Epilogue – Varykino, Lake Country, Naboo
Anakin Skywalker touched down with his ship, the walls of the old freighter shaking as it came to a sudden stop. His landings weren't as finesse as they had been in the past, and he wouldn't claim to be the best pilot in the galaxy anymore, but he was still one of the best.
As he disembarked from his ship he wondered for the millionth time if he should really have come. He wouldn't have, but Luke had holographed to invite him personally. Guilt tripped him with the fact that his son didn't graduate from the New Republic Pilot Academy every day and if he refused to come to the graduation he had to at least make it to the after party. As if that was somehow easier. Lost in his trepidation he barely noticed the frantic beeps coming from the sleek new transport just minted by the Republic for their Senators.
"Artoo?" he asked in amazement when the beeps finally registered. He looked in awe at the small astromech sitting on the ship, the old droid sitting in stark contrast to the newness of the ship. But Anakin knew that appearances were deceiving and there was no better droid in the galaxy.
He smiled at Artoo as he tried to follow his binary beeping. He hated to admit it but he was a bit rusty and the little droid gradually slowed down realizing this.
"Yes Artoo, it's me," he replied to the less frantic beeps.
A few accusing beeps later, he sighed, "Yes, I have been debugged," he agreed softly. This seemed to please the little droid. But only for a moment, then he was on his case again.
"Why are you here and not at the party?" he finally cut in, picking up Artoo in order to coax him out of the ship. "They wouldn't fix your blasters because you were always wandering away?" Anakin confirmed before promising the droid he would fix them the first chance he got.
Somehow it was easier with Artoo at his side, but he still found himself walking slower as they got closer to the villa. Artoo just barely missed running into him for the hundredth time when he finally saw them. A sea of small dots sitting happily out on the balcony overlooking the lake. A whole group of people celebrating Luke's success. So far from a clandestine affair attended by two.
"No I'm not a coward," Anakin protested at Artoo though he knew it was a lie.
He hadn't seen her in person for several years now, not since his trial had finally ended. She had begged him not to do it, to let them all move on. But if Palpatine had to stand trial so would he. But it had been even more brutal than he anticipated. Every single one of Vader's crimes was held up to the light, his identity and his faults exposed to the world. She hadn't been able to stand by him afterward without that look in her eyes, and he couldn't stand it. Part of him was relieved when the judge proclaimed that Darth Vader's crimes were punishable by death. But then he had continued, "But Darth Vader is already dead. This man by his own testimony killed him. Despite his claims that spiritually he is the Anakin Skywalker who became Darth Vader physically he is only a clone of that man. It is a dangerous precedent to set, having a clone be held accountable for the crimes of their prototype. Case dismissed."
Anakin had wandered out of the court in a daze after that. And he continued to wander aimlessly for quite some time. He took up the odd piloting job to stay busy but half the time he felt like he was just going through the motions, waiting to be assassinated. Perhaps the bullet would have come eventually if he hadn't started making himself useful. First it was just fixing things – tuning up someone's speeder for them, fixing a droid that malfunctioned, twiddling with a hyperdrive.
He may have gone on like that forever, but about eight months later Ahsoka tracked him down to tell him that Palpatine had died in prison. As if that wasn't good enough news on its own, she also informed him that he had been named his heir. And while most of his land holdings and moneys had been reclaimed by the Republic there was still a substantial inheritance left to claim. Anakin had been confused at first, protesting that the courts had clearly said he wasn't Darth Vader and therefore he couldn't claim anything Palpatine left Darth. But no, that bastard had left everything to Anakin Skywalker. In an old will that he obviously hadn't updated in years. Anakin smiled, knowing that Palpatine had done it to be spiteful, knowing it would have left Darth Vader in the unenviable position of walking away from limitless resources or admitting who he had been.
Though his first instinct was to burn the places to the ground Ahsoka eventually talked reason into him. Given the extent of Palpatine's resources there was so much good that he could do. And that was when he started fixing people instead of machines. By opening Palpatine's estates to newly liberated slave, and ex-soldiers adjusting to their new realities, by meeting with them and showing them that it was possible to move forward. He fitted them with new prosthetics and with a new sense of hope. It was satisfying work but it wasn't quite enough, and he eventually started joining emancipation missions in order to help even more people.
Missions which eventually took him back to Tatooine.
