About five weeks later, Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, and I were walking through the Jedi Temple. Everyone had recovered quite nicely from their injuries, and everything had gone back to normal. Palpatine did not need to be retried because he was still guilty and no new evidence had come up, so he was sent to a planet's prison. Chancellor Valorum was not telling anyone where he was being sent so he could not escape.
"You really don't know," I asked Padme one night.
"No, Anakin, I don't know."
"What if I use a Jedi mind trick on you."
She laughed, "Go right ahead."
She didn't know.
But maybe this meant that I was done with Palpatine. Forever.
"How are you feeling Ahsoka?" I asked.
Turns out when she regenerated she went to Courasuant near the Jedi Temple. We all thought she was going to be on the ship. Rex was frantic when she wasn't. Luckily a Padawan found her in about three minutes and they rushed her to the halls of healing very fast. Barriss Offree contacted Admiral Cohen to tell us that Ahsoka was fine and receiving medical treatment. Rex and I both breathed a collective sigh of relief. She also told us Plo Koon and Depa were receiving treatment as well and would heal fast. I told her to tell them our mission was a success thanks to their help.
"I am doing really good," Ahsoka said smiling.
"What?" I asked.
"Well, I already told Rex so I guess I can tell you guys. The council put me on administrative duties for a year. I am going to help with testing the younglings for being Padawans."
"So we are not going to go on missions anymore?" I asked.
She shook her head.
"Why would you do that?" I asked, hurt.
"Well, you're a lot to handle, Anakin," joked Obi-Wan.
I punched him.
"We have fun right, Snips?" I asked.
She rolled her eyes. "Of course we have fun Skyguy, I just don't want anything to hurt the baby. I am being cautious this time."
My mind processed what she said. "You're pregnant?"
She nodded, smiling.
I picked her up and squeezed her. "Oh, Snips! This is awesome!" I put her down, and pat Obi-Wan on the back. "We are gonna be uncles!"
"Force help this child," said Obi-Wan.
The council had summoned me, not Obi-Wan for something important, and I was dying to know what it was. When I arrived, there was a small youngling there. "Hello," I said. "If the masters are not busy can you tell them that Anakin Skywalker is here."
The boy silently nodded and disappeared inside the room. In a moment he came back out. "They will see you now sir," he said.
I bowed to him and went inside. When I reached the center of the room, I bowed. "Masters," I said.
"How feel you," said Master Yoda.
"Well sir," I said. "To be honest that was a troubling mission. It is good to get home and be back to normal."
"You have done well in your training, Anakin," said Obi-Wan. "Do you feel you still need it?"
"My training with Depa, I most definitely do. And my training with Windu as well. The others we can begin to phase out, but I think it would be too rash to just stop it."
"Do you believe Sidious has any hold on you?" asked Ki-Adi Mundi.
"I'm sure he will always attempt to tempt me and might even be successful, so i must keep my guard up without becoming paranoid. It is a delicate balance," I state.
"Have I been helpful, Anakin?" asked Depa.
"Extremely. With my medication, and getting back on my feet. Also, you and Obi-Wan, were the first Jedi to forgive me and have faith in me. Beside Luke. Yes I value our sessions."
"Anakin, when you first regenerated, many of us did not think that your transformation was genuine," said Windu. "But you have faced every obstacle without hesitation. You truly impressed me, Skywalker."
"Role of Master, earned, you have," said Yoda.
"We would be honored if you were on this council," said Depa.
"Isn't this the dream," I thought, "for them to recognize me for my talent and see me as the Chosen One. I am finally home."
But then something clicked in my mind. "I don't know who my kids are," I complained to Obi-Wan.
What did I know about Jinn and Ashla except they cry at 0200. They're a year old now. They are walking. And Padme, we had not been out since Ahsoka lost her baby. I could be the most powerful Jedi ever, but what kind of father and husband would I be?
"Masters, fifty years ago I would do anything to join this council, but then Palpatine happened and we all lost everything. I lost my wife and my unborn children. I learned they are my life, and I can't live without them." I took a deep breath. "I am afraid, to do right by them, I must leave the Jedi Order."
The whole room gasped. Master Yoda bowed his head. "When torn between two lives, only hatred can grow."
"Yes Master," I said, grateful he got it.
I went home early. Padme was trying to get Jinn to eat some mashed pairs.
"Up, here is Daddy," she said. "Why is Daddy home?"
"Is Ashla done?" I asked.
"Yeah. I was going to put the dishes in the sink."
I grabbed Ashlas plate and spoon and put it in the sink.
"Ani, why are you home?"
I took a deep breathe, not sure how to start. "Do you remember being pregnant with Luke and Leia and we were trying to figure out what to do?"
"Yeah," she said, grabbing a wipe and washing Jinns hands. I grabbed a wipe and washed Ashlas hands.
"Remember one night we were standing on the balcony of that apartment and talking about going to Naboo and raising Luke and Leia in the lake palace."
"And you acted like you weren't listening, yeah."
"Well, what if we did that?"
"What?"
"I retired from the Order today. I am not going on missions when I need to be raising the kids with you. Let's go to Naboo, and fix up a house. We can take Mom and Qui-Gon and get them a house close by. You can advise the queen, or run for office again, and I can run security. Our kids can play with there cousins and go to parades. I want them to be Jedi but we can enroll them later if ever. Let's be a family."
Padme was crying. I couldn't tell if she was happy or sad, but then she threw her arms around me and kissed me hard.
"You really left the order for me?" she asked.
"Yes," I said.
We kissed, and I wondered what took me so long.
