(I'll apologise now but, play the song ^ unsteady by X ambassador)
(Y/n)'s pov
Something's wrong, we're missing a vital piece of information, something staring us all right in the face and yet we're still blind. I can feel it, the tension built, something's about to happen...
"Everyone down!" Master Kenobi suddenly shouted and in response I felt Anakins muscles tense round mess he pulled me down under him, shielding me with his torso. My breath hitched in my throat and my heart beat loudly as I felt a rumbling of vibrations throughout the floor. And there it was, the crescendo. Smoke and dust drifted around, lit by embers of a dying flame. When my eyes opened I couldn't hear anything but a ringing...but I could still see. See Ahsoka stood there just like in the vision my mother showed me...her face not visible but I could see her hand drop, her communicator topple down to the ash below.
That's when I understood...
'Au'ta morre.'
Those words...she was apologising for the loss she knew I was going to suffer.
"Ari..!" I screamed as my heart shredded itself in grief, still clinging to a hope that maybe she'd appear from the smoke. Scrambling through the dirt and tried to run back towards the facility that burned before me. Fighting Anakins arms as they wrapped round my torso I kicked my legs out with tears in my eyes and tried to break free, wanting to run through the flames and bring her back.
"Ari..." I cried the word now broken by a sob that shook my lungs and caused my throat to tighten. Tears pricked my eyes as I continued to stare up at those blazing flames and weakly fought against my fiancé's hold. I moved my hands down over his I tried to pull his away finger by finger but he just tightened hold in a gentle manner and pulled me closer into his chest while whispering something to try and calm me. But I couldn't hear him, my heart was crying out and my mind was to stunned to do anything to sooth it.
"We need to go now." I was only just able to hear my master speak up in a grave tone, the clubs of sound kind of spacecraft engine coming down behind us as she did so. Still my eyes remained glued ahead, lips trembling and parted as I struggled to breath. Ahead of me I watched as the clones ran by and Obi wan walked over to Ahsoka, I saw how he wrapped an arm round her shoulder and she turned to bury her face in the mans tunic. Another cramp of pain hit me hard but it was downed out by my heartache.
"(Y/n) we need to get you out of here, come on love please...there's nothing we can do now." Anakin spoke sadly while looking down from over my shoulder, his arms still wrapped round my waist. I however I shook my head and proceeded to once again try and pull away from him towards the burning building.
"N-no...I, I won't leave her, I'm her master, in meant to keep her safe." I mumbled while reaching out as though if I stretched my fingers far enough forward I'd be able to pull her free from the rubble. But I could feel in the force her presence was gone, not a life sign to be noted...I'd lost my little beacon of light and innocence. Again Anakins hold had tightened slightly around my waist and he'd begun to gently pull me back towards where I could here some form of ship waiting.
"Angel there's nothing we can do, I'm sorry she's already gone," Anakin responded leaning forward to place a kiss to my temple. At his words I felt myself crumple into despair: my hormones, adenosine and grief all mixing to form a blinding hysteria, tears flooding from my eyes as I fell completely into Anakins hold and cried out from the pain increasing through my abdomen. There wasn't even time to let the situation sink in fully since my baby had chosen now as it's time to arrive. "Angel I'm sorry I really am but we need to get you to a medical station." Anakin proceed to add and though delirious I could hear the sparks of panic in his voice. That just reminded me of those nightmares, yet another thing for me to be anxious about. I could be about to die here...and yet in my grief I really didn't care.
"Skywalker!" I heard my master yell from the ship presumably because we were the last to board. Anakin looked down as I looked up and as our eyes met I gave a sad nod. Moments later he swept me up into his arms bridal style and turned to carry me up the ramp as that cramping in my stomach struck her again. As the doors were closing I took one last look out at the rubble, out and ruins were a piece of my heart would forever lie...
'How could this happen...'
Third person pov
"How could this happen - we had her in our grasp! I thought you said she'd die on that base?" The bloodied and bruised form of Daramar Starfallen shouted in frustration with furrowed brow while swipe the nearest tray of medical supplies to the floor with a crash. Clearly the man had lost control of his temper at this mission failure, unknowing of how he would report this news to his master. Meanwhile the woman who work under alias upon alias stood in the corner with her arms folded utterly motionless. She had been this way ever since collecting the man from where he was thrown by the explosion precisely as she had foreseen. However at his words the vein on her forehead became more prominent and her jaw clenched.
"...tell me you at least administered a fatale dose of the drug I provided you." She muttered quietly without opening her eyes, a growl to her words like she already knew the answer...which she did.