He visited her grave first. And then afterwards carved a small symbol into wood and left it sitting in the barren sand of a long abandoned Tsukan settlement. For the woman and children he whispered to the wind, as he clutched a similar figure in his other hand. Someday he would take that one to Coruscant to place in the Jedi temple memorial.
He spent more time in Tatooine than he wanted too. Unfortunately fear of the Hutts ran deep and while everyone knew slavery ran rampant, no one was willing to openly talk about it. It took him several weeks before he found a smuggler on the outs with Jabba who had the right combination of bravery and foolishness to testify against him. However, Han and Anakin had rubbed each other the wrong way from their first meeting. He finally gave up and sent the man safely to Coruscant. Then he swallowed his pride and contacted Padme, telling her to work on him once he got there. When he learned that Han Solo's testimony earned Jabba a life sentence and the Republic was dispatching resources to help the people of Tatooine he called her back to thank her. But when he asked her how she managed to convince Han to testify she smiled and said that women have ways of convincing men. To his own credit he had managed to hold back the jealousy for a few moments. Which was thankfully long enough for Padme to take pity on him and mumbled something about Leia and amnesty convincing him.
Anakin hadn't spoken to Padme since then. He was too afraid that the next time he called he would learn she had actually moved on.
He breathed in and took a few more steps forward, now close enough to recognize faces. He realized with a shock that the smuggler was there, standing on the balcony smiling, Leia at his side. And there was Luke across from them animatedly telling a story. He caught his breathe as he spotted her, just a few steps away. Padme, standing with a half empty drink in her hand as she spoke animatedly with Bail and Breha and countless others that he didn't recognize.
He almost turned away. But just at that moment she turned her head and was suddenly looking right at him. And it struck him that even with all those people around her she looked lonely. As she slowly put down her drink to make her way to him he shook his head in protest. He would come to her.
"I'm sorry I'm late," he apologized as he made his way up the stairs to the balcony, trying not to feel self-conscious with everyone's eyes suddenly on him. Luke smiled and waved, Leia winked at him, and Han looked apprehensive. Padme only waited, an unreadable expression on her face.
He took a few more steps until he was standing next to Padme. The animated conversation had died with his entrance and Bail and Breha nodded politely while others openly glared.
"Congratulations are in order to you both as well I hear," he greeted them, "Vice Chancellors."
He wondered if he ought to bow to them. But he was never one for social graces. And he wasn't quite sure what the role of the new committee of vice chancellors was other than to be able to veto any decisions of the chancellor should they ever accidentally elect another dictator.
A few minutes later small talk had resumed, and five minutes later he knew more than he had ever cared too about the committee of vice chancellors who oversaw the Senate of the New Republic.
Padme was now explaining that even though many powers had been returned to each individual planet and membership in the Galactic Republic was strictly voluntary it offered so many military and trade benefits that most planets had joined. But ensuring that they all were submitting to the ordinates of the Republic - which included emancipation of all citizens, and access to certain key rights – was keeping them all on their toes.
Breha seemed to be getting bored with all the political talk as well so when Bail and Padme finally paused for a moment she quickly turned to him and changed the subject. "How are things going with the Skywalker foundation?" she asked kindly.
Anakin startled. He had never named what it was he did exactly. Had never sought self-recognition for his deeds. And he did not particularly wish to do so now.
"You must not read the holonet," commented Bail, earning a few chuckles from the group.
No. He had avoided that for years.
"Best that he doesn't, it would only go to his head," cut in Padme, before turning to look at him. And the look in her eyes was something he hadn't seen since the clone wars. "They have made a hero out of you again Anakin – or at least portrayed you as some kind of dark brooding philanthropist."
Anakin didn't know what to say.
Seeing his discomfort and confusion Breha took pity on him. "The former storm troopers have been quite vocal about how they were brainwashed by the Empire. So when questioned why they would accept help from a man who was part of that same Empire they universally spoke out that you were as much a victim as they were. Their testimony has certainly shifted the tides of public opinion in your favour. As a side effect more and more people are also suddenly remembering all your brave feats during the clone wars."
Anakin blushed, "I think they give me far too much credit. And I suspect it's Obi-Wan and Ahsoka's fault as they have been doing most of the rehabilitation work with the former soldiers."
