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Ahsoka’s nerves kicked in as soon as she exited the shuttle. From the port she could see the Jedi Temple for the first time in a long time.
Anakin’s voice on their last holocall two weeks ago echoed in her head as she made her way to what once used to be her home. Anakin wanted to tell her something important, something that couldn’t be told through a simple call. Ahsoka didn’t know if she was curious or terrified.
Though given that they had recently uncovered that the Supreme Chancellor was a Sith Lord and that his plot almost successfully destroyed the Republic, many shocking things had recently started looking mundane in comparison. But, Ahsoka knew better than anyone that Anakin Skywalker had a special ability to outdo himself.
“What do you have for me, Skyguy?” she asked herself, carefully avoiding colliding with anyone on the crowded street.
She started walking quicker as curiosity became stronger.
Anakin was waiting for her in the front gardens of the Temple like he’d told her. Ahsoka ran to his arms and they almost ended up on the floor with the force of their embrace. Some people around stared and giggled at the scene, but Ahsoka couldn’t care less. She breathed in deeply, taking in Anakin’s smell, the strength of his arms, the rapid beating of his heart and the golden, comforting, familiar presence in the Force she had missed so much.
Ahsoka pulled apart just enough to look at Anakin’s face. She had grown another inch or so and they were almost eye to eye.
“There is something different in you, Skyguy.” She squeezed his biceps and smiled. “I like it.”
He rubbed a hand on the back of his neck, chuckling, and then offered her a wide sincere smile.
“I’m glad you’re back and safe, Snips. I missed you.”
Ahsoka stopped herself before hugging him again, placing a hand on his shoulder instead.
“I missed you too. But you know very well I’m here because someone has something very important to tell me.”
To Ahsoka’s surprise, Anakin blushed.
Well, she thought, at least it is not a bad-news-sort-of-secret.
“Yeah, of course. I would like to tell you now but there are some people that asked me to let them know when you arrived. Maybe we can meet them first?” Anakin surely noticed she was about to protest, so he quickly added: “Master Plo! He was really looking forward to seeing you. And Master Ti, she arrived just yesterday…”
Ahsoka’s complaints vanished into thin air.
“Okay, let's go meet the family. But you’re telling me all about whatever your secret is before the end of the day. Okay?”
“Okay…”
“And by day, I mean the standard Coruscant one. No funny games.”
Anakin laughed good heartedly and threw an arm around Ahsoka’s shoulder as they made their way to the stairs.
Ahsoka said goodbye for the tenth time in the afternoon and received one last hug from a couple of younglings before finally joining Anakin on the door.
“I think I’ve talked with half of the Temple today.”
Her former Master laughed by her side, bringing the attention of a group of older Knights that were talking in a corner of the corridor. They greeted them and continued their way to the main entrance of the building with upbeat conversation.
“It’s so good to feel the peace in the Temple. I hadn’t really noticed how different the Force felt until it went back to normal. Did you notice it too?”
“Mhm,” Ahsoka nodded, briefly closing her eyes and opening them again. There were all sorts of energies floating around but their harmony suddenly made evident how uncomfortable they had occupied the same space during the war. “I’m so glad it’s over.”
“Me too,” Anakin added and then he stopped.
They were back at the front gardens. Anakin started fiddling with the glove over his mechanical hand, further confirming to Ahsoka the nervous energy that Anakin was radiating in the Force.
“What is it, Skyguy? Are you alright?”
“Yes! More than, in fact.”
“Is… Obi-Wan okay?”
“What? Yes!”
“Then what’s the secret? You’re starting to project your nerves.”
“Sorry, it’s just… Kriff, let’s get a speeder. I think it’ll be better to show you.”
He started walking without giving Ahsoka time to reply. She rolled her eyes.
“Whatever you say, Skyguy.”
Ahsoka knew very well the building they were approaching and she had to use all of her training to resist the urge of asking just what the hell was going on. But she knew Anakin, and she knew that it was probably best to follow his idea and wait until he showed her whatever it was he was hiding. Ahsoka had a couple of ideas now, however improbable they may seem.
They stopped at the entrance that led directly to Padmé’s apartment and Ahsoka was sure her excitement must have been extremely obvious to her former Master. Anakin pressed the code to open the doors but placed an arm in front of her to stop her. He looked almost scared.
“Please, just don’t get mad and I’ll explain the best I can after.”
“After what?”
“Just…”
“Ani?”
