You guys are getting two epilogues because I had two ideas and couldn't decide which one I liked better. You're welcome. Thank you for all who reviews, Alerted, Favourite, Recommended this story. I love you all!
When Luke and Leia had turned a year old, they returned to Coruscant. Padmé had been asked to stand as Speaker of the Senate under the new Chancellor Organa, but had discreetly declined. Favoring to return to her lowly position of Senator for the time being.
Anakin had taken to his new role of teacher with such vigor, that she couldn't believe that he was still the same man who sneered at the thought of taking a Padawan. He would teach at the Temple in the afternoons, and the rest of the time he would spend teaching Luke and Leia the ways of the Force. At three years old, they were every bit the children Obi Wan had once wished for Anakin. Leia was as stubborn as her father and equally volatile, where Luke was a calm collect pool of clarity, unless Leia stole his stuffed Wookie and then he became a rage monster of angry words and fists.
Far too many times Anakin sighed and looked to his Master, asking for forgiveness. The wise Jedi would merely smile with a bemused look and the two would separate the children and give them a lesson of anger. Obi Wan Kenobi visited almost daily, but never unannounced. A fact that she was praying she would never have to explain to her children.
It was the eve of their sixth anniversary that she stared at the beeping machine with a beaming smile. Praying that Anakin would remain obtuse, she knew she couldn't keep it from him forever, but just enough to surprise him.
"Positive." It said mechanically.
oOo
Her second pregnancy had been much easier and the depression she had experienced with the twins hadn't appeared with their newest daughter, unlike the utter fatigue that had. She had fallen asleep in her Senate pod far too many times and was grateful for the heavy accoutrements that had hid the face from her fellow delegates when Dormé would poke her awake when it came time to vote. But time passed, far too quickly and she mourned the time spent cuddling with her baby in the morning light, the look of awe in Anakin's face as she fed the infant. It all ends in time.
Five years had passed and as such had come the time that she and Anakin had bravely waved to the twins as they cleared the great stone arches, both teary eyed as any parent on their children's first day of school. Their own sadness doubled at the doubling of their children they saw off. Anakin carried his four year old daughter who was still confused as to why her older siblings wouldn't be at the large apartment anymore to play with her all day. The little girl clung to her Father, comforted by his steady presence in her life.
Days passed and the parting grew easier. Until four nights prior of their anniversary when Yoda had asked that the children remain with the Jedi for the weekend. Certain trials needed to be done and while Padmé had relented, it had taken Anakin much more coercing, for positions had reversed and he had little faith in the Jedi, who had undying faith in their Chosen One.
It had been Luke's big blue eyes pleading his Father to relent when Anakin finally nodded.
The parting was excruciating as they knew that the two wouldn't rest their little heads in their parent's house that night. They dropped the two off and after watching them disappear into the dark and cavernous Temple Anakin and Padmé too parted with a chaste kiss and Anakin returned to the Apartment with his youngest as Padmé left to the Senate, the elections for the next Chancellor were upcoming and there was a tension in the air as the Chancellor prior to Organa had abused the position so wholly that they would always be concerned with the dead space between. The days passed and the ache in their chest's grew as the silence in the apartment grew deafening.
But all things end as the two had returned to their parents, full of joy and happiness and loud boisterous stories to tell. Their joy nipped at the heels of Anakin's fear and it quickly floated away as a cloud on a windy day. His fears was now in the past and the future while still uncertain, was a ray of blinding light rather than a gloomy thunder cloud.
It was the day's end and she dragged her feet as she walked into the apartment, surprised at the lack of greeting from her family. In the great sitting room, Obi Wan Kenobi was playing with her youngest, her chocolate brown curls in a plait down her back a signature of Dormé.
Anakin had mentioned that he wished to take her out for the evening to celebrate their wedding anniversary. And she suspected that the children's two caregivers who had suddenly appeared for the evening had been planned well in advanced.
She was putting pins in her hair, awed at the face in the mirror. For the first time in months, she felt like the young and foolish woman who had given into Anakin's charming words and love struck eyes. The scarlet dress had been a gift that she had found that morning. It was risqué and sexy and far to revealing of a piece for a mother of three and a Senator, but she had put it on anyway.
"Wow- you look- .. wow!".. she heard from the door way behind her, and Anakin appeared, his ever present black robes giving him the presence of the great Jedi he was, but his face was that of the nineteen year old boy when she had first emerged from the Fresher in a black lace nightie on their wedding night. "Just-..I.."
"Problem, Master Skywalker?"
