AN: Apologies for the random deleting but I wasn't happy with the first writing and thought the whole thing needed to be altered, I took too long to get to the points I wanted to have the most fun with namely the Clone Wars with Anakin in Darth Vader's position of power, the Supreme Commander of the grand army and navy, the original writing would've been longer but I haven't the time as college has just begun and I am split for time, enough of that nonsense, Enjoy!
Naboo Lake Retreat, 1 week after Geonosis
"I gladly announce you as husband, and wife, you may kiss your bride," the holy man announced, the young groom needed no telling twice as he slowly inclined his head towards his bride as their lips met tenderly in a soft kiss, they both distantly heard the sounds of applause as they eventually broke the kiss, both turned to the small audience of their families, Anakin's mother was as proud as ever and the rest had the grateful eyes meaning that they were glad Shmi was safe and getting them off of Tatooine, Shmi still had some small scars on her body and face after the near death she had experienced for nearly three weeks, though she was proud of her boy and survived due to his and Padmé's timely intervention.
That wasn't all though, while she was annoyed that her son and new daughter in law wound up in the battle of Geonosis, she was proud because Anakin had bested Count Dooku in lightsaber combat, she was told that the Count was one of the best duellists of all time, but he wasn't expecting Anakin to fight, Anakin had been injured by his lightning and just when Obi Wan Kenobi, Anakin's Master seemed dead to rights, the Count was hit hard in the head by a piece of rock Anakin used to distract him and cut his hands off after a small duel, they had taken the man back to the Jedi Temple and all seemed well, Anakin had built him new hands with the help of R2D2 and the Count was imprisoned within the most secure Republic prison, her thoughts were interrupted by her husband Cliegg Lars poking her shoulder.
"Yes?" she asked turning to him, Cliegg indicated the dance floor.
"May I have this dance?" he asked gallantly holding his hand out to her, Shmi smiled and let him lead her to the dance floor, he could dance again as he had a prosthetic leg provided by the nearest hospital on Naboo, it took some getting used to but, thankfully, Cliegg wasn't too fussed about it as they danced.
Anakin Skywalker stood alongside his new wife Padmé on the balcony of their bedroom, both had been through a lot since reuniting, assassination attempts on Padmé's life being frequent, Anakin protecting her on Naboo, going to Tatooine to save Shmi, taking her and the Lars family to Naboo and the spark of war had erupted on Geonosis. Though most importantly for them as they held each other by the waist with one of their arms, they had fallen in love with each other, they both knew the scandal of what they'd done but they didn't care, it represented different things for them though. For Padmé it gave her the chance to be the young woman she always wanted to be away from the Senate, she could even have a child with Anakin when they felt ready to fulfil her desire of a big family, for Anakin it meant having a culmination of everything he wanted, as soon as he returned to Coruscant after the battle, he was knighted and now a full Jedi Knight, Obi Wan's proud smile as he severed the braid by his right ear meant he had his Master's approval, he had his mother free and away from that dustball Tatooine and finally, he also had Padmé as his wife, he'd looked in the mirror a few times during his prep for the wedding and noticed a small change in his appearance, namely his hair now was a little longer as it flowed across his neck and was a little thicker as he scrapped the ponytail, he heard a soft sigh next to him and turned to his wife, noticing her thoughtful look.
"What?" Anakin asked.
"I was just wondering when we first met up again a week ago if you would've pictured this, I sure as hell didn't," Padmé admitted, looking up at her new husband's sky-blue eyes, he smiled down at her and looked into her own eyes, blue for brown.
"I always wanted to be your husband, but I never thought it would happen and without much fight, I mean I remembered Queen Amidala well enough to know she never backed down from her duties, what happened there?" he asked curiously, Padmé looked up at him again, silently marvelling at how tall Anakin had become, his dark blonde hair was growing longer every day and by the end of the two weeks allowed for leave to recover from the battle, she knew it would've grown big time, she was doubtful he would be almost unrecognisable as the same short haired padawan though, she wasn't sure about that.
