Chapter Three
The doors to the council chambers opened in front of them and Obi-Wan strolled determinedly to his seat, leaving Anakin to complete his journey in the middle of the floor.
Master Windu spoke for the council while the rest watched on attentively.
"Anakin, it has come to our attention that the Senator for Naboo, though having a very low midichlorian count herself, has produced three children with identical, phenomenally high counts. The theory has been put forward that it is the father she refuses to name who is responsible for such levels of force-sensitivity in her children. Master Kenobi has noted that not only are you the only other being with a count of over twenty thousand, but that your count is actually identical to theirs. Previously it was understood that Jedi traits were not hereditary, but random. However no Jedi has willingly produced and not hidden their offspring before, and it has been hypothesised that perhaps a midichlorian count is affected by those of the parents. Your friendship with the senator is well known. Your cells contain the same concentration of life forms as all three of her children. The suggestion stands that it is you who has fathered both the twins and the little girl. Have you?"
The first time someone other than Padmé had acknowledged Luke and Leia and Lané were all his. Anakin didn't smile like he wanted to, although he was incredibly proud. It would be inappropriate and probably have him removed from the order and the temple in the time it took to take a breath. But he didn't flinch or submit either.
"Yes they are my children," he freely admitted.
"Aware that you are their father, are they?" Yoda inquired.
Anakin nodded his head in Obi-Wan's direction.
"As Master Kenobi will attest, I was just wishing them a goodnight when he found me. They are quite aware that I am their father."
"Attachment is forbidden young Skywalker," Obi-Wan reminded.
But Anakin knew what he was doing. Subtly giving Anakin the chance to justify his actions. And he loved his master for it.
"But I need attachment to keep me focused. I don't know if it is because I started my training so late, or the situation in which I lived the beginning of my life, but the situation now stands that I would not willingly give up my attachments."
"Hmmmm, interfere with your mission to protect, it does. Gives you reasons to doubt. Loss to fear."
Anakin thought for a moment then truthfully replied
"But I have fought and defeated the Sith master with the threat of the senator's death hanging over me should I succeed, and I still remain here today."
Obi-Wan sat up straight as he internally baulked and struggled to school his face into unattached enquiry.
"What do you mean Anakin?"
"Darth Sidious invaded my dreams, falsified force visions to tempt me into joining him. I thought that was understood?" he asked, confused.
"No, you did not inform us of this Anakin," Master Windu sternly reproached.
"But I did," Anakin defended evenly. "I spoke to Master Yoda of my visions of pain, death, suffering."
"The truth he speaks," Yoda confirmed. "Come to me with his visions, he did."
There was silence for a moment as all council members paused to think. Yoda's eyes scrunched closed, whether it was to contemplate or draw on the force for hindsight could not be said.
"Tempted, you were," Yoda deduced.
"Yes master."
"But fall to the dark side you did not."
"No master."
"Hmmmm."
A few heads nodded in understanding and the feeling in the room became truly open in interest. Surely there could be no greater challenge to face than that Anakin had already described.
"What is the extent of your relationship with Senator Amidala?" Master Windu asked.
"We were married on my mission to escort her back to Naboo directly after the battle of Geonosis. We spend time together when it is possible for both of us."
Stay calm was all Anakin could remind himself over and over. Show them that up until this point it has worked for everyone. Duty has always come first.
"How much time is that?" Master Kenobi asked.
"During the Clone Wars not very much. Now I leave the temple most nights and return after I've meditated at dawn."
"And this is a deep attatchment?" Windu prompted.
"The deepest. I have loved her since I was a child, deeply loved her since her life was threatened before the outbreak of the war and I was assigned to protect her. We have three children now. I care for her very much."
"Do you think your marriage impacts on how clear your mind is of confusion in the heat of battle?" Obi-Wan continued the questioning on lines Anakin could handle.
"No master."
"Ahhh, but in the future it may," Yoda prompted.
"No master. Darth Sidious tortured me with visions when I'd been with her no more than eight hours after five months apart. I was ungrounded and vulnerable. I was overjoyed that she was pregnant with my first child, I don't see how I could have more to risk than that."
There was a long silence as the depths of Anakin's feelings radiated from him and the council members scrutinised him relentlessly.
"True this is," Yoda approved.
There was a split second more and then Master Windu nodded to Anakin.
"Very well, sanction this marriage the council does. You may continue to spend your evenings at Senator Amidala's home as long as it does not interfere with your duty as a Jedi. Do you feel you will be incapable of separation from her when you are required to carry out missions off world?"
"No master," Anakin eagerly assured.
Inside his heart was beating all the more as he tried to comprehend what just happened.
"Very well, you are dismissed."