Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars.

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Obi-Wan Kenobi leaned back in his chair for a moment, stroking Gucci the family lothcat, who now sat on the older Jedi's lap. The children had been overjoyed when Captain Antilles returned the pet. It gave them something to play with as they waited for Anakin to wake up. Obi-Wan turned to face the large window that looked out to Coruscant's vast cityscape. Luke and Anakin's recovery room sure had a great view. Obi-Wan turned back to face the two patients. Luke was sleeping, though he had been awake not even an hour ago. The six year old had sustained a minor concussion plus a few burns from the lightning.

Anakin was a very different story. First degree burns lined his body, most would heal in time but some would leave scars. The lightsaber cut across his face had luckily missed his eye and mouth, but left a nasty scar running from under his ear to his chin. His left arm had to be re-set after going too long without medical attention. Obi-Wan chuckled at Anakin's pink clad arm. Young Leia absolutely demanded that her father's cast match hers. Another cut ran across his chest, complimented by a scarred blaster wound on his left shoulder. And that was just the external damage. Doctors were still working to rid Anakin of seizures and muscle spasms. It would be a long road to recovery for his friend. Despite these complications, however, the doctors assured him and Padme that Anakin would be waking soon.

Obi-Wan had volunteered to stay in the Skywalkers' hospital room as Padme took Leia down to the mess to get something to eat. She was also meeting with Bail Organa to discuss the next step for the rebellion in its fight to restore the Republic.

Obi-Wan sighed, setting Gucci down and picking his DataPad up from a small table. He began to scroll through the HoloNet news feed, smiling at what he was seeing. It would take a long time to completely disband the Empire, but cutting the head off the serpent was a good start for the rebellion. Obi-Wan was pulled out of his reading at the sound grunting over in Anakin's bed. He looked up, surprised to see that Gucci had hopped onto the bed next to Anakin, and was now licking his face. Obi-Wan chuckled as he set his DataPad back down. He pulled his chair closer to Anakin, knowing the family pet would be enough of a nuisance to wake him up. After all, the lothcat often acted as Anakin's alarm clock back on Iego. As Gucci continued licking his owner, Anakin managed to push the lothcat off of his chest with his right arm, slowly opening his eyes.

"Damn cat." he mumbled as Gucci screeched upon landing on the floor.

Anakin groaned and turned to face his old master, and of all things, smiled. Or, Obi-Wan thought it was a smile. The doctors had numbed half of Anakin's face to allow the scar to heal without him fussing with it. It left his smile looking like something out of a horror holovid. Obi-Wan laughed softly.

"Welcome back to the land of the living!" he grinned.

"I can't feel my face." Anakin slurred.

"Well, you are on a lot of pain killers." Obi-Wan laughed. Anakin nodded and turned to face his left arm.

"What the hell is this?" he asked, lifting the pink arm up.

"That was your daughter's idea. She has one to match." Anakin couldn't help rolling his eyes. As he was looking back up to Obi-Wan, he noticed Luke in the bed next to him. Anakin paled, straining to look at his young son. Obi-Wan glanced back at Luke and then turned to Anakin. "He's fine, Anakin. Just a minor concussion and some burns. He's almost fully recovered."

Anakin laid his head back down on his pillow, closing his eyes tightly. "It doesn't change the fact that it was my fault."

"Don't do that, Anakin. You know this isn't just your fault." Obi-Wan frowned.

Anakin resisted the urge to roll his eyes, annoyed with how many times he'd heard that phrase in the past few weeks. "No matter how many times you tell me that, it doesn't change the fact that I had choices along the way. I could've chosen a different path. Instead, I let my fear control me, and the galaxy paid for it."

"You're right, Anakin. In the end, it was you who was in control of your own destiny. You made bad choices, but you regret those choices! You came back when many believed you were gone for good." Obi-Wan's smile returned, albeit smaller. "Not only did you come back, but you righted your wrong by destroying Palpatine."

