Chapter Two
In Too Deep
Anakin hated seeing Padme on the Entertainment News, and on the tabloids. "Helloooo Palpy, my husband, I loove you!" She had to call out whenever anyone saw her. She was playing it to its fullest, while all the while closing her eyes and imagining him Anakin, and sneaking around with Anakin whenever she could. Then one day, things took turn for the worse...
Palpatine spoke from the center of the Senate. "The attempt on my life has left me hideously scarred and deformed..."
Mace and three other Jedi masters had tried to kill him, but he got away. They were now in prison. Listening to his words, her hands went to her mouth to cover her gasp. To everyone else, it was only her shock at what had happened. To her, it meant something much worse, and more personal...she now had to sleep with a gross, melted faced, creepy monster!
That night, Anakin met secretly with her. "You can't keep it up, Padme, he's gross now!"
"But he's got more power than ever, more power we will inherit! I must!"
Nodding sadly with tears in his eyes, he turned away. He went back to his room at the Temple and medidated heavily on the subject, sending every single bit of hatred, dark side vibe and negative energy Palpatine's way...
Padme knew if he died right now, everyone would think she was part of the Jedi plot, so she bided her time, avoiding him when she could. About a week later, she could stand it no more. Things got very rough between them, and her fury at her situation brung her dark side to the surface. This, combined with Anakin's vibes, were too much. Finally, Palpatine died in bed that night. Padme, trying hard to cry, had to remember how she'd lost a favorite pet as a child to muster enough tears to make it look like anything but the relief it was. He was gone, at last! But she played the tragic widow to the max, to the rescue squad, the hospital and the media. She carried on her berevement through all the services for him, drawing much more pity than any accusations. Of course the rumors flew and the tabloids all said the golddigger had gotten what she wanted, she never loved anything but his power and money, but as for his demise, she had totally gotten away with it. However, her problems were not over.
Padme was so afraid that someone would suspicion her if she were seen with Anakin that she avoided him, which hurt him. In his absence, she grew closer to Obi-Wan, who had always had a thing for her. "You know, I have always loved you, found you irresistible, beautiful, and intelligent, everything a man could want." He admitted as he kissed her. Not knowing about her and Anakin, he felt he was only comforting a grieving widow, and finally professing the love he'd always had for her. Now she had two Jedi to sneak to on the sly. This was not to last long, because within a few days the Council sent Anakin on a mission all alone. Padme wondered how Obi-Wan had mananged not to be involved, and if he had done this on purpose to keep Anakin away. With Anakin gone, it was easier for Padme to give in to Obi-Wan and his desires. She did.
Far off in the Outer Rim, Anakin had to deal with an annoying child he was supposed to take for his Padawan. All the while, he fantasized about Padme, and wondered what was giving him such a sick disturbance every time he thought of her. Light years away, his love was carrying on with his best friend. They had flown to Naboo and were relaxing at a seaside resort. It was there that Padme finally confessed the truth to him, about Palpatine, and about Anakin.
"It's quite all right." He smiled. "We are like brothers, we share everything."
"Oh, Obi-Wan, I feel like I'm cheating on Anakin."
"You didn't mind cheating on him with Palpatine!"
"Yes, I did. More than you'll ever know. But I love you, Obi-Wan, I can't help myself. It will all be okay, somehow..it has to be.." She didn't realize what a huge hole she was digging for herself.
Their affair continued the whole time Anakin was gone. Sadly, Obi-Wan noticed that Padme had been taking strange drugs, prescribed to a false name to avoid being found out. When confronted, she confessed about how she had become blood mates with Anakin, and how his midichlorians were working strangely on her system. She needed the drugs to feel better. He didn't accept this, and lectured her strongly. He couldn't stand to watch as she went into a downward spiral of drugs and increasing dark side tendencies. It was then she bought a home pregnancy test and found out she was pregnant!
"Whose the father, me, Anakin, or the Emperor?"
"I don't know."
Obi-Wan put his head in his hands. "Oh what a tangled web.. Padme, we have to find out."
"No one ever has to know!"
"What? If it's mine, I want to take care of it. If it's Anakin's, he needs to know! If it's Palpatine's, it's the heir to the Empire..."
"What did you say? That's it! I'm going to pretend it's Palpatine's, even if it's not! That way I will be assured his entire fortune, and his position!"
"You already have those things as his wife, don't you?"
"The will hasn't been read yet, some of his relatives are calling me a golddigger and trying to say he wasn't in his right mind when he wrote his will leaving it all to me. This is a mess that could drag on for years. But if I had his child, there would be no doubt who was the heir!"
"Oh, Padme! You've changed! I can't believe what you've done, what you intend to do..you've turned to the dark side!"
"Don't lecture me! And stop trying to hide my drugs, I need them!"
You're killing yourself, and your baby!" He cried.
Laughing, Padme ran outside and got onto the trampoline. She jumped up and down, flipping in the air, landing hard, bouncing up again. He tried to stop her, but she was too full of drugs and the dark side. She flew off the trampoline, hit the ground, and lay silent.
Obi-Wan ran to her side, screaming her name.
