Anakin was crossing the corridors of the Jedi Temple towards one of the many conference rooms. Earlier this morning, Master Yoda had returned from his duty, and Anakin was to meet with him and Master Windu. Why? He had no kriffing ideas. Master Windu had insisted it was a confidential matter. Anakin had a bad feeling about this. In the Order, whatever was placed under the 'confidential matter' file, it usually meant something bad.

When he woke up that morning, Obi-Wan was up and had already made breakfast. Obi-Wan was always the first one up between the two. Even when the man was sick, he was up first and Anakin had to drag his Master back to bed and basically lock him inside his room to get some rest. Anakin had smiled while thinking how his Master was way too modest.

He had been reassured when he got to the dining room and felt no trace of last night's sadness when he reached for his Master through the Force. Obi-Wan was smiling when he handed Anakin a plate of his favorite pancakes, topped with strawberries. Anakin accepted it joyfully, the buttery smell filling his nose and making his stomach growl. He settled himself on his side of the table and looked over at Obi-Wan who was pouring milk into his cereals.

"How do you feel today?" Anakin attempted, hoping his words didn't made real damage last night. Since he was a little boy, Anakin has always had a slight issue with his anger , which brought him to say things he didn't always meant. Master Yoda was always scolding him on anger leading to pain leading to Dark Side and all. But Anakin had put a cross on that path. Never again he would even consider turning to the Dark Side. But when Obi-Wan looked at him, he was smiling back, sitting in front of him at the table.

"Great. Don't worry about it, Anakin. How about you? Did you sleep well?"

Anakin poured some syrup in his plate. "Like a baby, actually."

Obi-Wan nodded and ate a spoonful of cereal. While he enjoyed his pancakes, Anakin heard his comlink ring in his bedroom. Obi-Wan looked at Anakin with a laughing grin. Both knew the comlink would be subject to jokes between the two.

"I suggest you go and get it before someone else thinks you lost it again..." Obi-Wan sarcastically commented before putting another spoon of cereal in his mouth.

Anakin pushed his plate and rose from his chair. "Very funny, Master!" He shouted back while rushing to his room. He had put the metal piece on his nightstand before going to sleep last night. Grabbing the comlink in his hand, he pressed the answer button. "Skywalker here?"

Both the holograms of Master Windu and Master Yoda appeared in his hand. Both were sitting in their council chairs. Master Yoda looked tired. even if he was the best Jedi of the Order, he was beginning to feel his age. "Good to see you, it is, Master Skywalker. Quite a scare, you gave us last night." He said, with a hint of amusement in his voice.

Anakin grinned at his mistake. "Yeah, sorry about that. I'll try my best to resolve this issue, I won't disappoint you again." His mistake really did put him in deep poodoo last night. He last very lucky it was Obi-Wan who came looking for him and not some other Jedi Master. That would have been scandalous. He would probably have been expelled on the spot.

"If you would please come in conference room number 3, we would like to speak with you on a confidential matter, Master Skywalker." Master Windu added on a more serious tone. "Would you be kind enough to meet us there in an hour?"

Anakin tried to perceive any kind of emotions in Master Windu's features. If he was in trouble, he'd like to be at least prepared for it. "Yes, Master. I'll be there." Master Windu nodded, and the hologram went off.

Anakin stared at his comlink in disbelief. Well, that was helping! Confidential matter, huh? Was he in trouble again? Letting out a sigh, he went back to his pancakes. Obi-Wan had finished his cereals and was washing his bowl in the kitchen's large sink. He didn't mind to do the dishes all the time. When Anakin always just left his dirty plates on the counter, Obi-Wan washed them without complaining. He did find a clean house more peaceful. He tried one or twice to apply the "clean house peaceful house" to Anakin's room, but the younger Jedi took no time in making his Master understand how much it broke his privacy. Obi-Wan never brought the subject back on the table. Anakin wanted a dirty room? Fine. As long as the rest of the house was perfectly in place, Obi-Wan had nothing to say.

