May 23, 2013
A/N:
So happy to "see" you! :D
Hello reader, and thank you so many times for taking your time and reading this story! *heart*
And, to the reviewer who takes the time to read and review, thank you: LadyMarissaGarmadon (epic new name), JourneyRocks13, Jedi Master Misty Smam-Esay (cool new picture by the way :), PSMomma, Jassie, froovygirl, NightSisters, and Alexa Skywalker! Your words are such wonderful gifts! *heart*
Speaking of reviews… *heart stops* Over one-hundred reviews!? *faints* I—I really can't say enough… a whole book could be filled! You all have helped me accomplished my dream of one-hundred reviews and a thousand readers (though this one happened a bit earlier). I am so extraordinarily happy! You are all so wonderful!
Subscribers and favoriters, you never seize to amaze me in that this story is on those lists. Thank you!
After the sentimental notes above, here is a new chapter: Chapter 13: Sunlight. Hope you enjoy and it blesses you!
Chapter 13: Sunlight
The couple eagerly waited for the doors to burst open and bring in their family, who would be filled with questions.
Padme stared at her husband in his shadowed post. She hoped her nervous mood would go unnoticed by him. The chance of that was slim…
With perfect timing, Anakin caught onto her. He gave an affectionate gaze that said so much without words.
You'll be fine, it's okay.
He even gave her a memorizing smile, which held more spells than a nightsister. It made the world vanish for that instant… if only for longer.
She was quite frustrated with herself; usually she was calm and collected, now she seemed to be a mess of anxiety.
Joys of motherhood…
A restful early-summer breeze wisped through from opened doors.
Jobal Naberrie entered first and spotted her youngest daughter the same second. Her daughter was exhausted—maybe she's sick and that is why she is here!
"Padme!" she embraced her tightly. "What's going on?! Are you alright?" she backed off and took another motherly check.
Her daughter had a little more weight and a glow shimmered her hair and skin, but no signs of anything alarming.
"Yes mom," Padme smiled to assure, "I'm fine."
Her mother dove into the hug again, "Thank the stars!" Jobal had worried the entire way, Teckla didn't give any information, only that Padme said to come as quickly as possible. For Jobal, the worse came to mind.
Right beside her mother, Sola Naberrie stood as relived as her mother. She waited to hug her little sister as well. "It is good to see you! It's been months—over half a standard year since we last saw you! Not even a word… then we were told to come here—I'm just glad you're alright!"
Jobal wasn't letting go of her daughter, so Sola wrapped her arms around both of them. The hug seemed to catch them up on lost time.
Padme beamed; how she had missed her family all those months, how she wanted their wisdom and comfort during her first pregnancy.
"I am so happy to see you," she closed her eyes while immersed in her family, trying to hold in the tears.
The invisible guard smiled with her truthful statement.
Padme's happy, a wonderful thing.
The women separated and Ruwee moved in, "I'm glad you're alright baby girl," he hugged her also, relishing every second of contact. He'd missed his little clone greatly; though she might be a woman now, she'll always be his little girl; with her hair in two braids and leia-wildflowers woven into them.
"Hello daddy," the tears barely held at bay now.
'Just don't cry,' she chanted to herself letting her father go.
Darren Naberrie, along with him and Sola's young daughters, entered.
The girls soon found the hiding man, who smiled at them. They bashfully hid behind their father.
"Look at how you two have grown!" their aunt exclaimed, causing them both to redirect their attention.
"Hello Auntie Padme," the bolder of the two, Pooja, greeted.
Yet another embrace.
Ryoo noticed the boy in the garden outside, and tugged her father's hand. "Who is that boy, dad?"
Darren looked in the direction, "I don't know, Ry." He didn't think anything out of the ordinary with him; probably a servant's child or relative. "Hello Padme," he said as their eyes met.
She could only smile, afraid of getting choked up.
Everyone noticed her out of character emotions and exchanged glances.
What was going on?
Skywalker could sense their suspicions for something; but none of them knew quite what. He tried to find a way to help her, make this easier… he would just have to be there and offer a smoother force.
Padme felt a beckoning calm; all she had to do was touch it and it was hers.
Ani…
With the lovely refreshment of clarity, she looked at her uneasy family.
"Well, there is a lot I need to tell you," she began. "First, we all must remain hidden under the protection of General Skywalker," she turned to him, giving the "queue".
He stepped out and took his post by her side. It looked like he was a Jedi and not her husband.
They all gazed taken aback by his presence, "Anakin? It's good to see you again," his mother-in-law spoke.
Though all knew he meant Padme was in grave danger.
