The hours painfully dragged on. Sweat glistened from Padmé's arms, forehead, and lower back as she caught her breath. The contractions came every few minutes, causing a loud shriek to escape her lips. A never-ending stream of tears stained her red cheeks.

She was exhausted as she brushed her messy, matted hair away from her eyes. Anakin glanced at her, his face painted with a worried expression. His irises expressed a questioning look, as to ask how she was feeling. Padmé sighed, her bottom lip quivering.

"I can't do this anymore."

Vulnerability tore her cover away like one pulling a blanket off. She felt naked, revealing so much pain to him. However, Padmé had no control of her body. All she wanted was to be held and comforted, besides of her mixed feelings towards Anakin.

"I can get you to a nearby planet soon, my love," He replied. "But this ship is slow. No hyperdrive. I'm sorry."

She shook her head, her knuckles white as she tried to focus on another sort of pain. Suddenly, she let out another shriek. The pain had doubled, paralyzing Padmé. She sat in the chair, legs wide, unable to find any position comfortable.

"I can't Anakin," She cried out. "I can't do this anymore."

"Seriously?" He asked her, glancing at her again.

Padmé's thick sob answered him. She continued to shake her head, gasping at her inability to form words.

"I-I think it's t-time," She whispered.

Anakin store hard into the darkness ahead of him. He kept his gaze set, fear washing over him. His greatest terror, losing her, had the potential to come true. These could be their last moments together.

And he hadn't even learned the power of life from Palpatine.

"Ani!" She screamed from beside him. "Ani, please! Help me! I need help!"

He didn't respond, forcefully willing the ship to go faster.

"Pl-please," She whispered. "I can't do this alone!"

"No, Padmé! Let me land the ship on the nearest planet. We'll get proper medical help."

"No!" She shouted. "I'm having this baby now. I can feel it."

"Can't you just wait?" He mumbled, fear thickly lay within each word.

"No, Anakin," She replied in frustration. "There's this funny thing about childbirth... you can't wait!"

"Padmé, I can get you to a planet in-"

"Anakin Skywalker!" She hissed, the next contraction sneaking up on her. She cursed, throwing her head back. "Stop the ship. Snap out of this! It's alright! But it won't be if you don't help me!"

Anakin turned towards her in the chair, standing up dramatically and throwing his hands in the air.

"There is nothing here!" He told her. "How do we deliver a baby with nothing but a couple parts. There isn't even a blanket."

"Use your cloak."

"You're crazy," He sighed.

"Get over here," Padmé replied. "I need you to take my pants off."

Anakin grinned foolishly, wiggling his eyebrows. "I mean if you say so."

Padmé laughed, exhausted but joyfully. She hadn't been able to laugh for such a long time, it felt nice. Like a breath of fresh air on a hot and muggy day.

"Not like that!"

Anakin landed the ship on a nearby meteor. The impact jerked the machine and caused Padmé to wince. Quickly, Anakin crossed the distance between the two to hold her.

"How can I help you?" He asked her. "What do you need?"

Carefully, the two worked together to remove Padmé's clothing. Anakin set his cloak on the floor, placing Padmé on top of it. She sat, her back slightly reclined against the wall, in nothing but a bra. She tried to ignore the uncomfortable pit in her stomach, reminding her of how times had changed.

Anakin removed his tunics, placing them in the corner to wrap their child in. He searched the cabin for water, immediately returning with a small bottle. He ripped a piece of material from the cloak, handing it to Padmé.

"Bite on this," He said tenderly. "I have no idea what I'm doing."

"You're making me feel so much better," She wheezed out, sarcastically. "I just need you to catch the baby."

"I can do that," He nods. Awkwardly, he made eye contact with his wife and smiled. "You've got this."

She nodded her head, another cry escaping her mouth. She gritted her teeth together, sweat dripping from her temples.

Suddenly, as clear as the stars that shone in front of her, the baby began to move downwards. She felt as the pressure shifted to her lower abdominal.

It was time.

As if Anakin could read her mind, he squatted low and braced his hands. His yellow eyes watched Padmé gentlely, feeling like the pressure of his gaze had the ability to drive her into further pain.

