Author's Note: Hello there! This chapter is the longest and most fulfilling chapter I've done for the series so far. I do plan on finishing this sequel story with an epilogue to gear up for part 3. What you're about to read is my love letter to all my readers who have enjoyed this story that has become my greatest joy in life since I began writing "Finding the Light" late July. I also have lined up two other projects for this trilogy I'm writing. There will be a collection of fluffy one shots taking place within the "Finding the Light" story and there will be a collection of one shot stories to go with "All is Found". I love writing for these characters and I love what I've done with this AU so I cannot wait to give you more of this content. Anyways I hope you enjoy the read, feel free to leave a review, and I'll see you all in the next installment. The Force will be with you always... Love, Bailey.
Chapter 20: Across the Stars
"Dearest, you know it's time for dinner right?" Barriss chimed to Ahsoka, who was currently admiring her new engagement ring against the amber rays of the sunset atop the Kenobi residence.
Ahsoka smiles, "Yeah I know, but I'm just triple checking myself to see if this is all a dream or if you really gifted me with this…."
Barriss wraps her arms around her fiancée's waist and rests her chin on Ahsoka's shoulders, taking in the ring that truly suited the Togruta. Despite pursuing several glass displays of flashy rings, most women would fawn over, Ahsoka opted for a traditional all-gold band embezzled with crushed white kyber crystal, she took a piece from one of her lightsabers. It was Barriss's idea to incorporate the use of crystal into the band that Ahsoka insisted was "just fine, no big deal". But the Mirialan would have none of it, "Ahsoka Tano, I refuse to have the Jedi that was chosen by the Force itself to preserve the light to leave with just a plain old band." Ahsoka remembers grinning and rolling her eyes at the comment, "Fine, dear, if that's what makes you happy."
"So I take it you're grateful that I made you add some sparkle to your ring?" Barriss playfully asks as Ahsoka turns to face her, moving a stray, brunette bang away from her eyes.
With a kiss, Ahsoka answers, "Of course I am, what would I do if I didn't have a bossy, prim, and proper wifey that's always right?"
Barriss smirks and pulls her lover inside where Obi-wan and Luminara were waiting with food on the table. Luminara was putting Aurora into her baby swing while Obi-wan was opening a bottle of wine, gesturing it to the couple, "Anakin's not here to ruin the fun, so shall we raise a glass?"
Ahsoka was quick to steal the bottle away to pour her and Barriss's glass, "Silly Obi-wan, what a stupid question to ask!"
"Fair enough, just save some for the rest of us Ahsoka!" winked Obi-wan, who proceeded to cut Luminara's meat on her plate.
"Oh Barriss, where would I be today, if I didn't have my Jedi in shining armor cutting my meals up for me?" Luminara remarks with a warm smile to her husband.
"That's easy Master, I'd be the one to take care of you!" Barriss replies as she begins to eat.
"Correction, I would be taking care of you both!" Ahsoka argues with a wag of a finger, "Force knows you two would be lost without me."
Luminara laughs as she sits down at the table, "You have me there dear, but from what Bariss has told me, you were the lost one when it came to your ring choices."
"Are you seriously surprised by that? I had Anakin for a guardian," Ahsoka says bashfully, "Befriending Barriss was a pretty deal."
"Oh, trust me Padawan Tano, you were pretty vocal about what you thought of my girl in your mind," Luminara replies coolly, with a knowing look to Barriss, who started to laugh.
Ahsoka throws her hands up, "What?! I don't even remember what I was thinking besides wanting to strangle Skyguy for not taking me seriously! Obi-wan?!"
"Ahsoka…" Obi-wan chuckles before taking a sip of wine and giving her a raised finger to wait.
"Damn it Master!" hissed Ahsoka, feeling more embarrassed by the fact that her crush on Barriss was never a secret.
"You and Anakin have never mastered the ability to mask your thoughts," Obi-wan finishes smugly, wishing he had the means to capture the flabbergasted expression on the young woman's face.
Barriss gently pats Ahsoka's hand, "It's alright dear, we'll just blame Anakin like we always do. Besides, I was flattered by your first impression."
The Togruta slams her face onto the table, "Ugh, you all are the worst! Aurora is in some serious trouble the day she starts having crushes!"
"Nonsense Ahsoka, we'll never know because Barriss will teach her to be less obvious," Obi-wan says, raising his glass to the Mirialan in question.
"Alright, you two, let's let the poor girl eat! Ahsoka, I want you to know that even back then I never felt more comfortable allowing Barriss to be in another Jedi's company. It will be lovely having you as our official third daughter," Luminara reassures in a motherly tone.
Ahsoka raises her head back up, "Really? So even on Mortis you knew?"
"Yes, I did… if it weren't for your worrying thoughts, the conversation we had about me opening up to Barriss was a clear indication of how you felt. At the time I was protective and concerned about how Barriss would be affected, but in the end, you and I both know it was meant to be and you've saved us time and time again. Not to mention that Ben has always loved you."
"My lady wife speaks the truth," Obi-wan agreed with a nod to Ahsoka.
Despite logically knowing how each individual felt about her, Ahsoka still found great relief in the words she was hearing and finally began to eat her meal. Barriss was next to take the lead on the conversation, "I hate to be the one to ask, but what happened to you two back at the trail? One moment Obi-wan was fine and then the next, he's on the ground burning up like he's coming down with the flu! Master, you fell at the same time only to get back up feeling…fine?"
Simultaneously, Obi-wan and Luminara dropped their utensils and looked to each other before looking at the couple opposite them with a serious expression.
"Well, it's difficult to say, but it appears that our new foe wanted Luminara and I to receive a message. I, like Barriss a year ago, experienced a vision, while Quinlan managed to communicate with Luminara."
Barriss's hands balled into fists and her eyes hardened at the news. She looks to her teacher, "What happened Master? What did he have to say this time?"
Luminara reaches and holds onto Barriss's hands, "It's alright Barriss."
"How can you be so sure?" Barriss whispers, biting her lip.
Luminara stood up and walked around the dining table to kneel before Barriss, "He's in prison now, love. There's no way he can harm me or any one of us and I stood my ground. I'm not sure how Quinlan managed to get inside my mind, maybe it's this new Sith, who knows? Regardless, all he did was try to get me to join his side and I refused. You remember what I'd always tell you whenever you faced your fears?"
"Find the light," answered Barriss breathily, her heart swelling up with joy seeing her Master look so peaceful.
"Yes, Barriss… I told him that no matter what I'll never go dark. I will always stay in the light and nothing and I mean nothing could ever tear me apart from you or anyone else in our home," Luminara continues as she cradled Barriss's face, "I love you so much sweetheart, I've promised you that I'd never lie to you, so please believe me when I say that I'm okay."
"Yes, Master. I love you too…," Barriss exhales as she embraces Luminara, the older woman placing a kiss on her forehead.
Ahsoka smiles at the sight of Barriss relaxing into Luminara's hold, before turning to Obi-wan with a small frown, "What did you see in your vision?"
The man lets out a long sigh as Obi-wan plucked his beard, "It sounds crazy I know, but I saw an older version of Aurora, about nine or so, coming up to me in tears asking where Luminara is. Then, I saw aged versions of Luminara, Barriss, and Quinlan begging me to turn Aurora over. I believe I also heard our unknown adversary speak, but my memory fails me there."
Ahsoka slams a fist on the table, "For fuck's sake, why can't we just be left alone!"
"I concur, but I'm not surprised that Aurora would be the target…" Barriss adds as she and Luminara break away from each other.
"I'm just so sick and tired of us always having to look over our shoulders!" Ahsoka growls, crossing her arms, "So what are we going to do?!"
