POV: Anakin Skywalker

"Of course," he replied fiercely. "I've told you I'll always be here, Ani. You can always talk to me." He was so warm inside and out. It made me feel good, knowing that he meant that every time he said it. I wasn't used to having someone as devoted to me as Obi-Wan is, and I would admit that it's a nice change. I like the idea of spending forever with someone especially if that someone is Obi-Wan. Before him, I'd planned on just hopping from guy to guy if things didn't work out. No commitment, no talks of the future. Nothing. I was perfectly content with sleeping around like I had been, even though I knew what kind of person I was for it. It didn't bother me then, but it does now. I hate the child I used to be and I was glad to have grown up since then. I could handle commitment and the promises of my future because Obi-Wan is my other half and he's just as committed as I am. The idea of marriage was still a scary thought, but I was more than willing to go through with it all because I know what I'm getting into here and I find my relationship with him entirely worth it.

I threw my leg over his and curled up against him. "That means a lot to me." He kissed my hair and allowed silence to ease over us. It was always nice to just…not need to talk all the time. We were perfectly content with laying here. I held his right side firmly, trying to think of ways to explain everything without telling him too much of the horrifying details. "Well, you know I was raped…by two men simultaneously." Fiery warmth seared down my spine, his fingers glided over my skin, leaving flames in their wake. "Xanatos also abused me, but he tried to make me think he loved me. He…beat me when I spat at him or responded in a way he didn't exactly find flattering." My voice echoed in my head painfully, hurling vicious words at Xanatos, who cursed at and hit me. I could see his cruel smile as though it was burned into my memory. "When I didn't give him the reaction he was looking for, he chose…other methods of torture." My breath hitched at the unwanted memories of being held underwater, and being unable to breathe and swallow because he was trying to suffocate me, and the burning of my skin, which left scars on my thigh and bicep.

"Take your time," he said soothingly. That whisper brought me back to my bed. With Obi-Wan. "I'm not going anywhere. I love you and I'll be right here when you—if you want to continue." I closed my eyes, trying to shove those memories down, to repress them like I had been all this time. I couldn't help myself if I kept doing this to myself. Talking to Obi-Wan about everything would be a huge step. The psychologist Obi-Wan got for me said talking to someone I trusted would help because it would make me feel safe and comfortable, both of which Obi-Wan provided. After managing to push the past away and bring myself back to where I was, feeling myself wrapped up in Obi-Wan's arms, pressed against him, breathing him in, I shuddered. "Are you okay?"

I pushed myself up a bit and he looked up at me, his brows drawn together concernedly. "I can tell you," I said confidently. "I want to tell you." I swallowed hard, then his hand slid up my arm, setting my nerves on fire again. It actually felt good. "Just…promise me you won't look at me like I'm filthy. I feel disgusting, but—"

I was immediately flipped over, my breath sapped right out of me, and I came face to face with the man holding me above him. "I would never look at you like that," he said sincerely. "Anakin, I love you. You're beautiful, which is the complete opposite of filthy." I smiled at him while he stroked my back absentmindedly. "Nothing will change my love for you, Anakin. I assumed you were dead all this time and I still feel as strongly—if not stronger—about you as I did before." He kissed me sweetly. "Don't tell yourself that you're some disgusting thing because I know you're not."

He stared at me and I felt ashamed. He was being absolutely honest with me and I couldn't bring myself to believe his words even though he's said them a thousand times. They never felt absolutely true to me. "I feel like a whore," I said brokenly, watching his lips part in a silent gasp. "The three of them fucked me on a daily basis until I bled, until I cried. I fought it at first, but that only made them beat me more." I was shivering on top of him, barely recognizing the worry in his eyes. "Obi, Xanatos was making me fear him by trying to drown and suffocate me." He looked horrified, his hands stilling on my back entirely. "He did that a lot and then he began to burn me." His eyes flew to my bicep and I nodded. When his eyes flickered back up to mine, I continued. "He blindfolded me and kept me in the cellar where he'd shove me against a wall or the floor and…" I stopped right there, not willing to admit that to him even though I'd already said enough and he knew what I wasn't saying. "He'd cut and whip me… Anything to cause me pain. Eventually, I stopped screaming and pleading. I didn't speak or make sounds for God knows how long, but I trembled every time I heard the footsteps above me." Again, I stopped. I pushed myself off of him and sat back on my heels, straddling his legs. He sat up straighter, his eyes never leaving mine. "Then…a…a woman took advantage of me. I don't know who she was, but she hurt me."

My heart was beating roughly against my chest. I felt afraid again, like I was going to be tortured. I heard the footsteps in the darkness and my breathing quickened in anticipation for the horror that was to come. Sucked into the darkness by the blindfold, I hadn't been able to see their faces. I could feel a knife cutting into my skin, cool blood seeping down numerous parts of my body simultaneously. Vaguely, I realized I was touching my skin now.

