Author's Note - - - Star Wars belongs to the almighty flanneled one, George Lucas!! and the song "Safe Place" was written by Aaron Lewis of Staind.

Anakin Skywalker tossed and turned again for the third night in a row.  He couldn't sleep at all.  Next to him was his beautiful wife Padme, still sound asleep.  Not wanting to wake her, Anakin quietly slipped out of bed and walked out of their room.  There was a large window in the common room that gave them a great view of the glittering, busy streets of Coruscant.  He had spent the past few nights here, staring into nothing.  Soon the sun would rise, and a brand new day would begin.  He had given up the hope of having a good day long ago, but he kept this from everyone, even from Padme.

"Another day inside my world,

I'm married to you and this road,

A road that never lets me sleep,

So there's no way to escape the demons that I am forced keep.

And then I find you here."

The truth was he couldn't get in touch with reality.  He now lived in a world of "what if's".  His mother had died in an attack on Tatooine.  When Anakin received word he tried not to fall apart right there on the spot.  If only he had been there, to protect her, to free her.  He was intending on keeping his promise but he was too late.  The only thing that sustained him, his only strength was Padme.

"Through your eyes everything is clear,

And I'm home inside your arms,

But I'm alone for now.

I mean the best with what I say,

It doesn't always sound that way."

 But even his "strength" can also fade and wear out.  Padme did her absolute best to care for Anakin.  And when she told him that she was pregnant all that work seemed to have paid off, for Anakin was beaming with pride.  But a shadow had fallen upon them.  Being a Senator and a Jedi can have their bad points.  Padme and a few others were attacked in the Senate building the other day, Padme's life was saved thanks to Anakin.  In the infirmary, they said their child might not make it.  It would be lucky to even survive birth.  Padme's as well as Anakin's world fell apart.  And Anakin blamed himself for everything.  He wasn't there in time to save their child, wasn't there in time to save his mother, and wasn't strong enough to fight the evil.  He had locked himself away in his own little world and distanced himself from everyone.  Even Padme spent her days alone, full of nothing.  Their once happy romance was now reduced to an occasional conversation between them.  It's not that they didn't love each other, Anakin was too wraped up in himself to care about anything anymore.

"Through your eyes everything's clear,

And I'm home inside your arms,

But I'm alone for now,

And when I try to sleep the drugs I take are killing me,

I think of you to ease my pain but you're so far."

Padme was so beautiful.  Even in sleep she could take Anakin's breath away, she always could.  She didn't deserve a life like this.  She would be much better off without him, he didn't deserve her.  He bent down and kissed her gently on the lips.  Then he grabbed his cloak but before he left the room he took one last look at his angel.  After that, he silently left his home and his life forever.

"Now it's time to say good-bye,

I love you baby please don't cry,

Cause then I'll find you here,

Through your eyes everything is clear,

And I'm home inside your arms but I'm alone for now."

Anakin sighed and looked out the window.  "I love you Padme, I'll love you forever."

"Ready, Lord Vader?" Palpatine asked with a satisfied grin on his face.

"Yes, Master."