It was all Palpatine's fault.
Anakin and Padme had broken the news to him together. For an instant it seemed to Anakin his mentor's face convulsed shockingly in rage - but in the next breath he saw it was only extreme astonishment.
"Good heavens!" the Chancellor stammered. "Of course I realized the two of you were close friends but I never dreamed -" then bewilderment gave way to a delighted smile. "But this is wonderful news! A hero of the Republic claiming his lovely bride, what a perfect expression of the coming of peace. Please, my lady, you must allow me to perform the ceremony."
"We'd be delighted." Padme beamed. Anakin hastily agreed.
"The wedding will be the climax of our victory celebrations." Palpatine continued enthusiastically. "We'll hold it in Monument Plaza in the shadow of Menarai Point (1) - with your permission of course, my lady."
But Padme was nodding agreement. "The perfect place, plenty of room for spectators. My procession will come from the Senatorial Towers of course, and Anakin's from the Temple - he's still living there even though he's formally left the Order."
"I'm sure the Jedi will be delighted to do honor to their departing brother." said Palpatine. "Of course your Majesty - that is your ladyship - has many friends among the Senators and you must both have an honor guard of clone troopers.
"My handmaidens will attend me of course," said Padme. "But I welcome the support of my friends here on Coruscant."
Anakin looked from one to the other in mounting dismay as wife-to-be and mentor turned his wedding into a public spectacle.
And that was how he came to find himself being fussed over by a pair of professional dressers just minutes away from walking half a mile across Monument Plaza to make his vows under the eyes of all of Coruscant and more than half the Galaxy.
The parade from the Temple had been bad enough, with him perched on a raised seat in an open ground transport, a fixed smile on his face as he waved self consciously to the cheering masses on the pedestrian ways and the faces crowding every window while hover cams buzzed around him like giant flies. But this was worse; what if he froze up? What if his voice wouldn't work?
Obi-Wan was his usual comforting self. "Two hours down," he said cheerfully, "only eight to go."
Anakin gave his brother and chief groomsman a savage glare. "You are not helping!" he shooed away the dressers with an irritable gesture. "I am never going to forgive Palpatine or Padme for this!"
"You agreed to it." Obi-Wan pointed out unsympathetically.
"What else could I do?" Anakin whined.
"Said no." said Obi-Wan.
"Yeah, easy for you to say." He turned to his other two groomsmen. "If you two don't stop grinning -"
"You'll do what, Commander? Post us to the front?" Cody asked grin broadening. He was the elder of the two, thirteen years old - though he looked nearer thirty - with a long
scar seaming his brow.
"Been there, done that." said Red Two. He was one of the younger clones, looking no older than Anakin himself.
"You guys are supposed to be making me feel better, not worse!" Anakin complained.
"You're getting all worked up over nothing, Anakin." said Cody patiently. "All you've got to do is walk across the Plaza and say a few words."
"With twenty billion people watching!"
The clone looked genuinely surprised. "What difference does that make?"
"And its more like two hundred billion." added Obi-Wan unhelpfully.
Anakin groaned and threw himself onto a couch. The dressers winced. There had been endless discussions over what the bridegroom should wear to his wedding, everybody agreeing Jedi robes were inappropriate - even, reluctantly, Anakin himself. Eventually Padme and the Chancellor had decided on the full dress uniform of a Republic officer - which he still was - complete with a slew of decorations from the Senate and member governments. Anakin had protested against the latter in vain for he was no longer a Jedi bound by the Code.
And so he'd spent the last weeks, when he wasn't rehearsing his wedding, enduring innumerable presentation ceremonies. The only grain of comfort had been the sight of Obi-Wan suffering right alongside him as assorted worlds showered the general with tokens of their gratitude and admiration. Now his brother, characteristically immaculate in his general's uniform and glittering like a dewcatcher with multiple medals and decorations, stood there smirking enjoying Anakin's consternation.
"Don't tease Obi-Wan." Qui-Gon's mild voice said from the doorway. Anakin sat up as his former Master turned his way. "You must focus Anakin. Focus on Padme and the commitment you are making. Remember -"
"Your focus determines your reality!" both former Padawans chorused along with him.
Qui-Gon just smiled. "Exactly. The crowds needn't be part of your reality if you don't want them to be."
"Yes, Master." said Anakin - but dubiously.
"Are you ready?"
"No." the bridegroom swung his legs off the couch and stood up. "But we might as well get this over with."
"That's the spirit!" said Obi-Wan, smirk broadening.
The cheers hit him like a solid wall of sound the minute the outer door opened. Fighting an urge to turn and run Anakin followed his honor guard and his two witnesses, Master Qui-Gon and Master Dooku regal in their Jedi robes, out onto the crowded plaza.
His three groomsmen walked immediately behind him followed in turn by the entire Jedi Council and the twenty or thirty knights Anakin regarded as friends as well as colleagues.
Files of clone troopers in the red uniform of the planetary security force held back the crowds and a long, broad strip of indigo and scarlet carpet led from the building containing Anakin's dressing room to the foot of point Menarai where Palpatine stood waiting in gray and maroon robes with a glittering chain of blood red jewels encircling his shoulders and a big welcoming smile on his face.
Anakin managed a rather weak answering grin then turned to watch his bride's procession approach. She had chosen her old Royal School friend Jamillia and Bail Organa of Alderaan as her witnesses. Both gave him encouraging smiles as they moved to their appointed places at Palpatine's left. Clearly his state of nerves was obvious to all. Then he saw Padme and the crowd and everything else in the universe vanished.
