Chapter 44

Two weeks later

The house was decorated with balloons and streamers in honour of the long awaited birthday celebration of Luke and Leia Skywalker. Their grandparents were in attendance, as well as their aunt, uncle and cousins. And of course, their adopted Uncle Obi-Wan and his girlfriend, Helen were also present. The twins had barely slept the night before, for they were too excited about the celebration.

Anakin and Padmé sat back and watched in amusement as Luke and Leia ripped open present after present.

"We're never going to get them to bed, you know that, right?" Anakin asked.

Padmé laughed. "They'll be worn out from all the excitement," she said. "Don't worry."

"They're not the only ones," Anakin said, noting how tired his wife looked. "You really outdid yourself Angel."

Padme turned to him and smiled. "This is the first time we've celebrated Luke and Leia's birthday as a family, all four of us," she said. "I think outdoing it was called for."

"Yes, I agree," Anakin said. "But you're only four weeks away from your due date," he reminded her. "You need to take it easy."

"And you're recovering from a serious accident," she countered. "So do you."

Anakin smiled. "Touché," he said. "Make you a deal. As soon as Luke and Leia, we go to bed too."

"That is a great idea," Padmé said. "You've got a deal."

Later that evening

With the help of Obi-Wan and Helen, Anakin and Padmé managed to get the twins to bed. Ruwee and Jobal as well as Sola and her family had already departed for their own homes, as the trip back to Theed was a lengthy one. Obi-Wan and Helen had decided to spend the night.

It was a lovely, warm evening, and Padmé, Anakin, Obi-Wan and Helen were enjoying it out on the patio.

"I saw that," Anakin, noticing his wife yawning.

Padmé smiled. "I'm fine, Ani," she said. "Just a little tired."

"A little tired, right," Anakin said.

"Anakin when are you going to learn not to argue with ladies?" Obi-Wan asked with an amused smile. "Particularly when that lady is expecting."

Anakin laughed. "You forget that I'm a slow learner," he remarked.

"Oh please," Obi-Wan said. "You've been saying that for years, and I've yet to see a shred of evidence to prove it."

Helen smiled as she observed the two friends. "Are they always like this?" she asked Padmé.

"Most of the time," Padmé said. "You get used to it."

"I look forward to it," Helen said, looking at Obi-Wan.

Anakin and Padmé exchanged a look.

"Something you want to tell us?" Anakin asked.

Obi-Wan smiled. "Well, we didn't want to upstage the twins' birthday, but yes," he said, his smile growing. "Helen and I are engaged to be married."

"That's wonderful!" Padmé said with a smile. "Congratulations!" she added, giving Helen a hug.

"Well what do you know?" Anakin said as he shook Obi-Wan's hand. "So much for being a bachelor for life."

Obi-Wan chuckled. "Well, what can I say?" he asked. "She swept me off of my feet."

Anakin laughed. "I'm happy for you," he said.

"Thank you, Anakin," he said. "We're hoping that you and Padmé will be our witnesses," he said.

"We'd be honoured to," Padmé said. "Wouldn't we, Ani?"

Anakin nodded. "Most definitely."

"Have you set a date?" Padmé asked.

Obi-Wan and Helen exchanged a look. "Well, actually we were hoping to get married in two weeks," Obi-Wan said.

"Two weeks?" Padmé said. "My goodness!"

"What's the big hurry?" Anakin asked. The look on Obi-Wan's face gave him his answer, and Anakin smiled broadly. "You old dog, you," he said with a laugh.

Obi-Wan blushed furiously, and Helen averted her eyes.

Padmé looked from Anakin back to Obi-Wan, quite certain, not for the first time, that she had missed something. And then it dawned on her.

"Ohh," she said. "Well, congratulations again," she said with a smile. "You'll be wonderful parents."

"We've had excellent role models," Helen commented. "The very best."

Anakin smiled, and took his wife's hand. "Well I'm still pretty new to parenting," he said. "Padmé is the real expert. Raising twins alone for two years. Now that's impressive."

"I had help," Padme pointed out. "Obi-Wan here changed more than a few diapers during that time," she said.

Obi-Wan nodded. "That's right," he said. He looked at his fiancée. "You'll be happy to know that I'm well trained, my love," he said.