He offered a Jedi-bow, "Mrs. Naberrie." He's nothing if not a man of charming manners.
Back to Padme, "What's going on?" her father asked.
'This is where the fun begins…' Padme mentally quipped.
"There is a lot going on right now," she gradually built up, "I've—" a nervous laugh and swallow, "… just had twins."
Everyone paled, gaped, or seemed in another world, except for Ryoo and Pooja, who didn't quite follow.
"Is this some joke?" her father said, unable to take so much in as reality.
Anakin clenched his jaw, protective of Padme and her, at the moment, open-book emotions.
Her eyes sunk down, "No, I'm sorry… I know how you must feel about me—"
"Where are they?" Jobal interrupted, anxiously.
"In the other room…" she turned to point at the room. Everyone was there in an instant.
Last ones in the room were the brave-faced parents, both ready for anything… Anything except what they witnessed.
The Naberries were all huddled around the twins with: grins, coos, and greetings galore.
Padme couldn't find air or words.
She must be sleeping and this was a dream. Everything was too perfect to be real.
"What are their names?" Sola asked, glee gushing out.
Amidala moved her jaw a few times, and then found words, "Luke and Leia," she practically stuttered.
"What beautiful names!" Jobal happily complemented.
"Th—thank you," Padme finally replied. Jobal picked up pink-princess dressed Leia, quite familiar with baby holding. She introduced herself to her knew granddaughter and grandmotherly messed with her hands and feet.
Leia ate the attention up; excitement evident in her squirms and trills.
'Much like her father…' Padme mused.
"You've finally found someone! Who's is he?" Sola excitedly and innocently asked, unbelievably unaware of the drama held in the questioned.
If looked at closely, they would have seen Skywalker stressfully gulp. Not ashamed, but worried—uneasy.
Padme's brown orbs met the ground, "I can't tell you."
Anakin frowned, though unseen by others. This had to change and that change couldn't come quick enough—he wanted it years ago.
Everyone became confused, "Can't tell us?!" Ruwee almost demanded.
"Has he done something to you?! Hurt or threatened you?!" Darren growled; protective of his longtime friend and little sister. He's known her for almost twenty years; they grew up together. He had taken the big-brother role, and he wasn't changing that now.
"No!" Padme protested, angry at the accusations and suggestions. "He'd never do that!" Her fierce eyes confirmed it. "It is just too complicated—please trust I can't tell you." She begged.
No one was satisfied, but all went along.
"Look at how cute he is!" Pooja awed tip-toeing and leaning on the crib to see the sleeping baby.
"Don't wake him up," her mother cautioned her loudest daughter, "New babies need their sleep."
Disappointed, she backed down. Much to Anakin's relief.
"Why do you need a Jedi to protect you?" Jobal remembered the man standing in the room.
Padme almost forgot to about—that. This was going to get hard for them, "Leia had an assassination attempt… by a sith."
"What?! Why the nether would someone do that!?" her sister exclaimed first. Emotions roaring through the room.
"We don't know yet," It's complicated… she wanted to add.
"What kind of monster…" Jobal couldn't finish the sentence. To think the little diamond she held now could have been murdered—beyond her mind span.
'Oh great…' Padme reflected. She didn't want to do this part—really didn't want to.
She looked at her husband, only for an instant, but he took the signal quickly, quite attuned to her.
"Palpatine would," he said, acid dripping out his mouth.
'Bastard…' he mentally cursed.
Everyone looked at the fist and jaw clenched man. Palpatine?!
He sensed their shocked-questions, "He has been the missing sith the Jedi Order has been searching for since the attack on Naboo. The coward hid right under our noses all these years, but no more."
"Are you sure?!" Ruwee couldn't believe his old friend and coworker could do- be a sith! Who would believe it?
"I can assure you, it is him. I uncovered the evidence myself." Knight Skywalker answered.
'Your days are quite numbered slimo…' he re-vowed himself.
The anger spread throughout everyone, the "family friend" was soon rejected and detested.
No-one knew what to say to follow such a—hideous thing and silenced filled the atmosphere. This tensed everything.
"We need to be here because he could go after us, right?" Darren sadly sighed through the solemn silence.
"Yes," Anakin returned.
Darren looked at his daughters, wife, sister, and parents, then at Skywalker, "You carry all our lives." He said, giving the man, who was younger than him, a great deal of responsibility and trust.
Anakin straightened, strongly and seriously excepting this responsibility, "I won't let you down. I promise to protect everyone here with my life."
A/N:
Deep stuff, enough said. :')
Thank you for reading this chapter! *heart*
A review with your thoughts would be so wonderful, but a reader is just as welcomed!
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Until next time!
God Bless :)