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"Open! Come in!" you called out upon hearing chaotic knocking on the door, but there was no response.
"I said it's open! I have my hands full of eggs and flour, and I can't move from here!" you shouted again, but instead of a reply, you only heard even more chaotic sounds coming from behind the door.
"Darn!" you muttered under your breath as you decided to shake off your hands over the sink and headed towards the door in your stained apron.
You opened it with your elbow, not wanting to mess anything around you, and almost immediately jumped back against the wall seeing what was pushing through the already open door.
"Anakin! Good heavens! Where did you get this? From Endor?!" you asked in shock, seeing Anakin entering the house carrying a massive, barely fitting through the doorway, Christmas tree.
"Not exactly… Hold the door… Uh, please?" Anakin said with a strained voice, trying to squeeze entirely inside.
"I don't have a choice… Hey, watch out for R2!" you yelled, seeing the oblivious droid rolling toward Anakin, almost impaling itself on the protruding trunk of the Christmas tree.
"R2, back off!" commanded Anakin, and you chuckled hearing the surprised beeping of the droid as you closed the door behind both of you. Anakin set the Christmas tree against the wall, wiped the sweat off his forehead with his sleeve, looking proudly at his 'prize' as if he had found and dug it up himself.
"Jesus, what took you so long? I almost baked everything." you crossed your arms, looking at your beloved with a smile breaking through your artificially judging tone.
"I was negotiating!" Anakin shrugged with a smile, to which you nodded.
"I hope those weren't aggressive negotiations…" you playfully tapped Anakin on the shoulder, leaving a bit of flour on his dark robes.
"Not this time… But admit it, it's great, isn't it? Definitely the best one they had." he added with a proud smile on his face.
"Of course, but Ani… It was supposed to be a small, modest tree! When we stand it upright, it won't fit under the ceiling." Anakin looked at you for a moment, and although your words said otherwise, he saw that you really liked the tree.
"Everything will fit everywhere if you treat it right." Anakin shrugged, and you playfully tapped his shoulder a few times before a laughter attack caught both of you.
"Stop! You'll get me all dirty!" he laughed when you tried to tickle him, but you quickly backed off when you remembered about the oven still on behind you.
"You're the one who'll get dirty in a moment." you smiled, to which he raised an eyebrow as if he didn't know what you were talking about.
"In an apron or without an apron?" you walked a few steps to the hanger to take off the black apron and held it out towards Anakin.
"Oh no."
"Oh yes."
"But you know I'm completely useless at…"
"You can do it, brave boy, you can do anything! And now, come here." Anakin sighed and raised his hands in a gesture of surrender as he slowly joined you in the kitchen.
"So... Do you want to dirty your robes, or perhaps the apron?" you handed it to him, leaving a quick kiss on his cheek as if you wanted to praise him for his courage.
Anakin squinted at you, and you smirked playfully, simultaneously helping him tie the apron behind his back.
"So, was it that terrible?" you asked, tucking strands of his curly hair behind his ears as he pretended to put on an offended expression.
"Yes, yes... You better tell me what we're doing." he asked, diverting from the topic as he looked around at the scattered items on the kitchen counter.
"Well, the dough is almost ready, just need…" you began to speak, then stood on your toes, trying to reach the open cabinet with ingredients.
"Let me… What should I grab?" Anakin caught you around the waist to prevent you from straining yourself and reached into the cabinet, which was much more accessible for him given his height.
"Sugar and the jar of honey, please… I'll mix what I have here." he nodded at your words and took out two jars from the cabinet.
"This one is salt… but leave it here, it might come in handy later."
"Oh." Anakin muttered and reached into the cabinet again.
"Yes, perfect now, thank you." you took the jar from him and left a kiss on his cheek.
Quickly, you refocused on your recipe and didn't even catch the moment when Anakin stood behind you, his hands gently encircling your waist as he observed over your shoulder what you were doing.
"What's this?"
"This? It's the spice mix, already cooled. Now, I have to pour it into the rest of the ingredients in the bowl—it needs to be warm- not too hot."
"Too hot... Like you?"
you chuckled lightly as you began carefully pouring the contents from the warm saucepan into the plastic bowl.
You hadn't finished emptying the saucepan when you paused for a moment, feeling Anakin gently kissing your neck, slightly disrupting your balance in what you were doing.
