Oh, gracious! Am I popping up in yet another fandom? Yup. Here I am. Having recently watched the prequels over again, I've fallen in love with the franchise all over again. My current obsession is the Skywalker family. I want them to be happy. None of that crap that broke my heart in canon. And that's why I'm writing this fic!

I claim no ownership to Star Wars.

Prophecies- Chapter One: The More The Darkness Consumes Me, I Pretend I'm Burning Bright

Anakin came to see Padme later than usual. He had been so caught up in everything; it would have made it difficult to go see his wife earlier. Unfortunately, he stumbled into a dark, empty apartment. She must have already gone to sleep. Ah well. He continued on to their bedroom, where his suspicions had been confirmed. His heavily pregnant wife was sound asleep, curled up on her side as she clutched at her stomach. This was a sight that brought a smile to the Jedi's face. Ridding of his shoes, he went around to the closet to find his supply of pajamas. They were always tucked away, just in case someone were to come in here to snoop. As always, they had to play this secret life safe. Unfortunately, though, they wouldn't be able to keep it a secret for very long, which had them both on edge. Padme had been seeing an OBGYN—or the droid form of one anyway, during the last couple of months. She didn't have long to go now.

After changing out of his usual attire, the Jedi padded his way back over to the bed, peeling the covers back and scooting himself close to his wife, who he took in his arms. She came to at the contact, tipping her head back slightly to give him a quick peck on the lips. Anakin settled both hands on either side of her belly, dipping his head down to continue the kiss. Padme couldn't help the smile that came across her lips as he did so. She just cupped his cheek gently as their lips glided against each other's for another moment longer. Once the two pulled apart, the senator spun around in her husband's arms, tucking her head beneath his chin.

"I missed you," she murmured sleepily, nuzzling into his neck.

"I missed you too," a sigh escaped his lips, propping his chin on the top of her head as he tightened his grip around her. "It's just been a long day. Everywhere I turned, the council was down my throat. I had no time to come see you without any arising suspicion."

Padme understood that completely. Still, though, it didn't make her miss him any less. "Well, no more silly talk about duties. You are here now."

"Sleep now, my love," Anakin pressed a kiss to her forehead. "We will talk more in the morning." He felt bad about having woken her up. But he always felt so much better if he were holding her as he dozed off. Plus, getting a taste of her lips when he had been deprived all day—that was all just a bonus. As he glanced down, he noted that her eyes were no longer open. Her breathing now even in her peaceful slumber. It hadn't taken her long at all to heed his word.

Before he knew it himself, he was off into a deep sleep. It had been a couple of weeks since his nightmare. Here lately, it was all that he could think about. So when he began to dream about something far more peaceful, he welcomed it with open arms.

The brunet found himself stirring around, the morning light already seeping through the blinds. Was it really morning already? It felt like he had just fallen asleep. With a soft groan, Anakin hoisted himself into a sitting position, resting against the headboard. The more his eyes adjusted, the more he realized just how different this place looked. It wasn't where he had fallen asleep at. Honestly, it looked a lot like Padme's home back on Naboo. Glancing over to where his wife should be, his forehead crinkling slightly as he noted the bed was empty. And that was when he felt it. The joy. The love. He could hear the sounds of footsteps approaching, but it was obvious that they didn't belong to an adult. The steps were too frantic. Too scattered. They belonged to a child.

His child maybe?

The door creaked open, a tiny brunette child poking her head around it. Anakin soon found a grin on his own face. She looked so much like Padme. It was obvious what this dream was about.

She ran up to the edge of the bed, leaping onto the space next to her father. "Daddy, mommy said it's time to wake up!" The little girl began cheekily, giving the Jedi a gap-toothed smile.

"She did, did she?" Anakin laughed, pulling the little girl closer as he blew a raspberry on her cheek.

"Yeah. Luke's comin' too. He's just a slow poke!" Leia announced, wrapping her arms around her father's neck.

Luke? Was this their pet? Did he finally get the dog that he always wanted? Turning his head as he heard the next set of frantic footsteps, he noticed a little boy who looked the same age as his daughter. He too leapt onto the bed, trying to nudge himself between his father and twin.

"Luke… I was here first!" the brunette child whined, pushing her brother away with a sly smile.

"You're just jealous 'cause I'm daddy's favorite," Luke rebuked, sticking his tongue out at his sister. "Admit it, Leia!"