A feminine laugh echoed in my mind and my body associated that laugh with roughness. She used toys to hurt me or put a ring on me to keep me from coming while she rode me, her chilled fingertips plunging into my chest. I felt Xanatos smack my jaw and I remembered doing as he wished even without him having to say a word, sucking him off when he didn't want to put the effort into making me writhe beneath him. Granta and his friend never pitied me like Xanatos did. They abused me and made me bleed for their entertainment.

I could remember freezing on the cellar floor. Xanatos rarely threw a blanket over me. I'd almost died from the blood loss and then, in the winter, hypothermia. I still couldn't grasp the reason as to why I kept living, suffering in silence.

My breaths came out erratically and I was hyperventilating. I blearily looked around the room, vaguely recognizing it. Obi-Wan's hands came up to my face, his thumbs stroking my cheeks. Obi-Wan. "Baby, it's okay. You're safe now." My vision refocused on him until it finally cleared and I could make out every detail about him. "They aren't here," he said softly. "They can't hurt you." But they could.

I shook my head and he looked hurt when I started convulsing in front of him. He moved us quickly, his hands grasping mine. "They're in my head. I can hear them." I realized how insane I sounded, but I just kept going, unable to stop myself from speaking hurriedly. "They're here, everywhere."

I wrenched my hands out of his and clawed at my scalp, pulling at my hair as though they were the strands. Obi-Wan took my hands and held them against his chest. I scratched him involuntarily and he just let me, even when I began to draw blood. "We'll get you through this, baby." He winced slightly. "They'll go away. I promise." I tried to rip his skin and I couldn't understand why. I knew it was him, but I couldn't control myself. Eventually, he couldn't let this go on any longer. He would never hurt me even if I tried to kill him, so he did what he had to without making things worse. He gripped my wrists and shoved me back until I was lying on my back, my wrists pinned to the mattress on either side of my head. I stared up at him, finally seeing him as his blood dripped onto my stomach. He was breathing heavily, his eyes watering. "This time, I will keep you safe," he said firmly, and I actually trusted him. I couldn't doubt him.

After I calmed down, he released my wrists reluctantly. He waited for me to move and I didn't for the longest time. He was afraid to lie down and I couldn't blame him. He probably thought I'd try to maul him again. I pushed myself up and he flinched, which made me gasp in horror. The noise made his eyes widen. After several long moments, he did lie down, waiting for me to crawl up to him to lay by his side. It took a while, but I finally did and I was stunned to see that he was still awake. He laid on his side, facing me as I lowered myself onto my right side to face him. I didn't know what to say to him; it was obvious he didn't know either.

I couldn't have been anymore sorry than I was in that moment. I'd hurt him and he wouldn't forget that. He would hate me. He should hate me. My eyes slid to a close a little while later, unable to stay open any longer. Instead of feeling him turn away from me, he sat up to press his lips against my forehead, and then he pulled the blanket over us. I shivered at the warmth, but welcomed it. The little gestures he made showed me that he didn't resent me. I felt so guilty about what I'd done, but I was eased considerably when he slid his arm beneath the blanket and draped it over my side. He slid closer until he was completely pressed against me, the crown of his head just below my jaw. I could feel his warm breath on my chest, taunting me and giving me the impression of him loathing me, yet I didn't move. I knew didn't need to because my mind was playing tricks on me. He'd put us in a position that was so…us. He…couldn't hate me if he chose to sleep against me like this.

•◊•

I fidgeted with the hem of the blanket as Obi-Wan got dressed for work. I'd propped myself up against the pillows and initially watched him dress until it was too hard to look at the marks my nails had embedded into his chest. I knew he had to leave and I should have been relieved by that, knowing he'd be safer if he wasn't with me, but I truly didn't want him to go. I felt his eyes on me after he finished buttoning his shirt, so I looked up. The smile and look of adoration I was met with made me smile weakly in return. "I love you," he whispered unprecedentedly.

"I love you." I slowly rose from the bed, pulling my underwear and his sleep pants on. He watched me patiently until I straightened and stared directly into his eyes. That link between us sparked and I quickly padded over to him. In return, he greeted me with open arms and I allowed him to envelope me with them, my own circling around him. "Be safe." He kissed my cheek, then nuzzled it with his own. I added, "I need you," in a hushed whisper.

The smile on his face was felt against my skin and he squeezed me gently. "I need you, too." The love in his voice took my breath away. We hugged each other tightly enough to show that we didn't want to be apart, until we finally decided we needed to ease out of the embrace. He bumped his nose against mine, chuckling. "You'll be kept busy today, so do try to enjoy it." I gave him a puzzled look, to which he only smiled, and then the doorbell rang. "Put a shirt on and then come into the living room, love." He rubbed my hips before ducking out of the bedroom, leaving me in my confusion. I did pull a shirt—his of course—on, albeit a bit small, and went into the living room to see his back. When he heard me come into the room, he turned himself sideways and stepped back, grinning at me. My heart warmed considerably and I couldn't help grinning as well.