It was Obi-wan's turn to offer comfort, "No need to stress Ahsoka, Master Qui-Gon gave me an answer."
Ahsoka's jaw dropped, "He did?!"
Nodding, Obi-wan continued to explain, "Qui-Gon insisted that we move to a planet called Ach-to, the alleged birthplace of the Jedi Order."
Both Barriss and Ahsoka took on confused expressions.
"If Ach-to is where our roots are, why haven't we heard of it?" Barriss inquired.
"I suppose after thousands of years of building a home here on Coruscant, there was no need to pass on that knowledge," Obi-wan answers, "If what I saw in my vision was true, then we're in for a treat in terms of beauty. It's a remote planet covered in islands; a suitable environment for rebirth."
"Okay, so we have a name and a first impression, but that still leaves us with the question on how to get there?" Ahsoka pressed.
"Qui-Gon assured me we'd find our way via holocron, which if you recall is in the hands of…."
"Jocasta…" Ahsoka finished glumly, "It took Master Billaba an eternity to convince the old broad to come out of hiding, you really think she'll have the holocron we're looking for and, in turn, let us use it?"
"If she wants to restore our Order then she doesn't have much of a choice," Luminara says, "Master Nu may be shrill at times, but she is reasonable. I'm sure we'll find what we need, Master Jinn has yet to steer us wrong."
Obi-wan kisses Luminara's hand, "Right again darling. Until then, the wedding is of utmost importance. Don't let today's events get in the way of that!"
"He's right Ahsoka," Barriss agrees, relaxing her hands, "We mustn't lose focus on what really matters."
"Yeah…" Ahsoka sighed, placing her hand over Barriss's, "I still need to figure out what I'm wearing."
"What?!" Barriss and Luminara exclaim in unison, looking as if Ahsoka just confessed to a crime.
Shaking his head, Obi-wan looks over to the blushing Togruta, "Looks like you've just created a disturbance in the Force Ahsoka, I wish you luck."
Deep within the depths of the Coruscant underworld, Asajj Ventress made herself home at one of the many dive bars that decorated the narrow alleyways. After such a dramatic afternoon, the Nightsister craved a good drink or ten, the woman lost count. Ventress doesn't know why she suddenly feels so depressed. No, it wasn't due to the fact that a new, formidable Sith Lord has decided to make his grand entrance and no it wasn't because of the sudden fainting of the Kenobi's. The ex-assassin has never been one to cower over danger.
Perhaps, it's the fact that Ventress has yet to find a satisfying destiny and Force knows her life has been a series of unfortunate events. From being sold as a slave to losing her Jedi Master to being abandoned by Count Dooku, it would seem Asajj just doesn't "belong" anywhere. Sure, she could always return to her clan on Dathomir, but is that want the drunk woman wanted? Ventress would be lying if she said that she didn't enjoy this side adventure of helping the Jedi against Maul and the traitorous Savage. She missed the unpredictability, the drive, the sound of a lightsaber being ignited…. So what's next?
The blasted sound of her com link going off made Asajj groan in annoyance, but her attitude quickly changed seeing who the caller was. A blue, holographic image of Mother Talzin came into view, "Sister…." the head witch purred.
"Mother...what is it?" replied Ventress, a little embarrassed over her current state.
"Seeing as it has been weeks since you have departed, it was only a matter of time before I checked in on the status of one of our own…" Talzin drawled, "Still helping the Jedi or is there another reason why you have not returned home?"
Ventress blinked, immediately feeling agitated by the question, "No to both, I guess I just wanted to do some sightseeing."
Talzin raises a hand, "No need to get angry Sister, it's only natural that you enjoy your freedom now that you finally have it. You'll always have a home here should you ever grow tired of it."
Talzin was only met with silence as Ventress failed to articulate an answer. "Why am I so pissed off and why do I have this urge to just choke the life out of her?" thought the younger woman.
"No matter, it seems that a new Sith order is on the rise. You don't happen to know who that may be would you Sister? Perhaps you've found yourself within their ranks?" asked Talzin, her stoic expression still intact.
"I answer to no one!" Ventress slurred out at last, her pale blue eyes narrowed into slits.
"Of course… I was just merely checking. Still, I want to propose a task to you if you're interested, it would require you breaking into a Republic prison…" Talzin begins to say, to which Ventress crosses her arms and leans back in her seat.
"If you're talking about Quinlan Vos, count me out, my Sith days are over and you know that! You said it yourself! You told me to abandon the Sith altogether and now you want me to get the next wannabe assassin, the very one that almost killed me?!" shouted Ventress with a slam of a fist, her Force energy shattering all the glasses that were scattered about her booth.
"Ah yes, you speak the truth my lost child. It was I that told you to leave the Sith, but that doesn't mean that you'd never have to deal with it ever again. The Jedi and the Sith can never be completely wiped out which is something that your Jedi friends fail to comprehend. Light cannot exist without the darkness."
"Your point?"
"My point is that you girl and Kenobi have succeeded in killing my own flesh and blood, my son, Maul," Talzin finishes in a lethal tone that sent tremors up Ventress's spine.
"You failed to tell me that Maul was your child! That would have been good to know when you had Kenobi right there for the taking. Don't you dare guilt me because you chose to let me go without all the information!" Ventress hisses.
"I wanted to see for myself where your allegiance truly was," Talzin said definitively.
Asajj Ventress has now officially had enough. Clearly, the mind games were still not over.
"At least the Jedi tell the truth at the end of the day! So what the hell do you want with Vos? Let me guess, you want me to break his ass out and bring him to you so you can use him for revenge against Obi-wan and his infant daughter? So that just maybe I could earn your forgiveness for the act of betrayal I was completely unaware of?"
"What a smart girl, you are! That is exactly what I'd like you to do! So what will it be Sister Asajj? A job and a home to go to? Or a lonely, wasted existence in an unfair galaxy?" Talzin offers sternly, her stare burning holes into aforementioned woman's soul.
"I take it I don't have the opportunity to think it over?"
"No."
Ventress deflated. As if she was not already at war with herself with the current status of her life. But now, once again, Ventress has found herself into another impossible situation. Is she to crush the Jedi's newfound trust in her by delivering their sworn enemy to slaughter the child they spent months protecting, breaking Obi-wan's heart, the one Jedi that always saw good in her? Or is she to follow the wishes of a powerful ruler that Ventress knows would most likely have her eliminated given that she had a hand in Maul's demise?
With a long exhale Asajj tells the witch what she wanted to hear, "Fine, it will be done, but I'm going to need time to execute the perfect breakout."
"Of course, we'll be seeing you very soon Asajj, your sisters have missed you," Talzin finishes with a toothy grin.
Luminara's glowing wedding ring, a sinister laugh, a chorus of screams, an aged Obi-wan and Anakin, Ahsoka's heartbreaking, "I love you", Isadora's "I'm so sorry", a child in a grassy field, twin suns, a flash of red, the icy breath of death.
"NO!" Barriss screams, jolting upright in bed, her body covered in a cold sweat.
"Barriss! What is it baby?!" Ahsoka yells, turning on the bedside lamp next to her.
Barriss says nothing as she clenches her hands to both sides of her hand and continues to pant, "No, no, no, NO!"
As Ahsoka positions herself behind the distressed Mirialan, the sound of Aurora crying in the room next door and an alarmed Luminara bursts through the bedroom door, "Barriss! What's happened?" the older woman exclaims as Barriss bursts into tears and attempts to cover her face to which Luminara stops instantly grabbing her hands and forcing Barriss to look her in the eye.