Placing his clean bowl among the others, Obi-Wan turned to his former Padawan, who digged back into his pancakes. "What was that all about?"

Anakin took some time before answering. Putting his fork back on the table, he sighed. "I actually don't know, Master. Master Windu was going all 'confidential matter' on me. Wants me to meet him and Master Yoda in an hour."

At those words, Obi-Wan pinched his nose. Meeting with both Master Windu and Master Yoda usually meant one thing: trouble. And that was something Anakin was very familiar with. He hoped he wouldn't have to save his former padawan's ass in front of the Council again. "Good gracious Anakin, what have you done this time?"

"Nothing! That's what I'm saying!" He said on an angry tone. Realizing his outburst, he calmed down and evened his voice tone. "I really don't know what they expect from me." Anakin lowered his gaze to his empty plate. "You don't think they know about my relationship with Padme, do you?"

Obi-Wan came to pick up Anakin's plate. "If you are absolutely sure I'm the only one in the Order who knows about it, then I highly doubt it. I guess you'll know in time." After the plate was clean, he put it back in the shelves. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll retire in my room and meditate."

Anakin smiled. Meditation was really important for his Master and he would make sure not to disturb him while he was at it. "Sure Master, I'll see you this afternoon." Anakin watched Obi-Wan leave the room and rose from his chair. He had about 45 minutes to spare. Since this was most likely be an important meeting, he went in the fresher. If he was going to be in trouble, he would at least smell good.

Meanwhile, Obi-Wan had got to his room. Still dress in his sleeping pants and white shirt, he went to sit in his meditating spot. This was a tradition of his for every morning, when he was off duty or when he had the chance to do it on mission.

He gently removed his shirt, preferring to meditate with his chest bare. Playing with the soft tissue in his hands, he took a deep breath. He usually didn't do this, but since his conversation with Anakin last night, he needed to take a moment and think about her. Putting his shirt aside, he lifted his hand to Force call his lightsaber. When the weapon safely made it to his palm, he started to unscrew the base. Taking the picture and unfolding it, like Anakin did last night, Obi-Wan gently sighed at the sight of Meila's green eyes. He unconsciously started to gently rub the printed dark blond hair with the tip of his fingers. He missed her. Even if he was living his dream of being a Jedi Master and having Anakin by his side, his heart always felt like it was missing a piece.

Closing his eyes and taking another deep breath, Obi-Wan let the memories flow through him. When images of his sweet Meila came to his eyes, he smiled and relaxed.

"Technology is important, Mel! Without it, we couldn't even be the Republic we are today, strong and united! How can you not see it?"

"Don't try me, Obi! If every system were self-reliant like us, there wouldn't be a need for a Republic. You just have to learn to make due with what you have. The rise of technology in your world is proof you are incapable of appreciate the world as it is!"

Obi-Wan gently smiled, remembering how her ways of life were dear to her and how stubborn she could become in a debate. He always admired her spirit, how strong of a woman she was and also how she could let go of her ego and enjoy a good cry in his arms when she needed. Feeling his mind becoming more relaxed, he let his memories flow deeper.

"You miss him... Don't you worry, my mother will heal him. He'll be back on his feet in no time."

"He is my Master, Mel. The one who took me when nobody else wanted me. The one who saw my potential... I don't know what I would do if I lost him. I don't even know if another Master would take me to complete my training! I would be lost, so alone..."

"You'd still have me..."

"... Yes Mel, always."

Obi-Wan recalled how he was the only one calling her like that, how her nickname was personal between the two of them. Thinking about her, about their good memories between them made him smile and feel like nothing in the galaxy could stop him. Like he always did before his meditation, he sent a silent prayer to the Force that somewhere in the Galaxy, his sweet Meila was either happy, or resting in peace. His mind now relaxed, he took a deep breath that sent him into meditating trance.