"I had it ready but then I sensed that little brat and stopped to go seek revenge so-
"You absolute fool!" The woman suddenly yelled before he could say another word, spinning on the balls of her feet and glaring ice cold daggers directly into his soul. "That poison was specifically designed to kill her but not the baby! Now all she'll suffer is a mild fever!" The woman proceeded to yell in a manner far more furious than she'd shown since confronted by her former master Karina. Electricity practically crackled through the air between the two force users upon that small craft, it was a notice nothing had yet broken.
"Whoa whoa I didn't make the mistake here you did! You told me that we'd have what we came for before the Jedi turned up - it was your vision that failed us here not my actions!" Daramar replied narrowing his as as he paced two steps forward towards the woman with her head bow in her hands and eyes closed. The man evidently could not see the danger he was currently in but soon came to realise as a pressure round his throat pushed him back against the wall. As he choked the woman opened her eyes with a severe look to the blue hue.
"...you're mistaken, everything went exactly as i foresaw," She replied in a far lower and more grace tone as she continued to apply pressure to his throat through the force. Something similar to a sadistic look was growing in the young woman's eyes, electricity cracklings around her finger tips as her features distorted into a crazed expression. "I saw that the Jedi would arrive earlier and saw that the child would best you long enough for them to escape, I saw the you would fail me and I saw they would get away - don't you get it Daramar?! I know everything that is to happen! I knew who would win this war before it had even begun! The entirety of my life is set out before me and apparently I can't do a damm thing to change it!," she exclaimed while marching towards his incapacitated form until they were mere inches apart. "...You asked me once for my name do you remember? Perhaps if I tell you your moron mind will finally come to understand my game," She added leaning in closer, gripping his wrist and pulling down as he struggled to break free. "I am Hiraeth Palpatine, do you see now? I needed you for information on my father nothing more." She spoke coldly with a sick smirk. Her hands then released him and she turned to walk in the opposite direction.
"You're his daughter..? Then why don't you fight by his side?" Daramar choked out in concussion while reaching up to nurse his bruised throat.
"Personal business my dear sweet idiot, and not something you shall have to concern yourself with any longer." The woman now known to be named not only Hiraeth but a Pqlpatine no less spoke without turning. However she did give a flick of her fingers, a flick that resulted in the ignition of a blade, a blade whom had been turned to impale it's owner. Hiraeth did not turn as she heard the mans body drop, she'd dreamt of the day she'd finally cut him loose yet note it held a bitter taste due to her discovery.
Fate could not be changed, what will happen must happen...just as she had seen.
(Y/n)'s pov
"Sweetheart, you need to push, I know it hurts but I'm right here with you," I heard Anakin saying as I gripped tightly to his hand, tears running down from my eyes as I cried out in agony. There was sweat on my brow and the bright lights made it near impossible to see anything other than Anakins dazzling blue eyes. Inside my heart was still in agony, the world spinning around me as my mind tried to catch up with what was going on.
"Honey take a deep breath, you need to try and focus right now, just breath and try to relax, can you do that for me love?" Anakin asked lovingly while reaching across and caressing my cheek as he made sure to remain in my line of sight. I whimpered and closed my eyes while turning my head to be closer to him. At least he was here with feared, I'd feared Anakin wouldn't be around when the baby arrived, but here he was, quite literally holding my hand through it all.
"I...I can do that..." I whispered back while looking up to meet his eyes, becoming lost in the beautiful ice lake colour as I tried to steady my breathing. Closing my eyes I inhaled a deep breath and tried not to let it falter and my body trembling in pain.
"Alright Angel, now get ready to push, squeeze my hand as hard as you like sweetheart." He added while brushing my hair back from my brow, keeping his gaze down on my eyes as I gripped at his flesh hand tightly. I nodded while biting at my lip and squeezed his hand tighter before taking a deep breath and going to push. Soon however biting my lip wasn't enough, my eyes screwed shut and I cried out in agony. As I did so Anakin leant down and caressing my face with his free hand and placed little butterfly kiss along my cheek and jaw, whispering sweet supportive words all the while.
A few minutes must've passed before I started to see black spots appearing in my vision even despite trying to keep my eyes on Anakins. But my eyelids were getting so heavy, I was getting so tired, my fever had picked up and my head aches tremendously. I was growing short of breath and starting to feel woozy. In the background I could hear the bleeping of a monitor pick up somewhere around me in a way that didn't sound good.
