Anakin felt like he couldn’t breathe. He should have felt relieved that he was only suspended, not expelled. He hadn’t had a life outside of the Jedi in over a decade. He turned and looked at Padme’ and realized that he was going to be there, to raise their children. Suddenly, it didn’t seem all bad.
Padme’ was glad that her husband hadn’t been expelled, but she was still worried about his future as a Jedi. She knew Anakin loved her, and their children, but he loved being a Jedi as well. “Master Kenobi, how long will his suspension last?”
“Anakin is to spend the next year as a civilian. The council is going to continue to deliberate on his future as a Jedi. When the year is up, we will contact you with our decision.” Obi-Wan hoped that the council would rule in Anakin’s favor. He didn’t want to lose another friend.
Anakin realized that while the council was deliberating his fate, the fate of millions across the galaxy was in limbo. If they couldn’t officially end the war, fighting would continue, for no reason. “Master, what about the Separatists? You’ll need my help in tracking all of them down.”
“I brought that up during our session, but there are members of the council that don’t trust you. They feel that you may be detrimental to the mission. I argued, but the majority agreed. I wish I could give you better news.”
“I understand Master.” While Anakin was dismayed by the idea of not being there to help Obi-Wan, he knew that pushing the matter was not going to help matters. He would accept the suspension without argument.
“Master Kenobi, what happens if the council doesn’t rule in his favor?” It seemed that Padme’ was more upset about the suspension than her husband.
“I can’t answer that question right now. I do hope that cooler heads will prevail, and that we can come up with a better solution. I can’t imagine never having Anakin at my side again.”
“Since my privileges and rights have been revoked, does that mean my lightsaber as well?” Anakin’s lightsaber still hadn’t been returned since that night when Master Windu had taken it. He couldn’t imagine not having his lightsaber anymore. He already felt like he was missing another part of his body.
“We haven’t made a decision yet, but I will speak with Master Yoda, and you will have our decision before the end of the week.” Despite everything that happened, Obi-Wan didn’t think it would be right tot take away Anakin’s lightsaber. He knew that the senator and their children would still need protection.
“I know you must have a lot to do before you depart, so I will take my leave.” He bowed to Padmé and walked with Anakin to the turbolift. They stood there for a moment before Obi-Wan spoke.
“Anakin, I’m not sure how to word this right, but I’ll do my best.” He paused for a moment to gather his thoughts, the spoke again. “When Master Windu contacted me and told me about you and Padmé, I felt betrayed. I couldn’t believe that you would do something to jeopardize your Jedi future. But now I know and I saw you with your son the other day, and that anger disappeared. I…I just wanted to tell you…congratulations. I do hope that this all turns out in your favor.”
Anakin looked at his former master and realized that, no matter what the council decided, Obi-Wan was on his side. That mattered more to him than he realized. “Thank you, Master Kenobi.” With that, Obi-Wan left.
Anakin turned around and saw his wife sitting on the couch, just staring at him. He knew that they would be having a talk about what he had almost done. He walked to her and sat down.
"Anakin, you know I love you.” She placed her hand on his cheek, to comfort him. She wasn’t sure how to react to what Obi-Wan had said earlier. She still couldn’t believe that Anakin would ever turn to the dark side, despite that he had confirmed it. “I just can’t believe that you would ever do something like that! Not ever!”
“I’m so sorry, Padme'.” Anakin was staring at for the floor trying to justify, to himself more than Padmé, what he would have done. “I know I wasn’t thinking clearly then, but I was terrified of losing you that I would have done anything to save you!” Anakin had started crying again. “I realize now, that if I had turned, I would have lost you forever.”
Padmé was still having a hard time figuring out what to say to her husband. She felt sorry for him, but at the same time was still mad at him. “Oh, Ani, I honestly don’t know what to say.” She paused, when C-3PO came into the room.
“Mistress Padmé, Queen Apailana has sent a message. She would like to confer with you as soon as possible.” Padmé kissed her husband and left to contact the Queen.
Anakin sat for a moment to think. He knew Padmé was hurt and upset, and he may never be a Jedi again. He tried to calm himself when he heard a cry. He could sense that it was Leia, and he went into the twins’ room to check on her. He bent over and picked up his daughter. She instantly stopped crying and looked up at her father with big brown eyes. Anakin held her and stared back at her for what seemed like hours.
