"Oh, I may be on the side of the angels - but don't think for one second that I am one of them." - Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock
oOo
Warning: As usual, un Beta'd. So I guarantee there is grammar issue ahead, and I apologise for all of them.
Thank you night shifts for allowing me to scribble out the end to this for twelve hours.. and thank YOU for reading this!
xXx
Weeks became months and he felt himself growing less despondent. He talked to Padmé daily, as well as Obi Wan, who had continued to remain on Coruscant by his demand to care for his wife. He would trust no other to watch over her as none other would understand her sly antics.
He had hoped pregnancy would settle her adventurous soul some, but being with child only made her more insistent. During his week reprieve he had realised how much he truly needed her and so once a month, he returned to the Capital to soothe his tempered soul with her well of peace. She had begun to schedule her appointments around his visits and he had begun to feel more human and less like the beast he had been that first visit.
The depression had attempted to cloak him when he missed their three year wedding anniversary, but as usual, she didn't blame him, couldn't blame him. Not only did she not blame him, she sent him a clip that made him forget everything else. He was in a quiet corner of the engine room, hiding with R2 staring at the file she had just sent him, "They… They.. Their beautiful Padmé."
"Aren't they?" he heard as he stared at the holo of the sonogram of the twins. It had been the first appointment since that early one that he had missed, and rather throw a fit like he had before, he was staring at the file she had sent him. He watched as the two children moved in such a small space.
She was six and a half months pregnant now and he could define the two creatures as children now. The early days they had looked like little eels, and while the evidence was obvious, he hadn't really been able to acknowledge the whole strange affair. Fatherhood was still a strange concept to him, for the only Father figure he had knew was Obi Wan.
Until five minutes ago when she had sent him the image. His prosthetic hand curled around the image and he felt a tear race down his cheek. His children. His beautiful children. "Ani? You still there?"
"Yes, Angel." His voice was hoarse and he was still staring at the image in front of him.
"I have to go. The senate is convening in twenty minutes and Obi Wan doesn't fly nearly as fast as you do."
He chuckled at her attempt to lighten his mood, "I'll be home soon. I love you Angel."
"I'm counting the days Ani. Oh, remind me tomorrow when we talk to tell you about my Parents. Ok, I really have to go. I love you too Ani- Skywalker Out." And he heard the disconnected sound. Shaking his head he envisioned Obi wan ;the ever stickler for rules, motioning to the chrono and tapping his foot.
One thing he and his wife had in common was their disregard for time constraints. He, due to his adept piloting skills, could be anywhere in minutes, and she ;her.. absurd fixation to details. Everything had to be perfectly ready when she left, from her gown, to her hair and her files and arguments she had complied for the day. Rolling his eyes he smiled, "Play it again R2."
And he sat for hours staring at the image of his two children shifting and moving within their Mother's womb. Already he loved the two creatures far more than was rational. No person should be able to love anything as he loved his children. "Luke." He whispered. "My Son." He smiled looking at the other child, his daughter. He still didn't know what name she had chosen, only that she had acquiesced to giving her the middle name he had chosen. She had mentioned his mother's name, an idea he had quickly shot down. The memory of his Mother still too painful.
He would heal, eventually. But all he wanted was to live a long and happy life with his family. All he ever wanted was to be happy, and to make her happy till the end of their days.
xXx
It was the week before his regularly scheduled leave and he was in Engineering with one of the commanders. "The thrusters just keep shorting our, Sir." Anakin studied the mechanics, holding off the distraction of once again seeing Padmé.
"Sir," his comlink buzzed, "you're needed on the bridge."
"Acknowledged." Anakin said, "It's not the thrusters, it's the couplings. Change them and it'll be fine." He hopped out of the hole and ignored the awed look by the young officer. He made his way through the destroyer and spied the core clone commanders standing around the communication center.
And that was when he was summoned home. "The Chancellor has been kidnapped. You are requested to immediately rendezvous with the rest of the Generals and retrieve Chancellor Palpatine from Grievous who is holding him hostage above the capital."
