REAL QUICK. Just so you know, the song Padme walks down the aisle to is the Dallas String Quartet version of "Secrets" by OneRepublic.
The song they leave the wedding to (the 'original song') is the string quartet version of John William's Throne Room and End Credits from Episode 4. I didn't even know it was possible to do that for a wedding, and now I want it for my own...
Just so you have an idea of what inspired those scenes.
Enjoy!
This was it.
Today was the day they had always wanted. Finally, the moment was here.
Today, Anakin would remarry the woman of his dreams. His other half. His soul mate. His Angel. His Padme. Today, for the very first time, he would be a husband not only in their eyes, but in the eyes of the rest of the universe. He used to think that it didn't matter what the universe saw: All he needed was Padme. While this was true in some ways, he had learned that lying, that hiding who he was, would only lead to sorrow.
Today marked the culmination of his...of their dreams. No more hiding for either of them.
After today, she would finally bear his name publically for all to see. Mrs. Skywalker! he thought with a swell of pride, as a gentle smile creased his face.
Still. As he stood beneath the gazebo that was built on top of a cliff overlooking the ocean, watching as their wedding guests took their seats in the isles of white chairs, he couldn't help but feel nervous. Really, really nervous. It was anxiety that had kept him awake long into the night.
After crashing Padme's bachelorette party, it had taken him two tries to finally beat Padme's time on the bull, much to Obi-Wan's obvious delight...and he noticed that his best man had hastily put his cellphone away when he'd climbed down off the platform to the cheers of the crowd. Great. More embarrassing video for Obi-Wan to taunt him with.
No matter.
He'd beaten her time, which was all he'd cared about, and he'd grinned wildly before swooping his bride into his arms and kissing her soundly in victory before the cheering crowd, and after a couple of more hours together as a combined party (where Anakin had learned how to line dance and do the Texas Two Step), they had ended the party wrapped in each other's arms, slow dancing together.
After they had finished their slow dance, Padme had been whisked away to her parents' house because, according to Sola, it was "bad luck" for the groom to see the bride before the wedding. He didn't quite believe that, but nevertheless, he had softly kissed Padme goodbye and then gone back to their house where he proceeded to lay in their king size bed thinking of every mistake he had ever made during his first marriage to Padme. Sleep was elusive and a long time coming for him, as both excitement and nervousness roiled around inside him.
There were questions that still burned in his mind, even now as people mingled about, occasionally approaching him and congratulating him. The questions plagued his mind even as his mother, in her beautiful purple dress and matching flowery hat that whacked him in the face, hugged him and kissed his cheek. She assured him that she was so very proud of him and that he was a good man, and that he would do right by his wife. He didn't disbelieve her, per se, but he couldn't help but wonder…
What if he failed again?
He knew that Padme didn't expect perfection from him. He knew that he couldn't expect perfection from himself either—he was human. He would make mistakes. But Padme deserved perfection. She wasn't technically perfect herself, but to him, she was his perfect match, and therefore, perfect. Perhaps, it was like that for her when she looked at him, but that didn't make him worry less.
"Anakin Skywalker." A familiar voice said, and Anakin was pulled out of his thoughts to look down and find Yoda standing there, a serene smile on his face. "On your wedding, congratulations to you."
He relaxed a little and smiled back at the older, shorter man. "Thank you, Master Yoda."
Yoda raised an eyebrow. "Master, I no longer am. Remember?"
Anakin cleared his throat. "Sorry. Old habits die hard, I suppose." He had frequented Yoda's office less and less since the Darth Maul incident, but he had still maintained close ties to his old friend. However, when Obi-Wan and he had approached Yoda to see if he would like to take back the title of Grand Master and help reestablish the Jedi Order, Yoda had politely declined, stating that he was happy doing what he was doing, and that it no longer was his time to lead the Jedi, but rather time for a new, younger generation.
"Quite alright, it is." He assured Anakin. "How are you feeling?"
He opened his mouth to tell Yoda what he told everyone else so far who had asked—he was fine, a little nervous, but fine. But, Anakin knew Yoda would see through the lie. Yoda didn't need to be Force sensitive to see through him (although that helped): He simply understood Anakin in ways that most people did not.
So, Anakin told him the truth.
"I'm nervous, running on only a few hours of sleep. I stayed up for most of the night worrying that I would screw this up again. It's stupid, I know, but now that everyone will finally know that she and I are married, I feel…almost like there is more pressure to be the perfect husband people expect me to be."
