The family sat down and enjoyed a freshly cooked breakfast by Geeta, who too was relieved Master Skywalker return home safe, having seen how distressed Lady Padmé had been about her husband's departure and their children's revelation. Once they were all full, Padmé turned to her children and said, "I am conscious that the two of you have missed out on a lot of schoolwork with all that has been going on. You used to have tuition every day, and over the last several weeks I have neglected to make sure that continued".
"I think the reason for that is more than understandable though, my love." Anakin added, not wanting his wife to feel as though she had done anything less than an excellent job raising the children, who were both incredibly bright and astute younglings.
Padmé smiled at her husband's encouragement and added, "I know. A lot has happened recently, and I would not change it for the world. But education is incredibly important, and Luke and Leia have so much potential. I want to make sure that every opportunity is accessible to them because they have had a quality education."
"But mum, TC is really boring. He just makes us do loads of sums and writing." Luke stated, less than enthused by the prospect of dull schoolwork.
The corner of Anakin's lip curled up at his son's statement, once again seeing the similarity between his darling boy and himself at that age.
"Well TC is back on Naboo anyway, so it is I who would continue your tutoring. I know how bright you both are, and I have no doubt about your English and mathematical skill. From memory, you had just started a history module with TC, and that is something I wish to continue. What was it about?" Padmé asked her children, hoping they at least remembered some of what the droid had taught them.
"We had just started learning about the Battle of Geonosis." Leia told her mother, having always been the more passionate of the two for school.
"Well, there is certainly more than enough history to be covered from that point young ones. For that was the start of the Clone Wars." Obi-Wan told the twins.
"I've always wanted to learn about the Clone Wars." Luke chimed, making his mother smile at his enthusiasm.
"I've read some things about it already, but there is so much involved. There were so many conflicts on so many planets." Leia added, as she took a sip of her juice.
"Indeed, there was." Obi-Wan stated. "And you both have another reason to have such a vested interest in that particular time. Both of your parent's names will appear in many of the holobooks and stories you read. They were heroes during the clone wars." Obi-Wan stated proudly, looking at the couple.
"As was Obi-Wan." Padmé added. "Your father and Obi-Wan were Commanders of the Clone Army and lead thousands of clone troops into dangerous battles all across the galaxy. They helped to save the lives of millions of people and liberate planets." Padmé told her children passionately, remembering back to the time.
"And your mother was a champion of democracy. On Coruscant in the Senate, your mother was a part of many movements that sought to bring an end to the fighting and establish a fair and more just system in the Galaxy. She was one of the real heroes of the Clone Wars." Anakin stated proudly, kissing his wife's hand.
"Wow. You guys are all so cool. I cannot wait to learn all about the Clone Wars and what you did to save all those people." Luke beamed; his excitement clear.
"Well, there is no time like the present. So why don't we get started and we can leave your daddy and Obi-Wan to talk." Padmé told her children as they stood from the table and headed into one of the many living areas in the establishments.
Anakin cast a smile to his wife as she left the room, and then stood from the table, inviting Ob-Wan to take a walk with him outside. The pair walked for several moments, before Obi-Wan broke the silence and said, "I felt your pain through the Force last night. I tried to contact you through our connection." He added.
"My connection to anyone through the Force was severed for a time." Anakin stated. "I blacked out on the journey back to Alderaan, and upon my return I had to dive deep into the Force to heal myself. I lost connection with everyone and everything around me, even Padmé."
Obi-Wan nodded, as he continued to walk with his hands behind his back, "I trust then that it was Padmé who found you and aided you in your recovery?" he asked.
"Yes." Anakin replied simply. "She helped me get to our chambers. She helped to clean and dress my wounds. I was bleeding profusely. I was only semi-conscious for most of it. I knew I could use the Force to heal myself, but it took everything I had left. I succumbed to sleep, and when I awoke Padmé was by my side, kneeling on the floor. She never left my side." Anakin reflected, once again amazed by the unconditional commitment his wife had showed him, as his heart started to ache with the love, he felt for her.