"What's happening, (y/n)? (Y/n) can you hear me?" I heard Anakin saying sounding fairly panicked, able to feel as his hand moved to grip mine instead of the other way round. There was some rushed sounds around me as I felt the world spin until my eyes had finally closed. My hand fell limp in his as I let out a long tired breath, the shrill beep of one of the machines the last thing I heard before passing out completely.
Was I dying...?
Was this it...?
Maybe it was...
Maybe all Anakins nightmares had been true and there truly was no hope for us having a happy future. I'm not even sure right now how the future could be happy after how I'd failed to protect my padawan. She was so young, so sweet and kind, what about her happy future..?
As I was accepting this may be my fate a light appeared before me, a beautiful warm white light I knew I recognised in my heart. Mother's light, the glow she held in life and now it seemed in death to.
'My child, I am sorry...but rest assured it is not your time to die.'
Her voice spoke as the soft blue ghost of her form appeared from the light. I kept my head lowered as she approached from the inviting warm light.
'...You knew didn't you...you knew she was going to die.'
I spoke quietly in response referring to Ari's death. Everything she'd said led to that conclusion...she knew my padawan was going to die and yet she didn't let me try to save her.
'I'm sorry my child, but this was necessary for the future.'
She replied causing my heart to clench as I looked up sharply.
'Necessary? Ari was a little girl mother, she played around like any other child should, she had her whole life ahead of her, and you just let her die, telling me it's 'necessary'.'
I replied in anguish feeling my heart ache more than ever. My mother shook her head lightly with a sad look causing wisps of bluish light to float around her head like a pale mist.
'...Ari Shimara knew what was to come, this was her decision (y/n), she did this to protect you.'
Karina replied causing me to grow a little confused. I knew my padawan was protective but this? This was to far...
'Why would she do that..?'
I whispered hanging my head slightly in guilt.
'...because she's you're little sister...or in a way she is at least.'
My mother replied her words completely baffling me as I looked back up to meet her pale eyes.
'She was my...my sister? '
I replied in shock as the ghost of my mother stepped away and turned back towards the light.
"...someday (y/n), you will come to see how important you truly are, but not now." She replied walking back towards the brightening light, fading into the soft glow as she slipped back away beyond my reach, leaving me alone and stunned. She never did seem to answer all my questions...
Getting up I noticed how the light was beginning to fade and this turned my back to it. I was searching for a way out, a way back to Anakin and the security of his embrace. But as I turned I saw something I didn't expect to, I saw her. It was just for a moment, just a few brief seconds of eye contact...seconds that I'd no doubt grease for the years to come. The blue of her eyes glowed in the darkness and I'll never forget how she smiled so softly before fading away.
She will always have a place in my heart...
Anakins pov
"What the hell's going on in there? It's been nearly an hour already!" I exclaimed a little louder than I meant to but I wasn't really in and mindset to care. Forty five minutes ago the medical droid rushed me out the room just as (y/n) was beginning to weaken. She looked just like she did in my nightmares, the way her hand fell limp in mine, it was identical to those dammed dreams. If it hadn't been for Obi wan pulling me aside I swear I would've lost it right then and there.
"Anakin calm yourself, Acaina has the best medical station in the republic, she'll be alright." Obi wan replied while getting up from his seat and walking over to place a hand up one my shoulder like he always would when I was nervous. I raised my and threaded my fingers through my hair and tugged, gritting my teeth to try and calm down just a little. I was going crazy, not seeing her right now was torture, not knowing wether she was safe or slowly slipping away.
"I can't do this master, I'm not even sure I'm ready to be a father any more, and if I loose (y/n), that's it, I'm done." I replied referring to basically everything, if (y/n) died I doubted I'd do anything again. Fight, smile, feel joy, those were just a few of the things I'd never do again if she died. (Y/n) is the light of my life, she's everything to me...my Angel.
"Have faith in yourself Anakin, I'm sure this baby will be blessed to have the pair of you as parents, and it will be the pair of you." Obi wan assured me while rubbing his palm against my shoulder in a supportive manner. I felt like crying, I'd cried so much already today though I'm not sure there were any tears left in me. This had been one of the most stressful and heart wrenching twenty four hours of my life, I'd been tortured, watched the woman of my dreams suffer, lost a kid who'd saved my neck countless times and now my future wife may be dying and I wasn't even allowed in the same room to help.
"Obi wan I..." I trailed off feeling my throat clench up as tears filled up in my eyes. Turning round I clung to my mentors robes and hurried my face down against his shoulder as I began to cry. Just like when I was a child Obi wan wrapped his arms round me and held me in comfort, rubbing my shoulders as I let out my pain.