"Good morning, Ani." I didn't respond verbally, but I surged forward, pulling the smaller body into my arms. She giggled and returned the embrace. "Hi, Skyguy." Her voice was hoarse; she was crying.

"Snips," I breathed. "God, it's been too long." I pulled back, holding her at arm's length now, and looked at her. Tears glistened on her cheeks, so I lifted one hand and wiped them away gently. She looked so beautiful and so grown up now. A year had changed her. Her hair was longer now, and she had a tattoo on her shoulder that I could see emerging from the sleeve of her shirt.

I turned to look at Obi-Wan who looked happier than he has been as of late, not that that's any fault of his. I mouthed a thank you to him when Ahsoka hugged me again. In response to my gratitude, his eyes flashed. He got a thrill out of seeing me like this. "All right, you two," he said, chuckling lightly, "I need to head to work. Ani, Victoriana is your mother's nurse. She'll be here within the hour. I've arranged for Ahsoka to drive you around a bit today." She backed up and grinned sheepishly at me when I gaped at her. "She's still learning, so you, as an excellent and cautious driver, can probably teach her wonderfully."

I was stunned into silence. Wow. To cover my amazement, I messed with her hair, eliciting a groan from the younger girl. "Geez, kid. I remember when you were born. Now you're driving." She giggled and flashed her teeth at me, smiling at me like I'd just acknowledged how proud of her I was—which I guess I had. I turned to Obi-Wan and threw my arms around his neck, pressing my lips to his jaw. He didn't need to do this for me, especially after last night. "Thank you," I whispered in his ear, nuzzling my face into his neck.

He kissed my shoulder, his hands resting on my hips. "I'd do anything to make you smile, baby." He squeezed me and we parted a few moments later, staring into each other's eyes silently. "I'll see you after work."

He stroked my cheek; I closed my eyes to lose myself in the warm feeling of his hand. "I love you," I said without giving it a thought.

"I love you, Anakin." He pecked my lips, resting his hands on my neck now. Once again, I found myself sharing an intense gaze with him. "I love my beautiful man."

"And I love my gorgeous, wonderful fiancé."

"Awe!" I jumped, startled, and we both glanced at Ahsoka. We got so lost in each other that we'd forgotten she was even standing there. "You guys are just too damn cute."

I was blushing furiously now, so Obi-Wan laughed at me and kissed my cheek. "I've really got to go now, baby." He couldn't resist kissing me and I couldn't resist trying to kiss him longer. "I'll see you tonight." He took my hand in his, squeezing it. "Ahsoka, you're more than welcome to join us for dinner tonight as long as your mother approves. I'm planning on cooking for Anakin." He glanced sideways at me. "And I know he wouldn't mind it if you stayed with us a little longer."

I stood in the doorway and watched as he backed out of the driveway. My heart clenched tightly. This was the first time we'd been fully separated since I came back. He waved at me before driving off down the road. I'd managed to lift my hand and wave back just in time, fortunately. Ahsoka tugged on my arm, pulling me back. I shut the door and turned to face her, cocking an eyebrow in amusement. She was literally bouncing all over. "I wish I had that kind of energy."

"Ani, imagine being told the man you see as your brother is alive after thinking he was dead for a year!" She giggled and threw herself at me, hugging me tightly. "I missed you so much."

I rested my chin on the crown of her head. "I missed you, too, little one."

We stayed in each other's arms for a few minutes. After those minutes passed, she'd regained a ton of energy. She led me over to the couch and bounced eagerly on the cushion. I just watched her, smiling at her happiness. She simmered down after a while though, and we just relaxed, sitting side by side, hand in hand. "How have you been?" she asked quietly, turning her head to look at me.

I closed my eyes and inhaled slowly, exhaling just as slowly. "I've...struggled to get back into the swing of things, but everything's been great lately." I opened my eyes and smiled weakly. "Obi-Wan's been great."

She stroked her thumb over my fingers gently. "Where were you all this time?" She pulled her hand out of mine slowly, turning her entire body to face me. I watched her hand lift and felt her fingers trace the scar bisecting my right eye. "What happened to you, Ani? Obi-Wan didn't tell me anything specific. All I know is that you were kidnapped and dead up until a few days ago when he called me."

I shivered and her hand flew back. "I... Snips..." My mouth felt as dry as a desert. If I had a hard time confessing to Obi-Wan, it would only be so much harder to talk to her. "I...can't talk about it." She looked upset, but nodded. The look on her face twisted a knife in my heart. I couldn't stand seeing anyone like that, especially Obi-Wan. He'd been hurt when I kept the details of my capture and torture from him, but he'd never once demanded that I opened up to him. He'd just smile sadly and tell me he'd be right there when I needed him.