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Returning home was a far more pleasant experience than Anakin remembered it being. How often had they come back to Coruscant without anyone waiting for them?
This time there was Padme. She was still in her senate robes, hair in the ornate cage that Anakin hated because he knew how long it took to get the damned thing off of her.
He sped up and over to her, lifting her off the ground as he spun her, making the heavy fabric of her gown fan out. She pressed her hand into the back of his neck as he stopped and brought his mouth down for a kiss.
Stars, how he'd missed her.
His hand slipped between them, pressing carefully against her dress and there, yes, finally, there was a bump.
Their youngest. Their baby.
"Where's Luke?" he asked, pulling back, thumb now stroking her belly in a private greeting to their child.
"School," Padme replied. "I'll have to go and pick him up in an hour-"
"I'll come," Anakin said firmly. He'd not had the chance really to pick Luke up since Luke's first week which had been a nightmare of bribery and extortion.
"You don't need to report?"
"Anakin is safe from that," Obi-Wan said, striding close. Behind him, Ahsoka flashed a grin at Anakin.
"You just don't want me to explain in detail exactly how you distracted Ventress-"
"It worked," Obi-Wan said, sounding only a little defensive (but mostly smug because they both knew that Anakin wasn't going to fight to go to the debrief).
Ahsoka rolled her eyes and smiled at Padme. "Senator," she greeted happily.
"Hello Ahsoka," Padme said and Anakin was pleased by the genuine warmth in her voice. "Thank you for keeping them both out of trouble."
Obi-Wan blinked at that, as if stunned that anyone would compare him in that way to Anakin. "Senator, I can assure you that Anakin-"
"Got it from somewhere," Padme said simply with a triumphant sound in her voice. "Well, if you don't need to debrief then I suppose we could walk down to Luke's school."
That…sounded pleasant actually. With a nod and a kiss to her hair, Anakin smiled at his former master and former Padawan. "Good luck. Enjoy the council," he added.
He got two foul looks for that.
Xxx
Walking through Coruscant at the upper levels was always a little odd, only because it wasn't something that he often did. He'd found since Luke had come into their lives he ended up doing more and more things like this; not for a purpose but rather for the simply joy of doing it.
It reminded him of being young with Obi-Wan when their mission was complete and war wasn't on. Sometimes, Obi-Wan would spend an extra week or so there teaching Anakin about the native culture or just exploring.
One day, he vowed. One day, he'd do the same with Padme and Luke and…it. The baby. The war would be over and they would explore places together.
It was a simple dream, he knew. But a lovely one.
The school that they had decided to send Luke to wasn't far away from the senate building. It was an exclusive school (something Anakin hadn't exactly been keen on) but the location made it the best fit.
That and there was a strict policy about media droids.
They were allowed through the gates and Anakin nodded at the clones standing there, not entirely sure if he approved of them being used in this way. The outside front area was covered which provided some shade for the warm day and Anakin glanced around, surprised by the number of officials that stood waiting.
"I've booked a medi-scan for the day after tomorrow," Padme said slowly. "We can find out what it is."
What it is? Oh. "You mean the baby?"
Padme nodded.
"Be nice to stop calling it 'it'," Anakin said slowly, his arms around her.
Padme nodded again and then winced. "Luke thinks he knows what the baby is," she said eventually.
"And?"
"He thinks it's a girl," Padme said with a smile.
Anakin stared across the opening and at the door that opened. Tiny children were filtering out of all different species and he could swear there was a little brown haired girl running among them.
He'd seen the little girl so many times. In a crowd of playing younglings, as he hovered between being asleep and awake. Always running with a smile, her long braids looking like gleaming lengths of rope that had been polished by the sun.
The image had been recurring since the force planet. It was the only thing he could really remember after he had gone off on his own the second time.
Part of him wondered if he'd seen anything else…the way he'd been panting when he'd fallen to the floor…
Padme touched his shoulder gently and he blinked himself back to her. Yeah. Anakin was pretty sure he knew why Luke thought this might be a girl. And part of him hoped it was too. Maybe, just maybe…
He smiled down at her. "Guess we'll find out during the scan. And-"
He broke off as he spotted his son.
