A/N: Hey guys! I know its been a while since I posted a chapter of this but I finally got a chance to finish this chapter. So this is the final chapter before the eleven part Luke and Leia arc. This is basically a prelude to some the situations that Anakin, Padmé and co will come up against while raising Luke and Leia. I had a little bit of a change of heart with some of the content in this chapter but it's pretty much all the same as I planned. I loved writing this chapter but it was also a challenge considering there is little information on Padmé's family since all the information that there was on them is now 'legends' material. You'll notice that Sola's husband, Darred from 'legends' is mentioned by Padmé later in the chapter. It didn't feel right to create a whole new character just for the sake of it so I kept Sola's husband as Darred. Also, I mentioned to a reviewer in a PM that I was going to include Ventress in the chapter. I changed my mind. She was going to be mentioned at one point before I found that having her even mentioned in this chapter was just pointless as she wasn't going to be in the chapter as it went off in a different direction then I originally intended. She will appear again in the story as I have a great love for her as a character but I'm not sure went. Also, I think I might have repeated myself with Padmé and her paranoia when she and Anakin at her family's house. I hope I haven't. Please tell me if I have. Also, I believe this is the longest chapter in this story by far. I'm really happy about that.

Chapter 12: The Pleasures of Babysitting

Three weeks after Luke and Leia were born, Anakin and Padmé fell into their new roles as parents quite quickly. To their ultimate surprise, the twins were good sleepers. They awoke only a couple of times each night to be fed or changed. They almost never cried and none of the neighboring senators seemed to complain about the noise. If anything, people were always commenting on how adorable the twins were.

When the news had broken that Padmé had been pregnant with Anakin's children and she was married to him, there wasn't as much of an uproar as she had been expecting. Many of the Jedi who had worked with Anakin and Padmé in the past had had hunches.

Many of Padmé's senatorial colleagues had been surprised but those closest to her hadn't been all that surprised. Padmé had a sneaking suspicion that they had been betting on when she and Anakin had been planning on going public with their marriage.

When Anakin had told Padmé what he, Ahsoka and Obi-Wan had gone public with their relationships, she had respected their decisions. However, the senator had told her husband that he should have spoken to her about it first. Anakin had nodded and had apologised.

Obi-Wan had even told Padmé about the Jedi council simply shrugging off the confessions as if they were nothing. She had been concerned that the council had somehow become corrupt wanted to in investigate the matter.

"Are you sure you're okay to babysit Luke and Leia for a couple of days?" Anakin asked Ahsoka for what must have been the millionth time. They were walking down from Luke and Leia's room in the apartment.

"How many times do I have to say it?" Ahsoka fumed. "OF COURSE, I'm okay with it. If I wasn't, I wouldn't be here right now."

Anakin couldn't argue with that logic.

Since the twins' births, Ahsoka had practically played security guard. She hadn't left the apartment once in three weeks. As much as Padmé and Anakin loved having her around, it was getting old. She had practically latched herself onto them and wouldn't let go. They of course, were too polite to say anything.

"As long as you're sure," Padmé nodded. "We don't want a call from Bail saying that you've gotten into trouble."

"She will be fine, Padmé," Satine reassured. "I will keep an eye on them." She placed a hand on Ahsoka's shoulder.

"Yeah and Lux will be around to help out." Ahsoka put in.

Anakin didn't like that idea. He was okay with them being together but he didn't like the idea of the couple being together while babysitting his children. Who knew what they would get up to why he and Padmé were on Naboo?

"I will make sure there is no funny business," Obi-Wan said. He turned his head to see Ahsoka glaring at him. "You have my word Anakin."

"I hope I do, Obi-Wan." Anakin glared at his best friend.

"Are you ready, Master Anakin? Mistress Padmé?" Motée asked kindly.

"Yes, Motée. Thank you for coming with us," Anakin smiled. "It means a lot to us."

"I will do anything for my mistress and her family." Motée nodded politely.

Anakin took a deep breath and exhaled. "Here we go." He turned and headed to the door of the apartment with Padmé following not too far behind. They had already said their goodbyes to Luke and Leia. While it pained them to be away from them, they knew facing the Queen of Naboo and Padmé's family was the right thing to do.

As much facing his in-laws terrified him, Anakin had somehow been about to keep a straight face. He had faced worse things on the battlefield during the Clone Wars. Facing his wife's family was pretty low on his fearsome list once he really thought about it.

"Have fun." Ahsoka called.

"We'll try to." Padmé called back.

A moment later, the door closed leaving a small bout of silence between Obi-Wan, Satine and Ahsoka.

"Now what do we…?" Ahsoka started to ask before a cry stopped her mid-sentence. "Leia. I'll be back." She started towards the stairs that lead up to the twins' bedroom when a second cry sounded.

"Luke. I'll get him." Obi-Wan pecked Satine on the cheek as he past her and followed after Ahsoka.

Just as Obi-Wan and Ahsoka had headed up to check on the twins, the door to the apartment opened again and a voice called out. "Ahsoka?"

"Lux."

"Satine. Where's Ahsoka?" Lux said as he appeared around the corner.

"She's gone up to check on the twins. Are you here to help, my dear?"

"Yeah, didn't Ahsoka mention it?"

"She did," Satine nodded. "She'll be back in a moment."

After a moment, Ahsoka returned carrying Leia while Obi-Wan trailed behind her carrying Luke.

"They both wanted attention," Obi-Wan said as he and Ahsoka reached the bottom landing. "They are just like their father."

"In a good sense," Ahsoka said as she walked over to Lux and kissed him on the cheek. "At least he wasn't blowing mission protocols at this age."

"I wouldn't know what he was like at three weeks old. Only his mother would know." Obi-Wan replied with a sad sigh. Every mention of Shmi, no matter how great or how small was still sad to talk about.

"How have they been?" Lux asked as he kissed Leia's little forehead.

Ahsoka snorted. "You saw them yesterday."

"I know but they're just as much my nephew and niece as they are yours."

Ahsoka smiled charmingly and wanted to so badly to kiss him but withheld because she knew Obi-Wan would likely report her and Lux's exchange to Anakin and then there would be real trouble. "Yeah, true," she said. "But who did Anakin and Padmé name as one of their godparents?"

Lux gave her a hard look.

"Okay you two," Obi-Wan said as he gently bounced Luke at his shoulder. "Remember your task Ahsoka. You're supposed to be babysitting the twins. Not flirting with your boyfriend."

"I could say the same thing about you and Duchess Satine, Master Obi-Wan." Ahsoka said as Leia grabbed her finger.

"Ahsoka," Satine raised her eyebrows at their young friend. "Behave, my dear."

Lux had to hold back a snort while Obi-Wan had to resist the urge to roll his eyes.

"Sorry, Satine." Ahsoka bowed her head.

Satine nodded and reached over to pat Ahsoka on the arm.

Luke and Leia cooed causing the tension in the air to disappear completely. Obi-Wan and Ahsoka looked down at them, knowing that the two tiny infants were trying to lessen the angst in the air between them.

"They have you both wrap around their little fingers." Lux said as he peered down at Leia over Ahsoka's shoulder.

"They're worth it." Satine smiled down at Luke as Obi-Wan lowered the infant boy into his arms.

On board Padmé's Naboo cruiser, Padmé sighed as Anakin piloted the ship through space. She ran a hand over her face.

Anakin noticed his wife's angst from the pilot's seat. "Hey," he reached across and took her hand. "What's wrong?"

