Chapter 20 - Home Is Where the Heart Is

Author's Note: All things must end. :') There's a bonus chapter and an epilogue, and that's it! This is the last real chapter in this series. ^-^

~ Amina Gila

Ahsoka Tano

We've finally moved out of the bunker, and gone to the Lake House on Naboo, owned by Padme's family. It's beautiful here, and it reminds me of the times during the war when we came to stop more fighting – I'm glad we're finally here for a reason other than that.

"I've been thinking about stopping by on Onderon," I comment, to the twins and Alema. We're sitting on the porch outside together, finally with a moment to just be. Though honestly, for all that I'm tired of fighting it almost feels too quiet here. It'll take getting used to.

I've been thinking about this for a while now, and now that things are finally starting to settle down everywhere, maybe there's a chance I can go back. I know Lux is worried about me, and there's no way he's heard any word of what's happened. I'll stick around my family at least a little longer for now, but then I want to go see him again.

"That's where you were... hiding, right?" Aniya asks.

I nod. "Yes, it was. It didn't last long, though. I used the Force in public, and the Empire came for me right after."

"Were you in contact with the Gerreras there?" Anakin asks, "I know the Empire was... going after them." It's still jarring to think that technically he would've been fighting against them too, even if not personally.

"Briefly," I reply, "I wanted to stay away from them so I didn't attract the Empire's attention, but that didn't work out well. I barely had time to say goodbye to Lux before leaving. I'd like to see him again."

Alema eyes me, a certain knowing look in her eyes. I know how things are with her and Jinx, even if she hasn't told me, and that's... I want that with Lux, too, even if I don't really know what it means.

From the glance the twins share, I'm pretty sure they know the same thing.

"You can go, whenever you are ready," Anakin tells me, "We'll still be here when you come back."

"I know," I reply, pausing to just consider everything for a few moments. "I don't know what to do now. I don't want to rejoin the Order, but I..." I can live here for a while, but not with literally nothing to do. The five children don't need that much care.

The Jedi Order did reform, although for now, Obi-Wan prefers to stay on Naboo, though he's going back and forth a lot to help, as expected. But I don't feel it's my place anymore, not if Anakin and Aniya won't rejoin.

"You have time to figure it out. I think we're all still figuring that out," Aniya points out.

"I'll help free Ryloth," Alema says, "After that, I don't know. But Jinx and I were... talking."

"I knew it," Aniya smirks.

"Was it that apparent?" Alema asks.

"I noticed what was between you long before, when you were both still Jedi. Not that it mattered then."

"I've thought about the same for Lux," I admit, "But I don't know if I'm ready for that. Or if he is. I don't really know how these things work."

"You can still figure it out," Aniya reminds, "If he really cares about you, he'll be fine with waiting for however long it takes for you to accept it and work it out."

"I'm more afraid of myself rushing it then him, but... thank you, anyway. For everything."

Aniya smiles, squeezing my shoulder. "Of course. That's what sisters do."

**w**

Aniya Skywalker

"Hold still," Padme chides for what has to be the thousandth time.

"I am holding still!" I protest, shifting again as I feel her fingers tugging through my hair, twisting it into whatever hairstyle she decided to pick for now.

"You keep squirming. It's going to ruin the effect."

"Hey, you're the one who insisted we had to do this," I shoot back.

"It's not as though she could do ours," Ahsoka calls, snippily. Her and Alema are here, too, for... no reason, really.

"I still remember when you first saw me take off my headdress," Padme comments, amused.

"I thought that was actually your hair!" Ahsoka protests.

"It would be like taking off lekku," Alema agrees, dryly.

"I'm beginning to think lekku are more convenient than hair anyway," I say, with a fake pout.

"Stop complaining," Padme chides, "I'm almost done." Honestly, though, how does she even have the patience for this every day?

"Are you done in there?" Jaufre calls, shoving the door open.

"Unfortunately, no," I yell back.

"Well hurry it up, or we're gonna start Earth Wars without you." He grins, evilly.

"Hey, that's not fair," protests Ahsoka. "We haven't seen it in a long time, either."

"No more jumping random ships on us, please?" I ask, just for clarification.

