Finally I added another chapter! Yeah! (I know, it only took about a year...the nerve!) I haven't forgotten this story, but I was really stuck as to how to continue. I have, however, found an idea I was toying with and although the story isn't completely clear, I am determined to finish. Thank you to all of those that read and have been proding me to finish or at least continue. Please comment as it's always helpfull to know what you guys think. Enjoy!

Anakin tried not to cry. Of all the things he's done in his lifetime, nothing had ever broken him except his present reality. Despair was an emotion he often used on his enemies and now that very emotion dug into him and literately brought him to his knees. Tears bathed his face as he felt Padme's life seeping from her. He held her to him as he raced them outside of the burning Jedi Temple. He couldn't take her away on his ship because he was afraid she wouldn't survive that sort of trip.

In a last desperate effort, Anakin decided to take her to the only place he knew she would be comfortable. He only preyed that he wouldn't make matters worse when she found out exactly where he had taken her; that was if she survived the journey there. He realized that he'd rather have her angry, wishing him dead, than loose her completely and not know another day without her. He paused to look at her ashen face and momentarily wondered what it was that made her so ill. Once again, Anakin looked into the Force and prayed that it would give him an answer.

Obi Wan was concerned. The Temple lay in shambles and although he was sure the Jedi's could rebuild, he wondered how long it would take for the young man he met to face the Emperor, if indeed that is what he was born to do. He could only hope that Master Yoda was correct in his predictions, although something else troubled him. How long have the Jedi preached that attachment of any kind would take away a Jedi's focus on the Force? Here was definite proof of what his old Master, Qui Gon had previously suspected. Anakin Skywalker's attachment to Padme did not weaken him but made him stronger. In some twisted way, Skywalker found his way from the darkness because of love. Was it really all that simple? Obi Wan had felt it radiate from the young man as he searched for Padme and only now realized what it was that he had felt flow through the Force from the young man. On this and many other doubts Obi Wan decided to further meditate, hoping that maybe he could once again connect to his old Master for guidiance.

Padme was screaming. "Anakin!" she called out. "Help me!"

Anakin woke up in a cold sweat. He was alone. He searched frantically in the darkness and found the space beside him in bed cold and empty.

"Padme!" he tried calling out.

He was sure she had been there beside him. He had stayed beside her for days, monitoring Padme's progress. He had nothing with him except the power of the Force ebbing through him. In a last desperate attempt, he connected to Padme and began to give her his own strength, trying to heal her through the Force. As he closed his eyes and touched his fingertips to the temple of her forehead, he saw bits and pieces of her own life revealed to him. Her childhood, her early struggles in the political and military arena, especially after she had lost her own family, and something more. Something that he couldn't quite reach because his own ears began ringing with cries of babies. He had suddenly broken away from Padme. Why was she haunted by crying babies?

Anakin raced outside the ruined home. It was practically in shambles, almost reduced to rubble and yet, it faced a breathtaking view of a crystal blue lake. Anakin knew personally that this home had been intact and bustling with life only months before, before the Emperor decided to focus his attacks on Naboo, bent on destroying Padme and her rebel forces.

Anakin didn't have to go far. Padme's small frame faced the lake. She seemed small and fragile. Anakin's eyes widen in amazement. She was shivering, wet. He was amazed that she even had the strength, much less the gaul to swim in the lake, especially after everything she'd been through. He approached her tentatively.

Padme had felt Anakin approach her. She flinched as he came close. Before he could utter a word, she said, "I couldn't do it."

"Do what?" he asked, his voice sounding hoarse.

"Let myself stay down there, in the water," she confessed, her voice cracking in emotion. She didn't dare look at him. "Everyone is gone because of me!"

"Why would you say that?" Anakin asked horrified at her confession. "They're alive because of what you've done! Your strength!"

At that point Padme turned and gave him an icy glare, almost as if she hated the very sight of him.

"I was almost dead because of what I've done with you!" she cried out. "You did something to me! I was never this weak! There was a time I could have faced anything and then you come…"

She looked away, ashamed. Her words, especially the anger in her eyes pierced him through his soul.

