Five days later:

The next four days Padme could not have remembered if a blaster were put to her head. It was a flurry of congratulations, planning, calls, staff and Jedi all working with her and Anakin to get the job done.

On the fifth day, when things had settled, it seemed reality was happy to step into place and whack her upside the head.

"Anakin, where are we going?" Padme demanded for the sixth time as Anakin dragged her behind him down the flight of wide steps. "You'll see in a moment, angel. Just come on. I think you'll love this!" Anakin replied excitedly. Padme sighed without annoyance. In truth, she hardly remembered even seeing Anakin the past few days.

So forth, she had been surrounded by women, all preparing her for both the wedding and wifedom. Darra, Sentara and Tilda had become her fierce team of helpers, whether for a confidante or a second opinion they had more than enough times proven to have her back in any situation. Padme was grateful.

She had missed Anakin, and most certainly thought about him. This time alone was cherished, but digging into the slotted amount of free time she had every day, which was a few minutes at best. Padme looked around at the empty walls. She could tell no one had been down here for a very long time.

She shivered. It was unnaturally cold down here as well. Where was Anakin taking her?" Ani, come on and tell me," she pleaded. "I have to get back upstairs. Me and Darra are going to see what spot we like best for the wedding," she reminded him.

"Well, you can't decide until you see this place. Kennor found it when he was a Padawan. He showed me it. You'll love it," Anakin told her hurriedly.

Padme opened her mouth, but suddenly closed it as she saw a light at the bottom of the wide set of steps, surrounded by stone wall on each side. "What…?" She gasped as they neared the light. Anakin, who had been feeling his way along the wall, grinned victoriously. Heb tugged at her hand and looked up at her.

"You'll love it," he repeated. Padme, feeling a tickle of anticipation in her stomach, could only nod breathlessly as Anakin fairly dragged her along with him. At length they came to the bottom of the stairs. Padme gasped, eyes growing wide at the array of beauty staring back at her.

The giant room had once been a courtyard for recreation or gardening she could not tell, but it was magnificent. The glass shielding it in a full 180 degree half circle let it the bright golden rays of sun above. It was coldly silent down here, the sound of the city could not be heard anywhere.

Down the middle of the room, a stone pathway flowed in a orderly line to the center of a medium sized terrace the end of the room where the Jedi insignia was shining in a sparkling silver marble beneath their feet peeked out from the foliage overpowering the landscape. The circle was raised up as a platform. A flight of stairs consisting of five foliage covered steps led to it.

Hugging the circle platform and outlining, the perimeters of the room were bushes that bloomed with vivid, large flowers of every color. Magenta, lavender, mauve, sapphire, silver, cherry. Padme heard the titter of small birds flitting past.

Soft flexible grass had grown to the height of her mid-thigh, but it filled in the gaps between the bushes. In the four corners small, fruit strewn trees sat; content with their role in producing delectable fruits.

Padme felt as if she were staring at a garden of the force. "Oh, Ani," she breathed, unable to believe it. "What…I mean how…? What is this place?" she asked, turning to him with awe. Anakin shrugged.

"No idea. No one's been down here for a long time. The Temple is enormous, Padme, bigger than it looks. There are all sorts of secret rooms and coves that were part of the original design, but were forgotten with time. I guess this is one of those places. Beautiful, huh?" It was gorgeous.

"Its perfect. With a little sprucing up," she took a step forward, feeling the golden rays of sunlight illuminate her face. "How does the sun get in here? It feels like we're underneath The Temple, and why don't I hear any noise from the city?" she asked. Anakin watched her with victory dancing in his eyes.

"I don't think we're underneath it, in a way. We are definitely at the very bottom of the layers, judging by how many steps we just came down. And that there were steps at all instead of an elevator. I am not sure, but I think the glass is just soundproof. We're facing towards the west, so imagine this place at sunset," he said.

Padme could barely imagine this place being any more beautiful, but it was definitely an option. "And if this place were groomed up a bit, this grass cut and the foliage fashioned…Oh, Anakin, this place would look beautiful. I love it," she cried. Eyes wide at the elegance of it.

"Well good," Anakin said with satisfaction. "Because I love it too. Don't worry, angel, I'll get you this place if it kills me."

"Kennor I'm going to kill you, you weren't supposed to tell anyone about it!" Was the first thing Padme heard Obi-wan say upon her and Sentara's return from the dress store later that day.

