Preface

I do not own Star Wars.

This AU differs from Canon as of the encounter in the Chancellor's office, where Anakin makes a different decision, resulting in the Chancellor's demise. Anakin did not fall, but he's not-quite-light. Order 66 did not happen. Life is not perfect, and the Jedi Order has to adjust to the times.

As far as possible the events up to this point remain as they do in Canon, and the characters maintain their opinions, habits and flaws.

'Inexhorable' was written before the most recent Clone Wars movie and series, and so their timeline and events are not as closely woven into the story as other events are.

As Ahsoka does not appear in ROTS, and Anakin can be denied the rank of Master I presume that she must have been killed (or re-assigned) prior to completing her training.

Please enjoy 'Inhexorable'.

One last thing – the first chapter is intended to describe a perspective sentients may have had of the Jedi Order. I hope it is not too laden with Jedi history and trivia.

FRATERNIZATION

'There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no passion, there is serenity.' Four millenia after his death these two tenets of Master Odan Urr's version of the Jedi Code had evolved into the forbidding of all emotional attachment for members of the Order. Potential initiates were taken in infancy, and family bonds were severed once an oath had been given to the order. Affection was discouraged in their training relationships, despite of years of living together one Master with one Learner. Marriage was forbidden, except in the case of endangered species, and even then special dispensation was required from the High Council.

While considered an admirable achievement, celibacy was no more enforced than the recommended dietary or sleeping habits. Jedi were free to have sexual encounters as 'needed' but were forbidden bonding. The Order wanted talented, fully committed members for the difficult, dangerous task of Galactic peace-keeping. Attachments could only hinder a Knight.

Some cultures took a more cynical view. The Order needed a steady supply of new initiates. Though force sensitivity could be inherited, the process was far from reliable, so just breeding the most sensitive individuals was not a practical solution. Celibacy being optional meant there was always the potential of force sensitive offspring turning up where the Jedi had been. On Core and Mid-rim worlds younglings were screened at birth and there were carefully timed recruitment sweeps. In addition there was individual recruitment by Knights while on missions. This way the Order had the pick of the Galaxy's force sensitive offspring without being responsible for those not sensitive enough to be trained. Among the Naboo (and like-minded cultures) the removal from family was viewed as emotionally crippling for the child, and not worth the power and prestige gained, so force-sensitive children were often withheld from the Jedi.

In either view the Jedi were nomadic and bondless. Sentients bedded Jedi at their own risk.

This was the way things were in the days when the 'Son of Suns', the 'Chosen One' prophesied of the Journal of the Whills came to the Order. 'He will bring balance,' was the promise, though what that meant was even more obscure than the text that had prophesied his coming. Tradition had been shoved aside for him to join the Jedi at the overripe age of nine with the emotional scars of slavery and severance from Family firmly attached. Analyzed, it was a decision that could only have been based in fear of or lust for the child's power, though the Council members would have denied it. Grand Master Yoda knew though, and made his disapproval clear. He liked the boy, but fear and lust were never good deciders for any matter, and shameful ones for those who called themselves Guardians of the Galactic Peace. He was outvoted. The boy was admitted and trained.

War came in the boy's late adolescence, and forged him into the most powerful Knight and warrior the order had ever seen. A natural leader, he had good looks, and charisma added to his abilities in the force. To the Galaxy he was Anakin Skywalker, the 'Hero with no fear', and poster boy of the Jedi Order.

Privately, the diplomatic skirmishes that preceded the War had brought him love. It was that forbidden love that sustained him through the fighting, and helped mature him into a man. But now the war was at an end. The Sith had been destroyed by the combined hands of the Chosen One and Master Mace Windu and the Order was rebuilding itself and the Galaxy. Anakin Skywalker was immediately facing another choice, between his place in the Order and the love of his Wife, because his two lives could no longer secretly co-exist with a baby on the way.

Padme had several identities. To the people of Naboo, the Chomell Sector and Galaxy she was known as Amidala, a career politician, a former Princess and Queen and now a Senator. Her stance as a Pacifist lead to assassination attempts against her, leading indirectly to her second identity. Placed under Jedi protection she was reunited with Jedi Knight Obiwan Kenobi and his Padawan Anakin Skywalker. The former was one of the Jedi sent to aid her home planet in during the Trade Federation Invasion years earlier when she was Queen, and the latter, though an untrained child at the time had been highly instrumental in the victory of the Naboo over their invaders. She'd fallen hard for the Padawan assigned as her personal body guard. When she did the unthinkable and married him she legally became Padme Skywalker, though that identity was a closely guarded secret. Her family still knew her as Padme Naberrie, their famous adult daughter, the workaholic with no social life and little time for them. In the last few years she'd taken to spending her limited free time on Naboo at her secluded Varykino Lake Estate. She seemed happier despite the shortened family visits, fuelling their suspicions that their youngest daughter was involved in a clandestine love affair. Her mother and sister thought immediately of Anakin. From the beginning they had surmised that her feelings for him were deeper than she admitted, but they knew nothing of her marriage. Her impending motherhood was going to be a shock for them. When she planned this trip her Husband was to have been at her side. His presence would have left little room for doubt of his intentions. As usual the Jedi Council had other plans, so she was approaching Naboo to face her family alone while Anakin was still on Coruscant, and would likely be there for some time.

