If Hate Leads to Suffering... | Obi Wan Kenobi

Act II. ix

"Her vitals are fine, but we're losing her for an unknown reason." The Droid told them.

"She's dying?" Obi-Wan asked and everyone could hear Anakin's heart break.

"It appears so." The nurse droid said. "We have to act now if we're going to save the babies."

"B-babies?" Anakin visibly paled.

"Twins." Confirmed the nurse and it moved back to Padme.

Anakin faltered, holding onto the wall for support and Xaela and Obi-Wan grabbed him.

"She's going to die." He said and Xaela shook her head.

"No, no she's not." She tried to keep Anakin focused. "She doesn't know you're here, Ani, you have to let her know you're here with her."

Anakin looked over at his wife. Her eyes were closed and she looked ethereal laying there in the white room.

"The Chancellor told her you're the enemy, you have to remind her you're not." Obi-Wan comforted him. "She's only losing hope because you're not there."

Anakin nodded, still staring at Padme. He got up off the wall and pushed his way into the room. But seeing her up close, he grabbed her hand and fell to his knees.

"Padme?" He whispered desperately. "Padme, I'm here."

She opened her eyes slightly and turned her head towards him, a confused look on her face.

"Anakin?" She breathed and he nodded his head, stroking her hair and kissing her hand.

"Yes, yes, I'm here." He said. "I'm here for you and our children."

"Oh, Ani." Tears welled up in her eyes. "What happened to you?"

"Wha - what do you mean?" He asked, clearly not knowing what she was talking about.

"Are you really a traitor?" She cupped his cheek.

"He still has a hold on her." Xaela told Obi-Wan in a harsh whisper.

"But he's dead."

"He was manipulating her." Xaela shook his arm. "The last thing she was told was that Anakin turned to the enemy."

Xaela ignored the pain in her left arm and ran to the other side of the Senator, both her and Anakin looking at her.

"Padme?" She asked. "We're all safe, the war is over."

"What? What happened?" Her breathing became laboured and everyone knew the babies were coming.

Xaela and Anakin tried their best to de-stress her while Obi-Wan called for the droids to let them know. But Padme's confusion still fought them.

"Chancellor Palpatine was the bad guy." Anakin said. "But he's gone now, I'm here. I'm here for you."

"Bad...?" She trailed off, looking between the two Jedi before letting out a scream.

The droids rushed in and backed Anakin and Xaela away from Padme, quickly setting up a screen at her waist. Obi-Wan held Xaela's shoulder so that she would look at him.

"We have to help them." He said, staring at Anakin. "Padme cannot die."

"What am I supposed to do?" Xaela's mind was swirling, trying to piece everything together.

"The Force!" Anakin grabbed Xaela's other shoulder, her injured one, and suddenly she was between two frantic men. "Like what we did with your arm!"

"What did you do to your arm?" Obi-Wan asked but Xaela's face lit up, ignoring him.

"Nevermind that!" She told her old Master. "Anakin and I have something to do!"

The two Knights bypassed the droids who asked them to stay back. Rushing to her side, Padme was crying, and Xaela was the first one to speak.

"Talk to me, Padme." She held eye contact with her and used a calming voice. "Tell me about your children."

Padme shook her head.

"What happened to you guys? What did you do?"

"Padme, who is here with you right now?" Xaela asked and Anakin discreetly placed his hand on her head. The Senator didn't notice in the frenzy of things happening and focused on Xaela and the droids who were telling her to push. "Who is here while you're giving birth?"

"Y-you," she sniffled, "Anakin, Obi-Wan."

"That's right." Xaela nodded and looked at Anakin to give him a signal. She grabbed Padme's hand. "How could we have turned? We're here and we love you."

Padme visibly relaxed and Xaela could tell Anakin had started calming her. She focused on healing Padme, helping her with the premature birth and helping heal her damaged mind. She thought of the new - the new life, the new future. She looked up at Obi-Wan, who stood behind her, and good emotions flowed easily through her.

"Anakin." Padme looked up at her husband. "Ani, I'm so tired."

"I know," He said. "You can do it, I'm here."

"You can squeeze my hand if it hurts." Xaela was electrocuted, tired, and draining herself trying to heal Padme, but she would do anything for this girl.

And Padme listened, Xaela tried not to scream herself at her strength, but one more injury wasn't going to kill her.

Then the crying started, and the first baby was born. The nurse droid announced that it was a boy, and gave him to Obi-Wan. The Jedi Master held him in his arms to give to Padme. She used her free hand to rest him against her chest.

"Luke." She whispered and looked up at Anakin, whose mouth was dropped open looking at his newborn son.

"Anakin!" Xaela snapped him out of his trance. "Focus!"

Anakin quickly regained himself and focused on his wife, and newfound surge of power flowing through him. Xaela felt the rush of love and life releasing into Padme, she knew Anakin could do it. She screamed one more time and the nurse droid announced that it was a girl.

Padme let go of Xaela's hand as Obi-Wan handed her her daughter. Padme's red, puffy face held a smile so wide Xaela thought she would crack open. Anakin dropped to his knees and Xaela fell to the floor on her back.

She was amazed at Anakin for not passing out like she was about to, but then again, he had just become a father.

Xaela looked up at Obi-Wan, who was kneeling down beside her.

"Would you like some help up?" he asked and Xaela nodded, too exhausted to speak.

He lifted her up to stand and held onto her so she wouldn't fall again. Xaela leaned her back against his chest and held the arms that wrapped around her as she watched Padme, Anakin, and their children. Padme held Luke, and Anakin held their unnamed daughter.

"Can we name her after Xaela?" Padme asked and the look on Anakin's face made Xaela want to hit him.

"After Xaela?" He gawked and looked down at his daughter. "I'd sooner name her after Yoda."

"You little-" but she was cut off by Obi-Wan placing his hand over her mouth.

"Fine," Padme said and tickled Luke. "Leia then."

"Leia." Anakin said. "Better than Xaela."