Yoda nodded his head in understanding. "Natural, your feelings are, but also heightened by your past. A changed man, you are, young Skywalker. Not the same, you are, but not in a bad way." He put a hand on Anakin's arm (the only place he could really reach), and his smile widened. "A good man, you are, Anakin. A pleasure to know you in this life and the last, it has been."
Anakin's throat tightened, and he opened his mouth to thank his friend, but he couldn't find the ability to. How could he express how much it meant to hear that sort of praise coming from one of the greatest Jedi Masters ever, if not THE greatest? There were no words that would...or could...adequately describe his gratefulness. So, he finally managed to choke out, "Thank you," before he noticed Padme's mother, Jobal, hurriedly making her way towards the front of the venue, wearing a similar purple dress to what his mother was wearing (his mother insisted it was different, but they looked the same to him).
Seeing this, Yoda cleared his throat. "Again, congratulations," he said once more, and Anakin managed to smile before Yoda turned and made his way to his seat. Anakin quickly turned his attention to his mother-in-law, who was breathing hard from her rush down the aisle.
"I just got a text from Ruwee. The limo is almost here," she huffed, looking at Anakin after glancing at the pastor they had hired. "Are you ready?"
Yes. No. Force, he hoped that his palms weren't sweating, but knowing his luck, they probably were. "I'm ready." He croaked after he attempted to clear his throat.
Jobal paused, noticing Anakin's nervousness as only a mother would, and put a comforting hand on his arm. "Anakin. I know you're nervous, but you can do this. Padme loves you. You obviously love her. Trust in yourself and each other, and you both will be just fine. I promise."
Her words were so close to something a Jedi would say, that at first Anakin was thrown off, and in his nervous state, he almost blurted that out, but he managed to refrain. Instead, he took a deep breath, drawing upon the Force to wash a calmness over him that he desperately needed in that moment. His muscles relaxed, his breathing evened, and when he focused back on Jobal, he was able to stand a little taller and, with a smile, confidently say, "I'm ready."
This time, Jobal believed him, and she smiled warmly, patting his arm reassuringly, before she nodded to the string quartet to begin, and took her seat in the front row on the bride's side of the aisle. Anakin then glanced over to the groom's side to see his stepfather sitting in the front row next to his mother, who was holding his niece, little Kylee, who was (thankfully) sound asleep.
The crowd went silent. It was a silence that seemed like an eternity, and Anakin again had to call upon the Force to make himself stay calm. Finally, a white limo pulled into view, and parked at the end of the aisle. The music began to play, and the door opened by a waiting attendent.
Obi-Wan was the first to step out. He shot Anakin a brief smile before he turned and reached down to help Mindy out of the car. As the Best Man, Obi-Wan would be escorting Mindy, the Maid of Honor, down the aisle. He had made a face and muttered about wanting to escort Satine instead when Anakin had first broke the news to him (which had amused Anakin greatly), but there wasn't even a little bit of uncomfortableness on his friend's face now. Even Mindy's expression was devoid of any mischief for once. Both of them genuinely smiled as they headed down the aisle, arm-in-arm, as if they had been best friends for years.
Following shortly after them was Ahsoka. She was not led down the aisle by anyone because Anakin didn't have enough groomsmen, but still, she held her head high and proud, and didn't seem the least bit bothered by it. It was really strange to see her wearing the dark purple "v-neck chiffon" (as Padme had called it when she showed him what she'd chosen…how did he even remember that?) dress that the other bridesmaids were wearing, and holding a bouquet of white roses and lilies like the other girls also held. He didn't think he'd ever seen her in anything remotely resembling a dress before, and she was not a flowery type of girl. He made a mental note to save the teasing for later.
His attention was drawn back to the limo where Darred had just helped Sola out of the car. Darred seemed relatively at ease, as if he always had hundreds of eyes on him as he escorted his own wife down the aisle. Then again, Anakin realized, Darred actually was used to that—his wife was, after all, a movie star. Sola, on the other hand, beamed so brightly that Anakin was certain sunbeams would radiate from her smile if it was completely dark.
They were then followed by Owen and Beru (Owen shooting Anakin another genuine smile), and next came Artoo rolling down the aisle wrapped in a dark purple bow. The droid was their ringbearer, which they both felt was perfect since he had been at their first wedding. Anakin had brought Artoo with him to the venue and had him wait behind all the rows of seats until his time to come forward. Anakin smirked at the stares Artoo received from most of their guests. Guess they've never seen a droid before, Anakin thought, chuckling to himself. Looking over at Obi-Wan, he saw an amused smile on his best friend's face as well, as he'd obviously heard Anakin thoughts.