Jaufre laughs. He sounds way too gleeful for my liking. "Oh, don't worry. There won't be any more I can do that with. Yet."

I don't like the sound of this. I'm entirely certain that he dramatically pranked us to make us think we'd get to see an awesome twin duo with a very Anakin-me like relationship when we... weren't. That was gross.

"I'm starting to re-think this," I huff.

"That's fine," he grins, "Cuz all the others are already ready to start."

"Which 'all'?" Alema asks.

"Why don't you wait and see? There's an unexpected guest."

"'Unexpected guest'?" I echo, "I don't like the sound of that. Are you coming, Padme?"

"For a little while, perhaps," she concedes, "But I have other things to attend to."

"Come on," Jaufre complains, "You always used that excuse when you were a Senator. And now you're not, but you still have excuses."

"I guess some people just find it boring," Ahsoka replies, grinning.

"We'll just make sure to make Luke, Leia, and Rey obsessed with that one scene in the second Guardians one, too," Jaufre decides.

"You will not," Padme says, flatly. "There, Aniya. I'm done."

"Sure, we won't," Alema agrees innocently, as we all scramble for the door. It's been a long time since we all got to do this together. That's the part I care for most – that we're doing it together. (The last time we had time for that, Qui-Gon was there, too.)

We'll be doing this in the living room as usual, though I'm minorly surprised when I run into Obi-Wan and Anakin on the way to the room.

"You're coming, too?" I ask, raising an eyebrow. It's not that he never has before or anything, but he's just... grumpy about things half the time. Then again, that's true about everything. He wouldn't be Obi-Wan if he didn't have something to complain about.

"I convinced him," Anakin replies, cheerfully.

"That is not why I'm coming," Obi-Wan grumbles.

"Then why?" I throw back, "You know, you can just admit you enjoy this as much as we do."

"I do, at times," he admits, grudgingly. Seriously, what's with him? He seems to be in an usually grumpy attitude today. "But that does not necessitate inviting Sith over to your house."

"... What?"

"He came of his own accord," Anakin interjects, still cheerful. Now that we're here on Naboo, it's so much easier to be happy like we once were. It's still not the same, and I don't know if it ever will be – at least not for a long time – but it finally feels like something's starting to heal.

Being here at the Lake House on Naboo reminds me of those days years ago – has it really only been four? It could've been a lifetime, for how much has changed – when we first spent time alone with Padme and Jaufre here. When... everything with us really started changing as Jedi too. That was also right before we met Ahsoka and Alema.

It somehow feels fitting that we're going to live here for the indefinite future now. It's peaceful, and it's finally letting me feel like maybe I can truly connect with everyone in my family again. In some ways, it helps that it's about as awkward for everyone else as it is for us.

At least it wasn't just us who were away from home for so long.

"Because you told him he could," Obi-Wan huffs.

"Maul's here, isn't he?" I ask. I knew he'd come back eventually. I just didn't expect it to be so soon.

"Jaufre was quick to invite him to join... this," Obi-Wan adds.

Ah. That explains a few things.

I share a glance with Anakin and we both crack up, remembering all those years ago, when Maul had kidnapped us. "I already warned him he will not find them to be of interest," Anakin says.

"I cannot imagine why a Sith would find this to be of interest either," Obi-Wan replies.

"Because the only thing that defines them isn't 'Sith'," I offer, "But in Maul's case, I think he'll find them too... non-violent."

"I will not ask how you know that," Obi-Wan says, flatly, as we move to the living room.

Maul is, in fact, there, though he looks decidedly bored.

"Are you really here to watch this?" Anakin asks, dubiously.

"Aniya's –"

"Don't you dare," Jaufre interrupts, though he looks amused, "Call me that."

"... Call you what?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.

"You don't want to know."

"He insisted I wait to speak with you about anything until after this is over," Maul replies.

"Why don't we get started?" Ahsoka asks, cheerfully, "It's getting late."

Well... this is going to be weird, but I don't see a reason to refuse, as I join the others, and Jaufre eagerly turns on the ones he insists we need to see most urgently.

"They are pathetic," Maul says flatly, as he eyes the screen, "I could have chosen one less... irksome."