Anakin was now in front of the door leading to conference room number 3, not knowing in the stars what was going to happen in the next hour or so. When he pushed the door, Master Yoda and Master Windu were already waiting for him on the other side. The room was really dark, the only light coming from the small part of the windows that weren't covered in curtains. Master Yoda was sitting on a higher cushion that Master Windu, so he would be on the same head level. Master Windu was sitting crossed-leg on his own cushions. Anakin activated his Force sense and scanned the room. If there was something he was certain of, it was that the conversation he was about to have was not to be filed. Every security holograms had been removed and no recording device was in place. Anakin's suspicions grew higher than before.

When he made eye contact with him, Mace rose from his cushion and gestured towards the third cushion, offering him to sit. "Master Skywalker, it is a pleasure to see you. Please, have a seat."

Anakin couldn't help noticing how different Master Windu was acting towards him compared to before the end of the war. Mace used to be arsh, bossy, and he obviously didn't trust him at the time. It was understandable. Master Windu didn't want him to be trained when he was a little boy. And as he grew up, Anakin did have some struggle to resist the Dark Side of the Force. Many times he had been tempted by it, since it offered comfort and released his anger. But he had refused that path for good. When he had killed Darth Sidious in front him of, Master Windu had offered him his most honorable respect and had been acting with him like he was an equal, not an inferior being.

Anakin bowed to the two of them before sitting on the cushion in front of the two Masters. He could feel his anxiety rising. His heart was pounding in his chest like crazy. He had been in trouble before, he had met with the two Masters for a session of scolding many times before, but it was never like this. Never in a dark room, alone, unrecorded. Taking a deep breath and trying to put his emotions together, he finally spoke. "Good morning Masters. How can I be of assistance?"

Master Yoda stroked his chin with a serious look on his face. "Great fear, I sense in you, Master Skywalker. In absolute secrecy, this conversation must remain. Your relationship with Chancellor Amidala, we must discuss."

Anakin literally felt in heart smash to pieces. That's it. They called him there to expel him. They surely needed to do it in secret to avoid any sort of scandal. They would probably send him to some sort of exile and pretend he was dead in an accident. Obi-Wan and Padme would be devastated.

When Master Windu noticed the panicked look on Anakin's features, he raised his hand in a calming motion. "Wait! No need to panic, Master Skywalker. We are not here to scold or expel you. In fact, we have been observing you since the day we discovered your feelings towards the Chancellor. You have absolutely nothing to worry about."

"Wait, what?" Anakin wasn't sure if he heard that right. Observing him? Anakin wasn't sure if he should feel reassured or suspicious. So the Council knew about this the whole time?

Master Windu felt his silent question. "No. Only me and Master Yoda know about this. The rest of the Council is in the dark. Since opinions about attachments are very widespread within the Council's members, we thought it would be best to keep it between us until we have come to a decision."

Anakin was completely lost. "A decision, Master?"

"Your attachment to Miss Amidala, I felt. Refused the path to the Dark Side, you did, because of her. Even if very tempting, it was. Useful to us, attachments might be, if handled like you did, they are." Yoda said, smiling gently.

"And it's not just about you and Chancellor Amidala." Mace added. "You have an obvious attachment to your former Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Maybe not a love relationship like you share with the Chancellor, but a strong bromance. And it just appear that you two are our most powerful duo in the Order."

Anakin smiled. He always felt proud to fight beside Obi-Wan. Hearing those words, especially coming from Master Windu, warmed his heart.

Mace took a pause before adding "You go through countless successful missions while protecting each other and you are able to communicate through one of the strongest bond I've ever seen in my life."

Master Yoda nodded. "A lot of Force energy it takes, to communicate through it. On a daily basis, you do it. Very strong between the two of you, the bond must be."

"I agree." Master Windu added, looking thoughtful. "Also, we suspect Master Secura and Master Fisto to have a love interest between each other."

Anakin nodded. So they did had a connection. Obi-Wan was right. Like the great Jedi Master he was, Mace sensed Anakin's thoughts on the matter.

"When we went to confront Chancellor Palpatine, I never thought Master Fisto would survive. Master Secura stayed at his bedside at the Healing Ward following his blow from Sidious' lightsaber. Not only did he recovered from an injury that was well considered fatal, he recovered really fast. We don't think it was just by coincidence."