"But is it enough? Is it enough to earn the Jedi's forgiveness for what I have done?" Anakin cried.

"To hell with the Jedi, Anakin!" Obi-Wan exclaimed, leaving Anakin in shock. "All these years, you've apologized for taking my family away from me. Sure, I miss them, but have you ever stopped to consider that maybe they weren't my real family?" Anakin remained silent.

"Anakin, the years I've spent with you and your family, they've shown me that the love you feel in your heart is not a weakness. The Jedi were wrong to berate you for showing so much emotion. Those feelings gave you strength when you expressed them correctly. Sure you would get upset or afraid, but that's what Palpatine used against you. He played on those fears and he knew how to anger you. That's how he got to you. You fell to the Dark Side only because Palpatine set it up so that all you had to do was say the word. He just wasn't counting on your love for Padme being so strong, enough to bring you back before anymore damage could be done." Anakin frowned.

"I suppose you're right. But I've still got to smooth everything over with Luke," he replied, looking back over at his sleeping son. "Where are Padme and Leia?"

"Downstairs, getting something to eat. Padme and Bail are discussing the next political steps for the Rebellion." Obi-Wan continued, seeing Anakin's brow raise in confusion, "We've retaken Coruscant. There are more Imperials still out there, but Padme believes now is the time to establish a government and call all systems to rally against the Empire."

"That's amazing!" Anakin exclaimed, proud to know Padme was back on the political front.

As if on cue, the two Skywalker girls entered the room, each carrying a small pastry. Obi-Wan moved to help Anakin into a sitting position. Upon seeing Anakin wide awake, Padme Skywalker's face lit up with joy.

"Oh, Ani!" she cried, kissing him gently on his forehead. "Thank the stars you're awake."

Padme moved over to Luke's bedside as young Leia poked her head over Obi-Wan's shoulder. Anakin released Padme's hand and reached for his daughter. The girl stepped timidly around her mother and up to the side of the bed, a small smile on her lips.

"Hi, Daddy." She smiled planting a kiss on his cheek. Anakin grinned, reaching his prosthetic up to stroke her cheek.

"Hey Princess," he replied, dropping his hand back to his side.

"Can we go home now?" Leia asked, cocking an eyebrow. Anakin burst into laughter.

"Leia, that's something Mommy and I need to talk about." Anakin replied, looking over at Padme, who was waking Luke. He frowned slightly. "But for now, there's something that we need to talk to discuss as a family."

Leia's shoulders slouched. Anakin scooted over in his bed to make room for Leia to climb up. Minding the various tubes and wires surrounding her father, she joined him on the bed as Padme carried the drowsy Luke over. The two of them sat snug a chair on the other side of Anakin. Obi-Wan stood up, placing a hand on Anakin's shoulder.

"I think I'll go grab a bite to eat while you all talk." He stated. Anakin nodded as his old friend walked toward the door. He gave the family another smile before murmuring a short "Good luck" to them as the door shut behind him.

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Anakin sighed, looking at his two children. For a moment, he was taken back to when they had been born. He had been a nervous wreck that day. If Obi-Wan hadn't been there to calm him down, he feared he might have fallen back into the Dark Side's grasp. It was when he walked into Padme's hospital room where she was holding both children in her arms did it hit him. He had a family. He had two beautiful babies that would grow up to be amazing people. He initially refused to hold them when Padme offered him Leia. They were so tiny and perfect, he suddenly felt unworthy. He was a monster. He didn't deserve them, not by a long shot. Not even a month before had he destroyed the Jedi Temple and almost lost his family. Swept with guilt, he had bolted from the maternity ward with Obi-Wan running after him.

"Anakin, wait!" Obi-Wan called out as Anakin reached the waiting room. He was breathless, tears threatening to fall from his eyes.

"I can't do it. I can't Obi-Wan." he cried, shaking. "I don't deserve them. I can't do it."

"Listen, Anakin," Obi-Wan placed a hand on his shoulder, "This is a gift. Those children in there are a gift from the Force. Can't you see? They're your second chance!"

