A Different Kind of Story
he wanted to become a jedi and free all the slaves. but he became a slave and freed all the jedi.
xxx
Anakin tried. But, nothing really changed. Everyone was still "master" and you had to do what they told and threats hung over you and the possibility that the threats were going to be used.
(or was it his imagination? because—)
The padawan braid fell in his hand.
(nothing happened. and, well, obi-wan wasn't that bad)
And he still wasn't free.
xxx
"We have to tell them."
"Who?"
"Well…everyone. The Queen, the Jedi. My family. Obi-Wan."
"Why?"
"We can't hide this forever, Ani. I mean, what are we going to tell them when I show up one day with a baby in hand? I don't want to lie, and say something that will get us into a bigger mess than we're already in."
"I don't—"
"Don't what? Don't want to? Don't care? What?"
His face crumbles. Padmè slips into his arms. "I'm sorry, Ani. I didn't mean to sound so offensive. It's just…I want a life for our baby. A real life."
He doesn't answer. So they climb into bed, and when Padmè is almost asleep, with dreams at the forefront, Anakin speaks.
"I do too." A pause. "I'll tell Obi-Wan and the Council tomorrow."
xxx
"Master? Do you ever feel so…trapped?"
"Trapped? How?"
Obi-Wan is scrutinizing him more so than normal, and Anakin's almost too nervous to speak, but he wants to know if he's the only one. "Trapped. Like, there's nowhere else to go. Like, you have to do what you're told, and there's no other option."
Obi-Wan shrugs. "I suppose. Especially when there's mission after mission after mission."
Anakin knows there's more. He waits.
"And sometimes, I wish I could see the stars more."
Anakin slowly nods (but, that wasn't the "more" he was waiting for) "Yeah. Me too."
(Anakin doesn't tell Obi-Wan that he was told that jedi don't feel trapped because, then, Obi-Wan might take his words back)
xxx
"Obi-Wan, I…I have to tell you something."
xxx
"Skywalker, what are you doing?"
"I think…I think I'm saving you."
xxx
Whenever Anakin stands in the middle of the chambers, he feels awfully alone. Because, they all stare, like they know something that you don't. (or maybe it's the fact because they're like the Hutts, telling you what and how to do). And Force knows he doesn't like that.
xxx
Qui-Gon never tells him that the Jedi aren't free to do what they want. Qui-Gon lets him keep his fantasy. Qui-Gon introduces him to freedom in an instant—
Then takes it all away.
And it isn't until years later that, maybe, it's a good thing he didn't, because, who else would save the Jedi?
xxx
Anakin feels the baby kick, and he can't suppress the giddiness that follows.
It's then that he makes his decision.
"Her name will be Leia."
And Padmè makes hers.
"His name will be Luke."
"But—"
"He's not a girl, Anakin."
"Yes she is." He pauses, and rests his head lightly on her stomach, listening. "And besides, 'leia' is heaven in Mlioik."
xxx
"Yes, Anakin?"
"Obi-Wan…I'm married and expecting a baby soon."
xxx
Anakin feels their confusion hanging off of them. Saving us? From what?
"What do you mean?"
"Don't you ever feel trapped? Like—"
there's nowhere else to go? you have to do what you're told, and there's no other option?
"—like there's something missing?"
Anakin can feel Obi-Wan's eyes on him. Can feel Obi-Wan scrutinizing him with curiosity. And Anakin feels like a twelve year old again, and he's back in their old quarters, having the same conversation.
(but, that wasn't the "more" he was waiting for)
Anakin turns to Obi-Wan, who lost his scrutiny pose, and now seems…tired. Anakin almost hates asking him, but Obi-Wan is the best person to ask.
"Master, don't you ever feel like something's missing?"
xxx
For a minute there, Obi-Wan doesn't believe him: "You're joking, right?"
But when Anakin collapses, Obi-Wan finds it easier.
"I'm sorry, so sorry. I love her. I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry. I know you do."
They trade words back and forth on the hanger-floor. Jedi pass them, irritation, curiosity, passing through them. But the two boys ignore them.
"I love her."
"I know."
xxx
All eyes turn to him, curiosity passing around. And Anakin can't really blame them, because Obi-Wan has always seemed content with the Order.
And besides, it is his home; he has nowhere else to go.
Which makes the Council confident that Obi-Wan will say that no, nothing's missing.
"Yes. There's no…life. No…stars."
Disdain and irritation cross most faces.