"It's alright Anakin, just let it all out..." he spoke in a gentle tone while continuing to hold me. It was the second best thing for me right now in the absence of (y/n), he was the only other person alive who could provide me the security I was looking for.
Today had been rough on everyone it seemed, walking out the medical room earlier I'd seen Ahsoka sat curled up on the floor crying, hugging at her knees with a broken look. Even the clones seemed quieter than usual, no jokes or jesting passing around then only normal formalities. They missed their commander and Ahsoka missed her friend, it was all completely understandable. The whole atmosphere felt unusually quiet without her around.
"General Skywalker, General Kenobi, we're ready for you to come through." The voice of master Acaina himself spoke calmly from the doorway causing me to swiftly pull back and quickly wipe my tears on my sleeve. We couldn't have other members of the order know about all this thus it was kept in a tight circle, that's why Nial Acaina had come down instead another of the doctors. As I looked to him I took a couple of hurried steps forward eager to get moving. Actually I didn't even respond, the second he stepped aside from the doorway I rushed out straight down the hall to her room, burying through the door and feeling my heart settle as I saw her lying there merely sleeping but most definitely alive and well. Walking over i took slow steps, mesmerised by how beautiful she managed to look even as she slept. Even hooked up to medical equipment with seat on her brow she was still stunning. My beautiful Angel.
"Anakin." I heard Obi wan whisper as I gently lay my hand down atop her and smile for the first time in a long while. Glancing back over my shoulder I saw him stood over by a little box like crib. My heart fluttered and I looked back up to Obi wan, watching as he smiled softly and gestured a hand towards the little bed. Hesitantly I took a couple of steps forward, slowly moving over to the crib until I could finally see inside. My heart nearly stopped as I caught sight of the little baby wrapped up in soft white blankets. Tears ran down from my eyes as I stood there in utter awe.
"...she, she's beautiful." I whispered utterly stunned by the sight of my little baby girl...feeling her presence in the force as she slept there right before me.
"Congratulations my friend," Obj wan spoke up from behind me giving my shoulder a par as I caught him giving a proud smile. I nodded as words remained lost to me and I just stared down at the sleeping face of my child. Though she wasn't asleep much longer, moments later there was a whimpering sound and then crying, her eyes opening as she began to wriggle. Obi wan chuckled from beside me and took a step away. "I'll leave you two to get acquainted, have fun." He hummed before heading away and exiting the room. Smiling to myself I nodded and slowly reached down, feeling incredibly nervous as I moved my hands to pick up the tiny little baby just like Padmè had taught me some time ago. The moment I brought her up against my chest she stopped crying, her bright blue eyes staring directly up to meet mine as though she already knew who I was. She was so beautiful, just like her mother.
"...Anakin?" I heard my Angels voice whisper from the bed behind me. Turning round I smiled towards her and began to walk back over with the little baby still secure in my arms. Sitting at (y/n)'s bedside and leant forward and gently kissed her cheek.
"I missed you Angel," I spoke quietly so as not to startle the baby. My eyes shifted back down to our incredibly crush's little girl and I noticed how she was now looking towards her mother with a sense of intrigue. "I think someone would like to meet you." I chuckled looking back up to meet the eyes of my beautiful darling future wife and love of my life. She smiled and sat up slightly, pulling her arms round as I gently offered her the little bundle of blankets that held our little girl. A freak of joy left my eye once again as I looked on at the two people dearest to me in this entire galaxy, heart skipping server beats as I longed to just stayed in the moments forever, sharing as she smiled and let the baby wrap it's tiny fingers round her pinky.
"She's beautiful..." (y/n) whispered in awe just as I had done, tears spilling from her sore eyes down her cheeks as she gazed dow at our child.
"Of course she is, she has you for a mother Angel." I replied meaning every word as I reached forward to tuck a strand of her hair back behind her ear. She gave a quick quiet laugh and lightly shook her head.
"And you for a father let's not forget." She replied causing me to grin. I have the best fiancé in the entire expanse of the galaxy.
"Well played," I chuckled shuffling closer so I could kiss her temple and wrap and arm around her shoulders. Then with my head leant to her side I cast my eyes back down to our baby, my smile softening as I looked down into those bright and curious blue eyes. "...what do you think we should call her?" I asked having no names in mind other than my little Princess, which she would surely grow to become. This girl was going to be spoilt rotten I swear.
"...I have one in mind."
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Long chapter today with lots of key points, please do give a vote if you enjoyed!
So any baby name predictions or suggestions? Or really any predictions in general? I'd love to hear what you think 💕