"Okay….Okay…Mom…Mom, I know the landing pad is disgusting…You just have to….A Hutt? Well, yes, mom, Courascant is multi-cultural, and….No…No, mom, you can't ask to take a picture with him….No, I don't want a picture of him!... Just stay away from the Hutt, mom…"
Anakin, sitting on the couch in her Senate Building apartment, let out a barely disguised attempt at holding back a laugh. Padme sent him a murderous glance.
"Mom…Yes, but…Yeah, I have my dress, I sent you a picture last week…The cake isn't chocolate…Anakin hates chocolate…Mom, put dad on the link….Stars…We aren't going to make a separate cake for the chocolate lovers, mom …Wait, are…? Are you on your way to the hotel?...Mom, I told you…No, you can't come to the Senate Building with me…You'll see The Temple later…Yes….Yes…You'll get to meet Sentara and all my friends…" Anakin watched her frustration with none too gently concealed amusement. He cocked a brow at her.
"No…No, but…Mom, you should know what Yoda looks like. He's on the news about every day…Yes, elections are coming up…No, I am not running for Chancellor…" Anakin grumbled his dissatisfaction about this fact.
"Mom!...No, I can't….What do you mean is anyone single here?...You cannot date the Jedi, mom…No, no there aren't…" Anakin cocked a brow at her. "Obi-wan is single," he mouthed suggestively.
"Shut up, Ani…No, not you, mom, I meant Anakin…You want to talk to him?... Well, put dad on the link and maybe I'll give it to you….I am not being sassy… Mom?...Mom, no, don't hang up on me…Alright, I'm sorry," she rolled her eyes. Anakin smirked.
"What's that noise behind you? I told you to leave the Hutt alone….Wait, what…? Cousin Pooje…? No, mom, why would you bring him...? I can't stand him...! No, no….He's a snotty barve…The Jedi will sacrifice him…No, I'm not joking…No, mom, remember Palpatine?...No, he was that other egotistical, bigheaded sleemo….Yeah, it's Huttese…Yes…I learned it from Anakin... So just send Cousin back…Fine, then leave him there, he's smart, he'll find his way back to Naboo…Did you manage to bring grandpa?"
Anakin perked up, smiling impishly. "Is he wearing boxers or briefs?" he mouthed. "Shut up, Anakin! Mom, please put dad on the link… Good, love you too…'Kay, bye. Dad? Oh, thank goodness, are you there yet...? Yep…Uh huh, yeah, that's right…No!...Don't go down the giant hole, that's under-level Courascant," Typho and Threepio appeared in the doorway, talking amiably with Obi-wan Kenobi.
Padme gave Obi-wan little wave of welcome. Anakin's face lit up. Obi-wan smiled back, discussing security protocol with Typho. "Or, dad, send Cousin Pooja down there….No, he'll be okay…Yeah, I'll send Anakin to find him later," Anakin snorted. "I'm not going down there," he replied.
"What? Oh…Oh, no, that wasn't Anakin…Dad, do you or do you not know where you're going…? Alright, Anakin's coming…No, dad….No, do not ask the Hutt for directions…Hutts aren't very polite…" Obi-wan gave her a curious look as he wandered over to Anakin and sat beside him patiently. Typho walked away, now at peace with the galaxy with Threepio in tow.
"Dad…Okay, you see the street?...Or does mom see it?... Dad, don't listen to mom, you know she gets her directions mixed up…Sabe sees it?...Okay, good, listen to Sabe, she knows where she's going…Do you have it now…? Are you sure you'll be okay…? Alright. Alright, I'll see you at the wedding…Remember to send cousin down the hole…No, people are nice down there…Oh, those are just rumors, we caught him last month…I'm sure those people aren't real…Yeah, the murderers mostly live on third level Courascant…Okay, dad. Love you. Keep mom away from that Hutt….Okay…Okay, bye." And with that she ended the torment.
She looked up at Anakin and Obi-wan with exhaustion. "You know what? After the wedding, they are never coming back here again. Whenever we want to see them, we will go to Naboo," she told him, her glare daring him to contradict. Anakin raised his hands passively.
"Hey, I agree. You've got to admit though, you want your mom to meet Yoda," he snickered. Padme sighed. "A thousand years of service can't even prepare him for this," she lamented. Obi-wan watched them with amusement. Padme scowled at him. "It isn't funny Obi-wan," she sneered.
