The Jedi Change
Disclaimer: Star Wars not mine it is.
Chapter Ten- The Good Father
Anakin regarded his wife's regal dress and elaborate coif with chagrin. Padmé was going to the office. His disdain for the Senate no longer existed. He had a new and healthy respect for the complexities of their work. He knew how important her post was to Padmé and would to continue to support it, but…while she was a revered Senator of Naboo, she was also his very pregnant wife.
He watched her handmaiden help her adjust the train of the dress. "I still don't think you should go."
"Ani, you know it can't be helped."
"I'll see to your transport, my lady."
"Thank you, Motee," Anakin answered for Padmé.
He crossed the room to stand before her. He touched her cheek. "Why don't I fly you there, hmm? You can train Jar-Jar on what to do while you're on maternity leave, and I can visit with Senator Ackbar or maybe Chancellor Organa. We could go to lunch later…how about going to the diner? I know Dex would be happy to see you."
Padmé smiled and pressed his hand on her cheek. "You're terribly bored here, aren't you?"
He smiled sheepishly. "A little. Not with you, of course."
"Of course."
"I'll get adjusted to it, angel. I'm just so used to being…"
"Always on the move?"
"Yes. Now that I'm not rushing to any rescues or flying off to some battle-worn planet, I fear I don't know quite what to do with myself."
"You're doing just fine," she said lovingly.
He leaned down to kiss her, but his son had other ideas. The baby kicked her, hard, and Anakin reared back with a grin.
"Was that the baby?"
Padmé rubbed the spot on her belly with a groan. "Of course it was the baby. I think he just tried to walk out of my womb."
"Any day now," he said with cheer.
"Yes, and may I say I am ready for it?"
Anakin chuckled and hugged her. "You know, we could be wrong. He could be a she."
Padmé was immediately suspicious. "You haven't looked, have you?"
"No, darling. I promised you I wouldn't, remember? I am as in the dark as you."
"He's a boy."
"He's a boy." He kissed the top of her head. "Lucius Skywalker."
"No."
"Not that either? Well…it was worth a shot."
She stepped away from him and headed toward the doors.
"Why don't you into the city?" she asked him. "You could spend some time just being a citizen."
"Angel, I'd get mobbed before my feet hit the ground. Maybe I'll go to Temple. I could have lunch with the Younglings. I haven't done that in a while. I could talk to Obi-Wan."
He saw the look of worry on her face and knew the source of it.
"Sweetheart, they won't call me to duty. They are of their word."
She smiled. "Okay. I'll see you this evening. I love you."
"I love you, too. Have a good day."
A few hours later…
Anakin leaned against the doorway and observed the Living Force class. When he first arrived at Temple, he had already been too old for the class. Master Yoda had taken it upon himself to instruct Anakin. It was the only time in his memory—before those days ago in session— that Anakin felt Master Yoda's decision was based on wanting to spare his feelings of ineptitude by surrounding him with those heavily indoctrinated in the ways of the Force.
When he and Obi-Wan visited Temple when he was a teen, Anakin would come to see the younglings often. They were the only group in the Order who never nagged him. The children openly adored him. The feeling was mutual.
He listened to Master Dralig's instruction for the children and absorbed it for himself.
"Trust your instincts," he said mildly, pacing and watching the children deflects stings from the training orbs with lightsabers whose blades were almost as tall as they were. "Your eyes can deceive you. Feel the Force flow through you. Concentrate on the moment…"
His own concentration broke when he finally noticed their guest.
"Good morning, Master Skywalker!" Master Dralig exclaimed. "Younglings, look who has come to see us."
There were squeals of excitement from the short occupants of the room, and many fought with their pudgy hands to move the visors of their helmets up from over their eyes. Small lightsabers clattered to the floor. Someone had the presence of mind to telepathically open the window shades.
Anakin grinned. "Hello, everyone."
Their little faces gawked at him, but they managed a greeting in unison. "Good morning, Master Anakin."
"I didn't intend to interrupt their training, Master," he said to the troll.
"We were just finishing up, Anakin," he said with a smile. "What brings you here today? I thought you were on Leave."
"I am," he said, still grinning at the expectant faces of the younglings. "I just thought my friends here would like to tell me all about their training over lunch this afternoon."
That caused a rousing cheer around the room, and Youngling Szhun asked, "Are you sitting with us, Master Skywalker?"
He bowed dramatically and the children tittered with laughter. "If you wouldn't mind."
A blonde boy, human, no more than seven years old, removed the helmet from his head and somberly replaced his lightsaber on his belt. He stepped around his classmates and stood in front of Anakin, tilting his head all the way back to look at him.
Anakin knew him, and he recognized this child from his vision.
"Master Skywalker, there are too many of them," the youngling said after the doors shut and he could leave his hiding place, unaware of his real danger. He shook from his fear as he asked the newly-minted Darth Vader, "What are we going to do?"