"Understood Sir." He had never been more thrilled to run into battle then to order the fleet to return to Coruscant.
"What's the plan sir?" His loyal captain asked as he stared at the battle map. An out and out battle would only weaken troops, and so Anakin planned for stealth. He knew that he had to rescue the Chancellor, for after voting him Emergency Powers, the senate had become all but impotent without him.
The swell of support the great man received had once made Anakin proud to know such a prominent politician. But his eyes were open now. He saw how Palpatine had been abusing the system and throwing rocks in the gears. Every step forward, there had been a step back cause by either one of the suspected Separatist leaders or the Chancellor himself.
He outlined his plan as they raced back to the capital.
xXx
He had piloted his fighter through the melee as the others engaged the enemy forces. He squashed a swell of pride as he saw all his fighters outmaneuvering the Trade Federation's. "They must be idiots." He grumbled. The predominate amount of Jedi had been at the Temple since he and Yoda had realised that the Sith was there waiting to spring an attack on a nearly empty Temple. If their Forces had been spread thin among the Galaxy, exterminating them would be less of a challenge as if they were all under one roof waiting.
So rather then spread thin across the galaxy, he had imposed his own type of genius when fighting battles and sending legions and legions of clones hopping from battle to battle.
He hated war. He hated everything about war.
"Ready R2?" A squeak and a whistle were his signal and he began ducking and dodging, pushing the engines to their limit and he slipped through their magnetic shield and as he had when he had been 9, he sat in the cockpit and held his breath, waiting for everything around him to settle.
The hanger appeared to be empty as all their forces were out dying by the hands of the Jedi and Republican fighters. So it was relatively calm as he hopped out onto the deck. Officially on board, he and R2 quickly hid as a company of droids passed them by. "R2, locate the Chancellor, I'm going after Grievous." The small droid whistled worriedly. "I'll be fine, when am I ever not."
A series of blurts and Anakin scowled, "That doesn't count. Padmé distracted me." He ignored the whistles of amusement and focused on the small gap in between the droid shifts. Throwing the ominous black cloak over his shoulders he marched with confidence through the hall ways, hoping to look like a Separatist leader or an assassin. None of the droids paid him and attention and he shrank further back into the cowl of the cloak. Opening the doors he saw another company of droids.
"Kriff." He muttered, he instantly drew his lightsaber and began deflecting blasters. He was outnumbered by a few hundred but held his own for much longer than any other would. Holding up his hands finally he allowed himself to be placed in binders. "I surrender."
"Take him to the brig."
"Roger Roger." The droid said and Anakin let a cocky smirk cross his face. Droids were wonderfully dumb and woefully predictable. He was escorted to a cell and he looked around, pleased to see the Chancellor slumped in an adjoining cell.
"Are you ok?" He asked. The older man looked no worse for wear, but his eyes connected with Anakin's and he suddenly felt sorry for the older man who had gone through so much. He felt the empathy fill him but did not understand it's origin.
"I'm better now Son. I can't tell you how happy I am to see you.. although here-"
"Don't worry Chancellor. I'm on it."
They sat for a long time in silence, the Chancellor occasionally bringing up certain tidbits. "They keep speaking of a Sith Lord. Do you know anything about that?"
"I believe the Sith is on Coruscant." Anakin said, staring at the man, gauging his reaction.
"And why has Master Yoda not suspected this? I thought he was omniscient."
"Master Yoda would like to think that nothing happens on Coruscant without him knowing." Anakin scowled at the traitorous words but they were out and he felt the beast stretch and yawn inside him.
"But you and I both know that's not true," the Chancellor said, eyeing the young man. He knew that Anakin was so close to figuring out the true nature of the subterfuge.
"Yes, well…fortunately, he is not the only one searching. I myself have just wasted three months in the outer rim." He calmed his breathing and found the deep well of calm from across his bond. He used her strength to ground him, to focus him. He sensed the door being open and returned to his position of feigning unconsciousness.
"General Grievous will see you now." The Chancellor was roughly shoved towards the door and Anakin was forceful dragged behind.