Padme held in her hands several magazines outlining cakes, decorations, chairs and dresses for the wedding. Sentara held her own batch in her hands.

As was now the growing custom, they returned to Qui-gon's quarters, where it seemed Xanatos, Kennor, and Obi-wan could always be found.

This time, Garen and Ahsoka were also inside of the room, watching the bickering with ill-hidden amusement. "Oh, why in the blazes not? It's a pretty sight, and possession is not the Jedi Way," Kennor informed his younger counterpart, who was eyeing him with irritation, casually. "Oh, no, what did he do now?" Sentara asked as she set the magazines down on the counter.

"He told Obi-wan about our future wedding destination," Anakin, who was standing with arms crossed; spoke up. From the hard edge to his tone, Padme could tell he was not happy with whatever had been said so far.

"What about it?" Padme asked worriedly. "The Council has claimed it as their own already," Xanatos said from his spot lounging lazily on the couch. "They knew about it?" Padme asked, surprised. "Of course. I found it when I was an apprentice," Obi-wan replied, cocking a brow at her.

There was no indication he was either threatened by Anakin's disappointed gaze or irritated by the discussion. There was, lurking behind his eyes, a look of sadness. It wasn't visible in any of his actions, but Padme had noticed that ever since they had announced The Council's blessing of their marriage, Obi-wan had had that look of sadness behind his eyes, a shadow.

She wondered why. He had seemed so happy for them a few days before. "I thought Kennor found it," Padme said confusedly turning to Anakin. "I told Kennor about it," Obi-wan corrected, then giving his brother a stern eye. "And swore him to secrecy," he added.

"Promises are made to be broken," Kennor replied. "Yeah, third only to traditions and Council mandates," Xanatos called over. "Hear, hear," Qui-gon said. Obi-wan sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "What is the Council planning to use it for?" Sentara asked.

"We were planning on tearing up all the plants-" here Qui-gon gasped as if Obi-wan had just announced he were turning to the Dark Side- "and using it as a Fallen room," Obi-wan continued, giving Qui-gon an apologetic glance. "A Fallen room?" Padme echoed.

"It's a room where we keep the lightsabers of those killed in duty, or of old age, really. There would be a display case of them, perhaps open it up to the Public," Obi-wan considered, ever the shrewd businessman.

"Can't we do that later?" Anakin demanded. "I would agree with you, Anakin, but the rest of the Council won't. We have already made plans for it. It'd be a waste of time and money to make it look nice just to demolish it again," Obi-wan pointed out practically. Padme's shoulders dropped, understanding the logic of what Obi-wan was saying, even if she did not like it.

Anakin, though, was not ready to give up. "Blast time and money! Me and Padme like it. We are getting married there," he said, steel in his voice. Obi-wan was undeterred as well. "Oh, boy, here we go," Garen mumbled behind them.

"Why can't you pick one of the rooms designated for marriage ceremonies? Or the knighting room? A hall of mirrors? You can have every other room in the Temple," he pointed out.

"I want that one," Anakin growled fiercely. "You can't have that one," Obi-wan retorted firmly. "Listen, master, I just want you to ask the rest of the Council. If they say no then I'll go bother them for it, but can't you just ask?" He wondered.

Obi-wan crossed his arms obstinately. "I will not have you bothering with the other council members, Anakin. They do have important things to do," he said sharply.

"Like what? The massacre of helpless plants?" Padme went over to sit next to Ahsoka and Garen, interested in watching this. As far as she had been able to tell, Obi-wan and Anakin had shared only the most intimate of brotherly relationships. She had yet to see them really argue over something. She had idea it was going to be a fascinating spectacle.

"Don't be spoiled," Obi-wan sharply ordered. "Don't be single-minded," Anakin ground out. "Save the plants!" Qui-gon chanted patriotically from the background. "Shut up, master," Xanatos chuckled.

"Come on, Obi-wan it'll be my wedding day, you can't get me this one thing?" Anakin demanded. Obi-wan didn't bat an eye.

"No," he deadpanned. "Why can't the Council use one of the other hundreds of secret rooms to do it?" Garen called over. "Do you know a secret room that large, that spacious and with that sort of light, Garen?" Obi-wan replied evenly, without taking his eyes from Anakin's stormy ones.

"Never mind," Garen muttered, defeated. "I should have known better than to try and pick a side in this," he said. Ahsoka patted his shoulder comfortingly. "I learned within my first week of apprenticeship that picking sides is a very bad idea," she agreed. "The Council will listen to you!" Anakin protested.

