Title: Slipping Into Darkness

Main Characters: Anakin/Padmé/Obi-Wan

Secondary Characters: Palpatine/Yoda /Mace Windu

Summary: Anakin has the opportunity to change the future. But, can he can resist the temptation of the Dark Side and overcome his own weaknesses, or has he already fallen too far? Ep. III AU

Disclaimer: I don't own any of Star Wars, as cool as it would be if I did. Everything belongs to the Flannelled One. I do, however, any OCs. They are mine, mine, all mine! (notices the strange looks she is receiving) I mean, (clears throat) They belong to me. (blush)

A/N: This story began with an idea my mom had, but she was kind enough to let me borrow and expand upon it. This story would never be what it is now without her help.

It is hard to believe that I am already finished posting "Slipping," but I have certainly enjoyed it. As many of you read in the email I sent, there is a sequel. It is called, "Falling From The Light." The plot is this: Sidious was defeated by Anakin, but he knew that was a possibility, so he left something behind which may not only destroy the Chosen One, but his family as well. :D

I think it will be quite interesting, (smiles to self) and I will start posting it next week. I hope all of you will check it out. :)

Dawn on Coruscant was always a sight to behold, but this morning was simply spectacular. Brilliant shades of gold reached across the horizon, bathing everything in their soft glow. Every street and corridor was awash in color and light, the mirrored surfaces of the buildings reflecting the display, magnifying it. The glimmer of a few stars could still be seen shining through the sunrise, a rare occurrence on the bustling city-planet. It was as though the galaxy itself had chosen to celebrate the event which had taken place: the births of Luke and Leia Skywalker.

Anakin stood, lost in the wondrous scene before him, but it was not the beauty of daybreak which had drawn him in so completely, it was sight of his family. His family. Nothing he had experienced in his time as a Jedi could ever compare to the feeling those two words produced within him.

Padmé lay on her bed in the Healer's ward, her breathing deep and steady, exhaustion having finally pulled her into a peaceful sleep. Her long brown hair cascaded around her shoulders, the chocolate curls framing her still slightly flushed face. To Anakin's eyes, she seemed radiant, her beauty in this moment infinitely greater than when she had worn the elaborate costume of a Queen, or the stately robes of a senator. She was incredible, her outward beauty only surpassed by the beauty of her spirit.

Anakin walked carefully to her side, and gently bent to kiss her, using the Force to whisper a soft, I love you. As she stirred under his touch, Anakin quickly soothed her. Rest, Angel. After a moment, he felt her slip into a restful slumber once again and smiled, then moved away so as not to disturb her further. His eyes, however, lingered upon her. He took comfort from every breath she took, and whispered a silent thank you to the Force that the births had gone without complication, the horrible event that began his vision never taking place.

Then he turned, and walked to the cribs which the Healers had brought from the crèche. He looked down at both of his children with awe. They were perfect, beautiful; created by love, and destined for greatness.

As if sensing him, both of the twins opened their eyes, and blinked sleepily, one pair of eyes a deep blue, the other a rich brown. An intense joy rose in Anakin as he watched them, and carefully reached down to touch them, to convince himself that this marvelous sight was real. At his actions, Leia cooed softly, almost as if to assure him that it was. Luke flailed his small arms, then grasped onto his father's finger, both his small hands wrapping quickly around it.

Wonder flooded Anakin as their gazes locked with his own. Then gently, he drew on the Force, and his vision shifted. Their strong presences which he had once sensed bound to Padmé, now shown even brighter. Anakin carefully brushed both of their minds, and felt their essences shimmer with recognition. Anakin's smile grew as he felt Luke's grip tighten.

Finally, wishing that this moment would never end, yet realizing that his children needed rest, Anakin called upon the Force once again. He allowed his love to flow through the bond he shared with the twins, then added to it a most gentle suggestion to sleep. After a moment Luke released his finger, and blinked at him, his eyes quickly drifting shut. Leia soon followed her brother, but not before gurgling sleepily at her father once more.

As he had done with Padmé, he continued to watch them, smiling at his two beautiful children for a time, before he finally stepped back. He didn't leave, choosing to step onto the balcony which adjoined the room, where he maintained a silent vigil over those loved.

