Anakin stood beside Padmé; they were finally alone after that long morning.
"So, Senator Skywalker?" Anakin asked, smiling close to her face.
"It's a tradition on Naboo. My mother's surname isn't Naberrie either, but she used it because my father's is. In my family, it's a sign of love."
"Sola doesn't use Darren's surname," Anakin said.
"That's because Sola is as romantic as a droid, and she dreams of her daughters becoming politicians," Padmé said, rolling her eyes.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Anakin asked hesitantly. It was wonderful that she wanted to take his surname, but what if she didn't feel comfortable doing it?
"Of course, I love you. I'm so proud of our marriage. You always said you wanted the secrets to end, well, they're over now," Padmé smiled, sitting on Anakin's lap and giving him a quick kiss.
"Well, Senator Skywalker," Anakin said, kissing her and lifting her into his arms. "How about we spend the day doing something more romantic?" Anakin asked, making Padmé blush at the suggestion. Padmé bit her lip, hating having to refuse him. She didn't want to reject him. She looked at him again and wondered, "Who could refuse him?" But she wasn't weak. She wouldn't give in to her husband's suggestive gaze. There was something important she had to do, and she'd almost forgotten.
"Although I would love to," Padmé smiled, kissing Anakin's nose. "There's a terribly important matter I need your help with, Jedi Master." Padmé smiled, running her hands along Anakin's neck.
"What is this important matter, Senator Skywalker?" Anakin asked, amused. They'd have the night for other things, he thought.
"I need to escort Satine," Padmé said, and Anakin looked at her, puzzled.
"What do you need my help for?" he asked.
"Oh, believe me, you'll see," Padmé said playfully. "Could you put me down, Jedi Master?" she asked seriously.
"Of course not," Anakin joked, walking toward the Duchess.
"Oh, you're just kids," Satine joked as they approached.
"Anakin," Padmé said, laughing as Anakin put her down. "Could you go get Obi-Wan?" Padmé asked, and Satine tensed.
"Are you alright, Duchess?" Anakin asked, concerned, as the Duchess firmly took Padmé's hand.
"Yes, it's nothing," Satine lied.
"Go, Ani," Padmé said with a reassuring smile, and Anakin nodded, heading off in search of Obi-Wan.
"No!" the Duchess cried, and Anakin stopped.
"Duchess, are you sure she's alright?" Anakin asked, worried.
"Ani, do it, go," Padmé said seriously, and Anakin did so hesitantly. "We already talked about this." He heard Padmé whisper to Satine, who nodded. What was happening? Satine wasn't planning on abandoning her master, was she?
"Oh, Padmé, I can't do it," Satine said, hugging her tightly, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"It's just Obi-Wan," Padmé smiled tenderly. "You just have to say it."
"I remember you trembling like a leaf when you told your husband," Satine said.
"The situation was different," Padmé said, blushing.
"This is no different," Satine said, almost shouting. "We're less than a week away from starting a war."
"Oh, Satine," Padmé said, hugging her tenderly as the proud duchess became a sea of tears and sobs.
"I can't, I just can't, I'm so scared," Satine said, crying.
"Because of Obi-Wan?" Padmé asked, confused.
"What if he stops loving me? What if he abandons me again because I'll be an obstacle to the war?" "He abandoned me years ago for the Jedi Order," Satine sobbed.
"He would never do that," Padmé smiled. "You're finally together. I saw how he suffered for you when he saw you hurt. He never will," Padmé said with a smile. "Because if he does, I'll personally see to his death," Padmé thought to herself.
"I hope you're right," the Duchess said, her previous composure gone, and Padmé just hugged her while weeping bitterly.
Anakin looked for his master only to find him meditating.
"Master, Duchess Satine and Padmé need you immediately," Anakin said, confused.
"What's wrong, Anakin?" Obi-Wan asked, puzzled. "Has something happened?" "Is Satine alright?" Obi-Wan asked, worried.
"I don't know, she looked pale," Anakin said, and Obi-Wan ran toward Satine. Anakin followed, wondering what could have happened, until suddenly, as he ran, an idea came to him. He remembered how Padmé trembled when she told him about her pregnancy, and it dawned on him: Satine was pregnant. His master was going to be a father.
"Obi-Wan," Anakin said, catching up to his master. "Let's walk calmly."
"You said she was pale. What if something happened to her?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Trust my master," Anakin pleaded, and Obi-Wan reluctantly agreed.
