"What do you think, Artoo? The blue or the purple?" Padme asked the small droid who had been tasked with keeping an eye on her. Artoo let out a series of whistle that Padme had come to understand over the weeks spent with him.
"Oh, no, Artoo! The purple would look dreadful! Try the silver, mi'lady," Threepio broke in as he wobbled in from the adjacent room with as much debonair as a droid might contain.
Padme chuckled softly and shook her head. In truth, she hadn't been planning on wearing either of the necklaces today, per se.
Neither of them would go with the outfit anyway. She had been planning ahead for her wedding, wondering what her dress might look like and what accessories she could wear with it.
"The silver is lovely Threepio," she responded, in a particularly good mood that day. Anakin should be arriving soon enough to retrieve her so that they could stand before the Council and announce their love.
The anxiety Padme had felt the night before was crushed beneath resolute optimism she had forced herself to adopt before she fell asleep the night before. She would not worry about 'what ifs' these days, not before one of the happiest days of her life. If the council said no, then they could go to the hells with her blessing.
If they said yes, then she would make sure and perfume their invitations to the wedding with great gratitude. "But I do like the blue…Never mind, we have some time left to decide," she told them nonchalantly, waving the hands away as she plated her hair into a single plait behind her head.
Dresses aside, thank goodness, she was back in her regular, more comfortable clothes that consisted of a maroon jacket, brown leggings and a mauve shirt.
"But mi'lady…!" Threepio protested at the same time as Artoo let out a censorious whistle at her statement. Padme heard the sound of someone knock at the door. She smiled; he was actually on time today.
"My lady," Typho appeared in the doorway, with a slight bow at the waist. His scowl of displeasure told her who had arrived. Anakin, true to his nature, pushed past Typho into the room, gorgeous as usual in his fit, neat Jedi tunics. Close on his heels was Asoka Tano.
"Good morning, angel," he chirped, with a gentle kiss. "Good morning," Padme replied, squeezing Ahsoka's shoulder as she grinned at her husband. "Are you ready?" Anakin asked. Padme gave a half shrug. She refused to be nervous. "This is where the fun begins," she replied, with a glance in Ahsoka's direction.
Ahsoka crossed her arms. "Tell me about it, I haven't seen him this tense since we fell into that nest of Gundarks," she recounted, jerking her head toward her mentor. "Um, excuse me? You fell into that mess, Snips, and I rescued you, remember?" Anakin quipped, crossing his arms.
Ahsoka rolled her eyes. "Oh, yes," she answered with a low chuckle. Anakin narrowed his eyes at her, suspicious of her demureness, but eventually shrugged. "Let's get this show on the road," he suggested.
"Are you parked out on my deck again?" Padme wondered with a nod. "No, he got busted by the police last night for reckless piloting and unlawful parking… He's lucky he made up a valid excuse to avoid word getting to the council," Ahsoka piped in knowingly.
"Hey, I just stopped a war not even a week ago. You'd think that droid would have shown just a bit more respect. And you guys think Artoo has a loose wire. At least he understands what a hero is," Anakin sniffed. Padme heard Typho let out a long sigh at Anakin's opinions and giggled.
"So you actually parked in a parking space this time?" she asked. Anakin chuckled softly. "A parking space? I haven't used one of those since I was ten. Of course not. I parked on the roof," he answered.
"How are we supposed to get on the roof?" Padme demanded. "That's what I said," Ahsoka agreed. "Cable launchers," Anakin gave them an odd look, as if they were the ones who were crazy for missing the obvious.
Padme put her hand on her hips. "So let me get this straight," she began. "We're supposed to hike our way to the roof on a steep dome shape using cable launchers…because you didn't want to use a parking space?" She asked. Anakin opened his mouth, but before he could say word, Ahsoka spoke up.
"Actually, we have to hike our way to the roof on a steep dome shape because he has issues with authority," she corrected.