"Ani, we'll mess everything up in a moment, really." you smiled, sensing your beloved's need for tenderness, evidently unaffected by your words.
"I don't care." he mumbled against your neck, and you struggled to scrape off the last bits of the mixture from the saucepan before putting it back.
"Darling… Please… Now it's your turn." you smiled, stroking Anakin's head with your 'cleaner' hand.
"Hm?" he grunted, intrigued by whatever you had in mind.
"Here's a spoon for you, and mix it very nicely. But make sure there are no lumps. It's as simple as that." Anakin obediently took the spoon from you and began scrutinizing the mixture, as if it required a special strategy.
Meanwhile, you went back to your task—turned off the oven with the cupcakes ready, sneakily glancing in Ani's direction as he concentrated on mixing and combining all the ingredients in the bowl, just as you had instructed.
You had to admit there was something about this sight. Something that made your heart melt. Your beloved, hardworking General simply preparing holiday treats with you, periodically glancing in your direction to avoid getting caught testing the raw dough on his finger.
"Ani, just not too much. It's raw dough; your stomach will ache." you said, turned away from him, pretending not to see him in the reflection of the fridge's glass doors.
"Hm? What?" he replied, swallowing the mixture like a professional innocent, and you just smirked in response.
God, how I love him. you thought when you turned towards him, and he continued to mix with corners of his mouth smeared with dough, like sweet 'evidence of the crime.'
"Shortly, you'll be able to try something ready…" you began to say, pulling on kitchen gloves and taking out the hot cupcake tray you had prepared earlier, then placing it on the kitchen island.
"But first, I'll wash my hands and see what you've been up to." you finished, to which Anakin obediently nodded and continued to mix the dough as you headed to the bathroom.
You double-washed your hands and were just reaching for the towel when you heard a strange exclamation coming from the kitchen. Quickly drying your hands, you rushed out of the bathroom without turning off the light to check if everything was okay. You instantly sighed seeing Anakin holding his mouth under the tap, cold water running.
"Uh! I said, not now! I just took them out of the oven!"
"Ugh… You didn't say!" he mumbled as you tore off a piece of paper towel to dampen it with cold water.
"I did say, but you weren't listening! Give me…" you turned off the flowing water and stood Anakin upright, applying a cold compress to his reddened lips.
"Sss…" he hissed, squinting his eyes, and you nodded, seeing your clever beloved bearing the consequences of his actions.
"Wait, wait…" he mumbled through the piece of towel you held to his mouth, then you removed it, letting him speak.
"I know something that will heal it better." he continued, and you squinted, waiting for his response.
"I'm curious…" you barely managed to finish when Anakin grabbed you around the waist and swiftly sealed his lips to yours, as if he had instantly regained his full strength.
"Mmh! You did that on purpose!" you protested through laughter, and Anakin shook his head in denial.
"No… I just sacrificed myself! Come here…" he caught you almost in mid-air, and not controlling his wild, laughter-interrupted kisses, you both moved to your small living room connected to the kitchen.
"You're crazy!" you laughed, pulling away for a moment from his lips to look into his eyes.
"Crazy, but yours." he continued for you, cupping your radiant face in his hands.
"It's true, Ani. It's true." you whispered, scanning the details of his face with your eyes and smiling at the sight of the traces of dough on his face.
"Ah… Right…" Anakin cleared his throat before continuing, wiping off the cake spots on his face with a piece of the apron.
"So, what are we doing with this dough?"
.................................................................................................................
The Christmas preparations unfolded for both of you in an atmosphere you had never experienced before—especially for Anakin, who usually, burdened with duties at the temple, couldn't find relief during this time.
However, this year, to his surprise, something changed. The comlink had remained silent for a few days, and he even tried shaking it at times, fearing it might have malfunctioned, but to no avail.
Today was the day of your festive dinner. Outside, darkness slowly descended, so Skywalker plugged in the fairy lights that adorned the window, and all that remained was to finish decorating the Christmas tree.
"And what? Didn't I tell you it would fit?" he asked proudly, carrying a box filled with baubles and garlands into the living room while you took the roast out of the oven.
"It fit because I trimmed the top." you replied, and both of you inhaled the appetizing, savory aroma of the dish that filled the room.
