Chapter 12 – Reunions

Author's Note: Warnings are at the end.

Also, I don't think Sidious is actually dead; they just think he is. Remember, Obi-Wan does not have a good track record of killing Sith and them staying dead. Lol. But either way, Sidious will not be around again in this fic. If, and it's a big if, we do a sequel, that will change. :)

~ Amina Gila

Anakin hasn't actually been excited like this for anything, since –

"Ani, I'm pregnant."

And now he's about to see his children and Padme again. He can hardly believe it. He'll be with his family. He doesn't even know what this will be like. The twins have already lived a long time without him.

They called ahead once they were away from Tatooine so Padme could tell them where to go. They're on Naboo now, and it's... fitting that he'll reunite with his family here again. For a moment he lets himself not think about everything he saw with Obi-Wan, and... everything. He doesn't want to think about it right now, or ever.

Padme is waiting outside the house when they arrive. She looks just as she did when he last saw her in person, except her presence doesn't feel quite so dim anymore. She feels more alive.

Obi-Wan's still back by the ramp of the ship, thankfully, to give them a little privacy.

"Padme," Anakin breathes, rapidly crossing the grass to where she's standing. It feels like – like a very long mission where they've been apart, but worse in some ways because they've hardly had any contact.

"Ani," she murmurs, throwing her arms around him. He holds her tightly, leaning down to kiss her – which happens to be right when she moves her arm wrong, pressing against the wound on his side.

Pain jolts sharply through his side, and he can't quite suppress his slight jolt at the suddenness of it.

Padme instantly pulls back, frowning. "Are you injured?"

"It is nothing significant," Anakin assures, "We... fought Sidious." He doesn't add that that's not what the wound on his side is from. Padme doesn't need to know... any of it, really. She definitely doesn't need to know how he's still healing.

"We have some medical supplies here," she replies, "But not much. I hope it'll be enough."

"We can manage," he promises. He managed all this times, and although he and Obi-Wan's electric burns are more serious, they can handle it. He wants to see his children already, and – there's something else catching his attention now that he's thinking about.

Padme nods, smiling again. "There's someone else here to see you."

"Who?" Anakin asks, but suddenly, he knows.

"Ahsoka."

"She's here?" Obi-Wan asks, materializing behind him. Maybe he was watching their interactions after all.

Ahsoka is here. She's alive. She's – Force, she's okay. He'd been so worried; he had no idea if she was alive or anything. He didn't realize how scared he was for her fate until now.

"She tracked me down," Padme responds, "I didn't think it safe to say anything over holocall, but she's been waiting to see you. I explained to her what... happened."

Oh. Anakin immediately knows what that means, and his stomach drops. Ahsoka was always very loyal to the Jedi ideals, as well she should be, and he doubts that changed when she left. If she knows that he Fell, knows what he did... she's going to be very upset. It's not as if he deserves any less, but that doesn't mean he's looking forward to it. Their last meeting was already so... cold.

Obi-Wan touches his arm, and an instinctive part of him screams of danger – of how he hurt him – but he thinks it's intended as comforting. Maybe. He doesn't know if Obi-Wan is really that aware of how he's feeling or not. "She'll be happy to see you, I'm sure," Obi-Wan says.

Anakin nods slightly. He doesn't know how true that will be, but he heads for the house, anyway. If nothing else, he at least wants to know how she's been and everything. And what happened to Rex and the rest of the boys.

Ahsoka stands right inside, looking very much like she did that moment when he saw her off to Mandalore. For a moment, all either of them can do is stare each other. There's so much he wants to say to her, just like he did last time, but he doesn't know where she... stands on all that.

"Ahsoka, are you alright?" Anakin asks finally, despite how much all he wants to do is pull her into his arms and never let go. It's been so long since they were last together. He had to let go of her when she left, but that doesn't mean he cares for her any less deeply.

"I'm fine now," she replies. She looks... like she doesn't know what to say. Given what Padme probably told her, he doesn't know that that's a surprise. She's studying him like that alone might answer whatever it is that's going through her mind. "Where have you been? What happened? Padme said you and Obi-Wan killed Sidious?"

