Thanksgiving was one of the greatest galactic holidays. It was an official holiday, the offices, schools and all other galactic institutions were off. The holiday was flexible, always falling on the 4th day of the 4th week of the 11th month after the standard calendar.
Those were the days after harvesting. The people went to the temple with the baskets full of fruits to thank the gods for the good harvest. Afterwards, they celebrated in the main streets and squares of the cities.
The main promenade along the river and in the large square in front of the royal palace in Theed was dotted with stalls, where you could buy everything; small art objects, jewellery, homemade knitwear, fabrics, household goods, pickled fruits and vegetables, dry and smoked meat and fish. Most people crowded between the stalls offering fresh baked fruit bread drizzled with honey, donuts with vanilla sauce, sausages and Shaakburgers with bagels, salad and mayonnaise, or where the smell of roasted chestnuts was so good.
That's how it was on Naboo, but each planet was celebrated in its own way, and not only that, the planets were so different, that according to the standard calendar, this date was summer on some of them, winter on others, or another season, if that Planet had any at all. It was a galactic holiday because it was the day, on which the most planets ended the harvest season and experienced the end of autumn.
When Padmé and Anakin left Naboo after the Summer Solstice Festival, they knew that they would not be able to leave Coruscant for the great and important holiday of Thanksgiving. She didn't know, if Anakin would be on a mission or not. They didn't even know exactly when the twins would come. It's almost normal to expect the twins three to four weeks earlier. So, they were on hold.
Anakin paced around nervously, worried that, if the babys came on time, he wouldn't be there to welcome them into the world.
And that was not all. He began to experience nightmares, which he did not immediately tell his wife. She did not need this excitement. But Padmé saw that something was bothering him, she knew him well, and she demanded the truth. When she continued to ask, he revealed his problem and his intention to listen to Palpatine just to save her. Fortunately, he trusted her and her suspicions about Palpatine.
Since Obi-Wan also suspected the Chancellor, they devised a plan to outwit him. Anakin planned to inform Palpatine that the Jedi suspected him of passing on secret internal information, did not trust him, excluded him from all important meetings, and sent him on the most dangerous missions and battles. Palpatine was not stupid, but since he wanted to convince Anakin of all this, he welcomed Anakin's insight. He revealed himself to Anakin as a Sith and offered to rule the galaxy as his apprentice. Anakin pretended to accept the offer when twenty of the best Jedi stormed Palpatine's office. Yes, that's how many Jedi were needed to defeat him, but half of them didn't survive. Master Windu, Obi-Wan and Anakin were the main players. The operation was successful, as planned, and the galaxy was saved. The Chosen One fulfilled his destiny.
The war was still going on, so the next mission was already set: the 1st day of the 12th month according to the standard calendar, and the duration was always uncertain.
They celebrated Thanksgiving alone in Padmé's apartment, although they were not in the mood to celebrate. The situation was still not stable enough, and the date for new elections had not yet been set. However, they wanted to celebrate this big holiday. Of course, Padmé's loyal servants Dormé and Sabé were there to help her, or rather, to do everything because she could hardly move. She was working home office since the end of the 10th month, and when something important came up, she had Dormé stand in for her. No one noticed, except Bail Organa.
Padmé spent the days and nights on tons of pillows and still couldn't find the right position. It was torture.
Dormé and Sabé had prepared the festive dinner for Thanksgiving evening according to Nabooian customs. They were present to help and serve in case Padmé couldn't get up. And that's exactly how it was.
Anakin arrived early in the evening and decided that dinner would be taken in bed. A little bit unusual, but Padmé was unable to sit for long, even as long as dinner would last.
He stayed the night. Obi-Wan wasn't looking for him, he guessed where he was. The night was long and restless, Padmé tossed and turned and Anakin often had to play pillow. After breakfast in bed, she got up to take a shower and then….
"Ouch!….Ani…I think it's starting."
Of course, he jumped and ran into the bathroom, only to see a huge puddle on the floor. The amniotic fluid. She briefly washed off the remaining liquid, and Anakin helped her out of the bathroom so that Dormé and Sabé could help get dressed. With their help, she made it to Anakin's Fighter, which was docked in front of the terrace, and they were quickly in Coruscant Medical Center.
Anakin broke all conventions and didn't want to leave Padmé. He was by her side, holding her hand for long five hours. One could only hope that none of the doctors would tell anyone, but Anakin was already tired of this game of hide-and-seek.
Luke was born first and fifteen minutes later came Leia with a powerful scream. Anakin tried not to cry, but he couldn't. He became a father, and it felt incredible to hold the twins in his arms.
"Thank you, my Angel."
"I thank you. Now we are a family."
"I hope the time will come soon, when we don't have to hide them."
The next day, when Padmé was able to get up, she went home. A medical droid was provided to monitor her day and night. She also had Dormé and Sabé.
