The End Of This
(by Cindy Renee Miller)
1:Wrong
CHAPTER 1
Even though her heart was broken and she was in a lot of pain, she knew that she had to press on. She had to live. She decided to live because she wanted to be a good mother for her children and she didn't want Obi-Wan, Yoda, and Bail to have to find homes for them. All of a sudden, the MedDroids jumped back with surprise and looked at her.
"Are you alright, Senator?"
"About as good as I'm going to get. I'm being injected with chemicals and I know they will cause me to go into labor, but I'm fine. I'll be fine."
The med Droid came out of the examination room and went right to the Jedi and the Senator.
"She has regained the will to live. The young Senator should be fine after the operation is completed. The twins are looking very healthy."
"So she's alright?"
"Physically, yes... psychologically, I don't know. She's sound, but distressed. Whatever happened to her must have been pretty bad. Her brain scans showed increased stress and conflicting emotions, as if something happened to her."
"Something did happen. Her husband broke her heart. He is probably dead now and she's going to be left with his twins to take care of without him. The Republic is now an Empire, and I'm afraid that she won't be able to go back there to the Senate. She shouldn't go back."
"Are you familiar with her husband?"
"Yes, he was a pupil of mine until he turned to evil. He just helped the Emperor hunt down and destroy the Jedi Knights. The man he is isn't the man she married. He betrayed us all. It’s hard not to hate him for it but somehow, I know that i couldn't hate him, no matter what wrongs he has done against me."
"he sounds like an awful person."
"He wasn't, until now. He was a good, kind-hearted man, very strong in the Force, charming, handsome. He was a great man..."
The screams of childbirth pierced the room as Padme gave birth to her son, Luke, and her daughter, Leia. They were adorable and she loved them instantly. Luke's eyes were the bluest she had ever seen and she automatically thought of Anakin. He had gorgeous eyes. She cried then and Obi-Wan knew why.
Darth Vader was now forever enclosed in a very uncomfortable iron lung that was restricting and the voice he heard through it was not his own. All he could think about was Padme, and if she was alright. He knew he had broken her heart and he wanted more than anything to be near her and apologize. In fact, he wanted to rewind the whole thing and go back, sort of a do-over. But he knew that wasn't going to happen. The next thing he heard was the Emperor's voice.
"Lord Vader, can you hear me?"
"Yes, my master. Where is Padme? Is she here? Is she alright?"
"I'm afraid in your anger, you killed her." he said. Vader noticed, even through the stupid lenses in his helmet that Palpatine wasn't entirely sure but thought he could conceal it."
"I-I couldn’t have. She was alive, I felt it. Even when I was on fire in the lava, i could feel her presence. I still do."
"you're clinging to what might have been, Lord Vader. It's best to live without her. Women are trouble."
Vader was greatly angered. He had joined the Dark Side to save Padme, by Palpatine’s own stories he had been convinced.
"You're mind is loud, Lord Vader."
Vader didn't answer. He was too angry to even lash out. He was paralyzed with anger. He kept the rest of his thoughts veiled. He knew she was alive.
Obi-Wan decided to go to Naboo with Padme and help her take care of the twins. He felt partly responsible for Anakin's downfall even though he knew he wasn't really to blame. Padme was very grateful for him being there, saying that she could never do it on her own. A few days after getting there, she found a message on her ship from Captain Typho. She sent him a reply.
'I am fine, Captain. I am at home on a secure frequency. If you would like to come by, you know where to find me. Don't tell anyone else where I am."
A few minutes went by and he sent her another message.
"Milady, we've been so worried. When you didn't come back, we thought you were dead. "
"I thought I was too. Captain, I don't think I’ll ever be allowed to go back to Courascant, it's not safe."
"Why not, milady?"
"I'd feel better if we talk in person."
“Alright. I'll be there as soon as I can. Be safe, Milady."
"Thank you, Captain."