"Barriss, look at me and breathe with Ahsoka and I! You're safe!" Luminara commands gently.
After a couple of deep breaths, Barriss looks to both Luminara and Ahsoka before muttering, "I'm so sorry.."
Ahsoka cuts her off, "Barriss, no. You just had another vision didn't you?"
Barriss shakes her head rapidly, "No! Not just another vision, the vision!"
Luminara and Ahsoka knew exactly what Barriss meant.
"The same one you saw on Lothal last year right?" Luminara clarifies glumly, her heart aching for the girl.
"Yes! Master I don't understand! We all thought it was foretelling the future with you, the baby, Maul...Ugh! How can this be?!" a now frustrated Barriss asked as Ahsoka hides her crestfallen face against Barriss's back.
Luminara massages her temples with a sigh, "I wish I had the answer to that darling. I'm just as lost as you are...perhaps this foe has been around longer than we know and has been planting a message to torture your mind this entire time."
Barriss wishes she didn't believe what Luminara said, "Master…"
Once again, Barriss was interrupted by Luminara throwing her arms around the couple, her face brushing against her own, "Hush now, Barriss there's no use in giving into what the enemy wants. He wants you panic, to be afraid, but damn it all Barriss! You are days away from being a bride and I won't allow anyone or anything to take away yours and Ahsoka's happiness!"
Luminara sits right back up and to Barriss's horror, pulls the sweat-soaked babydoll gown over her head, "Master!"
Ahsoka cackles at the sight of Barriss covering her bare breasts.
With a smile and an eye roll, Luminara snorts, "Oh Barriss, calm down. It's nothing I haven't seen before and you've seen me naked, so forgive me for wanting you to get into dry clothes!"
"Barriss! Have you been cheating on me with Luminara?!" Ahsoka laughs, relishing the moment.
"Ahsoka!" Barriss says with a smack that Ahsoka easily dodges.
"Did I hear something about a naked Mirialan woman here?" asks Obi-wan, who has now entered the bedroom with a calm and awake Aurora. Barriss's entire being now burned in embarrassment.
Luminara throws Barriss clean nightwear, "I'm just a mother giving her daughter cleaner clothing dear, get your mind out of the gutter!"
Ahsoka catches the new pajamas and quickly throws a new shirt over Barriss's torso, "Allow me…''Ahsoka whispers lovingly into Bariss's ear.
With Barriss now fully clothed, Obi-wan turns to his wife, "Another vision?"
"Not just any vision, the same one from before…"Luminara sadly reported as she leans in to kiss her child who squeals happily in response, "Thanks for getting her dear."
Obi-wan kisses both of his girls, "Of course, shall we return to bed?"
Luminara looks at the couple on the bed, "You two go ahead, my work isn't done here just yet."
"Right, don't keep me waiting too long," winked Obi-wan with a quick smack to Luminara's bottom, "Ben!"
Ahsoka and Barriss allowed themselves a laugh at the man's antics as Luminara gives her husband a devious look before crawling back into bed with the two brides to be, "Better dear?" she says to Barriss as she lays beside her with a propped elbow.
"Yes, Master, thank you. You've always been my hero, but I never would have imagined you undressing me," Barriss answers, sandwiching herself between Luminara and the still grinning Ahsoka who gave Luminara two thumbs up.
Luminara bursts into laughter, "Ahsoka, please! I can't breathe!"
"Quick babe! Get your vengeance while she's down!" pushed Ahsoka who jumped over to start tickling the Jedi Master. Not even Barriss foresaw Luminara rolling over to grab a throw pillow next to her to hit Ahsoka dead in her tracks.
Ahsoka's jaw dropped, completely stunned, "Oh, it is so on Luminara!" she yells with an Anakin like smile. As Barriss enjoyed the very serious pillow fight between the two loves of her life, her mind still drifted back to what awoke them all in the first place. If what Luminara theorized was true, would she even get the chance to marry Ahsoka? Just how long will their peace time last this time around. Barriss's mind flashes back to what she told Ahsoka so long ago post-Geonosis, "You should enjoy the peacetime while it lasts."
Barriss smirked at the memory. Realistically speaking, it hasn't been that long since she said those words, yet given what has transpired since, Barriss felt so much older and exhausted.
"Oh no, she's at it again Luminara, stuck in her mind…"Ahsoka says bringing her fiancee back to reality with a kiss to the forehead, "Time to come back, Barriss!"
Barriss blinks a few times, before reciprocating the kiss to Ahsoka's open lips, "As you wish…"
"Should I be concerned?" Luminara questioned as she gave the couple space.
Barriss gives Ahsoka another quick peck before turning to rest her head on Luminara's lap, "I suppose not, but you know me too well."
"That I do…" beamed Luminara as she rakes her fingers through Barriss's hair, "But do your best to focus on being a bride….oh sweetie, you're going to be a vision in your gown. Prepare yourself, Ahsoka, you know we Mirialans know how to clean up."
"Seeing Barriss all dolled up is the one thing I'm looking most forward to!" Ahsoka responds as she begins to massage said woman's feet.
Luminara caresses Barriss's cheek, "Indeed...it's about time you two get back to your beauty rest."
Barriss yawns, "Yes, Master. As do you, thank you for comforting me, I'm sorry I disturbed you all."
Luminara kisses Barriss's hand, "Always."
With that, Ahsoka and Barriss start to climb back into bed as Luminara walks up to the light switch,
"Goodnight you two, I love you!"
"Goodnight, love you too!"
Anakin has come to enjoy meditating down at a city park whenever Padme was napping with their twins midday. Even with two parents taking care of a baby at the same time, it was exhausting and Anakin valued inner peace, especially after the events of the trail a few days prior. With hundreds of beings passing through the lush greens all the time, the sound of Barriss's approaching footsteps was not enough to get Anakin's attention.
"Anakin?" asked Barriss as the man in question looked surprised.
"Barriss! What's up?" said Anakin as he started to stand back up.
"I hope I'm not disturbing you, Padme told me you'd be down here…" Barriss says as she kneels down to sit on the grass.
Anakin waved his mechanical hand, "Not at all, this is just my new routine. I always preferred to meditate in places outside my quarters. Back when we still had the Temple, I don't think I ever went to the same meditating spot twice."
"I miss the Temple so much," Barriss reminisces.
"Me too...We had a great home," Anakin agreed with a sigh, his eyes to the cloudless blue sky above.
"And we'll soon build another," Barriss adds before getting back to business, "I've come to discuss something with you that isn't wedding related."
Anakin scoffs, "That's a relief to hear, It's a good thing we have Padme."
"Yes, I don't think I'll be seeing our girl until they settle on a dress today!"
The two shared a laugh before getting back on track, "I noticed, you too were battling the dark side within you at the trial," Barriss continues.
"Yeah, it's not something I'm proud of, but Tarkin and Quinlan...I just can't believe the audacity those two have!" Anakin confesses throwing his hands in the air, "I'm telling you Barriss, I was pretty damn close to committing murder."
"As was I…" Barriss admits.
Anakin looks to the woman in the eyes, "I know, it seems like we both have the tendency to indulge into our anger and fear when it comes to the people we love."
"Which is why I feel we need help harnessing our anger," Barriss concludes.
"How?" asked Anakin.
"Ventress."
"You're joking!"
Barriss closes her eyes and exhales, "I know it's risky and it sounds ridiculous, but clearly we need help. Take Vos for example, he was arguably the most laid back Jedi Master there ever was and now he's a monster! He had a taste of the dark side and we lost a friend...Anakin, we have way too much to lose for that to happen to us. There may be strength in the dark side but it's certainly not worth losing our family or ourselves. I'm a healer, you're the hero with no fear. You cannot deny that there would be value in seeking Ventress out. She's proven herself to be an ally."