"A krayt dragon actually did that," Anakin replies dryly. It's the simplest question to answer.

"A krayt dragon?" Ahsoka echoes, "Just what have you been getting yourself into, Skyguy?"

If only he could answer that. "We were on Tatooine. Either it did not like the disturbance he was causing, or it was simply... hungry." To think the Sith Master (his friend) is dead because a random dragon was hungry.

Ahsoka shakes her head, smiling for a moment. "It we'd known it was that simple, we could have lured all the Sith there before any of this happened."

Anakin returns her smile, something warming in him a little. Force, he's missed her.

Her smile fades though, after a moment.

"Did you really Fall?" Ahsoka blurts, "Padme said you Fell."

Anakin swallows. There's no putting off this... conversation. "I did."

There's a heartbeat of silence. "Why?" Ahsoka demands, "Why would you ever do that?"

"He was... deceived by Sidious, as we all were," Obi-Wan interjects, stepping closer.

"But why would that make you Fall? I don't understand," Ahsoka frowns.

"The Jedi were committing treason," Anakin answers, slowly.

"How?" Ahsoka asks. Anything treason related is... hard for Anakin to talk about, with everything that happened to Ahsoka, and he imagines it's worse for her.

"They were going to kill Palpatine, unarmed. Palpatine had told me the Jedi were plotting to seize control of the Republic." He can't help throwing glance at Obi-Wan at that. In truth, he still doesn't know if that was a lie.

Ahsoka looks as though as she has no idea what to think.

"We knew he was a Sith, and we were planning to do whatever was necessary to remove him from office. We discussed little of what would happen after that," Obi-Wan replies, "But Anakin was unaware of all the details."

Because they left him out of it. He doesn't bother to add that. It's just... Really, he doesn't want to think about it at all on the first day he's being reunited with his family.

Ahsoka frowns. "Padme mentioned visions? That he was afraid she would die?"

"Palpatine promised to save her. I was not... thinking clearly."

She's unusually quiet, probably attempting to process everything.

"Were you alright when everything happened?" Anakin asks uncertainly. He gets the feeling she wasn't, but he doesn't know why. "You should not have been included in the order."

"All the clones turned on me," Ahsoka replies, and there's a veiled pain there that sets him immediately on edge, "Jesse said they were under direct orders from Sidious to kill me."

Anakin's blood runs cold. "What?"

"That's what he said."

But – but that doesn't – Why would Sidious do that?! Why would he have direct orders for the clones to kill Ahsoka? She wasn't legally a traitor. He had no reason to do that. And – why...

"I figured out what was happening from Rex and Maul's warnings. I was able to take out Rex's chip, but the cruiser crashed. They're – they're all gone, Anakin."

He feels numb. Sidious ordered Ahsoka's death. For no reason. And all his boys are gone. All of them. "What about Rex?" he asks faintly.

"He's alive," she assures, "And he's made contact with Echo, but they're the only ones that I know of."

Anakin can only nod, at a complete loss for words.

"I can tell him you're here," Ahsoka suggests.

"Yes, please," he requests quietly.

"Why don't you go see the twins?" Padme interrupts finally, "I know you've been waiting to see them for a long time."

Anakin breathes in, trying to move past the emotions twisting tightly in him. Yes, that he's been waiting for, for so long. "Yes," he agrees, and she immediately moves past the others, leading him into one of the bedrooms in the small house.

Drome is in there, standing near the cribs, but she leaves to give them space.

Luke and Leia.

They're –

He stares for a few moments, a warmth and burning surge of protectiveness swelling in him as he does. Seeing them over the hologram was one thing, but this is...

And to think for a while, he didn't know if he ever would get to know them.

Leia turns her head, staring up at him with wide, curious eyes. Luke is just waking up. He can feel Leia reaching out with the Force to touch his presence, without even realizing what it is she's doing.

