"You donned suits for the verdict?" DA Mothma asked as they rushed into the courtroom.
"No," Anakin replied, "Today was our dad's funeral."
Mothma turned to Obi-Wan, a skeptical brow raised, "Related to..." she trailed off and nodded her head back towards the Judge's seat.
"In a way," Obi-Wan sighed.
"Well, I suppose that makes the outcome of this verdict even more important for justice," Mothma replied.
They turned their attention back to the front of the room as Judge Bonteri entered.
Obi-Wan slid into the seat next to Padmé after Judge Bonteri sat. She took his hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. In return, he brought her hand to his lips and kissed it.
Judge Bonteri stared at the crowd gathered, "Well, I'm sure we're all aware of the reason we're here today." She turned towards the jury. "Madame foreman?"
A young woman with purple hair stood and addressed the group gathered, "After careful deliberation of all evidence presented during the course of this trial, we have found the defendant, Sheev Palpatine, guilty on all charges."
The air exited Obi-Wan's lungs all at once.
"I see. Thank you for your time," Judge Bonteri said. She turned her attention back towards Palpatine. "Your sentencing will occur at a later date. Bailiff, take him into custody. Court is adjourned." She slapped her gavel and left, leaving the room reeling in the wake of the information shared.
"We won," Anakin laughed in disbelief as he watched Palpatine get carted away.
"It's over," Maul murmured, turning towards the others. "And I'm free."
Obi-Wan stood and ran a hand through his hair as he felt the culmination of countless investigative hours and schemes pay off. The feeling hit him like a ton of bricks. Justice and finishing what his father had started was the only thing that had kept him going this whole time and now that he had followed that trajectory to the only reasonable culmination, he found himself wondering: What now?
They filed out of the courtroom into the bright sunlight of the early afternoon. He had celebrated his father's life and ended another man's reign of terror and he hadn't even had lunch yet. It was surreal.
"Kenobi," someone called out.
Obi-Wan's head snapped up to see Mace Windu nod him over to him. He broke off and went to face the music. He could only imagine how well it would go for him considering he had just thrown a wrench in the biggest case of his professor's career.
"Professor," Obi-Wan said cautiously.
"You did good," Mace told him. "Even if you were helping the prosecution. Putting Maul up on there while knowing that I couldn't air his dirty laundry in any way that would be beneficial to my own career or my case was a smart move. It's the kind of thing I would have done when I was your age. You've got potential and the drive to do what's right. We need more people like you in this profession. Your internship is yours again. I'll see you on Monday."
"Actually, I'll have to decline," Obi-Wan replied firmly, "I've decided that law isn't the career for me after all. I'm going to finish up this semester because it's almost over, but after that, I'll be dropping out from the program to pursue something else."
Mace nodded, "I understand. Well, if you ever change your mind... or need a lawyer..."
"I'll know where to find you," Obi-Wan smiled before returning to his friends.
Anakin raised a brow at him, "What was that about?"
"He offered me my internship back."
"Did you take it?"
"No," Obi-Wan grinned.
"What are you going to do now?"
"I don't know," he admitted, but then he caught Padmé's eye from where she stood talking to DA Mothma down on the sidewalk. "But, no matter what I do, as long as I'm happy I know I'll be fine."
Anakin nodded, "You've earned it."
"Earned what?" Rex asked, coming up from behind to wrap an arm around both brothers.
"A break from shenanigans," Obi-Wan chuckled.
"Well, that's a shame," Rex replied.
"Why's that, Captain?" Obi-Wan asked.
"We make a good team," Rex smirked, "If the two of you need a job, maybe think about giving the academy a try. I'm sure you'd make great police officers."
Obi-Wan and Anakin shared a look.
"We'll think about it," Anakin laughed.
"If you gentlemen will excuse me," Obi-Wan murmured, "I have something to do." He winked at Anakin who gave him a thumb's up.
Continuing down the stairs to where Padmé stood by herself, having finished her earlier conversation, Obi-Wan pulled her into his arms.
Padmé wrapped her arms around his neck as she felt her feet lift off the sidewalk. "I'm so proud of you for following this through to the end."
Gently, he placed her back on the pavement, "May I borrow you for a moment, darling?"
"For you?" she grinned, "You know you can have more than a moment."
He smiled a real, genuine smile at her before taking her hand. Obi-Wan led her across the way to a familiar park.
"It looks different in the daylight," Padmé murmured as they came to stop in front of the fountain from the night of their first almost-date. She sat on the edge of the fountain and patted the spot next to her for him to join her. "So, what did you want to see me about?"
Obi-Wan licked his lips before sitting next to her. "You know, we've come a long way since the last time we were here."
"It does feel like forever ago," Padmé chuckled.
"Since then, we've had late night rendezvous, secret library research sessions-"
"Been in explosions and unofficial police investigations-"
"Kidnapped criminals-"
"Lived with said criminals," she grinned.
"But, we've been through it all together," Obi-Wan said seriously. "You've been there for me since the day we met." He paused to gently take her hand. "You didn't have to study with me that night. You didn't have to be there for me when my father died. You didn't have to be there for me when I was pushing you away. You never gave up on me. Not once."
Obi-Wan landed on his knee in front of her. "I don't want to give up on us, darling. Not now, not ever."
Fumbling, he pulled a small box from his jacket pocket and opened it towards her. His breath caught in his throat as her hands went to cover her mouth in shock.
"Darling, will you marry me?" he asked, trembling slightly from nerves.
"Yes," she breathed, a grin breaking out on her face.
"Yes?"
"Yes!" Padmé exclaimed as she landed on the grass next to him to pull him in for a kiss.
Obi-Wan slipped the ring his father had left him onto her finger before fully turning his attention to kissing her. His hands sunk into her hair as they lowered themselves to lay on the grass in the deserted park. His lips smiled against hers, knowing that he was finally on the right path. All of his hard decisions had led to this moment, but he knew that come what may, he would have this woman beside him. He would have his brother beside him. No matter what happened from this point forward, he would be okay. Obi-Wan was physically at the lowest point he could be, but spiritually, he soared above the clouds.