Vader had made his rounds on the star destroyer and traveled to Courascant and flew by Padme's apartment. No one was there, which he wasn't surprised. His key to her apartment had melted away, but he knew the codes. He punched them in and went inside. He discovered that someone had been there within the last hour, but it wasn't her. He concentrated and realized that Typho was the one who had been there. He had always liked Typho. He didn't know why he had been there, but he decided to look at the communication's board. He saw older messages, but then saw a new one that seemed to be going to a ship. He looked at the number and searched his memory. Padme's ship. There were several messages, as if they had been in conversation. He couldn't access the conversations, but he knew that SOMEONE had been on Padme's ship. He could only hope that it was Padme, the love of his life. There were so many things that he saw in the apartment that reminded him of her and all the fun times they had shared in this apartment. Padme had always wanted to buy a house, somewhere where they could live alone and away from the public eye. She wanted a place for them to raise their family. He longed to see her. He knew in his heart that she was alive and he intended to find her and make things right. Typho sat with Padme in her sitting room at the lake retreat. She was reasonably calm and didn't cry very much. He found out that her husband, Anakin Skywalker, a Jedi Knight, had turned to the Dark Side and killed people at the Temple. Then, he had went to Mustafar and there he fought obi-Wan Kenobi, his former Master and Best Friend. He had fallen sometime during the duel and was probably dead. Another development was the birth of the couple's twins, Luke and Leia. She brought them out for him to see. They were beautiful twins. "It isn't safe for me to go back to the Senate. My party is being eliminated unless we go along with the Emperor. I know that the Emperor will surely imprison me if I come back... And if he finds that I have had children, he will try to find them and use them to further his dark schemes. If Anakin is alive, then he will come looking for me on Courascant and if he is the way he was when I was last with him, I don't ever want him to see his children. it wouldn't be safe. Don't get me wrong, Captain, I love him very much and I always will... But the young man I came to see on Mustafar is not the man I married. I can't let that man take my Ani's children away. I can't." "This is all so horrible Milady. What will you do?" "Obi-Wan is here helping me. he doesn't have anywhere to go now. I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have him here. Twins are a hand-full. But if I didn't have them, I'd be miserable. They are the best thing that could have happened to me after such a bad situation. I look at them and for a moment, everything is right." Vader realized that Padme wasn't there, and probably would never be back, but he somehow felt at home here. But he missed Padme more than anything he had ever experienced in his life. This feeling of longing permeated his soul and made his body hurt even more than it was already hurting. He was miserable and longed to go back to the days before he made his terrible mistake. Obi-Wan held Luke, seeing so much of Anakin in the boy that it almost made him sick. The boy was adorable and was very strong in the Force. Somehow, the boy seemed to have a missing place in his heart. Obi-Wan knew how that felt. He marveled at how well Padme had been doing caring for the twins. She tended to their every need and loved them more than anyone he had ever seen. He knew that the children would turn out right even though their father wasn't there for them. Years had passed for Vader, miserable years longing for his wife. He knew she was alive but he hadn't been able to look for her because of the huge string of assignments he was given by the Emperor doing piddly little things to pleasure his Master. He hated this life. It was like a slavery and people only obeyed him because he looked scary. He had secretly been taking medicines and getting synth-skin put on his face and other places where he was severely burned, and he was able, through samples of his blood and cells, to have his non-functioning organs grown separately in a top secret lab for him to one day replace his non-functioning and/or computerized, mechanical organs that trapped him in a suit. He was even having limbs being grown and a host of other things that he missed. Anything to get out of that horrid suit. He was about a year away from being ready to make the change. He was ready, and the change couldn't be soon enough. It was the twins' 6th birthday today. It was a day that was bittersweet for Obi-Wan and Padme. To them, they would always remember this as the day that Anakin was no more. The twins were growing up well and in school, studying politics, drama, art, mathematics and a host of other things that children learn while in school. They were both doing well. They