A few days later, his eyesight had mostly recovered. He only saw a few spots in a few places, but other than that he was nearly completely healed. He met up with Padme in her home in secret when he got the chance. Together, they sat on her couch facing each other in her living room.

"You're actually pregnant," he said, astonished, "why haven't I noticed?"

"I told you I've been keeping this baby a secret," she replied, smiling, "I didn't want you to find out through a hologram or a voice message and I certainly didn't want to distract you while you were fighting for your life." She leaned in to give him a hug. "Especially during all that craziness on Gatia."

Anakin rested his chin on her head and caressed her hair. He asked, "How are we going to do this, Padme? How can we be parents?" He hesitated to tell her his thoughts, perhaps he should leave the jedi order entirely and spend his life with her and the baby once the war was over.

She turned away from his neck and answered, "I've been wondering the same thing. My sister also just so happens to be pregnant right now."

"You want her to raise our baby?" he asked.

"Not exactly," she explained, "after my term is up with the senate-which is coming up soon-I'll go move in with her at her lake house on Naboo. If someone snoops around, they'll assume my sister had twins. Once I'm fully recovered, I can run for the senate again if I want, or do something else entirely. As for you, Ani, you can stop by whenever you want."

He leaned back to look her in the eyes. "I want to be part of this baby's life, Padme," he said, "if I remain a jedi I can maybe visit one day a month without drawing suspicion. I want more time than that." He paused. "Maybe I should leave the order."

Padme shook her head. "Don't," she insisted, "you won't be happy. You like being a jedi too much to give it up. You like helping people, saving star systems, and being a hero. You would be bored out of your mind on Naboo."

He shrugged, knowing she was right. "Maybe," he replied, "I could build droids. Or a racetrack." It rang hollow. Of course there were aspects of being a jedi he found difficult, but he loved it too much to quit and they both knew it. "What can I do?"

"I don't know."

"It's easy to hide a baby," Anakin said, rattling out his thoughts, "they don't talk or move or do anything. What are we going to do when they're walking, and talking, and start asking questions? We'll have to lie, or maybe we can them tell the truth. But then they'll start telling people their mom has a secret marriage to a jedi."

"Ani-"

"What are we going to do then?" he demanded hastily, "What if the council finds out about this? Or the senate? I might simply be expelled from the order, but what if they put us on trial for breaking the law, or force us to get a divorce, or take the baby away!? Then what?"

"I don't know, Ani," Padme said, pulling away from him, "you're going to give me an anxiety attack! Stop!"

He reached for her hand. "I'm sorry," he said, "I didn't mean to scare you."

She squeezed his hand in return and confessed, "I am scared. I've been thinking about this every single day for months. Becoming a parent is hard enough, we're going to have to do it with the entire galaxy watching-without them knowing. But I'm sure we'll get through this, just like we've gotten through everything else life has thrown at us so far."

"I am sorry for scaring you," he repeated.

"Let's think of something more positive to get our minds set right," Padme said, she quickly combed her fingers through her hair and set it on her shoulder. "I've been thinking of some names."

"Yeah?"

She explained, "I've always liked names that start with 'L' for some reason. What do you think?"

Anakin confessed, "I've been so busy struggling to breathe, and struggling to see, and defending my 'recklessly heroic' actions to the jedi council that I haven't had time to think about it. I want to hear what you have in mind." He leaned back to get a better look at her with his spotty vision.

"I have a whole list," she replied, "Leia, Lin, or Lyla for a girl. Luke, Leon, or Liam for a boy. Which one do you think sounds best with 'Skywalker?'"

"You really think we should give them my real last name if we want to keep them a secret?" he asked.

She asked, "You really think people are going to look that far into it?"

He answered, "We can't be too careful."

"Okay then," she said, "we'll create a new last name from scratch, but I don't think we'll ever top yours." She booped him on the nose playfully. He smiled her, but it slowly faded away. "What's the matter?"

Throughout their conversation, he couldn't help but fear what his nightmarish vision showed him. He didn't want to think of her possible death, nor scare her anymore than she already was. "Nothing," he said quickly.

She said, "Ani, I don't need force powers to know something's bothering you."

He took a deep breath to the point where he felt the last of his lung lesions still healing over. After a quick cough, he explained, "I've been attempting to meditate on the future and get some answers. I want to know if we're having a boy or a girl. I want to see exactly how and when the war will end. I wonder what it would look like if I confessed to the jedi council that I'm married to you and we've having a baby. It's all so uncertain, but the force isn't showing me a thing. All I see is the back of my eyelids. The dark." He blinked his eyes to show his point.

"How do you think I feel without having your special powers?" Padme asked. She hugged him again. "The only way I see the future is if I live it. If that's what we have to do, then that's what we'll do. But Ani, don't leave the jedi."