As much as Luke has protested and plotted against them to go to school, it had clearly been the best thing they had done for him. Even speaking to him on the holo had let Anakin see that over the past few months.
And now…
His son was chatting animatedly to a little Patrolian boy whose gills caught the wind and whose eyes were fixed on Luke with glee. They appeared to be in a very serious discussion and Luke was beaming as he talked, hands moving quickly like Padme's did when she was talking about something that excited her.
A Falleen brushed past and Luke turned to acknowledge him, probably saying goodbye and the two shared a brief grin before Luke continued the discussion with the Patrolian.
He had friends.
It was a weird relief. Not that he'd thought the other kids wouldn't like Luke, but given the boy's background they might have found him odd or unusual. And Anakin had been to enough places as a child that he knew how cruel children could be when faced with something different.
Then Luke spotted him and he stopped, the conversation apparently forgotten. A delighted smile crossed his face and he turned to say something quickly to his friend before he practically flew across the open area to Anakin and flung himself up and into him.
Stars, the boy was getting heavy. Still, Anakin kept him close, breathing in the clean, fresh smell of Luke that was mixed a little with engine grease and he'd bet the boy had a project or two under his bed.
"You're home," Luke crowed, pulling back to stare up at Anakin. He wriggled a little, adjusting himself so that he was on Anakin's hip. "Mom, Dad's home!"
"I can see," Padme said, brushing Luke's hair out of his face.
"Mom," Luke complained, leaning away. "Don't be mushy."
"Ah." Padme seemed more amused than anything as she nodded. Then she leaned over to kiss his cheek and Luke let out a mortified whine looking torn between being pleased by the attention and embarrassment that he still let his mom give him a kiss at the age of eight.
The boy was growing up far too quickly.
Xxx
They went home for dinner and Padme opened up the balcony in the formal rooms for them to eat outside. Luke was made to go and do his homework which he did with only a minimal battle that revolved around him pointing out Threepio could do it and then instantly backing down when Padme got a little sharp at the suggestion and reminded him that Threepio was not his personal slave and had more important things to be doing. Luke backed off looking like he wished he'd never mentioned it.
"Some of the children are so spoiled," Padme complained to Anakin as they sat out on the balcony together, looking at across the cityscape. "I tried to encourage him to have a few over to play and one of the children was surprised that we didn't have servants and the droids wouldn't obey his every whim."
Other people's children were not something that Anakin had really bothered to consider. "And the rest?" he asked, shifting a little and enjoying the peace. He took a sip of the flowered water she'd given him. It was ice cold and delicious enough that he was planning on getting it endlessly supplied to them.
"A mix. Most are very likeable children. But… we had a Rhodian girl over. Wondi. Luke's a little bit in love with her-"
"What?" Anakin asked, suddenly panicked, his drink sloshing over him.
"He thinks she has the most beautiful eyes and she knows everything. For two weeks, he seemed determined to try and tell me everything that he thought she knew." Padme still seemed amused by it. "I don't think her parents have been on planet for about four months. She has a nanny that she's not fond of and an aunt that visits maybe twice a month. Poor thing. Luke's determined to have her move in at the moment. He always looks very thoughtful whenever she'd mentioned."
Part of him winced because wasn't that an insight into Luke's teenage years, yet he felt a fierce burst of pride that was stronger than anything he felt.
His son was trying to help someone.
And later, when Luke announced with glee that homework was finished, Anakin drew him close and whispered how proud he was in his son's ear. Luke ducked his head a little and offered up a shy grin as if Anakin had just awarded him with a medal.
Xxx
The next morning, he felt the novelty of taking Luke to school. His son chatted away happily in the speeder, asking about seventy questions as Anakin piloted.
"Dad?"
"Mm."
"Why do you think that the star map doesn't label Tatooine?"
It surprised Anakin that he couldn't decide whether to commend or condemn that decision. "I don't suppose they think it's important."
Luke's face scrunched up at that. "But there are people on it," he said with a frown. "They're all important to someone."
"There's a lot of illegal activity there," Anakin said, scowling as someone pulled in front of him. Any other day, without Luke in the passenger seat, he'd have engaged thrusters and caught the sleemo up. "The republic find it frustrating. Same with most of Hutt space. There's just a broad overview without any particulars about the planets."