"So you want me to use my persuasive powers to sway the Council over to your side, disregarding the greater good?" Was the characteristic response, spoken with outraged horror and indignance.

Padme had to hand it to him; Obi-wan might have made a very good politician if he did not care so much about the greater good. "I want you to get me that room!" Anakin summed up. "I want to keep my head from being clonked by Yoda! The answer will be and is no, Anakin," thus it was spoken.

Anakin's fists clenched for a moment, and Padme half believed that he might slug his old friend at any moment, but suddenly Anakin's face fell into an impressively cute pout. "I just want you to ask, master," Anakin mumbled, eyes growing wide as saucers. "You can have another room," Obi-wan replied, unrelenting.

Sentara sat beside Padme, flipping through a magazine. "Obi-wan is going down," she said softly to Padme. "Please? Don't make me beg, Obi-wan," a flicker of doubt showed in Obi-wan's eyes, along with wariness. He took a step back, eyeing Anakin hesitantly as if he expected the Knight to attack him at any moment.

Anakin's bottom lip poked out in a puckering pout. "That doesn't work on me anymore, Anakin," Obi-wan said. "Yes it does," Qui-gon, Xanatos, Kennor and Garen contradicted in unison. Obi-wan sent them a hot glance.

"Obi, Ani just want's the pretty room," Anakin had him trapped against the counter now. The whine his voice had dropped too was so cute; and small…And just downright pitiful Padme found herself wanting to grab Anakin in a hug and rock him to sleep. Obi-wan was looking increasingly panicked.

"Anakin…"

"You member when Ani used to make you those pretty pictures? I want a pretty room, master. I want a nice room, not a room like everyone else," Anakin continued piteously. "You shouldn't talk about yourself in third person," Obi-wan answered, though Padme could see from his face he was cracking.

"And Ani is getting married, Obi," Anakin's large eyes filled with tears. Obi-wan looked away quickly, as if he couldn't bear the sight of it. "Oh, come on, Anakin, don't…" Padme could hardly believe what she was seeing.

"Ani is getting married and when he gets married he can't be your little boy no mo. He be big," he mumbled. Obi-wan groaned and threw an arm over his eyes. "Don't do this to me," he begged. "You know you're gonna break, Obs," Garen called over. "Might as well give him what he wants," he said.

"Ani moves out and he can't make no mo pretty pictures for you master. This is the last thing Ani asks as a little boy," a tear rolled down his cheek. "I hate you so much," Obi-wan growled, though his own voice wavered with emotion. "Well Ani loves you. Please, Obi?" Obi-wan peeked at him anxiously.

Anakin had the grace to make his chin quiver. He folded his hands before him in a pleading gesture. Another fat tear rolled down his cheek. "Please… Father?" Anakin whispered, sinking to one knee imploringly. Obi-wan looked as if he wished someone would kill him already and be done with it.

But not as if he were going to get them that room.

His eyes went to the ceiling, and Padme thought she saw his own eyes were moist. "Please, Obi?" Kennor suddenly added, walking over to sink to his knees before Obi-wan pleadingly.

"Please?" Xanatos put in, also heading over to torment his brother. "Qui-gon?" Obi-wan squeaked, looking to his master for help. But Qui-gon just smirked. "Save the plants," he petitioned.

"PLEASE?" One last valiant plea went out from those at Obi-wan's feet. Obi-wan threw his hands up with exasperation. "Yes, alright! I'll do it, I'll do whatever you want. Force, you three, just please get up. You know I'd do anything for you," he cried brokenly.

"YES!" Anakin jumped to his feet, tears and immaturity swept away in a single leap of joy. "Thanks, Obi-wan! You're the greatest!" he said, clapping Obi-wan on the shoulder. Xanatos and Kennor laughed as they stood.

"How do I let you suck me into these things?" Obi-wan sighed gloomily. "It's my charismatic personality," Anakin assured him. At that, Obi-wan laughed and shook his head.

"Spoiled brat," he scolded, patting Anakin's cheek affectionately. "Alright, I'll go do your bidding, but when I come back with a broken leg from where Yoda whacked me, be ready," he warned them.

"I'll have Bant ready and willing early," Garen teased. Obi-wan rolled his eyes. "My hero," he replied sarcastically. "Ah, Obi-wan, don't say that. You'll make me jealous," Anakin protested.