"You are a lucky man, Anakin. I know you are aware of that." Obi-Wan told his former padawan. "Padmé is a very strong woman. I can imagine that seeing you like that must have been very distressing for her. From what you have described, I presume your injuries were very severe. I once again find myself amazed by Senator Amidala." Obi-Wan added truthfully.
Anakin nodded at his statement and replied, "Padmé is the most incredible woman I have ever met. She is compassionate, brave, strong, intelligent and beautiful. She put her own feelings aside to save me last night, and she did all of that whilst reassuring Luke and Leia of my safety." Anakin paused for a moment before adding, "Just like you, my children felt a disturbance in the Force, and they told Padmé that they felt that I was in pain. I can only imagine how much that must have frightened her. She did not deserve that stress, even less so now that she is pregnant again." Anakin reflected, his head bowing slightly in guilt.
"Padmé has always been very eloquent in her capacity as a politician. It does not surprise me that she was able to convince Luke and Leia that you were alright, all whilst, I imagine, she was most concerned for you. I am certain she is relieved to have you back and safe. She may not let you go again." Obi-Wan responded.
Anakin laughed a little at her statement, before a serious expression returned to his face, and he remembered the reason for needing to speak to his Master. "The reason Palpatine punished me was because of something I discovered." Anakin stated.
They stopped as they reached the end of the path that looked out on the estate's lake, and Anakin continued. "It was the Emperor who ordered the attack on Senator Soruna."
Obi-Wan turned slightly in surprise, regarding the seriousness on his friend's face. "Is it because he is aware of her true identity?" he asked.
"Padmé asked the same question, but no, I did not get that impression from his thoughts. As I told Padmé, if Palpatine knew the true identity of Senator Soruna, I would not have left that room alive." Anakin said boldly.
"You are right." Obi-Wan replied. "But it does, however, present us with a problem. More than one in fact." He added.
"We need to expediate our plan. We do not have the luxury of time. I am no longer in the Emperor's good graces. He is mistrustful of me, and is bitter about not only his failure to eliminate Senator Soruna, but the disbandment of the Senate has caused him to lose control of several key people he was watching." Anakin informed the older Jedi.
"I will contact Bail Organa and inform him of what has happened. I know he will appreciate being kept appraised of the latest developments, especially if changes to our plan are necessary." Obi-Wan acknowledged.
"When you do, tell him that I still have every intention of reviewing the Death Star schematics. They are in my possession, but I have not yet had the chance to review them. But I will make sure to honour the agreement I made, and I will try and find a weakness that the Alliance can exploit to destroy that monstrosity." Anakin said.
"What about the Emperor?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Our confrontation is nearing," Anakin stated. "I have foreseen it."
Obi-Wan raised his eyebrow slightly, sensing his former apprentices' tension through the Force, as well as his posture beside him.
"I need you to promise me something Obi-Wan." Anakin said, his eyes not breaking from the stagnant water of the lake.
"What?" Obi-Wan asked, his tone not hiding his confusion.
"If something was to happen to me, I … I need you to promise me that you will protect my family, as you did in the past. No matter what, I need to know that they are safe. I need to know that my children will have someone to guide them. I need to know that Padmé … that she will be protected, always." Anakin told him, his voice no longer void of the emotion he was trying to block out.
Obi-Wan remained silent for a moment, before saying, "Anakin, nothing is going to happen to you. You are going to defeat the Emperor, just as the prophecy foretold. I am going to help you. You will be here to raise your children and protect your family." He reassured him.
"Just promise me, Obi-Wan. Please. I know I have no right to ask anything of you, after all I have done. But I don't ask you for my sake, I ask you for the sake of Luke and Leia, who have already spent half their childhood without a father. I ask you for the sake of my unborn child, who would deserve to have someone like you raise and guide them as a father would. I ask you for the sake of Padmé, who does not deserve all the darkness that I have brought into her world. She deserved a much better man than I, she deserves so much more." Anakin confessed, his voice breaking at the proclamation.
"Anakin, you will confront the Emperor and you will defeat him. You are the Chosen One. The one who will bring balance to the Force and destroy the Sith." Obi-Wan repeated, desperately trying to reassure his best friend.