Not long after that, there was another presence Anakin felt coming his way. One that was all too familiar. His wife. She opened the door all the way, coming to sit down on the edge of the bed. He gave her a good once-over, stopping at her hands. He was surprised to actually see a wedding band on her ring finger. That was when he took notice to the chain around his neck, with his own wedding band looped through it. Too bad he still had a mechanical hand in this dream…

"I was beginning to think that you would never wake up on your own," Padme began with a soft smile, "so I sent my minions in to torment you."

The Jedi glanced down at the twins, who were now expectantly looking up at him. He scooped them both up, keeping his children on either side of him. Anakin gave them both raspberries now, the act alone filling the room with joyful laughter.

Was this how it was actually going to be? He could have sworn that it was like he was looming overhead, watching himself live in the future. Everything felt real. It was just like his nightmares. Only… this was happy. No deaths. Just Ani being the father that he couldn't wait to be.

That next morning, the soon-to-be father woke up in a perplexed mood. All he could think about was his dream. It took several attempts from his wife to gain his attention, he was so distracted. He just sat up in bed, like he did in his dream—just contemplating everything.

"—Anakin Skywalker!" Padme tried for what felt like the tenth time. By the Gods, he was not helping her hormones in the slightest.

That last sharp call brought him out of his thoughts, making him jump slightly.

"What is it? Are you alright?" the brunet Jedi asked, concern laced in his voice. He scooted closer to her, taking his hand and lacing his fingers through hers.

"I'm fine," Padme smiled softly. "I was worried about you, Ani. You seemed a little lost in thought." Squeezing his hand, she met her brown orbs with his blue.

That was the one thing in the galaxy that was guaranteed to make him melt. Her smile. It had won him over from the very first time he saw it over thirteen years ago.

Anakin hesitated to respond. His lips were parted slightly as his thumb went to stroke the backside of her hand, not even knowing where to begin. "I had another dream. This one, though," he glanced down, grinning to himself. "It was a good one. I saw our family, Padme."

"That's great, darling," the senator responded, leaning to rest her head against his forehead. She often disagreed with how severely he relied on his dreams. Dreams were nothing but what the unconscious mind depicted from what one thought about before dozing off. Or at least, that was how she saw it.

"It felt so real. Like the nightmares. I just—"

He needed guidance. Now more than ever. He couldn't go to anyone on the council. That would blow his cover right away. What he needed, it needed to be done in solitude. Meditation. Maybe then he could search the Force for some answers.

Padme was taken aback when he softly pulled back from their touch. "Where are you going?"

"To the Temple. There's a reason for this all… I just know it." Anakin looked back to his wife, pulling her closer long enough to kiss her goodbye. "I will be back soon," he murmured against her lips.

And, with that, the senator was left alone once more. She glanced down at her expanding belly, rubbing it soothingly. Their baby. Their second chance at a wonderful life. A sigh escaped her lips. Anakin obviously had a great deal on his mind. She did as well. It was getting closer and closer to her due date. Eventually, the council and senate would have to know about their marriage and growing family. Unfortunately, that 'eventually' would have to come sooner rather than later.

Pushing herself back down against her pillow, Padme just glanced up at the ceiling all the while stroking her stomach absent-mindedly.

o—o—o

This Jedi was never one for patience. He always rushed forward—usually halfcocked and fucked everything up. Or, at least, that was how he had been. Here lately, he found himself prone to waiting for the right moment. Precision was crucial in the eyes of the Jedi. With meditation, this was no different. Channeling the Force took time. Even with him being as advanced as he was, it took quite a bit of effort.

There he sat, in an Indian style, clearing his mind. Back when he was still a Padawan, Obi-Wan always spoke of meditation giving clarity. And that was exactly what Anakin needed right about now. Was he going to lose his wife? Or was his last nightmare simply a warning? Maybe he was going about something in all the wrong ways.

At first, there was nothing. He couldn't sense anything. Until it hit him all at once. Vivid imagery of him speaking with Palpatine—he could hear the Chancellor speak about there being a way to save someone from death. Then it transitioned into seeing him kill Master Windu, and the guilt that Anakin felt after. And the younglings in the temple… he could feel their terror as he ended them all with his lightsaber in tow. Ani tried his best to keep his concentration, but this was getting too much to bear. What was all of this?

Then… then he began to see what was going on.

His wife, struggling to breathe as he used the Force to choke her. She didn't agree with him. And that was how he repaid her. The soon-to-be father could hear her cries long after the vision transitioned once more. He fought the urge to shudder, afraid that if he made any sudden movements, that the visions would fade away for good.