Anakin replied, "I'll think about it."

"I'm being serious."

"So am I!" He squeezed her, then stood up. "Speaking of the jedi, I better leave for the temple now if I want to be on time for the naming of the new masters appointing ceremony."

Padme held his hands, then let go and shooed him away. "Go and save the galaxy," she said.

Anakin turned to leave her high-rise apartment, only to smash the right side of his face directly into the doorframe. "Ah!" he held his face in pain. Embarrassed, he refused to turn around and look at her.

"Are you okay?" she asked, disguising her laugh.

"Fine," he said, "I'm fine." He quickly left without another word.

At the temple, those who were within the respective age range and suggested by their master's to be given the title of master themselves, gathered outside of the council meeting room. Anakin was the youngest among them, and it showed. Despite his best efforts, he was late, and everyone stared and murmured to each other.

"What's he doing here? Isn't he too young to be considered a master?"

"They must want the chosen one to advance early."

"I don't think that's fair, chosen one or not."

"What's so special about him anyway?"

"He is supposed to save us all, but even with his help this war keeps going on forever."

The topic of conversations shifted away, but no one turned to speak with him or let him stand in their little clique while they waited. It always felt this way whenever he was near other regular jedi.

One by one they were each called into the councilroom. It wasn't hard to tell who was given the title and who wasn't. The force was strong with all of them, and they didn't hide their emotions well when told great or saddening news. Once it was Anakin's turn, everyone turned and stared as he entered. Everyone always expected great things from him, and he had been doing so well in his training, he figured his advancement was in the bag.

"After careful consideration among the members of the council," Mace said, "we will not be granting you, Anakin Skywalker, the title of master at this time."

Shocked, Anakin asked, "What?" He almost couldn't breathe. Did they all think he wasn't good enough? He glanced around the room and only Obi-wan didn't meet his eyes. His face went red with sheer embarrassment. "But I've completely my training and done everything right. Why shouldn't I be given the title of master?" It took everything he had to calm his fury, something he was sure they could all feel.

"You still dive recklessly into battles," he answered, "which isn't a good example to set as a jedi master. It seems you've only become more brazen with age, not less as we've hoped."

Kit added, "And there's the fact you still have much to learn about keeping your rage in check."

Yoda added, "Mature in time, you will. Sure of it, we are."

"But I've been preparing for this moment for most of my life," he insisted calmly, "I've fought alongside most of you in this never-ending war at least once, and while my methods aren't always by the book, I do get results and try to keep everyone I can alive at the end of the day. I don't understand what the problem is. Why shouldn't I be a jedi master?"

Mace said, "Tell us this then, young Skywalker, what happened 3 years ago before the clone wars began?"

Anakin insisted, "I don't know what you're referring to."

"Your pain, I felt," Yoda explained, "overwelming pain of loss, it was, and then, overwelming fear and death. Something happened, we know."

Anakin glanced at Obi-wan who was just as confused as the rest of the masters appeared to be. Should he play dumb? No, Yoda clearly knew what happened and now he had to explain himself in front of the entire council. How did this get so turned around on him?

He confessed, "I'll admit I did have an attachment once. 3 years ago I learned my mother had been abducted, so I went against orders to search for her. I found her in time to watch her die in my arms. I couldn't save her." He held back his seething fury from having to relive such pain in front of the entire council. "It didn't exactly feel good to witness that." He stopped himself from confessing anything else.

"Your rage at such an incident is understandable," Shaak-Ti said, "but it is not the way of the jedi. Until you can overcome your grief, learn restraint, and control your temper, you will not be granted the title of master."

Anakin looked around at their stoic faces. "But I've saved so many lives," he said sadly, "you have to at least admit that."

Mace replied, "Our decision is final, young Skywalker. You are now excused."

He hung his head in shame, knowing if he argued it would only add to his anger and give them something else to hold against him. "Thank you, masters, for giving me this opportunity to improve and become a better jedi." He bowed respectfully, but it pained him to know everyone outside that room could feel his intense disappointment.

Later, after the meeting, Anakin retreated to his quarters in the jedi temple and struggled to contain his anger. He sat on the ground in a child's pose, palms up, and tried with everything he had within himself to relax, but his fury was only growing. His breathing exercises weren't working in the slightest. His pulse was pounding in his ears so loud he didn't even hear the door open when he felt Obi-wan's presence enter.

Obi-wan, meanwhile, looked around the room to see Anakin levitating literally every piece of furniture and fixture with his immense control over the force. Even the blinds were trying to float away from the windows. "Anakin," he said gently, "how do you feel about not gaining the title of master?"