"Do I have a farm boy accent?"
Uck. That. "Nope. You have the same accent as me and your mom."
"Yours is stronger."
Yes it was. Anakin shifted a little, not sure why that suddenly unnerved him. Perhaps a few comments made when he was entering adolescence had stuck with him after all. "Who said you had a farm boy accent?"
"Sameal," Luke said honestly. "He's always strutting around like he owns the place. His father's an admiral."
Really? "You like him?"
Luke gave him a look. One that was so much like Padme, Anakin nearly steered them into oncoming traffic. Then the boy shrugged. "He's okay. He just hates everything. Talking to him is boring."
And, apparently, just like that, his son had decided his priorities in life. To be interested and happy.
"You know," Anakin said as he spotted the school in the distance. Part of him was tempted to keep Luke with him, but that wasn't exactly gonna win him Dad of the year. "I think sometimes I wish I was a bit like you."
"Me?" Luke asked, as if maybe he hadn't heard that right. "But you can fly."
Anakin looked down at his son. "You'll fly one day."
"Thirteen," Luke said firmly.
Ah. "They um…raised the legal speed limit," Anakin said with a wince and he in no way suspected that his wife had played a vital part in that legislation.
His son looked like someone had died. Horror filled his face and then he groaned, flopping back into the seat in the most dramatic fashion Anakin had ever seen.
"Fifteen," he said, locating a parking spot. There were a few other small children wandering around and Anakin wondered if the tall human boy waving his hand in an imperious manner might be Sameal. "Who's that?"
Luke grumbled as he sat up and peeked a look. "That's Drayton," he said, spotting the boy quickly. "He's Sameal's friend. They're two grades above me."
Huh.
Luke fixed him with a stern look. "Don't do anything embarrassing," he ordered suddenly.
Four months at school and Luke was throwing the word embarrassing around.
Great.
He saw his offspring to the gates and then was promptly warned to not follow by Luke who stepped into the school cautiously. The idiotic child walked backwards, keeping his gaze on Anakin like he was a pet that might come chasing after Luke.
Apparently, his son felt this was his domain and no interference would be allowed.
"Mr Skywalker?"
Anakin blinked at the woman who had asked. He didn't think he'd been referred to in such a way in his whole life. Yet…yeah, so his titles were a bit of a muddle. She could have at least gone for General.
"I'm sorry," she said with an apologetic smile. "I just…I'm Luke's teacher."
"Is he…is he all right? Everything all right?" Anakin asked quickly, looking back at where his son had disappeared.
She smiled. "He's a lovely child. Very friendly now that he'd gotten over his shyness. We do a helper's award each month and he might be getting something during our assembly. I thought you'd like to know."
Anakin couldn't stop the smile that crossed his face.
No-way was he missing picking Luke up.
Xxx
The chancellor had requested his presence last night. A kind message, asking Anakin to pop in and visit while Padme worked. It seemed strange though, in some ways. They'd barely talked in the past year what with Luke and Padme and the baby.
And Anakin's own muddled career path, whatever that was shaping up to be.
"My boy," the chancellor greeted, standing when Anakin walked into his office. An aide was handing over a datapad and hovered. "How are you?" the chancellor continued.
"Very well," Anakin replied, feeling a little…awkward. He watched as the chancellor shook his head and the aide smiled tightly before leaving with the datapad.
"And your son?" the chancellor continued.
"He's…amazing," Anakin said, trying to keep a little bit of stoicism and feeling that he was failing miserably. "I can't really remember what it was like not to have him now."
Chancellor Palpatine smiled at that. "I can imagine. From what I remember, he was very much like you as a boy."
Anakin shook his head and then let himself be guided to a seat when the chancellor indicated. "He's Padme's through and through."
The chancellor hummed a little at that. "He doesn't come by as much as he used to."
"No. School," Anakin said apologetically. "This is hardly a place for a child anyway. He'd be bored now." He winced slightly. "I mean-"
The chancellor waved his scrambling attempt to explain away. "And the outer rim territories?" he asked, his face smoothing into an expression of concern.