She placed the cloth in her mouth, hissing loudly. Bracing herself, she closed her eyes. The next few seconds felt like an eternity, as she waited for the next contraction.

When it hit, the pain seered her body. Padmé cried out as she began to push. She gave all the force in her body into her stomach, pushing as hard as she could.

"Keep going, keep going!" Anakin encouraged. "You're doing amazing!"

Padmé screamed, pushing once more with all her might.

"Padmé!" Anakin screamed in terror.

"What?" She shouted through the cloth. "Is something wrong?!"

"I-I-I-"

"What, Anakin?!"

He drew a deep breath, "I can see the head! Keep pushing!"

Padmé pushed harder, thinking of nothing else but the pain.

"Oh my god," Anakin excitedly said. "Oh my god!"

Then the world went silent. Just for a second, a presence weighted the air that had never been there before.

Then she heard it.

The soft cry of a baby, high pitched and beautiful. Tears swelled her eyes as she tried to catch a glimpse.

Anakin smiled, a set of white teeth flashing. He cut the umbilical cord with a piece of metal, then tenderly wiped the baby clean with his tunic.

"It's a boy," He exclaimed to Padmé. He passed his son to her gently.

Small beads of water stroked the sides of her cheeks as she held him. Pure joy filled her heart, for nothing else mattered but the small infant in her arms.

"He's beautiful," She whispered.

Anakin gawked happily alongside her, touching her shoulders with care.

Suddenly, another contraction overcame her. Padmé gasped in shock, attempting to not scare the baby.

"Anakin," She whimpered.

The baby was transferred to his arms, allowing Padmé to squirm uncomfortably on the ground.

"Are you alright?" Anakin asked, willing himself out of panic. He was afraid his emotions would be absorbed by his son.

"I-I-" Padmé panted. "I don't understand."

Anakin reached out, searching the force in attempts to find anything. Fear stung his vision, as the sight of Padmé's death danced throughout him.

Suddenly Anakin said, "There's someone else here."

She spun her head around, searching for another being. "An intruder?"

"No, Padmé..." He trailed off. "It's coming from-" He stopped, drawing a breath. "It's identical to him."

She raised an eyebrow, unaware of what her husband was trying to tell her.

"I think you have to push again."

"What?" Her mouth fell open. "But I just-"

"Padmé," Anakin told her sternly. "Trust me. Push."

Reluctantly, Padmé used her entire being to push her abdominal. She was bewildered by the situation, in undeniable pain after she'd just been relieved of the terror.

"Keep going! You're almost there, Angel!"

Screaming, Padmé gave the last of her energy. She threw her head back, sobbing. She felt like she were in a nightmare, the untold truth of a second round of childbirth taunting her. Her mind couldn't comprehend what was happening. It seemed unreal.

Then, as before, a cry pierced the air. A new one. It was different, soft. More like a cooing. Padmé gasped, complete and utter shock coursing through her body.

"There's two?" She asked.

Anakin laughed, filling the air with the glorious sound of his joy. She clung to the sound, mixed with the two cries, as she hadn't heard it in what felt like years.

"Yes, there's two."

"Let me hold them," Padmé said ecstatically. "Are they both boys?"

Anakin cleaned the second child, the grin on his face never altering. "No, my love, she's a girl."

Padmé squeeled, holding her arms out to hold her children. They fit perfectly on her chest, silencing their cries once they felt her presence.

"I guess we both get our way," Padmé teased.

Anakin nodded his head, "I liked both the names anyways."

Padmé left a small kiss on her son's forehead, whispering a small, "Hi Luke." The weight of his name filled her with glee.

Secondly, her lips brushed her daughter's swollen face. "Hi Leia."

The two sat unspoken, admiring the beautiful humans they'd created. They lay peacefully in their mother's arms.

"You did it," Anakin told her.

She looked up, her face continuing to beam despite how sore and tired she was. Without a second to think, Anakin leaned in towards her. His lips locked with her's, savoring her taste.

When he pulled away, the two held each other's gaze. They felt as one, warmth and cheerfulness overwhelming the two.

Yet Anakin's yellow eyes flashed into her own, causing her heart to drop into her stomach.

In that moment she vowed that no one of the dark side would ever find their clutches to her children. She would protect them, no matter the cost.

Even from Anakin.