"Enraged," he answered, hastily jumping up to his feet, "which I know is exactly what I'm supposed to be working on! I get it!" He shook his head and ran his fingers through his shaggy hair. "I can't believe I humiliated myself in front of the entire council and all those other jedi students."

Obi-wan stepped up to him and said, "It's alright to be upset when life disappoints you, Anakin, that's apart of being alive. The difference between you and a jedi master is that a master never loses control of his power over the force while upset. Why don't you put everything back where it belongs before you break something, go on."

Anakin inhaled as deep a breath he could muster, and everything began falling gracefully back into place. As he slowly let out his breath, the final glass hit a table and smashed against the wall, shattering itself into a million pieces.

"Was that my glass?" Obi-wan asked, pointing at it, "I liked that glass."

"From what I understand, a jedi master isn't supposed to have any attachments," he snarked, crossing his arms.

"Anakin-"

"I'm sorry, Master," he said quickly, "I'll get you a new glass." He paused awkwardly. "Do you agree with the council's decision?"

He answered, "No, but I was out voted."

Anakin's mouth dropped in shock. He asked, "What's the point of having a voting system if parties get out voted so easily?"

"It's how things work, Anakin, it isn't a perfect system, but it is useful," Obi-wan explained, "have some patience. No one as young as you has ever been granted the title of master. Most jedi your age are still padawan learners. Yoda is sure once you mature a bit more and gain some wisdom, you'll be the best and brightest among us. But I didn't come in here to rub your nose in this disappointment. The council actually has a secret assignment for you. We need you to get close to the chancellor and report to us about him."

Puzzled, Anakin asked, "Since when do the jedi ways include spying?"

He explained, "He trusts you, Anakin, and in times like these we can never be too careful. The council is worried about his demeanor. Perhaps if you watch over him you can see through his clouded nature."

He sat down in an armchair and faced his bedroom window. "Great," he said to himself, "another relationship the council wants me to poison in order to prove my worth."

Obi-wan sat on Anakin's bed across from him and asked, "What are you talking about?"

"I'm supposed to have a family," he confessed. He glanced up at his friend's confused face. "Years ago my mom's slave bond was finally paid off, and she met a guy and married him. He has his own son, a guy a bit older than me, and they live on a moisture farm back on Tatooine. I could have a father and a brother, people in my life I've never had before. Instead I'm here, dealing with a council who thinks I'm too immature to handle board meetings, yet at the same time they expect me to be some grand savior of the entire galaxy." He held his forehead in his natural hand.

Obi-wan said, "I am sorry about your mother, Anakin, truly. I do wish Master Qui-gon could have bought her slave bond all those years ago and freed her as he freed you." He paused. "Do you want to live an ordinary life on Tatooine with your step family?"

"If I never see that sandy hellhole again it'll be too soon," he answered, "and moisture farming is as every bit as exciting as it sounds."

He nodded knowingly and explained, "You're having doubts about this life. That's perfectly natural. Just about every jedi I've ever met has felt the same at least once, if not a few times throughout their life. I know you know about Satine."

Anakin nodded and said solomly, "I'm sorry she's gone, Obi-wan."

"When I first met her," he said, "if she told me she loved me, I would have instantly left the order for her, but then I never would have met you and we wouldn't be having this conversation right now. There are positives we can look to in such negative situations."

Anakin sat up straight and asked, "What's the positive side of spying on the chancellor on behaf of the council? If they're right and he's suspicious, I'll lose him as a friend. If they're wrong, I'm wasting my time."

"Think of this as an exercise of paitence," Obi-wan said, "being a jedi isn't always exciting. I know the last three years have been one horrifying thrill after another during this war, but you know it isn't always like this. Take this time to learn how to be paitent with yourself and others. Eventually you'll see the otherside of this hurdle and have another story to tell."

He felt Obi-wan's eyes peering at him as if he were searching his soul. Anakin glanced at the floor first and asked, "Master, is it possible to stop a vision from happening?"

Surprised he changed the subject so suddenly, he said, "There aren't any ways I'm aware of. Our visions show us what to expect, and can help us adjust our current feelings in order to be prepared for what's to come. What are you seeing?"

"Someone dying," Anakin answered harshly. He watched as Obi-wan flinched. "Can I stop it?"

He softened. "Anakin," he said gently, "death is natural. You know we can't stop nature. As jedi we harness nature with our power over the force, but we can't stop the future from arriving." He paused. "I'm sorry. I know what it's like to see someone die in a vision. It's tough. Are you close with this person?"

"Yes," he said, "it isn't you, don't worry."

Obi-wan nodded and said, "Enjoy the time you have left with them, and practice letting go before it happens. It's what a jedi master would do."