Happiness is Where You Are

Chapter 1

Anakin had never thought much about his life after the clone wars. He had always had some pessimistic belief that he would he get killed or die of some alien virus. Him and his wife had discussed various possibilities and dreamt of a family together. They picked out names and imagined what kind of parents they would be.

Anakin always said he'd be the fun dad and Padme would be the stricter much more responsible parent. But the jedi General never thought he would actually make it to that point of their lives. They would have the family they spoke of. The war would be over. They could be reunited and truly happy. They could live as husband and wife and announce it to the world. He would step down from his position as a jedi.

They never thought any of it would happen yet it did. They finally obtained the happiness they fought so hard to get and until now Anakin couldn't quite believe it.

The 23 year old man was standing in his newborn children's nursery and he couldn't believe it. He was free of the jedi and that constant stress an anxiety of war and he couldn't believe it.

Nonetheless he was thankful the nightmare was over.

A couple of days ago at exactly 4 in the morning, Padme had been moved from their luxurious penthouse in Corrusant to the nearest hospital and had gone into labor. Anakin had never been so distressed in his life. This was a man who never flinched in front of grenades or armies of battle droids, yet his wife going into labor put him in such a state of disarray. During her long 13 hours of labor, Anakin hadn't moved from her side. He had refused to even if some doctors said it would do him good. He stayed by his beloved's side, holding her hand and comforting her.

There were so many occasions when he given in to the fear and doubt and believed that he could lose her but she was much stronger than that. She was stronger than he had ever imagined had pulled through.

When heard the cries of his first born Anakin felt weak t the core and when Padme encouraged him to hold his son he refused out of fear and doubt in himself. He didn't want to hurt him. But he was reassured and encouraged by the nurse who gently showed him how to correctly hold a child. He couldn't help but let the tears flow when he looked upon his little serene face. Some minutes later Luke was joined by his much louder twin sister Leia.

Anakin had actually thought maybe he could hold both but Padme laughed and told him not to get carried away. He gave her her son and held his daughter. He was entranced by the baby for so long. He could feel both of them so vividly in the force. Anakin had never thought such happiness could be felt. He was euphoric for the first time in his life.

They went home the next days and the man barely left the nursery. He had insisted on letting his wife sleep and rest while he stayed with the twins.

He sat in a comfortable chair between the two cribs and watched them sleep peacefully. He couldn't take his eyes off of them for so long until sleep would welcome him in her arms and he'd spend the night on that chair. Not that he could sleep a full night with the twins crying at the earliest of hours. At least he would try his best t calm them there was no helping it they needed to feed. Padme would already be awake and on her way.

"you must superhuman to be able to wake up each time Angel" he said as he watched her breastfeed Luke while he held Leia in his arms. Her cries were so loud she'd always leave her parents with a constant ringing in their ears.

"Ani, you're awake as well so there's nothing super about it.

"Yes but I'm used to minimal hours of sleep or sometimes no sleep at all.

"True, but I'll gladly wake up to feed my little angels."

Anakin smiled and couldn't help but smile as he admired his wife's beauty in the dimed lights of the room.

"You're so beautiful"

Padme blushed and looked away from his mesmerizing blue eyes "stop.. There's nothing beautiful about me right now I'm bloated and my hair's going in every direction.

"I have no clue what you're talking about you're still the most beautiful woman I have ever had the privilege to know"

He stood from his chair and kissed the top of her head lovingly making her smile and her heart soar from warmth and happiness.

Most of the first nights of the first six months would be go on like this. Padme had thought that at some point Anakin would actually start sleeping and not find him in the nursery each time the twins start crying or that he'd be the one waking her up to go to them but not he was always there and he'd always wake up seconds after her or before her. It made her think how much of an amazing father would be and also how many sleep hours he had missed out on and needed rest. She was aware that he had been missing so much rest from the war. He had been sleep deprived for so long he had a hard time sleeping and whenever would he'd wake up distraught from a nightmare. So, if waking up to look after his children was what he needed to heal the scars of war then so be it.

After the first six months, Padme started slowly introducing the twins to milk bottles and Anakin realized he had to learn how to feed them in the hopes of providing his wife with some help. It was daunting... terrifying even.

"Am I doing this right exactly?

"Yes honey you are doing amazing" said with a smile "you know how to handle a lightsaber but you're scared of feeding a baby?

"As a matter of fact I am Mrs. Skywalker."

He carefully handled Leia in his arms them took the bottle from the nearby table with the force.

"That's cheating.

"It's called compromising Padme what use is it to be force sensitive if it doesn't help make life easier?"

With the at most care and gentleness, Anakin offered the bottle to his daughter who didn't waste a second and started sucking on it hungrily "There you go princess, breakfast is served" he said with a smile.

Watching her eyes look up at him, Anakin felt like her innocent chocolate brown eyes were looking into his soul. He was entranced as he rocked her gently. He had been brought to tears so many times while just standing there looking at his children. So many times during these last six months. Sometimes he questioned his reality. Sometimes he thanked the force for this irreplaceable second chance at a normal life, sometimes he'd simply breakdown. He had been through so much pain and anguish and these two angels were his reward.

"Do you think the twins know me

"Of course they do, you've been the only man around them ever since they were born Ani.

"Sometimes it feels like... it feels like they can read my mind, especially Luke.

"Can force sensitive children do that?

"Yeah.. Yeah, now I'm sure of it" he said remembering that one time he felt Luke literally suck the anxiety out of him and quiet his dread through the force just by looking at him.

"So there's your answer they do know you.

"It's... a strange calming thing.

"That's called infatuation honey"

Anakin chuckled "probably, I think you're second best to someone now

"I wouldn't mind. But you know I worry about Leia now.

"What do you mean?

"Her standards must be already so high by knowing the first man in her life is the most gorgeous man in this galaxy" she said which made Anakin smirk

"You've got a point there but I think she'll manage although if anything she's going to be quite the heartbreaker"

Padme laughed. "If she's anything like her father yes"

These were the best days of his life. He had been so happy and so serene. He had never thought he'd find peace in his heart but he did thanks to his precious twins. From the moment he met them he knew they were going to be his universe. They were going to be his pride and joy...

Watching them grow was a privilege he had witnessed and being their father was the best position he could ever have.

He was happy finally.