"Give your tears to the tide."

- Wait M83

Narrator's POV

- A month later -

Anakin sat on the carpeted floor cross-legged, across from his Force-sensitive four-month-old son, Luke. The child babbled and laughed, breaking Anakin into a laugh himself.

"Come on, now, Luke," he demands gently, "Who am I?"

The child giggles and sucks on his hand before replying a handful of incomprehensible words Anakin forces himself to believe is 'daddy.'

Anakin laughs again and rises, bending over to pick his son up.

With his son on his hip, he walks onto the veranda, where Padmé sits on one of the couches, combing their daughter's bouncy curls of thick dark hair. "I wonder where she gets all this hair," she comments, glancing up at Anakin, who laughs.

He had to admit it felt good to laugh so much - the events of the past month had brought him to his knees frequently, and being with his family always seemed like a direct escape.

He sits beside Padmé and kisses the back of her curls that resembled their daughters. "Definitely from you," he replies, "Just look at her. She's a spitting image of you."

Padmé looks over at Anakin, who cracks a smile. "Luke's hair is nothing like either of ours," she says sweetly, leaning over to the child in Anakin's lap, combing his hair lightly. The baby scowls at the brush and tries to swat it away, making Padmé and Anakin burst into laughter.

"They're funny, aren't they?" Anakin chuckles, messing his son's blond hair as the child continues to scowl, becoming interested in his chubby fingers.

"Very Force-sensitive," Padmé laughs, stroking her daughter's curls as the baby leans slightly, just enough to be able to extend a chubby arm to her brother and hit him playfully.

The boy squeals at his sister and laughs, not interested in his fingers any longer. As their children interacted, all Padmé and Anakin could do was laugh.

Suddenly, a thought occurs to Padmé, and she turns to her husband alarmingly. "Ani... do you know if the Republic is planning on reconstructing the Senate yet? It's been a month since the Death Star's completion and nothing has happened... the Senate's beginning to think Demetrious may be ending everything."

Anakin sighs, "The Council hasn't even attempted destroying the Death Star yet, and until we do..."

"...the Senate cannot be reconstructed," Padmé finishes his sentence, "I understand. But maybe it wouldn't be the wisest thing to even attempt destroying the Death Star, don't you agree? Nothing's happened, yet, Ani, and maybe nothing will happen at all."

"Just because Demetrious' brother died doesn't mean she's ending the war," Anakin responds bitterly, unable to be too harsh with his children in their laps. "I agree, things might be dialed down, but we still want to attempt destroying it. As a precaution."

Padmé sighs and rises, placing her daughter on her left hip. "Here," she asks of Anakin, "Let me see him."

Anakin lifts his son effortlessly off his lap and hands him up to Padmé, who seems better at parenting than himself - she is able to place both children on either sides of her hips without hurting. Anakin had attempted this before, but it didn't work. His children were fine, of course, he just decided from then on out to never attempt that again.

"They should nap," Padmé explains, carrying the babies off the veranda, "And you're right, Anakin. A precaution - I understand."

Anakin watches her leave, exhales, then takes his comlink from his tunic and chooses to contact Obi-Wan.

Instantly, his former Master picks up, seeming confused. "Anakin?" he asks, "Is everything all right?"

"Yes, Master, no worries," Anakin assures, sighing, "I was wondering... is there a Council meeting today? Perhaps about the destruction of the Death Star?"

"Oh, that," sighs Obi-Wan, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, "I suppose there could be. As it is, the Council is wary of Demetrious' decision not to activate the completed Death Star."

"She's in mourning," Anakin says pitifully, "I don't blame her for not wanting to take to action immediately. She could be just as dangerous as before."

"Before, she was as dangerous as dangerous gets," replies Obi-Wan skeptically. "I doubt she could get any worse - or less, for that matter. She is in mourning though, so you might be right, Anakin."

