Hello Dear Readers! Apologies for the slightly shorter chapter than anticipated, but IRL has been getting the better of me and I find myself sadly bogged down in everything not to do with this story. I have therefore decided to break this chapter into two, as it may be a few weeks before I can write and finish this story for all you lovely people and I didn't want to leave you hanging with nothing. Thank you all again for your brilliant reviews, and for following and favoriting this story!

CHAPTER 7

"I'm sorry about your head, Master."

Obi-Wan chuckled and brushed his fingers over the long-since healed wound below his crown. He raised a brow at Anakin, whose clear, sparkling blue eyes regarded him sheepishly.

"Oh don't worry, Anakin, my head's far too thick for even you to do any damage," he quipped, and Anakin's responding chuckle warmed the Jedi Master's heart. He had missed this. "Besides, we were far more concerned about your head, again!"

Anakin eyed his old master and tapped his temple. "What, this steel trap? Still working better than what's in your thick skull, old man."

"Anakin!" came his wife's sharp admonishment, though as he spied the tug on the corners of her lips, Obi-Wan knew that Padmé had missed watching the two friends banter just as much as they had missed amusing each other. The master smiled as Anakin had the good sense to look scolded as Padmé placed the basket full of clean baby clothes beside his feet, even if the happy gleam never faded from his friend's eyes.

"Sorry, my love."

Obi-Wan squeezed his former pupil's shoulder, a mix of happiness and relief overcoming him as he watched Anakin, who was lounging as far back as he could on the couch in his thin, dark under tunic, kiss Leia's head as his daughter lay curled safely in his arms, her dark eyes long since closed in peaceful sleep. Looking down to gauge her state of wakefulness, Anakin smiled and looked up at his friend. "Who would have thought we'd ever be here like this without you trying to lecture me, Master?" he whispered. Obi-Wan chuckled.

"Certainly not me, though I should have guessed you would do something as ill-advised as having children. These two are going to be hellions if they're anything like you."

Anakin's answering amused hum was cut off as Padmé leaned down to both smack Obi-Wan's arm and check on Leia herself. "I resent that very much, Master Kenobi," she retorted with no shortage of mirth lacing her voice. She turned to her husband. "I think she's finally asleep, Ani," she said, and Anakin's face fell a bit as he knew he would have to relinquish his daughter to her crib.

"And unfortunately, my friend, we have to go. The Council is expecting us soon."

Anakin sighed, and he momentarily laid his cheek against Leia's head, closing his eyes, breathing in her scent, and soaking up the moment. Even though he knew he was being watched with a mix of compassion and expectancy from both his wife and his friend, he didn't care. Anakin felt as though it had taken him a lifetime to reach this state of peace, and he'd be damned if anyone rushed him from it. Sighing once more, he gingerly stood up, careful not to jostle his sleeping daughter as he did.

"All right. I'll be out in a moment."

He gave Padmé a soft, chase kiss as he stood, feeling giddy at the thrill of being able to openly show his affection for his beautiful, amazing wife without fear in front of his former master. Sure, the Council was probably going to expel him, but for the first time in his life his heart didn't thud in pain and fear at the thought, for he knew that as long as he had her, everything would be fine.

A comfortable silence fell over the room as Padmé replaced her husband on the couch and wordlessly began folding the cleaned, tiny onesies, towels, and socks. Obi-Wan watched her with a mix of humor and awe as the incredibly poised politician fell into such a domesticated role with an effortless ease he had never expected to see. Over the past three years of working closely with Padmé from time to time during the war, Obi-Wan had always seen her as the levelheaded, strong, idealistic senator that she was, one with a head for measured diplomacy but a battle ready attitude when called for, and he had always admired her for her professional prowess. Now, as Padmé Naberrie tucked the two tiny socks into each other and set them with the rest of her children's clothing, he found himself admiring her even more.

"You're staring, Master Jedi." Obi-Wan cleared his throat guiltily as Padmé gave him a sideways glance and smirk.

"My apologies, Senator," he quipped and turned his eyes out the window where his speeder sat on the veranda. "I suppose I never expected to find you so comfortable with domesticity."

She laughed softly and reached for another onesie, this one white with pink trimming and small pink Jade roses dotting the soft fabric, clearly Leia's. "Don't be so surprised, Obi-Wan. I can be very domestic when I choose to be."

The Jedi Master smiled and turned his eyes toward the back of the apartment as he heard the melodic tinkling of what he assumed was a mobile followed by Anakin softly shutting a door. "I'm very happy that he's well enough to see me," he mused softly. Padmé sighed happily.

"Ever since I was able to bring him here, it's like everything settled for him," she said, and Obi-Wan turned back to her.

"The healers say he's made the most remarkable recovery because of you, Padmé. Is he back to his old self?" The senator shrugged.

"Yes and no. He still has nightmares, but he's not losing himself during the day anymore." Obi-Wan nodded and hummed approvingly. Padmé paused in her folding, the towel crumpling in her lap as she dropped her hands and smiled. "He's wonderful with the babies, Obi-Wan." Padmé turned to him, eyes glowing with admiration and love for the subject of her praise. "I had hoped that, when the war ended, and if we had the chance, that he would be a good father, but I never thought he'd be as wonderful as he his."

"Now there's something I never expected," Obi-Wan joked and blocked his hands as he revealed the scandalous headline, "'Anakin Skywalker: Hero with No Fear turns sappy father.'"

Padmé joined his laughter and quickly quieted herself, turning her head and listening for any infantile protests. Thankfully none came, and she turned back to the towel in her hands, folding it gently and setting it aside.

