10 Years Later

Anakin walked back to his home, which he purchased almost 4 years ago.

A lot had changed in his life ever since he had started this life. The Jedi for instance. He still used the Jedi arts in some ways, but the Jedi in all were a distant memory. He missed Obi Wan, but he didn't think about it much.

His job had paid off well. It took him a while, but he finally had enough to afford his own home. Sola, had forced him to let her help set it up, and he was quick to learn that in instances such as that it is more wise to just stand down.

Then there was his twins. His two beautiful children who had turned ten years old last month. Luke, was turning into a very fine looking young man with a patient and kind nature. Leia was as gorgeous as any star. However, she was quite a rascal. She loved most of the things Anakin loved such as podracing, tinkering, and had a knack for getting into some kind of mischief. However, Luke helped make sure she didn't get into too much mischief. Both the twins shared a close bond, Anakin thought it was precious. He himself shared a very close bond with both of his children. They were always willing to help him, and they were better at sharing there feelings than he was. For that he was grateful. They always came to him if they needed anything. He hoped they knew how much he loved them, and he hoped they loved him just much.

Anakin arrived at his home. The twins would probably be inside from school by now. They always got home before he did from work, not too long though. About half an hour. It gave them time to start on any homework they had. He began to descend the steps growing even more happy to see his kids. He opened up the door, and walked inside. He took a moment to look at the recent pictures taken of the twins. He always kept them on the stand by the front door. Of course he kept his favorite pictures with him. "Hey guys! I'm home!"

Leia was at the table doing her homework when he dad called out. She dropped everything and ran toward the front of the house.

Anakin saw his little girl running toward him as she always did. He instinctively opened his arms to her and let her jump in. Leia was a very tall girl, she could stand up to about halfway up hid chest. Luke often pretended to be annoyed because of his shortness. Anakin knew he didn't't mean it though.

Leia held her dad tight. It was a habbit she got into. It was one of her ways of telling him she loved him. "Got any homework?" Leia let go of him and rolled her eyes. "You bet I do!" Leia began walking back to her homework. "And my math is driving me crazy!" She huffed as she sat down at the table. "Want me to help you?" He asked. "Could you please?" Leia always appreciated her father's help when homework was bothering her.

Anakin pulled a chair out from the table and sat next to her. "Just tell me what it is your having trouble with."

Luke headed down the stairs to the first floor of the house. He had managed to find a dictionary for his English homework. As soon as he reached the floor he was looking for his dad. He spotted him helping Leia with her math. "Hey Dad!" He called out. His dad turned around to smile at him. "Hey Buddy!" Luke walked into his arms and gave him a brief hug. "Day good?" His dad asked. "Yes sir!" "Good!" Luke sat down and then went back to his English. "Anything you need help with?" His dad offered. "I might. I'm not positive though." "Well if you do just let me know."

Anakin just finished brushing his teeth, and was now going to make sure everyone else was getting ready for bed. Since Luke's room was closest to his he went to check on him first. He saw Luke propped up, and reading. "Ok Buddy! I know your enjoying it, but it's time for bed." He He heard Luke groan. Anakin stepped forward and then took the book from Luke's hand and placed it back on the shelf. Then he turned back around and helped Luke under his covers. After he had Luke all tucked in, Anakin pulled Luke in for a gentle hug. Then he shifted his head and kissed Luke's blonde hair. "Goodnight Dad!" He heard Luke tell him."Goodnight Luke!" He released the hug and then switched off his lamp. Just as he reached the door he turned around to face Luke pence more. "I love you!" Anakin whispered. "I love you too!" His son whispered back. He gently smiled at his son and then shut his door.

Next he went to go check on Leia. He could hear the sound of her holoveiwer on. He chuckled. For her birthday he had gotten her a new video game, and she really liked it seemed. Anakin walked into her room. Leia was sitting in her reclined chair focusing on the screen of her viewer, her fingers manipulating the controls if her game console. "Hey sweetie!" He called to her. "Hey Daddy!" She answered, but she kept her eyes on the screen. "Alright, let's put the game down, it's time for bed." He walked to the viewer and turned it off. Anakin was nice enough to install an automatic pause on the player if the viewer was turned off. "Awww!" Leia complained, as she threw her head back. "Come on, please! It's the weekend."Leia was a good complainer, but he was having none of it. "Nope!" He went to her chair and picked her up. "I don't want you getting into a habit of staying up late. You'd just be dead on your feet every day. Besides I know your tired." He explained as he carried her over to her bed. "No I'm-(yawn)- not." Her eyes dropped as her father's warmth seeped through her right to the bone. Anakin just chuckled as he reached her bed, and holding her with one arm pulled back the covers and placed her down. Leia cuddled up against her pillows as her father tucked her in, and then turned out her lamp. Anakin leaned down and kissed Leia' s brow. "I love you angel!" He told her. "I love you too, Daddy!" She reached up and hugged him to her by his neck. Anakin rubbed her back and then kissed her hair. Then he gently tucked her back in again. He kept his eyes on her as he shut the door to her room, just to make sure she was good.

Finally he retreated to his room. Shutting his door he began to shrug out of his sleep top. He placed the shirt on the edge of his bed and and then climbed in.

Before he turned out his lamp Anakin took the time to look at the photos on his nightstand. One of them was when the twins were still babies. He was sitting on the couch with both of them in his arms. Another was of his nieces playing around with them. Then the rest were his favorite picks of when they had gone on trips.

