Disclaimer: Anything that looks remotely familiar belongs to George Lucas. I claim Keturah, for what she's worth. I will never see a cent for this work. Chapter Six title c/o the Barenaked Ladies.
Rating: PG-13
Author's Note: The end, hope you enjoyed the trip. I am contemplating a series…perhaps one day this shall continue.
Love's Dress Rehearsal
Chapter Six: Great Provider
Anakin tried not to fidget while the transport settled into one of Coruscant's many docks. He had been waiting for this day for nine months. He had nearly revealed his deep dark secret to the entire council when they had informed Master and Padawan that they would be going off world this entire week. He had wanted to be there for it.
When the transport finally opened, Anakin had to remind himself not to run full-tilt towards the Chancellor's quarters. He would need an appointment, first of all and, more importantly, Obi-Wan would probably get very suspicious. The Jedi Master still thought everything was over.
The night sky did little to comfort the anxious padawan. The lights from the speeders and transports blinked randomly, but seemed to be speaking to each other. As one light would go out, the next would pulse, only to repeat the cycle with another vehicle.
"Anakin Skywalker?" a guard asked, looking the padawan over carefully. When Anakin nodded, the guard took out a piece of paper. "Chancellor Palpatine wishes to meet with you in his private quarters." Obi-Wan moved to hail a speeder, but the guard shook his head. "I am afraid it says alone, Master Kenobi."
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"I am sorry to be the one to tell you this, Anakin," Palpatine said. The Chancellor's almost-monotone was soothing despite the horrific news. "The doctors did all that they could..."
Anakin didn't even realize he had done it until the vase went flying across the room and shattered against a wall. In the bassinet, an infant girl began to cry.
The Chancellor walked over to the cradle, picking up the child with unexpected grace. She already looked so much like her mother: bright green eyes and a tiny tuft a red hair. Palpatine rocked back and forth slowly, waiting patiently for the child to stop crying. Eventually, he walked the child over to her father.
"Would you like to hold her?" he asked.
More scared than he had ever been in his entire life, Anakin took the small sleeping bundle into his arms. The little girl stirred briefly, but did not open her eyes. With his right hand, Anakin gently stroked his baby girl's cheek.
"She's beautiful," he whispered. Fighting back tears, for the mother and the child, Anakin looked up to the Chancellor. "I am at a loss, Chancellor. Do you have any suggestions as to what I might do?"
Hands clasped in front of him, Palpatine nodded slowly. "The child's mother and I discussed this at some length," he began, watching as Anakin began to bond with the little girl. "If you would like, I will find a place for her to stay within my compound. She will have the best education, the best political training…"
Anakin sighed. "But she will never be a Jedi?"
The Chancellor smiled. "Who knows, young Skywalker. The Force has a plan for all of us, does it not? We shall wait and see where her talents flourish." Gently, he took the infant away from her father. "I will take good care of her, Anakin. She shall want for nothing."