A tear escaped Padmé's eye at the mention of the memory. She was surprised Anakin remembered that conversation from nearly 9 years ago. There was still a lot of pain held in a lot of their memories. But they had to work to move past the pain and start to enjoy what they had now. Padmé sniffed and replied, "I know how hard it must be for you to think about what you have missed in the twin's lives. But that pain is real for me too Anakin. I have spent the last 8 years raising Luke and Leia, believing they would never meet their father, and I would never have a husband ever again. The twins have also missed out on that time with their father too. But we cannot focus on what we have lost, we must look at all that we have gained by finding one another again. We can be together for the rest of our lives Anakin. We still have so much time, and most importantly we have a love for one another and the twins that some people will never experience in a lifetime. We have been given this second chance at destiny, and we must make the most of it", she said passionately.

Anakin listened to her words intently and smiled then simply responded, "I agree". Padmé wondered why he said no more but then she heard the twins coming thundering down the corridor, and she assumed Anakin had felt them through the force.

"Daddy why do you only have one glove on, did you lose the other one. Luke sometimes loses things because he is silly", Leia said mischievously.

"Hey", Luke gasped. "I always find what I lose, eventually", he added.

Padmé and Anakin smiled at the twins' statement, and then Anakin replied, "I wear it because my hand underneath is cybernetic. I lost it in a fight, and it is now metal, like a droid", he tried his best to explain to his young children.

"Oh, I'm sorry", Leia said sadly.

"Do not worry Leia, it was a long time ago now, and I am fine", he said with a smile.

"Well, you don't need to hide it from us dad. Mum has always said we should be ourselves and be proud", Luke stated happily.

"I've told your father this", Padmé said. She had always said to Anakin, even during the clone wars that he did not need to wear his glove in front of her. He had always felt comfortable being completely himself in front of his wife. But since he had become Darth Vader, he had become so used to hiding himself that wearing his glove was just second nature.

"Well, I will certainly need to take it off to go swimming. Who wants to go to the Lake?", Anakin asked his children excitedly.

"Meeee", the twins shouted in unison.

"Go and get your bathing suits then please.", Padmé asked the twins.

"Race you", Luke said to Leia as they turned and ran back up the corridor.

Padmé and Anakin turned to one another and smiled, as they headed to their chambers to get ready. "They are truly wonderful children Padmé and I can feel how strong they are with the force", he added.

"Obi-Wan said the same", Padmé stated. "It is not surprising when you are there father. I know Obi-Wan has had to work hard to help to teach them control and he has taught us very well how to block our mind and hide the twins' force signatures", she added.

"Yes indeed, that will be a very valuable skill to ensure they remain a secret from the Emperor", Anakin said. "And you masterfully kept your mind clear. I was unable to penetrate your mind and extract any useful information", he reported. "Once again, you excelled at the task at hand, my love", Anakin stated.

"If you are quite done with your feeble flattery attempts Mr Skywalker, I want to go for a swim", Padmé teased, as she grabbed her swimsuit and went into the fresher. "I will meet you downstairs", she said.

"If you insist", Anakin replied. He quickly changed into his swim shorts and retrieved a towel and walked downstairs to the kitchen to meet the twins.

They were both stood there looking around at the room. As Anakin walked in, Luke said, "Dad you're really tall. Do you think I will be as tall as you one day?".

Anakin smiled and replied, "It is hard to tell Luke. I cannot remember exactly how tall I was at your age. But also your mother is very small so you could get a mix of both and be in the middle", he added.

"Mum doesn't like it when you call her small", Leia said as she continued to plait her hair.

"That may be true young one", Anakin said admiring his daughter's hair braiding skills. "But your mother is tiny but mighty. She is the strongest and most powerful woman I have ever met", he said with a smile.

"But he would never say that to my face", Padmé replied. Anakin turned around at the sound of her voice and tried to do his best to stop his mouth from opening. "Now let's get going. Is Obi-Wan coming?", Padmé asked.

"No. He says he wants to do some more meditation", Luke reported.

"I am not surprised. I bet you two have been keeping him very busy", Padmé said. "He deserves some peace and quiet and time to himself", she added.

