Chapter Thirteen -- In which the Council comes to a decision...
The first thing that Anakin noticed upon entering the Council chamber was that although Obi-Wan's place had been filled by Master Tholme, the chair beside that was still conspicuously empty. Anakin was unsure if he should be relieved by this knowledge or not. He supposed that, at the very least, it was better to have one less pair of eyes staring at him while he was being questioned.
"Where is your Padawan?" Kit Fisto asked him.
"Med-ward," Anakin replied. "I thought it best that he not be subjected to a debriefing immediately."
The Council members exchanged uneasy glances. "We were told that Perun had been treated by Beta-266," Agen Kolar said. "Were there any complications?"
"Just precaution." Anakin paused a moment, took a long, slow breath, and then added, "That, and I was hoping for a private session. I did not want to send him away."
Mace stared at him over his steepled fingers. "Go on."
Anakin sighed again, and began. He spoke slowly and steadily (albeit in the direction of his boots) and finally told the Council everything he'd been holding back for the last three years. He started with Padmè, their secret marriage on Naboo. He told them about Dooku's murder onboard the Invisible Hand, how he had let the Dark side consume him for that brief moment. Then he moved on to his return to Coruscant, when Padmè had told him about their child, and then about the dreams that had plagued him, warning of her death. And then, finally, he told them about Obi-Wan's return, how he'd guided Anakin and Perun from Utapau to Mustafar.
"I'm not crazy," he finished. "And it wasn't just a vision."
There was a long moment of silence.
"Discuss this, we will," Yoda finally said. Anakin waited a moment for some continuation. When he realized that none was forthcoming, he bowed, and left.
"Honestly, he might just be the worst patient I've ever had," Jedi Healer Bant Eerin ranted at her former Master. "Three broken ribs, burns up and down his arms, he's still got sulfides in his lungs, all only half-healed, and he's still trying to convince me to release him."
"He is lucky," the Nautolan replied.
"Lucky does not begin to describe it. Who convinced a Padawan that he should go after General Grievous anyway?"
"I can't imagine." Kit hastened to change the subject. "Is Perun awake? I must speak with him if he is."
Bant hesitated. Perun was currently in a restricted ward where no visitors were allowed to bother him while he recovered. But then again, the was not a typical circumstance...
"Only because it's you," Bant said, and entered the passcode that would open the door. "Try to be quick though. He's in room AA-23."
Kit flashed her his signature grin before he stepped inside. He moved as silently as he could down the corridor until he reached Perun's door, and pushed it open.
The boy struggled to sit up when he saw his visitor. Kit gave him a very gentle Force-push back onto the pillows. "Sorry, Perun," he said. "But Bant will kick me out if she thinks I'm disrupting your healing."
Perun managed to smile at the joke. "Did the Council need me for anything?" he asked. "I'll take any excuse to get out of here."
"Not exactly," Kit replied. "This little chat is going to be, ah... off the record, so to speak. Some of the things Anakin told us before, about Chancellor Amidala, their marriage and their child--"
"Their... what?" Perun's eyes went nearly as wide as Kit's.
"You didn't know? I had assumed that if Anakin told us, he would have told his Padawan those little details."
"That-- I suspected something, but he never said--"
"Oops," Kit continued, though he did not sound sorry for his slip at all. "Well, now that you know, let me ask you; do you think Anakin's attachment has ever interfered with the missions he completed?"
"What? I... no." Perun continued to stutter as he processed the information. "But I really haven't known him that long--"
"You are his Padawan," Kit said. "You have known him in a very unique context. You are also the only person who can attest to Anakin's... visions... of Obi-Wan Kenobi."
"He's not crazy," Perun said, as though guessing Kit's next thought. "I thought he was at first too. But I could see him -- Master Kenobi, I mean." He paused, then added, "When he wanted me to, anyway."
"Could..." Kit mused over the word. "You don't anymore?"
Perun shook his head. "I haven't seen him since Mustafar. Anakin thinks he may have... you know, moved on."
Kit nodded slowly. "Thank you, Perun. I must go speak with the Council again. They may be about to make a very grave mistake." He started to leave, then turned around again when he heard Perun murmur something.
"What was that?"