often asked about their father, and Padme would tell them the story partially. She didn't want them to grow up hating their father. Somehow, she felt like he was out there somewhere. she didn’t know if she felt good about that or not. Vader had spent time recovering from his transplants and operations and was now out of his suit. He had spent most of the recovery time in his meditation chamber. He now looked more normal than he had in a long time. He went in disguise to Padme's apartment and saw that no one had been there for at least three years. It was a shame. He decided to go to Naboo to see if she might be there. He was near the lake retreat and saw that there were lights on inside. His heart leaped. He knew Padme had every right not to trust him and not to want him around, but he had to see her. He knocked on her door and a few seconds went by before anyone came. He could hear noise inside as if chaos was going on. There was a slight disturbance in the Force surrounding the house and its contents. He smelled and sensed fear. But finally, the door opened and Padme was there. She looked beautiful but terrified. She didn't speak for a few seconds. "Why are you here?" “I need to speak with you, Padme." "You haven't spoken to me for years. Why the sudden need?" "I just need to speak to you. May I come in?" “I guess." She consented. She led him into the sitting room and sat down, shaking. "Why have you come?" She asked, fear in her brown eyes. “I need to speak with you to set things right." "Oh. So I see." "I know I'm intruding, Padme. I just wanted to set things right. I did a lot of horrible things, and I suffered horrible consequences for those things I did wrong. I had my legs chopped off and I was burned beyond recognition. I had to be placed in a suit to breath because my internal organs were so damaged. It took me this long to get my 'normal' appearance back. I didn't want you to be afraid of me, but that's not the only reason. The Emperor was watching me closely because I wanted to see you again. He doesn't care anymore. He thinks I’ve given up hope. That's what he wants me to do. I know I did a lot of stupid, horrible things. I hurt myself and more importantly, I hurt you. I hurt the person I wanted so badly to save. I have been enslaved by someone who tricks and lies to everyone, including me. That is my story. I don't expect you to forgive or believe me, Padme. And I don't expect you to even care, but I just needed you to know. If I leave and never see you again, I want you to know that I did a stupid thing and I apologize with all my heart and soul. Please know that I wasn't doing wrong things to be doing wrong things. I’ll leave you now... I just needed to tell you this." he looked into her eyes and sighed, looking in torment. He turned to go away, and she caught his arm. "Anakin..." Was all she could say before she burst into tears. He had longed for years to hear her say that. She came closer to him and laid her head on his chest, breathing deeply, tears landing on his clothing. "Padme..." "Anakin, I never thought this day would come. I-I forgive you." She said. All he could do was hold her tight. He loved her more than anything. He had longed to smell the scent of her hair, and feel the softness of her skin. And then, he looked into her eyes and she looked back. They leaned in closer and kissed for the first time in years. It was as if nothing had ever come between them. Then, she softly said, "Ani, there's something you must know. After you left, I was unconscious and Obi-Wan took me to Polis Massa, and I gave birth to our children… They are 6 now.” “Children? You mean we have more than 1?” “Yes… Ani, we have twins. Luke and Leia. They’re beautiful. Every minute of pain that I went through to bring them into this galaxy was worth it. I still had a family. Someone to love. Come here, darling.” She took him by the hand, telling him to be quiet, and led him to a door. She opened it and slipped inside. then, he caught his first glimpse of his children. They were asleep, but they were as beautiful as he knew they would be. When they slipped out of the room, Padme said to him, "Ani, you know Obi-Wan has been helping me with them, don't you?" "I didn't know but I'm not surprised. I really don't mind. Who else were you going to turn to?" "I'm glad you understand. I didn't want to make you angry, but I did what I had to do at the time. He lives down the street a little. Are you going to go see him? Or should I tell him you're here? He'll find out eventually. I don't want him to get freaked out. You're supposed to be dead, and when he last saw you, you were a charred, legless life form trying to creep up the sand." "I think you should talk to him. If I show up there after all these years, he'll freak out. I don't want that." “Alright. I'll talk to him tomorrow. I think, once he gets over the initial
shock, he'll be happy. He'll be relieved."
“I hope so. I really didn’t mean for any of that to happen. All I really wanted was for you to be safe.”
