MASSIVE SPOILER ALERT!

Disclaimer: I own nothing, nor do I wish to profit from any of this; it is meant for entertainment purposes only.

Note from the Author:

Last night, I watched Season 6 of "The Clone Wars" (now on Netflix). I admit, my heart broke a little the last time I saw Anakin and Padme together. There was absolutely no closure, and it left me wondering how on earth there was enough romance left in their marriage to form the conception of Luke and Leia. Obviously, there was, but my question is... how? For all of you who haven't seen the episodes yet, go check them out on Netflix.

When I woke up this morning, I decided I couldn't take it any longer. I needed to know how they reconciled. How did they sew up that massive rift in their relationship? So I wrote this for me, and for anyone else upset by this turn of events, to know what really happened after the end of "Crisis of the Heart". Clearly, things are patched up at the start of "Revenge of the Sith", and this will explain how that happened. For once, this isn't AU; this is as close to the real story as possible, and considering that they may never delve back into this pond, this might as well be how it really goes.

This first "chapter", if it can even be called that, is short because I want to take time to warn you guys of the MASSIVE SPOILER ALERT! I want to delve into what went wrong, and what was said and done, and to do that, I have to, basically, write out the three episodes in the Anakin/Padme/Clovis arc. I'll try to change the dialogue to make it a little less, should I say... sappy? But basically, what you see on the screen translates into this story. And this way, it will all fit together.

No, this isn't a one-shot, but it should be fairly short. Enjoy!

{trinity6diversia}

It was silent. Too silent. The war had taken a toll on the Jedi, and it was never clearer than the empty hallways of the Jedi Temple. Few Jedi wandered those sacred halls now; those who did were mostly younglings and those unfit for duty on the front lines. None spoke, their paces slow and their eyes downcast; when, on chance, you met one. But this was rare, and every day, it seemed that there was one less Jedi in that Temple, or in the galaxy itself. No one spoke of the dead, for all knew that the Force was a better place for those valiant warriors. Their mission was over, the pain and heartache was over, and those who were no more were at peace.

Anakin Skywalker ran down these silent halls now, aware as he had never been before just how silent they truly were. The last dying rays of sunlight streamed wearily through the tall windows, ready to give in to the night. They fought, though, as every Jedi fought, until the end, and when at last the night beat them down, they went silently, but with honor. Anakin watched the sun fade, his quick footfalls the only sound in the great halls, and it made him sad, though he did not know why.

The Clone Wars had raged in the galaxy for two years. No, it was a little more. Anakin and Padmé had just had their second wedding anniversary, a small affair by every standard, but one that they both cherished. They had been married about a month after the start of the Clone Wars. Anakin had been kept on bed-rest following his and Obi-Wan's encounter with Count Dooku, and when they had released him from the medical ward, he had been sent with Obi-Wan to run tests and trainings. The Chancellor had brought him back to escort Padmé to Naboo, per her request, and so they had been married in secret and were given a few days in which to enjoy newlywed bliss.

So perhaps it was a little more than two years that the Clone Wars had raged, but to Anakin Skywalker, it felt like a million times more. He could almost swear a decade had passed. He felt old. He was not yet 22 years in age, yet he swore there was a gray hair somewhere on his head. Obi-Wan laughed whenever he mentioned such things, then proceeded to count out every gray hair in his head as a result of his years spent training Anakin. But the truth could not be denied; the war had taken a toll, and the man who had been Anakin Skywalker two years earlier was not him now. He was beaten, broken, a Jedi Knight, a Master in all but rank, and a husband. And he was starting to feel burnt out. He wished he could leave the Jedi Order and stop trying to hide his real life, yet he knew what that would do in the middle of a war; he was the Chosen One, the Hero With No Fear. Abandoning the Jedi Order in their time of need would label him everything but traitor.

Master Windu had not asked Anakin to meet him in the Council Chamber, which told Anakin that the urgent matter which required his attention was military-oriented. He made for the communication chamber, a small room where holograms were received from the front lines. Obi-Wan was already there, with Master Windu and Master Yoda, but the hologram, if indeed there was one, had already been received and a decision had been made.

"Master Windu, you asked for me?" Anakin joined them around the portal and folded his arms across his chest, his usual stance, if not a bit wearier this time around. He had returned from a long stint on the front lines only the day before, and he was certain that a whole week of sleep couldn't possibly fix his state of deprivation.

"We have just received a message from the planet Scipio. They are a core planet of the InterGalactic Banking Clan, and supply funds to the Republic. Senator Amidala had gone there to oversee a transaction, but due to certain events which transpired during her stay, the Muun's have arrested her, and will only release her to a Jedi."

"What sort of events?" Anakin tried valiantly to hide the concern behind his eyes, and succeeded for the most part, except for a quick glance from Obi-Wan which was almost routine by this point. Obi-Wan wasn't necessarily stupid.

"A time bomb went off in the power grid, locking the Senator and others inside the vaults for a short time. They suspected her of organizing the sabotage in an attempt to locate some vital information. This may be the case. But they had no proof it was her doing, or she knew anything of it, and therefore, her arrest was against protocol."

"Will they release her, then?" asked Anakin, and the weariness was so strong in his voice that even Master Yoda glanced at him.

"To a Jedi, yes. We are sending you to retrieve the Senator and bring her back to Coruscant. She can be of no more use to the Republic on Scipio."

"As you wish, Master Windu."

"This should be quick, Anakin," assured Obi-Wan, the sympathy for his young friend clear in his voice. "You will be back on Coruscant before you know it, and then you can sleep for as long as you want."

"Let's not bring hope where there is none," answered Anakin with a small smile.

"You are dismissed, Skywalker," said Master Windu, and without another word, Anakin inclined his head and departed from the communication chamber.

Once again, let me remind you that the following chapters are going to provide MASSIVE SPOILERS, so if you don't want to see what happens in Season 6 of "The Clone Wars", don't keep reading! You've been warned.