Anakin took survey of his surroundings. The ship was a monstrosity, and rather than fighting his way to the top, he had figured waiting for an invite would be just as successful. He was dumped on the ground and a none to gentle kick was delivered to his abdomen. He groaned and put on a show of the injured and possibly dying Jedi.
A hoarse cough was heard followed by further wheezing. "Chancellor. Anakin Skywalker. Finally a Jedi worthy of me." The General nodded to the two droids and they prodded him with their force pikes. He screamed and convulsed. "Up, Jedi scum. Get up."
Anakin felt the aftershocks of the current sporadically jolt him as he stood. Shaking his head clear, he flexed his hand and was worried about the sluggish response. His mind quickly started formulating a plan and he eyed his lightsaber in the pockets of Grievous. "Want this?" Grievous sneered. The weapon was calling for him. Like the croon of a favoured pet, the lonely song assured him that it would come when called. But he needed a plan, and he needed one quick.
He stood, breathing deeply, infuriating Palpatine. "Kill him Anakin. What are you waiting for!" The Chancellor cried out. But Anakin did not move from his position. Still as a statue, his eyes were closed and he was calm.
Grievous was mostly droid, but he had a human heart, and he was mostly made up of circuitry. He was vulnerable, weak. But Anakin knew better than running in half cocked on some wild scheme. He allowed his soul to reach out and felt the oceanic presence of the Force. Within it, was his wife and their children, she was calm, at peace.
And so, he was as well.
When he opened his eyes, the path became clear, "You will have one chance to surrender. I will give you one chance. After that, I will not be responsible for your fate." Grievous cackled manically at the young man who was calm, cool and collected, the power of his wife's love flowing through him like a torrent stream.
"I'll take that as a No?" Anakin quirked a brow and the Chancellor grew concerned. He had never seen the boy so serene. He was not fighting in anger, but in the peace of the Jedi. The infection of his wife grew more and more prominent as he drew on the Force further, allowing the entity control his limbs and temper his raging soul.
"You will be the one rotting, Skywalker." Grievous snarled. He stood up straight, to his full height, glaring down at the man before him.
But he had underestimated the genius of the Chosen One, the abilities of he who wielded the Force like no other.
Anakin exploded into movement, his binders falling away and his lightsaber in his hand within the space of a second, Grievous' head removed from his body the next second and Anakin landing on the platform behind him stabbing him from behind with his lightsaber. "You should have heeded my warning." Anakin said to the deceased body. "Rest in peace, Separatist."
He walked to the Chancellor and removed his binders, "Are you alright?"
"I am now, Anakin. You saved my life."
"And ended the war." Anakin beamed, his thoughts on returning to Padmé. "All we need now are to find the leaders and come to some kind of negotiation.
"We have been trying to negotiate with them for three years now Anakin. It is futile. They too need to die." He snapped.
"Chancellor, Count Dooku is dead. Grievous is dead. They have so few militia left and no one to lead them." Anakin's look turned passionate, "They're politicians, not warriors. I can assure you that they will listen now."
Palpatine grew pensive. "I overheard that they were taken to Mustafar."
"I will tell the council when I return." Anakin said, his mind elsewhere, beginning to walk to the door.
"They may not be there for long. You just killed Grievous, they will be moved."
"So be it Chancellor. I am returning to Coruscant." Anakin shrugged and looked back at the infuriated man, and was surprised by the explosion of Anger.
"You WILL heed me Anakin Skywalker!" He said and raised his hands. Blue electricity spawned from them and he was unprepared for the attack. His body was flung across the room and he landed on his side, groaning in pain.
"You are proving less useful Skywalker. Almost not worth the effort. I needed a right hand man for my Empire, but you, idiot child, are too emotional. Too much in love with that whore of a woman." The ominously dark voice cackled at the flare of rage Anakin felt as the man spoke of Padmé. The beast snarled and his lightsaber appeared in his hand. Rage coursed through his body and fury made his muscle clench, ready to attack.