"Before we met up again, I had thrown myself into my duties, doing as much work as I possibly could both as queen and a senator, though I wouldn't class that as living, merely existing and on the surface, I was able to project a satisfied demeanour, your Master Obi Wan has a firm distaste for politics and the lies it brings. But…behind closed doors I would always be upset, angry with myself for having seemingly nothing else, I began to feel old, very old, it's why I began seeking out love, I haven't felt that way towards anyone, the love I have for my family is different, I wanted companionship, I wanted a family I could call my own, still do truth be told which is why I never truly cared at first who I had that family with, considering the whelps in the Senate like Clovis and Jothra though, I can't say that was smart, so I stopped looking, and look where that got me, I found my soulmate, you Ani." Padmé explained, tears welling up in her eyes, Anakin swallowed the lump in his throat and pulled her into his arms, holding her snugly against his chest, giving her a sweet kiss on her forehead.
"I'm here angel, and I'm not leaving you…ever." Anakin vowed, the tears came harder for Padmé.
"But what about the potential war? Dooku could easily escape and then…" she stopped, unable to continue, his arms tightened around her.
"Hey, don't think negatively my love, we'll cross that bridge when we get there but for now, let's think for the moment and enjoy our wedding day and night to the fullest," Anakin said passionately, wiping her tears away with his hands and tenderly kissing her downturned lips. Padmé eagerly kissed him back and they stayed that way for several moments, Anakin only broke the kiss to sweep her into his arms and set her down on the bed, holding her tightly as he kissed her neck and she sighed contededly, the fires of passion consuming them whole…
The next morning
Anakin awoke with his arms wrapped tightly around Padmé, her bare form was still and unmoving she slept, he smiled and kissed her forehead tenderly, she stirred at his kiss and her eyes fluttered open.
"Morning," Padmé said sleepily, Anakin smiled at her.
"Good morning love," Anakin replied, as his thoughts drifted back to the previous night, he smirked.
"I know you enough to know that smirk means trouble, what are you planning my young Jedi?" Padmé asked playfully, Anakin's reply was to pull her for another kiss that sent pleasured chills down her spine, she sighed contededly and let passion consume them whole once more…
Much later, they got out of bed and dressed for the day, Anakin didn't bother with the Jedi robes as he just wore a black house shirt, navy jogging suit bottoms and nothing else, Padmé just wore a light lavender house dress. When the newlyweds arrived at the table they noticed an unexpected guest, with a guilty looking family around him. Obi Wan Kenobi who looked at them with hazel eyes that said happiness, though the feigned angry expression elsewhere wasn't helping, Anakin naturally was outraged.
"What are you doing here?" Anakin demanded, though he was curious about how Obi Wan even found them, Obi Wan's eyes noticed the entwined hands and wedding rings, he couldn't help a defeated sigh.
"Why wasn't I invited?" Obi Wan asked, Anakin's outrage faded, and confusion set in.
"You expect me to believe that you would've allowed it, the Jedi Code loving Obi Wan Kenobi?" he asked sceptically, Obi Wan snorted.
"Anakin, you remember me telling you about my relationship with Satine, realistically I have no right to deny anyone of attachments," he admitted, Anakin's eyebrows were in his hair.
"Then why don't you listen to me regarding attachments?" Anakin asked, doing a perfect imitation of his old Master, Obi Wan laughed.
"You might want to become an actor Anakin, that was wonderful," he complimented, Anakin, Padmé and the Naberrie family all laughed, as they continued eating.
Republic Prison, Coruscant
Darth Sidious, under his Supreme Chancellor Palpatine persona stormed through the halls of the maximum security prison to find his pupil Count Dooku and have some very harsh words before transporting him to the works under the guise of an escape and a treasonous officer working with the Count for extra pay, he arrived at the cell his apprentice was behind and glared at him, the clones saw him and straightened, bowing before him with respect.
"Your Excellency," they greeted, Palpatine smiled at them.
"Troopers, I'd like to have a word with the prisoner please," Palpatine said politely, the troopers looked at one another.
"Sir…he's a dangerous man," they warned, Palpatine nodded.
"I know, but it would be a shame for me to have the leader of the Separatists in my prisons and not have a word with him myself," he countered, the clones nodded.
"Yes sir," they said as the door opened and Palpatine stepped inside, his haggard looking apprentice looked up into the cold eyes of his master. Count Christopher Dooku had certainly seen better days, his usually neatly trimmed silver beard was more messed up than a child's playroom and looked scruffier than ever, as did his silver hair, there were dark bags under Dooku's eyes and the man looked nothing like his best, the only thing that had not changed was his attire, black boots, brown shirt, trousers and cape and the new additions of black leather gloves covering his prosthetic forearms, built by the man who had cut them off to begin with, Anakin Skywalker, Dooku glared up at him.
