Chapter Text
5 months later
Satine sank into Padme’s couch, hands rubbing her temples as she shoved away the tedious business she had been embroiled with all day.
“I am this close to renouncing my pacifist ideals, Padme,” she complained. “If I must listen to yet another representative drone on about some insufferably unimportant detail while the galaxy is so desperately trying to heal, I will knock them about with my shoe.”
Padme laughed, filling her friend’s glass with wine. “Far be it from me to tempt you away from your pacifist ideals, but please know that I would support you from the sidelines. And Anakin would probably tear off his boot and join you.”
Satine snorted, sipping her wine. “He is quite enthusiastic, isn’t he?”
“That’s one word for it,” said Padme sinking onto the couch next to her friend. The last few months had felt like a whirlwind, with several history-defining events occurring within days and hours of each other. After the discovery of Palpatine’s true identity, Anakin, Obi-Wan and the Jedi had wasted little time preparing a plan of attack against the former Chancellor, with Anakin and Obi-Wan eventually dealing the final blow. Though the Jedi had hoped to take the man alive in order to make him stand trial, they had nevertheless discovered enough evidence to prove to the galaxy the atrocities the old man had committed and planned to commit, including a devious plot to the turn the clones against the Jedi.
Though Padme had been offered the role of emergency Chancellor, she had refused, fearing the optics and pressure of yet another Nabooian senator holding complete power of the Senate. She had proposed instead a temporary government coalition that would slowly start to incorporate former Separatist planets back into the Republic. Leaders from neutral worlds, like Satine, had been brought to Coruscant to act as intermediaries as the shattered galaxy slowly attempted to reunite its shards.
Though Satine had secretly hoped her friend would accept the role of Chancellor, she knew how much change Padme could create from her current position and was deeply grateful for the opportunity to spend her neverending time on Coruscant at her apartment.
“Have you heard anything further from him and Obi-Wan?”
“No,” said Padme, sinking into the couch next to her friend. “Though he did say he might have to be offline. Apparently, communication signals are not incredibly strong on a swamp planet.” She rolled her eyes. “Remind me to cover the couch with plastic wrap before Anakin comes back, by the way. The last time he returned from a bog planet, poor Threepio was scraping mud from the carpets for weeks.”
Leaning back, Satine laughed. “Incredible how well he and Obi-Wan get along, isn’t it? I could not imagine two men so completely different yet so completely in tune with each other.”
“They are quite a pair, aren’t they?” said Padme. “I sometimes feel they’re more married than we are. Speaking of which,” she said eyeing her friend pointedly, “Have you and Obi-Wan set a date yet?”
“Of course not,” sighed Satine. “With everything I have to do in the Senate, and everything he has had on his plate as a diplomat, not to mention the reforms he and Anakin are making in the Order, we hardly have time to exchange more than a few words most days.” Yet her dear Obi-Wan, as kind and silver-tongued as he was, always made sure those few words rang in heart for hours after.
Padme nodded. “I understand. Each day bleeds into the next with everything that has to be done.” Padme sipped her wine thoughtfully. “However, if you really needed to, I’m sure you and Obi-Wan could figure it out. There’s not another reason for the delay, is there?”
Satine hesitated before answering. “Truthfully, Padme, neither of us is relishing the thought of some grand public spectacle of a wedding. Obi-Wan is quite private, as am I, and having an event completely focused on us feels rather… overwhelming.”
“You don’t have to invite the whole galaxy,” pointed out Padme. “You can have a small ceremony, just your friends and dear ones.”
“Yes, but even then it would feel selfish. To marry now? When the galaxy is still suffering? When there is so much to accomplish?”
“Satine,” said Padme kindly, “The work of repairing the galaxy will take a lifetime, if not more. It is hardly selfish to find happiness while the work is done. Goodness knows you and Obi-Wan of all people deserve it.” She laughed, thinking back to her own wedding. “Anakin and I got married on the other end of this war, just as everything fell apart. You think us selfish for doing so?”
“No, of course not,” said Satine. She sighed again, looking away. “Perhaps you are right.” She glanced mischievously over at her friend. “Truthfully, the idea of a secret wedding, away from the world sounds rather nice.”
“Everything was perfect,” said Padme smiling. ”Except for Anakin’s clothes,” she added after a moment. “Please don’t let Obi-Wan marry you in those Jedi robes. I swear, I could still see the dust from Geonosis on Anakin’s cloak.”
Satine grinned at her friend. “Obi-Wan would lose his cloak on the walk from the back of the aisle to the front.” She paused. “Do you really never wish you had married in another way? With your own friends and dear ones present, as you say?”
“Honestly, with everything that’s gone on since, I’ve never thought about it,” said Padme shrugging. “Though I suppose we could have someday have… a renewal of vows. With those we care about present.”
“And with Anakin in proper clothes,” added Satine.
“And Anakin in proper clothes,” giggled Padme, agreeing. She sat forward suddenly, barely avoiding spilling her wine onto her friend’s pants. “What if…?”
“What if what?” asked Satine, confused. She’d seen that look on her friend’s face before and knew this would either lead to brilliance or insanity. Both had been known to spring out in tandem.
“What if I could solve both our problems?” said Padme excitedly, warming up to her topic. “Removing some of the spotlight from your wedding, and putting just a little bit more on mine?”
Satine leaned forward, Padme’s idea slowly trickling into her own mind.