Anakin took a moment to reflect on Barriss's words before nodding his head, "You're right…it's just that there could still be consequences."
"As there are in light side training, don't forget those early lightsaber training days!" Barriss chuckles, remembering all the times she'd miss deflecting the stinging blasts from the tiny training droids.
Anakin smiles, "Oh yeah, I may have sliced a few hundred droids back in the day."
"So you agree that we need to contact Ventress?" Barriss petitioned, not surprised whatsoever that her comrade reeked havoc in his early days as a Padawan.
Anakin bows his head, "Let's wait until after the wedding. We need to make sure we both make it to the altar in one piece for Ahsoka's sake."
Obi-wan was pursuing through a floral shop to look at possible arrangements for the big day since Padme was currently busy getting Ahsoka fitted for a dress. With Luminara and Barriss practicing their lightsaber dance taking Aurora with them, the Jedi was happy to help. Not to mention that Obi-wan is fond of plant life and is always eager to surprise his wife with a bouquet. After Obi-wan purchases a bundle of purple, blue, and white flowers for Luminara, Ventress grabs his attention just outside the shop.
"Well hello there, are you here to buy some flowers for a special somebody too?" Obi-wan teased, beginning to walk in the direction of his home.
"Ha, ha, very funny Obi-wan," Ventress replies sarcastically with an eye roll, "I've actually come to warn you."
"Oh?" Obi-wan questions with a raised brow, "Do tell."
"It's Talzin, Obi. She contacted me last night asking that I break Quinlan out of prison and bring him to Dathomir," Ventress explained causing the Jedi to halt, "Turns out Maul was her son and now she wants to return the favor with your daughter."
Obi-wan grips the flowers tight in his fist, rage running through his veins at the news, "I see…"
Ventress's face softens, "I'm not going to do it Obi-wan. I told her I would, but I lied."
Obi-wan gasped, "You lied?"
Ventress smirks and puts a hand on the man's shoulder, "My days of answering to anyone are over. You all have been nothing but good to me and I see no reason in betraying you."
With a warm smile, Obi-wan looks at the woman, "I always knew there was good in you, Master Narec would be proud."
Ventress crosses her arms and looks at the suns above, "I'd like to think so...I hope he can forgive me for what I've done in the past."
"A Jedi Master never loses faith in their apprentice Ventress. Even if Anakin were in Vos's place right now, as saddened and disappointed as I'd be, I'd still forgive him," Obi-wan assures.
With a shrug, Ventress changes the subject, "I hope you all have a plan in staying out of trouble?"
"Yes, actually," Obi-wan answers as the duo continued walking, "I can explain later since you and I both know there can be eyes anywhere, but there is a plan. You should join us, I'm sure you'd make a great teacher."
Ventress throws her head back and cackles, "Ha! Me, a Jedi Master? What a novel idea!"
"I'm serious!" Obi-wan smirks, "If my memory serves me right, you are quite the opponent even for my dear wife. You two couldn't be more opposite."
"Mama Kenobi did give me a challenge. You've got yourself a good woman there, my dear Obi-wan. I doubt she'd believe me, but she has my respect," Ventress confessed with a wistful look.
"She'll warm up to you in time. By the way, I haven't told you how much I like your new lightsaber, it suits you," Obi-wan says, gesturing to the weapon clipped to his companion's waist.
"Thanks, I was more than happy to wash my hands clean of Dooku," Ventress admits before accepting the Jedi's previous offer, "I'll go with you all wherever that may be. I'll have to go into hiding soon before Talzin catches wind of my betrayal."
"If you know where Master Biliabba resides, go there. She's been tasked with finding the holocron that contains coordinates of our next home, I have no doubt that she will hand that information over to you."
"And I'll be safe there?"
"Yes."
"Alright Kenobi, I'll take your word for it."
Inside a heavily locked Republic prison cell, Quinlan Vos mediates, battling the eternal conflict between light and dark. First, he thinks of Aayla, whose voice he could no longer hear. Having been blocked off by the Force itself, Quinlan's Padawan's cries were absent.
"Aayla…"
In his mind's eye, Quinlan sees images of his apprentice growing up before him. From the day the ex-Jedi met the little Twi'lek girl, the day he watched her construct her lightsaber, to the day Aayla was knighted, old feelings of pride and love overwhelmed the man. No different than any other Jedi Master, Aayla was more than just a Padawan, she was like a daughter to him, and when he felt her die through the Force, a large piece of him died with her. Never has Quinlan experienced such pain. The man would rather be brutally tortured than relive that moment again. That was probably the first time, Quinlan tapped into his rage when he slaughtered the Clone army that attempted to shoot him down. He knew that their deaths wouldn't make up for Aayla's but still, Quinlan needed to release his grief.
Then, there was Asajj Ventress. Sure, in his time, Quinlan has flirted with many attractive women all over the galaxy, but there was something about the Dathomirian that was alluring. He was attracted to her mysterious aura and Quinlan was confident that he could break through the walls she put up around her, until he discovered the truth about Master Tholme's fate. Lashing out at Ventress was the second time, Quinlan utilized the dark side and it felt so good. Again, rationally the warrior knew that almost killing the former assassin wouldn't change anything, but Quinlan felt invincible.
Upon seeing what he has done, Quinlan was desperate to mend things with Ventress for the sake of his friends. Though, the woman had every right to be furious and unforgiving, the rejection stung nonetheless.
Finally, there was Luminara. The memory of his dearest childhood friend running down to meet him down the Senate steps post Order 66, ignited a flame long forgotten. The way she looked so happy to see him made Quinlan temporarily forget his loss of Aayla. Sure, Quinlan was accepting of Luminara and Obi-wan's love at the time, yet after seeing what he could have had with Luminara upon hearing Ventress's rejection, darkness began to settle. Quinlan wanted Luminara to himself, feeling that he deserved the family she was building with Obi-wan after everything he had done for her growing up.
Maul was never Quinlan's Master. Quinlan was set on overthrowing the Sith once he disposed of Kenobi's child and saved Luminara. By studying Maul's spellbook, Quinaln read on a spell that would erase Lumnara's memory, making her his and then they'd have a life together elsewhere, not as Jedi, not as Sith, but as man and wife.
"Enough with those lies! You do not love me and you were not showing me mercy! You claim you wanted me put out of my misery, but let me fill you in something. If you wanted the Luminara you knew dead, well then congratulations, you've officially killed her. The moment you injected that needle into my neck was the moment Luminara Unduli was murdered. Now, I'm Jedi Master Luminara Kenobi, mother of two, wife to Ben Kenobi, and if you think for a moment that you have any chance of killing that woman, then you are dead wrong!"
"I will never join you, I will never go dark, I will never stop finding the light. I will live to maintain the peace, my family and I have fought so hard for. You've made your choice and now you will sleep in that bed. Should you ever escape from your prison and should you ever seek me or my family out, I promise you...It will be me that you become afraid of. My daughter and Anakin's children will bring back the Order and the galaxy will remain at peace with or without you!"
The prisoner sighed at the remorse he was beginning to feel, remembering what Luminara said to him just a few days ago. Quinlan admits that the Luminara would never be one to join forces of evil. She is the strongest woman Quinlan will ever know and the light side will always remain in her favor. Evidently, the Force itself knows that to be true.
"Go ahead and strike me down, do your worst Vos."
"I don't want to…" Quinlan says aloud to himself, opening his eyes to see Luminara standing before him. At first the man thought it was my mind playing tricks on him, but the expression etched on the woman's angelic face said otherwise.