"Because you know that you could never live up to this amount of awesomeness? Yes, I know. It's tragic," Garen lamented. Padme, feeling the need to add her own input, stepped up to put a gentle hand on Obi-wan's shoulder, trying to figure out the sadness in his eyes.

"Thank you for doing this, Obi-wan; if they say no then we will respect their word. But I appreciate you asking," she said lightly, knowing that unlike her husband there were more than two ways, brawns or sabers, to handle these types of things.

"It is my pleasure, Padme," Obi-wan denounced, watching Anakin and Garen bicker with eyes that shined with amusement…And sadness. "Well, I'd better be going," he said. "I'll come with you," Ahsoka volunteered. "As will I," Qui-gon said, directing his hover chair over. Obi-wan shrugged. "If you wish," he conceded.

With another kind smile at her, Obi-wan walked from the room to go get whacked by Yoda, followed by Ahsoka and Qui-gon. Padme watched him go with a stirring of worry. "Seeing as how Anakin is obviously busy, I'm off to go start seeing about getting that foliage cleaned up in the room. Come on, Xanatos, Sentara. Garen, you wanna help?" Kennor called over his shoulder. Padme grinned, recognizing that while he was helping with the wedding, Kennor was also giving her and Anakin a chance to be alone for a few minutes.

"We'll continue this later," Garen dared Anakin in a pretend snarl of menace as he followed a chuckling Xanatos and sighing Kennor out. "I'll see how the bakery is coming along with the cake, Padme!" Sentara promised her, giving her a blessed extra few minutes. Padme grinned gratefully at her friend. She'd have to find a way to thank Sentara for all the help and support she had given her later.

When they had all left she turned around only to have Anakin swoop her into a passionate, deep kiss. She melted in his arms, letting the strength around her nurture her into relaxation. At length, breathing once more interrupted their fun. "I've been wanting to do that for days," Anakin sighed contentedly, letting her go, she missed the comfort of his arms.

"Me too," she gently touched her lips, still tingling from his touch. "Do you want something to eat?" Anakin asked, as he then jogged into the kitchen happily. "Since when can you cook? And should we be raiding Qui-gon's pantry?" She asked, following him.

"Qui-gon won't mind. And I can't cook but I can still put things in the heater," he replied. Padme laughed softly and sat at the bar, resting her chin on her fingers. "I'll have whatever you have," she said cheerily.

Anakin nodded and began taking out two small boxes of something. Padme hardly cared what they were. She watched him in the kitchen lovingly, hardly able to believe that he was hers, that in a few days, he would be her's forever.

"Hey, Ani?" She mumbled, after something occurred to her. "Yes?" Anakin asked. "Do you miss your mother?" Anakin froze, momentarily. Sorrow threatened to crush his face into one expression, but he recovered quick enough.

He turned to face her, studying her thoughtfully. She held his gaze. "Yes," he answered at last. "I think of her every day. I haven't gone to sleep this week without her dying breaths in my ears, without seeing her after those monsters got don with her," his fists clenched for a moment. He shook his head, and returned to his work.

"But yes, I miss her," he replied. "What do you miss about her?" Padme asked. She had already seen him rage, and grieve, had seen him in denial and shock. It was as if he had needed only a few days to go through all the stages of grief. Now, though, she was putting it to the test. She was trying to see just how much he would open up to her about Shmi Skywalker.

"I miss…" Anakin hesitated. "Well…Do you remember when you saw Tatooine's sunset for the first time? How awed you were by it?" he asked her. Padme had no clue what that had to do with anything, but she nodded.

"I do," she replied. "Well, that's how my mother was. She awed me every day I was with her when I was a kid. Her strength, her generosity, her wisdom and love. It was all so strong, and so apparent. My mom was not merely the most beautiful creature to me, she was my only sun, and that love…That's hard to break," Padme nodded. She shared a similar bond with her own mother.

"When Qui-gon found me on Tatooine, and I won my freedom in the pod-race, well…I can't describe the pain that tore through me when I had to leave my mother. The idea of a new place and new people and just…Freedom was tempting, but it wasn't complete without my mom," Anakin's hands stilled from their busy work.

"For the next fifteen years, I felt a hole in my heart that she had filled with her love, and compassion. She never truly left me. She was with me, day in and out, like the sun," he recounted softly, eyes taking on a faraway look.

Padme watched him with sympathy. He shook his head and plopped whatever it was he was making into the heater. "Anyway. The others made up for that lack of love. But I still missed her, even during my Padawan days, mostly when I felt lonely or misunderstood," he said. Then, ignoring the small beep of the heater, he came to sit next to her at the bar. Padme put a hand on his shoulder.