"I think they were over there. You go check, I'll look this way," Anakin said, deceiving his master.
He ran toward the room where Satine and Padmé were.
"He's out there looking for her in the other room," Anakin said with a smile.
"Why is he in the other room?" Padmé asked, surprised.
"I wanted to give you time," Anakin smiled, watching Satine desperately wipe away her tears.
"Thank you," Satine sobbed, miserably trying to hide her crying.
"Congratulations," Anakin said, smiling at the duchess, who almost burst into tears again.
"How did you know?" "Does he know?" she asked, terrified that he already knew.
"Of course not, but I have reasons to think I do," Anakin said, pointing to Padmé's belly, and both women smiled.
"Are you here, Anakin?" Obi-Wan asked. "Yes, you are," he smiled, looking at the three of them.
"Obi," Satine said, staring at him as if she'd seen a ghost.
"Satine, what happened?" Obi-Wan asked, moving toward her; her eyes were watering.
"I, I—" the duchess began to stammer.
"Satine?" Obi-Wan asked, concerned. "Anakin, do you know what's going on?" Obi-Wan asked, and Anakin shook his head. "Padmé?" he asked, but Padmé seemed too busy looking at the decorations.
"I—" Satine said again, and another wave of tears streamed from her eyes.
"Satine, what's wrong?" Obi-Wan asked, holding her tightly, feeling her sob against his chest.
"I'm pregnant," Satine said against Obi-Wan's chest, who didn't understand a single word of her babbling.
"Satine, darling, I can't hear anything," Obi-Wan said, desperate to know what was happening.
"Satine, darling, I can't hear you." Satine, who had already made a superhuman effort to manage those stammered words, only hugged him tighter, breathing heavily. She never thought she'd find herself in this state. She, a proud, unyielding duchess, now wept against her fiancé's chest because she couldn't finish a sentence. She glanced at Padmé and Anakin, who smiled at her.
"I'm pregnant," she said, hugging Obi-Wan tightly. Unable to let go, she felt his hands encircle her waist, and when she finally mustered the courage to look at him, she saw tears in his eyes.
"Pregnant?" Obi-Wan asked, looking around. "Pregnant?" he asked, looking at Padmé and Anakin, who were smiling at him.
"Are you upset?" Satine asked, biting her lip and swallowing a sob.
Without saying a word, Obi-Wan fell to his knees, weeping with joy. He couldn't understand how something he thought would never be possible had actually happened, filling him with a happiness he'd never known.
"Obi?" Satine said, carefully crouching down to his level.
"We're going to be parents," Obi-Wan said, kissing her tenderly, not caring if anyone saw them. "We're going to be parents, Satine!" he cried, pulling her into a hug.
Satini embraced him, and they kissed for a long time, tears streaming down both their faces.
Padmé and Anakin approached them when they thought it was safe.
"Anakin," Obi-Wan said, smiling once Satine let go of him to hug Padmé again.
"Congratulations, Master," Anakin said, hugging his master.
"Thank you, Anakin," Obi-Wan smiled, returning the hug. "You won't be the only one after all, will you?" Obi-Wan asked, laughing.
"I'm glad we can learn something together again," Anakin smiled.
"Do you think it will be difficult?" Obi-Wan whispered to his former apprentice.
"I certainly think so," Anakin said, walking toward Padmé.
"We'll leave you two alone," Padmé said with a smile as she took Anakin's hand and they left.
Anakin was walking hand in hand with Padmé when he saw Leia and Han kissing sweetly at the palace entrance. Bail Organa watched them with a frown before turning away. Anakin changed direction, and Padmé could sense his deep sadness. They sat down, gazing at the lake.
"Ani, she will always be our daughter," Padmé smiled, caressing her belly.
"Padmé, he is her father," Anakin said, looking at his wife. "He raised her, he held her in his arms, they raised our daughter," Anakin said, lowering his gaze.
"I know Breha took care of my daughter, in a future where I died and you turned to the dark side," Padmé smiled, kissing her husband's cheek. "None of that will happen."
"I know I can't be jealous, but have you seen how Leia looks at him with admiration? He's a politician, and I don't even understand half of a political speech," Anakin said, sitting down. Padmé thought for a minute that he seemed like a child again.
"I've seen how she looks at you. She met you a short time ago and she already loves you. Have you seen how she hugs you?"