"No, it can't be…" Luminara whispers, her lips quivering.
"You're real…" Quinlan responds, standing up, "You can see me."
Luminara puts a hand over her mouth and rapidly shakes her head, "How could this be? Why must you haunt me? Why can't you just leave me alone!"
It was then that Quinlan realised that he was successful in forming a Force bond between himself and Luminara. Besides the memory erasing spell, Quinlan studied the very spell Maul used to communicate with Luminara and Barriss from Exegol. Expecting the trial to end poorly for him, Quinlan was hopeful that he would manage to link himself to Luminara.
"Because you care for me just as I care for you," Quinaln answers, extending a hand to her.
Luminara's amethyst eyes flashed in disgust, "The friend I loved is gone and you are supposed to be in a Force restrictive cell."
Dismissing the woman's reply Quinaln continues, "You know damn well you're lying to yourself. You may not agree with my choices, but you know that your friend is very much alive and he's standing before you."
With both hands balled into fists beside her waist, Luminara fires back, "Your arrogance continues to fail you. I don't know what sorcery you used, but I will not allow for this!"
Quinlan extends a hand and his face melted into a hopeful expression, "Luminara, I'll admit I've made terrible mistakes, but this doesn't have to be the end."
Tears started to roll down Luminara's cheeks, "I'm sorry Quinlan, but you've gone down a path I can't follow. You should have talked to me, you should've let me in. I would have done anything and everything in my power to help you. I know so much has changed and I'm sorry if I have disregarded your feelings and needs in the past, but I'm not sure that I could ever forgive someone who was going to take my baby away and hurt my Barriss. Not to mention the emotional trauma Ben would've had to live with, he was your friend too."
A tremor of guilt washed over Quinlan as he continued to stare at the weeping woman before him.
"I hope you're able to make peace with yourself Quinlan, but this is where our story ends. I will always love and mourn for the boy and Jedi I knew and if I was seeing him now, I'd take his hand. But you're not him and I have to say goodbye," Luminara finishes as she walks over to him, gently closing his hand. It was Quinlan's turn to cry as Luminara backed away, her eyes not leaving his.
"Give Quinlan my love should you ever find him again."
Before Quinlan could beg her to stay, Luminara faded away, their connection gone.
3 months later
Ahsoka Tano drinks in the image of herself within the full body length in the bridal suite she was residing in. Behind her Padme bats a happy tear away, feeling so proud of the bride in front of her.
"Oh Ahsoka, you are such a beautiful bride!" Padme cries, moving forward to give the young woman a hug.
"Thank you Padme...just woah...I can't believe this is me I'm seeing," Ahsoka answers, her heart pounding away in her chest knowing she's just minutes away from marrying Barriss, "Do you think Barriss will love it?"
Padme rolls her eyes, "For the last time Ahsoka, yes! She's going to faint at the sight of you!"
Ahsoka was wearing a glittering, dark gold colored ball gown with off-shoulder sleeves, decorated with stitched on white flowers that matched the ones in her bouquet, that draped gracefully down to her upper arm. The sweetheart neckline showed a modest amount of cleavage and adorned on head was a gold diamond encrusted crown that went perfectly with the beads Anakin gifted her at the engagement party months before. Not wanting her feet to ache, Padme had Ahsoka fitted into gold colored ballet flats that gave her a little more height. With a little touch of black mascara and maroon colored lipstick, the Togruta was a sight to behold.
"I never thought I could look so pretty, it's funny how when you train your whole life to be a Jedi, you don't ever think about dressing up," Ahsoka adds with a small smile to Padme.
"Then, from this day forward, may you always see yourself as a very pretty woman Ahsoka. We all think that, so you should too!" Padme proclaims as a tuxedo clad, gold bowtied Anakin enters the room. Much like Anakin's bow tie, Padme was wearing a red empire style dress with gold detailing to coincide with the bride's dress color.
"Wow, Snips, you look amazing!" Anakin says, bringing his apprentice into a rib crushing hug.
"Ow, Skyguy, you're hurting me!" Ahsoka chokes out.
Anakin releases the bride, "Sorry Ahsoka, it's just so incredible to see you all grown up and ready to take on the greatest adventure in your life."
Ahsoka grins at her Master, "Just hold onto me tight when we make our way down the aisle. I'm so anxious right now, I could die."
"I was shaking in my boots too when I saw Padme coming up to me at our secret wedding. Besides the birth of our children, it was the happiest moment of my life and I promise you, you'll feel better when you see Barriss, who by the way, looks pretty good too!" winked Anakin, making Ahsoka's orange cheeks flush pink.
"May the Force be with me…"exhaled Ahsoka as Anakin and Padme lightly laughed at the woman's nervousness.
Padme looks up to Anakin, "Speaking of our children, how are they?"
"Depa and Caleb are handling them just fine, they weren't fussy or anything since I just changed them. I think Depa is going to want some grandPadawans one day," Anakin answers with a smirk.
"That's a relief to hear because boy will they be in trouble if they try crawling away together again!" Padme says as she links arms with Ashoka, "I suppose it'll be time soon, ready for this Ahsoka?"
"Ready as I'll ever be…" Ahsoka nods as Anakin links his natural arms to hers.
Across the hall, Barriss was doing everything in her power not to panic. With one hand, Obi-wan was passing tissues to his happily crying wife, while holding his daughter with the other, as their family looked to the beautifully dressed bride before them.
Barriss was wearing a strapless white gown that had a dark blue underskirt that flowed behind her cathedral style to go along with the ribbon tied around her waist. Luminara styled her short hair into a braided updo, leaving a few curled, wispy tendrils to sway on both sides of her face. Weaved into her braid were delicate, white and blue daisies that coordinated with her bouquet. With the final addition of a white, shimmering veil that ran down her back, Barriss was ready to meet her soon to be wife.
"Nervous?" Obi-wan asks cheekily as Luminara attempts to fan her face dry beside him. As the Skywalkers did with Ahsoka, the Kenobi family showed their support of Barriss by wearing blue. Obi-wan was in a freshly ironed button down long sleeved dress shirt the same shade as Barriss's underskirt with black dress slacks and polished black dress shoes. On the other hand, Luminara was dressed in an ocean blue asymmetrical slim fitting dress complete with cream colored dress sandals. Her wavy black hair was also braided back, waterfall style with the inclusion of a ribbon the same shade as Barriss's eye color. Even the now six month old Aurora was dressed for the occasion with a simple white infant dress complete with a white tutu and soft, blue fabric headband that tied into a bow.
With a sharp inhale Barriss answers with, "I don't know why I'm so nervous. It's only Ahsoka and we're just….getting…."
"Married, love?" teased Luminara who found the courage to walk back to her Padawan.
"Yes, married…"Barriss stuttered, fumbling with her hands. The older woman eases the younger woman's nerves by cupping both cheeks.
"Breathe, my Padawan. We'll be right there beside you, you can do this," Luminara says lovingly pressing her forehead against Barriss, who finally took a deep breath.
"There now, I'm sure that felt better."
Barriss snorts, "Don't be fooled Master, you know me better than that!"
The two looked to one another as Luminara's smile softened into an expression never before seen by Barriss.
"Master?" the bride asked.
"I'm alright dear, it's just…I still see that little baby I held so many years ago or the little girl that tripped over her words on the day we met and now look at you! You're all grown up now and there's nothing I can do to stop the clock. What a beautiful, smart, brave woman you turned out to be….Barriss...I know I didn't bring you into this world, but in my heart…"Luminara says placing a hand to her chest, "You are mine...And I...well Ben and I, I should say...just want you to know that no matter where your life with Ahsoka takes you, just know that you'll always have a home with us. Even when I'm old and grey, there will always be room in my arms for my sweet Padawan. Do you understand love?"
