Well, this is it. Here's the last part of the story (besides the epilogue). I would just like to thank everybody who read and left feedback one more time. I hope you enjoyed it…
Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters or anything Star Wars related.

CH. 12

"SALVATION"

Obi-Wan and Yoda stood at the door, watching Senator Amidala while she sat beside the large bacta tank. It was the second time Anakin had been placed in a restoration chamber to heal within a relatively short period of time. A smile spread across Obi-Wan's lips.

Anakin.

He could really call him that again.

He had finally overcome the power of the dark side. The shadow of darkness that lingered within him was no more. Even Master Yoda felt the change in the young Jedi through his unique connection with the Force. He had lowered his lightsaber instead of executing Grievous – a feat no Sith Lord could have ever accomplished. No Sith would ever pass up an opportunity to kill an enemy the way he did…he had truly returned to the light. He had finally extinguished the demons that had haunted and consumed his every thought and action for so long.

"Leave the good Senator to be with her husband, we should," Yoda broke the silence that seemed to stretch between Obi-Wan and himself.

"I agree," Obi-Wan said as he turned to walk away.

They walked down the empty hall – Yoda relying on his walking stick as they left the medical quarters. Obi-Wan couldn't help but smile again. The elder Jedi Master did not have the appearance of a military leader that had just led an entire army of clone soldiers to a total victory. His actions during the invasion of Coruscant had led to the end of the war. Obi-Wan wondered where he had gone while he was busy fighting Grievous, but he found out soon enough. His command over the army of the Republic repelled the attacks of the Separatists and – combined with the death of their General – resulted in the complete disintegration of their forces. There was only a select group of Trade Federation loyalists left and they wouldn't last long.

"I was beginning to think we would never see this day," Obi-Wan sparked up a new conversation. "No more fighting, no more Sith…it is actually over."

"Shrouded in darkness, these times have been," Yoda commented. "Much to celebrate, we have, but much work lies ahead."

"Yes, the Order and the Republic will both take time to rebuild."

Yoda wisely nodded his head before responding. "A worthy cause, it is. Faith, the fall of the Sith has instilled in us all. Hope, the end of the war has brought."

"I must say, we owe a lot of these outcomes to Anakin," Obi-Wan said as he clasped his hands behind his back, walking slowly and steadily to keep pace with the smaller Jedi. "If it were not for him, I'm not so sure I could have stopped General Grievous in his quest to influence the senators and take control of the Republic."

"Correct, Master Jinn was, in assuming young Skywalker was the 'Chosen One'," Yoda replied. "In death, cleansed of the dark side, he has been. In life, a second chance, he has been granted."

"And for that I am very grateful," Obi-Wan said while they continued on their way. "But I still don't understand how his essence was rekindled the way it was. I saw his spirit – he had crossed over. How can that be?"

"Unexplainable, the will of the Force is," was Yoda's simple answer. "A bond, Skywalker and Senator Amidala share…saved the Senator from dying, it did. Saved young Skywalker as well."

"You mean their connection kept them both alive?" Obi-Wan questioned.

Yoda gave the Knight a knowing smirk, but said nothing more…

When Anakin opened his eyes, he found himself floating in a familiar green liquid. He knew he must have been put in a bacta tank, but that couldn't be right…he had felt himself become one with the Force. How could he still be living?

Through his blurred vision, he could make out a feminine figure standing just outside his tank. His heart warmed when he realized who it was.

Padme.

He could barely see her, but he could feel her presence as she placed a hand on the glass in front of him. He slowly lifted his hand and pressed it up against her outstretched palm. If it weren't for the mask covering his mouth, she would have seen the warm smile her being there had caused.

He was at peace. There was no more anger, no more resentment…there was only gratitude. Gratitude for the chance he had been given to redeem himself to those he had let down.

He basked in his newfound perspective while he felt himself slowly slipping back into unconsciousness.

The last thing he saw was Padme.

The last thing he felt was her love and the peace it provided him. He knew he had a lot to do the next time he woke up, but he didn't dread it…

He needed to mend everything he had undone.

THE

END