Anakin could never recall in any detail what she wore that day, only that it was soft white and shimmered like she was dusted with stars. But he remembered her face very well; red lips curved and eyes shining in a smile just for him. The ceremony passed like a dream, he couldn't remember making his responses but everybody assured him afterwards he'd done just fine, not stumbled or stammered once.
The hysterical cheering at their kiss finally brought Anakin back to reality and he felt himself blushing hotly from crown to toe. Padme wasn't at all discomfited, but of course she was used to living her life in public. Sparkling with joy she threaded her arm through his as they followed Palpatine through the delirious throng to the grand entrance of Monument Palace where the reception was to be held. This, with its guest list of six thousand of their 'closest friends', seemed positively intimate after the crowd scene in the plaza and Anakin finally began to relax a little. Having Padme at his side helped a lot too.
In fact the reception was almost fun. It was held in the diamond ballroom with its famous jeweled mosaics and carved crystal ceiling. There were tables of food, enough to feed an army. Comfortable chairs clustered in conversation groups. And live musicians playing in the gallery.
Anakin danced with Padme and Obi-Wan danced with Sabe - to Anakin's private satisfaction - and Obi-Wan didn't seem to mind a bit either. In fact the lay guests were astonished to discover Jedi are excellent dancers. Master Windu and Stasie Allie and Adi Gallia and Master Qui-Gon wowed the crowd with a display of Tholosian folk dancing that really broke the ice, and helped the other guests see the Jedi as regular people ready to have a good time instead of ascetic, mystical warrior above such things.
Master Yoda climbed up on a table to kiss the bride then drank a whole goblet of sparkling Meere wine and starting humming to himself and telling stories of his Padawan days to anybody who'd listen.
Palpatine danced with the bride, and then with Senator Mon Mothma of Chandrila before declaring himself exhausted and retiring to a chair with a plate of delicacies and half a dozen senators and senior bureaucrats for company.
Jamilia and all five handmaidens kissed the groom - for luck - encouraging several of the female senators and even a few Jedi, including Aayla Secura and Bariss Offee, to follow suit which Anakin found he didn't mind at all - though he was a little surprised that Padme didn't.
"It's a compliment to my taste in husbands." she explained, then smiled wickedly. "You're mine now, Anakin Skywalker, and no other female is getting you away from me."
"I dunno," He said pensively. "that Chi Eekway is pretty cute."
She mock glared. "I'll make you forget her!" and swept him into another dance, so fast tempoed as to leave them both breathless.
The reception was sort of fun, but it went on much to long. Finally his patience broke. "When can we leave?" he demanded of Padme in the middle of yet another dance.
She smiled. "Whenever we want to."
"Huh?" he nearly stopped dancing.
"According to Naboo custom we should just sneak away and leave our guest to enjoy the party." she explained.
"Sounds good to me!" he said with enthusiasm.
The dance ended and they drifted to a table for another glass of wine. Yoda was perched on the table edge, his syntax even more confused than usual - so much so it was almost impossible to make out what he was saying to his small audience of fellow guests.
"I think Master Yoda's had a drop too many." young Senator Mon Mothma, confided to Padme in a whisper.
The big ears pricked. "Have I." he agreed. "Have I yes. Feel giddy do I, good feeling it is."
"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself, Master." Anakin told him.
Gooseberry green eyes blinked at him. "En-joying. Yes, joying I am. Joy to you An-a-kin and to Pad-me"
"Thank you, Master." they moved away, circling towards a back exit.
"Will he be all right?" Padme asked a little worriedly.
Anakin shrugged.
"He'll be fine." said a familiar dark velvet voice, rippling with amusement. And there was Dooku, elegant and urbane with a tiny glass of Corellian lightening water in his hand. "Master Yoda likes to cut loose every half century or so." he explained
Master Windu beside him, sipping Coruscanti blue brandy from a bubble glass, was less sanguine. "Maybe we should take him home." he said shooting a concerned look at his fellow councillor now standing on the table as he harangued an appreciative audience of Senators and Jedi.
"Not until he falls asleep." Dooku said firmly. "Unless you want a scene?"
Mace frowned. "What do you mean by 'scene'."
"People and furniture flying through the air." was the answer.
The black eyes widened a little and Mace swallowed. "Right. Wait till he falls asleep."
Anakin and Padme passed on. Palpatine saluted them with a glass from the depths of his chair, then turned back to his conversation with Mas Amedda, Ter Taneel, Fang Zar and Shaak Ti. Qui-Gon, dancing with Depa Billaba, gave them a smile and a wink. And Senator Jamillia ostentatiously turned her back, pretending not to see them at all.
Silently Padme's handmaidens fell in behind the couple as they moved through the crowd. Finally Sabe joined them holding Obi-Wan by the hand. "I gather we're leaving." he murmured to his brother.
Anakin nodded. "Guess you'd better come along since you're sleeping at Jamillia's place too."
Obi-Wan glanced over his shoulder at the party, still going strong. "Shouldn't you say good-bye?"
Sabe tugged at his hand. "No. I told you, this is how we do it on Naboo. Everybody will understand."
"Come on!" Eirtae hissed urgently. "We keep standing around like this somebody's going to notice!"
"Right." Anakin said, taking command, and Padme into his arms. "Sabe, Obi-Wan, dance. You girls slip out and we'll follow in a few minutes."
They made it to the vehicle hanger without incident. The girls piled giggling into the back of the sky car but Obi-Wan blocked the pilot's seat. "I'm driving."
Anakin blew out a sigh. "What is it with you and Owen anyway?"
"Native caution." was the answer. "Sit with your wife."
That got a grin. "Well, when you put it like that..."
Note:
1) Menarai Point is the peak of a long buried mountain, the only portion of Coruscant's surface still visible, and regarded with almost religious awe by the people of the City Planet.