Epilogue

With Bail Organa of Alderaan as the new Chancellor there has been many changes to the Senate. Several senators are being placed on trial for their part in Palpatine's plans. The council members of the Jedi order have been requested to testify before the Senate as well. Chancellor Organa's perspective being to bring forward all that was hidden in the shadows. Punishment hasn't been on the forefront of his objectives as much as having the whole truth exposed and letting democracy decide where to go from here. Obi Wan and Anakin had been waiting for their turn to be called in front of the Senate but that has yet to happen. After Senator Amidala played the holocam footage, in it's raw state, to the entire Senate they have been deemed heros for their valiant efforts and sacrifice. No one has once mentioned their names in any of the ongoing proceedings.

The clone army, thankfully, never turned on the Jedi since only person with the authority to do so was dead. General Skywalker was able to get a communication out to Rex about the chips real purpose before they had confronted Darth Sidious. Commander Rex had sent out a message throughout the whole fleet about the chip and how to have it removed.

Padmé delivered on Theed, the capital city of Naboo, at her husband's request, taken care of by the best medical personal on Naboo. The new family then relocated to the Lake Country as she had wanted. She was surprised at how understanding the Queen of Naboo was about her marriage and her pregnancy. She even gave Padmé some extended time off to take care of her new family. Senator Amidala had sacrificed so much for the Republic and was more than deserving of this time.

—-

On Naboo in the Lake Country

It was a beautiful, warm day out in Varykino. The pillowy clouds slowly drifted by a light blue sky as the gentle breeze flowed over the crystal clear waters of the lake. Three figures sat on the balcony over looking the relaxing waters.

"You mean to tell me those private communications with Rex was so you could talk to Padmé?!" Ahsoka couldn't believe it! She suspected something between her former Master and Padmé but she didn't think they were in a secret marriage! "I thought you were just discussing secret missions without me." She pouted.

Ahsoka looked down at the small baby boy she rocked in her arms. She was reminded of her first mission with her Master where she went to save Jabba the Hutt's son. Her maternal instincts kicked in then to take care of the huttlet as it did now while rocking this much more attractive baby. Luke, the boy had his father's sandy blond hair and intense blue eyes. Yup. This is totally Anakin's son.

Anakin chuckled heartfully. "Well, it was a secret mission of sorts." He stole a sly look at his wife sitting next to him and Padmé returned the remark with a jab of her elbow into his side. Padmé was gently rocking little Leia in her arms. Twins. They were beyond surprised when she had delivered only a couple weeks ago. It made sense how tired and swollen she was. She was carrying not one but two beautiful, healthy babies. A boy and a girl.

Padmé leaned into her husband's arm that was protectively strewn across her shoulder. She couldn't imagine how peaceful this would really be. Little Leia and Luke. Twice the work but also twice the joy. She couldn't believe she was a mother! The desire to protect her children and the love she had for them was unlike any other except maybe for her love for her husband. The gentleness he shown their children melted her heart and she fell in love with him all over again.

Ahsoka made funny faces at the baby absolutely in love with him. "Padmé, please make sure to call me whenever you need a babysitter for these little ones!"

Padmé laughed, "Of course Ahsoka! You are always welcomed here. Even if it's not to babysit the children."

Obi Wan came up from behind them. "Hello there! Well, if it isn't the lovely Skywalker family. May I join you?"

Anakin nodded to him not moving from the comfort of his present situation. "There's always room here for one more."

Obi Wan took a moment to look down at Luke's sleepy face and poked his nose eliciting a face wrinkle and bubbly smile from the baby.

Anakin questioned. "How are your hands doing?"

Obi Wan rubbed his fingers together. The tips still lacked some sensation from the electric shock he received from Darth Sidious. "Improving although much slower than I had hoped."

Ahsoka replied, "I wish I was there with you two to help fight Darth Sidious. I just can't believe it was Chancellor Palpatine all this time."

Anakin remarked, "Neither did I. To think, he played the role of a benevolent politician with his silver tongue promising peace for the Galaxy. It goes to show you really can't trust politicians."

Padmé retorted, "I heard that!" Anakin earned an even harder nudge into his ribs.

Anakin chuckled rubbing his side. He thought soberly. "I thought of him as a father figure. It's just so strange. He was so kind to me and yet was so devious…"

Obi Wan responded, "He was a master manipulator. Everyone was just a tool in his grand scheme."

Obi Wan thought for a second, "He had you wound tightly around his finger. I was concerned you would blindly follow him anywhere." He confessed.

Anakin was offended. "Even to the dark side?"

"Well….." Obi Wan hesitated.

"Did you really think I would fall to the dark side?" Anakin asked rhetorically.

Padmé, Ahsoka, and Obi Wan responded in unison. "YES!"