"She will know a different future," Anakin said. "She will live with us. She will be my little princess."
"No one will take her from you, Ani," Padmé said playfully. "I promise."
"You promise?" Anakin asked, knowing he was being childish.
"I promise," Padmé smiled, and they hugged, gazing at the landscape.
Luke and Mara walked toward the couple.
"Mom, Dad," Luke said, and they looked. Anakin smiled when he saw Luke's hand next to Mara's.
"Luke?" Padmé asked with a smile, and Mara smiled back. Nervous?
"Dad, Mom," Luke said, looking at Mara with a knowing smile. "We're getting married."
Surprise appeared on Anakin and Padmé's faces.
"Oh, by the Force! That's excellent news!" Padmé said, hugging her son and then Mara. "I'm truly happy for you both," she smiled.
Luke and Anakin gazed at each other with broad smiles.
"Congratulations, son," Anakin smiled. "I wish you all the happiness in the world," he said, pulling Luke into a hug.
"Thanks, Dad," Luke said. He had always wanted to meet his father, and now he was telling him about his upcoming wedding. He felt both complete and nervous.
"Mara," Anakin smiled. "Many congratulations," he said, taking her wrist almost roughly and pulling her into a hug. At first, she tensed up, but then she returned the embrace.
"This is funny, isn't it?" Mara asked, smiling, and Anakin laughed.
"When are you getting married?" Padmé asked.
"Actually, about that," Luke said nervously.
"Oh, by the Force," Anakin said, understanding.
"Now?" Padmé asked.
"We don't want to wait any longer," Luke said.
"Who will be the witnesses?" Padmé asked.
"Well, it definitely won't be C-3PO and R2-D2," Luke said, and everyone laughed except Mara, who didn't understand until it was explained to her.
"Oh, please, how tasteless," Mara said, teasing Anakin.
"We were thinking of Obi-Wan and Satine," Luke smiled, and Padmé and Anakin exchanged a knowing glance.
"Yes, maybe they're a little shocked now, but I'm sure they'll accept," Anakin said.
"Do you have the dress yet?" Padmé asked, looking at Mara.
"I wasn't planning on having one," Mara said simply.
"Oh no," Padmé said, looking at Mara, and Mara was terrified by that look. "It's a very..." "Important in a woman's life, even I had one at my wedding where two droids were witnesses."
"I'm sure you don't want to give me a reason to bother you for the rest of your life, Mara," Anakin said.
"By the Force," Mara said, laughing again.
"Come on, I'll help you get one," Padmé said. "I'm sure Leia will want to help us, maybe Ahsoka too."
"Oh, by the Force," Mara said, this time watching Anakin's face mock her.
Anakin continued talking with his son, who remembered that Luke was a Jedi, but didn't dress like one.
"Come on, let's get some clothes for you," Anakin smiled, and Luke looked at him, confused.
"Clothes?" Luke asked, looking at himself.
"You're a Jedi," his father said, looking at him intently. "You must dress like one," Anakin said, and Luke smiled. He wasn't going to refuse, even though he didn't yet consider himself a true Jedi.
"You're a Jedi," he said. Luke and Mara could hardly believe that Obi-Wan was going to be a father. Obi-Wan and Satine immediately agreed to be witnesses at the wedding. Leia jumped on Luke to congratulate him, and Han congratulated him as well. Even after a long, awkward moment, Leia hugged Mara; after all, they would be sisters-in-law.
The ceremony was that same day. Padmé, Ahsoka, and Leia, with the queen's help, had helped find a beautiful wedding dress for Mara, although she refused to wear a veil.
At first, they wanted to have a small, private ceremony with only their closest family and friends. It was a rushed affair, but soon everyone knew the news thanks to a not-so-discreet Han and an excited Ahsoka, so the entire Rebellion witnessed their wedding.
When the officiant finished the ceremony, Luke looked at Mara, overcome with emotion.
"I love you," he whispered before kissing her passionately, and applause erupted at their wedding.
"I love you too," Mara said, feeling incredibly happy as she clung to her now husband's neck.
A completely unplanned but enormous party was organized in a matter of hours.
Luke and Mara disappeared from the place a few hours later, after having spent time with everyone. Anakin watched Luke disappear with Mara and smiled.
"Oh, don't be mean," Padmé joked. "Promise you won't bother him."
"I've never bothered him," Anakin said, laughing and feigning innocence.