The new mother sighed. "It's just, I never wanted any of this to happen. Or at least, not like this."

"If you're talking about facing the Queen then you shouldn't…"

"No," Padmé said cutting him off and shaking her head. "It's not the queen that I'm worried about."

"Then what?"

Padmé raised her head so she was looking out the ship windshield. "My family," she then turned to look at him. "I haven't told them anything. I haven't told them about us or about the twins."

"To be honest," Anakin said sheepishly. "I haven't told my stepfamily anything either."

Padmé frowned. "You haven't spoken to your stepfamily since we left Tatooine after your mother's funeral."

"True." Anakin said.

"I should have told them, Ani. About everything. They'd be ashamed of me. I'm supposed to their daughter. Their sister. Their aunt."

"They aren't going to view you any differently, Padmé. If they do then, I'm sorry to have to say this, but screw them."

"Ani, I just can't erase them from my life. They're still my family."

"I know but you have to be prepared."

Padmé gave him a sideways look before sighing again and returning to look out the windshield.

It was just after lunchtime and Ahsoka had just put Luke and Leia for their midday naps. Padmé had given her a timeline of when the twins were to sleep and eat and when they may have been needed to be changed and bathed.

Ahsoka was more then happy to oblige but no child could follow a strict schedule especially when they were only three weeks old. She did however remember when Padmé had said it was only a rough outline and that things were likely to change.

Boy was she right.

It had only been a few hours since Anakin and Padmé had left for Naboo to face the queen and Padmé's family but Ahsoka had never expected the twins to be such a handful. Just when she had gotten settled on the couch with her study, one of them would cry, practically screaming for attention. Ahsoka was just glad that a chain reaction hadn't started. Lux had had a senate session to attend to while Satine had agreed to meet with a few members of the Jedi Council on Obi-Wan's behalf while the Jedi Master himself headed to the library to do research. This left Ahsoka with Luke and Leia without any help.

She loved the twins to bits but something told her that she was in over her head. If Padmé given birth to only one baby it would have been manageable but twins?! Ahsoka could only inwardly groan and roll her eyes. Not a good move for Aunt Ahsoka, but hey. She was only thinking what she was sure Anakin and Padmé had thought when they realised raising twins wasn't going to be easy.

With a hefty sigh, the Padawan switched on her datapad and activated the mechanics manual she had started reading the night before. She was giving her study a break. Sort of. She had learnt a lot about mechanics over the last couple of years but she knew she would never be as good as Anakin. She had a strange feeling that Luke would follow in his father's mechanical footsteps. She only hoped that the boy didn't lose an arm like his father.

Obi-Wan sat at a computer terminal in the Jedi Temple Library pouring through a speeder-full of information. He and Satine had joined forces to discover why the Jedi Council had been so soft on punishing Anakin and co when they had confessed to having secrets that went against Jedi protocol. In all truth, there wasn't much to go on. Obi-Wan had sent her in his place to meet up with a couple of members of the council. She hadn't been too happy about it but he said that if there was one person that could talk the council into talking it would be her.

With a groan, Obi-Wan allowed his head to bang on the table in front of him. He had been sitting at the terminal for a couple of hours at least,. He hoped Satine was having more luck.

Satine stood in the Jedi Council chamber surrounded by only Masters Yoda, Plo and Fisto. The other masters had made excuses as to why they were not able to join them..

"Master Jedi," Satine said as she addressed the three Jedi masters. "I have come to ask why you did not take Obi-Wan, Anakin and Ahsoka's confessions more seriously. In the days of the Clone Wars and in the days before the war, the council use to take allegations much more seriously. What has suddenly changed?"

Kit and Plo looked at each other before looking over at Yoda.

"Our perspectives, dear duchess," Kit said wisely. "We have come to understand that laws need to be changed. Yes, we have been living under the same code for the last thousand years but we also understand that not every Jedi is the same."

Satine wasn't sure how to respond. She had heard how kind Masters Plo and Kit were but she had never expected them to actually agree with her. "You are not just agreeing with me to try and prove me wrong later, are you?"

Yoda chuckled.

"Dear Duchess," Plo said kindly. "We are not toying with you. We merely are trying to understand what is best for the Jedi Order as a whole. We do not enjoy making rules of any sort."

"Anakin's confession of his marriage and idea that he fathered offspring with Senator Amidala… inspired us."

"Inspired you how?" Satine could tell that they were stalling.

"We can see how committed Skywalker is to his family and that it has made him a far greater Jedi then we ever could have foresaw." Fisto said. "We know now that Palpatine was willing to use his love for those he cared for to have him turn to the Dark Side. It was Amidala's love for him and the assistance of Obi-Wan and young Ahsoka that helped him overcome some difficult obstacles.

This took Satine by surprise. "So there is no corruption going on within the Jedi Council?"

"No corruption there is." Yoda said with a nod.

Satine looked at the three Jedi Masters who were looking at her expectantly. "If I may say one last thing before I take my leave, Master Jedi?"

The trio of Jedi nodded.

"I know you and your council have never approved of Anakin and his antics. I know you think he is dangerous but I have seen another side of him. I know you just mentioned that his family is the reason why he has become a great Jedi. That is partially true but I have seen him since his children were born and he is more… outgoing then he has ever been. You'd be fools if you were to consider expelling him.. You would never have gotten rid of Palpatine if it weren't for Anakin."

Without another word, the Mandalorian Duchess left the council chamber.

Ahsoka groaned as she slammed her head down on Padmé's coffee table. Luke had woken from his nap crying and she couldn't get him to stop. That had been three hours ago.

Groaning again, she lifted her head and picked up her comlink before punching in the contact details for Bail Organa. She had tried contacting Obi-Wan and Satine but to no avail. She knew Lux would still be in his meeting so the last person she could think of was Bail.

"Bail Organa."

"Senator Organa this is Ahsoka Tano."

"Ahsoka, my dear. What can I do for you?"

"Do you have a spare couple of hours? I've been trying to get Luke back to sleep and it has been three hours. He's been crying non-stop. I've tried everything."

Bail chuckled on the other end of the call. "I'll be right there."

After disconnecting the call to Bail, Ahsoka went over and gently scooped her nephew out of his fold up cot that had been set up next to the couch she was near.

"Come on, little guy," Ahsoka moaned as the infant boy continued to cry. "Can you pretty please go back to sleep? Auntie Ahsoka needs to get her study done."

"Ahsoka? You in here?" Came Bail's voice.

"Yeah, I'm down here."

Bail appeared around the corner and made his way towards the exhausted teenager and her infant nephew. "What's happened here?" Bail asked gently as Ahsoka slid Luke into the senator's waiting arms.

"He just woke up crying. I've tried everything. I've tried feeding him. I've tried changing him. I've checked for a fever. Nothing has worked and I'm panicking here."

Bail looked up at his young friend and chuckled. "It seems to me, my dear that your problem has been solved."

Ahsoka looked down at where Luke rested in Bail's arms to find her tiny godson sleeping. "How did you do that?" she breathed.

"I have no idea. I have heard that infants can often sense when anyone around them is tense and they can feel it too. Have you been feeling tense lately, dear?"

"Maybe a little," Ahsoka said as she sunk down on the sofa closest to Luke's foldup cot. "I have not left this apartment since Anakin and Padmé bought the twins home. Does that sound clingy? Be honest with me, Bail."

"A little bit, dear one but I can understand why. You're only making sure that they're safe. I think Anakin and Padmé would agree with me."

"Maybe you're right. I think I'm being a little bit too overprotective and clingy. I don't mean to be."

