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Astrid's mind felt heavy, as if it was blanketed by a dense fog that refused to diffuse. Her eyelids were heavy, too, and although she found herself frequently drifting in and out of consciousness-- sometimes in pain, other times in blissful serenity-- never once did her eyes open. She had enough clarity of thought to realize drowsily that she was stuck in an induced coma to help her body heal.
She was frequently aware of a person sitting beside her, sometimes holding her hand, other times keeping their distance as if hesitant. Astrid knew instinctively that this person was Anakin. Periodically, Anakin's presence would be replaced by Ahsoka or Obi-Wan coming to check on her, but mostly Anakin stayed by her side.
One night as Astrid drifted between consciousness, head just barely above the water of dreamless sleep, she heard hushed voices coming from somewhere to the right of her-- Anakin and Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan was saying, "Luke and Leia prefer to sleep together in one crib rather than in their own separate cribs. I think it's a twin thing."
Anakin laughed softly, and a moment later Astrid heard a cheerful bubble of baby's laughter. "They're perfect," Anakin said quietly as if to himself.
"Why I suppose you would say that," Obi-Wan remarked dryly. "But they're quite noisy, fussy little ones, especially that Luke. I've lost countless nights of sleep."
Suddenly, one of the twins began to cry, and the baby's sound of distress was enough for Astrid to emerge from her dreamless slumber. It felt as if her eyelids were covered in sticky molasses as she pried her eyes open. Astrid shifted her legs, and the movement was met with a dull throb of pain that was tolerable enough. Nevertheless, a low grunt escaped Astrid.
Anakin was beside her bed in an instant.
He grasped one of her hands in his as he said softly, "You're awake. Don't try to move too much, Astrid. You're still healing." He felt her forehead with the back of his hand as if checking for a fever before his eyes dipped back down to her face. "How are you feeling?"
"Tired," Astrid murmured. "But I don't want to sleep anymore. I want--"
She trailed off as she tried to sit up, and when a small grimace involuntarily crossed her face, Anakin gently pushed her back down as he suggested quietly, "You should stay lying down. I don't think you're ready to stand yet."
Astrid looked up at him, and she found herself caught in his mesmerizing blue eyes as their eyes met. Her breath hitched as it always seemed to do when she was near him, especially since it had been so long since she'd actually been with him.
The abrupt sound of a baby's cry brought them both of the trance they'd locked themselves in, and Astrid quickly looked over to where the cribs were located. She saw that Obi-Wan was no longer in the room. She frowned.
As if guessing her thoughts, Anakin told her, "He went to get some more medical supplies when he saw that you had awoken." One of the twins gave another wail, and Astrid immediately started to sit up again, her motherly instincts kicking in at the sound.
But Anakin stopped her yet again with a hand on her shoulder and told her softly, "Don't try to sit up. I'll bring them here to you."
He rose to his feet and headed towards the cribs. Astrid let out a long breath as she moved the pillows behind her to prop herself up. When she twisted back to face forward again, Anakin was crouching down beside her, and tucked within the crook of each of his arms were Leia and Luke.
Leia was fast asleep, her soft face set in a demure expression, while Luke was wide awake, nose scrunched up as he fussed in Anakin's arms. Astrid couldn't help the smile that overtook her face as she reached for Luke, who seemed to require more of her attention at the moment.
Astrid cradled Luke in her arms as she peered down at him with a smile. Luke immediately quieted as he gazed up at her with wide, unblinking blue eyes. A smile began to blossom on his pudgy face as he reached towards Astrid with his small hands. Astrid let out a little laugh as Luke grabbed ahold of one of her fingers in his small fist.
Astrid's gaze flicked up to where Anakin now sat on the edge of her bed two feet away, and her smile faded away as she watched Anakin gazing down at Leia in his arms with nothing but adoration in his gaze. Anakin brushed a strand of Leia's dark brown, wispy hair behind her ear as he watched her sleep peacefully in his arms, a soft, fond smile on his face.
He looked up at Astrid then, as if sensing her gaze on him through the Force, and for a moment everything around them disappeared as if they were the only ones in the entire galaxy, caught as they were in each other's gaze.