"There was always something about her that seemed to understand me, and stick by me, no matter how odd it seemed. I miss that now. Her understanding and love. It was a special love, a mother's love, and there's no substitute or replacement for it. There'll always be a hole in my heart where she should be," he inhaled a quivering breath.

Padme rubbed small circles into his back. She hated seeing him in so much pain. She hated knowing there was nothing she could do to stop it.

"And I will never stop missing or loving her. I don't even think a part of me will ever stop wishing I'd given those sand people what they deserved, no matter how wrong it may seem," he sneered. Padme nodded at that too.

"But none of that is going to change the fact that she's dead. She is not coming back. The only thing I can do now is keep going, and hope that I make her proud of me," he breathed softly. "I think you already have. You did stop a war, remember?" Padme asked.

Anakin smiled dully. "Ah, well…There've been hundreds of Jedi throughout history who stopped wars. It isn't anything particularly new," he observed ruefully. "Oh, no you don't. Don't you undermine the importance of what you did," Padme sneered in a command.

She, who had been there and seen how quickly Anakin had had to pull himself together after the agony of losing his mother, thought otherwise. She refused to let Anakin be modest about this one.

"You didn't just stop some planetary civil war, Anakin; you stopped a galactic civil war from happening. You saved perhaps thousands of future lives that day. You stood where Obi-wan fell. You defeated Count Dooku with one arm. What you did was amazing. Even if you aren't especially proud of what you did, I have enough pride for you, me and Shmi put together," she harrumphed.

She was surprised when Anakin ducked his head, blushing lightly. Anakin gave her a lopsided smile and leaned forward to take her into his arms. Padme leaned against him, enjoying the solid build of his chest beneath her cheek. She could hear the steady thump of his heart through his clothes, and rejoiced in the sound. "Thanks, angel," Anakin murmured, nuzzling against her shoulder.

"You always know how to make me feel better. You're like my mom in that way, really. I wish she could have met you; I wish she could be at our wedding," he said. Padme ran a finger sensuously down the back of his neck.

She felt him shiver at the touch. "She will be there, Ani, if not in memory then in spirit. I doubt even death could make a mother like Shmi miss her own son's wedding," she pointed out. Anakin nodded and looked up, not releasing his hold on her waist. His eyes glittered at her suggestively.

She smirked. "Ani? Food? Remember?" She asked. Anakin's brow creased as if he had never heard the words before. "Oh," he said after a moment, shaking his head. "Right. Food. Can't we do that later?" He inquired, eyes skimming down her body in a way that made Padme's heart speed up.

"I would agree with you, Anakin," Padme replied, copying Obi-wan's distinct accent. "But the rest of the Council won't. It'd be a waste of time and money to get you expelled now," she informed him.

Anakin laughed. "You're good at that," He snickered, standing to bring whatever it was he had been cooking out of the heater, lukewarm by now. "I like the way he talks. It fits him," Padme giggled back, pleased with herself.

"By the way, do you think…?" She hesitated, watching her husband's face closely. "Do you think Obi-wan is having second thoughts about our wedding?" She wondered. Anakin looked up, stunned. "Obi-wan? No! Why would you say that? He's taken care of more details than I thought were plausible," he cried.

"I don't know," Padme tapped her fingers on the counter. "There's a shadow of sadness in his eyes. It's been there all week, ever since the Council gave us their blessing. I thought maybe he was having second thoughts about my credence as your wife," she explained.

Anakin's face softened. "Force, I forgot how observant you are, angel. It takes a master evaluator to see those sort of things in Obi-wan. And yeah, he has been a little sad, but it isn't because he's having second thoughts. I have not known Obi-wan to rethink something in years, especially about people. He's single-minded, note," Anakin reminded her rationally.

"Oh," Padme screwed her lips thoughtfully. "Maybe it's because you are growing up and moving out?" She guessed. "Part of it is," Anakin placed a tray of newly heated food in front of her. Padme looked down and smiled at the sight of Apple cake in a pan. It was one of his favorites.

Evidently it was there for him. She picked at the desert with the fork he handed her. He leaned against the counter across from her, devouring his with relish. "But then again, Obi-wan's always been more of a loner. I think if anyone is sad to be going, its mostly me. Now that we are married, you and I get our own apartment, a bit bigger than regular quarters. Ahsoka will stay in the quarters where we were supposed to be living. I doubt she will leave Obi-wan's place. Besides, I have not been his apprentice in four years. We have been equals everywhere we go. No, Obi-wan accepted me growing up a long time ago," he said.

