Author's note: This book 2 of the There is Always Hope series. I would recommend reading the first book before this. From this point on the stories will be a little different. Each story builds on each other to create a larger universe. I have big plans for our beloved characters and for the broken order of Jedi. Please enjoy!

Dave Filoni is the true chosen one. All the respect to the creator, George Lucas!

Chapter 1

The Lake Country on Naboo

"Where is my necklace?" Padmé muttered to herself. She scrimmaged around in the bedroom, packing for a trip to Theed, the capital of Naboo. Finding another one of Anakin's tunics haphazardly strewn across her dresser, she sighed heavily to herself. For some great Hero of the Republic, he was undoubtedly a messy person. It wasn't so bad when he was a Jedi and barely had any belongings. Granted, compared to Padmé, he still didn't own very much, just a couple more items of the same type of clothing. He may not be a Jedi anymore, but he refused to wear anything else. It's comfortable, he would say. And yet, somehow, his limited variety of clothing never seems to make it into the closet. Picking up a pair of trousers, she smiled to herself as she found the necklace she was looking for.

Time seemed to catch up to them. As their time spent over a year and a half at the Lake County came to an end. The Queen summoned her back to the Capital of Naboo. Padmé surmised it was related to her return to the Senate. Time flew by quickly as Padmé and Anakin savored every precious moment. Her heart swelled from so much joy. Once upon a time, long before being asked to be Naboo's Senator, she had dreamt of having a family. She gave up those dreams when she accepted the role of Senator. Her duty. Yet, it seems that the galaxy had other plans for her when it dropped a certain Jedi back into her life.

A secret marriage, a hidden pregnancy, and a Republic flipped upside down had somehow allowed Padmé and Anakin to get to this point of time. Peeking into the living room, She found her husband attempting, and somewhat succeeding, at getting the kids ready to travel to Theed. Against all the odds, her husband survived the Clone Wars and the shocking discovery that the Supreme Chancellor's true identity was the Sith Lord Darth Sidious. Looking back, it was a terrible time and the deep wounds surrounding the situation still bled open and raw in many parts of the universe. But here she was, with her wonderful husband, the ex-Jedi, and her lovely twin children, Luke and Leia. She wouldn't give them up for anything in the galaxy.

Using his quick reflexes, Anakin caught up to Leia who sped across the living room. The little girl squealing delightfully as her father picked her up. Even though she laughed, her father frowned, looking at her tiny feet noting something a miss. Both feet had shoes on them only a couple minutes ago. How does this happen so quickly?

"Where did you put your other shoe, Princess?" He interrogated her.

Playfully, he flipped her upside down, holding her waist. She continued laughing at the apparent game. "I know it's here somewhere. Are you hiding your shoe?"

Never a dull moment with two children running a muck. Being aware of your surroundings wasn't just a helpful skill on the battlefield. He noted out of the corner of his eye as he found his son peeking out from behind a chair. When Luke realized his position was compromised, he made a run for the terrace.

"Oh no you don't!" His father proclaimed.

Not to be undermined by two 18 month old children, holding onto Leia, he used the Force to lift up Luke, successfully preventing his escape. Luke let out an annoyed grunt as Anakin quickly glanced into the bedroom, making sure Padmé wasn't watching. She hated it when he used the Force to lift up the children. Cheating, she called it, although he thought it was a very effective method. Ok, so sometimes he would just float the kids in the air while he caught up on the latest Holonet news, but the children seem to enjoy it, so it couldn't be that bad could it? Especially when two gundarks are running around wild! Some days he swears his sweet lovely children were possessed by unlimited energy and frequently shifting moody gundarks.

Using the Force, he floated Luke over to him while he flipped Leia over right side up and held her on his right hip. He reached out with his left hand and carried Luke on his left hip. Luke finally relented and clung to his father's tunic.

"Ok, you two trouble makers need to calm down. Mommy and Daddy need to get ready to go to Theed." He doesn't know why he bothered trying to reason with them. They were too young to really understand. Maybe he spoke to them more for his own sake. If nothing else, their giggles and squeals at his comments stroke his pride and warmed his heart.

Physically apprehending the squirming younglings was only part of the battle. As he carried them, he looked for their lost articles of clothing. With his arms full, he could only use his fingers to summon the Force. With one finger, he lifted up Leia's missing shoe and floated it over to them. After that, he found Luke's pants in some random corner. Why that boy couldn't keep his pants on was beyond Anakin.

If Obi Wan could see him now! Pretty proud of himself, he's shown some advanced multitasking abilities. Not everyone could accomplish what he was doing. Anakin thought to himself, Obi Wan certainly has never had to do anything like this before. With the children mostly taken care of, his thoughts drifted back to his wife. Anakin wondered if Padmé was done packing yet.

