Prologue:
Nightmares
Padme opened her eyes and blinked a few times, gazing into the dark bedroom. She was sleeping so soundly! What could have possibly woken her up? Rolling over, she discovered that Anakin's side of the bed was empty, and the blankets were crumpled from her husband's restless sleep.
He must be having another nightmare Padme thought as she slowly eased herself out of bed.
She grabbed her bathrobe at the end of the bed and wrapped it around her. For some reason tonight her apartment seemed mildly cool. It didn't take long for her to find him. Anakin was sitting on the sofa with his head in his hands, rubbing his eyes from either sleep or tears, but which it was, Padme couldn't tell. He didn't make any attempt to acknowledge her entrance.
"Anakin are you all right?" Padme asked with a voice filled with both concern and exhaustion.
Anakin made no response at first, then he said, "I'm fine, Padme. Go back to bed".
"Did you have a bad dream?" Padme asked, sitting next to him on the couch and putting her arm around him.
"It's nothing. Nothing, I haven't dealt with before." Anakin said, running his hands through his hair and lacing his fingers together on the back of his head.
"What was it about? Sometimes it helps to talk about it." Padme offered, trying to reassure him.
"I said I'm fine. Now go back to bed." Anakin said, raising his voice.
"No, Anakin! I'm worried. Please, tell me what's wrong." Padme coaxed as she ran her hand softly down his back and back up to his shoulder, where she let it rest. To her surprise his shoulder tensed instead of relaxed.
Silence followed for a few long seconds before Anakin inhaled, slowly and deeply. Very carefully and softly he said, in a voice no louder than a hoarse whisper,
"I dreamed that I lost you."
He sounded like he was crying. Padme couldn't be sure, because he kept his face turned away from her.
"Oh, Ani..." Padme comforted. "You aren't going to lose me. I'm fine."
However, Padme remembered how Anakin felt. Once, years before, he had similar nightmares about his mother, only to discover that he was right, that she was in danger and even dying. Padme was desperate, begging to know what kind of dreams tormenting her husband for so many nights. To make him feel more comfortable, she decided she would avoid any situation that he may feel was dangerous. Then he would sleep better, and all would be well.
"How did you dream I died?" She asked with concern and sadness filling her voice.
"You didn't die." Anakin muttered, shaking his head as if the dream was still playing out in his head.
"But I thought you said…?" Padme questioned, but Anakin cut her off.
"I dreamt I lost you…to Obi-Wan."