(Because they forget that Obi-Wan has Anakin, too.)
xxx
Padmè slips beside him, wrapping her arms around his waist.
"What's wrong?"
Really, she should be a Jedi, with the way she can pick up emotion like that. "I had a dream."
She waits, trusting that he'll continue. Because of that, he does. "There was smoke…and screaming. I don't understand it, though. I couldn't see anything, save the smoke. And fire. There was a lot of fire."
"Maybe you're just stressed."
"You die in the dream, too."
Padmè doesn't seem so surprised when he says that. When he mentions that, she says "Well, every time you dream, someone ends up dying."
xxx
"Palpatine is requesting your presence."
Anakin halts his pacing. "What?"
Obi-Wan repeats his statement. "Do you have any idea why?"
Anakin has a suspicion. It's because he cares.
Maybe.
But he doesn't need to tell Obi-Wan that.
Anakin's pretty sure Obi-Wan knew before he asked. "When does Palpatine want to see me?"
"Today, he said. Just drop in."Obi-Wan pauses. Anakin knows he's getting ready to pass on some words-of-wisdom. "Anakin, be careful. Trust your feelings. The Force seems…off when it comes to him."
"All right, Obi-Wan."
xxx
"Master?"
"Anakin?"
The Council waits to see what's coming. Windu and Yoda look curios. Shaak Ti is the only one that looks relaxed.
"Master…Obi-Wan…you've loved, haven't you?" At his silence, Anakin knows that he has.
(this. this is the more he was waiting for, nine years later)
Everyone is surprised, even Yoda. Obi-Wan squirms under all the attention, pretending to answer the question.
"I…well…."
xxx
"I hope you trust me, son."
Anakin glances over at Palpatine. He's looking out at the city, with affection, as if looking at a child. Which Anakin finds odd, because Palpatine never really liked Coruscant. You could tell in the way he looked out on it.
Like now.
Anakin wrenches his mind back to the question. "Of course." A half-lie. He's never really trusted him, but he's a friend.
"I need your help."
xxx
"I want to have the baby back on Naboo."
Anakin's decision is made.
xxx
"With what, Sir?"
Palpatine turn away from the window, walking to the foyer. "Anakin, I need a personal commanding officer."
"Sir?"
"My boy, I want you to serve my personally. With your own fleet. All your orders will come directly from me."
"But, why?"
His face turn sorrowful, but fact leeks through. "Because the Jedi can't be trusted anymore."
xxx
Anakin stops Obi-Wan from squirming, and turns back to Yoda and Windu. "And we're not the only ones. Plenty of Jedi know something is missing. Plenty of Jedi need more."
Obi-Wan chirps in. "You're a dying breed, Masters. It's time to change."
xxx
Anakin finds that hard to believe, despite their hesitancy to change. "Sir—"
Palpatine waves his words away. "Anakin, don't lie. They don't trust you, do they?"
Anakin stands before the entryway. "I have to go sir."
xxx
Obi-Wan leans against the doorway, arms crossed. He watches Anakin scurry back and forth, putting Padmè's clothes into boxes. She'd do it herself, but Padmè has to finish some Senate…tasks. Anakin doesn't remember. Doesn't really care to, actually.
"Clone Intel has located Grievous."
"And I suppose the Council is sending you?"
Obi-Wan shrugs. "They wanted to send Master Unduli, but I asked to go. They reluctantly agreed."
Anakin doesn't know whether to be nervous or grateful. (Mostly grateful, though, because Obi-Wan would have something to distract him, instead of the grudge the Jedi now held against him. Because, as it turns out, the Jedi refuse to acknowledge that something is missing, though everyone knows something is).
"What are you going to do when Grievous is defeated?"
Anakin wants him there for the birth of his child, but with Padmè's bulging stomach, Anakin doubts he will.
"I don't know."
Good. "Then come to Naboo. Promise?"
Anakin glances over at Obi-Wan. He smiles. "I promise."
xxx
The Council dismisses Obi-Wan and Anakin, and seven holograms wink out. Kit Fisto and Shaak Ti shuffle out. Windu and Yoda shortly follow. The two boys are left alone. Anakin plops on the floor. (He'd like to sit in a chair, but it wouldn't feel right). Obi-Wan plops next to him, but more gracefully.
"Well."
"Well," Anakin agrees.
They don't feel like moving, so they don't. Besides, Anakin wants to know "it's Siri, isn't it?"
He nods, but doesn't expand.
"When was the last time you two spoke?"
