Chapter Text
Padmé sat cross-legged on the floor in her living room surrounded by data pads, each containing a different bill or proposal that would soon be brought before the senate for discussion. She had hoped things in the senate would slow down a bit; with Dooku captured and Grievous hiding out in some far corner of the outer rim, peace talks with the Separatists had resumed; more than doubling the amount of legislation there was to review and vote on. Her brow furrowed in concentration as she highlighted key phrases and made notes in the margins regarding the disarmament of the Separatist forces proposal made by Senator Organa, when a coo interrupted her concentration. Setting down the data pad, she turned her attention to her two-month-old baby boy sprawled out on the floor in front of her.
“What is it, baby?” She cooed. Causing a wide smile to break out on his face. Luke began to flail his arms and kick in excitement.
“Oh my goodness, someone is so happy this morning.” Padmé laughed, scooping Luke off of his play mat and cuddling him to her chest. Luke nuzzled into the crook of his mother’s neck and cooed again. Padmé loved this feeling.
“Did you just want some attention from Mommy?” She smiled, running her hand up and down his back in a soothing motion. “Or are you lonely because you woke up from your nap early, and Leia is still sleeping?” Whatever the reason, she didn’t care. She couldn’t get enough of newborn snuggles or that intoxicating newborn scent.
Now I know what Sola always meant by ‘once you have one, you’ll never want to stop.’ They had two. Padmé grinned to herself. Anakin better be careful, if two Skywalker babies were this sweet, I might just change my mind about having more.
Padmé closed her eyes and let her head fall back to rest on the couch cushion behind her.
“My sweet baby boy. Do you know how much Mommy and Daddy love you? More than all the stars in the galaxy.” She whispered and pressed a kiss to his ear.
Padmé was always used to running off of very little sleep, but ever since she’d gotten pregnant she’d been more willing give into her tiredness; especially if that meant snuggling with one of their babies. She was almost asleep when the chime at the front elevator sounded.
“Ani?”
No answer. She muted the holonews that had been on.
“Dormé?”
Again there was no answer, but she could hear someone movement in the front room.
Padmé grew concerned.
Captain Typho is at a security briefing, Dormé is on an errand with Sabé, and it’s too early for Anakin to be back from the temple; and none of them ever chimed before entering. Something is wrong.
With one arm, she pushed herself up off the floor, cradling Luke close with the other. Padmé quietly made her way towards the bedroom. Upon entering, Padmé sealed the door behind her, hoping that would buy her a little time. She moved to place Luke in the bassinet beside his sleeping sister. Luke whined and opened his eyes to glare at his mother. The element of surprise was still their greatest advantage. Whoever their uninvited guest was, still didn’t know where in the apartment they were. Sensing Luke’s tantrum coming she quickly picked Luke up and cuddled him. Luke immediately settled down and nuzzled his face to his mother’s chest. With Luke calm, Padmé went to the closet and pulled her blaster out of her drawer. She’d been scared many times in her life, when Naboo was blockaded and her people were starving, when an assignation attempt was made on her life, when she was falling in love with Anakin and hiding her true feelings, when she thought they’d die in the arena on Geonosis, but nothing compared to this. She was terrified at the thought of facing off with an unknown intruder in her apartment with her sleeping newborn in her arms.
Oh Ani, please come home. We need you. She thought. Anakin had often told her he could feel her mood changes, even when he was far across the galaxy. She hoped he’d be able to sense her distress and come home. She was more than capable of protecting herself. Anakin made sure that as soon as she was healed after giving birth she brushed up on her self-defense training; but that never included target practice while holding her sleeping infant. She took a deep breath and left the bedroom, through the hall that led to the front welcome area. She made sure to seal the door quickly after she left.
They won’t expect anyone to come in on their flank.
Taking another deep breath she exited the hallway and scanned the reception room by the front door. It was empty. Keeping her guard up she made her way to the stairs that led down to the veranda, where she had been working earlier. Moving stealthy down the stairs, she kept her blaster stretched out in front of her. When she reached the bottom of her heart stopped.
