Star Wars: The Good Ending

Anakin

Anakin quietly walked through the moonwashed home of his mother and stepfather. They'd been advised to stay in hiding until the last of Maul's chain of command had been taken into custody to avoid any contingency plans. So naturally, he was finally able to bring his family to visit Tatooine.
    Only he couldn't sleep. Not because he was worried or anxious, he just felt like a lot had been put into perspective. He stepped out of the house and into the sand, bleached white by the moonlight. He walked for a bit and sat down in the dunes, looking up into the sky, just as he had every night until he was nine. When he began training as a Jedi on Coruscant he missed the clarity of the sky and the stars.
    He didn't keep track of how long he sat there, but a little while later, he heard soft footsteps approaching. A woman no older than her mid forties settled next to him on the ground and joined him in looking at the stars.
    "Ani, what are you doing out here?" Shmi asked.
Anakin shrugged and looked at his mother. "Not sure. Just couldn't sleep, I guess."
    "I see."
They sat for a little while longer until Anakin finally broke the silence with a question that had been burning in the back of his head for years.
    "Mom, how did you do it?"
Shmi blinked a couple times, confused. "Do what?"
    "How were you able to let me go? I know it must've been hard."
Shmi sighed and laced her fingers. "It was the hardest and easiest decision I ever made, Ani. Of course I didn't want to lose you, but I wouldn't hesitate to give you a better life."
    She smiled and cupped the side of his face, just as she did when he was little. "I always knew you were destined for so much more than Tatooine. But loving something isn't to keep it in a cage. You have to let what you love fly, you can't just clip its wings because you don't want it to fall."
    "But isn't loving something doing everything in your power to save it?" Anakin asked.
    "Of course, it's natural to not want to lose who we love, Ani. But you can't live your life in fear of loss. That's not love, it's a prison."
    "You got me there," Anakin frowned and brushed a few fingers through the sand. "You guys don't have to live here. We could get you a home anywhere in the galaxy you wanted. You could even live on Coruscant with us."
    Shmi laughed, "Oh Ani, your place may not be here, but mine is. I'm happy here, this is more than enough for me."
    He watched as the first orange brushstrokes of dawn began to paint the horizon. "That's all I want for you Mom. For you to be happy."
    "I know, my love. It makes me happier than you can imagine to see the life you've made for yourself."
    Anakin smiled to himself and looked back at the homestead. "They really are something, aren't they?"
    Shmi patted the side of his face affectionately, "They really are. Now come help me get breakfast around."
    She started to stand and Anakin helped her to her feet, as they walked back to the Lars Homestead. "So if you're dead set on staying on the ugliest planet in the Outer Rim, could I at least convince you to visit my favorite?" he asked.
    "Of course, where do you have in mind?"

    The sunset reflected a glittering rainbow of colors over the massive, clear crystal lake. The sky was a watercolor painting of every hue in the galaxy, the pearly clouds shone pink, orange, and purple, and the first stars of dusk began to sparkle in the blue and violet sky. Waterfalls broke over massive stone cliffs, falling peacefully into the lake with a melodic hum. A light breeze blew through the emerald meadows of flowers, every shape and color you could think of.
    Anakin and his mother stood on a huge marble dais, the large, open columns allowing the breeze to blow through the sweet smell of wildflowers. Shmi smiled in amazement, speechless that such a gorgeous place even existed.
    Even still, there were things her son found infinitely more beautiful.
"Gramma!" Luke yelled from down the dais. "I brought you flowers!"
    The young boy came running towards them, his mother and sister close behind, his arms full of flowers he must've picked in the field. Anakin quickly strode over to his wife and happily kissed her. Even the place he considered the most beautiful in the galaxy couldn't hold a candle to her.
    She smiled and scrunched her nose, tugging on a lock of his shaggy hair. "What was that for?"
    "Do I need a reason?" he asked innocently.
"No, I guess not," Padme laughed and kissed him back.
    "How were Sola and the kids?" he asked.
"Great, I can't believe how big those two are getting!" Padme explained, "I can't even pick them up anymore!"
    "Soon Luke and Leia will be too big to carry too."
"Hnngh, don't remind me. They're growing up way too fast," she complained.
    Anakin turned to see the two of them take his mother by each hand, happily chattering about wanting to show her the beach. He watched them leave, unable to suppress a smile.
    "Hope you guys didn't start dinner without me!" came a voice. Ahsoka appeared from around the corner carrying a box she promptly plopped in Anakin's arms. Just as the doctor had promised, she was fully recovered. Padme hugged her and grinned, "It's wonderful to see you."
    "Oooh, I wanted to show you guys something," She pulled two brand new, uniquely crafted lightsabers off her belt and held them up, igniting them. The blades were a white, emitting a soft glow.
    "They're beautiful! What happened to your old ones?" Padme asked.
Ahsoka shrugged, "Probably at the bottom of Mustafar's lava ocean. So I made due."
    "Hm, but I liked that your lightsabers matched mine," Anakin pouted.
"Ok, then you can go find them," Ahsoka replied.
    Anakin laughed and carried the box to the dining room where Obi-Wan and R2 looked like they were arguing about something?
    "Why do you need a place at the table?! You can't eat! Or sit!"
Artoo screeched angrily and spun in an agitated circle.
    "Just set him a place at the table," Anakin rolled his eyes.
Obi-Wan sighed and followed Anakin into the kitchen. "You spoil that glorified trash can," he grumbled. Anakin laughed and set the dessert Ahsoka bought on the counter. "No Cody?" he asked.
    "No, he's busy,"Obi-Wan responded, taking a drink of his tea.
"Bummer," Anakin answered, grabbing a couple drinks and drinks and walking back into the main area. Ahsoka and Padme were still catching up when he got there, and he looked out on the dais at the beach. The twins had kicked off their shoes and were splashing around in the shallows while Shmi watched.
    Leia pushed her brother and he fell on his butt, soaking his pants. His response was to tackle his sister so they were both completely drenched.
    "Leia Amidalla! Luke Skywalker!" Padme yelled.
"She started it!" Luke cried, splashing her in the face. Leia shrieked and splashed him in turn, running away before he could get back at her. Anakin laughed and passed a drink to Rex, who'd seemingly arrived back from Daro with Ahsoka.
    "You two better get back up here before supper is all gone!" He yelled. They scrambled out of the water and ran for the stairs, disappearing under the balcony. Rex and Obi-Wan followed Ahsoka into the dining room, leaving Anakin and Padme alone.
    "So, is it still as pretty as it was when you were younger?" he asked, tucking a dark ringlet behind her ear.
    "No, not really," she answered casually, giving him a sly smile.
Really?"
    "Really," she smiled a dazzling, beautiful grin and leaned in. "It's better," she whispered.
    She kissed him as she had countless times, but every one still felt as incredible as the first, right here on Naboo. She wrapped her arms around his neck and as he held her in his arms, Anakin Skywalker couldn't imagine a more perfect life.

This story isn't over! You can find the continuation, Star Wars Legacies, here on Wattpad!! I had so much writing this, thank you all so much for reading, I love you and may the Force be with you <3