Padme propped herself up on her elbow. "Then what's wrong with him?" she demanded, irritated that she had not come close to the true answer. "Siri," Anakin replied confidently. Understanding bloomed in Padme's face.

"Siri? Stars, that makes sense. He must be thinking about his wife," she realized. "Sentara told you about her?" Anakin inquired, seemingly surprised that she knew already.

"Sentara has told me about everyone and everything," Padme chuckled softly. This explanation eased Anakin's nerves evidently. "I know she did a better job at it than I could have. Nevertheless, yes, Siri is on his mind. They had only been married three months, you know, before Siri was killed. They didn't even get a real honeymoon," he told her, sadness now in his own eyes.

"What was she like? Sentara told me she was brave and beautiful," Padme inquired curiously. "Ah, Siri?" Anakin rubbed the back of his head, thinking. "She was…Everything Obi-wan wasn't. You have seen Tilda and Mace. I guess opposites do attract. Siri and Obi-wan grew up together, and from what I've hear from Garen and Bant," he grinned.

"They hated each other as kids. Always butting heads, getting into fights, trying to out-do each other. It wasn't until they grew into teenagers and had to work together on a mission that they really began talking instead of competing. They made… A formidable team," Anakin's expression was one of begrudging respect.

"They were actually just thinking about…Well…Taking what they had a bit further when Qui-gon found me on Tatooine. When Obi-wan promised to train me, he put everything else on hold, including his love for her . And over the years, he and Siri just sort of let the marriage thing stay a theory, even though the rest of us could see they cared about each other," he sighed.

"They finally decided to make it official when I was older, nineteen. Obi-wan predicted I would be Knighted soon, and besides, they had been spending so much time together they might as well have been married. I admit I was not too thrilled about it when they told everyone. Qui-gon almost jumped out of his seat of excitement, Kennor, and Sentara were near to tears with joy and Xanatos….Was, well…Xanatos. Up until that time, it had always been Obi-wan and me against the galaxy, the heroes on the frontier. He had always been mine and I had always been his," Anakin gave a light shrug.

"I noticed that you two seem closer than the others," Padme piped up, finally having her suspicions confirmed. Anakin smiled.

"Yeah. Obi-wan has always been my foundation. Even when we started out as a team when I was nine and I hated his guts," Anakin laughed heartily. "He was so…Emotionless. So dry and stern. He was nothing like my mother, Qui-gon or the others. I couldn't understand why they would do that to me. For awhile, I thought maybe it'd be best if I had been Xanatos's apprentice. Until I started getting bullied, that is," Padme cocked a brow, refusing to believe that Anakin Skywalker, even as child, would allow anyone to push him around.

"I was new, and didn't have a lot of friends yet," Anakin explained. "I was different than the others, being from Tatooine and all. And the vultures thought it was hilarious that I was not only a slave scum but an analphabetic dare-devil. Every chance they got, they mocked me or made sure I would fail. Other kids had never bullied me before. All the slave kids stuck together on Tatooine. The only bullies were the masters. I didn't know how to defend myself," it seemed bullying and cowardice existed everywhere, even within the Jedi Temple.

"So, I went to Qui-gon….He was no help. He, Xanatos, Kennor, they were useless to me. None of them had ever been bullied as kids, they had been the popular Living Force guys who either knocked you into next week or got you into severe trouble if you messed with them. They did not understand, really, what it was like to be…An outcast. So I dealt with it, tried to ignore it like they said," Anakin chuckled softly.

"And it went away for about two days. Then the vultures got reinforcements, and suddenly half my class was in on it and the other half had no clue how bad it was. They thought it was just a little harmless teasing. After awhile, I could not take it anymore. I tried to run away," Anakin shook his head ruefully.

"I got five steps out of my room and Obi-wan caught me. I still have no idea how he knows where I am at all times. I swear he eavesdrops. Anyway, he caught me, and a late-at-night, tired-as-kriff Obi-wan is a bad Obi-wan to mess with," Padme could imagine.

"He was still in transition between Padawan and Knight and mentor. He was stressed. Still, I wouldn't tell him anything. I didn't have too, I guess my arm caught in the light, and he saw the bruises from where the other kids had 'accidentally' tripped me or landed a hit that was harder than it should have been," Padme blinked, aghast. "Qui-gon told you to ignore that?" She gasped.