The family walked through the gardens and round the back of the estate. They followed a narrow winding path that led down to a small but beautiful lake. Anakin had never been down here before, but he knew it existed when he had purchased the estate. He marvelled at the way the sun reflected off the water. Excitedly the twins ran into the lake, as Padmé shouted, "Make sure you two don't go out too far okay and you always stick together. Your father will watch you too".

Anakin turned to Padmé with a raised eyebrow and said, "I thought you were coming in. You always love a chance to swim".

Padmé placed her towel down on the grass next to the lake and said, "Indeed I do. But you are here now, and I would love to get a tan". As she placed her towel down, she moved her body in a way that she knew would attract Anakin's attention. He smirked at her action and said, "And you called my flattery attempts feeble".

Catching her off guard, Anakin swept Padmé off her feet and carried her into the lake. "Luke, Leia. I know how much your mum loves to swim. Let's make sure she gets nice and wet". The twins laughed as Anakin ran into the lake with her as she shouted for him to release her. He laughed and replied, "Okay", before propelling her into the lake, using his strength to throw her out of his arms. Padmé crashed into the water and was fully submerged. When she came up for breath, her dripping wet chocolate brown hair fell down both sides of her body as she shouted, "You will pay for that Anakin Skywalker. Children, attack".

At that moment, Luke, Leia and Padmé all swam towards Anakin and jumped on his body in an attempt to overpower him. He picked up Luke and Leia simultaneously and threw them back into the lake. Padmé jumped on his back and said, "I've got him, help me hold him down", as Luke and Leia swam back towards him.

"I think this is a little unfair. Three against one", Anakin stated as he was being splashed with water and ducked under.

"It is fair because you are the most powerful Jedi ever, and we are half of you, and mummy is not force sensitive", Luke said.

Anakin laughed at his child's comment about his force ability and asked, "What makes you think I am so powerful?"

"Mummy told us you were the strongest and bravest Jedi ever", Leia told her father.

"Oh, is that so", he replied with a grim-looking at his wife cheekily. "So, if you two are half of me, and your mother isn't force-sensitive them what is her job in this team attack?", Anakin asked his children.

"Her job is to distract you with her beauty", Leia said candidly.

"That is true your mother has always been very good at that.", Anakin responded, winking at his wife.

"I think that was a tie", Luke said as he once again had been thrown into the water by his father. Anakin smiled at the response and said, "I agree. Perhaps a rematch on land could decide the winner".

At that moment Geeta emerged at the edge of the lake with a basket of food. She shouted, "I thought you would all be hungry after your swim. So, I have prepared a picnic for you".

Padmé smiled at the gesture and shouted, "Thank you so much, Geeta".

"Thank you", the twins shouted in unison.

"Right then who's hungry?", Anakin asked the twins, as they all swam towards the edge of the lake.

As they got out of the pool both Luke and Leia walked out behind their parents. They then couldn't help but notice their father had large marks on his back. Padmé started to empty the contents of the basket and lay it out on the towels for the children. She gave each of them a plate and said, "Be sensible". The twins nodded and started to place several sandwiches, cookie and pieces of fruit on their plates.

As they all started to eat, curiosity got the better of Luke and he said, "Daddy"

"Yes Luke", Anakin replied.

The young boy hesitated for a moment and then said, "What are the marks on your back?", he asked simply.

Padmé tensed at her son's question. She had not been prepared to give them an answer and she knew the real reason was far too horrible to reveal to them. She did not know what Anakin would say but remained quiet as he started to speak.

He turned to the twins, so his back was facing them and asked them, "Can you see them better now?"

The twins nodded as Leia said, "That says mummy's name. It says Padmé".

Anakin nodded and said, "It does yes Leia you're right".

"Why do you have mummy's name on your back daddy?", his daughter asked him curiously.

Padmé placed a supporting hand on her husbands' leg. He placed his hand on top of hers and replied, "I lived without your mummy for a long time. It is to remind me of how lucky I am to have her and to be able to love her forever", Anakin said sweetly.

Padmé smiled at his beautiful response and they shared a short sweet kiss.

"Eww", Luke and Leia said in unison, at their parents' kiss. Padmé and Anakin laughed at their response as they continued to eat their picnic.

"That is very sweet daddy. I bet mummy likes that", Leia stated.

Padmé nodded and said, "Yes. I love your daddy very much, and everything he has done for us".