"Damn, I've gotten hungry." said Anakin, patting his stomach at the sight of a rich plate with the main dish.
"Not yet, sweetheart, the roast needs to cool, and we have to finish the tree." you replied, and Anakin immediately plunged his hand into the box full of decorations.
"So?" he added, approaching you slowly, and when he had you within reach, he draped tinsel around your neck.
"May we?" he added after a moment, pulling you close with the tinsel until your noses almost touched.
"You lead, General." you smiled, and both of you knelt by the Christmas tree, contemplating the color scheme you would choose for decoration.
"Any strategy?" you asked, fiddling with a random bauble in your hands that you took from the box.
"Hm?"
"Are we going for specific colors, or are we mixing?" you clarified, and then both of you turned around, hearing the approach of your friendly droid.
"You know what? How about silver and blue?" Anakin added after a moment, not taking his eyes off his loyal friend. You smiled broadly, quickly catching the charming hint from your beloved.
"I think that's a perfect idea." you replied, and before he looked, you left a surprise quick kiss on his lips.
Radiant from your gesture, Anakin didn't have time to reciprocate as you were already buried in the box of decorations, searching for silver and blue baubles one after another. The ones that matched the best, you set aside for Anakin to hang on the branches, and even though it took him a bit, you lovingly watched how carefully and attentively he chose places to hang the baubles.
At your crossed legs, beneath the tree, lay two gifts—one dark blue, prepared by you for Anakin, and one purple, prepared by him for you, with a slightly messy but endearing and heartfelt paper bow and a signature with his boyish handwriting that you would recognize even from the end of the world.
Both of you enjoy surprises, so you didn't peek into each other's boxes or inquire about the ideas that came to your minds. Well… maybe once, you wanted to play a little prank on R2, but the droid instantly shut down when you asked if he knew what Anakin had prepared for you in the box.
"Do you think it's okay?" Anakin asked, standing up to take a few steps back and survey the almost finished tree.
"I think it's perfect." you said with a smile, and even R2 beeped in approval.
"See? I guess there's no doubt now." Both of you laughed at the sight of the satisfied droid.
"Did you happen to forget something?" you got up from the ground and sweetly smiled at Anakin.
"I think so." he said, approaching you and gently cupping your face in his hands, leaving a long, tender kiss on your lips.
"Not exactly what I had in mind, but…"
"Ah, the tinsel!" Anakin interrupted, realizing you were referring to the part of the decorations wrapped around your neck.
You laughed at the momentary confusion of your beloved, and Anakin swiftly unwound the tinsel from your neck, starting to wrap it around the tree from the top while you held onto the lower part.
It was even more endearing that despite the last-minute adjustments, Anakin didn't do anything haphazardly—he executed each movement with feeling and one might say 'professionally,' even though he always claimed to be all thumbs when it came to such things.
"It seems finished. Would you add anything else?" he asked cautiously, but in your eyes, everything was already complete.
"Now just the cherry on top… R2?" you called to the droid, and he instantly knew what to do.
R2-D2 rolled up to the extension cord connected to the Christmas lights and flipped the switch, making the tree light up. Simultaneous smiles appeared on your and Anakin's faces as you joined hands, proudly looking at your decoration reflecting beautifully in the expansive windows of your apartment.
"Is it time?" Anakin asked timidly, looking at you leaning against the kitchen island.
"It's time." you confirmed his words with a smile, eliciting a wide grin on his face as well. You didn't have time to step into the kitchen when suddenly both of you heard the sound of the doorbell coming from the front entrance.
"Did you order something?" Anakin asked, clearly surprised, ready to sit down at the table, but then he stood back up.
"Hm… Not exactly. Wait, I'll open it." You walked into your small hallway leading to the front door while Anakin observed you, surprised by your stoic calmness.
Anakin stood in silence for a moment, watching his droid. However, soon, hearing a familiar voice he didn't expect at all that evening, shivers ran down his spine.
"Good evening, Anakin." echoed the voice of Obi-Wan from behind him, standing at the entrance with you. Skywalker's cheeks reddened in stress, as if he thought he was in some trouble, but his master quickly picked up on his feelings.