Slowly, so slowly, Anakin leaned towards her until their lips were but inches from each others, and Astrid's heart hammered in her chest as he hovered there, eyes cast downwards. Their deepening breaths filled the air before Anakin finally captured her lips in his. He kissed her gently, his mouth moving against hers in a slow manner, and Astrid sank into him. If not for Luke in her arms, she would have twined her fingers through his bronze hair.
When they finally broke apart for breath, Anakin rested his forehead against hers.
"We're a family now," Astrid spoke quietly, not wanting to disturb the tranquility and happiness that had descended on the room. "We can finally live the life we always wanted... together."
Anakin huffed a laugh as he shifted to press a kiss between her brow before dipping his head to press a kiss to her jaw. He murmured against her skin, "And where will this life be? I do hope you don't say a desert planet. I've had enough of desert planets."
This time, Astrid was the one to laugh, and she answered with a smile, "Well, seeing as Tatooine is a no-go and my planet and Alderaan were blown entirely to smithereens--" Her smile faded slightly at this, but didn't vanish entirely "--the only decent planet I can think of is Naboo." She drew away to peer up at his azure eyes as she said with a demure smile, "We can live by a lake or in a meadow, or maybe in the mountains. They have everything on Naboo."
Anakin leaned forward to lean his forehead against hers once more as he answered with a smile, "Whatever the lady desires, she shall receive." But then his smile faded, and he told her quietly, "I am sorry about your home planet and your family, Astrid. I--I tried to protect your family-- the small part of me that had been Anakin Skywalker, that is-- but I know that had been fruitless in the end."
"It's in the past," Astrid murmured, sadness echoing in her chest. She tilted her head till their noses were barely brushing against each others. "Nothing can be done about it now."
She could still sense his guilt and sadness through the Force, so in an effort to reclaim his earlier exuberance and sooth his sorrows, Astrid captured his lips in hers. Her eyes fluttered closed as he deepened the kiss, and she found herself losing herself in his touch. She was drunk with happiness.
Suddenly, someone cleared their throat from the door, and Astrid and Anakin jumped apart, both of them startled because they'd been too enraptured in each other to sense the other person's arrival through the Force.
They looked to the door to find Obi-Wan standing there. He gave them a bemused smile before he walked into the room, and Astrid noticed he was holding what looked to be ointment in his hands.
"I'm glad to see you awake and well," Obi-Wan remarked as he approached her bed, and Astrid's cheeks stained a soft pink.
Anakin gently took Luke from Astrid's arms to place the twins back in their cribs to sleep. Obi-Wan crouched down beside her bed as he told her, "This ointment has medicinal properties that will help heal the bruising in your legs." He handed her the tin. "I'll let you do it."
He glanced over to where Anakin stood watching, leaned against the wall ten feet away, before his gaze returned to Astrid. Obi-Wan gave her a small smile before he rose to his feet and said, "Now, we can all talk and get things straight."
"I'll go get Ahsoka," Anakin spoke up before he slipped out of the room towards the front entrance of the house.
Ahsoka must be doing guard duty outside.
With a slight grimace, Astrid eased herself up into a fully seated position before pushing back the blanket that had been draped over her. The action exposed her legs, and her eyes widened as she beheld the large blue bruises spotting her legs, from her thighs to her calves. Fortunately, a few of the bruises were lined a green and yellow color, meaning they were already healing.
But then Astrid realized she was wearing shorts, and her cheeks stained a deeper pink as she wondered who had been the one to change her out of her trousers. She hoped it had been Anakin or Ahsoka, anybody but Obi-Wan.
At that moment, Astrid noticed movement out of the corner of her eye, and she looked up to find Anakin and Ahsoka entering the room. Ahsoka tugged down the the grey hood of her cloak as she strode into the room, and a relieved smile blossomed across her face at the sight of Astrid awake.
"I'm glad you're well enough to be awake," Ahsoka said in greeting as she approached her bed. "You worried us for a bit."
Astrid only huffed a laugh.
Obi-Wan rose to his feet and crossed his arms as he spoke, "Well, now that everyone is gathered here, I think it's time we made a plan. I've already been informed of the latest events by Anakin and Ahsoka while you were unconscious, Astrid."