Anakin reaches forwards, carefully lifting Leia into his arms first, before picking up Luke. It's the first time he's ever held them, and –

And despite everything he found out, he still thinks he can say that today is one of the happiest moments of his life, when he finally got to meet his children for the first time.

His children.

Force. They are perfect. They're – all he can do is stand there holding them, unable to tear his eyes away from them for even a moment.

At least not until he hears Obi-Wan and Ahsoka approaching. To think Obi-Wan knew them when they were older, in another lifetime. He never did ask about that.

"Do you want to hold them?" Anakin finds himself asking, even if he doesn't want to put them down yet – or ever,actually.

"I already did," Ahsoka offers, but the note of lightness fades quickly. "I can't believe you're a father, Skyguy."

"I can't either," he admits, looking back to the twins. It's about all he's capable of doing right now, because they're his children, and –

Obi-Wan doesn't offer a response to his question, but his expression is... unusually soft as he watches.

Ahsoka lingers in the doorway a little longer, before stepping out again, leaving them alone.

"You knew them," Anakin finds himself asking, "What were they like?"

"The most disturbing mix of you and Padme there could be," Obi-Wan answers flatly. (Anakin wishes he could talk to him without remembering the future. He doesn't know... how to handle it.) "I watched Luke from a distance. I only talked to him once, but he loved flying. He would always climb to the top of the homestead and pretend he was flying, whenever Owen wasn't looking."

Anakin can't help smiling. It's everything he imagines his son as being, even for only knowing him a few minutes.

"Leia liked droids. She was good with them. And she thought it prudent to run through the streets of a criminal world all on her own."

He almost laughs. Except – "Why was she in a place like that?"

"She was kidnapped." Something about Obi-Wan's expression closes off a little again, and Anakin suddenly doesn't have a good feeling about that.

"How did that happen?" He can't deny his concern, even if that won't happen in this timeline, and he's holding his daughter perfectly safe in his arms.

"The Inquisitors – those Dark Siders with Sidious – kidnapped her. They were trying to lure me out of hiding. Vader was... searching for me."

It feels like all the air was sucked out of his lungs. He knew Obi-Wan must have met Vader again, but he never much thought about how that happened if Obi-Wan was hiding on Tatooine. "Was Leia okay?"

"Yes. And that was... one of the Inquisitor's ideas, I believe. Not y- his."

"What did he want with you?" Why is he asking this? Why – He doesn't want the answer. He already knows, though. He can't imagine how he would feel if... if Obi-Wan had done something like that to him. Stabbing him was bad enough, but at least he didn't leave him there. He took him with him, and that's not what he did to Vader.

"Revenge." Obi-Wan's expression is unreadable.

"I did... fear Vader. Briefly."

Something twists uncomfortably in him. "Did he – hurt you?"

He's quiet for the briefest pause; maybe talking about this is nearly as hard as it is for Anakin. "Nothing permanent."

"I'm sorry," is all he can think of to say, past his well of horror. All of this is so... He wishes things with his former master could be simple, but then again, nothing ever has been. And – and – he doesn't know how to react to that, because the... it's only ever, ever been Obi-Wan who hurts him. Not the other way around, and Anakin doesn't know how to feel that it could have happened. That it would have. Obi-Wan is everything to him. He's his father. What does that say about him?

"It wasn't you who did it," Obi-Wan replies, then adds quieter, "And... I will not deny he had reason to be angry."

Anakin doesn't know what to say to that. It's just...

Obi-Wan steps closer to him, laying a hand on his arm again. He's been very touchy, and... Anakin can't deny that now it's almost uncomfortable, even if he wants it just as much.

The twins are sleeping again, and Anakin gently lays them back in their cribs, before turning back to him. Any interactions with his former master are extremely awkward now. Anakin doesn't know how to talk to him anymore. But still, he wants this so badly. Even if he can't trust it ever again. Even if he hardly knows what this is.

"I know I... hurt you," Obi-Wan begins awkwardly, "I can see it now, and I am sorry. I never... intended to."