"Don't worry, I'm not here to lecture anyone. I know everything. I know about you two." Obi-Wan initially spoke with a serious expression, but soon a warm smile appeared on his face.
"Anakin, I've told Master Kenobi everything, and I invited him here tonight to spend the evening with us." you added right after Obi-Wan.
Anakin, who had been looking at the floor until now, exchanged glances with both of you, pondering for a moment. After a while, a smile appeared on his face, soon multiplying among the three of you.
"Master." Anakin finally spoke and walked towards Obi-Wan to warmly shake his hand.
"Good to see you here." he added after a moment, and you watched them with a smile, setting plates on the table.
"Good to see you too. Actually, both of you." Obi-Wan responded, patting his apprentice on the shoulder as Anakin pointed towards an empty seat at the set table and invited him to join.
"Now at least I know where you disappear for those 'unofficial missions.' I was starting to worry that you had joined the Separatists." Obi-Wan added, settling in a free seat across from you and Anakin. However, before he did, he discreetly slid two new boxes under your Christmas tree. You all laughed at Kenobi's suggestion.
"Master, mulled wine? Or are you driving?" you asked from the kitchen, holding a bottle of wine for heating.
"On purpose for this occasion, I took a taxi. I'll take some, please." Kenobi chuckled, amusing his apprentice.
"Honestly, Master…" Anakin began, taking a moment to sigh and organize his thoughts.
"I was expecting more…"
"That I'd come in here and give you both a good scolding?" Kenobi chuckled under his breath, realizing his apprentice's concerns. He had long had a perspective on the whole situation between him and you.
"Something like that?" Skywalker finished, and Kenobi sighed in response, gathering his thoughts.
"You know, Anakin, our choices may differ, our perspectives too… But despite it all, I've processed everything and come to the conclusion… Actually, I know that you deserve to shape your life in your own way, to make your own choices…" Kenobi paused to take a deep breath.
"Perhaps if some of my choices in the past were different, my life would look entirely different too, but…"
"That's why I decided it would be best if we spend this day here together." you interrupted Kenobi, handing out mugs of hot wine.
"Master, regardless of our choices - you deserve a bit of normalcy, simple everyday life…" Initially, Kenobi had a sad expression on his face, briefly returning to thoughts of the past, but he began to smile upon hearing your words.
You sensed the right moment, knowing that Kenobi's words about his past choices and how his life might have been different had a double meaning. You knew it wasn't the time for him to dwell on "what-ifs," so you needed to show him who he could count on here and now.
"Master, you're… for me, for both of us, the closest family." Anakin began, and you finally joined the two men.
"Ani has repeatedly said that you're like an older brother to him… It probably wouldn't be easy for us if you hadn't accepted that…" you continued for him, but Kenobi was quicker to interrupt.
"If I hadn't accepted you, I wouldn't know how to live with it. I won't deny that you're like family to me as well." Kenobi replied and paused for a moment, having something else on the tip of his tongue.
"By the way… I know it's still early, but I'd like to give you something in advance. You've arranged time off for Anakin, so there's no risk for him, but they could call me at any moment." He finished, and Anakin squinted his eyes.
"Wait, what? How did you arrange time off for me?" Skywalker asked, realizing that the recent silence on the line in the past few days was your doing.
"Shhh!" you hushed your beloved and deferred the conversation back to Kenobi, towards your Christmas tree.
"I've been thinking for a long time about what to prepare for you both. I've never had the opportunity to give anyone a gift for this occasion… or rather, I've never had the chance to celebrate with anyone..." Obi-Wan began, taking out from under the Christmas tree two boxes he had brought with him—plain, wrapped in the simplest way, differing only in size.
"But I think I hit the mark at least a little." he continued, presenting the gifts in your direction. They were modestly labeled—yours had the first letter of your name, and Anakin's had a large 'A' on it. You smiled at each other, and Skywalker was the first to start unwrapping his gift, so you waited with yours to be able to see his reaction.
Initially, both of you were unsure about what emerged from the wrapping that Anakin had disarmed, but it was only the next layer of unwrapped paper that revealed Obi-Wan's first gift.
"Whoah, where did you get this?" Skywalker asked with a broad smile, holding an elegant, sturdy case for his lightsaber with specially engraved initials A.S.