Barriss couldn't stop the water works as she threw her arms around the woman she's always known to be her mother. Obi-wan with Aurora in hand, quietly approached the pair with a brand new box of tissues.
"I second that Barriss, nothing will ever change the fact that we love you and I'm just as proud of you as I am with Anakin. My wife did good...not to mention I have the best looking dance partners!" Obi-wan confirms with a gentle pat on Barriss's back, "Now dry those eyes, Ahsoka will surely blame me if we walk out there a mess."
Barriss accepts a tissue as Luminara pulls away to give the girl some space. Suddenly, Aurora began to coo excitedly to the point where the three adults were certain that the child was attempting to say a word.
"Ben is she?"
"I think so.."
"Baree!" cried Aurora, her tiny hands waving towards Barriss, who was now covering her open mouth with both hands. Obi-wan was now beginning to tear up as did the girl's mother knowing that their daughter just said her first word and what better word than an attempt at Barriss's name on her special day.
"Baree! Baree! Baree!"
"I love you too my itty bitty Padawan!" Barriss exclaims excitedly to the very happy baby bouncing in her father's arms.
"Oh Ben, I can't believe it! Her first word! She's already taken with her Master to be!" Luminara said estactically as she leaned in to shower her giggling child with lipstick stained kisses.
"Indeed she has and rightfully so...though I must confess that I was hoping her first word would be "Papa"," winked Obi-wan as his wife kissed him.
"Now don't be jealous darling, besides we both know that she'll be saying "Mama" next," Luminara smirked, "And there's nothing you can do about it!"
"Oh, we'll see about that…"Obi-wan purred lustfully, causing Barriss to gag.
"Get a room, you two!" says Barriss as Isadora steps in to take Aurora.
"Alrighty now, hand me the baby. I thought I was coming here to collect said baby, not seeing the beginning stages of baby making!" Isadora says snickering as she hoists the infant to her,"Barriss you are stunning, just wait until you see Ahsoka! It's gonna be great!"
Olive cheeks burn scarlet as Barriss whispers to herself, "May the Force be with me…" feeling Obi-wan and Luminara take their respective sides of Barriss as they wait for their cue to start heading for the altar.
Struggling to hold onto an energetic Luke, Caleb allows a whistle to escape his lips as he and Depa, who was holding a calmer Leia, finally made it to the location of the ceremony. Not too far from the royal palace of Naboo, there was an island surrounded in white sand and crystal aquamarine waters with lush greens and bountiful flora and fauna to boot. The nuptials were to take place at a simple but beautifully decorated gazebo that overlooked a portion of a beach with rows of padded beach chairs for guests to sit in. Allies and friends of the two brides from all over made their way to their assigned seat as Depa laughed at her student, catching Luke from falling into the warm piles of sand beneath them.
"Would you like me to hold him, Caleb?"
Huffing in frustration, Caleb replies, "No, Master I got him. If I can handle a war then I can handle a tike, that just really wants to play in the sand!"
"Well, it'll only just be until Anakin and Padme walk Ahsoka up the aisle. You're doing a good job!" Depa reassures him as they take their seats up in the front on the side where Ahsoka is slated to stand.
"I swear, I'm not having kids…" Caleb sighes as Luke was now insistent in reaching for his twin sister who was babbling in her own language back to her brother.
Depa rolls her eyes, "Sure, Caleb, whatever you say."
"I'm serious!"
"What was that I heard about not wanting kids?" Isadora asks as she takes a seat beside the flushed Caleb with Aurora in arms.
"Uhh nothing! Master and I were just talking about how much we love babysitting!" Caleb replies quickly in a failed attempt to hide his embarrassment, "Do you like kids?"
With a straight face, Isadora answers, "Well who wouldn't want to be a mother?"
Depa throws her head back in laughter as Caleb deflates in his seat, knowing once again his Master's advice of shutting his mouth has been proven right.
"Another point for the Master!" Depa shouts to the young man's horror as Isadora looks completely pleased with herself.
Ahsoka was the first to walk down the aisle with Anakin and Padme in hand as a softer version of a traditional bridal march played by strings and keys played for all to hear. The sunlight reflecting off her gown made the Togruta glow as she walked in step, her mind completely frozen knowing her Mirialan bride would join her soon.
Standing inside the gazebo was their friend Riyo Chuchi who agreed to ordain the ceremony. The Senator gave Ahsoka a beaming smile before addressing Anakin and Padme, "Who presents this woman to be married to our bride today?"
With a gentle nudge Anakin replies with "My wife and I do, Senator."
Ahsoka began to shake like a leaf as the couple let go and guided her to her place at the altar. Padme tiptoed up to give Ahsoka a peck on the cheek, while Anakin leaned into her ear and whispered, "You've got this Snips, I couldn't be more proud of you!"
Ahsoka gave the couple a shy smile, her eyes glistening with adoration as she turned her attention to the other side of the rose petaled path where Barriss would appear.
Just before Bariss made her entrance, the all too familiar voice of Master Plo Koon echoed in her head as if he were standing behind her, "Be true little Soka, I'm right beside you...Never forget how much your family loves you including those of us who are on the other side...I love you."
There was no time for Ahsoka to start crying as Barriss turned a corner making her way towards her with Obi-wan and Luminara in tow. Ahsoka was left breathless as her eyes widened to take in this new version of her Barriss.
"Wow…" Ahsoka exhales, gripping her bouquet. "If a moon was a person, it'd be her...Damn, she's gorgeous and she's all mine."
Meanwhile, Barriss was using all her energy to keep her expression calm as she felt her body go haywire seeing Ahsoka glow like the suns high in the sky in a gown that was so her.
"I think my heart is going to stop…No! Pull yourself together Barriss! You know you fell in love with the most beautiful woman in the galaxy, now keep walking!"
Riyo repeats the same question to Obi-wan and Luminara, "Who presents this woman to be married to our bride today?"
With a quick glance to Luminara, Obi-wan bows and kisses Barriss's hand, "Her mother and I do, Senator."
Barriss's breath hitched at the statement as Luminara left a final kiss to her cheek before the duo left her at the altar with Ahsoka. Both brides then started to smile and stare lovingly into each other's eyes as Riyo began the reading of the vows. The two women wondered if, like their Masters before them, the words coming out of Riyo were muted in their minds as neither could get over how lovely the other looked.
"I love you…" Ahsoka mouths silently to Barriss, whose heart burst at the callback to the first time her lover said that back in their duel with Palpatine.
"I love you more.." Barriss mouths back, not going unnoticed by either one of their families.
Then, it was time for the wedding bands to be placed on the other's finger as Ahsoka and Barriss repeated the vows instructed by Riyo.
"I, Ahsoka Tano…"
"I, Barriss Offee…"
"Take thee Ahsoka, to be my lawfully wedded wife…"
"Take thee Barriss, to be my lawfully wedded wife…"
"To have and to hold…"
"In sickness and in health…"
"For richer or poorer…"
"Until death do us part…"
Using the Force, both brides manipulated their gold wedding bands to wrap around their engagement rings, signifying their union. Just as quickly as it started, Riyo closes the marriage ceremony with a nod to her friends.
"By the power invested in me by the Intergalactic Senate of the Republic, I now pronounce you wife and wife...Ahsoka, you may now kiss your bride!"
Riyo did not need to ask Ahsoka twice as she swiftly spun Barriss around in the air before pulling her in for a kiss so deep that a low moan escaped the Mirialan.
