So, me (age adult) and my Dad (age senior) decided that one summer I was home from college, we would bond over some good old movies. During the course of the discussion, we decided on watching the Star Wars Trilogies in the order that they were released, so original then prequel. After seeing the originals, I was hooked. (and can see why it was so popular, and why people continue to parody it, though I will not be a die-hard fanatic about it) So I started researching the movies and that inevitably lead to the Clone Wars movie (which my dad refused to watch, saying it was too kiddy, I think because he saw it was computer animated), which in turn lead me to the series. Now, this will be a short story- I have plans to re-write it into something much darker and more novel length, but that will be a while.

Disclaimer: Really, you have to ask?

Our Story Starts:

Anakin gasped as Grievous got his right hand. Both the hand and lightsaber went skidding away.

"You lose Jedi. I already got your Padawan, now I have you . . . and you're worth more alive." Anakin glared. "Tell me, how long did she live, after you rescued her?"

"I don't know, she's still in the Bacta tank." Anakin force shoved Grievous into a wall. "If you can't kill my padawan, how can you ever hope to beat me?"

"With some help." A dart hit Anakin in the neck. Apparently, Grievous had back up to capture him. "Don't worry Jedi, you won't die easily." Anakin collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut. The room started to spin mercilessly, and the floor felt like it was tilting. His vision grayed, warped and then finally blacked out.

"This doesn't make sense." A clone trooper with a blue-ish handprint on his armor shifted. He and five other clones were cuffed and left in a cell. "Why capture us alive?"

"Don't start, Echo. I've already got a headache." The clone to the right of him grumbled. His helmet had a huge dent in the side, giving the possible reason for the headache.

"Settle down, just remember your training." Captain Rex shifted, not enjoying the feeling of dread that settled in his stomach. "If they have General Skywalker, they'll be busy with him, and we just have to find a way to escape."

He'd been in tight spots before, and despite the possibility of not surviving . . . he wasn't going to give up without a fight. General Skywalker would be counting on him and his brothers to pull him out, especially with no guarantee that the Republic would rescue them.

Anakin awoke to a headache, other various pains, and a distinct lack of the force around him. He had his arms chained above his head, leaving him dangling from the ceiling of a rather large cell. Whether it was necessary or not, his ankles were chained as well to the floor, probably to keep him from kicking out.

"Comfortable?" Grievous entered with two Interrogation droids.

"I've had worse." Anakin growled.

"I'm sure you have. Start softening him up, I'm going to see to the clones." Anakin closed his eyes and struggled to center himself. He wasn't going to lose to anyone, let alone Grievous, but there were things he was going to have to do first.

While the force block kept him from actively sending, he couldn't rely on it to stay blocked, nor could he let anyone else get pulled into Grievous's claws because of him. With that in mind, he shut down the bonds he had to Padme, Ashoka, and Obi-wan, well aware that they would assume the worst. Obi-wan, and Ashoka, if she was able, would have to block the bond from their ends as well, to keep the chance of painful backlash from occurring. They wouldn't reopen the bond, once they blocked it. They might even completely erase it. Obi-wan could do that. Ashoka . . . Ashoka wouldn't understand until someone explained it to her. As long as they're alive, I've got something to fight for. As long as they're alive, I can die. I might not want to, but I don't have a problem giving my life for theirs.

Obi-wan jerked awake in his room at the Temple. Anakin was gone. Quickly, even though a part of his mind screamed at him not to do it, he blocked the bond he had for Anakin. Otherwise he would risk the same pain that had plagued him after his own Master's death. Quickly, he reached out and through the small, tentative bond he had with Ashoka, blocked her Master from her mind. It would be far kinder in the end.

With that done, he closed his eyes and began to grieve, silently. For the young man that was once a son and a brother.

Padme woke, unsure of why, but then quickly held her husband's shirt closer. Something had happened to Anakin, of that much she was sure. "Come home, Ani. Please, come home to me." She hadn't been feeling well, and when she'd gone to the doctor, he'd confirmed her dreams and fears. She was pregnant, something that was wonderful to her, and her mother would have the grandchild to fuss over, but the war was showing no signs of ending, and now something had happened to her husband. "Please, be safe."

Two standard years later (Present time):

"Master Kenobi!" Obi-wan glanced up from his datapad. A familiar Toturga rushed up.

