Ch.1 - Together, Forever, Eternal
Then…suddenly, Luke was disturbed from the glory and the presence of his friends by three all too familiar spirits in the distance. He smiled. It was Obi-Wan, Yoda, and who Luke was sure that it was a younger version of his father, Anakin Skywalker. They all looked at him. They were proud, for sure, and none of them more so than his father. The slight moment seemed to last forever, but it was a great one. Then, like there was a wasting of time…they were gone, but it was okay. Luke turned back to his sister and friends and the party went on for quite awhile more…
"It's time to go," Obi-Wan whispered to the young/old Anakin.
"But he's my son," Anakin remarked.
"Soon you will see him, believe it true," Yoda said. Anakin smiled, and followed them into the airy atmosphere.
"Where are we going?" Anakin asked his two guides.
"You shall see," Obi-Wan said, smirking. Anakin tried hard to remain calm, but it was difficult for him. True, it was, that he had matured from what he had been some years ago till now, but his patience was still on its last straw…as always.
"Calm must you be, if enter this place you can," Yoda said, shaking his head.
"I'll try," Anakin said, smiling regrettably. He was about to say more, but a sudden thrust of wind flew in front of them. Anakin was bewildered, but the other two seemed to think it naturally as they just thrust onward. After a few moments, Anakin, too, had adjusted as the wind died down. A great light forcefully hit them, but alike to the wind, Anakin was astonished as the other two were not. Is this heaven?Anakin asked himself, knowing the other two could read his thoughts and hoping for an answer.
"Not this time, Anakin. You shall have to wait and see," Obi-Wan said.
Did he just not call me young padawan? Anakin thought. That had been the first time ever, most likely in his life, that Obi-Wan had not referred to him as the 'young padawan'. Anakin felt respected and honorable for the first time in his life.
"You're not a child anymore," Obi-Wan said, stopping to embrace Anakin. Anakin took the embrace gratefully, and for a few moments clung to him…desiring this moment for who knows how long. Then Yoda spoke up.
"Welcome to your new home," Yoda said, ending the dear moment between the friends.
Anakin looked up and what he saw was almost unimaginable. Everyone he had ever known was there, and even some people he didn't know. He saw all his child hood friends, and all the Jedi children…he had slain in his past…and yet Anakin felt no remorse, for in his eyes was written the heart and soul of his regret, and in the children's eyes was the hope and promise of forgiveness. Everywhere he looked there was glitter and sparkle. There were no tears. There was no sorrow. Everything was beautiful. Exactly as it should be. There were huge towers of gold, and beautiful mansions of silver. Magnificent creatures pranced upon this heavenly world. It was too good to be true.
"I don't believe it," Anakin whispered to himself.
"Believe it," Obi-Wan said spinning Anakin around.
"Hey, I!" but he was cut off, by his eyes lingering to the middle-aged woman crouching in front of him. He was rendered speechless. Her hair shined with glory. Her eyes sparkled with love and happiness. Her silken gown was decked in silver sparkles and the periwinkle color of it all made tears come to Anakin's eyes. "Mom?" he asked, as she stood to full stature.
"Hello Anakin," she said, forcing herself upon him in a warm embrace. Anakin clung to her with such a strength he never knew possible.
"I'm sorry, mother! I didn't mean to…I," he said, being cut off again, as his mother put a finger to his lips.
"Shh. I know you didn't, and I'm glad you back to me…to us. We're so happy! You have no idea," she said looking into his eyes that sparkled with delight and wonder, and then hugging him again.
"How can this be?" Anakin asked.
"Love is a powerful thing," Shmi Skywalker replied, smiling. Then, Anakin pulled back just enough to look into his mother's eyes.
"Wait…you said we?" he asked curiously.
"I did," she replied.
"Well…what did you mean by that?" he asked.
"I could of never held on so long if it hadn't been for her," she said, smiling.
A thought entered Anakin's mind, but it quickly vanished. No. She couldn't be. Does she really? I don't understand…
"You will," Shmi said, stepping a side to reveal a sight to Anakin he thought he might never see. It was Padme…in all her glory. Her sparkling hair was in neat tight curls…with glitter all around. Her skin looked baby soft. Her eyes twinkled with the happy tears that had been recently swept away. Her figure was of absolute perfection, and the flowing pure white dress she wore presented her as an angel…and a very beautiful one at that. At that moment, Anakin's Jedi clothes turned an ethereal white and sparkled with as much magnificence as hers. He took one step towards her. She was looking down at the cloud-like ground as the golden sparkle dust began to fall. The closer Anakin got the more anxious she seemed to appear. She began to shake ferociously, and suddenly he could take it no longer. Anakin gently touched her arms…immediately the shaking ceased.