"Ladies and gentleman, I now present Mrs. and Mrs. Ahsoka and Barriss Tano-Offee!" Riyo announces with pride, causing all the guests to stand up with thunderous applause.
After a few more kisses, Barriss breaks for air as her body begins to shake with joyful laughter, "Ahsoka?"
"Yeah?"
"You're my wife now!"
"Yes, at last…Barriss?"
"Yes?"
"This ain't a dream is it?"
Barriss flashes her wedding ring to her wife, "Does this look real enough for you?"
Ahsoka nods and hoists Barriss up bridal style, "My lady, it would be my honor to escort you out of here and feed you some cake!"
Barriss throws her head back dramatically with a hand shielding her eyes, "My hero!"
As Ahsoka started her walk back down the aisle, she and her new wife offered sympathetic looks to the men in their lives as both Padme and Luminara were both weeping into their significant other's shirt.
"I think my eyes are officially out of tears," Padme says to Luminara as they watch their husbands waltz onto the ballroom floor with the brides. Just spectating Ahsoka and Barriss sharing their first dance together as wives was enough to send the mothers into an emotional overload, but add Obi-wan and Anakin into the mix and it was over.
"I'm with you there...those girls deserve everything their hearts desire and I'm just so happy we made it to experience this day with them," Luminara says as she bounced a still happy Aurora in her lap.
"Yes, we're going to need at least a few decades before we can handle another wedding!" joked Padme gesturing to her twins in her arms.
Luminara looks down to her child, "I have one daughter married now and one starting to crawl...funny how things turn out."
Padme scooches closer to her friend, "I suppose I should thank you and Barriss for coming into our lives. Ahsoka is like a younger sister to me and you know I've loved the men in our lives for a long time, but everything is so much richer with you two. I've never seen those three more happy."
Luminara rests her head on Padme's shoulder, "Thank you for being a friend and welcoming us with open arms. Barriss and I lost all the other friends we've known."
"I couldn't think of a better way in living the rest of my life than with my husband, twins, and the best friend sitting beside me," Padme mused causing Luminara to take and squeeze the woman's hand.
"Me too."
"Well Snips, was I right or was I right?" asked Anakin as he danced with his now married apprentice.
Ahsoka smirked, "You know I hate admitting it when you're right Skyguy. But, I do feel so much better now. The moment I saw her turn that corner, it was like the world stopped turning and it was just her and I."
Anakin smirked back, "The way you look at Barriss now is all the validation I needed but thanks for finally swallowing your pride."
Ahsoka punches an arm, "I hate you, you narcissist."
"And I love you too my ever snippy Snips," replied Anakin before giving the young woman a twirl, her gold dress fanning out like many of the flowers that decorated the palace hall.
Swaying nearby was Obi-wan who was hugging Barriss, "You did good up there Lady Tano-Offee, how does it feel?"
Barriss tightens her embrace, "There are no words to describe how happy I am Obi-wan, especially knowing that you and Luminara will always be there for us. From what I've been told, my biological parents just left me on some cruiser somewhere, but now I think I have the best parents a girl could ask for."
"Those people didn't deserve you my dear, I can only hope they rot in their shame for all eternity, leaving such a precious gift behind, Force sensitive or not. But that's neither here nor there, Luminara would die for you in a heartbeat and I'm no different Barriss. I will love you and Ahsoka as I love my own daughter. I wouldn't want Aurora trained by any other. I trust you with our family with my life," Obi-wan renounced gently, stroking the back of Barriss's hair, "You're loved Barriss, so very much."
Barriss looked up to the man she now sees as a father, "Out of all the men my Master could have fallen for, I'm glad it was you."
Once the first dances were complete, food was immediately served. With each course, many guests made their way to the brides offering their best wishes to the couple, one of the guests being Lux Bonteri, son of a now deceased Separatist senator. Ahsoka was surprised to see her old acquaintance and offered the young man a genuine smile, "Lux! It's good to see you, thank you for coming! How have you been?"
With both hands crossed behind his back, Lux bowed respectfully, "The pleasure is all mine Ahsoka. I've been doing well, just following the path my mother paved."
Ahsoka extends a comforting hand on Lux's shoulder, "Of course, I have no doubt she would be so proud of you!"
Lux says nothing and turns his attention to Barriss, "Good to finally meet the woman that has bewitched my friend."
Barriss raised a brow, "I'm sorry, bewitched?"
"Yes, bewitched. That was meant to be a joke as from my point of view Ahsoka seemed to be interested in me when we first met," Lux answers seriously.
Ahsoka lets out a nervous laugh, "Uh, Lux, I think you and I remember things differently. I recall being suspicious of you because you and your family were Separatists, unless that's still a thing now, and I made the comment that all boys were the same no matter who they were."
Lux released a hard laugh, "Whatever Ahsoka! If that's the narrative we're going to go with, then be my guest, this party is for you after all."
"You mean for us?" Barriss clarified with a sip of wine, her expression stoic. Though Ahsoka could feel the bitter waves Force waves resonating from her bride.
"That's right, thanks for clearing that up Mrs. Ahsoka," Lux rudely says with a wink.
Ahsoka throws both hands down on the table before standing straight up, "Okay Lux either you've had too much to drink or you've just come here to insult me and my wife and our wedding," she says through gritted teeth jamming a finger into Lux's chest, "Maybe I also forgot about the fact that you're just as ignorant as you are arrogant, so do us both a favor and leave before I start getting angry!"
With a sneer Lux begins to walk away, "As you wish, never knew lesbians were so hot headed."
With a huff, Ahsoka turns on her heel and tells Barriss that she's grabbing another drink and taking the "high road on this one". Unfortunately for Lux, that left him within reach of a very disturbed Barriss. Curling one set of fingers into a fist, Barriss yanked the boy into her direction to where his eyes met hers.
"If you ever insult my wife again, I'll show you what this lesbian can do with the Force. I can make you feel unbearable pain with my mind or worse. As a healer I can rip you apart where it hurts most, stitch you back together, and do it all over again. Ahsoka and I have done absolutely nothing to deserve your bullshit. You're just jealous that Ahsoka didn't choose you and knows true love when she sees it. She'd be better off with a Hutt than with someone like you. Goodbye and good riddance Lux Bonteri, don't let the door hit you on your way out!" Barriss growled as she pushed the stunned man through the exit doors with a flick of her wrist.
With Lux out of the way, Barriss released a breath she didn't know she was holding and carried on as if nothing happened. Ahsoka arrived back to her seat with another bottle of wine, "You look happy," she says to her bride.
"I took the trash out my love, how can I not be happy?" Barriss answered with a kiss.
Ahsoka's jaw dropped, "Tell me everything and have I mentioned how much I love you?"
"Once or twice," Barriss smiles before leaning for another kiss before spilling all the details of her mischievous act.
To end the night after hours of feasting, drinking, dancing, and cake cutting, the highly anticipated performance between Barriss and Luminara marked the end of a celebration and the beginning of a new era. The show was to take place on the white, sandy shores of the beach just outside the royal palace. Both Mirialans exchanged their formal wear for more comfortable athletic clothing given the acrobatic nature of their dance. At Anakin's request, the rest of the family watched from the boarded platform just above the sand. With the ignition of blue and green lightsabers, the dance began.
Just like she did on Anison, Barriss rapidly twirled her lightsaber to where there was nothing but an azure halo above her while Luminara flipped all around Barriss waving her saber in the same manner as her apprentice. The audience held their breath in wonder as to an outsider the lights appeared deathly close to slicing a limb. Yet, both Luminara and Barriss were completely unscathed even as Barriss started to flip alongside her Master blade in hand. Obi-wan, Ahsoka, Anakin, and Padme stared in awe, mouths agape.