“Ani, you wanted to cheat death, which no one can do. I don’t want to live forever. I just want to live long enough to see our children live and love. If you would die, I don’t care too much about living. It wouldn’t be worth anything without you. I discovered that once you were gone. I was only existing. The only time I was really living was when I was with the children. I had almost given up hope that I’d ever see you again. I didn’t want to see what you had become. I wanted to erase the last months we were together and start over, or have the knowledge to say something else to you so maybe this wouldn’t have happened. I know that can’t be done, but I wanted it more than anything. It could have been different.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I regretted everything. I still do, and it hurts more than anything. I am a horrible person.”
“No, you’re not. You just… You just did horrible things. Most of it was just the fact that you are so emotionally active. So much of your life depends on the people you love. You have volatile emotions that are very sensitive to those kind of things. For that, I can’t fault you, Ani.”
“Alright… I just still should have thought a little more with my mind while I was thinking with my heart.”
“Well, now you know.”
“I do.” He looked tired.
“Do you want to go to bed? It is late.”
“That would be good.”
She took him into the large room and shut the door behind her as she went in. It had been such a long time. They climbed into bed like they used to such a long time ago before the war, and before all these unfortunate events. The next morning came with a start, almost as if the night had been on fast forward. Padme wondered why sometimes the night seemed so long and the other times it seemed so short. This was a whole new experience though. Here she was, with her husband that she hadn’t seen in six years. She had thought him dead, although she didn’t want it to be true. Now, here he was again, next to her, actually sleeping peacefully, something he hadn’t done before. She remembered the last night he was at her Courascant Apartment. He had barely slept two hours when he was violently awakened by the nightmare of her dying. After that, he hadn’t slept very well the rest of the night, nightmare still creeping up on him. Had it really been six years ago? Now, she looked at him in the pale morning light and smiled. He was her Ani again. He looked almost the way he had six years ago. She got up and got dressed, contacting Obi-Wan and telling him that she would be over in a little while to tell him something important. Then, she went back to her bedroom, seeing Anakin still asleep. She smiled and went to check on the twins. They weren’t up yet. So, she went back into the bedroom and stayed for a while until Anakin woke up. When he did, she kissed him for a long time because she was so happy to see him again. Then, she went into the kitchen and started making breakfast. Anakin was getting dressed. When he came out, she told him to watch the food on the stove while she went down the street to see Obi-Wan. He agreed and kissed her for a long time. She smiled and left, going to see Obi-Wan. When she got there, he greeted her with warmth, but confusion, not knowing why she was there.
“I have to tell you something very important. It can’t wait.”
“Is it bad? I something wrong with the children?” he looked panicked.
“No. The children are fine… it’s just… Anakin… He- He’s come back… He’s at my house. He came back in the middle of the night…”
“You aren’t hurt, are you? Wait… Why did he come? How? He’s Darth Vader…”
“He was… Obi-Wan… He looked so pained when I saw him. He apologized for everything, and I know he meant it. He didn’t know about the children…He was happy when I told him…”
“You told him about the children? Why?”
‘They’re his children, Obi-Wan! I didn’t even tell him until I was sure he was sorry.”
“But he could have been shrouding the truth. He’s been trained in both sides of the Force.”
“He wasn’t lying. I know him. Sith, Jedi or neither, I know him, and I know his mannerisms. When he lies to me, his hand shakes and he doesn’t look me straight in the eye. He didn’t do that last night. I swear to you. I never would have told him if I thought he was lying. If there was any doubt in my mind, I wouldn’t have told him.”
“Ok.. Ok… Was he mad, about me?”
“No. He understood and I said I would talk to you and let you know that he was back.”
“Will he be terrified if I come over and look for myself?”
“I doubt it. He’s watching breakfast.”
“You let him do that?”
“Yes. I trust him.”
“I don’t know how you do it.” He said, getting ready to go.
“I made enough for the three of us, and for the children. I first need to sit them down and talk to them about their father. I don’t know how through.”
