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"You look so beautiful my love." he said with a smirk. Shmi, dressing in a pale white gown laughed. "I look like a beached whale in a dress." she joked. Qui-Gon couldn't see it, all he saw was a beautiful angel in front of him, preparing to become his wife. "I disagree, you look like a beauty goddess from ancient belief." he replied. And she did. A beautiful goddess of love and beauty. A goddess of fertility and fecundity. She laughed but pauses her dressing.
"I thought it was bad luck to see the bride before the ceremony." she teases. Qui-Gon smirks, Shmi and her ways. "I don't believe is such things, but if the bride wishes I shall leave." Shmi laughs and smacks his arm. Taking advantage he wraps around her, resting his chin on her head. Shmi sighs happily into his chest, relaxing as her shoulders drop their tension.
He hates to ruin the peaceful silence but he can feel his beloved's thoughts racing. "What's on your mind love?" he asks. Shmi sighs again and turns around in his arms to face the mirror. He lifts his eyes to study their image in the mirror. Himself curled around her back, his chin resting in her hair, arms crossed over her chest. Shmi in front, her arms lifted to hold his, her thumb stroking over his arm, and head tilted back to rest on her shoulder. A beautiful image. If he had a camera he'd take a picture, just to have the physical copy of this memory forever.
Shmi sighs, it's happy and fond. Her breath as she exhales tickles his neck. Finally her voice, so quiet that if she was even an inch from he'd be unable to hear her words, breaks through the quiet. "I'd never thought this to be possible. I never believed I could have this." she answers. "All my life I could never have this," she pauses, "and now I do." Qui-Gon listens, the confession both warms and breaks his heart. He takes a minute to consider his words. "I never thought this was possible for me either." he admits, "Being a Jedi, this marriage. Our relationship, our family. I thought this to be impossible." he adds. Shmi glances up at her and lets out a small huff of a laugh. He doesn't have time to wonder what it means before her lips are on his. The kiss is gentle until they break.
"As much as I loved the Order and being a Jedi, my priorities changed. And I will miss the Order dearly but it's more important to be with you and Ani." he says. Shmi laughs as footsteps sound down the hall. "Speaking of Anakin." she adds on as the aforementioned boy bursts into the room followed by breathless two handmaids.
"We're sorry. We tried to catch him but.." Sabé says as she pants for breath. Anakin pays mind and runs to his mom. "We've been waiting for you. You're late and I was getting worried." he explains. Shmi laughs and kisses his hair as she holds him in her arms, "We were just about to come down. We were just taking a private moment together." she promises the boy. "Which is over." a new voice retorts. Padmé comes from the hall, flocked by her aids, dress in regal wear. "We'll be late if we don't hurry." she adds in.
Moments later Qui-Gon is pulled away from the room as the girls surround Shmi. She glances to him with a helpless look before she is dragged away to the vanity. In the new room he finishes dressing with Obi-Wan's help and is whisked away to a carriage as soon as the last button is closed. The next minutes, maybe hours pass in a blur. When he finally comes back he's standing at the alter as the wedding march plays.
The doors open and Shmi walks down the aisle lead by her son. She's stunning. Her dress is a pure white, framing her small baby bump. Beautiful lace covers the skirt and makes up the sleeves. Her veil trains behind her, decorated with small green flowers. Her hair, longer that when they first met is piled on the top of her head in beautiful braids circled like a crown. The bouquet is simple full of pale green and blue flowers.
She flocked by Padmé and her handmaids, dress in simple but pretty green dresses and veils. Anakin is in suit with green details. And suddenly he feels underdressed, in formal Jedi robes like Obi-Wan. As the group arrived Shmi is lead up to him, he takes her hands and turns to face her completely. Out of the corner of his eye he see Anakin take his spot by Obi-Wan as Padmé leads the others in a practiced line on Shmi's side.
The officiant steps forward calling the room's attention. Silence falls as the officiant speaks, "Today we gather to witness the marriage and bond of Lady Shmi Skywalker and Jedi Qui-Gon Jinn. This contract of marriage is to not be entered lightly but thoughtfully and seriously, and with deep knowledge of its promises, obligations, and responsibilities. And now the bride and grooms vows for another. Qui-Gon will start."
Qui-Gon takes a deep breath before starting. "My love, you have stood by me in these last few months. From the moment your son offered us shelter to the moment I awoke. You have cared for me, helped me heal from an injury that should have ended my life. Helped me process the trauma and got me through the nightmares and bad dreams." he tears up as he continues, "Not only helping me through the bad but granting me the best. You have given me my biggest dreams. You have given me a beautiful wife, a adorable son, and a wonderful family that will soon grow. You gave me a wonderful student and son. You have gifted me my own children, a son and soon another. Not only have you given me a family, but helped bring it back together. You've brought my padawan and my master home back to me and for that I will be forever thankful. I love you so much. I promise to forever be your guardian and partner. I promise to keep you safe and loved. I promise grant your every wish," he's pretty sure he's crying by now. "and I promise to love Anakin as my own, for now and ever. I love you both so much and I promise to stay by your side no matter the struggles or hardships we may face. I promise." he finishes and now he knows he crying, Shmi is too. Hurriedly she brings her hands to wipe bringing his with. He lifts his thumbs and gently brushes away her tears.