Confused, Astrid glanced at Anakin and then Ahsoka briefly before her gaze returned to Obi-Wan. She asked slowly, "A plan... for what? There's nothing left. The Resistance was destroyed by the Empire." Astrid sighed in despondence as she added, "Not to mention our only advantage over the Empire-- which was the Death Star's plans-- was likely destroyed in the bombing of the base."
Obi-Wan and Ahsoka both looked at Anakin, and Astrid's frown deepened. She had the feeling the three of them already had a skeleton of a plan formed, which they'd created while she'd been knocked out.
And their plan seemed to rely heavily on Anakin.
"Tell me what you've already concocted," Astrid deadpanned, unamused at how they'd left her out in their planning. Though, she supposed it couldn't be helped since she had been unconscious.
Anakin cleared his throat before he spoke, "Well, you might not have the Death Star's plans anymore, but you have me, and I know everything."
Astrid's eyes widened, and she asked, "What are you suggesting?"
Anakin waved a flippant hand in the air as he answered, "I know Palpatine is to attend a meeting on the Death Star in a couple of days, most likely to make sure the ship is in running order. I also happen to know the exact layout of the Death Star and all the security codes. We slip in, we kill Palpatine, and then we get out before we blow up the entire thing."
"Blow up the entire thing?" Obi-Wan remarked in bewilderment, his eyebrows flying up. "I don't remember that part of the plan, which only involved killing Palpatine." He gave Anakin a sharp look. "Blowing up the ship is impossible. The Death Star is the size of a moon."
Astrid's gaze fell to the floor as she mulled over Obi-Wan and Anakin's words, something important nagging in the back of her mind. Suddenly, she realized what it was.
"No," Astrid whispered before lifting her gaze to the three assembled Jedi. She raised her voice as she said, "There's a weak point in the Death Star's construction. That's what the plans informed us of." Astrid glanced at Obi-Wan as she said, "The engineer of the ship purposefully engineered a flaw in the Death Star in the form of an exhaust port. If you strike the exhaust port, then you'll hit in the reactor core within the Death Star, and the entire station will explode."
Anakin looked incredulous. "This is the first I am hearing of this," he remarked as he folded his arms over his chest.
Astrid gave him an unamused look as she replied dryly, "Well, of course. The engineer-- Galen Erso-- wouldn't have wanted you and the rest of the Empire to know about what he did." But then her shoulders slumped as she suddenly recalled the one problem with their plan. She waved a hand in the air as she added glumly, "But unfortunately, we don't know where the exhaust port is located on the Death Star."
As if he was eavesdropping, Artoo zipped forward into the middle of the circle Anakin, Ahsoka, and Obi-Wan had formed around the one side of Astrid's bed. Artoo gave an enthusiastic beep before a compartment opened up from within his domed body, revealing a small disc. Astrid started as she recognized the disc as the Death Star's plans.
Somehow, Artoo had managed to keep possession of the plans after Astrid had deposited them inside him for safe keeping when her ship had been infiltrated by Darth Vader. Astrid supposed Mon Mothma had decided to keep the plans within the astromech's domed body after viewing them, herself, since Artoo had proven himself useful for such uses.
"The Death Star plans," Astrid whispered in amazement as she stared at the disc.
"Well, that's why I had suggested we go inside the Death Star," Ahsoka interjected with a proud smile, and Astrid realized Ahsoka had already probably known that Artoo still had the Death Star plans since she had been lightly involved in the mission.
Ahsoka continued, "When we enter the ship to kill Emperor Palpatine, ourselves, we can find the exact exhaust port to strike using the Death Star plans in the control room. It's the only way we can actually view what is inside the plans. Our own starships that we have here on Tatooine don't have the sufficient technology to view the amount of information on the plans. "
Astrid nodded in dawning understanding.
Ashoka continued, "So, the four of us will go into the Death Star and then--"
"No," Anakin immediately interjected, and Ahsoka trailed off in bewilderment and confusion at the adamentation in his voice.
"What's wrong with my plan so far?" Ahsoka demanded as she crossed her arms defensively over her chest. "I'm basically repeating what you had said earlier and adding some clarification!"