"We all understand that."

A moment past before the silence was broken by the sound of Leia's cries coming from her parents' room. Ahsoka groaned.

Bail smiled and patted Ahsoka on the arm. "You go get some rest and I'll deal with Leia. Come back when you're ready."

"Are you sure?" Ahsoka asked. "Don't you have more work to do?"

"I have the rest of the day off."

Ahsoka nodded as she rose and stretched. "Okay. I'll be back hopefully before the dinner feed." With that she turned and headed for the door.

"Are you sure that is what they said?" Obi-Wan said in disbelief.

"I am not going to repeat myself, darling," Satine said with an undignified roll of her eyes. "Everything I have just told you is what they told me. What did you find?"

"Absolutely nothing." Obi-Wan said with a dramatic sigh.

The couple was in the combined quarters that Obi-Wan had once shared with Anakin.

"Looks like we're in total agreement, my dear. The council really is changing."

"I never thought they would to be honest." Satine admitted as she sunk down next to Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan nodded as Satine rested her head on his shoulder.

Night had fallen on Naboo.

Anakin sat on the edge of his and Padmé's bed on Varykino holding a holo-photo of the twins, Ahsoka and Obi-Wan that had been taken a few hours after the twins had been born.

"Ani?"

Anakin looked up to see that Padmé was standing in front of him. "Sorry, I was just thinking."

"About the twins?" Padmé asked as she sat down beside him.

Anakin nodded. He showed her the photo.

Padmé smiled as she took the photo from him.

"They're going to be fine. Ahsoka's with them and probably spoiling them rotten."

Anakin snorted. "Trust Ahsoka to do anything but study."

Padmé pursed her lips. "Do you think we're doing the right thing?"

"I hope we are," Anakin answered. "Hopefully the queen will understand our situation."

Padmé didn't feel so hopeful. She hadn't had a chance to meet this new Queen of Naboo but from what she had heard, Apailana was known to be quite tough when it came to rules and regulations regarding politics. While she hoped Anakin's optimism was right to be enforced, Padmé couldn't help but cringe at the idea that the queen might not be so forgiving.

Anakin didn't fear Queen Apilana like Padmé did. He feared his in-laws more. He had never met them before and he wasn't sure how much they knew about him. He knew Padmé hadn't told them anything about their marriage. He knew a little bit about Padmé's parents Jobal and Ruwee and he knew that Padmé had an older sister named Sola who had two young daughters. He couldn't remember their names. If becoming a father had taught him anything about having a daughter it was that nothing came between you and your little girl.

The idea of Ruwee being like that with Padmé wouldn't have surprised him seeing as Padmé was the youngest. Anakin knew that Padmé was the 'pampered' one but from Padmé had told him, Ruwee as well as her mother Jobal also tried to shelter her knowing that one day it might get her killed. Sadly, they had been right in a way. It had almost gotten her killed on several occasions during the war.

"If the worse comes to worse, I will take the fall for everything, considering everything was kind of my doing."

Padmé turned to him and placed a hand to his cheek. "I can't have you taking the fall for something I agreed to. I agreed to marry you. I gave birth to your children. If you want to take the fall for that, I won't let you. I am partly responsible for this as well."

Anakin pulled her into a tight hug. "I love you." He murmured "So much."

"I love you too, Ani. We are going to get through this, that's a promise."

Anakin was ready for a fight. He was willing to fight for his family and his marriage and he didn't care who objected. He and Padmé had just crossed the lake retreat and were headed for Theed, Naboo's capital.

"I hope today goes well. It's not everyday we get to face judgment from the Queen of Naboo herself." Padmé sighed.

Anakin could feel his wife's anxiety. Her whole family was going to be at the 'trial'. While his feelings from the previous night hadn't returned, he knew the hearing would probably make it onto the Holonet that night and it wasn't something he wanted to hear, let alone see. He had been a poster boy for the Clone Wars campaign. He didn't ever want to be involved with something like that again. "Everything is going to be fine." He reached across the speeder and took her hand.

"I just cannot believe that I am going to see my family again. I didn't think, that I would be seeing them in the Theed throne room while we're on trial."

"Don't think of it as a trial. Think of it as more of a warning."

Padmé gave him a look that told him he wasn't helping the situation.

"Sorry."

"No, I'm sorry. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to be feeling right now. I'm about to face the Queen of Naboo and my family all because I married someone I'm not supposed to love."

Anakin knew exactly how she felt. Before he had confessed to the Jedi Council, he had felt that everyone who wasn't in the know would be against him. He had found out really quickly that there were a select few who actually supported his opinions. "I got a question for you."

"Ask away." Padmé was relieved that Anakin had decided to change the subject.

"Does your family know about the twins?"

Padmé felt her face go pale as she shook her head. "No. They have no idea that we have Luke and Leia. In about forty-five minutes they'll know and knowing my family, they aren't going to be happy."

"They are still going to love you, regardless if you kept this from them."

"I hope you're right."

Suddenly, Anakin had an idea. "Can you call Ahsoka for me?"

"Why?"

"If we need someone to back up our claims, Ahsoka would be the best one to do it."

"What about Obi-Wan, Bail or Satine? They're around us and the twins just as much as Ahsoka is."

"I know but Ahsoka has been living with us. Who better then to declare to the queen that we're good as a couple and as parents then Snips?"

Padmé sighed in defeat. "The things I do for you, Ani." She then reached over to the console of the speeder and typed in the apartment's contact details.

Ahsoka was sitting on one of the couches in the apartment; her nose was buried deep in her study when she heard the apartment's comm beep.

"Ahsoka Tano."

"Ahsoka, it's me."

"Hey Padmé. How's Naboo?"

"We haven't exactly had time to have fun. How're the twins?"

"I've had a little trouble with them," Ahsoka admitted. "But everybody's been helping out."

"Hey Ahsoka." Anakin called from the background.

Ahsoka chuckled. "Hey Anakin."

"I'm calling because we need your help." Padmé said..

"What's happened?"

"Nothing yet," Anakin said. "We were wondering if you'd serve as a witness for us if we needed it."

"Of course, I will." Ahsoka snorted. "When haven't I helped you guys?"

"Ahsoka, I am dead serious." Anakin said sternly

"I know, Master but isn't it a bit much to ask for a witness for something like to this?"

"Yes but this is different," Anakin said the concern evident in his voice. "Unlike the previous queen, we don't know anything about Queen Apailana's reputation other then she's tough when it comes to politics."

"I understand your point." Ahsoka said nobly.

Anakin didn't argue with her. "Thanks Ahsoka. Have I ever told you that you are the greatest Padawan in the galaxy?"

"Sucking up, aren't we?"

"Thanks Ahsoka for helping us." Padmé said before Anakin could give a rebuttal.

"No worries. Be sure to call if you need me."

With that, the link disconnected.

Ahsoka sighed, issued a smile before going back to her study.

Forty-five minutes had passed on Naboo and Anakin and Padmé had just been ushered into the Theed throne room. They stood with their backs straight and their heads held high. Neither of them had to look to the left to see the family of five standing not too far away.

Anakin knew that the greying man was Padmé's father; Ruwee while the woman next to him, clutching his hand tightly was Jobal, Padmé's mother. There was a woman standing beside Jobal who looked like an older version of Padmé whom had to be Sola, Padmé's older sister. As for the two young girls, it was a no brainer that they were Padmé's two young nieces.

"Announcing Her Majesty, Queen Apailana of Naboo."

