Epilogue – 5 years later

Jedi Temple

"Look! It's Uncle Obi!" Luke cried.

At once, he and Leia ran off to greet their favourite uncle.

Obi-Wan smiled, and opened his arms to hug the Skywalker twins. "Good morning," he said. "Are you both ready for your lessons?"

"Oh yes, Uncle Obi," Leia said, her dark eyes full of excitement. "We're ready!"

Obi-Wan smiled, and looked up as Anakin walked in their direction. At his side toddled his youngest child, 2 year old Shmi.

"Good morning," Anakin said. He looked down at Shmi, who had hidden her face against her father's leg. "Say good morning, Shmi." The child shook her head and wrapped her arms around Anakin's leg. He looked up at his friend with a shrug. "Still shy of you," he said. "I think it's the beard."

Obi-Wan chuckled. "That's all right," he said. "We'll get there eventually."

"Where's Lira?" Anakin asked.

"She's with Master Yoda," he said. "He's expecting little Shmi, as a matter of fact."

Anakin looked down at the toddler wrapped around his left leg. "Did you hear that? Master Yoda is looking for you."

Shmi looked up at her father, and then over her shoulder at Obi-Wan.

"We'll take her, Daddy," Leia said. She released Obi-Wan's hand and went to her sister. "C'mon, Shmi, we can't keep Master Yoda waiting."

Shmi finally released her father's leg and let Leia take her by the hand. She went along with Leia, as Luke remained with his father and favourite uncle.

"How's the baby?" Anakin asked as they walked along together.

"Getting bigger every day," Obi-Wan said. "He rolled over yesterday."

Anakin smiled. "That first year is amazing," he said. "They change so much. And it goes so fast; look at the twins, 5 already."

Obi-Wan nodded. "I know. And what an eventful 5 years it's been."

Anakin considered this, reflecting over all that had transpired in the past 5 years. He had discovered that a Sith Lord was running the galaxy, and had come dangerously close to succumbing to his lies. He'd resigned the Jedi Order, and had become a father. He'd come close to death, and had been made a Jedi Master. And now he was a father of 3, with a fourth child on the way in a few weeks. And then there was Obi-Wan. His best friend had stood by his side and kept his confidence, even when it cost him his place on the Council. He too had felt the lure of the Dark Side, and had defeated it thanks to his wife and his friends. Obi-Wan was now a father of 2, and happier than Anakin had ever seen him. Even Ahsoka had married and was now about to become a mother herself. Yes, it had been an eventual five years.

"Come along now, Luke," Obi-Wan said as they reached the room with the other younglings in his age group. "Say goodbye to your father for now."

Luke looked up at Anakin, adoration and hero worship clear in his blue eyes. "Bye Daddy," Luke said.

"Have a good morning, Luke," Anakin replied, picking up his son and giving him a hug. "See you at lunch time." He set the boy down and Luke went off with Obi-Wan, leaving Anakin alone. He headed to the Council chamber, where he was greeted by Mace Windu. It hardly seemed possible that at one time the two men disliked and mistrusted the other, for they had become good friends over the past 5 years.

"Good morning Anakin," Mace said. "You're on time today," he added with a smile.

Anakin chuckled. "We're getting there," he said. "But things will undoubtedly get a little crazier when the new baby comes in a few weeks."

Windu nodded. "I'm sure," he said. "Babies have a way of doing that."

"So what's on our agenda today?"

That evening – Skywalker residence

Padmé had thrown a baby shower for Ahsoka, and the house was full of Jedi and their families. With Force sensitive children running here and there, Threepio was kept hopping.

"Have you told Rex what the gender is yet?" Asajj asked.

Ahsoka shook her head. "He said he doesn't want to know," she said. "So that means I can't do any decorating. It's driving me nuts."

Padmé laughed. "I agree with Rex," she said. "Anakin wants to tell me what this new baby is but I won't let him."

"He's not the only one who wants to tell you," Asajj remarked with a smirk.

"Speaking of Anakin, where did he go?" Padmé asked, looking around.

"I think the guys went downstairs to get away from all the baby talk," Ahsoka said.

"Of course," Padmé said. "They'll be back when the food comes out. Speaking of which, I'm starving," she said, pushing herself out of her chair. "Anyone else hungry?"

Two months later

Anakin Skywalker Junior gazed up at his father's face as he was rocked to sleep. Padmé was asleep, enjoying the peace and quiet the brief stay in the hospital was affording her. The door to the room opened and Obi-Wan walked in, bouquet of flowers in his hands.

"Hi," Anakin said, looking up at his friend with a smile. "Meet Anakin Junior."

Obi-Wan smiled. "He's a fine looking lad," he said, looking down at the baby. He looked over at Padmé. "Padmé is well?"

"Yes, tired, but well," Anakin said. "I'm hoping the doctor will let her stay an extra day or two."

Obi-Wan frowned. "But why?"

"Because she's a mother of four and this is the most sleep she'll get for a while," Anakin replied.

"Ah, of course," Obi-Wan said. "Well, I'm sure Padmé's parents are up to the challenge."

Anakin scoffed. "I'm not so sure," he said. "Three Force sensitive children can be…challenging."

Obi-Wan smiled. "So? Is young Anakin the last one? Or do you plan on continuing to extend your family?"

"I think he'll be the last one," Anakin said, looking down at his son as he slept in his arms. "Two of each, perfect family don't you think?"

"One of each is just as perfect," he remarked with a smile.

Anakin smiled. He watched Anakin Junior sleep, marvelling at his perfect tiny features. "It's an amazing thing though, isn't it? Being a father?"

"There's nothing like it," Obi-Wan said. "I can't imagine my life without Lira and Qui-Gon now. To think that at one point I was utterly alone, after I left the Order. It was the lowest, darkest point of my life."

Anakin looked up at him. "You were never alone, Obi-Wan," he said. "We're brothers, you'd never be alone."

Obi-Wan smiled. "I know," he said. "I don't know what I would have done without you, Anakin," he said. "Truly."

"You kept my secret, remember?" Anakin said. "You were my confidante, even when it cost you everything. I think, at last, we're even."

Obi-Wan's eyebrows shot up. "Even? Really?"

Anakin laughed. "Yes, really. Well, except for Cato Nemoidia."

Obi-Wan simply laughed in response.