"Remember this anger. Remember this darkness. Use it!" Another onslaught of Sith Lightening came at him but was deflected this time. He flipped his saber and the blade absorbed the dark powers. A corner of his mind still clung to the light and he felt a brief moment of clarity.
Anakin looked up and finally saw. Scolding himself for not seeing this before, he saw the dark and ominous presence of the Dark Lord of the Sith, Palpatine's robes shuddered around him and the air crackled with the clash of the Force. "But still. There is anger in you, hate in you. You may yet be valuable to me. So I will let you live. Just this once."
"You-.. You won't-.."
"W-w-w… You my boy are terribly dumb. I have been your puppet master since you were nine years old." He said mockingly, "I don't know how they think you're the chosen one."
"YOU'RE the Sith?" Anakin said, and Palpatine cackled again.
"Your genius is over estimated." He sneer. Anakin felt the swell of anger, of hurt. He had trusted this man, believed him. His pain and rage and anger made the old man smile.
"Gooood. You have anger young Skywalker, now use it and kill me." The lightsaber appeared in his hand and he moved to strike, when he felt a nudge.
That nudge. That pure and loving nudge, that could only have been Padmé. She held such a presence that only she could affect him. "Anakin, she'll die if you don't kill me. Remember your dream." Anakin didn't hear the note of fear in the older man's voice. The man was seeing the Darkness fall away and the light cocooning him in a kind warmth that Palpatine had never known.
"It was just a dream." He said, "She won't die in childbirth." His words were weak but he repeated them, "She won't die. She's strong." The mantra strengthen his heart and he felt the darkness snarl at him. "I am a Jedi, I am married to Padmé Skywalker, and our children will be beautiful, and we will love them more than was believed possible." He looked at the circuits beside him, to the man whose eyes were Sith Yellow.
"I'm sorry my love." He whispered to no one and punched the panel box. He felt the current race up his limb and through his heart.
"No!.. No!" Palpatine said frantically, but Anakin held on long enough to pull at the wires, causing the ship to lurch and begin to fall. He let go and tried to control the quivering muscles and the gloved hand that had become immobile.
"I am expendable. I have always been expendable." He said, "I fight for a noble cause, not some weak one the Jedi constructed. I fight for something greater than myself. Something bigger than this entire galaxy. I fight for love. And that, is why you fail Old Man."
Palpatine tried to steel himself against the emotions, but he couldn't help but feel terrified by the manifestation of the Force before him.
Anakin moved with abilities that none other could ever dream of having. Even with his heart dancing an offbeat waltz and his mechanical hand was frozen, clenching the lightsaber in his hand, he still out matched the feeble Chancellor. "I am the Chosen one. If I have to die, so be it. But she will live, they will live." He felt himself become one with the Force, the uninhibited power moved his body in ways even he didn't understand.
On the falling ship, that was crashing to the ground, he fought for his life against the Chancellor. "Skywalker. HEED me! Your children will die with their Mother, I have foreseen it."
"No. They won't." He gritted out, his fury nearly let loose as the Chancellor fought back with the hidden Red Blade he'd had tucked away. He didn't allow the pain and anger out, he didn't want them to be unleashed, refusing to allow the beast further access. The blinding light of the Force aided him and Anakin saw the old man weaken.
They parried blades and while the Chancellor was good. He was better. It wasn't long before Anakin had gained the advantage and had disarmed Palpatine.
"Anakin. Please." He begged from hands and knees. "Don't kill me."
"I'm not like you." He call the binders to him and secured them, "I'm not. You will have your day in court. I wash my hands of you." And Anakin pulled him to the door. A brief thought crossed his mind and he called the datachips in the camera to him, pocketing them. He would need proof.
Opening the door he saw the ground rapidly approaching, the wide open landing strip would hopefully be enough, but he realised the droids at the controllers would be too stupid to properly land the craft.
So jumping it would be. "Anakin-.. I was your mentor, I was you-"
"You just tried to kill me." He snarled, "Shut it." And he jumped, pulling the Sith Lord with him. He tugged the old man out the door and with the ground mere feet away, he jump.