Anakin was happy to have a few more days off, but the day came, he had to say goodbye to his family for weeks, maybe months... that was never foreseeable.
He cried as he got into his fighter, he will not see his babys for a long time. They will grow, and when he returns, he will be a stranger to them. The consolation was the Force through which he will be able to feel them. Still, that won't be enough. It wasn't just Padmé he was leaving behind now, it was his family. That hurt.
After two weeks and much thought, Padmé decided to tell her family that she had become a mother. She had to inform Bail first because she wanted to use the secure frequency that Bail had as chairman of the Intelligence Committee.
"Bail, I...I became a mother."
"Congratulations, Padmé. Well, and honestly, I knew you would be. It was difficult to hide a belly like that. What can I help you with?"
"Besides you, my family should know about twins, and I... I would only dare to contact them via a secure channel. I would appreciate it if I could use yours..."
"Of course, Padmé. What are the friends for?"
"Thank you. I can always count on you. I owe you one."
"Favor for favor? It's not like that, Padmé. There on my desk is, I'll leave you alone."
"Thanks, Bail."
Padmé dialed the frequency of her parents, who were very surprised to be called on such a frequency, so they were almost expecting bad news.
Hello Mama, Daddy.*
Hello Dear. Where are you calling from? Something happened?*
No…uh, yes, I…I wanted to tell you something important, so I use this secured frequency. I became the mother of twins.*
Oh!...and who is the father?*
Who is the father!? Is that the only thing you care about…not even how I am, how the babys are?*
I'm sorry, Dear. It was such a surprise...you're not even married, and then the rumors and the Queen and...how are you and the babys? Are they boys or girls?*
I have a boy and a girl, Luke and Leia. Don't worry about the rumors, I'll take care of it, and you'll find out soon enough, who the father is. It is important to protect him at the moment, just as I have to protect myself from the public. Well, how are you?*
We're fine...and we have this news to deal with now. Sola asks how is Anakin doing?*
Oh shit, she thought, Sola suspects something. *He's on a mission, as far as I know.*
When are you coming to Naboo, Darling?*
Not so soon, Mom. I don't want to travel with such little babys. Maybe next year for Thanksgiving, or Nativitatis, it will work out.*
Long time, but we stay in touch.*
Sure, we just can't talk about this topic.*
Then we will ask about Sorté's children, and you will tell us.*
Good, Mom. I will call you at Nativitatis.*
We love you, Padmé…and the little ones. We would like to see them.*
Next year, Mom. I love you all.*
She broke contact and was a little annoyed. Who is the father? As if that matters…. but if they only knew.
Even though Padmé had help, she was busy with the twins around the clock. Still, she always thought about Anakin and where he could be. Bail certainly had this information, but she didn't want to strain the friendship. So, every night she dreamed of his touch and his warmth against her body. She missed him. Every night when she lay down in bed, she pressed his pillow tightly to her chest and with the scent of his hair on it, she fell asleep.
Days and weeks passed, and she spent the beautiful festival of Nativitatis alone. No, she was not alone. She had her children now, his children, and when she looked into Luke's eyes, she saw Anakin. He was the spitting image of his father, a sweet baby who wasn't complicated at all. Leia looked like herself, but she noticed right away, that she was much livelier than her brother, demanding and loud. Children change and Padmé was excited to see how they would develop.
At the beginning of the new standard year, Padmé began the work in the Senate again, not the whole day, but half and it will increase.
At the end of the 1st month, some Jedi returned to Coruscant, including Anakin. Already that night he left the temple and rushed to Republica 500. Almost before he docked, he jumped out of the fighter and rushed to the living area. He was back to Padmé and his twins. Not wanting to wake them up, he stood next to the baby crib and cried with happiness. His beautiful children, they had grown and changed. Through the Force, the babys felt their father and woke up. They smiled at him, knowing who he was.
"Come, Ani, I missed you so much. I'm ready for you again, I want you so badly."
"I'm all yours for a whole ten days, and then I have to go again. This time only for a few weeks...hopefully. Come, my Angel, I want to give you all the love I have saved up for you in two months."
He cradled his babys in his arms for ten days, and for ten nights, he made love with his wife. The day came, when he was forced to say goodbye again. The mission took a little longer than planned, but he was home just before his birthday.
On the 19th day of the fourth month of the standard calendar, there was another birthday party at the temple. Padmé entrusted the twins to Dormé and Sabé and followed Anakin into the temple. Under strictly eyes of Obi-Wan, the party continued without any stops in the shower.
This time Anakin stayed for two weeks and spent most of the time in Republica 500. He needed to go to the temple for training and meetings, while Padmé was working in the Senate.
He kept the memories of their nights together because he won't see Padmé again for four months. His heart ached and tears ran down his cheeks as he kissed the twins. He didn't want to leave and wondered if life without them was worth it.
…..
Best regards from Germany