A regal young woman entered the room flanked by her handmaidens. She was dressed in silver with the same white face paint Anakin remembered Padmé donning during her two terms as queen. The markings that Apailana had painted on her face however were different. Padmé's face had donned red spots like Jamilia's had while the previous queen, Neeyutnee had had triangles. Apailana's painted markings were lines.

Apailana gestured for her guests and her council to sit.

Anakin and Padmé sat at once.

"It has been brought to my attention that rules have been broken," said Apailana in a tone that indicated authority and kindness. She looked over at Padmé. "Senator Amidala, you have come before me today to make a confession, is that correct?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," Padmé said as she rose to her feet. "Three years ago, during the onset of the Clone Wars, I had a decision that would change my life." She turned to face Anakin and gestured for him to stand. "I married then Jedi Padawan Anakin Skywalker."

The silence in the room was electric.

Padmé dared herself to look over at her family. What she saw made her blood run cold. The looks her family was giving her would haunt her for the rest of her days.

Sola was giving her a revolted look.

Her nieces, Ryoo and Pooja looked about ready to break down into tears.

What hurt the senator the most were the looks on her parents' faces.

Both Ruwee and Jobal refused to look at their daughter.

Padmé felt her stomach twist. Her parents and sister hated her for keeping this a secret from them. She couldn't help but look over at her nieces to see that they were upset with her. She felt guilty for not telling them that they now had an uncle and two infant cousins.

"Why have you decided to go public with your marriage now?" Apailana asked kindly.

Padmé felt that she and Anakin didn't deserve the queen's kindness. Taking a deep breath, she plunged into her explanation. "We decided to go public because three weeks ago, Anakin, along with his Padawan learner Ahsoka Tano and former master Obi-Wan Kenobi went public with all their own relationships to the Jedi High Council."

There was a snort from where Padmé's family was standing. All heads turned in their direction.

Jobal and Ruwee turned their heads to see that a look of amusement was playing on the face of their eldest daughter.

"Sola," Jobal breathed. "Not now."

"Yes, now, mom." Sola said giving her mother a hard look before stepping forward. "Please forgive my tardiness, Your Majesty." She bowed her head.

"Ambassador Naberrie, what is the meaning of this?" Apailana asked.

"I do not approve of what my sister is claiming. If I may, Your Majesty, everybody knows that any form of attachment formed by a Jedi is a crime in the eyes of Jedi Order. If this Jedi," Sola pointed at Anakin. "Is married to Padmé then why is he not expelled from the Jedi Order? Why is the marriage not recorded and stored in the Archive of the Brotherhood?" She eyed the lightsabre hanging from Anakin's belt.

Padmé saw her sister's eyes wander to her husband's weapon. Without a second thought, she grabbed the weapon from Anakin's belt, leaving him no time to protest. She walked towards her sister and stopped just a couple of metres from her. "This weapon," she held up the lightsabre hilt. "Is an elegant weapon for a more civilized age, big sister." She paused and gave Sola a hard look. She then turned back to the queen. "I remember then Anakin handed me this weapon for the first time. He tried to persuade me we needed to spend time alone someplace where no one would know who we were. As husband and wife." She looked over her shoulder at him for a moment before turning back to the queen and her sister.

From where he was sitting, Anakin didn't feel so intimidated by Padmé's family anymore. He deemed an angry Obi-Wan and Ahsoka scarier. Oh, and he dared not think of Padmé as scary. She would skin him alive. He wanted to smile at the way Padmé was handling the situation with her sister but found himself unable to.

"Love is all around us. Yes, Jedi aren't allowed to love but every being in the galaxy can love. It is a natural response. Laws are meant to be broken," She looked around at every being in the room including her parents and husband. "I love Anakin. I love the life we have created. I love," she paused. "Our children."

The atmosphere in the room suddenly changed. It felt as if all the air had been sucked away and released out into space.

"Children?"

Padmé turned to see that her father had spoken for the first time since she and Anakin had arrived in the room.

"You have children with this Jedi?" Ruwee asked exasperated.

Padmé swallowed. "Yes. Twins. A boy and a girl."

Ruwee looked at his wife and Sola. Sola's daughters looked up at their mother and grandparents.

"I have a nephew and niece?" Sola breathed, her face changing from angry to shocked in a nanosecond.

"How old?" Apailana asked, curiously.

"Three weeks." Anakin said as he slid out of his seat. He pulled his datapad from a pouch on his belt and quickly found the most appropriate holo-photo of the twins that he had. For the first three weeks of the twins' lives, Anakin, Padmé Obi-Wan, Ahsoka and Satine had taken over a hundred holo-photos of the twins. Needless to say, they were very photogenic for only being three weeks old.

The only photo Anakin could find that was appropriate that he had taken was of the twins with Obi-Wan and Satine that had been taken two days earlier. Ahsoka was in the photo too but the only part of her that could be seen was her shoulder and a small portion of the back of her head.

The queen held out a hand for the photo. Anakin scrambled over to her and handed her the device for her to see the photo.

Padmé watched as Anakin stumbled over to the side so the queen could examine the photo.

"What are their names?" The queen asked in earnest.

"Luke and Leia." Anakin said, the pride seeping into his voice.

The queen continued to examine the photo. She could see two happy infants whom were greatly loved. She could imagine just how devoted Padmé and Anakin were to them and how much of a role Master Kenobi and the former Duchess of Mandalore played in their lives.

"I can see just how devoted you are to your family, Senator Amidala," Apailana said as she handed Anakin back his datapad. Anakin bowed his head and headed back to his seat, his datapad coming to rest in his lap. "I can see how much being married to Master Skywalker means to you." She paused.

Padmé turned to face queen and straightened. Part of her wanted to be in Anakin's arms while another part of her wanted to stand up and take responsibility.

"While I should not be allowing this relationship and should be expelling you from your place in the Senate, I have taken into account that you have not allowed this to affect your ability to work. Furthermore, I am allowing you to continue your tuition as Senator of Naboo."

Padmé felt her shoulders sag in relief.

Anakin closed his eyes and sighed, a relieved smile crossing his face.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Padmé smiled.

Queen Apailana nodded. She then turned to face the Naberrie family. "Thank you for bearing witness to this meeting."

The Naberries nodded.

Ruwee was the first to venture over to his daughter and newly acknowledged son-in-law.

Padmé hugged Anakin tightly, struggling to not to cry tears of joy.

"Padmé."

The couple turned to see Ruwee stopped in front of them.

"I wanted to extend my congratulations to you and Anakin on Luke and Leia's births." Ruwee extended his arms out.

Padmé gave her father a grateful look before pulling herself free of her husband's arms and taking the few steps over to her father. "Thank you, daddy." She said as she hugged him.

Where they were standing, Ruwee's granddaughters looked at each other before running over to their grandfather and aunt.

"Aunt Padmé." Said the eldest girl.

Padmé looked over just as the girls stopped a short distance away from their grandfather. "Ryoo. Pooja." She tore herself out of her father's arms and over to her nieces where they hugged her fiercely.

Anakin and Ruwee smiled at the reunion.

Before too long, Jobal and a reluctant Sola had joined them.

"Welcome home, my darling." Jobal said as she tightly hugged her youngest daughter.

"Thank you, mom." Padmé practically melted into her mother's embrace. She had forgotten what it was like to be hugged by her mother.

Anakin couldn't keep the smile from his face. He then walked over to the girls. "I guess that makes me your uncle, girls."

Ryoo and Pooja looked at each other and giggled.