"Ah," Padme nodded with understanding. "That makes perfect sense, yes," after all this was Anakin Skywalker they were talking about. "Doesn't it just?" Anakin happily chirped as he walked past Captain Typho, who looked as if he were going to have a stroke any moment now.
"But…But…But…Padme…" he spluttered. "Not to worry, Captain, I won't be gone long! You can play Sabbacc with Threepio until I return!" she called over her shoulder hurriedly, pretending not to know what his real problem was.
"But…!"
They closed the door.
"Ahsoka, did you pass your mid-term?" Padme wondered as they walked through the halls of the quiet Temple.
Sunlight filtered in through the wide windows on their left, warming the halls and sending warm breezes through the open door. Padme wondered how in the galaxy this peaceful place existed on Courascant.
"With flying colors," Ahsoka replied neutrally. "That's my girl," Anakin proudly boasted. Padme smiled ahead. "Speaking of which, Ani, you never told me how you met your Padawan here," she reminded him.
"I didn't?" Anakin echoed, sounding surprised. "He didn't?" Ahsoka asked, also with surprise though hurt also leaked into her tone. Padme hurried to fix her mistake. "Oh, he talked about you plenty, just never said how you two met," she assured the disgruntled youth. "Well, it was quite an adventure. Maybe gramps here can't remember all the details," Ahsoka teased, mollified.
"It was all Qui-gon's fault," Anakin remembered fondly, choosing to ignore his apprentice's statement. "You see, it was during the battle of Christophsis two years ago. The Trade Federation had decided to launch an attack on the planet, just like they did for Naboo, because the monarch could not pay the over sized taxes," why aren't I surprised? Padme thought.
The Trade Federation was a corporation of greedy. Manipulative money- crooks who wore expensive clothes. Pests, the whole lot of em'.
"Me and Obi-wan were dispatched, covertly, to send the droid army packing," Anakin began, and from the way his face lit up and his tone lightened, Padme could tell he had recounted this story many times before, and each with the same enthusiasm as the first time.
"But within a few days, despite the fact that the small rebel militia fought valiantly, we ran out of relief supplies. Now, what I hadn't known was that Qui-gon, Yoda and Obi-wan had been conspiring against me for awhile. I used to not want a Padawan," he explained, laying hand on Ahsoka's shoulder when he said 'used.'
"He thought an apprentice would 'cramp his style.' As if he had one," Ahsoka put in helpfully.
Anakin cast her an impish glance that promised later retribution for that comment. "Whatever, Snips. So anyway, I made my opinions on having an apprentice well known. It's not often a Knight won't get a Padawan, and if they don't want one then the Council won't leave them alone until they get one, but Council pressure doesn't exactly work on me," Padme could imagine.
"Qui-gon knew my views, and they amused him. After Xanatos, he hadn't wanted another apprentice either. But the Council had sort of shoved Obi-wan up his nose, and I don't think he regrets it seeing as how I think he likes Obi-wan better than the rest of us. Qui-gon didn't want me to miss out a chance that might change my life, so he and Yoda went to the scheme king: Obi-wan," Ahsoka laughed.
"I'm going to tell him you called him that master," she warned. "Go ahead, he knows what he is," Anakin chuckled in response, not at all fazed.
"That underhanded, crafty Gundark came up with a plan. When we called in for more relief supplies on Christophsis, the Council sent it…Along with Ahsoka," he looked over his shoulder at the young woman affectionately.
"I was the hero he needed in his unstable life," Ahsoka assured Padme. "You give me a lot of headaches for being my hero," Anakin informed her with a dubious snort. "No pain, no gain master," Ahsoka laughed.
"I thought Ahsoka was supposed to be Obi-wan's new Padawan. He had been talking about getting a new one to erase the horrible memories of my apprenticeship from his poor mind," Anakin flashed a grin.