"Yes, breathing. -.." He stepped forward and kissed her cheek, " I..You're-.. I mean, I didn't realise how dangerous you would be to my cardio-pulmonary when I ordered that. You are, by far the most beautiful creature in the galaxy." He nuzzled her neck, his finger wrapping around the single loose curl that trailed a dangerous line down her now generous chest.
"Am I no longer an Angel?"
"My love, angels would bow at your feet and a Sith seductress would heel at your elbow for counsel." She smiled, ever the wordsmith, Anakin always knew what to say.
She felt like a woman who was very much in love with a man. The man in question looked like he was about to keel over. Or rip her dress off. Neither was preferable, for she liked the dress enough not to wish it ripped from her body, as others had gone in history. "You best wait for me out front, less we never leave and have to explain to Obi Wan and Dormé."
"Both have caught us in far more precarious situations my love."
"I believe that's what put us here in the first place."
"Most certainly Angel. Most certainly." He disappeared as she requested and she stood to get a glimpse of herself in the mirror. While Anakin would never be one for fashion, he did have a brilliant eye for picking out dresses for her. When asked he had shrugged and simply said, "I know your body well."
Indeed he did. The fabric clung to her curves and did an expert job at hiding her insecurities, the subtle print not overwhelming her. The image in the mirror was the very one she knew Anakin saw every day, no matter what she was, or was not wearing. The beautiful creature in the mirror was the one he worshipped, he adored.
She collected the black clutch and slid into the matching shoes, smoothing the rich satin fabric. He had chosen well, she noted as she took one last glance and emerged from their room.
"Ready." Anakin was seated on the large couch, Leia curled on his lap, her head tucked under his chin, Luke leaning against him. He nodded and stood as the children jumped up to hug their mother. "We'll be home late." She said, pointing at both of them, "You will behave for Obi Wan and Dormé."
"Yes Momma," they said, glancing at each other in disappointment. She opened her arms wide and enveloped the two in her arms. She loved being a Senator, a voice of the people, and she would tell Anakin about her nomination for Chancellor after they returned. She didn't want to spoil the night. Yet even if she did become Chancellor, it would pale to this. She adored being a Mother as much as Anakin cherished being a Father. Anakin was holding their little one and Padmé dropped a kiss on her chubby cheek. "Keep an eye on your brother and sister."
The little girl nodded enthusiastically and wrapped her hands around her mother's neck. Padmé hugged the child and placed her on her feet. Not seconds later Anakin had all three of them in his arms holding them close. "Be Good." he whispered, "I love you," he said kissing his eldest daughter's cheek, "and I love you." He said kissing his son's forehead, "and I love you." He said as he kissed his youngest on her nose.
"Love you Daddy." They said in unison. He stood and stretched a hand to Padmé. Determined to have a good time.
xXx
"Master Yoda." Nine year old Luke Skywalker bowed.
"Ready you are. To take you, a Master will." Luke hardened his heart against the fear and worry from being separated from his parents. His mother and father had sat him down and asked him if this was what he wanted. Leia had chose to follow their mother in the political ring, but her Force abilities were equal to his and stronger than any save their father and younger sister.
But this was what he wanted. He wanted to make their father proud and be worthy of being the son of the best Jedi in the galaxy. He wanted to be worthy of calling himself Anakin Skywalker's son.
But he still was scared. "Fear I sense in you young Skywalker."
"Yes Master Yoda. I am scared of the changes, I fear never seeing my parent's again. But my Father told me the will of the Force can be persuaded to change its course for those who's will is stronger." Yoda paused for only a second, and let the pride and surprise pass him. Anakin Skywalker had proven not only worthy of being a Master, but he had learned so much from being a Father. His son Luke was the example of how he had taught both his children to face their fear, not to let it tempt them as it did him.
"To Master Obi Wan, you will go." Luke clapped his hands over his mouth, his last defense against letting the cheer out. The man was his father's best friend, an advisor to his mother, and Luke's own godfather.
Luke wasn't scared anymore.
oOo
"And what is such a little girl doing in a big place like this?" A tall scary man asked her. Leia wasn't afraid. She read the man's mind easily and put on an air of confidence.
"I am an aide to the Chancellor. Now step aside." She said, but the man didn't move. "This datapad needs to be seen by the Chancellor ten minutes ago. Step aside."
"Are you going to report me?"
"Do not accost that girl Senator Yoo.. That's Skywalker's girl." Another man said. The Senator quickly stepped aside at the mention of her surname, she didn't know if it was her mother or father the man feared, but she cared not. She merely smiled sweetly and hurried on her way.
She had decided that she wanted to be a senator like her mother someday, but the newly elected Chancellor Skywalker had told her daughter not to grow up too fast. Leia was counting the days till she could enter the legislative youth program on Naboo like her Mother.
