ooc: Thanks again for the reviews everyone. I'll be answering all the questions you're asking. Don't worry. :) Also, I don't own star wars or any of its characters.
Chapter 4: The Calm Before the Storm
Later on in the day, after much planning and consideration had been put into the future Declaration, and possibly the Constitution for a new government, Anakin and Padme retired for a while back to her apartment. They walked up to the security droid, who greeted them, "Hello Senator Amidala, good day."
"Hello TC, I would like you to give this man, Anakin Skywalker walk-in privileges."
"Alright, may I ask what his relation is to you?"
"He is my husband, that is our relation."
"Of course Senator Amidala."
Padme almost began to walk into her apartment, but caught herself quickly, and added, "Oh, and not as of today, but soon, I shall be under the name of Padme Amidala Skywalker." She gave an adoring look to Anakin who returned the stare.
"Of course. Simply let me know when that becomes official, and I shall change the records."
Padme smiled and nodded, and proceeded to walk down the hall, with Anakin close behind. Once they entered the room, Anakin asked, "So why the change now?"
"Ani, I've always wanted to take your name. I just couldn't, we had to keep the secret. I don't think it would have worked out too well while in the Senate, a bill would be proposed by Senator Skywalker... Now with the secret out in the open, I'm proud to take your name."
Anakin was speechless, it wasn't that big of a deal, but it meant a lot to him. It was as if only now would people know of their love. Tears began to form in his eyes, he quickly brushed them off.
"Ani-are you crying?"
"No. No-no, I just-I had something in my eye."
Padme gave Anakin a pathetic smile, and wrapped her arms around him and gave him a deep kiss. Anakin wasn't sure how long it lasted, but it was heavenly bliss. Then, all of a sudden, he felt a hard bump hit his stomach, he looked down and realized his unborn child was moving around. They looked up at each other at the same time and smiled, before they kissed again. Padme then broke it to speak, "Oh-Anakin, I forgot to tell you, I called my parents, they'd like us over for dinner tonight. Can we do that?"
"I see no reason why not. Progress is going quite well on the Declaration, and if the Jedi are going to expel me, I'm sure they won't mind if I am busy." He added with a smile.
Padme pecked him once more on the lips and said, "Great! I'll tell them we'll be over around 7." Padme made the telecom call and shortly there after, joined Anakin in their bed. "It's been a long day."
"That it has." Anakin stated, his mind still on his impending exile.
"Ani, hold me," she scooted closer to her husband, "hold me like you did three years ago in the Lake Country."
Anakin did as his wife asked, and held her closely and warmly. They drifted off to sleep...
*Meanwhile*
In the council chambers, the council had been debating for most of the afternoon. Of the eleven members now on the council, there were two opposing sides for each view. Master Mundi led the opposition, believing that Anakin needed to be expelled from the order, who was followed by Kento Marek, Adi Gallia, and Kazden Paratus. While Yoda, surprisingly, stood in support of Anakin being allowed to remain in the order, behind him were Voolif Monn, K'Kruhk, Shaak Ti, and Rahm Kota. While in the middle was Plo Koon, and even more surprisingly, Obi-Wan.
"We are allowing others to follow his example. We are saying it is Ok to break the code. We all know the younglings look up to him, and they will simply follow his lead." Master Mundi stated.
"Master Mundi, what you are not understanding, is that we believe that the Code should be amended. Let us face it, this is a time of crisis for the Order, why not take this chance to modernize the the Order? The Code? Which, might I remind us all that it was written thousands of years ago." Master K'Krukh retorted.
"You, Master Mundi, might I remind, that married with a family, you are. Yet for young Skywalker having one, stand firmly opposed, you do."
"That is a tradition of my people Master Yoda, he has disrespected and disregarded the Jedi Order."
"You are being slightly hypocritical Master Mundi. Despite your attempts as logical reasoning behind your words, you are in the exact same position that young Skywalker is." Master Monn said firmly.
"Master Obi-Wan, like to know your thoughts on this matter, the council would."
Obi-Wan had fallen deep into thought. He truly loved Anakin as a brother, and would love to continue working with him, but he was troubled by Anakin's decision to not tell anyone, including him. "I'm not sure if I am the best person to talk to about this."
"Feel scorned, you do?"