"But Yoda had told Ahsoka that she was supposed to be my Padawan. Neither of us were aware that we were being tricked. While we were getting things 'sorted out ', she went with me anyway and the battle was on. We defeated the droid army, and rescued the people of Christophsis," he exclaimed boldly.
"By the end of all that, he had taught me so much and we had become such a great team that he accepted me as his apprentice," Ahsoka summed up.
"Neither Qui-gon nor Obi-wan will admit to setting us up. And Yoda just stares at us as if he can't remember our names all of a sudden when we try to get him to admit it," Anakin said.
Padme giggled. "Alls well that ends well," she guessed. "True enough. Despite my initial thoughts on the subject, I wouldn't trade Ahsoka for anything, not even for my un-cramped style back," Anakin joked, slinging an arm around his apprentice's shoulders in a caring half hug.
"Likewise, master…Even if you never had any style for me to cramp," Ahsoka quipped. "I did too!" Anakin argued.
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Did too!"
"I did NOT!" Padme laughed at the sudden reversal of beliefs. Anakin, blinking confusedly, glared at Ahsoka. "Wait a minute…" he growled, seeing her biting back laughter. "Ahsoka, get back here!" She dodged out of the way of his grasp before he could catch her.
"Wow, look at the time, cramp master! You two should be hurrying, the Council awaits! Tell me what they say!" With that speedily said, she sped down the hall the other way before Anakin could exact his revenge. He watched her go, glowering.
Suddenly, his face split into a smile and he snickered. "Oh…I'll get her for it later. She gets it from me anyway," he grumbled. "I can tell she does," Padme agreed amusedly. Anakin shook his head and put an arm around her shoulders.
"We should get going," he stated. Padme nodded and let herself bask in the silence of the intimate moment, feeling the heavy warmth his arms had on her shoulders, making her feel safe and loved.
"I was wondering yesterday, Ani," Padme suddenly said. The story of Anakin and Ahsoka had inspired her, and reminded her. "What about the children born here that aren't force sensitive? Like Dray and Kina-Bae? What do they do?" she asked. "Oh, them?" Anakin yawned.
"They're raised and trained here alongside the Jedi, Padme. They get the exact same education, and are taught their own self-defense fighting techniques. Not like the ones we use, because Jedi fighting styles revolve around our sabers, but still techniques. Except for force manipulation and lightsaber skills, they learn the same things as Jedi children," that explained why Dray and Kina-Bae had been studying also for the mid-terms.
"Most of them stay here when they grow up. The Council sends them on the less dangerous assignments. Mostly they do all the relief missions, medical ventures, and knowledge gathering for The Archives. The ones who aren't sent on missions work as pilots or cooks or care takers here in the Temple," he explained. Padme wrinkled her nose.
"Sounds like they almost serve the Jedi," she observed. Anakin nodded. "From a certain point of view," he agreed. "And I used to think so when I first got here, but those who do stay here to work at home or on the field, stay by choice. No one is forced or even overly encouraged to stay here. And it isn't as if its indentured servitude, they live here with us, too, without any worries about taxes, bills or where their next meal is coming from. And they get to be with the people they were raised with," Padme nodded, thinking.
"So wouldn't that mean that eventually everyone just intermarries?" She wondered curiously. Anakin shrugged.
"Not really. New people are always being brought in. We've had to expand on The Temple three times in the last year because there are so many. The Council is starting to think about moving The Temple off Courascant altogether," he said.
Padme nodded. She had heard that rumor. "Where will we go?" She asked. Anakin laughed softly. "We?" he asked teasingly. Padme had to smile in return.
"Hey, we're all family aren't we?" She asked as they came upon the Council door. Anakin stared at it as if he expected a pit of vipers waited beyond to devour them whole. "We're about to see," Anakin sighed. Padme nodded, about to go in.
Anakin grabbed her arm before she could. "Padme, before we do this-go in there I mean- you know that I love you, right? No doubts?" she looked up into his deep blue eyes. Little pieces of the sky that had been overwhelmed with loyalty and love, then placed delicately into his eyes.
