May the Fourth be with you! Decided this is the perfect day to end this story. I probably had 3 or 4 different endings drafted out, and it was a tough choice to make.
Thank you all for your wonderful feedback! It has been so much better than I ever could have hoped for. I honestly thought that it would be panned just because of how... dark this story got (my original draft was actually much darker). I promise I have more lighthearted stuff coming up! I don't think I'll go this dark for awhile.
Thanks again!
-RDS
Epilogue
6 Years Later
The pitter patter of children's footsteps were the first to alert him he wasn't alone. Anakin tried to fight off the smile as he felt them sneak up on him as he kept his gaze firmly on the datapad in his hands and braced himself as two tiny four-year-olds jumped onto his back from behind the couch. He let out a grunt as he dramatically toppled to the floor, the sound of their high-pitched laughter like music to his ears as he play-struggled against them. He let them have the upper hand for a few minutes before he quickly turned the tides. With one sweeping motion, he wrapped his arm around Leia's waist, shifting her under him as his hands assaulted her with tickles. Her little legs kicked up, as her hands batted at his.
"Stop it, Daddy! Stop it!" She giggled.
"I'm not Daddy. I'm the evil Sith Lord!" He joked.
Luke, always trying to be the hero in these little games, stood on the couch as he held up his fist triumphantly, "I'll save you! Your Highness!" He shouted as he leapt from the couch and landed on Anakin's back.
Anakin grunted as he rolled on the floor. "Oh no! A Jedi!" He said, his arm outstretched as he tried to fend off the boy's wiggling fingers. "I am no match for a Jedi!"
"You're no match for two Jedi," Leia countered, diving at him and assailing him with tickles this time. All three of them laughed, the twins enjoying having their father at their mercy and Anakin simply happy that they were having fun.
In the corner of the room, he could see Padme, Her eyes rolling at how ridiculous all three of them were together. He knew she loved it though. She simply loved seeing him so carefree. It had taken so long for him to make peace with his experiences on Zygerria, and longer still before he and Padme were ready for marital relations again. It had been a long road, one rife with inner conflict, nightmares, and a few therapists and counselors as well as long meditations with Obi-Wan. But things were better. And they were all happy.
Padme cleared her throat as she stepped farther into the room. She had long since changed out of the expensive gown she'd worn to the Senate that morning and had dawned a simple olive colored dress and wore her hair in a loose relaxed bun. Obi-Wan stepped in beside her. His hair looked a little more grey than the last time he saw him, but the smile he wore easily reached his eyes as the twins gasped and leaped from their father's hold.
"Uncle Obi!" They shouted, their smiles growing impossibly wider as they clamored for their uncle's attention.
Anakin rolled his eyes as Padme stepped closer to him, stretching her hand down to help him off the carpeted floor. He took it easily and pulled her into his side as her hand came to rest on his chest. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say they like him more than me," He grumbled.
His wife shook her head and placed a kiss on his cheek. "Impossible," She said. "They only like him because he takes them to Dex's when he babysits."
Anakin scoffed, "That's just because he can't cook," He said, as they started to rejoin Obi-Wan and the twins as they tried to suck him into one of their little games. "Alright, you two jawas," He started, "Go help Threepio set up for dinner."
The twins responded with grumbled and groaned complaints, but neither Anakin nor Padme were having any of it. "You know the rules when we have guests over," She reminded them.
Leia rolled her eyes, "But it's just Uncle Obi," She argued.
"Don't you want to show him what a good hostess you are?" Anakin asked. Her brows furrowed as she fell deep into thought for a moment. Behind her brown eyes he could see the wheels in her head start to turn as they processed his argument before she let out a small huff and reluctantly conceded.
Padme quietly excused herself and the twins as she led them back up the stairs to the kitchens where dinner was being prepared. It had been a long time since Obi-Wan has been on Coruscant and she planned to practically spoil him. It was a luxury and gesture he really didn't need, but at her insistence, he accepted her invitation if only to spend time with the twins. The past few months had been brutal. Despite the Clone Wars ending two years ago, reconstruction was still taking its toll on the Republic forces. Small rebellions broke out often and the search for Palpatine was still ongoing.
Alone at last, the former Jedi and the Jedi Master stood toe to toe as they took in the changes in the other since they last spoke. Obi-Wan looked older. The war had taken a lot from him and it would be a long time before it was done. "Any luck finding Palpatine?" Anakin asked as the two of them slowly walked towards the balcony, watching as the traffic passed through the large window of the apartment.
"Not a definite trail yet," He answered, "But we're pretty sure Maul is helping him again."
Of course. No matter what anyone did, it always seemed like no one could kill the Sith apprentice. Many had tried. And almost all had failed.
"You look well," Obi-Wan noted, "Fatherhood is becoming on you."
