Anabeth: New Beginnings

Chapter 2: Meet The Minis

While Bo headed back to the Coronet to prepare security measures with her team, Ana, Grace and Satine visited their friends. Everyone, including even Ahsoka, was already waiting for them.

Apparently, they had all come to the agreement that telling the Council about the children now was going to be better than them finding out through the holonet. So when Windu called to inform them there was to be a Council meeting in twenty minutes to discuss the upcoming peace talks on Mandalore they saw it as the perfect opportunity.

Through careful effort, they managed to sneak Satine, Padmè and the babies into the Temple just fine. While Anakin, Obi-Wan and Ana went to join the Council meeting, the others were waiting outside the door to be invited in later.

"So, did both sides agree to the peace talks on Mandalore?" Windu began the meeting.
"They did," Ana informed them. "They'll send in a list of people they are bringing by tomorrow evening. Five politicians, five aides and two pilots from each side. The talks on Mandalore will begin the day after."

"That's good news. We should put together our delegation to send as well then," Master Plo suggested.
"Obi-Wan and Ana should go," Anakin was quick to suggest. "They are the ones with the closest ties to Mandalore, they'll probably fit in best."

"Sounds good, I was thinking that" Windu replied. „Who could we have as backup should we need more people though?"
"You mean, who isn't yet utterly overworked," Ana sarcastically pointed out, earning a few amused smiles.

"I suppose things have been slowly dying down in the halls of Healing these past few days with the completion of the inhibitor chip removal. They could do without me for a few days should the need arise" Master Allie volunteered.
"Great, you'll on call as backup then," Mace decided. "And Ana and Obi-Wan, you will accompany the Duchess back to Mandalore tomorrow morning and oversee the peace talks as a neutral party. Now, if there is nothing else."

"Actually there is" Obi-Wan spoke up, both him and Anakin rising from their chairs to stand in the middle of the room. Ana purposefully took a few steps back towards the door as she let her gaze scan over the Council members.

She was met with faces reflecting mild curiosity as to what Anakin and Obi-Wan were about to bring up. She couldn't help but smile in amusement slightly. None of them had any idea what kind of bombshell was heading their way right now.

"Go ahead," Windu encouraged tentatively.
"Anakin and I need to tell all of you about something. It's about time we did," Obi-Wan announced before turning to look at Ana. "Ana, would you be so kind?"

With an understanding nodd of her head, Ana opened the door to the Council Chambers. Ahsoka, Padmè and Satine hesitantly entered with the three children in their arms. They walked to stand beside Anakin and Obi-Wan while Ana closed the door behind them again. Ahsoka quickly handed Leia over to Anakin before moving to join Ana in standing beside the door.

The whole Council looked at the small group gathered in the center of the room in wary confusion. Windu's eyes narrowed briefly but relaxed again quickly. Ana couldn't quiet say whether he was actually not catching on or just pretending like he didn't understand. She couldn't quiet say that for any of the Council members for that matter.

"The children are forced to sensitive," Master Allie stated in realization.
"Indeed. The more interesting question is where they got them from," Windu finally spoke, his voice flat as he locked eyes with Ana. She knew in that very moment that he knew. Even if he wasn't going to say it out loud until he had heard her friends confirm it, he knew exactly whose children they were.

"The children are ours," Anakin announced. Ana couldn't help but be impressed with the levels of confidence he displayed as he spoke. Almost like he hadn't just broken the Jedi code and was challenging a belief system that had stood for thousands of years.
"These are Padmè's and my twins, Luke and Leia. And that's Obi-Wan and Satine's daughter, Grace."