"Come to kill me, master?" Dooku asked bitterly, Sidious scowled at him.
"I should, but Ventress is lacking in experience when it comes to leadership, so whether it is in my best interest or not, I am getting you out of here Lord Tyrannus," Sidious stated as he provided Dooku his lightsaber, pulled up his black hood, and whipped out his own blade, Dooku looked surprised.
"You want to fight?" he asked in surprise, Sidious rolled his eyes under the hood.
"This is a message Lord Tyrannus, one that not only proves the Republic and Jedi have horrible security but are so arrogant to believe that a Sith Lord will be held in these prisons that could barely hold a competent bounty hunter," he stated simply, Dooku looked over at him.
"Public support of the Jedi would decline," he added in realisation, Sidious nodded.
"Precisely, now let's get out of here," Sidious ordered as the two Sith ignited their crimson blades and cut down the approaching clones, they heard the alarms sound and shared evil grins, cutting down the rest, before escaping into the shuttle and the night skies of Coruscant.
Jedi Temple, 3 days later
Anakin Skywalker stood motionless, outraged and angry, glaring at the man who gave him the dire news.
"What do you mean he escaped?!" the new knight demanded, Masters Mace Windu and Yoda exchanged a grim look.
"We heard from witnesses and Palpatine himself that there was a second Sith helping him, Palpatine escaped but was shaken from the attack, he described the man as smaller than Dooku, black cloaked and hooded, he loved using force lightning and was killing the clones slowly, he enjoyed killing them," Mace said grimly, Yoda let out a noise of disgust.
"Sadistic, this Sith Master is, however arrogant we were to believe gone the Sith were," Yoda added, Anakin rolled his eyes.
"What are we going to do about this?" he asked in agitation, Mace pointed a finger at him.
"You will leave this to us, you lack the experience necessary to deal with this Sith Master, Dooku got arrogant and had tunnel vision, that was the only reason you took his hands, it is too risky," he ordered sternly, Anakin's eyes widened, before narrowing into ice.
"Arrogant or not, I still defeated him Master and you need that morale boost to make sure no other Jedi question you about this," he countered coolly, Mace narrowed his eyes.
"Be that as it may, you cannot take on two Sith Lords at once, this war will only escalate, and we need the knights and senior padawans out on the front lines," Mace retorted, Anakin glared at him.
"I will fight for the Republic, not the Jedi Order, from this day forth, I am no longer a Jedi," Anakin stated with finality, storming out of the Council chambers and ignoring the stunned look of Mace Windu and the understanding face of Yoda.
"Disgusted him we have, distrusted him, angered him we did, inevitable this was," Yoda declared, as he hobbled out leaving a stunned Mace Windu behind.
Galactic Senate Building, Palpatine's office
Anakin stormed through the building into the office of his friend, who looked up and smiled at him, it quickly faded when he saw Anakin pacing like a caged animal.
"What's wrong son?" Palpatine asked in concern, Anakin didn't stop pacing.
"I've left the Jedi Order, I refuse to fight alongside a bunch of blind old men who can look at the man who bested the infamous Count Dooku with disdain. I also don't agree with the code, though I've gone over that in the past, if this war is escalating, we need warriors, not peacekeepers, I am willing to fight for the galaxy, but those old freaks won't order me around again," Anakin ranted angrily, still pacing. Palpatine looked shocked outwardly, but inwardly he was grinning madly, he knew Skywalker felt caged inside the Order, but this was beyond what he had expected and now, he had a perfect plan to lure Skywalker in with power.
"I can provide you a new position in this war Anakin," he offered, Anakin halted his pacing and looked up.
"You do?" he asked, Palpatine nodded.
"I do, what if you had command over the Jedi in warfare scenarios?" Palpatine asked, Anakin looked confused.
"They are generals, how will I be above them?" Anakin said in confusion, a smile spread across Palpatine's face.
"I am offering you the position of Supreme Commander of the Grand Army and Navy of the Republic," Palpatine stated simply, Anakin was shocked.
"Me? Leading the entire fleet? I am honoured sir, but I wish to discuss this with a friend, Senator Amidala," Anakin replied, Palpatine nodded in understanding.
"Of course my boy, take your time with the decision," he allowed, Anakin smiled at him and bowed before striding out of the office, Palpatine stood up and approached the window of his office and watched the Coruscanti skies with an evil grin on his face, everything was going better than he expected.