Anakin felt soft tears brew his eyes. Time had passed on fast for him. It seemed like the twins were babies begging for his attention the day before. Now they were on their way to independence.

Anakin smiled once more at the photos, and then turned out his lamp. He rolled onto his back, and slowly drifted into his sleep.

Late night over the Skywalker home saw a wild lightning storm roaring.

Leia cuddled against her stuffed tusk cat animal. She still liked to sleep with a comfort item, just to be cozy. She watched as a lightning bolt struck out again. The thunder that followed just lured her even more from sleep.

Even though she was a little older rain storms like this still bothered her. Her Dad had told her before when she was a baby they really bothered her. Leia thought she would grow out of it, but they bothered her just the same. Often when she was younger she would climb out of her bed, and just go lay down with Luke or her dad. She went to her dad more often than Luke just because she liked being with him during storms, but from time to time she went in with Luke.

Leia tried to fall asleep for another while, hoping that the rain would just pass on. But it only came down harder. Giving up, she climbed out of bed. Very carefully she walked out of her own room and peered into Luke's. She grimaced at the sight before her.

Luke was on his stomach with his headphones on while he slept. She could hear his music all of the way over here.

Seeing ad though Luke was just too cozy she shut his door back and went to her dad's double doors. She peered in them and laid eyes on him.

Her Dad was on his back his hand under his head turned toward her, and his other hand held his covers up to his chest. Leia tiptoed into the room, and gently shut the door. She crept up to her dad's bed, until she was right beside him. "Daddy?" She whispered. He stayed asleep. "Daddy." She persisted a little louder. That got him to stir, but she placed her hand on his arm to try and wake him. Her cold hand against his warm skin manager to wake him from his sleep.

Anakin opened his eyes and settled o the frazzled form of his daughter. "Leia?" Anakin sat up in his bed incase she wanted to jump into his arms. "Sweetheart what's the matter?" He asked her. "I can't sleep." Was her reply. Oh, he knew what was wrong. "The storm?" She nodded. "Can I lay with you?" She whispered. He smiled gently at her, and then moved over so she could climb in beside him. Leia smiled and rustled her way under the comforter. As soon as she was under she snuggled up against his chest and she felt his arms go around her. "I love you Daddy!" He leaned his head down and kissed between her eyes. "I love you too sweety!"

Despite being with her dad, Leia felt wide awake and felt the need to tire herself out. "I thought they wouldn't bother me as much as they do now that I'm a little older. She mentioned. Her Dad rubbed her back a little and then readjusted his hold on her. "Everyone moves at their own pace. Besides it's ok to be a little scared, as long as you don't let it overtake you."

Anakin hoped that he could teach his children not to struggle with fear the sane way he did. He couldn't bear to see them so stricken and afraid to go for help,like he was just before they were born. Anakin probably would tell them about that one day, but until he was sure they would understand he kept quiet about it.

Leia finally felt tiredness begin to overtake her. The warmth of her Dad's body made her as comfortable as she could ever feel. She cuddled against him some more. Just when she was about to fall asleep, her Dad's door screened open again. She turned to see Luke standing there, looking a little uneasy. "Hey Buddy! What's the matter?" Luke walked into the room. Leia could see he was clearly uncomfortable about something. "Can I come in with you guys?" It hit Leia then. He wanted to cuddle up with Daddy as well, but he felt like he was being a frady cat if he did. "Come on over here to my other side." Luke shut the door behind him and then made a beeline for the bed.

Anakin opened his arm to wrap around his son as soon as he was under the covers with him. Luke cuddled up against him like he used to when he was a toddler.

Leia get instantly guilty. It must have been her that woke him up, and she knew how much Luke was trying to be independent, and not rely on Dad so much any more. She knew it made him feel awkward reaching out to Dad. But at the same time he knee he enjoyed being close to Dad.

As soon as Anakin has Luke settled down by ruffled his son's hair and cradled Luke's head to his chest."I love you Luke!" Anakin whispered affectionately. "I love you too Dad!" Anakin glanced over at Leia. She was having a really hard time keeping her eyes open, and she was settled right on top of his chest, like her mother would sleep sometimes. He smiled gently at her her and have her a kiss on top of her hair. Then he turned his head toward his son and kissed the top of his hair as well. Finally he let his head fall back on his pillow, and shut his eyes fall shut as he fell asleep holding his children.

The next morning he was awoken by the rumbling of more thunder. Leia was in the same position as she had been the night before. That was typical, like her mother she didn't move much in her sleep. Luke had shifted onto his back, and was snoring softy. Anakin chuckled at the sight.

Gently strangling himself from his children, he ventured o the kitchen to brew his morning caff. With his day off he wondered what he and the twins would do.

His computer console chirped, signaling that a message was just recieved. With renewed enthusiasm, he made a dash to the console and opened the new message. It was a reply to the question on Padmé's status that he had sent. Yet it was the same reply he had gotten before, no change. Sighing, he turned the console off and sipped at his caff.

Ten years. Ten years and no change. Anakin wasn't sure how much more he could take. He missed his wife, her voice, her touch, her love. Nothing could substitute what she had.

The twins were really missing her too. Luke was starting to become especially curious about her, and Leia was approaching the point in her life where she needed her mother.

They all wanted, and needed for her to wake up. Anakin wanted his wife back, and the twins wanted to finally meet their mother.