Gently, her finger traced his lips. "None at all. Do you have any doubt?" She asked. Anakin smiled and took her hand, kissing her fingers. "None," he agreed.
"Well, then we will be fine. Anything I should know now?" She asked. Anakin thought a moment. Finally, he hesitantly let an answer roll from his tongue. "If they know something you didn't think they knew-don't freak out. The Council shares knowledge and wisdom through the force at all times. They know everything," he advised, sure of the Council's knowledge.
"Wonderful," Padme groaned sarcastically. Nervousness itched beneath her collar. She swallowed past its rising tide in her throat. "So what are they going to do, tell me my shoe size?" She tried to say lightly. "They're more likely to know whether your grandfather wears boxers or briefs," Anakin reflected gravely. "Why in the kriffing hells…?"
"I don't know. Just don't let it get to you. It throws people off," he instructed. Padme shook her head, feeling twinge of doubt that she quickly stuffed away.
She inhaled deeply. She was Padme Amidala, Senator in the Galactic Senate for the Republic. She had spoken against thousands of crime lords and money thieves. She could do this.
"Okay, I'm ready," she breathed. Immediately, the smell of sweet oranges and vanilla caught her attention, that and the slight buzz that seemed to permeate the air. The same electric dance she had felt across her skin whenever Anakin used the force while he was close to her.
She assumed that it was strong in this room. Anakin nodded and waved open the door. Inside the large room sat twelve chairs all turned towards the middle. The Jedi's insignia was painted in exquisite array of tiles upon the floor.
It was almost dizzying to look down and see. Behind them, the grand windows let in light from the outside, illuminating the room. The dust particles danced in the air, golden snowflakes settling wherever they willed. Buildings and speeders raced past the windows, another giddy display.
Padme felt as if she were the ruler of the universe, staring out at the wide expanse of city shown through the clear glass. She couldn't imagine spending too much time up here.
In the chair directly across, Jedi Master Yoda was hunched in his seat, hands folded neatly on his cane. To his right sat Windu, and to the left Yaddle. Obi-wan winked at them from the left of Master Mundi.
There was an aura of palpable authority in the room, if not compassion. The multi-species inhabitants of the room sat straight and proud in their chairs. The eyes staring at her and Anakin varied from stern to curious to amused to serious depending on the master.
She noted absently how they all wore Lightsabers. This was a Jedi Council, then. Her thought seemed to illicit small smiles amongst the amused eyes. Padme had the distinct feeling that her thoughts was being broadcasted.
She also had a feeling of…Oneness, from those before her. They had all seemed like individuals the night before when she had met them. Now, it was as if she were being stared at by different eyes of one huge person.
They breathed in unison, their eyes flicked in unison and they sat in very much the same way. Had she not been staring at them, and the room had been dark, Padme was sure she would have only assumed there was only one person there. She gazed at the twelve figures before her, slightly awed and even more curious.
Yoda's eyes twinkled as he leaned forward. "Welcome you, we do, to the Council chambers, Senator," he wheezed, using her formal title. Padme, knowing that the use of it was as much to remind her that she wasn't married yet as to the sake of politeness, nodded.
"You come of your own free-will, hmm?" As if Anakin could drag her anywhere she didn't wish to go without a supreme fight on his hands. "Yes," she answered merely, schooling her face into impassivity. "And you two asking for our permission to marry?" Mace then wondered, his deep voice echoing across the room like the growl of an Akuul.
"Yes, master," Anakin spoke up, chin set high. Yoda kept his eyes locked unto Padme, as if Anakin weren't even there. "Know, you do, what we seek?" he asked. Padme hesitated. "I think so," she replied cautiously.
"I know you're looking for the truth, though I have no idea how you mean to go about finding it out. Half of me thinks you plan to sacrifice me in the basement somewhere," she admitted.