Anakin threw his hands up in the air. "Unbelievable! No faith! You guys have no faith in me whatsoever! Need I remind you that I'm the chosen one?!"

Obi Wan chimed in, "Yes, but the prophecy never said how long it would take you to bring balance to the force. The pendulum could have swayed down into the darkness for a long time before you found your way back to the light."

Anakin considered this, "that would be unbelievably tragic" frowning deeply.

"Indeed," an equally sadden Obi Wan agreed.

"So many would have died." Anakin shook the thought off. "Well, that didn't happened did it?" Anakin glanced in front of him. How lucky was he? He had his wife by his side, his best friend, Ahsoka who was like a little sister to him, and his two beautiful twin children. The force was smiling down on him. There was nothing more he wanted from the universe.

1 year later.

The Jedi were never convicted for war crimes, thankfully. The Senate decided to shift it's focus on moving forward to rebuilding the Republic but they would do it without the Jedi. The Senate voted to disassociate itself from the Jedi completely. The Jedi were instructed to leave Coruscant. The Jedi temple that had withstood there for so many centuries was to be moved off Coruscant or threatened to be demolished. The Republic's faith in the Jedi was shaken to the core. The Jedi had been removed from their military status within the Republic and the Republic shifted to a fully internal military system from the top down to the frontline people. No further clones armies were requested from Kamino. Having a strong, vibrant military wasn't a priority anymore since they were no longer at war.

-—

On Naboo in the Lake Country

Obi Wan came to visit his old friend on Naboo with an update, "As of now, there are no talks of re-establishing the Jedi council on another planet. It seems that many Republic associated planets have been reluctant to host them. That is the best case scenario as some even blame the Jedi for the war and hold open hostilities to the Jedi." Obi Wan pondered.

Chancellor Organa had reached out to Obi Wan, even though Obi Wan wasn't part of the Jedi council, he valued his opinion. Obi Wan also kept in touch with Yoda, who was beside himself over the role he played in the fall of the Jedi. Obi Wan some how ended up spending a lot of time in Coruscant and being more involved then he imagined he would.

Anakin walked silently next to his former Master, on the terrace of Anakin and Padmé's home in the Lake County, while keeping a watchful eye on his two mischievous children.

Obi Wan continued, "We are in a difficult time for the Jedi. Many still see the Jedi as warmongers and not peacekeepers. I can't say I blame them. Perhaps this is an overdue reckoning for our sins. Many Jedi have withdrawn from the public eye completely and some have even gone their separate ways."

Obi Wan looked up pensively, "In time, I think the Jedi will find their way back to being peace keepers again but they will have to face a long, hard road of repentance."

Anakin raised an eyebrow, "You still believe in the Jedi Order don't you, Obi Wan?"

Obi Wan watched as Anakin lifted one of the twins up using the force and away from their target. The children had become very ept at walking for sometime now and was finding new things to grab and break. At one years old, they were already getting themselves into so much trouble. Just as much trouble as their father. Obi Wan thought.

"The Jedi code itself was not the problem." Obi Wan drifted off. "Hopefully, in time, things will be set right again. The Jedi are keepers of the light side of the force. They just need to remember how to do that."

Anakin quietly listened but couldn't help but think maybe it's better this way. Should the Jedi be aligned with any one government body no matter how noble they seem? The very concept creates loyalties and blurs the line of right and wrong. How can the Jedi be impartial when so heavily involved with politics. Well, it wasn't. He bitterly resigned to himself. That's why Darth Sidious was able to take root so deeply. Should the Jedi be a quiet force outside of any one set of beliefs and allow the force to guide them as it wills? He laughed to himself. Oh how he has changed. He was starting to sound like his old Master, Qui-Gon. He looked up to the sky wondering if Master Qui-Gon could hear his thoughts. Thank you Master. Was all he could think. If Qui-Gon never appeared before him he shuttered to think where his life would be right now. A balance between the extremes of the light and dark side of the force. He finally accepted himself for who he was. The torrential storms of emotions will always be with him but he no longer felt guilty for them but at peace within himself and with the force.

Author's note 1: That's it! I hope you enjoyed my AU! I think there's still a great story to be told with this universe even though there's no Darth Vader or the Empire. There's a rich future that could be told. It would be interesting to see what the Jedi order will do now that they are in a state of disarray and do not hold a high public opinion. I think having a decentralized Jedi order would be interesting and having different sects with difference emphasize on the Jedi code and what it means to be a protector of the light side of the force. Maybe some of the Jedi will become vigilantes? I think Mace Windu would have a hard time with this new world. Is Anakin's work as the chosen one done? Padmé and Anakin's now have adventures of being parents! What will Obi Wan and Ahsoka do now?

Author's note 2: Let me know your thoughts in the reviews! What would you like to see? Would you like to see this AU continued?