The startled look on his sweet face remained even after Vader had slain him.
Anakin crouched down so the boy could see him without straining to do so. His throat worked against his emotions. He never wanted the memory of that vision again. "Did you want to say something to me, Ian?"
The look that passed between them was one of understanding. The boy was too wise by far. "I'm glad you're here, Master Ani. That's all."
He smoothed a hand over Ian's hair. "So am I, Ian."
Anakin stood. "Come along, children. I have to tell you something."
Master Dralig walked alongside him toward the dining hall. The children followed in a…somewhat…orderly fashion.
"I was happy to hear of your appointment to the Mastery, Anakin."
"Thank you. It was a welcomed surprise."
"I must admit though; your marriage stunned me."
"It stunned everyone. I'm sorry for the deception, Cin."
"It is not my place to judge, Ani. Be at peace."
"You'll have a Skywalker to train in a few years."
Dralig beamed with pride. "I heard that as well. I look forward to it, Anakin."
"Master, you do think the Council will allow that, don't you?" Anakin inquired. "You don't think they would forbid it since my son won't be living here?"
"Anakin, you are the Chosen One. Your son would never be forbidden a padawanship. Try not to worry."
"I don't…for the most part. Forgive me, Master. I've spent the last two days immersed in baby preparation. It's made my mind wander."
"Perhaps it would be good to talk about it. Mayum Kai! Do not run."
"The list is too long, Master."
"Give me the short version."
They stopped at the doorway before the banquet line, and Dralig addressed his students.
"Younglings," he began authoritatively. "Remember: the utensils are necessary, and they are expected to be used. Understood?"
"Yes, Master Dralig."
"You may go in. Sylvestro?"
"Yes, Master?"
"A Jedi does not use his lightsaber as a dinner knife," he declared pointedly.
"Yes, Master," the Mon Calamarian answered, head bowed.
"As you were saying, Anakin?"
"I wonder about what he'll look like," Anakin started. "Will he be as Force-sensitive as I am or as docile as his mother…"
"Docile? Senator Amidala?"
"You know what I mean. Will he be tall? Whose eyes will he have? Where will we live? Where will he go to school? Will he have my passion and his mother's strength? What will he be when he grows up? What if…"
"Whoa, Anakin. That is a lot."
"I told you." He placed a tray on conveyor belt and politely refused a cup of Hoi broth from the line server. "You must think Leave is turning my brain to mush."
"Hardly. It's a natural process, I assume. You're going to be a father. That is a great privilege and a huge undertaking. 'Tis only natural you think about it. You are going to be responsible for the shaping of your boy's character."
That was the crux of it. He didn't want Daniel—no, Padmé would not like that name either. He didn't want their son to suffer the same conflicts he had. He wanted to protect him from any thing that might cause him pain, and he knew that realistically he could not shield his son all the time. The things that hurt you can make you stronger. There would be lessons that he would have to learn on his own. All Anakin could do was try to be there when they happened, guiding him, making sure his boy would have the proper faculties to make his own decisions.
"I don't know if I am going to be any good at this, Master," he said after they seated.
The younglings settled down to their lunch. Between the subdued scattershot conversations and watching the Padawan Apprentices, more food ended up on the table and floor than in their mouths.
"Ian," Anakin said, reaching across the table and halting the child's awkward use of his fork. "Cut your food into smaller bites, please. You try to swallow that, and you might choke."
"Yes, Master Anakin."
Ian's tongue stuck out at the corner of his mouth as he concentrated on cutting his meat.
Dralig watched Anakin watching the boy and smiled. "I don't think you have a thing to worry about."
Anakin sighed and began to eat. "I suppose we'll see."
"Ani…when you were a padawan, I used to observe you with the younglings. You were completely at ease with them. I think you understood them more than you did your peers. You knew what it was like to grow up alone, away from home…away from your mother. You nurtured them in ways you were no longer."
The troll leaned closer to add, "Be mindful of your own kindness, Anakin. You already love your son and he has yet to take his first breath. Let him guide you. You'll raise each other."
That was a wonderful comfort to hear. "Thank you, Cin."
"You're most welcome."
There was a commotion at the Masters' Table, and Anakin turned in time to see Masters Windu and Secura walk hurriedly out of the room.
"What do you suppose that is?"
"I don't know."
Anakin stopped a sentry as she passed. "What's going on?"
"There is an urgent message from Master Kenobi," she said out of breath. "The Council is convening to listen."
She ran to catch up with the Masters, Anakin staring after them.
Obi-Wan.
Was he in trouble?
"You're on Leave, Ani," Dralig said knowingly.
He nodded.
"We will all know soon enough. Finish your lunch and tell the children of your abundant good fortune."