"Oh, come on, I heard what you were saying to him in the kitchen that day when he found us, you know," Padmé said, blushing slightly.
"Now he won't have to blush," Anakin teased, receiving a punch on the shoulder.
"Oh, by the Force, Han and Leia aren't here either," Padmé said, and Anakin's smile vanished. "Just kidding, just kidding, they're over there, see?" Padmé said, pointing to Leia, who was talking with Ahsoka and Han.
"Funny," Anakin teased, hugging her.
"Last night they were by the lake, alone, all night in a ship," Ayla Secura whispered as she walked by. "Sorry, Skywalker, maybe you'll be a grandfather soon," she said, winking at him. Master Fisto, who was with her, almost burst out laughing. Great, Anakin thought. Even his fellow Jedi were making fun of him for his jealousy.
"I'm never going to be a grandfather," Anakin grumbled. "That's not going to happen. Did you hear that, Padmé?" he grumbled.
"Oh, Ani," Padmé said, hugging him.
"I think Ahsoka wanted to marry Lux," Obi-Wan said, walking arm in arm with his beloved Satine.
"What?" Anakin almost shouted. "Over my dead body!"
"She's just teasing you, Master Skywalker," Satine smiled, and Anakin sighed in relief.
"You need to stop being so obvious, Ani," Padmé smiled.
The party continued, Anakin laughing heartily when Ahsoka tried to teach Han how to use a lightsaber.
Leia knew her father, Anakin, was hurt by her decision to tell Bail Organa the truth. She didn't want Anakin to feel that way, so she waited for the right moment to approach him during the party.
"Dad," Leia smiled affectionately.
"What's wrong, Princess?" Anakin smiled sweetly.
"I know you're not happy about my decision to tell Senator Organa," she said, trying not to hurt him further by calling her adoptive father "Father."
"Oh, that," Anakin said, sounding a little sad. "I understand, Leia. He's your father. You've only known me for a short time. I was a monster to you. I won't force you to feel comfortable with me, but I want you to know that I love you and I'll always be here to protect you," Anakin said with a smile that made Padmé smile too.
"Oh, Dad," Leia said, hugging him tightly and clinging to his neck. Was it normal for him to be so tall? She thought, "You'll always be my father, and I love you. We didn't have an easy start, not even a normal one. I come from the past, you know, but I love you. You're my father, and no one will ever change that," she said, kissing her father on the cheek.
"I love you too, daughter," Anakin said, shedding a single, barely noticeable tear as he hugged her tighter.
The party ended, and almost everyone had left. Leia and Ahsoka had gone to bed. Ahsoka regretted not having been able to talk to Lux during the entire party, but she saw him talking to a senator his age and thought it best not to interfere. Perhaps he was with her now. Han abandoned the idea of kidnapping Leia again, because Anakin's murderous glare when he tried told him that Anakin already knew about their little escape the other night, and that he wouldn't hesitate to approach him for a chat (to die by force). He just had to make sure he wasn't alone when he found him, Han thought, retiring to sleep. Sometimes he missed Chewie; on lonely nights, he was always his faithful companion.
Obi-Wan and Satine had also retired, and the rest of the Jedi, some senators, were still conversing.
In the tranquility of the night, Anakin walked with his wife through the beautiful landscapes of Alderaan.
"I think you owe me something, Jedi Master," Padmé said, smiling provocatively.
"Something?" Anakin asked, confused, then remembered. "Oh, something," he smiled happily.
"Come on," Padmé said, pulling him to a secluded spot.
"Here?" Anakin asked, amused. They were literally in the middle of the gardens of Alderaan, and Padmé was pregnant.
"Why not?" Padmé asked seductively. She didn't want to miss a single second of her husband's body, nor of his kisses. The coming days would be difficult; she wanted to spend as much time as possible with him, being completely his.
"I could never say no to you," Anakin smiled, kissing her passionately.
On Coruscant, the absence of the Jedi and some senators had not gone unnoticed. A bad feeling came over Count Dooku, who was secretly visiting his master.
"Senator Amidala?" "Have you been able to contact her?" he asked his master.
"She's on an important mission," Palpatine said seriously.
"Haven't you considered that she might have deceived you?" Dooku asked, and furious, Palpatine used Force lightning to torture him.
"No one can deceive me, no one!" he shouted angrily, and Dooku said nothing more to contradict him.