"I trust the Council," Perun said steadily. "I have to trust the Council."
"Miss Padmè, I do believe there is a Jedi here to see you."
She sighed and looked out over the veranda at the familiar speeder. Perun? No, the figure getting out was taller...
"Annie!" She ran forward and threw her arms around his neck. Then she pulled back and started beating her fists against his chest and shoulders. "Don't you ever do that again, disappearing like that without telling anyone--!"
"As if you're one to talk," he said, grinning playfully down at her as he caught both of her hands in his own and pulled her close again. "I've been back less than twelve hours, and I've already heard some interesting rumors concerning the Chancellor's whereabouts these last few weeks."
Padmè blinked. "Where did you hear--?"
Inside the apartment, one of the twins started wailing, and Padmè's face immediately shifted into a motherly expression. "They're awake." She started back inside, and called over her shoulder to Anakin, "Come meet your children."
"Children?" he asked. "Plural?"
"Twins."
After a brief, shocked pause, Anakin followed. He found Padmè bent over a cradle at the far side of the room. She beckoned him closer, and placed one blanket wrapped bundle into his arms. Little fingers reached imploringly for his, and he happily obliged. Padmè held the other bundle -- the crying bundle -- to her chest, whispering soothing words all the time.
"Shh, Leia," she murmured, patting the infant's back. "Shh, it's all right."
"Here, let me." Anakin reached out with a tiny tendril of the Force, and Leia stilled instantly, staring around with wide brown eyes for the source of this new feeling. Anakin smiled. "What was that name you said? And who am I holding?"
"You've got Luke," Padmè replied, "the quiet one. Hard to believe he's yours." Anakin snorted. "And this is Leia." She lifted the infant so that she faced Anakin. "Leia, this your father. Say hello."
Anakin readjusted his hold on Luke and reached out to stroke Leia's cheek with his spare hand. Leia considered the intrusion into her personal space, and promptly spit up on Anakin's glove.
Padmè laughed. After a rather tense moment, so did Anakin.
"Here," Padmè said, handing him one of the rags she now kept near her at all times. "I think she likes you."
"I'm glad." He finished wiping his hand, and shifted Luke again so that he could lean forward and press a kiss to his daughter's forehead. He was very aware of Padmè watching him, and so he took deliberate care afterward to lean that extra little bit and meet her lips with his own.
They broke apart only when Threepio's voice rang through the apartment again. "Miss Padmè, Master Anakin, I don't mean to be a disturbance, but there are more Jedi here to see you."
"More?" Padmè glanced at her husband, and was slightly shocked to find a guilty expression written all over his face as he sank down onto the couch. "Anakin Skywalker, why are there more Jedi here?"
"Because I told the Council about our children," he confessed. "They're probably Force-sensitive, and they need to be trained. I'm not happy about it either," he added, correctly interpreting the look on Padmè's face, "but I needed to." He looked over at the door. "It's alright, Threepio. Show them in."
The protocol droid continued to babble unheard as Masters Windu, Fisto, Yoda and Shaak Ti entered the room. Luke began to squirm uncomfortably and Leia started to cry again. Anakin began to rise so he could bow, but Yoda waved a clawed hand as he hobbled over, indicating that he stay seated. He did his best to still Luke as Yoda touched his temples, with limited success.
"Strong in the Force, this boy is," he finally said. "Become a Jedi, the son of Skywalker must."
"And his sister?" Mace Windu asked.
Yoda nodded. "Feel their connection, I can."
Kit sighed quietly, then walked forward until he was standing next to Padmè. Very gently, he started to lift Leia out of her mother's arms.
"Wait!" Padmè jerked Leia back as though she'd just realized what was happening. "Are you saying... you're going to take them away?"
Anakin laid a hand on her shoulder. "They need to be trained, Padmè." He gave her what he hoped was an encouraging smile. "I'll look after them."
The Masters glanced warily at each other again as Padmè nodded silently at her husband. This time, when Master Fisto reached for Leia, she did not pull away. She watched, half-dazed, as Anakin rose to follow the Masters back to the Temple. He turned and smiled at her one last time before crossing the threshold with their children.
