Chapter 25 - Realm of Light, Part 3
(Summary: Palpatine attempted to make himself Emperor. Anakin opposed him, and the two died within minutes of each other. As Padme struggles to push past her grief, Obi-wan and the other Jedi attempt to adjust to the knowledge of Anakin's marriage - and his newborn twins.)
(Takes place the evening after Part 2)
When it had started, neither of the twins was exactly sure. But once a month ever since they were toddlers, the pair had been snuck out of the Jedi Temple in order to visit their mother.
They never learned her name, or what work it was she did for a living, but that wasn't important. Their mother was often a bit distant, but it was obvious she cared about them, and always wanted to hear about whatever they'd been up to since seeing her last. And, on her better nights, when her signature in the Force didn't tremble so much with grief, she'd tell them stories of their father.
Many Jedi would remark about him when Luke and Leia were around, but not even Obi-wan or Ahsoka, who had been his Master and Padawan respectively, would tell the twins very much about Anakin Skywalker. They knew the basics of his life, and of what he did to end the war and bring Palpatine to justice, thanks to their teachings in the Temple, no more than what any other youngling received in their education.
Mother told them of his heart, his mind, his plans and flaws and dreams. She told them of how the two had met, and their earliest adventures, and then how he won her love a decade later. She'd tell them of the Clone Wars, and secret missions, and brief, tender moments the two could share in secret.
She told the twins that when their father fought the Sith Lord, he wasn't doing it for the Jedi, for the Republic, or even for the galaxy's sake.
He'd sacrificed himself for them. For his family.
"Do you think we can get her to tell us more about the start of the war on Geonosis tonight?" Leia asked, as the pair sat in the back of the speeder with their hoods up.
"I dunno. But, maybe it would be better to start with what we've been doing in preparation for the Initiate Trials." Luke responded, his gaze locked firmly on the controls of the vehicle. In the driver's seat, Obi-wan smiled, fully aware of where the youngling's attention was. While both of the twins had inherited their father's talent with mechanics and piloting, Luke was the one with the passion for them, whereas his sister preferred working on her saber skills and manipulations of the Force.
Swinging sedately down to the modest apartment building, Obi-wan carefully landed in the private garage used by the top few floors. Both young Skywalkers promptly jumped out, and walked quickly to where a familiar figure was waiting for them by the interior door.
"Hello, Mother." They chorused, reaching to embrace her. The slight woman hugged them back, smiling softly. She nodded to Obi-wan, who returned the gesture before taking off in the speeder again. As per their arrangement, he'd return in three hours time for the twins.
"Well, now," Padme said, looking down at her expectant children. "Why don't you both come in, we'll all get something warm to drink and then settle in to enjoy ourselves?"