Finally, little Ryoo and Pooja appeared, a white basket of purple flower petals in each of their hands. They plucked little handfuls of the petals out of their basket and tossed them onto the white runner below their feet. As soon as they began walking down the aisle, there were a considerable amount of "aw"'s from the audience, causing both of the little girls to giggle and blush. Smiling, Anakin had to admit, they were very pretty—almost pretty enough to steal the whole show. They wore matching knee-length dark purple dresses with a bow to one side, a ring of white flowers nestled on top of their hair.
Anakin thought that, at least, until he saw her, and then everything else in the entire universe was blown away.
A second white limo quietly pulled up and stopped. As an attendent opened the door, Ruwee was the first to emerge. Even from this distance, Anakin could see the tears welling up in his father-in-law's eyes. Anakin could only wonder what it was like to walk not only his daughter, but his youngest and last daughter, down the aisle. It was hard for him to imagine.
As all their guests rose to stand, Ruwee turned and reached down with one hand, and Anakin saw a flash of white and a smaller hand taking Ruwee's. He straightened his shoulders, held his breath, and his heart rate picked up as Ruwee helped Padme out.
He felt like the floor had dropped out from beneath him. He felt like every nerve he had in his entire body was on fire (and he literally knew what that felt like), and it was suddenly very hard for him to breathe. It was not unlike the feeling he had felt the first time he married her. In fact, he had expected to not feel so sucker punched this time. However, it was like he had been sucker punched...and then hit again.
Beautiful was too inadequate of a word to use to describe his bride. Angelic was too soft a word to compare her to. She was…she was…
Magnificent. Alluring. Exquisite. Divine.
Her dress was, naturally, white, with a skirt that looked to be made of that same 'chiffon' material she had used to describe the bridesmaid dresses. The bodice was beaded into intricate flower patterns, and her shoulders were bare. Her chestnut hair was styled into soft wisps, pulled partially back, a few strands framing her face. At the back, where her hair was tied back, a long veil was pinned, the material flowing behind her. In her hand was a large bouquet of flowers that even he had to appreciate, with white lilies and roses accented by small purple flowers he would never bother to learn the name of. The diming sun's rays glinted off of her dangling diamond earrings she had borrowed from her mother. At her throat was the japor snippet necklace he had made for her, the same necklace that had transcended space and time to find its way back into their lives and helped mend the rift between them.
Breathe, Anakin, Obi-Wan's amused voice reminded him through their Force connection, and Anakin took a deep breath. He hadn't even realized that he had actually stopped breathing. She blinked in the sudden orange light of the fading sun, glancing around at the many guests that had gathered (Anakin knew for a fact that she didn't know most of these people either: They were mostly her parent's guests). After a brief moment, however, her eyes caught sight of Anakin, and her face lit up into a radiant smile that had Anakin go weak at the knees.
Force, he suddenly felt like a young, inexperienced, nineteen-year-old padawan again!
Ruwee smiled at his daughter and offered her his elbow, and she curled her hand around his arm, and he began to lead her down the aisle. She was so graceful that she looked like she was gliding on air rather than walking due to the length of her dress. Even though the sky was beginning to darken with the sun setting behind them, her presence seemed to make everything appear brighter to him. As he listened to the "oh's" and "aw's" of their guests watching her walk down the aisle, Anakin almost felt inadequate and unworthy in her presence, and he was torn between backing away and running to her and scooping her up into his arms and never letting go.
Of course, he did neither of those things. There was no way he would ever run from her again. He had promised to face his fears and conquer them. He would be the man she deserved this time. There were many people who believed that he could do it, and he would just have to trust the Force to guide him. He also didn't think it would be appropriate to run to her, sweep her off her feet, and go off with her, keeping her all to himself. Their families had worked so hard on this wedding, and they wouldn't appreciate it if he did that. Besides, I can do that later tonight and for the rest of our lives.
So, he stood there next to Obi-Wan, watching as her father led her down the aisle toward him, and as he did so, he realized that his face was wet. He reached up, wondering stupidly if it had started to rain, but as his fingers touched his cheeks, he realized that it was not rain, but tears.
Tears of pure happiness. He hadn't even realized he'd started crying.
Distantly, he heard some people say "aw," indicating that they probably had noticed the tears, but in that moment, he didn't care.
She was his total focus.
She was perfect. She could have chosen anyone else in the universe, but she didn't. She chose him. Not once, but twice, and both times, she had literally every reason not to. She was the sun, and he was the moon, her direct opposite, but somehow, despite all of their differences and mistakes, they fit together perfectly.
