Anakin Skywalker's POV
I smiled and held her hand when I finished playing. Tears streamed down her warm cheeks as I eyed her in awe. I brushed my fingers, wiping her moist tears away.
"Anakin... Do you think...? Have you trained Shmi how to use the force and how to wield a lightsaber?" She asked me, wiping her tears away with the back of her free hand.
I chuckled, her giggles blended with mine before I said, "Uh-huh... These past years when you were... Gone. I've been overprotective, teaching Shmi the 'Jedi' way. Why?" I asked her. I shifted into a comfortable position after grabbing Shmi's lightsaber with the force.
She jerked a little when I ignited our daughter's emerald lightsaber.
Her face was suddenly happy.
"I... I saw Shmi with a surgery scar on her left leg. When did she get surgery?" she questioned.
I gazed down, sighing. "Shmi got surgery when she was five and another surgery on her back... At the hospital when she was recovering she had surgery between her legs... Which I'm assuming you have seen after her baths."
I felt Ahsoka tremble and the air hitch in her throat; I looked up and saw her trying to hide her tears again. My eyes widen and I took her into my arms, trying to sooth her.
"Shh, love. It's all right." I whispered, kissing her lekku.
She kept weeping against my chest, shaking her head. "Why wasn't I here? My poor baby -"
I frowned and pulled back. "Damn it, Ahsoka! Listen to me -"
"No -" she cried, continuing to shake her head.
"Baby, listen to me!" I growled, glaring at her. Her eyes still were over flooded by tears. "Nothing that has happened to you was your fault. It was all mine! All of it!"
Ahsoka whimpered and stared at me with wide crimson eyes.
"How is you getting killed by Dooku your fault? How is it your fault that Shmi has this orthopedic problem? How is it your fault that you were almost killed? How is it your fault that we were at war? Huh," I began to chuckle. "Explain to me how it's your fault! Everything I've done -" I got up roughly from the bench and flung an item across the room. "Has been my entire fault!"
Ahsoka looked down, "How many surgeries has our daughter had?"
I sat down next to her again, holding our hands in front of us. "So far... About three. Right now she has some type of nail or some type of metal thing inside her left thigh... close to her hip joint."
"How long will she have it?" Ahsoka scooted closer to me, resting her head against my scapula.
I shrugged, "I'm thinking for about two more years."
I felt her sigh in relief. "I am so sorry, Ani. I'm sorry for ruining the party that must have taken you weeks or even months to plan."
I hushed her, rubbing her back. "Ahsoka, stop it. All that matters now is that you'll be here for her the next time she has surgery." I admitted to her.
She nodded before we both pulled back simultaneously. She smiled as I grinned back.
I leaned in to kiss her soft lips, hearing her moan. I smirked underneath her lips as she wove her fingers through my hair.
"Mommy!" Shmi's voice shouted.
We both laughed. I rolled my eyes with a smile. We both turned around to see our daughter coming towards us.
"Daddy!" Shmi's eyes widen.
"What is it, little love?" I asked.
"We forgot about the cake! I just saw it in the refrigerator and it's just sitting there...waiting, all alone in there... Waiting to be eaten by a small little girl by the name of Shmi Ahsoka Skywalker. That poor little chocolate cake -"
"Oh, stop being so dramatic, Shmi." I laughed.
I picked her up and headed to the kitchen. I set her on an empty chair as Obi-Wan and Satine arrived to stand behind her.
"What time is it?" Obi-Wan asked tiredly, rubbing his eyes.
"Time for you to get a watch, son." I nudged his ribs, walking over to my wife.
"Candles!" Shmi announced.
I smiled, bowing to her. "As you wish, my lady."
I searched around for the candles but couldn't find them. "I can't find the stupid friggin candles!"
I stiffened when I heard a box filled with candles shake. Obi-Wan cleared his throat. "Oh, well would you look at that? Candles."
I shut the cabinet roughly and turned to face my former master. "Ha ha. Very funny." I snatched the candles away from his grip and set them in their place.
Ahsoka and Shmi held hands as I lit the candles and motioned them to begin.
"Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you." the three of us continued to sing, mixing my girls' names.
After the song, Ahsoka and Shmi blew the candles out. Our daughter cheered in happiness, hugging her mother.
"This is the best birthday ever." Shmi began to shed tears.
Ahsoka and I immediately were at her side, thinking she must be in pain from her hip or leg.
She embraced us both, "This is the best birthday ever because we are a happy family again. And Mommy's here with us, Daddy."
I nodded, smiling. "Yep. Which reminds me..." I jogged up stairs, checking on Vesta and Zevark, getting the presents and trotting downstairs again. "Here you go,
my love."
Ahsoka's eyes widen as she saw every present that I had kept for the past six years.
"Ani..." She breathed, picking up a present.
I shrugged. "Even though you weren't here with me... I still got you birthday presents."
Ahsoka embraced me, tears leaving her eyes.
She opened her presents, receiving more jewelry and once I had to stop her from opening one because it was... Private.
Shmi got curious and asked what it was.
I rubbed the back of my neck, stuttering. "Uh, it's... Um, a pretty dress that she doesn't want you to see yet."
"Oh," she said, expanding the 'o' syllable.
After that, I began to play the piano again. Ahsoka was singing this time, the song we first danced at our wedding. "A Thousand Years."
"Heart beats fast,
Colors and promises.
How to be brave,
How can I love when I'm afraid to fall?
But watching you stand alone.
All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow.
One step closer.
I have died everyday waiting for you.
Darling, don't be afraid I have loved you.
For a thousand years.
I'll love you for a thousand more.
Time stands still.
Beauty in all she is.
I will be brave.
I will not let anything take away.
What's standing in front of me.
Every breath,
every hour has come to this.
One step closer.
I have died everyday waiting for you.
Darling, don't be afraid I have loved you.
For a thousand years.
I'll love you for a thousand more.
And all along I believed I would find you.
Time has brought your heart to me.
I have loved you for a thousand years.
I'll love you for a thousand more.
One step closer,
one step closer.
I have died everyday waiting for you.
Darling, don't be afraid I have loved you.
For a thousand years.
I'll love you for a thousand more.
And all along I believed I would find you.
Time has brought your heart to me.
I have loved you for a thousand years.
I'll love you for a thousand more."
