EMPTY NESTER

The steps of the Senate building in Theed were beautiful at night. Tonight was no different as the silvery blue moonlight spilled over them, and the darkened streets. Two figures, one a tall, lean man and the other a tiny woman, stood on the steps locked in a long embrace. When they finally parted they held hands.

'What will you do now Father?' The question had been on her mind all evening, but until this point Leia had not had the courage to ask.

Their reconciliation a month earlier was as loud as their parting had been. In the end Leia agreed with her Father that she had been careless, and that his presence and input were invaluable. He did not concede aloud, but Leia sensed his undertanding of her reasons, and regret at his own dangerously overprotective behaviour.

The final push of the campaign had come and gone, and both Naberrie girls won. There were victory parties, acceptance speeches, transitional meetings and swearing-in ceremonies. Leia's possessions were already in her new quarters upstairs. This was goodbye.

He sighed, having not seriously thought of the question himself until this point. He had been on a mission these past fourteen years, and until this moment his time had not been his own. A frown spread across his forehead. Then, head tilted he gave her one of his most winning smiles.

'There is work to be finished at The Shop. After that I'll figure something out.'

She was clearly worried, and not at all satisfied with the glib answer.

'Father, you are a bad liar.'

'You have a suggestion, I take it?'

There was a pause. She'd gotten this far, but now was uncertain how best to proceed. Pointing out the obvious was probably the best way to avoid offence she thought to herself.

'Leia, just say what's on your mind. I do not need to be handled.'

'You are more in control of your emotions and at peace than ever before. You've quested for knowledge and trained both your children for very different fields of endeavor. You denied several passionate entanglements over the years for Luke and my sakes, and perhaps for your own. You released your wife to the force with acceptance, and raised her children. You personally own almost nothing, though I know the business is worth a small fortune. You could have made an empire of The Shop. Instead it's kept you busy and in touch, but nothing more.'

'That was a beautiful speech, Princess. Now, what are you really trying to say?'

'You resigned your commission Father, but you are still living as a Jedi. Perhaps you should consider returning to the Order.' There. She had said it.

'If I did that I could no longer be there for you the way I am now. It is a life of sacrifice. The non-attachment policies are still in sway. Even if you need me I may not be able to come….'

'I know Father, but I'm a Princess now, with my own responsibilities. Think about it at least. I know Luke will be glad to have you there.'

'Luke! Did you two discuss…. why am I asking? Tell me, has your brother been appointed to the Council that he's reinstating commissions now? Force, my children are ganging up on me. I will think about it. Is that enough for Your Highness?'

She hugged him again, briefly this time.

'Yes it is. Goodnight Father,'

At Varykino the Naberries kept dinner waiting for him. They ate in silence.

He'd been grateful for their accommodations to his lifestyle over the years, but now that Leia had said it the differences were more obvious. When he resigned from the Order a craftsman was commissioned and a mobile meditation stool was made for indoor use, while a fixed one appeared on the verandah overlooking the lake. In the years since Padme's death there was never any suggestion of expanding his mechanic's shop beyond providing for himself and his children.

As the plates were cleared away Jobal finally spoke. 'So she's settled then,'

Anakin nodded to the table, finally looking up and meeting the Naberries' eyes a few moments later. Jobal came over to where he sat and embraced him, and Ruwee put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed for just a second. Then they went off to bed.

For Anakin sleep was elusive as always. Leaving his verandah perch habit lead him to Leia's room. 'She's not there and she's not coming back,' the voice inside his head reminded him. He found his feet taking him instead to the Lakeview Master bedroom. His marriage bed was here. He usually avoided the place, sleeping instead in the various lounges or guest rooms or even in the shop. Somehow being here wasn't so painful tonight. He took up his meditative pose in the middle of the bed and relaxed. He thought of her, and when he felt strong enough breathed her name. 'I miss you. Our children are gone from Varykino. Luke's apprenticed, Leia's elected, and I'm alone. We would be off for a real honeymoon now if you were here. But you're not. You are always with me in the Force, but I wish I could touch you. Padme.' Tears came, and he breathed through them, forcing himself to remain in place. Exhaustion got the better of him eventually. He slept, and dreamed of her in their bed, newly delivered and kissing him goodbye.