Padmé’s voice reached them and the effect on the Jedi was immediate. He stood straighter, shoulders relaxing as a smile curved his lips upwards.
“Yes! And Ahsoka’s here too!”
Ahsoka was about to make a joke about badly hidden secrets but then Anakin pushed her softly, forcing her to enter the apartment. She started walking with a burning curiosity since her montrals were picking up sounds that almost felt like…
There were two babies.
There was Padmé too, holding one of them to her chest. There was a tuft of blonde hair to the little head and the baby looked soundly asleep. Ahsoka wanted to greet her friend, but there was something in her chest fighting to burst with emotions. She closed her eyes, and the blinding supernovas of the two infants almost knocked her down.
“Hi, Ahsoka. I’m so happy you’re back home.”
Padmé approached her with her big smile that was reserved for the people she loved, nothing like the one she gave to other senators or leaders. Ahsoka managed to smile back, but then her eyes focused on the little baby wrapped in several purple blankets. She noticed Padmé was waiting for her reaction. Ahsoka wished she knew what to do with the scene before her.
Then the other baby started crying, and almost instantly Anakin was next to the crib, picking them up and cradling them to his chest. That snapped Ahsoka out of her shock.
“Padmé, I missed you so much,” she said earnestly because it was true. And then she looked back from Anakin to her and finally gathered the words in her head. “Whose are these little beans?”
Padmé laughed loudly and turned to look at Anakin with accusatory eyes.
“Ani! You didn’t tell her?”
“I thought it’d be best to… Show them to her first. We kinda did the same with Obi-Wan…”
“Are you telling me…” Ahsoka interrupted with a tone that was between amused and exasperated, “that you and Padmé became parents of two kids and you just threw that at Obi-Wan without previous warning? Don’t you have mercy for the poor man’s heart?”
“He’s not that old to have heart issues, Snips.”
“You’re unbelievable, Anakin.”
There was a moment of silence between the three of them, and then the baby in Padmé’s arms started crying softly, effectively making the reality of it all even more absurd for Ahsoka.
She started laughing, her belly and cheeks hurting with the force of it, tears coming to her eyes. She didn’t remember the last time she laughed like that. Before she knew what she was doing, she threw both arms around Padmé, careful not to crush the little baby between them. It was only when Anakin’s arms joined the hug that Ahsoka realized she was honestly crying.
They broke the hug when both babies started showing their annoyance at the current situation. Ahsoka wiped the tears in her cheeks, looking at the little family with marveled eyes.
“So, you’re not mad?”
“Actually, I am. I haven’t been gone so long as to miss this whole pregnancy! Why didn’t you tell me?” Ahsoka considered something for a while and added, “what about the Order?”
“It’s… complicated. I’ll tell you all about it later.” Anakin looked at Padmé and she offered him an encouraging smile. “Do you want to properly meet them?”
“Yes, please.”
Padmé led them to the sofas in front of the huge transparisteel windows. She sat next to her and carefully placed the blonde baby in her arms. Ahsoka couldn’t believe how small and fragile they were.
“This is Luke, he spends most of the day sleeping. Much more than Leia.”
Ahsoka smiled at the little boy and carefully took a hold of the miniscule hand in hers. He had fallen asleep again, true to his mother’s saying, and it seemed like nothing in the Galaxy could bother him.
“Hi there, Luke. I’m your auntie ‘Soka.” She looked at Anakin with a huge smile. “Can I see her too?” Anakin moved to sit on Ahsoka’s other side and moved his arms so she could see Leia’s face better. “Hey there!” she said cheerfully when she discovered the girl had her eyes open.
“She’s super curious already, loves to have her eyes open if there are noises around,” Anakin explained, offering his finger for Leia to hold tightly on her first. “Say hi to your aunt, little one.”
Ahsoka felt the rush of new tears coming to her eyes and decided that the moment deserved a little crying. Anakin and Padmé had two babies! She was an aunt!
“You two will have to pay for keeping this from me. You know? I’ll make sure these two give you all sorts of headaches.”
Both parents chuckled at the threat.
“I guess we deserve it,” Padmé said with resignation. She placed her head on Ahsoka’s shoulder and extended a hand to play softly with Luke’s short hairs. “But we are so happy you are back with us now.”
While Padmé was speaking, Anakin arranged Leia in one of his arms so he could wrap the other around Ahsoka’s waist. There was a soft kiss pressed on her temple. Ahsoka sighed.
“It's good to be back home."