Chapter Nineteen - Family

The day after arriving back in Lake Country, Anakin could not have been happier. Finally, they could remain here. After all the trips back and forth, it was almost impossible to believe that this time their stay would be permanent. The sun was shining bright off the lake as though it was reflecting his happiness.

He turned back from the kitchen window to look at Padme and Threepio who were at this moment busy preparing food. The previous evening, Padme had contacted her parents and had told them everything that had happened, which had taken quite a while. The Naberries were at first confused why Padme had not told them about her marriage to Anakin, but Padme had managed to make them see how risky it would have been to tell them. It was a big relief once the explanation was finished and Naberries said they completely understood and gave their blessing. When they then learned that they were now grandparents, their happiness was full of so much joy. Padme instantly invited them to come over the following day so that they could meet their grandchildren.

Anakin had very happy memories of first visiting Padme's family and their lovely home. Even though it had been a long time since then, the memories still felt fresh as though it had only been yesterday. He went over to the twins, who were strapped side by side in their comfy cradles on the counter. Leia was hugging an Ewok doll and Luke was sucking his thumb.

"What time will they be arriving?" Anakin asked Padme, as he ruffled Luke's soft blond hair.

"Around midday, I think," Padme replied, "if not before. No doubt they will want to get here quickly to meet Luke and Leia." She joined Anakin's side and leaned down to give both twins a kiss. "Sola and my mother have wanted this for me for such a long time. To settle down and start a family of my own." Anakin indeed remembered hearing this during the visit. "I mean, I hadn't really thought about it because at the time my main focus was to find a diplomatic solution to end the war and ensure peace."

After a short silence Anakin said. "I was all ready to settle down with you immediately but...only if you wished to."

Padme stood up on her toes to kiss his cheek. "Well, now we can do it properly, Ani." His smile returned and he kissed the top of her head.

When the Naberrie family arrived, Anakin and Padme had set themselves out in the massive grassy garden. Luke and Leia were settled in their hover pram and dozing peacefully. Anakin stood between Padme and Ahsoka while Artoo and Threepio stood beside a table, which was set with drinks and food.

The first to reach them was Padme's young nieces Ryoo and Pooja. They were a little bit taller than Anakin remembered, but just like last time, they rushed to Padme who embraced them happily then they both went to greet the droids who they were both very fond of. Then Padme rushed over to embrace her sister Sola who hugged her tight and then her parents Ruwee and Jobal. Anakin smiled as he watched them, and then glanced down at Ahsoka who returned a smile of her own.

Jobal was first to meet Anakin's eyes, without a pause, she glided forward and Anakin was taken by surprise when she greeted him with a warm hug.

"Oh, Anakin. Thank you so much." She sighed.

"What for?" he asked, hugging her back. She let go so she could meet his eyes.

"You don't know how long I have hoped that my dear Padme would find someone wonderful. And I couldn't be happier that you were the one who captured her heart. And who I can now call my son-in-law."

Anakin felt his heart flutter at her words. "She's the love of my life and I could not even imagine a life without her."

Jobal leaned up to give him a quick kiss on the cheek. "You know, I had the feeling that when you both visited our home together, that there was something more between the two of you than just friendship."

"And evidently you were right," said Ruwee, coming over and holding out his hand, Anakin shook it. "What better husband for our daughter than, "The Hero With No Fear."

Ahsoka chuckled softly, then commented, "He's not just that, he's also, "The hero with a heart full of love."

Ruwee and Jobal turned to her, and Anakin cleared his throat. "This is Ahsoka Tano, my former Padawan student and one of our closest friends."

The Naberries both shook Ahsoka's hand. "Pleasure to meet you," said Jobal warmly.

"And you both too," Ahsoka replied.

Then Padme and Sola came over with their arms round each other. "You see? We were right, little sister."

Padme sighed. "Ok, you were right Sola. I was just…afraid of admitting my true feelings at the time."