When the noise of the retreating speeders finally faded away, Padmè realized that Master Shaak Ti had not left with the others. The Togruta watched her sadly; Padmè did not like her expression in the least. It was like she knew some secret, and wasn't quite sure how to share it.
Falling back on her political training once more, Padmè schooled her face to stillness. "Master Jedi," she said, her tone only slightly cold. "Can I get you anything?"
"No, thank you," Shaak Ti replied calmly. "Why don't you sit down. We have much to talk about."
"I'd rather stand, thank you." Padmè definitely did not like where this was going. "Just say what you need to say."
"As you like." The Jedi made sure she had Padmè's full attention before continuing. "Your children cannot remain here on Coruscant. We have made arrangements for Leia to go to an enclave on Dantooine. Luke will go to Illum. It is best if they do not know of their relationship to each other. Or to Anakin."
Padmè was beside herself, but she managed not to let too much of her anger come through in her voice. "So you think that you can just sent them away, and Anakin and I will forget about our children?"
Shaak Ti shook her head sadly. "We cannot make you forget. But the Council has decided that we must... rearrange some of Skywalker's memories. So no, he will not remember them. And," she paused, choosing her words, "he will not remember more than a mutual friendship with you, either."
Suddenly, Padmè felt weak in the knees. She sank heavily back onto the couch. After a long moment, she finally managed a soft, "Why?"
"Because Anakin must be a Jedi," Shaak Ti told her, "and you must be the Chancellor." She paused, then added, "I am sorry. If there is anything we can do--"
"No," Padmè said decisively. "You've helped quite enough, I think."
"Very well. However, before I go, I need to know if there is anyone else who knows of your marriage or your children."
"Only Senator Organa. Why, are you going to erase his memory too?"
Shaak Ti sighed. "No, thankfully. We only need to ensure that he will keep the secret." She turned to leave. "If it's any consolation, this is not easy for us either."
Anakin dutifully followed the others back to the Temple and up to the Council room. Master Fay, a Twi'lek who watched over one of the crèches, and her Mon Calamari apprentice met them outside the doors. The girl took Leia from Kit. Anakin hesitated a moment before handing Luke to Master Fay.
"Where are you taking them?" he asked.
"Just to the Healers," she replied smoothly. "There are some blood tests to run; all routine, I promise."
"Safe, they will be," Yoda added. "Worry for them, you should not."
Luke's tiny fingers were gripping his sleeve; Anakin had to pry them off gently so the crèche Master could take him.
The doors of the Council chamber slid open silently. Anakin took his seat across the room. Several of the Masters were watching him intently; the rest averted their eyes, heads bent in meditation. Anakin tried to imitate them, to clear his mind, but images of Luke and Leia kept floating to the surface instead, and he smiled despite himself.
No one spoke until Shaak Ti returned. She did not bother to sit. Instead, she and the other Masters made their way to the center of the room, forming a shoulder-to-shoulder circle.
"Come here, young Skywalker," Yoda said, stepping into the center. "Kneel."
Anakin did not understand what was happening, but the Force urged him forward. And although it was no longer speaking with Obi-Wan's voice, he followed it.
Author's Note: Ha! You all thought the story was ending, didn't you? Well, truth be told, even I didn't plan for S.L.Rebirth to take the turn it did. But I've been having so much fun writing it, and the reviews for it have been so astoundingly positive, I had to continue it past the original ending. That being said, I'd like to take a moment to thank my constant reviewers: S.S.A (It is, in fact, per-UN, with a slight stress on the second syllable), pronker (I think "plucky" is the best word I've ever gotten to describe an original character), i luv ewansmile, The French Dark Lord (Don't worry; I too know the feeling of being addicted to fanfic), ILDV (A very heartfelt Grazie!), Darth KenObi-Wan, szepolina10, and skywalker05, who is also my wonderful beta reader. (To all my other reviewers: if I've missed you in this list, I apologize. I've had so many reviews for this fic that I've honestly started to loose track of them.) Just to let you know what's coming up, there will be two relatively short interludes concerning what our heroes are doing during the years immediately following the Clone Wars, and then we'll move back into the plot line with Part Two. I'll also be going through the first thirteen chapters and making some edits (mostly grammatical) for continuity. Until next time-- --Argenteus Draco.