I apologize for the last chapter being sloppy and rushed. I didn't take the time to edit it before I posted.

Chapter 19

They arrived on Coruscant late in the evening and parted ways. Anakin escorted Padmé back to her apartment and Obi-Wan returned to the Jedi Temple. Anakin waited until she was asleep before he slipped out of her apartment, careful not to disturb her. His thoughts were too troubled after the events on Yavin 4 and he found himself needing the calming wisdom of Master Yoda. He contacted Obi-Wan on his way to the temple and the older man met him outside of the Jedi Master's private residence.

"Speak with me you needed, young Skywalker?" Yoda asked as he pulled himself onto his meditation pallet after letting them in.

"Yes Master," Anakin said as he and Obi-Wan sat down on the floor before him. "Before Asajj died she told me something that has been troubling me."

"Go on," Yoda said, waving his hand for the young man to continue.

"She told me that Chancellor Palpatine… That he's the Sith Lord we've been looking for," Anakin said, bowing his head as he spoke.

Yoda frowned and closed his eyes. He had been hoping that they would have more time before Anakin discovered the truth. "Aware of this we were not," he said softly.

"What are we going to do about it then?" Anakin asked.

"We can't just let him remain in power," Obi-Wan said

"Until you are ready to embrace your destiny exactly that we must do."

"He threatened the people that I love!" Anakin cried, getting to his feet and beginning to pace in front of the windows. "I can't let that monster get away with threatening the people that mean more to me than my own life."

"Unfortunate circumstances these are," Yoda said sadly. "But necessary it is to take caution."

"He's a Sith Lord! We don't have time to take caution!"

"Anakin, calm down," Obi-Wan ordered as he got to his feet to grab the younger man and halt his pacing. "You need to be rational. We can't just storm the Chancellor's office."

"Why can't we? If we went with enough reinforcement we could kill him and end all of this."

"End your life such an action would. Too much potential you show for us to risk such action."

Anakin looked at his former Master, pleading with him to see things his way. "Please Obi-Wan," he whispered. "If we don't do this now we may never have a better chance to destroy the Sith."

"You heard what Master Yoda said," Obi-Wan replied. "I will not risk your life on such a foolish attack."

"Damn it Obi-Wan! Don't you get it? That monster in control of the Republic has been using all of us to ensure he remains in power."

"I am well aware of that Anakin."

"Then why won't you help me do something about it?"

"Because you are not ready to fulfill the prophecy."

"It's my destiny, shouldn't I have a say in that matter?"

"Ready you think you are to kill a man you once looked up to, hm?" Yoda asked.

"If it meant keeping the people I care about safe then I would do it in a heartbeat."

"Brave you are, young Skywalker, but foolish this would be."

"Think of those that care about you, Anakin," Obi-Wan said, then he added softly, "Think of the Senator, she would never forgive you if you rushed into this without thinking it through."

Anakin took a shaky breath and reluctantly nodded his head in understanding. "Then we'll come up with a plan," he said. "And put it into action as soon as we can."

"Time away from all of this you need," Yoda said. "A month spent in meditation good it would do you."

"Master, I can't meditate for that long. Not here on Coruscant at least."

"Then leave the planet you should. Clear your thoughts and ready yourself for the trials ahead."

"Yes Master."

"Take that time as well Obi-Wan."

"I will Master," Obi-Wan said.

"Leave soon, see you I do not wish for a month," Yoda said with a small smile.

The two men bowed before the Jedi Master and took their leave.

"What will you do with all this time you have been granted?" Obi-Wan asked as they walked through the empty halls of the Jedi Temple towards the quarters they had once shared.

"Return to Naboo with Padmé and get married."

"I suppose this is as good a time as any for you to do so."

"Would you join us?"

"For your wedding?"

Anakin nodded his head in agreement. "You're the only family that I have left and I'd like you to be there. I think Padmé would like it too."

"I would be honored Anakin."

The younger man smiled and embraced his former Master in a tight hug. "Thank you."

Obi-Wan returned the smile and patted Anakin's shoulder affectionately. "Now go, return to your bride and tell her the news."

"I'll let you know what our plan is," Anakin said as he hurried away.

Padmé was sitting up in bed reading over a datapad when he returned. She had felt him leave the bed and she had grown worried when he did not return immediately. "Where were you?" she asked when he entered the room.