They fell to the ground and he landed on his feet and catching the restrained Sith. Anakin pulled him to the approaching speeder and was surprised to see a detachment of his own 501st standing inside.
"Order's Sir?"
"Take him away." Anakin shoved him to the men and sighed.
"But he's the chancellor Sir."
"Not for much longer."
"Noo!" The man made one last attempt and Anakin held up his hand and watched it pulled away from the socket, the loose wires lashing against his face. He heard blasters and other muted sounds but the crash of the ship deafened him as he fell back to the ground, the blackness blocking out all else.
xXx
She heard a commotion outside the door and wrapped the large Jedi cloak around herself and peeked out. A handful of Padawan's were loitering outside her door and a few younglings, all watching Obi Wan and Aayla Secura's face grow solemn.
"What is it?" she asked.
"It is Anakin." Obi wan said softly, "He has returned, but he is injured."
Padmé felt her knees go weak, her stomach convulsed, "Take me to him." She whispered, no one moved, "Take me to him NOW!" three of the youngling's jumped and one of the children who had been her shadow tugged on her hand.
She smiled down at the boy whose blond mop and big blue eyes had reminded her of Anakin. But not now. Now Anakin may be near death and no one would take her to him.
She kneeled before the boy. "Can you take me to Master Skywalker?" she said gently to him. He nodded she stretched out her hand, clasping his hand in her own.
The small child pulled her to the healing chambers and she steeled herself for whatever was inside. Her small hand resting on her bulbous stomach she swallowed thickly and stepped in.
She saw two healer's dashing about and several Padawan's who all looked like they were in shock. On the bed behind them was her husband, blood smeared across his face. "Ani!" she choked and hobbled to his side. The healer's started to scold the woman but they were hindered by Skywalker himself.
"Padmé. Welcome to my home away from home." He mumbled. "Missed you."
"I missed you too." She wept and kissed his cheek, the metallic taste and smell of blood filled her senses and she tried breathing deeply as a rush of nausea overcame her. She moved to grabbed his hand and found the spot vacant. He had once again lost his cybernetic limb. "Oh Ani." His eyes wobbled and his head drooped to the side as he fell unconscious.
"Milady-" one of the healer's hedged, "You shouldn't be here."
Her eyes flashed, "I am his wife." The room grew silent as the obviously pregnant woman's anger grew like a ominous dark cloud.
The healer paled, "Yes milady." She backed away and looked to the other healer, "Collect the cybernetic team."
"Yes Master Frey." The young healer bowed and left the room. Padmé's attention turned back to Anakin for a moment when she felt a tap on her shoulder.
"Milady, there is something you can do for us."
"For Anakin?" the Healer nodded, "Anything."
"We require permission to place a layer of skin over the arm. He has thusly refused, but we must respect his wishes."
"Since when.. When did you first ask him?"
"When he first lost his hand." Padmé scowled and shot him a look. She recalled his tentativeness when he had first touched her with that hand, he had been apologetic, but not for it. He had always loved that hand, it had changed almost daily. Whenever she had seen him, he had made some new addition to it.
Padmé nodded, "Do it. If he takes issue, he can take it up with me." The healer smiled and patted her awkwardly on the shoulder.
"Bless you miss." The Healer said, "And take heart, he's survived much worse."
Padmé looked back at his face, it looked so beaten, so tired that her eyes had a hard time believing it. But the memories of the long scar that went from his hip to his knee, the scar on his face over his eye, the long pale lines of Slavery on his back proved her otherwise, "I know."
xXx
Padmé watched as they removed Anakin from the healing chamber to a surgical room to tend to the larger injuries and implant his new hand.
She paced the small room while worrying the gold band on her finger. Every so often she glanced at the bed where he had been, barely comforted by his words. "Padmé, fear won't make them go any faster." Obi Wan said sagely from his spot off the side of the room. Her ever present shadow had planted himself in the corner and appeared to be attempting to meditate. She paused for a moment and reached out to the sphere within. She felt Anakin so close, but muted. She prayed that it was only due to his unconscious state, that she would know if his conditions grew worse. Like how she had sensed the darkness earlier that day.