“I’m listening.”
***
“A double wedding?”
“A double wedding,” confirmed Satine, her image shimmering slightly alongside Padme’s on the holoprojector. “You and I. And a renewal of vows for Padme and Anakin.”
“I love it!” said Anakin bouncing behind his former master. “You’ll be able to invite your friends and your family this time around, just like you deserve, Angel.”
Padme laughed, smiling lovingly at Anakin. “Don’t forget your friends too.”
Ahsoka poked her head over Anakin’s shoulder. “Me and Obi-Wan are his only friends, so don’t stress too much on planning for that part,” she said, avoiding the swat Anakin aimed at her. “But this is so exciting! Do you need help planning? Can I help pick the food? Can I help pick Anakin’s outfit?”
“I don’t know if you’ll make the guest list, Snips.”
Ahsoka stuck her tongue out at Anakin. “I’ll sit on Obi-Wan’s side, thank you very much.”
Satine smirked at the younger Jedis’ antics before turning her attention back to Obi-Wan, heart thumping. “Well, dearest? What do you think?”
Obi-Wan looked at the beautiful woman before him. He’d been surprised at the proposal and surprised even more at how much he liked the idea. Anakin and Padme were as dear to him as anyone else in the galaxy, and sharing the day felt incredibly preferable to the having full attention lavished on him. However, he hoped that Satine wasn’t offering this solely to placate him. What if she truly desired a day all to herself, a chance for her happiness to shine through?
“My dear, I think it is wonderful idea,” said Obi-Wan softly, smiling at his soon-to-be wife. “But are you absolutely sure this is what you would like? You know I’d bear the wedding of the millennium if it made you happy.”
Satine felt her heart melt at the concern in Obi-Wan’s voice, loving him every minute more than the last. “My dear Jedi, I love the idea as well. Frankly, we could get married anywhere, in any manner in this universe, so long as I may finally call you husband at the end of the day.”
***
4 months later
“Are you actually nervous?”
“No,” said Obi-Wan defensively, glaring at his best friend. Anakin simply crossed his arms, looking at him knowingly. “Alright, fine, perhaps a bit,” he grumbled, picking at his sleeve. Neither he nor Anakin had donned their Jedi robes for the occasion, wearing elegant tunics in their place. Anakin had happily followed Padme in choosing his wedding clothes, the pair eventually deciding on a sky-blue garment laced with an intricate gold design. Obi-Wan, feeling quite out of his element, had entrusted the decision to Satine and her entourage, relieved when she had presented him with a simple, but regal white tunic with silver buttons.
“Why are you nervous?” asked Anakin, adjusting his shirt. “You literally survived a war. This should be easy.”
Obi-Wan shrugged looking out the window. “In a strange way, I understood the war. I knew how to plan battles, how to organize the men. Count casualties, submit reports. But love? Marriage?” he scoffed, glancing back at Anakin. “I feel quite unstudied. Not to mention that we’re the first Jedi to marry in millennia.”
Anakin shrugged. “And you were the first Jedi to kill a Sith in how long? Unfinished job, I know, but still. I was the first Jedi to have the midicholorian count I have. Ahsoka was the first padawan to study under the Chosen One. Padme and Satine have broken all kinds of barriers with their work, I’m not even sure where to start listing them. If there was ever a group to jump headfirst into the unknown, it’s us.”
“I know, I know,” said Obi-Wan, smiling ruefully at his former Padawan, smile tempered by insecurity. “It’s just… there will continue to be so much difficulty in the years ahead. So many things to fix. I just don’t want to let anyone down. Least of all Satine.”
“Listen to me, Obi-Wan,” said Anakin placing his hands on his Master’s shoulders. Obi-Wan was nearly taken aback by the young man’s serious expression. Anakin rarely displayed the grim countenance he had during the war, as time with Padme and his new bond with Obi-Wan boosted his naturally cheerful demeanor. “I know you’ve made mistakes. Force knows I’ve made them too. We all have. But letting people down? That’s just not in the Obi-Wan Kenobi handbook.” He squeezed his Master’s shoulders, fixing him with an intense stare Obi-Wan was sure could shake mountains. “You are the best man I’ve ever known. The best man I ever will know. I- I know I can never measure up to you, but I will spend the rest of my life trying to do so.”
“Anakin---”
“You’ve taught me what it means to be a good person,” said Anakin, voice cracking. “I was steeped in the Dark for so long, letting Palpatine influence me. But you were always my thread back to the Light. You might’ve taken a while to say you love me, but you taught me what unconditional love was, from the very beginning. You’re my brother, Obi-Wan. And whatever happens next, the one thing I can be sure of is that you and I will tackle it together. Marriage, the universe, whatever. We’ll do it all.”
Obi-Wan sniffed, surprised at the tears he could feel prickling his own eyes. “Well, I thought it would be Satine who’d make me cry on my wedding day, not you,” mumbled Obi-Wan, turning away to press a tissue to his eyes.
Anakin laughed loudly, allowing his own tears to fall freely. “You know I like to surprise, Master.”
A knock at the door diverted their attention as Ahsoka poked her head into the room. “Are you two ready yet? Everyone’s waiting!”
Obi-Wan clapped his hand to Anakin’s shoulder smiling warmly at the younger man. Their bond shimmered to life, trust and happiness filling the room with a light rivaling the twin suns of Tatooine.
“Yes, Ahsoka. I believe we are.”