“Well, I’ll help. We never said anything bad about him, except that he wasn’t there.” Obi-Wan said, walking out the door. When they got to Padme’s home and Obi-Wan saw Anakin standing in the kitchen with both legs and arms, he almost fainted. “What? How?!”
“Oh… Cloning, regenerating, organ replacement, skin transplant, bacta… All that..”
“You went to a lot of trouble… But it was worth it. You look great. I can hardly tell that you were badly injured.”
“Yeah… That’s what time and surgery does. Do you want some breakfast? It’s almost done.”
“Sure.”
“We’ll eat first and then we’ll have to tell the children…”
“Yes…” Anakin looked unsure of what to do or say at that moment.
“Don’t worry. I’m sure you’ll find the words… And I will too. They just will need to know that they have a dad and he’s alive. He’s here.”
After they had eaten, the kids were up and Padme sat them down on the couch to talk to them. Anakin and Obi-Wan had gone into the other room until Padme finished talking to the twins. She looked into their tiny eyes and breathed in a deep breath to calm her nerves. Then she said,
“Children, I have to tell you something very important.”
“What is it, mommy?” Luke asked.
“You know how I’ve told you about your daddy…. How he went away because he was tricked, and he was badly injured…”
“We remember, mommy.” Leia said.
“Well, I never thought it possible but, he’s better now and he’s come back… We’ve worked things out.”
“Will he stay?” Luke asked.
“I think so. He might have to leave one time or another, to fulfill his destiny… to bring balance to the Force… But, I think he’ll be back…”
“Where is he, mommy? Is he here?”
“Yes, darling, he’s here. He’s in the other room talking with Uncle Obi-Wan.”
“Will he come in?” Leia asked.
“Yes. I just wanted to tell you first. I’ll go get him.” She brought Anakin out, and Obi-Wan followed close behind. The kids were enthralled and mesmerized by him. They had heard so much about him and his legend. Luke had always showed a special interest in the story of his father, especially the stories of his Jedi past. Leia just wanted a father. They were a little tentative at first but then Leia ran to him and jumped into his arms. Luke followed closely and soon both of them were in their father’s arms. For the first time, Anakin was able to say to them, "I love you." Leia was crying because she'd wanted a dad for a long time. Luke just seemed amazed and enthralled by Anakin's presence. He was totally into his dad. He had worshipped the character in the story his mother and Obi-Wan had told him and his sister so many times. Padme was standing back; crying because she was so happy everything was working out. She had always wished for this. Ever since Anakin had left, she had wished that he would come back, if not for her, for the children. They needed a father. Obi-Wan was a kind, sweet man, but he openly admitted to not knowing anything about being a father. After all, he'd been raised at the Temple, and he hadn't known his parents. He did the best he could but everyone knew he wasn't really Leia and Luke's dad.
But even though he wasn't their real father, he had been a huge part of their lives for a long time. Padme was very grateful for him and the help he had given her. She was also grateful for the things he had taught the children. Things she wouldn't have even thought of. He trained them in the ways of the Force, just enough so they were accustomed to it. He didn't want them to suddenly one day discover that they had this power, and then have no one to teach them how it was to be used. Obi-Wan knew that the children would be Force sensitive, because Anakin was the Chosen One. Even though Anakin had turned to the Dark Side, he still had the same genes he was born with, and his children wouldn't be affected by his bad decision, at least not genealogically. In spite of every thing, Obi-Wan was glad to help. Padme had become a very important person in his life.
2:Working
On It
Anakin spent the week with his family, wishing that he hadn’t been so stupid and left them in the first place. He had wasted so much time away from them. He had missed so much, all because he was stupid and selfish. He should have known better, but he didn’t. He couldn’t change the past. All he could do was spend time with them now. He loved them more than life itself. He had learned that life wasn’t worth living if you had nothing and no one to live for. If you didn’t have love, all your efforts were worthless. Anakin spent two weeks there on Naboo, mending his relationship with Padme and with his children, and with Obi-Wan. Eventually though, he told them that he was going to find the Emperor and kill him. He wasn’t going to be a slave to him anymore. And he didn’t want anyone else to be a slave either. He went to the Emperor’s chambers aboard the Intergalactic Star Destroyer: Annihilator and gave him the potion to make him wake up, but not before putting on the horrid suit. He didn’t want the Emperor to know he had been revived. The Emperor woke up, not knowing that anything had happened.