"On my way back to Alderaan, when I lost consciousness, I had a Force vision." Anakin stated. "I foresaw my confrontation with the Emperor. But the vision was clouded. I did not see myself survive." He admitted.
"Your visions have always been dangerous Anakin. You know the consequences of that more than anyone. You have the power to change the fate of the Galaxy, and I wholeheartedly believe you will destroy the Emperor, and I will help you. But beyond that, you have many reasons to be the victor in the fight with the Emperor, and most of those reasons reside within your establishments right now." Obi-Wan reminded him, casting his head back towards the property behind them.
"I know, you are right, Obi-Wan." Anakin reflected, running his gloved hand through his hair, his mind still racing with thoughts and concerns.
"Let me make a suggestion." Obi-Wan said. "Go inside and spend some time with your family. There is no doubt in my mind that you are most at peace when you are with them. Once I have contacted the Alliance, we can see about commencing the analysis of the Death Star plans. But just for a little while, allow yourself some quality time with your beautiful family that you have been denied time with for too long."
Anakin smiled at the older man's statement and said, "You're right Master. I know how lucky I am to have such a wonderful family; one I don't think I will ever truly deserve. They are the greatest gifts in the Galaxy, and I want to spend every second I can with them."
"Good. Well, then it's settled. I will contact Bail and then we can develop a strategy moving forward. We are that much closer to peace. A day we have long been waiting for." Obi-Wan replied with a smile.
"I couldn't agree more Master." Anakin stated as the pair started to follow the path back up to the vast estate.
Once they entered the house, Obi-Wan departed for his quarters to contact Senator Organa, leaving Anakin alone with his thoughts. He knew that he would always have demons from the past, but he also knew how much he had to be grateful for and look forward to in the future. I have to be there for my family. I have to protect them. Anakin thought to himself as he walked through his establishments, seeking his family.
"And that was when the Military Creation Act was proposed. The Senate wanted to give emergency powers to Supreme Chancellor Palpatine which would allow the Republic to create an army to fight the Confederacy of Independent Systems. I was part of a Loyalist Committee who opposed this legislation." Anakin heard Padmé explain to their children, admiring the eloquence of her explanation, but also knowing she was being modest when it came to explaining to their children the impact that she had during the Clone Wars.
"And was it that Committee that became the Delegation of 2000 mum?" Leia asked her mother; the interest clear in her voice.
"Yes, it was." Padmé replied. "We were concerned about the Chancellor's continued usage of his emergency powers, and we feared for the democracy of the Republic. It was from this Delegation that the seeds of the Rebel Alliance were born."
"Wow, mum. You were so brave to stand up against the Emperor like that." Luke stated, looking into his mother's eyes with deep admiration.
"And mum was doing all of this while she was pregnant with us, and while dad was away fighting across the Galaxy. You are so brave mum." Leia said, standing up to hug her mother.
At this point Anakin made his presence known in the room, and moved to stand in the doorway before saying, "You are right Leia. Your mother is incredibly brave. She was the champion of democracy for the Republic, and selflessly fought for the freedom of beings all across the Galaxy, as you said whilst she was pregnant with you both and struggled with the same pressures as me of hiding our marriage and me being away. Your mother is the bravest, smartest, most courageous and beautiful woman in the Galaxy." Anakin stated passionately, smiling at his family as he locked eyes with his wife from across the room.
"And your father was a hero of the Clone Wars as well. He was so brave in fact that the HoloNet made him the poster boy of the Clone Wars. There were many that joined the fight and found hope because of your father. He was known as the Hero with No Fear." Padmé told her children, trying not to be reminded of the irony of such a title.
"I want to be just like you one day mum." Leia announced proudly.
"Yeah! And I want to be just like you dad. A brave and skilled pilot and Jedi!" Luke added enthusiastically.