Master Yoda agreed, turning to face Anakin. "Probably not the only ones, they are."

Anakin was beginning to get the point. His anxiety fell down, now that he knew their intentions. "So what are you suggesting? That we lift the rule on attachments in the Jedi Code?" He asked, hopeful.

Master Windu's features darkened. "Unfortunately, not yet. If we do bring the subject right now to the Council, chances are most of its members will vote your expulsion. It is too soon to ask for such a change in the Code. The Council will need solid proof that attachments can work in our favor." His tone was gentle, unusual coming from him. "But for that, we will need your cooperation."

Anakin stayed silent for a moment. If he went through with this, he would be able to live his love with Padme openly. All their secrecy would be over. It was worth a shot. "I'm in. So what do you want from me?"

"Influence the Force, we think attachment does. Proof of this statement, we need to convince the Council. Force related tests, you will pass." Master Yoda said, looking thoughtful, but glad Anakin joined their cause.

"You want me to pass some tests with Padme? Will it be safe for her?" Anakin wasn't going to do it if it wasn't safe for his wife. But Mace shook his head.

"Not with Chancellor Amidala, I'm afraid. I highly doubt the Council will accept the idea of you being with her for so long under their noses. We risk having you expelled. If enough Council members vote for it, unfortunately there's nothing I can do. That's why we will conduct those tests with you and your former Master, Obi-Wan. The Council already knows how close you two are, I feel it will be safer to start with the two of you."

Mace got up from his cushion and went to face one of the windows, looking at view it offered. He sighed: what they were planning to do wasn't an easy task. But the Order was more fragile than ever. They needed that sort of support." If we can prove the theory that your attachment with him makes you both stronger, then we will seek further territories with the Council concerning love relations." Mace took a deep breath. He really hope the Council will be open to this possibility.

Anakin couldn't agree more on this. With the war, a great number of Jedi had been lost. Not only that, Force-sensitive children were rare to find lately. The Jedi Order was very fragile right now and any possibility to make up for all those losses with more strength should be considered. Anakin had no doubts that this alone would be a powerful argument to make the Council flinch.

Sending his agreement through the Force, Master Yoda gestured the door to Anakin. "Talk about this with Master Kenobi, you must. Begin the tests of both of you next week, we will. In absolute secrecy, this must remain."

Anakin rose from his cushion. He had to go back to his quarters and have a conversation with Obi-Wan on this. He bowed to the two Masters and made his way to the door. But before he opened it, he felt Master Windu had something to add. He turned back, facing them again. "Yes, Master?"

Master Windu smiled. "In the meantime, take care of your wife. I will personally send you on mission to protect her, so you can be present on your children's first moments. We only ask you to be discreet."

Anakin flinched on Master Windu's declaration. "Children, Master?" He asked, not sure he heard right.

Master Yoda laughed in front of a complete oblivious Anakin. "Strong, the Force is around Chancellor Amidala. Twins, she is carrying." He declared, a huge grin on his green face.

Anakin's eyes widened and his heart explode in his chest. Twins?! How wonderful! The Force was blessing him with two child! He could feel small tears of joy building around the corners of his eyes. "Thank you, Masters. This is the best thing you could have offered to me right now. I am very grateful."

Master Windu bowed his head, smiling. "Enjoy it while you can, Master Skywalker. May the Force be with you."

They saw Anakin leave the room. After the door closed again, Master Windu looked at Master Yoda. "Are you sure this is a good idea? If we really go through with this, it would have to be highly regulated in order to prevent our Jedi to fall to the Dark Side… I'm afraid we cannot bear to lose more."

Master Yoda looked at him and rose from his cushion. "Have no fear, Master Windu. To the archives, I am going. An ancient Jedi ritual, I heard of." On this, Master Yoda left the room, leaving Master Windu lost in his thoughts, looking at the activity of the Capital from the window.

Anakin rushed through the corridors of the Temple. He had to see Obi-Wan. What Master Windu and Master Yoda said to him were more than great news. Passing from hallway to hallway towards his quarters, Anakin didn't even stopped to greet his fellow Jedi colleagues on the way.