"We only do that to normal politicians," Master Shaak Ti explained, dead-pan. Padme nodded, not allowing her amusement to show on her face. "Ah…I was wondering what happened to Senator Palpatine last year. Good job. He was a barve," she congratulated.
This statement startled a few chuckles from the assembly. Anakin cast her an incredulous glance. Padme had the feeling not many people dared joke around with the Council. "They're perfect for each other," she heard Master Tinn mumble with amusement to the person next to him.
"We concur," Mace replied mildly. "All the same, we're merely going to perform a little… Ceremony," he glanced at the others. Padme felt fear niggle at her. "Don' worry," Master Shaak Ti's soothing voice assured her hurriedly. "It will not hurt. And we aren't going to flip through your mind. Basically, we are going to do our utmost to sense any doubt within either of you," she explained.
"Can't you do that right now?" Padme demanded. "Only on the surface. Doubt, deceit, darkness, deeper things these are. Hidden in the force, not in the face," Yaddle said. "So you're going to use the light to try and see any darkness," Anakin summed up, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder.
Padme looked up at him, and saw no traces of worry in his own eyes. He apparently had done this before. He exhaled, and nodded, putting her trust in Anakin.
"What do I have to do?" she asked. "Are you sure you want to do this?" Master Mundi wondered, gently. Padme squared her shoulders, looked at Anakin and nodded once.
"I am," this answer seemed to please them. "Very well. You two might want to be lying down for this," Obi-wan suggested. I'm so getting sacrificed, Padme thought as she settled down on her back beside Anakin in the middle of the floor, feeling increasingly uncomfortable.
"Relax, focus," Anakin squeezed her hand. Her body loosened. Padme focused her sight on the ceiling above, staring thoughtfully at the white columns stretching from one side of the room to the other, her eyes tracing the elegant curves and detailed twists. It was a work of artisanship. It was beautiful.
Sleepily, her muscles relaxed, and suddenly the floor could not seem more appealing if it had been a feather bed in a castle. Her breathing came in a deep, slow rhythm. Padme's eyelids felt heavy. Her body was encased in some sweet smelling warmth that could have been a blanket if it were not transparent.
Padme closed her eyes, giving herself over to the warm sluggishness of her mind. Almost immediately, a bright light descended behind her eyes, glowing from a tiny pinpoint on the horizon until it had blinded her completely, a thousand colors blended into one blazing spasm of brightness that had no distinct shade, like she was staring directly at the sun rise in a flurry of speedy action.
With the sunrise came music. Wonderful, sharp, vivid music that resounded in her ears. It was both exciting and alluring, a lullaby and a war cry. She heard children laughing with delight, and mothers crying in joy.
The howl of Vornskrs, and the chirp of finches. The roar of Zillo beasts and whimper of Rotan kittens. The rush of water and crackle of fire. The rumble of ground and rustle of air. The entire galaxies worth of noises combined into one fantastic sweep of symphonies that was heavenly to her ears.
A sense of….Well-being washed over her, as if life itself had descended upon her and shown her its secret it held close to its breast, the lesson of peace made into turmoil, hate to love, service to harm, light into dark.
The endless circle that never stopped and never confided too many secrets or answers to mysteries. It was magnificent. It was a sense of never again being cold, or alone or unhappy. It was the universal currents of life running through her, binding her to nothing and all things.
Padme felt Anakin's love for her so sharply her heart ached and she wanted to weep with the force of it. The compassion, hope, thoughtfulness and unity swirled around and around, grabbing her in a whirlwind that banged on the doors to her heart, demanding entrance.
The light wanted in, to inspect and search. She let it in gladly, and the pain that overcame her from its entrance blossomed into a pleasure that was beyond all pleasures.
She felt as if at that moment, the moon could have asked her how to glow, and the sun could have asked her how to rise and the stars could have asked her how to twinkle and she would have had the answer to all of these.