Padmé smiled at her children's flattering comments and stood up and said, "You are both incredible children; so bright and compassionate and loyal. I have no doubt that you will both do so much good for this Galaxy one day. But do not be in a rush to grow up, because it will be here before you know it. Live in the moment and enjoy the liberties that come with being a child." She said to her children, kissing them both on the forehead.
"Okay mum." They both replied in unison.
"I think that's enough schoolwork for today. Why don't you both go and find a holomovie to watch in the living room before dinner?" Padmé asked with a smile. Upon hearing her words, the twins departed the room swiftly, already debating who got to choose the movie they watched.
Anakin remained standing in the doorway for a moment, simply admiring his wife, reminded of the words Obi-Wan had spoken, knowing how lucky he was to have such a wonderful family.
"How was your talk with Obi-Wan?" Padmé asked her husband as she cleared away the twin's books and pens.
"Fine. He asked what happened to me on Coruscant, as he too felt my pain through the Force. But I told him that I healed, and it was all thanks to you." Anakin told his wife, looking into her eyes lovingly.
Padmé smiled at his comment and stated, "I think perhaps it had a lot more to do with your ability to heal through the Force. I think I was more there as a shirt remover and cleaner."
Anakin took her hand and said, "No Padmé, believe me, you did so much more than that. I may have been the one to physically heal my injuries, but it was your presence that I craved, your signature that I called upon to heal myself." He smiled before adding, "But you can be my shirt remover whenever you please," as he winked at his wife playfully.
Padmé laughed softly and patted her husband's chest playfully. "I'm just so glad you are alright. I still don't think I've properly processed what happened. It was all such a blur. I just knew I had to do all I could to help you."
"And you did my love." Anakin told his wife as he kissed her hand softly. Despite the torrid of conflicting emotions Anakin was feeling, there was emotion stronger than them all, one thing that Anakin was certain of, and that was how much he loved Padmé, and more than anything he wanted her to know how much he loved her. Wordlessly, Anakin took both his wife's hands in his and knelt on the floor in front of her. Padmé looked at her husband in confusion, her forehead creasing slightly.
"Padmé, it wasn't very long ago when I got down on my knees begging for your forgiveness for what I did to you on Mustafar. I will never be able to properly explain to you how much having you in my life again has saved me and what a gift your forgiveness is. But right now, Padmé, I am on my knees because just like all those years ago I want to marry you; again. I want us to renew our vows because I want everyone to know about the commitment, we have made to one another, one we made long ago but had to keep a secret. I want you to be able to wear your ring with pride and I don't want to ever have to hide the love I have for you from anyone. I want everyone to know that you are Padmé Naberrie Amidala Skywalker." Anakin professed softly.
Padmé felt her eyes well up with tears, touched by her husband's words. She looked at the beautiful ring on her finger, that was glistening in the natural light, shining in through the window. She then looked into her husband's crystal blue eyes, feeling the love she felt for him consume her.
"Of course, Anakin. I think that's a beautiful idea. We can be married again, and this time my family and all our friends can be there. Our children will be there. Oh, Anakin, it will be wonderful, just as we dreamed." Padmé said softly, her voice breaking with happy emotion.
Anakin could not contain his happiness and stood from his position on the floor and whisked Padmé around in his arms, her giggling excitedly as he did so. Just for the one moment, Anakin didn't feel touched by the darkness. He felt completely at peace, and for that one beautiful moment, he forgot about all his troubles and the immense internal conflict he was fighting in the Force.
"I love you, Anakin Skywalker." Padmé said softly as her husband put her down so she was facing him again.
"And I love you, Padmé Amidala Skywalker. Forever and always." Anakin replied, kissing her ring and then her lips softly.
As the couple walked to join their family for dinner, Anakin informed his wife about his discussion with Obi-Wan and his contact with the Alliance, knowing she would want to be kept apprised of what was happening. When they entered the dining room, they found Obi-Wan there alone, who greeted them with a smile.
"I trust you got in touch with Bail?" Padmé asked the Jedi.
"I did. He sends his regards. I passed on what Anakin told me and mentioned Anakin's continued intention to analyse the Death Star schematics. He is in the process of rallying more support, so that when the time comes, we will be ready." Obi-Wan reported.
