When Anakin returned home, Ahsoka was there alone. She was sitting on a chair, examining the tips of her lekku and lubricating them along their entire length with a special compound that Shaak Ti had shared with her earlier. Anakin hadn't paid much attention at the time, but he understood that it was probably needed to prevent the skin from drying out and flaking. Now, for some reason, Skywalker remembered how he had joked about the swollen tips, and he suddenly felt uncomfortable. The man moved closer and, trying to sound neutral, asked Ahsoka,
"I've thought everything through. Do you think we need to discuss anything else?"
Tano put down the napkin, closed the small bottle of oil, folded her hands on her knees, and without looking at him, replied:
"Yes, probably.
The answer was disappointingly short and neutral, giving no clue as to what she was thinking. And the togruta's face betrayed nothing that might reveal her true feelings. It was calm and impassive.
"And what then?" he made another attempt to clarify things.
"I've been thinking a lot too," Tano finally replied, "and I still can't understand how you think you can take care of the children yourself.
"I don't know either," said Anakin, inwardly glad that everything was going relatively smoothly so far. "But let's agree on one thing right now: if one of us wants to call off our deal, the other can't object. Deal?"
Ahsoka was not pleased to hear this. After all, one of the reasons that had prompted her to enter into this union was her need for protection and a home. But since the conditions were what they were, she had no choice but to accept them and try not to do anything that would cause Anakin to show her the door.
"Agreed," Asoka nodded. "But then I have one condition too."
"Well?" Anakin asked casually, dissatisfied with her reaction to the chance he had given her to regain her position in society. The expression on his face and the tone of his voice did not please the Togrutar either.
"You will never dare to raise a hand against me or hurt me in any way," Tano replied proudly, raising her head defiantly, which caused an expression of extreme bewilderment to appear on Skywalker's face, as if he were genuinely surprised to hear such words from Ahsoka, so his voice sounded unusually indignant:
"Who do you think I am? That I would ever... A woman... Think about what you're saying!
"So, we have a deal?" Asoka nodded contentedly, hearing in his tone what she wanted to hear.
"I'll go tell Yoda everything now," said Anakin, throwing on his cloak and walking out the door, painfully pinching his fingers on the doorframe, which gave him the opportunity to let out a colourful string of exquisite Tatooine profanity. From the heart of the outskirts of the cantinas, Obi-Wan would have said, if only he could have heard. But Master Kenobi was now further than ever from his former apprentice and from the Jedi in general. It was unclear what he would have said at that moment, but Ahsoka noted that her family life had begun with great difficulty and not much joy. Perhaps it still would, she thought sadly, looking out the window at Skywalker's receding silhouette.
***
They decided not to delay the wedding and set the date for that same day, at three o'clock. They decided to hold it in a small clearing near the forest, and if anything went wrong, they would move to Skywalker's house. Shaak Ti did everything possible to ensure that the event had a festive atmosphere and that everyone who had been at the camp was present. She tirelessly insisted that the Force itself had brought the former teacher and student back together at the right moment to allow one to find out after Padmé's death and the other to find a loyal and reliable person who would support and help in any trouble. She did this so emotionally and poignantly that some romantic souls, such as Eila Sekura, even shed a few tears. Master Yoda himself flew on a speeder to the Ewok settlement to bring back the local chief, who had the right to perform the wedding ceremony. An hour before the ceremony began, Shaak arrived at Anakin's house carrying several bundles. She placed them in front of Asoka:
"These are for you.
Tano was speechless for a long time. No one had ever given her a gift before. No, during her training at the temple, she always received gifts on her birthday, but they were mostly small souvenirs, not like this, for no reason. And so many.
"Is this really all for me?" she asked, unable to believe her luck.
"I don't know," Shaak said with feigned doubt. "It seems like you're the only one getting married here in an hour. So, go ahead, unwrap them, don't waste time."
Asoka didn't need to be asked twice and immediately began unwrapping the packages and taking out one gift after another. Two dresses, two tunics, three pairs of leggings, the same number of tights, three shirts, and two pairs of shoes and boots.
"Enakine bought all this for you, but he sent me to get it, of course, because men don't understand women's clothes," explained Shaak, not noticing that the girl's eyes were filling with tears. "Here, I think this light-coloured one is just right for a wedding. Come on, try it on quickly.
***
At the appointed time, Asoka stepped out of the hut and almost recoiled. All the members of the camp had gathered around. And they were all looking at her. But while many of them had been ready to accuse her and drive her away that morning, now they were just smiling and looking at her with sincere admiration.