Helen laughed. "That is good news," she said.

Later

Anakin watched his wife from their as she brushed her hair. It had surprised him to learn that Helen was pregnant. Obi-Wan had always been the rational one, the stickler for the rules. I will never let him live this down, Anakin mused with a smirk.

"What has you so amused?" Padmé asked as she joined him in the bed.

"Just thinking how ironic it is that Obi-Wan had premarital sex, and we didn't," Anakin said as Padmé snuggled into his arms.

Padmé laughed. "I have to admit that I was surprised too," she said. "But you know what they say about still waters," she said.

Anakin nodded. "I suppose," he said. "I'm happy for him, though. It's about time that the Jedi Order lifted that unfair edict about emotional attachments. If only they'd had the foresight to do that years ago," he mused. "Our lives would have been a lot easier."

Padmé nodded. "They would have," she said. "Maybe we could offer to have the wedding here, what do you think?"

"That's okay, but just promise me you'll let them do the work," he said. "You're eight months pregnant, Padmé. You need to take care of yourself."

She looked up at him, and kissed him. "You're so sweet," she said.

"I mean it, Padmé," he said. "I know you. I know you'd love nothing more than to plan this whole wedding."

She smiled. "You do know me," she said. "But I promise, I will let them do the work. I'll just...give advice. Okay?"

Anakin smiled. "Okay," he said. "Just so long as that's all you do."

"You have my word," she said. She gave him another kiss. "I love you. Goodnight Ani,"

"Goodnight angel," Anakin said. "I love you too."

Over the next two weeks, Padmé kept her word. She offered Helen plenty of advice, as well as lists of shops and services for her consideration. Both Obi-Wan and Helen were delighted to have the wedding at the cottage, for each of them wanted a small, understated affair. Helen had very little in the way of family, only her father and one uncle.

Luke and Leia were delighted that their favourite uncle had asked them to have a special role in his wedding, for it was decided that Luke would act as ring bearer and Leia would be the flower girl. Given the simplicity of the wedding, it was easy to put together, and Padmé was able to keep her word to Anakin to play a minor role. Even so, she had found that the excitement and the anticipation exhausting, and the night before the wedding she let Anakin put the kids to bed so she could turn in early. Obi-Wan assisted him.

"Just think," Anakin said as he and Obi-Wan walked outside. "Tomorrow at this time, you'll be a married man."

Obi-Wan smiled. "Yes I will," he said. He sighed as he took a seat on the patio. "Well, my life as a carefree bachelor is all but over."

Anakin laughed. "Carefree my ass," he said. "Until you met Helen, you were anything but careless."

Obi-Wan chuckled. "I suppose so," he said. "She really has brought out a side of me I didn't know I had."

Anakin smiled. "Soul mates have a way of doing that," he said. "I know that Padmé has always brought out the best in me. She's made me complete."

Obi-wan nodded. "I know she has," he said. "She's the best thing that ever happened to you, she and your children. I only hope that I'm as connected to my children as you are to yours."

"You will be," Anakin said. "I've see you with Luke and Leia," he said. "You'll be a great father, I promise you."

"I hope you're right," Obi-Wan replied.

"Tell me something," Anakin said. "Did you invite Yoda to the wedding?"

"Yes," Obi-Wan replied. "But he declined." He frowned. "I'm rather disappointed, to be honest, Anakin. I thought we were, you know, closer."

Anakin nodded. "I think he's having a hard time with the changes," he said. "You know him, Obi-Wan. He's never been one for change."

"I suppose," Obi-Wan said.

"Don't let him ruin this for you," Anakin said. "He'll have to accept it. And in time he will."

Obi-Wan nodded. "Well, I should think about turning in early," he said. "I'm not sure that I'll get much sleep tonight," he said as he stood up.

Anakin smiled. "You won't," he said. "Take it from me. And even less tomorrow night," he added.

Obi-Wan laughed. "Now that I can believe," he said. "By the way, thank you for letting us having the wedding here, Anakin. I can't think of a better place to begin my new life."

"You're welcome," Anakin replied. "I couldn't be happier for you."

"Goodnight, Anakin," Obi-Wan said. "And thank you."

"Goodnight Obi-Wan," Anakin replied. "Sleep well, my friend."