A/N:
Howdy! Hope you have been doing miraculously! 8D
And if Spring just started for you as it did for me, what better way to welcome it than with a new chapter?! :P
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Readers, many, many, many thanks! I am so happy you read this story. And I hope you enjoy it! *heart*
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You are very awesome!
Finally at Naboo! I love Naboo, and Chapter 11: Guardian has her in it! Have fun! :D
Chapter 11: Guardian
Darkness blanketed the celestial planet of Naboo. Her main moon, Daila, shone brightly half-crested. While stars' light tunneled through the abyss of space.
As small animals lay cozied together, and birds nestled close in sleep; the Skywalker family arrived. Their arrival was during the blackest part of halfway-dawn, but the glow of cratered Daila helped guide them.
The time zone they were on was Coruscant's, a new one not quite broken into. They were practically sleepwalkers with Coruscant's night right at late midnight, and having newborns and a traumatic week doesn't help.
But stressful-exhaustion was not a new sensation for either Padme or Anakin, and they function… decently with it.
R2-D2 rolled off the landing-ramp on a mission to reactivate full electricity and any other necessities. The retreat wasn't quite at full-function since their arrival was unknown by the housekeepers, who would come back in the morning.
Anakin carried some luggage, along with C3PO, through the mansion.
The sanctuary's beauty unchanged from the first time he'd been here. The native-marble floors, elegant archways through every passage, and rich, intricate details embroidered every inch.
He and his wife had spent many memorable times here, so many. And the last time they were here were eight standard months and ten rotations ago…
'How incredible,' Anakin thought, '…the same place we shared our first kiss and married is the same we created the twins…'
Wonderful memories flooded both of them as Anakin lightly set down luggage in the main bedroom.
Padme, who skillfully held the twins, seated herself down on the soft bed.
"I'll have to set the cribs up," Skywalker realized. He streaked his neck. A reminder to stay awake, "Funny I didn't think of it," he yawned, "before."
"Tomorrow," she encouraged, "they can sleep between us."
"It won't take long."
"Come on, you need your sleep. We can take care of everything else tomorrow, after resting... Besides, it's easier to nurse them this way."
Better for her- sold, "Of course, my Angel," his face furrowed, "I just hope I don't hurt them…"
She gave a reassuring smile, "You always say that, and you never do."
"I still worry, if…"
"If nothing," she stopped him, "… there is no way you could hurt them. You love them too deeply, even in your sleep," she offered a kind tease.
His frazzled nerves didn't ease; nothing could completely calm the new father's worries.
After more time passed-away, and yet another late-night baby feeding, they all fell asleep, or, almost all. Anakin couldn't rest until everything was planned and everyone was safe.
His love-soft eyes gazed over his sleeping family. His wife slept facing him and the twins. He listened to her beloved snore. Only when truly tired would the quiet noise sound.
Her supernatural peaceful auroras rested his soul.
She was finally fully relaxed. He could sense it; she brimmed with complete happiness. Her home visit must be the cause.
A while back, she had told him about plans: having and raising their, at the time, child, on Naboo. Though he couldn't give her having the twins on Naboo, they could be here. If he had the power, he'd stay here with her until the stars ran out of the skies.
Even if an eternity of only watching her sleep. It would be heaven for him.
Her happy equals him happy. Plain and simple.
The twins slept before him, nested carefully. Ever so often he'd feel their little chest rise and fall, or use the force, to be sure. After a check, an affectionate stroke followed.
This time, when he stroked Luke's miniature arm, the infant grabbed his father's finger.
Each time his son did this, his heart turned to slush. Such a little thing so strongly holding on.
The Jedi Knight let himself become a prisoner to the baby. His child again reminded him of a lullaby his mother sang to him a long time ago... He recited it in a whisper:
"…I have you fast in my fortress, and will not let you depart, but put you down into the dungeon, in the round-tower of my heart," the infant pulled the captive appendage down and sucked forcing him to smiled. "And there will I keep you forever," he paused and became more silent, "Yes, forever and a day, till the walls shall crumble to ruin, and moulder in dust away."
He said and sung this poem to them often, even before they were born. The words seemed to fully express his overflowing love for them.
His entire family were perfect angels, and owned ever strand of his being.
Another roam of his eyes, not missing a single detail of his family. Another pump of his heart gave another vow of: anything for them, anything.
Creeping on foreign ground, Solo wondered about. Where is the galaxy was he? Hopefully far enough away for that pirate to never find him.
He saw the grand estate after finding a way off the ship. This family had money! From what little he could see, this place had all the bells and whistles.
A growl in the pit of his stomach.
The trip took way longer than anticipated.
Maybe there were edible plants somewhere?
Even if there were, he wouldn't know.
Wait, what if there were deadly creatures out here?!
A look for an open door couldn't hurt.
Since gardens stuffed with flowers were everywhere and the only light was that of a pale moon overhead, Han walked carefully not to crush the delicate life forms. You don't have to be smart to know beauty in front of you.
He found a door. It should be too hard to get in now…
Han Solo…
At first, this feeling confused Anakin. Why did he sense the boy?
Again and again, he sensed him.
His brows crinkled together. Perhaps he really does need sleep…
R2 rolled in the room with a whistle.
"Shh, R2," he hushed, "What is it?"
Trill, beep, whistle...
"Someone's on the property?" Instantly his feet touched the ground, and his lightsaber was in hand.
He hadn't sensed any danger! How did Sidious find them?! The property wasn't even registered! No way he could have—!