"You were my brother, Anakin! I loved you!" Seeing the battle between him and Obi-Wan, it all but destroyed him. He was reduced down to nothing. Just a severely charred vessel, waiting for the sweet release of death. But what he saw next, it practically sent the Jedi over the edge. While he was being put in a dark life support suit, thanks to the Chancellor, who Anakin believed now that he had to keep a closer eye on, Padme lied there dying, just like in his nightmare. Only this time, he was able to hear two distinct cries instead of one. Luke and Leia. So they really were having twins…

"There's still good in him, Obi-Wan. I know it," his wife uttered weakly to his Master, on the verge of fading away. He could feel it. All the hurt he had caused her. All the tears. The regret. The blame. "There's still—"

And that was when his beloved faded away from him. Anakin couldn't tell if he had brought himself out of the meditative state, or if there was just nothing more for him to see. While Ani wanted to know what the future held for him as far as the Jedi Order, everything else went quiet. No visions. No senses. Would he be able to stay if he proved himself worthy, even if he broke the code? And what about Padme? Would they allow her to stay on the senate? Despite everything she dealt with, he knew that his wife enjoyed her job.

No matter the case, he found himself jumping at the sound of his communicator going off. Scrambling to his feet, eyes wide with fright and so many different emotions, he answered the call. It was Obi-Wan of all people.

"I must say, Anakin, I'm surprised that you answered so quickly. I would have thought that you would still be sleeping," his mentor jabbed playfully.

"No, no, Master. I'm awake," Anakin replied, running his flesh fingers through his unruly head of hair.

"What's the matter?" Obi-Wan asked; concern was obvious in his tone. "You sound a little disheveled this morning."

"Just tired, I suppose. Didn't get much sleep last night," the younger of the two murmured. Which wasn't far from the truth. Of course, now he was ready for another one of his mentor's lectures. 'A well prepared Jedi is a well-rested one' and blah, blah, blah. He didn't have time for this. Not this morning. Not after what he just went through.

Much to his disbelief, a lecture never came. Kenobi just replied with, "Very well then. Listen, I called you because there is a council meeting this morning at 9-o'clock that we need you to be present for."

Anakin raised a brow, holding back a sigh. That meant he was probably going to be called away here soon. Again, leaving his wife and their unborn twins. Looking at the clock above his bed, he noted that it was nearing seven now. "Understood. I will see you then."

And with that, he ended the call, letting the communicator fall through his mechanical fingertips and onto the floor. The sigh that he suppressed soon came to his lips once more. Plopping down on his bed, his feet were firmly planted on the floor. What exactly was the Force trying to tell him? That if he listened to Palpatine that he would lose literally everything that he held so dear?

Time just crept on and on for the next couple of hours, leaving him alone with his thoughts. He could have gone back to see Padme, but he just didn't want to worry her any more than he probably already had. If there, indeed, was something to worry about, he would tell her. But for right now, she just needed to worry about keeping herself and the babies healthy.

By eight-forty, Anakin was tired of pacing. Tired of tapping his feet against the floor, leaning over his bed in a state of worry. This wasn't the Jedi way but, right now, he didn't know what to do. Should he voice his opinion about Palpatine? But then the council would want to know everything that he saw whilst meditating. They would know if he was lying, too. He was far too squirmy to build up the proper wall to keep the omnipotent ones out of his head.

Unable to sit around anymore, he rose to his feet. In an attempt to calm him down, Anakin tried to clear his thoughts. He tried to block out the visions he saw just hours ago. Even if it didn't work 100%, he still had to try.

Trekking onwards towards the chamber, he felt his shoulders begin to loosen. All he could do right now was just sit tight; wait for some clues, maybe?

Upon entering the room, Anakin could feel all eyes on him. He wasn't exactly sure why, but he knew that it couldn't be good.

o—o—o

"You want me to spy on Palpatine?" Anakin asked, crossing his arms against his chest. He glanced back at his mentor, not exactly believing what he was hearing. More importantly, he was replaying those visions in his head now. As long as he didn't listen to the Sith Lord, then he shouldn't have any trouble. Ani couldn't exactly tell Obi-Wan that he already knew everything that they needed to know could he? Because that would blow his cover. If the Chancellor needed to be stopped, he would be the one to do it.