"Padme," he whispered into her ear as her eyes fluttered shut with his nearing presence. She looked up at him, and he returned his gaze to her beautiful brown eyes.
"Yes?" she asked.
"I love you," he said, moving forward as her smile began to appear and kissing her ever so passionately as if he had never kissed her before. Padme gave straight into the intensity of it all, and when finally their lips were separated, she looked him into the eyes.
"Anakin," she said, brushing her left hand through his golden hair, and grasping his hand tightly with her right.
"What?" Anakin asked, smiling every so brightly and lovingly.
"I love you too," she said, a stray tear falling down her absolutely feather soft cheek. Anakin wiped the tear graciously off her cheek.
"Why the tear?" he asked, gaining his husband worries back again.
"I'm just so happy," she said smiling, and his worries were gone.
"Me too…it's just that," he started.
"What?" she said punching him lightly in the chest, "Did I do something wrong?"
"No. Never," he said defiantly, "I'm just so sorry."
"Oh Ani," she said, speaking with such sympathy.
"I'll never be able to take back what I did to you, or to all of those people. I was such an idiot. How can I ever…?" he started, but as proven many times earlier…he obviously didn't finish.
"Shhh," Padme said, putting a finger to his lips, "I forgive you," trying to move in for another kiss, but Anakin blocked her.
"How can you?" he asked.
"Well, I just do," she said, trying again, and failing.
"Explain it to me," he said keeping a defiant arm up for easier blocking.
"It's hard to explain!" she said…trying to pull away his arm, and not succeeding.
"Well….try," he said, realizing her agitation, and slightly pushing her away.
"WHY WON'T YOU LET ME KISS YOU? I'VE BEEN WAITING TOO FREAKIN' LONG! PLEASE!" she said, breaking down in tears and falling to her knees. Then, Anakin knew he had gone too far, even if it was a slight teasing motive. He lowered himself to her level, and lifted her chin up so that her eyes would meet his. Once again, he brushed away the glistening tears that seemed to dance upon her cheek.
"Please…?" he whispered, gently kissing her cheek, and again she succumbed to his gentle touch.
"Alright," she said smiling as they both stood up. "It's because I love you. No matter what you do…I will always forgive you. I will always love you, because that's what love does to you. It makes you hold on, no matter how little hope you've got left. Because you know that there must've been a reason for you to start loving in the first place. So, why can't there be a reason for you to keep holding on too? I found that reason," she said.
"And what was it?" Anakin asked lovingly gazing into Padme's eyes with passion.
"I told you. I love you. Those words may not seem very large or magnificent, but they mean a lot more than you think. They mean I will forever be with you. Forever… 'through good times and bad times, through sickness and in health'", she said quoting their wedding vows as Anakin smiled, "and never will we part," she said staring into his eyes. "Remember, Anakin? That's how our vows were different from any others. That's why I forgive you. I gave you more than my life. I gave you my soul, and so did you…or we wouldn't be standing right here, would we?" she asked.
Anakin was absolutely in awe at everything she had just said, but forced himself to speak. "No, I guess not. I do love you Padme, and I promise to never leave you again. To never do what I did…until never…will we part," he said, finally drawing himself once again into her sweet embrace, into her lover's lips, and always into her angelic soul. "My angel…now and forever," he whispered into her mouth. Then, there was clapping…from everybody and anybody you can imagine…and even the others.
"I always supported this," Obi-Wan said nudging Yoda. Yoda rolled his eyes.
"Oh…so that's why you complained about his growing feelings towards her…because you supported it. Hmmm…very interesting," he said, muttering towards himself.
"What can I say?" Obi-Wan said to himself, "I'm just that good."
"Oh Force…" Yoda mumbled walking in the opposite direction.
"What?" Obi-Wan asked, as he walked up to the renewed couple. "Hey Anakin," he said. Anakin turned around.
"Yeah?" he asked.
"I have to admit. This was against the rules. It almost ended in complete disaster. It threatened the very existence of everything in existence, but…"he paused, noticing that if Anakin cringed any further he'd become a prune, and as Anakin eased up, he continued, "I always say…don't mess with true love, and in this case…well, it's definitely true. I'm sorry for doubting."
Anakin raised an eyebrow, but the suspicious look from Padme stole away his egotistical thoughts, and he embraced Obi-Wan.
"We're all sorry Obi-Wan. The point is we love each other, all of us, and I don't think anybody is going to be messing with that anymore," he said. Everyone gave a great chuckle, and a grand party began to take place. Anakin whisked Padme up into his arms and carried her across this land of happiness…of joy…of hope…of forgiveness…into their new life….into forever….together…..eternal.
