CHAPTER FORTY TWO
A TALK WITH THE MASTER
"Good evening, Master Yoda", Anakin said bowing to the little creature.
"Ah, Skywalker. Just on time, you arrived".
"Remember that thing I talked to you about in the holo message?", he asked. Yoda nodded. "Well, I came here to discuss it with you". Yoda frowned.
"A walk, we should take", he said leaving his chair.
Anakin and Yoda walked around the Jedi temple's gardens. There were many young Padawans training with their masters and other Padawans. This made Anakin remember his youth and his early days as a Padawan in the temple, always with his master and good friend, Obi-Wan Kenobi.
"You see, Skywalker. Balance to the Force, all these young Padawans bring. But central in that task, you are. Balance to the Force, you brought by killing Darth Sidious. Also you brought it when all those Siths, you fought. Always balance, the Force needs".
"But what about my son Luke? He's a very powerful Jedi, and very close to the Force. He could full fill my shoes when I'm not a Jedi anymore. I'll not be a Jedi forever, Master. I can assure you that. I don't want to be a 50 year old Jedi... no offense...", he said. Yoda smiled.
"Non taken...", he said laughing. "37, you are, Skywalker. Retire forward in the future, you should. Be a Jedi until you decide enough it's enough, my advice is".
"Thank you, Master. I knew that you would be of a great help".
"A valuable person, you are. Brought many good things to the galaxy, you have. Including your children. A remarkable Jedi, Luke is. Powerful in the Force, your wife and Shmi are. A great pilitic leader, Leia shall be. And what will young Kobby do, only the Force knows", he said smiling and nodding his head.
"Yes, I know. I have a wonderful family", he said proudly. Suddenly, Yoda stopped and motioned Anakin to sit on a stone bench by his side. "What is it, master?"
"Honest with you, I will be. If you would've never married senator Amidala, Palpatines apprentice, you would've become", he said in a serious tone. Anakin's eyes opened wide.
"What... are you sure?", Anakin asked shocked. Yoda sighed and nodded. He closed his eyes and lifted his hand.
"Clouded, this boy's future is", he said repeating the same words he had told the council years ago. Yoda opened his eyes and lifted a brow. Anakin swallowed hard. "That you married the senator, we should be gratefull. An oustanding woman, she is". Anakin smiled and nodded.
"Yes indeed...", he said. "She saved me". Yoda nodded still serious and then he smiled. He slapped Anakin on the cheek a couple of times and laughed.
"Who would've thought it? Young Skywalker, married with 4 children, 37 and still alive?". Anakin laughed along with Yoda. "In your next visit, your children, you should bring. Miss them terribly, I do". Anakin promised to bring the kids the next time and said goodbye to the little green master.
In all his trip back to Naboo, Anakin couldn't get out of his mind what Yoda had told him. he would've become a Sith lord if he would've never got married with Padmé. Many questions crossed over his head. What if he would've kept his marriage a secret? What if he and Padmé never got married at all? What if they would've stayed as secret lovers only? He couldn't imagine, or he didn't want to imagine all the damage he would've made to the galaxy.