"Good. I will get started on the schematics forthwith. I don't know how long it will take me to go through them all. I have seen the plans in segments, as I oversaw several aspects of its development as Vader. But this time I am looking for a weakness that we can exploit. I just hope I am able to find something the Alliance can use, because they are relying on it so heavily." Anakin replied.
Padmé touched Anakin's shoulder softly and said, "I don't want you to put too much pressure on yourself though Anakin." The concern in her voice was clear. Padmé knew her husband was still battling with several aspects of his transformation from Darth Vader back to Anakin Skywalker. But Anakin was insistent on aiding the Alliance in every way he could to help make amends for his past, Padmé just hoped that the stress of it would not overwhelm him, because he was struggling enough.
"I know, Padmé. I won't, don't worry. But this is important, and I am the only person who can carry out such a task. I cannot diminish its importance for the sake of avoiding stress. I need to do this. I need to help to make up for all the damage that I have caused. I need to help destroy the Death Star because it poses a threat to you and our children. I have responsibilities, that right now I cannot ignore." Anakin told his wife, trying to convey some of the thoughts racing through his mind.
Padmé was about to speak, when she was stopped from doing so by the entrance of her children with Geeta. Dinner was a sumptuous affair, Geeta once again exceeding expectations with her cooking, which everyone was grateful for. Once everyone had had their fill, Anakin and Padmé took the twins up to bed, and bid good night to Geeta and Obi-Wan.
"Will you tell us more about fighting in the Clone Wars some time dad?" Luke asked his father as he tucked him in to bed.
"Of course, son. Obi-Wan and I had many daring and crazy adventures all across the Galaxy." Anakin replied, enjoying his son's enthusiasm. "But for now, my boy, time for bed." He added, kissing Luke on the forehead. "Goodnight."
Anakin closed the door of his son's bedroom, having already said goodnight to his daughter. He sighed heavily as he walked slowly up towards the bed chambers he shared with his wife. His whole body ached, as he rolled his shoulders back and forth, trying to relieve some of the tension he felt, but he found very little relief. He knew that he had neglected to rest sufficiently following the injuries he sustained. But his mind felt as though it was racing at past light speed all the time, that he had been sleeping very little, and his days were spent balancing his responsibilities as Vader, a father, a husband, a friend and a Rebel. The weight of his responsibilities and the constant conflict he felt between the light and dark was starting to wear him down, and he did not know how to alleviate them. He could not neglect any of his responsibilities; not until his family were safe and the Galaxy was free of the Emperor and the Empire. But he did know how much longer he would be able to continue to carry such heavy burdens, before he finally gave in. He ran a hand through his hair frustratedly, as he cursed his own thoughts, realising that no matter how tough things were, he could not give up. He had too much to lose.
Anakin was broken from his thoughts by the voice of his wife saying, "Is Luke in bed?"
Anakin nodded and replied, "Yes. He is most anxious to hear more about my antics during the Clone Wars. You are an excellent teacher to enthuse the boy so much on the topic."
"Well, it is not hard when he looks up to his father so much. He is so much like you sometimes it frightens me." Padmé added, as she sat at the vanity table undoing her braid and taking out her earrings.
"Yes. I have noticed that." Anakin replied, as he undressed and prepared for bed, craving the comfort of the soft silk sheets and his wife's smooth warm skin.
"Are you alright Ani?" Padmé asked as she got into bed next to her husband, clearly noticing the tiredness in his eyes and voice.
"I'm alright Angel. I'm just tired. My injuries and healing just really took it out of me, and I think I was a bit ambitious with my recovery time." He admitted, knowing it was futile to lie to her.
Padmé kissed him softly on the lips, as he wrapped his arms around her gently. "Well, we can both get a good night's sleep tonight, knowing we are right here next to one another." She told him softly. "I love you." She added, kissing his bare chest as she closed her eyes.
"I love you too, Angel." Anakin whispered as he watched her for a moment, caressing her cheek softly, never tiring of her angelic beauty as the warm moonlight cast a gentle glow on her face.