He woke disoriented, and realized that he could see the lake beyond the balcony, but was not in the dining room. Ah, yes, he was in the bedroom. He explored it now, wondering what might be in here still. He found plenty. Holographs, love letters, and a box of keepsakes. The Japor Snippet was there, and his Padawan braid. Her clothes had gone to charitable auction or to museums in Theed and on Coruscant years ago. Two ornate standing boxes were left in the closet, along with the set of Jedi Robes he'd worn on the day he resigned, and the suit they'd forced him into for the Theed wedding. He opened the boxes on the bed. They contained her wedding dresses, complete with shoes, veil and accessories. He touched the fabric of each. They were soft, as delicate as she had been, but strong and well made. He smirked to himself. Both dresses had survived being enthusiastically removed by him, yet remained completely intact. He was closing the boxes when an agitated C-3PO waddled up the corridor.

'Oh Master Anakin, we've been looking everywhere for you.'

'And I couldn't possibly be in my bedroom,'

'Oh. We didn't think of that.'

Anakin grinned at his droid. Jobal was close on the heels of the machine, with a breakfast tray.

'Good morning,' she stroked his hair, kissed the top of his head as if he were her own son, and left. He loved Jobal. Not a word was said on the fact that it was the first time in fourteen years that he'd slept in his own bed.

He spent the next weeks whittling away at the backlogged work and contemplating the future. The conclusion - his children were right. He may have had his disagreements with Council policy, and personal frictions with Council members and colleagues alike, but he was still a Jedi. It was time to go home. He let Xizor's contract expire. He generously severanced his workers and sold off the shop items, dividing the proceeds between his children's trusts. The letters and holographs he left mostly with the Naberries, saving a few choice ones for the children.

On the day of departure Jobal fed him as usual. He dressed in civilian clothing, and packed the old robes. He kept his modified fighter. His wife's skiff was being left with Leia.

As they said their final goodbyes on the front steps Anakin handed a small box to Jobal. Blushing, he explained as she opened it.

'It's my Padawan braid. Usually it's given to a Jedi's mentor or mother when he is knighted as a symbol of the knight's achievement and the family's sacrifice. I want you to have it.'

Jobal hugged him.

'We are proud of you, Son,' Ruwee responded for them both, while his wife nodded and sniffled. When she finally released him he boarded the gondola, and Paddy rowed him away.

'Father!' Leia embraced him in greeting when she finally escaped her office an hour after he got there.

'I had to say goodbye. Besides I've got presents for you.' When the boxes were laid out on the bed, Anakin opened them in turn. 'These are your mother's wedding dresses. This one was worn when we renewed our vows in Theed just weeks before you were born, so it's in all the official holographs. I'm hoping it won't fit when you're getting married, but it's beautiful, and your mother wanted you to have it.'

Leia traced the fabric, and hugged her father. 'Renewed your vows?'

'We married in secret at Varykino three years to the day before the ceremony in Theed. This is the dress your mother wore then. It originally belonged to Grandmother Ryoo, and has passed in the family as an heirloom. Now it's yours.' There were no accessories here, for the entire dress and veil were encrusted with patterns of pearls.

'Wow. And what's this?' Leia took up the jewelry box that had been between the dress boxes, and looked to her father for permission to open it. He nodded. Inside was an intricately carved wooden charm on a thick metallic chain. Her fingers rubbed the smooth surface thoughtfully. 'Is this Japor?' The wood was rare and expensive off Tatooine.

'Yes. It's the first gift I ever gave her.'

Leia's eyes widened. 'Where would a Jedi….?'

Anakin laughed. 'I was not yet a Jedi at the time.'

Leia's eyes were wider still. 'Where would a slave….?'

'I have many talents Leia. I traded my services for it.' He paused and allowed her to admire the piece. 'I also have a few holograms she made for me during the war, so that I could feel she was close, even when I was on the front lines and out of touch for months at a time. This way you can get to see her in action outside the palace and senate...'

At mid-night-cycle, after long good byes and whispers of 'May the force be with you', Leia finally fell asleep, and Citizen Skywalker left Naboo for the last time.