She shot her eyes to the quiet and calm Jedi Master and shielded her thoughts as a precaution. She slumped on the bed and folded herself deeper into Anakin's cloak. The smell of Anakin invaded her senses once more as the coarse material rubbed against her cheek. The woodsy smell was comforting and allowed her to fall deeper into her thoughts.
Absentmindedly she rubbed her very large abdomen and sighed. The children were calm, as if they sensed their mother's worry and allowed her to think without distraction. Her Doctor had explained that moving around was similar to a rocking motion and comforted them, which was why they were so restless while she tried to sleep.
Evidence of this lack of sleep was clear on her face, but her children's upset was one of the farthest things in her mind.
Hours passed and she and Obi Wan did not speak. Both worried about the man who hadn't returned. They worried, not of his physical health, but the state of his mental health when he returned.
The Chancellor had been a dear friend to Anakin. Until their marriage had come public, the seemingly wise, friendly politician had been an advisor to both of them. But the bitterness she had witnessed and the hateful words she had endured while in the Senate had gone unchecked from his office, hinting that there may have been something more than was seen upon the surface.
His relationship with the Chancellor had always concerned her, so much that it often was one of the roots of their worst fights. She had feared that he would tell Palpatine of them, and it would be one more tidbit that the esteemed politician had on Anakin.
"Padmé." Obi Wan said softly and she looked up, and smiled as the patchwork, unconscious body of Anakin floated back into the room.
He was placed back on the bed and she sat at the head of the bed, cupping his face. "Oh Ani." Padmé dropped a soft kiss on his cheek and rested her forehead against his. "Wake up soon my love."
She glanced down at the arm and smiled. "It's brilliant." She said, her fingers tracing the skin. She flinched and her smile grew as she felt how little it differed from his true arm. The warm skin covered all the way up to below the joint where a band of black was wrapped where the socket was, she assumed.
The arm was still mechanical, but the skin that cover it was pale and soft. She sat diligently by his side, the Jedi healers and Masters coming to see him were all dismayed by his unconscious state. Both Yoda and Windu came as requested she leave to no avail. She stood steadfast by him, refusing to leave his side until he awoke.
"We are currently searching for the leaders, but to the Senate, the war is over." She exhaled a sigh of relief when a thought crossed her mind she looked to Yoda.
"Chancellor, locked up is." He said, answering her unasked question, "here in the Temple we hold him. Till trial, he will wait." She nodded, satisfied enough and not willing to spearhead change until Anakin opened his eyes.
The democratic part of her was egging her on, telling her to form a committee to interrogate the former Chancellor, start the inquiry as to the extent of his corrupted reach, but the Mother and Wife inside her told the other to shut up and sit with Anakin, to ensure her family was kept whole.
She went with the latter.
xXx
Her patience knew no bound when it came to Anakin. She would stand by him for eternity if that's what it took. Thankfully, eternity was cut short to two days. "Angel-.."
"Anakin." Her words held reverence as she watched his eyes flutter open, "You're awake." Her face lit up, all trace of the former weariness faded with her beaming smile. She leaned over and kissed him, his arms pulling her close. His lips were gentle and soft and her heart ached as it cleansed itself of all her worry and concern. Her missing him had been a painful tear in her heart and the sudden onslaught of all of him was almost too much to bear.
She laid her head on his chest for several minutes, relaxing at the sound of his heart beat. She felt his lips against her brow and his arms around her back. "What are you doing here? Are you alright? The babies…?"
"We're fine." He breathed a sigh of relief and allowed his senses to reach out.
"The Chancellor?" She sat up and smiled, cupping his cheek and stroking his hair.
"You, my recklessly brave husband, do not need to concern yourself with that." She smiled, sitting on a piece of the cot beside him. "As soon as you're well enough we're going to Naboo, and I'm not sharing you until these babies are born." He smiled and she pulled his new hand to her mouth and kissed the knuckles.
"They put the skin on it." He grumbled and she rolled her eyes.