"Of course not. I had talked to him before it got that bad," Anakin hastened to assure her. "And whenever he asked me about it afterward I told him I was fine. Qui-gon can be as mystical and subtle as any of the great masters, but he has a hard time seeing between the lines. He's just straight forward that way. If you say something he assumes you mean it," Anakin explained.

Padme nodded. She could see that, but force, had not anyone noticed the bruises before it got out of hand? "And well, when Obi-wan saw the bruises, he put two and two together pretty quick. Force, to this day, Padme, I have never seen that man so mad," Anakin chuckled evilly.

"Where Xanatos and the others had been blasé about it, not really understanding why I would let what they said about me get under my skin, he was livid. Turns out Obi-wan used to get bullied too. He was Yoda's pronounced favorite, that quiet, scholarly kid, the only one strong enough in the Unifying Force to have daily visions. He was different, and of course Qui-gon and the others had been of no help to him either, so he had relied on his tongue and his mind to solve the problem," Padme nodded in approval.

"Brains against brawns," she agreed. "As always. He promised me that we were going to fix it, together. He had a plan. Obi-wan called in the cavalry right then and there. Garen, Quin-lan, Bant and Siri came rushing into the room not even five minutes later, despite how late it was, when Obi-wan told them what had happened. While Bant helped my bruises, the others raged about the injustice in the galaxy and planned an all-out war against Bullying," Anakin leaned back cheerily.

"To a nine-year-old kid, Padme, you have no idea how remarkable it was to suddenly go from the desert ball dirt boy to the Padawan with five powerful Jedi knights backing you up. They had all been bullied as kids, I guess. Suddenly Garen was rolling out blueprints, Quin-lan was working some magic with the force, Siri was bringing in military tactics books, Bant was sharpening needles, and Obi-wan was pointing and outlining his strategy of attack. All at barely one of clock in the morning," Padme laughed aloud at the picture.

"Sounds like fun," she said. "It was awesome. The next day we woke up early to set the trap," Anakin chuckled. "The trap?" Padme inquired, a bit worriedly. "In the trees," Anakin agreed.

"I won't tell you all of it, but basically we just set a trap for the leader of the gang of vultures. He got caught in it and was suddenly hanging upside down ten feet in the air with monkey's skittering over him. He was stark terrified of the monkeys in the rainforest room, even though they're perfectly amiable creatures," Anakin chuckled.

"No one, not even the caretakers could figure out how to get him down," he dramatized. "Except you," Padme guessed with a grin. That was the oldest trick in the book, but it seemed that it still worked with the tides of time.

"Yep. I went from being the victim to being the most popular kid in all the Temple. Qui-gon couldn't figure out why me and Obi-wan suddenly got along perfectly dandy," Anakin explained. Padme nodded. "A team," she hoped she might build up the same respect and trust between them as he had with his master.

"The best. So, when he got married, I was feeling just a bit intimidated. I wasn't used to sharing Obi-wan with anyone. I thought that since he had Siri, he wouldn't need me anymore. I was wrong; of course, Obi-wan treated me no differently than he always had," as if he could ever.

"And Siri was fun; she brought out a side of him I had never known about until then. She was the type where if I wanted to go illegally pod-racing in downtown Courascant she would come and gladly gamble on me," he chirped.

"You did that, didn't you?" Padme put her head in her hands in exasperation. Anakin grinned. "I won. Don't tell Obi-wan," he agreed. Padme chuckled, then sobered. "And then she died," she finished.

Anakin nodded somberly. "It was…Hard. None of us could believe that one day she was there, the next, gone. Ferus didn't come out of his room for two days. I know. I sat outside the door with Darra and Tru waiting for him. Obi-wan…Was in shock for awhile," Anakin let out a slow breath.

"He and Siri had had one of the strongest loves the Council had ever seen. After she died, he shut down. Did not talk much, didn't sleep whatsoever. If you had not known him, you would never have noticed that he was grieving at all. He did not shed a tear at the funeral," Padme recoiled, imagining. If anything would ever happen to Anakin, she did not think she would ever stop crying. She would probably spend the rest of her life in mourning.

"He was cold, and aloof. It scared me, and I distanced myself from him. I regret that now. He needed me, but I was young. I started hanging around with Qui-gon and Tahl more than him. I'm not sure what he did while I was gone. The next time I saw him after that was when I was Knighted," Anakin's face glowed with the memories. His eyes took on a faraway look.

