Years ago the owners of Varykino would be referred to only as the Lord and Lady of the estate. In these modern times Anakin and Padmé had thought it a ridiculous bane title. Anakin had thought it strange when he first wed the young Naberrie Amidala heiress. This endless pool of privilege that came with her oftentimes troubled him, coming from such humble beginnings.

It was a small token to pay, when he received so much in return. Padmé had made him happier than he ever even thought was possible. And his bliss reached new levels with the arrival of their twins. Luke and Leia. Anakin often wondered how it was possible for him to love them so much. Being a father had been a frightening discovery, he couldn't deny it; but once he welcomed it, with Padmé's help, he realized it had been written in the stars.

He heartily desired more children. Surely there was enough room in their hearts to love them. Padmé and Anakin had just been talking about it a few days ago. Now he would never be able to see that dream come true.

His thoughts were interrupted again by his own screams.

He had thought of nothing but of the family he had had, and so horribly lost.

He held still the corpses, close to his heart, going mad as they little by little turned colder.

By moments he was attacked by a sweet past memory, but his own pain didn't allow him to dwell on it too much. His tears rang loud within the large mansion, as water drops do during a rainstorm.

By turns he screamed again.

By times he simply wept.

At all moments he felt pain. Nothing but suffering in Varykino estate, and Anakin so alone, holding his dead wife and kids. And no one there to hear.

"Oh those screams," a voice at long last said. "They would drive a sane person mad. Pray, young man, do stop them."

Anakin screamed again.

"Are those the sounds you want your babies to hear as they turn themselves one with the Force?"

Anakin groaned, loud as thunder.

"And your loving wife, she will see you fall…"

"SHUT UP!" Anakin softly laid the bodies on the floor. "Who are you? Where are you? Show yourself!"

"Wretched Jedi," a sorrowful, sweet yet sour voice said, "I do not hide. I am always in plain sight—though it is not often I am seen."

Anakin stared at the towering dark figure that now accompanied him.

"Anakin Skywalker," the dark figure said, "I am Darth Plagueis, The Wise."

It took Anakin a few moments to process the words. For a long time they were void of meaning—then he remembered. The Sith. He called his lightsaber to his hand and ignited the shining blue blade.

With an uncharacteristically ungraceful movement, Anakin attacked the Sith. He had killed one just before, he would do it again.

A glowing red collided against his Jedi weapon, but the Sith didn't so much as change place. He unabashedly stood put, not caring to give Anakin a lot of attention.

"I'm going to kill you!" the Jedi screamed, drowning in his own pain.

"You are not," the Sith responded. "And why would you?"

"My family," Anakin breathed, the word cutting him like a knife to the throat. "You killed them, worthless Sith!"

"I? Jedi, so quickly have you lost your mind?"

"What…" Anakin faltered. "How… do you mean?"

"Why would I kill an innocent woman and two small kids?"

"I don't know—and I don't care. You did it. The other Sith spoke of it."

"Darth Sidious had a way with words. It's only natural I suppose, he did come from a family of politicians. If only his actions had been so loud… but with you they were enough. Now put the laser sword down and take a deep breath—I fear I know what transpired here."

"Don't tell me what to do in my own house, Sith… and how would you know?"

"Look at the woman—No, but truly look at her! I am sure it hurts you, she's still warm, I feel her—"

"Don't touch her!"

"Fine. But have you noticed? No, don't turn your eyes!" he raised his deep voice. "Deep within her stomach, there is a residue of natural crystal! No, no, this poor girl was not attacked by a Sith, a Jedi killed her in cold blood!"

"No!" Anakin shouted.

"And look at the small white necks of the children, blackened by a tight grip… No, a Sith would use the Force to suffocate them, not his hands. I point again to either a random person, or a Jedi—"

"Stop! No it's not true—it's impossible!"

"It's right here before us. The truth too hard to accept. Jedi, you killed them!"

"Stop! Stop!"

"Is that why you killed poor, old Palpatine? The dumb Sith caught you red-handed and threatened to accuse you to the authorities? Is that why you fabricated all those weird tales—"

"You're trying to mess with my head! I would never lay a hand on my children. And besides, a lightsaber doesn't leave residues of crystal!"

"Have you ever used it before on a human being to be so sure?"

"N—no."

Anakin thought he heard the faintest hint of a cackle, though he was sure it didn't come from the Sith Darth Plagueis; it seemed to just ring within his head. Oh Force, was he actually going mad…

"What's done it's done," the Sith sighed. "Worry not of how they died—but of how to bring them back."

Amidst the whole spiral of madness, Anakin heard what sounded like a gleam of hope. But what was he thinking, it would be useless to hope. Why prolong his suffering any longer…

He ignited his lightsaber, just one more time, he directed the blade towards his neck, and said a prayer, hoping to again find Padmé, Luke and Leia—

"Seize your actions!" Darth Plagueis cried and called Anakin's saber to his gloved hand. "Did you hear nothing, foolish boy!"

Anakin threw himself on the ground.

"I'm not a boy. I'm a man, a man with no reason to live."

"You have now three main ones, Skywalker. See the corpses one more time! Go on, you deserve to be hurt by such grim sight!" he took Anakin's face and forced him stare at his family. "Whether you killed them or not, you are to blame for their deaths, for you didn't protect them. How can you escape and leave their bodies to rot. No Jedi! You have the Force, limited as you do… You have to work to bring them back!"

"But that's impossible! People cannot be brought back. Any Jedi knows that!"

"Yes. But not any Sith." The hall seemed to darken.

Anakin could fancy he could still hear his weeping raining down.