"I ordered it on special request. I won't deny that I consulted a bit on choosing this gift…" Kenobi threw you a meaningful look, to which you smiled.
"…But it also occurred to me after the last mission when your hilt fell off, and all the way to Coruscant, you couldn't stop polishing it." Anakin didn't wait any longer and took a few steps back to pick up his lightsaber from the coffee table and test how it fits with the new accessory.
"It fits perfectly." Skywalker maneuvered his weapon a bit and, in the meantime, checked if the case fits on his belt.
"It's very well secured in the switch area—you won't have to worry about the lightsaber accidentally turning on." added Kenobi as Anakin safely placed his new gadget on the coffee table.
"Thank you, Master… But honestly, now I feel really embarrassed because I don't have any gift for you." Anakin responded with slight confusion, but for Kenobi, it absolutely didn't matter.
"For me, the greatest gift is that I can be here today, in such a pleasant, homely company." both of you smiled at Obi-Wan's words, but you didn't have to worry about Kenobi leaving your apartment empty-handed. You invited him yourself, so you made sure he returned with his gift—a bag full of homemade sweets and treats, and a bottle of elegant, winter mulled wine that he enjoys.
"It seems it's your turn now, Ma'am." Obi-Wan smiled, and soon after his words, both men focused their attention on the small package you held in your hands.
You returned the smile to the older Jedi and began carefully unwrapping the paper, which, this time, had only one layer. Underneath was an elegant, blue box, and when you took off the lid, your eyes were greeted by a beautiful blue jewelry set—a necklace with stunning, shimmering stones and matching earrings.
"Master… This is beautiful… You really didn't have to…"
"In fact, this set has been with me for a long time… I once prepared it for Satine, but I never had the chance to give it to her, so…" Hearing these words, your heart almost stopped, and you weren't the only one in shock—Anakin was equally stunned.
"Master, I… I can't accept this… I don't feel that…"
"I want you to accept it. It was meant for someone special and will go to someone special. You are the closest woman to me since I learned about your relationship, and since I became aware of it, I know you're the right person to wear this." As Obi-Wan spoke, your eyes glistened. You nervously looked toward the moved Anakin and then back to Kenobi, embracing him warmly.
"I'll take care of it, I promise." you added, breaking the hug and very gently placing the box in a safe corner.
"But you have to promise me something else." Kenobi said after a while, and of course, you immediately turned towards him.
"That you'll take care of him." he added, patting his apprentice on the shoulder, triggering wide smiles from both of you.
"May the Force curse me if it's otherwise." you laughed, approaching your beloved, who wrapped his arm around you, gaining comfort to do so in the presence of his Master.
"Because, Anakin, you should know right away that if you don't take care of her, I'll kill you." Kenobi added with mock seriousness. Anakin initially widened his eyes in surprise, but he knew he didn't have to worry about such a scenario because he takes care of you incredibly well.
"Damn, guys, I won't keep you any longer. You must be starving." You interrupted as soon as the opportunity arose, and the two smiling Jedi, without any protest, immediately took their seats at the table to enjoy the long-awaited dinner.
"What do we have here?" Obi-Wan asked, rubbing his hands together at the sight of appetizing dishes on the elegant table setting.
"This is roast with vegetables, here's my experimental – but supposedly very good – salad, and over there are raspberry cupcakes…" you listed one by one as Kenobi and Anakin served themselves with their chosen dishes. A portion of roast quickly landed on Obi-Wan's plate, and on the dessert plate next to it were gingerbreads, which he wanted to try first.
"…And Anakin made the gingerbreads himself… well, almost by himself!" you added, and at your words, Kenobi paused for a moment before taking the first bite.
"Oh? Really?" the older Jedi widened his eyes, and you laughed, seeing him act as if they were dealing with explosive concoctions.
"But don't worry, they are really delicious. I tested them myself, and I have to admit that your apprentice has a knack for cooking." Anakin sat a bit embarrassed but blushing, chewing on your delicious dishes and appreciating your compliments.
"Okay, I have to admit, they're seriously good." Kenobi replied with a full mouth, genuinely impressed by the taste of the sweet gingerbreads.
"See, you underestimated me." Anakin smiled over his plate, adding another serving of your roast, which absolutely stole the show that evening.
