*Official Re-Write of Twist-of-Fate*
In case you were wondering who Shaak Ti, she has not been mentioned in the story before. She is merely the one other Jedi who survived Order 66. Well now here's the next chapter, for those who have read the story before you know the basic outline. For those who are just now reading, there's a lot of unexpected things yet to happen(;
"Padme!" Anakin ran over to her and hugged her tightly.
"Oh Anakin." As he set her down she interlaced her hands in his hair as they both closed in on a kiss.
Obi-Wan regained his breath and slowly got to his feet, without a word but with effort he managed to make his way to the cribs that cradled the babies. Anakin and Padme looked on, embraced within each other's arms, unknowing of the future and what lied ahead.
The only certain thing was that they had been internally reunited and were ready to face the aftershocks of the precedent events.
Padme walked into her home at the Lake Retreat with Luke in her arms followed by Anakin who carried Leah. The feeling they felt when they walked into the threshold was fleeting with images of the time long ago when their love was the only important thing. A time when their refusal tactics over the undeniable emotion that pulled them together was useless. A time when they found comfort only in each other's arms and the world was concealed outside their fortress. And now the joy that consumed them was not entirely the same, it had two added sources of bliss.
"Oh I think all that action helped me heal quickly."
Anakin couldn't help but chuckle at Padme's remark, "Well I'm glad that um … helped."
Padme sighed as they made their way to the babies' room, running her hand over the marble tops of her furniture. "I'm just glad to be home with my children and my loving husband."
"With our family." He added onto her sentence.
She smiled as they entered the room; it was painted a cream like yellow. Back when things were only beginning to become complicated they had decided not to make the typical "blue or pink" type argument so they went neutral. They had always wanted the sex of the baby to be a surprise, they each yearned for a different gender but now they got both. Anakin constantly told Padme that he had wished he could have been there her whole pregnancy, that they could have talked about things like how they would go about deciding whose turn it was to change the diaper. And Padme always insisted that he would not be missing much but mood swings, throwing up, and constant bathroom runs.
They set both children down in one crib, they had not planned on twins but Anakin had a lot of spare time afterward in the hospital. He made a few calls and let C2P0 handle the deliveries. The rest of their furniture needs would be fulfilled shortly. Now that they had arrived home they activated the both robots and instructed them to care for the children while they settled down.
When they entered the master bedroom Anakin threw himself on the bed while Padme giggled at him.
"What's so funny?" He asked as he folded his hands behind his head.
"Oh nothing … I think I'm going to go freshen up, it's been a long couple of days." She smiled once more at him before heading to the refresher.
The hot steam quickly filled the room, when she stepped in the shower she winced at the heat. She set the warmth down a bit and then reclined against the wall as the water ran down her hair and her back. She closed her eyes and relaxed as the water soothed her muscles. Her eyes opened as she felt a hand on her shoulder and a breath on her neck. She knew that it was Anakin immediately when he grabbed her by the waist and kissed her in a trail from her shoulder up to her neck.
In between kisses he asked her, "What's going through your mind?"
"Nothing, I was just thinking about the council … the senate …" she turned to face him before continuing, "Ani, I'm terrified. For you. For the children."
Seeing the fright in her eyes he cupped her face in his hands, "Don't be. I will always protect our family Padme, always."
She tried to find comfort in his words but her reassurance truly came when he hugged her tight.
"What if they don't let you retain your title of Jedi? All because of us…"
"Padme …"
"No Ani, I mean ever since you were small it had always been your dream to be part of the order. It's what you've lived for."
He reinforced his grip on her, "Not the only thing. I've forever more lived for you and now, also for our children. I would never give that up."
Words failed her, her lips only moved to meet Anakin's in a passionate kiss consumed in romanticism.
Padme slipped on a white satin sleeping gown that hugged her waist until mid thigh before the fabric turned sheer and hung to floor length. She sat in front of the mirror and combed her hair as she looked at Anakin who was sitting up in bed shirtless and only with loose pants.