Anakin nods, glancing over at Padmé who returns to the veranda. "Contact me, Master, if there is a meeting tonight. I have some ideas I'd like to propose to the Council."

Obi-Wan responds, "Of course." With a wave of his hand, he shuts the comlink off, and Anakin does the same.

He looks up at Padmé, who stands with a beaming smile and her arms folded across her chest. "Ideas? Like what?" she asks with a chuckle.

Anakin leans into the back of the couch, raising his eyebrows matter-of-factly and laughing, "Aggressive negotiations. Negotiations with a lightsaber, that is," he says, reminding them both of years ago.

Padmé sits beside him as they laugh, leaning into a short kiss. As they depart, she laughs, "How are you liking your dictatorship now, Master Jedi?"

"If it works," he recalls, "But this clearly isn't working."

They both break into laughter again, and Padmé can see in Anakin's bright eyes that he hasn't enjoyed himself this much in awhile. It gave her happiness whenever he was as happy as this - it showed her he was still the playful, buoyant boy she met all those years ago. Just watching him, laughing, grinning, enjoying himself - it was pure, it was true happiness.

"And guess what else?" she whispers, resting her head on his shoulder.

"What?" he asks, kissing her forehead.

"The kids are asleep. It's just us now," she giggles, gazing up at him as he raises his eyebrows.

"Oh, really?" he asks boastingly, taking her into his arms and rising from the couch, carrying her off the veranda as they both break into heavy laughter, nearly winding themselves.

• • •

Anakin and Obi-Wan stood tall before the Council, which had been seemingly more lifeless since the passing of Desmond a month ago. As little as any of the Council members knew him, he was full of life - and they saw potential in the boy. As it was, the passing of another human being is always sad - the Council was devastated at Master Klavis, of course.

"Master Skywalker, do you really propose we should still attempt destroying the Death Star?" Master Windu asks, his elbows leaning on his knees.

Anakin clears his throat. "I do, Master Windu. I think it would be wise we take a precaution and still attempt at the destruction."

Master Windu ponders Anakin's suggestion, and turns to Master Yoda for any help on the outcome. The small green Master grunts in thought, and looks up to Obi-Wan. "Postponing the Death Star, Lord Demetrious is. Destroy the Death Star, should we, Master Kenobi?"

Anakin feels the urge to roll his eyes at how much he was still untrusted, but he lets it slide. Obi-Wan runs a hand over his auburn beard and sighs.

"I think Anakin is right," he says boldly, "We should still attempt at destroying it. It should not matter whether or not she is postponing the superlaser - it could be activated at any time," he says.

The Masters in the room seem to question their proposal. Would destroying the Death Star do them any good? What if Demetrious truly was who she used to be?

Nobody had heard from her since Desmond's death, anyways. They hadn't tried to negotiate with her again, as they felt she might've grown more dangerous - like Anakin had said. Despite what they thought about Demetrious, the Death Star's destruction still might have been beneficial.

"And," Obi-Wan continues when the Council is washed over with silence, "I believe we should have Anakin be in lead of the mission. He is the best starpilot in the galaxy, as I'd like to mention." Obi-Wan turns to Anakin and beams a short smile. Anakin returns the favor, but releases his tightened smile only a second after.

"All right," Master Windu booms, "I think you two are right. However, would it be plausible to retrieve a new Clone army from Kamino, Master Kenobi? They might contain more knowledge of the Death Star technologies than any of us."

Obi-Wan exhales. "If, a new army is ready, perhaps that would be doable. The only issue is, the Kaminoans might not be so eager to allow us to use their Clones - after what happened with Demetrious, that is."

Anakin steps in, "They might think we might be using them for unnecessary purposes." He decided to try and say anything he could to end up being one of the only starpilots sent to destroy the Death Star. He may have believed he could survive Hoth and failed, along with trying to negotiate with Demetrious - but he wasn't going to let them down this time.

He was going to destroy the Death Star.

"Correct, Master Skywalker is," Yoda pipes in, looking determined to figure out a solution.