When he punched to code for his level in the turbolift, the blasted thing wasn't moving fast enough. Excitement was exploding through him. Suddenly, he wondered if his Master was still meditating. He reached through the Force for Obi-Wan.

"Master? Master! You there?"

Anakin felt a slight disturbance in the bond. Searching in it, he found out he had startled the shit out of his Master, who was sitting in his meditating spot, a hand on his pounding chest, panting from the jumpscare. Oops.

"Not so loud Anakin! What is it?" Obi-Wan asked, sounding a little more angry than Anakin had hoped.

"Meet me in the living room, I'll be there in 30 seconds!"

"Wha- Anakin, wait!"

But Anakin had already closed the bond. The turbolift had come to its destination, and he was rushing to the door of their quarters. When he Force opened it, Obi-Wan was coming in the living room, putting on his white shirt. He looked really concerned with a hint of exasperation in his features.

"Now, would you please tell me what was that all about?" He asked on an irritated tone. He obviously didn't appreciate how Anakin disturbed his meditation time.

Anakin didn't know where to begin. "Well, the Council, well no the Council itself, but Master Windu and Master Yoda… well they talked about this thing about attachments, but you know, it must stay a secret! Anyway, they asked me to do some tests with you, so maybe someday we will be able to have relationships! That's awesome, right? Oh, and did you know Padme was carrying twins?! I mean, two babies! I.. oh Force..."

At the sight of his former student's outburst, Obi-Wan put his hands on Anakin's shoulders, trying to calm the jabbering man. "Whoa, slow down, Anakin, I can't understand a thing!" Obi-Wan couldn't help but laugh at how Anakin was completely out of breath. As Anakin calmed himself, Obi-Wan smiled. "Come with me now, we will discuss this with a good cup of tea."

Anakin sighed. Tea. Yeah, tea sounded nice right now. He followed his Master to the kitchen, where the older Jedi had put water to boil. Grabbing the tea leaves, he turned back to his former apprentice. "So, twins, you said? Well, my dear friend, I think congratulations are in order. I'm very happy for you, Anakin. Have you delivered the news to the mother?"

Padme had told Anakin she was to be transferred to the Medical Center this very morning. He was sure that by now, some medical droid may have already told her. "I'm sure she knows already, Master. She was transferred to the M.C. a couple of hours ago." He declared, a slight hint of nervousness in his voice.

Obi-Wan was taken aback. He looked over at Anakin, concern all over his face. "The Medical Center? Is she hurt?"

Anakin shook his head. "It was a prevention move, Master. Since I had some nightmares about her like I used to have about my mother, I asked Bant to have her transferred there in case something goes wrong. At least, she'll be in good hands." He declared, also trying to convince himself.

Obi-Wan conquerred. "Not a bad idea, considering your nightmares concerning your mother happened to be true..." On those words, Anakin grimaced. He didn't like to talk about his mother, nor the fact that his wife might be in danger soon. Obi-Wan saw that, smiled sadly and changed the subject.

"Can you repeat what you were talking about concerning the… attachment rule? I'm not sure I caught that right." Obi-Wan asked, not sure if it was indeed the case.

Anakin took the time to replace the words in his head. "Before I say anything, Master Yoda asked me to talk about this with you, but it must stay a secret. I know I can trust you, thought."

Obi-Wan nodded. "Of course, you can."

Anakin looked at his Master, took a deep breath a declared "The Council is considering removing the rule on attachments in the Code."

Even though he didn't do it physically, Anakin could almost feel Obi-Wan's jaw drop to the floor. It took him a moment to speak again. "Excuse me?"

Anakin laughed at his a Master's face. He looked like he had seen a mutated rancor pass before his eyes. "You heard it right, Master. Master Windu himself told it to me."

Obi-Wan was at a loss of words. He simply could not believe it. The Jedi Code had stayed the same for over a thousand years. Why change it now? He knew some of the Council members who would never approve of such a change. Too many Jedi had fallen to the Dark Side because of it. Master Yoda must have some serious motives to even consider such things.