"To a degree. I don't think his decision to marry the Senator was really a sign of disrespect, it was more of him showing his arrogance, but also his courage. He found, in himself that his love for her was greater than his duty to the Order. And while it took him three years, he is willing to give it up, for her and their family. There is a certain amount of admiration that should be given for that."
"Admiration for disrespect?" Master Gallia inquired.
"Are you that dim Master Gallia?" Master Kota asked incredulously, "Admiration for his courage. He is willing to give up the Jedi Order for love. He is a true Jedi Master."
"How in galaxy's name do you reckon that?" Gallia responded.
"Sacrifice." Master Yoda answered however.
"I'm sorry Master Yoda?" Gallia asked.
"He has the courage to sacrifice everything he has worked for his entire life, for love. A Jedi is not defined by what he has accomplished in life, but what he is willing to sacrifice in life. A Jedi's life is all about sacrifice." Kota stated.
Silence fell over the council room...
"Time to take a vote, it is..." And the council prepared to end the day-long debate, and began the voting.
*Elsewhere*
Anakin and Padme awoke in each others arms, with an hour to spare before they needed to head over to the Naberrie residence. They began to get ready, and dressed, Anakin, for the first time in a long time, did not dress in formal Jedi robes, but those of a traditional man. He had been expecting to be expelled from the order, so he decided he needed to prepare himself for a normal life. Once they were done getting ready, the stood at the door preparing to leave.
"Well you sure clean up good." Padme teased, with a playful tongue sticking out of her mouth.
"Hmm... Not sure if I can say the same for you Senator." Padme punched her husband in the stomach, shaking her hand in pain after hitting his rock hard abs. "Aw... Did you need my help to make your hand feel better?"
She grabbed his hand, and put it on his stomach, feeling their child's kick. And then she leaned in and gave him a kiss. When their lips parted, she leaned on his chest. "Ani... I don't know what I'd do without you..."
"It would probably be a dreadful existence."
Padme smiled up at him, "I love you so much."
"I love you too. I seem to recall the days here on Naboo when you refused to admit your feelings." Anakin gave her a playful smile.
"What can I say? I fought my feelings, and I lost. And I am proud to admit it." They kissed once more, "But we have to go. Or else we'll be late! I don't want to be married, pregnant, and late for dinner." They smiled and exited the building with their arms locked. Padme had grown to the size where it almost seemed like she needed someone else to hold on to. A private speeder arrived and picked them up. They moved through the city of Theed. They pointed out places that they remembered from the Battle of Theed, the trip took about 15 minutes before they arrived at Padme's parents house.
As they were exiting the speeder, Anakin asked, "So I suppose I should have asked this earlier, but how much have you told our parents about us?"
"Ani, we were keeping it a secret from everyone..."
"So that means... Nothing."
"Yep. Pretty much. But when we met them last time, they noticed our chemistry even before I did. So I don't think there is much to fear."
"Oh, that's comforting."
Padme gave him a reassuring smile and a squeeze on the arm. They moved up the steps to their house when Padme's sister, Sola opened the door. With one look upon her younger sister, her jaw dropped open, "Oh, my, god." She rushed down to her little sister and gave her a hug. And that was followed with a giant smile upon Anakin, followed up with a hug. She immediately engaged Padme in discussion, who attempted to shrug it off. She gave a pleading look back to Anakin, who could only smile.
They entered and Padme was flooded with questions from her sister, her parents, and even her nieces. After a few moments, Padme shouted, "STOP!" The noise ended right then and there. She waited a moment or two before continuing. She motioned for Anakin to join her, and he responded and took her hand. She had stood by him bravely before the Jedi Council, he could surely handle her family. "Anakin and I, got married three years ago in Varykino." The noise started once more, this time Padme simply put up a hand. "We couldn't tell anyone or invite anyone because of Anakin's position in the Jedi Order."
The silence returned for a moment, before Padme's mother, Jobal, spoke. "So why are you telling us now? After three years of keeping quiet, what has changed."
"Well, apart from the transition of the Republic into an Empire," Padme couldn't hold back the sarcasm, "Anakin and I decided to come clean to everyone. It has been too hard to hold back our feelings, and we spoke with the Jedi Council today, and now we're here in front of you."
