I don't own Star Wars, the characters or anything else. If I did, I would be very very rich by now.
Sequel to Trying. 6th and Last in Hope Series.
Surviving
Prologue
Anakin walked down the street of Coruscant. Everything seemed grey and dark after the end of the Clone Wars. Anakin walked aimlessly. He had come from nowhere and had nowhere to go. He was lost. It was raining heavily. He tilted his head to feel it fall on his face. Even after all these years, rain, rivers, lakes, seas, still awed him.
It was raining on patio in the lakeside house. Anakin stood outside with his arms out wide wearing only a shirt and trousers. Padme watched as the rain lovingly kissed his upturned face. Anakin opened his mouth and tasted the falling water.
"Come inside Anakin, you'll catch cold!" Padme scolded from the dry doorway.
Anakin lowered his arms and looked at her with a smile. "Come on," he said, holding out his hand.
"Oh no," she said, shaking her head as he came closer, "You're not getting me wet."
Anakin dragged her out into the rain. Padme was giggling at the water getting her soak. Anakin held her tightly and whispered gently in her ear, "Can you feel it? The rain falling everywhere, the way it washes away everything, everything bad, bad feelings and bad memories. It cleans you, calms you, soothes you. Everything seems better after the rain." He bent his head and kissed her plump lips, the rain continuing to pour around them, but they didn't care.
Anakin let the rain and memory wash over him. His wife had never understood his appreciation for rain, but on that one day, she came close. He remembered how she'd looked, so sweet and bedraggled and incredibly lovely. Anakin closed his eyes in pain remembering that only two days ago on Naboo, he had buried her.
Chapter 1
"Over the last month the Republic has undergone massive changes." Obi Wan was saying from his chair in the Council room. "Three leaders will be elected instead of one to avoid what happened with Palpatine. Any politician found to be taking bribes will be sent back to their planet and various other changes."
Yoda, Obi Wan and Anakin sat in the Council room. Though many Jedi had returned since the destruction of the Temple, they had not decided on any new Council members. It was one of the topics of discussion. "What are the Senate saying about further Jedi missions?"
"They're giving us a period of quiet for a few years until we can regroup. We won't be given as many missions. Any diplomatic problems will have to dealt with internally. Should it escalate or be seen to, we will step in," Obi Wan was saying.
"New Council members, we will need," Yoda said. "Any choices?"
"There are a few Masters alive," Obi Wan said, "They should of course be chosen, but that still leaves several spaces."
"We won't be able to have the full Council for a while yet, so why don't we chose those we think worthy and not worry about numbers at the moment," Anakin said from his seat.
"Yes," Yoda said, "Good idea, this is. Who is worthy do you think?"
"I nominate Gaina," Anakin said. "I think she would be ideal."
"Agree with this I do," Yoda said, and Obi Wan concurred. A message was sent down and she was outside the Chamber fairly quickly.
"Masters," she said bowing.
"Gaina, we would like to offer you a place on the Council, as a Master." Obi Wan said.
Gaina smiled broadly, "Thank you, Masters!"
"Sit Gaina," Anakin said with a small smile. With Gaina sitting down, they got onto the rebuilding of the Temple and the Order. (Won't bore you with that conversation)
Basically it was decided that for the moment a Jedi would take on more than one Padawan at a time and any Padawan thought to be ready or near ready would go through the trials.
At the end of the meeting Anakin looked out the window at the falling sun. He felt Obi Wan come up behind him and lay a hand on his shoulder. "Are you alright?" he asked, pulling Anakin out of his reverie.
"Yeah," he said turning around slightly. He gave Obi Wan a sad little smile. "She loved sunsets," he said, turning back to the view, "she loved the colours it made, the way they merged and silhouetted everything." Obi Wan remained silent, letting his friend talk. Anakin raised his head, tears in his eyes, "I miss her, so much."
Obi Wan held Anakin as the young man cried. Obi Wan looked out at the sunset and let a tear fall for the most amazing woman he had ever met.