"Oh, I just know your capabilities too well, Anakin." Kenobi concluded, and you just chuckled, enjoying one of the cupcakes that Anakin had the chance to nibble on a bit earlier.
Dinner passed in a delightful mood – there were jokes, playful banter that had everyone laughing, but most importantly, there was a wonderful atmosphere that truly made you all feel like family. It was already quite late at night when Kenobi left the two of you alone. Before he departed, you made sure he took your delicious gifts with him. Since he allowed himself to raise a few more toasts for you, you escorted him to the taxi drop-off point.
You both felt a bit frozen on the way back to the apartment, especially Anakin, who graciously offered you his coat along the way. As soon as you got in, you cranked up the heating because, even though you both were eager to dive into bed, you knew there was one more important thing left to do.
"What do you say, love, who goes first?" you asked Anakin, embracing him tenderly as you stood in front of your Christmas tree.
"It might sound strange, but… Maybe I'll go first, huh?" Anakin's choice surprised you, as such questions usually ended with both of you insisting the lady goes first, but this time something was clearly different.
"Of course, go ahead." you smiled and left a kiss on his cheek before he bent down to pick up the box labeled with the letter 'A'. It was substantial, much larger than yours and slightly more complex in its packaging. You sat down beside him to help in case he needed assistance with unwrapping.
For Anakin, who had already practiced unwrapping presents a bit today, it didn't take long at all. From the broad smile on his face right from the start, you could tell he was already thrilled.
"No way." he whispered, revealing his new, sophisticated toolbox containing absolutely everything he might need for repairing droids or providing 'first aid' in case of speeder breakdowns.
"You're amazing, have I told you that already?" Anakin turned to you with a wide grin and connected his lips with yours in a long kiss.
"So, I guess I nailed the present, huh?" you asked, already knowing the answer.
"You have no idea how much." he added, leaving another kiss on your lips and caressing your cheek gently.
"Well then… it seems it's your turn now." he whispered after a while, and your cheeks blushed as you reached for a small box under the tree. You stood up, trying to first deal with the paper bow. Anakin stood behind you, peering over your shoulder, not wanting to interrupt your unwrapping joy. You were getting to the third layer of paper, revealing a simple box underneath, similar to a typical tea box. However, when you opened the lid, there was nothing inside. You also couldn't feel Anakin's breath on your shoulder, so he must have distanced himself a bit when you were focused on unboxing.
"Ani, I think I messed something up, or…" you began, turning around, and suddenly you had to lower your gaze because your beloved was kneeling in front of you, holding another, this time elegant and exquisite box.
"I didn't want you to find it in a pile of papers, so I left the real gift here." he said. You didn't know what to say next, seeing Anakin's completely serious face and his hand extended towards you.
"I chose your favorite stone and had it framed as beautifully as possible, so that accepting this ring would be a gift not only for me but also for you… Because accepting it would mean that I will have the most wonderful gift I could ever dream of…" he spoke, and you felt your eyes welling up.
"Anakin… Does this mean…"
"It means that tonight, I want to ask you to marry me. You, the most special woman in my life, with whom I want to celebrate Christmas forever, in war and in peace, in sickness and in health…" he continued, and you felt your heart pounding. However, you already knew the answer. You didn't want to wait any longer. You didn't want to keep him in suspense.
"I want to spend every Christmas with you, I want to start every new year with you… Anakin… I have no doubt… I never did." You cupped his face with your hands as he slowly rose from his kneeling position, gazing deeply into your eyes.
"Should I understand this as a 'yes'?" he asked, taking out the breathtakingly beautiful ring from the elegant box.
"Yes, Anakin. There is only one answer for me." You replied, and then he gently took your hand to put the ring on it, perfectly sized for your finger.
Your lips met again in a passionate kiss – a kiss unlike any other because it was part of a new, wonderful reality for both of you. You could have prolonged it for a long time, but eventually, you separated your lips and held each other tightly, looking into each other's eyes.
"I will take care of you. I will take care of you as much as I can…" he whispered slowly, almost touching noses, observing the Christmas tree's illumination reflecting in your eyes.
"And I will ensure that every Christmas from now on is like these… But in all this, one thing will remain certain…" he continued, and you listened attentively.
"With each passing Christmas, I will love you even more."