Anakin shook his head as he said, face solemn, "I will be the only one going into the Death Star. This is not your duty to fulfill, but mine. I'm the one who allowed the Empire to come into being. Therefore, I should be the one to take the risk."
Astrid and Ahsoka immediately began to protest.
"That's not fair," Astrid argued.
"Are you crazy?" Ahsoka added, brows drawn together in exasperation. "You won't stand a chance by yourself. You need us."
But Anakin wasn't looking at them. Instead, his eyes were on Obi-Wan, the two of them sharing a look of understanding. Astrid's brows dipped into a frown as she looked between the two of them, trying to sense what sort of hidden communication was going on between them.
Obi-Wan shifted his gaze to Ahsoka as he reasoned to her calmly, "Ahsoka, we need someone on the outside to blow up the ship. If the four of us are within the ship, we won't have the time to get out of the ship and blow it up, because by then the Empire will be upon us. We only have time for us to just barely escape before it blows."
Ahsoka gave him a flat look as she deadpanned, "And let me guess; you want me to be the one to blow it up."
Anakin nodded, and Ahsoka huffed incredulously, but didn't try to object further, probably because Obi-Wan had decided to side with Anakin. But that didn't mean Astrid wasn't going to object.
"Well, we only need one person to blow up the ship," Astrid hurriedly reasoned. "So, I'm free to go with you on board the Death Star and help you defeat Palpatine."
This time, Anakin's voice turned even firmer as he immediately objected, "No."
Astrid's mouth thinned as she countered, "Yes, Anakin. You can't do it alone. Palpatine is too powerful--"
"I will not put you in danger!" Anakin argued as he flung out an exasperated hand. "I thought I'd already lost you once before." His voice dipped lower as he finished with finality, "I will not let it happen again."
Astrid scowled as she countered, "And I thought I had lost you once before, too! If you go alone, then I will lose you." But Anakin had already turned away from her in dismissal, refusing to listen. Astrid's voice became tinged with desperation as she reasoned in a fluster, "Anakin-- Anakin, listen to me. You won't survive this if you do this alone. Palpatine-- he's too strong. He will kill you. Please, you have to let me come with you. I can't-- you can't do this!"
Anakin's voice was cold as he said evenly, "Watch me," before he marched out of the room towards the front entrance of the house.
Astrid's hands curled into fists as she clutched the covers draped over her. With a growl of fury, Astrid threw off the covers and, with a wince, shifted her legs over the side of the bed so she was sitting on the edge of the bed. Astrid took a breath before she shoved to her feet.
Suddenly, Ahsoka was right beside her with a supportive arm around her waist as she murmured near her ear, "I've got you."
"I need to speak with Anakin," Astrid gritted out as her legs shook with the effort of standing. "He-- he can't just walk away like that."
"I think you should sit back down--" Obi-Wan began to advise as he took a few steps towards them, but Astrid interrupted him as she growled, "No, I've had enough of sitting down. I need to talk to him."
Astrid shoved away from Ahsoka and took a few stumbling steps forward before Obi-Wan jumped forward and caught her around the waist to steady her. "Astrid, I'm telling you right now. You're not well enough to walk," Obi-Wan reasoned with her in a soothing, gentle voice as Astrid clutched his shirt with a hand to remain upright, hating herself as she did.
"Artoo!" Astrid demanded, and a moment later, the faithful astromech sped forward to stop at her side. "Come with me," Astrid told Artoo. "I need you by my side in case I need to hold onto something for support."
Artoo gave an eager beep in response that brought a faint smile to Astrid's lips. Astrid let go of Obi-Wan's shirt as he cautiously withdrew his arm from around her waist. He eyed her warily as if waiting for her to topple over as she headed towards the entrance with Artoo gliding at her side.
Astrid managed to make it to the entrance without falling or stumbling, but a few times she had to lightly rest a hand on Artoo's domed head for support.
The bright sunlight glared in her face as she stepped outside into the dry air. The twin suns where just beginning to set, casting the sky in vibrant shades of orange and yellow. Astrid closed her eyes as she sensed for Anakin's presence with the Force, and she found him above them at the top of the canyon wall.
Astrid opened her eyes and craned her neck to assess the winding trail she would have to walk up in order to reach the top, which was looking pretty high up-- perhaps too high for her condition. Nevertheless, Astrid began walking up the winding trail, her hand now a constant presence on Artoo's domed head.