"I'm very surprised, you know. You were brave enough to take up arms and fight in the Battle of Theed, yet you admit you were afraid to confess your personal feelings for this charming boy."

Padme laughed embarrassedly and closed her eyes. Sola gave her a squeeze.

"Don't worry little sis, it happens to the best of us. And I don't blame you." She then turned to Anakin. "It is lovely to see you again, Anakin," she said coming over to give him a hug and kiss on both his cheeks.

Anakin still found it incredible that he was actually taller than all four of them. "Welcome to the family," she said when she let him go.

"Thank you," he said, looking at each of them. "It feels wonderful to finally establish that."

Short silence followed this and it was broken by a small murmur from behind Anakin. They all looked to see that Luke and Leia were now awake. In an instant, the mood changed from gentle calm to overjoyed delight as the Naberries caught sight of the twins. Jobal and Sola looked like they were about to shed tears of happiness.

"Oh my…" Jobal cried, coming over to the pram and looking down at her grandchildren. The others joined her and even Ryoo and Pooja who came hurrying over to see.

"Everyone, this is Luke and Leia," said Padme delightedly from beside Anakin.

"Oh, honey." Jobal exclaimed. "They're beautiful…so beautiful…" She was now crying with overwhelmed happiness as she reached down and lifted Luke up into her arms, Ruwee close beside her.

Then Sola picked up Leia. "Just look at her Padme, she's got your eyes." She gently hugged Leia to her chest and kissed the top of her head.

The Naberries then took seats around the table and both Ryoo and Pooja stepped closer to look at Luke and Leia. Ruwee lifted Pooja onto his lap and the little girl reached forward to touch Luke's hand and the baby's closed his fingers around hers and she giggled. Ryoo stepped up beside her mother and she began stroking Leia's soft hair.

"She's very sweet," Ryoo said as she smiled down at Leia who was looking back with her brown eyes.

"Yes, they both are, sweetie," said Sola. "Not only have you now got an uncle now, you also have two baby cousins."

Anakin listened to Sola's words and realized that through his marriage to Padme, he now had an extended family. Ruwee and Jobal were his parent in-laws, Sola was his sister-in law, and Ryoo and Pooja were his nieces. He may not share their blood, but from his marriage union he was now part of their family and just the thought of that was bliss. What made it better was they had accepted him with open arms and had given their blessing. The thoughts of "extended family" awoke something else in his mind which he decided he must bring up later on.

And so that evening after the Naberries had departed and Anakin and Padme had tucked Luke and Leia into bed, they bid Ahsoka good night and went up to their bedroom. When they got there Anakin seated himself on their bed and ran a hand through his hair. Padme came over to him.

"Ani what is it?"

"Padme, earlier on, I realized that there are others we need to tell about our marriage and the twins."

She joined his side on the bed understanding. "I know, your Step-father and Step-brother."

Anakin nodded "We don't share blood, but Cliegg Lars married my…mother and freed her from slavery. They are part of our family too. And sometimes I keep remembering how we left them so suddenly when we went to rescue Obi-Wan. I feel that we should go back to see them and let them meet Luke and Leia."

Padme took his hand in hers. "You're right, Anakin. They do very much deserve to be part of our lives and to meet the twins and know about our marriage to each other. We will make arrangements to visit them as soon as we can."

Anakin held her gaze for a few seconds then he leaned down to kiss her lips and she tenderly held his cheek in her hand.

A few days later, when the time came for them to make the journey back to Tatoonie. Padme had suggested that Ahsoka remain behind so she could have some time to herself. Ahsoka didn't mind the break and wished them a pleasant trip.

The journey itself went without any problems, except that Anakin was doing his best not to keep recalling the sad memory of that day three years ago. He kept telling himself that this trip's purpose was not to relive that day. It was to welcome the Lars family to be a part of their family. That way, they would be more than strangers he had only known for a short time.