"Surely you've had the report-"
The chancellor winced. "I do, I just…here," he said, handing over the datapad and Anakin blinked at handling a document that he probably didn't have clearance to read. He glanced at Chancellor Palpatine, a little unsure, but scanned down the document.
"Is it as it should be?"
No. Baffled, Anakin scrolled through it quickly, a sinking feeling flooding his limbs. "I…no. Who sent this to you?"
Chancellor Palpatine pinched the bridge of his nose and stood, shaking his head. "This war," he said, walking to his large windows. "For everything I do to bring it to a close, something always seems to get in the way. To keep it going. I have to rely on the reports and yet when I read them, sometimes I fear…" he shook his head and waved a hand at Anakin. "You have other concerns, my boy. It is enough to know that my suspicions are well founded, at least."
Anakin stared at him and then looked back down at the datapad. "But if you're not been given the correct information then how can you-"
"Make the right decisions?" the chancellor asked with a sad smile. "I fear that answer, Anakin. I truly do."
"We have a traitor," Anakin decided firmly as he stood up. "Who gave you this report?" he asked, waving it slightly.
The Chancellor studied him and then shook his head suddenly. "It puts you in a terribly awkward position. I won't do it. And this is not…it is not your battle." He drew in a breath looking suddenly exhausted. "I promise you, Anakin. You have done more than enough to help."
Placing the datapad down, Anakin watched him. How hard must it be to know that every decision you made affected millions of lives across the galaxy? That kind of constant pressure must be unbearable.
"I can check more if-"
But the chancellor held up his hand. "By this time, decisions would have already been made and we'll be about twenty steps beyond whatever old reports say. It is a kind offer, but one that would be ultimately fruitless. I would not waste your time on such an endeavour." The Chancellor seemed to shake himself. "Time, I hear that is well spent on other activities. The Jedi have accepted you back?"
"No…well, not exactly. I…" how did he explain it? "I help with missions."
The chancellor raised an eyebrow at that. "I see," he said in a tone of voice which seemed to indicate he didn't. "You are sent on missions by the Jedi council and are not recognised for it?"
"I don't do it for the recognition," Anakin said, shaking himself, slightly annoyed at the implication. It sounded, ironically enough, a little too much like some of the accusations he'd heard from the council at the start of the war. "It's…" he thought of Luke and shrugged. "Annoying," he said. "But I made my choice."
The chancellor studied him, the gaze intent. "You truly have changed, my boy. You seem…settled. Fatherhood seems to have given you a purpose."
"I hope so," Anakin said honestly. "We're soon to have another one so-"
The chancellor looked surprised. "Ah," he said. "Senator Amidala has not announced the news."
Oh.
Well.
He was about to be yelled at then.
Xxx
Thankfully, Luke's utter delight at receiving his award kept Padme from saying a word. And Ahsoka and Obi-Wan dined with them that night, both of them looking amused by Luke who had his award on the table and kept trying to polish it.
Luke was far better around Obi-Wan now. In fact, since the time in the senate building when Padme had been held hostage and the shadow in Luke had taken over his mind, Luke seemed a thousand times better. Almost as if what had been in his mind had been used up or exhausted. Luke's shields remained in place and he never wanted to use the force, but he also didn't flinch as much when Anakin was annoyed or look at Obi-Wan like he was a bomb Luke had to defuse.
Either that or seven weeks without Anakin around had let the boy's mind settle down.
That was a miserable thought. That his son did better without him around.
Ahsoka played with Luke. As much as Luke never wanted to actually use the force, he was quite happy to pretend that a training staff was a lightsabre and do the sound affects while Ahsoka played sith to his jedi.
"One padawan married, the other fallen to the darkside," Anakin said, waving his hand at Ahsoka. "I think you should probably accept that training another is just not something you're good at master."
Obi-Wan snorted. "As ever, Anakin, your wit astounds me." He smiled at Padme as she reached for her comm that was going off and left the room to take a call. "I cannot believe the change in that boy."
"I can't believe how proud I am of him," Anakin said, watching Luke jump onto the couch and parry one of Ahsoka's hits, his grin wide. "But…I think about where he started and how well he's turning out and…it's all him. He's a good kid."