Anakin laughed, "Yeah? I honestly don't know what I'm doing half the time," He admitted, "Most of the time I just follow Padme's lead. She's a natural mother."
"You took to being a father pretty fast too, if I remember correctly," Obi-Wan argued.
Anakin closed his eyes as he thought back to the day Luke and Leia were born. He had been terrified. Their conception had been a complete and total surprise to them both. He'd spent the entire pregnancy wondering if he was ready to be a father and by the time Padme went into labor, his doubts seemed to double tenfold. He'd wondered if they'd be better off without him around, if they'd be better with a father who wasn't so… damaged. But, as he held each of his children for the first time, heard them cry, felt their little hands in his… Anakin had simply melted as he berated himself for even thinking of leaving them. The love he felt was overwhelming; so pure, and so intoxicating… he couldn't imagine going a day longer without it.
Obi-Wan watched Anakin carefully as the spoke quietly. They mostly focused on talking about the twins. Anakin was completely obsessed with them— As he very well should. Luke and Leia were beautiful children and he had every right to be so proud of them. But more importantly the effect they had on their father was simply magical. It was the moments he was with his children that it was easy to forget about Zygerria. When he was with them he seemed more like the man he had known before and Obi-Wan could not help but be so happy and grateful for that. And while he was still slightly disappointed that Anakin had chosen to leave the Order, the peace he sensed within him, and seeing the healthy glow in his eyes, all of it was enough to accept that it was the right thing for him to do.
Anakin brought his hand to his neck, and Obi-Wan narrowed his gaze as he watched him trace the faded remnants of the scars that rested at the base of his neck. It was a small habit, one he'd never fully recovered from but a very useful indicator that he was triggered by something. "Your scars seemed to have faded more since I was last here," Obi-Wan said.
"Huh?" Anakin pulled his hand back as he whipped his head to look at him. Obi-Wan flicked his eyebrows in gesture at the faint marks that were slightly visible. "Oh." He said. "Yeah…"
"Anakin…"
He sighed as he forced his hand back to his side. Obi-Wan had some idea of what was bothering him. But he wanted to be certain and wanted him to say it himself. Anakin swallowed and turned his back to him, taking a few pensive steps. "I heard about Ryloth," He said simply. "I also heard they might try to strike deeper in Republic space."
"It's possible," Obi-Wan said. "But doubtful. Zygerria is desperate. The end of the war damaged their economy. They're looking to rebuild it so, they go for easy targets."
Anakin shook his head. The images the holonews had broadcasted had been much more graphic than they should have shown. And it was obvious that the report and the images had a greater effect on him than Anakin let on. "I… I still think about it," He admitted quietly.
"Have you talked to Padme?"
He shook his head, "I don't want to worry her," He said. "She has enough to worry about with the twins, and the Senate… I don't want to worry her for nothing."
"But if you're thinking about it—"
"— It isn't as bad as it used to be," He said. "I know it's the past, I know what I felt for her was either manipulation or a kind of mental defense… but sometimes I get this feeling."
Obi-Wan wrapped his arms tighter around himself as he watched Anakin carefully. "What kind of feeling?" He asked.
The younger man shrugged, "I don't know how to describe it," He said. "It's like… It's like I'm missing something- or forgotten something. Like I forgot to turn the caf machine off in the morning." He shook his head again, "It's probably nothing. But when I feel it, my mind just goes back there for some reason."
The Jedi Master gave him a supportive smile as he placed a firm hand on his shoulder, "Memories like those don't fade easily," He said.
"Yeah, but sometimes they don't even feel like memories," He said. "Is it weird that I sometimes can't help but wonder what my life would be if…" His voice trailed off, as if he couldn't bring himself to say the words out loud.
"It isn't weird," Obi-Wan assured. "We all have moments where we wonder about what was and what could have been… But there's no way to know if any of that would have happened as you imagine. All we can do, is remind ourselves of what is happening now." His hand slowly guided Anakin to where he heard Padme and the twin's voices coming from.
The chef droids were putting the final touches on dinner while the twins and Padme set the small seating area. Luke, completely uninterested in edict, placed the silverware randomly on the table, while Leia make sure everything was in its proper place. Padme in the meantime, supervised everything, making sure that the twins did put out everything and that all the food would be ready at the same time. Obi-Wan watched as a small smile cracked on his lips as he watched his family.
"There's no need to worry about what was or what could have been," Obi-Wan said again. "You have a beautiful family. Focus on that. Focus on them."
Anakin closed his eyes and slowly fell back into the peace that his family brought him. Dinner was almost ready. And Obi-Wan wanted nothing more than to see the Skywalker's turn away from the dark past and look at the bright future ahead of them all.