Anakin truly believed they were born for each other.
He didn't want to be anywhere else in the entire galaxy, or any other galaxy, than right there, waiting for his Angel. As she approached, her eyes drifted to his tears, causing her own eyes to tear up. Just before she let go of her father, she gave him a hug, whispered something in his ear, and kissed his cheek. He smiled, a wobbly smile, before he turned and then shook Anakin's hand before taking Padme's hand and placing it in Anakin's. He then turned and headed to the seat beside his wife.
Anakin didn't watch him go. He only had eyes for Padme. He watched in awe as she stopped so that they faced each other. Slowly, without realizing that he was doing it, he reached up and gently caressed her cheek with his free hand. She leaned into his touch with a gentle smile, closing her eyes, savoring it, and his heart soared.
The world disappeared. He didn't notice when the music stopped, and he didn't hear a word the preacher was saying. The preacher could have been giving him the secrets of the universe and Anakin still wouldn't have bothered to listen. He just stood there, holding Padme's hand in his, completely content in that moment to bask in her glorious presence. It could have been minutes. It could have been hours. But finally, the preacher stopped talking, and Padme, staring into his eyes, cleared her throat quietly. Your vows, Anakin, Obi-Wan communicated through the Force, and Anakin could feel his friend's amusement.
"Oh," Anakin said, blushing, and this time, he did hear chuckles behind him. He cleared his throat, using his free hand to go for the vows he had carefully written and rewritten…but then stopped. He realized that what he had written was inadequate for the moment. The words simply didn't do this moment justice. What the moment needed was the absolute truth, and for once, he really didn't care if the crowd couldn't understand what he was saying. All that mattered was that she understood and knew just how much she meant to him, how much he wanted to make this right...for them both.
A microphone was stuck in front of his face by the preacher, which he would have found annoying at any other time, but in this moment, all he cared about was being able to speak his heart to his Angel. "Padme," He began, and it came out choked. He cleared his throat. "Angel. From the moment I first met you, all those years ago, not a day has gone by when I haven't thought of you." Her eyes lit up. He had said this to her once, and she had later told him that it was one of the memories she had dreamed before she realized what it was. "And, from this day forth, I swear that everything that I do, everything that I work towards, it will ultimately be to put the happiness of you and our family first. From this day forward, I will work to be the man you deserve, and I will treat you not as a possession or a prize, but as my equal. I promise to trust and value your opinions, and stand by your actions. No matter what life throws at us, I promise to be true and faithful to you, and true to the man you need me to be." He took a shuddering breath, "I promise to protect you. I promise to be there for you…and if, for some reason, we are ever separated again, I will cross every galaxy in the universe to find you again, because I love you, Padme, with all my heart. You are my Angel, my world, my everything. You are the other half of my soul. You complete me, and I will never take that for granted ever again."
By the end of it, her beautiful brown eyes were no longer just brimming with tears, but completely filled, and they slid down her cheeks silently as she smiled. "Oh Ani," She said, reaching up to wipe them away, "That was so beautiful!"
"It's the truth, Angel." Now, he was smiling, and he again reached up and gently wiped away the other tears that ran down her face with his thumb.
She took a deep breath, composing herself. "Anakin," she began, as the preacher placed the microphone in her face now. Her voice, unlike his, was clear and confident. He smiled, knowing that she was relying on her politician background. "I want you. All of you. Your flaws. Your imperfections. I want you, and only you. And, today, I choose you, and I would choose you over and over and over again. Without pause, without doubt, in a heartbeat. I'll keep choosing you, even if we live a thousand lifetimes." She squeezed his hand tightly, leaning a little forward. "I love you, Anakin, and I swear to stand by you faithfully, through the good times and the bad. I promise to support you in your goals and aspirations, to trust in your counsel. I promise to strive to make you and our children happy. You are my gallant Knight, the other half of my soul, and if ever we are parted again, I will search the entire universe to find you, because you, and you alone, complete me."
The preacher began to blather on again, but Anakin didn't care. His heart was soaring. He wanted to just kiss her and keep kissing her and never stop. But, he couldn't, not until it was time. Anakin, the rings? Obi-Wan's Force voice nudged him out of his thoughts, and Anakin glanced at the preacher to find him staring at Anakin expectantly.
"Oh...Right," He said, and again he could hear chuckles around him, and he blushed. Well, they would be distracted too if they were marrying the most perfect Angel in the world. He turned to Artoo, who was already rolling over. He stopped, and one of his compartments opened and out popped one of his claws, holding their rings. Padme turned and handed her bouquet to Mindy. Then, Anakin and Padme reached down and each took their respective rings, before straightening up and once more facing each other.