Obi-Wan doesn't answer, which means it was a long time ago. The last time Anakin saw them speak, he was sixteen. Which should've been a clue that they haven't spoken since, but Anakin always thought that they still spoke. Just not when he was around.
"You should see her again. Tell her how you feel."
Obi-Wan looks sad. "I swore I wouldn't remind her."
"But what happens if the rules changed? What if you're both willing to leave the Order? Neither of you are bound by a padawan, after all."
His expression hasn't changed. "I swore," he repeats.
xxx
Padmè demands that the first thing they do is visit her parents, and tell them everything. Anakin swears the meeting won't be pretty, and maybe they should relax first—
But he's standing on her parents doorsteps, awkwardly shuffling his feet while Jobal and Ruwee examine him.
"Do you love her?"
Anakin stares both of them straight in the eye. "With my whole being."
Shifty glares turn more welcome, and Padmè kisses him, and then whispers "see? They like you. They just care, is all."
Anakin kisses her back. "I know."
A week after they arrive on Naboo, and move into the Lake House, Padmè goes into labor. Fourteen hours later, a boy and a girl are born.
"Look, Angel, we're both right."
Padmè reaches an arm out, softly touching Luke's check. "They're beautiful."
Anakin's grin lights up all of Naboo. "Of course they are."
xxx
Before Anakin leaves for Naboo, he talks to Yoda privately. Because, even as misguided as he be, Yoda is the second Jedi he'd turn to for help.
"Master Yoda, I'd like to take an extended leave."
"For your family?"
It may come out like a question, but Anakin knows it isn't. "Yes. Just for a few months." A pause. "Master, I know we don't see eye-to-eye, but I really would like to stay with the Jedi. The Order just needs to change. And there's going to be the business of cleaning the galaxy up, and everything. And, well, changing too. Everything needs changing."
Yoda looks thoughtful. "In six months, standard time, will your leave last. Then come back, and help the Order and galaxy. Agree with you I do. Everything needs changing."
Anakin couldn't be more grateful.
xxx
Obi-Wan arrives exhausted, but elated. "Grievous is defeated. The Separatists are sending out their surrender."
"But what about the—?"
"I don't know. It seems curious that Sith haven't shown themselves yet. They lost."
A wail interrupts their musings. Obi-Wan offers a gentle smile. "Well, are you going to let me see them? Or did I come here for nothing?"
Anakin offers a mock frown. "What? I'm not good enough?"
"Well. It gets a bit tiring seeing the same face over and over again. A new view is always grateful."
"You're so mean."
Obi-Wan grins from one ear to the other. "Thank you."
But the reply is off-handed. He's too busy taking in his children in. "Oh, Ani…they're beautiful."
Anakin sides steps, and picks up Leia, handing her to him. "Of course they are." Obi-Wan takes her like he's been holding children all his life.
"What are their names?"
Anakin picks Luke up. "This is Luke. And you're holding Leia."
xxx
Palpatine comes to Padmè's (theirs) house, one day after Obi-Wan leaves. Anakin is pretty sure why.
"Anakin, I need your help."
Didn't they already have this conversation? "I'm sorry, sir. But my focus is to my family." Anakin doesn't expand. As Obi-Wan once said, the Force seems off when it comes to him.
"Oh, Anakin." There's regret and animosity in that voice. "Anakin, I really hope you learn the truth someday."
xxx
Obi-Wan leaves the next day.
"I have to make the report to the Council. And I'll be back."
"Promise?"
Obi-Wan offers a gentle smile. "Of course."
xxx
"Anakin."
"Master?" Obi-Wan has never looked this serious before. Never. "What's wrong?"
"Anakin." He doesn't say I need your help or You need to come back quickly. He just says "The galaxy is about to shift. And someone needs to help move it along."
Anakin kisses Padmè and the twin's good-bye within the hour.
xxx
It seems too quiet for Anakin. This is Coruscant, it's supposed to be loud. So where is all the noise?
Obi-Wan meets him in a communal hangar. After locking down his ship, and talking with the man in charge, Anakin wordlessly walks up to him.
(Later, he'll say "I always wanted to be a jedi to free the slaves. But, lately, it feels as if I'm doing the total opposite."
And later, Obi-Wan will reply with "well, what if you're doing both?")
(Anakin can't answer that, because he doesn't really know who the slaves are. Because, slaves don't get a decision in their factor. Slaves are treated worse than dirt. Slaves are never free.
One look at his children, some odd years later, and he'll finally know what Obi-Wan is talking about)
xxx