The twins smiled and carried on eating their sandwiches. When they had finished, they splashed about some more in the water, as Padmé and Anakin watched intently from the balcony. Padmé took Anakin's hand softly and said, "That was so beautiful what you said before Anakin. The way you explained it to the twins was incredible. Truthfully, I had not thought of an explanation, so I was unprepared, but you handled it masterfully. You are such a wonderful father Anakin", she said with a smile.

Anakin lifted his wife effortlessly into his lap and kissed her silky soft shoulder and said, "I had not prepared that either to be honest. But I simply said what I felt to be true. Whilst I do not want the twins to know who gave me those scars, the meaning is true. I will forever have you with me Padmé, and it will remind me everyday of how lucky I am to be here with you now and to have your love. I may not be the most attractive man in the world with the hideous scars, but I certainly feel the luckiest", he said passionately.

"You are the handsome man in the world to me Anakin. Your scars do not matter, and they only show all you have been through and how brave you are. I am so proud of you and proud to call you my husband", Padmé said lovingly.

"Thank you, Angel", Anakin said. "You have always been so accepting of my battle scars. It reminds me of when I first lost my hand to Dooku. Despite how defeated I felt, you never made me feel like less of a man", he added.

"Hey dad, do you want to see something cool", Luke shouted to his father from the water.

Anakin turned his attention to his children and replied, "Yes of course".

Luke and Leia then both turned to one another and closed their eyes. As they stood still in the water, leaves that had fallen from the trees and come to rest on the surface of the lake began to float up into the air. Anakin watched in awe of his children's force ability. They were clearly very in touch with the force, and Obi-Wan had instructed them well in learning how to control it.

"That is wonderful children", Padmé said to them.

"Indeed. You are both incredibly gifted with the force. And you demonstrated much greater force control ability than I was ever able to master at an older age than you two are now. You truly are gifted children", Anakin stated proudly.

Luke and Leia emerged from the lake, as Padmé and Anakin wrapped towels around them to keep them warm.

"What can you do with the force daddy?", Leia asked as the family sat down on the banks of the lake.

"Well, I certainly was not as talented as you too. I was still a slave boy on Tatooine when I was your age actually. But now I am older, I have learnt the teachings of the force and can do more", he replied to his daughter.

"Can you do a trick for us dad?", Luke asked excitedly.

Anakin smirked and said, "Okay, as long as you don't tell Obi-Wan. When I was his apprentice, he would get very grumpy when I tried to do tricks with the force". Anakin then closed his eyes and focused on his connection to the force. He could not remember the last time he had ever reached into the force simply to try and do a trick for someone. As Vader, his only use for the force was to immerse himself in his master's dark teachings or to heal himself from his master's punishments. The force had become a symbol of darkness and suffering for him. But now it was changing. The force was representing the light side of him, and a way for him to connect with his children and the man he used to be. Without speaking Anakin began to focus his energy on the picnic blanket below them. Then seconds later he opened his eyes, whilst maintaining his concentration as he heard his wife gasp. He had lifted their blanket up several metres into the air. Luke and Leia looked down over the blanket and smiled.

"Wow dad that's so cool", Luke said enthusiastically.

He smiled at his son as the blanket slowly descended back onto the banks. "One day you two will be strong enough with the force to do that. It is only because I am a lot older that I can do that. It takes commitment and practice, but you will both be incredible Jedi", he commented.

"Mummy said you are the most powerful Jedi ever. But she told us you got into a fight with a bad man and you died daddy. How did you live?", Leia asked curiously.

Anakin was unsure how to answer the question his daughter posed. He was not entirely sure what Padmé had told them when they were children. He was then freed from his thoughts when Padmé said, "Because, like mummy said. Daddy is the most powerful Jedi ever. He is the chosen one".

Anakin smiled at his wife but did not say anything. "One day I want to be like you dad. I want to be a Jedi in the order like you and Obi-Wan", Luke said proudly.

"You can be anything you want to be Luke", Anakin replied. He looked to his daughter as well and said, "You are both incredibly gifted children and will have the chance to help people in so many different ways. You will always have your force abilities, but that does not mean you have to become a Jedi. Being a Jedi requires a lot of sacrifices. You can still help people without becoming a Jedi. Your mother has done more for this galaxy than anyone will ever know, and she is not a Jedi", Anakin added proudly.