"Yes, they told me afterwards that you've refused it since you got that arm." She scowled, "Another toy?" He blushed and looked away.
"I told them-"
And I told them they could." Her senator face dropped and he sighed in irritation, "There will be no discussion. Either keep it, or remove it and never complain about that hand again." He was stuck between a her rock solid wit and the equally hard place of her air tight argument.
So he did the only thing he could think of. He changed the subject.
She was sitting on his bed, and he was trying to keep his eyes open when Obi Wan marched in. "How much trouble am I in?" Anakin asked.
"Trouble? Anakin you brought the Sith Lord in, saved the day. Although the council is concern about the.. Darkness."'
"What about it."
"They reviewed the tape and were troubled by your Anger," Obi Wan looked at the young man who was lying in the bed, gravely injured once more and the Council had once again deemed him volatile. How far will they go to take everything from him. Obi Wan mused.
"I will admit it was tempting." Anakin said, "But I realised that Evil does not know love. It took all the courage I had to ignore those nightmares. And I'm still concerned. But we will face it together." He cupped her face and a tear fell on her cheek, staring at his Angel for awhile and then cleared his throat.
"I am very proud of you Anakin." Obi Wan said emphatically. "You did the right thing. The war is over."
"Not yet, apparently the Separatist's are on Mustafar."
Obi Wan looked surprised, "Are you sure?"
"That's what he told me," Anakin shrugged, pulling Padmé closer to him, "Trusting his word though-"
"Couldn't hurt to go and check." Obi Wan said hedging as Anakin closed his eyes and sighed. The old master and his once Padawan shared a look and Obi Wan walked out of the room, giving him some privacy.
"Angel-" He started and looked to her, her face was turned away, refusing to look at his own. "Padmé I'm sorry-.. I swore I would end this war."
"You told me you would stay."
"Where am I needed more, my love?" he asked, "What does my duty dictate."
The words echoed in her head and she felt his gentle hand rest on her back. "I hate that word." She mumbled and hot tears fell down her face.
He sat up proper and pulled her close. "I'm not leaving for a few days Padmé." She felt the well of emotions overcome her as she swore out her overactive hormones.
"I know. In my head I know that, but these blasted hormones." She continued to sniffle against his bare chest as he chuckled softly, the deep timber of his voice comforting her greatly. He wrapped his arms around her and held her as she snuffled and sighed against him, the rough and threadbare cloak drowned her in material, but it made his cheeks pull in a soft grin at her seemingly easy acceptance to average Temple life.
For his two families to converge within her made him joyously happy. He always had called the Temple home, and yet as a child grows away from their family, launching into the Galaxy, striking off on their own, he too had grown up and away from this family within the Temple.
But here, in the same room the Jedi had once teasingly referred to as Anakin's Other Room after being injured so many times, with her wearing his cloak, he felt the love wash him clean once more. "I love you Angel." He whispered softly to her, "I love you so much."
"I know Ani. I love you too." Words would always be inadequate to truly convey the infinite depth of his love for her, his everlasting commitment, but right now, words would be enough.
xXx
Days passed and after Anakin had been given a clean bill of health they had moved back to the apartment. Anakin had conceded that she would most likely be safe their once he left for Mustafar now that the War was unofficially over.
Once again she was embracing him in the shadows of the Jedi pillars as he struck off in peaceful offering. She had wanted to go, as a representative of the Republic, as a Senator and most importantly, as his wife.
But naturally, he had refused. "Padmé, you are eight months pregnant. Slow down, and take it easy."
She scowled at him, her eyes narrowing, "You sound like the Doctor."
"My love, he does know what he's talking about." Anakin cupped her cheek and kissed her forehead tenderly.
"You didn't like him from the start."
"Yes, but I'm your husband.. It's in the job description." She giggled softly and rolled her eyes. "I don't like any man who looks at you improperly."
"Is that why Obi Wan is still my shadow?" She asked and Anakin smiled impishly.
"Obi Wan went more crimson than a rancor when I kissed you in front of him." He raised a brow, "No worries there. Although I have been told that you have been mothering the younglings."