Breha nodded. "Please don't disillusion them Anakin. You're ability to re-invent yourself after the horrors of the Empire gives hope to so many people."
Feeling very uncomfortable and actually wishing for a return to discussing politics he was relieved when Luke came over and pulled him away to show him his piloting certificates and honours. Then Luke wanted to show him all he had learned and Anakin was more than happy to spend the evening with Artoo and Luke flying until the dusk prompted Luke to return to his friends.
There were only a few people left when they got back. The close friends of Luke remaining there quickly scooped him up to go to further festivities elsewhere, and they pulled Han and Leia along with them. He was about to excuse himself too when Bail and Breha wished them goodnight first.
"It's just us now," Padme said slowly, walking to the edge of the balcony. He could see a few strands of grey in her hair. The cloned bodies weren't perfect, and while they only appeared in their early 30's now, but by the time Luke and Leia were in their 50's they would no doubt appear to be in their 70s. He didn't mind for himself but he felt a pang of guilt about the time Padme had lost.
"I'm sorry for staying so late," he apologized, knowing he should go but finding himself standing beside her on the balcony instead.
"Please don't apologize Anakin, I'm glad you're here," she replied, laying her hand on his wrist as if to stop him from leaving. "You're finally doing what you said you would when you were a child – freeing people."
Preoccupied by the hand on his wrist he didn't notice right away that she was fingering something with her other hand. He felt a surge of hope and shame when he realized it was the japor snippet he had given her all those years ago.
"You were buried with that," he protested a moment later, studying the small necklace he remembered staring at for hours when he had first visited her grave as Vader. At his words she suddenly tucked it back down into her dress.
"You're not the only one who can steal from a corpse," she chided him. "Besides, I had her, my….well I retrieved it when Bail and I replaced my old body with a wax figurine to collaborate the whole frozen in carbonite story."
Anakin grimaced. "And what did you do with … your old body?"
She smiled at him. "I had it dropped in the lava at Mustafar with yours. Bail thought it was a bit dramatic and unnecessary but I think you can appreciate that sometimes we need to bury the past in dramatic ways."
Anakin could only nod. She never stopped surprising him.
"Did anyone ever tell you what Yoda said before he died?" she asked suddenly.
Anakin shook his head and she leaned closer to him. Whispered it into his ear. "Let it go and find it all again you do. Make sure to tell Skywalker….."
She pulled away from him, and as he looked down it struck him that she was so beautiful. And they were standing on the balcony where they had married.
"You can't forgive me," he whispered softly in her ear knowing he really ought to leave now.
"I don't know Anakin. There's too much between us. And we're both too dedicated to our work. But Anakin, don't you get lonely sometimes too?"
He nodded, encouraged by the blush on her cheeks.
"So maybe you could stay tonight? And then tomorrow morning you'll get up early and sneak out on the ship of yours, or perhaps I'll get up early to leave for the senate. And we'll both go and do whatever it is we need to do. And then, when you to feel lonely again, then maybe you'll sneak back to Coruscant for a visit?"
"This is a horrible plan Padme," he told her.
But a playful smirk back was gracing his features, and he made no attempt to leave.
THE END
A/N:: I hope you enjoyed my little story, and thanks you to all those who commented, followed and favourited - I am debating writing series of one shots as a sequel of sorts. Tentatively named "The Skywalker Foundation for Cripples, Bastards and Broken Things" it would include stories with such ridiculous themes as Anakin bragging he's just as formidable without the force when it's really R2D2 repeatedly saving his ass, Han asking Bail and Breha's permission to marry Leia and instead of telling him that this is not an Alderaanian tradition they troll him and tell him he has to get Padme and Anakin's permission first, Anakin catching Ahsoka reading "The Senator and the Cyborg" to former troopers instead of leading a meditation session, Luke going to Obi-Wan for advice when he questions his sexuality after Obi-Wan accidentally implies that he and Anakin were lovers, and of course maybe a few late night visits to Coruscant…. and whatever else comes to mind….
My musical muses for this story:
Anakin themes:: Creep by Radiohead ; To Be Yourself & Like a Stone by Audioslave
Padme/Anakin themes:: Hate Me by Blue October, I'm Not Strong Enough to Say No by BlackHawk
Obi-Wan theme:: I'm No Stranger to the Rain by Keith Whitley