"How about a hug for your dear ol' uncle, ah?"

Ryoo and Pooja almost crashed tackled Anakin as they group hugged him.

Sola didn't seem impressed. Sure, Ruwee and Jobal had immediately forgiven Padmé for keeping her marriage and her children a secret from them but Sola wasn't so forgiving and was insistent in giving her sister and her new brother-in-law the cold shoulder. She crossed her arms, determined to show her discomfort of the situation before her.

Padmé caught sight of her sister's cold expression but chose to ignore it. She had known that Sola was going to be pull something like this. Sola had always been by the book, so to speak. Padmé knew she would have to sort Sola out later but right now; her parents and nieces needed her full attention.

"Why don't you come home for lunch? You could fill us in on everything that has been going on over the last three years." Jobal said.

"We'd love that, wouldn't we Ani?"

"Please Uncle Anakin?" Pooja begged.

Anakin smiled down at her. "Of course."

"Meet you both at the house in an hour?" Ruwee said.

"See you there." Padmé smiled with a nod.

Ahsoka was at her wits end. It was just after noon and the twins had awoken from their naps needing to be changed.

Lux had stopped by with lunch, only to be pulled into helping Ahsoka with changing the twins' diapers.

"Why did you pull me into this?" he cringed as he struggled against the stink of baby poop as he slowly pulled away Luke's dirty diaper.

"Because I can't handle changing two stinky babies at one time." Ahsoka said as she replaced Leia's diaper.

"You're lucky, you know." Lux grunted as he disposed of Luke's diaper in the trash. "You get to change the girl while I'm stuck changing the boy. I've never done this before."

"Luke's a living missile. His aim is better most Clone Troopers were during the war with a cannon."

As if on cue, Lux was forced to dodge flying pee from Luke. "Good point."

Ahsoka grinned as she buttoned up Leia's onesie. "There you go my little princess." She cooed.

Leia giggled as her aunt pressed a sloppy kiss to her belly.

Lux was impressed. He couldn't believe how good Ahsoka was with her. He finished changing Luke and pressed a kiss to the infant boy's cheek.

Luke gave his uncle a cheeky smile.

"I think he has you wrapped around his little finger." Ahsoka said as she settled Leia in her arms.

"No, I think he has you wrapped around his little finger. You know him better."

"I know him because I know some of his father's bad habits."

"He's like Anakin? But he's only three weeks old."

Ahsoka shrugged. "What do they say? 'Like father, like son'?"

"So I've heard." Lux nodded as Luke cooed for his attention causing him to look down at the infant in his arms.

"I can only fear what Luke is going to be like when he's older." Ahsoka sighed.

"What about Leia? Do you fear for her?" Lux asked curiously.

Ahsoka licked her lips. "I can imagine she's going to be a younger version of Padmé."

"Do you think either one of the twins will become Jedi?"

Ahsoka became thoughtful. "Maybe. I know Anakin isn't looking forward to that conversation when it rears its ugly head."

Lux gave her a look of reassurance.

Suddenly, there was a beeping coming from the apartment's comm.

Ahsoka stepped over to Leia's foldout crib and placed her niece down, running a hand through the infant girl's hair as she did so before going over to where the comm sat.

"Ahsoka Tano."

There was laughter on the other end.

"Easy Ahsoka, it's just us." Came Padmé's voice.

Lux put Luke down in the boy's own fold out crib before going over to join his girlfriend.

"Padmé, hey. How're things on Naboo?" Ahsoka asked as Lux joined her.

"Surprisingly well. Turns out, we didn't need to use you as a witness after all." Anakin responded.

Ahsoka laughed. "I know. I was half-expecting a call saying 'Help us, Ahsoka Tano, you're our only hope'."

"Really mature, Snips."

"Okay then," Ahsoka said, trying to break the subject up and onto something else more entertaining. "So, Padmé didn't lose her place in the Senate?"

"No, I didn't. The queen was incredibly understanding of our situation. My sister on the other hand, isn't so forgiving."

"Oh, right. The family reunion. Has it happened yet?"

"Not yet," said Anakin. "But it will in about fifty minutes from now."

"That was awfully fast," Lux said. "How are the in-laws?"

"Hi to you too, Lux. Ruwee seems to be supportive. As does Jobal. Ryoo and Pooja are all for it."

Lux turned to Ahsoka for an explanation.

"Ruwee is Padmé's father, Jobal is her mother. Ryoo and Pooja are Padmé's nieces, the daughters of her sister Sola."

"Very well informed with my family, Soka." Ahsoka could almost hear the pride in Padmé's voice.

"Why thank you, P. I'm glad I could be of assistance."

"How are the twins?" Anakin asked.

Lux and Ahsoka grinned. They had suspected the twins would be bought up at some point during the conversation.

"Little angels as you'd expect." Ahsoka said sweetly.

"Why do I suspect that there's more to this?" Anakin teased.

Ahsoka scowled but was glad that Anakin couldn't see her expression. "Okay! Geez. Lux and I were changing the twins before and there was a pee-pee incident."

There was a strangled snort before Anakin could be heard laughing on the other end of the connection.

"That's my boy." Anakin said through his laughter.

"Ani, please be nice." Padmé scolded her husband.

"What? You have to admit that is the funniest thing she has ever said."

Ahsoka could just imagine Padmé rolling her eyes at Anakin's childishness.

"Who got hit?" Anakin asked once he had gotten his laughter under control.

"No one, thankfully but Lux was the one that was changing Luke."

"Ah. Poor guy." Was Anakin's response.

Lux scowled but said nothing. He knew Anakin was bound to have one up on him if he said anything more.

"Shouldn't you be visiting the in-laws now?" Ahsoka questioned, hoping to end the conversation.

"She's right Ani. We've been talking for twenty minutes." Padmé agreed.

"Okay, okay. We're going. We'll be home in a few days."

"You're extending your trip?" Ahsoka asked.

"We might be. We just have to see how things go with the Naberries. Oh and Ahsoka?" Anakin said.

"Yeah?"

"Don't get into trouble."

"I've been staying out of trouble. Remember? I haven't left the apartment in three weeks."

"We'll hold you to that. Look out for each other, you hear us?"

"Yes, Master." Ahsoka nodded despite Anakin not being able to see her.

The connection disconnected.

Anakin and Padmé stood outside the Naberrie residence. They had arrived with just minutes to spare. Given the speed of the traffic, it was a miracle that they got there at all. Plus the twenty minutes they had used up talking to Ahsoka and Lux had added insult to injury and had put pressure on their travel time.

Padmé's hands shook as she stood staring at her parents' front door.

"It's going to be okay," Anakin assured her. "They don't hate you."

Padmé looked over her shoulder at him, unsure of what she should be feeling. She didn't feel at ease even when Anakin placed a hand on her shoulder. "Why aren't I reassured of that?"

Anakin didn't answer. Without a second thought, he reached forward and pressed the door chime button.

A long moment past before the door slid up, revealing Jobal.

"Mom." Padmé said in an attempt to appear calm.

"Hello dears. Come in, come in." Jobal stepped aside allowing her daughter and son-in-law into the house.

Padmé stepped into the house first but not before grabbing Anakin's hand for support.

Anakin followed behind Padmé, clutching her hand.

Jobal turned away from the doorway, allowing it to close behind her.

Anakin looked around in awe at the homeliness that was Padmé's childhood home. There were holo-photos on the walls of Padmé and Sola as children as well as a few family photos including ones of Ryoo and Pooja as babies.