Silence once again returned for a while, this time it was broken by Ruwee, Padme's father, "So... my youngest daughter is pregnant. So that obviously means..."
"Yes. Anakin is the father." Ruwee nodded his head, however with a glare at Anakin. Anakin had always planned on asking a girl's father for permission to marry his daughter, and he assumed that Ruwee had always been planning on that as well. He'd talk to him later.
"When are you due?" Sola asked.
"Any day now..."
"Really? Do you know where you're going to stay? Where you're going to raise the baby?"
"Well, we're not positive with all that's happened the past few days, but our original plan was to raise the baby in Varykino. A nice, safe, secluded place far from civilization..." Padme trailed off. Her mother and sister dragged her into the kitchen to discuss the details. Leaving Anakin with Ruwee.
"How are you doing sir?"
"Come with me boy." Ruwee responded and began walking to the back of the house. Anakin followed, knowing exactly what was coming. He felt Padme's distress, knowing that what she was experiencing, wouldn't even come close to what he was about to. Eventually they made it to the back yard, where Ruwee sat down at a table, Anakin followed his father-in-law. "So. You came into my home three years ago, in love with my daughter, and didn't tell me about it?"
"Sir, I understand if you feel slightly out of the loop and annoyed with our distrust, its just that-"
"I know all about your bloody code. And yet here we are. You've been married for three years, and now my youngest daughter is pregnant. How does all of that play in with your Jedi Code? How do your Masters feel about all this."
"I don't know yet sir."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, we went before the Council this morning. Generally, for someone who disobeys the code, they are kicked out of the Order. So I have prepared myself for if that comes."
Ruwee starred at him for a long while, Anakin didn't know what else he was supposed to say, so they waited. Starring at each other, not with any intense look, but just starring. Finally, Ruwee spoke, "You love my daughter enough to give up the Jedi?"
"Sir, I'd give up anything for your daughter. I've been in love with her since I was nine years old. I don't think there is anything more powerful in this universe than the love I have for your daughter."
Ruwee gave a slight chuckle, "Well then, what can I say?"
"Sir?"
"A father always needs to know that the man loves his daughter. If you're willing to give up being a Jedi, then I think that settles it." He put out his hand, and Anakin gladly shook it. Ruwee patted him on the back, and the two walked back inside to the kitchen. Anakin was most curious to see how his wife was holding up. Padme had not fared quite as well with her mother and sister, she was still under massive numbers of questions.
"Are you going to have a recommitment ceremony?" Sola asked.
"Why would we do that?"
"So we can all come and watch this time?"
Padme thought for a moment, "I mean, we hadn't planned to... But I suppose... I'll talk to him about it."
"I would love nothing more than to finally see my youngest daughter walk down the isle." Jobal said, her eyes almost filling up with tears.
Padme smiled at her mother, and looked down, before she felt a familiar hand rest on her shoulders, and a familiar voice in her ear, "How did you fare?"
Padme stood and turned to her husband, "Hm... Not too bad. But..."
"But what, my love?"
"I-" But Padme was cutoff by her mother striking a question to Anakin.
"What do you think Anakin?"
"Think about what Jobal?"
"About Sola's idea."
"Which idea is that?"
"Padme you haven't told him?"
"You said it moments ago!"
"Oh. Well. Yes, but I assumed you would be as excited as I about the prospect of it."
"Of what?" Anakin asked almost desperately.
"Sola suggested that you two have a recommitment ceremony. Would you like that?"
Anakin paused for a moment, and looked at Padme. However, something surprised Anakin. He couldn't read her thoughts. Normally he could at least sense her feelings, however this time, he couldn't. "I'm sure we'll discuss it."
"But Anakin, you didn't answer my question. Would you like to have a recommitment ceremony with my daughter?"
Anakin's eyes were still glued to Padme. He didn't know what she would want. But then he remembered, she didn't ask him what Padme thought, she asked what he thought. "I personally would love that."
"You would?" Jobal asked.
"Well, yes. I would love to show to everyone publicly the love I have for your daughter. I would love to have her family and friends witness that."
Jobal smiled, and tears welled up in her eyes, and she hugged her son-in-law. Padme caught her husbands eye, and she smiled, and mouthed the words, "I love you." The somewhat disorderly family came together at the dinner table, and began to scarf down...
