Author's Note: Short, but necessary. I also decided to display my response to Thrawn716 publicly as I'm sure many of you were probably thinking the same: Though somewhat confusing, chapter 24 will be fully explained in a later episode as it's later revealed that the entirety of the URs wasn't completely explored as originally thought. And as for the Chiss, I must've forgotten to make myself clear that they will not, I repeat, will not be in this. And neither will Thrawn. I'm sorry, but I don't go by the Expanded Universe too much as most of its garbage anyway. Also, war starts in the next chapter.

Episode VI: The Golden Age of the Empire

Chapter 26: Vader's Revenge

The next day, the planning stage for Anakin Skywalker and Arica Grievous' wedding began. Getting a wedding planner was easy since practically everyone wanted to have some part of it. Because of this, they choose several planners, having each one in charge of separate things.

Costume design: Arica hired a famous fashion designer to make all the gowns and tuxedos;

Food: Numerous restaurants were catering and the cake was being made by a galaxy-famous chef, who would also thrown in a few other "surprise dishes" as he called them;

Location: The wedding was to be held at the Central International Church of Galactic City, due to it being one of the largest buildings on Coruscant. Not only was it very large and spacious, but very elegant as well in design in architecture.

When Anakin and Arica met with the Pastor to get the okay, he jumped at the chance and said his congregation would gladly help with anything should they need it.

The young couple took this offered help when it came to decorations. Under the watchful eye and guidance of one of the wedding planners, the members of the church both helped and picked out the decor, setting it up when the time came for it.

The wedding of Anakin Skywalker and Arica Grievous was the talk of the entire galaxy. The date that was set would mark the 2-month anniversary of the engagement and everyone wanted to come. The couple gladly applauded this saying, "the more the merrier."

It was quite obvious the young couple was enjoying the publicity buzz surrounding their impending nuptials for they even let various media outlets come on the set of some of their planning meetings and rehearsals.

Arica thought the fascination over it was "satisfying that there was more to talk about than Lestrange", and while Anakin thought the same, he was mainly enjoying it over the aspect of revenge against Padme. He wanted to rub his happiness in her face as a way to say, "You may have broken my heart, and I may have been sad about it at the time, but I've moved on and am quite happy over the fact that you can't go anyway without hearing or seeing something about it."

And indeed, despite the fact of the empress attempting to make herself scarce during the fiasco and close herself up away from all the nonsense, it always found her. She'd given a few terse interviews, saying how "happy she was that Lord Vader had finally moved on and found happiness again."

These comments, of course, were hinted with sarcasm and disgust. And indeed she was disgusted by it all. Vader was doing an awfully good job at parading his happy love life in her face. You couldn't flick to any channel on the HoloNet without some reference to the wedding being mentioned. Padme grew so disgusted with all of it that she fled the capital for Naboo a month into it.

When it came to the matter of participants in the wedding, the couple choose to have the emperor give the bride away. As for Maid of Honor and Best Man however, Anakin and Arica weren't too sure at first. The bride's first and only choice was Andrea but...

As ridiculous as it sounded now, Arica had always envisioned that if she ever were to marry, Antellica would be her Maid of Honor, and the same thing switched back in Antellica's case. Alas, Antellica was dead and gone, despite what Anakin said about her still being alive somewhere. Antellica was her twin, her other half. She would know rather she was dead or alive. Besides, Antellica had gotten married without Arica, and now Arica was to get married without Antellica.

The night before she asked Andrea to be Maid of Honor, after assuring that she was in the apartment alone – Anakin had gone out to buy dinner while she was in the shower and Andrea was out – Arica cried silently over the fact that her sister and best friend would not be able to share with her day of happiness. And also because she'd always kept herself so busy that she never gave herself time to grieve. Whenever her mind reverted to her sister, she'd force it to think of something else.

While she wept, Anakin snuck into the apartment quietly, his presence cloaked, wanting to surprise Arica with a set of chocolates and flowers. Though, picking up on her sad mood as he entered their bedroom, his presence was quickly uncloaked and he made towards her.

Feeling Anakin suddenly in the room with her, Arica hastily made to wipe away her tears. But she wasn't fast enough. Anakin, noticing her tears, quickly scooped her into his arms and held her, asking what was wrong. At first, she didn't want to tell him. She thought he'd think her weak, but after much prodding Anakin finally got her to tell him.

He did not find her weak. On the contrary, he was upset she'd even think that and was glad she was finally mourning her sister and not keeping it bottled up inside. He even shared with her something that surprised her somewhat. He told her back when he married Padme, he'd wanted so much for Obi-Wan to be there and share in his happiness, but alas that did not happen and never would.

After some prodding of her own, Arica discovered that in a perfect world, the only candidate Anakin would have for Best Man in their wedding would be Obi-Wan.

"Despite the fact that he and that frog stole my children I...I don't know. This sounds ridiculous to you, I'm sure." He than adopted a playful smile. "You see what you've done to me Arica? You have me turning all soft here."

The young couple shared a laugh and love-filled kiss before proceeding forward with dinner in silence, both of their thoughts wondering over Antellica, Obi-Wan, their son Alexander, and the twins.

Halfway through eating Anakin abruptly said, "I just can't help but think...what if I never see them again."

Arica didn't need to ask to know who he was talking about. "Oh Anakin, don't say things like that." She reached her hand over across herself to lift his sinking head. "Of course you'll see them again. We all will. Don't give up hope. And who knows," her smile went slightly sly, "if they're good maybe we'll give them some playmates."

Anakin smirked across from her and leaned over to kiss her deeply. "Do you want children, Arica?" he asked softly.

Her eyes a lit with delight. "Oh yes! I want so many! Maybe five or six, but I don't think any more than that. And not all at once."

This caused Anakin to laugh.

The rest of the meal was spent in much happier spirits with both talking about their future offspring and what measures they should take to ensure a repeat of the twins' kidnapping didn't occur.

Eventually, Anakin decided to have the emperor serve as Best Man in addition to giving Arica away. Both Andrea and the emperor were pleased and honored to be apart of their wedding and everyone was happy. Except Iolana that is. For some reason, she'd assumed that Arica would make her Maid of Honor since they were cousins. When Iolana told her this, Arica scoffed. "As if! You aren't drawing attention to yourself at my wedding. You may very well come, but you'll have no part of it."

Iolana was hurt by Arica's harshness, but she didn't really care. Arica was losing her liking of Iolana. She had been thinking about making her a bridesmaid, but quickly changed her mind at her arrogant assumption. Jovovich was made a bridesmaid though, something she took with a smile and thanks.