Mustafar

Part IV

Naboo – Lake Country Resort

His mind adrift, Anakin walked into the library and sat down in the plush chair behind the desk. His eyes roamed absently around the room and then across the desk only to fall upon the comlink he had originally been searching for.

“OH FORCE! PADMÉ!” he shouted as reality came back to the forefront. Grabbing the comlink, he pushed the chair back and ran out of the room.



“Thank goodness you’re here, Master Anakin!” the golden droid exclaimed as the Jedi entered the room where Padmé lay in bed.

“Is she alright?” he asked, suddenly more nervous than when he was conversing with Qui-Gon Jinn.

3PO picked up the metal tray on the bedside table and walked over to Anakin. “She’s very irritable and has been demanding to know where you are.”

Anakin took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, it took longer than I thought to find the comlink. I’ll see to her now.”

“Of course, Master Anakin. Is there anything else I can do?”

The Jedi put his hand on the droids shoulder and said, “Keep an eye out for company and direct them here upon their arrival.”

“Very well,” 3PO politely answered.

Anakin turned toward the bed and the devout astromech droid positioned beside it. “You can go now also, R2.”

A beep and a whistle was his response.

“Yes, R2, it’s alright,” Anakin good-naturedly replied.

The droid responded with a series of beeps.

Anakin grinned and replied, “Yes, I’m sure.”

Making a noise that sounded more like rejection, R2 turned and wheeled out of the room.

Anakin couldn’t stop the smirk from forming on his lips and walked over to his wife. “How are you?” he asked as he took her hand and brought it to his lips, kissing it adoringly.

“Hot and uncomfortable. 3PO was wonderful enough to prop me up with several pillows and he keeps giving me ice and cold water but it’s not helping.”

Anakin set the comlink down on the bedside table and felt her forehead, which was beaded with sweat. “I don’t remember the mid-wife mentioning a fever.”

“I’ve also been nauseous,” Padmé admitted in between deep breaths.

“Is that normal?”

“I-I don’t know,” she said and then abruptly lurched forward. “I hurt – a lot!” she nearly screeched. “I don’t think we can wait for Arianna. The contractions are closer now.”

Anakin stood momentarily dumbfounded and then brought himself out of his brief stupor. He closed his eyes and sought the serenity of the Force. It embraced him and he felt the energy effortlessly flow through him. “Take my hands and lay back, Angel. Let the Force ease your pain.”

Trembling, Padmé grasped her husband’s outstretched hands. Within a few moments she could feel a sense of calm travel throughout her body. Tears stung her eyes from the sensation and the relief she gratefully felt.

Anakin connected himself deeper into the Force and, in turn, his wife. He reached out to his unborn children and felt their incredible strength of Force energy. There were indeed twins within Padmé’s womb. Now that he could freely feel their presence, he understood why his Master initially selected them to be one with the Force.

But now Luke and Leia, the names the couple had chosen in case of a boy or girl, were ready to greet the world of Naboo.


As another contraction engulfed Padmé, she was thrilled to have barely felt it, thanks to the shielding provided by the Force energy her husband was bestowing upon her.

All thoughts of his recent conversation with Qui-Gon Jinn were dismissed as Anakin focused on his wife and the birth of their children.

“3PO!” Anakin shouted, knowing the droid wouldn’t be far away.

Less than a minute later, he stood in the doorway and replied, “Yes, Master Anakin?”

“Bring towels, lots of them… Or was it sheets?” Anakin tried to recall Arianna’s instructions. “Bring both and also very warm, but not hot, water.” Ushering forth a fresh infusion of force energy toward his wife, Anakin let go of one of her hands and picked up the comlink. Activating it, he said, “Arianna, where are you?”

There was a transitory pause and then Arianna replied, “I’m on my way. I was detained by another patient. How is Padmé?”

“Not good. I think she’s ready to give birth.”

“Already?” The surprise in the mid-wife’s voice was unmistakable. “I thought she might be early but not this early. You may have to do this on your own if I can’t make it in time.”

Anakin groaned. “I was afraid you’d say that.”

“Padmé is in your capable hands. Remember everything I told you and keep the comlink available.”

Anakin had no sooner put the comlink back on the table when Padmé abruptly sat up and cried out, “I can’t hold out any longer!”

“Oh Force!” Anakin apprehensively exclaimed.

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During their birthing sessions, Arianna had instructed Padmé how she was to position herself and that knowledge was now being administered. Anakin helped his wife prep for the delivery – grateful that she was wearing a loose fitting dress – and then took one of the sheets C-3PO had brought in and draped it over her so it covered half of her body.

“You’re doing wonderful, Angel,” Anakin sweetly told her. “If you feel the urge to push, do it,” he instructed, noticing that Padmé was panting harder.

“I’m glad one of us is remembering what Arianna taught us,” she said with half-hearted laugh.

Anakin looked up at her from his vantage point as he sat ready to deliver the babies. “And which one of us would that be?”

Padmé didn’t answer as another contraction came. She grimaced and began to push.

“That’s it!” Anakin elatedly said and then grabbed the comlink he had set within easy reach on the bed. “Arianna, I think I already see the top of a head!”

“Good,” the midwife replied. “Keep pushing Padmé! Anakin, be sure to cradle the head the more it comes out. You need to support it.”

