"aaaa" - talking through a holocommunicator or comlink. 'aaaa' - talking through a bond
AN: Final Chapter! Thank you booklove140 and princesselsaamidala22 for the reviews!
booklove140: I did correct the error that you saw in the last chapter.
princesselsaamidala22: Thank you for the question! Rosella (my OC) has blond hair and hazel (blue-green) eyes.
I hope everyone enjoys this chapter!
Chapter 17
The next day, Anakin escorted Padmè back to Naboo. When the couple arrived, it was nearly evening. After the Senator had spoken to the Queen about everything that had happened after they had left, it was safe to say that Queen Jamillia was worried about the state of the galaxy now that the Republic was officially at war. Nevertheless, she pledged whatever support that her people and the Gungans could lend to the Republic. Padmè thanked her for the support.
Then the Queen asked that they both stay in the Palace for the night. Anakin and Padmè accepted and the next morning, after having breakfast with Jamillia and her staff, the Senator thanked her for the hospitality, bid her goodbye, and left.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
After making sure that no one was able to recognize them, Padmè led Anakin to her parents' house. As soon as they arrived, they headed up the stairs and Padmè knocked on the door. She smiled as the door opened and she saw her mother standing there. "Hi Mom," she said.
Jobal's face lit up. "Padmè!" She happily cried upon seeing her daughter standing on the porch. She quickly enveloped her in a hug and then let go as she noticed Anakin behind her. Her eyes immediately saw the braid and lightsaber that was hanging on his belt. "Welcome to our home Master Jedi."
"Thank you, Mrs. Naberrie," Anakin responded.
"May we come inside Mom?" Padmè asked. "I have some news that would best be shared inside and not out on the porch."
"Of course," Jobal responded and stepped aside, watching as they both walked inside. Then she closed the door and led the pair into the living room. As they passed through the doorway, the woman gestured to the couch. "Take a seat."
As Padmè and Anakin sat on the couch, she looked around. "Is Dad here?" She asked.
"He's in the garden with your sister," Jobal answered. "I'll go and get them." She turned and walked out of the room, leaving Anakin and Padmè by themselves.
Padmè and Anakin smiled at each other as they waited. Anakin could tell that she was a little nervous at how her parents would react to the news that they were getting married and adopting a child. "I'm sure your parents and sister will be pleased by the news," he said.
"Are you sure Anakin?" Padmè asked.
Anakin nodded.
Then they both looked up as Jobal walked back into the room with Ruwee and Sola following behind her.
"Padmè dear," Ruwee said as he walked over to Padmè, who stood up and hugged her father. "It's so good to see that you're still alive."
"Thanks, Dad," Padmè said as he released her from his hug and she sat back down. Then she shared a smile with her older sister as Sola took a seat in the armchair that was directly across from the couch that they were sitting on, while her parents sat on the loveseat that was across from the couch.
"You said that you had some news for us?" Jobal asked.
"Yes Mom," Padmè replied. "I do." Then she gave a small sigh, hoping that this all went smoothly. "Do you remember when the Jedi announced on the holonet that they were changing their stance on attachments?"
Jobal, Ruwee and Sola nodded as they had all been together in the same room where they were now when the news had interrupted the movie that they were watching.
"Well," Padmè said as she gestured to Anakin. "This is Jedi Padawan Anakin Skywalker. He was assigned to protect me while another Jedi, Obi-Wan Kenobi, was off discovering who it was that was out to kill me. Two days ago, he asked me to marry him."
"Really?" Ruwee asked, a concerned look on his face as he wondered why Padmè hadn't contacted him to let Anakin ask for his permission.
Anakin nodded for a second time as he looked in the older man's direction. "Yes sir," he said. "I'm sorry that I didn't let Padmè contact you first to ask for your permission, but it was a spur of the moment thing and I didn't want to wait."
"That's quite alright son," Ruwee told him. Then he looked back at his daughter. "Well, don't keep us in suspense. What did you say?"
