Anakin stood his broad shoulders rigid. His muscles tense. He stood there, poised, his lightsaber drawn, ready to kill. But who?
Mace Windu and Chancellor Palpatine were locked together on the window sill,. Palpatine was using dark fire to attack Windu, who was blocking it with his lightsaber.
"I can help you save the one you love" said Palpatine with difficulty.
"Help me Anakin, help me" groaned Windu.
Anakin was torn. Should he help a great Jedi master, or the one who could help him save Padme? He closed his eyes, feeling the force flow through him. Using the force he jumped, letting it guide him. He felt his lightsaber enter human flesh. He heard agonizing screams of pain. He opened his eyes to find his lightsaber embedded in Palpatine's chest. For a moment, he was glad he had killed the Sith lord. Then his worries came crashing down on him. What have I done? Anakin thought How will I save Padme now? I just killed my chance to save her. I have caused Padme's death. I have killed her. He struggled to hide his feelings of dismay as Master Windu turned to him.
"Anakin," he said "You have now earned my trust and the title of master." Anakin's heart soared, and then crashed. This was something he had always dreamed of, but how could he enjoy it (or even live) if Padme were to die? She was everything to him.
"Thank you master," he said, trying to sound happy. He immediately headed to his room to tell Padme.
"I've killed you." Anakin said gravely, entering their room. Padme looked up, distraught.
"Anakin, I'm perfectly alive. I'm fine. What's wrong with you?"
"I killed him." Anakin said flatly.
"I've killed Palpatine."
"Why?" Padme asked, unbelieving.
"He was the Sith lord."
"Shouldn't you be happy?" Anakin's flat tone was worrying her.
"No. He said he could help me save you. Keep you from dying." He said, his voice cracking, finally showing his emotion.
"Anakin!" Padme said strongly. "I will not die. I'm perfectly fine. I don't need you to save me." She reached up to wrap her arms around his neck. Holding each other was a comfort for both of them.
"Anakin I just heard that they made you a mast-"
Obi Wan stopped mid-sentence. He was shocked to find them together like that. Anakin and Padme looked up in surprise.
"Obi Wan, sit down," Padme said "we can explain." Obi Wan sat. Anakin sat rigidly across from him. Obi Wan turned to Padme, who was sitting next to Anakin.
"Anakin is the father, isn't he?" Obi Wan said disbelievingly.
"Yes, I am" Anakin said tensely.
"Are you," Obi Wan made the mistake of looking at Anakin, whose sharp gaze burrowed into him. He turned to Padme, "Are you married?" He said, half hoping they were, half hoping they weren't.
"Of course" Anakin replied, it annoyed him that Obi Wan talked as if he weren't there.
"For how long?"
"We don't need to be interviewed." Anakin said coldly.
"Anakin please," Padme pleaded, "He's trying to understand."
"Understand what?" Anakin said, his voice rising. Padme gave him a pleading look. He tried to calm down. Padme turned to Obi Wan,
"We've been married since the beginning of the clone wars." Obi Wan was surprised to find that they had kept this secret for so long.
"When were you married?" Obi Wan asked, remembering the chaos that had ensued after the first attack on Geonosis.
"Anakin escorted me to Naboo after we returned from Geonosis. We were married on Naboo"
Obi Wan felt a lapse in Anakin's anger as he remembered his wedding. He was startled to understand that this brought his former apprentice such happiness. Once again Obi Wan made the mistake of looking into his friend and former apprentice's face. Anakin wore a grave expression, but the abrupt softness in his blue eyes gave him away.
"Padme, you are such an upstanding Senator, I would think that you, of all people, would resist such a temptation. I am surprised at your… your-" Obi Wan trailed off, at a loss of words.
"Her what?" Anakin snarled. How dare he even suggest she is less than perfect!
"Anakin please." Padme pleaded again.
"I think it's time you left." Anakin said in a cold, hard voice.
"Obi Wan please stay here," Padme said glancing sternly at her husband. "We want you to understand."
"No" The Jedi answered, "Anakin is right. I had better go."
"Are you going to tell the council?" Padme asked in a frantic tone.
"I will meditate on it, and the force will guide me." Obi Wan left the apartment.