"It's time to go," Obi-Wan whispered to the young/old Anakin.
"But he's my son," Anakin remarked.
"Soon you will see him, believe it true," Yoda said. Anakin smiled, and followed them into the airy atmosphere.
"Where are we going?" Anakin asked his two guides.
"You shall see," Obi-Wan said, smirking. Anakin tried hard to remain calm, but it was difficult for him. True, it was, that he had matured from what he had been some years ago till now, but his patience was still on its last straw…as always.
"Calm must you be, if enter this place you can," Yoda said, shaking his head.
"I'll try," Anakin said, smiling regrettably. He was about to say more, but a sudden thrust of wind flew in front of them. Anakin was bewildered, but the other two seemed to think it naturally as they just thrust onward. After a few moments, Anakin, too, had adjusted as the wind died down. A great light forcefully hit them, but alike to the wind, Anakin was astonished as the other two were not. Is this heaven?Anakin asked himself, knowing the other two could read his thoughts and hoping for an answer.
"Not this time, Anakin. You shall have to wait and see," Obi-Wan said.
Did he just not call me young padawan? Anakin thought. That had been the first time ever, most likely in his life, that Obi-Wan had not referred to him as the 'young padawan'. Anakin felt respected and honorable for the first time in his life.
"You're not a child anymore," Obi-Wan said, stopping to embrace Anakin. Anakin took the embrace gratefully, and for a few moments clung to him…desiring this moment for who knows how long. Then Yoda spoke up.
"Welcome to your new home," Yoda said, ending the dear moment between the friends.
Anakin looked up and what he saw was almost unimaginable. Everyone he had ever known was there, and even some people he didn't know. He saw all his child hood friends, and all the Jedi children…he had slain in his past…and yet Anakin felt no remorse, for in his eyes was written the heart and soul of his regret, and in the children's eyes was the hope and promise of forgiveness. Everywhere he looked there was glitter and sparkle. There were no tears. There was no sorrow. Everything was beautiful. Exactly as it should be. There were huge towers of gold, and beautiful mansions of silver. Magnificent creatures pranced upon this heavenly world. It was too good to be true.
"I don't believe it," Anakin whispered to himself.
"Believe it," Obi-Wan said spinning Anakin around.
"Hey, I!" but he was cut off, by his eyes lingering to the middle-aged woman crouching in front of him. He was rendered speechless. Her hair shined with glory. Her eyes sparkled with love and happiness. Her silken gown was decked in silver sparkles and the periwinkle color of it all made tears come to Anakin's eyes. "Mom?" he asked, as she stood to full stature.
"Hello Anakin," she said, forcing herself upon him in a warm embrace. Anakin clung to her with such a strength he never knew possible.
"I'm sorry, mother! I didn't mean to…I," he said, being cut off again, as his mother put a finger to his lips.
"Shh. I know you didn't, and I'm glad you back to me…to us. We're so happy! You have no idea," she said looking into his eyes that sparkled with delight and wonder, and then hugging him again.
"How can this be?" Anakin asked.
"Love is a powerful thing," Shmi Skywalker replied, smiling. Then, Anakin pulled back just enough to look into his mother's eyes.
"Wait…you said we?" he asked curiously.
"I did," she replied.
"Well…what did you mean by that?" he asked.
"I could of never held on so long if it hadn't been for her," she said, smiling.
A thought entered Anakin's mind, but it quickly vanished. No. She couldn't be. Does she really? I don't understand…
"You will," Shmi said, stepping a side to reveal a sight to Anakin he thought he might never see. It was Padme…in all her glory. Her sparkling hair was in neat tight curls…with glitter all around. Her skin looked baby soft. Her eyes twinkled with the happy tears that had been recently swept away. Her figure was of absolute perfection, and the flowing pure white dress she wore presented her as an angel…and a very beautiful one at that. At that moment, Anakin's Jedi clothes turned an ethereal white and sparkled with as much magnificence as hers. He took one step towards her. She was looking down at the cloud-like ground as the golden sparkle dust began to fall. The closer Anakin got the more anxious she seemed to appear. She began to shake ferociously, and suddenly he could take it no longer. Anakin gently touched her arms…immediately the shaking ceased.
"Padme," he whispered into her ear as her eyes fluttered shut with his nearing presence. She looked up at him, and he returned his gaze to her beautiful brown eyes.
"Yes?" she asked.