“Greetings, Lord Vader. Have you had a peaceful sleep? I have. I caught up on all that sleep that eluded me in previous nights.”
“I am well rested, my master.”
“What a strange surprise! But a welcome one. Have you gotten over those unfortunate events yet?”
“I have, my master.”
The old, disfigured Sith got up out of the chair and walked around for a while, Anakin waiting patiently. Finally, the old man was up to their normal morning duel. It was a training tool to gauge Vader’s strength and progress to the Dark Side. It was something that Vader had actually somewhat enjoyed. He got to show off his talent. The Emperor was shocked at Vader today. Vader was excellent in his fighting style. It was as if he had been really practicing. It also seemed like he had a purpose for doing it, which was unusual. Finally, he was tired of dueling and tried to stop, but Vader kept going, oblivious to the fact that the Emperor was in a sweat, huffing and puffing. Then, the Emperor slipped and Vader had his head. Anakin knew that Vader wouldn’t be charged with anything, and that no one would question his reasoning on the death of the emperor. He managed to make it look like he died naturally, which took a lot of work. Then, Anakin, dressed as Vader, told the coroner aboard the ship that the Emperor had died in his sleep. Then, it was proclaimed that Darth Vader was to be the new emperor. He didn’t want this, so, he called a meeting of the senate and told them to nominate people to be emperor. They voted and Bail Organa was the lucky winner. For the many months to come, Bail was proven to be the best choice for the job. Padme was grateful that Anakin hadn’t taken the job as Emperor or as Chancellor, as Bail had started to call himself. He didn’t like the term ‘emperor’ it sounded too hard and it also symbolized the oppression of the Sith dictator Palpatine had been. He had a decree passed that eliminated the Empire. Everyone was in favor. Six years was six years too many.
Back at home with the twins, Padme and Anakin were safe. Anakin was loving being a dad, always playing with the twins and telling them stories about his adventures. One night, he told a story about the Battle of Geonosis and Luke piped up. “You should write these stories down, daddy. The Holonet doesn’t cover these events very well. You tell them so excitingly!”
“Yeah, daddy!” Leia squealed.
“Are you sure?” He looked confused.
“Yes! Then people would know what really went on. You could write the story of your life!”
“That’s a little arrogant, isn’t it?”
“No daddy! You can say that we telled you to do it.”
“You told me to do it.” He laughed.
“Yeah… Right. Told.” The little boy said sadly, as if he knew he was wrong and felt stupid. Anakin smiled and looked him in the eyes. “Luke, my boy, everyone has to learn the right words at sometime or another. Not all do. I don’t pretend to be a master in the grammar and vernacular of Basic. I make mistakes. Language is hard, especially when you need to know so many different parts of languages. Tenses are hard. Every kid has trouble with that, unless they’re a weird genius with abnormal genes.”
“I bet mommy didn’t have trouble. She’s real smart!”
“I think even mommy had trouble. But, she probably had less trouble than I did. Of course, I wasn’t as well educated, and I had to learn two or three languages to get by. I spoke Basic as my first language, but I had to learn Huttese and Toydarian because I lived on Tatooine and my master was a toydarian. I managed. You’ll catch on, Luke. All in good time.”
“Good.” The little boy said.
“Well, now… It’s time for bed. Give me a hug.”
“Goodnight, daddy.” They both said, hugging him. He kissed their heads and pulled the covers up around them. Then, he went into the bedroom where Padme was reading. He came in and kissed her cheek before going around to the other side. She smiled and said, “I love you too.”
“You’re something special, you know that?”
“I don’t think I’m so much, but I’m glad you think I am.”
“I do.” He grinned. She turned to him and said, “Remember, sweetheart, mother and dad are coming over tomorrow night for dinner with Sola and the children.”