"Ashoka, if I may remind you, it's unseemly for a Jedi to run." He'd taken her on, as a favor to Anakin. She'd lost a little of her spark, after her encounter with Grievous and the loss of her first master. The datapad in his hand carried the notice that four padawans were knighted without the Trials, one of whom he felt was far too young. He blamed it on the war, which now seemed less likely to end.

It was almost if Anakin had been their only hope to actually win the war, and now that he was gone, so was their hope.

"I'm sorry, Master Kenobi, but Master Yoda and Master Windu wish to see you." Obi-wan nodded, and followed the young woman. Together they entered the war room. Commander Cody was there, as well as Captain Tyr, recently promoted.

"Good, you're here. We've got Reports that Grievous's ships keep going in and out of this system in the outer rim. We don't know why, and believe this may be his newest lair. There is no map for the system, so we'll be going in blind." Mace explained.

"We?"

"Accompany You and Padawan Tano, Master Windu and I shall." Yoda studied the two. "Actions as of late, worry us."

"Master Yoda . . . I still wish you had waited for more confirmation before declaring Anakin dead." Obi-wan crossed his arms. "I especially wish you had thought to tell me and Ashoka before you did so."

"On this subject, you and Naboo Senator agree. Argue no more on this, we will."

"My issue is I keep thinking he's right next to me in battle, so I'll leave my side open." Ashoka muttered. "Sometimes I swear I can hear him chiding me afterwards as well." Yoda heard her.

"Possible, that is, if one with the force, young Skywalker has become." Yoda nodded. "Tomorrow, we leave. Prepare yourselves, you will."

"Obi! Yousa here?" Jar Jar greeted the Jedi at Padme's apartment.

"Yes, I wished to talk to the Senator, is she here?"

"Obi-wan, it's good to see you again." Padme entered, wearing normal clothes and hair. "What news have you brought?"

"Nothing good, I'm afraid . . . The council, with myself as the minority, ruled Anakin a prisoner of war and, well, legally dead."

"It will take a couple months before the documents are signed, especially as they have no proof of death." Padme had already researched the legal routes and times. "The Chancellor himself wishes to be one of the signatures, as he has with every Jedi that has been killed."

"I'm sorry Padme . . . but I just can't keep hoping anymore . . . I run the risk of the darkside, if I stay attached too long."

"I know. But is it so wrong for me to wish that . . . the jedi I loved will one day come back with that same cocky smile?" Obi-wan shifted, surprised. "He said he shared my feelings, Obi-wan. I wish there had been more . . . He even offered to leave the Jedi order, if I would leave the senate and we'd go where neither would bother us and be together . . . we talked and never got anywhere, both caught up in the war and our duty." She fingered a worn trinket around her neck, a gift from Anakin.

"I understand . . . I'm a bit in a similar situation, though I haven't seen her since a little over a year ago." Obi-wan saw her surprise, and smiled. "You and Anakin aren't the only ones that have come to close to crossing the line. It's happened before."

"Well, can you keep it a secret?"

"Of course . . . considering how well Anakin has kept mine, when I half expected him to tell as many people as he could."

"Anakin would never betray your trust, Obi-wan, he loves you too much." It was so easy to talk like that, as if Anakin was just around the corner. It was probably what kept her from falling apart.

It was working for Obi-wan, despite the rule of no attachments. You don't not get attached to the little boy who you nursed when sick, laughed with when happy, and fiercely protected your interests despite not liking them himself, you just gave up.

He missed Anakin, plain and simple. They all did, especially Artoo.

The blue astro-droid had chosen to stay with Ashoka, despite clearly wanting Anakin, and Ashoka hadn't the heart to wipe his memory. Even C3PO had asked about 'Master Anakin'. It was clear there was a hole left and morale for everyone was dropping now that the Hero with No Fear was gone.

Padme sank to the couch as Obi-wan left. Jar Jar left her alone, the good natured- if clumsy- Gungan understood that there were times when Padme just needed space. She had hidden her pregnancy, had taken time off from the senate to give birth and explain to her mother, while not everything, enough so she wouldn't worry. But she still wished her husband had been there . . . it was half his responsibility too!

"Twins, Ani, we have twins." Luke and Leia. They had discussed names when they had discussed the possibility of having children . . . Padme sighed. She'd been going back and forth between the two planets so she could be with her children. It was starting to wear her down. "If only you were here, Ani . . . I need you." Her term was almost over. Then she could retire from politics and be a mother. She wiped her eyes, which had started to tear up again. "I know you're still alive Ani. I know you are . . . please, come back." The words traveled through the bond and to a man that was almost forgotten.