It was her turn to blush, "I call it practice. Though, if your children sit for more than a minute I will be duly impressed."
"My Children!" He exclaimed in mock indignation, "What about you, miss 'Go Save Obi Wan' even though we were told-"
"We-.. You mean you. You were told to stay and protect me." They shared a look and both broke out into laughter. Her arms looped around his waist under the cloak and he pulled her close, or as close as he could with her engorged stomach between them. "Come home."
"I will. I promise I will." She stroked his back and sighed. "I'll be home soon, if they aren't on Mustafar, I'm coming straight back, and we'll go to Naboo." She smiled and sighed again, a happier sound than before. A content sound.
R2 whistled and Anakin looked to the ship. "It's time my love." She nodded but her arms wouldn't release him. She didn't have the physical strength to let him go again. "The last time." He whispered. "This will be the last time. My duty will be done. I owe nothing to them, and everything to you Angel." She let go, and pulled his face down to hers and gave him a searing kiss.
The kiss was scalding and white light exploded in his head. His heart fluttered and he once again felt like the nineteen year old standing on the veranda, their first forbidden kiss. He was continually astounded that she had that effect. She could make his heart race with a smile, she could make the blood pound in his head after three years. After everything he had been through, he found himself numb to the blood, the violence, but not this, never this.
They parted and both their hearts were racing, their breath coming in broken pants, "Don't you forget about me. About us."
"I wouldn't dare."
"Good. Go get 'em Jedi." He gave her one last chaste peck and a wink and hopped into the cockpit of his ship. She gave him a mock salute and he levitated for a moment and their eyes met. She was his savior and he was her rock. They would always need each other. Always.
He gave her a dazzling smile and disappeared into the sky.
xXx
Padmé sat across from the sallow looking former Chancellor. "As delegate of the questioning committee I am-"
"Senator Amidala-" he spat. "how wonderful you came to see me before your demise."
The words shocked her, but she steeled her emotions against him. "I am in perfect health, thank you for asking." She said calmly. "I am here to ask you of your involvement in the Imperial Sect."
His laugh was cold and harsh, like a biting wind chilling her face, "He's going to die you know. He'll die and it will break your little heart."
"I don't know what you-"
"Anakin is on Mustafar, like I told him. The idiot boy."
"Chancellor, I am here to-"
"The platform is set to collapse. And they ALL die on it." He sang, his words growing delirious, "All die, all die, all die, all die…"
She stood and bowed at the shell of the former friend, "Chancellor." And she left, with the appearance of an annoyed woman. The second the doors closed behind her, her feet took off in a sprint.
Obi Wan saw a flash pass him and lit after her, "Senator!" he called, "Sena-.. Padmé!" he caught up quickly to the waddling woman and slowed her down. "What is it?"
"Mustafar!" she hollered at him, "We have to go to Mustafar!" Her terror infected him and he helped her out. She hopped into the speeder with more agility than one would not expect from she who was now overly pregnant.
Her ship was ready and she waved off the personnel. "No Captain, the war is over. This is personal. Besides, I have my Jedi protector."
Obi Wan rolled his eyes and quickly boarded. "I do hope Anakin's alright."
"He has to be." She said as she and Obi wan started up the engines. "I need him too much." She reached out and found him blocking her, ratcheting her concern even more.
Oooo.. Will I? Won't I?.. I guess you'll just have to wait. Palpatine's still alive, they're going to Mustafar, Hmmmm...
Like I said previously, while stuck, I jumped ahead and wrote all the way to the end. So there will be another 2 chapters and an in depth epilogue. I didn't want this to be a massive under taking since I have another story in the works (like a 200 pg 30 chapter AU reunion fic being beta'd.. I didn't want to bug her with this little piece..)
Thank you again to all who read, who love, and who send me kind words, I read and save every review I get. They inspire me and encourage me to fight through the awkward and emotionally painful scenes.
.. So if you want me NOT to have a similar ending.. REVIEW!.. Ok, that's a lie, I already have the end written and you can't really do anything about it other than sit tight and I hope you enjoy the ride.