"Hey!" Jaufre protests.

"Since when do Sith do this?" Obi-Wan grumbles.

"Since when do Jedi Masters?"

Point.

I resolutely ignore them both, keeping my focus on the screen. But maybe there's some hope for our crazy family to get along, after all.

**w**

Anakin Skywalker

I always knew that, eventually, we'd end up having to talk to our padawans about what happened. I always wanted to, but I can't help feeling nervous. I don't even know why. It's not like we don't know each other. It's just that... I don't trust myself – ourselves – around them anymore.

Too much has changed, and I'm not sure that I could be the same person that they will inevitably try to see me as. That's true for Aniya, too.

I'm not really surprised when Ahsoka tracks us down to the balcony one night when we can't sleep and are just outside... being. Because not having to be afraid is a very, very unsettling sensation, and I don't even know how to start handling it. "I still think about what happened," Ahsoka says quietly, arms crossed, leaning on the railing. She's eighteen, nearly nineteen, but I still remember her as a little girl. Even if she has grown up, I don't think I'll ever stop feeling as fiercely protective of her as I always have. I have to protect her. She's my padawan.

Even if that's in the past.

"The bombing?" Aniya guesses. "Yeah. Me too. All the time."

Ahsoka straightens, looking up at me, the shadow of guilt lingering in her eyes, visible even in the dim lighting of the moon. "I'm sorry I left you," she says finally.

"Don't be," I tell her, reaching out to squeeze her shoulder, "You were exactly where you needed to be."

"But I still left you. I left everything. The war, the Order, you, the clones... If I stayed..."

"Then the Force would have found a different way to make you leave," I state with certainty, "In the end, Ahsoka, we all were where we had to be."

She glances away for a moment, then back up at me, smiling faintly. "Thank you, Anakin."

"Of course, Ahsoka," I reply, "It was us who should have protected you throughout it all."

"You can't blame yourselves, either."

"We don't," Aniya tells her, "Not anymore. We – we understand now."

And she's right. It's taken a long time for us to see it, but now that everything is over, it makes sense now, and I'm confident we can find peace moving forwards. I always knew, years ago, somehow, that Naboo would be our home. That we would come here someday, live here, stay here, and that we wouldn't have to worry about anything else anymore.

Or that we would choose not to, because there is still so much we could do, but it's time to stop worrying about it. Just for now. It was our desire to control everything – even if we never meant it in a destructive manner – that destroyed everything.

"A lot has changed," Ahsoka continues, "But you're still... you. And we've missed you when you were gone."

"We missed you too, Ahsoka." I draw her closer, and she wraps her arms around my waist, snuggling tightly against me. This feels familiar, no matter how much bigger she might be, even if she's no longer quite as little as when I once knew her. That doesn't mean I'll ever stop wishing there was a way for me to keep her safe from the horrors of the world.

"I worry about protecting our children sometimes," Aniya confesses finally, "After the war, with everything that happened with you and Alema... I just don't know." Of the two of us, she's the first to mention that worry. It's not something we've ever spoken of before. Sometimes, speaking of things is what makes them more real.

"You'd do anything for them," Ahsoka replies, "Just like you would have for us. They'll be fine."

I don't want to point out what I really think about that – that if the Force wills otherwise, that we're really not meant to settle down just yet – then there's nothing anyone can do to stop it. Not even us. Especially not us.

"Hey," she points out, twisting a bit to glance at Aniya, "We're together now, aren't we?"

I like the sound of that. I'm not sure I entirely understand what it means though – to not have to do everything alone, only with help of my twin sister. But Ahsoka is right. We have everyone here now, and we have no reason to try doing anything alone anymore.

"Yeah," I agree. "We are." And no, I'm not sure what that means, but I'm still certain that – somehow – we can figure it out.

**w**

Aniya Skywalker

It's been so long since we've meditated in the Light, drifting peacefully in the currents of the Force. There's nothing quite like feeling my brother's brilliant presence so light again. I never truly realized how much I missed it until now that we're finally doing it together again.

It's also the first time our lightsaber crystals feel of the same peacefulness again – we finally purified them of the Dark Side. Our blades are white now, and somehow, I think it's most fitting. What we once had as Jedi doesn't truly fit us anymore, not when we aren't Jedi anymore.