5 Years Earlier
Zygerria
No one knew where he was going. Ahsoka was suspicious, but whether or not she knew the truth, he didn't want to find out. Regardless, Obi-Wan had a mission— a self-imposed mission and a promise he made one year earlier when he watched Miraj Scintel fly away with a Republic escort. Obi-Wan knew that it would take less than a year before the truth would be obvious. And when it was, he wanted to see for himself. Clearance to land on the slaver's planet was easy enough to obtain— it was as if he was expected. And perhaps he was. The palace was just as draconian as it was the last time he'd seen it. A pair of guards met him on the landing platform and without any words, they led him into the palace. Slaves were quick to duck out of their way, moving to the side and bowing their heads as they passed. It left a pit in his stomach to do nothing to help them. But it was out of his hands.
The throne room was at the highest level of the palace. Seated in the throne, was Miraj herself. Her legs were crossed and a kiro bird rested peacefully on her fingers. Her opposite hand made a waving gesture and the guards bowed their heads before they left. Obi-Wan stood at the base of the stairs leading up to the throne as they both waited for the doors to close. It was customary that a Jedi would bow in greeting, but to the Queen who had enslaved his friend, he would not be so respectful.
Her eyes narrowed at him as she tapped her long nails on the arm of her throne. "I had a feeling a Jedi would come one day," She said. "Though I have to say you are a bit of a disappointment."
"Were you expecting someone else?" He asked.
The bird on her hand took wing as she stood and made her way down the stairs. "I had hoped Anakin would come," She said. "I invested so much time into him. I'd hoped he would have broken free from your chains and returned to his place at my side."
Obi-Wan narrowed his eyes as she drew closer to him. "It was your chains he's broken free from," He said. "I assure you, you'll never see him again."
Miraj bared one canine tooth as she smiled cockily at him, "Would you truly deny a daughter the chance to know her father?"
He sucked in a breath as he focused on his purpose here. There is no emotion. There is peace… The Force will guide me… Anakin couldn't know about the child he'd sired with Miraj. It would break him. He'd never forgive himself for abandoning his child. But Obi-Wan knew what kind of woman Miraj was. Manipulative, deceitful, a slaver… she'd use her own child as a means to an end if it would get her what she wanted. And he wasn't going to allow her to do that to Anakin. His hand hovered near his lightsaber and while he'd never kill with it, no matter how bad things got, this was one of the rare instances where the threat of such a weapon wouldn't be a bad idea. "If it meant protecting the people I care about, then yes, I would," He said. "Officially, we are still at war. Tell me, does Dooku know who the father is?"
Miraj let out a huff and shook her head, "He's never even seen my child."
"Good," He nodded, "Never let him. If he were to find out, he'd deliver the child to his Master."
She hissed as she pointed the sharp nail of her index finger at him, "If you think I'd simply roll over and—"
"—It wouldn't matter if you did or not," He interrupted. "He'd take your daughter by force if he had to. He'd take her from your dead embrace if it came to it." Obi-Wan paused as he glanced out towards the open balcony. Birds sang in the distance as a fresh breeze blew in, pushing the curtains gently as the leaves of the plants hanging in the sunlight danced. He let out a sigh as he looked back towards the Queen. Despite how much he disliked her, despite how much pain she had caused, she also mothered the child of his best friend. And the child was the only reason he was even here. Obi-Wan sighed. "I don't know how this war will end," He said, "But I do know that so long as the Sith are a threat, Anakin's child is in grave danger." Miraj held her head high as she braced herself as if he might strike her himself. He wasn't going to. "If you love your child, you will send her away. And keep her away from Dooku, from the Sith, from the war."
He could sense the conflicted feelings in her. She truly did love her daughter. But part of him wondered how far that love went. "How do I know this isn't a trick to steal my child?" She asked.
"I assure you, it isn't," He said. "I'd never think to do that for one reason, and one reason only: keeping her here, keeping her with you, is the only way Anakin will remain ignorant of her existence."
Night had fallen on the planet by the time he left. He knew nothing of what Miraj might do but he was certain that she had no intention of letting her daughter fall into Dooku's hands. He had hope that perhaps she might heed his advice and send her away. And perhaps if she did that, he might have an opportunity to separate them permanently. But he wasn't going to worry about that just yet. For now, he was confident that she would not try to contact Anakin and that was all he wanted. Anakin would remain ignorant of his daughter's existence. And as horrible as that may seem, it was the best possible outcome. He deserved happiness. He deserved to live a life where the memories of what happened may one day fade. None of that could happen when there is living proof of its history right in front of him. Right now, he needed time. Time to heal, time to cast off the chains Miraj had wrapped around his mind. Maybe one day he would learn the truth. Maybe Anakin would never forgive him. But if it meant that he got his friend back, then it was a price worth paying.
End.
