Anakin woke with a start, the dream still with him. He was in a cold sweat, No, not again. Not her, not Padmé, Anakin thought. He sat up, rested his head in his hands, and then ran his fingers through his unruly hair. It was early morning on Coruscant and he went out onto the veranda. It wasn't long until Padmé was there.
"What's wrong Ani?" she asked.
Only everything, my love, but I can't tell you that, Anakin thought and said, "Nothing is wrong."
"Anakin, don't do this, don't shut me out. Please tell me," Padmé said.
"I had a dream, like with my mother," he paused, Why can you make me do whatever you want, Angel? I don't want to burden you with this, "You die in childbirth, I won't let it happen, I won't let this one become real."
"It's not going to become real, it was just a dream. I promise you I won't die in childbirth," Padmé said gently.
Always the brave face, but I feel the fear I've put inside of you.
"No, I promise you."
Later that day Anakin was on his way to answer a summons from the Chancellor, when he heard a voice.
"Boy, come over here boy," the voice said.
"Do you mean me?" Anakin said.
"Yes, of course I do, come over here, I have something to discuss with you," the voice said, and the owner of the voice came out of the shadows.
"I recognize you, you're older than your bust in the Temple," Anakin said, his curiosity peaked by the old man's face.
"Figures, I am older than when I left the Order. At least I haven't become a Sith and started a fool war like my other living counterpart," The old man said.
"You surely didn't stop me just to complain about Count Dooku and the war. What is it that you want?" Anakin said, his infamous impatience rearing its ugly head.
"It isn't polite to rush your elders, young man. Hasn't young Obi-Wan taught you anything?" the old man said.
"So you do know who I am." Anakin asked.
"Of course I do! Your face is only plastered on every holo emitter and veiwscreen in the Republic. If I have to listen to one more dreamy eyed girl talk about you and what they'd like to do to you I think I'll be sick," the old man said.
Anakin couldn't help but chuckle at the Lost One's discomfort.
"You think its funny, do you?" the old man scolded.
"I find the whole concept funny, old man, not just your reaction to it," Anakin said reveling in the rare moment of mirth he's had.
"Well, I would say that's as it should be, but you haven't been in good keeping with the Jedi Code on that matter, have you, young Skywalker?" the Lost One asked.
Anakin's anger flashed, "What do you know about me, old man?"
"And quick to anger too…" the old man chided.
"I apologize, that was inappropriate," Anakin said.
"You do many inappropriate things now days, don't you, Chosen One?" the old man asked.
"I'm not ashamed of anything I've done," Anakin replied.
"Not telling the truth I feel there, young one," the old man chided.
"Speak plainly old man, if I wanted riddles I'd talk to Master Yoda," Anakin said.
"Very well, I know you are about to meet with our esteemed chancellor, I've come to ask you not to go to that meeting," the Lost One said.
"What? I have to go, he's the chancellor," Anakin said not believing his ears.
"Since when are the Jedi lapdogs for politicians?" the old one asked.
"The Jedi serve the Republic, the Chancellor leads the Senate and the Senate leads the Republic that is why I have to go," Anakin said.
"Good, you get a passing grade in civics class," the old man said rolling his eyes.
"What other answer would you have me give, old man?" Anakin asked his anger building.
"The truth would be a start Chosen One, the Jedi do not serve any living being or organization of beings. We have only one true master, and that is the Force, usually the will of the Force and the good of the Republic go hand in hand. These are not normal times," the old man said.
"Really, I hear this from one that turned his back on the Order, left the service of the Republic?" Anakin asked.
"Yes, you hear this from me, but I never turned my back on the order. I just had a different path to follow," the old man said his voice giving no sign of regret over his choices.
"You had to be with her, didn't you? I've heard the story from Obi-Wan," Anakin said, his voice accusatory, the fact that he had essentially the same problem not making it through his outrage at being lectured.
"You would lecture me about attachment, boy? You who are secretly married. You who took revenge for your mother's murder, you who are now an expectant father and are worried that your wife will die in childbirth?" the old man said, throwing Anakin's accusation back in his face. Anakin was stunned into silence for a moment.
"How did you know about that? Any of it, tell me?" Anakin said rushing over to the old man and grabbing his shoulders.
The old man wasn't the least bit shaken by Anakin's near attack. He looked sadly at the young Knight's face.
"I had hoped the revenge part wasn't true, young Skywalker. This is a dangerous time for you. The Dark Side calls to you, it wants you," the old man said.
Anakin took a step back, and ran his real hand through his hair.
"Who told you this?" Anakin asked, regaining his composure.
"A very persistent ghost, or maybe just the delusions of a madman," the old man said.
"A ghost, you say," Anakin said, not quite believing what he was hearing.
"Yes, a ghost. I don't know if it was the Force compelling me to come here or not, Chosen One, but now that I've seen you I know I've done the right thing. You look like you are about to fall down any second. How much sleep have you been getting?" the old man asked.
"Not much, not with the dreams, then there's the worry I have over the council not trusting the Chancellor, and the war, and Obi-Wan…" Anakin trailed off.
"If there is a Sith Lord running things in the Senate, you are in no shape to deal with it Anakin. Do as I asked, please, for your own sake. Don't see him today," the old one said.
"What should I do instead?" Anakin said.
"Meditate, it might get you the answers you seek," the old man said.
"I've never been good at that," Anakin said with a sigh.
"Try," the old man said.
"Master Yoda says there is no try," Anakin protested.
"Master Yoda is not infallible, young Skywalker. No one is, not even you," the old man said and disappeared in the shadows once more.