Return

•7•

Tremulous mumbles were heard somewhere in Anakin and Padmé's room that night. It was late. Anakin sat up slowly, scanning the room with his eyes. He saw Luke over at Padmé's bedside, whimpering and communicating with her nervously.

Deep rumbles of thunder rolled in Coruscant. And at the first flash of lightning, Luke jumped. "Mommy!" he cried, climbing in bed with his parents. Leia ran in at the clap of thunder that followed. "Daddy!" she exclaimed, her body immediately nestled to his chest.

Anakin rested his palm on his daughter's head, holding her close. "It's alright, Princess. It's just a little storm." His calm voice definitely helped with trying to convince her--or anyone, really--that everything was going to be okay, or that anything would be.

The next clap of thunder. This time, it was louder. It made the twins and Padmé jump. They all took shelter, nestled against Anakin's body. He was always the alpha of the family.

The rain pounded at the windows, and even though Anakin was, at the time, having a high moment, he shivered. He dared to admit he was, too, a little bit nervous about storms. Especially now since he had a family to take care of.

Luke trembled harshly. Anakin could feel it in his own bones. He rubbed his son's back soothingly and pressed his lips to the top of Luke's head.

Anakin looked down at his wife, who was lying against his chest, her cheek pressed to it. She looked deep in thought. Not just that, but a little... depressed.

"Padmé, what's bothering you?" Anakin asked softly, caressing her cheek.

"Nothing, Ani," she replied, not even looking at him. "I'm okay."

"What's really wrong? I sense your anxiety and fear of the past."

While Padmé considered this, the couple looked down at their drowsy twins. They were dozing off peacefully, just as expected.

Anakin smiled. "They're precious." He ran his hand over Luke's hair and kissed the top of his head.

"Anakin," Padmé said, and he looked up at her, still with a small grin on his face. "Do you ever reflect on... the past?"

"Of course, I do, Padmé. I reflect on you." He held the side of Padmé's face and looked into her eyes, smiling softly. "You are my past. You are my everything, my love. You're all I ever think about. You and the twins."

Padmé smiled at this and gave her husband a look of sympathy. "I know, but... I mean, the past. The Dark Days, as I call them."

At this, Anakin flared his nostrils distastefully and set his jaw. He averted his eyes from her, looking at the floor beside them. "I try not to," he said after a long silence. "I try not to think of the decisions I made in the past. I've done terrible things."

"We said we'd try to forget about it, but... Anakin, sometimes I just can't! Lately, these dreams--similar to the ones you have, but much less... graphic--have been haunting me. They're reminders, things of the past that my mind just can't seem to get rid of! I can't. I can't." Padmé looked up at her husband, a single tear rolling down her cheek.

"Padmé, why haven't you told me of these dreams before?"

"I thought you said you wanted to forget about it."

Anakin smiled ironically. "But if it comes to this, my love... these measures, you have to come and tell me! I love you, Padmé, and I want to help you and protect you and aid you as often as I can! Please. Next time you have these dreams, see me. Get my help."

"Yes. Yes, Anakin. I will, I promise. I know that you can help me."

Anakin brought Padmé up closer to his mouth and kissed the side of her head. After a short pause, Anakin smirked.

"Want to see if we can get these twins back to bed without waking them?"

Padmé looked at him, with tears still in her kind-hearted eyes. "We may as well give it a try."