"And with the rebuilding of the Senate, attempting to eliminate the Death Star might arise in war," Obi-Wan suggests, this frustrating the Council as they couldn't seem to figure anything out whatsoever.

Anakin glances at Obi-Wan. "He's right, but we can't sit here and wait for the superlaser to activate. And when it does, Coruscant will definitely be her first target."

"Where did you get this information, young Skywalker?" asks Mace, making Anakin tighten his fists. There it is again, he thinks, Why can't Windu trust me?

Anakin boldly states, "She told me when I went to negotiate with her. She said Coruscant was her first target, along with Tatooine and Naboo..."

Master Windu slowly leans back in his seat, exhaling. "I see," he says lowly, "Maybe it would be best to eliminate the Death Star. Take a seat, young Skywalker."

Anakin backs up and retreats to his seat, leaving Obi-Wan the only one standing. He exhales and rubs his beard again, as Anakin sat with his teeth gritted and his fists clenched at Mace Windu's words, "I don't believe it would be wise to send young Skywalker as the lead starpilot."

"What?" asks Anakin sharply, leaning forward. "That's impossible. Master Kenobi said it himself, he sees me as the best starpilot in the galaxy - "

"But you were only recently granted the rank of Master," explains Windu, "Perhaps we can try to use the Clones, like we suggested."

"Wha - why can't I go? Believe me, Master, I can be trusted with the responsibility."

Mace's disliking and distrust for Anakin show through as he turns to him and says, "You can barely manage a padawan, young Skywalker. If you'd like, you can tag along in the mission to destroy the Death Star, but we do not and can not, grant you lead."

Anakin swallows bitterly and leans back, clenching and unclenching his fists. "Forgive me, Master," he chokes out, overcome by his feelings of uneasiness about being untrusted. How long would it take before the Council could trust him? Was this worsened because of Kyla?

He chose to ignore his thoughts and present himself better, sitting upright and letting his clenched fists go.

Obi-Wan speaks up, "I can pay a visit to Kamino and ask the Prime Minister if borrowing Clones would be permitted. After all, they do know the Death Star."

"The Death Star is also armed with Demetrious' Clones," Mace says, "And they're dangerous. They are trained in the arts of the Sith."

The Council grows silent as nobody can think of anything to say. At last, the meeting is concluded and everyone exits, Anakin walking alongside Obi-Wan.

"When will Master Windu accept me?" asks Anakin of Obi-Wan, who chuckles and sighs.

"I don't know, Anakin. It might take awhile, he still has to learn to trust you."

"Will he ever?"

"It depends. Prove your worth."

"Desmond tried to do that, look where he ended up," Anakin sighs as they exit the Temple like various times before.

"Well, I'm going to head to Kamino immediately. The sooner I speak to the Kaminoans, the better."

"Can I go with you, Master?"

Obi-Wan stops in his tracks. "What?"

"Can I go with you? To Kamino?"

Obi-Wan chuckles as though he couldn't believe what Anakin was saying. "Er... sure, if it is what you truly wish," he says skeptically. "But don't you have a family to return to?"

"The more time Padmé spends with them, the better - it won't be like that when the Senate is rebuilt," Anakin explains with a chuckle. "Plus, I've never been to Kamino. Please, Master, let me go with you," Anakin pleads.

Obi-Wan folds his arms across his chest. "All right, Anakin, if you truly please to accompany me. Just... don't faint," he suggests with a chuckle. They both split apart and headed to their Starfighters.

Anakin had never been to Kamino, and in truth, he was excited. Obi-Wan had made the stormy planet seem peaceful, reliable, and relaxed with their Clones. They were dedicated in their work, and Anakin couldn't wait to see the Clones' progress. Maybe it would give him a reason to not want to be lead pilot after all.

A/N: new update coming soon for Forbidden! Same with The Chosen One - which is slowly coming to a close.

I hope you guys enjoy!

- Claudia ❤️