"I said yes," Padmè responded and held up her left hand. She was wearing the golden band that Anakin had purchased before they left Coruscant on her ring finger.'
For a moment, all was silent in the Naberrie's living room. Then Sola screamed in happiness and got up to hug her younger sister. Padmè got up from where she was sitting on the couch and reciprocated the hug, then accepted one from her mother, who had also gotten up from where she was sitting, while her father got up and shook Anakin's hand. Then they switched places and Anakin was swept up in hugs from both Sola and Jobal while Ruwee hugged his youngest daughter.
"Congratulations, both of you," Ruwee told them.
Then everyone sat back down.
"Thank you," Anakin replied. "I promise to take good care of your daughter."
"I have no doubt about that," Ruwee said.
"I know that this might come as another surprise to you all, but Anakin and I have decided to adopt a young girl," Padmè said. "She's an orphaned Jedi youngling who has no parents and place of her own to call home, even though she lives in the Jedi Temple."
"Oh Padmè," Jobal gushed happily. "I'm glad that you and Anakin want to give the young child a home, but are you sure that you will have the time to take care of her with how busy the two of you are going to be?"
"She'll most likely become Anakin's padawan, so he will be taking care of her more than me," Padmè told her.
"I'll make sure Padmè gets to see her often," Anakin assured the woman.
"Thank you, Anakin," Jobal told him.
Padmè turned to Anakin and smiled, before turning back to her family with a somewhat serious look on her face. "I know that you're going to want to tell the rest of the family and your friends that I'm married, but I'm going to have to ask that you keep our marriage a secret," she told them. "Since the galaxy is now going to be at war, the Jedi and many of the Senators whom I serve with will have our fair share of enemies coming after us. If those enemies were to find out about you, then you guys would become potential targets for them to get what they want."
"We understand Padmè," Solo told her. "Don't worry. We won't tell anyone. Not even Darred and the girls."
"Thank you, Sola," Padmè responded.
"When were you thinking of having the wedding and finalizing the adoption?" Jobal asked.
"Since we don't know when Anakin will be heading out into battle, we were going to do it at the end of the week, if that's alright with you guys," Padmè said.
"That's fine with us sweetheart. We're just glad that you have finally found someone to settle down with," Ruwee told her.
"Thank you, Dad," Padmè replied. "Is it alright with you if we just have a small ceremony with only you, Mom, Sola and a few representatives from the Jedi Order in attendance?"
"That's fine Padmè," Jobal said since she knew why it had to be that way.
"Are you both heading up to the lake house after this?" Sola asked.
"Yes," Padmè replied. "Anakin and I have to get the adoption form in order and we want to make sure that the house is ready for the three of us as we might be moving here after the war is over."
Jobal nodded. "Then your father, sister and I won't keep you for much longer," she said as they both stood up.
Anakin and Padmè stood up as well, said goodbye to all three members of the Naberrie family and left the house. Once they were sure that they weren't being followed, they headed to the port and had Paddy take them to the lake house.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
When they arrived at the lake house, it was nearly lunchtime. After eating lunch, both Padmè and Anakin sat down and filled out the adoption form. Anakin knew that Obi-Wan would probably sign as a witness, so they decided to leave that part for when the members of the Council that they had invited as well as Rosella arrived on the day of the wedding. Then they made sure that the house was clean.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
When the day of the wedding arrived, Anakin and Padmè got up early and had breakfast. Then after they got dressed, Padmè and Anakin spent the morning visiting Shmi. When she heard that the two were getting married and that she was getting a granddaughter all in the same day, she was overjoyed. After chatting for a while longer, Anakin told her that she was invited to the ceremony and that they needed to get back to the house as they had guests arriving and needed to be there to greet them. Shimi let them go and they made it in time to see the ship that the Council had taken land on the pad that Padmè had built outside the front of the house.
Anakin smiled and waved as Masters Qui-Gon, Yoda, and Mace came out of the ship. Behind them were Obi-Wan and Rosella. Once the small group had reached them, both Anakin and Padmè bowed. Then after exchanging greetings and hugs, Padmè led the group into the house and into one of the smaller sitting rooms.