The bright light of the twin suns filled the ship as they came closer to the destination and Anakin piloted them smoothly to the location of the moisture farm, which didn't look as if it had changed since the last time.

Once the ship had landed, Anakin asked Artoo and Threepio to stay with the ship and to come find them if they needed anything or if there were any outside messages for them to receive.

"That is alright with me, Master Ani," Threepio had replied. "I don't wish for my joints to get clogged with all that infernal sand."

Anakin laughed. "I know what you mean, Threepio. I wish I didn't have to walk out on it too. It's irritating and finds its way into everything."

The heat hit them before they even came into the sunlight. Anakin had lived in this sunlight for most of his childhood so it was like an old friend to him. It didn't bother Padme much either, but she had pulled the hood of the hover pram up and over Luke and Leia so the heat of the suns didn't burn them. They were still so small and delicate.

They weren't even halfway between the ship and the farm before they saw the figures of Owen Lars and Beru Whitesun emerge from the house with Cliegg Lars bringing up the rear. Anakin felt a touch of sadness to see him still in his hover chair and with no replacement for his lost leg. The one he had lost while trying to rescue his wife. Anakin clenched his artificial fist knowing how it hurt so much, both the pain of losing a limb and even worse, losing a loved one to death.

When they got closer Anakin could see their expressions clearer. Owen looked surprised, Beru looked delighted and Cliegg had a look of relaxed relief on his face. Once they were close enough Beru glided forward to embrace Padme.

"Beru!" Padme laughed holding her. "It's lovely to see you."

"And you too Padme, what a wonderful surprise!"

Owen approached, but Anakin didn't feel familiar enough with his step-brother enough to embrace him. Surprisingly Owen seemed to be thinking the same thing and held out his hand, which Anakin took without hesitation.

"We did miss you both," Owen said, who still held Anakin's hand even after shaking it. "We hoped you would visit us again someday."

"I'm sorry we didn't come sooner," Anakin replied, "And I'm sorry that we'd left so suddenly." Owen gave him a small smile.

"Don't be sorry, son," said Cliegg, who came forward on his chair. Anakin let go of his step-brother so he could take his step-father's offered hand. "We assumed that the message you received was something extremely serious. And given all that happened while you were here, I didn't blame you for leaving."

Anakin felt the same relief, which was on his step-father's face. It was wonderful that there were no hard feelings.

"Come inside," said Beru. "I expect you've had quite a journey."

With Cliegg leading the way, they went through the doorway and came down into the round shaded yard of the home which also showed not much change from the last time they were here. "So what was that message you received three years ago?" Cliegg asked as he turned his chair round to face them.

"It was a message from my Jedi Master. We learned that he had been captured by the Separatists, enemies of the Republic. So we set out to rescue him, which we succeeded, but at the same time there was a great battle between the Jedi and the Separatist's battle droids. My master and I fought in a duel against Count Dooku who was a Jedi that had turned to the dark side. Unfortunately, we were both beaten in the duel. My master received only minor wounds but I lost my arm in the fight."

Anakin raised his black gauntlet up for them to see and the Lars' stared at it. Cliegg's face was full of understanding, for he knew how it felt to lose a limb.

"Luckily we were saved by another Jedi, Master Yoda, but the enemy escaped us and it was then that the Clone Wars began. I had my arm replaced, then once I returned Padme to her home planet, we decided there and then to get married before we joined the war, we wanted to forever seal our bond of love."

The Lars' family smiled at Anakin's last words. "That's wonderful," said Beru. "A late congratulations to you both."

Owen put his arm round her. "It was the same for us. A short time after you left, we got married as well."

Padme's face brightened up. "Congratulations to you, too."

"Thank you," said Owen.

"I thought that you both had a special relationship," said Cliegg. Anakin was surprised because those were similar words that Jobal had spoken a few days ago. "After the pain and loss you went through, I'm glad that you found some happiness for yourself."

Anakin smiled at his step-father and wrapped his arm round Padme who leaned against him.