"I had to go speak with Master Yoda," he said as he began undressing.

"About what?"

"Jedi business."

"Anakin," she warned.

"The Chancellor is the Sith Lord we've been looking for," he admitted, slipping into his sleep pants before settling into bed beside her. "Ventress told me."

"What? How is that possible?" She placed the datapad on the bedside table and turned to rest on her side to look at him as he used the Force to turn off the lights.

"I don't know," he sighed. "If it's true then he knows how to manipulate the Force in ways we never even considered possible."

"And you believe her?"

"Beings tend to be their most honest when they're about to die."

"What are you going to do about it?"

"Nothing for now. Master Yoda ordered me to take a meditative retreat."

"A what?"

"He wants me off planet for a month so that I can clear my thoughts," he explained.

"A month?" She felt a sense of joy bubble up within her chest at what they could do with that much time to themselves.

"Mm hm."

"What are you going to do with all that time?" she asked softly, her voice taking on a husky note.

He moved closer to her, his hand sliding over her hip as he slowly rolled her beneath him. "I thought we could get married," he whispered against the side of her neck. "If you'll still have me."

"Do you even have to ask?" she teased as her hands wound around his neck to pull him closer and their lips met in a searing kiss.

They arrived on Naboo two days later and set out immediately for the lake house where her family was waiting for them. Her mother and sister had taken care of planning most of their wedding and her father had called in a favor with the local clergy to ensure that the holy man would keep their identities secret. Everything had fallen into place with relative ease and the couple would be married the next day at sunset.

Her family greeted them on the dock and once the pleasantries were exchanged Jobal led them inside to enjoy the small feast she had made for them. The conversation was kept light and the spirits of everyone there were filled with happiness for the couple.

"It's truly beautiful here Senator," Obi-Wan said as he walked through the gardens with the young couple after dinner.

"Call me Padmé, please," she requested. "We're practically family, after all."

Obi-Wan smiled and clapped the other man on the back of the shoulder. "You certainly will have your hands full with this one," he teased. "I've spent the last ten years trying to keep him in line with limited success, but he seems to listen to you more than he ever listened to me so perhaps you will have more success."

She turned to embrace Anakin, looking up into his eyes. "I'm up for the challenge," she murmured as he leaned down to brush a soft kiss against her lips.

"I think you have a bit of an adventurous streak in you," Anakin teased. "You'd never admit to it of course but it's there."

"It isn't becoming for a Senator to have an adventurous streak," she said with a laugh.

"No, of course not," he agreed with a wry grin.

"Aunt Padmé!" they heard Sola's daughters call out. The three of them turned towards the sound of tiny feet racing over the stone walkway in time to see her nieces round the corner with their skirts held in chubby hands. "Aunt Padmé."

"What is it?" she asked.

"Grandma sent us to get you," Ryoo said.

"She and mommy are in your room," Pooja added.

"All right. Run and tell them that I'll be right there," Padmé said.

"Mommy said to make sure you came with us," Pooja said. "She didn't think you'd leave Uncle Anakin alone if you didn't leave right now."

"Oh shush," she warned Anakin under her breath when he started to chuckle.

"Go," he told her, kissing her temple.

She reluctantly pulled herself out of Anakin's arms after sharing a final lingering kiss and let the girls take her hands as they walked back to the grand house. Anakin watched them go and found himself longing for the day he could see her walking in these gardens with their own child.

"Come young one," Obi-Wan said gently. "Perhaps some meditation is needed." Anakin nodded and followed the older man deeper into the gardens.

The girls left her outside of her bedroom door and she pushed it open, finding her mother and sister waiting expectantly near the windows. She stepped inside and distractedly closed the door, her attention drawn to the beautiful white gown laid out on her bed. She moved closer to it and her mother joined her, gently grasping her hand as she had when she was a little girl.

"This was Winama's wedding dress," Jobal said softly. "She left it to you. I think she'd understand if you had another dress in mind but I thought I should offer it to you."

Padmé reached out with a trembling hand to touch the lace covered silk. She could remember looking at the dress stored at the back of her grandmother's closet when she was younger and she recalled boldly declaring that she would wear it on her wedding day. She had brought a dress with her from Coruscant but she knew this was the dress she would wear when she became Anakin's wife. "It's perfect," she whispered.