Her father had taken some coaxing, but Leia had long ago realised that she had an awesome power over her father. She had crawled up into his lap and batted her big brown eyes at him, "Please Daddy." She had pouted softly, "Please."
"Fine, but your teaching will be supplemented with Jedi training." He had relented. "You will know how to protect yourself.. Force help us if you're like your mother."
So her nights were spent with her father and her younger sister being taught the ways of the Force and her days were spent in the Aide program on Coruscant. She sat in on all her Mother's meetings and told her during the breaks and after what they were really thinking. Her mother though it was cheating, but her father had said that these were the gifts she had been born with, blessed with. Why not use them.
She slipped into the grandiose office and said nothing as she watched her mother talking with members of the trade federation, pride swelled within her to not only know, but be the daughter of such a vaulted woman. To be the eldest daughter of Chancellor Padmé Amidala Skywalker, former Queen and Senator of Naboo, Champion to the people.
She would make her mother proud someday.
oOo
Luke was his father's son, Leia; the image of her mother. But Raina was a beautiful melody of the both of them with her dark brown curls and startling blue eyes. At eight, Raina had already charmed the entire contents of the Jedi Temple. That and her levels being already higher than her twin siblings, her levels nearly matched her Father in their astronomical numbers.
And Anakin had never been more proud of his second daughter on the day she stood before the Jedi Council, after only a few months of training, as the youngest to ever be given to a Master. He sat from his seat on the council and watched as she was put through the trial.
He remembered keenly the day he had first stood before the council. Cold, scared, and missing his mother. He had only known a life of slavery and was apprehensive of this great sect that deemed him unworthy.
He now sat upon the council and could not even attempt to contain the incalculable love he held for his child. His children were both his joy and sanity, and the love he held for the four members of his family was boundless and weighed him down.
Thankfully, the love the Skywalker's had was shared by all of its five members. "Fear, I do not sense in you."
"I am ready, Master Yoda."
"Your father has taught you well, Child." She bowed her head to Master Ki A Mundi and Anakin was biting his lip, trying to restrain himself. He glanced at Shaak Ti and she gave him a hesitant smile. Once again, he would have to watch his child go off with a Master of the Council's choosing.
Leia had chosen a path of Politics and would remain on Coruscant until she was thirteen when she would return to Naboo for training to follow in her mother's footsteps to be Senator of Naboo. His Son was training with Obi Wan Kenobi and Anakin saw him every day as he was permitted to remain living with them.
But he was both proud and terrified that they would choose a path for his little Raina that would lead her away from him.
"Passed, the trial you have, youngling. A padawan, you shall be." Yoda said sagely, and Anakin's face glazed over, attempting to hide his anxiety from at foremost his daughter. He didn't care if the rest of the Master's felt his concern, for he knew they would sense it whether he attempted to hide it or not. But he wanted to be happy for Raina, no matter what. Despite the fact that he felt he was about to have a heart attack.
"Padawan Raina Shmi Skywalker, continue to train you, Master Skywalker will. With him, you will be trained."
"Thank you, Master Yoda." She bowed and walked to her father, "Master Skywalker." She bowed low. He stood, praying that his body didn't wobble as he felt it had.
"Padawan Raina. I accept you as a Padawan."
"Thank you Master." He allowed a smile to peek out and saw her own impish look. They had given her back to him. They could have taken her, made her something far more than he had ever been. But they saw in her what Padmé had all those years ago.
That love could be a more effective tool than any meditation or mantra. That the ability to overcome fear would have never been possible without love. "Meeting is adjourned." Windu said, and Anakin stood, bowed to the other members and took his newest Padawan out into the courtyard.
"Daddy!" she had squealed when they had finally reached the open air and he had scooped her up in his arms and swung her around. He hugged her close and felt his eyes grow damp with tears. Blinking them away he smiled and spun her around as she giggled in delight.
"You know, I'm going to be more tough than Master Shaak Ti." Her arms were wrapped around his neck and her beaming face was looking at him with only the adoration a daughter could manage. He carried her on his hip like he had for years, the tight band of muscle supported her easily.
"But Daddy-…"
"No buts little one, bright and early, every day."
"Like Luke?" she whined. Luke was far more of a morning person than either of his sisters. Which always made him laugh, it was one of the few personality traits that the boy shared with his Father, his Son's patience and undying kindness were easily recognizable to his mother.
"Yes, just like Luke. Only when Luke goes off with Master Obi Wan, you'll be coming with me." She giggled again as he dropped kisses all over her face.
He began walking to the speeder, still carrying her. "I love you Daddy." She said and he glanced at her.
"I love you too Raina." He placed her on the ground long enough so she could hop in the speeder and he jumped behind the controls.