A man stood in front of the area on the floor where the data pads were still scattered.
“Don’t move!” Padmé ordered, keeping her voice as steady as she could.
The man turned to face her and held his hands up.
“Clovis?!” Padmé gasped. “What the hell are you doing here?” “Why are you breaking into my home?”
“Padmé?” He responded, “I see you got busy.” Nodding to Luke sleeping in her free arm.
“He’s none of your concern.” She gripped Luke a little closer to her. “Now, why are you here.”
“Can’t I drop in to visit an old friend?”
“You and I are hardly friends anymore. I’ve nearly died twice because of you.”
“Ah. Is that why Skywalker knocked you up? Keep you home and out of the way?”
Padmé scoffed. “Anakin and I just good friends. Nothing more. My child won’t know his father. It was a one time thing.”
“You mean children?” Clovis pressed.
“Are you stalking me now?”
“No, but you’re not as careful as you think you are and I have my ways.”
“I have nothing to hide.” Padmé declared.
“Really? Is that why Skywalker went with you back to Naboo right before you had your children? And why he was by your side throughout the delivery? And why his padawan and Kenobi covered for two?”
“As I said before he’s a good friend. I trust him more than anyone. I had to disappear with someone who I knew would be capable of protecting my children and myself.” She defended.
“I don’t buy it.” Clovis practically sneered at her.
Ani, please come home!
“You’re confused, Clovis.”
“I know I’m not! You and Skywalker are far too close. Closer than friends ever are.”
“I-” Padmé began when Luke stirred and to whimper.
No Luke, not now baby.
“If you need to feed him, I’ll be more than happy to watch.” A sick grin came over Clovis’ face.
“You’re disgusting.”
“Why? Because I’m not Skywalker?”
ANI!
“Why are you so obsessed with him and whatever my relationship is with him!”
Luke’s cries grew louder and Padmé fought back tears. She began bouncing Luke, hoping that he would quiet down. But it only made him more upset. Without any other option, Padmé lowered her blaster and tucked it into the waistband of her pants, so she could tend to Luke. She propped him up against her shoulder and pat his back, while Luke squirmed against her shoulder. She was afraid to move too much out of fear her blaster would fall.
“You’re not really good at this, are you?” Clovis mocked.
“Let’s see how good you would be at this when a traitor breaks into your home and upsets your baby.” Padmé glared back at him.
Luke suddenly stopped crying and a second later he cooed. Padmé took her eyes off Clovis and glanced down to Luke. His eyes were glued to the holonews. The regular newsreel of the current battles still taking place throughout the galaxy was playing. Padmé glanced from Luke to the holo, and it suddenly all made sense. The current news clip showed Anakin slicing through battle droids and fighting alongside his troops.
“It seems like your boy there recognizes Skywalker.” Clovis pressed.
“He’s just captivated by the news.” Padmé dismissed.
“ Oh come now Padmé. I’m not that naïve. He’s got Skywalker’s eyes. No one in your family has blue eyes.”
Luke smiled and cooed again.
Padmé was about to respond, when she heard the noise of a familiar fighter drawing closer. Relief washed over her when Anakin's fighter docked at the edge of the balcony and not even a second later he emerged.
“Clovis! Why don’t you leave the poor senator alone, you’re scaring her son.”
“Don’t you mean, your son, Skywalker?” Clovis taunted.
“Wow. I knew you a snake, a liar, and a traitor, but I never would have taken you for delusional too.” Anakin sarcastically replied.
Luke turned his attention from the holo to frantically trying to turn his head towards Anakin's direction, and angrily squirming when Padmé tightened her hold on him.
Oh baby, please stop. You can see Daddy when that horrible man is gone.
“You two can’t keep this rouse up forever. That kid looks just like you.”