Leia smiled at her father's statement and replied, "Yeah. Mum is an amazing Senator. I would love to be like you when I grow up mummy".

Padmé smiled and looked at Luke and Leia and said, "Don't rush to grow up my babies."

"Mum. We are eight now, we are not babies", Luke and Leia said together.

"Well, you are still babies to me. You cannot be grown up until I say so", Padmé said with a smile.

"Is that when we get married and have children we will be grown", Leia asked.

"Well, you don't have to get married and have children if you don't want to Leia. And it is still a long time before either of you should be thinking about anything like that", Padmé stated.

"And as a Jedi, attachments are not permitted, so marriage and children are not very likely, unless the order changes its policy", Anakin added.

"You broke those rules didn't you dad", Luke said with a cheeky smile.

"Yes, I did son. I would have given up being a Jedi to be with your mother. I would have given up anything to marry her", he stated passionately.

Padmé blushed at his comment as Leia said, "And you were so young, daddy. You were only 19 when you married mummy on Naboo."

Anakin smiled at her statement, knowing Padmé must have told the twins about their secret marriage. "Yes, indeed I was very young. But it did not matter to me. I knew how I felt about your mother. And it is the same way I feel today".

"So, can I get married at 19 if I feel that way?", Leia asked.

"Absolutely not", Anakin said. "No boys until you are at least 30", he stated protectively.

Padmé laughed at his statement, seeing his true inner parent emerge and said, "Well, it doesn't matter right now because you are only 8. Now come on you two let's get you showered before dinner".

The twins stood up with their towels wrapped around them and walked back up the path into the house. Padmé remained behind with Anakin to help pack up the picnic basket and blanket.

"It is terrifying sometimes to think of how young you were. You were married at 19 Anakin", Padmé reiterated.

Anakin smiled and replied, "Padmé I would have married you at the age of nine if I could. Age was not a question for me. It was just how long it took me to wear you down and convince you to marry me. You certainly made me work for it", he added cheekily.

"I like to think I was worth it", Padmé replied wittily.

"Possibly", Anakin responded quickly. Padmé gasped in mock shock as they walked back into the house. When they were back inside Anakin said, "I will ask Geeta if she can prepare dinner for us in an hours' time. Why don't you go and check on the twins and I shall inform Obi-Wan of our plans"?

"Good idea", Padmé said, turning around to exit.

As his wife left Anakin couldn't resist saying, "By the way Padmé, you look incredible in that swimsuit".

"Thank you", Padmé said softly, as she then turned to walk towards the twin's chambers.

Anakin ran a hand through his still-damp hair as he walked towards the guest quarters that he assumed his old master was still in. As he walked down the corridor, he could feel Obi-Wan's present in the room in front of him, and he assumed Obi-Wan could feel the same. Anakin didn't need to knock before he heard Obi-Wan say, "You may come in Anakin".

He pushed the door open and walked inside slowly. Obi-Wan was sat on the floor with his legs crossed tightly, having clearly been meditating. Trying to break the ice Anakin said, "You were always much more patient for meditation than I was".

Deciding to test the water of their relationship Obi-Wan replied, "I think I was much more patient than you overall Anakin".

Anakin laughed at his old masters' response and said, "I agree".

"I take it you, Padmé and the twins went for a swim in the lake", Obi-Wan stated, clearly seeing Anakin was stood in swim shorts with a towel thrown over his shoulder.

"Yes indeed. The twins were very keen to go for a swim. Lovers of the water, just like their mother", Anakin remarked with a smile.

"Yes, they go almost every day at home when Padmé is there", Obi-Wan commented. "I think it is a good break from training and schoolwork for them", he added.

"I must commend you on your teaching of them. They should great control of the force, certainly much better than what I could do near their age that is for sure. You also very effectively taught Padmé to shelter her mind. As Vader, I was unable to penetrate her mind for information, as it was so well guarded. I have very rarely experienced that problem", Anakin stated.

Obi-Wan was unsure how to reply to his statement. After what had happened to Anakin, he had taken it upon himself to protect Padmé and the twins, but it was also him who had told Padmé that Anakin was dead. He was part of the reason why they had remained separated for the last 8 years.