When she reached the top of the canyon, her chest was heaving for breath and her legs ached with both fatigue and mild pain. She spotted Anakin standing twenty feet away, back turned towards her as he stared out at the Tatooine landscape and the setting twin suns. The little breath she had was taken away by the sight before her.
The flat expanse of desert stretching out from the canyon was cast in gold from the light of the setting suns. Anakin, himself, was haloed in light, light peaking over his shoulders in glimmering strands of gold. The hint of red in his hair glimmered in the suns, and his skin was cast in a golden tan shade in the light. A gentle wind ruffled his hair and blew his black cloak to the side. In that moment, Anakin reminded Astrid of a phoenix rising from the ashes.
As if sensing her presence through the Force, he spoke without turning to look at her, "If you've come here to reason with me, you won't change my mind, Astrid."
Astrid exhaled sharply in irritation before she took a few shaky steps forward. "Anakin," she began. "Won't you just listen for one moment?"
Anakin turned to look at her, and his black cloak twisted with the movement. Astrid, though, was too focused on her feet to keep from falling to realize he was carefully watching her. Her hand tightened on Artoo's domed head as she relied more and more on the droid to keep her upright. Suddenly, her foot tripped on a rock, and Astrid stumbled, her arms wheeling at her sides to keep her balance.
Anakin was beside her in an instant. His arms wrapped around her waist to provide her support, and Astrid found herself clutched to him. With the setting suns, the temperature was dropping, but she was filled with warmth as he held her against him.
Astrid released a breath as she murmured, "Thanks."
He didn't let go of her, though, as he dipped his head to look at her before saying softly, "Astrid, what are you doing up here anyways? You should be resting. It's apparent you're not strong enough to walk around."
"I needed to talk to you," Astrid protested, brow furrowing. "It's not my fault you decided to come all the way up here." He only looked at her, waiting for her to continue, so Astrid said, "Anakin, we're a team. We've always been a team in every way, ever since we were Padawans. Don't you think we should finish this as a team, too?"
Anakin's eyes were shadowed as he murmured, "I can't stand to lose you, Astrid. Not after I just got you back."
"And I can't stand to lose you either," Astrid whispered as she reached a hand up to brush a thumb across his cheek. "So, we go into the Death Star together, and we either die together or we live together. It's that simple."
Anakin was silent for a moment, his only response a tightening of his arms around her. But then he spoke in a murmur, "But you're still injured, Astrid. You can hardly walk now without support."
"I have two days to get better," Astrid reasoned as she stared up at his mesmerizingly blue eyes. "And with the ointment Obi-Wan just gave me, it will help speed up the healing."
Anakin studied her for a long moment as he carefully weighed her words. Astrid could sense through the Force his unwillingness to let her come with him, but she knew that he was aware she would find a way to tag along even if he said no, just like she had done when he and Obi-Wan had gone to Javin IV to rescue Master Secura without her since she'd been stabbed.
Finally, he spoke softly, "Fine, you can come with, but Obi-Wan is coming, too."
Astrid nodded as relief coursed through her.
Anakin continued quietly as he tugged a strand of hair behind her ear, "But you have to promise me to be careful, and to escape if I say so if it looks as if we might lose to Palpatine. I'll be the one to take the fall."
Astrid's heart broke at the possibility. Even as she settled in her mind that she would never leave him behind, she nodded for his sake. He didn't need to know.
Anakin smiled, his relief plain through the Force, and he bent to kiss her. Astrid's eyes shuttered close as their lips met, and he kissed her gently and slowly, as if savoring this moment, stretching it out to its limits. Astrid twined her arms over his neck as she deepened the kiss, and she opened herself to the Force, allowing her everlasting love for him wash over him through the Force. She was met with a wave of love in return.
As they stood there in each other's arms atop the canyon overlooking Tatooine and the setting suns, Astrid felt a sense of resolution, for they were finally together again, and together, they were unstoppable against the Emperor.
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AHH we're so close to the ending of this book, which I hope will shock you in some way hehe. I hope you're having a great weekend! <3 Thank you for 97k reads!!
--Paradise_Palms