"More so, just keep an eye on him. Being the dirty politician that he is, the council just doesn't trust him. Or his rulings," Obi-Wan explained to his former Padawan.

Skywalker just nodded. "I'll reach out to you as soon as I know something."

As soon as the two dispersed, Anakin thought about hiding out with his wife for the rest of the day. Even just a few hours alone with Padme was good enough for him. If Palpatine knew the suspicions of the council—he'd call on him. Especially if he really was Sith. So, until that time came, he was on his own. Deciphering exactly what the force was telling him.

The meeting with Palpatine and trying to get him to convert to the Dark Side, that goes hand-in-hand with what he was just asked to do by the council. No matter what goes on, Anakin cannot let himself be manipulated. Not unless he wanted to make his nightmare become reality.

Finally reaching Padme's apartment once more, he let himself in. He tried to be as quiet as he could be; for all he knew, she could have fallen back asleep when he left earlier this morning.

She wasn't, however. While she was still in bed, his wife was very much awake.

The senator glanced over in her husband's direction, sending him a smile. "There you are." She was bundled up under the covers, her hands sitting atop of her belly. "You're alright, aren't you?" Padme asked, her smile faltering as she took a good look at her Ani.

"I will be. Once the kids are here. Once everything has calmed down again—"

"Kids?" was all the brunette could utter, her eyes glued onto her husband as he made his way over to their bed again.

"I learned quite a bit when I left here this morning. I—" Anakin paused, laying down on his side of the bed. "I went to meditate and I had these visions. Ones that are corresponding with our every day events."

"Ani… what in the Galaxy are you talking about? Twins? The doctor would have caught that early on."

Not necessarily, though; there has been many an occasion where one twin would be hiding during ultrasounds. Padme knew this. She just didn't want to egg her husband on. She knew that, once he got all shook up about something, there was no stopping him.

"…What corresponding events?" the expectant mother added, turning to face Anakin now.

"The council wants me to keep an eye on Palpatine. They think he's up to something." Seeing his wife beginning to roll her eyes, he held up an index finger, signally that he wasn't done yet. "Padme… I saw him. Just like I saw the twins. He tried to tell me that there were… ways to keep someone from dying. And I believed him. I wanted to save you—"

"You're not making any sense!" Padme replied, perhaps a little too harshly. "What are you saying? Not even the Jedi have the power to keep someone from dying."

"…but Sith do. Or, at least, one did."

"So you're implying that my colleague is a Sith?" the senator sighed, reaching out to take Anakin's human hand. "Perhaps you just need some sleep?" She began to kiss each of his knuckles, not breaking the eye contact that they shared.

"I'm not stupid, Padme," he hissed at her, snatching his hand back. "I know exactly what I saw. And I'm not about to let that happen." Anakin pulled himself upright to sit on the edge of the bed, running a hand through hair once more, completely frustrated.

His wife watched him with saddened eyes, taking precaution with what she said next. "Ani…" she murmured whilst scooting up behind him. Padme rested her head on his back, gingerly running her fingertips along it in an attempt to soothe his worries. If he was right… then they had a bigger problem on their hands than originally thought.

"Why don't you believe me?" He asked, glancing over his shoulder back at her. Anakin could feel her belly pressed against his back. Every time there was any sort of movement in the womb, he could feel it. That alone should have been enough to comfort him. But it didn't. Even her touch didn't help at this point. Not if she didn't trust his judgment.

"I'm not saying that I don't believe you," she whispered. "I just prefer to look at it from a logical standpoint."

"Politician thing?" the Jedi ran a hand across his tired face, his voice muffled against it.

"Precisely."

Anakin spun around, taking his wife into his arms. As they leaned back onto the bed, he didn't dare to let her go. "All I want is to keep you and these babies safe," he murmured into her hair, dropping a small kiss on her cheek.

"I have no doubts that you will. Everything will be okay. We will go to Naboo and raise our family, just like we always wanted to." Padme snuggled into his chest once more, breathing in his scent. It kept her calm. Grounded.

He wanted to believe her. He really did. But as long as Palpatine was still around, Anakin would always be wary. For now, all he could do was hold onto his wife and pretend like nothing was wrong.

Alright, so I wanted to post this whole thing as a one-shot but I'm far too nervous to make it to the second part without some sort of feedback! Was it good, bad? Any pointers/ general comments would be lovely! Once I'm satisfied with the reviews I am getting, I will gather the gunction to continue.

Happy New Years!