Anakin POV

The whole apartment smelled good by the time I dragged myself home from the end of the day.

"Hello?" I said, taking off my robes and heading into the bedroom to hang them up.

"Oh, hello Master Anakin. Welcome home," said C3-Q9

"Hey C3, is Padme here?" I asked taking off my boots.

"Anakin!" she said coming out of the kitchen. I turned towards the sound and saw my pregnant wife holding a wooden spoon, bare foot, and grinning from ear to ear. When she reached my arms, she got up on her tiptoes and kissed me.

"Hey, your in a good mood," I said laughing.

"I had the best day. We went to the doctor and did the ultrasound. The kids are so adorable, and they have gotten so big. I can't believe we are almost done. In two and a half months we are going to be parents! We need to get the rooms painted this weekend. We are having the baby shower tomorrow afternoon, remember. Don't worry, everything will be cleaned up by the time your home. Sola, Mom, Shmi, and Ahsoka are all coming to help. Then we need to go to the baby store down on 29th street and get the rest of the stuff that we need so that I can finish fixing up the rooms and getting everything ready for the kids. I'm so excited. They are actually coming! I can't wait! What?"

"You're so excited," I said laughing.

"You're not?"

"Oh yeah I am excited. It's just I think I am too exhausted to be excited."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I just had a long day. That's all."

"You and Windu don't spar 'til Wednesday, and then your sessions with Depa are on Friday, so what was long?"

"I spent all day in the archives helping Jocasta Nu," I said.

"Oh. That was nice. I am sure she appreciated the help. Why did you do that?"

I hesitated. Would lying get me out of this? Obi-Wan knew and she was bound to ask, or he would tell her. No, I had to tell the truth.

"Its um, punishment from the Jedi Council," I said not looking at her.

"Punishment? For what? You just captured the Emperor. What could they possibly be angry about?"

Oh God help me. "Um, I, uh, might have been ordered to lead the fleet, and I possibly defied those orders and used the Dark Side to capture Palpatine. What's for dinner?"

"You what?"

"It looks like Nuna legs, pears, and it smells like five blossom bread in the oven. I love that stuff!"

"Anakin!" she yelled. "WHAT DID YOU DO?"

"About what?"

"Palpatine!"

"Oh that. Well, I was leading our men in dogfights above the planet and then- you know how I sense things in the force?"

"Yeah," she said looking at me like I was changing the subject.

"Well, I got a feeling that something was wrong with Ahsoka, which there was, and I told my men that Obi-Wan needed me on the surface."

"Did he?"

"Yes he did. They were in trouble."

"How did you know that?"

"I sensed it."

She growled, "Anakin, did Obi-Wan ask you for help?"

"No."

"So you lied to your men?"

"Technically."

She glared at me.

"Okay yes. I lied."

"Then what happened?"

I told her about going into the temple and seeing Ahsoka, Obi-Wan, and Rex injured. Then I explained about fighting Palpatine and feeling like I was going to lose. "So I used the Dark Side to get the upper hand and arrest him."

She stood there with her arms crossed and did not say anything for a minute.

"Angel? You alright?" I asked.

"I can not tell if whirling dinner at your head or shooting you in the face will cause you more pain," she finally said.

"Oh, don't say that. Besides, I have already been punished by the Council. It no big-"

"Don't you dare say that! Damn it, Ani! This is why I told you not to go in the first place!" she said. Then she threw the spoon back into the pot with a clang, and stomped off into our bedroom.

I followed her into the bedroom, and saw her on the bed with a comlink. "Ahsoka and Obi-Wan know," I said.

She put her finger out to silence me.

"Qui-Gon," came the voice on the comlink.

"Padme, I am sorry. Don't do this to me," I begged.

"Put Shmi on," said Padme.

My heart thudded in my chest, and I could hear the blood pulsing through my ears. "Padme this would devastate her. Please don't do this."

"Yes," came Shmi.

"Your son has something he wants to tell you about how he captured Palpatine. Here he is," and she handed the comlink to me.

"Yes Anakin?"

"Please don't cry, and please don't hate me. Obi-Wan, Master Yoda, Master Depa, Windu, and Ahsoka all know okay. I didn't tell you because I did not want you to worry."

"What happened, Ani?"

"When I battled Sidious, I used the Dark Side to defeat him."

"At least you were straight forward with her," said Padme.

I shot her a look to silence her.

"Mom? Are you there?"

"I am here."

"Are you mad?"

"I am not mad," she said in a strange voice. "I am not anything. What is done is done. Thank you for being honest with me."

"Is Qui-Gon there? Can I talk to him?"

"I am here Anakin," came Qui-Gon.

"What's going on? She is scaring me," I said.

"Well, she is crying."

I ran my hands through my hair, and cursed myself under my breath. "What can I do? Should I come over?" I asked.

"No. You can do nothing now. I will tend to her," he said. "It took courage to admit to her what happened. Does Depa and the council know?"

"Yes, and I am on administrative leave and barred from active duty for three months. They are placing me in the library helping Jocasta Nu with janitorial and mechanics."

"You must trust their judgement, Padawan."

"I understand, Master. Can I talk to mom?"

"Yes?" said my mom.

"Mom, I am fine. I am not going anywhere. I want to be a Jedi, love Padme, protect the babies, and take care of the family. I just got desperate, okay."

"Ani, I don't know what I'd do if you…"

"You will never have to find out okay. I promise. I love you, Mom."

"I love you, Ani." I turned the comlink off.

Padme was serving the bread and nuna legs onto the kitchen table. I got some of the red wine out and two glasses, and headed to the table.

"That was dirty," I said sitting down.

"Okay you can hunt a Sith Lord against my wishes, defy orders, and use the Dark Side, but God forbid I tell your mother about it," she said sarcastically.

"When she gets worked up, her injuries hurt worse. You know that she has not regenerated properly," I argued.

"All the more reason why you should behave."

"It was dirty," I started again.

"It worked," she said.

She leaned in to kiss me. I crossed my arms and leaned back into the chair.

"Ani!" she chided.

I sighed and sat up. Cupping her face, I kissed her hard. Then we dug into our dinner.