Time trailed on, and Anakin and Padme prepared to leave, "Padme, we best be hearing from you soon on the ceremony..." Her mother trailed off with a striking look in her eyes to her youngest daughter. Padme and Anakin finished off their goodbyes and hugs, but before they left, C-3PO entered the house.
"Master Ani, Miss Padme, I have another message."
"What is it threepio?" Anakin asked with a slight tone of anxiousness.
"It appears that the Jedi High Council would like your presence once more. As soon as possible, nonetheless."
Padme and Anakin turned around to her family once more. Quickly, before they could ask questions, they moved the door and attempted to get to the speeder as quickly as possible. Even with the yells from her family, the continued and got into the speeder and waved it off. They would all be in contact soon enough. Anakin drove the speeder carefully over to the council chamber room. Before they exited the speeder, Anakin looked at his wife, took a deep breathe and kissed her. Together, they got out of the speeder and walked hand-in-hand to the Council's Chambers. They entered, incredibly late at night, and Anakin was a bit surprised they had all decided to stay up this late.
"Young Skywalker, how feel you?"
"At peace Master. More at peace then ever before."
"Understand why this is, do you?"
"I have my thoughts."
"As do we my former apprentice," Obi-Wan added in, "Anakin, why do you believe you have achieved this seemingly serene mental state?"
"I, myself, believe it is because I have come to terms with my feelings, and accepted them for what they are."
Anakin felt the council beginning to speak telepathically around him, when Master K'Kruhk spoke, "We don't disagree with you Anakin. However, we also have an expanded theory."
"And what is that Master?"
"We believe that, after much debate, you have achieved a level of aptitude within the force. One that we're not exactly sure how to explain."
"Master?"
Obi-Wan continued for K'Kruhk, "For the Jedi, the greatest lesson in life, is to learn the concept of sacrifice. However, your case is seemingly backwards." He paused for a second, before moving on, "Generally, the sacrifice we believed in was the sacrifice one must give up to become a Jedi. Which in your case would mean sacrificing you're love for Senator Amidala."
"Which I'm quite certain I made clear earlier, I have no intention in doing."
"We know young Skywalker. Which most peculiar, it makes you. Willing to sacrifice the Jedi for your feelings, you are. A Concept which the jedi order does not know, or understand. This very problem, is the reason, called you back before us, we have."
"Anakin, you have proved to us all, that the Jedi Order is not the Order of a supreme being, but the Order of a group of people who all believe in living within the force. To live within the force, you must sacrifice everything. Everything, but your feelings. To truly be one with the force, the body and spirit must be completely full of love." Obi-Wan added.
"I thought the Jedi Order forbid love and any sort of attachments."
"Perhaps, wrong, the old order was."
"Anakin," K'Kruhk added, "you have highlighted the biggest hypocrisy in the history of the Jedi Order. We need love to be completely in tune with the force, but we forbid it."
"Not need to worry, you do Young Skywalker. Expelled from the Jedi Order, you will not. Your destiny it is not."
"Anakin, we have a new possible theory to your prophecy as the chosen one." Obi-Wan said. "It is possible that for you to bring balance to the force, you first must bring balance to the Jedi Order. With you, we can see our faults can in turn, balance ourselves and our order."
"I'm sorry Master, but what does all of this mean?"
"Anakin, we are not going to expel you from the Jedi Order. For you have, in so many different ways, saved the Jedi Order."
Anakin and Padme were both speechless, they turned to each other, and Anakin picked up his wife and lifted her into the air and kissed her warmly and deeply. He couldn't imagine anything to be more perfect. The council, everyone, including those that had fought for Anakin's expulsion, smiled. They gave the couple a few moments before Obi-Wan continued, "Don't get too comfortable my old apprentice. It is back to work for you."
"Of course Master. I am always ready."
"You better be. To Coruscant our mission will take us," Master Yoda said, "To save the Republic, our mission is. The fall of Emperor Palpatine, our goal is. Prepare yourself, Young Skywalker, leave tomorrow we do."
Anakin looked at his wife one time, seeing the fear spread across her face. He would do this. And he would return to Padme to raise his family just as soon as this last mission was finished. She knew it too. The restoration of democracy was at stake.
ooc: Please review everyone! And get ready, chapter 5 will finally get much more involved with action and such.