"I know. You were doing your duty." It falls flat, anyway.

Anakin always tells himself he doesn't hold any of it against Obi-Wan, but he knows better. He does. Far more than he would like to admit.

He sits down next to the twins; being here feels like it can make up for the time spent apart. "Thank you for letting me come here," Anakin says. Obi-Wan sits next to him – he's obviously desperate for forgiveness, and Anakin wants to give it to him, but he doesn't know if he can.

"I wish I had earlier," he replies.

There's more going on here, a more subtle, less visible question being asked, and Anakin doesn't quite know how to answer it. "It is not me who needs to forgive you," he says finally. "It's Vader, and yourself. I... do. I cannot blame you. But I... can't trust you anymore."

First, he senses the hurt, which was expected, but it still hurts knowing Anakin is the one causing it. Then as always, it's replaced with anger. Anakin knows that it's Obi-Wan's way of dealing, but it's still difficult to handle. He can't entirely understand it. "A Jedi doesn't hold onto past hurts."

He takes a moment to weight his words carefully, trying to force back the memories of his master's rage when they fought in the Temple and... Mustafar. "I was never truly a Jedi, was I, Obi-Wan?" He glances briefly, pointedly, towards Luke and Leia. "You said it yourself. That I couldn't have been... worse than I was."

Guilt flits across Obi-Wan's face, and he reaches for him again. It takes effort not to pull back, but if his master wants this, Anakin can't deny it, even if he can't trust it anymore. He can't bring himself to lean into it either though. "I did not truly mean that. I... was only trying to hurt you."

"That," Anakin replies, "Is what I do not understand. It was only you. To you, I may have been... Vader, but you were always you. And I cannot understand how you could do something so cruel. I may have given my life to the Order, but after seeing what they have done, I cannot support it any longer. When I saw Windu betraying the very core of the Order, what I thought we were, all of it, it wasn't real."

"It was," Obi-Wan argues.

"If we're willing to torture defenseless people, we are no better than the Sith. Even what Sidious was telling me, it was better. It would have been swift." How many people has he killed when he didn't have to? How many has he made feel... just like him?

"It was the Order that formed us," Obi-Wan replies in that tone he uses when he thinks someone is being unbearably stupid.

"To you, maybe," Anakin replies, forcing back his bitterness, "To me, it was only you. And that you cared when no one else did."

In some ways, what he thinks hurts the worst is how he knows Vader in the future still... cared. Anakin can't fathom any version of himself where Obi-Wan isn't his... everything. Even after Hardeen, all he had was a crushing depression that only Ahsoka could pull him out of, because she gave him focus. And she was angry, furious even, over what happened. Anakin had known. He understood, because he already knew the Council never trusted him, but it was that Obi-Wan didn't trust him that gutted him entirely. It was then he realized that for all he never needed Obi-Wan to take care of him, his master would never willingly do so, anyway. But Ahsoka never stopped being angry, and then she left, and Anakin was left with only Rex to keep him sane.

He feels bad for brooding so much, because Obi-Wan is more important, but...

He knows he's being selfish, but he doesn't know what to do. Palpatine would have assured him that he doesn't need to do something he's not comfortable with, as if he's comfortable with anything anymore, but remembering him sends a sharp stab of pain through him. Palpatine is dead. He wasn't really... real.

The most he can do is reach out, taking Obi-Wan's hand.

**w**

It's strange seeing the twins as babies again. For that matter, it's strange not being on Tatooine anymore. Obi-Wan thinks it's going to take quite a bit of adjusting to not living like that.

Anakin is much happier here, though. He can see it already, especially whenever he's around the twins. It makes him wonder for a moment, what if Vader had known them. Would he –

Somehow, everything keeps making him think of Vader, especially with remembering what he saw from Anakin's mind and from what Anakin said to him about Mustafar. He can't deny that it's true, to a point.

He doesn't know at what point Anakin became Vader before. But the more he sees of Anakin, the more it feels again like it wasn't really... Until after Mustafar.