"I love you," he said, moving forward as her smile began to appear and kissing her ever so passionately as if he had never kissed her before. Padme gave straight into the intensity of it all, and when finally their lips were separated, she looked him into the eyes.
"Anakin," she said, brushing her left hand through his golden hair, and grasping his hand tightly with her right.
"What?" Anakin asked, smiling every so brightly and lovingly.
"I love you too," she said, a stray tear falling down her absolutely feather soft cheek. Anakin wiped the tear graciously off her cheek.
"Why the tear?" he asked, gaining his husband worries back again.
"I'm just so happy," she said smiling, and his worries were gone.
"Me too…it's just that," he started.
"What?" she said punching him lightly in the chest, "Did I do something wrong?"
"No. Never," he said defiantly, "I'm just so sorry."
"Oh Ani," she said, speaking with such sympathy.
"I'll never be able to take back what I did to you, or to all of those people. I was such an idiot. How can I ever…?" he started, but as proven many times earlier…he obviously didn't finish.
"Shhh," Padme said, putting a finger to his lips, "I forgive you," trying to move in for another kiss, but Anakin blocked her.
"How can you?" he asked.
"Well, I just do," she said, trying again, and failing.
"Explain it to me," he said keeping a defiant arm up for easier blocking.
"It's hard to explain!" she said…trying to pull away his arm, and not succeeding.
"Well….try," he said, realizing her agitation, and slightly pushing her away.
"WHY WON'T YOU LET ME KISS YOU? I'VE BEEN WAITING TOO FREAKIN' LONG! PLEASE!" she said, breaking down in tears and falling to her knees. Then, Anakin knew he had gone too far, even if it was a slight teasing motive. He lowered himself to her level, and lifted her chin up so that her eyes would meet his. Once again, he brushed away the glistening tears that seemed to dance upon her cheek.
"Please…?" he whispered, gently kissing her cheek, and again she succumbed to his gentle touch.
"Alright," she said smiling as they both stood up. "It's because I love you. No matter what you do…I will always forgive you. I will always love you, because that's what love does to you. It makes you hold on, no matter how little hope you've got left. Because you know that there must've been a reason for you to start loving in the first place. So, why can't there be a reason for you to keep holding on too? I found that reason," she said.
"And what was it?" Anakin asked lovingly gazing into Padme's eyes with passion.
"I told you. I love you. Those words may not seem very large or magnificent, but they mean a lot more than you think. They mean I will forever be with you. Forever… 'through good times and bad times, through sickness and in health'", she said quoting their wedding vows as Anakin smiled, "and never will we part," she said staring into his eyes. "Remember, Anakin? That's how our vows were different from any others. That's why I forgive you. I gave you more than my life. I gave you my soul, and so did you…or we wouldn't be standing right here, would we?" she asked.
Anakin was absolutely in awe at everything she had just said, but forced himself to speak. "No, I guess not. I do love you Padme, and I promise to never leave you again. To never do what I did…until never…will we part," he said, finally drawing himself once again into her sweet embrace, into her lover's lips, and always into her angelic soul. "My angel…now and forever," he whispered into her mouth. Then, there was clapping…from everybody and anybody you can imagine…and even the others.
"I always supported this," Obi-Wan said nudging Yoda. Yoda rolled his eyes.
"Oh…so that's why you complained about his growing feelings towards her…because you supported it. Hmmm…very interesting," he said, muttering towards himself.
"What can I say?" Obi-Wan said to himself, "I'm just that good."
"Oh Force…" Yoda mumbled walking in the opposite direction.
"What?" Obi-Wan asked, as he walked up to the renewed couple. "Hey Anakin," he said. Anakin turned around.
"Yeah?" he asked.
"I have to admit. This was against the rules. It almost ended in complete disaster. It threatened the very existence of everything in existence, but…"he paused, noticing that if Anakin cringed any further he'd become a prune, and as Anakin eased up, he continued, "I always say…don't mess with true love, and in this case…well, it's definitely true. I'm sorry for doubting."
Anakin raised an eyebrow, but the suspicious look from Padme stole away his egotistical thoughts, and he embraced Obi-Wan.
"We're all sorry Obi-Wan. The point is we love each other, all of us, and I don't think anybody is going to be messing with that anymore," he said. Everyone gave a great chuckle, and a grand party began to take place. Anakin whisked Padme up into his arms and carried her across this land of happiness…of joy…of hope…of forgiveness…into their new life….into forever….together…..eternal.
Back to Star Wars - Alternate Universe page
Back to Star Wars page
Back to Together Forever Eternal main page
Next chapter(s): 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Back to Star Wars page
Back to Together Forever Eternal main page
Next chapter(s): 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7