The sight of his daughter's skiff was a welcome one for Ruwee Naberrie. They had not seen her in over a year, and with the intrigues of War ongoing he feared for her safety most of the time. She'd promised them that she'd actually be taking some time off now the war was over, and she'd be with them for at least six months. Ruwee went out to meet her, his arms opening as the gangplank of the skiff lowered. A horrible churning began in his stomach as his baby girl descended to meet him. She didn't run into his arms the way she usually would have. Instead she picked up a brisk but careful walk towards his waiting embrace. He closed his arms around her shoulders, but the bulge in her midsection made a full embrace awkward. When they parted there were too many questions in his eyes.

'I'll explain everything Father, just let me get home and off my feet.' Everyone had come to welcome her home. A least she would only have to say it all once. When settled she gave them the summarized version of events from facing execution in the Geonosis Arena, where she had finally admitted her feelings to herself and to Anakin, to their marriage and the difficult years of separation through the War. She told them that she was home for now, and her husband would be joining her soon, having been unavoidably delayed today. When she finished speaking there was a moment's uncomfortable silence.

'The Jedi, Padme? Could you be more foolish?' Ruwee knew he was being harsh, but he was worried and angry.

'We should not be surprised at all,' Jobal responded wearily. 'Padme, they swear an oath to their Order that is akin to the marriage vow. He is a Jedi, and the heart is trained out of them. I hate to say it, but there's an annulment in your future.'

Their words cut her to the core, but she knew they were wrong. 'Think what you wish, my Ani's not like other Jedi. We've been together three years Mom. Wherever the Council sends him, he comes home to me. He was raised by his mother, not the Crèche, and has more heart for others than most Naboo. Do you forget he saved us all, with no thought of reward? His whole life is about love!'

'Padme, we know he's a hero. The question is whether he can give that up and be just your husband.' Sola had hit on the core of all of their anxieties, and hers.

Padme was determined not to doubt her man in front of them. They hadn't been on Coruscant this last month, watching Anakin scurry between his duties as an expectant husband and a Jedi. She told them as much. He'd managed to ensure her meals, naptimes, and checkups, all while being a double agent between the Sith Lord AKA Palpatine and the Jedi High Council. Even while recovering from serious injuries of his own he'd still taken care of her. Ignoring the risk of discovery he'd pretty much stopped sleeping at the temple altogether when he realized how little she slept in his absence.

'That only proves the man a talented deceiver. Until I see his resignation in writing I'll believe he's remaining a Jedi.' Ruwee finally rejoined the conversation.

'Daddy, he would have left the Order years ago if I hadn't insisted he stay,'

'Then, Daughter, why isn't he here today?'

'He wanted to be. He was given a very important assignment at the last minute…'

Ruwee growled. 'There will always be another important assignment. He's their best after all. They'll not give him up without a fight.'

Padme managed a smile. 'The irony is this assignment was precipitated by word of my planned absence from the senate reaching the Jedi High Council. He will be here Mother. I'm sure of it.'

'Padme let's suppose you are right. Why would he give up everything he has worked for to be with you? Have you considered that he may be in trouble and marrying you is a secure way out for him?' Sola opened another front of attack.

'The way I hear it he's pretty unorthodox. Perhaps he's already facing expulsion?' Ruwee rejoined.

Padme's heart gave a lurch in spite of itself. Between the raid on the Tusken Camp, marrying her and summarily executing Dukoo the Jedi Order had many reasons to expel the so-called Chosen One, but they were somehow unaware of these travesties. She wondered how many additional infractions she was ignorant of, perhaps confided to Obiwan or Sidious or no one at all. She could not voice these thoughts to her family. They would never accept him if they knew, and she did not wish to choose between her family and her love. A pang of guilt came with that thought. Essentially it was what Anakin himself was doing for her, but she would not do it for him?

Burying that unpleasant line of thought she smirked at them. Aloud she said 'Security? Anakin's very talented. He could make a living easily as a mechanic, pilot or engineer. That says nothing of his talents as a security officer and enforcer. He survived slavery as a child, and earned enough to buy his freedom (and mine) in one morning's race! He does not need my salary or the perks of Naboo Royalty to survive outside the Order!' Padme felt drained and alone in her parent's living room, and tears began to come. She knew there was another reason they were attacking Anakin.

'He's made you pregnant,' her Grandmother spoke the final dagger gently, but the worried sadness in her voice was unmistakable. 'This cannot be changed. The Jedi will be with us, whether he honors his promise or not.'

Padme began sobbing in earnest.

Ryoo Thule she sighed, and rapped her cane hard against the floor. 'We've all made Padme cry. Is Skywalker any less the father of our Grandchild now?' She hobbled over to Padme's lounge, eased herself down and held her. 'Child, tell your old Mama what you want.'

'I want….(sniffle)…. you to…(sniffle)… be…. Ha….. ha…. happy for me.. eee..!'

When she'd subsided a little, Ryoo continued. 'And what else, Padme?'

She stared at her Grandmother surprised and unsure whether this was the best time to announce her intentions. Loving Ani had gotten her used to force-driven insights, but she'd partly forgotten the wisdom of age and experience. Ryoo was still waiting for her answer, and Padme decided she might as well get it out now. 'I want to get married; a traditional ceremony at the Theed temple with our family and friends to witness our vows on our Anniversary. Mama, how did you know?'

Ryoo laughed. 'If seeing us was all you wanted, you'd have summoned us to Varykino. We will see to it, Child. You'll have your wish.'