“Yes. I remember. I went to the store earlier and bought stuff for that casserole you make. I also bought everything else on the list.”
“I know. Thank you, honey.” She kissed him for a long time on the lips. “You know, Ani… This will be the first time mom and dad will meet you as my husband… They didn’t know about us until I came back to Naboo. I didn’t really say that you had gone away, and I thought it was for good. I simply just told them that you were badly injured and left for dead. It hurt too much to tell them what really happened.”
“Well, I hope that they’ll like me as much as they did then.”
“I think they will.” She got a look in her eye that Anakin had never seen before, even though he had known her for a long time.
“What is it?”
“Oh… Ani…I just… Now that you’re back… I..” She left off, looking down and then looking back into his eyes. “I want to have another baby.”
Anakin was surprised that he wasn’t surprised. He smiled at her and said, “Me too. And this time, I want to be here.”
“I’m so glad you feel that way.” She got closer to him and kissed him.
“I guess you want to start now.” He smiled at her.
“Yes.” She said, kissing him again.
At dinner the next night, Ruwee and Jobal came with Sola, Ryoo and Pooja. Anakin and Obi-Wan had been helping Padme in the kitchen and with the children. When the guests got there, Ryoo and Pooja played with Luke and Leia. The adults talked and Padme’s parents were getting to know Anakin. They had really never known him as their son-in-law, but they knew of him and they had met him. They were a little bitter that he had left, but they were slowly getting over it. They knew that he didn’t mean to hurt their daughter, and they knew that he had gone through a lot, both in that negative lifestyle and simply throughout his life. He was the Jedi’s black sheep. All his Jedi life he had tried to win their approval. Each time, it failed. He was never good enough. Now, after his horrible acts against the Jedi, and his marrying Padme and betraying her, he sometimes felt like a total disaster and a curse to everyone who knew him. He had to get over that and he had to overcome this feeling of guilt. He had made things right with Padme and their children, and with Obi-Wan. He could never erase his horrible acts, but he had made things right. Padme brought him out of his reverie by putting a soft hand on his shoulder. He shook himself and grinned a little at her. After her parents left, the two went back into their room and sat down. Padme sat next to her husband and softly said, “Ani, what were you thinking when you spaced out earlier? It looked serious.”
“I was just getting trapped in my guilt again. It seems that whenever there’s a quiet moment, I just think back to everything bad that I did. I don’t know why. I try not to think about it but it always comes back.”
“Well, Ani, one day you’ll make peace with yourself. But for now, just remember how much I love you and how much your children love you.”
“I will. I’m sorry for all the pain I’ve put you all through.”
“Oh, Ani, you don’t need to feel that way.”
“I just can’t help it, Padme. You are my whole life. Nothing in my life came together until you came into my life. I just don’t know how I could do that to you. I don’t know how…”
“Ani, you just were trying to save me and got tricked, roped into Palpatine’s plan. It happened to everyone. If we had known what he was going to do, we would have stopped him. Unfortunately, we didn’t. You needn’t feel so bad, my dear. You did what you had to do, and now you don’t have to worry about Palpatine. You killed him and he’s dead. You need to make peace with your demons. I had to. I blamed myself for you leaving. I blamed myself for everything. If I hadn’t made peace with my demons and my pre-fabricated ideas about love, I wouldn’t be here today, and would have never gotten married. I was an all work, no play girl, but when I met you again, I had to make myself forget. And I married you. Just think what would have happened if I hadn’t let go.”
“I know. I’m sorry for dragging this up over and over again. I’m gonna work on letting go. That’s what the Jedi always tried to teach me. I think I should be a little more like them.”
“They are something good to live up to. That’s a good thing to strive for, Ani. I’ll help you whatever I can.”
“How did I get so lucky?” He asked.
“Because you’re the Chosen One, most would say. But I think that you make your own luck. I truly think that you have always endeavored to learn all you can about your world and the people in it. You have been trying as hard as you can to eradicate your bad record and move towards the light. The last step is forgiving yourself, Ani.”