"It's hilarious," Anakin described the proper word. "I concur with Anakin," Obi-wan chuckled. "Nevertheless, I have some good news. After much arguing, debating and pleading with Master Yoda, I got you two the room," he said. "Yes!" Padme squealed joyfully.
"Alright! I knew you'd do it Obi-wan!" Anakin said excitedly. Obi-wan quirked a wry grin in his friend's direction. "It's being prepared by Jedi as we speak. Your wedding has become somewhat of a Temple wide sensational project," he told them.
"That reminds me, I wonder why the media hasn't been storming me this week," she looked out the windows, half expecting a gunship to appear over her deck at any moment, shining a thousand cameras into her face.
"Not to worry," Obi-wan assured her curtly. "Senator Organa and Captain Typho have helped me handle the media. They'll be at the wedding, but they've allowed you your space for the time being," he said.
Padme's shoulders slumped with relief. That was one less thing she had worry about. "Thank you, Obi-wan," she breathed. "My pleasure," Obi-wan replied cheerily. "And Sentara reports the cake has arrived, and it looks stunning," he gave Padme a pointed look.
"Your dress is here and it looks even more stunning, and…" he shook his finger at Anakin. "Someone's Padawan and Xanatos have just returned from Tatooine with a whole cargo ships worth of old friends in the form of freed slaves," he reported. Anakin grinned.
"I knew I could count on Snips," he chuckled. "I don't even want to contemplate how the Council is going to explain that to the Hutt Assembly when they find out who did it," Obi-wan mumbled in a groan. "Mind in the present moment, master," Anakin schooled him cheerfully.
"Delinquent," Obi-wan scoffed flippantly. "Have all of the invitations gone out?" Padme wondered. "And most have been returned with affirmatives. Things are going quite smoothly," Obi-wan answered.
"Only because I let my best man take care of the organizational things. Had I tried to do all that I would turned to the Dark Side for sure," Anakin stated factually, leaning back on the couch.
"Most of The Council believes you are already there my friend," Obi-wan told him dramatically, then laughed when Anakin punched his shoulder. "Ow!" he laughed. Padme chuckled, watching them. They were like little kids.
"Anyway, I didn't just come here to give the preliminary report," Obi-wan told them, rubbing his arm. "I have an early wedding present," he announced. "No!" Padme and Anakin protested in unison. "Master the very fact that you're going to be there is present enough," Anakin said seriously.
"Anakin is right. We really don't need anything," Padme agreed. Sentara had already told her that wedding gifts were discouraged at weddings. The Jedi rule of no attachments also meant no possessions.
Besides, Padme really didn't want anything. The time and work people were putting in to helping them with their wedding as gift enough. Now all she wanted was to marry Anakin. Nothing more was needed or wished for.
"Ah, true," Obi-wan's eyes sparkled. "But though you might not need it, I want you to have them," he said firmly. "Don't be single-minded," Anakin sighed, throwing his hand sup. "Don't be spoiled," was Obi-wan's characteristic response. "You will accept this gift whether you like it or not," he commanded.
"Fine. Come on, angel, come accept the venomous snake he is about to bequeath us," Anakin called, patting the cushion beside him. Padme sat on its edge, an arm wrapped around Anakin's broad shoulders possessively. Obi-wan wrinkled his nose at the suggestion as he stood.
"A snake? How uncivilized. No. I think you'll find this gift much less dangerous, physically anyway," he stated, then adroitly slipped open a canister on his utility belt. Padme watched, entranced, as he pulled out a, miniature statue. Anakin gasped beneath her.
The small woman was a deep green color, glowing as a tiny ornament in Obi-wan's hand. His fingers wrapped around her with exquisite gentleness as he held her up by the chain she hung on.
Padme's eyes went wide at the beauty of the long-haired detailed doll. Tiny eyes stared at her with majestic curiosity, the body was straight, proud and the doll held one fist in the air, triumphantly, defiantly.
The other was at her side, passively, dangerously. Out of the woman's back sprouted two long wings, the intimate curves and carvings making it seems as if she would come to life and fly at any second now.
In the middle of her stomach was a slot where Padme could see the outline of a diamond could fit inside her stomach.