Knowing that Anakin would be fine, Padmè headed out to the landing platform that was connected to the waterway to greet her parents and sister as they arrived with the Holy Man that they had selected to perform the ceremony. After greeting her family and the officiant, she brought them inside to the same sitting room where Anakin and the members of the Jedi Order were.
Then Shmi arrived. Anakin greeted his mother with a hug and then introduced her to the members of the Order, except for Qui-Gon, whom she already knew, as well as Padmè's family who had arrived for the ceremony. After greeting them all, Padmè called for Threepio, whom she had left at the estate. The protocol droid came to the door of the sitting room and led the guests out to the veranda while Anakin, Padmè and their chosen helpers went to different rooms to get ready for their wedding.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
A few minutes after Padmè had entered one of the spare bedrooms in the house, her mother and sister arrived to help get her ready for the wedding. As soon as Sola had finished helping her into the dress, Jobal sat Padmè down and got to work on her makeup. While that was going on, Sola did Padmè's hair and made sure to place the white band in it as well as place the headpiece on top.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
In one of the other spare bedrooms, Obi-Wan helping Anakin get ready. The younger man had asked him to be his best man and he accepted.
Even though he was wearing his formal Jedi robes, they were wrinkled and so while Obi-Wan was ironing them, getting the wrinkles out, Anakin was sitting by the window, looking outside at the water.
"Are you sure that you're ready for this Anakin?" Obi-Wan asked. "Are you ready to be married to a Senator, one who is a high stakes target for our enemies and a parent as well as a teacher?"
"If I'm being honest here Obi-Wan, no. I'm not ready for this," Anakin replied. "I know that hiding my marriage will make it easier for Padmè and I to do our duty to both the Senate and the Order. What I'm not ready for is having to be away from her for weeks, maybe months at a time." Then the young man sighed. "I know Padmè is a strong woman who can get through anything with her words and a blaster. But there will be times that she will get herself into very tough situations and there won't be anything that I will be able to do. It's when that happens, then I will be very worried."
"Anakin, you know as well as I do that Padmè will be able to get through anything she sets her mind to. It was the will of the force that brought you both back together after you first met as young children," Obi-Wan told him.
"I know Obi-Wan. I just hope she's up for the task of helping us uncover who the Sith Lord is," Anakin said.
"I think she's more than capable of the task," Obi-Wan said as he finished, placed the iron down and then came over with Anakin's neatly pressed Jedi robes in hand.
Anakin nodded in thanks as he slid his robes on.
"You never did answer the other half of my question," Obi-Wan said.
"Marriage is one thing, but parenthood?" Anakin asked. Then he shook his head. "No, I'm not ready for it. But I know that with your help and Qui-Gon's, I'll be able to get through it."
Obi-Wan smiled at the young man who stood before him.
After Anakin had finished adjusting his robes around his body, he looked up and smiled at his brother. "Thank you for helping put my mind at ease," he said.
"You're welcome, Anakin," Obi-Wan responded. Then he smirked. "You had better get out there. I believe it's bad luck to see the bride in her wedding gown before the wedding."
Both men laughed and headed out to the veranda.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Twilight was a perfect time for a wedding.
The sun was just starting to set below the horizon, and the moon was rising to take its place. Padmè had picked this time after learning that Anakin had been born at the same time on Tatooine. Everyone in attendance would have a perfect view as the newly married couple shared their first kiss.
Both Anakin and Padmè knew that the lake house was the perfect place for their wedding as it was private and peaceful.
The wedding was to be small and intimate. Just a few friends, mostly family. That was all they needed since neither of them wanted the Sith or any of their enemies to find out about it.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
It was time.
The Holy Man that had been carefully selected by Padmè and her family picked up a bell and rang it. All the guests, except for Anakin, stood up and turned around. Obi-Wan was standing to Anakin's left. The padawan would not lay his eyes on his bride until she stood by his side and the Holy Man gave the order for them to face each other.
