complicated person and didn't have to enjoy a five-course meal every time, so Padmé decided to invite her for lunch, Sabé was her best friend, they knew each other much better and longer than Ben and Anakin and Padmé wanted to maintain this intense friendship. Padmé decided to make a beef goulash, with pasta and salad, and strawberries with mint pesto for dessert. Mrs. Summers ran all the errands beforehand and Anakin helped to prepare the lunch.

Short before 1:00 p.m. a brand-new cherry red BMW 6 Series Coupé pulled up to the garage. Padmé opened the door and couldn't believe what she saw.

"Surprise ! "Look at my new toy, girlfriend." And hugged Padmé.

"My goodness, Sabé, I would never have thought in my life that you would buy a car like that. Did I make you want to spend money, huh?"

"My father has banned me from dealing with you with immediate effect, just so you know. It's just that I thought if no one wanted me, perhaps someone might just stick with the BMW. Hey Anakin." and gave him a kiss too.

"WOW Sabé, Gucci and Prada aren't enough anymore, what?"

Anakin has adapted to Padmé and Sabé's conversational style and so now they were always joking.

"Yes, I became a brand victim…thanks to your wife, but cut that shit, where are the babies?"

"They're sleeping again, I have to feed them at 3:00 p.m. and then you can see them."

"What, I should wait until 3:00 p.m. ….no, you can't do that to me !"

"OK. Then come with me, but you mustn't wake them."

"Promised."

They went upstairs to the children's room, Sabé came to the baby beds, stood between the two and began to cry quietly.

"Padmé….you are so lucky in life….they are like two angels, you are to be envied,….but I am really happy for you, believe me."

"I know, it's okay, Sabé. One day you will have children too."

"Yes, one day, when...besides everything I have, I'm lonely, Padmé. You have Anakin and now children, two children. Children are a blessing."

Padmé didn't know what to say, she just hugged her friend. After a while, Sabé wiped her tears away and they fell down. Sabé gave Padmé the gift for the children. A small box of 2 1/2oz American Eagles and two white Moncler winter overalls.

"Thanks Sabé, great….and the overalls, so cute. You know we're going to Boston for Christmas, we will need them."

"Then I hit it well."

After briefly exchanging news, they had lunch on the terrace. Short before 3:00 p.m., Anakin brought the babies down; they were already awake. Padmé took Luke and began the breastfeed. He placed his tiny hand on her breast and opened his eyes, which were sky blue like his father's. She smiled at him. Sabé put her hand on her friend's thigh but didn't say anything, neither did Padmé. She only saw endless longing in Sabé's eyes.

"It's such an intimate moment, Padmé. Thank you for letting me be a part of it."

"Always, Sabé."

When Luke didn't want anymore, she cleaned him up and handed him over to Sabé.

"Here's the blanket, he'll definitely spit."

Sabé held Luke so that he could burp. At that moment the doorbell rang.

"Are you expecting someone?"

"Uh…no. Anakin, can you see who is it?"

Anakin placed Leia in her hands, which he had been carrying until then. "I'll be back right away."

When he opened the door, Ben was standing in front of him. He was surprised but happy. "Come in… something happened?"

"No...uh, yeah...not really, I...I really wanted to apologize to you both for last Saturday and over the phone, is not the same. But I'm sorry for coming unannounced...do you have visit? There's a BMW out there, exactly the same as the one I bought this week, even the same color."

"Yes, we have someone here and obviously that someone has the same taste as you. Come on, let's go to the terrace."

Padmé came towards them with Leia in her arms.

"Hey, nice to see you. Are you still O., no breaks, bumps?"

"Hey Padmé, everything's OK. , don't worry."

And then he saw Sabé with Luke in her arms.

"Hi...I didn't know you were here, otherwise...I wouldn't have come, sorry."

"Why, Ben? We didn't part as enemies."

"No, of course not...it...it's just uncomfortable."

"Uncomfortable…uncomfortable with me?"

"No, I mean…I didn't mean it like that. I'm sorry, I'm talking nonsense. It's just that I wasn't prepared for it."

"And what would you have said to me if you had prepared for this?"

"Probably...nice to see you again, Sabé."

She walked towards him.

"You can always correct yourself, Ben."

"Nice to see you again, Sabé. …and the baby in your arms looks good on you."

"Yes, and I really want one...I just haven't found the right man yet."

She saw an apologetic look in his eyes, he saw a longing look in hers. Padmé and Anakin watched the two interact, hoping to hear something they didn't know or hadn't been told.

.

Best regards from Germany