It's then that I suddenly sense a presence I didn't know when I'd feel again – even if I knew it would happen eventually.

"Master Qui-Gon?" I ask, surprised.

"I'm here," he replies, his shimmering figure materializing next to us.

"Can you... appear whenever you desire to?" Anakin inquires, hopefully.

"I can, though usually only if there is a need. This side of the Force is... different."

"I can imagine," I reply. Maybe what's made it so easy to let him go is the knowledge that it was his time, and we can still speak with him, even if differently. Even if it's not fair that I know I'll never feel him physically with us again.

"What is it... like?" Anakin wonders.

"There is only so much I can share," he answers, a hint of amusement in his tone, "The rest, you will see yourselves one day. But not for many years."

I huff out a not quite amused breath. "Yeah." I don't much care to think about death right now, especially seeing that there were times I genuinely wanted it.

"If you ever need me, you can call for me," he reminds, "I will always be here, watching over you."

"I know," Anakin replies, smiling softly, before Qui-Gon fades out again, right as Obi-Wan steps into the room.

"Hey, Master," Anakin greets, "You just missed Qui-Gon."

"What?" Obi-Wan queries, confused.

"He stopped by," I explain, "He said we can call him whenever we want to."

Obi-Wan nods, an odd expression on his face I can't entirely read. I know he's grieving Qui-Gon too, even if in some ways it seems he already let go of him. To be fair, he hadn't seen him in a long time, and they... weren't that close. "Am I interrupting anything?" he asks, eyeing us as we climb to our feet.

"We were meditating," Anakin offers, "But Qui-Gon interrupted first. What is it?"

"I thought you would want to hear this," Obi-Wan says, "Recently, there had been reports of an unknown figure in the Outer Rim who is taking over some of the Hutt controlled space."

I blink in surprise. "Really?"

"No one knows who it is, but they have... supporters," Obi-Wan replies, "When the galaxy is already in chaos, it could be anyone."

"Yeah," Anakin agrees, "I do not imagine Maul has anything to do with that."

"If he did, I think he would've told us," I concur, "And I think he's too busy trying to establish his rule over the other one third of the Empire."

Obi-Wan makes a seriously disgruntled noise. "Of course, he is. That is all the Sith are concerned with."

I can't entirely deny that, but that doesn't mean their rule has to be bad.

"Are they... doing anything aside from simply taking over?" Anakin inquires. I know what he's wondering – if this is something that's going to change anything, or just another crime family war.

"Unknown, as of yet," Obi-Wan responds, "There is too much fighting right now."

My brother and I exchange a glance, and I think he's thinking along the same lines as me. It's weird that this is happening right after... everything. I don't know if there's anything to my suspicion, but I can't help but wonder. "Does anyone know their identity?" my brother asks.

"There have been few sightings. But there is one." Obi-Wan withdraws a hologram, flipping it on to show us. It's somewhere in the dark, so it's too hard to see much, and the figure is masked and hooded.

I can't tell who it is, but I can definitely sense something distinctly familiar in the Force. Even if I have no guarantee beyond that. And I have no idea what to think of this. At all. "Hmm," is the most I can offer. "Hopefully, this will... actually help people."

"We will know in time," Obi-Wan offers – I think completely oblivious to our silent internal conflict, "I know you spoke of freeing slaves in the past. If you ever desire to do that, we may be able to arrange something together."

A smile tugs at my lips. "I'd like to. I don't know when – things aren't settled here enough yet – but maybe eventually."

Anakin nods, giving Obi-Wan a small smile. "Thank you for... offering." The offer of 'doing it together' means more than either of us could say.

"Of course," he replies, glancing at the window, "Although now, I do believe it's past your bedtime."

"Aren't we a little too old for you to be putting to bed, Master?" Anakin protests

"Never," Obi-Wan replies flatly, actually looking amused for a moment – that is a very rare look on him, unless he's annoying someone which I suppose is true right now – "If I did not, I believe you might forget the need entirely."