"Obi-wan," she breathed, as he handed it to her. "It's wonderful, it's beautiful, it's…" she breathed, handling the fragile curves and sharp edges of her new gift with reverence. "It's Siri's," Anakin whispered. Padme's eyes snapped up to meet Obi-wan's, and the wetness in his eyes confirmed Anakin's statement.
"No! Obi-wan, I can't…" she began, but Obi-wan held up a hand to halt the flow of her words. "Yes, it was Siri's. We dreamed of giving it to our daughter one day," he met her eyes seriously.
"That day has come," Padme tried to swallow past the lump in her throat, and found herself unable. She looked away, tears spilling down her cheeks. Obi-wan turned to Anakin. "And for you," he started.
"You're going to make me cry, aren't you?" Anakin interrupted; his own eyes moist as he tightened his grip around Padme's waist. Obi-wan smiled waveringly. "Probably," he conceded, as he held up a silver chain, with a single, tiny blue diamond hanging off the edge.
Anakin held out his hand, and Obi-wan laid into his palm. "It fits inside hers," Anakin awed, eyes flicking between the angel and the diamond. Obi-wan nodded, clasping his hands behind his back.
"Yes. The angel," he nodded to Padme's. "Was actually infused with Siri's lightsaber crystal, the one Tahl gave Siri her wedding day," his voice caught. Padme's heart broke. Padme went pale; she was sure.
"But a Jedi's lightsaber is his life!" she blurted, having firsthand knowledge of this. "It is," Obi-wan agreed calmly. "And her honor, her soul. That one still has Siri's force signature hanging on it. Wherever you will go; whatever you shall come past, her spirit and strength will go with you," he confirmed gravely.
Padme shook her head slowly. "Obi-wan, I can't accept this," she hiccupped, looking up at him. "Yes you can," Obi-wan argued. "And you will. This crystal and diamond go together; they are one. They are the same. The diamond, Anakin, is from both of my Lightsaber crystals. I created a new one when I married Siri, and made the necklace to match her angel. And I made another when she died, and crushed them into one. It's easier than it looks," he said curiously, as if this information had been new to him.
Anakin looked up. "Master…These are the last things you have of your time with…" his voice caught on the same. "Not so," Obi-wan whispered.
"I have memories, however short a time I had," he smiled, regretfully. "And besides, they are only possessions, materials, things. We are luminous beings, not this gross matter," he fingered the silver chain.
"All the same, it would mean the universe to me if you two will accept them…As a token of my love for both of you," Padme could only nod, understanding that this wasn't just a wedding gift, it was a sign of his acceptance and encouragement, it was his way of saying that he was there for them.
He was not only giving them his wife's strength, but his own. She had never been more grateful for anything in her entire life.
"I would be honored," she croaked in a hoarse whisper. She looked down at Anakin to see him covering his mouth as if he were biting back sobs. He could only nod. "Good. Take care of them," he released Anakin's gift. Her husband hugged it close to his heart. "And take care of each other. Life…"
Obi-wan's voice cracked. "Is short. As Jedi, we face too many dangers to spend our time mincing words, or letting any happiness flow past us. In a heartbeat, everything can fall apart. Believe me," he gave them a tiny, rueful smile. "I know. You both have a bright future," he winked.
"I've seen it. You just have to get there first," he predicted. Padme didn't even have the emotional strength to ask what he meant. She could only nod and attempt to smile. "I'll take care of him," she promised. "You ass," Anakin growled, waveringly. He swiped angrily at his eyes.
"I knew you came here just to make me cry. I knew it the second you walked in. You always do this to me," he cried. "It's my job," Obi-wan reassured him.
Padme carefully locked the necklace around her throat, feeling the angel settle against her collarbone comfortably, as if she belonged right there over her heart.
Anakin had already done so. He studied it on her. "It looks great on you," he murmured. Padme smiled back. "You don't look too bad yourself," she replied mildly. "You two look charming," Obi-wan piped in.
"Now, we should be going, we don't want to…Wow!" Obi-wan was thenceforth interrupted by both Anakin and Padme as they flung their arms around him at once. "Love you, Obi-wan," Padme heard Anakin mumble at the same time as she. Obi-wan let out a longsuffering, but quivering, sigh.
"I should have seen it coming," he said.