Shmi after taking a moment to breathe starts her vows. "Qui-Gon, you came into my life without moments notice, my son dragging you into our home. You were so kind, even offering to pay coverage fees for the time you stayed. You were kind and respectable, if a bit reckless. You helped Anakin accomplish his biggest wish and win his race. You offered to train and teach him about his gifts. To free him and take him away from that life. And you did, you freed him and me. You saved me from that awful place. And even after you never tried to hold it over my head. You let me be my own person, my own owner. Never once tried to own me. Something any other person wouldn't have done. Even in our coupling, you were respectful and kind. Asking for consent every time. Listening and never pushing. In our relationship, never trying to force me into anything. Never trying to dominate or hold more power. You made sure I knew that we were of equal standing. You made sure you listened and were so careful, going out of the way to listen and taking care to know every trigger, every thing I was fearful of. And patiently taking time to make sure I was safe and comfortable, and I am so thankful." she pauses to take a breath. "I was worried sick while you were in the coma. And when you woke I was so relieved. Even then you were more worried about me. I was so nervous to tell you about our child. Worried about your reaction. But you let me ramble and get everything out. After you pulled me to you and told me everything. Your ideas and plans. Your plan to leave the Jedi, to stay and build our family, to train Ani. You told me how you wanted to stay with me and our children. How you wanted to make a family with me. I was so surprise and relieved. You let me cry on your shoulder for hours after. And you've been so loving and supportive since. To me and to Ani." Almost crying she paused for a moment before continuing. "You've loved me so much. Just as much as you've loved Anakin. You took him in, first as a student and now as a son. He really looks up to you. You cared and loved Anakin as your own, and I am so thankful and happy." Shmi pauses to glance behind him at Anakin. He's tempted to turn to look at him as well but he's too entrapped by Shmi's beauty. She makes sure to make and keep eye contact with him as she starts again, "I was so happy when you proposed and even happier when you gave Anakin the adoption papers to officially call him your son." She starts tearing up as she finishes, "I promise to love you unconditionally. I promise to care and love you through thick and thin. I promise to stay by your side no matter what. I am so happy to become your wife and watch as you officially become Anakin's father. I love you so much Qui-Gon Jinn."
Both of them are fully crying now. The officiant gives them a moment before lightly clearing their throat to call attention of the room. Turning to him they continue the vows. "Do you, Jedi Qui-Gon Jinn take Lady Shmi Skywalker to be your forever bonded wife?"
"I do."
"Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect her, forsaking all others past and future, and holding only unto her forevermore."
"I do."
The officiant the turns to Shmi. "Do you, Lady Shmi Skywalker take Jedi Qui-Gon to be your forever bonded husband?"
"I do."
"Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect him, forsaking all others past and future, and holding only unto him forevermore."
"I do."
The officiant smiles, Shmi is glowing and Qui-Gon has his breath taken away almost missing the next part. "Qui-Gon Jinn and Shmi Skywalker will now exchange rings as a symbol of love and commitment to each other. Rings are a precious metal; they are also made precious by you wearing them. Your wedding rings are special; they enhance who you are. They mark the beginning of your long journey together. Your wedding ring is a circle—a symbol of love never ending. It is the seal of the vows you have just taken to love each other without end.
Qui-Gon, please place the ring on Shmi's left hand and repeat after me
("As a sign of my love")
“As a sign of my love”
("That I have chosen you")
"That I have chosen you”
("Above all else")
“Above all else”
("With this ring, I thee wed.")
“With this ring, I thee wed.”
And Shmi, please place the ring on Qui-Gon's left hand and repeat after me:
("As a sign of my love")
“As a sign of my love”
("That I have chosen you")
"That I have chosen you"
("Above all else")
“Above all else”
("With this ring, I thee wed.")
“With this ring, I thee wed.”
The officiant smiles at them and moves on to the well wishes. "To make your relationship work will take love. Continue to date each other. Take time to show each other that your love and marriage grows stronger with time. It will take trust to know that in your hearts, you truly want what is best for each other. It will take dedication to stay open to one another—and to learn and grow together. It will take loyalty to go forward together, without knowing exactly what the future brings. And it will take commitment to hold true to the journey you have both pledged today."
Qui-Gon and Shmi are almost vibrating with joy, the officiant speaks one last time, "And by the power invested in me, it is my honor and delight to declare you married. May the marriage and the couple be blessed by the Force. You may seal this declaration with a kiss." Qui-Gon leans down as Shmi leans up and finally after waiting all day they finally share a kiss. "I am very pleased to present the newlyweds, Qui-Gon Jinn and Shmi Skywalker." They kiss again and turn to face the crowd everyone cheers for the happy couple.
They walk back down the aisle with happy cheers and whistles. They hurriedly climb into the back of the getaway speeder to head to the reception.