Then, with a suction that was gentle and overwhelming at the same time, the light exited in the same chaotic whirlwind in which it had come. With the force of a flying blaster bolt, the outside world came into tender focus.
The freedom and light dissolved into millions of pieces that sprinkled on her skin and soaked through to become one with her blood.
When Padme inhaled, the air tasted and smelled as if she had never before breathed until now. She was dimly aware of her heart beating slowly, leisurely, and of her chest now rising and falling like the tides she had heard in the music of light.
Padme opened her eyes, and found that the ceiling above was spinning. She watched it accelerate for moment before it was too much and she was forced to close her eyes again. Despite this, she felt little worry.
A second later, she reopened them and the ceiling had stilled, though she nevertheless had the vague sensation of twirling, but it was the gentle twirl she had experienced as a young girl, sitting on a swing behind her grandparent's lake house.
"Ani," her own voice sounded like music to her. She was amazed at the smoothness, and almost creamy quality of it, how it felt to speak.
"Did you know that the ceiling is white?" From close by, she heard a few snickers. "Huh?" Anakin echoed sleepily. "No, it's not. The ceiling is yellow," Anakin contradicted. Padme squinted, trying to understand where he saw yellow. Another snicker alerted her attention to the fact that she felt as if they were being watched. Slowly, hesitantly, she sat up on one elbow.
The ground tilted dangerously. "Careful now, Padme," a soothing voice said, close to her ear. She recognized the voice of Master Yaddle. A soft, tiny hand rested against her shoulder. Padme blinked at the small woman, seeing amusement and compassion radiated in her gentle eyes.
She blinked, remembering. "Oh," she mumbled drowsily, with a yawn. She stretched her arms above her head. "Hello there," her eyes wandered down to Anakin, still flung on his back beside her, eyes blinking rapidly at the ceiling.
"How do you feel?" Obi-wan asked from his seat. Padme shook her head and pressed a hand to her head dizzily. "I feel…Relaxed," she finally managed, finding no other word to describe it. there had as of yet not been any other emotion to hit her. She stared at Anakin, hoping he was alright.
"It's yellow!" her husband yelled angrily at thin air, as if he were in a serious fight with himself about it. "Obi-wan, didn't you train him?" Mace Windu teased from his seat, watching Anakin stir back to wakefulness.
"Who? That uncivilized fellow lying on the ground there? No. Of course not. I've never seen him before in my life, I trained Ahsoka," Obi-wan informed his fellow council member.
Padme was cognizant enough to chuckle with the others. "Ani," she gently shook his shoulder. "Hmm? Master, I'm dizzy," Anakin moaned, not taking his eyes from the ceiling. "That's nice, Anakin," Obi-wan replied, with a long-suffering sigh. "Can I have a hug?" Anakin inquired lazily.
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because you're embarrassing me. Snap out of it, Anakin, for force sakes," Obi-wan retorted, mouth quirking at the corners that belied his harsh tone. Anakin blinked a couple more time, then sat up, running a hand through his hair.
"Mmm," he groaned, with a yawn. "Ugh…That was nice. Hey, angel, are you okay?" he turned to her with warm eyes. Padme nodded and helped him sit up. "I'm fine. The ceiling is yellow?" she inquired. "What? The ceiling?" Anakin squinted at it in confusion. "That's white," he told her.
"He's made a full recovery," Master Plo observed. "Whatever that means so far Anakin is concerned," Obi-wan agreed dryly as Anakin stood, easily and in full control of his balance. He held a hand out for Padme. She took it, and found that it had never seemed easier to stand.
It was actually a bit enjoyable, feeling the air rush past her as she did, feeling her muscles vibrate with motion. She faced the Council chambers, suddenly remembering why they were there in the first place. "That was…Interesting," she said aloud, curiously.