When he saw how lost Obi-Wan seemed upon receiving the information, Anakin knew it was time to reveal him what truly happened the night he killed Darth Sidious. "Remember that time when you felt me fall to the Dark Side?"

Obi-Wan stroked his chin, putting his memories together. So much had happened that night, when he recalled it, it was mostly a bunch of images all mashed up in his head. "Yes… yes I remember that I showed you images through the bond, hoping it would help you. What about it?"

Anakin sighed. Even if he knew it was a thing of that past, he still felt ashamed of his trip to the Dark Side, especially in front of his own Master. But Obi-Wan had to understand his point of view. "I felt very tempted to join the Dark Side that night. Palpatine had offered me a way to save Padme from the death, and I was ready to make the jump for her. I knew I couldn't lose her." He began, his voice barely a whisper. He then looked over at Obi-Wan, who gestured him to continue while he poured the tea in the cups. "When I saw that Master Windu was about to kill him, I panicked. I didn't saw Master Windu about to kill a Sith Lord. I saw Master Windu about to remove me the only chance to save Padme at the time. I almost killed him, Master..."

When he saw a steaming cup of tea in front of his face, he took it and looked up. Surprisingly, instead of the look of disapproval he thought his Master would have after his declaration, Obi-Wan had understanding in his eyes. "There is a difference between wanting to kill someone and actually doing it, Anakin. It is natural to harbour certain feelings of hate, but a true Jedi must learn not to listen to those dark thoughts. You didn't kill Mace, Anakin, that's what's important."

Sipping from his cup, Anakin continued. "That were attachments are involved. When you send me those images, I realised that becoming a Sith Lord would just end in losing the most important persons in my life, being you and Padme. I saw how Padme would hate me for becoming a Dark Lord and how disappointed of me you would be. It broke my heart. I refuse the path to the Dark Side because I love you both so much."

Obi-Wan stared at his former Padawan, slowly working out all the maths. "So, love has kept you from following the Dark path, and Master Yoda thinks this could be of help to us?" He asked, starting to get the point.

Anakin put his cup the on the counter. "It's not just about refusing the Dark Side, Master, it's something more than that. I always felt more powerful on the battlefield when I thought of Padme. Plus, Master Windu thinks there might be a link between the fact that we love each other like brothers and us being to best duo in the Order..."

Obi-Wan laughed. "Master Windu said that? I'm flattered..."

Anakin nodded. "Yup, he did. He also mentioned about how we manage to have so many successful missions while saving each other's ass. They both think the feeling of love kinda boost our Force powers and our ability to make good decisions. They think that if we can harvest that feeling in the remaining Jedi, we could make up for our fewer numbers…"

"With more powerful Jedi… brilliant." Obi-Wan finally understood, his Coruscanti accent more powerful in his last word.

Anakin smiled. Just by seeing his Master's face at the moment, he knew the man was on board. "But in order to present that premise to the Council, they need solid proof of it. That's where we become involved."

Obi-Wan lifted an eyebrow, smiling. "We are?"

Anakin went to one of the Kitchen's large window to face Coruscant's activated life. The sun was was up in the sky with a perfect blue sky. "They want us to take some tests, some of them are Force-related. I guess they want to measure our Force power level during some specific situations, but I'm not really sure..."

Obi-Wan came to join him. "Wouldn't it be best if you did the tests with Padme? We are talking about love here..."

Anakin shook his head, turning to his Master. "We can't involve Padme right now. If the Council decides not to hear us on the theory, I could be expelled. Master Windu finds it best to prove it with you first and then go further with Padme if the Council accepts it. Even though it is a great move, I think it is going to take some time to convince the Council about this..."

Obi-Wan slightly disapproved. "I think if we can show them some good proofs, they will hear us up. The Order is fragile and I feel they would not pass an opportunity to bypass that weakness. Have hope, Anakin." He said, putting a hand on his former apprentice's shoulder.

Anakin sighed. "I do, Master. I really do."