The Choice

By Skywindow

Summary: In the midst of war, Anakin must make one of the hardest decisions of his life: to save his wife or his padawan.

Pairings: Anakin/Padme

Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, nor do I own Star Wars.

Chapter One: Away at War

It had been six months since the incident at the senate building and, despite the search efforts of the Jedi, the bounty hunter Cad Bane was still missing. With Couruscant in constant fear of another attack, finding him was a top mission.

At the request of her bodyguard, Senator Amidala had finally agreed to take a few days off to spend on Naboo. But, even with the assurance that it was safe there, Padme had an insistent feeling that something horrible was about to happen. She longed to see her husband again, to at least know where he was or if he was safe. In front of her family, she pretended to be happy, but as soon as they retired to bed, she would go out to her balcony and look up at the stars, imagining him standing on the bridge of his star destroyer looking out at the same ones.

With word that General Grievous would soon be visiting the separatist financial base, Anakin's star fleet was now stationed just above the planet Muunilinst. As soon as they received word from their on-planet troopers that Grievous had arrived, they would land and attack. It was Anakin's job to wait for that signal. He stood on the bridge alone while everyone else slept, staring out at the sea of stars. He didn't mind being alone. In fact, he preferred it to being surrounded by the sounds of screamed orders and bombs. When he was alone, everything was quiet. He could think about anything and everything… including her. He had heard reports that she had gone back to Naboo for a while, which was good. She needed a break. He only wished he could be there with her, holding her in his arms. A small grin came to his tired face as he thought about her laughing and kissing him on the beach, sitting by the fire afterwards, holding her against him. Force, he missed her so much.

He looked out at the stars, wondering what she was doing right now. He didn't even know if it was day or night on Naboo. Night and day didn't exist for him here. But, whatever time it was there, he hoped she was enjoying herself and not worrying. She worried too much about him. I have to worry, Ani, because you don't worry at all, He remembered her saying. He let out a small laugh, thinking about how much she teased him when he was home. She didn't know how much he worried. He worried that one day he would come back to her and she'd be hurt, or she would be with someone else, or… He couldn't think of it. He had promised himself a long time ago that he would never lose her like he did his mother. It wouldn't happen. She was his life.

"Master? Are you alright?" Anakin turned to see his padawan standing behind him, still groggy from sleep.

"I'm fine, Snips. What are you doing up here?" He asked her.

She shrugged. "I thought you might need a break. You haven't slept in three days."

"I can't sleep, Ashoka, not until we've captured Grievous. I'm pretty sure the separatist army isn't sleeping. They never sleep." Anakin said. His eyes shone with hatred. They're keeping me from my wife.

"Master, let me stay and wait for the signal. The ship won't fall apart if you sleep for a few hours. You're no use to us if you're exhausted." Ashoka begged. Anakin sighed and pressed his hand to forehead. He was tired, but he couldn't let her stay on the bridge alone.

"No, Ashoka. This is my responsibility. Go back to your quarters and get some rest." He insisted.

"I've rested enough. I can handle it, master. Just give me a chance. I know what to do if something goes wrong." She replied.

"I said no, Padawan."

"Why don't you ever listen to me?" She asked, peeved at how stubborn he was.

"I could ask the same of you!" He yelled, turning to face her, "I am the master, you are the padawan. You will learn your place." Ashoka frowned, surprised at his outburst. Anakin couldn't take the look on her face. He couldn't believe how much like Obi-Wan he was becoming. He didn't like it.

"I'm sorry, Snips. Like you said, I haven't slept in three days." He said softly. Ashoka nodded.

"I just want to help you. You look so exhausted." She said.

"Don't worry about me." He assured her.

"I always worry about you. Someone has to, because you don't worry at all." She said, smiling. Anakin shivered. Did all women think that?

"Go back to bed, Ashoka. Trust me. I'm more at peace up here than I would be trying to sleep." He said.

"If you say so, Master." Ashoka said. It was no use trying to argue with him. She turned and headed back to her quarters. Anakin turned back to the sea of stars in front of him. Segments of an earlier talk with Obi-Wan starting flooding into his mind and he let out a long, tired sigh.

"Anakin, you must be careful. She is forming an attachment to you. Encourage her to let go." Obi-Wan warned.

"Letting go isn't as easy as you make it sound, Master." Anakin replied.

"I'm aware of that, Anakin. I had a lot of trouble letting go of my own Master, and I think we both know you've struggled with attachments, yourself." Obi-Wan said. He put his hand on Anakin's shoulder, but it was soon shrugged off.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Anakin said.

"Anakin, as much as you try to mask it, it's clear to see you struggle with your attachment to Senator Amidala. I know you don't exactly support the Jedi's rules on attachment, but please, at least warn Ashoka about it before things get too…advanced." Anakin turned to him with a disgusted look on his face.

"Advanced? What is that supposed to mean?" He spat.

"The whole fleet knows she has a crush on you. However big or small it is, it needs to stop. She needs to know that something like that can never happen between the two of you." Obi-Wan replied.

"Are you implying I've been encouraging my padawan to fall in love with me?" Anakin said, angrily.

"No, Anakin. I'm only telling you to be careful." Obi-Wan sighed.

"Ashoka knows the rules, Obi-Wan, and so do I. I don't need to be lectured. I assure you, nothing will ever become too 'advanced' between us." Anakin told him. His voice was firm and held no room for a continuation of the rather disturbing conversation. Obi-Wan nodded and walked away, leaving Anakin alone to think about what he would do with his Padawan.

Anakin felt a cold shiver run down his spine. He hoped whatever crush Ashoka had on him would dissolve soon. He didn't want to have to discuss the attachment rule with her, especially since he had broken it some time ago.

"Come in, Master Skywalker. This is Commander Cody. Do you read?" Anakin quickly picked up his communicator.

"Affirmative, Commander. Do you have visual of Grievous?" He answered.

"Yes, sir. He's just landed at the separatist base." Cody replied.

"Good. Have your men prepare for attack. I'll join you as soon as I can." Anakin said. Finally. He won't escape this time

A/N: Alright, there's the first chapter. I have the second one finished already, but I'm still tweaking it a little. It's much longer.

Next chapter: An Evil Plot