Padmé walked into the room and saw Anakin holding their daughter. He was smiling. She had never seen her husband so happy. She walked over to her son, who was still sleeping, and stroked his beautiful face. He looked so much like Anakin. She turned to her husband, and realized that, despite what he planned on doing, she couldn’t find it in herself to be angry with him anymore. They were alive, with two beautiful, healthy children, and he was going to be there for her, and them.
“What did the Queen want?” Anakin had heard her walk into the room, but still couldn’t pull his eyes away from Leia.
“I spoke with her earlier about the house in the lake country. She wanted to let me know that everything is set up. I also gave her my resignation as senator. She argued with me, but I simply told her that I’m a mother now, and that my family is my first priority.”
“Our family has always been my first priority.” Padmé looked up at her husband with adoring eyes, and kissed him again. She knew they would be alright.
Obi-Wan left 500 Republica to head back to the Jedi Temple. He wanted to speak with Yoda right away. When he arrived he was immediately greeted by Master Windu.“Master Kenobi, you are needed in the council chambers right away. We have a few more things to sort out.” Obi-Wan could sense that something wasn’t right, but Master Windu’s guard was strong, so he couldn’t get a clear read of what was off. He followed Master Windu through the temple to the council chamber. Both men were in complete silence the entire time.
What was still left of the council had already gathered when the two men arrived. They took their seats, and Master Windu started what was likely to be a long debate about Anakin Skywalker.
“We have gone over this before. The boy is dangerous. Too dangerous to keep his lightsaber. Who knows what could happen if we let him keep it.”
“Anakin’s not going to be a threat. He has a family to think about now. If anything, Padmé and the children will still need protection, especially from what’s left of the Separatist Council. But that won’t go very well if he doesn’t have his lightsaber.” Obi-Wan knew it would be like this. He and Master Windu were on opposite sides of the Anakin debate, like always.
“A good point, Master Kenobi has. But troubled, I am, to young Skywalker and his family, too attached, you are.”
“I admit, I am attached to them, but it doesn’t change anything. They will still need protection, and I think it could also help Anakin redeem himself. If he’s responsible with it, which I’m sure he will be, then it may sway some decisions about his future.”
“Hmm…a lot of thought, given this, you have. Master Windu, anything to say, have you?”
“I still stand by my earlier statement. Anakin Skywalker is too dangerous to possess a lightsaber.” Master Windu knew that he was eventually going to lose this battle, but he was still going to do everything in his power to make sure young Skywalker would never be a Jedi again.
“Now, on this matter, vote, we will.” The eight remaining Jedi submitted their anonymous votes.
"An impasse, we are at,” stated Master Yoda when the votes were tallied. “At a later date, discuss this, perhaps?” Yoda knew that the vote was not going to change, unless someone could come in and persuade them to one side or the other.“We can’t wait too long, Master Yoda. Anakin is leaving within a week.” Obi-Wan had promised Anakin that he would get a decision before they left for Naboo. He hoped he could keep that promise.
“Time it is, to bring before us, young Skywalker. To redeem himself, a chance we will give. Master Kenobi, inform him, you will. In two days, meet again, this council will.” With that, the council departed. All except Masters Yoda, Kenobi, and Windu.
Yoda could sense the tension between the two men. If they were going to finally end this destructive war, he would need to convince the two men to put aside their differences and make a decision regarding young Skywalker. That was going to be easier said than done.
“Master Yoda, what are we to do about the Separatists, once we find them?” While Obi-Wan did want things with Anakin resolved, he knew there was still fighting going on. He wondered how long it would be before peace would be possible. He missed the simple days of border disputes and foiling assassination attempts.
“Later, discuss the Separatists, we will. Resolve your differences, you must, before any further, can we go.” Yoda wanted things with the young Jedi to be decided now, so they could focus on establishing peace again.
“Master Yoda, no disrespect, but this is not something we can change instantly. We are on opposite side of this.” Master Windu was not pleased that the council had sided with Obi-Wan when he suggested a suspension instead. None of them were there that night. They didn’t understand what could have happened. Mace was sure that young Skywalker would be putting himself, and countless others, in danger if he were to keep his lightsaber. “You don’t quite get it. You didn’t know what he was like that night. The anger I felt in him was immense. I was sure he was thinking of killing me.”
