The Wedding of the Century

Padme was helping Leia into her dress, tears glistening in her eyes. Anella, Nikana, Winter, and Winter had gathered around in different stages of undress. "You look so beautiful, Leia," Padme was telling her only daughter. "I fear this day has come too soon. Even though you've been engaged for over a year," Padme said tears dripping down her cheeks as Satine and Ahsoka came in. Satine was dressed in a gold dress that had a high scoop neckline and was bedecked in jewels. She looked every bit of the duchess she was. "I fear this day has come far too soon. You are so young, Leia," Padme said looking at her daughter as she zipped up her wedding gown.

"Did it come too soon for you as well?" Leia asked her mother. Padme smiled and sat down, and the girls all looked at her. For Anella, Nikana, Winter, and Narra it was like a fairytale story.

"No, I feared I would never marry," Padme began, "I was twenty-four and your father was nineteen. I had been involved with politics ever since I could remember. I had dated, that's true, but almost everyone saw dating me as a leg up for themselves, from what they could get from me. But not Ani…Ani was different, and I'm not saying that because he was a Jedi. He was different from the Jedi, in those days the Jedi were forbidden to marry so we had to marry in secret," Padme said, her voice dropping an octave. "Oh, Leia," Padme said, "I hope your marriage is everything we have and more."

"It will be," Leia assured her mother, though how she knew she couldn't say.

"Your father later told me that it was like the Force was guiding him, bringing us together, for how else would we have landed on Tattooine," she said with a small laugh. "Easily enough Obi-Wan could have chosen another planet."

"Perhaps his actions were guided by the Force," Leia said, and Padme hugged her to her. Padme was dressed in an elaborate purple dress with a cape. It was very suitable for the mother of the bride. Ahsoka as her mentor was dressed in a dazzling creation of blue and green.

In Galen's dressing room, Anakin was helping the young boy tie his tie.

"I never liked these things," Galen swore.

"You will do fine," Anakin said with a laugh.

"I can't figure out whose more nervous," Obi-Wan commented, "Him or you when you first saw Padme again."

"It had been ten years," Anakin said with a smile, "I still had this memory of her, and I had always loved her, how did you expect me to feel. Of course, I'm not the only one. Remember when we were set to be guards for Satine. You were sweating like a bantha," Anakin said, smugly.

"Well, I guess welcome to the family, is in order," Luke told his soon-to-be brother in law. Except for Galen, all of them were dressed in their Jedi robes, although they were their formal robes.

Rex came in and smiled, "I will never forget the day, I married Ahsoka," he said with a smile. "Marriage, like anything worth doing is hard work," he said.

Galen had thought Rex was going to tell him about his wedding day, but he took the advice to heart.

"We got married on her native planet of Shilli. Fives and Tup were there, as were many members of the 501st. We were a family. I still think she wouldn't have married me if you hadn't arrived General Skywalker," he said with a crooked smile.

Anakin shrugged, "The Galaxy won't save itself. Besides, someone has to save Obi-Wan's neck."

"And someone has to keep the Chosen One alive," Obi-Wan responded back. He was used to Anakin's jabs and barbs.

"I had never seen a more beautiful creature," Rex said with a soft smile, "At least until Skye and Nikana were born. I still can't believe a clone like me got so lucky."

"Are you kidding?" Galen said with a smile, "Not just anybody can be the Mandalore," he said referring to Rex's title.

"Well, Rex, we had better get out there. They should be seating Padme soon as the mother of the bride. Galen, if you hurt her, you will have me to answer to," Anakin said, and he meant it. Rex, Anakin, and Obi-Wan went to find their wives when they were stopped by a survivor of the Battle of Dantooine.

"Jace Dallows," Anakin said with a smile. "I'm glad you could make it."

"Thank you, Grandmaster," Jace Dallows replied. "I wouldn't miss it for the world. It's the largest wedding in Jedi history," Jace said with a smile.

"Is your father here?" Anakin asked, he knew each and every Jedi and their families.

"He's supposed to be in charge of some of the fireworks celebrations," Jace went onto say. Anakin spotted Padme in a lavender dress. "Padme, you remember Jace Dallows?" Anakin asked.

"Yes, yes, of course. I am so glad you are alive," she said sincerely. Jace Dallows bowed to the Grandmaster and his wife and went to take his seat. Anakin led his wife to their pew on the first row. Anakin squeezed his wife's hand as Luke, Sky, Rex, and Galen began taking their places. How different his own wedding had been. He watched as on cue Three-pio and Artoo came in Three-pio talking to everyone down the aisles. He could always count on his faithful droids to lighten the mood. His baby girl, his only daughter was getting married. He looked at Jinn fidgeting nervously. He was much like he had been as a kid. He seemed to glow with energy.

Anakin had also spotted many of his fellow Jedi councilmen. Shaak Ti was here with Plo Koon, though they looked very tired. Master Tyrone Dooku was here sitting nearby as he was now the informal mentor of his youngest son. Even Kit Fitso was here and of course there was Bail Organa and reluctantly, Mon Mothma.

Anakin watched as the bridesmaids came in in identical dresses of silver and blue. Winter, Narra, Nikana, Anella, and Ahsoka walked in slowly, looking like angels themselves. And then Anakin's heart stopped when his eyes landed on his baby girl, her eyes glowing with happiness. He didn't think he had ever felt so happy and unhappy at the same time. He was losing her, his baby girl, he was giving someone else the power to protect her from the wrong in the Galaxy. But she was so happy, how could he say anything else?

Anakin heard the preacher ask, "Who gives this woman to this man?" and for a moment Anakin was speechless. Was his little girl really a woman? "Her mother and I do," Anakin said, looking into Leia's bright shining eyes, as a lump formed in his throat. Had this day finally come? It really had come too soon. He could remember when he was helping the twins with their lightsabers. And now, his little girl was married. He just hoped nothing would spoil this moment for her. Anakin felt the tears build up as he watched the wedding and before he knew it.

"I now pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. Jedi Knight Galen Merek."

Anakin felt the vibrations change in the room. A dark presence had entered their midst, and as Anakin swung his eyes to the door, he saw a familiar redhead, wearing black from head to toe, a lightsaber on her hip. She looked at Leia and said, "I didn't get my invitation."