"I don't think you're one to talk," I shoot back, smirking. "There was that time you stubbornly denied being sick until –"

"We were on a mission. You are well aware there was no time for resting," he interrupts, unnecessarily loudly.

I roll my eyes. "You'll always disagree with me. Even if you do agree."

"I agree with you when your statements are accurate," he argues, "And it is late."

"We'll be going soon," Anakin assures, "You should, too, Master. I would... like another moment outside first."

"Fine," he concedes, eyeing us with a lingering fondness in his gaze before he disappears from the room. "But don't stay out too long, or I will have to come find you."

"I thought you were going to sleep!" I call after him.

"I will be," he retorts, "But since I do not want to be dragging you half asleep out of the garage in the morning..."

"That only happened once," Anakin replies, flatly. A time when we were both having nightmares, and nothing could make it stop. Going to work on ships had been the easier alternative.

"Once since we arrived here," Obi-Wan amends, "And that is excluding the countless times without my supervision, or throughout the war."

"Yeah, but then you didn't have to drag us out of the garage," Anakin volunteers.

"Then I had to drag you out of the hangar sometimes right before a battle. And drugging yourself to stay awake while flying is suicidal," Obi-Wan complains.

"I hate to break it to you, but you're keeping all of us up now," I reply, snippily.

Obi-Wan huffs, heading from the room. "Very well, then. I'll see you in the morning."

Wordlessly, Anakin and I slip out onto the balcony, staring up at the star covered sky above us. It's completely dark out, except for the moonlight shining brightly overhead, illuming the endless fields of grass surrounding us. Something about this moment, standing here side by side with Anakin, with the rest of our family in the house – although much larger now – reminds me of that day on Tatooine so long ago, when we'd sensed something was about to change.

I don't know what's making me think of it now, except that... a lot of things, really.

The scene is similar, except grass instead of sand. It's the same peacefulness of night, knowing we'll have each other, no matter what happens, though at least not we don't have to constantly fear everything we did back then.

And to think that in the end, Naboo was where it all started. Because of the Trade Federation and the plans of the Sith, the chaos here is what brought our family together. It really is fitting that this is where we'll settle down.

Although also, there's... what Obi-Wan was telling us.

"It's him, isn't it?" I say finally, rhetorically, glancing over at my twin.

"Yes, I... think it is," Anakin replies, quietly.

I didn't exactly expect to hear from him again – frankly, I didn't think about it much at all, because it hurt in a strange way I couldn't really explain. Even if, at the same time, it's been relieving to be far away. To finally be free. I'm still glad that I finally have the answer to what he's doing, though, and I can only hope it's for a good reason.

"I... miss him sometimes," Anakin blurts, finally, "Not him, but what I thought he was."

"Yeah, me too," I admit. It's been mostly lost in the face of everything else that's happening – of finally having the rest of our family back after being apart from them for so long – but I've still thought about it from time to time.

Silently, I reach over, taking my brother's hand, silently grateful that we're both fully human again, the way we always used to be.

Once, we watched the stars, sometimes wishing our father would come back for us. (Other times, it was knowing he was out there, and probably a slaver.) And maybe that notion was never entirely wrong, but maybe he can change. (Maybe he already has, I don't know.)

I don't really see him as a parent though I find myself wondering if we will see him again.

But either way, our other parents... are always here. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan.

Anakin sees Obi-Wan as far more of a father than I do; for me, he's always been more of an older brother, but he still helped raise me.

And our mother is one with the Force now, but I know we'll see her again someday. In another time.

When we left Tatooine, we wanted to help. I'm not always sure that we have, but we tried. We tried, and I think that's what counts. In the end, we did what we were meant to do. We balanced the Force. And we tried. I think that's the most anyone can ask for, and it's so much more than what many others have done.

Either way, we're free now. I know there still will be difficulties, and hard points, at which turning back will feel easier, but the oncoming storm we felt so long ago is over. The Force is balanced, and the galaxy will slowly find peace, no matter how long it takes.

I remember one of the last nights on Tatooine, when Anakin and I snuck outside, watching the stars, knowing that our time there was over.

This reminds me of that, except it's so different. Here, as I watch the stars, I know we're here to stay. We're not going to leave. We're... we're finally free.

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