"I never saw this," Anakin said coming to stand beside her. "When our paths crossed, I had meant to do as what the Emperor bid. You were right about me. I only did what he asked, I never questioned, never thought about the others that fell before my sword. And all I do is see your face, a picture of you and for the first time, you're all that I can think about. I am someone else because of you. I'm not even sure who I am anymore, but I know that I cannot go back to who I was." Anakin dared face her, his features showing traces of vulnerability, "I can't."

Padme looked around her. "Yet you choose to bring me here," she said. "A changed man and you choose to bring me here, where my parents died, where your people destroyed everything I held most dear?"

Anakin hung his head. "I brought you home," he whispered. "I didn't know where else to go. Your people and mine are after me now."

"You deserve to die, you know," Padme said coldly, repeating what she had told him the first time they met. She shivered as she looked away from him.

"I know," Anakin said, hating the wall she had build up so quickly. "There are many reasons why I should die, but none why you should. Why?"

Padme bit her lower lip. Dare she confess that she was trying to get rid the feelings he provoke in her? The feelings that tore her inside and was too ashamed to confess even to herself? She wanted to fight back for herself, but in a moment of despair she had jumped in the lake determined never to emerge from the cold waters. And then she heard the cries of babies. Her babies and his. She needed to find them. She needed to continue living for them for surely the Emperor would be after them if he found out who their father was. She glanced uncertainly at Anakin.

"So now you're on the run," she said. "What next?"

"I don't know," Anakin replied. "I just wanted to save you."

Padme had to stop from rolling her eyes. The irony of what he said! Didn't he know that the only person she needed saving from was herself? At this very moment a part of her ached to feel him close, to have him touch her. She wrapped her arms closer to herself, loathing the uncontrollable emotions beating inside her. Yet, she needed to protect her children. She needed to know that if anything happened to her, he was willing to protect them as well.

Anakin observed Padme and knew that she was battling with something inside, as though she was second guessing herself in some way.

"What made you ill?" he suddenly asked. "The monitors in the medic bay said you were dying."

"You made it to the Temple!" Padme excalimed, suddenly remembering. "What happened to the Jedi?!" She grasped at his arm, worry etched in her otherwise flawless features.

"They're fine!" Anakin exclaimed, feeling just a bit insulted that she would suspect him of harming them. "But you, Padme. I detected nothing really wrong with you. At least not physically." Padme stood silent, unmoving. "Why are you also haunted by crying children?" Anakin suddenly dare ask. "What happened to you Padme?"

"You happened!" she suddenly snapped. "You!"

"Padme, I…" Anakin began. "Do you want me to apologize?! I'm sorry, but not for this…"

He then grasped her arms and pulled her close, kissing her with bruising force. He tasted her despite her protests. Her beauty, her anger all mixed with her frailty numbed his very senses. When the kissing deepened, it was Padme that pulled him closer, her fingers digging into his scalp. She opened her mouth wider, letting his tongue taste her, dueling her tongue with his.

When Anakin managed to break apart, he began to speak, but Padme simply told him to shut up as she brought his mouth to hers for more. She wasn't sure how they ended up in her old bedroom, or how he managed to disrobe himself and her in the process. Padme just knew that there was an ache inside her she tried to fan out and cried out the moment Anakin penetrated her from above. Padme spread her legs wider and lifted her hips as he thrust in deeper. Padme wanted to forget, she wanted to disappear in the emotions he produced in her and did not realize when Anakin put his fingers against her temple, commanding her to open up her eyes. She suddenly saw him inside her head, searching, invading every part of her. She, in turn, saw a lonely boy stare back at her. He was alone save for the few moments he found with her. In his mind she saw him looking through her window as she dressed in this very room, undetected. She felt his growing desire for her, his obsession to have her. As his thrusting continued, Padme suddenly broke contact and began to scream as a violent orgasm assailed her. She grasped at the cool satin sheet underneath her, wrapping her legs around Anakin's torso as she milked every ounce of him inside her.

It was then that Anakin understood what was wrong with Padme. She feared herself with him, especially now that they had a greater link between them.

As Anakin and Padme shuddered in the aftermath of their union, Anakin looked down at her and asked, "When were you going to tell me about the children?"