"Try it on," Sola said eagerly. "There's still enough time to make minor adjustments before the ceremony."

The three women worked together to help Padmé slip into the wedding dress and within moments Padmé stood in front of the full length mirror. The dress fit her perfectly, almost as though it had been made especially for her, and she found it impossible not to stare at her reflection.

"By the Goddess," Jobal whispered, there were tears of joy in her eyes as she looked at her daughter. "You look absolutely beautiful Padmé."

"That poor boy never stood a chance," Sola teased as she wiped a stray tear from her cheek.

"I never stood a chance," Padmé said softly as she smoothed her hands over the intricately decorated bodice.

"There's one more piece," Jobal said returning to the bed to retrieve the matching headdress.

"No," Padmé said, gently placing her hands over her mother's to stop her. "Anakin likes my hair down and I do not wish to cover my head."

Her mother smiled and nodded her understanding. "Of course," she agreed.

They spent the next several hours laughing and enjoying each other's company over a bottle of wine that Sola had brought with her. It was still early when Jobal left, dragging Sola with her, but not before her eldest daughter gave Padmé something to ensure she was able to sleep through the night.

Anakin had been restless throughout the night and rose from his bed as dawn was beginning to blossom over the lake country. It wasn't nerves that kept him from sleeping through the night but rather the anticipation of what the day would bring. He pulled on his simple undertunic and walked out onto the balcony that linked his bedroom to Padmé's. He was reminded sharply of the morning they had left Naboo to find his mother but this day would bring far more pleasant changes to his life. Before, the flowers had been fading as the colder months approached, but now everything was blossoming with new life. He smiled to himself as he reached within the Force to search out Padmé's presence, pleased to find that she was sleeping peacefully. He let the Force wash over him and sank willingly into a meditative trance, losing all track of time as he centered himself in preparation for the most important day of his life.

Padmé woke to the sounds of the birds greeting a new day and stretched out her tired limbs as she luxuriated in the warmth of her bed. Her sister had given her something to help her sleep through the night, insisting that she probably wouldn't sleep otherwise, and now she was grateful that she had. She closed her eyes for a moment and took the time to soak up the peace that surrounded her, knowing that it would not last once she moved from her bed and began her day, her wedding day. A gentle breeze wafted in from the lake and disturbed the curtains that hung over the windows enough to allow her the sight of Anakin standing on the balcony, hands clasped behind his back and shoulders squared.

It took only a moment for her to decide to join him, rising gracefully from her bed and pulling on the same deep blue robe as she had worn the last time they had shared a morning in the lake country. She walked towards him quietly, hoping to not disturb his meditation but knowing that it was pointless because he could sense her wherever she was.

"I thought you said I wasn't allowed to see you until the ceremony," he said softly.

"Then keep your eyes closed," she replied, her hands slipping around his trim waist as she rested her head on the back of his shoulder. His hands closed over hers and she heard him let out a content sigh.

"Isn't this breaking all the traditions?" he teased.

"Everything about us breaks tradition."

"Very true."

"Keep your eyes closed," she whispered as she stepped around him to slip into his embrace properly. "At least this is one tradition we can sort of keep."

His answering chuckle was a wonderfully warm sound that began in his chest and she felt it travel through her before he let it slip from his lips. One of his hands tenderly cupped the back of her head as the other pulled her closer to him. "You look beautiful," he murmured against her hair.

"I told you to keep your eyes closed."

"I don't need my eyes when I have the Force."

She lifted her head to look at him and found his eyes were indeed still shut but there was a content smile on his lips that told her he was enjoying their little game. She stood on the tips of her toes to press her lips to his and smiled when he responded eagerly to her touch. His hand slid forward to cup her chin and tilt her head to the perfect angle to allow for a deeper kiss that spoke of all the love they shared.

"I just wanted to see you one more time before the ceremony," she said.

"I won't tell anyone that you were here."

She pressed her lips to his in a lingering kiss before gently extracting herself from his warm embrace, her hand slipping into his to give it a loving squeeze. "I'll see you at sunset."

"I'll be waiting," he said as her hand slipped from his and she left him alone on the vine covered balcony.