It hit him.
A stowaway! The boy had somehow gotten on their ship. How didn't he catch that?
He pushed that puzzling thought aside throwing on his Jedi Cloak on top of his Jedi pants attire. He put the weapon back down and stormed out of the bedroom.
SUCH A FOOLISH BOY! He'd just endangered everyone here! It is not like they could just leave and drop him off! They were in lock-down! His parents will no doubt be looking for their run-away! Putting them in the middle of attention— the fool!
"What are you doing here!?" Han jumped from the light sleep by a voice-boom.
'Way to go laser-brain…' he cursed himself seeing the man from earlier towering before him.
Suddenly the man seemed incredibly frightening.
"Well?!"
"I-I…" the man's death-glare certainly didn't help words come out.
"How could you do such a deceitful thing?! You have no idea what you've walked into boy! You've endangered everyone here!"
"I didn't know!" the child tried to defend. He would never want to endanger them. He noticed movement behind the man; the woman. Saved..?
"Ani?" she said groggily in a silk-nightgown and robe.
No reply. So she searched him out, soon finding the scene.
"Han?! What are you doing here?" her Senator self instinctively turned on.
"He stole away!" her husband roared.
Sounded terrible when put like that, he didn't even have a chance to defend himself. "I'm sorry ma'am, I didn't mean to hurt you guys!"
Seeing the boy was terrified, she shot her husband a glare and went to Solo's level, "Han, don't you think your parents will worry?"
He looked down, "Don't have any," he said quietly.
At least no search parties.
"Why, Han?"
Maybe his story would make them see, "A pirate… I saw him steal some things… h-he said he'd find me and sell me to slave-traders..." He looked into cold blue eyes, pleading, "I know he'd find me, I had to get off that planet!"
Slave trade…
Skywalker's mother had been kidnapped by pirates and sold into slavery, sealing hers and his, at the time, future fate.
Too close to home. Way too close.
Anakin felt weak everywhere. This whole week had been one rollercoaster after another. Now his deepest wound reslashed—how much longer until unable to stand?
The Jedi looked at the boy and sensed his honesty, and hunger. He glanced to a fruit bowl on the counter; since the Jedi possessed amazing memory, he knew not one fruit had been taken. The child wasn't even in the house technically, just in the mud room, and barely in that.
The child had done nothing wrong, in a way..?
He dove into the kinder emotions, releasing the drained energy focused on anger. Too little left to fight and feel fire. Using the force to bring a fruit to his hand, he went down and handed it to the child, "Here."
The boy practically sank to the floor with relief. "Thank you, Sir. I really didn't mean you any trouble."
Skywalker stood back up.
Padme smiled at her husband, "There's a guest room you can use, here, let me show you." Padme said standing up.
The boy shook his head, "I just didn't know what was out there. If there isn't anything deadly, I'll sleep outside."
"Nonsense! Come on now, you look exhausted." The boy was unsure, "I'll show you."
The boy followed fruit in hand, still uneasy.
Amidala opened a door down a hallway.
Solo's eyes almost popped out. This was definitely the nicest place he'd ever sleep in! He can't even remember sleeping in a bed, much less something like this!
"There's a bathroom through that door," Padme pointed, becoming the most gracious host.
'Woman of many talents,' Anakin reflected.
Easily telling the boy was famished by a stomach growl, "…and the kitchen is where we came from. Any food you want you can have."
"Thank you, ma'am."
"Or course. We will see you tomorrow."
"Okay."
"Good night Han."
"Good night ma'am," he turned to Anakin, "Sir."
Skywalker gave a nod and they left. Anakin stationed R2 with the boy, just to keep an eye on him.
The couple again went to bed. Now it must be practically dawn.
"...Maybe we could get him into a shelter," Anakin brain stormed, continuing on a conversation.
Padme frowned, if only it could be that easy. "All the shelters are underfunded."
"This is a problem… We can't keep him, and we can't get rid of him."
"We will think of something," Padme whispered, re-nesting recently fed Leia.
Anakin sighed, Solo certainly changed plans. He relocated the subject, "We need to find a way to get your family here."
From listening to Padme talk about her childhood, Palp…Sidious, had been a "family-friend" and coworker with her father.
Immediately he knew this was a threat. It knew about her family and ties—everything.
His job is Padme's guardian, and always has been and will be. And protecting her means her family as well. He couldn't imagine anything happening to them—what it would do to her. They were his family as well, even if they don't know it. Protecting them is very important for both his wife and himself.
She knew the drill. No using communicators because they were traceable, or at least not until Anakin used his technical skills, and no leaving the retreat for a large city, such as Theed, in case of being recognized. "We could have Teckla or Nandi pick them up."
He loved the way she thinks, "Sounds like a plan." Rest, his wife needed rest; no more planning tonight. "I love you, Angel." A gentle game-change.
In unison they both checked a window to see newborn-sunrays peaking through.
"You should try to sleep before they get hungry."
"They do have their father's appetite," she teased, her eyes sailed down.
He smiled and used all senses take in the process of her falling asleep.
This life felt right, more than being a Jedi. He belonged here, his resolve couldn't strengthen more. Leaving the Jedi Order is the only option now; only when the war ends... if it will ever end.
To be continued...
A/N:
I would like to quote the lullaby Anakin recited. It is a heart-touching poem by Longfellow, called Children's Hour. It is one of my favorites and I STRONGLY suggest you read the full thing. It will bring warm feelings to your heart... XD
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