Anakin knew what his master was thinking. They had spent so much time together all those years ago that he knew him almost as well as he knew himself. He then said, "I know that you feel guilty for lying to Padmé about what happened on Mustafar. Whilst it has deeply saddened me to have lost that time with Padmé, Luke and Leia, I also understand why you did it, Obi-Wan. What happened that day, I was not myself, I was a monster". He briefly paused to compose himself and then added, "I know you wanted to protect Padmé and the twins, and you knew how important it was to keep them hidden from the Emperor. But it was not just you who was responsible for my separation from Padmé. That day when the Emperor found me on the banks of Mustafar, he made me into the masked machine that was Vader, and when I awoke he told me that I was responsible for Padmé's death, and I lived with that fact everything minute of every day for the last 8 years, and he never let me forget it", Anakin said painfully.

Obi-Wan paused listening to his former apprentices' words. It was the first time either of them had heard the other one's side of the story, and it was important that they did so. Whilst Vader had committed many atrocities over the last eight years and at times Obi-Wan had convinced himself that the brother he knew was beyond redemption, he had always held onto the hope that one day he would change. He cleared his throat and said, "I cannot imagine the pain and torment you experienced living with that knowledge. I know how much you love Padmé, Anakin, and I can see how much pain it causes you knowing you cannot take back what happened that day. Believe me, if I could take back Mustafar I would do it in a heartbeat", he stated.

"As would I Obi-Wan. And you are correct. I can never take back what I did to Padmé, and truthfully, I will never fully forgive myself for it either. But Padmé has given me the gift of her forgiveness, and I plan to start to forgive myself for the things I have done. My journey to redemption cannot happen unless I forgive others along the way too", Anakin said meaningfully.

"I never thought we would be here Anakin, standing in front of one another again. But it brings me great joy to see you here today. You are a good man and a brave man, a wonderful husband and father, and I hope one day again, a good friend", Obi-Wan replied with a small smile.

"Thank you Master", Anakin replied respectfully. "You will always be part of our family here. I am indebted to you for looking after my family and protecting them when I did not. I came into your chambers to inform you we will be having dinner soon and would be honoured for you to join us".

"Yes, that would be lovely, thank you Anakin", Obi-Wan replied, as the pair turned to walk out of the room. As they departed Obi-Wan couldn't help but his eyes be drawn to the large marks on Anakin's back. He didn't say anything though, but Anakin knew he had noticed them. He glanced to the side and said to Obi-Wan, "A gift from the Emperor".

"He did this to you Anakin?", his master asked in shock.

"Yes. It was to serve as a permanent reminder of what I did to Padmé. It was the only way he could really hurt me", Anakin stated.

Obi-Wan bowed and shook his head and simply said, "I'm so sorry".

"It cannot be undone. All I can do is change it to now serve as a reminder of getting Padmé back and my promise to love and protect her forever", he replied positively.

"That is an admirable mindset. You have indeed got wiser with age", Obi-Wan commented with a smile.

"Careful there old man, I'm only thirty okay", Anakin said as they arrived in the kitchen.

"You're only thirty daddy?", Leia asked.

"Yes, Leia", Anakin replied, looking at his daughter who was sat at the kitchen table helping Padmé prepare some food with Geeta.

"Oh, so mummy is a lot older than you then?", his daughter added bravely.

Anakin laughed as Padmé stated, "I am not old Leia".

"No mummy, but you are older than daddy", Luke added, joining in on the conversation.

Anakin laughed and said, "What can I say I love older women", as he winked at his wife. "And if you want the real fossil in this room, talk to Master Kenobi. Now if you don't mind, I am going to have a shower and get ready for dinner", he said, quickly departing the room before his wife could throw any food at him from across the table.

"He certainly hasn't lost his wit and humour", Obi-Wan said to Padmé.

"No, he hasn't. If anything, he is braver now. Calling me old. Hmmm, we will see who is old", she said with a small smile.

"Can I help with anything?", Obi-Wan asked.

"It's alright Obi-Wan we are nearly done I think", Padmé said as she finished preparing the food with Geeta and the children. The group then departed into the living area to wait for dinner to be ready and for Anakin to arrive back.