Anakin shrugged. “I’m sure there are a lot of younglings with blonde hair and blue eyes across the galaxy, his physical appearance proves nothing. Now Clovis, I think you’ve caused enough trouble for the senator today. I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
“You think I’ll give up that easy, jedi?”
“Clovis. Leave now, before I call the authorities. You don’t need anymore trouble.” Padmé interjected glaring at him.
“Fine.” Clovis surrendered and turned to leave.
Anakin followed close behind, escorting Clovis to the door.
“You feel all big and tough saving your little woman?” Clovis mocked.
“If you ever pull something like this again, I’ll kill you.”
“Oh and how would Padmé feel about that?”
“You think her world really revolves around you?”
“I know it does.”
“Well” Anakin scoffed, “that shows just how well you know her.”
A second later the elevator doors opened and Captain Typho emerged with his guards.
“Gentlemen if you’ll be so kind to see Clovis out. He’s long overstayed his welcome.”
Typho nodded and moved aside to allow room.
“This isn’t over, Skywalker.” Clovis threatened.
Anakin saluted him as the doors closed before rewiring the code on the door panel, to ensure unwelcome visitors would be kept out.
“Angel?” He called once he reentered the apartment.
“In here.”
Anakin followed the sound of her voice into their bedroom, where he found her sitting in the middle of their bed nursing Luke. Anakin crawled in besides her, leaning back against the headboard. Padmé shifted slightly so she could rest her head on his shoulder, his head leaned on hers a moment later.
“I’m sorry it took me so long to get here. The council meeting dragged on and on.”
“That’s ok.”
“No it’s not. You were in trouble and I couldn’t get her in time. I could feel your anxiety; I could feel how scared you were. I-” Anakin stopped and shook his head.
“Ani, I know how to handle myself. I know you can’t always be here to protect me. I knew that long before we had kids, I’m fine, Luke’s fine, and Leia slept through the whole thing. Nothing happened."
“I just-”
“Ani, stop. You’re not going to lose us.”
He was silent for a long time, just holding her close.
“Did you at least beat his ass before I got there?”
Padmé laughed and Anakin smiled at that.
“He’s asleep.” Padmé whispered sometime later.
Anakin lifted his head to peak at his son, sound asleep on his mother’s chest.
“Milk drunk and happy.” He smiled and pressed a kiss to the top of his love's head .
“Do you want to put him in his bassinet?” Padmé asked
"Yeah." Anakin whispered and very carefully lifted Luke off Padmé and cradled him in his arms. Luke whimpered for a moment before settling against his father's chest and and drifting back off to sleep. Anakin smiled and very lightly stroked his son's cheek.
“Or we can keep him here and bring Leia over to join.” Padmé suggested, noticing how content Anakin was.
“Ok.” He whispered, not taking his eyes off Luke.
Padmé carefully crawled out of bed, lifted a still sleeping Leia to her chest, and crawled back in beside her husband.
“I think Luke may have given us away to Clovis.” Padmé broke the silence.
“Really?”
“He kept cooing and smiling when you came on the holo.” She said.
Anakin looked at her and smiled in the way that always made her melt.
“Ani, what are we going to do?”
“Not worry about Clovis, or anything else outside of this room for right now.” He smiled.
“I don’t cave that easy, master Jedi.” Padmé challenged.
“Oh believe me, I know that very well, senator.” Anakin laughed quietly.
Padmé smiled and rested her head on his shoulder again, sighing contently.
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Sometime later Anakin awoke. He was lying down in the bed, Padmé was across from him, her eyes were closed and she was breathing slowly. Luke and Leia were snuggled together sleeping soundly between the two of them. He smiled again; he couldn’t ever remember a time when he was so happy or content. He reached across their sleeping babies and draped his hand over his wife’s waist and let himself drift back off to sleep.
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Across Coruscant, Clovis entered the Jedi temple, pushing his way past the guards and demanding to speak to Master Yoda.
“I have a breach of your Jedi code to report.”