At this, Anakin looked up. He had felt it when the children arrived. An explosion in the Force that surrounded him in light. Obviously, his old master was much better at interpreting signs from the Force than he was. Yet he shook his head in doubt.

"I don't deserve a second chance." he moaned, frustrated.

"Tough shab." Obi-Wan retorted, causing Anakin to look up. "Whether you deserve it or not, those children need you, Anakin. Your family needs you. You may think you're not the father they deserve, but you're the father they're stuck with. So it'd be best to just go up there and start proving to those kids, and yourself, that you are a good person."

Anakin smiled at the memory. It was the best 'pep talk' he had ever received. And though it took a while, he had managed to prove himself to his children. He just needed to prove it again.

He looked over at Padme, who nodded. Anakin knew he had to be the one to explain everything to the children, but he also knew that if it was needed, Padme would be able to jump in and take over for a bit.

"I suppose the best place to start is the Battle of Coruscant." He decided out loud, gaining Luke's attention. Thankfully, his son didn't seem so upset with him anymore, though Anakin had his doubts about how Luke would fair listening to this story. But it had to be done.

It took Anakin over a standard hour to recount the entire story of his temporary fall, taking breaks every now and then to rest. He was often asked questions, most of which he gladly answered. Whatever helped Luke and Leia understand. He discussed the tale of Darth Plagueis and how Palpatine had used that to make Anakin believe he could save Padme, as well as Padme and Obi-Wan's intervention on Mustafar. Anakin was pretty sure he had all corners covered while still keeping the story somewhat kid friendly. He finally finished with his fulfillment of the Chosen One prophesy by killing the Emperor. The children were completely silent. Then, of course, Leia was the first to speak.

"I don't get it," she said, looking up at Anakin, "You're not a bad person. But you've done a lot of bad things." Anakin smiled at this, happy to know Leia still had a decent opinion of him.

"Nobody is perfect, Leia." he replied, "Everyone has made mistakes. I regret mine very deeply, but that doesn't change the fact that they're still there. Our mistakes are what help us grow. How we learn from our mistakes is what defines us as people." Leia nodded at this, seeming content with her father's answer.

"What do you think, Luke?" Padme asked, causing Luke to squirm slightly in her lap.

"I think I understand," he began quietly, looking up at Anakin, "You did everything because you thought it would help Leia, Mommy, and me. The emperor made it worse by giving you those nightmares, making you think the only way to help was by joining him."

Padme looked at Anakin a grinned. He smiled back, somewhat relieved. His children understood, thank the Force.

"Luke, Leia. I'm sorry we had to keep this from you." Anakin said, shaking his head. "That was my fault. I let my fears of what you might think get in the way of telling you the truth in the first place."

"I forgive you, Daddy," Leia piped up, "Just as long as we don't have to get kidnapped again. I didn't like that." Anakin chuckled in agreement.

"Me too, Dad." Luke said, offering a small smile. He hopped off his mother's lap and climbed onto Anakin's bed, on the other side of Leia. They hugged eachother close, Padme joining in on the side. "But Dad?"

"Yes, Luke?"

"Do you think, maybe you can teach me to be a Jedi now?"

Anakin chuckled, overjoyed knowing Luke still wanted to pursue his dream of being a Jedi, even if it wasn't necessarily in his father's footsteps. "Of course, Luke. Of course."

The family sat in silence for a few moments, completely happy with just being in one another's company. Anakin Skywalker decided in that moment that earning his children's forgiveness was enough for him, and that maybe it was time to completely let go of his guilt. And let go he did, feeling his connection with the Force deepen and his love for his family grow.

The sun had finally set on his old ways of guilt and sadness. A new day was beginning.

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Yeah! Another chapter! The last official chapter, to be exact. Up next is just a short epilogue that I thought would end this fic on a sweet note. That should be up by tomorrow.

Thanks for reading!

-renny writes