It was quiet now, the only sound that of his family's slumber, and Anakin was grateful for the peace. His mind was a torrent of thoughts, filled with ever changing images of the many events which had taken place since his meeting with the Jedi Council. In many ways it seemed unreal, so much his life had changed in so short a time.

He would never forget the stunned silence that had he greeted him as he finished speaking in the Council chambers. He had told them everything, not only relaying the terrible events of his vision, and the choices he had made in it, but everything else as well.

He had told them of every instance he could remember, in which he had called on the Dark Side, no matter how minor or trivial it had seemed at the time. He had told them what had taken place when he had found his mother on Tatooine, of the overwhelming rage that had gripped him when she died, and the slaughter that had resulted. He had told them of how close he had come to falling when he fought Palpatine, and how he had almost been deceived by the Dark Lord. And finally, he had told them of his marriage to Padmé, and that they were now expecting twins.

Once he was finished, Anakin had risen to his feet and taken his lightsaber from his belt, setting it in the center of the room. He knew that he would always remember every word and every detail of what had followed…

"Anakin," Master Yoda began, "come forward, you will." Anakin obeyed the command, and knelt in front of the ancient Jedi. "Considered your words carefully we have, and examined your spirit. Sense, we can, that wish to hide anything from us now, you do not."

Anakin nodded, yet remained silent.

"But hidden much in the past, have you. Deceived this Council and your Master. Broke the Code by marrying in secret did you . Shown you have, that tempted by the Dark Side, you are. Never in the past, allowed a Jedi who did these things, to remain would we."

With this Anakin bowed his head, waiting to hear the words which would banish him from the Order forever.

After a another pause, Yoda continued.

"But know this as well, do we: saved us all, you have."

Anakin felt a surge of surprise rush through him, and immediately raised his head.

"Masters?" he questioned.

"You will remain a Jedi, Anakin," Mace Windu said, speaking for the first time. "We understand what you have done, and we understand that you have struggled. But what speaks to us more clearly than your words, are your actions. By coming before us, you have demonstrated that we can trust your judgment. You have learned and grown from your experiences, and you have driven the darkness back; both in the Force, and in yourself."

Anakin was too stunned to form an answer, instead he looked to Obi-Wan for confirmation of what Master Windu had said. In response, Obi-Wan simply smiled at his former Padawan, his blue eyes sparkling.

"In light of what you have done for the Order, and the wisdom you have shown, we grant to you the rank of Jedi Master. And," Mace Windu continued, "we offer you a seat on this Council, if you will accept it."

Anakin felt so overwhelmed, that for several moments he couldn't speak.

Finally, he asked softly, "What about my family?"

"Ask you to abandon your wife and your children, would we not," Yoda said firmly. "Against the Code your marriage was, but allow it we will, because sacrificed so much have you already." Yoda's tone softened as he added, "Ask we do, that allow us to test your children, you will, once they are born. Great potential, I sense they will have."

Once he finished speaking, the ancient Master withdrew Anakin's lightsaber, and held it out to him. "Left this with us, you did, when here last, were you. Belong to you, it does."

Those words still brought a smile to Anakin's face, and the expression only grew as he considered the many other events which had taken place.

The war was over. With Grievous and Dooku dead, the Separatists had no one to lead them. Nute Gunray had tried to assume the position, but he was not a military commander as those before him had been, and with Sidious gone as well, he had lost a great deal of his influence. Combined with their losses at Kashyyyk and Utapau, the strain had proven too much, and the Confederacy had begun negotiating surrender with the Republic.

After weeks of debate, the Senate had finally appointed a new Supreme Chancellor, one who lacked the executive powers that Palpatine had so carefully gathered. Anakin was certain that the newly elected Chancellor Organa would serve the Republic well. He was a skilled negotiator, and would work hard to repair the rifts that the war had caused in the galaxy.

It would take time to rebuild the worlds which had been devastated by fighting, but the soon to be decommissioned clone army would serve as a police force to aid in the reconstruction. Order 66 had been deactivated, and the Jedi could work once again beside the Clones.

There would be peace. It would not come immediately, or without struggle, but it would come. Of this, Anakin was certain. For surely, if a Jedi with such a troubled heart could find peace, then a troubled galaxy could as well. With that, Jedi Master Anakin Skywalker turned from the balcony, and moved inside to watch over his family, his heart filled with hope and expectation for the future which awaited them.