"Please make yourselves at home." Jobal said warmly. She then headed into the kitchen.

"I like your mother." Anakin murmured to Padmé.

"Aunt Padmé!"

Padmé and Anakin turned to see Ryoo and Pooja run into the room.

"Hi girls." Padmé giggled as she crouched down to hug them.

"Hi Uncle Anakin." Ryoo said with the sweetest smile Anakin had ever seen.

"Hi Ryoo." Anakin smiled.

Jobal returned a moment later. "Lunch is ready."

The girls set off at a run into the kitchen.

"No running, girls." Jobal called as her granddaughters disappeared through the kitchen doorway.

Anakin and Padmé smiled as the senator rose out of her crouch.

"Sorry about them," Jobal apologised. "They're just really happy that you're here."

"It's nice to finally meet them," Anakin blurted before he could stop himself. "I have heard so many stories about them."

Jobal chuckled. "Come. Everybody is waiting for you."

Sola and Ruwee were seated at the kitchen table when Ryoo and Pooja ran in.

"Ryoo, Pooja, how many times have you been told? No running." Sola scolded her daughters.

The girls didn't appear to be listening as they took up their seats at the table.

A moment later, Jobal returned with Anakin and Padmé behind her.

Sola's face paled at the sight of her sister.

"Darling," Ruwee muttered under his breath. "Not now."

Sola gave her father a seething look. How could he defend Padmé after all the secrets she had hidden from them? Oh yes, that was right. Padmé was the cherished, favorite daughter, all because she was a successful politician. Sola had to fight the urge to roll her eyes.

"Welcome home Padmé." Ruwee said rising from his chair to hug his youngest daughter.

"Thank you dad. It's good to be home."

"Welcome to our home, son," Ruwee said, issuing Anakin with a kind smile. "Whatever you need, just ask. After all, you are now a member of the family."

"Thank you, sir." Anakin said almost shyly.

"'Sir?'" Ruwee laughed. "Please, Anakin, just call me Ruwee."

Anakin nodded respectfully before taking up a seat next to Padmé at the table.

"Tell us about yourself, Anakin," Jobal prompted. "Rumor has it that you're one of the finest Jedi to ever set foot on the battlefield."

"I can't take all the credit," Anakin said modestly. "My former master and my Padawan are to be credited as well."

"Master?" Ryoo asked politely. "Who was your master, Uncle Anakin?"

"Ryoo! Don't interrupt." Sola hissed at her eldest daughter.

Padmé her sister a look of warning which Sola ignored.

"It's okay, Sola. She's just being curious. What makes you ask, Ryoo?" Anakin asked.

Ryoo shrugged. "You mentioned you had one."

Anakin offered her a smile. "One of the greatest Jedi Masters within the Jedi Order. Obi-Wan Kenobi."

"A very brave man indeed." Ruwee nodded. "He's known for his negotiation skills, is that right?"

"Yes, that's right." Anakin nodded.

"Uncle Anakin?" Pooja said a little shyly.

"Yes, Pooja?"

"What's a Pada-Pada..."

"Padawan." Jobal said, helping Pooja with the word.

"Yeah, that."

"A Padawan," Padmé told her niece gently. "Is a like an apprentice. Someone who is training to become a Jedi."

"Ooh." Pooja said before going back to her food.

"In fact," Anakin dug around in his tunic pocket and pulled out his datapad. He turned to Jobal. "Is it alright if I show you all something?"

Jobal nodded. "You're very welcome to show us anything, dear."

Anakin smiled before going about accessing his device. It took him all of two seconds to find what he was looking for. He accessed a file and sat the device down on the table. The file activated and a video appeared.

Padmé smiled. "You're really willing to show that video?"

Anakin looked over at her before activating the video.

"No, no, no!" came the voice of Ahsoka. "Turn it off!"

"Not a chance, Snips." Anakin could be heard in the background saying.

Ahsoka groaned before looking up at the camera. She waved half-heartedly.

"Meet my Padawan, Ahsoka Tano. She also serves as a partial namesake for Leia."

"Your daughter?" Ruwee asked.

"Yes," Padmé nodded. "Ahsoka has stood with us since her near-departure from the Jedi Order. That is a story for another day." She said as Jobal opened her mouth.

"Ahsoka has been amazing throughout this whole saga. We thought it would be a nice gesture." Anakin said.

"And Leia's twin?"

Now it was Anakin's turn to smile. "Luke. We decided to name Luke in honor of my own master."

"Obi-Wan Kenobi, right?" Ryoo asked, bouncing up and down in her seat.

"You got it, miss Ryoo." Anakin grinned.

Ryoo giggled.

"So, our grandson's name is Luke Obi-Wan Skywalker?" Jobal asked.

"Not exactly." Padmé said. "We decided to use Obi-Wan's code name of Ben."

Jobal and Ruwee nodded in approval.

While Padmé knew her parents were only to being nice, a part of her knew they didn't approve of the situation she had found herself in. She married to a famed Jedi Knight and became the mother of his children.

"I love my family," Padmé found herself saying. She wasn't surprised when her entire family looked at her. "I would not trade them for anything." She rose from her chair, her gaze turned to her sister. "I don't care if any of you are supportive of any of this." Without another word, she walked off, leaving her family and husband to look at each other.

Anakin found Padmé sitting on the bed in her old bedroom. "Padmé?"

Padmé didn't look up as her hands tightened on the edge on the mattress. "We shouldn't have come here, Ani."

The door shut behind Anakin as he moved into the room and went to sit at his wife's side.

Padmé shook her head before she looked back at her husband. "I know I'm being paranoid but I know my parents aren't accepting of us and the twins."

"I don't blame you for feeling that way," Anakin said gently as Padmé rested her head on his shoulder. "I could feel your sister's eyes on me the entire time. It was as if she was trying to burn me alive with her eyes." He shuddered.

"She's jealous." Padmé shrugged.

"Where's her husband?" Anakin asked.

"Darred's off-world. He's a painter so he's often away from home."

"Shame. It would have been nice to meet the entire family."

Padmé nodded. "Darred's lovely and not at all judgmental. What he saw in Sola is beyond me."

"Has she always been uptight?"

"She likes to tease," Padmé said in an attempt to sound disgusted. "She has always liked to point out that she's older then me. Being the oldest, she likes to show me she did the right thing and that I didn't."

"What do you mean?" Anakin asked.

"She 'retired' from public life. She got married and had two beautiful kids. Me? I remained in politics despite my family's protests. I didn't settle down, marry a nobleman and have a family like they wanted."

Anakin could hear the hurt in her voice that her family no longer trusted her.

"I don't regret us," Padmé sniffed as she looked over at Anakin. "I love you far more then I've ever said."

Anakin wordlessly pulled her into a hug. "I love you too, Padmé. I love you, Luke, Leia, Ahsoka, Obi-Wan and every one of our friends. I wouldn't trade my life with you for anything."

Padmé buried her head in Anakin's chest and let out a strangled sob.

"Don't let your paranoia get the best of you."

Padmé sniffed and nodded.

Ahsoka and Lux were in a fix.

They had turned their backs for only a second and Luke and Leia had somehow managed to get themselves incredibly dirty.

"How can two three-week-old infants get themselves into a messy bind like this so quickly?" Lux asked scratching his head.

Ahsoka could only look at him.

"What are we going to do now?"

"Ahsoka? Lux?"

"Down here Obi-Wan." Ahsoka called.

A moment later, Obi-Wan appeared.

"Master Kenobi." Lux bowed his head in respect.