Anakin nodded his head even though the mid-wife couldn’t see him do it. “I understand,” he replied into the comlink.

3PO stood next to the Senator and kept patting her forehead with a cool, damp cloth. “Excellent progress, Miss Padmé.”

R2D2 also expressed his excitement with a series of whistles and beeps.

Anakin ushered forth more Force energy into his wife, enabling her to regain her composure.

Padmé was grateful for the fresh influx of soothing energy. It helped immensely with the pain leaving her to concentrate more on breathing and pushing when she needed to.

“Push harder, Angel. I can see more of the head,” Anakin encouraged.

“I’m…trying,” she replied.

Situated where Arianna would have been, Anakin glanced up at her. “You’re beautiful, Padmé.”

“Although such endearments are normally…wonderful to hear, please don’t waste time…with them now!” she quipped between breaths.

Sensing the turmoil of her emotions, Anakin dismissed the sting of her words. Reaching in, he cradled the head of one of his newborns in his hand, just as Arianna had instructed him.

Padmé pushed again – harder this time.

“That’s it!” Anakin euphorically cried out. “I can see a shoulder!”

Gently, he guided the small body as Padmé took a few deep breaths, leaned forward, and pushed one last time. “Eeeeeeyyyyyyaaaaaaa,” she screeched.

The amazing sound of a baby crying suddenly filled the room.

Anakin laid the babe on Padmé’s stomach just as Jobal and Sola burst into the bedroom.

“Congratulations, my love,” Anakin softly said.

“Luke,” Padmé quietly replied as she smiled down at her son.

Jobal retrieved the medical bag Arianna had left in case of an emergency and took out the surgical cauterizer.

“You should do the honors,” she said with a smile, handing it to Anakin.

Taking the laser instrument, the Jedi severed the umbilical cord and then his mother-in-law secured it with a special band Arianna had also provided.

With a huge grin on her face, Sola reached down and covered the whimpering infant with a towel. “I’ll clean him up,” she offered, picking up baby Luke and carting him away.

Jobal smiled brightly. “We have one more yet.”

“Yes, we do. Arianna must have told you.” Anakin turned toward his wife and asked, “Ready, Padmé?”

“O-one more?” Padmé said, shocked by the revelation. “What do you mean ‘one more’?”

“Twins, beloved,” Anakin replied with a grin that stretched from ear to ear.

Padmé blanched. “T-twins? I – I never thought – there would be more than one.”

“As large as you became, my dear?” Jobal smiled as she interrupted.

“Thanks, Mom,” Padmé scowled.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it that way, dear,” Jobal apologized.

Padmé briefly closed her eyes and took a moment to absorb the fact that they were going to be parents twice over. It’s not as if I can put one back, she silently reflected. I wouldn’t want to anyway. This is a surprise, but one Anakin and I will handle together.

Anakin stared at his wife, waiting for her to move – do something. “Beloved? Are you alright?”

Padmé’s eyelids fluttered and opened. “Yes,” she serenely replied.

“Shall we continue?” he asked, somewhat confused.

Padmé breathed in deeply and then exhaled. “Stars, yes!”


Anakin once more positioned himself so he would be in direct contact with the baby when it appeared. Without another thought, he reached into the Force, but with an even more concentrated effort and sent forth the tranquil energy so that it permeated the entire room.

Padmé had never felt so at peace as she leaned forward and pushed.

“You’re doing great, love. Push again,” Anakin instructed.

Padmé groaned, pushed harder and then let her head fall backward onto the pillow as she took a moment to catch her breath.

“I see we already have one born,” Arianna declared as she entered the room. “Do you want me to take over, Anakin?”

The Jedi shook his head. “This is an experience I never thought I’d ever have and I’m not about to abandon it. Although, I’m glad you finally made it!”

“As am I,” she replied as she walked over to Padmé and touched her forehead. “No fever, that’s good.”

“I…had one…earlier,” Padmé managed between breaths.

“Apparently, you scared it away,” Arianna teased and then added, “Push again, Padmé.”

Another push, harder than the last, had Anakin shouting, “We’re almost there, Angel!”

Arianna quickly moved in behind the Jedi to watch the progress. “That’s it!” she enthusiastically shouted. “A little more! Yes, that’s it!”

While her mother held Luke, Sola stood nearby with more towels and warm water to wash the next baby.

One final push accompanied by a weary groan produced the second twin, a girl, whose shrill scream filled the room even as her father gently pulled her free of her mother’s body.

Anakin cauterized the cord, just as he had done with Luke, and Arianna secured it. Taking the little girl in his arms, he laid the newborn on Padmé’s stomach and smiled from ear to ear.

“Leia. She’s as beautiful as her brother,” Padmé tiredly said.

“They’re both as beautiful as their mother,” Anakin corrected.

Sola reached down, scooped the little girl into a towel, and walked off to bath her, leaving the parents to stare at one another.

“Anakin, why don’t you clean yourself up while we finish here?” Arianna offered.

Anakin glanced down at his arms and hands and replied, “I think you’re right.” Carefully, he sat up and got off the bed. Walking up to his wife, he bent down, kissed her longingly and whispered, “I love you.”


Anakin stood in the doorway, just as he was about to leave the room when he glanced back and silently thought, I hope I’m prepared for this.

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Part V