Saga A Christmas Gift (vignette) - A/P AU EPIII timeframe - re-post

I originally wrote /posted this?oh?quite some time ago but, feeling nostalgic and with Christmas right around the corner, I decided to post it again.

This was a pleasure to write and I hope you enjoy it (the second time around too for the old timers).


I would like to acknowledge JDH3 for his inspiration to get this little viggy written. Thank you, my friend.

I haven?t posted a new story on the boards in a long time so?be gentle

The usual disclaimers apply. Just indulging in the GFFA?


A Christmas Gift

Padmé watched out the window, her long, dark hair curling around her face and shoulders protectively, as the pristine snowflakes gently fell upon the already snow capped ground. She softly sighed and pulled her blanket more closely to her, hoping to shield herself from the cold outside that was trying to gain entrance through the window. She had spent the entire evening with her family, enjoying their company and the antics of her nieces as they each begged to open another gift. Padmé chuckled at the thought of her sister?s face as she desperately tried to remain firm with her negative reply. Ryoo and Pooja weren?t to be fooled though, they knew their mother was always more tender-hearted during this festive season and they vainly tried to persuade Sola to rescind the one present rule.

?Pleaseeeee,? Ryoo had pleaded, feigning sad eyes.

?Oh, nice try, little one,? Sola had laughed at the failed attempt of bribery.

Padmé smiled at the memory as she continued to gaze outside. Her nieces had failed in their bid to open more gifts ? Sola had managed to win the battle and told them morning would be here soon enough. The look of defeat on the girl?s face was difficult for Padmé to bear and she resisted the urge to give in to their demands at the risk of her sister?s wrath. Sola would have been upset, but not terribly, she noted to herself. It was more of the idea of disrespecting her sister?s authority over her children ? a position Padmé did not want to intrude upon.

She glanced down at her protruding belly ? she was due to deliver the twins within the week and looking forward to becoming a mother in every sense of the word. Over the years she had watched Sola care for her daughters and Padmé naturally assumed that she would play the role of doting Aunt because her career didn?t encompass having children of her own. Her political aspirations were too weighty and the thought of finding someone to settle down with and raise a family she had felt was far out of reach. After all, most of the gentlemen callers she had received wanted nothing more than her additional influence on their positions. They never took into account that she wanted more ? much more.

And then she and Anakin Skywalker had been reunited. She smiled as she recalled their initial meeting ? and how he stumbled over himself as he tried to talk to her.

Ani? My goodness you?ve grown.

So have you, more beautiful I mean, for a Senator I mean.

She had looked into those eyes and saw something she wasn?t ready for ? something she was afraid to see ? love and admiration. Anakin wasn?t interested in gaining any political favors from her, he saw her for who she was ? a beautiful, intelligent woman who had strong convictions and wasn?t afraid to stand on her own to uphold those ideals. He simply loved her, unconditionally and deeply. An emotion she had never truly experienced outside of her family.

____________________*****____________________

And now here she was waiting for Anakin, her husband, to arrive at her family home to celebrate the holidays and forget the war ? if only for a short while. She had barely seen him in months ? he was in the thick of the battles and she had done everything she could possibly have done to protect the many lives involved, with emphasis on one in particular. He knew she was with child ? or in this case, children ? from his last brief visit when she was still in her first trimester. The news was a wonderful

 

A Christmas Gift ? Part II

If Padmé could have captured the expression on her husband?s face with a holocam she would have done so in an instant. His eyes went from loving and attentive to surprise filled with sheer terror at her announcement. Once steady hands were now shaking with excitement and nervousness. His mouth tried to form the words but his voice was unable to articulate them.

Anakin found himself breaking into a cold sweat and shuddering as if he were in a cage filled with nexu?s. Except for the fact that he was in the Naberrie family home and Padmé was right beside him looking expectantly at him to do something.

?Wha-?? Anakin barely managed to utter the simple word.

Padmé couldn?t help but giggle. Even though this was her first pregnancy [and judging by the way the twins used her body as a boxing arena, it would be her last] she had experienced childbirth through her sister, Sola ? at least from the sidelines. Although her water had broken, she knew she was not in any present danger. After all, Sola had had to wait for her midwife to arrive through a storm and she and the baby had been fine.

?Don?t worry, Ani. Everything will be fine,? she reassured her husband who was fast becoming a bundle of nerves.

?What do I do? Should I get Mom?? he asked with a wild look in his eyes. Averting his eyes, he quickly spied a pillow on the couch and grabbed it. ?Here,? he said, shoving the pillow behind Padmé?s head. ?Does that help??

?Maybe we should get Mom and Sola.? Padmé gestured toward the direction of the bedrooms.

?Uh,? Anakin looked around, unsure of what he was even looking for. ?Do-do you want something to drink or eat? I can get you something.? Anakin started to stand, ready to dash into the kitchen and fetch whatever Padmé desired ? even if he had to cook it himself.

Padmé blanched ? remembering Anakin?s attempt at cooking a cake for her one time. She had to admit that his intentions were in the right place but the substitution of ingredients was not a very good idea. ?No, no beloved.? She took hold of his hand to stop him from running off. ?I don?t need anything to eat or drink, but please go and get Mom and Sola.?

Anakin quickly nodded his head and started to turn away but then turned back again, bent down and hugged his wife. ?I love you, angel,? he ardently whispered into her ear.

?And I love you,? she quickly embraced him and then he was gone, nearly tripping over his own feet along the way. She saw him run into the corner as he tried to enter the hallway and the resounding, ?owww,? that followed.

Padmé shook her head and chuckled as Anakin disappeared. ?He certainly is excited,? she commented before glancing down at her monstrous stomach. ?And you both are very determined little Skywalker?s.?

As if to reiterate her statement one of the twins kicked and Padmé watched the action of her stomach move. ?It?s such a shame that your father has missed so much of this. Watching you both grow within me, feeling your movements?listening to your strong heartbeats. Yes, I think life as we know it is about to change drastically.?

____________________*****____________________

Anakin arrived back into the family room with the two blurry-eyed women right behind him. Jobal took the blanket she was carrying and covered Padmé with it while Sola contacted the midwife on the holovid.

?How are you feeling?? Jobal asked with a smile on her face. ?Are my grandchildren causing you much pain??

Padmé gave her mother an incredulous look. ?Mom, I look like a freighter! How comfortable can I be?? she asked sarcastically.

Anakin was beside his wife trying to be supportive by brushing her hair from her face, covering her more with the blanket, and stroking her arm. He was at a loss as to what he should be doing.

Jobal overlooked her daughter?s outburst and knew that she was just as nervous as Anakin. ?Childbirth can be a daunting experience, Padmé. It would be best for you to focus on something pleasant and take deep breaths. Try to relax.?

?Relax?? Anakin looked at his

 

I really liked this fanfic. It's one of the few A/P Christmas stories I could find.

 

anakinfansince1983

Thank you very much. I'm glad you enjoyed it!

I'm a longggg time A/P fan.

TragicHeroLover132

Thank you very much.

Oh, there's stories out there but you probably have to really dig for them these days.

I'm glad you enjoyed this one.



Merry Christmas to you and yours!