"Let's go quickly, or it will start raining," said Shaak Ti, gently nudging her in the back. Tano walked slowly, listening to the soft rustle of her new light beige dress. Fortunately, it was the right size and didn't cling to her chest as tightly as the previous one. The new shoes also fit perfectly and matched the dress beautifully. Perhaps if Asoka had been a more discerning woman, she would have called this outfit casual, but to Tano, who had never owned anything beautiful, it seemed fit for a princess. Glancing to the side, she was relieved to see that the twins were fine. Luka was holding Katuni, and Shaaq Ti was holding Leia. The children were standing quietly with their hands at their sides, and Asoka could already imagine the punishments Vindou had threatened them with to make them behave this way. She was too embarrassed to look at anyone, but then she suddenly saw Anakin. His face was serious and a little frowning, but he still looked handsome. He was still wearing his usual brown trousers and boots, but today he had put on a light-coloured robe that contrasted with his tanned skin, and his blue eyes stood out brightly on his face. Standing next to him, smiling happily, was a short, fluffy Ewok in a red cloak with a sash. This was the village chief. Seeing that the bride had arrived, he decided that it was time to begin and immediately took both of them by the hands, placing their palms together on a sacred stone he had brought with him. Anakin's hand, large and strong, covered with a leather glove, covered Asoka's palm, which looked so small and fragile against his. Tano felt the coldness of the glove and the stiffness of the leather seams, but at the same time, she felt a strange sensation unlike anything she had ever felt before. It was more pleasant than unpleasant. Therefore, thinking about him, Asoka hardly heard what the Ewok was saying to her, but apparently her reaction was correct, because at the end he announced, mercilessly mangling the common galactic language:
"I now pronounce you husband and wife. What the Force has joined together, no mortal can separate. Now kiss each other."
At the last word, Asoka shuddered. No one had warned her about this. And there was no time to ask Shaak Ti. What should she do now? But even now, she was given no time to think, as Anakin turned her towards him, placed his hands on her shoulders, and slowly leaned his face towards hers. Togruta watched as if in a dream as his eyes gradually approached, as the heat of his breath began to be felt more and more strongly on her skin. This involuntarily brought back memories of a recent nightmare from the last year. A face above her, the oppressive weight of a large body... But then her lips were lightly touched by another pair. They touched and immediately pulled away, as if nothing had happened. Jocasta, the only one who had not come, watching the mystery from the window, almost bit her own hand in frustration. Wow, these two libertines were acting as if they had touched each other for the first time. Shak Ti was also disappointed, but she had clearly hoped for more, as the kiss was so short. Asoka, too, despite everything, felt exactly the same way. She was surprised that Anakin's lips had managed to touch not only her lips, but also penetrate much deeper, into the depths of her soul. Meanwhile, Anakin vowed never to let his feelings show again. He had convinced himself that he could kiss Asoka dispassionately and indifferently, only because the situation demanded it. But a second ago, he realised that he was simply incapable of doing so without feeling anything, under any circumstances.
***
"It's a shame it's raining," said Ahsoka when they finally got home.
"Why?" Anakin asked indifferently. She had hoped that now that they were legally married, their conversations would flow more easily, but it turned out that this was not the case and he had no intention of changing anything in their relationship.
"I just thought someone might want to drop by," Ahsoka decided to explain.
"I don't think they came to the ceremony out of curiosity," said Anakin, without turning around. Asoka barely managed to stop herself from saying something hurtful. With those words, he was unwittingly destroying all the best memories she wanted to keep for the future. Tano looked at the bouquet of flowers in a beautiful vase. Ferrus had given them to her right after the ceremony.
"Congratulations, Lady Skywalker, may you have many happy years," he had said, kissing her hand.
"I still don't think so," Asoka argued with him.
"Think what you will," Skywalker replied and began to make the bed for the night. She did the same and soon lay down, turning away from the wall. Anakin made his bed as far away from her as possible, at the other end of the room. Ahsoka wanted to say that it wasn't necessary, because she didn't bite or secrete deadly poison, but she didn't, saying something completely different instead:
"Thank you for the clothes.
"You're welcome," Anakin replied without turning around. "I couldn't let you walk around in someone else's hand-me-downs. What kind of husband would I be then?"
"Good night, Anakin," said the Togruta, calling him by his name for almost the first time in a long time, which made him fall silent for a long time before he replied in the same tone:
"Good night... Ahsoka.
The first step towards each other. Perhaps it would be the only one. Or perhaps not. Only the rain outside the window could tell.
***
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