“Then maybe you should see him now. Anakin is much different than he was before I left for Utapau. There is a sense of peace in him that has never been there before.” Obi-Wan was positive that if Master Windu saw and sensed the change, he might change his mind.
“Agree, I do. Visit the family, we will. Master Kenobi, our immediate arrival, inform him, you will.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Anakin was in the bedroom packing when C-3PO came in.
“Master Ani, pardon my intrusion, but R2 has received a message from Master Kenobi.” He paused, waiting for his master’s permission to continue.
“What’s the message, Threepio?”
“You are about to receive a visit from him along with Master Yoda and Master Windu. He also sends his apology for not giving you more notice.”
“Thank you, Threepio. Please inform Padmé.” The droid exited the room, leaving Anakin alone to his thoughts. What am I going to say to Master Windu? I need to apologize for that, but how can I offer penance for that? He sat on the bed, with his head lowered in his hands, thinking of things to say. A few minutes later, Padmé walked in and sat down beside her husband.
“Ani, no matter what happens, I’m here for you, and I always will be.” Anakin kissed his wife passionately.
“I love you, Padmé.” Just then, C-3PO entered the room again.
“The Jedi Masters are here to see you.”
“Thank you, Threepio.” Anakin stood up, took his wife’s hand, and they walked out to greet the Jedi.
Anakin and Padmé stood in front of the Jedi Masters and bowed before them.
“Shall we take a seat?” Anakin offered. The group sat down, silent for several moments before Padmé spoke up.
“Can I offer you gentlemen some refreshments?” She had to break the silence somehow, and that was the first thing to come to mind. She felt silly saying it now.
“No, thank you. I would, however, appreciate it if you could give us a moment with Anakin. We have Jedi business to discuss.” Master Windu didn’t want her there. He couldn’t understand how Padmé could forgive him.
“No offence, Master Windu, but I’m staying.” Padmé was going to stand her ground. She knew her husband would back her up.
“Master Windu, calm yourself.” Yoda could feel Mace’s anger at the situation. He would need to be careful. “Senator, your children, may I see?” Anakin suddenly realized why the council hadn’t completely expelled him. They knew his children were not only likely to be force sensitive, but possibly stronger than him.
“Of course, Master Yoda. But I’m not a senator anymore. I’m just Padmé now.” She looked at her husband and smiled, then let Master Yoda into her children’s bedroom. Both were fast asleep. Yoda stepped in-between their beds and closed his eyes to meditate.
“Strong in the Force, they are. Hmm…bright futures they have. Powerful Jedi, they could become.”
“So you mean to take my children, then? That’s why you’ve come.” Padmé had come to the same realization that Anakin had just moments ago.
“Decided that, we will not. More curious, to your reaction, I was. You, and young Skywalker, an important decision, you must make. But later, discussed, this will be,”
“You’re going to make him choose between being a Jedi, which would mean leaving us behind, or allow you to take our children!” Padmé was upset that it had come to this. Yoda now realized that she was much smarter than he had ever given her credit for.
“A possibility, that may be. To decide, a year, we have given him. A long time, that is. Perhaps change, the future may.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, the three men still sat in silence. Anakin knew he was going to have to say something soon.
“Master Windu, I owe you an apology. I don’t know what else I could possibly say or do that could express how deeply sorry I am, and how much I owe to you. If you hadn’t killed the chancellor, and I had turned, I would have lost Padmé…”
Mace interrupted. “You can apologize all you want, but it doesn’t justify anything you’ve done. You broke the Jedi Code, when you married the Senator. You became attached. This never would have happened! You’d be the most powerful Jedi any of us has ever known, and you would have killed the Sith Lord! And as angry as I am with you, I’m more…disappointed than anything. I wanted you to prove me wrong!” Neither Obi-Wan nor Anakin expected that from Master Windu.
“I’m sorry I’ve let you down, Master Windu. I want the opportunity to make it up to you, and the rest of the Jedi Order, but more than anything, to make it up to myself.” Mace could feel Anakin’s remorse. All of the anger and tension and whirlwind of emotions emanating from him in the past few days was gone. Obi-Wan was right. There was a sense of peace in Anakin. But Master Windu could still sense the boy’s fear.