"It's a wonderful feeling," Obi-Wan said quietly, not looking at Anakin, but keeping his eyes fixed on Ahsoka and Luke. "To know you've raised a good man."
"He's hardly a man," Anakin said, backtracking a little.
"Even if he is a bit obtuse."
"I…what…oh," Anakin blinked, not sure what to do with that at all. Instead they both sat there, Obi-Wan apparently amused and Anakin bumbling through how to cope with the unusual praise.
"Say 'thank you', Anakin."
Anakin smiled. "You had something to do with it," he said and felt a flicker of warmth from his former master. Then: "I um…the chancellor," he said slowly. "He showed me a datapad of our mission today. It was…it wasn't what happened."
Obi-Wan frowned and turned his attention back to Anakin. "How do you mean?" Then, when Anakin floundered, he reached inside his robes and brought out one. "Here," he said. "This is what I created."
It was different. Much more to the point and Anakin suddenly realised how little that previous report had even sounded like it had come from Obi-Wan. His master was too prone to adding sly remarks and making references that no-one but those on the mission would get. All reports were meant to be as unbiased as possible and, if you'd never been on a mission with Obi-Wan you would think his reports were perfect.
If you'd been with him once, you learned to read between the lines.
"This isn't what the chancellor had. Who did you give it to?"
Obi-Wan sat back. "Anakin…I am a Jedi Master. I have a seat on the council."
"And?"
"I gave it directly to the chancellor."
What? "One of his aides then," Anakin said blinking and feeling a wash of relief because for half a day he'd wondered if Obi-Wan had handed something to the council and it had been they who had doctored it.
Obi-Wan nodded. "Ahsoka," he called. "I fear we have missions and reports and paperwork and all the wonderful things that Anakin can push our way."
Yeah. He did not miss those things. Luke came trotting over, studied him as Obi-Wan took the training staffs and then started to climb up Anakin like he was a climbing frame. By the time Obi-Wan was ready, Luke was settled on Anakin's shoulders, his arms resting on Anakin's head.
"If you need help with the aide-"
Obi-Wan waved him off. "In this it is better to have the strength of the council and the status of Jedi. Acting alone might open you up to some awkward questions and I'd rather not have you in that position."
"Anakin," Padme exploded from the other room. "Did you announce my pregnancy to the entire senate?"
"At the moment," Anakin said, looking at his former master, "I think I'd happily take my chances."
xxx
The medi centre was weird. Anakin couldn't remember the last one that hadn't been manned by clones and droids yet here was an actual human doctor, smiling at them all as Padme lay back on the chair.
Anakin sat close, Luke on his lap.
"What does that do?" Luke asked, pointing at something on the tray that had been wheeled to the side. Anakin couldn't tell which one he was pointing at but Dr Vega smiled gently.
"That's the equipment we use when your Mom gives birth," she said.
Really? They looked more like torture devices. Shifting uncomfortably, Anakin tried to hide his own distaste when Luke swung his head up to stare at Anakin with shock. Unsure, Anakin looked over at Padme.
"Did you read the files I give you?" she asked, studiously avoiding the tray.
"I…was selective," Anakin said. Luke was almost glaring at Padme's belly now and Anakin tapped his son on the nose. "Come on. You wanted to see your brother or sister."
Luke rolled his eyes, but nodded.
In the air in front of them, just above where Padme lay, a hologram lit up. Empty but they could see the screen. Dr Vega hovered a scanner over Padme's stomach and then-
He could see the baby.
It was tiny and looked like an entirely different species at the moment. All curled up tight and sucking its thumb. The heartbeat filled the room and it was perfect. Absolutely perfect.
"Everything looks perfectly healthy," Dr Vega said. "The foetus is progressing correctly, almost exactly on track for growth."
"And…" Padme's voice trembled a little making Anakin finally tear his gaze away. She was bright eyed and smiling, staring at the hologram. "Is it a girl?"
Dr Vega looked a little taken aback, but nodded. "It is, she said. "Congratulations. You have a daughter."
A daughter.
He tugged Luke closer into him, feeling his heart swell just a little bit. He had a son and a daughter and he knew in that instant, without a flicker of doubt, that she would have her mother's eyes and the most infectious laugh.
And that this time nothing, nothing would ever happen to her.
