This story is based on the movie "The Parent Trap".

Dedicated to N.H.

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Chapter One.

A/N: In this chapter Anakin is 19 and Padmé is 21.

Anakin paced outside the room, his brows draw down in expectation. He checked his chrono for the eighth time and sighed. Three hours and still nothing! He raked his fingers through his hair and yanked it. What was taking them so long?

//Anakin!//

His head shot to the door when he heard Padmé's voice in his head. Not thinking about it twice he opened the door and rushed to the bedside, looking down at an exhausted Padmé. The healer beside her held two babies in his arms and smiled widely. Anakin's jaw almost fell to the floor in shock.

"Twins?!", he asked in disbelief. The healer looked down and raised his brows.

"It's obvious, isn't it? Congratulations, Master Skywalker: you are the father of twins! A boy and a girl!"

Anakin leaned on a table to support himself. He felt he was going to pass out. This turn of events definitely complicated things! A heavy sigh left his lips and he closed his eyes.

"Holy Sith…", he cursed.

"You could at least pretend to be happy", a voice muttered. Anakin opened his eyes to see Padmé staring tiredly at him. Despite her exhaustion she managed to throw him a hard glance.

"Who says I'm not happy? You are always assuming things!", he complained. Padmé rolled her eyes and supported herself on her hands. "Don't, you have to rest"

"I don't need orders from you", she shot back. With some effort she managed to sit on the bed. Anakin placed some pillows on her back and immediately Padmé shot him another of her deadly looks. Anakin hid his hands in his pockets and stepped back. Padmé's attention turned to the healer, who still had the twins in his arms. "Can I hold them?", she asked hopefully. The healer nodded and handed her the babies. She smiled widely at them and held them tightly, gently placing them at her lap. "Hello", she greeted.

"Can I hold one?", Anakin asked. Padmé shook her head.

"No".

The healer swallowed hard and left the room. Obviously this two needed some privacy.

"I have the right! They are my children too", Anakin argued. Padmé rolled her eyes and sighed. Anakin took the hint and hurriedly reached for one of the babies. As soon as the infant was safe in his arms, he broke in a smile and chuckled. "Wow! They are so small!", he said in awe.

Not taking her eyes off the baby in her arms, Padmé tilted her head and smiled. "Well, they are five minutes old…". Anakin ignored her comment. "Gods, they are so beautiful!", she gasped.

"It's the first time in 11months I agree with you on something", Anakin muttered, allowing a half smile to caress his lips. Padmé brought the baby closer to her and kissed its head.

"How are we going to name them?", she asked. Anakin sat on the bed next to her and didn't seem to notice when her head leaned on his shoulder.

"For a girl I was thinking Depa Billaba, like the Jedi Master", he suggested. Padmé's face cringed.

"Depa Billaba? No daughter of mine will have that name!", she spat out. Anakin frowned.

"Why? You don't like Depa Billaba Skywalker?", he asked.

"Who said they were going to have your last name?"

"They are MY children!", he shot back. Padmé rolled her eyes and unconsciously snuggled closer to him.

"Depa Billaba is out of the question. I was thinking to call her Jobal, like my mother"

"There's no way I'll call my daughter like my mother in law. Jobal is out of the question, too", he protested. Padmé sighed and looked at the little girl in her arms.

"How about… Leia…", she whispered. Anakin pondered on the name for a while. Leia. It was nice.

"I like it. Leia Skywalker. Yeah, it sounds good"

"Give up with the last name issue! She's not having your last name!", she insisted. Anakin looked down at her and clenched his jaw.

"Fine", he muttered. His eyes quickly returned to his baby boy. "I'd like to call him Luke", he announced. Padmé tilted her head and watched the blue-eyed baby in her husband's arms.

"Hmm… I like it", she said. Anakin smiled proudly. "That's the smartest thing you have said in a long time", she added, effectively erasing his smile. "So. What are we going to do with them? If you will live in Courasant and I in Naboo it will be hard for them to keep track with school and friends. I don't want them to be one of those kids that go from parent to parent…"

Anakin frowned and spoke softly. "What are you suggesting?". Padmé held his gaze for a moment until she felt tears pricking her eyes. She cleared her throat and looked at Leia.

"I think we should separate them"

Anakin gasped in shock. She couldn't be serious! Reading his expression, Padmé sighed hopelessly and shook her head.

"There's nothing else to do! They can't spend six months with you then six months with me… They have to go to school! They can't go to two schools every year!", she pressed.

"There has to be another solution!", Anakin argued, though he didn't seem to find one.

"Anakin, it's either separating them or having them with me, which I sincerely think would be the wisest thing"

"Why you? Why can't they both stay with me?"

"Anakin, that's the stupidest thing you have EVER said!", she smiled ironically.

"No, the stupidest thing I have ever said was 'I do' at our wedding…", he corrected under his breath. Clearly offended, Padmé moved away from him and tried to get comfortable.

"It's clear you don't want both of them living with me"

"Well, IF they stay with you… maybe I could visit them", he suggested.

"No. I don't want to see you again", she declined. Anakin looked at his boots trying to hide his pain. "Don't feel sad now. You and I both know that this marriage wouldn't work. We were so young, Anakin… If only we had waited…", she paused and quickly dismissed the thought. "Then it's settled. We will separate them", she concluded. Anakin nodded unwillingly.

"Which one do you want?", he asked. Padmé's eyes fixed on his again.

"Are you actually asking me to chose one of my children?", she questioned sharply.

"You suggested we should separate them in the first place! Stick to your plans for Force's sake!", Anakin snapped.

"I see that you are finally being rational"

"Better late than never…"

After hours of arguing on the subject, Anakin and Padmé came to a decision.  He would keep Luke, she would keep Leia. Padmé thought that it was for the best if she raised a girl and Anakin raised a boy because it was going to be much easier for the children. Padmé couldn't picture Anakin giving Leia 'the talk' about how male and female were different. She smiled softly at the thought. She could just picture Anakin sitting uncomfortably on a chair trying to explain the change from girl to woman.

"What are you smiling about? I don't see any worthy of a smile in this situation", he muttered. Padmé shook her head and looked at him.

"Just go and take him with you. You know how much I hate good-byes".

Anakin nodded and exchanged babies with Padmé so that she could hold Luke and he could hold Leia. For the last time.