"See anything you like?" Anakin asked her.
"Oh, I see something." She turned and walked in his direction only to glide past him and pick up a vase that rested on their nightstand. "I mean the craftsmanship! It's beautiful!"
He laughed with her, "Haha, come here!" then he grabbed her waist pulling her onto the bed beneath him.
"I also see you and I love you." She caressed his cheek as she hoped that he knew how earnest her words were.
"We'll face whatever happens together." He grabbed her hand and kissed the top of it, it was a growing habit that Padme didn't mind and was swept by.
Their moment of bonding was interrupted by the cries of an infant. Just as soon as they were going to go check on the kids C3P0 came into the room, "Please don't worry. I and R2 have everything under control!" They smiled thankfully to the fact that they had help with the twins, besides they were going to need it.
Using the force Anakin shut the door behind the robot and returned his attention to the beautiful woman whom he not only claimed ownership for but she claimed him as well. The entity of their love wrapped around them and consumed them as they lay together and gave into each other in body, mind, and soul.
The next day the sun arose over the blossomed flowers and the chirping birds. The air had the mist of ultimate and potent true love. True love from two people who had been through a stretch of obstacles and whom would be put to the test in order to conquer what was about to come.
Anakin looked at Padme as her chest rose and feel with every breath she took. He thought about how his perfect angel was a blaze of tender passion. As he reminisced the previous night he realized how much in fact, even more than he imagined, he missed her touch and her subtle lips against his skin. He observed as the glow of the sunlight hit the curls in her hair and brought out their natural highlights. The light lingered over her features giving her a heavenly glow and peaceful look that overtook his heart.
As it was early in the morning Anakin resumed his sleep and hoped to dream of a blissful future with his Padme and his children. After about 5 minutes into his slumber Padme instinctively woke up. This time it was she who observed him. She admired the toned contours of his abdomen, the scars on his upper body wondering what stories hid behind them. The vulnerability he seemed to posses when he slept was incredible to her. But her thoughts mostly wondered to off to the possible future that lay ahead. Would the Jedi really have the heart to take him away from them? Their decision was unprecedented and likely to swift in any direction. The contemplation of being away from Anakin forever and having their children grow up with their father, or perhaps they would exile the whole family and have them live oppressed and isolated from any form of life, made tears roll down her cheeks. Inevitably against her will a sob came out of her chest. This immediately awoke and alerted Anakin.
"Padme, what's wrong?"
"Today is the day that the council will decide our fate… I'm worried that's all."
Looking at her with sympathetic eyes he hugged her hoping to comfort her.
"Don't cry my Angel. Everything will turn out alright as long as we have each other."
Uncertain about the outcome of everything she nodded in order to rest Anakin's fears of certain insanity over her. She sought to see her children; it had been a full night without them. Unlike most parents who stay up practically all night tending to them she had the droids to aid her. The doctors had recommended she remain in bed as strenuous actives could alter her health especially for being out of repose so soon.
She pulled Anakin along to the children's room, their cribs and new furniture had been fully instated now. They each went to a crib and carried the respective baby.
"Oh Ani, Luke has your eyes exactly. Beautiful like the waterfalls of Naboo." She said as she remained in awe at the physical resemblance.
"And Leah shares your eyes, brown like deep golden honey."
"There's so much of Luke in you Anakin." She walked over to them and compared them side by side.
"My baby Leah." She kissed her new born daughter on the forehead. The surge of parental emotions ran through them, it was emotive and captivating warmth that made them vulnerable. The insane thought of them having created the two most adorable life forms still seemed incredible to them. "We did a good job don't you say?" Anakin said as he raised his eyebrows then took little baby Luke's hand. Padme laughed, "Yes, we did do quite a job. Congratulations dad." Anakin responded with that desirable side smirk but Padme's new found contentment was wiped as she saw the holoclock on the mantle.