For the grand finale, both women paused for a moment, breathing heavily back to back, lightsabers drawn to their faces. Luminara and Barriss then extended a hand and within seconds, beads of sand and droplets of ocean water started to swirl around the duo. In the blink of an eye, the Jedi were levitating a few feet above the ground as the water/sand mixture tornadoes into a geometrical sphere enclosing them. Raising their lightsabers towards the starry night sky, Luminara and Barriss joined hands as they pirouetted several times as the crowd continued to ooo and ahh at their now glowing ball of water and sand illuminating the area in soft rays of green and blue light.
Once the two started to tire, Luminara and Barriss slowly released their hold of the Force and lowered themselves back to the surface, the water and sand returning to their places. Before deactivating their lightsabers, Luminara and Barriss bowed to each other. The Master and Padawan embraced each other as their family, including the infamous sand hater Anakin, ran up to them in excitement.
"THAT WAS THE BEST THING i'VE EVER SEEN!" Ahsoka squealed, wrapping her arms around Barriss and Luminara.
Anakin clapped his hands, "I didn't think you two could ever top what you did on Anison, but you've exceeded my expectations. You two make the Force look so beautiful!"
Holding a sleeping Aurora, Obi-wan adds, "I agree with Anakin, but I'll also argue that their performance was my girls reflecting their very souls to us and it is an honor to bear witness to it. Perhaps our little girl will join you two one day."
Cradling her daughter to her chest, Luminara seals her promise to one day teach their child with a kiss, "Of course darling. You know you can learn too."
"My dear, I can never be that flexible," Obi-wan says, not expecting the lustful twinkle in his wife's eye.
"You're a terrible liar Ben," Luminara winks, causing Anakin to put two and two together.
"One way or another I will get that story out if you!"
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Obi-wan shrugs before successfully kicking the young man down face first into the sand, "You're going to pay for that one!"
Pulling the unamused Anakin up, Padme tells her beloved, "Come on, Ani, let's give our girls a proper sendoff!"
As a wedding gift, both couples gifted the newlyweds with a stay at Naboo's finest beach resort with their own private boat. At the docks, Ahsoka and Barriss ran hand in hand towards their boat, each carrying their bridal bouquets. Many female guests came forward, hoping to catch some flowers. After counting down from three, the couple tossed their bundles where Isadora and Riyo caught both bouquets. The Mirialan blushed as Caleb gave her a thumbs up and a wink before the woman shoved him into the water. Riyo, on the other hand, buried her happy face into what was Ahsoka's flowers.
Pleased on seeing who the recipients were, Ahsoka and Barriss give their final goodbyes and thanks to their family before sailing off to their destination. But Padme wasn't done there as she cued the pyrotechnic team to shoot fireworks into the sky.
"Always gotta end things with a bang, do you?" Anakin asks his wife, sending a final wave to Ahsoka as the couple drifts away.
"Where do you think I learned that from?" Padme questioned back, wrapping her arms around Anakin's neck and kissing him deep.
From their bedroom window in their palace accommodation, Luminara stares up at the twin moons, turning over the day's events in her mind. Having put their daughter down for the night, Obi-wan approaches Luminara from behind as he brushes a few strands of hair behind an ear from Lumnara's thoughtful face, "What's on your mind, darling?"
With a sigh Luminara answers, "I'm just thinking of Barriss and hoping those two made it to the place okay. I just wish everyday could be like today; just us being happy with our family. No worries, no visions, no fighting, just us."
Obi-wan nods, "Not a day goes by where I don't reminisce about our wedding or the moment we first kissed and confessed our feelings for each other."
"As do I, sometimes I wish I could just stop time and just stay in the happy memories forever. Is that wrong of me to say? I know we're not entirely rid of evil and I know we're going to have to uproot our lives again, but I just hope Ben, that we have more good days ahead than bad," Luminara admits with a small frown, "we've suffered enough."
Obi-wan turns his beloved's face so that his cerulean eyes meet with her violet ones, "There will be, just remember what we've made through our love. Our daughter is our life and legacy now. Just six months ago, I thought I lost everything. My wife, my child; my reasons for living. But I didn't, as long as we have each other, we'll have everything we need."
"Ben..." Luminara began to say before Obi-wan leaned in and stopped, hovering over her lips causing the woman's heart to pound inside her chest, "Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?
"You don't have to say it," Luminara admits breathlessly as the man sweeps her of her feet and lays her onto their bed, leaving the woman's entire body trembling with excitement.
Obi-wan's smiles seeing how he can still make Luminara blush. The way his wife gets flustered when he professes his adoration of her is something Obi-wan hopes he can do everyday. To keep surprising her, to make her second chance at life worth the return. Obi-wan laces his hands into hers, "Oh, but I must. You talk of things that last forever and as Master Jinn once told me, we can't stop things from happening, no different than how we can't stop the suns from setting. Yet, in my point of view, there's only one thing that's immortal."
"And that would be?" Luminara asks, biting her lip as Obi-wan takes off his nightshirt and lays down next to her. He pulls her closer to him, Luminara's face presses against Obi-wan's chiseled chest. Kissing the crown of her head, Obi-wan answers, "My undying love for you, my one and only, my Luminara. I just hope and pray that I never ever lose you again, ever…. I've failed you once and darling…I….."
Luminara shot up to see Obi-wan reduced to tears, guilt burning in his eyes as he tried to look away. The Mirialan immediately kissed the tears away and whispered, "Oh, sweetheart… please don't cry! Look at me! I'm here and I love you so much! Ben…."
"Marry me…"
"What?!"
"You heard me, marry me."
Completely confused, Luminara raises her hand with her wedding band, "But-"
Obi-wan cuts her off with a finger to the lips, "I know, but hear me out."
Luminara resigned with a breath and waited for Obi-wan to continue, her hands not leaving his face.
"Luminara, I made a vow to you on our wedding day that I would protect you and the baby from harm and yet I failed you both. If it weren't for Ahsoka…. I'm sorry I can't even bring myself to say it aloud...but the point is that as much as you say I shouldn't feel guilty about being fooled, I still can't make peace with it. I thank the stars every single day that you were able to come back to me and that our Aurora turned out to be a happy and healthy, wonderful little girl with both parents," Obi-wan confesses in between choking back sobs causing Luminara's heart to break seeing the love of her life so distressed.
"So not only will I spend the rest of our lives doing everything in my power to give you the happy life you deserve, but if you'll have me, I want to renew our vows and this time, I shall follow through on all of my promises. "
"Okay Ben Kenobi, you listen to me now!" Luminara says touching foreheads and with so much love in her face, "You did not fail me or Aurora and you don't owe me another wedding for me to know that you love me! I have and will always love you, you know this!"
Finally Obi-wan relaxes, "Then just amuse me with a vow renewal for the hell of it, just because I love you so much and nothing would make me happier than to have an excuse to praise my feelings for you. It could just be the three of us, no big, fancy party, nothing like that! We'll just run away somewhere beautiful where no one knows us by name, dress up all nice, recite our commitment to each other and we'll make a little family vacation out of it! You know we won't have much opportunity to be free before we go to Ach-to."
Knowing his words to be true, Luminara happily accepts the proposal by nodding her giggling face, "Okay, I accept. Yes, I will marry you again!"
The two then laughed like they were a pair of giddy younglings again as they cocooned themselves into each other, their bodies melding perfectly before allowing themselves to drift into a peaceful sleep.