There wasn’t anything he could say to that. She had said everything. She had a knack for that. He was sure that no matter what happened, he’d always have her.
The next day was a day where Padme went to work at Theed Palace, helping Queen Nappolo. She was a kind girl, a little taller than Padme had been at her age. She was fourteen and gorgeous. She only wore the facial markings of the queen when she was traveling or in meetings. Padme had often chatted with her without her make up, and had given her advice. Padme served as a Royal and Senatorial Advisor for the Naboo government. She was employed by the Senate now, and only went to Coruscant on very important business. When Anakin had turned to the Dark Side, she had dropped out of the political front, only talking to Mon Mothma and Bail Organa. She knew that every moment she was in the public eye, she could be targeted by the Sith. She had to be careful because of her children. She didn’t want them to be hurt. But now, she didn’t have to worry about that because Anakin was back and Palpatine was killed. Today, while she went to work, she left Anakin at home with the twins and Obi-Wan to make sure Anakin had someone to talk to once the twins went off to school. The Queen asked her about her family.
‘They’re fine.” She replied. “Thank you for asking about them. Luke and Leia are in school learning all kinds of things. Ani watches them when I’m away and starts dinner, goes to the store for me, and he talks with Obi-Wan and they work on Force things.. I don’t know what. But I love them all very much. Actually, Ani and I are trying to have another baby, so we’ll see what happens.”
“That’s wonderful, Padme. Someday I hope to have as charming of a family as yours. Didn’t you have dinner with your folks last night?”
“Yes, I did… And with Sola… They all came by and we ate and talked, having a grand time. I have to say I’m really thrilled with having these dinners together. It’s what we should have been doing all along. How is your family?”
“They’re alright. Very busy. They all think I’m in danger being in this job, but I’m in no more danger than I would be if I worked in the Senate, or in a job of hard manual labor. I could be killed easier if that were the case. My mother is taking on another school teaching position next year and my father is working on designs for a new theater. My sister, Alliandra is almost out of college and dating a man three years older than her. He’s a rich business man. My little brother, Pedrok has enrolled in the prestigious Leshula University of Art and Politics. He’ll do well I think. He’s very intelligent, and so is my older and younger sister. My younger sister, Tallia is starting nursery school this next year and my mother is a little antsy.”
“That happens when the youngest child is growing up. Of course, in my family, I was the youngest and it happened soon after my sister was in elementary school.”
The Queen chuckled a little. She was glad she could have these talks.
Anakin had dropped the twins off at their school and was now traveling with Obi-Wan to the market to purchase things for tonight’s dinner. When they had picked up everything they needed, they headed home and put everything away. The two talked and watched the Holonet News and when it was time to pick up the twins, they went. The children ran up to them, very excited. “We made presents for you guys and mommy.” Luke said.
“Yeah! Ask us what we made! Ask us! Ask us, daddy!” Leia chimed in.
“What did you make?”
“We made mugs for all of you, saying something funny…We’ll show you at home, ok, daddy? Mrs. Linbak packed them in tight and we don’t want them to be broked.” Luke said.
“I don’t want them to be broken either.” Anakin smiled, gently correcting the child’s grammar mistake. “Now let’s scurry on home so we can see those mugs.” He smiled, taking one of each twins’ hands in his and walking them to the family sized speeder. Once they were home, he looked at the mugs. His said, “To Daddy: You’re the best in the galaxy.” He smiled and hugged them close to him. Then he read the one for his former Master. It said, “To Uncle Obi-Wan: You have always been there for us.”
Then he read the one for his wife. “To Mommy: You’re the prettiest lady in the galaxy, and the best mommy too.” At that, Anakin smiled again at his children. “I’m sure mommy will love to see that. I know I enjoyed my mug.”
“As did I. Thank you, children.” Obi-Wan said in his Curascanti accent.
“You’re welcome, Uncle Obi-Wan.” The twins said in unison.
“I’ve always wondered how twins do that.
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