"You didn't kill Anakin Skywalker. I did."

That's what's really throwing him off, though. Vader said he was the one who did. That it wasn't... Obi-Wan's fault.

"I am not your failure, Obi-Wan," he'd said, but Anakin had said that too.

And for Anakin at least, he knows it isn't true, because he did fail him.

Anakin only said it because... He doesn't know.

But it almost makes him wonder, no matter how much he's trying not to. If everything Vader said there in those last moments was really true. If – if he really was the one who destroyed Anakin. But –

He'd given Vader the chance to make a different choice, and he'd turned it down.

"If you did that to me, I don't think I... I would have understood, but I could never forgive you for it. Not if I was already lost in the Dark."

That's probably true, though. He doesn't know what to believe anymore. Firmly believing Vader had always been Vader is easier. But what if he wasn't? What if he really isn't that different from Anakin, just... changed with everything that happened to him?

Anakin had to have been gone, though. Right?

He supposes what's throwing him off the most is knowing that Anakin would have done everything at the Temple had he not interrupted, and... he'd still be Anakin. Maybe.

Which is when he remembers Qui-Gon's comment about his third chance to do things differently. He still doesn't know what that meant. Unless...

No, Anakin wasn't still there. He was gone, regardless of why. (Then why was he calling for him?)

It doesn't matter, though. It's a future that won't happen anymore. So why does he, at least for a moment, wish he could just... know? Or perhaps he already does, but what he wants to hear is a confirmation of the opposite. He doesn't know, and it's easier not to think of it right now.

He just wants to be with Anakin. Which is ridiculous, because he's literally in the same house, but this is the first night Obi-Wan's spent since time traveling without having Anakin at his side.

And obviously, now Anakin is with Padme instead.

He can't shake the frustrating feeling that he'll wake up back on Tatooine again, in the future, without Anakin. And even if Vader was still him, he highly doubts they could ever... sort anything out between them.

And perhaps it just that... seeing the freeness which Anakin interacts with the others is always something he's wanted, and maybe after seeing what he did from Anakin's mind, he can somewhat see why they've never had that. And he's... he wants that. It hurts knowing he might never get it.

He isn't surprised when Anakin notices right away, though, and Obi-Wan had almost forgotten how incredibly perceptive his padawan was. "Are you alright?" he asks quietly.

He thinks of trying to explain the problem to Anakin for a millisecond before dismissing. "I am perfectly alright."

"I can sense that you are not," Anakin objects.

Obi-Wan gives him a flat look. "Stay in your own mental space, Anakin."

Anakin bristles instantly. Normally, he would have an equally sharp retort, and for how much Obi-Wan has missed him, he doesn't know why he's doing this. "I hope someday you can understand that not everyone wants you to be miserable. You are highly unpleasant company when you're cranky."

"Then why are you here?" he snarks back.

Anakin narrows his eyes. "Do you want to be alone?" he asks incredulously. "Weren't years in the future enough?"

He thinks, briefly, of the sheer loneliness he felt in the future. "It was actually far more peaceful without your antics," he shoots back.

Anakin jerks back, visibly stung, but he doesn't say anything. Why isn't he saying anything? Except instead of speaking, he spins around and makes for the door.

It hurts, really, because Anakin is the one person who never did that. That's what was special about him. "Leaving now, are we?" he calls after.

Anakin stops in his tracks, looking down at the floor, but not quite looking back. "I'm angry," he replies, "And I might once have reacted like you want, though I cannot understand why you want this. Perhaps... you have always been different, but I was too blind to see it. I saw where my anger led me in the future. I'm not leaving myself with the temptation now."

Obi-Wan knows this isn't a permanent thing or anything, but it still hurts that Anakin of all people is doing it. "Wait," he calls.

"No," is all Anakin says, before the door opens and closes behind him, letting in a gust of fresh, cool air inside.

And all Obi-Wan can do is stand there and ask himself is that how Vader felt when you left?

WARNING: Abusive relationships and Obi-Wan being cranky :)

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