The guests had all been placed on the right side of the veranda, with Rosella, Master Yoda, Jobal, Sola and an extra seat left in the front. That was for Ruwee as he was going to be escorting Padmè down the aisle. Sitting behind them were Shmi, Qui-Gon and Mace. Everyone had their eyes turned to look upon an archway through which Padmè and her father would emerge.
The list of those attending had been kept to a minimum as both Padmé and Anakin would be keeping their marriage a secret. The rest of the Council and a few other members of the Order were the only people to know that Anakin and Padmè were more than friends. Threepio and R2 were there too, standing off to the side.
The bell rang again and then there was the sound of footsteps.
Padmè appeared in the archway, her right arm looped through her father's left one. Then they began to make their way up the aisle.
The Senator's wedding dress was beautiful, intricate and very simple as it had been made by the designers who had worked for her when she had been Queen of Naboo. She wore a long, white, ivory tulle dress with sleeves. The gown itself was long and flowing, touching the floor. The entire gown was beautifully decorated in off-white scrollery that had been done in both ribbon and delicate beading. The see-through sleeves, which went all the way down to her hands was hemmed with scalloped lace. As for the headpiece, it was also made of lace, with a band that was decorated with the same scrollery as the bodice, and sleeve, except it, was in swirls. Her headdress flowed down to the middle of her back. It was embellished with Edwardian wax flowers and beaded seed pearls, which sparkled in the fading light. Pearls studded the entire wedding gown. Padmè was wearing her hair down, carefully twisted into long ringlets and braids.
Once they reached the altar and the Holy Man, Ruwee gave his daughter one last hug, smiled at Anakin and then headed over to his seat. Padmè kept her head lowered in a slightly shy fashion as that was the custom for every bride on Naboo.
Then all the guests sat in their seats.
The Holy Man raised his hands and smiled at the couple. "Dear friends and family of Padmè Amidala and Anakin Skywalker. We are gathered here today to bear witness and celebrate the marriage of these two young people. We rejoice with them as they stand before you all, ready to commit themselves to one another in a lifelong relationship," he said as he lowered his hands and folded them back into his robes, before speaking directly to Anakin and Padmè. "The people who have gathered here for your union also stand with you as a symbol of strength and love that will follow you throughout your life together, in the good times and the bad."
The Holy Man then directed his gaze to those who had been invited to the ceremony and asked, "Do the friends and families gathered here have any objections to the vows that are about to be spoken?"
No one said a word.
The Holy Man smiled and said, "Anakin, Padmè, please turn and face each other."
The couple followed his orders. As was the tradition at Naboo weddings, neither of them spoke a word.
The Holy Man continued. "Your love has proven to be strong and true. You have promised to be there for one another and a shining, bright light in each other's lives. I now ask that you take each other's hands."
Anakin held out his hands for Padmè to take. The Naboo woman softly smiled as she took both his hands in hers.
"Standing here before this congregation, Anakin Skywalker and Padmè Naberrie are hereby bound together as husband and wife," the Holy Man told both the couple and the group of spectators. Then he held out his hand. "The rings please."
Obi-Wan produced two rings from one of the pouches on his belt. He handed one to Anakin, who slid it onto Padmè's finger. Then he turned to Padmè and gave the other one to her. She took it and slid it onto Anakin's finger. Once they returned to Coruscant and their lives as Jedi and Senator, their rings would be hidden.
Master Yoda got off his chair and slowly hobbled forward, a smile on his face. "Pleased the Council is by this match," he said. "Prosper your lives will long may you be together. May the force be with you as together this new life you embark upon."
The Holy Man smiled and finished the ceremony by saying, "Anakin, you may kiss your bride."
