Chapter Four
Anakin briefly thought of moving, racing home to Padmé and telling her everything, but he had commitments. Lots of them. That were all tied together. And he couldn't leave the temple because Padmé trusted him to protect their children. He had a feeling it was the only reason she'd truly been able to give them up.
"More you desire from us Jedi Skywalker?" Yoda queried.
"My children. So much power needs someone to care for and love."
"You are requesting not only that we sanction your marriage but remove your children as well?"
"No master. If what you say is true, that it is from me that our children have inherited their ability to use the force, then my wife is condemned to a life where she could not keep any child she bore. From no other family has there ever been more than one child brought to the temple. Yet all three of our children live here."
"You would suggest alternative arrangements?" Obi-Wan asked.
"I would like to take Luke, Leia and Lané home with me at nights. In the mornings I will bring them back, with me, to the temple, and when I am away I will arrange alternative transport to convey them to and from Senator Amidala's apartments. I am not a force-blind being, they would still be with a Jedi outside of the temple."
Anakin stood patiently, waiting. Hoping. For everything, everything he'd ever dreamed of could become a reality. If only the council would agree. He'd tried to sound as rational as possible as he put forth his suggestion. After all, that was what Padmé would have done. And people always seemed to listen to her. He only hoped it would work.
"Very well, a pilot study you will be Jedi Skywalker."
"Return to your home with your family. Your children will be expected to return with you at dawn every morning, and remain until such time as all of their lessons are completed at the end of the day. Both you and your capability to function as a Jedi, as well as your ability to raise the children will be reviewed in two standard years," Master Windu instructed him and Anakin's breath caught.
He could take them home? His precious little ones. All three of them? To Padmé?
"Be mindful of your feelings young one," Obi-Wan warned, though a smiled crept up onto his face.
Anakin stopped radiating his happiness to the twelve other force-sensitives in the room.
"Yes master. Thank you. And should we have any further babies where this problem of high midichlorian counts exists, would the arrangement stretch to accommodate them?"
"Yes Jedi Skywalker. Now retrieve your children from the dormitories and return to your wife as you so obviously wish to."
Anakin bowed politely, and literally had to restrain himself from bolting out the council doors. Once they'd closed behind him though he had no such qualms.
He flew back to the twins' dorm, waking them softly once more and trying to keep the rest of the room asleep.
"Luke, Leia, wake up," he prodded them.
Their little eyes fluttered open again.
"Daddy?"
It was Luke who queried first this time.
"The council has said we can spend the night at home with mummy. Would you like that?"
"YES!" came the enthusiastic simultaneous reply.
"Shhh," Anakin hushed though his face displayed their feelings just as clearly.
"Okay, well let's just get your boots and cloaks on and we'll go."
Anakin had to help them both with their shoes, then ensuring both had cloaks wrapped safely around them to ward out the blustering night breeze. Then he took one in each hand and led them out of the dormitory.
"We have to stop and get Lané," he reminded them and though the time of night was conducive to grouchiness from them, they followed without a sound.
Anakin had to walk slowly, though his heart was on wings, so that he wasn't dragging the twins along. He left them standing outside the babies' room for a split second, ducking inside to retrieve his youngest, making sure he wrapped her up in a blanket. She didn't wake as he returned to the door.
"Okay, Leia take my hand, and Luke you hold Leia's hand, good boy."
In a slow silence he made his way to the hanger bay, Lané asleep on his shoulder and the twins, now moving slower than ever as their lack of sleep really set in, stumbling along.
"Here we go," he said softly, choosing a closed speeder and coaxing Luke and Leia to climb into the back.
He placed their sister between them and watched fondly as all three cuddled up together and promptly fell asleep.
As he piloted the small transport out of the docking bay and across the city he planned his surprise for Padmé meticulously. And peace reigned his body and soul, as he was now complete. Totally and utterly complete.