"He's happier than I've ever seen him, Obi-Wan, and not just because of the twins," she said softly, and she turned to look at Anakin's mentor. "He's calmer, gentler…"

"The healers did say that his personality could have been affected by what happened." Padmé shook her head and her eyes wandered across the room, deep in thought.

"It's more than that, Obi-Wan." Pausing, she took a breath and bit her lip before continuing. "I'm not sure how to describe it, but, it's almost as if… it's like…" She huffed in exasperation delicately. Padmé glanced out the window and Obi-Wan could do nothing but hang on the words she was desperately trying to find. For the last week and a half, he had been getting reports from the healers about Anakin's progress, and what they had told him was astonishing. Upon seeing his incredible receptiveness to his children's presence, the Council had allowed the healers to let Padmé slowly transition him to living at 500 Republica until he was well, and ultimately until the Jedi decided how to respond to his actions, both heroic and uncouth. Once again, Anakin had proven his resilience as he was now fully healed, functional, and the time for decisions had come. Obi-Wan hadn't known what to expect when he set foot in what he now supposed was his friends' home with his family, but he knew that Padmé was the only one who could truly tell him how Anakin was faring, apart from the man himself.

"It's almost as if Palpatine never existed," Padmé suddenly said, and Obi-Wan found his brows furrowing at her statement.

"I'm not sure I know what you mean." Turning back to him, all joy was gone from Padmé's face, but her eyes still shone in wonderment.

"When I met him on Tatooine all those years ago, the things that struck me about Ani were how selfless, brave, kind, and… how happy he was, despite his circumstances." She smiled softly. "When he was assigned to protect me, he was still brave, but he was different. He was older, a bit brooding, which I guess should be expected, but, there was always this darker, angry side of him that frightened me, and it only got worse with the war." Padmé glanced back up at Obi-Wan from where her eyes had drifted beyond the Jedi Master. "Palpatine stole him from us slowly, took away everything from that little boy that would have made Anakin the greatest Jedi and an even better man without even breaking a sweat. And now, it truly is like that boy has grown up and is here, no darkness, no anger. It's the most incredible thing, Obi-Wan."

Stunned, Obi-Wan stroked his beard as Padmé's revelation washed over him. The difference she described in his notoriously arrogant, bull-headed pupil were nothing short of a miracle, and even with the equally impressive reports from the healers and his deep discussions with Master Yoda as this day drew closer, Obi-Wan felt his breath catch in amazement at the thought that Anakin was being rewarded for fulfilling his destiny.

"Please don't let them expel him."

His eyes snapped back to Padmé, and he noted the pleading look that had taken over her features. "What?"

"He's come so far, Obi-Wan, and it would kill him to be expelled now. I know we've broken the Code, but he has always served the Jedi above all else, regardless of how much he hated being away from home. He was unfailingly faithful to the cause during the war, and not once did he truly put anyone but himself in danger for me. Being a Jedi is his life, Obi-Wan, as much as he loves me, and I can't bear to see him lose that because of me. Please don't let that happen."

The silence hung heavily like a cloud over what had been a lighthearted moment between friends as Padmé relinquished the floor, having delivered her argument through a shaky throat, and Obi-Wan could only blink as she held his steel gaze with her vulnerable chocolate eyes.

"All right, Master. Let's go."

His voice made them both jump, and while Obi-Wan glanced towards Anakin, now fully dressed in his familiar dark tunics and robe, a welcome sight, Padmé looked away from her husband and began putting the now folded articles back into the basket that laid at her feet. Glancing between the two of them, Anakin knit his brows suspiciously and crossed his arms over his chest. "Did I miss something?"

"No," Obi-Wan answered, pulling himself out of his stupor with a shake of his head as he stood. "Come, mustn't keep the Council waiting."

Anakin eyed his former master a moment longer but, deciding it wasn't worth the effort of prying, shrugged and moved down the two steps to his wife as she stood to see them off. Obi-Wan bowed to Padmé as Anakin came up beside her.

"It's always a pleasure, Padmé."

"It was good to see you, Obi-Wan."

"I'll return him soon, I promise." Winking as Anakin rolled his eyes, Obi-Wan walked to the veranda, allowing his friend and his wife their privacy.

Laying his hand on Padmé's shoulder, Anakin stepped in front of his wife and took her in his arms. Her grip on him spoke of apprehension and a longing for him to already be returning, and he smiled. "I won't be long," he said as he released her and held her hands. Their eyes met and she equaled his loving smile. "I love you."

"I love you, Ani. We'll be here waiting for you."

He leaned down and kissed her gently, allowing her presence to wrap around him and ease the anxiety he had about his impending meeting with the Council. The feeling within the Force he had felt since Obi-Wan had contacted them a few days ago had only grown in intensity, but no matter how much quiet meditation his infant twins allowed him, all he could glean was the importance of today upon the rest of his life. In the end, as he had dreamed again last night of his adult son and his redemption, Anakin had decided to trust in the Force that he knew had given him back his life, no matter if he came home a Jedi, or just a man.

Padmé stroked his cheek as they pulled away, and with a last kiss to her forehead, Anakin squeezed her hand before following Obi-Wan to his speeder. "You know, if I drove we'd be there much faster." Obi-Wan huffed.

"Not a chance," he chuckled as he sat down behind the controls. "I still don't trust your head."

Anakin's face fell and he mockingly sulked as he dropped in beside Obi-Wan. "Now it's just insulting," he pouted, and his old master laughed as they pulled away and into traffic towards the Temple.