"Padme has been my only comfort since then, and I couldn't be more grateful for her love and understanding of me." He gave the top of her head a small kiss and she gently hugged him round the waist with her arm. "But now, she's not the only other Skywalker in my life anymore."

The Lars' expressions all changed. Owen looked confused, Beru brightened and Cliegg glanced expectantly towards the pram which Padme touched and opened up. When they caught sight of the twins, Owen's jaw dropped in amazement, Beru gasped in wonderment and Cliegg smiled delightedly at Luke and Leia who were waking up.

"I'd like for you all to meet our twins, Luke and Leia Skywalker," said Anakin, as pram hovered towards them.

Beru looked as though she was about to shed tears, just like Jobal had. She reached down to lift Leia into her arms. Owen was still looking at the twins in wonderment until he finally reached down to scoop Luke up into his arms.

Anakin moved the pram aside and said, "The reason we came today is because we want you all to be a part of our lives. We may not share the same blood, but you're still a part of my family. And families should all stay close." The three Lars' smiled with joyful happiness.

Later on, they were all sitting around the dining table. Beru had served them all drinks and a dinner, which had been really nice. Padme had handed the twins bottles to Owen and Beru so they could feed them, which was adorable to watch. It looked like they would be naturals if they ever decided to have kids of their own.

When Anakin had finished his food, Cliegg untucked his chair from the head of the table and turned to Anakin. "May I speak with you for a few minutes, son?"

Anakin stood up from his seat. "Of course."

They made their way across the circular yard until Cliegg stopped his chair by a stone bench at the far side of the yard and Anakin seated himself down on it.

"I am very delighted that you and your wife want us to be part of your family."

"Our family," Anakin corrected with a smile. "You became a part of our family when you freed my mother and married her."

The older man nodded and glanced down at his hands. "I can still remember when I first found her at Mos Espa. The moment we laid eyes on each other I knew that she was special. I was shocked that anyone could have made her a slave and implant her with a tracker. A good and gentle woman like her deserved freedom. So I instantly went to buy her from her owner who accepted my price. And once she was handed over to me, I then had her tracker removed and brought her home. I was surprised how she fell in love with me just as quickly as I had with her. After we'd married she had many years of happiness and peace with me and Owen and later with Beru as well. She told us about you all the time. How you were gifted with many talents. Fixing things, Pod racing and giving charity to others without wanting any reward. And that you had been freed and went off to become a Jedi Knight. It was a big hope for all of us that you would find us someday, especially Shmi."

Anakin turned his gaze to the ground, which had small piles of sand everywhere that had been dragged in on everyone's boots. Hearing his mother's story was so heart-warming, knowing that she had found a few years of peace from the long life of slavery. She hadn't deserved the death which had been brought upon her. In all the time Anakin had known her, she hadn't done anything wrong or caused any harm to deserve such a fate. Again the memory of finding his mother bruised and bloody and tied up by her wrists filled his mind. He closed his eyes and couldn't stop the small tear that escaped his eye.

A comforting hand rested on his shoulder. "I know how you feel, son. Both I and Owen suffered awful losses too. My brother Efern was killed in a landspeeder accident when he was only fourteen. And when my first wife Aika was cruelly taken from us, I almost gave up hope for a brighter future."

Anakin finally opened his eyes and looked back up at his step-father. "But when I found your mother, she brought light back into our lives. And when she was abducted and I failed to save her, that light faded and I almost allowed that old hopelessness to take over. Therefore, I had given up all hope of finding her. And yet you managed to do something that thirty of us couldn't. You may not have saved her life, but you found each other again, something she always hoped for." He paused for a few seconds before continuing. "I learned something important on the day you brought her back and on this very day when you showed up with your family. That sometimes this galaxy can be cruel to us in many ways, but if you look right, you'll find that there is much good in it as well. You may have suffered along with us, but you found your own light. And I know your mother, wherever she is would want you to move on and live your life with your wife and children. I may not know you well, son, but I can see you are a strong man who will protect your family with your life. Don't ever lose that."