Zipping up a small bag, Padmé packed some final items into her two luggage. You could never be too prepared. She would always say. A part of her was excited to go back to work. As wonderful as this time was for them, the rest of the galaxy struggled to pick up its broken pieces. She felt irresponsible for not helping the Republic rebuild as she worried about what the future held. During this time, Padmé and Anakin really didn't talk about what would happen once Padmé returned to her duties as a Senator. Anakin was very adamant that he would go wherever she went. This didn't bring her any comfort, nor did it stop her from worrying about him on Coruscant. The planet held so many bitter memories for him, personally, not to mention the scorn the Republic's people had for Jedi, in general, after the Republic disassociated themselves from them. Even before the Chancellor's fall, he was famous on the Holonet, 'The Hero with no Fear', from the Clone Wars. He couldn't hide in obscurity on Coruscant. Everyone knew his face. She hoped that people would remember him as the 'Hero of the Republic', after he and Obi Wan disrupted Chancellor Palpatine's plans to create an empire, and not as another warmonger Jedi, their new title after the war. She didn't want to expose him to the people's bias and wrongly placed anger. He didn't deserve that. Not after all he's been through. He deserves to be hailed as the hero he was to the Republic and her heart's personal hero.

She stepped out of the bedroom and glanced into the living room. "I'm all packed. Are the kids ready?" She watched as Anakin struggled to get Luke back into his pants. He had Leia strapped to his chest. She'll never get over the sight: Anakin Skywalker, the epitome of the happily domesticated husband.

"Can't we just sedate them for a little bit? It would make things a lot easier." He grumbled. Ok, maybe not so happily. His long hair was tousled, most likely by one of the twins or perhaps both. Walking over, she helped ease Anakin's burden and picked up Luke, who happily snuggled into his mom's embrace. Turning to Anakin, she brushed his hair back into place and kissed him on the cheek for his efforts. Thankfully, he displayed his appreciation with his charming smile.

"Where's Dormé?" She pondered.

"She should have finished packing the kids' clothing." Anakin nodded his head towards the children's room, glad to have only one little monster to deal with at the moment.

Padmé scanned the room, "Where's your luggage, Anakin?"

"Hrm? Oh, right!" He remembered. He floated his lightsaber that he stored high on top one of the cabinets, far from his overly curious children's reach, and clipped it to his belt. "There! All set!"

She wrinkled her nose, "You're not bring any spare clothes?"

Anakin shrugged, "Why would I? When I was with Obi Wan…."

She cut him off, irritatedly , "I know. I know. You went on missions with only the clothes on your back. A Jedi traveled light and relied on the Force to provide you with what you needed. But still…" She grimaced, "it's gross."

Anakin stood up to his full height with his shoulders pulled back, his broad chest on display, with his chin held high. Exuding his easy confidence as always, he responded, "You love me anyway."

She sighed, "Despite of it!" She poked at his shoulder playfully as she's never been immune to his charm.

Dormé appeared with the children's luggage in tow. Smiling at her beloved friend, Padmé was utterly grateful for her handmaiden, who stayed with her since she started her career as a Senator. Dormé refused to leave Padmé's side once she gave birth and was more than happy to play nanny to them. For this, Padmé owed her everything. Dormé was to accompany them, after arriving in Theed, the plan was to drop the kids and Dormé off at Padmé's parents' place while she and Anakin went to see the Queen.

Right on time, Anakin crossed the living room over to Dormé, without hesitating quickly grabbed the children's bags out of her hands, then dutifully retrieved Padmé's luggage as well. Dormé was one of the few people who knew of their secret marriage, but they didn't speak often. The two lovebirds had such few chances that they usually spent it with just two of them. Being here, at the Lake House, with them has given her more time to spend with the handsome former Jedi. It only made her more jealous of Padmé, in a loving, appreciative way and she enjoyed teasing Padmé about it. Dormé thanked him and gave him a kind, coy smile. She walked over to Padmé and picked up Luke who, thank the Force, had finally tired himself out enough to fall asleep. "Are you ready for this, my lady?"

Padmé straightened her blue and maroon gown, one of her Senator gowns she often wore in the Senate. "Ready as I will ever be. But..a part of me wishes we could stay here in Varykino forever." She stated as her voice trailed off. So many uncertainties awaited them once they left the private sanctuary of Varykino.

Dormé looked down sadly, "I know my lady. It's been wonderful out here."

Sensing the dread and hesitation of what the future may hold emanating off the two women, after this wonderful gift of time, Anakin returned to the ladies' side with a fierce determination not to ruin the jovial mood, his optimism for the future would prevail. With Leia was fast asleep, strapped to his chest, he placed a comforting hand on each lady's shoulder, standing slightly behind them. "Now, we're not going to have any of this frowning business." He commented sternly. "This is only the beginning, ladies. The best has yet to come." He encouraged them further with his dashing, confident smile as he squeezed their shoulders reassuringly.

Curling her arm around his waist, Padmé gave him a quick kiss on the lips, his mood was contagious and lifted her out of her concerns. He was right. Their marriage now public, as it should be, and surrounded by their friends and family. Yes, Padmé had to agree. The best was yet to come. Fueled by this, her heart soared as they heard the bell ring with the boat's arrival. The little family made their way over, ready to begin the next chapter in their lives.

Author's Note: Next chapter will be up very soon. Destiny awaits them in Naboo!