"He was happy that night. I think he was more proud than I was. He told all of my most embarrassing stories to all of my friends just to get to me. I was so happy to see him smile again I didn't even care," Padme wondered if she would be able to access these same embarrassing stories from said Master Jedi anytime soon.

Anakin's expression sobered completely, as if the sun had suddenly been blown out and darkness had fallen over the land. Padme perked up. "Then Tahl died a few weeks after that," Anakin sighed, looking away.

"Of all the times, that was the darkest moment in our family's history. Tahl was the glue that held us all together. She had been a mother figure for all of us. When she died, suddenly things fell apart," Anakin shrugged, helplessly.

"Qui-gon exiled himself. Xanatos was angry; he had not been there when she died. He blamed Kennor for it. Kennor blamed Qui-gon for not convincing her to hang on a little while longer. Sentara took Qui-gon's side. They started fighting all the time. Closest those two have ever come to a divorce. I thought they were all being stupid, and told them so," he rubbed the back of his neck.

"That was a horrible idea. You could hear us all throughout The Temple when we were together, arguing over whose fault it was and who was most disgracing her memory. Yoda uses us as an example of why you don't put three impetuous Living Force adepts together with an angry woman in one room," Padme couldn't help but shake her head. She could not say she blamed him.

"Obi-wan had been out on a mission when Tahl died. When he came back, he found Sentara on the verge of taking the kids and leaving The Temple, me and Xanatos two words away from an all-out lightsaber duel, Qui-gon in mental trauma and the entire Temple fed up with us all," Padme snorted. She really didn't blame Yoda for his comparison.

"So soon after Siri died, he should have joined Qui-gon in exile, but instead he took charge and stepped into Tahl's place as the foundation we all needed. I guess its part of the Unifying Force," Anakin smiled sorrowfully.

"You know how to unite people in a common goal. Action, not emotion. He came out of his shell pretty blasted quick; quick enough to give us a reason to resolve our differences in time for Tahl's cremation. It was harder to build up what was torn down. We still aren't through healing as a family. But we've come a long way," Anakin stood and stretched.

"It took a long time for Obi-wan to truly mourn Siri, and Tahl. We were on a mission together. There was a bomb in the underground nav-train routes set by terrorists. It exploded. It killed three people. It could have been a lot worse, but it hit Obi-wan hard," Anakin winced in sympathy. "A young couple had been two of those killed. They had been married three months," Padme gasped. Anakin looked away.

"Back in our hotel room, I found him weeping in the kitchen. I had never seen Obi-wan cry before. Heck, it was a struggle just to get him to laugh hard. Seeing him in so much pain…It broke my heart. I can't describe to you how desperate I was. I would have put a saber through my own chest if it got him to stop crying. I could only hold him like you held me when my mother died," Anakin closed his eyes for a moment as if the memory brought him physical pain.

"He admitted he blamed himself for Siri's death, for Tahl's death, for Qui-gon losing his legs, blamed himself for the family falling apart. That man sure does know how to take fault for things that he has no control of," Anakin snickered without humor.

"It took me about two days to convince him he was being an idiot. I don't think he left my side for a year after that. Or, to be fair, I didn't let him leave my side. He says now that I was his lifeline back to a normal life. I think he gives me too much credit. He pulled himself out of the hole he was in. I just encouraged him along the way. Not long after that he was elected to the Council and I met Ahsoka," Anakin finished. Padme felt guilt knag at her.

"Oh, Ani! Here we are asking him for a stupid room and he's lost so much," she cried. Anakin shook his head. "It's for the best, angel. Helping us prepare for our wedding reminds him of his. I know it does. That's why I did not just go ask the Council myself. Obi-wan needs to keep busy or he'll start thinking about Siri and blaming himself all over again like the idiot he rightfully is," Anakin harrumphed.

"Are you sure he's alright?" Padme asked. Anakin snorted. "If he wasn't, I'd be with him. Trust me; I've scarcely let him out of my sights in five days. He knows I'm there for him. Even after we get married, I hope you realize we'll probably be around Obi-wan a lot," he reminded her.

Now it was Padme's turn to snort. "I would expect nothing less," she agreed indignantly. "Good. I've already warned him that contrary to his beliefs, he is not getting rid of me. If I have a say in it, he's going to have to deal with me for the rest of his life and beyond, so he'd do well just to sit down, shut up and deal with it," Anakin summed up.

Padme liked this plan.