A short silence passed as Anakin took this all in. He was astounded at both his step-father's story and the wise words he had just spoken. Anakin had felt an odd, but comforting familiarity about the way he spoke to him. And that made him wonder. Was this what it was like having a father give you loving advice? He couldn't deny that Cliegg Lars did, in this moment, feel almost like a father figure to him despite only really knowing him for a short time. But miraculously, he didn't mind that. He also didn't mind it that Cliegg had called him "son." He wasn't his biological father, but as he had said himself before; he had become Anakin's family through his marriage to Shmi. So, he was the closest thing to a real father Anakin had ever had. He didn't care that he had never figured out the mystery of his real biological father. Because all he'd wanted was his mother when he had been a kid. He then remembered his thoughts in the council chamber about all the father figures he had had. When he had met Qui-Gon Jinn, he had almost felt as close to a father through his belief and confidence in his potential and skills to be a Padawan learner. So much to declare it in front of the Jedi Council instantly claim him as his student.

Then after his death in The Battle of Theed, the only others he had were Obi-Wan and Palpatine. But Obi-Wan had been more of a big brother to him than a father. Despite the fact he had claimed once that Obi-Wan was like a father to him. He had taken Anakin under his wing and practically raised him. But he would always see Kenobi as his brother. The only other closest person had been Palpatine because he also had strong confidence in his potential in the Force. Yet it turned out that was all to gain his loyalty and use that to turn him to the dark side and against everyone.

Looking at his step-father, he could see how much they had in common. They had both suffered losses and they had both lost a limb fighting to protect someone. They had even come to points where they had felt that painful feeling of hopelessness. So perhaps with what future he had left, Anakin could see him as the father he'd never truly had.

He reached up and placed his own flesh and blood hand over Cliegg's hand on his shoulder. The older man smiled warmly and squeezed his shoulder. "I think what might help is that you have some time to try and bring closure to yourself. Once you do that, things might become easier to accept."

Anakin understood what he meant and nodded slowly. "You can go alone, son. We'll be right here when you return." He removed his hand from his shoulder and guided his chair back over to the dining area.

Anakin slowly stood up from the bench and went straight to the exit and made his way back up onto the open.

By now the light was fading and the sky was a bright orange. He took a few seconds to admire it then he walked along the sandy plain towards the area where the three gravestones stood. His heartbeat increased the closer he got. When he reached the foot of "Shmi Skywalker Lars'" grave he dropped to his knees and stared at her engraved name.

"Mother..." His throat went tight and he bowed his head for a moment to take a few deep breaths.

As he collected himself, he realized that hadn't really looked at the other two graves last time, so now he looked at the names. The one next to his mother's was marked, "Gredda and Lef Lars." Anakin assumed that this one belonged to Cliegg's parents. The smaller gravestone had "Edern Lars" which he realized was Cliegg's brother who had said died at the age of fourteen. He wondered why Cliegg's late wife wasn't buried here as well. The only reasons could have been that she was buried somewhere else or she had died in a way that there had been nothing to bury. That was an awful thing, when someone died in a way that there was nothing to bury in a grave.

Feeling ready to speak, he turned back to his mother's grave. "Mother, I'm sorry I haven't returned to see you. There's been so much that happened and…I don't know how to tell you about it all. I guess I may as well try, seeing that we now have all the time in the world. I have been fighting to protect those I love and care about. For the Republic, but for Padme most of all. I know you remember her from when we met her, Master Qui-Gon, Jar Jar and Artoo. She's the most wonderful woman I ever knew apart from you, of course. But I couldn't be more grateful to have her as my wife and even more as the mother of our children. I wish you could be here to meet them. You would have adored them so much and I'm sure they would've loved you too."