"Indeed, we filled you with so much Light you were glowing for a moment there. You could have been a force sensitive, for all the Light side we poured in you," Master Windu told her as Yaddle scrambled back into her seat. "What about me?" Anakin asked.
"We learned where you think we can stuff all our ideas about emotion, and service and forgiveness," Master Mundi said dryly. Anakin's cheeks turned red. "Oh. Well, the truth hurts," he finally came up with. Padme stepped in front of him before they could think of a suitable comeback for that. "Did we pass?" She asked anxiously.
It seemed the entire Council shared one worried glance. Padme's heart skipped a beat. Anakin stepped up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. She felt his hands trembling. "Did we pass?" he repeated calmly.
Yoda gestured to Obi-wan to iterate. Obi-wan cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Padme Amidala, Anakin Skywalker, we poured the Light Side of the force into you, and sought to see if you accepted it, and if it accepted you," he began formally. Padme had a feeling these words were tradition.
She wished he would get on with it. "We looked for soul-abiding love, versus skin deep attachment. And…" he sat back, steepling his fingers together as if he could not find a way to tell them.
Padme's knees buckled. They had to have…?
All of a sudden, Obi-wan's face split into a wide, joyful grin. His eyes twinkled at them. "And we found it. We found it in abundance, actually. Usually it takes years for your sort of strong love to grow, but you two have cultivated it in weeks. That is the sign of true children of the light. So yes," his eyes twinkled.
"You passed," he finished. Padme's lungs were not working, all of a sudden. Anakin was squeezing her shoulders hard enough to leave bruises.
They both stared in shock at the Council, so used to assuming the worst so far as authority was concerned, so used to those older than they not understanding…
Yoda tapped his stick down firmly. "Our blessing and congratulations, you two have," a devilish grin danced on the little trill's countenance. "Welcome to the family, Padme," her name sounded like words from some holy book when he spoke it so gleefully. Her mouth worked instinctively.
"Thank you," in unison, in shock, she and Anakin bowed respectfully. Padme's legs jerkily followed Anakin out of the room and back into the simple hall. The door slid shut behind them.
Padme leaned against the close door, her legs shaking too badly to support all her weight. Anakin stood stiffly before her, his mouth still half hanging open. They met eyes.
They said yes?
"We passed?" Padme breathed, unable to believe it. "We passed," Anakin gasped. Joy was the foremost reaction to this bit of news. Padme's heart near to exploded with the ecstatic delight.
"WE PASSED!" In unison, she screamed it with Anakin and then he was spinning her around in his arms, laughing. She laughed with him. She had never felt so happy in her life. She could have danced.
Anakin set her down and grabbed her face between both hands, leaning down to give her a long, passionate kiss. When breathing had become a necessity, they released one another. The Council doors opened again and Obi-wan stood there, eyes sparkling with sincere gladness.
"By the force, you two, don't blow the eardrums out of everyone in The Temple," he scolded without any real threat. "Master!"Anakin threw his arms around Obi-wan, spinning him around in a tight hug. "Anakin!" Obi-wan protested when Anakin had set him down on his feet again.
"Thank you, thank you!" Anakin cried joyfully. "For what? I did nothing. You two are the ones brave enough to fall in love," Obi-wan gave them a lopsided smile, swiping a bit of dust from his sleeve as if it were a plague particle.
Padme wouldn't accept any such modesty. Reaching over she planted a sisterly kiss on his cheek. Obi-wan's face burned a deep red.
"Alright, alright, you're welcome…For whatever it is you think I did. Shouldn't we go tell the others the good news?" He inquired. "I bet they already know!" Anakin enthused. "Yeah, I bet its already stored away in the part of the brain that also knows my grandpa wars boxers instead of briefs!" Padme shouted blissfully. Obi-wan couldn't have looked more startled if he had been kidnapped by a murderer.
"Your grandfather wears what?" He echoed, but neither of them could answer as they each grabbed a hand and dragged him along down the hall to alert the others.
