Chapter Three

Confiding

Anakin arrived at Dex's breaking every traffic law there was and maybe a few they hadn't passed yet. He got out of his yellow speeder and headed to Dex's nearly knocking a few citizens down although they apologized when they realized who he was. "It's my fault," Anakin explained. "Wasn't watching where I was going." Anakin spotted Obi-Wan drumming his fingers on the table.

He was obviously getting impatient, Anakin thought with a smile as he slowed down and allowed the Force to flow through him. "Impatience is not a Jedi quality," Anakin said as he sat down in the booth across from him.

"You are late," Obi-Wan replied.

"I have no excuse."

"I see," Obi-Wan replied, lifting one eyebrow.

"I need to tell you something, Obi-Wan. I need you to listen with an open mind."

"Anakin, I don't need to know," Obi-Wan said, his eyes darting around as if Master Yoda were going to appear.

"Yes, you do. I've spent far too much time with the Chancellor," Anakin said, and Obi-Wan seemed to visibly relax "He wanted me to kill Count Dooku, he all but ordered me to."

"Disturbing is this move by Chancellor Palpatine," Obi-Wan said his fingers tuning on his beard.

"There is more. I've done some things, I shouldn't have. Some things that were not like a Jedi at all," Anakin's eyes were downcast. "I never told you what happened on Tattooine with my mother, did I?"

"I know it hurts to talk about it."

"All the more reason I should have confided in you sooner, Master." Anakin took a deep breathe. "I murdered the sand people," he said. He was standing up and facing it. He hadn't been thinking true but he had still done so. "i wasn't thinking maste.r I was hurting and I wanted them to hurt too. Turn me into the Council if you must."

"I'm not going to turn you in, my friend. But beware, Anakin. It's a very fine line you are walking."

"I know. Master, will you follow me. I seemed to have forgotten something at a friend's house," Anakin said as Obi-Wan started to Order.

"Can this friend cook?" Obi-Wan asked.

"No, not really," Anakin said remembering their first meal together as husband and wife. She had tried to hard but she had burned everything. Yet, Anakin had ate it all, every morsel. She had finally took pity on him and ordered something out. Shortly after that he had brought Three-pio into her care, who could cook. After all, Three-pio had learned from his mother and had even taught him how to cook. As good as Padme was at many things, Force bless her she couldn't cook. "Don't worry, Three-pio can cook," Anakin said as he hopped in his yellow speeder and Obi-Wan took his copilot. Again, Anakin drove breaking a few traffic laws.

"Anakin, the only thing worse than being your wingman is being your passenger," Obi-Wan said with a smile as he quirked an eyebrow at Anakin. He frowned. Where was Anakin taking him and why. Anakin knew that he and Padme couldn't be together while he remained in the Order and Anakin had come so far since he had seen her again, when he had been ordered to protect her.

"I know," Anakin said with a grin as he landed the speeder at Padme's apartment. Obi-Wan frowned as he watched him closely.

"This is Senator Amidala's?" Obi-Wan asked and instead of answering Anakin placed his fingerprint to the door and was allowed entrance.

"Padme, love, I'm home," he said sitting next to Padme and putting his human arm about her shoulders. Obi-Wan frowned as he took a closer look at the place. He saw holographic images of the two of them. They sat close to one another, Padme's head leaning against Anakin shoulder suggesting they were comfortable with one another. He peaked into an open room, Padme's bedroom, and saw Anakin's padawan braid. Were those Jedi robes laying on the bed? Obi-Wan frowned.

"You know you cannot remain in the Order and be together?" Obi-Wan stated. Padme tried to pull away from Anakin but he held onto her hand and she squeezed it for support. Anakin smiled brightly.

"But I have done it, Master. Padme is my wife. We were married right after Genosis."

"THREE YEARS ANAKIN?" Obi-Wan said nearly screaming. He lowered his voice when he noticed the shocked look on both faces and Three-pio scattered.

"Three-pio will you please bring Master Kenobi something to eat?" Anakin asked in a pleasant tone. "You see master, I have done both. I have passed the Trials, as a Jedi Husband, I have done everything I have done as a Jedi Husband, nothing has stood in my way. It can be done. My wife is Padme Amidala Skywalker," he said smiling at her, "and she is carrying my child?"

"Child?"

"Master, this conversation would precede faster if you didn't repeat everything I said."

"What do you expect me to say, Anakin?"