Obi-Wan bowed his head in return. He had grown tired of trying to get Lux to call him Obi-Wan and had settled for his formal title.

"Lux," Ahsoka said causing Lux to look at her. "You know that Obi-Wan prefers to be called by his name."

"It is a force of habit, love." Lux said sincerely.

Ahsoka went to protest when Obi-Wan cut across her.

"It's okay, Ahsoka. I don't mind."

Ahsoka raised a painted eyebrow. "You were complaining about it the other day."

Obi-Wan raised his own eyebrow and Ahsoka looked away, ending the discussion in its tracks. Obi-Wan then changed the subject. "What's going on here?"

"We can't work out how the twins got themselves so dirty." Ahsoka said.

Obi-Wan looked down in the crib on the right to see the cheeky look on little Luke's face. He reached down and picked the infant up who squealed in glee. "What have you and your sister gotten yourselves into, young Luke?" Obi-Wan asked the infant boy despite knowing he wouldn't get an answer.

"We need to give them both baths." Lux said.

"Good idea." Obi-Wan agreed. "One of you pick up Leia and follow me to the bathroom."

Lux and Ahsoka looked at each other before Ahsoka went and collected Leia.

"Come on, little princess," Ahsoka sighed. "Let's get you and your brother cleaned up."

Anakin and Padmé lay on the small bed in silence. They had spoken about the reactions of Padmé's family and they were trying to weigh up what their options were now.

Anakin had met a lot of people in his time but none were as stubborn or as opinionated then Padmé's family. While he understood why they were the way they were he believed that no one should hold a grudge forever. He also wasn't sure what to do about Padmé's paranoia.

According to Padmé, her father had once supported her political career when his old friend Onoconda Farr had still been alive. When Farr had been murdered, Ruwee worried that his daughter, who had already been the target of multiple assassination attempts, was going to be the next target. The news that Ruwee had withdrawn his support of her career had devastated Padmé but she had taken it in stride.

There was a knock on the door, surprising the couple.

"Come in." Padmé called hoarsely.

The door opened, revealing Ryoo.

"Aunt Padmé? Uncle Anakin?"

"Ryoo?" Padmé said as she and Anakin sat up. "What's wrong?"

Ryoo hesitantly bit her lip before walking deeper into the room, allowing the door to shut behind her. "Why doesn't mom like you now?"

Anakin gave his new niece a compassionate look.

"Your mother doesn't like the… situation I have gotten myself into." Padmé told her niece as Ryoo sat down on the edge of the bed.

"You did what you thought was right, Aunt Padmé." Ryoo said.

"Your mother has always looked to the traditional side of life," Padmé said as she pulled her legs over the edge of the bed. "She has always believed that if you retire from public life at a young age, you marry someone that is within your own class and have a couple of kids was the way to live." Padmé rolled her eyes.

"It's not for anyone." Ryoo said.

"That's exactly what I said." Anakin nodded.

Ryoo smiled. "Don't let mom's comments get to you."

"She didn't even say anything the entire time we were out there. Also, I don't think your grandparents are happy with the my life."

"It's your life, Aunt Padmé. No one should be telling you how to live it. I can deal with grandma and grandpa if you like."

Ryoo's comment caught Anakin and Padmé by surprise.

"How is it," Anakin said slowly, causing Ryoo to look at him. "That a twelve-year-old can have such strong views on the ways of life?"

Ryoo sat up and smiled charmingly.

"Ryoo? Where are you, sweetheart?" Came the voice of Jobal from the other side of the door.

Ryoo cringed as the door slid up, revealing her grandmother.

"There you are," Jobal sighed as she laid eyes on her eldest granddaughter. "Your mother's about to leave."

"Yes, grandma," Ryoo rose from the bed before turning to her face her grandmother. "Gran?" she said.

Jobal looked over at her to see a defiant look had crossed Ryoo's face. She was even surprised to see that her granddaughter had her arms crossed. "Yes, Ryoo?"

"Give Aunt Padmé and Uncle Anakin a chance."

Jobal blinked. "We are."

"You're not." Jobal's head shot up to see that Padmé was now standing while Anakin was still sitting on the bed. Jobal went to open her mouth only to have Padmé cut across her. "You might say you are, mom, but you aren't."

Jobal sighed. "Your father and I love you Padmé. Yes, you are right. We don't agree with your choices but if they make you happy then we're happy with that."

Padmé still wasn't happy with her mother's statement. "I wish Anakin and I had never come here."

Ryoo gasped.

Anakin jumped off the bed and went to comfort the pre-teen. "Padmé." He said through gritted teeth.

Padmé ignored him and stared her mother down.

"I don't care what you think, mother. Or what dad and Sola think. My life is my life," she then turned to Anakin. "Come on Anakin. Tomorrow, we're going home."

Padmé pushed past her mother but not before giving Ryoo an apologetic look as she headed for the door.

Once Padmé was out of the room, Anakin looked to Jobal. "I am so sorry, Jobal. She's not normally like this."

Jobal sighed and went to sit down on the bed. "No, Anakin. It is I that must apologise. Ryoo's right. Ruwee, Sola and I haven't been fair to you or Padmé."

Ryoo looked up at Anakin who gave her a look of reassuring look.

"You don't have to make it up to me. You need to make it up to Padmé before you lose her permanently." Anakin said.

"Uncle Anakin's right, gran." Ryoo said.

"You're both right. Come. We need to stop her from leaving the house."

Ahsoka had collapsed on the sofa after she, Lux and Obi-Wan had bathed Luke and Leia. Lux and Obi-Wan were upstairs trying to get the twins to sleep.

She had just pulled out her datapad when she received a message from Padmé.

Coming home tomorrow. Hope the twins haven't been too much trouble.

Ahsoka frowned at the message. The last time she had spoken to Anakin and Padmé, they had extended their trip to Naboo in order to spend time with Padmé's family. What could have happened that was so bad?

"Obi-Wan, Lux." Ahsoka called as she reread the message. "You might wanna see this."

Obi-Wan and Lux rushed down the steps from the twins' room.

"What's wrong, Ahsoka?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Look at this." Ahsoka held up her datapad for Obi-Wan and Lux to read the message.

"Padmé and Anakin are coming home, earlier then what they said." Lux said looking from the message to Ahsoka. "They were supposed to be coming back in a few days. What's changed?"

"I have no idea." Ahsoka typed in a message and waited for Padmé to respond.

Anakin, Jobal and Ryoo jogged through the house in search of Padmé. They finally found her trying to get past Pooja who looked on the verge of tears.

"Don't go Aunty." Pooja pouted.

Ryoo sighed in relief. If there was one thing her little sister was good at it was making people feel guilty over their actions.

Padmé couldn't bring herself to upset her youngest niece. After all, she hadn't seen her or Ryoo in three years and it pained her. She loved them too much. She had missed all their birthdays in the last three years and she wasn't about to miss anymore. She wanted the twins to know their cousins.

"Oh, Pooja," she said as she crouched down to Pooja's level and held out her arms. "Come here."

Pooja launched herself into her aunt's arms.

Sola and Ruwee had just entered the room to see what all the fuss was about.

Anakin and Jobal smiled.

Mission accomplished. Anakin couldn't help but think.

Suddenly, a beeping could be heard coming from the pocket of Padmé's dress.

Drawing back slightly from Pooja's hug, Padmé pulled out her datapad to find she had a message from Ahsoka.

Got your message. You okay?

With a smile, the senator replied.