Anakin smiled, leaned forward and kissed Padmè. When they broke apart, the couple smiled at each other, knowing that they were only going to have two weeks to send together before being forced apart because of the war. They both turned to face the small crowd, grabbed each other's hand and walked down the aisle, disappearing back inside the villa.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Soon the wedding reception was underway. Rosella, Obi-Wan, Mace, Master Yoda, Qui-Gon, Ruwee, Jobal, Sola and Shmi were all seated at small tables while Anakin and Padmè were seated at a slightly longer one in one of their bigger staterooms as both Ruwee and Jobal had gifted the couple the lake house as both a wedding present and a home.
After Anakin and Padmè each gave a separate speech, they all enjoyed a lovely dinner that the staff at Varykino had prepared for everyone.
While they were all eating, Rosella would occasionally look over at Anakin and Padmè. She saw how well they got along with each other and somehow knew that they would make good parents one day if they ever decided to have kids once this war was over. She wondered if she would ever get the chance to feel that sort of love again. Just looking at them made her miss her parents, even though she didn't remember much about them. She soon returned her eyes to her food and kept eating.
Soon after the dinner had been eaten, both Anakin and Padmè stood up and walked around the left side of the table. Once the couple stood in front of it, Anakin addressed the small crowd and asked, "Would Jedi Initiate Rosella Ngaire join us up at the front?"
The twelve-year-old, blond-haired, hazel-eyed girl was a little surprised that Anakin was asking for her but nonetheless did as he requested. "You wanted to see me?" Rosella shyly asked when she arrived at the front of the room.
Padmè smiled, nodded and reached behind her for a piece of paper that had been placed on the table before the newly married couple and their families had come into the room. "Anakin and I would like to know if you would like to become a part of our family," she told the young girl as she handed Rosella the piece of paper. "Of course, this decision is completely up to you and you are under no pressure to accept."
Rosella took the paper from Padmè and looked at it. She read the words that were printed on the paper, then reread the top as well as the first few sentences to make sure that she hadn't missed anything. "Is this for real?" She asked. "Are you both serious about this?"
"Yes Rosella," Anakin responded. "This is real and we are serious about this. We would love to have you as a part of our family. After hearing about your parents' death and talking it over, we knew that this was something that we both wanted."
The twelve-year-old could sense that both Anakin and Padmè wanted her and that this wasn't a trick or even a cruel joke that was being played. She wasn't even sure that she knew how to be someone's child after her upbringing in the temple, but she was willing to try her hardest. She could see that they both were waiting for her answer, as was everyone else, so she took a deep breath. "Yes, I would love to be a part of your family," Rosella responded.
Both Padmè and Anakin smiled and knelt as they hugged their soon-to-be adopted daughter.
Everyone in the room cheered as they witnessed the beginning of a new family. As soon as all three of them had let go of each other, Anakin and Padmè stood up. The Senator kept her arms around the young girl as Anakin went over to Obi-Wan and had him sign the witness box. Once Obi-Wan finished signing the form, he embraced Anakin. Anakin reciprocated the hug and then took the now completed form back to his family. Padmè smiled and took the paper from her husband, telling him that she would have it filed away, along with their wedding certificate.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
It was late.
After getting hugs and congratulations from everyone in the room, Anakin sent Rosella to bed saying that she had to leave in the morning since she still had to get ready to go to Illum in a few days to find her lightsaber crystal. She had protested against it, but Anakin had been firm with her and soon she was lying in bed in her new bedroom.
As the girl rolled over beneath her blanket, she happened to glance out the window. She smiled as she saw the stars shining brightly in the night sky, then snuggled down underneath her covers.
Rosella couldn't wait for the next chapter in her life.
AN: Anakin and Padmè are now married which means that my first story is now finished! A huge thank you to everyone who has read this story, left me a review, followed or favourited it. I was very nervous about posting this since I wasn't sure how everyone would take it, but I'm really glad that I did. A huge shoutout to KaitiJo for encouraging me to do this!
This was definitely a challenge for me to write as I didn't want to change the characters around too much, but in the end, I'm happy with how this story turned out.
Again, thank you all for reading The Fog of War. I should have the prologue of the sequel, which will be titled: A New Padawan's Journey out either by the end of this week or on the weekend!