"Congratulations, Master. I hear that's what all other father-to-be hear," Anakin said with his usual humor. "Besides I know the identify of Lord Sidious," Anakin said raising an eyebrow at him, a habit he had picked up from Obi-Wan. He was waiting for Obi-Wan to give his opinion and stop keeping Anakin in the dark. The trouble was Obi-Wan didn't know how he felt. Three-pio returned with refreshments which they all gladly took.

"Okay, Anakin. Who is Darth Sidious?"

"Darth Sidious, the Sith Lord we have been looking for was both Darth Maul and Count Dooku's master."

"Yes, Anakin."

"We will need proof, Master."

"How bad can it be, Anakin?"

"He is the Supreme Chancellor Palpatine."

"Are you sure, Anakin?"

"Do you trust me?"

"With my life, Anakin. I won't go to the Council about...your marriage. You can trust me, I hope you know that."

"With my life, Master." Anakin thought for a moment. "Maybe Dooku will tell you. He said he would be open to negotiations, Padme. So the Senate should move quickly in trying to end this war. Palpatine wanted me to kill Palpatine."

"Treachery is the way of the Sith," Obi-Wan said softly.

"Palpatine's next move will be against the Jedi Council. He will won't control over it, a way to know exactly what the Jedi are up to. His next ammendment will be direct control over the Council. We must tread carefully or the Jedi will be all but extinct and I will become a Sith," Anakin said trying to smile, but his words were anything but funny.

"Why, Anakin?"

"I'm not entirely sure, Master."

"You could never, Ani-" Padme started, squeezing his hand. "I love you. You are not that kind of man."

"Padme, you know what happened on Tattooine."

"You are only human, Ani."

"I'm a Jedi, Padme. It was wrong. Killing is wrong,but I felt justified because of the torture they put Mom through. Maybe I was justified but I still shouldn't have done it. It's not the Jedi way."

Obi-Wan had waited a long time to hear his padawan speak with remorse and conviction, although he was saddened at his former padawan's recent actions, he took heart that Anakin was still trying to find the right path. He knew that in the end, only Anakin would decide what Anakin would be. "I'm listening, Anakin,." Obi-Wan said.

"I traveled over twenty years into the future. It's a very dark place, Master .A place I never want you to see. Palpatine was Emperor of the universe and I went by the name Darth Vader, I was more of a machine than anything else, similar to General Grevious. You and Padme are the only ones I truly trust. You are my family," Anakin said and looking at Padme who nodded slightly. "I want you to be our babies honorary uncle. You are the closest thing I have to a father. Soon, the war will be over one way or another and I won't your word that Padme and the child will be safe," he said careful not to spoil the surprise for Padme.

You have my word, Anakin. I won't inform the council of any of this, it's not my place.I'm on your side.Well, I should be getting back to the Temple. And Anakin, Padme, congratulations, I swear you are going to be the death of me." Obi-Wan finally said as he headed to the room of a Thousand Fountains to mediate.

"Don't say that Master you are the closest thing I have to a father."

"I'll see you tomorrow morning. We will need your full report on what happened on the Inviable Hand, Anakin," Obi-Wan said, reverting back to his Jedi Master voice, he was once again all business.

"Absolutely, Master Kenobi," Anakin said, reverting back to his respectful Jedi Knight role.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

In his chambers Darth Sidious let out an inhuman groan. "Damn Skywalker. Damn Kenobi." His plans were falling apart. He had to move quickly. He sent Anakin a vision that was sure to scare the Sith into him. A vision of his wife dying and calling for Obi-Wan. Anakin had to feel distrustful of both Senator Amidala and Master Kenobi or his plan would not succeed. He knew that they were the only ones he truly trusted. Something had changed and he didn't like it. Tyrannus should be dead by now, not locked in a cell. He had been so sure that Anakin would do it, now he still had an apprentice to get rid of. Then there were members of the Sen

ate who were becoming distrustful. Soon this war had to end. He was going to declare himself Emperor and increase the army. No one would ever challenge him. Skywalker's honesty was going to prove to be detrimental. If he could just use the Force to pursuade Skywalker and Kenobi to keep quiet then maybe. An idea formed. Kenobi. If he could turn Kenobi then Skywalker would follow. He sent Kenobi a force vision of Anakin's death, and he smiled. They would soon both belong to him, along with the Skywalker child, all he had to do was get rid of the good Senator.