He reached out a hand and touched the hard stone of the grave. "There is something else I want to say…when you were gone, something awful happened to me. The moment I lost you, I was filled with a blinding rage and it made me slaughter the village of Tusken Raiders and not just the men, but the women and the children as well. I killed them all because I hated them for what they did to you. But this murderous rage that consumed me, it seemed to control my actions and I couldn't stop." Two tears escaped his eyes, but he didn't bother to wipe them away.

"Throughout the Clone Wars this rage, this murderous power always remained a part of me. I managed to hold it in mostly, but in the worse times, parts of it came out. But all I wanted was to create a safe galaxy for me and Padme to live safely. And it was near the end that I realized that one of my closest friends had been plotting against the Republic and planned to use me to help him destroy the Jedi. All for the purpose of him taking over everything. He offered for me to stand at his side as a powerful Sith Lord. I was so conflicted because I felt like the Jedi were losing trust in me. I wanted that power and the capability to protect Padme and my children. But when the moment came, I thought of Padme, my apprentice Ahsoka, my unborn children, and you. I could feel that turning to the darkness was not something any of you would have wanted. In the end, it was thanks to you and the others that I was saved, because in the end I made the right choice. I saved the Republic from the Sith, Padme gave birth to our twins, the Jedi Council granted me the rank of Jedi Master, and they have allowed me to be a father to my children. And now our family has extended. Not just with our children, but with the Lars family you married into and Padme's family too. It's all so wonderful mother. I just wish...you were here to...share this all with us."

He removed his hand from the grave and closed his eyes again, thinking hard of his mother. Trying to picture her response to his story. For a moment, Anakin knew it had to be his imagination, but he thought he felt a hand rest on his right shoulder. He reached up and touched that shoulder with his left hand and of course there was nothing really there, but he made himself believe that it must have been his mother's spirit. He smiled happily, finally feeling at peace with himself once realizing that she may be gone in body, but she was still with him in spirit. He opened his eyes again and still smiling, he slowly stood up keeping his eyes on the grave.

"I love you, so much, mother. Keep close to me now and always."

He turned away from the grave and saw that the sky had turned from orange to a pinkish purple, and the twin suns were setting on the horizon one pale pink and the other a reddish orange. Entranced by its beauty, Anakin walked over to the circular mound of sand which rimmed the opening into the Lars' circular yard. Standing upon this mound, he kept his gaze on the twin suns as they set. He allowed the peaceful feeling of closure to heal the wounds from years of unaccepted grief. And the longer he looked out on the horizon the better he began to feel. Until at last he finally felt complete and whole at last.

Anakin Skywalker.

The Force surrounded him and into the silence he whispered, "Thank you."

Author's Notes
Hello there everyone! A Merry Christmas to you all. I hope you are all having a festive time despite all of the COVID Circumstances. I managed to have a lovely birthday yesterday on the 23rd of Dec even thought I couldn't do what I would have chosen to do. So I hope you will enjoy your Christmas.

I know it is so soon after posting the previous chapter less than a week ago. But I felt I should give you all the last chapter as an early Christmas present. And as a bonus it would be a long one. So I hope you enjoy it and will stay tuned for when I continue my other Star Wars Fanics. Your reviews and follows have been lovely. Keep them coming and share what you think of this chapter.

I know some of you were asking about Mace and Ahsoka but I feel that Master Windu and the rest of the Jedi have all given all the apologies Ahsoka needed to know that she wasn't seen as a guilty criminal and that she was innocent the whole time. And they all know that she has no intensions of returning as a Jedi, so they will be seeing her now as a highly trusted ally to the Jedi. But I promise you that Mace Windu has put aside all his opinions against Anakin and Ahsoka and trusting the word of Obi-Wan and Yoda. And Ahsoka is not holding any grudges as she is very happy now to be a part of the Skywalker family.

Thank you very much to my Great Beta Reader Carrie2sky!

Merry Christmas to you all!
And May The Force Be With You!
LouisaJane007