Yes, everything is fine. Sorry for the message before. I was upset over nothing. Please tell Obi-Wan and Lux that Anakin and I will be home when we said.

She sent the message only to receive a message a moment later.

If you're sure. We will see you upon your return.

Anakin was relieved to see that his wife was no longer conflicted. It was a relief to see that just one heartfelt look from the youngest of their nieces was enough to get Padmé to change her mind.

Padmé looked up to see that Anakin was smiling at her. She smiled in return, just glad that her little self-conflict was gone.

"You're not buying this, are you?" Sola asked in total disbelief.

Uh oh. Anakin thought. "Haven't you had your say, Sola?"

"Stay out of this, Jedi!" Sola hissed. "This doesn't concern you."

"Leave my husband out of this, Sola." Padmé said as she rose to her feet. Pooja slid her hand into her aunt's. "You have always been jealous of me. I was the one that mom and dad always had to keep an eye on because my work was so dangerous. I am the one who became Queen of Naboo at fourteen. I was the one who became Naboo's leading senator after my term ended. I am the one who married a Jedi Knight and became the mother of a beautiful set of twins. What have you ever done, big sister? You went to a highly regarded university, met the man of your dreams, retired from public life and had two beautiful girls. Yes, living a life of peace is good for some people. That is not the life I have lead. I have been trying to make the galaxy a safer place for everybody, especially my children. Don't you dare think this is an act. You've always thought of yourself as superior to me."

Sola was taken aback by her sister's speech. Padmé had never spoken to her like that before, especially in front of the girls. Looking over at each of her daughters, she could see that they were just as disgusted with her as their aunt was. Ryoo and Pooja might have only been young but if the war had taught them anything, it was to stand up for what was right.

"Mom," said Ryoo. "This is ridiculous. Whatever happened to the relationship you and Aunt Padmé had when you were my age and Pooja's age? Whatever happened to the stories grandpa and gran use to tell me about you and Aunt Padmé? Why are you so jealous of everything Aunt Padmé has achieved?"

Sola was truly stunned. She never would have thought that her eldest daughter so outspoken.

"You're all right. I am jealous of Padmé's successful career. I hate the fact that she acts as a voice to the people of Naboo and to other planets that Naboo is allied with. I certainly never had that type of support when I was painting. I always thought I was a failure in the eyes of mom and dad."

Ruwee and Jobal walked over to their eldest daughter and enveloped her in a hug.

"We never saw you as a failure, Sola." Jobal said.

"Alas, your mother's right, Sola. We love you and Padmé equally. Yes, your sister is more successful but we don't love you any less." Ruwee said.

Wow, Anakin thought. I never would have thought Sola would be worried about this now. She's a grown woman who is jealous of her sister. Anakin of course, said nothing.

While Sola was apologizing to Ruwee and Jobal for being a 'spoiled brat', Padmé lead her nieces over to Anakin.

"Mom's apologizing a lot." Ryoo said, throwing her head back with a groan.

Anakin rested a hand on her shoulder. "You should have seen Obi-Wan and I after the war ended. There was a lot of apologizing there too."

Ryoo said nothing else while Pooja clung to Padmé's arm.

Seeing that her niece was uneasy, Padmé crouched down and scooped her up. She stroked her hair and kissed her cheek. "It's okay, Pooja."

There was a sniff, prompting Padmé, Anakin and the girls to look over at Sola. She held her arms out to her girls who broke free from their aunt and uncle and went to hug her.

"I'm so sorry, my darlings," Sola apologised to her daughters. "I shouldn't have been jealous of your aunt."

"You're sisters," said Ryoo. "It's okay to be jealous."

Sola pulled back slightly and smiled at her girls.

True to their word, Anakin and Padmé stayed with the Naberries for a couple of days before deciding it was time to go home to Coruscant.

"It was wonderful having you," Jobal said as she hugged Padmé goodbye. "Don't be a stranger dear."

The family were stationed at one of the local hangars where Anakin had landed Padmé's ship upon his and Padmé's arrival on Naboo just days earlier.

Padmé smiled into her mother's embrace. "We won't."

Ruwee stepped over to Anakin. "Look after my daughter, Anakin." Ruwee said holding out a hand.

Anakin shook it. "I will."

"Uncle Anakin?" Pooja said sweetly.

Anakin crouched down so he was at Pooja's height. "Yes, Pooja?"

"When we come and visit, will we get to meet Luke and Leia?"

"Of course," Anakin smiled. "You're their cousins. We wouldn't stop you from seeing them."

"Yay." Pooja cheered.

Padmé smiled before turning to face the girls. "Come here, you two."

Ryoo and Pooja hurried over to give their aunt one last hug.

"Behave yourselves and we shall see you both soon, okay?" Padmé said as she placed stray strains of hair out of her niece's faces.

The girls nodded and hugged her again before letting her go.

Padmé rose to her feet and stepped over to Anakin. "Ready to go home?"

Anakin smiled and nodded.

Ahsoka, Lux and Obi-Wan stood on the landing bay platform with the twins in arms.

Leia cooed from Obi-Wan's arms while Luke gurgled in Ahsoka's.

Obi-Wan had tried holding Luke but he had cried non-stop for Ahsoka so the Jedi Master had had no choice but to hand Anakin and Padmé's son over to his godmother while he handled Leia.

Satine had wanted to be there for Padmé and Anakin's arrival home but she had been called into a last minute meeting with Chancellor Mothma and hadn't been able to pull out.

Lux looked between the two Jedi. He could tell by the way Ahsoka was standing that she was anxious to be out of the apartment after three weeks of being boxed in with the twins. He rested a hand on Ahsoka's shoulder just as the familiar rumble of engines sounded.

Padmé's ship landed and the ramp lowered.

After a moment, Padmé and Anakin disembarked from the ship.

Anakin breathed in a breath of air. "Ah. Coruscant. Home sweet home." His eyes darted to his two tiny children in the arms of his two best friends. "Hey. There they are."

Padmé shook her head her husband's ignorance of their three friends.

"How were they?" Anakin asked as he took Luke from Ahsoka.

"A little… messy."

Anakin looked at her.

"But they were little angels otherwise." Ahsoka said as an afterthought.

Anakin smirked. "That's better."

"Ani." Padmé said as she stepped over to her husband.

"What?" Anakin said in amusement.

"Ignore him." Obi-Wan said as Leia started to fuss.

"Hard not to," Lux said in an undertone. "He does have a habit of getting under people's skin."

Anakin gave Lux a distasteful look. "You've been dating my Padawan too long." A cruel yet teasing smirk crossed Anakin's face.

Ahsoka was too absorbed in Leia who was now waving her little arms around in the air to take much notice. Her goddaughter had started to fuss so Obi-Wan had handed her over to Ahsoka knowing she was the one person that could stop her from fussing.

"So we take it that babysitting the twins was pleasurable?" Padmé asked.

Ahsoka's head shot up. The others looked at her. "Very. You know you're going to have to share what actually went down with the twins and your family."

Padmé nodded knowing she was right. After all, Ahsoka, Obi-Wan and Lux were now a part of the Skywalker clan.

So what did you guys think? So, next chapter is the first in the 'Raising Luke and Leia' arc. The twins will be at least a year old and causing havoc. Ahsoka will play a little bit of a role but it won't be huge. I have been thinking about some people's comments about Ahsoka being in the story too much and I can see your points. She is a key player in this story because of the role she plays in Luke and Leia's upbringing but the next few chapters will feature her but not a much as she has been as the story will shift focus from the older generation to the twins.

To be continued...