"Ani, it's time."
They arrived at a specially set up location at Naboo where the high council would meet with them. There were three Jedi masters present: Yoda, Obi-Wan, and Shaak Ti (who had survived the massacre) but also present was Senator Organa and Captain Typo. The seating was arranged in a traditional circle; the only exception was that one of the chairs was slightly bigger, obviously for two, for Anakin and Padme.
All those present rose as the couple took a seat before them. Yoda was the first to speak and initiate the trial.
"Ready to begin are we?"
As cordial as possible Anakin responded, "Yes master."
"Broken the code you have. Grave punishment to expect do you?"
"Yes." Padme responded with full knowledge of her and her husband's deeds.
"Discussed the matter long and hard we have." Yoda said then Organa interceded.
"The Jedi code is sacred and having broken an essential rule that states that no strong emotional attachments are allowed much less a marriage. You have dishonored the code. Anakin, you were at the edge of turning into the dark side. The punishment should be immense however the love you share for your wife, which brought you to that point, also redeemed you before it was too late." He explained.
"You have a long road ahead of you Anakin, yet so much to learn and do. After much discussion we came up with something that only seems just. We have taken into consideration who your wife is, a very intellectual strong willed woman who knows how to serve her duties. We have concluded not to expel you from the order. However you may not receive any rank above and including that of a Jedi Master. You will not be able to train a Padwan at any point in your service either." Obi-Wan tried to break everything as delicately as he could, implying that he pleaded for their punishment to be as non-strenuous as possible.
"However the Jedi will not be blind to your actions, young one. We will monitor you and see how you grow and intake the knowledge the force provides you. Unless you are able to continuously prove that you are worthy of this spare, we may revoke your title at any given moment. Through trials of patience and internal strength you may be able to change certain parts of our verdict. We will not tell you how; on your own you must prove to us that we shall not regret this choice." Shaak Ti spoke in a professional manner, she had always been doubtful of Anakin. She had been remotely impressed then disappointed by him, she secretly hoped to be taken once more by him.
Yoda continued, "Granted permission to be with your wife is assigned to you. You must regain the full confidence of the order Anakin. Remember, mix duties and emotion you shall not. Separate your priorities should be. Your first assignment, given to you will be in 2 years so that spend time with your family you may."
Anakin was overtaken with many thoughts and emotions but generally they were good ones, he was glad that he was not expelled, exiled, or anything worse. And Padme, she felt numb and confused as weather it was a good thing that he was still holding onto his dream of being a Jedi or if she should be angry that he could never be a master. Without much thought and realization of what she was doing she stood up, "I would like to request to accompany my husband on all, including his perilous missions."
Captain Typho immediately objected in an indirect way, "Senator Amidala please your safety may be directly implicated. Especially going aboard on these perilous missions is hazardous and a threat to your well-being!"
"I thank you for your worries Captain, I see that you still refrain into protecting me but may I remind you all that I have fought in the clone wars. I have directly seen the threats that the Jedi face on a daily basis."
Anakin stood beside her, "Padme if anything ever happened to you I could never forgive myself."
Listening but ignoring him, "Please allow us one chance, you all full-well know that I would be strictly professional about it."
Yoda thought about her request for a moment, "Granted a chance you may have." He said a bit doubtfully, the final decision would rest on the way that future assignments would be handled by them.
"Padme …" Typho and Anakin both said at the same time, however one whispered and one out loud.
She sat back down and turned to face Anakin taking his hands into hers, "When we were bound by the eternal compromise of marriage we agreed to be together for better or worse and I will honor that."
Without being able to conceive a better argument for himself quick enough she pressed herself against him in a tight embrace that made him concede into her request and rest assured … for the moment.
Hope you enjoyed that! I spent a lot of this night typing this, using it as a procrastination tool for a project I have due tomorrow :O Oh lord, please review and make me feel convinced that my time was not wasted.
Click the little button there … now … please?