Padme reached out with her left hand, and Anakin took her hand, her engagement ring sparkling in the light of the dim evening sun. The preacher asked him to repeat after him, but Anakin knew the words by heart already. "With this ring," Anakin said, slipping a diamond wedding band onto her ring finger that fit the curve of and matched her engagement ring perfectly, "I marry you, Padme, taking you as my wife, and I bind my life to yours. It is a symbol of my eternal love, my everlasting friendship, and the promise of all my tomorrows."
Padme's smile brightened, and she shot him a look that told him that she loved the ring, and part of him sighed an inward sigh of relief as she took his left hand in hers. "With this ring," she said, slipping a white gold ring with small diamonds crossing it on the front onto his ring finger, "I marry you, Anakin, taking you as my husband, and I bind my life to yours. It is a symbol of my eternal love, my everlasting friendship, and the promise of all my tomorrows."
He smiled with pride, meeting her eyes, communicating that he also loved his ring, marveling that he actually could wear a ring this time. As he fingered his wedding ring with his right hand, he saw relief in her eyes, surprising him a little. She could have given him a piece of string to wear around his finger, and he wouldn't have cared as long as she was the one who gave it to him.
"By the power vested in me by the State of California, I now pronounce you man and wife," the pastor suddenly said with a smile, "You may now kiss your bride."
They were married!
They were finally, officially married! She was his wife not only in their galaxy, but now this one as well. And, this time, everyone knew it. His heart swelling with pride and joy, he leaned forward, took her face gently in his hands, and kissed her.
And kissed her again. And again. And again.
He lost count of their kisses, but as others around them cheered and began clapping (and Artoo squealed and chittered happily, his dome spinning), he finally stopped, pulling away just slightly so that their foreheads lightly touched, their breath mingling as they stared into each other's eyes.
"Hello, my husband," Padme whispered, tears sparkling on her lashes.
Her expression was so open and full of love, that he couldn't help the grin that spread across his face. "Hello, my wife," he whispered back.
"Oh, kiss her six or seven more times," the pastor teased with a chuckle, and finally Anakin pulled away from his wife, holding Padme's hand in his, as Mindy handed Padme back her bouquet. Then the pastor announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, I introduce to you Mr. and Mrs. Anakin Skywalker!" They turned and smiled for the applauding crowd. He saw his mother and stepfather smiling and clapping for them. He saw Padme's parents with tears in their eyes, clapping as well. He saw Yoda sitting next to Vokara, both of them smiling widely. He turned to see Obi-Wan grinning. Congratulations, my Brother, Obi-Wan said through the Force.
Anakin leaned over and quickly hugged his best friend and mentor, as they clapped each other on the back. Thank you, my Brother...for everything, Anakin replied in the Force.
He'd never felt so right before. He was a Jedi Master now, with his own business, his own home, and now, at long last, a wife that he no longer had to hide. They were surrounded by people who loved them, and one day, in the future, they would have children that they could finally raise, together. He was right where he needed to be, for the first time in his life. Ever. The music started again, a triumphant arrangement that had been originally written just for them, and he led Padme back down the aisle with pride in every step, towards the waiting white limo that would take them to their reception.
And, towards their future...together.
Sorry for the late update. I had to finish my grading period last week, and then this week I was in Florida at Disney World with my family. My sister was one of the bands performing before the parade, so we went and I ignored my computer because I seriously needed a vacation. BUT I have updated, and I'm already halfway done with the next chapter...
THE NEXT CHAPTER WILL HAVE ACTION IN IT.
THE NEXT CHAPTER WILL HAVE ACTION IN IT.
THE NEXT CHAPTER WILL HAVE ACTION IN IT.
I'm pretty sure I've said that the last three chapters, and I still get the question "when will there be action again?" Well. There's your answer again. The story will be picking up again, which is why I decided to only do the wedding scene, not the reception like originally planned. If you want that scene, PM me and I will write it and give it to you, but as for what's published here, I'm moving back into the action because now it's driving me nuts.
Songs for this chapter are listed above, plus Keeper of the Stars by Tracy Byrd and Til Kingdom Come by Coldplay. I will post the links for the wedding songs mentioned in the chapter on my page, and I have already posted the wedding stuff in my pintrest, also located on my page. Just copy and paste the link into a new browser to pull them up.
Anyhow, review! Expect the next chapter super soon! (maybe tomorrow night)
Love,
Sarah
